Well, some of you might have seen it coming: this is the end of this blog. I have been pretty much the lone blogger for months now; my sisters' posts are few and far between. Now don't panic! this is not the end of blogging for me. In fact, this is only just the beginning. You can follow my new blog at anextraordinaryexistence.blogspot.com. And if you are really bummed because of the girls not blogging anymore, I have good news and bad news: though they will not be blogging for the time being, there has already been some talk among my three former wombmates about making their own more feminine blog. Now that they don't have to deal with my ramblings anymore, maybe they will get back to blogging!
Again, my new blog address is http://anextraordinaryexistence.blogspot.com/.
Just for kicks:
This blog is set to self-destruct in 10 seconds. Please leave promptly.
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KABOOM!
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
New Jostie flick :0)~By Kyle
Some people just do not do well together, and that definitely applies here. Note: if you are wondering what in the world is this?, you can view some more of the Jostie's movies here to get the bigger picture.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Trap shooting pictures~By Kyle
Good morning everyone! Here are some pictures of the trap shoot competition. My earlier post of the competition is below this one. :0)
Well, time to go to church!
The Club
All fifty shooters. My teammates and I are to the far left of the second row
Me with my teammates, Adrian (middle) and Nick (left)
Talking
Here I am looking down the line of shooters before I start off the shooting rounds
Shooting
Here I am playing a game called Annie Oakley with my teammates. I shoot first, and if I miss the bird, then Nick gets a shot at it. If he misses, then Adrian gets a chance. If I miss and Nick or Adrian hits the bird, then I am out.
Well, time to go to church!
Saturday, March 9, 2013
My first trap shooting competition~By Kyle
Hi Everyone! Today I had my first official trap shooting competition! The competition was out in Woodland, and fifty different shooters came from about six or seven school districts. It was a lot of fun! So how did I do? Well, pretty well for my first go at competitive shooting! There were four different shooting disciplines at the trap meet: 16 yard trap, 22 yard trap, doubles (two clay pigeons at once), and 16 yard continentals. My teammates and I were all first-year shooters, so we got to be in a different division then the "veterans".
My scores, in order of the disciplines I shot first:
Doubles: 14 of 30
Continentals: 18 of 25
16 yard trap: 19 of 25
22 yard trap: 16 of 25
so overall, not a very bad day! I definitely have room for improvement on doubles, but this was only my second time shooting doubles. Also, it was my FIRST time shooting continentals, so I was very happy with my 18 score. What is continental trap? Well, it differs from normal trap in that the clay pigeons can fly in many more angles and at a faster speed; the birds can go much higher or lower than the birds flung from regular trap. This adds a whole new level to shooting since you don't know where the bird will be going.
I stuck around for the awards, not expecting anything, but to my surprise, my name was called for a shoot-off in the continental discipline with three other shooters. Turns out, I was tied with three other shooters for second place in that discipline. The ten round shoot-off was pretty intense (and nerve racking!), for though I didn't know it at the time, my two other opponents and I were shooting for second, third, and fourth place, respectively. Fourth place does not receive a medal. I actually was able to keep myself fairly calm during the shoot-off and won it, out shooting my opponents by a score of 8 of 10, 7 of 10, and 6 of 10. So I brought home a second place medal. It went right down to the wire, and I learned later that the shooter I beat by one got the second best overall score in the tournament! Not bad for my first time shooting continentals, huh?
My teammate, Nick, also brought home a first place medal in the doubles discipline--Good job, buddy!--so the Mossyrock team, all three of us (most teams had 7-11 shooters), were well represented in the awards. Our town may be small, but I will always be proud to be one of the five-hundred faithful Mossyrockians! :0)
The next shoot is in April, so let's hope that I learn from this competition and can improve my scores. Trap shooting has been really fun (Thanks for getting me hooked on it, Richie!), and it is a great chance to be a witness to my teammates! Pray that I will get a chance to share the Good News with them some time, for though they are very nice guys, I am not sure where they are spiritually.
Well, I better get to bed, as we loose an hour of sleep tonight. Goodnight, folks!
