Chicago Gay Parade, Portland & Food

Posted on June 28, 2006
Filed Under US June '06 |

Portland, Maine. It’s one lovely and tranquil place where you can recharge your batteries and find the peace of mind you’ve been seeking all along. I really like it here but in a different way though. There’s not much to do like in Chicago but it’s so peacefull and beautifull. Before I go into details though let me rewind back to Chicago where I left off before. The day before I came to Portland, I went to check out the gay parade in downtown Chicago (southern part if I’m not mistaken). Don’t get the wrong idea. It’s not like I went there simply for the parade. We actually had to go pick up a friend from the same area where the parade was going to take place. We went and… oh… okay… mmm… well you see it was… I don’t know what word to use… mmm… let’s see… how about SHOCKING!?! Lesbian action woooohoooooooo haha and hey don’t blame me but seeing super gay men in action YuCK! Hey, I’m sorry but it was just extremely yucky… Yuck eewww… I can’t believe I had to witness all that… Damn it get a room or something… Please don’t do it in public… Eeeewww!! I mean it was seriously and greatly unforunate for me that the men’s gay action overwhelmed those of the lesbians… Talk about a culture shock… Sheesh!! Anyways all jokes aside… I don’t support homosexuality and I’m against calling it normal because it’s simply not. It’s abnormal and please don’t even bother to convince me otherwise (hemophrodites are an exception). Anyways being the naughty guy that I am I cannot deny that I found the lesbian action amusing LOL… In the parade they were all carrying rainbow coloured flags. That’s apparently “their” flag. The parade was also kind of political. They carried posters calling for legalization of same sex marriages. Yup yup sure thing… I really can’t understand it. I mean there were a few lesbians in the parade who brought along their little kids. They made them carry the rainbow flags too. What??!! Those chicks are pretty weird. They go dating random guys, get pregnant, all of a sudden turn lesbian and then bring their kids along to support the “rainbow” cause. It’s those things that I don’t appreciate about Western culture. Don’t get me wrong it’s not like I’m calling such chicks whores. Some people make mistakes and I believe society shouldn’t put an extra burden on them by giving them the “dirty look”. However seriously please what happened to family values? Compare America in the 1950’s and now after the sexual revolution and all the hippie movements (what’s hippie anyways? I’m kinda blur about it)… Anyways you know… Check the divorce rates of the West and compare them to those of the Arab world (ya ya I know we’re pretty screwed in a lot of ways but hey you know what I mean right??!) And also check out the birth rates of Muslims in Europe and Europeans… Same goes with America and the Arab world… Check the number of illegitimate children and make a comparison… Also what’s up with elders here being shipped off to elderly homes?? Seriously what’s up with that man/gurl/boy/she-male/whoever you are reading this =p?? We’re very family oriented people but in my opinion the West and especially the new generation in it is increasingly becoming not… Just saying okay. So I might be wrong… Crap!! I went out of topic… Okay switch back… Damn, where was I? Yes Chicago gay parade. Ya so after that we went back home and me was still kinda shocked. I packed up and got ready for my trip to Portland. The takeoff was schedueled at 9.30 but instead we took off an hour later. The best part was the one hour wait in the small and cramped plane. Why? There were 9 planes waiting to take off infront of us. What is this a movie ticket line?? I didn’t know planes line up that long. It was a unique experience. I fell asleep and forgot to switch off my iPod. The attendant comes yelling at me just before takeoff “please switch off all electronic devices”. Me sleepy and Bob Marley music too loud “What??!”… Attendant raises his voice and repeats the same words. Me finally gets it and switches it off. Super old friendly white lady next to me laughs. Me laughs too. Plane takes off and me sleep again. BAM. Touch down. Me land. Me come out. Me see big sign “Breathe Easy, You’re in Maine”. Guess what?? It didn’t lie. The air here is so fresh I just so love it very much. It’s so easy to breath in and out. I was never a big outdoors guy but because of Portland I’m starting to change my mind. Great views of the ocean. When I arrived we immediately went to a lovely restaurant. It serves Italian style seafood. The restaraunt is DiMillo’s. If you go to Portland, Maine you must go eat there. Great food and service. Today I went to Old Country Buffet. First time. Yummy! Delicious and so many things to choose from. For the first time I tried meatloaf. Yummy! Oh ya and I ate pork (by mistake) not bad ey? Eeeeww oink oink me don’t like pigs but me support animal rights okay! 2moro we might go to Boston. Not sure though. Bad rainy weather. I gotta go check my laundry in the basement. For the first time in my life I’m using words like “basement”, “bagel” and “meatloaf”. Me go to basement. Man… Basements are coooool… Hey don’t blame me. I’ve never been in one before. Anyways me wanna say peace so PEACE!

