Gay Rights and Euclid's First Common Notion

Things which equal the same thing also equal one another.
- Euclid's First Common Notion

Euclid of Alexandria (325 BC - 265 BC)
Greek mathematician, often referred to as the "Father of Geometry"


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.

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.

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 - things which equal the same thing also equal one another. And, in the end, those who oppose full equality cannot make 2 + 2 = 5.
 

You're Not A Boy Anymore

My first memory of you is as a fuzzy image in a sonogram photo that your beaming father proudly showed the office.  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.

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.

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.

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.

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 cornerstone in the rest of your life.

Maintain your intellectual curiosity and always ask 'why.'  Always.

Aspire.  You don't have to aspire to greatness.  Aspire to be a great person.  Reach farther than you think possible.  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.

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.

Be an individual.  Do not follow the masses.  Move to the beat of a different drummer, but not for the sake of being different.

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.

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.

Be compassionate and tolerant.  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.

Wisely choose your friends.  Commit to those that matter.  Strive to make a difference in their life.  Do not cast your lot with fools, bigots, or bullies -- they'll cast long shadows in your life.

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.

Read and reread Rudyard Kipling's sage advice in his timeless poem 'If.'  Come back to it from time to time.

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.

Your life is full of promise and hopefully adventure, too!

Remember, Nicholas, you're not a boy anymore.  You're a young man.  BECOME YOUR OWN MAN!

He Just Called Us Homos :: What Should I Have Done?

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.


We both heard what he said but kept walking, completely disregarding the fool.  


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.


I was impressed with Ben's decisive and assertive action, but much less impressed with my lack thereof.


What should I have done?  What would you have done?