Harvey Milk Day

What is "Harvey Milk Day"? If you are wondering, like I was a few minutes ago, I can tell you what it's NOT. It's not related to Hershey's. I know, but it's the first thought that came to mind as I searched my memory for the phrase. Hershey's Milk Day? Hershey's Milk Chocolate Day? Nope. Brace yourself, it's just about the polar opposite of creamy milk chocolate kisses. Though it does have to do with kisses...in a sick and twisted kind of way.

I just got an email from my brother with the title Harvey Milk Day. It was outlining the current piece of legislation that CA congress is trying to pass. I suppose that I hadn't heard about it yet since I don't live in California. This is what it says,

"If signed, SB 572 would pressure every California public school to have an official Harvey Milk Day promoting the homosexual, bisexual, and transsexual agenda to children as young as kindergarten. The sky is the limit on what a school considers suitable commemorative exercises. This is written so broadly, SB 572 could allow gay-pride parades on campus, cross-dressing, and homosexual marriage dramas, etc. It all going to come down to how much pressure California's governor feels.


Remember, last year the Democrat-controlled Legislature passed Harvey Milk Gay Day, but Schwarzenegger vetoed it.


This year, Schwarzenegger is being lobbied more heavily by homosexual activists. Sean Penn, who played Harvey Milk on the big screen, and Milk's homosexual activist nephew, have both personally lobbied Schwarzenegger to ask him to sign SB 572. Other differences from last year is that there are four more Democrats in the Assembly voting for Harvey Milk Gay Day. And for the first time, a Republican, Senator Abel Maldonado, is supporting this anti-traditional family value bill."

Why, oh why? I feel nauseated, literally, like I want to throw up. This is something that I am so against I want to stand at the tallest mountain and scream to the world "Stop this madness!" Now, before you call me a bigot, or homophobic, or something much more colorful, hear me out.

I absolutely believe that EVERYONE should have equal rights. When it comes to filing taxes, or insurance privileges, or hospital visitation, bring it on. However, equal rights, in my mind, has nothing to do with what goes on in the bedroom - or night-club, or party - or whatever. (Don't think about it too hard.) What I don't believe is that your sexual orientation should have to be paraded on the streets, in the classroom, or the media, in order to have those rights. When it comes right down to it, sexual orientation - and the beliefs that most often accompany them - are strongly related to a persons religion. The origin of marriage and the ideals surrounding them are anchored in whatever religion you happen to practice. Separation of Church and state was enacted to preserve the right for each person to believe what they choose, and primarily, it allowed parents to ability to teach their children how best they see fit.

We've had our children at a Private Christian School. While choosing this school has given our children a religious education, it also took away something that separation of church and state protected. Something that I hadn't thought about when a discussion of the subject is brought up. It is the fact that separation of church and state also protects our children from being taught principles that, as parents, we don't want them to hear. For the atheist, it's that there is only one GOD. For the Christian, it's evolution. Science society, in general, wants to teach the kids that the Big Bang Theory is where it all began. Christian society believes in the Creationist Theory. In the public schools we compromise by teaching both, with an emphasis on the Theory part of the principle. At this Christan School that our kids attended, it came down to the details of what my husband and I believe, and what the school taught. Namely, the doctrine of the trinity (them) and doctrine stating that God is in fact, three separate beings. God the Father being of flesh and bones, just as his son, Jesus Christ, came to earth to gain a body. The Holy Ghost is a spirit without a body. While they are one in purpose, they are not one in body or spirit. While having our kids at this school, it was fine explaining to our daughter the difference, even when she came home confused about the conflict that the doctrines of the Trinity and Resurrection present, but we knew our son was coming to the age where the difference would be harder to explain and understand and in the end, keep straight. So this year, we have opted to move both of them to the public schools. We gained an appreciation for separation of church and state because it allows us to put the moral defining ideas into our kids heads instead of allowing someone else to.

So it should be with sexuality. A persons sexual preference needs to be kept at home and teaching about it should come from parents, not school. Granted, maturation programs that teach kids about puberty may still have their place in the public school system, but then again, maybe it doesn't. As a parent of four, I am fully aware of what is going on our there. I understand that girls are going with girls and boys with boys and I even understand, at least I think I do, why. Part of it is the curiosity that comes with being sexually aroused. Part of it comes from who you connect better with. For some, it's about your past and perhaps leaving behind that part of you that was hurt - or for some, finding that part of your past that was loved. I understand why women LOVE gay men. Being friends with someone who is gay allows you all of the emotional intimacy and social companionship, without the pressure of sex. Very nice, in fact, I would dare to confess that one of the people I wish I could be friends with happens to be the store manager of our local Lane Bryant Store. Pretty sure he's gay. He sure sets a mean and fabulous store display. He knows what jewelry goes with what outfit, and he loves women for what they are, not for whatever sex symbol that may be floating around out there. He's awesome, so nice - the kind of person any girl would love to be friends with.

But it comes back to the fact that the details of what makes homosexuals like to make love to someone of the same sex - and the details of what makes heterosexuals prefer to make love to someone of the opposite sex - it doesn't belong in the schools. It's like religion. It's raw emotion for all involved and it needs to be discussed with sensitivity...in a way that the schools can't do on a mass basis. Keeping it out of the schools allows parents to use their own judgement.

