http://www.litmuse.net/prompt_mailer2
Out of all the statements that Mailer made in his book the would definitely be the on that I agree with the most. Past histroy shows this with every war that we have been involved in. We always have our nose stuck somewhere where it doesn't belong. We cannot even take care of our own country and we are trying constantly to take care of everyone else's.
It is all about making money, war is a money making machine but not for the little people. If you own stock in oil or lumber then you will profit from the war. Every time we go to the gas pump or buy lumber you can feel the effects of the war. And the government does not care because they are pocketing the profits.
I don't believe the way this country is going that we will be much of a role model to any country. Look at the teenagers having babies and no they cannot read and are not made to read. But trouble they can do. With the No Child Left Behind our children are graduating with the knowledge of a middle schooler. And if they play sports it may not be that high of an education.
And yes America is rotten. Are we really any better than the countries we are trying to make better. Sex is a big deal with our teenagers. Parents are scared to punish their kids for fear of going to jail for child abuse. Crime is up. Before we worry about ruling the world we need to clean up our country.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Thursday, December 6, 2007
"Who Am I?, Who Are You?"
What defines who you are? As a child people ask you " What do you want to be when you grow up?" I can't remember anyone ever asking me "Who do you want to be when you grow up?" I don't believe that I even thought about who I wanted to be, but now it is a question that I ask myself, "Who am I?"
My name is Amanda Bradford and I am 32 yrs. old. I have been married to Scott for 15 yrs. and I have two beautiful children, Cody (14) and Katey (6). Now I will pause right here to explain something to you. If you would have asked me at 16 yrs old if I would have been the mother to a teenager at 32, I would have told you that you were crazy. But that is exactly what I am, and let me tell you that it is no picnic. I have gray hair and it is either because of my son or my husband but more than likely a combination of both.
I love animals. This goes back to when I was a child. There was never a time growing up that we did not have a dog or two at our house. My dad thought it was important to have animals. At one point we had 14 dogs (our female had puppies). If I thought that my husband would not divorce me I would have a farm of nothing but cats and dogs. But be that as it may I have three dogs, Little Man (dachshund), Big Boy (Great Dane/English Mastiff) and Gizmo (dukes mixture) and four cats (all domestics) Abigail, Tiger Lily, Tipsy, and Honeyboots.
I sit on the board of a non profit organization called JACOR, which helps needy families in Jones County. I believe that it is important to help those in need and to set a good example for your children. You don't have to have money to help someone less fortunate than yourself.
I am a learning Christian. By this I mean that I go to church, but I am still learning. There are some things that I haven't quite figured out yet. I teach the 4th and 5th grade Sunday School class, because believe it or not these kids can really teach you better than you think. I like to learn from them about things that I don't know.
Beyond all that I am a child victim of sexual molestation at the age of six and a statistic in that I was a high school drop out and teenage mother. I went back to school and earned my GED. I then continued on to technical college to become a Medical Assistant.
Everything that happens in your life defines who you are. You can take your past and let it steer you down the wrong path or you tell yourself that you are better than that and choose to live a better life. I am all of these things and more. I am who I am.
My name is Amanda Bradford and I am 32 yrs. old. I have been married to Scott for 15 yrs. and I have two beautiful children, Cody (14) and Katey (6). Now I will pause right here to explain something to you. If you would have asked me at 16 yrs old if I would have been the mother to a teenager at 32, I would have told you that you were crazy. But that is exactly what I am, and let me tell you that it is no picnic. I have gray hair and it is either because of my son or my husband but more than likely a combination of both.
I love animals. This goes back to when I was a child. There was never a time growing up that we did not have a dog or two at our house. My dad thought it was important to have animals. At one point we had 14 dogs (our female had puppies). If I thought that my husband would not divorce me I would have a farm of nothing but cats and dogs. But be that as it may I have three dogs, Little Man (dachshund), Big Boy (Great Dane/English Mastiff) and Gizmo (dukes mixture) and four cats (all domestics) Abigail, Tiger Lily, Tipsy, and Honeyboots.
