Checking the Mail !?!

There are some days when checking the mail is a religious experience. I mean a good religious experience like midnight mass, or a silent reflective prayer time. Not when the priest is listing the reasons I am going to hell. It can be a time to reflect on who I love and what I really enjoy about my life. For example I received an invitation to a Christmas party in the mail the other day and that was just wonderful to be thought of and wanted around to celebrate such a warm and special time of year. I think regardless of your beliefs Christmas is one of the best times of the year. The idea of "Goodwill to all and peace on Earth." How can you not feel good about that. I am so over the giving and the getting. I would much rather spend time with people I truly love and even a few I kind of like.:o)

Today in my school mailbox I received payment for 2 days worth of subbing which was nice and business cards. That was nice it gave me a sense of being part of the place now. And also it made me again realize why I love what I do. Though even this morning I was grumbling to myself how much I really hated this job. The business cards gave me a nice boost in my job morale.

The other thing I received was a note from the schools mothers club. At first I was feeling rather self conscience. they had written a lovely note saying that they had prayed for me. I am not an overly religious man but I do sometime find comfort and solace in an almost religious reflection. The knee jerk reaction was why the hell would they pray for me do they think I need to be prayed for what have I done. Then I thought well it was nice that they thought of me and chose to include me in some part of their beliefs. I know skitso. Even though I am sure they sent those to all the teachers I have to say it was a nice thing. At least they didn't say we prayed for your heathen gay soul. Which might have just made me laugh and throw it away.

Taboo Dinner Topics

After finishing an entry by my friend Sarah I have to say religion has come up a lot lately. Not just the subject but my place in religious belief and that of others and how we perceive others when we know their religion.

I was asked after the election by a student if I voted. I responded yes and asked him and he said yes. My response and end to the conversation was "Good for you!" And yes I meant to put the exclamation mark down. I was truly happy for him, I thought it was so important that these kids get out and add their voice to the world. He then asked me who I voted for. Now normally I don't care who knows who or what I stand for but for whatever reason I said "Well that is a pretty personal thing and I chose to keep that to myself." I guess one reason I said it was because I didn't want to in anyway influence him or other students. I feel at this age, to influence someone with opinions is so easy, I would rather just give facts and let them discover truth on their own. Now I know very few people ever do this and after reading it, it sounds stupidly optimistic. But alas I wish to be stupidly optimistic. Now the other reason is that while working for a pretty conservative school do not want to just open with my liberalism.

Well back to the story, the student didn't like my answer. He felt that I should tell him and he persisted. He said, "It's not a big deal you would tell me your religion if I asked." I had to think about that one for a moment. I asked him a question, "If it's not a big deal then why do you want to know?" His reply and I think this says a lot, "Well it gives me an idea of who you are." I thought, on the surface, that is very true on both the religion and voting. Many people could make a big assumption about a person based on both which really supports my second reason for not telling him. Well I must say telling him, I was raised Catholic and still harbor a small part of catholic faith and yet I am actively learning more about eastern philosophies and might actually like to delve into Buddhism, would probably just confuse him more. Also telling him that I register Democrat but have socialist tendencies, would really throw him off. The old saying goes when meeting new people avoid talking politics and religion.

But what are we really saying about ourselves when we do talk politics and religion. And what do we think of others when they speak on these. I must say I am guilty of it. When someone says they attend church every Sunday, I think "Oh god here is another bigoted homophobe." with my eyes rolling into the back of my head. But what an awful thing to think and even worse when I say out loud. I should know better having many friends who are both very broad minded and avid church goers. I also have friends who are gay and republican, but there I have to say "Fine be fiscally conservative and socially liberal but lets face it the core conservatives don't care for you and will not defend you unless it gets them a lot in return."

Well for myself some issues with some people I play very close to the chest because some discussions can out me and I must say even in these days and I guess even more since the election I am a bit scared. I don't like to admit that a lot but it's important, I think, for people to know that. Being a pretty liberal, agnostic, gay male in this country can set you up for some pretty big assumptions, and not all of them are good ones or apply.

Have we as a country after this election created a certain hated of each other. Liberal has become a dirty word and again some pretty bad assumptions can come from that. But on the flip side Liberals have become afraid of conservatives and even worse evangelical conservatives. I think this election has left an even larger divide than we think. Bring religion to the forefront may have won an election but I think it has created fear a suspicion and a deep divide between, Christians and non Christians. I am not just talking Jews and Muslims but those who are not so faith driven in their politics.

Maybe I am over reacting but I am still going to play it safe and keep the brochure on Toronto.

The Flu Bug or Election Results

I have been home sick the past few days. Really since voting on Tuesday. I believe in the notion of voting and whatnot but Wednesday I was ready to move to Toronto at least then I could have gone to a Dr.:o)

It's not so much the "Morality" issue or the "War on Terror", but the economy is really in the crapper and not looking to get better anytime soon. Just this morning and really after Kerry's speech. The media has really started bring up the realities of the administrations policies and how they will effect the future. They say if we privatise Social Security even just for a few million people that it will cost the government trillions of dollars. To make the Tax cuts permanent will also cost trillions of more dollars. They were also talking about businesses still doing weak and the slow growth that we have had that caused the increase from the Fed will slow down the economy even more and the bond market is looking bad as well.

The question I have is where were all these points before the election. People were so busy reporting the campaign and the results from the debates and how that did or did not help either candidates that we stopped hearing about the real news. I think in the entirety of the campaign I heard one report on what would the country be like with Kerry's policies and what the country be like with continuing Bush policies. Most annalists said that Kerry might be able to cut the deficit in 5 years but more like 10 and Bush would at least take twice as long. So much for the Fiscal conservatism.

As my friend Sarah said that a lot of times politicians will pull a bait and switch on their campaign promises, and I believe now is no difference. One of the problems and a lot of republicans have already told Bush is that if he has to appoint a new Judge to the Supreme court that he should pick a pretty moderate or centrist judge. With that there would be no over turning of Row Vs. Wade and Gay Marriage will depend on who can argue better. And if he appoints Sandra Day O'Conner to Chief Justice then you will have a pretty moderate and centrist court. So really these moral issues that the president was elected on my come to bite him in the ass. Back to O'Conner I must say I really like her. Though I do not always agree with her I have been surprised to find many times I do. Mostly because I find her fair and going a lot of how well argued a case is.

Well back at a computer I have been bitching to myself a lot so it's good to get it out.

Hoping for the best but not holding my breathe.