Protect the innocence of children. Stop this legislation from robbing them of their childhood.
This Harvey Milk Day legislation would rob every parent of the right to do this. It is misguided on the part of the GLBT community. Equal rights means EQUAL. Anyone reading this who understands my point of view? Speak up! You can do this by calling the Governors office in California and voicing your opinion. Then pass the word to everyone you know. Here's how:

This call will only take about 30 seconds to complete.

Call Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger at 916-445-2841. Listen to the recorded message and press in the following order:

1 (English)
2 (legislation)
1 (SB572)
2 (against)

read the actual proposed bill here:

Good Family Living

Another blog, another day. So it is with almost everything in my life. I wish that life were more exciting, and yet, I thrive on routine and predictability. When I say exciting, I mean exciting in the way that it would be to, say, go to Paris, then Greece, then Vienna.... I'm looking for a life like this picture. Exciting color and a good dose of pattern. Nice. Summer is the time to be living the good life. It's relaxing to a fault. Too much relaxation and no structure make me go crazy. I am not one of those women who thrive because of my O.C.D. tendencies. I know, I know, my house would be cleaner, our clothes would be lined up more perfectly and all of my meals would be on time and whole grained and filled with nutritious items that a two year old would beg for. (Ha, ha, ha.)My life is not run by the clock, rather a predictable rhythm that varies from hour to hour, but not so much from day to day.

Ironically, the greatest happiness I have in my life are the very things that bring with them a sense of chaos and disorder. Those four little beings who seem to be the bearer of Murphy's Law, albeit with a smile and a hug. The day ends well when I can say that I handled whatever came my way with a normal voice. In other words, losing my temper or raising my voice out of sheer frustration are equal to the failing of a day, a day gone bad, strike that one out and bring in a fresh one 'cause I'm playing the denial game and it's goin' strong. Speaking to the kids with respect and love amount to more than scrubbing the floor (again) or cleaning the toilet (again) or wiping greasy fingerprints off of windows (yes, again). Summer tries my patience. It's hard for the kids, though they won't admit it, because they also thrive of predictability and routine.

I am also not one of the thousands of women out there who either care that this is ever read by anyone, or hope to make millions of dollars by sharing the wisdom I have gleaned over the years. I am not The Meanest Mom, or An Angel named Fie Fie. I am a person who has reached the greatest goal I have had in life four times over. They have names. E., J., L., and LR. LR is my baby and 13 months old. While I am in mourning over passing the days of having a baby in the house, I also feel like life is really beginning now. E. is going into second grade and since the last two years were spent at a Private Christian School in a somewhat sheltered-from-the-world existence, I am gearing up to have the birds and the bees talk with her. The Talk is complicated by the cringing fact that I will have to, eventually, answer and explain how homosexuals want to be married and have babies but they don't have those parts.

For the record, I am a firm advocate of equal rights, no matter what your sexual preference, color, religion etc. I want to hear more about the GLBT community pushing for Civil Union Laws, like those found in Europe. Civil Union Laws would give them rights to having insurance, hospital visitation, tax filing privileges etc. I don't believe that the constitution of the US needs to be revised by changing the definition of marriage. I hate that so much of the above issue is the GLBT community shoving their sexual pref. out into public, along with a demand that we shake our heads yes and give them a pat on the back telling them that whatever they are doing sexually is normal and okay. For instance, the "Kiss-In" that has been staged at various parts of the country. Is this really about equal rights, or is it about two guys right to bring each other to orgasm in public; something that wouldn't be tolerated by the public if they were straight either.

I called this blog Good Family Living because I plan on using it to make a record of the ways that I make my house a home while living on a school-teachers budget. Recipes, short-cuts and the option to vent once in a while about anything and everything will find a way onto these pages. While I would love to have the ability to jet off to far-off places, just for fun - I can't complain because the life I have, though simple and sometimes monotonous, is a good life. Just a reminder...my motivation for writing these things down is four-fold. Their names are E., J., L., and LR.

Last night I made my Grandma's recipe for Minestrone Soup as part of an effort to use up one of the half-dozen zucchini sitting on my counter. I was remembering the first time that I made this as a newly-wed. After asking my Mom for the recipe, I was somewhat put off by the ingredients. Plowing forward I followed the recipe and it was perfect! Just like I remembered. So if the addition of Bean with Bacon Soup makes you raise your eyebrows...trust me, it's good.

Maurine's Minestrone Soup

Mix the following ingredients in large stock pot.

12 cups of beef stock. (broth)
4 cups of water
Bring Liquid to a Boil then add:
1 lb. dry macaroni
2 cups sliced carrots
1 cup chopped green onions
1 teaspoon dried sweet basil
1 can Campbell's Bean with Bacon soup. undiluted
1 8oz. can tomato sauce

Boil for 15 minutes, then add

1 medium-large Zucchini sliced,then halved or quartered. (depending on preference and size of squash.

Boil for 15 more minutes.

Serve hot, topped with grated Parmesan Cheese.