In Imagio Dei

The Shack and Why I Hate It

2009-02-27T19:04:50Z

So our Sunday School class is reading The Shack. Supposedly it's this revolutionary way of understanding God and drawing closer blahblahblah (please note that these blahs do not reflect my feeling about those goals but about the book).

The book starts with a foreword which claims that the story yo're about to read really happened to a friend of the author who is ghost writing for the friend. This foreword sets you up for this to be non-fiction. What then begins to unfold is the story of a man who is in the midst of The Great Sadness of his life. Turns out that The Great Sadness (that's the way it's always said in the book) is a result of the man's youngest daughter (6) being kidnapped, presumably sexually abused, and killed when he dives into the lake to save his son from drowning on a camping trip. This becomes "anger point 1" for me. A bit of research turns up the fact that this is NOT based on actual events.

Don't get me wrong. I do not want such a horrible thing to happen to any child. However, the fact that the book presumes to play on my emotions by not just setting up a horribly emotinal frame story (that I can deal with, because once I shut the book, I can separate myself from the story), but by trying to make me believe that it actually happened (which is much harder to deal with because shutting the book and it's fictional world does not turn it off!). That's a level of manipulation that is unacceptable to me. Yes, the emotional frame story, in and of itself, is manipulation, but to pretend that it's real takes it to a whole different and unacceptable level and turns it from fiction into deception.

"Anger point 2" happens when we first meet God at the shack. The author has the whole Trinity depicted in different persons, and while I'm not trinitarian (I find it to be an overused metaphor with little if any meaning left in it), I'm ok with this creative approach. I'm more than ok with the fact that God "the Father" (called Papa throughout) is originally depicted as an African American woman. What annoyed me is that the first time we see her she uses an sterotypical "mammy" dialect which I feel is not only unecessary but harmful. I will grant the author the fact that he really drops that dialect after the first appearance (though that makes me question the editorial process....).

Really, those are the end of that which pissed me off about the book. The rest is just me going, "Really?"

And then the book really seems to be nothing but repackaged orthodoxy. There are a FEW things that were decent, different, but for all of it's claim to be not what you get in church - I found that it was EXACTLY what you get sitting in church, just worded and presented in a way that you don't fall asleep listening to. We have some weird explanation for why Jesus had to be male (which in the book ignores the historical reality of his time and place, but whatever). A "nicer" version of complimentarinism, but still very much complimentarinism.

There are some unorthodox points in it, but even most of those are packaged not much differently from other "mostly" orthodox Christian writers. His bit about having children of all faiths rather than just Christianity sent me mentally right to The Last Battle (admittedly, one of the few points I feel that CSL got right (or partially right)!). The author wavered between universality and a doctrine of Hell. I couldn't figure out where he stood, and I'm not sure he did either. I'll give him credit there as he asked the questions without needing to come to a neat solution. And, despite the complimentarinism, he's constantly rebuking any idea of hierarchy. For these, I do give him some modicum of credit.

Then there's the cheesiness. "Papa" likes the name Elousia (and as an OT scholar I'm just thinking, "oy... if you're going to do that, at least use the tetragrammaton... wait, no... don't... but... still, really?"), Jesus is a carpenter and walks with Mack on the water, Sophia appears not as Sarayu (the Holy Spirit, portrayed as a small overly energetic Asian American woman) but as a different person separate from the Trinity, and there are some scenes that remind me of how I felt in book 7 (Um, well, he forgave Dumbledore just a bit too easily there...).

Probably, my biggest disagreement is his theme (leit motif if you will) throughout the book is that humanity's independence is the exact opposite of what God wants. This independence is constantly brought up and seems to become the "enemy." (Thankfully, there are no demons). Instead of God trying to encourage humanity (and Mack in particular) to learn how to use that independence for good, how to grow into that independence so that they/he are capable of being in a healthy relationship with God and the world, God wants Mack (and humanity) to abandon that independence.

