THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN'

THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’

I was born near the end of the Great Depression into a family of nine, and to this Louisiana family it surely was an economic depression. Even at the end of the depression it was difficult for an uneducated man, such as my father, to find a good paying job.  So we suffered the consequences of depression many years after the Great Depression ended.  We had no electricity, no telephone, and we drew water from a well.  I can remember the times when food was scarce! I wore hand-me-down clothes most of my school days, but they were clean and neatly pressed. We were one of many Southern families who lived in poverty long after the depression ended, but time changed all of that!

I experienced the life of a gay child living in a state, dominated by the Christian religion.  The Southern Bible Belt was not the ideal place for a gay teenager, who was reminded often concerning the end results for all homosexuals.  As a result, I developed a life that was conducive to gay living, known as the closet.  There were many social disadvantages for a teenager attempting to conceal homosexual tendencies living in an anti-gay Christian Bible Belt, but as the ticking of the clock changed so did the times!

It is true that LGBTQ individuals have to fight for civil rights in a straight world. It is also true that fighting for rights builds character.  Fighting for those rights became the foundation for my understanding of the real world, and changed a narrow mind into a broad concept with a global perspective.  As a result, the closet became too small, and the flag of freedom continued to wave in the mind of a growing teenage boy. Time changed that boy into a man!

To be able to stand today as a free man and look the world in the face and say, this is one, proud, gay man, you cannot shame!  I have been given an inspiration, and that inspiration is so strong that it cannot be   curbed. As long as I have breath to breath, I will speak out against the injustices that are occurring all over the world. My hope is, by speaking out, things will change! 

I will not remain silent while innocent immigrant children are separated from parents and placed in cages. A Latino mother, who walked a thousand miles in the hope of finding a better life for her child is one of the greatest examples of love that has ever been exemplified on this planet.  I will defy American mothers who think they hold a monopoly on mothers who love their children. But I will never forget that time can change cold hearts!

America has not been perfect for everyone especially minorities, but it has not reached the point of no return.  I have great faith in Americans, and the world needs a place where anyone with hard work and determination can achieve success. Nevertheless, there are definite changes that need to be made, and America’s form of government allows change. But these changes can only occur with the vote of the majority of the people. In a democracy it is never too late to change!

This is the United States, and it is the greatest nation on the planet.  I will not remain silent while a small group of money worshipers attempt to destroy the principles that made America great. Americans have shown the world what free people can accomplish, and without a shadow of a doubt, the world needs the United States. The United States is bigger than just one nation, and it is the NATION of the world. As America goes, so goes the world, and right now America’s leadership is failing. But THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGING!

The one thing Donald Trump has done is awaken the SILENT MAJORITY of American citizens. More people voted in the mid-term elections of 2018 than anytime in US history. At the present, there are more women, LGBTQ individuals, and other minorities, elected to public office than anytime in US history. I firmly believe that these groups will restore the much needed honesty to America’s government. I am happy to say, we are on the move!  So fasten your seat belts straight people ‘cause this ride ain’t over yet!  THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’!