LunarMusings

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Hello.

Wow.  What a day!  I'm still in shock and still given over to a tear or two when thinking about what has happened in this country.  Obama won.  I feel a renewed sense of hope and trust that we in fact can build a better future in this country.  I still have no words.  I'm grateful, thrilled and still sitting with the bittersweet truth that although Obama won, the rights for gays to marry has yet again been denied in this and several other states.

I don't really have the energy to talk much more about all that, other then to say we have much work to do in the years ahead... on all fronts.  Yes. We. Can.

In other news, change continues to move swiftly.  I feel like the harvesting sickle has taken a special interest in me and my life, and much is being cut away.  It in no way feels like something is being done to me, but rather choices that I am consciously making to let things go in order to make room for change, expansion, more.  So today, I gave my two weeks notice at work.  I am so slow and worn down tonight, and I know that its directly related to the fact that I have a world of emotion coming up around this and haven't quite begun to feel it fully on the surface. 

I have worked at this office for almost 8 years.  Its a big closing in my life.  And the implications and opportunities and reasons for all this are huge.  But for today, I'm just slow.  Slowly plugging along at the two big tasks I have infront of me this evening, and drinking some soothing Earl Grey and just letting whatever needs to come up do so in its own way and time.

So much is stirring in and around me.  The entire planet feels as if it is stirring tonight.  So much is transpiring for all of us.  I bow, take a deep breath and send you all peace and love.

jai ma.

In California: NO on Prop 8

This is it.  The last day before the entire country goes out and votes.  So much is riding on us as a nation now.  We have so many wounds to heal here and abroad.  I'm nervous and hopeful and apprehensive. 

One of the things that has been weighing heavy on my heart leading up to this election is the denial of equal rights to all citizens of this country.  Specifically, denying the gay and lesbian population the legal equality to enter into marriage.  I have wanted to write about this here for so long.  I have not because I have had some insecurity over whether or not I could sufficiently quell my emotional reaction to our continued intolerance and ignorance when it comes to this issue, to come across clearly and in a manner that is accessible to all reading this.

Its important to say that I am not educated on every single aspect of the law or the constitutional implications of this issue.  So what follows is my opinion, my thoughts and feelings on this.

More then anything with this issue, I am most surprised that any woman or person of color in this country would oppose granting equal rights to every single citizen of this nation.  This is what its about.  One group denying another equal access to the rights given to the citizens of this country.  All women and people of color in this country have been denied rights at one point or another in history simply because of who they were.  How long will we continue to discriminate against one another?  One persons morality cannot be pushed or assumed onto another, but equal rights to self determine?  How are we still not allowing this?  And if we continue to deny one group, how are we to insure that some day in the future the very group we belong to will not have its rights denied as well? 

Moreover, the argument that denying gay rights to marriage is an attempt to safe gaurd the tradition of marriage seems ridiculous to me.  This argument seems to come most prominently from the Christian Right.  But heres the thing, no one religion owns the corner market on marriage.  Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, Christians, Atheists, Pagans, Jains, Muslims, Santeros, and others have marriage rituals for their followers.  Marriage under the law is a legal and binding contract.  Thats it.  A legal contract.  How is it constitutionally possible to deny two citizens of the United States from entering into a legal contract with one anther?  I don't understand it.

This disappoints me.  I find that I walk around with increasing disappointment in our country and how delayed we still are in growing up.  How is it that we continue to feel threatened by the differences between us all?  How does it make sense, given the beauty of our Constitution, that we are still wanting everyone to fall inline and be exactly the same in thought, belief and behaviour?

In my most reactive moments I find myself saying, "Look, if you don't believe in gay marriage, don't marry someone of the same sex."  Its that simple.  But please don't presume to have the right to deny another American citizen the rights that you yourself take for granted.  Rather then spend time not practicing tolerance, understand this issue for what it is.  Its an injustice that needs to be rectified in this country.  Right now in this country in the year 2008 we still have citizens that are given second class status.  Not only is this unacceptable, its appalling and shameful.

Last Spring the California supreme court found that granting gays and lesbians the right to marry was constitutional.  And in reaction to this a measure has been drafted and is being voted on by the residents of California to revoke this right.  To vote yes on Prop 8 is to continue denying the right to marry to our fellow citizens who fall in love with and choose to commit to partners of the same sex. 

Please.  Please.  Don't let this happen.  If you live in the state of California, please do whatever research you need to, search your heart and VOTE NO ON PROP 8.

Vote For A New Day

I sent out my voters ballet in yesterdays mail. And as I post this, I'm so aware at how scared I am that we will lose this election again... or have it stolen. We as a nation are in such a dire state, and at no other time have I ever felt so politically in need of true hope. I find that I've lost it. A vote for this man, is a vote for a new day in this country. A changing of the tide, an awakening, a stand in the middle of the street that says, "No More!" Vote. Make a change. Yes We Can.