As I posted yesterday, Autumn (Fall) brings out the poetic side of my, no pun intended, nature. My Mom use to say that she saw me being happy as a “13th century monk, donkey in hand and making his rounds through the English countryside, communing with nature and trying to bring about a little goodness.” The older I get, the more I think she had been right. So in the “spirit” of that, might have been monk, here’s another poem for a Fall morning.
Back several years ago, Helen Rucker and I had used the idea of a “Business Incubator”, for the City of Warren, as a campaign issue.
Helen was a successful candidate and I, alas, lost but the idea of the incubator has been a small glowing candle that might soon be a raging fire.
Over the years, the Youngstown Business Incubator has created more than 250 well-paying jobs and has become a model for other facilities around the country.
But can the same idea work for downtown Warren?
Encouraged by the success of Youngstown’s software-based business incubator, that’s what officials in Warren are hoping. And the city could soon have a center of its own focusing on new energy technology.
Thanks to more than $2 million from a federal energy bill and another $500,000 from the new state budget, officials will now begin the process of choosing a site and recruiting potential tenants.
Rebecca Bagley of the Cleveland-based Northeast Ohio Regional Technology Council, or NorTech, will act as an adviser to the incubator’s local steering committee.
While lawmakers admit starting new businesses in this tough economy is never an easy task, they claimed those allowed to grow through incubators tend to be more successful.
Organizers hope to have a location for the incubator chosen within the next 10 months and think as many as 70 new high-tech jobs could be created there within its first three years of operation.
As Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus near the same time that Jews and Muslims celebrate important religious holidays, I would like to take the opportunity to wish Dare To Dream readers, and particularly our founder and editor Tristan and his partner, Bob, a joyous holiday celebration! Here’s hoping that the coming year will be one of peace on earth and genuine good will to all. From the snow-covered coast of Virginia, may your holiday celebration be a festive one, indeed!
Rudolph the Red Nose Raindeer or It’s Ok To Be Different
I just love it when people send me trivia in my emails and I think it would make a great post for Dare To Dream. Today I received the following and it really is heartwarming.
A guy named Bob May, depressed and brokenhearted, stared out his drafty apartment window into the chilling December night. His 4-year-old daughter, Barbara, sat on his lap quietly sobbing. Bobs wife, Evelyn, was dying of cancer.
Little Barbara couldn’t understand why her mommy could never come home. Barbara looked up into her dads eyes and asked, “Why isn’t Mommy just like everybody else’s Mommy?” Bob’s jaw tightened and his eyes welled with tears. Her question brought waves of grief, but also of anger. It had been the story of Bob’s life. Life always had to be different for Bob. Being small when he was a kid, Bob was often bullied by other boys. He was too little at the time to compete in sports. He was often called names he’d rather not remember.
From childhood, Bob was different and never seemed to fit in. Bob did complete college, married his loving wife and was grateful to get his job as a copywriter at Montgomery Ward during the Great Depression. Then he was blessed with his little girl. But it was all short-lived. Evelyn’s bout with cancer stripped them of all their savings and now Bob and his daughter were forced to live in a two-room apartment in the Chicago slums. Evelyn died just days before Christmas in 1938.
Bob struggled to give hope to his child, for whom he couldn’t even afford to buy a Christmas gift. But if he couldn’t buy a gift, he was determined a make one a storybook! Bob had created an animal character in his own mind and told the animal’s story to little Barbara to give her comfort and hope. Again and again Bob told the story, embellishing it more with each telling. Who was the character? What was the story all about? The story Bob May created was his own autobiography in fable form. The character he created was a misfit outcast like he was. The name of the character? A little reindeer named Rudolph, with a big shiny nose.
Bob finished the book just in time to give it to his little girl on Christmas Day. But the story doesn’t end there. The general manager of Montgomery Ward caught wind of the little storybook and offered Bob May a nominal fee to purchase the rights to print the book.
Wards went on to print Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and distribute it to children visiting Santa Claus in their stores. By 1946 Wards had printed and distributed more than six million copies of Rudolph.
That same year, a major publisher wanted to purchase the rights from Wards to print an updated version of the book. In an unprecedented gesture of kindness, the CEO of Wards returned all rights back to Bob May. The book became a best seller. Many toy and marketing deals followed and Bob May, now remarried with a growing family, became wealthy from the story he created to comfort his grieving daughter.
But the story doesn’t end there either. Bob’s brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, made a song adaptation to Rudolph. Though the song was turned down by such popular vocalists as Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore , it was recorded by the singing cowboy, Gene Autry.
