Blog 7: Knocking Down Block-Towers

Despite how it sounds, this blog is not about being mean to little kids building up their alphabet block towers. Well. Not literally. I wouldn't do such a thing! At least, probably not. I'm not as heartless as I seem. But it is about having our jejune works removed from the construction site. We've been playing with toys, hiding from everything that we need to see, refusing to be seen for who and what we truly are. But the time has come for our flimsy little forts to come tumbling down. And it will probably take less work than it took Joshua and his people to conquer Jericho. You like that? Walls reference? Nice. Patting myself on the back for that one. Anyway, it's my recent immersion in regularly attending a sizable college group that has got me thinking about this subject.

Everyone has read or heard the Love Chapter (1 Corinthians 13), but it is the flowery part we dwell on--the romantic part. It's played a role in countless weddings and movie scenes. But this second part that is commonly ignored or glazed over is absolutely meaningful, especially for young people. We're all asserting ourselves like we've reached adulthood, but are we really acting like it? Are adults really acting like it for that matter? 

¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. ¹² For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

There's a huge difference between being childlike and just plain childish. True, we are all children of God and should govern ourselves as such, but to reject growth is practically blasphemy. To be childish, by definition, is to be silly and immature. To be childlike, according to the dictionary, is to possess the positive qualities children have such as frankness (honesty), genuineness, innocence, and an incontrovertible sense of wonder.

One of the childish things we hold on to as we graduate is the high school mentality. And what, pray tell, is that? It is that part of us that holds on to grudges, gossips, and refuses to give others a chance should they be outside our normal social circles. It is that thing in our minds that proclaims love while simultaneously refusing to practice it. 

I have never been one of the cool kids. I've always been one of the weirdos on the fringe. I hang out with my one or two colorful friends and people cast suspicious, sidelong glances at us and raise their eyebrows. I kind of float around with my silly one-liners. I can talk to everyone here and there, but at church or work or school, I've never been in the middle of the action. It's not that I didn't want to be part of things or make friends, it's that I just don't fit in. 

When I was a teenager, I kind of let that fact define me. I'm thankful for it now. It's so easy to get caught up in the group-think and I probably wouldn't be who I am today. I wouldn't have a tough skin, street smarts, independence, or the time it took for me to invest in my intellect and learn all I have learned so far. I wouldn't be able to really lead without worrying if I had the approval of my friends. 

And yet, it crippled me as well. For years, I did my skim-the-surface routine. And I think I actually alienated a lot of people that way. I became selfish, even an unfeeling leader throughout my days in the worship band, Torches Together, and sometimes school. There have been times in the past couple of years where I literally could not breathe from the loneliness I had imposed upon myself. My image may ever be the scary thing I think it became. I'm still having trouble shaking that old view of me to where people don't automatically shy away skittishly. It's not that I was usually outright mean. It was just that I didn't care about people. And though I'm not truly scared of many things (if any), the camaraderie everyone else shares makes me nervous. I think I missed out on some experiences and got involved in things I wouldn't have had I not been so desperate to break out of solitude and those quiet Friday nights I abhorred so much.

And though I built these walls myself, I kind of hated everyone for it. And in return, I acquired their lasting dislike (at least that's how it looks through these Haylee-colored glasses). And yet just in the past two weeks or so, God kind knocked down my block-tower in one fell swoop. I don't have any negative emotions about the people that I know. Despite our differences, despite them not having some adaptations that I do have--I only feel that I would like to make amends, undo the damage I have done. Although, my pride suggests to me (yeah, it talks to me sometimes) that I have caused some ripples even from my remote island of Bitchonia. Excuse my bluntness. I'm sure none of you have ever used or heard such a term! Your tender sensibilities must be marred. I beg that you forgive me. Anyway, I've noticed other blogs popping up. Just saying. Even bit...ter jerks can be trend-setters.

I have been speaking and understanding like a child. I think we all have. But it is time to put those childish things away and truly look at ourselves, coming face to face with what we are and what we need to become. It's time to see ourselves through the eyes of our peers and would-be family. We will know as we are known. I believe that fits in with the "you reap what you sow" theme. So have you been dealing out love or judgment, compassion or cruelty? 

I think that we've been too busy seeing people for who they used to be to get to know them. So yeah, I used to be kind of abrasive and maybe slightly terrifying. But I am not that person anymore (not to say that I don't still have issues from time to time). I went through a combination of traumatic events and my own willful rebellion that has made me someone else entirely. Not that I recommend learning lessons the way I did (because believe me, it's no picnic), but it took going through all that ugly mess to know how to care about things people outside of myself.

