Despicable Creatures

Now, I know I spent some time just a couple of weeks ago defending life. And I still do. Really. However, there is a difference between ridding yourself of an unwanted baby, wife, pope, by murdering them and administering the proper punishment for a crime committed. At least I hope you see a difference.

See, a convicted sex offender is likely to offend again, child sex offenders even more so. Terri Schaivo was never likely to do anything other than draw breath in and then press it out of her lungs for who knows how long and not much more, perhaps not to your standard of living, but she would not be perpetrating any crimes. Your average baby will also not be committing crimes, at least not until it reached 12. Sex offenders, i.e. rapists, pederasts, pedophiles, molesters, are guilty of criminal activity. Criminal activity as defined by all religions and nearly all cultures. Usually they are also guilty of crimes of violence as well, certainly when perpetrating against children.

In case you missed it, the autopsy for Jessica Lunsford and a bit of the transcript of Mr. Couey's confession were released earlier this month. That poor little girl died a horrific death, she was raped and then bound, then buried alive within shouting distance of her grandparents and father as they searched for her. The villain who did so was committing several crimes at the time he committed that crime. He had not reregistered with the local police. That may or may not have made a difference whether little Jessica lived or died, but just maybe it might have. There is suspicion that she was alive when police first approached that house to canvas for the missing child, hopefully had they know of the prior proclivities of one resident of that house they would have searched it until they found her, BEFORE she died. One might be brought to wonder if Mr. Couey would have allowed himself to entertain the thoughts that led to the actions that led to Jessica's death. The point is that the consequenses for not registering weren't enough to make him register. Why do we expect that the law will be abided by a committed law breaker? (His other crime was that he was abusing an illicit substance when the rape and murder took place.)

In the weeks after Jessica's body was found there have been multiple stories of other children stolen, raped and murdered in other places. Before this happened there were too many stories of missing and dead children preyed upon by a twisted and peculiarly unredeemable group of criminals, the sex offender that perpetrates against children. It will happen again. And we allow it to happen again because we continue to try to stop the unstoppable with ineffective means. These criminals have to be contained and restrained by other methods. The only effective ones that come to mind are life in prison or death. I prefer life sentances for those offenders who don't kill and death for those that do. Period. First offense against a child under 12, you are in prison for life or you are dead. No appeals for parole, no second chances. They can reform all they like while in prison, but they can never again be confronted with access to the object of their twisted and evil desires.

Pope John Paul II

I woke up early this morning to watch the funeral. Quite an amazing rite for quite an amazing man. A lovely spectacle, carried by telecast around the world, even into the hearts of darkness in China and the Muslim world. (Did anyone else see the feed from Al Jazeera? I wish I could read Arabic.)

Let me declare here first, I stand firmly in the Reformation, declaring "Soli Deo Gloria", et all. In no sense do I wish to join the Roman Church. But I have heard and read a number of rumblings in the evangelical community about the Pope, how the papacy isn't a biblical office, etc, lately as well as reminders about all the stuff about Catholicism that we Reformationists protested, selling of indulgences, the veneration of Mary, the elevation of the priesthood, celibacy of the priesthood, mixing works into the gospel of grace, etc. Mostly concern about the current popularity of the Pope, concern that popularity will dilute the gospel of grace.

I can appreciate that concern, but from where I sit, today it is popular to like the JPII, and will always be. What I don't see happening is a mad dash to the Catholic Church from Evangelicals. He won't be as popular in a month, or on everyone's mind and lips in 6, and in a year, he will be fading from view in the rear view mirror. Which in my opinion is criminally shameful. But that is what will happen. Everyone suddenly loved Reagan when he died too, but dems didn't rush out and convert to the GOP. (Logical choice, I know, but alas, loving Reagan didn't help them think more clearly. ;-)

I would like to state here that I believe in some very specific things the Romans have it right and we have it wrong. There is an ancient majesty to the old rites that draws our gaze to the agelessness of God. We can worship God in spirit and in truth through observing those old rites and understanding their foundation. We miss that when insisting upon the latest worship music played upon the latest technology. It isn't that other of God's truths are not proclaimed by worshiping in the new ways, they are, powerfully. But I would submit that we miss our history, the amazing history of how God has sustained his church through wars, civil upheaval, famine, disease, invasion and persecution. Also, we can learn about and understand more of God's King-ness through HIS veneration. Yes he is Father, that is how Jesus taught us to pray. But he is Father-King, and not something other, these two are together rather than singular. As C.S. Lewis says of Aslan, He isn't safe, but He is good, that's the way we should view God. There are ancient meanings behind the traditions of the Catholic Mass, it would behoove us to discover those meanings. I also think there is a much needed place for monasticism in the Protestant church, but that is a discussion for another time.

So, all that to say, I am not concerned about the Pope's current place in the pantheon of popular dead people. He really did accomplish some amazing and incredible things in his lifetime. He lived through two of the harshest, cruelest dictatorships in world history and emerged from them a man of God, committed to peace. Not a pansy peace, but real peace, rather, the kind you stretch your neck out for. He reached out ecumenically to heal rifts and wounds that, frankly, needed healing. He never, as far as I know, sold out his understanding of what it was to be a Christian. Karol Wojtyla as Pope John Paul II reached out to sinners as an ambassador of Christ. I think he was an amazing role model.

R.I.P.

Poetry #1

All poems are the property of the author, Vivian Louise Saavedra, and may not be reproduced with out written consent.

All The Rain

my heart gave out, gave in and turned away
and all i seemed to have was rain
then in the morning of a brand new day
you woke me with a love so bright
sorrow through the dark has seen the day
i am changed and i overcome.

here in the light of a holy God
all the pain has washed away
forever captive to your mercy mine
i hold on tight to who you are
three days down and now you walk again
your loving kindness flows ever on.
Vivian Louise Saavedra

Awake

Awake
Awake.
Awake.
Awake.

I should be sleeping,
but I am not,
I could be dreaming.

Instead, I pray,
I read,
And sometimes cry.

My enemy, the clock
Stares boldly
Mercilessly mocking.

Tossing and turning,
Desperate,
I get out of bed.

It's a new day.
Vivian Louise Saavedra

Miss Gaily's Pillow

Gently down she sets her head,
at the scene of her unrest.
Dreams and tears, screams and secrets,
transverse her nightly test.

Sacred is the silence she demands,
blessed are the hours when she flies.
There in the dark watches where she longs,
to soar through azure skies.
Vivian Louise Saavedra


Miss Ya
Miss ya in the morning, miss ya at night,
You seem as far away as a satellite.
Miss ya so much it makes me hurt,
You should see these tears my eyeballs squirt.

Miss ya like crazy, miss ya completly,
Miss ya from my headly down to my feetly.
Miss ya real bad and it's a big fat bore,
Just missin' and missin' till my misser gets sore.
Vivian Louise Saavedra

Random Thought on Social Security

I was thinking that the problem with Social Security, specifically that there are too few new workers to take care of the burden of the baby boomers is a problem that the baby boomers themselves have created.

By legalizing abortion, they have jeopardized their future benefits by killing millions of future SS contributors. Even if you made it illegal now, you would have to wait more than 21 years for the added workers to make an impact, and even then there is a diminished generation breeding, since the people now coming of age to have children are, for the most part, born after Roe v Wade. SS is due to be insolvent in 14 years.

Fascinating that selfishness would be the self-focused generation's undoing.

Like I said, just a random thought.

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