We had a conversation in the car yesterday that wandered around into a bunch of different areas, and it was interesting to hear different viewpoints and questions to consider. We dove into politics and race at one point, and I offered my distaste of current politicians equating some politician of the day to Hitler (first President Bush, then President Obama, among others). It's ridiculous. The atrocities of Hitler are so far beyond what we can conceive as evil. Here we are, 65 years removed from World War II, and I still don't think we have a proper perspective on it.
So I was already primed a little when I read this news story today, in which Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann compared our current tax situation to the Holocaust. Yes, because how much we are taxing and spending is the same thing as millions of people dying at the hands of a ruthless dictator. She denies equating the two things, but then says, "...we are seeing eclipsed in front of our eyes a similar death and a similar taking away. It is this disenfranchisement that I think we have to answer to."
I don't mind that people think differently than I do on government taxation and expenditures. I understand that the rich pay more than their fair share of taxes versus the poor (or me). I understand that some people would rather a more equitable rate, but I just don't see that as sustainable. So I'm in favor of raising taxes on very high levels of income a little, and on gigantic corporations a lot.
But I don't need to disparage history to say that. As quoted in the article, she says, "The question comes down to this: what will you say to that next generation about what you did to make sure that wouldn't be their fate?" Her answer, would clearly be, "I co-opted the suffering of millions in an attempt to use fear and guilt in order to convince more people to vote for me and my ideas, regardless of whether or not they actually benefited from those ideas."
I have conservative friends. I have friends that support Rep. Bachmann. I apply a direct appeal to you: please don't support her with donations, and please don't vote for her. I'm not asking you to change you beliefs to match mine, though I'd be happy to discuss that with you if you want to. Instead, I ask you to find another candidate that represents your ideas just as well without resorting to shameful comparisons that disrespect the memory of so many people that died for no reason but hate, and those that fought, knowing or unknowingly for their freedom and liberation, as well as ours. Find a candidate that might represent the optimism of our country's founding without misrepresenting, misusing, or just straight up getting blatantly wrong the history of our country and the world in order to score political points.
In this moment, here and now, let's join together to say, "No! We won't let you do that to us."
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Mixed Up
It's amazing how some days can be filled with gratitude for abundance and at the same time with distress for lack.
Today is one of those days. I am sitting in a place of abundance from opportunities for field ed next year. I am amazed at the possibilities, and grateful for the choice I have to make, though I am close to certain what choice I will make. I feel like I'm moving forward in seminary quite well, and I feel better about my future than I have in quite a while.
On the other hand, Kelse lost one of her jobs today, one that was giving her more hours than the other. We have money to last us a little while, but not into the summer. So she resumes her job search, again.
Back when we had our conversations about me leaving work to come to seminary, we talked about a lot of things. I let her know me feelings about my job, and how it was affecting me, my health, my life, and my relationships. We talked about ideas for the future, about what it might mean for us to do this, and what sacrifices we would have to make. When I made the decision to leave Walmart for my own mental health, I did it through consulting her first.
In the end, we decided that this was the right thing for me to do. As she was only a few classes into her educational opportunities, we decided to put her education on hold as I dove into mine full time, in order to be done as quickly as possible so she could start hers again. We decided that she would become the breadwinner of the family, also to help me focus on what I was doing in school.
So far, we have worked things out. But I am constantly in a struggle with myself over taking a job somewhere to help out. On the one hand, we need money to pay bills, and if there's not enough money, then we have a big problem. On the other hand, at some times I'm having quite a difficulty juggling classes, meetings, church, and homework. Homework is especially hard for me sometimes because I can't sit and do a lot of work at once like I used to: I lose focus after a while, or I lose my ability to comprehend what I'm doing, or I lose my ability to think in coherent sentences when writing. So I am intentional about breaking up my homework with other non-work related activities in order get the most out of what I'm trying to accomplish.
Some weeks, I feel like I have all the time in the world to do whatever I want (like this week), and some weeks I feel like I haven't got a free moment to spare (like last week).
I think about this often, and I would say it's the biggest source of stress in my life currently. Shouldn't I be doing more to make this work out? But then there are days that Kelse reminds me what our decision was, and that we both play a roll in this. I am not the person responsible for the majority of the income and paying the bills like I was a year ago. In this time, in this place, my role is that of student. Of course, if I can find some things on the side that pay money every now and then (as I have been occasionally) that don't run into my schedule, then I'll take it to help out. I have also begun my search in earnest for a job for the summer. Next school year, I'll have a stipend from my field ed, and that will help too. I've also decided to at least give it a try next year for some work study, and if I can tell it isn't going to work out, then it won't work out and I'll stop.
In the meantime, I'll do what I can. Incidentally, if anyone needs help moving, at the end of the semester or otherwise, I have lots of experience, and I'm willing to work for what I would say is a pretty good deal. Let me know!
Today is one of those days. I am sitting in a place of abundance from opportunities for field ed next year. I am amazed at the possibilities, and grateful for the choice I have to make, though I am close to certain what choice I will make. I feel like I'm moving forward in seminary quite well, and I feel better about my future than I have in quite a while.
On the other hand, Kelse lost one of her jobs today, one that was giving her more hours than the other. We have money to last us a little while, but not into the summer. So she resumes her job search, again.
Back when we had our conversations about me leaving work to come to seminary, we talked about a lot of things. I let her know me feelings about my job, and how it was affecting me, my health, my life, and my relationships. We talked about ideas for the future, about what it might mean for us to do this, and what sacrifices we would have to make. When I made the decision to leave Walmart for my own mental health, I did it through consulting her first.
In the end, we decided that this was the right thing for me to do. As she was only a few classes into her educational opportunities, we decided to put her education on hold as I dove into mine full time, in order to be done as quickly as possible so she could start hers again. We decided that she would become the breadwinner of the family, also to help me focus on what I was doing in school.
So far, we have worked things out. But I am constantly in a struggle with myself over taking a job somewhere to help out. On the one hand, we need money to pay bills, and if there's not enough money, then we have a big problem. On the other hand, at some times I'm having quite a difficulty juggling classes, meetings, church, and homework. Homework is especially hard for me sometimes because I can't sit and do a lot of work at once like I used to: I lose focus after a while, or I lose my ability to comprehend what I'm doing, or I lose my ability to think in coherent sentences when writing. So I am intentional about breaking up my homework with other non-work related activities in order get the most out of what I'm trying to accomplish.
Some weeks, I feel like I have all the time in the world to do whatever I want (like this week), and some weeks I feel like I haven't got a free moment to spare (like last week).
I think about this often, and I would say it's the biggest source of stress in my life currently. Shouldn't I be doing more to make this work out? But then there are days that Kelse reminds me what our decision was, and that we both play a roll in this. I am not the person responsible for the majority of the income and paying the bills like I was a year ago. In this time, in this place, my role is that of student. Of course, if I can find some things on the side that pay money every now and then (as I have been occasionally) that don't run into my schedule, then I'll take it to help out. I have also begun my search in earnest for a job for the summer. Next school year, I'll have a stipend from my field ed, and that will help too. I've also decided to at least give it a try next year for some work study, and if I can tell it isn't going to work out, then it won't work out and I'll stop.
In the meantime, I'll do what I can. Incidentally, if anyone needs help moving, at the end of the semester or otherwise, I have lots of experience, and I'm willing to work for what I would say is a pretty good deal. Let me know!
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