If we are going to have the least bit of success, we've got to get past these fake plastic grins and cliched well-wishing. Love is patient, love is kind--but love is also the ability to be honest with one another, even when what we've got going on behind the scenes is not ideal. I'm ready to be real. And I'm ready to go knocking down block towers. Are you?

Blog 6: A Bonk on the Head.

So this is may be a little insane; some foolish people who can’t read others well would even say it’s just a phase. I think I’ve decided what I want to do in school and in life. This career choice is one I’ve rebelled against—nay, ABHORRED for my entire adult life (yeah, all two and a half years of it). It sounds superbly cheesy, but about two weeks ago something happened which seems too convenient to be coincidental.

I do not have cable. I do not have money to rent movies. But a couple of weeks ago, I got horribly sick for about 24 hours. All I could do was hang out by a trash can. I won’t go into detail. Haha. In any case, It just so happened that I got sick in a place where I could watch as much TV as I wanted. Flipping through the channels, looking for something not full of douchebags, I came upon a movie I’d heard about but not yet seen: Freedom Writers. I don’t know if you’ve seen it or not; honestly, I can’t remember who it was that first recommended it to me. It’s a true story about a first-time teacher who takes a job in an inner city high school. She’s got her work cut out for her teaching a remedial English class. The kids hate each other, all being from rival gangs. And the head of the department leaves all the books in storage because she thinks the kids will damage them. The teacher gives them all journals (which ended up published) and inspires the students to move above the hate and become friends. She ended up teaching them (by request) throughout high school. She took extra jobs to be able to take them on field trips. She was passionate.

The day I watched that movie, I cried. My family can tell you that’s no huge occurrence. I cry in a lot of movies. I cried in Monsters, Inc. for goodness sake. But it truly touched me. I started thinking: “I want to be a teacher so I can make a difference like that!” Then I told myself it was silly. But as anyone who has ever spoken with me about education can tell you, I get all riled up when I talk about teachers. In my opinion, too many people become teachers just because they don’t know what else to do. They’re like “Well, I can’t go around the world in 80 days, so I might as well teach.” It’s like people who say “ I can’t go to college, so I’ll join the military,” except these decisions make or break tons of lives instead of just one. Consequently, they pass on their unforgivable apathy. 

I can think of three teachers in my whole life of public schooling that were truly inspiring. I hate science. I’m not good at it. But my Biology professor for two semesters at Pellissippi made me like Biology because she was excited about it, and gave us random facts outside the curriculum. My U.S. History teacher in high school made me love the subject when I had previously thought that America had the most boring heritage of any country. My Creative Writing/American Literature/Screenwriting teacher made me think I could be the author of the next great American novel. Why? Because they were so passionate about everything they taught. They were amazing. But the sad thing is, in 15 years of schooling, there were only 3 who truly stood out. Where are the caring, charismatic educators of today? Are they only in the cinema?

So after dismissing my movie mania, it had been a little while. The other night when I was having coffee with friends, we began to discuss teaching. The conversation was brief, but I got so excited during that time. It was like something inside me was on fire. It was like God smacked me in the head and said "Yeah, what do you think about teaching now?" The more I think about becoming a teacher, the more I think it’s a wonderful idea. I want to make a difference. I want to help others become passionate about things worthwhile rather than the fading temptations of our day. What better way to do so than become an educator? I want to teach middle school or high school students; they’re on the cusp of adulthood but faltering in so many ways, generally. If I had had more adults who had genuinely cared about my welfare during those hard years, I think I might’ve been less screwed up. Haha. And the sad thing is, I didn’t get involved in half the stuff my friends did, but it still felt as damaging.

I get more and more stoked every time I consider the possibilities. Not only could I change the world one kid at a time, I could have so many opportunities myself. I want to travel. Teachers have the entire summer off every year. And if I study language like I already want to do, I can teach language in other countries. And there’d be so much time for writing as well. I’ve known several English teachers who were simultaneous authors, becoming at the very least somewhat successful in their writing efforts.

I’ve had vague notions of things I’ve wanted to do, but this feels so right. And there seems to be an open path. Scholarships for teachers are absolutely abounding these days. And apparently, there’s tons of student loan forgiveness just for agreeing to teach in Tennessee for a certain amount of time. For once I feel like the things I want to do aren’t completely impossible. It’s a glorious emotion.

But first, alas, I must find that mind-numbing high schooler type job that will get me through the oh-so-educational college years. Fun times.

Blog 5: Tiny Acts of Heroism

Some people are just born warriors. We want to crusade. We want to fight for truth and justice (though we may or may not always support the American way—sorry, Superman). We want to defend the helpless and sound a battle cry for those who have been silenced. But when a warrior has no weapons, it’s time to get resourceful. Let me explain what I mean.

