My Body Is a Moral Battleland

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."  ~ C. S. Lewis

Unless you've been living under a rock like this guy:

Did you know that in 15 minutes you can save money on your car insurance? Apparently he didn't.

You've probably noticed that "Pro-Life" advocates (I hate that phrase by the way) have came out in full force right in time for the 2012 Election season. In case you HAVE missed it, here's a quick refresher.

• January 2012: The Susan G. Komen Foundation cuts funding to Planned Parenthood. Their new policy initiated that the Foundation no longer gives funding to organizations under any type of government investigation. However, the decision-maker on this one – now former Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Republican politician, Karen Handel – was and still is a long time opponent of Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood was the only group affected by this new rule. Funding has since been restored.
• Thursday, February 16th, 2012: The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform holds a hearing to discuss religious liberty and birth control in response to President Barack Obama's birth control mandate. Not only does Chairman Darrell Issa not invite any women to testify, but he bars third-year Georgetown law student, Sandra Fluke, from testifying because she is not a member of the clergy.
• Wednesday, February 26th, 2012: The Virginia House of Delegates (my home state, woo hoo!) passes a bill requiring all women receiving an abortion to have an external transabdominal ultrasound at least 24 hours before the procedure. The original version of the bill required a far more evasive transvaginal ultrasound. The Virginia Senate has not voted on the bill, but it will most likely die because its sponsor, Senator Jill Hotlzman Vogel, said she would ask for it to be stricken. Update: A revised version of the bill was passed in the Virginia Senate, giving women the option to reject the ultrasound.

All this and its not even March yet!

Last I checked, a large part the Republican Party platform is the promotion of less government involvement and freedom of individual rights. To be honest, I'm not even sure how a Republicans can say that when they all seem to be scheming, planning, and backstabbing just to be part of the government, but whatever. They should really be honest and just admit that this concept only extends to those within their own belief system.

You want to take birth control? You are ruining God's divine plan.

Raped teen that chooses to have an abortion? That baby is a gift from God. (Please click on the word “gift,” to see Rick Santorum actually making that argument)

Gay couple that would love to adopt the child of the woman who decided not to have an abortion? BLASPHEMY!!!!

*Sigh* Republican leaders, I am going to talk to you guys now. Think of the rest of this blog as an open letter to you from me. Everyone else can leave the room now. Go on, shoo.

Hi guys. What's up? Let's cut to the chase: If your true intention is for individuals to be able to live life the way they choose (at this point I'm assuming it's not), then you all need to back off. You're digging yourself into a hole of hypocrisy that’s so deep the rational citizens of this country can't even hear you anymore. We're just hearing distorted echoes from the bottom of a well. It's fine that you're pro-life, then don't have an abortion...and by the way, no one said you had to get "gay married" too just because it's legal. I just wanted to stick that in there.

I think it is wonderful that so many people are so dedicated and passionate about their religious and moral beliefs, but I believe political decisions shouldn't be heavily based on that. That's why we have separation of church and state. We have many different belief systems in this country, so we must create a society in which we can co-exist. Just as you want to be free to practice your beliefs and create the family environment that you want, that same courtesy should be extended to others as well. That is, if you really believe what you're saying.

This should not affect whether a non-profit organization helps to fund another non-profit organization that helps provide health care to millions of women. Did you know that despite grossly exaggerated figures, abortions only count for 3% of the services they offer women? 3%! They actually help prevent more abortions than they perform by helping provide contraceptives for women. This also does not give you the right to require women to have ultrasounds before abortions. I've been looking for some kind of a statement from someone who supports this bill on WHY this would medically need to be done. I like to know why I disagree with things. The answer: none. It is exactly what I thought it was, nothing but a legally state-sponsored guilt trip. How's that for government involvement? I have a mother and a step-mother for that, thank you very much. Republican Delegate, Kathy Byron who introduced one of the bills said, "The best choice is an informed choice." That's the best argument I could find.

I may get a lot of flack for saying this, but if we're trying to decide when life legally begins, wouldn't it be once you're born? No country's government recognizes you as a citizen until you're out of your mother's womb. This not a philosophical or personal argument I'm making. What I'm saying is that if the U.S. government is trying to figure out when they are legally obligated to protect the lives of their citizens, then that should be at the moment they legally consider that person to exist. Are we going to start giving social security numbers to fetuses now?

In addition, how can a group of people who are so obsessed with the well being of an unborn person have been so supportive of a war that has killed thousands of our young people and countless civilians in the Middle East? These are people who have lived life and have so many people who love and care for them. People who swore they would go defend the United States no matter what, so off they go to fight a war created for half-baked reasons. How can you be so careless with their lives? How can you be so ardent that a woman should give her child up for adoption rather than having an abortion, but then insist that the group of people that are most likely to adopt that child (gay couples) aren't fit to be parents? Yes, growing up in the foster care system is SO much better than having loving same-sex parents. I know I'm generalizing, but I've noticed that most people who are pro-life are pro-war and anti-everything homosexual. If you're pro-life you should be pro-life from the beginning of life to the end. Wait, do you hear that clinking noise? Yup, those are the shovels making that hole of hypocrisy you still seem to be digging for yourselves.

