The Scottish Referendum

The results for the Scottish referendum are in, and it appears Scotland will remain in the UK (55%). This has been a very interesting campaign that I followed closely out of political curiosity (I wrote my thesis on the nation-state) and personal interest as an EU citizen. This could have set a very interesting precedent. But even though the UK will live on perhaps it sets an important precedent in that national governments will take the concerns of their citizens seriously and implement policies that reflect their values.

The Yes campaign was very clear that they do not want to live in a country of individuals, in it for themselves, with state resources going to those who already have all they need. They want to be a Scandinavian style democracy where the country's wealth (oil and financial) is used to lift all people. A large number of people spoke out against neo-liberal policies championed by London and Washington that see corporations and countries richer than ever and the average citizen struggling more and more. 

So I will continue watching this space to see what tangible reforms are implemented and if the rest of the UK takes notice of what people power can do and demand better from their government as well.

Anti-Gay Protest in Paris (originally posted on facebook 1/13/2013)

Anti-gay protesters are out in the streets of Paris today, and as a gay man I must say I agree with them. I mean it is unbelievable that in a democratic country like France the government would force every adult to get gay married, randomly assign every child to a couple so that the entire country would be a haven of gaydom. I mean that's what they are protesting against right? Cuz if not, WTF French Right? WTF indeed.

My Thoughts on the Gay Marriage Cases Before the SCOTUS (originally posted on facebook 4/3/2013)

I have listened to both recordings of the Supreme Court cases dealing with gay marriage and despite attempts to rationally argue against gay marriage it comes down to one thing: the gays are not worthy. If you argue that marriage goes back to the dinosaurs and has always been one thing and if we change it who knows what the consequences will be, you are arguing that gays have the ability, by mere proximity, to do lasting harm. If you argue that marriage is a pillar of society and brings untold benefits, tangible and intangible to the people who are in them, you are arguing that gay people don't deserve them. The only argument that I heard during the cases is that marriage is so important, too important in fact, to share with the gays, because...?

Listening to the arguments of the anti-gay marriage side, I was struck by the weakness of their arguments. At the Supreme Court, where logic and reason are valued, and where justices are skeptical of moral arguments and deference to tradition, the other arguments were weak and easily countered, sometimes comically so. But for me the beauty is that these cases aren't between a large heterosexual majority vs a small homosexual minority. This is a case of a large and growing majority of justice-minded individuals vs a shrinking minority of dinosaurs.

Thoughts on the 14th Amendment (originally posted on facebook 4/9/2013)

So the equal protection clause of the Constitution was only meant to protect Black people, which is why it doesn't apply to LGBT, or for that matter we must assume, Latinos, or Asians or anyone else you can think of. Our constitution only protects White people, as was originally intended, and then black people with the 14th amendment. So that only leaves one course of action. We need to fight to amend the Constitution to state that gay people are federally recognized as human beings. Because equal protection only applies if you get a shout out from the Constitution.

Moving to Senegal (originally posted on facebook 9/9/2013)

This has been in the works since January, but it is finally official, official. I am moving to Senegal for a year and I am leaving on the 21st of September. I am going to work for an NGO called Tostan http://www.tostan.org/, on a child protection project in Thies. 

I am really excited if not also extremely anxious. The work will be exciting and the environment a big change from Paris. And I will also be away from Mikael and Beija. But the family has discussed this and we are all ok with the change. I hope I will have some visitors while I am there and if anyone has contacts in Dakar or Thies, I am eager to make as many friends as possible before and after I arrive. 

I am hoping to keep my blog regularly updated to let you know what I am doing and what I am seeing, and I will be taking tons of pictures so you can see a bit of what I will be seeing on the ground. And of course I will be on fb whenever I can to see what you are all doing and stay connected while I am gone. Big kisses to all my friends and family and start looking at plane tickets now.

How's This for a First Day in Dakar (originally posted on facebook 9/21/2013)

It seems like this moment has been years in the making, but I am finally in Senegal. And it's only my first day and I left my passport, vaccine card, emergency contact sheet and my US dollars in the taxi. Imagine my surprise when he showed up 3 hours later with my green folder. Cost me about 5 dollars to repay him for his trouble. So yeah, I think I am having a good day. 

I also learned two new things about Africa today. Damn there are a lot of black folk. And two, Senegal is approximately 2 feet from the sun inside a giant humidifier. Still taking in all the sites and sounds and meeting some of my colleagues and learning a bit more about the project I will be working on. 

Not much to report since I spent most of the afternoon talking to my roommate who is from La Jolla and lost his shiz when I told him I was from Poway. Because even to a fellow San Diegan the question in their mind is always, "who the hell is from Poway". In short, I have arrived safe and sound, the Senegal adventure begins.

What Is Up With All This Drama Sir? (originally posted on facebook 10/3/2013)

I had a very interesting day yesterday. I went downtown to meet some Peace Corp volunteers for dinner at the French Cultural Center. I had my first beer in like 10 days. Oh was it sweet. Had sangria with the Peace Corp cultural liaison and event planner, who got me on the guest list for a pool party at the Marine's house. I got in a fight with a taxi driver who claimed that I gave him bad information and he wanted more money. 

He kept me in his taxi for 15 minutes or so trying to get me to admit I had made a mistake. I realized that I was really french with him when I said, "Sir, I believe that there has just been a misunderstanding, but I told you exactly where to go and this does not appear to be that place, now is it?" And he told me, "I'm not stupid, you are saying it's no one's fault, but by your voice I can hear you are saying it's my fault". To the taximan, I say well played sir. 

I told him if we are indeed where you say we are and that is the place that I told you to go, then I should be able to walk home in about five minutes. Am I five minutes from my home? No it is too far to walk, he replied. So I said, one can only assume then, you did not take me where I asked you to, but I will admit that there was a misunderstanding between us. 

So eventually, after telling me he just wanted me to understand my mistake, I told him, noted and it will never happen again, he took me home. I was a little pissed, so I finally visited my rooftop terrace, curled up in the hammock and listened to NPR while watching the stars. I found my oasis of calm. All in all, I made some new friends, chilled in the hammock and felt cool (Africa is still hot) for like the first time since I arrived. Marine party is tomorrow, so here's hoping for no drama.