I know many of you who read my blog do not agree with me on this issue. I know many do not feel it is as important as I do. And that is okay. I mean no "in your face" feelings by posting this.
But I ask...for just a few minutes...that we forget.
forget politics
forget debates
forget "sides"
forget other issues...
forget abortion
Try to forget those things and simply see this for what it is.
-comments have been disabled on this post, but if you would like to make a comment to me (agree or disagree) you can send me an e-mail at yoderhaz@gmail.com
Peace!
Showing posts with label commentary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label commentary. Show all posts
Friday, August 21, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Concern or Cover-up
Anyone who has a love for Africa (or a concern for humanity) as well as a love for those spendy coffee drinks will get all warm and fuzzy walking into their local Starbucks. Pictures of African villages adorn their water bottle displays, traditional fabrics decorate bags and tumblers, and all around you they seem to shout "We care!" While our conscience urges us to "buy this thing and save a life because WE will donate .05 to an African charity!" (not taking into account that the price has been raised to compensate for their sacrificial donation)But while standing in line last night, I found my mind wandering to a time only a couple of years ago when a love of their fellow coffee producers and their country was not so apparent and I had to wonder: this whole "Save Africa" push, Concern or PR cover-up?
I'm not staying that their marketing efforts appealing to customer's emotions are entirely bad, and it does reflect our society...in turn selling their product. It is the marketing way; it is the American way. We want to help, we are shocked by photographs of unthinkable conditions and our hearts are pulled. Yet, at the same time, do I really want to give up my drink and instead send the entire sum to their aid? How much better to buy something for myself and help those who are far away? Win win, right?
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
There are worse things thank taking candy from babies
Have you ever seen these pictures taken by this artist?
In case you are wondering, method really does have this affect and I am convinced that whoever coined the phrase "as easy as taking candy from a baby" forgot the instant security alarm feature.
I was happy to see, however, that this tactic does not work for my four (almost) and six year old.
Now, although I did not take the suckers away for strictly photographic reasons (a whole sucker for a baby? I don't think so!), I never truly saw what all of the outrage was about against her. I am much more opposed to child film stars and the things they make those children do for "art and entertainment's" sake than 30 seconds without a lolipop. Or if we are advocating for children, why not speak up for the ones who will die from hunger, let alone ever see a lolipop.
If you give a toddler a sucker...they'll want to eat the stick as well.
In case you are wondering, method really does have this affect and I am convinced that whoever coined the phrase "as easy as taking candy from a baby" forgot the instant security alarm feature.
I was happy to see, however, that this tactic does not work for my four (almost) and six year old.
Now, although I did not take the suckers away for strictly photographic reasons (a whole sucker for a baby? I don't think so!), I never truly saw what all of the outrage was about against her. I am much more opposed to child film stars and the things they make those children do for "art and entertainment's" sake than 30 seconds without a lolipop. Or if we are advocating for children, why not speak up for the ones who will die from hunger, let alone ever see a lolipop.If you give a toddler a sucker...they'll want to eat the stick as well.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Earth Day
We planted flowers today. The boys discovered snap dragons and quickly named them as their "favorite flower of all time." We named ways to help protect our earth and care for it. We talked about all the different landscapes, oceans, forests, jungles. We stuck our hands into the soil and felt appreciation for the nature around us. It was a beautiful day to appreciate and give thanks for the natural world that has been entrusted to our care.
Yet my mind wandered. This song ran through my head intermingled with thoughts beyond the realm of nature.Thoughts of natural dirt casings filled with human souls. Immortality contained in weak, starving forms. Who live so closely with nature that their dust covered bodies make it difficult to discern where dirt ends and body begins. Thoughts of America with her isles and isles of organic groceries and her smorgasbord of church selections and humanity...all around her...their bodies wanting only a day's meal; their souls desiring the simple truth of the Gospel.
As I surveyed our work of the day and the beauty of the bright flowers contrasted with the dark soil, my mind drifted back to the young Ethiopian mother who sat by the gates of the monastery. God's beautiful creation.
This earth day, as we enjoyed the fair weather and ample amounts of room to plant and tend our little garden, the prevailing thought was...
When do we celebrate humanity day? For humanity, too, needs our care.
Happy Earth Day.
