The Subjectivity of Truth

My Constitution professor in college used to say, "One country's terrorists are another country's freedom fighters." Makes sense. As a realist, I am a firm believer of the subjectivity
of truth, i.e., truth (and morality and everything else) is dependent on the perspective of each person. It is shaped by the customs and traditions one grows up in, and can be altered or strengthened as that person knows more and more about the world. Like religion.

So there's no absolute truth. What is true for one person may be false for another. And who's to say that either is right or wrong? Take my professor's saying as an example. The al-Qaeda believes their fighters are waging a holy war against infidels and insurgents. They're fighting for their beliefs. That they're gonna get their 72 virgins quickly. Killing is no problem for them, if it is for their greater good. But their target countries don't always share the same belief. Parents lose their children, and vice versa. A country can lose a leader. When their important figureheads are taken down, the nation's morale plunges as well. They view the acts as terrorism, as wrong, as evil. And you can't blame them. And neither can you blame the "terrorists."

Don't get me wrong, personally, I'm against terrorism. But I'm pushing for realism here; I'm saying that if you were born among those extremist organizations, it's more than likely that you'll grow up believing in their fundamental truths. Same goes for growing up in that "victim country."

That's the whole point. We, as groups, shape our own truths. Different groups of the human race have different definitions of "truth," and given the opportunity, no-holds-barred debates about morality, religion and truth can and will go on forever. With arguments being repeated and reworded again and again. The only thing giving people objective truths are religion. And the human race has different religions. That makes the very concept of religion subjective as well. Are you getting my point here. I'm saying that anything that can be labeled as objective will always have something subjective about them.

Until we can rationally prove the existence of a deity or supreme being that dictates an objective truth in the universe, human conflict will always be present.

- AngryF

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3 Bisexuality myths

I am the B in LGBT. I am the bisexual.

Myths about bisexuality pervade society. Some of them are really negative and powerful that it can affect a person identifying as a bisexual badly. This is a post that aims to shatter some of these assumptions.

Myth 1: We are just lying (shh! we're just afraid to say we really are gays and lesbians).

Just like a good myth or stereotype there is a grain of truth in here. It's really true that some gays and lesbians come out first as a bisexual even though they know inside of their hearts they aren't. And I have no problem with that. We need to understand that they are still trying to test the waters of acceptance and being out. We all have our reasons. But, to assume that every person who identify as bisexual is either gay or lesbian is an affront. It's akin to saying that our sexual orientation does not really exist or we are just confused - I know that gay and lesbian people know how much it hurts when people say that, I think you understand us.

There really are bisexual people. We are not confused or just trying to be cool. If you're not convinced, here's the evidence.

Myth 2: Male bisexuals does not exist

What am I? Actually we are existent.

The finding is not likely to surprise bisexuals, who have long asserted that attraction often is not limited to one sex. But for many years the question of bisexuality has bedeviled scientists. A widely publicized study published in 2005, also by researchers at Northwestern, reported that “with respect to sexual arousal and attraction, it remains to be shown that male bisexuality exists.”

Myth 3: We cannot be monogamous.

This is really a bad one. Some bisexuals undergo this kind of biphobia. Especially with some of their partners. Some people in relationships with bisexuals  suffer from the fear that their partners are having an affair with someone of the other sex - it frustrates them and their partner. Of course, some bisexuals are in polyamorous relationships, but reasons for this set-up are different. Some have them because of pure love for two people, some for fun, the list goes on. But as do bisexuals can sometimes engage in this, this is no truer than the fact that straight people can two-time too. We can be as monogamous as straight, gay, lesbian and trans couples too.

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I don't care if I'm born this gay

There are studies that suggest that homosexuality, or to put it broadly, sexual orientation is dominantly genetic. But is is a different story to say that sexual orientation - a very complex part of being human - is determined by genetics. After all, science have yet to arrive to an explanation that the (scientific) community could agree. Quoting from the American Psychological Association:

What causes a person to have a particular sexual orientation?
There is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay, or lesbian orientation. Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors. Many think that nature and nurture both play complex roles; most people experience little or no sense of choice about their sexual orientation.

As of now, we do not know why our sexual orientation is this or that, homosexual, bisexual, or straight.

So, why do I not care if I'm born this way (bisexual)? 

I don't care if I was born this way because

1. It assumes that being an LGBT is inherently wrong
>Whether LGBT people were born LGBT or influenced by social environment or of complex nature and nurture, there is nothing wrong with it. We should not think that we need to be born LGBT to be accepted and saved from discrimination.

2. It makes some homophobic individuals accept us just because we cannot change who we are
>The problem is not whether we can be straight. The real problem here is they cannot tolerate diversity. It's the same for killing people who aren't in the same religion as yours (Jihad). The issue is not whether they choose not to or can't be Muslims, they just can't stand a pluralist society.



That's it. Also I suggest you watch John Corvino's video about this. He articulated it better than me.

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Let Them Marry (Answering the opposition) Part 1

Argument against marriage equality / same-sex marriage 1: Marriage is defined as between a man and a woman

This is one of the most popular objections to same-sex marriage. Here's my answer to that:

The meaning of words and concepts evolves through time, same goes for marriage. There was a time when polyandry and polygyny were the status quo. But today, monogamy is the season. The point is no one has the right to straitjacket the meaning of concepts. We don't live our lives via inflexible definitions, definitions change according to our way of life. If making a term more inclusive will cater to other's well-being and happiness, we must.

