tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27905198117740860802024-02-06T22:10:33.205-08:00Miguel's Mental Gymnasticsmasterdmjghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284180944641153997noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790519811774086080.post-17867634848118994412014-07-02T07:32:00.000-07:002014-07-02T07:36:03.120-07:00How You Become the 'Bad Guy'<br />
Last week the LDS Church excommunicated activist and <a href="http://ordainwomen.org/" target="_blank">Ordain Women</a> founder Kate Kelly. The fact that she was condemned by her local church authorities for apostasy is not news. What was news to me was the <a href="http://fox13now.com/2014/06/29/lds-church-first-presidency-issues-statement-on-priesthood-questions-and-apostasy/" target="_blank">response</a> the LDS church leaders released late last week claiming that questioning and doubting is something that is allowed within the Mormon community. "Members are always free to ask such questions and earnestly seek greater understanding," the statement reads. <br />
<br />
I don't want to talk about Kate Kelly. But I do want to talk about the church's official statement. Thanks to the Internet, many of the questions that were <a href="http://www.mormonshare.com/lds-clipart/joseph-smith-translating-the-book-of-mormon-del-parson" target="_blank">ignored</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Meadows-Massacre-Juanita-Brooks/dp/0806123184" target="_blank">denied</a> by the authorities of the church can now be discussed.<br />
<br />
It has been almost seven years since I started this blog. I started with a very political motivation. At the time, I was wading around in what is now commonly labeled "tea party" ideology. <a href="http://masterdmjgsfreethinking.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2007-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2008-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=4" target="_blank">Ron Paul</a>, The Constitution, <a href="http://masterdmjgsfreethinking.blogspot.com/2007_11_01_archive.html" target="_blank">Ezra Taft Benson</a>, The Constitution, Cleon Skousen, The Constitution. I have since dipped into discussions of religion, among other topics. Over time my views have evolved toward a more liberal ideology, and back toward a more moderate view. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzBwokWmQbVnY5ISxBbuWmTFjFBUszNenpl9KD-Ux9Qg2Yhd98UKQrNEFTj9VvAoPZwtGe_2_Il5EDgqMoE8tBfdY1FD1HXgyuHxWBN-aL5kVuB7cKN04nK-UY2S-gkXle2Eflk10veo/s1600/silence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzBwokWmQbVnY5ISxBbuWmTFjFBUszNenpl9KD-Ux9Qg2Yhd98UKQrNEFTj9VvAoPZwtGe_2_Il5EDgqMoE8tBfdY1FD1HXgyuHxWBN-aL5kVuB7cKN04nK-UY2S-gkXle2Eflk10veo/s1600/silence.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a><br />
I don't consider myself a talented writer, but I have always enjoyed making the attempt. When I was a college student, I would write letters to the university paper, as well as the <a href="http://laramieboomerang.com/" target="_blank">town rag</a>. It is a way for me to process my thinking. When I began discussing/debating, at first it didn't seem to be a problem that I made political/religious points; not in the period where I supported conservative causes and followed church doctrine strictly. Later on, in so many cases, trying to talk about these questions caused friction and discomfort among those with whom I interacted in real life (after I was not a conservative ditto-head anymore).<br />
<br />
Strangely enough, most of these same people were uncomfortable with what I would write online as well. So... it's not advisable to talk with people face-to-face about topics like politics or religion, but it's also not a good idea to write about them online. This has more often than not caused me much <span id="goog_1093063720"></span><span id="goog_1093063721"></span>worry and apprehension, and in recent years, I all but stopped writing on this blog. So it was surprising to me to find out that these discussions were somehow welcome at church, of all places. I guess I started blogging because I didn't have a place to go with all these questions. And when I started asking, I found it caused conflict online and offline. I guess I assumed if I couldn't talk about it with most family members, and if I couldn't talk about it online, then bringing it up at church probably wouldn't be a good idea. If only I had known...<br />
<br />
The only arrow I had left in my quiver that allowed me to get away with some of my unorthodox behavior and actions was that I was a lifelong active mormon. But since I haven't attended for a few months now, and I don't intend on returning anytime soon, I have no ability to talk about these things in a familiar setting online. To the believers, I am now Kate Kelly; I am the apostate; I am angry; I am whatever they need to label me so as to not have to actually respond to the problems I am pointing out. An ally wouldn't ask these questions anyway. And we don't associate with people like that, either. But yes, we allow for questions....<br />
<br />
IF.... you use the right tone<br />
.... you ask in the right way<br />
.... you ask in faith and not doubt<br />
.... you take no for an answer<br />
.... you come up with the same answer as the leaders in the end<br />
<br />
BUT ... don't talk to just anybody<br />
... don't post questions/doubts online<br />
... don't believe anything that isn't correlated church material<br />
... don't assume there are any answers in this life<br />
<br />
After listing the countless stipulations for when someone CAN raise questions, there is very little room, and then we all know the right answers already, so I can't really figure out what the questioning is for. <br />
<br />
The truth is, for years I had this blog, I listened to Mormon Stories, I was a member of a private Mormon Stories message board, and later part of private Facebook forums. I listened to more podcasts. I read church history books. I wrote <a href="http://mormonexpression.com/blogs/author/michael/" target="_blank">blogs</a> that for some reason I hoped no one in the church would read. I met dozens if not hundreds of bloggers who wouldn't even use their real names because they were <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/mormons-struggling-with-doubt-turn-to-online-supportgroups/2012/05/24/gJQASImHnU_story.html" target="_blank">afraid</a> to be found out by family members and peers. They were afraid possibly to lose their employment with BYU, or be released from callings at church, or looked upon with distrust by family and friends. Seems like strange behavior in a church that "welcomes doubts and questions."<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfk3O4cyXrcQNos6n1Msek_t4sDWbmglBbNNK6Xj7aMfnxmRpKn3m_SxBYY0vIZ5C5eLLyDIAuy8bgvw2fTMB1jrwVR-C3kkWpOpX1gY1MmhHDOh_N5lJrttylgY0Yopg8HHW-_Zh5OZ4/s1600/anonymous.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfk3O4cyXrcQNos6n1Msek_t4sDWbmglBbNNK6Xj7aMfnxmRpKn3m_SxBYY0vIZ5C5eLLyDIAuy8bgvw2fTMB1jrwVR-C3kkWpOpX1gY1MmhHDOh_N5lJrttylgY0Yopg8HHW-_Zh5OZ4/s1600/anonymous.jpg" height="265" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
As for myself, I found answers, but they were not the ones I expected, and they often were in conflict with what was said in official church sources, if they were addressed at all. I have been doing this for years, along with tens of thousands of others with similar questions, online. If questions or doubts were welcome in church, there would be no need for places such as these to exist. If they were welcome, local church leaders would actually know about some of these questions and how to respond to at least a portion of them. Why would we feel like we had to go into private hiding places, where we could feel safe behind a cloak of anonymity, like a drug or sex dealer, just because we didn't have that unshaken testimony? <br />
<br />
The simple fact is, what the church, and what my church associations wanted was silence. Silence is so much easier. Believing without questioning is so much more smooth. You see, they are never uncomfortable with religion as a topic; only when the discussion falls in line with what is acceptable at church, or is considered faith-promoting. They send tens of thousands of young men and women out into the world to profess their beliefs on religion throughout the globe. However, the communication is usually only one-way. We have the truth, listen to us, but we aren't interested in anything that falls outside our "truth." As for politics... you are basically always welcome to bring your political views to the table as a Mormon. Mormons are very active citizens, and are very informed on political matters. You usually just can't question war, christianity, capitalism, republicanism, conservatism, scripture, income inequality, patriarchy, misogyny, heterosexuality, or traditional marriage (see: mormon plural marriage). I'm sure I'm leaving some important topics out. <br />
<br />
The LDS church is saying questions are welcome because it sounds good for public relations. I welcome anyone to come visit with me about some of the questions I have. I have never been uncomfortable having those kinds of discussions. But there have been so many arbitrary rules imposed on when it's okay to discuss, that I honestly don't know if it's ever okay anymore. So I would love to see it. I would love to find out where the space is for people like me, during regular church activities, where we are allowed to talk about evolution, science, Book of Mormon historicity, gay marriage, Book of Abraham translation, priesthood/temple bans, Adam/God doctrine, blood atonement, Book of Mormon translation, Doctrine and Covenants / church history revisions, etc. I have been out of activity for months now, and have never discussed any of these questions with any true believers within my local church community - the community where I was born and raised. It's uncomfortable to talk about, I understand. I just don't want anyone pointing the finger at me as to why no conversations are happening. I don't point the finger back at my faith community, either. I point it straight at the fact that questions and doubting are NOT welcomed. Not really. Not by most Mormon leaders. <br />
<br />
I know of a person who left the church long ago, who will not have anything to do with his family because they still are associated with the Mormon church. I always thought there must be something really wrong with him. Sure, he doesn't want to be Mormon anymore, but why can't he let his family alone? Now I wonder if I understand a little better. I never wanted to be labeled and classified as the enemy. But the longer I don't have contact with my church counterparts, including my family, the narrative that they use to describe me and explain the why's and the how's of it all support the narrative that those who leave the church (who can't leave it alone) are deceived, are unhappy, are sinful, are angry, are whatever we need to label them to support the ideology that the LDS church is perfect. It's sad. I can't imagine not wanting to have anything to do with my family, but I can see how both parties could be going down that path.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicu_khHTUdCnRRBrx3-wj8Jnd8metS7iNuLmy6KRJJgKQ2GuBH6HoED7UDecVTtc5jD50RWLtD1M79CsNp0bgS1GnA-WHnq23vR1Skj6NHR05lJaMaaxHA6Lws333pztM0eBUGjhJZOl8/s1600/WreckItRalph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicu_khHTUdCnRRBrx3-wj8Jnd8metS7iNuLmy6KRJJgKQ2GuBH6HoED7UDecVTtc5jD50RWLtD1M79CsNp0bgS1GnA-WHnq23vR1Skj6NHR05lJaMaaxHA6Lws333pztM0eBUGjhJZOl8/s1600/WreckItRalph.jpg" height="231" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
Communication is difficult. Certainly, if the antagonism continues to
grow, either silently or outwardly, it will not be all their fault. But
it will not be all mine, either. It's unfortunate that we let these wedges fester because it is too uncomfortable to talk openly about difficult subjects, where things are not always black and white.<br />
<br />
