Over the past few weeks, I've noticed several postings on a blog I frequent which involved Christianity in some form or other. Usually I don't get involved in discussions about religion, as I think it is a deeply personal thing, but I've decided to throw my hat into the ring, because, well, because quite honestly I have something to say.

There is a lot of Christian bashing going on for people who claim to be open minded. Stories like this one have nothing to do with Christianity. The ignorant people in the story may CLAIM to be Christian, but that doesn't mean the predjudice they stand for comes from the religion. ( and...you don't have to be from the deep south to be a redneck idiot. I lived up North for most of my life and there are some dumb-ass, backwoods idiots living up there.) Just like with any religion, if you look hard enough , you will find the bad apples. The people that take the foundation of a faith and twist it to their own purposes. Over the years I've met people from all walks of life, from all religions, that are JUST as bigoted and just as ignorant.

Racisim, predjudice and intolerance are irrational and based in a life-time of learning. Someone in Chris Curtis's life TAUGHT him to hate, TAUGHT him to fear and now it is ingrained in his psyche. He could have been raised Jewish, Muslim, Hindu...it wouldn't matter.

How fast would you jump all over someone that said, " Who needs reality when you have the Koran?" or "Who needs reality when you have the Torah?" You can find fundementalism in in any religion, in any part of the country.

Does it sadden and anger me when I see people claiming to be Christians bashing minotities, calling the gay and lesbian community depraved or trying to ban books from our schools? It sure as hell does. Do I think that "fundementalism" is dangerous? You better believe it, any "ism" is bad for you...it means things have gone to far. Do I think ALL Christians are like that? No. I know they aren't.

Bashing the Christian religion is the same thing as bashing anything else. It's wrong. You can't claim to be open minded and tolerant of others while in the same breath you are calling people who believe in the Bible and attend church backwards and ignorant.

What makes belief in any religion better than in another? Where are all the articles denounsing Muslims because a fundementalist portion of their religion have been running about the planet blowing people up in the name of Allah? Where are all the postings crying out at how silly it is that fundementalist Jews are okay with the killing of Palestinians so that they can lay claim to a tiny peice of dirt in the middle of the desert in the name of God? I don't see any.

I got behind calling Laura Mallory an idiot. Not because she was a Christian, but because she IS an idiot. I pointed out that "Christians that talk like this are promoting “family values” and a return to “better times”. People of any other religion that talk the same way are “terrorists”. It’s like banging your head against a brick wall," making the point that individuals who use Christianity in one breath the defend themselves and in another to denounce someone behaving in EXACTLY the same manner, are hypocrites. The same applies to people that run about blaming ALL Christians for the bad behavior of a few.

People bash on the Bible, it's contents and the fact that people believe in it as a religious test. I've heard people talk about how original sin is a crock and how it doesn't actually say this or that in the pages of the Bible. I have yet to see a discussion talking about the "crazy" notion that starting a HOLY WAR and killing people to get yourself into heaven is a good idea. Or renouncing the belief that we all die and are reborn repeatedly until we reach a state of perfection ( For those of you that got lost there, that would be a Hindu thing)

I may not agree with all the things the Chritian religion teaches. I wouldn't teach some of them to my own children because I don't agree with them, but that doesn't mean that I'm going to run about bashing the entire religion.

Get off your high horses and take a look at what your really saying. Stop slinging accusations at a religion and start attacking the real problem...the teaching of hatred to children because their parents were taught to hate. Hiding behind God is a way to protect themselves from accountability, but that isn't unique to Christians, not by a long shot.

Explain to me where the confusion is

Apparently, airline workers in Chicago say they have seen a UFO. Now it's a news story. How does this continue to be newsworthy?

UFO literally means "Unidentified Flying Object". Seems simple enough to me. You see something flying, you can't indentify it, this makes it a UFO. It doesn't mean that it came from outer space filled with little green men dying to impregnate our women and take over the planet. ET has not landed. Martians are not about to eat your livestock.

