Sarah: a woman of action and not a fan of waiting

This month’s study is on Sarah. The wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac, she is seen as the matriarch of the Judeo-Christian tradition. Her original name was Sarai and later changed to Sarah when God made his covenant with Abraham. Both names mean essentially “princess” as evidence of her importance. Her death, at the age of 127 years, is the only instance in Scripture where the age of a woman is recorded (Genesis 23:1-2). What insights can we learn from her characters? What lessons can we apply to our lives from Sarah’s example?  What does Sarah’s story tell us about God’s promises?

Sarah was a very beautiful woman. So beautiful that she attracted the attention of ancient rulers (Genesis 12:14 and Genesis 20:1-2). She was strong willed and was a woman of action. Unfortunately, her strong will and action led to jealousy and mistreatment of innocent people. She knew of God’s promise to make them the parents of a nation and when a child hadn’t arrived yet, she took matters in her own hands. She asked her husband, Abraham, to sleep with her maidservant, Hagar, in order to have a child through her (Genesis 16:1-4). According to my devotional study, Sarah is described as a loyal wife who did right and did not give in to fear. But did she really? Did she do what was right? She mistreated Hagar who was pregnant by Sarah’s own plots (Genesis 16:6) and blamed Abraham for Hagar’s hatred of her (Genesis 16:5). She called for the banishment of Hagar and her son, Ishmael so he couldn’t share in Isaac’s inheritance (Genesis 21:9-10). What about not giving in to fear? The whole Hagar situation is evidence that her fear and lack of faith in God’s promise that she took matters in her own hands.

The lessons we can apply from Sarah’s example is two points. First, God responds to our faith despite our failures. Despite Sarah’s plan to create the promise child ahead of God’s plan, she was still blessed with her son, Isaac, at the age of 90. God can accomplish his purposes despite our frailties, our little faith and our belief of self-reliance. He did the same for King David numerous times. He did for Elijah was he struggled being God’s primary prophet (1 Kings 17 & 18). He did for Peter even after his denial of Jesus (Mark 14:66-72). Second, God isn’t bound by physical limitations, he can stretch the limits and cause the unthinkable to happen. Our understanding of the world, the universe and even God, is limited by what we see. First Corinthians 13:12 says “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror, then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” We only see in part while God sees the entire picture. When we pray for something. We see our desires to 1) have it now or 2) have it at all. God sees the picture and knows 1) its too soon or 2) its not good at all. One day we will have all the answers and see from God’s perspective.

The second point leads me to God’s promises. All God’s promise come to pass with time. Sarah didn’t believe God would give her a child in her old age. Impossible! she thinks. She laughs as if God made a joke (Genesis 18:12). The promise was first made to Abraham in Genesis 17:15-21 when he made the covenant with him. Later, in Genesis 18:10, God had given them a timeline for this child to appear: one year. And within one year, Isaac was born (Genesis 21:1-7). Today, fulfillment of God’s promises comes when we pray. Sometimes we get an immediate answer whether it is yes or no. Sometimes we’ll get “silence” usually a clue that God has answered “not yet.” The Bible is filled with verses which states God’s promises to provide and deliver. One of my favorites is Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” The best way to bring peace to a troubled heart is to focus on God’s promises and trust him to do as he promises.

In conclusion, there’s nothing harder than to wait. Waiting is the hardest part whether is waiting for someone good, someone bad or something unknown. Waiting can be agony. Sarah knew the difficulty in waiting. Sarah tried to “help” along God’s promises and tried to deal with her problems without God. And when that didn’t work, she tried to cover up her faults by blaming others. She allowed her desire for a child and fulfill God’s promise to get ahead of her faith and even God himself. From Sarah’s story, we learn that it is best to wait on God’s timing rather than take matters in our own hands.

Dear Hollywood

Dear Hollywood,

Movies have been a source of entertainment and escape for many people since the first film on the big screen. For me, it is roughly 2 hours (or more) to imagine living in another place and time. To learn about civilizations and peoples long since gone. You’re human and a citizen with the same responsibility that I do. While I love to learn new things, I do not go to the movies to be lectured. You’re allowed to have your beliefs and opinions. However, sometimes your comments show how out of touch you are with the rest of us. Your hypocrisy, bias and lack of open conservation with those who disagree with you shows that you do not practice what you preach. Even an “insider” saw this and called you out on it!

One of the biggest complaints is the hypocrisy. Many actors preach, lecture and scold about various topics, the most current one being climate change, and then do the exact thing they were just ranting against. It’s the “Do as I say and not as I do” attitude. If you want change, then lead by example. Jane Fonda’s Oscar choice to wear an old gown is a start. She wore a gown that she also wore to Cannes in 2014 to combat climate change (Apatoff, 2020). Unfortunately, her efforts did not leave the public very impressed. Some of the comments I found online were less than impressed and dripping with sarcasm. One commenter wrote, “wearing the same dress 2 times in 6 years. What a sacrifice and role model. Let’s give her an award!” Another commenter wrote, “I swear the same clothes once a week, every week. Nobody in the media is writing about my eco friendly habits.” While some commenters tried to defend her actions and applauding her efforts, others weren’t having it. One response was “WOW! What a pioneer!! Just imagine wearing clothes more than once!! What a rebel!!” But to be fair and play devil’s advocate, maybe Ms. Fonda’s statement was aimed at her fellow actors and Hollywood’s standards that you must wear new, never-before-seen fashion. Maybe? Wishful thinking?

