Tag Archives: understanding

The Zen of Ostomy

Posted on April 21, 2021 by Callen Harty

I believe, among other things, that this is a lesson in humility. When the doctor first mentioned the possibility of an ostomy as part of an upcoming procedure my first reaction was one of embarrassment and shame. It sounded gross. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged colostomy bag, death, ego, embarrassment, emotions, equalizer, fear, gratitude, growth, humility, opportunity, ostomy, potential, relationships, selt-pity, shame, thankful, understanding, waste | Leave a comment

New Year’s Prayer

Posted on January 1, 2021 by Callen Harty

It seemed like virtually everyone in America was eagerly anticipating bringing in the New Year last night. The bulk of the year was taken up with the worst plague in modern history, More than 1.8 million people died worldwide from … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 2020, 2021, America, Black lives matter, Breonna Taylor, commitment, conspiracy theorists, cops, coronavirus, culture, Donald Trump, economic disparity, economy, election fraud, equity, faith, fascism, George Floyd, government, greed, hate, heroes, Homeless, hope, hungry, inauguration, Jacob Blake, loved ones, narcissist, nature, New Year, normal, plague, poor, power, pray, Presidency, protests, quaarantine, racism, understanding, unemployed, vaccine, wish, world citizens | 1 Comment

9/11 and the Enduring Sorrow

Posted on September 10, 2019 by Callen Harty

(Note: This was originally posted on 9/11/12. The post has been slightly updated with some current information) Nine. One. One. On an autumn morning so vivid it seems like yesterday and so foggy it seems a lifetime ago our nation … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged "eye for an eye", 9/11, Afghanistan, America, anti-government, apathy, biological weapons, Bush administration, citizens, civilians, compassion, compromise, court of law, Dancing with the Stars, Democrat, enemies, fear, freedoms, goodwill, government, hijacked jets, homeland security, Iraq, justice, land of the free, liberty, memorials, Muslim-American citizens, oil, Osama bin Laden, Patriot Act, peace, peaceful resolution, Pennsylvania, Pentagon, politicians, power, President, racial profiling, reality television, Republican, rights, Saddam Hussein, Saudi Arabia, soldiers, sorrow, surveillance, terrorism, tooth for a tooth, trial, twin towers, understanding, victims, violence, war, war hysteria, warrantless wiretaps, warrants, world community, World Trade Center | Leave a comment

The Gift

Posted on April 18, 2018 by Callen Harty

April 18, 1989. A gay bar in Denver, the Triangle. A can of beer in hand, cigarette in the other. I was there alone, so I wasn’t there to be with friends, I wasn’t there looking for someone for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged alcohol, alcoholic, bar, beer, blackouts, childhood, cigarette, Colfax Avenue, Denver, depressed, downward spiral, drink, drugs, drunk, emotions, faith, gay bar, gift, good will, hair of the dog, hangovers, human, human rights, insecure, Irishman, jobs, joy, just laws, life, love, mistakes, mixed drinks, numbness, pain, pleasure, public speaking, rock bottom, sobriety, social drinking, sorrow, stubbornness, suicide, theater, trauma, Triangle, understanding, Wisconsin, worthless, writing | Leave a comment

At the Table

Posted on September 30, 2017 by Callen Harty

The local chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) maintains an information table at the weekly Farmers Market downtown. They have literature and brochures and typically have two volunteers sit at the table to greet people, give … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged "F" word, "N" word, acceptance, allies, anger, bi, child, children, compassion, evangelical Christians, Farmers Market, father, fear, gay, hatred, identity, Jews, love, masculinity, minority, Muslims, parents, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, PFLAG, post-homophobic, post-misogynistic, post-racist, Proud Theater, public square, queer, rainbow, sexuality, straight, trans, understanding | 1 Comment

When Nightmares Intrude

Posted on September 21, 2016 by Callen Harty

Trigger Warning: This post is about surviving sex abuse. Please take care of yourself first and foremost. So last night I had a dream–a nightmare really, or a series of nightmares–in which I was assaulted again as I was … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged abuse, assault, be, child sex abuse, crisis, fear, flashback, listen, love, male survivor, negative, nightmare, paralysis, positive, sex abuse, subconscious, trauma, trigger, understanding | Leave a comment

An Open Letter to Madison Mayor Paul Soglin

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Callen Harty

Dear Mayor Soglin, Let me start with a simple question: Who are you? What happened to the Paul Soglin I thought I knew? You just vetoed a unanimously passed amendment that would have added Madison’s homeless population as a protected … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged anti-war protests, atheists, Channel 27, City County Building, compassion, Department of Civil Rights, elected representative, elite class, employment, Homeless, housing, hungry, liberal, Madison Mayor, Paul Soglin, protected class, public accommodations, radical, representative government, temporary shelter, understanding, Viet Nam | Leave a comment

A Dream Realized

Posted on December 27, 2013 by Callen Harty

When I was in about second grade or possibly third I remember sitting at the feet of my Great Aunt Leona, listening to her talk about writing. She was a poet, composer, and a stringer for the Wisconsin State Journal, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Amazon.com, Arno Michaelis, articles, books, childhood sex abuse, composer, createspace, Empty Playground, essays, Great Aunt Leona, literary collection, My Queer Life, plays, poet, produced, published, queer, speeches, stringer, understanding, Wisconsin State Journal, writing | 1 Comment

Peace on Earth

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Callen Harty

In the Christian tradition this is among the holiest of eves. But one does not have to be a Christian to appreciate the man of peace who was Jesus. If one simply takes him at face value, as a man … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Afghanistan, arms, believers, Bible, borders, Buddhists, Christian, Christmas, Gandhi, generosity, glory, God, Golden Rule, hearts, Hindus, humanity, Iraq, Jesus, Jesus wept, kill, kindness, love, Martin Luther King Jr., Mexico, Mohammed, Muslims, Nelson Mandela, Nigeria, Pakistan, patriotism, peace, Somalia, spirit, Sudan, Syria, teachers, unbelievers, understanding, United States, war, weapons, Yemen | 1 Comment