More thoughts on abortion.

With the imminent replacement of O'Connor on the Supreme Court just around the corner, the big topic is abortion. I have spent the last several days deeply contemplating this issue and trying to understand everything surrounding it. I, too would like to see less abortions, but less abortions using what method?

There is so much at stake here. To what end does this lead by denying a woman the right to choose to terminate a pregnancy? Taking away this right takes control over her own body out of her hands.

To state that abortion should be made illegal except in instances of rape and incest makes no sense. If abortion is deemed as murder, then it is murder under any circumstance.

Why does the "baby" of a rape victim not have the right to live?

And how does one enforce these "exceptions"? Should a woman come into a clinic and claim she was raped, will she have to prove it? Will the law state that in order for a woman who was raped to have an abortion she must come forward within 24 hours and prove she was raped? Will she have to file charges against the man who raped her in order to have the abortion? What if he threatened to harm her family if she comes forward and therefore she doesn't want to turn him in? Will that deny her the right to terminate a pregnancy from this event?

Why do people have issue with a woman terminating a pregancy? I don't believe that it has anything to do with the life inside of her. If the issue really was about "life", then these people who are "pro-life" would be doing so much more than just fighting abortion. They would be fighting to make it much easier to adopt. They would be fighting to make orphanages better places. They would be fighting to make sure that men were equally held responsible for pre-natal care. They would be investing their time in creating and enhancing alternatives. Instead they are self-righteous, zealous, bullies imposing their will on others.

I believe the root of "pro-life" is about control, not about life nor the quality of life. On what grounds does a woman not have the right to decide whether nor not to host a life in her body?

More on my views of Bush and the Religious Right

As a declared atheist I guess that one would reasonably assume that when I speak out against our President's support of the Religious Right that I am doing so rebelliously. I know that most perceive atheists as being angry and "against" the religion. With me, this not the case.

First of all, I understand the importance that religion plays in our social structure. People need to believe in something greater than themselves. Life is not easy and many people are not really up to the task of living it. Trying to go through life without believing in a Supreme Being leaves one to figure a lot of things out on one's own. We have to define and understand our own moral codes. The advantage of being a religious person is that many of those moral codes are already designed and distributed. People are not able to live up to most of them but the codes are there.

My issue regarding the Religious Right has more to do with it's short sightedness. It seems to me that the only thing they want is to have Roe vs. Wade reversed. That's it. They want a President to do whatever he can to reverse it. I haven't heard them speak out about anything else. They are simply obsessed with Roe vs. Wade. To me that is the equivalent of being obsessed with making sure that unwanted children are brought into this world. How can anyone be so shortsighted? How can this be a good thing? And then let's couple this with making the only available birth control for young people be "abstinence". Is anyone getting this and how tragic this is, or is it just me?

Honestly, I thought Bush understood this. Really, I did. For some reason, I saw him as one who understood the big picture in this regard. But somewhere, something clicked, and I see him as one who wants to do more to appease the RR. And since he has been so consistant and loyal regarding his stands on principle, I can only assume that he is going to stay true to his own personal convictions regarding abortion and will hand to the RR the Supreme Court Justice that will give them what they want.

Now, all that being said, I have to give him some credit on what I understand the new strategy to be and that is, he is letting the Senate present the nominee(s). Now that's a smart thing and I do like that idea.

I think I just want him to firmly draw a line that basically tells the RR that "this is where their job ends and his begins" and somehow, I think that line just doesn't exist.

Not going to extremes

I had lunch with some friends this Sunday and as is the normal course we discussed politics. I expressed my frustrations with Bush and my friend, who is not a Bush supporter, encouraged me not to go from the extreme of being an avid supporter to being an avid anti-Bush person. Interesting.

I thought about why I supported him so strongly, especially during his first term. I think the answer to that is that he was under constant attack during his first term. Since the election was so close, the Democrats never let up. They kept the pressure on him during his entire term in an effort to upset the elections in 2004 and claim a much wanted victory. Once the election was over and Bush won, the Democrats got quiet. They aren't as vocal against him these days. The resist supporting his proposals, but they aren't doing these blanket criticisms as they did during he last term. So the duty to "protect" him from these crticisms isn't there. Now I can just kick back and enjoy having him as President.

