A Catholic Church question

Right now I'm reading the "Philadelphia Grand Jury Report on Abusive Priests and the Cardinals who Enabled Them."
I have many reasons to be glad I am no longer Catholic. But the sexually abusive priests and the church officials who cared nothing about the victims makes me jump for joy over not having to deal with religious doubts. If it hadn't already happened, I think this would have done it. I agree that you can't blame a whole religion on some "bad apples." But I do wonder how it is that the people who protected the "bad apples," are somehow ignored. Perhaps they're not. Perhaps people really are outraged and they're really trying to do something about it (Though I haven't actually seen any sadness for the victims from the Catholics I know)- I don't know how you can get rid of a cardinal who knew that a priest was sexually abusing children - it's not like a democracy; the people can't vote him out, can they? Basically I'm outraged and I'm not even Catholic. I can't imagine how they are feeling. No on seems to talk about it, but I might be missing things. I sometimes wonder if protecting the good name of the church is what most Catholics are interested in and so the outrage is more that the media reported it? I hope that's not true. I'm sure that's not true. Even I'm not that cynical.
There's a list in the report about what the priests did to the children. I thought it might be interesting to share what the Catholic Church's representatives were (and I looked up what the church considers a priest, from the Youngstown Archdiocese - www.youngstownvocations.org/priest-role.htm) before diving into the list. According to this site, which is a Roman Catholic site, not just something I picked up off of one of my liberal web pages, a priest is "a man who is chosen by god to act as a living bridge between heaven and earth..." "Priests are living instruments of Christ the eternal priest." (I know that a lot of these kids were Catholic, so they probably knew this. I wonder what it did to their psyches and their faith to imagine that it was Jesus, as a priest, who was hurting them.) "By means of the Sacrament of Holy Orders, priests bear the presence of Jesus Christ."
If there are Catholic readers out there, please tell me if I'm in possession of wrong information.
They're all bad, but for some reason, this one made me cry the most:
- A boy who told his father about the abuse his younger brother was suffering (because you have to protect your siblings!) was BEATEN to the point of unconsciousness. And the kicker that made me cry. "Priests don't do that!" said the father as he punished his son for what he thought was a vicious lie against the clergy.
Also, it's only a partial list and I didn't include what the officials did to protect the priests.

- a girl, 11, was raped by her priest and became pregnant. The Father took her in for an abortion.
- A 5th grader was molested by a priest inside the confessional.
- A teenage girl was groped by her priest while immobilized in traction in hospital bed; he stopped only when the girl rang for a nurse
- A boy repeatedly molested in school auditorium, where priest/teacher bent boy over and rubbed his genitals against the boy until the priest ejaculated
- A priest regularly began forcing sex on two boys at once in his bed
- A boy woke up intoxicated in a priest's bed to find the Father sucking on his penis while three other priests watched and masturbated themselves
- Sorry, can't print this one, it's just too wrong. I'll let you find out on your own.
-Priest told 12 year old boy that his mother knew of and had agreed to the priest's repeated rape of her son.

I hesitated a bit to post this, but I got some good advice from a friend and I realized that this is fact - this actually happened, and you can't really whitewash it. You shouldn't whitewash it. And now that I think about it, I know of a few Catholics who I am sure were and are outraged - they're close friends of mine actually. But is there any place that talks about this issue, from a lay Catholic's point of view, about why people haven't been leaving the church in droves or demanding something to address the issue, or anything really, that might indicate that the people of the church are just as horrified and outraged as I am and NOT because their precious church, who apparently needs protection from people's opinions (though it is the "true" church of god and you'd think god could protect it), needs to be kept out of the media so that people's opinions about the church don't go downhill. Do Catholics care about the victims? I mean, I'm sure they must, but why does it seem that I only hear about the church protecting the priests and not these poor kids?

Thoughts on religion

I came across this the other day, and since I live in this great free country of ours and have the right of free speech, which some people are against, I thought I'd post it on my blog. I thought it was both funny and insightful. Even though I think it's funny - I'm still allowed to be a citizen, and if I so choose, thanks to the constitution, I'll be able to run for office (though I might not get elected, of course!).
Clearly, criticizing religion is bad, and if we lived in biblical times, I'd be stoned or burned or smited by god. But we don't - and besides, even if I criticized religion and someone decided to stone me, I'd imagine they'd get tried and probably convicted of murder - I guess even the bible can be wrong about morality, what a shock!
Yes, that's right, you sense sarcasm, brought on by frustration; frustration of ignorance, really, and frustration of people who presume to judge others based on their own morality, which doesn't seem that moral to those who believe that murdering all the firstborn children to punish their parents is wrong.

Top Ten Signs You're a Fundamentalist Christian

10 - You vigorously deny the existence of thousands of gods claimed by other religions, but feel outraged when someone denies the existence of yours.

9 - You feel insulted and "dehumanized" when scientists say that people evolved from other life forms, but you have no problem with the Biblical claim that we were created from dirt.

8 - You laugh at polytheists, but you have no problem believing in a Triune God.

7 - Your face turns purple when you hear of the "atrocities" attributed to Allah, but you don't even flinch when hearing about how God/Jehovah slaughtered all the babies of Egypt in "Exodus" and ordered the elimination of entire ethnic groups in "Joshua" including women, children, and trees!

6 - You laugh at Hindu beliefs that deify humans, and Greek claims about gods sleeping with women, but you have no problem believing that the Holy Spirit impregnated Mary, who then gave birth to a man-god who got killed, came back to life and then ascended into the sky.

5 - You are willing to spend your life looking for little loopholes in the scientifically established age of Earth (few billion years), but you find nothing wrong with believing dates recorded by Bronze Age tribesmen sitting in their tents and guessing that Earth is a few generations old.

4 - You believe that the entire population of this planet with the exception of those who share your beliefs -- though excluding those in all rival sects - will spend Eternity in an infinite Hell of Suffering. And yet consider your religion the most "tolerant" and "loving."

3 - While modern science, history, geology, biology, and physics have failed to convince you otherwise, some idiot rolling around on the floor speaking in "tongues" may be all the evidence you need to "prove" Christianity.

2 - You define 0.01% as a "high success rate" when it comes to answered prayers. You consider that to be evidence that prayer works. And you think that the remaining 99.99% FAILURE was simply the will of God.

1 - You actually know a lot less than many atheists and agnostics do about the Bible, Christianity, and church history - but still call yourself a Christian.

Bored

I'm bored tonight, so even though I'm sure you all haven't had a chance to comment on my last post, I'm going to post something more. I just wondered what people thought of some of these random questions I have when I'm bored and my mind wanders.

1. What do you think of sperm donation?
2. Do any of you know how to make pad thai? I can never find a recipe that I think is easy enough to try.
3. Has any one wondered about WHY some foods seem to taste better from a restaurant rather than at home...you'd think it'd be the other way around.
4. Do you think insurance companies should cover Viagra?

I'm getting a little crazy with the posts

Just in case you haven't seen them. How many of you laughed hard enough to fall out of your chair?



I love Queen Latifah!

Women

This is a new blog I'll be linking to sometime in the future. In the past, I think we've discusses/debated/argued about the "role" of women in society and such. I thought you readers might be interested in reviving the discussion, since I never did figure out what women's natural "role" is - those of you who believe in such a thing could maybe help me? Anyway, here's the link. Feel free to peruse the rest of the sight, there are some interesting thoughts.

Moment of Zen (Who else wishes they knew ballet?)



And the link:
http://www.agnosticmom.com/2006/01/25/i-am-woman-hear-me-roar/

Click Me!

Some people may find this offensive, but I thought it captured some of the frustration I was feeling when talking with people who are of a different mind than I when it comes to beliefs and religion and such. For the record, I'm not trying to be offensive, just working through some of my frustration and reading a lot about humanism, secularism, and religion, and one of the ways I work through it is by laughter.

Thanks Nate!

September 27-October 4: Banned Books Week

It's Banned Books Week again and in the spirit of intellectual freedom, I thought my loyal readers would be interested to know what the top ten challenged books (and why they were challenged) and authors in 2007 were; I encourage you to read one of them and enjoy knowing you're fighting against censorship and small-mindedness. Oh, and if these don't interest you, I'll put the link to the American Library Association on my links section so you can research a bit more and find one that does.
In ending this, I was wondering: what do you think of people who challenge books, why they challenge them, would you ever do so - I mean this as a community-wide thing, not prohibiting your kid for reading something you feel in inappropriate, and what you think of censorship in general? Also, notice why these books were challenged - who do you think did most of the challenging, why you think that, are they justified in their actions (their opinions are of course, their own, as I'm firmly pro-First Amendment).
Oh, and have you ever read any of these? What did you think?

The “10 Most Challenged Books of 2007” reflect a range of themes, and consist of the following titles:

1) “And Tango Makes Three,” by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell
Reasons: Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group

2) The Chocolate War,” by Robert Cormier
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Violence

3) “Olive’s Ocean,” by Kevin Henkes
Reasons: Sexually Explicit and Offensive Language

4) “The Golden Compass,” by Philip Pullman
Reasons: Religious Viewpoint

5) “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” by Mark Twain
Reasons: Racism

6) “The Color Purple,” by Alice Walker
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language,

7) "TTYL,” by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

8) "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” by Maya Angelou
Reasons: Sexually Explicit

9) “It’s Perfectly Normal,” by Robie Harris
Reasons: Sex Education, Sexually Explicit

10) "The Perks of Being A Wallflower,” by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

Off the list this year, are two books by author Toni Morrison. "The Bluest Eye" and "Beloved," both challenged for sexual content and offensive language.

