What is this nonsense about abortion being a heart-wrenching decision for any woman? Let’s stop sugar-coating this shit, people. I’m willing to say this straight up: If I got pregnant today I would abort it ASAP, no qualms, no hesitation. Give me that RU-486 pill, ma’am, thank you very much. I’m too young and I have no desire what-so-ever to bring a child into this world for at least 10 years (if ever).

If men were the ones who gave birth, do you think abortions would be “heart-wrenching” for all of them? Hell, abortion would be as common and accessible as breast augmentation.

Obviously, to have an abortion is a difficult choice for some women to make. By no means do I want to belittle their emotions and experiences regarding their abortions. However, I’m tired of the shame and disgust associated with abortion. For those of us who don’t think life starts at conception, the right to an abortion is a no-brainer. For those who do think abortion=baby-killing…why don’t you worry about saving your own soul, alright? You’re perfectly willing to support a war in Iraq, which has killed thousands of people ALREADY BORN and you sleep at night just fine, so I think you can get over a few women “killing” their unborn fetus. (EDIT: I’m aware this does not extend to ALL pro-lifers…)

I’d like to say this post is open for ANY and ALL commentary/debate/what-have-you. I would love to hear from pro-lifers, pro-choicers, pro-baby killers, whatever the hell you identify as. Just remember:

1) Keep it civil. No personal attacks will pass through comment moderation.
2) If you just want to preach your religious doctrine, go somewhere else. I’m a heathen and proud of it.
3) If your post contains the words “baby murderer,” “devil worshipper,” or “evil slutty bitch” (and you’re not being sarcastic), your comment will not pass through moderation.

I obviously have much more to say on the topic, but I thought I would respond in the comments section rather than standing up on my rotten little soapbox and boring you all to tears. :-) Hope to hear from you.

Yours Truly,
Dollface

I urge you to view this video. If it leaves questions in your mind, read Annie Leonard’s book that is coming out sometime soon. The Story of Stuff website also lists “10 Little and Big Things You Can Do.”

I sent this video to many of my family members and friends. While many responded saying that they were moved by the video and sent it to everyone they knew, one relative said that he thought the video was propaganda and that he thought Wal-mart was a great “cooperative” that benefited everyone involved with it. I thought it might be useful to post an edited version of my response to him (and the rest of my family):

“Goodness! I certainly did not expect to spark this debate.

The point of the video is to get a message across, an important one. Okay, so it’s propaganda. Is all propaganda bad? Sure, to get a message across succinctly and to reach as many people as possible, the message must be simplified. Notice the video is 20 minutes long. It could be so much longer, but who would have the time to watch it?

There is a simple solution to this debate: The woman is coming out with a book on the subject. You want to see where she got her facts? Why don’t you get the book from the library when it comes out? She does mention that 10 years of research went into this project and I’d wager that she does have the evidence to support her claims.

Even if her facts are exaggerated (which I don’t think is true) — does it matter? The point she makes is an important one: sustainability is one of the most important causes in our lifetime. She is right — our Earth is a finite place. We don’t have endless resources. We cannot continue to trash our planet, cut down trees, dump our trash in landfills and harmful incinerators. I am actually reading an interesting book on garbage at the moment, and it supports much of what this woman is speaking about.

I consider you all to be intellectual, thoughtful individuals. What is so disappointing to me about reading these emails is that you are getting bogged down by the small stuff. Nitpicking over whether we are using 30% of the world’s resources or 1% doesn’t get us anywhere! What we must do is act.

We must change the way we see the world. We act as if we are entitled to that new ipod or that new sofa. We think we’re entitled to go to the store and buy whatever we can afford. Yet, we ignore the fact that we are exploiting the environment and the workers hired to produce our affordable goods.

I watched a documentary about Chinese factory workers employed by Wal-mart. They were young people who moved to cities from their homes in order to try to make money. They work for ridiculously low wages, they are housed in cramped tenement-style dormitories and separated by gender. So, women can’t live with their husbands, they wash their clothing in dirty sinks in their cramped rooms and they share bunks with other women. They work long hours and get practically no vacation time in which to see the family they are sending money to. All so that we can have our affordable goods.

We are not bystanders in this dilemma. We are actors in this exploitation. We have agency, more agency than most people in so-called “Third World countries”. What are you doing with this agency? You are plugging into your nice computer (was it purchased in the last 5 years?), sipping from your coffee mug in the comfort of your home and debating whether or not the environment is truly in danger. Rhetoric can’t help us now. We need action.”

