Pro Choice? Are you sure?

Since Roe V. Wade America has been divided between the 'Pro-Choice' and the 'Pro-Life.' I often hear people who are pro choice say things like, 'I wouldn't get an abortion myself, but that's my choice.' or 'its none of my business what someone else does with their body.' There are variations, some don't want children or only want a certain number, some are just trying to support woman. The personal reasons are different but the idea is the same; My body, My choice.

Now there's a lot that could be said about that but what I want to get to today is the question of why. Why are pro life advocates against 'choice?' Why can't they accept woman's 'right' to control her own body? Why can't they just not have abortions and let everyone else make their own decisions? 

Or more importantly; Why they think abortion is wrong in the first place.

You see the reason that they are pro life is the reason that they can't stand by in silence.

From what I understand, to be pro life is to believe that every life should be protected from unjust attacks. To believe that human life has an inherent dignity and should be respected, from its beginning to natural death. Its the belief that that life begins at the moment when an egg and sperm are joined to create a new strand of DNA, entirely unique and completely human. Its to believe that the value of life to be constant, not variable. 

See I really think that that's the heart of the matter: one side says that the definition  and value of life changes based on conditions (such as; age, born or pre-born, conditions of conception, medical conditions, the mother's perception, or local law.) The other holds it to be constant, unchanged by circumstance. 

Consider this; in some states the abortion cutoff is considered 24 weeks, in others it's 20 weeks. This is mainly based off of 'fetal viability.'  The problem with this is 1.) It is somewhat inconclusive, most experts say fetal viability is at 22 weeks, but the youngest premi on record was born at 21 weeks. 2.) It is subject to change, medical advancements are being made every year making survival in early births more likely.

But what is the difference between a fetus who is dependent on it's mother for the necessary nourishment to develop and a baby who is likewise dependent on others for the same things?

Genetically a fetus registers the same at all points of its development, from conception to birth (and after.)  From a DNA test science would classify them all the same way and as the same thing, human.

So a fetus is human, scientifically, but does it have the same value? How is human value to be determined? Is it the ability to survive on one's own? Then that would class babies, as well as those with disabilities or of advanced age, as of a lesser value. And who decides, is it different for different cases?

That doesn't sound right does it?

You see when you say that you are pro choice, aren't you really saying that you think individuals should have the right to assign different values to humans according to circumstance? If you can decide when someone starts being a person, then does it not follow that you also decide when they stop being one? What is the difference between a human fetus and a human person?

If a fetus is only a mass of human genetic material and only becomes a person after a certain point then someone has to draw the line, someone has to say when that is. Do we have that right? Should it be an individual's choice to define the personhood of another 'potential' person?

Should anyone have that kind of power?

Sunrise, Camera, Coffee

I always said I'd never be a morning person but I think I may have fallen in love with sunrise photography....and coffee but that's nothing new.

When Life Smells Like Spring

Dare I say it could be spring? That winter may indeed have let us loose from his chill grasp?

Forgive the dramatics but if you've been following the weather in the Minnesota area lately then maybe you can understand where I'm coming from. If not I'll put it simply; winter would not END. Every time it started to warm up it would snow again. This last time it snowed on May 1st, May Day, we woke up the next morning to around 18" of snow and no power. Now I like snow well enough, but really that was too much.

I have been starved for life and color. I drink in every blade of grass and devour the sight of anything flowering or even just looking a little greener than it has for the past several months. I've started several blog posts on this topic but the reality of a gray, or even white, world stifled my efforts each time. Not even last years spring photos (which never got posted here when they were new) could spur me on past the first effort.

But now there is life in the world again. Fresh grass and the strong new shoots of tiger lilies and daylilies spread green across the lawn. Daffodils proudly display their colors, first of the year. The magnolia is in full bloom, white but living, not cold and lifeless as the snow it resembles. Even the sky is bluer.

Its been warm this week, more like summer than spring, but it was the sunlight this morning that stirred up my spring fever more than anything else. I'd taken pictures earlier in the week but everything was still so gray then, today it's bright and alive.

I know I've rambled a good bit here but its spring and I can't help myself. So thanks for enduring all that, enjoy the photos and your own spring, or whatever season it is where you live.

Magnolia 

Daffodils 

Resignation

What do you do with a Pope when he stops being a Pope? 

This and several other questions came to me when the news of Benedict the XVI's resignation was release. Until now I haven't actually done anything to answer these questions (partly because half my research endeavors end in frustration at being unable to find exactly what I want,) thankfully there are by now enough articles details the event to answer most of them without to much digging. 