The most frequently challenged authors of 2007

1) Robert Cormier
2) Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
3) Mark Twain
4) Toni Morrison
5) Philip Pullman
6) Kevin Henkes
7) Lois Lowry
8) Chris Crutcher
9) Lauren Myracle
10) Joann Sfar

White Privilege

I got this the other day and I thought it was hilarious and thought-provoking. McCain/Palin basically keeps scaring me more and more.

This is Your Nation on White Privilege
By Tim Wise
9/13/08

For those who still can't grasp the concept of white privilege,or who are constantly looking for some easy-to-understand examples of it, perhaps this list will help.

1. White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palin and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents, because "every family has challenges," even as black and Latino families with similar "challenges" are regularly typified as irresponsible,pathological and arbiters of social decay.

2. White privilege is when you can call yourself a "fuckin' redneck," like Bristol Palin's boyfriend does, and talk about how if anyone messes with you, you'll "kick their fuckin' ass," and talk about how you like to "shoot shit" for fun, and still be viewed as a responsible, all-American boy (and a great son-in-law to be) rather than a thug.

3. White privilege is when you can attend four different colleges in six years like Sarah Palin did (one of which you basically failed out of, then returned to after making up some coursework at a community college), and no one questions your intelligence or commitment to achievement, whereas a person of color who did this would be viewed as unfit for college, and probably someone who only got in in the first place because of affirmative action.

4. White privilege is when you can claim that being mayor of a town smaller than most medium-sized colleges, and then Governor of a state with about the same number of people as the lower fifth of the island of Manhattan, makes you ready to potentially be president, and people don't all piss on themselves with laughter, while being a black U.S. Senator, two-term state Senator, and constitutional law scholar, means you're "untested."

5. White privilege is being able to say that you support the words "under God" in the pledge of allegiance because "if it was good enough for the founding fathers, it's good enough for me," and not be immediately disqualified from holding office--since, after all, the pledge was written in the late 1800s and the "under God" part wasn't added until the 1950s--while believing that reading accused criminals and terrorists their rights (because, ya know, the Constitution, which you used to teach at a prestigious law school requires it), is a dangerous and silly idea only supported by mushy liberals.

6. White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make people immediately scared of you.

7. White privilege is being able to have a husband who was a member of an extremist political party that wants your state to secede from the Union, and whose motto was "Alaska first," and no one questions your patriotism or that of your family, while if you're black and your spouse merely fails to come to a 9/11 memorial so she can be home with her kids on the first day of school, people immediately think she's being disrespectful.

8. White privilege is being able to make fun of community organizers and the work they do--like, among other things, fight for the right of women to vote, or for civil rights, or the 8-hour workday, or an end to child labor--and people think you're being pithy and tough, but if you merely question the experience of a small town mayor and 18-month governor with no foreign policy expertise beyond a class she took in college--you're somehow being mean, or even sexist.

9. White privilege is being able to convince white women who don't even agree with you on any substantive issue to vote for you and your running mate anyway, because all of a sudden your presence on the ticket has inspired confidence in these same white women, and made them give your party a "second look."

10. White privilege is being able to fire people who didn't support your political campaigns and not be accused of abusing your power or being a typical politician who engages in favoritism, while being black and merely knowing some folks from the old-line political machines in Chicago means you must be corrupt.

11. White privilege is being able to attend churches over the years whose pastors say that people who voted for John Kerry or merely criticize George W. Bush are going to hell, and that the U.S. is an explicitly Christian nation and the job of Christians is to bring Christian theological principles into government, and who bring in speakers who say the conflict in the Middle East is God's punishment on Jews for rejecting Jesus, and everyone can still think you're just a good church-going Christian, but if you're black and friends with a black pastor who has noted (as have Colin Powell and the U.S. Department of Defense) that terrorist attacks are often the result of U.S. foreign policy and who talks about the history of racism and its effect on black people, you're an extremist who probably hates America.

12. White privilege is not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is when asked by a reporter, and then people get angry at the reporter for asking you such a "trick question," while being black and merely refusing to give one-word answers to the queries of Bill O'Reilly means you're dodging the question, or trying to seem overly intellectual and nuanced.

13. White privilege is being able to claim your experience as a POW has anything at all to do with your fitness for president, while being black and experiencing racism is, as Sarah Palin has referred to it, a "light" burden.

14. And finally, white privilege is the only thing that could possibly allow someone to become president when he has voted with George W. Bush 90 percent of the time, even as unemployment is skyrocketing, people are losing their homes, inflation is rising, and the U.S. is increasingly isolated from world opinion, just because white voters aren't sure about that whole "change" thing. Ya know, it's just too vague and ill-defined, unlike, say, four more years of the same, which is very concrete and certain.

White privilege is, in short, the problem.

Youth Librarianship

We've been talking in my youth library services class about what children's or young adult librarians are there for - what do they provide to kids. And one of our topics was a right to privacy - kids need to know that no one will know what they are using or checking out from the library. And how hard it can be, with parents who want to protect their kids, or don't think certain ages can read certain things, etc. I was wondering how any of you, loyal readers, might discuss this. I come at it from the librarian's perspective, so what about a parent's perspective, or someone who isn't either? If it helps, you'll be helping me in my graduate studies and toward being one of those people who will help your kids someday, maybe. Or kids like yours.

I love this.

Monty Python is hilarious. I'd forgotten. And the last one is a new comedian I've just found on YouTube that I find so, so, so funny!!!
Enjoy!

Completely Boring Title

With school being all of a sudden very crazy, even for the second week, I haven't really had the chance to post anything. I DID get an interview for an assistantship, which will make my life so much better - it's a prestigious one also, and I'm very excited about it. Won't know for awhile, I guess, if I get it, or I might know tomorrow after my interview, providing it goes well.
Is anyone else really interested in this whole Palin thing? I read the New York Times article about how she was supposed to be the progressive part of McCain's campaign - you know, a woman vice president - and then about the interesting twist that conservatives are now having to do, precisely because she IS a woman. I'll provide the link.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/us/politics/02mother.html?_r=1&ref=politics&oref=slogin

It's, as they say, the Mommy Wars: Campaign Edition

And I know we've talked about motherhood: stay-at-home moms and should moms work, etc. And I was wondering what your thoughts were. I think it's very interesting how conservatives: usually the ones arguing about how mothers shouldn't work, and women should be in their "traditional" roles, etc. are now defending the more liberal view. Any views on this? Personally, I think, more power to her. I don't like her politics, but I like her feminism.

Politics

I received my Illinois voters registration card in the mail on Thursday. I was very excited - I've been very excited about this election, because I can't wait to get Bush out of office. I figure, even McCain might do for a president, despite the fact that he seems to have totally bowed down to right-wing, religious, conservative types. But I at least figured that 1) he's a veteran, which I really respect, even if I don't think it should matter quite as much as it does to some people and 2) he doesn't seem as horrible as Bush. Those are basically my reasons - I don't respect his politics but I respect the man. But I've made no secret of the fact that I'm very much an Obama supporter: from before the primaries even. I AM worried that he's losing his zest to be a "different" president, but I get that it might be somewhat necessary to win. But I am a little disappointed about the VP pick this morning. I don't remember much about Biden, and so now of course, I'll do my research and all. But to be perfectly honest, I was hoping for Governor Richardson or Sebelius. Secretly, though I know rationally that this country isn't ready for it, I was hoping for Sebelius - first woman VP, first black president - the campaign of progressive change for a stronger party. But I will, hopefully get over it. And I'm getting excited again, because now, it's time to get the rally really going. Since Obama's from Illinois, there's tons of stuff going on around here and once I'm settle with school and work, I'm thinking I'll either volunteer for the campaign, or at least stuff envelopes one night a week telling people to get out and vote, even if it's NOT for Obama. So I'll start on my blog: GO OUT and VOTE in November!!!! I honestly don't care who you vote for, just get out and do it. I think it'd be awesome if voting turnout was absolutely, insanely huge this year, just to show people who say that Americans are apathetic to their own government and political process that they're wrong.

More School

It starts on Monday - not that I have class that day, just Tuesday through Thursday. I'm actually getting excited. I have one of my books and am planning on getting the others as soon as I can, probably tomorrow. I am also still looking for an assistantship and new job or new jobs. There's one at the public library that would be PERFECT, but I'm very tentative about it, because for some reason I'm not getting calls back. I'm revamping my resume, just in case that's dragging me down for some reason. The apartment is a disaster because I'm trying to organize and clean at the same time. Should have thought that through. Also, I have student health insurance! So exciting, because it's been awhile since I've been covered by a plan. And I was happy to see that my plan covers abortions, which is really rare. I'm proud to be a part of something so progressive, not that I think most of you will agree. Also, I'm getting ready to sell some of my Harlequin SuperRomance books, so if anyone's interested in buying I'd be glad to have you do that, before I head to a used bookstore anyway.
I'm missing Nick quite a bit, and honestly, no matter how excited I am about school starting and new books to read and new professors and students (possibly friends) I'm anxious to get it finished and move back to Iowa City and start my career.

