Should I Turn in My Gay Card?
I have an admission to make here...I have never watched an episode of Sex in the City. Please don't make me turn in my gay card yet, because I redecorated my bedroom last year...Which has to count for something. I don't have cable, so I felt it was necessary for me to watch a couple of episodes last night to get an idea of these characters. So yesterday's poll results:
I'm a combination of three characters: Carrie, Miranda, and Samantha (Cairantha?). I'm a smart man, proud of my achievements, who looks to my own and my friends experiences as fodder for this blog. Never shying away from difficult or delicate subjects, I continually raise the bar for myself. Tough and down-to-earth, I don't open up easily, and mask my vulnerability with cynicism and self-deprecating humor. Having struggled with my love life, I have abandoned the pursuit of love altogether and embraced my uninhibited sexuality with a diverse (and large) group of lovers, from local cardiac surgeons to personal trainers to people on the opposite side of the country!
You know....I actually like that description.
I was reading Brent's blog this morning and something he wrote made me think...Impressive since I hadn't had my coffee yet. He was describing a horrible crime and that the person was declared mentally insane, and now after 4 years, is being considered for release as "cured".
What I want to discuss is when a debt is paid to society. Put yourself in this position: 8 years ago, you went to a party, had one too many cosmopolitans, and on your way home, you hit another car, killing the other driver. You reeked of vodka, and the officer performed a sobriety test on you...Which you failed.
During the sentencing of your trial, the judge just so happened to get a flat tire, her dog puked on the carpet, and her husband and she had a fight. She was not pleased to hear that you drank like a fish, and seeing that her docket contained another 12 more DUI cases to follow...She decided to make an example of you.
She put you in jail for the maximum of 120 days. You served your time, your sentence is done. But the state legislature has now passed a law that says all people convicted of a DUI must have a neon red license plate on their car. If they are driving another person's car, they must post a special red sign on the back window, stating that they had been convicted of the crime.
Should you have to do this? Should all of your neighbors know that 8 years ago you made a horrible mistake, went to jail over it, and still have sleepless nights thinking about the man you killed? You don't drink anymore. Should you be allowed to vote after you have served your time? (currently over 200,000 people are waiting for their voting rights to be reinstated in Florida). Should you be allowed to keep your rights as a citizen?
I want to know your thoughts...and as always...Be nice to each other. Based on my prior melt downs, you know I can slap you silly with a keystroke.
