My Unabashedly PRO LGBT Song...and how I've now changed

a reply to: TheElectricPriest

PS: Has anyone listened to the damned song?!?

I did, and I liked it
How come you don't have more of a presence on youtube? I would love to hear more songs of yours.

As for the post I totally agree with you.I don't judge people based on sexual preferences; I've had friends and co-workers I didn't even know they were gay until other people pointed that out. I couldn't care less. They were just people to me.
And I've met people who all they had was some kind of distasteful sexual promiscuity flagging it in everybody's face, trying to shove it down everyone's throat, living through it and for it. That kind of person, straight or gay or whatever could never have my support.
I'm completely ok with people being different in their personal preferences, and some more crazy different than others. I'm not ok with making crazy the norm and shaming me into silence so they can feel better about their craziness.

I know nothing about the LGBT community. I have a couple close gay friends who aren't my gay friends..they are just my friends. Today is a bit different than 20 years ago, or hell, even 10 years ago so most thoughts on their mind isn't trying to struggle on getting certain rights...its just normal concerns like everyone else has.

I am not sure what the lgbt "community" is up to as it isn't really in my scope, nor seemingly in theirs...maybe they are still doing some good (there is of course still areas of concern in the nation that needs organized groups for help), but lets not make the mistake of labelling an entire group of movement with the loudest and most insane of said group. I don't think all republicans are flat earth racists, I dont think all democrats are neo-socialist trans-furrykins or whatever, and not all lgbt community folks are trying to push the homosexual lifestyle as somehow better...yeah, all groups have those elements of absurdity in them, and of course the media loves to point cameras at the absurd simply to get views (nothing sells more than absurdity and rage), but in perspective, there is the majority that may associate with such groups and be perfectly reasonable and normal.

Anyhow, good on you OPs for getting out of your early programming...As you move on and are feeling "betrayed", just be careful not to have the extremists (of any group) color your views of an entire demographics simply because the media loves to reward bad behavior

originally posted by: NightSkyeB4Dawn
a reply to: Anathros

Complacency has created a society were the majority has fallen under the control of the minority.

As long as all we do is bitch and post, we will continue to see the society that we desire continue to fail. You can't expect a successful harvest when you ignore the weeds and allow the diseased plants to infect the rest of the crop.

Society isn't failing...the trash gets picked up, mail delivered, etc.
What society is doing...and constantly doing since the starting of society, is evolving to a new way of thinking. New isn't necessarily always good or bad, just reflective of new ideas...but typically those ideas are based off of a desire to improve things where it can be improved.

Not sure who the minority/majority is you are discussing...but I think you might be wrong here...society isn't controlled by a minority of anything in a republic (except if you want to discuss the whole corporatism thing), but its controlled by the majority thinking.
A good example is the pot laws...there are some states that have it legal recreationally...most ppl dont care in those states...some still do (a minority) and no doubt that minority see it as somehow the druggys have taken over and the moral fabric of society is failing...but thats just their view..and their view is now the minority.
I think things are working as they are meant to in regards to the evolution of society.

a reply to: WhiteHat

Well, firstly, let me thank you for being the first, and so far as I know the only person to listen to the song which, believe it or not, was sort of the underlying theme of the post (the initial intent, anyway, though it may have taken on a bit of a life of its own). Seriously, I appreciate it and your kind words.

I do have a few more of my songs posted on another channel of the same name, I lost the ability to get onto that channel when I changed my password once and subsequently lost it, couldn't recover the channel, that whole rig-a-marole, so if I have a "one off" like the song I posted here I just have to use a new channel. Anyway, I'll link you to a song here and if you'd like to hear some more just link that channel and I've a few on there. I appreciate it by the way and I do hope you enjoy the tunes...believe me when I say that for musicians having others listen and enjoy your music is somewhat akin to crack (never actually done crack, but none-the-less an apropos comparison).

I'd certainly like to thank you very much for your words as well. I don't know if you were able to catch one of my earlier responses, but I'm seriously blown away by the responses I've been receiving in regards to this OP. It's actually calming me down. I can't believe that, but I put something out there and the people, such as yourself, who rose to the occasion are actually enlarging my perspective and I feel a greater sense of calm now then when I began. That's amazing to me...I certainly did not expect it. And so for that I certainly thank you...

a reply to: SaturnFX

Well you've certainly a very enlightened view on society, and I honestly do appreciate it. I think that I'll try to incorporate some of your thoughts into my greater philosophy as it seems to engender a sincere peace inside of you...something I certainly want.