School

I've barely started, ok, haven't really started yet, and I'm ready to be finished with school. I miss Iowa City. I miss my family. I miss my boyfriend. But despite this, I just started a new journey: I've decided to go ahead and in addition to my master's degree, I'm going to be a certified teacher librarian. I wasn't sure when I saw all the stuff you have to do, I thought about just getting my MLS and then getting certified in Iowa. But I've made the big plunge and decided to just get it all over with. Now that I'm committed: in the form of registering for a Basic Skills Test, I can't back down. And I'm kind of excited. And scared. And ready to be finished, despite having barely started at all. So wish me luck, cause I'm sure I will need it. And also, just so everyone knows and is appropriately respectful of my brain, I read in U.S. News and World Report that my program is the best in the country - even, the world. How awe-inspiring is that? They must have made a mistake when they let me in, eh?! Also, in one of my classes, I am expected to have and read 45 books in one semester. Pretty cool huh? I'm getting more excited than scared now.

Demonization.

So many people want to demonize Planned Parenthood, and I'm sure it has its faults. But I don't see how these endorsements lead to demonization. They're logical, rational, informative, and democratic. All good things. Education shouldn't be religion-based; how could a teacher possibly explain your religious values. They should be taught at home. But sex education is about societal health: making sure the population understands the science behind sexual health and sexual activity - it's a public health issue. We make sure people understand about their health in other ways: preventing heart disease, staying healthy habits, how to prevent communicable diseases and infections. Isn't MORE solid, medically-accurate information better?

The following value statements about sexuality were endorsed
by the membership of Planned Parenthood:

Sexuality is a natural, healthy, life-long part of being human.
Every individual has a right to pursue sexual health
information and services without fear, shame, or exploitation.
That right involves access to adequate, accurate, and age-
appropriate information about sexuality, including the
advantages and disadvantages of sexual expression.
All people, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, have
rights that need to be respected, and responsibilities that
need to be exercised.
It is unacceptable to sexually pressure, force, or exploit
another person.
In a pluralistic society, we must respect diverse sexual
attitudes and behaviors, as long as they are based on ethics,
responsibility, justice, equality, and non-violence.
Information about becoming pregnant and about postponing,
preventing, continuing, or terminating pregnancy should be
easily available; the choice of whether or not to parent
should be free and informed.
Every child deserves to be wanted, loved, and cared for.
Abstaining from sexual intercourse is the most effective
method of preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted
infections.
Young people explore their sexuality as part of a process of
achieving sexual maturity; adolescents are capable of
expressing their sexuality in healthy, responsible ways.
There are many healthy ways to express sexual feelings,
alone or with a partner; sexual intercourse is only one form
of sexual expression.
Uninformed or irresponsible sexual behavior poses risks.
Women, men, girls, and boys benefit from fairness and
flexibility in gender roles.
Individuals and society benefit when children are able to dis-
cuss sexuality with their parents and/or other trusted adults.
Individuals and society benefit when childbearing is postponed until maturity.

Most parents say they want their children to receive
sexuality education in school. According to a 2004
study, a majority of Americans favors more
comprehensive sexuality education over abstinence-only
education. Namely, 94 percent of the parents surveyed
believed it was appropriate for students to learn about
birth control and how to deal with the issues of being
sexually active, 91 percent thought it was appropriate to
teach about making sexual choices based on individual
values, and 83 percent supported students learning how
to use condoms. (Sex Education in America, National
Public Radio/Kaiser Family Foundation/JFK School of
Government, Harvard University, 2004.)

No Title

Well, it's been a crazy week and a half. Found out some bad news from Nick's family. But I did successfully register for classes (yay!) and found out that to get my school library certificate there's a lot more involved than I thought, so I keep going round and round about whether I should do it or not. I keep thinking yes, cause then I have more options, job wise. But I'm tired of waiting to get to my career and not having money, and anxious to get out there and start getting kids to read, etc. So that means I should get it done in a year instead of a year and a half or two, which is what a school library certificate would take. I'm still having no luck with the assistantship thing and it's kind of freaking me out a bit. I'm sure I'll be fine without one though it will be tough, but my job just doesn't pay enough and I would love something on campus so I'm not using a bunch of gas. Anyway, that's pretty much it. Oh, Nick did get good news: he'll be staying in Iowa City and getting his PhD in Informatics. I'm so proud! And it means that if I can just get done with this program, I can live there again. Cause I miss it.

Vacation

I got back from vacation. To be honest, I didn't want it to end. I could have used another week with my family. Of course, Nick and I got back and things started getting bad. It's like we had a fantastic time, so THIS week bad things would happen. In Nick's case, it was bad family news regarding a health issue. I won't go into the details here so don't ask. In my case, it's the fact that I haven't heard from any of the assistantships I've applied for, my insurance rate went up a bit, the driver's side speaker went out on my car, I still have a month until school so I have to work at a job I don't really like until it starts and I can start having days off, the video camera we bought for our trip and took video on isn't compatible for our computers, just little things that combined with Nick's news are making this a week NOT that relaxing. I kind of figured that this week would be semi-relaxed since I did just get back from vacation. But I digress.
Vacation was fantastic! It went WAY too fast but it was great. Eventually, I will be able to post pics on Facebook or send them out or something, but I haven't done that yet, cause Nick has the camera. Since Nick hadn't ever 1) Met my family or 2) Seen the Black Hills we had a great time exploring and spending time with family. Some highlights: not in any particular order:
1) He found out I'm pretty much fearless when it comes to climbing stuff when we went through the Badlands and he saw me walk along this ledge that was pretty narrow to get to a huge rock that was extremely high. Also, loved the Badlands and their geology.
2) Seeing Grandma. Well, okay, family.I think that one is carried throughout all of these highlights cause it was just so great. Oh, and of course, having Nick meet Grandma, cause that was also cool.
3) Alyssa + Floating Shoe = Hilariousness!!
4) Waterfights with extremely cold water.
5) Seeing Devil's Tower with Nick and hiking around it. We went alone and met up with people later that day, so it was neat to experience something that was just ours on our first real, long, family vacation together.
6) The buffalo herd that walked in between our car and Chris's car. That's right, I said buffalo herd. I could have touched one of the calves (if I had wanted to no longer be severely maimed).
7) Winning at the casino after only five minutes and putting in only $8. I won $100.
8) Times spent with family: talking with Colin on a water float at the lake, taking Dalton on go-karts and bumper boats, talking with everyone and catching up, riding with Chris on the 4-wheeler and discovering a cool track, having breakfast with dad and Pat and talking about his childhood growing up there, rafting with Alyssa (and everyone else), eating tons of roasted marshmallows over the campfire where we'd meet almost every night, meeting the kids I hadn't met yet, having Nick meet everyone and get to know them better.
9) An upside down shower. Ha! It's funny now.
10) Having a vacation that I didn't want to end: cause that's the mark of a great vacation and I hope we do it next year!

I'm trying

I scold myself for being just as lazy as everyone else. Apparently I was too ambitious - a post every day - what was I thinking!? Still, July is going to be over soon and I'll be on vacation for 8 days or so, so I need to get some posts up now. Let's see...the store here is different. If you want more details (so my boss won't see it, cause now I'm paranoid) feel free to email me or call me, or send me a letter via snail mail. My apartment is a bit messy and I have the pet sitter coming tonight to meet the cats so I need to be cleaning up but instead am posting. I have been sleeping better - perhaps stress and anticipation mixing makes me sleepy - but I guess that's a good thing. I desperately wish it were Friday, cause then I'd be back in Iowa City checking out books at the public library and eating chicken and noodles in peanut sauce at Z'Marik's. If I could get an appointment, which I'm going to try of course, but it's probably impossible, I would get one at Zender's for a hot stone massage, cause after this week at work, and especially last night, I need one. My left shoulder feels like it's about an inch higher than my right, merely because of knots of stress in my muscles.
Also, I have a question: Can someone clue me in to the "homosexual lifestyle" I keep hearing all these close-minded conservatives talking about - cause I know some homosexuals and their lifestyles really don't seem all that different from mine, except perhaps they are actually a bit better in terms of salary, housing, school, etc. So what exactly do people mean when they talk about a "homosexual lifestyle?"
Is it just dating people of the same sex? Cause that seems so insane to me. I just wish someone could explain it to me in rational terms instead of fire and brimstone they're going to hell speak...they never seem to explain, they just assume you know. I hate that. I may be guilty of it from time to time, but I don't mean to be - so someone please, explain to me what they mean!
I have to do a presentation for an interview at Kaplan: a how-to in five minutes....any thoughts on subjects (let's keep it clean people!)