I sit on the board of a non profit organization called JACOR, which helps needy families in Jones County. I believe that it is important to help those in need and to set a good example for your children. You don't have to have money to help someone less fortunate than yourself.
I am a learning Christian. By this I mean that I go to church, but I am still learning. There are some things that I haven't quite figured out yet. I teach the 4th and 5th grade Sunday School class, because believe it or not these kids can really teach you better than you think. I like to learn from them about things that I don't know.
Beyond all that I am a child victim of sexual molestation at the age of six and a statistic in that I was a high school drop out and teenage mother. I went back to school and earned my GED. I then continued on to technical college to become a Medical Assistant.
Everything that happens in your life defines who you are. You can take your past and let it steer you down the wrong path or you tell yourself that you are better than that and choose to live a better life. I am all of these things and more. I am who I am.
Unexpected Death
http://www.litmuse.net/prompt_mailer
Death is something that will happen to everyone. But when that death is unexpected or the result of someones action, it can be a very difficult thing for someone to go through. Questions come to mind that you never got to ask, or you might not have been on the best of terms with that loved on. Hatred could become apart of your life for the person or persons that took that loved one away from you. Or was your relationship good, did you say all the things that you wanted to say.
Norman Mailer made a point in his book, Why Are We At War, that really stood out for me. He stated that of all the people that died in the attacks on the Twins Towers that he did not feel as sorry for the ones that were good husbands, good sons or daughters. He mourned the most for the ones that didn't have that great life. I have to say that I strongly agree with him on this. What about the people who died that were not close to their families? What did they leave unsaid or undone that they wish they could have changed if they had known that that day would be their last. What about the families that they leave behind. Their pain has to be ten times that of someone who was close to their family members.
This brings back a painful memory for me. My father died 10 years ago this past February. It was unexpected. We were going to Jacksonville the next morning to see a specialist to have his leg amputated, but he became sick the night before, went to the E.R. and never left. He passed 4 hours after he got to the E.R. After his death I wandered if he knew how much I really loved him. Did I tell him enough? Did I let him know that I was proud that he was my father? I also know that he worried about me. He was worried about my marriage, he thought I was to young to be a mother and a wife. I know that he worried about me being financially stabe. I was 21 when he died and I was a mother of a 3 yr. old and a wife of 4 yrs. I wander now if he would be proud that I have a good job and that I am still married. When I went to work that night I thought that I had years left with him, that I could tell him everything that needed to be said. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would only see him alive for fifteens minutes that night and that would be it. The things that I would have said to him. I would have never left his side.
My father's unexpected death is the hardest thing that I have had to go through in my life. I miss him more everyday. When I think of the mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters that went to work that day and never made it home, I get tears in my eyes. But like Norman Mailer, I feel extra sad for the ones that woke up alone and didn't have anyone to talk to, to tell them that they would see them after work. Say what you mean while you have the time because you never know when you won't have that chance to say it.
Death is something that will happen to everyone. But when that death is unexpected or the result of someones action, it can be a very difficult thing for someone to go through. Questions come to mind that you never got to ask, or you might not have been on the best of terms with that loved on. Hatred could become apart of your life for the person or persons that took that loved one away from you. Or was your relationship good, did you say all the things that you wanted to say.
Norman Mailer made a point in his book, Why Are We At War, that really stood out for me. He stated that of all the people that died in the attacks on the Twins Towers that he did not feel as sorry for the ones that were good husbands, good sons or daughters. He mourned the most for the ones that didn't have that great life. I have to say that I strongly agree with him on this. What about the people who died that were not close to their families? What did they leave unsaid or undone that they wish they could have changed if they had known that that day would be their last. What about the families that they leave behind. Their pain has to be ten times that of someone who was close to their family members.
