ricchase's Blog

Gay Marriage, Is it Wise?

2009-09-22T05:30:22Z

I am fully aware that I am opening myself to a multitude of varying opinions by having the audacity to claim I have the qualifications to evaluate such a controversial and volatile subject as Gay marriage. But being smack dab in the thick of Gayness, the good, bad and ugly, for more than 50 years, I'm gonna be this audacious.

Being Gay gives one many unique perspectives. First and foremost, you don't wake up one day and realize you are Gay. It doesn't happen that way. It is a slowly evolving process. While I am certain being Gay is a human characteristic that is there from birth. A person is not conscious of what it is in infancy, of course. I would say not even in early childhood, say, from birth to perhaps ten to twelve years old. A gay person begins to have snippets of curious thought early in life. Different feelings that seem to randomly enter your processes from time to time, thoughts you instinctively know should not shared or revealed. You are not exactly certain why. But you do know they are not normal. At least not normal in the sphere you are accustomed to. The world you have been taught about. You have been raised, schooled and subjected to an exclusive heterosexual existence. The thoughts, feelings and perhaps desires that have been slowly manifesting within your psyche first start as a sociological taboo. This much you know. But this does not stop them from materializing within you. Gradually becoming more aware they are a part of what is you. You are somewhat confused about what it all means. You are cautious and apprehensive from the beginning.

At this point you become increasingly conscious of the fact you are different in a very basic way. You become aware that what you are experiencing within is not something most everyone else is. Through each individual's unique environment, circumstances and experiences, along with a variety of other factors the reality that one is Gay becomes established in the consciousness. Most will go with natures flow and grow accordingly. Some will refuse to accept this reality and fight their frightening, irreconcilable feelings. Often with varied but predictable results. Most which are not easy, pleasant or successful. To attempt to change basic human nature is generally a loosing exercise.

After acknowledging and accepting being Gay is a natural part of what and who you are, you are constantly confronted with a variety of vexing and extremely difficult choices. What do you do? Who do you tell? What will people think of you? What about your family? How will they react? How to live, in what can be a cruel and largely disapproving world. The challenges are immense and never ending. These are all huge issues that usually must be dealt with at a very young age. You have not matured. You do not yet have the learned faculties to make decisions, properly, with such complex and problematic but undeniable realities. You quickly become proficient at lying, manipulation and when necessary, altering or disguising your natural self to deal with whatever the situation requires to fit in or avoid detection. After years of honing chameleon like defenses it seems to become just another part of who and what you are. It is survival in a world that too often wants nothing to do with you. Often, even the people that profess to accept you, in reality wish you were not the way you are. This practical and necessary method of being included in the human race is understandably responsible for a wide variety and degree of neurosis, anxieties, insecurities and skewed development of personality. Every Gay person deals with their individual portion of these inflictions differently. Most are so strengthened by these experiences that we become intuitive, unusually creative, productive and "normal" adults with little to no difficulty. However, too often the result is immaturity, irrational and impulsive decision making. Many will lack the ability to make rational, consequential life decisions, but that does not mean you don't have to. And you can believe me when I say there are, sadly, disproportionate amounts of these people. A product of an unfair and unjust society. This is where the issue of Gay marriage becomes debatable.

I can personally attest to the fact that during my early adulthood and most everyone I knew, 16, 17 years of age, we were wild and reckless, to extremes. Having several long-term relationships and many more short term relationships was par. So impulsive and shortsighted were we that if legal marriage had been an option, we would have needed file cabinets to store our marriage licenses. Falling "in love" many, many times was as normal as having breakfast. Frankly, it was simply part of the culture. I am not convinced this has changed much. Especially for the younger Gay men. Many of who were either denied or actually disowned by their families. Shunned by lifelong friends. For myself, at least, it wasn't until I was well into my forties before I finally developed the mental and emotional maturity to grasp the idea of an enduring monogamous relationship. One that could be classified as secure enough to actually be legally married to another man.