I Needed a New Post

We're getting lazy people! The only person who has written something new on a blog is Kristi (good job, by the way!) but still, is it cause it's summer? I'm missing my new posts almost everyday. So, I'm taking the initiative and writing something new. Hopefully, I can continue this until I leave for vacation next week. I seriously CANNOT WAIT! I haven't visited South Dakota to see my family since, my grandma's birthday three or four years ago (when was that?!) And it looks like everyone I love is going to be there, pretty much openly available to hang out with and have fun with and laugh with - cause my family is awnry. How do you spell that anyway? I think that's correct.
Anyway, I've been working out almost everyday: running, swimming, doing strength workouts from Self magazine. I can kind of tell a difference too, but since it's only been two weeks, I imagine I have a lot more to go to get to my goal. But I certainly feel a lot better and healthier. If I get more toned and lose a little weight (the "Dan" weight) then I will be happy. I'm being careful about what I eat too - but it's hard, since I grew up not having to worry about NOT eating things and now I do. I guess it's one of those parts of getting older that sucks.
I have a job interview for Kaplan when I get back; to teach test prep. It's pretty good pay, and hopefully will really help me out. I also found out that one of the assistantships I applied for is actually NOT closed, so maybe I'll get an interview there. I'm really hoping I do: I would have loved one at the Center for Children's Books or the public library, but they've both been filled. Maybe next year? Anyway, keep fingers crossed and think good thoughts that I will get an interview and get that assistantship. It will really make my school year be that much better.
Did anyone else read in the New York Times today about the differences between professors coming into positions at universities are losing their "radical edge" so to speak, because more radical, liberal, baby-boomer generation professors are retiring or dying? It was really interesting. It's sort of sad for me, because my favorite professors were of that generation: very liberal, very good at getting excited about a cause and teaching too - because they had all the experiences and knowledge that comes from that. Not that conservatives and moderates DON'T have those experiences; but it's just not the same as having a professor actually telling what it was like to be at the March on Washington with King, for example; because moderates and conservatives aren't really protesting in that way anymore (I'm talking this younger generation). It was a really good article; if you haven't read it, you should.
I had my nieces visit me this weekend, which was really fun: one of them is really into this band from Germany (I think) and I would love to take her to a concert they're having in Chicago, but unfortunately tickets are sold out and really expensive. I don't remember being fifteen and loving a band like that; it's kind of cool. She's a cool kid. And my youngest niece is so cute, cause she wants to be like her big sister and tries so hard to be grown-up; but she's still a little one, so it's funny.
I guess I don't have much to write about. I haven't really done much. OH! I did start work on Tuesday. It's weird - it's like deja vu, but without the place that's exactly the same. Weird, actually. The store is different here - bigger, for one thing. And they don't leave until 10 at night! Which to me is crazy! I have to do that tonight actually. In fact, I have to work from tonight until next Thursday - I have shifts everyday until my vacation. How horrible and yet good is that? I'll be exhausted, but at least I'll be somewhat busy, and getting money too!
Well, I guess that's all.

Illinois

You know, five years ago, if somebody had asked me where I'd be, I doubt I ever would have said Champaign, Illinois to get a master's degree. But here I am. I got here Monday. I've been making a list of the things I need to finish: unpacking, getting new car registration and drivers license, etc. It's a huge list. I hate moving. I've already met a couple of my neighbors and they seem ok. I haven't been introduced, but I was able to witness some people in one of the other buildings as they apparently sat at the pool ALL DAY. I got there at like 4 or 4:30 and they were there, in the pool, as were a couple of teenage boys...so I decided to wait and work on my tan a bit and read, thinking, they've all been here longer than me and I'll wait to swim laps when they leave. They DIDN'T LEAVE! Well, actually, the teenage boys left, but the other girl (who is way too interested in strangers knowing about her romantic entanglements) just stayed there. Had a cooler and everything. I was wondering why 1) they didn't like their apartment and 2) is she wearing a bikini? She really should NOT have been wearing a bikini. I sometimes think I shouldn't wear a bikini, so this woman SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN WEARING A BIKINI!
I did go for a run on the running path around the apartment complex. It's not nearly as cool as my old one, but it's there. Unfortunately, it's much shorter, so to get the same workout I have to run it back and forth about 7 times. But for a quick run it's ok. I'll probably try a different way tomorrow, get out on the sidewalks and streets of the neighborhood and head toward one of the parks.
It's sort of lonely here too, cause I haven't started work or school yet and I don't really know anyone. I'm pretty much ok at being by myself in most circumstances; I like to read and stuff alone. And I'm not into partying. But it'd still be nice to know someone to go see a movie with or go try out a restaurant. Not things I CAN'T do alone; just things that are more fun with a friend. Nick won't be visiting for two weeks; so that sucks. But I am sure I could get my sister to visit and have my niece Alyssa stay a few days (hint hint!) since I rarely get to see her.
I am very excited for school. Financial aid is taken care of - I haven't heard about assistantships yet, but I hope to. And if not, well, I'll just work like others do. It'll totally suck and be much harder, but I'll manage. Anyway, I'm settling in slowly but surely. I miss my friends and they seem much farther away; but I'm sure eventually it'll feel more like home. And I'm only a two hour train ride to Chicago, so I'll be able to visit there, once I get my courage up.

Flooding

I'll try to link some of the photos Nick and I are taking and some video as well. But if you're interested, this is what's going on right now where we live. Major flooding and now the water is going over the spillway of the reservoir so there's going to be more. Wish everyone here good luck, cause we're so going to need it.

www.press-citizen.com

It's on the front page. Oh, and Nick and I should be okay where we're located unless it gets much worse that they plan (which is possible because we have rain coming up in the forecast) but we should be fine.

Moving and Other Woes

I am so tired of packing. I don't have a lot of things, but apparently it's enough to drive a person crazy. Also, I don't want to pack something I might need or want in this last week here in Iowa. *tear*. I'm so going to miss Iowa. I already have a job and financial aid lined up. I haven't yet heard from my advisor, but I have plenty of time to start choosing classes for next fall (YAY!). Obama won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have a presidential candidate for the party! I'm not too sure about this whole Clinton as vice-president thing. Nick and I have been discussing Richardson or even Sebelius; but Clinton might bring in those voters that Obama doesn't appeal to and maybe even swing some of those crazy Republicans over to the good side hehe.
Those wacky anti-choicers are at it again with something called "Protest the Pill" day. Cause the pill is "bad." But it does prove that some of the pro-choice arguments are correct: that those arguing against the pill and abortion aren't anti-abortion, they're anti- women's reproductive freedom, anti-choice. Apparently, the claim is that, despite the medical definition of pregnancy as starting at implantation (cause we all know that doctors don't really know any science), pregnancy REALLY starts at fertilization. Which you can't detect. So the pill is somehow a chemical abortion - even though the medical dictionary describes an abortion (spontaneous or induced) as the "loss of a pregnancy." (www.medterms.com). I have no idea how someone who isn't pregnant (at least the actual definition of pregnancy, not the anti-choice one) can have an abortion by the pill.
The pill can prevent implantation, but that's preventing pregnancy, not ending one, because implantation is the definition of pregnancy. At least, medically. Not that it matters, cause science isn't really high on the list of important things to know when you're anti-choice. But I'm getting all sarcastic and I apologize. I just couldn't believe the ignorance and sexism that comes out of this and while I realize people in general don't agree with me on my pro-choice stance regarding abortion, I can't believe that a majority of people would agree with this anti-choice stance on birth control.
So a new subject to get off my high-horse and lecture: Nick is back from Paris. Apparently, he has bought me French chocolates (that's the only thing he would tell me he got me, the sneak!) Next summer, instead of Ireland, we may be heading to see my sister get married in San Diego. But I'm hoping that we might be able to find a cheaper international trip to Belize or Canada. Europe is so expensive lately thanks to our lovely dollar decline. Or maybe we could go to Budapest - it's pretty inexpensive in the former Soviet bloc, even though they're having a major revival. Any thoughts on this?

I just finished rewatching all of the Gilmore Girls on DVD. The last episode always makes me cry. And watching it got me to thinking...life seems somewhat imbalanced when it comes to rites of passage. They seem to take place more when you're young. For example: kindergarten, high school graduation, getting accepted into college, first kisses and sexual experiences, graduation from college, graduate school acceptance, graduate school graduation, first real job, first marriage, first kid...it all seems to be in those childhood, teenage, twenties years. After that, what exactly are the rites of passage - or do you just start like a rite-of-passage by proxy; you know, through your kids lives if you have any...and if you don't have any or don't want any, then what? Very maudlin thoughts. Well anyway.

Is anyone else excited about California overturning the gay marriage ban? It's so sad that only two states are willing to give everyone complete civil rights...still it's a step in the right direction I think. So yay California! You are totally awesome. Also, I have to think of something to wear on Saturday for a special occasion - nothing too fancy. I'm torn between two really fantastic ideas: a dress and a skirt/tank/cardigan outfit...I guess what will really matter is the weather. Well, I'm off. Sorry for the short post.

No Title

So I went to the army of god website today. Talk about crazy people. I'm not surprised; but I am horrified. Not that that has anything to do with my latest post. I got to see my sister graduate this weekend with her RN degree. YAY sis! Rick and Charlene and their kids came up so it was a fun family weekend. Went a little deaf at car races, but I think the kids enjoyed them. I'm still working on all of my financial aid stuff and hoping for an assistantship and maybe a lottery win. Still...I'm lucky it's just me. Well, and the cats, but basically just me. In this economic climate I am glad I don't have kids on the horizon. Though most of the people I know who have kids are doing just fine - go Sara and Brad!! Nora looks fantastic - of course, she has me as an honorary aunt, so she really can't do any wrong :-) I haven't heard anything lately about the investigation from the senate committee of abstinence-only education. Still, I was heartened by the fact that they even had one. I realize you can't lump all abstinence-only ed classes together, most seem to be about misinforming, ignoring science, and lying. And it really makes me angry. If anyone has heard any news let me know. Well, that's it. I'm getting ready to watch Voyager and play Trivial Pursuit with Nick - I totally need to kick his butt tonight cause he's one up on me in our tournament.

