"Honey, It's Just Broken"

So, has anyone watched the old, classic movie, "A Christmas Story"? If you have, the lamp pictured to the left should come flowing back into your memory banks. The next question is, how does this lamp end up as a blog post?

Good question. I'll get to that momentarily, I promise. In the meantime, perhaps you can relate to the nice person that brought home his/her first lover to meet the parents. Maybe you can relate to the feeling of the first kiss... the first time in the sheets... the long line of memories spawned by a relationship that you deemed to be a very special part of your life.

Now, say that life backhands you in the face, and you are betrayed by this 'special lover'. In fact, it happens over and over again until something even worse happens -- you come down with an STD, you are taken advantage of, or you are used and abused, etc. These relationships are analogous to the leg lamp from "A Christmas Story".

If you've watched the movie, you know what happens to this leg lamp, right? And how does the father respond? He attempts to glue it back together and return it quickly to its pedestal by the window. Then, the world could see its prominence and influence once again. Of course, the lamp is broken beyond repair, and no amount of glue is going to make it whole again.

In a way, perhaps the father saw this as an escape from the reality that his wife's legs will never look like that again... an escape to something that could get his hormones raging again, like they were during his younger days. Nevertheless, internal dialogue kicks into the father's brain... "Honey, It's Just Broken" ... and he gets rid of the lamp and moves on.

As I cross paths with more and more men in the dating world, I wonder to myself, when is that internal dialogue going to kick in for them? Will they run out of glue before they realize that the leg lamp will never be the same again? Will they grow tired of gluing its gaping cracks, and then worrying/wondering when it's going to come crashing down again? When will they stop ignoring the store with a Mega-Sale on premium lamps?

*Sigh* I guess some men look for a new lamp... some men buy another case of glue.

I used to be the man that spent my whole paycheck on glue... and I often wonder what kept me going back for more. Seriously, what is truly behind the difficulty in letting someone go? I can't speak for all the other guys that are still squirting glue at a broken lamp, but I used to think it was the power of sentimentality at work.

Now, I wonder if I was running from something... maybe a deep seeded fear of being alone? Maybe I was running away from some sort of inequity, deficit or surplus? Maybe the glue-squirters of the present are running from something, too?

Whatever the case may be, my key to ditching the glue was to accept that while shopping for just the right lamp, very good things can happen in the dark!

Tragic Rewind

Don't think every little thing you do and say matters? Consider these scenarios:

1) You're driving along the slick streets in the cold, hard rain. Traffic is bumper-to-bumper in spots, and idiotic semi-trucks are trying to drive like they are in Corvettes. You've got the satellite radio blasting as you go over a few mental notes for your early morning meeting at work. Suddenly, you notice a small Ford Focus turn on its blinkers and try to merge onto the freeway from the entrance ramp. It struggles to get on as car after car pass on by. As you get closer, you can see a male and a female in the front and wonder to yourself... "after all the damned assholes that cut me off in life, this bitch can wait"... you daintily drive past the Ford Focus --- and moments later, you exit onto a street and head toward an intersection. You barely get a chance to come to a complete stop at the red light when a speeding car careens out of control and plows into the driver's side of your car.

You are dead. Game Over. Insert Coin(s). The saddest part is this... had you let that Ford Focus onto the freeway, that would have bought you the precious seconds you needed to avoid this catastrophe. As your spirit ponders over how hindsight is such a bitch, emergency workers try to pull your twisted, mangled body out of the wreckage. Meanwhile, I'm going to press REWIND on this tragic story and go back 2 minutes.

2) As you get closer to the Ford Focus, you can see a male and a female in the front seats and wonder to yourself..."Fuck it.. I'm still early." You brake and allow the Ford Focus to pull ahead of you. Interestingly enough, the female turns her head and appears to be writing down your license plate number. You wonder what the hell is she doing? That is... until a week later, after the male did some detective work, you receive a thank you note from the male and a handmade card from their children... thanking you for helping save their mother. Because of your seemingly small, insignificant deed -- you gave this man the precious seconds needed to get his wife to the hospital. Unbeknownst to the couple at the time, it turns out that if her internal bleeding lasted any longer, she'd be the one pushing daisies.

The point? We should never underestimate our power to change the world... with each and every thing we do and say.

The Burning Bridge

Every so often, I sit and ponder over a hot cup of coffee -- just like I'm doing right now. I think about the people in my present life... past life... and future life. As the world moves, shakes, and spins, the most powerful choices involved either meeting someone halfway on the bridge, or burning it.