In addition to the widespread, inherent characteristics I listed above, the Gay culture itself has not had enough time to mature. Only since the Stonewall Riots in 1969 have we been able to actually progress. The riots and subsequent exposure gave rise to the idea one could actually "come out of the closet", be public with our gayness. That perhaps being Gay wasn't some kind of cruel infliction to hide and be ashamed of. True, that was forty years ago. But I do not believe 40 years has been long enough for Gay men and the culture to evolve and mature to the point where way too many "impulsive" and knee-jerk, spur of the moment marriages would not still outweigh the serious, well thought out enjoinments. Thus making a mockery of the process and giving those that object for all the bigoted reasons Carte Blanche to cackle "I told ya so!"

Civil Unions with protected rights, without the legal ramifications that come with a failed legal, recognized marriage, I feel, would be a far more practical, initial approach. It is very important that committed Gay couples have many of the significant protections afforded heterosexual couples. But how are you going to separate the genuinely committed, deserving couples from the inevitable flighty, superficial and guaranteed to quickly fail marriages? And there would be MANY! The obvious answer is you can not. At this point and until it is widely acknowledged among ALL Gay people that legal marriage is serious stuff and not to be taken lightly, I do not in my heart feel full blown legal marriage is wise, just yet.

Change, Our Way.

2009-09-20T03:19:41Z

We, the people, can bitch, moan and complain all we want and it will not make one penny's difference. Look anywhere on the web and you'll find an over abundance of sites that do nothing but reveal right wing lies and treachery. Go to the comments section of those sites and there is no shortage of rage, frustration, expressions of betrayal by the Obama Administration, and rightly so. We share our heartfelt feelings with each other day and night. On and on. If you want to know how progressives and liberals (I still can't figure out the difference between these two) really feel about the current environment just find the comments section on any liberal blog. Recently, you will also find a curious uptick in right wing, conservative, extremist viewpoints mixed in as well.

Those are devilishly worded in such a way as to infuriate, divide and muddle the debate going on at the moment, with disappointing success. Personally I feel simply ignoring those obvious plants rather than replying with a off topic angry rebuttal would be very effective at dwindling their increasing numbers. I took notice on several of the comment sections of liberal blogs and articles about the right wing orchestrated Van Jones non-flap. I found that the infiltration of what I call "Planted Comments" almost equaled comments made by people expressing thoughtful views, pro and con, but none the less attempted to be constructive. Every time a "planted" comment would appear, it was replied to by infuriated liberals so often it took away from any semblance of the intended debate, over and over again. Objective achieved.

But more to the point, all this is occurring amongst ourselves. The true ferocity of liberal outrage goes no further than the comments section and maybe a few hundred emails from the more activist of us to congresspersons, advertisers, etc.

It's classic "Choir singing to the Choir" along with the arguably minimal effect of those emails. The truth in the basis of our outrage does not go out to the millions of ordinary people we want to think we are reaching. Hoping that the simple logic and rationale of our argument will have an positive impact against the onslaught of the "Twilight Zone" trash being widely spoken, written and broadcast by an unfair, dishonest mainstream media. You know, the media that's actually consumed and believed by the unintellectual, incurious masses. The truth of the matter is the liberal/progressive argument has almost no effect and the obvious reason is no one knows anything about our side of the debate, at least not any true or accurate presentation.

Until we figure out a way to weasel in on the locked and blocked public discourse that is now dominated completely by deranged talkshow hosts, lying corrupt politicians and compliant interviewers, we will get nowhere with a progressive agenda. Nothing will be "changed." And finally we will loose our best opportunity to restore America to sanity, fairness and actual accountability for those that would destroy everything and anything to advance their narrow corporate and political playbook. A playbook that doesn't happen to include anything but gross enrichment at the people's expense and one-sided power grabs. A playbook that makes further erosion of the democratic process necessary to succeed. Civil liberties have also proven to be a petty obstacle to obliterate.

