I have stated many times (not here) how I see my family and what I have will piss of the Right wing republicans to no end. I have what they see as the "American Family". Lets take a look. I am in a loving, caring, monogamous relationship with the same person for more than seven years. We have a two car garage and a white picket fence. Our family consist of two loving and caring parents whose main purpose in life is to see their daughter grow up to be happier than they are. We have a beautiful little girl that make us happy, joyous, filled with love, and leaves a smile on our faces on a daily basis. We are starting the process of having another baby and this makes us happy and terrifies us. We have three wonderful dogs and one crazy cat. We live in a small town where everyone knows us and likes us. We work (well Mark does) and we pay our taxes. So what can possible be wrong? What can make people so mad and angry?
What makes them angry is the fact that we are two men. We are two men that care more about each other than 50% of the heterosexual married couples (possibly more) in our society. These are the ones that will end in divorce. These are the ones that swore under their god that they will love, honor, and cherish until death do they part. Why is it then that when I love someone as much as I love Mark and with as much hatred in the world, how did we become the evil ones?
To give you an idea of how evil some people think we are, Oklahoma tried to pass a law that had the potential to make children adopted by same-sex couples in other states legal orphans when the families are in Oklahoma. What did this mean? If Mark and I went to Oklahoma and Mikayla got sick, while in the hospital neither Mark or I would be able to see her. They would be able to ban us from going into her room and the state could also take her away from us. Is this right? Some people think yes. A federal court struck down the law, but some say that non-elected judges should not decide things of this matter. These are our elected officials as well as some people that are running for president.
So when asked why we live in Vermont and not elsewhere, take a look at your laws and tell me how my family is protected. Can I marry (Massachusetts) or have a civil union (Vermont, New Jersey, Connecticut with more to come) or just live my life the way I am now without the possibility of harassment and ridicule. Is my daughter going to grow up with an understanding that the world is full of people that live different lives or will she be stereotyped into what people think she should be since she is African American. Here in Vermont she is Mikayla, daughter of Paul and Mark – Nothing Else!!
Friday, February 15, 2008
One More Time...
Well we did it. We met with our adoption agency today to hash things out (literally) and talk about starting the process again to see if we can get Mikayla a little brother or sister. We sat down with Dawn, the Executive Director, and went over the problems that we had with Mikayla's finalization (mainly our lawyer - the one they gave us) and talk about what we need to do to go forward. That would include doing a new application, home study, and paying another $11,250. They give seconds a 10% discount.
What is going through my mind you may ask. Well all the questions that all parents have 9and I had with Mikayla), will I be able to handle this. Will I be the best father that this little child can have. How in the hell will we be able to handle another child, Mark full-time work, Mark working on Masters, me with Mikayla, me getting my B.S. and then starting my Masters. How in the hell are we going to do this. Then I think about all the people out there that are bringing up their kids, working three or four jobs just to keep their head above water, and possibly going to school as well and not complaining. So why am I?
I am the happiest than I have ever been in my life. I have a loving husband, a smart and beautiful little girl who (I think) is one of the happiest people on earth, and four little creature that try my nerves sometimes but make me smile. So why am I doing this? Because there are so many kids in our world that need homes and a loving and caring family and I know that Mark and I are able to give any child that love, trust, and care. As some people say - God only give you as much as you can handle. What I say is that the universe will not give me more than my little mind can take.
I can't wait to see what my little mind is able to do next - it has surprised me so far!
What is going through my mind you may ask. Well all the questions that all parents have 9and I had with Mikayla), will I be able to handle this. Will I be the best father that this little child can have. How in the hell will we be able to handle another child, Mark full-time work, Mark working on Masters, me with Mikayla, me getting my B.S. and then starting my Masters. How in the hell are we going to do this. Then I think about all the people out there that are bringing up their kids, working three or four jobs just to keep their head above water, and possibly going to school as well and not complaining. So why am I?
I am the happiest than I have ever been in my life. I have a loving husband, a smart and beautiful little girl who (I think) is one of the happiest people on earth, and four little creature that try my nerves sometimes but make me smile. So why am I doing this? Because there are so many kids in our world that need homes and a loving and caring family and I know that Mark and I are able to give any child that love, trust, and care. As some people say - God only give you as much as you can handle. What I say is that the universe will not give me more than my little mind can take.
I can't wait to see what my little mind is able to do next - it has surprised me so far!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
What Would You Do...
Severino Cruz, 33, and his brother Enrique Cruz, 28, both of Plainville, were arrested for cruelty to animals, an unvaccinated dog and unlicensed dog.
They both live together.
Severino Cruz's son, Nick Cruz, 8, was bitten by a pet pitbull named Baby on Sunday. Severino was at work when the dog, belonging to Enrique, got loose and bit Severino's son.