My scores, in order of the disciplines I shot first:
Doubles: 14 of 30
Continentals: 18 of 25
16 yard trap: 19 of 25
22 yard trap: 16 of 25
so overall, not a very bad day! I definitely have room for improvement on doubles, but this was only my second time shooting doubles. Also, it was my FIRST time shooting continentals, so I was very happy with my 18 score. What is continental trap? Well, it differs from normal trap in that the clay pigeons can fly in many more angles and at a faster speed; the birds can go much higher or lower than the birds flung from regular trap. This adds a whole new level to shooting since you don't know where the bird will be going.
I stuck around for the awards, not expecting anything, but to my surprise, my name was called for a shoot-off in the continental discipline with three other shooters. Turns out, I was tied with three other shooters for second place in that discipline. The ten round shoot-off was pretty intense (and nerve racking!), for though I didn't know it at the time, my two other opponents and I were shooting for second, third, and fourth place, respectively. Fourth place does not receive a medal. I actually was able to keep myself fairly calm during the shoot-off and won it, out shooting my opponents by a score of 8 of 10, 7 of 10, and 6 of 10. So I brought home a second place medal. It went right down to the wire, and I learned later that the shooter I beat by one got the second best overall score in the tournament! Not bad for my first time shooting continentals, huh?
My teammate, Nick, also brought home a first place medal in the doubles discipline--Good job, buddy!--so the Mossyrock team, all three of us (most teams had 7-11 shooters), were well represented in the awards. Our town may be small, but I will always be proud to be one of the five-hundred faithful Mossyrockians! :0)
The next shoot is in April, so let's hope that I learn from this competition and can improve my scores. Trap shooting has been really fun (Thanks for getting me hooked on it, Richie!), and it is a great chance to be a witness to my teammates! Pray that I will get a chance to share the Good News with them some time, for though they are very nice guys, I am not sure where they are spiritually.
Well, I better get to bed, as we loose an hour of sleep tonight. Goodnight, folks!
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
In the Presence of Titans Part 4~By Kyle
Well, here it is, the last part of the story. I sincerely hope you enjoyed reading this! And I hope that it got you thinking about the state of our nation and the founding fathers' views on various issues. Though of course it is hard to know the minds of men who have been dead for 200 years, from the tremendous amount of studying I did (as all the notes give proof of) I strove to give an accurate acount of what these men would think of our nation today. Enjoy!
-------
Bang! The noise was loud and
startling, and my eyes flew back open. The man who pressed the knife against my
chest suddenly rolled off of me and onto the paved ground, covering his head
with his hands. I got to my feet and, looking around, was amazed to see that a
lot of the crowd was on the ground in my would-be murder’s same position or
crouching behind any obstruction that gave them cover. I turned towards the
sound, and Benjamin Franklin stood before me with a smoking pistol in hand.
To my left George Washington rose to his feet between his two startled
attackers and quickly strode towards us. “My friends,” he said, “we must make
haste out of here. We are outnumbered!” Washington helped Benjamin Rush to his
feet, and while still supporting the bruised doctor, he and Benjamin Franklin
started at a run down the street.
Snapped from my confusion at the president’s commanding words, I quickly
followed the three. I glanced over my shoulder as I ran and was glad to see the
ruffian and his friends were not making after our group, but in that same
glance, I saw that the security guard who had been running towards the
fight had drawn his gun from his holster and was running after us. He was still
a good many feet away, but he was yelling at us to stop. I thought it was best
to comply with these orders before one of us was shot. I turned to yell at the
founding fathers to stop, but the trunk of a tree met me, effectively cutting
off my yell.
The next thing I remember was looking up at the face of the security
guard as he stooped down next to me. “Are you okay?” he asked, helping me up to
a sitting position. “Are those old men your friends?”
I looked around from where I lay at the foot of the road-side tree I had
slammed into, still dazed. My memory started coming back to me, and I looked
back at the man. “Yeah, they are my friends, well, kind of. It’s a long story.”
The man helped me to my feet. “What in the world happened? You have
blood on your face!”
I wiped at the sticky blood as I briefly related to the man the fight.
After I had finished, the security guard looked down at the hole in my shirt.
“You are lucky your friend fired when he did, though he is in big trouble for carrying a gun here. Come, I need to ask you and the
men who attacked you some questions. It would be good to round up your costumed
friends too. Can you call them on your phone and tell them to get back here?”
