Meanings of a Life Cut Short

Through out history, there have been events both joyous and tragic that have altered the lives of millions. The ending of WWII, the treat of nuclear war, assai nation of President Kennedy, and the fall of Saigon just to name a few. On October of 1998 in a small town in Wyoming, the murder of a young man sent shockwaves throughout the community, the nation, and the world. Matthew Sheppard’s vicious murder was a huge turning point for the rights of gays and lesbians all over. However, for those who knew Matthew, it was a huge loss of a son, brother, and friend. Now for the first time since Matthew's death, his mother Judy Sheppard writes about her son in her memoir "The Meaning of Matthew: My Son's Murder in Laramie and a World Transformed''. She talks of Matthew growing up; the sweet loving little boy who cared for others; the confused teenager searching for his identity; and the twenty-one year old victim turned martyr. Ms. Sheppard's book is nothing more than a tribute to Matthew and how the events eleven years ago changed her life.

This past Wednesday, President Obama signed into law the Matthew Sheppard & James Bryd Jr Hate Prevention Act. He told an audience and reporters that signing the bill into law will “strengthen the protections against crimes based on the color of your skin, the faith in your heart, or the place of your birth.” He strongly afirmed his position against hate crimes “Because no one in America should ever be afraid to walk down the street holding the hands of the person they love.” Among those who were in the audience were both Judy and Denis Sheppard and the family of the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy. He had championed the legislation for years before his death not too long ago.

Fourty years back, the thought of an African-American becoming President was unthinkable. The notion for equal rights for all races including gays and lesbians might seem like wishful thinking, but as history has showed us that anything is possible. All human are created equal in the eyes of our creater (be it Jesus, Allah, Buddah). Speaking of which, I would like to say something to all the ultra-religious folks and others who hold ill will towards gays and lesbians: The next time you open your mouth in protest, remember this little saying from grade school. If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything! Didn't God himself say ''Love Thy Neighbor?'' Or how about ''Thou Shall Not Kill?'' Your hatred towards people who live a different lifestyle puts a bad name on yourselfs and your creator. So in retrospect, did Matthew Sheppard died in vain? No, he did not.

Hunger

There is a strange calm before the storm.



I enjoy every moment with caution.


Hope for the best, prepair for the worst.


Even if I'm on my toes, I still get assulted from behind.


But I know who is my attacker: Him.


His face breaches my fragile levees.


Grief's iron fist is choking my throat without mercy.


When the assult is over, I am left with a hunger that not even


an all-you-can-eat buffet can fix.


My soul longs for a mate.
 
 

Tender by Ruth5 featuring Miss Selfridge rings

You Haunt Me

You Haunt Me by Ruth5 on Polyvore.com

When the Spirit Broke

Most of you have heard the saying that time heals all wounds. To that person, I say this: That's total B.S.! When Miles, a dear friend died two years back my wounds were neglected and hidden behind my happy-go-lucky persona. As time passed, the wounds became infected and pretty soon my inner levees were breached. All of my pain, despair, rage, and tears damaged my insides and almost destroyed my sanity. Several months later, I lost another friend to lung cancer. Like Miles, I only knew this fellow through the world wide web. A virtual pen pal. I've made great strides in healing from those two major losses, but I'll never be the same. On the morning of the two year anniversary of Miles' passing, I finished watching ''When the Levees Broke'' the HBO documentary on Hurricane Katrina. One of the survivors, Phyllis Montana-Leblanc, read a poem she wrote ''Not Just The Levees Broke'' (The same title of her memoir. Amazing read, by the way). By the end of her poem, I was sobbing hard. She captured the horror and despair she experienced during and after Katrina. In a very strange way, I can relate to her story and how she glued the broken pieces of her life. My levees are ready for any storm coming my way. I only hope the the levees in New Orleans are just as strong.

Not Just The Levees Broke

By Phyllis Montana-Leblanc

Not just the levees broke

The Spirit broke, my spirit

The families broke apart (I want my momma, my sister, and my nephew back home)

The auction block broke from so many African-American bodies

The sense of direction was broken because of the darkness

There was light from time to time, but they broke away and left us

My being together broke when I fell apart

The smell broke away from my skin when I came out of the waters

The waters that came and stood still, with the bodies of my people, the dogs, shit and piss, rats, snakes and "heard of " alligators

The broken smiles, the broken minds, the broken lives

And you know something?  You wanna know something?  Out of all of this brokenness, I have begun to mend

With God, my deep, deep commitment to infinite strength and to never give up

I am mending

I am coming back.

God willing, for a long, long time

So, when you see the waters

When you see the levees breaking

Know what they really broke along with them...

Who wants a free Spanish lesson?