In an individual sense, I'd like to believe that making that type of choice is cut and dry. If an ex-lover makes contact to apologize, do I respond? If an employer that treats me like shit suddenly wants me back, do I burn the bridge? If I do something to hurt someone else and they disappear from the radar, do I even bother trying to make things right? There are so many dynamics to consider in burning a bridge or meeting someone halfway -- and I'd like to think that we as individuals understand the repercussions of either choice. But do we?

In a community sense, specifically the gay community, it seems like we want to have our cake and eat it too, sometimes. A fellow blogger 'across the pond' posted something yesterday that really got me thinking. He was upset that there are those out there that think gays are being gradually diluted... assimilated into a "heterosexual" culture and losing our sense of identity. I share my fellow blogger's agitation, but I think our community is doing something equivalent to trying to meet the "other party" halfway on a bridge and then set it on fire.

We want our rights... which I wholeheartedly support, of course.. and some countries are further along in that quest than others. But, in getting them, we encounter all sorts of problems such as getting a divorce from a gay marriage -- depending on where you are in the world. Should we lash out at other communities and be pissed off because it's not easy? Well, it's not easy for straight people, either -- and they HAVE globally recognized marriages.

We want acceptance from the 'outside', which is nothing short of reasonable... I'd be pragmatically happy with just tolerance- acceptance is a welcomed bonus to me! Nonetheless, when we receive that in the form of having more heterosexual friends... fag hags... straight couples hanging out in gay bars and neighborhoods.. new businesses springing up in the gayborhood that cater to a broader audience than just the homosexual community -- some take that as some sort of alien invasion. Those are the people that are paranoid about the erosion of gay communities and utter decay of our communal identity.

As I take the last sip of my now-cold coffee, I pose this question. Why did homosexuals coagulate into communities in the first place? What prompted the existence of meccas such as The Castro... Boyztown... Cedar Springs... Chelsea? Was it fear of persecution, violence, and intolerance that gave us the need for these 'safe havens'? I tend to believe that is certainly true.... but with the desire for withering intolerance comes integration. Throughout history, that truth bleeds from lines of sexual orientation all the way to race, religion, and nationality. The GLBT community is not immune.

So, for the paranoid soul, relax. This is what happens when you meet people halfway on the bridge. They don't necessarily look the same on the bridge as they did standing way on the other side. You hardly ever get exactly what you ask for, so we should tread carefully. This is the price we pay for tolerance and acceptance. So, rather than contemplate burning the bridge and keeping straights out of our neighborhoods -- compromise. We can still tolerate and accept them into our bars and restaurants without losing the color in our wings, the gayness in our souls, or the brightness of our communities.

The Double-Edged Sword

*Sigh*... I tell ya... rudeness is infecting society. We all know how this ancient phenomenon is on the rise, but the real question is why?

A fellow blogger's comment on a previous post inspired me to ponder things like why people claim they are online for "Friends" and "Conversation", say 'hello', then drop off the face of the Earth. No follow-up like "How is your day going?"... nothing.

People drive around like bats out of hell, rushing to cut you off so they can imminently slam on the brakes and go below the posted speed limits. Idiots would rather cut across five lanes of traffic, risking a fatal accident to make their exit because they waited to the last minute. Never mind the fact there is another exit just 1/4 mile away.

People shooting their entire family with a pistol and then themselves, rather than just putting the pistol to their own head and leaving the rest of them alone.

The culprit? Technology. Technology has allowed us to produce more, produce it faster, and spoil ourselves into a mode of entitlement. It's also made things that were once difficult to do -- like break up with someone -- much more easier and impersonal. It is brainwashing us in unimaginable ways. Don't believe me? Just look around and count how many people are obsessed with their cell phones. They just HAVE to answer it at all times - in grocery stores, movies, airplanes, hell... even while taking a damned piss. Cock in one hand. Phone in the other.

Technology is such a double-edged sword. The good thing is that it can make life so much easier for us if applied correctly. The bad thing is that it makes being human so much harder. Okay, so let's magically deal with problems without ever having to WORK at them. Let's take out Technology's "Keyboard of Life" and look at a few sitch-e-ations.

Don't have friends? Just log onto a social networking site and amass a throng of no-maintenance, no cost, no frills pseudo-friends. If one slights you, simply hit the DELETE key, and your problem is over. No work, no hassle, no fuss, or... what's that popular line... ahh, yes -- NO drama.

