JUNE 2, 2023 PRIDE Exist and let exist D.A. Groundcover contributor When I hear any language or terms that are negative and/or dehumanizing, I think to myself, there are things that we all have thought about and/or have even entertained in our own imaginations that we will never reveal. Some have even acted on them, if only once. It is not our job to judge anyone that is just being themselves. That includes anyone who chooses to identify as a person within the LGBTQ community in our world. I prefer to just simply say that although we are similar in many ways, we are all individuals. I do not agree that anyone or anything that a person or numerous people fear, disagree with, or simply just reject because they do not understand, should suffer or come under any form of attack or assault. The realm of the unknown consists of many reactions among people. It would be wise to respectfully and humbly ask about what you don’t understand. Listen to what they are saying as an individual. Not all biologically born females and males who identify as heterosexual are the same. What is good or said to be normal to one may feel offensive and excluding to another who identifies as LGBTQ. Hatred and violence should be replaced with love and guidance. I had a friend who identified as gay who used to get chased by some of the boys in my neighborhood. When they caught him, he would be carried to these big beige trash dumpsters and thrown in. I would run over and help him get out of the dumpster. They also called him offensive names while making insulting references as well. He would literally cry on my shoulders as I embraced him with a hug assuring him of my unconditional love for him. These attacks added to the hurt he was experiencing as his mother openly mistreated and rejected a close, loving relationship with him. I had just as much fun — maybe more — with this friend as any other when we spent time together. I was the one person that he could tell about the then secret relationship he was having. He'd be so happy to say things to me he could not say otherwise at that time in his life. His face just lit up as he'd be smiling and talking about his partner back then. We'd crack our sides laughing together about those embarrassing moments in relationships. I witnessed how he went through many struggles, suffering from emotional, mental and physical anguish. I know that many will come out after this article, and hopefully we will be at a place where LGBTQ persons will be able to express themselves without harm being actuated upon them. LGBTQ people require food, water, shelter to survive just like any other human being. People, let's stop putting our opinions before someone else's well-being. Being wicked and deceitful is not the answer either. I know of people who say that they are holy Christians, yet, openly curse LGBTQ individuals behind their backs. The Almighty God that I understand is a loving, forgiving, merciful God. He is the only one who can justly judge. So do me and a lot of others a favor and check out your own self before you point a finger. We all too will be judged by God Almighty. On that note, all I'm saying is if you are compelled by your faith and/or beliefs, it is better if you offer them what you believe and leave it up to that person to choose after that. We barely have what it takes to change the things about us that we want to change and work at. Not one thing hardly ever comes or manifests overnight or in a day. So let's begin to become people who will be examples of love and civility. I am very grateful for the relationship me and my friend had then. I have not seen my friend for many years now and miss him very much. The last time I saw him was on the bus in the city he and I lived in at that time. We had lost contact, then were reunited again that day. He had embraced his lifestyle and identified as femme by way of his garments and apparel. He also wore some facial cosmetics. He seemed to be at peace, not bothered by the past things. I felt relief for him. I will always love him unconditionally. Finally, remember we may reveal our dislike or distaste, or just our lack of understanding new and/or what is unfamiliar. Unless it causes any injury to yourself or others, all we can do is exist and let exist. BACK from page 3 of sovereign land for community living. I can’t help but think that this would greatly reduce homelessness on the streets along with the crime, hunger, health issues, lack of safety, and law enforcement work that often come with that homelessness. It might lighten the burden that these problems lay on society. I imagine a land-sovereign world where we would be taking care of each other and our communities, as a community. There's lots of talk about this, there have been some small communes or even other larger experiments, but we've never been more in need of these sincere efforts. Nobody has yet to put this vision into practice on a large scale. We don't need one, no, we need many — a completely new sector in our society, a multi-economic-class coalition. The true necessity is in the design of the structure. We need a complete Multi-Economic Eco-Village. The “Michigan EcoVillage,” under development in Southeast Michigan, is a model of that vision. Their EcoVillage project has home models varying from $180,000 to $900,000+ and 50 affordable housing units. The village will be using only solar electricity and one-third of the property will be dedicated to food production. The development will be a certified “Living Building Challenge,” an international sustainable building standard that requires buildings to produce more energy than they are using. Since housing in our nation causes approximately 20% of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions, the ecovillage’s developers and supporters hope that this project can serve as a blueprint for similar netzero communities around the country. It's time; the government has to see 10% OFF LUNCH JOIN US FOR excludes alcohol. Expires 7/1/23 122 W. Liberty, Ann Arbor • oldtownaa.com • (734) 662-9291 Dine in only, offer good Mon - Sat 11:30 am - 4:00 pm, the obvious solution. Appropriate workable land, old/seized farms, maybe land where the presence of residents would be beneficial to the local economy … I can go on and on about the opportunities. I could also go on and on about the specifics of how our government/political system is forcing us into a two class society. There is no saving the middle class from that system, so we create our own more sure and acceptable standard of living. We need to get back to a communal way of living, where we start to live and respect each other, as when villages functioned similar to a family. It could get us back to caring for and working with our neighbors — all our neighbors. I am also starting a non-profit called “Kona's Edge,” which will help repair personal vehicles owned by homeless people who utilize said vehicle as their primary source of income, and provide storage units, gas vouchers, registration, insurance and driver's license renewal for homeless people in transition. Another program I'd like to start with my friend and fellow Groundcover writer Ken Parks is “CoCar” Cooperative Car Sharing, in which small groups would share costs for using vehicles to make money with delivery jobs, etc. I'm so tired of alarmists sounding the bells. Socialism, Communism, Anarchy… it all sounds like bullshit to me. All are used as excuses to avoid the obvious benefits that communal housing provides to all of society. There is no true pure form of government; Social Security, Food Stamps, and Medicare are all socialist concepts, and all have had great benefits to society. But people of higher income don't understand what things would look like for them if those programs didn't exist. They need to see how changing the current society will benefit society as a whole. Communities have to come together because of the government’s ignorance. Their objectives are contrary to our solution. This is your call to action. We are way overdue for any real progress. Bring it together, people, and let’s start raising our voices and demanding that our government appropriate suitable property. This article only scratches the surface of what is and can be community living. If you would like more details about the local community housing project, you can visit “Michigan EcoVillage” online to get a full description of their version. To find more information on community living in general, look up CoHousing or Community Housing on the internet. We need support to persuade our government to appropriate land to support the building of these supportive communities. So, some of you already know the drill…Call your Congressman, Congresswoman, and state legislators. But beyond that, most of all this needs the local community support, and that means educating your local officials. Now (or really yesterday!) is the time for action — to start walking, to stop talking … we’ve talked, now let’s do! GROUNDCOVER NEWS 11
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