Local pastor says "No place for hostility in abortion debate"

So, like if I am really a Christian I should just shut up

Today, the Knoxville News Sentinel  published an op-ed by The Reverend Jill Sizemore.  The Reverend Sizemore is Senior Pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of Knoxville.  The article, which I have linked to here, is entitled "No place for hostility in abortion debate".

Although in her article, The Reverend says there is " tension, unrest and utter hatred" on both sides, she only discusses the "confrontations and gun violence" at reproductive/family planning facilities where doctors, workers and the workers' families are harassed.  So, I guess the true title is "No place for hostility by those who oppose abortion".

Sizemore writes that abortion does not need to be discussed, but the hostility of the actions and dialogue needs to be discussed.  She says that "supposedly God-fearing, God-following" people are "utterly dismissive" about the way we talk to each other.  She posits that "until this divide between us is closed.......".

Nevermind, I won't bore you with what she blathers on about with the feel good philosophy of a kind of religion of here and now.

My son at 20 weeks gestation in 1987

She says this is about an individual woman and that by not affirming her decision, we are turning our backs on her.  Sizemore says that we have complicated the whole issue.  Then, she goes on with that old saw (and I know this one is old because I had sex ed in school in the 70's) about how we don't talk to kids about sex in the right way or teach them about contraception.

Then, there is the blah, blah, blather about a woman deserves the right to choose. And, she says that "Pro-choice advocates do care about both mother and child."  Yes, that would be the dead child.

Reverend Sizemore, I write this directly to you.  I recognize that your brain pan is probably bigger than mine.  I recognize that you are far better educated than I and I am totally sure that you converse with God far more often than I do. 

Do you really think that we do not talk to kids openly about sex?  Do you really think that there are people in this country who believe that sex outside of a loving, committed relationship won't ever happen?  Do you really believe that fetus lovers believe that abortion will never happen?

Do you really believe that there can be rapprochement between two diametrically opposed ideas....life and death?  What can we agree on?  The baby is dead.  Well, that is one thing.

Do I believe that God would be really, really stoked if I said, "Y'all go and do what you want and I will be totally supportive."  We all need to be healed and when I am God says to me "Go and sin no more." (John 8:11)

Color me trying to figure all this heavy stuff out here in this scruffy little city.

In praise of Parkwest Medical Center

A group of true professionals

My ability to take in a breath declined all day.  Other than the fact that I do not like hospitals, I have no reason whatsoever that I did not at least alert my husband to the possibility that I was ill.  I told him I thought I got some pollen in my lungs and we bought more Vics-Vap-O-Rub.  Just don't ask why.

About 3:00 a.m., I woke my husband up and told him that we needed to get to the Emergency Room.  Parkwest Medical Center is about 15 minutes from our home, so there was never a question of where we were going.

And, to be honest, I didn't think it really mattered which hospital that you went to when you were ill.  All hospitals are the same.  Drab, dreary, germy and filled with people who hate their lives.

 

We were seen by a triage team within about 10 minutes (even though it seems way longer when you can't breath).  The staff was professional, courteous and focused.   They moved quickly through steps to eliminate problems.  They discussed everything with me, but also told me their preferred choices.

Once I was admitted, the experience just got better.  Everyone was kind and caring.  I was on oxygen and receiving breathing treatments for a really bad allergy attack.  Apparently, Saturday was a really bad day.  And,  allergies in Knoxville, that is pretty darn common.

The food was delicious I must say.  Really good quality.  Nice choices. Salads and soups, a nice balsamic chicken and, maybe it was the steroids, but the Sara Lee desserts were great.

Look, when you are ill, the small, tender mercies mean so much.  A kindness and a smile, a small and appropriate joke.  Everyone that I met on the Fourth Floor staff was wonderful, warm and professional.  It was 3:00 a.m. Easter Sunday when I arrived and 7:00 p.m. on Monday when I left and I did not have a bad experience with the staff or their treatment of me.

Thank you Fourth Floor Staff from Room 472 with the breathing treatments.

Color me grateful for every breath!

Dogwoods and the Beauty of Sequoyah Hills

Perfect Sunday Drive

We have been very blessed here in Knoxville.  Although it doesn't happen very often, the Redbuds and the Dogwoods are out together.  So, I said to my handsome husband on Sunday, April 13, 2014 that we should drive the Dogwood Trail in Sequoyah Hills.

The Sequoyah Hills trail was the first Dogwood Trail in Knoxville and, in my humble opinion, still the best.  Bordered on one side by Ft. Loundon Lake and with rolling hills, the Sequoyah Trail is by far the most picturesque. 

