I met a young man, he was hitch-hiking, cold, begging for a ride, so I stopped, he got in, his story instantly told, he could not easily hide, a life of hardship, though I did’t know why, until he told me, as the miles slipped by, of a life that would make me, a grown man, want to cry, but in his eyes I looked, I saw, not a frown, but a glorious smile, his life burdened, though it may seem, was to him, a life worth all its trial.
Archive for January, 2012
12
Jan
12
Jimmie
12
Jan
12
Simple Words
I look at you, you look my way
Hoping from your lips the words to say
That you love me, you will always stay
Simple words to forever change my day
I was born by you an unwanted child
The source reason to my growing wild
The years of days I forced a smile
With a cold heart by a life defiled
Burdened by knowing, not knowing love
The main ingredient to what I’m now made of
Getting what I get – push and shove
Trying not to fit like an ill-fitting glove
I look at you, you look my way
Hoping from your lips words too late to say
Simple words that could have changed my day
Words of love from which I would never stray.
11
Jan
12
Truth Be Told
Firstly, just what does the word ‘truth’ mean?
According to an on-line dictionary truth means:
n. pl. truths (trz, truths)
- 1.Conformity to fact or actuality.
- 2. A statement proven to be or accepted as true.
- 3. Sincerity; integrity.
- 4. Fidelity to an original or standard.
- 5.a. Reality; actuality.
- 5 b. often Truth That which is considered to be the supreme reality and to have the ultimate meaning and value of existence.
Of these varied statements relating to the true meaning of truth, for the purposes of this essay, the focus will be on 5b: ‘often Truth That which is considered to be the supreme reality and to have the ultimate meaning and value of existence.’
Arguably, today more then ever, the veracity of this statement is being challenged.
In every sector of cotemporary human existence, in this era of high-tech, instant and wireless communications, if there is one facet to present reality that comes into question is acceptance of that being communicated on a given matter, is fact; FACT in truth.
The spin-doctors of the world have so widely proliferated and pervasively infiltrated all lines of communication from from advertising to media reporting fed to the public 24/7 regardless of the medium, it is increasingly difficult if not impossible, to separate the chaff from the wheat.
The fragility of human presence as an evolving species toward an unscripted reality, the present course if not significantly altered, can only be presumed to end disastrously; without question.
The validity of this claim is easily tested by pursuing the following, simple hypothetical applied by you, the reader:
Confronted by your boss with claim you are responsible for a negative consequence to your actions, you maliciously but plausibly lie, post the blame on a coworker costing them their job but, save yourself. As time goes on, your co-workers who know the truth, fail to give you their essential co-operation to complete your work. Sooner or later, being unable to meet your job-related responsibilities, you will end up demoted or worse, fired.
So what does this have to do with the real world, in the bigger picture?
Simply put; Everything!
As stated above, in every sector of human existence be it geo-politics, the economy and finance, religion, health, science, etc,, etc., and especially with the immediacy provided by the Internet, the multiplicity of statements circulating on the same topic, is being communicated bit the question remains; who is telling the truth?
The unfortunate aspect of this harsh reality for everyone is the dire yet real consequence that increasingly has the potential to manifest.
The growing destabilizing events in the Middle East for one, find the world on the precipice to a third world war that has the very real potential to be the last for a very long time. To paraphrase Einstein who is purported to have commented: If there is to be a World War III, it would likely be fought with nuclear weapons and if so, the next with sticks and stones.
The mire the global community finds itself and, the dire consequences of this situation being far too real to be ignored, unfortunately, pessimistically, the Pandora’s Box being wide open and, the Genii of Doom coursing the world seeking out the perfect storm to make it all happen, is it not just a matter of time?
You be the judge – truth be told!
Ask anyone still alive from the days of early Nazi Germany how it all began; first the encroachment by denial of the basic civil right to assemble and of expression and then, in a matter of months, with the advent of draconian laws being secretly passed into legislation such as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) just passed into law by the Obama administration, a statute that contains sweeping worldwide, indefinite detention provision. Such provisional laws make it possible for citizens to be picked up without habeas corpus and due process of law only to find themselves taken to undisclosed locations and possibly never heard or seen from again.
Does this sound like an over-dramatization of what is occurring today around the world fueled by the insane, manufactured paranoia over terrorism?
