A Letter which I sent to my family and friends

(With corrections; last revised: July 31, 2007)

Hello Family and Friends (you know who you are!):

You should have received a bcc (blind copy) of an email which I sent to 2 acquaintances of mine (whom I know through a mutual friend from the Aloha state) who are authors of a book recently published, Courting Equality: A Documentary History of America's First Legal Same-Sex Marriages.

I first met Pat and Karen at an event in Washington, D.C., over a decade ago. A mutual friend (Rebekah Luke) introduced us and hosted our visit in D.C. at The Pen Arts Building, which was once home to both President Abraham Lincoln's Son as well as a descendant of President John Adams. Since the 1950's, the Pen Arts Building has been home to the National League of American Pen Women.

That trip was significant to me in many ways:

1. It was an extension of the lobbying I had done (while living in Hawaii) on behalf of Hawaiians -- the first time I had participated in a march in our nation's capital;


2. It was the first significant trip that I took since returning to the mainland after leaving Hawai'i; and


3. I was recovering from a traumatic accident which had happened to me in 1996.

Since that trip, I have been to Hawai'i a few times... and, interestingly, Pat and Karen were there during at least 2 of my visits when I had the good fortune to meet them again. I have photos of the most recent trip and they can be viewed at my Picasaweb site.

I am planning to get my own copy of their book autographed to mark this historic event in the history of lesbians and gays (a group of second-class citizens, which includes me, as you know). As a gay man, I can better imagine what it must have been like for couples of mixed races who were finally permitted to marry legally in all 50 states of our nation merely 40¹ years ago... and imagine what it must have been like for the women of Wyoming who were the first women to have the right to vote², hold public office, and serve on juries (which is why Wyoming is known as "The Equality State").

I mean, can you imagine how women of the other 49 states must have still felt like second-class citizens; knowing that simply their residency in "the wrong state" was the barrier to their "equality" as an American citizen³? Well, I can imagine... because I do not live in the "Modern Equality State" of Massachusetts. And, I know, that simply living in that state would entitle me to some of the rights and privileges which the "other 80%" of my co-citizens enjoy. In other words, my co-citizens who were born heterosexual are entitled to special rights -- primarily based on religious ideas and principles. This is in direct violation of our Bill of Rights.

Some people claim that this is a religious issue. But that is false. Because, in the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights specifically prohibits our government from making decisions (i.e., allocating or with-holding rights) on any religious basis.

This is not to say that one cannot hold a particular belief based on his or her religious views. Everyone has that right to his or her own views. It simply means that our government cannot make laws extending special rights to certain people (or with-holding rights from others) on the basis of religion. It is amazing that heterosexual people find it so hard to understand that it is not I who am asking for "special rights." On the contrary, "special rights and privileges" are being granted by 49 states AND our federal government based on *their* sexual orientation. And, these special rights are granted on -- yes! -- religious bases. This is in direct violation of the Bill of Rights!

Each of you knows me very well. Ask yourself how you can sit by idly and do nothing while someone whom you love (or, perhaps you only like me) is being discriminated against? Knowing me as you do, you know that I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SIT BY IDLY WHILE OUR GOVERNMENT CREATED LAWS DESIGNED TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST YOU. After all, it was my inability to sit idly by, that I involved myself in the movement of, by, and on behalf of Hawaiians, whom our government also treats as "Second-Class Citizens."

I don't often ask favors. In fact, I rarely ask favors.

Now, however, I am asking you for a personal favor. This is a favor whose outcome causes only a positive result: a prohibition for our government to discriminate against a group (which, I remind you, includes me); discrimination by the very government which calls for "equality" in our Constitution and whose pledge of allegiance ends with the phrase "and justice for all."

I ask for you to take action to make that phrase in our pledge hold true rather than sit there as a hypocritical pledge. "How can you take action?" you may ask. There are thousands of ways. I will highlight a few. But, please, do not feel constrained. Each of you is smart in your own special way. If you take a few minutes to think about this issue you can certainly come up with a plethora of additional ideas.

Some Suggested ways:

1. Discuss the issue with your friends, neighbors, co-workers and others in your social network; through discussion, the "shame" is removed and true education occurs. But more importantly, justice prevails.


2. For those who have time and/or motivation, get involved in activities and scenarios where you can work to make a difference. Be someone who decides that the "chains of bondage" which create "second-class" citizens is wrong and must be corrected. In other words, those chains must be removed!


