Tiller's Killer

This will not be an easy post to write. It may be difficult for some to read and may irritate -- even anger -- those whose beliefs are far different from mine. But I feel very strongly about this subject (and have since George Tiller was murdered), and have kept most of my opinions to myself for too long. They've got to come out, and now that the verdict in Scott Roeder's trial was just announced, I'm compelled to spill my guts. (Also, I'm home today due to a small snowstorm -- but who am I to complain about getting to stay home, even when the roads aren't that bad? -- so I have the time to post.)
Even before George Tiller was murdered, anti-abortionists constantly decried his practice, usually claiming he performed illegal late-term abortions. But each time he was legally accused of such crimes, he was found innocent. These people (and I use the word loosely) failed to comprehend what Tiller actually did, how he helped women and families who were struggling with terrible decisions. Do these accusers truly think these women chose abortion without any consideration for the child they carried, or without a lot of praying? What would these accusers do if they found themselves in the same situation, with a fetus so malformed there's no hope of survival (or for some other reason was incapable of surviving)? Would they choose to prolong their agony -- and perhaps that of their unborn child -- by delaying the inevitable?
As for those who, for whatever reasons, chose Dr. Tiller to help them have non-late-term abortions, that was their choice to make -- not anyone else's. Again, they probably struggled with and prayed about their decisions. If you haven't been in that position, you can't truthfully say what you would do. As someone who was almost in that position, I can say that I'm glad I ultimately didn't have to go through such a procedure -- but I'm grateful that it would have been MY choice, not the government's.
If only those who are anti-abortion were as strongly ready to adopt children in foster care! Anti-abortionists blithely believe all unwanted babies are destined for adoption in happy homes. Do they seriously not realize that hundreds of thousands of children are currently in foster care -- many never being adopted and stuck in the system until they age out, others in dangerous and/or abusive situations? And children don't have to be in foster care to be in danger. The US Department of Health & Human Services estimates that, every day, more than 2,400 children are determined to be victims of abuse or neglect. Is that the life you wish for these unborn babies? If not, then do more than rant and rave about abortion. Adopt. Teach young adults -- males, as well as females -- about contraception. (Abstinence-only, while perhaps the one sure method, is unrealistic.)
I recognize that we all think differently, that not everyone shares my opinions. We have the right in this country to these opinions, and I will do all I can to protect your right to your opinion -- IF you protect mine. Too bad we didn't all protect George Tiller's right to help those in need who came to him. So much for right to life.

I've Got a Friend

I was going to "talk" about fog today, since we've had so much and I've felt like I was in one, but I just have to write about JT instead.
For the uninitiated, JT is James Taylor, who's been my favorite musician since I first "met" him on a church youth camping retreat to Camp Buckhorn in the summer of '71. Jay Carter had a battery-powered record player and one of the albums he brought along was "Mud Slide Slim & the Blue Horizon." All it took was one play-through of that album, and I was in love. After returning to Hutch, I heard "You've Got a Friend" every time the Nuzums, Nyberg, Dee, and I went to the Fairgrounds pool. And I discovered both of my older sisters already knew of JT, and one or both of them had an album or two of his. (Therefore, I didn't need to spend my own money to buy any myself!)
When I went away to college at K-State, I was thrilled to find "James Taylor" in the old drugstore on Moro in Aggieville. By that time, I'd purchased my own copies of "Mud Slide Slim" and "Sweet Baby James," but hadn't been able to find this particular album in Hutch. I dreamed of someday seeing JT in person, wishing he'd come to K-State for a concert, but no such luck.
Then one day, it happened! Kathy called to say JT was coming to Dallas. So in May 1981, I finally got to see JT in person -- sort of. He was just a speck on the stage from where we were sitting. I was lucky enough to see him several times after that, usually from far, far away. But one of his concerts in Dallas was with the Dallas Symphony, and Kathy and I got front row seats behind the stage. We mostly saw the back of his head or the side of his face, but at least I didn't need binocs or a large screen TV to see his features!
It's been several years since I last saw JT -- probably '99 at his concert with the symphony. So it's way past time to see him again. Luckily, I got tickets this morning for his Troubadour Reunion Tour with Carole King in Kansas City on May 21st. Yea! It'll be my first time to see Carole in person. Once again, I'll be in the nosebleed section, but I'm sure we'll have no problem hearing the music -- and that's what really matters.

Sometimes a Movie Is Just a Movie

PROLOGUE
First, since it's been exactly two years since my last post, which was about Jonny's birthday, I've just got to wish him a happy 20th -- especially since he's off cycling along the west coast of Africa for six month. Second, let me just say that I'm determined to get back into the groove of posting more often. So here we go ...

Last week, I got to see "Avatar" (in 3-D). I didn't know much about the movie, other than what I'd seen in previews and comments I'd heard from Dylan and Nathan. I knew it was a highly anticipated movie and a lot of people were going to it more than once, and I like fantasy and science fiction, so I was pretty sure I'd like it -- and I did. One way I can tell how much I like a movie is how much I think about it in the following days and what kinds of feelings I get when I remember parts of the movie. I thought about "Avatar" for several days after seeing it, and felt good about it. It was a neat story about a fantastical otherworld where good triumphs over bad. The basic story was by no means novel, but it was presented in a novel way.
Prior to my going to the movie, several of the listservs I subscribe to had comments from posters who had already seen "Avatar." The negative comments seemed to outweigh the positive. I skimmed most of these posts, because I like to form my own opinions. I also know that the people who post on these listservs can come up with some strange comments. So I wasn't surprised by a bit of controversy surrounding "Avatar."
I was surprised by some of the information I found through these listservs after I saw the movie. One poster provided a link to an op-ed piece in The New York Times by David Brooks, called "The Messiah Complex." Brooks ruminates about Cameron's "obvious" use of the The White Messiah fable, where a white guy goes in search of adventure and thrills, but once he meets the "natives," he figures out theire way of life is right, and he's also taken in that culture and they see him as a leader, or as a messiah. Brooks thinks "Avatar," which he calls a "racial fantasy," is racist and offensive to other cultures.
Another poster linked a review by Patrick Goldstein at latimes.com, called "'Avatar' arouses conservatives' ire." I'd read another review/editorial lamenting the obvious liberal bias of "Avatar," and was expecting this to be a similar tirade -- but I like this one. Goldstein explains why far-right conservatives dislike this movie. In it, they see Cameron warning about global warming, and sending anti-religion and anti-military messages. My first reaction was "Huh?" After reading Goldstein's article, I understand why some people are in an uproar, but I also think they're nuts. I want to shout at them, "IT'S JUST A MOVIE!!" But I know people are going to see what they want to see in movies -- and in books, and in all aspects of their lives.
But I also think that before people complain, they should do a bit of research. I wonder how many of those complaining realize how long Cameron worked on "Avatar." Some of his ideas would pre-date some of their arguments. It's similar to those who've posted comments to The Hutchinson News story about the demolition of the Women's Civic Center (http://hutchnews.com/Localregional/civic). People asked why this happened so suddenly, why no one asked for funds to help renovate it, why no one was allowed to buy it, why parts of it weren't recycled. Anyone willing to do a little research before ranting would have discovered it was not a "sudden" decision; an organization tried for over two years to get funding to restore it; the library was willing to give it away to anyone willing to have it moved; parts of it were recycled. (And, no, there is no staff parking garage in the library's basement.)
I admit I don't always see things the way they truly are. But before I rant and rave about something, I try to find out more about it (mostly to prevent coming off looking like a fool). Too bad more people don't do the same.