A majority of republicans back restrictions on carbon pollution, but GOP lawmakers aren't listening

POLL: REPUBLICANS BACK LIMITS ON CARBON
An AP survey finds half of Republicans back restrictions on carbon pollution, even as GOP lawmakers vow to undo environmental regulations they claim harm the economy.

Well DUH. 
That ending should read a little different, "... undo environmental regulations they claim harm THEIR CORPORATE MASTERS".

Individuals who think that Republican politicians have the voter's interest in mind are delusional. 

Sure, the party platform makes a big deal about those scary gays, abortion, religious freedom, pledge of allegiance in schools, and whatever hot topic FOX news and the pollsters say their constituents worry about the most. But in the end the Republican party is all about money, power, and how to get more of both.

When was the last time that the entire Republican party got seriously behind any kind of anti-abortion legislation? No, in reality these folks may talk about Christ, but they have a different master, corporations.

By touting themselves as the "traditional values" party, the GOP have fooled the electorate into following them like the "sheeple" the working class seem to be. Once the election is won, "traditional values" fly out the window in the interest of the almighty Dollar.

Before I get off of my soapbox, I have to say something about the idiot in the Kansas Governor's mansion. Billionaire Koch brothers money just recently bought and paid for a second term of Sam Brownback. 

Brownback was a U.S. senator for 14 years and a 2008 presidential candidate. He pushed through legislation which cut taxes and spending, eliminated state jobs, denied a higher percentage of applications for welfare, while tightening abortion regulations and easing those pesky gun regulations.

He promised that these actions would stimulate economic growth, create jobs and STABILIZE the Kansas budget. But now the state shows a revenue shortfall of more than $300 million. The poverty rate has increased, and the state's economy expanded a total of 2.3 percent over the past two years... less than half the rate of the four surrounding states. On top of all this lovely news, the state's credit rating has been downgraded.

Just yesterday the Governor's office responded with how they intend to deal with the problem... by cutting even more public services and... wait for it... rolling that shortfall into 2015. 

Way to go Gov!

OK, I'm off of that soapbox. 
I will blame waaaay too much coffee and 30 minutes to kill for this abnormally political post. 

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.

Blackballing the CDU - It's About Time

Berlin Christopher Street Day Parade 2013

I'm happy to say that this year's Gay and Lesbian Pride Month "demonstration" felt more like a demo to me than it has in previous years. Most of the time it feels like an excuse to have a party... and perhaps for many people, it really is. 

But this year was the first that made sense to me. Through my time here in Berlin I've always been surprised to see all of the political parties represented at the gay and lesbian events. Not only during the parade, but also the Parkfest at Friedrichshain, and the Stadtfest at Nollendorfplatz have representatives spread throughout.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy the parties understand the power behind the gay voters. What I've never understood was the presence of the CDU (Christian Democratic Union - read, conservative party). These folks have consistently fought against gay rights... why would they even want to be seen at our events? 

Interestingly enough, shortly before the CSD Parade, the parade organising committee let it be known that the CDU would not be welcome. That's right, finally they stood their ground and effectively un-invited the conservatives who have been fighting without fail against LBGT issues. That will teach them, eh? OK, so maybe it won't open their eyes about equal rights for all humans... but I assume that it sent a message. This is the biggest party of the year, and the gays just blackballed the CDU. 

I have to admit it, I'm proud of the CSD Parade for kicking them out.

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.

 

CSD 2012

Christopher Street Day in Berlin.

It all started in the late 60's when a few pissed off people finally said "no more" as the police stormed into the local gay bar, New York City's Stonewall Inn, for their weekly shake down.

Some said that the patrons were mourning the death of Judy Garland and just started to fight back in anger when the police came in. Of course no one really knows what was so different about this night, but the gay men in that bar weren't having any of it, not any more. 

They pushed back when the police came in, and eventually they trapped several police officers IN the bar itself as the patrons left, and locked the doors. That will show you what a few pissed off drag queens can do.

More and more people filed into the streets of Greenwich Village that night in an angry and violent mood. The police had lost all control. 

The next evening another, even bigger crowd gathered in the streets and sparred with an even larger police force, but once again, the police lost control of the situation.  A few days later, once again more people filled the streets and generally let it be known that the archaic rules placed on American gays and lesbians was no longer to be countenanced. 