Except I'm not really enjoying him as President.

I agree that we need a leader that has strength and resolve. I agree that we need someone who says it the way he sees it. I agree that Bush isn't perfect and no one is going to be perfect, either. I'm angry with his feeding and support of the Religious Right. When abortion was a part of the equation for stem cell research, I agreed that it needed to stop. Now abortion is no longer a part of that equation. We can obtain these cells without tapping into abortion clinics for them. Bush's personal religious convictions are standing in the way. This display of establishing policy based on one's personal religious convictions is sending the wrong signals. Our military now believes it is ok to impose religious views onto their soldiers and officers. Religion has never supported man's progress but has always stood in its way. Why is he giving them so much power?

And there is something else that is bothering me. I feel like his religious views and support is handing the 2008 election over to the Democrats. I feel like he is giving it to them and that Hillary is going to clean up in 2008. If Giuliani runs there is strong possibility he could take it.

I don't know, I guess I had higher expectations of him. Maybe these expectations are not realistic and that rather than be angry at the President, I have to revisit them. And accept that he is neither a major disappointment nor is he superman.

He is just a man who happens to be our President.

War of the Worlds - My take on it

I remember as a child hearing the radio version of War of the Worlds. Mind you, this was not the original airing but was one done in the early 70's. I remember laying on my mother's bed listening and that I found the story so disturbing.

Then the movie came out. I was young and didn't know the difference so to me, the movie was scary. And a few years later, Justin Hayward came out with his version of the narrating/singing of War of the Worlds. I loved that version and found not only the songs and narration disturbing but also the illustration of the booklet that was enclosed.

And so, here is Steve Spielberg's version. I loved it. I had to remind myself to breathe and found the scenes an interesting combination of different things. I saw the same family interactions that were so familiar in E.T. and Jurassic Park. And the special effects of Close Encounters. And then the cold horrific situation, the reality of the story, felt like a combination of Minority Report and Schindler's List. I think I would like to see it again.

I came out of the theater with a feeling similar to that one when exiting Jurassic Park. I was so relieved that it was just a movie.

Business Plan

I've developed a business plan to help me reach some personal and financial goals. The thing about it is that for some reason I'm not excited about the plan. I seem to have this habit of making just enough to survive instead of pushing myself to really make some good money. I have the ability to do it. I just don't know how to push myself up there.

I know what to do. I know how to do the things I need to do. I think if I just focus on doing the things I put on my plan, I'll be ok.

I have bad habits. I come home and sit on the couch and watch T.V. I need to be doing other things. I don't like to get up early in the morning. I don't have good time management skills, I know that for sure.

I also have good habits. I work hard. I work everyday and it's hard for me to take time off. I don't give up. I don't go backwards, though today I feel like I'm going backwards. If I can pay my taxes for 2004, I'll be doing ok.

Supreme Court OK's granting private property to Private Businesses

I'm surprised that there isn't more fallout from this decision. When I initially read the article on CNN, I kept thinking I was reading about a decision that took place in England...I think because the city in question was New London, CT. It was early in the morning, my mind wasn't totally awake. Does England even have a Supreme Court?

My theory is that people, including myself, are under the impression that once the Supreme Court decides something, it's done. Only the Supreme Court can reverse the ruling. If one doesn't like what the Supreme Court decides, who do they go to to change it?

What most people probably didn't catch is that the conservative judges voted against this. The public's opinion of the conservative party, an opinion that is fed by the left, is that the Republicans are the friends of big business. And here, it is the more liberal judges that voted to grant private property to private businesses.

This ruling is sick.

Put a fork in him - he's done

Up to this point, Bush could do no wrong, well at least to me he couldn't. And pretty much, he's been low key lately; but Perry our Governor has not been. Though I know Perry is one person and Bush is another, they are both of the same party. So, connecting a few things: 1) Bush's involvement in the Schiavo case; 2) Jeb Bush's statements lately regarding Schiavo, 3) Bush's statements regarding stem cell research , 4) Governor Perry's recent signing of the bill requiring minors to get parental concent prior to abortion,...... I see a pattern. These guys are very much controlled by the Religious Right.

