Yesterday after we finished up with my sister-in-law Barbs Birthday celebration we, as a family, went to get our pictures taken. This was no ordinary photo op. This was a huge movement toward defeating the anti LGBT amendment that the Republican and a few TURN COAT Democrat congress persons pushed through the senate and the house to be put on the ballot in May of 2012.
After our photo's were taken we were handed a piece of paper that explains the whole VOTE AGAINST MOVEMENT. Also the folks sitting behind this long desk asked us if we were registered to vote and then they gave us a number to enable us to get our pictures off their website when they were ready.
The piece of paper contains the following tidbits and for those of you that are not aware I am going to type them in order so that we can ALL be informed before going to the voting booths:
What the amendment does:
In addition to prohibiting same-sex marriage, as the state already does, the Amendment would:
*Prohibit North Carolina from ever passing legislation that would grant civil unions.
*Bar the state from instituting domestic partnership rights.
*Strip the domestic partner insurance benefits currently offered to employees by anumber of local governments, including Chapel Hill, Durham, Greensboro, and Mecklenburg and Orange Counties.
In addition, courts could interpret the language of the Amendment to ban any rights to the state's hundreds of thousands of unmarried couples-both same and opposite-gender. This would:
*Invalidate domestic violence protections for all unmarried partners.
*Undercut existing child custody and visitation rights that are designed to protect the best interests of children.
*Prevent the state from giving committed couples rights to allow them to order their relationships, including threatening their ability to determine the disposition of their deceased partner's remains, to make medical decision if their partner is incapacitated, and to allow second-parent adoptions in order to ensure that both partners have a legal tie to, and financial responsibilites for the children they are raising.
*Invalidate trusts, wills, and end-of-life directives by one partner in favor of the other.
Also included on this piece of paper is the following:
When:
May 8, 2012-Same day as the state Presidential Primary.
What:
The language on the ballot will read:
"Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state." Seriously....this amendment has SO much more meaning than this one sentence. As was stated above. It is SO much more than about Same Sex Marriage. The implications are MUCH higher and MORE prejudicial and DISCRIMINATING.
How:
Be prepared: You will be asked to vote "For" or "Against" the Amendment (i.e., not "yes" or "no") VOTE AGAINST!
Who:
Whether you're a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or Unaffiliated, you will be able to vote on the Amendment. Be sure you are registered to vote in North Carolina ahead of time.
Web:
For more information about the amendment and the campaign against it, visit the Coalition to Protect NC families at www.protectncfamilites.org.
Also contact@voteagainst.org / www.voteagainst.org.
This is such an important vote for equality and just plain common decency for humanity.
Don't be cruel be caring and VOTE AGAINST this amendment. Nuff Said!
These are my thoughts and feelings from Jillsville.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST WAY
I am SO grateful to have found a spiritual home through my liberal faith community at UUFR. From our website the definition of our church fellowship is as follows: Unitarian Universalism is an open-minded religion which encourages people to seek their own spiritual path. We are united by shared values, not by creed or dogma. At UUFR, you can nurture your spirit and put your faith into action to create a just and compassionate world.
OUR Mission Statement from my church UUFR is as follows: To build a Unitarian Universalist community that transforms lives and empowers people to serve the world.
The UU faith has seven principles to live by as found on our website:
1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person.
2.Justice, equity and compassion in human relations.
3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations.
4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning.
5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.
6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all.
7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
Once we light the chalice {a wide mouthed stemmed cup with two overlapping circles that represent the two denominations} and begin with opening words from our minister or whom ever is leading then is when our service begins. The messages on Sunday mornings are so real and about living life with a conscious. There is a time for sharing our Joys and Sorrows where we either light a candle in silence or go in front of the congregation and share out loud what is going on with us in our lives. A burden shared is a burden lifted.