There's also the far too "comfortable" theodicy that envelopes the book. It's too simple, too easy. Mack is chided for being angry at God, and every bit of theodicy seems taken right out of "how not to think for yourself" Sunday School class. It all comes down to this human independence and the brokeness from the "Fall? (yep, you can probably guess how I feel about the "Fall"). Instead of being encouraged to wrestle and be honest with his emotions, Mack is encouraged to trust God. There's even a court room scene that suggests that even feeling that way (see Job) is an unacceptable arrogance. Job repents in dust and ashes after wrestling with questions similar to Mack's. The phrase "dust and ashes" is one that scholars argue over what it means and can either be sardonic or a sign of grief and humility. I tend to think that Job is saying to God, "Well, sorry that I'm just human and all this sill seems wrong to me, but we both know you'll win, so I'm just shutting up now" (but I'm a cynic). Mack tends to just accept that he has no right to be angry at God for what happened to his daughter.

Over all, I don't believe that this book really brings anything new to the table. Its popularity has me sad about the pop spirituality and easy answers that our culture seems to crave.

Back?

2009-02-21T16:08:47Z

So I've been avoiding some things for a while. That included livejournal and facebook. I'll try to check more and post more.

That's all really.

Highlights from Visiting My Parents

2008-12-24T19:53:48Z

There is far more than I can talk about just here.

It was interesting when my mother repeatedly stated how we (my folks, sister, myself, and our husbands) are a functional family, in fact the most functional one she knows. I wanted to scream. She has no clue just how dysfunctional we are. I'm a bit amazed that she can be so clueless.

Apparently, Angela on Bones is gay (bi?). I did not know this. Listening to my parents talk rather vehemently about how horrible that is is not how I wanted to learn that. (Bones comes on on Wednesday nights at 8 while I'm at choir, so I'm not current on Bones). I actually think that this is a good thing, just not how I wanted to learn it.

I think it's just horrid to light Chanukka candles and pray that Jews will come to see the truth of Christ. That's just... wrong... and rather anti-semitic even if not intentionally.

There's more stuff, but that's what stood out as the "highlights" just now.

A Few Things I Really Could Have Gone without Experiencing

2008-12-09T16:59:52Z

So, yesterday I experienced several things that I think I could have died without ever having to go through, thank you very much!

My eyes swelling shut
Epinephrine shots - not just 1 but 2! (After already getting two shots that day!)
Using a Nebulizer
My heart racing even though I was perfectly calm

I reached maintenance yesterday. And within 5 minutes I was having what's called a "systemic reaction." What this means is that my body was flooded with histamines. It affected my eyes, my respiratory system (nose started running fiercely, drainage, and breathing became labored (though not enough to concern the doctor)), and my skin (the skin in my face primarily and around the injection site became swollen with water - thus my eyes swelling shut).

I had not waited the 30 minutes, and had left. Fortunately, it hit within 5 minutes, so I really only had to (realized before I got all the way) drive one block, make a u-turn, park, throw some eye drops in my eyes, and go into the office.

I went up to the window and was asked, "What's going on?" The nurse did not see me fully at first when she asked this question.

"I don't know." By this time she'd moved to see me clearly around the receptionist.

She laughed - though it was an ironic sympathetic laugh. "You would have a reaction just after I told you it wasn't likely. Let's get you to the back." As she's saying this, she's moving to come out of the receptionist area and to take me down the hall.

She quickly takes my blood pressure and pulse, calling for liquid anti-histamine as she's doing it. Then after calling for the doctor and me taking the liquid zyrtec, she gives me the first shot of epinephrine. However, I continue to swell and eventually have to close my eyes. They wind up giving me a 2nd shot. I had 2 nurses and the doctor keeping an eye on me.

While the experience itself was not fun - it was not too scarey either since I was there and they're perfectly equipped to deal with it, I feel so very confident with the doctor and nurses now. I always thought they were good, but after how caring and quick they were to tend with me, my confidence has gone up even more! I did not really panic at any point, though I did express that how I was feeling and how quickly it came on was kind of scarey. I was never really scared though since while they were quick to respond they were also calm.

I can also tell you that in the future I will be staying for thirty minutes after my shots, thank you!

Advent thoughts

2008-12-07T19:11:38Z

Today was an interesting Sunday School. My class is small (4) and only 2 of us were there and we're between books, so we met with another class today.

The reflection for today was on prologue to the Gospel of John. And the emphasis was on the idea of "everlasting light."

