Following the hardest path

"Integrity requires that a man correct, but not conceal, his errors."

Piers Anthony, "Ghost".


I read that this morning, and had a lot of what i KNOW to be right brought into a simple crystal clarity of WHY it is right.
There is nothing harder than allowing mistakes to reach the light and air, but it is the only way to become strong, honest, and respectable.
AA and the rest of the 'step' programs all have a point where ADMITTING one's errors and then correcting them if possible comes into play.
It is about showing culpability for one's actions.

THAT is a heddy thing to try to understand, and a concept that evades MOST of the people that are breathing. It makes integrity a trait that is highly admired, often bandied about, always claimed, and seldom true.

Integrity is one of those shining beacons that those who claim it for themselves immediately lose the ability to claim.... one cannot bestow it on one's self, one's family, one's own child, one's group, or one's loves. It must come from outside forces and people, as they see that it IS rather than is wanted.

Within M/s, Integrity is a deep well we drink from and those both inside and outside the M/s world would LIKE to believe that everyone entering has this trait automatically.
We do, however, know that is false. Just as any worthy and well respected undertaking will draw those with less than honorable intent to it, so does M/s.

M/s, with it's traditions dating back 60+ years to the "Old Guard" Gay males living out their Power Exchange fantasies and creating rituals that struck deep chords and touched on archetypes from the entire human spectrum, gave rise to the 21st Centuries BDSM M/s subculture and all the adherents it attracts and holds.

Some crave the stability of relationships with ritual and emotional attachment. Some crave the TPE basis of the Owner/ owned life. Some see the artifacts and relics that symbolize various aspects of M/s (the collar, the ceremony, the contract, the kneeling, the very word "slave") and crave them, weather they qualify for them or not, weather their commitments and lifestyle fit the mold they were created in or not. This "borrowing" further muddies already diluted waters and makes weighing integrity a difficult thing under the best of circumstances.

Many, both in and out of the BDSM world, find that their integrity falls the shortest when they have embarassing actions unearthed from their past. The most 'honorable' way to deal with such things is to admit the action, explain the remedial reparations that have already occurred, and apologize for the original transgression. Serious crimes and misdemeanors also require removing one's self from the situation that surrounded the crime- something many are loath to do.
Hence, we find instead a large population that would rather disagree with the fact finders about their roles in various acts, dismantle the arguments to suit their needs, and/or discredit the people who bring those transgressions up to them.

Integrity suffers and fails in those times.

We all know someone who will do ANYTHING to give the appearance of living a life of integrity, and many who have convinced themselves that they have NOT wronged someone else, to both assuage their guilt and protect their egos.

Those people are to be pitied, and kept at a safe distance. They do not understand the humility required to be a person of integrity, and they do not want to do the work required to begin their lives anew and become one. They create a cachophany that disrupts the core of any group seeking to stay on a path of honesty, faith, integrity, and respect for others that is part of the essence of WIITWD from Leather to M/s to S/m to Polyamory and beyond.

Everyone has something they hide, something they are ashamed of and do not want to deal with. Many of those things are also distant memories that have nothing to do with what we are now nor what we have created in our lives. They do not necessarily need to be dredged up meaninglessly for the sole purpose of ego enhancement. But when those issues are brought before us by others-- those usually not our friends- the only course that satisfies the need to 'keep it real' is to stand up and admit what one has done, request the opportunity for attonment, and prove sincerity for both by removing ones self from the situation or group that the lack of judgement sprang from.

I keep re-viewing the idea of integrity, and pondering the meaning of what it takes to live a life in service to others around me. It usually means following the hardest path.

Fake WWII Poster- the BEST!

WWII Poster art

I love the WPA and other artists various propaganda and information posters of this era (1930-1945).


My amazement at the open discussions of VD in all its forms starts with the public posters..

There is a huge website of them HERE

Biggs art

GREAT art... up close version:

I have a feeling that this is not something that goes over well since 9-11.
Too bad- i really love it!

2009 Valley Benefit

2009- Welcome to the Hollywood Canteen!

Southern Cross is proud to announce the annual Valley Fundraiser at Edges:
A Night at the Hollywood Canteen

Pull out your service wear (those in full correct military wear get in FREE with a case of water), yank on your skivvies, dress up or down and join us for a day of fun and one great fligh before you ship out!

Your admission at Edges includes free coffee, donuts, and all you can eat soup as well as a chance to negotiate with one of the stars (better than dancin' hu?) for a small donation to the cause.

Music to play by includes hits from the Big Bands that helped keep us free and new salza hits to interrogate your prisoner by!
The folks at the canteen welcome you to a fun filled day, doors open at 2 PM and the party runs till 1 AM.
Advanced tickets on sale as of May 1 through Edges and SX Staffers to be announced.

See This site for all the info.

Evil fun

While cruising the net for the upcoming fundraiser, i ran across a funny blog about the "war on Christmas" BS of last year when Bill Oreally had nothing better to do for stirring shit amongst his illiterate angry white men..
found this..LOL!