Pulse Check

Yep. I'm still a Cosmopolitan, Patriotic, Pluralist Panentheist

Trans Rights Because of the United States, not In Spite of Them

I don’t feel bad writing about Memorial Day the day after. In fact, it almost seems appropriate.

I would like to take a moment to celebrate that we all are guaranteed by the Rule of Law in the United States to Pursue “Happiness,”¹ under the auspice of the fact that we are equals despite our differences. (No matter what the theocrats tell you.)

That’s worth celebrating, and it was and is worth fighting for.

There were times when Trans people allegedly had more liberty. It is said that they still do in modern India.

I have my suspicions. I know that “gender-bending” is older than gold. Milton (“the Lady of Christ’s College”) likely dressed as a woman during festival seasons, and medieval monks were prone to write of themselves as Brides of Christ. Looking into the aforementioned Asiatic land, we see various expressions of masculinity and femininity in art that in some sense exceeds even what David Bowie and Candy Darling were up to.

But they didn’t have rights. I understand it’s a pain in the ass when theocrats tell us what to do with our tits, genitals, and uteruses. Democracy is a frustratingly complex system, and the idea that a victim of rape (or even a woman who just decided to frolic one night but doesn’t want a baby) should suddenly become a felon is enraging.

John Milton, “the Lady of Christ’s College”

But it’s the proverbial “least worst” system we have. We’re not ruled by a “divinely” appointed monarch. And we’re not going to rise up and kill all the Republicans and just suddenly have a perfect social paradise where all are free and give kindly to one another. And all economic disparity is not going to be solved by allowing the government to control industry — and that includes energy. (In fact, if Marxist economist Yanis Varoufakis is correct, governments might be just as good at profiteering from the system.)

In said fantasy’s stead, we’re damn lucky to have the means to do what we can to obtain the best governmental representation possible. I suggest we lawyer up, own some media, get active, and create coalitions.

The Cause of My Absence

Over the holiday, I moved from my squalid studio in beer-pong-land and out into an upper-floor, two-bedroom on a lazy lane in a lush, verdant neighborhood, near a nature trail where every morning I am awoken by birdsong. This should bode well both for my sobriety and my writing.

Please Give Me Money

I am currently raising money to become trained and certified as a facilitator in “Empathy Circling,” a type of dialogue moderation designed to assist parties in conversing about difficult topics while also feeling heard and seen. I intend to use this skill in my local community, possibly with Braver Angels, and also on my podcast. Additionally, I hope that the technique comes in handy in assisting the development of a secular spirituality where wayward souls can find a home. The atomization of culture is not working, and I aim to be a part of participation and connection building. (It will also likely enrich my poetics.)

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God Bless America.

With Much Appreciation and Affection,

Aaron

1. I firmly believe that this was Jefferson’s translation of “Eudaimonia.” More on this to come.