Return to Doc's Way Cool Classes! Abortion: Rights vs. Right by Chandra Peterson
Young, Married and No Children: Are We Abnormal? by Iris Cunningham-Ross
Being a Christian by Sandra Jeter
I Will Get Things Done for America! by Aisha Hazuri
Drowning in Debt by Tina Wilson
Hodgkins Disease Support Needed!!! by David Rowe
Living Happily Ever After by Monique Anderson
A Short-Term Solution by Tanya Bland
Becoming a Nurse by Judy Collins
My Modern-Day Heroine by Joe Kingston
Succumbing to Peer Pressure by John Osgood
Family Life Under a Parent on Drugs by Da'Net Young
African-Americans and the Work Ethic by Franklin Huff
Advertising and Me by Sharon Mahone
Top 5 Greatest Players of All Time by Jason Rogers
In this age of being politically correct, it's hard to take a stand on important issues without being labeled. As an example, look at the issue of abortion. If you are in favor of abortion rights you are said to be on the liberal left and if you're against abortion you are said to be on the conservative right. So how do I share my views on the subject without being on either side? How do I remain neutral while taking a stand?
I suspect there is no neutral ground and everyone at some point has to take a position on the subject. Abortion makes no more sense to me than a farmer plowing up acres of an unripe, badly needed crop because he won't have time to cultivate it or harvest it. I feel that a decision of this magnitude made in haste can lead to a lifetime of misery and irreversible pain.
I was a young, inexperienced girl when I became pregnant with my son. I was offered help by a few well intentioned teachers to seek an abortion. There are a number of reasons why it would have been better not to have this baby. I was a straight A student, always in the top 2% of my class and well on my way to whatever college I set my sights on. I was a young teenager living in a single parent home with five other siblings. We were poor and already living in the projects. The list could go on and on. But abortion was not even close to an option then and it still would not be an option today.
People have not yet learned that sometimes we must live with the consequences of our actions. We live in a throw away society and very few people want to recycle anything including life. No matter how old you are or how young you are you do not have the right to take away a life that you are not able to give back no matter how old or how young the victim is.
This country was built on the idea that all of us are to have certain unalienable rights. That is, every human being is entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It doesn't take a political scientist to see that this is not the case today. People today have a general disregard for the life and rights of others. We are bombarded with news reports of senseless killings of newborns and small children. We cringe at pictures of little ones who died at the hands of mad bombers. But what of the life of unborn children? Do they have any rights under law or otherwise, are they protected by the Constitution? Obviously Congress cannot legislate morals or conscience neither can the President order people to abstain from premarital or extramarital sex. But should abortions be used as a form of birth control, a booboo fixer?
I have a niece , who at 16 years old has an 18-month-old daughter and a four-month-old daughter. She was pregnant at 13 years and 10 months old the first time and 15 years old the second time. Her attitude was a typical teenage attitude but worse. Maybe it was for good reason since her mother (my sister) was also a teenage mother who married a man who is not my niece's father. She was very obstinate, haughty and belligerent before her first child was conceived and not much more humble after she had her. This bad attitude is a large part of the reason she got pregnant with the second baby but this time she wanted to have an abortion. She was strongly discouraged from doing this by different family members with threats of never speaking to her again. She didn't have an abortion and the babies are both healthy, beautiful children. It's hard on her, very hard, but she'll eventually grow up, they'll eventually grow up and she won't have to live with the guilt that comes with taking another person's life simply because they inconvenienced hers.
The organization Ohio Right to Life published a report on the World Wide Web that states, "Immediately after an abortion, many women report a feeling of relief...which is all abortionists want you to hear. What you won't hear of is the guilt and depression that frequently follows. A national poll found that at least 56% of women experience a sense of guilt over their decision, though the pollster himself acknowledged that many women will not even admit having had an abortion. In fact, a five-year study shows that 25% of women who have had abortions sought out psychiatric care, versus just 3% of women who have not had abortions. Further, numerous studies reveal that women who have had an abortion experience a high incidence of depression, stress, low self-esteem, suicidal feelings and substance abuse. It goes without saying that we want to save babies from abortion. Let it be said we're helping save the mothers, too."
I have known many women who opted for abortion. Some of them were strangers, some work mates and some who are close relatives. There is not one that I can recall who didn't initially regret their decision to have an abortion or who after many years still doesn't regret the decision they made to have an abortion. And what if the mother and father initially feel relief after an abortion and continue to feel relieved, never experiencing a moment of regret? A person would be less than an unfeeling, unemotional animal not to feel some tinge of conscience after knowingly ending another human being's life. And where is the world headed when people are so selfish that before they put themselves out they would rather destroy an unborn child, sometimes as late as 26 or more weeks' gestation?
But is it right for the pro-lifers to discourage teenagers like my niece or the married woman pregnant with child four or five from getting an abortion when the quality of life for the children that are already here will be severely impacted? Why not just get rid of this child who will inevitably have to suffer in poverty or low-income housing projects or parents who didn't want them and were ill prepared to care for them? This still only takes into consideration the rights of the people who are responsible for this unborn child. These are considerations that must be taken into account before we lie down for those few moments of pleasure (not including victims of rape or incest).