I was raised with the idea that telling the truth was the best policy. I guess telling the truth never was that easy. I guess if you insist long enough, you eventually become the bad guy. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />masterdmjghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284180944641153997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790519811774086080.post-24254654737162566062014-02-01T16:30:00.002-08:002014-02-01T16:33:00.886-08:00Nazis/Racists/Homophobes - Different Degrees, Similar Backdrop<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Suzy and I just finished watching one of my favorite movies growing up as a teenager, "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108265/" target="_blank">Swing Kids.</a>" Although not quite as cheesy as "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104990/" target="_blank">Newsies</a>," it is also probably not best picture material. Either way, if you have never ever seen the film, it's still probably worth your time (even if <a href="http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/swing-kids-1993" target="_blank">Roger Ebert</a> rated it ONE star...). </span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvSRC36QeFPWZG42Z_RaTT-B8EKYy4e77GoL9J_Yw63mHNmY_8Dlj0y75HVrk5mueOVazWR8kwpu-XvmowALx6Qw1JqaqAoFN9XI5AXuAhEQWaRvb0lUJn6QspIEhusH4cadp4Hy1zdU/s1600/swing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvSRC36QeFPWZG42Z_RaTT-B8EKYy4e77GoL9J_Yw63mHNmY_8Dlj0y75HVrk5mueOVazWR8kwpu-XvmowALx6Qw1JqaqAoFN9XI5AXuAhEQWaRvb0lUJn6QspIEhusH4cadp4Hy1zdU/s1600/swing.jpg" height="320" width="224" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The film's setting is 1930's Germany during Hitler's rise to power. The film tells the story of some young men and women (but mostly men) who become involved in an underground dance movement. This movement was proscribed by the contemporary leadership because it embraced American swing dancing. You know, "It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing," right? Truth be told, there is not really a lot of swing dancing portrayed in the movie. Rather, the movie follows the conflict that exists between and within these young men as they contemplate how to look at and respond to the rise of Nazism in their mother country. A key element of the tale is when the two main characters, Peter (played by Robert Sean Leonard) and Thomas (Christian Bale), both join the Hitler youth. As the movie progresses, Thomas becomes entirely taken with Nazi ideology, while Peter is still very opposed to supporting the Nazis. Peter's father also opposed Hitler's rise, and as a result, was taken by the Nazis, and nearly killed, when Peter was just a small boy. Since Peter and his younger brother were essentially raised without a father, their mother naturally feels tremendous fear toward the German government. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As the narrative unfolds, the friendship between Peter and Thomas is shaken because Thomas begins to openly support Nazi goals, while Peter cannot come to grips with what is becoming of Germany. In a final act of rebellion, Peter returns to a swing club one last time, and dances his heart out until the club is invaded by Nazi soldiers. The soldiers apprehend Peter, along with many others, and load him in a truck to presumably be shuttled to some sort of concentration camp. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">One scene that stood out to me is when Peter, Willi (Pete's younger brother), and the boys' mother Frau are sitting at the dinner table with one of the more prominent Nazi leaders, Herr Knopp. While there is still a bit of awkwardness in the atmosphere, here is a family eating mouth-watering food, and drinking fine wine. When Peter shows visible signs of displeasure at the presence of Knopp, and what Knopp stands for, Peter's mother clearly becomes upset, because this is as good as they have had it in a long time. Why mess with what's comfortable anyway, right?</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Whenever I watch a film portraying uncomfortable historical realities, I naturally consider the implications for questions of cultural and social institutions we have in place today. Today, Naziism, and antisemitism are repugnant to 99% of us. Similarly, nearly everyone you meet deplores modern and historical racism, in all its disgusting manifestations. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yet I can't help but think that in the 1930's and 40's many Germans (and <a href="http://blogs.standard.net/the-political-surf/2011/12/13/lds-church-through-church-news-praised-hitler-nazi-germany/" target="_blank">Americans</a> for that matter) aided and abetted in the rise of Hitler. And even after revelations emerged about the reality of the millions who were brutally murdered in the Nazi's wake, many people justified looking the other way, either out of fear, or just plain denial. The character Thomas in "Swing Kids," as well as Peter's mother Frau, embody the conflict between knowing something is immoral, but also fearing the ramifications of actually standing up for what is really right. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uJvNBO0iy1Jo_FNpHEbXM-6vTJAYIm27m9YQsxMm06RNtaVQtck6tVWlFB1lzV2FtEG0UIJMKmbrPgG881byjcUqYmPuGWRdkEOgZ3ybBYfyWNQCxWNPEqMlUSqWWRofQ8cc8IzONYY/s1600/TheButler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uJvNBO0iy1Jo_FNpHEbXM-6vTJAYIm27m9YQsxMm06RNtaVQtck6tVWlFB1lzV2FtEG0UIJMKmbrPgG881byjcUqYmPuGWRdkEOgZ3ybBYfyWNQCxWNPEqMlUSqWWRofQ8cc8IzONYY/s1600/TheButler.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a>If you have seen "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061735/" target="_blank">Guess Who's Coming To Dinner</a>," "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWJs2Gof538" target="_blank">Remember the Titans,</a>" "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454776/" target="_blank">Amazing Grace</a>," or the more recent movies "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1454029/" target="_blank">The Help</a>," or "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1327773/" target="_blank">The Butler</a>," you can see examples of a similar trend in American culture. As civil rights came more and more to the forefront, many prominent individuals and institutions not only continued to shrug at the old ways of thinking, but they also railed against things like interracial marriage and integration in schools, because of the fear of what these changes might lead to in the future. And just as with the examples portrayed in Swing Kids, you have many, many Americans unable to stand for what is right because of the fear of how they will be seen by others, be it friends, family, religious peers, or employers. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The civil rights issue of our time is homosexuality and gay marriage. Even though apparently <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2013/mar/20/news/la-pn-same-sex-marriage-support-poll-20130320" target="_blank">a majority</a> of Americans now support gay marriage, many institutions, especially religious organizations, are trying to hold back the tide. They have their various pet arguments, and they cling to biblical scripture to justify their position. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yet I cannot help but look backward (and then forward). Am I equating Nazis = racists = homophobes, or that someone who opposes gay marriage is a gay-hater? Not exactly. But it's hard not to imagine a time somewhere down the road where we will look back at gays and gay marriage, and we will think, "wow, I can't believe people believed <a href="http://www.livescience.com/13409-myths-gay-people-debunked-sexual-orientation.html" target="_blank">THAT</a> or said <a href="http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2010/winter/10-myths" target="_blank">THIS</a> about gays." Isn't that how we look back at World War II and the civil rights era? How could anyone think those awful things about Jews? How could people believe that <a href="http://www.lds.org/topics/race-and-the-priesthood?lang=eng" target="_blank">embarrassing stuff</a> about blacks (Chinese/Japanese/Irish/Hispanics...)? </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJinuajGHDaaP5-t68zOJe9Zm9sh0ceY-KiY7OqD0J82Ar8BewmHBGOLtSMUN7YYF6DiSIqztH3SXyE4mfCmhvYCBsNyIVdaMBcXPDOU9FRaNQId7Gx1vv1dLgtqPFFlUqGFQu8E7_QJE/s1600/019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJinuajGHDaaP5-t68zOJe9Zm9sh0ceY-KiY7OqD0J82Ar8BewmHBGOLtSMUN7YYF6DiSIqztH3SXyE4mfCmhvYCBsNyIVdaMBcXPDOU9FRaNQId7Gx1vv1dLgtqPFFlUqGFQu8E7_QJE/s1600/019.jpg" height="251" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I can't help but assume that most of the individuals and institutions that oppose gay marriage today would be the ones opposing fair treatment of Jews in the early 20th century, and equal rights for blacks in the mid 1900's. It's easy to oppose those positions today. When you agree with 99% of society, you really have nothing to lose. But today, <i>now</i>, when things are still much more divided, is the test of what a person really values. Loyalty to traditional institutions, or love toward oppressed individuals seems to be the common choice one may have to face. And while "homophobic' is a label many will not appreciate, racism did not become racism only after the vast majority of people decided blacks weren't inferior to whites.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I don't want to look back and know that I was one of those people. The one who decides to go along once it's obvious what the correct way to act is, because nearly everyone has finally jumped on the bandwagon. If we study history, I don't think any of us have a legitimate excuse to be "that" person. </span></span></span><br />
<br />masterdmjghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284180944641153997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790519811774086080.post-68375666746373857302013-09-08T08:21:00.001-07:002013-09-08T11:00:30.990-07:00Disempowering Our Youth<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLI8BDv-2skEPztFQnfdJqWyyKWpF2rsK9PWMRQILMEZy-6Z90zaFo8VKUgf-tXpuE1q-BHm0kr0CkhShmR42G_HA091tA-M901Zg2jPARKF6_4mYVRd6SHfYF94FmPJH8ZHPuwr0p7Os/s1600/flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLI8BDv-2skEPztFQnfdJqWyyKWpF2rsK9PWMRQILMEZy-6Z90zaFo8VKUgf-tXpuE1q-BHm0kr0CkhShmR42G_HA091tA-M901Zg2jPARKF6_4mYVRd6SHfYF94FmPJH8ZHPuwr0p7Os/s320/flower.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">This week I spent a fair amount of time spectating as folks on the Internet reacted to a viral </span><a href="http://givenbreath.com/2013/09/03/fyi-if-youre-a-teenage-girl/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #073763;">blog</span></a> <span style="color: #274e13;">from an innocent lady writing to girls that post pijama pictures on Facebook. </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/05/fyi-teenage-girl-controversy-mother-slut-shaming_n_3874957.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #073763;">Dozens</span></a><span style="color: #274e13;"> and </span><a href="http://www.mommyish.com/2013/09/04/mom-slut-shames-girls-for-posting-selfies/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #073763;">dozens</span></a><a href="http://www.mommyish.com/2013/09/04/mom-slut-shames-girls-for-posting-selfies/" style="color: #274e13;" target="_blank"> </a><span style="color: #274e13;">of other blogs reacted. Hundreds and thousands of people had to share their opinions. Modesty (re: Miley Cirus) seems to be the most controversial subject on the Internet in past months/years. Not starvation. Not unemployment. Not child abuse. Not war with Syria. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></span>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>158</o:Words>
<o:Characters>906</o:Characters>
<o:Company>iLoveApple</o:Company>
<o:Lines>7</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>2</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1062</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So my gut inclination is to ignore the topic, because God
knows we don't need one more opinion on the subject. But among the pages/opinions I have read, I
still haven't seen this simple critique - in response to those who feel that
once a young man has seen a girl who is scantily clad, that he cannot
"unsee" it, or cannot then see the girl as anything but a sexual
object. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">All I have to say is, </span><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">the best way to make sure your son
can't "unsee" an inappropriate image or movie scene is to teach him
that</span></i></b> <u><b><i><span style="color: #990000;">he can't</span></i></b></u><span style="color: #274e13;">. Once a young man has
internalized this mentality, then the power images have over him is more about
the erroneous idea that he is powerless to change his thoughts than it is about
the images themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Stop disempowering your youth. Your son (and your daughter) has the ability
to change his (her) thoughts. There is a
lot of crap on the Internet. You clicked on this link, didn't you? And yet, I bet you will forget about having
read this in about 30 more seconds.... unless I tell you you will not be able
to forget, ever... hmmm....</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
masterdmjghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284180944641153997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790519811774086080.post-32830505930306032082013-03-09T11:38:00.000-08:002016-04-25T11:16:03.253-07:00Karin and Steve's Wedding Video<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw_T6Qmw-vfTZKBHawfCj6xLfUdNVW7drS7HaDFseD3LlfiP2kZ75HZDCTaOF3WgMpEYVCFuPNiycoIfuQc2g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<br />masterdmjghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284180944641153997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790519811774086080.post-64518215767227109352011-04-04T06:57:00.000-07:002011-04-04T08:35:10.090-07:00P90X Works<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">April 4, 2011</span></span></b></span><br /><div><br /></div><div style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;">About a year ago, my wife Suzy decided she wanted to purchase the <img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 215px; height: 110px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCY4I-fR9JJaqgEhULP-ESaLgY85Rk6X4XkKOm5Pxy93XzehttDLtJYwHORDwjHTALsrYebipMXHp3-8vhT1Sn6l4biIlLzCC61dcvvqj-MSmoa0cuprPhSIya68LYXcCIfmkLVFjgUR4/s320/home_thumb_p90x.