Things that make me sad

I randomly found this article online about some charity event that celebrities were attending to help organizations that work in Africa-the Congo, I believe. Here are some quotations from celebs-today's "Wise Men"-about the situation.
"I'm here because the Congo is the most dangerous place in the world for women and girls to be." - "Entourage" star Emmanuelle Chriqui
No, sweetie, the most dangerous place in the world for women and girls to be is any place where abortion is legal. Yes, the Congo is a physically dangerous place for women to be. But there are crimes against women being committed here in American. And these crimes are legal. And they are supported by the majority of the "Wise Men" of Hollywood.

"Go to raisehopeforcongo.org to find out how you can be a part of ending the deadliest conflict since World War II." - Joel Madden
But let's not do anything to protect the lives of the unborn.

"I am here because what's happening in the Congo is beyond anyone's nightmare and it's the least I can do to shed a little light on a desperate situation." - Sheryl Crow
Umm...Sheryl, honey, you are pro-choice. Yes, what's happening in the Congo is beyond anyone's nightmare. But I'm pretty sure that abortion is also beyond anyone's nightmare when they actually think about what is being done. It's called legal murder. It happens here; it happens in the "Third World." The only difference is: the people in Africa have already been born; they have at least some hope of running away. They have their own two feet to run with. Unborn babies have nothing to run with.

"Hi, I'm Andie MacDowell and I'm here because I don't want to be blind to the devasatation and tragedy of what is happening in the Congo." - Actress Andie MacDowell
I don't want to be blind to it either. Nor do I want to be blind to the plight of the unborn.

"Hi! I am here because I love children & women & want all people of the world to live free & safe. Lysa Heslov is an inspiration to me." - "Californication" star Pamela Adlon
I want all children-including the unborn-to be safe and free.
Oh, and as an English minor, allow to say that your grammar is atrocious.

"Hi. I'm Nia Vardalos and I'm here cuz am a new mom (to a preeschooler) -- every child deserves safety and security. xo." -- "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" star Nia Vardalos
Every child does deserve safety and security-including the unborn babies.

Okay, I will now hop off my soapbox. And I think I'll go get some sleep; it's been a long day. I went to bed at 1am this morning and got up at 7:50am. Then I sat through classes and worked on a project.
Tomorrow will be much more low-stress.
Oh, and if you're wondering what on earth kept me up so late last night? Last night at UCO, we had a visit from some WONDERFUL UCOers from Ann Arbor-Alex, the famous John, Chris, Kevin, Hannah, and Brian. Afterwards, we went out to Uccellos. And then I volunteered to drive the Alledale-ites back to Allendale because I didn't want them to have to wait for the bus in the FREEZING cold. And it was after 12:30am by the time I finally got home. And then I went to bed. But staying up late was worth it.

But anyway...yeah, Hollywood frustrates me. They think they can tell the rest of us what to think and feel about important issues. I agree that what is happening in Africa is wrong and it needs to be stopped. But I fail to see why we, the United States of America, have the right to go around interfering in other countries' business when we can't clean up our own act. We may not have open war or torture our citizens for no real reason. Except we do that to our unborn babies, we disrespect the gift of life and the sacred dignity of the human person in that we all abortion to persist in this nation. As members of the human race, we have a duty to protect our fellow human beings-from the moment of conception.
St. Gianna Molla, pray for us. We truly are the poorest of the poor. We are a nation that kills its own babies.

"How can there be too many children, that's like saying there are too many flowers."
~Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

“It is a poverty that a child must die so that you may live as you desire.”

-Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

She said it best. She cared about the born and the unborn. And she defended the dignity of the human person. What more could anyone ask for? She truly pointed to Christ through her life.

Vienna (and Gaming) wait for me

Tonight I'm off for Vienna. And I can't wait.

"But it is His work. I think God wants to show His greatness by using nothingness."
-Mother Teresa

I was looking for another quotation and I found this one. I think this will now be my motto. I want to show His greatness by my nothingness.

This isn't exactly the quotation for which I was looking but it has the same spirit. And I think this is a good reminder for us right now.

"Time: You and John Paul II, among other Church leaders, have spoken out against certain lifestyles in the West, against materialism and abortion. How alarmed are you?

Mother Teresa: I always say one thing: If a mother can kill her own child, then what is left of the West to be destroyed? It is difficult to explain , but it is just that.

Time: When you spoke at Harvard University a few years ago, you said abortion was a great evil and people booed. What did you think when people booed you?

Mother Teresa: I offered it to our Lord. It’s all for Him, no? I let Him say what He wants.

Time: But these people who booed you would say that they also only want the best for women?

Mother Teresa: That may be. But we must tell the truth.

Time: And that is?

Mother Teresa: We have no right to kill. Thou shalt not kill, a commandment of God. And still should we kill the helpless one, the little one? You see we get so excited because people are throwing bombs and so many are being killed. For the grown ups, there is so much excitement in the world. But that little one in the womb, not even a sound? He cannot even escape. That child is the poorest of the poor."

In REALLY exciting news, I emailed Heidi Keiser yesterday to ask her if I could use their towels whilest in Austria. And while thinking about this visit, I realized that I'd be there on November 22, the Feast of St. Cecilia (and C.S. Lewis who would totally be a saint if he were officially Catholic) so I asked Heidi if we could do something about this. And she replied that they'd already realized that I would be in Rome on the feast of my patroness and they were already planning on taking me to the Basilica of St. Cecilia that day. I'm psyched! Not only do I get to go to the Basilica of my patroness but I get to do it on her feast day. This will really be amazing. Oh and the Keisers have towels I can use. I'll be there in about two weeks. And I'll be in Vienna around 4:30pm tomorrow and Gaming around 8pm. I'm so excited.

And my reading assignment for myself right now is Humanae Vitae. I've never read it and I think I need to do so now more than ever. I'm also planning to read Evangelium Vitae. I really miss the free printing at GVSU. Here it's 8 euro cents/page. I think I'll save these on my computer and read them here. And then we'll print them off later. And for those of you who are interested, the Vatican's website has a wealth of encyclicals from most of the past several popes.

May God bless us and have mercy on us. We need Him now more than ever.
I'll be home in 39 days; I can't believe it.
May the peace of Christ be with you.