Merry Christmas

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Now on to that cake of Yours...

Hello,

I'm home for Christmas leave. Doing okay- alive, pulse, breathing, no grostesque changes to my person. I've got HRAP (Hometown Recruiting Assistance Program) so I have to go out into the world and encourage folks to join the Army. Not Easy. I'm not from here, I don't have friends here and I've only actually lived here for 6 of the 12 months I've stated TX as my residency. I just kind of stroll through town with battle buddies and let it go from there. I seem to do better talking to healthcare-oriented students in high schools- I got two interested people as leads, at least. I prefer not to harrass complete strangers because I wouldn't want it myself, so why force yourself to do something that is not you and will not work for you? Anyway, HRAP is how I'm getting free leave from the military for this holiday season. I go back 2 Jan, report into my new battalion and prep for physical therapy tech school. Fun. I can't wait until school is over and done with. I hate studying! Oh...5 more years to go. sigh. Lord help me.

Having my privacy reduced to nil and lounging here on my bunk while waiting for my facial masque to dry, it feels really weird trying to blog again. I am becoming more and more distant from this thing and I still try and reach for the once familiar thing of sharing my thoughts to no one in particular. I find little consolation. Time to look forward, I guess. Maybe I'll come back later. This is not good-bye, though.

Never fails

Like I said before, I may not agree with everything she says but she never seems to fail at making me appreciate her stuff (and I say "stuff" with the utmost respect, btw).

http://opinionistas.com/2008/04/14/settle-this/







4 posts in one morning. whoowee!

A Political Classicalist

I registered to vote, and for the first time, I should add. I've never seen a voting machine so I don't know how it looks like. Do they have "Other" as an option of political affiliation?

While I ask this question to the air, I am trying to educate myself on the matter since it's never really been a concern for me to vote only because I couldn't. I don't even know if I will, with what I do know of the line-up that we have; but Ron Paul seems promising so far, in my opinion.

Can't I just be a "global citizen" and say my allegiance is to the Pope with affliation as Catholic? :P

Cover all my frickin bases.

Book List

Having been wrapped up in full-time studies, I don't seem to feel inclined to read at my leisure good, solid books to curb the intellect's hunger. Now that I have time, I do! It feels liberating- but I feel like some slow butt because I haven't really read much of anything outside textbooks (which are usually disgustingly boring). I now want to collect C.S. Lewis' works. I feel like starting out with The Great Divorce. No, I haven't read it yet. Yes, that sounds sad, hence my feeling like a slow butt.

I miss reading what I want to read for hours on end.

Meet thy Maker

I, one of the many askers of obvious-and-common-questions, reiterate an obviously human and common question: why is it that people turn to the "divine", or seek out that which is beyond temporal reality, only when they begin or fear to face the end of their own temporal reality?

I feel like I'm beating a dead horse everytime I or someone else brings up the subject of war, ultimately, death and the resulting moral implications of it. I was reading a book called Shrapnel in the Heart by Laura Palmer which shares the stories of significant others and friends of the Viet Nam military casualities. I guess I get the impression of beating the horse because so many people already discuss and think about war and its effects. But then they kind of put it in the backburner once all the hubbub has died (until memorial days). I see new recruits join the military for silly reasons (i.e. shoot guns) and for old (i.e. serve country), but the cycle repeats because the young die and people get hurt in various ways. And the world still turns.

But it still makes you think about life's ultimate endings. I think about how people approach those thoughts. Some don't really care. Some think way too much. Some are inbetween. I think some don't care enough, while some think I put too much effort into caring. In any way, the question remains: what happens when it all ends?

And when you get "there": what now?

But that's the question that remains for life in general, not just for war. In my opinion, war just makes that question come up faster, which is why I think that those that join shouldn't join with the thought that they're "just gonna die". I mean, the time that they have before they do should be spent wisely- not frivolously. But not everyone thinks this. I believe that people are stupid when they only start to "care" right before they kick the bucket. I don't doubt in God's saving grace for those who only "get it" once death sits in, but when you have time to help it, it's no excuse. Even if someone doesn't believe in God, what one person does can still affect some total stranger- and while we don't know that, there's still the fair possibility to consider.

Instinctively, the answer to my first question seems to be that it is inherent that man asks such questions about the purpose of his existence. It only seems logical that he'd eventually ask what happens when if he ceases to exist in terms of this world. And being the Catholic and interested individual that I am with the bits of knowledge that I've absorbed, one other answer would be that man's inclination to think of the "divine/supernatural" stems from the design of his Maker. While I myself have accepted this concept, I am a caring individual (careful to not just be some nosey butt picking into other people's business) and I can't help to wonder about how other people approach living life in terms of coming to death. I guess all I really want is for people to know the Truth. I would be considered a staunchly arrogant person to say that they should believe as I believe, but heck, in truth I do. At least I won't push them to do so. Free choice, after all.

