My final straw cracked last night as I skimmed the evening news concerning mudslinging politics. Many times in the last four years have I heard Bush referred to as lazy, stupid, or resembling a chimpanzee. But last night when I saw morphing images of his presence on Adolf Hitler's...that was it.
Complain about Bush all you want. Maybe you think he looks shify or talks a shade too much like a cowboy for your comfort. It's quite possible you're still perturbed about the DUI debacle from the last election. And you probably don't jive with all of his political ideals. But to compare this man to one who built dungeoned chambers in which small children could be experimented on and gassed? Don't even try. George W. Bush remains the man who:
* Recognized the key role of faith-based organizations in the public sector. That's right--church and state have been legitimate bedfellows long before this administration.
* Listens and learns before making controversial decisions, such as the fate of embryonic stem cells.
* Signed into law policy that acknowledges the loss of an unborn baby, murdered by violence against the mother's wishes.
* Understands that a dictator is a threat to basic human rights.
* Would not send our soldiers anywhere that he, too, would not go.
Hitler? Yeah, not close. And although you may not agree with the above point by point, you must acknowledge that no one that we elect can be everything. Some have called it choosing the lesser of two evils, but it's really the choice between two imperfect people. People who have pressure on all sides from party allies, party opponents, corporations, non-profits, interest groups, terrorists, international leaders, John Q. Public, and their own families. That's a lot to keep in balance.
"But I didn't choose to be president!" you may say. Well, you'd be right. You didn't choose the most high pressure job in both the free and captive worlds. But lambasting the one who did with ludicrous claims of villainy does not make the job easier. In the life of a social worker, I know that sometimes I'm doing my job when I tick people off. Even so, that doesn't make me perform any better, especially if criticisms were coupled with ad hominem attacks about my character or the shape of my earlobes.
Must we so readily leap to the frontlines with hatred and insult? If our first instinct were to educate, perhaps we wouldn't feel such a common, fearful tension. As a democratic society, we are assured that our voices our heard through the polls. Unfortunately, I believe we too often make the mistake in relying on only that forum to speak...and only to the people we already support. I credit one on this list with reminding us of the importance of letting our politicians know when they've done well. And that includes the ones we might think are otherwise slimy.
A little more objective, a little less hurtful. It's everyone's job to do.
Hey, Mr. President...
Do you ever feel alone,
Surrounded by all those ghosts in the White House,
That you wish you could move back home? ( 11:31 PM ) Meghan
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Straight from the author's mouth.
At Catherine's urging, I went on holiday to J.K. Rowling's official website. Two wands up! Here are a couple of choice quotes:
Ill-gotten inspiration "...we spent about three quarters of our childhood fighting like a pair of wildcats imprisoned together in a very small cage. To this day, [my sister] bears a tiny scar just above her eyebrow from the cut I gave her when I threw a battery at her..."
A wizard by any other name "I would like to take this opportunity to say that the practise of calling Lord Voldemort 'Voldie' must stop, as must the insistence that with a bit of therapy 'Voldie' would be a real sweetheart."
( 9:51 PM ) Meghan
Sunday, June 20, 2004
The Plan is mightier than the sword.
Had my coffee date not been cancelled this morning, I would not have left Maryland so late.
Had I not taken the wrong exit ramp, I would not have lost myself in Alexandria.
Had I not been lost in Alexandria the other day, I would not have known how to re-route myself so efficiently.
Had I not exited 495 where I did, I would not have taken the route past the parish that was holding Mass right then when I wanted to attend.
Had the timing of all these things not been as they were, I would not have made Mass early.
Had I decided to do something else, rather than mill around the gift shop in wait, I would not have met a man who needed to talk for his hurting family. Please keep them in your prayers.
Every choice, every circumstance, every inadvertant screw-up has its place.
I made sure to come home and wish my own dad a happy Father's Day.
One of the most valuable things we can do to heal one another is listen to each other's stories. --Rebecca Falls
( 4:01 PM ) Meghan
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Never forget Rule Number One.
When they asked me in my interview what my career goals were, I was pretty clear--I don't have any. Well, at least not in terms of the typical societal definition of the term:
(k?-rîr g?l) - the objective of winding one's way through metaphorical hoops and ladders in order to gain credibility, power, and wage increases in the employment world; success may have a direct impact on self-esteem and general life satisfaction.
I have long perceived that people are always looking for a new mountain to climb. Like the next promotion or the coveted position in the cube across the aisle. But the fact is, these are things we begin to desire once we're already established, once we know how to work. I don't really know yet. Six years of social work education hasn't taught me how. So when they asked about my goals, I said, "I want to learn how to be a full-time social worker."
No LCSW, not for now. Why should I commit myself to becoming a field expert if I'm not even sure I can manage mediocre performance? Where do I want to be in 10 years? How should I know...three months ago all I wanted was to cross the VCU stage. I won't know what will make me happy until I know, first, what's available to achieve it, and second, how I can make it happen, given my parameters. I am done with tunnel-vision. The professional world has just opened up for me.
So this week, I'm still learning. Two eight-hour days and I am tired. My desk isn't organized, my computer isn't delivered yet. And I've just been reminded how painfully shy I am when it comes to meeting new people. All of these things need some doing.
