Gross

I almost don't want to put this picture on the blog because it will be in the cycle for icon when I post but I'm not sure how else to make my point without the visual.   My  point?  This is gross.

 

 

This Samsung ad is disturbing on so many levels.  In case you can't read it the caption above says "Tell the truth. don't you think our monitor is a bit fat?"   They obviously go by the advertising credo that "sex sells".  Why else have a girl in a bikini holding their product?  And a girl who is skinnier than a computer monitor.  It's no wonder so many girls and women have body image issues with this kind of advertising thrown in our faces.  If this is what we are to believe is normal or desirable then we should all throw in the towel and  have another sleeve of Thin Mints.  And the high heels??  How seductive and gross is that?   This is objectification of women at its grossest.  Sorry to be overusing that word but it is just so applicable.

 

The next couple of paragraphs may seem unrelated to the above so bear with me please. 

 

I had a conversation the other day with the minister that will perform my daughter's wedding ceremony.  He said that she didn't want to be called "Mrs. Grant Williams".  She said that she would change her last name but she wasn't giving up her first name too.  She also didn't want him to ask "Who gives this woman away" or even "Who brings this woman".....like she's someones property to be given away.  These are offensive notions to her. 

 

He thought it funny to say that she is just like me....he may have even meant it as a little bit of a dig but I didn't take it that way because I am proud of her.  I'm proud that she sees herself as a person of value.  I'm glad that she has the temerity to speak up on her own behalf and let people know her own worth.  I'm really super glad that she knows what she thinks and speaks up for herself.  She didn't get this way by accident.  She got this way because every time I saw an ad like the one above I talked about it.  These are some of the things I might have said:

• Look at that poor sad, skinny woman.  I wonder how she stays healthy.
• What on earth does a computer monitor have to do with a woman in a bikini? 
• Samsung is trying to use her to sell their stuff and she is worthy of more.  She isn't an object.   She's a person.  She's someones daughter or sister.
• That is gross.
• It is not in God's plan for people to be used in such a way and you have to be aware of the media trying to tell you something that is not true.  Watch for it!!

This is how we raised four feminists.  I say "we" because everyone in the home has to be committed and strong to fight the media onslaught when it comes to stuff like this.  So, about those feminists.....we are completely unapologetic.

When Youth Culture and Bad Parenting Collide

Have you read all the stuff running around the net about the Steubenville rapists, the verdict, and CNN's coverage of same?  Well, if you haven't, let me set it up for you a bit.

Two high school students from Steubenville, Ohio were charged with sexually assaulting a classmate at a party.  She was too intoxicated to stand up so they undressed her, assaulted her, took pictures and posted those pictures on their facebook pages with bragging updates.  Other friends stood around taking pictures and video which also showed up on the Internet.  It was the Internet that finally brought pressure to bear on the police and District Attorneys office to bring charges.  Too many people screaming "cover up".  The boys were charged in Juvenile Court.  They are celebrated football players.  Everyone involved is 16 or 17 years old.

CNN covered the verdict and that is where the controversy really gets interesting.  The two (female) newscasters seemed very sympathetic to the rapists.  The boys cried when the verdict was read and the newscaster felt bad for them.  To quote Poppy Harlow, “I’ve never experienced anything like it, Candy. It was incredibly emotional, incredibly difficult even for an outsider like me to watch what happened as these two young men that had such promising futures — star football players, very good students — we literally watched as, they believe, their life fell apart."

Just to be clear, I feel bad for these kids.....all of them.  Prison usually does not fix people.  It often makes messed up people even more messed up.  These boys likely won't get out of Juvie (at age 21) as well-adjusted men having a greater respect for women.  That just typically doesn't happen.  So, I feel bad for them.  They messed up....badly, and they will pay the consequences.  I feel badly for the victim.  I don't even have to enumerate the reasons.

What I want to say about all of that is this:  What kind of world do we live in where this is even remotely okay?  Where are these kids parents?  What kind of person does this to another person?  What kind of people stand around, watch and do nothing?   Those are my questions.  Here are my thoughts.

1.  We need to teach our children to be kind and compassionate.  The victims mother stated that "compassion cannot be taught" but I strongly disagree.  Compassion can be taught, it should be modelled and it has to be expected of our children. 

2.  We need to teach our children to be brave.  There will be many times that they will need to step up and say something when someone is out of line.  Helping our kids learn to do that right thing even when it is the hard thing will make the world a better place.  It isn't always easy and we must help our kids to understand that John Wayne was right when he said, "Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway."

