Archive for the ‘Truth’ Category
Thursday, June 30th, 2005
My post [1] on Susie Bright and Aura Bogado generated some great comments.
I struggle with the issues of sex work and pornography as a feminist. So when Me (that's the commenter's name) offered her comments to my piece, I found myself learning new things. These new things brought some fresh perspectives and more complexity.
Me writes:Much of the most ground-breaking work done to legalise sex-work and organise sex-workers has been done by non-anglo and third-world women... Yet there seems to be a lot of stuff around at the moment implying the opposite. I think it reflects a real ignorance and prejudice on the part of the left and feminist movements about this issue.I responded:I once heard Riki Ann Wilchens say that social movements in the u.s. are started by the underclasses, funded by the upper classes and managed by the middle classes.
Stonewall happened through the efforts of black and Latino gay men and drag queens. As a transsexual man, I find myself disgusted with some white gays and lesbians who yell, "Stonewall! Stonewall!" who neither want trans people in "their" movement nor particularly understand the priviledges that accrue to them as people with white skin.
[1] http://jaysennett.typepad.com/jay_sennetts_blog/2005/06/hustling_the_le.html
Posted in Anti Assclownery, Queer, Truth | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, June 22nd, 2005
Of the good senator from Mississippi's response to Senate Resolution 39, in which the Senate officially apologized for its forceful contribution to supporting lynching as a standard feature of american behavior, Majikthise [1] writes:Thad "Dead Hand" Cochran (Miss.) Doesn't feel he should have to apologize for the passage or non-passage any legislation by the U.S. Senate. Ever. Period. It's the principle of the thing. Her observations of Mr. Cochran and the twelve other Senators who did not sign the resolution remind me of comments made by Rita Schwerner Bender [2], the widow of murdered civil rights activist Michael Schwerner, upon meeting reporters after Edgar Ray Killen was found guilty of manslaughter."I hope that this conviction helps to shed some light on what happened in this state," the petite, white-haired widow said. "Yet, there is something else that needs to be said.
"The fact that some members of that jury could have sat through that testimony, and could not bring themselves to acknowledge that these were murders, committed with malice, indicates that there are still people, unfortunately, among you who choose to look aside and choose to not see the truth.
"And that means that there's still a lot more yet to be done."
[1] http://majikthise.typepad.com/majikthise_/2005/06/lynching_apolog.html#comments
[2] http://news.yahoo.com/photo/050621/480/msrs11506212157;_ylt=AgQq7SOjkqDwNd1gvssbhBJH2ocA;_ylu=X3oDMTA3bGk2OHYzBHNlYwN0bXA-
Posted in Anti Assclownery, Truth | Comments Off
Friday, June 10th, 2005
Just a short addendum to my "Debate is Over" topic....this time on queer marriage. For me, there are two parts to marriage: the religious/spiritual component and the legal/civil component.
As for the religious/spiritual part, well God can bless any couple God chooses to bless. Falwell can't stop God, Dobson can't stop God, the Vatican can't stop God. If God chooses to bless a Holy Union service held in a bar, no one can stop that. So the religious/spiritual question is moot.
As for the legal/civil part of marriage, I pay taxes too and am entitled to the same privileges and benefits of any other taxpayer. So the legal question is moot.
Just a Queer Christian perspective. Whew, one more debate over!
Ona
Posted in Queer, Truth | 9 Comments »
Thursday, June 9th, 2005
Susie Bright originally posted this letter in the comments section. She has given me her permission to post her letter to ZNet here on the main page of this blog.
Please read Aura Bogado's ZNet [1] article to better understand Susie's response.
[Update June 9, 2005 6 pm: ZNet has seemingly not yet published Susie Bright's response]
[Update June 13, 2005 10:00 am: ZNet has published Susie Bright's response here [2]]
__________________________________________________________
Dear ZNet Editors and Readers:
RE: Hustling the Left by Aura Bogado; June 05, 2005
Aura Bogado may think that I made a number of "incorrect assumptions" about her, but I think I had a better sense of her politics than she has made of mine. When Hustler called me and asked me to write a hit piece on her, I had enough sense to reply that they were out of line. I wish she might have given me the same benefit of the doubt. But no good deed goes unpunished, eh?
[1] http://www.zmag.org/content/print_article.cfm?itemID=8012§ionID=91
[2] http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=8043
Posted in Queer, Truth | 1 Comment »
Monday, June 6th, 2005
What happens when we abolish the verb "to be" from the English language?
Great things. Consider E-PRIME [1] (E stands for English). E-PRIME, abolishing all forms of the verb "to be," has its roots in the field of general semantics, as presented by Alfred Korzybski in his 1933 book, Science and Sanity. Korzybski pointed out the pitfalls associated with, and produced by, two usages of "to be": identity and predication.To understand E-PRIME, consider the human brain as a computer where Garbage In equals Garbage Out. The wrong software guarantees the wrong answer. The right software provides an answer miraculously....
