tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90521105089730494152024-03-19T00:30:56.877-07:00Grace in Her Heart & Flowers in Her HairAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02376641869631556601noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052110508973049415.post-85682669241131162572018-01-21T08:34:00.000-08:002018-01-21T08:35:12.875-08:00 "Therefore of each creature we can say, 'This also is Thou: neither is this Thou.' " -C.S. LewisAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02376641869631556601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052110508973049415.post-31027247387146417852017-06-20T20:22:00.002-07:002018-01-21T08:35:42.446-08:00#GreaterAs1: Why We Should Allow Syrian Refugees into the U.S. <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">**This paper was written as a research paper for my college English composition class. Everything written is of my own writing and that I have, to the best of my ability, credited ideas and quotes to the authors who deserve it.**<br />**Submitted 30 January, 2017.**</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> #GreaterAs1: Why We Should Welcome Syrian Refugees into the U.S. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Shortly before World War II in 1939, the <i>SS St. Louis</i> arrived at Cuba carrying a ship full of Jewish, mostly German refugees seeking sanctuary (“Americans Thought”). After being turned away by Cuba, they were immediately also rejected by the United States and Canada. They had no choice but to return to Europe. Returning in June of that year, they were relocated throughout Great Britain, Belgium, France, and Holland. Following the German invasion of western Europe in May of 1940, just under half of these Jewish refugees died in the Holocaust –eighty-four in Belgium, one in Great Britain, eighty-four in Holland, and eighty-six in France (“Voyage St. Louis”). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The reasons why these people facing such great danger were turned away must be addressed. Americans had various fears regarding European Jews, particularly Jews from Germany. Some believed they could have been spies; others were fearful of certain philosophies they may bring to their country –communism, anarchism, and that of fifth column (Tharoor “Yes, Comparison”). A poll was even conducted by The American Institute of Public Opinion on the eve of World War II regarding a proposal to accept 10,000 German refugee children, mostly Jewish, into American homes: 30% were in favor, 61% were against, and 9% had no opinion (Tharoor “What Americans Thought”). While the circumstances may not have shown prejudice against Jews in particular, it still speaks loudly about how the Americans felt about refugees, even children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">It could be said that the United States is re-living history. Journalist Ishaan Tharoor suggests that “today’s 3-year-old Syrian orphan, it seems, is 1939’s German Jewish Child” (“What Americans Thought”). While it is not a direct comparison, seeing as Jews were considered a “racial enemy…in German society”, he claims that there are still alarming similarities that Americans cannot ignore. Quoting the book <i>Refugees in an Age of Genocide</i>, he shares that “of all of the groups in the 20<sup>th</sup> century… refugees from Nazism are now widely and popularly perceived as ‘genuine,’ but at the time… [Eastern European] Jews were treated with ambivalence and outright hostility as well as sympathy” (qtd. in “What Americans Thought”). The doubts about German Jews echo down through those about Syrian refugees –threats of spies or ideologies that are perceived “un-American” (“Yes, Comparison”). The parallels must be lessons. The voice of the slaughtered begs the world not to repeat history. <u>In order to discern what must be done for these refugees, therefore, it is necessary to understand their situation, the positive effects on our country, and the risks they may pose. Taking these issues into consideration, America should still allow Syrian refugees to be settled here, in the name of humanity.</u> If we turn their “ships” away, the effects will be fatal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The first issue to address is why Syrians are in need of asylum. The civil war in Syria has been going on for more than five years, and more than a quarter million people have died (“What’s Happening”). It began in 2011, with peaceful protests by locals when fifteen school children were arrested and tortured for writing graffiti against the government. Soon, however, these peaceful protests turned violent when the government began responding with open fire. It is now being fought between the supporters of the president Bashar al-Assad and the rebel fighters who do not want him to be in power (“What’s Happening”). Those against him include the original protesters as well as others belonging to political parties in opposition to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">What complicates things further, however, is that in 2014 the IS (Islamic State) moved into eastern Syria and there gained power and land. The Islamic State is known for their brutality and <i>jihads</i>, violent acts against enemies of Islam (“What is Islamic State?”). The combination of these two situations has caused approximately 4.8 million Syrians to flee to neighboring countries: 2.8 million Syrian refugees in Turkey, 1 million in Lebanon, 650,000 in Jordan and 230,000 in Iraq (“Syrian Regional”). One million refugees have requested asylum in Europe, the majority being relocated to Germany and Sweden. This, however, still leaves 6.6 million internally displaced Syrians inside of Syria (“Syrian Refugee Crisis”). Those who remain in the country believe traveling to other countries to be just as dangerous, but this requires many to move to find safer places to live inside their country. Most children who remain in Syria cannot even attend school because buildings have been destroyed and there are no teachers available (“Happening in Syria”). Whether they have fled or are internally displaced, all Syrians have lost family, friends, and homes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The conflict in Syria is not likely to end soon. If that is the case, what countries can do for them demands to be considered. This is where the American refugee resettlement programs take their role. A refugee, according to the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services), is defined as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Under the United States law, a refugee is someone who:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Is located outside of the United States<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Is of special humanitarian concern to the United States<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Demonstrates that they were persecuted or fear persecution due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group [and does not include those who participated in the persecution of people for these reasons].