After seeing this general outpouring of anger, gay community leaders began to get together and form groups to do something with their new found power. Within three years there were over 2,000 gay and lesbian community groups mobilized in America. In my estimation these were the soldiers of '69, and I thank them for their bravery and courage. Because without them, we wouldn't be where we are now.  

These events are commonly referred to as the beginning of the Gay Rights Movement in America. It was a Rosa Parks moment. Just like the other groups of people in America who were insisting on their civil rights at that time, gays were ready to stand up and proclaim that the American Constitution guarantees equal rights for ALL men. 

Ask any gay person living in New York at that time and they will tell you that they were AT those riots. It is a common joke that EVERYONE was at Stonewall. 

A year later a memorial parade was planned. As the Stonewall Inn (owned by the mafia and by this time closed down) had been on Christopher street, they decided to start the parade at that location and call it the Christopher Street Liberation Day. This was the first American Gay Pride Parade, and is the namesake for the Berlin Pride Parade, as well as some others throughout Europe. 

Which brings us to today. I'm quite certain that the parade attended by hundreds of thousands of people (gay and straight) yesterday was quite a bit different than that first parade in the Village. For one thing it is all rather commercial, the next is the "let it all hang out" attitude which can be a bit shocking to first timers. I guarantee that those first parades were walked by men and women in suits and ties and generally quite "normal" attire so as to appear "normal" as well.

But in general it is good, safe fun and an enjoyable time with some of the best mobile sound systems to be had. This year's route took it past a cute little park at the corner of Dorotheenstraße and Neustädtiche Kirchstraße. What a PERFECT place for the trucks to stop and have an impromptu dance session. Wonderful!

Enjoy some pics

Next year I plan to check out the Transgenialer which is the alternative Gay Pride held in Kreuzberg. They say it is less commercial. Perhaps that is where I belong, even though I must admit that I LOVE dancing behind the BIG trucks with their chest thumping beats.

Some would say that in these times when gay people are getting more and more rights, do we really still need gay pride? I say yes. It is a time for us to take to the streets and show the world who we are and that we are proud of it. 

All of my CSD pics can be found here. 

 

What Kind of Fresh Gay Hell is This? (OR Why are you in Germany, Snooker?)

Today I received an email from Democrats Abroad (the overseas branch of the US Democratic Party). In it was a warning that discussed how the consulate services would change for people wanting to bring foreign family with them when they move back to the U.S.

In that letter was a simple text which caught my eye, "We have a long-standing commitment as Democrats Abroad to simplifying the path to citizenship and legal permanent residency for non-American spouses and close family members".

Uh huh... and gay and lesbian spouses?
Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot?

I did a little Googling and found not so much as a
news piece on how DA is supporting legislation in the House and Senate right now... the Uniting American Families Act of 2011.  

OK, so I don't regularly pump money into the DA, but I do support them occasionally. Upon reading this email, I am struck by the notion of  "What have you done for me lately, DA?"

I'll give DA a break because actually there are relatively few people/organizations who care about my plight. But before I delve deeper into my special situation, perhaps you should know more about it. Let's go to bullets, shall we?