We do many social justice programs. Right now we are working to vote on a statement of conscious in which we will begin our opposition to the proposed anti LGBT NC constitutional amendment. Our many other social justice programs are Stop Hunger Now food packaging, Walk for Hope, Angel Tree Projects in December, Red Cross Blood drives, clean up Neuse River , Urban Ministries and many others. Our fourth and fifth Sunday collections go toward some of these social justice programs or organizations.
We have a Journey Toward Wholeness anti racism team and we also are LGBT advocates and we fight for school diversity. All these programs and more is so important to me and my life. Kathy and I have found that we feel so much a part of this spiritual church community. It is our home away from home. They are welcoming and accepting of us and our family.
We also have many different rituals. Instead of baptism we have what we call child dedications this is part of the rites of passage for children. This is different with each pastor. The child is touched on the head with water to represent {clear thinking} on the heart with a rose for {love and compassion} on the hands with mud for {doing the work of the world}. In September we have what is called Ingathering. This is where we share the water from the places we went over the summer. It is poured in a large vases to be used later for child dedications and other rituals once it is boiled off first of course. Then in November is when we celebrate our abundance with cider and cornbread. Easter is the flower communion. Everyone brings a flower to share. At Christmas time we have our Christmas Eve candlelight service. I tear up every single year when we sing Silent Night in the dark with only the light of our candles. It touches my heart and soul.
Unitarian Universalist of Raleigh {UUFR} is such an all inclusive, open minded, loving, welcoming and giving spiritual community. I would NOT want to share my Sunday mornings with any other fellowship.
If you would like to have more information please look us up on our website: www.uufr.org.
Also a 10 min video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wezp1W2HKlU
These are my thoughts and feelings from Jillsville.
OUR Mission Statement from my church UUFR is as follows: To build a Unitarian Universalist community that transforms lives and empowers people to serve the world.
The UU faith has seven principles to live by as found on our website:
1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person.
2.Justice, equity and compassion in human relations.
3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations.
4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning.
5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.
6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all.
7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
Once we light the chalice {a wide mouthed stemmed cup with two overlapping circles that represent the two denominations} and begin with opening words from our minister or whom ever is leading then is when our service begins. The messages on Sunday mornings are so real and about living life with a conscious. There is a time for sharing our Joys and Sorrows where we either light a candle in silence or go in front of the congregation and share out loud what is going on with us in our lives. A burden shared is a burden lifted.
We do many social justice programs. Right now we are working to vote on a statement of conscious in which we will begin our opposition to the proposed anti LGBT NC constitutional amendment. Our many other social justice programs are Stop Hunger Now food packaging, Walk for Hope, Angel Tree Projects in December, Red Cross Blood drives, clean up Neuse River , Urban Ministries and many others. Our fourth and fifth Sunday collections go toward some of these social justice programs or organizations.
We have a Journey Toward Wholeness anti racism team and we also are LGBT advocates and we fight for school diversity. All these programs and more is so important to me and my life. Kathy and I have found that we feel so much a part of this spiritual church community. It is our home away from home. They are welcoming and accepting of us and our family.
We also have many different rituals. Instead of baptism we have what we call child dedications this is part of the rites of passage for children. This is different with each pastor. The child is touched on the head with water to represent {clear thinking} on the heart with a rose for {love and compassion} on the hands with mud for {doing the work of the world}. In September we have what is called Ingathering. This is where we share the water from the places we went over the summer. It is poured in a large vases to be used later for child dedications and other rituals once it is boiled off first of course. Then in November is when we celebrate our abundance with cider and cornbread. Easter is the flower communion. Everyone brings a flower to share. At Christmas time we have our Christmas Eve candlelight service. I tear up every single year when we sing Silent Night in the dark with only the light of our candles. It touches my heart and soul.
Unitarian Universalist of Raleigh {UUFR} is such an all inclusive, open minded, loving, welcoming and giving spiritual community. I would NOT want to share my Sunday mornings with any other fellowship.
If you would like to have more information please look us up on our website: www.uufr.org.
