A few weeks back I sat in on a discussion/exploration of Genesis 2. It was led by a professor of Religious Studies at the church I currently attend. As the discussion unfolded, I became more and more aware of how context can influence the Bible. Understanding who the text was originally written to (and by), what was normative understanding for their culture at the time and how certain words could have different meanings are important to interpreting the text itself. It wasn't a new thought, more a reaffirmation of conclusions I have come to on this journey of faith. I left the discussion that night excited and inspired. As an aside, a Bible Study group I had been a part of a few years back, took on Genesis 2 and pulled it apart FOR WEEKS. We came away with many of the same conclusions the professor of Religious Studies had made that evening...yes!
The day or so after the shootings in Charleston, South Carolina, there was a national news agency that attempted to change the intentions of the shooter. The original context of the incident seemed clear to me; the white culture in the United States continues to struggle with racism, with seeing others with different colored skin as lesser than or as a threat and this young man, in particular, choose to act on his fears and racism. 9 people died because of that continued struggle with racism. Yet, because it happened in a church, this news agency kept trying to change the context...it wasn't about race, it was about belief in Jesus. I'm not buying it.
The headlines I saw last Monday morning on my Yahoo page attempted to take the context of words spoken by the President of the United States and manipulate them to have people jump to a conclusion without reading the actual statement made by POTUS. (Yes, I have watched every episode of West Wing...multiple times. Thanks, Netflix!) The actual statement is bold and truthful...we have a long way to go in this country in regards to racism.
As a white, middle class woman I take a lot for granted. I haven't experienced much in the way of discrimination. I can't put myself in that context...but I can watch, listen, learn and change my own way of thinking. I can speak up in my social and family circles when something is said that sets off my racism radar. I can choose my own words carefully and wisely.
It's past time to starting looking at the context of racism in the culture of the United States. It's time for us to re-examine our ideas about those who "look" different and stop feeding the fear that keeps racism alive. As a wise person once said, "When you do what you always do, you get what you always get." It's time to do something different.
I'm not going to try to change the context of the events of the last two weeks...but I am going to start to change me.
*This post was powered by my respect for Opinionated Friend and the freedom she has to express her opinions. Many times I get stuck in fear of saying something that will offend others. A recent discussion with OF reminded me that it's okay to say what I'm feeling and thinking...a well timed lesson indeed. Thanks, OF!
Showing posts with label equality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label equality. Show all posts
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
First Amendment & Free Speech
From Dictionary.com
First Amendment
noun
an amendment to the U.S. constitution, ratified in 1791 as part of the
Bill of Rights, prohibiting Congress from interfering with freedom of
religion, speech,assembly, or petition.
A straight reading of the First Amendment leads me to believe that the first amendment does NOT say people cannot be held accountable for their words by the media, NBA officials or basic humanity that says one persons ethnicity is not better than any others.
Free speech does mean that one has to deal with the fallout of one's words when others realize how offensive, cruel, hate-filled and racist they are and CALL YOU ON THE CARPET. It's what church circles tend to call accountability. But then again, we humans want to say whatever we want without having to be accountable, don't we.
So tired of this s%!&.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
What I've been up to lately, part 2
Sometimes God and I have trouble together. Sometimes the challenges, burdens, responsibilities God places on my shoulders are ones I would rather just dump under the table and leave alone. As much as I try to offload the responsibilities, they just keep hanging around the back of my brain. I can't escape them. I really want to but I just can't get away from them.
One of the roles I continually find myself in is what I will call "Woman capable of doing more than some men think she can". Think Rosie the Riveter. (Note, I said some men, not all men think this way.) In this role I am constantly pushing up against the boundaries of those who think that women can't _____________ you can fill in the blank.
