Secessionists are idiots

Yes, I live in the fine state of Texas -- where the myth prevails that we are the only state that preserves the right to secede from the union.

We do not

We have not had that right for over 150 years.

move on Texans

But making headway in the news is that Texans have signed a petition to secede from the union -- and other moronic states have followed.

First off -- let's not say they SIGNed a petition.  No one has gone door knocking with petitions for us to sign -- no one has had to get off their sofa, wipe off the cheeto dust and pick up a pen

no

it's all online now

you can do it during a commercial.

So racking up 80K or so signatures is nothing

there are something like 28million texans

and most of us have the common sense to know that secession is the worst idea ever.

Texans do not want to pay more taxes -- so do we think the tax money we already pay is going to pay for:

border defense
a military
social security
setting up our own government infrastructure
a department of education
ambassadors
transportation infrastructure
medicaid, medicare and CHIP subsidies
not to mention economic issues -- will we set up our own dollar?

frankly

the whole idea is just embarrassing that such a small group of people gets national attention over what is essentially a temper tantrum in the middle of Walmart.

Texans -- it's time to wake up
put on your big girl panties and get busy

if you want to be political activists -- LEAVE YOUR HOUSE -- and go do something you believe in.

but stop sounding like a little kid who says they'll "take their ball and go home" if we don't give them a do-over.

it's embarrassing.

The Fatherhood option

I have spent more time in the last year thinking about choice
and I have come to the conclusion
that while men have the right to have an opinion

they really don't have a dog in this hunt

because fatherhood
active fatherhood
is optional

and it's acceptable
to some degree for it to be optional

motherhood
is much less so

now now -- I can see some of you coming up with all the exceptions
stories of brilliant fathers who do as they should
I had one of those myself

but if things had been different

if my mother had found herself pregnant in another scenario

the father of the child
has a choice

to stay or go

to be an active father or not.

and while yes
there are women who walk away from their children

society vilifies them

beyond that
society brands them as unnatural
almost perverse

how could any mother not want her child

so that when a woman gives a child up for adoption
there is a stigma
to the unnaturalness of giving up your child

rather than see it as the noble thing to do
the responsible thing
to give an unwanted child to one who wants it
we separate ourselves from it
with quiet, "I could never do such a thing"

a woman who finds herself with an unwanted pregnancy is faced with some choices

carry and keep the child
in spite of perhaps being alone
being too poor to support the child
or too young
or unsuited to the task
perhaps finding it a hidden blessing
but perhaps never quite attaching
and damaging a young life in the course of things

carry and give the child up
with people daily
telling them "they could never do it"
with the judgement
and facing the jarring separation of giving up that child
in spite of what nature tells you to do

abort
and either keep your secret
or face judgement
and at the very least
having to walk the gauntlet of anti's
pulling at them in the most tender of moments.

but the father
can choose

he can choose to be as much
or as little of it has he chooses

and in some cases -- a woman might go to court to force some recalcitrant papa to contribute
but the burden of proof is on the mother

a man
who can walk away from this unwanted pregnancy
at any time
to be in
or out
to whatever degree he chooses

doesn't have a place
in deciding that

we women

should have fewer choices.

Could you live on 133% of the poverty level?

Perry -- our fine governor -- doesn't want to expand Medicaid to cover to 133% of the poverty level

let's look at that -- for a family of 4 -- it's just under 31K


So really -- they make $27,600 after taxes (because yes -- they still have to pay taxes and medicaid eligibility is on your gross wages.

ok

family of 4 -- at 31k - that means that two adults are earning just under $15 an hour for the two of them.

if they both work -- it means that they either have to have a family member watch the kids -- or they have to work different shifts -- or they have to leave the kids alone some of the time -- which happens more than you think.

Rent -- at $600/month (and you can't get an apt in my city for that) -- it's 7200 a year (20.4K left to raise your family)

Utilities -- let's assume they have the bare min -- no cable -- just electric and water -- it about $100/month here on average or $1200/year (19.2K left to raise your family)

Car -- you have to buy gas -- and we'll assume you own the car -- and have no payments -- but you'll have some sort of maintenance to do  -- or repairs plus the gas -- so let's say $150/month for gas (1800/year) plus $200 for repairs (because you'll do some of it yourself)  2K  (17.2 K left to raise your family)

Food -- this is hard to gauge - online most people who have a strict budget would say $350/month -- so let's assume that you don't have kids on formula (which costs $14/can and mine eats 9 cans a month) or teenagers -- so that's $4200/year ($13Kleft to raise your family)

Clothing -- Let's give our little family $200/person per year for clothes -- so that's $800 ($12.2 left to raise your family)

now -- let's remember -- you don't have medicaid -- so you have to pay your medical expenses.