Comments

33 Responses to “Chicago Gay Parade, Portland & Food”

  1. Sudan Watch on June 28th, 2006 5:48 pm

    Hello Drima, Glad to see you are having an interesting time and still managing to blog. Your latest blog entry reminded me of a BBC report 27 June 2006 entitled Womb environment ‘makes men gay’. According to the report, “a man’s sexual orientation may be determined by conditions in the womb, according to a study. Previous research had revealed the more older brothers a boy has, the more likely he is to be gay, but the reason for this phenomenon was unknown. But a Canadian study has shown that the effect is most likely due to biological rather than social factors.”
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5120004.stm

  2. Drima on June 28th, 2006 6:33 pm

    Hey Ingrid, thank you for giving me a different perspective. I do realize that some factors might be biological rather than social. However even when such biological factors come into play, the cases are considered abnormal. The normal and proper way should be man being attracted to woman and vice versa. Same sex relations are abnormal due to abnormal biological factors and also due to social factors. I don’t have anything against gays and lesbians. I myself have a few bisexual friends back in Malaysia. While it freaks me out once in a while, I realize that to each his own. The parade was a culture shock for me. I’ve never seen men making out like that so it was an unpleasant huge and gigantic shock witnessing the whole scene…

    BTW thanks for linking to me on your blog’s recent posts. And Ingrid, NO… Thank YOU… I admire what you do. Please keep blogging…

  3. Tsedek on June 28th, 2006 6:52 pm

    Well I find it kind of difficult to decide on that one. Purely, I myself also think it’s abnormal. But, on the other hand - if you say something is abnormal you’re hurting a lot of people who are born that way. I have a (virtual) friend who’s homo, and such a nice guy. I wouldn’t wanna hurt his feelings for the world. So I’ve come to this conclusion: as long as I’m not being confronted with it straight on (like not being made aware of cuddling or that type of thing) I give my respect to them as I give to anyone else.

    Drima - you made me so curious WHAT exactly did you see then? There are “love-parades” in Israel, but I’ve never been to one.

    Tse.

  4. ratedrsuperstar on June 29th, 2006 12:54 am

    Drima,
    I too am against the notion of gays flaunting themselves publicly in the form of parades and such. However, as a qualifier I am against public forms of affection anyway. Gross displays of affection whether man on man, woman on woman or man on woman should be strongly discouraged as a matter of public decorum.
    I am not gay nor do i pretend to understand it but fundamentally a person is human first and whatever else second. I treat people with that philosophy.
    Opposition to homosexuality is one thing. It is quite another to advocate their persecution as some Muslim and yes a few christian groups advocate.

  5. Fabián on June 29th, 2006 1:25 am

    Sorry, Drima. You have a lot of prejudices (well, hey, to have prejudices might be what you call “normal” in Sudan).

    I guess it is a culture shock for you. But I prefer a culture where people can get divorced if they feel they are hurting eachother, than a culture when you first hurt the woman (arranged marriages, genitalia mutilation, allowed beatings, imprisoning at home), and then you force her to be with you. (she would be dishonored if she has to go back to her parents…and besides, who else is going to marry an used woman?). Then when you get tired of the old bitch, you get married to a younger one, 14 years old, 15 years old…up to four wives. That is what you might call normal.

    You know that in Argentina you would be considered a religious reactionary nutcase.

    Best, Drima. Our roads part here.

  6. tommy on June 29th, 2006 4:52 am

    Hippie:

    South Park Definition:

    People who smoke pot and smell bad. (And who cannot stand Slayer.)

  7. Drima on June 29th, 2006 8:01 am

    Fabian,

    Hmmmm maybe you do have a point there…

    “That is what you might call normal.”

    Hell no. I would never call that normal. In fact I’m against all that crap. Again as I said before, you might have a point.

  8. Drima on June 29th, 2006 8:03 am

    “Gross displays of affection whether man on man, woman on woman or man on woman should be strongly discouraged as a matter of public decorum.”

    I agree ratedrsuperstart. A little display shouldn’t be a big deal. However when the action gets heavy, people might as well get a room.

  9. The Raccoon on June 29th, 2006 9:56 am

    Drima - hey, it’s amusing to watch. People can fuck on the streets for all I care, as long as there are no kiddies watching.

    I mean… public decorum? Sex is a major part of human life, it’s pointless to try and hide it.

  10. Tsedek on June 29th, 2006 10:26 am

    And so Raccoon we might as well put off our clothes and run around the streets in our Adam and Eve’s custumes :)
    Fabian, are you not a bit overreacting?