You see, social justice is something very dear to my heart. From human trafficking to exploited laborers to the poverty-stricken masses, I want to make a difference. If I had the means, I would travel around the world taking down slave traders and buying out cruel businessmen. And yet I find that I am strapped for cash and time. It’s very easy to get so wrapped up in your own circumstances and discouraged by all you can’t do.  But everyone can make a difference in small ways.

You may not have substantial amounts of money to throw at the problem (and realistically, money isn’t very throwable; it gets all caught in the wind resistance), but you can change the consumer habits you already have. Responsible and informed shopping is a step toward changing the world. For example, I try my very best to buy only fair trade coffee and tea. Fair trade is a system instituted to help the workers who produce the things we buy. It ensures workable wages, producer networking and communication, an avoidance of forced labor, and the security of communities attached to the crop or product. (Find out more at www.fairtradefederation.org) I think it's important to do more than just mindlessly consume. When you buy a product, you are supporting the company it comes from. You wouldn't vote for a political candidate who was involved in slave trade or owned sweat shops (at least, I certainly hope you wouldn't). So why support a company who does the same? 

Also, in my newfound hippie-ness, I've been taking slow steps toward world responsibility. Mind you, I say small. I haven't done anything truly noble or worthy of praise. And although one day I hope to do things like the Mother Theresas and Gandhis of this world, I am admittedly just a boring Southern suburbanite (albeit a little poorer than most of the white bread class). There's a skin care store called The Body Shop. They vend lotions, soaps, nail care items, etc. They sell a hand cream called "Soft Hands, Kind Heart" from which a portion of the proceeds go toward programs designed to fight human trafficking. It feels great on your skin, uses fair trade olive oil, and helps end human suffering. Why not buy it? This campaign stretches beyond that one product. They also have an online petition you can sign to help bring this issue before world leaders. Go to http://www.thebodyshop.com/_en/_ww/values-campaigns/stop-trafficking-select-country.aspx and check it out. It only takes a moment to put in your electronic signature. I got all of the people in my Public Speaking class to do it last semester. Just take care not to sign more than once.

Another cool thing that's easy to get involved in is Teavana's EquaTrade program. I don't know if they're still selling them (though I'm sure they are), but they have these cloth shopping bags for just $8 for the "I Am Powerful" campaign. It's a way for women to advocate and assist fair trade for the tea farmers. Every time you shop with your bag at Teavana, a donation is made to EquaTrade. My aunt bought it for me as sort of an informal graduation present. And as much as I love tea, it's got a lot more use to come! Plus, the bag is just really cool. I've been using it as a purse! haha.

There are other things you can do in your everyday life. Those tiny acts of heroism to your community do make a difference. You never know who you'll inspire. I'll give you an example. Last night, a couple from my church took me out to coffee. It wasn't anything fancy, just a nice conversation at Starbucks. And yet, in that, they showed me love. They made me want to do more for others just by taking an hour out of their evening. When it comes down to it, you can set up as many programs as you want, but what really changes things for people is the time you spend with them. A little hope and encouragement go a long way.

In the past, I've been more than a little anti-social. I spent time with only my close circle of friends. But I'm being stretched outside that and learning that if I really want to be a world-changer; if I really want to shake things up, I have to actually invest in people. Now, here's a caution. You may be on the opposite end of the spectrum--ever-social, always out doing something with somebody. I've noticed that pattern in teenagers and young adults especially. It's not bad in itself, but a certain lack of depth is way too common in that kind of lifestyle to make it healthy. Some people I've considered my best friends are really only just now figuring out what it means to be there for someone. And it's taken a lot of pouring myself into them when I really wasn't getting much back. You've got to go deeper than being that "social butterfly." A butterfly can only skim the water. Once they take a plunge, they're dead. And if that's how your relationships always are, you're not even making a dent in this old earth. 

It's time to move past the flaky "I'll see you next time I'm bored and need something to do" kind of friendship. Just be real. If you're not super-spiritual or extremely intellectual, so be it. Communicate honestly and genuinely with what you have. And if you're tired of hypocrisy and back-stabbing and phonies, then "Be the change you wish to see in the world." (The Ghand-Man) <--[It's probably socially unacceptable to give peaceful historical figures silly nicknames. Oh well.]

Blog 4: A Rerun.

I didn't have time to finish the blog I was working on for today, so in the interest of keeping things going consistently, I thought I'd just post this speech I wrote for my Public Speaking class during the semester. It's done in the format of Monroe's Motivated Sequence and could maybe use a little tweaking, but I'm pretty proud of it nonetheless. I posted it in my Facebook notes, so it is sort of a rerun if you've been previously following my writing. Next time I promise new material.

