(P) I got a little caught up in the Missouri vote last year regarding stem cell research, which you may have noticed if you've perused my archives or visit regularly. Among other things, I became acquainted with the Vitae Foundation, and wrote this post in particular about an ad that I found most distasteful.
Well, Vitae is back! They are running an anti abortion ad with the tagline think about it. This time, unlike the tasteless anti stem cell ad, you can see the ad on their website. Like the stem cell ad, they're running it during a major sporting event (opening day for the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals).
It is quite interesting. It is in a classroom, with a black teacher asking a class of all black students what they want to be when they grow up. You see a child want to play professional basketball and fade away (a boy of course) and another child want to be an actress (a girl this time) and similarly fade away. The teacher/narrator explains that abortion has killed more of us than anything else.
Wow.
Not only is it offensive for what the backers of the Vitae Foundation support regarding public policy, opposing things that would actually help black children in this country like Headstart, universal daycare, more spending on public schools, universal healthcare (in particular better prenatal and neonatal care), improved mass transit, better access to family planning and contraceptives, ending the drug war, and so forth, but more topically to the focus of the ad, it raises a number of interesting areas of discussion which conservatives usually assail liberals for raising.
Basically, the ad suggests we should look to the effects of aborting fetuses. That is perhaps the strongest argument in support of keeping abortion legal, something that pro-choice people supposedly unfairly include in the argument. It's important to note that the ad doesn't say anything about the beginning of life or a soul being created or anything like that; only the future potential of what these fetuses could become is what's suggested. This is very important for the moral position they are staking out, as I'll get to later. Now that the cat is out of the bag from such an interestingly supported organization (among other people, the Iran-contra traitor Oliver North is offered on the website as one of many VIPs supporting the organization), let's delve into the consequences. The first place to start, perhaps, is the rather interesting correlation between the Roe v Wade decision in the 1970s and the dramatic drop in crime a generation later in the 1990s.
But that's just the beginning. We know from all over the world that as countries get richer, family size decreases. Across cultures, families recognize the value of planning for and limiting the number of their offspring. If you want to reduce the number of abortions among blacks, you should support a variety of policy options that make black communities better off, healthier, and improve access to sex education, condoms, birth control, and so forth. Vitae seems to want blacks to take responsibility for abortions while being in league with the very political thought that makes policies which impoverish and imprison and disenfranchise blacks all over the country, not to mention people who push for ridiculous programs like abstinence only education.
Perhaps most intriguingly for me, this touches on one of the major big picture moral problems we face, the massive explosion of the sheer number of people on the planet. To vastly summarize, basically there are enormous environmental, poverty, and destabilization issues related to the unprecedented increase in the global population. This is one of those moral positions where there is absolutely no middle ground with the way Vitae has staked out their position. Either it is ok to limit potential humans, or it is not. As they suggest, think about it. Every time a woman of child bearing age passes an unfertilized egg (or a fertilized one, called a miscarriage), a future potential human is destroyed, wasted, squandered, murdered, whatever word you want to use for the death of that egg, a living cell with the potential to create a new human being. Now, I don't think that China's approach to solving the very serious problem of overpopulation is the way to go. But not because it acknowledges a role for abortion, but rather because it forces the choice upon families. Rather, families should make those choices. But, it is important that China at least recognizes the issue and is doing something. I am curious what Vitae's solution for China would be. Is their ideal to have billions more people crowd into the massive cities on China's east coast? Or would they suggest to the Chinese to just stop having sex?
This was a fabulous way to cap a wonderful birthday week. Yay for excitement.
Now we just need the Cards to score a few more runs. Oh, and have you checked the standings? The Royals are tied for first right now. And they're on ESPN tomorrow!
While I'm at work.
4/01/2007
3/24/2007
revolution
(P) One of Jefferson's more famous letters has a line about God forbid we go 20 years without rebellion. That's about how much memory I have as I approach birthday number 25, and I am wondering if we're overdue. Or, perhaps, if it's already happened?
Hatred and fear and authoritarianism and greed have arrested such incredible dominance over our country that I wonder if we've already seen the apex and are now watching the collapse of movement conservatism. The battle for ideas is clearly lost to them. The thing is, they keep winning the outcomes, from disenfranchising millions of Americans to unfathomable wealth consolidation to controlling what most of the major media outlets consider appropriate topics of conversation. Is that disconnect a sign of revolution underway, or a call for revolution? Are the lengths to which the ends justify the means an inherent strength, or a sign of hollowed out weakness? John Edwards commented last month that "...we have reached this point in our history where we have to leave behind half measures, broken promises, sweet rhetoric...".