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591735020852032866" border="0" /><a href="http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/p90x.do?code=SEMB_GOOGLE_P90X&extcmp=e79dc8a93ec8447a&ef_id=YA9NVZr9M0sAAIGu:20110404141921:s">P90X</a> workout program for her birthday. At the time, I thought, of all the things you could get foryour birthday.... why this? After all, I had heard how extreme the program actually was, and I figured she would just be throwing her money awayfor a bunch of DVDs that she would only use for a few w</span></div><div style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;">eeks before giving up. Not that I didn't have faith in her, but I just figured it was a program with constant Saturday morning infomercials showing people experiencing unbelievable results was just what you would predict - too good to be true. </span><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">But she bought the DVDs, the pull up bar, the bands, and the dumbbells, and she did the program for about 6 weeks. We took pictures and measurements. The results were actually pretty noticeable for only a month and a half. I was impressed. But for whatever reason, she stopped working out, and nothing happened for awhile. Then, in September, I decided I would try the workout with her. We lasted 3 weeks, and I enjoyed the workouts, </span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">but sickness preempted week 4, and we never got back in the groove. </span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">For the new year, Suzy made a resolution that she wanted to complete the full 90 days before her 30th birthday. At the same time, some members of my extended family suggeste</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">d we do a "Biggest Loser" contest for 12 weeks for anyone who wanted to compete. These two goals combined helped us to become re-motivated, and this time we weren't going to quit part of the way through. </span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">What can I say about P90X? It <i>is </i>extreme. But I have to think that most people could do it if they just consistently would continue to work at it. Sometimes you don't think you're getting the results that you want, but you just have to be patient. The part that may be even more difficult than actually doing the workouts is showing up to work out. In our </span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">case, we usually had to wake up between 4:30-5 a.m. so we could get in a workout before our kids started getting out of bed. The program <i>is </i>very time consuming. You have to plan on an hour to 1.5 hours a day, six days a week. </span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">One other misconception I had about the program is that I would be sore for a week or two, but then my muscles would be used to the rigor of the routine. However, P90X is based on the principle of "<a href="http://www.extremebodyworkout.com/blog/2008/07/01/p90x-muscle-confusion/">muscle c</a><a href="http://www.extremebodyworkout.com/blog/2008/07/01/p90x-muscle-confusion/">onfusion</a>," which means you can plan on being sore probably some if not most of the whole program. After awhile, you start to get used to it, and feeling sore makes you feel like you worked hard enough. The thing I liked best about doing the work</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">outs is the variety (there are 12 DVDs total), and the fact that I pretty much felt like Superman once I had act</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">ually finished. Doing it first thing in the morning, I felt like I had finished something significant before my real day had even started. </span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">The best part of the program? It works with minimal investment in equipment (although as I got stronger, I had to sink a little more money into heavier weights), and you can get great results right in your basement. No travel time to and from the gym, and no membership fees. </span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">My results? I did not take all my measurements, but I think the outcome is pretty visible. I dropped 10 pounds, from 176 to 166, which is about what I weighed</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">way back in</span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvOXlO9jMFMpOevI7YBg6faUDbpLyhZRwM1lGQm1523OsVHeJCg4CfxtHYZDkkIVNRJFqdAfdAvI3mm-tKpVU4MVFuVe37xgRTP9BcgqTl6TIHukufkeuPTnbTYtVK1T6e6au7IGVRak/s200/ins_intro_prodshot_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591735376860655682" border="0" /></span><div><span style="font-size:130%;"> my high school days. My jeans, which used to fit just right on my waist, are now hanging at least two or three inches loose. </span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">I don't think I will be winning the biggest loser event, but I think the accomplishment of finishing such an intense workout regimen speaks for itself. I figure if I can do it, anyone can. Now it's time for <a href="http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/insanity.do">Insanity</a>!! </span></div></div><div style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Here's a few pics: </span></div><div style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" >Day 1 - Day 30</span><div><span style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><div style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7WaCGTCfAQkU2yNH1iw_uBjRgG3Aurhyphenhyphen0QEUkD8uhCDj61f7nzkbgz7krf-VqiaA5eMBLaRlvWsz7fvXZBJ3CfXIc7v6cXD794XCZk8cnWUuZeIN48z04t8_ILjIy3BZ_b5HFg1WIZ0M/s1600/SANY0022.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdqg-YCrg84jXNn2nsk3Q4RlkPR3e5wxUFIxYQ_V5HIKmoe99ETO6w2Mfu6G3syszm9VOgSbgI3btszKztae1svHMs_sZn_-_QMaCbtuhsP68nBIS7j1pUNAE7NZbb8RdomZ0_Ru2Z78/s400/SANY0050.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591739527181625282" border="0" /></a><br /><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 241px; height: 185px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wYxD9H3_I_9RL6wu6yGkjBPcRZu9tnsbST1J1zhSiu6lOnqKcfHtEb32XffKLEF7Lt4aSuDcSxw4f1P4uf050u0G1v3fjadMgPOzlMsE15J51jzYxWMz3MT0GC8xHuyBmU1VSWnCx9M/s400/IMG_4233.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591740056331548818" border="0" /> </span></div><span style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Day 60-Day90<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7WaCGTCfAQkU2yNH1iw_uBjRgG3Aurhyphenhyphen0QEUkD8uhCDj61f7nzkbgz7krf-VqiaA5eMBLaRlvWsz7fvXZBJ3CfXIc7v6cXD794XCZk8cnWUuZeIN48z04t8_ILjIy3BZ_b5HFg1WIZ0M/s1600/SANY0022.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 231px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7WaCGTCfAQkU2yNH1iw_uBjRgG3Aurhyphenhyphen0QEUkD8uhCDj61f7nzkbgz7krf-VqiaA5eMBLaRlvWsz7fvXZBJ3CfXIc7v6cXD794XCZk8cnWUuZeIN48z04t8_ILjIy3BZ_b5HFg1WIZ0M/s400/SANY0022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591743771701701682" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHJfUjOzg3KZeJmIgIq11gc7H6skdGK6HI6I36Ka29pumWo846QcxXUPFzGnK38MGcC37uzXQrr0tBTnmGHEJ9SByUQWVlmPc5EsIFiHh2LRxeLN1QH-i7I_0HqRy6NM1CrSmAODNEx4/s1600/SANY0041.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHJfUjOzg3KZeJmIgIq11gc7H6skdGK6HI6I36Ka29pumWo846QcxXUPFzGnK38MGcC37uzXQrr0tBTnmGHEJ9SByUQWVlmPc5EsIFiHh2LRxeLN1QH-i7I_0HqRy6NM1CrSmAODNEx4/s400/SANY0041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591744590971955106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Day 1 - Day 90<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQK87uq0gZOHA2B3eddJX0d7nIqphwI8OOSE99DPODrL7ZXIxRttmHTn4ATfkMD8AzATnJvVvsgzb14ZzKE0Y1_OpW7sAyOLLU84px0-Dgj4hUtXQkuB5Tha7yOAFlmVmxPd2ArQiW98/s1600/SANY0051.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQK87uq0gZOHA2B3eddJX0d7nIqphwI8OOSE99DPODrL7ZXIxRttmHTn4ATfkMD8AzATnJvVvsgzb14ZzKE0Y1_OpW7sAyOLLU84px0-Dgj4hUtXQkuB5Tha7yOAFlmVmxPd2ArQiW98/s400/SANY0051.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591746252122725474" border="0" /></a><br /></span><div style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Cym-bQpPlxXabsUHMZJ4bjehunSRyU2WiKha2MgDqqGSmpeBL4kCVzY9JsXEPAmS3SS27FeBRs0BPwcazfQQi58Rn1FriK-6HKTwAwcUrdRb5lpvLNVWXhCtgBwvUXzts22vhMsm17E/s1600/SANY0042.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 295px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Cym-bQpPlxXabsUHMZJ4bjehunSRyU2WiKha2MgDqqGSmpeBL4kCVzY9JsXEPAmS3SS27FeBRs0BPwcazfQQi58Rn1FriK-6HKTwAwcUrdRb5lpvLNVWXhCtgBwvUXzts22vhMsm17E/s400/SANY0042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591747704838712066" border="0" /></a></span></div><span style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Day 1 - Day 90<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQurC8nb-WcJ-sv-G-dAGrgNX1VM4VoDgEsBa0aezI4Ro9dkSXvFRm47pCJWmy05LjMkxeHENe6vVtGI00qHlcGvjA4uDp6mcyHWB-Fup-d2tPrxc65K2Uj7qe1CfgStZTgp8VQosT8E/s1600/SANY0043.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 237px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQurC8nb-WcJ-sv-G-dAGrgNX1VM4VoDgEsBa0aezI4Ro9dkSXvFRm47pCJWmy05LjMkxeHENe6vVtGI00qHlcGvjA4uDp6mcyHWB-Fup-d2tPrxc65K2Uj7qe1CfgStZTgp8VQosT8E/s400/SANY0043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591749101916547554" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0jOV9ERYUEhOQd7o-qV1_sDDr8FDCTf2Zjq-TLh-_lEbNi1eevw-WrrmHMohM2JgHxpvrs0k2sCsRYB26eSpz-T3icIoit4fvEZK3BGMZg85MX7cY1H46KBWJ2M4KfSCo4i4RSmLp98/s1600/SANY0052.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0jOV9ERYUEhOQd7o-qV1_sDDr8FDCTf2Zjq-TLh-_lEbNi1eevw-WrrmHMohM2JgHxpvrs0k2sCsRYB26eSpz-T3icIoit4fvEZK3BGMZg85MX7cY1H46KBWJ2M4KfSCo4i4RSmLp98/s400/SANY0052.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591749649528032018" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div> </div> </div>masterdmjghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284180944641153997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790519811774086080.post-42578716689823968692011-01-05T11:18:00.000-08:002011-01-05T11:59:59.200-08:00I Want Nothing but the Truth....but.....<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">January 5, 2011</span></span></b></span></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">A few weeks ago one of the parents of a boy that comes to daycare every day gifted us some different spoils from a recent hunting excursion - jerky, sausage, ground meat, etc. Usually his gifts are savory and mouth-watering. However, this batch of jerky did not impress me, nor did it impress my wife. Before we even consumed half the bag, we threw the rest away. </span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">Flash forward to yesterday, and a scene that is familiar to just about anyone comes into play - this same parent asking my wife and I, "did you eat the jerky? Did you like it?" </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">I am a person who really hates to be disingenuous, and yet in situations like these, I know what my response is going to be.... "Yeah, it was great!" </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">Growing up, especially in the LDS church, I was taught very well that lying was wrong, and that there is no gray area between right and wrong. Thus, in my very literalistic, unexperienced way of viewing things, I understood this as meaning "never lie for any reason, ever!" Of course, as I continued to gain experience and knowledge, I realized that this black and white thinking didn't really apply in </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">all </span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">circumstances. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">However, I would have thought it would apply in God's one and only true church. How could a lie (or the corollary, not telling a lie but just not telling the truth either) ever serve the members of the church? But it seems that even for God, telling the truth can have undesired consequences. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">I am reading a biography of Spencer W. Kimball by his son Edward, and while the book can often times be interpreted as potentially faith-promoting, Ed Kimball tries to just tell things the way they are. Thus, you can find quotes like this one from Dallin H. Oaks (p. 190), "Even though something is true, we are not necessarily justified in communicating it."</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">To further illustrate this point, Edward points out disagreements various leaders had over the publishing of certain church histories by the LDS Historical Department, such as </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">The Story of the Latter-Day Saints</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">. Apostles Ezra Taft Benson, Boyd K. Packer, and Delbert L. Stapley objected to including things like how Brigham Young chewed tobacco (to deaden the pain of bad teeth), or how the Word of Wisdom came about at a time in the nineteenth century when other people were also adopting similar health guidelines. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">I guess even though I have tried to form a more nuanced view of the world, it is easy for me to hold the church up to what I consider a higher standard. If the church is going to go around saying it is the only place where people can find </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">all </span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">the truth, then they had better tell the </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">truth</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">, and/or not cover it up. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">I have read all sorts of materials and books that would probably be considered "anti-mormon" by your average member of the church. At first it was a little disconcerting, but I just could not turn away. While my views of the church have changed rather significantly over the past several years, I don't think anything I could read could be as trying to my faith in the hierarchy as knowing they try to cover things up ostensibly to promote faith and protect testimonies. Knowing that this happens throws everything else up into the air. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">But maybe the church just sees itself as an extension of myself - not wanting to admit that the jerky stinks, to save face, or to preserve a healthy reputation. But we are not just talking about lying to someone who wants to know if you liked their jerky. These are questions about who will or won't be saved, or whether or not there is even a life after this one. That's why I think the church has to be held to the highest standard possible. But one still has to wonder, is it always better to tell the truth? Are we, as well as the church, ever justified in telling a lie, or not telling the whole truth? I was always good at asking questions that have no definite answers... </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">P.S. I am not trying to say I think the church is not true (as nebulous as the term 'true' can be for me most of the time). I am only trying to point out that even with questions of belief, there may not always be one right and one wrong answer. I think the leaders recognize this, but don't want to admit it openly, probably for the same reasons they don't admit a lot of things.