Besides, our country is one that admires people who show courage, display strength of character and overcome insurmountable odds. Just look at the military commercials, listen to the talk shows, tune in to any news show--local or national. But many of the people who cheer on the Special Olympians, who walk for the March of Dimes and who praise the breakthroughs and research being done in healthcare (neonatal to geriatric) are the same people who would insist a young unwed mother go to the abortion clinic so as not to ruin her own life. They would argue that it really isn't a life until after it is born. Or, that an embryo is only a clot of blood and only after six or seven months of pregnancy is it too late to abort. To these people I say aren't you happy your mother didn't feel that way. Whether it is a life that is used for the good of others as Thomas Edison's was or one that brings misery to others like Theodore Bundy's did, if left to grow naturally it will be a life.
Sure, we all have certain rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are mentioned quite early in the Declaration of Independence. But with those rights come the responsibility to make sure that our life and pursuit of happiness do not infringe on another person's right to the same thing. Even if that person is still residing in the womb. In a "free" society there have to be limits on a person's rights and freedoms so as not to hurt our neighbor or fellowman. People rarely, it seems, consider adoption as an option where at least in 20 years or so if you or that child want to meet or talk and get to know each other you can.
I know that the decision I made not to have an abortion hurt a lot of people but I had to live with me. I was the one who would have had to spend those sleepless nights tossing and turning trying to erase what I'd done. I was the one who would have been robbed of my now 21 year old son, my 19 year old daughter and even my one month old granddaughter. No, it hasn't been easy. In fact, it's been very hard. But I am grateful that I didn't make a choice that would have killed not only those children but me too.
Ultimately there is one Judge of all we do. He is the giver of life and is the only one who can see into each individual heart and each and every person's circumstances. But there is a faculty in us called conscience and if we don't allow it to do what it was intended to do (that is, guide us in the right direction) what will become of the human race?
According to our friends and family, my husband and I are two of the weirdest people on this side of the Mississippi River. Apparently, we are strange to have set goals for our lives that do not include children in the near future. Everywhere we turn these days we are faced with the same question: when are going to start a family? Hello, we did not get married at a young age just to start having babies! People let's get a grip, OK?
We were married only six months ago. That is barely enough time to get used to the idea of saying "my wife" or "my husband," not to mention having to hear someone calling you "mama" or "daddy" all of the time. The mere thought of that happening right now is enough to make us scream! We cannot imagine taking responsibility for another human being for twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week for a least eighteen years. And with such an emphasis on education these days, we would probably have the little 'crumb-snatcher' in our house until he graduates from graduate school. We're looking at twenty-five years before we would regain our freedom. We do not think so!
Lack of time is another reason we do not care to have children right now. My husband and I are both college students and have full-time jobs. When would we have time to nurture an infant? And nowadays, babies need special attention. Long gone are the days when all you had to do was pretty much feed, clothe and change a baby. Now parenting includes reading to the child, taking it to play groups and many other daily events. Who has time for all of that? It appears to us that a child needs its own social calendar to stay abreast of day-to-day events.
Since when did money start growing on trees? We can not afford children right now. Do people stop to think just how much those little bundles of joy actually cost? Parents have to pay for the obstetrician visits, delivery charges, baby beds, changing tables, clothes, diapers, formula and a babysitter - and most of these charges are ongoing. We DO NOT have that kind of money. We need money for other things right now, like law school or graduate school, not for preschool!
Okay, so why did we get married in the first place at such a young age? Can you say L-O-V-E ? Yes, I know it's hard to believe but that is the reason we got married. Kind of old fashioned, don't you think? We felt that it was time to tie the knot, for richer or poorer, till death do us part. Our "trial run" lasted for more than a year before we realized that we needed a stronger commitment than just living together. And believe us, marriage is the one of strongest, most sacred commitments that two people can make. Right, now we want to concentrate on us, making our marriage work before we bring children into this world.
Besides, it seems to us that people these days are not really preparing themselves to become responsible parents. For us, we only want to bring a child into this world if she has a solid foundation on which to grow. The definition of a solid foundation is a strong marriage and a stable lifestyle. And this is why we are concentrating on us right now, by trying to make our marriage stronger and getting a higher education. In that respect, I guess we are abnormal for taking the time to think this parenthood thing through!
How does one define Christianity? I would define Christianity as having a personal relationship with God. There are many people in today's society who view Christianity as a lifestyle that is so hard to live. Some people let the title "Christianity" scare them to the point that they do not want any part of the word. Therefore, I would like to give my insight on what I think Christianity is all about.
My view of Christianity is certainly not going to be what you may imagine or think it should be, so please when reading this essay do not take it personally. It is only my opinion of what I believe and think a Christian should be. A Christian from my point of view is a person who is serious about the teaching of the Lord. This person has made a confession to the world that he or she is committed to the teaching of the Lord and wants to do all things according to God's scriptures.