Got a nice guy that's interested in you, but he's just a bit too ugly or short-handed behind the zipper? No problem. Technology's "Keyboard of Life" to the rescue again! Just hit the ESCAPE key; he's toast, and you've made an easy, clean getaway.

Ever notice how some people's age never increases? You saw that same guy online 5 years ago at age 29. Yeah, you know which one I'm talking about... that sexy one - blue shirt with the snaps. Today, he's magically still tenderly 29. Relax, it's no fountain of youth. Whip out technology's "Keyboard of Life" and all of your hangups over age are over. Pick a day out of the year, hit the BACKSPACE key, and do it on that same day every year -- and you can still stay "in the game".

Got a hot guy that you'd just love to "get to know better"? Want to get him to notice you? Well, never fear... the days of having to meet in public first are OVER. Just post outdated photos of yourself on a matchmaking site, and you'll deceive him into your bed, lickety-split. By the time he goes through the trouble of getting toys, lube, condoms, slings, etc... he may be disappointed when he sees your true face, but he's so frickin' horny, he'll just say to hell with it. Press the ENTER key, and well... he will ENTER.

Did you blurt out something via email that you wish to take back? Noooooo problem. Just hit the END key to recall the message, and no harm, no foul. You never have to worry about learning how to smooth things over face-to-face when you communicate something in the wrong way.

Or maybe you just want to ditch a difficult situation and avoid the consequences -- this is something you don't even need the Keyboard of Life for... simply do it via text, and you never have to look that sucker in the eye and witness the carnage of your actions. That's the way to let your fingers do the walkin'!

Humanity is slowly eroding into slavery.... slaves to mindless technology. The next time your day goes from sugar to $hit, just think-- somewhere in the chain of fault lies a piece of technology. Ooops, gotta roll for now -- cell phone is ringing. Somebody's boning me up. Later, bloggers and bloggettes!

Edge of Disaster

Last night, I was thoroughly surprised with tickets to see the Dallas Mavericks basketball team whip the San Antonio Spurs in Dallas. My friend, "The Godfather", took me as a birthday gift, knowing that I'd never been to a game before.

Fast-forward 10 hours to now. Toothache. Just to make matters worse, I think about how just a few weeks ago, it took $1,411 to fix another tooth -- so, I'm sweating over how much it will cost to fix this one.

It's things like this that make me wonder why anyone wouldn't want this country to have universal, affordable health care for everyone. When I listen to people bitch, moan, and toss words around like "socialism"... words that they don't even know the meaning... it just tears at me. Those against things like universal health care should realize just how close to the edge of disaster most of us actually are.

Let's see... there's the 8-year-old leukemia patient in Ohio, who after a few rounds of chemotherapy is in dire straits because she's already reached the $1,500,000 lifetime benefit allowable under her father's health plan. Yes, that's right.. $1,500,000.oo. Try looking this little girl in the eye and saying, "I'm sorry. I'd rather you die than someone call me a supporter of a socialist President." Or how about the grocery-store worker who has to put off her radiation treatments for Stage 2 breast cancer that plunged her into $18,000 of debt after exhausting her company's $20,000 annual maximum plan?

The problem is, people who have the power to enact legislation are detached from the real problem that especially middle-class citizens face every day. Many have good jobs, a home, dog, white picket fence, and are doing financially well.... until sickness hits. We are gays, straights, Whites, Hispanics, Blacks, Asians, women, men... people from all walks of life --- walking on the edge of disaster.

It's so tragic that it takes tragedy for people to open up their eyes and their hearts. The mighty United States of America should have tackled this issue a long time ago. But who's the real monster behind this situation?

It's a Matter of R-E-S-P-E-C-T

As a firmly entrenched member of Gen-X, I noticed something quite annoying at work as of late. Some of our newly minted 20-something year old employees come into the office all gung-ho and ready to dive into any and every problem they encounter. I love that tenacity and desire to learn. But, there's one itty bitty trend that just gets on my nerves!

You call someone's name, and the answer you receive is a snippy, sharp reply of "What?"

Now, many of you probably think I'm just plain bitchy and nit-picky. I accept that opinion with grace. But to me, I was raised to accept that kind of response as disrespectful. Man, I can't tell you how infuriated my Mom would get if you ever answer to her like that. She was totally cool about my friends calling her by her first name... she's very informal and down-to-earth in a lot of ways. But... THAT response touched a nerve with her. She would slap the piss out of me or my brothers if we ever took that tone with her.