Hollywood has become notorious for extreme bias. Yelling from the rooftops about tolerance, diversity and acceptance and yet someone one has a differing viewpoint, you shut them down. Actor Kevin Sorbo has been essentially blacklisted for being a Christian conservative and liberals proudly boast about banning him from fan-based conferences (Stossel, 2019). Many actors have come out to rail against the gender pay gap and how it is unfair to women. In 2018, actor Benedict Cumberbatch made the commitment to refuse any project where his female co-starts will be paid less them him (Deb, 2020). Did any other male Hollywood actor say anything in agreement? Or made a similar commitment? I hadn’t heard of anyone. Though, again, a few from the public were not impressed and commented that the gesture is all talk and aren’t holding their breath to see if he follows through. I think many view Hollywood as a lot of talk and not enough walk. Let’s see a little more action and maybe we’ll start listening.

Many people in the public applauded Ricky Gervais, despite being a stanch liberal, roasted, blasted and called out many in Hollywood for their hypocrisy and inflated ego. In his monologue at this year’s Golden Globes, he said, “You’re in no position to lecture the public about anything. You know nothing about the real world.” One commenter, I read online, stated, “he wasted the Hollywood hypocrites and they deserved every word.” He even called out his own hypocrisy while shamelessly promoting his Netflix’s show, Afterlife. “His speech ended up being a phenomenal takedown of an overly political and absurdly left-wing Hollywood that’s become obsessed with self-righteous crusades” (Stepman, 2020). Your audiences don’t like being scolded and lectured to like disobedient children. If you have a cause you want to pursue, that’s fine but forcing people to accept it by shoving it in our faces and down our throats is not the way to do it. I feel many in Hollywood have been a part of the Ivory Tower for far too long that they forget what the real world feels like.

I think Hollywood that your heart is the right place. To educate people. To broaden their horizons about people and places we’ll never meet or see. I applaud your desire to shine lights the issues you hold dear. However, it is the “righteous statements of incoherent idealism” (Deb, 2020) that many people are fed up with. It is the “Do as I say and not as I do” mentality that get people’s goat. It doesn’t work with children and it won’t work with adults. Everyone can fall prey to hypocrisy. I know I do, and I work hard to avoid it. However, Hollywood, if you were to admit your faults and shortcomings and have an honest dialogue with us instead of lecturing them, maybe we would be more open to listening.

Sincerely,

A fan

References

Apatoff, Alex (February 10, 2020). Jane Fonda Wears Gray Pixie Cut, Recycles 6-Year-Old Gown at Oscars After Declaring She Won't Buy New Clothes Again. People magazine. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/jane-fonda-wears-gray-pixie-051353437.html. Retrieved February 10, 2020.

Deb, Sandipan (February 16, 2020). Opinion | Thank you, Hollywood, but spare us your moral lectures. LiveMint. https://www.livemint.com/opinion/columns/opinion-thank-you-hollywood-but-spare-us-your-moral-lectures-11581874258220.html. Retrieved February 17, 2020.

Stepman, Jarrett (January 6, 2020). At the Golden Globes, Ricky Gervais Exposes Hollywood’s ‘Woke’ Culture. The Daily Signal. https://www.dailysignal.com/2020/01/06/at-the-golden-globes-ricky-gervais-exposed-hollywoods-woke-culture/. Retrieved February 21, 2020.

Stossel, John (December 3, 2019). One Fix for Hollywood Bias. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/JohnStossel/videos/835046203619217/?sfnsn=mo&d=n&vh=e. Retrieved February 17, 2020.

If She Saw: a quick read but decent thriller

If She Saw by Blake Pierce is the second book in the Kate Wise series. Semi-retired and legendary FBI agent Kate Wise is enjoying life. She is spending time with her granddaughter and the blossoming relationship with her boyfriend when she is asked to take on another case when two couples are found brutally murdered in their homes with no motive. The only clue is a piece of a child’s blanket that is found at each crime scene. As Kate and her partner, Special Agent DeMarco, follow the clues, they realize they are on a race against time as the killer may strike again at any time. Are the victims chosen at random? Are they connected somehow? What is the meaning of the piece of cloth left behind?

If She Saw is a fast-paced thriller which will leave readers on the edge of their seats. Although I found the “false” suspects to be a bit too obvious, I enjoyed reading as Kate and DeMarco take every road that opens with each new clue and suspect. Kate does make one decision that I didn’t like and thought why she didn’t just say “I’ll start in the morning?” It is a decision she later regrets and wishes she did say just that. But I feel this makes Kate human. How many times have we made decisions in a split second only to realize it could have waited?  I look forward to reading the next titles in this series. There are currently seven books in this series. If you haven’t read the first book, If She Knew, I highly recommend picking it up. If you enjoy mystery thrillers, I recommend If She Saw.

If She Saw

is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Jim Crow Laws: the origins, the laws and the fight back

As it is Black History Month, I decided to research more into the Jim Crow Laws. As a student, I had heard the term and the very basics of what they were, but I realize that I didn’t know anything beyond that. Named for a black minstrel character, Jim Crow Laws were a collection of state and local statutes which legalized racial segregation. These laws existed for about 100 years from the post-Civil War until 1968. What was the origins of the Jim Crow Laws? How were they expanded across the South and the nation? What helped bring the end of Jim Crow? And what type of Jim Crow laws were enforced in my home state of California?

Jim Crow Laws started as Black Codes as early as 1865 (Editors, 2018), which were strict laws detailing where and how the newly freed slaves could work and for how much. It was a legal way to put blacks back into an indentured servitude as their voting rights were essentially taken away, they were told where to live and how to travel. And since former Confederate soldiers were now serving as police officers and judges, there was no real legal recourse for the blacks to fight back (Editors, 2018). Jim Crow Laws started with restricting blacks from voting. They included literacy tests, poll taxes and a grandfather clause (Urofsky, 2019). The grandfather clause stated that men who were entitled to vote before 1867 and their lineal descendants were exempted from the literacy and other qualifications. Segregation didn’t begin immediately. Until 1877, New Orleans had fully integrated schools and North Carolina had blacks and whites serving on juries together (Urofsky, 2019). It didn’t truly begin until the Plessy v Ferguson (1896) which created the “separate but equal” standard.  From very early on, people were fighting back against Jim Crow Laws. Notably, Ida B Wells, who refused to leave a first-class train car designated for whites only (Editors, 2018). As well as Isaiah Montgomery who founded a black only town, Mound Bayou, Mississippi, in 1887. The town still is predominately black residents (Editors, 2018).

