A Snippet from O-Blog-dee-O-Blog-da

Published November 11, 2018 by Nan Mykel

From Melanie Nathan’s blog*:

A wave of arrests of gays in Tanzania is feared after a senior official urged the public to report suspected gays to authorities. Homosexual acts are illegal in Tanzania and can bring a sentence of up 30 years. The examinations are taking place on Friday to see if there are any signs of same-sex relations among the men, who were arrested last week on suspicion of celebrating a gay marriage at a resort hotel, police chief of the south region of Zanzibar, Suleiman Hassan, told The Associated Press.

“We acted on a tip-off from a good citizen leading them to abort their party during the weekend and then police made a quick arrest,” said Hassan. After being held for several days, the men have been released pending the investigations, he said.

Last week Paul Makonda, the administrative chief of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest city, urged citizens to report any suspected homosexuals. He said a task force would be established to seek out and punish homosexuals and prostitutes. READ MORE at VOX

*P.S. “This blog, O-Blog-Dee-O-Blog-Da, started out as a platform to showcase the equality and human rights advocacy work of Melanie. In addition to reporting related news and stories, O-Blog-Dee-O-Blog-Da serves as a platform for Nathan and her guests to highlight their work in a world where gay, lesbian, transgender, queer, intersex, and gender-free people are the subjects of persecution and discrimination.

“Over time it has developed into a renowned blog, on subjects including U.S. politics, equality related issues, the impact of homophobia and transphobia – especially state sanctioned homophobia, the decriminalization of homosexuality, LGBTQI asylum, sexuality violence and all human rights issues, around the globe, with a special focus on Africa.”

DEEP THOUGHTS UPON WAKING

Published November 11, 2018 by Nan Mykel

I might be digging myself a hole here, but here goes.

On November 1st this year I gave my talk about the material in the book I self-published in 2014. After I scheduled the talk at the library, NAMI kindly stepped in and sponsored it. My daughter flew up from Atlanta to support me, and counted 25 in attendance. I gave them egg nog. Almost half those attending were friends, come to support me.

My book is actually quite good, and failed to be puchased widely because I was unable to push it. This morning I realized that my synonym for push is manipulate, and that’s something my father was good at.

Then it came to me that this is what capitalism is all about, manipulation. I don’t believe I manipulate, and am touchy when I suspect others might be trying to manipulate me. Oh I could dig down deeper and discover times when I may have unconsciously manipulated, but if so I apologize. These reflections led to the “poem” I published on my blog yesterday, and some of the feedback. I embarrassed myself by the stanza:

Poems mirror the mind, you know. What are the parts we’re willing to show?

Blood from a refugee’s eyeball

pooling on the floor at the mall?

I might have done better if I’d taken more time. But, still waking up this morning, I began to wonder who we write poems for. If we post them publicly on a blog, surely we write for others? After five years (omg, has it been five?) my readership is miniscule, which suggests that I don’t write for my readers. (Sorry).

Tho it sounds stuffy, I write from my own muse, who does a good job of comforting me. I guess I write for the echo. I recall my tidbit from the past: Here’s the thing: I’ve been talking through this loudspeaker I found in my crib 80 years ago and just now notice it’s not plugged in.

I realize a line might be drawn between therapy poetry groups and straight ones, but where does a blog fit in? And now I wonder what’s the difference between trying to make my point versus manipulating you, but at least I’m upfront about it.