Metacentricities

I haven’t been blogging here much these days. Partially because I’ve been working really hard technology projects, like my consulting practice, and being Coordinator of the Nonprofit Open Source Initiative (NOSI). Partially because I’m blogging a lot on my technology blog.

Most of the reason that I haven’t been blogging much is that I’m at a loss as to what to say. Not because I don’t have opinions or thoughts on a wide variety of topics. It’s because so much in my life has changed in the last few months, and in the last 3 years, that I think it will take me a while to catch up.

You’ve heard a fair bit over the last year or so about my significant other, Ruth. She came across this quote, which I think is a great description of who we are to each other:

With a kindred spirit we meet our twin flame on a level that has no drama, chaos or karma. We connect to a kindred spirit without needs, wants or expectations. With them we can experience unconditional love in its truest form, where we can be who we are and accept them in the same way. We don’t have to heal or change anyone. We can allow the relationship to be what it is without fear of what happens if it ends, without wrapping our emotional or psychological identity into it and truly experiencing it in the present moment, without connecting to the past. — Jennifer Hoffman

Ruth is, without a doubt, my kindred spirit. And she is, at this moment, making a new life for herself back in the East Bay, in California, while I make a life for myself here, in New England. She left on Wednesday. It would be, of course a massive oversimplification to say that I don’t wrap any of my “emotional or psychological identity” into our relationship. But underneath the sadness that accompanies the loss of an attachment to an ideal, rather than reality, is the certainty that we both are doing what is right for us, and we will, in the most important senses, always be together.

Today, I feel like I have a bit of whiplash. So much has changed over the past 3 years. None of it was really expected, or part of any “plan.” So I need time to rest, be quiet, catch my breath, and move into the next phase of my life.

And, if you know anyone who wants to share a wonderful house in Shelburne Falls, have them give me a shout.

Tuesday is SuperDuper Tuesday, where a bunch of states vote in primaries. One of those states is my own, Massachusetts. For a while, I was, ironically, supporting Edwards. Mostly because I really, really don’t like Hillary, and I felt like Obama is young, could use more seasoning before being president, and Edwards would have made a great president. (Actually, my dream ticket was Edwards/Obama - 16 years of bliss.) Anyway, now that Edwards has dropped out, I’m going to support Obama wholeheartedly.

One thing, though. It appears that some people feel that you can’t really be a feminist and be against Hillary. The New York chapter of NOW (National Organization for Women) had this to say about the Kennedy endorsement of Obama:

… And now the greatest betrayal!  We are repaid with his abandonment!  He’s picked the new guy over us.  He’s joined the list of progressive white men who can’t or won’t handle the prospect of a woman president who is Hillary Clinton (they will of course say they support a woman president, just not “this” one).

… This latest move by Kennedy, is so telling about the status of and respect for women’s rights, women’s voices, women’s equality, women’s authority and our ability – indeed, our obligation - to promote and earn and deserve and elect, unabashedly, a President that is the first woman after centuries of men who ‘know what’s best for us.

Huh? I see, so Kennedy is not endorsing what he feels is the best candidate. No, no, he’s betraying women! Puleeze!

Would they even think of saying such a thing if Elizabeth Dole were running?

Hillary Clinton believes in “coercive diplomacy” (if there ever was a contradiction, that is one.) She voted to give the president the authority to go to war in Iraq. She has been completely bought out by the health care industry, and basically no longer believes in universal, single-payer health coverage. She voted for the 700 mile fence along the Mexican border. She voted for the Patriot Act. Twice. I can’t, in good conscience, vote for her in the primary.

NY NOW’s unfortunate perspective (feminist=must be for Clinton) is problematic on its face.  And the truth is, this election isn’t about either gender or race. It is a historic occasion that the Democratic party will nominate someone who will be the first in history. That is significant enough. NY NOW’s stance (National NOW has been conciliatory) is divisive, at a time that divisiveness is destructive. We are in deep, deep shit as a country, and we need to find a way out of it. If you think Clinton is best (and not just because she has a vagina) then great. And if you think Obama is best (not just because he has dark skin) that’s great too. Do we need to add identity politics to an already challenging time?