Randy Swanson

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Gay Rights....

Have you ever considered what Gay Rights means? By comparison, African Americans were only counted as 3/5 of a person when our declaration of indepenedence was ratified. Sadly, that is real discrimination. So equal rights in terms of freeing an entire race of people that were enslaved was a legal and moral battle, and while the legal battle claimed many lives by the end of 1865, the moral battle had just begun and would ruin many more lives over the 150 years. But what do we say about Gay Rights, since the constitution never did discriminate against "gay rights." Certainly, people have discriminated against those who are gay. Perhaps in the way they were treated by others, or by the fact that they cannot serve openly in the military, or maybe because they are not allowed spousal insurance or survivor benefits, but no matter the reason it's enough to say that as a class they feel cheated. I could write an entire essay about these two points but the fact would still remain that there are a lot of non gay people out there that feel they are not treated well by others, not by schoolmates, co-workers, social groups and even family members. So lets ask ourselves, how does gay rights help these people? Or do we need a "special group / rights" piece of legislation for each and every group. And while you consider that, ask yourself if it has more to do with the financial side, like insurance and survivor benefits? Then consider the person who never finds anyone to live their life with, who must finance a house and living under one income and who has no one else to fall back on. These people are both straigh and gay, black and white, the in crowd and the out crowd. No, gay couple do not fall to at the bottom of the list of those worse off. So do we need legistlation to help balance the inequity of single people too? And what about the gay community? Two firemen were sued by gay activits because they refused to ride in a California gay parade. The court struck the suit down, but the fact remains that they sued two people becuase they didn't agree with them. Who will protect straight people from the gay community? Where is the California straight parade? Are straight peole not equal to deserve such a thing? It's all too much to think about. The thing is, I'm a christian and the bible specifically directs us against homosexuality, and lets this straight. the bible directs us against same sex sexual relations. The bible does not say that men shall not love men or women love women, it says to avoid the sexual relationship. In fact, the bible says to avoid several other sexual relationships as well. The new testement says to avoid sex with animals, and sex with many partners, sex outside of marriage, and same sex sex. However, at no time does it say that we should hate someone beause of their sexuality. Christians are not to hate. The second commandment is to love thy neighbor as thyself. Maybe that is why there is a gay rights movement. Because christians forgot that we ourselves sinned against God just like everyone else. We also seem to forget that "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son" and he did it for everyone, even those people who didn't even ask for help. He loved in hopes that we would love him, and he asked us to love in hopes that others would love us and Him. Maybe there is a gay rights movement because they, as a group, haven't felt like they belong to the greater group of people, and maybe I should not refer to them as "they or them." I don't have the answers, but I'll keep considering it.....

Lauren sings

A Thanksgiving Toast

May the best from your past be the worst yet to come,
May the rain that must fall be followed by sun.
May your family and friends forever share in your joy,
Be blessed every man, woman, girl and boy...

Happy Thanksgiving :)
November 25th, 2009
RS

A Time for Change:

Her voice eases the stillness of my life,
She offers comfort in her words and in her timbre;
I've never known her and wonder if I ever might,
Yet she knows me as well as any that time remembers.

Her image is but a vapor in the reaches of my thoughts,
Like a dappled star faded in mornings light;
Like a mountains climb with no hand holds to be sought,
I am felled by her quiet laughter so bright.

She speaks and my world settles close about me,
My eyes close under a cloak of wonder and calm;
My being soars to imagine one such as she,
I am held captive in the delicate embrace of her palm.

With unseeing eyes I strain to envision,
How a single precious gaze upon her could be;
Would my heart to her care be forever imprisoned,
Or should cruel reality cause such hope to flee.

I doubt there are many that would call me the fool,
Yet deny me not this time for a dream;
To set upon waters that gather to pool,
Imaginations adrift on a mountain stream.

The dawn is now herald and the night shall soon sleep,
She gathers herself to my side;
We wait for the sun o'er the valley to sweep,
For this one day we together may abide.

Hushed whispers of love and devotion endear,
One touch and a single kiss so sweet;
She in an instant shattered my every worry and fear,
My love for her doubled, my life replete.

Just one day to wander the forest deep,
About this land God hath grant me loan;
Amongst curious eyes which glitter and peep,
To share in the joy her laughter hath shown.

Upon branches of birch Autumn's song is played,
While dancers of gold take to their perch;
And with each breath of Fall a tapestry laid
To guide us, the secrets of love to search.

Through archways of boughs, alder do bend,
Along streams whose water's take no rest;
And rise to the ridgeline, on which the canyon depend,
At the call of this dream's behest.

And we amongst the hazel fields tarry,
Stolen moments, we hand in hand;
Do memories to our soon past should carry,
Before time escapes and we apart must stand.

For as the evening gathers the last of the light,
Broken rays through downy clouds cast;
I turn and your vision has taken to flight,
Like a wisp of smoke from a flame now past.

The stillness of night must settle once more,
And I through my sorrow must glean;
The reasons I dared to open that door,
For the purpose I dared to dream.

R.S.
July 17th, 2009

Pictures....

HI :)))

I haven't forgot the pictures of the cabin. I grabbed the wrong USB today. I'll bring the right
one in tomorrow.

I soooo hated to end our call the other night and I had a great time talking to you.

Take care,
Love ya :)