Time

There's something interesting about time. The way we perceive it, yet we humans are the only ones capable of measuring it. No object or animal on the planet measures it. Over time you become reminiscent and more understanding of the fact that you must make every moment worth something, turn tomorrow into extravagance, or fail and live a bored and tired life. I was on facebook and made this post: "Growing older creates a new battle everyday. That battle to remember those times of glory and the urge to make new glorious memories. Sometimes its difficult to do the latter, when the former is so certain." Another year of my life is drawing to a close. Just last year I had landed in the states after spending a year in Korea. Whats interesting is that while I was in Korea I felt like my life was so important. I would blog constantly, sometimes misusing the internet to try to gain attention or hurt people. Over the past year I've blogged twice..I think. I guess my life has just become more mundane. Though I have a fervor for my life still. I've just found it more difficult to talk about. I spent six months in Wichita...it's the biggest city in Kansas, about 45 minutes from where I'm from, Hutchinson. I was attending Wichita State University, which was both very eye opening and a tad belittling. The school is pretty massive.

I know, not the biggest school you've ever seen...but I did get my associates degree from a rinky dink little community college where I could see every building if I just stood in the quad. Nevertheless, it was a bit of a change. While there I met some truly amazing people! For the first time in my life I was living in a city that actually had its own gay scene. It was fascinating. Though at times I felt that I was doing a sociological study on them, I found that we all had much in common and was capable of integrating myself into their group well enough. The most interesting part was finding that half of the people I knew were drag queens. It took me six months to learn and finally get the guts to dress myself up as a woman...that and dating a guy for a day who sold me his drag memorabilia...long story that's probably too personal to be putting on the interwebs so I'll just leave it at that. ...and at that Phara Moan was born.

...before you judge too harshly, keep in mind this was the first time EVER that I dressed up as a woman. I don't particularly like the wig, I think I'm going to get a darker color, but this is my drag alter ego...sort of. I don't really intend on lip syncing or going all out. To me I'd much rather appear as a real woman from time to time when I go to the gay club or a house party. I'm proud though. Proud that I can be who I want to be without caring about others opinions...especially in small town, conservative Kansas. I moved though. I'm out of Wichita and back in Hutchinson...and now I'm wondering why in heaven I ever thought to LEAVE! I'm going to be attending Sterling College, in Sterling KS. Closer to home so I can live there rent free and finish school.

To be honest, I just want to finish school and move back home, to Washington. It's been calling me back for some time now. It's getting to be that time when I hurry things along and my state proud. :) So, even as time passes I'll strive to make tomorrow worth something...and I'll try to blog more often should anyone care to read. Steven...and Phara, out. ^^

The truth is hard to come by

I learned very recently about an aspect of the Republican Party that I never realized.

They held primary elections at 7:00am – 1:00pm or so. What does that mean? It means the only people who attended were old people who have nothing better to do. Now what does THAT mean? That means only the most conservative people voted during primaries.

It’s discrimination. It’s blatant undermining of freedom. It isn’t FAIR.

…and the most sickening aspect about it is that there are so many aspects of our society, our government and our world that isn’t fair. People have been manipulating the system to their advantage since the system was born.

These choices…these underhanded means to maintain power…have long lasting, critical effects on our culture and on us as people. They feel as if they don’t talk about it that we’ll never know. In a way their right, but they can’t keep the truth from everyone.

Why do we use cars that are fueled by gasoline? Did you know the first engine made was fueled by biodiesel, a clean energy source derived from left-over food oils? The people in charge of fossil fuels didn’t want to lose money or have competition, so he worked with his friends to get gasoline pushed as the main energy source for car engines.

Why do we cut down trees to use for paper? Did you know that hemp was going to be the main plant staple for our paper needs? The paper company didn’t want to have competition and since they had strong ties with government officials…well…it was easy to place a massive stigma on hemp and marijuana.

Hemp and marijuana come from the same family but work entirely differently. Hemp doesn’t have THC at all, the chemical in marijuana that gets you high. Even if you plant hemp next to marijuana the hemp will overpower the marijuana. That and it’s a WEED! That means it can grow pretty much anywhere and will grow back quickly. Now tell me how that’s worse in comparison to using trees which take a long time to grow back?

Why has there been almost no new treatments for cancer since the 70s? Did you know that Dr. Burzynski of Texas found that people who have cancer lack antineoplastons, a chemical in the cell that tells it not to create cancer cells? He found that if you pump someone with cancer with them that the cancer, tumor and will reduce or even go into remission. Why haven’t we heard more about this!? Think of all of the money that the National Cancer Foundation gets from all of their donations to find a cure. Think of all of the money that goes into the drugs for chemotherapy and radiation equipment. Imagine if all of people who got that money didn’t get it. Wouldn’t they be upset?

What about HIV and Aids? Is there something we’re not being informed of there?

This corporate system is grotesque. It may not even be so bad if everyone adopted more of a caring of human needs and took into mind the health of the planet and the body. No one cares though. MONEY is the most important. The way in which others live. Pointless. The pain others are put in. Pointless. Equality. Pointless.