If people want me to believe that they saw something that could not possibly have come from this planet, which I believe could be possible, then they need to come up with a different name for it. As it stands, whenever I hear someone say, "I saw a UFO." all I think is, "Well join the club, you wouldn't believe how many things I've seen miles above the earth and thought, 'Well what the hell is that?"

( Moving off to a HUGE side tangent: Would someone please look up the proper use of "a" and "an" in front of words and make sure that UFO isn't one of those weird exceptions to the rule about usage in front of words beginning with a vowel? "An UFO" just sounds weird and wrong and makes the little hairs on the back of my neck stand up, but all my reference books are currently packed for the move....Thanks!!!!)

(EDIT:01/03/06 THANKS STEPHANIE!!!!)

Bewildering Conversations with a Teenage Girl

This is the first installment in what I am sure will become a regular feature here at The Dead Letters. ( I'm borrowing this idea from Ken Jennings, who is often bewildered by his three year old...) This is a conversation I had with my thirteen year old last night:

"Mom, can I go over to Tasha's to wish her family a Happy New Year?"
"Yes, just don't be gone to long."

Three minutes later:

"Mom, can I stay over at Tasha's for about an hour or so?"
"Are her parents there? Will there be adult supervision?"
"I don't know I didn't see them, we were outside, I'll go check."

Three MORE minutes later:

"Her parents are drinking at a friends and getting ready to go to the bar, but there will be adult supervison."
"Who is there that will be supervising?"
"Tasha's brother and his friend."
(at this point my husband is sitting bolt upright on the couch, frowning.)
"And how old is her brother?"
"Fifteen."
"No. Two teenage boys does not qualify as adult supervision."

Frowning from the teenager, "But..."

"Your mother said no. You are not going to go spend a hour or longer in a house with two fifteen year old boys. It's not going to happen, get over it."

More frowning.

"Fine"

Door slamming......Fifteen minutes later:

"Russell go and get her and make her come home."

My husband goes outside and returns with the sullen teenager who promptly goes to her room, no doubt to write in her journal about how her parents "just don't get it." I wait ten minutes and go in to talk with her so she will understand why we said no."

" I know your upset because we wouldn't let you go to Tasha's, but your getting to that age where certain situations can be dangerous."

Raised eyebrow. "Like what?"
"Like being alone in a house with two fifteen year old boys."
"Why?"
"Well, as you get older (this conversation gets more uncomfortable by the second)... As you get older, boys start to see you differently."

Shake of the head, "Whatever." Long drawn out sigh." But mom, they have kittens over there."

At this point I laugh because I can't help myself and I stand up to leave the room.
"Well, it's nice that they have kittens, maybe you can go see them tomorrow afternoon."

I exit the room feeling confused and somehow relieved. My thirteen year old daughter wasn't irritated with me because I wouldn't let her hang out with her friend and the older brother, she was irritated because there were kittens she wanted to play with and I interfered.

It would appear I have been spared the horror of boys at least for now.

I couldn't sleep tonight, so I sat and watched my son as he slept safely in the arms of his father. And I cried. I looked at his little face, so peaceful and calm, and I thought of all the children who are cold, hungry and scared tonight. I thought about all the mothers sitting and crying because they have lost a child to hunger or violence. My heart aches for all the little ones with no mother or father to hold them, kiss them and tell them that tomorrow will be a better day.

I hope that in the coming year, not so many innocent lives will be destroyed by the ignorance and greed of the adults in charge.

Post #2...I've added men to my "Wow, he's hot" list

I have decided that I am adding Neil Gaiman and Wil Wheaton to my list of celebrities I think are HOT!!

Smart, sexy, funny......gotta love men that don't fit that horrifying mold of airbrushed BS you see everywhere. I guess I'm going to have to re-write the Top 10 list.

Art, thy name is Toddler.....

Tonight my family was enjoying a little down time, watching the Mythbusters (Like any good family would be) when the pitter patter of my sons little feet was heard coming down the hallway. He had a smile on his face that lit the room and something odd under his nose. Now, as any good mother will tell you, the appropriate response to this is, "What the hell is all over his face?" To this my husband responds, " I have no....wait, is that marker?"

