To Love

"To love, to love to love, even when you think the heart is exhausted by anger and fear and hurt and disappointed and the latest presidential election. To love. That is the larger task which connects us all. That is the narrative to which I hope we all can strive." -Jennifer Beals

side note: JB said this when George Bush was elected

Homosexuality as a Mental Illness?

Here is a little project I conducted...

Homosexuality as a Mental Disorder?

Why is this important?
• Gays are people too and are just like the rest of us
• This affects all gay individuals
• Homosexuality is not a mental illness

The American Psychiatric Association claim
• In 1952 the first edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-I) classified homosexuality as a mental disorder
Why did APA classify homosexuals as mentally unstable?
• They say; mental health professionals and society had miss leading information about homosexuality, since most studies only involved lesbians and gay men in therapy
What convinced them?
• They examined data about gay people who were not in therapy, intense lobbying by gay groups, new scientific information from researchers, and disagreement from the psychiatric ranks,

“Much objective scientific research over the past 35 years shows us that homosexual orientation, in and of itself, is not associated with emotional of social problems”- American Psychiatric Association (APA)

What if someone was troubled by THEIR OWN gayness?
• The label is “sexual-orientation disturbance." This was NOT a diagnosis, says the board of trustees
Controversy
• Controversy rose when they removed the term “homosexuality” as a mental disorder because it went against the standard still used by the World Health Organization's ICD-10, the Chinese Classification, and Diagnostic Criteria of Mental Disorders and The Medical Council of India
• One person who was outraged at the new ruling was New York Psychiatrist Charles Socarides. He had been involved by circulating the petition demanding the unanimous vote.

"It is flying in the face of the one fact we know, which is that male and female are programmed to mate with the opposite sex, and this is the story of 2½ billion years of evolution and any society that hopes to survive."- Charles Socarides

• After they removed “homosexuality” as a mental illness in 1973, they replaced it in 1974 with a category of "gender identity disorder", which is a state of distress about a person’s sexual orientation, which is refering to transgendered or transsexual people. Although “gender identity disorder” is not exactly the same as “homosexual”, it is still assoiciated with the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transsexual) community
What the gay community/supporters had to say
• Gay activists claimed that gender-identity disorder should NOT be assumed to be abnormal, when it is usually an expression of healthy and normal pre-homosexuality
• They also thought the reclassification was much more than a matter of semantics. They feel that the mental-disorder stigma, which is a sign of social unacceptability, is the same reason and has long been used to deny them fair housing, child custody, employment, and immigration rights
• The author of the board's position paper on homosexuality, Psychoanalyst Robert Spitzer, supports their view

"One of the justifications for the denial of civil rights to individuals whose only crime is that their sexual orientation is to members of the same sex."- Robert Spitzer

Another supporter was
• Dr. Judd Marmor, a Los Angeles psychoanalyst and candidate for the American Psychiatric Association presidency, "It is unfair to label homosexuality in and of itself a mental illness, "That is a moral judgment."
The American Psychiatric Association changes it again!
• In 1980 the American Psychiatric Association again removed the category of “gender identity disorder” and replaced it with “ego-dystonic homosexuality.”

Other facts
• LGBT stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, and Trans-sexual
• Homosexuals today still are discriminated against
• Transgender means the person has not changed their reproductive organs
• For twenty-one years the American Psychiatric Association (APA) listed homosexuality as a mental disorder and in 1973 it was finally removed
• Transsexual means that the person has changed their reproductive organs

Where can I find more information?
• http://www.narth.com/docs/symposium.html
• http://www.psych.org/
• http://www.soulforce.org/article/643



“Whereas homosexuality per se implies no impairment in judgment, stability, reliability, or general social or vocational capabilities, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) calls on all international health organizations, psychiatric organizations, and individual psychiatrists in other countries to urge the repeal in their own countries of legislation that penalizes homosexual acts by consenting adults in private. Further, APA calls on these organizations and individuals to do all that is possible to decrease the stigma related to homosexuality wherever and whenever it may occur.” - By the Board of Trustees, December 1992

"ist"

Some little notes from what my teacher said which I find very funny, true, and just fantastic.

a) I had a project to do was inform the students when and why homosexuality was considered a mental illness(see above), and she said:

"Go straight, not forward!"

b) A book project:

"Everyone's going to be 'ist'" i.e. feminist, sexist, ist, ist, ist...

"Words = ideas"

Brilliant!

