OnLine With Zoe

They are not all Justin Suarez

 If you are queer or an ally you would have really loved watching the Suarez family ramp up for a coming out surprise party and, moreover, seeing Marc St. James grow a heart and stop them, imploring them to wait for Justin to make such a loud colorful decision.  Justin is adorable, loved, well, talented, encouraged, mentored and is like the cupcake shop in an otherwise vacant abandoned lot.

 We needed a rainbow flag and some confetti in the midst of tragic escalating news; women raped for “correctional” therapy, a lesbian beheaded in Chihuahua, Mexico,  parents staging a fake prom so a Mississippi high schooler won’t find the real prom, queers in most African countries facing imprisonment and god only knows what else is happening in the vicious cycle of backlash.

 For a dose of moderate christian opinion, minister Huckabee just told college student reporters that foot soldiers are not calling for the end of DADT (who do you think they are discharging?), gays who want to adopt should consider a puppy and that even the granting of civil unions should be rescinded.  This is a man who has run for president.  This is the voice of reason on the christian right compared to Pat Robertson or Rick Warren. 

For those of us working in the liberation movements across America it is thrilling to see the White House fence attracting some men and women with signs and some in chains or handcuffs.  Cuz "change is a comin”.  The reality is that the change has occurred and is only waiting for a few more heavy contractions, some time in the “ring of fire (as my doula friend tells me) and this next step in the evolution of humanity will be on terra firma.  In the mean time it is a terrible kumite between those doing the heavy lifting and the opposition, drunken with fumes of backlash. 

So when you see Equality Activists working double time these days, know that it is because we cannot take any more time.  The 111^th Congress will dissolve soon, people are being dismissed from the military today, white American ministers are pouring their hate across Africa, beautiful kids who just want to put on their Sunday best and dance the night away are surveying choices that include suicide. 

 Congratulations to Justin Suarez and all the people at Ugly Betty for giving us a vision for what could be.  Now we have to turn off the TV, create a ruckus and spread the love.

American Idol From My POV

Last night’s American Idol was an extraordinary show.  I sat on the couch with the poodle, skipping through the commercials having a great time.  The last few minutes sucked, as we all know Adam Lambert is the more talented, long term idol but that’s what happens when voters are little Christian girls who dream of Kris Allen being their friend, singing to them on their thirteenth birthday.  Hell, all us older girls (over 17)  and gay/bi guys, who want Adam to sing to us on any birthday, just didn’t vote – “vote, we don’t need no stinkin’ votes!”

The insight that bowled me over and is still powering through my day, began with Cyndi Lauper and Allison Iraheta.  Sitting knee-to-knee, singing Time After Time, led me to feel thrilled for Allison, thrilled out of her mind.  It just seemed glorious, unimaginably glorious to be next to her idol; almost appearing to be peers; knowing their are not in one way and clearly equal in another.  Of course they are links in a chain of artistry and we had a front row seat.  The TV show included, among others,  Lionel Richie with Danny Gokie, Queen Latifah with Lil Rounds and Adam Lambert with KISS.  These pairs are runners in the relay of music. 

I wondered who I would like to meet.  Who have I met that handed me a baton?  Names poured though my mind; Mary Daly, Sally Miller Gearhart, Kate Millet, Barbara Love, Gloria Steinem, Grace Welch, Riane Eisler, Flo Kennedy, Dr. Joseph Lowery, Jacqui Ceballos, Margie Adam  and so many more.  The reason I could feel so much for these contestants was because I have sat knee-to-knee with my inspiration. 

What am I doing to hand off this baton before my time is over?  There is lots of conversation within the American Women’s Movement about “intergenerational feminism.”  American Idol made me really question the uproar.  I doubt if Allison felt that Cyndi was too old to be playing with her, even though Cyndi was playing an old fashioned Appalacian dulcimer.  Carlos Santana, Queen, Rod Stewart were sure not presented as old and out of date. 

In the world of feminism, I think the problem is identifying the baton.  My experience is that older women think the baton is the message imbedded in their tried and true methods and, for the most part, the methods are entirely out of date.  For younger women, the message and the methods are not what they need or can use. 

The real baton is courage, insight and passion.  Older to younger, experienced to newbie, seer to seeker, this entire conversation will change both in content and context when the baton is properly identified as energy ignited with wisdom ~ not message or methods.  They are specific to each activist, each generation and not required for the movement to continue.  Insisting that the methods and message are the baton is short-sighted and counter-productive.  As Kara Dioguardi said it all season, true artistry is taking a classic and making it your own. 

Tie it all together

Did you know that I was a religion teacher in several Catholic High Schools?  After you collect yourself from laughing, I must say I was very well suited for it and, even more importantly, it was very well suited for me.  The information I studied, examined, categorized and often defended continues to serve me. 

One theory that I reorganized in the 60s is the concept of a daily examination of conscience.  The Catholic teaching is that at the end of each day, one should examine their conscience in search of sin and ask God for forgiveness.  I taught that in a bit of a different way. (duh)  I taught that you should examine your conscience at the end of the day to understand who you truly are, what you value and your thought process.  Today it would be called searching for your truth.  My lesson included very strong encouragement that you can change yourself tomorrow by being conscious of the day as it unfolds.  (sounds like Buddhism ~ a la BE HERE NOW) I suppose it is a bit like saying that tallying up transgressions and saying you are sorry might not be as productive as taking responsibility. 

On the other hand, it smacks of being the creator of the day which might border on blasphemy (one of my specialties).  This is a big concept in the New Age Movement.  You can hear all about it in the movie, What the Bleep in which Dr. Joe Dispenza explains, "I wake up in the morning and I consciously create my day the way I want it to happen... But here's the thing: When I create my day and out of nowhere little things happen that are so unexplainable, I know that they are the process or the result of my creation."

Doesn't this tie in with Alchemist author, Paul Coelho, stating that, "the universe is conspiring  in our favor, even though we may not understand how."  And what about the teachings of Abraham, by Esther and Jerry Hicks, which are about the laws of attraction and intention.  Do know that I have a BIG blinking yellow CAUTION sign warning that if you buy this idea in total, it might lead to thinking that people who do not attract health or money or fame or the latest Spade bag are just not good at their practice.   

But now here is the deal - This morning I was wandering around the TV dial (a dated term ~ LOL) and stopped at an Oprah after the Show on Oxygen.  She was continuing a conversation with the girls who were featured on the "Dumb Girls" program.  See Stupid Girls?    O was going on about the focus on shopping, celebrity and values and she said, "WHAT WE NEED IS ANOTHER WOMEN'S MOVEMENT."  No really, this is what she said.  I wrote it down.

She went on to say that today things are worse than they were before the women's movement.  WE NEED ANOTHER ONE.  She said that she feels so strongly about it that she called Gloria Steinem to talk on the show, but she was busy.  Then Oprah and Dr. Robin talked about how messed up the Bachelor TV show is with women lining up, hoping for a rose with thousands more at home choosing who should get the rose too. 

Okay so lets tie up this long string of thoughts; Could it be?  Could there be another Women's Movement coming?  Did Oprah talk with Robert Thurman and decide to make my intentions come true?  WOW.  I am so happy.  Oprah - CALL ME.