I.               ATTENTION STEP

A.     ATTENTION GETTER: Who here agrees that the Holocaust was a good thing? (PAUSE) Seriously, can I get a show of hands? (PAUSE) Of course no one here would actively agree with such a dark era in history—and with good reason. And yet every day with silence and a nod of approval, we condone a modern massacre—the hidden holocaust of abortion. Everyone please stand. (Then I’ll tell a few at random to sit down.) According to a statistic from the CDC, it has been estimated that more than one third of our generation has been wiped out by way of abortion. If that statistic were applied to this classroom, (however many) of you shouldn’t be alive. As startling as that statistic is, that figure does not even include the mothers who have died from medical complications or the emotional trauma that abortion entails.

B.     RELEVANCE: I’m going to come at this topic in a way you probably aren’t used to; I will lay aside political agendas and religious overtones and stick to the facts. This topic transcends religion. In fact, 47% of women who have abortions claim Protestantism and 27% identify themselves as Catholic. I have no interest in condemning pro-choice advocates to Hell or waging war against them, just to tell you a few things you may not know.

C.     CREDIBILITY: As somewhat of a feminist, people are often surprised by my unyielding pro-life stance. What they don’t realize is that it’s largely BECAUSE of feminism that I think this way. I’ve done quite a bit of research on both sides before reaching the decision to stand against abortion, especially because some of my loved ones have experienced it. I gleaned a lot of this information from The Alan Guttmacher Institute, a research arm of Planned Parenthood, and the Centers for Disease Control.

D.    THESIS: I have come to the conclusion that abortion is harmful to a woman’s psyche, body, and place in society.

·      TRANSITION: Like speeding on an empty road, people try to justify abortion as a victimless crime. But is it really? What kind of emotional damage does it cause on the parties involved?

II.       NEED STEP

A.     MAIN POINT 1: ABORTION IS POISONOUS TO A WOMAN’S PSYCHE.

1.     According to the American Journal of Public Health, women who choose abortion typically experience higher rates of physical and sexual violence than women who choose to have the child. In a study of almost 1,000 abortion patients from Fall 2007 to Summer 2008, more than 12% reported being physically hurt by someone in the past year, with 10% identifying a current or former partner as the abuser.

a.     This study is a perfect example of how abortion perpetuates a cycle in which women lose the ability to respect themselves.

b.     Like a person who pops diet pills but doesn’t change his or her eating habits or begin to exercise, seeming “easy fixes” like abortion cause a weakening of the muscles used for determination and resolve.

2. According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, 54% of women having abortions used a contraceptive method during the month they became pregnant. Among those women, 76% of pill users and 49% of condom users reported using the methods inconsistently.

a.  This statistic further illustrates the point that responsibility becomes optional.

b.     Potential mothers and fathers continue to be reckless and sloppy because they are surrounded by an enabling society who tells them that the mess is easily swept away.

3. In 2002 Mark Crutcher, of the pro-life group Life Dynamics, ran a study that surveyed over 800 Planned Parenthood clinics and National Abortion Federation affiliates. An actor posing as a 13-year-old girl impregnated by rape called the clinics. In the recorded conversations, the group found that over 90% of the clinics promised to cover up the rape and provide her with an illegal abortion--a plan and procedure unreported to either police or parents.

a.     Although only a very small proportion of procedures are performed for victims of rape or incest, I think we can agree that covering up the problem only aids the detrimental pattern of sexual abuse and the criminals who cause it.

b.     Abortion teaches women to ignore their issues and they’ll just go away.

c.     It is understandable to want to forget such a painful experience, but pretending it never happened is not the solution to the problem and can only cause further emotional crippling.

4.     According to abortionfacts.com, in a study of 500 women who had abortions, researchers found that 50% expressed negative feelings. Up to 10% were found to have developed “serious psychiatric complications.”

5.     30-50% experienced sexual dysfunctions immediately after the procedure ranging from loss of pleasure from intercourse, increased pain, an aversion to sex and/or males in general, or the development of a promiscuous lifestyle.

6.     33% intensely desire another pregnancy to make up for the one they lost. Once they succeed in conception within the first year, they find that the same problems still exist and end up forced into another abortion.

7.     In a survey of 100 women suffering post-abortion trauma, 28% attempted suicide one or more times, 49% admitted drug abuse, and 39% began to use or increased their use of alcohol.

a.     Is abortion then a quick-fix?

b.     Feelings of self-hatred, numbness, guilt, and defensiveness last long after the procedure is over.