L - O - V - E

"Love is large, love defies limits. People talk about the sanctity of love...love is by definition sacred. Not some love between some people but all love between all people. How can anyone say one person's love is more sacred then another person's? If indeed it is love it is sanctified. If it is indeed live the right to marriage is not questionable." -Jennifer Beals

KC and Elka

KC and Elka, that's the name of a famous duo that podcast the popular show The L Word and are the dessert of The L Word. They are New Mexicans who have been commenting, pointing out the mistakes of the show, putting a sloppy smile on everyone's face who listens, and enhancing The L Word for four years. They started podcasting since season three of The L Word and have done some "off season podcasts" to tie over the fans of KC and Elka.

When you have listened to one of seventy seven podcasts, called their hot line 206-203-3552, or have become a member on their forum www.theplanetcast.proboards.com, then you are considered a "Kelkian." What is a Kelkian you ask? Well:

a) KC + Elka = Kelka
b) A devoted fan of The L Word
c) A more devoted fan of KC and Elka

So go watch any L Word episode (well any after season 3) and listen to The Planet Podcast with KC and Elka!

http://theplanetcast.blogspot.com/ (everything you need & more + its absolutely FREE)

Our Narratives

"I think from an early age we all see our life as a narrative and the narratives to which we are exposed often times shape the narratives we create for ourselves"- Jennifer Beals

College Horizons

College Horizons is a program designed to facilitate the higher education of Native American young people. College Horizons, Inc. is a non-profit organization that supports the higher education of Native American students by providing pre-college (College Horizons) and pre-graduate (Graduate Horizons) summer programs open to Native American, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian high school and college students/graduates from across the nation.

College Horizons is a five-day ‘crash course’ in preparing for college. Expert college counselors, teamed up with admission officers, will help students:

* Select suitable colleges to apply to
* Complete winning applications and write memorable essays
* Learn what turns an applicant into an admitted student
* Become a test-prep ‘whiz kid’
* Navigate the financial aid/scholarship jungle

I have applied to College Horizons and will blog my experience, if I'm not accepted into another program that I am also hopeful for.

If you want more information click on the title.

Confused = Love

I don't know anything about Bob Schneider, nothing at all but I defiantly know about this:



“Love is when two people who care for each other get confused”- Bob Schneider

James and Ernie

"We're serious about being funny!"- either James or Ernie

The comedy duo that has sprung out of the reservation and into closed down theaters (and that's an over statement). They are James and Ernie! If you haven't heard of them or are white or living under a rock, they are two Native American comedians who are one of the first to use what crazy Native American's do and go through. I have seen them perform two times and they haven't let me down yet.

One noteworthy performance is on April 18,09 at the El Morro Theatre in Gallup, NM, they will be taping for their new DVD, go check them out!

Also check out their website (click the link)

me and JB

"I knew there was something I had to do yesterday. I couldn't remember what it is. I can't figure it out. I know it's a holiday. I know I don't have a meeting. It's very confusing."- Jennifer Beals

-I think that I had to do a blog today

the game I play

Got so sick of this pain,
its a game that I know we will never win,
i run around to numb the pain-so i don't have to think about thinking...

Shadow of my illusion, she is here-
an ache in my chest,
my day is done now,
and I cannot run now,
my blood running cold,
I stand before her,
its all i can do to show her...

I Miss the Girls

Today is the day a new L Word episode was suppose to air. I don't know what I'm going to do without any Bette and Tina romantic moments, Alice and Tasha fights, Kit's one liners, complaining from Max, "cha, cha, cha", Shane's dalliances, Jenny's craziness, Helena's cute accent, mysterious disappearance of characters, Jodie's signing(wait never mind, scratch that) and Angelica's bag of limitless cuteness. I surely do miss The L Word, but hopefully this show will be perceived as an opener to other LGBTQ TV shows. Of coarse The L Word was the start of something new, something that we have never seen in mainstream media, it was a gift to every LGBTQ person that has never seen themselves represented in media.

For me, The L Word has done a lot, I mean A LOT of different things that I cannot even imagine to summarize up, but I will try to tell you what The L Word has done for me, and maybe it will be true for you as well. But know this; however many words, expressions, or pictures I may show to try to explain The L Word, their will never be enough. Because you have to watch it for yourself to experience the struggles, emotions, and success that these women amazingly portray. (please don't let my corniness alienate you from watching, click on title to watch some videos!)

note: in the future I will try to explain what The L Word has meant to me

Epiphany

This is a short story that I wrote and entered in my school's short story contest, and won! yaay! It is about 2 years old, but this is one of my favorite stories, so enjoy!

