Just to note: On my English Caesarean Section Paper I recieved a 93%.
I have my topic for my next Argument Paper in English Composition II. The Paper, I think, is due October 3, but it could very well be a week later. I am going to have to make this one really good. The actual paper I mean. The topic will have something to do with this article
Transexual Wins Lawsuit
I haven't decided if I am going to go the Transexual way or the Library of Congress way.
Who Knows. Which do you think is better?
Friday, September 26, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
25 september 2008
What I am working on right now.
College Algebra:
Professor: Don JohnsonOn Friday, 26 September 2008 I have a test. The second of the year. I have made my notecard, and I am confident. It is over absolute value, complex numbers, radicals, and quadratics. I think I will do well.
English Composition II:
Professor: HamelinI turned in my Caesarean section Argument Paper. I guess I am in the process of thinking of a new argument topic. I think I am going to try to think of a topic that is related to the work I want to get into. I also need to think of topics for my final, which is a ten page research argument paper. I think I want that topic to have something to do with Libraries. If I can I want to mix it in with my History Research paper, adn do an argument about one of the Librarians for the Library of Congress.
Yoga: We are still doing yoga. We have advanced to tree pose.
Psychology:
Professor: Krista RumageI have test, but it isn't for a while. I need to transfer my notes from yesterdays class sometime before Monday. We are studying learning and memory.
U.S. History:
Professor: The guy I absolutly adore, Dr. Wallace, he makes my day.I have an Exam on 2 October 2008. Well, it's actualy a "mid-term". I will beed to study for that while I do my laundry. This may be a class I want note cards for. My favorite. I am also working in my research paper for the final. It is a ten page research paper and I chose to write about teh Library of Congress. I will post the outline I have soon. I had Dr. Wallace read over my outline and explain to me what was good and what needed work or to just be eliminated. I am so excited for this.
Mysticism:
Professor: Matt BranstetterI have to present my paper today and turn it in to Branstetter. I also have to edit it one final time. I am going over to the computer lab this morning to do it. As soon as the lab opens. Which is any time now. I may eat first though. Then... print print print.
That's it, all my classes
In the Works.Argument paper (No topic yet)10 Page Research Paper (Topic: Library of Congress)10 Page Research paper (Topic: Something about books and learning)Book review for "Don't Know Much About History"
College Algebra:
Professor: Don JohnsonOn Friday, 26 September 2008 I have a test. The second of the year. I have made my notecard, and I am confident. It is over absolute value, complex numbers, radicals, and quadratics. I think I will do well.
English Composition II:
Professor: HamelinI turned in my Caesarean section Argument Paper. I guess I am in the process of thinking of a new argument topic. I think I am going to try to think of a topic that is related to the work I want to get into. I also need to think of topics for my final, which is a ten page research argument paper. I think I want that topic to have something to do with Libraries. If I can I want to mix it in with my History Research paper, adn do an argument about one of the Librarians for the Library of Congress.
Yoga: We are still doing yoga. We have advanced to tree pose.
Psychology:
Professor: Krista RumageI have test, but it isn't for a while. I need to transfer my notes from yesterdays class sometime before Monday. We are studying learning and memory.
U.S. History:
Professor: The guy I absolutly adore, Dr. Wallace, he makes my day.I have an Exam on 2 October 2008. Well, it's actualy a "mid-term". I will beed to study for that while I do my laundry. This may be a class I want note cards for. My favorite. I am also working in my research paper for the final. It is a ten page research paper and I chose to write about teh Library of Congress. I will post the outline I have soon. I had Dr. Wallace read over my outline and explain to me what was good and what needed work or to just be eliminated. I am so excited for this.
Mysticism:
Professor: Matt BranstetterI have to present my paper today and turn it in to Branstetter. I also have to edit it one final time. I am going over to the computer lab this morning to do it. As soon as the lab opens. Which is any time now. I may eat first though. Then... print print print.
That's it, all my classes
In the Works.Argument paper (No topic yet)10 Page Research Paper (Topic: Library of Congress)10 Page Research paper (Topic: Something about books and learning)Book review for "Don't Know Much About History"
Julian of Norwich (Fianal Draft)
This is what my professor is getting. I hope he likes it.
21 September 2008
Mysticism:
Matt Branstetter
Julian of Norwich:
Amanda Cunningham
Mysticism is the belief that you can transcend the physicality of being in order to reach enlightenment with God. One of the most well known mystics of all time is known as Julian of Norwich. She was alive during the fourteenth century and is considered to have been the greatest English mystic ever. Here I will give you a brief biographical account of Julian, share some of her mystical experiences, and explore the impact she has had on me personally.
Julian’s greatest accomplishment was to write a book that is entitled The Revelations of Divine Love. As well as being an important contribution to the history of mysticism, it is also is considered to be the first English book written by a woman, and is available in two volumes. The first volume was written within weeks of the experience and is the more personal depiction of her experience with God. The second volume was written some twenty years later and provides a more descriptive and thought out portrayal of her Revelations.
Julian was born in 1342 and was most likely educated at a school for girls run by Benedictine nuns, as was customary of the time. Not much else is known about Julian due to lack of historical records, but we can make a lot of assumptions regarding her history. We do know that her name comes from the St. Julian church where she lived as an anchoress. There she would have spent her time praying, fasting, meditating, and mostly alone. We can assume that since she was named as a beneficiary in the wills of some of the Norwichian community members that she also did some work outside of the church. It can also be concluded that Julian still lived at home during the time of her revelations since her mother and sister were with her during her most notorious experience
As a mystic, Julian fully believes she had these experiences not only for her own good, but for the knowledge of all Christians. That is why she wrote her book. Many times throughout her short volume, Julian mentions that she does not want to have eyes on her, but on God. She wants all Christian to know that what God tells her is also meant for their benefit. . Part of Julian's way of removing herself from the glory is to remove the personal pronouns from the longer edited second volume of Revelations of Divine Love. The best way to describe her experience is to say she had an actual, personal, experience with God. She also had actual dialog “with God”, and an experience with the Devil
Julian felt that God and Jesus were the greatest of all beings. She viewed worshiping and following God as the best, most fulfilling experience any person could have. She never felt that worship was some sort of rule she had to follow. At one point in her experience, Julian describes her extreme pain and how it didn’t matter, because she felt that suffering with Jesus was better than any physical relief without him. As a mystic, Julian experienced exactly what every other mystic of her time wanted, a true personal oneness with the one true God.
Because Julian felt this way about God and Jesus, she had a desire to understand what Jesus went through; so she asked for it. She prayed for God to show her, to allow her to experience Christ’s Passion, the three wounds of the crucifixion, and for extreme sickness. Then, in the winter of her thirtieth year Julian was overcome with a sickness like no other. This was a sickness that was sure to kill her. Her family called the priest to be with her during her final hours. Nobody knew that this was a sickness Julian prayed for, an answer from Jesus.
Julian's sickness came on suddenly and was the start of her visions. For two days she suffered. On the second night she believed she was sure to die by morning. At once her lower body was paralyzed. The curator was called and Julian was placed in bed. Julian mentions at this time that she did not want to die just yet for fear of leaving behind without doing all the good she could have done for God. Julian kept her gaze upward, toward heaven, where she was going. She only agreed to look down if she had a crucifix to gaze and she kept her gaze on the crucifix. Then her second prayer was answered, she had repeated visions of Christ over the next week.
“Suddenly I saw red blood trickle down from under the garland-hot, fresh, plentiful, and lifelike- just as I thought it would have done when the garland of thorns was thrust on his blessed head. So both God and man together suffered for me. I understood clearly and with certainty that it was he who showed it to me, without intermediary; and I said, “Benedicite Dominus!” I spoke reverently, in a strong voice, and was astonished by the wonderful and marvelous fact of his being so friendly with a sinful creature living in this wretched flesh”
Julian's visions came and went, taking her on an entire journey with Jesus. Her body felt his body as he dried out from loss of blood and lack of water. She took every raspy breath with Jesus and yearned for every drop of water. She was able to look into the eyes of Mary Magdalene. Amazing enough as that was, she was even able to feel the love he had for her. Jesus endured the pain, and Julian endured the pain, but if the excruciating pain became too much for Julian to handle, Jesus was able to relieve her.
“After this our lord revealed an exalted spiritual joy which filled my soul with an abiding security; I was greatly reassured, and free of fear. This feeling was so blissful and pleasing that I was at peace, at ease and at rest. Nothing on earth could have grieved me-but this joy only lasted for a short while. Then I was overcome and left alone in such sad weariness at myself and irksomeness at my life that I scarcely had patience to live. I felt neither ease nor comfort-only hope, faith, and charity, and of these in truth but little.
However, God soon restored both comfort and rest to my soul, a joyous gladness and security so powerful that no fear or sorrow, no recurred, and then the joy and the gladness, and then the one and then the other, I suppose about twenty times. In joy I might have said, with Paul, “Nothing shall separate me from the love of Christ”; and in pain I might have said, with Peter, “Lord save me, I perish.”