This brings back a painful memory for me. My father died 10 years ago this past February. It was unexpected. We were going to Jacksonville the next morning to see a specialist to have his leg amputated, but he became sick the night before, went to the E.R. and never left. He passed 4 hours after he got to the E.R. After his death I wandered if he knew how much I really loved him. Did I tell him enough? Did I let him know that I was proud that he was my father? I also know that he worried about me. He was worried about my marriage, he thought I was to young to be a mother and a wife. I know that he worried about me being financially stabe. I was 21 when he died and I was a mother of a 3 yr. old and a wife of 4 yrs. I wander now if he would be proud that I have a good job and that I am still married. When I went to work that night I thought that I had years left with him, that I could tell him everything that needed to be said. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would only see him alive for fifteens minutes that night and that would be it. The things that I would have said to him. I would have never left his side.
My father's unexpected death is the hardest thing that I have had to go through in my life. I miss him more everyday. When I think of the mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters that went to work that day and never made it home, I get tears in my eyes. But like Norman Mailer, I feel extra sad for the ones that woke up alone and didn't have anyone to talk to, to tell them that they would see them after work. Say what you mean while you have the time because you never know when you won't have that chance to say it.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Judgement Calls
http://www.litmuse.net/prompt_alligator
I have to say that this is one of the best blogs yet. What fun it was to read. Now for my scores on the characters in the story.
(1) Ivan- He was the smartest of the five. This was an easy choice for my number 1 slot. He was very smart as in he just decided to stay completely out of it. Sometimes that is just the best decision to make. The less you become involved in something the better off you are, especially when it is a friend, they can tend to get you in the most trouble.
(2) Gregory-I choose him second because he stood up for what he believed in. Once he found out what Abigail had done he cast he aside. He knew there was an alternative to get across the river, but she decided to lower herself for a faster way. His love for her could not withstand the fact that she had given herself to someone else. I agree with this totally.
(3) Slug- Putting him in the middle was kinda a rough decision for me. It was a tie between him and Sinbad. I have to wonder his reasoning for going to Gregory and beating the pulp out of him. Did Abigail tell him the whole story? If she did then I would not have put him here. But considering that I don't have that information I will assume that she did not and he was acting as a friend to her and felt that she had been done wrong for no reason. It kinda goes against what I said about Ivan but Slug did decide to get involved and therefore I believe that he was wrong in beating Gregory, no matter what. He should have comforted Abigail but never committed the crime of battery.
(4) Sinbad- However easy it may be to hate him the most I have more respect for him than Abigail. The offer that he made to her no matter how low and digusting just goes to show what kind of person he is. He wanted something for his services and that is exactly what he got. How can you really fault him for that. She didn't have to do it.
(5) Abigail - This one I could go on and on about. I think she was wrong every step of the way. If she really did love him she would have never accepted Sinbad offer. She would have taken the alternate route. I mean she could have left earlier in the day and spent time with hima and left a little earlier. Then she would not have been cast to the side because she had given herself to someone else. This definitely shows what kind of person she is. I would hate to know that someone I loved would stoop so low as to sleep with someone to get a ride. I would rather them wait until it was easier for them to get to me. She lowered her standards way to low for me to have any kind of respect for her.
I have to say that this is one of the best blogs yet. What fun it was to read. Now for my scores on the characters in the story.
(1) Ivan- He was the smartest of the five. This was an easy choice for my number 1 slot. He was very smart as in he just decided to stay completely out of it. Sometimes that is just the best decision to make. The less you become involved in something the better off you are, especially when it is a friend, they can tend to get you in the most trouble.
(2) Gregory-I choose him second because he stood up for what he believed in. Once he found out what Abigail had done he cast he aside. He knew there was an alternative to get across the river, but she decided to lower herself for a faster way. His love for her could not withstand the fact that she had given herself to someone else. I agree with this totally.