Howard Dean recently stated that the Republican Party was just a party of White Christians. He may have appropriately said White Christian Men....but I think it was just White Christians. Howard Dean has been on target a lot lately. I just hope there is more behind his rhetoric and position than anger and indignation towards the Republican Party.

My anger towards Bush is his stupidity regarding playing along with the Religious Right. Even though he himself hasn't done all the things I listed above, he's the Commander in Chief and he is a Replublican; it may as well be him, it doesn't matter who is doing what. He's turned me away and angered me. If he's turned me away, me being an avid "Bush can do no wrong" "I want to marry the man" supporter, how many others has he concerned with his support of the Religious Right?

So, here we are. He needs Bolton voted on, I don't give a damned what Bush wants anymore. If Bolton isn't nominated is this the end all be all of National Security? No, I don't think so. So if the Dems say we want another candidate, I think they are being reasonable in this request. Hell, I'll just write my senator about it.

As far as I'm concerned, Bush just wants his way; and that's a far cry from "what's best for the country".

So now my anger at Bush is that he has given the Religious Right much of what they wanted and now he expects to be able to take care of the business of running this country with the Democrat's support. I'm not so angry that they don't want to support him. He has shoved his religious principles and rhetoric down our throats; I say "screw you". Look at the position YOU have put us in now.

IT'S NOT OK.

Bush is over there bombing the hell out of Iraq and giving the Religious Right power over here in the U.S. Can anyone say "Hypocrite"? I can't explain it other than this: all the enthusiasm, love and passion I have had for this man has sprouted wings and flown out the window. I hope it was all worth it, George. Because from where I stand, I see you as a sell out.

Michael Jackson - Not Guilty

I am so pleased with the outcome of Michael Jackson's trial. From the very beginning he was a victim of extortion in this case.

I was watching Fox at the time they announced the verdict. Prior to the Jury declaring their verdict, Fox was sure that Jackson's verdict would be guilty. I'm really surprised that they thought the prosecution put forth a valid case. It was so obvious to me that they were lying.

As I've said before, Michael makes too easy a target for such accusations. I know that this whole ordeal hurt him deeply and I wonder if he will ever be able to bounce back from it.

I sincerely hope that he does.

Abortion - Parental Consent

Well, Gov. Perry signed a bill meant to impose more limitations on abortion and he signed it in a church school gymnasium.

I've been naive. All this time I thought the Republican party courted the religious right, but didn't necessarily want to accommodate them. Signing the bill is one thing; doing it in a church is totally different. They are blatently declaring that they're strings are being pulled by the Religious Right.I have been such an avid supporter of Bush and now I could care less. I know that by supporting them as much as I have been I'm supporting their religious impositions on my life.

I wonder if this actually means I'm going to find myself voting for a Democrat? I've never done it before. But the thing about "swing" voters, if indeed I am one, is that swing voters seem to make their minds up at the last minute. Both parties are aware that whatever they do that turns a swing voter away only matters if elections are close by.

I'm really disappointed with this party.

Simon Cowell .... Law Professor?

I had the strangest dream Saturday night. I dreamt that I was attending lawschool. Now, I am always dreaming that I'm still in college, usually living on campus and I'm blowing off my math and science classes. And in that dream, I am a few years away from graduating because I keep blowing off those classes.

Well, in this dream, I'm attending 2 classes and I think they are both case study classes. I haven't taken my LSAT yet, nor have I registered for them. After attending these two classes, I know I want to stick with it but I'm torn because I don't know how to tell my classmates and professor that I'm not really a legitimate student.

And here's the kicker. My professor for both classes is Simon Cowell of American Idol. In this dream, he's a great professor and makes the subject interesting. Believe it or not, he's very encouraging.

I think I had this dream because I stayed up late and watched "The Practice" before going to bed.

