Simple thoughts about complex issues...

Americans are conditioned to expect solutions – complete solutions. When a problem is presented, we want it eradicated. Less than that is considered a fail. Close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades.

When faced with huge problems like the Syrian refugee crisis, we paint with a broad brush saying “Keep them out. The risk is too great.” Or “Let them in. We are compassionate people.” We’d like to choose A or B, and the problem is solved.

But it won’t be…both sides are right in their arguments. Short of a radical change of heart on the part of our administration, there is no possibility of defeating the source of this problem, and even then the complexities of the crisis do not bring a satisfactory solution for innocents in danger.

We have to do the thing that Americans are reluctant to do…fight the small battles. We cannot take a broad action, declare a clean win and then move on. We need to beat back the enemy, reclaiming ground one small parcel at a time. Expressing compassion in practical ways to those in distress will take tenacity, arduous effort, prudence and wisdom. And the progress will be painfully small and slow for our American mindset. We don’t appreciate or understand centuries of conflict between people.

While our government is capable of making broad condemnations and taking strong military action against the perpetrators of evil, (if only they would) compassion is best expressed by the people of this great nation. It is better to do the small things at hand, even if it means helping only a few and not all.

Compassionate Americans need to be asking themselves how they can help those few right now. It is a temptation to throw up our hands that the problem is too big to be solved, and absolve ourselves of action. It’s easy to hide behind the conundrum that all deserve help, but not all will receive it – so nothing should be done until all can be helped. A life saved, is a life saved. A family receiving the opportunity to live where they can use their talents to provide for themselves, is one less family caught in the crossfire of evil – territory taken back from the enemy, however small.

There are organizations and efforts now that are in need of our abundant financial resources to do this. We need to seek them out. I suggest Samaritan’s Purse, and Glenn Beck’s Nazarene Project. (Read about the Nazarene Project here: http://www.glennbeck.com/2015/09/09/the-nazarene-fund-frequently-asked-questions) I am sure they are more that are doing good work as well.

As well, I am challenged about my attitude toward the refugees that already reside in my community. How can I help them step into opportunities to experience freedom and autonomy? How can our community appreciate their identity, and encourage their education in liberty as they begin to enjoy a life without fear of danger and death? How do we live out our values to instill trust and hope in those who have suffered so much?

We are far from the danger zone; yet we are capable of simple and compassionate actions to assist those that are in the middle of the battle.

And we should.

In which I can't keep quiet about politics...

VOTE YES ON PROPOSITION 1

District Only Voting is the most Fair and Equal system available to our county.

Across our nation, states and counties are divided into districts. The premise behind these divisions is that not only should we give equal populations equal representation, but that we should recognize diversity of needs as dictated by different geographical locations, e.g. cities have different needs than do rural areas. Districts allow multiple geographical areas with diverse needs an equal voice in government.

Currently, our county government has been operating under the misguided premise that it is more fair for everyone in the county to vote on every council position, and that every councilperson should represent the entire county, striving to represent all citizens, no matter their district.

The problem with this premise is that not all citizens’ or locations HAVE the same needs or community values. Effective government recognizes this truth and, by creating districts and electing representatives that are residents of each, allows a diversity of community needs and values to be equally addressed by county government.

The creation of districts, and district-only voting ensures fair and equal representation for residents of our county. In recent elections under the county-wide system, residents of some districts were not allowed the privilege of selecting their own representative. Though residents of the district voted overwhelmingly for a candidate, the population outside of their district over-ruled their choice. They were left with a representative that they believed did not speak for their concerns and values.

There’s nothing fair about that.

An example, simply put, would be that residents of Seattle wouldn’t be happy if their government representatives were chosen by the residents of Quincy or Yakima…and vice versa.

Our federal government uses district only voting in each state, and also in our nation. If we follow the logic of the current county-wide voting, our nation should allow every state to vote on every Senator or Congressman. No one would say that is fair, and neither is it fair and equitable in a county situation.

