User Profile

My journal is mostly a place for me to post ideas/articles about the political and social issues that are important to me. I do occasionally post about my personal life, although it is rarely interesting. I tend to lock more often than not, and I have no specific friending policy. If you are terribly inclined to read my incredibly fascinating locked entries, come see me and we'll talk.

Generally, my issue related posts remain unlocked, and the issues that are most important to me (and therefore the ones I post about most often) include gay rights, the environment, the separation of church and state, and women's rights. I belong to The ACLU, Amnesty International and NOW.

I consider myself a secular humanist. The American Humanist Association defines humanism as "a rational philosophy informed by science, inspired by art, and motivated by compassion. Affirming the dignity of each human being, it supports the maximization of individual liberty and opportunity consonant with social and planetary responsibility. It advocates the extension of participatory democracy and the expansion of the open society, standing for human rights and social justice. Free of supernaturalism, it recognizes human beings as a part of nature and holds that values -- be they religious, ethical, social, or political -- have their source in human experience and culture. Humanism thus derives the goals of life from human need and interest rather than from theological or ideological abstractions, and asserts that humanity must take responsibility for its own destiny."

I am a vegetarian, but am not militant about animal rights. I choose not to eat meat for a variety of reasons including health, ethical and environmental. My biggest problem with animal rights is the abuse and deplorable conditions food animals are kept in before begin slaughtered. Whereas some vegetarians (and especially vegans) won't be happy until the whole world stops eating meat, I would be happy to see conditions improved. I do believe that a mostly plant based diet is healthiest, but this does leave room for animal products in moderation. I am a big fan of organic, sustainable farming, particularly biodynamic farming. I like to imagine a world where we consume small amounts of animal products and those animals were raised on a farm where they have a good life spent mostly outdoors and are fed the foods they would naturally eat on their own.

I am somewhat of an idealist and always an optimist. My children will grow up in a world where gays have the same rights as everyone else. They will truly have freedom of religion, meaning any religion (which includes the option of no religion). They will not need to worry about gas prices or drilling in undeveloped areas because there will be an efficient, environmentally safe alternative to fuel. They will live in a country where we are at peace with the rest of the world. They will have any opportunity available to them regardless of which path they chose. Perhaps it sounds ridiculous, but I believe it can be.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world... indeed it's the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead