Pro-Life or Die

Awesome Cartoon found on this Awesome Blog!

This piece from the New York Times really highlights the biggest logical problem with the pro-life stance: people will stand behind it to the point of death.


The Catholic Church is severing ties with St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix.

The hospital’s offense? It had terminated a pregnancy to save the life of the mother. The hospital says the 27-year-old woman, a mother of four children, would almost certainly have died otherwise.

Bishop Olmsted initially excommunicated a nun, Sister Margaret McBride, who had been on the hospital’s ethics committee and had approved of the decision. That seems to have been a failed attempt to bully the hospital into submission, but it refused to cave and continues to employ Sister Margaret. Now the bishop, in effect, is excommunicating the entire hospital — all because it saved a woman’s life.

The real consequences of this seem to revolve around the fact that mass can no longer be held in the chapel, which seems a little silly since, like the article points out, Catholic mass is held in generic chapels of non-affiliated hospitals and airports all across the country. I suspect some funding may be in danger too, which would be unfortunate for a hospital that clearly will put everything on the line to save a patient’s life.

I’d love to ask this bishop why this already-living woman’s life means to little to him and God? Isn’t there a good chance that the baby would have also died if the mother died? What life is being saved by letting the mother die in that case?
This sad, backward decision should be shocking not only to skeptics, but also to people claiming the Catholic faith. And good for the nun who chose that woman’s life over her membership to the church - she at least has her priorities straight.

S.A.M.

The Best Idea That My 17-year-old Self Ever Had

 

Really, I must ask this: What is it about High School that traps and changes people for the rest of their lives?  Why is High School so important to people?

Part of me wants to say that the idea that high school is the “most important four years of your life” is really just a self-fulfilling prophecy.  If enough people around us stress its importance, in many cases we will also eventually assign it value.  Since it has no exceptional inherent value beyond being the middle years (for most) of formal education, maybe we stuff it with whatever value we can easily grab: “I’ll have these friends for the rest of my life!” “This is the last time we can REALLY have fun!” “I’ve defined my whole identity here!”

But, really, do ANY four years of our lives have such a formative impact on us?  Maybe the period of 0-4 years old holds such importance, when we go through some of our most quick and dramatic developments as humans.  I think college would far-overshadow high school as formative since this is usually a period of being on one’s own for the first time, choosing the first solid steps of one’s life path, transitioning into a self-reliant adult human.  It just seems silly to me that people probably couldn’t remember all of their 7^th grade teachers or 5^th grade spats, but people cling to high school like it’s the last life preserver flung from the titanic.

Yes, I have a reason for my rant!  I was apparently the one who missed the memo that high school was a turning point in my life.  Since I was a little girl, I dreamed of jobs and college.  College, I thought, must be incredible!  You get to pick your classes in things you’re interested in, and your classmates usually share your interests!  You’re free to come and go as you please, because, of course, you’re living free of your parents.  No one will “make” you go to church, or “make” you do anything, really!  High School just seemed like a glorified 8^th grade in a new building – four more years of waiting for that magical school called “college.”  During my senior year of high school, I had already found my way into college and pulled double-duty with night classes – I had a semester of college classes finished when I got my high school diploma.  Maybe that is why, when I walked out of high school in my cap and gown, I decided there was no reason to look back.  I was only really close to one high school friend, and since we went to the same college, we kept in contact for a few years before drifting off into our own endeavors.  I simply had no interest in anyone else, I think.  When I was a junior in college, I was offered a career at the company I’m still working for now.  By the time I graduated from college, I had a new set of “work” friends, and my priorities were already reset for a corporate ladder climb and adult-style life.  I didn’t even show up for the whole cap-and-gown ordeal that time.  College was fun, I learned a ton, and it’s where I met Dixie, so I loved those aspects of it.  I keep those things with me.  But when my 10-year High School Reunion came around a few years back, I politely declined, out of lack of interest.

But, now, we are in the wonderful world of the internet, and I received a friend request on Facebook fro m a girl from High School.  To say we didn’t get along with each other may be an understatement – we were just polar opposites that clashed often because we happened to be stuck with a number of mutual friends.  I decided to accept, since she seemed to just want to be friendly, and I held no ill will.  I made it a conscious decision on graduation day to leave all of my bad feelings and bad words I might have had for anyone in high school exactly where they belonged – in high school.