Insurance for a family of 4 is about $200/month if you have insurance through your company (2400/year) plus -- you have to meet your deductible for care -- so let's assume that's another $1000.  Plus any medication your family might need (even at $25/month -- that's $300/year) -- so that brings healthcare costs to $3700 (8.5K left)

oh wait -- car insurance -- $900/year ($75/month) -- (7.6K left)

but we made some big assumptions there --

have childcare costs? -- then you will pay at least $400/month (4800/year)
have a major car repair? -- add $1000
have to buy tires? -- add $400
have to go to the ER -- even once? -- add $500 -- 3000K
have to make a car payment? -- even a cheap payment is $200/month (2400/year)

(heaven forbid all of these things happen -- this leaves you with $1500 at the end of a year or just $125 unbudgeted dollars a month)

oh shit

diapers


and this family is subsisting.

they live in a horrible apartment (because a 2 BR in this town costs closer to $800 even in a bad area).  This family isn't taking care of basic medical issues -- because they can't afford the time away from work.  If they are paying childcare - -it's killing them -- and $400/month is cheap -- if you have a baby it's more like $600 --$800/month  -- if you have 2 kids in daycare it's more like $800/month-- and you're likely to have a baby -- because we didn't budget in your birth control costs (crap)

this family didn't go see one single movie.  they don't have a TV.  they didn't eat at McDonalds even once.  They shop at the thrift store because our clothing budget is unreasonable for a growing family.

this family didn't pay down any debt
they didn't pay child support
they didn't take a trip
and when their kids are on vacation -- they don't have anything for them to do
they bought no christmas presents
they didn't buy their kids a toy or a book.

the reality is
this family decided that their company insurance was too expensive
so they didn't get it
they played chicken with fate
and their kids still got sick

but they went to the ER
and ran up a debt they can't pay.

this family is on the edge
they get poorer every year
they get sicker every year

and they're one accident
away from joblessness
and homelessness

so

Mr. Perry

before you decide that we can't do it
that there's no way

perhaps -- you should live on their budget for a year.

and see what your life is like

I am more than willing to pay more in taxes to care for my brothers and sisters.
the real question is
why aren't you?

Romney - it's a matter of character

I've been reading this morning about Romney's alleged attack on a classmate in school -- holding him down with his friends -- and cutting off his hair


and yes


I call it alleged.


because the family denies it - and a bit of the story was misreported


but it's interesting to me that Romney simply "doesn't recall it"


I recall small slights that I did at that age
I have things I deeply regret


things we said or did
that haunt us


and should haunt us


this is an age when we often do things impulsively
but as our character matures
most of us look back
and cringe


If the report were completely false
completely out of character


I would have denied it


so I ask myself
is such a thing so completely out of character for this man?


he is a practical joker
there are several stories about that
and when I think about practical jokes


they are always
always
mean spirited


I'm not talking about people who mutually engage in a prank war
I remember my ex husband and his brother conducted a several year long confetti war
that culminated in the filling of his brother's car air conditioner with confetti that covered him in a cloud on day one
and would occasionally send a stray flake out years later


but pranks
meant to embarrass
humiliate
humble the victim


now
let's consider that at the time
this was acceptable behavior


let's face it


until not so very long
this was all put aside as "boys will be boys"


and boys can be terrible things


but lest we put this down
to being a prep school joke


and I wish that I thought this was out of character
but the man who puts his dog on the roof
the man who pulls pranks on a visually impaired teacher?
the man who "doesn't recall" if he held a boy down and cut his hair or not?


seems like a sociopath.


sociopath  [( soh -see-uh-path, soh -shee-uh-path)] 

Someone whose social behavior is extremely abnormal.Sociopaths are interested only in their personal needs and desires, without concern for the effects of their behavior on others. 

and I imagine that being a sociopath IS a great ingredient to being successful in business -- in LIFE....because it's all about getting what you want

does he get to be my president?