I shook my head. “No, I can’t call them because they don’t have phones.
They are kind of old fashioned.” That, of course, was an understatement.
We walked back to the front of the Old Post Office Pavilion, but the
crowd had dispersed and the men who had attacked our group were gone. The
security guard led me back into the old post office and pointed me towards a
bathroom. “Clean yourself up while I have a look around for your friends or
attackers. I will ask you some more questions later.“
I went into the bathroom and quickly washed my face, but I left the
bathroom as soon as I could. I wanted to get back to my friends, if that was at
all possible. Looking both ways, I
quickly strode towards the door out of the mall. Leaving the security guard
behind when he still had questions for me was probably a crime, but I had made
up my mind.
I started back down the street the founding fathers had run down just as
several police cars pulled up, no doubt alerted to our fight by the security
guard or someone in the crowd. I left that place behind. I then started to jog,
looking down each street that branched off the main road as I did. Suddenly I
heard a “psst,” and turning, I saw my
three friends standing in one of the side streets. I Let out a breath of air
and walked up to them.
George Washington looked me up and down. “Ethan,” he said, “It pleases
me greatly to see that you are well. We feared something evil had befallen you
when we reached this street and lacked your presence.” He took a step closer to
me and placed his hand on my shoulder. “I am glad providence has granted that
we meet again, for I sincerely wanted to thank you for your brave actions
a few minutes ago. I saw what you did, braving your life to save me from that
knife, and you have my most earnest and heartfelt thanks. If there is ever
anything I may do to repay this debt, I will do it unreservedly. The president
of these United States is at your service.”
Under the earnest gaze of George Washington, I felt uncomfortable, but
also pleased. It felt very good to receive this thanks from the man. “Thank
you,” I said. “I appreciate that.” I turned to Benjamin Franklin. “And also, thank
you, Mr. Franklin, for firing when you did. Were you aiming at the man on top
of me?”
Benjamin Franklin shook his head. “Make no doubt, it would have pleased
me to dispatch that rogue on top of you, but with so many people behind that
man and with you under him, I thought it too risky to aim a shot at him. I
fired into the air.”
I nodded and looked past him at Benjamin Rush, who was walking around in
small circles, still limping. I addressed him. “Are you okay, doctor?”
Benjamin Rush looked up at me. “I am fine, Ethan. I was just walking
around a little to try and lessen the pain in my ankle. I twisted it badly
after that scoundrel knocked me over, but from what I can tell, it is only
bruised.”
George Washington spoke up. “Friends, we must decide what to do now.
Ethan has fulfilled his service to us by bringing us here, and we cannot hamper
him anymore. I am sure he wants to get back to his home.”
“As to that,” I replied, “I think I will have to stay with you guys for
a while and away from my car back at the mall. There are several policemen
there now, and if I was spotted, I might be in some trouble. We all are
probably in some trouble.”
“Policemen,” George Washington said, “if they are the enforcers of the
laws of our nation, shouldn’t we turn ourselves in? We did nothing that we are
ashamed to report to the marshals of this land.”
“I don’t think that would be a good idea,” I said. “Though of course you
didn’t know it, carrying any kind of gun in Washington, D.C. is prohibited, and
I doubt the policemen will take you seriously when you say that you didn’t know
that law. You could be facing some very serious penalties.”
George Washington replied, “You are probably correct, though why guns
have been prohibited in this district is a question that I hope has a good
answer.”
“Well, I guess it was done for safety, especially for all the important
people that come to this capital.”
“Safety?” Washington questioned. “I hope that is not the reason, for if
it was, than every respectable citizen of this place should bear arms! You saw
how my pistol was used but a few minutes ago, as a weapon of self-defense. A free people ought not only to be armed, but
disciplined; to which end a uniform and well-digested plan is requisite; and
their safety and interest require that they should promote such manufactories
as tend to render them independent of others for essential, particularly
military, supplies*.”
I had no response, so there was a
moment of silence before Benjamin Franklin said, “If we are truly sought after,
then I fear we might as well give ourselves up. We stand out in stark contrast
to the people; we will be spotted sooner or later.”