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” was released in 1949 and became a phenomenal success, selling more records than any other Christmas song, with the exception of “White Christmas.” The gift of love that Bob May created for his daughter so long ago kept on returning to bless him again and again.
Bob May learned the lesson, just like his dear friend Rudolph, that being different isn’t so bad. In fact, being different can be a blessing!
Guest Post Katie Giallanza
A Christmas Carol From My Childhood
Just in case you didn’t read the old comic strip POGO POSSUM here is a carol sung by all the animals in the strip, that me and my brothers were so fond of…Guaranteed to make you smile! We had a turtle named Churchy after one of the characters in the strip…Ah fond memories!
Deck us all with Boston Charlie,
Walla Walla, Wash., an’ Kalamazoo!
Nora’s freezin’ on the trolley,
Swaller dollar cauliflower alley-garoo!
Don’t we know archaic barrel
Lullaby Lilla Boy, Louisville Lou?
Trolley Molly don’t love Harold,
Boola boola Pensacoola hullabaloo!
Bark us all bow-wows of folly,
Polly wolly cracker ‘n’ too-da-loo!
Donkey Bonny brays a carol,
Antelope Cantaloupe, ‘lope with you!
Hunky Dory’s pop is lolly gaggin’ on the wagon,
Willy, folly go through!
Chollie’s collie barks at Barrow,
Harum scarum five alarm bung-a-loo!
Dunk us all in bowls of barley,
Hinky dinky dink an’ polly voo!
Chilly Filly’s name is Chollie,
Chollie Filly’s jolly chilly view halloo!
Bark us all bow-wows of folly,
Double-bubble, toyland trouble! Woof, woof, woof!
Tizzy seas on melon collie!
Dibble-dabble, scribble-scrabble! Goof, goof, goof!
Fractured Christmas carols were a regular feature of Kelly’s holiday strips. Churchy LaFemme once came up with a version of “Good King Wenceslas” that went: “Good King Sauerkraut, look out! On your feets uneven…” No question about it, Kelly was a genius. The lyrics to “Boston Charlie” and many of the strips in which the verses were introduced may be found in Outrageously Pogo (1985), edited by Mrs. Walt Kelly and Bill Crouch, Jr.
Bob’s clock radio is set on WTAM out of Cleveland and at 9am this morning it went off with Glen Beck pontificating about the World Climate Change meeting in Copenhagen.
In his tirade he went off on the “one child proposal” which some have championed as a way to combat Global warming. He blurted out, “Stay out of my wife’s uterus” and added, maybe that didn’t come out right but “they have no right to propose such a thing.”
Ironic that this is coming from a man who supports the Abortion Amendment added to the Health Care Bill.
The hypocrisy is blatant and demeaning.
The Wish
There is a story told ’round fires bright,
Of an ancient birth, which was to set the world right.
But due to man’s inhumanity to man,
Turmoil ruled throughout the land.
So in that Spirit of the birth of old
May we wish you a season and a year of gold,
Blest with love, faith and humanity.
This we pray to God, in all sincerity.
Tristan, Bob and “gang” (Snowball, Moses, Teatro and Shadow)
Read all of Tristan’s poetry at All Alone in a Crowd
Beyond
Rejoice,
Silently Christmas approaches.
That Spirit filled time
When humankind united,
Turns to thoughts of peace and joy.
It comes,
Like the first one,
Without orchestras,
Slogans and jingles,
But humbly,
Softly,
Foretold and awaited.
Join with me,
Pray with me,
That this Advent
Will last beyond the tree and glitter,
Beyond the gift and tinsel,
Beyond the ringing bells,
Beyond the tears,
Till the Lamb rules us
“One and all.”
*View all of Tristan’s poetry at All Alone in a Crowd
Yes, in a few weeks I’ll be 64 and at Christmas I’m still the kid on the phone trying to call Santa to add something to my list.
Let me admit, I’m nuts about Christmas.
I won’t apologize for the way I act or the way the holiday makes me feel, for I truly believe, like Charlie Brown, “Christmas makes the rest of the year worthwhile.”
Oh sure, Bob starts preparing for my holiday “quirk” around Labor Day, but after 20 years he knows that he’ll start hearing Christmas music shortly after Halloween, decorations will appear around about Thanksgiving and then I’ll be in full Polar Express steam by the end of the first week of December.
I’m even positive that my friends have all compared notes.
