tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73480624063957419322024-03-13T03:51:37.623-07:00Operatic subtextsYorkist Tenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547415939370029355noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348062406395741932.post-71539296824010966612020-01-04T06:31:00.002-08:002020-01-04T06:31:20.367-08:00The monastery window<i>Martin looked out the monastery window. He wondered how Reginald was doing- he always did. Every night. Every night since he left for the Ardennes.<br /><br />He tried to convince him to stay. He asked Reginald 'Why? Why are you going?' Martin doesn't remember the answer. He remembers that Reggy said words- what they were he can no longer discern, they hurt too much. The image of his most dearly beloved, that he had secretly married, going to war was like a branding iron in his brain.</i><br />
<i>He awoke the next morning for matins, his book of chants in hand. He asked Joseph, his friend, and the priest who married them-</i><br />
<i>'Why? Why did he go?'</i><br />
<i>'I'm not sure, Martin. I know he loved you- none of us know why he left you. You were both safe here. Did he feel guilty? Maybe. Was he somehow ashamed? Possibly. I can only tell you know that you are safe. We care for you. We will pray for him.'</i><br />
<i>'Thankyou, but... I will miss him.'</i><br />
<i>'I know.'</i><br />
<i>Joseph sang, in a powerful voice, 'Deus in adiutorium meum intende...'</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
This is a completely made up story. Or is it?<br />
<br />
The idea of Christian communities being safe spaces and sanctuaries for queer persons seems an odd one to many people- but it is a fact. Many queer persons in the past have found sanctuary in monasteries with other queer people, who share the same feelings. They sometimes fall in love. In many cases, they marry. Martin, Reginald and Joseph are made up characters, but their story is common.<br />
<br />
So why is it that there is homophobic theology?<br />
<br />
While this is not something I wish to deal with in this post, it can be traced to St Augustine or St Paul.<br />
<br />
I want to deal with the fact that queer Christians like myself have a unique cross to bear. We now live in a world that denies these things happened- that is unaware of Pavel Florensky and Sergei Troitsky's existence, that is seemingly unaware that same sex marriages happened in secret in the church, far from the eyes of secular society.<br /><br />Now, however, over a century later than the fictional story of Reginald and Martin, secular society has become more accepting of queer persons.<br /><br />Yet, it seems that the queer Christians are still vilified- in their churches and in the queer community. As a bisexual Christian, I feel too gay for the church- but not gay enough for the queer community because of my precious and dear religion and my love for more than one gender.<br /><br />Queer atheists don't seem to understand, as most of the queer community don't. 'Just leave...', one of them said. Yeah, because it's that simple.<br /><br />Queer holy people exist, and they exist in droves. But they have been ostracised. A vicar who had a profound impact on me was a gay man, ostracised by the church.<br /><br />I now feel ostracised by the queer community, for being 'too religious.'<br /><br />JYorkist Tenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547415939370029355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348062406395741932.post-2897391787066208702016-05-10T19:01:00.000-07:002016-05-10T19:01:41.535-07:00Why I no longer prayEver heard or read stuff talking about how it's possible to cure cancer with vegetables, or eating a vegan and/or glegan (gluten free and vegan) diet?<br />
Well let me start by saying that aside from me thinking that is bullshit, a person with cancer wants only one thing- to survive. To live. When you think you will die, you want nothing else- to be assured that you will not.<br />
When you are so out of hope, and it is so out of your control, sitting in a chaur and letting yourself get pumped full of chemo drugs doesn't feel like a fight. You feel totally helpless.<br />
<br />
As someone who has worked in the church for over a decade, AND believes in God, there was one thing I thought. I had seen my stepfather die a horrible death of several aggressive brain tumours, and I was not too keen on having that same fate.<br />
So on the feast of Candlemas, I asked God to grant me a second chance at life. If God gave me that, I would never ask for anything else again in my life.<br />
<br />
I lived.<br />
<br />
6 years later, I still say the offices. I still say the masses from time to time when I work. However I ask for nothing. I have not personally prayed to God in 6 years.<br />
<br />
Some people ask me 'Well, why did God not give your stepfather a second chance?' That's not a question I can answer. I will never be able to.<br />
<br />
--<br />
<br />
