It seems that the argument I hear most often supporting abortion is the "it's better for a child to never be born than to be raised in a poor family/family that doesn't want them."
It always struck me as odd, but I never really spent the time to think about why that was. Now I know.
I've known a lot of people who were unwanted or even abandoned by their parents. They don't wish they'd never been born. In fact, if they did wish that we'd diagnose them with depression. If they wanted to kill themselves to rectify their mother's "mistake" we'd have them admitted to a psychiatric floor at the local hospital.
So it seems odd to me that we find it acceptable (and some would say applaudable) to decide for them whether or not we think they'd have a life worth living.
After all, we despise it when other people do that to us, don't we?
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
"Have you read the book of revelations lately?"
So I was perusing facebook and a "friend" had the following status:
"Obama effectively fired Rick Wagoner today (CEO of GM). Does that mean the government now controls what was once (and techniquely is) a private sector business? Suprise. Mussolini would be proud."
Personally I think that if you want the government to stay out of your business you shouldn't take billions of dollars from the government. DUH!
I wasn't about to get into that on facebook though. So someone else came along and said:
"Is this true [insert name]? Because if it is, wow. Obama needs to stay out of the private sector. And this would also mean that he could do this with any company that he doesnt think is doing what he wants... right? Wow, oh hey have you read the book of revelations recently? Only because i have heard rumors of alot of countries wanting to do a world wide currency. Have you heard anything about that?"
First of all: Is that true?!?! Read a newspaper. Even I had already heard of this! ME, who avoids the news like it's smallpox.
Second: It's the Book of Revelation. No "s" Grrrr.
Third: Why is everyone freaking out over the end of days? You believe the Bible but thought that this would never come? Why are you trying to stop something you think is inevitable? So confusing...
"Obama effectively fired Rick Wagoner today (CEO of GM). Does that mean the government now controls what was once (and techniquely is) a private sector business? Suprise. Mussolini would be proud."
Personally I think that if you want the government to stay out of your business you shouldn't take billions of dollars from the government. DUH!
I wasn't about to get into that on facebook though. So someone else came along and said:
"Is this true [insert name]? Because if it is, wow. Obama needs to stay out of the private sector. And this would also mean that he could do this with any company that he doesnt think is doing what he wants... right? Wow, oh hey have you read the book of revelations recently? Only because i have heard rumors of alot of countries wanting to do a world wide currency. Have you heard anything about that?"
First of all: Is that true?!?! Read a newspaper. Even I had already heard of this! ME, who avoids the news like it's smallpox.
Second: It's the Book of Revelation. No "s" Grrrr.
Third: Why is everyone freaking out over the end of days? You believe the Bible but thought that this would never come? Why are you trying to stop something you think is inevitable? So confusing...
Friday, March 27, 2009
I eat idiots like you for snacks (not even breakfast. snacks)
Great new ReveLife entry: "My problem with 'Why are you on ReveLife if you're not a Christian?'"
Such a stupid question. I hate it when people ask that. It makes me want to slap people upside the face.
Anyway, of course the idiots came out of the woodwork and were SOOOOOOOOOOOO highly offensive I had to take them out. (Plus, they were so stupid it was like parading a chocolate eclair with a target in front of me)
My response (quoted italics are from the morons)
@DailyConstruct- "You have a flawed understanding of Christianity then. Here is what Jesus said, 'Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.' "
Clearly you need to read your Bible. Even once might help. And I don't count skimming and saying "Ooooh, I can use this totally shut down a nonbeliever and make them hate God! YAY!"
You quote Jesus and yet don't pay any attention to what is says: "WISE as serpents" and "HARMLESS as doves." Not "Ruthless as serpents."
"If you approach someone to attack, obviously they will attack back - christian or not, its a human tendency."
Yes, I do believe I remember Jesus saying "Act like the world! Don't follow me! Do what everyone else does! Ignore the greatest commandments! I didn't really mean them!" *sarcasm*
"Christ was quite willing to knock over a few tables and give a few witty responses to those who wanted to attack him."
Uh, again you show the immense magnitude of your ignorance. He knocked over the tables because the religious people claiming to follow Him were taking advantage of the common people and turning the temple into a place of business. Seeing as you are claiming to be a religious person, you need to apply the consequences of the passage to yourself, not to the nonChristians frequenting the site.
"Today's atheist and "non-christian" is the Pharisee of Christ's day. Hypocrites who know the word of God, but who wish to skew its Truth."
WHAT?!?!? NO! Good grief, you really haven't read the Bible have you? How can a nonChristian "know the word of God" when the Word explicitly says that it is foolishness to those who do not believe? Pharisee were and are religious people who focus on the minutiae of religion instead of on God. Pharisees are people in the Church who insist on doing a shitty job playing God and lording it over all the "little people."
"...you do not hold those who do not return love for hate on lesser rung of the ladder than the those who spill hate."
