Uncommon Commentary: Gay Marriage in New York

The recently passed gay marriage law in New York is a hot topic and has so many people abuzz with their opinions on the matter. In this post, I won't take sides and say who is right and who is wrong. I will sit neutrally in the middle and just throw some ideas out there.

Here are a few general observations that I've noticed over the years on the gay rights debate among the two opposing factions.

For people who are for gay rights: I notice they want people to agree with them unconditionally and without question and anyone who disagrees are horrible evil, hate-mongering bigots. Why isn't there room for all opinions even those you disagree with?

For people who are against gay rights: I notice that they call unnecessary names, won't listen to another perspective and recoil about any gay topic. Why be disgusted with a person that you have never even had a chance to get to know?

For both those opposed to and for gay rights: Why can't you sit down, talk calmly to each other, share your beliefs without verbally abusing each other? Just because you don't agree doesn't mean you have to hate each other and shut each other out.

I think it is best to have mutual understanding and realize that everyone has a right to disagree, it doesn't make them evil, horrible people if they don't agree with you. After all, no one has a right to force one's beliefs on other people.

If someone doesn't agree with your stance on gay rights, whatever it maybe, leave them alone, stop forcing your beliefs on them, you will likely never change them and they won't change you. You be you and let them be them. Life would be so much easier for all, no matter if they are opposing and advocating gay rights.

Peace and harmony is what we need. There are enough things dividing the human race on so many levels: politics, language barriers, social class divisions, the racial divide, economics, geography, the "us against them mentality" and so much more. Let the madness and meanness stop here. So with that, lets comment and discuss and do it in a peaceful harmonious way. :-)

Uncommon Commentary: Creative people in small towns—to leave or not to leave, that is the question?

I once wrote a piece about this for a student newspaper for which I worked as the opinion editor. When the editor in chief read it she immediately got offended by my opinions, which I had written in the form of a commentary for the "opinion" section of the paper. She said I had to change what I wrote but I balked. The more I disagreed, the more she put pressure on me to change it and I eventually and reluctantly acquiesced, foolishly! I'm the last person who would be willing for fold under any such pressure but I did in this case and for no reason because I wrote nothing wrong!

At any rate, in this commentary I wrote about the fact that Washington State has a very limited, finite creative industry in which to play, move around in and grow. The editor in chief argued that there are plenty of options here, to which I insisted there are limits. And that is a true fact, not really an opinion. There are some opportunities here in Washington State I will say that but there is not an exhaustive amount of opportunities compared to Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago and Atlanta to name a few.

In the commentary I also encouraged any like-minded readers to reach for the stars and make their dreams come true if they want to leave the "small town." I encouraged readers to break out of their small town mentality and imagine if they will, a world beyond main street.

I further encouraged readers not to let the haters, the nay sayers or the discouragers stop them with nasty little quips and insulting barbs about how they can't do something or get anywhere because of where they are from, who they are and what kind of family or upbringing they had. No one should settle for putting limits on themselves. I say put on your armor of confidence and be a "No Limit Soldier" (thank you Master P for coining that term)!

As a budding journalist and media maven that experience has served to remind me to fight for what I believe in a little bit harder and not buckle under pressure for anyone unless absolutely necessary.

So to you my readers, I want you to absorb what I wrote here and start believing the impossible is possible. If you are a small town inhabitant like I am and you want to live a far out dream like becoming an artist in Paris, a film maker in LA or a fashion designer in New York City. JUST DO IT! Reach for the dream and jump the hurdles and dodge the naysayers and share your story here!

Uncommon Commentary: I love Seattle (sort of)

My love of Seattle started back in the 80s when I use to visit my eldest sister at the University of Washington when I was 5 years old. Seattle through my child-eyes back then was great and I especially liked the sprawling campus of the UW. I remember a burger joint near my sister's apartment called Arnold's and she had discarded burger wrappings in her trash which smelled heavenly like a real burger not like McDonald's or anything but I can't recall if I was able to get a burger from there.