B.    MAIN POINT 2: ABORTION ALSO HAS PHYSICAL CONSEQUENCES.

1. According to Czechoslovakia’s Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Bohumil Stipal, “roughly 25% of the women who interrupt their first pregnancy have remained permanently childless.”

2. A survey from the Medical Journal of Australia found that forced dilation for abortion resulted in a weakened cervix unable to carry the weight of a pregnancy. “Cervical incompetence” was found in 75% of women who underwent the abortive dilation.

3. Incomplete abortions, where body parts of the fetus are accidentally left in the uterus, as well as insertion of medical instruments into the womb can cause infections and severe bleeding. In rare cases, these complications can even lead to death.

a. We have to ask ourselves: are these risks worth taking to remove an “inconvenience?”

b. Decisions made now can affect the future ability to have a family and even stay alive. Other types of complications can kill both mother and child in the delivery room years down the road.

c. Better to face the consequences of our actions now then deal with worse problems later on which include more than 100 types of possible complications.

5. I visited an online forum for women who had recently had abortions. Nearly every post related to excessive bleeding following the procedure for which they were prescribed birth control, which only on some occasions actually helped the problem.

6. Alternately, abortion activists might question: “What about when the pregnancy is a risk for the mother?” However, only about 10% of abortions are carried out for legitimate medical reasons. The other 90% put their lives at risk when an array of other choices might prove less harmful to both mind and body.

7. According to the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, abortion can also increase the risk of premature birth in later pregnancies: an issue which can have severely crippling effects on the child such as autism, cerebral palsy, and other serious health risks.

C. MAIN POINT 3: ABORTION CAUSES DAMAGING SOCIETAL TRENDS IN WOMEN.

1. Few people know that Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, corresponded with Hitler. Her master plan for eradicating minority populations in America was to encourage abortion until they no longer produced offspring. To some who ignore her history of racial hatred, however, she is a hero for women’s rights. These days such an agenda doesn’t exist. Does it?

a. According to an article in First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life, approximately 80% of abortion clinics are located in neighborhoods where minorities compose most of the population. This decision is probably more of a business decision than anything else—sexual problems are more prevalent in poverty-stricken areas.

b. And yet the horror lies in the numbers. African American women make up less than 13% of the population, but make up 37% of the women who have abortions in our country.

c. Black women are almost 5 times as likely to have abortions than white women. Hispanic women are almost 3 times as likely.

d. Under the guise of lending a helping hand, a cycle of ethnic and economic oppression is allowed to continue. Rather than educating and informing these women how to avoid unwanted pregnancies (and thus the average $400 cost per abortion according to AGI), we keep clinic business booming with return engagements.

e. A disturbing statistic from AGI states that around 14% of all abortions in the U.S. are paid for with public funds. That means you and me are paying for poverty-stricken women to lose pieces of their sanity, physical well-being, and sense of responsibility.

2.  Another alarming trend lies in the statistics regarding age and marital status.

a. The CDC says that at least 80% of abortions are performed on unmarried women.

b. Women between the ages of 20-24 obtained 33% of all abortions.

c. Another target group is young, unmarried women. In this critical learning and growing period of life, they are being taught that what they do does not matter because every choice has an escape route. This “do whatever you want” sort of attitude is reflected in growing divorce rates and other such societal issues.

3. According to AGI, 14% of all abortions are paid for by public funds. That essentially means that we all become accomplices in repeated injustices to the poor.

a. Poverty-stricken women are another key demographic in the abortionist’ business model.

b. Women who are already at rock-bottom are only further subjected to a self-deprecating, paralyzing cycle of supposed convenience—and they aren’t informed that they can be more than a victim because then those tax-payer dollars won’t be flowing into the clinics anymore.

b. Canada has recently introduced a maternal and child health plan to stop the needless deaths of more than 400,000 women and children a year. Experts around the world are praising this plan. One thing it doesn’t include? Government funding for abortion. So, wait. A plan constructed to ensure women’s health doesn’t encourage abortion? Go figure. Maybe they’ve actually done their research. After drawing fire from many pro-choicers such as Hillary Clinton, the Prime Minister has decided to stand resolutely behind the original plan while encouraging education regarding contraceptive methods and pregnancy prevention.

II.             THE SATISFACTION STEP

A. Educate the masses.

1. Rather than hurling agendas and sales tactics at women, consequences of their decisions should be considered in sex education. Counselors at many abortion clinics, as many undercover studies have shown, are trained to function like used car salesmen. They want to make the sale, so they downplay everything that is wrong with the procedure. Yet instead of ending up with a broken-down ’85 MonteCarlo, you end up with your own version of post-traumatic stress disorder.

