Happy Holidays from The Best Damn Newsletter in NJ™!
CHALLENGE
The Newsletter of the Gay Activist Alliance in Morris County Serving New Jersey’s GLBTI Communities Since 1972 Volume 41, Issue 7, Winter 2015
Power in Forgiveness by Sherri Rase This is the time of year when we gather with family. Sometimes it's the family we were born into who loves us, and sometimes it's the family that we make as we find the people who love us. Recently, terrorists have been in the news giving us a lot to think about other than how closely Halloween is now juxtaposed to Christmas. Ironically, the less-mindful among us immediately preface "terrorist" with "Arab", forgetting how much home-grown terror there is in just going to the movies or a classroom or a military installation. Or is there? A video from an Australian television personality went viral recently when he explained the most simple solution to people wanting to terrify you into staying in your home: Don't. Let. Them. Win. Consider the regularity of violence in Israel and Palestine, where each side wants exactly the same thing -- a place for their families to grow and thrive. Through not reaching a resolution, neither side gets what they want. While we might think "compromise" is the answer, it's actually "love". When we show love to one another, is it only romantic attachment? Is it exclusively parental or mentorly? Is it that one (or handful) of friends upon whom you can call anytime? Yes and no. When we show love, we're giving a gift to the recipient, and also to ourselves. Doing good feels good and
once you get a taste of THOSE endorphins, it's hard to go back to the life you had before. Shortly after I walked through the door at GAAMC, I met the people who helped me put myself back together after a devastating breakup. They opened a wider world to me. From stepping into that world, I began to understand about what's around me and where I fit in that world. Truthfully, we're all connected. It's hard to see sometimes when we're strap-hanging on the train amongst other tired, hungry, cranky people. It's hard to see sometimes when we're all in traffic, clotted cars going nowhere quickly. It's hard to see when there seems to be love all around for everyone but us. That connection, that light is there -waiting for you to notice. Waiting for you to see and act and love. One year closes, another opens. What brilliance will you make with the materials this year puts into your hands? Only time will tell. You can build a morass, or you can build a castle. You make the choice. Be in the moment; give yourself some room to breathe and take my hand. Let's find the ways we're connected and bring others in to share what we have learned.
Inside Challenge Challenge Information .......................... page 2 GAAMC Events for December/January ................................................................. page 2 Gleanings -- Queer news from around the world ............................................. page 3 December/January Q-munity Calendar ................................................................. page 4 So Long, Farewell… .............................. page 7 GAAMC Board Meeting Minutes .......... page 7 Bulletin Board ........................................ page 9 GAAMC Information ........................... page 10 More content can be found at www.issuu.com/GAAMC
I see you. I feel you. We love. Happy Chrisma-ChanuKwanzaa-Diwali and a prosperous New Year!