I would far prefer a man who remembers such a horrible thing

views it with modern eyes

and regrets it

learned from it

changed from it

than someone for whom it was just a Tuesday.

Some sins are bigger than others

I've been reading about the high school coach who just got fired for getting pregnant out of wedlock.

and there are arguments to be made that she's not living the life they wish to exemplify to the girls

that her mere existence erodes the moral fibre of their world.

but I am struck -- by how often women are more punished for their sexuality than men

and for that matter -- how one particular sin (good ole' number 7) seems to be way more important than any other.

So -- yes -- please fire the pregnant girl

also

fire anyone who swears by saying "God" or "Jesus"

fire anyone who mows the lawn on Sunday -- or shops in any store -- or cooks a meal

fire anyone who has ever had a harsh word for his or her parents

fire anyone who takes your pen -- and never brings it back

fire those who envy others -- who has a fantasy about someone else -- or who wishes they had your sports car

fire any person who has sex -- outside of marriage -- man or woman.

and then her firing would be just.

When I read the big 10

it strikes me that God's message is more than a list of rules

it strikes me that God is saying

that we're imperfect

that sin is inevitable.

and that is why grace and forgiveness and humility should be our goal.

We should not shame her

we should be aware

that the rest of us

are breaking a lot of the big 10

all the time.

Are employment benefits a gift? or are they earned?

At the core of the debate about birth control
and whether or not a company
can dictate the medical care choices of their employee
on religious grounds

should be a discussion of the nature of employment benefits.

Are the medical benefits your company offers you

a gift from the employer?
or

are they a part of your compensation.

Did you earn them?

Most companies require employees to pay a portion of the premium.
as well as deductables and co-pays

it's a nominal percentage of the cost of healthcare for the employee
usually 30% or less of the total cost of care.

Mine comes to about $1100 a year for my part
so yes -- my company pays a huge amount of my premium

in addition to that

we are self insured -- which means that if I go to the doctor and services are covered
the company picks it up

but that doesn't answer the question
of

is it a gift
or is it compensation

If it is a gift
I can understand the company wishing to dictate the exact nature of the gift

but as compensation
how does the company dictate how I use it?

the company doesn't ask me for a list of my receipts
and the end of the month
to see how I spend my paycheck

it does not provide me with guidelines
it does not require me to give a percentage of it to charity
or save in my 401k
although it encourages me to do so

So why
do we think it's ok
to remove legitimate heathcare
from the table.

healthcare which is
by the way
universally considered preventative care?

If I earn my benefits
then they should be mine to do wish as I wish

and if I share in the cost of the benefit
then
I should be able to do as I wish with it as well.

companies
even religious ones
do not belong in medical choices

this is a benefit we've earned
once we've earned it
you don't have a say in it.

I'm a liberal - not a libertine

It's an old fashioned word

Libertine

it means to be morally dissolute
to be morally or sexually unrestrained.

and I think the Religious Right Republicans don't quite understand the difference

I can be liberal
and make personal conservative choices

I can be a liberal
and be moral

I can be a liberal
and be fiscally responsible.

being a liberal
doesn't make me morally bankrupt.

the Religious Right want to legislate morality

to make it illegal to sin

which I find interesting.

Does God want me to be obedient to His will because I have to?
or because I want to?

Am I following God's will?
or the will of the state?

Am I a good Christian?
or just a good citizen.

Back in the day
God created a world
where there was no knowledge of Good and Evil

He eliminated it from choice

well to a degree

that darn apple

but once man chose knowledge

then the ability to sin existed

Now -- I don't subscribe to the idea that the earth is 6000 years old
and in that time we all came from one man and one woman
but I do believe in the parable.

Jesus spoke in parables
why not God?

God didn't legislate Good and Evil
he gave us free will to choose what we will.

so here we are 6000 (ahem) years later
trying to legislate morality

trying to

lol

trying to un-eat the apple.

but we cannot.

we live in the world that God intended for us

a world with choices

we can choose
to love our neighbor
or curse him because he is gay

we can choose
to feed the poor
or walk by him and call him lazy

we can choose
to care for the sick
or deny him medicine and medical care

you see

we all make choices
to be godly or not

and being a libertine -- a morally dissolute person
is a choice we were given

just as being a good Christian
one who follows the path of Christ
is a choice

no legislation can un-eat the apple
and it shouldn't try.