• Fell in love with a German girl in 2000
• She came to visit me in the States often in 2001 and 2002, I also visited her in Berlin during these years
• Tried to legally have her move to America starting in 2003 with a student visa (no other legal methods available - university is free or cheap in Germany, but we are willing to pay for the education if it means we can be together).
• Based on the fact that she had entered the country six times in the past two years she was considered a "risk of overstay" and denied a student visa which also cancels her out of the visa waiver program forever... she can't come to America for at least year because of this denial. 
• Shortly after the denial she pays more money for the privilege to go to the Consulate - armed with proof that she intends to return to Germany - to appeal the denial of both the student visa and the visa waiver program.
• She met with the same woman who had denied the original request... you guessed it, denied once again. (K**** ******, if Sweet No ever sees you on the street, she won't be such a Sweet No anymore.)
• On the other side of the Atlantic, I tried Lambda Legal Defense who told me that if either she or I had a penis, this would all be really easy... but gays can't petition to bring their future spouses to America... Sorry Snooker.
• Found out that the states which have recently been allowing gay marriage have nothing to do with our situation. Immigration is at the Federal level, and thanks to the Defence of Marriage Act, (DOMA) the feds (and the other states) don't have to recognize any homosexual marriage performed in those states, not to mention other countries. Sorry again, Snooker.
• Tried a shyster immigration lawyer who was happy to take my money and petition "da gubermint" for us, but to no avail.
• Sweet No goes back to the American Consulate in Berlin after her year banishment from travel to America and meets up with a nice guy who seems to sense her desperation and takes pity on her, issuing her a 10 year "B1/B2 visa", allowing her to travel to the States again, and with much more lenient travel restrictions (maximum length of stay 6 months instead of the normal 3 months). 
• Happy Dance... but still, it doesn't REALLY keep us together.
• Sweet No wants to work and be a contributing member of society, just coming in for VISITS is simply frustrating. Of course entering and overstaying illegally are not even up for consideration. 
• In 2004 I got sick and tired of watching my girl walking to airport security through the tears in my eyes and decided to move to Germany to be with her. FuckYouWashington
• Sold everything, gave up my career, said goodbye to friends and family in preparation to leave.
• 2005 the cat and I leave the "Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave" to be in Germany which accepts my love of a woman. Germany also allows me to have a "separate, but equal" civil partnership with Sweet No. Immigration is pretty much the only benefit of the Lebenspartnerschaft, but it was a good thing in our case. (Thankfully the Greens keep making another go of equalizing this situation in Germany, maybe some day they will get lucky.)
• January of 2005 we signed our civil partnership and had our - yes, we share a birthday - birthday on that same day. Great birthday present, no?
• Because of her special visa we are rather lucky, she isn't under suspicion as are many others in our situation. If foreign same-sex spouses come to the United States accompanying a U.S. citizen, (even for a short visit of the U.S. citizen's family), U.S. Immigration might deny visa privileges to the spouse out of fear that they will be tempted to overstay their visa dates to remain in the country with their spouse (perhaps even challenging the anti-gay marriage laws as we are LEGALLY partnered in another country). Thus, gays and lesbians (especially politically active ones) have been known to be turned away at the gates.
• Wish us luck, that visa expires in just a few years. (update, she was given the same visa again, so no problems there)

In the end I had to face lots of the same problems as other "love exiles". I had to give up my career and move far away from my family. This is being felt even more now that my Mother is dealing with declining health and I would like to be there for her. But as it is, if I need to be in the U.S. for a longer period of time, I have to choose between being with my wife or being with my American family. It's really rather unfair, and it makes me into a second-class citizen... one who STILL needs to pay American taxes even though I don't live in the country. 

So where are you going with this, Snooker? 
I really don't know. It is just that something has been awakening in me lately.

Political cartoon by Darrin Bell

Those who came before helped to blaze the trail for me and others like me to be openly gay, often at great personal sacrifice to themselves. Those pissed off queens turning the tables on police during a scam raid on the Stonewall Inn in the late '60's and starting the "Gay Revolution" are a fine example.

Barbara Gittings and her friends stood up and said that they wouldn't take being considered second class citizens - and worse yet, mentally unstable - during the '60's (which lead The American Psychiatric Association to officially declassify homosexuality as a mental illness in 1974 - but it wasn't until 1992 that the World Health Organisation followed suit). The good people of GLAAD and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force have done so much to further the cause. And who could forget Harvey Milk and the work he did for the community before being gunned down himself.

Let's not forget the organizations working tirelessly on this very topic:
Immigration Equality Action Fund
Out4Immigration
Love Exiles Foundation

So what are you doing, Snooker? is a question I often ask myself. Yeah, I'm living pretty well, but only because I ran. I am part of a US binational same-sex couple who had the money and ability to simply move away from the situation and now the whole anti-gay thing doesn't have so much of a grip on me.

This has reminded me of a book I have recently seen advertised, "Torn Apart - United by Love, Divided by Law" by Judy Rickard. Perhaps I should just order it now, proceeds go to organizations working to overcome U.S. immigration denial for same-sex binational couples. (tick, tock... time passes... cue shot to a clock with moving pendulum) OK, the Internet has worked its magic. The book is probably whizzing my way right now. It was even available at Amazon.de.  

But what about the others? What about those folks left behind who would like to have the same rights as the supposed "normal" people in our society? What about those kids right now who are counting on my generation to do our part to further gay civil rights to benefit their generation? UGH, that is a terrible weight to bear. But I say here and now that I will do more towards this goal. I DO still have a vote in American politics (my wallet feels it, even if I sometimes don't), I DO still have a voice in what happens. Perhaps I just need to raise that voice a bit more often.