Stem Cells

When we were relying on aborted fetuses in order to conduct stem cell research, I was for a ban on the research. My greatest concern was the that there would be potential for pregnant women to be able to financially benefit from selling their unborn fetuses to research companies. There was just too much room for corruption.

But now that the abortion factor is OUT of the picture and we now have embryos that can be accessed, I think the government needs to step aside and let science move forward. It is also time for the Republican Party to demonstrate that it truly is NOT a puppet of the Religious Right because from here, it looks like they are.

I find their dedication to the Religious Right to be very frustrating. So for now, my position is that I continue to contribute financially to the Democratic Party who fight for the things I think are important: Women's Reproductive Rights, Rights for Homosexuals. And I will vote for the Republican Party to continue to defend our country and keep our taxes lowered.

My greatest concern is that if the Administration continues to allow the Religious Right to have so much of its demands met that this Administration will give Americans no other choice but to vote in a Democrat during the 2008 elections. I think that would be a mistake.

Schapelle Corby - what will her fate be?

I am really upset by the news of Schapelle Corby's verdict. Based on what I've ready, it seems that she didn't have a chance in hell of receiving a 'not guilty' verdict. I believe that she was telling the truth that she did not bring these drugs into their country. The problem, in my opinion, is that the guys that were smuggling it into the country through her are probably imbedded into the system. In otherwords they are probably government officials, also.

So, now what? Will her government allow her to sit in there and rot or am I being too optimistic here. It makes me wonder as well about how this would have been handled had it been a U.S. citizen. If she were an American, would she be tried there as well, too? Did they render her guilty in hopes that tons of money would be poured their way in an effort to free her?

I read that Australians regretted their support to the Tsunami victims. I understand their feelings of betrayal. Unfortunately, this country is a third world country and their people do not have human rights as we do and what's worse, she's a woman.

Nonetheless, I'm very worried about her and I find the whole situation disturbing.

There's one in every crowd

I have been attending a local UU church and have recently decided to become a member.

I wonder what I have gotten myself into. I am an odd bird. I support the Republican Party. I believe in a strong military, defense and our presence in Iraq. I love our President. I am an atheist. I support women's reproductive rights and tolerance towards homosexuals. I believe in accountability and privatizing a portion of our social security. I vehemenently oppose the influence of the Religious right in politics.

Traditionally, the UU church swings liberal. That is especially true with the group I'm in now. They do a lot of Bush bashing. But what I have discoverd while being among them is that while President Clinton was in office, I expressed some of the same frustrations these guys express about Bush. So I am convinced that each side holds similar points of view of the other.

These are good people. They deeply care about their children and others. They have great hearts. But they are also somewhat cynical and pessimistic about the future. But I think that is expected when ones person is not in office. They feel a strong need to get involved and advance their causes. I also think that they are very naive about the world. Their naivity is what concerns me the most. I don't think they fully grasp how much evil there is in this world. Kenneth Lay is the probably the most evil person on their list; maybe Bill Gates comes in a close second.

I shared my situation with a close friend. He told me he thought I was someone these people needed. I think I understand his point. But for me to be really effective, I have to read more and become a lot more informed.

I am looking forward to making friends here and hope that I am able to find my way among them.

Right after I had read Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead I signed up for a Philosophy class. I think I required one as an elective for one of my majors; I was a double major at the time International Business and French. That semester, there were only two classes available to choose: Critical Thinking and Logic.

Both classes appealed to me so I decided to meet the professors to help me determine which class was best suited for me. I remember meeting with the professsor who taught Logic. When I brought up my interest in Ayn Rand he spent the better part of our meeting attacking her. Not her philosophy, mind you, but her. Then I met the instructor, Dr. Fair, who taught the Critical Thinking class. I immediately liked him. He didn't embrace her philosophy but he was honest about his position.

I did very well in his class. My mind was open and eager to learn so I went head on into every challenge he threw my way.

