Friday 6 August 2010

Justice and Going out with a splash of colour

At The Vic this week, Chris Mulherin facilitated a discussion on justice, what it means and how we should think about it.

We discussed the idea of inherent human dignity, as different from relative dignity. We discussed euthanasia and abortion and human trafficking and even why it's potentially theologically heretical to suggest that a Christian shouldn't vote for a non-Christian.

We discussed how the foundations of our Western discernment of the inherent equal value given to humans lies in our Judeo-Christian heritage and the teachings of Christ. It isn't something we naturally come to, as it can be seemingly logical to understand the different worth of people from different castes.

We talked about the dangers of tying rights to attributes. A student in a Uni class maintained that a human doesn't have rights until they can understand they have them, using this as a pro-abortion argument. However the (hopefully) inherent value understood to be given to all God's creations leads us to understand that this argument doesn't stand when applied to the mentally handicapped. We (hopefully) have an inherent understanding of the dignity they're entitled to (as being very distinct from social dignity, or perceived dignity) and the argument falls apart.

I feel very grateful for my brand of feminist upbringing and for God's blessing on my life.

I've also come to a rather momentous decision. Don't be afraid. I've thought about it and I think it's for the best.

It's been three and a half years. My friend Divya first got me onto it. You've seen pictures and you've heard how therapeutic it's been. Thank you, Divs. Thank you all those who have donated to my enjoyment. But it's time. People who've known me for a long time will back me up in saying that I was colourful enough before, and so too will I be afterwards.

I am giving up the colourful nails.

Tonight I donated my nail polish collection. It's going to a good home, and for those around me who still want to borrow a bottle or two, I can send you down the road to visit them all.

I've never cared what people have said about me because of it. I've never cared what anyone thinks, as long as I haven't hurt anyone in the process. And in the past, I'm sure I haven't. Sadly, I can no longer say this is true.

Here's my last shot at digital (get it?!) beauty. Last night I had no idea that this would be the last time, but I think it's a fair final effort.


Also, I'm in the process of reworking my name. I don't want people to get confused. I've got an explanation in the side bar and in the questions page, but I'm still concerned that people will be put off. I'm not a closet communist, nor would I ever hope to be chairman of anything really.

I don't want to be spineless or a pushover and I'm always my own person, but I think compromise is part of being an adult. And if some simple changes around here will create better relations and save people from copping flak, then it's the least I could do.

I hope that in this spirit I'll be met in the middle concerning other simple things.

Much love, as always,

TSC

P.S. In much lesser news- I'm messing around with the header. Whadya think?

P.P.S. I will work hard and love you as best I can, A.T., turning to God for guidance and learning day by day to better serve you, just as you will serve me. Don't have fear. Have faith in God's plan for us and the work He will do in our lives. I'm so proud of you. Congratulations on your GP training placement. I hope your rest brings you to a better state of health. Have confidence. My prayer is that you see the blessings of working as hard in your social, spiritual and family life as you've done so far in your career. I hope this never loses its value and is a reminder of my life-long commitment to a life lived for God, in partnership with you: I love you. Don't feel inadequate. Ask and it shall be given. I'm looking forward to a life filled with joy, where difficulties are worked through together, as an unbreakable unit, with God's help.

19 comments:

  1. Awww, and I was contemplating getting that metal nail art thing from that Korean store for your engagement present ;).

    Though I've been observing from afar, I'm proud of you. Growing up comes with tough decisions but if they keep us moving forward, they were the right decisions to make.

    P.S. Thumbs up for the header :). Mel still hasn't fashioned one for me lol.

    P.S.S. Congrats Kat :).

    ReplyDelete
  2. I started to panic when I was reading your blog today, because I THOUGHT when you said you were giving up the blog...I mean, I thought you were going to stop using the blog and I got very worried! Of course, its sad that you're giving up your colorful nails, but I would rather have the Soviet Chairman (please don't change that!) sans pretty nails than to not have him at all!

    And I really think that your "title" is rather creative! Don't change it :(

    ReplyDelete
  3. Perhaps colorful socks are next on the list! I remember this one guy in my poetry class who wore the craziest socks underneath his preppy clothes, and it just made my day when I caught a glimpse of red socks with snowmen on them, in the middle of October.

    I like the header. It's coming along! I think I'm gonna print one of the (not)chickens you sent me and color it. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I used to have the (not)chickens coloured yellow with light blue beaks.

    People who have stayed here a while have generally warmed to the "title" so I guess I'll keep it.

    I already miss the colours, but I'm confident they've gone to a good home.

    There's already a guy at Uni who's famous for his coloured socks. I don't want notoriety, I just like colour. However, I'm confident that this decision was the right one.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Also- Any suggestions with the header? The last one was too visually cluttered.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I guess the problem is that I don't really work very hard at my career .........

    thank you.

    p.s. I will just say now that some people will always give flak, no matter if there really is reason to do so or not. Sometimes it's more an expression of internal frustration and/or unhappiness than an indication of the nature of the target of the angry words.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Heh heh :). Remember how the worst response possible is "thank you"?

    :)

    I'll do my own translation in my head, I guess :).

    *Kisses*

    ReplyDelete
  8. hmmm the "thank you" was in response to the congratulations offered above. It probably wasn't clear, sorry about that ...

    *coughing kitty*

    ReplyDelete
  9. argh! i want! esp if you have any OPI. i want i want i want!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Nope, I don't have any OPI, but the Revlon's really good. It's all gone, though. If you'd like to visit it, I can take you some time :).

    Hey, Coughing Kitty. I hope that scarf in bed idea has worked. See you soon, Beautiful One.

    ReplyDelete
  11. OMG FINALLY!!! Thank the LORD you have seen the light!!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Shut up, HH. It's people like you who ruin everybody's fun. I don't care what you think, but I do care that people who I care about have been ridiculed and had to defend me.

    There're also several issues of great importance to me, which relate to gender issues and the nails often act as a barrier to getting these views and interpretations heard. People are quick to put up walls when the bearer of important news doesn't look like someone who is living in their world.

    I guess the contrast is more obvious when someone is looking at my face and nails at the same time, because it's never struck me as being something so very strange looking. Apparently I'm wrong. I don't mind being strange, but only when nobody (else) gets hurt.

    I'd really like to thank Penny and Sam for being amazing about everything. They've been very understanding- and if anyone wants to visit my collection, then give Penny a call :).

    ReplyDelete
  13. Who the hell is HH?

    ReplyDelete
  14. You, you blue berk! If you're not HH, then who are you, huh?

    ReplyDelete
  15. Why are you telling me to shut up when I clearly haven't posted any comments yet?

    Anywho, bye-bye color!!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Why bother hiding it?

    *sigh*

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hiding what??? Now you're attacking me for something I didn't do!!!

    ReplyDelete