Also a 10 min video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wezp1W2HKlU
These are my thoughts and feelings from Jillsville.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
AMENDMENT ONE
"With FIVE simple words, Mecklenburg County Commission Bill James revealed the TRUE purpose for a constitutional amendment filed in North Carolina's legislature in 2011 that would ban ALL relationship recognitions for same-gender couples." "WE DON'T WANT THEM HERE." Now is this the kind of ignorant discrimination thinking that we want as a part of our North Carolina Constitution? I think NOT! This reminds me of something that I heard long ago WE ARE QUEER AND WE ARE HERE or something to that effect. The point is that we are HERE and we are staying here or where ever we want! If you don't like us being here YOU should leave after all it is a FREE country right?!
Now I want to try to explain in simple terms what this amendment is ALL about. There are some of my friends{homosexual and heterosexual} and family members that have either not heard about this amendment or simply don't know what it is all about. This amendment is NOT about same sex marriage for or against it is simply about not writing discrimination into our states constitution! So here we go....
The primary NC Senate sponsor's of this anti LGBT amendment were: the late James Forrester; Jerry W. Tillman and Dan Soucek. For many years they tried to pass this amendment through the NC congress but each time they couldn't because democrats and fair minded politicians stop it from getting out of session. But this time the GOP out numbered those folks and so it was past through. Now it is scheduled for a vote to the people on May 8th 2012.
The context of the proposed Senate version of this amendment is the most extreme version. In addition to limiting marriage to opposite sex couples, as the state statue already does, it would prohibit any other form of relationship recognition, such as civil unions or domestic partnership. Now seriously is this really necessary?! We already can't get married in the state of North Carolina so why add to this already horribly backward state. Also if this amendment is past it could result in taking away private benefits such as health insurance for LGBT couples, unmarried heterosexual couples and their children. This amendment if passed would take away ALL the LGBT and Unmarried Straight couples relationship rights and be a huge blot on the State of North Carolina.
The primary NC House sponsors of this anti LGBT amendment were: Lewis, R. Brown, Crawford and Hill. The NC House version is narrower than the NC State Senate version it simply would prohibit recognition of marriage between same sex couples.
Both the NC State and NC House versions would actively write discrimination into our NC constitution. Do we really want that to happen?! Come on people get REAL and STAND up for justice and freedom for ALL just as our founding fathers had wanted in the beginning. Please DON'T allow these few individual law makers to take our constitution and make it into a form of legal discrimination for LGBT relationship recognition.
It so boggles MY mind how a group of people feel they have the right to vote on MY marriage and MY way of life afterall we {LGBT} people didn't get to vote on their marriage or their way of life and we {LGBT} folks don't want to be able to do so. So why should YOU vote on MINE?! I feel sure that I have some family members and some friends of mine that are going to vote YES to this amendment and it simply breaks my heart. No matter what I say or do their mind is made up so be it. All I can do is try...that is the reason for this blog post.
PLEASE VOTE RESPONSIBLY AND WITH RESPECT FOR ALL RELATIONSHIP RECOGNITION ON MAY 8TH 2012 {AT LEASE AT THIS POINT THIS DATE}.
For more information click on this link: http://equalitync.org/news1/amendment
This is also the link that I used for this blog. Protect NC Families and Equality NC.
These are my THOUGHTS AND TRUE FEELINGS from Jillsville.
Now I want to try to explain in simple terms what this amendment is ALL about. There are some of my friends{homosexual and heterosexual} and family members that have either not heard about this amendment or simply don't know what it is all about. This amendment is NOT about same sex marriage for or against it is simply about not writing discrimination into our states constitution! So here we go....
The primary NC Senate sponsor's of this anti LGBT amendment were: the late James Forrester; Jerry W. Tillman and Dan Soucek. For many years they tried to pass this amendment through the NC congress but each time they couldn't because democrats and fair minded politicians stop it from getting out of session. But this time the GOP out numbered those folks and so it was past through. Now it is scheduled for a vote to the people on May 8th 2012.