The result of county-wide voting is to disallow fair representation for the diverse communities within the county by giving power to the majority of voters who are more likely to live in urban centers.  

If we want to see fair and equal representation for all citizens of Whatcom County, we will approve Proposition 1, district-only voting.

SuperBowl 49...It seemed sadly familiar...

What a game! What an ending!

 

I know…despite the disappointment, life is generally unchanged for almost everyone who cared about a Seahawks win…But last night, I felt a significant sadness, and heaviness. I even wondered at the strength of my reaction, and then, it came to me…

 

That crazy Snatch of Defeat from the Jaws of Victory was just too reminiscent of a bad experience we have had with football before.

 

Back in 2002, Jess was a junior in high school, playing football for Lynden Christian. He saw lots of playing time, and was called on, during the playoffs to be the PAT kicker when the senior in that position injured his knee. The Lyncs were having a great playoff run, as was Jess, and they had made it to the semi-finals in the Tacoma Dome. A tough, back and forth game against the Elma Eagles was played there. As the clock wound down to only seconds left, the Lyncs had a slim lead (19-14) and possession of the ball – but fourth down. The coaches called an unconventional play to seal the win. Our quarterback kept the ball and ran backwards to our end zone to take a safety – which would give the Eagles 2 more points, but would not allow them another possession. LC would win 19-16.

 

Except for one little thing…

 

Our quarterback executed the play but as he ran out the back of the end zone, he dropped the ball – IN the end zone. As spectators, we were all trying to figure out just what had been pulled off. The play was so unexpected! As we began to realize the game had been won…whistle blown, safety signaled, score change registered on the clock, time expired…I saw the Elma coach yelling and yelling at his boys. In response, one of the Eagles went to the ball in the end zone, picked it up, brought it to the ref and showed him that he had possession of the ball in the end zone…The ref signaled a touchdown…a WHAT????...and all the refs ran off the field, no consultations with the coaches. The scoreboard was adjusted to reflect the new score: Elma 20, LC 19.

 

It was just like last night: a moment of soaring elation followed by a gut punch that seemed inexplicable, and was completely unexpected…And a certain victory became a crushing loss.

 

And it all hinged on one little point of execution.

 

If you were feeling badly for the grown men who suffered disappointment last night, you can imagine how we were feeling for the young men of the Lyncs for whom this disappointment, and ensuing confusion about what happened, was a big event in their lives.

 

We were sad for many days…and worried about our quarterback, who had to carry more responsibility for his action than I think a kid that age should.

 

The sadness and frustration might have been somewhat mitigated if the refs had shown the grace to explain their ruling to our coaches and team. Their lack of integrity on this point left everyone feeling that there could be some injustice to the call that ended their season. And indeed, there may still be some debate about it to this day.

 

In the end, it was a marvelous opportunity for our boys and their coaches to show good character, and they did. Our quarterback handled this challenge with amazing maturity and perspective. Our coaches, though encouraged to protest, declined to do so. We would take our lumps, and not cause a kafuffle for Elma. Rules are rules, and it’s true: life is not always fair. They learned things about life, and values, and integrity that they would not have if the game was won.

 

Best of all, our entire community showed a level of caring and support for our boys that was an encouragement and a solace…for all of us, moms included.

 

Jess was awarded the WIAA Sportsmanship Award for that game, but that didn’t mollify him. To this day, he would rather have had the win…as would every kid that was on the team. They don’t just remember that day; they feel it.

 

…Just like I did last night when the Hawks won the game…except for one little thing.

 

This time, I have the benefit of the hindsight of our first experience. Some disappointments are great for a moment, but they pass. What happens is not as important as how you handle it.

 

I think we are seeing the Hawks handling this well (with the exception of a few minutes of ignominy on the field…BOYS!). I’m admiring their willingness to take the blame, to be grateful for the opportunity of playing, to compliment their opponent, to just look ahead to what they will do next. I’ve seen good character.

 

Oh, yes, people remind us that it’s only a game…Regardless, it can be used for good, in many ways.

 

Go Hawks!

Go Marshawn!