Growing up with a long-time Black friend, I noticed that his Mom was the same way... and they passed that etiquette down to us. Never, EVER answer with, "What?!" However, I don't think this was what some people term, a "Black Thing". I think this was generational etiquette.... yet another rule of R-E-S-P-E-C-T that seems to be dying out in newer generations.

Oh, yes... and just one... more... thing. While I'm on the subject of R-E-S-P-E-C-T, I've had to point out something else to one of my acquaintances. For older people, I would never have cut as much slack as I did for this young, gay man. I don't tolerate being called "Boy". Now, I realize that there are many out there that don't understand the true use and connotation of this term towards a Black male, so I rarely snap anyone into place. Sometimes, it's a light-hearted attempt to be informal, and there are no bad intentions. So, I simply let them know that I DO have a first name and I don't appreciate being called, "Boy". Now THAT is a "Black Thing"... and it's all a matter of R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

Let that be a word to the wise. Some Black men are diplomatic about being called "Boy", others are much more blunt. Some fuses are shorter than others... so take it from me... don't light the match. As such, it's a cultural tightrope that's best avoided. Besides, I'd hate to ruin my new jacket trying to jump in and save my young, gay acquaintance should he happen to say "Boy" to the wrong guy.

Shockwaves

Greetings from deep in the heart of North Texas. Yesterday was a whirlwind of activity in my personal life -- ranging anywhere from a $60 5-minute doctor's appointment to spending 1.5 hours in a courthouse. Hopefully today will be much quieter!

Well, I was saddened to hear that our family's first interracial marriage of 20 years may be coming to an end. As I listened to the news over the phone, my heart went out to my 2nd cousin and his wife. Apparently, he went off to celebrate a birthday in the family... came home to the kids, but no wife -- and her clothes were gone.

I totally understand the emptiness and angst he must be feeling now. I've had two walkouts in my dating tenure, and I feel that it's damned near the worst way to break up with someone... especially when that much time has been put into the relationship. Then again, who knows how their marriage really was.

Just yesterday, a music teacher in Miami, FL shot his wife, 2 daughters, and then himself... a guy that by all neighborly and friendly accounts had forged the "perfect family". It's so scary how reality can be so much different than what we see through our eyes. People seem to be so good at deception nowadays... but sheesh -- abandoning someone you love or killing them outright is something that I could never comprehend... and it only seems to work in the movies.

Society has become so desensitized, sensationalistic, and cynical, hasn't it? How have things gotten to be so bad? Is it technology? Is it changing dynamics of the family unit... parents working more and parenting less? Who knows... but damn, this world is so crazy right now.

Natural Intentions

Today, a relative of mine emailed me a rather weird question regarding homosexuality... and I'm a bit caught off guard because I didn't know she had any interest in my sexuality whatsoever. Essentially, she wanted to know what purpose do I believe gay men serve in this world, if being gay is natural.

I'm not sure of her intentions, but for now, her email is marinating in my queue... waiting for a response. After spending the better part of the afternoon thinking about it, I can see how homosexuals have such a huge hill to climb in order to forge and maintain relationships that go deeper than one-night stands or fuck buddies. Mother Nature has set up such a complicated rule-set between males and females of nearly every species. Knowing if one man is interested in a woman is mostly through non-verbal communication... body language... all in the name of procreation; survival of the species; an ever-strengthening line of evolutionary traits.

But what about gays and lesbians? While heterosexual males in most species compete with each other for the right to seed a woman with his legacy, we homosexicals are busy competing with each other for the right to provide and be provided with "happiness".. something that's in the eye of the beholder. Since we have no need to attract each other in order to procreate, one could argue that we are Mother Nature's weapon to maintain balance by stemming overpopulation. Ahhh... a win-win deal with Mother Nature.

While there are 12-year-old English boys impregnating 15-year-old girls, and a mother of 6 children in California being implanted with 8 embryos -- we are here to help Mother Nature stave off overpopulation. In return, she provides us with all the 'accessories' we need to be happy in our role.

While 1.2 out of every 3 heterosexuals are saying until death do us part, only to divorce a relatively short time later -- we are here to make them appreciate their ability to get married and have children, all while calling them out on what "family values" are when a mother in Houston, Texas drowns her babies in a bathtub... or a mother in Plano, Texas cuts her baby's arms off because God told her to. As Mother Nature's ambassadors, we remind heterosexuals that they are not without flaw... and the prism of normality has many faces depending on which side is lit. In exchange, Mother Nature provides us with hypocritical, hetero-hilarious headlines of entertainment to stuff our blogs with the healing power of laughter.

