I am an immigrant. I was born and raised in the beautiful land of Australia. It's free, modern, peaceful, and pretty awesome in many, many ways. The only reason I left was to marry an American who wasn't brave enough to leave his own homeland! Ha ha! Well, he's half Native American, so I'll cut him some slack.
But I came here Legally.
The process to migrate legally to the United States is long and expensive. First, the citizen has to petition for a fiance visa. He had to provide proof of a real relationship, evidence we'd actually met recently, and that he was really a citizen. On top of that, he had to pay several hundred dollars.
Then we had to wait, and wait, and wait...
Several months later I was contacted and given a questionnaire to make sure I wasn't a drug dealing terrorist associated with Nazis. Yup, Nazis. Because Nazis are a huge problem in Australia... (note sarcasm) But, if I had done drugs I could have been turned down. Note that for later.
Next, I had to make sure I was up to date with all the vaccines. I couldn't just go to a local doctor either, I had to go into the city to a specially designated doctor who drew blood to test for chicken pox immunity as well as to prove every other vaccine requirement. I did a T.B. test, and boosted my tetenis shots.
After I passed all those, which again, cost us a substantial fee, I waited again to be called into the U.S. consulate in the city for a interview to again prove Landon and I had a legitimate relationship, because Aussies are so desperate to be mail order brides (again, sarcasm)
They took my passport there, and I'd get it back if I was approved. A few weeks later, it returned to me in the mail with my temporary visa. Again, all this cost money, and I hadn't left Australia yet!
Once in the U.S. I had a limited time to marry, then apply for a temporary residency. This application cost about $1000 on it's own, plus the three other applications I had to send in also had their own fees. These applications are extremely frustrating too. If you don't dot your i's and cross your t's, they send them back for you to do again. Again, there was interviews and demands of proof of our relationship and I had to get fingerprinted and photographed.
Finally, after more than a year, I had my 2 year temporary residency. After that two years, I had to apply again, proving we were still married. Again, I had to be fingerprinted etc.
Now, after easily thousands of dollars, hours of sitting in sweltering waiting rooms, and several years of processing, I have a green card.
Yet, somehow, I'm not entitled to the same privileges as illegal immigrants. I get turned down for healthcare/coverage, or am put on a limited plan. When I had my first child, the second she was out of me, only she could get covered, not me. If I get in trouble with the law (which I don't intend to do) I'll be deported in a heartbeat.
But yet illegals get free healthcare. Illegals are given housing, while I have to work hard to pay for mine. I wasn't allowed to work for months, yet illegals can work the second they jump the border and no one really cares. They can murder citizens in places like California and get out of jail for free.
I'm wondering how exactly this is fair.
The government scraped our pockets dry to let me in here, someone from a country considered a peaceful ally, but yet, somehow these illegals get by free. I had to go through screening processes and vaccinations to make sure I didn't bring anything "bad" into the country from my developed country, yet people carry drugs and guns across the border while carrying who knows what diseases with them. Why am I treated like a pariah for doing it the right way?
Many countries out there shoot illegal immigrants on sight. While I'm not for that, I am for some kind of control. The people who come through illegally selfishly cut off real refugees from their chance to fill the limited refugee designated places. People who are too poor to pay a people smuggler are the ones most disadvantaged here. There are countries in Asia and Africa, even South America, in desperate need of those refugee places these illegals are stealing from them, yet people and the government are welcoming the law breakers with open arms, and pushing to give these illegals rights and privileges.
How is that fair?
It's not. It's like rewarding the bully who shoves the weaker kids out of the lunch line. It's giving the bully hand outs after he just took the class geek's money. It's the teacher giving the bully straight A's and praising them in front of the real A grade students even though their test results are all F's. The bully doesn't deserve it, the other, quiet, beaten down kids do, and it's the same for immigration.
Monday, July 20, 2015
Monday, July 13, 2015
Where I Stand: Marriage
I think I've rewritten this a hundred times, knowing how sensitive of an issue this is. I want to make what I say fair ad honest, without coming across hateful, as that's not my intention. So, *deep breath* here we go.
