What a year it has been — filled with dramatic changes, to be sure. And what a year 2009 promises to be!
Unbelievably, the elections turned out easily and gracefully; we got a new president without an apparent glitch. How moving it was to see the reactions not only of Americans everywhere, but of people all over the world pouring into the streets to celebrate a new president who stands for hope and for change. What a profound healing of America’s collective psyche for us to have placed our trust — in this most critical time — on a man of African descent!
It was right after 9/11 when we last witnessed the world coming together in such a visible and palpable way. Hopefully, this will help bring to a close that unfortunate and painful chapter in our history.
For many LGBT folk, the promise and hopefulness of a new world was tainted by the outcome of antigay electoral efforts in California, Florida, Arizona and Alabama. More recently, Obama’s choosing of evangelical minister Rick Warren to deliver an inaugural blessing stirred up an on-going controversy and added salt to that wound for many.
I am choosing to take a long range view of these regrettable situations. Synergistically combined with the release of the film “Milk,” the antigay electoral results have had a dramatic eye opening effect, expanding awareness about the inherent unfairness of our society’s treatment of gay people. These events seem to be energizing community involvement and engendering activism within gay circles. Complacency had been settling among many in the LGBT community and it is exciting to see new energy, particularly among younger generations, as they take on the mantle of activism.
There are also signs that recent events may be resulting in deepening relationships and bridge-building between LGBT and other progressive communities, who are becoming increasingly conscious of the cultural, social and spiritual values gay people have to offer.
As for Rev. Warren, yes, I think the choice was unfortunate. Obama, who inherently embodies the archetypal energies of a mediator and bridge-builder, was likely extending a hand to the evangelical community, but as has been pointed out, there were other ways to do that short of honoring Warren with a key role in the inaugural ceremony. And yet, one never knows. It is certainly worth noting that already the Saddleback Church has removed antigay language from their website. At least nominally, progress has already taken place.
Indeed, I am holding on to my optimism and hopefulness, even as our world faces a global economic crisis of unprecedented proportion, the depth of which we cannot yet fathom. As far as I am concerned, this represents the implosion of systems that are simply no longer sustainable. Ultimately, this is symbolic of the end of the patriarchy.
While my heart goes out to the countless people who are losing their homes, their jobs, their life savings, and while I suspect that things are going to get worse before they get better, I choose to believe that in the end, when all is said and done, we will better off as a people and as a world.
I am reminded of a story told in Buddhist and Taoist circles, of a farmer whose horse — and main source of livelihood — runs away. A meddlesome neighbor comes over to commiserate, standing around, asking the farmer how he is now going to support his family. The farmer, going about his business, simply shrugs and responds: “Who knows what’s good or bad?” The next day the horse returns, and following it is a large herd of wild horses. The nosy neighbor rushes over to congratulate the farmer, gushing on and on about what a blessing this is, what great karma he must have, how he is now the wealthiest man in the village, and so on. The farmer nonchalantly responds: “Who knows what’s good or bad? The following day the farmer’s son, attempting to tame one of the wild horses, takes a fall and breaks his leg. Again, the neighbor comes over to kvetch and sympathize: “Woe, what have you done to deserve this, you unfortunate, pitiful man!” The farmer’s response remains the same: “Who knows what’s good or bad?” The next day a group of soldiers comes by to recruit young villagers for an upcoming battle, and the farmer’s son is spared because of his injury.
As we enter this new year, fraught with its promises of dramatic change, its impending perils, and its immense and limitless potential, let us not forget: Who Knows What’s Good or Bad?
It was right after 9/11 when we last witnessed the world coming together in such a visible and palpable way. Hopefully, this will help bring to a close that unfortunate and painful chapter in our history.
For many LGBT folk, the promise and hopefulness of a new world was tainted by the outcome of antigay electoral efforts in California, Florida, Arizona and Alabama. More recently, Obama’s choosing of evangelical minister Rick Warren to deliver an inaugural blessing stirred up an on-going controversy and added salt to that wound for many.
I am choosing to take a long range view of these regrettable situations. Synergistically combined with the release of the film “Milk,” the antigay electoral results have had a dramatic eye opening effect, expanding awareness about the inherent unfairness of our society’s treatment of gay people. These events seem to be energizing community involvement and engendering activism within gay circles. Complacency had been settling among many in the LGBT community and it is exciting to see new energy, particularly among younger generations, as they take on the mantle of activism.