“Don’t mention Dickens” plus “Never ask, did you see the Christmas Carol, It’s A Wonderful Life or he’s off like a sled pulled by reindeer.” They approach my romance with the “Season” as tho I had one to many rum laced egg nog and for their indulgence I am grateful and thankful.
Sometimes when writing my posts, I wonder if “anyone is out there” and if the words on the page make any sort of mark, or impression, on those who might stop by and read.
In most cases the post sits there without comment until unexpectedly a note appears for moderation or a friend emails me on their opinion.
Such is the case with the following post from almost two-year ago.
A friend emailed me that they were “very moved” by my post on “stuff” and they remembered that it was also printed as a letter to the editor in the Warren Tribune Chronicle. She asked that I repost it because she felt that it was more poignant now then ever.
So with some minor editing here is a re-post of “Maybe This Year“.
Will this be the year that brings Christmas into a true perspective?
With high gas prices for most of this year; many families displaced due to foreclosures on their homes; empty spaces around the dinner table because of a nation at war; unemployment skyrocketing and finally the decline of the middle class into a state of poverty, will this bring about the sense of reality and spirituality that is Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Will this be the year that we realize it’s not about “stuff”? The over sized backyard grill or the large wide-screen HDTV is not important when so much loneliness, hunger and poverty exists.
Will this be the year we get over the tinsel, commercials and hype of bigger, better and more is important to feel good about ourselves?
Is this the year we realize that it’s not the many rows of twinkle lights or spot lights on the outside decorations, making even airport runways look dim, that make the Season bright?
Will this be the year, like Dickens’s ghost Marley, we see beyond the “stuff” and say “(humankind) should have been my business”?
If we do, then this would truly be a Merry Christmas.
Dare to Dream’s 500th Post
We are pleased that our 500th post is a happy one for Northeast Ohio Gay residents. Today we received the following email which we want to share.
Inclusive Non-Discrimination Clause Passes in 3 Ohio Cities The Ohio-Meadville District applauds and support Cleveland, Akron and Summit County, OH.
Equality Ohio posted this announcement to it’s email list earlier today: Last night, Cleveland City Council voted 21 – 0 to protect against discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on gender identity and expression.
Akron voted 10 – 2 to do the same based on both sexual orientation and gender identity and Summit County voted 11 – 1 to pass a countywide ordinance protecting against discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Thanks to all the advocates and coalitions who have worked long and hard to see these much needed protections finally included in municipal law! We encourage Cleveland, Akron and Summit County citizens to thank their councilpersons.
You can find Cleveland councilpersons’ contact information at www.clevelandcitycouncil.org
Akron councilpersons’ contact information at www.akroncitycouncil.org/Find_your_Councilperson/ and Summit County councilpersons’ contact information at http://www.co.summit.oh.us/council/index.htm
Main Street Warren Ohio has announced it’s Saturday, December 5th, 2009 schedule for Christmas Time in the City. This yearly event used to be called Caroling on the Square but has been expanded and upgraded to the a new and exciting program.
Dare To Dream has received a copy of this coming Saturday’s schedule and is happy to pass it on to our Dare To Dream readers.
Warren’s Hot Dog Shoppe on YouTube again.
You might not be aware but you can now subscribe to Dare To Dream.
When you visit DTD you’ll find in the sidebar, at the the bottom, a box to subscribe to the blog.
This way you’ll get notified when a new posting is on line without having to keep checking with the main site to see if there’s anything new.
As DTD approaches its 30thousandth visitor, I want to thank you for helping make DTD a success. What started out as a simple little Warren blog has taken on a life of it’s own and now has visitors from around the world, not just Northeast Ohio…yet our heart and spirit is still anchored here.
Join those who have already subscribed to DTD and watch us grow.
Pausing on this Veteran’s Day to remember those who have served and are serving to protect our freedom.
Dad: World War II
Grandfather: 1918
Those many I served with 1966-1970
Basic Training
With some unknown sense
I felt his stare
upon my neck.
He stalk’d me,
trail’d my every move
and now
victory was in his reach.
I turned slowly,
gazed into my enemy’s eyes
and knew I was finished.
He laughed,
smiled and taunted,
then fired.
I grabbed my burning stomach,
and fell to the ground
still hearing his laughter.
I would get even
after lunch,
for war was only a game
when we were young.
*My 1970 Protest Against Viet Nam. This piece is just as relevant today as it was when first written.