3. Contact your representatives in your state government and those who represent you in the U.S. Congress and express to them how you feel and how wrong discrimination is.

These are only 3 simple ways. As I stated there are infinitely many more. For those of you who are blessed with creativity, put that creativity to use. Come up with some ideas of your own.

I appreciate the time you have taken to read my thoughts, feelings, and beliefs about an issue which has bothered me since as long as I can remember.

With my love,
Chris

---

FOOTNOTES

¹In Loving v. Virginia, 1967.
²In 1869, Wyoming's Territorial legislature became the first government in the world to grant "Female Suffrage;" SEE Wyoming's Equality Heritage.
³SEE U.S. Constitution: 19th Amendment; ratified August 18, 1920.

Ballot Initiative Strategy Center

Alright! For many years (although it seems like decades), I have discussed with friends, family and colleagues that "We the people" is a bit askew in our representative democracy. The argument which I presented compared various state governments with our federal government.

One of the most prominent differences is that, in most states, citizens (i.e., We the People) can create legislation by ballot initiative. For example, consider the states of California, Florida and Washington. This year (2007) and next (2008) these three states will have, on their ballots, for all voters' consideration, a ballot initiative (or referendum) to implement a single-payer (i.e., universal) health-care system in their respective states.

It is clear from the discussion at the federal level over the past 3 decades, that having such an initiative at the federal level would be fair and would help keep the multi-billion-dollar insurance and/or pharmaceutical industries at bay. For the past 30 years, there has been discussion by certain political "leaders" about such a program for our nation. And during that time, the oodles of money from (primarily the insurance industry and the pharmaceutical industry) these 2 industries has kept the discussion from becoming more than campaign-time rhetoric. (One simply need to pay attention to the 2008 Presidential candidates' promises, or look back at the promises of Pres. Clinton and the -- apparent -- attempt by then-First Lady H.R. Clinton.)

From my experience living in Hawaii (and remembering the Clintons' public testimony in Congress during th '90's), I know that the Aloha State has such a plan. If memory serves me correctly, it is called SHIP (State of Hawaii Insurance Program). Indeed, that plan had been held up as a model for the federal government to follow.

While "campaign finance reform" is much-discussed, and congressional rules are shuffled to create the appearance of such reform, the authentic power of our democracy can be placed where it ideally should be: in the hands of "We the People."

It is understandable that the federal government was set up as a representative democracy (i.e., a republic) since, at the time, communications (esp. mass communications) was still a very slow process. Now, however, two centuries later, that constraint is no longer a reality.

As most of us are aware, direct communications between citizens and government is technically viable (vis a vis telecommunications). Most of us are aware of this -- and it has been demonstrated for over a decade now -- because that is how the majority of us file our taxes.

Since we can rely on this technology for reconciling our tax bills with the government, there is no reason that we could not use this same technology to communicate with our government directly to express ourselves in making laws. The fact that several states already implement this in the form of referendum and ballot initiative has proven the technique is effective.

The major hurdle in implementing such a national strategy would be to set the boundaries. For example, regardless of whether the majority felt that slavery would be a nice way of cutting expenses for private businesses, we would rely on the constitution to prevent such a horrible law from becoming enacted. In paraphrasing the words of one constitutional scholar, "the rights of the minority of citizens must be honored despite the will of the majority of the electorate."

Over these many years of my thinking about this subject, I had not identified a significant player in our nation with which to involve myself regarding this issue... until today.

There is an organization, the BISC Foundation, which was created in 2002 (?need to verify date). The Foundation supports the BISC (Ballot Initiative Strategy Center) whose url is http://www.ballot.org.

I encourage friends, family, and colleagues to find out more about this initiative. At the very least, give it some thought and imagine (in your own ideal world) where it might fit into the grand scheme of things. Imagine, if "We the People" really were empowered, the wealthy elite would need to convince citizens and not, simply, buy the vote of our representatives in government.

Then, democracy would be strengthened to its rightful place... and capitalism could be restored to its rightful place. And (at least, in my ideal world) the scales of justice would become more balanced than they are at the present. As I stated earlier, it is evident that currently the scales of justice are askew; the configuration being significantly in favor of money.

Another organization which appears to be interested in a government by "We the People" is the National Initiative for Democracy. Interestingly, it was founded by Former Senator Mike Gravel, who coincidentally, is a 2008 U.S. Presidential Candidate. I mention this for the purpose of full disclosure and not to represent that I endorse his candidacy. I am yet deciding whom I shall endorse in the 2008 U.S. Presidential election.

