For the last twenty years there seems to have been a phenomenon of people “Coming out” and revealing their homosexuality – Why?

Surely a person’s private life is just that, private.

I have never understood the need to make it known ones sexuality. As a straight bloke, I don’t need to express my sexuality or for that matter care what other people believe my sexuality to be. It is not important is it?

Gay and lesbians will do say it is to express themselves or be true to themselves. Maybe it is because I live in the UK, but nobody really cares what you are as long as you don’t meddle with kids or are French.

Also is there a real need to “Come Out”? If a Gay man or a Lesbian reveals to their friends or parents of their sexuality don’t said friends and parent already know? After spending a lifetime with your parents, won’t they already know and more importantly do they care?

It is a myth that revealing your sexuality is empowering…. I hate that word. A myth that is cultivated by the Gay and Lesbian rights movement. The Gay and Lesbian rights movement is its own biggest enemy in attaining full and equal rights.

When promoting “Brand Gay” the Gay rights movement has made the classic mistake of the using the sex sells approach rather than the we are all equal message. This is evident from the view of the religious groups in their condemnation of homosexuality. If the message of we are all equal had been more promoted, then the church would have very little ammunition to use against Gay and Lesbian people and their lifestyle. But equality isn’t attention grabbing is it?

The majority of people couldn’t care less with regard to sexuality – I don’t. Maybe when the ones who run the Gay rights and the Church realise this they will shut up and let the world just get on with it

Taking a look back, I wonder if it has all been worth it.  Has it been worth being out there away from home, family and our personal obligations?  What have we gained by the action we have taken?  Is our government really listening to the voice of the “people,” we the people that make up the voting populous of America and in other places around the world who are also protesting the economic and social conditions found in today’s society?  It is a question we will not have a real answer to until some future date.  Despite our outcries, we still have to sit and wait and watch.

The Occupy protest began  as a protest movement by the general populous called the 99% as a protest against the high unemployment and the greed, corruption and the undue influences of large corporations on our government and the social and economic inequality in the United States between the wealthiest 1% of the U.S. population and the other 99% being pushed down and smothered by these powers and their influences on our governing bodies establishing an unfair global economy that is literally foreclosing on our future as businesses downsize and have major layoffs because they can’t afford to keep everyone employed or they are forced into bankruptcy and close their doors.  The general public loses their income and in the process their homes and livelihood while taxes, medical expenses, insurance, the cost of food and basic necessities have doubled and are crushing the life right out of the 99% represented in these protest movements that began on September 17, 2011 at Liberty Square in New York City’s Wall Street financial district and fanned protest all across the United States and around the world as the populous of nations banned together in protest against corrosive leadership in both government and big business. 

The economic and social conditions need to be re-evaluated to reflect equality for all 100% not just the elite few and not allow our rights to become tarnished or infringed upon by others through unfair laws, regulations and business practices.  No one is or was asking for a handout; just a hand up out of the mess the 1% has made and we allowed to happen by not speaking up sooner.  These protesters were asking the 1% to play fair and do their share.  The majority of Americans are willing to work for a living, pay their fair share of taxes to keep our Nation strong and running but things have got so far out of balance the “people” (that 99%) finally have had to say enough. 

We need to re-evaluate and repair the condition our condition is in and do it in a way that is fair to everyone.  You cannot get out of debt by borrowing more money or foreclosing on the 99% who are trying to do their fair share.  We can’t keep our own Nation strong and competitive when we give it away to other Nations or we become an aristocracy or socialist republic.  History has already proven that over and over again.  The only thing that works is when people pull together as a united front and do not succumb to the dictations of one or the few.    

We all want change and we all have our personal and community reasons for desiring change but change only comes if we make it happen and to make it happen we have to begin on a personal level.  The change has to begin at home and with each of us personally.  We need to ask our self what we can do to make things better for our self.  What can I personally do, change about my own circumstances that will in some way improve the situation I am in. 

Life isn’t always fair or easy.  There will always be someone who has more.  There will always be those who others consider to be poor.  There will always be those who will cheat and lie and scam and con to get what they want to fill their own pocket of greed.  There will always be users and abusers and some will actually get away with it for a time.

From Occupy Wall Street to all the other such places including Washington DC the voice of the people has spoken.  They original intent was good and meaningful but as I have looked back I think the whole Occupy thing got out of hand and not everybody was there for the right reasons.  Too many got caught up in the excitement, came for all the wrong reasons and crimes were committed on both sides and the whole thing seemed to go a little crazy. 