It has been interesting seeing what she is up to, and we shared a few comments.  Then, this morning, I noticed a status from her about a famous guy I’ve always liked.  I began to read the comments that followed between her and some other people we went to high school with.  They were all about me.  My high school locker, my high school crushes, all in a mean and cliquey light.

You have GOT to be kidding me.  More than a decade later, they were STILL discussing these things?  And now, they’re doing it while I’m in the virtual room.  I thought about defriending her right off the bat, but there was something that seemed just as high-schoolish about that, and I really don’t feel like getting dragged into the drama I left behind so long ago.

I clicked “like” instead.  The “like” was personal - for the decision I made on graduation day to let go of it all, which may have been the best idea my 17-year-old self ever had.

S.A.M.

“Dear School, Why Don’t You Teach? Love, Sam”

 

Handwritten letters from Mickey Mantle to Marilyn Monroe

You may have seen this story about things the next generation will live without. (I know I forwarded it to at least a few people, and received it from two others.)  Dixie and I were talking about it yesterday, and she surprised me with this fact.

“Do you know it’s true - they don’t teach cursive writing anymore? It’s not even a part of my kids’ school curriculum!”

At first it didn’t process that this was any big deal.  I pointed out that while she prefers her beautiful feminine loops and curls, the closest I ever get to writing in cursive anymore is failing to pick up my pen between hurried printed letters.

“But, you DO sign your name! How are these kids going to even have a legal signature?”

Wow, um, good point!  Maybe they practice signing like their favorite baseball players and musicians?  Then again, if that’s the case, the situation may be worse than I thought.  I haven’t seen a player sign his name legibly since Mickey Mantle.

“And, you know, I inquired more about the curriculum – I can’t believe I’m paying to send them to a private school and THIS is considered a good education now!  They don’t teach kids how to write business letters or any letters at all!  The school said that writing business letters will be outdated by the time these kids graduate.”

Are you kidding me??  I draft formal letters at least a couple times a month, and Dixie, who works with a lot of legal matters, drafts them almost daily.  We’re talking about those letters that start with your return address and contact information in the upper right-hand corner and then the contact info of the addressee below that, and then format your letter in a formal style.  You really mean to tell me that in 10 years there will never be a need for formal style of written communication of any kind?  Maybe the transition explains why one of my local city council members recently sent an extremely crucial communication that started with the awkward and childish, “Dear Mayor, I hope you got my last email.”

Concerned that maybe Jonah and Lily were unintentionally being sent to some bizarre neo-hippie school, I asked a colleague who has kids around the same age about cursive.  He said his school told him the same thing!  He was clearly angry about this, and resorted to teaching his children cursive and the like at home.

Still, this seemed so hard to believe.  I did some research to see how many people were uncomfortable with this shift, and found this article from the Boston Globe:

"It's a very disturbing problem," said Kate Gladstone of Albany, N.Y., who has a website specializing in handwriting improvement. "I see people in their 20s and 30s who cannot read cursive. If you cannot read all types of handwriting, you might find your grandma's diary or something from 100 years ago, and not be able to read it." There are practical concerns as well. Sometimes we don't have a computer, or the professor won't let us bring it to class to take notes. Or sometimes, as happened in New Orleans hospitals during Hurricane Katrina, computers lose power and medical orders and records have to be written out by hand.

Wait – people can’t even READ cursive anymore?  Are you kidding me?

I love technology, but let’s not forget the basics!  After all, we might accidentally leave our Smartphone at home for a day, or lose our purse, or break our laptop… and we shouldn’t be SO tied to these things that we would literally be lost without them.

Sincerely,

Samantha

(wink)

Update On The Search For KafirGirl

I’m surrounded by New, New, New! New year, new office locale, new semester at school with new classes, and even a new haircut. I hope everyone had a wonderful Solstice / Holiday Season / Christmas / Festivus / Everything! I have been MIA thanks to tons or recent chaos in my life (mostly my work and school life), but when I’m surrounded by all of this newness, I’m reminded that a new blog entry is probably a good idea.

I was also gently prodded by a reader a few days ago, which prompted me to check my A-Mail (My Anonymous Atheist E-mail Account), SweetAtheistMistress@yahoo.com. There, I found a message about a new Facebook page dedicated to the search for KafirGirl. When I saw that, I knew it was time to return.