In late March, I'll be joining up with 30 high school students and 15 adults, heading to Moore, Oklahoma to do tornado relief work. If you have been around this blog before, you will know I am not unfamiliar with disaster relief work. In fact, this will be my 16th work trip specifically for disaster relief. On these trips I have learned how to build ramps, dig post holes, cement posts, lay flooring, tear up flooring, sheet rock/tape/mud, use a nail gun (under duress), use a screw gun, use a skill saw, use a sawzall, build a fence, oh, and put up and tear down scaffolding and so much more. I happen to seriously love my steel toed boots, jeans and sweatshirts. I've been known to do my fair share of swearing at posts that somehow turn after they've been cemented in or when I measure for electric boxes, cut the sheet rock and am off just enough to cause a problem. So, when heading into trips, such as the one to Moore, and leaders on the trip say things like "Have you told them we have 18 girls on the trip?", the inference being the girls are unable to accomplish things the boys can, my blood boileth over.
I don't want to start a war. I don't desire to be labeled "that feminist". Yet, here I stand ready to take on the battle because I know the girls CAN. They can use the nail gun, the screw gun, the skill saw. They can dig post holes and put up sheet rock and build ramps. They can learn about how to frame a house or rough in electrical wires. They can roof, they can pour cement, THEY CAN! Sure, it might take longer. Yes, they aren't always capable of lifting super heavy items but please, just because they are girls, don't discount their abilities to succeed. In fact, most young women who are on work sites are there because they WANT to learn and they WANT to help people. By discounting their willingness to learn and what abilities they may have, sends a big message...a message I don't want to have anything to do with.
The other day Yo Momma asked one of the neighbors if they were building a deck, as they had piles of wood and what looked to be the beginnings of a deck by their house. Turns out our 12 year old neighbor girl and her dad are building a play house. We can just see the foundation of the playhouse going up now from our kitchen window. It's awesome. She is going to learn how to swing a hammer, how to measure, the importance of having a level foundation and so much more. What a gift to a young girl, to empower her to learn something new, go into territory that has been seen primarily as "men's work" and potentially tap into a talent she would never have found before. Plus, what a bonding experience between a daughter and her dad!
As I head into the trip to Moore, Oklahoma, as we gather for team training and gather as leaders, I hear God's voice so clearly, telling me to be an example, to keep urging others to empower, equip and encourage the young women in our midst, to help them dream new dreams, tap into strengthens they never knew they had and be willing to take on tasks others say they can't do. It's a voice some would and will argue with but I believe it is God's voice nonetheless.
We leaders are creating an opportunity for the young people on this trip to learn and grow, to serve and create, to find new strengths and gain knowledge. So let's give ALL of them the opportunity. There may be a young woman on this trip who suddenly realizes she likes to figure out angles and how pieces fit together. There may be a young woman who finds out she loves creating things with wood, there just may be a future carpenter in the group...but we never know until we give the young women on our team a chance.
One of the roles I continually find myself in is what I will call "Woman capable of doing more than some men think she can". Think Rosie the Riveter. (Note, I said some men, not all men think this way.) In this role I am constantly pushing up against the boundaries of those who think that women can't _____________ you can fill in the blank.
In late March, I'll be joining up with 30 high school students and 15 adults, heading to Moore, Oklahoma to do tornado relief work. If you have been around this blog before, you will know I am not unfamiliar with disaster relief work. In fact, this will be my 16th work trip specifically for disaster relief. On these trips I have learned how to build ramps, dig post holes, cement posts, lay flooring, tear up flooring, sheet rock/tape/mud, use a nail gun (under duress), use a screw gun, use a skill saw, use a sawzall, build a fence, oh, and put up and tear down scaffolding and so much more. I happen to seriously love my steel toed boots, jeans and sweatshirts. I've been known to do my fair share of swearing at posts that somehow turn after they've been cemented in or when I measure for electric boxes, cut the sheet rock and am off just enough to cause a problem. So, when heading into trips, such as the one to Moore, and leaders on the trip say things like "Have you told them we have 18 girls on the trip?", the inference being the girls are unable to accomplish things the boys can, my blood boileth over.
