On June 24, 2011 a historic law was passed in New York State.
Many people were elated, over joyed and with good reason.  The freedom to marry who they love, who they share a life with, and who they are committed too.
 I was elated and sad on this day.  Happy for all the wonderful men and woman who can be who they are,and finally have the same rights and freedoms that others have.  Oh so hard these people tried and finally in vain to stop.  Sad,because my beloved sister was not here to share in the joy.  When I say here, I don't mean standing next to me, I mean here on earth.  If I know my sister she was doing a Happy Dance up in Heaven, celebrating with her friends and the woman she loved.  Happy times in Heaven.

A very long time ago, my sister told me she was a Lesbian, I was in my 20's and it came out of the blue.  I sat on my bed and thought about what she said and at that moment I could only think, SO WHAT.   It doesn’t change the heart of the person that loved me, who protected me and practically raised me. (as both our parents worked and she was 9 years older than me) Hell No, she was & and always will be my beloved sister whom I miss so much.

The reason I am writing this to honor her and all those who  have since passed away. Those beautiful souls who lived and love in the shadows.
Being witness to the struggles, secrets and made up boyfriends (so her employer didn't know that the flowers she got for her Birthday, Valentine's day were from her girlfriend.) Oh so many holidays and special occasions that could not be celebrated out in the open.

We were never taught to look at anything but to look at the heart of a person.  Never judge or be in fear of another human being unless the situation warrant it.  Don't get me wrong, we knew how to defend ourselves.  Dad taught his girls well. He came up the hard way in Greenwich Village in the early 20's.  Yet, our brother passed judgment on my sister for more than 40 + years  and they never spoke.  Oh how I tried to get it right with them, but it never happened.  So it was hard to understand how can one of 3 three be so judgmental.  Who were we to pass judgment?  As you can see that was not how we were brought up.  All I can say is that when the Good Lord calls him home, they meet in heaven.  I like to believe they will be united once again in the Love of God.

So often my sister and I would have our heart to heart talks and she would tell me how her friends admire the relationship we had. “How they wished their sisters and brothers and parents would accept them like I do” It hurt my heart.  These girls and guys were awesome, intelligent and some even powerful members of the community.

To look at them one would never know. Yet they had to socialize in out of the way clubs just to feel “normal”. There no body bothered them except a few who came into the bars to start trouble & harass them.  That led me a few years later when in college to do a report and give the speech on the Stonewall Riots.  I would cry doing the research part because I saw first hand how it hurt the people I cared for and loved to hide their true so to speak identity.

The times changed and more and more people stood proud and strong.  Hey I even marched in parades and fought for the rights to be accepted.  Loud and Proud!!
So today I think of the stories my beloved sister told me and As I said this is in her Honor and all who finally won.  Sad because it should be a given that everybody has the right to love who they choose.  So if they are of the same sex, who cares.  People are people and deserve to be treated as equals and with all the same rights.

I have seen some heteros sexual couples that well let's just say leave a lot to be a desired company.  That would be another story, but I don't feel it even necessary.
Last but not least, my two cents.  I also salute my husband Mr. JW, who loved my sister as  if they were  biological brother and sister.  I sure learned, never get between them when here was peanut butter around.   That too,  is another story.  Oops did I let out a secret??  If you ever meet Mr. JW,  hide the peanut butter.  LOL

I end by saying that I am so Proud to be a Born & Raised New Yorker and I hope that two sweet and dear people I know invite Mr. JW and myself to their wedding. 
You go Girls!!

Congratulations and You did it New York.  I pray one day all states will follow suit.

Till next time, smile at a stranger for it may be the only one they see.

 Ciao

Sometimes when I sit here with Mr. J.W. and out of the blue, I get these ideas.  Sad to say that the old adage, “History Repeats itself “ is so true.
Just my opinion and my version folks. Artistic Liberty.
 Here goes.. Hold on to your hats.

We can look at the Roman Empire and equate it to the Corporations, as they continue 
toward the Road to Domination.  The Romans marched their way to destroying all who stood in their way, much like the Republicans and Blue Dog Democrats are doing today to the American People.  They take what they want, hurt who they want and have no regard for those who suffer in their wake.
They listen to the Corporate Puppet Masters and their Minions aka Lobbyists spewing their lies of "you will be rewarded for your service to us".  Ah but after all is said & done, they too will be no more.
Just a little of the History with my additives.  You will see how it plays out. 