Woe is Me and Other News

So far I haven't heard anything from Financial Aid and I'm always looking for new assistantships, so hopefully all will be well on the graduate school front. Please keep your fingers crossed, do a spell, pray, whatever that someone out there will say, "hey, let's give her a huge bag of hundreds!" Anyway, that's the woe is me part. Nick and I drove to Champaign-Urbana this past week and stayed over one night to find me an apartment. After two days, one of the last places we looked (naturally!) was a perfect fit. It's larger than the one we live in now; only slightly more expensive; has a balcony, a fireplace, and a bath and a half. There's even a special storage/pantry area that we can put the kitties beds and stuff so they have their own room. Oh, and the kitchen/dining area is huge. I'm very excited about my new place, though amazingly I'll miss this one. It has been my home for the past two years. Anyway, good luck to SML (you know who you are!) and thanks for the encouragement anyone who actually encouraged me. Now, I'm going to go drink a glass of wine, watch some Gilmore Girls and relax after my day of working hard.

Umm...

Pennsylvania primary people!! I'm very excited; although I don't really know why, cause it'll probably be a Clinton/Obama win - they're very very close in the polls. In other news, I now have an advisor so I can start picking out classes for next year! I haven't really heard anything yet about financial aid, but I'm still looking. I really don't have anything new to add or talk about except maybe that whole fundamentalist Mormon religion thing. Oh, and I read an article about an 8 year old girl who filed for divorce from her 30 year old husband. I'll try to find it; it's very depressing. Stupid religion. And ignorance. Really, it's the two combined with traditional cultural practices that people can't let go of that makes me so angry; mainly just because of situations like child marriage and genital mutilation and pedophilia. Anyway, on a happier note, I'm already one run ahead of my goal - I set a goal at Nike.com to run 10 times in four weeks. I've been doing great, and plan on beating it. Maybe. Wish me luck. And I hope you enjoyed seeing a new post. I know I do.

It's Been Too Long

It really has been too long since I posted. I wanted to kind of get away from my complaining about dental work - though it is the one thing I dread equally to snakes! - and talk about something else. But I don't know much about baseball, football, or other sports teams or any of their prospects so I am going to have to go back to my old boring standby of women's issues/politics. Who ya gonna vote for?
Anyway, today at work my boss asked me to read a section of a book about being Muslim. There was a chapter on women and a sub chapter called Genital Mutilation. So I read the section, even though it always gives me chills to read about that topic no matter how important it is to know, and he asked for my view. I told him it's one of those necessary evils; people, even teens need to know about world/women's issues and it wasn't extremely graphic or anything. But what he was really getting at was this: Would that section be offensive to Muslims, since SOME (not all, in fact, I don't think most Islamic sects believe in it cause it's not in the Qu'ran) practice it, especially in Africa? So I re-read the section and they totally stressed the part that it wasn't a mainstream practice and I assured him that I thought it wouldn't be offensive. He's getting a second opinion. So I thought maybe you all could weigh in. I know that you haven't read the actual section, but just offhand, with my assurances that it wasn't extremely graphic or anything, do you think that kids should 1) Know about this stuff (I'm not talking kindergartners or anything, but more mature young adults) and 2) What if something MIGHT offend a certain religion - should that be taken off the shelf or not put out in the first place merely because it MIGHT offend someone of that faith or should you wait to see if there's complaints and if there ARE, should you yank it?
I'm sure I'll cover censorship and ethics and community, etc. in some of my classes next semester, but what do you think?

Tips on How to Lose Weight

Here's a good way to lose weight:
1. Go to the dentist and let them give you four shots to the same side of your mouth
2. Let them drill and polish and take out a filling for one tooth and put in a filling in another
3. Have dentist use nasty tasting fake cement stuff to put in temporary crown on broken tooth
4. Be terrified of losing said temporary crown and do not eat anything that is not in liquid or semi-liquid form : soup, yogurt, smoothies, nothing solid or chewy.
5. Have weird reaction to said shots and feel nauseous, dizzy, faint, and achy - too tired to eat.

By my next appointment, I should have lost about 5 pounds. I wonder if I can keep that off afterwards?

Question

So, I often read blogs. I think this is no surprise. But I've been thinking lately that in my reading and encountering experiences I have noticed that some Christians drop god's name every other sentence or word. And usually, though not always, I've found what they're saying or trying to say in these sentences is less and less intelligent the more they invoke god's name. I don't know if this means anything or not. Has anyone else had this experience? I mean, seriously, the arguments, the sentences, every other word?!! I get that some people are Christian. But what is with having to hit people over the head with it? What happened to humbleness, and meekness, and showing people by action not words? Is it really hard for Christians to ACT appropriately so they have to drop god's name in every which way so people will know that they consider themselves good people or something? Maybe I'm anti-Christian. I don't like to think I am, but more and more I tend to roll my eyes whenever I hear people talking about bringing their children up to be good Christians, or how they have such a good relationship with god, Christ, Mary, whomever. I find it so stupid lately. I don't think people who believe in the Christian god, or any god for that matter, are stupid though and that's what I have so much trouble with, cause I know some really good people who happen to be Christian. I also know some extremely horrible people who happen to be Christian. And it always seems that their religion is what enables them or makes them extremely horrible. That they're being horrible - or in some cases mildly mean: ignorant, close-minded, intolerant, judgmental, etc. - BECAUSE of what they believe. As though religion has closed off that part of the brain that seeks logical, rational, I've looked at this from every angle, learned what I could, etc. answers and instead just focuses on - well, my religion says this, so I HAVE to believe it; even if I don't necessarily agree with it, or like it, or have even thought about it enough to actually find out what I believe rather than what the church or the religion or the bishop, pastor, minister, rabbi says...
Does anyone else think this? Maybe I'm just hyper-focused on this all of a sudden and it'll go away. But I'd love to know what people have experienced? Is it possible that the more people invoke god, the more ignorant they are?

Update

It's been forever since I posted. Please forgive me, because I've been busy. Or lazy. Sometimes both, if that is at all possible. Anyway, I do have news and topics to discuss.

1. The most important thing - I got accepted into the best Library and Information program in the country!!!!!! University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. Very excited and nervous (it's the best, and the fourth largest school in the nation, I think...yikes!). But they really liked me...now I just have to figure out how to pay for it. Going into debt though seems totally worth it, considering that after two or three years there I can pretty much write my own ticket for a job. How awesome is that?!

2. I'm reading several books - many are young adult fiction, because I like to know what the students are reading at the school I work and it's just fun. I also bought a book of essays about motherhood - the essays are all accounts of either stay-at-home moms or working moms, trying to figure out why it's so competitive and bitchy. If you're a stay-at-home mom you think working mothers are missing out; if you work, you think stay-at-homes are bored. Either way, not good for respecting and supporting choice, which I think is part of my whole pro-choice philosophy. Not that I'm immune to judgement. I tend to think that both sides are right to some degree; but I ALSO very much agree that working mothers are better for their kids. PROVIDED THAT THEY REALLY ENJOY WORKING and not because they HAVE to work. There's a big difference. Before anyone jumps down my throat, I thought maybe I'd ask people to weigh in then go into my reasons during the comments section.

3. I accidentally picked up a Christian romantic comedy. I didn't realize it was Christian until I actually started reading it. I try not to read Christian fiction, as it's usually too preachy for me. I don't want to be preached at in real life, much less in my fiction. But I tried to read it, figuring maybe I was being judgmental. In this particular case, I was totally right. Bible verses, descriptions of "good Christians," and all the humor was lost when some guy character started talking about "accepting Jesus into your heart." As in, asking someone else if they have. This drives me crazy - keep your religion to yourself. Christians seem to be far too eager to seduce people. And they don't stop either; this has just been my experience. I am not trying to diss Christians.

4. Does anyone really have a rational, good reason for gay marriage to be illegal? Something NOT based on the Bible or their own personal horror at the concept. I mean, the whole love the sinner hate the sin thing might work, but considering that means discrimination on a whole group of people, whom even the Catholic Church admits doesn't CHOOSE their sexuality - unless I read the Catechism wrong -always possible!-(though why god, if god exists, would make a whole group of people that most Christian religions and societies discriminate against and in general do not provide acceptance is beyond my comprehension. That smacks of unjustness.) Asking this leads me to one of my favorite episodes of the West Wing. I think we all know what I'm talking about and if you're like me, just revel in that episode and smile and laugh.

Okay. So I'm ready for congratulations and well wishes and honestly, hopefully death threats of some sort. Also, please use the link titled, I'm Not Sorry. If nothing else, it will start some good debates or posts on other people's blogs.

Yes We Can (Si Se Puede!)

This intrigues me. Any opinions on this?

New York Times Article

February 25, 2008
Americans Change Faiths at Rising Rate, Report Finds
By NEELA BANERJEE

WASHINGTON — More than a quarter of adult Americans have left the faith of their childhood to join another religion or no religion, according to a new survey of religious affiliation by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.