2. In this day and age, “abstinence only” methodology is sadly unrealistic. Addressing the how-to of dealing with pregnancy should be something every woman knows about.

a. We discuss what could happen if you “do the dirty,” but we don’t explain the ramifications of every decision afterward.

b. The dangers of abortion should be taught. For that matter, so should what the adoption process entails as well as how difficult it is to raise a child.

c. Every option should be considered—and by considered, I mean given an in-depth exploration of what it means.

                   B. Prevent pregnancy.

1. The best way to avoid abortion and its risks is to avoid unwanted pregnancy.

2. Proper, consistent, and responsible contraceptive use is almost always an effective way to prevent conception of a child. Condoms and birth control are inexpensive and easy to administer.

3. If you’re not willing to take precautions, and you’re not willing to deal with the consequences of your stupidity—then you’re probably not emotionally mature enough to be sexually active.

                   C. Seek alternatives.

                        1. Thousands of couples every year desire to adopt a child.

a. It’s true that giving up one’s own flesh and blood can be devastating, but as many people would tell you, it can be rewarding to know that you gave your child a chance to have a better life.

b. Many abortion advocates try to talk women out of this option. They say it’s too difficult or painful. Is it less painful, I wonder, to endure the hardships that I’ve elaborated on today?

2. I want to say that we should make abortion illegal. I personally believe it should be so. But according to David Quintero, a former hospital worker who saw the devastating effects of back-alley abortions before Roe vs. Wade, making them illegal will only cause further damage to women, especially the poor, as they try to go about it themselves.

3. Therefore, I believe knowledge and an increased sense of responsibility is the cure to this holocaust. We simply cannot, in good conscience, continue to let these women slip through the cracks.

IV. THE VISUALIZATION STEP

Imagine a world where every woman is strong, responsible, and informed—where each one reaches her full potential without self-imposed obstacles and pain. I am not naïve enough to believe that the end of abortion will be the end of all problems, but I do fully believe that if women were educated about the risks and learned from others who have walked through it, we would be taking a step toward that kind of world. We would be facilitating mental and physical health and ending an era of gender and race oppression. Thank you for your time. I hope it helps you.

Works Cited

"Abortion patients report higher violence." The Nation's Health 40.7 (2010): 5.

Academic OneFile. Web. 5 Nov. 2010.

Francis, Babette. "Abortion and pretermbirth." Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons 15.3 (2010): 65. Academic OneFile. Web. 5 Nov. 2010.

Quintero, David. "Choice for all." The Humanist July-Aug. 2010: 2. Academic OneFile. Web. 5 Nov. 2010.

Rose, Lila. "Fighting for life: for four years, twenty-two-year-old pro-life activist Lila Rose has waged war against Planned Parenthood. It's bigger--but she's stronger." First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life 206 (2010): 14+. Academic OneFile. Web. 5 Nov. 2010.

Webster, Paul Christopher. "International experts laud Canadian child and maternal health plan." CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal 182.9 (2010): E399+. Academic OneFile. Web. 5 Nov. 2010.

http://www.abortionfacts.com/reardon/after_effects_of_abortion.asp

http://www.abort73.com (with statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and the Allan Guttmacher Institute, a research arm of Planned Parenthood)

Blog 3: Things I Won't Miss About College, A List.

Blog 3: Things I Won’t Miss About College, A List.

5: Parking. Given, in a community college this isn’t as big of an issue as students at UT might encounter. Even so, at times, it was more than a hassle to find a proper place to park. And apparently, a somewhat risky venture altogether—a fact I discovered last semester when returning from lunch with friends. We saw dark smoke billowing from the direction of the school. “The school’s on fire!” my friend joked. “It’s probably just something the culinary class is doing,” I conjectured. Turned out, a pickup truck had exploded and burst into high, wild flames. Before the fire department arrived to stop the conflagration, several surrounding cars were damaged to the point that they had to be towed away.  There was broken glass and other debris everywhere. It was great news for me as Editor-in-Chief of The Pellissippi Press at the time (literally, great news), but not so fantastic for other members of the student population, I’ll wager. I was fairly wary of the campus parking lots from that point on, I’ll admit.

4: Freezing/Sweating profusely between every class…or IN every class. Whether it was a problem with thermostatic control that made classrooms stifling hot/icebox cold, or having to walk from building to building through rain, snow, sleet, hail, or blistering sun—it was rarely (if ever) a reasonable temperature.

3: Narrow stairways. There’s nothing worse than rushing up the stairs to class first thing in the morning and having to wedge yourself and your giant book bag into a tiny corner on the landing to avoid being crushed by a big fat guy wobbling slowly down. Of course, hurrying up 3 flights of stairs with at least 20 pounds of books is not very fun in and of itself.

