New pics soon!
07.29.05 (4:43 pm) [edit]It's been awhile since I've had the chance to post. My Dad is getting lots better (Thanks for the prayers!!!) and life has settled down a bit. I received this as an e-mail forward and thought it was interesting . . . a little stereotypical, but mostly true. If anyone has a positive e-mail pertaining to men, send it to me and I will post it!
One Flaw in Women
By the time the Lord made woman,
He was into his sixth day of working overtime..
An angel appeared and said,
"Why are you spending so much time on this one?"
And the Lord answered, "Have you seen my spec sheet on her?
She has to be completely washable, but not plastic,
have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable
and able to run on diet coke and leftovers,
have a lap that can hold four children at one time,
have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken
heart
-and she will do everything
with only two hands."
The angel was astounded at the requirements.
"Only two hands!? No way!
And that's just on the standard model?
That's too much work for one day.
Wait until tomorrow to finish."
But I won't," the Lord protested.
"I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my
own
heart.
She already heals herself when she is sick
AND can work 18 hour days."
The angel moved closer and touched the woman.
"But you have made her so soft, Lord."
"She is soft," the Lord agreed,
"but I have also made her tough.
You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish."
"Will she be able to think?", asked the angel.
The Lord replied,
"Not only will she be able to think,
she will be able to reason and negotiate."
The angel then noticed something,
and reaching out, touched the woman's cheek.
"Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model.
I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one."
"That's not a leak,"
the Lord corrected,
"that's a tear!"
"What's the tear for?" the angel asked.
The Lord said, "The tear is her way of expressing her joy,
her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her love,
her loneliness, her grief and her pride."
The angel was impressed.
"You are a genius, Lord.
You thought of everything!
Woman is truly amazing."
And she is!
Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
but they hold happiness,
love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy
and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take "no" for an answer
when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel
and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about
a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member,
yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss
can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you
to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideals.
They give moral support to their family and friends.
Women have vital things to say and everything to give.
HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,
IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.
posted by: Erin (reply)
post date: 07.31.05 (3:48 am)
I'm so happy to hear your dad's getting better.
I really like the 'Flaw in Women.' I don't know anything like that about guys, but if I come across it, I 'll share.
I hope you can stop by on your way to Mpls!
posted by: Jules (reply)
post date: 08.01.05 (8:04 pm)
I say the flaw in woman is that men usually can't see how great they are. ;)
posted by: hopie26 (reply)
post date: 08.04.05 (11:20 am)
Reply to: Erin
Yay! Thanks for the message. I am excited to drop by on my way through - I don't think I have read anything very sentimental about guys ever, except for stuff about dads.
posted by: hopie26 (reply)
post date: 08.04.05 (11:21 am)
Reply to: Jules
LOL - thanks for the comment Jules.
posted by: newbie39 (reply)
post date: 08.04.05 (12:54 pm)
I'm sorry, but I absolutely hate sexist crap like this.
What a joke--I could list a thousand flaws in women if I had the time, and they wouldn't be self-serving drivel like this s***.
I could do the same for men, too. That's my point--all this s*** does is propagate sexism and make people think it's okay to play sexist party lines.
Well, here's news for you all--
IT'S NOT!
posted by: Aro (reply)
post date: 08.04.05 (1:37 pm)
Reply to: newbie39
There are flaws in all of us because we're all human. I don't think it's fair to say that men are more or less flawed than women or vice versa -- we're different from each other, but neither sex is "better." so yeah, sexism is dumb.
But on the other hand, women have been short-shifted for centuries, and I don't think there's any harm in stuff like this that affirms their value, and I personally don't think it's sexist.
and of course, men rule! but women are rad, too!
posted by: hopie26 (reply)
post date: 08.05.05 (11:18 am)
Hmm - unless I read wrong, it does not say anywhere in here that women are better than men.
posted by: newbie39 (reply)
post date: 08.08.05 (12:10 pm)
It's reverse bias. Normal bias would be to cut down men (or women in other cases, but I'm using this example) directly, saying, Men suck (or something similar). This is reverse bias, and it is more dangerous because it cloaks the true intent with something seemingly positive. What it's actually implying, though, is that women are good enough to be mentioned, men are not.
I believe this is sexist because it is painting stereotypes. Basically what this tells women is, "You're a good person just because you're a woman," or, "Because you're a woman, you're a good person" (with the implied unsaid that you're better than men). I have no problem with encouraging people because of their INDIVIDUAL God-given traits that make them special. But no one is a good person just because of their gender, and that's what this implies.
If this were truly unbiased, then it would extol the virtues of ALL people, not just women.
And Aaron, I've leaned both ways on that argument about women deserving a break because they've gotten the brunt of it throughout history. But here's what I don't understand--how is encouraging women to treat men with the same disrespect that they've been treated with going to do any good? Is it ever a good thing to propogate the exact same hate, just in the opposite direction? God's word doesn't teach that, I know that. That's the world's philosophy--hurt everyone back the same way they hurt you. Jesus taught us to rise above that and "love [our] enemies, bless those who persecute [us], and do good to those who do wrong to [us]" (quoting from memory).
I truly believe the author of this piece meant to imply that women are good, men are not. Now I know that the vast majority of people who read it and like it are not consciously thinking that way, but I believe that's why it's dangerous--it propagates its message very subtly. Women read it and it makes them think they're good. They don't consciously realize this implies men are bad, but unconsciously that's the message received.
Of course, this isn't the only example of this disguised sexism. It's all over the place. I see examples of it saturating today's society, and it makes me sad. The message is that girls have to do everything without men, they have to prove hey can do it themselves--they don't "need" men. In more extreme cases, the message is that women have to do everything men can do and do it BETTER. But how is this healthy or at all in line with Christian principles? Healthy competition is a good thing, but it's not healthy to be taught from such a young age to assume that you have to show how good you are just based on what gender you are. How does this not teach people to believe that our value and worth is somehow tied to our gender? But NOTHING of our worth has ANYTHING to do with gender.
Granted, kids will always compete along gender lines, but our society has taken this to an extreme and turned it into a very ugly, hateful thing.
posted by: newbie39 (reply)
post date: 08.08.05 (12:15 pm)
p.s. A few things I forgot to say--
First, maybe I'm overemphasizing the harmfulness of something like this, but I say if it's unhealthy at all, why put up with it? Especially, why support and extol it?
Second, the mistake of telling women they don't "need" men is that BOTH genders need the other. That's the way God made us--we need each other to be complete. (I know that's politically incorrect.) I need women in my life just as much as women need men.
Even if you throw out that argument, I still say, why is it necessary to have to emphasize so strongly that you dn't "need" other people, anyway? The forcefulness of the message tells me that it can only be coming out of a resent toward men.