Thursday, November 6, 2008

California.....WTF?

California,
"If anyone knows any just cause why you may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."

Yeah, I got something to say!

According to enrichment journal on the divorce rate in America:

The divorce rate in America for first marriage is 41%
The divorce rate in America for second marriage is 60%
The divorce rate in America for third marriage is 73%

Do these numbers represent the holy union of two people?
Does this seem to uphold the bibles true interpretation?

Again I'll say this:

Are we to believe so much in the "sanctity" of marriage that heterosexuals are the only ones allowed fail and fail again? It makes me sick to think that you can put so much into the word of the bible, but you don't actually have to follow it. As a hetero, created by GOD, you can ignore him, but as a Homosexual your not even allowed to play?

The bond is between partners. Two PEOPLE that love each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together in the eyes of one another, friends and their religious figure(whomever that may be)
California shame on you. On the day you break through and trust your country to the first minority you've ever elected, you've taken away the right for one person to be wed to another.
I can't understand why?
It can't be because of Bible's interpretation of a binding contract between you, your partner and God. According to the statistics half of the marriages in the USA will end in divorce. California is well above the national average at about 69-76%. Holy shit!! Were the people that have been divorced allowed to vote on whether other people were allowed to wed? Based on what, their ability to stick to the ground rules marriage? That's bullshit!!!

I going to go over more of my dumbass ideas.

How about :

-the people that have been divorced already are automatically eliminated from the voting process. (sucks being discriminated against doesn't it!)

- people who get married in California, since following the word of the Lord is so important, cannot get a divorce. And the state cannot recognize a divorce filed in another state\country. If gays and lesbian can get married in Canada, but it's not accept when they get back to Cali, same goes for you.

I don't get it? Why do you care what the people down the street are doing? Does it affect you, your family? The only people that it affects are homosexuals. And I'm sure there are some that don't want to get married and lied about voting against it. I personally feel that heteros getting involved in this, especially the way we've been so loyal to marriage already, is like a man voting on what a woman can do with her body.
Yes I know what the bible says. I scanned it, but I think I got the gist.

Remember the mistakes of the past and how we look at them today. Shouldn't divorce be just as important to Evangelicals as Roe vs Wade?

I agreed when you banned smoking, but can't you see this hurts everyone too? I'm inhaling second hand discrimination(patent pending)

With this ring I give myself to you.
I place my strength in the service of your happiness.
Your dreams I will share.
Your burdens I will bear.
From now until forever I will be incomplete without you.


Sounds ambiguous to me.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

oh what a night.....

Wow
What a night!
For the rest of our lives will we remember this fateful day? Will it lodge in our semiconscious memory every time we talk about the past? Can we even imagine the importance of these times?

YES WE CAN!!!

You don't need to be an American to excited today. You don't need to be black either.( or half black for that matter) You have to believe. Believe that the world, as fucked up as it is, can be better. That people are, and can be judged strictly by contents of their hearts. As an outsider i don't think the American people were bullied into voting for Barack. I'm sure the people that have never uttered a racist slur, or had a disingenuous thought, feel vindicated that their vote was for the best man for the job. It might help them sleep better to know that they've exercised a true call for change. Not to mention the next time that someone suggests that they're racist for some inexplicable, "you cut in front of me so you hate black people" reason they may say that they voted for Barack. It's the new reparations. No longer must middle aged white folk have to know the name of the FED-EX guy to explain their outdated jokes.

Barack Obama is a true hero. (and again not just because he's half black too) Even in his acceptance speech he didn't harp on his race, or religion, he talked about the future. He talked about a country desperate for a new direction and that together, he and the American people could mend the wounds. As you may know I have been critical when it comes to American politics, laws and beliefs. No more than my critics of my own country, neighbours, friends and significant other. In 2004 I was ashamed of the voting public. I felt they validated George W Bush's foreign policy, and war mongering by re-electing him. He promised leadership. He promised to make the world and their country better. He didn't. He lied again. This time the people stood up and said no more. John McCain himself said it perfectly.

"The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly."

I could have done without the booing when McCain mentioned Obama's name, but I was very glad to see that he was also annoyed with it. It's funny to see the polarized nation start to see a new direction. When Obama said McCain the people gathered in Illinois applauded the celebrated war hero, and formidable opponent.
That's the change we look forward to.
A close friend said that the American people were just not ready to have a Black President. They love their old white men too much. I've never been happier to be right. (not true I'm happier every time I am!!)

