So my family and I went to yet another convention but this time we stayed for three days. Fortunately or unfortunately depending on your point of view all we really saw were the dealer's hall and artist's alley but there was SOOOOOO much to see there it was ridiculous. We met Yaya Han for the final time (most likely) since she announced this would be her last Fanime. I've met her there every year for the last four so I'm going to miss stopping by her booth and talking cosplay. She's super sweet, very open and friendly so any anime fans who get a chance to see her in person do not miss it!
Spent way too much money and bought a shit load of artwork, a couple of pins and a Gundam Exia model from Gundam 00. I'll be sure to post pics when I get it all put together. Leading up to the con was pretty stressful because I hadn't finished my wife and daughter's costumes and mine was only a pair of wings and two swords. Thankfully I managed to pull through and finish my wife and daughter's costumes in time for the con. Mine, well I just grabbed something out of the closet that I hadn't had a chance to wear yet.
Our daughter as Yui, my wife as Lady Sakuya and myself as Nightwing.
All in all a great time was had and even though we missed over 50% of what Fanime had to offer we still had a great time. Next year we'll plan better and see some more. Personally I'd like to spend some time in the gaming room and I'm sure my daughter would too. She has a ton of Pokemon cards.
And then the shooting happened. I'm sure I don't need to go into detail but I want to say my heart goes out to all the families and friends of all the victims. What has really thrown me into a loop though is why it happened.
You've heard me say this before; "Men are pigs, that's why I'm not a man."
BUT...
My wife very often tells me I'm a "real man." I used to know some MEN in the Navy that would completely disagree. In fact they very often went out of their way to enforce their manly status upon me and each other every chance I got. Now I'm not saying this because I want people to feel sorry for me, I just want to give you guys and gals some perspective.
Misogyny has no victors, only victims.
As badly as MEN treat women they treat males not perceived as MEN just as badly. The worst part of it all is that they are in fact victimizing themselves. They measure their sense of self worth by the size of their genitalia, their number of sexual partners and their sexual activity.
"I've got BALLS!"
"Grow a pair!"
"I get laid every day!"
"You're single? What are you a fag?"
and the worst of them all saying to other males: "Hey LADIES!"
It disgusted me in the Navy and disgusts me now. The shooting has brought back to reality for me the ugly truth of what it means in America to "be a man." I don't really understand it but based on what I was bullied into believing being a MAN is something I never want to be. I gave up trying to understand this sub-culture of MEN that think they own everything, women owe them all the sex they could possibly desire and any male who thinks otherwise should just get his ass kicked until he comes around.
Fuck that.
I sew, I watch My Little Pony, I race cars, I read comic books, play video games, craft, make costumes, have sex once every couple of weeks and I'm okay with this. I do all the things that make me happy. Not only those things that MEN think I should do in order to act just like them.