I said "hello" a couple months ago, but didn't find an easy "introduce yourself" area. Glad to see this New Member area now. I'm like an earlier writer ... never used the computer for anything like this before (that is before January when I saw Brokeback and have been reading and visiting this website several times a week ever since), and reluctant when it comes to baring my soul. But I have to say that the dialogues have been so caring, the stories so heartfelt, the shared experience of Brokeback so powerful that I just can't *not* say a bit about how I come to this.
I am a person of faith, touched by the spirit of love as well as content of the Christians Who Love Brokeback thread. This spirit of love is evident on many other threads as well (yes, yes, as well as wonderful content!). To me, this spirit is at the core of the film: a magnificent, palpable portrayal of love. Amazingly, a love that welcomes us to live in it, not just observe passively as a viewer. Incredible!!
One reason it speaks to me is because of the parallel with my own life experience. My beloved and I are in our 40s. We met at 19 and 21. A deep and enduring friendship grew between us. Sheltered by the denial (like Jack and Ennis "ain't queer", we weren't "lesbians"), we fell completely in love with one another. We too had a time of being apart (3 years), yet then we were able to envision a life together -- and choose it. And thrive and grow and find God and the Spirit of Love in and through that shared life.
Our experience is made even more poignant by the vicious attacks perpetrated by the rightwing religious extremists dominating American politics today. They manipulate those who sincerely feel fear of the unknown and are vulnerable to the hate-speech of James Dobson and the like that preys on that fear.
Meanwhile, our lives are a quiet testimony to the blessings of commitment and love between 2 whole persons who are of the same gender.
So I hear Jack's "how about you and me, we get a cow and calf operation" as a proposal of marriage: marriage understood as the uniting of two souls, not a list of legally dictated priviledges and responsibilities. Jack saw that their love called them to build a life together, to flourish and grow together in and through their love to bring more love into the world; love that I know as God's Love, but for those for whom "God" language is alienating, put in the idea of being brought forward into the world in order to share the best of yourself to contibute to the creation of a world of love, kindness, generousity, gentleness, awe and wonder. (I'm borrowing that list of uplifting adjectives from Rabbi Michael Lerner)
Thanks for reading this far. I'm at a time when I feel led to try to articulate big ideas. My experence of Broakback feeds me and gives me the courage to keep trying. I appreciate your giving these thoughts a read.
Best to each of you,
Heather