[1] http://www.nobeliefs.com/eprime.htm
Posted in Queer, Religion, Truth | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, June 1st, 2005
What might behaviorally based activism look or sound like? I don't know. But I came across a quote from Dr. Vandana Shiva [1], physicist, philosopher, ecofeminist, environmental activist and writer.
She is most well know for her campaigns against corporate control and privatization of the world's ecosytems.
In Critical Moment [2] she states (Critical Moment's question is in bold; Shiva's response is in italics):The city of Highland Park, Michigan is facing its own difficulties with the water system. Recently, they signed a contract with Coca-Cola to privatize their water. And there are countless other examples of communities that are facing these types of situations. Why do you think it's important for those communities to be conscious of the struggle internationally?
Because these companies can mine and destroy the water, they cannot be keepers of the water; they cannot be protectors of water. The most important reason is we are connected through water. We are one Earth family, consuming the same water. Seventy percent of the Earth is water; seventy percent of our bodies are water. Someone in Highland Park is seventy percent water, someone in India is seventy percent water - that is what our common humanity is about. Because of our common humanity, we have to defend our rights - for ourselves and for everyone else.
[1] http://www.vshiva.net/
[2] http://criticalmoment.org/issue10/articles/shiva.html
Posted in Truth | Comments Off
Friday, May 27th, 2005
Yesterday, I got a very polite response from an evangelical Christian posting that the "Bible is reasonably clear that homosexuality is wrong." After four years as a religion major and over three years in seminary, I can assure you that the 20th century English translations are also fairly clear that wearing poly-cotton blends are punishable by death, and slavery and extramarital sex are fine. (Adultery, taking another man's wife, is not; but taking an unmarried concubine is just fine. Actually, taking hundreds of them is fine.)
I would be glad to point you towards Biblical scholarship that would argue a different point of view, but I will not debate this topic myself. For me the debate is over. We are beloved children created in the very image of God, not just good, but in the IMAGE of God, God's self!!!! There is not more debate about our rightness, our wrongness, our intrinsic moral value, our purity or holiness. We are God's children! End of debate.
If you want to come to my church, I will sit down with you for communion, I will work side by side with you in our three night a week hot meal program for the homeless, I will share a shovel on landscaping the senior residences, I will do Bible Study with you. But I will not debate my existence nor my right to exist.
Thanks for reading and responding.
(BY the way, have you heard of Evangelicals Reconciled? It's a group of evangelical Christians who have done their homework and are not anti-homosexual. There are plenary inspirationalists (conservative scholars who believe that each Greek or Hebrew word of the bible was inspired directly by God) who do not hold the beliefs you do. It is worth you doing some research.)
Posted in Queer, Religion, Truth | 3 Comments »
Thursday, May 26th, 2005
Or at least one of the hardest things.....
My regional minister, a person for whom I have immense respect, has a mantra he preaches all the time. He says, there is room for everyone at God's table. (we have a great deal of glbt vs. anti glbt sentiment in the region)
It is hard for me to live this out. How can i sit at the same table where "they" sit...where "they" don't believe I have the right to be ordained, to serve, even to have simple private rights like marriage?
"Their" language causes suffering and death. "Their" language causes massive spiritual violence towards the people I Love. It would be easier to sit at the table with a mass murderer...
But what am I saying?
When I moved to Denver, the first funeral I performed was for a young lesbian who committed suicide. Her Pentecostal pastor father told her it would be better if she had been a murderer because at least she could be saved from that. Suddenly my words aren't too far away from his...
Be the change I want to see in the world. Love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me. Sit at a table that is big enough for all people, even those who would deny me my seat. Deep breath. Hard Spiritual Practice. The right choice.
Ona
Posted in Queer, Religion, Truth | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, May 25th, 2005
on May 1st, I stood with over 700 other people of faith, queer and allies, in front of Focus on the Family headquarters in Colorado Springs, CO. This was a rally/protest/celebration/action put on by SoulForce, Inc.
Soulforce is a national, interfaith group dedicated to freedom from political and spiritual oppression for GLBT people. It follows the teachings of Gandi and MLK Jr., in using "relentless, nonviolent resistance" to "take the truth in love" to those who spread lies and misunderstandings in their campaigns of fear and hatred.
Dr. James Dobson, as the founder of Focus on the Family, is one of the largest voices of spiritual violence against queers in this country. He calls us, literally, monsters, out to destroy America and the American family. Hello? Anybody home?
The sad but predictable thing was that Dr. Dobson was, imagine this, out of state when Soulforce came to visit. Yes, he had over a year's warning to come up with a very good reason to be gone. This was no minor event.
