Though I Am Trying Not To Blog...

I am finishing up the book I’m writing, which is a pretty all-consuming activity for me. At times like this I tend to set things on fire, slam my face or fingers in doors, and drop full canisters of flour on my own head/ the floor for no apparent reason other than the fact that my brain is used up.

So I am trying not to do anything overly dangerous such as cook, or parent, or blog.

I am not being completely successful at avoiding any of those things. Which is mostly fine (well, except for the cooking, possibly.)

But anyway I just had to interrupt my non-blogging to say a very brief thing about bullying and homophobia.

You might be attracted to boys, or to girls, or to both. You may think that somebody else being attracted to boys, or to girls, or to both, is incomprehensible, or yucky, or not your thing. But IT IS NOT YOUR BUSINESS who somebody is attracted to, or who anybody else loves. So if you ever feel tempted to shame somebody for his or her sexuality, stop. Just stop. It’s mean. It can be very hurtful. And it’s not your business.

It’s wrong and immature when third graders call one another nasty names. They need to be pulled aside and taught gently about empathy and the importance of being kind. For any of the rest of us who are past third grade: if you catch yourself calling somebody a nasty epithet or shaming somebody for who they are, sit yourself down in time-out until you can pull yourself together and behave like a grown person. Come on, now.

If somebody is teasing or tormenting you about your sexuality – or your looks, your opinions, your choices, your race or gender or height or any other baloney none-of-their-business nonsense, get away from them. Please seek out somebody kind and cool to talk with or hang out with. There are many of us around. Stay strong and keep looking for us.

We might be bleary-eyed and covered with flour, but we are here, and we’re rooting for you.

Love,

Rachel Vail

On Banning and Burning Books

Here's what I think:

If you don't want to read a book, don't. If it's too late and you've already read it and it was not your cup of tea, you don't have to ban or burn it -- just don't recommend it. There are definitely some books I disliked so much I even recommend that friends NOT read them. I don't like eating brisket, so I don't eat it. And I really don't recommend you eat brisket either. Yuck. But do I go around banning or burning brisket? NO! Well, okay, other than that piece of brisket this past Saturday. But that was an accident.

SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson, on the other hand, I highly recommend.

http://madwomanintheforest.com/this-guy-thinks-speak-is-pornography/

What do you think?

Love,

Rachel Vail