Jim Crow Laws would expand across the nation. Public parks would be forbidden for blacks to visit. Theaters, restaurants, waiting rooms, water fountains, restrooms, building entrances, even cemeteries would all become segregated (Editors, 2018). Some states would even require different textbooks for white and blacks students and different Bibles would be used to swear on in court (Editors, 2018). After WWI, lynchings and violence was on the rise. For several months in 1919, there were widespread race riots in the country. As black WWI vets were returning home and fighting back. “Between April and November of 1919, there would be approximately 25 riots and instances of mob violence, 97 recorded lynchings, and a three day long massacre in Elaine, Arkansas during which over 200 black men, women, and children were killed after black sharecroppers tried to organize for better working conditions” (Higgins, 2019). The Great Migration of the 1920s, as blacks were leaving the South, found Jim Crow Laws spreading to the North and Western states. In the North, suburban developments would not allow blacks to obtain mortgages for certain “red-lined” neighborhoods (Editors, 2018). As the country would fall into the Great Depression, racial tensions would only deepen.

The end of the Jim Crow Laws began with post-WWII and the Civil Rights Movement (late 1940s- late 1960s). In 1948, President Harry Truman would integrate the military. In 1954, the Supreme Court would rule in Brown v the Board of Education that the “separate but equal” standard was unconstitutional and would begin the national integration of schools. In 1964, President Johnson would sign the Civil Rights Act which ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin. In 1965, the Voting Rights Act would be passed, banning the use of literacy tests. In 1967, Loving v Virginia would end bans on interracial marriages. In 1968, the Fair Housing Acts ended discrimination in renting and housing sales (Editors, 2018). In 1971, the Supreme Court would uphold busing to insure integration of schools in Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education.

California had many laws which restricted people based on race. California produced more legislation against Chinese and other Asian descents due to the massive Asian immigration. In 1850, California passed a statute which stated that “no black, mulatto person, or Indian, shall be allowed to give evidence in favor or, or against, a white man.” In 1854, the California Supreme Court would rule that this statute also included individuals of Chinese descent. Between 1866-1947, California would pass 17 Jim Crow laws including anti-miscegenation (interracial marriages), education and employment. In 1891, all Chinese people would be required to carry a “certificate of residency.” If they were caught without it, they could be arrested and jailed. It would be illegal for whites to marry blacks, mulattos or Asian descents. It is interesting to note Hispanics were not included in the anti-miscegenation laws because they were considered white due to their Spanish heritage. Anti-miscegenation laws would be overturned in California with Perez v Sharp (1948) in which Andrea Perez (a Mexican American woman) and Sylvester Davis (a black man) were denied a marriage license in Los Angeles County. This case was the first in the 20^th century to overturn anti-miscegenation laws. Chief Justice Warren would use this case as the basis for the Loving v Virginia decision.

In conclusion, Jim Crow Laws were a massive systemic discrimination against blacks and, by extension, other minorities. They were implicated slowly and gained prominence by the turn of the 20^th century as the denials of basic rights like voting, housing and education were ways to keep prominent powerful white majority in positions of authority. The fight against them had been early on but didn’t gain momentum until after WWII as black vets returned home and said enough is enough. The history of Jim Crow Laws and other laws should not be ignored or forgotten. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us remember these horrible laws as we try to find a balance and harmony among ourselves.

References

Editors (February 28, 2018). Jim Crow Laws. History.com. https://www.history.com/topics/early-20th-century-us/jim-crow-laws. Retrieved February 11, 2020.

Higgins, Abigail. (July 26, 2019). Red Summer of 1919: How Black WWI Vets Fought Back Against Racist Mobs. History.com. https://www.history.com/news/red-summer-1919-riots-chicago-dc-great-migration. Retrieved February 19, 2020.

Urofsky, Melvin I. (August 21, 2019). Jim Crow law UNITED STATES [1877-1954]. Britanncia.com. https://www.britannica.com/event/Jim-Crow-law. Retrieved February 19, 2020.

The Girl Puzzle: an interesting look into a woman ahead of her time

The Girl Puzzle by Kate Braithwaite is the story of Nellie Bly, the journalist who broke through the male dominated field with her expose of Blackwell’s Island in 1887. Told between two timelines, 1919-1922 told though the eyes of her secretary, Beatrice Alexander, as Nellie is nearing the end of her life, and through Nellie’s eyes with the events up to her stay at the asylum, her experience while there and the events which occurred after. Born Elizabeth Jane Cochran in 1864, Miss Bly was a puzzle to those who knew her. She was a woman of many secrets and rarely allowed anyone to truly know the inner workings of her mind, motivations and desires. She died on January 27, 1922 at the age of 57. As her published story is well known but, did she tell the whole truth about her times at the asylum? What happened to the women she encountered there?

I had heard of Nellie Bly before. Her name was mentioned in a Smallville (2001-2011) episode (“Gone” season 4, episode 2), as the hero of Chloe Sullivan as she was a pioneering female journalist. Unfortunately, I knew very little of her and her accomplishments. When The Girl Puzzle was suggested to me, I took the chance to find out more about her. She was certainly an enigma as many would describe her “useful in a crisis but remote and always moving on.” Miss Bly was a woman shaped, better or worse, by her childhood and home situation growing up. She was an advocate for foster children and made it her mission to find good and stable homes for them. She had gumption to not be put into a stereotypical place of what women could write about and report on. From this story, I am interested in reading more about Nellie Bly. I recommend The Girl Puzzle.

