Love in the face of darkness

There is a lot of turmoil in the world right now. A lot of people are eagerly waiting for 2016 to end, after it has brought us tragedy after tragedy. And yeah, it has been a pretty rough year with the constant celebrity deaths, Brexit, Trump, DAPL, and everything else. There a lot of angry and hurt people right now, and I can’t blame them. I’m angry and hurt too. Every time I read the news I find something else that upsets me. Here in Canada, I can pretend to be apart from all the problems, I can easily bury my head in the sand and say that these global issues won’t affect me.
      I know it’s a lie, but it is a nice lie.
     The truth isn’t as nice. The truth is hard and heavy. All these events have global ramifications. And we all have the responsibility to admit that and understand that. To the South we have a rebirth of fascism and a resurgence of racism. To the East we have one of the oldest powers in the world slowly crumbling under the weight of its own failings. Just passed that, we have Russia casually sticking their fingers into multiple pots, watching the reactions and waiting. The Middle East is continuing to be the battleground it’s been for generations, and North Korea has upped their blustering.
       We can try and pretend that things are not as bad as they seem, but that would be a lie. Things are bad—no, they’re terrifying when one actually thinks about it. There’s a president-elect who has been officially endorsed by the KKK and the Kremlin. The American police are brutishly attacking peaceful and legal protestors—including one young woman who may be facing amputation from the police’s “non-lethal” methods. When we live in a world where protestors can lose limbs from the police’s non-lethal methods, we really need to reconsider…well, everything.
          Our ancestors fought for our freedoms and against tyranny in two brutal world wars. They sacrificed everything so we wouldn’t have to deal with a dictator taking away our freedoms, and we have repaid them by democratically electing a person who idolizes dictators and ran on a platform of hate. We owe it to everyone who fought and died in the world wars to stand up right now. We owe it to them to stop all of this before it escalates any farther. They fought and died so that everyone would have peace and freedom. They fought to liberate the Jewish people, and now their progeny want to get rid of the Jewish people. We have unprecedented numbers of people openly calling for white supremacy, and many of these people are so-called Christians who have apparently forgotten everything Jesus ever said.
        The point of this is not to depress or anger, although I can easily see how it could do both. We need to stand together. History has shown that we can defeat Nazis through force, let us show future generations that we can defeat them through unity and love. We as a people are better than this, we know our history and we should not be repeating it. We need to stand together against hate. We need to show the Neo-Nazis taking over America that their ideals are not the ideals the modern world has been built upon. We need to stand together and show Russia that bullying isn’t something that we will tolerate. Together we can prevail against the darkness invading our societies. Together we can show that love and acceptance is the proper way to go.
       There has been a lot of bad this year so much that it seemingly overshadows the good, and it is okay to feel that way. So much has happened this year that it can be hard to keep track. Dozens of major terror attacks in Europe and the Middle East. The Pulse shooting. Natural disasters. Ebola. Zika. The deaths of so many influential people. Suicides in Northern Canadian communities. Things seem so dark right now, and a lot of people are saying this is the worst single year in history. Honestly, I’d almost be inclined to agree with them.
        There has been good this year as well though! There have been countless medical breakthroughs! Endangered species have seen population growth! Worldwide crime has dropped, even if that’s hard to believe. Disparate groups have banded together to stand against ISIS. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets to support Black Lives Matter. This year, hidden by the thicket of bad, we have shown solidarity. In the dark, we have stood together to shine our lights.
        Together we can bring down the darkness. The fight will not be easy, and it will not be over quick. Things are bad, and they may be bad for a while yet, but as long as we stand together in love and unity we can prevail.
       To the Christians reading this, Jesus taught that when struck on one cheek to turn the other one towards the striker. He leaves what to do next vague, but remember what happened when he found the vendors in the temple: he chased them out. All these Neo-Nazis and Fascists are vendors infringing on the temple trying to corrupt the holy. Chase them out, and stand with all your brothers and sisters: the Muslims, the Jewish people, the queer community, the Black community, the Latin community, the Asian community, the disabled community, and everyone else that has been hurt by hate this year. “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Too many forget what Jesus considered to be the second most important commandment. It’s time to remember.
       To those of other religions reading this, stay strong and stand together.
       To the atheists reading this, remember to practice love and acceptance to all.
      We will win. Love will trump hate. Love and peace to you all.

We heal by love: A poem

                A man was killed last night by those sworn to protect, yet we argue and bicker over the details of a past we know nothing about.

                People argue against hate while hating those who hate others, can’t the hypocrisy be seen?

                We stand up for a better tomorrow, while casting shade on those who disagree.