As a teen, I continued going on trips with my sisters to Seattle and I expanded my horizons to Pike Place Market, the waterfront and the downtown area around the Westlake Center. And the myriad of cultural festivals that take place in Seattle Center have been my main interest now for about 10 years. In addition, I love the shopping options in downtown Seattle.

The Westlake Center, which is a great mall has so many great stores but my fave is Daiso Japan, the Japanese Dollar store or 100 yen shops as they are called in Japan. I also like the food court with it's extensive selection of affordable restaurant options. Pacific Place, Uwajimaya, Nordstrom, Gap, Banana Republic, Spehora, J Crew, H & M and Macy's are some of my other favorite stores downtown.

The scenery, the shopping and the cultural events are all the things I love about Seattle.

Now for the bad news, the part where I only am sort of loving Seattle these days. It's simply because of the growing amount of litter on the streets that is not getting picked and the shady characters that lurk around the city. These include homeless people and drug addicts which are often one in the same. Many of these people are very brazen in their attempts at harassing and intimidating people and begging for money. Because of this, Seattle is becoming an increasingly family unfriendly place and I barely see families out in droves like I used to see in NYC.

My wish for Seattle is that it would become a more family friendly city and work on the homeless problem so that both families and single women can safely walk around without having to worry about being accosted by ne'er-do-wells.

Uncommon Commentary: Shopping in Japanese Dollar Stores

I don’t remember where I first read about Japanese dollar stores (a.k.a.100 Yen Shops in Japan) but I instantly loved the concept. They are the equivalent to what we know as dollar stores here in America. 

I was intrigued when I read that they have much cuter and more interesting stuff than standard American dollar stores. After I found that out I immediately did a Google search to see if they had any in America and indeed they did! And fortunately they have some in Washington…in Seattle to be exact! 

The store is called Daiso Japan and they have some great stuff. Every time I go to Westlake Center I just have to stop by there. But recently they began construction of the new Nordstrom Rack at Westlake, which has displaced Daiso Japan, what a bummer. 

They will be relocating soon to the street entrance level of Westlake. Hurray!! But for now I will have to make do with the store's other location in Seattle's International District and I think I might go there for a few things.

Anyway, the price range at this store is $1.50 per item but some items can be more expensive depending on what you get. My favorite finds at Daiso have been plastic containers such as my makeup organizer, black 3 pocket pouch, pouches with red and yellow trim, stacking shelf and notebooks. I have many more items but these are the things that have been indispensable as of late. 

Daiso Japan is all over the West Coast but I’m sad to say that they don’t have one in NYC nor does there seem to be really decent Japanese dollar stores in New York that I am aware of either. I am very shocked about that too. But I've heard there are some Korean imitations of Japanese dollar stores in the city but they are more expensive that the usual $1.50 per item at Daiso. 

Also, there is the expensive but awesome Kinokuniya Bookstore in NYC though and certainly many Asian stores that could substitute for Daiso in New York as well.  

For Washingtonians and New Yorkers who would like to check out Daiso Japan and Kinokuniya Bookstore check out the info below. 

Washington

Daiso Japan
Westlake Center
400 Pine St.  
Seattle, WA 98101

Phone #: 206-625-0076
Fax #: 206-625-0087

E-mail Address: westlake@daisojapan.com
 
International District  
710 6th Ave S
(between Cherry St & Lane St)
Seattle, WA 98104
 
(206) 355-4084 


Kinokuniya Bookstore
525 South Weller St
Seattle, WA 98104
 
Phone: 206-587-2477
Fax: 206-587-0160

Hours: 
10:00am - 9:00pm (Mon-Sat) 
10:00am - 8:00pm (Sun)


New York

Kinokuniya Bookstore  
1073 Avenue of the Americas
(Bet 40th & 41st St)
New York, NY 10018

Phone: 212-869-1700
Fax: 212-869-1703
 
Hours: 
10:00am - 8:00pm (Mon-Sat) 
11:00 AM - 7:30 PM (Sun)