I pull my son close and peer down at him, and sure enough, it is black marker. Great, my son now looks like a little tiny Hitler. I pull out a trusty wet wipe and begin to scrub at the offending mark while my husband runs to our room to find the marker in question. A few seconds later I hear, " Oh good God!" This is not a good thing.

I walk to our room, two year old close behind and find my husband staring at the computer screen which is now covered in black art work, courtesy of my son. I surpress a laugh and my husband says, "I knew it was too quiet back here." My son climbs up on his fathers lap, smiles widely, points to the computer and says, "Pretty colors." He is very proud.

We washed the screen, had a good laugh and learned that the Sharpies must now be kept on top of the refrigerator along with everything else the two year old shouldn't have. It was a good night.

Gwenyth Platrow "slams" America

So the big news of the day seems to be that Gwenyth Paltrow told a Portuguese magazine that she likes living in England because the British aren't as capitalistic as Americans and don't discuss money all the time...and that she fits in better there because she doesn't fit the "bad" side of American pyschology. Now she's catching crap for saying what she thinks.

Apparently free speech only applies if you're saying something NICE about the United States. Honestly? I agree with what she said. As a society we have become to capitalistic, to concerned with money. The stereotype of the "Ugly American" didn't just spring into being on its own people.

Just because she's a celebrity doesn't mean Ms. Paltrow should have to smile and eat shit to get us to go and see her movies. Can you say Tom Cruise?? I mean COME ON!! That man is off his rocker and people are obsessed with him and his numb headed bride. So it's okay to knock the mentally ill, but not say out loud what a lot of people are already thinking? Bullshit!!

I've said it before and I'll say it again: We all have the right to speak our minds. If you don't like what someone has to say, then change the situation that made them say it! I for one will be seriously disappointed is Gwenyth Paltrow issues any kind of apology for her statements.

This is what war looks like....

( the picture above would only save as a thumbnail, click the link attached to the title of this post and go to slide #14 in the slide show.)

This little girl lives in Afghanistan. She could be my child, she could be your child...or your niece or your sister or your grandchild. This is the face of war. After all the political rhetoric, after all the postering, it's people like this child that are left to try and put things back together. It breaks my heart.

What good is freedom if you don't live to enjoy it?

Shamu Attacks trainer....and we're surprised why???

Shamu the Killer Whale attacked one of his "trainers" (personally I prefer the word "jailer") during a show recently. The attack has apparently surprised everyone. I read the headline and my first thought was, "Well finally."

Shamu is not like a kitten that was bought from the local pet shop that just suddenly went feral attacking it's owner and shocking everyone around. Shamu is a KILLER WHALE!!! The operative word here being "killer", not to mention the fact that he's a wild animal. Why are people always surprised when a wild animal, kept in captivity, lashes out at a human being? Everyone acts like its a total shock.

Here's a thought, maybe we should stop putting animals in little boxes and amusing outselves by forcing them to do cute things to make our kids smile. Shamu shouldn't be forced to jump through hoops, toss balls with his tail or anything else degrading. It's bad enough that he's kept in a tank where all he gets to do is swim in circles until he dies.

Yes folks, that's right...I'm the one that roots for the bull and not the matador. I think it's funny as hell watching cowboys run away from angry bulls at the rodeo. I think all of the macho crap humans do to animals in the name of "fun" or "sport" should be tossed out the window. Call me crazy, but I don't think entertainment should be attached to the pain, suffering or degredation of any other species.

I hope the trainer is alright, but I say, "Rock on Shamu! Next time drag his ass through one of the hoops with you, maybe he'll get the point."

Turkey and Gravy.....Soda????

No, you didn't read that wrong.

Let's back up for a minute. My best friend, Stephanie, is an almost obsessive poster of those annoying little quizzess. On the odd occassion, I get sucked into taking one, mostly because I want to see how I stack up against her. (Yes, that is kind of sad and more than a little pathetic...)
This morning, my son woke me at the wonderful hour of 5:15 and with nothing else to do, I decided to check a few of my favorite blogs.

Stephanie, thankfully, had updated, giving me something to do. The third quiz posted was this one....