The Roman Senate was a political institution in ancient Rome, much Like Our Senate of today.  It was one of the most enduring institutions in Roman history, being founded in the first days of the city (traditionally founded in 753 BC).
 1787: On July 16, Framers of the Constitution created a bicameral legislature in which the Senate represents all states equally, while the House represents states in proportion to their respective populations.~www.senate.org It survived the overthrow of the kings in 509 BC, the fall of the Roman Republic in the 1st century BC, the split of the Roman Empire in 395 AD, and the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD. (Again Like today with so much Corporate influence in the Senate & house of today)

During the days of the kingdom, it was little more than an advisory council to the king.[1] The last king of Rome, the tyrant Lucius Tarquinius Superbus was overthrown following a coup d'état led by Lucius Junius Brutus. (The Brothers who would financially back the Tea Party. Not naming names, but we all know who they might be?)


During the early Republic, the senate was politically weak, while the executive magistrates (Corporations) were quite powerful. Since the transition from monarchy (President) to constitutional rule (Corporate Constitutions) was probably gradual, ( a little money here a little money there & many promises) it took several generations before the senate was able to assert itself over the executive magistrates. (Oh isn't that what the GOP is doing now?) By the middle Republic, the senate reached the apex of its republican power. (OOPS Corporate Domination) The late Republic saw a decline in the senate's power, which began following the reforms of the tribunes Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus. (Tempted to Say Names but we all know that there are so many)
    
After the transition of the Republic into the Principate, (Corporate World Order) the Senate lost much of its political power as well as its prestige. Following the constitutional reforms of the emperor Diocletian, the senate became politically irrelevant, and never regained the power that it had once held. When the seat of government was transferred out of Rome, the senate was reduced to a municipal body. This image was reinforced when the emperor Constantius II created an additional senate in Constantinople. After the Western Roman Empire fell in 476, the senate in the west functioned for a time under barbarian rule before being restored after reconquest of much of the Western Roman Empire's territories during the reign of Justinian I, until it ultimately disappeared. However, the Eastern senate survived in Constantinople, before the ancient institution finally vanished there too. 
 ~Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (Redirected from Roman senate)


That is what we could very well have in store for us. What can we do?  My opinion and two cents is that we stop letting ourselves be brainwashed by what the GOP, Blue Dog Dems and Tea Party have been telling us.  They run rampant at our expense. It should end now!

Use your right to reason & vote. Listen to others ideas.  Don't dismiss the importance of Unions because of the old rhetoric of the past.  Step up to the plate, and  insist on  having the rights we were born with and the Unions earned, given back to us.  We Need to get out, each and everyone of us and Vote.  Let's demand the injustices be rectified, aka corporate bailouts, bank Bail outs, frivolous spending by Senators and the stopping  of pork barells for what they want .  We Need taxes on the Rich, Important taxes on the Corporations who outsourced and made mega profits at the expense of the American Workers.  We must Force the politicians to leave Social Security Alone & pay back the money that was pilfered from it & never paid back.

I will shout it till it comes true.  Health Care for all!!   To stop letting the health insurance industry dictate who can live and who must die.  They are the ones who created Death Panels, Not President Obama.  If you don't believe me, just ask anybody who does not have health  insurance or lost it or was denied the treatment that they so needed.
Stop letting others tell us what is good for us when clearly it is NOT in Our Best interest, Only theirs.
 
As My Hubby Says, "America Think for yourself. "   Today I will echo the same sentiments.
Smile at a stranger , it may be the only smile they see.
Ciao

Isn't it amazing how the media becomes so tenacious when it involves a Democrat ?  When it is a Republican it's like oh yeah well his voting  record stands for  for all the good he has done..Oh Yeah!!  Somethings just get perpetuated. It is like the old saying about beating a dead horse.  Hello--stop already!

Yes Rep. Weiner made a very big mistake(no pun intended), but who hasn't?
Look at Mr. Gingrich,  he asked his wife who had cancer for a divorce while he had a mistress. Nice man, and that gets overlooked as he tosses his hat in for President in 2012.  I am sure that there are other skeletons in other candidate's closets.  Hmmmmmmmmmmm, wonder who is going to look into and open  Pandora's Box? Any takers?