An apology

Once upon a time
one of my peers at another office
called me up
and asked me to
send her all of the dates of birth
and social security numbers
for every employee at my site.

To which I said
"why do you need it?"

she said,
"I just need it"

I joked and said,
"I can't just send you confidential information
without a reason"
and
um
I may have made a joke about identity theft.

she didn't give me a reason
I didn't send the information

what she did do
was hang up
and burst into tears
she called the boss-of-us
and told him I was mean.

He called me
and although he agreed with my protection of the data
told me I needed to apologize.

So I called her
and said,

"I'm so sorry that what I said made you cry, but....."
and repeated my original case

I've referred to this as a "Gina-apology" ever since
(and she actually was happy with the apology -- and somehow failed to notice that I never sent the information she requested)

This Mr. Limbaugh
is a bullshit apology

apologies do not include the word "but"
they do not defend our actions
those are called excuses
or defenses

or in your case
"complete crap"

but they are NOT apologies

you did not mean your apology
any more than I meant mine all those years ago

you do not intend to change your ways

because it would be the death knell for your career

you have made a career out of being
shocking
horrifying
and
misogynistic

so I'm so sorry to not accept your apology
but...

Promiscuity and Name Calling

My goodness

we really have entered the playground edition of Decision 2012

haven't we?

all the name-calling really must stop

I understand that the religious right wants to make a case
that sexual promiscuity has toppled American society

that we have brought the country to its knees through
with the power of the vagina

and there can be a case made for that

that children were better off being raised by two parents
that divorce is destroying the family

that civil rights
led to women's rights
led to gay rights

so we should not have tampered with that
because weren't we all better off when everyone knew their place?

that the world was blissfully happy
in the 50's
before we women ruined it all

with our promiscuity
because clearly we're luring men astray with our lascivious ways

we were all better off before
women became more independent
made it more possible for them to exit
horrible marriages
increases the rate of divorce
and therefore the rate of single families

introducing the idea to men
that it's ok to take no responsibility
for their children
and leave their families to fend for themselves

introducing the idea to men
that it's ok
to father children they don't
plan to raise

yes

one can make an argument for it

but we're not making arguments about sociology on the other side of the aisle

are we

no

we're name calling

SLUT

if you believe that I am the cause of the downfall of western civilization

argue your case

BRING IT

I'm happy to debate it with you
civilly

which by the way

was what Sandra Fluke was meant to do
provide another side of the argument

but when you disparage
when you throw mud
when you name call

when you SILENCE us

you demonstrate that you do not have
a logical argument
that you do not have
anything
other

than you loathing
for me
as a woman

so know this

when you call us names
when you drag us through the mud?

I will smile a smug smile

knowing

that you have nothing
else
on your side of the argument.

Rush to Attack

So we're all in a rush to attack Limbaugh

but being horrible isn't new to him

I can remember listening to Rush ages ago
calling us all Feminazis

afterall

he has to attract listeners somehow
since he isn't likely
to get strippers on his show
to allow him to motorboat them

Rush is no Howard Stern.

instead

he peddles hate.

and his listeners lap it up

which is not to say that if you like Rush that you're evil

but rather
that you're willing
to take in that filth
for entertainment.

and yes

it's filth

listening to Rush makes you insensitive
to the wrongness of his message

it makes it more normal
to dismiss a woman as a slut

as we listen to this poison
or watch it on Fox News

how can it not leach through our skin
and poison our hearts

how can it not
damage our souls

we are what we read
and what we watch
and what we listen to

it forms who we are
it forms how we see the world.

it changes us.

as I read so many
cursing his name
calling him all sort of horrible things

I think

no

it's not right
I will not stoop to his level

Will I boycott his show?

lol -- he will not miss me -- I am not a listener

but I can
never support any business that continues to support him

and remind them all

that we sluts
make 85% of the purchasing decisions in America

Is it really my choice?

I am just back from the Gyno for my annual exam

lucky this year -- mammogram scheduled -- but I don't have to have the humiliating and uncomfortable probing that is the transvaginal ultrasound

thank God

The ship has sailed for me -- I've had the ablation -- so no debilitating periods

and I quit the pill last year

I'm a condom girl
although I hate them

they're such thin insurance
aren't they?