( 5:23 PM ) Meghan
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
With the great Overdog that romps through the dark.
Two nights in H'burg were well-worth the trip. It was great to see Ben and Jason again, who graciously accompanied me to a couple of good movies. No complaints about Shrek 2. Although ironically after our discussion of a few weeks ago, Justin, I did note that the Fairy Godmother's business was named FGM, Inc. Unintentionally, I'm sure.
Also caught Harry Potter on opening night, third year running. It was decent, although my review is critical. I think my favorite part was when Ben convinced me to give our Lego Knight Buses to the kids next to us.
Unfortunately with all the children in the theatre, the movie wasn't the only thing I caught. This is the third time I've been significantly ill in the last five months. I'm becoming rather weary of this, although it's a good indicator of how weakened I've let my body become as a result of grad school. It also demonstrates how stressed I still am, despite the security of employment. The prospect of a new job should have me exhilarated, which I am, but so much change at once makes me feel as if I'm drowning...and I'm not even leaving the house. In one day, my routine, dress, insurance, and regular social interactions will take on a new look. Of course, so will the number in front of my "dollars per hour." Some change is intended to be embraced.
In some ways, I feel like I've been waiting for my life to begin. I used to harbor this mindset more in grade school. I'd strive for that "perfect" day...all my homework would be done, my uniform freshly washed and pressed, my room neat and bed made upon my arrival home. I don't recall once ever having had that day. Over time, rather, I accepted myself in gradual quantities. I learned to find humor in the fact that I'm a procrastinating slob who enjoys wearing flip-flops to school in February.
But some part of the perfectionist in me remained. Somewhere, covert in the back of my mind lay the idea that once I had a job, all parts of my life would fall into place. I'd make a real difference and suddenly my life would become meaningful. And the more I write, the more I realize what a load of crap that is. This job...it's just another way to do things. Next Tuesday, I'm not going to become an adult or enter the real world or engage in any other hated cliches. I'm just going to be me, somewhere else. Anti-climactic, yes, but whatever takes my nerves down a few shots.
Speaking of climaxes, I am ending this pseudo-profound entry on the following quote. From this, you can gather that my brother has a filthy appreciation for puns and I'm high on non-drowsy Sudafed:
"Hmm...Steven Tyler and Gene Simmons in a female oral sex contest."
"It's a cunniling-off!"
( 8:29 PM ) Meghan
Sunday, June 06, 2004
One moonless summer night...
I talked to the man in the moon.
I said, "Sir, is she coming back soon?"
He smiled and he stated,
"Son, I'm over-rated.
I've had too much credit in those old love tunes."
"I don't know a thing about love.
I just kind of hang here above.
I just watch from the sky,
Will love grow or will it die?
I don't know a thing about love."
Then I asked him "Where is she tonight?
You must see all things with your light."
He said, "Son, I could tell you things that might kill you,
But I don't get involved in what's wrong or right."
"I don't know a thing about love.
I just kind of hang here above.
I just watch from the sky,
Will love grow or will it die?
I don't know a thing about love."
He said, "I can move oceans when I take the notion,
Or make mountains tremble and rivers run dry.
But in all matters human, remember, there's someone
In charge of those things way above you and I."
"I don't know a thing about love.
I just kind of hang here above.
I just watch from the sky,
Will love grow or will it die?
I don't know a thing about love."
--Conway Twitty, I don't know a thing about love ( 1:22 PM ) Meghan
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
On my knees...tell me what can I do?
You probably thought that my postings would be hourly since I have been of the unemployed. However, the delay has been purposeful; I knew that if I tried to post, I would not be able to resist talking about my new career development. I hated to mention anything before it was set in stone. Being Catholic, I'm not supposed to believe in jinxing. But I do believe that God created irony and that He uses it flagrantly.
But as the loose ends were all tied up this morning, here is the official announcement: I have a job!
As you can guess, Wednesday's interview went exceedingly well. They had a social worker come in special to assess me, which was an excellent idea on their part. We had a grand time talking shop and all were impressed with my handle on the hypothetical scenarios. My favorite part, though, was that I built up from a shaky beginning by recounting the roles of a social worker from Greg's practice classes. In about 7 minutes, my BSW paid for itself.
I endured one final interview on Friday with the agency executives. I cannot emphasize enough how lovely the entire office was. Someone must have said good things about me because as soon as I arrived, everyone knew who I was. "Oh, you must be Meghan!" they exclaimed. They had me sit, they brought me bottled water. It didn't feel quite like they were trying to impress me. There was instead a genuine goodness about them that they wanted me to feel comfortable and professionally important. I'm sure it helped...two hours later, I had a phone call with an offer.
So in a couple of weeks, I will join the living as a paid social work professional, working with the elderly. I'm terribly frightened because I want so badly to do well. And I will certainly try--I believe I'm wanted here. The only irony God seems to have set in this case is that had it not been for the ego-crushing rejection from advanced standing, I might not be in this very fortunate position.
In the meantime, loving iTunes. Hey, I'm still on vacation.
( 12:44 PM ) Meghan
