It's Official! June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month in America.

American President Barack Obama has taken an inclusive move forward by releasing a proclamation declaring June to be lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Pride Month.

I've watched two administrations in the 80's and early 90's which managed to blame us AND ignore us during an epidemic, then in the middle 90's when a supposedly gay-inclusive president signed both Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT), and Defence of Marriage Act (DOMA). On to the 2000's as another administration called for a Constitutional amendment denying human rights for gays. 

It is nice to feel that in the White House sits a man who acknowledges and understands our humanity and basic civil rights.

Perhaps I should take a moment to reflect on what has just happened. Consider how unlikely this event would have been even five or ten years ago. It would have seemed like some kind of science fiction theme fifteen or twenty years ago, Gene Roddenberry could have written this. 

Look back and consider how much progress we have made over the last few years with the fall of DADT, the steady march of marriage equality, immigration benefits, federal changes in transgender related policy regarding gender marker changes, the striking down of DOMA, as well as the recent rulings around veteran's benefits for same-sex spouses.

Now the so-called Leader of the Free World has taken this step in the most public way possible. He has asserted that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals are full and equal human beings who are worthy of dignity, respect, and the full protection of the law.

Once again I am very proud of President Barack Obama. I am also incredibly proud of my gay, lesbian and trans brothers & sisters. So many have stood up and proclaimed that they won't take second-class citizen status any more, and thankfully people are listening. 

Here is his statement in full.

As progress spreads from State to State, as justice is delivered in the courtroom, and as more of our fellow Americans are treated with dignity and respect -- our Nation becomes not only more accepting, but more equal as well. During Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, we celebrate victories that have affirmed freedom and fairness, and we recommit ourselves to completing the work that remains.

Last year, supporters of equality celebrated the Supreme Court's decision to strike down a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act, a ruling which, at long last, gave loving, committed families the respect and legal protections they deserve. In keeping with this decision, my Administration is extending family and spousal benefits -- from immigration benefits to military family benefits -- to legally married same-sex couples.

My Administration proudly stands alongside all those who fight for LGBT rights. Here at home, we have strengthened laws against violence toward LGBT Americans, taken action to prevent bullying and harassment, and prohibited discrimination in housing and hospitals. Despite this progress, LGBT workers in too many States can be fired just because of their sexual orientation or gender identity; I continue to call on the Congress to correct this injustice by passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. And in the years ahead, we will remain dedicated to addressing health disparities within the LGBT community by implementing the Affordable Care Act and the National HIV/AIDS Strategy -- which focuses on improving care while decreasing HIV transmission rates among communities most at risk.

Our commitment to advancing equality for the LGBT community extends far beyond our borders. In many places around the globe, LGBT people face persecution, arrest, or even state-sponsored execution. This is unacceptable. The United States calls on every nation to join us in defending the universal human rights of our LGBT brothers and sisters.

This month, as we mark 45 years since the patrons of the Stonewall Inn defied an unjust policy and awakened a nascent movement, let us honor every brave leader who stood up, sat in, and came out, as well as the allies who supported them along the way. Following their example, let each of us speak for tolerance, justice, and dignity -- because if hearts and minds continue to change over time, laws will too.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2014 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists, and to celebrate the great diversity of the American people.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-eighth.

BARACK OBAMA

Want to read a bit of my "Why I came to Berlin" story?
Here is a blogpost which has most of the 411.

I Have Anger Issues About Fred Phelps

It is not actually in my nature to hate people. In general I try to find at least one redeeming quality about a person, and hang on to that. But a huge exception in my life has been hate monger Fred Phelps and his freaky lawyer family. 

Recently Fred's estranged son has let the word out that his father is on his deathbed and has been recently excommunicated from the family church. Such lovely news which has stirred some interesting thoughts in my head of late... mainly how I will celebrate his being wiped from the earth. 

Hate isn’t always simply an emotion or some abstract state of mind. In my reckoning, hate even has an address. In this case, it resides at 3701 SW12th Street in Topeka, Kansas, where it lives with the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) community and its leader, the Reverend Fred Phelps who, along with his (mostly family) congregation, has made headlines around the world for hostile public declarations and incendiary protests against people and causes he considers to be sinful in the eyes of God.

These people have tried my patience in the name of abusing free speech since the late 80's. He first came into my world as he picketed the funerals of friends of mine who were victims of AIDS. His scary group is from Topeka, Kansas and I was living in Wichita, just two hours away... So I was an early witness to his special brand of ape shit crazy. 

In the late 80's and early 90's the gay men who had been smart enough to leave Wichita for gayer pastures were coming home to die. Unknowingly they were the first warriors in the AIDS Crisis. 

After coming back to the homeland with this terrible disease which no one seemed to understand - and Ronnie Regan wouldn't even acknowledge - many of them were shunned by their families and the local hospice care wouldn't even take them in. A group attached to one of the local gay churches started a hospice house and I volunteered. I answered phones, brought food, and gave general assistance to the medical staff who would come by periodically. 

These men were dropping like flies, with most of the scant research money available going to finding easier ways to diagnose and prevent the disease rather than treat it, a diagnosis of HIV-AIDS was a quick death sentence. Many didn't last more than six months after diagnosis. 

I went to more funerals than I care to talk about. Sweet young men taken out in the prime of their lives... and then there was the Phelps clan to remind me again of how many people actually hated us just for being ourselves.  

During those times I took my own vengeance in small ways, some of them we won't talk about here. One moment of inspirational genius came to me in the back pages of the local gay and lesbian magazine. Free samples of mfm porn sent to your home! ;) I even went to the library to get their address (this was a long time before the Internet, kiddies). The irony of the Phelps compound's postal code starting with 666 was not lost on me. 

In those days it was just the gays... Gage City Park in Topeka had been known as a place for gays and lesbians to be together outside of the bars - OK, and some cruising, of course. Phelps and his 13 kids had been picketing that park for years. This hit me personally. When I was underage, I would spend a lot of time hanging out in Wichita's "gay park". It was one place that my friends and I could just be ourselves. I remember very well reading about the picketing in Gage Park and thinking that if the Phelps brand of crazy came near my Oak Park, I could not be responsible for my actions.

But of course they didn't really receive media attention until their protests at Matthew Shepard's funeral. Matthew was the homosexual college student from Laramie, Wyoming who was tortured, beaten and left for dead on a fenceline in rural Wyoming. His death sparked local and national hate crime legislation, but it also brought the Phelps family into the spotlight as the Phelps children picketed Matthew's funeral next to adults holding signs which proclaimed "Thank GOD for AIDS" and other lovely epitaths.  