<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Is not firmly resettled in another country<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Is admissible to the United States (“Refugees”)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The United States, then, has prioritized the safety of refugees to some degree, because of the important effects on the refugees as well as the American nation itself. Nowrasteh from the Washington Post voices many Americans’ opinions, arguing on the behalf of refugees, that they “want safety, not handouts.” This is one main concern of the American people, that refugees will take our jobs (Edwards). Jeffrey Sachs, economist and director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University, offers in a PBS interview that although statistics would show that refugees have been “net…positive” economically, there are still some complications (Solman). One is that their addition to the workforce may decrease wages. The second is that problems may occur if they do not have to pay as much in taxes but have access to social services. These are both possible economic problems (Solman).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">However, refugees have been known in many cases to help the American economy. Sachs himself also admits that many refugees are educated and do contribute to the workforce (Solman). Nowrasteh would add that if they are skilled in certain areas but lack English, they can push lower-skilled Americans into positions that require better English communication; they also create more jobs by being consumers. Refugees do not have to receive welfare, as many refugee resettlement programs are funded privately (Edwards). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Olivia Edwards, volunteer coordinator at Church World Service in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, argues this further. She explains how no-interest loans are given to refugees by the U.S. government; these loans will be paid back by the refugee. She also shares how a study of Lancaster County by New American Economy demonstrates that “the role immigrants play in the workforce [in] helping companies keep jobs on U.S. soil… The immigrants living in Lancaster in 2014 helped create or preserve 1,062 local manufacturing jobs that would have vanished or moved elsewhere” (qtd. by Edwards). They also contribute to taxes and boosted housing value. This is the case in many other parts of the United States as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Such is the economic side of it. However, considering further the issue of allowing refugees into America, it is clear there is a much deeper purpose. Sachs stresses to PBS the importance of maintaining “a holistic view” of the situation (Solman). He explains that it is not just a matter of what is better or worse for the United States economically, but that it is necessary to consider what it means for the refugee and his “home” country. Although not all countries agree on an exact procedure for accepting refugees, “the only agreement internationally is that when people are fleeing persecution, fleeing for their lives, there is a human right for them to escape, and there is a responsibility for countries to not send them back into danger,” Sachs says. This also means not ignoring them because they are not wanted in “<i>our </i>country” (Solman). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Business Insider shares a testimony about one of the 10,000 Syrian refugees welcomed to America in 2016. “As soon as I saw the flag, I felt safe,” Ammar Kawkab shared (qtd. in Zablit). He went on to explain, however, that he began to fear American responses who believe Syrian refugees may be a threat. He begs, “…we are not here to be a burden on America. We want to give back to this country.” Such is the case with most refugees. They would simply ask for the chance to live and make a life for themselves (qtd. in Zablit). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">From his more liberal perspective, Nowrasteh would argue against doubts, explaining how “our immigration restrictions are making a humanitarian catastrophe even worse by preventing them from saving their own lives. Let’s…let them [the refugees] do that while empowering those among us to voluntarily lend a helping hand.” (“Syrians Help Americans”). The bottom line is that with or without the economic benefits refugees may bring, the greater result of allowing them into our countries is helping individuals to have the opportunity to live. In doing so, Americans can stand hand-in-hand with these people who are also victims and show that the United States will not live in fear of terrorism. Instead of scattering individuals in fear, terrorism unites the world even more strongly in courage and love. America must be united in giving these individuals the opportunity to help themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The greater concern for Americans, however, is that of security. This fear is that the U.S. vetting system is not extensive enough and that terrorists will slip in as refugees. Ben Carson, retired surgeon, author, and Republican nominee for President in the 2016 election, shares his view with <i>Time</i>. He believes Americans see “Islamic extremism through the lens of political correctness,” and although he understands not all Muslims are extremists, it is necessary to not allow terrorists to enter the American nation undercover. He is certain that terrorists will disguise themselves as refugees and that it is foolish to bring those refugees here. Coming from a more conservative view, he considers the Paris attacks as a warning to not welcome more refugees but rather defend our nation more strongly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Republican Vern Buchanan (Republican, Florida) wrote President Obama along these lines as well, insisting for him to “…immediately stop accepting Syrian refugees as a matter of national security…We are seeing a clear pattern in which a number of recent attacks have been carried out by ISIS terrorists with ties to Syria, including [three bombing/murder situations in Germany in France]…Syrian refugees played a part, either as attackers or accomplices, in all three attacks…Terrorists are leaving Syria disguised as refugees and carrying out attacks in the West. The prudent course of action is to halt all admissions of Syrian refugees into the U.S. until the safety of Americans can be guaranteed” (“Syrian Refugees Surge”). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">It is undeniable that terrorism is a legitimate threat and that many Americans view refugees as a possible route for the terrorists to enter the United States. However, Edwards also address this. She believes that many of Americans’ fears and doubts are intensified by their lack of knowledge about the vetting system nor having ever met an actual refugee. The vetting system, as she explains, is actually very extensive. It includes twelve steps, each step including a background check (criminal history, medical background, etc.). Each step also has an expiration date. This means that it takes a minimum of two years for a refugee to be accepted into the United States. However, it often takes much longer for families because of the expiration dates. She gives the following example: if a child happens to fall ill, hindering the family from continuing the vetting process at that moment, one of the steps may expire. As they return to redo that step, other steps may expire in the process. This shows the vetting system is actually extremely cumbersome, especially for families. However, it is because of this in-depth system that since 9/11, not one terrorist attack inside the United States can be attributed to a refugee (Edwards).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Therefore, considering the extensive vetting process the United States implements, the economic benefits, and the dire help these people need, only one conclusion can be drawn. Syrian refugees must be allowed to find sanctuary in America. Terrorism attempts to strike fear. Fear paralyzes. However, love and courage mobilize. It is through them that we are united and learn to put others’ needs above our desires. In the face of terrorism, with all discernment and wisdom, we must open our doors to allow these souls to live.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">In the heat of the political issue, Edwards urges Americans to consider one final application. She states that “the idea of who a refugee is is… dehumanized. Most people have not met a refugee, so it becomes an issue, or point of conversation, or a political view. But in the process, what’s lost is people’s humanity. These are people who are suffering, and if I were in their place, I would pray to God someone would open their home and say: you are welcome here; you are safe here.” We must see these individuals as humans, and we must welcome them with open arms. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Carson, Dr. Ben. "Ben Carson: the U.S. Must Not Accept Any Syrian Refugees." <i>Time</i>. Time Inc., 17 Nov. 2015. Web. 11 Jan. 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Edwars, Olivia. Personal Interview. 12 January 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Kaye, Dalia Dassa. "Syrian Refugees: a Blessing in Disguise?" <i>The National Interest</i>. The National Interest, 2 Feb. 2015. Web. 10 Jan. 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Nowrasteh, Alex. "Syrian Refugees Could Help America. We Should Welcome Them." <i>Washington Post</i>. Washington Post, 9 July 2015. Web. 10 Jan. 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">"Refugees." <i>USCIS</i>. USCIS, 25 May 2016. Web. 9 Jan. 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Solman, Paul. "What's the Economic Impact of Refugees in America?" <i>PBS: Public Broadcasting Service.</i> PBS, 7 Apr. 2016. Web. 10 Jan. 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">"The Syrian Refugee Crisis and Its Repercussions for the EU." <i>Syrian Refugees</i>. Syrian Refugees, Sept. 2016. Web. 9 Jan. 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">"Syrian Refugees Surge into US; Obama on Track to Hit Target Amid Security Concerns." <i>Fox News</i>. Fox News Network, LLC, 5 Aug. 2016. Web. 11 Jan. 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">"Syrian Regional Refugee Response." UNHCR: The UN Refugee Agency. UNHCR, 19 Jan. 2017. Web. 30 Jan. 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Tharoor, Ishaan. "What Americans Thought of Jewish Refugees on the Eve of World War II." <i>Washington Post</i>. Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2015. Web. 9 Jan. 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Tharoor, Ishaan. "Yes, the Comparison Between Jewish and Syrian Refugees Does Matter." <i>Washington Post</i>. Washington Post, 19 Nov. 2015. Web. 9 Jan. 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Victor, Daniel. "Comparing Jewish Refugees of the 1930s with Syrians Today." <i>The New York Times</i>. The New York Times Company, 19 Nov. 2015. Web. 9 Jan. 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">"Voyage of the St. Louis." <i>United States Holocaust Memorial Museum</i>. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, n.d. Web. 9 Jan. 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">"What Is 'Islamic State'?" <i>BBC</i>. BBC, 2 Dec. 2015. Web. 9 Jan. 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">"What's Happening in Syria?". <i>BBC</i>. BBC, 14 Dec. 2016. Web. 9 Jan. 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Zablit, Jocelyne. "Syrian Refugees Saw the Stars and Stripes - and 'Felt Safe'." <i>Business Insider</i>. Business Insider Inc., 3 Sept. 2016. Web. 10 Jan. 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02376641869631556601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052110508973049415.post-13906021947517653112015-09-24T20:18:00.001-07:002015-09-24T20:18:29.841-07:00The Idea of You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02376641869631556601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052110508973049415.post-13394063253727673402015-08-20T14:20:00.001-07:002015-08-20T14:21:47.705-07:00The Unheard Genocide of the Voiceless <span style="font-size: x-large;">KNOW.</span><br />
We don't want to face it. We don't want to see images of murdered, undeveloped babies on our Facebook scroll. We want to see selfies of that acquaintance we may or may not know, hiking a mountain in some foreign country.<br />
But the truth is, we do know. We can ignore it, we could not take the 10 minutes to hear the heartbreaking story of a former procurement technician who sliced an infant's head open while his heart was still beating. We can ignore it. Even those of us who say we are pro-life... we can still ignore the gross reality of what is happening in this country.<br />
Maybe it's true for some, that people really don't understand what or to the extent of what is going on. Maybe they don't know when they think life begins, and what really counts as a "baby." Or maybe they don't want to know. Maybe they don't want to think about it. If you were to search "aborted child" on Google images, the photos you would see would be enough to make you squirm, if not cry or throw up.<br />
But you know what? I think we do know. I think it is our responsibility to make sure the world understands the atrocity and reality of what is actually going on. That these ARE lives.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