Human Trafficking Slavery supported by U.S. Tax dollars??

It's amazing! Here is a recent U.S. Congressional hearing where an American reveals that slavery is alive and well -- and supported by U.S. funds to build the Baghdad Embassy. What is amazing? Amazing that I discover this on YouTube -- not ABC, CBS, NY Times, or other "Main Scream Media."

Inform yourself. Become aware. Don't be ignorant... simply, don't ignore issues which you may be able to affect. As in the 1840's, citizens today must be vigilant... unlike in Germany in the 1930's... we must not ignore... no, we must demand -- both, of our government and of those with whom our government contracts with our money -- that Human Rights be honored and respected...



UPDATE:
I initially caught this video on YouTube as I stated above. Having left my TV tuned to C-Span after Saturday morning's Washington Journal, I had the (mis)fortune of getting to see a re-peat of the above-noted testimony... within full context of the Congressional hearing. What is more amazing to me, now, is the way that a couple of the Congressmen (Republican Partisans, I am conflicted to say) on the Committee responded to these "whistle-blowers."

One of these jerks, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-California, 49th District, San Diego, Oceanside, Vista) was Orwellian in his examination of these witnesses! I haven't looked, yet, but I venture a guess that Halliburton has a great influence in his district¹. I know that I intend to point out this monstrous behaviour to all my friends, family and associates in Southern California. It's important that each of us keep our eyes on our congressional representatives and senators.

I'm gonna return to the Boob Tube... this one isn't over yet... but I wanted to make notes while they are fresh.

The Committee which conducted the hearings is the Committee on House Oversight and Government Reform. The interested person may review all the content of the hearings at the C-SPAN website and additional information which has been made publicly available by the Committee.

In researching some of the names and companies mentioned during these hearings (which were originally held this past Thursday), I found an article about First Kuwaiti Construction at a website called CorpWatch which was published (on the web) in 2006. First Kuwaiti Construction is the company which has been contracted by the U.S. State Department to perform the work for the U.S. It is this company which, allegedly, participated in human trafficking of workers from India and The Philippines.

After speaking with a good friend of mine about this issue, she pointed out that, even here in the U.S., such tales of human-trafficking slavery occasionally make the light of day in the "Main-Scream Media." And, yes, I realize that this is true; but, make no mistake... the euphemism "Human-Trafficking" does not make me feel any less concerned. It is slavery, pure and simple, when one's liberties -- indeed, one's rights! -- to travel are restricted. Where's the "trafficking" when one's movements are at one's employer's whims? Pardon me for being forward, but this is slavery. Perhaps, the 19th-Century slavery precluded the victims from ever returning to the land of their birth... perhaps that slavery even encouraged breeding for the sake of "cost-free" slaves... and perhaps 21st-Century slavery is not that overbearing. These differences (whether minor or otherwise) do not permit us to adorn the action with such "comfortable" phrases as "human-trafficking."

Bottom line? If it smells like slavery; if it looks like slavery -- then, by the civility of modern humanism, it is slavery.

---

FOOTNOTES

¹Wrong. According to TruthOut.org, Halliburton has relocated its HQ to Dubai, in the UAE; which has no extradition treaty with the U.S. This, apparently, as a result for the multiple lawsuits exposing Halliburton to Federal investigations due to Hurricane Katrina contracts and non-bid contracts in Iraq.

Media Ownership -- Who's controlling what we see, hear, and ... gasp! ... believe?!?

I decided to start this tally since I couldn't find one place on the great big world wide web which tracked media ownership... Also, I wanted to challenge myself to collect and assemble the data for my own knowledge.

Rupert Murdoch

• Dow Jones & Co. (under negotiations as of July 2007)¹


• Fox Television²


• News Corporation²


• The NY Post²


• HarperCollins²


• British Sky Broadcasting²

??? Malone

• News Corporation²


• Discovery Communications²


• Court TV²


• MacNeil-Lehrer Productions²

Sumner Redstone

• CBS¹


• Viacom¹


• Paramount Pictures¹


• National Amusements Theatre Chain¹


• MTV¹


• Showtime¹

Steve Jobs (Apple Corp.)

• iTunes¹


• iPod¹


• iPhone¹

---

Footnotes
¹MSNBC.com report
²Columbia Journalism Review

That One Candidate... She's Got Big Kahunas!

Wow!