This vision's purpose was to teach me the need for each soul to feel this way: sometimes to be in comfort, and other times to fail and be left alone. God wants us to now that he keeps us safe both in well and in woe, and loves us as much in the hard times as the good. For the profit of his soul, a man is sometimes left to himself, although sin is not the cause/; during this time I was not left alone because I had sinned, nor had I done anything to merit the joy. God freely gives pleasure when he chooses, and other times he leaves us in pain. Both are done for love.”
Julian, as many do, understood exactly what Jesus went through. She understood it in the way a female understands what it is like to be male. As much as she may have understood it, she wanted to know what it was like, in the same way a female would only be able to know what it is like to be male, she would have to physically experience it herself. Julian said she wanted to be there with Mary Magdalene to be able to see her face. Julian wanted to feel the pain in Jesus' body and know the extreme love in his heart. Julian was able to understand truly how it feels to be Jesus and how he’s able to do everything for us out of love.
Jesus also spoke with Julian,
“Thus our good lord answered all my questions and doubts, comforting me with these words: “I may make all things well, I can make all things well, I can make all things well, I shall make all things well; and you shall see yourself that all shall be well.” Where he says I may, I understand the father; where he says I can, I understand the son; where he says I will, I understand the holy ghost; where he says I shall, I understand the unity of the holy trinity, three persons in one truth; and where he says you shall see yourself, I understand the uniting in the uniting in the blessed trinity of all mankind who shall be saved.
With these five phrases, God will be enclosed in rest and in peace, and thus will the spiritual thirst of Christ come to an end. His ghostly thirst- his love longing- shall last until judgment day, for we who shall be saved, and who shall be Christ's joy and bliss, will remain here until that time. His thirst, the failure of his bliss, is that he does not have us in him, as wholly as he shall then have. All this was revealed in the showing of compassion, which shall cease at doomsday; until the he feels pity and compassion for us, and he longs for us. But his wisdom and his love do not suffer the end to come until best time.
And in these words, I may take all things well, I understand the great comfort of all his works that are yet to come.”
Julian understood the Trinity far better than most anybody. She understood God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit, He has all the power, and he wants to use it all for us.
Julian asked God to show her things, not out of desire for proof, but out of faith. She knew he had the power to show her anything and do anything he desired. All Julian needed was for her desire and his will to be the same. Julian held strong to her faith. God was happy and Julian survived her illness, probably coming out much better off spiritually, than any other person of her day. She had strong faith each day until her death, which didn’t come until some forty-three years later in 1416; it was her seventy-fourth year.
Julian of Norwich surprisingly has taught me a lot about my own faith. My beliefs can most closely be related to those of a Baptist-Christian, Baptists are known for their extremely deep levels of faith and devotion to God. Keeping that in mind, I believe that this mystic most likely had more faith in Jesus Christ than I do, which astonishes me. How I wish I could experience Jesus Christ's crucifixion personally. It would be a pain beyond anything I can imagine, but it would be worth it if I could just feel the pure love in his heart. Julian was privileged, and she knew it. That is why she documented her experiences in such detail, in order to bless the lives of other Christians and share her faith.
Julian mentioned not speaking of her visions to anyone and not “confessing” them to a priest because she was certain no pastor would believe her. She was right. Even though it has been almost 600 years since Julian had these mystical experiences, people today are still very skeptical of mystics. After I enrolled in this class, even I was advised to “be careful with those mystics”, but the impression I get of Julian is that she seems to be a “better Christian” than all of us. She had pure faith, and lived her life that way. Why are people so skeptical? Why are people afraid of her “visions”? What have I to fear of her? Jesus spoke directly to her so she could speak to Christians like me. Her experience was so personal that it could almost be titled “The Gospel According to Julian.” The fact that she wanted to share it with me touches my heart.
I also find that I am jealous of Julian in the same way that I am jealous of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. In the game of telephone, , one person starts (Jesus) and they tell a story to the person sitting next to them (Julian) and then Julian has turned and told me. I then turn to the person next to me (You) and pass on the message. The game goes on until the last person re-tells the story, usually a totally different story is told at the end because human errors. So, I can experience Jesus Christ through Luke from Jesus, or through Mark from Jesus, but these five had a personal one on one experience with Jesus Christ, and that I am jealous of. Unfortunately for myself, I lack that extreme faith, and it is hard to say if I ever will have faith enough to hear a story directly from Jesus in this lifetime.
I hope that through my paper you have a new respect for mystics, mysticism, and Julian of Norwich herself. I have shared with you her history, her literature, and how she makes me feel. Julian puts an itch in my heart to know how I can reach the Lord on a more personal level, and it is my desire for you to desire the same.
Works Cited
Julian, of Norwich, b. 1343. Revelations of Divine love, translated from British Library Additional MS 37790 ; with introduction, interpretive essay, and bibliography [by] Frances Beer.
21 September 2008
Mysticism:
Matt Branstetter
Julian of Norwich:
Amanda Cunningham
Mysticism is the belief that you can transcend the physicality of being in order to reach enlightenment with God. One of the most well known mystics of all time is known as Julian of Norwich. She was alive during the fourteenth century and is considered to have been the greatest English mystic ever. Here I will give you a brief biographical account of Julian, share some of her mystical experiences, and explore the impact she has had on me personally.
Julian’s greatest accomplishment was to write a book that is entitled The Revelations of Divine Love. As well as being an important contribution to the history of mysticism, it is also is considered to be the first English book written by a woman, and is available in two volumes. The first volume was written within weeks of the experience and is the more personal depiction of her experience with God. The second volume was written some twenty years later and provides a more descriptive and thought out portrayal of her Revelations.
Julian was born in 1342 and was most likely educated at a school for girls run by Benedictine nuns, as was customary of the time. Not much else is known about Julian due to lack of historical records, but we can make a lot of assumptions regarding her history. We do know that her name comes from the St. Julian church where she lived as an anchoress. There she would have spent her time praying, fasting, meditating, and mostly alone. We can assume that since she was named as a beneficiary in the wills of some of the Norwichian community members that she also did some work outside of the church. It can also be concluded that Julian still lived at home during the time of her revelations since her mother and sister were with her during her most notorious experience
As a mystic, Julian fully believes she had these experiences not only for her own good, but for the knowledge of all Christians. That is why she wrote her book. Many times throughout her short volume, Julian mentions that she does not want to have eyes on her, but on God. She wants all Christian to know that what God tells her is also meant for their benefit. . Part of Julian's way of removing herself from the glory is to remove the personal pronouns from the longer edited second volume of Revelations of Divine Love. The best way to describe her experience is to say she had an actual, personal, experience with God. She also had actual dialog “with God”, and an experience with the Devil
Julian felt that God and Jesus were the greatest of all beings. She viewed worshiping and following God as the best, most fulfilling experience any person could have. She never felt that worship was some sort of rule she had to follow. At one point in her experience, Julian describes her extreme pain and how it didn’t matter, because she felt that suffering with Jesus was better than any physical relief without him. As a mystic, Julian experienced exactly what every other mystic of her time wanted, a true personal oneness with the one true God.
Because Julian felt this way about God and Jesus, she had a desire to understand what Jesus went through; so she asked for it. She prayed for God to show her, to allow her to experience Christ’s Passion, the three wounds of the crucifixion, and for extreme sickness. Then, in the winter of her thirtieth year Julian was overcome with a sickness like no other. This was a sickness that was sure to kill her. Her family called the priest to be with her during her final hours. Nobody knew that this was a sickness Julian prayed for, an answer from Jesus.
Julian's sickness came on suddenly and was the start of her visions. For two days she suffered. On the second night she believed she was sure to die by morning. At once her lower body was paralyzed. The curator was called and Julian was placed in bed. Julian mentions at this time that she did not want to die just yet for fear of leaving behind without doing all the good she could have done for God. Julian kept her gaze upward, toward heaven, where she was going. She only agreed to look down if she had a crucifix to gaze and she kept her gaze on the crucifix. Then her second prayer was answered, she had repeated visions of Christ over the next week.
“Suddenly I saw red blood trickle down from under the garland-hot, fresh, plentiful, and lifelike- just as I thought it would have done when the garland of thorns was thrust on his blessed head. So both God and man together suffered for me. I understood clearly and with certainty that it was he who showed it to me, without intermediary; and I said, “Benedicite Dominus!” I spoke reverently, in a strong voice, and was astonished by the wonderful and marvelous fact of his being so friendly with a sinful creature living in this wretched flesh”
Julian's visions came and went, taking her on an entire journey with Jesus. Her body felt his body as he dried out from loss of blood and lack of water. She took every raspy breath with Jesus and yearned for every drop of water. She was able to look into the eyes of Mary Magdalene. Amazing enough as that was, she was even able to feel the love he had for her. Jesus endured the pain, and Julian endured the pain, but if the excruciating pain became too much for Julian to handle, Jesus was able to relieve her.
“After this our lord revealed an exalted spiritual joy which filled my soul with an abiding security; I was greatly reassured, and free of fear. This feeling was so blissful and pleasing that I was at peace, at ease and at rest. Nothing on earth could have grieved me-but this joy only lasted for a short while. Then I was overcome and left alone in such sad weariness at myself and irksomeness at my life that I scarcely had patience to live. I felt neither ease nor comfort-only hope, faith, and charity, and of these in truth but little.
