No, I'm not talking about an incident at school. Or an article about my dim, dark, secret, sultry life. (I should merit such an article!)
Besides, anyone who's googled my name knows about all the things such an article would mention. Why, my father just recently googled my name and found things that shocked him in ways I could have only dreamed of when I was an adolescent!
So what closet have I been dragged out of?
It seems that a very intelligent man named Ed McGon, who's commented on two of my recent posts, has found an article that I wrote for a kinda sorta right-wing website.
Actually, I've written a few articles for Lew Rockwell's site. I haven't written for them as much during the past year as I had during the previous few, partly because I was busy with one thing and another. And, frankly, I started to feel a little out of place there: It seems that lately a lot of the articles have been about hoarding gold and guns. Now, I'm not keen on owning a gun, and don't think I'd ever acquire one unless I could see no other way to defend myself or anyone I love. I simply don't want to add to the violence that already burdens this world. As for gold...well, who wouldn't want some?
I first started reading Lew's site a few years ago because some of its writers were offering the most cogent and eloquent denunciations of the Iraq war I've seen. Some of those writers also explained something I had long intuited: that such wars are inevitable when states grow in their reach as well as in their size. I won't get into that here; after all, you're not reading this post for that. Right?
My most recent article was a slight revision of my Recovery Without the Telly post. Ed mentioned that he saw it on LR and liked it. He also said that while he agrees with my decision to give up TV, he won't give up his computer or internet connection. I feel the same way.
I thought about becoming the world's first (to my knowledge, anyway) Luddite tranny. Or Amish "girl." Having just had the operation, I'd give up all sorts of technology--like the ones that are allowing you, dear reader, to see this post!
Now I'll tell you another terrible (!) secret about me: I didn't even touch a computer until I was 41 years old. (OK, so now you know I'm over 40!) I really hoped to get through life without using one, much less a cell phone. Now, like most of you, I cannot imagine life without them.
And it's even more difficult for me to imagine my transition without these technologies. I was reminded of that today, when a fellow alumna of Trinidad called to ask me a question about dilation. I won't get into specifics here, but suffice it to say that it's not the sort of question you'd ask your neighbor, best friend or family member. I say that not because the question would be "inappropriate," but because none of those people is likely to know the answer. Even here in New York, you have a better chance of finding an albino peacock than of finding anyone among your immediate circle of acquaintances who knows anything about post-op issues.
I can't begin to tell you how much information pertaining to hormones, transitioning, surgery and related isssues I found on the internet, whether on websites or through correspondence with others--some of whom I may never meet.
Imagine how much more difficult and time-consuming those things would have been if I didn't have the Internet and a calling plan that costs about as much as one single call I made back in the day.
And, yes, all that technology made it possible for people like Ed to find out my secrets. Oh well. Why would I want to be the world's first Luddite tranny, anyway? The shock value, if there is any, doesn't interest me.
Besides, if my parents know my secrets, where are there any closets left?
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5 comments:
Justine, it's not like you're the first, or last, tranny in the world. Maybe I'm jaded, but it just doesn't hold "shock value".
That said, I see Rockwell's site as more libertarian, with a strong dose of Austrian school economics. I wouldn't say you've been "outed" there. ;)
I think people of a libertarian mindset, who would approve of a person's right to own a gun, would also approve of your right to a sex change. Even though you might not have any interest in guns, and I am personally reluctant to own one, I would expect you of all people to appreciate how important individual liberties are. We may not like guns, but we should respect their value in our society, specifically the right to own them.
Look at it this way: A government which can take away your right to own a gun can easily take away your right to a sex change too.
P.S. Thank you for the kind words!
Ed: I agree with everything you've said. In fact, about three years ago Lew rejected an essay of mine in which I said just what you've said about sex changes. In it, I also explained how being transgendered is part of the basis of my libertarianism. He rejected it because he thought it was "too advanced" for some readers.
His philosophy is indeed a combination of libertarianism and Austrian economics, both of which I agree with. However, a number of his site's readers, and a few of his columnists, have very conservative Christian beliefs, which they erroneously use as a basis for opposing my right to a sex "change."
I didn't mean to say that I was outing myself as a tranny. Rather, I was outing myself as a Lew Rockwell columnist. I figured that most people who've read my blog haven't read my LR articles, and vice-versa. Maybe I'm wrong on both counts! If so, great!
By the way, I am not in favor of taking away anyone's right to own a gun. I, for one, think that the crime rate in most major American cities would drop if guns laws were relaxed rather than tightened. That said, I still have no wish to own a gun unless there is no other way to survive. If things came to that, I'd probably move to some remote place and hope for the best.
I really hope to hear more from you, Ed. Your comments are very, very interesting.
My own view of Christianity is a stark contrast with most so-called believers. How can one "love thy neighbor" AND tell them how to live their lives at the same time? Especially when your neighbor's actions have no impact on you?
Frankly, religion and politics do not mix well. How many times do we have to learn this lesson before we finally "get it"? From Ancient Egyptian religion dominating the pharoahs, to early Christian domination of European politics, to Islamic domination of Middle East politics, religion has always been a means to an end, with the end being power. Regardless of the quality of the religious message, be very afraid when you hear that message uttered by someone with political power.
That said, there is no room for religion in libertarianism. I'm not saying libertarians can't have religious beliefs. In fact, I personally believe Christian philosophy is quite conducive to libertarian beliefs. True liberty is the greatest expression of "loving your neighbor" there could ever be.
P.S. Feel free to visit my blog. I know that's shameless promotion, but I would appreciate your views on my posts too.
I have given further thought to your following comment:
In fact, about three years ago Lew rejected an essay of mine in which I said just what you've said about sex changes. In it, I also explained how being transgendered is part of the basis of my libertarianism. He rejected it because he thought it was "too advanced" for some readers.
While I agree the Austrian/libertarian "philosophy" (for lack of a better term) deserves to be advanced, it sounds like Lew is trying to put a politically correct face on it. Unfortunately, when one makes a philosophy more acceptable to the general populace, one also waters it down to the point where the original meaning is inevitably lost.
Why should Lew want to genuflect to the forces of intolerence in order to advance the principles of liberty? People who would reject a person based on nothing more than their appearance or lifestyle (a lifestyle that hurts no one) are not needed for a political/economic movement which stresses individuality and personal responsibility.
I would like to ask you a favor? If you still have it, could you post your essay which Lew rejected?
I agree that "a government which can take away your right to own a gun can easily take away your right to a sex change too." I want my guns and my abortions, goddamnit! And no, I don't think that this idea is "too advanced for some readers".
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