The right to life...for kids

There are some things that pain me to my very core, and one of those things is locking away our youth for life. Thankfully we no longer execute children, but is locking them up until they die any more humane?

I'm not looking at this from a political standpoint, but as a fellow human with the understanding that we are all equal and should be treated so by society and the justice system.

The brain isn't fully matured until our early 20's and neuropsychological research shows that during the adolescent years the human brain is rewiring and reintegrating itself leaving the executive functions and reasoning abilities highly susceptible to environmental and peer influences.

So do we lock children away forever, or do we work with them to try and help these kids make positive changes for themselves and become responsible adults who contribute to society?

Last week Bryan Stevenson of the Equal Justice Initiative argued sentencing juveniles to life in prison before the Supreme Court of the United States and has a very interesting and logical discussion on the topic on MSNBC. What is your opinion on the matter?

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Just something to think about.

Death and Dishonor

In a small town near Orland, Florida a young man died from a gunshot wound. His death went unnoticed by most and as his family mourned, trying to console themselves, confusion rippled quietly through the community.

Because of the actions of another, Trayvon Martin will never graduate high school, or see his little brother grow up. He’ll never marry and become a father. His parents have been denied the chance to see him grow into the man they knew he could be.

And we have all lost a member of our community.

That night in February, driven by emotions and adrenaline, a man took the life of another. He walked away bruised and shaken, but now wearing the eternal weight of knowing he is responsible for the death of a child.

Because of his actions, George Zimmerman has lost himself to the ensuing outcry. Labeled and judged by the public, he is no longer the captain of his ship as the world will now determine his fate as his life plays out on the world stage.

His family may also lose a son when these events have played themselves out. His future now destroyed by a quick decision made in the past...and life for him and his loved ones will never be the same again.

I will not speculate on what happened that night, nor will I offer an opinion on what I think should happen in the future because my opinion on this case doesn’t matter. My voice will not change the momentum or direction of this tragedy one way or another.

What I want to speak about is our national reaction...the communal tragedy that has played out in the 24-hour news, the social media, and via amateur commentators. As the Martin and Zimmerman families cry out for justice and pray for understanding, the rest of us are exhorting our own ideas of an event that we did not witness.

We stew in conjecture and play at being lawyers, spewing rhetoric based on questionable logic. Watching a few seasons of CSI has turned everyone into forensic experts capable of analyzing 911 tapes via the radio. We Trust “sources” that support our biases because we are unable to believe that which is counter to what we have already decided.

This is the way of the mind as we seek to quiet the heart and slowly remove the humanity from this very human tragedy.

A child has been shot and killed. No matter what else we think, we should never forget that.

As many push forth their beliefs they twist the media image of these two lives to fit their own perceptions. Because our thoughts decide our actions and form our reality, I wish we would spend more time trying to understand the truth behind our own beliefs before we set out to convince others of our superiority.

Has our sense of right and wrong been so twisted by adherence to some ideology that we have a compulsion to claim knowledge we do not possess? Has our need to be correct at all costs superseded the need to see what is really happening?

Have we forgotten that the loss of human life is a tragedy beyond all others? Have we forgotten that no amount of twisted logic, no amount of politicizing can ever rebuild the lives forever broken and lost?

Have we forgotten that life is a precious gift and its ending is a loss for everything that will never be?

I know what my beliefs are grounded upon: the truth that all humans are equal, no exceptions.

Yes, I am aware that some will try to claim that equal means “same”, but let’s ignore the little minds who want to debate semantics and focus on what I’m saying...equal means we all have the right to live without being judged by the color of our skin, our faith, or our gender.

That right was taken from Trayvon, and shame on us for not working harder to build a culture of acceptance and safety for all people. Life was taken from Trayvon that night, and for that I mourn.

A life was unnecessarily lost in a small town outside of Orlando. A human heart ceased to beat and a family’s heart will never heal, as two families will forever be tainted and torn apart by the actions of one.

I don’t care what about your opinion of the events, or how certain you claim to be of the legal ramifications of that night. What I care about is remembering that this death is a tragedy and it is now time to come together and ensure it does not happen again.

Let Trayvon’s death show us the steps that need to be undertaken for peace in our neighborhoods and the chasms that need to be healed within our nation. Let us honor this young man by remembering our own humanity.

