Beware the Pure Spirit, Let the Flesh Instruct the Mind

I’ve been at odds for the better part of today. I’d glanced at the news yesterday and heard some of the rants and rhetoric that poured out of the lips of this expert-at-nothing “reality” celebrity. Reality is in question here, that is, he’s an image created to appeal to a segment of society for purposes of selling a tv show. He’s not authentic by any means, and yet his comments have put people on edge. It began to bother me this morning as I was getting ready for work.   To state that I have mixed emotions is to understate what has been playing in my mind all day. Here’s a brief look at the diverse and conflicting thoughts I have been processing today in relation to his “truth” speech: ·          Personal belief ·          Religious faith ·          Hate speech ·          Prejudice hiding behind religious text ...

I love this time of year. This is the weather that I thrive in, that is, nice warm days and cooler nights.  I didn't go to Bridge Day this year as I am finishing up my manuscript to Graduate Studies. I did have some time today to process plants for their winter storage and up keep. Here's what is going on in my world today: Harvest time for Castor Beans Took this picture the other day. She and her web are no longer there.  Quietly waiting  Kale sprouting  Aroids - my favorite ornamentals. Voodoo lily here.  Elephant ears

I'm writing the last chapter of my dissertation. I plan to defend before fall classes begin (optimal but not likely) or the first weeks into the fall semester (probable). To keep me on track, here's my outline for discussion. Already immersed in whittling this down as I have been writing already: Discussion Restate the purpose of the research, making note of intersections Identify the main themes the emerged from the data Under Place and Cultural Identification Rural Appalachia Religious orientation Seeking Health Services - Theme One  Rurality Quality of Services Accuracy in Treatment Positive Experiences with Health Care Professionals HIV and General Care Issues HIV Medicines Alternative Therapies Challenges in Obtaining Medicines Ancillary Support Specific Supporting Spiritual Practices  Adherence Issues Missed Dosages  Stigma - Theme Two MSM Religious Stigma (homophobia) MSM Appalachia as Place Related Stigma MSM Related Stigma MSM...

Purple Cherokee Tomato - an heirloom variety Finally! The big boys are coming up (voodoo lily) I've missed growing elephant ears. So here is one being guarded by a dangerous raptor Seed collecting - day lilies and japanese maple

I’m an admirer of both Queer Theory http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer_theory  Critical Race Theory   http://spacrs.wordpress.com/what-is-critical-race-theory/   and as someone who has definite leanings toward social justice issues, public health, and sexual minority causes…I feel as though I see the world through a slightly different set of eyes. Rainbow colored glasses anyone?  I observe, I critique, I document, and I (try) to contribute where I can. Today, I was faced with a myriad of student issues related to work and my responsibilities. I had an epiphany of sorts, where I could clearly see where race and SES intersected to produce disadvantages for students of color on an institutional / structural level. As a white male, I am knowledgeable enough to know that I am taught by my own white privilege NOT to see or recognize these things. But I did see it today and I’ve been wondering what my response and responsibilities are. I’m not trying to be colorblind no...

Notes from… Stigma As A Fundamental Cause of Population Health Inequalities – AJPH March 2013 Stigma is defined as a coocurrence of labeling, stereotyping, separation, status loss and discrimination in a context in which power is exercised. Discrimination at the individual level (i.e., the unequal treatment that arises from membership in a particular social group) and structural level (i.e., societal conditions that constrain an individual’s opportunities, resources, and well being) is a constitutive feature of stigma. Fundamental cause theory – posits that some social factors remain persistently associated with health inequalities over time despite dramatic changes in diseases, risk factors, and health interventions. ·          A fundamental social cause influences multiple disease outcomes through multiple risk factors among a substantial number of people ·          A fundamental social cause...

So quickly: I've been working orientations for two days - I'm tired and my voice is as well My engine light, that black hole of need and money, has returned and as such I will be having my vehicle looked at AGAIN, next week... But not in time that I could go and  Visit my family in WV like I had planned all along. My plans were to travel to WV to visit my grandmother, sister, and my relatives who are in from NH. I'm not going now due to said car murmurings and I'm simultaneously pissed and sad. Was looking forward to visiting AND to finding some time to travel to the New River Gorge to view and make my connections to that wild and wonderful natural space. Talked to my grandmother and aunt briefly and I'm left with this longing to be around family even more so right now  My body is sabotaging me, stress this week has now resulted in a zoster break out. FML.  So, I'm hiding away in my apartment ... blinds drawn  I think I'm bound for the bed... Bu...

I reached my tipping point yesterday evening. Try as I might, I can no longer ignore what I have known for some time and from what others have been saying to me as well.  I cannot ignore your prejudicial and homophobic comments any longer. Although not personally directed at me, they nonetheless are directed at me as I am part of a sexual minority community and I proudly identify as a gay man.  You must have known this would be forthcoming or perhaps insensitive and hateful speech just roll out of your mouth like toilet paper on the roll. Both are full of shit. You know full well what my journey has been in discovery and acceptance of myself. You were a witness to this in the beginning. I’ve struggled with this for a time, that is, I never allow people off the hook for minimizing others in regards to presentation, affectional orientation, race or religious belief. I call it out immediately, but I realized some time ago that I was not forthcoming in calling people out who d...

