I'm guessing that we have all discovered in the course of life that there is a gauge within us that swings between love and hate toward our fellow humans. Some are too bossy, some too mousy, etc. But the widest twitches on the meter are on matters of personal identity. We range from intolerant to joyful of our differences and those attitudes start early. My son tells me it's still common on an elementary school playground for an activity (or person) to be called 'gay' if undesirable, for example.
My gauge has swung quite a bit over the years with respect to the GLBT community. What opens hearts and minds best is direct experience, I think. The talk, at 18, with a guy who let me ask all the stupid gay questions I could think of. The high school classmate who called years latter because he was ‘coming out.’ The girlfriend who tried to explain her ‘bi-ness.’ The struggles to get to a healthier society have a lot to do with how happy and comfortable we are with ourselves. Long ago I knew that if the world were filled with my clones I’d go insane. We all ‘swing’ one way or another and that will not change.
Hate eats us. Love grows us. Twitch. Twitch.
Live long and prosper,
Bob Eng,
Board Chair
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Using the library is a membership privilege. To check out a book, all you have to do is write your name. phone number, and the date on a checkout card and leave it in the box. Or just come in and browse – you will be surprised at how stimulating it can be to expose yourself to the books in our collection. So come on in and take a look.
We have a new book, thanks to Francis, Men Freeing Men - Exploring the Myth of the Traditional Male, edited by Francis Baumli, Ph.D. We also have many periodicals and newsletters for your use:
- Men’s Health
- Voice Male, featuring
“Manhood in a Time of War”
- Lavender
- Men’s Journal
- Transitions
- Rainbow Families
- Bi All Means
- Essential Wellness
- Edge Life
- Everyman
- D.A.D.S #1
Please be sure you use the library check-out system. And if you have overdue books, please return them so others can benefit from them.
Enjoy your library!
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