I nodded. This thought had occurred to me too. I opened my mouth to
respond, but a sound stopped me. It was the sound of people marching. I turned
towards the sound and saw that a myriad of people were walking past the
entrance to the street we were in. Many carried signs or flags.
Benjamin Rush stopped his pacing and walked with a slight limp to my
side. “Who are they?”
“From the looks of it,” I said, peering closely at the signs, “they are
Tea Partiers.”
George Washington suddenly showed interest. “Tea Partiers? Why are they
called that?”
I shrugged. “According to what I have heard, they are a far-right
extremist group that thinks America needs to return to what they claim is how
the nation was originally founded.”
George Washington looked closer at the people marching past. “Some of them
are carrying “Don’t Tread On Me” flags with the coiled rattlesnake.”
Benjamin Franklin nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, the coiled rattlesnake,
the great American symbol**. And look! Some of them are dressed in garb similar
to our own. I suggest we throw in our lot with these patriots, for they will
effectively conceal us from the policemen at the very least. “
George Washington nodded, and we walked towards the Tea Partiers,
joining their ranks. I was by far the most hesitant to join the crowd, for
though my parents spoke fondly of the Tea Party movement, I had been told
elsewhere that they were radicals that should be avoided. This fear quickly
dissipated, though, for as I looked around at the crowd, I saw the faces of
many honest looking people, many of them returning my gaze with a nod and a
smile. There seemed to be something driving these people, a common motivation
among them. As I talked to a few of them and listened in to many of the
conversations around me as we marched, I came to believe that what drove these
people was an intense love for their country. I enjoyed marching with them***.
My founding father friends were received in an even more friendly
manner. Many of the people in the crowd would smile and wave when they saw the
founding fathers. Some people even shouted “How are you, Mr. Franklin!” or
“Greetings, George Washington!”, not knowing that they were welcoming the
actual men themselves. The founding fathers would return these greetings and
many times start a discussion with the Tea Partier who had shouted them, and
most of the time the discussion seemed to please my friends, as a handshake was
exchanged. The founding fathers were very nearly beaming, even George
Washington, who hardly showed any emotion otherwise.
Up ahead appeared the National Mall, and as we approached, it was clear
that was where the Tea Partiers were headed. Benjamin Rush, who had been
walking beside me most of the time since he was the least recognized of the
group, looked up at the Washington Monument as the Tea Partiers around us
started to fan out into the grassy area around the tall tower. “This place is
truly grand, Ethan.”
“Yes,” I said, nodding. “I never get tired of coming here.”
Benjamin Rush smiled and tilted his head towards Benjamin Franklin and
George Washington, who were still in the middle of the crowd. “They seem to
like this place as well and would probably stay here among these people for a
considerable time. I feel that something is changing, though. The queasiness I
felt right before we were miraculously transported here has returned. It is
possible that we are being called back to our age.”
I looked at the face of the doctor; he was serious. “You’re sure?”
Benjamin Rush placed his hand on my shoulder. “Yes, our time with you
might be nearly up, Ethan.”
The two of us walked towards Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. As
we did, the people around us started calling out, “Speech! Speech! Give us a
speech, friends!” They were addressing the two founding fathers in the middle
of the crowd, who had become a sort of favorite among them.
George Washington held up his hand. “Good citizens, it has done me well to
see so many of you gathered after all of the disheartening news I have borne in
my brief stay in your age. I have learned from many of you that you hold to the
laws of this nation that so many great men established at my side, and for that
I commend you! I have hope for this
nation, as I have always had, even if the times be dark, for truly the time is
as dark for our nation as it was at its birth. This nation is threatened just
as much as it was when the British Empire, the strongest military power in the
world, bore down on our shores. This threat, however, is not a military one; it
is not one that you can fight against with men and arms. This threat is
something far more serious, the threat that has toppled so many nations before
us: moral decay. I know that many of you are resolved to fight this threat, as
any true patriot should, and surely the hand of providence will be with you.”
George Washington paused to scan the faces looking up at him. “My
friends, in conclusion, let us all never forget this: that ‘while we are
zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly
ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the
distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the
more distinguished character of Christian.’**** Remember this always, citizens.
Fight for what has been given you, and may you overcome this threat!”