Marshawn Lays Into SuperBowl Media

I love what he had to say today. Just like I loved what he has said each media day.

 

Just because you are a great athlete with accomplishments that are viewed weekly on a nationwide stage, you are not necessarily one who wants to follow that up with a lot of talk about it. Obviously, the guy is an introvert.

 

He DOES stuff. He doesn’t talk about it. And why should he have to?

 

I get it that the NFL is big business, and as one of its employees you have certain obligations to further the business. Although Marshawn’s tactics are not satisfying the reporters, I believe that he’s creating plenty of draw and interest with it. He’s following the rules, enhancing the NFL’s bottom line, and pays the fine when he doesn’t.

 

I disagree with the reporter that asked him “Why are you being such a jerk to us?” He’s not being a jerk. He’s being true to himself, and protecting his privacy. He doesn’t care what they think, and he’s not willing to give them tidbits of info with which to create a story that they hope will bring accolades to themselves.

 

I say, GO MARSHAWN! Be yourself. Stick with what is important to you. Thanks for being a bite of reality in a media blitz that encourages navel gazing and an overabundance of redundant football strategy. You’re right – we don’t need to talk that much. Just be all about that action, boss.

 

Well, except for that crotch grab action…We could live without that, boss. 

 

It's only fair...

Today as people are congratulating the winning candidates, I want to take a moment to appreciate the people behind the scenes who make it happen.

This may or may not have something to do with the fact that I am the mom of a campaign manager, 3 times over.

Until this happened, I had very little idea of what goes into a campaign. Let me tell you, it’s a lot of blood, sweat, tears, anxiety, strategizing, communicating, organizing, mistakes and triumphs -- over a multitude of hours.

Because of the work of the managers and their team members, you get to know the candidate and what he or she believes. They are the ones who create opportunities for the candidate to communicate the vision and principles he or she espouses.

The campaign team works to determine which voters know the candidate, and which don’t, and where to target their communication. They deal with budgets and must decide how best to spend the money to communicate the message. They evaluate feedback and refine the message. They coordinate phone banks and door-belling and write the copy for the ads. They become experts on the issues that are most important to the voters, and help prepare the candidate to have an answer for every question that might come up.

They attend a plethora of forums, debates, fund-raisers, parades and wave signs on the street. For many months, the campaign is the priority activity of their lives. They make many sacrifices, not so they can be known, but so their candidate is.

Today, the winning candidates are receiving congratulations – and rightly so. But I just want to say another congratulations to all those behind the scenes, whether they work for winners or losers, for their dedication, hard work and commitment to the election process. You have lived out your conviction to promote what our country needs to be the best it can be – and I laud you for that.

I hope today that you are feeling satisfied. Undoubtedly, you are weary…I hope that you get to put your feet up for just a moment before the governing begins!

Apparently, modesty is just for girls who don't look good in bikinis...

Lately, I keep hearing things about modesty and how the church objectifies women by insisting on it. They think that pretty soon, we’ll be all turtlenecks and burqas, and HOLY COW, how oppressive is that!

I hear women saying that THEY ARE WOMEN, hear them roar, and THEY ARE SEXY and that it is their right to be sexy. For men to look at women and note, perhaps with a lustful thought or two, that they are sexy is objectification, and the result of a character flaw. Control yourself, you sex-obsessed beasts. We are curvy, and have breasts – deal with it!

(But I thought you wanted to look…sexy…which, is it not, an attempt to be especially appealing to the male of the species?)

The new standard feminists are demanding is that sexiness be included as a characteristic in the equality of value, capability, and performance of women. I think they’re saying, “We’re just the same as men, except we’re different!”

Given that God created men and women with an urge to merge, I think it is foolish for us to expect that women can dress with physical assets on display, and men will be blasé about it.

