I feel bad for already taking down the 'Happy Birthday Chris' to put up my own entry when Chris's birthday isn't even over. However, this is probably the only 40 minutes I will have to write!
School is aweful. I wish I could post a much happier entry, but I'm way too bummed for that. Both classes I have really stink and it's been pretty hard to have an enjoyable summer. I can't believe first semester I entertained the idea of continuing for a PhD. Ha! Perhaps I am not used to being so busy during the summer, or being so stressed. Summer classes are the devil.
Other than that, things are okay. I am getting more used to not having Seth around. It's probably for the best because I can focus more on homework. I had class today from 9:00-5:00 and I am at work now from 6:00-9:00. After this, I will be going with some friends to see the latest and very controversial Michael Moore documentary. Some people say they do not want to bother with the 'politics' of it, and I agree. I guess what I can say is that I am on this new 'kick' that I spoke with Alyssa about earlier. This 'kick' started with clients at work. Now that I am seeing my own clients and getting to know about other backgrounds, I am realizing that I better get any idea of being judgmental of people I don't know out of my head really fast! The people I am seeing and the stories that I am hearing often make the word "disturbing" look good. So, I guess my goal is to work hard at not being ignorant to different views and different people. Also, not to neccessarily take one side of any story, but to be able to know both sides so as to better understand where people come from and just support their belief and not think they are wrong for it. This probably sounds strange, but like I have said, I realized very quick that I need to learn how to not judge anyone if I am going to make it in my career. I don't even know if that makes sense. So, long story short, one of the reasons I am seeing this movie is to further expand my horizons. Sorry I went on so long!
Anyhow, tomorrow I will leave for Chicago. I am VERY excited to get away from the stress at school and have the opportunity to visit with ALL of my nieces!!!
It's a tough balance. It's one of the most easily misunderstood teachings of Christianity. On one hand some will tell you that Jesus said "Judge not, lest you be judged" and then stop there. He then went on to a long discourse about correcting "your brother" in progressive stages of escalation. While we are not to be judgemental, stereotyping, and condemning, we should still know that there is truth, a way God wants us to live, virtue, etc. Compassion for others does not mean pretending that sin does not exist or matter. Jesus' very life was full of compassion and pastoral correction. After he defended the woman caught in adultery, he forgave her, but then directed her to "sin no more".
Michael's movie will be eye opening in that it gives you a view of what the moderate to far left of center see in George Bush. So many theories and a few conspiracies and innuendoes to go with it. But it would help if you could see it after having seen his previous flamebait movies since he is a master at deceptive video. Since you are a psych major, perhaps you'd be interested in reading the techniques he uses in the movie. Check out:
The Left’s Masterwork: Michael Moore’s 9/11 - by James Robbins
http://nationalreview.com/robbins/robbins200406290935.asp
Regarding grad school burnout, have you checked out the archives at:
http://www.phdcomics.com/
yet? I recall being very burned out when I attended grad school classes during the summer. When the weather sucks, going to school doesn't seem too bad. But in the summer... That's another story! Hang in there!
Hi Suzy,
How did the movie go? Did you come away feeling like Bush has betrayed America or thinking Michael Moore lives to create scandal? I read this tidbit this evening and couldn't help but quote a bit:
[quote]
In Moore's alternative universe, President Bush went to war not to fight terrorism, but for oil riches. He went to war not to defend America's honor and security, but to enrich defense contractors and keep the poor people in the ghetto (or exploit them as cannon fodder). He went to war not to defeat Osama bin Laden, but as a monstrously cynical wink-wink deal between the Bush family and the bin Laden family.
How inaccurate is it? Entire corporate dairy farms don't have this much manure. Moore critics could write a book the size of a dictionary chronicling the second-by-second lying and fact-mangling in this movie...
[end quote]
The whole article is at:
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/brentbozell/printbb20040702.shtml
Posted by: Scott at July 3, 2004 09:15 PM