Your VOICE, YOUR Vote...

 
"ON DEATH...from "The Prophet"

Then Almitra spoke, saying: We would ask now of Death.

And He said; 'You would know the Secret of Death, but how shall you find it unless you seek it in the Heart of Life. For Life and Death are ONE, even as the River and Sea are one.

In the Death of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the Beyond, like the seed dreaming beneath the snow your Heart dreams of Spring. Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gates to Eternity.

Your FEAR of Death is but the Trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the King whose hand is to be laid upon him in Honor. Is the shepherd not JoyFul beneath his trembling that he shall wear the mark of The King, yet is he not more mindful of his trembling.

For what is it To Die, but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun. And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tide that it may rise and expand and seek GOD - Unencumbered.

Only when you drink from the River of Silence, Shall You Indeed - SING. And when you have reached the MountainTop, then Shall You Begin to CLIMB. And when the Earth shall claim your limbs, THEN SHALL YOU TRULY DANCE'.

-Kahlil Gibran, "The Prophet"

As AIDS Quilt founder Cleve Jones said in 2001; “Our hearts may be filled, but there are only two emotions worth expressing at this perilous time: GRIEF and RAGE. Grief for the millions who have died and are dying. Rage at the indifference, greed, and stupidity that permit this grotesque calamity to continue.”

Tavis Smiley, in his article Requiem for a dream, issues this wake-up call: “We’re not replacing our African-American heroes (and she-roes) fast enough.”

 Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction... The Chain reaction of evil, --hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars-- must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation. Martin Luther King, Jr. - 1963

As we are about to commemorate the “awesome legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” as the author noted; I was struck by his assertion and how pertinent it is for the other segments of our society as well, particularly in regard to Metro CincinNASTY and its GLBT and PWA Communities. Mr. Smiley asks a litany of “Where is the next….?” questions in order to illuminate his hypothesis. Among them; “Where is the next Arthur Ashe, who will stand up for unpopular causes without worrying what impact it might have on endorsement contracts?” He expresses the viewpoint that society has so highly pedestalized these icons to a point that the current young generation feels intimidated to aspire to similar greatness. Bull...!!!

On the other hand, I feel his pain when he says, “This is an absolutely crucial moment for… leadership.” And when I look around at the two communities I mentioned earlier, I can identify with the observation that those of the young generation and those behind them “…will be the first leaders who did not live through the…” post-Stonewall equal rights struggle. I am in complete agreement that basically, they don’t know what it’s like to be told no… This younger generation has indeed been the beneficiary and “very embodiment” of our forbearer’s dreams. Those courageous and selfless leaders who may come forth will have to do so as Smiley says; “… in a historic vacuum at a particularly treacherous time for America, when the political right seems determined to turn back the clock on progress.” 

Yes, Dr. Kings life should remind us all that service should be our mission and that “anybody can be great because anybody can serve”. And that’s the rub in the Metro CincinNASTY GLBT & PWA Communities; this current generation appears to live only TO BE SERVED!

And so I ask, where’s the next:

Bobbi Campbell, Ryan White, Magic Johnson, Michael Dorobek
Greg Louganis, Elizabeth Glaser.

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NHTD MAYORS CAMPAIGN

This year, the National Association of People With AIDS National Association of People With AIDS (NAPWA) will be hosting the eighth annual Mayors Campaign Against HIV. Mayors are requested to support National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) by hosting HIV testing campaigns in their cities, conducting press conferences to discuss local HIV testing resources, or issuing proclamations in support on NHTD.
Moreover, to assure communities have the resources to mount an effective HIV testing campaign, NAPWA makes available materials to local health departments, community clinics, and other community-based organizations that participate in NHTD. These materials can be downloaded from NAPWA’s Web site at www.napwa.org.
For more information, contact NAPWA at 240-247-0880 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 240-247-0880 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or visit their Web site at www.napwa.org

Diane Brumback: I'm uncertain why I was contacted by a new person who is going to file for school board very soon & maybe others have been contacted as well. Regardless, I find it exciting that folks want to be a part of positive change. HOWEVER, also want to caution that Covington easily may be finding themselves no better off than what you have right now should voters not recognize the need for change....

Research has clearly demonstrated that public school boards can - and do - play a significant role in their district’s student achievement. This concept needs to be elevated in the mind's of Covington voters during the next few months so they vote for folks who will focus on academic excellence for the children of Covington.

With names & interest in running for the school board surfacing daily, I wanted to provide information for those considering a run to keep in mind... There are Eight identified Characteristics of “Effective” School Boards. Here is characteristic number one: Thinking of A Run...