However, what was really interesting was to think about the fact that we have too much light in our world today. We actually have excess light. The problem is that we need darkness.

What does Jesus being the light mean in today's world?

Do we need darkness? What is the benefit of darkness?

I don't have the answer to these questions, but these are things that I'm wondering right now as I prepare for Christmas.

I'm also wondering what I want for Christmas. I cannot really think of anything in particular that I need or want. I know that it might be too late to do this, but I"m really thinking that I what I want are gifts made to social justice concerns in my name or just homemade thoughtful gifts. I don't know that I really want to be a part of the "commercialization" of Christmas this year.

Charmed Theodicy

2008-12-05T22:30:06Z

Edit: I have no idea what the freudian finger slip of Theocracy meant...

So in the world of Charmed, the reason for evil seems to have to do with a Cosmic Balance. The end of season 6 and all of season 7 deal with this issue.

The reason the Avatars turn out to be "bad guys" is that their understanding of Utopia is one without any conflict. To this end, any humans (or demons - though they intend to kill all the demons) who are not "cured" of conflict are erased, killed. And those around them are brain washed into believing that this is a good thing.

At the end of Season 6 a great "good" was done in the "mirror universe" (think Star Trek - same basic idea) which lead to the two worlds being thrown off balance and in the "real world" the smallest wrong results in amputation or capital punishment.

So the answer, for the Charmed-verse, as to why evil exists is that without evil there can be no good. The balance between the two is what keeps the world spinning, so to speak.

I have to admit, I don't find that to be extremely compelling (though I love Charmed!!!). It has got me to thinking though.

What is my understanding regarding why there is evil in the world.

(First, let me clearly state that I'm talking about moral evil, not about horrible things that happen in the natural world - ie. earthquakes, tsunamis, cancer, etc.)

And here is where the fact that I am a Pelagian shines through.

I believe that evil exists because we make choices. And sometimes, we make choices that are morally bad, that are so selfish that they are evil. I don't need demons or a devil to explain why bad things happen. I don't understand humans to be inherently depraved. Rather I believe that free will means that we have the ability to choose good or evil, and we do so every day.

That keeps us constantly "on the hook." Oh, sure, sometimes we'll screw up. But we're each responsible. And saying that "we're only human" is nothing more than an excuse.

Is it a heavy burden? Sure, but that is what it means to be human.

Another Dr. Who Nugget

2008-11-13T18:51:29Z

darkaire this is for you.

I don't know much about Dr. Who, though I remember seeing parts of it as a kid, but I do check Cake Wrecks on a daily basis, and am often amused. Even though I don't fully get the reference (beyond what's explained by the blogger), I did find this wreck to be rather amusing, and thought that you would enjoy it.

Legend of the Seeker

2008-11-12T03:59:24Z

I said I would share where I found this if I found it watchable online.

I haven't reread the first book in a while, but this is looking good.

Legend of the Seeker.

My Life Should Be a Sitcom

2008-11-10T14:33:07Z

So the visit to friends was mostly good. I think that John was more shocked then I was at how conservative our friends are. I think he also got more of the brunt of it than I did. The girls (there was a girls/guys breakfast) did not really talk about politics. The guys, apparently, talked about nothing BUT politics. However, when politics was not the conversation, it was a pretty good visit.

Except for the fact that we went to church with them. Now, I knew that we would be going to an extremely conservative/fundamentalist church Sunday morning. However, I figured that it would just mean that we'd have to sit through some relatively benign boring fundamentalist sermon. I guess I would not have been entirely surprised if it was related to the election, but when the pastor said what the passage was, I found myself thinking, "Of course it is. I'm so not surprised that THAT'S where you are in the week that we're here... fun... gah."

So, this pastor is the kind who picks a book and preaches through it verse by verse (at least he picks a book and goes through it. Not being there every Sunday, I'm not 100% sure how he does it). Well, he's in the book of Colossians, and of course he goes on the assumption that it is written by Paul rather being one of the disputed Pauline letters. But not only is it the book of Colossians, but yesterday's sermon was Colossians 3:18-19. Now, for those of you who don't know, that's the shorter version of the "wives submit; men love" bit of the Household Codes. I could have scripted his sermon, for the most part, myself as nothing new was said at all.

