May the best WOMAN win...

Hey y’all.


I know, it has been a while since I blogged, but I finally have some time to write. I am swamped with school work, midterms, and such. I am sure a lot of you are in the same boat.


If you have been keeping up with the Democratic Primary, you know that next Tuesday is a big day. And you are probably fed up with all the media attention on Hillary and Obama (I am not, but if you are a Republican, you probably are). Personally, I am glad that I will get the chance to determine who our next Commander-in-chief will be. I am 23 years old, and this is the first time I will actually use my right to vote. Very exciting.


If you know me well, you know that I am a Hillary supporter. So you know how unhappy I am with how the primaries are favoring Obama. Its seems that a lot of the liberal media has turned away from Hillary and is starting to support Obama.


If Obama wins, I can take two paths in November…either vote for Obama and remain loyal to the Democratic Party or I can go across party lines and vote for McCain. And for those of you who are Democrats, it might disappoint you that I am seriously considering voting for McCain in November if Hillary loses. McCain is a moderate and most of the Religious Right hates him. So, he might be a good option, although I don’t want our troops to spend 100 years in Iraq.


Hmmm…well, for those of you who can vote, may the best person win!


That’s it for now…Happy voting. Much Love to all <3>

My thoughts and prayers are for all the faculty, students and staff at NIU, especially those who lost their lives and their families....

Even though our nation has gone through this tragedy before...it never gets any easier.

Magdiel Martinez

HBU Husky '07

Tolerance versus Acceptance

Tolerance…what exactly does that word mean?

I got a message from a friend about tolerance. We were briefly discussing politics online. He comes from a very conservative perspective of political and social issues. I think we were also talking about how some church leaders promote hate and intolerance in society toward people who think differently.

He wrote back saying that he could not describe himself as being tolerant. Tolerance to him meant that he accepted the validity or foundational truth of something. He claims not to be tolerant of things or people he does not agree with, but that he can have an open mind to those ideas.

I know what you are thinking….huh?! To me, tolerance always meant that one should respect another person's right or ability to think differently and to have different belief systems. Tolerance does not have to mean you accept their ideas as truth. This is what distinguishes tolerance from acceptance, in my mind.

So I wanted to know what y'all think (yes, I noticed that I use y'all a lot recently. You have to remember that I do live in Texas lol). What is your definition of tolerance? I am aware that I can look this up, (and I did), just wanted to know what tolerance means to you? Is tolerance important? Can you coexist with people that you don't agree with? Can we all just get along, even though we don't see "eye-to-eye" on something?

You are not alone on Valentine’s Day

Well, I hope y'all had a wonderful Valentine's Day.

Today was a normal day for me. Studying mostly. Nothing special. In fact, I almost forgot it was Valentine's Day until I saw a lot of people with roses, chocolates, and teddy bears around campus.

I was eating at the PGH building at U of H. I ran into a friend, whom I haven't seen in a while. We talked for a little bit about Valentine's Day. She asked if I had a "special someone" that I was going to be with today. I told her no, I was by myself. She kinda gave me a sympathetic look, it was a caring demeanor. She is my friend after all. She would love to see me be with someone. She has a romantic relationship right now, so she (like a lot of people) thinks that I would be happier with someone as well.

I am happy, which is weird, because I feel like I have the entire world on my shoulders lately. Things have been hard.

But my happiness does not come from having a partner or having everything go my way. My happiness has a divine source.

Mary Baker Eddy, a woman whose writings I have been studying, experienced some rocky relationships. She was a woman that lived in the Victorian era, a time when women had little rights and depended on their husbands for financial support. She married someone, who died only a few months after their marriage and before the birth of their son. And because she experience health problems, she had to give up her son. She remarried only to find herself deserted by her second husband a few years later.

She almost died at one point from a serious accident. Doctors said that she would not recover. She could have given up and died at that point, when she was a middle-aged woman. She had no one to love her. No one to protect and provide for her. She lost two loves and her son. She was alone. How would she make it in the world? How would she survive? And, after all, she would have lived the ideal amount of time in those days, when people had shorter life spans. She could be done with life and not face its challenges.

But after reading the Scriptures and reaching out to God, she was healed. And she dedicated her life at that point to studying the Scriptures and discovering what healed her.

In her study, she eventually wrote a book called "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." And one of the chapters in her book is titled "Marriage." And she had a lot of good ideas about love and marriage, drawn from her experience and her relationship with God. God healed her loneliness, and replaced it with a satisfaction of knowing God as her Divine Husband, the source of all love. She never remarried or had more children afterwards, at least from what is known about her. Yes she lived a life full of purpose and meaning.

