As we all know, the Republican party prides itself on being all for small government. I'm calling bullshit. Why? Because they've made it perfectly clear this week that they want control over the uterus.
Presidential candidate Ron Paul said in an interview that "If it's an honest rape, that individual should go immediately to the emergency room, I would give them a shot of estrogen." Granted, this is more than I assume the other Republican candidates would "allow," but still. Honest rape?! I have no words. Lastly, for a doctor, he's pretty behind on his knowledge of contraception.
President Obama recently announced plans to ensure that birth control is covered with no co-pay by insurance plans. According to good old Mitt Romney, this is an assault on religion. The talking point of the right is that Catholic employers would have to pay for birth control when they are against it.I think Adam Lee of bigthink.com said it best: "This is the same thing as pharmacists who refuse to fill prescriptions for birth control pills: they interpret "religious freedom" not to mean, "I will not use birth control because my religion says it's not OK", but to mean, "I will not allow you to use birth control because my religion says it's not OK". They've twisted a person's individual right to abide by whatever beliefs they see fit into an aggressive demand to control the behavior of others."
The Diane Rehm show discussed this today. One of her panelists mentioned that IUDs have abortive-like qualities. I'm hearing that more and more lately. It's starting to make me feel like I'm in some reproductive dystopia where no contraception is allowed because it's ALL abortion!! I brought this up on a feminist LDS Facebook group I am in, and here is one of the comments I liked: "This kind of language is largely a "scare tactic" to exercise influence on women's health care choices. Especially since lots of other conditions can make the uterus less habitable for a fertilized egg looking to implant, like caffeine consumption. But nobody is running around telling ladies that their diet cokes have abortive-like qualities."
Between everything mentioned above, the Planned Parenthood funding issues, and the various "personhood" laws coming through state legislatures, I feel like the Republican party could use a new slogan: We're for small government, except when it comes to your uterus.
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Must watch
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| Grim Colberty Tales with Maurice Sendak Pt. 1 | ||||
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| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| Grim Colberty Tales with Maurice Sendak Pt. 2 | ||||
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This is one of the best interviews I have EVER seen. I had no idea Sendak was such a grouchy old man, and gay at that.
Sendak- I didn't set out to make children happy or to make life better for them or easier for them.
Colbert- Do you like them?
S-I like them as few and far between as I do adults, maybe a bit more because I really don't like adults.
S-I'm a gay man.
C- I'm sorry, I must be mishearing you. You just said you're a gay man? Why are you allowed to write children's books? You're not allowed to head boy scout troops.
S on ebooks: $!$% them is what I say! I hate those e-books. They cannot be the future, they may well be, I will be dead and I won't give a $%!^.
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Indecision 2012 - Pander Express | ||||
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Good clip overall, but I'm posting this for what happens at 3:40. I love him even more. Seriously- he's on my "list." Ryan Gosling and him have pretty much had the stop two spots for awhile now.
-Speaking of Ryan Gosling, Adam and I watched Drive last night. I can't get the trailer to embed, but here is the link. It was such a good movie. Suspenseful movie with an open ending. I don't always like open endings, but it works with this movie.
-I am reading John Green's new book The Fault in Our Stars. I mentioned his vlogs on YouTube to a friend and she had never seen them. Here's a funny one about honey badgers. Here's a somewhat more serious one about Kiva. His brother and him have also started doing crashcourse videos where they teach us stuff.
-I'll end with this one. Now, I'm crunchy in some ways (co-sleeping, extended breastfeeding, delayed vaccination schedule) but very mainstream in other ways.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Ten on Tuesday
1- I saw the movie J. Edgar this other day. He is such a fascinating character. The movie was okay, but I want to get my hands on a good biography of him. I'll have to do some searching on Goodreads.
2- I saw this print on Pinterest, and I feel like I have to share it here. I hope it eventually makes its way into the blog book I still need to make (a 30 before 30 goal).
3- Tomorrow starts my month of eating vegetarian as another one of my 30 before 30 goals. One of the reasons I chose that as a goal was to try to increase variety in my diet. Also, meat is an inflammation trigger for RA. Dairy is as well, but I'm hoping that at least reducing my meat intake will help. Anyone have any must-try vegetarian recipes? I plan on a lot of soups made with veggie broth rather than chicken.
4-I'll be making my first donation to Planned Parenthood tomorrow after we get paid. I've wanted to donate ever since the fiasco where they almost lost government funding, but never got around to it. After reading this today, I'm going to do it.
5- I lost 5 lbs my first week back on WW! I'm hoping to have lost at least 10 lbs by the time I start back at the library.
6- I so want to do this run. In fact, I just now showed Adam the video clip of the race, and we decided to plan our vacation around it. Neither one of us have ever been to Boise.
7- I've made a variation of this smoothie at least 4 times since she posted the recipe. I just use 1 cup skim milk, 1 tablespoon real peanut butter, 1 frozen banana, and 2 cups of spinach. It is awesome! If you like the Peanut Butter Mood smoothie from Jamba Juice, it's like that (just green and a little less sweet). I've been making green smoothies for years, but never like this one. When I go grocery shopping next, I might try to find a light chocolate soy milk or almond milk to try it with.
8- Yes, the sign above him says "Kid Use Only- adults: please don't sit on the log." In the picture, he's smirking like he knew what it said and did it anyways, but he didn't actually see the sign.Another parent and I had a good laugh about this at Gymboree.
2- I saw this print on Pinterest, and I feel like I have to share it here. I hope it eventually makes its way into the blog book I still need to make (a 30 before 30 goal).
3- Tomorrow starts my month of eating vegetarian as another one of my 30 before 30 goals. One of the reasons I chose that as a goal was to try to increase variety in my diet. Also, meat is an inflammation trigger for RA. Dairy is as well, but I'm hoping that at least reducing my meat intake will help. Anyone have any must-try vegetarian recipes? I plan on a lot of soups made with veggie broth rather than chicken.
4-I'll be making my first donation to Planned Parenthood tomorrow after we get paid. I've wanted to donate ever since the fiasco where they almost lost government funding, but never got around to it. After reading this today, I'm going to do it.
5- I lost 5 lbs my first week back on WW! I'm hoping to have lost at least 10 lbs by the time I start back at the library.
6- I so want to do this run. In fact, I just now showed Adam the video clip of the race, and we decided to plan our vacation around it. Neither one of us have ever been to Boise.
7- I've made a variation of this smoothie at least 4 times since she posted the recipe. I just use 1 cup skim milk, 1 tablespoon real peanut butter, 1 frozen banana, and 2 cups of spinach. It is awesome! If you like the Peanut Butter Mood smoothie from Jamba Juice, it's like that (just green and a little less sweet). I've been making green smoothies for years, but never like this one. When I go grocery shopping next, I might try to find a light chocolate soy milk or almond milk to try it with.
8- Yes, the sign above him says "Kid Use Only- adults: please don't sit on the log." In the picture, he's smirking like he knew what it said and did it anyways, but he didn't actually see the sign.Another parent and I had a good laugh about this at Gymboree.
9- One of my friends posted one of my favorite Colbert quotes on Facebook: "If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it,"
I got into into a mostly polite discussion about it with one of her friends. A discussion in which he called Christ a capitalist. I'm still laughing about it. With the help of some friends, I found this article to link him to. I especially like the ending: "In the end, though, it’s silly for anyone to argue that Jesus supported an economic system that he had never heard of or encountered—whether it’s capitalism or socialism. What Jesus did encounter was an economic society with a large gap between the rich and the poor, and at every turn he advocated one thing—that we care for the needs of others as much as we care for our own needs. Now, that’s a revolutionary economic theory."