You Are Broccoli Casserole Soda

Vegetarians taste better!

What Jones Holiday Soda Are You?

Stephanie got "Pecan Pie Soda".... at least hers sounds like something you MIGHT want to drink.

Still awake and not wanting to be, I decided to check the Jones Soda site to see if the person who made this quiz was just really clever or if Jones did indeed make these flavors. No Broccoli Casserole Soda, BUT.......

They actually do make a Turkey and Gravy soda. You can buy it in the 2006 Holiday Pack. There's also a Dessert Pack. I sat for a moment, pondering this information. Turkey and Gravy soda??? What sick, demented mind would come up with such a thing? Then I noticed the "Why?" button. I clicked it, eager to learn more about the surely drug induced reasoning behind such awful flavors as "Dinner Roll" and "Sweet Pea".

It turns out that Jones released the flavors to benefit charity. The 2006 Holiday Pack benefits Toys for Tots and the Dessert Pack benefits St. Jude's Childrens Research Hospital. The Jones soda website has a locator that will allow you to find where the two products can be purchased in your area. Although I know we'll never drink them, I plan to purchase one of each. (Quick Note: For some reason, if you live in Utah, the store locator will default to Louisiana. Not sure why.)

I'm addicted to an online game. No it isn't Everquest or Worlds of Warcraft. Nothing quite so cool for me. I went and got myself addicted to Disney's Toontown Online. This is a game that was originally designed with children in mind, and here I am 35 years old and just trying to kill enough Cogs to get that next Laff Point.

Do you think they have a support group?

Apparently the reason I haven't been able to accomplish anything is because someone keeps beating me to it. According to The Onion, Someone has been acheiving my dreams.

Damn them!!! I can only hope that no one gets around to kicking my ex-husband in the balls before I do.

I was reading Wil Wheatons blog tonight and all I have to say is, "Thank God!"

Apparently Mr. Wheaton is feeling a bit like life, real life, you know all that crap they never told us about when we were kids? Yeah, real life, is taking up the time and energy that he used to channel into creative endeavors. It's nice to know that I'm not the only person who feels that way.

The way I look at it is this, if someone as obviously talented as Wil Wheaton can have the "Life is sucking me dry." moment, then I'm not going to stress mine. I know that it will pass, but waiting for it to happen is a pain in the ass. I suppose now I feel like I have a commrade in arms, someone else that sits and stares at something that they've started and goes, "Now what the Fuck do I do?"

Here's to writer's block, may it never strike any of you.

Every now and then....

Every now and then you come across something that's worth reading on the internet. I just link clicked myself to one such site. I recommend that anyone with a brain check out The Zero Boss.

I especially like the post about the recent nutcase in Georgia trying to get Harry Potter banned because it turns innocent children into cat killing Satanists.

Go on, give it a read! You know you want to.

I am inspired....

After browsing the internet for the first time in weeks and after flipping through random blogs, I feel inspired.

I am inspired to call me best friend and tell her I miss her. It's been too long.

I am inspired to write. To complete some of the random scribblings from months gone by.

I am inspired to try something new. To break out of the mold and try a new medium of expression.

I am inspired to hug my children and never forget how fragile or precious they really are.

I am inspired to buy a Poloroid camera and start taking pictures of interesting things again. Things I can glue into my journal and remember fondly when I am old.

I am inspired to have compassion for people I don't know, simply because they are people.

I am inspired to write letters. To speak up and tell people that it is not okay to trample on people simply because they have more money, more power or more celebrity.

What are you inspired to do?

Oprah, Schmoprah

I'm just going to say it, I don't really like Oprah Winfrey all that much. Am I the only person that feels this way?

Sure she's done good things for underprivledged children in America and in Africa, but she's not the only person who has.

I find her artificial and shallow. She tries to portray herself as this down-to-earth rich woman and it never quite rings true. I refuse to buy books that have been stamped with the Oprah Winfrey seal of approval...not that I think the book is not worth it, but because I don't feel the need to pander to the whims of a rich woman.