Instead of forming a truly united front, too many personal agendas, gripes and disagreements came to the surface and it has all ended with too much shouting and too many loud and angry voices screaming for their “rights” so that even if some who could make a real difference, were trying to listen, they couldn’t hear the words above the roar.  

On the surface it seems that all it has really amounted to is a lot more “sensationalism” in the news headlines with little to no real accomplishments achieved.  We are left right where we were when it all began, to sit and watch and wait to see what our government will really do.  Maybe some heard.  Maybe they can convince others to see the error of our way.  Time will tell.  For now we wait, we hope and we can all begin to make the changes this Country needs by beginning with our self and better governing our own personal behavior, and our attitude toward others.  

Mirrors are designed to show what comes in front of them, as they are, unless they are made to be a concave or convex mirror to get the desired images. By being selfless and speaking from heart, one would gain lots of respect from others.

2. No Hidden Intentions:

Most people speak what they think others want to listen from them and do not speak what is there in their minds, thereby hiding their true intentions. While it is okay for some professions such as customer care, where one has to conceal their sadness and come out with a smile while serving, it is not good when the intentions that are pushed under the rugs are malicious.

3. Reflect Life:

Mirrors reflect what life offers to them, which could be anything from dirt that settles on them to the huge buildings and trees that are in front of them. However, they do not analyze what the contents are, which is good in terms of going to meet a person or a new arena with an open mind which does not carry any prejudice.

4. Self-Defects:

The person who has a cracked mirror would know that they would not get a proper image out of it. While they realize that it is the mirror’s fault and not the image’s, it is necessary to understand that most of our perceptions are a result of our preconceived notions and not what others do! How can a person be calm if being scolded for coming late by the boss and yell back if their spouse tells them that they are late!

5. Never Carry Junk:

The mirrors show the images of the objects, until they are in front of them. Once the object goes out of sight, the mirror would focus on reflecting the next object. Similarly, the persons should focus on the current affairs and should never carry their pains or agonies from their dark past.

6. Move On:

Once the objects moves out of the line of sight of the mirror, the mirror is busy in reflecting the next scene. Similarly, it is necessary that the person moves on in their lives, without worrying about the past or future!

7. Everybody’s Welcome:

Only a very few objects and persons are able to be warm to everyone and comfortable with everybody without any partiality and mirrors would top that list. While it is important to reflect to others’ thoughts, one has to be nice and wise in putting across their opinions.

8. Background is Important:

Without the mercury surface on the backside of the mirror, the reflections would not be possible. Therefore, even though one races into the future, it is necessary to respect their roots, be it mother tongue, nationality or even their faith systems. It is good to appreciate other elements in society without putting down their own!

9. Shatter, Still Perform:

Break a mirror into 100 tiny pieces and each one would reflect what they can. Similarly, life may come hard into us, but it is crucial to make sure to do what it takes and go that extra mile to help others.

10. Sand Grains to Smooth Glass:

Walk on the beach with bare feed and the grains of sand would cause itching and are very coarse. They even enter into the toe nails to cause irritation to septic infections. However, with the right processes, the same sand grains would become smooth glass materials and therefore it is necessary that the person is flexible to undergo through the tough times of life, with the belief that they are meant to make their life shining and smooth in future.

With some lessons learnt and many more that are hidden under the surface of the mirrors, one can have better quality of life.

            When our country was first founded it was built on the principle and idea of freedom. The government was built “by the people and for the people.” Our idea was a simple one. Our idea was that the government was going to do what was best for the country and its people, but now a days this is not true. The system is failing and we are being misguided.

            I have not seen or heard any news about this and I am curious as to why. It is a huge violation of the U.S.A’s idea. In these modern times the congress, the president, and the media are all about money. There is not a single congress man or woman that went in an average citizen and has come out the same. They are not doing whatever they can for the people. They are doing everything they can to make their specific political party stronger.

            The people are doing it too. No one considers another parties ideas because they want one side to be stronger than the other. For this reason not only has the government failed but the citizens have too. People are no longer voting for a candidate because they agree with what they stand for. People are now voting for their favorite candidate because they are in the same group. This is the ignorance that has led our country into a hole.

            No one is doing anything for the right reasons. Election times are consumed with the powerful people on one party “teaming up” with with their competition. There is a huge and constant battle. Democrats vs. Republicans and they are fighting for power over one and other, and paying no attention to us. The workforce, the backbone, the people.

