It's been awhile since I did a post on capital punishment.

Jeffrey Matthews is condemned to die next month, despite evidence that may prove his innocence.

This is why I could never sit on a jury trial for a murder case--no, I would NOT be willing to sentence someone to death, thankyouverymuch. And I don't think the state has the right to do so either.

bumper sticker madness

I saw a bumper sticker today that read "Real Men Love Jesus".

I'd like to design one that says "Real Men Love Consent". Because seriously--we women can march the streets day and night crying out to stop sexual assaults, but it is the men (who commit the majority of sexual assaults) who need to be taking more action.

Men--stop laughing at rape jokes*. Stop implying women are 'asking for it'. Start treating all females the way you would want any and all men to treat your girlfriend/wife/mother/sister/daughter (and if you're okay with any of these women in your life being attacked, you are in need of serious help).

Or let's broaden things more: "Real Men Are Respectful". There are plenty of ways to be disrespectful without being a sexual predator. You don't even need to be a feminist/egalitarian. I find nothing inherently disrespectful in complementarianism if it's entered into of one's own accord. Not my thing, but whatever.

Just be respectful of your fellow human beings. I don't need to be put on a pedestal for being female, but don't try to knock me off my feet either.




*unless, and I find it highly unlikely, you're using humor as a way of dealing with your own experiences as a rape victim. People use humor to deal with all sorts of trauma.

On being liberal and childless

Sometimes I wonder if I would still be pro-life if I had never had an abortion.

And the truth is, I don't think I would be. I would continue to spout forth the same liberal party line, without giving any thought to the impact abortion truly has.

I didn't think I could call myself liberal and still be pro-life. The classic image of the pro-lifer is of a religiously conservative, slut-shaming, clinic-bombing nutcase. I didn't want to be associated with that.

So for myself, I've been redefining what it means to be liberal. And my own definition is this: I believe in the preservation of life, liberty, equality, and the pursuit of happiness for the born and unborn alike, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other such factor.

I support universal health care, gay marriage and adoption, and measures to preserve the environment. I oppose abortion, the death penalty, and unnecessary war.

Some of my pro-choice friends wrote about how they never realized how important it was to be pro-choice until they did have children of their own, and thus became more resolute pro-choice activists. Of course, being without children I keep being told that I'm not allowed to have a say in the issue, just as men aren't allowed to because they'll never get pregnant.

More accurately put: men and childless women aren't allowed to espouse the "wrong" view on abortion. Pro-choice men are welcomed into that inner sanctum.

My husband is a cancer survivor. Chemotherapy essentially rendered his sperm useless before I'd even met him, and he hadn't considered it important to put any on ice before beginning treatment. People who don't know that about him are always asking ME why we don't have children yet. Because it's always the woman's fault, dontcha know?

I talk about adoption, and it's always "but don't you want children of your OWN?" as if someone else's child is somehow defective or less worthy of love.

"Don't you want children who look like you?" I'm in an interracial marriage...even if we did have kids they'd look more like my hubby than me.

"What's WRONG with you? Are you so SELFISH about preserving your figure or something?" Figure? I'm plus-sized with hips that were designed for baby-bearing. Come on...it's not like I've got some cute, tiny, girlish figure. Bless my husband-he's more than happy to describe in explicit detail about what is wrong with his sperm and why he'll never impregnate anyone.

Still-it hurts. People can be incredibly thoughtless when they don't know the facts.

Full Frontal Feminism: Who Decides What Makes A Feminist?

Never mind the title, it's safe for work and pretty much sums up how I feel about feminism also.

Yes, I believe women are people too. I despise the attitude that being pro-life is somehow "anti-feminist" (and Feminists for Life would have a thing or two to say about that as well...). Is it really so horrible that a woman would think it's wrong? I'm tired of being treated like some kind of "traitor to the cause".

I want a better world for women to have their babies in. Let's start by removing things like poverty, racism, violence and homophobia and replace them with things like education, health care...ya know, things that feminists supposedly like. The difference being that I also abhor racism and violence against the unborn.

Utah reveals its savage side

The state of Utah executed a man last night by firing squad, a method so savage that even in the 19th century the constitutionality of the method was being challenged. In a 21st century twist, the Attorney General of Utah announced the execution on Twitter.

For those wondering why Utah allows this method while no other state does, there is a bit of Mormon theology involved. "Blood atonement", in LDS theology, means that unless blood is shed a condemned person cannot properly atone for their crimes and be redeemed in the next life.

This YouTube video shows a quiet, yet chilling view of the execution chamber following the event (the victim's body is not shown).

Frightening!

Belgian euthanasia nurses admit to killing without patient consent.

Could anything be more scary than the possibility of going into the hospital and being killed by the people who are supposed to be caring for you?

I'm certainly glad I'm not Belgian...

Busy

Overwhelmed. Keeping my head together.

I recently lost my last grandparent. Grandma was a dear, wonderful woman--and now she's gone.