Yes, I do. Because the Christian is commanded to love and turn the other cheek. If they don't do that it's in direct defiance of God's Word. If a nonChristian is hateful...well, they're not exactly pretending to be a Christ follower now are they? It is far worse to make Christ a liar (by refusing to follow His commands but still claiming to follow Him) than to react hatefully because you don't have the power of Christ working through you (eg hateful nonChristians)
"The Christian is always a better human than the enemy who hates him."
Can I be there when you try to tell this to God at the end of time? I really want to know what it looks like to smacked upside the face by a deity.
Oh. My. God. I'm not sure I've ever met anyone as ridiculous as you are. Certainly no one willing to open their mouth and prove it beyond all doubt like this.
@leadworshipper82 "people who promote this "tolerance" and diversity crap are in of themselves worthless and not very smart... but they are the most vocal... the same way a pig is...."
Yeah, damn. There was this dude I read about once who was totally like "You should love everyone." What a worthless swine he was.
......Oh my God! What is it with you people today? Do you have any idea what you are even saying?!?!?!?!?! If you can't even tolerate and live side by side with people, how the hell do you follow the greatest commandments? How can you love a God you put on the same level as walking bacon? How can you say His creations are worthless?!?
...as for "not very smart"....I really don't think you have any room to talk after that extremely moronic statement
Such a stupid question. I hate it when people ask that. It makes me want to slap people upside the face.
Anyway, of course the idiots came out of the woodwork and were SOOOOOOOOOOOO highly offensive I had to take them out. (Plus, they were so stupid it was like parading a chocolate eclair with a target in front of me)
My response (quoted italics are from the morons)
@DailyConstruct- "You have a flawed understanding of Christianity then. Here is what Jesus said, 'Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.' "
Clearly you need to read your Bible. Even once might help. And I don't count skimming and saying "Ooooh, I can use this totally shut down a nonbeliever and make them hate God! YAY!"
You quote Jesus and yet don't pay any attention to what is says: "WISE as serpents" and "HARMLESS as doves." Not "Ruthless as serpents."
"If you approach someone to attack, obviously they will attack back - christian or not, its a human tendency."
Yes, I do believe I remember Jesus saying "Act like the world! Don't follow me! Do what everyone else does! Ignore the greatest commandments! I didn't really mean them!" *sarcasm*
"Christ was quite willing to knock over a few tables and give a few witty responses to those who wanted to attack him."
Uh, again you show the immense magnitude of your ignorance. He knocked over the tables because the religious people claiming to follow Him were taking advantage of the common people and turning the temple into a place of business. Seeing as you are claiming to be a religious person, you need to apply the consequences of the passage to yourself, not to the nonChristians frequenting the site.
"Today's atheist and "non-christian" is the Pharisee of Christ's day. Hypocrites who know the word of God, but who wish to skew its Truth."
WHAT?!?!? NO! Good grief, you really haven't read the Bible have you? How can a nonChristian "know the word of God" when the Word explicitly says that it is foolishness to those who do not believe? Pharisee were and are religious people who focus on the minutiae of religion instead of on God. Pharisees are people in the Church who insist on doing a shitty job playing God and lording it over all the "little people."
"...you do not hold those who do not return love for hate on lesser rung of the ladder than the those who spill hate."
Yes, I do. Because the Christian is commanded to love and turn the other cheek. If they don't do that it's in direct defiance of God's Word. If a nonChristian is hateful...well, they're not exactly pretending to be a Christ follower now are they? It is far worse to make Christ a liar (by refusing to follow His commands but still claiming to follow Him) than to react hatefully because you don't have the power of Christ working through you (eg hateful nonChristians)
"The Christian is always a better human than the enemy who hates him."
Can I be there when you try to tell this to God at the end of time? I really want to know what it looks like to smacked upside the face by a deity.
Oh. My. God. I'm not sure I've ever met anyone as ridiculous as you are. Certainly no one willing to open their mouth and prove it beyond all doubt like this.
@leadworshipper82 "people who promote this "tolerance" and diversity crap are in of themselves worthless and not very smart... but they are the most vocal... the same way a pig is...."
Yeah, damn. There was this dude I read about once who was totally like "You should love everyone." What a worthless swine he was.
......Oh my God! What is it with you people today? Do you have any idea what you are even saying?!?!?!?!?! If you can't even tolerate and live side by side with people, how the hell do you follow the greatest commandments? How can you love a God you put on the same level as walking bacon? How can you say His creations are worthless?!?
...as for "not very smart"....I really don't think you have any room to talk after that extremely moronic statement
Practicum
The lottery for practicum locations was held today. My number was called one number too late to get the trauma floor (filled by a friend of mine and a really ignorant student who never comes to class....grrrr). But I did grab a renal/GYN/telemetry floor, which now that I've had time to think about it, I'm really excitd about. I've had a lot of renal patients in the past, really like GYN and need tele experience, so I think it could be really great.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Aren't I Sick of School YET?!?!?!?
Yes. However, I realize that my appetite for learning will never be satiated.
And so I have already begun the self torture of looking into getting my MSN.
I'm leaning toward a double-masters (hey, I'll have two bachelors, may as well have matching masters!) in women's health and midwifery. I love womens and children's health. Not to mention they make up the overwhelming majority of the world, so if I ever run off to save the world I'll have most of my people covered.