LET’S FIND KAFIRGIRL!

If KG just tired of her blog, or life got in the way, I can completely understand that. However, it seems a number of people share my concerns that she may have been threatened or harmed. If that is the case, that is a threat toward all of us who blog about atheism or criticize religion, and we should do everything we can to show our support for her.

I am making my own Facebook account so that I can support this page. I hope that any readers out there who have Facebook accounts will do the same.

S.A.M.

"Driving" Me Crazy

WARNING: This post has nothing to do with anything productive today. 

I just needed to vent and this is my only anonymous outlet for that!

The tattoo was a success, and with a week of fun with Dixie behind me, it's back to the real world.  Unfortunately, that involves my company moving to a new location outside of the city soon.

Generally, change doesn't bother me.  I like change often - I get pretty bored easily otherwise.  I also like new things!  They are shiny and clean and interesting.  HOWEVER, moving to this new location has been a nightmare for me, in more ways than one.  First, the logistics of moving an entire corporation are daunting.  Just moving my department is a daily headache of people worrying about the move and anticipating the awful things that will await them in the scary new building.  Of course, those people get into daily arguments with the people who like shiny new novelties.  These "New Building" advocates testify to the benefits of being outside of a crowded, mean, expensive city, to the dismay of the "Old Building" advocates who feel the death of the city location means the death of us all as we are hurled into obscurity.  Personally, I wish we were staying DESPITE the allure of newness purely because it requires me to learn to drive a hellish route to work every morning. 

Instead of anticipating the relaxing morning walks I will enjoy in the autumn, I spent the weekend driving in the car with Joshua attempting to map out the best route to the new location.  Usually, it takes a lot to get me wound up in the car.  I'm a pretty calm person, and I've driven with screaming babies, arguing friends and anxious family members.  Go ahead - grab the "Jesus Handle" and hit your passenger-side imaginary brake - I'm okay if you're a dramatic passenger.  AS LONG AS YOU'RE NOT JOSH. 

The first time I drove with him in the car, he was in the back seat, arguing with the front seat passenger about where we should be going while I was driving in totally unfamiliar territory to a place I had never been before.  Not five minutes out, my face was burning red and I was ready to scream or burst into tears.  Then, we get on a particularly vicious highway that I had only travelled twice in my life and he starts arguing with me over merging.  Then, he wouldn't shut up about how he was fearing for his life for the entire drive and thereafter.  Our friend drove home, and I didn't let Joshua in my car for months.  I was hurt, discouraged, distressed, agitated, humiliated, mortified... I could create and entire Thesaurus entry about that day.  He's one of the few people whose opinion matters to me, and the sudden dramatic critical attack left me permanently wounded.

So, nowadays, I try to put on my poker face in the car with him.  Really, I can literally feel my blood pressure rise as soon as I put the key into the ignition, even if we're just driving to the grocery store down the street.  95% of mistakes I have EVER made when driving are with him in the car, and I think it's because I can't avoid putting the crushing pressure on myself to be perfect in this one situation, and that, of course, makes it even more horrible because he only sees me at my worst.  *I* wouldn't believe me if I were in his shoes and heard, "Really, I'm a good driver when you're not here."  Sometimes I wonder if my subconscious is attempting to crash the car to free me from the awful situation.

I'm sure you've figured out by now that the new location REQUIRES me to drive on the vicious highway, and Joshua offered to show me how to get there.  At first, I thought that I would be better off getting lost for hours and eventually becoming familiar with the area.  Then, the side of me that I USED to think was rational said, "C'mon Sam... he usually keeps his mouth shut now, and it's been awhile since all of that.  Let's just get this over with and let him show you where to go. You're being ridiculous."  Damn side of my head POSING as rational. 