Any suggestions how I can do that?

Lesbschwules Parkfest Friedrichshain 2009

After a full day of shopping (bought some wear-all pants with zip off bottoms for the New Zealand trip) and running around, we thought we would trip on over to Friedrichshain Park in East Berlin to take part in a gay and lesbian tradition, the Lesbschwules Parkfest.

One day a year the open air concert/movie arena in Friedrichshain Park becomes the play place of several thousand gays and lesbians. There were about 25 booths from all walks of life, including of course the normal fare for such festivals... Wurst and Beer. But there were some coffee/tea vendors as well as political (Germans will go to the polls soon, the political signs are going up and the candidates are out in full force) and professional service people. Tons of organizations come out, from the Lesbian readers, to the Asexuals (we never thought to ask... does that mean that they aren't attracted to anyone?) and don't forget the Gay Yoga Group.

We haven't been to this celebration since my first year in Berlin, which puts us back to 2005. What can I say, we're always busy, or out of town, or it is pouring rain.

The last time I was there Klaus Wowereit, the Mayor of Berlin came up on stage and gave a rousing speech. Of course I had not one iota what the good man said, but the people seemed to be digging it. What I was excited about was that the guy up on the stage is a gay man and I now lived in his city. For a lesbian who had just left Wichita, Kansas I was possibly understandably jumping for joy. What a liberating experience. Of course this was LONG before I had the opportunity to party with the wild and crazy boy... ask me about that sometime!

As far as I know Klausi wasn't on the program for today, I just know that I didn't see him there. But we did get to hear a few bands and there were several speakers. Mostly what I did was sit and watch the people, it seems to be my favorite past time these days. And let's admit it, at such an event, there are really some interesting people to see.

It seemed like every third couple I saw was trailing a kid of some form. The older sisters had a young teenager in tow, the middle-agers had todlers, and the "oh my gawd are they really old enough to have children?" people had the teeny babies. There were a few gay male couples with kiddies, although I think it was certainly heavy toward the lesbians in this regard. It wasn't stroller heaven like some park fests I've been to... but it was close.

All in all it is good, clean fun... at least during the daylight hours, I've never been there at night. When I think about the fact that not too many decades ago a group of gays and lesbians congregating like this in a public park would be asking for police brutality, I get a smile on my face and remember that we've come a long way, baby.

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

No Words Needed

Thanks to Dustin and his friend, Rusty.

OH Bama!

We checked out the big Inaugural party in Berlin tonight. Seems that it was the biggest party in the world, outside of America.
Goya was the venue, with both Democrats Abroad and Republicans Abroad as sponsors.
See a few more of my pictures here.

Bar-ack O-Bama Herz-lich Will-kom-men

What a day to be an American.

Last night an expat friend said something which stopped me in my tracks. All the stress of a busy work world just sunk away. "Tuesday is going to be a great day to be an American."

She's absolutely right. It IS a great day to be an American. So here's to Obama. Dude, you've wheedled yourself into a job no sane person would want. I wish you all the best.

I have some hopes for you. It is my sincere desire that you are able to achieve even 1/10 of your aspirations. For your family I wish all the best with as little interference from the press and political world as possible. Like many Americans, and may I say it, even many of the world's citizens, I hope that you and your cabinet are able to find a way out of these many crises and take the United States into a positive direction.

For now all I can say:
Yes We Can!

Been listening:
This morning on rs2 (radio), the regular segment of Küss mich Kanzler (Kiss me Chancellor) was really cute. The premise of the segment is the home life of Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel. The fact that she is a woman, and that her husband stays completely out of the public eye is very interesting, funny to think about even. Sound-alike voices in the show are simulating the Chancellor and her husband just going through life's little problems exploring with a funny edge that she is the leader of Germany.

Although I only heard the last part of the piece, what I got was really cute. Sung to the tune of "Sweet Home Alabama, All Summer Long" was "Bar-ack O-Bama Herz-lich Will-kom-men". Tee hee hee!

I found the website which normally posts the pieces, but it isn't up as of this morning. Maybe later today it will be available. I'll have to check back later for another listen.

Been watching:
Fight for Kisses - OMG!! This is cute. The mommies/daddies will really enjoy this creative video. Dancing baby, move over!

