My scrap of dirt

Doctor Recalls Abortion Complications Before Roe v. Wave. "It is important to remember that Roe v. Wade did not mean that abortions could be performed. They have always been done, dating from ancient Greek days."

I cannot explain how much it depresses me whenever I read something about guns in America. It especially depresses me when I'm reminded some parts of America are so puritan and so morally conservative, and what the fuck being ok with guns but not with the tiniest bit of nudity. But even on its own, the gun thing just depresses me so fucking much. I don't know when the fuck America is going to wake up to the fact that they have a problem with violence, a problem with guns, and that there's a reason school shootings don't happen in countries where gun ownership is restricted. And believe me, it's not because we're better, more balanced, less idiotic people.

I'm also appalled and pissed off that the U.S., failing the rest of the world as usual, has not signed the treaty banning the use of cluster bombs. The fact that it is one of the biggest sellers of this type of weapons obviously has little to do with that.

Finally, Californian voters will be asked to vote in November on an amendment which would define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The Supreme Court has refused to delay same-sex marriage until then, so for 4 months same-sex couples will be able to marry in CA. It is morally very doubious to have the majority vote on the rights of a minority, by the way, but I'm curious to see what will happen to the amendment - four months is very little time for people to realize same-sex marriage really doesn't do much of any damage, and the population is very split on the question right now. I'm very afraid of the scaremongering we're going to hear from morally conservative organizations in the next little while in California. I freaking hate when people encourage fear and hatred rather than inclusion and respect for difference. :(

I could and would rant about France, too, but that would really bring me down too much. The government continues to slash social programs that have made our country a better place, and I can't stand to see us make political choices which bring us a little closer to anglo-saxon countries, because there are lots of good things about the U.S., but economic liberalism is not one of them. CEOs have seen their salaries go up by 54% while employees struggle with rising prices, and yet all we ever do is favor people at the top of the pyramid. The rich get richer and who cares about the poor anyway? That's for charities to deal with. (Nationally or internationally.) Also, fucking stop complaining about rising gas prices and make other choices. We have to change the way we live anyway. Truckers are apparently on strike back home and I'm going to be so angry if the government subsidizes them instead of helping them reconvert and turn to viable jobs. We're not the fucking U.S. - we actually have efficient alternative modes of transportation besides cars and trucks.

See. Now I'm even more pissed off. Argh.

On forgiveness, by squiddity, found on metaquotes, originally from this entry :

"A gunman entered a school in Pennsylvania and methodically shot 11 young amish girls through the head.
When we had Dunblaine we screamed and shouted and banned things and blamed people and worried about how our children may be next.
When America had Columbine they screamed and shouted and blamed things and spectacularly failed to ban anything and instead put metal detectors in schools.

The Amish community invited the wife of the killer to the funerals, because they knew that she had her own grief to resolve.
They set up a fund for the families of the children, just like any community would do, but at the same time they set up a fund for the family of the killer, who have lsot their husband and father in a way that will be at least as hard to deal with.
They have sent flowers and condolences to the family.
The parents who lost both their daughters brought round food and told the wife that they forgave her husband.
These were the two daughters who asked to be shot first in the hope that the extra time bought may save one of the others.

I am not a Christian, but I really really hope that if something like this happened to me, I would be strong enough and understanding to do exactly the same thing.
I don't know these people, I never will, but I love them.
And if there is a heaven, I'll expect to see these people there."



It reminded me of a beautiful text my mother read to me once, a text written by Julos Beaucarne after his wife was stabbed to death at the age of 33. He's a Belgian singer and I'm not sure there are any translations of the text, so I'm gonna have to copy/paste it in French. I wish I could translate it, but I'd be afraid not to be able to render the strength of the words he chose. It made me cry the first time my mom read it to me - and still now, I well up just talking about it. The strength, the heart, the love you must have to be able to not resent the whole world, to not resent the murderer, when a loved one has just been taken away from you boggles me. Makes me humble.

These are the people are I truly admire.



"Amis bien-aimés,

Ma Loulou est partie pour le pays de l'envers du décor, un homme lui a donné neuf coups de poignard dans sa peau douce. C'est la société qui est malade, il nous faut la remettre d'aplomb et d'équerre par l'amour et l'amitié et la persuasion. C'est l'histoire de mon petit amour à moi, arrêté sur le seuil de ses trente-trois ans. Ne perdons pas courage, ni vous ni moi. Je vais continuer ma vie et mes voyages avec ce poids à porter en plus et mes deux chéris qui lui ressemblent.

Sans vous commander, je vous demande d'aimer plus que jamais ceux qui vous sont proches ; le monde est une triste boutique, les cœurs purs doivent se mettre ensemble pour l'embellir, il faut reboiser l'âme humaine. Je resterai sur le pont, je resterai un jardinier, je cultiverai mes plantes de langage. A travers mes dires vous retrouverez ma bien-aimée ; il n'est de vrai que l'amitié et l'amour. Je suis maintenant très loin au fond du panier des tristesses. On doit manger chacun, dit-on, un sac de charbon pour aller en paradis. Ah ! comme j'aimerais qu'il y ait un paradis, comme ce serait doux les retrouvailles.

En attendant, à vous autres, mes amis de l'ici-bas, face à ce qui m'arrive, je prends la liberté, moi qui ne suis qu'un histrion, qu'un batteur de planches, qu'un comédien qui fait du rêve avec du vent, je prends la liberté de vous écrire pour vous dire ce à quoi je pense aujourd'hui : je pense de toutes mes forces qu'il faut s'aimer à tort et à travers."



EDIT : Fan', because she's brilliant and I love her, has translated the text into English in the comments.