Abortion - Edited 4/4/2010

EDIT: 4/4/2010 - I am being unfair to religion (Catholic here) in this post. Not because my point is bad, but because of my intentions and emotions when I wrote this. I have a personal policy not to censor or edit my "published" writings. (By edit I mean change what I wrote.) I believe when I click publish it will republish to 4/4/2010, but I posted this in late 2009. That said, when I wrote this it was with a bit of a personal vendetta\agenda against religion. I wish to apologize for this, and any (of the one or two that look at this :) ) offenses I might have caused. I believe if I am to cultivate wisdom under the context of virtue, it must be clear, logical, and without motivation in itself of agenda. Intentions do matter, and my intentions here were not virtuous. I still do however hold the same stance in regard to abortion.
END EDIT

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/11/23/kennedy.abortion/index.html
This article is about the rejection of communion for being pro-choice.

I replied to the article and I am posting the comment I made here, as I believe I conveyed my idea (view on pro-choice vs pro-life) well.

"The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops lobbied...."
I believe we should have stricter definitions for allowing religious institutions to skip out on taxes since they are an exception (i.e. tax most of them). I find it ridiculous that untaxed money can go to politics indirectly through religious groups.

Second I will bump a comment which I whole heartedly agree with, and corrects a misunderstood concept in regard to abortion debate:
"Whats interesting is how many of my uncles in the priesthood are for abortion rights. They are old enough to remember the days of coat hangers and back alley abortions and the mess that that causes. They still believe its a sin, but they believe that your sins are between you and god. And that as a public policy outlawing abortion does more harm then good."

When someone is "pro-choice" it does not mean they are "pro-abortion" What it can mean is they believe the choice is the person''s to make and that current judicial enforcement has consequences which may generate other moral conflict without actually solving anything i.e. creating more problems (wasted resources, angry debates, politics, and bureaucracy, compromising of rights for enforcement) and not solve what it's supposed to or "All pain, no Gain". In other words making it a law, does not mean people won't get abortions. You might say the same about murder, but the difference with abortion is that the risks of getting caught can be reduced to almost zero (unless you also want to video record every american woman 24/7) making the law almost impotent except for closing clean facilities and creating government waste. With the above mentioned I find it ridiculous for Church representatives to "punish" someone for the above viewpoint out of moral virtue for babies when in fact it's not directly that at all.
It is not the question "Would you let this baby die, or save it?" it is more like "This baby could die and we want to go about fixing it in way X"
X might mean all kinds of nasty consequences, and disagreeing with X does not directly imply a support for the clause of the issue X is to fix. Disagreement simply implies belief in either ineffectiveness of X, little chance of success vs. high cost, or compromising of other values (virtues or morals) which compromise the virtue of X making X non-virtuous.

I also find this religiously condratictive for the Catholic religion especially after a prior pope (Pope John Paul II) condoned (in that he gave) communion to "pro-choice" supporters. So allowing these actions to occur or continue is either 1. Saying the previous pope (highest physical moral authority for Catholics) was wrong on this critical "moral issue" or that 2. The previous pope was right, and these actions will be allowed to continue out of indecision or compromise of integrity (as apparently the denial of communion for this has been done with others in the past.)

All this is imho, and held under the condition the above article is accurate.


EDIT: 4/4/2010 - I am being unfair to religion (Catholic here) in this post. Not because my point is bad, but because of my intentions and emotions when I wrote this. I have a personal policy not to censor or edit my "published" writings. (By edit I mean change what I wrote.) I believe when I click publish it will republish to 4/4/2010, but I posted this in late 2009. That said, when I wrote this it was with a bit of a personal vendetta\agenda against religion. I wish to apologize for this, and any (of the one or two that look at this :) ) offenses I might have caused. I believe if I am to cultivate wisdom under the context of virtue, it must be clear, logical, and without motivation in itself of agenda. Intentions do matter, and my intentions here were not virtuous. I still do however hold the same stance in regard to abortion.
END EDIT

Nov 24, 2009

A Note from present Me to future Me.

If you want to be something...become it with every breath you take. The only time is now - be who you are now.

Imbue your heart, virtue, and soul in your life.
Let passion, ambition, and joy fuel you.
Be strong as steel for the world is as you see it.
Remember you can take control. Focus and become who you are.