We've had them come off
and had to fish one out

there's always the risk of breakage

condoms in our committed relationship
isn't the best long term plan

back on the pill?
ugh
no thanks

so -- I'm finally going to make the leap
and get the tubal ligation

the procedure is a bit different these days -- but it's essentially the same

but
that's not what I'm blogging about today

I'm blogging about how my doctor
how YOUR doctor
decides on your treatment

I'm sure you've heard the phrase

"If your insurance covers X we could do that"

let's just let that sink in

shall we?

doctors do this all the time

they dictate YOUR treatment
off what YOU can afford

what your insurance will pay

this includes tests
and treatment
and medication

I get all sorts of tests when I go to the doctor
that other women don't get

because my insurance will pay
and if not
my doctor knows that I can pay

but if I didn't have insurance
would I get the choice at all?

would I get the choice of having this procedure
that isn't invasive
that isn't painful
and that takes care of my pesky fertility?
(because yes -- I'm still fertile -- although a pregnancy would be dangerous for me and lethal for the baby)

or would I get only one choice
the cheapest choice

so when religious organizations
want to regulate what they will cover

and I'm pretty sure they're not going to cover tubal ligations
if they won't pay for the pill

then
will that be a choice that women even get?

when we make the poor poorer
we take away their choices

because those choices aren't even offered to them
anymore

choice is becoming a luxury item these days

Health Care Reform is essential

and you may not agree with how it's delivered
or how it's paid for

but I have yet to hear one single person
living at the poverty level
say

that they don't want it

only the people who already have what they need
who already have CHOICES
say that heath care reform isn't needed.

that it's wrong
that it's not a human right

I live a privileged life

I have choice
because I can AFFORD choice

The myth of the Liberal Christian

Rick Santorum said in his 2008 presidential bid
that there's no such thing as a liberal Christian

you can be one
or the other

but you cannot be both

and I've been thinking about this

maybe he's right

maybe being a christian is about judging
our brothers and sisters
because they are gay
or because they have sex outside of marriage

maybe being a christian is denying women
the choice to receive good health care
unless she can afford to pay for it

maybe being a Christian is shouting epitaphs
at poor girls in the street on the lowest day of their life

maybe it's passing laws to protect the wealthy

maybe it's making sure that the poor don't get
welfare

maybe being a Christian is getting what you believe
by any means possible

maybe it's about
shaming women
implying that they are unclean
and deserve no dignity

the people I hear speaking loudest about being Christians

all seem to believe these things

and I struggle with this

I've always thought I was a Christian
I've always identified as a Christian

from what I've seen

maybe I'm not a Christian at all.

maybe what I am is a follower of Christ
or not exactly

maybe I'm someone who strives to be a follower of Christ

Christ urged us to care for widows and children
He urged us to feed the poor
comfort the mourner
use our money to help people

He taught us not to judge

am I that now?

I hope to be
I strive to be

I want to be a follower of Christ
way more than I want to be a Christian

so maybe Santorum is right
maybe you can't be a liberal Christian

but I don't think you have any choice
but to be a liberal follower of Christ.

Lord Save us from Sincerity

Sincerity doesn't mean anything. A person can be sincere and be more destructive than a person who is insincere.
EDWARD ALBEE


I think I see the attraction to Santorum


He's so painfully sincere


and we've become so used to hypocrites.  
so used to liars
so used to philanderers
so used to criminals


in our politicians


so when we see someone
speak sincerely
of their ideals
of their goals
of their dreams


without sarcasm
without hesitation


just the words they truly believe
from the bottom of their hearts


it reaches out to people
it makes them want to put their faith in them


because the sincerity of their belief
makes them seem more credible.


Even if what they sincerely believe
is that women belong in the home
pregnant
caring for child after child


that all the ills of society
were caused by the women's movement


that if we would just keep our knees together
that it would turn back the clocks
to that wonderful time


(aaahhhhh -for the halcyon days of Mccarthyism)


even if he sincerely believes that 
God doesn't expect us to be good stewards of the earth


even if he sincerely believes that 
parents will make the best education choices
for children
even though he admits that the parents themselves
didn't get the benefit of a good education


even if he sincerely believes
that only the rights of Christians should be protected


even if he's a zealot
hoping to be promoted to religious despot


his sincerity shines through

Punk'd

That's the only answer I have for this

in fact

it's shocked me that it hasn't occurred to me before this

that we're clearly the victims of some sort of April Fool's joke
or
that Ashton Kutcher will come out any minute
and tell us that Santorum is hoax

laugh at us
for thinking that anyone in this day and age
would really try to get rid of birth control

that anyone would be against public education

and that people would consider him to be president

and then at the end

Santorum will pull off his mask
and tell the police

"I would have gotten away with it too
if it weren't for those meddling kids"

as Scooby and the Gang pile into the Mystery Machine

yeah

that's got to be it

Punk'd

you got me good this time Ashton!