Our voice is missing as part of a fair and equal agreement. As part of the intended equation of factors involved in our democracy. As admirably, tirelessly and hard as Liberal/Progressive blogs and web sites try to initiate meaningful change and broadly effective differences in our crumbling existence, it's not enough to tilt the scales in favor of truth, honesty and a just and fair outcome. We have to do more to break the stranglehold on truth the titans of "The Mainstream Media" have stolen from America. And we must finally realize and accept the "Whatever it Takes" cornerstone attitude will work for the good guys as well. It seems to have come to that.

One more thought. We may be on our own in our efforts to enact and secure a different political discourse. A discourse not to simply to fulfill the wants and needs of the Progressive/Liberal movement. If it is honest, fair and has equal benefits for all Americans it will stand on it's own. As often stated by others, "Truth has a liberal bias."

I say 'On our own' because it seems to me the necessary push for meaningful change is not going to come from this administration despite the rhetoric, reassurances and past promises. Most of those promises have been broken or completely ignored. And the rhetoric is empty or lacking substance when applied. So it's proving to be a pretty sure bet the "Change We Can Believe In" is going to have to come from entirely within our ranks. The necessary legislation and true change of policy will have to be brought about by us being the "squeaky wheel" that gets the lubricant, so to speak. Without our loud and persistent pressure on the people that actually create the legislation, etc., nothing is going to get done. Our Senators and Representatives are going to have to feel real heat. We must assume, based on recent history, the Obama administration is disappointingly pliant. They seem to bend to the greatest amount of pressure. We must be this pressure. And it has to be more powerful than that being successfully applied by those we know in our hearts and thinking brains, is dead wrong.

Devil's in the Details. The REAL Details

2009-09-16T14:22:34Z

I surmise it is prudent for me to clarify the following comment is my opinion, based on the novel idea of having my eyes and ears open and functioning properly.

Obama wants to preserve the "Patriot Act." To go along with indefinite detention of human beings without charges....or reason.

Obama's relentless continuation of illegal and reprehensible CheneyCo policies invented and forced upon an already suspicious, violated and Bush-weary America is quite simply more proof that Obama is yet another "Company Man." The first problem with all this "terrorist" hogwash is if these people are not military combatants then why is the military even involved to begin with. If they are denied constitutional, military, treaty guaranteed basic rights, the military has no "right" or legal authority to kill, capture and throw them into black holes. Terrorists, hunting them down, capturing or killing them or any other action should be a civil authority action. If they are committing criminal, rather than military descriptive actions, our armed forces have no business or moral authority to combat them on a worldwide scale. An international police agency such as Interpol, in conjunction with our own FBI would seem like the proper agencies to conduct any enforcement actions against them. Having or seeking to aquire heretofore illegal, or in many cases invented, policies to be sanctioned by civil legalities is an oxymoron at best. Any basis, no matter how massively misconstrued by this government, is idiotic, dangerous, immoral and against all of humanities guiding principles. Even the description of them being "Terrorists" is debatable. But that's a whole 'nuther story.

For Obama and his gang to first preach the obvious (On the Senate Floor!); That these actions from the get go are illegal, counter productive and repugnant. Then in rapid-fire expedience repeatedly continue, embrace and vigorously defend those, even extend the scope, at first makes Obama an unapologetic liar. But even worse, makes it obvious he is not the honest, principled, constitutionally savvy person he professed (or pretended) to be.With each passing day Obama is proving himself to be a rather dark-hearted, conniving hypocrite. It would appear he is not the master of his Presidency but indeed being instructed in his policies by the same dark forces that have engineered our foreign policy for the past several decades. Not to mention banking policy, steady degradation of civil liberties and maybe even the policies, rules and regulations that are supposed to protect our health and well being.

I dare say no U.S. President, since JFK, would or could go against the now firmly entrenched "Military-Industrial Complex" that has without a doubt taken over the United States of America. With the willing complicity of an equaling corrupt Media mechanism, now conveiniently consolidated into the hands of a few dark-hearted mega corporations. The truth is actually far, far more insidious than military and corporate entities taking control. With the ultimate goal of intentionally infuriating an uncooperative Muslim people. Forcing them to fight to retain and regain what is rightfully theirs. Then destroying them as a formidable and final obstacle to unbelievable ends. The intentional unjust confrontation and eventual decimation of Islam has been going on for a very long time. They have, as a people, refused to fall in line with "The Program."

Even with planted dictators, being setup and blamed for the many of the orchestrated horrors that occur in the world, the Muslim people have bravely stood by their beliefs and way of life. This in spite of being repeatedly assaulted by powerful forces determined to have control and ownership of the world totally consolidated into the greedy, megalomaniacal hands of a predetermined few. Most of the people in the world have long ago been brainwashed into wrongly believing the Muslim nations and people are and have been responsible for much of the conflict and discord in the world. Nothing could be further from the truth. This could only be true if it is wrong to defend oneself from unjust aggression, theft of one's land and mass murder of one's people with virtually no attempt by the rest of the world to learn the truth or even care, for that matter.

As far as I can see, this is what is actually behind these "in your face" humiliations, false accusations and atrocities being hurled at Muslim nations. These kind of barbaric and inhuman detentions, invasions and theft of lands and treasures are by evil, meticulously thought out design. Mr. Obama is disappointingly just the latest in a continuation of infamous enablers for the hidden powers that are pulling the strings of their puppets. here and in other countries around the world. Trying their patience is the refusal by Muslims to be forcibly homogenized into part of the recipe.

Senator Obama, YOU Must Change....NOW!

2008-09-08T14:27:51Z

Senator Obama must realize his generic rhetoric is not going to make headlines or get significant air time in the MSM. To combat this he needs to create headlines. This will require changing from gentle, calculated and empty criticism to fire-breathing, honest but thorough unmasking of the lies and distortions being so effectively used by the McCain/Palin machine. And stop listening to whomever is telling you that America can't handle the bare truth. We already know what the truth is, we just want you to blast it to the majority of Americans that never hear it and need to know, before it is too late to matter.

Senator Bama, Take Off The Lace Gloves, Or You"re Gonna Lose This For US!

2008-09-08T13:48:50Z

Senator Obama had best find his lower middle physical counterweights and start using them....FAST!! Or else he is going to lose this election. And not just for himself but also for the millions and millions of hopeful, frustrated Americans that put their faith and their votes behind a man that had fresh ideas, drive and the fortitude to convince us he was our man for change and and a better life. He must fight fire with hotter fire. The time for disciplined rhetoric and niceties to appear "civilized" and the superior leader is not working and has to be discarded. When they lie, Call it a lie! Tell America the truth about who and what these two really are. Get the idea out of your head that America wants nice. After the last 8 years of torture, we want Blood! If you can't deliver the "Red Meat" then get the hell out of the way and let Joe Biden at 'em. Surrogate tag teaming is working for McCain/Palin because Americans like fighters. We have had it with political correctness. That is so '90's. Tough times require tough leaders. And time is running out.

One of the reasons McCain/Palin are being successful is their willingness to be pit bulls. Right or wrong, it is working and you best take notice and take off the lace gloves. And fully release Joe Biden. He speaks the truth with force and fight, and in case you haven't noticed, Americans like that. Now, Senator Obama, get your butt out their and win this thing for America. We NEED you to win!

The Roveian McCain/Palin Machine At Work

2008-09-06T05:51:12Z

"MCCAIN ALLIES MOVE TO DERAIL TROOPERGATE INVESTIGATION"

This stuff is textbook GOP operational tactics. If the truth is going to hurt, cover it up. Manipulate it. Distort it. And above all, deny any of it has merit. But there is another, bigger and more devastating problem here. The public at large is not being adequately informed of this investigation or the attempted cover up by the McCain/Palin machine. The completely disgraceful and un-American Main Stream Media is being irresponsible and almost criminal in not following this story with the same tenacity as, say....an Obama (non)issue they are so fond of frothing at the mouth over, and over, and over.