Oct 5, 2009

Rogue

I am falling asleep inside.
So many questions inside.
A maelstrom of thoughts, feelings, and emotions molest my soul.
Organizing this mess sometimes progresses but recurrently ends up with my soul as cold as coal.

Imitation, creation, and loss of motivation.
Perception and erosion effecting corrosion.
Working hard to create a facade to create complement to your judgement of whom I should be.
Caring more about this facade than what my own character should be.

I am an actor in my own extraordinary story.
Alas I am only half of the main character in my story.
You create the other half.
Do I really have control?
Sometimes the actor acts without motivation of my soul.

Looking out to the world, hate in other's eyes.
Feelings set in and create emotional lies.
Blind to our own monstrosity we discriminate and twist.
Looking back we ask what it could have been we missed.
The rise of malevolence silently distressing the thoughts
An evil in the heart rising inside that the soul has caught.

Such a force inside for the soul to control
Subtly driven inside, slowly turning the mind into a fool.
But hey it says you are a good person these thoughts are just thoughts.
Stealthily it hides. The malevolences inside.

In us all a hidden rogue.
Undiscovered a corrupter of man
But it is said the man does all that he can
A subtle beauty in the mosaic of forces at work.
Slowly working on the man.

It is the soul that decides how to feel
When a turmoil grows inside, it is the soul that chooses to reel
It is in a choice
We create an illusion to ourselves with but one little voice.
An illusion we strive to protect.
The illusion in the facade we create.
A coalition of lies to ourselves.
In this a deep evil we fail to respect.

Insecurity rising inside.
It is you who must respect the house in which I reside.
Should you not then hostility will ensue
For my view is unconditionaly to be your view
In this hostility a great hatred is nurtured.
For if we cannot agree, the multitude of us together can never be
The hatred is righteous for it is for my cause.
My ideas unquestioned are to be respected.
For my ideas I will protect at any loss
It is you who is a threat not accepting my belief.
It is you who posions the tree and it's every leaf.
I take action because I care, but this reason is an escuse.
Blinded in my passions and my emotions I am deceived by the dark side of my heart.
I no longer need ask what is Virtuous, for I am a justice of good.
My judgement is unquestioned. Undisputed. I am the judge.
It is my responibility to fight what it not righteous, and what is not righteous is your ideas.
I know I am unmistakable in my belief
My ideas and beliefs are all I need.

Aug 19, 2009

Dan Le Sac Vs. Scroobius Pip - Angles

Thing’s in life aren’t always quite what they seem, there’s more than one given angle to any one given scene. So bare that in mind next time you try to intervene on any one given angle to any one given scene.



My name’s Mark, I go to Uni and College, don’t socialise that much, I just revise and use knowledge. At times I find that hard become a virtual recluse and let my belt of interruption hang decisively loose. But I came here to learn, that’s the life that I choose and if people think I’m boring then they can bring their abuse. See, a lot of people think I’m boring and say that maybe I’m a weirdo and maybe I’m gay but that’s cool, ‘cause when I get a good job and good pay I’ll get a house for just my brother and me some day. That’s the reason I’m here, just to build for the future. If it means better grades I’ll even sleep with my tutor.



Thing’s in life aren’t always quite what they seem, there’s more than one given angle to any one given scene. So bare that in mind next time you try to intervene on any one given angle to any one given scene.



My name’s Paul, I’ve been a guard for six months and the shop that I guard is better than most dumps and I like it here, my boss is a pro, he’s taught me tricks of the trade other guards wouldn’t know. He’s taught me in this game there’s some rules you gotta bend and not to forget these thieving pricks ain’t your friends and appearance is key there’s a message to send and above all it’s your fellow guards to defend. The other day my boss was stabbed by some low-life psycho, He’s in hospital now so every night that’s where I go, he’s on the brink but he’s showing no fear though ‘cause if he dies there, he’ll be dieing a hero.



Thing’s in life aren’t always quite what they seem, there’s more than one given angle to any one given scene. So bare that in mind next time you try to intervene on any one given angle to any one given scene.



My name’s Keith, I ain’t so much a racist. But when I reach out my hands I decline the place. I work security in a shop, in charge of 5 other guards, I got all their respect ‘cause I run this shit hard. I nicked one kid today, didn’t show enough respect and attention. I grabbed him by his neck as my form of redemption. Didn’t do no harm, just made sure that it hurt, it ain’t going by the book but believe me it works. Then I sent him on his way, this little shit knows the score now. I saw a little bit of fear, he won’t darken my door now. That’s what I do, stop these kids from decline, do what their parents won’t do. Put down some boundaries and lines.