I said to another in this thread that I may experiment with unplugging for awhile, and I think that's not the worst idea I've ever had. Perhaps the vocal minority is getting to me disproportionately to their actual influence. I'm telling you, I just can't stand the madness, and the arrogance. I keep going back to that...arrogance. I just find it so arrogant for these people to enter our lives and dictate our speech and even our thoughts, that if you espouse a position contrary to "theirs" then you're demonized. It's stifling, and when someone is stifled the feelings of frustration that inevitably surface are, well...inevitable.

Anyway, like everyone else who has responded, I certainly want to offer you my sincere thanks, and like everyone else please know that your words of kindness and wisdom have actually helped me. How often do you get to come onto ATS and respond to someone's rant and that they come away better for it...pretty rare I'd say. I think this was somehow a blessed thread.

a reply to: TheElectricPriest

You're very welcome I'm an artist too so I know the feeling.
The second video is not working but I've found your other channel.
I hope you continue to sing your message!

Edit: now the video is working lol

There is only the Human community.

People who are few who are willing to harm the many so they may identify themselves as different....now just think about that....oh yes it is harm....it is contrived ...and it is extremely harmful when you espouse the wants(not needs) of the few over he needs of the many.

Wants and needs....people want to identify in unique ways and they need to undermine humanitarian and social values and structures to do so...and finally they are ...willing....to do anything it takes at any cost to support their quest to be simply identified differently than others.

originally posted by: one4all
There is only the Human community.

People who are few who are willing to harm the many so they may identify themselves as different....now just think about that....oh yes it is harm....it is contrived ...and it is extremely harmful when you espouse the wants(not needs) of the few over he needs of the many.

Wants and needs....people want to identify in unique ways and they need to undermine humanitarian and social values and structures to do so...and finally they are ...willing....to do anything it takes at any cost to support their quest to be simply identified differently than others.

So what I think that you're saying (and that really everyone has been saying) is that these "few" are coloring my perspective overall. I suppose that's probably right. I suppose that their are many who would say that that is exactly what they're trying to do, and by allowing it to happen in my life I'm actually a check mark in their 'win' column. Well, I certainly don't want to be that...I do think I need to step back and re-evaluate everything with a fresh set of eyes. Peace to you...

originally posted by: WhiteHat
a reply to: TheElectricPriest

You're very welcome

I'm an artist too so I know the feeling.
The second video is not working but I've found your other channel.
I hope you continue to sing your message!

Edit: now the video is working lol

Well you're pretty awesome WhiteHat (and I dig your avatar by the way). I will, undoubtedly, continue the message, and if you have some available (you say you're an artist but you don't mention your medium, so I'm not certain what you "do")...anyway, I would truly truly love to be able to experience some of your art...if you don't mind.

a reply to: TheElectricPriest

My avatar is my own digital painting lol so thank you.
I've posted some of my works here on ATS but to not derail your thread any further I'll PM you a link to my website (not sure if I'm allowed "self-promotion").

originally posted by: TheElectricPriest

So what I think that you're saying (and that really everyone has been saying) is that these "few" are coloring my perspective overall. I suppose that's probably right. I suppose that their are many who would say that that is exactly what they're trying to do, and by allowing it to happen in my life I'm actually a check mark in their 'win' column. Well, I certainly don't want to be that....

Equivalent to a *like* on face book?

There would be less hang ups without them!!

originally posted by: WhiteHat
a reply to: TheElectricPriest

My avatar is my own digital painting lol so thank you.
I've posted some of my works here on ATS but to not derail your thread any further I'll PM you a link to my website (not sure if I'm allowed "self-promotion").

You are insanely, sickly, unbelievably talented. Yes, please don't use this thread to self-promote, but simply because I don't think enough people are going to look at this thread. You should be self-promoting when more can see, and if you don't do it, I just might have to do it for you. You're just...unbelievable. From the bottom of my heart...wow. I'll write to you later...

I doubt that a song could change your mind and that you have fully supported LBGT stuff all along and are trolling people. Can you show a real example of you being "mean" to queer people? I doubt it.

originally posted by: Fools
I doubt that a song could change your mind and that you have fully supported LBGT stuff all along and are trolling people. Can you show a real example of you being "mean" to queer people? I doubt it.

I am taking this back. I feel I may have missed something here in regard to the point the OP is trying to make. Will read again and listen to song and then comment again.

originally posted by: Fools

originally posted by: Fools
I doubt that a song could change your mind and that you have fully supported LBGT stuff all along and are trolling people. Can you show a real example of you being "mean" to queer people? I doubt it.

I am taking this back. I feel I may have missed something here in regard to the point the OP is trying to make. Will read again and listen to song and then comment again.

