Apathy

A friend wrote me last night.  She’s in Germany, and just visited a museum at a concentration camp.  She spoke about apathy, and how this visit reminded her again why she should care.  Another friend told the husband about two murders that have gone largely unreported by national media.  Horrific murders.  The kind that makes you cry out, “Oh God, where are you?”  The kind that provoke anger, and in some cases, racism and bitterness. 

I realized that’s what I’ve been struggling with.  I’m trying to find my passion, the exact median between anger and apathy.  For whatever reason, God has put me in a group that tends to be apathetic.  But I see a little spark of hunger in them.  I’m trying to find positive ways of fanning that spark. 

bless His holy name

“I will bless His name forever.”  Psalm 103

I’m not sure why I’m in this place right now.  I’m not sure why I struggle with those around me.  I’m not sure where to go, or what to do.  I’m not sure how to help. 

I am sure that God is holy and everything that is good.  He is just and he loves me.  If I hold on to that, everything else will be taken care of.

Bang Bang

Evil is as evil does, and laws disarming guaranteed victims make evil people very, very happy. Shame on us. – Ted Nugent [Source] 

I understand his point.  I am very fearful by nature.  The Husband laughs at my imaginings; kidnappings, murder, home invasion, etc.  I grew up in the suburbs and have limited personal experience with crime.  The fear is completely unfounded. 

The news this week makes me think: why not carry a gun?  Why not have it at that one moment that saves your life? Even though I am statistically unlikely to experience something like Virginia Tech, wouldn’t that one moment be worth a lifetime of preparation?  What IF one of those teachers or children had a gun?  Would it have changed the outcome?

Gun control appears only to work if guns are not accessible to anyone.  What does work?  European countries are not good comparisons because they have a historically low gun crime rate prior to any gun control laws.  America is completely unique in it’s history and future.  The answer is obviously not what we have now.  We fail people every day with our lax laws and jaded view on the sanctity of life.

With all that said, I will continue to voluntarily lay down my right to bear arms.  I have no other choice.  I would rather die, than be responsible for taking another life.  All human life is sacred.  All human life is worth saving.

Enough

I don’t write about this.  At least, not very often.  But I’m frustrated, and I need to get this out.

My brother is in Iraq.  Again.  If you stay caught up on the news, which I do, you’ve probably read articles on Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ decision to extend the tours of duty for Army personnel to 15 months.  My brother has been in Iraq, excluding a three weak “leave,” since last July.  That ”leave” was supposed to be for several months.  Because of that three week period, the Army may consider his tour of duty to have started in January, blatantly ignoring not only the 4 months he was in Afghanistan, but also ignoring the 6 months he was in Iraq last year.  Before this decision, he had been told to expect to be home by early July. 

 He was the only member of our family not at my wedding.  We had planned for him to be there.   He managed to call at the very beginning of the reception.  I was able to hear him say “Congratulations” and “I love you.”  I can’t even focus on what he is doing or where he is right now because I can’t comprehend the thought of him being hurt.  My heart hurts to see his wife upset.  I know he signed up for this.  I know he volunteered.  But there is a limit to what can be asked of him, and those who serve with them.  This is not a result of lack of funding.  We can’t afford this war!  We’ve spent enough for victory already.  Money is not an issue.  Idiotic and incomplete preparation is the cause. 

There is a limit to how many people you can kill, even for a cause you believe in.  There is a limit to what politicians, who have never been to war, can order based on a strategy developed far far away from reality.  There is a limit to what a people can take when they are being occupied by another nation.  There is a limit to what I can take because I am so opposed to everything this war stands for.  There is a limit. 

 When will we reach our limit collectively?  When will we stand up and say ENOUGH?  When will we raise our voices to stop this?  When will this stop?  One voice will not change.  But I cannot let my voice stay silent in this. 

 I argue with myself as I type this.  I don’t know the whole story and all the politics and strategy that goes with war.  I know that it is impossible to correctly judge an outcome when you are in the middle of the solution.  It’s all theory at this point.  Theoretically, Bush’s head might NOT be up his ass at this point and he MIGHT be creating a team that can “win” this battle and this war. 

 However, right now.  I’m tired.  I’m tired of worrying about my brother.  I’m tired of trying to comprehend the thought of him being hurt or worse for  a worthless cause.  I’m tired of the lies and deception of our government.  I’m tired. 

 So, let the letter writing commence:

http://www.house.gov/writerep/

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

comments@whitehouse.gov

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

vice_president@whitehouse.gov

ad free for life

Does it count as taking a stand for an ad free blog if you a. don’t have any traffic and b. don’t have anyone wanting to advertise on your blog?

this I believe

“At 50, I have come to the conclusion it is not the life I have that defines me, it is the way I choose to live that life. I choose to live it being faithful. This brings me peace, this allows me to have joy, this keeps me aware of my husband. My spiritual faith has given me the foundation to live this life, not just survive it. Faith in a God who has not abandoned me; faith in a man who loves me; faith in myself. I believe in faithfulness.”

[Source]