While heterosexual men are on Mars... alone, homosexual men are on Venus -- right along with heterosexual women... providing the female half of our species hope that not all males are assholes who simply don't understand them. As Mother Nature's emissaries, we provide females with an additional emotional support network. In exchange, Mother Nature gives us 'fag hags' for added dimension and color to our lives.

Natural Intentions. We are here to stay... in a symbiotic relationship with our heterosexual counterparts. They replenish our population. We strive to make our world a better place for ALL. That, my fellow bloggers and bloggettes, is the response my 'curious' relative will receive. A little bit of spice on in, but hey... what can I say... I get one free "Be a Beeeyotch" card per week, so I'm using it on this post.

The Moral Tug of War

The anniversary of one of the darkest moments in my life has now come and gone. It's not nearly as painful as it used to be, and nowadays, it just serves as a milestone... a milestone to remind me that there is always something to learn from setbacks.

Years ago, just after closing on my brand new house, I was herded into an office and unceremoniously handed my walking papers. I had just found out that an old friend of mine had committed suicide, and later on that evening, my house's main circuit breaker blew out -- costing hundreds of dollars that I soon wouldn't have. When it rains, it pours right?

Aside from my own struggles, I learned that one of my good friends knew I was on the list to be laid off. He also knew I was getting a new house. I remember the look on his face to this day... the look of a tormented, young, Republican father and husband. Our friendship had gotten onto the fast track, despite our vast differences... and when he admitted that he knew, he fought back the tears and apologized profusely.

At the time, I was fighting my own emotions -- oblivious to the fact that my friend was caught in the middle of a moral tug of war. I didn't know if I could forgive him, but being as diplomatic and non-confrontational as possible, I accepted his apology. Now, I'm so glad that I didn't take the lash-out-with-anger approach.

You see, it turns out that the boss lady told him not to reveal the list of the axed. She never told him he'd be fired if he did, but I could only imagine being forced to weigh the possibility of not being able to provide for your spouse and child vs. a really good friendship. To him, it was obvious to choose maintaining his job over our friendship... and I know it must have been the most difficult thing he ever had to do by keeping that information from me. He knew that I could very well lose my house after my job. But still, he couldn't risk his job, so he had to keep me in the dark... and thus, I was blindsided when the day came.

A moral tug of war... loyalty vs. truth... that's what he was faced with. Right vs. Right dilemmas are so damned tough to unravel, aren't they? The Anti-Choice vs. Pro-Choice dilemma... the death penalty debate... there are so many "right vs. right" arguments that have existed for so long because both sides have a valid premise.

Nevertheless, although that day was filled with lots of bad things -- I came away with a very positive message. I believe there's always something valid behind the reason people do the things they do... act the way they act... are the way they are. Ignorance is just a matter of ignoring the question of "why".... and things are almost never what they appear to be.

Death by Exercise

Okay, now I've heard it all. Up in a once red U.S. state turned blue, a 41-year old transgender woman was found guilty of reckless homicide. How? By killing her 70-something-year-old husband with excessive exercise.

The story is HERE.

So, she forced him to swim for so long in a pool that he had a heart attack. If it wasn't for a surveillance camera, she would have gotten away with it, too. Damn, that makes me wonder... what if you are in the middle of some hot, passionate sex with a kinky twist of videotaping -- and after a while, he tries unsuccessfully to struggle away from you before he has a heart attack.

If the cops found that videotape and decided to take you to court, could a jury find you guilty of murder by reckless lovemaking? Without audio on the videotape, such as in the story of this unfortunately dead swimmer, one has to wonder.....

The Ebonically Enhanced White Guy

I'm just tickled to death... not because the cops pulled me over yesterday for an expired vehicle inspection... not because I sat in the dentist chair all morning... but because of the comical dialogue from a certain "White Boy Across the Street".

I frequently ask myself why some White guys find the urge to ditch who they are for the sake of talking ebonics to me. If I were White too, would they still put on the act? Sometimes it's funny, and other times, it's not... and the frustrating thing is I still don't know why. Don't take The Black Man Next Door for a fool, though... especially if I just watched you be who you are one moment, then suddenly become "ebonically-enhanced" when you talk to me. What the FX up with that?

And what does it mean when a Black man or woman asks, "Why are you trying to act Black?" Lawd knows some of my friends think I was a White boy in my previous life... and still living in this one, except in a Black man's body. *sigh* We've jumped into the proverbial lion's den by reaffirming existing stereotypes, haven't we.