But if all we do is know and make known... what does that even accomplish?<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">DO. </span><br />
You find this everywhere. I don't care what religion, race, age, or political side you are on. You see something in the world/country that you don't like, and you're going to talk it down. Sometimes it's just to vent, sometimes it's to inform... but regardless, all you're doing is talking. Talking can be informative, but that's usually all it is. If you're really passionate about something, if you see something NEEDS to change, it's time to start DOING.<br />
It's not enough to just say, "Abortion is bad," or "I'm pro-life." Because this is not just an issue of, "Yeah, that probably shouldn't be happening," or "In a perfect world that wouldn't happen."<br />
NO! This are people's lives at steak! This is a genocide that is happening right inside of our country, and thousands of other countries around the world, this is not just a matter of talk!<br />
So if this is really something you deem important (and I pray it is), then it's time to start practically challenging yourself: What can I do? Maybe voting for a pro-life president won't change anything or maybe it will. But dig deeper. What can you do, more than just signing a petition, attending a protest, or sharing a link on Facebook. Seek out a local crisis pregnancy center, and donate or better yet, volunteer there. Help babysit a single mother or struggling family's child or children. Employ someone. Adopt a child, or if it's all you can do, foster. Go to another country, spend a significant amount of time in an orphanage (although this may not have a lasting effect on the orphans, let me tell you from personal experience, it changes <i>your</i> outlook!). Help counsel a family or couple. Find a job that invests in people. Serve lower-income families.<br />
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Not all of us can do some of the things mentioned above, and definitely one individual can't do ALL of the things above. But in the words of Edward Everett Hale:<br />
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Find something. Have knowledge, then go DO.<br />
But what even are actions?<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Love. </span><br />
My dear family in Christ. Have you ever asked yourself what kind of image people who are pro-life have with those who aren't? Have you ever wondered what they think we really stand for?<br />
I was taken back when I heard the response statement of the director of Planned Parenthood, after those videos of the interview were made public. She is so against people who are pro-life. My first question was:<br />
"Why? ...Does she think that we, who are for pro-life, hate women?" Although I cannot one-hundred percent answer this question... I think this should cause us to take a look on how we appear as pro-life supporters.<br />
I don't hate women. On the contrary, I am one (go, women!). In fact, I am 100% for people!<br />
(Ironically, roughly 50% of these murdered human beings were probably women.) So this is not a matter at all of my being sexist (against my own sex?) or whatever other argument one of pro-choice may have (although I admit I don't quite understand what they think of us.)<br />
However, I am "for people," meaning I am for ALL people. I believe in life. And yes, I realize it is harder to care about someone who is considering killing than to care for the one being killed. But they're all people. And it's true, many of them are coming from hard situations.<br />
So while we love the babies, we have to check ourselves to see if we're loving the parents as well. That's a hard reality in itself. These are <i>people</i>, who have hard decisions to make. The last image we want as someone supporting pro-life is that we hate families/parents. We should love families! That's what we're fighting FOR!<br />
As Paul in 1 Corinthians states:<br />
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<span class="reftext" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><b style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/13-1.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" target="_top">1</a></b></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/13-2.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><b>2</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">If I have </span><i style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">the gift of</i><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/13-3.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><b>3</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">And if I give all my possessions to feed </span><i style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">the poor,</i><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><span class="reftext" style="color: #0092f2; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/13-4.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><b>4</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">Love is patient, love is kind</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><i style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">and</i><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">is not jealous; love does not brag</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><i style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">and</i><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">is not arrogant,</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><span class="reftext" style="color: #0092f2; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/13-5.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><b>5</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><i style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">suffered,</i><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><span class="reftext" style="color: #0092f2; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/13-6.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><b>6</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> </span><span class="reftext" style="color: #0092f2; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/13-7.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><b>7</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.</span><br />
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<span class="reftext" style="color: #0092f2; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/13-8.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><b>8</b></a></span>Love never fails.</div>
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Everything in love, my friend. </div>
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Lastly.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">LIFE.</span><br />
