Jim McCurley’s Open Letter to Thio Li-Ann

This is a great letter!

An Open Letter to Dr. Thio Li-Ann
Posted by Jim McCurley , Class of 2010 at NYU Law on July 8, 2009 at 2:15pm EDT

I read your recent e-mail interview with Inside Higher Ed with some interest. It seems that you may be a little concerned about what awaits you at NYU this fall. As a gay person and a law student, I wanted to take the opportunity to reassure you and to welcome you to the university. I’m not sure if you’ve been to New York before, but I gather from your CV that you got a quite a fine education in the UK. Because of a few phrases you used in the interview, it occurred to me that you may not be familiar with some peculiarities of American English and I want to point out a few that may come in handy. First, we call chips “french fries” and crisps “chips.” Second, we generally call Members of Parliament “elites” and law students, well, “law students.” We don’t really use the word “diktat” a whole lot.

New York being New York, you may also find a few Yiddish words to be useful. Foremost among these is “chutzpah.” “Chutzpah” is hard to translate directly and its meaning is perhaps best illustrated by example. New Yorkers would say that a former NMP and graduate of Cambridge and Oxford who denounces gays in a rather vulgar manner on the floor of Parliament in a successful bid to enable their imprisonment calling the highlighting of her remarks by a few law students “ugly politicking” based on “their own prejudices, from whatever sources” has a lot of chutzpah.

Now, having grown up in a farming village in Kentucky and spent a number of years in the enlisted ranks of the Army, I share your distaste for both “ugly politicking” and “elite diktat.” As I’ve been called a “faggot” and been beaten up a few times, I don’t care much for “bullying” either, although I’m not sure having one of one’s own Parliamentary speeches circulated really qualifies as such. This may be yet another peculiarity of American English.

You are quite correct, however, that in the face of bullying, one must have courage. It also helps to have supportive gay friends. One of the nice things about gay folks is that we tend not to belong to either the “liberal camp” or “communitarian camp” which you described in your speech. We’re just into camp. Likewise, the gays at NYU don’t by any means have a problem with you, your right to your views, or academic freedom. We just don’t think that state power to imprison or discriminate against sexual, racial, or other minorities is a particularly “academic” question. Again, that’s American English for you.

Another generally appreciated feature of the gays is our sense of taste, which has been highlighted in television shows like “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.” You are a bit mistaken if you think that the gays at NYU want to censor you. It’s just that, like mixing polka dots with plaid or having George Wallace teach a course on civil rights in the American South, we tend to think NYU’s hiring you to teach a class called “Human Rights in Asia” demonstrates a lack of taste.

Dr. Thio, if you’ll have me, I’d like to be your supportive gay friend. We can have lunch, dish about men and listen to music together. I know a great tapas place in Greenwich Village and, as an American, I’d like to disabuse you of the notion that I have any interest in “refus[ing] to engage with dissenting views” or directing “intolerant animosity” at you. There are also a few great American songs I’d love to introduce you to. One of my favorites is called “Cry Me a River.” It was written by Arthur Hamilton.

I must make one friendly request before I let you go, however. We American gays are doing fairly well post-Lawrence v. Texas. Unlike our Singaporean brethren, we can’t be arbitrarily thrown into prison and can generally defend ourselves under the law. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for our friends, the straw men. From “human right to sodomy” to “Americans … appropriating the rhetoric of human rights … [to] impose their views on a sovereign state,” you’ve spent a good deal of time knocking them down. Last I checked, they hadn’t done anything to you, so why not go a bit easier on them?

All the best,

Jim McCurley

NYU Law Class of 2010

Cary Nelson on Thio Li-Ann

Cary Nelson, national president of the American Association of University Professors, says

it would be legitimate to raise questions about whether she should be teaching human rights.

“Academic freedom protects you from retaliation for your extramural remarks, but it does not protect you from being prohibited from teaching in an area where you are not professionally competent, and there are doubts on whether she has the competency in human rights,” Nelson said. He said that there is in fact an “international consensus, save a few countries like Iran” that gay people should not be treated as criminals.

