A Step in the Right Direction?

In my futile attempt to keep up with current events, I stumbled across this article in the Washington Post. It discusses the idea of allowing Navy women onto submarines. The first time I discovered that women could not go to the vast depths of the seas on Naval submarines, it just didn't make sense. In subsequent thoughts and conversations, I have become less shocked, but it still didn't make sense. I know that I go on about how sexism still lingers in our society, but the more blatant bits still surprise me.

In discussing this story with a friend, we had two different takes. On one hand, I found the comment that women represent a huge resources being neglected a step in the right direction. On the other hand, my friend pointed out that no one recognized the discrimination for what it is, so we've still got some ways to go.

Re-Start

After weeks of craziness and learning what does not work, we at the middle school have come up with a new schedule and a new way of doing things. In other words, we have invited chaos upon ourselves for a few weeks in hopes that it will solve greater chaos. So, I have become the 8th grade religion teacher, but stepped back from the language arts and reading classes. Instead, I get to hang out in the library all day! I am pseudo-librarian, plus I get small groups from the classes all day to help. In the afternoons, I go back to the reading classes, which are supposed to be small groups, but we need to hire more teaching assistants before that can happen. I miss the reading group I had in the old schedule though. They were a bright group of kids and we were just getting to the point where I understood them and they understood me. Plus, I liked having a part of the day where I worked specifically with the smart kids.

Today I started my time in the library. I cleared off the desk and set it up as mine own, commandeered a milk crate for filing, and began a check-out system. I spent time working through social studies questions with sixth graders. Have I written about poverty of education? If not, I will soon, because that is what I saw here.

I think my calling this year consists of slowly taking on the jobs to which my roommates aspire. First, I become an English teacher. Next, I take on the role of religion teacher. Not quite the same as campus minister, but it'll do in a pinch. Lastly, I have suddenly transformed into a librarian. I can't become them completely, though, because they all want to have babies (last I checked) and that one is not about to happen this year!

Pledge a Protestor

The 40 Days for Life campaign has started up, and, as I told Em today, being out there on the streets is addictive. So of course I am involved out here.

Unlike the small facilities in Virginia that I've encountered, the abortion provider here is Planned Parenthood. Before, we could tell when the abortionist was in, who went in for an abortion, when the abortions happened, who walked out after one. Here, the large building provides ample anonymity for clients.

The Planned Parenthood building also displays a sign with a slender, blonde, masked caricature of a female superhero, complete with the short skirt and high-heeled books, with the words "Defend the Truth: Pledge a Protester." It's their twisted campaign to make money off of peaceful people praying, who apparently, by standing on the grass with signs that read "Women Deserve Love Not Abortion" offer "intimidation and harassment" to patients and staff. The solution: give Planned Parenthood money so that they can publish the money and attempt to demoralize pro-lifers.

What they don't realize is that we have something more powerful than any amount of money they can raise. So while it makes me sick, it does not deter me. Us. Because as speakers pointed out yesterday at the MCC event, I am not making these changes. The Holy Spirit is. And through Him and through Christ, we are all connected. We are all one.

This oneness includes even the people pledging and posting the pledges, even the people who work inside Planned Parenthood. After the humanity and personhood of the pre-born, this is perhaps the most important lesson for our side to learn.

Side Note: As I stood by the road with a sign today, a man stopped at the stoplight by our corner took a picture on his phone! And I was staring right at him! Really?!

The Saint Game

I have some good stories and a few thoughts to share from this weekend, but this post comes first.

This weekend was the Annual Assembly of the Missouri Catholic Conference, so I was in Jefferson City, in their Capitol Building, listening to speakers on Catholic concerns in public policy. Though one couple critiqued agenda for not having enough on the pro-life cause, I loved the diversity of topics.

As Ana, Em, and I got back onto I-70, away from the land of fast-food and gas stations, Ana looked down at the fuel gauge. As soon as she opened her mouth to comment, Em and I remembered, still many miles from Jeff City, we had had a quarter tank on the way in. Apparently, we were now riding a hair above empty. And there were no exits, let alone gas stations, in sight.

We flew down the highway, until at last we reached an exit. There were no signs -- you know, the "Food," "Gas," and "Lodging" type ones, but we hoped for at least one gas station to serve the intersection of interstate and country highways. Off the exit ramp, there was nothing but a sign: Calwell, 3 miles. We were now on empty.

Banking on the fact that Calwell, however small, must have a gas station, we raced down some highway with a letter name. Ana comes from the country, so she took the curves swiftly enough that we could make the three miles in about three minutes. But in those three minutes, we passed through creepy fog, next to stopped cars, and old trucks sitting in empty fields. More than a little like the beginnings of a really scary movie.

We made it to Calwell -- there was a general store. And, lo and behold, a gas station: a two pump deal with no awning over them and no where to swipe a credit card. And the general store, at 7pm, was closed. Now nervous, we hit the road again, and three minutes later, found I-70.

As we kept our eyes peeled for another exit, this one with a gas sign, Em began: "Mary, pray for us. St. Vincent de Paul, pray for us... Who else?"

Ana threw in St. Louis de Merillac, and then I took off. For the record, there are a lot of saints out there, and it's not hard to keep naming them for five minutes as you swing up an exit ramp that has one sign, "Gas," and into the gas station where you discover that though the gas station is closed, they at least will still take credit cards.

That's when you get to stop listing saints and start thanking them.

Swine Flu

I have been out of communication for a little bit, but here's to catching up on days off. We have today and Monday off due to much illness in the school, including possible swine flu. So, while I am worried about the students, I feel healthy and enjoyed my day off.

School has been on a different schedule this week due to standardized testing. They kept the middle school safely contained in the silent cafeteria under the supervision of a former marine. It was a relief, although I missed the interaction with the students. I also subbed with Ana for the 6th grade teacher, who was ill. They are still at the age where they will ask for help, and I feel useful when I can help someone figure out the difference between "between" and "among," or what a culture "adapting" means.

At the end of the week in a meeting with the middle school staff and admin, we started reworking the schedule as well. We're hoping to stem some of the chaos in the school. Pray for us as we do this!

More Colbert

I realized recently that I have been derelict in my Colbert watching, due to no cable and limited free/internet time. However, I started in time to catch Colbert's return from vacation. In the wake of this remembrance, a friend sent me this message:

holy crap i need to find some of this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Colbert's_AmeriCone_Dream

i haven't had any yet, but i'm fairly certain if you don't like it you must hate america

I agree with him on both points. Plus, it sounds delicious. A seminarian today told me that when living simply, we should every now and then partake in "affordable luxuries." America is one of these.