So I take what she had to say about love seriously. And she wrote this, after all her bitter disappointments in the area of love, which has brought healing to my life and to so many others:

"Human affection is not poured forth vainly, even though it meet no return. Love enriches the nature, enlarging, purifying, and elevating it. The wintery blasts of earth may uproot the flowers of affection, and scatter them to the winds; but this severance of fleshy ties serves to unite thought more closely to God, for Love supports the struggling heart until it ceases to sigh over the world and begins to unfold its wings for heaven." S&H p. 57

And somewhere else she wrote…

>> " Would existence without personal friends be to you a blank? Then the time will come when you will be solitary, left without sympathy; but this seeming vacuum is already filled with divine Love. When this hour of development comes, even if you cling to a sense of personal joys, spiritual Love will force you to accept what best promotes your growth." S&H p. 266

She discovered that God was her true source of happiness, companionship, and peace. Since I read those passages and others in her writings, they made me realize that I am never alone, never without love or companionship. These I can find in God, Divine Love. And this is where true happiness springs forth.

So don't feel sorry for me if I don't have someone to share Valentine's Day with. In fact, I do have someone to share with…the source of Love itself, the reason we celebrate this day!

You are loved by that very same source!

Freedom to Marry Week 2008 (Feb 10-16)

This week is Freedom to Marry Week. That means that the GLBT community will be having lectures, demonstrations, and discussion on marriage equality for all people.

Whether you like it or not…I support marriage equality.

If you want to know how you can help support marriage equality, there is a website you need to check out: http://www.freedomtomarry.org/index.html.

I think you can find a lot more information about this important cause.

And here are some of the events that are occurring in Houston, which I obtained from the same website:

National Freedom to Marry Week Celebrations in Houston

This year, the Foundation for Family and Marriage Equality will host a week of events in celebration. Here is a listing of our events. All events are free of charge and open to the public (donations are appreciated)

Monday, February 11, 7:00pm at the
Magnolia Ballroom, 715 Franklin - Kick-off Party and Celebration of Phyllis Frye's 60th Birthday. A panel of celebrities will "lightly roast" attorney and longtime GLBT activist Phyllis Frye for her 60th birthday. Celebrities include Ray Hill, Deborah Bell, Jack Valinski, Jenifer Rene Pool, and special guest Annise Parker, to name a few.

Tuesday, February 12, 6:30pm at South Texas College of Law, Garret Townes Lecture Hall, 1303 San Jacinto - Discussion Series Part I - "A Biological Explanation for Sexual Orientation." Speaker is Dr. Cynthia Chappell.

Wednesday, February 13, 6:30pm at University of Houston Law Center, Heritage Room (Park in Lot 19B). - Discussion Series Part II - "GLBT in America: A Historical Look at the Struggle for Civil Rights." Speaker is Professor Sophia Mrouri.

Thursday, February 14, 11:00am - DEMONSTRATION MARCH from CITY HALL to COUNTY CLERKS OFFICE. Meet at City Hall at 11:00am 901 Bagby, march to 201 Caroline. EVERYONE INVITED. THE MORE THE BETTER. Once at the clerk's office, same-sex couples will demand marriage licenses. Couples, friends, family, clergy, and all other supporters are strongly urged to be present for the march and demonstration.

Thursday, February 14, 6:30pm at Grace Lutheran Church, 2515 Waugh Dr. - Discussion Series Part III - "The Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity." Speaker is Dr. Jeff Vannice.

Friday, February 15, 8:00pm at Blurr Nightclub, 71- Pacific St. - Bachelor and Bachelorette Party. Everyone is encouraged to come for an evening of outrageous fun.

Saturday, February 16, 7:00pm at Resurrection MCC, 2025 W. 11th St. - Film screening of the highly acclaimed documentary, "For the Bible Tells Me So," followed by an informal discussion with various faith leaders.

Sunday, February 17, 1:00pm at Resurrection MCC, 2025 W. 11th St. - "Texas's Largest Same-Sex Wedding Celebration and Demonstration for the Right to Marry." dozens of same-sex couples will exchange vows in a wedding officiated by 20 clergy leaders of various faiths. Same-sex couples are invited to participate. Family, Friends, and Supporters are encouraged to attend. A reception with cake, music, and dancing will follow.

For more information, email info@FamilyMarriageEquality.org, call 713-227-1717, or visit www.FamilyMarriageEquality.org.

So, I hope y'all have a Happy Freedom to Marry Week and a Happy Valentine's Day!

Coulter: I'll campaign for Hillary if McCain is the nominee

Gee, I wonder if Ann Coulter will actually keep her word and vote for Hillary.

Seriously, Romney (her absolute favorite) dropped out yesterday. I guess this video was taped before Romney dropped out.

Now that McCain is, more than likely, going to be the republican candidate, I guess Ann is voting for a Deomocrat...surprising.

Seriously, why do Republicans put up with this woman? She gives Republicans a bad name.

Personally I think she is full of hot air and doesn't think before she speaks.

This primary is proving to be a very interesting one so far. I thought Romney (eveen Huckabee) would be winning the primary. Its surprising that most Republicans are voting for a moderate (at least, everyone is saying that McCain is a moderate in republican clothing).