Epiphany
by B

Help! Help! A woman’s voice screamed. She heard those words as she felt something wet sliding down her scalp. She touched her head with her hand to see what it was, it was something slimy and it was coming down her head fast, it was red and was definably blood. She didn’t have enough time to express her shock because she suddenly started to feel faint and very weak; she collapsed in the woman’s arms.


“She may not make it through surgery”, a muffled mans voice shouted. “But, but doctor, she’s going to be alright isn’t she?”


“Wake up Chris, hey…wake up Chris”, a soft, sweet sounding voice came lingering in Chris’s ear. “Wake up honey, it’s twelve in the afternoon”, the same woman’s voice, now in a tone where it draws out all the words in a playful way, came wondering into her ear. She suddenly jumped up and said “Where am I?! Am I still in the hospital?” “No, no honey, you have been home for about one week recovering from your accident… there was a silent pause. “Are you feeling ok?” the woman said with a concerned and questioned expression. Chris did not reply back, for she didn’t need to. Something then clicked in her mind; if I automatically feel so relaxed with this woman than I couldn’t possibly be in any harm’s way, and that was the truth. Chris suddenly felt very comfortable where she was and found comfort in the woman that was laying so tenderly close to her. Chris thought nothing of how and why she was there, all she knew was that she felt full security with this woman and emanating love. She held that woman that made her sense those feelings, she did not have a care in the world, because she knew she loved that woman and that woman loved her back. As the days progressed, so did her love and appreciation of her. The days were like numerous dreams; everyday she spent with that woman was like a magnificent and amazing journey that she did not want to ever end. She tried to put words together to describe the degree of which was mind-blowing and out of this world love and affection, but as anyone who was unconditionally in love, she could not. The thing that only came half way to the immense wonderful feeling she felt and her relationship with this woman, who often seemed as a dream, was indeed a dream. It was a dream that can be imagined as when you naturally wake up feeling rested and peaceful, as if an angel spent the whole night nurturing your sleep. It felt like that every morning she woke up in those arms of a woman identified, angel. Nothing would ever part her and this other woman.


“Oh my god, she’s waking up!” a gentle woman’s voice said. Her eyes parted, barely opening as if she had been slumbering. Two people came rushing to her bedside. They grabbed her hand very tight. One was a man and the other was an older woman. “Who are you” Chris said as she looked at the older woman, she looked at the man “Who are you?” The older woman went into tears, “I am your mother, you were in a coma, and, and… you have been out for about a month”. Chris thought for a minute or two. “Ok, ok, but who is he and what is he doing here?” The older woman was still in tears as she blurted out, “This is your husband.” This was poison to Chris’s ears, she didn’t know what to think, she didn’t know what to do, or even how to act, she was so repulsed by the fact that she was married to a man. It came to her in an epiphany what her life once was. The ceremony, the kiss, the man that she married, she wanted to throw up, she wanted to scream at the top of her lungs, she wanted to hit him over the head with the same shovel that she will use to bury him with. “I want a divorce,” Chris said without a slight doubt in her mind. The two people that occupied the room went nuts, which resulted in vulgar language and confused expressions. Chris did not care what they had to say, she shut them out. Chris did not care about their blabbering, she did not even care who she was or how in love she was with that man, all she cared about was that she knew her truth, she knew who she was compassionate with and that man was the total opposite of what gender she cared for. She thought to herself, yeah that woman and our experiences were just dreams, but if it were not true then why did I feel completely devoted and unconditionally in love with her, not just her, but a woman. Chris’s thoughts are to some people outrageous and completely wrong, but your first love will always be your first, and your last, whether it’s a man or in Chris’s case, a woman.

Gourd Dancing

Today was a special day for many reasons. At my school their was a gourd dance.
Gourd Dancing is not actually a pow wow dance style, but it is more of a separate type of dance performed by some Southern tribes (Kiowa, Commanche). Gourd Dancing occurs before the Grand Entry, when the drum sings gourd songs for the dancers as they dance. Only Gourd Dancers may dance a Gourd Dance, but the regalia of a gourd dancer is not too elaborate- it usually consists of a long sleeve shirt and pants, a gourd sash or vest, and a rattle.