We need to act. We need to get attention from the political parties and tell them to pay attention to what we want them to do. Not what is best for the party but what is best for the people. We need to do research on who we will be voting for and make educated decision. We need to change our selves and not let anyone do it for us. It is the peoples problem and the people need to fix it. You can’t expect people to work for you well without you putting a little work in yourself.

Image via Wikipedia

            This is the one and only way to get the U.S back on track. We need to take control and not let anyone do things for us. I’m sure that you have stood around and dusscused your political views with a few of your buddies. So why not take that to a larger scale.Everyone needs to become educated and responsible citizens. We can’t just lay around and expect things to change around us when we are unwilling to change ourselves. Our government was started by the people and it should stay that way.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. 

These words held out a moral imperative for the nation: to end legalized segregation, to offer equal opportunity for all Americans and to eradicate racial prejudice in America and around the globe forever. America has come a long way since the time of Martin Luther King, Jr. It took his untimely and tragic death by assassination to bring many of the legislative changes into reality, and the moral compass of our nation still points to ways that we must reduce prejudice, increase economic and social justice, and make our nation a beacon of hope for all humanity. Many observers around the world saw the election of Barack Obama, America’s first African-American president, as another step towards the fulfillment of King’s dream.

There are many phrases and passages of King’s seminal speech that we often don’t get to hear on the holiday created to remember and celebrate his legacy. These often-forgotten passages help give context to his words, and they help students of social and political history understand the progress America has made since the days of the civil rights marches that Dr. King organized and led.

King opened his speech with these words:

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation

 He was speaking 100 years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, a document that began the march towards equality for African-Americans by setting free those slaves held in states in rebellion against the Union during the Civil War. He chose his setting well: he stood before the statue of “the Great Emancipator,” Abraham Lincoln, a symbol of freedom and equality for all.

King had critics in the African-American community who were calling for more direct, sometimes violent action to end segregation and discrimination. One of these critics was Malcolm X, who eventually reconciled with King before he himself was assassinated in 1965. Malcolm X and others felt that King was an advocate of “gradualism,” or a “go slow” approach to civil rights. King addressed his critics in both the black and white communities:

This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promise of democracy.

Above all, Dr. King was a Baptist minister who believed in the importance of peaceful, non-violent civil disobedience, modeled earlier in the twentieth century by Mahatma Gandhi in India, to test unjust laws and actions of the government. He admonished his followers to embrace their goals and their enemies with the love that Jesus Christ commanded and demonstrated in his own ministry. He was very direct in calling for African-Americans to release themselves from violence and hatred:

We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all White people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone. 

Still, King had strong words for those forces in the South that held on to the old hatred and prejudices left over after the Civil War. In this passage, he calls out Alabama Governor George Wallace for “interposition,” placing himself in the doorway of the University of Alabama to prevent black students from entering, and “nullification,” a term that indicates Wallace was determined to “nullify,” or refuse to follow, federal laws calling for the integration of public schools and universities. King spoke,”

I have a dream today.  I have a dream that one day down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; that one day right down in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

There are many other fascinating and beautiful phrases in King’s speech that sound and read like some of the most beautiful poetry ever to appear in American oratorical history. His speech is still a model for the way America must face its own internal struggles. In fact, the words below appear on the new Martin Luther Ling, Jr. Memorial dedicated this past year on the National Mall in Washington, DC. King speaks to us today in saying,”

This is our hope. This is the faith that I will go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to climb up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day. (Emphasis mine. These are the words that inspired the design of the King Memorial).

On this Martin Luther King Day, the nation can best remember his legacy by performing some act of service to the community. By reading or hearing the entire “I Have a Dream” speech, we can gain a better understanding of the challenges Dr. King faced, and through the years of history, he continues to communicate to us today how we can make our nation and our world a more loving place to live.

The entire “I Have a Dream” Speech is available on Youtube.com at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8AxgXxmgFM

Image by George Cassutto
Copyright 2012
Used with permission

Image via Wikipedia

While I have found my trip to LA to be great the one thing I did notice was the vast amount of homeless on the street. Talking with our unofficial tour guide I found that he used to care for a man who lost both of his legs in Korea. It saddens me to know that this man put his life on the line and lost both legs, yet was left to fend for himself here in the country he was defending.