The report, titled “U.S. Religious Landscape Survey,” depicts a highly fluid and diverse national religious life. If shifts among Protestant denominations are included, then it appears that 44 percent of Americans have switched religious affiliations.

For at least a generation, scholars have noted that more Americans are moving among faiths, as denominational loyalty erodes. But the survey, based on interviews with more than 35,000 Americans, offers one of the clearest views yet of that trend, scholars said. The United States Census does not track religious affiliation.

The report shows, for example, that every religion is losing and gaining members, but that the Roman Catholic Church “has experienced the greatest net losses as a result of affiliation changes.” The survey also indicates that the group that had the greatest net gain was the unaffiliated. More than 16 percent of American adults say they are not part of any organized faith, which makes the unaffiliated the country’s fourth largest “religious group.”

Detailing the nature of religious affiliation — who has the numbers, the education, the money — signals who could hold sway over the country’s political and cultural life, said John Green, an author of the report who is a senior fellow on religion and American politics at Pew.

Michael Lindsay, assistant director of the Center on Race, Religion and Urban Life at Rice University, echoed that view. “Religion is the single most important factor that drives American belief attitudes and behaviors,” said Mr. Lindsay, who had read the Pew report. “It is a powerful indicator of where America will end up on politics, culture, family life. If you want to understand America, you have to understand religion in America.”

In the 1980s, the General Social Survey by the National Opinion Research Center indicated that from 5 percent to 8 percent of the population described itself as unaffiliated with a particular religion.

In the Pew survey 7.3 percent of the adult population said they were unaffiliated with a faith as children. That segment increases to 16.1 percent of the population in adulthood, the survey found. The unaffiliated are largely under 50 and male. “Nearly one-in-five men say they have no formal religious affiliation, compared with roughly 13 percent of women,” the survey said.

The rise of the unaffiliated does not mean that Americans are becoming less religious, however. Contrary to assumptions that most of the unaffiliated are atheists or agnostics, most described their religion “as nothing in particular.” Pew researchers said that later projects would delve more deeply into the beliefs and practices of the unaffiliated and would try to determine if they remain so as they age.

While the unaffiliated have been growing, Protestantism has been declining, the survey found. In the 1970s, Protestants accounted for about two-thirds of the population. The Pew survey found they now make up about 51 percent. Evangelical Christians account for a slim majority of Protestants, and those who leave one evangelical denomination usually move to another, rather than to mainline churches.

To Prof. Stephen Prothero, large numbers of Americans leaving organized religion and large numbers still embracing the fervor of evangelical Christianity point to the same desires.

“The trend is toward more personal religion, and evangelicals offer that,” said Mr. Prothero, chairman of the religion department at Boston University, who explained that evangelical churches tailor many of their activities for youth. “Those losing out are offering impersonal religion and those winning are offering a smaller scale: mega-churches succeed not because they are mega but because they have smaller ministries inside.”

The percentage of Catholics in the American population has held steady for decades at about 25 percent. But that masks a precipitous decline in native-born Catholics. The proportion has been bolstered by the large influx of Catholic immigrants, mostly from Latin America, the survey found.

The Catholic Church has lost more adherents than any other group: about one-third of respondents raised Catholic said they no longer identified as such. Based on the data, the survey showed, “this means that roughly 10 percent of all Americans are former Catholics.”

Immigration continues to influence American religion greatly, the survey found. The majority of immigrants are Christian, and almost half are Catholic. Muslims rival Mormons for having the largest families. And Hindus are the best-educated and among the richest religious groups, the survey found.

“I think politicians will be looking at this survey to see what groups they ought to target,” Professor Prothero said. “If the Hindu population is negligible, they won’t have to worry about it. But if it is wealthy, then they may have to pay attention.”

Experts said the wide-ranging variety of religious affiliation could set the stage for further conflicts over morality or politics, or new alliances on certain issues, as religious people have done on climate change or Jews and Hindus have done over relations between the United States, Israel and India.

“It sets up the potential for big arguments,” Mr. Green said, “but also for the possibility of all sorts of creative synthesis. Diversity cuts both ways.”


Copyright 2008 The New York Times Company

The Language of Flowers

You know what would be cool? To bring back the Victorian tradition of sending messages by flower bouquets. Every flower has a meaning: yellow roses= friendship, etc. So a really cool thing would be to have a flower shop that specializes in sending message bouquets.
Say I wanted to send a bouquet to a friend. I don't want to pick some flowers that mean heartache, jealousy, and vengeance do I? Well, maybe if you wanted to tell your friend you now hated them or something. But that's my point. It's so cliche to send a dozen red roses on Valentine's Day or just to say I'm sorry or something. We need something more creative I think. I mean, yeah, ok - sending her/him their favorite flower is saying I'm paying attention - but what if you could send a bouquet that says, Will you marry me? Just by the blooms you pick.

Just a thought.

Different Post

Well, I'm home from Missouri. It was fun girls! I had no idea how much I missed having time with my friends until just now - my whole life somehow seemed lighter and more fun. I need to make some friends here - though they could never be Sara and Kay - and maybe that feeling will keep. Sadly though, it's a lot harder than in kindergarten, when all you had to do was share a crayon. The weather here is awful. It's like zero all the time with a wind chill factor of -20. I wish spring would hurry up. I am disappointed that today we're expecting more snow. Not a lot, but more. Anyway, sorry for the boring post, but I just wanted to see something different up on my blog.

A Rebuttal

Alright. So I promised to address WHY I think The Silent Scream is propaganda. When I first saw the film, back before I'd actually thought through the issue of abortion and just went along with the crowd I had always hung out with, and called myself anti-abortion, I was just as horrified as the makers wanted me to be. I, in fact, had to re-watch the film and find out the facts before my whole thinking the issue over was done.
That being said, once I stepped back, I could tell that it was made to 1) Hit that sensitive, emotional chord in all of us, and that made me suspicious, because I know that if all you have is emotion than there might not be anything to back it up. and 2) that led me to finding out the scientific facts about the film - I figured if they backed up the emotion than I was in for more deep thoughts.
But the scientific facts DIDN'T back up the emotion. An abortion is always sad to me; but it's because of the loss of potential and because I feel bad about some of the situations women find themselves in. I get that people don't agree.
So, I looked up what the experts said. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, teaching faculty from hospitals, etc. I tend to believe experts, they know what they're talking about.
So I looked stuff up: about 12-week old fetuses (actually, the fetus in the video was 11-weeks, but we'll just go with a week further in development, as that's what the scientists/doctors did)
The video claims:
1) The 12-week fetus experiences pain.
Facts: At that stage of pregnancy, the brain and nervous system are in the earliest stage of development. The beginnings of the brain stem, which includes a rudimentary thalamus and spinal cord, is being formed. Most brain cells aren't developed. WITHOUT A CEREBRAL CORTEX, PAIN IMPULSES CANNOT BE RECEIVED OR PERCEIVED.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists made a statement on pain of the fetus: "We know of no legitimate scientific information that supports the statement that a fetus experiences pain early in pregnancy. We do know that the cerebellum attains its final configuration in the seventh month and that mylenization (covering) of the spinal cord and the brain begins between the 20th and 40th weeks of pregnancy. These, as well as other neurological developments, would have to be in place for the fetus to receive pain. To feel pain, a fetus needs neurotransmitted hormones. In animals, these complex chemicals develop in the last third of gestation.
2) The 12-week fetus makes purposeful movements(e.g., agitated movement in an attempt to avoid suction cannula)
Facts: At this stage of prenancy, ALL FETAL MOVEMENT IS REFLEXIVE IN NATURE rather than purposeful, since the latter requires cognition, you can't perceive and know without a cortex - or a covered spinal cord and attached nerves. The same type of response ("frantic activity") would occur with any external stimulus. IN ADDITION, EXPERTS IN ULTRASONOGRAPHY AND FILM TECHNOLOGY HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE VIDEOTAPE OF THE ABORTION WAS DELIBERATELY SLOWED DOWN AND SUBSEQUENTLY SPEEDED UP TO CREATE AN IMPRESSION OF HYPERACTIVITY. -I would like to add that THIS really made me feel that the video was propoganda!
3) The ultrasonogram depicts the open mouth of the fetus.
Facts: The mouth of the fetus cannot be identified in the ultrasound image with certainty. It COULD be the mouth though, I'll give them that. BUT
4) The fetus emits the "silent scream."
Facts: A SCREAM CANNOT OCCUR WITHOUT AIR IN THE LUNGS. Although primitive respiratory movements do occur in the later stages of gestation, crying, or screaming cannot occur even then. In fact, a child born prematurely at 26-27 weeks' gestation (24-25 weeks fetal age) cannot scream but occasionally emits weak cries. No scream- no film.
5) A fetus is indistinguishable from any of the rest of us.
Facts: A fetus at 12 weeks cannot in any way be compared to a fully formed functioning person. At this stage only rudiments of the organ systems are present. The fetus is unable to sustain life outside the woman's womb, it is incapable of conscious thought; it is incapable of essential breathing. It is instead an in utero fetus with the potential of becoming a child.
6. Fetal head at 12 weeks requires the use of "crushing instruments" for extraction.
Facts: At 12 weeks gestation (10 weeks fetal age) and eve 1-2 weeks beyond, instrumentation other than a suction cannula is not required when abortion is properly performed.
- "Brain waves have existed for six weeks" in the fetus displayed on the screen.
*Experts say that there are some electrical impulses recorded as early as 10 weeks gestation, but GENUINE BRAIN WAVES DO NOT OCCUR UNTIL THE THIRD TRIMESTER.
- "Fetal heart rate rose from 140 to 200, which is abnormally high and reflective of fetal response to "imminent mortal danger."
*Experts say that the heart rate of the fetus portrayed in the film didn't rise significantly, BUT, A fetal heart rate of 200 is within the normal range (180-200 beats per minute) for this stage. It is also unlikely (though not impossible) that the fetus even HAD a heart rate of 140 that rose to 200 because a rate of 140 is generally noted in the latter half of the pregnancy.
- The large, well,developed fetal model intermittently picked up and displayed during the narrative of the porcedure is representative of a 12-week fetus.
* Experts say that the fetal model displayed during the abortion procedure is MUCH LARGER than a fetus of a 12-weeks gestation model visualized by ultrasonography. The model compared in size to a fetus of 18 weeks gestation.
- "Many women who have an abortion suffer severe and lasting psychological damage.
* Experts say that serious emotional problems following abortion are uncommon. (Though that doesn't mean impossible either) Most women report a sense of relief, although some may experience temporary depression. Serious psychological disturbances after abortion occur less frequently than after childbirth (postpartum depression anyone?)
This is getting long, so I'll skip the stuff about the number of illegal abortions, the crime syndicate stuff, etc. If you want me to address them, I will. Just ask and I'll add it to my comments page.