So many Christians annoy me. there is so much they don't understand. They don't understand being in a desperate situation and asking God for your life. Asking God for a <i>thing </i>they understand, but then, it shows that they are <i>of the world, </i>not <i>in the world </i>and not of it.Yorkist Tenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547415939370029355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348062406395741932.post-87118358693876113202014-06-24T22:26:00.002-07:002014-10-21T22:14:34.798-07:00Bring to accountHello!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.tamariveri.com/images/iveri_bg_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.tamariveri.com/images/iveri_bg_2.jpg" height="261" width="400" /></a>So recently in the world of opera there has been lots of talk about the controversial Georgian soprano Tamar Iveri (pictured) and her comments on gay-folk. These hurtful comments have been taken very badly by the public and by the LGBT community. She has since been released from her contract at Opera Australia, and more articles fly around on social media sites about how the company was too slow to respond to her actions (well, words).<br />
<br />
Tamar Iveri has been brought to account about these words- if you ask me, releasing these thoughts so publicly with this kind of influence was a pretty stupid idea, in any profession but especially opera. I don't understand why she made it so public- in the words of the chorus of police in The pirates of Penzance- 'This is perplexing!' 'We cannot understand it at all!'<br />
<br />
All this leads me to a few thoughts. I found it weird that so many people who were fiercely pro immigration shouted 'get out of my country' at her when she said this, but my main beef is with something else.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.theplace2.ru/archive/anna_netrebko/img/anna_netrebko_11_fot-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.theplace2.ru/archive/anna_netrebko/img/anna_netrebko_11_fot-7.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a><br />
There is another far more famous Russian soprano Anna Netrebko (pictured). It has been common knowledge that she is a supporter of Vladimir Putin. She has released a statement saying that "As an artist, it is my great joy to collaborate with all of my wonderful colleagues-regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual orientation. I have never and will never discriminate against anyone." So luckily she does not share Iveri's views.<br />
<br />
Still, I just wonder why no one seems to care that she has endorsed him very strongly. It is a totally different kettle of fish, I know, but I can't help but wonder.<br />
<br />
xxYorkist Tenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547415939370029355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348062406395741932.post-25695443855903339292014-02-17T06:52:00.000-08:002014-10-21T22:37:38.667-07:00Dramatic tenors... rare, but bullied.Hello all. Long time no post!<br />
<br />
In the business world, if there is a shortage of something, advertisements are made to the affect of 'skills shortage, we need a person who can do this' or 'person needed urgently'. This skills shortage, usually, is addressed; more people are trained in this skill, and the positions are filled.<br />
<br />
Imagine now, a different market where skills shortages exist. Only this time, when people possess that skill, they are BULLIED, and told that it's bad.<br />
<br />
This, my friends, is how young singers feel who might have a slightly larger voice than the rest of their colleagues and friends, and who potentially possess the required attributes in the skills shortage of dramatic singers.<br />
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--<br />
<br />
Most operatically trained singers never fit in a choir. Dramatic or not, the partials/formants that we produce are not produced by the other choristers, so it looks and sounds like we are being louder. Actually volume is not the issue, it is the frequencies in the sound of an operatic voice (formants that orchestras don't/can't make, so that's why we can be heard over one) that stick out because the rest of the choristers aren't trained to tap into those. One would think, then, that if you move into a group of classically trained singers then things might change, and said singers would be able to sing at full voice and in the body. However, it's not always the case.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, singers with louder voices than their friends and colleagues go into choruses at university and still get put down. Things like 'your voice is offensive' or a passive aggressive 'calm down' and a simple but frank 'you're too loud' are among some of the things that get said to them. A student with low self esteem (as we all know, this could be a direct result of the aforementioned bullying) and less confidence would leave opera altogether, because who needs to be bullied right?<br />
<br />
Then further down the track, a company director says,<br />
"Ok, so in 5 years I want to stage a new production of Lohengrin." The conductor says-<br />
"So who will sing Lohengrin?"<br />
"Well there is this person..."<br />
"They are otherwise engaged."<br />
"There is literally no one else in this country who can sing it."<br />
<br />
...and they wonder where all the Heldentenors went. Your Lohengrin is probably in that country... but he's working an office job, because he was bullied out by YOU. Well done, opera world.<br />
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Regards<br />
<br />
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A Heldentenor, John Mitchinson, singing Rienzi's prayer. Someone like him would be bullied as a young singer.Yorkist Tenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547415939370029355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348062406395741932.post-13170572866871828432013-10-20T02:12:00.003-07:002013-10-20T02:12:40.877-07:00What I think of hard line EvangelicalsIm sure it’s all unbundantly clear to people around the world the political and societal wars that are happening between those who oppose same-sex marriage and those who support it. Sometimes these conflicts get quite violent- whether it is behind some sort of lectern, on a keyboard, or in some extreme cases, physical fights. These instances I have been lucky enough not to have witnessed, but I know all too well that the fights over whether being a homoseuxual is ‘wrong’ or ‘right’ happen.<br />