There are many people who talk Christianity. Some people believe that if they attend church every Sunday this makes them a Christian. This could be correct to some degree. A Christian is a person who attends church; this individual not only attends church, but his or her behavior and lifestyle lines up with God's scriptures. For example, I consider my pastor, Wayne C. Thompson, to be a Christian, because his life style lines up with God's word. Every time I see him his personality is just marvelous. He is loving, caring, and giving. If someone needs counseling he is available, and I have never known him to turn anyone away; he makes himself available to his congregation. He preachers strictly and directly from the scriptures. I have never seen him do anything contrary to God's word. He is very encouraging and understanding. Also, I have never known him to say anything bad about anyone. He always tells us not to judge. If I had to describe pastor Wayne, I would describe him as possessing the following characteristics: loyalty, faithfulness, and trustworthiness.
My point of view of a Christian is a person who possesses the following characteristics: love, joy, peace, meekness, goodness, faith and temperance. (Gal. 5:22) If these fruits of the spirits are not being manifested within you, you need to examine your Christianity. The word of God says, "Ye shall know them by their fruits." (Matt. 7:16) I work with DeKalb County, Revenue Treasury & Accountant Department. In my department we assist customers with their water bills. One day, I over heard one of the customer representatives talking with a customer. This individual was very rude and inconsiderate to the customer. She was not loving and understanding at all. Her tone of voice and attitude toward the customer were not those of a Christian, but this individual says that she is a Christian. I would have to question her Christianity. Also, I have a friend who says that he is a Christian. This person used profanity one day and I looked at him. I had to tell him that the language he used did not reflect discipleship of Christ. The word of God says, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth."
Christianity is having an intimate relationship with God. This person prays and reads God's word. When this person reads God's word, he or she is committed to doing his word. The Bible says that we should be doers of the word and not just speaking the word. A Christian is a loving, understanding, and forgiving person. He or she is not considered to be a perfect individual. If any have sinned he or she just need to ask for forgiveness. God would like for each individual to repent of any sin that he or she may have committed. God will forgive, but people must go to him in prayer. God said that if you sin, repent and he is faithful and just to forgive you of all your sins. God said, " If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." ( 1 John 1:9)
If one wants a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ he or she needs to confess his or her sins and be willing to obey the scriptures. This individual needs to seek a home church that is preaching the gospel from Genesis to Revelation. He or she needs to seek Godly counseling if he or she is struggling with his or her walk in the Lord. Being a Christian is one's choice God said that it is his desire and delight that we all be saved, but it is each and every individual's choice. He or she must be willing to do God's word. God said that we can do all things through Jesus Christ. God is waiting with open hands to receive all those that are willing to come into his kingdom.
Volunteering is a very self satisfying act and everyone should and could benefit from it. It is a regular part of my life. The act of volunteering helps me to accomplish my goal which is to improve society. Also, I like to have an impact on the people I serve, make them feel secure and let them know that no matter what their struggles, some one still cares.
Nothing can describe the sense of accomplishment and self satisfaction that comes with helping another human being. There are two instances that I can recall that I will always remember. The first is when a group of volunteers and I went to a elderly lady's house. We did a lot of little things around the house that were difficult for her in her older and frailer state. We painted the kitchen and helped clean out a junk room. Mrs. Jones did all she could and of course was very grateful. She even sent us a box of brownies the next week. The saddest was Chris, an AIDS patient. A group of volunteers went and cleaned his house and washed his dog. Chris was such a lovely person. He really appreciated what we did for him. As the day moved on he told us many stories of beautiful lands he had visited in his short career as a flight attendant. He also educated the group on a lot of the issues surrounding the AIDS virus. Chris died two weeks later! I will remember that day and Chris for the rest of my life.
My most important goal in all of this is to change the way we think of others. Anyone can falter in life, and it is up to the strong to support and protect the ones that fall "through the cracks". Sometimes people just don't get the right start and end up behind. It's up to us as individuals to help our fellow man. Think of it like this: if your mother, father, sister or brother needed help that you couldn't provide, wouldn't you be happy if someone lent a hand and in a sense helped fix the problem? The most vulnerable in all of this are the children. It is so important to nurture children and give them every opportunity to achieve all that they can. It's great to work with children and just see their horizons expand. With knowledge and power the sky is the limit. Unfortunately if no one helps them with homework or gets involved with their learning it sends the message that these things are not important. Then a child learns through the media or other kids what is "superficially important". His goals become someone else's dream. It is everyone's responsibility to help "our children" even if that means sacrificing a couple of Saturday mornings.
It is known that the best way of learning is by doing. I have inspired people to volunteer and help others just because I was doing it. The other day one of the fourth graders at school brought a note for our entire team. Basically she wrote that she appreciated all the work we did and when she's old enough she would volunteer at the school too. Another example was the day of service during the King holiday. We did work around the schools like painting and gardening. The event got lots of media coverage about the day of service and Americorps. That night the Hands On Atlanta office got a call from a prison. It was one of the actual prisoners. This man was so impressed with all the work we were doing for his old neighborhood that he promised that when he got out he would devote his life to helping others.