    Drima, you didn’t answer my question on purpose? :)
    Tse.

  11. Aimster on June 29th, 2006 11:40 am

    I for one, don’t think gay is “normal”.
    Drima, I agree with you somewhat. I personally don’t like it, but I’m not about to commit a hate crime, if you know what I mean…
    I have an uncle who is gay, and my Dad tells me that he was always effeminate.. he even has an effiminate name (coincidence?) So, I guess we don’t really know why or how people become gay so I suppose it’s difficult to judge them. I’m all for ‘live and let live’.

    Fabian: I think you’re overreating… To each his own.

    And lesbian women usually have kids through donors ;p

    and hippie is just a nick name that came about in the ’60’s, given to people of unconventional appearance (ie. long hair, boho clothes, beads etc) who went against norms/ conventional values of the time. oh and don’t forget the hallucinogens :)
    and divorce rates in the West are rising because more people are opting to concentrate on their careers, (neglecting their family life); plus more women are bold enough to stand up against abuse and oppression; AND divorce has become more acceptable in society, compared to say, 20/30 years ago. Unhappy women arn’t afraid to opt out.
    Not forgetting, monogamous marriages in the West.
    In the East, men can have 4 wives, so why divorce the first, when you can just marry a second?? (or a third, at that) That would cut Arab divorce rates by at least half.
    Plus, in the East, divorce is still unacceptable in most cultures. Even if parties are unhappy, if they chose to divorce their partner they face being ostracised and opressed by their peers. (well actually just the women)

    Lets face it, women barely have rights in the Arab world.

    The fact that gays/lesbians are so open in the West just shows that they have freedom of expression, and freedom of choice…
    Whether we see that choice as potentially good, or bad, it is our own MORAL opinion, and ultimately it is their own choice to make. So at the end of the day, it’s just a matter of our own opinion, morality, boundaries and where we choose to draw the line.

    btw.. hope you’re having a blast :)

  12. Drima on June 29th, 2006 12:22 pm

    “Drima, you didn’t answer my question on purpose? :)”

    Sorry Tsedek, I forgot. Well it was a few thousand people parading and most were wearing skimpy clothes. They were chanting for equal rights. Some took up the task of displaying their affection for one another in a very heavy manner for all the homophobic public to witness. That was not pleasant. Some even brought along their kids. It’s as if they were encouraging them to join the movement. I don’t know maybe they just brought them along so they can support momy and dady in their cause. I don’t hate them or anything you know. It was just too much to witness.

  13. Drima on June 29th, 2006 12:32 pm

    Aimster, DAMN gurl. Nicely put. Thank u so much for not getting offended by my comments and for actually explaining things to me in a very constructive way unlike some people *cough *cough. Just from your simple explaination and comparison about divorce in the Arab world and in the west, I’m now able to see things from a different perspective unlike before. Very mind opening experience so thanx for that lovely comment. Oh ya and yes I AM having a blast LOL. The best is still yet to come. NYC and roadtrip across the country Wohooo!

  14. halalhippie on June 29th, 2006 3:06 pm

    Drima, even as one coming from one of the most liberal countries in the world [gays and lesbians can be legally married here ] - I myself yuck at public homosexual behaviour. Let’s say - for the sake of argument - the 5% of all men are born gay, even in Sudan. The difference is, in the West it’s possible to be gay. Same goes for divorce: it is possible.

    I’m happy to see you expending your mind: a trip to the US should be mandatory for ALL Muslim youth, and vice versa for that matter. Dig in and enjoy!

  15. halalhippie on June 29th, 2006 3:08 pm

    hmm…exPANding your mind :-)

  16. peacefulvanguard on June 29th, 2006 6:56 pm

    Hi Drima, you oughta check out a post over at our blog to see that claims of homosexual abnormality just may not stand up to the scientific test.

    Open your mind, and your heart, brother, and see that there’s a whole world out there that is beyond our comprehension. Try to do what we do, which is to try not to judge others and just celebrate life. :) Because, if you think about it, there really is no legitimate reason to judge or insult people for just wanting to love in a way that doesn’t hurt anyone else, is there?

    … Especially not in today’s world.

    Peace.

    http://myrtus.typepad.com/myrtus/2006/06/the_gay_animal_.html#comments

  17. jodetoad on June 29th, 2006 11:55 pm

    For every city in America that has such a parade and exhibition (10 or 15, max), there are probably about 5000 cities, towns, or communities that don’t.

    While it’s legal for folks to do stuff like that, it is NOT very representative of our culture.

    Have fun!

