botany, shoes, books, and justice
I was recently nominated by two faculty at my university for a rather prestigious scholarship. I was initially very excited. This scholarship is for quite a bit of money – enough for me to afford to go to school full time.
Today, however, I was informed that I was not eligible for this award because I’m not in school full time. Just another scholarship I can’t afford. I used to think that scholarships are supposed to help people who can’t pay for school finance their education…
In But I’m a Cheerleader
Butterfly pea
Originally uploaded by Srini G
I have been asked why I don’t do more blogging about my life. I have a real paper and pencil journal for that. Usually, after I finish an entry and read over it, I think “Well, it’s a good thing no one else can read this!” or “Thank god I didn’t really say that!” I’d rather my friends and family were bored by my blog rather than offended by it.
This is a terrible story. An injured Iraqi vet was forced out of the military for admitting he was gay. Not only did they kick him out before taking care of his severe knee injuries, he now owes them money:
With his two-year anniversary in the Army coming up, marking a promotion and pay raise, officials acted swiftly to discharge him. It also meant he had to pay back a sign-on bonus he had already spent because he didn’t fulfill his commitment.
Perhaps the army wouldn’t have to lower its recruitment standards if they would let gay people openly serve in the military.
Via The Frontlines.
As more and more healthcare workers refuse to provide women with medical care for “moral” reasons – from refusing to perform abortions to refusing to write prescriptions for EC to refusing to dispense contraceptives – it is reassuring to read this physician’s reasons for becoming an abortion provider.
There are very few of us willing to do these procedures. Most obstetrician-gynecologists do not offer them to their patients. With the history of anti-choice extremism we have witnessed in this country, it is easy to understand why a physician would decide not to offer abortion services in their office. They may be afraid of being protested or worse. What I do not understand is how someone could call refusing to provide abortion care, or at least provide a referral, a ‘moral choice’.
What is moral about telling a woman with a terminal illness that she has to continue her pregnancy? What is moral about telling a woman who can not afford to support the children in her home to have another one? What is moral about bringing a child into this world that will not receive the love, support and attention it needs because its mother has to work two jobs just to pay the rent and their father is long gone? Frankly, I do not see it.
Abortion is a moral choice. It is about a human being’s right to determine their own destiny and the destiny of the family surrounding them here on Earth. It is never an easy choice, but it is always moral.
Via AbortionClinicDays:
I pretended I didn’t have any work to do and went to Red Mountain yesterday. Red Mountain is an old and oddly shaped cinder cone.
I’m helping with some research on pinyon pine, which I’d read were dying quite quickly in great numbers. There were many, many dead pinyon along the trail.
I took lots of pictures, mostly of plants, because that’s just what I notice the most. However, there are a few pictures of the absolutely bizarre rock formations. They are called “hoodoos,” which I think is a fantastic name for such strange things. I was also very pleased with myself for managing to climb up some rocks. Unfortunately, I did not realize going down is much harder than going up.
