Yes, there's more I have to say on this subject.
I've had all sorts of conflicting advice from various medical professionals over the years. Without a doubt, those who couldn't care less about where baby sleeps were usually doctors or nurses who have children. The push to nurse on a schedule, to have baby not only alone - but also in another room, usually came from unmarried or childless doctors. Luckily for me, the experienced-parent-doctors were people I met when I was a new mother. Nowadays, I just smile and nod politely at the doctors who haven't yet experienced parenthood.
A longtime friend of mine has a good philosophy about sleep situations. "Whatever gets the most family members the most amount of sleep each night is what works for your family." There are attachment parenting families whose babies sleep better alone! It happens! It also happens that friends who do not attachment parent find that everyone sleeps better with baby in the bed. I've found that these are the mothers (I'm not excluding the fathers, they just aren't the ones I chat with about well-baby check-ups) who are most apt to be less-than-revealing to their doctors about the family sleep situation. SO, a particular doctor may think that only a handful of his/her patients sleep with their babies, but the actual percentage might be higher.
More on all this later. . . .
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Sleeping Babies, Part One
Recently, in the newspaper, there have been a handful of articles about the dangers of sleeping with one's baby. A local nurse is pushing the ABCs of Safe Sleep: Alone, on the Back, in a Crib.
It will come as no surprise to anyone who visits for Attachment Parenting blog entries, but I have some problems with this campaign.
The most obvious source of my annoyance is that cribs are not completely safe! If there was an epidemic of children dying in the parents' bed, whilst children sleeping in cribs were perfectly safe, there might be something to the ABCs of safe sleep. But, the fact of the matter is, the human race survived despite the fact that "everyone sleeps in his own 800 square feet of space" is a very recent phenomena, unique to the developed world. And babies are not safe in cribs! The push for having the "latest model" of cribs seems suspiciously like a marketing ploy, rather than a safety guide.
The following list of links is a result of VERY RECENT recalls, involving child sleep products:
Simmons Kids recalls 20,000 crib mattresses
Jardine Cribs Sold by Babies"R"Us Recalled Due to Entrapment and Strangulation Hazard
not to be confused with:
Bassettbaby Cribs Recalled Due to Entrapment Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Babies "R" Us
Nursery Product-Related Injuries and Deaths Among Children Under Age Five
About 1 Million Simplicity Cribs Recalled Due To Failures Resulting in Infant Deaths
Kolcraft Recalls Play Yards After the Death of a 10-Month-Old Child
Finally from this website:
CPSC report on nursery-related deaths highlights crib and play yard dangers
you'll find this information:
In 2006, the latest year for which data was analyzed, children under age five suffered an estimated 66,400 injuries associated with nursery products that were severe enough to require hospital treatment. And during the three-year period from 2002 to 2004, again the most recent data available, there was an average of 80 deaths per year associated with nursery products among children under five. Compare that to last year’s report, which showed 59,800 injuries in 2005, and an average of 61 deaths per year during the period of 2001 to 2003. It certainly looks like we're heading in the wrong direction.
What worries us most are the number of deaths and injuries associated with cribs and play yards. Together, these two products accounted for 43 deaths per year and about 12,400 injuries according to the CPSC’s most recent data.
Until that mess is sorted, I don't think blanket judgements should be made on the choice of putting one's child to bed!
It will come as no surprise to anyone who visits for Attachment Parenting blog entries, but I have some problems with this campaign.
The most obvious source of my annoyance is that cribs are not completely safe! If there was an epidemic of children dying in the parents' bed, whilst children sleeping in cribs were perfectly safe, there might be something to the ABCs of safe sleep. But, the fact of the matter is, the human race survived despite the fact that "everyone sleeps in his own 800 square feet of space" is a very recent phenomena, unique to the developed world. And babies are not safe in cribs! The push for having the "latest model" of cribs seems suspiciously like a marketing ploy, rather than a safety guide.