Gah!

Oh, and the music, praise music with no depth. I don't mind praise and contemporary music, but it has to have depth be theologically good, please.

Bummed

2008-11-05T19:09:09Z

I know that part of the reason I'm bummed is because it looks like Proposition 8 passed in California. I had really hoped that along with MA and CT, CA could lead the way in this fight for justice. I wish that VA could, but two years ago, we made that tragic decision.

However, I think most of the fact that I'm bummed comes from the personal consequences I expect it to happen. Will I be outed as a liberal to those I have been so very careful to cover around? Will my parents learn that after much careful thought and consideration, I am no longer "pro-life" as they define it? From their perspective, there is no justification, and yet I do believe that legislating it out is not the way to reduce the number of abortions, nor can I see it as a black and white issue.

We're going to see friends this weekend, all of whom are part of the evangelical religious right. I cannot imagine that the recent election will not come up. Will we be safe? Will we come home with them still our friends?

I have to admit, I'm much more stressed about family then I am friends. I would miss them, a lot, but I think that I would be ok if the worse happens there. I'm not sure what will happen, however, if/when my parents learn the truth...

Dear Cali

2008-11-05T04:45:38Z

Its looking like I won't get to find out the answer before I go to bed tonight (and like I'm going to have to watch the acceptance speech on you tube or something :(. (My boss asked me to come in early tomorrow - pooh!)

However, I hope and pray that when I wake in the morning I will hear good news regarding Proposition 8. Please, have voted no. Do not have chosen to take away rights (even if they've only recently been recognized).

YES!

2008-11-05T03:52:38Z

Reliable maps are now calling us Blue too! Yahoo and NPR!

I LIVE IN A BLUE STATE!!!!!

(I hope...)

Good news? or Do I Live in a Blue State?!

2008-11-05T03:50:44Z

First, I do not consider OneNewsNow.com a reputable news site, so this is hope more than anything, but I have to hope that it's a good sign that they, at least, have called Virginia as Blue!

A Confession

2008-11-04T16:55:54Z

I did not wait in line to vote today.

I voted. I just didn't have to wait in a line. :) The advantage of voting between class and work at a non normal time for people with regular working hours.

Had to Share

2008-11-04T14:13:36Z

darkaire this is for you: www.pvponline.com

Some Random Stuffies

2008-11-03T21:58:06Z

I missed Legend of the Seeker this weekend. If anyone can find where/how to watch it online, PLEASE let me know!!

So I heard some comments (the closing ones from a debate) from our (Richmond, VA) Mayoral candidates this afternoon. I was struck by one of the candidates stated that his goal was to make Richmond "the most liberal City in the country." What? I'm not sure that's even a goal I would like (to be liberal just to get some kind of gold medal seems... just... wrong). However, does this guy really think that relatively little Richmond, VA could be more liberal than San Fransico? New York? Los Vegas? (No insult meant to any of those cities, but I simply think that Richmond is a) too little and b) does not have the right cultural history or even surrounding culture for such a goal.)

I wish it were Sunday, cause that's my Funday

2008-11-03T15:42:20Z

So, Sunday was a very fun day for me. Church, with a well done All Saints' Day (this makes me particularly happy since I planned the service). I had a hard time coming up with hymns so the Music Minister happened to choose my favoritest (I know, deal) - /Be Though My Vision/. So extra happiness.

Then lunch with the Polaskis at Arby's. This is particularly nice now that John doesn't have to run to work.

Home to change and then baby sitting Will (4) as Sandra is taking Hannah to "Let's Play" (I'll talk more about this in a second) and Don is going to canvas for Obama. Very cute story forth coming about this.

Then Home to change again to go to "Let's Play" concert with Don and Will (Sandra and Hannah are obviously already there!).

Then Ice Cream at Cold Stone.

Then Hebrew - 1 Samuel 3 is rather easy to translate!

Then a bit of football and lots of talking with Sandra.

Then home to bed.

So first, the cute story with baby sitting Will:

I needed to study my Arabic vocabulary as I have a quiz on Tuesday and was way behind on doing this, but I also wanted to play with the kiddo. I did not want to be the boring baby sitter who sends the kid to play while she does her own thing. And I'm "Aunt Sandy," so I wanted to be a good Aunt.

