how would you describe CDing to a community?

[Tea Cake]

I really feel for someone that is trying to understand their version of CDing while surrounded by an environment that is anything but accepting or thoughtful.
How would you describe CDing--in a broad way---with educating a community as a goal?
The words would be limited. Like for a letter to the editor in a local newspaper.
I'm curious---because there is so much great info here---and people who are amazing and articulate.
I wonder if such a letter----tuned by all of your minds---were to run as letter to the editor in newspapers all throughout US and Cananda....(and OZ AND UK!)
I wonder how many people trying to understand their CDing would look at that as a flash of light.
I also wonder if something ---CDing---I mean, has been around for centuries?
Would grass-roots info sent out like that spread a little understanding about it?

---I do wonder---as their ARE different versions of it

-------what would be important to include in such a letter that would add even a little understanding----

----- to what a slice of a community's population might be going through?


--------THANKS!---

----------------- Tea-cake

[Lorna]

Hi Tea-Cake,

From personal experience I have always found that using analogies best helped me to describe the joys of CDing to a non CDer.

[Ahzz]

That doesn't sound like a bad idea.....

How about if the more articulate of us write letters individually on this thread. Then we can combine them togeather in a quasi-editorial process to see if we can't come up with a really good letter to paste around...

[Jassmine(SO)]

That doesn't sound like a bad idea.....

How about if the more articulate of us write letters individually on this thread. Then we can combine them togeather in a quasi-editorial process to see if we can't come up with a really good letter to paste around...

First let me thank Tea-Cake for the wonderful post! Anyone who practices a different lifestyle from the social norm, has wondered about this. Sigh...Even piercing and tattooing are still frowned upon by some. I love having my tats as they express a part of myself, but I so loath the dirty looks and the so often asked question, why. I do beilieve that Ahzz's idea is a winner! I will try and come up with letter, too

*Hugs*

[Elizabeth]

Dear Editor,

I was writing to tell you about a group of people who are not enjoying what it means to be free. They are a group of people that generally suppport marriage, they are hard working, they pay thier taxes, they contribute to thier communities in many ways. They are law abiding, compasionate people just looking to live free.

They are crossdressers. Widely misrepresented by the media and Hollywood, they are not flaming gays trying to tear the fabric of our society, but are generally straight men who don't feel comfortable in the uniform that society has desinated for them, or don't feel comfortable all the time in that uniform. They wish no one any harm in thier endeavor, and only seek inner peace with who they are. They ask not that you feel like them, only that you recognize that they are humanbeings, not sick perverts with a fetish. They are people who did not choose this, but rather it chose them.

They ask for no special consideration, only compassion and peaceful co-existance.

Sincerely,

The world of Crossdressers

[Ahzz]

wow.
Nicely written.

[Kathy]

Very well written Elizabeth.

I could almost copy that and send it to my local paper as is.

[Jassmine(SO)]

Very well put Elizabeth

I don't think I could have said it any better.

*Hugs*

[Ahzz]

Local papers would be an excelent place to send these letters to (plural people, cmon write, my brain is fried from other posts as is my speeling, so mine will come later, like tomorrow or somethign)

Here in Dallas, the Observer would be an excelent choice. Alternative magazines would be a great starting point. Online zines would also be a good place.

Any other target ideas? Fashion mags to the "alternative" clothing/accessories?

[CJ]

I'm thinking, I'm thinking... I'll post my own attempt tomorrow, girls... my nose is aiming for the QWERTY right now.

Great thread, Tea-Cake. And great idea that, a composite Letter To The Editor--good thinking, Ahzz.

I'll be sleeping on this. 'Night y'all.

Love,
CJ

[Alexandra]

I'm afraid I'm too blunt these days . . . I'm not even sure we need to explain "what and why" because we just "are." besides, I think one of these days society will no longer have a check-off box for "sex" -- enough people will begin to realize its as stupid as the former requirment of people to indicate what their race is. This needless classification of humans gave others a reason to discriminate. Only when gender doesn't need explaining or classifying, we'll really be free.

[Tea Cake]

I am happy for all these great ideas>>>and I especially thought about what Alexandra's sentiment was

---about not feeling compelled to address society's intolerances broadly.

(Although that is a worthy thought too!).

I thought about her point of view and began to wonder if:

Perhaps instead of to society in general---what if the letter could be addressed to a CDer that was --OUT there somewhere in the world. Maybe someone who hasn't had the chance to start accepting THEMSELVES yet.

Something they would relate to...even for just a moment.

I feel lucky to have stumbled here. It was so extremely by chance that I am grateful to fortune still as I write this..

Also:
I do think too that such a letter-------might contain just a few lines that promote understanding for someone who finds out suddenly that one of their friends, spouse, relatives-----is a CDer.

I'm especially sad for someone who is feeling isolated because of circumstance

--- and has never got to hear all of your wonderful voices

---to realize that there is a truth to all of this that's quite interesting.

I still recall in the spring when Danielle and Deborah's enthusiasm for Jung's Anima theory got me to seek that out. I find that concept to be thought provoking. I still enjoy the idea that the notions that make up who we are might be drifting up from a deeper wish to harmonize our energies.


Wow! I'm still sorting through these ideas...and rereading the posts from today.

Talk to you later---

I'm still trying to write one too. Tea-cake

[Virginia]

I think it is a good idea, however if you take the small city that I am in and they have no support group ( which I am still considering starting), it is not going to be well accepted. There has to be others here, I have seen two who posted on another site. I tried to contact them but to no avail. In a small closely knit populace like this one where it would not be acceptable to the masses, I doubt I would get any kind of turn out for a meeting anyway. In NC, for example Charlotte, the Tri-Ess chapter is very active, but don't particularily want to drive four hours one way each time. I noticed some of my sisters live in rural, small town America so it would be difficult converting the "locals."
We need to try and "get the word out" however so lets give it a shot!
Love,
Deborah

[CJ]

Hi all,

A letter:

There are some things in this world that don't admit of quantity; half a love, three quarter courage, happiness times three, two souls in one body bound. The soul is not to be counted, nor divided.

We see but through a glass darkly whenever we look at the world around us: where energy only is, we see but the weight of things; where only the ineffable mists of being, but the hard rock of personality; where only the unfathomable mystery of our own inwardness, but a broken desire to be known as a tangible entity.

We see but through a glass darkly whenever we point to a human being and say: "That, not this." No, a human being is not that. Neither is it this. A human being is everything that it is possible for human beings to be, not just this, nor just that.

We see but through a glass darkly whenever we believe that our soul, our spirit, our spark, our sense of "I-ness"--however much a result or side-effect of our consciousness-producing brain or God herself--is divisible, categorizable, subject to rational manoeuvres. It isn't. We aren't.

We see but through a glass darkly whenever we require of ourselves an explanation of who we are before any attempt at self-embracing can come to pass. We will never be explained, neither through science nor through spirituality. The tongue simply cannot taste itself, nor can the eye discover its own form.

Yes, we see but through a glass darkly whenever we think a woman can never be anything other than feminine or a man anything other than masculine. We are the limitless ones, who yet prefer--for reasons that have much to do with mere tradition--to live in one corner of our lives rather than in another.
Some of us refuse to do this; we have need to see clearly all corners of our lives, all aspects of our beings... to paint ourselves the colour, not of rain, but of rainbows. This is who I am. I'm a crossdresser.

And if you need a reason for my existence, then go out and seek one... I'll wish you as much success as you will find in uncovering a reason for your own.

Love,
CJ

[Ahzz]

nicely put in a poetic way CJ



We can give this as long as it takes to get a good selection of messages before we try to assemble them.