Disgusted in the Deception

But groups that would normally defend late term abortions said that is not what they consider the Gosnell case to be about. These groups consider the trial to be about illegal abortions performed under dangerous circumstances.

"The fact that he wasn't providing care later and wasn't ensuring fetal demise and not operating under any established standards of care and outside of the law is the problem in this case, and not indicative of the high quality care available across the country," Saporta said.

"This is why we have to keep abortion practices available as medical procedures, so that they are safe and legal between a woman and her doctor," Hague said. 

Article Here

Yeah. After all, this is why Holland wanted to legalize prostitution. It's going to be done, so let's keep it "safe and legal" between the brothel and its men. We see the good that has done, right?

Sure.

We find that women are valued in the red-light district, true?
Lives are held in high regard and women are compensated fairly.
They feel strong and empowered, right?

Sure.

Just ask their government officials about the rise in crime.
Ask the ladies how they got to that brothel and how they feel about their current type of employment.

What a ridiculous twist of events.

What a sweeping away of the horrors committed by a "doctor." 

I also enjoy how we use the word "care" now.
You know I care because I will kill you.
Old, young, just as long as you are feeble.

Care for whom?

The lady will be left with shattered pieces of life and emotions.
The baby will be dead.
And the doctor will be waiting for the unrealized consequences.

What is life?
We don't know, but we know we have power to control it.

...As long as we twist and deceive the masses, of course...

(And shall I do this?! I shall. The link I was questioning, I link to: Pro-Life Home)

Chun Jie Kuai Le! (Part 3 of 3)

Most people are not aware of the hugely spiritual side that this holiday indicates. It’s tradition to set off the firecrackers and they do it. "Historically", it is supposed to be used to chase off the evil spirits for the year. The red banners hung on the sides and top of the doors are meant to welcome in good luck (fu) and money. Health, wealth, and joy are the things that they hope their luck in the New Year will bring. Before the big Chun Jie celebration many Chinese people (my friend’s mom included,) go to Buddhist temples to give money and kowtow. In the day, they buy paper money, clothes, and cars, to burn to their dead ancestors at night. They don’t know if it really works, or what they are doing, but they are afraid that if they do not continue to do these things, bad luck will come to their homes and families.

One friend who is in her forties is a believer and goes to visit her elderly mother in the south of China during Chun Jie. Her mother is a believer, but is often tormented by “satanic” dreams of her dead ancestors during this time of year. My friend has tried to tell her mother that she does not have to be afraid of these evil spirits, but her mother cannot comprehend these words. Each year she continues to make her altar to her ancestors and present them with food and money. (These traditions also continue in Korea where they also celebrate Spring Festival.) One year, after much prayer, my friend’s mother was spared from these dreams and did not prepare the altar. This year my friend said that her mother was still afraid.

In Taiwan, Cambodia, and other Asian countries the awareness of the spiritual side is even bolder. “God-parades” happen in Taiwan and in Cambodia sacrifices of pigs are made. Pray for these countries and their spiritual bondage.

Even my friend with whom I celebrated Chun Jie this year expressed that she was afraid of the spirits after I passed in front of a “god” and took a picture. I thought she was joking when she asked me, “Aren’t you afraid of the evil spirits?” After I responded in a joking manner, I realized that she was serious and genuinely concerned. I tried to change my tone. I must be more sensitive to her needs and I also need to think about the lack of awareness in my own daily living. I don’t need to be afraid of these spirits, but do I acknowledge the reality of the spiritual battles? I should.

Another big firework days of Chun Jie was on the 5^th day of Chun Jie (Chu wu). On the 15^th day of Chun Jie (Chu shi wu). The 15^th day is the lantern festival. I love that festival too because we get to eat “glutinous rice balls” that have various jellied foods inside of them. (The most popular is “red bean.” Not all my foreign friends enjoy that flavor. If you eat too many, I also agree that it’s not so tasty.)

I am not quite sure, but on the Lantern Festival Day many people also get lanterns, write good wishes for the New Year on them, set the inside on fire, and let them float away in the sky. I got to do that with some friends in Bao Ding (another province) BEFORE the Lantern Festival last year. AH! So magical. I love it. (I hear Thailand does it too.)