I’m sure it is also abundantly obvious that various religious groups are involved in the fray. Among the most prevalent in western society are Christians of various denominations and traditions. In Australia, the ACL (Australian Christian Lobby), is possibly the most prevalent and powerful Christian group that is opposed to same-sex marriage. No, it is not the Roman catholic church. Believe it.<br />
Now, I am an Anglican Christian. I am not from the same tradition as the ACL (although they say on their website that they have 'no denominational affiliations’ they take a very hard line Evangelical approach to Christianity). My approach to Christianity is very different. It is impossible to sum it up in one small article, and I am sure theirs is not so simple either. However, I have noticed one thing very distinctive about the theology of the ACL. They will readily name and point fingers, indiscriminately, and call all people sinners.<br />
They seem to have been shouting ‘sinner!’ at homosexuals simply because they are homosexual.<br />
<br />
<br />
But I wonder- if one day, out of the blue, the baptist stood before them and yelled ‘REPENT! For the kingdom of God is at hand’, would they face up to it? I’m not saying in any way if that happened to me I would, but I just wonder with all this finger pointing, what would they do if that happened?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John the Baptist- one of the most powerful speakers in Christian history. Poor guy met a sticky end...</td></tr>
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<br />Yorkist Tenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547415939370029355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348062406395741932.post-20033537758045109432013-09-23T08:45:00.002-07:002014-10-21T22:38:03.127-07:00A liberal Christian against Bishop SpongHello all!<br />
<br />
As I sit on the train, I am trying to look for someone on the Internet that is a liberal Christian, but dislikes Bishop Spong. Unfortunately, doesn't look like its going to happen.<br />
<br />
John Shelby Spong is a retired Episcopalian bishop who is a prominent figure in progressive Christian circles. He is also prominent in conservative religious circles, not only because he is the polar opposite of them, but he is a publicly outspoken ENEMY of them.<br />
<br />
His 'scholarship' (I use quotation marks not because it is not scholarship, but because he claims it to be infinitely intelligent in a nauseatingly arrogant manner) has made many people, religious or not, think about their traditions differently, among those people being myself. When I discovered his ministry I thought about my tradition of Anglicanism in a different way, and began to use more of my imagination with regards to theology.<br />
<br />
I suppose, though, that the reason that I came across his ministry in the first place is because I was trawling through stuff on the Internet regarding fundamentalism and how bad it is. In this way, Spong's message is very attractive and accessible, because it puts forward an intense hatred for fundamentalism...<br />
<br />
...but it is just that, HATRED.<br />
<br />
He has become obsessed with fundamentalism, and how much he hates it. Subscribing to his weekly email column, I regularly receive paragraphs of '...I loathe fundamentalism because... I despise conservative Catholicism when...' and intense negativity that never seems to stop. I hate to break it to you, mate, but spewing hate at fundamentalism is not exactly a hard thing to do. It is the easy way out for a 21st century Christian ministry, and millions of people flock to him because of this easy bag of insults.<br />
<br />
What is even worse, is that anyone who disagrees with the guy seems to be in his eyes, on par with a fundamentalist. Anyone who disagrees with him, in his eyes, is actually evil. Well, John, here's the thing... you don't seem to realise that in being obsessed with fundamentalism, you have absorbed their toxic traits. The same judgemental, vicious, vitriol rhetoric that perpetuates almost exclusively American circles, has become your style of religious attack dog politics all the while attempting to drag the whole world into American religious problems. Anyone who disagrees with you is an evil, vile human being who deserves to be sent to hell... (even though you don't seem to believe in it, that is well and truly the way you act).<br />
<br />
Yet it seems that he has perpetuated the view that if you are not in 100% agreement with him, you must be some kind of lunatic. Great, how very like the grace of God!<br />
<br />
Not.<br />
<br />
I don't see God, that delivered his people out of slavery, condemning people publicly just for saying something a little bit left of centre. I don't see God, that delivered Elijah out of severe depression, being more concerned with peoples silly words than with their actions. I don't see God, who created YOU, Bishop Spong, spewing hate like post-hangover vomit all over slightly more conservative people.<br />
<br />
