I am approaching my anniversary here on dailykos (Jan. 8 is the day, I am already working on a diary to be entitled "It's my birthday and I'll whore if I want to"). In today's diary, I talk about some personal stuff. It won't be full of data, or action plans; it won't try to teach you any statistics, or inform you of something you don't know already (except maybe some stuff about me); it won't analyze an election, tell you who to vote for, argue for or against impeachment.
I raise some philosophical issues that I think are of concern to many here, in a personal context, and I would welcome discussion, hopefully over an exptended period.
So, that got rid of most potential readers. Those who haven't left may want to join me below the fold.
I don't do drugs. I tried pot once, didn't like it, and haven't done
it since. I've been drunk, but not often, and not recently. Half a
bottle of wine is about my limit.
But I am in favor of legalizing pot, and drastically lowering the penalties for nearly all drugs, in favor of treatment. Wouldn't it be nice if no one went to jail for smoking pot, and no one got out of jail who raped kids? And, if you want to get drunk or high once in a while, it's OK by me, just so long as you don't endanger others - why not set up society so this is easy instead of difficult?
I don't have any desire to have sex with another man. I am as square
in my sexual preferences as anyone you are likely to find. Married and
strictly monogamous for 15 years, very limited prior experience.
Dullsville.
But I think that GLBT people are fully entitled to all the rights that we straight folk have. My marriage is not so shaky as to be threatened by Jane marrying Jill, or Paul marrying John. I'll go farther: I don't see why, if they want to, Jane, Jill, Paul and John couldn't ALL be married. What does it bother me? (Given that they are all consenting adults). And if hetero people like having sex in ways I consider strange, why is that my business?
I don't have any desire to be a woman, or to dress as a woman. Nor do I want to parade around naked, wear a lei, a sari, or a sarong.
But I don't see why I should be upset if you do. In fact, it's kind of interesting to look at different people wearing different clothing.
I have never accidentally impregnated anyone (I know I haven't as I
am azospermatic), and my wife has never had an abortion.
But I am in favor of choice. What you (or your SO, spouse, sister, daughter) do with your body is your business.
My wife stays home and takes care of our kids. I go to an office to work.
But what's the big deal if you do the reverse? Or both work? Or each work half time?
I am an atheist. I don't attend any church, synagogue, or mosque. But it's OK with me if you do.
(ah ha! It's different when I am saying that what the majority is
doing is OK, isn't it? WHY?)
In short, I as straight, but I try not to be narrow. I am square, but I try not to be stiff. What I REALLY don't get is why my views on virtually all these subjects put me in the minority of Americans, sometimes a very small minority. I hope they all put me with the majority of kossacks. The other thing I really don't get is how so many people can be more upset by the fact that people are gay, Lesbian, Bi or Trans; or drinks, or smokes, or wears weird clothes; or has had an abortion, or believes in God, or which God they believe in, rather than in whether they've eaten recently, whether they are warm at night, whether they have soemone who loves them and someone to love, whether they are happy, whether they help others and whether they can get help when they need it. I don't get it. I hope you don't either.
In even shorter, I can close with this quote:
Most people are worried about their own bellies and other people's souls, while we should all be worried about other people's bellies and our own souls.
-- Rabbi Israel Salanter (1810-1883)