However, God soon restored both comfort and rest to my soul, a joyous gladness and security so powerful that no fear or sorrow, no recurred, and then the joy and the gladness, and then the one and then the other, I suppose about twenty times. In joy I might have said, with Paul, “Nothing shall separate me from the love of Christ”; and in pain I might have said, with Peter, “Lord save me, I perish.”
This vision's purpose was to teach me the need for each soul to feel this way: sometimes to be in comfort, and other times to fail and be left alone. God wants us to now that he keeps us safe both in well and in woe, and loves us as much in the hard times as the good. For the profit of his soul, a man is sometimes left to himself, although sin is not the cause/; during this time I was not left alone because I had sinned, nor had I done anything to merit the joy. God freely gives pleasure when he chooses, and other times he leaves us in pain. Both are done for love.”
Julian, as many do, understood exactly what Jesus went through. She understood it in the way a female understands what it is like to be male. As much as she may have understood it, she wanted to know what it was like, in the same way a female would only be able to know what it is like to be male, she would have to physically experience it herself. Julian said she wanted to be there with Mary Magdalene to be able to see her face. Julian wanted to feel the pain in Jesus' body and know the extreme love in his heart. Julian was able to understand truly how it feels to be Jesus and how he’s able to do everything for us out of love.
Jesus also spoke with Julian,
“Thus our good lord answered all my questions and doubts, comforting me with these words: “I may make all things well, I can make all things well, I can make all things well, I shall make all things well; and you shall see yourself that all shall be well.” Where he says I may, I understand the father; where he says I can, I understand the son; where he says I will, I understand the holy ghost; where he says I shall, I understand the unity of the holy trinity, three persons in one truth; and where he says you shall see yourself, I understand the uniting in the uniting in the blessed trinity of all mankind who shall be saved.
With these five phrases, God will be enclosed in rest and in peace, and thus will the spiritual thirst of Christ come to an end. His ghostly thirst- his love longing- shall last until judgment day, for we who shall be saved, and who shall be Christ's joy and bliss, will remain here until that time. His thirst, the failure of his bliss, is that he does not have us in him, as wholly as he shall then have. All this was revealed in the showing of compassion, which shall cease at doomsday; until the he feels pity and compassion for us, and he longs for us. But his wisdom and his love do not suffer the end to come until best time.
And in these words, I may take all things well, I understand the great comfort of all his works that are yet to come.”
Julian understood the Trinity far better than most anybody. She understood God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit, He has all the power, and he wants to use it all for us.
Julian asked God to show her things, not out of desire for proof, but out of faith. She knew he had the power to show her anything and do anything he desired. All Julian needed was for her desire and his will to be the same. Julian held strong to her faith. God was happy and Julian survived her illness, probably coming out much better off spiritually, than any other person of her day. She had strong faith each day until her death, which didn’t come until some forty-three years later in 1416; it was her seventy-fourth year.
Julian of Norwich surprisingly has taught me a lot about my own faith. My beliefs can most closely be related to those of a Baptist-Christian, Baptists are known for their extremely deep levels of faith and devotion to God. Keeping that in mind, I believe that this mystic most likely had more faith in Jesus Christ than I do, which astonishes me. How I wish I could experience Jesus Christ's crucifixion personally. It would be a pain beyond anything I can imagine, but it would be worth it if I could just feel the pure love in his heart. Julian was privileged, and she knew it. That is why she documented her experiences in such detail, in order to bless the lives of other Christians and share her faith.
Julian mentioned not speaking of her visions to anyone and not “confessing” them to a priest because she was certain no pastor would believe her. She was right. Even though it has been almost 600 years since Julian had these mystical experiences, people today are still very skeptical of mystics. After I enrolled in this class, even I was advised to “be careful with those mystics”, but the impression I get of Julian is that she seems to be a “better Christian” than all of us. She had pure faith, and lived her life that way. Why are people so skeptical? Why are people afraid of her “visions”? What have I to fear of her? Jesus spoke directly to her so she could speak to Christians like me. Her experience was so personal that it could almost be titled “The Gospel According to Julian.” The fact that she wanted to share it with me touches my heart.
I also find that I am jealous of Julian in the same way that I am jealous of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. In the game of telephone, , one person starts (Jesus) and they tell a story to the person sitting next to them (Julian) and then Julian has turned and told me. I then turn to the person next to me (You) and pass on the message. The game goes on until the last person re-tells the story, usually a totally different story is told at the end because human errors. So, I can experience Jesus Christ through Luke from Jesus, or through Mark from Jesus, but these five had a personal one on one experience with Jesus Christ, and that I am jealous of. Unfortunately for myself, I lack that extreme faith, and it is hard to say if I ever will have faith enough to hear a story directly from Jesus in this lifetime.
I hope that through my paper you have a new respect for mystics, mysticism, and Julian of Norwich herself. I have shared with you her history, her literature, and how she makes me feel. Julian puts an itch in my heart to know how I can reach the Lord on a more personal level, and it is my desire for you to desire the same.
Works Cited
Julian, of Norwich, b. 1343. Revelations of Divine love, translated from British Library Additional MS 37790 ; with introduction, interpretive essay, and bibliography [by] Frances Beer.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Julian of Norwich (Rough Draft) Edits welcome!! PLEASE
I have a very rough draft of my Julian of Norwich paper here. It is pretty long, becuase it is meant to be 5-7 pages. It's five as of yet. Let me know what you think. Afterward I will place some of my thoughts on it thus far, because I don't want what I say now to influence how you read it. Please be harsh. Harsher edit makes for better paper.
21 September 2008
Mysticism:
Matt Branstetter
Julian of Norwichian:
Amanda Cunningham
Julian of Norwich (whose real name is unknown) was a fourteenth century mystic who put her recounts of a mystical experience into on of the best mystical books pf her time. The book is entitled The Revelations of Divine Love (which is considered to be the first English book written by a woman), and is available in two volumes. The first of the two was written within weeks of the experience and is the more personal of the two. The second was written some twenty years later and is less personal.
Julian was born in 1342 and was most likely educated at a school for girls run by Benedictine nuns, as was customary of the time. Not much else is know of Julian whose name comes from the St. Julian church where where she lived as an anchoress. There she would have spent her time praying, fasting, meditating, mostly alone. Since she was named as a beneficiary in the wills of some of the Norwichian community members, it can be assumed that she also did some work in the community. Also, it can be assumed that Julian still lived at home during the time of her revelations since her mother and sister were with her during her sick time. Julian is considered one of the greatest English mystics.
As a mystic, Julian had a Theistic experience, which is to say she had an actual, personal, experience with God. She also had actual dialog “with God”, and also and experience with the Devil. Julian fully believes she had these experiences not only for her own good, but for the knowledge of all Christians. Many times throughout her short volume, Julian mentions that she does not want to have eyes of her, but on God. She wants all Christian to know that what God tells her is also meant for their benefit. Part of Julian's way of removing herself from the glory is to remove the personal pronouns form the longer edited second volume of Revelations of Divine Love.
Julian saw Gad and Jesus as the greatest of all beings. She viewed worshiping and following God as the best most fulfilling experience any person could have, instead of some sort of rule she must follow. At one point in her experience, Julian keeps her gaze on the crucifix placed in front of her, even though looking away may relieve pain, because she knows that suffering with Jesus is better than any physical relief without him. As a mystic, Julian experienced exactly what every other mystic of that time wanted, a true personal oneness with the one true God.
In the winter of her thirty and one-half year Julian was overcome with a sickness like no other. This was a sickness that was sure to kill her. Her family called the priest to be with her during her final hours. What nobody knew was that this was a sickness Julian prayed for, an answer from Jesus. Along with an experience of Christ Passion, and three wounds, Julian asked for extreme sickness.
Julian, as many do, understood what Jesus went through. She understood it in the way a female understands what it is like to be male. As much as she may have understood it, she wanted to know what it was like, in the same way a female would only be able to know what it is like to be male, she would have to physically experience it herself. Julian said she wanted to be there with Mary Magdalene to be able to see her face. Julian wanted to feel the pain in Jesus' bod and know the extreme love in his heart.
Julian's sickness came on suddenly and was the start of her visions. For two days she suffered. On the second night she believed she was sure to die by morning. At once her lower body was paralyzed. The curator was called and Julian was placed in bed. Julian mentions at this time that she did not want to die just yet for fear of leaving behind good she could have done for God. Julian kept her gaze upward, toward heaven, where she was going. She only agreed to look down if she had a crucifix to gaze at.
Julian's second prayer was answered. Throughout her sickness she kept her gaze at the crucifix. She would have repeated visions of Christ over the next week: “Suddenly I saw red blood trickle down from under the garland-hot, fresh, plentiful, and lifelike- just as I thought it would have done when the garland of thorns was thrust on his blessed head. So both God and man together suffered for me. I understood clearly and with certainty that it was he who showed it to me, without intermediary; and I said, “Benedicite Dominus!” I spoke reverently, in a strong voice, and was astonished by the wonderful and marvelous fact of his being so friendly with a sinful creature living in this wretched flesh”
Julian's visions came and went, taking her on the entire journey with Jesus. Her body felt his body as he dried out for loss of blood and lack of water. She took every raspy breath with Jesus and yearned for every drop of water. She was able to look into the eyes of Mary Magdalene. Amazingly enough as that was, she was even able to feel the love he has for her. Jesus endured the pain, and Julian endured the pain, but if the excruciating pain became too much for Julian to handle, Jesus was able to relieve her.