My only true critic of the election down south is the Prop8 thing in California. Reintroducing the ban on gay marriage. I've bitched before and I'm going to bitch again. What's the big fucking deal? A ban on gay marriage is discrimination no matter what way you slice it. To imply that a heterosexual, male-female union is more important then same sex is preposterous. It says that heterosexuals may join in as many failed marriages as they want, but two men can't try one. Do these homosexuals have to pay the taxes? Maybe if homosexual aren't allowed to get married, or have\adopt children they should get free healthcare?
....you know what I think? Too fucking bad I'm going to say it.

People of California who voted NO to prop8. If for some ironic reason they ban gay marriage on the same day that a black man is elected to be president, don't give.
#1) you need a gay black woman on the bill in 2012
#2) I think that a petition should start that says, if marriage is to be respected as a union between a man and woman, under God and recognized by the state, then those guidelines should eliminate their right to divorce. Your legally binding contract should be upheld to the full extent of the law. After all, a marriage is defined by ONE woman and ONE man. Too bad assholes. You wanted to get married, and make it you own exclusive little club, now you can't get out of it.
Too fucking bad.

I'm not gay, and I don't think that I should be deciding their rights.
Until I'm involved in some drunken MMF threesome with my loving girl and our pool boy I'm gonna support their rights to make the same dumb-ass mistakes as the rest of us.

Oh what a night that will be.

My girls response, " YES WE CAN"

Monday, November 3, 2008

and then there were two...

It's hard to believe that the fate of the USA will be forever changed by Wednesday. After eight years of Bush, the war on terror, WMD's, Bin Laden and classic sound bites, someone new will be atop the American food chain. I remember following the 2000 election. It seemed that the world was going in a favorable direction. When Bush won I wasn't really mad. I figured he was going to act the same way that everyone I've known whose Dad got him the job does. Slack off, abuse power, kill a hooker or two. We've all worked with that guy that who is unqualified, knows somebody, and is an asshole. No big deal.

Of course we all know the tragic happenings of that day in September. ( I don't say it anymore. It's seems like it lost it's luster ever since Gulianni used it as a marketing tool) Now, I've never had a job as important as "President of the USA", but responsibility is responsibility. Bush had a tough go of things in those early days. I think that most of us understood that. I'm against any oppression or acts of violence no matter what they are, so the idea of a war didn't sit well. However the thought of hunting Osama Bin Laden was okay. I could at least see the message behind it. In fact so did Canada. Many Americans who have blamed Canada for the blackout, immigration and soft borders have conveniently forgotten that our troops have been in Afghanistan from the beginning and many have lost their lives. (97 to date) From there on in, I have been 100% against the US foreign policy in the Middle East. The lying to get to Iraq, the deception against it's own people for support. A president who had been given office due to a supreme court ruling, after a re-count, wants to march democracy around the world? The country that produces the most nuclear weapons wants other countries to stop making them? Oh but those countries might use force against smaller, less armed countries.( you mean like Iraq? )
By the time that 2004 had rolled around the Americans were showing their barbwire tattooed muscles around the world. They told their countrymen not buy anything from France for going against them, they demonized the Canadian government while we were standing next to them in Afghanistan. Bush was running for re-election with the exact same campaign as he ran in 2000. Except this time rather than smear a well decorated veteran, he smeared a well decorated veteran, who was a democrat. A man that had never served a day of his life in a combat situation, was now telling the world why he was a better than someone that had. He'd done the same to McCain four years earlier. For some reason in the US you can buy airtime and say whatever the fuck you want about someone. And the attack ads were on again. That Wednesday morning in November I was shocked that our friends and neighbor had re-elect GWB. What the fuck was wrong with the world? Sometimes it was cool to hang out with the toughest guys in school, however, they ain't the smartest. I'm not sure how long I would want to riding shotgun with old Dubya behind the wheel. Especially with his track record. (with Laura you don't want to be in the other car)

In the years since things have gotten worse. You can hear the soundbites that the world is safer, and maybe it is. But it sure isn't better. But wait.... there's another election.

