Saturday, July 28, 2012

The Horror of Forgetting

As a history major in college, I was most fascinated with all the events that were pretty much a big deal, of which most of my friends (and myself until I took the classes) were blissfully ignorant. Now as an adult, I feel I am surrounded by events that I know nothing of: despite going to an excellent pre-college prepatory program, getting a BA in history and politics, graduate studies in theology, and a law degree, I had to learn about the Rwandan genocide myself. It was never mentioned in all the academia I participated in. Y'know what else I had never learned about?




My husband commented today that his father refused to watch the Olympics since 1972. Rather than show my ignorance, I just nodded nonchalantly and quickly googled "1972 Olympics." Imagine my horror in discovering:

On September 5, 1972, during the second week of the Olympic games in Munich, Germany, 11 Israeli coaches and athletes were taken prisoner by Palestinian terrorists (perhaps in retaliation for the International Olympic Committee refusing to admit them to the Olympic Games). All eleven were eventually killed, the entire situation mishandled by the German authorities who were so intent on showing how different they were from the 1939 Berlin games that they had 3 snipers for 8 terrorists. The IOC didn't cancel the games even after the massacre; those Arab nations that balked at having their flags lowered to half mast in the Olympic stadium were quickly appeased. Jordan was alone among the Arab nations in denouncing the attacks. German authorities have never apologized, and in fact refused to tell the athletes families how their loved ones had died until a whistle-blower released the documents.

This year, the 40th anniversary of these senseless deaths, the IOC refused a minute of silence to honor the innocent athletes. They claim that to do so would be to make the Olympics "political" and might offend those delegates who are anti-Israel.

Is this what happens when we forget? 

There is a great irony that the IOC, run largely by European countries, is perpetuating appeasement - the same historical attitude shown by Western leaders towards dictators that landed the entire world on the brink of destruction in the years of World War II. What did not work for them will not work for us. One never gets rid of a bully by letting them bully you - it only makes them hunger for more.

When we forget that there is a right and wrong in the world, when we lose our moral moorings, when we find it is more convenient to appease bullies than take a few on the chin, we lose who we are as human beings. Human beings are made for greatness! Greater causes, greater loves, greater adventures. When we cannot grasp this reality, that we were made for the grand adventure of pursuing Goodness,  we lose the ability on ever-increasing levels to recognize anything as good. And when nothing is good, nothing is worthy of protection, nothing is honored, nothing is passed on. Nothing matters when nothing is good.

We can never forget that evil is real. We must never cease to tell the children at our knees real stories of real horror: that once there were bad men, but that we beat them. That they will come again and we will beat them again. That we can never hate them, but we must be firm in our resolve against what they perpetrate and proclaim. We must resolve in our hearts, pray with our lips, live our lives welded to the principle that  when evil comes, as it always will, that we will refuse to bend the knee to it. Not bend the knee by forgetting our beloved dead, nor by silently allowing their vitriol, nor refusing to meet them on the field of battle. There can be no compromise with evil, and we must never forget that.



Friday, July 27, 2012

7 Quick Takes, Vol....I Don't Know



I'm back! It's a miracle of science! I'm back to my happy, shiny self now that I have found out that there is life after the Bar. So what am I waiting for? Lets quickly take 7!

-1-
The Bar exam was really hard. Florida is billed as one of the top three hardest bars in the nation and it delivered. I don't find out if I pass for a few months, and if I fail, it'll really suck because I told everyone I was taking it - so then I'll have to tell everyone I failed it. Ugh. I wouldn't be surprised if I did fail though; like I said, it was REALLY hard.  

-2- 
Life after the Bar is thus far very surreal. I didn't realize just how much of my mental space that test was taking up until we got home yesterday - and I got pretty sick. In undergrad, every time finals were over, I'd get sick when I got home - like my body had been holding off until it knew it could relax. Same phenomenon? Mebbe so. But it's mucho sucktastic while preggers!! I slept from the time we got home till 8pm, then back to bed at 11pm. I'm better today, but whoa - stress freaks a body out. 

-3- 
This summer has felt like an explosion of awesome on the net! Three amazing websites launched that I hope you're checking out. For those of you who are using NFP or FAM, please check out iusenfp.com - it's a great new website directed towards helping those who are using this method of birth control! 


