Is Scott Brown A Male Chauvinist?

The latest kerfuffle emerging from the highly entertaining 2012 election year involves a spat between incumbent Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) and Democratic frontrunner Elizabeth Warren.  In 1982, Sen. Brown posed nude for Cosmopolitan magazine and used the proceeds to help pay for his education.  During a recent debate among the Democratic contenders to face Brown in November, a question was asked regarding how the potential challengers paid for their education in light of Brown baring all 29 years ago.  Much to the delight of the crowd, Ms. Warren responded that she "kept her clothes on".  After hearing of Warren's remark, Brown later retored, "Thank God."

Brown and Warren Spar Over Nude Photo Shoot

Was Sen. Brown's comment in bad taste?  Certainly so.  Is he a male chauvinist?  I find that highly unlikely.  To me, this was an off the cuff quip that most likely does not reflect any sexist attitudes on Brown's behalf.  (For the record, I have no issue with his posing nude either.)

However, I think this speaks to a deeper issue.  Why in 21st Century America are we still basing our opinions and forming judgements of women based on their appearance?  There is an old saying that basically says that men will listen to other men and then decide if they like what they hear, but men will look at a woman and decide if they like what they see before paying any attention at all to what she says.  I can't tell you how many times my criticism of Sarah Palin has been greeted with "Yeah, but she's hot" from my male readers.  Are we to base our opinions of Ms. Palin, or any other female in the public eye, on her sex appeal?  Have we not progressed beyond this type of Neanderthal thinking?

The fact of the matter is this, friends and frenemies.  Women are equal members of our society from the boardroom to the hallowed chambers of government to Wall Street to Main Street.  They deserve respect, dignity, appreciation, and equal opportunity.  What they do not deserve is to be judged in any way on their physical attributes.

Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.

The Death Of An Icon

Let me see if I have this straight.  Steve Jobs, may he rest in peace, created overpriced toys for adults who have a cornucopia of everything, and his untimely death is greeted by banner headlines, breaking news updates, a massive amount of media attention, social media websites filled with expressions of grief, and mourning usually set aside for an elder statesman or revered religious leader.

Meanwhile, Rev. Fred J. Shuttlesworth, a civil rights icon, who was bombed, beaten, repeatedly arrested, and hailed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., passed away Wednesday, and his death barely registers a blip in the media, on the Internet, or in the blogospere.

Rev. Shuttlesworth Biography

What does that say about who we in America consider to be heroes?  What does this say about our priorities in this country?  While I agree that Mr. Jobs was a brilliant, innovated, upstanding, and passionate man; does he warrant more accolades than a man who put his life on the line on a day to day, hour to hour, basis to fight for African American equality?  I think not, and I think it speaks volumes about how shallow, historically ignorant, self-centered, and self-absorbed American society really is.

RIP, Rev. Shuttlesworth.  You are in a far better place now, and your legacy will live on forever.

Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.

How Do I Maintain A Positive Outlook?

How do I maintain a positive outlook?  This is a question I am frequently asked especially when people learn how much death, destruction, and sickness I see on a first hand basis.  Really, the answer isn't all that difficult, and I hope you will find it helpful regardless of your chosen profession.  The following things help me keep my head up and keep me going forward.  I hope they will help you as well.

Treat others with unconditional positive regard.  This essentially means giving others the respect and dignity that all humans deserve regardless of their race, religion (or lack thereof), gender, sexual orientation, politics, or nation of origin and regardless if they are mentally or physically ill, if they follow societal norms for hygiene and grooming, if they are homeless, etc.  (Yes, I know I sometimes fail in this endeavour, but it isn't for lack of trying.)

Practice random acts of kindness.

Practice random acts of generosity.

Give to charity.

Help the less fortunate.

Stand up for who you are, what you are, and what you believe in.

Be honest. 

Do good work.

Lend a helping hand to a person in need.

Spend time with those about whom you care and who care about you; don't waste time on those who don't.

Do not engage in battles of wits with unarmed people. 

And lastly.........................

Treat others the way you would want them to treat you.

Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.

Gay Teen Provoked His Own Murder????

You know what I don't understand?  I don't understand why well known anti-gay activist, Randy Thomasson of Save California, recently suggested that a teenage homosexual, who was murdered by a classmate, provoked his own killing.  No, I am not making this up.  I wish I were, but I am not.

