If I Was A Gay Man

If I Was A Gay Man

If I was a gay man

Aiming to be me

Loving love as I do

From the 1970’s

Would I retreat to darkness

Sheltered in my fear

I contemplate a different me

Not a life sincere

If I loved a man

Transparent as I am

My preference sleeved and ready

Friends I would not have

On the field of dreams

My glove did not perform

Cast aside for less deserved

For living in my soul

I love a woman

What if I loved a man

Today I could be married

Take my lover’s hand

Me no longer hiding

Not meant to feel ashamed

My passion wholly granted

I am who I am

Tired of the Racism In Life

I am tired of being a part of a divided country. I am tired of being a country where we cannot even agree on simplistic terms because of beliefs and past perceived sleights. I am tired of fighting about things over and over, but I will be damned if I allow my country to go back to the age where different races and the different sexes are treated differently under the law because of hatred, fear, and prejudice. 

The definition of the word Terrorism according to Merriam-Webster:

The use of violent acts to frighten the people in an area as a way of trying to achieve a political goal

Well, according to the definition, Dyllan Roof fits it. He killed 9 African-Americans in a church. And he allowed one person to live, allegedly so she could tell everybody what he did: killing black people because of their skin color. So we have a violent act. It was intended to frighten black people with the threat of more violence. And what was the political goal? To have the political powers segregate the races again. That is the textbook definition of terrorism.

From Denmark Vesey and back to Charleston

I really don't have much to articulate regarding what happened in Charleston, SC last night, believe it or not, because there is so much that needs to be said about guns in this country but more importantly the violent nature of this country and as equally importantly how that anger seems to be focused way to much on one segment of our society, those who already struggle with a certain level of oppression to this day -- but all I can seem to do in my head is just fucking scream.

Luckily there's Charlie Pierce, who is at his best when he's angry.  If you don't read Charlie (I see him on Esquire.com) you are missing out.

Please read here his piece regarding what happened last night and hopefully he doesn't mind that the title of this post plagiarizes him to a certain extent.  Thank you, Charlie, for saying what needs to be said.

As you know, I'm an atheist but I find it abhorrent on top of abhorrent to hear about this act of butchery, savagery and complete cowardice.  Our nations needs to finally get off its collection FAT, apathetic asses and demand a real change in direction.  Thank you.

UPDATE:  It's a shame that before today we, at least in the white community, had not heard of this church and understood its importance in our country's history and continuing importance in the African American community.
And even though these first two terms are unfortunately overused these days, this was a hate crime and a terrorist act.  It was also an assassination in that a pastor and state senator was killed.