The following list of links is a result of VERY RECENT recalls, involving child sleep products:
Simmons Kids recalls 20,000 crib mattresses
Jardine Cribs Sold by Babies"R"Us Recalled Due to Entrapment and Strangulation Hazard
not to be confused with:
Bassettbaby Cribs Recalled Due to Entrapment Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Babies "R" Us
Nursery Product-Related Injuries and Deaths Among Children Under Age Five
About 1 Million Simplicity Cribs Recalled Due To Failures Resulting in Infant Deaths
Kolcraft Recalls Play Yards After the Death of a 10-Month-Old Child
Finally from this website:
CPSC report on nursery-related deaths highlights crib and play yard dangers
you'll find this information:
In 2006, the latest year for which data was analyzed, children under age five suffered an estimated 66,400 injuries associated with nursery products that were severe enough to require hospital treatment. And during the three-year period from 2002 to 2004, again the most recent data available, there was an average of 80 deaths per year associated with nursery products among children under five. Compare that to last year’s report, which showed 59,800 injuries in 2005, and an average of 61 deaths per year during the period of 2001 to 2003. It certainly looks like we're heading in the wrong direction.
What worries us most are the number of deaths and injuries associated with cribs and play yards. Together, these two products accounted for 43 deaths per year and about 12,400 injuries according to the CPSC’s most recent data.
Until that mess is sorted, I don't think blanket judgements should be made on the choice of putting one's child to bed!
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Salad Dressing Sewage
I've spent way too much time online this morning! But here's one more. A light-hearted post to end my day online.
Storms wash salad dressing into basements
Storm water combined with sewage from the T. Marzetti Co., a producer of salad dressings on Indianola Avenue, overwhelmed the Columbus storm-sewer system and flooded at least 10 nearby homes, an Ohio EPA representative said.
. . .
With any flooding there is a risk of bacteria and other dangerous substances riding the waves, the EPA's Dalton said. He added that this spill appears to contain oil, milk, spices and other waste, and residents should strip and bleach their basements.
Northridge resident Alisa Jones said she is still cleaning up the mess left by the goo, which had the neighborhood mystified until yesterday.
"We knew it was food of some sort because the ants have been going crazy," Jones said. "Every once in a while you get a whiff, and ugh."
Storms wash salad dressing into basements
Storm water combined with sewage from the T. Marzetti Co., a producer of salad dressings on Indianola Avenue, overwhelmed the Columbus storm-sewer system and flooded at least 10 nearby homes, an Ohio EPA representative said.
. . .
With any flooding there is a risk of bacteria and other dangerous substances riding the waves, the EPA's Dalton said. He added that this spill appears to contain oil, milk, spices and other waste, and residents should strip and bleach their basements.
Northridge resident Alisa Jones said she is still cleaning up the mess left by the goo, which had the neighborhood mystified until yesterday.
"We knew it was food of some sort because the ants have been going crazy," Jones said. "Every once in a while you get a whiff, and ugh."
Offensive?
Does this dog offend you?
Muslims in the Scottish district of Tayside are outraged by the appearance of a wide-eyed, 6-week-old puppy on postcards distributed by the local police force, according to the Daily Mail.
Postcards showing police dog-in-training Rebel, a German shepherd born in early December, are causing a furor among the region’s Muslims who believe dogs are "ritually unclean," the Daily Mail reports.
I'll file this one under a "double standards" label. You figure out why!
North Dakota
Oil Making 'Overnight Millionaires' in North Dakota
Several homes that cost more than a million dollars also are being built in Williston, he said. The community of about 12,500 people is perhaps best known as the hometown of NBA coach Phil Jackson.
Most people "don't want people to know how much money they got and they don't want to be tagged with being wealthy — they want to be themselves," Rolfstad said.
Oscar and Lorene Stohler said their newly found wealth hasn't changed them.
"We still know what tough times are," Oscar said. "We grew up in the Dirty '30s."
"We put our kids through college without that oil money," Lorene said.
The couple moved a few miles east to Beulah and paid cash for their new home, the first one they have owned. They have established trust accounts for their four children.
Lorene said the only thriftless purchase was an automatic sprinkler system for her flowers that surround the couple's new home. And Oscar bought a $1,000 ring for his wife to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary.
"We got enough now to buy new stuff," Lorene said, "but we like our old stuff."
That's the North Dakota spirit I know.
I am quite fond of North Dakota. Some very good friends of mine live there. I'm glad to see economic prosperity coming to ND, but I hope its rural character doesn't fade!
Several homes that cost more than a million dollars also are being built in Williston, he said. The community of about 12,500 people is perhaps best known as the hometown of NBA coach Phil Jackson.
Most people "don't want people to know how much money they got and they don't want to be tagged with being wealthy — they want to be themselves," Rolfstad said.
Oscar and Lorene Stohler said their newly found wealth hasn't changed them.
"We still know what tough times are," Oscar said. "We grew up in the Dirty '30s."
