"Coming OUT of Hiding:

A Retrospective Journey Through AIDS..."

A Memoir * Michael W. Connett

"If YOU Build IT, THEY will come..."

The South Bank PRIDE Coalition

Working to create A Synergistic South Bank CommUNITY where “ WE seek and value opinions, viewpoints and perspectives from others to create solutions that are better than those that would have been created on our own”  

True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than anywhere else.
-  Clarence Darrow

Tuesday, August 3, 2010 6:14 PM

"The South Bank" refers to the Cities on the Ohio River across from Cincinnati. But the South Bank of Northern Kentucky is much more and includes the Communities and Neighborhoods encompassed by Boone, Kenton and Campbell Counties

"I want you to open your hearts and see the world in a different way. 

You get from the world what you give to the world.  I promise this will change your life for the better."
— Oprah

Habit #6. SYNERGIZE

"People who Have what they Want

are very fond of telling people

who haven't what they want

that they don't want it."

 -Samuel Clemens

" I see one-third of a nation ill-housed, ill-clad, and ill-nourished. The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." F.D.R.- 1937

I like to think that I am not so extraordinary that I am going to have a life experience that no one after me will also experience.  That was the basis of "The AIDS Benefits Handbook" which was my bible as I began the journey 10 years ago.  Unfortunately there was no similar Guidebook for Coming Out back in the early 70's.  My calling is to education and my talent is to write.  I've lived in this area, on both sides of the river, all my life...  And I wondered; Will the coalition fall apart???  Who will be the first to fold???  If CincinNASTY winds up with and settles for just enough of the pie to satisfy her current appetite, how much longer will it take for her to regret waiting for the whole one???  What more can be done???   Here's my 2cent view from The South Bank:

The perspective from this view is: If it is true that indeed, whatever is good for the Queen City is, indeed good for the whole region; does it then not follow that what is shameful for the Queen also sheds shame on her whole realm???

With props to The Divine Miss M:

GO The Distance!  

From a distance... The world looks good & green

And the snow capped mountains white

From a distance... The ocean meets the stream

And The Eagle takes to flight  

Hope is distant.. There's no harmony

And it echoes through the land...

Where's the voice of Hope? Where's the voice of peace?

Where's the voice of every man?

In the distance... We all have enough

And no one is in need

And there are no guns, no bombs and no disease...

No hungry mouths to feed

To run the distance... We'll be instruments

Marching in the common band...

Playing songs of hope! Playing songs of peace!

They'll be the songs of every man!

From a distance... God is watching us

God is watching us, from a distance...

  Through the distance... You look like my friend

Even though we are at war

From this distance... I just cannot comprehend

What all this fighting is for...  

In the distance...

There'll be Harmony, it'll echo through the land

It'll be the hope of hopes!

It'll be the love of loves!

In the heart of every man!!!

It's the hope of hope

It's the love of love

This is the song for every man!!!

God is watching us

God is watching us

God is watching us, from a distance...

God is watching, watching us

From a distance...

Stop!

Stoop! & Scoop!

Importance of Helping People in Need

The increasing lack of affordable housing in America is forcing some working families to become part of the homeless population

by Staff Writers - PR News Wire - February 28, 2003

WASHINGTON, DC -- Volunteers of America said today it
is mounting a national campaign in March to combat the
growing shortfall in funding for human service programs
in America.

The major thrust of the campaign will be to reach
government officials and community leaders to rally
support behind more funding in the federal, state, and
local budgets for social programs.

"Federal, state, and local budget cuts are endangering
the ability of nonprofits and charities to meet the
needs of a growing number of vulnerable children,
families, seniors, and persons with disabilities who
need a helping hand," Volunteers of America President
Charles Gould said.

"The nation's weak economy, falling tax revenues, and
unemployment are making it even more difficult to provide basic
human service programs for all people who need help. The
increasing lack of affordable housing in America is forcing some
working families to become part of the homeless population,"
Gould said.

Volunteers of America local organizations in over 40 states are
participating in the campaign being conducted in March around the
organization's celebration of its 107th birthday on March 8th.

"We believe it is very important to reach out to elected
officials and community leaders to make them fully aware of the
need that exists in their own community," Gould said. "Federal,
state and local budget cutting is becoming a significant problem
for Volunteers of America programs that service abused and
neglected children, homeless families, seniors, the frail elderly
and persons with disabilities."