I, like many other homophiles will frequent chat rooms and other venues for the homosexually inclined. Seeing as how I live in an area nearly destitute of same sex opportunity structures, it helps me chat and keep in touch with other link minded folks. It serves to remind me that I live in a largely homophobic area and there aren’t easy ways of meeting and socializing. Unfortunately, many of us have internalized homophobic and HIV-related negative attitudes from those around us and it often shows in how we treat our queer brothers in our online interactions. There is a general lack of manners when dealing with each other online. Call it homophobic, racist, haters, or just being vicious and catty – the results are still the same. It certainly makes our detractors (insert title here… too many to list) happy because they don’t have to beat up on us when we will do it ourselves. What did Jesus supposedly say about a house divided against itself? Sad but true so many times in that we “eat...

My thoughts to my class this week:  I’m always reading. Whether for class or enjoyment, I bury myself in books. Maybe I don’t lead an interesting life. But I love big books and I cannot lie… Well anyways, I was reading through some HIV related material the other night when I found something that was in its own way related to our class, more specifically to our folks who presented on Santeria this week.  I’m fascinated by this belief system in how Africans who were sold into slavery brought their beliefs with them to the Americas and found a way to incorporate their beliefs alongside the beliefs of their masters / tormenters.  The symbolism changed but it was still very much their own and of their own making. It was something they could hold onto, something from their own heritage. Santeria lives on. I’ve seen some of their altars; specifically I have a good friend who at the time had a beautiful altar in his home.  Offerings of food and liquor, cigars and cand...

My doctor and I have embarked on a medical treatment plan that involves the use of testosterone. I’m middle aged, I get that. Things change, the body is definitely different place than it was in my 20-30’s.  Energy levels, libido and mental capacity have changed. I’m also anemic. A previous doctor back around 2000 noted I was low on the testosterone scale. My current doctor concurs with this, and now apparently they measure these levels in a different way than before. That is, they not only measure the T levels in your blood, but more importantly, the monitor the amount of bio-available T you have.  So after months of begging (literally), he has agreed to start this course of treatment. Oh, and by the way, a side effect of this therapy is increased red blood cell production. A definite win-win for me. Started yesterday. This consists of a gel application in the morning under my arms . Go figure. Perhaps there are certain receptors there that are more easily accessed than s...

To my class this week: Well there you have it, those identifying as Jehovah Witness do not have a death wish.  They don’t want to be martyrs for their faith. They love life and want to live. Contrary to what many of us might have thought beforehand.  I enjoy hearing from these folks in our class. They come well prepared and you can tell that they want you to have specific information relating to health care practices. Good questions from you as well. It was so nice to hear about life from their perspective.   “Health care is effective when the spiritual and cultural traditions of the patient are addressed.”   We come from many diverse perspectives, beliefs, and practices.   “E pluribus unum ~out of many, one.”   What I hope you are taking away from our class lectures, Ereadings, activities, and speakers is that although it can be a challenge at times, cultural diversity and competency can also be a blessing to us as well. We better understand Others...

          Acts of transgression that threatens the “mythic, stable family” o    The family at the heart of AIDS commentary is an ideological unit, as yet supposedly unaffected but held to be threatened by the “leakage” of HIV infection , which like nuclear fallout, is widely and erroneously perceived to be everywhere about us, a deadly miasma of contagion and death o    The normalizing optic of the mythic family gained momentum during the Reagan era. Reaganism, the signature of an alliance backlash politics, was characterized by the revival of a conservative patriotism generated and legitimated around bodies and a related series of racist, anti-gay anti-feminist, pro nuclear family, prolife, anti-social welfare, and anti affirmative action positions.  Under Reagan, America’s economic and social problems were to a great extent, attributed to the breakdown of the nuclear family and the moral fabric of society. 

Something’s been brewing in the back of my mind for a bit. I hesitate to write it out, as it is sure to be misinterpreted and misunderstood by some. And yet, write I must.  I’ll do my best to write as clearly as I know how. However, words and I do this dance and success is not guaranteed. I’m in the midst of giving birth to my dissertation. Not an easy pregnancy but I am close to bring this baby to term. A tough topic for sure but one that has meaning and one that must be told. It does have a life of its own and I’m doing my best to articulate and explore. The process has been transformative for me on a personal level. However, I recently noticed something. I had an epiphany of sorts. And now processing this new insight, I find a new awareness and something that needs to be challenged. So here goes… When did relationships and/or sex between men become primarily reduced to issues of viral risk? Of viral transmission? What happened to intimacy or sexuality?  The assumpti...

What a great class Tuesday evening! Your questions and comments were spot on and appreciated. Our speakers were informative, thoughtful, and funny. Sometimes a little humor can go a long way in breaking down barriers with challenging topics. You’ll have to consider that although they are there to talk about life from their perspective, it still can be a nervous and somewhat challenging experience because they are “putting themselves out there.” That being said, I thought you as a class were more nervous than our speakers. I hope you found the discussion to be helpful in understanding how people operate and experience life. These things might be useful when considering how health providers might market to LGBT groups for their services, and how to be more welcoming and thorough when engaged with sexual minority populations. I hope you noticed the various ways that our presenters identified themselves, gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, transgender…it’s important to note how folks identify ...