I AM PRO-LIFE. 100% Life.<br />
The issue of abortion is an incredibly important one. One that should be recognized, and fought boldly. We must not just sit back silently while those without voices go unheard.<br />
But in the end, what I and my Christian brother next to me must realize is that the root of the problem is not abortion.<br />
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It is life, and it is choice.<br />
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The life and the choice offered by JESUS CHRIST, the Son of the holy, living God. We will never have victory in fighting this sinful world if we are merely fighting morality. Murder, adultery, lying, rape, stealing, addiction, sexual immorality, gluttony, pride... these are not the root issues.<br />
The root of the issue is that Christ has offered us <span style="font-size: large;">LIFE, </span><br />
and He has offered it to us by <span style="font-size: large;">CHOICE. </span><br />
It is not our position to take away someone else's life, but the choice we are faced with is if we are going to accept the life offered to US.<br />
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So please. Fight abortion. Fight it with all that you've got. Fight it with knowledge, action, and love. But more than that: fight death. And fight it with Life.<br />
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We do not preach and live a gospel of morality.<br />
We preach and live a Gospel of <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>life</i></span> given by <b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">grace. </span></b><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02376641869631556601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052110508973049415.post-81703338400219085242015-03-12T14:48:00.002-07:002015-03-12T14:50:49.152-07:00Hypocrisy <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Is the world nothing more than a bunch of hypocrites who walk around blaming everyone around them for being hypocrites?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
What a vicious circle.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">What a need for grace: to receive and to give.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02376641869631556601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052110508973049415.post-59600192635472717072014-10-24T18:07:00.000-07:002014-10-24T18:07:05.974-07:00La Selva, La Sierra, y La Costa<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">¡</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">¡</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">¡Vamos a Peru!!!</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><b> This December, I will be spending that first month of my summer in Peru!</b><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">I will be going on a mission trip from December 1st-22nd, and then will spend Christmas and the New Year [December 23-January 3rd] at my roommate's house :)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Because letters are difficult to send here, I am asking for prayer support through this blog post.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our mission trip will involve primarily working with children and youth; we are still in the process of confirming which churches and places we will be working with. We will be spending a few days in the jungle, the sierra, and will end on the coast [which is where I will be staying with my roommate.]</span><br /><br /><br /><u><b>A few specific prayer requests as we anticipate our trip:</b></u></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">-<b>My Spaaaaanish.</b> I can understand quite a bit, and can speak enough to make light conversation, but I am not nearly where I want to be. Please pray for me as I work diligently to learn as much as I can over this next month, and most importantly as I learn to share the gospel in what will be my third language! I know that finishing the month, I will have learned so much Spanish...but for now it's intimidating not knowing much.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">-<b>Transportation for the trip</b>. We have not bought our tickets yet, or even completely decided how we want to get there [by plane, by bus, by both...etc.]. Also for our transportation to be nailed down for while we are there.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">-<b>The team.</b> There are still some people that are on the fence about going, whether for personal reasons or logistical/financial. Please pray for the Bible Institute students here that are considering going; and for those that would like to, that the details would work out. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> Also for my own logistics; that the details for me would come together.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">-<b>The mission.</b> We don't have all our details confirmed yet about the trip. We want to be effective and loving in all that we plan to do while we are there. So please pray for our hearts, as well as open doors. And <b>flexibility</b>, which is always key.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">This is all for now; I will hopefully write more as I know more! </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Thank you! <3 </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Clarissa</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02376641869631556601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052110508973049415.post-2682686081144286332014-07-31T17:53:00.003-07:002014-07-31T17:53:31.738-07:00Depression with a Capital 'D'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Fallen Angel" by Christian Hopkins PhotographyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02376641869631556601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052110508973049415.post-66408672640332511122014-07-01T11:38:00.000-07:002014-07-01T11:38:14.174-07:00Comfort & Running We all have comfort zones. Some of us are totally cool with striking up a conversation with a stranger in line at Wal-Mart. For others it takes a lot of courage to even make eye contact. And for some, it takes courage to even shop at Wal-Mart. [that was supposed to be funny.]<br />
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For me personally, I know when I am being pushed out of my comfort zone. I actually have a specific butterfly/sinking feeling that comes around only when I know I'm supposed to do something that I don't particularly want to do. Maybe it's asking the Arby's employee to smile, and then ringing the "ring if you had excellent service" bell ridiculously loud. Maybe it's asking a hitchhiker we picked up in West Virginia if I can pray for her. Or maybe it's deciding not to come home from Argentina for my winter break, meaning I will be staying in that hemisphere for 10 months straight. Not to be specific.<br />