Copyright Tristan Hand
Fire-lit shadows dance upon the ceiling
And frost drapes the hedgerows in the lanes
And then it paints with icy fingers,
Lovely pictures on cottage window panes.
A haloed moon races in the heavens,
And stars, like angel lamps, are slowly lit.
‘Tis then, my dear, I would love to see you,
As by the fire-bright hearth I sit.
I explore the glowing castles in the embers,
And recreate my world as it was then,
But this contains memories of sadness
For I know dear heart, we can’t go back again.
So I say goodbye to dancing shadows,
And to frost on the hedgerows in the lane,
And to the lovely, winter chilled pictures
Painted on the cottage window panes.
Our lives are lived in a world of real tomorrows
Time takes its toll on dreams of “used to be,”
But there is one thing I know for certain
My youth was sweet because you cared for me.
Guest Post: The Bobster
Over ten years ago, the funding for Ohio’s public educational system was deemed unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court.
It seems to me that a source of funding would be a one half of one percent sales tax statewide on any product that exchanges hands. This would include homes, cars, boats, dishes, jeans, and diapers. This seems a fair way so that the tax would not be seen as regressive, in that all income levels would pay by what they buy.
I came upon this idea after seeing Rep. John Boehner speaking, on the capitol steps in Washington D.C., at yesterdays republican “Press Conference”/Rally.
Rep. Boehner is the highest ranking Republican in the House of Representatives and is from Ohio.
While holding a copy of the Constitution in his hand, and touting that he was reading from the Constitution, he quoted the preamble to that document. Unfortunately for him, he quoted about “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” which is in the Declaration of Independence.
What does this have to do with education? Rep. Boehner went to a private school.
While growing up, I always thought that a private school education meant that one ended up smarter and with a better chance to get ahead in life. Well……… So it is now obvious that something must be done for the public schools so the students do not end up looking like a dunderhead on television.
Ten years and no progress.
What a lesson our state government must be ashamed of sending to the citizens of Ohio.
In todays Letters To The Editor, Warren Tribune Chronicle, a reader, Jim Koehler, stated he believes that the new “Hate Crimes” legislation (Matthew Shepherd Bill) was a violation of “free speech” and thereby un-Constitutional.
This same argument was expressed by 17th Congressional Democrat Candidate Dan Moadus in an email to Dare To Dream readers which was published in a September 10, 2009 DTD posting.
I do believe that all violent crimes are “hate crimes” and there seems there shouldn’t have to be a need to distinguish between crimes, but there is, and that’s where my agreement with Moadus and Koeler breaks down.
The Matthew Shepard Act is a measured and a very necessary action to address the problem of violence against people based upon actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and disability.
Many criminal statues, including the murder statue, are what are referred to as “specific intent laws.” The courts are in the business of determining one’s “intent”; that is, what’s in one’s mind. It is a fundamental part of criminal prosecution. Worst of any part of the answer is that Mr. Moadus and Mr. Koehler feel it’s alright to hate, it’s perfectly acceptable and they have a Constitutional “right” to act upon that hate, which they feel is protected.
How sad and very frightening.
October has always been an exciting month in the Fott-Hand household.
First it is our anniversary month and secondly we opened the Queen of Hearts Tavern on October 23rd, 1997. It would have been 12 years ago this weekend.
The little bar on Pine Avenue, Warren Ohio, was not the most palatial of “pubs” but it was homey and intimate.
We were very fortunate to surround ourselves with many a talented person who gave much in the building and construction, plus others with the growth and success of that “little” business. DJ Ron with the music and advertising, Tom Brooks as singer/host, lead bartender John and of course Bobbie with the back bar expertise to name a few. So many other talented people, to numerous to mention here, gave so much of their time and energy, in the successful 9 years the “Queen” was on Pine.
At first, The “Queen”, was to have an Alice and Wonderland decor but as with most “spiritual” adventures, the “Q” developed it’s own personality and life. It seemed right from the removal of the buzzer off the door, The “Queen” was different.
In the beginning we used to state in our ads that “Everyone was a Royal Guest” but that quickly gave way to “More than a Heart in the Name”, as over the years the “Q” became actively involved with many local charities and food banks.
Other slogans followed, “Where Everyone has a Title: Friend”, “Put Your Q On”, “An Alternative from the Ordinary,” but it always came back to “More than a Heart in the Name.”
Over the 9 years that “little” bar operated, it’s patrons, friends and supporters gave nearly 40thousand dollars to local charities along with almost 3thousand pounds of food to local food banks. It raised more money for the Trumbull County Senior Mobile Meals program than any other business in Trumbull County and that was done two years in a row.