So I put on PBS kids (not to baby sit him but to help... ok, I wanted to put on Football, but he asked and I said ok), Will sat beside me or on my lap, or sometimes he stood on the floor and pounced me. I was studying, but also playing with him, and including him in my studying. Things like, "Will, what does the Kalbun say? Dinah is a Kalbun." "Woof. Woof!" (yes, four is too old for "what does the (fill in the blank animal) say," but using an Arabic word, makes it so that he connects Kalbun with dog). Or having him help me with my randomization by doing small chunks, working on 10 words that I needed to learn and having him "pick" the cards or piles for me.

Honestly, it started because I was doing poorly, at first. Missing more words than I got right. So when I got a word right, I'd have him fist bump me. It got to the point if I said I got a word right, and didn't fist bump him, he kind of looked at me like, "come on, Aunt Sandy, fist bump!"

So, I was getting more right, and going through a stack of words I thought I'd mastered but wanted to confirm. Will is watching Zaboomafoo (kids animal show), and there's a baby moose (I kept any Palin thoughts to myself!). They find the baby moose's mother about the time I'm going, "wajada, to find." The next thing I know, I hear, "He wajada-ed his mother."

Now, if you know semitic languages, you know that part of what I was thinking (keeping in mind that we have not yet learned pronominal suffixes - that's the next chapter) is "Wajada ummU" (guessing on the pronominal ending and using the cap here to represent a long vowel). However, Will does not know how semitic verbs work, and with his 4 year native understanding of English (and the fact that when stating the meaning outloud I did so in an infinitive form not 3ms past "he found" which would have been technically more accurate), that was a pretty awesome spontaneous application of the new word he had just learned!

So, I think 4 year olds may be the best vocab study method there is. I know I won't be forgetting the meaning of "wajada" any time soon. And hey, the goign through the words just now, I missed 1! Out of three chapters worth of words.

Now, the "Let's Play" thing.

The Richmond Symphony Orchestra once a year invities amateurs of all levels to join them one Sunday afternoon to practice with them. Those who have signed up (and apparently there about 450 counting the probably 50 piece RSO) get their music in advance depending on their level - Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced. They practice for about 2 1/2 or 3 hours Sunday afternoon and then, the whole big group performs a free concert (mainly for friends and family) that evening. It's an awesome outreach to the community as well as an educational program.

Hannah (9), played the flute. She was the only student from her school there, having been recommended to attend by her band teacher. (Dude, we so did not have band in Elem! That's awesome that they do though!) Obviously, with a 450 piece orchestra, you can't hear just one flute, but I know she did well, and it was a great concert.

John, having worked a graveyard shift the night before, did not get to go, but Hannah understood totally why Uncle John wasn't there.

So, it was a good day.

Aw, I want one... please?

2008-11-01T04:52:24Z

Another Hypothetical Letter to My Parents

2008-10-29T16:23:40Z

I realize that this is not the first time I've posted a letter to my folks, even really about the same issue, that I have no intention of sending. I find this exercise to be rather cathartic, and to be honest, with the recent stress, it might turn out that this will be a template for what I do actually, eventually (quite possibly SOON) say to them.

Dear Momma and Daddy,

I want to start by saying that I love you. It's important that you realize that I really do love you and that I do not want for our relationship to be strained, or even for us to stop talking. I love you, and having you as a part of my life is very important to me.

Having said that, I need you to understand that are areas in which you and I differ. I am fully aware of how significant that these differences can be as well as the emotional weight of these. I also need you to understand that you have done nothing wrong (so please, refrain from asking that!). In fact, you have done very much right, by equipping me to ask difficult questions and seek out the answers. I realize that it is disappointing to you that I have reached conclusions extremely different from your own, but what I need from you is the space to disagree and be allowed to think differently.

We've had this conversation before, but at the time I allowed you to make certain assumptions regarding what the disagreements were, and while I knew that you were making the wrong assumptions, i chose not to correct you. That was a cowardly decision on my part, and I apologize. Perhaps, had I been more honest then, we would not have to be having this conversation a second time.

