Our BetterMost Community > Chez Tremblay

Is freedom really all that "free"??

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maggiesmommy GayLee:
I spent alot of time today with music playing in the background while i cooked and played hostess to my family and friends as we celebrated the 4th of July holiday.
For those of you outside of the USA, we celebrate the 4th oh July as our independence day.  As i listened to the words of the patriotic songs, and kept hearing the songs about freedom, i had to wonder why this freedom and equality isn't for ALL of our citizens....this year has been SO enlightening for me...since BBM, i have changed right to the core, and i see things SO differently!! a year ago, i didn't go down this road at all, but this year, after Jimmy and BBM, i just couldn't get it out of mind that all the singing, and prattling on and on about our freedoms, our ~"Life, Liberty and the persuit of Happiness" stuff...and wondered what we are so proud of when we deny the basic rights of our citizens in the Gay/Lesbian community.  If it is your persuit of happiness that leads you to the person you love, and making a life with that person is what makes you happy and complete, what right does this country or your state have to deny you that basic human right??  why can't you marry, and have full access the the benefits that marriage affords straight couples?? how can we parade freedom and equality in front of the world, and not practice what we preach...oh, i get it, freedom to live ones life with the dignity afforded straight couples is denied G/L couples because this "christian" country chooses to judge and look down on and "manage" people that they consider  different than they are....how fair is that?? If you have the power, and our government does, you can mete out your judgement without ever being called on it...i mean, you just can't stop paying your taxes...there is no recourse..i am just so thourghly disgusted this year, and have never dealt with these feelings before, but i have a great deal of empathy, and i truly feel your frustration and anger and sadness at what you suffer...i really feel it, and i heard someone say recently that they didn't like Gay people because they were so pissy and bitter acting....(lumping ALL G/L people, as is common with the unenlightened) i said wouldn't YOU be if you had your government, who you support with your tax dollars, denying you the most basic of human needs, loving companionship?? the right to be married and the benefits that come with that status.  That you are denied children when you could give them a loving home with two loving  partners, but they are kept in foster care, because you are not considered "normal or good"...I don't know if it made an impact on her, but i sure had to say it...and it felt damned good...
"Ole Brokeback got us good", just goes on and on impacting EVERY facet of my life, and every day is another learning experience, because i have my "Brokeback eyes" on now...and i can see SO MUCH MORE!!   than i ever did before....so much, and it sickens me...
all i can say is I'm sorry, i wish it wasn't this way, and if nothing else, you have another vote for the politicians who care about these issues, and one more from everyone else who has been changed for the better by BBM. 
Just had to say.....
here's to one day, having a REAL independence day...with liberty and JUSTICE, for ALL....so be it
Gay Lee
   

twistedude:
Amen. And women, too...

ednbarby:
I hear you, G.  I have a really hard time getting into all the flag waving and Sousa marches and so forth, myself.  Really, all that started with the 2000 election for me, and has just continued to slide at warp speed downhill from there.  Took my son to see the fireworks for his first time last night.  He enjoyed them, so I enjoyed them to that extent.  But beyond that, I didn't feel a thing.  Not even sadness - I'm kind of beyond that now.  When Will asked what "Independence Day" really is, I told him it is our country's birthday.  And I left it at that.  Only trouble with that was he kept asking where the cake and ice cream were.  So I took him out for ice cream afterwards, and he was satisfied.  Hope that doesn't make me a terrible parent - but I don't think a four-year-old is ready to hear about how his mother officially stopped loving her country the day the levees were breached in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and doesn't think that love can ever be rekindled.  And how this movie and what it woke me up to and what's come since in the political power game have only deepened that resolve.

maggiesmommy GayLee:
oh, yes, yes sister....i am surprised at the mutual feelings on this subject from a wide variety of people...comforting but surprising...i am not too silent about my opinions and feelings and i am getting alot of positive feedback...hope?? dunno..people afraid to swm upstream in the mainstream? dunno...but we need to forget all that and stand up and say how we feel OUR country should be run by the people WE PAY to do the job...no more, no less...unless you are an elected official, the only wepon you have is your voice, your $ and your pen....i challenge all of us to find ways to use the tools at our disposal to make a real change in the coming elections..your first line of defense is you vote...backing that up is your donations and time to the candidates that you believe in...it has to start somwhere, and if i give my time and $100 and vote for candidates who are dedicated to making a change in this area of equality.....AND ALL OF US WHO BELIEVE IN THIS do the same....why, there will be no stopping us...we have let our G/L brothers and sisters fight this fight alone for too long....too damed long....and we can quit it right now and stand up....we don't HAVE to STAND IT...we can take our lesson from Ennis' inability to move forward...and FIX IT!!   my first step will be to change my party affiliation...today...
gay lee

alec716:
Dear maggiesmommy & ednbarby & julie01,

THANK YOU.  I am sure that I could post a detailed and substantive affirmance of your thoughts and emotions if your words had not just brought tears to my eyes and goosebumps to my arms. 

So, from the grown-up heart of this little gay kid from Buffalo who dared to dream that one day it would be OK...

THANK YOU for understanding how simple it could all be.

Now if y'all will pardon me, I need to find a certain warshrag to dry my face.   ;)   Y'all got me good.   :)

with love, Alec

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