DEMS TAKE BACK THE CONGRESS AND SENATE-NOT A SURE THING

I have heard the talk of the Democrats pushing to take back the congress and senate. I don't believe that this is a sure things. The Democrats have made crucial mistakes which created the mistrust of the voters. They had the chance to do something for working people and haven't done it. Bill Clinton gave them NAFTA, which was a bad bill to begin with. The American worker didn't benefit and neither did the folks coming from Mexico. I saw right away that their situation wasn't going to get better for them. 

Many Democratic candidates have made the mistake of engaging the black community as a last resort when things aren't looking good. Why should they vote for you when you were more interested in your big money donors. Hillary Clinton made the same mistake and it cost her in the electoral votes. Working folks aren't necessarily enamored with the Republicans, but they are ticked off with the Dems. They've been lied to, ignored, walked over, and ridiculed. Some folks were surprised when I said that I believed that Donald Trump had a chance to win. I didn't know if he would but that's how it turned out.

Personally speaking, both the Democratic and Republican parties are lapdogs for corporations. The Democrats used to be for the working person. Not anymore.  I will say one thing about the Republicans; when they are thrashed in the elections they circle the wagons and thrash about figure what went wrong. The Democrats will keep making the same mistakes and losing. Couple that with this being the worst group of candidates I have ever seen.

I left the Democratic party over a decade because they no longer listened to people like myself. I never felt the Republicans cared about me. That's why I'm a registered Independent 

More Independents

There are more Independents than Democrats and Republicans. There are independent liberals and independent conservatives. If those of us who are Independent could come together, we could be a viable force.

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

You cannot find peace by avoiding life.

~Virginia Woolf

LET NO ONE ELSE DEFINE WHO YOU ARE

One of my mantras is 'let no else define who you are'. In today's cookie cutter world, we are bombarded with ads about what to wear, what you should look like, how we should act. Whatever happened to the day when originality was priceless.

I remember growing up in the 1950s and 1960s, I could tell you what model an auto was even from two or three blocks away. Each car had its own style. It could be tail fins, or white wall tires, or the way the auto sounded. Today, all the cars look alike. I'll take a model T over the cars we have now on the road. It may not be fast but it will be different.

As a trans person, some powers want to erase our existence, our contributions, our authenticity. We don't look or act like the so-called norm says we should. So-called "Christians" say we are sinners, abominable, perverts. They would try to define me but they don't even know me. I am creative person, parent, spouse, veteran, grandparent. I have contributed much and am still contributing. My trans sisters and brothers are also creative, gifted, and intelligent. I remind them that they are valuable. 

Always be proud of who you are. Never let others define you.  

ADVISORY COUNCIL

I was nominated to be part of the advisory council at the SAGE center here. I will be going to orientation next Thursday afternoon.

INFLUENCES

Here is a list of some of the people in history who have influenced me. 

1. Frederick Douglass
2. George Washington Carver
3. Martin Luther King
4. Carter G. Woodson
5. Marsha P. Johnson. 
6. Sylvia Rivera
7. William Tyndale
  
There are others who I will list in the coming days.

Feeling Better

Today was the first day out of be since Tuesday. Had bad case of flu. It's been bad all over the country with some deaths reported. Would like to know if there were extenuating circumstances involved.

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

I have seen great intolerance in support of tolerance.


~Samuel Taylor Cooleridge, Poet (1772-1834)

PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS MADE AMERICA GREAT

President Trump's mantra during the presidential election.was 'Make American Great Again'. While this theme isn't new many question 'Great for whom?' With the recent comments the president has allegedly said, it does make one wonder if he has all people in mind?

Many people built America and made it what it is today. People of all races, faiths, and genders worked to make this country a place where people can come and make a life in freedom. I would ask the president if making American great means denying certain groups of people the opportunity to achieve their dreams? Aren't blacks, Haitians, Africans, indigenous, Latinos,  LGBTQI,  and Asians part of the tapestry of our country? 

I am a black person. I was born, raised, and educated here. I served three years honorably in the military. I've worked all my life. I had some setbacks but I always got up and went back at it. I have fulfilled many dreams and still have more as I approached my 70th birthday. I am also a trans person. To say that I have less value than someone else is demeaning and disrespectful. And Mr. President, you want people to respect you, then respect those would are different from you, don't look you, or think like you. A final thought, it was people would thought outside the box that created many of the conveniences we enjoy today.

WOMEN'S MARCH

Next Saturday I will be a participant in the women's march. I went last year and hadn't seen a march that large since the 1980s. It begins at 72nd Street and Central Park West at 11 AM. Let's be loud and proud. I also hope that this will produce some actions in which we can take part in.

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

Out of difficulties grow miracles.


~Jean de la Bruyere, Philosopher (1645-1696)

FIVE IN 2018

These are five things I want like to happen this year.

5. Younger people run for political office.

4. People read and educate themselves.

3. Stop being  oversensitive about everything.

2. Those folks seeking a partner will find one.

1. People talk AND listen to each other.

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

Stay true to yourself, yet always be open to learn. Work hard, and never give up on your dreams, even when nobody else believes they can come true but you. These are not cliches but real tools you need no matter what you do in life to stay focused on your path.

~Phillip Sweet

SNOW AND COLD

It snowed at least eight inches here plus it's windy and very cold. Tomorrow will be sunny but very cold with minus 5 wind chill- and I have to go out.

RESIST AND RESIST

This year will prove to be a more active one for me. I will attending the women's march later this month. I hope that it will trigger some courses of action in what we need to focus on. I'm working on whether to take a trip to Albany to help pass the Gender Employment Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA).  I cannot sit idly by as our rights are being taken away. 

I attended a community forum this past September in my Washington Heights neighborhood. I saw what a sellout my councilmen is. Couple that with the fact that he backed state senator who is an enemy of the LGBTQI community. As you can see local politics is on my plate, albeit reluctantly. It's been said that all politics is local and I saw it first hand. 

These are just a few things up for me. I will fill you in as events and changes happen.

ONWARD!

A new year has begun. New goals, new changes, more activity. I'm currently working on goals for 2018 some of which will be life changing. Instead of resolutions, I set goals. I write them down and think about how they will be achieved. This is putting teeth to it. A goal isn't worth it if  there is no action plan. Goals may involve changing some of our habits. This is where perseverance and resolve come in.

I'm sure there are many of you that are setting goals and I pray that you achieve them. If they are achieved, set new goals. It's very satisfying when we accomplish which we previously set out to do. It gives us confidence that we can achieve anything.