We had to write a lot of essays in his class and I remember a notation he made on one of my essays. I don't remember the subject of my essay but I do remember that I was very much inspired by and enamoured with Ayn Rand at the time. It would suffice to say that I probably very much was an Ayn Rand wannabe. So in red ink, I believe it was red, he wrote the question on my esssay "are these your thoughts or Ayn Rand's?". Obviously they were my words but the question really made me think about my own process for critical thinking.

David Kelley is one of the first people that Leonard Piekoff chased out of the ARI. Last night, I came across an article that I believe is one written by him where he discusses the cult following of people who believe that in order to be a true Objectivist they have to see objectivism just it is seen by Ayn Rand; such person, I believe, Kelley termed as a Randite. I think that is interesting because I never wanted to embrace Objectivism that way. I wanted Objectivisim to be a tool for me. So then later in this article, Kelley goes on to say that Objectivism is a tool one uses to get through one's life.

I'm coming across a lot of good people who left the ARI in order to openly speak and teach this Philosophy. I applaud their bravery and dedication.

Most importantly, on a very personal note, I am eternally grateful to Dr. Fair for catching my error in reason and calling me on it. That event is something on which I often reflect and for which have grown thankful over the years.

A Brave Alysha Cosby

Banning Alysha Cosby from participating in graduating from St. Jude because she is pregnant is beyond disgusting. While she was being banned, the father of the child, however, was allowed to graduate. (On a side note, I notice that the paper excluded his name. I wonder if the reporters did that inentionally in an effort not to take away the spotlight from this brave girl).

Alysha Cosby believed in herself and in her right to walk across that stage, so she did it anyway. This is a fabulous demonstration of leadership and dignity. The Institution's philosophy is posted on their website. Ms. Cosby, through these events, embodies that philosophy.

This incident brings to mind Vanessa Williams. No one remembers the name of any Miss America but we all remember Vanessa Williams. She was forced to relinquish her crown because photographs surfaced of her and made their way into a pornographic magazine. They surfaced because someone had them and seeing an opportunity to make a chunk of money, sold them and then fled the country leaving behind a humiliated Miss America to face the music.

Today, Ms. Williams has a fabulous career as both a singer and an actress. Why? Becasue there are people who saw a good and talented person being unjustly punished. They saw the hypocricy. Because, if anything, the Miss America Committee should have stood behind her. The real criminal was the man who sold the photos.

I think something similar will happen for Ms. Cosby. I believe that there are influential people right now who recognize the bravery and determination in Ms. Cosby that one finds in most successful people. They will see through the hypocricy of St. Jude and will award her, I am sure.

I don't think this will be the last we hear of Ms. Cosby.

Newsweek's Blunders

I'm really disappointed by Newsweek's recent mistake regarding the report they submitted regarding the desecration of the Quran.

I think that it is always more provacative to write and report on anything that defies or challenges the White House. It doesn't matter who the Chief in Command is just that he has a plan and puts himself out there for criticism. I think that if he didn't do anything but skirt around issues and play the hide & seek game, there wouldn't be as much meat out there for the press. But as it stands, Bush has clear ideas. Not only does he have them but he ACTS on them. That gives the press a target.

In the past, when the world was smaller, stories breaking in the U.S. didn't have the same impact on the rest of the world that they have today. It wasn't that easy to find stories and spread them as it is today. Now, any obscure story can be found on the internet and spread all over the world. Within hours of it's release.

I don't think that reporters today have any defined values or ethics. That being said, I also don't think that the reporter who submitted that story had any idea it would have the impact it had; an impact that ultimately resulted in death and destruction. That story gives me the impression that the reporter is against America. I'm not saying he's not American. I'm saying it gives me the impression.

Ok, so now here we go, I've opened a new can of worms, right? I'm not saying that if one disagrees with the U.S. that it means their unpatriotic. I'm just sick and tired of the press constantly standing on the sidelines waiting for something with which they can bring the administration down. But you know what? I think the administration is doing a pretty good job with the press.

A few of my Favorite Things

I work hard. And sometimes, I get blue because I'm still single. So as my day comes to a close and I start thinking about it being time to go home, I find myself looking forward to seeing my pets. I have 2 kitties and a cockatoo.