“After this our lord revealed an exalted spiritual joy which filled my soul with an abiding security; I was greatly reassured, and free of fear. This feeling was so blissful and pleasing that I was at peace, at ease and at rest. Nothing on earth could have grieved me-but this joy only lasted for a short while. Then I was overcome and left alone in such sad weariness at myself and irksomeness at my life that I scarcely had patience to live. I felt neither ease nor comfort-only hope, faith, and charity, and of these in truth but little.
However, God soon restored both comfort and rest to my soul, a joyous gladness and security so powerful that no fear or sorrow, no recurred, and then the joy and the gladness, and then the one and then the other, I suppose about twenty times. In joy I might have said, with Paul, “Nothing shall separate me from the love of Christ”; and in pain I might have said, with Peter, “Lord save me, I perish.”
This vision's purpose was to teach me the need for each soul to feel this way: sometimes to be in comfort, and other times to fail and be left alone. God wants us to now that he keeps us safe both in well ans in woe, and loves us as much in the hard times as the good. For the profit of his soul, a man is sometimes left to himself, although sin is not the cause/; during this time I was not left alone because I had sinned, nor had I done anything to merit the joy. God freely gives pleasure when he chooses, and other times he leaves us in pain. Both are done for love.”
Julian always knew exactly why Jesus did anything, as we do all know. Jesus does everything to/for us out of love.
Jesus also spoke with Julian, “Thus our good lord answered all my questions and doubts, comforting me with these words: “I may make all things well, I can make all things well, I can make all things well, I shall make all things well; and you shall see yourself that all shall be well.” Where he says I may, I understand the father; where he says I can, I understand the son; where he says I will, I understand the holy ghost; where he says I shall, I understand the unity of the holy trinity, three persons in one truth; and where he says you shall see yourself, I understand the uniting in the uniting in the blessed trinity of all mankind who shall be saved.
With these five phrases, God will be enclosed in rest and in peace, and thus will the spiritual thirst of Christ come to an end. His ghostly thirst- his love longing- shall last until judgment day, for we who shall be saved, and who shall be Christ's joy and bliss, will remain here until that time. His thirst, the failure of his bliss, is that he does not have us in him, as wholly as he shall then have. All this was revealed in the showing of compassion, which shall cease at doomsday; until the he feels pity ans compassion for us, and he longs for us. But his wisdom and his love do not suffer the end to come until best time.
And in these words, I may take all things well, I understand the great comfort of all his works that are yet to come.” Julian understands the Trinity far better than most anybody. God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit, he has all the power, and he wants to use it all for us.
Julian asked God to show her things, not out of desire for proof, but out of faith. She knew he had the power to show her anything and do anything he desired. All Julian needed was for her desire and his will to be the same. Julian held strong to her faith, even through temptation from the Devil. God was happy and Julian survived her illness, probably coming out better than any other person of her day. She had strong faith each day until her death. She died some forty-three years later in 1416 at the age of seventy-four.
Julian of Norwich surprisingly has taught me a lot about my own faith. I am most closely related to a Baptist-Christian, and I believe that this mystic most likely had more faith in Jesus Christ than I do. How I wish I could experience Jesus Christ's crucification personally. It would be a pain beyond anything I can imagine, but it would be worth it if I could just feel the pure love in his heart. Julian was privileged, and she knew it.
Julian mentioned no speaking of her visions or “confessing” them to a priest because no pastor would believe her. She was right. I was advised to “be careful with those mystics”, but Julian seems to be a “better Christian” than all of us. She had pure faith, and lived her life that way. What have I to fear of her Jesus spoke directly to her so she could speak to Christians like myself. Her experience was so personal that it could almost be titled “The Gospel According to Julian.”
I am jealous of Julian in the same way that I ma jealous of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. In the game of telephone, I can experience Jesus Christ through Luke from Jesus, or through Mark from Jesus, but these five had a personal one one one experience with Jesus Christ. I lack that extreme faith, and it is hard to say if I ever will.
--------------------------------------------
21 September 2008
Mysticism:
Matt Branstetter
Julian of Norwichian:
Amanda Cunningham
Julian of Norwich (whose real name is unknown) was a fourteenth century mystic who put her recounts of a mystical experience into on of the best mystical books pf her time. The book is entitled The Revelations of Divine Love (which is considered to be the first English book written by a woman), and is available in two volumes. The first of the two was written within weeks of the experience and is the more personal of the two. The second was written some twenty years later and is less personal.
Julian was born in 1342 and was most likely educated at a school for girls run by Benedictine nuns, as was customary of the time. Not much else is know of Julian whose name comes from the St. Julian church where where she lived as an anchoress. There she would have spent her time praying, fasting, meditating, mostly alone. Since she was named as a beneficiary in the wills of some of the Norwichian community members, it can be assumed that she also did some work in the community. Also, it can be assumed that Julian still lived at home during the time of her revelations since her mother and sister were with her during her sick time. Julian is considered one of the greatest English mystics.
As a mystic, Julian had a Theistic experience, which is to say she had an actual, personal, experience with God. She also had actual dialog “with God”, and also and experience with the Devil. Julian fully believes she had these experiences not only for her own good, but for the knowledge of all Christians. Many times throughout her short volume, Julian mentions that she does not want to have eyes of her, but on God. She wants all Christian to know that what God tells her is also meant for their benefit. Part of Julian's way of removing herself from the glory is to remove the personal pronouns form the longer edited second volume of Revelations of Divine Love.
Julian saw Gad and Jesus as the greatest of all beings. She viewed worshiping and following God as the best most fulfilling experience any person could have, instead of some sort of rule she must follow. At one point in her experience, Julian keeps her gaze on the crucifix placed in front of her, even though looking away may relieve pain, because she knows that suffering with Jesus is better than any physical relief without him. As a mystic, Julian experienced exactly what every other mystic of that time wanted, a true personal oneness with the one true God.
In the winter of her thirty and one-half year Julian was overcome with a sickness like no other. This was a sickness that was sure to kill her. Her family called the priest to be with her during her final hours. What nobody knew was that this was a sickness Julian prayed for, an answer from Jesus. Along with an experience of Christ Passion, and three wounds, Julian asked for extreme sickness.
Julian, as many do, understood what Jesus went through. She understood it in the way a female understands what it is like to be male. As much as she may have understood it, she wanted to know what it was like, in the same way a female would only be able to know what it is like to be male, she would have to physically experience it herself. Julian said she wanted to be there with Mary Magdalene to be able to see her face. Julian wanted to feel the pain in Jesus' bod and know the extreme love in his heart.
Julian's sickness came on suddenly and was the start of her visions. For two days she suffered. On the second night she believed she was sure to die by morning. At once her lower body was paralyzed. The curator was called and Julian was placed in bed. Julian mentions at this time that she did not want to die just yet for fear of leaving behind good she could have done for God. Julian kept her gaze upward, toward heaven, where she was going. She only agreed to look down if she had a crucifix to gaze at.
Julian's second prayer was answered. Throughout her sickness she kept her gaze at the crucifix. She would have repeated visions of Christ over the next week: “Suddenly I saw red blood trickle down from under the garland-hot, fresh, plentiful, and lifelike- just as I thought it would have done when the garland of thorns was thrust on his blessed head. So both God and man together suffered for me. I understood clearly and with certainty that it was he who showed it to me, without intermediary; and I said, “Benedicite Dominus!” I spoke reverently, in a strong voice, and was astonished by the wonderful and marvelous fact of his being so friendly with a sinful creature living in this wretched flesh”
Julian's visions came and went, taking her on the entire journey with Jesus. Her body felt his body as he dried out for loss of blood and lack of water. She took every raspy breath with Jesus and yearned for every drop of water. She was able to look into the eyes of Mary Magdalene. Amazingly enough as that was, she was even able to feel the love he has for her. Jesus endured the pain, and Julian endured the pain, but if the excruciating pain became too much for Julian to handle, Jesus was able to relieve her.
“After this our lord revealed an exalted spiritual joy which filled my soul with an abiding security; I was greatly reassured, and free of fear. This feeling was so blissful and pleasing that I was at peace, at ease and at rest. Nothing on earth could have grieved me-but this joy only lasted for a short while. Then I was overcome and left alone in such sad weariness at myself and irksomeness at my life that I scarcely had patience to live. I felt neither ease nor comfort-only hope, faith, and charity, and of these in truth but little.
However, God soon restored both comfort and rest to my soul, a joyous gladness and security so powerful that no fear or sorrow, no recurred, and then the joy and the gladness, and then the one and then the other, I suppose about twenty times. In joy I might have said, with Paul, “Nothing shall separate me from the love of Christ”; and in pain I might have said, with Peter, “Lord save me, I perish.”
This vision's purpose was to teach me the need for each soul to feel this way: sometimes to be in comfort, and other times to fail and be left alone. God wants us to now that he keeps us safe both in well ans in woe, and loves us as much in the hard times as the good. For the profit of his soul, a man is sometimes left to himself, although sin is not the cause/; during this time I was not left alone because I had sinned, nor had I done anything to merit the joy. God freely gives pleasure when he chooses, and other times he leaves us in pain. Both are done for love.”
