Adorable!

Read this story of an LDS Comedian, Jenna Kim Jones, who has a "clean show" - some critics called her "adorable" in a condescending manner because - get this - her show isn't "raw enough".  Actually that's a big plus in my book.

I once went to a comedy club with friends.  The organizer of the activity inquired about the content before we bought the tickets.  She was assured by the box office staff that it was not raunchy and would be acceptable to Mormon audiences.  I think this was their dea of a sick joke.  The show was beyond disgusting, and I'm not a prude.  Not leaving in the middle out of fear of offending my friends is one of the more regrettable moments in my life.  There are images indelibly etched in my brain from that.  Fortunately after many years I have been able to forget the details, but the sick feeling I had will never leave me. 

I have learned from this experience but sometimes my friends on Facebook get a little bit obscene - or someone shares with me some crude jokes they get on theirs.  It makes me wonder if those people who post this really don't understand that current and potential future employers often check this resource to discover information about the person - and use it against them.  Short-sightedness for sure.

Anyway, bravo for Jenna and others who work to make our world a better place even in the little things. 

Be the parent!

CNN Opinion  - Don't dress your girls like tramps.  Parents need to take charge and be good role models. 

The only sure thing is change

Looks like more changes, more stress - this time relating to my job.  Can't reveal what's up yet, but it's been a year to remember for sure!  Hopefully something good is coming and I'm being prepped for it...

I received another huge compliment when a friend called me "a woman of substance."  Is it coincidental that it's also the title of one of my favorite (fiction) books?  There are a lot of things I am not but I really appreciate not being seen as shallow even if that means I'm not so popular.  When other things - academic achievement, artistic talent, position, beauty, possessions, etc. are prized, we sometimes lose sight of traits like this and don't appreciate what it means to get this kind of compliment.  I can't stand shallow.  It is important to me to be true to my values, to have a brain, an opinion and, well, substance...  maybe right up there with kind, nice, smart.  I'll take it - thanks!

BYU honor code

In case anyone wonders if BYU considers ethics, values and honor codes higher than winning at sports, this should clinch it.  After recently attaining a national ranking of 3rd in NCAA college basketball and very possibly ending up as # 1 (considering their successful season), they have removed talented player, Brandon Davies who shines at "scoring in the low post" (I kind of know what that means...) because he violated the honor code (DesNews).  It doesn't matter what he did - if it violates the code and they are made aware, swift action follows.  At BYU these things are taken seriously, in direct contrast to what was exposed in the Sports Illustrated article addressing the fact that even criminal records are overlooked in awarding sports scholarships, it seems like quite a contrast.  If they can play ball, it seems nothing else matters.  Not at BYU.  Even winning the title...even in the eleventh hour, swift consequences can take a star right out of basketball heaven.  When they insist you commit to their honor code, they mean what they say.  BYU is not a "right to play" or even "right to attend" school - one of the beauties of a private, faith-based college. 

The honor code is in many respects similar to temple recommend questions.  A quick summary:

Be honest
Live a chaste and virtuous life
Obey the law and all campus policies
Use clean language
Respect others
Abstain from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee, and substance abuse
Participate regularly in church services
Observe the Dress and Grooming Standards
Encourage others in their commitment to comply with the Honor Code

Read this story about someone who's been there and his experience looking back. 

I have no doubt there have been violators in the past who were never discovered, but I applaud BYU for maintaining standards.  As a result the school is consistently the most "sober" and has a good track record for ethical behavior and academic excellence.  They aren't perfect because people aren't perfect, but they do have a clear line of demarcation and students agree to this when they come.  Perfection is actually defined as whole and complete.  In their goal to prepare people for success in all areas of life (spirituality included) they do meet that standard in my opinion. Some students have found the code to be restrictive and enforcement of the letter of the law can sometimes result in problems.  My son grows a heavy beard and during the school day when he attended BYU, he was accused of not being clean shaven by late afternoon.  Unless he took an afternoon shaving break, it could be perceived (and was on one occasion) to be a violation of grooming standards.  This was a bit of a nit-picking by the honor code office staff and he had to answer on this.  Needless to say it left a bad taste in his mouth.  He got his degree, which was his goal, but he felt it was a bit extreme.

Even so, it is important to me that BYU enforces the honor code - realistically (and ideally with common sense, though the human enforcers may be lacking that trait at times) and without pressure by the sports department to bend the rules to win a title, or even a game.  They are teaching a way of life at BYU; not just making super stars and winning trophies which moth and dust doth corrupt (Matthew 6:19 KJV).  Admittedly, I'm not a real sports fan, but I do value ethical behavior by all people.  It's tough to get into BYU and if a student doesn't want that kind of education, they shouldn't take up the space.