When it comes to volunteering , people have many excuses: I don't have time, I don't know what I could do, and I don't know where to go. These are a few common ones I've personally heard. Well if you don't have time, make it! Give up one of those late Friday nights and get up Saturday and help someone. Do something even if it's just raking the yard for the elderly couple two doors houses down the street. Go to a school near your job and volunteer during your lunch break. If you would like a listing of all the upcoming events or would like someone to get in touch with you, join Hands on Atlanta. HOA has got the biggest volunteer pool in Atlanta. With Hands on Atlanta you do anything from planting a community garden to building a playground, and you choose. There are over 10,000 volunteers in this organization. These people want to make a change to so I'm not alone in my views of volunteering for the better of society. Community service is definitely the wave of the future. People who care enough to take the time will change things, we have to if we want a future. "I will get things done for America"!
Are you avoiding answering your telephone? Dreading going to the mailbox? In fear that the bill collectors may be watching your house? Well, you should be afraid. They have many ways of getting to you, harassing you, and tormenting you to no end. And for what? It's not like money grows on trees, yet you've spent it like it comes out of the faucet. So who's to blame?
Let's blame your parents for buying you everything you've ever wanted or things they never had growing up. Possibly, it was your godmother or your favorite aunt for spoiling you just because they could? Can we blame the credit card companies? You know, MasterCard and Visa? Or should we blame the banks that offered you a chance to rebuild your credit when you couldn't even rub two nickels together? They reviewed your credit history , they knew the facts, yet they sent you this "Pre-Approved" Visa/MasterCard application, and you know, once you saw that little approval sticker you were indeed hooked! So what's a smart, I've learned my lesson, oh, not again kind of person supposed to do? Rip up the application? No, don't starting filling it out. I know you just want to see if they are serious. No, don't sign your name. Didn't your subconscious warn you half way through the application that you were once again heading down Debt Street at 65 miles per hour. No, don't close that envelope. I hope you don't have a stamp. Aghhhh, a prepaid envelope. They know all the tricks. Well now you've done it again, so 4 to 6 weeks have passed and still no answer. Whew, that was a close one. Uh-oh, what's this, oh no, it can't be! Upp, it's the credit card. Why are you smiling? Do you know what this means? No, it does not mean SHOPPING! This is just one of the many scenarios that can lead to an accumulation of unwanted debt.
At this point you must surely realize that there is no one to blame but you! This particular scenario is my number one reason for the debt that I have accumulated. On my travel to Debt Street I used credit cards left and right with no immediate regard as to when and how it would be paid off. At various times I would even lend out my credit cards, not very smart. Members of my family and friends whom I knew way in advance were, let's say, "deadbeats" would use my credit card. Sometimes they would ask and other times I would offer them the use of my credit cards; this was bad judgment on my part. At one point, being the sweetest, most generous sister that I am I agreed to charge a television set for both of my brothers who had moved out of the house. Now why when both of the television sets were stolen did my brothers think that they didn't have to pay for the televisions. Would Sears actually write it off because it was not their fault or mine? I think not!
I've learned many lessons through my experience with credit cards from Sears to Fashion Bug and I've learned my lesson in one regard, yet I continue to fall in others. Basically I've begun to keep my credit cards to myself and this itself has proven to be a problem. I enjoy, no I love shopping and I use it at every whim, to lift my spirits, to celebrate, or just because I can.
Now that I have relayed my journey to Debt Street, let me tell you how I u-turned towards Good Credit Trail. Preparation was the key to my success I knew that I didn't want to continually have creditors calling my house, not being able to use my credit cards, and budgeting a large portion of my paycheck for creditors. So in making this decision I began to plan my course of action . I contacted all of my creditors, found out the actual balance owed to date, how past due the account was, the special programs available for this situation and then I informed them of my current financial situation as it appeared to me and instigated a plan that would work toward a win-win resolution.
The majority of my creditors told me to make a payment no matter what the amount. I agree wholeheartedly with this suggestion; however, at time it was rough. Working for a temporary service it is hard to determine if you'll make forty-hours for the week, or if you'll work just one day out of the week, but luckily for me I've run into some very understanding collection representatives. This is another thing that you must be aware of : the field of debt collection is a vast market and many are operated like a calling center where you may have several people contacting you from one creditor. You should keep in contact with the one collector who you feel comfortable with and be adamant in speaking only with that person. Debt collectors are trained individuals. I believe they are given a list of the most effective tactics to bring about a positive result of payment Now remember, it is their job to collect on your debt so their tactics may not be very endearing to you, but they are in fact just doing their job. I've also learned to be assertive in talking with my creditors. I would advise that you refrain from using profanity which will be recorded as derogatory remarks. Take it from me: "damn" can get you a bad reputation. Following through on your commitments is the key to a good relationship with your creditors.
