Well, it’s getting to the point where my options for buying things has dwindled to like two places.
I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I will need to get a loom and a sheep to start making my own clothes.
I’ve also realized that soon I’ll have to brew my own beer, even though I don’t drink it.
I’ll have to start smashing berries and color chalk to create makeup for myself.
It wasn’t that long ago that we were told that gender stereotypes were just a social construct. Females didn’t have to like the color pink or just play with dolls. Males didn’t have to just like blue and play with trucks.
And most of us said, “Yeah. Those things don’t make you female or male, it’s just that the genders tend towards certain things, that’s all.”
As a woman who has a wide—WIDE—range of interests, I understand that what I like doesn’t make me a woman. Part of me loves watching football, playing catch, listening to rock music, and mowing the lawn. The other part of me loves dresses, cooking, tea parties, and reading romantic classics. I have a very blended disposition.
But, now, we are told that if a man just puts on a dress, wears gobs of makeup, grows out his hair, and “feels” like a woman, well, all those are signs that he must be.
The current logic says that the social constructs DO prove you are a male or female.
Which is it, secular world?
Here, let me help you.
Men don’t have only one way they can be. Yeah, not all guys like big muscles, big trucks, and AC/DC. They are still a man.
Women don’t have only one way they can be. Yeah, not all women like long hair, dresses, or wearing makeup. They are still a woman.
See, what you’ve done here, is confined people to a very narrow box and ignored the complexities of human dispositions. For you, women are simply identified as long haired, makeuped, dress-wearing bimbos. Anyone like that—BOOM—woman. Men are simply identified as baggy-shirt wearing, bearded, ball-capped dudes. Anyone like that—BOOM—man.
God made us male and female. That’s it. Nobody is born in the wrong body. Everybody is unique and likes different things and has unique personalities; that doesn’t change the reality of biology.
Day Nine of US landmarks and Catholic connections in our lead up to America's 250th Birthday. Today's Location: US NAVAL ACADEMY I've realized that I'm a mid-sized town gal and Annapolis definitely appealed to me. Annapolis is home to the Naval Academy, which I got to visit in 2022. We have two Catholic connections. 1. This gate that you see here is named after Commodore John Barry who was a devout Irish Catholic. He died long before the Academy came around, but he was personally chosen by George Washington to be the very first commissioned officer and first flag officer of the permanent U.S. Navy. 2. If you visit the Naval Academy Chapel there is a basement where you will find a Blessed Sacrament room. It is in honor of Servant of God Father Capodonna, the "Grunt" padre that was killed in Vietnam on September 4, 1967. Every September there is a Mass said in his honor in the chapel. Even though my hubby is an Airman, I am the granddaughter of a WWII Navy vet. While my grandfather did not attend here, it was still special for me to visit. I highly recommend Annapolis, Catholic Pilgrims, and if you are able to be cleared onto the Academy, I would encourage you visit. The grounds are beautiful. Live the Faith boldly and travel well!
Continue ReadingDay Seven of US landmarks and Catholic connections in our lead up to America's 250th Birthday. Our feature for today: NIAGRA FALLS Anybody wanna hop back and forth between borders? The Falls are nearly almost divided in half between Canada and the US. Now, I've never been, so this isn't my photo, but I'm guessing this was taken from the Canadian side. Maybe? But what, Amy, is the Catholic connection, you ask? Well, these Falls were first documented in the 17th century by a Belgium monk named Father Louis Hennepin. He was a Franciscan missionary and his documentation really was his claim to fame. He explored lots of other territory in what would become the United States, but he often embellished his stories and this got him into some trouble. However, he did make an "engraving of the Falls of Niagara. It is out of proportion, but its general features give an accurate idea of the appearance of the Falls at his time." I do hope to go to the Falls someday and apparently in the surrounding area, both in Canada and Buffalo, NY, there are some excellent Catholic Churches to visit. Live the Faith boldly and travel well, Catholic Pilgrims!
Continue ReadingDay Five of US landmarks and Catholic connections in our lead up to America's 250th Birthday. Today's landmark: CENTRAL PARK Why does my picture from 2005 look ancient? In 2005 my family visited NY after attending a graduation for my husband's cousin in Connecticut. This is me with my oldest (now 24 years old) at the famous Bethesda Terrace with the Angel of the Waters Fountain. The Pool of Bethesda, if you'll recall from the Bible, was a famous healing site in Jerusalem. The Jews believed that an angel stirred up the water and when it was stirred up, whoever got in first would be healed. So, we have a Biblical connection here. Another one is that Pope John Paul II said Mass on the Great Lawn on October 7th, 1995 for a crowd of over 125,000. Also, one of our most visited Catholic Churches sits just south of Central Park and that is, you guessed it, St. Patrick's Cathedral. Archbishop John Hughes (1797–1864), was one of the most famous Catholics in NY history. He was around when Central Park was being created. He was the first archbishop of NY, when it became elevated to an archdiocese. So, there's your Monday morning Catholic history lesson! Live the Faith boldly and travel well, Catholic Pilgrims.
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