Thoughts on the Present: The LB485 issue in Nebraska

   Are you aware that it is currently legal in Nebraska for an employer to not hire or even fire someone based on their sexual orientation/ gender identity? Under the equal employment ordinance businesses in the Omaha community are not permitted to use discrimination as a method on who to hire and who to fire. However this ordinance is not observed throughout the entire state of Nebraska. Non-Omaha Nebraskans who are LGBTQ+ or are perceived to be in the LGBTQ+ community are at risk and not protected when it comes to employment rights. This is a huge issue, a lack of human dignity and a complete disregard for the very principles laid down for this country.

    Whether a person agrees or disagrees with "non-heterosexual" lifestyles is not relevant when it comes to the processes of our government. In our modern world we are constantly bombarded with twisted values and bigoted debates regarding race, gender, sexuality and immigration. Someone who would argue that any minority in the four areas listed before should be able to be permitted from employment or basic rights due to their minority status is absolutely against the human condition. You can not sit here and argue that someone should not be able to hire a black, transgender female, based on those aspects of her and nothing more. If you are hiring an individual it should be on the context of their merit or work ethics and nothing more. Sadly, this broken world does not always see each individual human and their expression and background as absolutely precious. That must change, even in our rural Nebraska home.


This is a link to a petition that has been started for the LB485 Bill (a bill that has been written to ensure employment equality to all genders and sexual orientation Nebraskans)

https://secure3.convio.net/hrc/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1843

Thoughts from the Past

Greetings from a mind that never seems to rest.

I warn you, know that to journey along for my story will not be an easy task. Danger and constant unknown will accompany us, but not knowing the answers to every situation is probably our greatest gift in life, it allows for each breath to be precious. I want to thank you in advance for over looking my quirkiness and spending the time to get to known merely another wandering soul on this journey called life. With that being said, welcome...

welcome to a place of thoughts in a seemingly thoughtless world.

I don't tend to enjoy talking about myself, but in light of the fact that this is an introduction blog I might as well tell you a little about the guy they call "Andrew O'Donnell". Ever since I can remember I have loved other cultures. Whether it be in the early forms that I was exposed to such as foods, music, and stories or the more modern immersion I experience of speaking and researching other peoples; I always find comfort in learning about the earth's people's different perspectives on life. Through this love I have found appreciations for Italian, (American) Chinese, Greek, Indian and even Russian foods (I am a pescetarian which means the only meat I allow myself to eat is seafood, but interestingly enough I have never had an issue with finding non-meat ethnic food that is absolutely delicious). I am currently teaching myself American Sign Language, Hebrew (very slowly and very steadily) and Russian with my sister who needs it seeing that she is studying in Latvia next year (I will miss her, but hey she's going to have a great time in Europe and I might even get to visit her.)

I love music. Period. My biggest pet peeve in life is when someone says they looovvee music and all they listen to is "pop" and "rap" (yes some of these genres have good music, but rarely is it remembered. Like a wise one once said, "Real music is not forgotten in 10 years."). I listen to mostly alternative indie rock, rock, folk, and what could be considered "new age" music like Enya (studying to her music is EXTREMELY calming.) I also really enjoy music groups such as Gregory Isakov, Florence and the Machine and Carolina Liar. Elbow (yes like the body part) is a band I recently found and ABSOLUTELY LOVE! I guess you could say that music is not only something I love but is also definitely almost a spiritual outlet for me, seeing as I meditate a lot. I would consider myself an interesting blend of Buddhist-Catholic at this point in my life. I do not worship Buddha (ya ya ya I know you were thinking that) but I use Buddhism as a life-style philosophy and source to draw energy for inspiration for my writing and poetry.

POETRY! My life source! (actually all literary forms, expression through art and writing are MA THING!) I absolutely love writing and reading works of literature. The idea that poetry is someone's soul on paper, given to the world so beautifully is utterly amazing for me to experience. I am currently a member of a poetry team at my high school and am working on the manuscripts for two books (hey maybe I will be published with in the next two years, you never know). I dream really big, which can be a curse and also a blessing but definitely helps make life worth living!

I did not get as deep as I would have liked due to a time crunch, but I can assure posts that grab your mind a lot more in the future. I look forward to this journey, and am extremely happy to have you along with me.

Yours in Thoughts,

Andrew



Peace my Friends!