Since that time they've become infamous for their special brand of crazy protests. Saying that America is doomed, that the wars are GOD's wrath for America's increased acceptance of homosexuals, picketing the funerals of anyone who seems to support gay rights, and yes, even the Jewish community is a target for these silly assholes.

One must remember that all of this seems to have been simply a business to Fred and his family of lawyers and paralegals who used their pretend family church of hate to sue anyone who obstructed their right to free speech.  They twisted the law to their own financial benefit in more ways than can be counted. They were the thorn in the side of the legal world in Topeka and Kansas, spreading into the federal realm as well. It seemed that their modus operandi was to sue a person or a company in the hopes that they would just settle... and many did. 

Although he was eventually disbarred from the legal profession, he caused lots of trouble along the way. Fred even sued a local legal university insisting that it admit his children so that they could study law... on the basis that they were a minority because of his civil rights movement. They sued Sears for $50,000 because of a late TV delivery (they lost). They sued a court reporter who they insisted came late with an important document.  Religion and Christianity had nothing to do with their lawsuit business, it was just a way to finance their own brand of hate.

A FABULOUS moment for the gays was when a house across the street from the WBC compound was taken over and painted with rainbow colors... The Equality House was born. Ah... a constant rainbow presense in their lives, I hope they enjoy it.  

I've had to evaluate how I feel about all of this. Since the story has broken about him being on his death bed I've had mixed emotions. The first one was to picket his damn funeral and dance with gay glee on his grave. OK, so that probably won't happen. I understand that I certainly wouldn't be alone. Think about it, how sad is your life when hordes of people are celebrating your impending death? 

My next thought is that I hope he rots in hell. Funny statement from an Atheist. But if there really is a God and a heaven and hell, I hope this guy gets everything which is coming to him. If NOTHING else, that whole "taking the Lord's name in vain" stuff should get him in hot water. 

In the end what do I really feel? Relief. 
Soon this appaling excuse for a man will be in the ground. 
Also hope that his legacy will simply wither away to nothing now that the figurehead of the family is gone. 

Something else niggling around in my head is the interesting side note that Fred Phelps was excommunicated from his own church in August of 2013, moved into a different house and placed on a suicide watch. Right now I am wondering why. What could he have done to get kicked out? Maybe in the end he finally admitted that the base of his disgusting homophobia is rooted deeply in his own homosexual feelings.

NKP - Never Know Peace Fred Phelps. I hope your hate dies with you. I know that I will breathe easier knowing that you no longer walk this same earth.

Edit 20 March, 2014

Phelps has died. While it pains me to say it, I am happy that this sad little man who has spread hate in so many ways... is worm food. My prediction; the family he leaves behind which has been steeped in hate, will turn on each other. The "church" will change direction. They will go another way in order to remain tax free and continue to use the law to their benefit. His daughter who was the most vocal other than Fred, has already been pushed aside and several male members have taken over. Hopefully they decide to stop spreading their hate so widely and just turn everything within and let it stay there. NKP Fred Phelps.

American Love Exiles Take Refuge in Germany

As a way of celebrating Valentine's Day, fellow expat Courtney Tenz interviewed the celebrated Honourable Husband and myself along with several other sources. She then put together a very enjoyable article as a way to expose our "love exile" plight to a wider audience. 

I think it is quite informative, and explains very simply why I am living in Germany and not in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave, (you know, where all men are created equal). Why no, of course I'm not bitter. 

Read the article at Deutsche Welle English.

Hospital Visitation for US LGBT People is a ‘Benefit’ Not a Right

Recently I read an article which frustrated me on so MANY levels. 

Backstory:

In January of 2011 a federal requirement went into effect which among other things allowed hospital visitation rights to same sex couples in the United States and the option to decide who can make medical decisions on their behalf in case of incapacitation. 

The enforcement of this requirement has finally given same sex couples the legal rights which opposite sex couples have taken for granted all along. 

"Uniquely affected are gay and lesbian Americans who are often barred from the bedsides of the partners with whom they may have spent decades of their lives—unable to be there for the person they love, and unable to act as a legal surrogate if their partner is incapacitated."
- President Barack Obama

The article which frustrated me so completely reported that U.S. Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney's camp is now asserting that hospital visitation of a loved one is a "benefit" and not a right. A benefit which he would happily erase or allow individual states to withdraw if his bid for the White House is successful. 

Romney has once again displayed a lack of basic human empathy by asserting that if he were to win the office he would rescind the few basic human rights which gays and lesbians have managed to obtain in the last few years. Plus he has offered to legislate hate into the US Constitution by pledging to Ralph Reed’s Faith and Freedom Coalition that he would “propose and promote” a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in the U.S. if he were to become President.

Romney's own wife has had a horrific medical history. In the late 90's she was diagnosed with MS and more recently survived a battle with breast cancer. I wonder how Mitt "I didn't know you had families" Romney would feel if a nurse who is "only enforcing the rules" would forbid him to be in the room while his wife or child was lying prone and vulnerable in a hospital bed, needing the comfort of their chosen support system?

What kind of appaling society would require a hospital to withhold the care and devotion of a loved one? How could someone actually rationalise the invalidation of such a basic human need? To be allowed to die with dignity with the ones their loved ones should not even be questioned.

This for me is not a rebublican versus democrat thing... this is a basic human right thing, a human decency thing. On top of all this, I for one am sick and tired of my life being used as a political talking point.

 

Boy Scouts Conundrum

Last Tuesday The Boy Scouts of America decided to uphold a previous policy to exclude openly gay individuals (young and old) from becoming scouts and/or leaders. News story. 

It is a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" situation. So there will be no routing out of the gays... or at least that is what has been reported. 

Being a homosexual, most people would assume that I would be incensed by this. But you know what? I'm really not. I don't see how an organization that wishes to decide who it has as members is so bad. It is an organization. Their party. They get to invite who they want. Just like not allowing Jews in the Country Club... their loss. 

I really don't wish for anyone to insist that we allow anti-gay right-wing Christian Fundamentalists into gay groups. Why should I care about who they allow into theirs? (and no, I'm not calling the BSA right-wing Christian Fundamentalists... just an example... although, if the shoe fits...) 

Do I like the basis of their distrust of gay men? No. I suppose that deep in the backs of their filthy little minds they are assuming that every gay man has a secret desire to pop a Boy Scout. This would of course not be a good thing. But if I'm not mistaken, the great majority of pedophiles are actually straight men, leading a straight life. 

