Self-inflicted Labels

I strive for political correctness all of the time. I really do
attempt to be weary of everybody's individual backrounds and
experiences. But there are times, where I will admit, that I am
politically incorrect within my group of friends, especially about my
own identity.

Is it ok for me to to call myself a "fag?" I am really curous... Blog
world, please comment, let me know!

To me, I figure it is like people of African American descent calling
themselves the n word. It's a word, that to them, describes who they
are. They seem to use it in common conversation with other members of
the same identity.

I do not appreciate it when people who are not queer use the word
"fag" in a discriminatory nature. It's hurtful when used in that way.
But between friends, I use the word to describe myself. Am I creating
a double standard here? I know between friends, they know that it is a
joke: slang. It seems as though I am promoting the use of the word and
those who might not be very discerning might hear me use it, deem it
acceptable, and then use and hurt others.

I like saying the word between friends... It's like a joke and they
know it is a joke. I like being able to joke about myself. But am I
promoting the use of the word by others who will use it in hurtful
ways? I fear that I am.

It would be great if we could just ban a list of words and make it a
great offense to use them. Unfortunately that is not possible.

A conundrum. What do you think? Are there any words within your
minority that are socially and politically unacceptable to be used by
others?

Please stay tuned for more stories of this average life.

Colombians and a Privelaged Life

Last year was the first year in college. I started out taking a full
courseload, but still found myself bored. I decided to get a job at
the main cafeteria on campus. I was doing everyting: cashering,
preparing and serving food, cleaning tables and taking out the trash.
Another plus, being the main place on campus where students ate lunch,
I got to see my friends all the time. I would be cleaning tables or
cashering and see a friend and chat for a minute. Like any new job, I
really liked it.

One day I was cleaning tables and came accross somebody in one of my
classes. He is from Colombia and he jokingly said something to me
along the lines of "now you get to see what it is like working like an
immigrant." I did not know what to make of it at the time: I just
shrugged. But to this day, a year and a half later, I am still
thinking about that comment.

Since when does the fact that I am Caucasian mean that I am above
cleaning tables? Just because I am white, do I have too much "pride"
to do that? Just because I am white, do I not understand the
inequality and poor working conditions that immigrants are forced to
work under?

I am above nothing. I need money, I will take any job. I do not have
too much "pride" to do any job. Just because I am white does not mean
I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth. If annoys me that people
have that misconception about me. I know that they are making
generalizations about all white people, but as most everybody knows,
I'm not your average Joe.

I understand that I lead a privelaged life. I have amazing friends, an
amazing family, the opportunity to attend one of the best schools on
the nation. But by no means have I ever been entitled to this
lifestyle. I worked hard for it.

I know my friend thought nothing of the comment he made, but the
comment made me think. Generalizations are dangerous.

Please stay tuned for more stories of this average life.

Haikus 2.0

Blog, blog oh my blog,

Treating you just like a dog

A tortured haiku.

Hall and Oates, well you

You make my dreams come true ooh!

A fabulous song.

Katherine Walton

Citizens United Case

Leader next quarter.

Organize people

Now I change the status quo

That is what I do.

Please stay tuned for more stories of this average life.

Homosexuality as Race

I, as I do, am always thinking. One issue that I have been discussing with a lot of friends of mine is the idea of race and whether or not homosexuality can be defined as a race. How can homosexuality be a race when it spans so many other racial lines? People who do not think that homosexuals are not their own race believe that since we do not come from one common origin, then we are not a race.

This is the definition of race as per the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary:

• a family, tribe, people, or nation belonging to the same stock a class or kind of people unified by shared interests, habits, or characteristics
• an actually or potentially interbreeding group within a species
• a taxonomic category (as a subspecies) representing such a group
• a category of humankind that shares certain distinctive physical trait

I would argue, considering the definition provided by Merriam-Webster, that homosexuality is indeed a race. We belong in the same stock, ie. we are all somehow related (our sexuality.) We also have similar characteristics, habits, physical traits and we are all undeniably inbreeding. The definition says that we are actually or potentially able to inbreed, which we do, we just cannot produce offspring (breed). We inbreed in that we have sex, but we just forgo the child part. Some would argue that since we can not produce offspring, then we can not "breed," but I would argue that in having sex we are choosing to have sex and share that connection with another person.

Sex, and the emotional and physical aspects of it, are much different than the ability to produce offspring. How about infertile couples? They are not physically able to produce offspring. Homosexuals are no different.

I am so incredibly proud to be a homosexual. I have so much pride in myself and in others that are also queer. I feel that, like any other minority or race, there are things that are just understood between homosexuals that straight people just do not understand. I would not describe these shared understandings as as explicit as inside jokes, but somewhere along those lines. But just as I am proud to be a part of my race, I do not put other races down. There is just something to be said about common understanding between members of the same race that the majority of people do not understand.

Please stay tuned for more stories of this average life.

Secrets

I know that I have grown as a social being so so much in the past few years. And I am continuously growing. But there are issues that I seem to have and lines that I seem to cross at times.

There are certain friends that I seem to blow it with at times. And some more than others. There are always those one or two people who I, on nearly a weekly basis, blow it with. I say something inappropriate to them or I unintentionally betray their trust and it sets me back a few squares.

I feel like some of what I say can be deemed as inappropriate by some, but between close friends, I am able to be politically incorrect or immature. Because there is an understanding between friends that I am a sarcastic asshole who does not always think about what he says before he says it. I tell my friends that half of the stuff that comes out of my mouth is bullshit since I am such a sarcastic person. It takes people a few weeks once they meet me to understand my sense of humor. But once a week I seem to go to far or say something that upsets somebody. When I am with others, it does not seem like they make these mistakes. Is it just me? Am I the only person who manages to upset somebody once or twice a week? Have I just not learned yet? Are they more socially developed than I and do not make these mistakes?

As far as the betrayal of trust, I seem to mention things in normal conversation that was told to me in confidence. I am very open with my personal life, my family and the issues therein. As a result, it is sometimes hard for me to be able to tell when I have been told something in confidence that is supposed to stay confident, because I am not used to filtering my own life in that way. I guess the way that I deal with issues is that I talk them out with everybody, ask for their advice or thoughts and go from there. Others just prefer to keep it to themselves and a few others they can trust. I do not know if I can tell everybody freely about my issues because I trust everybody automatically, if I do not really have any secrets or if I do not care what others think about me or my life. I think that all three of those items are true. That is how I cope with issues. Others cope with things in other means and I am not used to the rules and means of those coping techniques, so it is easy for me to cross the line.

Please stay tuned for more stories of this average life.