The Girl Puzzle

is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

The Blue Cloak: an interesting retelling of a notorious crime in American history

The Blue Cloak by Shannon McNear is the new title in the True Color historical story of American crime series. It is the year 1797 in Know County, Tennessee when the US was young, and the west was still wild. Rachel Taylor attends the wedding of her friend, Sally, to Wiley Harpe. Something about the groom and his brother, Micajah, gives her the creeps but her friend seems so happy and she tries to shake it off. One year later, Rachel notices a group, two men and three women, come into town. One woman is her friend, Sally, who hadn’t been seen in a year since whispers of the brothers’ “business” practices started and they disappeared. December 1798, along the Wilderness Road in Kentucky, a young man is found murdered. It is the fourth along the road and it has been linked to the Harpes. A young lawyer, Benjamin Langford, from Virginia comes looking for his cousin, Thomas, and quickly joins the search for the group. Will they find the brothers before they kill again? How is Sally involved? Will Rachel see her friend again?

The Blue Cloak is the third book I’ve read in the True Colors series and this one was creepy. Creepy but I was unable to put it down. Featuring the real-life case of Wiley “Little” Harpe and Micajah “Big” Harpe, the two would begin a horrifying crime spree through Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois from 1797 until 1799 when Micajah was captured and killed. Wiley would continue his killing spree as a part of the Samuel Mason gang until 1803 when he was captured and later hanged in 1804. I was fascinated by this story from history that I have never heard before. It was hard to read at times especially when these men seemed to enjoy their crimes; but I was fascinated how they were eventually caught and what became of the women who were with them. I highly recommend The Blue Cloak, especially if you have enjoyed the other titles in this series.

The Blue Cloak

is available in paperback and eBook

Love in Rewind: a bad romance with good 80s music references

Love in Rewind by Tali Alexander is the first book in the Audio Fools series. Emily Bruel has the life of dreams. At 29, she has two beautiful kids with her gorgeous and successful husband, Louis Bruel in a luxurious Upper East Side townhouse. There, she has a live-in nanny, a housekeeper, a cook and other perks that make her life a breeze. Louis has built a real estate development firm to a billion-dollar success in less than 15 years. Together, their ten-year marriage seems to be the stuff of fairy tales. But something is off. Emily feels Louis becoming distant and secretive. She is forced to search for the truth among the silence and lies. Will the truth shatter any hopes of rekindling their love and marriage? Can their remember their love for each other through the help of their favorite songs?

I am a sucker for a good romance novel but from the very beginning, Love in Rewind was not the book I thought it was. It is a marriage in peril as the opening chapter finds Emily waking up from a horrible dream and begs her husband to comfort her, who turns her away. The second chapter finds her reminiscing about the day she met Louis. She was 18, he was almost 30 and had the eye of every woman in the room. I didn’t mind the age difference between the two characters as I know a few very loving and committed couples with such an age difference. However, Louis constantly refers to Emily as “little girl” while they have their romantic and sexual encounters is creepy. I loved the idea of song references to their love story as my husband and I love quoting songs to each other, but it wasn’t enough for me to like this story. I do not recommend Love in Rewind.

Love in Rewind

is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Susan B. Anthony: her life, her work and her legacy on her 200th birthday

February 15^th marks the 200^th birthday of Susan B. Anthony. She was an American social reformer in the fight for temperance, abolition and labor equality. She is better known a women’s rights activist who played a pivotal role in the women’s suffrage movement. She would spend over forty years, crisscrossing the country fighting for racial reforms as well as women’s reforms. While already well known, she would be brought to great fame and notoriety after she was arrested for voting in the 1872 Presidential Election. Her trial. The United States versus Susan B Anthony (1873) would be another platform for her to make her case for women’s rights. She left behind a legacy of leadership and a passion to stand up against adversity.

Susan Bronwell Anthony was born February 15, 1820 to Daniel and Lucy (nee Read) Anthony in Adams, Massachusetts as the second of seven children. As a Quaker family, they were passionate for social reform. Although Mr. Anthony would often be at odds with the traditionalist Quaker congregation as he married a non-Quaker. He encouraged Susan as well as all his children to be self-supporting, teaching them business principles and giving them responsibility at a young age. At 17, Susan was sent to a Quaker boarding school but left after one term as the family hit hard times with the Panic of 1837. She would begin teaching at a Quaker school in order to assist her family. After the family moved to Rochester, New York in 1845, her father helped form the Congregational Friends with other Quaker social reformers in 1848. There she would meet Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) who would become her lifelong friend. In 1851, she would meet Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902) and the two would be the dynamic duo for the women’s rights movement. Susan had the organization skills and Elizabeth excelled at the writing. Together, they would start a weekly newspaper, The Revolution, in 1868, with it’s motto “Men, their rights and nothing more: women, their rights and nothing less.” She would work until her death on March 13, 1906 at the age of 86. Although we would not live to see the women’s suffrage on the national level (the 19^th Amendment would be ratified in 1920), she expressed pride at the progress made.

Ms. Anthony was arrested on November 18, 1872 and charged with illegal voting. Her arrest would generate a national controversy. Her trial would begin on June 17, 1873 during which she made the speech entitled, “Is it a Crime for a US Citizen to Vote?” In it, she makes the argument that as citizens of the United States, women have the right to vote and uses the US Constitution to illustrate her point. “It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union. And we formed it, not to give the blessings of liberty, but to secure them; not to the half of ourselves and the half of our posterity, but to the whole people- women as well as men.” She also uses the same logic for women’s suffrage as given for the freed slaves in the 13^th Amendment. “Every discrimination against women in the constitutions and laws of the several states is today null and void, precisely as is every one against Negroes.” She would be ordered to pay a $100 fine, which she said, “I shall never pay a dollar of your unjust penalty.” She never did. It remains unpaid in the courthouse ledger (Rosenthal, 2017).