10- One of my best friends had her fourth baby and first girl yesterday. I'm so happy for them. She had a planned unassisted birth. It's not something I would choose for myself, but if anyone is capable enough to do it, it is her and her husband.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Faith and politics, continued
I love public radio. I often hop in the car just in time to hear at least part of a really interesting program. Just over a week ago, we had to run to Home Depot (we've unfortunately had to go there 5+ times over the last few weeks). RadioWest was on broadcasting a panel on politics and religion in Utah.
Being the mom of an active toddler, it took me until yesterday to listen to the whole hour. They discussed exactly what I speculated about back in November. I was right in that Church members used to vary more in their political beliefs before the era of Roe v. Wade.
All four panelists are LDS- two Democrats and two Republicans. I definitely recommend listening to it, but here a a few tidbits that I just can't resist discussing further. Most of these are just paraphrases of what they said.
Neither is perfect. Maybe the answer is that LDS people aught to be fierce moderates.
-Quinn Monson
While I'm pretty sure I lean firmly to the left, I honestly think that a church of mostly moderates would be a very good thing. I definitely do not like the favor the tea party seems to be receiving here.
I'm so grateful for good Democrats in the church. I think the church's missionary effort is enhanced by the church being perceived as a big tent, which it is. I'm glad that my Democrat colleagues didn't get the memo on agency (chuckling), that they didn't read the scripture about the idea that we are to act and not be acted upon. In their bleeding heart liberalism, they want to take care of people rather than enabling people to suffer the consequences of their actions.
-Howard Stephenson
Seriously? He's happy there are LDS Democrats only because it's good for the missionary effort? And then he follows that with a back-handed insult?
You can't read the BoM without getting pounded about the equality of everything. The book is unambiguous about our responsibility to the poor.
- BYU business school faculty member Kim Smith
If this was really said by a BYU faculty member, I love it! Someone quoted him/her, though, so I can't be 100% sure of its truthfulness.
It is a myth that we get to sit on our rear ends for 30 years at the end of our life. God intended us to work by the sweat of our brows til the end of our days. We are not entitled to let someone else's work help us.
-Holly Richardson
I just can't believe she said this. "Working" by going on a couples mission or two doesn't equate to working until the day you die in order to survive. And seriously, she thinks no one else's work has helped her? She's a former lawmaker who is now a political blogger and a campaign manager, so she owes major gratitude to the women before her that helped make her dreams to be involved in politics possible.
We are the church of Jesus Christ. We minister to all people. That's a profound statement to me.
-Carol Spackman Moss on the church's reaction to the immigration raid in Logan
Yes!
It doesn't have to be socialism or no government.
-Ben McAdams
Yes!
I'd have real struggles with someone being worthy and believing in choice.
-Holly Richardson
After this, someone brought up the idea of being against something personally but not against it by policy. I wish she could understand that.
I got the feeling that what I hoped wasn't the case in that other post is the case, at least for the two Republicans they chose for the panel. Social welfare programs are a deciding factor in their Republican beliefs, the same as abortion and gay rights. Disappointing.
Being the mom of an active toddler, it took me until yesterday to listen to the whole hour. They discussed exactly what I speculated about back in November. I was right in that Church members used to vary more in their political beliefs before the era of Roe v. Wade.
All four panelists are LDS- two Democrats and two Republicans. I definitely recommend listening to it, but here a a few tidbits that I just can't resist discussing further. Most of these are just paraphrases of what they said.
Neither is perfect. Maybe the answer is that LDS people aught to be fierce moderates.
-Quinn Monson
While I'm pretty sure I lean firmly to the left, I honestly think that a church of mostly moderates would be a very good thing. I definitely do not like the favor the tea party seems to be receiving here.
I'm so grateful for good Democrats in the church. I think the church's missionary effort is enhanced by the church being perceived as a big tent, which it is. I'm glad that my Democrat colleagues didn't get the memo on agency (chuckling), that they didn't read the scripture about the idea that we are to act and not be acted upon. In their bleeding heart liberalism, they want to take care of people rather than enabling people to suffer the consequences of their actions.
-Howard Stephenson
Seriously? He's happy there are LDS Democrats only because it's good for the missionary effort? And then he follows that with a back-handed insult?
You can't read the BoM without getting pounded about the equality of everything. The book is unambiguous about our responsibility to the poor.
- BYU business school faculty member Kim Smith
If this was really said by a BYU faculty member, I love it! Someone quoted him/her, though, so I can't be 100% sure of its truthfulness.
It is a myth that we get to sit on our rear ends for 30 years at the end of our life. God intended us to work by the sweat of our brows til the end of our days. We are not entitled to let someone else's work help us.
-Holly Richardson
I just can't believe she said this. "Working" by going on a couples mission or two doesn't equate to working until the day you die in order to survive. And seriously, she thinks no one else's work has helped her? She's a former lawmaker who is now a political blogger and a campaign manager, so she owes major gratitude to the women before her that helped make her dreams to be involved in politics possible.
We are the church of Jesus Christ. We minister to all people. That's a profound statement to me.
-Carol Spackman Moss on the church's reaction to the immigration raid in Logan
Yes!
It doesn't have to be socialism or no government.
-Ben McAdams
Yes!
I'd have real struggles with someone being worthy and believing in choice.
-Holly Richardson
After this, someone brought up the idea of being against something personally but not against it by policy. I wish she could understand that.
I got the feeling that what I hoped wasn't the case in that other post is the case, at least for the two Republicans they chose for the panel. Social welfare programs are a deciding factor in their Republican beliefs, the same as abortion and gay rights. Disappointing.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Abortion, social programs, and the religious right
Disclaimer: This is one of those posts where I am terrified to hit publish, but I just have to get it out there.
Thanks to my friend Miri and a few of her posts (this one on abortion and this one on social programs for the poor and Christ's teachings about the poor, I've had something on my mind.
We all know the majority of LDS people (at least in Utah) vote Republican. I could be wrong, especially since I couldn't find a source, but I think I remember reading it used to be the other way around. It used to be traditional for LDS people to vote Democrat. (If this sounds familiar to you and you can get me a source, I would gladly appreciate it.)
So what happened? When did the tide turn? I'm guessing it had to do with Roe V. Wade and the ERA. I'm actually really hoping it did.
You might ask me why. I'm against making abortion illegal and I'm a feminist that thinks the ERA should have passed. So why do I hope the deciding vote is about abortion? Because the likely alternative makes me sad. I see two of the the main differences between Democrats and Republicans to be their stance on abortion and their stance on social programs.
I sincerely hope that most LDS Republicans would tell me they are Republican because of the Democrat stance on abortion. I wouldn't agree with it, but it would be an easier pill to swallow. If you didn't click on the link about Christ's teachings about the poor earlier, please do now. Miri put together a great list of scriptures about caring for the poor.
I really like what Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said at BYU in 2007: "My faith and political beliefs are deeply intertwined. I am a Democrat because I am a Mormon, not in spite of it." Utah state senator Ben McAdams also said something to that effect in September. He's part of a new LDS Democrat caucus, the existence of which makes me happy. What they say makes sense to me. And to expand it, I would love to hear other Christian Democrats say "I am Democrat because I am a Christian."
Thanks to my friend Miri and a few of her posts (this one on abortion and this one on social programs for the poor and Christ's teachings about the poor, I've had something on my mind.
We all know the majority of LDS people (at least in Utah) vote Republican. I could be wrong, especially since I couldn't find a source, but I think I remember reading it used to be the other way around. It used to be traditional for LDS people to vote Democrat. (If this sounds familiar to you and you can get me a source, I would gladly appreciate it.)