  18. Anonymous on June 30th, 2006 1:13 am

    I have gay and lesbian friends. It really hurts when you say it is not “normal” or God fobid that their children would be also gay and lesbian when they grow up! I am tearing my clothes!

    Normal, shnormal. Homosexuality does not hurt anyone. You dont like it? then don’t go to the parade. The fact that you like lesbians (as most men do) shows that it is not an issue of normality but of taste. No one is forcing you to eat broccoli…

    Fabian

  19. The Raccoon on June 30th, 2006 1:23 am

    Tse -

    Don’t you like your birthday suit? I know I love mine. Maybe if nudity was more acceptable, people would take better care of their bodies.

    And what’s wrong with being naked?
    Not that I would want to go all Adam in Israeli summer - that’s called “Suicide by solar roasting and irradiation” :)
    Drima - mind-opening experiences rule and pwn :) Now we just have to wait for you to have a threesome with a guy and a transvestite, and the Age of Aquarius will be here :)
    *snigger*

    And awwwww, dude, that roadtrip sounds GOOD… I am hoarding money now to do South and Central America - and if I’ll have any left I’ll do USA too (with a little help of my family there).

    *jealous*
    :)

    PS

    I sure smile a lot today. Just being a happy Raccoon, I think :)

  20. The Raccoon on June 30th, 2006 1:25 am

    Fabian -

    Did you hear that the Jerusalem religious freaks are trying to stop the Gay Parade there?

    I think we’re going to see arrests there - I am considering going there just to support the feygales :)

  21. Tsedek on June 30th, 2006 4:04 am

    I’m entitled to my own taste and if I think that same-sex couples are not “regular” because of all the physiological and other by nature given differences beween sexes, then that’s my God given right to think so. That doesn’t entail that I disregard the right of every human being to live their life as they see fit and normal in their eyes or that I want to take away by any argument whatsoever their right to have their own taste.

    People that get upset of falling out of taste of another human being are the ones that should do the thinking. They are the ones that are restricting other people of the things they demand for themselves.

    Raccoon: I love my birthday suit and am very happy with it; nature’s been good to me. But, that’s exactly the reason why I like to enjoy from it and I decide who else get to enjoy from it and not put it on public sale :)
    Fabian: I had a Palestinian neighbor (yes, an escapee) who is homo and whom I simply loved; I have a virtual Dutch friend that’s helped me so much when I needed him who’s homo. I wouldn’t wanna hurt them or their feelings for the world. They know how I feel about same-sex couples etc. and they respect my opinion/taste as much as I respect both of theirs. Again: you’re overreacting.

    Tse.

  22. Fabián on July 1st, 2006 6:33 am

    Racoon: I wish I could go to the Jerusalem Parade! but I am taking the plane back to Israel from Argentina the very same day. Too bad.

    Tsedek: there are gay animals. And if you ever owned a dog you know it humps anything in sight, male, female, human, non-human, table, couch, etc…

    Talking about normal according to nature in the case of sex is a dead end. Nature is varied, and since you can use your hands, penis, butt, tongue in any way you like it, and with any kind of partner or even alone, then sex is not nature-determined.

    Now, love (an interaction between two human beings) is also not nature determined, because it is a human feeling.

    That makes me think that people who love dogs are not normal, because dogs cannot love back as a person (of any of the sexes) can.

    But people insist on having pets in their homes and some even say that they love them and that the pets “love” them back. Freaky.

    So Tse, you can say that you don’t like it, but you cannot say it is not “normal according to nature”. That is pseudo-biologicism.

  23. Aimster on July 1st, 2006 9:54 am

    So if sex is not nature-determined, and everyone in the world was gay, then there would be no reproduction, therefore no future and no more human beings.
    and don’t bring up artificial birth, cos that is man-made and certainly not nature.
    Human beings were made to be heterosexual.

  24. Tsedek on July 1st, 2006 10:10 am

    Fabian, for me it’s enough that in order to reproduce (which I think was nature’s meaning developing having sex- or lovefeelings) one needs both a man and a woman to make it nature’s law.

    If you look plainly and solely at sex or love feelings: maybe you’re right, but I don’t think nature would have let us have these feelings without a plan behind it which is preproduction.

  25. The Raccoon on July 1st, 2006 6:03 pm

    Tsedek -

    I am sorry, but you’re either being presumptious here by believing you know what nature “intended”, or you’re trying to define nature by your beliefs.

    Ever seen that National Geographic program about “unusual” animal sex? Like beetles raping male beetles so that the latter would carry the former’s seed in case they ever manage to have sex with a female?