Enrique took Nick to the hospital. Meanwhile, Severino found out what happened, grabbed a power drill and drilled the dog in the head more than a dozen times. The dog was not killed, but was severely injured.
Enrique found out what his brother did and reported it to the police.
Police investigated and found that the dogs were living under very poor conditions. It also seemed that they were suffering from malnutrition.
When police went to the house, they found another pitbull by the name of Coffee. The dog was taken by police, placed in a pound, and will be up for adoption shortly.
Severino was held yesterday on a $50,000 bond. He appeared in court today and his bond was reduced to $25,000. He's still incarcerated.
Enrique was given a $10,000 non-surety bond and was released yesterday. The court date is set for January 22nd.
News video below:
They both live together.
Severino Cruz's son, Nick Cruz, 8, was bitten by a pet pitbull named Baby on Sunday. Severino was at work when the dog, belonging to Enrique, got loose and bit Severino's son.
Enrique took Nick to the hospital. Meanwhile, Severino found out what happened, grabbed a power drill and drilled the dog in the head more than a dozen times. The dog was not killed, but was severely injured.
Enrique found out what his brother did and reported it to the police.
Police investigated and found that the dogs were living under very poor conditions. It also seemed that they were suffering from malnutrition.
When police went to the house, they found another pitbull by the name of Coffee. The dog was taken by police, placed in a pound, and will be up for adoption shortly.
Severino was held yesterday on a $50,000 bond. He appeared in court today and his bond was reduced to $25,000. He's still incarcerated.
Enrique was given a $10,000 non-surety bond and was released yesterday. The court date is set for January 22nd.
Pet-Abuse.com
News video below:
Words...
This morning Jane Fonda and the writer of the critically acclaimed "Vagina Monologues" were on the Today Show talking about this great piece of work. If you don't know the background of the "Vagina Monologues" it is this. It is the compilation of interviews with various women about their bodies and sexuality. Well during this segment, Jane was talking about one part that she had to read called "Cunt". She said this on live TV and I guess the nation exploded - or it should have, right?
The context it was in was for part of the play. She didn't call anyone a cunt. She wasn't angry and yelling at someone. She was talking about a play for gods sake. Well I guess this was another "Nipple Gate" and people had to apologize. MY GWAD when are we going to get out of the dark ages and understand that words are just that - words. If they are not said in hate or anger then what is wrong people.
Also, something else you may want to know about the "Vagina Monologues":
The Vagina Monologues is the cornerstone of the V-Day movement, whose participants stage benefit performances of the show worldwide each year between February 1st and March 8th (International Women's Day. The first V-Day benefit took place on Valentine's Day 1998 and many of the local benefits are held on Valentine's Day. The "V" in V-Day stands for Valentine, Vagina, and Victory, linking love and respect for women to ending violence against women and girls. The proceeds from these performances go to programs that work to end violence against women and girls, including crisis centers and women's shelters.
The context it was in was for part of the play. She didn't call anyone a cunt. She wasn't angry and yelling at someone. She was talking about a play for gods sake. Well I guess this was another "Nipple Gate" and people had to apologize. MY GWAD when are we going to get out of the dark ages and understand that words are just that - words. If they are not said in hate or anger then what is wrong people.
Also, something else you may want to know about the "Vagina Monologues":
The Vagina Monologues is the cornerstone of the V-Day movement, whose participants stage benefit performances of the show worldwide each year between February 1st and March 8th (International Women's Day. The first V-Day benefit took place on Valentine's Day 1998 and many of the local benefits are held on Valentine's Day. The "V" in V-Day stands for Valentine, Vagina, and Victory, linking love and respect for women to ending violence against women and girls. The proceeds from these performances go to programs that work to end violence against women and girls, including crisis centers and women's shelters. On February 21, 2004, Eve Ensler in conjunction with Jane Fonda and Deep Stealth Productions produced and directed a new series of transgender monologues read by eighteen notable trans women, which documented the experiences of Transgender persons. It debuted in connection with "LA V-DAY until the Violence Stops" with moving monologues documenting the violence against Transgenders. Since that debut the Women's' Centers of many universities and colleges have added these three "Transgender Monologues" to the original production.
Camille Paglia has criticized V-Day as "turning Valentine's Day, the one holiday celebrating romantic harmony between the sexes, into a grisly memento mori of violence against women". [3]
Following the success of Eve Elsner's The Vagina Monologues, many "penis parodies" began appearing at colleges and playhouses around the nation. None of the parodies have achieved the level of success or recognition that "Monologues" has received, and none have taken the stark, non-comical approach of the Monologues.
Wikipedia
Here's the clip:
Sanitary...
Found this video on another blog I read. This worries for many reasons. One is that my mother when she gets tea (or soda) at a restaurant she always requests three lemons. My dad then asks them to just bring a glass full of them. How many times do we eat at restaurants and ask for a lemon wedge in our drink? Why are we not more pissed off and upset with the way our food is given to us and prepared for us?
