4 December, 2007

In the spirit of my own identity and waiting process, I offer you Bell Hooks!

I will not have my life narrowed down. I will not bow down to somebody else’s whim or to someone else’s ignorance. bell Hooks

It’s in the act of having to do things that you don’t want to that you learn something about moving past the self. Past the ego. bell Hooks

Life-transforming ideas have always come to me through books. bell hooks

For those of you interested in the Queer vote, here is something that a friend of mine forwarded to me last week. After some thought, I felt it was important to post both the link and some of the text that the poll revealed!The link from where I retrieved this data: http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/news/#hunterpoll

Hunter Poll Finds Clinton Has Support of 63% of LGB Likely Voters

In the first public, political survey ever conducted by a university-based team of scholars with a nationally representative sample of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGBs) Americans, results released today show that Senator Hillary Clinton has the support of 63 percent of LGB likely voters in the Democratic primaries, followed by Senator Barack Obama with 22 percent and John Edwards with 7 percent. The Hunter College Poll also finds that during the process of “coming out,” LGBs become more liberal and more engaged in the political process than the general population.

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So, Hanukkah began today, and I am reminded of Judaism as I traverse this waiting period. The festival of lights is almost a sure holiday for me to not only re-center my attention upon Advent but to also invigorate my interests in the politics of identity and political theology. Of course, I am aware that the first Sunday of Advent was this past Sunday; I do know my liturgical seasons!

Now, it might appear to be a bit odd for me to consider Hanukkah as a means of moving into Advent, but it works for me. Moving into Advent is more than lighting candles and celebrating Christianity’s Christmas season [also on the liturgical calendar]. Advent has become a time for me to reconsider my baptist identity and the varying other identities that I embody. For, as I was reminded today, existence precedes essence and perhaps identity supersedes essence. Now, I don’t have a menorah that I light nor do I do anything with Olive oil or reread I Maccabees. But, the Festival, for me, is a reminder of the political messianism that motivates my understanding of Christianity and attempts to follow in the Way.

I must say that I had a surprising day today when I was greeted by my friend during my lunch. This was a nice time to sit and reflect and find ways to create meaning in my day, especially during my work day. We talked Kafka, Albert Camus and how we are both deconstructionists. Michael borrowed from Derrida as we talked, and helped me find ways to be in institutions while not being ground down by them. For, we must move through the mire, [in this case, the machine, and for Marx it was Capitalism] in order for the revolution to emerge. Marx said it first!

And so, in the midst of many of my Jewish friends beginning their Hanukah rituals and opening their gifts, playing games and eating Latkes, I find myself amazed at the miracle of their celebration of Lights and Olive Oil and my own fascination with the Existential Philosophers. I offer you the first blessing for this year’s Hanukkah celebration.

May you always find ways to kindle the goodness in your life, and may you always be kindled by the goodness of life.

The first blessing

Recited all eight nights just prior to lighting the candles:

(Note that the ‘CH’ letter combination is pronounced as ‘KH’) See Hebrew Transliteration.

(Transliteration:) Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hadlik neir (shel) chanukah.

Translation: “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah lights.”

I don’t know if this is veritable or not, but according to facebook, I am Red!

I’m RedThe color of romance and emotion - you sure know a thing or two about passion. While often associated with anger, you represent the truth in human emotion. You stand for blood, fire and power. While even considered a major symbol of good luck in Oriental cultures, you symbolize leadership and valor - power that cannot be easily conquered