That's certainly revolutionary for leadership in Washington. But is Washington (and other power centers) so removed from what Americans want that to actually have a government representing us is a radical change? But maybe that's exactly the kind of rebellion Jefferson would have in mind, one whose very strength is the disgust of the people with the excesses of their leaders. We need radical change precisely because the current leadership is so entrenched and so poorly represents the people they govern, not because we need a fundamental change in the people being governed.
I remain quite optimistic and am excited that we seem to have reached a point in the last year or two where truth seems to be overwhelming the fingers in the dam holding back all the ugliness and lies and inconsistencies. Perhaps the most radical change we need is to simply stop accepting the misgoverning of our country, to be that which we want to see happen. The next 25 years could be very different.
But they won't just because we want them to be different. We actually have to stand up and say no, offering our own vision for the future.
I'm not entirely sure how to do that.
Hatred and fear and authoritarianism and greed have arrested such incredible dominance over our country that I wonder if we've already seen the apex and are now watching the collapse of movement conservatism. The battle for ideas is clearly lost to them. The thing is, they keep winning the outcomes, from disenfranchising millions of Americans to unfathomable wealth consolidation to controlling what most of the major media outlets consider appropriate topics of conversation. Is that disconnect a sign of revolution underway, or a call for revolution? Are the lengths to which the ends justify the means an inherent strength, or a sign of hollowed out weakness? John Edwards commented last month that "...we have reached this point in our history where we have to leave behind half measures, broken promises, sweet rhetoric...".
That's certainly revolutionary for leadership in Washington. But is Washington (and other power centers) so removed from what Americans want that to actually have a government representing us is a radical change? But maybe that's exactly the kind of rebellion Jefferson would have in mind, one whose very strength is the disgust of the people with the excesses of their leaders. We need radical change precisely because the current leadership is so entrenched and so poorly represents the people they govern, not because we need a fundamental change in the people being governed.
I remain quite optimistic and am excited that we seem to have reached a point in the last year or two where truth seems to be overwhelming the fingers in the dam holding back all the ugliness and lies and inconsistencies. Perhaps the most radical change we need is to simply stop accepting the misgoverning of our country, to be that which we want to see happen. The next 25 years could be very different.
But they won't just because we want them to be different. We actually have to stand up and say no, offering our own vision for the future.
I'm not entirely sure how to do that.
must brag quickly
I haven't followed college basketball very closely this year, but I seem to have accidentally stumbled across a good standing. Seriously, check out where my ESPN pool stands, for a brief moment, at least. (There are millions of entries, by the way).
must read
Someone from my work who likes to send joke emails around forwarded this little gem to me this week. It made my whole weekend. Approach with an appropriate level of humor at the ready.
********
School answering machine:
A School District is being sued for this message left on the answering machine. A group of rouge teachers from each school coordinated their efforts to put it on their school's machines on a Friday afternoon.
- no wonder some people were offended!
Here's the outgoing message when parents call the school......
Hello! You have reached the automated answering service of your school. In order to assist you in connecting to the right staff memeber, please listen to all the options before making a selection:
......to lie about why your child is absent - press 1
......to make excuses for why your child did not do his work - press 2
......to complain about what we do - press 3
......to swear at staff members - press 4
......to ask why you didn't get information that was already enclosed in your newsletter and several flyers mailed to you - press 5
......if you want us to raise your child - press 6
......if you want to reach out and touch, slap or hit your child - press 7
......to request another teacher, for the third time this year - press 8
......to complain about bus transportation - press 9
......to complain about school lunches - press 0
......if you realize this is the real world and your child must be accountable and responsible for his/her own behavior, class work, homework and that it's not the teachers' fault for your child's lack of effort - hang up and have a nice day!
......if you want this in spanish, you must be in the wrong country.
Thank You!
********
School answering machine:
A School District is being sued for this message left on the answering machine. A group of rouge teachers from each school coordinated their efforts to put it on their school's machines on a Friday afternoon.
- no wonder some people were offended!
Here's the outgoing message when parents call the school......