Questions and Other Problems
Q: Does a first-trimester abortion take so long to perform - it seemed to go on for a very extended period of time?
A: no, an uncomplicated first-trimester abortion usually takes less than ten minutes to perform

Q: Is it appropriate to refer to a fetus as unborn child, with the same rights as other human beings?
A: No. Constitutionally, a fetus has no rights of personhood. most legal precedent in English law attributes personhood with a live birth.

Q: What about the woman who needs an abortion? She is conspicuously absent from the film.
A: The film ignored the plight of the woman seeking abortion and tries to shift focus to the fetus. Women WANT abortions - even before Roe v. Wade, why? (that's just my own little aside - are all women really morally defunct as the anti-abortion people apparently think, throughout all these centuries, when it was legal, and then illegal. Legality makes no difference except in deaths of women's lives.

Q: What about the dead fetuses in the disposal containers?
A. Most of these fetuses are so large and in such a state of deterioration that THEY ARE ACTUALLY STILLBORNS rather than aborted fetuses. It is possible that some were the result of late-term abortions but it would be rare - late-term abortions constitute less than 1 percent of all abortions and are the result of fetal abnormalities that can only be diagnosed later in pregnancy or other extreme hardship cases (why don't anti-abortion people acknowledge the small number of these. Do they not understand the law they're trying to abolish or what?)

So, I've answered why I think the Silent Scream is pure propaganda. I realize that people will read this and just snort in disbelief and derision, but I thought it through, I went to people I believed would know (medical experts) and found answers to MY questions. That doesn't mean I expect anti-abortion people to agree, just that I have the right to my opinion, obviously.
Also, I know the film was made by an anti-abortion doctor. I think that skews his credibility and also - why would someone SO anti-abortion actually FILM an abortion HE WAS PERFORMING? That seems to be rather hypocritical since he believes that abortion is murdering an unborn person, but I guess he also believes that the ends (showing propaganda to hurt women in my opinion) justifies the means (performing a procedure he says is a murder). Just a thought.

Everyday Heroes

Sex Workers

I have been thinking hard about a new topic of discussion. Something that may bring about some interesting comments. Something that may get people riled up. Something that isn't abortion. And then I hit upon it! Yesterday, while Nick and I were driving home, I got to talking to him about morality and legality. Or rather, prostitution. I was wondering whether or not it should be legalized because then it would be better regulated, safer, and sex workers could have unions - like they do in Amsterdam! And so we discussed WHY something that's the world's oldest profession and is obviously NOT going to go away would be illegal. Is it because having sex is illegal. No. Selling things that you own illegal. No. Now, I'd agree that if someone were forced to become a prostitute that should be illegal. But if I decided to go out tonight and sleep with some guy for a hundred bucks WHY should I be arrested? Did they guy force me? No. Do I not own my body? Well, I consider it mine. Certainly if the guy raped me that would be a crime - because no one should force you to give up your body without your permission right? So WHY is prostitution illegal? Should it be or is it just because people are willing to force their morality on others? And what about those women (or girls) who don't have any skills and are so desperate that they become prostitutes? Isn't that a form of force? But then, if it's legal, there could be regulations regarding age and situation, etc. It's just an interesting question.

New Year

Well, a new year is upon us again. I think this one is going to be a hard one. Big decisions, possibly some tragedies. But I also think there will be some fantastic moments because
I have a new job.
My family is planning a huge reunion in the Black Hills in July.
I am planning on doing some kind of traveling, though I don't know where yet, or even with whom.
I will be starting a grad school and finally starting to finish up with school and becoming a librarian.

I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!
I got a new job today. I will be working at a Junior High School library as a library assistant. How awesome is this!

Depressing Thoughts

Just for the sake of seeing something new, I'm posting. Here's a thought for you: at what point in your life, when things seem really, really bad and that you are just the stupidest person that ever walked the earth (everyone has days like this, when everything seems to be going wrong and you just can't get a break) at one point to you say, screw it, life will just have to go on whether I get this work done, or break up with someone, or fail this test, whatever. Who do you turn to - real people wise Kristi, no Jesus stuff, cause I think that's a given in many case. And here's another depressing thought - if you can't turn to that person or to those people, THEN what do you do?
I realize this is depressing, but I think because of the ice storm, I am having depressing thoughts.

Share

So I'm reading the Chicken Soup for the Romantic's Soul. And it got me to wondering what are some of the romantic/sweet things that your partner has done for you? I'm collecting them for my own amusement, so provided you don't mind sharing, Share, share and then I can publish a book and make millions. Well, maybe it will just make me smile on days like I had yesterday. For example, Saturday, after I got off work, I got home to find out that Nick had ordered me my favorite pizza because he thought "I needed pizza." That's just one example of a little thing, but I would love to hear more about some of yours. So, share, share, share!

Today I had a meltdown. Well, not really. Hopefully some of you women and possibly men friends of mine will understand. But due to the stress of trying to remain calm in a situation that wasn't making me FEEL calm, I ended up sobbing. I HATE sobbing. I HATE crying. I don't think it really does much good other than to make you get a headache, red eyes, and make the people around you feel guilty or uncomfortable, usually both. I used to be able to control it. Seriously. I could feel tears coming on and just somehow stop them. I have lost this ability. So I just wanted to rant about how crying seriously sucks. And somehow, the situation feels resolved and also not resolved. I have no idea if this in anyway relates to crying or if it's just me.

I have puny, girly arms

So I did a shoulder workout today. I only used 5 lb. weights. But sadly, just typing this is making my arms turn to jello. I have very puny arms and it saddens me. In an effort to get better sleep and feel more energy and lose five pounds I've started up with my workout videos again. My cats helped me, they really like my resistance band. But it's the strength workout I did that really made me feel out of shape. I decided to lift weights and focus on arms today and I found out that I have girly arms. I want girly, muscly, strong arms so I'm going to have to do something about this. If anyone wants, I've also come up with the idea to send workout videos - like, if Kay, you have a yoga video but want to try a cardio that I have (I only have a few, but I'm hoping to get more) than we could trade for two weeks. Switch it up. Just an idea, let me know girls and guys.

I am in a funny mood today. I think it's just a stressful time right now. Anyway, I still haven't started the Einstein biography and now it's due in two days. It almost feels like homework to read it on a time crunch so I'm going to try and renew it, since I wanted to read it for fun. I finally got one of the books I reserved at the library called Our Mother's War - women during WWII. It's based on interviews and letters, etc. so it should be an interesting read. I'm going to recommend it to my grandma and then see if she can talk to me more about her experiences. I'm also reading the Church and the Second Sex about Christian misogyny. It was originally written in 1968 so I'm hoping to find another, more recent study and compare whether anything has changed, especially in the Catholic Church. Also, I CANNOT seem to make an appointment to get a haircut. I wanted to get something done before Wednesday, but I only trust two people: my sister and this spa/salon I go to because I know they're professional and do a great job based on recommendations. And both are impossible to get to: I have to work and can't make an appointment with Judy and I tried and failed to make an appointment at the salon before Wednesday night. I could chance somewhere else, but I have a gift certificate at the spa. I worked yesterday from 6am to 2pm. I am seriously thinking of quitting my job. Our manager is rather incompetent and also annoying. Plus, she asked me to cut short my Christmas vacation time, even though I requested off for it two and a half months before Christmas! Of course, it's already been approved and I won't actually be in the state so it was merely a request. I told her that it wasn't just MY vacation it was also Nick's and he hasn't seen his family since June I believe. I thought it was a bit ridiculous, especially considering that her vacations and time off days (which always seem to coincide with extremely big sales events or floorsets) are never denied or anything. But I digress into work madness and since I have today off, I'm trying not to stress myself out too much. Applications are still bogging me down. But I'm going to try to clear some of that off today, so YAY! Other than that...not much to talk about.
Things that really piss me off: calling pro-choice people "babykillers" and people not actually being informed of political and social issues but having a definite opinion that is NEVER going to change. Basically, close-minded people who can't see past black and white. I had a customer the other day like that; not with me, just her and a friend talking and she was so ignorant but was also so definite. People annoy me sometimes. USE YOUR BRAINS - that's why we have them, to think things through, become informed, see other peoples' points of view and then make a decision. You wouldn't just make a snap judgement about buying a house or a car, why do people do that regarding politics and such? Urgh!