To start out, I want to make it perfectly clear that I am not homophobic. I do not hate homosexuals, I'm not a nut who thinks they're all going to rot in hell. That's just downright awful. I know plenty of homosexual people and have respect for them as human beings and all they do. Just like every other minority, they contribute to society, and try to live their lives the best they can, and I respect that.
Now, onto the part I know will piss people off.
I disagree with same sex marriage.
Let's refer back to my post on Freedom. There I stated that disagreeing does not mean prejudice or hate, it's simply that: disagreeing. If anyone thinks I'm a hater for disagreeing, then shame on you for perpetuating the problem.
Now, marriage is based on two things which I am going to cover in detail. This is going to be a long rant, so bare with me. Two factors play into marriage: a biological response and an emotional response to the human existence.
Let's start with the biological response since that's built entirely on facts.
Living creatures are created with males and females. Yes? Okay, so plants have mixed, but they produce male and female reproductive substances, but we're not plants. We are mammals. All mammals have males and females, and we have evolved or been created--depending on your views--this way for a specific reason: to naturally reproduce and continue our species.
Males and females each contribute the same number of chromosomes in the creation of offspring. Twenty-three. All of these match up perfectly, and the twenty-third chromosome decides the gender so that the cycle can continue. That's how reproduction works, we learned it in high school.
With this biological need, the male naturally desires to pass on his genetic coding. We've all seen documentaries of male beasts battling it out for females and breeding rights, but thankfully humans, in general, are beyond that. But to pass on his coding, he needs that other twenty-three chromosomes that will match with his. Putting it bluntly, sperm and sperm don't match up, neither does an egg and an egg, but an egg and a sperm fit together. That's just how we are made.
So a male is drawn to a female to reproduce.
A female has the same desire, to pass on her genetic coding. And like the male, she needs that opposite to form the required chromosome bonding. So, she is drawn to a male to fulfill that. Ba da boom, we have a baby.
Marriage covers that natural need. A male desires a female to carry his offspring and care for them through life, while a female desires a male who can give her strong genetics, and security in bearing his children.
We all get that, right? Can't really argue science.
Now, onto the part people get touchy about, the emotional side.
As humans, we are emotional creatures. It sets us apart from the rest as we move past the basic instincts of eat and reproduce. Our emotions make us human.
Emotional responses are where attraction and love fall into place. I can't deny that I've looked at other females and gone, "Wow, she's gorgeous!" Usually it's followed by "That's not fair!" or some other jealousy ridden thoughts, but I can see the good physical qualities in the same gender as me. Ultimately I am drawn to men--in particular my husband, just to clarify!
Homosexuality is an emotional response. To be "born that way" goes against the biological structure of the human body. I know people are going to be pissed off about that, but seriously, biologically, it does not make sense. But, throw in an emotional need, now it makes sense.
This is why I don't have problems with homosexuals. If they chose to follow their emotional path and do what they think is best for them, go ahead. I do things I know people don't agree with, and that's fine. It's called individuality.
What I do have a problem with is denying the natural order of evolution/creation by "redefining" marriage. But you can't redefine how the body naturally works.
Marriage is also closely tied in with religion. Yes, I'm going there. Marriage, for centuries, even thousands of years, through all kinds of religions and faiths, is a union between man and woman. This union benefits the community not just through the production of more children, but for the stability and structure of societies. There is, in fact, studies popping up that have been done on adults raised by same sex partners in a stable relationship showing that they struggle socially and in other ways compared to those raised in a stable opposite gender relationship home. Children are being forgotten in this debate, and it makes me pretty sad.
But in a religious sense, God created man and woman to be together, to care for one another, and to find the deepest form of happiness possible. In a religious sense, the creation of children is as close as humanly possible to godliness.
I've been married for a few years now, and have children myself. Before I married and started a family, I had glimpses of this deep happiness. But nothing compares to how I feel now. My husband brings me the deepest joy, not because we have sex and all the chemical responses that brings on, but because I can sit beside him and just know I'm safe. I know I can trust him and rely on him. Most of all, I find happiness in watching him grow because of our marriage and our children. His smile has grown warmer, his heart softer, his love deeper. His faith in his own abilities have grown, and he has truly grown from a boy to a man. That's what love is and what true marriage is about; watching each other become more as you build a family and life together. To see my husband and myself in our daughter is like watching magic come to life. It has redefined true love for me.
