Confirming what we already knew. . .

From Lasso entry, Texas Hispanics, rural America still disproportionately represented among soldiers killed in Iraq:

This raises a larger moral question, of course: Is it right that America depends on an armed forces where a large number of the troops are forced into the service by unequal opportunities in civilian life? The country sends these young men and women to fight for equality in the Middle East, but that equality is missing here at home.

OH MY GOD!

I find this very scary: The New York Times: Kansas Attorney General Seeks Records of Late-Term Abortions

Kline spoke to reporters after details of the investigation, which began in October, surfaced in a legal brief filed by attorneys for two medical clinics. The clinics argued that unless the high court intervenes, women who obtained abortions could find government agents knocking at their door.

The clinics said Kline demanded their complete, unedited medical records for women who sought abortions at least 22 weeks into their pregnancies in 2003, as well as those for girls 15 and younger who sought abortions. Court papers did not identify the clinics.

Where has all the privacy gone? Long time passing. . .

Men only

I came across this in my Bloglines. MSNBC - Is blogging a male game?

I like Kevin Drum's blog - indeed, I used to link to it here. I would definitely disagree with him about men being better suited for blogging. In fact, I believe I read somewhere that more women are blogging nowadays than ever. Now whether the women blog on politics or their personal lives, that's another story.

It's almost that time again. . .

Women's history month is coming up, and I'm planning my second annual celebration with posts on popular and lesser-known figures of women's history. My plan:

1st week - firsts
2nd week - music
3rd week - politics
4th week - my faves

If you have someone you'd like me to focus on along these lines, shoot me an e-mail. I'm trying to actually go with a plan this year. We'll see!

And I do tend to stick to what I know, which is unfortunately limited to Western-European and American figures. I am definitely open to suggestions if you've got 'em.

Lily Tuck actually goes to Paraguay

I read The News from Paraguay and didn't care much for it. Regardless, I was astonished when I read that the author said she had no desire to ever go to Paraguay. She changed her mind, though, and recently visited the country. This article from the NY Times discusses the welcome, and controversy, that met her during her visit.

Why Women Will Lose

I found this insightful article from Alternet, Why Women Will Lose. It discusses how Bush's so-called social security "reform" plan will be of detriment to women, since they will bear the brunt of it.

If we move to a privatized system and it fails, it will be women who will have to pay the price. Not only do women depend disproportionately on Social Security, we are more likely than men to care for an aging parent. So without the insurance of inflation-adjusted lifetime income, more retirees could wind up relying on the time and generosity of their children. And that means more women would take on the added burden of elder care.

I'm not the only one who thinks you should see "Hotel Rwanda"

Revisiting the Passion of the Christ:

For whatever reason, when I walked out of the 2005 film Hotel Rwanda this thought wouldn't leave me: If we really had the mind and heart of Christ, this is the movie we would be urging people in our churches to see. In fact, I can't think of a more worthwhile experience for Christian leaders than to watch Hotel Rwanda and then ask themselves questions like these:

Which film would Jesus most want us to see, and why?

Why did so many churches urge people to see Gibson's film, and why did so few (if any?) promote Terry George's film? What do our answers to that question say about us?

What were the practical outcomes of millions of people seeing Gibson's film? And what outcomes might occur if equal numbers saw Hotel Rwanda - as an act of Christian faithfulness?

In what sense could Hotel Rwanda actually be titled The Passion of the Christ?

What do we make of the fact that a high percentage of Rwandans who participated in the 1994 genocides were churchgoers?

What do we make of the fact that a high percentage of the Americans who ignored the 1994 genocides (then and now) were and are churchgoers?

What kind of repentance does each film evoke in Western Christians? Why might the kind of repentance evoked by Hotel Rwanda be especially needed during these important days in history?

It's been well over a week since I saw the film, and I still feel a churning inside me, a disquiet, a rumble in my heart that feels to me like "the burden" that the old prophets used to speak of, maybe even a simmering heat reminiscent of Jeremiah's "fire in my bones."

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And then I realize that's why Hotel Rwanda seemed to me an even more Christian film (forgive me if this sounds crazy to you - but try to understand) than The Passion of the Christ. It evoked in me a wave of compassion for my neighbors around the world, whatever their color or tribe, whatever their religion or politics. And I hear our Lord saying, "As you have done it to the least of these...you have done it to me."

God and gambling

In the Pink Texas has a really funny post on a Texas legislator who claims that his preacher suggested he make a bill endorsing video gambling. Too, too funny. As she writes, "I wasn’t aware that Bill Bennett was preaching these days."

Hotel Rwanda

I was able to catch Hotel Rwanda Saturday night and I cannot recommend it enough. It was so moving and left me feeling emotionally raw. The acting is amazing, the writing is pretty good, and the story is very intense. I got choked up in at least three spots, and clutched my jacketed chest in sadness.

I was also struck by how the western world let all this happen. I feel like we didn't do anything to help this situation. If Rwanda had oil, though, we woulda been there lickity-split. You betcha. I was only in high school when all this was going on in Rwanda, but now, something similar is occurring in the Sudan. How much is our government doing to stop it?

I had to have some alcohol after the movie, it brought me so low. And I rarely drink! After a margarita at Kerbey Lane, I felt slightly better. Somewhat materialistic, but better.

Ossie Davis

Elizabeth at It Hurts to Breathe has put up a fine post on Ossie Davis upon his very recent passing.

It Hurts to Breathe: mourning celebrity



Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee were an amazing couple. Inspiring actors, loving people, and strong activists. This is definitely a sad loss for the film world and the stage, but also, I think, for America in general. I don't say it to be sappy, I say it because it's the truth.

Jim Wallis last night

I was able to catch Jim Wallis last night at BookPeople. He was just as amazing as I remembered from meeting him in college. He got the crowd excited and took some questions from the audience. My mom and I were able to get chairs since we went there straight after work. A large crowd had slowly formed by the time Jim started speaking. He remarked on his visit to "The Daily Show" and on the importance of REAL moral values in society and politics today. As he says, "Jesus was not pro-rich, pro-war, or pro-America-only" (I've paraphrased). He also commented that although Bush is a pious man, his theology is completely wrong. For all of my loyal readers in other areas of the nation, I urge you to catch this man in person. Read more about the tour, the author, and order the book already!

dedication and immigration

The Daily Texican has an excellent post today on some very dedicated youths trying to stay in America.

pinkdome

For a while I was linking to wonkette on my sidebar, but I tired of it after the election. Well, it was also quite unsafe for work, which is where I do my main blog-reading from.

Thanks to the Burnt Orange Report, I discover that there is a sort-of local version here for us in Texas, Pinkdome. Hopefully it will be a little more work-safe. It looks just as snarky though. Yay!