(3) Slug- Putting him in the middle was kinda a rough decision for me. It was a tie between him and Sinbad. I have to wonder his reasoning for going to Gregory and beating the pulp out of him. Did Abigail tell him the whole story? If she did then I would not have put him here. But considering that I don't have that information I will assume that she did not and he was acting as a friend to her and felt that she had been done wrong for no reason. It kinda goes against what I said about Ivan but Slug did decide to get involved and therefore I believe that he was wrong in beating Gregory, no matter what. He should have comforted Abigail but never committed the crime of battery.
(4) Sinbad- However easy it may be to hate him the most I have more respect for him than Abigail. The offer that he made to her no matter how low and digusting just goes to show what kind of person he is. He wanted something for his services and that is exactly what he got. How can you really fault him for that. She didn't have to do it.
(5) Abigail - This one I could go on and on about. I think she was wrong every step of the way. If she really did love him she would have never accepted Sinbad offer. She would have taken the alternate route. I mean she could have left earlier in the day and spent time with hima and left a little earlier. Then she would not have been cast to the side because she had given herself to someone else. This definitely shows what kind of person she is. I would hate to know that someone I loved would stoop so low as to sleep with someone to get a ride. I would rather them wait until it was easier for them to get to me. She lowered her standards way to low for me to have any kind of respect for her.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Human Rights
http://www.litmuse.net/prompt_rights
Homosexuality is definitely out in the open these days. My personal feelings on homosexuals in general is let them be. But I really had to put on the old thinking cap when the question was raised about in the work place. Do I really want a homosexual teaching my children? Do I want a homosexual as a doctor?
I think that we should be able to do what we want when we want in our private lives is fine. I don't think that we should show it to the public in general. That is my opinion for all though. Here is what I mean by that. If my husband and I are walking together holding hands that is perfectly okay and it is also okay for two women or two men to hold hands. I don't think that a public display of affection should be done by hetero or homo sexual. That is for private only. So would I be okay with a homosexual teaching my kids. Yes I would. I don't see anything wrong with it. I think that they should have jobs just like everyone else. I also think that they should have boundaries just like everyone else. I am fairly certain that they are humans first with morals and values and that their sexuality should not play a part in it. Let them teach school if they want or be doctors if they want. I believe that if you are secure in your own sexuality that it will not be a problem for you. The only ones in my opinion that have a problem with it are the ones who are first set in their ways and second have questions about their own sexuality.
My children are going to go their own way regardless of who teaches them. If they choose that life style then so be it. I will love them no matter what. Plus as a christian it is not my job to judge anyone based on their sexuality or otherwise. They will be judged in the end and if their maker thinks that it is wrong then they will be punished. Just like I will be punished for the things that I have done. I believe that everyone deserves to love someone and be loved by someone, no matter what sex they are.
Homosexuality is definitely out in the open these days. My personal feelings on homosexuals in general is let them be. But I really had to put on the old thinking cap when the question was raised about in the work place. Do I really want a homosexual teaching my children? Do I want a homosexual as a doctor?
I think that we should be able to do what we want when we want in our private lives is fine. I don't think that we should show it to the public in general. That is my opinion for all though. Here is what I mean by that. If my husband and I are walking together holding hands that is perfectly okay and it is also okay for two women or two men to hold hands. I don't think that a public display of affection should be done by hetero or homo sexual. That is for private only. So would I be okay with a homosexual teaching my kids. Yes I would. I don't see anything wrong with it. I think that they should have jobs just like everyone else. I also think that they should have boundaries just like everyone else. I am fairly certain that they are humans first with morals and values and that their sexuality should not play a part in it. Let them teach school if they want or be doctors if they want. I believe that if you are secure in your own sexuality that it will not be a problem for you. The only ones in my opinion that have a problem with it are the ones who are first set in their ways and second have questions about their own sexuality.