Julian always knew exactly why Jesus did anything, as we do all know. Jesus does everything to/for us out of love.
Jesus also spoke with Julian, “Thus our good lord answered all my questions and doubts, comforting me with these words: “I may make all things well, I can make all things well, I can make all things well, I shall make all things well; and you shall see yourself that all shall be well.” Where he says I may, I understand the father; where he says I can, I understand the son; where he says I will, I understand the holy ghost; where he says I shall, I understand the unity of the holy trinity, three persons in one truth; and where he says you shall see yourself, I understand the uniting in the uniting in the blessed trinity of all mankind who shall be saved.
With these five phrases, God will be enclosed in rest and in peace, and thus will the spiritual thirst of Christ come to an end. His ghostly thirst- his love longing- shall last until judgment day, for we who shall be saved, and who shall be Christ's joy and bliss, will remain here until that time. His thirst, the failure of his bliss, is that he does not have us in him, as wholly as he shall then have. All this was revealed in the showing of compassion, which shall cease at doomsday; until the he feels pity ans compassion for us, and he longs for us. But his wisdom and his love do not suffer the end to come until best time.
And in these words, I may take all things well, I understand the great comfort of all his works that are yet to come.” Julian understands the Trinity far better than most anybody. God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit, he has all the power, and he wants to use it all for us.
Julian asked God to show her things, not out of desire for proof, but out of faith. She knew he had the power to show her anything and do anything he desired. All Julian needed was for her desire and his will to be the same. Julian held strong to her faith, even through temptation from the Devil. God was happy and Julian survived her illness, probably coming out better than any other person of her day. She had strong faith each day until her death. She died some forty-three years later in 1416 at the age of seventy-four.
Julian of Norwich surprisingly has taught me a lot about my own faith. I am most closely related to a Baptist-Christian, and I believe that this mystic most likely had more faith in Jesus Christ than I do. How I wish I could experience Jesus Christ's crucification personally. It would be a pain beyond anything I can imagine, but it would be worth it if I could just feel the pure love in his heart. Julian was privileged, and she knew it.
Julian mentioned no speaking of her visions or “confessing” them to a priest because no pastor would believe her. She was right. I was advised to “be careful with those mystics”, but Julian seems to be a “better Christian” than all of us. She had pure faith, and lived her life that way. What have I to fear of her Jesus spoke directly to her so she could speak to Christians like myself. Her experience was so personal that it could almost be titled “The Gospel According to Julian.”
I am jealous of Julian in the same way that I ma jealous of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. In the game of telephone, I can experience Jesus Christ through Luke from Jesus, or through Mark from Jesus, but these five had a personal one one one experience with Jesus Christ. I lack that extreme faith, and it is hard to say if I ever will.
--------------------------------------------
- I was supposed to have 3 quotes from the actual mystic. Mr. Branstetter hinted at wanting the quotes to be long, thus the reason they are long.
- I read the entire Revelations of Divine Love {Short Version}, since it was only about 100 pages. I am still not sure if I have a grasp on Julian though.
- I am not sure if I have enough of my own writing in between quotes or not. I think that even 2 pages may actually be quotes.
- I think a lot of my hesitation comes from not having a lot of biographical information, but there isn't a lot of biographical information out there. Considereing her real name isn't even known and much has to be assumed.
- HELP ME!! LTM. It isn't my best paper ever.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Caesaerean section paper final draft
Mother Nature Knows Best
By: Amanda Cunningham
For: Englih Compoition II
Professor: Mr. Hamelin
A woman runs into her pregnant friend, she asks : "How are the future mom and her baby ?" The friend answers : "I have no idea, I won't see my gynecologist before next week." More and More women are giving their natural human biology over to technology, including the rising number of women choosing to have caesarean sections. A Caesarean Section is supposed to be a last chance effort used to get a baby out of a mother if a situation has become an emergency. An emergency caesarean section situation should only arise if continuing labor would harm the baby and/or the mother. The World Health Organization states that an acceptable average for Caesarean sections is 4.5% of all births, but averages are rising. Today the caesarean section rate is 33% of all births, a steep incline from the 4.5% in 1965. Obstetrician Dr. Savage believes, "…as the developed world becomes more and more dependent on technology, there is a danger that people will cease to believe that women can give birth naturally." These rising statistics need to drop. Women having elective caesarean sections are to blame for the increases. Women believe caesareans are a safe option, but they are not aware of the risks for themselves or for their unborn child. (Savage W 1992).( Heike Emery. September 2008.)
Caesarean section is a risky way out, but the women opting for these surgeries believe it is a simple and harmless alternative to the natural way of life. Before she even met her husband and became pregnant, Euna Chung decided that all of her children were going to be delivered via caesarean section. Quoted here, “I had a fear of going through labor and ending up with an emergency C-section anyway. I know that’s rare, but I didn’t want to deal with it.” People of today think that anything in life can be sped up with technology, even birth. There are some outlandish reasons for having requested caesarean sections: unwanted pregnancies, the idea that vaginal birth is “archaic, painful, disfiguring and [a cause for] diminished sexual performance”, a caesarean is an “easy way” to deliver a baby, and even that vaginal birth isn’t natural. Women are told that the procedure won’t hurt, and they like the instant gratification of caesarean sections. Also, with the rising number of midwives and celebrities opting for Caesarean sections, the procedure is coming across as simpler and safer. One woman believed she was going in for a routine simple surgery. Her testimony proves the situation was drastically different,
“When you get into the operating room it is like you have been abducted by aliens. Everything is silver. There are bright lights everywhere. Everyone has their faces covered so all you see are these little eyes. You can't recognize anyone who you have been talking to the past few days. It's very cold. So your sort of half naked, freezing, by yourself without your husband, worried about your baby and yourself. And it was really scary for me. Definitely in comparison to vaginal birth. Much scarier.”
Another woman was forced to have a Caesarean section, and feels that her “birth rape” led her to postpartum depression. The doctors overestimated the size of the baby. She did not need to deliver. She wasn’t able to deliver naturally, and she wasn’t even allowed to hold her baby because “her insides may fall out”. Her body’s inability to function naturally caused this woman to believe she was a failure as a mother. Caesarean sections are not the in and out, safe and sound, procedure that they appear to be. (Alice Park April 2008). (Sara McAleese, 2000) (Doula Pam, 2008.)(Safe Birth, 2008.) (Larissa Hirsch, MD June 2006).
A Caesarean section comes with many unnecessary risks for the mother. One of the biggest risk factors for the mother is Post Pardon Depression. Dr. James Swain conducted research at Yale University that found hormones (specifically oxytoxin), which are released through the natural pain of labor, help form maternal instincts. Women who had caesarean sections showed signs in brain scans of postpartum depression within two to four weeks after delivery. Dr. Swain concluded, "Our results support the theory that variations in delivery conditions such as with caesarean section, which alters the neuro-hormonal experiences of childbirth, might decrease the responsiveness of the human maternal brain in the early postpartum.” Mothers who suffer from postpartum depression are less capable of caring for their newborns and themselves. Some other risk factors mothers who opt for natural child birth do not have to worry about include, wound infection, Intestinal Obstruction, increased bleeding resulting in the need for blood transfusion (6% of women who have a c-section will need a blood transfusion),extended hospital stay (women who have caesarean sections average 4 extra hospital days), emergency hysterectomy due to complications with initial surgery, extended time away from the infant, pain due to surgery which keeps the mother from breast feeding (many women report still having pain at the incision site six months after the surgery), and the extra cost associated with surgery. Death is also a huge concern for any surgery and an average of 140 women will die every year in America due to complications with Caesarean sections. There are many dangers for mother’s who opt to have unnatural births via caesarean section. (Ishpreet Bindra. September 4, 2008.) (Sara McAleese 2000)
The unborn infant in these situations are also put in jeapordy. The biggest threat for a baby is respiratory problems. When a baby comes out of the natural birth canal pressure removes contents from the lungs, and there is a natural transfer of care from the mother’s body to the infant; with caesarean section this process never occurs. Respiratory problems at birth often lead to RSV and asthma in the child's future. Other problems include premature birth (if the gestation was not measured correctly), increased need for assistance with breathing and immediate care after birth, and accidental cutting or nicking of the baby during the caesarean process (2% of babies will be cut during a caesarean). Caesarean babies are also 50% more likely to have low APGR rates when compared to vaginal deliveries (These test measure responsiveness of the child one minute and five minutes after birth). Infants are not left unharmed because the mother chose to have a Caesarean section. (APA. September 2008.) (Larissa Hirsch, MD June 2006). (Ishpreet Bindra. September 4, 2008.) (Sara McAleese 2000)
The infants aren’t safe, the mothers aren’t safe, and this surgery is not the “easy way out” people tend to assume it is. If women are going to have these elective surgeries they should at least inform themselves of the possible outcomes. One slip of the knife and a baby or mother could die. Women’s bodies were designed to handle the birthing process. It is time we put technology aside and use the best computer at our disposal, the brain. Caesarean sections were designed for emergencies, and that is where their place needs to return.
Works Sited
1. Alice Park (April 28, 2008).Womb Service. Why More Women are making caesareans their delivery of Choice. Time, 171, 65-66.