From Fairhaven School to the Trumbull County Area Aids Task Force, from the Red Cross to the YWCA, not a local charity was excluded from the “Q’s” community involvement.
The Queen of Hearts believed, as did the ghost of Jacob Marley in the Christmas Carol, “Humankind should have been my business…”
One of the best ad campaigns developed by DJ Ron was for Halloween but at the “Q” it quickly became “HalloQueen.” This was one of the busiest weekends of the year for the bar and always proved to be a “Bootiful” event, tho I can’t say that for many of the costumes.
So this weekend we pause and remember the “Queen.” Not just a “gay bar” but a business that strove to be more than a group of people, bigger than its small size, “Inclusive not Exclusive” and all who work there, drank there, played there and in general made so many memories for Bob and myself.
You can view photo’s of the 13,000 square foot Club Queen at the following link http://web.mac.com/ronflaviano/iWeb/ClubQueen/Queen.html
20 Years Together And We Don’t Count In The Declaration Of Independance’s “All” And The 2010 Census
2009 October 15
As I was growing up, there was a plaque that always hung by the front door for all those who visited our house to see. It had a simple message, “A family is a circle of caring: strong and eternal, perfect unto itself.”
Today, my life partner and myself celebrate our 20th Anniversary together and that same plaque hangs by our front door.
Bob and I have always felt that we are a family. Maybe not in society’s “traditional” definition but as a “circle of caring” and I might add full of love.
We have a house, jobs and pets. Of course our pets to us are family members, but we do believe that every family feels the same connection with their “pets”, making us no different than our neighbors.
Our struggles, during these bad economic times, are the same as everyone else.
Taxes, food prices, gas prices, utilities and mortgage affects us like all our neighbors, but the difference is that we do not have the “rights” that those other “families” have.
During the 2004 17th Ohio Congressional Democrat Caucus, that elected me as an Alternate-Delegate to the Convention, I asked a simple question, “I stand before you as an openly gay male who served four years in the military during Viet Nam defending this nation and it’s citizens rights, who is defending mine?”
I have been very blessed that Bob has, for 20 years, been my “rock.” Stood by me in good times but most of all he has stood by me, even closer, in the bad ones.
I jokingly have told political friends that “Bob may not always see my dream, or vision, but he supports me through the fog.” His wise consul through all our struggles has been invaluable, and the perfect “mate” for this “Irish Rough” and “Child of the Sixties.”
As I was preparing to write this post I suggested to Bob a title, he paused, and then gave me “Twenty Years Together and We Still Don’t Count.” This of course in reference to the upcoming 2010 census which will not count same-sex couples living together. Just another example of how LGBT couples, and the community in general, are relegated to second class citizens.
The joy of our 20th Anniversary is dampened with the loss of our dear Sofia over a year ago. She weather’d the storms with Bob and myself through 16 years. She is sorely missed, but with year old Shadow, plus cats Snowball, Moses and Teatro, the family is completed, “A family is a circle of caring: strong and eternal, perfect unto itself.”
On a personal note from myself to Bob:
No matter if the sun don't shine Or if the skies are blue No matter what the end is My life began with you
*[This post was written (then stored as a draft until today) before the untimely death of Boyzone singer Stephen Gately. Our condolences are sent to Stephen's life partner, Andrew Cowles, and to the other members of Boyzone.]
Some Facts You Should Know:
*There are an estimated 3.1 million people living together in a same-sex relationships in the United States.
*Fifteen percent of these same-sex couples live in rural settings.
*One out of three lesbian couples is raising children. One out of five gay male couples is raising children.
*Between 1 million and 9 million children are being raised by gay, lesbian and bi-sexual parents in the United States.
*At least one same-sex couple is raising children in 96 percent of all counties nationwide.
*Same-sex couples live in 99.3 percent of all counties nationwide.
*The highest percentage of same-sex couples raising children live in the South.
*Nearly one in four same-sex couples include a partner 55 years old or older, and nearly one in five same-sex couples is composed of two people 55 or older.
*More than one in 10 same-sex couples include a partner 65 years old or older and nearly one in 10 same-sex couples is composed of two people 65 or older.
*The states with the highest numbers of same-sex senior couples are also the most popular for heterosexual senior couples: California, New York and Florida.
