Farewell Mr. Mandela

Even thought, two blog-posts in a day are rather uncharacteristic of me, I felt as it was my duty and privilege to dedicate a few minutes to praise and honor this man's life, which was a clear example of humility and who regarded all human beings as equals, someone who fought to make this world a better place, starting with his own country, making sure that all citizens were regarded as equals, regardless of ethnicity or religious beliefs.

He was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and politician who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the first black South African to hold the office, and the first elected in a fully representative, multiracial election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling institutionalised racism, poverty and inequality, and fostering racial reconciliation.

He was imprisoned in 1962 -sentenced to life in prison- after actively becoming an anti-apartheid revolutionary, actions with these revolutionary groups which led him to be imprisoned for 27 years; he was later released in 1990 after the international community lobbied for his release, instead of having his spirit and will broken by his imprisonment, he rose from it, gathering strength and support, on his ideals of a free and equal to all Africa; shortly after being released he declared: "In a way I had never quite comprehended before, I realized the role I could play in court and the possibilities before me as a defendant. I was the symbol of justice in the court of the oppressor, the representative of the great ideals of freedom, fairness and democracy in a society that dishonoured those virtues. I realized then and there that I could carry on the fight even in the fortress of the enemy." 

Not only did he profit from his prison years, but he took advantage of them to become a better man and the leader his country deserved. When being interviewed by Oprah back in 2000, one of the questions he had were "what is the subject of today´s show?" 

The Most Humble Man Oprah Has Ever Met

I join the large number of people around the world who are deeply saddened by his death, but do feel quite privileged to have had the opportunity to be his contemporary, watching change happen by the willpower and determination of one man, who truly believed that a world equal for all, is possible and in his own words, change is always possible, even from the inside, regardless of this inside being a prison.

Godspeed Mr. Mandela

https://www.facebook.com/spikecls 

Gay money

With all of this debate about marriage equality in the US, something that has been in fact a reality in Europe for well over a decade in most places, one cannot help but ask, Why is that country taking so long? Isn't there -or at least should be- a clear separation from conservative/religious parties and the government?

Around 8 years ago, marriage equality was voted, passed and approved by a vast majority in Spain, and when the new -conservative party- took over, many feared of what would happen to something that was regarded as a social progress; and yes, the bill got appealed, got taken to the high court and after a while of deliberation, they came to the conclusion we all expected, marriage is a human right, a right that should be given to all citizens.

If the american government -as a whole and those against marriage equality- continues to negate a good number of their citizens one of their fundamental rights, regardless of their sexual orientation, then a new bill should be passed where gay citizens should be exempt from a certain percentage of taxes, as we are not regarded as equals, why then should we be considered equals when it's about our money?

Gay money seems to be as green and as valid as regular money, and what's best, no one can tell the difference between them, not even those who still claim homosexuality is wrong and perverse -which is the center of the whole example-; governments, companies, individuals, churches, they all accept the same currency, regardless of its origin.

If we are not regarded as equals and given our fundamental citizens rights, then it's time to ask to turn things around and make a clear distinction between the "types" of citizens a country has, if rights are taken away from us, so should our taxes.

Just my two cents

https://www.facebook.com/spikecls

Equal rights but no Equal Rules

It always amazes me how, as a collective we are constantly fighting for equality, equal treatment and for us all to feel that we are being fairly treated by our governing bodies which seem to ignore a few of our must basic citizen rights, yet when it comes to the inner circle of our community, equality is not precisely common practice.

I've seen it happen too often in Second life, where people are discriminated by size, sexual practices and so on, we have groups within our groups that divide and have their own established rules on who they let in and who is left out, but then again when thinking about it, each segregated group within a group is free -and entitled- to allow anyone with their same life philosophy into their community, as they may see fit.

But what happens when an event that is supposed to promote equality doesn't treat all contestants equally -this by breaking the rules you as an organizer are expected to uphold to begin with-, this is when adjectives such as "fixed" "preferred" and nouns such as "favoritism" come to mind and truly tarnish the good name and image of our fight for equal right.

I have heard a lot of complaints about the pre-selection for the finalists of the Mr. Gay Contest, where many clubs and hopefuls planned events to select the fittest to represent their venue -and many others chose to opt out guessing how things would go-; rules were clear on this, wear The Tag of the Club you are representing and have a completed FULL profile as well, something that many of the finalists didn't have -either the tag or the profile- which sent on a bitch trip to those who didn't make it to the finals and had gone through the trouble of following the clearly stated rules so they would not be disqualified.

Judging by who was in charge of the event and the general organisation, I am not surprised some were given preference over the CLEARLY stated rules; why have them if you have no intention of following them? I won't name names but this person has been known to have issues with rules in the past to favor a few asses he enjoys kissing... all part of rimming I guess.

We're all fags, but no we're not all equals, not even when rules are created to ensure we're all fairly treated.

https://www.facebook.com/spikecls

FREEDOM

It's in marked occasions such as today when I am reminded of the road traveled by most Americans over the past decades and what lies ahead of us all. As an American expatriate I often wonder why it takes the US so long to undergo changes that other nations seem to oblige on so easily.

Yes, the 4th of July is all about freedom, celebrating it and being proud about it, but are we all citizens in the US truly free? I'd venture a no, until all citizens are given equal rights a large part of our nation will continue on being discriminated and considered second class citizens.

I don't mean this to be a harsh criticism, but I am simply pointing out the fact that we cannot let our guard down on our fight to equality, no matter how many oppose to it and for what reasons -valid or not-, equality will happen, it is one of those things that is not only unstoppable worldwide, but the day it is achieved everywhere, many will be ashamed that they were even on the wrong side of history.

Yes we are considered free and proud to be so, but those of us who were born with an "alternative sexuality" are not really free, we just live under the illusion on some areas that we are, just like the rest of the citizens out there.

So let's keep fighting until that illusion is no longer one, but a reality. Happy 4th of July!

https://www.facebook.com/spikecls