"If I Stand" by Rich Mullins
There's more that rises in the morning than the sun
And more that shines in the night than just the moon
There's more than just this fire here that keeps me warm
In a shelter that is larger than this room
And there's a loyalty that's deeper than mere sentiments
And a music higher than the songs that I can sing
Stuff of Earth competes for the allegiance
I owe only to the Giver of all good things
So if I stand let me stand on the promise that you will pull me through
And if I can't, let me fall on the grace that first brought me to you
So if I sing let me sing for the joy that has born in me these songs
And if I weep let it be as a man who is longing for his home
And there's more that dances on the prairies than the wind
And more that pulses in the ocean than the tide
There's a love that's fiercer than the love between friends
More gentle than a mother's when her baby's at her side
And there's a loyalty that's deeper than mere sentiments
And a music higher than the songs that I can sing
The stuff of Earth competes for the allegiance
I owe only to the Giver of all good things
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Commercial or Joke?
Joy posted this on her blog.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoGYx35aypus
Then I saw this commercial.
At first I thought it was a joke; something to point out the dulling characteristics of the cyber/entertainment world. Then I realized that this is really how they are trying to sell their product. Creepy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoGYx35aypus
Then I saw this commercial.
At first I thought it was a joke; something to point out the dulling characteristics of the cyber/entertainment world. Then I realized that this is really how they are trying to sell their product. Creepy!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Word to the Wise
Many people know my concern with the two faces of many childcare providers. Meaning this: I have personally witnessed caregivers acting one way in the presence of the mother and another way when the mother leaves. A concern which does not need to be explained. I won't go into all of my negative experiences with childcare, just my most recent.
The other week, while at our local wading pool, I was able to observe a daycare of 15-20 children.
They had come to the pool but were apparently not supposed to get their clothes wet. Now, besides the absurdity of asking that out of preschoolers, their tone in "reminding" the kids of this fact was horrid. "I TOLD you not to get WET! Now you're going to have to be wet the whole day because you couldn't listen to rules! Do you see THAT girl? SHE is following the rules!!" and so on.
Needless to say I was not impressed with this center. However, here is the kicker. When it got time for everyone to leave, I saw (though I had to pinch myself) these children loading into two mini-vans and a truck. Add up the seat belts: truck: 2, van:4-5 van: 4-5. That makes a total of 12 seat belts for at least 15 children. Hmm..... What caught my eye to this fact was the child sitting cross legged on the floor of the van. Can we say lawsuit?
Yes, I called child services about it. I do not know what is going to happen but I hope something does. I wish I knew the parents of these children and I would call them myself.
The name of this center is Circle of Friends Learning Center and can clearly be seen by clicking on the photo.
The other week, while at our local wading pool, I was able to observe a daycare of 15-20 children.
They had come to the pool but were apparently not supposed to get their clothes wet. Now, besides the absurdity of asking that out of preschoolers, their tone in "reminding" the kids of this fact was horrid. "I TOLD you not to get WET! Now you're going to have to be wet the whole day because you couldn't listen to rules! Do you see THAT girl? SHE is following the rules!!" and so on.Needless to say I was not impressed with this center. However, here is the kicker. When it got time for everyone to leave, I saw (though I had to pinch myself) these children loading into two mini-vans and a truck. Add up the seat belts: truck: 2, van:4-5 van: 4-5. That makes a total of 12 seat belts for at least 15 children. Hmm..... What caught my eye to this fact was the child sitting cross legged on the floor of the van. Can we say lawsuit?
Yes, I called child services about it. I do not know what is going to happen but I hope something does. I wish I knew the parents of these children and I would call them myself.
It is a sad thing. I know there are many good centers out there that truely care about children. The unfortunate thing is that there are many who do not; or, if they do, they are too worn out to give them the care that they need. What can one do? I say drop in frequently and unannounced to your provider. (if they do not allow that...be warned) Also, I would send a recording device with my child and listen in to a day's activities. Check the backgrounds and references for all providers and check your local bbb. Extreme? Perhaps...but so is the safety of your child.
The name of this center is Circle of Friends Learning Center and can clearly be seen by clicking on the photo. Saturday, May 03, 2008
More About the Beard
JJ's comment got me thinking about the topic of Pogonology (the study of beards). I found an article on the ever-popular wikipedia and, although I often question the truth of this encyclopedic sight, it was very interesting.
