"Its A Moral Issue"

Wow, it's been almost a year since I last posted here...

At this very moment, I'm listening to the 3rd and final presidential debate between Obama and McCain. Fortunately, it's almost over.

FINALLY they addressed the issues I've been waiting 2 debates for - abortion and appointments to the Supreme Court. On the topic of abortion, Obama said, and I quote,

'It's a moral issue'.

he then proceeded to say that the issue was best determined by the women involved, and that they should consult their families, medical and religious advisors

Huh?

Can a moral issue be best determined by individual interpretation?

I do believe in a very limited extent of moral relativism, though I would classify these exceptions as "systems of ethics" as opposed to moral issues. In example, if a friend of mine is a vegetarian because of 'moral issues' then I won't consider them 'immoral' because I like a good steak. Likewise, I don't consider myself immoral because as far as I'm concerned, there is no moral reason for me not to eat meat.

Dictionary.com defines 'ethics' as "moral principles, as of an individual:"

But what of abortion?
I can't believe I'm saying this, but Barack Obama is absolutely right. I don't think he knows it though. Abortion is a moral issue.

"Morality: The quality of being in accord with standards of right or good conduct." Dictionary.com

So is the taking of innocent human life an individual standard or a universal standard? I think except in extreme cases, we can agree that it's a universally accepted standard that life has intrinsic value and we have no right to take it unjustly. We regard life so highly, in fact, that suicide is still punishable in some circumstances.

So why the debate?

What we need to understand is that the debate isn't about whether it is ok or not ok to kill babies. I don't think anyone could argue that killing a child is justifiable. The debate is whether or not the fetus, is in fact, a life. If everyone realized that the unborn was a living human being, then abortion would become a non issue. Compare it to slavery back in the Civil War era. The debate wasn't whether or not it's OK to treat human beings as personal property, the debate was whether or not a black man was the same level of 'human' as the white. Once it was became socially established that race does not determine humanity, the idea of slavery and bigotry became unthinkable (as it should be).

This is why one of Obama's following statements disturbed me...

"No one is pro abortion...abortion is always a tragic situation."

Why? If the fetus was in fact a clump of unliving cells, then it couldn't possibly be that tragic. Many who argue in favor of abortion compare the fetus to a tumor that needs to be removed. There must be some reason Obama would consider abortion a tragedy, and only one answer makes sense to me...

It's the taking of a life.

Less than 3% of abortions performed are to save the life of the mother, the vast remaining majority is simply for convenience.

If Obama or anyone else believes that abortion is a moral issue, then no one could possibly have tolerance for its continuance at the current rate it's at today.

It's about time we make abortion history.

A penny for your thoughts.

The Unfair Doctrine

Dear Democrats in Congress,

Hi. My name's Holly, but my friends call me Hol.

I've heard about you're latest idea, whats-it-called- the Fairness Doctrine? Yeah. That one. The one that would supposedly make everything fair by forcing Christian and conservative radio stations to air an equal amount of liberal shows if they cover anything the government calls 'controversial' like Jay Sekulow and other conservative activist shows. This is because conservative talk shows are a lot more popular than liberal ones. And you're also going to make it so the networks who host and people who currently fund nonprofit conservative and Christian radio will also be funding the liberal shows. Everyone has the right to get an equal amount of both sides even if they don't want to, right?

Hey! I think it's a great idea! In fact, let's go even further!

While schools are teaching evolution in their science classes, we should also give creationism an equal time! Likewise, in schools where the Koran is taught, the Bible should also be.

For every Planned Parenthood clinic, there should also be a Free-to-Be clinic. And since Planned Parenthood is funded by our taxpayer dollars, government should also pay for and endorse Free-to-Be in the same way.

Since the ACLU is so controversial, and have more influence than any other politically active organization, then we need to make sure the ACLJ gets an equal opportunity.

For every sexual education class that our kids are forced to attend at school, they should also be required to take a class on abstinence.

For every time we have to hear about Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama's latest achievement in our media, we should also hear what Alan Keyes and Mike Huckabee are doing.

Oh..And every time you silence a Christian for speaking his faith in public, you should silence an atheist for doing the same.

I mean, think of how much more fair the fairness doctrine will be if you include all that!

Thanks! And good luck!

~Holly

P.S. What do you mean my ideas aren't good?