    Nature is not a big-bearded fellow sitting on a cloud - it’s an abysmally complex and infinite system. As such, it cannot be comprehended without infinite processing power - so hey, just accept it :)

  26. tooners on July 1st, 2006 11:10 pm

    I disagree somewhat w/ you on the homosexual issue. I took human sexuality in college and it was being taught that it’s something from birth. I have a girlfriend from high school who dated guys in highschool, got married, had a boy, and then got divorced. She’s now a lesbian. She said she always has been and has known since she was a child. I’ve known other gays.. worked w/ lots of gay men, and they all said the same - that they knew they were gay when they were little - like 5 or 6 yrs old.

    I’ve been to a gay parade in Dallas. It was on Halloween and it was MOST interesting. Very funny stuff… I really enjoyed it. I find that gay men make some of the best girlfriends, to be honest. They’re not jealous like females and are always there for you.

  27. Fabián on July 2nd, 2006 12:30 am

    [Tzedek] “Fabian, for me it’s enough that in order to reproduce (which I think was nature’s meaning developing having sex- or lovefeelings) one needs both a man and a woman to make it nature’s law. ”

    So is it ok to think that because nature wants us to reproduce, we should be hitting on our mothers and daughters? Or that since the fertility period of the women goes from 11 to 50 years old, we should impregnate them continuously, because ‘reproduction’ is the law of nature?

    Sex is human, not natural. It uses nature for a human end. And this end depends on the society in which you live.

  28. Aimster on July 2nd, 2006 11:28 am

    That’s bullshit Fabian, and you know it.
    Sex is the most natural thing to human beings. It’s as old as humanity itself.

    I know people from my church, who have homosexual tendencies, but CHOOSE not to act on them.

    It’s all about personal choice. If you want to talk about what is natural; nature created man and woman. If sex was not part of the equation, then why do we have different sexes??
    If you want to talk about animals, they will do anything to ensure reproduction; But does homosexuality ensure reproduction?? No… the exact opposite.
    Homosexuality is human, not natural. It is something that has developed from society.
    But I can respect the fact that is a PERSONAL CHOICE… But please don’t try to defend your tendencies with nonesensical arguments.

  29. Tsedek on July 2nd, 2006 2:49 pm

    Raccoon, I accept everything what people think about their view of nature. Mine is as I explained. Adam - Eve, reproduction etc. (although we still don’t have an answer how from Kain onwards humanity spread LOL)

    I’m not presumptious. You are! By expecting me to think like you and thinking it’s presumptious to think differently!

    Grrrrr :)
    Tse.

  30. Tsedek on July 2nd, 2006 2:53 pm

    Fabian as a human quality I accept. As a natural quality I don’t. That’s all.

    I AM allowed to think it’s not “normal” (since normal is -after-all- a very relative qualification).

    Allright?

    Doesn’t mean I don’t respect homo’s - or whatever. A human being exists out of many qualities and not only their sexual preferences.

    Tse.

  31. Fabián on July 2nd, 2006 11:26 pm

    [aimster] “I know people from my church, who have homosexual tendencies, but CHOOSE not to act on them.”

    That is so sad. And don’t you think that your church (not a natural thing) and the intolerant outlook of the people around these poor guya have something to do about their election?

    You seem to be happy that they are not.

    BTW nothing you said refutes my arguments. Reproduction is one of the objectives of life, it is not the only one. If we would observe nature’s behavior we wouldn’t have marriage or friendship at all, and we would try constantly to kill our neighbors’ children and impregnate our neighbor’s wife so it is our genes that succede.

    Once more, sex is not nature-determined.

  32. Fabián on July 2nd, 2006 11:35 pm

    Of course that I think that nature determines (at least until now) that only women can have children and only men have semen.

    However, whether I want to put my semen in my wife’s uterus, my house helper’s, my daughter’s, my mom’s, my friend’s, my university students’, a male friend’s anus, mouth or back, mix it with my food, donate it for research, give it to in vitro fertilization or smear it on the wall of a primary school is my choice as a human, and it is restricted (or not) by my society’s rules, not by nature.

  33. Drima on July 3rd, 2006 4:25 pm

    Fabian,

    bla bla bla bla bla bla… Kool man. Don’t worry. Dats your opinion FINE! Just don’t be so immatured and start accusing me of prejeduice. I don’t think homosexuality is normal unless we’re talking about people with hormonal imbalance, hermaphrodites etc.

    Anyways people I’m having the time of my life. Absolutely GREAT. I LOVE New York. It is da Shit!! I LOVE IT WooHooo!

    I’m going to Broadway now. I’ll do my best to blog later and post some pictures. I just got back from the UN’s General Assembly hall. I met a number of officials there. It was great. We dicusses many issues including Darfur. Anyways PEACE and sorry for not updating.

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