But I can't start this until at least fall of 2010, and I'd prefer to wait until 2011 so I can get my medics in 2010. And I plan to take it very slowly. Like 4 credit hours a quarter (thats all my job will pay for, and I am cheap.) So I'm looking at 5 years before my first masters, and not finishing school completely until like 2020. That's ok. If I'm going at such a slow rate I'll be able to raise my kids at the same time.
Ah the future.
20 days until the HESI *panic attack*
37 days to our pseudo-graduation
86 days till we're finished with practicum!
~90 days until I move!!!
5 months till NCLEX (no sweat)
And so I have already begun the self torture of looking into getting my MSN.
I'm leaning toward a double-masters (hey, I'll have two bachelors, may as well have matching masters!) in women's health and midwifery. I love womens and children's health. Not to mention they make up the overwhelming majority of the world, so if I ever run off to save the world I'll have most of my people covered.
But I can't start this until at least fall of 2010, and I'd prefer to wait until 2011 so I can get my medics in 2010. And I plan to take it very slowly. Like 4 credit hours a quarter (thats all my job will pay for, and I am cheap.) So I'm looking at 5 years before my first masters, and not finishing school completely until like 2020. That's ok. If I'm going at such a slow rate I'll be able to raise my kids at the same time.
Ah the future.
20 days until the HESI *panic attack*
37 days to our pseudo-graduation
86 days till we're finished with practicum!
~90 days until I move!!!
5 months till NCLEX (no sweat)
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Rejected Facebook Stauses
Why does Obama hate me so much?
Nothing the president has to say is more important than the results of Dancing With the Stars. We all know the country has economic problems. However, no one knows who'se getting kicked off tonight.
I want a T-shirt that reads "I have asthma, a family history of cancer, and no health insurance; don't take it personally" on the front, and a no smoking sign on the back so that smokers can stop giving me nasty looks when I go waaaaaaaaaay around them to avoid smoke clouds.
Penne-greek dressing-feta-tomatoes. Mmmmmm.
Nothing the president has to say is more important than the results of Dancing With the Stars. We all know the country has economic problems. However, no one knows who'se getting kicked off tonight.
I want a T-shirt that reads "I have asthma, a family history of cancer, and no health insurance; don't take it personally" on the front, and a no smoking sign on the back so that smokers can stop giving me nasty looks when I go waaaaaaaaaay around them to avoid smoke clouds.
Penne-greek dressing-feta-tomatoes. Mmmmmm.
The most judgemental people...
You know what I've found? That people who are judged a lot (or at least claim to be) tend to be more judgemental than anyone else.
For instance, there was a discussion on a nursing website about GLBTs being nurses. I really don't see any problem in that because we don't segregate by gender so why would we by orientation? Health care workers should leave their sexual feelings at home, regardless. They have no place in a patient's room!
However I made the huge mistake of mentioning that I prefer having a female nurse for gyn type procedures. And suddenly everyone labels me the raging homophobe because I wouldn't consider a gay man to be equivalent.
Excuse me?
I don't care if he's had a sex change, he still doesn't know what it is like to be a woman! (isn't that where all the angst comes from?) And when I'm (rarely, thank God) the patient, I should get what I want!
As a nurse I bend over backward to make my patient comfortable. And therefore I expect the same treatment when my feet are in the stirrups.
And of course these people have no idea if there's anything in my past that may make me uncomfortable with strange men. But they're nurses, so they should put themselves in their patients shoes, not try to shove their patient in the nurse's shoes.
Homophobe my ass.
Selfish little diva? Damned straight. (haha, no pun intended)
People need to buy dictionaries, I swear. If you want to insult me, at least get it right. Otherwise you look like a jackass.
For instance, there was a discussion on a nursing website about GLBTs being nurses. I really don't see any problem in that because we don't segregate by gender so why would we by orientation? Health care workers should leave their sexual feelings at home, regardless. They have no place in a patient's room!
However I made the huge mistake of mentioning that I prefer having a female nurse for gyn type procedures. And suddenly everyone labels me the raging homophobe because I wouldn't consider a gay man to be equivalent.
Excuse me?
I don't care if he's had a sex change, he still doesn't know what it is like to be a woman! (isn't that where all the angst comes from?) And when I'm (rarely, thank God) the patient, I should get what I want!
As a nurse I bend over backward to make my patient comfortable. And therefore I expect the same treatment when my feet are in the stirrups.
And of course these people have no idea if there's anything in my past that may make me uncomfortable with strange men. But they're nurses, so they should put themselves in their patients shoes, not try to shove their patient in the nurse's shoes.
Homophobe my ass.
Selfish little diva? Damned straight. (haha, no pun intended)
People need to buy dictionaries, I swear. If you want to insult me, at least get it right. Otherwise you look like a jackass.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Physician Assisted Suicide from a Christian (student) Nurse's Perspective
DISCLAIMER:: I have the utmost respect for everyone who has ever suffered from debilitating disease and their friends and family members, regardless of what treatment they did or did not choose. The following is not me advocating sticking a needle in every sick person's arm, but me advocating to give them a choice in their course of treatment. Just like DNRs.