The Fairness Doctrine has got to be one of the biggest infringements on our freedom in the recent day and age. Liberals are again trying to challenge and ultimately quelch the conservative voices in public broadcasting. Why? Because people are actually listening to them.

This isn't fairness. This is government regulated speech. And it is for the purpose of silencing conservative and Christian voices on the radio.

" Bill Ruder, Assistant
Secretary of Commerce in the Kennedy administration, acknowledged that "Our
massive strategy [in the early 1960s] was to use the Fairness Doctrine to
challenge and harass right-wing broadcasters and hope that the challenges would
be so costly to them that they would be inhibited and decide it was too
expensive to continue." [6] "

If you are of voting age, or know someone who is, please click the link below and sign this petition

https://www.aclj.org/Petition/Default.aspx?sc=3293&ac=1

If We'll Never Forget, Why Don't We Remember?

Six years ago today the world stood still as the most powerful nation in the world was brought to its knees by four airplanes and several evil men. Few will forget that horrible day. Even those who perhaps were too young to fully take in the significance of 9/11, they were aware that they had witness something happen. Something terrible.

But there's more to the story...

Immediately after the attacks, people frantically looked for something secure to hold on to. Bible sales skyrocketed, churches were full, and people could be seen praying together in rallies. Groups of high standing political figures sang "God bless America" on national television.
Before the attacks, we stood with pride. After, we knelt in humility. Not even the ACLU could contest, reject or deny the return of this nation to God.

I've noticed on this particular anniversary a theme of asking the question "Have you forgotten 9/11?"

No one who was alive six years ago will ever forget the replays on TV of the planes crashing into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Nobody will forget the horrified expressions of those people standing in the streets of New York, covered in debris and dust as they witnessed a tragedy unfold before their very eyes.

But we forgot the second half of the story alarmingly fast. The only lasting affect on general American life was heightened security at airports. It didn't take long for America to slip back into its previous state of apostasy, replacing the prayers of our national leaders with the foul language and obscenities of the pop culture. Back to giving us daily reminders about the seperation of church and state when we dare mention Christ's name. Back to the Supreme Court considering Newdow's case to remove "Under God" from the pledge of allegiance.

"We are powerful. We are self sufficient. We are America. And America doesn't need God."

Lord have mercy.

If America claims to not have forgotten September 11, 2001, how could we possibly have
forgotten the devastating results of being out from under God? Why is it so hard for people to realize that this nation's security relies not in more staff at our airports but more prayers of its people?

I pray it doesn't take another September 11 to remind us.

A penny for your thoughts

Going Up To The Mountains...

(A certain, very dear friend, (whom I love very much..enough to go on Monsoon falls with her a second time even though I was already wet and the line looked kind of long ;-) ) has been nagging me to post here again...

Ok here goes)

::deep breath::

"I went up to the mountain
Because You asked me to..."

Have any of you ever seen "Ella Enchanted"? I saw it once a long time ago, and thought it was rather silly...but I can identify with Anne Hathaway's character a heck of a lot...

"Up over the clouds,
To where the sky is blue"

Right now, I'm outside my comfort box. I think I know the reason I keep getting into these kinds of predicaments. I can't say no. It's like I was hardwired to only agree to people's "suggestions".

"I can see all around me, everywhere
I can see all around me, everywhere"

I will always do a favor for you. If there's any way I can help you with anything, I will do it gladly as long as it's not in violation of my ethics.

"Sometimes I feel like, I've never been nothin' but tired

If you tell me to do something completely out of my comfort box, unfortunately for me, I'll still probably do it for you. I may not have the best attitude about it though...Most people call it 'flexibility'. I call it the "I really love you and don't want to let you down, so I'll do it just for you...but it better not go badly or you're in for it!!" syndrome

That's why I'm here...

"And I'll be working 'til the day I expire..."


I was asked right after coming home from my wonderful week in Stockton (see Claire's invader stories for stories and pictures from that week) to debate against someone else for the Training Minds Ministries demo LD DVD which is to be filmed at the Colorado camp I'm attending. This was kind of flattering. But the majority of my feelings were

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!! WHY MUST PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MY INABILITY TO REFUSE?!

"See sometimes I just lay down,
Lord no more can I do"


Mind, this was just a week after someone suggested I debate policy at SCU because of an uneven number of debaters at that conference. I wasn't even at this conference, so I got about 4 days notice. Being me, I agreed, despite the fact I really didn't want to.