Maybe it's only because he is a little bit senile that he is unbelievably arrogant and giving a toxic 'easy way out' ministry, but that doesn't excuse him from acting the way he does towards people he doesn't like. I thought that was exactly the mentality he was trying to eradicate...? <br />
<br />
Well, honestly, I am glad I'm not an American and can distance myself from this bullshit because of that. In the meantime, remember that God loves him too...<br />
<br />
... as well as fundamentalists...<br />
<br />
...yeh I know. Didn't tell you I understood God's grace.<br />
<br />
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I shall attach a video that is completely irrelevant.<br />
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<br />Yorkist Tenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547415939370029355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348062406395741932.post-40352756078628738422013-04-07T04:25:00.000-07:002014-10-21T22:38:30.159-07:00Sexist.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Watch and listen to the above video.<br />
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I have been a part of the choral tradition of the Anglican church for over 10 years. To be exact, 14. I started singing as a treble.<br />
<br />
As you will notice with the above choir, it is all male. I bet you're saying one word- sexist.<br />
<br />
Well, yes. Yes it is. I freely admit that. I also realise admitting it does not excuse it. Why, though, does the tradition of men and boys choirs still exist in the 21st century? More to the point, why do I think it should exist?<br />
<br />
I just found out that in first year classical singing this year at WAAPA there are 3 men. THREE. Hardly any men. and SEVENTEEN women. Why does this happen? Well I don't know why in this day and age schoolboys think it's 'uncool' to sing. I really think that what happens in school choirs is that they have a surplus of sopranos and mezzos, and one tenor and one boy singing the bass part, but who really is a tenor. Honestly- an environment in which boys are told that it is good to sing (sing strongly, no less) around older men who are singing is extremely valuable.<br />
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Especially when opera companies are calling around for hours trying to find ONE tenor, because their audition panel saw 70 sopranos. Then you wish that there was a culture in which males are told that it is good to sing.<br />
<br />
The all male choir tradition is what got me singing. I'm sure it will get a lot more men singing in the future.Yorkist Tenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547415939370029355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348062406395741932.post-19805145317783507492013-02-28T04:15:00.000-08:002014-10-21T22:38:59.651-07:00Oh Rome.Rome. What the fuck are you doing.<br />
<br />
I don't know why you insist on not taking responsibility. YOU CAN DO SO MUCH BETTER. I mean you have kept the Latin language in the world, you have produced Julian of Norwich, and Thomas Aquinas. You have produced the selfless acts of Saint Peregrine Laziosi, the patron saint of cancer survivors. You have motivated Mother Theresa go to the slums and spread the good news and help the needy.<br />
<br />
Why do you insist on sexual politics and hiding your problems, and in so doing hiding your true potential? If you take responsibility, you will move forward, become a better church, and become a credible and powerful voice in society. It will be a bruise in your history that will be behind you forever that you can look on and say 'we beat that and moved beyond it.'<br />
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Come on, Rome. Lift your game.<br />
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I have faith in you.<br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
'One day, we will have to stand before the God of history, and we will talk in terms of things we've done... and it seems I can hear the God of history saying 'that was NOT ENOUGH!' But I was hungry... and ye fed me not.' Martin Luther KingYorkist Tenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547415939370029355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348062406395741932.post-29989754622104585402013-02-08T19:31:00.000-08:002014-10-21T22:39:24.621-07:00Lux ChristiHey all!<br />
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So I follow a blog titled 'Christians tired of being misrepresented'. The things on that page, at least when I first clicked follow, explained the feelings I have towards my faith almost perfectly- especially the title itself. I think I even remember searching facebook for exactly that.</div>
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As time went on, however, I noticed something. They separate themselves from Fundamentalists of any religion and Republicans (they are clearly an American page) who infer, or maybe even sometimes say directly 'vote republican and enter paradise.' I liked the fact that they debunked the myth among non believers that this is what all Christians are like. There is something a bit strange about it, though.</div>
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The love of God is UNCONDITIONAL. The light of Christ shines upon ALL people. They preach this very readily, and say things like 'we welcome those whom Fundamentalism rejects, because Jesus would welcome you', but when they lampoon the Fundamentalists, or, as they begrudgingly refer to them as 'fundies', they seem to imply the sinister notion that God does not love them. Which, I am sorry, is just as bad as fundamentalists saying that God does not love a certain group of people or a person.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our religion has been damaged... the consequences are before us.</td></tr>
