Fun with politics

As an experiment, and just to keep this interesting, I'll comment again on this post after November 2nd and see what's come to pass...

As a gay man this whole Tea Party movement is a bit scary. A political party in power that is more socially conservative and less friendly to gays than the Republicans? Not a good thing.

However, I am getting a kick out of the whole Christine O'Donnell thing--or as I like to call her "Sarah Palin, Jr." While she did bring a shock to Delaware with her primary win, Towleroad (one of my favorite blogs) has also pointed out a few things for voters to keep in mind, such as dabbling in witchcraft and support of ex-gay ministries.

How do sane or semi-intelligent citizens support people like this? Nonetheless it should be interesting to see what the Tea Party does for the Republicans in the future. I am amused by the in-fighting it is stirring up at the moment. Are things like this going to cost them some important seats in the upcoming election? We'll see...

I also question why the gay community is coming down so hard on Obama. Yes, we want the Democrats to get more done for us...but are the Republican or Tea Party politicians a better alternative? I think not.

That said, if anyone could make me vote Republican it would probably be Colin Powell. I remember being impressed with him many years ago (when there was a push for him to run for President), and I was impressed with him again this past Sunday on Meet the Press. He seems very practical, honest and (dare I say) full of common sense.

Traits that are good in any politician regardless of political party.

I have an answer for Tim Gunn...

Tim Gunn (of Project Runway fame), has a new book that he's promoting. He recently did a promotional interview that included the question of why he isn't out to his mother. In my current situation--being middle-aged and not out to my family--I, of course, am fascinated by this fact. Tim is quite a bit older than I am, has become quite famous, and is not out to his mother.

In the interview he states...

"I approach it this way, and please don’t think a huge of amount of discomfort didn’t permeate every molecule of my being as I was contemplating this whole thing. But I asked myself, ‘What do I gain from this and what does she gain?’ I certainly never talked about being interested in women or men with her."

My response to Tim would be that he has much to gain and much to lose. If he came out to his mother their relationship could be much stronger, bringing them closer to each other in their ability to talk about this important part of his life.

Or...it could potentially put a strain on their relationship causing them to not be as close for the remaining years of his mother's life. It depends on her reaction over the long term.

From what I've read about Tim, he was once in a serious relationship, got hurt very badly and has since not pursued a long term relationship. With this being the case, I guess it could be argued that there is less of a reason for him to come out to his mother at this point.

I am in a different situation. I am in the best relationship of my life and have been with my man for almost 8 years. If it were to be accepted and 'on the table' for normal conversation I would love to share this part of my life with my mother, if not my entire family. In fact, if my mother were able to accept that I am gay, I think she would actually be relieved to know that I am not alone and have someone with whom I am sharing my life. Even though she has never talked to me about her concerns of my being alone, I am fairly sure it makes her worry.

Nonetheless, it still comes down to the gamble or risk I'm willing to take. Am I ready if the result is becoming more distant, and is it worth it at my mother's age?

Let's think this through a bit, people...

This story seems to be changing by the moment, but I'm particularly struck by a statement from Pastor Terry Jones, the man threatening to hold a 'Koran burning' this weekend--referencing the 'mosque at ground zero' controversy.

 "Americans don't want the mosque there and of course Muslims don't want us to burn Korans," said Jones.

...but wait a minute...America is a country, Muslim is a religion (of Islam)...so his statement is a faulty comparison. Let's not forget about separation of church and state.

Muslims don't want Christians to burn the Koran in the same way that Christians don't want Muslims to burn the Bible.

I also heard an interesting argument on the Today Show this morning. Timothy McVeigh blew up a building and called himself a Christian. Has anyone demanded that no Christian church be built within a certain radius of where that incident occurred?

I guess there is an argument for free speech or right to protest here, but the fact that Muslim extremists may resort to killings puts additional responsibility on the act.

Ignoring this person may be the best road to take, but I don't think the media can resist.