</span></span></span></div>masterdmjghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284180944641153997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790519811774086080.post-72694085105012423702010-10-05T16:33:00.000-07:002010-10-06T08:28:08.611-07:00Torn<span style="font-family:arial;color:#333333;"><strong>October 5, 2010</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#000099;"><em>This weekend was the Semiannual General Conference of the LDS Church. It was a beautiful weekend in a lot of ways. It was also a very difficult weekend for me personally. </em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#000099;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#000099;"><em>To avoid my long-winded tendencies, I will simply state that I was hurt by comments made by a leader of the LDS church, Elder Boyd K. Packer. I won't repeat the words here. They are all over the Internet by now. Not only do I disagree with this good man, but I felt hurt because I knew that now there will be even more ammunition to use against the gay community and people like me who try to defend their rights. Once again, I can be told by a vast majority of my people that I don't follow the prophet, amongst other less flattering statements.</em></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#000099;"><em>On the other hand, I have read a lot of the responses to Elder Packer, and it hurts me just as much to see all the hatred and anger directed at the church because of the words of a leader. I know Elder Packer's words are offensive to many, but I have never understood when people choose to fight what they consider hateful with more hate of their own. Just as many have a keen inability to recognize a gay relationship as more than just a question of sex, there are too many people who take an LDS church leader's words and determine that Mormonism is a bunch of garbage. In my opinion, both of these approaches are seriously flawed. </em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#000099;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#000099;"><em>I just want to stand off to the side and weep as I watch people being hurt on both sides. I cannot understand why we have to always find ways to divide ourselves, when as another leader (Dieter Uchtdorf) of the church puts it: "All of God's children wear the same jersey. Our team is the brotherhood of man." I wonder if God is weeping as well when he sees His children divided as we always seem to be. </em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#000099;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#000099;"><em>I regret that some people are angry with me because they disagree with my position on homosexuality. I do not mean to offend, and I realize there are valid grounds on which to disagree with me. I have long maintained that we can learn a lot more about ourselves by seeing HOW we disagree on issues than looking at the issues themselves. And I see a lot of hatred and bitterness on both sides. I wish we could find a better way. </em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#000099;"><em></em></span><br /><em><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">For now I guess the best I can do is make a pledge that personally I will try to be less angry, less defensive, and more sensitive to the feelings and opinions of others. I will try to be less concerned about always being right, and more concerned about respecting and loving people despite our differences. I hope and pray that others will join me.</span> </span></em></span>masterdmjghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284180944641153997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790519811774086080.post-39325113983281216232010-05-30T20:12:00.000-07:002010-05-31T14:18:13.588-07:00A Cantankerous Myth<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://newsbusters.org/static/2009/11/NYT%20Defends%20Muslims%20After%20Ft.%20Hood,%20Attacked%20Mormons%20for%20Prop%208.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 341px; height: 226px;" src="http://newsbusters.org/static/2009/11/NYT%20Defends%20Muslims%20After%20Ft.%20Hood,%20Attacked%20Mormons%20for%20Prop%208.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">May 31, 2010</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Coming from an upbringing that insists constantly to be the custodian of truth, I find it interesting that some in my religious heritage do not even seem to begin understanding the erroneous nature of some of their most basic beliefs.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">While my church purports to be politically neutral, it is often difficult to disconnect religion from politics completely. Sometimes the two are one and the same. In this context, one of the ideas that has affected me most negatively is simply this: you can't be Mormon and a democrat.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Just for the record, I am not a part of any political party. But while some might point out the simply benign nature of the above statement, it is obvious that among many of your average mainstream LDS people, this is basically a play off of a statement made by one of Mormon conservatives most beloved disciple, Ezra Taft Benson: "No true Latter-day Saint and no true American can be a socialist or a communist or support programs leading in that direction." Today we could just insert the word "democrat" for "socialist."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Many conservatives want to use words like those of Benson to contend that being a so-called liberal means you are not </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" href="http://kvnuforthepeople.com/2010/04/03/defamed-by-his-fellow-mormons-senate-majority-leader-harry-reids-tragically-lonely-faith/">worthy</a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">, not faithful, not patriotic. It seems that such individuals are unaware of the history of the church, yet they sometimes take this idea to such an extreme that they cannot tolerate anyone who has a distinct point of view. Progressives/liberals are enemies to the causes of God and country. They are a </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" href="http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201004120026">cancer</a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> that undermines the foundation of our constitutional government. I have personally experienced this lack of understanding and tolerance from people, some of them very close to me.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">While I am despised by some for just acknowledging that it is okay for people to have different points of view, whatever the religious background, the viewpoint that a Mormon has to be connected with republicanism/conservatism is simply false.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Take this opinion from <a href="http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/b/BROWN,HUGH.html">Hugh B. Brown</a>, at the time a member of the church's First Presidency:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 0);font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" >"Every person is entitled to his or her opinion, which will be respected </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 0);font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" >as long as he or she respects the opinions of others.</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 0);font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" > Individual General Authorities have the right and privilege to express their own opinions, which, when expressed, represent </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 0);font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" >their</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 0);font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" > opinions only. There may be different opinions among the General Authorities, but we are united on the basic principles of the gospel. When it comes to expressing an opinion on some other organization or some political or quasi-political question, one hopes that the authorities of the church will have the good grace not to be extreme, to keep near the center of the road. All my life I have advocated that people in and out of the church should think through every proposition presented to them. Positions may be modified as time passes by discussing them with others, but</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" > <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);">there should be no question that both liberals and conservatives in the church are free to express their opinions."</span></span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);"><br /></span>** from "An Abundant Life: The Memoirs of Hugh B. Brown," p. 131.**</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">More recently it is well known that the late James E. Faust, also an Apostle and member of the First Presidency, was a Utah </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_E._Faust">democrat</a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">I was especially miffed to just recently find an <a href="http://www.utahcountydems.com/content/view/178">article</a> from 1998 of an interview with Marlin K. Jensen, another democrat, and current church historian:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 0);font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" >"There is sort of a division along Mormon/non-Mormon, Republican/Democratic lines," says Elder Marlin Jensen, a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. "We regret that more than anything -- that there would become a church party and a non-church party. That would be the last thing that we would want to have happen."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">How is it that I could be taught for years that being a democrat was akin to being an apostate when this is simply not true? Did most of the individuals from whom I heard this idea even know any democrats personally? Even if they feel strongly about their conservative views, are they justified in ostracizing and rejecting those of different opinions? Is their behavior in any way Christlike? Coming from a tradition of being cruelly persecuted as Mormons, it is jaw-dropping to see Mormons do an about-face and persecute others just because they have differing political views. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Jesus taught us to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us. I do not really think that differing opinions are really justification for classifying people as enemies. We should be able to appreciate and respect one another. We should be glad that not everyone has the same point of view. We should expect that even with the most righteous of motivations, different people will see the world in opposing ways. As President Brown said, as long as we are respectful, we deserve others' respect.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">I am convinced that the conservatives I know have good intentions. Their reasoning is generally sound for believing the things they do. But there is no justification for judgments of large segments of society because of their politics. Defending the indefensible in this way makes their position appear tenuous and weak, for they refuse to even engage in discussion of anything but that which merely goes along with what they already believe. Such an attitude has the potential to be just as damaging to the country as any supposed progressive cancer. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">On a day when we honor those who have sacrificed their lives and families for our freedoms, it would be good to remember that those heroes died in defense of the rights we all enjoy to think and believe as we choose, black and white, liberal and conservative, democrat and republican, christian and atheist. </span></span>masterdmjghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284180944641153997noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790519811774086080.post-13289771149302527772010-04-19T13:21:00.000-07:002010-04-19T13:44:03.060-07:00AIDS Awareness<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hWTkt_ZRMxg&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hWTkt_ZRMxg&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">April 19, 2010</span></b></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;">I had a surprising experience over the weekend. While it would be difficult for me to explain the effect this Elton John song has had on me, I think today is a slight indicator. The song tells of an estranged son who has been rejected by his father for being gay. In real life, the son's name was Ryan White, who will be familiar to many. The song also tells of warm reconciliation. Even though I never knew a gay person growing up, nor had I met anyone with AIDS, this song would always touch my heart.<br /><br />I have garnered much more experiences since then, therefore I still hold the song very dear. However, there is a side of me that wants to weep when I hear the song. There are times when I am frankly ashamed and embarrassed of myself and the way I felt about the world in the past. Without getting too detailed, I will simply state that my attitude toward homosexuality and AIDS as a young man was something like: "Well, they deserve to die for getting AIDS, and God is punishing them." I won't even get into how this narrow view doesn't even capture the broad segment who contracted AIDS through no fault of their own, but I'm sure at the time I was certain the gays were to blame for the spread.<br /><br />On Saturday I was listening to Elton John's song, and I felt intense shame for my past feelings on the matter. What a horrible way to view the world! Why would anyone think anything other than how sad it is that people even have to deal with such an awful disease, and that many had to die from it. How awful to think that in our country, we may have hesitated to help those who could have otherwise survived, because of thinking I displayed previously - the very thinking that many probably still believe today?