The context of the proposed Senate version of this amendment is the most extreme version. In addition to limiting marriage to opposite sex couples, as the state statue already does, it would prohibit any other form of relationship recognition, such as civil unions or domestic partnership. Now seriously is this really necessary?! We already can't get married in the state of North Carolina so why add to this already horribly backward state. Also if this amendment is past it could result in taking away private benefits such as health insurance for LGBT couples, unmarried heterosexual couples and their children. This amendment if passed would take away ALL the LGBT and Unmarried Straight couples relationship rights and be a huge blot on the State of North Carolina.
The primary NC House sponsors of this anti LGBT amendment were: Lewis, R. Brown, Crawford and Hill. The NC House version is narrower than the NC State Senate version it simply would prohibit recognition of marriage between same sex couples.
Both the NC State and NC House versions would actively write discrimination into our NC constitution. Do we really want that to happen?! Come on people get REAL and STAND up for justice and freedom for ALL just as our founding fathers had wanted in the beginning. Please DON'T allow these few individual law makers to take our constitution and make it into a form of legal discrimination for LGBT relationship recognition.
It so boggles MY mind how a group of people feel they have the right to vote on MY marriage and MY way of life afterall we {LGBT} people didn't get to vote on their marriage or their way of life and we {LGBT} folks don't want to be able to do so. So why should YOU vote on MINE?! I feel sure that I have some family members and some friends of mine that are going to vote YES to this amendment and it simply breaks my heart. No matter what I say or do their mind is made up so be it. All I can do is try...that is the reason for this blog post.
PLEASE VOTE RESPONSIBLY AND WITH RESPECT FOR ALL RELATIONSHIP RECOGNITION ON MAY 8TH 2012 {AT LEASE AT THIS POINT THIS DATE}.
For more information click on this link: http://equalitync.org/news1/amendment
This is also the link that I used for this blog. Protect NC Families and Equality NC.
These are my THOUGHTS AND TRUE FEELINGS from Jillsville.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
GAS PUMP AND BLUE GLOVES
This morning while I was pumping my gas I recalled a time when I wore blue latex gloves to pump my gas. It all started when I read this online after I looked it up of course: According to Kimberly-Clark Corp. after a team of hygienists swabbed hundreds of surfaces around selected US cities the worst bacteria and viruses can be found on gas pumps, handles on public mailboxes, escalator rails and ATM buttons. On the filthiest list were parking meters and kiosks, crosswalk buttons and buttons on vending machines in shopping malls.
It was at this point that because of my aversion to using the gas pumps with my bare hands it caused me to use blue latex gloves to pump my gas. Each time we pulled up to the gas pump on went the gloves if Kathy was with me down went her head in her hand then followed {THE LOOK} that she gives me.
The blue glove thing went on for a while then I decided it just wasn't worth it. It wasn't long after that decision when I heard a news reporter saying how horribly germ infested gas pumps are. So now I have some purell in my car that I use on my hands once I get through with the gas pumping. This germ thing is so real for me. Kathy always says to me I am so glad that I don't live in your head. Sometimes I wish that I didn't live in my head either. Or well...such is life..
I still have the gas pump germ thing but I also have the purell liquid stuff for my hands...
Such are my thoughts and feelings from Jillsville.
It was at this point that because of my aversion to using the gas pumps with my bare hands it caused me to use blue latex gloves to pump my gas. Each time we pulled up to the gas pump on went the gloves if Kathy was with me down went her head in her hand then followed {THE LOOK} that she gives me.
The blue glove thing went on for a while then I decided it just wasn't worth it. It wasn't long after that decision when I heard a news reporter saying how horribly germ infested gas pumps are. So now I have some purell in my car that I use on my hands once I get through with the gas pumping. This germ thing is so real for me. Kathy always says to me I am so glad that I don't live in your head. Sometimes I wish that I didn't live in my head either. Or well...such is life..
I still have the gas pump germ thing but I also have the purell liquid stuff for my hands...
