That Sweat Lodge Thing

If stupid is as stupid does, then pardon me for speaking ill of the dead here. But I will anyway, because the truth of the matter is that all 65 persons who were in attendance at that sweat lodge thing in Arizona last October, both the lucky survivors and the less fortunate dead ones, frankly must have been pretty half-baked already just being there.

Those are the folks who were hustled by now-arrested motivational speaker James Arthur Ray into anteing up $9,000-plus a head for the trip to Arizona, there where they might escape toward attaining harmonic wealth and spiritual enlightenment. A five-day long recurrence that Ray lines up every year, the "Spiritual Warrior" retreat.

That is Ray's business, helping others achieve enlightenment, which I would bet took off hugely since getting so much attention a few years back, when everyone started wanting to know what exactly is The Secret. First, he was in the movie to help explain it, and then later on showed up on Oprah's show to explain it some more; that surely must have been a boon.

Anyway, the climax of the whole retreat experience was to literally sweat it out (something out) in a sweat lodge ceremony on the last day of festivities, the "most intense experience of your life" is what Ray called it. So intense it was this latest time that three people died and about twenty others ended up in the hospital from too many people in too hot of a room for too long a time.

To disclaim any mockery about the reason why they went there in the first place, let me say that I am not at all disparaging of any individual's own spiritual journey, nor whatever path he or she chooses seeking personal and spiritual betterment, getting chakras all lined up or whatever. In fact, I actually find a lot of truth in the principles that JR touts, only in a less twisted and cheaper way.

However, to my point of those people being stupid, it is this: that anyone who willingly doled out thousands upon thousands of dollars to some shyster who came along, promising to bring them to a spiritual plane unlikely to be achieved short of expending ten grand paid to his order for expert personal tutelage... well, hardly the brightest crayon. It's not like the guy was Jesus, for Christ's sake.

I didn't say it wasn't really sad how that these someones, wholeheartedly seeking and apparently desperate, got caught up in the shite this conniver slung about, but come on. Ten grand to join up is bad enough, and then to consider they still went along after being informed in writing that "the Spiritual Warrior activities could lead to serious injury, up to and including death"... not to be disrespectful, but I'm just sayin'.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell - Just Do It

Like most other gay folks, I was gratified the other night to hear President Obama announce at the State of the Union address his intention to put repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell on the agenda for 2010. Of course we were all hyped when we heard it the first time, too. Back when he was pandering the rainbow coalition for votes during his campaign, pledging to be a "fierce advocate" for LGBT rights. To start working toward getting rid of DADT during his first year as president was part of that promise. Not that he has totally snubbed us, I guess, but tagging him a "fierce advocate" is probably a stretch . It's really little wonder that much of the queer community reacted approvingly, but also with a fair amount of skepticism, the other night after hearing him vow again to do what he vowed once before with nothing gotten done so far. This DADT thing, I wouldn't think, should be such a big ordeal to get over and done with in short order. Even military p...

I Think

I think I'm bored blogging. I think I'm done with it. I think what's the point? I think you should check out my blogroll instead. I think they say stuff better anyway.

Bipolar Me Today, Downer Post

Sorry, just one of those days, you know. Feel free to move along to happier browsing. It is a good song, though, and I know I can't be the only weirdo who sometimes wishes to just rather be dead. No? " Wish I was too dead to cry, my self-affliction fades. Stones to throw at my creator, masochist to which I cater . " You don't need to bother, I don't need to be. I'll keep slipping farther but once I hold on, I won't let go 'til it bleeds . " Wish I was too dead to care, if indeed I cared at all. Never had a voice to protest, so you fed me shit to digest . " I wish I had a reason, my flaws are open season. For this I gave up trying, one good turn deserves my dying . " You don't need to bother, I don't need to be. I'll keep slipping farther but once I hold on, I won't let go 'til it bleeds . " Wish I'd died instead of lived, a zombie hides my face. Shell forgotten with its memories, diaries left with cryptic ent...

Furibundum

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