Currently in the United States, same-sex couples in long-term, committed relationships pay higher taxes and are denied basic protection and rights granted to married heterosexual couples. Among them:
*Hospital visitation. Married couples have the automatic right to visit each other in the hospital and make medical decisions. Same-sex couples can be denied the right to visit a sick or injured loved one in the hospital.
*Social Security benefits. Married people receive Social Security payments upon the death of a spouse. Despite paying payroll taxes, gay and lesbian partners receive no Social Security survivor benefits resulting in an average annual income loss of $5,528 upon the death of a partner.
*Immigration. Americans in bi-national relationship are not permitted to petition for their same-sex partners to immigrate. As a result, they are often forced to separate or move to another country.
*Health Insurance. Many public and private employers provide medical coverage to the spouses of their employees, but most employers do not provide coverage to the life partners of gay and lesbian employees. Gay employees who do receive health coverage for their partners must pay federal income taxes on the value of the insurance.
*Estate taxes. A married person automatically inherits all the property of his or her deceased spouse without paying estate taxes. A gay or lesbian taxpayer is forced to pay estate taxes on property inherited from a deceased partner.
*Retirement savings. While a married person can roll a deceased spouse’s 401 (k) funds into an IRA without paying taxes, a gay or lesbian American who inherits a 401 (k) can end up paying up to 70 percent of it in taxes and penalties.
*Family leave. Married workers are legally entitled to unpaid leave from their job to care for an ill spouse. Gay and lesbian workers are not entitled to family leave to care for their partners.
*Nursing homes. Married couple have a legal right to live together in nursing homes. Because they are not legal souses, elderly gay or lesbian couples do not have the right to spend their last days living together in nursing homes.
*Home protection. Laws protect married seniors from being forced to sell their homes to pay high nursing home bills; gay and lesbian seniors have no such protection.
*Pensions. After the death of a worker, most pension plans pay survivor benefits only to a legal spouse of the participant. Gay and lesbian partners are excluded from such pension benefits.
During the 2004 Presidential campaign, we heard a lot from the conservative movement about, “If you’re against the war, you’re against the troops,” thereby meaning that you also supported “the terrorist” and were un-American.
Boy how a short few years have changed their (conservatives) views.
I must admit to being somewhat shocked at yesterday’s news that President Obama had won the Nobel Peace Prize, but I also felt pride and honor as an American. The world has not thought well of our Country these last 8 years and it’s gratifying to see a shift toward us as a Nation and as a World Leader.
This shift was also evident at last months meeting of the UN and the leaders of other nations comments directed towards America. With President Obama’s Administration there has been an obvious, for the better, world shift in opinion of the United States.
With a shift in world opinion has come a shift on the home front and the conservatives attacking all things connected with President Obama and national pride.
The right wing media gleefully sang a song of triumph when Chicago, and America, lost the bid for the 2016 Olympics and then again with the Nobel Peace Prize announcement.
Joe Scarborough started the “anti-America” routine at 6 am with “That’s ridiculous” and it rolled through the conservative Fox News “Goebbels” propaganda machine all day until finally Rush Limbaugh added the “coup de gras.”
I think that everybody is laughing. Our president is a worldwide joke. Folks, do you realize something has happened here that we all agree with the Taliban and Iran about and that is he doesn’t deserve the award. Now that’s hilarious, that I’m on the same side of something with the Taliban, and that we all are on the same side as the Taliban.
So with the final media hammer, Limbaugh, we have the conservative movement supporting the Taliban, Iran and our terrorist enemies.
Where is Rush’s voice “If you don’t support the troops you’re against America?” His comment can not be interpreted any way other than he doesn’t support our forces in “harms way.”
Has the far right media given “aid and comfort” to the Taliban, Iran and terrorist around the world?
AID AND COMFORT – The U.S. Constitution, Article VIII, Section III, declares, that adhering to the enemies of the United States, giving them aid and comfort, shall be treason.
These words, as they are to be understood in the constitution, have not received a full judicial construction. They import, however, help, support, assistance, countenance, encouragement.
I think Rush’s own statement of “…and that we are on the same side as the Taliban” answers the question of his support for the terrorist and against our fighting forces.
To Rush and the other “Goebbelites” from the conservative movement, “Love it or leave it!”
Scarborough: Giggles Then States, “That’s Ridiculous” With Announcement Of President Obama Winning Nobel Peace Prize
2009 October 9
I flipped on the TV this morning to watch the news when I landed on MSNBC and Morning Joe with Joe Scarborough.
