Mike on December 28, 2011 at 12:14 pm

Dear John, I have been listening to you off and on from your early days in podcasting. I remember you created the first podcast taken while you were showering! I remember how you reworked Wanda Wisdom’s theme song. It’s been atleast 5 years since I last wrote you. I think you were going to celebrate the Holidays in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I guess the reason that I am writing you is because of the admiration and respect I have for you, personally, and, your longterm relationship with your partner, Bruce. When I listen to your voice, it calms me and puts me in a place where I can think.
Around a year ago, I met someone who is special in my life. We now live together and love each other. Our lives are pretty good, we are indeed “out” in our community. We are accepted by everyone which I am still always amazed at. I think our acceptance comes from being very secure in who and what we are. The million dollar question is how do young people obtain that security. The best source would probably be from their parents, but, as we are all aware of, parents don’t always approve of being gay. What then? It is my opinion that YOUR podcast can also provide young people with confidence and security, by just knowing that there are some pretty cool gay people out here who have overcome the ridicule and bullying and have gone on to have a pretty good life. Bullying is a pretty hot topic now. I would tell a young person that if they have NO OTHER person to talk to about being victimized by bullies in school, then to simply write a letter to the editor of their local newspaper complaining about the bullying and how it is permitted to occur. Maybe a reporter could then intervene and interview school officials and pressure them to take forward action to prohibit this kind of destructive behavior. I would hope that SAME young person would send you a copy of the letter addressed to the editor and have YOU read this letter on your show, maybe identifying the school so that your audience can step in and apply pressure to the school officials. Why am I for singling out the school? Because it is MUCH easier to approach a public school dependent on tax revenue from the public than it is to educate stoopid parents who allow bullying to occur within their own home.
John, I hope it isnt another 5 years before I write to you again, but I wanted to tell you that I am so grateful that you are still producing your shows. I am going to figure out how to contribute to your show by using the link you have on your site. I’ve never done it before so we’ll see if an old guy (52 years old) can figure it out. I wish you and Bruce many more years of happiness…Do you still have a cat named Chai (like the tea)? I remember he wasnt doing so good around 5 years ago. Your friend, Mike

2 Comments

Mike on December 28, 2011 at 12:14 pm

Dear John, I have been listening to you off and on from your early days in podcasting. I remember you created the first podcast taken while you were showering! I remember how you reworked Wanda Wisdom’s theme song. It’s been atleast 5 years since I last wrote you. I think you were going to celebrate the Holidays in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I guess the reason that I am writing you is because of the admiration and respect I have for you, personally, and, your longterm relationship with your partner, Bruce. When I listen to your voice, it calms me and puts me in a place where I can think.
Around a year ago, I met someone who is special in my life. We now live together and love each other. Our lives are pretty good, we are indeed “out” in our community. We are accepted by everyone which I am still always amazed at. I think our acceptance comes from being very secure in who and what we are. The million dollar question is how do young people obtain that security. The best source would probably be from their parents, but, as we are all aware of, parents don’t always approve of being gay. What then? It is my opinion that YOUR podcast can also provide young people with confidence and security, by just knowing that there are some pretty cool gay people out here who have overcome the ridicule and bullying and have gone on to have a pretty good life. Bullying is a pretty hot topic now. I would tell a young person that if they have NO OTHER person to talk to about being victimized by bullies in school, then to simply write a letter to the editor of their local newspaper complaining about the bullying and how it is permitted to occur. Maybe a reporter could then intervene and interview school officials and pressure them to take forward action to prohibit this kind of destructive behavior. I would hope that SAME young person would send you a copy of the letter addressed to the editor and have YOU read this letter on your show, maybe identifying the school so that your audience can step in and apply pressure to the school officials. Why am I for singling out the school? Because it is MUCH easier to approach a public school dependent on tax revenue from the public than it is to educate stoopid parents who allow bullying to occur within their own home.
John, I hope it isnt another 5 years before I write to you again, but I wanted to tell you that I am so grateful that you are still producing your shows. I am going to figure out how to contribute to your show by using the link you have on your site. I’ve never done it before so we’ll see if an old guy (52 years old) can figure it out. I wish you and Bruce many more years of happiness…Do you still have a cat named Chai (like the tea)? I remember he wasnt doing so good around 5 years ago. Your friend, Mike
John Ong on January 11, 2012 at 11:03 pm

Thank you so much for your support.