My Opinion

I'm going to weigh in on a potentially, but not necessarily, touchy subject: the immigration wars. Well, it's not a war yet, but proponents and opponents are gathering their forces and it looks to get mighty ugly in the coming weeks/months/years/whatever! My personal opinion on this touchy subject: send the illegals back. It's plain and simple. It's straightforward. There is no need for debate. They are in the country illegally. Send them back.

According to research, there are 11 to 12 million illegal aliens currently in our country. This means, there are 11 to 12 million people not paying taxes, yet they are utilizing the resources of this country. My personal opinion - you can like it or not - is that if they want to be in this country, they need to be legal and they need to pay taxes. If they can't . . . send them back. If they won't . . . send them back. There should not be a debate on this issue. There should only be the simple solution of sending illegal immigrants back to where they came from in the first place.

Now, I understand their lives might not be so great wherever they came from - this is pretty much a given; but, a good percentage of these illegal immigrants are allegedly sending their money back to Mexico (or wherever) and not back into the country they are sponging off of in the first place. Send them back.

Now, for you detractors out there, the proponents of 11 to 12 million illegal immigrants residing in the United States and not paying taxes (while at the same time forcing the institution of Press 1 for Spanish), your opinion is just as vital as mine. I understand the emotions involved in sending 11 to 12 million people back to wherever they came from in the first place; but there are other legal options. Those options should be considered, but 11 to 12 million people not paying taxes should not be an option. A solution should be found, but just waving a magic wand and saying 'okay, you 11 to 12 million illegal immigrants, we're going to make an exception this time and let you stay in our country' is really not an option. It sets a precedent that should - again, in my personal opinion - not be set. The United States Government needs to stand firm, send the 11 to 12 million back to wherever they came from and enact laws to keep them out of the country on an illegal basis. Money needs to be spent ensuring that our borders are safe. It is a plain and simple solution and one that should have been done 20 years ago before there were 11 to 12 million illegal immigrants in the country.

S

Freedom from Ignorance

I think I'm going to start a new organization called 'Freedom from Ignorance'. Why, dear readers, am I making this statement? Well, it all started in the aftermath of the Oscars last night and a simple statement. See below:

Others weren't surprised that the gay-themed films found mixed success at the Oscars.

"I think America sent a message to those in the industry that this isn't something that they're interested in, and hopefully this was something that weighed heavily on them as they voted for these pictures," said Alan Chambers, president of Orlando, Florida-based Exodus International, a Christian organization that promotes "freedom from homosexuality." (http://www.cnn.com – Entertainment – Mixed Oscar Results for Gay, Transgender Themes – 03/06/2006)

So, according to Alan Chambers, president of Orlando, Florida-based Exodus International, a Christian organization that promotes “freedom from homosexuality”, ‘Crash’ won the Oscar for best picture, not because it was an excellent/brilliant film, but because it did not have a gay/transgendered theme. Now, I’m sure Mr. Chambers would love to argue with me about that statement, but he doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of winning such an argument. He made a clear and simple statement about why ‘Brokeback Mountain”, ‘TransAmerica’ and ‘Capote’ did not win the Oscar for Best Picture. The inevitable conclusion to his comment are that ‘Crash’ only won because “America sent a message to those in the industry that this (meaning films with gay/transgender themes) isn’t something that they’re interested in”. In other words, and in my interpretation only, if the other films had not been of a gay/transgender theme, then ‘Crash’ probably would not have won.

I know, my logic is brilliance in motion. I suppose Mr. Chambers feels that his logic is brilliance in motion as well, i.e., freedom from homosexuality. I’d love to start an organization that promotes freedom from ignorance, but I truly do not think there is enough money in the world to fund such an organization.