Posted in Queer, Religion, Truth | 6 Comments »
Monday, May 23rd, 2005
A good friend poses the following questions to those of you reading this blog:regarding your discussion of bodies, etc... i have been going out with someone i don't find physically attractive. She is a large woman, largerthan i am and i'm not small at all. I love her personality and who she is, but the body thing gets in my way. it frustrates me because i have personally gone through the EXACT SAME THING with other women and here i find myself feeling it with her.
How do we unlearn years of social conditioning? Is it totally social conditioning or is some of it personal preference? Is personal preference social conditioning? aacckk, how can i feel the same things that others feel about me....i know how much I have to offer that is not related to my physical body, despite my size and disabilities. ugh. i'm open to suggestions!Feedback? Suggestions???
Posted in Truth | 3 Comments »
Monday, April 18th, 2005
The first three words of my blog description read, "What Is, Is."
This description derives in part from experiences I have had while doing The Work [1] of Byron Katie. The Work involves answering four questions whenever I am stuck in a place of emotional/psychic discord. The Work's main purpose is to assist people in getting unstuck from our habitual thought patterns.
The Work:1. Is it true?
(Close your eyes,be still, go deeply as you contemplate your answer.If your answer is no, continue to Question 3.)
2. Can you absolutely know that it's true?
Can you know more than God/reality?
Can you really know what's best in the long run for his/her/your own path?
Can you absolutely know that you would be happier if you got what you wanted?
3. How do you react when you think that thought? (When you believe that thought?)
Where does the feeling hit you, where do you feel it in your body when you believe that thought? How far does the feeling travel? Describe it.
What pictures do you see when you believe that thought? Watch it, be still, notice.
When did that thought first occur to you?
How do you treat others when you believe that thought? What do you say to them? What do you do? Whom does your mind attack and how? Be specific.
How do you treat yourself when you believe that thought? Is this where addictions kick in and you reach for food, alcohol, credit cards, the TV remote? Do thoughts of self-hatred occur? What are they?
How have you lived your life because you believed that thought? Be specific. Close your eyes, watch your past.
Does this thought bring peace or stress into your life?
Where does your mind travel when you believe that thought?(List any underlying beliefs, and inquire later.)
Whose business are you in when you think that thought?
What do you get for holding onto that belief?
Can you find a peaceful reason to keep that thought?
What terrible thing do you assume would happen if you didn't believe that thought? Write down the terrible thought, and turn it around to the opposite and test it for yourself - is the opposite as true or truer?
4. Who would you be without the thought?
How would you live life differently if you didn't believe that thought? Close your eyes and imagine life without it.
Imagine you are meeting this person for the very first time with no story. What do you see?
Who are you right now, sitting here without that thought?
Turn the thought around.
(Statements can be turned around to yourself, to the other, to the opposite, and to "my thinking," wherever it applies. Find a minimum of three genuine examples in your life where each turnaround is as true or truer than your original statement.)
If you lived this turnaround, what would you do, or how would you live your life, differently?
Do you see any other turnarounds that seem as true or truer?
Having worked with these questions, I have come to understand What Is, Is. Reality is neither good nor bad. It simply is. And everytime I run from it, I get into trouble.
Let me know how these questions work for you, if you ever try them.
[1] http://www.thework.com/
Posted in Truth | 5 Comments »
Friday, April 8th, 2005
"Never sacrifice your body for the pose."
Vanda ScaravelliThe practice of yoga requires me to meet my body where it is at. Scaravelli, a reclusive and brilliant Italian yogi, reminds me to disgard concerns about how my pose (asana) should look, and instead, work in my body.
Metaphorically I think Scaravelli's statement applies in life, too.
None of us should ever contort, twist, stress or clinch our bodies to fit any posture. Even postures such as "authencity," "realness," "truth," can sacrifice a body. Certainly postures like "man," "woman," "gay," "straight," "fat," "thin," "disabled," "temporarily able bodied," "white," "black" can twist our bodies out of the birthright of a relax, easy comfort in our bodies.
Remember to be kind to yourself and breathe!
I bow to all in you in great lovingkindness.
Posted in Truth | 5 Comments »
Tuesday, April 5th, 2005
Buddhism creation stories intrigue me. Before human existence, only Soul, or consciousness, existed. This existence was without dualities. However the Soul saw that it was alone and became afraid. It suffered. Realizing it was free from harm only saddened Soul. Now it was alone. And it suffered more.
Out of this suffering Soul decided to making a second. Voila! Female and male came into existence.
Funny?! In Buddhism, suffering and attachment create gender. How different from monotheistic religions where gender creates suffering.
Indeed, gender creates suffering. But, truly, if I have learned anything in my transsexual lifebody, it is my attachments to fear and loneliness and neediness that create my gender.
Gender is a ruse, existing only in my mind. Injecting powerful drugs, cutting and reshaping my body is my form of body modification/mortification.
Through these rituals, and now here, I know gender depends on minds spinning stories about genitals, hormones, chromosomes, etc. etc. etc.
All of it is empty...and very, very delicious.
Posted in Truth | 4 Comments »