Note that the Girl Scouts of the USA has no such rules. They allow boys and even transgenders within their ranks... leaders and scouts. Perhaps they have more effectively espoused the idea of being a good Samaritan and standing up for others.

Then there is always the possibility that little Johnny Eagle Scout would like to teach his fellow scouts a few extra tricks, because you see the BSA is suggesting that a gay scout would be a bad thing too. Quite possibly so. But then my entire family was quite active in the Scouts. And Gentle Reader, I can tell you that in a darkened tent, the kid on kid non-sexual tricks have the possibility to be just as (or indeed more) damaging than a circle jerk or whatever else could happen. 

In the end I'm pretty ambivalent, simply not caring about the situation as much as the majority of my queer brothers and sisters. In fact, just like the American military, I assume it is only a matter of time before a change. It is a club, let them have their rules. 

It would however be nice to have a Gay Scouts of America as mentioned in the article comments... I just don't see it happening any time soon.

(edit)
And the next day I ran across this:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/20/opinion/scoutings-gay-founder.html
Speculation that the founder of the Boy Scouts was indeed gay himself.  

What is with all the Fight?

Ahem, let's take a ride on the Random Wheel

Poor little Mimi choked and sputtered yesterday while I tried to start her up after a week of ignoring her in cold weather... but last night and again this morning she woke right up with a roar. Love that scooter and the freedom she gives me even if these fall days have me arriving at my destination considerably more stiff and cold than when I started.

In the past couple of months I've been to both Lübeck and Lüneburg, small cities in the north of Germany. Personally I prefer Lüneburg between the two of them, but as for northern towns (not including Hamburg and of course Berlin which some consider flatly east), I still prefer Schwerin.

My gosh I've been becoming a bit obsessive about Urbexing. Germany has SOOO many abandoned sites, hospitals, military bases, tunnels and the like... and they're waiting for me to explore them. Of course it is not a hobby I can pursue on my own. Unfortunately it isn't strictly "safe" to walk around alone in 100+ year old buildings which are rotting away slowly, but they are so beautiful. It is interesting to watch as nature takes its course, slowly breaking down and covering up the things man has made. Yes, I've been filling up SD cards with pictures as well. Check out some of them here. If anyone would like to come with me, just let me know. I've got a list as long as my arm of places to go... Sweet No is simply getting tired of all this exploration.  

Rachael Maddow's show last night was dedicated to the showing of a documentary about the murder of Wichita, Kansas' own most famous abortion doctor. I lived in Wichita during most of this mess. The 1986 attempted murder of Dr. Tiller was horrifying and silly, the 1991 "Summer of Mercy" was a huge drain on the resources of the city. Driving down the highway adjacent to the clinic was like running the gamut of dead baby pictures. The protesters would do everything they could to draw attention to their cause, but the people of the city could have cared less and the great majority simply wanted them to leave. Even the Catholic Church nearby stayed out of the entire melee.

The man was performing a legal procedure. If they wanted to change policy, they should have worked within the legal system. Chaining themselves to cars and causing the waste of critical resources (police and fire) was not only wrong but unnecessary.

Unfortunately, in my humble opinion, the story didn't go far enough into those cheering on the murderer. The O'Reilly's of this world incited this type of behavior and are now running away from their culpability.

These people who make it their business to judge others should remember their Savior's ideas about "Judge not, lest ye be judged".
(OK, I'm jumping off of my soapbox. I just wanted to say that no matter your politics about an admittedly touchy subject, murdering the guy was an incredibly extreme way to deal with a situation which should have been covered by the courts. Check out the video here)

OK, um... breathe deeply ... and release.

It's clementine season again. No, it isn't time for the song to rattle around in my head endlessly (although it is certainly doing that NOW... thanks a lot!); it's time for the stores to fill the fruit section with citrus and more specifically, clementines! Man I love 'em!! The net of orange goodness sitting on my desk right now came from Spain. Hmmm. If that place has these things growing on trees, maybe I should just move there! I can polish off a kilo of these beauties in an afternoon, no problem.

Every night on my way home from work I pass by a Sparda Bank. Why are you telling me this Snooker, you might ask. Well, because after seeing the huge sign I immediately think of Sparta, the cat protagonist in the "Mean Kitty Song". Once I think of the song, then I start humming it in my head, sometimes even signing the words as I tool down the street on Mimi the scooter. Do you have or love cats or maybe just like guys in baseball caps? Check out the cute video. Maybe you too will find yourself humming this lovely little ear worm at strangely inappropriate times.  

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has proclaimed Germany's attempts to build a multicultural society have failed. I'm beginning to feel that being an immigrant in this country could get a bit harder, at least for the Muslims. Heck, even my sweet FIL read Thilo Sarrazin's anti-Islam book, "Deutschland schafft sich ab " (often translated as "Germany Does Away with Itself").  There has been talk (finally) of issuing identity cards to the country's foreigners as a better way to track who comes and goes.

I've often been involved in conversations where Germans are complaining about the immigrant problem in their country. After a moment or two they come to the realization that they are speaking with an immigrant at which time they often will assure me that I'm one of the "good" immigrants. Hmm... Any expats have a thought on this?


Been reading:
What Happened to Change We Can Believe In?

The Difference Between Snooker and Sweet No

Those who know Snooker and No personally would knowingly shake their heads in the affirmative with the thought of the two of us being compared to Ernie and Bert (or is it Bert and Ernie... now I'm confused... German Sesamstrasse says it one way, the Sesame Street of my youth says it the other). I'm short, rotund and prone to fits of giggles. Sweet No is tall and thin and while she has a rapier wit, it is usually so dry that most people don't get it until the next day... after a shower.

The differences between us are far and wide. She's a jogging freak, I'm a shade dog. I ride a scooter to work, she cruises along on pedal power riding her bike. She watches a maximum of 4 hours TV per week, while if given my druthers I would probably watch DVD's until the machine gave out. She is 12 years younger than me and grew up in Germany, while I'm feeling my age after living the traditional American "bigger is better, including my ass" lifestyle.

She has a HUGE thing about gummies (I'm talking Haribo Gummi Bears and the entire family... to the tune of a package or so a day), while I would rather enjoy salty, greasy foods. I take pictures almost exclusively above water, she takes pictures almost exclusively underwater (except for the cat... most pics of Frank are actually hers). We have age differences, and cultural differences, music and dancing differences, humor and laughter differences, ideas on planning and follow through, ideas on friends and friend management... really the list goes on.

