I was a Michael Jackson fan but not necessarily an avid fan. I was a fan of Frank Sinatra, never really liked Elvis, loved the Beatles and for some unknown reason I am currently a big fan of Lady GaGa and always a fan of Madonna. All of these folks are or were great talents of their time. I can remember seeing the Ed Sullivan Show when they refused to show Elvis gyrating his hips. There were rumors that Frank Sinatra was involved in Organized Crime, ok guys, I said rumors, and I don’t know anything. The Beatles led a cultural revolution, throughout the world, not to mention that they produced some interesting music that seemed to reinforce the use of illegal drugs. No matter, these men and women are great artists but it appears that some people in our society have no clue about what artistic expression is all about or for that matter the hard work that goes into creating these great art works.
Enter United States Representative Peter King, Republican from New York. Now I have to admit I was annoyed that every time I turned on the news since he died it was all about Michael Jackson, however, it was news and apparently important to millions of people. But, Peter King was upset, apparently he is running for a US Senate seat in New York and decided to pull out the obnoxious Republican spin and take it over the top and diminish Michael Jackson, his fans and for that matter all compassionate humankind.
If I were inclined to ever vote for a shamed, diminished and obnoxious Republican it would be the cheating Sanford from South Carolina or the “shoe tapping in the men’s room” Larry Craig or the Baby Diaper Senator Vitter from Louisiana, but I would never, ever, vote for a man, Republican or Democrat, who smears the legacy of a great artist. Perhaps King does not understand that this artist has a family who loves him, perhaps this King person has no idea what it means to Mr. Jackson’s fans that he is now gone, perhaps this King person is the typical idiot that Republicans have been offering to American society for far too long and I think the majority of America has said, enough.
Mr. King, promoting your candidacy for the US States Senate on the back of the death of Michael Jackson and introducing your obnoxious YouTube Video while his family and fans are in mourning has come to be what most Americans understand the Republican Party to be, scum.
Mr. King, Michael Jackson has done more to make the world a better place than you, so shut up, get back to your job and maybe, maybe someday when you do something really good for the people and not the lobbyist, the press will speak well of you.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Health Insurance
All my life I worked for companies that offered excellent health insurance. When I left the last major employer I worked for I was able to use “COBRA” and when the eighteen months was over I was able to convert to an Individual Policy, which was fine until I moved to Florida. My insurer, US Healthcare, did not offer individual policies in the State of Florida so I had a choice, I could continue to maintain a permanent address in Pennsylvania or seek health insurance in Florida. Of course, maintaining an address in Pennsylvania would have been tantamount to Insurance Fraud and being a law abiding citizen that was not an option.
To complicate things my life partner was also on my Health Insurance policy so when we moved to Florida we were both in jeopardy of losing our health insurance. So we did what most people would do, we applied for health insurance first with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida. We were both denied, me because of high blood pressure which was being treated, and my partner because he had once indicated that he had a “fever blister”. While I would never ever be able to prove it, in my heart I am certain that we were profiled as being gay, since we applied together, and in the eyes of Blue Cross/Blue Shield a certain indicator of a potential risk that they were not willing to take.
Then we took another route and applied with “Golden Rule”, separately and were accepted. At the outset the premiums were reasonable but accelerated faster than the Space Shuttle. I then reapplied to Blue Cross/Blue Shield, separately, and somehow slithered into their program which again was reasonable initially but like “Golden Rule” they accelerated the premium as well as the deductible, so I eventually had to join the other forty million Americans and just do without health insurance.
I guess the reason I felt compelled to write this is because there was a Blue Cross/Blue Shield advertisement on DIGG. I went to the advertisement to check it out and they were offering pretty much the same rates that they offered me a few years ago, the same rates that after six months went up, up, up and up and the deductible also went up, up and up until I could no longer afford them.
When I was in my late twenties, thirty plus years ago, the Vice President of Human Resources for the company that I worked for, SUN Oil Company, gave a talk about the issue of health care. He was not much older than me at the time but when I look back I think that this was a man of vision, unlike many of the men and women who today, occupy the Halls of the United States Congress.
Once and for all, with the Republicans or not, we need a “ONE PAYER” system in the United States that in time will take the profit out of life and death.
Bart
To complicate things my life partner was also on my Health Insurance policy so when we moved to Florida we were both in jeopardy of losing our health insurance. So we did what most people would do, we applied for health insurance first with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida. We were both denied, me because of high blood pressure which was being treated, and my partner because he had once indicated that he had a “fever blister”. While I would never ever be able to prove it, in my heart I am certain that we were profiled as being gay, since we applied together, and in the eyes of Blue Cross/Blue Shield a certain indicator of a potential risk that they were not willing to take.
Then we took another route and applied with “Golden Rule”, separately and were accepted. At the outset the premiums were reasonable but accelerated faster than the Space Shuttle. I then reapplied to Blue Cross/Blue Shield, separately, and somehow slithered into their program which again was reasonable initially but like “Golden Rule” they accelerated the premium as well as the deductible, so I eventually had to join the other forty million Americans and just do without health insurance.