2: Apathy. Now I will admit I wasn’t always the model student. Nor was I passionate about every class. And yet, the rampant lack of concern regarding every aspect of education and life flooded the halls with so languorous a presence that I’m not sure how we all stayed awake. It seemed oppressive enough to lull us into an enchanted sleep like that of Sleeping Beauty’s kingdom after she pricked her finger on the spindle. It’s my excuse for the (obviously infrequent) nappi—I mean, eye-resting I did in my semesters at Pellissippi State. The disinterested even filtered through some of the professors into students already embalmed as part of the “whatever” generation—a group that goes with the flow to a damnable extent. It was rare that an engaging discussion occurred in most classes.

1: Ignorance. You’d think that once people have moved to forms of higher education, they would have at least a little knowledge under their belts. And yet I was often shocked at the complete (excuse this term) willful retardation of so many of my peers. I recall being particularly struck by this while peer editing for an English Composition class. I am, at heart, an editing fanatic. I am not terribly critical as some artists are, but I give good instruction and take note of errors. I was reviewing a girl’s essay and found that not only were the paragraphs short, punctuation awkward, and formatting amiss, but the paper illustrated a complete

lack of organization. Rather than following the classic format of a formal essay; which includes a strong introduction with a thesis statement, followed immediately by three body paragraphs (each devoted solely to one of the three thesis points), and then a conclusion that restates the thesis and makes a compelling general point to close; this girl decided to implement her own method, guided by the philosophy (and I quote) “There is creativity in writing”—a phrase which here means “Any sense of either grammar or coherence is optional.” (And yes, I realize—if you have not—that sentence was both wordy and probably ill-punctuated, which is ironic. But it had to be done for ranting’s sake.) I wasn’t even sure what her main idea was, honestly. As kindly as I could, I corrected about 60% of the spelling/comma errors before giving up and writing: “I see that you may have some very good points here, but you might stick to traditional form so that they become more clear. Keep supporting arguments with the claims they support.” The girl became outraged. Clearly, I had it out for her. I mean, my words had been so scathingly cruel! She wrote a note on the editing form saying: “I can muck up all the rules of English if I want, you wapplegowzer! I is way smarter than you is could ever condescend to be. So if you don’t be liking my papers don’t be reading it.” Of course…I may have paraphrased a little just now. Another instance in which a fellow student graded my paper afforded me the opportunity to receive some stellar advice. “Don’t use such big words. I’m not really sure what you were trying to say.” Oh, I’m sorry, little buddy. I thought we were taking a college-level English course. No? This is elementary school? Hm. Must’ve gotten my wires crossed.  

…I’m not bitter about all that money I spent on “higher education” at all…haha.

Blog 2: A Cinematic Review

Some old movies are completely underrated. One of my favorites, for example, is one that most people haven’t even heard of—and yet it has got such novelty about it. It’s called The Women and it has an all-female cast. It’s a black and white film from 1939. Well, first of all I’ll just go ahead and post the synopsis from the back cover:

“BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY IN PRIVATE. It could become a movie. Some gossip overheard by Clare Boothe Luce in a nightclub powder room inspired her Broadway hit that’s wittily adapted for the screen in The Women.

George Cukor directs an all-female cast in this catty tale of battling and bonding that paints its claws “Jungle Red” and shreds the excesses of pampered Park Avenue princesses. Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell, Joan Fontaine, Mary Boland, and Paulette Goddard are among the array of husband snatchers, snitches, and lovelorn ladies. Norma Shearer is jilted Mary Haines, who ultimately learns to claw without ruining her manicure. All the glamming and slamming comes with a shimmery bauble: a fashion-show sequence in eye-popping Technicolor.”

Despite some typical 30s phrasing, it absolutely translates to today. And honestly I think the language adds to it. Apparently a female employee in a department store was known as a beasle. I don’t know why I love the sound of it so much. The movie seems somewhat dramatic, I’m sure. I suppose the storyline itself is, but the dialogue is hilarious. It perfectly captures the gossiping, backstabbing nature of so many friendships between women. These actresses played the original “mean girls.” And the humor is subtle because it mostly exists in their attitudes contradicting their words. Every critical statement about a “friend” is followed by “Oh, but I just adore her!” I love it. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard exactly the same type of thing—too many to count.

