A Letter to a Senator

Dear Senator Gillibrand:

I would first like to thank you for your positions on...well, almost everything frankly! You are willing to stand up for those without a voice, to stand strong in the face of adversity and ignorant tirades, and to stick at it when it seems that all is lost. For these reasons, you have my staunch admiration and support.

With that said, I would like to encourage you to support the Uniting American Families Act (S.1328). I understand that at this point in a very polar-opposite nation, that it may not make the cut for the comprehensive immigration reform battle, and while I find it disappointing, it is not a shock. That said, I would love to hear that you have chosen to become a co-sponsor of that act, supporting those of us who have no legal recourse in a broken system. Even as a standalone act, my partner and I would have a greater chance of staying together than we do now.

Barbara and I have been together for 5 years, and civil unioned (although I personally say married) for 2 months. I left my native Britain to be here with her, finding any legal means necessary. I started on an F1 visa, which then merged into the F1-OPT. I was lucky enough in this economy to find a sponsoring job in my field, and am currently on an H-1B visa. If the Uniting American Families Act were passed, we would not have had to jump through these hoops, and she could simply have sponsored me to be here with her in the same way that any other, heterosexual couple in love can.

As it stands now, I live in fear that I may lose my job, thus losing my visa status and being ripped away from the family that we have built. For this reason, I am going to Ethiopia to work as a contractor for the World Bank in the hopes that, when I return, it will be on an L1 visa (don't you just love the alphabet soup of the immigration system? I'm unfortunately more familiar with it than I would like), with the aim of expediting my Green Card process, and eradicating my fears that I could be deported at the drop of a hat, or even at my company's whim.

That last paragraph boils down to a very confusing sentence: in order to be in this country with my family, I am traveling to a third world country, because it's easier than staying here and hoping for the best.

Again, I urge you. If this issue comes across your desk in the near future, I hope you will think of me and my family, and help us stay together. Please.

With my respect,
Lisa (One half of SheSquared)

Haiku of Panic

Unfortunately
I have a tendency to
hide when life gets real

Warning - Political Post

***CAUTION*** ***Political Ranting Ahead***

From time to time in this space, I choose to discuss or call out things that are ridiculous to me in the realm of politics, social issues, or other such nonsense. Today, I want to discuss a serious issue I have with the country I love, live in, and try to respect.

It’s getting harder and harder to discern good from bad, honest from shyster, left from right, and all other manner of orientation. My balance is off whenever I put on the television, and I flat out fall over into a warp of anti-gravity if the channel hits Fox news.

Allow me to take up an issue that is heated in the news right now, and as all things in this blog, it’s my opinion, and if you don’t like it, don’t read it.

The “mosque at ground zero, built by and using money that funds terrorists that led the attacks on that day” mess. Can we be real about this? Can I break this down for you all? First issue I have is that it’s a Muslim cultural center, not a mosque. Second issue, it’s not AT ground zero, but several blocks away. Third issue, there is no way to see what money is used, but I am pretty certain that if it were terrorists building it, the government would have figured this out by now.

More troubling are the grumblings from people about how unfair it is since “you can’t go build a Christian church in their country”. Very true. The reason? The USA is founded on freedoms. These freedoms are supposed to include the right to practice any religion. I was proud to hear our President Obama defend this right, even in the face of the uproar and it being an unpopular opinion. It’s religious freedom that sets us so far apart from other countries. If we succumb to the pressure to deny these Muslim believers the right to build a place to gather, commune, and worship – we are NO BETTER than any other country denying these freedoms. If this happens, what comes next? Will we give up on democracy entirely or perhaps only when it suits us?

In this country, you don’t have to agree or even like what someone else does or believes – but you HAVE to respect their right to do or believe it. In addition to the ‘mosque’ fiasco, this applies to Don’t Ask Don’t Tell – what does it matter if the person who is fighting and giving up their life right next to you has a different sexual orientation? You are there for the same reasons, fighting for the same country and rights and freedoms – yet they don’t really have the same rights or freedoms as you do, even at the actual point of risking their lives to defend the idea. It’s hypocrisy at its worst. It’s right there with Marriage Equality. Again, you don’t have to agree with the beliefs or actions of others, but you have to respect their right to live life freely and equally with everyone else. Anything less, and this country is not the land of the free, home of the brave. What’s brave about denying rights to your equal human beings? What’s free about having to hide your life and love while others condemn you?

Try thinking on this a little today, while you observe other people, and your reactions to them. Every moment you encounter someone, you are making snap judgments and evaluations. Just remember that if things were different, or changes occurred, you could be the one denied the right to love who you want, make a family, fight for your country, or praise the god of your choice in the manner of your choosing. It's a thin line we walk to allow ourselves the luxury of thinking we are progressive enough to be equals. So far, this country is failing in this.

Birthday Haiku for Cousin Edward!