Not Not Tonight Honey

Marital Rape is not about sex negotiations in marriage–it’s about long term violence, bullying and abuse.

Outside of a Singapore marriage, rape is punished more severely than physical abuse–inside a Singapore marriage physical abuse is–well–frowned upon when/if -ever it surfaces and marital rape (like lesbians) doesn’t exist.

Talking about marital rape to friends here in Singapore–”What do you think of marital rape?”

The single males (3–one straight, two gay) said “the woman can just enjoy the sex and later get mad at the husband and call it rape right?”

The married male said “It’s not possible”

The single females (2–both straight) said 1) “Maybe she’s the nagging possessive sort lah,” “A woman can just get angry and then claim husband raped her right?” (note–there was no particular woman in this case yet ’she’ got the blame) 2) “Guess it’s like long term date rape,”

The married female said, “I don’t believe it. Why would anyone stay with a guy like that?”

These are all great responses because they are responses.

Victims of marital rape very likely wouldn’t get a chance to respond–it’s more like an isolated hostage situation with sexual as well as physical abuse. As Hidden Hurt points out,

Stranger rape is usually a one-off, someone you don’t know, with whom you don’t share any experiences or history. When the assault happens, there can be no doubt as to what is happening: that it is Rape (though even in such situations the victim will often wonder what she has done to precipitate the assault and will blame herself). In marital rape the circumstances are very different. It is – quite apart from a physical and sexual violation – a betrayal of trust. Here is a person whom you thought you knew intimately, with whom you share a history, a home and quite often children. Here is a person whom you have made love to on a frequent basis often over many years, with whom you have shared your most intimate secrets and fears, and whom you believe to love you, want the best for you, who would never intentionally hurt you. Marital rape is so destructive because it betrays the fundamental basis of the marital relationship, because it questions every understanding you have not only of your partner and the marriage, but of yourself. You end up feeling betrayed, humiliated and, above all, very confused.

If you are fortunate enough not to be able to imagine such a situation, please spare a moment to help those trapped in it.

Research seems to indicate that in the context of an abusive relationship, the woman is most likely to be subjected to rape towards the end of the relationship, or after she has left, though several women have reported that their boyfriends raped them at the very beginning of their relationship – which is reminiscent of the ancient custom of capturing and raping women to be able to claim them as wives. It would appear that where rape starts in an established relationship, that rape is often used by an abuser when other control tactics, such as isolation or emotional abuse are no longer sufficient to maintain his power and hold over her, or to punish her for either leaving or trying to leave. Only too often, this works.

–Hidden Hurt

Please take a look at this petition.

Sleepy Morning

Last night had marathon session of Michael Jackson music videos, toasted (organic) waffles, chocolate strawberries & memories;

“What were you doing when you first heard Michael Jackson?”
Realizing with a shock OMG we’re Old! I mean, older than our parents were when we first listened to ‘Black or White’ or ‘Man in the Mirror!’ what happened?
How did it happen?
When did it happen?
Why did it happen?!

(incidentally ‘?!’ is an interrobang, something else I’ve just learned)

Also:
“Is Prince still vegetarian?”
“Is he still called ‘Prince’? Thought he was artist formerly known as–”
“He’s Prince again. Now he’s the artist formerly known as the artist formerly known as Prince,”
“We’re the same age you know, me & Prince & Michael Jackson…”

Once upon a time it seemed anything was possible–we just had to be practical & pay for the house/car/investment condo/timeshare holiday home/retirement fund/medical insurance/nephew’s education before we pushed everything else out of the way & stretched ourselves to the limits of what we could do with these lives, these bodies, this world we found ourselves in.

The only tough decision was what we were going to focus on: it was easy for me, I was always going to be a Writer (though had a short mad phase of going into dance design) but what happened? Norah Roberts has already written more books than I’ll probably ever read.
Our brilliant Singer-Songwriters are now doctors, engineers and somethings in companies (sorry, tm & n, not sure what exactly you do) and where once we were afraid we were too young to start out we’re now starting to say we’re too old to start over.