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Now I know that some of you reading this will say 'you have never been in a fundamentalist world, you don't know what it's like, it's easy for you to say'. Well, maybe not. I have, however, spent 8 years working for a church whose parish held one tenet- 'the ordination of women is a schismatic act.' ONE tenet of their parish. Of course they were still Christians (Anglicans), but their parish was part of the 'forward in faith' movement... ironic. I also had a massive run in with Fundamentalism a few years ago. If you would like to know more about it message me. I would rather not blog it.</div>
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God's love and Christ's light shines on 'the righteous and the wrongdoers alike.' Forgiveness is hard, and Jesus tells us that and lets us know that that's ok. I still haven't really forgiven the person I had the run in with a few years ago. It is hard to accept, in the heat of the moment, that God loves someone you hate, or loves someone you don't like. It really is difficult- I know that the light of Christ shines upon the person with whom I had the run in, that is a reality, but that doesn't mean I forgive them for what they've done. </div>
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God loves us all, without reservation. That is not an easy thing to say, or even accept, for most people; but it is if you misunderstand it. Regardless, with everything I have said, it should be clear- the light of Christ shines upon all, everyone from the Fundamentalists to the 'Christians tired of being misrepresented' page admins, unconditionally.</div>
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---</div>
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'One day, we will have to stand before the God of history, and we will talk in terms of things we've done... and it seems I can hear the God of history saying 'that was NOT ENOUGH!' But I was hungry... and ye fed me not.' Martin Luther King</div>
Yorkist Tenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547415939370029355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348062406395741932.post-51910564638160352062013-02-07T07:20:00.000-08:002014-10-21T21:51:53.239-07:00SentimentalMissing my best friend and the rest of my WAAPA peeps so hard right now.<br />
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That is all.<br />
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Yorkist Tenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547415939370029355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348062406395741932.post-16186807545694478392013-01-25T23:13:00.003-08:002014-11-05T05:29:04.902-08:00'Australia' Day.Hi all.<br />
<br />
Sombre post.<br />
<br />
First of all, I'm not trying to be a keyboard hero, I fully understand that typing up a blog does not constitute social activism.<br />
<br />
I was walking around today regarding all the celebrations of this day in Australia's calendar- a day that many Australians call 'Australia Day'. The party goers- Australians and tourists alike- sporting all sorts of ridiculous costumes and face paint, and generally having a great time- on the surface.<br />
<br />
We all know, deep down, however, an awkward truth about Australia day- The day that white settlers landed and called the land their own- stealing it from the Indigenous Australians.<br />
<br />
I love Australia- it is a stunning landscape, with beautiful scenery, and wonderful people. It just makes me uneasy when I see people celebrating an invasion of one's home. The racism explodes in Australia on this day, and we see the racist products of it's dark past; underneath the images of the tall, mighty gum trees, and deserts covered in red sand- underneath the stories and stunning poetry of Henry Lawson and Banjo Patterson, and ancient stories of the Dreaming, is a far, far darker history.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglaMWnXAMb3erXKvq9l7I1VUU1mI3w_A3FcA2pB8rbOKB538iPCASeokDMf45DbTklit6eaQEwRm2lmybSNjk4dCgt8v5yy2dCap8qus7oYiQTzZ0ccVWEhmuRcsjgwVxhgrGjr6WG-w/s1600/heysen-painting-australia-landscape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglaMWnXAMb3erXKvq9l7I1VUU1mI3w_A3FcA2pB8rbOKB538iPCASeokDMf45DbTklit6eaQEwRm2lmybSNjk4dCgt8v5yy2dCap8qus7oYiQTzZ0ccVWEhmuRcsjgwVxhgrGjr6WG-w/s1600/heysen-painting-australia-landscape.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australia's landscape- stunning, right? </td></tr>
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White Australians stealing Indigenous children- a story that still haunts the country today. The disenfranchised and dispossessed peoples from all around the world seeking refuge here- and being told in as many words '...if you don't like it, get the fuck out'. Convicts sentenced to transportation to the colonies, bound in chains for their crimes. Australian soldiers leaving for Gallipoli, like so many nations, under a masquerade of liberty and patriotism- only to return psychologically scarred forever; or, for the more common unlucky fit young men- never to return at all.<br />