                We cry at the unjust killing of another, while calling for the death of those responsible.

                Violence begetting violence.

                All the world knows.

                Shouldn’t we be better than our primal natures?

                Or is that all we have left?

                Are we more than what we were?

                Or are we just what we were?

                A man was killed and we blame the person who pulled the trigger—

                Not the system that allows this

                Not the company that makes the gun

                We blame the person.  

                We get mad and we scream and shout.

                We cry for justice

                                                But do we want justice or just revenge?

                So easily confused.

                So easily differentiated.

                People always screaming for justice, while their hearts silently beg for vengeance.

                “Vengeance is mine,” sayeth the Lord.

                “I am the Lord,” sayeth man.

                Who are we to judge and execute

                Who are we when we put ourselves on a higher pedestal?

                We judge ourselves better than those who judge themselves better than those

                Where’s the line?

                Where’s the difference?

                How can we change the world when we cannot change ourselves?

                We want to survive so we stay the course.

                Goin ‘gainst the current is how we drown

                So the current takes us where it wants,

                Washing up on foreign shores,

                We do what we know.

                We do what we need to survive.

                Some of us have guilt so black we take every stand

                Just to wash away some of it

                Just to sleep at night.

                Some of us need to be seen, so we take every stand

                Just so people know us

                Just so we can feel good.

                Some of us have been hurt so bad, we lash out at every stand

                Just to feel something

                Just so other people know how much we hurt.

                Some of us just hate everyone who isn’t us

                So we think they’re lesser

                So we hurt them.

                Some of us are just good, so we take every stand

                So we can help

                So we can make a difference.

                We need to heal each other.

                We need to help each other.

                We heal by educating

                We heal by giving back

                We heal by love. 

A Better Tomorrow

      I had a discussion recently about whether or not humanity can better itself, or if it's destined to burn in the fires of its own making. Scientifically speaking, the Earth will burn up with the death of our star, but that's not for five billion+ years. Humanity seems to be in a pretty bad place right now: civil wars, riots, race crimes, terrorism, Donald Drumpf. Just watching an hour of news can be enough to crush the human spirit and believe that we, as a species, are doomed. The news always focuses on the negative though, there are positives out there! Humanity is slowly making things better. The key word there is "slowly"! A lot of people can't see that because we like our changes to be instant and flashy! Not slow and methodical.
       Equal Rights activists scored a major victory this past year with marriage equality becoming federal law in the States. Canada is becoming the beacon of peace and unity that it is known for again with the election of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The Human Rights crisis that are the Syrian refugees are being taken in and accepted by countries all over the world, in spite of the fear and hate mongering of ignorant people. Governments all over the globe are coming together to fight climate change. The word of scientists is becoming stronger than the words of corporations. China is becoming more open to western culture. Michael Bay has said the next Transformers will be his last one as director. The world is looking up. Humanity is well on its way to bettering itself.
       My generation, the often made fun of millennials, are actively trying to make the world a better place! Every day, people from my generation, people who are called lazy and entitled by previous generations, are going out and putting their lives on the line for those less fortunate. Every day millennials are going to other countries to do charity work, to build schools, to dig wells, to do whatever they can to help. We are actively trying to fix the previous generations mistakes. We are marching in the streets to support causes as diverse as #BlackLivesMatter to marriage equality. We are marching in the streets to show support for the common people. We, as a generation, are more accepting of others than previous generations, and if this positive trend continues, if we instill our beliefs and morals into the next generation, step by step the world will become a better place.
        For every story the news shows of a small group defacing a mosque or attacking someone for being different, there are dozens of unreported stories of the people that come and help. Of the people who are showing love. There's a military town in Alberta where a mosque was defaced. The windows broken, and the words "Go home" spray painted multiple times on the building. Two men were responsible for that act of hate. The majority of the community, including military personnel, showed up to help repair the broken windows and clean off the vandalism. People, throughout the day, stopped by the mosque with homemade posters saying "You are home" and messages of love and acceptance. The evil people in this world are outnumbered by the good. The world is becoming a more accepting and loving place. Change is a slow process, it always has been. It took 12 million years for the Grand Canyon to form, we can't expect the change in humanity to happen over night.
        I am sticking with this fight. I believe in the inherent goodness of humankind. I can't let the evil win. I cannot stand by as people get hurt by hate. Because love will always defeat hate in the end. This isn't a pointless fight. Humanity is not doomed to destroy itself. Nothing is predestined in life. To everyone reading this, if you are sitting silent in this fight, stand up and let your voice be heard! Do not remain apathetic when the very future of our species in on the line. Stand up and fight for humanity. Fight for the change you want to see. The change will happen. It takes time. But it will happen, so stand up and be a part of it. Lend your voice, lend your strength and courage, and be a part of this. No matter how alone you feel when you stand for a cause, know that you are not alone. Every movement, every change, starts with one person, one voice. Once people hear that voice, many more will stand up.
       I'm standing up, I'm fighting for a better tomorrow, for equality for all humanity. Are you going to join me? 