But some warped things (ie us) don’t change.
Somehow conversation got sidetracked into “Why wouldn’t you marry Sumiko Tan?”
(Don’t ask how. It was late. Think she wrote something in the papers that I missed. “Because she won’t give up sharksfin soup at the wedding dinner!” won. Anyway we’re old enough not to have to explain our eccentricities!)

I should get started on today’s writing.
I should go shower (did 30 min quick workout)
I should decide whether I’m going to try YogaShala noon mysore. I should leave by 11am to find the place.

Learned last night that in addition to 9am Mysore classes daily there’s 12 noon mysore on Tue, Wed, Thurs.

Thinking of going because I Really have to get back into the flow of daily practice or I’m going to die (or kill myself) in September with 90 min daily pre-breakfast practice.

Distractions

Been writing well but suddenly getting hit by distractions–all worthy distractions of course…

If you can spare a moment & a couple of clicks please visit

About 64 For Suu

Excerpt: “Welcome to the global hub for supporting, Aung San
Suu Kyi, Burma’s detained democracy leader, on her 64th birthday. 64
for Suu is a site where anyone from around the world can leave a
message of support for Burma’s imprisoned democracy leader, Aung San
Suu Kyi and all of Burma’s political prisoners. We want to gather
thousands of messages by Aung San Suu Kyi’s 64th Birthday, June 19th
2009. You can view video, text, twitter and image messages from around
the world left by politicians, celebrities and the public in support
of Aung San Suu Kyi.”

Other stuff that’s been coming up:
Anthony Yeo (why aren’t I do more instead of sitting at a computer?)

Lorca (dramatist/poet, passionate love & pride, buried in a self-dug grave, one of his-then govt-sanctioned killers boasted having shot him in the ass for being queer)
CIA (alleged) torture program (eg Iraqi prisoner who died during interrogation found to have been ‘crucified’; died from asphyxiation after being hung by his arms with his ribs broken)

(Yes–NewYorker June 22 arrived)
How and have we changed/learned/grown?

And I’m sitting here blogging & wondering-jealously, I’ll admit-how Nora Roberts can finish writing a book in 45 working days (she turns out 5 books in a typical year)

I know–if I spent more time writing rather than surfing…

Also coming up:
MAP showcase
‘Talk Write’ talk for 24 hr play competition
Creative Workshop (as participant!)
Putting Mum in a remembrance niche (got a double niche–don’t know if that’s forward planning or being ghoulish)
24 Hr play competition at Marina Barge (I’ll be there to launch/wrap up/answer questions but no real ‘work’ till…)
Judging 24 Hr play entries (which is always interesting but a good chunk of writing time gone)
Raja’s show at the Esplanade (Film-Faust)
Martin Kirk’s Anatomy Anusara workshop (looking forward to this!)

And people coming to lunch here today…

I lied about why I wanted to skip lunch in town–I know, lying injures our throat chakra but this time did worse than that.

“I’m worried about H1N1″ I said, “Don’t want to go into crowded places–plus some of you just got back from Melbourne.”

I was hoping to protect my writing streak that was going so well… and got

“No problem! We’ll get food and bring it round to your place! Vegetables for you right? That’s even better–we don’t want to go into town either–this way we can take our time!”

So they’ll be here around 12 noon.
The advantage of a restaurant in town: it’s easier to leave a restaurant than kick someone out of your house.
(It’s okay. They don’t go online/read blogs… unless their kids tell on me.)

And yes, I know I could have spent the morning writing instead of blethering my dread but I’m really here to escape from the feeling I should run around cleaning house & hiding past issues of Curve Magazine… which I don’t want to because my very efficient house helper will be here tomorrow (if there isn’t enough to ‘do’ here she goes through my cupboards & irons shirts & goes out on the patio & weeds & tells me my turtles need more kangkong…) and I’m sure hiding curves is bad for my alignment.

Back In Singapore, Back in Routine

Trying to be anyway.

