Empathy or Outrage? As for Me, I’ll Choose Both…

The Dr's Out

The current state of our country greatly concerns me.  As a person of color, I’m well aware of numerous incidents of police brutality and unfair treatment.  By no means does this imply that police brutality is a common practice.  However it does elucidate the fact that unfair treatment exists… and is an unwanted reality for many.   I’m also aware of the two NYPD police officers (and many others throughout the country) that have lost their lives to senseless violence, all while trying to keep our communities safe.  We must strive for a society where neither exists! It’s really that simple… there has to be room in our hearts to address both issues with equal fervency.   Our race and humanity are two things  that cannot be separated and must coexist!  However, humanity has to supersede race.   We must understand that regardless of race, the unifying factor among us…

View original post 420 more words

In Praise Of Decay (and against plastic)

Malcolm Guite

In pale gold leaf-fall losing shape and edge

I walk each morning in some woodland near my home and especially savour in this late autumn, early winter season, the damp carpet of fallen leaves, now decaying and forming  rich mulch that will feed the soil for future growth. Even in their decay, losing edge and shape, melding and blending together there is in this carpet of leaves, a kind of grace and beauty. The other morning though, these meditations were interrupted by a sudden intrusion. There amongst the gold and mottled leaf mould, like some harsh alien excrescence, was a discarded plastic bag. It was totally out of place and told its own tale of indifference and carelessness; not just the carelessness of the person that dropped it, but the carelessness of the culture that produced it. The trees shed their leaves, and in that fall and letting go  achieve…

View original post 436 more words

Transition is not death

a gentleman and a scholar

We need a better way to talk about trans children.

Christmas is the hardest time of the year for me. Not for the reasons why it’s so hard for so many trans people – their reasons first, and then mine.

This time of year brings it home – in mundane, everyday little ways – that trans people are so often people without families. Or, rather, without families of origin – by necessity, we’ve become adept at building our families of choice.  A facebook status asking for a donation to help homeless trans teenagers, or a recommendation for a trans-friendly shelter for victims of domestic violence – overwhelming numbers of empathetic responses rooted in experience. Invitations to alternative festive events, on days when most people are expected to find themselves with parents, grandparents, the in-laws. Survival guide blog posts for those trying to face their family of origin – knowing that…

View original post 1,210 more words