Now that you know one of the scenarios that can lead us into debt, let's focus on getting out of debt and having more control of our money. There are many way that a person can avoid being trapped into more debt. The following is a brief listing of tips generally recommended by credit counselors, some of which I have used in my quest:
If you do not believe that you can accomplish the task of getting debt free or under debt control by yourself, you may need to seek professional assistance. There are many credit counseling centers around today and more to come, but you must be wary because being in debt maybe an unideal situation to you, but it may very well be a gold mine to a con artist. To avoid more debt and being taken advantage of inform yourself of your options and do not attempt a "get good credit quick scheme." Generally they are a hoax.
Today, I can happily say that I am only ONE step away from being free of way past due bills. Once you have established your plan of action, whether it be self-help or professional, and narrowed down the list of creditors you must always realize that a slip in the program doesn't constitute failure. Following guidelines, making a strong decision to avoid future problems, and realizing that you are only human will assist you in accomplishing your goal of not "Drowning in Debt."
Subject: Re: Hodgkins Disease Support Needed!!!! PLEASE HELP!!!!!!
From: rowed@amcmail.atlm.peachnet.edu
Date: 1997/02/19
Message-Id: <856403220.9995@dejanews.com>
References: <01bc1def$87fb16a0$f4692399@Pdare>
To: scott_esh@msn.com
X-Http-User-Agent: Mozilla/3.01Gold (Win95; U)
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Organization: Deja News Usenet Posting Service
X-Article-Creation-Date: Thu Feb 20 01:47:00 1997 GMT
X-Authenticated-Sender: rowed@amcmail.atlm.peachnet.edu
Newsgroups: sci.med.diseases.cancer
In article <01bc1def$87fb16a0$f4692399@Pdare>,
"Scott" <scott_esh@msn.com> wrote:
> My best and closest friend has been diagnosed with Hodgkins Disease,
> is there anyone out there that had this and survived? He is totally torn
> apart by this and is having a hard time dealing with this. Can anyone
> please send helpfull tips and survival testimonies to me so I can show him
> that he will be ok?
In September 1990 I was diagnosed with Hodgkins. It was, at the time,
the most traumatic news I had ever heard. I went through 6 operations 25
sessions of treatments, and examinations by at least 12 doctors. If that
was not bad enough, my mother passed away unexpectedly. That was just
enough to send me over the edge. I was able to keep my head on for one
reason. It was some advice that my doctor gave me. He told me that the
circumstances that I was going through were very difficult, but that if I
did not have a positive attitude then the treatments would be less
effective. I want to extend the same advice to you so that you can give
it to your friend. Always keep a positive attitude, it is one of the
best forms of treatment. Goof luck to you and your friend, and if there
is anything that I can do, e-mail me. I am always available to help.
davidr
-------------------==== Posted via Deja News ====-----------------------
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Post to Usenet
When I was a little girl , I always dreamed of marrying a handsome prince that would save and protect me. I would also dream of the type of wedding my prince and I would have a church filled with lots of guests, flowers, and wedding gifts. My prince and I would begin to live a life filled with love and joy.
The morning sun robbed me of my happiness and made me realize that I had just been dreaming. Although many newly married couples desire living happily ever after, this only comes from hard work. For instance, my boyfriend and I recently got married. Even though we lived together and knew each other before marriage, we soon found that making each other happy was only going to happen if we each put forth an effort. There is not an instruction booklet that comes with a marriage license, so it has to be done with communication.
An ideal marriage situation occurs when individuals have been together for ten or more years and are just as happy as the first day they were married. My mother in-law and father in-law have been married for twenty two years. This is a situation in which they respect each other's decisions and talk about issues, especially when something is not right. Although I know that everyday has not been a bed of roses, they have remained together in their seemingly happy marriage.
However, longevity does not constitute happiness. My cousin and her husband have been married for twelve years and still cannot stand each other, even though they remain together. I think that in order to succeed in marriage, each person should separate their childhood emotions from their families and concentrate on issues that are crucial to their own lives. For example, it would be difficult to have a healthy marriage if one's in-laws were always interfering. My friend and her husband argue a lot because every time there is a problem she is on the phone calling her mother. This makes it difficult for them to work out their own problems.
Communication is the most important key. If we don't express our feelings, whether they are good or bad, things will never get resolved. Discussing issues out in the open freely often relieves tension. Another task essential in maintaining a healthy relationship would probably be an environment that could be more nurturing and comforting to one another in times of turmoil. It is also essential to satisfying each other's needs for dependency, and also offer encouragement and support to each other. Many couples don't understand that having a loving relationship requires each person to fully support the other. For example, if the husband wanted to quit working to pursue a lifelong dream, the wife should be whole heartily supportive.
There are many reasons why love lasts. Each individual's relationship is built on a different foundation. It is difficult to say that if you follow certain rules then you will live happily ever after. The most important key to living happily ever after is to build a relationship on trust, respect, communication and intimacy. With these universal concepts and an open mind everyday would be like falling in love all over again.