She left behind an amazing legacy. Anthony, Stanton and others formed the National Woman Suffrage Association in May 1869. That organization still thrives today as it transformed to be the League of Women Voters (League of Women Voters). She demonstrated leadership in many ways. Through devotion to her cause, seizing the opportunity when it presented itself and refused to be intimidated by those in power when fighting for her rights (DeMarco, 2016). She developed a reputation for fearlessness in the face of adversity and controversy. She would wear the Bloomer dress (a controversial style in which pantaloons were worn under a knee length dress) for a time in 1851. She would stop when the focus became her dress and not her ideas. To celebrate her contribution to the suffrage movement, the women of Rochester, New York make a pilgrimage to her grave every election day and place their “I Voted” stickers on her gravestone (Rosenthal, 2017). Her life and work is a great testimony to righting wrong and opening the doors of opportunity through education and defending one’s rights.

In conclusion, Susan B. Anthony was a woman of great passion for her causes. While she is remembered for her fight for women’s suffrage, she also fought for full citizenship for freed slaves, labor equality and overall women’s rights as full citizens of the United States. She is the first woman to be minted on US currency when the Susan B Anthony dollar was first minted in 1979. While this year marks her 200^th birthday, it is also extra special as this year also marks the 100^th anniversary of the 19^th Amendment. Due to her and others commitment to the fight for suffrage, myself and generations of women can cast their votes and have their voices heard.

References

DeMarco, Peter (November 18, 2016). Leader Time: 6 key lessons from the legacy of Susan B. Anthony. https://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/how-to/growth-strategies/2016/11/6-key-lessons-from-the-legacy-of-susan-b-anthony.html. Retrieved February 10, 2020.

League of Women Voters. https://www.lwv.org/about-us/history. Retrieved February 11, 2020.

The National Susan B. Anthony Museum and House. www.susanb.org. Retrieved February 10, 2020.

Rosenthal, Peggy (August 22, 2017). Susan B. Anthony: Failure is Impossible. https://imagejournal.org/2017/08/22/susan-b-anthony-failure-impossible/. Retrieved February 10, 2020.

Silent Crime: bad crime story

Silent Crime by WL Knightly is the first book in the Hangman series. WL Knightly is the writing team of friends, Lexy Timms and Ali Parker. Detective Jake Thomas of the Spokane Police Department is on his way out. He is tired of the corruption and evil that seems to fill the streets. He is given one last case in order to train his replacement, Officer Jo Calloway, and what he doesn’t realize is that this case will affect more personally than ever before. There is a serial killer known as the Hangman who likes to torture his victims with a deadly game of hangman before killing them. Can Jake train his replacement and catch the Hangman before he kills again?

When I picked this book, the title and cover page caught my eye and I love a good detective story. It was on my To Be Read list for months until recently when I slowly made my way to it. I eagerly opened the first page and was shocked. This was not the book I thought it was. The language was way too vulgar for me. I’ve read some gruesome crime stories, but this book had no real style to it. It had no suspense and even with the “cliffhanger” of an ending, there was no real hook to keep me onto the next book. It was only recently when I read other reviews, did I realize that you must read all six books in the series to get the complete story. So, you have to labor through six books to have any resolution? I don’t think so. The characters aren’t even likable enough for me to try to continue the series. Jake is too much of a misogynist and the first time the reader is introduced to Jo, she’s the dumb blonde popping her gum. Really?!?!? A cop that is going to take over homicide cases?!?! It isn’t even well written or researched. The police procedures are a joke. I do not recommend Silent Crime.

Silent Crime

is available in paperback and eBook

Celebrating International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Many people may think that women in the sciences is a modern phenomenon. While it is true that women have not been as prominent in the sciences as men, they have been active in research since the ancient world. According to United Nations data, less than 30% of scientific researchers worldwide are women (Kent, 2020) We often hear of studies revealing that women are discouraged from entering the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (known as the STEM fields) beginning at a young age. Although I don’t remember being discourage from these fields as student, I also feel I wasn’t actively encouraged either. According to the Pew Research Center, women are still underrepresented in engineering, computer science and physical science (Kent, 2020). As today is the UN’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science, I would like to feature three revolutionizing women whose discoveries have led to the advancement in their fields and our daily lives.

Alice Augusta Ball was born on July 24, 1892 in Seattle, Washington. Her family would move to Honolulu in hopes that the warmer weather would help her grandfather’s arthritis. They would move back to Seattle after one year. She would attend Seattle High School and graduated in 1940, receiving top grades in the sciences. Ball studied chemistry at the University of Washington, receiving bachelor’s in pharmaceutical chemistry and pharmacy. With her pharmacy professor, she published a 1o page article, “Benzoylations in Ether Solution,” in the prestigious Journal of American Chemical Society, a rare accomplishment, not just for an African American woman but any woman. Ball pursued her master’s degree at the University of Hawaii, where she developed a groundbreaking treatment for leprosy (Kent, 2020). Current treatments for leprosy was oil from the chaulmoogra tree, however; it was difficult to use orally or topically, and it was too thick to inject (Kent, 2020). Ball discovered the ester ethyl form of the oil which made it water soluble and dissolvable in the bloodstream and thus injectable. She died on December 31, 1916 before she could publish her findings. The president of the university at the time tried to claim the discovery as his own until Ball’s supervisor would speak publicly giving Ball the credit (Kent, 2020).