"We put our kids through college without that oil money," Lorene said.
The couple moved a few miles east to Beulah and paid cash for their new home, the first one they have owned. They have established trust accounts for their four children.
Lorene said the only thriftless purchase was an automatic sprinkler system for her flowers that surround the couple's new home. And Oscar bought a $1,000 ring for his wife to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary.
"We got enough now to buy new stuff," Lorene said, "but we like our old stuff."
That's the North Dakota spirit I know.
I am quite fond of North Dakota. Some very good friends of mine live there. I'm glad to see economic prosperity coming to ND, but I hope its rural character doesn't fade!
One Nation. . . .
Denver Shocked as Singer Opts for 'Black National Anthem' Over 'Star-Spangled Banner'
Hey, this is done in some schools around the country. Most notably, in the same corner of the world where Rev. Wright preaches. . . .
So, this news is not a shock to me!
Hey, this is done in some schools around the country. Most notably, in the same corner of the world where Rev. Wright preaches. . . .
So, this news is not a shock to me!
Voting One's Conscience
Elections and voting. Something else to think about, from St. Edith Stein:
In 1938, Cologne, like all the other German cities, was invaded by posters inviting the people to vote for Hitler. These were falsified elections. The secret police, the infamous Gestapo, had eliminated the Catholic opposition. In the Carmel, there was fear that the same fate awaited the nuns. Sister Benedicta opposed the voting with all her power; she urged the nuns, "I beg you, think of your conscience, not of the consequences for the monastery and for our persons. It is better to die than to vote 'yes'. Hitler is the greatest enemy of God, and he will bring us all to ruin".
All about St. Edith.
In 1938, Cologne, like all the other German cities, was invaded by posters inviting the people to vote for Hitler. These were falsified elections. The secret police, the infamous Gestapo, had eliminated the Catholic opposition. In the Carmel, there was fear that the same fate awaited the nuns. Sister Benedicta opposed the voting with all her power; she urged the nuns, "I beg you, think of your conscience, not of the consequences for the monastery and for our persons. It is better to die than to vote 'yes'. Hitler is the greatest enemy of God, and he will bring us all to ruin".
All about St. Edith.
Monday, June 30, 2008
St. Paul's Conversion
I imagine that St. Paul was probably praying for me during the "fallen away" years. Not that I was stoning Christians, mind you, but I did consider Christians to be intellectually inferior to the enlightened secular thinkers of the world. I know I carried that haughty attitude around with me, proud of those liberal ways that extended tolerance to just about everyone but Christians!
Nowadays, I probably identify more with the likes of St. Peter. I love my faith, but might I head for the hills if it meant danger for myself -- or my children? I hope not, but I'm not certain how strong I'd be under pressure!
I kick off my "Year of St. Paul" blogs with a prayer for all those whose hearts are so far from God. Specifically, I pray not just for those Christians who are not living up to their beliefs. Rather, I pray for those who are passionately following the wrong path (as was I when I passionately believed that abortion was a privacy issue, not a life and death issue). If St. Paul can be converted, anyone can!
This is interesting and reads like a novel. Here's a snippet about St. Paul, as the moment of conversion approached:
Saul, with all the air of a conqueror, started for Damascus with quick, bold intent. He was accompanied by an armed escort and provided with money. He passed through Palestine and on all sides he saw the results of his purifying activity. The Ancients and the people applauded and sent their blessings after him.
All the ardor of the Seers of Israel burned in his heart. He loved the glory of God, and believed it to be one and the same as the glory of his people. Being zealously religious, he understood that a good Jew was bound to devote himself entirely to the cause of the Most High, so that God's glory might never be dimmed by compromise.
If Saul loved glory it was only God's glory. As idolatry pressed in on all sides, Saul felt an urgent need of protecting the integrity of the religious spirit by a rigid exercise of the Mosaic Law. His soul was a rare one. Knowing that all he had came from God, he surrendered all to God's service.
. . .
Now as he travelled on horseback to Damascus, the prophetic words from the past urged him forward, pressing him on. Hatred of Jesus rose up before him like a phantom, beckoning him on to the capital of Syria whose queer assortment of little houses lay flat in the scorching noonday sun.
Saul paid no attention to that. Like a hound, he tracked his prey, determined to clear away from Hebraism this nest of apostasy. He was planning to travel this road again on the return journey, with a cortege of men and women in chains whom he would goad forward with the whip. He advanced eagerly, his eyes darting about in an effort to locate some of the Synagogues he knew, while the sun beat down upon Damascus in a white glare of heat.