Maybe the Religious Right and right-wing conservatives are starting to lose their political influence. Maybe they learned their lesson...they shouldn't be swayed by a candidate because they claim to represent Christian morality...it took them eight years of bad governance to realize this.

And now they are going to have to put up with at least four years of a liberal in office :)

Ash Wednesday

“Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with all of your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the LORD, your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast Love, and relents from punishing…I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten…You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied and praise the name of the LORD your God…You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I, the LORD, am your God and there is no other…Then afterwards I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.”
~Joel 2:12-13, 25-28

If you are interested in learning more about Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season, there are resources on the web that you can check out for more information:

http://www.upperroom.org/

http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.2514885/k.63E6/Lent_and_Easter_Resources.htm

http://www.elca.org/communication/lentresources.html

May this Lenten season prove to be a time of reflection and drawing closer to the Divine.

Magdiel

Some of my rantings…

It feels like almost everyone I know is getting married, is currently married, or is dating someone. Most of my friends from HBU are already hitched, and some are on their way there.

The girls talk about meeting their prince charming, getting proposed to in an extravagant or romantic way, buying wedding dresses and being in weddings.

The guys talk about getting the girl, wooing her, proposing to her, and the wedding night. Just listening to these people talk about marriage so much the past five years I was at HBU made me sick…really people, I don't care about your future marriage, and I don't care much about seeing your display affection in public…quite frankly its disgusting, get a hotel room if you must.

It makes me wonder how it would feel like for a gay or lesbian person to have to watch their straight friends get married, while they can't get married to the one they love?

Sure, straight couples get to flaunt their love to the world. They get to push their "straight" agenda down everyone's throats. They get to put their family's pictures on their desk in the office and get to hold hands in public, with no one to think twice about it…

But if we see two guys hold hands…then we want to lynch them and damn them to hell…

And why is it that we hate seeing two guys hold hands but we love seeing them hold guns? And why is it that we feel more inclined to condemn two guys holding hands, but not two girls holding hands?

Doesn't seem fair to me. But a lot of religious conservatives don't see it that way. They selfishly state that gay marriage is a threat to the institution of marriage. If gays get married, heterosexual marriage is doomed.

Why can't we just let people love and be loved? Why do we get so uptight about how they love and who they love?

It boggles my mind, but oh well…..

Prayer, Lent, and Christian Science

I had an interesting weekend. Instead of going to my Unitarian church for worship, I visited the Methodist Church down the street. I did this because the church celebrates the Eucharist the first Sunday of each month. I wanted to partake of the Eucharist and begin thinking about the Lenten season and my spiritual disciplines for the next forty days.

This Sunday was also Transfiguration Sunday. Therefore the lectionary readings for the service included the story of Moses and his experience with God at Mt. Sinai. God instructed Moses to meet him up the mountain so that God can give him the tablets of stone with the Law inscribed upon them for the instruction of Israel. Moses went up Mt. Sinai, to a God that descended on a cloud. And Moses met Him on the mountain for forty days and nights.

The readings also included the story of the transfiguration of Christ before Peter, James, and John. Moses and Elijah also appeared before them as Christ Jesus was glorified.

The pastor took all these readings and preached on the importance of prayer. It is important enough that Christians should not "jump into" prayer, "willy-nilly." Christians should prepare themselves to meet with the Divine through prayer by reading the Bible, studying it, and using the scriptures as a means to form our prayers.

This afternoon after class, I went to listen to a Christian Science Lecture at UH. The woman was a CS practitioner and spoke about how prayer is used to "unlock" our potential for good. She described her experience with "Christly-scientific" prayer and how it helped her in her career as a paralegal and as a lawyer for the U.S. Department of Justice. This was my first CS lecture and my first time actually talking to other Christian Scientists in person. I also learned that there was a CS organization on campus and that they meet on a weekly basis.

I can definitely see some similarities between both perspectives on prayer. The Methodist perspective takes prayer seriously, in that it is a means of approaching God, but that an understanding of scriptural truth was requisite in order to fully appreciate and benefit from prayer. CS teaches that understanding God and who we are as His children is vitally important to prayer as well.

This Lenten season, I have decided to read through Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, as well as the Bible. And I am going to spend a lot more time in prayer, as well as at the CS room at the A.D. Bruce here at U of H (they have a lot of books, Bibles, and journals about spirituality and healing).

Although I find it hard to divorce myself with some of the traditions of the church, I also find the principles in CS to be quite helpful in learning more about myself and God. Sometimes I wonder if I can ever reconcile both of these things. We shall see.

So, I’m Lazy….

So I finally have Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and those other programs on my computer (not the free Microsoft Works crap). I am excited because now I don't have to use the computer lab to print something out of Word. Yeah!

I know what you are thinking, why don't I actually post something really important. Truth is, I am really lazy and swamped with school work .

Hopefully, I will post something on Monday.

I hope y'all have a good weekend.