Thing’s in life aren’t always quite what they seem, there’s more than one given angle to any one given scene. So bare that in mind next time you try to intervene on any one given angle to any one given scene.



My name’s Billy. I’ve been beaten since I was three, Mum died when I was born and Dad takes it out on me. He ain’t a bad man, He just gets drunk and feels alone, I tend to go for walks and hope he’s asleep when I get home. Don’t like to talk about it though. As I said, it ain’t his fault, it only happens when he’s drunk as a last resort. Tried to get him a gift, to show my support, but had no money and I stole and I guess I got caught. At times like that, I tend to switch of my mind, stare blankly into space and let what happens unwind. I seemed to anger this guard, he put his hands around my neck, he said it’s time for me to learn some manners and respect. It hurt. I’ve had worse before, it made me realise life is just a series of wars. I went straight home that day and locked the bathroom door. Took a blade to both wrists, they won’t hurt me no more.



Thing’s in life aren’t always quite what they seem, there’s more than one given angle to any one given scene. So bare that in mind next time you try to intervene on any one given angle to any one given scene.



My name’s Mark and today I was told my brother is dead. I returned home from university, tears on his bed. On his pillow I found his suicide note and read what had happened that day and what had fucked up his head! The anger I felt there are no words to express, I filled with so much rage there is no way to digest. I grabbed a knife, I went to town, it was time to regress. Back to an eye for an eye, last breath for last breath. I went straight up to the counter, I said I’d like to speak to the guard who nicked my brother on Tuesday of this week. As the girl knocked on the door and disappeared out of sight, I put my hand in my pocket, gripped the knife tight. This was it, as she pointed me out to the guard, My hand began to shake I held the knife so hard. As he approached me, there was nothing to say. I stabbed that Fucker eight times, before they could take me away.



Thing’s in life aren’t always quite what they seem, there’s more than one given angle to any one given scene. So bare that in mind next time you try to intervene on any one given angle to any one given scene.

Aug 11, 2009

Waking Sleep

Head in one place
Heart in another

Beauty in the storm
Happily depressed

Suffocating slowly

Atlast freedom to breathe
Happiness touching my soul
Head and heart together
Two parts united into one

In the destruction of the past a lesson learned
Experience gained from the chains that held my divided soul

Free for a while happy to live
In my scars the lessons of the past
Reminding me to let the light of life,
into my heart and soul bringing me to life.

Jul 7, 2009

Virtue And Incentive

Would you...

Do what is right regardless of the presence of a God?
Keep the same beliefs and ideas if the path to God was a set of different ideals from your own?
Goto a future of pain and agony rather than a heaven in the action of doing what you currently believe?

Would you be willing to goto "Hell" with your current beliefs regardless of if you think they are right or not?

Why do you believe what you believe?

The Bridge

I speak of Christianity here, because around me Christianity holds the majority, but this holds for any religion. I saw a quote the other day that really hit me hard. It said we must ask ourselves when we take action via words or physically whether we are under the motivation of doing it because it is right and virtuous or preforming it under the reason of judgement. The judgement should be left to God for he is the one that carries the responibility. It seems all too often people approached by Christians feel as though they are being judged by the Christian themselves, and not that they are being shown a path that is virtuous and right. The story of Jesus - His humility, virtue, and embrace are ideas and things that I would propose the vast majority of people with sympathize with.

It is far to often however that Christians get caught up in quoting scripture, know they are right, and wish to simply push others into the way of the "light." This method of interaction does not show humility, virtue, or righteousness. It's goal may be to lead those under it in these efforts, but to me it often seems like I am talking to a snake-oil salesman when I am talking to some Christians. I view myself as a Christian, but I try my best to embrace it with what I know is right in my heart. It is very easy to let in motivations of our own and agendas - to get angry or emtional about something we care about so much as our beliefs. Unfortunantely when we get involved in these ways that all to often our beliefs turn to near hypocrisy. It is for this reason that I believe often Christians are ignored or disliked by those who are not Christian and even other Christians.

Humility is understanding. It is the realization that we are all "scum" of the earth, we are all sinners, we are all the evil we see in the world. Through understanding this and seeing ourselves just the same as we see others I think communication between those of other faiths, beliefs, and ideas is much more free to blossom, and create a bond of love, rather than one of conflict due to difference in beliefs and intolerance.