<br /><br />I did not realize it until today, but there was an AIDS walk taking place on Saturday in Laramie. I don't think I was even aware it was going on until I ran into a friend who had participated. But I wonder if I was maybe there in spirit as I was having these thoughts in my mind. The thing is, AIDS is still a horrific disease that kills people all around the world. I don't know why we don't hear more about it, but I am saddened by every death, no matter where or how it happens. I think in the future I will want to raise more awareness of this disease, and be more involved in lending understanding and compassion to those who may be suffering because of it. Although I regret the way I have felt about this matter in my youth, I take solace in the fact that I have been able to change my perspective for the future.</span></i></span></span>masterdmjghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284180944641153997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790519811774086080.post-87118906122555066662010-04-12T15:46:00.000-07:002010-04-18T21:01:28.709-07:00Accepting Differing Opinions<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">April 18, 2010</span></b></span></span><br /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><span class="sqq" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“</span></span><a class="sqq" href="http://thinkexist.com/quotation/for_having_lived_long-i_have_experienced_many/199777.html" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged, by better information or fuller consideration, to change opinions, even on important subjects, which I once thought right but found to be otherwise.</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">” </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">- Benjamin Franklin</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The more I learn, the less I know. On the other hand, the more I learn, the more sure I am about certain things. For one, people have many different views and perspectives of the world. This is not a new phenomenon. It is not an earth-shattering revelation. And yet, it is a slightly novel idea to me in some respects.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">You see, growing up, I was taught that there was only one "right" way to think - about religion, and about politics. I was not taught to have respect for those views that were contrary or distinct in some way to mine. Rather, I was basically taught to ridicule those ideas as inferior, because if people were intelligent, they would obviously come to same conclusions that I had reached in my life. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I have since just started to scratch the surface of learning the wonder of a world full of diversity. There are myriad religions, political parties, clubs, and family arrangements. While they are not all exactly in agreement with the way I conduct my life, I rejoice in the differences, and the similarities. I strongly detest those who mock others' ways of viewing the world. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I also question the need to mock and/or be defensive with regards to one's own beliefs. To me these days, an excessive amount of defensiveness, or invoking of the persecution card, or belittling of others, may be nothing more than insecurity on the part of the individual doing such acts. If one has a conviction and a confidence about what they believe, they need not feel a need to act in such a way. Security in belief is best reflected in accepting fully that others have different viewpoints, and that is okay. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Accepting differing opinions is the first step in opening up the mind and the intellect to view the world in a whole new spectrum/paradigm/light. I am so glad that I took the risk to understand the world better, and to have more respect for as many perspectives and views as possible. I invite anyone to make the jump.<br /><br /></span></span></span><br /></div>masterdmjghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284180944641153997noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790519811774086080.post-22199026746932640282010-04-10T09:41:00.000-07:002010-04-10T20:04:40.121-07:00A Long Journey - Moving Forward<span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">April 10, 2010</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">It has been sometime since I have given a strong opinion on this issue or that. I often have a hard time capturing an accurate description of my philosophies because they seem to always be evolving as I gain newer information. I try to avoid labels because they don't help; they only bring on overgeneralized stereotypes and judgmental reactions.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >Over the last several years I have been on a long journey. I remember several years ago thinking how I wanted to be able to understand opposing points of view without becoming furious all the time, which at the time was how I always seemed to react. Back then I was a bloody red conservative. I could have never imagined that actually making the decision to look at differing views as objectively as possible would change my entire world view so drastically.<br /><br />I now can accept others' viewpoints as just as valid as mine, in the context of their experiences and worldview. This does not undermine the fact that my perspective is just as valid - for me. In my view, this is much more realistic in relation to how the world really turns today. Diversity is the rule, and I have come to embrace that fact, with the idea in mind that we still have more in common than we have differences. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >I do not regret questioning the long-held beliefs of my youth, even though it has caused some friction now and again with some of my closest associations. While I feel I have walked this path despite the uncertainty of where it would lead, I can see why some might believe I am just another example of why people generally are afraid to take those first tenuous steps. It is scary and uncomfortable changing viewpoints and being humble enough to admit you may have been wrong, or that you might even be wrong now. A lot of times along the way I have felt like I was losing my faith because so many things I thought were rock solid beliefs started to crumble before my eyes. But I continue to hang on to things I have always valued greatly, and the other things I let go of. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >It has taken me awhile, but I am getting comfortable having views that contradict some of the things I was taught growing up, at church, at school, at home. I feel I am nearing the point where I can talk about those 'aberrant' beliefs openly, regardless of the consequences. I hope to do so in a respectful way. And I hope to bring a perspective that can verify that my perspective and views are not crazy, or unfounded. I hope that someday I can be a comfort to others who feel they have 'unorthodox' political, religious, or social views, to help them feel they are not alon</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">e - as I have often felt at times during my journey - and that having differing views does not make them wrong. </span><br /></span></span>masterdmjghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284180944641153997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790519811774086080.post-75391523491641052582010-01-24T16:03:00.000-08:002010-01-24T16:05:46.355-08:00Swing Low, Sweet Chariot<span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" >January 24, 2010</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have been playing the organ on and off for the last couple years. Maybe that's what makes this performance all the more impressive. The organ is an incredibly cool musical instrument, especially if you have mad organ skills like Richard Elliot of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Watch with amazement. </span></span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/W9B2ObElbQA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/W9B2ObElbQA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>masterdmjghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284180944641153997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790519811774086080.post-66827196492493222782010-01-22T12:11:00.001-08:002012-03-21T10:34:31.975-07:00Jon Stewart Smacks Olbermann<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">January 22, 2010</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 51, 0);font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: lucida grande;">Just around the time of the last presidential election, I posted </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" href="http://masterdmjgsfreethinking.blogspot.com/2008/11/okay-im-sure-ill-hear-praises-from-all.html">an entry</a><span style="font-family: lucida grande;"> from Saturday Night Live with Ben Affleck mocking Keith Olbermann's self-important, pseudo-intellectual, psycho-babble. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: lucida grande;">Well, after Olbermann called Senator-elect Scott Brown from Massachusetts about every name you could possibly imagine (with the suffix -ist usually incorporated), Jon Stewart decided to take issue. And though I don't like the wallow in the name-calling myself, Stewart aptly shows why I have, for quite sometime now, considered Olbermann a </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fig956-MuVA">cotton-headed ninnymuggins</a><span style="font-family: lucida grande;">.</span></span><br /><br /><table style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(245, 245, 245);" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="353" width="360"><tbody><tr style="background-color: rgb(229, 229, 229);" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/">The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style="padding: 2px 5px 0px; text-align: right; font-weight: bold;">Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style="height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;" colspan="2"><a target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-january-21-2010/special-comment---keith-olbermann-s-name-calling">Special Comment - Keith Olbermann's Name-Calling</a><a></a></td></tr><tr style="height: 14px; background-color: rgb(53, 53, 53);" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 2px 5px 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 360px; text-align: right;"><a target="_blank" style="color: rgb(150, 222, 255); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/">www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign="middle"><td style="padding: 0px;" colspan="2"><embed style="display: block;" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:262557" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="window" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="autoPlay=false" allowscriptaccess="always" allownetworking="all" bgcolor="#000000" height="301" width="360"></embed></td></tr><tr style="height: 18px;" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 0px;" colspan="2"><table style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" width="100%"><tbody><tr valign="middle"><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a target="_blank" style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes">Daily Show<br />Full Episodes</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a target="_blank" style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.indecisionforever.com/">Political Humor</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a target="_blank" style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/tag/health">Health Care Crisis</a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>masterdmjghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284180944641153997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790519811774086080.post-71795777060859573482010-01-21T21:12:00.000-08:002010-01-21T21:20:27.755-08:00I am the WORST!<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >January 21, 2010</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />I have completed one year of grad school, and have quite enjoyed the experience so far. Apparently there are those in the world who don't think too highly of grad students. Here are two of my favorite video clips in regards to the matter; one from <a href="http://www.nbc.com/30-rock/">30 Rock</a> and one from <a href="http://www.thesimpsons.com/index.html">The Simpsons</a>. They make me laugh every time. </span></span><br /><br /><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FXvv5sTqNa4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FXvv5sTqNa4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="340" width="560"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/whBrTOzj0Kw&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/whBrTOzj0Kw&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>masterdmjghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284180944641153997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790519811774086080.post-51917006586645179102009-11-12T11:26:00.000-08:002009-11-12T11:33:03.072-08:00The Evil of Sesame Street<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family: arial;">November 12, 2009</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family: arial;">Apparently it is the 40th anniversary of the first Sesame Street. I loved the show as a kid, and am sometimes disappointed to see my children more interested in lesser kid-friendly entertainment like Thomas the Tank Engine and Dora the Explorer. I did not realize how awful the Sesame Street actually was until Colbert made it known on his show yesterday. What were my parents thinking letting me get indoctrinated by the Public Broadcasting Service when I was so young and innocent? No doubt, if it weren't for Sesame Street, I probably wouldn't be so screwed up today! </span></span><br /><br /><table style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(245, 245, 245);" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="353" width="360"><tbody><tr style="background-color: rgb(229, 229, 229);" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.colbertnation.com/">The