So what happened? When did the tide turn? I'm guessing it had to do with Roe V. Wade and the ERA. I'm actually really hoping it did.
You might ask me why. I'm against making abortion illegal and I'm a feminist that thinks the ERA should have passed. So why do I hope the deciding vote is about abortion? Because the likely alternative makes me sad. I see two of the the main differences between Democrats and Republicans to be their stance on abortion and their stance on social programs.
I sincerely hope that most LDS Republicans would tell me they are Republican because of the Democrat stance on abortion. I wouldn't agree with it, but it would be an easier pill to swallow. If you didn't click on the link about Christ's teachings about the poor earlier, please do now. Miri put together a great list of scriptures about caring for the poor.
I really like what Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said at BYU in 2007: "My faith and political beliefs are deeply intertwined. I am a Democrat because I am a Mormon, not in spite of it." Utah state senator Ben McAdams also said something to that effect in September. He's part of a new LDS Democrat caucus, the existence of which makes me happy. What they say makes sense to me. And to expand it, I would love to hear other Christian Democrats say "I am Democrat because I am a Christian."
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Recently read
Autobiography of an Execution by David R. Dow
"If you have reservations about supporting a racist, classist, unprincipled regime, a regime where white skin is valued far more highly than dark, where prosecutors hide evidence and policemen routinely lie, where judges decide what justice requires by consulting the most recent Gallup poll, where rich people sometimes get away with murder and never end up on death row, then the death-penalty system we have here in America will embarrass you to no end."
"In theory, there is a presumption of innocence in the American legal system, innocent until proven guilty, but in practice, it is just the opposite. Juries trust the police and the prosecutors, especially when the jurors are middle-class white folks. They think that if someone gets arrested and goes on trial, there must be good reasons to believe that he did it."
Squashed by Joan Bauer
"Winning's a fine thing, Ellie, but it's all the months and years before and after that made you who you are."
Cover Me: A Health Insurance Memoir by Sonya Huber
"Poverty and numbers alone had run us up against a last refuge, the generosity of a hospital that could write us off by claiming a donation to the poor. These things are the opposite of a guarantee and so the opposite of a sense of security. They impart the adrenaline rush of a bullet whizzing by one's ear, clipping millimeters of flesh and delivering a narrow margin of safety that emphasizes its own transience. This was my first real sense of us as three, as a family; three was the number that made our combined income not genteel poverty but a bit of an emergency, and three was the number that made the $3,000 disappear. I felt so guilty for putting my son to work in the numbers game in the weeks before he even understood the outlines of this world. He was already working, already helping with too much of the burden, for this thin-stretched family."
Every Thing On It by Shel Silverstein
Wall Marks
Those stratchy marks there on the wall,
They show how short I used to be.
They rise until they get this tall,
And Mama keeps reminding me
The way my Dad would take his pen
And as I stood there, stiff and straight,
He'd put a ruler on my head
And mark the spot and write the date.
She says that it's my history,
But I don't understand at all
Just why she cries each time she sees
Those sratchy marks there on the wall.
Yesees and Noees
The Yesees said yes to anything
That anyone suggested.
The Noees said no to everything
Unless it was proven and tested.
So the Yesees all died of much too much
And the Noees all died of fright,
But somehow I think the Thinkforyourselfees
All came out all right.
"If you have reservations about supporting a racist, classist, unprincipled regime, a regime where white skin is valued far more highly than dark, where prosecutors hide evidence and policemen routinely lie, where judges decide what justice requires by consulting the most recent Gallup poll, where rich people sometimes get away with murder and never end up on death row, then the death-penalty system we have here in America will embarrass you to no end."
"In theory, there is a presumption of innocence in the American legal system, innocent until proven guilty, but in practice, it is just the opposite. Juries trust the police and the prosecutors, especially when the jurors are middle-class white folks. They think that if someone gets arrested and goes on trial, there must be good reasons to believe that he did it."
Squashed by Joan Bauer
"Winning's a fine thing, Ellie, but it's all the months and years before and after that made you who you are."
Cover Me: A Health Insurance Memoir by Sonya Huber
"Poverty and numbers alone had run us up against a last refuge, the generosity of a hospital that could write us off by claiming a donation to the poor. These things are the opposite of a guarantee and so the opposite of a sense of security. They impart the adrenaline rush of a bullet whizzing by one's ear, clipping millimeters of flesh and delivering a narrow margin of safety that emphasizes its own transience. This was my first real sense of us as three, as a family; three was the number that made our combined income not genteel poverty but a bit of an emergency, and three was the number that made the $3,000 disappear. I felt so guilty for putting my son to work in the numbers game in the weeks before he even understood the outlines of this world. He was already working, already helping with too much of the burden, for this thin-stretched family."
Every Thing On It by Shel Silverstein
Wall Marks
Those stratchy marks there on the wall,
They show how short I used to be.
They rise until they get this tall,
And Mama keeps reminding me
The way my Dad would take his pen
And as I stood there, stiff and straight,
He'd put a ruler on my head
And mark the spot and write the date.
She says that it's my history,
But I don't understand at all
Just why she cries each time she sees
Those sratchy marks there on the wall.
Yesees and Noees
The Yesees said yes to anything
That anyone suggested.
The Noees said no to everything
Unless it was proven and tested.
So the Yesees all died of much too much
And the Noees all died of fright,
But somehow I think the Thinkforyourselfees
All came out all right.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Ten on Tuesday
1- I want to write about my job and the things I've learned about politics, but I can't. It drives me nuts!
2- I've also learned a lot about writing. Still learning, in fact. Maybe it's just me, but AP style can be tricky. Plus, the paper I work for mostly follows AP, but not everything.
3- I like using the Oxford comma, but my editor keeps editing it out. I have to really focus on that when I write next month's articles. It reminds me of when I found out a year or two ago I wasn't supposed to use two spaces after a period. It took me a week or two to stop automatically hitting the space bar twice.
4- I am so glad I have an editor. I make the silliest spelling mistakes sometimes that spellcheck doesn't catch because the misspelled word is another real word. I promise I re-read everything before I send it to her, but I miss things.
5- I know all of these have been about my job so far. That is because the deadline for October's paper was on Monday. I got my redlines back today and luckily didn't have any major changes to make. That means other than city council meetings and two events tomorrow, I am free until staff meeting. Staff meeting is always two weeks after deadline, and I always waste those two weeks. I could get things pre-approved and start the articles early. In fact, I probably should. I haven't yet, though, in my seven months writing. From staff meeting until deadline is two weeks usually (three if it's a five week month).
6- My least favorite part of this job is getting people to talk to me. Almost everyone screens their work phone now. Most of the time, I have to call someone around three times before I get the quote or interview I need.
7- I really want to go to this Counterpoint Conference this weekend. Adam even has Saturday off (at least until 5 p.m.) so I think I'm going to go. I wish I didn't have to go alone, but it sounds so interesting that I will anyways.
8- The Occupy Wall Street protests really intrigue me. Mostly because I can't find a solid source of information for it. There is SO much on Twitter, but not verified, of course. Not much of the mainstream media is covering it, for obvious reasons. If an event is organized in SLC, I might take my little man to it. The We Are the 99 Percent message resonates with me.
9- I am going to have a hard time as Brayden gets old, I tell you. We have moved Brayden into his own bed in his own room. After a week, it still makes me sad.
10- In related news, Brayden is 27 months old, or 2 1/4 years old. I guess I should stop saying he's barely 2, huh?