W is still haunting me

Don't get me wrong. I'm not an ungrateful person, certainly not an ungrateful daughter. But coming to Phoenix to visit my mother and brother gives me two alternatives if I wish to be mobile. Either I spend money on a rental car, or I borrow my Mom's Buick.

Now... considering what the drivers behind me will see as I tool down the Tempe city streets... does anyone else understand why I am mentally adding up the true costs of car rental?

Oh well, the stereo kicks ass. At this volume I couldn't possibly hear any verbal attacks.

The first night of my visit she started talking badly about Obama and I felt the need to calmly defend my democrat principals. I thought she was going to kick me out of the house... whoops.

W Shoe'd By Iraqi Reporter

One of my favorite reads came up with a video that still has me giggling periodically.

Oh my! I wonder what the new security protocol will be when having a press conference with the President? Will everyone need to be naked, or is it just shoes which will be considered dangerous?
Seriously though. How bad can this man's opinion be of the President of the United States for him to go to such lengths? How much further can America fall in the eyes of the world?

I especially loved Ian's comment, "Notice the quick reaction Bush has? It’s all that practice ducking responsibility."

Been reading:

• Iraqi shoe-throwing reporter becomes the talk of Iraq - See above... geeze
  
  
• Germany to decide on new economic stimulus late next month - This is causing quite a stir in the EU. Germany seems to be snubbing its nose at the solutions offered by some of the greatest financial minds in the world. I wonder what the deal is?
  
  
• Same-sex couples denied EU right to freedom of movement - Remember, it is not just the US that restricts the rights of gays and lesbians.
  
  
• World Toilet Day and the perilous poo platform - Oh the German shelf toilet. I'm told that the shelf is there so you can check your health. Funny, my Mother told me that all we needed to do was to check the floating status of our poo to gauge our health. (Floating means you have enough fiber) Are the Germans saying that my Mother is wrong!?!
  
  
• How Germans Really See English Ad Slogans - I've often wondered how much the average German understands when they read some of the slogans around town. Of course right off the top of my head I can't think of some of the worst ones...

Amy Goodman in Berlin

Award-winning journalist Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! was in Berlin to mark DN's 12th anniversary and to promote her newest book, "Standing Up To the Madness - Ordinary Heroes in Extraordinary Times".

The theme of her speech was the importance of a free and independent media and it really resounded with me. Being back in the States just a few weeks ago reminded me how much the American people are fed only what the government wants them to hear. This was not news. I saw Brittney Spears on NBC Nightly News... this is just shameful.

You may remember Ms. Goodman. She along with many others was arrested while reporting on the Republican National Convention in St. Paul earlier this year. So much for the American free press. The video doesn't tell the whole story, for that you will have to go here.

The speech was great, and I picked up her "Standing Up to the Madness" book (which I got signed of course) for later reading. She'll be in Munich Saturday night. If you are in the area, I highly suggest checking it out.

Been reading:

• Worried About Thanksgiving (holiday) Fights with Right-Wing Family Members? - Oh MY! Why oh WHY didn't I have this lovely list with me over Thanksgiving? That's OK, I'm taking to memorizing it by Christmas.
  
  
• Fought Over Any Good Books Lately? - Interesting, considering that a book club to which I belong is having difficulties lately.
  
  
• Critics split over Cruise's Nazi role The Germans I know are really split on this. This guy is a hero to them, one of a few which even tried to stand up to Hitler. Having Cruise play him should bring out the fact that there was an active resistance. This is better than the idea that every time you see a German in a movie that he is a bad guy.
  
  
• Report pins detainee abuse on Rumsfeld - Finally. Now, let's put the bastard in Guantanamo.

Gay Marriage will save the American economy!

OMG! I just saw this posted by Sarah over at Regensblog. If you are a regular reader, I'm sorry for the duplication, but I just had to share.

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

Wow! Some stars came out for this one. The points are good, too bad that the voters in San Francisco didn't step up to the plate and actually vote. Duh, how do you expect to get the rights you want when you can't even get your voting block to the polls? Oh well, the video is cute as hell.

What McCain means to me now.

I'm ready for the word McCain to go back to what it was before all of this Palin scare... a company that sells french fries. In this case out of a vending machine at a train station. Oh... and yes, you can get ketchup OR mayo with these babies!

Yes what you see on the ground in front of the machine ... those are fries carelessly thrown aside.

