Did the last devotional annoy anyone else? I didn't actually watch it, as per the usual, but they always have a summary in the Daily Universe, and while I was sprinting (...walking briskly) to class this morning, the headline caught my eye:
SPEAKER HIGHLIGHTS WORTH OF WOMEN
Feeling optimistic but preparing myself for disappointment, I read the opening sentence:
"Women have a sacred role in the purification and sanctification of men, said a member of the Quorum of the Seventy at Tuesday's devotional."
Elder Pace, who looks in his picture like a precious and adorable man, so no offense meant, says "women have...the destiny to complete men."
Hm. Now, I think that's all fine and dandy. I think we all have a role to play in helping complete the lives of others. But I think that goes for men as well as women--we complete each other. Putting the role squarely on women's shoulders makes for a kind of parasitic relationship.
Also, this quote made me laugh, but I think reading it out of context made it a little more oedipus/elektra-complex than it was meant to be: "If all men had the perspective of seeing women the way a father sees his daughters, 'respect for and treatment of a young woman during his dating years would improve significantly.'"
Okay, so don't be freaked out that I'm apostatizing (Mother...), but I kind of think this whole talk is being smothered in Victorian sentiment and is therefore pretty ridiculous. It sounds angel in the house/madwoman in the attic, if you know what I mean. I'm all for divine nature and completing each other, but really? Dang it, men, purify yourselves, because I'm not into accepting that it's my divine destiny to do it for you. And it's not your divine destiny to "purify" me. Either we help purify and sanctify each other, equally and as equal partners, or it's a bogus relationship with too much pressure being put on one party or the other.
Okay, my rage has been diluted somewhat. I should be carefuller (...it's not being underlined in squiggly red. Spellcheck!fail) about what I put on the internets, and I didn't actually see the devotional, so I can't really judge what Elder Pace was trying to do. And he seems like a nice old 70 dude who really was trying to emphasize that women are of worth, so that was nice of him to do, and kudos to him.
But I still disagree with him, in spite of his cuteness.
Also, 200-ish people were massacred in Nigeria the other day, which sucks. I'm sorry, Nigeria. I really am.
:(
Your blog uses smart girl language. I feel like such an idiot compared to you every day. Way to be most knowledgeable, comrade.
ReplyDeleteAlso....WHO'S READY FOR THE SUMMER? Call me Mr. Rogers, 'CAUSE WE'S A BE NEIGHBORS.
Also, devotionals and the Brigham Young are hilarious entities that generally make me do nothing but laugh and laugh.
I love you.
please blog more. because then I will pleasantly laugh to myself more, which will increase my general happiness. :)
ReplyDeleteYOU KIDS DID I KNOW THAT I LOVVEEEEE YOOOUUUU.
ReplyDelete<3
oh my gosh. oh my gosh. OH MY GOSH!!!
ReplyDeleteI hate mormons so much!!!
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okay. I will calm down. and say this:
I do not like to be put below men, or to be told that my only role is to complete a man or be completed by one. This is ridiculous. I don't care what general authority says it, I don't agree with it.
I think what bothers me is that people think they have to "highlight the worth of women" as though everybody thinks they have no worth. And especially when the "highlights" are about how women are to serve men in some aspect or another, I'm thinking, "what the hell is the worth of men then?" (no offense to you men, unless you take it that way, then go ahead.)
I did not go to the devotional, though. I ussually don't because they're all stupid. like that catholic guy who came and spoke about how gay marriage will ruin the world because then people would want to be married to a vacuum or a refridgerator! Seriously?
Men are lovely.
Women are lovely.
The two can be lovely together.
And they can be lovely separately.
TIFFANY DID YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU? So much love. Yeah, I skipped that Catholic dude because I was afraid he would say something like that...a vacuum? Really?
ReplyDeleteKNOWING YOU MAKES MY DAY BETTER EVERY DAY and makes me able to keep living and loving people sometimes on BYU campus. And by people, I mean you, because I love you.
Thank you thank you!
:)