Candidate for U.S. President, Sen. Clinton, sure does have big kahunas (a more polite way of repeating what my sister had said!)... She knows what her constituents want to know... and, by democracy, she's gonna get it for'em!

Talking Points Memo has "the exclusive" on the response which Sen. Clinton sent to Secretary Gates regarding a letter which she received from his Undersecretary, Edelmen. Edelmen questioned the Senator's Patriotism, and matter-of-factly stated that what the Pentagon does is none of her beeswax... (apparently, he missed U.S. History class that day when the professor pointed out that there is a rule of law in America whereby Congress has oversight of affairs domestic and foreign)...

In her response to Secretary Gates, Sen. Clinton asked (regarding her response from the Undersecretary) if that letter accurately reflected Gates' own views. Hmmm... Apparently, they do not... Secretary Gates, as was requested by Sen. Clinton, should reply personally to her second letter to him... in as many weeks.

Interesting notion, that the processes of our democracy should be of such concern to a Pentagon officer... that, in his opiniion, the functioning of our democracy would strengthen our enemies... Hmmm... or did he simply mean "his" enemies? Either way, as a trained lawyer, businesswoman and elected representative, somehow I think that Sen. Clinton will cause an educational process for at least one person in the Pentagon.

Educators call these "teachable moments." It isn't often that we get to watch as it yields productive lessons -- in both civics and politics.

All I can really say is, "Good luck Mr. Edlemen." You are not part of a dictatorial regime here in America. It's called "D-E-M-O-C-R-A-C-Y" -- remember?

What rhymes with Vitter?

Ok... Hypocrisy is the lowest thing in my book... and when the hypocrisy involves politicians and legislation and morality, well I couldn't resist!

Although I am definitely no fan of John "Riverboat" Kerry, one of the U.S. Senators from Massachusetts, his "poetic justice" is apropos:

There once was a man named Vitter
Who vowed that he wasn’t a quitter
But with stories of women
And all of his sinnin’
He knows his career’s in the — oh, never mind
--Sen. John Kerry at a DSCC Fundraiser in Massachusetts (weekend of July 13th, 2007)

Alas, with the Louisiana Governor being a member of the opposing party, Vitter's own party is not acting too quickly to remove the hypocrite...

Such is politics in America, today.

Poetry in Action

I watched a YouTube clip¹ which caused me to think hard and long... What is the source of the phrase "ignorance is bliss?" In my mind, I had attributed it to John Donne (1572-1631)... then I had doubt... was it Donne or was it John Milton (1608-1674)? Johnnie McCray (my high school English teacher) would be very upset with me... Then, again, I should not have partied like it was 1999 when it was only 1978! <g>

Now that doubt had entered my mind, I knew that (argh!) I'd have to do some digging. I googled the phrase... and was led to one of my favorite websites -- Bartleby.com: Great Books Online. Alas, the doubt paid off because both guesses were wrong!

The line "ignorance is bliss" is contained in a poem² by Thomas Gray (1716-1771)! The poem is entitled, "Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College." While reading the poem, I was reminded about the beauty and comfort of childhood. How little we knew of the world... and that lack of knowledge -- that ignorance bestowed on us at childhood -- allowed us to remain carefree and happy, despite the pains and sorrows happening in the world around us at the time.

And, yes, as we grew more aware of our own lives and the lives of those around us... as we grew more aware of pain and anguish... and more importantly, as we grew aware of the causes of that pain and anguish... it became more difficult to hold onto our simple views of the universe. We could not ignore the injustices of our natural environment. We realized that we needed to decide which side of the coin we were going to devote our energies and ambitions.

Were we going to be part of the universal problem? Or would we, rather, attempt to be part of the universal solution? That was the decision that we each were forced to make. It is the decision which we each must make.

With this in mind, I present Gray's complete poem, in hopes that it may inpire others to reflect, as it caused me to do.

Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College
YE distant spires, ye antique towers
That crown the watery glade,
Where grateful Science still adores
Her Henry's holy shade;
And ye, that from the stately brow 5
Of Windsor's heights th' expanse below
Of grove, of lawn, of mead survey,
Whose turf, whose shade, whose flowers among
Wanders the hoary Thames along
His silver-winding way: 10

Ah, happy hills! ah, pleasing shade!
Ah, fields belov'd in vain!
Where once my careless childhood stray'd,
A stranger yet to pain!
I feel the gales that from ye blow 15
A momentary bliss bestow,
As waving fresh their gladsome wing
My weary soul they seem to soothe,
And, redolent of joy and youth,
To breathe a second spring. 20

Say, Father Thames, for thou hast seen
Full many a sprightly race
Disporting on thy margent green
The paths of pleasure trace—
Who foremost now delight to cleave 25
With pliant arm, thy glassy wave?
The captive linnet which enthral?
What idle progeny succeed
To chase the rolling circle's speed
Or urge the flying ball? 30

While some on earnest business bent
Their murmuring labours ply
'Gainst graver hours that bring constraint
To sweeten liberty:
Some bold adventurers disdain 35
The limits of their little reign
And unknown regions dare descry:
Still as they run they look behind,
They hear a voice in every wind,
And snatch a fearful joy. 40

Gay hope is theirs by fancy fed,
Less pleasing when possest;
The tear forgot as soon as shed,
The sunshine of the breast:
Theirs buxom health, of rosy hue, 45
Wild wit, invention ever new,
And lively cheer, of vigour born;
The thoughtless day, the easy night,
The spirits pure, the slumbers light
That fly th' approach of morn. 50

Alas! regardless of their doom,
The little victims play;
No sense have they of ills to come,
Nor care beyond to-day:
Yet see how all around 'em wait 55
The ministers of human fate
And black Misfortune's baleful train!
Ah, show them where in ambush stand,
To seize their prey, the murderous band!
Ah, tell them they are men! 60

These shall the fury Passions tear,
The vultures of the mind,
Disdainful Anger, pallid Fear,
And Shame that skulks behind;
Or pining Love shall waste their youth, 65
Or Jealousy with rankling tooth
That inly gnaws the secret heart,
And Envy wan, and faded Care,
Grim-visaged comfortless Despair,
And Sorrow's piercing dart. 70

Ambition this shall tempt to rise,
Then whirl the wretch from high
To bitter Scorn a sacrifice
And grinning Infamy.
The stings of Falsehood those shall try, 75
And hard Unkindness' alter'd eye,
That mocks the tear it forced to flow;
And keen Remorse with blood defil'd,
And moody Madness laughing wild
Amid severest woe. 80

Lo, in the vale of years beneath
A griesly troop are seen,
The painful family of Death,
More hideous than their queen:
This racks the joints, this fires the veins, 85
That every labouring sinew strains,
Those in the deeper vitals rage;
Lo! Poverty, to fill the band
That numbs the soul with icy hand,
And slow-consuming Age. 90

To each his sufferings: all are men,
Condemn'd alike to groan—
The tender for another's pain,
Th' unfeeling for his own.
Yet, ah! why should they know their fate, 95
Since sorrow never comes too late,
And happiness too swiftly flies?
Thought would destroy their Paradise.
No more;—where ignorance is bliss,
'Tis folly to be wise. 100

Footnotes

1. Ignorance is bliss
   
   


2. Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College

Who pushed the U.S. Constitution off the table?

After doing my routine reading today (in my perpetual attempt to remain informed of the state of our world), I noticed several references to Bill Moyer's latest show, which was broadcast Friday, July 13, 2007.

Having become a fan of Bill Moyers lately, I could not resist watching. I am glad that I couldn't resist... The discussion between Moyers and his guests (Bruce Fein and John Nichols) brought me tremendous hope.

As often happens with emotions, hope brought with it a couple of other emotions which were painful: sorrow and sadness. In this case, the sadness was a result of becoming aware of what we have ignored... that our nation has been harmed by our own inaction.

Over a year ago, I was intrigued (and simultaneously dismayed) by talk of Impeachment. I studied a little bit about it... and saw that it was primarily a grassroots effort on behalf of what seemed to be democratic-party extremists. So, I ignored it.

When history was made with Rep. Pelosi becoming the first woman Speaker of the House in Congress, I watched with enthusiasm. I recall an early interview in which she proclaimed emphatically that "impeachment was off the table." This confirmed, to me, that the party extremists who were so vocal about impeachment were simply that: extremists.

After watching the discussion between Moyers, Fein and Nichols, however, I am concerned. Concerned that the U.S. Constitution has been pushed off the table. Without doubt, impeachment for political purposes is an anathema. However, it is apparent from the discussion between this journalist and these scholars that, today, to ignore impeachment is to ignore the U.S. Constitution.

So, I ask, "Who pushed the U.S. Constitution off the table?" I hope Speaker Pelosi starts looking for it. We Americans need for it to be picked up off the floor and placed back into prominence in our discussions, in our debates, and in our policies.