In my daily life I've become accustomed to most of these contrasts. When No comes up with a weekend schedule planned out to the minute and all I want to do is relax in some park, I don't consider how unlike we are, I just try to work out a compromise for how we can both end up as happy as can be. I just don't think about it any more.

But yesterday afternoon I was rooting around in our dry goods cabinet looking for something to eat and it struck me. There were two jars of Nutella sitting side by side. One was from a time when I went shopping and picked up a jar of "chocolaty taste with a hint of that roasted nut flavor that will delight your taste buds as you enjoy each delicious mouthful". The other was newer and had obviously been purchased by No as a backup to an almost empty jar. She is the biggest user of the stuff, in fact she has "Nutella Bread" almost every morning. If it was getting low, she would usually be the one to notice it and work on a replacement.

What you see below are the two jars previously mentioned. On the right you find my 750 gram jar of chocolaty, velvety goodness, to the left is what looks to me to be a TEENSY 400 gram attempt at a jar of Nutella.

WHY would you buy such a small thing if it is going to be consumed in a reasonable amount of time and it has no chance of going bad? (about a month for that big one, I would say) To tell you the truth, I don't really know myself. I'm just posing the question.

Oh, and another difference between us...
When she sees the Nutella jar is empty, she puts it beside the trash for later separation into the glass container. When I see an empty Nutella jar, it is simply a challenge. One to which I will grab a table knife and sit down in front of a blaring TV with full intentions of getting each and every bit of Nutella out of that jar and into my gullet. Yeah... that's a HUGE difference... and quite possibly the reason for my wide ass.

What about you and your loved ones? Surely you have differences, even if the chasm isn't as wide as the one between No and myself. What is it which you would do differently from the ones you surround yourself with?

Been reading:

http://www.mormonproposition.com/
Interesting documentary about why and how the Mormon "Church" nee - PAC has insinuated itself into the entire gay marriage debate. Wanna see.

South African doctor invents female condoms with 'teeth' to fight rape - About time. I would hesitate for this though. Think about it, when would you use it? Isn't the bad part about rape that generally the victim doesn't know that it is going to happen? Do you just wear this thing all the time? Either way, it is interesting to see something like this being invented.

Cool World Cup Calendar

Rachel Maddow for President!

I'm lovin' Maddow. In fact, after watching this video I'm feeling a little girl crush. The video below hits me right in the heart. I am just like Rachel, I would really like to see these things officially said.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Not upset enough yet?
Go see these photos.

World Cup Fever

Well, I can finally admit it. I'm a changed person. The move to Germany has made me a "soccer" fan. Yes, Fußball has me. Friday night as the UK goalie scored a goal for the USA I giggled madly. Sunday night as the German National Team whooped ass on Australia (come on, would you expect any less?) I had a shit-eating grin on my face. Yes, I'm hooked.

The picture above was from a little gathering Sweet No and I had on the occasion of Germany's first match game. Look closely at the colors of the food. Black Red Gold! The colors of the German flag. Yes we went crazy! Blue berries and Buletten (basically a meatball) were representing black (well, they really WEREN'T black... in fact, I got some comments that they were lovely), strawberries and bell peppers were red, and apricots, pineapple and more peppers represented the gold/yellow.

Not really pictured, we had Kostritzer schwarzbier in the line of drinks back there, then red Bionade and Gold Becks beer... how cute is that?

The sauces? Jack Daniel's BBQ sauce (actually purchased here) "kinda black", ketchup "duh, red", and a mix of curry sauce and Bautzner mustard, "yellow baby".

Maybe a little bit overboard, but fun none the less.

Also fun was this morning's breakfast. Yes, you're seeing that right, the bread (in this case a bagel) has been scored in such a way before baking/cooking so as to pop up with what looks like a soccer ball. Add to that the German flag and hey, you have a gen-u-ine "Fanartikel".

While I'm on the subject of the Cup, let me just say... ENOUGH WITH THE VUVUZELA'S!!! I get it, South Africa loves the horn, they use it for every game. Who knew that a silly plastic horn could be so distracting? Maybe because we didn't think about THOUSANDS of them all playing together sounding like an angry bee swarm.

All I can say is that I'm INCREDIBLY happy that I'm not actually trying to see (and hear) the game from the stadium. Can you imagine paying a fortune to get to SA, mortgaging your house to buy tickets to watch it live, and then not being able to hear what the hell is going on? Let's just hope the phenomenon doesn't catch on in the rest of the world.

Oh yeah, before I forget, CSD (Christopher Street Day - Berlin's Gay Pride Parade) will be this Saturday. Come out and celebrate!

Been reading:

• I see it, and I cry.
• U.S. Identifies Vast Mineral Riches in Afghanistan - DUH, you didn't think that whole takeover thing was because of bad boys and opium poppies, did ya? No, there's DIAMONDS in those hills!
• Elton John performs at 4th marriage of Rush Limbaugh - 4th marriage... I always find it funny when people who are SO vocally opposed to same sex marriage because, as they say, it devalues the institution of marriage, have been married and divorced multiple times themselves... Oh, and that doesn't even TOUCH my thoughts on why the hell EJ would do ANYTHING for this homophobe!
• I Can Haz Cheezburger is all grown up.
• Former First Lady Laura Bush for Gay Marriage and Pro-Choice! - HOW does she remain married to G-Dub?
  

Happy World Oceans Day...

Seriously... it is World Oceans Day.

It brings tears to my eyes when I see the images of the dead and dying ocean creatures; so I will spare you that. But this National Geographic site is well worth a visit to learn a bit about what animals/fish are most likely to be impacted, and this site will show options for what the average person can do to help.

Perhaps getting 50,000 volunteers into the areas in danger to witness that carnage would be a catalyst for change...

Random Tuesday - To Infinity and Beyond... and Back.

It's another Random Tuesday, and it's a good thing because my brain is waaaaay tooooo scattered for coherent thought right now.

If you are of a like mind, go check out Keely... she shows us how it's done.

Let me just say that moving sucks and we aren't even really starting yet. The floors have all been sanded down to the beautiful wood and now the staining begins. My gawd it seems to take forever for stuff to dry. One room's walls have required three coats of white to cover up the brightest/ugliest/saddest green you have ever seen!

Tonight we get our new basement cleaned and set up for the big move. Hopefully we can get everything shifted over as well. Let's just say that I'm increasingly surprised exactly how much SCUBA diving CRAP we have. But this cellar space is larger than the last one, so we'll be able to spread out a bit and hopefully have more than an area 6 inches wide to park my bike.