2- I've also learned a lot about writing. Still learning, in fact. Maybe it's just me, but AP style can be tricky. Plus, the paper I work for mostly follows AP, but not everything.
3- I like using the Oxford comma, but my editor keeps editing it out. I have to really focus on that when I write next month's articles. It reminds me of when I found out a year or two ago I wasn't supposed to use two spaces after a period. It took me a week or two to stop automatically hitting the space bar twice.
4- I am so glad I have an editor. I make the silliest spelling mistakes sometimes that spellcheck doesn't catch because the misspelled word is another real word. I promise I re-read everything before I send it to her, but I miss things.
5- I know all of these have been about my job so far. That is because the deadline for October's paper was on Monday. I got my redlines back today and luckily didn't have any major changes to make. That means other than city council meetings and two events tomorrow, I am free until staff meeting. Staff meeting is always two weeks after deadline, and I always waste those two weeks. I could get things pre-approved and start the articles early. In fact, I probably should. I haven't yet, though, in my seven months writing. From staff meeting until deadline is two weeks usually (three if it's a five week month).
6- My least favorite part of this job is getting people to talk to me. Almost everyone screens their work phone now. Most of the time, I have to call someone around three times before I get the quote or interview I need.
7- I really want to go to this Counterpoint Conference this weekend. Adam even has Saturday off (at least until 5 p.m.) so I think I'm going to go. I wish I didn't have to go alone, but it sounds so interesting that I will anyways.
8- The Occupy Wall Street protests really intrigue me. Mostly because I can't find a solid source of information for it. There is SO much on Twitter, but not verified, of course. Not much of the mainstream media is covering it, for obvious reasons. If an event is organized in SLC, I might take my little man to it. The We Are the 99 Percent message resonates with me.
9- I am going to have a hard time as Brayden gets old, I tell you. We have moved Brayden into his own bed in his own room. After a week, it still makes me sad.
10- In related news, Brayden is 27 months old, or 2 1/4 years old. I guess I should stop saying he's barely 2, huh?
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Troy Davis
I have kept myself busy all day, but it's been a very sobering, heavy heart kind of day for me. I just learned yesterday about a man named Troy Davis. This New York Times editorial is where I first learned about him and his case.He is a Georgia state inmate facing the death penalty for killing a police officer. His execution has been scheduled and then postponed for appeals four times.
His execution was scheduled for four hours ago, but there was a (very) last-minute temporary stay from the Supreme Court. As I write this, the Supreme Court has decided not to block the execution any longer. It is set to take place in the next half an hour.
I don't know whether he is guilty or innocent, but the case against him has many problems. The case lacks much physical evidence and is mostly based on the testimony of nine eyewitnesses. From the editorial:
The Savannah police contaminated the memories of four witnesses by re-enacting the crime with them present so that their individual perceptions were turned into a group one
The police showed some of the witnesses Mr. Davis’s photograph even before the lineup.
His lineup picture was set apart by a different background.
The lineup was also administered by a police officer involved in the investigation, increasing the potential for influencing the witnesses.
Seven of nine witnesses against Mr. Davis recanted after trial.
Six said the police threatened them if they did not identify Mr. Davis.
The man who first told the police that Mr. Davis was the shooter later confessed to the crime (and is one of the two eyewitnesses who did not recant).
The United States should not be on this list of countries that still practice the death penalty. I'm not up on my geography, so tell me if I am wrong, but the U.S. appears to be one of two developed countries (Japan being the other).
I'm categorically against the death penalty, but realize it probably will not be repealed. That aside, I think it is reprehensible that a man is being executed when there is this much doubt.
I am not proud to be an American today.
His execution was scheduled for four hours ago, but there was a (very) last-minute temporary stay from the Supreme Court. As I write this, the Supreme Court has decided not to block the execution any longer. It is set to take place in the next half an hour.
I don't know whether he is guilty or innocent, but the case against him has many problems. The case lacks much physical evidence and is mostly based on the testimony of nine eyewitnesses. From the editorial:
The Savannah police contaminated the memories of four witnesses by re-enacting the crime with them present so that their individual perceptions were turned into a group one
The police showed some of the witnesses Mr. Davis’s photograph even before the lineup.
His lineup picture was set apart by a different background.
The lineup was also administered by a police officer involved in the investigation, increasing the potential for influencing the witnesses.
Seven of nine witnesses against Mr. Davis recanted after trial.
Six said the police threatened them if they did not identify Mr. Davis.
The man who first told the police that Mr. Davis was the shooter later confessed to the crime (and is one of the two eyewitnesses who did not recant).
The United States should not be on this list of countries that still practice the death penalty. I'm not up on my geography, so tell me if I am wrong, but the U.S. appears to be one of two developed countries (Japan being the other).
I'm categorically against the death penalty, but realize it probably will not be repealed. That aside, I think it is reprehensible that a man is being executed when there is this much doubt.
I am not proud to be an American today.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Moderation in politics is dying, or why I'm considering registering Republican
This blog post on the ideology of our nation's Governors is really interesting. He assigns each Governor a score of zero (liberal) to 100 (conservative). He then looked at exit polls for each state and gave the state an ideology score.
As I expected, most current Democrat governors are more moderate than current Republican governors. I didn't expect it to be this extreme though:
Unlike for the Democrats, there is almost no ideological diversity within the group: essentially all of the current Republican governors are quite conservative, taking moderate positions on at most one or two issues. Also unlike the Democrats, there is no correlation between the ideology of the governors and the ideology of the states. Whether you have a Republican governor in a fairly liberal state like Maine, a moderate state like Ohio, or a conservative one like Idaho, his agenda is likely to be highly conservative.
And then he really threw me a curve ball:
The closest thing to an exception — the outlier in the chart — is Gov. Gary R. Herbert of Utah, who shares some of the moderate tendencies of his predecessor, Jon M. Huntsman Jr.
I guess I need to stop complaining about him so much. I just hope the fact that he is more moderate than the state is as a whole doesn't mean the same thing that happened to Bob Bennett will happen to him.
In fact, this is another reason I'm considering registering Republican in time for primary season 2012. Utah GOP has this insane rule that you have to be registered Republican to vote in the Republican primaries. I will register Republican if it means I can place a vote for Huntsman against Romney (assuming Huntsman is still in the race), for Hatch against Jason Chaffetz or whatever Tea Party candidate runs again him, and Herbert if a Tea Party candidate runs against him. This is big. I never thought I would vote for Hatch or Herbert. But if I have to register Republican and embrace the moderate ones, I think I'll do it- at least in the primaries.
As I expected, most current Democrat governors are more moderate than current Republican governors. I didn't expect it to be this extreme though:
Unlike for the Democrats, there is almost no ideological diversity within the group: essentially all of the current Republican governors are quite conservative, taking moderate positions on at most one or two issues. Also unlike the Democrats, there is no correlation between the ideology of the governors and the ideology of the states. Whether you have a Republican governor in a fairly liberal state like Maine, a moderate state like Ohio, or a conservative one like Idaho, his agenda is likely to be highly conservative.
And then he really threw me a curve ball:
The closest thing to an exception — the outlier in the chart — is Gov. Gary R. Herbert of Utah, who shares some of the moderate tendencies of his predecessor, Jon M. Huntsman Jr.
I guess I need to stop complaining about him so much. I just hope the fact that he is more moderate than the state is as a whole doesn't mean the same thing that happened to Bob Bennett will happen to him.
