Human Rights - Doing What's RIght

OK, I did a silly post this morning and now I'm gonna do a more serious one.

I just got back from a luncheon where USA Network and Comcast were giving a Characters Unite Award to Carla Kelley for her work with the non-profit group The Human Rights Education Center of Utah and for a life of fighting for what's right.

As I sat there listening to the various speakers who are front-line fighters combating hate, intolerance and discrimination, I knew I needed to promote this as well. Not that I don't try to always do that in my daily life any way, but in a more overt way. Publicly. Here.

What kind of things am I talking about - things like sexism, racism, homophobia, intolerance for others' religion, sexual orientation, gender orientation, height, weight, skin color, ethnic heritage, favorite ice cream flavor. Many of you might be saying, 'Ice cream flavor? Why would I condemn anyone based on that?' I'm saying why would you condemn anyone for any of the others any more than that one.

As one of the speakers (Saundra V. Stokes, Executive Director Inclusion Center for Community and Justice) said, "If you know better, do better." Simple and to the point. Not that any of us is ever perfect and that we won't make mistakes, but it's little things that can change the world. Things like saying that's not okay when someone makes a joke or a comment or acts in a way that is not okay.

Prejudice is learned.  Remember in the musical South Pacific when the American lieutenant has to face the fact that even though he loves the Asian girl, he knows he can't take her home to the family and sings the song about prejudice and how you 'have to be carefully taught'? That's what I'm talking. Let's reteach something better, something that says we're all human, we're all going through the same stuff, we all love, we all feel, we all need one another.  As Carla Kelley said during her speech (I paraphrase), we don't have to like every one, but we need to respect everyone's right to be themselves. We are all unique individuals, so let's honor all that cool diversity rather than punish each other for it.  Let's respect our similarities rather than disparage our differences.

Let's do better. Be nicer. Teach patience and respect for everyone. We're all human folks. We all go through what is referred to as the human condition. There are universal truths... they apply to us all. Let's try to remember that. Me included. I will endeavor to do better. Because I do know better. I hope you'll join me in this worthy choice. How we live our lives is a choice. Tolerance and kindness and understanding... these are my choice.

I forgot.... Also - get involved. Wherever you are.  If you're in Salt Lake City, here's Carla Kelley's place: The Human Rights Education Center of Utah.

Go forth and do better :)

Cell Phones... techy little things that they are

So, last Friday I dropped my cell phone. I've dropped it before. It has a protective case that's a little beat up, but it has always come through for me. My Samsung Galaxy s3 intact. But last Friday not so much. I think my s3 was feeling unloved.

I've been doing a lot of cell phone shopping lately. Not for me, mind you. For others. I was perfectly happy with my phone. Loved my phone. In that platonic, machine-loving way. Anywho, my phone, I believe, was feeling unloved because of all this cell phone shopping energy I was putting out. So, Friday - a random slip of my hand and my cell phone goes down in a parking lot. I firmly believe it jumped. I'm not worried until I pick her up and her glass is shattered. She hit right on the corner in the perfect spot to pop the case off and spiderweb the screen. She still worked - thankfully. But she was broken.

I was managing. Using her and getting by. Looking into ways to replace the glass screen, but now her battery was running down uber fast too. Screen replacement was not going to be cheap and if I had to get a new battery too - might as well get a new phone. I told her - my phone - I wasn't shopping for another phone to replace her. I told her I was happy with her, that she didn't need to do that... but it was too late. :(

So, last night I got a Galaxy s5. Now, I'm having to go thru all that initial romance stuff, where you get used to one another, figure out the little things that matter and those that don't. It's early. I really like this phone too. I'll love her soon, but it's early.

There are things I like better already and things that will grow on me. Some are just changing an existing habit since they moved things around. Like the menu button.

The moral of this story is that you need to tell your phone you love them every so often. Reassure them of your affection so they don't commit suicide. Really. Really really. Not kidding!

I did blog... over at the Fictorians

So in an effort to be lazy I shall direct your attention to the Fictorians' website to see my blog post from yesterday. I'm talking about other fiction writing I learn from in both good and bad ways. If any of of you were reading my blog back in the day when I made H read Atlas Shrugged and she made me read a wicked boring book then you'll remember which boring book and author to which I am referring. If not.... where were you? Back in the day?  When I was suffering this book?

I know its a little lazy, but... I am a fundamentally lazy person if I get to be.

I'm still interested in any thoughts any one may have :)