Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Morning Edition - 3/29/06

One Mo’ Time; BET Touches On the Down Low
How many conversations do you believe are necessary to address a growing problem in our minority community regarding sexual orientation and the sexual practices of adults in our culture? Who do we blame for the spread of HIV and other infectious diseases as a result of unprotected sex? Are gays the root cause of HIV infection in minority communities? Last night BET took on the issue head-on. The issue of men having sex with other men who still engage women, was front and center. Author Terry McMillan appeared on the program an angrily declared that although she has nothing against gay men, she resents her ex-husband for deceiving her for years and leading a duplicitous life. Repeatedly the topic of men being infected through same-sex encounters was addressed. Strangely, the main cause – unprotected sex – was not the focus of the program. Yes, you should get tested for HIV and your partner should be encouraged to join you in getting tested. Yes, you should share the results of your exams with each other. Yet the majority of minority women have taken the easy escape hatch that says I should blame him, instead of protecting myself. I’m baffled – disgusted really – that women are so vehemently attacking men who place them at risk when they place themselves at risk each time they choose to engage a man without using a condom. The program also touched on the reality of prison life and how incarcerated men sometimes engage in sex with each other either through forcible rape or simply out of satisfying the hormonal urges a man jailed for a long period of time may experience. What was most disturbing was the repeated message that it is a man’s “ethical and moral obligation” to tell his wife or girlfriend that he is engaging in unprotected sex with men. How about telling her you’re engaging in unprotected sex with other people – PERIOD. Call me protective of my own community, but it’s time we accept that HIV is not a gay or male-on-male disease. HIV and AIDS do not know a person’s sexual orientation. Be smart because the disease isn’t. Protect yourself. Now, if we can stop seeing minority women as victims and empower them to be vigilant, protect themselves and make intelligent choices we’ll really expose something of importance – life.

Shall We Dance?
Evelyn M., Carmen C. and a couple of other friends have started conversations about taking dance lessons to add to our work-out repertoire. We’re presently considering free salsa lessons at LQs on Wednesday nights and two other dance studios that feature Salsa, African dance and even belly dancing. We plan to begin our little foray into this exciting new work-out in mid April. We’ll keep our ME family abreast of what we come up with in the hopes that more of you will join in shaking those bodies into graceful and tight form.

On Blast
God save us all. Religion is a hot button topic around the world and the root cause of death and destruction around the globe. Our belief in different Gods, the rules for salvation or how we interpret whichever holy book you read can set folks blood to boil. That said, how important are your religious beliefs when put to the test? If your life and/or the life of your family were at risk for your religious beliefs, would it change your tune? Do you find you conform your religious beliefs to fit your lifestyle? Is your belief in your God strong enough to validate living a less-than-comfortable life to live by the good book?

Keep passin’ the open windows…

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

First I will start my reply with a joke; there was a Muslim man who went the Christ and said, “Christ what is going on, all my children are turning into Christians”. Christ replied, “You know, I had that same situation with my boy Jesus.”

Isaiah 61: 1-4

1 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. 4 They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

Luke 4:14-21

14 Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. 15 He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. 16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." 20 And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

J'Moo

Anonymous said...

RELIGION IS A SENSATIVE ISSUE, BUT I TOTALLY AGREE WITH "JUST ME". HIS COMMENTS ARE ON POINT.

I BELIEVE THAT ONE'S RELATIONSHIP WITH 'GOD' OR A GOD OF HIS/HER FAITH IS PERSONAL AND TO BE RESPECTED, BUT ACTUALLY 7 OF THE 10 COMMANDMENTS HAVE MORE TO DO WITH OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER. THE WAY THE WORLD IS GOING TODAY, I BELIEVE THAT ALOT OF US ARE USING OUR "FAITH" TO EXERCISE THEIR OWN PERSONAL DEMONS AND FEARS.

I WAS RAISED A DEVOUT CATHOLIC, BUT AS AN ADULT I'M COMPLETELY AGNOSTIC. A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS INCONSEQUENTIAL TO ME. BUT, I DO BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD STRIVE TO BE THE BEST HUMAN BEINGS. I STRIVE TO LIVE BY MOST OF THOSE RULES OF LIFE AS THEY PERTAIN TO HOW I RELATE TO MY FELLOW MAN/WOMAN. AS A MATTER OF PRACTICALITY , WE NEED CONCENTRATE RIGHT HERE ON THIS EARTH AND LEARN TO INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER POSITIVELY INSTEAD OF SEEKING HEAVENLY REASONS TO IGNORE EACH OTHER OR DEMONIZE OUR DIFFERENCES.

Unknown said...

I struggle with my faith and my belief in religion. Don’t sleep though, I don’t struggle with my love for God and the belief that he has my back at all times. That said, although I’m tolerant of all religions and beliefs, I mentally battle my religious upbringing and how it makes me feel about myself and my life. Ultimately, I’ve reasoned that I’m a good person, made in the image of God and that we all sin and fall short of his glory. I love my life and am more comfortable with who I am now than ever before. I accept that I’ll never know the full spectrum of what God wants from his children. I now laugh when I see how ludicrous and presumptuous it is for anyone to think that they interpret the holy teachings as they were intended. I have to smile to myself when the thought of who will actually be seated by the masters throne on judgment day. We may all be very surprised and hopefully not disappointed.

Unknown said...

If it isn't Tam-girl the dragon slayer.... you think you could just sneak by me? I'll get you my pretty... and your little boyfriend too. Ewww... I better not use that line, someone may equate it to the down low subject

Unknown said...

I know Tam... I seem to be on the equivalent of my period... ugh! I'll get over the vile feeling of putting my cigarette out on the next brothas back shortly! I just need to hit that treadmill longer tomorrow and release some tension. I'm trying to also ease up on the f*cking my way into peaceful bliss.... LOL