At these closing words, the Tea Partiers around our first president
clapped heartily and shouted their approval. The clapping continued as Benjamin
Rush and I found Benjamin Franklin and led him out of the crowd. Once we were
outside the crowd, Benjamin Rush addressed Benjamin Franklin. “Mr. Franklin, do
you not feel the uneasiness in your stomach that was felt before we traveled to
this age? It seems to me as if it might be time for us to return.”
Benjamin Franklin nodded his round head. “Yes, doctor, I feel the same.
I feel also as if the quality of a younger body I perceived I was blessed with
at the beginning of our time here is slipping away; I sense that the ailments
that have irked me in my old age are returning.”
A concerned look came over his face, and Benjamin Rush opened his mouth,
but Benjamin Franklin held up his hand to cut off his discourse. “However, I am
still well enough as to not be badgered by your hampering questions, Dr. Rush.
Let us find George Washington.”
Benjamin Rush, not looking all that happy about being cut off by the
round man, turned from Mr. Franklin. “Yes, where has our president gotten off
to? I think it would be wise to be together if we truly are to be transported
back to our time in this land.”
I looked around. I thought at first that he was probably still in the crowd of
the Tea Partiers, but as I turned towards that crowd, I saw the stately man out
of the corner of my eye. He was making away from the crowd and was heading past
the base of the Washington Monument. “There he is.” I pointed. “I will go get
him.”
Benjamin Rush nodded. “We will be waiting here. Please hurry, Ethan.”
I strode in the direction of where I had seen Washington heading. I too
walked past the Monument and saw the Reflecting Pool up ahead. A man stood tall
with his hands clasped behind his back at its edge, his image reflected in the
water with the late afternoon light. The man did not say a word as I
approached, but I could tell from the reflection in the water that it was
George Washington.
“Sir,” I said, walking to his side, “Benjamin Rush asked me to get you,
for he thinks that his and your time here is up. Sir?” I repeated when I did
not get an answer.
George Washington, still looking out across the water, spoke to me, and
I was surprised at the quaver in his voice. “Ethan, I was there when musket
balls tore my men apart, when the bayonet was plunged into their breasts; I saw
the agony in their eyes as they fell to the ground and breathed their last. Their
blood stains this land. I was there when these men under my command marched
past me at Valley Forge, the snow bloodied on the path they tread with nothing
but rags on their feet and bodies.” The president finally turned to me, and a
tear ran down his cheek. “Those memories haunt me. The patriots around me
sacrificed everything for something they held dear—this nation. As I see this
same nation now, I can’t help but wonder if they died in vain, if the pain they
went through was all for not. Have they died just to see this nation crumble in
the days of their ancestors?”
George Washington paused, almost as if he wanted me to answer his
rhetorical question. I could not give an answer. Finally the president spoke
again, and this time his voice strengthened. “You must fight for this nation, Ethan.
You must not let the liberties bought with such a price of sacrifice be lost
while you still draw breath. You cannot remain idle. Align yourself with these
Tea Partiers, the closest I have seen to patriots in this age. Give your all to
defend the liberty that has been given you. The men of my age gave everything,
even their lives, for this liberty, this freedom; will you?”
George Washington’s eyes searched my face as he waited for my answer.
“Yes.” I said this one word quietly, but I meant it. It was the only word that
was needed, and it was the last word I said to the founding fathers. George
Washington and I were silent as we walked back to Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Rush.
Once there, each of the three men who had impacted my life so greatly in
that one summer afternoon shook my hand and stepped back from me, each of them
feeling the pull they had felt before they had been transported to the parking
lot I had been walking across. We stood a few
feet apart from each other in a few seconds of silence. I wanted to say
something, anything, to these men before me. I wanted to thank them. But my
throat was too constricted to speak.
George Washington, however, seemed to know my desire, and he smiled at
me. “Ethan, we are deeply grateful for everything you have done for us, and we
thank you for your friendship. I hope we will meet again when your story is
finished in this world and you stand before our Maker. Goodbye, Ethan.”
I opened my mouth to reply, but a sudden sound of air blowing towards us
cut off the words. I turned towards the sound, and suddenly a gust of wind
surrounded me and a whistling noise again assaulted my ears. I stooped over and
held my hands over my ears, and the sound passed.