Crazy Day

I've actually come up with a topic that I like but today I just wanted to vent about my day yesterday. Yesterday I got to work at 8 - rushing, because for some reason my contact lens would NOT GO IN MY EYE! It just kept popping out and laughing at me. I got a flu shot (my arm incidentally still hurts today, rather badly, plus I couldn't eat pizza because I was nauseous). Then, I ran some errands for G and took the minivan instead of the Lexus and therefore could not complete one of my errands. I saved a balloon for L, though and she was ecstatic. I got her to French. I took library books back. I loaded her up in her car seat and got her to the older kids school. And there, on the car, was a flat tire. Like really flat. Like, if I had driven it back to their house with three kids we would have had a blow up and possibly fiery car accident flat! T (the dad) had actually stopped at the school, which is strange, so he gave me his AAA card, we called up Gretchen, she called a tow truck and loaded up the baby in the minivan to come and pick us up. We waited until 4:40 ( the tow truck actually got there at 4:20 or so, but the kids were fascinated by watching them load up the car. Did I mention we were outside watching this and the wind was like -200 degrees and the actual temperature was like, 30? We pick up McDonalds for the kids (they don't get McD's alot at all, so you could see they were hoping that next time we might have something bigger happen) we finish up a few chores at the house. I get home at 6:30. Nick orders pizza - the delivery guy has a flat tire so the pizza is cold when it arrives. Pizza does not stay in my stomach (see flu shot above). I went to bed at 10:30 I believe. Thursday should be a relaxing day, considering it's piano day. Or maybe I'll just live through it and sleep in on Friday.

$41,509

I don't know how many of you use the link I put up to the Emily X blog. But I am proud to report that in 36 days (it's a 40 day campaign) the protesters at the Planned Parenthood Clinic have raised $41,509. Every time they showed up, the pro-choice movement made more money for women, for education, for health, for choice. And I got to hear about some very interesting and supportive people, and if I only had a set schedule at work, or the money to take a day off every week, I would love to volunteer and be a clinic escort. Soon, maybe. Anyway, congratulations to anyone who pledged!!

Families, Books, Adults

I think my family has fallen off the face of the earth. I haven't heard from anyone, except my stepmom for months! And I called HER! It's sad that we're so busy and that family gets pushed to the side; although when you think about it, who else would allow you to not call for months and then be happy to see you anyway. Only family, since they HAVE to love you. So to speak. I checked out the new Einstein biography written by Isaacson - I was wondering if anyone had read it yet? And Patricia Cornwell has a new Kay Scarpetta novel out too, although I haven't broken down and bought it = I'll put it on my Christmas list and hope that people know where my Amazon wishlist is - cause the list of books gets longer and longer! I'm still struggling through applications, and can't wait to get done - except I'm also a bit of a procrastinator so it's probably taking longer than it needs to - especially because I also want it to be perfect so I'll actually be accepted. I have a lot of worries lately, not that I'll detail them here, but for some reason, my brain doesn't want to turn off. It's horrible. I remember thinking that being an adult would be so much fun - when I was a kid. So here's a question? When you were a kid, why did you think (if you did) that being an adult would be more fun than being a kid and what do you miss about being a kid that you can't really do as an adult? Try to be original in presenting it, I'm sure that reasons are along the same page for a lot of people.

My Day Off

I finally had a day off. Between my two jobs, I haven't had a day off in three weeks. Today, I got up at 8:15. That's like totally extra sleep! I went downtown and got a bunch of new books from the library. I got a great coffee at my favorite coffee place and then got to have lunch with my amazing boyfriend at one of my favorite Italian places. I also got rid of almost all of my tension and knots (I get really bad knots in my shoulders and back) from a full-body, 75 minute hot-stone massage (using up some of my gift certificate so it was free!) and went shopping. I got everything I needed and a few things I didn't on sale at Kohl's. It was a great day off and I am so refreshed and ready for tomorrow's workday. Sadly, I didn't get the job I interviewed for; but it was at a bank, and I don't know if they really wanted a historian working there. Anyway, a parallel discussion from Kristi's blog has turned into an interest of mine: religiousness and morality - what makes them different? How do you separate your morality from your religion? What about agnostics and atheists and their morality? What make religion so moral, if it is? And etc. Those are just a few; feel free to meander the discussion along - Kristi, your blog gives me ideas. Thank you.

Stuff AKA I have got to come up with more creative titles!)

Have gotten further into my book. It's about more than pro-choice nuns. It's about their growing realization that the Catholic Church has a rather, ahem, medieval view of women, and that what they wanted to accomplish they could not because of the church patriarchal systems and hierarchy, as well as the church's view of women. It's so interesting and amazing. In further news, I have linked a blog (perhaps some of you have noticed it) called Emily X. It's also amazing. She's a doctor for Planned Parenthood in Aurora, Illinois and she's really defending women's healthcare and right of privacy and choice on this blog. People who are so inclined can pledge a certain amount of money toward Planned Parenthood - BASED on how many protesters there are; so for example, if you pledge a dollar per protester and there are 11 protesters, you just gave $11 to Planned Parenthood. The protesters are making money for Planned Parenthood and women's health - it's fantastic!!!! I love it! Anyway, it's an interesting blog whether you're pro-choice, pro-life, anti-choice, middle-ground, whatever. It brings the issue right out in the open, and that always spurs discussion I think. Or I hope. I also had a job interview, so keep your fingers crossed. I am also stressing about my statement of purpose for the Graduate Programs I want to get into - Nick's is worse though, cause he's getting his PhD and he has to write a research statement! I have to get ready for work now so just to put this out there: Who are you supporting in the Primaries? If anyone. Why? Why don't you like Barack Obama, if you don't? Are you crazy or stupid? :-) Hehehe. Okay, enough with the funnies. Have a good day people!

Short update

Am now reading a book written by two nuns who are prochoice and was asked by the Vatican to shut up about it. I doubt that's exactly what they said...but that's the gist. Ahh, the beauty of actually having free speech! Just started it, but so far, it's very interesting. Also, I had the weirdest dream last night where Kay, Kristi, Sara, and I were all back in high school...seniors, and we were all doing this very funny, strange class play. I'll have to email all of it to you, but it was very funny. Anyway, just wanted to update, even if it's short.

Interesting and Heartening

feminist wire | daily newsbriefs

October 1, 2007
CT Catholic Hospitals to Dispense EC to All Rape Victims

Connecticut Roman Catholic bishops softened their opposition Thursday to a new state law requiring hospitals to dispense emergency contraception (EC) to all rape victims. Previously, the Bishops had refused to allow Catholic hospitals to provide EC without first performing an ovulation test.

"Our efforts had only one goal, to protect the victims of rape," Sen. Jonathan Harris, a Hartford legislator who worked with the church to negotiate a compromise told the Associated Press. "There was no other agenda. It was started to just do that."

The church fought legislation for two years, arguing that it would force Catholic employees at the hospitals to behave immorally, according to the Associated Press. In a recent statement however, the bishops conceded that the use of Plan B cannot be judged as an abortion. "To administer Plan B pills without an ovulation test is not an intrinsically evil act," the statement read.

During the first half of 2006, 40 percent of rape victims treated at Connecticut hospitals either were not offered EC or received an incomplete dose of it, Connecticut Sexual Assault Services Inc. told the AP.

Media Resources: Associated Press 9/27; Catholic Bishops of Connecticut statement 9/27

Read!

It's Banned Books Week. Maybe you've seen information in your library? I hope so. In any case I want to ask all of you to pick up a book, or two, or five, on this list and read it, in order to show support for the First Amendment and right to privacy and to help "ban" intolerance and narrow-mindedness.

I have a huge list and so I'm only going to give some. The first 10 are the "Most Challenged Books of 2006."
1. "And Tango Makes Three" by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
2."Gossip Girls" Series by Cecily Von Ziegesar
3."Alice Series" by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
4."The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things" by Carolyn Mackler
5. "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison
6."Scary Stories" by Alvin Schwartz
7."Athletic Shorts" by Christ Crutcher
8."The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky
9."Beloved" by Toni Morrison
10."The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier
These are the top ten challenged authors 1990-2004: Read one of their books if you don't want to read one of the above.
11. Alvin Schwartz
12. Judy Blume
13. Robert Cormier
14. J.K. Rowling
15. Michael Willhoite
16. Katherine Paterson
17. Stephen King
18. Maya Angelou
19. R.L. Stine
20. John Steinbeck

If you want more information go to Google and type in Banned Books or go to www.ala.org - That's the American Library Association's Home Page and they have tons of information and I think links.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

Okay, well not dinner. But I am so excited because Barack Obama is going to be at the park across the street from Nick and I's apartment complex! How cool is that? Maybe I'll get to meet him! Get him to sign his book!