We had a fantastic time in Munich for the Whiney Expat Bloggers Meetup 2009. A great group of friends in a beautiful, clean, if a bit stuffy city. Munich has many claims to fame of course, but the one I found the funniest was the "We built our opera house on the world's first beer tax" to be a bit over the top. I had my first Maß which as far as I can tell is just a HUGE mug of watery beer. Give me a Guinness any day.

The more I travel, the more I realize that cool/sexy/poor Berlin was the right choice for me. But the people are great in Munich and I would go back for a visit any time.

As of this moment I haven't had enough time to read the instruction manual for my new camera. Unfortunately I think that this will be required. I've started twice but the thing is almost incomprehensible. WHY can't someone actually write a manual that is in simple language and actually gives the owner some value?

Today Mimi and I turned over 3,500 KM on her odometer. I'm really loving the sweet little scooter and will really not be happy on the day she needs to be put away for winter. :(

I didn't get the filing gene - no matter what, I always need to go back to find things and am continually surprised by where things end up. If something were to happen to me tomorrow, I pitty the person who has to find things in my work filing system. Let's not even get into what the folder with my photos looks like.

Now that gray hair has finally started to make its appearance on my head I don't seem to be too happy about it. In fact, I caught myself standing at the bathroom mirror this morning pulling individual hairs. Am I crazy trying to fight against something which is going to happen no matter what?

Been reading:
Priorities Are Clear as Mud in Germany - With elections coming up it is interesting to see what Merkel's administration is up to... or not up to.

Deutsche Bahn to Cut 75% of Berlin Train Services - There must be some nasty politicking going on here. WTF? This is the second maintenance "emergency shutdown" this summer! Somebody should hang pay! Where is our Mayor? Partying in Fuerteventura?

Astronauts pack Buzz Lightyear for ride home - OK, so he didn't quite make it to "Infinity and Beyond"... but he was on the SPACE STATION! He's probably my favorite cartoon character of all and knowing that astronauts think he's cool too is a like a rocket boost for me. :)

OK, I'll leave you with the Mean Kitty Song!
Every time I pass a "Sparta Bank" this song starts playing in my head.

Why socialisim when it comes to healthcare isn't such a dirty word

Living in Germany has given me a new-found perspective on the whole socialism angle. Like most Americans I was brought up to believe that it was evil and would lead to the downfall of any economy leaning on socialism's tenuous tinderbox base. But a few years in a country which is not only living well under a modified form of socialism, but also thriving has opened my eyes.

Right now America is in the throes of trying to fix its fractured health care system. One thing for certain, no matter what is done, it is going to be painful for some. It is going to be painful for the taxpayers (at least at first). It is going to be painful for the elected officials who must decide what is right. And it is going to hurt doctors in the pocketbook. But trust me on this. It is NOT going to be painful for the insurance and pharmaceutical companies. No, they are now pumping so much lobbying money into our Congressmen's pockets in order to maintain their own interests, that sincerely I doubt if anything changes at all unless it is advantageous for the insurance and pharma industries.

I would like to take just a moment to point out a blogger friend's series on Universal Health care in Germany and the differences between here and America. I know that it will involve reading, but I suspect that it is information which every American should know while trying to make an informed decision.

Here is just an excerpt:

How do health statistics compare between Germany and the US?

Looking at the World Health Organization’s Core Health Indicators, Germany has better numbers than the US in most health care related statistics. Here are some highlights:

• Life expectancy at birth, for both sexes combined, is 80 years in Germany and 78 in the US
• Healthy life expectancy at birth, for both sexes combined, is 72 years in Germany, 69 years in the US
• Infant mortality rate (per 1000 births) for Germany is 4.0, the US is 7.0
• Hospital beds (per 10000 people) is 83 in Germany and 32 in the US
• Physician density (per 10000 people) is 34 in Germany and 26 in the US
• Total expenditure on health as percentage of GDP for Germany is 10.7%, the US is 15.2%
• and Per capita expenditure on health is $3250 in Germany and $6350 in the US

Scary isn't it?
Please take a moment and visit AmiExpat's site for more information.

• Her first in the series was a description of the health care system in Germany.
• The second was her own experiences in the German and the US systems,
  
• Third up was reader submitted experience with health care in Germany.
  
• The fourth post was experiences with universal health care around the world.
• A fifth post is asking those living in the German system to talk about their experiences.
  

Think about this folks: America has the 37th worst quality of health care in the developed world. And the most costly. Costing over twice as much as every other county. Conservative estimates are that over 120,000 people die each year in America from treatable illness that people in other developed countries don't die from. Rich, middle class, and poor alike. Insured and uninsured. Men, women, children, and babies. This is what being 37th in quality of health care means.

Personally I have two brothers who are as of right now uninsured. One is "underemployed" one is self-employed, and both are unwilling (read unable) to fork out the extra dough required for personal insurance. It scares me to think about it, but if something serious happened to either one of them, it could mean foreclosure on their houses. I myself rode the no-insurance wheel in America for a long time when I was either in between jobs or was only working part time.

What else should you do to make an informed decision before following the herd...? Read! Here is HR 3200, in its entirety.

I think I will write out my own experiences with German health care, but I'm afraid that will have to wait for a day or two. But if you didn't visit the links above, please do reconsider.

The Fastest Man in the World - Like a Bolt of Lightning

You could have heard a pin drop in the Olympic Stadium here in Berlin last night. The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics held Berlin in its grip. The contenders were all lined up, the race to define the World Champion in the 100 Meter Race. The winner would claim Gold in the event, and could possibly break a World Record and claim the coveted "Fastest Man in the World" title. As for the almost 75,000 witnesses at the edge of their seats, any people left talking were shushed immediately, adding to the tension.

Pop goes the gun and out of the gate a stream of green and yellow. Jamacian Usain Bolt never looked back. The rest of the pack tried to stay somewhere close, but Bolt broke out before the 1/3 mark and left them all in his dust to set a new World Record of 9.58, shaving off .11 from his last World Record set in Bejing.

What a triumph! (couldn't find the video in English.. .but Italian, French and even Japanese. What's the deal? American TV doesn't care?)


We were fortunate to witness greatness that night. Not only Bolt, but Brit Jessica Ennis won the Women's Heptathalon, and Kiwi Valerie Vili took the Women's Shot Put with a fantastic 20.44 meter throw and the German crowd jumped to their feet and went crazy when Geri thrower Nadine Kleinert threw a fantastic 20.20 and took Silver.