Maybe this is what the Holy Spirit's leading feels like; I can't honestly say I know for sure. But when I get an idea in my head that something's going to be good for me, and maybe for someone else too, there is no decision that needs to be made after that, except <i>whether or not I'm going to man up and face this growth opportunity. </i><br />
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This leads me to my second point. I run away. In a creative writing course I took this spring, we had to do six word memoir. I wrote for mine, "Wanting to leave, learning to stay." It's true. How often do I think to myself, "If I can just make it through this period of time, then it will all be over and I can move on with my life." How Christ-like of an attitude is that? I have a good guess Jesus was never like, "If I can just make it through this whipping and that nailing/dying, then everyone will be saved. So let's get it over with." I've had this attitude with many things though. A previous job. High school. Sometimes even relationships. Currently I am feeling this way towards going to Argentina.<br />
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I have things I need to work out before I go. Things I need to learn. How to be responsible is a huge one that my parents have been drilling into my brain, and this brain doesn't quite seem to grasp it. ["It's this brain of mine...it's got a mind of its own."] So often I find myself thinking <i>"Once I go to Argentina I won't have to worry about whether or not I get my one chore done every day."</i> Obviously there are some serious flaws and imperfections to that way of thinking, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't something I struggled with.<br />
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<u> However, the biggest one is relationships</u>. There are relationships that I need to restore, reconsider, and reinforce.<br />
-<b>I need to learn to communicate</b>.<i> "Once I go to Argentina I won't have to worry about communicating clearly with these people." </i>If I have an issue with you, but I'm not around you in person for a while, I'll bottle it up. I'll get offended but never tell you [except through passive-aggressive picture posts on Facebook.], rather than making the effort to phone you up, get together with you, and say, "Hey, this is how this situation made me feel; let's work it out."<br />
-<b>I need to learn to apologize</b>. <i>"I can't wait to go to Argentina so I can avoid all these frustrations I have with myself and these people."</i> This is a big one. What I'm realizing is that sometimes you may have to apologize to someone for offenses you've done against them even when they may have been oblivious to it. Like, "I'm sorry for envying your mad photography skills, and thus disliking you from a distance." or "I'm sorry that I secretly was head-over-heels for you for 3 months, and probably hindered our friendship because of it." These aren't fun things to admit to, because not only does it mean you have to humble yourself to apologize, but you have to bring the problem to their attention in the first place. It's awkward. and unCOMFORTable. But if you can both get passed the awkwardness, the honestly and humility will make the relationship stronger than ever.<br />
-<b>I need to learn contentment. </b><i>"Once I get to Argentina there won't be any people with skills or characteristics that I'm jealous of. And I DEFINITELY won't be jealous of a good friend hanging out with other people. Nothing like that ever happens in South America."</i> ...yeah. okay. So maybe those aren't my exact thoughts, but it ends up being like it. I seriously have so many jealousy issues. I get so down when I see how amazing other people are at ______ [photography, caring, singing, wit, humility, etc.]. My response to this either ends up being: putting them down in my head, or putting me down in my head. Neither of which are good options. "Humility isn't thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less." But how do you start thinking of yourself less, because when you try to think of yourself less than you're still ending up thinking about yourself? This one's a toughy.<br />
The second is jealousy of friendships. If I seem really clingy to you: 1) I'm sorry 2) It's because I think you're awesome. I have those friends where I'm like, "Oh my goodness you're just so cool," but then it gets to be this really stalker-clingy "OHMYGOODNESS someone else just posted on their Facebook wall! They must not like me as much!" yeah. I have issues.<br />
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And of course, going to Argentina will fix them all.<br />
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<b>Running away is easy</b>. The trouble is, we just <i>run into more problems</i>. I believe God gives us uncomfortable situations now to prepare us for harder situations later. If I avoid the 2+2=4 problem now, how am I going to handle −3(4x + 3) + 4(6x + 1) = 43 down the road?<br />
<b>Comfort is easy</b>. If a seed wanted to stay a seed, it would never brave pushing out of the ground. But if you push yourself to blossom, the affects it has on you and the world around you will be life changing.<br />
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If you made it through this post, I commend you. Either you really care about me, or you're really bored. But I hope any of the shortcomings and flaws that I have shared have pushed you to think and desire to grow.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02376641869631556601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052110508973049415.post-56398703863776165532014-06-05T19:40:00.000-07:002014-06-05T20:01:51.677-07:00Are Third World Countries Really That Poor?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><b>Haiti is a desperate country.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Orphanages are filled with children so poor they do not even own a pair of shoes for their feet. Garbage and waste accumulate on the sides of the streets. Wild dogs, pigs, and other beasts run wild. This country is in a tragic state, and they need my help.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><b>My help.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My western-cultured way of thinking. My American influence. My middle class money. My technology. My advanced education. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Is that really what Haiti, or other countries like it, need? Or does richness lie in something deeper than wealth and possessions? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Which qualities are more associated with Haiti:</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">the dirt on their faces and the debris from natural disaster, or their profound sense of community and the deep joy found in their churches? Plainly seen in our attitudes and news reports, many of us as Americans feed off making third world countries look pathetic and poor. Are we doing this out of the kindness in our hearts? Or is to feed our own pride, or salve our own guilt for having more? What if the tables were turned: <u>how would we feel if people from other countries came into <i>our</i> country and took pictures of and reports of the poorest and worst off people in our country, and made this the definition of our country?</u> And what exactly is the definition of poor?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Before visiting Haiti in July of 2013, I was challenged with this question:</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">"Does Haiti need you, or do you need Haiti?"</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Upon arriving, my expectations to teach and help the people there quickly reversed to quite the opposite outcome. I realized that what Haiti may have lacked compared to my country in physical beauty and cleanliness was richly made up for in a <b><u style="font-style: italic;">deeper beauty and purity </u> </b>that I rarely see here. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> It is true that money and material possessions may make living easier in a sense, and more comfortable. However, they also cause a much larger distraction from things much more important. This is where America's ugliness and poverty lies. Haiti may not have grand skyscrapers, world class education, or heck, even dependable electricity. But what they do have is a priority for relationships, an understanding for the word "community," and a radiant joy.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So then... </span><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Which really is the poorer country? </span></span></i></b><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02376641869631556601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052110508973049415.post-52354233601772628192013-12-17T07:39:00.002-08:002013-12-17T07:39:34.430-08:00Abbie & RyanA few photos from a wedding I helped shoot.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapYUoHPeIXxU_6GDefMxWljJUSfTQRx4sASm26WHdGtVtTX357w3GsMADZczTJH7gQPufCL6yEKd3zFO661jZ0A7xP917ItQFyLZaffDQDrO0TZRBhOq_4_Ti7mMc5fiNMAYghELjFIQ/s1600/A&R+341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapYUoHPeIXxU_6GDefMxWljJUSfTQRx4sASm26WHdGtVtTX357w3GsMADZczTJH7gQPufCL6yEKd3zFO661jZ0A7xP917ItQFyLZaffDQDrO0TZRBhOq_4_Ti7mMc5fiNMAYghELjFIQ/s320/A&R+341.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02376641869631556601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052110508973049415.post-72904286348891858422013-10-20T20:38:00.001-07:002013-10-20T20:38:04.820-07:00Creation v. EvolutionI refuse to argue for Creation, for Creation is not my argument.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02376641869631556601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052110508973049415.post-21372023749456726392013-10-11T19:58:00.003-07:002013-10-11T19:58:19.278-07:00Male-Dominated Culture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
[[Credit due to the illustrator]]</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02376641869631556601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052110508973049415.post-40475414630323267562013-09-25T17:26:00.001-07:002013-12-17T07:33:06.959-08:00IntelligenceThere is an incredibly severe lack of intelligent people in the world who are <u><i>willing</i> </u>to be intelligent.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02376641869631556601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052110508973049415.post-16841301940023768002013-08-27T18:48:00.005-07:002013-08-27T18:53:43.984-07:00"What a Small, Big World It Is!" -LM Montgomery<br />
I love the international mud on my boots. And I love the sea salt on my lips and fingertips. And the foreign coins jingling in my backpack.<br />
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This is home. This small, big world we live in is what I call home.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02376641869631556601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052110508973049415.post-8781918464069387122013-06-28T12:28:00.002-07:002013-06-28T12:31:23.802-07:00Christians vs. BatmanAlright, so here's the disclaimer: I didn't get much sleep, I'm getting over a cold, and I'm leaving for Haiti in t-minus 11 hours and 47 minutes . If this all comes out in "Charlie Brown's Teacher," you'll understand why .<br />
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All I wanted to get at , was something I found kind of amusing today . Today I worked [shocker, I know .] at the lovely produce stand at Green Dragon . Six-thirty AM until two PM . Not too bad . I ran some baskets back to their place, and as I was coming back, I passed a man with a very loud orange t-shirt that declared, "This is what a Christian looks like," and a tattoo that said, "For My Sin ." I made no judgments on the man; he seemed like a normal person walking . The worst fault I could have found was that he wasn't smiling; but hey, I'm pretty sure Jesus didn't smile every moment of His life . While walking back, I was just pondering how big of a commitment it is to wear a shirt like that, and I wondered if he ever realized it . To boldly proclaim that you are a Christian, means that every action you show will reflect Christ, and Christianity . Hmm .<br />
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After I got back to my cash register, I saw a box of celery that I needed to take back to the counter to trim (yayyy) . My friend Emily was working the cash register, with a good sized line there, and I noticed a couple that usually comes in every week . Focusing my attention back on the celery box, I picked it up, but then realized that I couldn't move it back to the counter because a large stack of empty boxes were in the way (thanks, guys . ). I sighed, put the box down, and walked behind the counter without it .<br />
I knew I needed to trim it, but I didn't know the best way to get the box back there . Looking around, I sighed again . Just then, the man who regularly comes in picked up the box and said, "Here . I'll pass it to you, over the empty boxes ." I had already been so stressed, as it was my last hour of work, and I was ready to be done, so I said, "Thank you" took the box, and set it on the counter . He got back in line with his wife .<br />
As I began trimming the celery, I started pondering over his actions . It wasn't just the simple act of helping me . It was that he <i>noticed</i> a need . And then he chose to act on it . My mind flashed back to the man wearing the "Christian" t-shirt . I then glanced at this man's tee . It had Batman on it . I had to keep myself from laughing at the irony...<br />