I don’t have all the answers. I don’t know how we’re going to fix this…but more people need to know about the atrocious means that those in power use to veil the truth from us and steal our money, our lives and our humanity.

Watch Burzynski the movie.

Educate yourself on politics and current affairs.

…and as conspiracy theorists as it sounds for me to say…

Don’t trust mainstream media.

Hunger for the truth and find it.

My feminist is showing

I've been taking this Women in Popular Culture class and it's really been changing the way I see the portrayal of minority groups in the eyes of the mainstream culture...almost to a frightening degree.

I don't like to be the party pooper who ruins all the fun, but sometimes I wonder if we even realize how discriminatory we are just in the ways we joke with one another. For instance, many endearing terms for friends is calling them a bitch or a whore. It's violent! All the ways in which we joke about, "if you don't do this, I'll cut you!"

Violence is pervasive in our culture. It's what happens when we live in a rape culture. Have you ever wondered why we ask some of the questions we ask rapees? Like, "What were you wearing?" "What were you doing?" "Were you drinking?" Some of these questions we don't ask for any other crime...so why do we ask?

Because we blame the victim.

And who knows why this is? Maybe because men feel that they are entitled to rape. It shouldn't matter what a woman is wearing, she shouldn't be raped. Men aren't held to the same standards. If I was raped, no one would ask me, "What were you wearing?" It's a great trick my woman studies professor told me about. If you're questioning whether something is belittling to women then just switch the gender and see if it would be fair. Once you switch the roles it can become much more apparent who gets the short end of the stick.

Even in this atrocious New York Times article you can get a taste of what I'm talking about. They blame an 11 year old girl...she's 11! Do you think she asked to get raped?

Rape is rape. It doesn't matter if the girl was drinking and using drugs. If you have sex and the next day she wakes up and said she didn't want it...it was RAPE!

Now, I can't go without talking about the other side. We live in a society where we encourage men to pursue. The proliferation of the idea that "no means maybe" is everywhere! The thing that's wrong about this is that even if she doesn't say no, if she doesn't want it it is rape.

It's difficult to please everyone. There are those really great guys who ask and then the girl uses it against him. Perhaps that's where all of the female degradation of rape stems from...but no one can deny the obvious demeaning of women that occurs in our culture surrounded by rape and violence.

There's so much more I could delve into here...but I'll save it for subsequent blogs. What's important is that we become more understanding of the influence media has on all of us and the enlightenment to the fact that we live in a rape culture. That's where it all begins...and once we begin it we can work towards stamping it out for good.

Peace. Love. Equality.

Time sure flies doesn't it.

Welp, it's been a while since I blogged. It's been nine months since I left South Korea. It's been the same time since I blogged as well.

There was a fight between me and my friends and blogger was one of the methods we used to torment each other. Since then I had a bad impression of blogging so I didn't for quite some time. Alas, here I am.

At length I was debating on what I would write about, but I've decided I'd write about the new discrimination law that's passed the house and is on it's way to the senate. This bill, if passed, will nullify any ordinance or mandate protecting Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered individuals in existence based solely on religious freedom.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm entirely for the practice of religion. Everyone ought to have the right to practice what religion they wish. We live in a "free" society don't we (I'll get into that later)? I didn't realize that my sexual preference detoured anyone from the freedom to practice pre-said religion. However, lawmakers are saying, "Why should I change my religious beliefs for something I find immoral?"

I've been very avid in the rights of the LGBT community, especially since I am a member of that community. If we stay quiet and don't say anything how will anything ever change? Jesus told us to love one another despite ANY differences. Jesus was friends with tax collectors and prostitutes. He loved EVERYONE. We shouldn't pick and choose who we love because God's love is unconditional. If we wish to emulate God we must translate unconditional love. This blog speaks perfectly what I'm talking about.

Facebook is a great way for young people to communicate and get our opinions out there for everyone to see. I've been very verbal about my opinion on human rights on my wall. This is one image I came across on facebook that should enlighten closed minded Christians.



...but I'm not here to change peoples views or beliefs or morals. What I'm trying to get at here is that there are always going to be gay people. There is always going to be people who feel that they are mentally the opposite gender that they were born. There is always going to be women and separate races and (enter minority group here). What's the use of trying to stamp it out or continue in being traditional and not revolutionary? The LGBT community won't go away, so why don't we learn to all live together in peace and not try to change anyone?

If America is known for its freedom then why are the people in control trying to keep it from us? Because not enough of us are speaking out. Nothing will change if it stays the same.

I encourage you to write to members of the senate, the house, your state governors, the president even, that you support HUMAN RIGHTS...because gay rights are still HUMAN RIGHTS.

Don't discriminate. Instead actuate.

Actuate what?

This = Peace. Love. Equality.

Spread the word and make a difference!

EDIT: Here is a link to an article in the Advocate concerning the subject.