I think this photo says it all.
Frustration Abounds April 1, 2008
So … my thesis advisor is out of town. Actually, out of the country. RUSSIA, to be exact. And he didn’t tell me. And he hasn’t signed a couple of forms so I can oh, I don’t know … GRADUATE?! But somehow it’s my fault. Of course.
Whatever.
Ah, Master’s Thesis. You Bastard. February 25, 2008
I’m having a hard time writing my master’s thesis. A really hard time. And it’s not just because I didn’t get my shit together until late in the game; I’ve been researching for the past year and a half. It’s because of the enormously depressing subject of my thesis.
For those of you who are a little late to the game of my life, my master’s thesis is on the topic of rape as a weapon of war. Specifically, rape as a weapon of war in the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, and Sudan and the church’s response.
In case you were wondering – there is no church response. Only silence. And pieces of my soul are dying.
In times like these I’m thankful for my friends who have constantly done mental-health checks on me and made sure I’m still alive after endless hours in the basement of Moody Library. Remember that scene in Bridget Jones’s Diary when she imagines herself alone being eaten by a pack of rabid dogs? That would be happening to me if it weren’t for people like Suzanne, Joell, Kristen, Kat, and numerous others.
I’m also thankful for the mellowness of Iron & Wine, Joshua Radin, and Ryan Adams which are on repeat as my study music. Sometimes it just helps to hear something pretty.
So, readers, send some positive thoughts in my direction. If you gear them toward Moody Library, chances are they’ll hit me.
A New Post! December 20, 2007
A lot has happened in the past few weeks. Other than me not posting anything, that is. Here’s the rundown:
1) I went and presented a paper titled, “Rape as a Weapon of War in Rwanda and Sudan: A Christian Response?” at a conference sponsored by the Center for Ethics and Culture at the University of Notre Dame. Despite my nerves, the whole thing went really well and I had a great response to my paper. In fact, I think it’s going to turn into my Master’s thesis. It should be interesting, depressing, and exciting to finish. By the way, Notre Dame provides conference participants with tons of food and UNLIMITED Diet Coke. Take a lesson, Baylor!
2) I came back from said conference with a nasty case of strep throat. I’m sure breathing recycled airplane air for hours upon end didn’t help the situation. I can’t remember the last time I had a 101 degree fever. Gross.
3) I finished up my last semester of coursework(!). Semesters usually tend to go out with a bang, but this one just kind of fizzled out. I think it was a combination of the strep, exhaustion, and a general just not caring. Despite this, I managed to come away with good grades across the board. God does exist, and she’s merciful.
Now I’m just sitting back watching Scrubs and various movies, knitting (Christmas gifts and otherwise), and babysitting as much as possible because I’m poor and it’s the holidays. I should probably start working on my thesis soon, but I’m going to give myself a few days.
So to my readers, I hope your semesters or years are ending up well, and Happy Christmas to you!
Overwhelmed. November 19, 2007
For my two loyal readers … I apologize in not having written anything these past few days. I was on a role there for a while! But with the end of the semester comes a class debate, a paper to present at Notre Dame, a class presentation, a book review and two take home finals. Throw in time with my family at Thanksgiving and you can see why I’m not updating all that much.
But, dear readers, I will try harder to keep up with my blog. Though I don’t promise anything deep and incredibly insightful.
Blessed Are the Peacemakers? November 2, 2007
I’ve had several people say to me that they would like to read the paper I recently wrote for a class about Baptists and pacifism. I figured putting it up on my blog would be the best way to reach everyone. So here it is.
Blessed are the Peacemakers? War, Peace, and Baptists in the Twentieth Century
Now remember kids – no plagiarizing!
Blessed Are the Peacemakers?: Beginnings October 19, 2007
This is the beginning of a paper I’m working on for a class this semester. It deals primarily with Baptists and pacifism/conscientious objection.
Pacifist. Conscientious Objector. In times of war and intense pressure to proudly bear the colors of one’s country and be the ultimate patriot, persons identifying with these two terms are not looked favorably upon and may even be called a traitor to his or her country. A sense of nationalism is to be expected from one’s country, but what happens when that nationalism seeps in through the walls of the church and becomes part of the church’s identity? What happens when peace and patriotism are at odds with one another within the church?