Which Women?

I was on Facebook the other day

One of my fellow bloggers was lamenting the attacks on women's reproductive rights
and one of her friends said something to the effect of:

"Women will never let this happen -- Breathe easy"

and it went through me like a shot.

Which women?

Which women are going to fight this

some other women??

no

there are no other women

there is you
and me

and that's it

it's us

it's our turn

it's our turn to fight
to stand up

it's our turn to get up our of church pews
and walk out in protest

it's our turn to write letters
to speak out

it's our turn to march
to sit in
to stand firm

it's our turn to be united

I've got news for you

I could easily sit back

my baby factory is shut down
there's no more birth control for me
there's no risk I would need an abortion

why should I care?

I can sit on my sofa and know
that

"women won't let this happen"

women won't stand by and let them pass a law
that allows them to force a procedure on women
that's tantamount to rape

women won't stand by and let them pass laws
that make many of us criminals
just because we use an IUD

women won't stand by and let them
silence us
when we should be able to defend our rights
in a congressional hearing

right??

women will stop it?

won't we?

Which women will do it?

Which women?

What's the big deal about VA's vaginal ultrasound bill.

http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2012/02/virginia_ultrasound_law_women_who_want_an_abortion_will_be_forcibly_penetrated_for_no_medical_reason.2.html

I don't know if you've read it -- I'll wait while do....but essentially
in VA -- there is a proposed law to require that women have an INTERNAL ultrasound prior to receiving an abortion.

What's the big deal right?

These are just trashy women
who went ahead and go themselves knocked up
they're about to have an abortion
so they'll have something up there anyway

why are they making such a big deal about having something else shoved up there
they should what

be used to it?

afterall

if they want an abortion they'll have to do whatever we tell them to

right?

Let me ask you....

Have you had one of these?

Here's my joking account of my procedure

I've had a number of these
of my own free will
to try to find out what was wrong with me

I hate them

they are invasive
they are uncomfortable

there's a rod that they put up in side you -- there's a photo on that link of the one they use in my Dr's office.
and
they move in around

and

I have to tell you

it's uncomfortable.
it's embarrassing
it's invasive.

When I've had them it's because of an abnormality in my uterus
that needs to be examined
to check the growth of tumors
and cysts.

I would never have one otherwise.

I can't imagine being forced to have one
against my will
FORCED

I suppose that in the minds of the people who formulated this bill
it doesn't matter what happens to these women
to these girls

because someone's going to be working in there anyway
why should they be granted any dignity?

all of this is in the spirit of "informed consent"

as if

it never occurred to the woman that there was a baby in there

by the way
on the way in

she walked past at least 20 people

some of them were praying holding photos of dead babies
some of the were preaching loudly standing on a box

one of them chased her down the sidewalk
telling her that she shouldn't do it - that they would help her find a place to live

one of them shouted at her husband telling him to "stand up and be a man!"

past posters of aborted babies

yeah

she knows

so

why show her an ultrasound?
why put that want inside her
and push it around

to humiliate her?
to punish her?

it's a vile idea.

from vile people.

The Christian Jihad

and yes -- I'm trying to be shocking -- bear with me.

This is from Wikipedia (for what it's worth):

Contemporary Islamism holds that Islam is now under attack, and therefore -experts explain-

Jihad is now a war of defense, and as such has become not only a collective duty but an individual duty without restrictions or limitations. That is, to the Islamists, Jihad is a total, all-encompassing duty to be carried out by all Muslims – men and women, young and old.

so -- let's consider that for Christianity

 Contemporary EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY holds that CHRISTIANITY is now under attack, and therefore -experts explain-

Jihad is now a war of defense, and as such has become not only a collective duty but an individual duty without restrictions or limitations. That is, to the EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS, Jihad is a total, all-encompassing duty to be carried out by all CHRISTIANS – men and women, young and old

Isn't that what we're hearing all the time now?  How Christianity is being attacked?  That it must be defended at all costs?  Is this not how we end up with Abortion doctors being murdered?  Women being harassed outside of Abortion clinics?

