Most of the people I have asked this question, reply more or less with the same answer, “To be gay is about all the things that give me identity and make me a person”. Some go on to add it’s about self-awareness, emotions, relationships, intimacy and sexual desire.
By this time I begin to scratch my head, as I start to analyse the statement, “so apart from the sexual desire, you are exactly like a heterosexual”, I reply. There is some agitation, and a response of “what you mean”?
My favourite author once wrote, “A lie can be half way around the world, before the truth has had time to put its boots on” So why do we lie? Any adult will tell a child that lying is wrong, but all adults lie, whether to save face, avoid conflict or to spare someone’s feelings.
There is no such thing as the simple truth; our sense of social self-preservation will not allow us to reveal ourselves in a negative way. We lie about everything, from how much we weigh to what we were up to last night, and everything in-between.
Half-truths and lies by omission, all stacking up into a large pile, until it becomes difficult to distinguish fact from the web of deceit we have so skilfully weaved. So if we all lie, what is the truth? The truth, in most cases, is something ugly, something that if it came to light would destroy you socially or in the eyes of a loved one. But honestly, is whatever you lied about that bad? Sometimes the truth will be easier in the long run, it will make you feel good.
Its that time of the year again when some, if not most, celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For me Easter holidays does not mean much, it is something that happens to other people. My personal view on this religious holiday, is that the last thing I need is the guilt of being reminded that there was this bloke that had to die for my, yet to be committed, sins 2000 years down the line.
What I do have a morbid fascination for, is the way that Jesus died. The Romans, Seleucids and Carthaginians were great exponents of crucifixion, as a way of execution for serious crime. The agony and humiliation of being nailed to two planks of wood, naked (no loin cloths provided for modesty) and allowed to die over a period of many days, then let to rot until the bones quiet literally fell to the ground.
I have always been interested in words, hell, I know a few myself, but what I really find funny is silly idioms. Some will make me laugh until I cry. There are times when I will try to incorporate some of the better ones in daily conversation, but there are some Idioms that awaken some distain for the vernacular.
A favourite of an old American friend of mine was “Don’t piss on my leg and tell me it’s raining”, this would always invite some serious laughter from me, mainly because of my ability to create a very vivid mental picture.
Other sayings invite my logical side to contest their validity, the one that jumps to mind is “It’s not a mistake if you learn from it”. What the hell is that supposed to mean? So you can screw up, then say, “Hey hang on a minute, I have learned from that, so it’s a clean slate for me.” No! There must be retribution.
For those that know me, you will have heard me be very vociferous with the whole vagrant and beggar issue her in Gibraltar. People with no fixed abode coming to Gib and setting up in squats in the upper town area, and generally being a pain in the arse in town.
Many of these people have had multiple run in’s with local law enforcement officers and over a period of time they may have been arrested for a multitude of sins, mainly to do with public order offences.
They are a silent and invisible minority, a whole underclass of undesirable human beings; where everyday they live hand to mouth, and more often than not clutching a cheap vodka bottle.