If I average 1000words a day till September I can hit 65,000 words for my current (which is the 7th or 8th if you count semi-comps) draft of the NOVEL and I’m going to treat myself to an ashtanga & pranayama retreat (Paul Dallaghan conducting).

Was impressed by Paul Dallaghan at Evolution–also & especially by O.P. Tiwary, his guru.

What I gained most from this conference is: it’s fun to play & to recharge by experimenting with different forms of yoga & different philosophies but at base I’m most comfortable with Ashtanga.

I’ve also learned that pranayama, meditation & bringing the ‘yogic’ approach to all of life are inseperable from my practice.

In addition to O.P. Tiwary I was very struck by Geshe Michael Roach & Lama Christie McNally. This was from their presence in 2 lectures since I hadn’t (still haven’t) finished reading their books that I bought there. It felt like they radiated honest calm & vibrant intelligence.

I’ve been trying to keep up a daily (15 min at least) meditation over the past few years but that calm joy isn’t in me yet.

Or rather at moments, like now I feel in balance & connected & ‘God’s in His Heaven, all’s right with me in His world’ kind of feeling–but I remember how spitting mad wound up I felt over Coos-Aware & Mary Loh (see? even writing this starts to stir dire ire) and I want to be able to bring that kind of calm balance to problems as well as my daily life.

Okay, so I also want to cure cancer, wipe out cruelty to people & animals & reverse global warming so what I want I don’t necessarily get…
But what I got from Geshe Michael & Lama Christie was that it is not enough to meditate–once you calmed your mind you should do more with it. There were techniques like focusing on your inner teacher, mind debates & a lot more that I’m just scratching the surface of.

Best of all, they have 2 students here in Singapore & one of them is a friend who I knew years ago and lost touch with but who’s back in my life now! (or will be once she gets back from Oz).
I don’t know about attending regular meditation sessions/classes. It’s personality thing, I’ve come to realise I can’t take group activities like committee work & bible study / cell groups for any extended period.
(Strangely enough, regular mysore practice doesn’t bother me though the chatter before & after led classes can. Think maybe mysore people speak less agitatedly)

I suspect it’s all the social talking talking talking that goes on at such meetings. I find the voices & personalities of people I meet get into my head & clog my writing over the next two or three days–at least. If it’s a shrill/loud voice it can buzz inside my skull for a week & more! I can still write but my tuning fork is off & I usually have to discard what I produce then!

Best Pointer from Lama Christie: in response to a question about effect of onions & garlic on meditation she said yes, there’s an effect but so small it’s unlikely to affect us. We’re far more likely to be ‘disturbed’ in meditation by things we’ve read, heard, watched from a non-stop newspaper/internet/tv sources. And that’s so so so true for me!

I was also so very very very struck by Ana Forrest! The woman is incredible!!! And yes, I totally agree with her core focus (though it almost killed my abs) & being gentle to & ‘hearing’ your body. I had 4 sessions with her–signed up for everything she had except CET & I may go for that next year too.
And I did a handstand (assisted of course… for now…) in her class! Those who have seen me freak out at the prospect of doing any kind of inversion with other people in the room will know what a breakthrough this is!!!

From Twee Merrigan I learned not to panic when I feel myself losing balance… sometimes following th movement brings you back to balance & I found that’s true.

From David Life & Maya Fiennes I experimented with Jivamuki & Kundalini (great fun–invigorating, releasing, enlightening & stimulating but not daily fare for me)

Liked David Life’s comments on our responsibility to the planet & how not asking where & by who our clothes are made is as irresponsible as not wondering what conditions the pig/cow/chicken we’re eating lived under.

And of course David Swenson. We can’t live in a yoga community like we had there–we were there to recharge. We have to live in the world & the whole point is to find the best way to live here & move from here into what’s beyond.

Tribute to Guruji at Evolution 09

David Swenson’s closing keynote address & tribute to Sri K Pattabhi Jois was the most striking part of this year’s Evolution.