Of a sudden, from east to west, as if the ball of the sun had burst asunder, with a rumbling sound a wall of dazzling white light stretched before him. It was such a sudden and powerful flare that Saul's eyes, accustomed as they were to the glare of Syria, could not endure it, and he fell from his horse. His companions quickly dismounted to lift him up, but they drew back when Saul rose to his knees and was heard speaking to an invisible being. When he fell, he heard a voice in that flash of light saying, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?"
Nowadays, I probably identify more with the likes of St. Peter. I love my faith, but might I head for the hills if it meant danger for myself -- or my children? I hope not, but I'm not certain how strong I'd be under pressure!
I kick off my "Year of St. Paul" blogs with a prayer for all those whose hearts are so far from God. Specifically, I pray not just for those Christians who are not living up to their beliefs. Rather, I pray for those who are passionately following the wrong path (as was I when I passionately believed that abortion was a privacy issue, not a life and death issue). If St. Paul can be converted, anyone can!
This is interesting and reads like a novel. Here's a snippet about St. Paul, as the moment of conversion approached:
Saul, with all the air of a conqueror, started for Damascus with quick, bold intent. He was accompanied by an armed escort and provided with money. He passed through Palestine and on all sides he saw the results of his purifying activity. The Ancients and the people applauded and sent their blessings after him.
All the ardor of the Seers of Israel burned in his heart. He loved the glory of God, and believed it to be one and the same as the glory of his people. Being zealously religious, he understood that a good Jew was bound to devote himself entirely to the cause of the Most High, so that God's glory might never be dimmed by compromise.
If Saul loved glory it was only God's glory. As idolatry pressed in on all sides, Saul felt an urgent need of protecting the integrity of the religious spirit by a rigid exercise of the Mosaic Law. His soul was a rare one. Knowing that all he had came from God, he surrendered all to God's service.
. . .
Now as he travelled on horseback to Damascus, the prophetic words from the past urged him forward, pressing him on. Hatred of Jesus rose up before him like a phantom, beckoning him on to the capital of Syria whose queer assortment of little houses lay flat in the scorching noonday sun.
Saul paid no attention to that. Like a hound, he tracked his prey, determined to clear away from Hebraism this nest of apostasy. He was planning to travel this road again on the return journey, with a cortege of men and women in chains whom he would goad forward with the whip. He advanced eagerly, his eyes darting about in an effort to locate some of the Synagogues he knew, while the sun beat down upon Damascus in a white glare of heat.
Of a sudden, from east to west, as if the ball of the sun had burst asunder, with a rumbling sound a wall of dazzling white light stretched before him. It was such a sudden and powerful flare that Saul's eyes, accustomed as they were to the glare of Syria, could not endure it, and he fell from his horse. His companions quickly dismounted to lift him up, but they drew back when Saul rose to his knees and was heard speaking to an invisible being. When he fell, he heard a voice in that flash of light saying, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?"
Friday, June 27, 2008
St. Paul: It's Almost Time
We're almost upon the beginning of the Year of St. Paul.
I should have planned this a lot earlier! I didn't. So, I'm still trying to develop a plan for personal study. I know that I will blog about St. Paul and my experiences with the celebration of his year.
I'm online now, ordering a few books. But, for purely web-based information, here's a place to get started:
Our Sunday Visitor: Year of St. Paul
There's stuff for kids, too.
I should have planned this a lot earlier! I didn't. So, I'm still trying to develop a plan for personal study. I know that I will blog about St. Paul and my experiences with the celebration of his year.
I'm online now, ordering a few books. But, for purely web-based information, here's a place to get started:
Our Sunday Visitor: Year of St. Paul
There's stuff for kids, too.
Yes, there is such thing as a slippery slope!
When it comes to gay "marriage," it begins with the explanation that "we're just talking about two people who love each other, how does that threaten your straight marriage?" Of course, once that Pandora's box is open, we see the flood of lawsuits that follow when photographers don't want to take picture of the 'blessed event,' or when the Methodists don't want to rent out a hall for the special day.
When it comes to assisted reproductive technologies, Catholics have sadly told me that they don't understand why the Church says "no" to two people "who just want a baby." Of course, deep-freezing one's embryos isn't enough; now we have custody battles over these little babies in deep freeze. Not to mention how researchers cannot wait to get their hands on these babies and do all sorts of experiments.