I post this because I often seen those who respond to people in difficulty who dislike this religion that keeps telling them it will be ok, and to love and worship and accept Jesus as their Savior. Just do these things and everything will be wonderful. Just look at these scriptures I link you. Just goto church. Many Christians look at those who speak negatively of Christianity; of the way it has talked to them in the past as opponents who must be scriptured and bruteforced to Gods glory. These Christians are not acting under Virtue or righteousness, but under the judgement that because they are not saved they are not equals. To say this is not so is to live under self-delusion. You cannot preach someones heart to God. It is that person alone who can accept him, and virtues cannot be told, they must be shown. We often speak more than we do. We preach others in the workings of virtue and yet are not acting, even in preaching to the others, under the virtue we claim them to need to live.

I speak of Christians here, but this holds for all people. This is only my opinion take it or leave it.

"Be the Change You Wish To See In the World." - Mahatma Ghandi

Jun 27, 2009

A Provocative Insight of the Past

Check this out. It's interesting - ignore the quality and age and listen to what it says.
Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Dec 25, 2008

You better think what I think!

Something strikes me as interesting in this diverse social world we live in. I found it in myself. Its a spirit of debate. It's an immense desire to be right; to be validated. Anyone who reads this blog has a very likely similar desire within them. It's why people don't let other people be. It's why a select group of extremist followers of Islam terrorize. It's why Christians convert and preach. It's why conflict occurs. It's the why behind alot of things in this world.

Let me clarify what "it" is, and what I mean. We all come in a process of maturation to need validation, to need a sense of security. We put solution of this in others. You can see often that when something anti-Christian comes out many Christians respond with haste, and usually throw in a bunch of arguments for God. The same is true for pro-religion vs. agnostic & atheism. Why?
Why do Atheist's throw in their two cents?
Why do Agnostics?
Why do the religious?

Few of these people engage in discussion to change their own minds. To develop their own beliefs. Most arguments are of passion and emotion. They come out as attacks. They call names. They criticize. Why try to change someone else's mind? Why does this matter?

A religious one might call it a desire to show others "the path." I would at first call this a lie before a truth. It's an insincere justification for tossing out what they think and believe. We all have this desire to have others think what we think, and do what we do for it to be validated. We need this to feel right. I will admit that it may be true that some people legitimately are looking out for other souls, but I would say it is usually an outcry or a feeling that saying what we believe to others and then defending it creates stability and validation in our "side" and in our beliefs.

I believe most people at a point in their maturity are insecure about what they know. They don't want to admit they are wrong to others...or themselves. They want to know that they have made the right choice and that they are right, and so if anything to the contrary comes up, they have to stomp it out. They have to respond with something that shows they "win." When they "win" they believe that this insures the integrity of what they think and believe. People base the validation and integrity of their beliefs in others. Now I will say that they in the previous sentences refers to most all of us.

This almost always arises in religious debates. There is always a fundamental set of arguments that results, and people begin vesting emotions into it. As soon as you start mixing emotion with your expression of ideas and thoughts with controversial discussions you tend to begin to be guilty of this. Every time you call someone a name, your attempting to write them off instead of considering the actual idea that they said. We protect our ideals and beliefs by deceiving ourselves. It's sort of like hiding or running when anything touches what we hold sacred, but in doing this one becomes a creature of ignorance and if is public about it, typically a creature of conflict and anger.

Too many think everyone has to think what they think, look at yourself it's very possible it's true with you too. It was with me. Only in recognizing it and dealing with these deceptions can you make any conscious choices in what you think in this area. When I say look at yourself, I mean really look at yourself. Think about your thoughts and emotions inside when religion comes up. Do you get happier or angry when someone say there is a God? What about when someone says there is no God? If yes to either of these then I think you are guilty of letting others create the validity for your beliefs from the insecurity (lack of integrity) of your beliefs that you have. This isn't saying you should believe a certain way. Simply that if you do this, then you should step back, and take a look at yourself and what you believe. I don't think you should need others to create the validity and integrity for what you think and believe. That should come from yourself.

You don't need others to think what you think or do what you do to think what you think and do what you do.

The Skeptics Universe

This is an amazing article, on skepticism and beliefs, reality, etc. I can't really describe it, but it is a really good article. This article developed some really interesting ideas for me so I thought I would post it here.

http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2006/08/the-death-of-skepticism/

Dec 14, 2008