People get all excited about being on her show and I shudder at the thought. People would give a first born to be on the coveted "Favorite Things" show and bring home all that fancy, non-essential crap. Me, I'd rather have someone hand the money spent on that show to a charity for needy families or better yet to a school that doesn't have the resources it needs to properly educate our children. Imagine what they could do with the millions those products cost.

I think the capper for me was the recent "Gail and Oprah See America" episode I caught part of. I watched about five minutes and it made me sick. Crashing peoples weddings? That's just tacky. And they just smile and fawn over her like she didnt' just bust in on the biggest day of their lives and take over the spotligt. I would have asked her, polietly of course, to leave.

I think that Oprah Winfrey,or her television empire at the very least, represnt some of the worst characteristics of America today.

All right, I'm done whining now. Really...I feel much better

Oh God! I think they may actually give me a license.

Well folks, I took my first Driver's Ed class tonight. Yes, you heard me correctly, Driver's Ed. In a mere six weeks I will be licensed to operate a motor vehicle in the state of Utah.

And I'm terrified. Seriously, I got a little rash on my arms tonight from the stress. How sad is that? The instructor was talking about three point turns and highway driving and all of a sudden I'm all itchy and breaking out.

This is going to be a hell of a six weeks.

Today, not for the first time since the war started, I feel shame because I am an American. A Canadian citizen was falsly accused by members of his government, labled an al-Quida terrorist. Our government then jumped in, detained the man for 12 days without checking the story and then took him to Syria where he was tortured for ten months. Ten months.

Now he has been released and the Canadian Supreme Court has ruled that he is indeed an innocent man. Are the agents in the Canadian Intelligence Agency being held accountable? No. Are the people in our government being held responsible for the things that this man suffered? No.

Tell me this, if we allow this kind of behavior to continue in the name of "freedom", what exactly is our freedom worth. How are we any better than the people we claim to be fighting?

I suppose it all comes down to how long we're willing to turn a blind eye. People in this country grimace a bit and say things like,"Well, we are in a war." If we allow this kind of behavior from the officials elected to the highest places in our government where do you think it will stop?

I used to be proud of my country and what it stood for, now I wonder when we became the playground bully.

And your mother always told you that no one ever died from eating vegetables....

The FDA is warning consumers not to eat fresh, bagged spinach as it has been linked to a deadly outbreak of E.Coli. This does not make me feel confident in the recent changes I have made to my diet.

Remember when you were a child and you were slightly distrustful of anything that green and leafy being on your plate? I'm guessing that your mother, like mine, said something along the lines of,"Oh just eat your dinner. No one has ever died from eating vegetable."

Now children everywhere will be able to answer, "Oh yes they have!"

How ironic.

I couldn't sleep last night, so I was randomly clicking through blogs and searching for something interesting to read. I found a couple, but it seemed like everyother blog that popped up was either in a language I couldn't read (which can actually be kind of fun when your sleep deprived and feeling imaginative) or an advertisement for Viagra or Credit Counseling (neither of which is any fun, no matter how sleep deprived you are.)

After cruising the blogs for a bit I started reading people profiles, just for a change of pace. Does anyone else feel like they're signing someones yearbook or standing in front of some wierd support group meeting when they write those things?

"Hello, my name is Serena....and I'm a blogger. I'm 35 years old and still haven't accomplished most of the things I said I would when I was 16. I feel vaugely guilty about this, so I write about my sad little life in a way I hope is amusing."

Okay, my life isn't really sad...although I do sometimes, late at night, feel like I let the younger version of myself down by not acutally being able to become a multi-millionaire with houses on both coast while saving the rainforest, preventing global warming and adopting several underprivledged children. (Yes, those actually were the thing I dreamt of doing when I was 16)

I didn't become a multi-millionaire, but I did learn that money is only important enough to worry about when you can't pay the gas bill. I haven't saved the world, but I do support the people who are making a valiant effort and I'm vocal about not supporting the people who aren't. I haven't adopted any underprivledged children, but I have two beautiful children of my own that make me continue to want to make the world a better place.

I just noticed that it isn't even eight in the morning yet. Is that to early to be thinking about this kind of stuff?