Such are my thoughts and feelings from Jillsville.
Monday, January 2, 2012
PET PEEVE WITH SEATING
So one of my many pet peeves have to do with sitting in crowds. My rules for seating are simple tall people should NOT sit in front of short people. They should be respectful and look before they sit. It burns me up when this happens. So why is it that seems to happen every time I sit in a public place. To me it is so RUDE of tall people to do this. Especially when they see that a short person is behind them. It just makes NO sense at all to me.
Another rule for seating is that people with big hair or big hats should not sit in front of people that are shorter than them. Also people that wear either stinky/strong smelling perfume or stinky/strong smelling aftershave should not be allowed through the doors. It might be that because of my allergy to fragrance the smell/stink is more profound for me than others. Again Kathy just looks at me with {THE LOOK} that she has only for me whenever I say/complain about this. I guess because she just goes with the flow whereas I don't seem to be able to do this like she can. It makes for a LONG evening or day at an event when this happens.
One of my OCD things is that I like to sit on the end or isle seat. I don't like to sit beside people that I don't know. Of course Kathy does not get this at all but over the years she has gotten use to this behavior from me and just smiles and sits one seat over from the isle seat so I can take my seat on the isle. We often try to sit on the front row when possible because she doesn't want to hear me moan and groan when someone sits in front of us and that is what I do for the entire program that we have either bought tickets for or gone to see for free. Sometimes I think she would rather go somewhere without me because I do have so many pet peeves and/or rules for seating that she does not have.
Another pet peeve of mine is necking in front of me during a public program of some sort. It is just in bad taste and disruptive to the one who is sharing. Sometimes when we go to an AA convention there will be a couple in front of us that act like they haven't seen each other in years. They start off by one of them putting their arm behind the other on the seat then they lean over and kiss them. This happens during the speaker meeting while the speaker is speaking. I look over at Kathy and she looks at me with {THE LOOK} that says don't say a word. UGH. Now putting ones arm on the seat behind the person their with that is one thing...in fact I do that in church with Kathy...but I don't lean over and kiss her while the minister is speaking. That is just rude!
Gum is another thing that I just can't stand the smell or the sound of the chewing or popping of it when someone is sitting in front of me. I think that Gum should be outlawed and not allowed in public places. Especially when people pop it in their mouths. The snapping of it just makes me crazy.
Now having said all this being that it is a New Year and all who knows...perhaps the New Year will bring a change in my attitude about the seating rules...but I doubt it.
These are my thoughts and feelings from Jillsville.
Another rule for seating is that people with big hair or big hats should not sit in front of people that are shorter than them. Also people that wear either stinky/strong smelling perfume or stinky/strong smelling aftershave should not be allowed through the doors. It might be that because of my allergy to fragrance the smell/stink is more profound for me than others. Again Kathy just looks at me with {THE LOOK} that she has only for me whenever I say/complain about this. I guess because she just goes with the flow whereas I don't seem to be able to do this like she can. It makes for a LONG evening or day at an event when this happens.
One of my OCD things is that I like to sit on the end or isle seat. I don't like to sit beside people that I don't know. Of course Kathy does not get this at all but over the years she has gotten use to this behavior from me and just smiles and sits one seat over from the isle seat so I can take my seat on the isle. We often try to sit on the front row when possible because she doesn't want to hear me moan and groan when someone sits in front of us and that is what I do for the entire program that we have either bought tickets for or gone to see for free. Sometimes I think she would rather go somewhere without me because I do have so many pet peeves and/or rules for seating that she does not have.
Another pet peeve of mine is necking in front of me during a public program of some sort. It is just in bad taste and disruptive to the one who is sharing. Sometimes when we go to an AA convention there will be a couple in front of us that act like they haven't seen each other in years. They start off by one of them putting their arm behind the other on the seat then they lean over and kiss them. This happens during the speaker meeting while the speaker is speaking. I look over at Kathy and she looks at me with {THE LOOK} that says don't say a word. UGH. Now putting ones arm on the seat behind the person their with that is one thing...in fact I do that in church with Kathy...but I don't lean over and kiss her while the minister is speaking. That is just rude!