Grace Brewster (nee Murray) Hopper was born December 9, 1906 in New York City. She would earn her bachelor’s degrees from Vassar College in mathematics and physics in 1928. She would go on to Yale where she earned a master’s in mathematics (1930) and a PhD in mathematical physics (1934). After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hopper joined the war effort. Initially rejected because of her age (34) and her size (her weight to height ration was too low), she persisted and joined the US Naval Reserve (Women’s Reserve) in December 1943. She was assigned to the Bureau of Ships Computation Project at Harvard University (Yale News, 2017). While working on the Mark II, she dismantled a malfunction computer to find a moth, causing the problem. Although mechanical malfunctions have been referred to as bugs since the 19^th century, Hopper became the first person to call computer problems “bugs” (Kent, 2020) and speak of “debugging” a computer (Yale News, 2017). Her trailblazing career in both the US Navy and the private sector helped development the computer languages we know today. She would continue to work in her field until her death on January 1, 1992 at the age of 85. She was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

The ENIAC was the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer. It was the first electronic general-purpose computer which was completed in 1945. The women known as the ENIAC Programmers are Kay McNulty (1921-2006), Betty Jennings (1924-2011), Betty Snyder (1917-2001), Marlyn Meltzer (1922-2008), Fran Bilas (1922-2012) and Ruth Lichterman (1924-1986). They were drawn from a group of about two hundred women employed as computers at the Moore School of Electrical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania (Grier, 2007) at a time when there were very few technical jobs for women. The job title of "programmer" or “operator” were not considered suitable for women, however, the male labor shortage created by World War II helped enable their entry into the field (Light, 1999). McNulty, Jennings, Snyder, Meltzer, Bilas and Lichterman developed a method to input ENIAC programs and eventually developed an understanding of the machine’s inner workings. They were often able to narrow bugs down to a specific failed tube (Fritz, 1996). Betty Snyder helped write the first generative programming system (SORT/MERGE) and help design the first commercial electronic computers, the UNIVAC and the BINAC, alongside Betty Jennings (Beyer, 2012). Kay McNulty developed the use of subroutines in order to help increase ENIAC's computational capability (Isaacson, 2014). In 2010, PBS aired a documentary, “Top Secret Rosies: The “Computers” of WWII” which featured the contribution of these six women.

In conclusion, women in science have made important contributions to science and the advancement of our lives. Because of Alice Ball’s discovery, patients of leprosy were no longer required to be exiled to Kalaupapa, Molokai and could be treated at home. Known as irreverent, sharp-tongued and brilliant, Grace Hopper was able to help break down barriers for future scientists. She said, "The most important thing I've accomplished, other than building the compiler is training young people.” The ENIAC programmers may be a little less known than Grace Hopper, but their contributions are just as important as they were able to show that computers and programing isn’t just for men. A brilliant and innovative mind knows no gender, no race or nationality. They come from all walks of life and their determination and tenacity should be an inspiration for all young people, especially young girls, to pursue their fields regardless if they are told they cannot.

References

Beyer, Kurt (2012). Grace Hopper and the Invention of the Information Age. London, Cambridge: MIT Press. p. 198. ISBN 9780262517263. Retrieved February 4, 2020.

Fritz, W. Barkley (1996). "The Women of ENIAC" (PDF). IEEE Annals of the History of Computing. 18 (3): 13–28. doi:10.1109/85.511940. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved February 4, 2020.

Grier, David (2007). When Computers Were Human. Princeton University Press. ISBN 9781400849369. Retrieved February 4, 2020.

Isaacson, Walter (September 18, 2014). "Walter Isaacson on the Women of ENIAC". Fortune. Archived from the original on 12 December 2018. Retrieved February 4, 2020.

Kent, Lauren. (January 27, 2020). The heroines STEM: Ten women in science you should know. https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/27/world/women-in-science-you-should-know-scn/index.html. Retrieved February 4, 2020.

The Story of Us: a bad, bad romance novel

The Story of Us by Molly O’Keefe is the story of Samantha Riggins, who runs a women’s shelter, Serenity House, out of her home in the small town of Northwoods, North Carolina. For ten years Samantha and J. D. Kronos, a private investigator she uses on occasion, have convinced themselves they have the perfect relationship. No strings, no commitment, just business and sex when they want. All that changes when the son Sam gave up for adoption walks into her shelter. The son J.D. did not know about. The presence of their child breaks all the rules they've chosen to live by. When a young, pregnant girl shows up at the shelter, running from something or someone, fears that J.D. has been sent to find her, Sam realizes that she knows next to nothing about him and everything Sam thought she knew about J.D. turns out to be wrong. How do they move forward especially now when the biggest secret is yet to be revealed?

The Story of Us was previously published as a Harlequin Romance book, The Son Between Them. And it reads like a bad romance novel. From the beginning, things were off about the characters and the situation. Sam has two residents living at the shelter and yet she and J.D. have sex while her residents are essentially sleeping down the hall!!!! The sex scenes were very unnecessarily explicit and just uncomfortable to read. The story of the young girl and why she’s running is essentially revealed super early and when I learned who she is running from, my response was “Well, that makes sense. I would run too.” There was no build up to an exciting reveal. And J.D.’s secret as to why he doesn’t want commitment is very disappointing as well. I do not recommend The Story of Us.

The Story of Us

is available in eBook and audiobook

Thoughts on my own parenting experience: truths and myths

To become a parent or not? That is the question everyone must answer in their life. Some answer the call with a resounding yes and become awesome parents. Some answer the call only to find out they really shouldn’t be parents at all. Others never really had to think about it and became parents before a real decision could be made. Some think they never want kids, have kids and become awesome parents. And sadly, some desperate want to be parents only to have struggles to have a family. There are many truths and myths about parenting that I have learned from my own experience. There are many factors to consider when deciding to have children or not and whether you decide to have children or not, you do not have the right to demean or mock those who made the opposite decision.