So much more I could write about Chun Jie! So many people going to so many different places because they all have the week (or longer) off and they all need to be with their families. Some times the trains (particularly the few days leading up to Chun Jie,) are so packed that people have to get in through the train windows and/or they don’t have space to sit for the whole of their hours long journey.

When we went to Beijing for a day this break – so many people were at the high tourist spots. So many people are on the subways, so many people are on the buses. You just have to SQUISH on. When I went with my Chinese friends to “Ancient Culture Street” in Tianjin, sooo many people (“hen duo ren”) were there to experience traditional culture, celebrate the New Year, and buy things. (I love it.)

“Ren shan; ren hai.”

(A Chinese saying, translated, “People mountain; people sea.” Meaning, “There’s so many people it’s like a mountain and a sea made of just people.”) 

Always in China? Of course. 

Especially during Chun Jie? Indeed!!!

Chun Jie Kuai Le! (Part 2 of 3)

The greatest gift to me from this Chun Jie was the fulfillment of my Spring Festival DREAM! Thanks to my friend's father I got to follow the custom of the Chinese people and light a firework with a CIGARETTE!!! It was one of the greatest thrills I have experienced while being in China. (Seeing Chairman Mao’s dead “body” will be my next.)

After the firecrackers are lit, (which doesn’t last long for some. You do it, watch it, and return inside. As a Chinese person, you don’t take much time to admire.) When you finish with the fireworks, you return inside to eat your lucky jiao zi (dumplings). In some provinces, people hide a coin inside one dumpling. Whoever gets that dumpling has luck for the New Year! (This is not a tradition in Tianjin. I tried to act out how we could choke if we did that. haha I meant to make them laugh. I think I did.)

After eating your fill of delicious jiao zi dipped in the special, yummy garlic vinegar, you try to stay up all night. This is my second year and I can’t do it. I am not Chinese. (Chinese people tend to stay up pretty late anyways.) Around 6 o’clock in the morning people wake up and set off more firecrackers. This wakes me up, but not my Chinese friend. This year, however, I was able to turn the “booms” into a sort of melodic beat and fall back asleep to the music of the Chun Jie firecrackers.

In the morning, special jiao zi and other foods are supposed to be eaten in order to continue preparing for wealth and prosperity in the New Year. The dumplings are so important for the New Year because they are made in the shape of the old money. If you eat the jiao zi, you are eating money!

And so, we have now entered the year of the Snake. Last year was the year of the Dragon. The dragon was a WAY bigger deal. My friends tell me that not many people like the snake and they have to try to make it cuter than how people perceive it. They have an ancient story about a 1000-year-old snake who became a beautiful woman and a prince (?) who fall in love. Tragically, they are prevented from marrying because a priest (?) who thinks that love cannot exist between these two, prevents them from coming together. (If I understood my friend’s telling of it appropriately.) They try to promote this story during the year of the snake. 

Chun Jie Kuai Le! (Part 1 of 3)

GUO NIAN HAO! (Happy New Year!!)

Most foreigners do not like this time of year. Firecrackers go off at all hours of the day and many hours of the night. ::PONG! PONG! PONG!!::

I, however, LOVE it!! Chun Jie (Chinese New Year) may now be my favorite holiday. It’s like our American Thanksgiving, Christmas, and 4^th of July all wrapped in to one holiday. Fantastic! It’s such a wonderful time for family, friends, and fireworks. I love it.

It may have come from my Uncle Ryan’s influence, but I LOVE the fireworks. It’s so cool to be on the 15^th floor and watch the fireworks that are going off right at the door of your apartment building. The beautiful ones are right at your eye-level. How cool is that?

I love sitting in my apartment, (which is on the 7^th floor,) and running from the north side to see the fireworks I hear going off, and then run to the south side as I see and hear fireworks (the beautiful kind) going off over there. I also love the huge BAM! fireworks, though they can be jarring to the nerves and distracting to one’s sleep. But, where else can you experience such a show for so little money? (aka -- It's FREE.)