This news item is getting national attention.  Read more here. 
...just saying....

Prevent feeling offended...

Feeling offended:  Yes, I think it is preventable.  Read here for ideas. Of course it's nice for others to think outside themselves as well and at least try not to offend but, let's face it - you usually get what you are looking for and if you look to BE offended, you won't have any trouble finding it.  Here is an excerpt from the article in Mormon Times.

The Savior’s example teaches:

I believe one of the greatest lessons Jesus Christ taught us was how to handle mistreatment. No one was more mistreated than he was, and he showed us exactly how to handle offenses with compassion, love and wisdom.
He was accused of crimes he didn’t commit, and when his accusers were bearing false testimony against him, he didn’t defend himself. He knew it wouldn’t do any good because it wasn’t about him. He was there because of their fear.
He didn’t take the charges made against him personally. He didn’t get angry and fight back. He stayed calm and in trust with his Heavenly Father that the situation was perfect, even though it was horrible.
He didn’t look down on his accusers. He treated them with respect, even though they were wrong on every level.  He said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”
Think about what that statement really means in relation to the four steps.
The people who offend us are usually doing the best they can with what they know at the time. The problem is — just like the people who crucified our Lord — they don’t know very much. They are afraid, they are misinformed and they are just taking it out on you.

Being offended:  Now, for something I find offensive and damaging to all people, but especially young women (does this sound ironic?) read here.   It's about the offensive program, Skins.  I haven't seen it and it's unfortunate anyone has.  I know there is a movement that has caused a couple of sponsors to drop the program - good for them - but this goes beyond reasonable for regular programming.  I will not even consider Cable that includes MTV.

Sabbath Day Observance Punished?

Remember the movie (what was it called?) where the athlete refused to compete on Sunday? It's sad that such values as portrayed in that film are now considered even more obsolete.

For the Southern Virginia University women's soccer team, the choice of whether or not to compete on Sunday is clear — even when the outcome is not.

SVU, a liberal arts college in Buena Vista, Va., that embraces Mormon values, has always chosen not to play on Sunday. This year, as the women's soccer team prepares to play at a United States Collegiate Athletic Association-sponsored tournament at Vermont Technical College, the school has a difficult decision.

According to school officials, SVU has been notified by the USCAA that if it chooses to forfeit a Sunday game at the tournament, the entire athletic department could face sanctions. Such sanctions may impact SVU's ability to compete in future tournaments and receive postseason recognition. (Read the article here).

Virtue - For such a time as this...

Editorial - some things to think about

Steve shared this bit of trivia with me (I had never even heard of it): "Today is Square Root Day. It is a very rare day indeed. 2/2/04; 3/03/09; 4/04/16." Natalie will appreciate this one.

I am concerned that part of the universal health care system would require doctors to perform abortions. Taking away our right to live the morals we have and hold dear is un-American. I know pediatricians who refuse to do circumcisions. That is also their right. They also have the right to deny any procedure to which they might be opposed or feel it would be a moral sin. Sex-change operations might be one such surgery I believe a doctor should be free to choose about. I'm all for affordable health care for every American but if it means taking away doctors' moral rights, then once more, a liberal agenda stomps on the rights of the conservative. How can we claim freedom and "rights" for all when we take away the rights to live according to our conscience? Abortion is optional and it should be optional for the provider as well. In China - well, that's another story - but this is America.

I applaud President Obama's desire to get the health care ball rolling, but he can't cross the lines that would force good doctors and nurses out of their fields and discourage those with such morals from entering it in the future. American Family has a plea and petition to stop this insanity. Let your voice be heard for the sake of health care providers. We all want good doctors and other professionals for ourselves and our loved ones. Leaving the profession only in the hands of those with liberal views is wrong and why would you want a life-threatening procedure to be performed by someone whose hands were being forced to do it against their will?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I enjoy Meridian Magazine and there was another good article made that emphasized how we allow Hollywood to determine our world. Click on the post title to read the whole thing but here's the take-home message:

"Let us choose to make and support good entertainment. This means that when something comes along that is completely in line with our values, let us attend the film, purchase the DVD or Blu-Ray or CD or iTunes album or whatever, and if the thing is NOT completely in line with our values, let us NOT attend it, purchase it or support it. Have we really thought about the consequences would be if we did that? Think about it!

Hollywood is not going to make a movie that decries the effects of socialism in our society, such as a film version of “Atlas Shrugged.” But we can.

Hollywood is not going to make a movie celebrating the man who lost his job in a Los Angeles theater company because of his stance on gay marriage. But we can.

Hollywood is not going to make a movie that extols the men and women who fight through tough times to stay married. But we can.

Yes, we can.

Oh, and more importantly, we should.

So… will we?"