Why Are Republicans Waging War on Women?

I'm going to say it right up front. I am not an American nor do I live in the US. I'm Canadian and in the end it really doesn't matter what I think regarding this and I'm aware of that.

I speak as a woman. Just as I would speak out against the wars raging against women throughout the rest of the world. However the U.S. is my neighbor. I have had the pleasure of visiting there and I have friends there, and unlike my sister who vows she will never live in the states, I am open to the possibility.

I do not have either Republican or Democrat leanings. Up here in Canada we have our politics but we don't base friendships, marriages, or religion on people's preferences. It's my observation that American's can get quite rabid heated about it.

But after recent headlines I can't help but say something.

Socialism is Not Communism

Last Christmas instead of the usual ward Christmas party with the turkey dinner and Santa Claus, my ward decided to do "An Evening in Bethlehem". We were asked to dress up as if we lived back then and for those of us who didn't (me included), they had scarves and lengths of fabric at the front door.

Each family was given 10 pieces of silver (pennies wrapped up in aluminum foil) by the government and led into the gym to Bethlehem. Several booths were set up selling food and other items. We were told that we would have to pay a tax on the money given but we were free to spend our money. I can't remember what the tax was but in the end, due to haggling and shop keepers who were willing to give family deals we were all sufficiently fed. In fact the food was good.

It was one of the few times in the ward when I felt equal to the other people.

Old Testament: Stupid Women

I made a goal this year to read all my scriptures. That would be the Old and New Testament, the Bible Dictionary, The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. It sounds insurmountable but with the help of the internet I figured out I could do it by reading seven pages a day. Not that insurmountable.

I had heard many say that the Old Testament was difficult and they didn't like it. I didn't understand this. The Old Testament has some of the greatest Biblical stories. The creation of the earth, Moses parting the seas, beautiful Esther saving her people, Noah and the ark, Joseph and his multi-colored coat, Jonah getting eaten by a whale. Sure there was bad stuff but everyone knows you have to have bad stuff in order for the good to overcome insurmountable odds and win. It's a basic rule of literature. You have to have conflict.

I had studied the Old Testament in the past. Bits and pieces here and there and I had started it a few times just reading and never got much further than Adam and Eve. This time I made a concentrated effort to read it like a book, to get an overview of it all.

After two and a half months of reading I have to say, if I weren't already a devout believer I would be an athiest.

You Can Say What You Want As Long As It Agrees With Me

Yes, I'm jumping on this bandwagon. It's already been blown up out of proportion so I might as well add my two cents since it's not as if I'll be giving it any extra attention.

Remember Kirk Cameron from Growing Pains back in the 80's? I loved that show. I was a little too old to have a crush on Kirk, but I could understand why so many girls (and apparently from the backlash guys) did.

During his stint on the show Kirk became a Christian. Initially his new found faith apparently caused problems on the set but he eventually settled down.

His career afterwards didn't maintain the same heights but he did continue working and found a niche for himself in the Christian market while his co-star Leonardo Di Caprio became a famous movie star. Yes, Leo was in that show for the last season. There's a bit of TV trivia that not everyone knows.

Kirk found happiness with his large family (6 kids) stable marriage and his Christian career and didn't worry too much about Hollywood. Although in the past he has been criticized for his beliefs his life has not had the usual Hollywood scandals. No drugs, no illicit affairs, no blow ups at paparazzi (although by now they had mostly forgotten him), and he's lived a life that has been honest and true to his moral standards.

Last week he appeared on Piers Morgan. I have no idea why, but he did and Morgan asked him some questions that weren't part of Kirk's agenda. Here's the link to the interview. Some of it is quoted but if you watch the video you will get a more honest idea of what's going on rather than the quotes that are picked out.

Susan Is Not a Problem

I am a fan of The Chroncles of Narnia and I even got the opportunity to play the White Witch in a play about the second book "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe".

Recently I've been reading about the controversy surrounding Susan. WARNING: If you have not read the "Last Battle" stop reading now, because there is a major spoiler ahead.

In the "Last Battle" C.S. Lewis does the unthinkable. He kills off all his heroes. All but one.