Gum is another thing that I just can't stand the smell or the sound of the chewing or popping of it when someone is sitting in front of me. I think that Gum should be outlawed and not allowed in public places. Especially when people pop it in their mouths. The snapping of it just makes me crazy.
Now having said all this being that it is a New Year and all who knows...perhaps the New Year will bring a change in my attitude about the seating rules...but I doubt it.
These are my thoughts and feelings from Jillsville.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
JAPANESE / AMERICAN ~ NEW YEAR
This morning at UUFR the title of our service was {Celebrating the New Year in Honor of Japanese Traditions} and was lead by our music director Yuri Yamamoto. Oshogatsu is the Japanese New Year. Their New Year celebrations usually lasts any where from 5 to 6 days.
Japanese people go to their temples and praise Buddha or whatever they pray to on New Years Eve after midnight...some of us go to our churches and praise our respective Gods. There are some differences yet there are some things in many ways and beliefs that are similar.
The beginning of our service started with the 108 Tolls of Bells from the huge gong that we have that stands on the stage behind the podium. The service was filled with Japanese rituals among them was what they eat for the New Year. They eat black beans and pounded rice cakes whereas we{mostly Southerners} eat black-eyed peas and greens with corn bread.
Also the Japanese spend the first day of the New Year with family and friends just as most of us do. The day is filled with New Year's resolutions whereas with us it is filled with goals and intentions. These are just a few of the many differences yet so much same ness in the countries.
Yuri also used a drum called the Taiko to share a song with us that they sing while pounding out the rice cakes. We sing a song called Auld Lang Syne that brings in the New Year.
Celebrating the New Year in Japan also means paying special attention to the first time something is done in the New Year. This gives a sense of renewal. For example this morning at UUFR many members got together to watch the FIRST sunrise at 6:30 this morning. So all day I have been paying special attention to the firsts that have happened already today. It is amazing what firsts have happened. Also if you smile first thing in the morning it is suppose bring good luck for the year.
It was a very interesting and informative service this morning at UUFR. I enjoyed learning the customs and rituals of Japan for the New Year. Great job for everyone that was involved in the service.
Japanese for Happy New Year is : Shinnen Omedeto Gozaimasu.
These are my thoughts and feelings from Jillsville.
Japanese people go to their temples and praise Buddha or whatever they pray to on New Years Eve after midnight...some of us go to our churches and praise our respective Gods. There are some differences yet there are some things in many ways and beliefs that are similar.
The beginning of our service started with the 108 Tolls of Bells from the huge gong that we have that stands on the stage behind the podium. The service was filled with Japanese rituals among them was what they eat for the New Year. They eat black beans and pounded rice cakes whereas we{mostly Southerners} eat black-eyed peas and greens with corn bread.
Also the Japanese spend the first day of the New Year with family and friends just as most of us do. The day is filled with New Year's resolutions whereas with us it is filled with goals and intentions. These are just a few of the many differences yet so much same ness in the countries.
Yuri also used a drum called the Taiko to share a song with us that they sing while pounding out the rice cakes. We sing a song called Auld Lang Syne that brings in the New Year.
Celebrating the New Year in Japan also means paying special attention to the first time something is done in the New Year. This gives a sense of renewal. For example this morning at UUFR many members got together to watch the FIRST sunrise at 6:30 this morning. So all day I have been paying special attention to the firsts that have happened already today. It is amazing what firsts have happened. Also if you smile first thing in the morning it is suppose bring good luck for the year.
It was a very interesting and informative service this morning at UUFR. I enjoyed learning the customs and rituals of Japan for the New Year. Great job for everyone that was involved in the service.
Japanese for Happy New Year is : Shinnen Omedeto Gozaimasu.
These are my thoughts and feelings from Jillsville.
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