But, the problem is, the world has broken marriage. Where once it was treated like a diamond, now it's valued little more than common steal. I know of plenty of people who still care for and treat their marriages like a diamond, but in general...
Put it this way. We all have steal in our homes. Frying pans, pots, appliances, etc. It's all right there in our everyday life. Marriage often becomes like that, so when it breaks, like that frying pan, people toss it away. Divorce is the easy way out in most cases (abuse etc excluded.) Adultery gives one satisfaction, while it crushes the other's heart. Marriage has become a joke to society.
So then, why are we so up in arms about not giving it to homosexuals when the straight community doesn't care about it in the first place? It's like they're saying, "Sure, we don't want it. it's broken anyway, so go right ahead."
I'd be pretty insulted to be honest.
With the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling of all states must do gay marriages, I have grown even more concerned about this "redefining"for two reasons.
Number One: This is not true "equal marriage." People want equal marriage, okay, but now one door is open, many more will start popping open. We will see a push for polygamy, incest, bestiality, pedophilia, and whatever else is out there to also become legalized so that they can have their "sexual orientation" recognized and have "equal marriage." Some might think that's never going to happen, but ten years ago, gay marriage was never going to happen either.
Just ponder that one.
Number Two: This here is my biggest concern BY FAR in this issue. The voice of the few in high places have overruled all the votes of the people within the states that legally and fairly voted no. This is teetering on the edge of the collapse of freedom and democracy. If the court had taken it to the people as a vote, this wouldn't be a concern, but they have literally dictated this to happen. Yes, dictated, as in moving toward a dictatorship. This is terrifying!!! If they can do this for one thing, they can do it for more things, gradually taking bigger and bigger steps until suddenly, the people are silenced and expected to comply to all their wishes. Voting will lose it's power, and the "republic" will die.
Everything starts off small, slipping through the gaps of society's general approved acceptance, then slowly, piece by piece, oppression seeps in. Look at Hitler. No Joke. He was revered. He pulled the economies of Europe of out the gutter. He produced jobs, incomes, structured schools and hospitals. Most of the people had no idea he was committing mass homicide on the sly. He was charismatic, intelligent, and the people loved him. He said what they wanted to hear, so they followed him. While history labels him a villain, the people under his rule adored him, and followed his command to go to war because of this. These were normal people like you or me, intelligent, with families, friends, raised in rich culture and religions. They weren't mindless drones. By overruling legal votes made by states, the Supreme Court took a dangerous step down the same path and we more than let them, we celebrated it.
Just stop and ponder on that and where you truly want that to lead.
So, there you have it. We have broken marriage. I don't believe denying anyone anything is fair, but changing the rules is unfair. We are dancing on thin ice. Are we really ready to risk the fall?
To start out, I want to make it perfectly clear that I am not homophobic. I do not hate homosexuals, I'm not a nut who thinks they're all going to rot in hell. That's just downright awful. I know plenty of homosexual people and have respect for them as human beings and all they do. Just like every other minority, they contribute to society, and try to live their lives the best they can, and I respect that.
Now, onto the part I know will piss people off.
I disagree with same sex marriage.
Let's refer back to my post on Freedom. There I stated that disagreeing does not mean prejudice or hate, it's simply that: disagreeing. If anyone thinks I'm a hater for disagreeing, then shame on you for perpetuating the problem.
Now, marriage is based on two things which I am going to cover in detail. This is going to be a long rant, so bare with me. Two factors play into marriage: a biological response and an emotional response to the human existence.
Let's start with the biological response since that's built entirely on facts.
Living creatures are created with males and females. Yes? Okay, so plants have mixed, but they produce male and female reproductive substances, but we're not plants. We are mammals. All mammals have males and females, and we have evolved or been created--depending on your views--this way for a specific reason: to naturally reproduce and continue our species.