And abortion. Forget for the moment every pro-abort out there, I would like to capture the attention of every Obama-loving, Bush-hating Catholic out there, just to show them where the road to abortion leads. And beyond Catholics for Obama, I would like to shake sense into every wishy-washy fence sitter, "I'm personally opposed, but . . . ." I draw your attention to:
It's Still All About the Killing
A murder investigation has been opened involving Shelley Sella, a California abortionist employed by George Tiller, who is reported to have intentionally stabbed to death an infant born alive during an abortion at Tiller’s Women’s Health Care Services abortion clinic in Wichita, Kansas....
"...the baby was 35 weeks gestation at the time of the abortion. The baby came out and was moving. Sella looked up at Ms. Davis, then picked up a utensil and stabbed the baby in the left ribcage, twisting the utensil until the baby quit moving. At 35 weeks, there is no doubt about viability. This is murder in anybody’s book.”
h.t.: Regular Guy
When it comes to assisted reproductive technologies, Catholics have sadly told me that they don't understand why the Church says "no" to two people "who just want a baby." Of course, deep-freezing one's embryos isn't enough; now we have custody battles over these little babies in deep freeze. Not to mention how researchers cannot wait to get their hands on these babies and do all sorts of experiments.
And abortion. Forget for the moment every pro-abort out there, I would like to capture the attention of every Obama-loving, Bush-hating Catholic out there, just to show them where the road to abortion leads. And beyond Catholics for Obama, I would like to shake sense into every wishy-washy fence sitter, "I'm personally opposed, but . . . ." I draw your attention to:
It's Still All About the Killing
A murder investigation has been opened involving Shelley Sella, a California abortionist employed by George Tiller, who is reported to have intentionally stabbed to death an infant born alive during an abortion at Tiller’s Women’s Health Care Services abortion clinic in Wichita, Kansas....
"...the baby was 35 weeks gestation at the time of the abortion. The baby came out and was moving. Sella looked up at Ms. Davis, then picked up a utensil and stabbed the baby in the left ribcage, twisting the utensil until the baby quit moving. At 35 weeks, there is no doubt about viability. This is murder in anybody’s book.”
h.t.: Regular Guy
Why don't they like homeschoolers?
Home-schoolers threaten our cultural comfort
Methinks American middle-class people are uncomfortable around the home schooled for the same reason the alcoholic is uneasy around the teetotaler.
Their very existence represents a rejection of our values, and an indictment of our lifestyles. Those families are willing to render unto Caesar the things that Caesar’s be, but they draw the line at their children. Those of us who have put our trust in the secular state (and effectively surrendered our children to it) recognize this act of defiance as a rejection of our values, and we reject them in return.
Just as the jealous Chaldeans schemed to bring the wrath of the king upon the Hebrew eunuchs, we are happy to sic the state’s bureaucrats on these “trouble makers.” Their implicit rejection of America’s most venerated idol, Materialism, (a.k.a. “Individualism”) spurs us to heat the furnace and feed the lions.
Personally, I don't believe that everyone out there mistrusts homeschoolers because they are secretly jealous. That attitude leads to the "don't hate me because I'm beautiful" approach to life. But, I am willing to be that cynical regarding the legislators and judges who do what they can to worm their way into America's families.
Methinks American middle-class people are uncomfortable around the home schooled for the same reason the alcoholic is uneasy around the teetotaler.
Their very existence represents a rejection of our values, and an indictment of our lifestyles. Those families are willing to render unto Caesar the things that Caesar’s be, but they draw the line at their children. Those of us who have put our trust in the secular state (and effectively surrendered our children to it) recognize this act of defiance as a rejection of our values, and we reject them in return.
Just as the jealous Chaldeans schemed to bring the wrath of the king upon the Hebrew eunuchs, we are happy to sic the state’s bureaucrats on these “trouble makers.” Their implicit rejection of America’s most venerated idol, Materialism, (a.k.a. “Individualism”) spurs us to heat the furnace and feed the lions.
Personally, I don't believe that everyone out there mistrusts homeschoolers because they are secretly jealous. That attitude leads to the "don't hate me because I'm beautiful" approach to life. But, I am willing to be that cynical regarding the legislators and judges who do what they can to worm their way into America's families.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Free Speech
An interesting read: Where I Stand: for Free Speech. I like Fr. Fox's blog and never visit as much as I'd like.