Isn't life all about dying?

I am pro-choice, too.

When inspired, it's best to hear the source of inspiration straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak.

It hasn't been easy. I don't change opinions willy-nilly, especially if I've held them for a long time and if they're about key issues. But I've been doing a lot of soul-searching lately and feel that the only responsible thing to do is to go public and admit that I'm now pro-choice.

Here is my new thinking:

1. The government shouldn't be able to tell me whether to paint my house yellow or green. It's my house, and the choice should be mine. I'm pro-choice.
2. No one should pressure me to buy a foreign rather than a domestic car--or the other way around. It's no one else's business whether I drive a Toyota or a Chevy. The choice should be mine. I'm pro-choice.
3. On election day, I should be able to vote against any scoundrel I wish. I don't want to be nagged into voting against this guy or that. I can choose my own scoundrels. It's my ballot and my decision. I'm pro-choice.
4. In these E-Letters, I should be able to express any opinion I want. If a reader doesn't like what I say (or doesn't understand irony or parody), tough. It's my E-Letter and my writing. I'm pro-choice.

Precisely because I am so consistently pro-choice when it comes to my own choices, I acknowledge the right of others to make choices of their own.

Just one example:

I think every child should have a choice about whether he will come into this world. If he chooses not to, we should respect that choice. Of course, his choice will have to be manifested in a sufficiently clear way.

When the rest of us make choices--to hire a house painter, to buy a car, even to vote--we sign a contract or somehow make our choices known on paper. The same should apply here, for consistency's sake.

Thus, if an unborn child signs a waiver or agreement or contract (or whatever the document would be) indicating that he doesn't want to come into this world, his choice should be respected. Absent such a signed document, we have to presume that his choice is to come into this world. After all, everyone I know who ended up being born preferred it to the alternative.

Whatever the unborn child decides, we should respect his choice--and we should not allow it to be overruled by someone else's choice. That's my opinion, and that's why I'm pro-choice.

-Karl Keating, Catholic apologist
(From his e-letter on Catholic Answers)

I've always liked that letter. I wonder what pro-abortionists would say to that (quite frankly -and I say this after the trend of responses I've seen and heard countlessly - I wonder if what they might say would somehow not contain "flamatory" remarks or rants about crazy Catholic/Christian/God-believing-zombies-trapped-by-religion...(thinks)nah.)

I too am an advocate for freedom of choice. Who doesn't want to have the freedom to choose their preference? That is why I'm so grateful for being Catholic. There's this teaching in our faith that God gave us free will (oo, so we're not a group of zombies somehow contributing to the psychological phenomenon known as organised religion?!). And then, from the Gospel of Spiderman, we read, my brothers and sisters, "with great power comes great responsibility". Cue screeching record to a halt. Isn't that another way for saying "to whom much is given, much is expected?" Let's just say that all men will agree that there is a God and God gave us free will and God wants only the best for men and that God, not being a creation from men's mind to fill an unnecessary void, truly knows more than men do because of He is Infinite Wisdom, thus knows what is best for men. And let's say that He taught us through various ways of revelation that we have a responsibility for many of the undeserving gifts bestowed upon us creatures capable of stupidity, one of which is called Free Will. So, the question that comes to mind is: what is this responsibility? Do we, as men, make up what will be that responsibility? Hm, well, because we don't entirely know what is best for us, just a limited portion- because we're not beings of infinite wisdom- then God would know what the responsibility is for having Free Will. So, who to trust, God or man? If I've limitedly rationalised that, as much as man is capable, man is limited, and that since I cannot entirely prove that there is no God, I'm going to throw my best chances that there is one and move on with that, put my trust in God and His Truths revealed- yeah, that was pretty much Pascal's Wager, in a sense but not entirely.

And yes, I know I divert.

So, secular vernacular: Freedom of Choice. Catholic/Christian/God-believing zombies (I'm kidding, zombies) vernacular: Free Will.
Free Will = our own choices + responsibility
Freedom of Choice = Free Will
Thus, Freedom of Choice = our own choices + responsibility.

My point: many people living today with under this pro-choice, "freedom of choice" banner seem to shun the "responsibility" factor in the equation. I'm sick of the "freedom of choice" to do whatever the hell I want, even if I don't know that it will harm someone else, ...blahblahblah, excuses, etc. etc. In secular, Catholic-devoid terms, shut the f*** up. But that's just my opinion. :)

It's so weird waking up so early on a Sunday morning. Weird in that wonderful way. Because now I won't nod off during 0800 Mass.