Today, a man walking about without a beard is just that: a man without a beard. But transport him back into ancient Israel or ancient India and he would be labeled as an adulterer. Travel to ancient Greece and that same man would be laughed out of the city as "effeminate" or perhaps it was the result of a punishment by the Spartans for his cowardice. This poor confused man could find refuge in Rome, however, where it was well-accepted to walk about naked faced.
If this man was in England during the 16th century, he could be marked as a celibate clergyma
n. He certainly would not be considered a Reformed clergyman. These men protested the church and it's stance on celibacy by allowing their beards to grow at length: the longer the beard, the more striking the statement. (Thus explaining the beard of John Knox!)
(I must add that one of my favorite things about Josh's beard is the smell of pipe tobacco lingering from a "theology walk" when he is out in the open air, smoking, and talking about the things of God. I imagine Christian men of old doing this very thing)
Also at this time, women were reigning. Typically, women did not (or could not) exert their opinions on the facial hair of society's men. However, as queen, Elizabeth found a way by putting a tax on the beard. I guess women and beards have been at enmity for a long time!
In western society, the beard began to die out and, I would say (except for a short time in60s to 80s), has not returned to popularity. Oh so sad.
What killed it; or rather...who shaved it? Was it the feminist movement when women finally had a say in society? Was it the small rodent which apparently made it's home in some men's beards? Does it go further back to Western culture's decent from Rome where the beard was never truely prized? I don't really know. Perhaps westerners and beards just don't mix. Okay, Josh: time to move East!
Finally, consider these words from history:
"There are two kinds of people in this world that go around beardless — boys and women — and I am neither one." -Greek saying
"A kiss without a mustache, is like soup without salt." - Breton saying
"A man without a mustache is like a cat without a tail." - Arab Saying
"A woman with a beard looks like a man. A man without a beard looks like a woman." - Afghan Saying
Leonato: You may light on a husband that hath no beard.
Beatrice: What should I do with him? Dress him in my apparel and make him my waiting-gentlewoman? He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man: and he that is more than a youth is not for me, and he that is less than a man, I am not for him… -William Shakespeare - Excerpt from 'Much Ado About nothing"
Today, a man walking about without a beard is just that: a man without a beard. But transport him back into ancient Israel or ancient India and he would be labeled as an adulterer. Travel to ancient Greece and that same man would be laughed out of the city as "effeminate" or perhaps it was the result of a punishment by the Spartans for his cowardice. This poor confused man could find refuge in Rome, however, where it was well-accepted to walk about naked faced.
If this man was in England during the 16th century, he could be marked as a celibate clergyma
n. He certainly would not be considered a Reformed clergyman. These men protested the church and it's stance on celibacy by allowing their beards to grow at length: the longer the beard, the more striking the statement. (Thus explaining the beard of John Knox!)(I must add that one of my favorite things about Josh's beard is the smell of pipe tobacco lingering from a "theology walk" when he is out in the open air, smoking, and talking about the things of God. I imagine Christian men of old doing this very thing)
Also at this time, women were reigning. Typically, women did not (or could not) exert their opinions on the facial hair of society's men. However, as queen, Elizabeth found a way by putting a tax on the beard. I guess women and beards have been at enmity for a long time!
In western society, the beard began to die out and, I would say (except for a short time in60s to 80s), has not returned to popularity. Oh so sad.
What killed it; or rather...who shaved it? Was it the feminist movement when women finally had a say in society? Was it the small rodent which apparently made it's home in some men's beards? Does it go further back to Western culture's decent from Rome where the beard was never truely prized? I don't really know. Perhaps westerners and beards just don't mix. Okay, Josh: time to move East!
Finally, consider these words from history:
"There are two kinds of people in this world that go around beardless — boys and women — and I am neither one." -Greek saying
"A kiss without a mustache, is like soup without salt." - Breton saying
"A man without a mustache is like a cat without a tail." - Arab Saying
"A woman with a beard looks like a man. A man without a beard looks like a woman." - Afghan Saying
Leonato: You may light on a husband that hath no beard.
Beatrice: What should I do with him? Dress him in my apparel and make him my waiting-gentlewoman? He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man: and he that is more than a youth is not for me, and he that is less than a man, I am not for him… -William Shakespeare - Excerpt from 'Much Ado About nothing"
"The beard is the handsomeness of the face, and a wife is the joy in a man's heart."
- R' Akiva, Eicha Rabbah
- R' Akiva, Eicha Rabbah
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