Another triumph which gladdened my heart was in that same tense 100 Meter Race. American Tyson Gay came in second and broke an American World Record with his 9.71 performance, the third fastest time in history. All of this and he still ended up looking like he was jogging behind Bolt. Tyson has been complaining of groin issues and hasn't been 100% for some time now. He put in a great race and has my admiration.

The two men will go on to compete in the 200 Meter Race on Tuesday and then again on Saturday for a Relay Race. All of which Bolt has previously struck gold and walked away with in Beijing.

One thing I did notice was that Bolt wasn't as cocky in this race as he was in Bejing where he began celebrating his win before he even got to the finish line. No, there were no arms thrown up in victory before the finish, no this time his face didn't relax until several meters past the line. Good for him. I bet he got a load of crap after that last bullshit performance. This picture is of course after the race itself. Bolt and his team mate (and 3rd place winner) Asafa Powell as they do their little celebration dance for the cameras.

It is so much harder for me to get behind such cockiness. Give me an athlete who is obviously trying his best, dealing with demons, working though diversity and I am with them 100%. Last night I was rooting for the ailing Tyson Gay and he did make a fantastic showing, giving the race lots of heart. Unfortunately while he is in his prime, this Bolt guy is also there, ready to take every award out from under Gay. It's all about timing people.

Which brings us to another point. Can this be for real? Bolt is shattering, not just breaking, he is shattering records left and right. He shaved .11 seconds off of his last record which was fantastic in its own right. Is it for real, or is Bolt a product of modern chemistry? I have no doubt he has talent, but are his records going to stand the test of time?

Will we hear about a doping scandal with Bolt at the center? I hope not. I really, really hope not. I WANT to believe in this guy, but it just seems like magic. He is said to be a lazy athlete, not showing up for practice, starting training too late in the season, partying at inappropriate times, wrecking cars... how does all of this add up? I suppose that time will tell.

In my heart of hearts I hope that at the center of all these Jamaican records is a soulful and inspiring coach with the ability to see into the hearts of young athletes and know who should be pushed toward which discipline in the most efficient way. Let's hope that there isn't something more sinister going on here, no East German style doping program, designed to bring out the best in the runners, but with long-term side effects which will eventually detract from the accomplishments of the individuals. While I would really like to see Tyson Gay get his golds, I would rather it not be this way. Let's just hope, and wait.

I got my first (and only) tears during a medal awarding ceremony for Men's Shot Put. American Christian Cantwell had taken Gold with a world leading heave of 22.03 meters. As he stood up there on the pedestal I beamed with pride for my country to get their first medal. All was OK until we stood for the American National Anthem and the raising of the flag. I had tears in my eyes before "What so proudly we hailed". No, I don't think I will ever lose my heartfelt pride in my home country.

If you're in Berlin, or if you are anywhere within decent range of the Hauptstadt, do come on down to watch and cheer during the 12th IAAF World Championships. Bolt and Gay will be racing again on Tuesday and Saturday, and of course there are LOTS of other contests to be decided in the next week.

Random Tuesday - The Burning Question

Hello and welcome to another round of TeePee Talk... OK, so not really. Bonus points to the person that comes up with THAT quote from a movie. (No cheating, I know the Interweb is a wonderful thing... but you know that you won't sleep at night if you do a Boolean search and come up with it.)

I'm kinda digging the Random Tuesday thing, big thanks goes to the UnMom for starting me on it. Now go over there and see how it's SUPPOSED to be done.

Has anybody else been fascinated with what is happening in Iran? Corrupt government hedging on dictatorship steals election and the people get pissed. Makes me harken back to the days of Al Gore v. Bush in Florida. You can bet your ass that there aren't any Mullahs decrying the "hanging chad". Where were the American protests about that event? Was I blissfully unaware of the public outrage?

"Mama don't take my Kodachrome away!"
The Eastman Kokak Company announced that it is retiring its famous film in light of declining customer demand in an increasingly digital age. Sales of the film are just a fraction of 1 percent of the sales for the company. 74 years of production! Whew! Think of how many of your family memories are on Kodachrome film.

Today on my way to work I caught myself humming Christmas songs... um, yeah.

Also on my way to work I managed to sail through three streetlights. YES, they were green, and that was the unusual thing; normally I get caught behind the red on each one. Isn't it wonderful when a random coincidence such as this happens? You almost feel as though you've been given a gift. My gift this morning felt like it shaved five minutes off of my commute.

Last weekend was the first part of the week long Gay Pride celebrations here in Berlin. The Motzstrassenfest is a two day street festival which I wait for every year. There is nothing like 400,000 gays and lesbians getting together to party. Everything goes and I really love it!

The thing which strikes me every year is that while the more "colorful" of our compatriots get more attention, the average homosexual is just like everyone else. As I wound through the streets taking in all of the humanity it struck me that these people aren't any different from straight people, they are simply trying to get through life the best that they can. Who cares if they love someone of the same sex? I've seen plenty of sex kink in the straight world... enough to say with some authority that taking a whip to your wife or having her wear a french maid's costume during sex games strikes me as a fine line from what gays and lesbians are shunned for.

That said, there is something about seeing a drag queen chomping on the business end of a pretzel in the shape of a giant penis to really put a smile on my face. Sorry no picture, I was in fear for my life if caught... she was at least six foot five inches tall before the stiletto heels, I hope that you will forgive me.)

Coming back to the public outrage I was considering with the "hanging chads"... It puts me in mind of the latest round of fiery protests here in Berlin. The radical left is taking out its anger and frustration at the government and anyone who has money by torching cars and trucks throughout the city. (some more pics here) Over 150 (check out a map of the locations... simply staggering) have been charred since the beginning of this year.

All of this was supposedly ramping up to the big Squat Tempelhof Airport demonstration which took place last Saturday. (more pics) They are protesting the city's decision to allow the construction of luxury housing on the grounds of the recently closed historic Tempelhof Airport.

If you know me well, you will know that I actually live close to the now quiet Tempelhof Airport. If you know me even better, you would assume that I was chomping at the bit to head down to the demo to squeeze off some shots to share with you. Sweet No would have had none of it, so I didn't even begin preparations. She was nervous about me attending a peaceful rally against the financial crisis a few months ago... and these boys were going to attempt crawling over the police force and an eight foot barbed wire fence and another police force to get onto the airport grounds. I didn't think I had much of a chance of getting away with that one.

This weekend while Sweet No is gallivanting off to one of the local lakes for a little underwater time, I will be whooping it up with a couple hundred thousand people down at the Gay Pride Parade, or CSD as it is known in Germany/Europe (CSD for Christopher Street which is where the Stonewall Riots took place). Can't wait!