Enough is enough already.  Scandalous actions in politics are nothing new.  Take a look back in history, but don't ask Sarah Palin about it.  She seems to have her very own interpretations of American History.  Its the publicity and opinions that run rampant on all types of media 
 that keeps it alive.  Well, that is just my opinion.  <wicked Evil Grin)

 Jesus said, “Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone” John 8:7
If Jesus was here  today and said those same words, Politics & politicians of the past & today would be no more.  Again in my  opinion, only a very few would still be standing.

Just remember Alexander Pope's infamous quote..To Err is human, to Forgive is Divine.

Enough is Enough, even for me.

Till next time, Smile at a stranger, it may be the only smile they see.
Ciao for now 

Did you ever take a step back and wonder  How our elected officials have gotten so damn greedy?  Looking around at all the BS that is spewed on a daily basis is mind boggling.  This Rep. Points the finger at that Dem and says You DID IT!! So I looked up how many Presidents in all parties since the beginning.  This is very  interesting:16 Democratic Presidents,2 presidents No Parties,2 Federalists Presidents , 4 Whig Presidents, 5 Democratic-Republican Presidents and 18 Republican Presidents. (answers.com)  Now it looks like 47 but that is because of the 5 duel party presidents.  

Now they call it Bi Partisan when the President, Senators & Congressmen & Congress women side with the other party.
Here are the 5 President that would be called Bipartisan:
3rd President Thomas Jefferson  -Democrat-Republican
4th President James Madison   -  Democrat – Republican
5th President James Monroe  - Democrat – Republican
6th President President John Quincy Adams - Democtat -Republican
These 5 gentlemen were early on in our history.  So we can forget about this ever happening again.

Now we have greedy Corporations buying the  loyalty of  many of our elected with promises that  we the people,  being smarter  all ready know are worthless.  Once the Corporations finish their “Road to Domination”and  have no use for their minions, it is Good Bye to them.
Then the“Crying” will really start.

Let us take a Look at the years when the Democrats stood tall & didn't give in., we did good. Now  let us look at the last 8 years or so  when so many compromises & chicanery went on & On & On & On & On.. Look where that got us.  We did Bailouts, & corporations still gave out Big Bonuses & greed continued to grow & grow & grow. The Middle Class fell apart and people lost homes, jobs, health insurance & you know the rest.  Even now the greed  proliferates
and cannot be quelled.  Why is that so?   Again back to the Corporate interest is government, forming of the Tea Party, & the Democrats not standing firm when President Obama got elected.   Hands could have been forced &  promises kept. Unfortunately too many got the
New Green eyed monster.. GREED!!

What we really need is our elected officials to stop listening to Corporate Promises of money , perks & future Jobs & really listen to the people.  All these make believe Corporate funded commercials & phony heath organizations  need to be stopped from spewing their BS over the air waves.  The FCC should  retake their place & stop letting corporate interests influence decisions.  Case in Point.. with out naming names a female FCC official supported an issue benefitting a said Corporation & then left the FCC for a position with the said Corporation.
Hello the Greed influence reared it's Ugly Head!
The DOJ needs to take a really long hard looks at what  is really going on , not just with the FCC but other government offices.  I wonder what they will find. I am a firm believer that any
government official that has any ties to any corporate  needs to recuse them selves before any votes or decisions.

Finally Corporations are run by People, they are NOT PEOPLE!! Hello Supreme Court. Very Bad  decision.  So my dear fellow Americans, we really  and truly need to stand together & get our public officials to listen to our needs.  We are far from greedy, we need to get back what we lost and be treated fairly!

My final words are: health care is a right not a privilege!!
I want to say Thank You to Sen.  Bernie Sanders & Governor Peter Shumlin for making it possible for the citizens of Vermont to have their right to health care!  You guys rock!
Now we need the rest of the USA to do the same.  No more running of the Health Insurance industry by Corporations who  bleed us dry & leave so many at their  Corporate Mercy!!
Now as my dear Hubby says.. “America think for yourself”.  For me I say.. Smile at a stranger for it may be the only smile they get to see.

 Ciao for now.