Friday, April 23, 2010
Go Ahead, Tell Me...
Tell me that I'm a bad person. Not because of what I do or have done, but because I don't believe in your God.
Tell me that morality either doesn't exist or doesn't matter without religion.
Tell me that because I don't pray to your God that I am evil enough to burn for eternity while pedophile priests can spend eternity in bliss simply because they say "Oops, sorry. Guess I should have had better control of my urges. Forgive me."
Tell me that it doesn't matter that I try to be the best father, husband, son, brother, and person possible.
Tell me that the defining factor for my "eternal salvation" is whether or not I believe in the existence of a being who can best be described as an absentee father and whether or not I feed his ego by worshiping him.
Tell me it doesn't matter that I have such a strong desire to help people that I have chosen to pursue a career in nursing.
Tell me it doesn't matter that I will put my own needs, desires, and hobbies on hold and dedicate whatever time is needed to help family with projects (including those dedicated to their God) because I like helping others.
Tell me that it doesn't matter that I work to do the best possible job in my schooling, including trying to help and encourage my classmates wherever possible.
Tell me that it doesn't matter that when I saw someone drop money the other day I hurried to pick it up and chase down the person who had dropped it to return it because it was the right thing to do, and not because your God want's me to do that.
Tell me that all of the good things I do in my life don't matter.
Tell me that nothing I have done or will do in my life matters.
Tell me that I am evil and will burn forever, not because of my actions, but because I don't believe in your God. (After all, if I believed in him my actions wouldn't matter as I could just say "forgive me".)
... Now tell me why this God, who would create this system, deserves my devotion.
Tell me that morality either doesn't exist or doesn't matter without religion.
Tell me that because I don't pray to your God that I am evil enough to burn for eternity while pedophile priests can spend eternity in bliss simply because they say "Oops, sorry. Guess I should have had better control of my urges. Forgive me."
Tell me that it doesn't matter that I try to be the best father, husband, son, brother, and person possible.
Tell me that the defining factor for my "eternal salvation" is whether or not I believe in the existence of a being who can best be described as an absentee father and whether or not I feed his ego by worshiping him.
Tell me it doesn't matter that I have such a strong desire to help people that I have chosen to pursue a career in nursing.
Tell me it doesn't matter that I will put my own needs, desires, and hobbies on hold and dedicate whatever time is needed to help family with projects (including those dedicated to their God) because I like helping others.
Tell me that it doesn't matter that I work to do the best possible job in my schooling, including trying to help and encourage my classmates wherever possible.
Tell me that it doesn't matter that when I saw someone drop money the other day I hurried to pick it up and chase down the person who had dropped it to return it because it was the right thing to do, and not because your God want's me to do that.
Tell me that all of the good things I do in my life don't matter.
Tell me that nothing I have done or will do in my life matters.
Tell me that I am evil and will burn forever, not because of my actions, but because I don't believe in your God. (After all, if I believed in him my actions wouldn't matter as I could just say "forgive me".)
... Now tell me why this God, who would create this system, deserves my devotion.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Salad Dressing
(This entry is a re-post and expansion of another Facebook post. I find I naturally default to FB status updates to share my opinion and have not yet disciplined myself to write fully developed statements here rather than the truncated ideas there.)
I can't find any reliable sources to explain the current incarnation of the health care bill. It has morphed so completely during its journey that I am admittedly clueless as to what is included in it. Whatever its contents, I know it has become a mutated hybrid between private and public health care coverage. I don't see any way the two can successfully hybridize.
It's like oil and water. Sure, you can add some seasoning for flavor and shake them up in a bottle to create dressing, but they eventually separate. One supports the rise of the other. I'm not opposed to either oil or water, and the dressing can be tasty with the right herbs in it, but I don't pretend that the mixing of them will be indefinitely successful.
I don't personally see government sponsored health care coverage as beyond the scope of the purpose of the federal government. Their sole purpose (boiled down to a single statement) is to protect the citizens of this country. That protection currently includes keeping us safe from foreign threats and creating domestic order to keep us safe from each other. These two protections are maintained through a plethora of methods, from military might to jailing Martha Satan (Um, I mean Stewart. You know, that idea stealing, disrespectful-to-her-mother on national TV, self-righteous person who made stock trades with insider knowledge.). But what about protecting us from curable disease, simple viral infection, and financial ruin following treatment for a serious accident. There are many people in this country who, for one reason or another, cannot acquire or maintain health insurance through the private sector. These people are not currently being protected. This is why I am not inherently opposed to the idea of government sponsored, universal health care. It is not outside of the design principles and purpose of our government. That is, as long as it is done properly.
Similarly, allowing privately managed health care to flourish is also not outside of the edict of our government. We are, after all, a nation that functions primarily under the principles of capitalism. Protecting that right and ability is also a form of protection afforded by our political design. The problem here is that this system has not been successful enough. It works for many, but not all. So what should be done about it? A complete answer is ultimately beyond my ability and knowledge level. I do know that whatever is done, it will have impacts beyond medical treatment. Before proclaiming private insurance as inherently evil (though I do believe it is often mismanaged and so bureaucratic that it looses sight of its original purpose), think about where the money to build large office buildings, skyscrapers, shopping malls, and even hospitals comes from. Private insurance funds a very large portion of "big money" loans for large scale construction.
Ultimately, I don't see how two, intrinsically opposed forms of health care can be hybridized in a way that does not create serious issues outside of the realm of the problems it was intended to address. Does this hybrid put some companies under? Do financial burdens on the middle and lower-class working citizen push them into the realm of poverty, thus creating a bigger pool to drain the new middle-class? Do private insurance companies no longer have the capital to fund construction, thus eliminating more jobs?
Possibly.