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Though we posses a troubled past, I hope we can all acknowledge that past and we can all share in the journey forward in Australia's future. I also hope the 'fuck off we're full' types will see that here, while they think there is no room for anyone other than themselves- there is really no room for racism.<br />
<br />Yorkist Tenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547415939370029355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348062406395741932.post-40104682435350662052012-12-24T23:39:00.001-08:002012-12-24T23:39:39.339-08:00ijposdfhnioupdfgWhy can't we have at least one Christmas where something does not go wrong?Yorkist Tenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547415939370029355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348062406395741932.post-10929998493741319122012-12-23T04:36:00.000-08:002012-12-23T04:36:05.198-08:00Salutation(s)!Yallo again!<br />
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So I am here typing at 11 14 pm right now (I guessed it would be 11 13, I was one minute off haha) in the heat with loud neighbours. Cheering and screaming 'join us...'. Join your for what? I'm doing a wanky blog. Leave me!<br />
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So today was really good. Did some practice! It's getting easier to flip out of heavy feeling singing and sing properly. Still not perfect, though. Sang some Mussorgsky, Mozart, Handel, and A H Malotte's Lord's Prayer in there too. It has a Bb. I sang it with a certain ease I would not have had a year ago. I listened to a recording of myself singing a year ago and the change is crazy. FYI, I also thought about singing thou shalt break them from Messiah, but I decided against it. LOL.<br />
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The festive season soon! Woot! Pressies. The family will be somewhat better this year, I hope.<br />
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So Merry Christmas everyone! Not that anyone even reads this at all.<br />
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Peace of the Christ child,<br />
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J x<br />
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<br />Yorkist Tenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547415939370029355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348062406395741932.post-33564064710702511772012-12-18T04:30:00.004-08:002012-12-18T04:30:54.650-08:00Video<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Lol.<br />
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These singers rock.<br />
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Peace,<br />
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J x<br />
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Check- Bedtime!Yorkist Tenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547415939370029355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348062406395741932.post-91429014889691199732012-12-17T03:13:00.000-08:002012-12-17T03:14:14.913-08:00Home!Hi readers!<br />
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So I'm home. I moved back here to Melbourne fro Perth not so long ago.<br />
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The year in Perth has been great. I learnt a lot about myself, about my voice, about others, and life became more confusing. It was wonderful, and though I thought I'd cry like a baby when I left, I was fine. Just got all my boxes back from Perth, too! As far as I know, nothing I own at all is in that state (wrong, I left some food in the fridge, oops)!<br />
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In between now and my last post, I have moved my life interstate, and have done three auditions. I did one in Sydney (where I wish to move next year) and two in Melbourne. I'm still waiting to hear back from the Sydney one!!<br />
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(listened to stuff for ages here).<br />
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So I moved away from Melbourne to go to WAAPA, yes. Also, though, to get away from my family's drama. It seems it's getting all too much again. Grr.<br />
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I suppose I will have to stick it out until Sydney does, or does not, come around.<br />
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Peace of the Christ child,<br />
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J xYorkist Tenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547415939370029355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348062406395741932.post-37569534052622691802012-11-24T20:33:00.001-08:002014-11-05T05:31:34.270-08:00Faith disappearing...http://www.alternet.org/comments/belief/what-if-religious-fanaticism-killed-someone-you-love#disqus_thread<br />
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This happened. I commented, and got shot down with, yet again, concepts I understand and agree with, and was insulted and made to feel incredibly guilty for even speaking- but what I think or feel is irrelevant, because this woman died a horrible death and it's tragic. What people think about the church and its 'prelates of wood' (Savanarola), of wood though a lot of them are, is irrelevant because this woman died a horrible and preventable death; had she not been denied an abortion, she would be alive today.<br />
So the least of my issue right now is that people are using this woman's tragic death as a weapon to throw eggs at the prelates. Not to make abortion legal. To throw eggs at prelates and type in forums on the web stuff like 'I hate child raping priests' and using various miseries/tragedies ('the miseries of the churches' will become a term, soon enough, even if I have to make it one) like this death or the rape of children to justify their own bitterness.<br />