In my opinion and from working in an OB/GYN and family practice doctor's office for three years I learned abortion is a short term solution, but there are other factors to be considered, such as the physical and psychological problems. Women are not told the truth and consequences of abortion and the 'pro choice' is often ignored.
Most physicians insist on not letting the woman know about cases of severe Post Abortion Syndrome. The staff will lie to the woman when she calls to make an appointment. The nurses are instructed by their physician to get the woman in to get the money. That is their main objective, "the money." I, on the other hand, think these methods of manipulation are sick. If anything the woman should be told about the option of adoption. So many women I have later treated wished they'd never had the abortion because it has brought them a feeling of murdering a human being.
To describe an abortion I would say after the patient is given a local pain killer, the fetus is vacuumed out. Once the fetus is out, the back of the neck is pierced with a needle; the fetus is then disposed of. The fetus at that time may be three months and fully formed. While working in the OB/GYN and family practice doctor's office, I had many questions about abortion. All of the questions were answered thoroughly by the doctor. Even though he is no longer performing the surgical procedure he does counsel those who need him.
Talking with the doctor, reading his books, seeing the diagrams of the procedures, and speaking to my friend Kim, who now works as a Medical Assistant in an abortion clinic, that's how I'm able to tell what goes on in such detail. I myself could never accept such a job offer. I believe it is morally wrong, and that it is taking a life--in my opinion, that is!
The joy of working with people has inspired me to become a nurse. Working in the medical field for the past seven years has motivated me want even more. I want to be a good nurse that would give excellent care. My compassion for helping someone really make me more determined. I have always had a caring personality that sparked my interest in becoming a nurse. I get a lot of motivation from my inner self knowing that I have helped someone . The feeling is so great that it just overwhelms me.
There is one nurse who I really could not stand but I admired. She was the best. I respected her because patient care was her first concern. She was always willing to help or just listen. She was the type of person that would come by your house and bring your medication if you didn't have a way to pick up the medication . Sometimes she would pick patients up from their home if they did not have transportation to the clinic. This is a good example that being a good nurse goes beyond being a caregiver.
You really wouldn't believe how I have been discouraged by a few nurses. I had one nurse tell me that she also felt the way I do now, once upon a time, but that actually changes once you start working in the field. Then the job is about the paycheck, not about the patient or giving quality care. Those are the ones that are burned out. I have made a decision, when I reach that stage I am going to change my profession, because nursing then becomes a job.
If I had to choose a modern day heroine I would definitely choose my mom. Despite the fact that her whole life has been a complete struggle, she has refused to give up hope. She was able to raise three boys to men with little or no help. But this is not the main reason why I would choose her. It would be because of her determination, work ethic and the love she has always shown her children.
My mother's strength and determination never cease to amaze me. Although many people, including her own mom, treated her extremely badly, she refused to allow them to stop her from achieving her goals. She was determined to raise her children the right way, even though she had little to no help. Most people would think that a woman raising three boys would have an extremely tough job. My mom made it look easy! I know she might have had it hard but she very seldom showed it. Her often callous attitude was her way of showing her strength and dominance in tempestuous times.
My mom also was a great provider. She rarely missed a day of work. She would work eight, nine and sometimes ten hours, five to six days a week. Although we knew how tired she would be it would almost never cross our minds to maybe fix our own dinners. She would shout a few epithets but nonetheless fix a hot meal. To top it off, she would work tirelessly on the weekend cleaning the house, working in the yard and preparing for the next week. Although the yard work was done mostly by me and my brothers she still had to get us to do it. And everyone knows getting teenagers to work is work in itself.
The thing my mom probably did best was love her kids! She has never given up on us. This might strike you as the typical mom but my mom is definitely different! Fighting to save us from an abusive atmosphere, the mean streets of Detroit, poverty and homelessness are just some of the things she did for us. Although my brothers and I have reached adulthood we still in many ways depend on our mother's love and strength; it is our foundation.
So whenever I think about a modern day heroine I always think of my mom. She is my joy, my heart, my happiness and the love of my life. My mom is my hero!
One morning after a school program, a few of my friends and I decided to leave school. Although I knew it was wrong, I decided to ditch school to gain, or should I say demand, more respect from my peers. On top of leaving school, I decided to have a cut party at my house for all the wrong reason. At the time, I felt it was more important to impress my friends at the cost of going against every principle I was taught at an early age.
As my friends and I proceeded to sneak out of the school a lot of thoughts crossed my mind: What are you doing? What would your mom do if she caught you cutting school? And what I thought was most important, How popular will you be if the party goes well and everybody at the school shows up? For every one moral reason that I should stay in school that crossed my mind, I could think of about 1,000 reasons why I should proceed with my plan.
It was around twelve o'clock when the party started. People I had never seen before were at my house. They were drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana, and having a good time at my expense. The party was a success and everything was going fine but the thought of my father coming home catching me doing wrong aroused a funny feeling in my stomach. If I had decided to go back to school, then I would have lost the respect of my friends and the popularity that was boosted by this festive event. Around two o'clock, the party had grown from approximately 25 people to 200 wild and out of control teenagers. At this point in time I felt like the Big Man On Campus. I felt like nothing could go wrong.