And how, HOW, how can you hold a panel to discuss these issues without a woman being on the panel?!?! Are you people insane? You have to be. You HAVE to be. I understand the focus of that part of the panel was to discuss religious liberty, but you couldn't find one female religious leader? I'm pretty sure you can even find women that agree with everything you say, but you couldn't book just one? Not to mention Sandra Fluke would have been more than happy to give her opinion on the topic, but Chairman Issa decided that her opinion wasn't valid. Why exactly not? Because she's not a religious leader she now has no valid opinions on contraceptives? As a law student at a Catholic university, I bet she has plenty of relevant opinions on the topic.

I guess I shouldn't get so upset because I know I'm not voting for any of you. However, Republican senators, representatives, delegates, and governors everywhere; you do get a hand in decisions that affect my life...so you know what? I retract that last statement. My body, my choices. Back off.

I'm going to let Seth & Amy of Saturday Night Live have the last word:

If you've also found yourself asking "Where the heck are the women!?!?" be sure to sign the DCCC petition

A Rose Is Still a Rose

A month ago Roselinda K. Rampp passed away after a difficult battle with ovarian cancer. As this video shows, Rose was deeply passionate about sharing the joy of music with others. She was one my former supervisors at the Levine School of Music and had a huge influence on my professional career. I credit her with playing a part in my decision to pursue a career as an arts administrator. Her dedication to help build not only a program, but a school, that would provide a strong musical presence in the community was inspiring to me.

Before I go on I feel the need to be completely honest. Although I loved Rose, our relationship wasn't perfect. Our personalities and work habits could be very different, so sometimes we butted heads. After I left Levine I pulled away a bit, but in the past year I began to realize how big a role she'd played in my life when I started to apply for graduate school to study arts administration. I'm not sure if I'd be as passionate creating my own performing arts institution at this stage in my life if it wasn't for the experiences that I had working in her office so early in my career.

I hope she knew I thought she was a woman with wonderful ideas and I admired her passion for the arts. Sometimes, I'm not sure if she realized how unique she was. I would say one of my biggest pet peeves with her were the moments when I felt like she didn't. She had a heart bigger than I think her body could hold. If something bad happened to someone she cared about she would start crying before a tear could even fall down their own cheek. She was beautiful and funny. Even after she lost her hair during her first fight with cancer in 2008 her beautiful eyes still shone right through. She was so giving wanted everyone to be happy. As I look around my own bedroom, I see I have so many items that were gifts from her.

When I moved to New York she told me she was afraid I would forget her. How could she think I ever would? The memory of her was long ago tightly woven into the story of my life. I'm still processing the fact that she's actually gone. When I see pictures of her smiling face, it really hits me.

I want to end with a "Rose quote" that I posted on my wall the day after she passed away:

"I love hearing the children sing as they come out of class, give out hugs, and play with each other. Thank you for being a part of our lives."

Actually....when I think about it, I feel like it might be more appropriate to use a quote that accurately sums up our relationship. Well, I know she would laugh at this anyways:

Rose: That's what she said!
Me:...I should have never taught you that.

<3 I won't forget.

Rose and my former colleague Youlee playing a duet at Levine's ECEM Grandparents Day Recital in October 2007

To learn more about ovarian cancer, please visit the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition website.

An Open Letter to Winter

Dear Winter,

Hi, how are you? You really seem to be thriving lately. I was wondering if we could have a little chat? Great.

At the beginning of the season, you seemed like you couldn't decide if you really wanted to come or not. Why it was 50 degrees one day, and 35 the next . . . I was beginning to wonder if your heart was really into it. Let me say I am so sorry for having doubted your staying power. Now that you've been hanging around for a couple of months and making a really strong impression, I just have a quick question: Will you be leaving any time soon?

Don't get me wrong, I understand you have a job to do. There are seasons, and you must oblige by the laws of nature . . . but do you have to be so cold and so snowy? Seriously Winter, a low of 7 degrees? If I wanted to live in a tundra, I would have moved to Chicago. Yes, yes, I know I live in the North Eastern region of the U.S., but really?!?! 7 degrees? Ok.

Also, what's with all the snow? It's getting to the point where last week I walked half a block before I noticed there was new snow on the ground. Perhaps I'm bitter because in my new home city, NYC, they really don't start shutting things down for anything under 10 inches. Back in my hometown area, Washington D.C., about two inches was enough to go into panic mode.

So, I guess I'm just trying to figure out when you're planning on leaving. I get that February is coming, and you probably plan on sticking that one out, but are you going to start making your exit around March? I don't want you to feel like you've worn out your welcome but . . . you kind of have. If it's so cold that you can feel the chill beneath a layer of five mixed vodka drinks, it's REALLY cold.

It's not you, it's me. I just have other things I really want to do with my time. I want to lay around Central Park, wear sundresses, and watch movies in Bryant Park at night. You can't give me this. You can give me ice skating at Rockefeller, but that's really about it.

In short, take the time you need . . . but please leave soon. I hope I wasn't rude. In case we don't get to speak again, I'll see you next year. Take care of yourself ok?

