1. July 24th is Amelia Earhart Day. Earhart was the first female to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. What's something you've recently accomplished solo?
This sent me into fits of giggles...flying solo...so I think that means recently I've accomplished giving the world proof that I am still immature. And my tomato plants are still alive.
2. What's one product you use that never ever fails?
It's tempting fate to answer, isn't it? Because tomorrow the toilet paper may disintegrate. I'll say espresso.
3. Have you found your place in the world? Where is it?
Again, questions. Literally or figuratively? Geographically? A few years ago we thought about moving elsewhere in the U.S., but we seem to be meant to be here. As for me, I'm comfortable in my own skin, which took MANY years and is a good place to be.
4. Worst movie you ever saw?
5. What's the last fun thing you did?
Had dinner with a friend tonight.
6. The month of July is named for Roman Emperor Julius Caesar...ever been to Rome? What's your favorite Italian dish?
Is this a trick question? Gnocchi!!
7. What is one piece of advice you'd offer new mom Kate Middleton?
7. What is one piece of advice you'd offer new mom Kate Middleton?
I have no interest in babies and I'm not a parent, so I'm deferring to Joey on this one, mainly because I loved his answer:
"Leave the baby in the capable hands of her staff and fly off to Cyprus
for two weeks preferably with Harry because William seems a real bore
and have the time of your life. I'm sure baby George will just fine and
won't even notice you've gone."
Again, so many choices! I have a random question, actually. How do you feel about people who are allies on some issues who disagree with you on others? Working in mental health advocacy, our organization's allies are across the political spectrum. A few years back, we lost a U.S. Senator who was a champion for our issues. This was before I worked in the field but I voted against him (I had voted for him the term before) because he went back on some civil rights promises, and that was the tipping point for me.
I thought about this because a well-known Christian figure here is talking publicly about his son's suicide, saying we need to talk about mental health and end the stigma (which of course I agree with.) Someone piped up on our work's Facebook page and said he hoped this guy realized that his anti-gay marriage stance (which I strongly disagree with) caused mental anguish. Which made me wonder, do we gather our allies or throw out the baby with the bathwater? This guy isn't Fred Phelps but it still gave me pause.
What do you think?
18 comments:
I chuck out the baby with the bathwater. I like to imagine that the person is like a cake. Except every incredibly stupid stance that they have is like a giant turd in the cake.
So now the question is, do you still eat the cake despite there being a massive turd wedged into the side. I guess you could eat around the turd and the cake would still be ok.
But I wouldn't.
It is difficult for me to believe that we can drive others to mental illness or to poor choices made in their confused and misunderstood state. But I do believe we can extend an outstretched hand when we recognize a need.
Huh?
I think your organization has to take its allies at face value. Anyone who supports mental health is to be encouraged at an organizational level. Leave it to others to point out the supporter's flaws/hypocrisies (on FB or elsewhere). Politics and other causes makes for strange bedfellows, as they say.
So difficult when a family tragedy enters the news. Sounds as if the son had some conflict with his family over being gay? I don't know the story, so can't really say.
My niece sure is devoted to Portland - it fits with her hippie sensibilities. From what I've seen of her photos, it looks so beautiful.
That is a bit of a tricky one. For me it would depend on exactly where he stood on gay issues. Is he only against gay marriage or does he think that all gay people are evil and should burn for eternity?
If we picked our allies solely on if they agree with everything we say then we probably wouldn't have any friends at all.
What about the worst movie you 'never' saw? I'm gonna vote for Sharknado.
DW: Thing is, what if a person can learn from the experience? E.g. this person will learn that the GLBT population makes up for a disproportionate number of suicides.
GA: You're right, no one can drive anyone else to illness, people can just be triggered. I thought the person posting was trying to get his own political message across, but it still gave me pause.
Debra: Good point. And my hope is also what I shared above with DW.
Lynn: The son wasn't gay that I know of...but the family is coming forward and advocating for mental health now because they believe (as I do) that stigma prevents people from getting help. Come visit PDX!
RC: Oh no, he's not a burn in hell type. Those people usually think you can "snap out of" things like being mental illness too.
ABTFS: True!
CG: YES!!! I still can't believe that is a real movie.
Love your answers to the questions. As for your question to us..do I throw out the baby with the bathwater? No...I take the good and the bad in most people. I think everyone is multifaceted. Some things I will agree with some I won't. That's OK. I heard a bit of Rick Warren's remarks regarding his son and I am sad for him. I don't agree with a lot of his religious beliefs..heck, I don't even know all what he believes in as I don't follow him or his faith. Still, I think his tragic loss of a child allows me to have compassion for him.
In politics I can see why you would change your vote from one term to another. Promises broken means not rewarding them with another term. Luckily we don't have to cast votes for the majority of people we meet. They can occasionally say something stupid and not be penalized.
Cheryl: Well said! I agree on all of your points...I know several parents who have lost their children to suicide and their grief just never heals. How could it?
As I say on my comments section of my blog, "Come let us reason together..." I think there are people that could come to an agreement or very least a compromise on subjects if they could just sit and talk things out. I know this to be true because I used to be "anti-gay" until I gave someone the chance to talk. Now I know better. Maybe of this man who is now open to talking about mental illness he has a chance to sit down and talk about being gay. At least I hope so...
I don't normally like to link to my blog in a comment but this post is how I came to change my mind.
http://bigfouroh.blogspot.ca/2012/04/how-blogging-changed-my-life.html
To be honest, blaming a parent for their son's suicide on that parent's anti-gay marriage stance is pretty low and disgusting.
One's personal political viewpoint should not equate as a reason for one's offspring/spouse committing suicid.
Anyone who does is simply showing their true militant colors for that particular issue (like calling someone a homophobe because they don't believe in gay marriage or in the case of the US military, persecuting someone because of their Christian beliefs).
Birdie: I just read it, and thank you for being so honest and open! You have guts!
GB: That's not what the guy posting did, or I would have nuked the comment, he said he hoped Rick Warren realized that his anti-gay stance caused mental anguish. Still platforming (is that a verb?) but not as offensive.
Fun answers!
I'm just sighing about all of the upheaval the new baby prince is supposedly inflicting on William and Kate. Don't they have a palace full of nannies?
I've got a few "allies" and "enemies" that are enclosed in the same person. Some topics are just better left avoided.
Oh! Dear! Do I really have to confess????
You pose an interesting question, my dear.....And, as to the man who's son committed suicide....I feel for him and know that he will always be in terrible anguish at this loss....
I understand what you are saying about him causing pain in others by his stance on gay marriage. One can only hope he sees the light about this, some day soon....He should be in a therapy "group" where all of these things are discussed openly and in a safe environment and perhaps then, he might see that what he feels about gay marriage causes others great pain....
Abby: Thanks! And yeah, you'd think they have an entire staff for this kiddo...
Lee: Not really ;)
Naomi: I hope so too.
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