tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57960960561993561522024-03-14T00:29:45.026-07:00Adam's • LIST | My Life BlogMusings on the who-what-where-when of my life.Adam Todd Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15593204731848307243noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5796096056199356152.post-55584559845574960782013-05-29T16:30:00.000-07:002013-05-29T18:11:58.472-07:00Gay Rights and Euclid's First Common Notion<span class="userContent"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Things which equal the same thing also equal one another. </strong></span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>- Euclid's First Common Notion</strong><br /><br /> Euclid of Alexandria (325 BC - 265 BC)<br /> Greek mathematician, often referred to as the "Father of Geometry"</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What does math have to do with anything 'gay' you ask? It never ceases to amaze me how virtually every question, if not every question, has a mathematical answer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently, in my 2nd or 3rd viewing of "Lincoln", I realized how seminal was Euclid's First Common Notion to Lincoln's success in abolishing slavery. Lincoln narrowed the argument from that of "full equality" (even to former slaves) to that of "full equality under the law." Lincoln had the wisdom and the practicality to reason that "full equality" was the assured result of "full equality under the law" - since black and white are equal under the law they are equal to one another. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, so, too, it is with our fight for equality - well, almost. Unlike the Democrats in 1865 who adamantly argued that black people were unequal, most of today's bigots smile and tell us "yes, you're equal," while they deny us this piece or that piece of equality. In so doing, not only do they violate our constitutional guarantee of eqaul protection - more importantly, they violate the laws of mathematics - <strong>things which equal the same thing also equal one another</strong>. And, in the end, those who oppose full equality cannot make 2 + 2 = 5.</span><br />
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</span>Adam Todd Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15593204731848307243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5796096056199356152.post-71466547267978503892010-06-12T16:33:00.000-07:002011-06-01T14:40:01.352-07:00You're Not A Boy Anymore<div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064710" sourceindex="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="70644e0" sourceindex="5" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064160" sourceindex="6" style="font-size: 13px;">My first memory of you is </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064680" sourceindex="7" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">as a fuzzy image in a sonogram photo that your beaming father proudly showed the office. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="70647d0" sourceindex="8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Most of the time I remember you as that little kid of about two or three sitting on my lap with a big grin on your face.</span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064310" sourceindex="9"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="70644b0" sourceindex="10" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064740" sourceindex="11" /> </span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064400" sourceindex="12"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064510" sourceindex="13" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="70647a0" sourceindex="14" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">You've always been a good boy. You've always made your mom and dad, γιαγιά, and your uncle Adam very proud. We've never had to worry about the kid that you were or what kind of person you would become.</span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064950" sourceindex="15"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064810" sourceindex="16" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="705c140" sourceindex="17" /> </span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064840" sourceindex="18"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="70649a0" sourceindex="19" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064390" sourceindex="20" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">For the past eighteen years, whether you realized it or not, the foundation for your life was laid. You are fortunate that your foundation is strong. It includes the love, admiration, and support of your family, the discipline to achieve instilled, the education important to success, the communal embrace of the Greek community, the frivolity of youthful pleasures, and the belief that your life will be good.</span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="70641a0" sourceindex="21"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064920" sourceindex="22" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064720" sourceindex="23" /> </span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064540" sourceindex="24"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="70649d0" sourceindex="25" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064b90" sourceindex="26" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Now, the life that you build on that foundation is left to you. I would never try to tell you who to be or who to become. But, I do have a few thoughts, a few suggestions that I hope you will consider.</span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064a50" sourceindex="27"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064860" sourceindex="28" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="70648d0" sourceindex="29" style="font-size: 13px;"><br siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064b20" sourceindex="30" /> </span></span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="70648a0" sourceindex="31"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064890" sourceindex="32" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064bb0" sourceindex="33" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="70648e0" sourceindex="34" style="font-size: 13px;">Start now by building on your success as a student and continue until that work is complete. Make certain you obtain your degree, and if possible your graduate degree. This will be one of the most consequential endeavors of your life. When temptation leads you to something other than study and high academic achievement, STOP! Finish the task, earn high marks, and graduate (again) with honors. Remember, university isn't about just getting your degree -- it's a cornersto</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7056720" sourceindex="35" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">ne in the rest of your life.</span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064a10" sourceindex="36"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064d50" sourceindex="37" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064c10" sourceindex="38" /> </span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064bf0" sourceindex="39"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064dd0" sourceindex="40" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064d60" sourceindex="41" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Maintain your intellectual curiosity and always ask 'why.' Always.</span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064560" sourceindex="42"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064960" sourceindex="43" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064d80" sourceindex="44" /> </span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064c20" sourceindex="45"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064770" sourceindex="46" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064ed0" sourceindex="47" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Aspire. You don't have to aspire to greatness. Aspire to be a great person. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064aa0" sourceindex="48" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Reach farther than you think possible. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064c90" sourceindex="49" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Build your successful life by building on accumulated small successes. The cumulative effect is monumental. But, don't be afraid of failure. You'll use those, too, as mortar.</span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064ef0" sourceindex="50"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064bd0" sourceindex="51" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064a80" sourceindex="52" /> </span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064f90" sourceindex="53"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064e30" sourceindex="54" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064a90" sourceindex="55" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Expand your universe. Really get to know people, places, and cultures other than your own. Your life will be much richer having experienced something other than just vanilla or chocolate.