From the Mailbag....

Tim

Just a note to thank you again for your writing. I've enjoyed your more frequent comments recently.

I was especially struck by your comments today about your relationship with your mom and dad. I am not out to my hardshell Baptist parents yet, in part because my sister asked me not to, on the theory that they would feel terrible and blame themselves.

It's a little easier of course since I'm in Atlanta and they're in Iowa.

We just had the Dobson Love Won Out dog and pony show here in my little suburb of Atlanta at the Baptist mega church. A good portion of the attendees were parents with their teenage children in tow.

One of the really tragic and disgusting things about Dobson, and NARTH, and the whole ex-gay scam, is their effort to blame the parents. I guess they finally accept that we didn't choose to be gay, but they can't get their heads around the fact that God made us this way - so they have to blame the parents. What a truly vile group of people....

And the genetic basis - at least partial - for homosexuality seems so obvious to me. You have a gay sibling. My sister is gay. My partner's brother is gay. It runs in familes, for crying out loud...

Again thanks for your writing...

Craig

I get really frustrated with the pain and hatred these anti-gay groups foster. Especially when you realize that on nearly every front, the church has lost its battle with science. It doesn't have to be this way.

Whether it was the debate over whether the earth was flat or whether the sun revolved around the earth or vice versa, we now know that ideas that the church used to burn people at the stake for suggesting, are today unquestioningly considered scientific fact. Even by the church.

One day the church will finally reconsile the reality that sexual orientation is not a choice. I will be so happy when that day finally comes.

Most of the mail I've chosen to post deals with the essay I recently posted- "On Any Faith Based Sunday." You can find the whole essay here: http://highmountainranch.blogspot.com/2006/11/on-any-faith-based-sunday.html

Dear Timbo,

The attachment is a picture of my grandson. He's actually sleeping, but, appears to be praying.

As far as the upheaval in DC goes ... I was upset until I realized that, sometimes you need a lion in the herd to "weed-out" the weak and diseased.

Aldon

The day of 9/11 my friend Chase and I delivered an antique pin ball machine to an NPR producer friend of ours in Spokane. I'd hauled it out of Whitlash, Montana for him and we were delivering it to his loft in Spokane. We were all still in shock having just witnessed the horror of 9/11 on CNN.

The NPR radio guy was also stunned, having only recently returned to the Inland Empire after having lived in New York for many years. After numerous debates over the fate of working class folks, the producer knew my disgust with George Bush. Yet that day he lobbied me with the following statement,

"Tim, regardless of how you feel about George W Bush, we all have to stand beside him now."

Having been in Texas extensively when George W Bush was Governor, I had no faith in his leadership. I was deeply distrustful of his competence. Hearing an educated man make such a blind statement of faith, I felt a chill run down my spine, pure evil really, especially after hearing such a watchdog cave. My only thought as I listened to him was, "We are so screwed."

If the press was so willing to roll over, I knew that our nation was in serious jeopardy of being taken for a ride.

And what a ride the last six years has been.

It seems impossible that so much corruption could so quickly overtake us, but I have renewed faith that the coming years will be very difficult for the gang currently in power. Especially for those religious conservatives/neo cons who have so smeared the good name of America, pissing on our country's basic Constitutional foundations while taking advantage of our worst fears...

Dear Tim,

What a relief.... maybe we're not becoming another Third Reich after all. A breath of fresh air just swept across this beloved country.

Much of the credit goes to people like you who never gave up telling the truth and reminding us all about what we may loose under the bunch of evil idiots in the Bush league. You and a few others like Michelangelo Signorille, , John Aravosis at America blog, Stonewall News and , of course Frank Rich.

We should all be eternally grateful to all of you courageous truth trellers.

Now on a less political level---- Congratulation to you and Kevin on the anniversary. That's a wonderful and happy thing to celebrate. And I hope it lasts forever. I'm curious about how the two of you met. Was it on line ? Or in Arizona?

Also I must congatulate you on the many excellent and beautiful photos which have appeared on your blogsite.You are a Marvel in more ways than one !!

Also, before I forget it - You should get into politics in spite of the Rodeo Princess.

Edson

Uh...let's see...First off- Thank you. I don't feel like I am in a league like the other folks you mentioned...but I am grateful that the blog seems to serve a purpose...

Kevin and I met online. And we do thank everyone who wished us congrats on making it a year...He is a great guy...

The pictures have nothing to do with any talent I have...credit them to an auto focus Digital Camera...but I do love this area...and I am very lucky to live here. I consider it the highest blessing that I can share these treasured places with those folks that had no idea we were here...

Unfortunately I must continue to stand by my former statement. I have no desire to explain the unique beauty and wisdom of the Rodeo Princess, 12th runner up out of a field of six. To those fine residents of Pend Oreille County who have not already had the unique and memorable opportunity to socialize with her, the Rodeo Princess informs me that her best light is not a political one. Both she and I remain convinced that the campaign arena will always be far too small for her extraordinary talents to shine their brightest.

Hey Tim,

You cover a pretty diverse array of topics, I particularly like your political rants - too many people in America are afraid to debate politics, they think it's a "private" issue. Quite the opposite I think - discourse is the only way to move us forward...

Cheers, Jasmine

Well...one step forward, two steps back, right????

Tim,

Your piece on religious doubts inspired me to write one for www.OpEdNews.com.

I may write another one on religious doubts soon. If so, I'll let you know.

I do feel for what you're going through. Please realize you aren't alone-I've traveled the very same path some thirty years ago. I can't guarantee your path and mine have the same destination but I can promise that if you hang in there you'll get to the end in one piece! (Or one peace.)

Warmest regards,

Paul

Paul's essay is found here:
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_paul_cil_061115_loathing.htm

Paul has one of the most interesting stories...I interviewed him several months back for Stonewall News...Give it a read...the link is on the blog roll...

I really want to shout out a humble Thank You for the letters...It's an honor to receive any feedback...And its a tremendous motivation to Jeanette and I to know we are being read...

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