Is this not how we end up with homosexual teens being bullied -- literally to death in some cases?

all in the name of God?

Let's explore this fuller -- back to Wikipedia

The Sufic view of Islam classifies "Jihad" into two; the "Greater Jihad" and the "Lesser Jihad". Muhammad put the emphasis on the "greater Jihad" by saying that "Holy is the warrior who is at war with himself". In this sense external wars and strife are seen but a satanic counterfeit of the true "jihad" which can only be fought and won within; no other Salvation existing can save man without the efforts of the man himself being added to the work involved of self-refinement. ..... Some contemporary Islamists have succeeded in replacing the greater jihad, the fight against desires, with the lesser jihad, the holy war to establish, defend and extend the Islamic state.

This is the mistake many people make about Islam -- they confuse the extremist with the norm of the religion (and -- no -- I'm not a Muslim -- stay with me on this one a bit)

Those who choose the "lesser jihad" -- get all the press -- they're blowing up buildings so they can get their 72 virgins

they're killing their daughters because they think they're too western

they're trying to pass laws that enforce religious views -- In what way is this different from what the Taliban did?

ouch - -right?  Do we want to be like the Taliban?

But those who fight the greater jihad -- the jihad of the soul -- perfecting themselves -- get no press at all.

which is the vast majority of Muslims by the way.

This is the problem with the Christian extremist -- they are so focused on the lesser jihad of making sure that everyone else follows their rules -- that everyone else is forced into their view of christian morality

that they are hurting the church

they are the reason that I am an isolated Christian

that I have stopped going to church

that I read and practice alone in my home

they are the reason that people leave the church.

leave Christianity

Leave Jesus

be because they make such a big splash with their lesser jihad

no one can see the millions of Christians who are just working on their souls

trying to be worthy of all the blessings they've been given

It's what's right

In 1921 -- Margaret Sanger founded the American Birth Control League with this founding statement.


We hold that children should be (1) Conceived in love; (2) Born of the mother's conscious desire; (3) And only begotten under conditions which render possible the heritage of health. Therefore we hold that every woman must possess the power and freedom to prevent conception except when these conditions can be satisfied.


I thought that today
when we are turning our blogs to the topic of reproductive rights
we should get back to the founding principles.


Children should be conceived in love


I love that she started with that statement.  That children should come from love.  A child should never be burden.  A child should never be an inconvenience.  Birth Control allowed women who wanted to have children to plan them.  It allowed women who didn't want to have children to NOT have children.  


Born of the Mother's conscious desire


Wanted.  Every child who was ever rejected -- ever abandoned -- ever adopted -- had to ask themselves.  Why was I not wanted.  and yes -- I want her (or him) -- but it's not the same.  Why did my mother not want ME.  Birth control allows us to reduce unwanted pregnancy 


And only begotten under conditions which render possible the heritage of health


With the ability to provide for that child.  Give the child a healthy environment -- feed our children -- take them to the doctor -- ensure that they are not abused or neglected.  Birth Control protects children.  It protects families.


There are those who would tell you that Birth Control was the first step in the dismantling of the American family.  That it created wanton sexuality - that it is unnatural - that it's against God's will.


But we live in a country where 1 in 5 children go to be hungry every day
we live in a country where over 100,000 children await adoptive homes
and over 400,000 children are in foster care


now


imagine


an America with no birth control
or only birth control for those who can afford it


what does it do to those figures?


how many children are born to mothers who cannot feed them?
how many more are aborted -- assuming that abortion is still an option?
if not
how many illegal adoptions?


I want to live in an America
where children are wanted
where they are conceived in love
where they have enough to eat
where they have parents who love and nurture them


and yes
we don't have that for every child today


but going back to a country without reproductive choices
is the wrong choice


it's not just about reproductive rights
it's about what's right for families
it's about what's right for children


and it's about what's right for America
and it's time to fight for what's right.

The price of freedom

as the blog a thon comes to a close -- or at least this wave of it -- culminating in our joint blog efforts on 2/15

don't think I'm going to fall silent

my blog will return from time to time to this topic

but not be exclusively dedicated to it.