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My real issue, though, is something much more of a 'first world problem'.<br />
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If you read my last post (or view General Synod documents, punch in 'General Synod documents' into Google) you will see that the Anglican General Synod denied women the privilege to become bishops by voting 'no' on a draft legislation to do so. Then this whole shebang came last night, and even though I'm not Catholic, I lost even more faith in my religion.<br />
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Now of course I'm not actually that 'churchy'. The reason I'm not 'churchy' is not to make society comfortable, or to make my religion palatable to the modern world. I believe that when Jokanaan (John the baptist) said '...and his own received him not' he meant it, and was prophesying, among other things, many saints and believers to come in history. Being like the Christ is dangerous in the world, because it raises eyebrows and changes lives- even though when some exhibit Christ like behaviours they are shunned by secular society or their churches. Even when we exhibit 1% of the sort of thing Christ did, we are shunned.<br />
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Many might read this and think 'he's not a real Anglican Christian, he's got doubts'. I once heard a Rabbi say 'Most people define faith as certainty. I would define it as the courage to live without certainty.' Faith is not real, in my opinion, unless it encounters doubt.<br />
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For all their pitfalls, I agree with Rowan Williams and Justin Welby on this issue. I gained some respect for Justin Welby today when I saw that he campaigned for the houses to vote 'yes'. Rowan Williams is right when he says the church has 'got a lot of explaining to do'.<br />
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As yet, however, I still think my church can do better. It created the King James Bible, York Minster, and all that beautiful music- it surely knows better. Come on, CoE. You can do it.<br />
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Check- Regardless, God is beyond this. God is love and we have not treated each other like God's children. As MLK said 'One day, we will have to stand before the God of history, and we will talk in terms of things we've done... and it seems I can hear the God of history saying 'that was NOT ENOUGH!'... but I was hungry, and ye fed me not.'Yorkist Tenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547415939370029355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348062406395741932.post-78437675884021979432012-11-22T12:02:00.001-08:002014-11-05T05:32:25.439-08:00Emotions (insert Mariah Carey whistle register)Hi people!<br />
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Have had an emotional day today. Had my last show with WAAPA and said goodbye to one of the best friends I've ever had in my life. I hate goodbyes. I loathe them.<br />
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I also found out today that my dear Anglican church, after the General Synod of 2012, had decided to vote against the legislation on women bishops. This made me very sad and depressed, not a good day to do this, CoE.<br />
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I just don't understand how you do not see that it is time to move forward together. The days of a male dominated Bishop's mitre are gone- or at least past their prime.<br />
Those who voted against the legislation clearly, I think, misunderstood it. It is not forcing a parish to have a woman as their priest (although some churches could do with a kick up the bum); it is, rather, a step in the direction CoE needs to go.<br />
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I know it's going to take a long time. It will take a long time to reach healthy compromises between both 'sides' (I wish Dr Williams invested more time into bringing the two together and minimise the divisiveness), but I wish I wasn't being realistic in saying it is probably going to take centuries to move on from ecclesiastical misogyny, and step into the light of Christ that some of those who voted 'no' clearly hide from.<br />
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I am not trying to convince you all that I am right, and they are wrong- because this is precisely on of the reasons my dear, dear Church is so divided:<br />
"I am right, because Phillipians says..."<br />
"No. I am right because Thessalonians says...", and the whole church spirals out of control.<br />
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What I am trying to say, though, is that this legislation was one that needed to be made, and it wasn't. The Anglican church has fallen short once again. I was hoping my church would not look stupid in the eyes of society, but this, like all the vicars said, will make it look stupid.<br />
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Please, Church of England, show us how beautiful you really are.<br />
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J xYorkist Tenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547415939370029355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348062406395741932.post-76392033742623662332012-10-16T10:09:00.001-07:002012-10-16T10:09:39.135-07:00GreetingHi reader(s)!<br />