Maybe I fell into the stereotypical hole the first time I grinned when a White guy passed by me with his windows rolled down. He was kicked back in the seat, one hand on the wheel, 2Pac blaring so loud that it set off car alarms nearby. I fully admit my hypocritical ways, but I normally see the brothas doing such things... so it's actually humorous when the errant White guy snatches my own stereotypical pistol, and then aims it at me with a sexy smile.

In the back of my mind, I will always wonder... when I'm approached with ebonics flowing liberally from his lips, is he "talking down to me" or is he embracing a bonafide urban, hip side of his Caucasianally delicious persona? Texas seems to be teeming with ebonically-enhanced White guys, compared to other states that I've been to. I'm still eager to actually pass one on streets outside of the Lone Star State, just to affirm that they are truly everywhere.

Nonetheless, I hate being the victim of my own stereotypical subconscious thoughts. However, it provides plenty of opportunities to giggle at an ebonically-enhanced White guy's cuteness... once I've peered over the walls of my own insecurities.

.... and to think there was a time where supposedly, White men couldn't jump... nor rap... nor dance... nor be well-endowed -- all of which I've personally debunked a long time ago. But still, I will always be tickled by the ebonically-enhanced words spewing from their mouth -- as long as it is sincere and with good intentions.

In closing, I guess the true mystery at hand is why do some of us feel the need to go above and beyond just to step out of our own skin? (no pun intended) What is beneath the surface of terms like "acting Black", "talk White", and "straight-acting"? Perhaps it is self loathing in disguise... buried deep beneath surface of our souls.

Why? Why? The Black Man Next Door's favorite question to ponder... why?

Hope and Faith

As the U.S. awaits for some sort of economic stimulus plan to materialize into results, it's somewhat disheartening to hear so much criticism about Obama's efforts to revive the economy.

Now, don't get me wrong. I believe that healthy debate is essential for anything... especially something as important as America's economic recovery. However, this is taking 'debate' to a whole new level. Cynicism is threatening our livelihood, and something has to give... and soon. It's time to embrace hope and faith, otherwise, we will be at a point to where we are beating a long-dead horse.

To me, cynical people who chop down every idea that's not their own see this recovery effort in terms of "spending". Those of us with hope and faith are more likely to see this as "investing".... not only in our future, but for those of our children.

It's so much easier for cynical people to spread their negativity around because, inherently, they have put themselves in a win-win situation. If Obama's efforts are fruitless, then they can say that they were right all along. If Obama's efforts prove successful, they can enjoy an economic bounce back with the rest of us.

I can only imagine how the world would look now if those who fought impossible odds in past conflicts adopted such a cynical view like today's society has. I have a deep-down feeling that we can all get this done -- and we will. This is a test, not for just Americans, but for the world.

Enough with the damned finger pointing and posturing.

Counterpoint

Ahhhh, the first day of February, and the scent of Valentine's Day love looms in the air... Black History Month is in full swing... the groundhogs are preening their whiskers. In one corner of our great nation, it is a frosty winter... the other is reminiscent of a warm, spring day.

There are some who are filled with love, yet greet Valentine's Day with detestation.

There are some Black men and women that honor the accomplishments of their Black ancestors by committing violent crimes during Black History Month.

As I sit here at work hoping that the Arizona Cardinals will win the Super Bowl today, I find myself in deep ponder over the contradictions our society has. I'm also mulling over the contradictions and hypocrisy that dwell within my own soul. Perhaps the next time we either admonish or turn someone away, we should do some serious mirror-staring....

For instance: Why is it that we can't stand other people's bad habits, when we have habits just as detestable? One man who doesn't wipe the counter after cooking turns around and hisses at his husband. Why? For not taking an empty milk carton out of the fridge. Aren't both are messy?

Everyone wants cleaner, efficient fuels that will stave off our dependency on foreign oil. No one wants a nuclear plant in their back yard. No one wants nuclear waste stored near them. Not to mention there are those that bitch about birds hitting windmills if we build them.

One lady gets pulled over for speeding; receives her ticket; and glides up I-45 at 80 mph just moments later.

Counterpoint runs through our veins. Sometimes it's an eloquent melody... music that makes me ponder. Should I criticize the 'other guy' that let me date Ms. Pac-Man for nearly an hour past our scheduled meetup time before showing up? Should I expect flawlessness?

Hmmm... maybe it's not man's actions that is truly rubbing me raw, but rather, man's stubbornness to change for the better.

Counterpoint.