I don't want to start a war. I don't desire to be labeled "that feminist". Yet, here I stand ready to take on the battle because I know the girls CAN. They can use the nail gun, the screw gun, the skill saw. They can dig post holes and put up sheet rock and build ramps. They can learn about how to frame a house or rough in electrical wires. They can roof, they can pour cement, THEY CAN! Sure, it might take longer. Yes, they aren't always capable of lifting super heavy items but please, just because they are girls, don't discount their abilities to succeed. In fact, most young women who are on work sites are there because they WANT to learn and they WANT to help people. By discounting their willingness to learn and what abilities they may have, sends a big message...a message I don't want to have anything to do with.
The other day Yo Momma asked one of the neighbors if they were building a deck, as they had piles of wood and what looked to be the beginnings of a deck by their house. Turns out our 12 year old neighbor girl and her dad are building a play house. We can just see the foundation of the playhouse going up now from our kitchen window. It's awesome. She is going to learn how to swing a hammer, how to measure, the importance of having a level foundation and so much more. What a gift to a young girl, to empower her to learn something new, go into territory that has been seen primarily as "men's work" and potentially tap into a talent she would never have found before. Plus, what a bonding experience between a daughter and her dad!
As I head into the trip to Moore, Oklahoma, as we gather for team training and gather as leaders, I hear God's voice so clearly, telling me to be an example, to keep urging others to empower, equip and encourage the young women in our midst, to help them dream new dreams, tap into strengthens they never knew they had and be willing to take on tasks others say they can't do. It's a voice some would and will argue with but I believe it is God's voice nonetheless.
We leaders are creating an opportunity for the young people on this trip to learn and grow, to serve and create, to find new strengths and gain knowledge. So let's give ALL of them the opportunity. There may be a young woman on this trip who suddenly realizes she likes to figure out angles and how pieces fit together. There may be a young woman who finds out she loves creating things with wood, there just may be a future carpenter in the group...but we never know until we give the young women on our team a chance.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
What I've been up to lately...part 1
This year on my Christmas Amazon wish list (love that wish list) I had one very practical item. New headlights for the race car. Not just a lamp but the whole headlight assembly. 12 years of driving had taken a toll on the old headlights, they were foggy, and yellowing. I tried the different remedy's they didn't work. So I spent some time online, found a few YouTube videos and figured out I could replace the headlights pretty simply. Amazon wish list here I come.
Christmas Day, Papa Bear and I headed out to the garage to change out the headlights. Papa Bear was skeptical that it would be a simple fix. I had watched YouTube videos and figured we had this handled. Sure 'nuff, it was as simple as the video had led me to believe. There wasn't even any swearing involved. THAT is an accomplishment, people! A couple of days later I watched another YouTube video and figured out how to align the headlights as well.
Doesn't the race car look pretty?! BTW, the pictures were taken using my Christmas present from the year before...a Kindle. Pretty awesome.
Later that day, I drove the race car over to my favorite coffee shop for some seriously needed caffeine. Since it was such a beautiful day, the convertible top went down on the race car (Song friend would be so proud of me!) Arriving at G.G.'s for Christmas dinner, I went to put the top up and noticed it was taking a very long time to close. One repair done, another comes along to take it's place.
I had some free time in the following days so I did what every capable woman can do...I googled the problem, "Convertible top going up slowly". Guess what appeared? A YouTube video! I watched a gentleman take the back seat out of his race car, pop up the hydraulic fluid tank for the convertible motor, refill it with the correct fluid and voila! Problem solved.
Hmmmm...
I contemplated, did I dare take apart my car and try this? Papa Bear questioned the validity of the YouTube video but what, really, did I have to lose? So a couple of Sundays ago, I gathered the necessary items. Dexeran III, ratchet, turkey baster, cloth for spills and my courage. It took 10 seconds to get one side of the bottom of the backseat up and 5 minutes for the other side (could NOT find that latch!) and out popped the bottom backseat. That piece is amazing light. Then I set to work on the bolts on the back part of the seat. Once I had the tools correct, the bolts were out and I was moving on to taking that seat up. On to the motor and filling the tank and finally the hardest part...getting the rubber stopper back into the tiny hole in the tank. A pair of pliers and a maybe a few swear words (I am my Father's daughter) and the stopper was in, the tank was back in place and I was tentatively starting the car. It WORKED!! The top went back up and down pretty smoothly...a new motor may be in the future but hopefully the DISTANT future. A little clean up and the seats went back with ease. Game, set, match.