I guess there is no end to illogical thinking on the part of people against homosexuality. I also guess there is no end to Mr. Chamber’s alleged ignorance either. I mean, awards did go to gay/transgender themed movies: Philip Seymour Hoffman won for ‘Capote’, Ang Lee won for Best Director, for ‘Brokeback Mountain’; that movie also won for Best Score and Best Adapted Screenplay. If, as Mr. Chambers’ states, “America sent a message”, then why was it not a complete message? Was there a breakdown in communication? Did somebody not get the memo? Or, as is the more likely event, is his statement totally without merit? Did ‘Crash’ win for the simple reason that it was an excellent film that deserved an award? I think that is the case, but that the allegedly deluded people in the world cannot accept such a basic truth and must, therefore, create their own truth.

In the end, the Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender community made great strides this year by having so many gay/transgender themed films receive so many nominations. The door is open, Mr. Chambers, and there’s nothing you can do about it. We’re here, we’re queer, and we’re everywhere. We are not going away because you don’t like us. We are going to continue to make our presence known, day after day, year after year, into the next millennia and beyond. Get used to it. After all, I’m somewhat getting used to alleged ignorant people, if only for the fact that it creates activity for my brain cells and gives me something to write about. Ciao!

Here We Go Again . . .

DISSED-HER CHRISTIAN: Michelle Williams' Oscar-nominated turn in Brokeback Mountain has earned her a failing grade from the Christian high school she attended. "We don't want to have anything to do with her in relation to that movie. Michelle doesn't represent the values of this institution," the Santa Fe Christian School headmaster tells the San Diego Union Tribune. "I hope we offered her something in life, but she made the kinds of choices of which we wouldn't approve. Brokeback Mountain promotes a lifestyle we don't promote. It's not the word of God." But selling M&Ms for $5 a box as a fundraiser, that's cool with Him. (TVGuide.Com – Entertainment News – 03/02/2006)

Here we go again!!! It’s amazing to me that alleged Christians continually pick and choose which Biblical passages to base their life on, rather than taking the Bible as a whole. Had the Sante Fe Christian School been following the passage that reads “thou shall not judge, less thou be judged” part, perhaps they would have kept their prejudicial views to themselves rather than JUDGING Michelle Williams for choosing a stand-out role in a ground-breaking film.

I know the world is imperfect. I know the world is full of ignorant people. I know that some people are never going to accept the fact that homosexuality is not a choice, but genetics. I know that alleged Christian groups are going to continually do everything in their power to oppress homosexuals, and their supporters. It is a sad fact of life that I can do little about, other than express my extreme distaste and disappointment in my personal blog. It will have to be enough.

I could pray for enlightenment for the allegedly ignorant, but I think that’s one prayer that’s not going to get answered. I could ask for acceptance from the allegedly Christian people out there; but again, I don’t think that is going to happen. Humanity seems to have an ingrained trait for oppression and degradation against those they feel are deviant or different. History is full of examples, dating back to the earliest days of human history, of this nasty, but indelible, trait within the souls of humanity. The prime example would be Hitler’s rampage against the Jews, but there are so many more examples out there, that it is not even funny. A good portion of humanity does not seem to learn from the past. It seems easier to repeat mistakes rather than find a way to fix them.

In the end, no matter what I write or say, the human trait of oppression, degradation, of alleged superiority, will not disappear. The alleged Christians will continue their promotion of hate and intolerance against homosexuals, and any who don’t fall within their religious parameters, no matter what I write or say. It is in their nature. They cannot escape the web of deceit they have woven for themselves, believing that their way is the only way! Now I will add that not all Christians follow this seemingly predetermined way of life. Many Christians accept people at face value and do not unnecessarily judge them. It is only those who allegedly follow a path of narrow-mindedness that seem stuck on the path of oppression and degradation; attempting to put the needs of the few, over the needs of the many. It is those Christians wherein my problem lies.

In a world where hope seems futile, I will continue to write this blog. In a world where the intelligent must stand against the ignorant, I will continue to write this blog. In face of the fading hope for acceptance of all, no matter their race, religion, sexual orientation, political affiliation, etc., I will continue to write this blog; for one candle alone can hold back the darkness.

S