We might recall that in the U.S., it is frequently under attack on college campuses, with speech codes and enforced "diversity" and "sensitivity." And we might note that as we speak, the GOP is preparing to nominate, for the presidency, a U.S. Senator who is very proud of legislation curbing political free speech, the so-called McCain-Feingold Campaign Reform Act. Many who pooh-poohed that legislation said, "don't worry, the courts will strike it down." The President--who during his campaign, pledged to veto it--signed it, almost certainly confident the Supreme Court would do his dirty work. Only the Supreme Court upheld it. The High Court may yet strike it down, but this, combined with other trends, is a cautionary tale.
A good follow up to my recent post.
We might recall that in the U.S., it is frequently under attack on college campuses, with speech codes and enforced "diversity" and "sensitivity." And we might note that as we speak, the GOP is preparing to nominate, for the presidency, a U.S. Senator who is very proud of legislation curbing political free speech, the so-called McCain-Feingold Campaign Reform Act. Many who pooh-poohed that legislation said, "don't worry, the courts will strike it down." The President--who during his campaign, pledged to veto it--signed it, almost certainly confident the Supreme Court would do his dirty work. Only the Supreme Court upheld it. The High Court may yet strike it down, but this, combined with other trends, is a cautionary tale.
A good follow up to my recent post.
Ranting about society
My random thoughts.
Ever since seeing the story on TV about the "pregnancy pact," I've been annoyed to hear snide comments about the need for more sex ed or birth control. First of all, it isn't as if a school needs to hand out birth control. It's not that hard to get. Secondly, I'm certain that these students have been well-educated in today's version of how teenagers should be handling sex. That's why there's a problem. Thirdly, I have never, ever heard of an abstinence education situation that churned out a four-fold rise in the number of teen pregnancies.
And here's the latest on this story:
Oliver [ed.: aged 17 years] , who is five months pregnant, said she and her 20-year-old boyfriend, Andrew Psalidas, a community college student, were using birth control and her pregnancy was unplanned.
Right! Using birth control. A 17-year-old with a 20-year-old boyfriend. But, what are we told? Kids are gonna do it anyway, just tell them how to "be safe." Or, tell them how to get their over-18 boyfriends to take them for a surgical or chemical abortion.
A resident of the town:
Gloucester resident Annette Dion, a 45-year-old private music teacher, said school and city officials should have done more to find out whether the girls truly made a pact to become pregnant. But she also said denying such a pact existed is "pretty naive."
"I don't think we heard the truth today," Dion said, adding that pop culture has glamorized teen pregnancy and that movies and celebrity pregnancies do not give girls an accurate picture of parenthood.
Perhaps we should blame movies like "Bella." If only we could see more abortion, there wouldn't be this teen pregnancy situation. Hollywood has glamorized a lot more than teen pregnancy. And that is a problem!
No. Abortion isn't the answer. Telling teens that high school motherhood is wonderful isn't the answer, either. The sexual behavior needs to be stopped in its tracks, before it gets started. If teenagers were involved in any other behavior that impacted the rest of their lives, the tactics would be completely different. Don't do drugs. Don't drink and drive. Stay in school. You cannot buy cigarettes before you are 18. Why, why, why is sex any different?
Birth control is nothing but a bandaid approach to the situation of non-marital sex! It does not always prevent pregnancy. It does not always prevent the transmission of disease. Is it really too much to wait to engage in such behavior until you've found that one person meant for you?!?!? Non-marital sex is as old as mankind, I know. But as the social stigma lessened, the disease rate skyrocketed. That's a fact. And that's what angers me so much about all the abstinence education funding that will be cut, starting with the next presidential administration. Until we are willing to face the facts, nothing is going to get better. I just hope that my future daughters- and sons-in-law are being as well-educated as my children will be!
Ever since seeing the story on TV about the "pregnancy pact," I've been annoyed to hear snide comments about the need for more sex ed or birth control. First of all, it isn't as if a school needs to hand out birth control. It's not that hard to get. Secondly, I'm certain that these students have been well-educated in today's version of how teenagers should be handling sex. That's why there's a problem. Thirdly, I have never, ever heard of an abstinence education situation that churned out a four-fold rise in the number of teen pregnancies.
And here's the latest on this story:
Oliver [ed.: aged 17 years] , who is five months pregnant, said she and her 20-year-old boyfriend, Andrew Psalidas, a community college student, were using birth control and her pregnancy was unplanned.