Being Happy

People talk about finding happiness, but it’s just a metaphor. Happiness isn’t something that you find. Life is not some great Easter egg hunt where you’re walking through the park and happen to peek behind a bush and huzzah! Happiness is just sitting there, minding its own business, waiting for you to pick it up and put it in your pocket.

You cannot find happiness because it must find you.

So how does this actually happen? It’s a fairly simple concept. Happiness comes in when we have contentment in our lives. Happiness cannot live where bitterness resides. Where peace prevails, that is the heart that knows what it means to be truly happy.

The modern day mad men would rather we sought happiness through the accumulation of stuff and by instigating jealousy in our neighbors and friends (how does that work, anyways?)...but a full bank account and a well appointed home never guarantees a joyful heart.

Hollywood insists that happiness comes in the form of our true love. They would have us believe that our joy is being held hostage by another person and our goal is to find them, because when we do...we shall have our happiness. Why would we place the responsibility of our own contentment upon the shoulders of someone else? Not only is that an unfair burden to force upon another human, but I think it’s time we remember that fairy tales are for children.

Can love multiply happiness? Absolutely! But how much more fulfilling the love when you have a heart ready to share the joy.

Contentment is not always easy. One must find a balance between accepting what is while striving for what could be. Seeking peace with who we are as we work to improve ourselves and plan for tomorrow. We have to find validation from within as we look for our place out in the world. Like walking on a tightrope hundreds of feet in the air, it is a delicate dance that must be performed every day.

I know it sounds odd...I didn’t believe it at first either. But once contentment fills your life, happiness moves in and surrounds you, chasing out the fear and what-ifs and inviting in the why-nots and bring-it ons.

If you are still looking...feel free to give me a call. We’ll sit a while and work on finding contentment in a piece of chocolate cake and cup of coffee. It may not be there...but it’s a good place to start.

Rush's Rant: Just another symptom of our system of hate

Disclaimer: Before you read this article, you should probably understand a few things about me...it will make far more sense that way.

First, I do not debate politics or religion. I have my beliefs and you’re welcome to yours. Besides, debating accomplishes nothing and we’re not going to change each other’s mind. Science backs me up on this, so I won’t be debating that point either.

Second, I’m a true political independent. I’m not one of those who claim to be independent and then constantly demeans Obama with the same old, worn out idealogical dogma that the right-wing media serves up. Nor am I so enamored with the President and his party that I believe that he’s the Messiah and they are immune to mistakes and live a glorified existence propped up by the liberal left. I make my own decisions based on my understanding of the world, politics, all blended with an extra dose of logic.

I’m a huge fan of logic.

And lastly, I’m pro-humanity. Before people get their panties in a twist and claim that I’m anti-military or pro-celebrity, it’s important to understand that I’m a former soldier and very proud of my service. I’m also a disabled veteran. I live with a decent amount of daily pain and discomfort due to active duty injuries and I would not change it for the world. I also have many loved ones still serving on active duty in our armed services. That said, though I’m pro-troops, I am anti-war. I’m anti-war because I’m pro-troops. I don’t want to see one more of my fellow military brothers and sisters injured, maimed, mentally traumatized or killed because of some political ideology.

There are no victors in war, only survivors. And until the politicians are the ones taking the brunt of the mortar fire, we need to find better solutions to issues.

Okay, so on to the meat of the current topic: the system of hate in our society.

There have been two situations recently that have made me angry. I don’t get angry often, but when I do I like to wait a bit before I write about it. It’s been a week, so here you go:

Rush Limbaugh’s rant and dehumanizing rhetoric aimed at a young women who spoke before congress is one of the worse examples of public hate I have seen in a long time. Though Rush is known for his demeaning and sexist views of women in general, this one went far beyond anything he’s spewed before. It wasn’t just the name calling, it was his complete perception of her that degrades all women...young, old and in between.

I’m not surprised as Limbaugh makes his living by being controversial, but that this type of behavior is still so prevalent in our current century shows that we have such a long way to go before human dignity becomes the norm for anyone, especially women. Those media types that came out in support of this sad rhetoric while hiding behind political concerns about how taxes are spent...their behavior is just as disgusting.

The woman they are talking about is a human being, worthy of respect and so undeserving of such verbal brutality. I don’t care what your political views are. No one deserves such abuse.

No one.

Before that we had people demeaning Whitney Houston after her death. Many people called her names based on her past addiction to drugs and alcohol, while others dismissed her passing as insignificant or trivial.