Hello! You have reached the automated answering service of your school. In order to assist you in connecting to the right staff memeber, please listen to all the options before making a selection:
......to lie about why your child is absent - press 1
......to make excuses for why your child did not do his work - press 2
......to complain about what we do - press 3
......to swear at staff members - press 4
......to ask why you didn't get information that was already enclosed in your newsletter and several flyers mailed to you - press 5
......if you want us to raise your child - press 6
......if you want to reach out and touch, slap or hit your child - press 7
......to request another teacher, for the third time this year - press 8
......to complain about bus transportation - press 9
......to complain about school lunches - press 0
......if you realize this is the real world and your child must be accountable and responsible for his/her own behavior, class work, homework and that it's not the teachers' fault for your child's lack of effort - hang up and have a nice day!
......if you want this in spanish, you must be in the wrong country.
Thank You!
3/19/2007
what would you do
(P) I've been thinking about this for a while, but the thoughts tend to be more angry than thoughtful. So lacking what I feel an appropriate post as we mark another year, I am left with a question.
What would you do with four years and a trillion dollars?
I must say too it is fabulous timing that the next DVD on Jodi's Blockbuster queue was a documentary about the Dixie Chicks. Bravo karma.
What would you do with four years and a trillion dollars?
I must say too it is fabulous timing that the next DVD on Jodi's Blockbuster queue was a documentary about the Dixie Chicks. Bravo karma.
3/12/2007
clean sweep
While not quite the miraculous finish of a Liberty sweep, basketball turned out pretty well this weekend. The Liberty girls took first while Julie's school, McCluer North, took the boys title. Even got her German and math teacher parents watching the local news at the cabin late to catch the scores!
Yes, I said the cabin. Apparently her parents have this fabulous place south of Warrenton. Cabin doesn't do it justice, though. It's really a two bedroom house nestled in a hilly area which is a development of a couple hundred such structures on a couple woody acres each. Yay stars. These and these.
Yes, I said the cabin. Apparently her parents have this fabulous place south of Warrenton. Cabin doesn't do it justice, though. It's really a two bedroom house nestled in a hilly area which is a development of a couple hundred such structures on a couple woody acres each. Yay stars. These and these.
3/10/2007
stop the clash
(P) I have had some interesting discussions recently about Islam and relations between the US and Middle Eastern countries and differences between public opinion and the people running governments and so forth. And if you remember, I really enjoyed the speech the Executive Director of the Missouri Baptist Convention gave at the annual meeting.
I found this video looking at some blogs, and it is really interesting.
Check it out.
I found this video looking at some blogs, and it is really interesting.
Check it out.
3/09/2007
the great moral tissue of our time
This is great. I would end up quoting every other paragraph, so just read the whole thing.
I know you want to. It even says genitals in the title. No self-respecting person can avoid an article like that. Plus, I needed an excuse to add a new label called scrotum.
"You liberals are such losers...
I bet you think it’s a big deal that al Qaeda and the Taliban – you know, the folks we said did 9/11 – are regrouping in Afghanistan, and that Osama bin Laden remains a free man five years later. So?...
How about all the corruption scandals and gross incompetence of George Bush’s crony government? Get over it...
I’ve heard you guys ranting on and on about the mountain of debt we’re leaving for your children to pay off, plus interest, in order to finance our twin extravaganzas of huge tax cuts for the wealthy and a useless war costing $1-2 trillion. What’s wrong that?...
No, the great moral issues of our time are: Your genitals..."
I know you want to. It even says genitals in the title. No self-respecting person can avoid an article like that. Plus, I needed an excuse to add a new label called scrotum.
"You liberals are such losers...
I bet you think it’s a big deal that al Qaeda and the Taliban – you know, the folks we said did 9/11 – are regrouping in Afghanistan, and that Osama bin Laden remains a free man five years later. So?...
How about all the corruption scandals and gross incompetence of George Bush’s crony government? Get over it...
I’ve heard you guys ranting on and on about the mountain of debt we’re leaving for your children to pay off, plus interest, in order to finance our twin extravaganzas of huge tax cuts for the wealthy and a useless war costing $1-2 trillion. What’s wrong that?...
No, the great moral issues of our time are: Your genitals..."
3/06/2007
this is it
Hmmm, it was kind of settling in today that I am turning 25 this month. It's the first age that I have a distinct memory of noting when I was younger. I remember one particular dinner at my grandmother's when my uncle was about to turn a quarter of a century. He was reminded of this repeatedly in a variety of ways.
I remember thinking that by that age you had to grow up and know what you're doing. I've discovered exactly the opposite. I was much more focused and intense in high school. Now it's kind of wandering around going through the motions. I could live with Jodi for 10 years, or end up in Paris next month.