Males and females each contribute the same number of chromosomes in the creation of offspring. Twenty-three. All of these match up perfectly, and the twenty-third chromosome decides the gender so that the cycle can continue. That's how reproduction works, we learned it in high school.
With this biological need, the male naturally desires to pass on his genetic coding. We've all seen documentaries of male beasts battling it out for females and breeding rights, but thankfully humans, in general, are beyond that. But to pass on his coding, he needs that other twenty-three chromosomes that will match with his. Putting it bluntly, sperm and sperm don't match up, neither does an egg and an egg, but an egg and a sperm fit together. That's just how we are made.
So a male is drawn to a female to reproduce.
A female has the same desire, to pass on her genetic coding. And like the male, she needs that opposite to form the required chromosome bonding. So, she is drawn to a male to fulfill that. Ba da boom, we have a baby.
Marriage covers that natural need. A male desires a female to carry his offspring and care for them through life, while a female desires a male who can give her strong genetics, and security in bearing his children.
We all get that, right? Can't really argue science.
Now, onto the part people get touchy about, the emotional side.
As humans, we are emotional creatures. It sets us apart from the rest as we move past the basic instincts of eat and reproduce. Our emotions make us human.
Emotional responses are where attraction and love fall into place. I can't deny that I've looked at other females and gone, "Wow, she's gorgeous!" Usually it's followed by "That's not fair!" or some other jealousy ridden thoughts, but I can see the good physical qualities in the same gender as me. Ultimately I am drawn to men--in particular my husband, just to clarify!
Homosexuality is an emotional response. To be "born that way" goes against the biological structure of the human body. I know people are going to be pissed off about that, but seriously, biologically, it does not make sense. But, throw in an emotional need, now it makes sense.
This is why I don't have problems with homosexuals. If they chose to follow their emotional path and do what they think is best for them, go ahead. I do things I know people don't agree with, and that's fine. It's called individuality.
What I do have a problem with is denying the natural order of evolution/creation by "redefining" marriage. But you can't redefine how the body naturally works.
Marriage is also closely tied in with religion. Yes, I'm going there. Marriage, for centuries, even thousands of years, through all kinds of religions and faiths, is a union between man and woman. This union benefits the community not just through the production of more children, but for the stability and structure of societies. There is, in fact, studies popping up that have been done on adults raised by same sex partners in a stable relationship showing that they struggle socially and in other ways compared to those raised in a stable opposite gender relationship home. Children are being forgotten in this debate, and it makes me pretty sad.
But in a religious sense, God created man and woman to be together, to care for one another, and to find the deepest form of happiness possible. In a religious sense, the creation of children is as close as humanly possible to godliness.
I've been married for a few years now, and have children myself. Before I married and started a family, I had glimpses of this deep happiness. But nothing compares to how I feel now. My husband brings me the deepest joy, not because we have sex and all the chemical responses that brings on, but because I can sit beside him and just know I'm safe. I know I can trust him and rely on him. Most of all, I find happiness in watching him grow because of our marriage and our children. His smile has grown warmer, his heart softer, his love deeper. His faith in his own abilities have grown, and he has truly grown from a boy to a man. That's what love is and what true marriage is about; watching each other become more as you build a family and life together. To see my husband and myself in our daughter is like watching magic come to life. It has redefined true love for me.
But, the problem is, the world has broken marriage. Where once it was treated like a diamond, now it's valued little more than common steal. I know of plenty of people who still care for and treat their marriages like a diamond, but in general...
Put it this way. We all have steal in our homes. Frying pans, pots, appliances, etc. It's all right there in our everyday life. Marriage often becomes like that, so when it breaks, like that frying pan, people toss it away. Divorce is the easy way out in most cases (abuse etc excluded.) Adultery gives one satisfaction, while it crushes the other's heart. Marriage has become a joke to society.
So then, why are we so up in arms about not giving it to homosexuals when the straight community doesn't care about it in the first place? It's like they're saying, "Sure, we don't want it. it's broken anyway, so go right ahead."
I'd be pretty insulted to be honest.
