Just Some Food For Thought

Dear political activist,

I'm sorry, but I think it is time I said something.  I have sat idly by and read your political rants day after day without saying a word (except to my husband, he gets earfuls).  I can no longer pretend I don't see your ignorant posts, or you hateful commentary when it comes to this election because what you say hits close to home.  So close in fact, that I feel like you are directly speaking to me.

I know that there has been a lot of heat between Democrats and Republicans lately.  I watch the news and know how ugly it can get.  I also understand that the two parties will never see eye to eye on most of the major issues.  But that is the beauty of being an American.  We are all allowed to have differing opinions and ideals because of a little thing called the Revolutionary War.  But when your difference of opinions are used to belittle and condemn a political party you are not a part of, it makes you look ignorant.  It does not make the party you are talking about look bad, but it does make you look like a fool.

There will always be someone who is rude, ignorant, arrogant, or a racist no matter what party you affiliate yourself with.  Those characteristics are not found in just one group, but rather intertwined within the entire population.  You cannot control what another person decides to say or do, but you can control those actions in yourself.  Next time you decide to call an entire group racist, take a step back and think.  Don't throw those hateful words around just because you think it's cute or funny to say.  By using hateful rhetoric, you are making yourself look just as ignorant as the people you have decided to "call out".

I may not be able to control what you say or do, but I can call you out on what you have done.  You may think you are part of the solution, but instead you are part of the problem.  No one has ever been able to solve anything with bullying, name calling, or racial profiling.  I like to believe we are all trying to work towards one common goal, even if the way to get there differs depending on with whom you speak.

While we are American's and do have the right and privilege to speak our minds without consequences, there is never a time or place to be hateful or rude.  Just because one person is a racist does not mean everyone in their affiliated party is.

There are only a few more days until this election (thank goodness) and if the person you are not voting for is elected, you will have to live with all the hateful things you have said as of late.  Is that really what you want to be remembered for?  Do you want to be judged by all of the hateful things you have said?  Because by judging others, you are opening the door for them to judge you.

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged.  Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

Luke 6:37

Surprise?

I'm going to say a few things that may shock some people.  Not the ones that know me really well, but some will definitely be surprised.

Ready?

Okay, here we go.

I am a 

Republican

No, that does not make me (a)

    

Bigot

Racist

Unintelligent

Misinformed

I am a 

Christian

No, that does not make me (a)

    

Bigot

Racist

Unintelligent

Misinformed 

I watch

Fox News 

(gasp!)

Again, that does not make me (a) 

     

Bigot

Racist

Unintelligent

Misinformed 

Shocked?  

No?  

Good.

I am so tired of all the hateful comments I find on news sites.  I'm saddened by the main stream media's attempts to get Democrats and Republicans to hate each other.  I can tell you first hand that it works.  And how sad is that?  Isn't it awful to live with so much hate for other people whose views are different from theirs?

The beautiful thing about facebook is that you can unsubscribe or de-friend someone.  The wonderful thing about blog posts is that you can pick and choose which ones you want to read.  It won't hurt my feelings if people decide they don't want to read what I have to say.  But, it'll hurt my feelings (at the beginning) if someone de-friends me on facebook because of what I believe.  

I have so many friends that span across the political and religious spectrum.  Let me tell you, I may disagree with what they believe sometimes but that doesn't make me not want to be friends with them.  I surround myself with those who like carrying an intelligent conversation and can (and) will listen to someone else's viewpoint without getting upset or angry if they oppose them.  

Isn't that what everyone wants?  To be respected, heard, and have their opinions valued?      

Of course!  We all want to know that what we have to say has been heard!  Facebook and my blog are my outlets and I am completely okay putting myself out there and letting others know how I feel about things.  All I ask is that I am not attacked for my beliefs or feelings.  Yes, I know.  I open myself up to that kind of stuff by writing about it or commenting on news sites.  But I think people forget that differences of views does not give them the right to attack others.  

Don't let your personal beliefs or what the media tells you influence your opinions of other people.  If you write someone off just because of their political or religious affiliations, you may miss out on a wonderful friendship.  And you can't let your hatred for a political or religious group consume your life.  It's not healthy and it honestly won't do you any good.  Plus, it'll make you age faster.  And who wants that?  :-)

What War on Women?

