The Axiom Of Respect Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior By Treating Themselves And Others Respectfully And Respecting Only Those Who Earn It
I just watched Lady Gaga's new video Alejandro, and considering that I am a 48-year-old mother with three adult children, you may be surprised to hear that I thought it was fabulous!
I know James Dobson and all his sheeple will probably be outraged with it and call it every kind of evil - but they are wrong. (Katy Perry, Ms. Kissed-A-Girl-And-Liked-It, you don't even count!)
If you are not gay yourself or do not have friends or loved ones who are gay, there is probably no way for you to fully appreciate that (according to Lady Gaga herself) her new video "is a celebration of [her] love and appreciation for the gay community; [her] admiration of their bravery and their love for one another, their courage in their relationships." ("CNN Larry King Live: Interview With Lady Gaga") Beautifully said.
I happen to have many in my life, whom I love and respect, who are also gay, lesbian, and transgender, and I, like Lady Gaga, am truly amazed at the battles they must fight each and every day. I have people in my life who live in fear that their employers may find out they are gay and fire them. Some of my friends are transgender and have been fired from professional positions (an engineer and a college professor), just because they transitioned into who they truly are inside and their employers did not want them anymore. Another transgender friend was nearly robbed of her Master's Degree because her university did not want to give her credit (only after she transitioned) for the required internship she completed, even though she was a 4.0 student and the company for which she was an intern loved her work.
I also know gays and transsexuals who have been kicked out of their homes, abandoned by their families; as well as those who have endured years of unemployment because of prejudice. I have also attended churches that demonize homosexually, and I recently watched a video of a pastor in Seattle who had the gall to say to his congregation that, "If you are transgender, you were molested as a child." How completely ignorant and hate-filled!
Lady Gaga is trying to show our society what the entire LGBT Community knows all too well: It is disrespectful to treat those who are different from ourselves disrespectfully. It is cruel not to try to understand where others are coming from and, because of our little understanding, treat them as though something is wrong with them. It is shameful not to think about how we would feel if we were in their shoes.
I am not gay or transgender. I am straight and have been married to the same man for over 27 years. . . and I am proud of Lady Gaga for what she trying to do to help the LGBT Community.
Anna Sherise
Co-Creator of Magna Sententia
Co-Author of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society
The Axiom Of Respect Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior
By Treating Themselves And Others Respectfully
And Respecting Only Those Who Earn It
I'm not sure if you have seen Glenn Beck's television show lately, but if you have, then you probably know why I'm so frustrated with him. He has the opportunity to make personal freedom relevant for all Americans, and he's completely mucking it up by bringing religion into it. He has become another reason why those of us who believe in personal freedom (and free markets) are often perceived as intolerant, religious fanatics.
Here is just a sampling of how he is tying his religion to protecting our Constitutional rights:
If you are a God fearing person and you believe it requires you to believe two things, and maybe you don't, but I do. One, I believe in God. Two, I believe rights come from man and this Constitution and the founding of this nation were divinely inspired. These are God's rights and God's freedoms.
Now, what we've done with them in the last 200 and some years is on our heads. We have pissed them away. We have treated them like garbage, but in the end and this is why we will be destroyed for it if we don't turn our ways. In the end they belong to Him. So if we appreciate those rights, if we do the right thing, we are going to have to pay for a consequence because I'm sorry, not everybody gets a trophy just for participation. We're going to have to pay the consequence for our living and mistreating these rights.
But in the end have no fear because nothing will thwart Him because these are His rights. This was His Constitution. This is His country for His purposes. Not ours. And nothing, nothing will thwart Him in the end. We are quite honestly in many ways pawns in a battle that has been raging since the beginning of man. Take yourself out of the hapless pawn and be part of the solution. And the only way that that happens is if you first tie yourself to Him and the only way you can do that is tie yourself to the truth. ("Glenn Beck: Coburn - Pelosi Rox, Fox Does Not")
There's just one problem, Glenn. What about our fellow Americans who don't believe in God? Are their rights any less important? Must people believe in God to believe in freedom? Personally, I believe in God, but many Americans don't. (And those who do believe belong to a wide variety of religions, groups within religions, or perhaps to no religion at all.) One of the things that makes America an ideal is her religious freedom and separation of church and state.
The truth is that our rights are being eroded. "We have treated them like garbage." There will be lasting, negative consequences if we as a society continue to go on as we have been. And yes, "not everybody gets a trophy just for participation." Glenn Beck is correct in so many ways, and the rights he speaks of are incredibly valuable to society, regardless of our religious beliefs. They make our country free, allowing us to be who we are and accomplish what we can. No matter what we believe about God, these rights are fundamental to a free, civilized, and prosperous society.