It's also possible that it could work out. One thing to remember about humans in general and Americans specifically; we are adaptable. The doom-n-gloom predictions may prove true, in the short term. But they may also spur adaptations in how we do things that create an ultimately better system. We don't know exactly what will happen, but we do know we will get through it. Even if a flawed health care bill is passed (again, I admit to being ignorant on the specifics of the bill up for vote), America will eventually adapt.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
Cold feet.
I've noticed a peculiar female footwear phenomenon, particularly among the teen and twenty-something women. It would seem that these women's feet function on a thermostatic inverse. If it's cold outside, lets say about 40 degrees, they will wear long pants, 3 shirt layers, and a parka-like jacket with faux fur trim on the hood. But if you look to their feet, they have on nothing more than flip-flops with paper thin soles. Yet if it is hot, say 85 degrees, they will wear skimpy tops, short skirts... and heavy, fur-lined Ugg boots. This thermostatic conundrum is almost more puzzling than the bizarre popularity of Ugg(ly) boots in general.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
The retailer in my blood.
I was twice reminded today why I dislike certain stores and feel like venting about it.
Exhibit A: I went into "the big orange" and, after looking around the poorly merchandised tool and hardware departments, I asked an employee where I could find tool boxes. After repeating my request back to me in a puzzled tone (that sounded frighteningly like he didn't know what a tool box was), he said "Umm, I'm not sure. Ask the guy on the lift", and pointed to the head sticking over the industrial racking on the next aisle over before simply walking away. So an employee at HD doesn't know where (or possibly what) a tool box is and wants me to ask a guy who is 20 feet up on a scissor-lift.
Exhibit B: I was at a certain "Arts and Crafts" retailer and heading from the cash register toward the door. I had just spent a considerable amount of time reading shelf tags under empty spaces trying to find what I needed (or I should say, trying to figure out if they even carry what I want). So as I head out the door, already a little disgusted with their replenishment (hey, retail is in my blood), an employee comes around the corner of the customer service counter and literally shoves himself between the counter and me, nearly knocking me over, and simply keeps walking.
Judgment: Certain retailers will never understand how to take advantage of market conditions. With the number of unemployed people right now, they could easily replace their employees who fail at customer service with top-notch, mature, and intelligent people. Retail management is never easy and is especially difficult when working for a behemoth company that doesn't prioritize properly, but no manager should accept the kind of regular failures that some places seem to hold as their standard.
Exhibit A: I went into "the big orange" and, after looking around the poorly merchandised tool and hardware departments, I asked an employee where I could find tool boxes. After repeating my request back to me in a puzzled tone (that sounded frighteningly like he didn't know what a tool box was), he said "Umm, I'm not sure. Ask the guy on the lift", and pointed to the head sticking over the industrial racking on the next aisle over before simply walking away. So an employee at HD doesn't know where (or possibly what) a tool box is and wants me to ask a guy who is 20 feet up on a scissor-lift.
Exhibit B: I was at a certain "Arts and Crafts" retailer and heading from the cash register toward the door. I had just spent a considerable amount of time reading shelf tags under empty spaces trying to find what I needed (or I should say, trying to figure out if they even carry what I want). So as I head out the door, already a little disgusted with their replenishment (hey, retail is in my blood), an employee comes around the corner of the customer service counter and literally shoves himself between the counter and me, nearly knocking me over, and simply keeps walking.
Judgment: Certain retailers will never understand how to take advantage of market conditions. With the number of unemployed people right now, they could easily replace their employees who fail at customer service with top-notch, mature, and intelligent people. Retail management is never easy and is especially difficult when working for a behemoth company that doesn't prioritize properly, but no manager should accept the kind of regular failures that some places seem to hold as their standard.
Ok, I'll try it.
It was suggested that I try blogging. It would seem that some of what I have posted as a Facebook status update has been found to be interesting. I tend to just occasionally make a post based on whatever has my attention at the moment. I guess an appropriate way to begin this adventure would be to re-post some of my Facebook updates that I believe helped to instigate the suggestion of writing a blog:
... finds it silly how rude some people are when being polite. Twice today, after leaving a store and waiting to cross the parking lot, a car going one direction stopped and waved me across. The cars going the other direction did not. Both times, the people in the waiting cars got visibly annoyed with me for not crossing. ...They acted as if I was intentionally wasting their time and didn't seem to notice the other cars.
... finds it silly how rude some people are when being polite. Twice today, after leaving a store and waiting to cross the parking lot, a car going one direction stopped and waved me across. The cars going the other direction did not. Both times, the people in the waiting cars got visibly annoyed with me for not crossing. ...They acted as if I was intentionally wasting their time and didn't seem to notice the other cars.
Also of note when discussing silliness in manners: people who seem genuinely offended when you are polite or kind to them.
... reached his quota of nonsense,propaganda email forwards. Finally broke down and had to refute one. It wasn't the subject that prompted it, I was just in the right (or wrong) frame of mind for it to trigger a response.
... wonders how Lipton can call a tea Vanilla Caramel Truffle tea when it has no vanilla and no truffle. It's an ok earthy flavored tea, but a major dissapointment when you are expecting to taste vanilla.
... finds that the only people who aren't worth accepting because of their beliefs are those who believe that anyone with differing beliefs aren't worth accepting.
... reached his quota of nonsense,propaganda email forwards. Finally broke down and had to refute one. It wasn't the subject that prompted it, I was just in the right (or wrong) frame of mind for it to trigger a response.
... wonders how Lipton can call a tea Vanilla Caramel Truffle tea when it has no vanilla and no truffle. It's an ok earthy flavored tea, but a major dissapointment when you are expecting to taste vanilla.
... finds that the only people who aren't worth accepting because of their beliefs are those who believe that anyone with differing beliefs aren't worth accepting.
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