The Resident - on being a liberal

Last night my deeply Republican mother and I had a political conversation. This usually ends badly as I am so far to the left, and she is so far to the right.

What it came down to was her using the term "liberal" as though it is a dirty word. The tone of her voice when she says it exposes her deep sense of loathing for the word and the deed. It is the same tone she uses when she calls me un-American, or Agnostic.

Perhaps what the latest presidential election has meant to me is that my elected leaders are no longer going to use the word "liberal" as a dirty word. It is no longer equated so easily with this un-American terminology.

I, like The Resident, am proud to be an American... and a liberal.

Virtual Post Election Bash

Welcome to the Virtual Post Election Bash courtesy of Diane at Martinis for Two!

I'm not sure if this is what she really had in mind with her idea, but after deep reflection throughout this November 5th, 2008, it is exactly how I feel.

For the entire time I've lived abroad it has been my habit to cringe when a well-meaning person has asked where I hail from originally. "Ummm... the United States."

"Oh, the land of George W. Bush", or something similar almost always comes out of their mouths next. Usually this is followed by some smart-assed comment about the Iraq War, Freedom Fries, WMD or "Where is Osama bin Laden anyway"? Some have even been callous enough to ask outright if I voted for the guy. To which I have always proudly answered that I didn't vote for him either time.

Talk like this on my part is what my mother would call "Un-American". Yes ladies and gentlemen, admitting that I am proud to have ticked my ballot for "ANYONE BUT BUSH" is not patriotic.

When I moved to Germany she implored me to not move away and "run down America" at every opportunity. What she didn't understand was that W was doing this much more efficiently than I ever could have.

As conservative America gasped in horror at Michelle Obama's statement that she was proud of her country for the first time... I was not horrified... I was mollified, relieved, calm even.

“For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country,” she told a Milwaukee crowd, “and not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change.”

Ladies and Gentlemen I too was horrified for years as I watched my friends and family support what I felt was a regime which was steadily approaching fascism. I myself gasped in horror every time I watched W impose another dictatorial control over the American people.

I observed with pain in my heart as he compromised the United States Constitution by his actions of disregarding the voices of both houses of Congress, the elected representatives of the citizens of the United States of America. With his every utterance of the word "Terror", designed to control and frighten the American public to its core, I held my breath... in the words of John Mayer, "Waiting on the World to Change".

And then along comes this guy. He's kinda goofy looking you know? His head is shaped a bit funny and well, let's admit it, his ears stick out.

But he opens his mouth and just like Michelle Obama, for the first time in my adult life I too am proud to be an American.

After decades of disregarded promises from politicians who always manage to sound like used car salesmen, after eight years of failed policies by George W. Bush, after feeling personally affronted by Bill Clinton's administration for bullshit like "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and don't forget the "Defense of Marriage Act", after all of this... I had almost lost hope for a LEADER to enter the White House.

Yet today I believe for the first time that a leader has come to this important position. On January 20th it is my feeling that a real man will be sworn into the Presidency of the United States, and I am proud.

I know that today for the first time in many years, I will be able to hold my head up and answer the question of my national origin... not with my normal hesitation... not with fear of retribution... but with PRIDE.

Thank you Barack Hussein Obama for bringing back my hope and pride in my homeland.

Maybe starting today the label Expatriate won't feel so much like Ex-Patriot.

Based on the content of his character

What a momentous occasion... America, even the world, is going through a transformation.

The country which re-elected George Bush in 2004 has shown amazing flexibility in electing an agent of change into the White House.

Three hundred thirty-eight electoral college votes. This man truely has the "mandate" which Bush claimed to have in 2004. The people of America have spoken. "We want change."

It is a testament to the quality of Obama's leadership that he was able to mobilize the American people in such a way as to get out his message and overcome great odds to win this election.

I have hope that the man displaying these qualities can help this struggling country and its people rise to the possibilities we all know they have.

Earlier this evening I heard something which astounded me, and I hope I got that right. The "spark" for the beginning of the National Association for the Advancement for Colored People (NAACP) was a race riot in Springfield, IL in 1908 - the beginning spot of Barack Obama's political career. In 2009 - the year Obama will be sworn into the office of the President of the United States - will be the 100 year anniversary of the official founding of the NAACP.

Congratulations Barack Obama.
Congratulations America.