My children are going to go their own way regardless of who teaches them. If they choose that life style then so be it. I will love them no matter what. Plus as a christian it is not my job to judge anyone based on their sexuality or otherwise. They will be judged in the end and if their maker thinks that it is wrong then they will be punished. Just like I will be punished for the things that I have done. I believe that everyone deserves to love someone and be loved by someone, no matter what sex they are.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Hijacked
http://www.litmuse.net/prompt_hijack
This is my second attempt at this blog because I first did not look at all the research involved. But now I will say that I agree and disagree with the policies that we have against terrorism. I clicked on the first link with the policies and thought okay that is a good idea not to give into terrorist. Then I went back for a second look and saw that there was also so decent ideas about why the policies are wrong.
To be in a position to have to make decisions about whether someone lives or dies at the hands of terrorism is never where I want to be. Take a minute to look at 9/11, a lot of people lost their lives because of terrorism, 3,000 innocent live taken. Now at first I thought IF I had to make the choice to give into a terrorists demand, my first thought would have been to say "Hell No, we will not give into their demands!! A few must die to save millions." My thoughts were if we give into the demands then that will cause a domino effect with every other terrorist cell thinking they can just come into this country and make demands on us and we will give them what they want.
Then I went back and took a second look and had to rethink my thoughts on the subject. Because of the terrorist attacks on 09/11/2001 we have lost more than the 3,000 lives. We didn't stop there we went looking for the ring leader and have now lost over 3 times that amount. We should have saved those on the plane, because we have accomplished nothing but letting more innocent people die at the hands of terrorist.
So, in conclusion, I think I would have to say that policies are good for certain situations. But when it comes to saving lives the only policy there should be is to save lives. Give them what they want and we will deal with the others as they come about.
This is my second attempt at this blog because I first did not look at all the research involved. But now I will say that I agree and disagree with the policies that we have against terrorism. I clicked on the first link with the policies and thought okay that is a good idea not to give into terrorist. Then I went back for a second look and saw that there was also so decent ideas about why the policies are wrong.
To be in a position to have to make decisions about whether someone lives or dies at the hands of terrorism is never where I want to be. Take a minute to look at 9/11, a lot of people lost their lives because of terrorism, 3,000 innocent live taken. Now at first I thought IF I had to make the choice to give into a terrorists demand, my first thought would have been to say "Hell No, we will not give into their demands!! A few must die to save millions." My thoughts were if we give into the demands then that will cause a domino effect with every other terrorist cell thinking they can just come into this country and make demands on us and we will give them what they want.
Then I went back and took a second look and had to rethink my thoughts on the subject. Because of the terrorist attacks on 09/11/2001 we have lost more than the 3,000 lives. We didn't stop there we went looking for the ring leader and have now lost over 3 times that amount. We should have saved those on the plane, because we have accomplished nothing but letting more innocent people die at the hands of terrorist.
So, in conclusion, I think I would have to say that policies are good for certain situations. But when it comes to saving lives the only policy there should be is to save lives. Give them what they want and we will deal with the others as they come about.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
RIght or Wrong????
Prompt:http://www.litmuse.net/prompt_right_wrong
Looking at this particular blog I didn't really know what I was until I took the time to look up the definitions of both. I now believe that I am a moral absolutist. I believe that there are some things that are morally wrong no matter what. My specific belief is that violence against children is morally wrong and there is no discussion that can be given regarding the subject. There is no excuse and that no matter what you are wrong, if you commit violence of any kind against a child.
Here is an example that I wanted to use because it was presented to me just today, a mother has four children from previous marriages. The new husband comes in and beats the oldest who happens to be a male, the only male of the group. The new husband is wrong to even think of laying his hands on the child. There is no excuse that could even begin to justify why you would willingly hurt an innocent child. All children are innocent. No moral values, morally wrong. The new husband knew that he was marrying all of the children when he married their mother. He took on the responsibility of raising those children as their father. So for him to even look at that child like he was not one of his own, is disgusting to me.
I am a firm believer that the mother of this child should also be in jail. She is also a child abuser to let this person come back into the house.
