Monday, October 26, 2009
Reading Response 2
At one time, I was firm in my pro-life beliefs. I believed that a person was a person, no matter how small. I believed that aborting a pregnancy was murder. My convictions on this subject haven't changed, but the label that I put on it has. I still hold these beliefs to be true in my very heart and soul; As a devout Christian, I know that I would never abort my own child. But when it comes to the politics of the situation, my beliefs have changed. I am not pro-abortion; let me make that very clear. I am pro-choice, because I know that I would never want the government to control what I can or cannot do with my own body. There are many circumstances where abortion may be a better option for a woman. Maybe she's a girl of 14 and her boyfriend left her. She has no money and nowhere to go. Maybe she's the victim of rape. She doesn't want a constant reminder of the pain she has endured. Maybe she's someone whose health is too fragile to support a baby as well. Only the woman in question can choose what is best for her. I hate the thought of abortion, I hate that woman choose it every day merely as a form of birth control. But the fact still remains that it is her choice, and no one elses.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Reading Response #1--Equality
I would like to expand on the ideas we touched on in discussion, regarding female and male equality.
Now, to start, I’d just like to point out that by no means do I ever want to go back to the way things were before women got to vote, before we worked outside the home, before we had a voice.
But it would be nice to go back to a simpler time, where chivalry was still valued. I’m not going to lie--I am the type of girl who wants to be protected. Though I am very independent and strong, I still would like to marry a man who can take care of me. I enjoy having doors opened for me, jackets given to me, and otherwise.
I may be hypocritical, because, again, I do think of myself as someone who could make it on her own. But I don’t want to end up being successful and alone. I would never want to have such tunnel-vision concerning a career that I forget a desire to have a family and white-picket fence. Maybe some women really value the fact that they are finally equal to men in the workplace and in society--I, however, am content to let men do the dirty work.
You may think of me as one of those girls who is pushing herself down, not fighting for the equality that women so deserve. But let’s face it, “equality” has its down sides, as well. You won’t ever find me on the side of a road in the rain changing my own flat tire. I’m not ever going to go out and cut my own wood for the winter. I will never be a man’s possession, but I’m not going to pretend that I’m equal to him when I know there are things he can do that I cannot; or will not.
On the flip side, there are obviously things women can do that men cannot. We are two different creatures, and we were created, or evolved, to be different from one another. I for one, don’t believe in fighting to make everyone the same.
I am of the opinion that feminists flaunt openly their disgust of men and the way they so often act. But why be so open about it? Women are a man’s weakness. We can change their minds with a subtle approach much more easily than with sexist remarks. Do I think feminists are sexist? Yes, of course. Its all about supremacy. They are only fighting male-supremacy with female-supremacy.
So, in closing, I am proud of the steps women have made over the years in reaching equality with our male counterparts. Though I may not follow exactly in their footsteps, I am content with where women are in today’s society. But I choose to use men to my advantage, rather than push them away because I know I can make do on my own.
Now, to start, I’d just like to point out that by no means do I ever want to go back to the way things were before women got to vote, before we worked outside the home, before we had a voice.
But it would be nice to go back to a simpler time, where chivalry was still valued. I’m not going to lie--I am the type of girl who wants to be protected. Though I am very independent and strong, I still would like to marry a man who can take care of me. I enjoy having doors opened for me, jackets given to me, and otherwise.
I may be hypocritical, because, again, I do think of myself as someone who could make it on her own. But I don’t want to end up being successful and alone. I would never want to have such tunnel-vision concerning a career that I forget a desire to have a family and white-picket fence. Maybe some women really value the fact that they are finally equal to men in the workplace and in society--I, however, am content to let men do the dirty work.
You may think of me as one of those girls who is pushing herself down, not fighting for the equality that women so deserve. But let’s face it, “equality” has its down sides, as well. You won’t ever find me on the side of a road in the rain changing my own flat tire. I’m not ever going to go out and cut my own wood for the winter. I will never be a man’s possession, but I’m not going to pretend that I’m equal to him when I know there are things he can do that I cannot; or will not.
On the flip side, there are obviously things women can do that men cannot. We are two different creatures, and we were created, or evolved, to be different from one another. I for one, don’t believe in fighting to make everyone the same.
I am of the opinion that feminists flaunt openly their disgust of men and the way they so often act. But why be so open about it? Women are a man’s weakness. We can change their minds with a subtle approach much more easily than with sexist remarks. Do I think feminists are sexist? Yes, of course. Its all about supremacy. They are only fighting male-supremacy with female-supremacy.
So, in closing, I am proud of the steps women have made over the years in reaching equality with our male counterparts. Though I may not follow exactly in their footsteps, I am content with where women are in today’s society. But I choose to use men to my advantage, rather than push them away because I know I can make do on my own.
This I Believe
I believe in patriotism. I believe in learning the history of your country and in being overwhelmed with pride when you look at your nation’s flag. It’s the way I feel every time I see the stars and stripes, every time I recite the Pledge of Allegiance, every time I listen to the poetry and power of the national anthem.
Thinking about patriotism, I am reminded of stories about WWII America, where kids collected scrap metal and women became nurses to support the war effort. Men like my own great-grandfather were sent to Europe or the Philippines to defend our freedom at home. I remember hearing about how the country banded together when John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King were assassinated. And I can clearly recollect my own personal experiences on September 11, 2001.
Being in 4th grade, my political and world knowledge was slim at the time. But I could see the tears in my mother’s anxious eyes, telling me to keep watching the news. The screen remained fixed on an image of two identical skyscrapers, burning. And, ashes to ashes, they all fell down. I didn’t understand. Sometimes, I feel like I still don’t.
Now, at almost 18 years old, my political beliefs and opinions on the world have molded into something I am proud of. But besides that, I firmly believe that our nation can sometimes be too focused on red and blue states. If American citizens could only put themselves back to the mindset that they had on “the day after”, September 12, 2001, we would no longer be worried about Democrats or Republicans. We would be one nation, united in our strength and our patriotism.
Thinking about patriotism, I am reminded of stories about WWII America, where kids collected scrap metal and women became nurses to support the war effort. Men like my own great-grandfather were sent to Europe or the Philippines to defend our freedom at home. I remember hearing about how the country banded together when John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King were assassinated. And I can clearly recollect my own personal experiences on September 11, 2001.
Being in 4th grade, my political and world knowledge was slim at the time. But I could see the tears in my mother’s anxious eyes, telling me to keep watching the news. The screen remained fixed on an image of two identical skyscrapers, burning. And, ashes to ashes, they all fell down. I didn’t understand. Sometimes, I feel like I still don’t.
Now, at almost 18 years old, my political beliefs and opinions on the world have molded into something I am proud of. But besides that, I firmly believe that our nation can sometimes be too focused on red and blue states. If American citizens could only put themselves back to the mindset that they had on “the day after”, September 12, 2001, we would no longer be worried about Democrats or Republicans. We would be one nation, united in our strength and our patriotism.
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