Talahi Park

Although I went to the ribbon cutting for the re-dedication of Talahi Park last week, there were too many people to take good photos.  I couldn't resist going back and taking photos.

One of the summer houses in Talahi Park

The monument honoring Robert Foust's vision

Before the recent work Talahi had fallen into disrepair

A great deal of damage from storms and foreign plantings had left Talahi in quite a state of disrepair.  Not now.

The fountain.  Simple and beautiful

The fountain shoots up so high and sprays bystanders.  It is wonderful and refreshing.  The fountain is simple and beautiful.

Ft.  Loundon Lake

I love the unspoiled look of Ft. Loundon Lake.  

The Dogwoods are breathtaking this year.  We haven't had any rough weather to bruise them up until now!

There was high volume traffic and everyone was taking pictures on a perfect Blue Sky East Tennessee Day in Sequoyah Hills.

I thank God every day that I live in East Tennessee.

Knoxville Dogwood Arts Festival kicks off with ribbon cutting and luncheon

How I got there

This past fall, my neighborhood was blessed with two new additions, Rose and Harry Moseley.  They bought in the neighborhood because one of their children lives here.  Last week, Rose, who has been deeply involved in the Dogwood Arts Festival many years, invited me and another neighbor, Diane Neely to the luncheon.

Diane had to work so she drove separately.  I road with Rose in her bestie Joanne's car.  Our first stop was the ribbon cutting for Talahi Park in Sequoyah Hills.

Talahi Park

Talahi Park was nearly destroyed by weather and inappropriate plantings.  The Sequoyah Hills Association has worked with arborists and restoration experts to make Talahi Park beautiful for now and the future. Today was the ribbon cutting which officially opened the park for the public.

Talahi Park

Dogwood Arts Festival Luncheon

The luncheon took place on the grounds of the 2014 Knoxville Symphony League Show Home.  The home does not open for viewing until April 11, but the grounds are beautiful.

 Before lunch, there was easy jazz music and performers from the Cirque du Soleil Varekai show, currently performing in Ktown at the Thompson Boling Arena.  Enjoy the pictures!

Diane

Me

Of course, there were dignitaries and sponsors who spoke, as they should, but I was hungry.

The Tablescape

The Luncheon was so beautiful and catered by Crown Plaza.  The first offering was grilled chicken breast on red and green romaine lettuce, with heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, a parmesan tuile and a delicious balsamic cream sauce. Sorry, I forgot to photograph the first course, but I was hungry!

Dessert was beautiful and yummy.  There were strawberries and graham crackers involved, but I can't remember all the deets.

Dessert

Most of all, I want to thank my new neighbor Rose and her bestie Joanne for inviting Diane and I to share the luncheon with them and for all the years Rose and Joanne spent making the Dogwood Arts Festival what it is today.

Joanne and Rose

Color me basking in the glow of a beautiful East Tennessee Day and trying to figure out that Balsmaic Cream sauce.

Knoxville Citizens do Not pay Federal Taxes

Well, according the the Knoxville News Sentinel

On Sunday, March 30, 2014, the Knoxville News Sentinel contained an article entitled "Mayoral travel provides influential opportunities".  This line was in that article "A trip to Turkey cost nothing for local taxpayers, nor a recent trip to California because it was paid for by the federal government, but Rogero has traveled elsewhere at local public cost."  

Clearly, there was never an editor any where near this article. It is kind of run-on and could use at least one other comma.  

Do the very fine citizens of Knoxville have a waiver from paying Federal Taxes?  Is this an error by the writer of the article?  Did this come from Madam Mayor's office?

I am pretty darn sure that Knoxvillians pay Federal Taxes.  In that case, local money was used.  

FYI, to the Sentinel, the writer and Madam Mayor's office.  The Federal Government has no money.  All the money in Washington, D.C. comes from the denizens of every city, town, hamlet and burg in the United States of America.  Or, is borrowed in the name of the people by the federal government.

When the Mayor travels, she travels on Knoxville's nickel whether she knows it or not.  Since, I am in a snarky mood, I am going to say Miss Rogero doesn't know, not part of the education of an organizer for Cesar Chavez.

Why is Ina Hughs so hateful

Ina Hughs is another of my fav reads from the Sentinel because she is so consistent.  She is consistently hateful and mean.  Her "Oped" "April day celebrates our sense of humor" displays her love of cruel jokes.  May be it is because I prefer humor that is self-deprecating or everyman type.  I just don't think that calling a beloved grandchild on the phone, pretending to be from the DMV and telling him that he really failed his Drivers License Test is kind or funny.

Color me hiding in fear of Ina Hughs humor.

T