Ask anyone still alive from the days of early Nazi Germany how it all began; first the encroachment by denial of the basic civil right to assemble and of expression and then, in a matter of months, otherwise innocent citizens with the advent of draconian laws being secretly passed into legislation such as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) just passed into law by the Obama administration. The statute contains a sweeping worldwide indefinite detention provision, they are picked up and taken to undisclosed locations and possibly never heard from again.
Watch the video and decide and ask yourself if those assembled appear to be doing what you would consider warranting physical abuse and arrest by the United States Park Police.
Ask yourself: Could this happen to you?
Last night being the end of the second day of new year 2012, it was ironic that when one is normally anticipating or at least, speculating on events potentially to occur on the days and months of the coming year, I found myself experiencing a flash from the past namely, watching a movie titled: The Boys In The Band.
Briefly stated, the story situated in 1970‘s contemporary New York City is centered upon a small band of homosexual males coming together as friends, to celebrate the 30th birthday of Harold characterized as an aging, ugly, Jewish homosexual. The broad-spectrum, stereo-typical characterization of the male homosexual was clearly and well represented not to mention the Gay milieu of the day, given that it was the start of the socio-sexual revolution that began in the late 1960’s and for all intents and purposes, continues to the present day.
The brash and dramatic portrayal of this relatively unknown slice of contemporary American society by its strident poignancy garnered much controversy with the movie’s release. I personally recall as a closeted gay man at the time, that though the sexual revolution well in the process of erupting; the topic of homosexuality was definitely still taboo and faced much criticism in the public forum
It was interesting to experience the movie again, now in 2012. The retrospective conjured not only recollection of my auditioning for the McGill University’s 1971 presentation of the play but too, many emotional and intellectual reflections given how far the sexual and specifically; the gay social movement has evolved. Here too it would seem quite ironically, it’s not been without some negative consequences for the LGBT community.
Approximately one decade later, the start of the 1980‘s, the first cases of A.I.D.’s began to be diagnosed and homosexual men clearly identified as principle carrier of the H.I.V. virus. Of course it is widely know today that the advent of this now substantively understood and managed, though still potentially fatal disease, profoundly eroded much of the progress in garnering political and broader public acceptance of what is now the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi,Transgender/ Transexual) community .
Beyond reliving the many memories of my own personal coming-out and all that I experienced as a young gay man during this tumultuous, ground-breaking and socio-politically changing era, my thoughts turned to the current generation of young LGBT men and women. I question how aware they are of the trials, hardships, struggles and, public persecution so effectively dramatized by the characterization of homosexual men that are the cast of The Boys In The Band. Too, what is their perception regarding the hefty personal price paid by many of their fore-generation of LGBT men and women in the fight to attain the legally-bound freedoms they so readily enjoy today. Though it is recognized that many LGBT individuals still endure some degree of sexual discrimination and hardship, it can be said of the LGBT community that they have the general acceptance and support of the broader, general public today.
In closing, I highly recommend seeking out and watching The Boys In The Band to all whether LBGT or not if for no other reason; it’s definitely entertaining and provides quite an insightful reflection of how progressive society (at least in some respects) has been in the last forty-years.
(Follow this link to an online presentation: http://www.movie2k.to/movie-1070021-The-Boys-in-the-Band-film.html)
When faced with a voice of dissention especially from one of their own, in the heart of Israel, amidst a public celebration (of Palestinian occupation no doubt), this is how the gestapo police (ironic ah?) respond. This brave Jewish young man in face of obvious opposition to his view on the occupation of Palestine, I think quickly realizes what his people are truly all about.
I wonder if this will give him cause to rethink to what `faith’ of nationalism he is bound. Too bad he can’t redeem his `foreskin’. But seriously,what will happen to him for speaking out, based on the treatment he so far has received, one can only imagine?
In face of growing rhetoric demanding the attack on Iran coming predominately from the Israeli, Zionist cancer that has infected the otherwise rational minds of western society, this should exemplify that at all cost Israel will step even on its own people to get what it wants. So think of what we goys must mean to them?
01
Jan
12
Love
Invisible are the intangible senses but one; that which emotes from the beating heart, cascading outward as ethereal energy, enriched and charged, a source to enliven and foster within another yearning soul, a spark of unknown wonderment, inducing a welling tide of goodness, replenishing to overflowing to yet once more, emote: Love
naykdpoet 