Right! Using birth control. A 17-year-old with a 20-year-old boyfriend. But, what are we told? Kids are gonna do it anyway, just tell them how to "be safe." Or, tell them how to get their over-18 boyfriends to take them for a surgical or chemical abortion.
A resident of the town:
Gloucester resident Annette Dion, a 45-year-old private music teacher, said school and city officials should have done more to find out whether the girls truly made a pact to become pregnant. But she also said denying such a pact existed is "pretty naive."
"I don't think we heard the truth today," Dion said, adding that pop culture has glamorized teen pregnancy and that movies and celebrity pregnancies do not give girls an accurate picture of parenthood.
Perhaps we should blame movies like "Bella." If only we could see more abortion, there wouldn't be this teen pregnancy situation. Hollywood has glamorized a lot more than teen pregnancy. And that is a problem!
No. Abortion isn't the answer. Telling teens that high school motherhood is wonderful isn't the answer, either. The sexual behavior needs to be stopped in its tracks, before it gets started. If teenagers were involved in any other behavior that impacted the rest of their lives, the tactics would be completely different. Don't do drugs. Don't drink and drive. Stay in school. You cannot buy cigarettes before you are 18. Why, why, why is sex any different?
Birth control is nothing but a bandaid approach to the situation of non-marital sex! It does not always prevent pregnancy. It does not always prevent the transmission of disease. Is it really too much to wait to engage in such behavior until you've found that one person meant for you?!?!? Non-marital sex is as old as mankind, I know. But as the social stigma lessened, the disease rate skyrocketed. That's a fact. And that's what angers me so much about all the abstinence education funding that will be cut, starting with the next presidential administration. Until we are willing to face the facts, nothing is going to get better. I just hope that my future daughters- and sons-in-law are being as well-educated as my children will be!
Saturday, June 21, 2008
How do you pray?
From the Kippleys' blog:
Many Catholics pray the rosary daily or at least frequently. Many of us do so specifically because of the requests of our Lady at Fatima in 1917. Should we mention the intentions for which we are praying? Our Lady asked us to pray the rosary for world peace, for the conversion of Russia, and for the conversion of sinners throughout the world. Many of us have all sorts of other intentions for which we pray. We take a few moments or minutes to mention them at least mentally. Should we also specifically include the intentions for which Mary asked us to pray? I mean, as I understand it, she didn’t just ask us to pray the rosary; she asked us to pray the rosary for those specific intentions. It’s obviously just my personal opinion, but it seems to me that we should take the few seconds it takes to include those Fatima intentions before we pray the rosary.
The whole post.
Many Catholics pray the rosary daily or at least frequently. Many of us do so specifically because of the requests of our Lady at Fatima in 1917. Should we mention the intentions for which we are praying? Our Lady asked us to pray the rosary for world peace, for the conversion of Russia, and for the conversion of sinners throughout the world. Many of us have all sorts of other intentions for which we pray. We take a few moments or minutes to mention them at least mentally. Should we also specifically include the intentions for which Mary asked us to pray? I mean, as I understand it, she didn’t just ask us to pray the rosary; she asked us to pray the rosary for those specific intentions. It’s obviously just my personal opinion, but it seems to me that we should take the few seconds it takes to include those Fatima intentions before we pray the rosary.
The whole post.
Obama's Priority
As for other lines drawn in the sand, I reiterate my stance that Christians of good conscience cannot vote Obama:
Ready on Day One
…almost one year has passed since Obama made his vows to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund that abortion would be the first priority of his administration.“The first thing I’d do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act,” Obama said in his July speech to abortion advocates worried about the increase of pro-life legislation at the state level.
The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) is legislation Obama has co-sponsored along with 18 other senators that would annihilate every single state law limiting or regulating abortion, including the federal ban on partial birth abortion.
The 2007 version of FOCA proposed: “It is the policy of the United States that every woman has the fundamental right to choose to bear a child, to terminate a pregnancy prior to fetal viability, or to terminate a pregnancy after fetal viability when necessary to protect the life or health of the woman.”
Yes We Can!
Oh, but as long as he cares for those who are already born, right?!?!?!? Unlike all these uncaring, pro-war, fetus-worshipping, single-issue Catholics . . . . .
Ready on Day One
…almost one year has passed since Obama made his vows to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund that abortion would be the first priority of his administration.“The first thing I’d do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act,” Obama said in his July speech to abortion advocates worried about the increase of pro-life legislation at the state level.
The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) is legislation Obama has co-sponsored along with 18 other senators that would annihilate every single state law limiting or regulating abortion, including the federal ban on partial birth abortion.