My bird is always happy to see me. She entertains herself quite well while I'm gone but she truly loves having me around. And then, there are my kitties. They are so damned cute. One is a hemilayan (sp) and the other a chocolate brown pursian. The Hemi is a girl, the persian a boy.

It's hard to describe their personalities but they each bring out the other. I wish they could live forever. They both follow me from room to room. One sits at my feet the other at my side. One likes to be at arms length, the other has to have its nose between me and whatever I'm doing. One is sweet and gentle the other "poopy pants". But whenever I walk in that door, I can tell they are both so happy to see me.

I'm sleepy.... good night.

Spring Thumb

My amaryllis bulbs arrived a little over a week ago. I took the little tags off so that I wouldn't know what color each one was at they grew. I love surprises.

About 2 weeks ago, I planted impatiens seeds in some little coffee cups, just until they germinate and grow a little. Once big enough, I'll transplant them into a little flower box or something. I've noticed today that they've started to sprout. Ooooh, that's exciting.

I really do enjoy my plants. I like starting everything from the beginning. Somehow, taking it from start to finish makes me feel like I accomplished something.

I think if I won the lottery, I would probably open a nursery. Maybe I would design gardens. I notice gardens a lot. It's Spring, that has to be the reason I notice. Everyone is hit with this in the Spring, not just me. Right?

It must be a fertility thing. Spring makes way to new things.

I've been scheming trying to find out what I might be able to plant just outside my door. I live in an apartment community so it isn't like this is my place. A flower box neatly installed on the stair rail just outside my door would be nice. Actually, what I really want to do is plant a wisteria vine.

I love wisteria so much. I grew up in Midland and just outside the door of our house we had a beautiful, healthy wisteria. The only bad thing is that the bees liked it almost as much as I did. I didn't really notice the bees that much I just remember them now. My father loved rose bushes. I never got into them. The thorns, I think the thorns are a drawback for me.

Anyway, it's good to revive my green thumb again; I've missed it.

I think the best thing that happened for the Objectivist movement is the book that Piekoff put together titled "Objectivism, The Philosophy of Ayn Rand". I equate it with the same importance as the Bible being translated from Latin so that the church could read it and interpret it's meaning on their own. For so long, those of us who were interested in learning Objectivism were left with having to understand it by extrapolating what we thought she meant from her various essays.

I guess the word here is empowerment. We were empowered to learn it on our own and I think that is what led to the break-up of so many of the people at the top of the Objectivist movement. So, I guess the ARI will be labeled as the "true" representation of the philosophy just as the Catholic church has been labeled the "true" church of Christ.

I came across an excellent article by Nathaniel Brandon The Benefits and Hazards of the Philosophy of Ayn Rand: A Personal Statement. I think that Mr. Brandon's ideas are very thoughtful and that he nails a lot of the problems on the head. I don't think that this article takes anything away from the philosophy itself.

Objectivism and Excommunication

I remember about 10 years ago I got involved with a local Objectivist group. They were studying the book called Objectivisim, the Philosophy of Ayn Rand (OPAR). I guess they were already into the 5th chapter when I joined in.

The first day I participated I walked into the meeting and everyone was gathered around the coffee table looking at a letter. Apparently, there was someone who had participated in some previous discussions with the group and I guess he didn't agree with a specific point of view. I don't really know the context of the letter; it isn't important to my point. What I witnessed were a bunch of people snarling and laughing at a letter written by someone who was very frustrated at not being understood. This was someone that was "excommunicated" from the organization for not agreeing.

I remember what an odd feeling this left in me. It was really pretty disgusting. This idea of judging people as "immoral" or "irrational" and then tossing them out is really disheartening. I don't really believe that this is the natural progression of this philosophy. I am of the belief that if one is truly secure in what one believes then opening up and listening to someone's point of view to find where the differences are can't be so threatening that excommunication is the solution.

This philosophy means a lot to me and has had a tremendous impact on my life. The idea that I might one day start throwing people out of my life over differences of opinion turns my stomach. This is a choice and, obviously, one that is within my control.

I have decided, I won't be excommunicating people from my life over differences of opinion.