Colbert Report</a></td><td style="padding: 2px 5px 0px; text-align: right; font-weight: bold;">Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c</td></tr><tr style="height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;" colspan="2"><a target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/255239/november-11-2009/grover-the-hill">Grover the Hill</a><a></a></td></tr><tr style="height: 14px; background-color: rgb(53, 53, 53);" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 2px 5px 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 360px; text-align: right;"><a target="_blank" style="color: rgb(150, 222, 255); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.colbertnation.com/">www.colbertnation.com</a></td></tr><tr valign="middle"><td style="padding: 0px;" colspan="2"><embed style="display: block;" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:255239" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="window" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="autoPlay=false" allowscriptaccess="always" allownetworking="all" bgcolor="#000000" height="301" width="360"></embed></td></tr><tr style="height: 18px;" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 0px;" colspan="2"><table style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" width="100%"><tbody><tr valign="middle"><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a target="_blank" style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/full-episodes">Colbert Report Full Episodes</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a target="_blank" style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.indecisionforever.com/">Political Humor</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a target="_blank" style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/254015/november-02-2009/sport-report---nyc-marathon---olympic-speedskating">U.S. Speedskating</a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>masterdmjghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284180944641153997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790519811774086080.post-70044387166747151482009-10-22T11:15:00.000-07:002009-10-22T11:18:46.613-07:00Radiohead: Glastonbury 2003, HD<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family: arial;">October 22, 2009</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;">It has been over a year since I started listening to Radiohead. The amazing thing is that I've listened to them more in the last year than any other band I've ever witnessed. And still, I like them just as much as I did a year ago, if not more. So in commemoration of the band that never gets old, here's an excellent concert from YouTube. Enjoy. </span></span><br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jFjAWhY1Amg&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jFjAWhY1Amg&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>masterdmjghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284180944641153997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790519811774086080.post-10125404659794999242009-09-18T13:34:00.000-07:002009-09-18T20:28:21.194-07:00Life After Facebook<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBpAUiNDdxH-kxxknKa_VBtG5F9r-eylydC8zG1NQ3c2NvZP0x7Uk5Ij00s4gz2d6ec9ldNZiqBMsqrKJTTrjFScRcfDjKjGejFbEYM6ED4nonHueIUwLUAsZa3uoY1_1WPIC9jLC5TM/s1600-h/page0_blog_entry613_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBpAUiNDdxH-kxxknKa_VBtG5F9r-eylydC8zG1NQ3c2NvZP0x7Uk5Ij00s4gz2d6ec9ldNZiqBMsqrKJTTrjFScRcfDjKjGejFbEYM6ED4nonHueIUwLUAsZa3uoY1_1WPIC9jLC5TM/s400/page0_blog_entry613_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383013772640941938" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: arial;">September 18, 2009</span></span></span></span><br /><br />Recently I decided it was time to pull the plug on my Facebook account. It was not the first time, but I have determined it will be the last.<br /><br />To me, the downsides to participating in such a forum by far outweigh the supposed benefits. </span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />I could go over dozens of reasons why my life without Facebook is much better, while only being able to give two or three examples of the usefulness of the website. </span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />But I won't bore you too much with either side of the argument. All I have to say is I am a much happier person with Facebook out of my life. Aside from not really being social at all, it has the potential to harm relationships and friendships more than it supports them.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />The response on the other side might go something like this: "But you getting out of Facebook harms the relationship you had with all of your 2000 friends!" Okay, I didn't have 2000; regardless, this is a horrible argument. Maybe it WILL harm my relationship with them when I say if our relationship's existence depends on Facebook friendship, then we probably didn't have a relationship that is worth maintaining in the first place. If such is the case, everyone will just continue on anyway. I guarantee you that 90% of my Facebook friends will never, ever, even notice that I deactivated. </span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />If Facebook encourages people to shower attention on themselves, and somehow gives people the comfort that if they are insulting and belittling to others, it's okay because it's on Facebook, then what kind of friendship is really happening?</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />I know I am probably a small minority, but I have chosen to not have any part of it. And the freedom is sublime. Don't miss me (I'm sure you don't), Facebook friends! I will probably do likewise. Life can still continue blissfully, even after Facebook. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0); font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Thank you to all the excellent anti-Facebook articles which helped me come to this extremely wonderful position. Maybe someday I will go on an anti-Facebook crusade and post some of them. But for now, I will just continue living my life like I did before Facebook was even an Internet site. Life was still pretty good back then. </span></span>masterdmjghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284180944641153997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790519811774086080.post-48337267386511969622009-09-17T15:56:00.000-07:002009-09-17T16:33:57.021-07:00Julieta Venegas: El Presente<p align="left"><span style="color:#666666;"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>September 17, 2009</em></span></strong></span><span style="color:#666666;"><em> </em></span><span style="color:#666666;"><br /><br /><object name="iLyROoafY2c8" id="iLyROoafY2c8" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://sa.kewego.com/swf/p3/epix.swf" width="400" height="300"> <param name="flashVars" value="language_code=es&playerKey=6a313535df30&skinKey=2ad725f3b1d3&sig=iLyROoafY2c8&autostart=false&advertise=1" /> <param name="movie" value="http://sa.kewego.com/swf/p3/epix.swf" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /></object><div style="width: 400px;"><a href="http://videos.orange.es/video/iLyROoafY2c8.html">Video clip Julieta Venegas, 'Presente' - Videos Orange</a> <br />Copyright News2Air La cantante mexicana adelanta su nuevo sencillo, 'Presente', dentro del álbum 'MTV Unplugged'. <br /> <div>Palabras clave:<a href="http://videos.orange.es/search/?q=videoclip">videoclip</a> <a href="http://videos.orange.es/search/?q=julieta">julieta</a> <a href="http://videos.orange.es/search/?q=venegas">venegas</a> <a href="http://videos.orange.es/search/?q=presente">presente</a> <a href="http://videos.orange.es/search/?q=sencillo">sencillo</a> <a href="http://videos.orange.es/search/?q=nuevo trabajo">nuevo trabajo</a> <a href="http://videos.orange.es/search/?q=mtv unplugged">mtv unplugged</a> </div> <div style="text-align: right;"> <a href="http://videos.orange.es/video/iLyROoafY2c8.html">Vídeo</a> de <a href="http://videos.orange.es/search/?q=user:portalstarmedia">portalstarmedia</a> </div></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ff9900;">Ya sé lo que te diga no va a ser suficiente<br />ay, ay, ay, ay<br />Y lo que tú me entregues dejará pendientes<br />ay, ay, ay, ay<br /><br />Quién nos dice que la vida<br />nos dará el tiempo necesario<br />toma de mí lo que deseas<br />como si sólo quedara<br /><br />El presente es lo único que tengo<br />el presente es lo único que hay<br />Es contigo mi vida con quien puedo sentir<br />que merece la pena vivir<br /><br />Con el mundo como va se nos acaba todo<br />ay, ay, ay, ay<br />La tempestad y la calma casi son la misma cosa<br />ay, ay, ay, ay<br /><br />Quién nos dice que la vida<br />nos dará el tiempo necesario<br />toma de mí lo que deseas<br />como si solo quedara<br /><br />El presente es lo único que tengo<br />el presente es lo único que hay<br />Es contigo mi vida con quien puedo sentir<br />que merece la pena vivir<br /><br />El presente es lo único que tenemos<br />el presente es lo único que hay<br />Es contigo mi vida con quien puedo sentir<br />que merece la pena vivir<br /><br />Ya sé lo que te diga no va a ser sufiente, consuelo<br />por perder ese lugar que amamos y destrozamos<br /><br />El presente es lo único que tengo<br />el presente es lo único que hay<br />es contigo mi vida con quien puedo sentir<br />que merece la pena vivir<br /></span><br /><p></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><br /></p></span>masterdmjghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284180944641153997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790519811774086080.post-46054990621019205852009-06-25T07:28:00.000-07:002009-06-25T09:11:52.011-07:00Republicans - The Party of Values<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span>June 25, 2009</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" >With yesterday's <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/25/us/25sanford.html?_r=1&hp">admission</a> of an extramarital affair by Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina, and last week's <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/23/ensign-apologizes-affair-private-meeting-gop-lawmakers/">revelations</a> of Nevada Senator John Ensign's recent unfaithfulness, I am really starting to wonder how the Republican Party can continue to stake its reputation on its apparent concern for maintaining family <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_values">values</a>, as well as its ability to court "values voters."</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" ><a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/political%20cartoons%20john%20ensign/JekyllnHyde_photos/5e94a1ae-e8f4-4344-9ffb-79069b38dd7.gif?o=1" target="_blank"><img style="width: 371px; height: 468px;" src="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z205/JekyllnHyde_photos/5e94a1ae-e8f4-4344-9ffb-79069b38dd7.gif" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" ><br />Literally my whole life I have been fed the line that Democrats are <a href="http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35719">immoral</a>, and that Republicans are <a href="http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/UnNews:GOP_to_host_%27Wholesome_Christian_Conservative_Republican_Values%27_gala">wholesome</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si0WTCMrksw">Christian</a>, and practically holy people.<br /><br />I don't mock the premise to denigrate the idea that living by standards and core values has a valuable purpose in individual lives. I mock the premise because of the fact that the same conservatives who wear their values on their sleeve, are outraged when a democrat is caught red-handed, yet seem to justify the actions of their republican standard-bearers when similar conduct is unearthed.<br /><br />It's not that John Ensign and Mark Sanford screwed up (sorry for the terrible pun), it's that in the past, when they responded to other individuals - for instance, Bill Clinton - they <a href="http://mediamatters.org/blog/200906170028">demanded</a></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" > resignation and/or impeachment for such indiscretions.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" ><a href="http://mediamatters.org/blog/200906170028"> </a><br />The question that remains with me is this: if the democrats are the godless, valueless party, why are conservatives so outraged when democrats get caught doing immoral things? What do you expect from a party devoid of core values, or Christian principles (just going off the republican-fabricated premise, mind you)?<br /><br />However, coming from the likes of people with all the important values that I myself value, you'd think conservatives would be more outraged at the Ensigns and Sanfords of their own tent, since one doesn't expect people with values and principles to act with such utter disregard for those very values held so dear.<br /><br />Democrats did not brand the Republican Party as the party of values. Republicans took on the mantle themselves. When it comes down to it, we are all human, prone to err, and often betray those values we hold dear. Put more bluntly, in the <a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=231557&title=governor-mark-sanfords-affair">words</a> of Jon Stewart, Mark Sanford is "just another politician with a conservative mind and a liberal penis."<br /><br />But a party that derives its worth, to a large degree, from condemning the other side as immoral, and touting their own piety, should expect to be held to the high standard they purport to endorse. When that standard is violated, they should expect to be treated as great disappointments, since we should expect better from the party of values.<br /></span>masterdmjghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284180944641153997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790519811774086080.post-13028308765647418372009-06-14T09:22:00.000-07:002009-06-14T11:11:44.065-07:00Daily Demonization, Vigilante Violence, etc.