Meet Your Meat...
As some of you know, I have been going for my B.S. in Humane Leadership. What does this mean? It means that I have been learning more about the abuse and care for the animals in our society. It means that I have found more information on what goes in our food and our bodies than I would care to know. It means that I have taken the next step to becoming a vegetarian. I know. I know. I see the smiles on the faces of those that know me well. I am the person that ate Taco Bell daily while working in the mall when I was younger. I am the person that drools at the smell of Burger King (I will have a post on food smell later). I am the one who proudly states I AM A CARNIVORE!!! This is no more. I have been slowly backing off eating meat. The reason you ask? The reason is below. Watch the video and trust me it will make you sick and angry - and we all should be.
Although the video above was taken a couple of years ago, there is the footage from HSUS below that made the news (or didn't) just recently.
So now you may understand why I cannot eat meat when I have no idea where it came from. This is making me ill - and it should make you ill as well!!
Although the video above was taken a couple of years ago, there is the footage from HSUS below that made the news (or didn't) just recently.
So now you may understand why I cannot eat meat when I have no idea where it came from. This is making me ill - and it should make you ill as well!!
Gone, But Back...
With so many things happening here at the Dodge-Kopulos homestead, I sort of stopped writing. This is going to change. There is so much going on in the world now that I need some sort of outlet. Some place that I can get all the thoughts from my mind and put them someplace. This is that place. I said it before and I will say it again. I am going to try and write something or post something on a daily basis. This, I believe, is the only way that I can get this shit out of my head.
So on with the show.
So on with the show.
Guess The Celebrity...
Want to play a game? Let's try to figure out who the celebrity is:
Here are some clues:
She was 6 years old on a show
It was a very popular show in the 80's
It was a show named after another star
The show had a spin off about college life
She had a roll in Beauty Shop
Answer:
Rudy Huxtable from the Cosby Show
Here are some clues:
She was 6 years old on a show
It was a very popular show in the 80's
It was a show named after another star
The show had a spin off about college life
She had a roll in Beauty Shop
Answer:
Rudy Huxtable from the Cosby Show
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Not Working...
Taken off the Army Times website, even those that are fighting the war, have friends, family, and people they care about in the middle of the war don't see that Bush's "surge" is working. Below is the survey asking how well the surge is working. Big surprise, just like the administration, people think it's not working.
Salee...
It's amazing that people still "glorify" the war we started in Iraq. Yes there are some high times where our soldiers are walking and playing with the kids around Iraq, but for the majority of people who live in this hell hole, it's not a happy time.
From the website where this video is posted:
"In this video you'll learn first hand what happened to Salee and her family, about the November day when a US missile took Salee's legs and killed her brother and one of her best friends.
The failure of the media to tell stories such as Salee's has deprived the American people of the ability make informed judgments about US foreign policy. The rest of the world, and particularly people in the Middle East, see these stories every day on the evening news. The information deficit in the United States has had disastrous consequences. Democracy cannot function when citizens don't know what's happening.
But there is reason to hope. A progressive Christian community in South Carolina learned about Salee and made a commitment to help her. Similar projects could generalize in the U.S., and communities all over the country could mobilize to help war-injured Iraqi children.
Despite the failure of the media to cover the human side of the war in Iraq, nearly two thirds of the American people oppose it. If stories like Salee's were being covered with anything like the attention they deserve, remaining support for the war would evaporate."
One of the reasons that our president says we are doing in Iraq is to spread democracy. Watch the video below and see what we are truly spreading. At what cost do we have to "win" this war? How many kids needs to lose their lives, limbs, families for us to call this fiasco a success?
July 23rd Salee Story
From the website where this video is posted:
"In this video you'll learn first hand what happened to Salee and her family, about the November day when a US missile took Salee's legs and killed her brother and one of her best friends.
The failure of the media to tell stories such as Salee's has deprived the American people of the ability make informed judgments about US foreign policy. The rest of the world, and particularly people in the Middle East, see these stories every day on the evening news. The information deficit in the United States has had disastrous consequences. Democracy cannot function when citizens don't know what's happening.
But there is reason to hope. A progressive Christian community in South Carolina learned about Salee and made a commitment to help her. Similar projects could generalize in the U.S., and communities all over the country could mobilize to help war-injured Iraqi children.
Despite the failure of the media to cover the human side of the war in Iraq, nearly two thirds of the American people oppose it. If stories like Salee's were being covered with anything like the attention they deserve, remaining support for the war would evaporate."
One of the reasons that our president says we are doing in Iraq is to spread democracy. Watch the video below and see what we are truly spreading. At what cost do we have to "win" this war? How many kids needs to lose their lives, limbs, families for us to call this fiasco a success?
July 23rd Salee Story
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