2. APA. September 2008. American Pregnancy Association. Risk of Cesarean Procedure. Retrieved 11 Se
ptember 2008. http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/cesareanrisks.html
3. Heike Emery. September 2008. Caesarean Section. Home Page. Retrieved 10 September 2008. http://caesareansection.net/
4. Ishpreet Bindra. September 4, 2008. The med Guru. Normal Delivery =better Mother Child Bonding. Retrieved 10 September 2008. http://www.themedguru.com/articles/normal_delivery_better_mother_child_bonding-8619092.html
5. Larissa Hirsch, MD. (June 2006). Caesarean Sections. Kids Health. Retrieved 10 September 2008. http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/pregnancy/c_sections.html =
6. 'The rise in caesarean section - anxiety or science?' in: Chard T and Richards M P (eds) Obstetrics in the 1990s: Current Controversies, Blackwell Scientific Publications Ltd, Oxford.
7. Safe Birth. (15 May 2008.) “Prevent Caesarean Section.” You Tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZy0JPtubiQ
8. Doula Pam. (10 February 2008) “Our First Childs Birth” You Tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy-b0JkruFY
By: Amanda Cunningham
For: Englih Compoition II
Professor: Mr. Hamelin
A woman runs into her pregnant friend, she asks : "How are the future mom and her baby ?" The friend answers : "I have no idea, I won't see my gynecologist before next week." More and More women are giving their natural human biology over to technology, including the rising number of women choosing to have caesarean sections. A Caesarean Section is supposed to be a last chance effort used to get a baby out of a mother if a situation has become an emergency. An emergency caesarean section situation should only arise if continuing labor would harm the baby and/or the mother. The World Health Organization states that an acceptable average for Caesarean sections is 4.5% of all births, but averages are rising. Today the caesarean section rate is 33% of all births, a steep incline from the 4.5% in 1965. Obstetrician Dr. Savage believes, "…as the developed world becomes more and more dependent on technology, there is a danger that people will cease to believe that women can give birth naturally." These rising statistics need to drop. Women having elective caesarean sections are to blame for the increases. Women believe caesareans are a safe option, but they are not aware of the risks for themselves or for their unborn child. (Savage W 1992).( Heike Emery. September 2008.)
Caesarean section is a risky way out, but the women opting for these surgeries believe it is a simple and harmless alternative to the natural way of life. Before she even met her husband and became pregnant, Euna Chung decided that all of her children were going to be delivered via caesarean section. Quoted here, “I had a fear of going through labor and ending up with an emergency C-section anyway. I know that’s rare, but I didn’t want to deal with it.” People of today think that anything in life can be sped up with technology, even birth. There are some outlandish reasons for having requested caesarean sections: unwanted pregnancies, the idea that vaginal birth is “archaic, painful, disfiguring and [a cause for] diminished sexual performance”, a caesarean is an “easy way” to deliver a baby, and even that vaginal birth isn’t natural. Women are told that the procedure won’t hurt, and they like the instant gratification of caesarean sections. Also, with the rising number of midwives and celebrities opting for Caesarean sections, the procedure is coming across as simpler and safer. One woman believed she was going in for a routine simple surgery. Her testimony proves the situation was drastically different,
“When you get into the operating room it is like you have been abducted by aliens. Everything is silver. There are bright lights everywhere. Everyone has their faces covered so all you see are these little eyes. You can't recognize anyone who you have been talking to the past few days. It's very cold. So your sort of half naked, freezing, by yourself without your husband, worried about your baby and yourself. And it was really scary for me. Definitely in comparison to vaginal birth. Much scarier.”
Another woman was forced to have a Caesarean section, and feels that her “birth rape” led her to postpartum depression. The doctors overestimated the size of the baby. She did not need to deliver. She wasn’t able to deliver naturally, and she wasn’t even allowed to hold her baby because “her insides may fall out”. Her body’s inability to function naturally caused this woman to believe she was a failure as a mother. Caesarean sections are not the in and out, safe and sound, procedure that they appear to be. (Alice Park April 2008). (Sara McAleese, 2000) (Doula Pam, 2008.)(Safe Birth, 2008.) (Larissa Hirsch, MD June 2006).
A Caesarean section comes with many unnecessary risks for the mother. One of the biggest risk factors for the mother is Post Pardon Depression. Dr. James Swain conducted research at Yale University that found hormones (specifically oxytoxin), which are released through the natural pain of labor, help form maternal instincts. Women who had caesarean sections showed signs in brain scans of postpartum depression within two to four weeks after delivery. Dr. Swain concluded, "Our results support the theory that variations in delivery conditions such as with caesarean section, which alters the neuro-hormonal experiences of childbirth, might decrease the responsiveness of the human maternal brain in the early postpartum.” Mothers who suffer from postpartum depression are less capable of caring for their newborns and themselves. Some other risk factors mothers who opt for natural child birth do not have to worry about include, wound infection, Intestinal Obstruction, increased bleeding resulting in the need for blood transfusion (6% of women who have a c-section will need a blood transfusion),extended hospital stay (women who have caesarean sections average 4 extra hospital days), emergency hysterectomy due to complications with initial surgery, extended time away from the infant, pain due to surgery which keeps the mother from breast feeding (many women report still having pain at the incision site six months after the surgery), and the extra cost associated with surgery. Death is also a huge concern for any surgery and an average of 140 women will die every year in America due to complications with Caesarean sections. There are many dangers for mother’s who opt to have unnatural births via caesarean section. (Ishpreet Bindra. September 4, 2008.) (Sara McAleese 2000)
The unborn infant in these situations are also put in jeapordy. The biggest threat for a baby is respiratory problems. When a baby comes out of the natural birth canal pressure removes contents from the lungs, and there is a natural transfer of care from the mother’s body to the infant; with caesarean section this process never occurs. Respiratory problems at birth often lead to RSV and asthma in the child's future. Other problems include premature birth (if the gestation was not measured correctly), increased need for assistance with breathing and immediate care after birth, and accidental cutting or nicking of the baby during the caesarean process (2% of babies will be cut during a caesarean). Caesarean babies are also 50% more likely to have low APGR rates when compared to vaginal deliveries (These test measure responsiveness of the child one minute and five minutes after birth). Infants are not left unharmed because the mother chose to have a Caesarean section. (APA. September 2008.) (Larissa Hirsch, MD June 2006). (Ishpreet Bindra. September 4, 2008.) (Sara McAleese 2000)
The infants aren’t safe, the mothers aren’t safe, and this surgery is not the “easy way out” people tend to assume it is. If women are going to have these elective surgeries they should at least inform themselves of the possible outcomes. One slip of the knife and a baby or mother could die. Women’s bodies were designed to handle the birthing process. It is time we put technology aside and use the best computer at our disposal, the brain. Caesarean sections were designed for emergencies, and that is where their place needs to return.
Works Sited
1. Alice Park (April 28, 2008).Womb Service. Why More Women are making caesareans their delivery of Choice. Time, 171, 65-66.
2. APA. September 2008. American Pregnancy Association. Risk of Cesarean Procedure. Retrieved 11 Se
ptember 2008. http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/cesareanrisks.html
3. Heike Emery. September 2008. Caesarean Section. Home Page. Retrieved 10 September 2008. http://caesareansection.net/
4. Ishpreet Bindra. September 4, 2008. The med Guru. Normal Delivery =better Mother Child Bonding. Retrieved 10 September 2008. http://www.themedguru.com/articles/normal_delivery_better_mother_child_bonding-8619092.html
5. Larissa Hirsch, MD. (June 2006). Caesarean Sections. Kids Health. Retrieved 10 September 2008. http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/pregnancy/c_sections.html =
6. 'The rise in caesarean section - anxiety or science?' in: Chard T and Richards M P (eds) Obstetrics in the 1990s: Current Controversies, Blackwell Scientific Publications Ltd, Oxford.
7. Safe Birth. (15 May 2008.) “Prevent Caesarean Section.” You Tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZy0JPtubiQ
8. Doula Pam. (10 February 2008) “Our First Childs Birth” You Tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy-b0JkruFY
Just to note
I have to sign in more, because people are reading and leaving comments and I am just not paying any attention. I have offers for editors... well editor. My cousin, and she is pretty freakin smart, so I should have tapped into that, because my editors here are just to nice ot me about my papers. I am turning the caesarean section one in today, but i will get something up for the mysticism paper soon. It's due next Thursday, and I haven't really put pen to paper.
Mysticism- It is all about letting go of things of this Earth to reach enlightenment with God. There is a lot in there about everyone being God. Also, the mystics don't have attachments to anything. They live day to day, moment to moment. They have no emotion because they aren't attached. It is strange. I understand it, but I don't get it. They also think they have many experiences with oneness with God while they are still on this Earth.
Mysticism- It is all about letting go of things of this Earth to reach enlightenment with God. There is a lot in there about everyone being God. Also, the mystics don't have attachments to anything. They live day to day, moment to moment. They have no emotion because they aren't attached. It is strange. I understand it, but I don't get it. They also think they have many experiences with oneness with God while they are still on this Earth.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Caesarean Section II (discussion)
English Composition II
Professor: Hamelin
Assignment: Essay on a somewhat controversial topic.