Grr, it's really exciting finding something you're really passionate about at a pretty young age, but it makes you wonder about times that are less so. Is it ok? Are you supposed to be looking for something? Are those rare times, to be treasured? Or the standard for how most things are supposed to be?
Are you talking to yourself?
Don't worry though, I'm not hearing voices yet. That's still a few years down the road.
I remember thinking that by that age you had to grow up and know what you're doing. I've discovered exactly the opposite. I was much more focused and intense in high school. Now it's kind of wandering around going through the motions. I could live with Jodi for 10 years, or end up in Paris next month.
Grr, it's really exciting finding something you're really passionate about at a pretty young age, but it makes you wonder about times that are less so. Is it ok? Are you supposed to be looking for something? Are those rare times, to be treasured? Or the standard for how most things are supposed to be?
Are you talking to yourself?
Don't worry though, I'm not hearing voices yet. That's still a few years down the road.
3/05/2007
back to school
When you spend all weekend back in high school, you see and hear some interesting things. Particularly when most of that time is spent with high school kids saying things at you.
My favorite Freudian slip? President Cheney. Oops.
But there were lots of good ones.
One puffer thought that the con's statistical evidence was seriously screwed. Repeatedly so, in fact.
An orator seemed to go out of his way to emphasize he was only opposed to illegal immigration, then left an awkward sentence hanging with immigrants notably lacking a preface of illegal. Also, among other things, we need to stop border smuggling of drugs before they get out of hand. Before? High schools are shopping malls. Then the next speaker mentioned how Ritalin could be considered kiddie cocaine so many kids abuse it. Considered? It's only a schedule II drug just like meth and cocaine and amphetamines.
An extemper was talking about how peace in the Middle East means the US needs to protect Israel better. After all, it's where the civilized nations, er, cities, are.
And one guy tried to convince me that Hugo Chavez is so dangerous that his influence is unstoppable in creating some kind of evil anti-capitalist socialism. He has so much influence he can make a PhD in economics do it [whatever exactly this horrible it is]. I mean, the US is such a great example of free trade in South America, from the DEA's coca eradication efforts to such open borders with Cuba.
And then there were the debate rounds. Ah, good times. Did you know that 277% of housing foreclosures are due to bankruptcy? Or that a war with North Korea is imminent unless we expand the army...7 years ago?
But perhaps those lovely posters teachers love to plaster all over the walls take the cake. I share two. On one, a very comfortable Garfield lies down, thinking in thoughtbubbleland that to make your dreams come true, you have to stay awake. Right. My dream after setting an alarm for 5:45am was precisely to not be awake. And 30 years from now, it won't matter what jeans you wore or what hairstyle you had...it's what you learned and how you used it. Uh huh, let's see, you didn't graduate from high school, but you say you learned a lot. Welcome aboard Johnson!
My favorite Freudian slip? President Cheney. Oops.
But there were lots of good ones.
One puffer thought that the con's statistical evidence was seriously screwed. Repeatedly so, in fact.
An orator seemed to go out of his way to emphasize he was only opposed to illegal immigration, then left an awkward sentence hanging with immigrants notably lacking a preface of illegal. Also, among other things, we need to stop border smuggling of drugs before they get out of hand. Before? High schools are shopping malls. Then the next speaker mentioned how Ritalin could be considered kiddie cocaine so many kids abuse it. Considered? It's only a schedule II drug just like meth and cocaine and amphetamines.
An extemper was talking about how peace in the Middle East means the US needs to protect Israel better. After all, it's where the civilized nations, er, cities, are.
And one guy tried to convince me that Hugo Chavez is so dangerous that his influence is unstoppable in creating some kind of evil anti-capitalist socialism. He has so much influence he can make a PhD in economics do it [whatever exactly this horrible it is]. I mean, the US is such a great example of free trade in South America, from the DEA's coca eradication efforts to such open borders with Cuba.
And then there were the debate rounds. Ah, good times. Did you know that 277% of housing foreclosures are due to bankruptcy? Or that a war with North Korea is imminent unless we expand the army...7 years ago?
But perhaps those lovely posters teachers love to plaster all over the walls take the cake. I share two. On one, a very comfortable Garfield lies down, thinking in thoughtbubbleland that to make your dreams come true, you have to stay awake. Right. My dream after setting an alarm for 5:45am was precisely to not be awake. And 30 years from now, it won't matter what jeans you wore or what hairstyle you had...it's what you learned and how you used it. Uh huh, let's see, you didn't graduate from high school, but you say you learned a lot. Welcome aboard Johnson!
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