Anger to the left of me, rage to the right of me ...

With the current political climate of the United States, I find myself struggling with rage on an almost daily basis. The economy is horrible -- jobs simply aren't there. Unemployment has let thousands barely keep their head above water, and yet the standard conservative line is that these people are just lazy and need to go get jobs.

With the lack of jobs, recent collage grads aren't able to immediately join the work force, which will do nothing by harm their future financial opportunities. Banks have enough financial opportunities for the whole world, and in anger, Occupy Wall Street is formed. Yet conservatives frame it as they simply want handouts without working.

We're in 2012, and conservatives are having serious debates as to whether birth control should even be covered under insurance plans -- 2012. And whether a woman has the right to control her fertility (and by default, the path her life goes), is under attack.

Healthcare costs skyrocketing. Teachers are the favorite scapegoats ...

How can anyone not be angry?

And this feels like a personalized anger to me. I wonder if I could keep it more abstract if I only had liberal friends in my life, because then we could share our anger, and direct it towards this big blob known as "Conservatives/Republicans."

But I do have a close conservative Christian friend in my life, and perhaps that makes me anger quadruple. Because I have someone in my life that follows a political mindset that actively harms her friend.

Case in point -- birth control/abortion. I don't want kids, but even if I did, I'd be absolutely terrified to be pregnant in today's political climate. We've got people in Congress saying that women should carry dead fetuses to term because he's seen it work with livestock. We've got people equating those who use birth control as sluts. We had a Republican presidential candidate say that genetic screenings on fetuses shouldn't occur, because that drives up abortions.

Not to mention that pro-life policies are dangerous for pregnant women. I've read too many stories where women choose one thing for their childbirth option, only to have the doctor not only override it, but get court orders that strap the women down so that the doctors can do whatever they deem fit with the pregnancy.

It makes me feel like I'm no more than breeding livestock. Everything I am is nothing compared to the DNA of an embryo.

And then we've got her anti-union tendencies, and her justification for that? She doesn't need a union, because she's a hard worker, and so no one would have any reason to fire her. Right, because no one has *ever* been fired unjustly ... and companies just bend over backwards to offer decent pay, benefits, vacation time, paid lost time ...

And, of course, the ever popular anti-evolution stance, anti-climate change stance ...

I am no doubt turning her into a convenient target, but it's hard not to.

I was a monster at eight.

I see a lot of Christians justifying their faith and knowledge in Jesus by saying that they aren't who they used to be. Now they're a much better person, and the evidence of being this new person is a way that they know Jesus is real.

These are the same Christians who say they were saved at a young age, anywhere between the ages of five through eight.

So exactly how horrible were they as such young children, if a better personality is now proof of Jesus?

Seek the Light ...

After Rush Limbaugh's dazzling attack on women who would like their insurance companies to pay for birth control, and the passing of Andrew Breitbart who's lies took down Shirley Sherrod, I've been ruminating over those who flocked to both men.

Rush Limbaugh is vile. There's no other word for it. And those who defended his words, accepted his "apology" or even cheered him on in the beginning ... come across as attracted to the vileness and darkness that man exudes.

Andrew Brietbart -- his attack on Shirley Sherrod distorted the truth, and none of his defenders saw through that. They thought he was telling the truth.

And then I can't help think about how many conservative Christians support both men, flock to both men, praise both men ... and I can't help think about how conservative Christians also say that their religion is the only way that holds morality, that their religion follows the man who is the way, the truth, and the life ... how often they are told to reject darkness in favor of the light ...

Anyone else seeing the disconnect here?

For once, a non-religious post.

The "perils" of being newly married, and in a new job (both which are very good things), means that one has a lot less time to read and analyze religious topics.

Ergo, randomness:

1) I must go on travel next week to Canada. I was volunteered for this by revealing that I hadn't certain knowledge that would assist our sister company in London. I don't to go. I'll be gone four days, and be away from husband/family/friends/dog. And the most superficially annoying thing about this is that I've been trying very hard to not eat junk/bread/pasta/potatoes/dairy (and getting rid of junk would be much easier if Kroger's didn't have Cadburry Eggs out THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO EASTER). I've incorporated a lot more greens in my diet. Being in London is going to make both goals more difficult, because I highly doubt the hotel's complimentary breakfast is going to include a smoothie with spinach/kale/chard/orange mango juice/coconut-based ice cream.

2) My husband and I started watching "Modern Family." Funny and enjoyable.

3) I still feel like I'm a high-schooler pretending to be a grown-up anytime I say "my husband." And I'm 30 years old.

4) I recently read a book called "The Gift of Fear." One of the points it mentioned is how conditioned women are to be polite and accommodating, and not make a scene. And how simply being strong and standing up for oneself -- normal male behavior -- can so quickly get a woman labeled a "bitch." And it's sobering to see how much that conditioning is applied in my own life.

5) Lots of women have a a biological clock. I don't want children, and I never have. I do, however, have a canine biological clock, and want another dog yesterday.