A few truths that I have learned from my own parenting experience:

1. Making a baby isn’t as easy as it sounds. And considering how often you hear that someone is pregnant…again, it makes sense why people believe that it is. Getting pregnant is all about timing and for some, it is a detailed tracking of hormones and menstrual cycles with no guarantees a baby will be conceived or even born. Some need medical intervention to get pregnant and even stay pregnant. Nine months is a long time and many things can go wrong. I have two daughters who are six years apart and that wasn’t by design. I have been pregnant a total of eight times with two live births, with five miscarriages and one premature birth which resulted in death of my daughter. Don’t tell someone who is trying to get pregnant to “relax and have fun” because it is very stressful to want something so much and its just not happening.

2. Being asked if you are having any more children is a deeply hurtful and personal question. This goes along with the lines of “when are you having children?” The answer is very personal and if no one else’s business. Some people want a houseful of kids. Others want one or two.  My husband and I are constantly asked if we plan to have any more children, specifically for a boy. I usually just smile and say “no, we’re done.” But inside I’m fuming. Our road to parenthood hasn’t been easy as I mentioned before and to try again knowing the odds were not in our favor, why would we put ourselves through that heartache again? And with no guarantee we would even have a son. The decision to have more children should be more than “you need a boy.” My husband and I are quite content with our daughters.

3. There is more than one right way to be a parent. There are plenty of “experts” who write hundreds of books or offer unsolicited advice on everything from sleep training to potty training to discipline. And I will say that you find what works for you and go with it. Sometimes it will be what the experts recommend and other times it will not. An article stated that American parents make an average of 221 mistakes a year with 65% percent of parents admitting that they allow their children too much screen time (Haaland, 2020). But who is to say what it too much? My oldest daughter has quite a bit of screen time every day, but her homework still gets done, her chores are done, and she does to bed at the same time every night. So, what if is not what the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends of no more than one hour a day for children 6 and older (2016)?

4. Babies do have a lot of expenses. From diapers for about three years to clothes and toys, the costs rack up. One mom stated in her article that babies don’t need a lot of clothes (Pinola, 2013). I totally disagree because babies and children are messy. Babies will have the occasional diaper blow out, children will spill food on their clothes and will be something to change into and we all can’t constantly be doing laundry for a few outfits. However, be smart. Don’t buy the expensive, although cute, clothes from the Baby Gap or other high-end stores. Stores like Target, Carter’s and even Walmart have equally cute, affordable and sturdy clothes to last while your child grows like a weed. Save the expensive outfits for special occasions. One thing I have learned is not to dismiss the store brands especially diapers. Some store brands are as good or even better than the name brands.

Now onto a few myths about parenting from my experience.

1. You'll spoil your baby if you pick him up whenever he cries. I don’t know why this myth keeps going. I suppose it’s the older mothers and grandmothers passing it along. YOU CANNOT SPOIL your baby by picking him up when he cries. Crying is a signal that something is wrong, and he is calling to you to fix it. It could be a dirty diaper or hunger, or he is too hot/too cold. Or he simply needs your comforting presence. As the baby gets older, you will understand the different cries and be able to respond within the appropriate time frame. Besides, sometimes the extra cuddles with your baby does you a lot of good too. I read online that “the days are long, but the years are short.” Learn to appreciate everything about your children as they grow up because you’ll blink, and it will be gone.

2. The "twos" are terrible. Specially the time frame between 18 months and 30 months are only “terrible” if you are not prepared. This is the time frame when children start to learn their independence. When they really don’t want mom or dad’s help, at least right away. As a new mom with my oldest daughter, I learned quickly when she wanted to be independent and try for herself and when she needed my help. Even now, as my youngest daughter approaches this age range, I take a step back and allow her to learn to be who she is. It may seem too young, but the point of parenting is to raise them to essentially no longer need you for everything even before they leave the house as adults. Give them choices and allow them to make decisions on their own and teach them to accept the decision made even when the results aren’t what they hoped for.

3. Good parents put their kids’ needs first. Many parents, especially mothers, believe that a good parent puts their kids’ needs first. For some things I would agree with this statement; however, as a rule, no. When do I put my kids needs first? Usually when it’s something they cannot do themselves yet. For instance, new clothes and shoes. Since they are growing, they need clothes and shoes faster than I do. When don’t I put my kid’s needs first? At dinner time. I usually make my husband’s plate and drink first and then dish out my daughters’ plates and get their drinks. If my husband isn’t ready for dinner yet, i.e. he’s in the middle of an important phone call, I’ll do ahead and dish out my daughter’s plates so they can eat. Other times, depending on what the need is, I will do what I need to do, especially if I’m in the middle of a task, before getting to what my daughters’ need. I have seen some mothers wear their self-sacrifice like a badge of honor and use it to shame the mothers who may not be as self-sacrificing. And that is disgraceful.

4. Don’t let your children sleep in your bed. While there is a growing trend of co-sleeping when a baby is young, there is a lot of advice against it.  Melanie Pinola stated in her article “A word to the wise: Don’t start a sleep or nighttime habit (like letting your kid into your bed in the middle of the night) you don’t want to continue until your child is in college” (2013). Please! No child who was allowed in his or her parents’ bed as a baby or a child is still sleeping there when they leave for college! I’m sure the author meant to be sarcastic or facetious but there are people believe it. My daughters start every night in their beds and if sometimes during the night, they need to come to our bed, we let them. My youngest daughter is still breastfeeding so co-sleeping happens more often. My oldest daughter coming to our bed is rare. I can only think of once in the last few months.

Here I would like to take a moment to talk to the women who decide not to have kids and then proceed to put down the women who did. Recently, a Facebook friend posted the meme below and a friend of hers posted the comment, “They are smart,” insinuating that women who have kids are stupid to have children. I respect everyone’s decision about whether they have children or not, how many children they have, etc. However, it is not your right to demean or shame other women regardless of their decision. I hate that we have become this “us versus them society.” That we put others down to make ourselves feel better. You don’t want kids, that’s fine, that’s your right. I’m sorry that you’ve been harassed by others for not wanting kids. Or you hate the fact that you do have kids and life didn’t turn out the way you thought it would. Life is hard enough without others putting us down.