3.  We need to teach our children about sex.  Yes, I said it, S-E-X.  Did you know that a great number of teenagers do not believe that oral sex is sex?  Maybe you don't believe that oral sex is sex but ask yourself this question:  So, if it's not "sex" am I okay with my teenager doing it?  We need to talk to our kids about sex.  We need to discuss appropriate boundaries for themselves and others.  We need to teach them to respect themselves and other's boundaries.  You will regret letting peer groups and media define what is acceptable behavior. 

4.  We need to teach our children to see others as God sees others.  This is especially difficult as we live in a culture that "objectifies women" (just google those two words if you don't believe me), preaches individualism (another google subject) and honors helicopter parenting (google it).  God saw each person as a person of value (see Jesus healing of the woman with the bloody issue Mark 5:21-34).  He expects us to love others as much as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40).  He expects us to take responsibility for our own actions (Galatians 6:7-10)

So, you may notice that I didn't say anything about teaching our boys not to be rapists (that would insult your intelligence) or teach our girls how not to be raped (that would insult mine....and I don't buy into the rape culture that blames the victim).  What I DO say is we must teach our children....all of our children.....to love others, to be kind and compassionate, to be brave.  Also, teach them about sex....yes, I said it again.

Is Your Daughter a Princess?

"How To Be God's Little Princess" is a book that tells little girls...well, how to be God's little princess.  There are descriptions on how to make the best pink cookies, how to wear a tiara, and how to earn money at home....among other things.  Irritated yet??

Let me start this post by saying I have a daughter that is as girly-girl as the next girly-girl.  She loved to dress up when she was little.  She adored tea parties and baby dolls.  She is a "princess".  She always denies it but, trust me, with three older brothers she is a prin-cess!

Having said that, let me say that I have serious problems with what is commonly called "Princess Theology".  This is the thought that a little girl is God's princess.....pampered, pure, precious.  What, you may be asking, is wrong with that?  Well, that is what this post is about....let me give you a list.

1.  Purity goes both ways.  Often while girls are in the Princess classes learning about modesty and purity the boys are being taught to be fierce warriors for God.  Why aren't the boys being taught to be pure?  Why aren't our girls being taught to be fierce warriors for God?

2.  Princesses are typically for show.  Name one that does a real job.  Not to dis Princess Kate in all her pregnant glory but what good is she really?  She's having a baby and everyone is ecstatic.  I'm sorry.  No offense, but I want more for my daughter.  There is an incredible shallowness involved in this theology.  Princesses are beautiful and vapid.  Think of the symbols of a Princess......tiaras, scepters, glitter, a Prince.  Ick.

3. Being a Princess doesn't bring automatic value.  Some see this as an attempt to help young girls value themselves and improve their self-esteem but let's give the culture of Princesses a little thought.  The daughter of the king was often married off to another guy to solidify borders or create alliances.  They are passive and let others take care of them.  Princesses, unlike Queens, are typically not take charge kind of people.

I want so much more for my daughter.  I want her to be strong, loving, passionate, real and so much more.  Encouraging my daughter to be a Princess, even a Princess of the King of Heaven, is not what I dream for her.  I want her to know that she is a child of God just like every other person created.  Just like her brothers. 

Quiche that Makes Your Pee Smell Funny

Yummy!

I had some moms at my house a few weeks ago and served one of my favorite dishes....Asparagus Quiche.  The recipe was requested so here it is:

You'll need:
1 1/2 pounds fresh asparagus or 2 packages, 10 ounce, frozen spears (I always use frozen)
1 tsp salt, for boiling water that cooks the asparagus
8 slices of bacon, cooked to crispy and crumbled
1/2 pound Swiss Cheese, grated (I like the tangy and sharp taste of Emmenthal)
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups light cream
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp salt
Dash of Pepper
One uncooked pie crust (11 inches or deep dish works best as this is a big quiche)

Here's what you do:
Cook the asparagus.  If it's fresh you'll have to figure out how.  If it's frozen cook it in one cup water to boiling for 5 minutes.  Drain and rinse in cold water.  Pick out 12 of the nicest looking spears and set aside.  Cut up the rest in about 1/2 inch pieces.  Into the uncooked pie crust layer bacon pieces on the bottom, grated cheese on the bacon, asparagus pieces on the cheese.  Mix the eggs, light cream, nutmeg, salt and pepper together and pour over the layers.  Arrange the asparagus you set aside in a spoke-like fashion on top of the cream/egg mixture.  Cook in a 375 degree oven for 50 minutes.  (that's what it takes in my oven....you'll need to see how yours does but a knife stuck in the middle ought to come out clean before you eat it). 

There are no calories in this quiche since asparagus is so good for you.

That's not true but I wish it were.