Well, after I said yes, a day prior to the test drive, Josh decides to tell me something about one of his female friends that likes him that made me pretty angry while we were in the car driving to the store.  And "Isn't It Ironic" that in the middle of the conversation my car chimed in with "You Oughta Know" from my random playlist. At least the car and radio were on my side, right? So I was already angry that I was stuck in the car with him the day before, and it seemed that every bad feeling I ever have about him is rooted in instances of me driving.  Rational Brain said, "C'mon, this is all in your irrational head." So I went ahead with the practice run.  It was awful.  The drive ended with my face burning and tears welling up in my eyes, just as our only other experience on that road had ended.  My back hurt from being so tense, and my head was pounding.  But this time, we got in the house and I couldn't stop being angry.  I told him I never wanted to drive with him in the passenger seat again (and since our only car is mine, I guess he wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon).  He said, "Oh, come on, I thought I was good and I kept quiet.  I only felt my life was endangered twice."  He was trying to joke, but it pushed me over the edge.  I told him that it would be easier to drive if I was car jacked and someone was holding a gun to my head, which was a thought I had often during the hour commute.  I wish I could shake the anxiety I have about driving with him in the car, but I don't see that happening anytime soon, so for now I'll be getting lost solo.

I think the problem is that he has no concept of how hard I am on myself about the situation.  You know, when you are giving 100% of your attention and effort to being perfect, and you make even a small mistake, you are already being incredibly critical of yourself in your mind and someone else voicing their criticism is just "piling it on."  And now, with the pressure reinforced, I can't ever see it going well right now.  Joshua makes me HATE driving.  Good thing my car and playlists are on my side, and he's going on vacation with his friends later this week.  I plan on having a great, relaxing time driving all over the city with my radio blasting and my friendly GPS offering suggestions, but "recalculating" when I disagree and fixing my mistakes without an accusation (GPS: "Simple miscalculation... I can take care of that.  Could have even been my fault!").

Wow, I feel better.  :)

S.A.M.

I Wonder.....

Just for fun...

A coworker saw this in our local newspaper, and brought it to me with a mischevious smile, a highlighted passage, and the comment, "Hey, Samantha... another skeptic has been discovered!"

"Police found the toddler wondering alone on a sidewalk in the neighborhood."

Hope everyone "wonders" through their day today.  ;)

S.A.M.

What Would Jesus Tattoo?

Hello, strangers!  Well, that's what it feels like after being absent from here for so long!  Going to school full time while working a job that generally consumes 60 hours of my week has been a bit overwhelming.  I'm not regretting a thing, though!  It may be hard, but it's still fun.

Speaking of fun, Dixie is staying with me this weekend!  No kids, but her little sister might join us.  The highlight of the weekend should be our trip on Friday to get our very first tattoos!  We designed them together, and we'll get the same design, but in different places.  I'm a little nervous, but mostly excited.  The reason I bring it up here is that the absolute best tattoo parlor in the area is an outwardly Christian business.  Clearly, if I'm going to get artwork put on my body for the rest of my life, and on Dixie's body for that matter, I want it to be pretty amazing, and these people ARE truly amazing.  Now, they do pretty much any design, and they will be doing our completely secular designs.  But when you walk in this place, it's like walking into a church - BIG cross on the wall, tons of their own religious artwork.  I am going through with it, but with some admittedly mixed feelings.  I question whether I should be supporting a business that it outwardly religious.  I have said in the past, and still hold, that if I were to get a tattoo related to Atheism, it absolutely wouldn't happen there.  It would somehow tarnish the meaning of it.  But this tattoo is about Dixie and I, it has nothing to do with religion in one way or another, and I tend to fall back on some more Objectivist views here, I think.  They really are the best, and I'm making my choice based on their product and talent and not their religious affiliations.  Funny that I never thought of this when buying pies from the Amish...

As for school, by the way, my religious studies class on the history of Christianity is one of the most fascinating classes that I am taking!  One day, when the professor (who knows that I am an Atheist from some class discussions) asked the class of about 150 how many people have actually ever read the book of Leviticus after people seemed to be lost when she began discussing it.  I was one of five people to raise my hand.  She laughed and said, "So the ATHEIST has read more of the bible than the majority of the class and most of you said you were Christians.  What a comment on the state of religion nowadays."  It really is a little disturbing that many people devote their life to an idea that they never even attempt to fully learn.  Of course, the more you learn about the history of religion, the more ridiculous it appears to be, so maybe that's an unrealistic expectation.  Wait until we get to Joshua... Will they be surprised to find the utter violence and gore reminiscent of Americans' worst impressions of the Koran?  How many people realize that the story of Joshua in the bible is the first documented Holy War?  How do Christians who do know their stories feel about these holy Christian actions of killing scores of men women, and even innocent children as a sacrifice to God?  It will be interesting....

S.A.M.