Please also check out Great Sexpectations - which I plugged last time - and the ever-wonderful, 1flesh.org, which is a non-religious site explaining why sex au natural is le best. All of these sites leave me very encouraged about the fact that we can talk about these things finally: using NFP or FAM, demanding real healthcare for women - these things aren't about religion. They're about women no longer being second class citizens, about no doctor saying "your system is too complicated, so I'll just medicate because I don't have a clue what's wrong." We should be beyond that by now.  

-4-
Before I get all "fearfully and wonderfully made" on you, let me say that as much as I am so excited to be having a baby, I'm not that nutty about pregnancy. This no-smoking (the occasional cigar, don't freak out), no liquor-drinking (sorry an occasional beer just isn't the same as my nightly gin and tonic), and constant peeing is just the PITS. Obviously, I bear these things with the dignity and patience of a saint, but in reality, I'm just a selfish alcoholic! 



-5-
I want to dive right back into real life now that the Bar is over, but I sort of feel stalled. What to do first? I have neglected so much! So my mind starts racing with all the things I haven't done in months: I should clean, call friends, go to girls night out, organize the nursery, pick out a baby name, take a shower! It's just too much. I have thus far enjoyed two very length law and order marathons with Mr. Oram and watched one very disturbing movie (Fargo - I loved it). I see a pattern starting that is not good for my productivity. 

-6-
In reality, this should get it's entire post, but let me say it here: Mr. Oram is amazing. I fall more in love every single day, and this period of purgatory that was Bar studying was no different. My husband - who could previously be described as domestically challenged - handled all the laundry, dishes, cleaning, taking care of the dog, etc. for the entire time I was studying, while continuing to work his full time job. On top of that, he was kind, supportive, and cheerful while I whined my way through months of oppressive studying. (#firstworldproblems) He rubbed my feet and back when they ached, held me while I cried from exhaustion, and made sure I stayed hydrated and fed. His sacrifice and constant self-gift were such an incredible concrete example to me of his love and dedication. I'm grateful beyond belief! 

-7-
Hubs and I are considering moving. The neighborhood is sort of well, going downhill. When we bought our house, our little 6-house neighborhood was occupied mostly by the sweet elderly. Several have moved and now we have a neighborhood mostly occupied by those carrying the cross of addiction. The late night partying, domestic incidents, and heavy traffic is very worrying. Mr. O and I both grew up in sleepy suburbs where the loudest noise at night was a dog barking - we always wanted the same for our family. So we'll pray and wait and look...maybe this time next year we'll be in a new place, considering it took us at least 6 months to find this place and that was before I got really picky! 





   So happy to be back - go see Jen at Conversion Diary for more Quick Takes! 



Sunday, July 22, 2012

I'm Back (But Not Really)

I should've done 7 quick takes this week, but I didn't! So instead we'll call this:

5 Random Things Before the Bar Exam 

-1-
The Bar exam is this Tuesday and Wednesday and that's why I have been non-existant. But you'll be glad to know I've used this value study time to make this: 


Even sadder is that this was the highlight of my week. I know, I should say Mass or Confession was, but those moments didn't make me laugh/cry till I felt the hope seeping back into my bones. 

-2-
I'm going to stop talking about sex on here because a) it generates creepy spam commenters, and b) there now exists Great Sexpectations, which is an awesome website for Catholics where I can discuss all this stuff. I haven't written for them yet, but it's on my list of things to do once I have a life finish the bar exam. 

-3- 
Apparently, I study best not to lovely classy classical music but to Rhiana (sp? who is this person?) "Only Girl (in the World)." I hate my dumb taste in music. 

-4-
To date, I have cried in public 3x while studying for the Bar Exam. Panera, the library, and Books a Million. If you could my car, it's 4. If you could my driveway while getting the mail, it's 5. Lets just stop counting, it's dumb. 

-5-
The baby still doesn't have a name. My sister calls her Sweet Baby O, but I call her Kickypants. Since I  call our dog Lickypants (he has issues), I think it works. My mom insists I get a real name soon. Sometimes I panic that this is causing psychological issues for her in utero and then I realize that hello, I'm her mother - she's guaranteed to have issues, lets just hope they're fun ones!! 

I'll talk you all soon PROMISE. 

PS None of my 5 things had anything to do with current events because y'all know what I'd say anyway: Chik Fil A is delicious so don't pretend you'll boycott, if you try to control my guns I'll shoot you, and congrats Penn State you'll be called Pedo State FOREVER so keep defending your horrible football program (ROLL TIDE).