Bottom line, parenting is hard and being a parent is different for everyone. Every child is different, even with the same parents. And not everyone is ready or will ever be ready to have children. If you decide to not have kids, that is perfectly within your right. If you do decide to have kids, remember this: You do the best you can with what you have in the moment. Sometimes you will mess up and sometimes you will get it right. Admit when you are wrong, and your children will learn that it’s okay to admit our mistakes. When being a parent the main thing to remember that it is all a phase, this too shall pass, and it won’t be like this for long. My favorite saying is still “the days are long, but the years are short.” Before you know it the house full of kids will be an empty nest.

References

American Academy of Pediatrics. (October 21, 2016) American Academy of Pediatrics Announces New Recommendations for Children’s Media Use. App.org. https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/American-Academy-of-Pediatrics-Announces-New-Recommendations-for-Childrens-Media-Use.aspx. Retrieved January 16, 2020.

Haaland, Marie (January 12, 2020). American parents make 221 mistakes a year while raising kids, report claims. Fox News. https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/american-parents-mistakes-raising-kids-report. Retrieved January 13, 2020.

Pinola, Melanie (March 8, 2013). 10 Things I wish I had known before becoming a parent. Lifehacker.com. https://lifehacker.com/10-things-i-wish-i-had-known-before-becoming-a-parent-5989419. Retrieved January 8, 2020.

The Light After the War: a story in the war's aftermath

The Light After the War by Anita Abriel is the story of Vera Frankel, a Hungarian Jewish refugee living in Naples, Italy. It has been 11 months since the end of the war and believing her entire family was killed in the concentration camps, Vera fled with her best friend, Edith. As the two rebuild their lives in a new country, Vera finds a job at the American embassy in Naples and falls in love with her boss, Captain Anton Wight. A series of events will leave her heartbroken and wondering what to do next. Edith has an idea to get sponsored for citizenship in America and when that falls through, they end up in Caracas, Venezuela. There she meets the handsome Ricardo Albee, and everything seems to be back on track. With flashbacks of events which occurred during the war, Vera must learn to adapt and survive. Will Vera have the happy ending she’s been dreaming of? Will she ever find out what truly happened to her family?

This story was inspired by Ms. Abriel’s mother’s story of survival during WWII and from the opening page to the closing chapter, you are drawn into Vera’s story of survival which takes her across oceans. I enjoyed The Light After the War as it shows a part of history that many historical books do not feature: the migration of many refugees to other countries. Yes, some came to America, but many people do not realize that many refugees made their way to South America and beyond. I recommend The Light After the War. A story of friendship, love, survivor's guilt, loss and survival.

The Light After the War

is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

From Sky to Sky: a new book in the Christian science fiction series

From Sky to Sky by Amanda G. Stevens is the second book on the No Less Days series. It is the story of Zac Wilson, a man who cannot die. He and others like him, known as longevites, received a mysterious serum to heal from serious illnesses and injuries and the result was the inability to age and eventually die. Zac soon meets another pair of longevities who are looking for their missing friends, fearing that something has happened to them. Zac helps them search and discovers that someone is killing longevites. Zac is confronted with his anxiety stemming from his longevity and his indifference to God. Will Zac finally listen to the whispers of God? Who is this person killing longevites? How does he find them? Can Zac and his friends find the person responsible before they hurt anyone else?

Marketed as Christian science fiction, I was intrigued when I saw this book, although I wasn’t aware it was the second book in a series. However, if there were references to the first book or knowledge I needed before reading this one, I couldn’t tell. It would still be an advantage to read them in order. Overall, I enjoyed the story. I was intrigued how Ms. Stevens was able to weave God and Scripture into a story that would normally not have any reference to God or religion. The story was slow build and when the individual is revealed to be behind the killings, it was a bit of a letdown. There was no real excitement. Nothing to really pull me in to keep me glued to the page. Maybe if I had read the first book it would be different. If you are a fan of the first book, you will probably enjoy the continuation of the series. If you are interested in the premise, I would recommend reading the first book, No Less Days, and then From Sky to Sky.

From Sky to Sky

is available in paperback and eBook

Let Me Fall: the drama of high school can have a lasting effect

Let Me Fall by Lily Foster is the fifth book in the Let Me series. Each book stands alone and Let Me Fall is the story of Carolyn and Jeremy, secret admirers of each other since grade school and are reunited in their junior year of high school. Carolyn is the smart, nerdy girl who helps the struggling Jeremy pass his classes so he can play football. As the two draw closer, the drama and rumor mill runs wild around the school. Until one day, tragedy strikes, and Carolyn and Jeremy are torn apart and set on different plans they ever planned. Three years after high school, Carolyn and Jeremy start seeing each other around town and the old feelings are still there. Will they be able to move forward? Will the events of high school come back to haunt them?  Can the past be forgiven?

Let Me Fall is a young adult book and it is definitely geared toward that audience. The high school drama, the sexual exploits and the cattiness between the female characters feels like a teen drama show. It was a hard read. The action was slowly building with a lot of hints and rising excitement, only to be let down as the suspense is dragged on further. The sex scenes and the language were hard to get through; however, I feel it is probably accurate to the real interaction of teenagers. It was not my personal experience, but I do know it was the story of others. I loved Jeremy’s character. I sympathized with his struggles and his self-doubt as he viewed himself lower than his classmates. Carolyn was hit and miss for me. I cheered as she recovers from her ordeals than she does and says something that is so immature like geez, have you learned anything? Overall, I enjoyed the book. However, it is not a series I will be continuing. I do recommend Let Me Fall for teen and young adult audiences.

Let Me Fall

is available in paperback and eBook