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We’re too easy on marketers. How convenient it is to sell by dividing us into “men are this, women are that, and kids are another,” by slivering us into an alphabet soup of birth eras, not to mention by segregating us according to where we were born, our skin colors, our sexual preferences, how much we earn, and on and on. Shame on us for bleating back their generalizations. Story-telling is essential (about my books here) to seeing one another as individuals.
Talk, and I mean really talk, to a coworker, a neighbor, a friend, a family member, and I’ll wager you won’t find they fit commerce-designated absolutes. In exposing ourselves, our hearts open to our humanity and interdependence.
High-Risk Homosexual: a Memoir by Edgar Gomez reminds me of all this. Interestingly, I happened onto Edgar’s short autobiographical essays thanks to his narration on a mental health app.
Here’s my review of High Risk-Homosexual: a Memoir by Edgar Gomez for Goodreads and Amazon…
Edgar’s autobiographical essays demonstrate how essential each of our voices are, no matter who we are. His writing is so courageous, funny, and touching, that I pity anyone who can’t relate to his observations about how complex individuals and relationships are.
His writing sure, his memories vivid, he walks us through a life filled with reprimands for he isn’t and little appreciation for who he is. How have we arrived to live in a world angry about who has sex with who, who loves who, who wears what, and who wants to do what with their own bodies?
He doesn’t merely tell us, he shows us how soul-crushing hypocrisy can be. It’s not enough for us say we love someone if we scorn who they are fundamentally.
Here’s a video interview with Edgar…
What books made you more compassionate toward yourself or others?
Discover more from Happiness Between Tales (and Tails) by da-AL
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Bonjour OU bonsoir
Le jour vient de se lever ou de se coucher
Des mots me viennent à l’esprit
Pour te dire bonjour en toute amitié
Pour te souhaiter une bonne journée ou une bonne soirée
Une belle semaine à venir
Que chaque seconde de ce jour te soit de bonheur et de repos
Ainsi que pour ceux qui travail j’offre ces mots amicaux
Qu’ils vous accompagnent du matin au soir
Certains vont à l’école, d’autres au boulot, à chacun sa vie
Que ces petits mots de tendresse vous accompagnent
Bise amicale Bernard
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I am against labels of any kind and have written several posts and comments about that. Labelling is separating and puts groups against each other. We can do better than that.
I am not sure that a certain book has made me more compassionate. I think it is more what I hear about wars and the situation of the children.
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Sometimes I think it helps people to have a name so they can gain the strength of a sort of tribe. Unfortunately it becomes another way for money makers and politicians to divide in an acrimonious way as you point out. For sure war is endlessly horrible and I don’t wish it upon anyone or anywhere. War is another way politicians divide us. It’s amazing that anyone who endures that can heal and forgive…
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Many don’t heal and they are not able to live a normal life.
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Sadly this too true. It’s a miracle that peace can exist after a war
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I thought about the labelling for feeling safe. Maybe a usable and quasi neutral label could be: the people I like and that like me? That would include in theory all groups
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Love it 😂 hope it catches on 🍀
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🙂 ❤
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It disturbs me that some people can only support freedoms if it fits their personal agendas. Humans love who they love; it’s not that complicated.
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I totally agree Pete. Wishing you and yours a happy weekend
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So easy for advertisers to slot their audience. I guess it has become somewhat of an art that they can find, keep and cater to a demographic. I find it sometimes pretty condescending though when I see the foolishness. It makes me wonder too, how many people are actually turned off to a product by some of these ads.
Have a very Happy Thanksgiving da-Al. Enjoy your day.
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Agreed and thank you 😃 wishing you and yours a sane and happy holiday
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Hi da-Al, this is very interesting. We do live in a condemning and hypocritical world. It is hard to avoid getting caught up in it. We have to fight to keep our own thoughts clear and focused. I read a lot of books about war. Everyone in war. We all suffer the same, bleed the same and die the same.
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So well said, dear Robbie ♥️ as a former journalist I feel like any media has such a need be profitable by selling advertising or actual products that every article is turned into a high stakes page turner. Not to mention when politicians get involved with rousing voters, and so on… sanity is getting out and seeing each other as individuals same as us
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