You should have seen how fast I was creating immigration briefs...(I was happy, however, when I learned that they did not need me, and instead I got to judge! But I digress..)

But looking back on all those times I said yes I've realized something. It's not that I've been cursed with some sort of enchantment that you'd find in a kind of corny chick flick...But I'm currently in training to be used in the future by God for whatever plans He has for me. I could spend hours telling you about all of the people who God had to draw out of their comfort zones in order to make them leaders or heros, but I have a lot of college homework to get back to when I'm through with this post...so I'll let you look them up yourself ;-)

"But then I go on again,
Because you ask me to."

Would God be able to use anyone for great things if they always stayed inside their comfort zones? I know I certainly couldn't. My greatest fear being inadequacy, I lack the courage to do anything that I think I might fail in. So God's been using opportunities like this to teach me to come out of my caves and let Him lead me to wherever I need to go. I'm so grateful that despite my own feelings of inadequacy, God chooses me to do these freaky things!

"Some days I look down, afraid I will fall
And though the sun shines, I see nothing at all"

And you know what? Every single place I've said "yes" to has come with it's own set of blessings. When God brings me to something, He doesn't drop me off, tip His hat, and wait for me on the other side. He walks me through it. When I come to that loose board in the bridge or the edge of a cliff, He grabs on to me. When I grow tired or faint He carries me. And when I make it to the other side, He rejoices with me.

"But I hear your sweet voice, ooh,
Comin' and going, comin' and going.

Lord telling me softly,
You love me so."

I leave tomorrow. Prayers would be appreciated :)

~*Hol

And The Irrationality Award Goes To...

Yes, I know there are more important things I could be posting on, but I just thought this was so sickening I ought to complain about it.

Honestly, we live in a frighteningly lawsuit-happy era. It's gotten so bad as to the point that members of the justice system are also diving in for a taste of litigating.

Judge sues dry cleaner for $54 mn for misplacing pants
Washington, June. 14 (PTI): An American judge has sued a dry cleaner for 54 million dollars for having misplaced an expensive pair of pants he planned to wear in his first week in a new job.

Administrative law judge Roy L Pearson initially filed a lawsuit seeking 67.3 million dollars from Custom Cleaners, a dry cleaning firm here owned by Korean immigrants, for allegedly trying to pass off a cheaper pair of pants as his in 2005.

Pearson later reduced his demand to 54 million dollars, saying the figure includes fines, punitive damages for fraudulent advertising and other costs, such as renting a car to drive to another dry cleaner.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/003200706141650.htm

Some example of justice, Mr. Pearson. Oh, and how was that first week on the job? Did you get fired for showing up at work with the wrong pair of pants?

He asked the court to award him millions upon millions of dollars to cover not only the cost of replacing the trousers, but the emotional strain of losing them.

http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20070620/NEWS/706200303/-1/COMMUNITIES

But don't you understand? Those pants were his best friend! I mean, he wouldn't go anywhere without them! To have them snatched away heartlessly and replaced with imposter pants must have been absolutely traumatizing.

This is so ridiculous. I'm a little perturbed that this case even made it to court and wasn't immediately discarded as frivolous. What is happening to our justice system? Do they honestly think he has a chance? I hope not. This guy has no chance of winning if they get a jury with at least half the necessary common sense for basic survival. The only thing he's going to gain from this is a lot of animosity and public ridicule.

Perhaps someone will TP his house.

The Question
Where on earth did he come up with the figure of 67.3 million?

A pair of pants: $30

Renting a car to drive from one laundromat to another...which seems completely ludicrous since the guy could've taken a bus or driven his own car: $15 per day(assuming it took one day to drive to one laundromat to another...)

Average Fraudulent Advertising Fine (according to U.S. federal sentencing guidelines): $420,000

Emotional Trauma for Losing Pair of pants: $.01

So if we accept my figures (All of which were generous figures) There is a discrepency of $66,879,954 and 99 cents.

One only hopes that our judicial system has not stooped so low as to permit this guy to get a penny from those people.

If the South Korean couple sue this guy's pants off (again) in a counter claim and make him look even more idiotic than he already does: Priceless.

$67.3 million for your thoughts...

~*Hol

Movie Review: Disney is "Arrr"med and Dangerous.

And seriously needs to stop making Pirates movies.