I have done some research, because I have even notice myself that a great number of homeless people are veterans, I have discovered that this is very true. The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans say that “VA estimates that 107,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. Over the course of a year, approximately twice that many experience homelessness. Only eight percent of the general population can claim veteran status, but nearly one-fifth of the homeless population are veterans.” They also say, “The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) states the nation’s homeless veterans are predominantly male, with roughly five percent being female. The majority of them are single; come from urban areas; and suffer from mental illness, alcohol and/or substance abuse, or co-occurring disorders. About one-third of the adult homeless population are veterans.About 1.5 million other veterans, meanwhile, are considered at risk of homelessness due to poverty, lack of support networks, and dismal living conditions in overcrowded or substandard housing.” (1)

Also I read from USA Today that, “Veterans make up one in four homeless people in the United States, though they are only 11% of the general adult population, according to a report to be released Thursday. And homelessness is not just a problem among middle-age and elderly veterans. Younger veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan are trickling into shelters and soup kitchens seeking services, treatment or help with finding a job.The Veterans Affairs Department has identified 1,500 homeless veterans from the current wars and says 400 of them have participated in its programs specifically targeting homelessness.The National Alliance to End Homelessness, a public education non-profit, based the findings of its report on numbers from Veterans Affairs and the Census Bureau. 2005 data estimated that 194,254 homeless people out of 744,313 on any given night were veterans.In comparison, the VA says that 20 years ago, the estimated number of veterans who were homeless on any given night was 250,000.” (2)

Last the National Coalition the Homeless even has input on this subject saying that, “Far too many veterans are homeless in America—between 130,000 and 200,000 on any given night—representing between one fourth and one-fifth of all homeless people. Three times that many veterans are struggling with excessive rent burdens and thus at increased risk of homelessness.
Further, there is concern about the future. Women veterans and those with disabilities including post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury are more likely to become homeless, and a higher percentage of veterans returning from the current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq have these characteristics.The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 131,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. And approximately twice that many experience homelessness over the course of a year. Conservatively, one out of every three homeless men who is sleeping in a doorway, alley or box in our cities and rural communities has put on a uniform and served this country.” (3)

So now I find myself asking, why is it that so many men and women who served our country so bravely laying in the streets. Chances are that just about everyone knows someone who has served in the arm forces, or is currently serving. These people are sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents as well, and chances are that one of these people you know will be homeless sleeping in a box on the street. They are not only are family and friends, but the protectors and defenders to everything we hold dear, SO why are we letting this tragedy happen right before our very eyes? We walk right past someone almost everyday who has put their life on the line for our country, and most act as though they are not even there.

I feel we should all ask our selves where would this country be if these men and women didn’t put their life on the line for our freedom. And I find myself to a very simple answer, “What freedom?” because without these veterans risking everything we would not have freedom. So maybe we should consider this the next time we pass one of them laying on the street homeless. Maybe we should start to do more to help them, because without them we might not even be here. And if we do not start to help them that will be our fate as a country, and then what will the real tragedy be then?

(1) National Coalition for Homeless Veterans http://www.nchv.org/background.cfm

(2) USA Today “Veterans make up 1 in 4 homeless” http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-11-07-homeless-veterans_N.htm

(3) National Coalition for the Homeless “Homeless Veterans” http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/veterans.html

Unique is a word that is encouraged, but not practiced. Schools want you to be the same as everyone else, your own parents want you to be perfect, and even your friends expect you to be like them. To be Unique, and to be special are things that are spoken about, but in reality, no one cares how unique you are, as long as you meet their expectations in class, and in life. You can’t read as fast as everyone else, oh, well then you fail this class. That’s just the way things are.

The LGBTQ community is hit harder by this lack of uniqueness more than any other group. More than the lack of being yourself, is the abundance in stereotypes. Gay guys are musically inclined and are involved in theatre. Not true. All lesbians are butch and are vegetarians. Not true. Bisexuals just want sex. Not true.

Due to these inaccurate descriptions and stereotypes, kids who are viewed in such a way, and in reality are not, are bullied. They are kicked around, shoved, and become antisocial. They withdraw into their own activities such as writing, or basketball. They center themselves around a support system, whether that happens to be at home or at school. If they don’t have one, or don’t feel like they have one, they turn in on themselves, and they start becoming violent. 

Self harm and suicide are some ways kids deal with what’s going on. It’s not a particularly good way of exercising their pain, but some of them don’t know another way. Most others cry themselves to sleep every night or have triggers during the day from being bullied that cause them to become somewhat of a cry baby to their peers. Equality, that’s what we must strive for.