In fact, this is another reason I'm considering registering Republican in time for primary season 2012. Utah GOP has this insane rule that you have to be registered Republican to vote in the Republican primaries. I will register Republican if it means I can place a vote for Huntsman against Romney (assuming Huntsman is still in the race), for Hatch against Jason Chaffetz or whatever Tea Party candidate runs again him, and Herbert if a Tea Party candidate runs against him. This is big. I never thought I would vote for Hatch or Herbert. But if I have to register Republican and embrace the moderate ones, I think I'll do it- at least in the primaries.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Play or Communism?
My sister and I have had a six month membership to the Discovery Children's Museum, and have been to its current Play exhibit twice. From that link:
“Play” is a family-oriented interactive traveling museum and science center exhibition that uses larger-than-life clubhouse-style games to explore how people connect socially through play.
Six giant all-body interactive game experiences allow visitors to literally step into the action, alone or with others, to experience a wide range of social dynamics, such as collaboration, teamwork, tolerance, empathy and group perspective. “Play” is designed to help children and adults explore relationships and social engagement as relate to their daily lives and to larger communities and environments.
• “The Collective Experience’ - a pool table surface with a set of nine giant billiard balls visitors can move, each ball creating its own musical tone, which synchronize with others to create a complex composition
• “The Will of the Group”- a foosball table that allows visitors to step into the role of players’ positions to explore the importance of individual expression and respecting the will of the group
• “The Power of Many”- a unique bowling experience, where visitors move together down the alley to achieve different outcomes; the experience demonstrates the power of group support and overcoming challenges as teams
• “Sum and Sum” - a full set of giant, soft-play dominoes encourages creativity and active play, with everyone working together to create buildings, forts and mazes or playing a simple version of the domino game; the activities are designed to promote cooperation and skills
• “Counterpoint”- a giant backgammon board that emits different tones when stepped on, represents the balance and movement found in music to explore how dialogue, like a melody, is achieved in responding to the actions of others; with success, the melody can become a polyphonic symphony
• “One Message” - a giant game die comes to life, with voices communicating strikingly similar proverbial messages shared by many cultures; on each face, the dots (or ‘pips’) vocalize the medley of voices from past generations and varied languages around the world
I was shocked to read this letter to the editor in the Salt Lake Tribune accusing the exhibit of having a "political agenda" because the different games require children to work together, therefore reeking of collectivism and to take it a step further, communism. Here's the text of the letter from that link:
After visiting the Discovery Gateway children’s museum, I was shocked that its new exhibit, “Play,” is lined with political agenda. The exhibit, which “uses larger-than-life clubhouse-style games to explore how people connect socially,” features giant group games: dominoes, backgammon, bowling, pool and a strange robot funhouse — all requiring children to collaborate.
The exhibit was bizarre, like Alice in Wonderland, but the kids had fun. However, when my friend pointed out an exhibit description on a wall, I realized this was a politically charged exhibit focusing on the “collective experience.”
Collectivism has reared its head in ugly forms, such as communism, socialism and fascism. It seeks to make the individual unimportant and instead makes collective decisions for the group. Kind of a one-size-fits-all policy.
Collectivism is currently showing its face in our government as it attempts the redistribution of wealth, common property ownership and controlling business and health care. This dangerous philosophy seeks to destroy diversity of lifestyle and opinion. Collectivism is the antithesis to celebrating diversity, loving one another and practicing social tolerance.
I’m furious that our county Zoo, Arts and Parks tax dollars are funding exhibits like this, with so damaging a political agenda.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Congress as America
My friend Miri posted this link on Facebook. Go click on the link and take a gander. Don't worry, I'll wait. Can you imagine if this really happened, if Congress demographically represented America?
There would be 218 female legislators, not just 91.
81 of our representatives would be from a party other than Democrat or Republican. These third parties don't seem so counterculture when you look at it that way, right?
This isn't a surprise, but most minority groups are very under-represented. There are 44 African Americans, 27 Hispanics, 10 Asian, and 1 American Indian. In this truly representative Congress, there would be 20 more African Americans, 59 more Hispanics, 15 more Asians, and 4 more American Indians.
All of the major religions are very well-represented. The thing that caught my eye in the religion section is that 70 representatives would be unaffiliated with a specific religion when in reality no current representatives are. I don't think this one is good or bad necessarily, just interesting.
The other examples, however, give a glimpse as to what is wrong with politics right now. It's mostly a mens' game for many reasons I won't go into here. A game for wealthy, white men. Go ahead and say I'm wrong all you want, but that's how I see it and this illustration just proves it.
As for having a "third" party, I'm becoming more and more open to it. Not everyone fits squarely into the Democrat or Republican label. I have to say it makes me mad when the candidate I liked loses and the pundits say it's because so-and-so took just enough votes away. I don't know how to fix the system so that another party can be more viable, but it would be nice.
There would be 218 female legislators, not just 91.
81 of our representatives would be from a party other than Democrat or Republican. These third parties don't seem so counterculture when you look at it that way, right?
This isn't a surprise, but most minority groups are very under-represented. There are 44 African Americans, 27 Hispanics, 10 Asian, and 1 American Indian. In this truly representative Congress, there would be 20 more African Americans, 59 more Hispanics, 15 more Asians, and 4 more American Indians.
All of the major religions are very well-represented. The thing that caught my eye in the religion section is that 70 representatives would be unaffiliated with a specific religion when in reality no current representatives are. I don't think this one is good or bad necessarily, just interesting.
The other examples, however, give a glimpse as to what is wrong with politics right now. It's mostly a mens' game for many reasons I won't go into here. A game for wealthy, white men. Go ahead and say I'm wrong all you want, but that's how I see it and this illustration just proves it.
As for having a "third" party, I'm becoming more and more open to it. Not everyone fits squarely into the Democrat or Republican label. I have to say it makes me mad when the candidate I liked loses and the pundits say it's because so-and-so took just enough votes away. I don't know how to fix the system so that another party can be more viable, but it would be nice.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Politics and religion
Yes, I'm getting back into posting about politics. Didn't you know there's an election in 18 months? That's like tomorrow. Just kidding- I know it's a long ways away, but even though I'm over 99% sure I will vote to re-elect President Obama, I'm feeling sorry for one of the bajillion possible Republican candidates.
Did you read the article in the Salt Lake Tribune about former Utah governor Huntsman's faith? Basically, He said this in a TIME magazine interview: “I’m a very spiritual person and proud of my Mormon roots.” And then on whether he is still a member: “That’s tough to define. There are varying degrees. I come from a long line of saloon keepers and proselytizers, and I draw from both sides.”
In response, a political science student at BYU said, “I understand what he’s doing to an extent, but why not just come out and say ‘yes,’ or ‘no’? He’s been so coy about his beliefs that I just kind of find it somewhat disingenuous.” Seriously? He think he's just being coy? There's no chance he actually feels that way and is in a questioning phase (similar to the one I've been stuck in for a few years)? It's wrong that he brings part of the Hindu faith into his family because he adopted a girl born into that faith? I think not.
I loved Robert Kirby's response, especially this quote: Had the “good Mormon” question been posed during my campaign last year, I would have instructed my press spokesman to issue the following statement: “Thank you for coming. Mr. Kirby went to church last week. Here’s a picture. Beyond that, his level of commitment to his faith is none of your [flippin’] business. Thank you.”
Even though I consider myself liberal, I liked Huntsman as Governor, especially once he left and we got stuck with his way more conservative Lieutenant Governor. I think he's a good centrist. He obviously showed that by taking a post in Obama's cabinet. Of course, that's yet another thing hard Republicans don't like about him- he's actually able to work well with a Democrat president. Good heavens, people. It is a good thing to be able to reach across the aisle. And while faith shouldn't matter in politics, it does, so we should appreciate his honesty about his spirituality and faith (or lack thereof).