§ THE HOMELESS NEWS §  http://egroups.com/group/HomelessNews/

---

No Ky Community Center??  

Suggestion: "The South Bank

PRIDE Center"

No Ky Community Action Coalition

Covington Community Center

Human Rights:

"Sexual Orientation" vs "Sexual Preference"

As those of us in attendance know, there were only two people who spoke in opposition to passing the revised "HUMAN RIGHTS" Ordinance at last nights public hearing.  While it was indeed uplifting and hopeful to hear so many of our CommUNITY, friends and neighbors speak with great conviction, emotion and urgency that our Commissioners do the "right thing" and approve the ordinance, I think it important to address the concerns of those two opposing the measure.

To do that, however, one must consider the language or semantics that have been used to cloud the true issue.  First and foremost, it is a HUMAN RIGHTS ordinance not a "Gay Rights" ordinance.  Second, the contested change provides for protection against discrimination in the areas of Housing, Employment and Public Accommodations.  Thirdly, the protection is afforded to a class of people based on Sexual Orientation, NOT Sexual Preference.  What's the difference you may ask?

We speak of Human Rights as they relate to our humanity and certain inalienable rights that our Founding Fathers spoke of when they wrote those immortal words  "ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL".  Since that time, when the signers of that magnificent document were all Straight(?) White Anglo Saxon Protestants, our beloved country has grown into a very diverse place.  It is only right and just that as we have evolved as a nation, we have taken steps to re-interpret that document and affirm that we believe now as they did then that indeed, ALL HUMANITY IS CREATED EQUAL.  A Human Rights ordinance does not serve to extend any special rights to any class of people, but merely to AFFIRM that all classes of people are equally entitled to those rights in the face of those who would regard themselves as superior or more entitled because of their own prejudices.

In regard to Housing, Employment and Public Accommodations, it takes no rights away from providers of those things to discriminate fairly or to choose the best applicant.  If a landlord is a bigot and doesn't want to rent to me, I would rather him say so.  Since coming "OUT" and endeavoring to live as one speaker said - "A full and honest life",  I've always been upfront with prospective landlords and employers.  And if any other business or public accommodation doesn't want my money that's just as green as the next guy's, it's their loss not mine.  Personally, I want to reserve my right to discriminate against their prejudices and not do business with or work for them anyway.  In any case, especially Housing, there are so many other ways that people can discriminate legally if they so choose.  My own personal experience in Covington's rental market as someone who is Gay, HIV+ and on disability, is that I experience more discrimination in Housing -legally- as a holder of a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher than as a Gay or disabled person. 

"Sexual Orientation" refers to the recognized scientific, civil and humane notion that who one is attracted to is as immutable as skin color.  On the other hand, "Sexual Preference" refers to things like doing it in a public park.  As far as I know, irregardless of Sexual Orientation, that is an illegal activity.  The ordinance does not grant immunity or protection of ANY KIND against any act so deemed AGAINST THE LAW.  The majority of us in the GLBT Community are just as offended as any other citizens by such actions.  I firmly believe that if we make that clear, we will calm the fears of the Grandfather who likes to frequent Devou Park with his grandchildren.

Unfortunately, what the ordinance will do nothing about is the personal prejudices the other opposition speaker unabashedly admitted to: "Believe it or not, there are still some people out there, as archaic as it may sound, who still believe that a family consists of a daddy and a mommy and a couple of kids. And anything other than that, they find objectionable".

Michael W. Connett - Covington, Ky

·       “Habit 6 – Synergy is about producing a third alternative – not my way, not your way, but a third way that is better than either of us would come up with individually.  It’s the fruit of mutual respect – of understanding and even celebrating one another’s differences in solving problems, seizing opportunities.  Synergistic teams and families thrive on individual strengths so that the whole becomes greater than the sum of the parts.  Such relationships and teams renounce defensive adversarialism (1+1=1/2).  They don’t settle on compromise (1+1=1-1/2) or merely cooperation (1+1=2).  They go for creative cooperation (1+1=3 or more).”  

The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short haired,
tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's; but he has never collected unemployment either.

He's a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student, pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away.

He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and
155mm Howitzers.

He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk.

He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can
field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the
dark. He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must.

He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional. He can march until he is told to stop or stop until he is told to march.

He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without
spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient. He has two sets of
fatigues: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry.

He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle.

He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts. If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low.

He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands. He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job.

He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay and still
find ironic humor in it all. He has seen more suffering and death then he
should have in his short lifetime.