The Catholic Church and It's View on Contraception

Pope John Paul II

This is kind of a random post, but I'm a random kind of person.  I like to write what I feel and that doesn't always sit well with people.  I'm okay with that.  I'm not here to please everyone, or conform to others beliefs.  I have my own and they work well for me, but they don't have to work well for others.  That's why they're mine.  I also like to have conversations with friends.  Friends who can challenge me, make me think about why I feel a certain way, and who make me want to know more.  Those are the best kinds of friends.  The ones who don't agree with you just because, but the ones who challenge you to be better.

I have a good friend that I talk to at least once or twice a week, and we always end up having these intensely thought provoking conversations that I couldn't have with anyone else.  Mostly because some of my other friends are in different stages of their lives than her and they probably don't even care about the issues we talk about.  We both like to stay up to date on politics and whatever is going on in our world and then talk about it.  We don't always agree, but that is what makes our conversations interesting.  One issue I've been following closely is the supposed "War on Women."  More specifically, the Catholic's war on Obama's healthcare mandate that says all Catholic employers and Universities must provide birth control to women, even if it is used for contraception.

There was a Fox News article (I love Fox News, don't judge me!) that came out today about a Catholic University in Ohio that has decided to stop providing health insurance for it's students.  Ever since Sandra Fluke spoke to Congress about contraceptives, the Liberal media has launched an attack against Catholics about their moral and religious beliefs.  My friend and I were talking about the article I posted on my facebook wall which prompted me to do a little google research after we hung up.  I found a really interesting article that said many people judge the Catholic Church and it's community by what they think we believe, not by what we actually believe.

Let me clear something up straight away.  Many believe the Catholic Church wants to hold women back, not give them equal rights, but that is just not true.  No, we do not let women become ordained but there is a reason.  The answer can very easily be found in the New Testament as well as the writing of the Church Fathers.  

While women could publicly pray and prophesy in church (1 Cor. 11:1–16), they could not teach or have authority over a man (1 Tim. 2:11–14), since these were two essential functions of the clergy. Nor could women publicly question or challenge the teaching of the clergy (1 Cor. 14:34–38).  (source)

"...the example recorded in the Sacred Scriptures of Christ choosing his Apostles only from among men; the constant practice of the Church, which has imitated Christ in choosing only men; and her living teaching authority which has consistently held that the exclusion of women from the priesthood is in accordance with God's plan for his Church." (source)

**This article is a great read if you really want to find out the problems with women wanting "equal rights" in the church.**

Interestingly enough, Pope John Paul II was the only Pope in modern history who took a close look at women and their role in the church.

Nevertheless, during Pope John Paul's pontificate, women took over pastoral and administrative duties in priestless parishes, they were appointed chancellors of dioceses around the world, and they began swelling the ranks of "experts" at Vatican synods and symposiums. In 2004, for the first time, the pope appointed two women theologians to the prestigious International Theological Commission and named a Harvard University law professor, Mary Ann Glendon, to be president of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. source

However, none of this means that the Catholic Church will change it's position on contraceptives, abortion, or sterilization.  Up until 1930 all Protestant denominations agreed contraception was sinful.  However, due to growing social pressure, the Anglican church announced some contraception was allowed in certain circumstances at the Lambeth Conference.  Soon after, they completely caved in and allowed contraception across the board.  Today, the Catholic Church is the only one left that proclaims the historic Christian position on contraceptives.  

There are a few major reasons why Catholic's are against any form of birth control.  You can read the full article here, but I am going to list two of the major points below:

1. Nature:  Contraception is a deliberate violation of God's "natural law."  The natural purpose of sex is to procreate and strengthen the bond of intimacy, respect, and love between husband and wife.
2. Scripture:  Contraception is not a modern invention.  In fact, it's even mentioned in the Bible.  Onan avoided fulfilling his duty (according to ancient Jewish law) to father children for one's dead brother.             

"Judah said to Onan, 'Go in to your brother's wife, and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.'  But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so when he went in to his brother's wife he spilled the semen on the ground, lest he should give offspring to his brother.  And what he did was displeasing in the sight of the Lord, and he slew him also."  (Gen. 38:8-10) 

The punishment for Onan's actions was death.  His crime was more than simply not fulfilling the duty of a brother-in-law, he violated natural law (as Jewish and Christian commentators have always understood).  

I hope this post adds a little more insight into the Catholic Church and it's feelings on contraception.  You can find more information here and also read some of Pope John Paul II's work below!

Ordinatio Sacerdotalis:  Apostolic Letter of John Paul II to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on Reserving Priestly Ordination to Men Alone.
To Women:  Letter of Pope John Paul II to Women
Mulieris Dignitatem:  Apostolic Letter of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II on the Dignity and Vocation of Women on the Occasion of the Marian Year