First, some background on the case, fifteen year old, Lawrence "Larry" King was openly gay and also a cross dresser.  He was very flamboyant and thought nothing of chasing others boys around the school.  He relished the attention that his being out and his appearance brought him.  After making his interest in another boy obvious and public, the other boy shot King in the head twice in a computer lab at the school.  King died from brain injuries two days later.

Folks, there is a lot going on with this story, both positive and negative.  A young man being brave enough to be who he is.  Some teachers and students who support King.  An assistant principal who may have used King to advance her own agenda.  Many, many students who bullied and harassed King.  A city where the gay community is almost non-existent.  The fact that King was very provocative and sexually suggestive with his male classmates.  The behavior of a lot of people involved in this case is questionable.

Young, Gay, and Murdered

That being established, however.................................

Does any of King's behavior justify his being gunned down in cold blood by another middle schooler?  Seriously, ladies and gentlemen, think about this.  Even if King were parading himself about in front of his killer while telling the young man "You know you want me", does that justify cold blooded murder? 

Thomasson certainly seems to think so.

Gay Teen Brought On His Own Murder

The audio clip in the above link is beyond repugnant.  The killer was being "harassed", so it is understandable that he would pump a couple of bullets into King's brain.  "Bad teachers" supported King to promote the "homosexual agenda".  (On a side note, I have been asking for years what the "homosexual agenda" is, but I have yet to receive an answer that wasn't an illogical homophobic rant.)  Allowing King to dress in female clothing caused "sexual tension".  Allowing students to express themselves through their dress is "social engineering".  Anti-bullying statues that include gays are "indoctrination".

This "gentleman" (and I use the term VERY loosely) is reprehensible.  His anti-gay bigotry is sickening.  His attempt to justify murder is stomach churning.

The killer in this case also had some serious mitigating circumstances in his life.  These must be considered in court, but to suggest that King's homosexuality, cross dressing, and behavior legitimize his murder is abominable!

Quite frankly, friends, I would like to see this fanatic be forced to sit and listen to first hand accounts from gays and lesbians about the bigotry and prejudicial treatment that they endure on a day to day, hour to hour, basis.  Maybe then, he could remove his cranium from his anus and realize that homophobia is criminal and that gays deserve the same rights, respect, and dignity as everyone else.

Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.

What Happened To Common Courtesy And Respect?

You know what I don't understand? I don't understand what happened to common courtesy and respect. Is it just me, or are the vast majority of our friends and neighbors terribly self centered anymore? Take these examples under consideration:

• As a student nurse, I have witnessed fellow students talk among themselves, play on their phones, and literally sleep during class lectures. Shouldn't the instructors be respected enough to have their students pay attention during class? I myself teach an occasional EMS class and have been subjected to the same treatment, and I find it personally and professionally offensive. I would expect my nursing instructors share the same opinion.
• During runs with my fire department, I have been verbally accosted by patients and bystanders as have fellow EMTs and police officers. What happened to respecting a badge and respecting public servants?
• Have you noticed how many of our neighbors don't seem to be able to see past the ends of their own noses? It is as if the entire universe is them, their family, and their little world while nothing else matters. Why do we no longer reach out to help our fellow men? Why do we no longer extend a hand to those in need and less fortunate than we? Do we not realize we are all in this together?
• While driving on the highways and byways of North Central Indiana, I have recently seen a person who was driving east move into westbound traffic in order to bypass a work zone, a person intentionally drive in a closed lane, so they could pass those of us with the common sense to move into the lane that was actually open, just so the person could cut into the open lane with about ten feet to spare causing a near collision, and a driver nearly hitting an elderly pedestrian who had the right of way because the driver was too involved in her cell phone conversation to notice the gentleman trying to lawfully cross the street.
• Political and social commentary, especially online, is hateful, vicious, mean spirited, and personally insulting. (Before I am accused of hypocrisy, I myself am guilty of this from time to time, but I am trying to avoid behaving in this way.) What became of thoughtful, civil discourse and debate? As a society, we find Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Keith Olbermann, and Lawrence O'Donnell acceptable? What happened to George Will, David Brooks, Mark Shields, and EJ Dionne?
• We are rude to each other. We treat those with whom we disagree with utter disdain and disrespect. We curse at each other. We degrade each other. We are more concerned with what we have and how we can keep it than we are with uplifting the downtrodden and contributing to the common good.

I don't know, friends and frenemies. I am concerned about the state of our society and of mankind as a whole. I fear if we do not start treating each other with more courtesy, with more respect, with more civility and with more dignity, we will soon destroy each other and ourselves. I am curious as to your thoughts on this matter, dear readers. Please feel free to comment.

Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.