Black or White

I wonder why some people resist the thought that something could be completely right or completely wrong. It often seems like they want some things to be right sometimes and wrong sometimes. I listened to a radio show today. The host was disgusted (to put it mildly) that any doctor anywhere would perform a late-term abortion. He found it appalling because if these babies were to be born at this stage they could survive outside the womb. Therefore he reasoned it should not be legal to kill them while they are still living inside the womb. He said that it was in fact murder.

But he felt that it is okay to abort or kill the baby (now he calls it a fetus) if it is earlier in the pregnancy. Why? Because it is smaller, less developed? Because if born at that age it would not survive outside the womb? I mean really, think about it. If the later term pregnancy baby can "survive" and that is the criteria then who defines "survive"? Realistically that baby can NOT survive on its own. Often it needs a great deal of medical care in order to survive. If it should be lucky enough to not need medical care it still can not survive on its own. Someone HAS to care for it and feed it, so what is the difference here?

The younger fetus only needs more time in the womb to survive. It is alive. It has all the same organs and features as the older fetus. For me it is like saying, well a two year old is not able to reason very well or get a job so it has much less value than someone who is 16 or 18 or 50. Frankly I think the two year old may have more value because it has its whole life in front of it. Its just beginning to discover this crazy world it lives in and everything is a wonder and everything surprises it. Sometimes I wish I could be two again.

When looking at the issue of abortion often the argument is directed around the woman and her rights, her body. I fully agree that women have rights and are in charge of their bodies. But when pregnant, the decisions made do not just affect that woman, another "body" is involved, and often it is also a female body (does anyone else see the irony in this?). Separate and distinct. With its own fingerprints, heart, DNA, etc. If I have the right to decide if this person can live or die just because of where it is living then why stop at the child in the womb?

It seems our country is okay with abortion being legal because we have this false sense that it is not being used as a form a birth control. REALITY CHECK. Abortion prevents birth. What would you call that? Birth control pills are sold as a means to prevent pregnancy not birth (and there is a whole other debate here that I won't go in to at this time) but we call that "birth control". Does anyone else see anything wrong with this picture?

Also, I'm curious as to why when I talk with people they are appalled that in other countries it is normal to have a test done to see what the sex of the child in the womb is. If it is female then it is most likely it will be aborted. But if it is male, it will be allowed to continue to live. This angers Americans because of the "reason" for choosing abortion. But they are okay with abortion on demand for just any reason. Just not if it is selective based on sex, or eye color or skin color.

I'm telling you, the older I get, the more I question if logic or common sense even exist. I think some things should just be "black or white", "right or wrong".

Presidential

Have you ever wanted to visit the President of the United States? Just 30 minutes alone with the President? I have. But I really never could think of a good reason to do it. Then I wondered, how hard would it be anyway? I'm quite sure it would be impossible.

Recently I've some to the conclusion that it might take an act of the President to even get a short visit with a Governor. Now, a meeting with my Governor is something I have a reason for. So, I've been emailing the Governor's office trying to see if it was possible. As you might expect it is not. But there are very nice people who will send you the standard, politically correct, email explaining why you can't get in.

Being a Dillard by birth means I don't give up easy. While I have not met with the Governor I did get to meet with someone high up in her office. It was interesting and this person listened to me with respect and interest. The 'respect' part didn't surprise me but the 'interest' part did. I knew that what I had on my agenda was not something that anyone in this office likes to have to talk about. Also, I know my position is the polar opposite of this Governor's office. So, I only expected; polite and "good bye".

Sometimes I enjoy being wrong. We had a very long talk that was quite productive and VERY honest. I was pleasantly surprised. The person I talked to said she couldn't promise that I'd ever get to speak with the Governor in person and she couldn't promise that the Governor would act on my request (the thing I wanted to meet about), but she did promise that she would share our conversation with the Governor. She added that she appreciated having an intelligent non confrontational conversation with someone on the topic we discussed. I said I appreciated her openness to listening to me and that she offered to share it with the Governor.

So, if there is a moral to this entry it is that we should never give up. As we say in the business "it ain't over until it's over". So my prayer is that "it ain't over".

Spoiled?

Okay so I know this will surprise most of you who know me but I think I'm spoiled. No really. The surprise isn't that I am spoiled it is that I might be starting to recognize it.

Being the youngest of four children comes with some perks and I remember my brother and sisters often saying something like, "you are so spoiled". Of course I denied it and even decided to never believe it. But there might be some reality to the youngest getting more attention, or getting to do more things. After all, the older siblings have already broke in the parents.

So what happened today that reminded me of this? I'm glad you asked. Gary had the day off and took care of things around the house and with his car. When I got home from a very exhausting day at the center he was there with supper all cooked and ready. Steak with sauteed mushrooms and onions, and lovingly prepared broccoli. YUM...heavenly. All I had to do was sit down and eat. It reminded me of all those years when he didn't work outside the home. When he was "Mr. Mom". Oh how I long for those days.

I said to him, "we have to find a way that you can just stay home and not have to work". I just love coming home to supper done, the house chores done and nothing to do or worry about (except maybe paying the bills). Oh yeah, bills. Fantasy is over now and Gary goes back to work tomorrow so we can live to eat another day, and can afford to buy the food to eat.

Memorial Day

I remember Memorial Day being about parades, veterans, grilling and picnics. The biggest thing I remember is it was the day to plant your garden. If you lived in Wisconsin. Living in Kansas this would actually be considered late for planting vegetables and flowers. Also, as apartment dwellers there is no garden for us to plant so we went for walk. I really hadn't intended it to be a long walk but before we even hit the halfway point my wonderful husband announced he needed to find a bathroom. What is interesting is that right before we left for the walk I had to stop at home and change but I also decided to use the bathroom. Gary decided to wait in the car and while he didn't say it I know he was thinking "she probably is going to the bathroom AGAIN". So, it was hard for me to feel sorry for him because I reasoned that he had missed his opportunity when he stayed in the car. But when he seriously started looking at the creek or wooded areas as potential opportunities to "take care of business" I knew he was getting desperate. When the path we were on reached a road we decided to walk on the sidewalk hoping to find a gas station or something. After about a mile we finally found someplace. With the crisis over we now looked around and figured out the "best" route to get back to our car. The last mile was the hardest and I really don't recommend anyone walking five miles on their first walk of the season. Also, consider it best to use a bathroom before going on a walk even if you don't think you need to go. :)

Epitaph

God willing I have many decades left on this planet. But I have decided that when I die I want my epitaph to include:
Conceived (life began): March 1957
Birth: 12/17/1957
Born to eternal life with Jesus Christ: xx/xx/xxxx

I had once considered cremation but have decided to have a Christian burial instead. I want my death to reflect the things I found important in life.