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We got back home from my 50th high school class reunion in the wee hours last night. Debbie says she had a great time. I know I did.

I can't tell you exactly how good it feels to spend the best part of three days with people who accept you for who you were and also for who you've become. You probably either know how that feels or you don't.

This Bush appointed federal judge who issued the injunction blocking the effort by the Obama administration to help provide that feeling for all transgender students across the nation is clearly an example of a person who does not understand the importance of being accepted by one's peers.

This case presents the difficult issue of balancing the protection of students’ rights and that of personal privacy when using school bathrooms, locker rooms, showers, and other intimate facilities, while ensuring that no student is unnecessarily marginalized while attending school. The resolution of this difficult policy issue is not, however, the subject of this order.

--Judge Reed O'Connor

I have no doubt that the Texas triumvirate shopped for Judge O'Connor, hoping he would be as anti-transgender as they are.

We can only hope the North Carolina and Virginia cases obtain a fairer scrutiny.

There is the good part:

If you’re already doing what I like to call the right thing and you are not discriminating against transgender students, this has no affect on your district. If you have a policy that doesn’t permit that, for now the federal government can’t come in and force you to do it.

--Kenneth Upton, Lambda Legal

Such open and inclusive policies have safely existed in New York City for several years, demonstrating how thoughtful action can actually serve to protect our children, not harm them.

--New York City Public Advocate Letitia James

It's my hope that trans children can grow up to be healthy adults contributing to a more open society.

Really, I don't see what is wrong with that. I know the Texas Trio would disagree with me on that. They'd rather we just went away.

Personally I know from my discussions this past weekend that it was more difficult for me to engage with the women I dated when in high school than it seemed to be for them. And if they don't have a problem with me, who else should care?

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enhydra lutris's picture

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

featheredsprite's picture

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Life is strong. I'm weak, but Life is strong.

Santa Susanna Kid's picture

It means everything to me; in regards to the things that I made happen for my new business in the last 80 hours. Flow...

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I once read a book (Is There Life After High School? Amazon carries it if you care.) written by a guy who was curious about why people attend reunions. Unless one was part of the ruling clique, most people ended up leaving unhappy and disappointed.

One such tale involved Janis Joplin. After she achieved success, she went back to her high school for a reunion - and was snubbed by all the same people who had snubbed her when she was a student. That had to hurt, knowing that your success didn't matter one bit to such people. You were still seen as a lesser being.

In my personal instance, I have no desire to again see the bullies who tormented me for three years - until I grew taller than all of them. We had nothing in common then, and there has to be even less now.

To sum up, if you had a good time being in school, then by all means go. But if you didn't, don't waste your time. It only reopens old wounds that might not heal.

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Vowing To Oppose Everything Trump Attempts.

TheOtherMaven's picture

Not high school, not college, not grad school. And I very likely never will. Those days are so far behind me, I scarcely remember anyone and I'm sure they have long forgotten me. So what would be the point?

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There is no justice. There can be no peace.

...who is now nearly vegetative. Football team fullback/middle linebacker.

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riverlover's picture

but will bring probable looks of pity then. A massive weight loss is clearly a sign of impending death. I am glad that you both had enjoyable times.

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Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.

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Santa Susanna Kid's picture

It lifted up my day...

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clearly an example of a person who does not understand the importance of being accepted by one's peers.

I don't know about that - I'm quite sure that acceptance by his peers is very important to him - he just doesn't care about anyone who is outside that circle.

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