Once you find your voice it's hard to say that you will not raise it again

why would we

I am concerned about the Obama compromise and the bill being floated to expand that even farther

that religious based companies might not be required to offer medical care

in cases where it opposes their religious or moral beliefs.

Where does that end?

Let me say first and foremost -- that these employers

for example -- employees of Chick Fil A -- and Hobby Lobby (yeah I had to make a HL dig) and Catholic Hospitals and Colleges

have very clearly made a stand as to their moral beliefs

Obama now says -- that's ok -- it'll be coverage available through the insurance companies

creating another step for employees to go through

by the way -- the HR departments will need to inform associates in how to do this

inform them that this coverage is not available

and how to get it

now -- in a world where all of the employees are religious Catholics -- that's not a problem

but they're not

they're other Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, atheists -- what have you.

who may or may not use birth control (and frankly who are already pre-damned for not being Catholic)

but my concern is

what happens after this

this first step

Will I be denied birth control because my CEO thinks that single women should not have sex?

Will I be denied STD testing because my company things that lascivious behavior leads to STDs

Will I be denied a D & C after a miscarriage because it might disguise an abortion?

Will I be denied treatment or testing for HIV?

Will I be denied my FMLA right to care for a partner's child who is critically ill because my company believes that single sex relationships are a sin?

Will I be discriminated against in employment because I am divorced? or have a baby out of wedlock? or have an abortion?

Will I be denied medical benefits for my children if I marry outside my race?

Will I be able to have my tubes tied?

I never thought it would come to this

I thought we lived in an enlightened age

I thought that the rights that our mothers and grandmothers fought for

were well established

were secure

And yet

here I am

in 2012

fighting to keep the rights

that my Mother had -- decades ago

because some politicians thought it would

result in more votes

by riling up the religious right

I should not have to fight for equality

You should not have to fight for equality

and yet

we must fight

we must speak out

we must encourage others

to be brave

to be outspoken

to be heard

Gay equality

racial equality

sexual equality

when you take away the rights of any of us

you put us all at risk.

so

Thank you Religious Right

Thank you GOP

Thank you Westboro Baptist Church

and Rick Santorum

and

yes

Even Sarah Palin

Thank you for waking me up

and as long as I think I can reach one more person

and encourage them to do the same

the price of freedom

is eternal vigilance (Thomas Jefferson)

Thank you for reminding us of that.

now

watch out.

Blog with us on 2/15 -- TJ would have -- we hope you will too.

We all have medical rights

One of the things that this accommodation Obama made for the Catholic Church has me thinking about is one of the rules for adoption here in Tx

If I had a religious belief that required that I shun medical intervention for my child

I would be prohibited from adopting.

Yup

they would discriminate against me
and my sincerely held belief
that medical care is an abomination
in the eyes of the Lord

they would violate my religious rights

why?

because the rights of the child
are more important

that the child has a right to medical care

the fine state of Texas recognizes
that a child has a right to medical care
no matter what the parent's religious beliefs are

interesting

and yet

we will make a decision
that the rights of the Church
outweigh
the right to have equal access to medical care


Now is not the time for polite complacency...it's the time to speak up
blog with us on 2/15

Thwarting God's Plan

So -- what I understand is that the issue is around thwarting God's plan

 

birth control that is....

 

now when man was created -- the world was a different place

people died young

babies often didn't make it

women died in childbirth

 

having a large number of children made sense.

 

but thanks to modern medicine

we have beat a great many diseases

we've discovered vaccines

and antibiotics

 

we've learned about the dangers of germs

 

Do we not thwart God's plan every time we intervene medically?

 

every time we do surgery

every time we give a blood transfusion

or use a defibrillator?

 

do we not thwart his will when we vaccinate our children

or when we get infertility treatments?

 

isn't all of modern medicine an abomination?

 

Was it not God's will that I die as a baby

when I stopped breathing

before my Mom got me started again

 

or later in life -- should I not have died from a childhood disease

or should I not be crippled from my broken foot

 

Isn't it God's will that I remain childless?

Is my adoption thwarting his plan for me?

 

All of these things that we have done in modern medicine

has created a world where people live long prosperous healthy lives

 

far beyond God's plan for them.

 

and far beyond the plan for our Earth

 

Our bodies were designed to pump child after child into this world

to replenish the supply

killed young by disease and war and injury

 

we have already thwarted God's will

 

so I ask you

 

how is birth control

any different from any other medical intervention?