Yellow Dog/Bleeding Heart

Prejudices found in the community are often acted out in the workplace. In George Henderson’s book, Cultural Diversity in the Workplace, prejudice is defined as “a conclusion drawn without adequate knowledge or evidence”. [1] While there are laws to prevent discrimination in the workplace, as pointed out in the text, there are no laws against having a prejudicial attitude. This raises the question: is anyone without prejudice? I have heard the statement that we should “embrace diversity” rather than merely practice tolerance. I consider myself an open minded individual, but I am neither sure I agree with embracing diversity, nor am I sure that to truly do so is possible. Certainly I respect diversity. If diversity can be loosely defined as “differences”, then isn’t the acknowledgment of said differences without judgment an acceptable goal? Take religious views for example. A Christian’s view of Jesus as the son of God is the foundation of their faith – their religious truth. A Buddhis...

The Prostitution Research and Education (PRE) Site is clearly against prostitution. Their stated mission is “to abolish the institution of prostitution while at the same time advocating for alternatives to trafficking and prostitution - including emotional and physical healthcare for women in prostitution”. [1] Included in their mission statement is the conviction that men (and their demand for prostitution) are the root of the problem. This is a narrow and sexist view which paints women as victims and men as over-sexed aggressors. Men are not the only ones who use the services of prostitutes. Additionally, to use the term “demand” is to claim an inherent aggression, or anger, in the desire for the services of a prostitute. Yes, there is a definite chauvinistic aspect to prostitution. In fact, claiming that men are the root cause of prostitution is quite chauvinistic. In a 1994 Andrea Dworkin, a self proclaimed radical feminist, gave a speech entitled Prostitution and Male Supremacy. ...

Oh Johnny *sigh* I watched you in the debates and I like you, I really like you. Last night you even reminded me a little of (dare I say it?) Al. It's not just the fact that you both have the Student Council President-Prom King-waspy-nerdy-good looks either. You started talking about green jobs and you had me at solar panels. Why are people so caught up in the Clinton/Obama theatrics that they forget about you?! There were points in the debate where I had to wonder if you were actually there as a moderator rather than a candidate. You're too nice Johnny! They are beating you. Quit raising your hand to speak and waiting to be called on! Quit conceding that both of your opponents have good ideas! Stand up John! For the love all that is right and good STAND UP! Oh hell, nevermind John. I think it's too late. And you know what? That pisses me off! I want to vote my heart. I want to vote for you. The problem is, I don't think you can win and that means I am going to have to ...

The other afternoon a younger co-worker told me goodbye. "Goodbye," I replied, and then, in my mind I heard the phrase, "Be a good girl!" At first I wasn't sure where that came from, but it triggered the memory that my mother always added that phrase after telling me goodbye. "Bye! Be a good girl," she would call as I went out the door to kindergarten. The same phrase followed me even into adulthood. I guess my mom felt it was important for me to be a "good girl" and she programmed that into me from day one. My mom meant well, but there were repercussions. I tried so hard to be a good girl that I never made waves. Even during those years when I had pink hair and spent my days sleeping and my nights at punk rock gigs I still did my very best to be a good girl. I was such a good girl that I married because it was the "right" thing to do and stayed in an unhappy marriage for almost a decade. I try very hard not to program unhealthy not...

Well, I am skipping over The Agony and the Ecstacy because Brad Warner just turned me on to another book titled Thank You and Okay . It's a bit dated, but is about an American man's experience living in Japan and in a Buddhist monastery. I also went to Border's last night and did serious damage to the bank account. Little Dog got 5 new mangas and I got the new issues of Mothering and Bust . I also got a huge book on Russian cooking (and culture); picked up a hardback copy of The Elements of Style to replace my worn out paperback from college; and bought the most currently revised edition of A Child is Born . In addition to these I purchased Your Life Buttoned Up from Life.doc. The inner obsessive compulsive in me loves organisational books like this! I only hope to find the time to actually make it work for me. See, this is why I have to avoid bookstores. Books are my crack. I have about five heavy texts I need to be studying for school instead of reading fem/hippie ma...

You can skip the Kleenex and just give Hillary your ballot with a big ole X by her name. That's what she wants. That's why she cried ... or almost cried ... or fake cried ... or whatever spin you want to put on it. All I have to say is that this is real crying: And this is not: Vote for Furry! His tears are just as manipulative, but at least they are real!

In an effort to keep track of all the books I read in 2008 I am going to at least list them here as I finish them. Thus far I have (re)read Little House on the Prairie – my favourite book as a child! It is one of the few that I reread every year just for old times sake. From the ages of 7 through 12 I wanted to be Laura Ingalls and to live on the prairie. That's right. Me - the city gal who now freaks any time a wall socket is not clearly accessible. Laugh all you want, but if only the Amish had been a bit more inviting on those summer family trips of my childhood I would have stayed with them. I could have had 14 kids and instead of writing in this blog right now I'd be canning! Beets even! But alas, the Yoder farm only sold us eggs and baked goods and never invited me to stay, so here I remain, all "of the world." Also read: More than Noise: The Philosophy of Punk (take that Amish!) by Craig O’Hara. It was a Christmas gift from Bojo. Thanks Bojo! Next up: The Ago...

I don’t make New Year’s resolutions so much as I embrace the opportunities offered by a new year. I like beginnings: blank sheets of paper, Mondays, the first of the month, the beginning of a semester, the first stage of falling in love, empty rooms and blank walls. So much opportunity when you start from scratch! This year is starting out well, which is easy enough to say when we're only two weeks in. By November I was pretty much done with 2007 and ready to start anew. For me, 2007 was a year of health crisis - from root canals to emergency surgery and most everything in between. It was also a year which included a poorly thought out relationship which, thankfully, I regained my senses enough to end. It was fun while it ... no, scratch that, it wasn't ever really even that much fun. It was as much my fault as his though, so don't think I am pointing fingers here. I wish him the best on whatever he chooses to do, I am just no longer willing to wait around to see what that ...