I guess the reason I felt compelled to write this is because there was a Blue Cross/Blue Shield advertisement on DIGG. I went to the advertisement to check it out and they were offering pretty much the same rates that they offered me a few years ago, the same rates that after six months went up, up, up and up and the deductible also went up, up and up until I could no longer afford them.
When I was in my late twenties, thirty plus years ago, the Vice President of Human Resources for the company that I worked for, SUN Oil Company, gave a talk about the issue of health care. He was not much older than me at the time but when I look back I think that this was a man of vision, unlike many of the men and women who today, occupy the Halls of the United States Congress.
Once and for all, with the Republicans or not, we need a “ONE PAYER” system in the United States that in time will take the profit out of life and death.
Bart
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Go Fetch
Go Fetch
My partner and I have been together for forty years and were thrilled that Barack Obama was elected President over John McCain. Of course election night was bitter sweet since the California H8 and the Florida Amendment 2 poisoned our celebration.
I totally understand that there are a lot of things on the President’s plate. The war in Iraq, Afghanistan the nut case in Korea and the election in Iran, but sorry, that is part of the job. In the meantime our community is told to wait. Wait for Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and the Defense of Marriage to be rescinded, oh and by the way here is a bone to chew on, a “memorandum” blessing Federal employees only and only while Obama is in office, go fetch.
OK, so the President does not agree with “Gay Marriage” and apparently we now understand that he does not agree with equal rights for all GLBT Americans other than Federal Employees and only while he is in office.
OK, I get it now, it is not about the promise of “Hope” for everyone it is all about the promise of “Hope” for Obama, the politician.
So here is the thing I would suggest every GLBTA person do, and that is not give to either political party but only to “trusted” GLBTA organizations.
The Democratic Party and Barack Obama is failing us and we should no longer support those who participate in diminishing our dignity.
My partner and I have been together for forty years and were thrilled that Barack Obama was elected President over John McCain. Of course election night was bitter sweet since the California H8 and the Florida Amendment 2 poisoned our celebration.
I totally understand that there are a lot of things on the President’s plate. The war in Iraq, Afghanistan the nut case in Korea and the election in Iran, but sorry, that is part of the job. In the meantime our community is told to wait. Wait for Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and the Defense of Marriage to be rescinded, oh and by the way here is a bone to chew on, a “memorandum” blessing Federal employees only and only while Obama is in office, go fetch.
OK, so the President does not agree with “Gay Marriage” and apparently we now understand that he does not agree with equal rights for all GLBT Americans other than Federal Employees and only while he is in office.
OK, I get it now, it is not about the promise of “Hope” for everyone it is all about the promise of “Hope” for Obama, the politician.
So here is the thing I would suggest every GLBTA person do, and that is not give to either political party but only to “trusted” GLBTA organizations.
The Democratic Party and Barack Obama is failing us and we should no longer support those who participate in diminishing our dignity.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Open Letter to CNN
Dear Sirs,
It has always been my choice to look to CNN for accurate and responsible and non-biased news reporting. I love the sophisticated reporting of Candy Crowley, the great Christiane Amapour, Michael Chance and many others. I have always enjoyed and appreciate responsible opposing opinions offered by your guests however, as a Vietnam Veteran I am insulted that you have chosen to give Liz Cheney a voice on your broadcasts. Indeed I am hurt that you have diminished all the great reporters and opinion people by giving equal voice to her tirades.
I am not sure what her credentials are other than having been the daughter of a powerful Republican and Vice President, having a law degree and thus being the recipient of favors in the past administration. Her assignment to the State Department I am sure was nothing more than nepotism, which is ok, because that happens all the time in all disciplines. That does not, however, make her an expert in anything as she has so willfully proven in her appearances on CNN. Her opinions carry no more weight and possibly a lot less weight than my grand nephews and nieces.
While it has not yet been totally established that the Bush Administration was irresponsible, delinquent and cavalier regarding the events of September 11, 2001, I would like to remind you that the evidence is substantial that similar to the war in Vietnam the war in Iraq was a “war of choice”. While America has lost four thousand plus soldiers and many thousands of life changing wounded, the Iraqi people have lost tens of thousands and tens of thousands more suffered life changing wounds. I know Iraqi lives are not so important to what we have come to understand as “Flag Waving Americans” but this atrocity was promoted, justified and initiated by the past administration for apparently no reason other than revenge.
Liz Cheney is an embarrassment to the integrity of CNN, if I wanted my home to be invaded by hypocrisy and unchallenged lies I would gladly change the channel to Fox News. What I expect from CNN is a responsible discussion of the issues. I don’t think the daughter of a man who, in a perfect world, would be in jail awaiting trial for war crimes, fits that mold. If it is important for CNN to get Dick Cheney’s point of view than Dick Cheney should be the person who comes onto the shows and questioned. But then I guess it should come as no surprise that Mr. Cheney, who said "I had other priorities in the '60s than military service." when he was before the Senate for confirmation as George Bush 1’s Secretary of Defense would remain the coward that he is and hide behind his daughters skirts.