He has stood atop mountains of dead bodies, and helped to create them. He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed.

He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to'square-away' those around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking. In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful.

Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather, he is paying the price for our freedom.
Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He is the American Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years. He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding.

Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood.

We received a letter from our son who by now is in Iraq somewhere and
after hearing about the protesters in the states He wrote a poem to
these people trying to express all the guys' feelings. I want to share
this with everyone and ask that they pass it on so that maybe the
American people will understand.

For all the free people that still protest
you're welcome, we protect you,
and you're protected by the best.
Your voice is strong and loud
but who will fight for you -
no one standing in your crowd.
We are fathers, brothers and sons,
wearing the boots and carrying the guns.
We are the ones that leave all we own,
to make sure the future is carved in stone.
We are the ones who fight and die,
we might not be able to save the world,
well, at least we try.
We walked the paths to where we are at,
and we want no choice other than that.
So when you rally your group to complain,
take a good look in the back of your brain.
In order for that flag you love to fly,
wars must be fought and young men must die.
We came here to fight for the ones we hold dear,
if that's not respected, we would rather stay here.
So please stop yelling and put down your signs,
and pray for those behind enemy lines.
When the conflict is over and all is well,
be thankful that we chose to go through hell.

Corporal Joshua Miles and all the boys from
3rd. Battalion, 2nd Marines, Kuwait

Services Goal: The Neighbor's Closet

"A Good Place to Live!"
Housing Quality Standards & Inspection Criteria

Housing Quality Standards
Housing quality standards help to ensure that your home will be safe, healthy, and comfortable. In the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program there are two kinds of housing quality standards:

Things that a home must have in order to be approved by the HA, and
Additional things that you should think about for the special needs of your own family. These are items that you can decide.

The Housing Choice Voucher Program
The Housing Choice Voucher Program allow you to choose a house or apartment that you like. It may be where you are living now or somewhere else. The must have standards are very basic items that every house or apartment must have. But a home that has all the must have standards may still not have everything you need or would like. With the help of the Housing Choice Voucher Program, you should be able to afford a good home, so you should think about what you would like your home to have. You may want a big kitchen or a lot of windows or a first floor apartment. Worn wallpaper or paint may bother you. Think of these things as you are looking for a home. Please take time to read the following information. If you would like to stay in your present home, use this booklet to see if your home meets the housing quality standards. If you want to move, use it each time you go to look for a new house or apartment. Good luck in finding your good place to live.

"A Good Place to Live" is divided into six sections and a summary. In each section there is a picture and an explanation of the items that a unit must have. There are also suggestions of some things you should think about. At the end of each section, think about whether or not the unit has everything it must have and everything it should have. Sections include:
Living Room
Kitchen
Bathroom
Other Rooms
Building Exterior, Plumbing, and Heating
Health & Safety (in the home, yard, and neighborhood)
Summary

Read each section carefully. After your find a good place to live, you can start the Request for Lease Approval process. You may find a place you like that has some problems with it.

The Requirements
Most houses or apartments must have at least a living room, kitchen, and bathroom. A one-room efficiency apartment with a kitchen area is all right. However, there must be a separate bathroom for private use of your family. Generally, there must be one living/sleeping room for every two family members.

---

Date: Sun, 02 Feb 2003 16:31:28 -0000
   Subject: Being a Patriot in the Land of the Snake

To whom it may concern,

I spend allot of time on the Internet...we don't get TV, radio or newspapers out here in the sticks of the western part of the United States...we don't have endless talking heads patting each other's egos on CNN and Fox News...so-called experts who often get it wrong...of those with satellites that can get that stuff...they usually watch CSPAN and get to watch our Congress in all of their greedy maneuverings...

Americus..."Land of the serpent" by native tongue...oh if it were not 
so appropriate these days...political expedience drives our destruction both at home and abroad...a creation of a police state in the name of safety...

We are not one bit safer than we were a year ago...we are very much poorer as a nation though...both financially and morally...

What safety...not every train car is inspected, or all shipping containers at the docks and the trucks...forget it...you can still walk across the border to the North or South at will undetected and unchallenged...airport security is still MIA and now many carriers are just going to go out of business...and all we have to show for this all...huge deficits as far as the eye can see and the largest 
and most invasive government agency the nation has ever experienced...and the actions being taken by this administration is truly making many very nervous...spying on citizens, no legal representation, apprehension and detention without any charges, rounding up folks and forcing them to get dangerous vaccinations, big brother type agencies to monitor every e-mail, phone conversation and letter and then there is Dubya...Mr. Nintendo with a big red button at his disposal threatening half of the world with attack and alienating us from the rest of the more civilized countries daily...he is unifying isn't he...every nation is quickly becoming united against us...