It was recorded & should be available online, so I won’t try to summarise–these are just some impressions I’m taking away;

2 Sri K Pattabhi Jois statements David Swenson quoted,

“A yogi leaves a place nicer than he found it”
&
“Yoga is not easy”

Very simple but I think sum up what we were all doing there & will continue trying to do.
We were there to recharge as much as to learn, and be reminded that the small things we can do are equally important in the eyes of God.

To most of us (well–to me) Sri K Pattabhi Jois was Guruji, a scholar, teacher, founder of Ashtanga, student of Krishnamacharya.
From the anecdotes last night we saw a side of him that loved funny people & chocolate;

(David Swenson wickedly told a story about Guruji ‘corrupting’ the no-sugar-organic-vegetarian-reared-tastebuds of visiting students’ children with chocolate… next speaker Paul Dallaghan revealed it was likely His son’s tastebuds David was referring to!)

Even with minimal English, his presence was great & inspiring.

The image David Swenson left us with: A great & magnificent tree has fallen.
Our first reaction is: absence. The tree with such presence is gone.
But then we glimpse, in the sunlight coming through the gap in the forest canopy this tree has left, a multitude of seedlings growing–we are the legacy if we choose to accept it.
It may take a forest to replace the knowledge & wisdom of this one tree but perhaps that is the point.

And as Paul Dallaghan said next, the important thing to remember is “Get on with real life”. The point of yoga is to equip us better for ‘real’ life and discovering the joy in real life.
Everyone leaves an impression and that makes a greater impact than the teaching. The impression left by Guruji was one of great joy in life.
It is up to us now to pass on that joy.

Hong Kong

Free day yesterday–collected my conference badge/pass sans badge holder (after being made aware that such things exist, one member of staff told me they were out of stock) from Pure Retail.

In Pure Retail Hong Kong if you’re not a member you can’t top up your water bottle at their water cooler a few steps into the Pure Fitness gym because it’s not allowed–even if you just took an MTR & a long connecting walk over for early registration to find no more badge holders available…

Well, at least I took my first MTR ride & have no regrets about leaving Pure!

Christian Fundamentalist Terrorism

From Shannyn Moore in America:

Right now our local CFTs may look like a joke. But this is what the intolerance they preach can lead to.

Please don’t confuse their imported agenda for peaceful, conservative Asian values.

Christian Fundamentalist Terrorism.

It’s shocking to write. But it’s time to start calling it what it is.

When Jim D. Adkisson walked into the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church with 76 rounds and a shot-gun, he killed 2 people and was charged with murder. His motive was “he hated the liberal movement” and was upset with “liberals in general as well as gays.” He should have been charged with terrorism.

Sunday George Tiller, a Wichita doctor, was killed INSIDE the lobby of his Wichita church. Reformation Lutheran Church became a crime scene; fundamentalist terrorism.

The right wing media hacks make targets of the left. The fundamentalist reverends blather their intolerance of other Americans. Their marriages are in jeopardy if the GLBT community can walk down an aisle. Their children are going to be molested if you have to rent to a same sex couple. Fear…fear…fear the queer.

Bill O’Reilly’s hit piece on Dr. Tiller is a training tape for Christian Fundamentalist Terrorists. Never did he ask the woman interviewed how she, as a 13 year old, got pregnant, who was the father, or where her parents were when she underwent an abortion at Dr. Tiller’s clinic. I’m sure O’Reilly’s drivel will insist on personal accountability for the murderer. I’m sure he won’t be in line for any “accountability” for calling the doctor “Tiller the baby-killer” or his clinic a “death mill.”

Are anti-choice groups celebrating today? An abortion doctor is dead so women won’t have unwanted pregnancies!

The “war on terror” needs to include domestic religious, fundamentalist terrorists.
Who is next?

Colette Outside Shakespeare & Co

(this one’s for DarkOrph)

More interesting outside away from all those books...

Colette outside Shakespeare & Co.
She’s already been told three times ‘Go Inside!’ but with sirens going by at high speed outside would you listen?