I came across these words from the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell today...

"I've got a cheerful, upbeat, optimistic team ready to go to battle over what most of my members, if not all of them, believe may well be the most important issue they will ever deal with in their time in Congress -- this effort to transform the American health care system into a European type system," he said. "So we are anxious for the debate and are going to give it our best shot. And I don't know how it's going to turn out."

I believe that people reveal themselves in the little things they say. That is, I believe that if you observe someone closely enough you can get peeks into what motivates them. What I get from this short quote is that he's not sure if he'll win what he describes as the most important issue he'll ever face, but yet he is happy because he thinks he'll get a couple of extra seats in the senate out of it. Can there any more glaring example of putting politics way ahead of policy?

The other thing that strikes me about this is the long-standing theme that Republicans have espoused that say that anything European is anti-American. If they really want to insult something/someone, they'll say it's French even.

Well having been there a few times I can tell you that we have much to learn from Europeans. Don't misunderstand me now... because they have much to learn from us too. But to refuse to learn from another's successes and failures is just plain stupid.

Weekend Wrap Up

This weekend felt like old times. On Friday I just hung out with a good friend of mine at the Eagle. At his suggestion we stripped down to our jockstraps (what a coincidence that we both were wearing one) and just talked for a good time. I really enjoy times like these when you can just connect with people on a personal level.

Saturday afternoon was our second naked cocktail gathering. About 112 people showed up, dwarfing the size of our first gathering last month and showing just how much people really do love this event. As normal, it was completely non-sexual. We just talked to old friends and met new ones. I had invited a Latino friend of mine that is almost 40 but still has one foot firmly in the closet due to an intense fear of his self-admitted, homophobic family. He's never had close gay friends or allowed himself a real boyfriend, but has replaced these meaningful relationships with random sex. Partly I invited him just to get him into a specifically social and non-sexual event. He was very timid in the beginning, but warmed up to the atmosphere after a little while and had a really good time.

Later we went out to a couple's house that was having a clothing-optional party and invited the group that attended the naked cocktails to join them. Given that there were several things going on that evening that I knew about, I was surprised by how many people showed up. As always, we had a fantastic time and it was a wonderful way to complete our weekend.

In Memory of ...

In memory of Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado, a life taken from us way too soon and because no one should have to suffer through this.

On Racism and Discrmination

I recently heard someone spout racist remarks about people of another ethnicity. Their ire was neither directed at me nor blacks nor gays nor any other group to which I consider myself and yet still it bothered me. There are characteristics that I hold in very, very high esteem and among these are how do we treat our fellow human, do we respect others, and are we nice and caring. To me racism and discrimination directly indicates the exact opposite to an entire group of people based solely on the circumstances of their birth.

Truth be told, there are two kinds of racism out there. There's the overt racism in which the person understands that they have a preference for some over others. Then there's the more insidious racism of those that tell ourselves that we are not racists, but our actions still hurt or disadvantage others along arbitrary lines.

So how is it that some of are so sure that this insidious form of racism is so wide-spread whereas others are equally sure that it is not? How can these points of view be so far apart? The answer is hard to accept and lies deep within the nature of our species. We humans naturally define concentric circles of "us versus them" in which we almost always favor the inner circle when compared to an outer circle. We tend to lookout for our own interest before another; our own family before strangers; and our village before the world.

This very natural act that has been fruitful in binding communities together for millenia is also the root of racism and other forms discrimination. It defines "us" and skews our mind's perception of what is good so to benefit the "us". It is why we'll fight for our friends, family, village, tribe or country even if something deep inside of us knows that we are in the wrong. Want and example of this? Think of any movie in which the main character is obviously in the wrong and yet by the director showing us the movie from this character's perspective we are drawn into sympathizing and even routing for him to win. The director has succeeded in making the bad guy one of "us". It is part of our survival and self-preservation instinct.

What does this mean? That we're all racists to some extent. Understanding and accepting this is critical to overcoming the problems of racism and discrimination. It is only when we understand our natural tendencies to choose others like us over those that are different that we can free ourselves from its ill-effects.

So the next question is "why"? Why should we even fight these natural tendencies if they have served us so well throughout time? The answer is because our world has changed. No longer do we live in villages where everyone looks like us and acts like us. No longer are the actions of one village divorced from ramifications on the other side of the planet. Today, our village is multi-racial, multi-ethnic and diverse and therefore even this low-grade, insidious racism destroys the fabric of our community.

Dang Mormons

Although I am not a fan of the Mormon Church, I do not view them much differently than any other. There are many reasons for me dislike this church including their long history of intense discrimination against blacks and the current crusade against gay marriage in California.

But in spite of all of this I like to give credit where credit is due. The Mormon Church recently supported a bill giving gays protection against discrimination in housing and employment. One might interpret this as a tactical move on their part to counter the criticism they received after the California ballot initiative, but I'm skeptical. It seems to me that the bill actually has too much meaning to be just symbolic.

I've stated in the past about how I couldn't possibly trust a Republican on health care, race and gay issues because they've never done anything proactively in those areas. They only throw stones at Democratic attempts to move the ball forward. If they think that current gay legislation goes too far or is somehow flawed, then I want to see them put forward a bill that guarantees the dignity of gay people in what they see as the "right" way. And I don't want to see it as a response to water-down a Democratic initiative. I want to see it originate from them as something they believe in. If they say that they think health care should be affordable for all and that gay people should be able to visit each other in hospitals, then let them do something to show it rather than just say it as they vote "no".

Well, kudos to the Mormon Church because at least they took a step in that direction. Tomorrow something may happen that will change my mind, but at least today I'll take their word at face value.

Burning Man or Bust

The world seems to be becoming so homogeneous. One of the inevitable side-effect of globalization is that cultures tend to become more and more like each other. I've even seen the homogenization of of New York where I was born as well as my new hometown of Washington DC. That which makes us unique is evaporating and I mourn its passing.

That's why I jump at any opportunity to experience cultural or geographical uniqueness before it is gone. One such event that I've wanted to attend for quite a while, but have not yet had the chance is Burning Man. It's always seemed such a daunting event to participate in, but I think I am ready to do it.

It takes place on the weekend before Labor Day. Scheduling is going to be a little challenging though since it happens just after GNI, to which I am definitely going, and during the same period as Southern Decadence. I've also never been to Decadence, but obviously I wouldn't be able to do both Decadence and BM in the same year.

Anyway, if anyone has any recommendations or stories on BM, I'd love to hear them. I also wouldn't mind meeting up to go since the BF has made it quite clear that being in an empty desert for a week is definitely not up his alley.