The 2007 version of FOCA proposed: “It is the policy of the United States that every woman has the fundamental right to choose to bear a child, to terminate a pregnancy prior to fetal viability, or to terminate a pregnancy after fetal viability when necessary to protect the life or health of the woman.”
Yes We Can!
Oh, but as long as he cares for those who are already born, right?!?!?!? Unlike all these uncaring, pro-war, fetus-worshipping, single-issue Catholics . . . . .
Religious Persecution, a la 2008
Regular Guy shares an article about gay "marriage" and how it does hurt all of us. It is not a matter of "live and let live," as homosexuals won't let live!
In Liberalism Still Leads to Religious Persecution, Paul writes:
Persecution has begun, and will only increase. The culture war is a real war, with real lives at stake. Defeat is not an option.
All right. If the line in the sand is being drawn, count me in as having made my position clear!
In Liberalism Still Leads to Religious Persecution, Paul writes:
Persecution has begun, and will only increase. The culture war is a real war, with real lives at stake. Defeat is not an option.
All right. If the line in the sand is being drawn, count me in as having made my position clear!
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Bullying
Through My Eyes
It's a You Tube video that's been made by a boy who is being bullied at his school. Patrick Kohlmann made it to catch the attention of his school officials. How sad that bullying is so much on the rise. (And people worry about the socialization my homeschoolers are missing out on!) I'm sure there's some spiritual crisis at the root of the problem.
I wonder what's wrong that adults do not intervene. There was a girl I knew at Girl Scouts who was bullied by some of the other girls in our troop. I didn't go to the school they all attended, but I knew that they bullied her at school, too. I'm often haunted by some of the situations I witnessed with those girls. If only I had been less shy and insecure, I could have at least tried to tell off the bullies. But, certainly, the Girl Scout leaders should have done something. Their own daughters were a part of the problem, after all!
Knowing how bad bullying can be, I know that I was never bullied in school. However, I experienced one horrible year where a boy in my class picked on me quite a bit. I sometimes wonder about him and wonder what was wrong with his life that he chose to take out his problems on me. His "mini-bullying" made me angry for a number of years. Mostly, I was angry at myself for not standing up to him. But, I was very shy and insecure at that age (see above paragraph!), so there's not much I would have done. I imagine that's what made me a good target! Whatever else I could say about the situation, I guess it's a good sign that I've come far in life that I do hope things turned out well for him. Because if he didn't get over whatever was troubling him, he wouldn't make a very good husband/father/boss/co-worker.
I'd find it very interesting to see a "where are they now" on some of the nasty children I knew. Are they still bullying people? Do feel badly for what they did? Is it possible that they just didn't know how bad they were? Well, whatever the case, I pray today for both bullies and their victims. Especially you, Patrick!
It's a You Tube video that's been made by a boy who is being bullied at his school. Patrick Kohlmann made it to catch the attention of his school officials. How sad that bullying is so much on the rise. (And people worry about the socialization my homeschoolers are missing out on!) I'm sure there's some spiritual crisis at the root of the problem.
I wonder what's wrong that adults do not intervene. There was a girl I knew at Girl Scouts who was bullied by some of the other girls in our troop. I didn't go to the school they all attended, but I knew that they bullied her at school, too. I'm often haunted by some of the situations I witnessed with those girls. If only I had been less shy and insecure, I could have at least tried to tell off the bullies. But, certainly, the Girl Scout leaders should have done something. Their own daughters were a part of the problem, after all!
Knowing how bad bullying can be, I know that I was never bullied in school. However, I experienced one horrible year where a boy in my class picked on me quite a bit. I sometimes wonder about him and wonder what was wrong with his life that he chose to take out his problems on me. His "mini-bullying" made me angry for a number of years. Mostly, I was angry at myself for not standing up to him. But, I was very shy and insecure at that age (see above paragraph!), so there's not much I would have done. I imagine that's what made me a good target! Whatever else I could say about the situation, I guess it's a good sign that I've come far in life that I do hope things turned out well for him. Because if he didn't get over whatever was troubling him, he wouldn't make a very good husband/father/boss/co-worker.
I'd find it very interesting to see a "where are they now" on some of the nasty children I knew. Are they still bullying people? Do feel badly for what they did? Is it possible that they just didn't know how bad they were? Well, whatever the case, I pray today for both bullies and their victims. Especially you, Patrick!
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