With the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling of all states must do gay marriages, I have grown even more concerned about this "redefining"for two reasons.
Number One: This is not true "equal marriage." People want equal marriage, okay, but now one door is open, many more will start popping open. We will see a push for polygamy, incest, bestiality, pedophilia, and whatever else is out there to also become legalized so that they can have their "sexual orientation" recognized and have "equal marriage." Some might think that's never going to happen, but ten years ago, gay marriage was never going to happen either.
Just ponder that one.
Number Two: This here is my biggest concern BY FAR in this issue. The voice of the few in high places have overruled all the votes of the people within the states that legally and fairly voted no. This is teetering on the edge of the collapse of freedom and democracy. If the court had taken it to the people as a vote, this wouldn't be a concern, but they have literally dictated this to happen. Yes, dictated, as in moving toward a dictatorship. This is terrifying!!! If they can do this for one thing, they can do it for more things, gradually taking bigger and bigger steps until suddenly, the people are silenced and expected to comply to all their wishes. Voting will lose it's power, and the "republic" will die.
Everything starts off small, slipping through the gaps of society's general approved acceptance, then slowly, piece by piece, oppression seeps in. Look at Hitler. No Joke. He was revered. He pulled the economies of Europe of out the gutter. He produced jobs, incomes, structured schools and hospitals. Most of the people had no idea he was committing mass homicide on the sly. He was charismatic, intelligent, and the people loved him. He said what they wanted to hear, so they followed him. While history labels him a villain, the people under his rule adored him, and followed his command to go to war because of this. These were normal people like you or me, intelligent, with families, friends, raised in rich culture and religions. They weren't mindless drones. By overruling legal votes made by states, the Supreme Court took a dangerous step down the same path and we more than let them, we celebrated it.
Just stop and ponder on that and where you truly want that to lead.
So, there you have it. We have broken marriage. I don't believe denying anyone anything is fair, but changing the rules is unfair. We are dancing on thin ice. Are we really ready to risk the fall?
Monday, July 6, 2015
Where I Stand: Persecution
I grew up in a religion where to be persecuted was second nature. I can't deny it was hard, and times it almost broke me, but at some point I asked myself Is it worth it? My answer was a resounding YES.
We live in a world full of strife. People cry out prejudice for someone looking sideways at them wrong, for turning down service for things they don't agree with, for holding a sign up in protest. Let me tell you how I learned about hate.
When I was in high school, things were pretty good for me for a while, until suddenly, I found my faith in my religion. It meant a few changes, and yes, I got pretty excited about the things I was learning and told my friends about it. They did not like that. Admittedly, the whole thing was handled poorly, but I ended up isolated and estranged. Soon, people started telling me what I apparently believed, and no matter how much I tried to say they were off or just blatantly wrong, they still kept at it and told me I was brainwashed.
Frustration set in, and I withdrew more. This only made things worse, and something happened that almost crushed me completely.
Over the last two years of school, I kept my head down and my mouth shut. But even then people tried to taunt things out of me, especially when I started to prepare to go to the U.S. as an exchange student. Apparently this was so I could become some old man's third wife. There was no point trying to explain how that was wrong because again, I was brainwashed.
As an exchange student, I learned what it feels like to be loved again, and I grew a backbone.
In my years since, I've seen far more brutal persecution of my faith. It's not directed right at me anymore, but I still taste it's bitterness. I remember two Sundays running showing up to church and our building had been viciously vandalized outside and in. The first time, my dad, who was bishop at the time, received a call at 2 or 3 in the morning telling him to get a team down to the building so it would be safe enough for our meetings. The second time, someone chased them away before they could get inside, so by the third Sunday, a paid security service was patrolling to avoid it happening again.
We didn't know who they were. We didn't go out protesting, or marching as a church group. In fact, we did community service on a regular basis. We believe the best way to share our message is through service and positive relations in the community.