Remember, gone were the days when women were not considered voters. The concept of a voter progressed to be more inclusive, that today, women have the right to suffrage - they can even run for public office. We don't straitjacket concepts, especially when rights are involved.

To add, if you really think that it is between a man and a woman, why are you not protesting our Muslim brothers?

Argument against marriage equality / same-sex marriage 2: The purpose of marriage is procreation

Quick rebuttals:
>We don't stop infertile couples from marrying.
>We don't conduct fertility tests before marriage to assure that they can procreate.
>We don't require that couples want to procreate before they can get married. Some of them do not and we let them marry.  Like them and them.

Argument against marriage equality / same-sex marriage 3: It undermines traditional marriage/tradition

>If by traditional you mean opposite-sex marriage, then no. Same-sex marriage legalization will not stop opposite-sex couples from getting married. And the only way it can affect your marriage is if one of you (married couple) wants a separation and get married with the same-sex - which just means that he/she does not want to be with you anymore.

>Not every tradition or traditional practice is desired (female circumcision). Just look into these male rites of passage and this, if you care about women.

So, if you wanna see now how happy same-sex couples would be if this is legalized, look at this.That's it for Part 1!

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Let’s set it straight (pun intended)

These past few days, a cancer-causing article has circulated throughout the Internet. The article ‘Being Gay’ written by Tintin Babao where she supposedly consulted an “expert” on homosexuality has made me want to punch my desktop’s screen while reading it. I just cannot believe that a psychologist with a doctorate degree can be that... that... and a parent who supposedly loves her son unconditionally can hold such a ... such a... view (just fill the ellipsis with the bitchiest and most affronting words and phraseology you know).

Anyway, this write up is not about me lambasting their ignorance and bigotry (you judge) dressed in religious overcoat. I just want to get things straight (pun again) by putting a blow-by-blow (pun again) commentary on some parts of the article I find completely retarded. Anyway, I would also be speaking from an LGBT’s point of view because I am one, a bisexual.

“Remember ang binigay ng Diyos na anak is a girl or boy. A six-year-old can already identify his/her gender. Good parenting structures the right role of a person.” 

The answer provided by Dr. Camille implies that gender is the same with sexual orientation. One’s gender, the “socially constructed expectations, roles, and behaviors given by a particular society for men and women” is completely different from sexual orientation. Sexual orientation, to put simply, is whom you are attracted to. Doctor Camille seems to say that if only parents will socialize their children to be masculine or act like a man as perceived by society, parents can stop them from being homosexual. This kind of orientation is bogus. You cannot modify someone’s sexual orientation: 

All major national mental health organizations have officially expressed concerns about therapies promoted to modify sexual orientation. To date, there has been no scientifically adequate research to show that therapy aimed at changing sexual orientation (sometimes called reparative or conversion therapy) is safe or effective. Furthermore, it seems likely that the promotion of change therapies reinforces stereotypes and contributes to a negative climate for lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons. This appears to be especially likely for lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals who grow up in more conservative religious settings (APA).

One can be as gay as they are but still ‘act’ like a cisgender. Also, the girl-boy binary has long been debunked; intersex individuals exist. 

Should parents be alarmed and arrest the situation? Or encourage it? Dr. Camille: “Arrest the situation, ’yun ang tama. But most parents encourage the situation. Tatanggapin agad. Let’s be moral in making the child understand the situation, di ba yun ang dapat. We tell our child, ‘Anak, mali ito.’” 

How should the parents address this? Some parents resort to threat and extreme military-style punishment. Some parents go to great lengths to explain to the child the consequences of being gay, so that the child can think, then make a choice.Dr. Camille: “Threat and punishment encourage the child more to do things wrongly, because you are shutting off the situation. Make sure you discuss with your child openly. ‘Alam mo anak, hindi namin gusto yung ginugusto mo.’

People like her still thinks that being a homosexual is wrong and immoral. This mode of thinking has pushed gay people to take their lives because of rejection, marginalization, and depression.  LGBT youth who were living in an unaccepting environment have an increased risk for suicide. I am not really into the nitty-gritty of what other people consider as immoral, but I am pretty sure that to drive your child into his death qualifies as wrong and an immoral act. 

“Explain that he is a boy and therefore, as boys, they grow up as men and their partners are women. ‘Hindi kasi tama ang makasama sa buhay at magpapamilya ay parehas na lalaki.

No. Downright no. Same-sex families can raise a beautiful family and lovely children. (No one can dictate you who to spend your life with.) They have very fabulous and heart-warming weddings too!  

As a mom who has a three-year-old son named Nio, my personal take on the matter is this: Nio, when curious, plays with his big sister’s toys. But we always point it out to him that those are toys for girls, and these are toys for boys. We compare toys so that he will understand.Before he turned three, he was fully aware and could already distinguish the girls’ toys from the boys’ toys. We realized that playing with his big sister’s toys is his loving way of bonding and playing with his Ate Antonia. When big sister is not around, Nio doesn’t touch the girly toys.

Heteronormativity. This is heteronormative bullshit. Just to add, I have and loved all the toys that can symbolize machismo: trains, Hot Wheels, light sabers, superhero action figures, RC helicopters and cars. But see, I am a bisexual. 

That's it. I still want to add more but time won't allow. Still have things to do. 

Bye! And this is for you Tintin and Dr. Camille: 

I'M BEAUTIFUL IN MY WAY/
COZ GOD MAKES NO MISTAKES/
I'M ON THE RIGHT TRACK BABY/
I WAS BORN THIS WAY/ 

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