We made eye contact, and I smiled more personally this time and mouthed, "Thank you" again , with which he responded with a smile .<br />
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What's the point of this story? I don't know . Just remember that what you do reflects what you identify yourself with .<br />
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...Team Batman .<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02376641869631556601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052110508973049415.post-52024909892017690142013-06-18T13:25:00.000-07:002013-07-20T06:41:21.147-07:00Haiti"I don't believe the man who offered the bike [to the Haitian child] ever meant to cause so much trouble for the LTM [long term missionaries] or the kid. I don't believe the VBS group meant to pay kids with gifts to become Christians. I am fairly certain that many groups have not considered that they are <i>one of thousands</i> of STM [short term missionary] groups that will come to Haiti this year. I don't think groups come here wanting to foster dependency and send a message that Haitians cannot do things for themselves. Sadly, for many many years we've been doing just this. Not because we wanted to - but just because we came in with the wrong attitude."<br />
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Don't make it about the things you want to accomplish. Make it about the relationships you want to establish. And in a sense, be more selfish: go there partially for <i>your</i> benefit. Go there to learn, and to love.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02376641869631556601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052110508973049415.post-6009721569651373402013-06-12T20:54:00.000-07:002013-06-12T21:05:58.849-07:00VulnerableSeventeen.<br />
I almost feel embarrassed to say it. Maybe it's because I still feel fourteen. Or maybe because I have so many friends that are older than me, that I turn a little red in the face when I admit I've only just turned seventeen. Because I know the next thing they will do is grin and say, "Wow. Don't I feel old."<br />
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Seventeen seems like a strange age. I never really pictured myself making it this far...haha. Why is it seventeen sounds so old to me, and yet I feel so childish? It's kind of scary. Fourteen, you're still a kid. Fifteen is kind of that awkward transition between kid and teenager. Sixteen is that stupid age when everyone expects you to make mistakes, like crashing a car or falling in love. But seventeen? Seventeen feels like that age when you're finally being put in adult situations, and expected to respond like an adult. What if I can't do it? What if I mess up. I know I will, and I know I should learn from my mistakes. I hear that. But somehow, there isn't much comfort in, "You're doomed to fail."<br />
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Oh, so vulnerable. These are critical years. The years where you learn how the world actually works. When you have to learn how to be a friend. How to be a friend with girls, and with guys. Haha, oh boy. Do I even want to hit on the topic of being a girl of 17, and having guy friends? Nah. A subject for another time.<br />
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Anyway. That's a lot of rambling. I guess the point I'm just trying to make is that I feel like this is such a vulnerable year. Being so young and stupid, anything can make its way into my brain and heart, good things and bad. Boys, insecurities, lies, dreams, plans... It will be easy for the Devil to make his way into my life, but it will also be easy for Jesus to, if I let Him. So what am I going to do? How am I going to spend this ( as odd as it is to say it ) last year of high school, to shape the rest of my life? Who I am in high school will not be who I am in ten years. But it can have a lot of affect on it.<br />
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So let's go get 'em, seniors. (:Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02376641869631556601noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052110508973049415.post-48975484955162846732013-05-28T19:54:00.000-07:002013-05-28T19:55:57.039-07:00MemorialI always forget how dear to me Memorial Day is, until it comes around again.<br />
This Memorial Day I asked my sister to sing a song with me sung originally by the band Everly. The first time I heard the song, I was almost moved to tears, it was so dear, so I thought it would be a good tribute.<br />
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I think about my second cousin, 1st Lt. T. Shane Childers. He was the first casualty in the war for Iraq, and there is a lot of pride in my family about him. He was an incredibly special person.<br />
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I wanted to post the video as a "thank you," not as showing off our voices [which is good, because we didn't really sound all that fantastic.] However, I was almost moved to tears when a lady from my church whose husband was in the Army called me today, in tears, thanking me for the song. She explained that it had been an incredibly emotional weekend for her husband, remembering his friends who had been killed, and the video moved her so much.<br />
That was so incredibly special to me. That is why I want to sing. For people, not for praise.<br />
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So please, enjoy...<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_oocsJfQiE&feature=youtu.be">Home is Me</a></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02376641869631556601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052110508973049415.post-11720963857516515502013-05-23T10:50:00.000-07:002013-05-23T10:50:02.018-07:00Retro<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02376641869631556601noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052110508973049415.post-91920550478877610562013-05-10T16:36:00.001-07:002013-05-23T10:51:55.429-07:00The StartThis is where I start.<br />
<br />
Why?<br />
<br />
Because I have lots of things to share.<br />
But where is the line between saying what is on your mind, and ranting and complaining?<br />
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Let me know when I have crossed that fine line.<br />
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<a href="http://cdn.indulgy.com/u/1C/85/a3e562d8e9f0b40e0db502e135357541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://cdn.indulgy.com/u/1C/85/a3e562d8e9f0b40e0db502e135357541.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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(Denne Alise Photography)</div>
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<i>With grace in your heart, and flowers in your hair.</i></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02376641869631556601noreply@blogger.com0