Wow. Just, wow.
ReveLife post on PAS (Physician Assisted Suicide). I’d forgotten how many Christians outside the health community are so vehemently opposed to it.
And they don’t have any good arguments! See the sampling:
1. God should be in control of life and death.
Are you implying that when PAS is used, He isn’t in control?
"Hey, God, how are you liking that shoebox You’ve been put in? Comfy enough for You?"
Please.
2a. You’ll be sending nonChristians to hell!
Wow I have a lot of untapped power. I wonder what else I can do. I always wanted that spontaneous healing like Wolverine and Claire...
First of all, no one gets sent to hell. We’re all headed there by default and can choose to change course at any time.
I have ultimately no say in what anyone else chooses.
What is implied, of course, is that in PAS the person may die before they hear that one thing that changes their mind about God.
If you know you’re about to die I’m pretty sure your beliefs in the afterlife or lack thereof is pretty front and center. And in the US you've almost undoubtedly already heard about Christ at least once or twice.
Second, I realize that in that tiny shoebox God doesn’t have much room to stretch His legs but I seriously doubt He sees me headed for my patient’s IV line and thinks Oh noes! I hope that’s not going to kill him/her! If only that dang nurse could wait another 4 hours, now my plan is ruined!!!!!!
-.-
Yeah. No.
2b. Christians can’t cut out early! They have more work to do!
Exactly how is one going to accomplish anything when they’re in unrelenting pain that is not being helped with any amount of medication?
How many people have decided to become a Christian because they saw a Christian moaning/screaming in pain in a hospital bed, struggling to breathe?
I personally think it shows just as much faith in God’s plan to say, "Ok, I realize this is my time to go. I realize I can’t do anything anymore. My body has turned on me, I’m ready to go home."
3. If they die so soon then their family will never get over it.
Excuse me, but "so soon"? Terminal patients have been dying for long periods of time. Scripts for fatal doses of morphine aren’t given out with your diagnosis. You have to have a prognosis that says you’re very near death’s door. They aren’t given out willy nilly to everyone with a funny looking mole. Good grief.
And no, their family probably never will get over it. But that’s the same regardless of when they die.
And this really isn’t about their family, now is it? Are their family members having nasty cells literally eating holes in their bones, clogging up their liver or smashing their brain up against the side of their skull? NO!
One of the biggest things I see contributing to people being opposed to PAS is that they don’t really understand how much pain these people are in.
Cancer patients rarely do the whole thrashing about thing because their pain is chronic. That doesn’t mean it isn’t the worst pain they’ve ever felt, but they don’t have the energy to thrash or scream and it wouldn’t help if they did.
We’re a society that can’t even survive a stomach bug without tylenol or chicken soup or a nap.
Yet we expect vulnerable members of our population to suck it up when they’re body has been ravaged by disease to the point that it’s not even functional anymore!??!?!?
Mmm, yes, that sounds compassionate and loving and Christ-like. Let's all do that!
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Change = BAD
I hate change:
I hate moving
I hate the new facebook (AGAIN!!?!!? Seriously?!? I want to hit something...)
I hate new rules
I hate new dresscodes
I hate new laws
I hate repealing old laws
I hate new administrations
I hate new roommates (esp. when they aren't paying rent)
I also hate being around people who smoke. As if it weren't bad enough that second-hand smoke is more toxic than first-hand and can give you cancer, now we have third-hand smoke. Third hand smoke can creep through apartment walls if your neighbors smoke and (you guessed it) give you cancer.
So I hate that we have compromised and compromised and compromised and compromised until you only have rights if you want to destroy something.
If you want to give me cancer, yay for you! How dare I get pissed at your inadvertantly killing me.
Ok so those last paragraphs had very little to do with change, except for the fact that every day people grow less and less considerate of other people (which is my biggest pet peeve).
I swear I'm going to go live in a nice smoke free hermit-cave. Alone. Away from all the stupid people. Maybe then I'll manage not to get cancer or emphesema. I certainly wouldn't be angry over the new facebook because I doubt my cave will have wi-fi.
I hate moving
I hate the new facebook (AGAIN!!?!!? Seriously?!? I want to hit something...)
I hate new rules
I hate new dresscodes
I hate new laws
I hate repealing old laws
I hate new administrations
I hate new roommates (esp. when they aren't paying rent)
I also hate being around people who smoke. As if it weren't bad enough that second-hand smoke is more toxic than first-hand and can give you cancer, now we have third-hand smoke. Third hand smoke can creep through apartment walls if your neighbors smoke and (you guessed it) give you cancer.
So I hate that we have compromised and compromised and compromised and compromised until you only have rights if you want to destroy something.
If you want to give me cancer, yay for you! How dare I get pissed at your inadvertantly killing me.
Ok so those last paragraphs had very little to do with change, except for the fact that every day people grow less and less considerate of other people (which is my biggest pet peeve).
