Why I Hate “Twilight” (or a treatise on how glorified codependency is totally not cool)

Anyone who knows me knows of my sense of linguistic perfection, character of overall independence, and past experience in education.

So when I was recently asked about (the) Twilight (”saga”) and its socio-cultural effect on tweens, teens, and beyond, I think it’s fair to say I unleashed my righteous fury on anyone who would listen.

The books and movies propagate codependency, glorify fragility, and condone intentional weakness in girls and women. The stories exalt passive observation and reactions instead of active participation in the events of one’s life and exemplify (if not demand) altruism over the autonomy inherent in being a human person.

That makes me sick. It contradicts all my ethical principles and values (those which I want to instill in my daughter).

On Principle and Practice

First of all, let me say upfront that I know this place totally needs a makeover. I’ll be lucky if I get to it this year. In fact, I’m lucky that I can even write right now, given that my daughter has decided to go from Perfect Baby to Fussy Baby in less than 24 [...]

Rational Moms (and a small update)

I’ve been blogging over at Rational Moms. What a fine group of ladies we have over there! Everyone should check them out.
And no, I promise I’m not turning into some woman whose biggest dilemma is figuring out the difference between periwinkle and baby blue, and I won’t be changing all my screennames to Mommy2LuLu2009, but [...]

The Purpose of Fiction

I have never had the opportunity to read “good” fiction, or maybe I have and I’ve forgotten it. I’m not even sure what that judgment call really means, what good fiction is, and I know it’s fairly subjective and probably comes across as condescending. After all, how can I judge what “good” fiction is if [...]

Underlying Ethics of the Current State of the Economy

At the base level of this entire economic crisis, recession, or whatever else people call the escalating national deficit, loss of income, hurting families, and overall lacking happiness, it is the ethical system people have structured their lives around that has caused such a tumultuous period for the American people and, now, the global economy.
Someone [...]

Lucidia Has Arrived!

I ended up having a c-section, so I’ve been resting all week, but Lucidia arrived on December 18th at 8:59 pm. She was 8 pounds, 6.6 ounces and 19.75″ long. Tons of photos and stories are available on her website, but here are a few of my favorite pics:

as soon as she was born (one [...]

I Am Still Pregnant

Yes, yes it is truer than the truthiest truth.
I am still pregnant. I am ready to pop, but here I sit with an enormous belly, swollen everythings, and a brain I am sure has diminished in size in the last 9 months, which is why you have not heard much from me in the past [...]

Is It Historic Because He’s Black?

I don’t agree with Obama on everything; in fact, I disagree with major portions of his political promises. I didn’t vote for him, however, based on my level of agreement with him. I didn’t vote for him because he’s a Democrat, he’s a senator, or even because I think he’s good-looking.
I voted for him because [...]