I turned back towards the founding fathers, but they were gone. I stood,
staring at the spot where the men had stood, wondering if it had all been a
dream. I put my hand in my pocket, and a cold piece of metal met my touch. I
pulled out the Spanish dollar coin given to me by the founding fathers at the
car dealership, and I smiled as I looked at it. I don’t know how long I stood
there, but finally I turned and headed back across the grass of the National
Mall. I needed to get back home, but what’s more, I had a nation to fight for.
-------
*First Annual Address, to both House of Congress (8 January 1790). Cited from Wikiquote.
**"I recollected that her eye excelled in brightness, that of any
other animal, and that she has no eye-lids—She may therefore be esteemed an
emblem of vigilance.—She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever
surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage.—As if
anxious to prevent all pretensions of quarreling with her, the weapons with
which nature has furnished her, she conceals in the roof of her mouth, so that,
to those who are unacquainted with her, she appears to be a most defenseless
animal; and even when those weapons are shewn and extended for her defense,
they appear weak and contemptible; but their wounds however small, are decisive
and fatal:—Conscious of this, she never wounds till she has generously given
notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of stepping on
her.—Was I wrong, Sir, in thinking this a strong picture of the temper and
conduct of America?" Benjamin Franklin on the rattlesnake. Pennsylvania
Journal, December 27, 2013.
*** I love Tea Party rallies!
**** General Orders (2
May 1778)
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Remember movie review~By Kyle
Carl Jones lives a normal life.
Sure, it might be different then how it used to be, but he doesn't remember
much of that. Every day, after downing his memory-forgetting pill, he says
goodbye to his wife and heads to where he works, the Child Protective Agency. His
job is to make sure that the citizens of his state remain loyal. That includes
keeping every child from seeing their parents and every parent their children.
It is better that way, and safer. Or so Carl has been told.
Safe, the one thing that the citizens around him have given so much for when
a devastating economy collapse threatened them in 2029. It is now 2050, and
thanks to a few radical minded politicians, a semblance of order has returned.
Of course the people now live in concrete, government-mandated houses—oh, and
sometimes the new white-coated policemen have to stun citizens with a memory
blocking thing-a-ma-gig—but it is a safer world. Or so Carl has been told.
Wow, you wonder, that sounds weird. Well, so does Carl—after he starts receiving
strange messages from a blue gel. And he starts to remember. The memories are
not pleasant and he pushes them away, but they keep reoccurring when he comes
into contact with this blue gel. He doesn't know it at first, but he has been
called to make a difference.
Meanwhile, his wife, Wendy, stops taking her "forgetting" pills,
and she too starts remembering. The two of them start to remember things they
have long forgotten, things that give a glimpse of a different life.
What follows is a whirlwind that Carl and his wife at times don't even
understand, much like how the audience feels. Confusing aptly describes the
life Carl has to live once he resolves to break loose from the pattern of the
world he lives in. But please bear with our hero, even if you too are lost in
his story. After all, what is a man to do when he finds himself on the right
side of the law, but on the wrong side of truth?
Hi everyone! Above is my first try at writing a movie review like the good
people of Pluggedin (Christian movie review sight) do. Tonight our family
watched Remember, a finalist in the
SAICFF. It definitely gets you thinking about how life could be like in a few
decades. If you really think about it, it is not all that far-fetched, either.
Though at times you will probably get lost in the rather sketchy story, I think
Remember is worth the 20$ I paid for
it. The acting is surprising good for a Christian movie, though the film
quality is about what is expected. So, my free citizens, support this movie . .
. while you still can.
-------
Friday, March 1, 2013
How have we gotten here?~By Kyle
Hello everyone. We are indeed living in a strange world. Here is a response to an e-mail I sent to our Senators regarding House Bill 1044, a bill mandating abortion coverage in maternity insurance plans (To learn more about the bill, click here). The green phrases are my own exclamations of surprise and disgust, but the words in bold are from the Senator himself:
Dear Kyle,
Thank you for taking the time to contact me, voicing your concerns with the Reproductive Parity Act. As you know, the RPA requires insurance plans that provide for maternity care also provide equivalent coverage for the termination of a pregnancy. It would not require any individual or organization with a religious or moral opposition to a specific service to pay for or purchase coverage for that service. Furthermore, the insurance plans are not required to cover pregnancy terminations that would be illegal under state law.