They were just announcing the winning of the Nobel Peace Prize by President Obama. As Mika made the announcement Scarborough went into a fit of giggles and then blurts out, “That ridiculous.” He then proceeds to run down the President’s qualifications for winning the “Prize”, demeaned the “Prize” and the significance of the award by invoking that “Arafat had won it” and the only reason “Carter and Gore won the Peace Prizes was because they bad mouthed George Bush.”
I’d like to join the voice of Mika who said that Joe should be “Happy for America” with the President’s win.
So in the spirit of this weeks earlier post I say, “Hey Joe, Love it or Leave It!”
In the turmoil of the sixties, “love it or leave it” was shouted out from the right against anyone who stood up against the war in Viet Nam and even later directed at those standing against President Bush going to war in Iraqi
Now we have the conservative movement in conflict with their very own patriotism.
No-one held signs “love it or leave it” protesting the organized “Town Hallers” yelling at members of congress.
No-one has told so called “Birthers” to “love it or leave it.” Glenn Beck spews forth his nightly tripe and no-where is heard, “Hey Glenn, love it or leave it.”
Where was the “love it or leave it” protest when Rush Limbaugh uttered that he wanted the “President to fail” and thereby wishing America to fail?
When Congressman Joe Wilson shouted out on the Congressional floor to the President, “You lied”, no one shouted back, “love it or leave it.”
Now we have the gleeful celebration of the far-right in the failure of Chicago, no America, to obtain its bid for the 2016 Olympic Games.
Where is the cry, “love it or leave it?
Since 1994, October has been designated National Coming Out Month for the LGBT Community.
For Bob and myself 
National Coming Out Day, which since 1988, is usually observed October 11th, is a day we call special in our relationship and it gets tied in with October 15th and our Anniversary.
October 11th, 1989, Bob finally “came out” and started to work in a local Akron Ohio bar called Tear-Ez Too.
Four days later on a Sunday afternoon over a glass of wine we met and this October 15th it will have lasted 20 years.
The second most notable, plus the most moving, Coming Out Day was one we observed in Washington DC in October 1996, when the entire AIDS Quilt was displayed on the “Mall”.
Oh we realize that in the listing of “Holidays” these two don’t even rank in the Hallmark Card section for special events but they are “mile stone markers” for us as we daily go about our lives as a “family.”
To all our LGBT “Brothers and Sisters”, Bob and I wish you a day, month and years of Pride, Peace and Love, in fact we wish it for ALL the family of humankind.
Glenn “McCarthy” Beck And Glenn “Elmer Gantry” Beck Are Inter-Changeable
2009 September 30
Over the last several months, Glenn “McCarthy” Beck has been seeing “communist” and “socialist” behind every door in President Obama’s White House and Administration.
He’s been sowing the seeds of fear as tho he was an itinerant “hell fire and damnation” pastor at a Sunday night tent revival.
Last night, Glenn “Elmer Gantry” Beck, made the switch as he lashed out with religious fervor. His “anti-Christ” and “end times” Revelation’s rhetoric, trying to tie President Obama, Iran’s Ahmadimejad and the Islam’s “twelvers” together, was well orchestrated and had the feeling of an “old time” gospel hour crusade.
He teary eyed quoted Christian scripture, used many references to God and Christ and pointed out the banning of prayer, and even Christmas carols, in schools and then showed children singing Obama songs and Representative Charlie Rangel praising the President in a working class rally.
His voiced choked as he asked, “When was the last time you sang the Battle Hymn of the Republic” and quoted one line that he touted as “my favorite.”
- In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
- With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
- As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
- While God is marching on.
Now comes my problem with the charade and I always hesitate to bring someones faith, and their churches beliefs into a debate, but I think it is very important to at this juncture.
Beck has always stated that as a young man it was Mormonism that “saved my life” and turned it “around.”
So what do the Mormons think about Christ as the “Son of God?” According to the Institute for Religious Research:
The Mormon Church teaches that Jesus Christ is our elder brother who progressed to godhood, having first been procreated as a spirit child by Heavenly Father and a heavenly mother; He was later conceived physically through intercourse between Heavenly Father and the virgin Mary.
Mormons also believe that Joseph Smith, The Book of Mormon and the Angel Moroni are ahead of Christ and the Holy Bible. Mormon’s believe that the Holy Bible has been altered to fit what the Roman Catholic Church wanted to use as their “indoctrination” message.
“Elmer Gantry” Beck uses The Book of Revelations to support his end times, President Obama is the “anti-Christ” theory but one can also point to Revelations and say maybe the Mormons are closest to being the “anti-Christ” Church than the President being the “anti-Christ”?