Random Tuesday - Before Pride Edition

Let's take another ride on this Random Tuesday thing. The Un Mom will probably be surprised to learn that I'm joining her randomness a second time in a row, hell MY Mom would probably be astounded to know that I'm actually doing one of these "joining" things twice... well, if she read the blog that is.

Would you drive around with a car that had been vandalized to say "fAg" and "u r gay" in red paint? Erin is doing it, and girl... you go! I love how she's turned something horrible and stupid into a possibility to start people talking.

Reminds me of my own days of driving a really cool limited edition, available on the Internet only, Vapor New Beetle. Imagine a paint color that was such a light shade of blue that a great majority of men saw it as white, and lots of women stared affectionately as I passed. No kidding, it was a conversation starter for sure. There were MANY times that I was approached by people and asked to settle an argument about exactly WHAT color was my car. You can see pictures of my scale model of the car. Oh, and let me tell you... if I had wanted to be a pedophile I would have had my chances. MY GOSH people, teach your kids that having a cute little car does NOT mean that you should run up to any stranger and ask for a ride. This happened more times than I think should in this day and age.

Erin's story makes me think about how I had a rainbow sticker on all of my vehicles, yet as far as I can tell, I never had any vandalism. This could be caused by one of four three things, an open-minded simply educated town, really great luck, lack of skinheads in my city, or idiot thugs so stupid that they didn't know what it symbolized. Nice thought, eh?

Oh my gawd, has it really been 40 years since the Stonewall Riots? If you're clueless as to what this is, don't worry, way too many gay people don't know either. It was what can be thought of as the start of the Gay Civil Rights Movement. 40 years and we're still fighting for the right to have the same legal status as straight people? Makes me sad people.

I have always wanted a rainbow peace sign as a tattoo. Donations are accepted, and any donations coming in AFTER the fact can go toward my hospital bill when Sweet No finds out.

Lest you think this blog is going to be ALL LESBIAN - ALL THE TIME, let's move on, shall we?

Snooker has been feeling under the weather. Nope, it is not entirely because of the ... oh let's just say it... F*d up weather here in Berlin. April was summer with temps reaching slightly uncomfortable warmth, May was spring again with cooler temps than April, thus more like what May should be, and June... June has been like November or something. Cold, rainy, windy and just generally unpleasant doesn't make Snooker very happy you see.

The Germans say that there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. But hell, shall we throw out there that it is IMPOSSIBLE to KNOW what will happen in the day's weather by checking out the weather forecasts. One radio station says that it will be sunny until around lunch, then get more cloudy and rain by dinner time. The next says that it will be sunny all day and rain all night. The TV weather says that it will rain all day long, but clear up overnight. In reality it was sunny and warm all day and clear all night. I'M NOT KIDDING, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME! Unless a Berliner leaves the house everyday with an umbrella, sunglasses, a light coat, a heavy coat and special water-proof shoes... they should plan to be unprepared for what could possibly happen.

OK, back to being under the weather. Something happened to me on Saturday morning... my throat started to tickle and my internal thermometer turned off. (don't you just HATE when you KNOW you're getting a cold?) I didn't get a fever until Sunday, but I could tell by the fact that I always felt cold or always hot that something more than allergies were going to be messing up my life soon. All the "ward off a cold by taking our special, slightly expensive medicine at the first signs" didn't help. At this point I've been away from the office for two days, notice I didn't say "off work", just not physically at the office... there is a significant distinction. But the heavy load has passed, and my boss has officially given me the OK to be sick now... YEA! Still love working with her though.

Isn't that some crazy shit that's going on in Iran right now? Ah... I love the voice of dissent.

Being home all day has reminded me of the unfair life I lead. Do you KNOW what my cat does all day long? He sleeps, he eats, he poops. I get up at the crack of dawn and make my way to work, put in a full day of slavery cleverly disguised as contributing the the Gross National Product to bring home the bacon so that I can pay for the comfortable roof over his head, feed him the crack-like product which is known in my house as LAMB WHISKAS, and for the ultimate thrill... clean his shitter! Oh yeah, twice in 24 hours he deems it OK for me to caress him like the king he is. Now I ask you, which creature is higher in the intelligence ratings?

Watched two episodes of "House" tonight. Um, I think I like "Monk" better. Man, I'm not a doctor, and I just feel stupid after watching 39 minutes of House's arrogance. Oh, and if I were a patient and had to undergo treatment (which have the chance to be worse than the disease) for two diseases before he finally figures out what is the source of my ailment... I think I would be PISSED! It is just like I wouldn't want to be Jessica Fletcher's friend, you know, from "Murder, She Wrote". Simply knowing her or knowing someone that knew her was as good as a death sentence.

Movie club... I've decided to bastardize the book club craze and try out a movie club with the same basic premise. Our most recent version was a "classic night" where a group of people got together and watched "The African Queen" with Bogie and Hepburn. Afterwards we sat and chatted about the movie and what we thought. I think the next one should be picked out to polarize folks, perhaps "Doubt" with Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman would be a good choice. Aw shucks, if we are willing to incite a riot, maybe we'll just supply a bunch of wine and watch "Mama Mia" then dance and sing until we can dance and sing no more. Anyone have thoughts of the perfect movie club movie? Anyone? Anyone?
(get it? movie reference - bonus points to the first person that figures out what the H E double hockey sticks Snooker is babbling about.)

OK, enough. Peace out!
I hope nobody minds typos and strange sentences. My night time meds are catching up with me and soon I'll be blissfully unaware that the world exists outside of my dreams. Thus, no editing! Hey, is that random or WHAT!?

A New Beginning

If you think you should watch Obama's Cairo speech -- and are a bit like me and wondering if you really MUST watch something which is almost an hour long -- I am going to tell you that your time will be well spent. Watch it here and now, or catch it on the White House site complete with transcript.



"Violent extremists have exploited these tensions in a small but potent minority of Muslims. The attacks of September 11, 2001, and the continued efforts of these extremists to engage in violence against civilians has led some in my country to view Islam as inevitably hostile not only to America and Western countries, but also to human rights."

"It's easier to start wars than to end them.
It's easier to find things that are different about someone than to find the things we share.
It's easier to blame others than to look inward.
But, we should choose the right path, not just the easy path."

"Around the world, the Jewish people were persecuted for centuries, and antisemitism in Europe culminated in an unprecedented Holocaust. Tomorrow, I will visit Buchenwald, which was part of a network of camps where Jews were enslaved, tortured, shot and gassed to death by the Third Reich. Six million Jews were killed – more than the entire Jewish population of Israel today. Denying that fact is baseless, ignorant, and hateful."