Hey, I just jumped on and saw your first post, was a tad confused, and then saw your second. I just wanted to say thanks for taking a moment of recognition and some self-correction. I actually really admire that...it's increasingly rare. I'm glad you're going to give the OP a closer look, listen to the song, and I look forward to your input...

originally posted by: TheElectricPriest

First let me say: Awesome song. I too am surprised you don't have more of a YouTube presence. I'll have to check out what you do have.

As to this thread: Wow, so many great responses here. I too am surprised-- and pleased! --at how many positive comments there are. It gives me hope that maybe we haven't all retreated so far into our corners that we can't have a reasonable discussion about... well, any of the things that seem to divide us as a society. There are a lot of thoughtful comments that I want to chime in on, but not tonight; I want more time to really think about what people are saying. In the meantime, I really wanted to address this comment of yours:

So what I think that you're saying (and that really everyone has been saying) is that these "few" are coloring my perspective overall. I suppose that's probably right. I suppose that their are many who would say that that is exactly what they're trying to do, and by allowing it to happen in my life I'm actually a check mark in their 'win' column. Well, I certainly don't want to be that...I do think I need to step back and re-evaluate everything with a fresh set of eyes. Peace to you...

I think there's a lot of truth in that-- the idea that the loud voices of the few color our overall perspective, and those few don't necessarily reflect the position of the many. Taking a step back and looking at things with fresh eyes is a great idea, because it really is easy to get caught up in, as the go-to ATS insult says, the "X-wing" (insert your own political/social affiliation here) echo chamber to the point where ALL you hear are the voices of the radical extreme.

On the other hand, I think it's extremely dangerous to discount the power of that small group of strident voices-- not just on the issues you bring up but on nearly all the divisive issues facing us all right now. Because those small but extremely loud factions are, like it or not, increasingly shaping public policy and even law. I don't want to derail the thread or get into an internet shouting match by listing specific topics, but just look at some of the recent news headlines-- not the merely salacious ones but the ones pertaining to actual laws. Those extreme factions are shaping the rules we all must live by, merely by dint of being SO loud and SO in-your-face even if they don't represent the attitudes, beliefs, positions, morals, etc. of the vast majority.

You talked somewhere in this thread about unplugging for a while, and that too is a good idea. A steady diet of politics and conspiracy does make the world seem like a much scarier place than it really is. On the other hand, don't unplug completely because like it or not, stuff IS going on and unplugging doesn't make it go away. To mashup "be open-minded, but not so open-minded that your brain falls out" and "just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you," I say:

To distance yourself and get some perspective is good. But do keep a cautious eye on what's going on; turn your back completely and you'll be blindsided when the mob turns out to stone you in the public square for whatever the trespass of the week is.

Great thread. And again, great song.

Hello TheElectricPriest!

I think in the end that gay, lesbian, bi and and transgender people simply need to feel like they can come and go and live their lives like everyone else does without a group of rednecks pounding the crap out of em while out to grab a bite to eat or a drink or dance or whatever it is they're doing.

Same goes for those who have interracial marriages. Sometimes when 1st meeting interracial couples I can see a bit of uncertainty in their eyes until I offer a kind greeting and warm welcome.

Just like your gay neighbor you took up for in your 1st post, he didn't deserve the hatred he received with the 3 ruffians and it was nice of you to jump in and bail him out. The hatred they showed, they learned as kids from old ways of thinking. Its passed down like racism was to our grandfathers. That's probably why they try to reach the kids with this type of thinking. Kids can be vicious even at an early age and get on an idea and act on it with wolf pack mentality so they have to sway their thinking early IMHO.

All the above mentioned people up until a few years ago when this movement of acceptance started have no doubt been harassed, killed, beat, fired, run out of town, financially ruined, homes burned, cars burned and no telling what else.

I didn't realize that there are so many people born with the wrong genitalia and some have both genitalia.
So where do they go to the bathroom? Someone says," I don't care its not my problem, build a 3rd restroom in every establishment".

There just might be a few of those people that actually read this very post. Folks who struggle with that very question. Where do I go to the restroom? If we were born normal it doesn't concern us but for a few people it is a real concern.

When they started on the transgender and the restroom thing it seems to have upset a few.
You know like ok you rammed the Gay and lesbian thing down our throats 24/7 on television and we gradually accepted it. Now they're cool long as they aren't hurting anyone and stay at arms length.

We laughed at John Ritter pretending to be gay to the landlord so he wouldn't look like he was sleeping with 2 girls on 3's company. The preacher man thought it to be a trick of the devil. That is if the devil can get you to laugh at something, little by little you will accept it and damn if we haven't slowly accepted LGB and now their asking for T and Q. WTF?

