What sighs from within

May 17

May 16

Gardening today was all about cat poop and slugs. Don’t let anyone tell you that watching beautiful plants come up from the earth is glamorous.

(via mydarling)

May 07

Rant, trying to bring peace to a rude conversation

This guy on facebook was saying things to one of my gay friends in opposition to the right of gay people to marry. He was also extremely offended when someone said he was coming from a position of white male privilege - he called it an unnecessary personal attack. He also said that it was a Christian value to deny marriage to homosexuals. I decided to use my idea muscle a little and this is what I wrote: wait, I noticed a mistake - no one could tell he was heterosexual at birth…okay, proceed.

Bobby, you were born a white (privilege), male (privilege), heterosexual (privilege) in 20th century America (privilege). These things were readily apparent at your birth - they were the tools (or weapons, depending on your view) that God gave you to use in the world. This is not calling you a name, or making an attempt to disparage you. These are facts that you bring to the conversation. I want to hear your point of view because I try to respect and value the worth and dignity of every human being. But I want you to tell me something new - if I want to hear the voice of white male privilege, I only have to turn on the television and watch the news. We hear white males telling us to suck it up, or telling us how love should work, or that we are too fat or too poor, or that war IS the answer. We hear hate enough. We hear violence enough. Your voice and contribution to the discussion should be different than that.

I do think that the bible is extremely relevant to this discussion, because it is the ethics that underlies the whole conversation that we are having. As a Christian, I stand with the people who are vulnerable. Christ brings all people together in peace. FACT: Marriage is not a fringe group. Marriage is not an activity like cannibalism or polygamy, but an established institution in American society. FACT: There are not two genders. The gender binary is scientifically false. It is a gender continuum. Consider the diversity of people that you know with an open mind and you will find this to be a truth. FACT: Marriage is a fundamental right. If two human beings, as you rightly categorized us all - cheers for putting down those weapons!!- want a white picket fence and a golden retriever, possibly even a few kids, then they should be able to have that. You have your version of that dream with little outside intrusion. Did anyone attack you when you desired to marry your wife? Why not? Why do you support the state denying this right -that you readily enjoy- to others who are exactly like you?

Bobby, I really want to hear your thoughts on this and answers to my questions so that I can understand better.