Love and Acceptance

    It's Christmas Eve. The night before one of the biggest holidays in the Western World. It's a day that is supposed to be filled with love and peace. I really hope tomorrow is filled with all of that. I believe that it can be. I have hope that it will be. But I don't know.
    This year has been messed up. To put it very mildly. We've had mass shootings every single day around the globe. We've seen and experienced massive terror attacks both at home and abroad. Maybe it's foolish and juvenile to believe that tomorrow will be different. Maybe it's even insane, but no matter what is happening in the world, I still hold onto my faith in humanity. I need to.
     I know tomorrow is just a day, that there is nothing intrinsically special about it, it's what we do on it that makes it so special. Many people have fond memories of Christmas morning, of time spent with family in love and acceptance.
     Lets take that feeling of acceptance and spread to everyone. To the people we love, and to the people we don't like. Let us show everyone this acceptance tomorrow. And if we can do that, we can carry it on to the next day, and to the day after that. Our world is in turmoil right now. We have people who have been forced out of their homes coming to us for help, lets welcome them with open arms,
     That's what Christmas is about.
     Don't worry, my Christmas themed posts are almost done!
     Happy Christmas Eve. 

Christmas is love

    Alright, it's my last day of work before my Christmas holidays start, and I don't know what to blog about. A friend gave me a great suggestion, but I'm probably going to post it after Christmas. Just because it's so not Christmasy.
     Theme. Got it, What makes Christmas for you guys? Or the whatever holiday you happen to be celebrating this December. For me, it's Christmas, so that's what I call it. I'm not trying to force it on anybody or anything, don't worry! But what makes this time of year so special?
     I don't have a cliched answer for this. I can't say that "seeing the whole family makes it wonderful!" because I don't see the whole family. The last time Christmas was more than just me and my parents was close to twenty years ago. The rest of my family lives 2000 km away, which makes it difficult to plan things. I think what makes Christmas special to me is seeing all of the love when you're out in public. I'm not talking PDA here, just people being decent to one another, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas with a smile on their face. This time of year gives me hope that humanity is inherently good, and that we can make it past all the shit that goes on for the rest of the year.
     This hope for humanity is especially important to me this year. There's been a lot of terrible events in the world these past twelve months, and there has been a lot of negativity in my own life this year as well, and things got bleak for me. Everything started looking better as we rolled our way into December: things started working again in my life, and I saw less hate being spread the closer we got to Christmas. I see love and hope this time of year, and the love and hope that I see every Christmas is what helps me get through the twelve months that follow.
      Far too many have forgotten what Christmas is about, or the meaning of Christmas has just got too bogged down in religion and consumerism, but! Christmas, when you get right down to it, when you scrape away the frost (because winter), is about love. Everything about Christmas's origins (not Saturnalia, it only shares a date with Christmas) stems from love. The love of parents seeing their newborn for the first time, the love of a god giving his people a saviour, and the love of other people coming together to celebrate.
      So please, let us love each other this Christmas. Let us put away our hate and mistrust, and our greed and jealousy, and let us love each other. No matter what you believe, or don't believe, we are all on this planet together, and we are all the same species.
     Peace and love. 

Dear Islamophobes,

     I woke up really happy today. I'm not one hundred percent sure why, but I think it may have had to do with yesterday. Yesterday was just an awesome day! I got to know some awesome people. It was simply amazing, and the feeling of euphoria carried over to today.      

          That said, I saw one of the most ignorant and Islamophobic things today. Like, I was disgusted. And it was posted by someone I used to have a lot of respect for! The post contained a video, and the following text: To those that say I am posting "hate" on my wall...please take 4 mins and listen and WATCH this video. Its not just the extremists with these barbaric views, its the entire religion!! If you still disagree after watching this, you are simply ignorant. These are the same people we are welcoming to our country right now. There is NO peace in Islam. Period. This video proves it.              You know you're off to a great start when the person posting it calls it "hate".       