Upon donning the mic and make-up...

I never finish thoughts. Even when I've said I'll finish what I started...bad habit. Pathetic habit. And if I hear anyone else reiterate my own feelings, I'll strangle you. I'll say what I want when I please.

Random quote:

"Hearing nuns' confessions is like being stoned to death with popcorn."

- Bishop Fulton Sheen

Amongst other relatively noteworthy tidbits, approximately a month's time shall pass before this globe-trotting citizen zeros in on a relatively permanent location. In the meantime, partly dusted rooms are expected with a high chance of insanity. We should see a storm pass through the halls as organised junk falls from an upset of formerly inconspicuous shadows. Look for this erratic system to remain due to isolated thoughts and simultaneous combustive issues.

In sports, resale for previously-owned vehicles is uncertain. Let's take a look at the line up: we have the Bluebird- a funny name for that one seeing as it's white and not "blue". Who were his parents? Regardless of his namesake, he's looking swell and keeping well and should last the year. I reckon he'll be voted for MVV. That Vech' is Sleek. Carina's coming in second, no doubt. After her recent injury, and by the look of the judges' score, her performance has seen a decline. Let's just hope she holds for another month or two. As for Prairie,...have mercy. Well, it looks like the Main Man hasn't been preparing his line up. Not sure if this looks bright. That's right- especially if we've seen a weak side to the drag of the PSC season this time of year, there's no telling what prospects will arise. Will it have to be short of a miracle for all three to make it to the finals, or will some of them simply have to hit the road...in pieces? More on that later.

Well, that's all the time we have for now. Tune in next time for an update on The Global Trotter: will the trotting end, or is there more around the bend?

Good night, United Carbon-Based Forms of Life- and stop being collectively stupid.

Playing with guys and being a girl, plus coming out of the closet...

Just a little insight on me, if you never knew: I'm a little less than 5'2". I also enjoy a pick-up game of basketball. Now you might think that I do like a game of ball with, well, other vertically challenged people and while that may be just fine and dandy... no. I like playing sports with folks just as they are. But just imagine what it must seem like, say for those who average more than 5'6", playing basketball with a diminutive female lacking a proper stereotype label.

I, being pumped with this explosive coffee from some Japanese grocer, had too much energy to waste slouching on my bed with my laptop and a movie late into the evening so I headed over to the gym to shoot some practice hoops. I come to find a few guys I knew from previous classes and they invited me over for 21. Fine. Without warming up I toss my stuff aside and they begin the game. Now, these fellows are some years older than I, already making cracks about getting old and feeling it and they are competitive guys. Do you think they'd give me, puny shrimp, a break? Hell no. And thankfully they didn't (for the most part- they let me have the ball because they were getting too tired to try, heh). So, they push and shoved and did all those glitzy moves and made their mid-game cracks but they kept keeping a distance from me, making sure they didn't scratch me in the slightest- I noticed right away and already came up with several reasons why they did. I was also a little self-conscious. Here are some late-20 year old men pitted against a short, Asian female (for your peace of mind, I considered them similar to older brothers). The thoughts about being tough, showing them that I do have some game and somehow proving myself ("a la woman power") ran through my mind but at the same time I figured, what the hey- be a girl. Not a whiny, too-afraid-to-sweat kind of "girl". But a real woman. And be myself.

[Do you realise, with the tainted mind, how much some of this might sound...uh, weird? Nevermind.]

So it got me thinking about True Feminism. If I declare myself a True Feminist and live by my words, what do I do? How do I act? During the game, I deliberately didn't hustle- didn't want to fumble around and risk getting hurt (and show just how really bad I can be, heh) because I didn't want them to constantly have to watch their toes in case I got stepped on. While it's nice that good guys are careful around girls, it can still get a little annoying to me- but! I still like it better than nothing, don't get me wrong. So was I being a True Feminist while playing basketball with macho men? I suppose so. Didn't try to be too much of a guy, didn't act like a wimpy girl. Kept my distance and respect and appreciated the guys' courtesy. Hm. Yeah, I guess I did okay.

So... I'm out of the closet! I'm an advocate for True Feminism! More on those thoughts later. And sorry, I don't have nor do I hand out buttons or bumper stickers...though the latter would be interesting...

Mhm. Created new tags for my posts: "pre-sleep thoughts" of the day's mental baggage and "impromptu"- because typing it down is faster than jotting scribbles of various verbiage and it's my one-worded disclaimer for having badly formed composition.