Take Care

I haven't written in quiet some time, but I had some free time today so I thought it would be great to get some thoughts out. I watched two shows today both from the program called “30 Days”. The idea behind the TV program is for someone to live in someone else’s shoes for 30 days. But they don't just put anyone together; they put two people with opposite views in the same place for 30 days so they can learn from each other.

The first one I watched was on immigration. They took one of the “Minute Men” and had him live with a family of illegal aliens. I can honestly say it touched me and kind of made me feel bad for what I have. Not because I have it but because they aren't able to have it. This minute man moves in with a family of 7 people who live in a 500 sq ft 1 bedroom apartment. The family was so welcoming to a man who would like them to leave the country. At one point they have him go to Mexico to see what the reality is in Mexico and why they fled their home country.

The thing that inspired me the most was their oldest daughter. For being an illegal alien she was fighting hard to make herself the best she could. In fact, she even was ambitious enough to apply to Princeton. In the end she wasn't accepted to Princeton but did get into her second choice. What struck a cord with me was how hard she works. It kind of made me upset because I thought I had it hard but really I don't. Compared to her I have had everything handed to me. Just look at where I live, my 1 bedroom apartment is almost double the size of theirs and I don't have 7 people sharing the space.

The next episode I watched was about a straight guy moving to the Castro to live with a gay man. This one really reminded me of who I am and the reality in which I live. I am hated in this country. I am not hated by people who know me but by people who think they know me. And the people who think they know me justify their hate from a little book called the bible. I think the greatest sin is hating someone in the name of any god. If we were to follow the word in the bible we couldn't have wars because that too is a sin.

It bothers me how people pick and choose which they want to follow. If someone were willing to follow the bible word for word then I would be ok with that, knowing full well they would fail. I really wish someone would be honest and say they hate me because that is how their were raised and don’t know any better, because that would be honest. They don’t hate me because of the bible they hate me because they don’t understand.

At the end of both of these episodes the other person left with a changed mind. But what I find interesting is they both left with the words “take care”. Those are words I have said before, but I think they have a different meaning. When you see your best friend who lives down the street you don’t say take care, you say bye or see you later. But in this case they both probably would never see the other person again. To me the word take care is what you say to someone you care about but will never see again. I hate to say it but I have said those words to people I truly care about, but in the end will never see again.

I also did some painting today. I painted 3 similar paintings to hang over my couch. I am really excited with how they turned out, you will have to come see them. I am planning a house warming party some time in the next few weeks and I will make sure all those I care about are invited. If you don't get an invitation, sorry I don't like you. Ok just kidding, everyone is welcome.