I'm in the home stretch on a big charity anthology project I've been working on with fellow editor Lara Zielinsky along with the author members of my lesbian writer's group, SapphicPlanet, and loveyoudivine. Looking over the final manuscript last night really got me to thinking and some of the thoughts weren't very happy ones, I muct admit. (That's what I get for deep thinking when my hormones are raging)
Anyway, there is all this talk about equality. Not just marriage equality, though that is a huge subject, especially with the fight going on in California to lift the ban on gay marriage. Coincidentally, or not, that is the charity we are raising money for with the anthology. All Proceeds from the To Love and To Cherish book will go to Marriage Equality. Are we ever going to get there?
It seems like we all struggle to get ahead, taking ten steps forward only to take fifty steps back. Where does all the prejudice come from? Why the need to assign everyone a title? We fight over color, gender, orientation, kink, civil rights, taxes,....etc, need I go on? We focus so much damn time on what's wrong with the world that we don't take any time to reflect on what's right. We're too caught up in the moment and what's next on our agenda to appreciate all that we have. So today I'm going to stop and smell the roses and be thankful for my three great children, the fact that I have a job, my grandad turned 90 yesterday, (whooo hooo go grandadddy!) and I have a vehicle and a roof over my head. I have friends online I talk with every day that provide me with a constant source of support and encouragement and I have a family I love that loves me back, even though they don't always approve of what I do. ^_^
Have a great day everyone. I'm going to do my best to enjoy it. I'm not even upset that I'm at work.
Beth
http://www.bethwylde.com/
http://www.sapphicplanet.com/
7 comments:
The next time I get married, I'll split the stuff 50-50. Great point
"We fight over color, gender, orientation, kink, civil rights, taxes,...."
I think the plain fact is we fight. Period. Have you noticed how belligerent society has become? Look at all the reality tv depicting bad behavior as good behavior. Hell, there's even a show called Girls Behaving Badly or some such eye garbage. It seems everyone wants to get up in everyone else's face about something they think they have the right to judge.
Sorry for the rant but it stinks. Isn't anyone nice anymore?
You have more to be thankful for than most so I'd say your spot on by stopping and smelling the roses today.
Glad you are turning to the positive side, Beth. As far as the prejudice thing goes- I think everyone is prejudice about something even if it's simple such as exercise or bananas. The problem comes around when people react to those prejudices or try to push them onto others. I'm a live and let live kind of gal. And don't worry too much about those haters- karma will bite them in the butt soon.
You go girl - smell the roses AND keep right on fighting for what you believe in! It's devastating to feel the hate and the rage but we can't let it stop us. Here's a great quote I found over on The Bilerico Project last week: "Democracy is not freedom. Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to eat for lunch. Freedom comes from the recognition of certain rights which may not be taken, not even by a 99% vote."
Adriana
www.adrianakraft.com/blog
Beth, what Kissa said about haters and karma--and may it be a BIG bite in the rump! Keep smelling the roses!
As a species, we actually are improving...we fight less, and are less brutal to our fellow humans, than in any previous era.
However, while I use that to keep myself grounded, it doesn't mean we shouldn't keep striving to improve.
I am confidant that, despite the fifty steps back, we will achieve marriage equality in my lifetime. Having it next week is not a realistic goal, despite being a worthy one.
Five years, though...that may be realistic. And that is a very large step forward from where we were as a society fifty years ago.
But make no mistake - achieving that is going to require effort. And staying positive is a large part of sustaining effort. *nods*
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