United Methodist Sermon on gay rights

(This is a sermon I have not yet given before a congregation. But I present it here, with the hope it may be of value to the congregation of friends, religious or not, I am privileged to know. -R)

The Lord be with you. (And also with you.)

Today’s story comes from the headline news. On Monday night, Anderson Cooper interviewed Andrew Shirvell, who is an assistant attorney general for the state of Michigan. Mr. Shirvell has created a blog, in which he singles out and attacks the student body president of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, a 21-year old openly gay man named Chris Armstrong. On his blog, titled “Chris Armstrong Watch”, Shirvell has called him a “radical homosexual activist”, a “racist, elitist, and liar”, and “Nazi-like”. Shirvell has also called him “Satan’s representative on the Student Assembly”, and depicted him with a multicolored peace flag on which appears a Nazi swastika. He attacked the reputation of Armstrong’s friends and family, and protested outside of his residence.

Kitchen table discussion on the drug cartels in Mexico

Today I had a kitchen table discussion with Mom and Roy about immigration. Lately, I’ve been trying to avoid these, mostly because I feel like there’s not much actual exchange of information and insight, but tons of entrenched positions. This discussion, however, was reasonably good and provided some interesting thoughts.


Some highlights:

I think one of the reasons why immigration has gotten A LOT harder to talk about is because it has been conflated with national security. Specifically, Americans are scared of the drug violence in Mexico. So I think that needs ot be tackled before immigration policy becomes politically tractable.

Why I wouldn't exist without anti-immigration laws

So I haven’t written about SB 1070 or really any other immigration policy. But I would like to highlight one case where anti-immigration laws were helpful, if you believe, as I do, that my existence is a Good Thing.

My grandfather, Masao, initially wanted to be a literature professor at the University of Tokyo. Throughout his life, he became a fairly accomplished haiku poet of some regard, and was a favored student of Kyoshi Takahama. A picture of him and Takahama appears in this post.

But his father, who was apparently aware of the prevailing sentiment in California politics, encouraged Masao to join him in the US while it was still permitted. So grandpa took a slow boat to California and became a farm laborer. My grandfather, Masao, was living in Pasadena, CA and, like many lonely bachelors, sought female companionship. So, he had his family in Japan find him a picture bride.

An email from myself, four years ago

I received an unusual email today. It was from me, four years ago. I’d completely forgotten I signed up for, or used, Futureme.org. I had apparently written it on August 29, 2006, just at the end of my first year of graduate school.

Dear FutureMe,

Hi, this is me in grad school. Remember grad school? Yeah

Remember to laugh and love.

Remember how awesome Ann and Ryan and Dave and Suniti are.

Remember to be true to yourself, and to never give up.

You've been given a lot, so make the best of it!

-Ryan

Nerds: Who They Are and Why We Need More of Them - Introduction

David Anderegg is a psychologist affiliated with Bennington University in Vermont. In addition, he runs a private practice specializing in psychotherapy for children. He has written a fascinating book about nerds. Yes, nerds. In case it’s not obvious, I do have a bit of interest in this topic, if for no other reason than an obsession with fruitless self-examination.

I came across Nerds: Who They Are and Why We Need More of Them by accident. I was looking for Bowling Alone at Borders. But the tantalizing title drew me in. I also take it as a sign from God that the shelf had “fuck vegitarians” [sic] on it, underscoring the decline of spelling skills among America’s young vandal community.

He had sold me at “Why Ashton Kutcher is your kids’ worst nightmare” (part of the title of the introductory chapter).

Help for a friend seeking entrance into USMC Officer Candidate Program

Today I am appealing to you to help me find a way for a friend to successfully join the United States Marine Corps Officer Candidate Program.

I knew James in elementary school. He’d always been athletic, and a leader. From what I’ve learned about his cross-fit training, he’s continued that today. He’s come a long way from the guy who busted my chops because of lackluster performance on the flag football field. :) He’s lost a lot of weight, gotten fit, and helped inspire and train a lot of his friends. I believe he enjoys the respect and admiration of his colleagues and clients, and that both are well deserved.