It's hard for me to even tell you what these differences are. Not because I am ashamed of them, but rather because I worry about how you will receive them. I do not feel like there is a safe space within our family for any dissension.

I believe in the right to choose. However, you need to understand that neither myself nor most of the persons who believe in this value like abortion as birth control. The difference is that we recognize gray areas. We recognize that a woman who has been raped or has been impregnated through incest should not be forced to carry to term. We recognize that the abortion procedure is the same as a DnC which finishes off a miscarriage and, in some cases, allows the woman who has miscarried to be able to get pregnant in the future. We recognize that it should be up to an individual woman as to whether or not she sacrifices her life, if her life is in danger, to bring a child into the world (after all, state enforced sacrifice is not real sacrifice). We recognize that the best way to reduce the number of abortions is not to legislate against it, but to provide better healthcare so that better choices can be made.

I believe that homosexuality is not a sin. I am very aware of the few passages in scripture which speaks against it. In the cases of the passages in Leviticus, they are in the context of other issues - some of which are no longer considered morally reprehensible. Also, the context is clear that what is being discussed is the protection of procreation or categories. Neither of these concerns, at least in the understanding of Leviticus, are relevant to today's world. And the fact of the matter, no matter how much you might reject this, there are many laws that we do not follow from the law codes, and yes, I believe that the Pauline passages are from his being a devout Jew and even a Pharisee.

I suppose I should reveal something else as well. I do not believe in the inerrancy of scripture. I realize that that probably raises questions about my salvation (or at least as to whether or not I am a prodigal) for you, but as I study the Bible, I believe that it being the innerant Word of God is simply not the point. That does not mean that I do not affirm it as the Word of God, just that I understand what that means differently from you. I believe that scripture is the record of people struggling with what it means to be in relationship with God, and that it does reveal God. However, there are very clear contradictions within scripture. For example, within the law codes there are times that you cannot follow a Holiness Law (Leviticus 16-27) and the law that deals with the same issue in the Covenant Code (Exodus) or the Deuteronomic Code. However, I find that this honest wrestling and constant reformation within scripture is a great guide for what it means to be in relationship with God. Like the Biblical authors, we will never have all the answers, but we must continually struggle to know God and ourselves, and we must express that through our love for other people.

I am sorry that we've not had this conversation sooner. I love you. I just need you to give me the space to be myself. I can no longer pretend to be who you want or need to me be.

Love always,
Me.

Can it be Nov 5th already?

2008-10-26T18:55:07Z

Ok, yes, I like Obama. I'm also ok with the idea that other people do not like Obama. I'm a huge fan of people thinking for themselves, even if it means thinking differently from me.

I am not, however, a huge fan of being told that I might as well be worshiping Molech because I like Obama.

My father, who has probably been steaming over last week's conversation with my mother all week, decided to compose a rant about why Obama sucks and send it to me and then a proofed version to everyone on his list, though with the disclaimer that it has nothing to do with his ministry, just him himself. I guess that's fine, but if he sent it to the ministry's mailing list then I think he probably goofed legally. Oh well, as .... Hmm... I'm actually not angry. Resigned, I guess. But, anyway, I'm not going to report him. And technically, that's no different from Dobson having a portion of focus supported by the political branch of focus rather than focus itself so that he can make such explicit statements without violating 501(c)3 regulations.

Here is my father's letter with my own comments in italics.

Friends,

    Normally I don’t push my way into areas where I may be unwelcome. However, I feel that it is necessary that you know why I stand where I do with this presidential race. I am VERY unimpressed with the choices of either party; but I am, in fact, truly disgusted with one in particular. And, yes, I’m talking about Obama.

    Ok. No real surprise here. However, I have to admit that him writing this letter "so that I understand where he is coming from" (like I didn't already!) and then sending it out to everyone is kind of ... insulting. Let's be honest, I doubt anyone else on his list disagrees with him on much of anything.

    His desire to severely limit the second amendment worries me to the extreme. No other candidate, ever, has come out so clearly and vehemently against our right to keep and bear arms. Anytime a government official desires to limit any protected freedoms of a large group of people, there needs to be concern by all people. What concern? The possibility of a concentrated move toward a socialistic state or even a dictatorship.