I swear I'm going to go live in a nice smoke free hermit-cave. Alone. Away from all the stupid people. Maybe then I'll manage not to get cancer or emphesema. I certainly wouldn't be angry over the new facebook because I doubt my cave will have wi-fi.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Ugh
I've sat down so many times to write and my mind goes blank.
Not even sure this one will get anywhere.
I have like 15 drafts saved that will never see the light of day.
Because I don't like so much attention. I like talking and I like it when people listen but...not on such a large scale.
And I'm an introvert so I give energy in a crowd and need time alone to get energy back.
As much as I like reading other people's sites I do eventually get tired of hearing again and again how stupid people like me are.
*sigh*
Most of all I hate that I care.
I pride myself on not caring what other people think of me.
And I wouldn't have cared except that I had spent every last drop of mental energy trying to correct 300 misinterpretations, thanking 100 people for actually being insightful, and apologizing to most of them for the heinous things that had happened to them.
So I had no energy left to tell myself Who gives a flying fart if these people think you're an idiot? You don't even know these people! And you're not an idiot, so there.
I have always said I wanted to be a hermit.
It's true.
Dang. I know I'm supposed to love people...and I usually do (despite my protests that I hate them and that they all suck).
But they do annoy me. On a grand scale. About 90% of the time.
If only the great commission had been "Now go live in a cave."
Of course, had that been the great commission, I wouldn't even know what it was, and neither would anyone else alive today.
In other news...
My friend Mike and I are in a fight because I learned that he smokes pot.
Oh now don't go get in a tizzy, I am not in the mood to discuss your right to destroy your body or debate the medicinal effects of marijuana or define "substance abuse." This is another one of those you-don't-know-jack-about-my-life-so-let-me-run-my-own-relationships moments.
So yes, I learned this. And it bothers me on a grand scale and for a great many reasons, most of which are almost surely pathological themselves. But it does. Not enough to end the friendship but I personally do not know how to handle such a friendship. Especially given all circumstances.
And also...
One Tree Hill is back, which makes me very happy. Monday nights are fabulous once again! I cried over little Anna-Sawyer Scott. And remembered that Nathan has got to be the world's perfect husband.
Finally...
My arms feel like they are about to fall off because Morgan "made" Deborah and I kill ourselves lifting weights today.
I'm surprised I can type.
Ouch.
Not even sure this one will get anywhere.
I have like 15 drafts saved that will never see the light of day.
Because I don't like so much attention. I like talking and I like it when people listen but...not on such a large scale.
And I'm an introvert so I give energy in a crowd and need time alone to get energy back.
As much as I like reading other people's sites I do eventually get tired of hearing again and again how stupid people like me are.
*sigh*
Most of all I hate that I care.
I pride myself on not caring what other people think of me.
And I wouldn't have cared except that I had spent every last drop of mental energy trying to correct 300 misinterpretations, thanking 100 people for actually being insightful, and apologizing to most of them for the heinous things that had happened to them.
So I had no energy left to tell myself Who gives a flying fart if these people think you're an idiot? You don't even know these people! And you're not an idiot, so there.
I have always said I wanted to be a hermit.
It's true.
Dang. I know I'm supposed to love people...and I usually do (despite my protests that I hate them and that they all suck).
But they do annoy me. On a grand scale. About 90% of the time.
If only the great commission had been "Now go live in a cave."
Of course, had that been the great commission, I wouldn't even know what it was, and neither would anyone else alive today.
In other news...
My friend Mike and I are in a fight because I learned that he smokes pot.
Oh now don't go get in a tizzy, I am not in the mood to discuss your right to destroy your body or debate the medicinal effects of marijuana or define "substance abuse." This is another one of those you-don't-know-jack-about-my-life-so-let-me-run-my-own-relationships moments.
So yes, I learned this. And it bothers me on a grand scale and for a great many reasons, most of which are almost surely pathological themselves. But it does. Not enough to end the friendship but I personally do not know how to handle such a friendship. Especially given all circumstances.
And also...
One Tree Hill is back, which makes me very happy. Monday nights are fabulous once again! I cried over little Anna-Sawyer Scott. And remembered that Nathan has got to be the world's perfect husband.
Finally...
My arms feel like they are about to fall off because Morgan "made" Deborah and I kill ourselves lifting weights today.
I'm surprised I can type.
Ouch.
Monday, March 9, 2009
just waking up + having a headache = me being uber critical of random people's blogs
"Remember the "Salmonella in Spinach" scare? I remember it because my sister was one of the people who ate the tainted spinach and almost died of e coli poisoning." (http://www.xanga.com/quiltnmomi/694952670/a-crazy-liberal-idea/)
BEWARE!!!! Salmonella now gives you E. coli.
*shoots self in the face*
BEWARE!!!! Salmonella now gives you E. coli.
*shoots self in the face*
Thursday, March 5, 2009
I have such odd views for a WASP
I really don't know why everyone gave Australia such a bad time. I liked it. Really liked it.
Granted it started out really cheesey and it had a false ending in the middle (I actually got up, preparing to turn the TV off 45 min before the actual end. whoops) but overall it was really good.