As of today i have 3.25 pages written for this essay. Most likely it is in its final state. I am happy with the way it turned out. The way I wrote it was different from my norm, but I think it is the way I am going to continue.
I created a word document. At the beginning of the document I listed each source as I used it, and typed the research under each source {I want to be sure I site ALL my sources}. Then, in the middle of the document I created an outline. Proper paragraph headings were listed, and under each heading was a subheading which included which exact information I was going to use written in my own words. When it came time for me to build the essay, most of it wound up being cut and paste since I used my own words along the way. I added some filler to create a flow from one sentence to the next. When it came time to edit my paper to be sure it all made sense together I simply had to remove some unnecessary fluff, and be sure i sited every source. I have never been so pleased with a paper. Lettuce hope I get an acceptable grade!
Professor: Hamelin
Assignment: Essay on a somewhat controversial topic.
As of today i have 3.25 pages written for this essay. Most likely it is in its final state. I am happy with the way it turned out. The way I wrote it was different from my norm, but I think it is the way I am going to continue.
I created a word document. At the beginning of the document I listed each source as I used it, and typed the research under each source {I want to be sure I site ALL my sources}. Then, in the middle of the document I created an outline. Proper paragraph headings were listed, and under each heading was a subheading which included which exact information I was going to use written in my own words. When it came time for me to build the essay, most of it wound up being cut and paste since I used my own words along the way. I added some filler to create a flow from one sentence to the next. When it came time to edit my paper to be sure it all made sense together I simply had to remove some unnecessary fluff, and be sure i sited every source. I have never been so pleased with a paper. Lettuce hope I get an acceptable grade!
Thus Far in school
College Algebra
Professor: Don Johnson
Thus far: Seven or so quizzes worth 10 points a piece, and one exam worth 100 points. My grade was an 81%; there will be a 10 point curve. I have two purple things. Last class I earned one, but I forgot to get it.
English Composition II
Professor: Mr. Hamlin
Thus far: Five or so quizzes worth 50 points. (At the End of Semester the ten best quiz grades will be chosen.) One Paper. My paper (The one about the Mexican Border Wall) grade was 87%. That's all right. My biggest mistakes were logic and argumentation. I accept that. My next paper (The one about cesarean sections) will be better.
Yoga: I have done yoga. Also there was a pretest I didn't do amazingly on.
Psychology
Professor: Krista Rumage
Thus Far: I don't think we have turned in anything. Monday is my first exam. I am going to study with Brittany Sunday. I am confidant. I have read all the chapters.
United States History I
Professor: Wallace
Thus Far: We have had notes, and one exam. On that Exam I got an 88%. Hopefully next time I get a better grade. It may be my favorite class. I have done some research for the 10 page Research paper final. I also have read, I believe, three of the four chapters in the first book. I had better get one that paper though if I want it to turn out well.
Mysticism
Professor: Matt Branstetter
Thus Far: Possibly my most talked about class socially. We have had one exam which I received a 90% on. I think that is all we have actually turned in. Most of our grade thus far depends on participation. Which I participate in. I also have a paper due in two weeks on the Mystic Julian of Norwich.
Professor: Don Johnson
Thus far: Seven or so quizzes worth 10 points a piece, and one exam worth 100 points. My grade was an 81%; there will be a 10 point curve. I have two purple things. Last class I earned one, but I forgot to get it.
English Composition II
Professor: Mr. Hamlin
Thus far: Five or so quizzes worth 50 points. (At the End of Semester the ten best quiz grades will be chosen.) One Paper. My paper (The one about the Mexican Border Wall) grade was 87%. That's all right. My biggest mistakes were logic and argumentation. I accept that. My next paper (The one about cesarean sections) will be better.
Yoga: I have done yoga. Also there was a pretest I didn't do amazingly on.
Psychology
Professor: Krista Rumage
Thus Far: I don't think we have turned in anything. Monday is my first exam. I am going to study with Brittany Sunday. I am confidant. I have read all the chapters.
United States History I
Professor: Wallace
Thus Far: We have had notes, and one exam. On that Exam I got an 88%. Hopefully next time I get a better grade. It may be my favorite class. I have done some research for the 10 page Research paper final. I also have read, I believe, three of the four chapters in the first book. I had better get one that paper though if I want it to turn out well.
Mysticism
Professor: Matt Branstetter
Thus Far: Possibly my most talked about class socially. We have had one exam which I received a 90% on. I think that is all we have actually turned in. Most of our grade thus far depends on participation. Which I participate in. I also have a paper due in two weeks on the Mystic Julian of Norwich.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Julian of Norwich Research I
I checked out a book in the library on 11 September 2008
Title: Julian of Norwich Revelations:Motherhood of God
Author: Frances Beer
It's less than one hundread pages, so I believe I may try to read it all. Funny, in research it is often not the case that you read all of something.
I did check out her page on Wikipedia as well. Mainly just to get an idea of who she was.
Interesting finds: There is a band named after her.
Title: Julian of Norwich Revelations:Motherhood of God
Author: Frances Beer
It's less than one hundread pages, so I believe I may try to read it all. Funny, in research it is often not the case that you read all of something.
I did check out her page on Wikipedia as well. Mainly just to get an idea of who she was.
Interesting finds: There is a band named after her.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Caesarean Section I (Research)
Type: Persuasive Paper
Class: English Composition II
Instructor: Mr. Hamelin
Topic: Elective Caesarean Sections
Research:
--------------------------------------------------
Times Magezine Article.
Class: English Composition II
Instructor: Mr. Hamelin
Topic: Elective Caesarean Sections
Research:
--------------------------------------------------
Times Magezine Article.
by: Alice Park
-------------------------------------
YouTube Videos
Caesarean section part one and two
Creator: duniavideographer
Prevent Caesarean Section
American Pregnancy Association
What I'm working on now
Right now I have a few projects in the works.
I have an essay for English Composition II for Mr. Hamelin again.
.... I have to write another persuasive paper on a controversial issue. 2-3 pages
..... I am going to write about the growing number of women having elective caesarean sections.
.... I have begun research.
I have a paper for Mysticism for Matt Branstetter.
.....that'll be on a Mystic. Julian of Norwhich. 5-7 pages.
I have my final for History for Mr. Wallace.
..... it is a 10 page research paper on something historical that happened before 1877.
..... I am going ot write about the start of the library of congress.
.....I have begun research.
I have an essay for English Composition II for Mr. Hamelin again.
.... I have to write another persuasive paper on a controversial issue. 2-3 pages
..... I am going to write about the growing number of women having elective caesarean sections.
.... I have begun research.
I have a paper for Mysticism for Matt Branstetter.
.....that'll be on a Mystic. Julian of Norwhich. 5-7 pages.
I have my final for History for Mr. Wallace.
..... it is a 10 page research paper on something historical that happened before 1877.
..... I am going ot write about the start of the library of congress.
.....I have begun research.
The Iron Guard between Two Worlds.
This is going to have to be a back log post. Since it is the only paper I have turned in this year, it should be the only one I have to backlog. I wrote this paper for Mr. Hamelin's English Composition II Class. It was to be a 2-3 page persuasive paper one a somewhat controversial topic. I chose to write about the border fence being built between America and mexico. I decided apon this topic after I read an article in Times magezine. I researched mainly online. There were a few videos.
Here is my paper. My works sited are at the end.
The Iron Guard Between Two Worlds
“We don't need no border walls”. The chants of angry Mexicans and Americans can be heard along the new fence being constructed across the Mexican and American border. On October 26, 2006, Congress approved the construction of a 700 mile fence stretching between the Mexico-America international border. The new fence is currently in the construction phase. This fence will cost a sum total of $49 billion, and will cover approximately 670 miles of the 2000 mile border. Some of the fence will be built in double layer form, with heights of 12-20 feet. In the gaps along the fence the government is using a process called “virtual fence”, which uses motion detectors and cameras to alert border patrol of fence hoppers. The purpose of the fence is to keep the nearly 400,000 illegal Mexican immigrants that cross into America each year from entering American territory. The mass numbers of illegal Mexican immigrants that cross into America everyday should be a huge concern for American citizens, even so, many Americans feel that the fence is the wrong way to go about solving the immigration problems, nevertheless, in the end we need to find a humane way to deal with the problem that works with the foundations of our country.
One future-American-hopeful, may spend three-to-four days, crossing twenty-to-thirty miles of dessert, in hundred degree weather, all the while leaving eight pounds of trash; just to enter an American city, where they can fade into the shadows of the land. Once these illegal immigrants reach the cities, they take many different routs to many of the same destinations: bussed back to Mexico, living a life of secrets and lies, and/or causing American citizens billions of dollars. Since these people are illegal residents, they can not find legal jobs that require fair pay, health benefits, and paying taxes. Much of the money, an estimated 12 billion untaxed dollars each year, is sent back to families to be poured into the Mexican economy. Many of the immigrants decide to have children, because any child born on American soil is an official American citizen. These, sort of, pawn children, are used as anchors to keep their families in America. The American education and health systems are too being hurt by the illegal immigration from Mexico. It is estimated that $28,607,800,000 of taxpayers money is spent every year educating illegal immigrants and children whose parents are illegal immigrants; many of whom will never pay taxes in their lives. Illegal immigrants are the cause for $190 million {25%) of southwest border county hospitals uncompensated emergency cost. The cost of housing illegal immigrants is putting a huge strain on the American economy.