Then it also parodies men and marriage just as well. It’s cynical in a fun way. At one point, the crotchety old housekeeper says regarding men: “You can’t trust ‘em as far as I can kick this lemon pie!” I just like that it pokes fun at both sexes and their most common faults equally. Then the Countess, probably the most laughable character (and the one who racks up the most divorces), criticizes the vow “’til death do us part” by saying: “Well, I think it’s just cruel sitting around waiting for someone to die!” The most glorious aspect of the film is that there’s a happy ending that includes equal parts reconciliation and revenge—without the noblest characters becoming petty. It teaches a lesson that love, forgiveness, and gentility always trump having one’s pride to cling to—not a theme in most relationships these days.

Last quote, I swear. The rustic old whiskey-drinking housekeeper at the place in Reno (where women went for quickie divorces) talks about her husband beating her. Someone comments how terrible that is and she says “Tell me about it, when there are so many women on this ranch deserve a beatin’  much more than me!” Her laidback disdain for the spoiled rich ladies is more than a little amusing. And she’s so pragmatic. Haha.

Besides the content, you’ve got to love the actresses. They’re all—well most of them are—completely beautiful, but for the most part normal. No sunken-in cheeks or giant fake…lips…and other parts.  You could be a Hollywood starlet back in the day without unnecessary major reconstructive surgery. I won’t dwell on that topic for too long. It’s overdone. Just saying.

I hate to say it but the only thing I don’t like about this movie is the little daughter. She’s a terrible little actress. Talks like she’s sucking on a cough drop. And she looks like a boy. I know that sounds just awful. But I absolutely adore the little dear! Haha.

Anyway, if I were saying all this aloud I’m sure I’d have talked your ear off. Maybe I’ve made you read until your eyes slid right off your face!

Anyway, I’m going to recommend you see this movie. But don’t you DARE watch the horrid remake that was recently released in which Meg Ryan looks like a patchwork quilt with her face all stuffed with paraffin and botulism toxins. It’s absolutely terrible and doesn’t even half compare with the original for humor or artisticness. And yes, I realize artisticness is not a word. Check it out. If you have any knowledge of good cinema (or people), you’ll dig it. I guarantee.

Chapter One: Beginnings

In the beginning—no, that’s already taken. Once upon a time—nope, overused. Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away—crap. It looks like all the best lines have been taken and run into the ground. So how about I keep it simple: this is the first official blog in a series that I will call “Observations of an Acorn.” It’s a little cheesy, maybe, but I’m calling it that because of the old saying “Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.” So just so we're clear, it has nothing to do with any corrupt liberal organizations. haha. See, I just got my Associate’s Degree in Journalism. And rather than jump right into to further higher education and $30,000 worth of student loan debt, I decided to get into the world and see what I can find. I want to get my band going, audition for roles at local playhouses, create things—all difficult to accomplish with a time-consuming school schedule. Also, don’t get me wrong—education is a vital and useful part of our society—but if I had to sit through more hour-long lectures of the most boring and uninformative kind for two additional years without a break, I might have absolutely lost my mind.

So right now I’ve just got a temp job and some freelance work with a recording studio. I’m living on college kid wages—which I’ve learned (via my loving family) is only forgivable and endearing when you’re actually enrolled in college. Ridiculous, huh? I don’t even know where to start looking for a career versus a peon job to fill the scattered hours not spent in class. Recently, I spoke about my plans (or lack thereof) with a married couple that helps out with our church’s college group. They suggested I start a blog to sculpt my writing skills and have something interesting to put on my resume. The more readers I get, the more impressive it will become. Of course, I thought it was a brilliant and fun idea; in Myspace’s heyday, I had over a hundred readers to my little blog. Now that I’ve grown up a bit (at least chronologically), I would love to have some crazy project to write about—maybe even the chance to keep a travel diary. As it stands, however, I am not going to commit to the Julie and Julia method (although I may be bold enough to write about the interesting concoctions one can make on a small budget). And realistically, nobody wants to hear about my love-hate relationship with the P90X Lean regimen, which is the only thing I really have scheduled every day. There’s only so much that can be said about such things. Being too poor to travel, I cannot offer insights into the Orient or safaris into the savannah. So there go those options.

I have a wide range of interests. I have special knowledge in a few things. But overall, I must humble myself and admit that I am not an expert on anything to the extent that I could successfully blog about it. My whole premise for this project is that I have a lot to learn. So I’m going to just observe the world around me, chronicle my attempts to grow up, and offer you a view of things through Haylee-colored glasses. Such a view honestly varies from hues of somber blue to flashes of sunny yellow, but rarely, if ever, a shade of grey. And we’ll see what happens. Maybe in the process I will figure everything out (though I rather doubt it), but all in all I hope to offer you some amusement or inspiration. Occasionally, there are methods to my madness that might just spark some creativity in you. I’ve seen it happen. I’m just a lowly acorn, but even I have something to offer!