Tan Their Hydes

Thank God for those godless Europeans who actually recognize that in our modern world where health care does some good, health care should be universal, without conditions, strings, or provisos. People who are well should be encouraged to stay that way, and people who are sick should be cared for until they get better and can manage, effectively, by themselves.

I am so offended that a religious lobby got their way in determining how health care is to be provided/funded (in our society those are realistically one and the same) to citizens of this country (and non-citizens as well; consider that tourists often receive health care as needed when visiting other countries). Since when do we live in a theocracy? Why should one self-proclaimed Christian group get to make decisions for the members of other Christian churches, not to mention all the non-Christians who live in this country, pay their taxes, vote their consciences, serve in the military and otherwise fulfill their duties as citizens? A whole lot of things get funded with my taxes that I don't approve of, even abhor, but I have little choice in the matter because that is the way the government has decided to spend the tax dollars. The only means I have for changing policy is to write letters, support my preferred candidates during election cycles, and VOTE!

I suppose I could get involved in some type of tax protest or civil disobedience, but I'm too concerned about the welfare of my children to go so far in rocking the boat at this time. On the other hand, I'm tired of being the radical right's doormat. I'm tired of being forced to do my part as a US citizen, while being systematically disenfranchised in my own country by a bunch of self-righteous people who seem only to peruse the Bible in order to find obscure passages to support their own agenda, while glossing over the greater message of love and forgiveness. These are the people Jesus was addressing when he said, "Love one another, as I have loved you," that is, without preconditions and unreservedly.

I suppose some could say that I am being intolerant of the intolerance of others. That could get very circular. The reality is that I do not want in any way to interfere in other people's religious beliefs or private practices, but I draw the line when it comes to the way that our central government handles the common welfare. When the decisions about the law of the land and the way tax dollars are used becomes subject to a particular religious viewpoint, then we are playing dangerously with state-imposed religion, contrary to the First Amendment of our constitution.

Have I ever had (or wanted to have) an abortion: No. Do I think abortions are reasonable safe from a health standpoint and should be a recognized and reimbursable health care option: Yes. That said, I do have some reservations. I would want to be sure that the woman involved is making the decision to have an abortion freely, without coercion from a partner or a parent or anyone else, and that she has access to supportive counseling before and after the abortion. If a woman is feeling coerced into having an abortion, I would (ideally) like her to have alternatives presented - in a non-coercive manner.

Do I want to marry another woman: No. Do I think two same-sex partners should be able to enjoy the same government protections and benefits that my husband and I do: Yes. Do I think they should be able to celebrate their commitment in a like-minded religious community, and even call it a marriage: Yes.

Now, go in peace to love and serve the world. Be the miracle.

New to this medium

I've been meaning to start a blog. I figure it is a way for me to let the world know how much better off it would if I were in charge of everything. No, wait, that was my dad's idea.


I don't want to be in charge of everything. Sometimes I don't want to be in charge of anything.


I have a husband and three children. I often feel that I have no life of my own, which is crazy because I also work full-time for money, besides my full-time unpaid careers.


I guess I can use this space to express my own ideas about things. OK, I'll give it a go.


Health care: This is so whacked out at this point, that trying to make heads or tails of what is right is darn near impossible. Do I think life should be prolonged at all costs - NO WAY! Do I believe in social euthanasia - NO WAY! The sheer rhetoric of health care "discussions" is so over the top, no one can possibly be right. Where is the common ground? What is the common sense? I cannot imagine terminating a pregnancy, but I was blessed with three healthy and desired pregnancies. I cannot imagine having cancer either, because I never have. The best I can do is speculate, and law should not be speculative. It should certainly not reflect a narrow perspective. At this point, I'm leaning toward a preference for a two-tiered system, much as I hate the idea of it. The reality is that the greatest luxury is almost inevitably going to go to the person with the most money. Consider who gets to go to elite preparatory schools. It's hard to figure out what should go into a basic health plan: prenatal care - in, infertility treatment - out, appendectomy - in, heart-lung transplant - out. One of the hardest parts of coming up with a health plan is the lies that so many people believe in our society, that failure is never acceptable, and that death is a failure. Death is part of life as much as birth; nobody lives forever. Matter of fact, I often call life a terminal condition, just to keep things in perspective. People need to live their lives in a healthy way, respecting and maintaining the bodies we have each received. That way, fewer resources would be needed to prop up unhealthy lifestyles, and more could be available for the unexpected or unusual. We need as a society to take responsibility for self-maintenance, and give up this crazy reliance on chemical maintenance. We need as a society also to focus on the normal majority, instead of generating collective angst about what might happen. Overall, about 87% of women will never have breast cancer. With all the knowledge and technology and everything today, the most sensible thing to do is just to live our lives, eat well (that is, eat to live, not live to eat), and if one becomes ill, then deal with it. All the worry in the world will not keep a person healthy.