McCain/Palin was able to lie, distort and manipulate the truth of most of their statements contained in their acceptance speeches. And continue on a daily basis with virtually no rebuttal from the "Joe Six-Pack" press. The press, let us not forget, that too many voters actually get their (mis)information from. Americans,in general, have to be the most misled and dumbed down people on earth. This is one of most horrendous, tragic and dangerous results of the Cheney/Bush administration.

Where Are Our Thomas Paine's ?

2008-07-25T21:44:30Z

One is left with only the option of befuddling speculation when trying to answer why this administration, in whole, is not already impeached, under indictment or jailed. There are no rational or practical explanations. Congress clearly has all the justification needed to long ago have proceeded with impeachment. I hold them in contempt of their legal responsibilities to the Constitution and the American people. There can no longer be any doubt they are either being blackmailed, or worse, in secret and willing collusion with this neoconic and dangerous regime. There is a vile and insidious process underway to subvert the American form of government and to curtail and contain the liberties and freedoms guaranteed us in the U.S. Constitution. It also seems evident that if this gathering storm is not stopped and reversed by a brave, steadfast and TRULY patriotic Congress and law enforcement apparatus as REQUIRED by the Constitution, the inescapable duty and responsibility will ultimately rest with the people of this once great and free land. The time to correct this massive attack on America by neoconic traitors is past due and has entered a critical phase.

Partners in Crime, Democrats and Republicans

2008-07-06T06:44:09Z

After witnessing, time after time after time, the illogical and baseless collusion by democrats of bowing down to this completely corrupt administration in allowing illegal and unethical legislation to slither through, I can only reach one undeniable conclusion. Whatever reasons and unfathomable objectives are being used to justify being accomplices in reformulating the legal and governmental processes in the United States are being achieved by completely willing legislators and officials on every level. In spite of the deafening outcry from the citizens of this land to stop undermining our way of life and government, Democrat leadership, in concert with republicans have forged ahead with legalizing fraud, tyranny, murder, plundering the treasury and purposely undermining and rendering ineffective our military. These completely counterproductive and destructive acts COULD NOT be achieved without mutual cooperation from dark souled legislators from both sides of the aisle and from both houses of congress. People of America, we are being used, abused, lied to and manipulated by our own government. Democrats and republicans alike. It is time, the time is now.

Casualties of Freedom and Democracy? So Be It

2008-06-25T15:14:29Z

Never in my life, and I have lived a long time, have I witnessed to this degree such self-serving, corrupt, lying, pandering, destructive, completely unbelievable and dangerous American politicians. What in the hell are they doing to us? I do not care or accept any twisted political logic or reasoning being tossed around for justification. Afraid of loosing an election? Who cares? Yes, there may be casualties, but in the "everything matters" environment congress has created, casualties of congressional positions are the least they could sacrifice, given what is at stake. They have no problem in telling our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan there will be casualties, ultimate casualties, while they try to fix what Washington (In total!) has broken. If our troops should be expected to suffer casualties, then the democratic congress that helped put them in harm's way can suffer some of their own. Hardly a fair trade-off, but it's a start.

The current popular reasoning of the majority democratic congress to allow the constitutionally invalid FISA bill to slither through, with telecom immunity intact is nothing short of blatant cowardice and a dereliction of their sworn duty to protect and defend the constitution and the laws of the land. And most certainly not what Americans elected them to achieve. Make no mistake, if the senate votes to pass this bill today, a very dangerous precedent will be set allowing future administrations to continue the abuses that have rocked America to it's core.

What, America is Rascist?

