Here it is, Sunday, November 9th, 2008, almost one week removed from the most historic and exhilarating election of our time, an election in which we propelled this country's first ever African-American presidential candidate into office. A day that I'm sure many of us NEVER thought we'd live to see that day, me included.

So, it's with certainty that one has to ask.........what now?

I'd like to speak directly to the issue of HIV/AIDS in this country. Quite frankly, for the last 8 years, it's a subject that has largely been ignored, if not swept under the proverbial rug by the outgoing and very ancient Republican administration headed by our least favorite person, George W. Bush. I guess we all really had to have known in the back of our minds that Bush wouldn't do anything for those in this country living HIV/AIDS, but rather fatten the checkbooks of the wealthy and making sure that the big oil companies and others who shipped American jobs overseas were protected and given massive tax breaks.

So, it stands to reason that many people (90%) living with HIV/AIDS who are on social security disability and food stamps were especially hit hard financially the last 8 years. Also most notably lost in all of this mess are the food pantries that are really feeling the pinch as their donations have dwindled dramatically. I should tell you that food stamps don't go nearly as far as they once did before the U.S.' financial collapse took place. Take for instance, a year and a half ago, $149/month in food stamps would easily get me a good three weeks' worth of food.......now, try a week and a half. That's how bad the price of food items at our local grocery stores across this country have gone up, thanks to rising gas prices, the cost of packaging such food items, marketing/advertising those food items, and paying the employees who package those foods.

So, where does the Obama/Biden administration go from here in terms of helping those who are living with HIV/AIDS and for that matter, anyone with a life-threatening illness? First, as we all know, this economy needs to be righted up and repaired and put back on to the path of prosperity and that it must work for all, not just the select few. I do agree with the President-elect that this country needs another stimulus package to hopefully help to kick start our economy again. If Bush does NOT get that up and going in these last couple of months of his administration, the President-elect has said that this will be his number one priority when he takes office on January 20. Secondly, the Obama administration needs to work very closely with the drug companies and certainly the medical researchers of our time in coming up with a cure for HIV/AIDS and any other illness out there, such as breast cancer. The drug companies that do business here in the U.S. need to start looking at helping those in the research department in coming up with cures instead of throwing drugs and more drugs at these illnesses in which many will and do become resistant to those medications........just ask anyone on HIV/AIDS medications. I can tell you that I'm resistant to 95% of the HIV/AIDS drugs out there. Granted, we do need those medications to keep us alive and thriving, but our government has to also light a fire under the rear ends of the researchers to get cracking on a cure.

How will all of this get done? Quite frankly my friends, it won't be easy. President-elect Obama has made it painfully clear that these next few years are going to be painful for our country. Obama will have to repair the shattered and tattered fabric of our country with precision like quickness with a scalpel, cutting away at the things that aren't working for our country and at the same time repairing or retooling the things that are working but getting those things done in a much different way than many of us are used to.

For those that are living with HIV/AIDS and other life threatening illnesses, stand firm and keep your chin up. We will get through the next few years together and much stronger than we were before. We really should thank the Bush administration for one thing though, giving those of us on social security a nearly 6% raise that will commence with our checks in January 2009.

Lastly, I must chastise those in the gay community who had the gall to vote for McCain just to protect your pocketbooks and to hell with those of us in the community who've been suffering at the hands of the Bush administration for the last 8 years. All I can say is this:

01-20-09............BUSH'S LAST DAY!

It can't come soon enough for me.

It is Saturday, September 6, 2008 and earlier this evening, I logged onto my local NBC stations website because on the TV, they were airing a SARAA Alert and I couldn't see the scroll at the bottom of the screen. Well, there was nothing there. However, I saw this link that caught my eye: Palin Church Promotes Converting Homosexuals. So, I clicked on the link: http://www.ksdk.com/news/govt_politics/elections/decision2008/story.aspx?storyid=154152&catid=18 and read the article.

I sat there debating with myself whether or not to respond to the article and I finally decided to go ahead and do it. Below is the text of what I wrote on the local TV stations website with it being my response:

Ok, I was seriously debating with myself whether or not to get involved in this discussion, but here I am.

For those of you who are on the far right, here's a little lesson for you: in the book of John in the Holy Bible, verses 16-18, it says: 16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.[b] Well guess what folks, I happen to be a born-again Christian man who just happens to be gay! I believe this Scripture that I've quoted above very much. Does it say, "only the select few that believe....."? No, it does not. It says, Whoever believes in Him is NOT condemned. That means folks, that ANYONE who believes in Jesus Christ as their Personal Savior will NOT be condemned.

Lastly, for those on the right, here's one more thing for you to chew on......the word homosexuality was NOT coined until the 1800's. Thus, that word was NEVER in the Word of God when God and most importantly His Son, Jesus Christ gave it Life for all to read. What does that mean? It means I wouldn't be surprised if people like those on the right sneaked that word, homosexuality into the Bible to justify their bigoted views.

Isn't it time to put the petty stuff aside and come together as one church who waits on the Lord who will come back for it's Bride?

As maddening as the right wing makes me, I HAVE to forgive them as Christ has called me to do. And YES, I do forgive those who have hurt many gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered with their hurtful and hateful words.

Michael

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