<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">June 14, 2009</span></span></span></span><br /><br />I have not posted much in the last month or so. I have been reading, and thinking, a lot. And more things have occurred in the news than I can keep up with. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It is hard to know when or where to take a stand on many issues, because it seems like taking a stand means condemnation and demonization of those with whom one disagrees. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">We've had several vigilante killings in recent weeks. One abortion doctor, one museum guard, one army recruiter. There has been a lot of discussion. One great </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/?scp=1-spot&sq=opinionator&st=cse">source</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> pinpointing many different views on the topic is a blog page by the </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.nytimes.com/">NY Times</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> called "The Opinionator." </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">President Obama appointed Sonia Sotomayor to fill the soon-to-be vacated justice seat of David Souter. Conservatives have cried, "racist!" and other things, while liberals have labeled conservatives as obstructionists, even though they (liberals) acted in a similar manner with the confirmations of John Roberts and Samuel Alito. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Obama is now pushing healthcare reform, while his opponents are claiming he wants to turn U.S. healthcare into Canadian or British healthcare. I read an excellent </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/06/01/090601fa_fact_gawande?currentPage=1">article</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> from </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.newyorker.com/">The New Yorker</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> this morning about how overtreatment may be one reason why healthcare costs are so high these days. There are many out there trying to </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/11/opinion/11kristof.html?scp=1&sq=we%20won%27t%20scare&st=cse">scare</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> people away from trying to make meaningful healthcare reform happen. Even if Obama's intentions are good, it is very doubtful he is going to make much progress in his efforts to reform. Take a </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/14/us/politics/14cong.html?hp">look</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> at how many prominent legislators have a stake in some form of health care. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Of course, there are other silly issues like David Letterman making jokes about Sarah Palin (which, by the way, I happen to side with Palin on this particular matter). </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">But what seems to be the biggest problem through all of it is, while there are great discussions and arguments to be made about most of these pressing challenges our country is facing, those discussions more often than not will not even happen. Both sides are too busy demonizing the other side. It is a legitimate challenge to take a position and respect the other side to believe the way they do. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">While I still tend to have opinions and sometimes even make a claim to know an answer or two, the more I read and listen to the talking heads, I just want to stay out of the fight. I don't want to be mean and hateful like they so often seem to be. I would rather try to find common ground, and see if there are ways that I agree with those whose ideology differs somewhat. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">If I cannot do so, I would rather stay quiet, and let others be critical and angry. There is more than enough of those types of feelings out there without me adding to the pot. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">But enough about me. Even though I do not want to demonize, it is lamentable how difficult it is to have respectful, reasoned discussion in our country today. It seems you can only discuss things civilly when you agree with the person with whom you are speaking. One problem is that certain faces on TV are very touchy about others demonizing them, but don't seem to even take note of themselves when they say, as Bill O'Reilly does in the following clip: "I don't demonize you for thinking what you do, but you have blood on your hands." </span><br /><br /><object style="font-family: verdana;" height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CDV1jsPlKD8&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CDV1jsPlKD8&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It causes people to cry foul when David Letterman jokes about Palin's child getting knocked up by Alex Rodriguez, but laugh when Ann Coulter calls Bill Clinton a rapist. </span><br /><br /><object style="font-family: verdana;" height="260" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://cloudfront.mediamatters.org/static/flash/mediaplayer316.swf"><param name="flashvars" value="config=http://mediamatters.org/embed/cfg?flv=http://cloudfront.mediamatters.org/static/video/2009/06/10/hannity-20090610-fem.flv"><embed src="http://cloudfront.mediamatters.org/static/flash/mediaplayer316.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="config=http://mediamatters.org/embed/cfg?flv=http://cloudfront.mediamatters.org/static/video/2009/06/10/hannity-20090610-fem.flv" height="260" width="320"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I know I don't have the answer. Right now, I am content to get most of my information from </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.npr.org/">NPR</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">, or the newspaper (the local </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.laramieboomerang.com/">Laramie Boomerang</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">, or the New York Times). At least those sources are much less combative and negative. And there are plenty of other articles to read in the paper if I don't like the one I'm reading at a particular moment in time.<br /><br />If others want to demonize, I will leave it to them. I will try to avoid doing so, while still reading, and having opinions. But really honestly, in my gut, I worry that this is just the start of vigilante violence. Another contention about which I hope I'm completely wrong. </span></span>masterdmjghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284180944641153997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790519811774086080.post-60378331529750085752009-05-29T14:18:00.000-07:002009-05-29T15:33:26.449-07:00Why I Run<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">May 29, 2009</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" > <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br />Last Friday I got my new running shoes after running nearly 700 miles with my last pair. I p</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF6_bIMuLqk_WWq2Nx14Cb83nP2A4aGpT_TfqJfIF2nSxrtGeMnevWbLztrTc-JUvEWMDNuwNRCjWkDpNBZrrQqCo7FDuL3HyntriRZdhmnjE1Mzr0vp066QRL7zw1wbqr9-BJvpqKkTA/s1600-h/Photo+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 310px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF6_bIMuLqk_WWq2Nx14Cb83nP2A4aGpT_TfqJfIF2nSxrtGeMnevWbLztrTc-JUvEWMDNuwNRCjWkDpNBZrrQqCo7FDuL3HyntriRZdhmnjE1Mzr0vp066QRL7zw1wbqr9-BJvpqKkTA/s400/Photo+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341374278732216210" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >assed the 7</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGIX3loJqINTY-42CvWajo1HvsItgW7yHbBrCv3mbkBA_naVQP_0lAfoPr7uCEIDm4QIRP0iD3XxTp5ohJ3ePLnSXj531Y4tEQ13ksABwfuYTcN7uq-i7s0Fd71IOdNRiFVOBAsBQ5kY/s1600-h/Photo+4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 306px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGIX3loJqINTY-42CvWajo1HvsItgW7yHbBrCv3mbkBA_naVQP_0lAfoPr7uCEIDm4QIRP0iD3XxTp5ohJ3ePLnSXj531Y4tEQ13ksABwfuYTcN7uq-i7s0Fd71IOdNRiFVOBAsBQ5kY/s400/Photo+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341374612862169474" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >00th mile this week in a little over a</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" > ye</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >a</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >r</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >. I have rea</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >lly turne</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >d things on the last few month</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >s. In April </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >I</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" > ran 90 miles, and this month I will end up finishing over 100.</span> <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Why do I do</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" > it? I k</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >now some people think runnin</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >g 14 miles </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >all at once is a symptom of mental insanity. But I do it for a number of reasons, and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon.</span> <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />Last year I was wondering exactly what to do with my life. I went to counseling and was on medication for a little while. One suggestion my counselor gave me to help with my mood was to find a way to be more physically active. I have tried to run consistently for years, but I have a bad knee and back, I told her. She recommended I do something else.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Nonetheless, I decided to invest in Nike+. I got some new shoes, and determined I would not train too hard right out of the gate like I had been prone to do in the past. I ran for a few months, then tapered off last fall/winter when I was riding my bike 100 miles a week. Over time I lost 20 pounds. </span> <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />When I got back to Laramie, I knew I had to stay active so I could stay in the shape I had achieved in Arizona. Last month I ran over 13 miles in one run for the first time. This month I got 7th place in a 5K here in Laramie, finishing the race in 20:02.</span> <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />There are several reasons why I love to run. The first obviously stems from the fact that I have already accomplished so much, and I want to keep building on those successes.</span> <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />I run for peace of mind. My depression has literally disappeared as I've kept active. I can also pop on the headphones, and forget about life for a few minutes. I love the way I feel when I've finished a run, especially a tough, lengthy one. Even though it doesn't usually endure, I feel a sort a mental clarity while I run.</span> <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />I can enjoy fresh air and the beauty of nature.<br /><br />I run to wear cool headbands and tank tops (even with my skinny chicken-arms). </span> <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />I run because I can, but also because not everyone that wants to can, and not everyone that can, does. A close friend once opined that he didn't think human beings were meant to run long distances, especially not he nor I. I then saw an <a href="http://vodpod.com/watch/1165857-walk-on-espn-video">ESPN video</a> of a young man born with cerebral palsy who was not even expected to walk in his life. He learned to walk, albeit awkwardly, and he learned he loved golf, and learned to play despite his handicap. He ended up walking miles and miles of golf course over the course of a full PGA season - he walked every hole of every tournament.</span> <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />If a guy who wasn't meant to even walk could do that, I can at least run a marathon or two if I work hard enough. So I will keep running, because I want to.</span> <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />One final admission: I really do not think I have the appearance of a person you might stereotypically think of as a runner - boney thin, with no fat tissue whatsoever. However, I felt proud today when I was about to get a huge needle stuck into my vein to give plasma. The phlebotomist commented on my giant veins and queried, "Are you a runner or something?"</span> <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />To which I unhesitatingly responded, "Yes I am."</span></span>masterdmjghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284180944641153997noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790519811774086080.post-64956883832353365742009-05-06T11:19:00.000-07:002009-05-07T17:50:01.167-07:00Why Torture?<span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">May 6, 2009</span></span></span></span><br /><br />I have hesitated to enter into the fray on the issue of "enhanced interrogations" because it seems to me to be a very difficult, complicated issue. However, even though I think I understand the rationales behind the use of such harsh methods, I have a very hard time deciphering why any person who considers him or herself moral, would have a problem with someone who opposed such mistreatment of other human beings.<br /><br />I think too many people have been watching 24, and other dramatic television series, and they think those things happen in real life. While there are those who say information gleaned from enhanced methods may have saved lives, I would question with all of my intuitive resourcefulness that there has </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" >ever </span><span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" >been a time when a terrorist had his hand on the button of a detonator, and has made demands and threats to the United States; otherwise, he would blow up a city.