I support this bill, but unfortunately it did not make it out of committee before cut off despite having 23 co-sponsors. Thankfully, its companion in the house – Engrossed House Bill 1044 – passed and has been sent to us in the Senate. I hope the new senate majority will allow this badly-needed conversation to occur. (UH-OH!)
Furthermore, I opposed Senate Bill 5156, which would have required parental notification 48 hours prior to terminating the pregnancy of a minor. (you opposed what?) This measure was not where Washington voters are, it was a far-right bill that would serve to intimidate women making a personal choice about their bodies. Thankfully, this bill did not make it out of committee, and has no companion in the house.
It has been my privilege as a legislator to always vote in favor of a woman’s freedom to choose, just as the people of Washington have voted in favor of freedom at every opportunity. (hummm, like gay marriage, perhaps?)
Three years before Roe v. Wade voters legalized abortion in Washington State and in 1991 we passed an initiative that would ensure this remained our law even if the federal decision was overturned. (You're celebrating that?)
Rather than respect a woman’s privacy to make difficult and intensely personal medical decisions on her own, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle believe those decisions should be made by a male-dominated, governmental entity (Does a male-dominate entity even exist anymore?) . We must continue to fight, and we must support the RPA.
This bill is about common sense, and it is about respect, but most importantly it is about justice. It is just to ensure full equality for women in their healthcare choices. It is just to ensure that women have full responsibility over their own medical care and it is just to affirm the clear will of Washington voters for decades.
While you may disagree with the RPA, its merits deserve to be debated in a public forum. The Reproductive Parity Act needs to be brought to the floor for a vote.
Sincerely,
Edward B. Murray
State Senator
43rd District
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Here is my original e-mail that initiated this heartfelt response:
Hi, my
name is Kyle Bowes, and I am a student living in our beautiful state of
Washington. I am sending this e-mail to voice my disapproval of House Bill
1044. If this bill passes, anyone—even churches—buying a maternity insurance
plan would be forced to buy additional coverage that would cover the abortion
of a pregnancy. For churches and many individuals, this will mean that they
will be forced to provide for something that goes against their religious
beliefs.
I also
disapprove of this bill because it will be much easier for an individual to
terminate a pregnancy, and that is something that should not be done lightly.
Psalm 139:13-14 says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in
my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Since I am a Christian, I
believe that when an abortion is carried out, a fearfully and wonderfully made
life is ended. In fact, my family has adopted two precious little ones that
could have very well been murdered in their mommy's womb, especially if HB 1044
had been made a law before they were born. This bill is close to
home for us.
Because of
this, I respectfully ask that House Bill 1044 be rejected by the Senate of
Washington state. This bill will not protect women's health; it will help
end the lives of thousands of precious little women every year! Please, I urge
you as the leaders of this state to not violate the right of choice every
American has by mandating abortion coverage. Furthermore, I urge you to
consider the life inside a mother's womb that cannot fend for him or herself.
They need someone to fight for them. Will you?
Sincerely,
Kyle J. Bowes
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Though after further study I admit I was partially wrong about this abortion coverage being mandated (those who are religiously opposed or otherwise cannot be forced to buy this coverage), here is something you must do if you refuse this abortion coverage:
- Ensure that enrollees who are refused services have prompt access to information describing how they may directly access services in an expeditious manner;
So though you will not be required to buy this coverage, it is clear how much easier it will be for any woman, even those in the businesses that do not provide abortion insurance, to gain access to these services that will end the precious life of a defenseless person. This is just one more immoral step our state is trying to take; we must fight it! Here is a link to all the e-mail addresses of our state's Senators. Please, send them a polite but pointed e-mail about why this bill should be rejected. Furthermore, let all your Washingtonian friends know about this bill and urge them to call or e-mail our Senators. Lydia, post information of this on your blog and your Facebook page! Let's flood our Senators with e-mails and phone calls! We cannot stand by and watch murder become even more commonplace and accepted in our society!
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