Did you read the article in the Salt Lake Tribune about former Utah governor Huntsman's faith? Basically, He said this in a TIME magazine interview: “I’m a very spiritual person and proud of my Mormon roots.” And then on whether he is still a member: “That’s tough to define. There are varying degrees. I come from a long line of saloon keepers and proselytizers, and I draw from both sides.”
In response, a political science student at BYU said, “I understand what he’s doing to an extent, but why not just come out and say ‘yes,’ or ‘no’? He’s been so coy about his beliefs that I just kind of find it somewhat disingenuous.” Seriously? He think he's just being coy? There's no chance he actually feels that way and is in a questioning phase (similar to the one I've been stuck in for a few years)? It's wrong that he brings part of the Hindu faith into his family because he adopted a girl born into that faith? I think not.
I loved Robert Kirby's response, especially this quote: Had the “good Mormon” question been posed during my campaign last year, I would have instructed my press spokesman to issue the following statement: “Thank you for coming. Mr. Kirby went to church last week. Here’s a picture. Beyond that, his level of commitment to his faith is none of your [flippin’] business. Thank you.”
Even though I consider myself liberal, I liked Huntsman as Governor, especially once he left and we got stuck with his way more conservative Lieutenant Governor. I think he's a good centrist. He obviously showed that by taking a post in Obama's cabinet. Of course, that's yet another thing hard Republicans don't like about him- he's actually able to work well with a Democrat president. Good heavens, people. It is a good thing to be able to reach across the aisle. And while faith shouldn't matter in politics, it does, so we should appreciate his honesty about his spirituality and faith (or lack thereof).
Monday, May 2, 2011
The world we live in
I know I haven't posted for awhile, and I have other stuff to blog, but I just have to write this post on Twitter and the death of Osama bin Laden. Hardly anyone reads this anymore, it's basically a personal journal and I want to make sure I can tell my kid(s) and hopefully grandkids about where I was, how I found out, and tell them some jokes about it too. However, if you do read it, and think you might be offended that people were joking on Twitter in regards to bin Laden's death, just skip over the joke part at the end.
I was sitting in the bathroom using the Twitter app on my iPod while Brayden was in the tub. People started mentioning around 7:45 pm that the President was going to speak at 8:30. Multiple people in my twitter stream (if you don't know about Twitter, it's just like the Facebook news feed) started wondering and getting worried since it was late (Eastern time) on a Sunday, and definitely not a typical time for the President to speak on the television. Most people thought it would be about Libya, but that was soon denied. I should have taken this time to put Brayden to bed, but I didn't. The President was supposed to speak in 15 minutes, after all, and I didn't want to miss it.
Around 8:15 it was all over Twitter that Osama bin Laden was dead. And if reports are right, the news broke on Twitter. One, a former chief of staff for Donald Rumsfield tweeted that a reputable person told him we got Osama, but that he wasn't completely sure. Two, there was an IT guy in the same town as the compound that unknowingly live-tweeted the raid.
By this point, I had heard the news and put it on Facebook, but I still wanted to hear the President say it before I truly believed it. And so Brayden stayed up. And the President didn't come on at 8:30, or 8:45. I may be wrong but I think it was about 9:00. I think his speech was just right. He emphasized that the thanks needs to go to the intelligence and counterterrorism professionals and especially to the men who carried out the mission, as to all people who have served in the military since 2001. He let the American people know that he only ordered this to be done after being completely sure Osama was there and that the intelligence was good. And amazingly, no Americans were harmed and it sounds like there were few civilian casualties if any. That's the way it should be done, in my opinion.
Here are some of the tweets I took note of last night:
Serious, heartfelt tweets
-Bin Laden dead. May God have mercy on his soul. I am grateful for the US military and their long, patient service.
-We should also thank the many members of the CIA who carried out this dangerous mission and will probably never get any credit.
-Spontaneous singing of national anthem outside White House gates
-What worries me? Bin Laden has had almost 10 years to plan retaliation for his death. SO hoping our country stays safe still.
-He sat and laughed at the Correspondent's Dinner last night knowing that this was imminent. Balls of iron. (And then her next tweet, because Twitter limits you to 140 characters- Yes, yes, this is why I voted for him. Because he can lead. He is not perfect. But he can lead.
Funny tweets
-Mr. President, you're late.
-Got Bin Laden AND interrupted Celebrity Apprentice? Win for Obama all around. (Jimmy Fallon)
-Watching CNN stall for time is very entertaining. They have absolutely nothing to say, but they're saying it very urgently.
-Let's all take this time to thank the one person who no doubt was behind the killing of -Jack Bauer.
-So the Kenyan Muslim president got it done?
-No matter what Obama says, bin Laden's not dead until Donald Trump sees his death certificate.
-Well, at least this'll put an end to f'in Royal Wedding talk. (No, it didn't. The Today Show still talked about it in great deal this morning.)
-Turns out sending some badass special ops guys into Pakistan is a more effective way of killing Bin Laden than invading Iraq.
-I hope it turns out that Bin Laden was killed by an openly gay soldier.
-True story: Bin Laden was caught while watching "Real Housewives of Islamabad" on an 80" plasma. (Rainn Wilson... aka Dwight from The Office)
And this last one is my favorite. I couldn't wait until I finished this post, so I've already posted it on Facebook:
The military got suspicious when they found a mansion built by the Bluth Company in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Arrested Development, baby!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Bad News
It seems like this has been a week of bad news (well, for liberally-minded people like myself). I was even on vacation and missed a lot of news, but here is what I did hear and am not happy about:
Residential segregation in West Valley- Institutional discrimination in the form of residential segregation and then blaming the victim for the outcome. Classic. I love Buckner's attitude, but it doesn't seem to be the norm.
Rep. Sandstrom's bill passed- I'm glad the bill was toned down, but I still don't think it should have been passed in the first place. I do have hope that the bill won't be put into effect frequently, due to one of the wording changes. He changed the wording from "shall check status" of someone being charged with a misdemeanor, to "may check status." I know Chief Burbank is against this bill, and I honestly hope he tells SLC cops not to do it since it isn't a requirement under this new bill.
The recurring tuition bill- I feel like this is introduced every legislative session in Utah. It's great it hasn't passed yet, and I hope it doesn't this year either. I can even give a scriptural argument against it- the 2nd Article of Faith and Moses 6:54 (not that I think illegal immigration is necessarily a sin). If these youth have graduated high school while dealing with all of the challenges immigrants usually face (poverty, language struggles, etc.), then they deserve the chance to go to college at a reasonable price.
And I hope this one doesn't pass either- I know this is where some of us may part ways- just remember that me being pro-choice doesn't mean I am pro-abortions. There's a big difference. Anyways, I get that our government needs to cut some spending, but to fully block one group's aid because they perform abortions (which are not done on the government's dollar) is not about saving money. It's about Republicans being ridiculous. Planned Parenthood is about so much more than abortions- go here to read a better post on the situation. I used Planned Parenthood for pap smears and birth control when we didn't have insurance.
My next post will be happy- we took a spontaneous trip this week and I'll tell you all about it.
Residential segregation in West Valley- Institutional discrimination in the form of residential segregation and then blaming the victim for the outcome. Classic. I love Buckner's attitude, but it doesn't seem to be the norm.
