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Do you remember where you were on September 11, 2001? I do. And I always will. But I don’t want to dwell on where I was, because I want to take this opportunity to remember something else about that day.

Because, I also remember the national sentiment after the attacks. People bought and flew American flags by the millions and we stood up together with pride. We were heavy in heart, but strong in conviction. We were all Americans on that day and our nation was one. We were not Republicans or Democrats, Blacks or Whites, Christians or Atheists – we were ONLY Americans. Let us not forget how that felt, too. Let us not remember only the tragedy, but also the sentiment that rushed through the veins of our beloved country. On the 9th anniversary of September 11, a very different sentiment has grappled our society. Our country is more divided now than I ever remember it being before. Let’s try to realize again that we are all Americans and should stand united. We are but one country, and a great one.

While searching for pictures to use in this post, I came upon this:

This makes me absolutely SICK. But the sad thing is, people believe it!!! There are almost 1.5 Billion Muslims in the world and a TINY (let me reiterate: TIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!) fraction of them follow a radical view of the religion (ie the ones who committed the 9/11 attacks). If you’re reading this and you’re Christian – how would you feel if you and all the other 2 Billion Christians on earth were judged solely by the Phelp’s family (see Most Hated Family in America)?

Not to mention, until September 11, 2001, the Oklahoma City bombing by Timothy McVeigh was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil. McVeigh was AMERICAN, WHITE, REPUBLICAN, and a member of the NRA! He attended Catholic Mass as a child; although, he did not associate himself with a specific religion towards the latter years of his life. He was even a member of our military for almost 3 years and was discharged honorably!

So pray tell me: WHAT IS THE PROFILE OF A TERRORIST?

There isn’t one.

Let us remember 9/11/2001 not with hatred and vengeance but with somber remembrance. Let us not generalize in such ways of hatred – it will surely cause the destruction of our great nation.

United We Stand.

As Americans.

Each and every one of us.

- Ross

So I saw THIS post on Joe.My.God.

It’s in regards to Sarah Palin’s response to a Vanity Fair article on her. I don’t know what the Vanity Fair article said, and personally, I couldn’t care less.

Sarah Palin [& tall] said this:

“I don’t read some of it because I know that those who are impotent and limp and gutless, and then they go on, they’re anonymous, they’re sources that are anonymous, and impotent, limp, and gutless reporters take anonymous sources and cite them as being factual references.”

Then The Advocate, a renowned gay magazine, said this:

“Is Sarah Palin using code words to slam gay journalist Michael Joseph Gross, a frequent Advocatecontributor who wrote the much-buzzed-about profile of the former vice presidential nominee in this month’s Vanity Fair?

Palin didn’t mention Gross by name while talking Thursday on Sean Hannity’s WABC radio show, but she seemed to be referring to the article — and pointedly used emasculating words that have long been used as euphemisms for homosexuality — when she called reporters who publish “rumors” about her “impotent,” “limp,” and ‘gutless.’”

Now I say this:

1) What the hell is going on with Sarah Palin’s statement? Are any grammar rules followed there? It’s like a horrible stream of consciousness with random placed words and repetition. I actually find it somewhat painful to read…nonetheless, I digress…

2) When the hell did “impotent,” “limp,” and “gutless” become “euphemisms for homosexuality?! I mean…Urban Dictionary, where I just happen to get all of my definitions, says NOTHING about “impotent,” “limp,” and “gutless” meaning anything related to homosexuality. Actually, when you type in “gutless +gay” on google – guess what comes up?! THAT Advocate article! Gosh…It’s just…Here are the gays making a big deal out of EVERYTHING! I mean, “everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant…It just makes me want to set myself on fire!” LISTEN

3) But seriously people – you know how some people (a large portion of people) feel every time Rev. Al Sharpton shows up demanding the resignation of someone or a feel-good payment for some remark that COULD possibly MAYBE be perceived as racist? Well, most people have learned to just ignore him, but it’s still just so RIDICULOUS…AS IS THIS!!! If Advocate hadn’t brought this up, it would be a NON-ISSUE, but instead it’s turning into a huge debate! When there’s a group of people fighting for equal rights, as we are doing and the blacks successfully did before us, the last thing we need is to receive negative publicity. The absolute last thing we need is the fabrication of such a story about someone beloved by so many of our opponents! Did it not occur to you that the people who love Sarah Palin so much are also the ones who are holding us back – can we please just not piss them off?