I thought the scene where the cattle were stampeding toward the cliff was the most powerful. The way they captured the little boy just standing there so bravely, taking on a thousand stampeding bulls... and then the way he started crying as soon as it was over. It reminded me of the quote "What’s the difference between a hero and a coward? Both are ordinary people, both are scared, and both are running. But the hero is running in the right direction." (The Calling, emphasis mine) Or standing, as the case may be.
I also loved Lady Ashley staring down the racist society people when she was trying to adopt the little boy and they told her she couldn't because society dictated he needed to be sent away to "have the black bred out of him." She so simply stated "Just because it is, doesn't mean it should be" but that simple statement was so great. Too many people want to stick to the status quo. It's infuriating.
And then, my favorite humorous scene was when the pastor was pleading with the boat captian to take him to the island where the children were stuck. The captain says it's impossible, the pastor says "I have the Lord on my side", Drover nails the captain right in the head and says "The Lord works in mysterious ways."
I loved that because I get so tired of people nit picking through the Bible for the "cannots" and the "do nots." When it comes right down to it I follow the two greatest commandments "Love God, love people." There's no way to overanalyze those and if you're truely following them you can never be too far off from the right thing.
And besides, I'll take whatever punishment there is for clocking someone in the face if it saves 30 lives. I'm not perfect, after all.
But in the middle of the film I re-realized that I really need to live somewhere with less laws. If half the things that happened to Lady Ashley happened to me I'd be in jail. No one is going to stand there and threaten my child with bodily harm without getting punched in the face. No 10 year old is going to call another child racist epithets without a slap across the face. I don't care who's watching, I don't care who's kid it is. Teach your kid that if he wants to take such a stand he has to face the consequences.
I'm going to be called the principal's office over my children's behavior ever so often.
And if I'm not, I'm going to be sorely dissappointed in my children.
Granted it started out really cheesey and it had a false ending in the middle (I actually got up, preparing to turn the TV off 45 min before the actual end. whoops) but overall it was really good.
I thought the scene where the cattle were stampeding toward the cliff was the most powerful. The way they captured the little boy just standing there so bravely, taking on a thousand stampeding bulls... and then the way he started crying as soon as it was over. It reminded me of the quote "What’s the difference between a hero and a coward? Both are ordinary people, both are scared, and both are running. But the hero is running in the right direction." (The Calling, emphasis mine) Or standing, as the case may be.
I also loved Lady Ashley staring down the racist society people when she was trying to adopt the little boy and they told her she couldn't because society dictated he needed to be sent away to "have the black bred out of him." She so simply stated "Just because it is, doesn't mean it should be" but that simple statement was so great. Too many people want to stick to the status quo. It's infuriating.
And then, my favorite humorous scene was when the pastor was pleading with the boat captian to take him to the island where the children were stuck. The captain says it's impossible, the pastor says "I have the Lord on my side", Drover nails the captain right in the head and says "The Lord works in mysterious ways."
I loved that because I get so tired of people nit picking through the Bible for the "cannots" and the "do nots." When it comes right down to it I follow the two greatest commandments "Love God, love people." There's no way to overanalyze those and if you're truely following them you can never be too far off from the right thing.
And besides, I'll take whatever punishment there is for clocking someone in the face if it saves 30 lives. I'm not perfect, after all.
But in the middle of the film I re-realized that I really need to live somewhere with less laws. If half the things that happened to Lady Ashley happened to me I'd be in jail. No one is going to stand there and threaten my child with bodily harm without getting punched in the face. No 10 year old is going to call another child racist epithets without a slap across the face. I don't care who's watching, I don't care who's kid it is. Teach your kid that if he wants to take such a stand he has to face the consequences.
I'm going to be called the principal's office over my children's behavior ever so often.
And if I'm not, I'm going to be sorely dissappointed in my children.
Going mad
In case you ever wondered what it looked like:
"Gumdrops on roses and whiskers on children,
Bright purple kettles and warm woolen kittens.
My psych professor all tied up with string,
My crazy ideas are my favorite things!
Cream colored poppies and fancied up poodles,
Call bells and hells bells and oodles of noodles.
Hippogriffs fly with wizards on their wings.
Fiction is one of my favorite things!
Girls in white dresses and foreheads bearing ashes,
Snowflakes will melt on your nose and in masses.
I should study 'stead of writing these things,
Oh I cannot wait until it is Spring!!!
When patients bite,
When the grade stings,
When I'm feeling mad,
I simply remember I soon will be done,
and then I don't feel so bad!!!!"
"Gumdrops on roses and whiskers on children,
Bright purple kettles and warm woolen kittens.
My psych professor all tied up with string,
My crazy ideas are my favorite things!
Cream colored poppies and fancied up poodles,
Call bells and hells bells and oodles of noodles.
Hippogriffs fly with wizards on their wings.
Fiction is one of my favorite things!
Girls in white dresses and foreheads bearing ashes,
Snowflakes will melt on your nose and in masses.
I should study 'stead of writing these things,
Oh I cannot wait until it is Spring!!!
When patients bite,
When the grade stings,
When I'm feeling mad,
I simply remember I soon will be done,
and then I don't feel so bad!!!!"