I have allot of experience in politics having been active in both the major parties at all levels, volunteering for hundreds of candidates at all levels, working in the party offices and even running for office myself...and if there is one thing I learned...it is how to tell the genuine article...McCain is one of them...so too Russ Feingold and the late Paul Wellstone...and there are others... 

I grew up under such leaders with vision and who were willing to seek creative and peaceful solutions to our nation's problems...both at home and abroad...I remember folks like Eisenhower...who knew the cost of war and knew that there has to be a better way...

"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. The cost of one modern heavy bomber is this: a modern brick school in more than 30 cities. It is two electric power plants, each serving a 
town of 60,000 population. It is two fine, fully equipped hospitals. It is some 50 miles of concrete highway. We pay for a single fighter with a half million bushels of wheat. We pay for a single destroyer with new homes that could have housed more than 8,000 people. This, I repeat, is the best way of life to be found on the road the world has been taking. This is not a way of life at all, in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron." 
-- Republican President and Five Star General Dwight D. Eisenhower

Where are those kinds of leaders...the ones who say let's go to the moon by the end of the year...the ones who will stand up and push alternative energy sources as though our lives depended on it...the Arianna Huffingtons who say let's stop driving gas hogs...the Molly Ivins who say when are we gonna get serious about creating new jobs in new industries here at home...and when will we stop peddling weapons of mass destruction around the world...when, when and who will take the reigns...the real heroes, the real patriots and the 
true leaders...

Being a patriot is more than just waving an American flag made in 
China...it is understanding what the flag is supposed to represent...it isn't wearing the latest red, white and blue fashions made by slave labor in South America or Asia...it is having the conviction to take the extra step and wear a uniform understanding that war is the last resort or to go abroad and do good things in this country's name...not just create more serpents whose heads must 
be cut off later...

Practicing patriotism is much more than calling those who dissent traitors...after all those who founded this nation were a very small group called traitors by another King George...it is being able to stand up and say to those same masses "you are wrong" and fight for their rights even though they despise you for protecting their liberties...

Standing alone for what is right, honorable and good is never treason...it is an obligation as citizen of this nation and a right ordained by a higher moral authority...the world deserves nothing less than this noble ideal...

Jesus Christ was certainly conveyed as an intelligent rebel himself hunted down by an oppressive regime, ridiculed by his own people who turned him over to be tortured and killed for his beliefs in an attempt to stop the truth he spread to the population...Peace...this is also true of other religion's teachings...Peace, Justice and Truth...

Practicing the teachings of Christ is much more difficult than just preaching what some think Christ meant by Love God and one another...I am sure that killing others in God's name is not part of the deal...no matter whose God it is...and no matter the name given him...

I don't thump a Bible up against my enemy's face...I reach out my hand, I feed him, I cloth him, I shelter him, I provide medicine and schooling to him and I try to understand his beliefs, culture, religion and anger against my country...in short fixing what has gone terribly wrong...

This is the role of the peacemaker...and it is the soul of this nation...

Not the Bush regime's version which is to push the world into Armageddon in a sort of born-again perverse self-fulfilling prophecy...definitely NOT Compassionate, Christian or Conservative...just plain ruthless, dangerous and evil...and Junior's obsession with Saddam is diverting attention from domestic and foreign economic problems...Africa and South America are looking at 
revolutions, civil unrest, bankruptcies and governmental collapses...not to mention starvation and disease...

Dropping food, medicine and blankets, not bombs...digging wells, not graves...and building coalitions and shelters, not hardened bunkers in caves in Afghanistan covertly with India while giving or selling mines, biological and chemical agents and heavy weapons such as stinger missiles to the same people we now want to kill in that country and in Iraq...

First we must cast out the heathens in our own homes...and the best thing that I can do for my country is to be sure that we clean up our government for the next generation so they don't have to endure life under a dictatorship financed by global corporations who care little for the average person...this I will do until I die..."

"I used to be afraid of dying, but I'm not anymore.
I'm more afraid of what happens to the people

who live..."
from "And The Band Played On"

"They that can give up essential liberty for a little safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety"
Benjamin Franklin