Forget Rosetta Stone! This short video will teach you the wonderful phrases the Spanish language has to offer. This is courtesy of our good friends across the pond!

Book reviews on the go!

Greeting my fellow book lovers! I'll be doing mini book reviews for those who might not have the time to read a WHOLE two page book review so here are some of the sweet books I've read so far: 

I Heart You, You Haunt Me

Lisa Schroeder

Ava is totally overwhelmed and heartbroken when her boyfriend Jackson dies and she thinks her life is ruined. But just as she is in misery, Jackson finds different ways to communicate with Ava letter her know that love does have a strong and never ending bond that can defy death. Truly an amazing and heartfelt love story in great verse style by the equally extraordinary Lisa Schroeder!

Preserving Memory: The Struggle to Create America's Holocaust Museum
Edward T. Linenthal

With the recent tragedy at the Holocaust Museum of the shootout resulting in the death of Officer Stephen Johns, this would be a great time to go behind the scenes and learn how the Museum came to exist. Lots of tension and drama!

Crazy Love
Leslie Morgan Steiner

Leslie seemed to be living the perfect life: great job at Seventeen, Harvard grad, and a loving boyfriend. But of course, appearance can be deceiving. Conner beat, kicked, choked, threaten, and almost destroyed Leslie with his brute violence. This is NOT a light read, but very important memoir on how this could happen to anyone.

Alrighty, you can get these lovely books at either you local library, bookstore, Amazon, or at Paperbackswap.com

Until then , HAPPY READING!

Not likely to forget

Growing up in Miami, the memory of the Holocaust of World War II was always lurking above my head whether it was seeing "The Diary of Anne Frank'' or visiting the Holocaust Memorial in Miami Beach. One of the first things I remember thinking was how in the world can one man (Hitler) have the influence to nearly wipe out the entire Jewish population in Europe?? Since then, I have taken the liberty of reading many books on what happened and the people who survived. Here are a few that have made an impression on me:

Biographies and Memoirs

Night Elie Wiesel

Once you read ''Night'' you'll never ever forget it. Most of you I'm sure had to have read this for your class at some point or you wanted to do so on your own. This classic cronicles the tale of a young boy whom lives thought the horror of Auschwitz. This was a pick for Oprah's Book Club (about time!).

I Have Lived for A Thousand Years Livia Bitton-Jackson

Young Elli Friedmann's childhood was a time for laughter, playing with friends, and crushes. But that changes when she and her family are forced to leave their home for the ghetto. As the war rages on, she will come face to face with even more tragedy. Yet despite this, she survives and lives to tell her story.

P.S Make sure to read the two other books "My Bridges of Hope'' and "Hello America''

The Nazi Officer's Wife: How One Jewish Woman Survived the Holocaust Edith Hahn Beer

This isn't your ordinary survival story: Edith, who's jewish, was actually MARRIED to a Nazi officer!! With a new identity as a Gentile, she tells of her years with her husband and the horrifing fear of being discovered her true self.

In My Hands: Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer Irene Opdyke

A few brave souls during the Holocaust risked or gave their lives to save as many lives possible. This is one of them.

The World Must Know: The History of the Holocaust as Told in the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Michael Berenbaum

A reminder of my trip to D.C. and the Holocaust Museum, this amazing book gives you a glimpse of one of the darkest periods in history through the museum's perspective.

Fiction

The Diplomat's Wife Pam Jenoff

Marta Nederman has survived the brutal death camps, with help from Paul, an American soldier who she falls for. But when she loses him, she finds love once again with Simon, a British diplomat. But a horrifing chain of events will confront Marta with her past and a deep betrayal. One of the best love stories I've ever read!

Those Who Save Us Jenna Blum

Gripping tale of a mother's painful wartime past and a daughter's quest to uncover the truth.

The Reader Bernhard Schlink

Before you go off and watch the movie (the wonderful Kate Winslet won the Best Actress Oscar for her role as Hanna. Better late than never) please do read the book about a young boy caught in a love affair with a former female guard from Auschwitz.

Rules for the average booklover

Sometimes for me, too much of a good thing isn't very healthy. When I go to the library, I usually walk away with a book or two despite that fact that I have other books I'm reading at home. So what ends up happening I return those books I didn't finish since they're due. So of course, I set up some simple but important rules on the art of reading:

• If your curious about a certain subject, read a book!
  
• If your not enjoying the book your reading, you don't have to finish it (If it's part of an assignment for school, you have to finish it).


• Just like eating, don't overload with too many books, or you'll be bogged down with characters, plots, and the conflicts.


• Make sure you return your books on time.

And remember the most important rule of all:

ENJOY THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF BOOKS!!