Does the Book of Mormon Violate Revelations 22:18-19 by adding to the Bible?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is often accused of adding more scripture to the Bible, in conflict with Revelation 22:18-19:
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.
“And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
With Glenn Beck morphing from personality to personality, from fear of this to fear of that, we can only guess where he will finally settle, maybe at the right hand of Bill O’Reilly for another “tweedle dee and tweedle dum” session.
Far Right Feels “Big Stick” Arrogance Is Mighter Than “Humble” Diplomacy
2009 September 27
This is the second time that I’ve decided to repost a previous post, in fact this is a repost of a repost, that’s how important I feel this issue is for us to discuss.
The first posting was after the President spoke in South America and the repost after his Egypt speech. Now, after his UN address, I feel the need to discuss the “far-right” and its assertion that we have become soft and that we are weak because other nations respect our President instead of fear him.
Of course President Obama’s speech to the UN was fodder for Glenn “McCarthy” Beck and the “gang” at Fox News. Rush “Limburger” Limbaugh even got in the act with telling the President he should “shut up” and be quiet as tho he believed the President was a child “who should be seen but not heard.”
One final note. Today, in the Letter To The Editor column of the Warren Tribune-Chronicle, is a letter that advocates a return to the “Cold-War” mentality of “bigger, better and mightier” is the only way to achieve supremacy over the world and others. The fear mongering is endless.
The following is the repost:
Even before President Obama spoke at Cario University this morning, many on the far-right were criticizing and belittling the speech. Mitt Romney even went on TV last night to take his shots at the speech.
Many far right blogs today have the same tone they did when the President went to the South American Conference in April, expounding on the fact we shouldn’t be “humble” and we shouldn’t “apologize”, calling the President the “Apologizer in Chief.”
So with that intro, Dare To Dream will post our Op-Ed from this past April since I find that it holds true today.
Repost: Pat Buchanan was livid, as he spoke on Hardball last night, about the President sitting and listening to South American leaders berate America at last weeks conference.
Hannity; Limbaugh; O’Reilly and Beck went on and on about how degrading it was to see the most powerful man and the most powerful nation in the world made to look so bad.
Since the “far right” enjoys quoting scripture for their stand against such things as “gay marriages,” let me take a page out of their play book and quote scripture as seen in foreign policy, plus dealing with the world.
Proverbs 16:18, Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.
Proverbs 11:2, When pride comes, then comes dishonor, but with the humble is wisdom.
Jeremiah 49:16, As for the terror of you, The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, O you who live in the clefts of the rock, Who occupy the height of the hill. Though you make your nest as high as an eagle’s, I will bring you down from there.
Over the last eight years America has been good at being arrogant and not listening or talking with those who have a contrary opinion and philosophy.
Where has it got us?
Watching a President act like a statesman was refreshing and comforting.
James 4:6, But he gives all the more grace. And so he says, God opposes the arrogant but gives grace to the humble.
Matthew 23:12, Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
In the past, arrogance, pride and our “love it or leave it attitude” has gotten us into wars plus being hated throughout the world and even at home it has divided us as a people.
Matthew 5:9, How blessed are those who make peace, because it is they who will be called God’s children.
Luke 6:35, But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.
To the “far right,” practice what you preach for your hypocrisy and arrogance is showing.
As I posted yesterday, Autumn (Fall) brings out the poetic side of my, no pun intended, nature. My Mom use to say that she saw me being happy as a “13th century monk, donkey in hand and making his rounds through the English countryside, communing with nature and trying to bring about a little goodness.” The older I get, the more I think she had been right. So in the “spirit” of that, might have been monk, here’s another poem for a Fall morning.Autumn’s Reflection
Winter’s cold touch
lies hidden in the months to come,
yet in the gusts of Autumn
one senses the icy presence
lurking near.
Soon scattered leaves become a quilt
of many hue’s in a mosaic splendor.
Acorns fall upon the ground
as squirrels reap the harvest
and prepare for times ahead.
Chipmunks hurry to and fro,
their cheeks puffed full
and everywhere the eye beholds
color to adorn the majesty
of earth.
Soon the gilded trees
will stand bare to the breath
of Winter.
Soon the rushing winds
will turn to howls and drifts of snow,
but for now,
it’s Autumn,
that season which gives us pause
to reflect upon the months past
and the few to come.
*You can find my complete manuscript of poetry at All Alone In A Crowd
