Open letter to OneMillionMothers from Just One Mum

This is in response to the notion that Chaz Bono's appearance on "Dancing with the Stars" will be confusing to your children. I may use point form here.

** First of all, if you don't like the show, don't watch it.

** If you DO watch it and you let your kids watch, and you don't want them to be confused when they see a man dancing with a woman (Chaz Bono and whoever his partner is), then don't tell them that Chaz used to be Chastity Bono. Your kids probably have never heard of Chaz or Chastity, and probably not Sonny and Cher, for that matter. These people mean nothing to the current generation, any more than Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson mean anything to you, although they were quite the scandal of their day. The ONLY way for your kids to be confused by it all, is for YOU TO TELL THEM. Don't.

** Stop spreading hate and intolerance. I know you think you follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, and that you're all that and everything, and you feel righteous and all that good shit, but stop and think for a minute, silly Pharisees: who did Jesus spend time with; the righteous, or the sinners? Show me the commandment that says, "Judge everyone in the darkest possible light."

** Calm the fuck down. It's frightened people like you who cause a lot of damage. A cornered, frightened animal is far more dangerous than one that is free. And you are really frightened by anyone different from you. Stop spreading that fear to the next generation.

** Also, stop and think -- the only reason you know about Chaz is because he has chosen to share his story and because he is the child of celebrities. Look around you--who in your town, your neighbourhood, might also be transgendered, only you don't know. If you hadn't seen pictures of Chaz, and met him on the street, you'd never have a clue he had ever been anyone other than who he is. Maybe your minister used to be a woman, maybe the waitress at your favourite restaurant used to be a man. But even if they were, how do their lives, their choices affect you, your life, your choices? Are you that weak, that clueless, that you believe if you are exposed to a transgendered person, or gay or lesbian, or what have you, that you're going to be booking surgery for yourself?

It must be horrible to live life in such utter fear that there is no room to mind your own business and enjoy your own life. If you have to worry about the choices people you will never personally know or meet or live with, when do you have time to worry about your own issues? Leave other people to the God of your understanding. Leave judgement up to him and try to live by the two precepts Jesus said: Love God above all else, and love your neighbour as yourself.

Of course, if you hate yourself, that just opens up a whole new can of worms, doesn't it?

What, now?

I just read this: "Gordon Edwards, president of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility, says that while radiation coming from Fukushima will lead to higher cancer rates among Canadians, the risk posed to individuals is very small."

Say what? Correct me if I'm wrong, and I could easily be, but for the rates to be higher, certainly that means that the numbers of individuals affected has to be higher also. Unless he means that the numbers of individuals affected will remain the same, but instead of having one type of cancer, people will be rife with multiple forms.

I'm sure this makes sense to the man who said it, but on first reading, the logic escapes me. In any case, radiation from Fukushima seems to be hitting North America, and there's very little news coverage about the potential dangers.

Jack Layton

I just saw the news that NDP leader, Jack Layton, passed away at home this morning after his battle with cancer. He managed to bring the NDP from third place in Canadian politics to the role of official opposition after the last federal election. It's a shame he is gone, and I can only hope whoever the party elects as leader will be a strong voice in parliament, and that the NDP don't fall apart. Canada (like any country) needs strong and decent people in the leadership roles. I think Jack Layton was both of those things. May his spirit enjoy whatever it has moved on to.

Thinking

Everytime I drive past Wolfville on the 101 highway, and see the Tower poking up above the trees that fill and surround the town, I am reminded of a story idea I've had for probably decades. Not so much a story, actually, as the setting. Unfortunately, I have a LOT of setting ideas and not enough actual story to fill them. I need more inspiration on that front.

Repost

Planning Ahead

“I don't know if I want to be the mother this time. I was the mother two times ago. I want to do something else this time.” Tehl looked at the pad in her lap.

“Okay, then. I haven't been the mother in ages and ages. I think I need to be the mother and learn some new things. I still haven't mastered patience. Being a mother is good for that, isn't it?” Soan looked at the others, most of whom nodded. “Okay, then. Who's going to be the father?”

“I'm already down as your brother,” Teres said. “So I get to be uncle!”

“Who do you want to be your father this time, Jethe?” asked Soan. She made notes on her pad, sketching in details of a life. “And what age difference?”

“Zeni and I need to work out some things together, so he's going to be the father,” said Jethe. “He's already set up who he's going to be born to, and you and he can work out the details of your life together.”

“Zeni. Oh cool! We weren't even in the same lifetimes last time,” said Soan. “We've been talking about being a couple sometime. I'm going to become incapacitated later in life so Zeni can practise nurturing.”

“I'm going to be a handful, you know that, right?” Jethe said. “You want patience, I'll test it for you. I need to learn to be independent; I tend to rely on everyone around me.” Jethe made notes, outlining daily life, specific goals.

The friends sat on benches in warm sunlight, choosing roles and lessons. Here in the Between, it was easy to recognize their own weak spots and strengths, and to choose which weaknesses needed to be explored and how to help each other.

“How will I know you?” Zeni arrived to work on the plans.

Soan smiled. “Let's use that 'I KNOW you' feeling. It's always so cool.”

“Will we both feel it, or just one of us?” Zeni asked.

“This time, I think both of us. It's important for Jethe that we get together and get settled early on.” They sat down and worked out the details of when and how they would meet and marry. Around them, the others planned and erased and created until they were satisfied.

“I'm off, then,” said Zeni. “I'm going to be the oldest one in this group, and my parents are waiting for me to be born. See you soon.”

“Soon for us here,” said Jethe. “But time runs differently down there, remember?”

Zeni nodded. “I know. It'll be years yet. Have fun. Keep an eye on me, make sure I stay on my path, okay?” The others nodded and Zeni left them to be born once more on Earth, taking up yet another life.

Day 22 of 24/7

Family

A surprise visit
Brings son and his wife to me
Family are we

Day 21 of 24/7

Summer Day

We sit in the river and watch minnows
They nibble our legs and arms
Watchful of swimming over open palms
Fingerlings feeding on dead skin cells
A spa treatment for free
Everybody wins