4) I’m sorry for saying this, but thinking that Sarah Palin came up with those 3 words that are relatively ambiguous but also happen to (apparently) be ancient euphemisms for homosexuality is giving her WAAAAAYYYYYYY too much credit….or have you just not seen THIS?

The fact is…I think The Advocate’s reaction to Palin’s sound-bite was a BIT off. Their response would’ve been warranted had she said something like: “I don’t read that diva shit, because I know that those faggot fairies are so gay with their limp wrists and gutless waistlines, and then they go on with their anonymous glitters, they’re sources that are fagilously anonymous and just SOOOoooOOOOoooo gay, and those, cream puffs – limp-wristed, and lavender reporters take anonymous sources from those homos and cite them as being factual references.”

But alas…she didn’t.

So stop your whiney-ass bitchin’ and definitely, please, I beg of you – stop giving her so much credit.

- Ross

Post Script – Rev Al Sharpton, I will admit, has made some worthy fights and it is necessary to keep up to date on their continued progress. I am also aware that he has brought to light many instances of not only ambiguous racist phrases but also blatantly racist phrases which are absolutely unacceptable to say about our fellow citizens, and these instances most certainly needed to be dealt with. I may not agree with the way he goes about it in ways that, I believe, actually separate the races and often widen the gap even more, but nonetheless…everyone has their idea of the best way to do things.

As hard as I tried to write a post about controversial subjects (religion & gay marriage, specifically) without pissing someone off…I just couldn’t seem to fit everything I felt into one blog post and make it somehow appeal to everyone. I felt like I was pushing my beliefs on people and that is something I’m completely against.

That’s why this post will be about “respect,” because that is what we all deserve. Granted, my views will obviously show through in this post, and I apologize if I offend anyone in anyway. The point of this post is to merely explain how I view our differences and how I have learned to cherish them – no matter how great the divide. I hope one day that this view may be commonplace.

So, with that being said, I shall bestow upon you my most cherished belief of this world (and a few others here and there…). I, of course, believe they are the best views. As everyone else tends to think their views are the best! But the difference between me and a lot of other people is that I’m open to discussion about these views. I’m not closeted to the fact that I’m gay, that I’m not at all religious, that I’m fiscally conservative yet socially liberal – these are the things that make me who I am! But something else that makes me who I am is that I have a mind that is open to new ideas and debate.

I tend to base my beliefs on information. For instance, i’ve read more information on the success of the free markets than controlled markets, therefore I believe that free markets prevail. Not to say that regulation isn’t needed, because we can’t ignore the human factor – humans are innately competitive, greedy, make mistakes and rash judgements, and live in a bubble surrounded by their own beliefs.

I also believe humans are innately good.

I remember sitting at the Bistro (a restaurant in my home town) speaking with a friend of mine. We somehow always got into philosophical conversations, so naturally, one was taking place at that time. I mentioned that I think all humans were innately good and that I actually have a lot of faith in society as a whole – even though that faith is often faltering at moments of uncertainty, somehow I always come back to my belief that everything will work out. Being devout in her religion (non-denominational christianity), she said that she did not believe everyone was innately “good.” Instead, she actually believed that everyone was innately “bad” and could only be saved upon the acceptance of Christ.

Although I feel that believing everyone is innately “bad” is a bit of a pessimistic way to live one’s life, I have nothing but respect for her beliefs. Because she deserves that. We all do. It would not be my place to try to convince her otherwise, but instead merely express what I believe and let her soak it up – just as I did with her ideas.

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