There are also signs that recent events may be resulting in deepening relationships and bridge-building between LGBT and other progressive communities, who are becoming increasingly conscious of the cultural, social and spiritual values gay people have to offer.
As for Rev. Warren, yes, I think the choice was unfortunate. Obama, who inherently embodies the archetypal energies of a mediator and bridge-builder, was likely extending a hand to the evangelical community, but as has been pointed out, there were other ways to do that short of honoring Warren with a key role in the inaugural ceremony. And yet, one never knows. It is certainly worth noting that already the Saddleback Church has removed antigay language from their website. At least nominally, progress has already taken place.
Indeed, I am holding on to my optimism and hopefulness, even as our world faces a global economic crisis of unprecedented proportion, the depth of which we cannot yet fathom. As far as I am concerned, this represents the implosion of systems that are simply no longer sustainable. Ultimately, this is symbolic of the end of the patriarchy.
While my heart goes out to the countless people who are losing their homes, their jobs, their life savings, and while I suspect that things are going to get worse before they get better, I choose to believe that in the end, when all is said and done, we will better off as a people and as a world.
I am reminded of a story told in Buddhist and Taoist circles, of a farmer whose horse — and main source of livelihood — runs away. A meddlesome neighbor comes over to commiserate, standing around, asking the farmer how he is now going to support his family. The farmer, going about his business, simply shrugs and responds: “Who knows what’s good or bad?” The next day the horse returns, and following it is a large herd of wild horses. The nosy neighbor rushes over to congratulate the farmer, gushing on and on about what a blessing this is, what great karma he must have, how he is now the wealthiest man in the village, and so on. The farmer nonchalantly responds: “Who knows what’s good or bad? The following day the farmer’s son, attempting to tame one of the wild horses, takes a fall and breaks his leg. Again, the neighbor comes over to kvetch and sympathize: “Woe, what have you done to deserve this, you unfortunate, pitiful man!” The farmer’s response remains the same: “Who knows what’s good or bad?” The next day a group of soldiers comes by to recruit young villagers for an upcoming battle, and the farmer’s son is spared because of his injury.
As we enter this new year, fraught with its promises of dramatic change, its impending perils, and its immense and limitless potential, let us not forget: Who Knows What’s Good or Bad?
I am choosing to take a long range view of these regrettable situations. Synergistically combined with the release of the film “Milk,” the antigay electoral results have had a dramatic eye opening effect, expanding awareness about the inherent unfairness of our society’s treatment of gay people. These events seem to be energizing community involvement and engendering activism within gay circles. Complacency had been settling among many in the LGBT community and it is exciting to see new energy, particularly among younger generations, as they take on the mantle of activism.
There are also signs that recent events may be resulting in deepening relationships and bridge-building between LGBT and other progressive communities, who are becoming increasingly conscious of the cultural, social and spiritual values gay people have to offer.
As for Rev. Warren, yes, I think the choice was unfortunate. Obama, who inherently embodies the archetypal energies of a mediator and bridge-builder, was likely extending a hand to the evangelical community, but as has been pointed out, there were other ways to do that short of honoring Warren with a key role in the inaugural ceremony. And yet, one never knows. It is certainly worth noting that already the Saddleback Church has removed antigay language from their website. At least nominally, progress has already taken place.
Indeed, I am holding on to my optimism and hopefulness, even as our world faces a global economic crisis of unprecedented proportion, the depth of which we cannot yet fathom. As far as I am concerned, this represents the implosion of systems that are simply no longer sustainable. Ultimately, this is symbolic of the end of the patriarchy.
While my heart goes out to the countless people who are losing their homes, their jobs, their life savings, and while I suspect that things are going to get worse before they get better, I choose to believe that in the end, when all is said and done, we will better off as a people and as a world.