<br /><br />I thought it was pretty obvious that the plot was far-fetched since Jack Bauer still somehow hasn't died in seven seasons. But I honestly think people believe there are bad guys who are out to get us, and the only way to stop them is by torturing people.<br /><br />If they want to believe that, fine. If they want to believe that President Obama is putting our nation at risk by eliminating such treatment of prisoners, that's their choice.<br /><br />I am saying, if we are strictly speaking on moral grounds, I don't really understand how someone who thinks he is moral can have a problem with the position Obama has taken on this issue. Aren't principles and morals supposed to be held more sacred than life itself? Is it acceptable for a supposedly moral person to betray those morals, supposedly to save lives? Hence, even if it's true that lives were saved, we had saved them at the cost of coming down to the level of our reprehensible enemies.<br /><br />Yet we have voices like Bill O'Reilly out there saying if you diagree with those who choose to torture enemy combatants, and you disagree with God's self-appointed "mouthpiece," that you somehow are unpatriotic, and hate america. People who feel very strongly that we should treat everyone with dignity, enemy or otherwise, are treated like weak and spineless individuals.<br /><br />I am not declaring definitively that I know the answer. But there is a case to be made for harsh interrogations, in that they possibly keep us safer from threats about which we are unaware. And there is a case to be made that being the great nation we are, we ought to somehow rise above the behavior of animals, and act like civil human beings, brutal enemy notwithstanding.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><br /></span></span></span>masterdmjghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284180944641153997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790519811774086080.post-51931187171638250842009-05-05T23:23:00.000-07:002009-05-06T19:41:34.456-07:00A Favorite Radiohead Track<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">May 5, 2009</span></span><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2iVgzIe5Xos&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2iVgzIe5Xos&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><table style="width: 681px; height: 448px;" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-family:arial;"><td class="songtitle"><span style="font-size:130%;">No No No No No No No No</span></td> </tr> <tr style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-family:arial;"> <td class="songlyrics"><span style="font-size:130%;">no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no<br />i don't know why you bother<br />nothing's ever good enough for you<br />i was there and it wasn't like that<br />you came here just to start a fight<br /><br />you had to piss on our parade<br />you had to shred our big day<br />you had to ruin it for all concerned<br />in a drunken punchup at a wedding.<br /><br />hypocrite opportunist<br />don't infect me with your poison<br />a bully in a china shop<br />when i turn round stay frozen to the spot.<br /><br />the pointless snide remarks<br />of hammerheaded sharks<br />the pot will call the kettle black<br /><br />in a drunken punchup at a wedding.<br /> no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></td> </tr> <!-- InstanceEndEditable --></tbody></table>masterdmjghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284180944641153997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790519811774086080.post-85384786338203749622009-05-05T12:22:00.000-07:002009-05-05T13:01:07.503-07:00Capitalism v. Socialism<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">May 5, 2009</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Ever since President Obama's fated exchange with the ever-omniscient Joe the Plumber last year during election season, the terms socialist, marxist, fascist, among others, have been thrown around liberally.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:verdana;" >I don't believe Obama is a closet socialist, questionable past personal ties aside. He may be more liberal than the average american, but more than likely, he is going to end up being more of a centrist than even he, or moveon.org would like him to be, economically speaking. Meanwhile, in regards to the war on terror, even though his rhetoric is more conciliatory than that of his predecessor, it is hard to see a clear-cut difference between the two foreign policies. The main idea that the U.S. is the world's sole superpower, and must so remain, is still intact.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:verdana;" >But the discussion has led me to question the oft-accepted-as-fact logic that free-market capitalism is the absolute best system under which to govern a people, while at the same time wondering seriously whether socialism is the great Satan that conservatives would have us believe. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:verdana;" >Certainly, capitalism has it's faults, as evidenced by the current economic situation throughout the world. Some experts would argue that it is our failure to adhere to true free-market principles that have gotten us into the whole mess. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:verdana;" >Whether we follow the principles correctly or not, those who are making arguments relating to Obama's 'socialist' policies have to be making a couple of assumptions - that the United States as a general rule operates within a free-market, and that socialism as an alternative has already proved to be a spectacular failure. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:verdana;" >The fallacy in this simple-minded discussion is that somehow there are only two choices - capitalism, or socialism. It also assumes that socialism as an evil form of rule, refers to the failures of the Soviet Union and other european and asian countries. It assumes that those failed systems are the only possible implementations of socialism. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:verdana;" >While most people who argue for an increase in socialism are branded as radical left-wing nutjobs, there are a few in the political arena who argue for a sort of pragmatic, mixed-economy solution. Capitalism has proved to be weak in some areas, and could stand to be improved. Meanwhile, all aspects of socialism do not spring out of evil imaginations of men. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:verdana;" >In the future months, I am going to study this dilemma further. I would contend that the idea that media, business, and government, are not conducted on a free-market scale nearly the way we would be made to believe by most of the powerful voices speaking in the world today. I would argue that most people who contend for the free market are really just proponents of the status-quo, which often isn't pro-free-market at all. And I will probably argue that although Obama's proposals tend to sound lofty, he probably is a president of the status-quo more often than not. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:verdana;" >It's time to examine the currently held belief of many in neoliberalism, defined by Robert McChesney in "The Political Economy of Media:" - </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:verdana;" >Neoliberalism refers to the doctrine that profits should rule as much of social life as possible, and anything that gets in the way of profit making is suspect, if not condemned. Business good. Governments bad. Big business very good. Big government very bad. Taxes on the right, bad. Social spending aimed at the poor and working class, even worse. Take care of number one, and everyone fend for yourself. There is no such things as 'society,' only individuals in fierce competition with one antoher, and their immediate families, the only permissible freeloaders. (In fact, family freeloading is the occupation of choice for those of great wealth. No ruthless market for those who can affort to opt out. Nice work, if you can get it.)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:verdana;" >So there you have it. Is capitalism really the best we can do? Are our only choices capitalism or socialism and no other options are possibilities? Are we only responsible to ourselves and our families, or should we be more responsible for the society of which we are a part, as a whole? </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:verdana;" >Of course, to have the discussion, one must first be brave enough to throw away the assumptions that capitalism is perfectly good, and socialism is completely evil. Which is what I (trying to be the non-conformist that I for some reason sometimes think that I am) intend to at least attempt to do.</span></span><br /><br />P.S. Happy Cinco de Mayo!masterdmjghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284180944641153997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790519811774086080.post-43647794649636951582009-04-21T13:57:00.000-07:002009-04-22T21:05:15.978-07:00Absolute Sincerity<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:85%;" >April 21, 2009</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 102, 102);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">I keep thinking I will someday be able to overcome the fact that the world is full of bloody hypocrites, especially where morality is concerned. But I just keep coming up with new gripes. </span><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfaKy66NYHKFkMgBLThveit2teniZC5fP87N1jUj7tOKJ9DsKWhsJ3macdDotmC3DFTJ1ZqgYIJNBng5O7U3vITSOCx3tK7qLkkwfe2vM452NOoiwipmwZ70uZqhFWQTGVjZOnK4U2dI/s1600-h/%7Ba3b27714-b2a8-4f18-90b4-65c8581fe3ca%7D.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 498px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfaKy66NYHKFkMgBLThveit2teniZC5fP87N1jUj7tOKJ9DsKWhsJ3macdDotmC3DFTJ1ZqgYIJNBng5O7U3vITSOCx3tK7qLkkwfe2vM452NOoiwipmwZ70uZqhFWQTGVjZOnK4U2dI/s400/%7Ba3b27714-b2a8-4f18-90b4-65c8581fe3ca%7D.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327258323728426706" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 102, 102);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />I don't have much to say, except that I was speaking t</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 102, 102);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">o someone about the supposed controversial comments by Miss California in the recent Miss America Beauty Pageant. I performed a Google news search just to check it out, and lo and behold, right on </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,517215,00.html">Fox News.com</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">, I see a picture of a hot babe in a swimsuit.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Apparently there was a story. I am sure she was Miss California. Supposedly she lost because she thinks marriage should be between a man and a woman. For some reason, I wasn't really interested in reading. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Snap! Sorry - I got a little sidetracked. So let me get this straight. Someone enters into a pageant where the only real reason anyone pays attention is to look at hot chicks in bathing suits, and then she is a hero because she thinks gay marriage is wrong? Does anyone see the glaring contradiction here?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I know I am being incredibly cynical here, but I am not backing down on this one. People who rail on gay marriage (and I'm not saying it's wrong or right - it's not the issue here), saying it is going to cause the disintegration of society, are probably many of the same people who watch scantily clad women in bikinis on TV, drooling, and trying to find rerun videos on YouTube after the pageant ends because they haven't fantasized enough. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Miss America Pageant is nothing but a way to make women objects. And if we're going to make moral judgments, then the pageant has to be just as immoral as two people of the same sex wanting to form a union together. I guess what it comes down to is there are not that many gay people out there, compared to the big business out there geared toward the number of people who will spend their time and money to look at swimsuit models strutting their stuff, and then acting like they watch to see what the hell said models think about world poverty.<br /><br />Let me put it another way: when you prance around practically naked in a swimsuit (if you can call it that), you probably don't have much room to talk about your opinion on morality.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Such hypocrisy has the potential to make one ill.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">Update: (4/22/09) Well, what do you know, a woman (Caroline Heldman) who agrees with me. Of course, pervert Sean Hannity and his two male guests want the controversy to go on as long as possible, so they can continue to show pictures of babes in bikinis as much as possible. Of course, these "manly" men more than likely feel they are superior to Heldman just because they are men.<br /><br />Her argument is just too much for them to handle. The pageant is degrading to women. So what? They're hot, and Hannity wants to watch them.<br /></span><br /><object height="260" width="320"><param name="src" value="http://mediamatters.org/static/flash/mediaplayer316.swf"><param name="flashvars" value="config=http://mediamatters.org/embed/cfg%3Fflv%3Dhttp://mediamatters.org/static/video/2009/04/22/hannity-20090422-broll.flv"><embed src="http://mediamatters.org/static/flash/mediaplayer316.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="config=http://mediamatters.org/embed/cfg%3Fflv%3Dhttp://mediamatters.org/static/video/2009/04/22/hannity-20090422-broll.flv" height="260" width="320"></embed></object>masterdmjghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284180944641153997noreply@blogger.com0