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
God, mental illness, and STDs
So I spent the morning rehabbing clients with psychological disorders and the afternoon teaching safe sex to a bunch of Senior citizens.
My life is so diverse.
Anyway, the same thing came up in both settings.
(First, let me explain something before I begin the stories: I am not comfortable in psychiatric facilities. It has nothing to do with the clients there, because I find them intriguing and usually nicer than people outside the facility. It's the fact that I struggle with mental illness myself and feel like a complete imposter sitting there as the nursing student learning to help them when I can't get my own brain under control half the time.)
So anyway, I'm already uncomfortable...just waiting for someone to realize I am on the wrong side of the medication cup...when one my clients metaphorically corners me by asking me to define "mental illness." My classmate was standing there but I knew that she was going to defer the question to me because of my BA in psych (oh yes, I have a bachelors in how screwed up I am, it's wonderful). But I panicked because of course I can give a textbook definition and pass the exam but that's not really what's he's looking for.
So I manage to stammer "Well, that's hard to define now isn't it? Why don't you tell me what it means to you?"
And he tells me that it's God's punishment.
To which I immediately have about a thousand bells and whistles going off in my head.
First of all that goes against everything I believe about God.
And secondly, he unknowingly just said I was being punished by God.
And we'll skip how I handled that because there was a lot of blubbering and me not knowing what I was "supposed" to say and protesting that it wasn't punishment...
Next I had a Senior announce that STDs were punishment for having sex.
Luckily I was not the person doing the actual lecture at the time so I didn't have to handle that and actually had time to think about it.
What I thought about was how STDs are not God's punishment for not following the Bible, but rather God gave us the instructions in the Bible because He understood STDs before the rest of us and didn't want us catching them and helping them become the nasty mutated buggers they are today.
And that was that.
My life is so diverse.
Anyway, the same thing came up in both settings.
(First, let me explain something before I begin the stories: I am not comfortable in psychiatric facilities. It has nothing to do with the clients there, because I find them intriguing and usually nicer than people outside the facility. It's the fact that I struggle with mental illness myself and feel like a complete imposter sitting there as the nursing student learning to help them when I can't get my own brain under control half the time.)
So anyway, I'm already uncomfortable...just waiting for someone to realize I am on the wrong side of the medication cup...when one my clients metaphorically corners me by asking me to define "mental illness." My classmate was standing there but I knew that she was going to defer the question to me because of my BA in psych (oh yes, I have a bachelors in how screwed up I am, it's wonderful). But I panicked because of course I can give a textbook definition and pass the exam but that's not really what's he's looking for.
So I manage to stammer "Well, that's hard to define now isn't it? Why don't you tell me what it means to you?"
And he tells me that it's God's punishment.
To which I immediately have about a thousand bells and whistles going off in my head.
First of all that goes against everything I believe about God.
And secondly, he unknowingly just said I was being punished by God.
And we'll skip how I handled that because there was a lot of blubbering and me not knowing what I was "supposed" to say and protesting that it wasn't punishment...
Next I had a Senior announce that STDs were punishment for having sex.
Luckily I was not the person doing the actual lecture at the time so I didn't have to handle that and actually had time to think about it.
What I thought about was how STDs are not God's punishment for not following the Bible, but rather God gave us the instructions in the Bible because He understood STDs before the rest of us and didn't want us catching them and helping them become the nasty mutated buggers they are today.
And that was that.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Songs stuck on repeat
Well I want a second glance
So give me a second chance
To see the way You see the people all along
-- Give Me Your Eyes, Brandon Heath
If Ephesians says to imitate Christ why do you look so much like the world?
...I think He'd prefer Beale St. to the stained glass crowd
--My Jesus, Todd Agnew
I won't lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights
We all need an "Atta boy" or "Atta girl"
But in the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides
the temporary trappings of this world
...
I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love?
Did I point to You enough to make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who blessed Your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy
--Legacy, Nicole Nordeman
Sometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered peace be still
He can settle any sea
But it doesn't mean He will
Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm
And other times He calms His child
-- Sometimes He Calms the Storm, Scott Krippayne
I start the day the war begins
Endless reminding of my sin
Time and time again
Your Truth is drowned out by the storm I'm in
...
I need your peace to get me through
To get me through this night
...
Jesus can you show me
Just how far the East is from the West
Cause I can't bear to see the man I've been
Come rising up in me again
In the arms of your mercy I find rest
Cause you know just how far the East is from the West
From one scarred hand to the other
-- East to West, Casting Crowns
I'm sorry for the lies we told
I'm sorry for this cruel, cruel world
...
I'm sorry for the stones we throw
We tear you down just so we can watch the show
I'm sorry for the words we say
We point our finger as you fall from grace
...
I know love goes around the world we know
And you never see it coming back
But I can see it coming back for you
-- Britney, Bebo Norman
So give me a second chance
To see the way You see the people all along
-- Give Me Your Eyes, Brandon Heath
If Ephesians says to imitate Christ why do you look so much like the world?