I have to assume that CNN has chosen to no longer be a truly “fair and balanced” “NEWS” outlet and has decided to sink to the level of the FOX News interpretation of that slogan. It is good that in most circumstances your anchors announce the upcoming interviews. When I hear that Liz Cheney is one of the guests I can turn the channel. I will encourage all the families and friends of those who lost soldiers in Dick Cheney’s war to do the same.
Bart Coyle
It has always been my choice to look to CNN for accurate and responsible and non-biased news reporting. I love the sophisticated reporting of Candy Crowley, the great Christiane Amapour, Michael Chance and many others. I have always enjoyed and appreciate responsible opposing opinions offered by your guests however, as a Vietnam Veteran I am insulted that you have chosen to give Liz Cheney a voice on your broadcasts. Indeed I am hurt that you have diminished all the great reporters and opinion people by giving equal voice to her tirades.
I am not sure what her credentials are other than having been the daughter of a powerful Republican and Vice President, having a law degree and thus being the recipient of favors in the past administration. Her assignment to the State Department I am sure was nothing more than nepotism, which is ok, because that happens all the time in all disciplines. That does not, however, make her an expert in anything as she has so willfully proven in her appearances on CNN. Her opinions carry no more weight and possibly a lot less weight than my grand nephews and nieces.
While it has not yet been totally established that the Bush Administration was irresponsible, delinquent and cavalier regarding the events of September 11, 2001, I would like to remind you that the evidence is substantial that similar to the war in Vietnam the war in Iraq was a “war of choice”. While America has lost four thousand plus soldiers and many thousands of life changing wounded, the Iraqi people have lost tens of thousands and tens of thousands more suffered life changing wounds. I know Iraqi lives are not so important to what we have come to understand as “Flag Waving Americans” but this atrocity was promoted, justified and initiated by the past administration for apparently no reason other than revenge.
Liz Cheney is an embarrassment to the integrity of CNN, if I wanted my home to be invaded by hypocrisy and unchallenged lies I would gladly change the channel to Fox News. What I expect from CNN is a responsible discussion of the issues. I don’t think the daughter of a man who, in a perfect world, would be in jail awaiting trial for war crimes, fits that mold. If it is important for CNN to get Dick Cheney’s point of view than Dick Cheney should be the person who comes onto the shows and questioned. But then I guess it should come as no surprise that Mr. Cheney, who said "I had other priorities in the '60s than military service." when he was before the Senate for confirmation as George Bush 1’s Secretary of Defense would remain the coward that he is and hide behind his daughters skirts.
I have to assume that CNN has chosen to no longer be a truly “fair and balanced” “NEWS” outlet and has decided to sink to the level of the FOX News interpretation of that slogan. It is good that in most circumstances your anchors announce the upcoming interviews. When I hear that Liz Cheney is one of the guests I can turn the channel. I will encourage all the families and friends of those who lost soldiers in Dick Cheney’s war to do the same.
Bart Coyle
Monday, June 1, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Let Freedom Ring
It was almost forty years ago that I was standing on a street corner outside a bar talking with some friends, hand on hip, and was told I shouldn’t have “hand on hip”, I could be arrested for being gay or to use the more clinical term, homosexual.
I was twenty one and had just returned from serving my Country in Vietnam. A few months later, celebrating my twenty second birthday at the same bar, I happened to meet the person with whom I would spend the rest of my life. He too had just recently returned from Vietnam in service of our Country.
We spent our lives in suburban Philadelphia going to work every day, worked hard, paid our taxes, and did our best to be good citizens. In later years we sheltered my mom until she died and were able to give her a home that she never would have had if not for the generosity, patience and understanding of my life partner.
We were always burdened by the fact that as much as we tried, some of the legal contracts that we made to protect each other could be broken by a distant “blood” relative. It never occurred to us that in our lifetime some folks, just like us, would have the protection of the State.
We know, of course, from the mean spirited vote that occurred in Florida in the past election that it is unlikely that we will have those protections in our lifetime in Florida. But the wonderful news from Iowa makes us realize that truth and understanding is taking hold in our Country, the Country that we both served in war. Ignorance and intolerance is diminishing, at least in the Heartland and maybe someday it will reach into the South.
I was twenty one and had just returned from serving my Country in Vietnam. A few months later, celebrating my twenty second birthday at the same bar, I happened to meet the person with whom I would spend the rest of my life. He too had just recently returned from Vietnam in service of our Country.
We spent our lives in suburban Philadelphia going to work every day, worked hard, paid our taxes, and did our best to be good citizens. In later years we sheltered my mom until she died and were able to give her a home that she never would have had if not for the generosity, patience and understanding of my life partner.
We were always burdened by the fact that as much as we tried, some of the legal contracts that we made to protect each other could be broken by a distant “blood” relative. It never occurred to us that in our lifetime some folks, just like us, would have the protection of the State.
We know, of course, from the mean spirited vote that occurred in Florida in the past election that it is unlikely that we will have those protections in our lifetime in Florida. But the wonderful news from Iowa makes us realize that truth and understanding is taking hold in our Country, the Country that we both served in war. Ignorance and intolerance is diminishing, at least in the Heartland and maybe someday it will reach into the South.
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