My first question was what his title would be; was he a bishop now? A cardinal? According the news articles I just finished scanning through this was a question that was asked in the Vatican too, after much research they decided on "pope emeritus Benedict XVI" the title "Roman Pontiff emeritus Benedict XVI" was also mentioned though I am unclear as to the usage of each. It was also decided that he would be referred to as "His Holiness Benedict XVI" and addressed as "Your Holiness." The word 'emeritus' I had to look up, according to merriam-webster.com it means;

one retired from professional life but permitted to retain as an honorary title the rank of the last office held

I had also initially wondered if Benedict would participate in the conclave and it appears that he won't. I hadn't really though he would but then the entire situation is rather unusual. 

Which brings be to another point, Benedict resigned do to old age and health reasons. The last pope to resign did so 600 years ago, what were his reasons? According to Father William Saunders' article "Can the Pope Retire?"  it was in a quest for peace in a time of division:

Pope Gregory XII (1406 - 1415) was elected as the legitimate pope at a time when there were two anti-popes: The Avignon Pope, Benedict XIII, who was supported by the French king; and the Pisa Pope, John XXIII, who was supported by conciliarists of the renegade Council of Pisa. (Please be sure to note that neither of these two latter mentioned pope were really pope.) Finally, at the Council of Constance (an official council), in order to heal the Church, Pope Gregory XII officially resigned, Benedict XIII resigned and John XXIII was deposed; Pope Martin V (1417 - 1431) was then elected as the legitimate successor of St. Peter, following Gregory XII.

The stories behind other resignations are also detailed in Fr. Saunders' article; in brief the reasons range from imprisonments that prevented the popes from leading the church to, sadly, bribery.

Why haven't more popes resigned? Again I reference Fr. Saunders;

First, if a pope resigns from office, there will always be the temptation to challenge the authority of the new pope, pitting him against the old. Secondly, in modern times, the Church has been blessed with truly holy popes who have been strong leaders. Third, the Church has definitely made itself more independent, free of political machinations from secular leaders.
Sense Benedict is to retire to a life of prayer and will no longer be involved in any decision making we can hope that there will be no attempt to cause a rift in the Church using Her old and the new Shepherds.

I suppose with the pope having resigned instead of having died in office the transition will likely be less bitter sweat them most, but still a time of confusion.  On that note I will finish this up with a short prayer;

Mother Mary pray for your church and her Shepherd, past and future, and guide Her in this time and always. 

God Bless, Rita

American is a not a Government

As an American I am appalled and saddened by the direction our country is moving, and indeed has been moving for a very long time. As a nation we are dependent on the governmint. The we should not be dependent on the government; the government is dependent on the us.

I believe in America, not as a government but, as an ideal. I believe in pioneers, in communities, in a in people who stand by each other. I believe in individual’s freedom, in so far as it is neither harmful to another nor detrimental to the continuation of the nation as a whole. I believe in a nation that Trusts in God. 

Americans build cities, companies, and families. We build with sweat, dreams, and faith. We don't need governmint to give us our dreams, we chaise them on our own. 

Americans stand strong...
 

       God Bless America

Teaching the Future

 How do you explain abortion to a child? How do you tell them that this common practice stops a beating heart? How can you say it is alright when just a few years ago they were just the same as the babies who are legally put to death every day? Murder should not be taught as an acceptable alliterative to becoming a parent.

Stop preaching about choices and look at what is going on around you. You could not choose your parents, nor your siblings, nor any other member of your family. What gives you the right to choose which children you will call yours...and which ones you can deny ever existed? You chose the father, now you need to face the future.  It is hard. It is scary. But you got through childhood once; parenthood  is your second chance. Our generation is defined by what we give the next; 

                                Give them life. 

[Image borrowed from  https://www.facebook.com/1000000PeopleAgainstAbortion and https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=386958118036875&set=a.152089084857114.37654.146273698771986&type=1&theater no copyright infringement intended. ]

Why are they Killing Babies?

My nine year old brother can’t understand why someone would kill babies. “Don't they remember that they were babies too?” he asked me. We think that children can’t understand the evil of our times, but the painful beauty of children is that they can see the wrong, without being burdened by the facts and reasoning shouted by either side. He doesn't know how an abortion is performed, but he knows that it means in the simplest terms; someone is killing babies. He doesn't know why people would do such a thing but he knows that, “when I’m president I’m going to make a law so that nobody can do that anymore.” He doesn't know the fancy words that they try and trick us with. He doesn't know the number of children lost to us. He doesn't know it all, but he knows what matters; people are killing babies and that’s wrong.

I told him that I hoped it wouldn't take until he was old enough to be president to stop abortion. I pray that someone will stop this now, because I don’t ever want to see another nine year old who knows what the evil of abortion is.

Lord, have mercy on our children that they may live to see the end of this horrible time in our history. Have mercy on us that we may see the same.  

PS. All quotes are paraphrased as I didn’t have pen and paper during our conversation. 

The Most Dangerous Place In The World

I cried when I watched this.

I ask anyone who doesn't agree with this video to either come up with some logical argument or contradictory evidence (if you can find any), or else keep your defense of your 'choice' to yourself.

This video does not belong to me. I did not make it. I do, however, agree with it.