A person may grow up with total unacceptance of gay or lesbian life style their entire life but then have a child that grows up to be a what? A total disappointment under the old way of thinking if they are gay, lesbian or bi. But with a bit of awareness being put forth it helps to curve out the negativity and hatred towards such individuals.
It does seem sometimes like they over do it a bit but to squelch such almost world wide hatred, the more the message gets out the more accepted and safe these people will feel and be.

Nice to meet ya!

a reply to: TheElectricPriest


Everytime I've tried to reply to this I havent been able to finish. It's just too deep of a topic to really say everything I'd like to say. (EDIT- it looks like I said a lot but I had a lot more) But basically, yes, it's a shame what the over zealous activists have done... Theyve geared up to fight ww3 and it turns out the battle was more like Grenada. But they still have lots of weapons and ammo and soldiers ready to fight, so they have to pick fights in order to be able to declare a victory and feel like they did something for the cause. A lot of people are suffering this same phenomenon. Like the famous speech in Fight Club said, our generation doesn't have a ww2 or anything to expend our craving for adventure and for an enemy to defeat, so we fight amongst each other.

I used to get hit on by gays quite a bit, when I was younger and a lot more social, constantly bored, always wanting to go out, and that didnt turn me against the community. I still wanted them to have their rights. But now, just because of all the insanity, I'm just wondering if this whole thing wasnt some kind of a scam.

I'm not an expert so I cant articulate it just yet, but, there are certain things, financial loopholes, that are possible when two people are married.

I can imagine the elites in a situation, because they are always controlling their power through marriages, I can imagine them thinking, this would be much easier for us to do this if we could have same sex marriages. When the marriage is fake anyway, who cares if you're actually attracted to your fiance?

All their marriages are fake. So you could have one businessman "fall in love" and marry another businessman. If one gets into some legal or financial trouble, they divorce so the one who's not in trouble just happens to take their hubby for everything theyve got because they just happened to have the better lawyer, and now this person who was about to be sued or fined for hundreds of millions of dollars is broke. These people, due to their web of connections, can usually "smell trouble" coming from a ways away so they can prepare for it months in advance.

It's a scam for criminals to protect their assets.
And I'm sure their financial wizards have many other ways to use this to their benefit.

And they used stories of gay lovers unable to visit their dying lover in the hospital because they weren't their legal husband or wife, in order to pluck at our heartstrings.

I wasnt married to my girlfriend and had no problem sleeping at her bedside for 11 days waiting to see if she would ever wake up, even though she was brought in unconscious and unable to give such permission. Even if she called all the hospitals in the area on some previous day to give them permission in case she ever went there, they didn't ask my name or check my ID or anything. I'm just wondering how much of a problem this really is or was. If the hospitals had a policy to allow this for hetero couples but not gays, then that policy is what needed to be addressed, we didn't have to have gay marriage to make this happen.

I'm not against gay marriage in and of itself... It just makes me suspicious now what the motivations really were.

That and it's just kinda lame that we can hardly ever have an honest discussion without some pretentious snarky ahole saying something like "Why dont we just go back to the days of hanging gays?"

I wouldnt even bother to repeal gay marriage, even if I was against it, which I'm not. Marriage as a whole has lost its meaning, and this happened a long time before gay marriage was a thing, so its not their fault.

Sex was to be only for married couples, and marriage was to facilitate the production of children. When sex became a whenever, whoever thing, marriage lost its meaning. So really, who cares who gets married, who gets divorced...?

We should care...but...

There is no point trying to maintain the sanctity of an institution nobody takes seriously anymore. It would be more honest and more productive to accept the truth. It's just a legal contract. That's all it is anymore. Love can still exist. It just has nothing to do with that document whereas in the past there was presumably some indirect relation.

Facing facts sooner will be healthier than the alternatives. We dont want this to be true. We want marriage to have meaning. So we pretend. When we stop pretending, maybe something can be done about it.


EDIT- Sorry, I forgot to comment on it, but I did hear the song, you've got an additional like amd subscriber now and the view count was at 137 while I viewed, which I found interesting. (shame that thread only got 26 flags. I thought it was good... Oh but not as good as this one though! I mean it's okay, if you're into that sort of thing...) It seems like you know your way around an acoustic guitar which is awesome, and I think it's really cool that you took the time to reach out and let people know they are accepted and cared about. I was a tad bit distracted and had a hard time hearing the lyrics so I'll give it another listen tomorrow (it's late, people are sleeping, so I had it on a lower volume), but I didnt miss that you have some skill with that guitar.

a reply to: SaturnFX

Good points all around.

Even change for the good can be a painful birthing process. We shouldn't let this worry us too much. All is as it should be and deep down I know that...