The whole country of China is setting off fireworks at the same time and I get to be an observer. Wahoo! And how exciting that it doesn’t just happen on one day, but extends for a couple weeks after the first day of the Spring Festival?!

(Most of my foreign colleagues, on the other hand, flee to other countries during our two-week Chun Jie break from school. They go to the Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, any where else where the people are not so enthusiastic about scaring away the evil spirits with their red fire.)

The date for Chun Jie is determined by the Lunar calendar. This year it was the 10^th of February, but the celebrating begins on the 9^th of February. The whole extended family is supposed to gather together at the patriarch’s house to celebrate. Expensive foods (meats, fruits, wines,) are purchased and prepared. Expensive gifts (milk, oil, eggs, fruit, specialty foods, bai jiu) are purchased and given when you visit relatives’ and friends’ homes. (This is to show honor and respect. The more expensive the gift, the better. It signifies a greater appreciation and giving of honor and thoughtfulness. Last year I “appropriately” brought and gave a HUGE basket of tangerines. This year I realized that wasn’t expensive enough. Too typical, especially, I think, for me, a Westerner, to bring. This year I brought tangerines, expensive wine, and some pre-cooked salmon from Seattle. I did much better this year. I hope!!)

In the day of preparation, the mothers (and some fathers) prepare the food. The most important food to be prepared is the jiao zi (dumplings) that will be eaten at midnight. Other Chinese dishes are made for earlier consumption. Fruit and nuts are ALWAYS out. This is to show prosperity and to welcome in the wealth of the New Year. (I think. I hypothesize.) I made sure to limit my eating before going to my friend’s home. Last year they kept telling me, “Chi! Chi!” (“Eat! Eat!”) I wanted to be sure to have PLENTY of room for food this year.

Around 8pm a special Chinese New Year Gala TV show begins. (This has been going on for around 27 years.) It seems that it promotes national unity and a preservation of tradition and culture. Various singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, etc. perform on the show for about four hours. I find it interesting to watch. Most young people and some middle-aged people think it’s boring, but they turn it on anyways. They must. It’s tradition and Chinese. This year, Celine Dion performed. (Maybe because this last year Titanic came to the screen in 3D and the young people LOVE it.) Celine did well, and was well received. I saw another foreign performer being interviewed before the show. The interviewer asked (in English), “Are you nervous? You know, this is the MOST WATCHED TV show in China (and the world)!” Indeed. The foreigner, apparently, felt pretty secure. I saw his performance. He did well.

Throughout the evening you are supposed to send messages to your friends (now with technology you may send these messages through email or text message or “QQ” – equivalent to Facebook,) wishing them “all the best luck for the New Year.” If they are a close friend, you give them a more personal message and express your appreciation for their friendship. I guess, in the past, you sent them cards.

A few minutes before midnight you begin hearing the sound of the firecrackers exploding. The people begin to emerge from their apartments to scare away the evil spirits at midnight. This is a CRAZILY WONDERFUL time of CHAOS! I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!! The apartments are so close together and there are so many people living in the apartments, people and firecrackers are everywhere. You have to really watch yourself so that you don’t get hit by flying firecracker shrapnel. The neighbors do not look out for you or warn you that they are lighting a firecracker at your feet. (Last year, I was about to be pelted because I was in a state of awe. My friend’s dad grabbed my arm and pulled me into the doorway of the apartment for safekeeping. Don’t injure the foreigner!)

The noise is (literally) explosive. You do not need much of an imagination to pretend like you are on a battlefield. Some fireworks are the HUGE ones that BOOM and seem to shake the ground under your feet. Car alarms go off everywhere.  (Why do people even keep them on during Chun Jie?) You hear, “BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!” In the lulls between the, “KA-BOOM!!!” of the firecrackers.

And, while all these things are happening around your feet, pieces of firecracker fly at you, and then huge boxes of the beautiful flower fireworks explode. The Fourth-of-July-American in me takes time to “Ooh!” and “Aah!” at the beauty. My Chinese counterparts don’t really do the same.

(...to be continued...)