Others spoke up saying that she doesn’t deserve celebrity status, and that military personnel are the ones who deserve to be treated as special because they do things that matter.

Huh? The logic on that one is so convoluted I actually thought it was a joke.

What does celebrity status have to do with the military? Yes, our military deserve the best care available, the best support for both their families and themselves, and they certainly deserve to be treated as more than just cannon fodder risking their lives in some far away country. But what does that have to do with the death of a woman who has impacted an entire generation across the globe? What does acknowledging her influence on society have to do with the military?

Any time a person dies, I don’t care if they are an entertainer, a soldier, a man living under the bridge, or an elementary school teacher....they are worthy of respect. Every death is sad, every loss of human life is tragic. Who are we to assign worth to anyone according to our own perceptions or ideology?

Who are we to demean one person while raising up another? Why is this still so prevalent in our world? You don’t have to agree with someone, or even like them...but it is so hard to respect them? Respect their humanity?

We all want to be treated well. We all want to be seen as important and special, but if you truly want to be respected as an individual with worth and value...try offering that to someone you do not understand.

Try spending 5 minutes outside of your little world and try to see someone else as worthy. Then, maybe, others will treat you the same...and the idea will spread.

Maybe then we’ll outgrow our system of hate. I still believe in humanity...and I think that we truly can over come hate, if we put our hearts AND minds into it.

Because I'm a Girl

I’m more than just a pretty face.

I giggle at inappropriate times, wear combat boots with surgical attire, give birth to scientific ideas and a child with equal passion.

I love shoes and pretty things, and politics and business affairs. I am international and global, but I can make the most comfortable of homes.

Knights in shining armor need apply, I don’t need saving today. I am my own champion.

I require real love with passion and companionship based upon respect and equality. Equality. That’s what I need.

I have a strong heart and a soft soul, tender words for the dying and an unbreakable devotion to my children.

I am many things, but I am not weak.

The tears that run from my eyes do not illuminate tremors in my spirit, rather they shine the light on the courage that it takes to be vulnerable.

I am not against men. I seek respect deserved by a gender just as powerful, just as relevant. My strengths lie deep within my heart, though my physical shell tends towards the delicate.

Don’t dismiss me from the world stage because I am a girl.
Welcome me, because I can help make this place so much better.

____________________________________________________________________
Written in honor of International Women's Day 2012

Finding Your Groove

I’m a doer. Some of my greatest pleasures are meeting goals, completing new projects and starting new ones. And I do them very, very well...or else I wouldn’t bother. It’s not progress if it isn’t done properly, is it?

Some days I’m the Tasmanian Devil on a sugar high, and I like it that way.

Lately I have had several thoughtful people suggest that I slow down, take a break, or get some rest. While the thought is kind, the idea is completely foreign to me. Slow down? Why?

The very idea of “relaxing” by doing nothing, or only doing one thing at a time makes me anxious. And I’m not an anxiety-prone person...that’s how horrible the concept is to me. *Shudder*

I believe we each have our own speed, our own rate of life that works for us. Some people do things very slowly and deliberately with great thought. It suits them to check the details several times and to only move forward when the stars align. Should I need surgery, this is the person I want slicing me up.

Others move in a less direct path towards their goal preferring the scenic route and stopping to smell the roses along the way. Sometimes carefully contemplating the roses for hours on end if the mood strikes. I am blessed to have many of these people in my life. Their hearts are very large and their gentle view of the world is refreshing.

There are millions of other people who move at differing speeds, each path distinct from the other, and each one perfectly suited to the traveler.

Yes, there are times when we have to adjust our speed to conform to the world. Every evening that I have to sit in class for five very long hours, I am painfully aware of the pressure society places upon us to move along at a pace that feels so unnatural. So I conform to the standards when I have to. Otherwise, I’m off like a giddy toddler.

Though I meditate regularly and find solace and peace in the quiet moments of the day when it is just me and my God, the rest of the time I am off chasing my dreams.

And I like it.

No matter what your speed, I support your right to define it and run your own race. Life is far more interesting that way. In those moments when the world demands you to walk at its pace, remember that it is temporary and soon you’ll be galloping down the road finding your own groove.

Maybe we’ll meet along the way and we can share a cup of coffee or piece of cake. And I promise we won’t have to eat on the run.