I reiterate, isn’t the purpose of dressing sexily to prove one’s hotness? The feminist clarion call, for many years, has been that we are more than sex objects; we are intelligent, capable, contributors in our society. When a woman dresses so that her cleavage is on display, isn’t she objectifying herself? Isn’t she saying, I’m smart, and capable, but be sure you don’t miss that I have big breasts too? Isn’t she saying, my physical assets are on par with my character and capabilities? Are they? What about those of us who don’t look good in bikinis? Aren’t they implying that we are inferior women because we lack the physical characteristics whose display they are defending?

Women can holler and complain about men’s objectification of the sexy, but I maintain that the woman who dresses with low-cut bodices and tight, short skirts is objectifying herself. She’s saying that her breasts and booty are equal in value to her intangible characteristics, and it’s an invitation for others to assume the same.

I’m not advocating for turtlenecks and burqas, don’t get me wrong. {Sidebar: Why do the burqa and the bikini get paired anyway? As if those of us stumping for more modesty are going to embrace the practices of a culture who treat women as chattel! There’s a lot of spectrum between the bikini and the burqa!}

Burqas are another form of objectification. That culture is saying to their women, “You are a collection of parts which, if seen, can only lead to perversion.” This requirement is not protective. It is disrespectful.

I think that, for the most part, we women know when we are dressing to expose and draw attention. We know what kind of attention we are seeking. If I am wearing something that makes it difficult for a man to look me in the eye, I am reducing my opportunity to be respected as a contributing member of society…not because of his view of me – but because of the value I put on myself.

As I said, I’m not seeking to clothe the women of America in turtlenecks and shapeless dresses. I think every culture has varying standards when it comes to modesty, and immodesty. I’m not proposing a universal uniform. There is nothing wrong with dressing attractively, or with being beautiful…Just as there is nothing wrong with being fashion-challenged, or physically outside of the current standards for being beautiful.

For myself, I wish to dress in a way that doesn’t draw attention, either by flashiness or homeliness. I enjoy my wardrobe, but I don’t want it to compete for the definition of who I am.

I just don’t understand why women, who are wholly committed to equality, now turn to demanding the right to objectify themselves.

It seems nonsensical to me.

Change, The

Apparently, I am going through The Change.

And I’m kind of anxious to see how I turn out when it’s all over. Maybe I’ll finally be energetic, optimistic, and send birthday cards on time! I wonder if I’ll stop worrying, and lose my voracious appetite, and start to like to exercise…Oh the possibilities!

However, I have to admit, that most days the evidence doesn’t support the realization of these hopeful transformations.

I’ve heard that some women display Jezebel-like behaviors as they go through The Change. Some seem to lose touch with reality, and create conflicts wherever they go. These incidents are usually reported by someone who also says, “She was never like this before!!”

I’ve always been kind of afraid of that happening to me…And I’m not sure that it has, or hasn’t – because the overwhelming feeling I have at this time is not malice, but one of being fed up. Yes – just fed up. I’m over it. Not my circus; not my monkeys. Nothing to prove and nothing to lose...I won’t be dropping everything to work on your problem.

My new mantra: I’m going through The Change, and things are gonna be different around here!

I submit that these “Jezebels” just might be women who have been stuffing it for many years and finally decide to speak their mind -- and damn the torpedoes! They say what they see, and don’t sugarcoat it anymore. They register an opinion, and don’t cede their intended plan to the perceived common good. They object, and don’t worry about feelings. They pick up and pursue goals they have left on the back burner for years.

And the people around them are surprised, bewildered, and say “She was never like this before!”

Sorry to rock your world, people…but I am like this now. And it’s not so much about what I’m doing, as it is about what I am NOT doing anymore. I’m done with measuring myself by others’ standards. I will live by my own convictions, and not always strive to be acceptable to the elusive and changing values of the world. I have gained a thing called confidence, and I don’t have time to mess around anymore. Life is for living, not for wishing…And that means accepting what is, and dealing.

And that means, dear loved ones, you have to deal with me too.

Here’s hoping you can see beyond the surprise, and not think of me as Jezebel…And here’s hoping that I retain a little tact even as I accomplish The Change.

Because, you know: total depravity and all that. It’s still a bad mix with hormones.