The sad part of this story is the race car still needed some work. Yes, I drive a Ford and yes, I do know that Ford is an acronym for Fix-Or-Repair-Daily.
This past weekend I tackled the next problem...the leaky convertible top. See, when I was googling the motor problem, I also googled the leak problem. Turns out that's most likely a pretty simple fix. I just needed some free time and a day that was dry and 70 degrees or above to tackle the leak. Seeing as how I live in the part of the country where the "Ridiculously Resilient Ridge" of high pressure (as a Stanford Professor has named it) is refusing to let rain anywhere near the state, well, dry and 70 degree weather is in abundance.
I located the most likely source of the leak, patched it up and will stubbornly wait for it to rain in California to see if the problem has been solved. I may be waiting a long time.
In the meantime, there is a point to my relating these tales to you...stay tuned for part 2!
Christmas Day, Papa Bear and I headed out to the garage to change out the headlights. Papa Bear was skeptical that it would be a simple fix. I had watched YouTube videos and figured we had this handled. Sure 'nuff, it was as simple as the video had led me to believe. There wasn't even any swearing involved. THAT is an accomplishment, people! A couple of days later I watched another YouTube video and figured out how to align the headlights as well.
Race car before
Race car after
Doesn't the race car look pretty?! BTW, the pictures were taken using my Christmas present from the year before...a Kindle. Pretty awesome.
Later that day, I drove the race car over to my favorite coffee shop for some seriously needed caffeine. Since it was such a beautiful day, the convertible top went down on the race car (Song friend would be so proud of me!) Arriving at G.G.'s for Christmas dinner, I went to put the top up and noticed it was taking a very long time to close. One repair done, another comes along to take it's place.
I had some free time in the following days so I did what every capable woman can do...I googled the problem, "Convertible top going up slowly". Guess what appeared? A YouTube video! I watched a gentleman take the back seat out of his race car, pop up the hydraulic fluid tank for the convertible motor, refill it with the correct fluid and voila! Problem solved.
Hmmmm...
I contemplated, did I dare take apart my car and try this? Papa Bear questioned the validity of the YouTube video but what, really, did I have to lose? So a couple of Sundays ago, I gathered the necessary items. Dexeran III, ratchet, turkey baster, cloth for spills and my courage. It took 10 seconds to get one side of the bottom of the backseat up and 5 minutes for the other side (could NOT find that latch!) and out popped the bottom backseat. That piece is amazing light. Then I set to work on the bolts on the back part of the seat. Once I had the tools correct, the bolts were out and I was moving on to taking that seat up. On to the motor and filling the tank and finally the hardest part...getting the rubber stopper back into the tiny hole in the tank. A pair of pliers and a maybe a few swear words (I am my Father's daughter) and the stopper was in, the tank was back in place and I was tentatively starting the car. It WORKED!! The top went back up and down pretty smoothly...a new motor may be in the future but hopefully the DISTANT future. A little clean up and the seats went back with ease. Game, set, match.
The sad part of this story is the race car still needed some work. Yes, I drive a Ford and yes, I do know that Ford is an acronym for Fix-Or-Repair-Daily.
This past weekend I tackled the next problem...the leaky convertible top. See, when I was googling the motor problem, I also googled the leak problem. Turns out that's most likely a pretty simple fix. I just needed some free time and a day that was dry and 70 degrees or above to tackle the leak. Seeing as how I live in the part of the country where the "Ridiculously Resilient Ridge" of high pressure (as a Stanford Professor has named it) is refusing to let rain anywhere near the state, well, dry and 70 degree weather is in abundance.
I located the most likely source of the leak, patched it up and will stubbornly wait for it to rain in California to see if the problem has been solved. I may be waiting a long time.
In the meantime, there is a point to my relating these tales to you...stay tuned for part 2!
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