Equality, however, is a concept so simple and yet so complicated. We want everyone to be treated the same, but no one is the same. Everyone is different. The key to equality is to treat everyone the same regardless of their differences. Yet some differences require some form of special treatment. It is complicated, but if you just don’t see certain differences such as race, sexuality, looks, actions, and everything that makes them who they are, that is what it means to treat someone as an equal. 

The main question is how do we stop kids from doing this to each other and to themselves? The solution starts at home. It starts with parents not only accepting their children for who they are and their choices, but also telling them that they can talk to them about anything. To encourage your children to talk to parents gives them an outlet. It gives them someone to talk to about their problems. And it keeps them from bottling it up inside of them. It also gives the next generation a way to be taught not to bully others. 

The second place it has to start is with you, the reader of this. If you see someone being bullied for any reason whatsoever, you have two courses of action to take. You can ignore it, or you can do something about it. You can stand up for them, be a friend, and not bully others, because… For the simple fact it is not right. Everyone is equal, and no one deserves to be treated like that by strangers, friends, or family. Anyone. Everyone is equal. 

When you ask people of there opinion on this topic there will normally be an awkward silence. In this they are normally contemplating on what the world will think of them depending on their opinion, and how to voice their opinion. Depending on what kind of person they are they will also want to make a point. So they are also thinking about how obnoxious and in your face, but no matter what their answer is; they are wrong.

The whole debate violates not one, but two entries in the United States Constitution. The first one it violates is the first amendment. You know where it goes “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion…” it is also more commonly known as separation of church and state. It is wildly inappropriate that the big “politician” goes up on the stage and states “I am of this religion and the BIBLE says the marriage should be between a MAN and a WOMAN.” This is just about the first thing you will ever hear when a politician or anyone in fact tries to justify there opinion, but the fact of the matter is that by American beliefs. Religion has no place in our or anyone’s government, and that should not even have to be brought up.

One other constitution violation is the freedom of religion, and the fact that the debate would so much as even push the boundaries on this is very sad because it is the very idea that that the pilgrims came over for. I’m going to go back to the statement that I quoted a paragraph ago. The first part of this was “I am of this religion.” I find this odd. In the bill of rights it clearly states FREEDOM of religion. It shouldn’t matter what religion you are. Come on, lets keep this strictly political people don’t bring religion into this.You may be of “our” religion but the neighbors across the street may not be. So when you are trying to speak for this country as a whole try to keep everyone in mind.

I would just like to make it clear that I did not in any way mean to disrespect anyone or their beliefs.

Because of this general stereotype that men are the ones who do wrong in relationships, this image has been formed of lonely, heartbroken girls sat at home, watching chick flicks and eating ice cream because they are so upset. However, men also hurt and feel heartbreak, we too fully commit to relationships only to find out that our partners have not felt the same way and then we become no different to all those heartbroken girls out there searching for the right person. So, when it is put like that, is it right for men to be portrayed as such evil, heartless creatures the whole time? It is often the case that the men who break the hearts of girls, have at one point, had their hearts broken too.

I just wanted to state my view on this topic as it is one which is close to my heart and it aggravates me a lot when men take the brunt of the bad press, whilst women are able to get away with it seemingly unscathed.

Image via Wikipedia

Equality in this country of USA is full of cracks, cracks in a laws cracks in pension definite no equality no justice no respect no courtesy. Am I wrong well all I can say I wish I was. How many years do you or I as individual work for your self or for some corporation, before you can apply for pension retirement, normaly: until age of 65 plus or if you had served 25 years. How is your pension calculated, on 25 years of service or until you are of legal edge to retire. Now take law officers they retirement is base on 25 years of service but their pension is calculated only on the last 3-5 years of service why? Why they pension is not base on the years of service in public sector. In my opinion these is discrimination this is and outrageously unjust, and this is not only Law officers but some cities with fire departments and Emergency personal. Few months ago was in the news, Sergeants of George Washington Bridge retiring on $166,000 a year plus benefits and his base pay is/was $86,000 per year. Perhaps You can figure out this if you can, these are only what are known. And must of us are wondering where our taxes are going. Some of this personal pension should be cut to a half to bring Equality and justice in pension system. I know that will never happen because our crooked Legislators want “VOTES” after all they are well compensated. Congress and Senate should be put on Social Security, and then perhaps they would start doing something that is fair and Justifiable in these country.

Respectful:

 A. Seput

Palisades Park, NJ