Love,

Erika

Veterans = Real People

Today is Veterans Day. It has always been a holiday I've celebrated. Both my grandfathers, my father, and other relatives have served this country in war. Even my mom was in the Marines for a few years. Some of my cousins make up the third generation of our family to join the military. For a long time I views Veterans Day as a celebration of the contributions my family has made to the United States of America. In March 2005 this holiday, as well as Memorial day, took on a drastically different tone for me, That is when my uncle, Lee Arthur Lewis Jr., was killed in action while serving in Iraq. Now it's not just about what we've contributed, it's about what we've lost.

I was thinking the other day about politics. Specifically, I was musing over how politicians use the war as an arguing platform to win votes. The media, of course, sensationalizes the war for . . . ratings I guess? Although lately not so much, because you know, war is kind of a bummer. Especially one that's dragged on for almost a decade. Politicians and journalist (conservative and liberal a-like) often refer to killed soldiers as "casualties." It reminds me of something my mom once said, even before my uncle even went oversees:

"They are not casualties. They are people, and they are being killed."

My mother has a habit of stating very strong opinions, and this was no exception. At seventeen, I remember being very taken aback. I have to admit, I kind of thought she was making a big deal out of nothing. How else would you refer to those who were killed in war? Now that I'm older and I've lost someone close to me The Iraq War, I see what she meant.

Let me just stop for a minute to say this: I'm not going to discuss my opinions on the Iraq War or the Afghanistan War right now. I'm sure I will at some point, because I have plenty to say about how the past and current administration have handled the conflicts. Right now I want to talk about 5805 men and women in the United States military that died in Afghanistan and Iraq in the past nine years.

These soldiers are not just nameless sea of faces. They are real people who had family and friends that miss them immensely. They were sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and best friends. They loved to play basketball, sing, or ride their motorcycles around town. Like a lot of us I'm sure many of them enjoyed a good slice of pizza and a hilarious episode of "Family Guy." Lee was a fan of Dave Chapelle. One time Lee, my cousin Evan, my aunt Eola, and I were sitting around my grandparent's house trading lines from the first season of "The Dave Chapelle Show," crying laughing the whole time. This is one of my favorite memories because its was such a great example of how funny my large and chaotic family can be.

I will always remember Lee's funeral at the Arlington Cemetery. In addition to Lee's tombstone, there were hundreds of white slabs lined up from the previous few years alone. There were even gifts and pictures left behind from recent visits. I cried because I knew hundreds of other families were feeling the pain of mine. We weren't the first, and we would certainly not be the last. In fact, it could even be us again. It's an incredibly sad and helpless feeling.

Loosing someone is always extremely difficult. Every holiday, every birthday, and every family get together may be the time you realize yet again: "He/she is never really coming home." Some days it hits you worse than others. Just the other night I was laying in bed when I began crying because I was thinking about Lee and my cousin Donnie, who drowned in 1999. These emotions are coupled with the nagging feeling that Lee was lost to some big complex political cause I can't completely understand and no one can properly explain.

No matter how you feel about the war, please remember veterans are real people, not some vague American ideal. They are men and women that are dying and fighting to preserve the qualities we all love most about American life. They have honor; they swore they would go to war no matter what, so they do. They are not just numbers you can use to fuel your political arguments. They were real people,  never forget that.

 

If you would like to find out what you can do to help support veterans and families affected by the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars please visit the Coalition for Iraq + Afghanistan Veterans website for more information.

"Now she's blogging too . . . oh great . . ."

It appears I am obsessed with communication. More than the average person anyways. At three years old my father claimed I had "the gift of gab." I'd like to point out that this "gift" was most definitely inherited. I suppose it takes one to know one.

In high school I used to hide in the dressing rooms during the school day to talk on my cell phone. Once in college I heard the following conversation off to the side:

"Where's Erika?"
"She's on the phone."
"Isn't she always?"

When Myspace and Facebook first came out, I refused to set up a profile. It seemed like the biggest waste of time. Although my Myspace page has been defunct for a little over a year now, about three years ago I had the prettiest little Myspace page that you ever did see. Let's not even discuss Facebook. To this day I am known as a hardcore Facebook stalker, who updates her profile constantly. My Blackberry Storm has been a great accomplice in my cyber stalking efforts. Yah mobile apps!

Then there's Twitter . . . I can't believe there was ever a time when I was against joining. After I got my Blackberry last winter, I added the app . . . and the rest is beautiful history. I even have my tweets synced to my Facebook profile. Ah there we go, back to Facebook again.

As you can see, it only makes sense that I start blogging. Especially since I declared it a stupid hobby while I was in college. I was supposed to use this page to blog with a friend *ahem* Ashley a couple of years ago. We abandoned the project, but apparently my "communication" itch is at it again. I was recently in the middle of typing a rather long Facebook note when I realized . . . I should just blog. I have an endless amount of facts, opinions, and stories streaming through my head that I just need to get out to the rest of the world.Well, anyone who chooses to read this page anyways.

So without further ado, welcome to my brain.

P.S. Its okay to blog during a lunch break, right? Hm, I sure hope so!