</span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064fd0" sourceindex="56"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a1d0" sourceindex="57" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a090" sourceindex="58" /> </span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064fc0" sourceindex="59"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064c60" sourceindex="60" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a0f0" sourceindex="61" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Be an individual. Do not follow the masses. Move to the beat of a different drummer, but not for the sake of being different.</span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064e70" sourceindex="62"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064a00" sourceindex="63" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a030" sourceindex="64" /> </span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a180" sourceindex="65"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064e90" sourceindex="66" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064d20" sourceindex="67" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Love what you do. Find something you are passionate about and do that. Make what you love your life's work so that you aren't working all your life just to pay for things.</span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a140" sourceindex="68"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a2d0" sourceindex="69" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a0d0" sourceindex="70" /> </span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064ac0" sourceindex="71"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a270" sourceindex="72" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a230" sourceindex="73" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Give. Make a difference in other people's lives, but do it when no one is looking and there's no credit in it for you.</span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064ce0" sourceindex="74"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a0a0" sourceindex="75" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a260" sourceindex="76" /> </span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064790" sourceindex="77"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a010" sourceindex="78" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a320" sourceindex="79" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Be compassionate and tolerant. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a510" sourceindex="80" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">If your 'crowd' is casting stones or making fun of others -- then find a new crowd, but not before you stand up for the one they denigrate.</span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a5d0" sourceindex="81"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a100" sourceindex="82" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a440" sourceindex="83" style="font-size: 13px;"><br siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a590" sourceindex="84" /> </span></span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a0c0" sourceindex="85"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a330" sourceindex="86" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a540" sourceindex="87" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a350" sourceindex="88" style="font-size: 13px;">Wisely choose your friends. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a250" sourceindex="89" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Commit to those that matter. Strive to make a difference in their life. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a480" sourceindex="90" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Do not cast your lot with fools, bigots, or bullies -- they'll cast long shadows in your life.</span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a750" sourceindex="91"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a610" sourceindex="92" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a340" sourceindex="93" /> </span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a7d0" sourceindex="94"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a710" sourceindex="95" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a4d0" sourceindex="96" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Look at life through a prism. It's easy to become myopic. Learn more. Do more. See more. Be more. Don't settle for seeing life through a telescope.</span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a390" sourceindex="97"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a7a0" sourceindex="98" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a620" sourceindex="99" /> </span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="7064e80" sourceindex="100"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a8d0" sourceindex="101" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a400" sourceindex="102" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Read and reread Rudyard Kipling's sage advice in his timeless poem <b siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a6c0" sourceindex="103"><a href="http://www.everypoet.com/archive/poetry/Rudyard_Kipling/kipling_if.htm" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a870" sourceindex="104">'If.'</a> </b>Come back to it from time to time.</span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a830" sourceindex="105"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a640" sourceindex="106" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a570" sourceindex="107" /> </span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a860" sourceindex="108"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a680" sourceindex="109" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a4c0" sourceindex="110" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Now you're on your way. It's an exciting time. You have the love of your family and your uncle Adam. You've earned our admiration and respect.</span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a920" sourceindex="111"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706ab10" sourceindex="112" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706abd0" sourceindex="113" /> </span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a420" sourceindex="114"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706aa40" sourceindex="115" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706ab90" sourceindex="116" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Your life is full of promise and hopefully adventure, too!</span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a580" sourceindex="117"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a930" sourceindex="118" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><b siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706ab40" sourceindex="119"><br siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a950" sourceindex="120" /> </b></span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706add0" sourceindex="121"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706ac90" sourceindex="122" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a670" sourceindex="123" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><b siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706aac0" sourceindex="124">Remember, Nicholas, you're not a boy anymore. You're a young man. </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706acf0" sourceindex="125" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><b siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706a850" sourceindex="126">BECOME YOUR OWN MAN!</b></span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706abb0" sourceindex="127"><span class="Apple-style-span" siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706ac30" sourceindex="128" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"></span></div><div siber__q92dpb7seovvtbh5__vptr="706ad80" sourceindex="129" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"></div>Adam Todd Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15593204731848307243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5796096056199356152.post-72324840531743246152010-06-07T09:05:00.000-07:002010-06-12T09:15:51.618-07:00He Just Called Us Homos :: What Should I Have Done?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This past Friday evening my friend and I walked through the front door at 3 Fires Lounge in Midtown Sacramento. We were there hanging out with 20+ guys from our local gay men's social group. As we entered the lounge, a drunken shaved-head guy walked toward us. We wouldn't have noticed him but that he feigned a cough while uttering "homos" as he passed.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We both heard what he said but kept walking, completely disregarding the fool. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two seconds later, as I processed his homo-cough, Ben, the bartender, asked what the guy said. As soon as I said "homo" Ben made his way to their table and invited the homo-cougher's party to leave.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was impressed with Ben's decisive and assertive action, but much less impressed with my lack thereof.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What should I have done? What would you have done?</span>Adam Todd Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15593204731848307243noreply@blogger.com3