I hope that instead of dividing Americans, Glenn Beck will start uniting us for freedom.
Ellie Sherise
Co-Creator of Magna Sententia
Co-Author of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society
The Axiom Of Respect Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior
By Treating Themselves And Others Respectfully
And Respecting Only Those Who Earn It
Unbeknownst to me, America is currently engaged in a "war" on Christmas. Today in CNN's "Heated Debate Again Over 'War On Christmas' Claims," I read that our country is apparently divided into two hostile camps: those who feel the holiday season has become too secular (the "pro-Christmas side" according to Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council) vs. those who say "holiday season" rather than "Christmas season" because they do not want to offend fellow Americans who do not celebrate Christmas (the anti-Christmas side??).
Our elected officials, ever cognizant of what is truly critical to our nation's success in these trying times, have made sure to take action on this issue: "Republican Rep. Henry Brown of South Carolina introduced a resolution this month asking that the House express support for the use of Christmas symbols and traditions and frown on any attempt to ban references to the holiday." As imperative as this fight is, it is no wonder that the battle for Christmas has left our Congress without enough time to do anything else, like actually read proposed legislation before voting on it. Oh well.
Here's a thought: How about we all stop fighting amongst ourselves over religion and start thinking of our country as a collection of unique individuals who all belong to the same great family. Our society is composed of those of many faiths (or no faith), and we each have varying traditions and symbols that are significant to us. None of these differences, however, should overshadow the fact that we are all American. Moreover, if we as a nation hope to successfully overcome present and future obstacles, this must be the tie that binds us, regardless of our religion, race, age, gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.
Treating others respectfully, an essential part of Magna Sententia, includes respecting the differences of others. This does not mean that we have to agree with the beliefs and practices of others; it just means that we hold ourselves to a high standard of behavior and are cordial to those around us, even if we don't agree with them.
Thus, whether you personally prefer "Merry Christmas," "Happy Hanukkah," "Happy Kwanzaa," or "Happy Atheist Kids Get Presents Day," please try to remember that others may not share your beliefs and what is truly important is a pure spirit of love and kindness, not the specific avenue by which it comes. Also, if someone wishes you a sincere "Merry Christmas," even though you do not celebrate Christmas, search for the deeper meaning of the message, a wish for your health and happiness. Focus on intent, not word choice.
I hope all of our readers have a wonderful holiday season!
Ellie Sherise
Co-Creator of Magna Sententia
Co-Author of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society
The Axiom Of Respect Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior
By Treating Themselves And Others Respectfully
And Respecting Only Those Who Earn It
After hearing about one celebrity tantrum after another, Serena Williams' "tirade" at the U.S. Open pushed me too far, and I hope she did the same for you. ("Serena Williams: 'I Had Really Just Lost Control'")
In the past, I was always extremely disappointed when public figures behaved badly, but now I am going to do something about it: I am through with every athlete, actor, musician, or any other public figure who goes on an expletive-laden rant. I am vowing today not to watch, purchase products, or otherwise support anyone who thinks they are above the need to act decently and treat others respectfully.
For a long time, I was a huge fan of Sling Blade, the movie for which Billy Bob Thornton (who also directed and starred in the film) won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. Over the years, I heard snippets about his personal life that seemed a bit odd and watched his other films (which were not nearly as good), but I still thought he was a talented artist. Unfortunately, I watched his rude, arrogant radio interview on a Toronto radio station. ("Billy Bob Thornton Makes Waves During Music Interview") Now, I wouldn't give one cent to watch or listen to anything Billy Bob acts in or creates. If I see him on television, I turn the channel. To me, he no longer exists.
The same goes for Christian Bale. Unlike Thornton, I never thought Bale was a good actor, but I tolerated him. However, after his profanity-filled tirade aimed at Shane Hurlbut, the director of photography for Terminator: Salvation, you could not pay me enough to watch Bale in any film. ("Bale Apologizes For 'Terminator' Tantrum") He's gone the way of Billy Bob. They are both disgusting.
Sadly, Serena Williams' behavior has caused her to meet the same fate: I have always liked her and her sister, but after what she did to the line judge at the U.S. Open, I will never have another good thing to say about her. She is just like all the rest of those self-indulgent, egotistical, Kanye West-like celebrities.
If you feel the same, please join me and stop supporting public figures who are unworthy of respect. Maybe, if we hurt their wallets, they will shape up - or at least go away (which would be my first choice).
Anna Sherise
Co-Creator of Magna Sententia
Co-Author of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society
It is very important for every American to remember September 11th: the devastation of the attacks, those who were lost, those who were injured, and those who helped their fellow man in any way they possibly could.
Ellie Sherise
Co-Creator of Magna Sententia
Co-Author of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society