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Will be back with more posts when I have brain power. Promise.<br />
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<br />Yorkist Tenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547415939370029355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348062406395741932.post-37320045510209553272012-10-08T08:24:00.001-07:002012-10-08T08:24:42.346-07:00-insert B flat-Hi guys/gals/robots/phishers!<br />
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So I'm in an opera soon. Today we had hair and make up trials. That's probably one of the most fun things about being a singer- the costumes and the make up. Forget the singing HAHA! Ok, maybe not...<br />
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Yeh that's it. So I would post a photo of me in my make up, but as of right now my computer has not a photo of it.<br />
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Ha.<br />
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Bye!Yorkist Tenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547415939370029355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348062406395741932.post-65067490409226811882012-10-04T05:36:00.003-07:002012-10-04T05:36:34.910-07:00York vs. TudorDISCLAIMER: NEUTRALITY ON THIS ISSUE NOT PRESENT.<br />
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Hi readers.<br />
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Not that I have any, are you there?<br />
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So what's with the title? Well I feel like telling the internet something.<br />
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Basically, there was a war called the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wars_of_the_Roses">War of the roses</a>. Some of you may be familiar with it from TV shows such as the Tudors (even though by then it had really ended) or other such shows. Basic gist- two rival houses branching from the Royal house of Plantagenet, House of Lancaster and House of York were competing for the throne. Also, some of you may know about this conflict from the history plays of dear Shakespeare.<br />
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Shakespeare wrote a play about the last House of York King- Richard III. If you know this play, and if by some stretch of the imagination you develop opinions about this King based on this play, I implore you- do not be fooled by this work of fiction written to entertain.<br />
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There are many reasons why. First, as I said, let's remember the purposes for which Shakespeare wrote- entertainment. He was a playwright, not an historian. Second, he was writing under a Tudor monarch, Elizabeth I (good queen Bess, the readhead); the Tudors were attempting to demonize the Yorkist claimants... well, York and Lancaster claimants I suppose. The policy of executing any other claimant was continued by the next great King, Henry VIII.<br />
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Also, let's not forget that many historians writing during the Tudor era attempted to blacken his name too- portraying him as physically deformed, born with teeth and long hair after being in his mother's womb for over two years. Some of this, though was written by an historian who wrote under Richard III himself, but come Henry VII... yeh, I don't get it either.<br />
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Henry VII defeated Richard III at Bosworth field, however his claim to the throne was very weak- he married Elizabeth of York, the best surviving claimant to the throne- also Richard III's husband. Imagine- 'I killed your hubby, now marry me.' Gosh. The Tudor claim was total crap!<br />
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So I hope we see how the way that the House of York has been demonized is not completely legitimate. Yes, I know some of you reading this will bring up the argument of the princes in the tower- 'Richard III killed them!', however, I ask you this- they were a rallying point for his enemies. What were his options? Let them live and leave more opportunities for the enemies to rebel? In short, I'm just not completely sure that that was something he was glad to do. Also, this alleged murder has many suspects. The jury is still out on this matter.<br />
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Either way, this does not prove the Yorkist claim to be false and/or invalid. Any discussion on the subject welcome.<br />
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Pax!<br />
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<br />Yorkist Tenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547415939370029355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348062406395741932.post-9754635017567435692012-09-29T06:47:00.001-07:002012-09-29T06:47:34.413-07:00Hi internet.Hi guys.<br />
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Well here I am at another blog. I have another one- ramerrez.tumblr.com. Go check it out.Maybe in the future there will be some interesting stuff on here. But for now, sorry guys. I'm disappointing you yet again.<br />
Wait, isn't this a new blog? How can I do something to you again when this blog has existed for about 2 seconds?<br />
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DA FUQ<br />
<br />Yorkist Tenorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547415939370029355noreply@blogger.com0