Rep. Sandstrom's bill passed- I'm glad the bill was toned down, but I still don't think it should have been passed in the first place. I do have hope that the bill won't be put into effect frequently, due to one of the wording changes. He changed the wording from "shall check status" of someone being charged with a misdemeanor, to "may check status." I know Chief Burbank is against this bill, and I honestly hope he tells SLC cops not to do it since it isn't a requirement under this new bill.
The recurring tuition bill- I feel like this is introduced every legislative session in Utah. It's great it hasn't passed yet, and I hope it doesn't this year either. I can even give a scriptural argument against it- the 2nd Article of Faith and Moses 6:54 (not that I think illegal immigration is necessarily a sin). If these youth have graduated high school while dealing with all of the challenges immigrants usually face (poverty, language struggles, etc.), then they deserve the chance to go to college at a reasonable price.
And I hope this one doesn't pass either- I know this is where some of us may part ways- just remember that me being pro-choice doesn't mean I am pro-abortions. There's a big difference. Anyways, I get that our government needs to cut some spending, but to fully block one group's aid because they perform abortions (which are not done on the government's dollar) is not about saving money. It's about Republicans being ridiculous. Planned Parenthood is about so much more than abortions- go here to read a better post on the situation. I used Planned Parenthood for pap smears and birth control when we didn't have insurance.
My next post will be happy- we took a spontaneous trip this week and I'll tell you all about it.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
TSA and Glenn Beck
Yes, here comes another political post. It's a first, though, because it's one in which I agree with Glenn Beck. When the news first started coming out about the full body scanners and TSA pat-downs, I thought the fuss was stupid (honestly). I have a friend who just took a trip, however, and if what happened there is going to be the norm, I'm not happy about it. They were doing "random" selections and those people had to go through both the scanner and the pat-down, her husband being one of them. And for the 20 minutes they were in line, my friend said it was every 4th person. Not so random. I don't like either one of them really, but I get that some security has to be in place. I don't like that you apparently don't always have a choice between the two. I think you should have a choice (unless they notice something suspicious and need the other test to help verify).
I don't care as much about the radiation. It's unfortunate, but we are exposed basically all the time. That's just our world now. I don't like that the screens can be saved, but I doubt that there will be an influx of perverts trying to get TSA jobs just to see the full-body scans or do the pat-downs. In fact, I don't like that implication, because these agents are just doing their job, doing what they are told to do.
I guess, then, I don't agree with all of what I've heard Glenn Beck say. I do hope that this policy of people having to do both eventually changes. I think people have the right to choose for themselves what the lesser of the two evils is. I don't travel much, but I would choose the scanner and would be upset if I had to do both.
I don't care as much about the radiation. It's unfortunate, but we are exposed basically all the time. That's just our world now. I don't like that the screens can be saved, but I doubt that there will be an influx of perverts trying to get TSA jobs just to see the full-body scans or do the pat-downs. In fact, I don't like that implication, because these agents are just doing their job, doing what they are told to do.
I guess, then, I don't agree with all of what I've heard Glenn Beck say. I do hope that this policy of people having to do both eventually changes. I think people have the right to choose for themselves what the lesser of the two evils is. I don't travel much, but I would choose the scanner and would be upset if I had to do both.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Lessons learned...
just this week alone.
We went to SLC's live broadcast of Jon Stewart's Rally to Restore Sanity, and his speech made me realize that I am sometimes part of the problem. It's important to be respectful, even when we have differences. I will admit to not having the best attitude towards pundits like Glenn Beck and their fans. The signs were pretty fun, the music was entertaining, but Stewart's speech was amazing. Please watch it if you haven't already. It all had an effect on me, butit felt like a punch in the gut when he said "If you amplify everything, you hear nothing." I have been guilty of that. I have a lot to learn apparently, as if that wasn't clear already. On a side note, here are some of the signs I liked (from the SLC rally):
The next lesson I've learned is from this new blog (vlog?) I've been watching called Mompetition. It's all about the "mommy wars." Which is admittedly, another trap I've fallen into. The first video is the best. I've learned from this blog that no mom is perfect and that we (for the most part) are all trying our best. I do believe in things like natural birth, breastfeeding, etc but need to remember that my way doesn't work for everybody.
And lastly... don't go watch Life As We Know It on a date with your husband if you are prone to having anxiety about either losing your baby or leaving your baby parentless. Cute romance, but I was crying for half the movie.
We went to SLC's live broadcast of Jon Stewart's Rally to Restore Sanity, and his speech made me realize that I am sometimes part of the problem. It's important to be respectful, even when we have differences. I will admit to not having the best attitude towards pundits like Glenn Beck and their fans. The signs were pretty fun, the music was entertaining, but Stewart's speech was amazing. Please watch it if you haven't already. It all had an effect on me, butit felt like a punch in the gut when he said "If you amplify everything, you hear nothing." I have been guilty of that. I have a lot to learn apparently, as if that wasn't clear already. On a side note, here are some of the signs I liked (from the SLC rally):
The next lesson I've learned is from this new blog (vlog?) I've been watching called Mompetition. It's all about the "mommy wars." Which is admittedly, another trap I've fallen into. The first video is the best. I've learned from this blog that no mom is perfect and that we (for the most part) are all trying our best. I do believe in things like natural birth, breastfeeding, etc but need to remember that my way doesn't work for everybody.
And lastly... don't go watch Life As We Know It on a date with your husband if you are prone to having anxiety about either losing your baby or leaving your baby parentless. Cute romance, but I was crying for half the movie.
Vote
Make your voice heard. I know the system isn't perfect. I feel strongly that informing yourself (at least about the senate, governorship, president, etc) and voting is a duty as well as a right. If you don't vote, you shouldn't complain.
Now that my spiel is over, how about this cuteness...
Can you believe the difference a year makes?!
Now that my spiel is over, how about this cuteness...
Can you believe the difference a year makes?!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Book review: Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
Preface: I know this review is long, but this was an amazing and eye-opening book. I highly recommend it.
The authors of Half the Sky make the case that the oppression of women globally has been our era's worst human rights violation, and they make that case persuasively. They focus on three things: sex trafficking and prostitution, gender-based violence (mass rape), and maternal mortality. From the beginning, it is made clear that this is not just about discrimination, this is true oppression:
"In the wealthy countries of the West, discrimination is usually a matter of unequal pay or under funded sports teams or unwanted touching from a boss. In contrast, in much of the world discrimination is lethal. In India, for example, mothers are less likely to take their daughters to be vaccinated than their sons- that alone counts for one fifth of India's missing females... All told, girls in India from one to five years of age are 50% more likely to die than boys the same age."
I dog-eared so many pages. They did an amazing job of putting faces and names to the horror of rapes, forced prostitution and fistulas. That was exactly their point, because they say studies have proven that individual stories carry more impact than statistics in getting people to donate their time, money or effort. Here are some of the stories than impacted me.
A female medical tech in South Africa was told by a rape victim "If only I had teeth down there." Some time later, a man came in to the hospital in pain because his penis was stuck in his zipper. Because rape is such a huge problem there, the medical tech put two and two together and made a product she calls the Rapex. It's inserted like a tampon, but is a tube with barbs inside! In response to critics, she said "A medieval device for a medieval deed." I honestly wasn't sure what to think about this story, and I'm still unsure. But it has stuck with me since I read it.
