This is going to be a continuously edited post. I am putting together the stories I hear from all over. These stories will serve as reminders that, our society benefits from granting equal rights to everyone.
I will post only new stories (some may not be new to you, but new to me anyway.) The are way too much evidence from history already, my little blog cannot possibly contain that many stories.
But first, my two-cents’ ultra-simplified analysis of why discrimination happens: people are "led to believe" that, because there are limited resources around, by restricting other people’s access to the resources, they get to retain or even enjoy more of these resources.
Who are doing the "lead-to-believing," or more appropriately, "misleading?" We can call them "bigots." Discrimination can occur based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, and disability, sexual orientation, and so forth. I personally feel that discrimination based on race, sex, and sexual orientation still occur a great deal, and the groups people who spread such discrimination have big overlap. So what is a more specific term for people who are homophobic, racist, and chauvinist? Since chauvinists are often called "chauvinist pigs," perhaps that helps me cut the term shorter to "homophobic-racist-pigs."
Stories will be categorized into two sections for constasts.
Stories from Societies that Homophobic-Racist-Pigs Have Great Influences:
I am dedicating this video "Paradise Of Love" to No-On-Prop-8 Campaigns. Help make sure that all californians have the right to marry by voting No on Proposition 8 in November.
It’s not just an issue that is of no concerns to you. Chances are, you, yes, you, are a member of a minority group in some way. Half the California’s population are women. Then there are ethnic minorities and minorities defined by sexual orientation. There are also the new immigrants v.s. "immigrants" who have been here for centuries. Doesn’t this "prop 8" agenda seem familiar? We have had it for centuries — it is DISCRIMINATION. Funny thing is, even if you are in the main stream group, you really don’t lose anything by granting others their euqal rights. In fact, we are all better off helping each other and working together. Our society can benefit from being united, instead of divided. And we have history on our side. More and more outstanding people are emerging from minority groups.
Learn the lessons from history. Embrace diversity!
Music - The Love Theme from the movie Cinema Paradiso , by Ennio Morricone
Italina text - by Alessio De Sensi
English text - by me, loosely based on the Italian text
Instrumental performance - by Itzhak Perlman and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, from the CD Cinema Serenade
Click the play button to play the video right here, or go to its YouTube page to watch it in higher definition (When you’re there click on "Watch in high quality" link right below the volume button.)
In my next revision of the video, I plan to change the sentence "Our love is as noble as theirs" to "Our love is as noble and true." This way the tone is more inclusive. This change was mostly recommended by my friend Brooks. I used a couple of his pictures in the video.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
* Permanent California residents — simply vote No on prop 8 in November.
* Remind your friends and family to vote NO, by calling them, e-mailing them, talking to them when you see them. And please remember to clarify that, yes we are supporting same sex marriage and equality for all Californian families, but by voting No on prop 8. Prop 8, in short, is a proposed ban on same sex marriage. Therefore, we are saying No to the ban.
* Make donation to the the major NoOnProp8 campaign by Equality For All.
* If you’re planning to make sizable purchases online, please shop through Cashback Planet Specify that you would like to have your cashback check donated to Equality for All / No on Prop 8. Please note: Even though Cashback Planet is run by a 501(c) 3 organization, donation to a political campaign is not tax deductible.
* If you have a Web site, please link to my site http://EricZen.com
Update: as of Oct 8th, the poll shows that the yes camp has convinced more voters than our no-on-8 campaigns. It is now more important than ever to spread the words!
Like Jay Leno said, our economy is in bad shape. But the religious groups are more concerned about taking away people rights than promoting peace and togetherness — which I always thought is the function and duties of religions, not division and hate. Let me first remind everyone that, same sex marriages actually HELP our economy. Last month, Lee and I went to the first gay wedding we ever attended. It was at a nice hotel. The grooms picked everything from the high end of the scale. There was a lot of wedding related business given to the our local economy. Even our neighbor state Nevada admits that same-sex marriage ban might be costing Nevada . Don’t let prop 8 take this business opportunity away!
Now I want to come back to the subject of politics and religions. It took many generations of lessons, to come up with the realization that, we are better off separating religions and politics. Every time a proposition like this that gets put on the ballot, is a waste of money and would only bring us backward. Religions, unfortunately, often do not honor diversity. Most religions think their god(s) are the only true god(s). In reality, we all need to live together. And the only way we can do that peacefully together, is by not letting religions mess with politics.
I am going to use an example that may upset some of you. And I want to say in advance, that the scale of this event was much much greater. But I think there is resemblance of these two "agenda" — An example of a religous belief being imposed onto others was September 11th. The suicide bombers thought they were doing great things for their god. While in the eyes of most other earthlings, it was simply murders.
I already got feedback for my choice of the word "faiths." I know it is not supposed to be used in plural form. I chose to do that because the word "faith" has often been used to substitute "religion." Bush’s "faith-based initiatives " look to me really are "Christian-religion-based initiatives" to me.
So what I mean is that, love should be above religions. If one thinks that her or his religion does not honor love, perhaps she or he should check the particular interpretation of the religion.
My favorite lyrics of all time is from Jewel’s "hands." The last sentence: "In the end, only kindness matters."
Please honor love, honor compassion. If the world continue to divide, these are the virtues that will save us.
By now, some of you are probably antsy to leave comments. Yes you are welcome to do so. After all, the structure of this site really is a "blog." But you need to either click on the title of this post, or simply click here to go to this post’s own page. Then scroll to the bottom. You need to register before you can make comments.
If you know me personally, you probably know that music is my passion, but I work as a tax professional. That’s why the Yes-on-8 camp’s lie about the churches’ exempt status is particularly offensive to me.
Here’s the quote from the TV ad:
Churches could lose their tax-exemption status.
It is based on IRS’ rule "against political campaign intervention by charities and churches." Well, then DON’T.
The best thing to do for any tax exempt organization, is not to get involved. If you have a tax-exempt organization, and you listen to the yes-8 camp’s claims, and advocates yes on prop 8 (or advocating anything political). Your risk of losing the status is actually greater. It will be a lose-lose situation. Don’t make the situation worse for yourself. And let your fellow Californians have their equal rights. Focus on what what true charities and churches should be doing (Check your mission statements! I hope eliminating rights for your family and your neighbors and not in there.)
Their first layer of lie is the twisted logic that, just by having a particular "belief" could get any churches in trouble with the IRS. That is simply false. Having belief is exactly what church goer do. That’s not getting involved in politics!
This part is so simple. As a Professor, Richard Peterson knows that he said on TV is simply untrue. Hmm, you probably know what the Bible says about lying …..
The second layer - the IRS’ prohibition against organizations’ participation in political activities have had a focus on endorsing "candidate," not "issues." This is quoted right from the IRS’ Web site :
… organizations may sponsor debates or forums to educate voters. But if the debate or forum shows a preference for or against a certain candidate, it becomes a prohibited activity.
A society who knows the benefits of the separation of church and state would probably have stricter rules. But that’s not the US. Not yet anyway.
So here you go. The truth. Now go enlighten those who maybe blinded by the lies, please. Thank you!
, by Ennio Morricone
This part is so simple. As a Professor, Richard Peterson knows that he said on TV is simply untrue. Hmm, you probably know what the