Well, it's the weekend, and I feel guilty for not having written in awhile. Maybe it's because I'm so overwhelmed with things to write about. Should I write about today being the Second Anniversary of America's War in Iraq? Should I have my fellow blogmates ponder the rights and wrongs of Congressional intervention of a husband's decision to let his wife pass from this world without being a political pawn? Should we share our opinions on the California Supreme Court ruling that state's law defining marriage to be between one man and one women unconstitutional? Maybe we can discuss the Senate, the budget, and drilling in Anwar? No, no, if I want REAL respect, I should take a cue from the local nightly news - how about I write about the Michael Jackson trial (well, you know that I would NEVER, but, admit it, some of you want me to. It's like watching a train wreck in slow-motion...)
I wish life were simpler. I wish I could blog on and on about my need for a leash-free dog park or the need for people to scoop the poop before it runs into our streams and rivers untreated. But then I might be accused of only looking out for myself. Only caring about MY issues. Where's the multi-issue organizing, huh, Toby?
Well, I'm all for coalitions. That's the only way things are going to get done. Sometimes I wonder if some (not all) of those folks picketing the state legislature about gay marriage have no other issues to fight for. (No! Toby, bite your tongue!) My moms want to be treated fairly. They want to get the same protections that a heterosexual married couple would have here in the States. But they also want to fight harder for the personal protections that would be garnered by having sexual orientation included in hate crimes legislation and in non-discrimination law. They want universal health care (not just for children, or for domestic partners... for all). Why protest for the right to your deceased partner's social security payments if social security has been squandered away in private accounts by irresponsible young workers. (Our president seems to think we are entitled to money that wasn't meant to be either "welfare" or "ours" to begin with. Giving it to the folks who are currently carrying significant crushing personal debt seems like a brilliant idea...) There are still such outrageous economic disparities in our communities. Systemic racism. Unequal access to health care. Failing education system. And can we even begin to discuss the irony that the Religious Right won't let gays and lesbians get married, but will fight tooth and nail to give financial incentives to programs that irradicate the "plague" of single [straight] motherhood, i.e. are trying desparately to force heterosexuals TO get married?
I'm glad, as a dog, I don't have to worry about such things. My moms will be my moms no matter what. (I believe I'm the kind of "property" that will easily slide through probate, god forbid.)I've wandered off topic. I have to keep this ramble short 'cuz if my people knew what I was writing about they would take away my blogging priveledges. Some of what I preach are very unpopular sentiments. My moms have been "embodying struggle" my whole life, and I can't believe they're not yet tired. (Or maybe they are, but are not letting on...) I'll comment more later after I nap. I have a headache. (Again, I'm glad I'm a dog.)