But on the other hand I can be a relativist on certain issues, I mean it really depends on the particular subject that is presented to you. I go to church on a regular basis, but I have a hard time with some of the beliefs of the church. With this homosexuality comes to mind. I don't believe I have the right to tell someone who they should love or be with. That would be like someone telling me that I shouldn't be with my husband because he chooses not to go to church. I love him just the same regardless. Just like I love my uncle who is homosexual. Let God be the one to judge them not me. I just don't have a problem with it.
I am who I am and that does not make my opinion of things wrong or right.
So the conclusion that I have come up with is that I can go either way depending on the subject of discussion that is presented to me.
Looking at this particular blog I didn't really know what I was until I took the time to look up the definitions of both. I now believe that I am a moral absolutist. I believe that there are some things that are morally wrong no matter what. My specific belief is that violence against children is morally wrong and there is no discussion that can be given regarding the subject. There is no excuse and that no matter what you are wrong, if you commit violence of any kind against a child.
Here is an example that I wanted to use because it was presented to me just today, a mother has four children from previous marriages. The new husband comes in and beats the oldest who happens to be a male, the only male of the group. The new husband is wrong to even think of laying his hands on the child. There is no excuse that could even begin to justify why you would willingly hurt an innocent child. All children are innocent. No moral values, morally wrong. The new husband knew that he was marrying all of the children when he married their mother. He took on the responsibility of raising those children as their father. So for him to even look at that child like he was not one of his own, is disgusting to me.
I am a firm believer that the mother of this child should also be in jail. She is also a child abuser to let this person come back into the house.
But on the other hand I can be a relativist on certain issues, I mean it really depends on the particular subject that is presented to you. I go to church on a regular basis, but I have a hard time with some of the beliefs of the church. With this homosexuality comes to mind. I don't believe I have the right to tell someone who they should love or be with. That would be like someone telling me that I shouldn't be with my husband because he chooses not to go to church. I love him just the same regardless. Just like I love my uncle who is homosexual. Let God be the one to judge them not me. I just don't have a problem with it.
I am who I am and that does not make my opinion of things wrong or right.
So the conclusion that I have come up with is that I can go either way depending on the subject of discussion that is presented to me.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Perception
Prompt: Perception
Sitting here looking at this assisgnment, I asked my husband what he thought about this topic. I didn't expect to hear what he had to say, and quite frankly I didn't like his answer. He told me that I don't have any perception. That I don't look outside the box. We had a detailed conversation about this and I can agree with him on some points, but I won't dare admit it to him. So before the conversation was over I asked him since I don't look outside the box does that make me stupid and he replied that I can be precieved as stupid or brave. I guess you could say that I don't look at all the possiblities that could happen, I am more of the here and now kinda of gal. And if I had my choice, which I am going to say that I do, I will think of myself as brave.
I used to precieve people on the basis of their looks. That my friend is a very bad idea. You see I work in the mental health field, and you tend to forget the reason why they are coming to your office. I also sit on the board of a non-profit organization that helps the needy in our community, and you have to be very objective when you are deciding whether someone is needy. You have to look at the whole picture and not just the person.
I don't know if I have answered this correctly, but then again this is my preception. So, can there be a right or wrong answer?
Sitting here looking at this assisgnment, I asked my husband what he thought about this topic. I didn't expect to hear what he had to say, and quite frankly I didn't like his answer. He told me that I don't have any perception. That I don't look outside the box. We had a detailed conversation about this and I can agree with him on some points, but I won't dare admit it to him. So before the conversation was over I asked him since I don't look outside the box does that make me stupid and he replied that I can be precieved as stupid or brave. I guess you could say that I don't look at all the possiblities that could happen, I am more of the here and now kinda of gal. And if I had my choice, which I am going to say that I do, I will think of myself as brave.
I used to precieve people on the basis of their looks. That my friend is a very bad idea. You see I work in the mental health field, and you tend to forget the reason why they are coming to your office. I also sit on the board of a non-profit organization that helps the needy in our community, and you have to be very objective when you are deciding whether someone is needy. You have to look at the whole picture and not just the person.
I don't know if I have answered this correctly, but then again this is my preception. So, can there be a right or wrong answer?
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