If I were an American I would most likely be a democrat supporter. I don't have a problem with gay marriage, or stem cell research, or universal healthcare( got it here and two kids) and many of their other platforms. In fact, I see many of their ideas the basic rights to freedom. Kids get to eat, go to school and live. Rich people have to pay more than poor. I believe that freedom of speech should cover an opinion of disappointment with your own government. No matter who says it.
I've always liked John McCain, and how could you not respect his record. Military, not the Keating five shit. What I didn't expect from him, and Sarah Palin, was a campaign based strictly off what the other guy(Obama) is, or isn't. Or taking his platform and twisting it to what scares you. Or suggesting what he is "really" like, or what he "really" thinks. It is an entire campaign built on Obama. But what do they stand for? Every time I hear clip of Palin, she's telling a group of people what Obama had said about something and then a chorus of boos rain down while she smiles. I haven't heard her say why she likes or dislikes a particular policy. She's like an annoying hype man at a rap concert.
It's funny because both parties agree that the country needs to change. Both agree that the past eight years haven't been very good. Both distance themselves from Bush and anything he's got to say. The USA finds it easy to point fingers at other countries for their policies, crimes, politics, laws, and government. I wonder if either one of these to candidates will be able to look inward and solve the problems within. Sometimes they are so stubborn that they will standby anything as long as they can call it the "American Way" (i.e.- the United States customary Units!) We all have problems with our governments, but very rarely does our problems become the rest of the worlds. With the US it is just the opposite. It becomes all of our problem.
All But George W Bush.
He's only got two months left.

1973

Secretariat wins the triple crown...
The Dolphins complete the perfect season by winning the Superbowl...
Roe vs Wade overturns the abortion law in the US...
I was born in Burnaby B.C.

1973 was a long freakin time ago. I never realized that I was the same age as the CN tower. My Wiki-search gives me little in the way of history, but there are no celebrities listed as born on Halloween in 1973. Keep your fingers crossed for me!!

35.....holy shit. I'm tryin to remember something about when I turned 25, but that's kind of a blur. Actually 21-29 is rather fuzzy. Some faces, some names, lots of mistakes. Nothing to confess...... yet.

So Friday morning I awoke with one kids shoving a handmade card in my face, and the other begging to be changed. The pungent smell of breast-milk turn pooh. What a morning. So many of these birthdays have started with a hungover breakfast that included many Caesars, and little food. I realize that things are slowly changing when on Thursday night after I put the kids to sleep and my girl conked out as well, I was going to sneak back downstairs for a beer and some NHL09, to keep me young. Maybe even some computer porn. But while contemplating these options I fell asleep. FUCK!!!

The day is filled with tricks and treats for the kids nowadays and not the drunken shit shows of the past. Although they were very fun.

The year that I moved to Toronto I spent my first Halloween birthday working at a bar watching my hometown hero and friend Greg Moore racing. It was the final race of a disappointing year. I had called Greg when the race was in Toronto, but he was too busy to hook up. Greg and I were friends, but I won't disrespect our relationship by saying that we were close. We were good. Like most people from Maple Ridge we were all very proud and followed his career. That horrible day I tended bar with two die hard racing patrons watching with me. We told stories, talked about different races, it was fun. Greg had moved up the field after a restart, but lost control of his car on the exit of turn 2. It was bad. When they didn't show replays, or get updates I started to panic. I called back home, but no one knew anything. Players Forsythe pulled Patrick Carpentier out of the race. We all knew. They announced Greg had succumb to his injuries. I told my boss I was leaving and got drunk. To this day I raise my glass to Greg at least once.


I remember years ago I went out for my birthday to a lovely little dive called the Underground. Today it's the "hip" dive that all the Blue Jays frequent, but back in the day it was a dump. But it was our dump. There was a great moment sitting at the table with my ex-girlfriend, who had drove in from Kingston, a girl I had fooled around with the week before, the girl I slept with after the ex moved to Kingston, and her roommate, who I had a crush on. And everyone was mad. Not me, I was impressed with myself for being in such a mess. Through the evil eyes at the table I decided to get some shots, walked right passed the bar and into a cab. Good times!!

The best thing about having your birthday on Halloween, is that there is always someone who wants to go out. Plus people also always know when it is because of the day it falls on. I don't remember any one's birthday, but they always know mine. I know that's bullshit, sorry non-important birthday people. The worst date is Nov 1. Poor Scotty "Evil". Scotty and I have been friends for about ten years and nobody realizes that his b-day is the day after mine. Even If I go out on the1st rather than the 31st, people still tell me happy Birthday.....even if Scott's right beside me. It really gets funnier every year. This year he turned thirty so I stayed out of the city to give him the glory. But from now til I'm forty, he's screwed!!

I've had many good ones. A few bad.

Overall, I'm happy. I'm happy that I've made it here. There was a lot of time in my life when I questioned my longevity, my durability. Now I have a loving partner, two wonderful kids. I'm starting to make myself sick here...

Don't worry tomorrow is the US election, I'll have something say.
Until then, Happy Birthday Scott!!(two days ago)