    I've missed this, somehow. Is he really wanting to limit it, or just try to make sure that people who own guns are sane? Again, I've somehow missed this part of Obama's campaign, though as it's not a huge issue for me, it would not surprise me if I focused elsewhere.

    I will admit that I'm conflicted on the 2nd amendment. I've heard compelling arguments from both sides, and I'm just not sure what I think about it. I'm ok with that. However, going from gun control to socialism or a dictatorship? Humina-wha?

    Socialism has destroyed the strength of both England and Canada as well as limited the individual and state freedoms of much of Europe, as witnessed by the European Union (which is simply a move toward a one world government). Any government who wants to take the possibility of gun ownership away from decent citizens wants to take away any chance of protection from criminals, enemies or a repressive, illegal government movement. (Obama already supports an illegal movement by the judicial branch to legislate from the bench, eroding our freedoms.)

    First, I wonder how England and Canada feel about that opening claim... I also wonder what he's talking about in the EU (If I had to guess the story (though I don't know if it's true or not) about the family in Germany who were arrested for Home Schooling).

    Um.... so people disagreeing with how to understand the Constitution is illegal? Okie dokie.

    Also, is a one-world government really a bad thing?

    I have numerous other problems with this man that worry me, not the least of which is to placate foreign governments who want to destroy us. But these issues are all secondary.

    *Deep breath* Wanting to sit down and TALK is not placating. It's simply an attempt to engage one's opponent in a way that might lead to a peaceful resolution. It does not have to, and I am not convinced that Obama means for it to mean, appeasement.

    Because my biggest problem with him is , OF COURSE, his total acceptance of abortion in any form. I cannot understand how anyone, and especially Christians, can buy into legalized abortion, much less support any person who promises to force all types of this child murder onto the public. I have never found a reason to vote for a child murderer, and cannot even conceive of how I ever could.

    Look, I do admit that I disagree with Obama's position on late term abortions. I do not find compelling evidence that late term abortions can do anything to protect the health of the mother. However, non-late term abortions are not a completely black-white area.

    Abortion is nothing less than sacrificing children on the altar of Molech. Molech in this case being the god of convenience. Instead of accepting the result of immoral choices (which is the majority of the reasons for abortions being performed today), the person is simply ridding themself of the natural consequences by making the most innocent child “pass through the fire”.

    Oh, look, one of those fundamental disagreements.... "the result of immoral choices." And here we have the Molech reference... Not inflammatory at all....

    You know, if we're going to use the OT to argue against abortion, let's look at the case of an accidental abortion caused by being hit in the Law. Guess what, there is some monetary compensation, but it's not treated like the loss of a life. (Admittedly, this is a "odd" and scholarly meaty passage.)

    So my question is this – HWJV? You’ve got it – How Would Jesus Vote?

   Guess what, Christians disagree on this.

    I can’t see the God who knows us and created us in the matrix of our mother’s womb supporting the murder of the most innocent of all life. Therefore, I cannot vote for a pro-abortionist.

        Again, there's some scriptural basis for not considering it a life. I'm not saying that's my stand, I'm just saying that we need to engage the whole Biblical witness if we're going to do this. While I recognize this as a grey area, I also abhor the idea of abortion as birth control. But I cannot say that there is never any time in which it is a legitimate decision.

    Does my stand on abortion make me a single issue voter?
    Yes – and proud of it.
Because it seems to me that this single issue defines the man.

    Yeah, um. Daddy, I love you, but I don't think that's Obama so much as that is a reflection on you.

And no, I'm not actually going to respond to his e-mail. My goal is to not have to talk to my folks again until after the election.

And yes, at least this was an e-mail not being stuck in a car for 3 hours...

GRR!

2008-10-22T15:07:30Z

You know, I really am ok with people disagreeing with me, so long as they do so in such a way that is respectful and gives me space to disagree with them. This is my biggest issue with my parents - they do not do such.

Here are some examples of ways to make it clear that they do not accept my right to disagree with them (from last night's phone conversation).

1) "You've drunk the kool-aid."

Um, no. I just have different values and positions from you.

2) "I see why people like him. He does not have a silver tongue. He does not have a gold tongue. He has a platinum tongue."