The dance is very simple- the dancers stand around the outside of the arena and shake their rattles and lift their heels with the beat of the drum. When the song then reaches a point, the dancers slowly dance away from their spot. Gourd Dances are usually held in sets, with about three or four songs a set, after which people will take a small break. The Gourd Rattle used in pow wows is not a gourd but instead a tin or silver cylinder filled with beads on a beaded handle. There are many fine rattles that are totally peyote beaded around the handle with white horsehair tufts on top of the rattle. There are two different sashes worn by gourd dancers. The first is half red and half blue, and is worn draped around the neck, reaching the ground. It is made of wool tradecloth. Many people add ribbons earned in military service on these sashes. The other type of sash is worn around the waist. It is made of velvet or something simliar and wraps down to the knees. The ends of the sash are peyote beaded and have thick chainette fringe hanging down.
source: http://library.thinkquest.org/3081/gourd.htm

Some reasons why today was special:

1) I had the opportunity to see a 4 time recipient of a purple heart veteran and many other amazing men perform in the gourd dance.

2) I also had the opportunity to see an honor dance unfold right in front of my eyes. Two girls and two boys were called down to the floor and beside their obvious embarrassment they went down. I would have been embarrassed to, but as the ceremony progressed on so did my jealousy. Those four students were a representation of our school and the praise, money, and gratitude all went to them. I cannot deny that they were the apple of my envy.

More LMFAO comics

LOL


Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

Hope you had a good laugh!

Native American photographers where are you?!

In a recent February issue of New Mexico magazine they had a contest called "8th annual New Mexico Magazine Photo Contest," in which anyone could enter their photographs to get published and win prizes, but my concern was that the winner + nominees were non Native American. I was browsing the magazine section in a local store, like usual, and came upon the magazine, the "Our Best Photo Contest Ever!" headline caught my attention. So I read on page 28 that the winner of the New Mexico Magazine was a woman by the name of Anne Fleshman, who was not even from New Mexico or even Native American! I was shocked by this discovery, with all the talented people and younger people I see I couldn't believe that the winner was from Baltimore, Maryland and was touring the area on her way to Chaco Canyon. I'm not saying that the woman didn't do a good job, I'm saying that I wish all those talented people, especially younger generations, would be the winners of the local magazine and newspaper. To all the young Native Americans please engross yourself into your hobbies and don't be scared to put yourself out there. I hope that next time I pick up a local paper I see the winner, or at least a nominee, be a Native American.

After a Night of Rain

At Blackwater Pond

At Blackwater Pond the tossed waters have
settled
after a night of rain.
I dip my cupped hands. I drink
a long time. It tastes
like stone, leaves, fire. It falls cold
into my body, waking the bones. I hear them
deep inside me, whispering
oh what is that beautiful thing
that just happened?

-Mary Oliver

Another beautiful JB rant

"Life is a collective effort"- Jennifer Beals

Farewell to The L Word

Is their a show that has made young girls come out to their close minded parents?, a show that has respectively represented the LGBT community?, a show that has opened the minds of many people across the world? a show that has made a fine print in my life? The answer is yes and so much more.

That show is The L Word. What does the L word mean? Well on a bad day it could mean lactose intolerant, and on a good day it could mean lascivious, but as Jennifer Beals once said it stands for love.

Why love?

Love connects us all and when we look around we will discover that we are all connected, not through who we love or how we love, but that we all do love.

To break it down, The L Word is about a tight knit group of lesbian, bi-sexual, and straight friends that let us all watch their relationships, internal issues, and career's unfold. I cannot explain how utterly awesome this show is, to fully experience what we go through or the message that the creators/actors try to tell us, you must see it for yourself. For me personally I like Bette (played by Jennifer Beals) and Tina (Laurel Holloman), they are like the married, with child, and outrageously cute couple that has fascinated and kept me in aww throughout the six years The L Word was on.

For three years I have followed The L Word and kept the show close to my heart.

And today, on March 8, 2009 The L Word has ended. And even though it has ended, my love for the show goes on. What I originally would say is "Good bye," but I cannot do that, so what I will say is

"See Yea later Bette and Tina, Tina and Bette!"

Tony Benn

In Michael Moore's documentary "Sicko" their is a lot of memorable people, things they said, but the most memorable person that I will not forget ever forget was Tony Benn, a former member of parliament of Great Britain. Michael sat him down to ask him some questions about when the National Health Service (NHS) began, how, why, and his opinion.

The first thing that struck me about him was his accent, I love his accent to much, Brit's your accents are cute. But he said, was so true and it inspired me to write about it.

"I think democracy is the most revolutionary thing in the world far more revolutionary than socialist ideas or anybody else's idea, if you have power you use it to meet the needs of you and your community and this idea of choice, which capitol talks about all the time; you got to have a choice, choice depends on on the freedom to choose and if your shackled with debt you don't have a freedom to choose.

