| The Polarizing of America: How Everyone is Missing the Point
So what is interesting about this whole Terri Schiavo case is how a good portion of America became mobilized, and Congress even convened for one woman in Florida who is in an arguably "persistent vegetative state." For me, that raises the question, "Why???" In a world where the quality of life of MILLIONS suck cause America can't work harder on creating a better health insurance system; where BILLIONS are dying from AIDS, a disease that is EASILY prevented with better sex ed and maybe the restructuring of social systems so that women aren't exploited (ok, so that last one is a lil bit harder to do), why? ... why is it that America cares about pro-life/pro-choice, gay marriage, stem cell research, and a war in one country in the Middle East.
Not that those issues aren't important. I just think that people don't get it. I think America likes being polarized because it makes them feel like they are fighting against "evil" like in the fairy tales. I think it was best expressed in the parable where people asked Jesus if Jews should pay taxes to Caesar. It was a complete set up because that was one of the "hot topics" of the time. Jews had to pay taxes like everyone else in the Roman Empire, but some Jews felt like their money should go to God, not Caesar. It was part of the idea that Jews should serve God, not Rome. What was interesting was that Jesus responds, "Who's face is on the coins?" Their response was "Caesar" Jesus then proceeds to say, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and give to God what is God's." Meaning give your coins to Caesar (cuz they've got Caesar's image), but give your lives to God (cuz people have God's image). Basically Jesus challeges them with, "Taxes AREN'T the issue, people living for God (i.e., loving others, serving God etc) is the issue." Which is exponentially harder than paying taxes ...
And I see that in today's society, too. Take the abortion debate. I recently went to a med student convention and decided to go to a talk on abortions given by a woman who runs an abortion clinic. Listening to her, I realized something. Pro-life ppl and pro-choice ppl have something in common. They would prefer if people choose NOT to get abortions. So instead of getting into litigation battles over when to allow them legally, why aren't more people focused on creating a world where 1. ppl are educated about how to PREVENT pregnancy (i.e., birth control) and 2. society creates/improves systems to help people with unplanned pregnancies (i.e., day care in schools, improved adoption services, etc.). Why don't they then? I think it's because it would confront people with a task that is harder than picketing in front of an abortion clinic or trying to get different legislation passed in Congress.
I think there's a greater evil in the world that is NOT encompassed in right wing fundamentalists or left wing radicals. It's encompassed in things that people all agree on as wrong (poverty, war, disease), but can't become united against.
Ok .. that was my profound thought of the day .. now time to crawl back into my hole known as med school so I can understand how the kidneys work by tomorrow. |
.. or u could just date a boxer .. they can probably dance really well, too 
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... what kinda grossed me out was that because we had to saw through the skull, there was all this bone dust in the air ... and it smelled like nachos ... but my teacher is kinda funny cuz she always wears earrings that match the part of the body that we are dissecting (brain, arm, legs, etc) .. she's a quirky woman tho .. rumor has it that she wants to donate her body to the med school after she dies so that she can be dissected by 1st yr med students ... 