Ok, he's a good speaker. However, how dare you imply that the reason I like him, support him, etc. is because he's a good speaker. I'm more intelligent than that. I don't care how good a speaker he is, if I did not agree with the majority of his positions, I would not be supporting him. (That's not to say I wouldn't vote for him if I considered him the lesser of the two evils, but that's a different issue.)

3) "You and John do what you have to do." "It's your vote."

Thanks, but here's a newsflash: I'm an adult. I don't need your permission to vote nor for whom to vote, and I definitely don't need to be patronized.

Also, Momma, let me make this crystal clear to you, since you don't seem to get it: One of your arguments, if you keep using it, is going to backfire in your face in such a way that it will be extremely painful. Keep pushing it, and you will find me unable to bite my lip.

Babies do not get to pick their names. Therefore, to hold someone's name, in this case his middle name, against him or her is childish to start with. I guarantee that baby Obama did not look up from nursing and say, "By the way, I like Hussein for a middle name. Thanks."

Now, it's not a good argument for anyone to use. For you to use, it's border line suicidal. You might not like the fact that I hate my name, but you know full well that I do. If you keep using the name thing, eventually, I will probably go off on how stupid it is to hold someone's name against them, how little choice a person has regarding the name that they get saddled with for their entire life, how names are used to define a person even when they are not connected to the reality of who that person is. Obama's middle name makes him no more a Muslim than my first name makes me a red-neck. Keep pushing that line of argument, Momma. But be warned of the consequences if you do.

Um.... wow

2008-10-20T20:17:57Z

So, I was going to start this post with some big statement of how proud I am of myself and how I overcame a barrier that I wondered if I ever would. However, that can wait.

Is the room spinning or is it just me? Seriously, I just walked a couple of feet and felt about the same unsteadiness on my feet I did when I was on the dilauded (sp?) for the kidney stones. Wow.

I got up out of the chair, with no problems. Gathered my stuff and walked the like block, block and a half, from Lingle Hall to my apartment. No problems. Well, ok, I started feeling a bit silly and lightheaded, but no real problems. NOW, however, it's totally kicking in.

So, in case you're wondering what the heck I'm talking about, I gave blood for the first time ever today.

A couple of things.

First, everyone who says that it only hurts for like a couple of seconds are big ole liars! I felt the needle, painfully, the whole time. And at one point the nurse fumbled the bag which pulled on the needle a bit, making me gasp. She asked if I wanted her to take it out, but I said, "It's in. It'd be stupid to pull it out at this point." I mean, it hurt, but I could get through it.

Everyone was nice, unlike the last time when I tried to give, and they were all, "We doubt you weigh enough and you're not 100% sure you wanna go through with this so go away; we're not wasting time on you." The nurse who took my stats was even amusing, "Sorry to tell you, you pass." I was the next to last person, and I think everyone was amused at the blood giving first-timer who was obviously a brave coward (ie, it's on bravery in the face of cowardice... well, fear!).

Seriously, room! STOP SPINNING! I may or may not get to any Arabic tonight feeling like this. Hello, head.... oy.

Anyway, go me. All proud of myself. Will definitely have to talk myself into it next time too though.

This is going to sound insensitive...

2008-10-16T03:28:44Z

And I apologize in advance, but want to stress that I do not mean this to demean anyone with disabilities at all.

In fact, I feel like that is what John McCain did tonight.

Autism and Down Syndrome are two very different disorders. I cannot imagine that being the parent of a child with such a disability would be easy at all. However, from my own personal experience with individuals with these traits, they are very different.

Therefore to say that Palin understands in particular what it's like to be the parent of a Autistic child is a completely unfair and inaccurate statement which diminishes the struggles of those with Autism and their parents.

Les Mis for Obama!

2008-10-15T19:26:43Z

You might have already have seen this, but as a Les Mis fan, I LOVED this! So I'm sharing in case you've not already seen it.

Bleah

2008-10-14T12:48:46Z

So I didn't walk this morning because of my allergies. They're bad enough that I considered calling (well, e-mailing) my prof and getting out of class. As an auditer, it would not be that big of a deal, but I decided I can deal with class and work, and if I'm feeling better this afternoon, I'll walk then. After all, it's fall, so it won't be too hot... right?