The strange ways of our mind...

Hi Everyone;

  I haven't been posting so much lately, if you've not noticed already.  Sorry.  Just sort of busy and not quite so much to say.  But, when something does come up I like to share it. 
  I would like to take an aside and say that I'm adding to the two picture blogs - you can see these on the right - fairly frequently and that some of my less cerebral time goes there.  Of course, that indicates that there may be some cerebral activity going on here, which is not all so fair to presume.

  I was just reading on Time (http://moneyland.time.com/2011/08/26/how-consumers-fool-themselves-into-thinking-theyve-made-good-purchases/ ) about how we are manipulated in our shopping experiences.  I try to be wise in my purchases because I don't have the funds to venture into foolishness too often.  It was interesting in some avenues - specifically, I think, that we will spend more for products at easy reach than those not so simply attained.  I know for myself that when I am ready to purchase an item, and my toolbox at work is a great example of this, I'm ready to buy.  If that item isn't available right away, I'll go elsewhere and spend more for it rather than be patient.  Other times, I'm very patient and know I want something and what it costs before I make the purchase, so then wait until I find the "deal".
  Another interesting fact is locality.  That refers to area as well as time.  The manner in which foods are shown changes over the years.  The article used Clam Chowder as an example....in a generation past it was a thin soup.  Now it is very thick.... another is what is considered good food.  The article talked about an area where grasshoppers are fried and eaten and shrimp is considered garbage.  I recall reading where the new colonists to America were restricted to feeding their indentured servants lobster no more than 3-times a week.  Now it is a delicacy.
  So, having read that and beginning to think on the manner of manipulations we go through every day, I went on to see this video that I'll play below.  It was really interesting in the way that the very understanding of things, in a more simple and uneducated form, can influence purchase habits and value in other areas.
  I am interested in the psycho~social impact and value system this represents even to adults.  Please feel free to comment and maybe we can all learn a bit more about how we think.  Personally, I'm a bit intrigued.

The Sadly Real Story

Hi Friends;

  I was updating my understanding of the news and knows in our little community via a stop over to Milkboys.  http://www.milkboys.org/article/periodical-political-post-71/  The story of Indian Rep. Phil Hinkle being caught in an effort to have consensual intercourse with an adult teen posting his desires on Craig's List is not exactly news, but his actions since have been very interesting.
  To begin, the young man wrote an ad on Craig's list detailing his desire for a "sugar daddy".  Phil responded with an offer of $80 and a possible tip for a fun filled evening - I'll let you fill in the details for yourself.
  Now, to detail some issues:  Phil has held a decidedly anti-gay viewpoint, specifically in regards to so called "gay marriage".  In fact, he led the way on a full block of the issue in Indiana.
  His response to being quite caught in the above attempted prostitution of a young man, encouraging what some may call illicit and immoral acts for money has been "I'm sick and need help".  "I did nothing really illegal".  "We were going to talk baseball" (I believe that's a line from Jani Lane's Cherry Pie as well, but that could just be coincidence).  He has refused to step down as an Indiana Representative, though he has been stripped of his committee appointments and has been publicly asked to step down by the Indiana House Speaker.  Does that about cover things?

  Ok, so here is my point:  The fact that Phil Hinkle was caught in an attempted illicit homosexual affair is not the crime here. 

  The fact that Phil Hinkle felt he needed to hide his orientation and have these dark room affairs is the crime.

  The freedom that we as gay men and women strive for should not be now thrown in this man's face with laughter, meanness and 'gotcha' gloating at his being caught, it should lament the very need for him to be hiding and unwilling to be himself.  He was in a power position, and has lost it all for his inability to be himself.

  Furthering his distortion of his need for "a walk on the wild side" (Lou Reed), this old man did lasting damage.  His legislative efforts against the freedom we all hope for will not be tossed simply because he is in fact bisexual (at least), or even that he is actually duplicitous, two-faced, hypocrite.... you fill in the word... because the politicians really have no problem with any of that particular character trait.  No, his efforts will be held in esteem, quietly, and pushed forward simply because they further an agenda that decries homosexuality as immoral - no matter how many bodies they have to step over to be on the 'moral high ground'.