The stories of maternal mortality got to me. I know I'm an advocate for natural birth, but there is still a place for the medical community in birth. The World Health Organization's statistics are that 536,000 women died in pregnancy or childbirth in 2005, and that number is hardly different then the number thirty years ago. That means that in thirty years with all the medical advances we have come up with, about the same amount of women are dying. It's because they aren't getting the care they need, especially in the developing world (although sadly, America's maternal mortality rate is high for developed countries). An Ethiopian girl named Mahabouba is a sad, but perfect example. She was sold into slavery and became a second wife. She was raped by her "husband" and beaten by the first wife. She got pregnant and was able to run away when she was seven months along. Her uncle let her stay in a little hut by her house. She went into labor by herself, because she couldn't afford a midwife. Her labor was obstructed because her pelvis hadn't grown enough to accommodate the passing of a baby (she was 13). After a week, she fell unconscious and some finally called a birth attendant. The baby was dead, and she had developed a fistula, or a hole. She became incontinent, as many fistula sufferers do. The nerve damage was so bad she couldn't walk for some time. She was lucky and eventually made it to a fistula hospital (yes, there are so many that they have hospitals just for their treatment). She was able to learn to walk again, but will have a colostomy the last of her life.
The last part of the book is spent discussing things that have made a difference. Things like iodizing salt. I had no idea. 31% of households in the developing world don't get enough iodine. This can lead to brain damage while still in the womb, and apparently female fetuses need iodine even more so. I liked this quote: "According to one estimate, just $19 million would pay for salt iodization in poor countries that need it, This would yield economic benefits that another study found were nine times the cost. The result is that while salt iodization is one of the least glamorous forms of assistance possible, development geeks rave about it."
Another thing that has helped is paying families to keep their girls in school. Girls getting educated not only boosts the GNP of countries, but it also puts off motherhood and reduces the number of children born to the girl. And studies have found that females work harder to help pay for the education of relatives or their children.
At the end, there is a section of what you can do to help in the broader sense, and then four easier steps you can make in the next ten minutes. Some of them simply have to do with awareness, but www.kiva.org is also mentioned, because microloans are another simple thing that is making a big difference.
The authors of Half the Sky make the case that the oppression of women globally has been our era's worst human rights violation, and they make that case persuasively. They focus on three things: sex trafficking and prostitution, gender-based violence (mass rape), and maternal mortality. From the beginning, it is made clear that this is not just about discrimination, this is true oppression:
"In the wealthy countries of the West, discrimination is usually a matter of unequal pay or under funded sports teams or unwanted touching from a boss. In contrast, in much of the world discrimination is lethal. In India, for example, mothers are less likely to take their daughters to be vaccinated than their sons- that alone counts for one fifth of India's missing females... All told, girls in India from one to five years of age are 50% more likely to die than boys the same age."
I dog-eared so many pages. They did an amazing job of putting faces and names to the horror of rapes, forced prostitution and fistulas. That was exactly their point, because they say studies have proven that individual stories carry more impact than statistics in getting people to donate their time, money or effort. Here are some of the stories than impacted me.
A female medical tech in South Africa was told by a rape victim "If only I had teeth down there." Some time later, a man came in to the hospital in pain because his penis was stuck in his zipper. Because rape is such a huge problem there, the medical tech put two and two together and made a product she calls the Rapex. It's inserted like a tampon, but is a tube with barbs inside! In response to critics, she said "A medieval device for a medieval deed." I honestly wasn't sure what to think about this story, and I'm still unsure. But it has stuck with me since I read it.
The stories of maternal mortality got to me. I know I'm an advocate for natural birth, but there is still a place for the medical community in birth. The World Health Organization's statistics are that 536,000 women died in pregnancy or childbirth in 2005, and that number is hardly different then the number thirty years ago. That means that in thirty years with all the medical advances we have come up with, about the same amount of women are dying. It's because they aren't getting the care they need, especially in the developing world (although sadly, America's maternal mortality rate is high for developed countries). An Ethiopian girl named Mahabouba is a sad, but perfect example. She was sold into slavery and became a second wife. She was raped by her "husband" and beaten by the first wife. She got pregnant and was able to run away when she was seven months along. Her uncle let her stay in a little hut by her house. She went into labor by herself, because she couldn't afford a midwife. Her labor was obstructed because her pelvis hadn't grown enough to accommodate the passing of a baby (she was 13). After a week, she fell unconscious and some finally called a birth attendant. The baby was dead, and she had developed a fistula, or a hole. She became incontinent, as many fistula sufferers do. The nerve damage was so bad she couldn't walk for some time. She was lucky and eventually made it to a fistula hospital (yes, there are so many that they have hospitals just for their treatment). She was able to learn to walk again, but will have a colostomy the last of her life.
The last part of the book is spent discussing things that have made a difference. Things like iodizing salt. I had no idea. 31% of households in the developing world don't get enough iodine. This can lead to brain damage while still in the womb, and apparently female fetuses need iodine even more so. I liked this quote: "According to one estimate, just $19 million would pay for salt iodization in poor countries that need it, This would yield economic benefits that another study found were nine times the cost. The result is that while salt iodization is one of the least glamorous forms of assistance possible, development geeks rave about it."
Another thing that has helped is paying families to keep their girls in school. Girls getting educated not only boosts the GNP of countries, but it also puts off motherhood and reduces the number of children born to the girl. And studies have found that females work harder to help pay for the education of relatives or their children.
At the end, there is a section of what you can do to help in the broader sense, and then four easier steps you can make in the next ten minutes. Some of them simply have to do with awareness, but www.kiva.org is also mentioned, because microloans are another simple thing that is making a big difference.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Just how
does a lesson on "moral discipline" turn into a setting where the government is bashed on and infant sleep training is praised? I'll tell you...
Our society is lacking in moral discipline because the government takes care of everything for us when they shouldn't. Umm... ok. Sure. I don't get the logic, but apparently most of the women in the room did. One woman even said the government shouldn't help in times of natural disaster.
The lesson later turned to the notion of teaching our children moral discipline. The teacher totally put down the idea of free agency by saying that we shouldn't let our children choose what to believe and that we should make them believe what we as parents believe (she was saying this even though she has no children of her own). And then some woman with a baby younger than Brayden brought up sleep training and so I guess babies need to learn moral discipline from the very beginning by sleep training.
It's been awhile since we had been to church due to Adam's schedule and me not wanting to take Brayden alone. We really haven't been to this ward many times, so I'm hoping it's not normally this stupid. At least Brayden had fun playing with two other little babes in the back row.
Our society is lacking in moral discipline because the government takes care of everything for us when they shouldn't. Umm... ok. Sure. I don't get the logic, but apparently most of the women in the room did. One woman even said the government shouldn't help in times of natural disaster.
The lesson later turned to the notion of teaching our children moral discipline. The teacher totally put down the idea of free agency by saying that we shouldn't let our children choose what to believe and that we should make them believe what we as parents believe (she was saying this even though she has no children of her own). And then some woman with a baby younger than Brayden brought up sleep training and so I guess babies need to learn moral discipline from the very beginning by sleep training.
It's been awhile since we had been to church due to Adam's schedule and me not wanting to take Brayden alone. We really haven't been to this ward many times, so I'm hoping it's not normally this stupid. At least Brayden had fun playing with two other little babes in the back row.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Martha Hughes Cannon
I was at work shelving and noticed this book by Lynne Cheney (yes, the former VP's wife and no, I am not a fan of his). I decided to look at Utah's page where, among other things, I read a small factoid about how a woman named Martha Hughes Cannon was the first female state senator elected in the United States and that she had actually run as a Democrat against her Republican husband. Those facts alone were enough to get me extremely interested in this woman's story. So when I got home I looked her up on Wikipedia.
She was also a suffragist, a women's right advocate, a doctor, and a POLYGAMIST. One of those things is not like the other, right?!
I am still really interested in reading more about her life and am hoping my work will order this book so I don't have to buy it myself.
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