...I think He'd prefer Beale St. to the stained glass crowd
--My Jesus, Todd Agnew
I won't lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights
We all need an "Atta boy" or "Atta girl"
But in the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides
the temporary trappings of this world
...
I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love?
Did I point to You enough to make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who blessed Your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy
--Legacy, Nicole Nordeman
Sometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered peace be still
He can settle any sea
But it doesn't mean He will
Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm
And other times He calms His child
-- Sometimes He Calms the Storm, Scott Krippayne
I start the day the war begins
Endless reminding of my sin
Time and time again
Your Truth is drowned out by the storm I'm in
...
I need your peace to get me through
To get me through this night
...
Jesus can you show me
Just how far the East is from the West
Cause I can't bear to see the man I've been
Come rising up in me again
In the arms of your mercy I find rest
Cause you know just how far the East is from the West
From one scarred hand to the other
-- East to West, Casting Crowns
I'm sorry for the lies we told
I'm sorry for this cruel, cruel world
...
I'm sorry for the stones we throw
We tear you down just so we can watch the show
I'm sorry for the words we say
We point our finger as you fall from grace
...
I know love goes around the world we know
And you never see it coming back
But I can see it coming back for you
-- Britney, Bebo Norman
And the surrealness continues
Have you ever looked at yourself and gone "wth happened to you?!?!?!?!?" because you're not even acting like yourself anymore?
Probably.
But have you ever found yourself changing like that within hours?
I have. I had to give myself a virtual smack across the face.
I spent the entire day on the computer responding to comments on my ReveLife post (minus 2 hours watching Brothers & Sisters [Justin is so hott] and maybe 2 hours studying for my midterm in the morning) and I eventually had to stop because I was starting to get really angry.
Angry?
There's my "wth is wrong with you" moment.
I have all these people thanking me for bringing this to light and I find I'm getting really irritated whenever I see anything slightly negative.
The last 24 hours have been a lesson in surreal-ity...surreal-ness...yeah
So I'm going to take a moment and react like a blubbering Oscar winner.
I really really really believed my post would never make it to ReveLife. It thought it was too angry and too critical. So when I logged into Xanga "just to check it before heading to bed" I was shocked to see one of my friends had recommended it....from ReveLife's site. I scrolled down a little and there it was: the most recent ReveLife article. Craziness.
It's going to take me forever to go through everyone's comments and respond to them (there's already 36).
I'm noticing a few trends, namely
1. Christians coming out of the woodwork proclaiming that they never say or do such things. I believe most of them....the funny thing is I never see them out there commenting. (If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem)
2. Non-Christians clarifying that they don't actually hate Christians. Well, hate is a little strong and I realize not everyone hates Christians, but I thought titling it "If I weren't a Christian I'd probably stereotype and dislike the majority of the Christians who comment but not all of them because I'd realize that there are also a lot of good people who are Christians and who don't treat others badly" was a little wordy.
3. Christians defending their actions as Christ-like. What are you reading? The Gospel according to Mini Me?
I might be bothered by the Christians saying "This doesn't happen!" except for all the nonChristians saying "Yes it does!!" Seriously, who am I going to believe? The accused or the victims? *rolls eyes* It's all about perception, not intention.
I really really really believed my post would never make it to ReveLife. It thought it was too angry and too critical. So when I logged into Xanga "just to check it before heading to bed" I was shocked to see one of my friends had recommended it....from ReveLife's site. I scrolled down a little and there it was: the most recent ReveLife article. Craziness.
It's going to take me forever to go through everyone's comments and respond to them (there's already 36).
I'm noticing a few trends, namely
1. Christians coming out of the woodwork proclaiming that they never say or do such things. I believe most of them....the funny thing is I never see them out there commenting. (If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem)
2. Non-Christians clarifying that they don't actually hate Christians. Well, hate is a little strong and I realize not everyone hates Christians, but I thought titling it "If I weren't a Christian I'd probably stereotype and dislike the majority of the Christians who comment but not all of them because I'd realize that there are also a lot of good people who are Christians and who don't treat others badly" was a little wordy.
3. Christians defending their actions as Christ-like. What are you reading? The Gospel according to Mini Me?
I might be bothered by the Christians saying "This doesn't happen!" except for all the nonChristians saying "Yes it does!!" Seriously, who am I going to believe? The accused or the victims? *rolls eyes* It's all about perception, not intention.
::EDIT:: It just got more surreal: my post is now featured on the front page of xanga.
I just feel so weird about this. On one hand I'm glad that someone out there thought that it was as important as I did and chose to put it on ReveLife, and that people are seeing it and responding to it. But on the other hand I worry about whether I did "the right thing." Am I hurting more than I'm helping? I don't think so but who knows the future?
There's also been a few important misunderstandings. Mainly that I might be of the persuasion that one doesn't have to accept Christ to get to Heaven, which I've tried to correct as I saw it, but still.
The main thing was for the offenders to see it, which I think they have now, with 937 views and 44 comments.
I did pray last night before I fell asleep that if I was wrong about this whole thing that ReveLife would kill the story...I guess I'll just have to keep trusting Him.
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