Wonderful cousin
We celebrate your birth and
Great big bushy beard

Work Haiku #2

You see right through me
Deep breathing I undertake
I need more coffee

Work Haiku

Trying to be calm
but your malice makes me say
You're a harpy shrew

Haiku 3: Noisy

Otters bark and howl
"I know that you just fed me
But I'm still hungry."

Haiku 2 - Lilith Fair Women- Part 1

Mullets and mom jeans
Spill out from the Lilith Fair
Dykes who just gave up

Haiku For You?

Ok, I'm going to start some random new things on this blog. I was getting serious and heavy, but I want to balance it with the light. So, one thing I shall attempt is haiku for you. Some will be serious, others not. Feel free to share your thoughts and/or submit your own haikus to me via the shemail link on our blog. If we like it, and if Captain Alice lets us, we'll post up one a week.
So, I'll start us off.


Shed your vanity
If your mind can attribute
This haiku for you

Vow Wows

Namaste!! After a wicked amount of requests, Lisa and I have agreed to post the vows we exchanged last week for you all on the blog. We are not posting the video capture publicly, so if you want the link to see it, please contact us personally or leave a comment.
As many of you are aware, I'm all about freedom of speech, expression, and having unfettered equality, so I say this before it goes ANY further -

If you have issues with SSM or CU's, then you need go no further, and please refrain from negative commenting, as it will simply be deleted.

If you like the vows and want to use them or some capacity please feel free. They are my own adaptation from a personal wedding ceremony by Lama Thubten Yeshea traditional lama.

We invoke the "No Thelma Thursday" rule. If it's Thursday, and you're name is Thelma - your laptop will self destruct in fifteen seconds.


On this note, Please enjoy!

Barbara and Lisa's Buddhist Wedding Ceremony


Rev Hatton: “Barbara and Lisa, in the future, happy occasions will come as surely as the morning. Difficult times will come as surely as the night. When things go joyously, find peace within yourselves. When things go badly, find that same peace. To say the words "love and compassion" is easy. But to accept that love and compassion are built upon patience and perseverance is not easy. With this in mind, is it your intention to continue this journey together?”
“It Is”

Buddhist Wedding Prayer

Today we promise to dedicate ourselves completely to each other, with body, speech, and mind.
In this life, in every situation, in wealth or poverty, in health or sickness, in happiness or difficulty, we will work to help each other perfectly.
The purpose of our relationship will be to attain enlightenment by perfecting our kindness and compassion toward all sentient beings.
Lama Thubten Yeshe

Vows
Barbara and Lisa, do you pledge to help each other to develop your hearts and minds, cultivating compassion, generosity, ethics, patience, enthusiasm, concentration and wisdom as you age and undergo the various ups and downs of life; and to transform them into the path of love, compassion, joy and equanimity?
“We do”

Do you pledge to see all difficult circumstances as a challenge to help you grow, to open your hearts, to accept yourselves, and each other; and to generate compassion for others who are suffering? Do you pledge to avoid becoming closed or opinionated, and to help each other to see various sides of situations?
“We do”

Do you pledge to seek to understand yourselves, each other, and all living beings, to examine your own minds continually and to regard all the mysteries of life with curiosity and joy?
“We do”

Do you pledge to preserve and enrich your affection for each other, and to share it with all beings? To take the loving feelings you have for one another and your vision of each other's potential and inner beauty as an example and to radiate this love outwards to all beings?
“We do”

When it comes time to part, do you pledge to reflect on your time together with thankfulness and joy that you met and shared what you have, and acceptance that we cannot hold on to anything forever?
“We do”

Do you pledge to support each other's journey, to continually shine light on each other's virtue, and support individual intuitions, even when it doesn't directly benefit yourself?
“We do”

Do you pledge to remember the disadvantages of ignorance, anger and attachment and instead focus on the kindness of all other beings and your connection to them? Do you pledge to work together for the welfare of others, with all of your compassion, wisdom and skill?
“We do”

Do you pledge day to day, to be patient with yourselves and others, knowing that change comes slowly and gradually, and to seek inspiration from your teachers not to become discouraged?
“We do”

Do you pledge to continuously strive to remember your own Buddha nature, as well as the Buddha nature of all living beings? To maintain the awareness that all things are temporary, and to remain optimistic that you can achieve your greatest potential and lasting happiness.
“We do”


Exchanging of Rings
Rev Hatton: “These rings are the outward and visible symbols of the inward and spiritual bond which unites two loyal hearts in partnership.”
Barbara: “I am honored you wish to be with me.”
Lisa: “I am honored you wish to be with me.”

Pronouncement
Rev Hatton: “By the power vested in me through the wishes of Barbara and Lisa, as well as the blessing of the lineage of their Spiritual Friends, I now pronounce you Loving Wives.” (Brides kiss)
Rev Hatton: “Namaste!”

Presenting and Congratulating the Couple
Rev Hatton: “May I present and congratulate Barbara and Lisa. May the world now see in this unity evidence of your connection, which previously existed only between your hearts.”