Our church also holds semi-annual worldwide conferences. People flock in the thousands to our headquarters to listen to our church leaders. And once they get there, they have to make their way through protesters lining the entrances. Every. Six. Months. Without fail we are taunted and scorned for our religion. Families with children who are simply going to a church meeting are met with hate. I don't think there's ever been a physical altercation. I believe church members have been hit, and our leaders have to travel underground for their safety, but in general, people pass by ignoring them or missionaries stand nearby singing hymns.
We don't teach hate, But we learn it because people throw it at us. But it's okay because we are Christians. We are the dreaded Mormons.
I wonder why it's okay to treat us like that, but other groups can get people arrested for doing things just like it. Is it because it's ingrained into our history? I mean, Missouri barely lifted it's shoot Mormon's on sight law about twenty years ago. People were slaughtered and run out of their homes to the point where they were forced to exodus across a continent. Even then the military dropped by.
Now, people still tell me what I believe and who I supposedly hate. I just don't get it. I think I'm pretty nice to everyone, but I guess not.
Now, I'm seeing this spread to Christians in general. Yes, there are extremist Christians who do hate (Trust me, those groups that protest at our events are mostly Christian groups) but there are extremist everythings. Those few don't speak for the majority. Every other sub-community and minority gets that benefit of the doubt, so why can't we?
We live in a world full of strife. People cry out prejudice for someone looking sideways at them wrong, for turning down service for things they don't agree with, for holding a sign up in protest. Let me tell you how I learned about hate.
When I was in high school, things were pretty good for me for a while, until suddenly, I found my faith in my religion. It meant a few changes, and yes, I got pretty excited about the things I was learning and told my friends about it. They did not like that. Admittedly, the whole thing was handled poorly, but I ended up isolated and estranged. Soon, people started telling me what I apparently believed, and no matter how much I tried to say they were off or just blatantly wrong, they still kept at it and told me I was brainwashed.
Frustration set in, and I withdrew more. This only made things worse, and something happened that almost crushed me completely.
Over the last two years of school, I kept my head down and my mouth shut. But even then people tried to taunt things out of me, especially when I started to prepare to go to the U.S. as an exchange student. Apparently this was so I could become some old man's third wife. There was no point trying to explain how that was wrong because again, I was brainwashed.
As an exchange student, I learned what it feels like to be loved again, and I grew a backbone.
In my years since, I've seen far more brutal persecution of my faith. It's not directed right at me anymore, but I still taste it's bitterness. I remember two Sundays running showing up to church and our building had been viciously vandalized outside and in. The first time, my dad, who was bishop at the time, received a call at 2 or 3 in the morning telling him to get a team down to the building so it would be safe enough for our meetings. The second time, someone chased them away before they could get inside, so by the third Sunday, a paid security service was patrolling to avoid it happening again.
We didn't know who they were. We didn't go out protesting, or marching as a church group. In fact, we did community service on a regular basis. We believe the best way to share our message is through service and positive relations in the community.
Our church also holds semi-annual worldwide conferences. People flock in the thousands to our headquarters to listen to our church leaders. And once they get there, they have to make their way through protesters lining the entrances. Every. Six. Months. Without fail we are taunted and scorned for our religion. Families with children who are simply going to a church meeting are met with hate. I don't think there's ever been a physical altercation. I believe church members have been hit, and our leaders have to travel underground for their safety, but in general, people pass by ignoring them or missionaries stand nearby singing hymns.
We don't teach hate, But we learn it because people throw it at us. But it's okay because we are Christians. We are the dreaded Mormons.
I wonder why it's okay to treat us like that, but other groups can get people arrested for doing things just like it. Is it because it's ingrained into our history? I mean, Missouri barely lifted it's shoot Mormon's on sight law about twenty years ago. People were slaughtered and run out of their homes to the point where they were forced to exodus across a continent. Even then the military dropped by.
Now, people still tell me what I believe and who I supposedly hate. I just don't get it. I think I'm pretty nice to everyone, but I guess not.
Now, I'm seeing this spread to Christians in general. Yes, there are extremist Christians who do hate (Trust me, those groups that protest at our events are mostly Christian groups) but there are extremist everythings. Those few don't speak for the majority. Every other sub-community and minority gets that benefit of the doubt, so why can't we?
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