Thea Hopkins - Jesus Is On The Wire

 This song was written in dedication to the memory of Matthew Shepard.  Enjoy.

Do you remember him?  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Shepard

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

  Hello Neighbor;

  I just saw a clip that Mr. Roger's Neighborhood was going to come back on the air in a pupped/cartoon format.  I thought that was, if I may use Scottie's term, Grand.  In my college courses, he actually came up a few times as a real pioneer in teaching through modeling.  Ever since watching him as a small child, I've learned best by watching someone do something and then trying the same thing myself...especially if I could get them to repeat it a few times.  So, hat's off to Fred.

  I recently went through some family troubles.  Yep, happens.  A wonderful and insightful friend showed me that I was being very concerned about what everyone else was going through and forgetting about that man in the mirror.  His words have been resonating with me ever since, to the point of having me unable to sleep a day later for the reverberating waves in my mind. 

  In searching this out, I found many cartoons and stylized phrases that spoke about respect for others, and even respect for oneself, but rarely do we hear about how we must sometimes stick up for ourselves.  We most often hear about being considerate and kind to others, to their belongings and their beliefs,... that sort of thing.  And, how quickly do we slide away from self concern as a position akin to selfishness.  And yet, our gift of life, liberty and even peace and happiness are only going to be protected by us, by each for his own.  The government can't give us self-respect.  Our religion can't.  Our family can't.  Really, it is a journey of self acceptance and discovery.  It is a learning process in which only we can be the teacher as well as the student.  We can be guided, taught a bit, even model it from someone like our lovable Fred Rogers, but in the end, only we - - only I can respect myself.

  And, sometimes, in order to respect myself, I must insist on being treated in a certain manner, a respectful manner.  And, as hard as it may be to require this, if someone isn't willing to respect me, then they are really unhealthy for me, aren't they?

  Is it so wrong that we should expect respect?  As a person, as a people group, we must not only know what we believe in and are willing to stand for, but also that we do not become other's doormat. 

  It's going to take some time.  I wasn't taught a great deal of self-respect growing up, instead having it drummed into my head how I needed to show respect for others instead.  So I need to learn this now, as an adult full of poor ways of doing things .....and this is going to take time.  But, it certainly feels right.

What is a man worth?

Be warned...a sad and difficult vid.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/08/17/opinion/cohen-racial-violence/index.html

  A shocking video, for sure.  And, in some minds are the words of hate ringing out.... perhaps saying that he shouldn't have been caught but otherwise congratulating the actions, and perhaps others rallying for the death penalty for this incomprehensible crime.  I am lost as to how someone could be so callous as to find it a lark to do such a thing.  It's beyond my mind. 

  The interesting thing about this story, at least in the context for this essay, is that the people involved saw not only this man but all considered "black" as lesser beings.  They were not fully persons, not real people, and so it was ok to do this.  Did this method of thinking just appear one day?  Remember, according to the vid, there were a fairly large number of people involved in this, and all young people.  So I ask again; where did this belief system originate?

  In our sordid past, we have had all too many instances of seeing some group of people as lesser beings, as lesser persons and worthy targets.  And, in some laughable and horrid nightmare, someone will say how these teens came from such "Christian" homes with no concept of the incredulity of that statement.  So, again I must ask:  Where did these young men and women find this set of ideals as worthy?

  We can point fingers, rage and rant, and in the end the true criminals of this epic are left at home angry and hurt that their little boys, their neighbors are going to prison.  This was more than one boy going out on a nut, this was more than one psycho..... this was the result of a culture of hate and of believing that some are greater than others.  Until we come to the point where we do not see ourselves as only good because someone else is bad, only worthy of life and liberty, happiness even, because someone else is not worthy, only then will this type of destruction come to an end.