Friday, June 6, 2008

Equality of Men and Women- long

A friend sent me a interview about women in the military this week and it has gotten me thinking about equality in our world and the real facts.

I have to say up front that this is an issue close to my heart because as a female I have spent much time and thought about issues affected by male and female equality. I want to believe that I am capable of doing anything I set my mind to but in physical reality, that is just not true. All the training that I do, all the physical effort that I do makes me strong but it does not make me equal. There are just some things that as a female I cannot do! I cannot bench press as much as Jonathan no matter how much I train, I cannot run as fast as many men I run behind in a race, I cannot be interchangeable with a male in all roles with equality.

About war- there is no way that I could go to Iraq and fight others. I don't think I could pull the trigger and kill someone, I don't know that I could physically rescue a man if he was hurt and I was his fellow soldier. I know I could not carry the 100 pound backpack around on the battle field as needed. Also, I would not want my male counterparts to feel like they had to watch out for me or resent me for "special treatmet" so I could qualify to be a part of their unit. And as a prisoner of war, sexual assault is almost certainly assured.

I spoke with some fire-fighters I work with about gender equality in their work environment. I have taken the agility test (2 times now and I will keep doing it till I pass because I can't give up) and it is one of the hardest things I have ever attempted so I know physically their job is demanding beyond what most females could handle. There is no way that I could rescue lives and fight fires in the same way that males could. Physically it is just not possible. I might be able to get the job done but would it take me longer and could put other lives at risk. We discussed living together in a co-ed situation on shift too. Privacy would be tough, relationships could be difficult and several of the guys suggested that affairs are almost inevitable just because of the emotional highs and lows that occur on the job. Wow, that got me thinking that some things are just not the right thing to do.

Now on the flip side, there are some things that males cannot do on an equal basis with females so the road goes both ways. I just don't see many males trying to take over these roles.

So the question I am now mulling over is why gender equality has become such a standard and such a problem for our country? I believe that Satan is at the root of these issues spurring us on to fight and cause division and destruction of God's creation. Honestly, God has created us to complement one another in our differences not to threaten and hurt one another by them. As a christian, what role can I play and how can I make a difference?

I will continue mulling over this and add more thoughts later! Pray with me for our nation and people!

Monday, June 2, 2008

Jonathan's Birthday

June 2nd commemerates Jonathan's 30th birthday!
We had a great weekend celebrating with a volleyball birthday bash on Friday night, dinner (just the 2 of us) on Saturday and Sunday lunch with some friends! I hope he has enjoyed his birthday. I also made him lasagna for dinner! ;-)
Today we are both working and tonight I am teaching running class and he has a softball game but we will still enjoy his day. Once you get out of high-school birthdays are just another day but we do like to exchange cards and celebrate it together. This is a big one though as he is officially old. Or so his friends tell him!
Happy Birthday Jonathan!