Whether or not you have watched the video, you might be asking…”What can I do about the state of the environment? I’m just one person.” There is so much one person can do, and here are my suggestions:

Read this article about eco-friendly fashion, or how to change the world from your computer, and finally, watch the “Story of Stuff” and explore the website. We have to work together to save our planet.

However, then I read this article over at CNN’s Political Ticker. In it, they mention that the Vice Presidential debates won’t be the same as usual:

The vice presidential debate will resemble the traditional presidential event. However, the New York Times reported last Sunday that the McCain campaign sought to limit the time for freewheeling discussion in the vice presidential debate.

Advisers to Palin were reportedly worried that format could put the Alaska governor — a relatively inexperienced debater — on the defensive most of the evening.

The agreed-upon format for that debate now includes an abbreviated two-minute discussion period during which the candidates can engage each other.

Is anybody else sick of McCain coddling Palin?? If she is so “ready” for the Vice Presidency as McCain claims, why the reduced debate time? Why is McCain’s campaign hiding Sarah Palin from the press? The article mentions that Biden, “has done nearly 100 interviews since being picked as Obama’s VP on August 23. Palin, on the other hand, did her third interview with a national television network last week.”

If this isn’t a reality check for voters, I don’t know what else is. The woman cannot hold her own in an interview, and her own campaign doesn’t trust her to speak freely for 5 minutes with Biden. Palin seems to be more and more a puppet for the McCain campaign…and a crappy one at that.

That being said, there is a definite art to arguing. Here are several tips to not only articulate your thoughts efficiently, but even win arguments (and yeah, influence some people in the process).

- Be eloquent & articulate: This may seem obvious, but the best way to win an argument is if you state your thoughts clearly and succinctly. For some this comes easily, but others may need to practice. I recommend debating a topic with a friend or family member you feel comfortable with. That way you can practice your verbal skills without too much pressure. Other ideas to improve this skill include reading avidly (there is no better way to increase your vocabulary) and watching political debates on TV.

- Be passionate: There is no point arguing just for argument’s sake. If you decide to engage in verbal sparring with someone, it is best if you care vehemently about the issue at hand. Being passionate about your subject will not only give you an edge in the argument, but will gain you the respect of those listening. However, no matter how passionate you are, you’ll get nowhere in an argument unless you . . .

- Know the facts: You don’t have to know every state capital to win a debate or argument, but it helps to know some specifics. For example, if you are discussing abortion rights, it would be helpful to know the laws surrounding the issue. Likewise, if you maintain that 9/11 was a conspiracy by the United States government, then you better have some hard data to back that idea. While it may seem like a daunting task to know everything about anything, it’s probably easier than you realize. My advice is to read about the things you care about. It’s as simple as that! If you are passionate about the Presidential Campaign, read blogs and newspaper articles that cover the campaign trail. If you feel strongly about the death penalty, find out what states still allow it, and what methods are used in those states. That way, when you find yourself in an argument, you will have the tools necessary to make your point in a thoughtful manner.

- Stay calm: Though being passionate is crucial to any debate, you must remember to stay calm. If you become too emotional, you expose your weak points & become vulnerable to personal attacks. If your argument is becoming too heated, take time to count to 10, or excuse yourself politely. You most likely don’t want to start a physical fight, unless you’re in a Fight Club situation.

- Be sober: Harlequin and I are often guilty of “The Drunk Debate.” It happens to the best of us, but not always with the greatest results. When you argue while drunk, miscommunication and misunderstanding often gets in the way of a meaningful discussion. That’s why I recommend not getting into a debate unless you’re sober (or close to it). When you are under the influence, you are definitely not as rational & eloquent as you could be. (However, as I’m sure you’re aware, this tip is easier said than done).

- Be prepared for the consequences: No matter who wins the argument, you must be prepared for the fallout. As hard as you try to be articulate, calm, and sober, your opponent might not be so thoughtful. I have seen friendships unravel because personal attacks made their way into a debate or because irreconcilable differences came to the surface. Either way, know the potential consequences of your actions before you enter into a dispute.

- Admit when you’re wrong: As any good debater will tell you, it’s important to concede points in an argument. This method is beneficial because you will a) surprise your opponent b) show that you are reasonable c) focus on the war, not the battle. You can’t be right on every point, but you may still be able to win the overall argument.

What not to do:
- Get emotional
- Cry/whine to get your way
- Make it personal
- Make knee-jerk statements

Hopefully, if you follow these guidelines, you can win a few arguments. We wish you luck, and hey – if you lose all your friends and everyone you know shuns you as a result of this post – it’s okay, we still love ya.

For further reading, check out Gerry Spence’s book: How to Argue and Win Every Time.