I remember going to the theaters to see Pirates of the Caribbean 1, "Curse of the Black Pearl" when I was 12 years old. I distinctly remember walking out of the theater and feeling like going on a grand pirate adventure (Stop laughing, I was 12). It was an exciting movie with the perfect touch of Disney charm that would make anyone want to be a pirate too, especially an imaginative 12 year old.

Last night I walked out of the theater after seeing Pirates of the Caribbean 3 "At World's End" with a sour taste in my mouth. It was more violent than 2, the plot was immensely confusing and some parts were just plain weird. There were also about 25 subplots...per character...(ok, I'm exaggerating, but not by much.) and the storyline(s) were either obscure, weak, or just stupid.

The really disappointing part, was that it really wouldn't have taken much to make it a great movie. It was incredibly funny and I was laughing my head off in the theater. The action and fight sequences were amazing and exciting. And as always, the musical score just got better. (Which is why I couldn't resist adding a piece to this page...Kudos Mr. Zimmer =D).

But because of a few awkwardly weird moments, a lot of insinuated violence, and too many repeat-jokes, it was light years away from the charming and witty original that made so many fans of the series.

It was also clear to me that the director of this movie isn't really taking this thing seriously. The last two movies have almost become just spoofs of the first, constantly making jokes about it and referencing it every other line.

Inbetween those lines, someone is getting killed in some creative or tragic way.

By number 2, the movie had already lost it's charm and become more incessant cruelty, fast action scenes and 'inside jokes' from the first movie. The third was just that times 10. Though still funny and exciting, it had completely lost it's original magic.

The Question
Why substitute quality for added violence and goofiness? The first one had a simple, straight, but good storyline. The characters were charming, and they created the villains in a way were you could laugh at the blumbering Norrington and still find a soft spot for the evil, but very witty, Captain Barbossa.

In 2 and 3, the villains are so cruel you want to jump in the movie and kill them yourself. In 3, the primary villain is the British Lord Beckett, who despite being a high standing British official, is more evil than any of the pirates in the movie (and trust me...there are LOTS of pirates in this movie.) A majority of the violence in Pirates 3 was completely unnecessary. Fortunately, the violence wasn't too graphic, but it gets closer and closer every movie to receiving an "R" rating. There was just way too much insinuation and unneeded death and gruesomeness.
C'mon Mr. Verbinski, this is based on a kid's ride at Disneyland, not a horror novel!

So that scream you may have heard this morning was when I read an article that they're looking to make Pirates 4. I fear it's just going to be more inside jokes, more unresolved plots, less Disney charm, and of course, more violence. Yes, everyone loves Captain Jack Sparrow, but honestly, if you can't get enough of him then just go watch the other three a billion times instead of making the rest of us suffer through another lame storyline that puts the gore over the top. We love the action and humor, but it just won't be worth it at the rate these movies are going.

I just wish the caliber of good movies wasn't based on how much a director can get away with, but how much value the audience can get out of it.


At least the music's still great.

~*Hol

Edit:: If any of you have seen the movie yet I would like to hear your take on it too.

I Had A Dream...

Thanks for ruining it.

Pro-Gay King Daughter Dies
'...The National Black Justice Coalition said in a release, "Yolanda's transition is a reminder of how short life on earth can be and should also serve as a catalyst
for the continued push for civil rights for all people including gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender individuals...'

*wump*

...

*wump*

...


*wump*


Now that I've banged my head against my desk in frustration, I can continue.

"She is survived by her brothers, Dexter and Martin
III, and a sister, the Reverend Bernice King, a fundamentalist minister and anti-gay activist." (bold added)

There is absolutely nothing that should indicate the King family supported the homosexual agenda. In fact, evidence proves contrary. What a dishonor to them to use their great influence as a catalyst to promote something they stand against.

What bothered me the most about this article was the headline. It's a pro-homosexual agenda news source, so for them to try to correlate Dr. King's dream of equality of races with gay rights does not surprise me. To make the statement that he was "pro-gay" was completely, as my dear mother would say, out to lunch. They don't even support the claim that he was 'pro-gay' anywhere in the article. Yolanda King and her family were advocates of peace and nonviolence, not activists for gay rights. To use this woman's legacy to promote an agenda she never supported is abhorrent. The pro-gay media has really crossed the line.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070516/ap_on_re_us/obit_king;_ylt=AkiDvXEGk8gXJ4SMsjIt63qs0NUE

"...She didn't want to be a child of the [Civil Rights] movement, she wanted to be what God wanted her to be..."

And may she rest in peace for it.

~*Hol