After the party was over , I did become well respected by my friends and my popularity increased, not because of the party, but because I ended up being caught by my father. It seemed kind of funny because when I heard stories about people cutting school, they never were caught, but lo and behold, I was the first.
Often I think about what drove me to defy my parents. It took years of following the rules my parents set for me to develop a certain trust and I let my peers influence me to do wrong. I feel every teen experiences this because it's like a rite of passage. This rite of passage consists of thinking for yourself or falling victim to peer pressure. By letting the opinions of my friends over rule my logical thought process, I ended up becoming a hero among my peers, but my parents came to see me as a hard-headed delinquent.
"Nay, guess what!" My sister shouts as I walk through the door. "Dad just called and told me that he has a drug problem." What am I to do? I am totally surprised that my father even had the nerve to tell my sister who is nine years old.
All of my childhood years, my father was the center of the universe. On Sundays, my mother would try to get me to go to church with her, but I would rather stay at home with my father and watch football. Daddy's little girl is what I was and thought that I would always be. Unfortunately, things didn't work as planned. Adolescent years were coming up and I started to pay more attention to my father being away from the house at all hours of the night.
Danielle was born in 1987. This was the year that everything began to change. My father was never at home. He sometimes became very violent towards my mother, but he never hit her. At the age of thirteen, my mother and I found out that my father was doing drugs. At first I didn't know how to react. Whether I should cry or be angry, I wasn't sure. Being the oldest, I had to protect my sister. I didn't want her to grow up hating my father because he had a serious problem. Over the years, my father's drug addiction got worse. It got so bad that my mother had to remove him from our home. My sister didn't understand why daddy had to leave. My mother and I just let her know that daddy could not stay with us anymore.
When you are growing up, you are told to love your parents and respect them in all that they do. As of February 5, 1997, I have no respect for my father. I have love for him, but not like I used to. This is what happens to many families when one parent is on drugs. For the children the pain builds up and turns into hate.
A home that a mother builds for her children stays broken because fathers say that they had changed their lifestyles. Naturally, mothers are going to welcome fathers home again for the sake of their children. Everyone wants to see their children grow up in a household with both parents.
Any parent that is an addict will lie, cheat, and steal their way to a quick hit. It had got to the point where I had to hide my money underneath my pillow when I went to sleep. My father has stolen numerous items from our home, such as video cameras, televisions, you name it. Anything that can be taken to the pawn shop for quick cash, is what he took. Parents --including my father-- will lie on numerous occasions to make others look like the bad guy. He has stolen money from my mother and me plenty of times. When we would ask what happened to the money, the answer would always be, "I don't know." A drug addict will never confess to any wrong doing. My father would swear up and down that he was not out all night getting high or he didn't know who broke into our home and took every prized possession that we owned.
To my father and many other addicts, their addictions are just a game. Many times the addict will commit themselves to a rehabilitation center for a good three months. But when the treatment is finished they are right back on the corner trying to get a hit. What do you say to a child when someone sees their parent out in the streets hanging with the rest of junkies? There is nothing that can be said.
I lived in misery for a long time because my father was my world. You never want to hear anything bad about your parents, but drug addiction is the ultimate. That parent cannot reverse time and erase all the pain and hurt. I'm twenty years old now and I feel like I have been to hell and back from all the grief and misery that my father has caused. I tried to forgive and forget, but when you break down and try to understand, they creep back and mess up all over again. I don't carry a grudge towards my father, but I will never understand why he had to ruin our family in the manner that he did.
Any family who is in this situation now, please correct it as soon as possible. I know a child is supposed to grow up with both parents in the house, but when one is one drugs, it is not healthy for that child to see the pain and suffering. Try to keep the children away from that individual until you are 125% sure that they are no longer drug addicts. Your heart is going to feel like it is in a million pieces, but remember you have to stay strong for yourself and your children.
Most African-American men that I know that have gotten involved with selling/distribution of drugs do so because they want to be able to capitalize on the potential money making experience that they would probably never get a chance to achieve without years and years of hard work. Now after that statement some people would say that we as a people lack just that, respect for hard work.
However, when a person has seen their parents (for most of us a single mother) go to work everyday and work very hard, having no social life and still not having enough money to pay the bills, that can leave a lasting and profound impression on a young mind. You see, a person will work very hard on something that they can see direct results from versus what they can't see. People do this not because they lack patience but they don't feel as if it's reality. They have never seen or experienced it but only perhaps heard about it through someone who might have made it out of the ghetto. Firsthand testimony is great but it only happens to a very small percent of us.
A person once said that if a people are left in destitute situations that it will breed a destitute culture. This is so sad but so true. For example a friend of mine had what I though to be a very promising future in the entertainment industry and probably still does. But just living in an area where people often sold drugs for a living along with the fact that his mother used drugs made it just that much easier for him to get involved in the drug culture. Not that it was the "in" thing to do, but it was a viable means for him to make money and support his family. Also it was a way that he could possibly finance his dream of making music.
