Initial Post...

Welcome! This is my first attempt at a blog -- better late than never! I hope to write everyday to make my ideas and thoughts more concrete.

I have several reasons for staring this blog and sharing my (humble) bits of wisdom:

First, my living in a Red state (Texas), but residing in a Blue county (Dallas), has been an extremely enlightening experience over the past 8 years. My political and social beliefs have definitely been affected by such a contradictory existence.

Second, and following from the previous reason, my fellow citizens of Dallas County made a not-so-subtle statement about the current state of local politics last November, 2006. We voted out-of-office all incumbent Republican judges, electing Democrats in their place. Our County has now gained a new reputation of being BLUE, or democratic-leaning. I've witnessed first hand this transition over the past 8 years, and I wanted to enlighten others about this encouraging sign of the times.

Third, two of my closest friends, a lesbian couple in Minnesota, have made the decision to move to Canada. They have a 6 year-old son, and by all measures, are a genuine, stable and loving couple. Except in the eyes of the U.S. government. No matter how "traditional" their life is (married with children, homeowners, humanitarians), they will not be equal citizens under the law because they are gay. This fact has led them to disrupt their lives and move their family to Canada. There they will have legal and civil protections for each other and their son, as they were already legally married in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada in 2006. I admire them; I envy them; I'm jealous as all get out. I''ll be writing more about them and their experiences as they settle into a new life, in a new country.

Fourth, as a Ph. D. in sociology, I see American society and its various cultures with an analytical eye, yet I don't really have a sounding board for my thoughts. I do teach college courses, but few students seem interested or concerned with current political, social or economic issues. If it doesn't concern Britney, the Internet, or Jesus, they don't seem to give a hoot. Of course, I generalize. But it's not far off the mark.

And lastly, I am enraged by the current state of American politics, the vitriol coming from all sides -- Republicans and Democrats, fundamentalist Christians and radical secularists, neocons and progressives, just to name a few. But the final straw came from the mouthpiece of the conservative movement and her use of the word 'faggot' -- a gay epithet-- in describing Democratic Presidential hopeful John Edwards at the annual meeting of CPAC on March 2, 2006. That convinced me to enter the public discussion, and contribute, even with my one small voice, with the hope of raising the discourse to a higher, more productive and constructive level.