I am reminded of a story told in Buddhist and Taoist circles, of a farmer whose horse — and main source of livelihood — runs away. A meddlesome neighbor comes over to commiserate, standing around, asking the farmer how he is now going to support his family. The farmer, going about his business, simply shrugs and responds: “Who knows what’s good or bad?” The next day the horse returns, and following it is a large herd of wild horses. The nosy neighbor rushes over to congratulate the farmer, gushing on and on about what a blessing this is, what great karma he must have, how he is now the wealthiest man in the village, and so on. The farmer nonchalantly responds: “Who knows what’s good or bad? The following day the farmer’s son, attempting to tame one of the wild horses, takes a fall and breaks his leg. Again, the neighbor comes over to kvetch and sympathize: “Woe, what have you done to deserve this, you unfortunate, pitiful man!” The farmer’s response remains the same: “Who knows what’s good or bad?” The next day a group of soldiers comes by to recruit young villagers for an upcoming battle, and the farmer’s son is spared because of his injury.
As we enter this new year, fraught with its promises of dramatic change, its impending perils, and its immense and limitless potential, let us not forget: Who Knows What’s Good or Bad?
As for Rev. Warren, yes, I think the choice was unfortunate. Obama, who inherently embodies the archetypal energies of a mediator and bridge-builder, was likely extending a hand to the evangelical community, but as has been pointed out, there were other ways to do that short of honoring Warren with a key role in the inaugural ceremony. And yet, one never knows. It is certainly worth noting that already the Saddleback Church has removed antigay language from their website. At least nominally, progress has already taken place.
Indeed, I am holding on to my optimism and hopefulness, even as our world faces a global economic crisis of unprecedented proportion, the depth of which we cannot yet fathom. As far as I am concerned, this represents the implosion of systems that are simply no longer sustainable. Ultimately, this is symbolic of the end of the patriarchy.
While my heart goes out to the countless people who are losing their homes, their jobs, their life savings, and while I suspect that things are going to get worse before they get better, I choose to believe that in the end, when all is said and done, we will better off as a people and as a world.
I am reminded of a story told in Buddhist and Taoist circles, of a farmer whose horse — and main source of livelihood — runs away. A meddlesome neighbor comes over to commiserate, standing around, asking the farmer how he is now going to support his family. The farmer, going about his business, simply shrugs and responds: “Who knows what’s good or bad?” The next day the horse returns, and following it is a large herd of wild horses. The nosy neighbor rushes over to congratulate the farmer, gushing on and on about what a blessing this is, what great karma he must have, how he is now the wealthiest man in the village, and so on. The farmer nonchalantly responds: “Who knows what’s good or bad? The following day the farmer’s son, attempting to tame one of the wild horses, takes a fall and breaks his leg. Again, the neighbor comes over to kvetch and sympathize: “Woe, what have you done to deserve this, you unfortunate, pitiful man!” The farmer’s response remains the same: “Who knows what’s good or bad?” The next day a group of soldiers comes by to recruit young villagers for an upcoming battle, and the farmer’s son is spared because of his injury.
As we enter this new year, fraught with its promises of dramatic change, its impending perils, and its immense and limitless potential, let us not forget: Who Knows What’s Good or Bad?
While my heart goes out to the countless people who are losing their homes, their jobs, their life savings, and while I suspect that things are going to get worse before they get better, I choose to believe that in the end, when all is said and done, we will better off as a people and as a world.
I am reminded of a story told in Buddhist and Taoist circles, of a farmer whose horse — and main source of livelihood — runs away. A meddlesome neighbor comes over to commiserate, standing around, asking the farmer how he is now going to support his family. The farmer, going about his business, simply shrugs and responds: “Who knows what’s good or bad?” The next day the horse returns, and following it is a large herd of wild horses. The nosy neighbor rushes over to congratulate the farmer, gushing on and on about what a blessing this is, what great karma he must have, how he is now the wealthiest man in the village, and so on. The farmer nonchalantly responds: “Who knows what’s good or bad? The following day the farmer’s son, attempting to tame one of the wild horses, takes a fall and breaks his leg. Again, the neighbor comes over to kvetch and sympathize: “Woe, what have you done to deserve this, you unfortunate, pitiful man!” The farmer’s response remains the same: “Who knows what’s good or bad?” The next day a group of soldiers comes by to recruit young villagers for an upcoming battle, and the farmer’s son is spared because of his injury.
As we enter this new year, fraught with its promises of dramatic change, its impending perils, and its immense and limitless potential, let us not forget: Who Knows What’s Good or Bad?
As we enter this new year, fraught with its promises of dramatic change, its impending perils, and its immense and limitless potential, let us not forget: Who Knows What’s Good or Bad?