There is a myth that exist in the inner city that says that in order for a person to survive in this society, the individual has to have a hustle or game, a means of getting money, via disillusionment, robbery, extortion, prostitution, gambling, and coercion. For instance, a young lady who might compromise her morals to dance at a strip club, for the opportunity to attain fast easy money outweighs her moral standards. The young lady does this not because she is a bad person, but because of her reality: she knows that at the end of the month the bill collector doesn't care how you pay the bills, just as long as they are paid and in a timely fashion. These things are taught and seem to replace respect for a hard work ethic, because you see the results of what you did instantaneously. Many times it is not a well thought out plan and that person is not educated or well equipped deal with the ramifications of their actions.
This is a small example of why we need parents to be positive role models to their children and not a person outside of the family, because the most influential person in a child's life is a person they see the most of. If parents give positive examples of the peace of mind and respect for one's self that are the only sure rewards of hard work, then the child will have respect for a hard work ethic. We should lead our children by examples of our own lifestyles and not try to sell them an unrealistic idealistic approach, because we will always be faced with the question of why? Unfortunately we have a whole generation of young African-Americans who are still asking that question with no answer in sight.
Advertising has influenced and is continuing to influence my life. Through the newspapers, the television, the magazines and the billboards, advertising has helped me to keep up with changes in today's technology, informed me of ways to save money on purchases I make, and made me more aware of the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
Advertising had positively influenced my life. Advertising made me aware of what was available in technology. For instance, when I decided to purchase a cellular phone from a well-known company, I had an ad from a magazine that was advertising cellular phones at a discounted price with an Olympic plan. I contacted the vendor who, in turn, explained to me what was the best phone to purchase for my money. Not only was I able to purchase the phone through the ad, I received an Olympic plan that offered free air time on the weekend. After the plan expired, I received a low rate on air time, which was great. Advertising enabled me to save money and time in searching for the best cellular phone for my money.
It was through advertising in the Atlanta Journal/Constitution that I became aware of "America On-Line," which is an on-line computer service that gives you access to the Internet. Furthermore, advertising had made it easier for me to shop for the best computer for the best value. The "Personal Technology" section of the Atlanta Journal/Constitution offered an array of information on computers new or used. This section also offered a variety of interesting Web sites that are colorful, well organized, and abundant in information. Through advertising in the newspaper, I am informed on what's is available to purchase, activities to participate in and places to visit in my community.
Advertising had also helped to restructure my life. My daily routine consisted of going to work, coming home and sitting on a sofa in front of the television with a remote control in my hand. One day as I was watching television, an advertisement was shown on treadmills and how they can change your life, but most of all, how they can strengthen your cardiovascular system which is most important. So, I decided to purchase a treadmill and guess what? It works. Not only did the treadmill strengthen my cardiovascular system, but it also helped to tone my muscles which, in turn, improved my self-esteem.
You can find advertisements on ways to develop a healthy lifestyle which is through eating nutritious foods, eating property, and taking vitamins. For instance, there was an ad on milk that portrayed milk as the wonder drink that made you strong and beautiful. When I was younger, I did not care for milk and I did not drink it. Later, when I saw an ad on milk and its health benefits, I tried it again and guess what? I liked it. I'm not sure about that part that made you beautiful, but I'm hoping for the part that made you stronger.
As you can see, advertising has influenced my life in a positive way. It is the link to what's happening in today's technology, in health ,and in the world and we all depend on advertising in one form or another.
When I was young there were a lot of great basketball players like Dr. J, Magic, Bird and Jordan. Nowadays we have players like Iverson , Hill, Stackhouse and Penny, the future players of the 90's. To be part of the top 5 greatest players of all time, you have to at least have two or more rings. The five that I would choose are all-around players. All around players can pass take the ball to the hole or shoot the three. A good sportsmanlike attitude makes a great player too. None of the great players that I chose has ever had a fine or been kicked out of a game.
My first choice is Pistol Pete. Pistol Pete won two rings and led his team in scoring and passing. He was also part of the top 50 greatest players to ever play in the NBA(R.I.P). My second choice is Wilt Chamberlain. He led the NBA in scoring. He scored 100 points in one game! There hasn't been a player to beat this record yet . He also led in scoring the most points in a half, until the 97' all-star game . He was also part of the 50 greatest players of the NBA. Third would be Kareem, King of the hook shot. He led his team to 3 championships and was one of the best centers of the NBA. He was part of the 50 greatest players too. Next would be Magic. Magic was my favorite. He led his the NBA in assists , steals, and championships . Magic won 5 rings and 3 MVP's and was part of the 50 greatest players of the NBA. Last but least is Air Jordan: 4 rings , leading scorer, averaged 30 points a game, MVP for 4 years and part of the 50 greatest players. It doesn't get no better than dat.
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