Transgender Samoans

 'glorious miracles'

'Talofa' means 'Aloha' in Samoa

" To see the Summer Sky

Is Poetry,

 though never in a Book it lie -

True Poems flee. "

~Emily Dickinson

 " -a man's mind grows narrow 

in a narrow place." 

Samuel Johnson

" The sky 

is the daily bread 

of the eyes. "

Ralph Waldo Emerson

(\__/)

(='.'=)

(")_(")

Transgender Samoans

are 'Glorious Miracles'

Tamara McLean, AAP South Pacific Correspondent,

 The Sydney Morning Herald 

July 5, 2011 - 9:34AM

Transsexuals, known as fa'afafine, are common in Samoa and are so socially accepted that the prime minister, Tuilaepa Sailele, is their association's lead patron.

Samoa's prime minister has offered high praise to the country's transsexuals, calling them "glorious miracles of God" who "us men" can't help but find attractive.

Addressing a workshop in the capital Apia, Mr Tuilaepa was full of flattery for the group of biological males who identify as women,according the government news website Savali.

He acknowledged they believed they were a 

"special gender." 

"That is why some of you have spent considerable money on special operations," he said.

"But it is not your will that you are the way you are.

 You are just another shining example of the glorious miracles and creations of our Lord."

The comments were taken as compliments in Samoa-

This story was found at: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/transgender-samoans-glorious-miracles-20110705-1gzr1.html

        Leave a Comment with sequins! cloudia

HURT?

A L O H A !
Come in - Let's Talk About That-

" Our prime purpose in this life is to help others.

 And if you can't help them,

 at least don't hurt them. "

            Dalai Lama 

"  Most cynics are really crushed romantics:

 they've been hurt,

 they're sensitive, 

and their cynicism is a shell

 that's protecting this tiny, dear part in them

 that's still alive. "

Jeff Bridges

" When you can't remember why you're hurt,

 that's when you're healed. "

Jane Fonda 

@}-;-'---

(Rose)

Have you been hurt?

Abused? Disregarded, Disrespected? 

Have you been denied basic nurture?

Especially as a child?

I have to tell you

that these things stay with you,

they leave a mark,

a mark on who you are.

But I'm HAPPY to tell you

-as I have discovered to be true-

that it is entirely within your power

whether those marks will be scars

or medals of honor

or even flowers of the soul

blossoming always,

their roots in that terrible knowledge,

yet blessing every creature.


The Best Revenge.


I wish YOU all the best!
         Your comment is appreciated, cloudia

" All you need is love.
 But a little chocolate now and then
 doesn't hurt. "

Charles M. Schulz 

Mighty Mighty Turtles

A L O H A, 

                    Turtle Fans !

 

 King Dragon Turtle

" You must welcome change as the rule

but not as your ruler. "

Denis Waitley

 Friends Who Never Leave / Self Portrait

" A tattoo is a true poetic creation,

and is always more than meets the eye. 

As a tattoo is grounded on living skin,

so its essence emotes a poignancy 

unique to the mortal human condition.  "

V. Vale and Andrea Juno,

Modern Primitives

So WHAT?!  Can't EAT them!

" Find your place in the sun.

Especially if it happens to be on that nice pile of warm, clean laundry."

Miss Kitty

'^'

Diamondback terrapins have left the waters
of Jamaica Bay (off New York City)
to lay their eggs for centuries, 

long before we ever learned to fly 

or built JFK Airport.

They see no reason to change now! 

Last week, the annual Airport Turtle Roundup commenced,

spawning Tweets,
  and lots of bemused news stories
about fast jets and slow turtles.

All the world loves a MoM!

Meanwhile, here in Hawaii, 
officials are reassessing the status of the
HONU,

the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle.

So scarce in the 1970s
that they were put on the Endangered List,

these beloved creatures are now common in our waters,

perhaps even eating enough Limu (local sea 'weed')

to imbalance the reef eco-system.

Brace yourself:
there is even talk of allowing a LIMITED catch

by Hawaiians for cultural and subsistence purposes.

It will NOT be open season on turtles!
(Though the whole idea makes me queasy)

So turtles are doing fine.

In fact, they RULE!

You got a problem with that,

Kitty?

        What say YOU?  cloudia

Kindly

A L O H A!

Dialogue: Island & Sea.

Kaneohe Bay

" I feel we are all islands - in a common sea. "

Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Dialogue: Old & New

" In true dialogue,

both sides are willing to change.  "

Nhat Hanh

 

Sky- ialogue:  High Cloud & Low Cloud

" The sky is that beautiful old parchment

in which the sun and the moon

keep their diary.  "

Alfred Kreymborg

__[___]__
  ( ´_?`)

 The only real tonic

for life's struggles

& sorrows

is kindness-

Kindness received,

Kindness

given.

         Play Nice!  Fondly, cloudia

 

Waikiki Summer

A L O H A!

Welcome Back to Virtual Hawaii

Three Sisters

"The defining function of the artist

is to cherish consciousness."

       Max Eastman

Father & Son

" Without that ache between us,

what was I made of? "

Kiran Desai,

of his deceased father

Double Trouble

 " Age, like distance

lends a double charm.  "

Oliver Herford

Spa Treatment

" I am not afraid of storms

for I am learning how to sail my ship.  "

Louisa May Alcott 



  > < } } ( ° >

Yes,
I am learning to sail
the seas of life.


Scrape the barnacles,
apply another coat-
of lipstick!


I'm coming to your town,
ocean-drunk
and unsteady on my feet,
but bringing stories
showing my turtle tattoos;


Thank you for inviting me to dinner
though I wear no shoes.


          Your Comments are Cherished!  cloudia

Blogger Ate My Work

A L O H A!

Welcome Back to Virtual Hawaii

" A problem well put

is half solved. "

John Dewey

" There is a bit of insanity in dancing

that does everybody a great deal of good. "

Edwin Denby

 

This morning while most of you slept,

Blogger decided to misbehave again.

I think I was working on today's post

when it just stopped functioning!

(Hawaiian Standard Time is 6 hours behind

New York in Daylight Savings [Summer] Time).

What a strange sensation to be told 

"ERROR 404"

that Blogger does not exist!

There is a site:

Down For Everyone Or Just Me?

that will tell you, well,

just that.

Most frustrating of all,

I couldn't comment on YOUR posts!

So: I was there! I loved your post!

Ah Summer;

Even Blogger is lazy !

 

" The only thing I knew how to do 

Was to keep on keepin' on 

like a bird that flew. "

BOB DYLAN

Comment please?  Warmly, cloudia

Every Person

A L O H A !

Welcome Back To Virtual Hawaii-

"The mind I love must have wild places,

a tangled orchard

where dark damsons drop in the heavy grass,

an overgrown little wood, 

the chance of a snake or two, 

a pool that nobody's fathomed the depth of,

and paths threaded with flowers planted by the mind."

Katherine Mansfield

" No man is ever free,

and he couldn't stand it

if he was. "

Faulkner

Mother & Daughter

 

 

 

 

 

" We relish news of our heroes,

forgetting that we are

extraordinary 

to somebody too. "

Helen Hayes

" Only one letter

divides the comic

from the cosmic. "

Nabakov

> < } } ( ° >

Every person in your life

from parents, partners & children

to the guy in the next car

is a gift.

There are great,

and small,

gifts. 

 

Some come in 

strange packages.

 

But all are gifts.

How will you

recieve

them?

             Thank YOU for being a gift in my life.  Share a comment!   cloudia