Question: seems like it benefits the system if the average working person is shackled.
"Yeah, if the people in debt become hopeless and hopeless people don't vote...see they will say usually everyone should vote but I think if the poor in Britain of the United States turned out and voted for people who represented their interests it would be a real democratic revolution, so they don't want it to happen, so keeping people hopeless and pessimistic. See I think their are two ways in which people are controlled; first of all frightened people, and secondly moralize them. Uneducated, healthy, and confident nation is harder to govern and I think their is an element in to thinking of some people we don't want people to be educated, healthy, and confident because they would just get out of control. It's incredible that people put up with it, BUT they're poor, their demoralized, their frighted, and therefore they think perhaps the safest thing to do is take orders and hope for the best..."

Coffee Talk

This morning I arrived at my local favorite cafe, thinking that I would have a quiet and peaceful morning, but I was wrong...

I sat where all the laptop holders sit with my tea in hand and my little laptop. Little did I know, the people here were not here to just type, they were here to debate politics. Who knew this would be the day when I would get to listen to a hot topic debate and it was not as pleasant as the picture above.

Here's a little sample of what I heard,

characters & dialogue:
long white haired man: "We should all go back to the old days, like how Native Americans live, and I think Obama is doing that."

short white haired/business man: (laughs) "Don't ask me what I think."

short haired/Native American woman & long haired man in unison: "Why?"

business man: "Why because he's goddamn liberal" (laughs again)

the Native woman and long haired woman just continue their conversation.

Native American woman: "why don't you like Obama?"

business man: "well their are many reasons..."

the Native American woman cut him off: "Are you for the other one"

me: "John McCain"

business man: "no Sara Palin"

And that started up the real debate.

business man: "I was hoping that when McCain became president he would die and Sara would take over"

Native American woman: (laughs) "my husband says women don't like paying their bills, we will all be in debt"

business man: "well that's not true women are organized and are multitaskers"

then the debate went on...

Native American woman: "Sara Palin is a ditsy"

and on...

business man: "we will regret electing him, we will...we will"

and on...

long haired man: "George Bush, Dick Cheney were not the ones for us, and neither is McCain."

the business man turned to me and said: "that's why you don't talk about politics or religion"

And what he said hit home for me because I have experienced this first hand.

So in conclusion kids:

1. Don't take candy form strangers.
2. Don't get in the car with strangers.
3. Don't talk about politics or religion with strangers

Change

I'm not talking about Obama change, I'm talking about my own personal change. Today is a revolutionary day for me and I am taking it in head on. Let's just put it this way:

"One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life:
that word is love."- Sophocles

Michael Moore's letter of help

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009
Will You Help Me With My Next Film? ...a request from Michael Moore

Friends,

I am in the middle of shooting my next movie and I am looking for a few brave people who work on Wall Street or in the financial industry to come forward and share with me what they know. Based on those who have already contacted me, I believe there are a number of you who know "the real deal" about the abuses that have been happening. You have information that the American people need to hear. I am humbly asking you for a moment of courage, to be a hero and help me expose the biggest swindle in American history.

All correspondence with me will be kept confidential. Your identity will be protected and you will decide to what extent you wish to participate in telling the greatest crime story ever told.

The important thing here is for you to step up as an American and do your duty of shedding some light on this financial collapse. A few good people have already come forward, which leads me to believe there are many more of you out there who know what's going on. Here's your chance to let your fellow citizens in on the truth.

If you have any info that would help, please contact me at my private email address: bailout@michaelmoore.com.

For the rest of you on my email list who don't work in the financial industry, you're probably wondering, "What the heck is this all about? I thought he said he was making a romantic comedy!"

Well, I just can't say much right now. I'm sure you can understand why. One thing I can tell you is that you're gonna like this movie when I'm done with it. Oh, yeah...

So, again, if you work for a bank, a brokerage firm or an insurance company -- or if you have seen things or heard things that you believe the American people have a right to know -- please contact me at bailout@michaelmoore.com.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Yours,
Michael Moore
bailout@michaelmoore.com
MichaelMoore.com

Jenny and I

Here is an example of why I love Jennifer Beal's mind:

“Once one part of the collective sees themselves represented and is given permission to celebrate their own authenticity, then it helps the rest of the collective to see how everyone is connected”- Jennifer Beals

Jennifer Beals believes that ensuring the rights of any minority has an overall positive effect on the majority, which I also believe to be true.

“It behooves all of us to have everyone experience their deepest, most beautiful, most profound and powerful self, because those people are more apt to give their gift to everyone else rather then shudder in fear."- Jennifer Beals