       The video shows a group of incredibly conservative Muslims discussing the very conservative parts of Islam: the separation of men and women during worship, etc.. Basically the same kind of thing that super conservative Christians would be talking about. And one of the main things people were getting from this video was that all the people in the audience were agreeing! Two things about that:

1.     herd mentality. When you're part of a large group you're going to agree with what's going on, or you're not going to try to stop it at the very least. I've experienced it at Christian events, concerts, and the movie theatre

2.     THEY WERE A CROWD OF ULTRA CONSERVATIVE PEOPLE. And if I know anything, I know that any group of ultra conservative men will agree that women should be kept separate. Because ultra conservatism = sexism. 

I realize that basic logic and common sense is beyond some people, and that's a damn shame. But honestly. We need some sort of buffers for this kind of idiocy. Ugh.      

      I commented on the post, because of course I did. All I said was this: "Have you read the Koran? I have. Their religion is ridiculously more peaceful than Christianity. But, go ahead. Call me ignorant." Honestly, that's pretty tame for me. Must have been because of my good mood.

      Of course when the next person commented and went on a tirade about all of the atrocities Islamic people have committed throughout all of history. Way to stay relevant. So I may have replied to his comment... with an extremely sarcastic list of atrocities that I was sure glad white Christians had never committed. Like genocide. And slavery.       

        I didn't hold back that time...       

       What confounds me the most, is how do these people not realize that all the hate they're spreading is doing the terrorists' job for them? How can you be this blind? Not you specifically. Probably no one reading this...

       The sad part is that I realize these people (most/some) aren't being racist out of hate, but rather ignorance and fear. That's honestly so sad.

       I think what I'm trying to say is: Fuck Islamophobia. To any Muslim brothers and sisters reading this, As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu. Peace be on all my siblings. We are all Children of this Earth. We should all love each other. 

Ace Day

      Today, November 26th, is Ace Day. And it is a beautiful, wondrous day! I have loved every minute of it! Seeing all of the tweets, all of the selfies on instagram, and all of the posts on tumblr and facebook! It's been fantastic! Days like this are so important! For so many reasons! Let's list those reasons:

1. Asexuality is all but ignored by most forms of media
2. Young people are wandering around not knowing about it thinking they're broken
3. Asexual characters are treated as jokes who need to be fixed 
4. Asexuality in general is a joke to the many people who thought homosexuality was funny
5. Days like this allow aces to shine in all their magnificent glory
6. It allows people to connect with like individuals all over the globe
7. And mostly, because it gives people confidence to be themselves

People feel safe on days like this because they see countless others going out of their way to celebrate themselves! And it is absolutely beautiful.
       Days like this give people back their hope. Days like this give people strength to carry on. Days like this make people proud to be who they are. I love this community. I love the people in it. I love the things that the people in it have accomplished. And the thing I love most? How much everyone loves each other within it.
      I feel good whenever I talk to someone within the ace community. I feel a kinship and trust with everyone in it, even if I've never talked to them before. That's an incredible feeling. I've honestly never felt more apart of something than I do now. The feeling of inclusion I had within the church pales in comparison.
      I love who I am. I love what I am. And I never would've gotten to this point if it wasn't for this community.
      Gods above, I love you guys. Everyday. Not just today. You guys, each and every one of you, are my family. And I really do love you.
      Lets rock this thing. 

The one that ended super seriously

     I filmed my most controversial news video yet. It shouldn't be something that's controversial, but I know it will be. I don't want to spoil it, you'll need to watch my video to see why.
     Today was a weird day.
     I didn't get as much accomplished as I wanted, or I feel like I didn't? I got a news show filmed, I sent off emails about Zakitude Consulting, but I didn't get any actual writing done, and that's where the feeling disaccompliment comes from.
     I'm a writer, but so much of my energy today went into different projects (my body and my business) instead of my passion. The days I feel most fulfilled are the days when I realistically get the least accomplished but got tons of writing done. I've probably got too many games going on right now, and I should narrow my focus, but I want all of these to succeed. I probably should focus on one of them until it does succeed, but I'm too nervous to put all my energy behind one project. What if I put all my efforts into one thing and it fails? Then where am I? Probably the same place I am right now...
      I got really mad while filming the news this afternoon. Like, super mad. Filming got intense, and I got emotional. It was a hard thing to film. While searching for a thumbnail just now, I got sad. I sat and looked at all the potential options, my heart slowly breaking.
      The world is standing at the edge of a cliff. There is so much hate floating around right now, that the smallest breeze will push the world over, and we all will fall with it. We can save the world, but it will require all of us. All of us have to stand up to the hate and show it that love is stronger. We cannot let the hate when. We cannot allow the hate to consume the world and bring it down around us.
     Come on people. Stand up.