"They [Palestinians] endure the daily humiliations – large and small – that come with occupation. So let there be no doubt: the situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable."

“The only resolution is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states, where Israelis and Palestinians each live in peace and security."

“Israelis must acknowledge that just as Israel's right to exist cannot be denied, neither can Palestine's. The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements. This construction violates previous agreements and undermines efforts to achieve peace. It is time for these settlements to stop."

"Just as it devastates Palestinian families, the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza does not serve Israel's security; neither does the continuing lack of opportunity in the West Bank. Progress in the lives of Palestinian people must be part of a road to peace, and Israel must take concrete steps to enable such progress."

""I reject the view of some in the West that a woman who chooses to cover her hair is somehow less equal, but I do believe that a woman who is denied an education is denied equality. And it is no coincidence that countries where women are well educated are far more likely to be prosperous.

"Issues of women's equality are by no means simply an issue for Islam. In Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia, we have seen Muslim-majority countries elect a woman to lead. Meanwhile, the struggle for women's equality continues in many aspects of American life, and in countries around the world."

Stepping into the fire

Sadness and anger enveloped me as I read of the assassination of Dr. George Tiller in my hometown, Wichita, Kansas. First a little back history. Dr. Tiller was one of few doctors left in the country who would allow women to exercise their legal right to control their reproductive decisions.

The most controversial thing about Dr. Tiller was that he was almost alone in Kansas, let alone the country for performing late second and third term abortions. He was dealing with families who were making heartbreaking decisions to end their pregnancies in late gestation because of the knowledge that the fetus had unalterable abnormalities which could either be life-threatening and/or would cause severe disabilities, both physical and mental.

His life and the lives of his family were in almost constant danger simply because he was faithful to the law that gives women the right to choose abortion over problem pregnancies. The year I graduated high school, his clinic was bombed. In 1991 while I was being robbed at gunpoint, the police officer who responded to the call seventy minutes later apologized because Operation Rescue's "Summer of Mercy" anti-abortion protests at Tiller's clinic were taking the resources of so many officers that they were understaffed. In 1993 someone shot Dr. Tiller in both arms which was as you can see just one of several murder attempts made previous to the one which ended his life as he was serving as an usher in his family church last Sunday.

OK, let's step back for a moment. I don't need to tell the reader that abortion is a terribly divisive subject. Even those who identify as being for reproductive rights will lay the line in different places, either for the right to use contraceptives but no abortion, or for abortion but just in the first trimester, or allowance for abortion up into the second trimester.

As a lesbian who does not intend to have a baby I feel that I have about as much of a say about abortion as the average man. No guy has an idea what it is like to miss a period and wonder - no, FEAR - that a pregnancy has started. They've never questioned themselves about what would happen if the person 50% responsible drops out of their lives when they find out that their sex games have consequences which will have dirty diapers.

Also as a lesbian I have never felt the stirring of a fetus in my womb and filled with joy at the thought of bringing another human life into this world. Thus I cannot even begin to understand the horror which a woman who pines for a child yet is barren would feel when considering that abortion is one of the most performed surgeries in America today with over twenty-five percent of pregnancies being ended prematurely.

I'm not going to get into the right and the wrong of what Dr. Tiller was doing in his clinic every day. All I can say is that it was sanctioned by the law in Kansas, and for me that is where it ends.

What I can speak about is my disgust for vigilante justice. No individual has the moral right to become judge, jury and executioner. Due process of the law must be respected in modern society or anarchy prevails.

This man was the fourth abortion doctor to be killed by a vigilante in the last few decades. Is the pro life movement a bunch of fringe lunatic terrorists? No, I wouldn't say that anymore than I would say that the gay rights groups are terrorists. I would say that they are both trying to get laws changed according to what they believe is right.

What I do take issue with is the anger and violent words spewed forth by the pro life movement since Roe v Wade. As a Wichitan in the early 90's I was subjected daily to anti-abortion activists holding up signs with pictures of bloody body parts and screams that I should be in the protest with them if I found the practice disgusting. Witnessing a ten year old child screaming "You're going to murder your baby you stupid bitch" as a tearful pregnant woman with her head down hurried into the nine foot iron gates of Tiller's clinic. All of this as the child's assumed mother looked on with a gleam in her eye. This was for me the epitome of repugnance.

People like Bill O'Reilly have been inciting anger and violence against individuals like Tiller for years. Does this make him partially responsible? By the way, it turns out the man suspected in Dr. Tiller's murder was a huge O'Reilly fan. Are we surprised?

No doubt Bill has come back and said that it was not his intention to incite violence, he may even decry the murder, but there is plenty of evidence that he himself has said that he would like to do away with Dr. Tiller. But then again, let's just add this to a long list of things I don't appreciate about Bill. Nah, he's just spewing those hateful words to reach his base. The problem for me is, his base seems to be OK hearing it. Of course Dr. Tiller was under attack long before O'Reilly even had a show, so blaming him just seems stupid, right?

If you believe in a woman's right to choose you have a duty, even a right to speak out against those who would take that away. If you believe that abortion is murder, you also have a duty and a right to speak out against this practice. Welcome to America. Freedom of speech is a strongly held belief. But does either side have the right to incite violence for the cause?

Just like everyone else I filter the news through my own life's experiences. I have to look at this from my perspective with a minor change. If I were standing in front of a Wichita city official trying to obtain a marriage license for me and my Sweet No, allowing her to immigrate to America and for us to be together, would I be driven to murder because this person says that two women are not entitled to this right? Will I incite others to commit murder if they are in similar circumstances? Would I stand by and listen as someone in the gay community called for the murder of people withholding these rights? The answer to these questions, an unequivocal no.

I am just as frustrated as many of the average anti-abortion people, why would I not be willing to listen to my community leaders calling for the death of all those responsible for withholding my rights? Because I know it is wrong.

No, those people are doing their job, upheld by the law. Until that law changes, those people should be protected for doing their jobs. They certainly don't deserve to die any more than Dr. George Tiller did.

My thoughts are with Dr. Tiller's wife, children and grandchildren in this time of sorrow.

“However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence.” - President Barack Obama

Been reading:

• Abortion: A Response to the Pro-Life Arguments
• The Politics of "Murder"
• Pro-Life Tiller Response Continues: Shooting Abortion Practitioner Not Pro-Life
• No Vigilante Violence Against Abortionists!
• Abortion-rights groups: Other side's words led to Tiller death