Thursday, January 10, 2013

Via JMG: Marine Corps Orders On-Base Social Clubs To Accept Gay Spouses

Marine Corps Orders On-Base Social Clubs To Accept Gay Spouses


Responding to an ongoing controversy at Fort Bragg, the Marine Corps today issued a directive that on-base "spouses clubs" must admit the husbands and wives of gay service members.
It's a step that the other service branches have not yet announced as they grapple with how to accommodate same-sex couples following repeal of the don't ask, don't tell policy that barred gays and lesbians from serving openly. Underscoring the challenges, the Marines' legal advisory — obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press — refers to an ongoing controversy at the Army's Fort Bragg in North Carolina where the officers' spouses club has denied admission to a same-sex spouse.
The Marine Corps commandant's Staff Judge Advocate, in an e-mail to legal offices throughout the corps, said the Fort Bragg events had "caused quite a stir" and cautioned, "We do not want a story like this developing in our backyard." The memo noted that spouses clubs and various other private institutions are allowed to operate on bases only if they adhere to a non-discrimination policy encompassing race, religion, gender, age, disability and national origin. "We would interpret a spouses club's decision to exclude a same-sex spouse as sexual discrimination because the exclusion was based upon the spouse's sex," the memo said.
OutServe-SLDN praised the move via press release:
The Marine Corps guidance issued today is a breakthrough and a clear indication that General Amos meant what he said when he promised Marines would lead the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Secretary Panetta should use his authority immediately to bring consistency across the services with regard to this issue and in doing so, a greater measure of equity to gay and lesbian service members and their families.
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Reposted from Joe

Chris Kluwe explains the punter's role and reiterates his support for pro-gay Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo.

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma January 10, 2013

The Thought Remedy

Generosity trusts the emptiness that runs through things, even ungenerous or ungainly things—it links to the clarity that underlies all our madness. Whenever my thoughts turn toward greed, acquisitiveness, or stinginess, my shoulders tense up, and it feels as if I’m holding my breath. To find a remedy, I don’t have to improve my thoughts, though—just be generous with them. Then freedom seems to appear automatically.
- John Tarrant, "The Erotic Life of Emptiness"
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Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Via NPR: National Cathedral Hopes To Set Example By Performing Same-Sex Marriages

The Washington National Cathedral, the massive and iconic church in the nation's capital where inaugural prayers are hosted and presidents are laid to rest, will now hold same-sex marriages. Melissa Block speaks with Rev. Gary Hall, dean of the Cathedral, about the change in policy.

also from the NYTimes:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/10/us/politics/washington-national-cathedral-to-hold-same-sex-weddings.html?_r=0

and

http://www.nationalcathedral.org/visit/

Via Wipe Out Homophobia / FB:


Via Wipe Out Homophobia / FB:


Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:


Daily Buddhist Wisdom






If any recluses or followers do not understand objectively that the enjoyment of sense pleasures is enjoyment, that the unsatisfactoriness of their passing is unsatisfactoriness, and that liberation from their tyranny is liberation--then it's not possible that they will properly understand what the desire for sense pleasures is or that they will be able to bring anyone else to understand it. But if they do understand objectively the arising and ceasing of sense pleasures, their frequent unsatisfactoriness, and the way to freedom from attachment to them, they will be able to instruct other people to that end.
- Majjhima Nikaya

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma January 9, 2013

Accessing our Inner Strength

Anxiety, heartbreak, and tenderness mark the in-between state. It's the kind of place we usually want to avoid. The challenge is to stay in the middle rather than buy into struggle and complaint. The challenge is to let it soften us rather than make us more rigid and afraid. Becoming intimate with the queasy feeling of being in the middle of nowhere only makes our hearts more tender. When we are brave enough to stay in the middle, compassion arises spontaneously. By not knowing, not hoping to know, and not acting like we know what's happening, we begin to access our inner strength.
- Pema Chodron, "The In-between State"
Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through January 10th, 2013
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Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Via JMG: Gays Shop At Crate & Barrel!!!


 
Somebody call One Million Moms, because two homosexual men are featured in the latest Crate & Barrel campaign, where they can be seen shamelessly flaunting their perversion all over their artfully staged fauxtique home. (Tipped by JMG reader Diane)
 
Reposted from Joe

Via A Beautiful Mess Inside / FB:


Demand A Plan to End Gun Violence


Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:

Daily Buddhist Wisdom






If we divide into two camps--even into violent and the nonviolent--and stand in one camp while attacking the other, the world will never have peace. We will always blame and condemn those we feel are responsible for wars and social injustice, without recognizing the degree of violence within ourselves. We must work on ourselves and also with those we condemn if we want to have a real impact.
- Ayya Khema, "Be An Island"


Monday, January 7, 2013

Via JMG: SCOTUS Marriage Action Announced



Reposted rom Joe

Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:


Daily Buddhist Wisdom






Live the Dhamma well. Don't live it badly. One who lives the Dhamma sleeps with ease in this world & the next.
- Dhammapada 13, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma January 7, 2013

Developing Equanimity

When we really see, in our mind’s eye, a person we think we don’t like, and instead of solidifying our reasons for hatred we honestly wish them happiness, good health, safety, and an easeful life, we start to forget what we thought we hated and why we felt that way in the first place. A sense of equanimity toward everyone arises as we do this practice—we feel compassion for those who were once invisible to us, and our disregard and apathy morph into concern for their well-being and safety.
- Cyndi Lee, “May I Be Happy”
Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through January 8th, 2013
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Sunday, January 6, 2013

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma January 6, 2013

A Great Dharma Feast

When we take words to be statements of ultimate truth, then differences of opinion will inevitably result in conflict. This is where ideological wars come from, and we see in the history of the world an endless amount of suffering because of it. But if we see the words and the teachings as different skillful means for liberating the mind, then they all become part of a great dharma feast.
- Joseph Goldstein, “One Dharma”
Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through January 7th, 2013
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Saturday, January 5, 2013

Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:


Daily Buddhist Wisdom






It is a defect in language that words suggest permanent realities and people do not see through this deception. But mere words cannot create reality. Thus people speak of a final goal and believe it is real, but it is a form of words and the goal as such is without substance. The one who realizes the emptiness of objects and concepts does not depend on words. Perfect wisdom is beyond definition, and pathlessness is the way to it. The wise one treads this path for the direct realization of impermanence and for the direct realization of understanding. This, then, is perfect wisdom. Such a one should tread this path knowing that attachment and attractions are neither good nor harmful, even enlightenment is neither good nor harmful, because perfect wisdom is not meant to promote good or harm for that person. However, even though there is no intention of good or harm, it does confer endless blessing.
- Prajnaparamita

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma January 5, 2013

Our Common Enemy

If we can begin to consider hatred as the enemy, as your and my enemy, then we can begin to transform our anger into compassion. That will be how we can take advantage of an unfortunate and tragic situation.
- Nawang Gehlek Rimpoche, "The Real Enemy"
Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through January 6th, 2013
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Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma January 4, 2013

Truth is Vulnerable

Truth has no action. Truth is weak. Truth is not utilitarian, truth cannot be organized. It is like the wind: You cannot catch it, you cannot take hold of it in your fist and say, ‘I have caught it.’ Therefore it is tremendously vulnerable, impotent like the blade of grass on the roadside—you can kill it, you can destroy it. But we want it as a thing to be used for a better structure of society. And I am afraid you cannot use it, you cannot—it is like love, love is never potent. It is there for you, take it or leave it.
- Krishnamurti, "A Question of Heart"
Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through January 5th, 2013
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