"Hello Cruel World" by Kate Bornstein

[Grahamcracker]

Seven Stories Press 2006

Written by a transgender (or something, she/he calls him/herself "neither/nor") performance artist, it's a book ostensibly directed toward teenagers who might be on the edge of suicide.  But it's really a book for anyone who feels like they are on the edge of society. It's subtitled, "101 Alternatives to Suicide for  Teens, Freaks, and Other Outlaws."  It's an easy and often fun, sometimes funny read, but its serious message is that each of us is unique, and society keeps trying to fit us into a certain binary mold.  It sometimes veers off into sexual and sexy comments, as a sort of example of how we can embrace or accept differences.   

Here are a few examples of things she/he says:  "It's completely okay to lie to protect yourself from someone who unjustly wants to hurt you" or "If someone is hurting, abusing, or threatening you, you have every right to run away and hide.  You can worry about shame after you've gotten yourself to safety. [If running away is against your code of honor] There's a flaw in your code of honor."

And this Zen principle:  ""the way you do anything is the way you do everything." 

And lots more.

[Thorman]

Here are a few examples of things she/he says:  "It's completely okay to lie to protect yourself from someone who unjustly wants to hurt you" or "If someone is hurting, abusing, or threatening you, you have every right to run away and hide.  You can worry about shame after you've gotten yourself to safety. [If running away is against your code of honor] There's a flaw in your code of honor."

And this Zen principle:  ""the way you do anything is the way you do everything." 

I agree with him/her.
You owe no duty to Honor or respect a Criminal, Bullie, doosh-bag, enemy ANYTHING.

T