In spite of the overwhelming evidence proving that illegal immigrants are economically destroying the America, many Americans believe that the fence is a horrible “solution”. For starters, the wall not only puts a twenty-foot barrier between The United States and Mexico, the fence also puts a twenty-foot barrier between the United States and some Americans. Since, in some areas, the fence cannot be built directly on the border (building in the natural Rio Grande river may change the natural flow of the river and therefore would change the natural boundaries) the fence is being built some two miles inward the American boundary. This federal government plan calls for cutting many properties in half, putting residents on the “Mexican” side of the fence, and putting a wall in the middle of farms and University golf courses. The University of Texas: Brownsville feels that the wall in sending the wrong message to many of their Mexican students, whom legitimatly cross the border daily to take classes. The school has stood by a mission of uniting both the US and Mexico, and they feel the fence goes against their unity ideals. “UTB is trying to portray an image of bringing everybody together, but we would have this wall between us.” stated UTB student Allison Valles. The residents who are now forced to be on the “other” side of the fence fear for their property values. They believe that nobody is going to want to purchase a house “on the South side of the border wall the United States built”. The fence isn't even working as the quick fix the government wants it to work as. Residents in the areas where the fence has already been put up say that the cross bar effect of the fences construction work perfectly as a ladder when illegal immigrants want to hop the fence. Clearly the fence is not the answer to our problem.
With all this talk of “illegal immigrants”, and the “ones on the other side”, we are almost forcing ourselves to not think humanly. Illegal immigrants crossing into our borders are a “problem”, but maybe we need to work on why they are coming here in the first place. The human will to live would not send hundreds of thousands of people into the dessert to die every year, if there weren't something better in front, and worse behind them. If we were to stop placing blame on others and were to look inward at ourselves, we may find out what we are doing wrong. Some people say that the illegal job placement large American companies, like Wal-Mart and Swift Co., provide are the “money magnet” ushering Mexicans to America. We also need to look at what they are leaving behind. If we took the billions of dollars we pump into a metal fence and used it to aid the country of Mexico, possibly the amount of illegals border hopping would diminish. If their economy had some financial aid, possibly that would be the jump start their country needed. We are all humans, and sometimes, it seems, we need to put ourselves in another's shoes.
So, the illegal immigrants we have right now are hurting America and her citizens, the solution we are trying to use isn't working, and we are to self centered to find a less invasive way to solve our problems. What are we going to do? What can we do. It seems that he only thing we can ask for right now is that American citizens make themselves more aware. The problems we have are being solved by a government that wants a quick fix to band aid our problems. The people of this country need to know what is going on and do their part to be sure the world can live each day as peacefully and humane as possible.
Bibliography
Drehele, David V. (2008, June 19). The Great Wall of America. Time,
Texas Border Coalition. (2008). Our Border, Our Future. Retrieved 27 August 2008. http://www.texasbordercoalition.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=41
“The Border Fence; The Wall”. Wayne Ewing. Now. PBS. 15 August 2008. http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/432/video-webex.html
USA TODAY. 25 August 2008. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-06-27-texas-university- fence_n.htm?loc=interstitialskip
Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. (2005). Illegal Immigration to the United States. Retrieved August 20, 2008, from the World Wide Web:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_immigration_to_the_United_States
Here is my paper. My works sited are at the end.
The Iron Guard Between Two Worlds
“We don't need no border walls”. The chants of angry Mexicans and Americans can be heard along the new fence being constructed across the Mexican and American border. On October 26, 2006, Congress approved the construction of a 700 mile fence stretching between the Mexico-America international border. The new fence is currently in the construction phase. This fence will cost a sum total of $49 billion, and will cover approximately 670 miles of the 2000 mile border. Some of the fence will be built in double layer form, with heights of 12-20 feet. In the gaps along the fence the government is using a process called “virtual fence”, which uses motion detectors and cameras to alert border patrol of fence hoppers. The purpose of the fence is to keep the nearly 400,000 illegal Mexican immigrants that cross into America each year from entering American territory. The mass numbers of illegal Mexican immigrants that cross into America everyday should be a huge concern for American citizens, even so, many Americans feel that the fence is the wrong way to go about solving the immigration problems, nevertheless, in the end we need to find a humane way to deal with the problem that works with the foundations of our country.
One future-American-hopeful, may spend three-to-four days, crossing twenty-to-thirty miles of dessert, in hundred degree weather, all the while leaving eight pounds of trash; just to enter an American city, where they can fade into the shadows of the land. Once these illegal immigrants reach the cities, they take many different routs to many of the same destinations: bussed back to Mexico, living a life of secrets and lies, and/or causing American citizens billions of dollars. Since these people are illegal residents, they can not find legal jobs that require fair pay, health benefits, and paying taxes. Much of the money, an estimated 12 billion untaxed dollars each year, is sent back to families to be poured into the Mexican economy. Many of the immigrants decide to have children, because any child born on American soil is an official American citizen. These, sort of, pawn children, are used as anchors to keep their families in America. The American education and health systems are too being hurt by the illegal immigration from Mexico. It is estimated that $28,607,800,000 of taxpayers money is spent every year educating illegal immigrants and children whose parents are illegal immigrants; many of whom will never pay taxes in their lives. Illegal immigrants are the cause for $190 million {25%) of southwest border county hospitals uncompensated emergency cost. The cost of housing illegal immigrants is putting a huge strain on the American economy.
In spite of the overwhelming evidence proving that illegal immigrants are economically destroying the America, many Americans believe that the fence is a horrible “solution”. For starters, the wall not only puts a twenty-foot barrier between The United States and Mexico, the fence also puts a twenty-foot barrier between the United States and some Americans. Since, in some areas, the fence cannot be built directly on the border (building in the natural Rio Grande river may change the natural flow of the river and therefore would change the natural boundaries) the fence is being built some two miles inward the American boundary. This federal government plan calls for cutting many properties in half, putting residents on the “Mexican” side of the fence, and putting a wall in the middle of farms and University golf courses. The University of Texas: Brownsville feels that the wall in sending the wrong message to many of their Mexican students, whom legitimatly cross the border daily to take classes. The school has stood by a mission of uniting both the US and Mexico, and they feel the fence goes against their unity ideals. “UTB is trying to portray an image of bringing everybody together, but we would have this wall between us.” stated UTB student Allison Valles. The residents who are now forced to be on the “other” side of the fence fear for their property values. They believe that nobody is going to want to purchase a house “on the South side of the border wall the United States built”. The fence isn't even working as the quick fix the government wants it to work as. Residents in the areas where the fence has already been put up say that the cross bar effect of the fences construction work perfectly as a ladder when illegal immigrants want to hop the fence. Clearly the fence is not the answer to our problem.
With all this talk of “illegal immigrants”, and the “ones on the other side”, we are almost forcing ourselves to not think humanly. Illegal immigrants crossing into our borders are a “problem”, but maybe we need to work on why they are coming here in the first place. The human will to live would not send hundreds of thousands of people into the dessert to die every year, if there weren't something better in front, and worse behind them. If we were to stop placing blame on others and were to look inward at ourselves, we may find out what we are doing wrong. Some people say that the illegal job placement large American companies, like Wal-Mart and Swift Co., provide are the “money magnet” ushering Mexicans to America. We also need to look at what they are leaving behind. If we took the billions of dollars we pump into a metal fence and used it to aid the country of Mexico, possibly the amount of illegals border hopping would diminish. If their economy had some financial aid, possibly that would be the jump start their country needed. We are all humans, and sometimes, it seems, we need to put ourselves in another's shoes.
So, the illegal immigrants we have right now are hurting America and her citizens, the solution we are trying to use isn't working, and we are to self centered to find a less invasive way to solve our problems. What are we going to do? What can we do. It seems that he only thing we can ask for right now is that American citizens make themselves more aware. The problems we have are being solved by a government that wants a quick fix to band aid our problems. The people of this country need to know what is going on and do their part to be sure the world can live each day as peacefully and humane as possible.
Bibliography
Drehele, David V. (2008, June 19). The Great Wall of America. Time,
Texas Border Coalition. (2008). Our Border, Our Future. Retrieved 27 August 2008. http://www.texasbordercoalition.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=41
“The Border Fence; The Wall”. Wayne Ewing. Now. PBS. 15 August 2008. http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/432/video-webex.html
USA TODAY. 25 August 2008. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-06-27-texas-university- fence_n.htm?loc=interstitialskip
Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. (2005). Illegal Immigration to the United States. Retrieved August 20, 2008, from the World Wide Web:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_immigration_to_the_United_States
Beginning
I am going to write this to keep tabs on what I am doing in school.
Mainly I am going to post information about papers I am writing, and I will end with the actual paper. I will list my sources and hopefully write about some interesting topics. I aill hopefully have videos and articles to post. It is going to be an interesting four years.
Mainly I am going to post information about papers I am writing, and I will end with the actual paper. I will list my sources and hopefully write about some interesting topics. I aill hopefully have videos and articles to post. It is going to be an interesting four years.
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