2008-06-24T03:04:47Z

When I was a kid, more than 50 years ago, race “relations” were not an
issue of any obvious concern. (Unless you happened to be black) Everyone
knew where everyone else stood in regards to race. It was quite literally
a “black and white” plank in our society. Blacks over there and whites
over there, which was fine with most everyone. (Unless you happened to
be black) It never registered with white people that black people were
being treated like so much rubbish, to put it very mildly. But then we
had the civil rights movement of the 60’s. The passage of civil rights
laws and legitimacy thrust on an unprepared black society. Uneducated,
poor and basically aimless blacks then had the power of the federal
government to pave the way to equality and the same prosperity enjoyed
by the white race. Suddenly and tragically the lone voice of hope and
reason was silenced by a gunshot. The guiding force, the perceived
overseer of injustice and the leader of the movement was murdered.

Since Dr. King was murdered there has not been a central voice to help
steer the black movement. Until the same kind of leadership and voice of
reason, hope and influence is once again at the head of the ongoing and in many
ways–stagnant fight for equality and justice for all black people, white
people will continue to all too easily ignore and minimize the blatant and
disgusting inequality that is everywhere……Still.

What I see, today, at this point, is an unstoppable force and an
immovable object. Translated, I see no progress to any discernible
degree for black people in this country. They still receive the short end
of the stick in employment, healthcare, housing and in general opportunity
and recognition as equals. This entire segment of our society is merely
slugging along. Far too many are disenfranchised from any dream, much
less the American dream. And frankly, I see nothing in the immediate
future that is going to change this unless the methods of achievement
change and the white establishment becomes willing to recognize their
complicity and half-hearted efforts to actually do something to help alter
the staus quo.

Likewise, the African American community must also find the leadership within their numbers to demonstrate the enormous potential they possess and the advantages of breaking down the walls put up by stubborn individuality and holding on to outdated, antisocial and completely
unproductive isolationism, that is so prevalent. There is nothing condescending or capitulating in integrating becoming more of the society that is inescapable. It is basic and undeniable human nature to fear, repel and distance oneself from what is perceived to be obvious in it's difference.

Please, Help me Understand

2008-06-22T23:07:14Z

Not being a politician or particularly abreast of the, apparently, wide selection of parliamentary maneuvers available to congress to stifle legislation; I would really appreciate it if someone could educate me on why the democratic majority in congress can not use any of those tactics to stop passage of the FISA bill. You know, the one that includes blanket and unquestioned immunity to the telecoms for illegally helping BushCo spy on Americans for....well...We don't know how long, do we? We have watched the republican minority stand in the way of bill after bill after bill. And all they had to do was pull some parliamentary rabbit trick out of their little bag of tricks. Stopped the democratic majority dead in their tracks, time after time. Even with the backing of the majority of Americans. Even with common sense and logic on their side. Even with "rightness" on their side. They have caved again and again with nothing more than the "threat" of a filibuster or some obscure rule the republicans dug up from ages past. Now that we are about to be forced to accept yet another piece of legislation that rips even more of our privacy and civil liberties from us, and additionally, makes legal the spying and eavesdropping we have had performed on us for, well, a long time, the democratic majority rolls over like cat-beaten hound dogs and not only does not fight for rejection, but has capitulated and given their collective blessing for it's passage. Never mind the whole thing stinks of cowardice and lack of any rationale. Senator after Senator has vowed this bill would not gain passage with the immunity provision intact. Yet there it is. Are we Americans left with no alternative from our elected leaders but to continually have our liberties and freedoms systematically stolen and shredded like yesterdays garbage? Have we no able and principled congresspersons willing to stand up to this evil juggernaut that holds our laws hostage only to kill them off after promises have been made? What is right anymore? What can we believe in? Apparently not the rule of law, anymore than we can trust our elected representatives to protect us from tyranny from the worst president and administration in our history. I find it utterly shameful. And frankly, I do not have an explanation. Can someone help me to understand?