Arizona Wildfires

by on May 17, 2012 • No comments

Fire season has come early to Arizona.  Let’s face it, while Arizona has a diverse topography, 42% of it is desert.  Temperatures in southern Arizona have been known to soar to a mindboggling 122 degrees in the summer.  And while Arizona is known for its extraordinary winter climate, summer can begin as early as April and May.  Unfortunately, as soon as the heat sets in, so does fire season. It’s only the middle of May and we already are fighting 5 wildfires.

 

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that a hot, dry, arid climate creates a tinderbox condition just waiting for a spark.  And, as dry as our forests and valleys get, it doesn’t take much to create that spark.  Even in the years where we have had ample rain and snow, Arizona has been in a drought for the past 10 years and is estimated to continue for another 10 years. Every year our Forest Service classifies fire hazard areas, closes parks and camping areas, and watches for lightning storm activity that may ignite a fire.

 

I was talking to a friend about the wildfires when she said; “it will be difficult to go camping for the 4th of July this year…maybe we’ll barbeque and watch the fireworks.”  At the mention of fireworks, my mind whiplashed back to the insanity of our State Legislature passing a law making the sale of fireworks legal.  Something, to this day, I cannot fathom.  To make this bill even more senseless, some individual cities and counties have banned the use of all fireworks…so you can buy them, but it’s illegal to set them off.  Right!  That’s like buying a kid an ice cream cone and telling him he can’t eat it.

 

Mother Nature uses fires as a way to spring clean and renew the earth.  She doesn’t need any help from pyrotechnics, campers, hikers, bikers, or anyone else who may carelessly throw a cigarette or match from a car.  I love the differences in Arizona’s landscapes, so lets all do everything we can to remember Smokey The Bear’s words of wisdom; “ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT FOREST FIRES”.

 

 

 

 

Bad Behavior

by on May 16, 2012 • No comments

Is it me, or does it seem that Americans have developed a tolerance, or more to the point, an acceptance, for bad behavior, lack of respect and an absence of courtesy?   I’ve always had a rule in my office…No Profanity…not because I’m a prude, but because I expect my clients to treat me with respect and common courtesy.  I also believe it’s important to converse without the use of the “A” words, “F-bombs” or any other swear words that prohibit them from actually describing a person, situation or feeling.

 

Tragically, away from my office, I too often see or more precisely hear, teens displaying a complete lack of civility, not just to strangers, but to their own parents.  I was shopping last week when a young girl, around 12 or 13 years old, became so angry with her mother, she started shouting, calling her profane names, and having a complete tantrum.  The embarrassed mother then apologized to her daughter and told her, if she calmed down, they’d go and get whatever it was that caused the scene to begin with.  I was astounded by the whole drama, especially the ending.  I couldn’t believe this mother would, first apologize because she upset her daughter and then reward her for the bad behavior.  Sadly, this isn’t an isolated incident.

 

While talking with a group of women, I mentioned this episode.  They weren’t surprised, and then regaled me with similar stories.  In some, the parent was the one yelling and screaming.  I have two names to describe these inappropriate scenarios.  One is, “Reality Show Behavior” because I firmly believe these television shows model screaming, shouting, name calling, and fighting as acceptable conduct that is negatively influencing our society.  The other is, “My Child is My Friend Syndrome” in which the parent doesn’t want the child to get mad at them.  This idea that your child is your friend is absurd.  While relationships with parents change over the years, parents should be just that…Parents!…not buddies, not pals and not friends.

 

While there are a lot of outside influences modeling behavior, children learn at home first, so if your child believes swearing and bad behavior is normal, then you might want to look at your parenting style.  I, for one, would appreciate it because, for me, this type of public behavior is not acceptable.

Same Sex Marriage

by on May 15, 2012 • No comments

I was proud of President Obama and Vice President Biden stating openly they are in favor of same sex marriage.  I think that’s great…so am I.

 

I’ve counseled too many people whose lives have been damaged by trying to conceal their sexual orientation.  No person should ever have to hide who they are.  I’ve had clients whose families have disowned them, churches have excommunicated them and friends have rejected them because they had the nerve to “come out”.  Ironically, those same family members, church congregations and friends say they always knew the person was gay, but it was okay, as long as they weren’t open about it.  So when they find a partner, to share their lives with, not being able to have the same rights to marry, as a heterosexual couple because certain religious organizations are against it, is a travesty of justice.

 

I cannot begin to tell anyone what God says nor am I a Biblical scholar.  But having read both the Old and New Testament, I look upon the words in Genesis 1:27 “God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them”.  So since homosexuality has been around since the dawn of man, wouldn’t that mean that homosexuals are also made in the image of God?

 

Hopefully, in the near future, sexual orientation and same sex marriage won’t be a point of contention.  After all, it wasn’t all that long ago that interracial marriage was illegal.  And while I appreciate the President and Vice President’s endorsement, same sex marriage should not be a political issue.

 

 

 

Curiosity

by on May 14, 2012 • No comments

Why did curiosity kill the cat?  I’ve wondered about that most of my life.  Adults still use that same old adage to discourage their children from asking questions, investigating things on their own or just trying to keep them from wandering off.  While I can understand parents wanting to teach their children, I don’t understand why being curious is negative.  If anything curiosity is something every parent should encourage.  Think about it…the opposite of curiosity is apathy and indifference.

 

If I’d been a cat, I would have gone through my nine lives before the age of 3.  I was curious about everything.  From childhood I was curious about places, people and things.  I constantly asked questions…and my parents, bless them, took the time to answer me.  And if they didn’t have the answer, we got out the trusty encyclopedia.  That curiosity has continued throughout my life.  I’m still curious about places, people and things.  I want to find out the origins of words, religions, different cultures; I find it fascinating to learn how things work.  I love to discover things like… Who made the first piano?… What would cause someone to mix wheat and water together to make bread?… Or, why do they use RX for prescription medicines?  Finding the answers intrigues me and inspires me to learn more.  (The Answers: Originally called the pianoforte, it was invented by Bartolomeo Cristofor in 1700.  Mixing wheat water and heat has been traced back over 8000 years, and RX is an abbreviation of the Latin word for recipe.)

 

At a friends party, their 6-year-old son was in the room while a group of adults were discussing contraception.  During the conversation the word “impotent” was used and the boy asked his dad what it meant.  You would have thought the boy asked to see a diagram of position 22 of the Kama Sutra.  His father, not handling the situation well, got upset saying, “Children should be seen and not heard”.  I was appalled.  All this young boy did was ask a question.  He was curious about a word he hadn’t heard before.  As the tears welled up in the boy’s eyes, I looked at him and told him “someone who is impotent can’t have children.  While it’s not the exact definition, it was enough to make this boy say, “oh, ok” and then go off somewhere else.  This is not an uncommon happening.  Most parents have a difficult time answering question of a sexual nature, but not answering isn’t the correct reaction.  Children are curious, but they also don’t want long answers.  So when it comes to questions like that, keep it simple…don’t get out Grey’s Anatomy and get into long answers.

 

I hope I never lose my curiosity.  It’s an important part of me.  It’s my curiosity that makes me question politicians, religions and clients.  It’s what makes me look into the truth of the many e-mails I get stating falsehoods as if they are fact. And, I believe it’s what prevents me from becoming apathetic and indifferent.

 

So the next time your child has a question or wants to explore or see how something works, be thankful.  After all, if it weren’t for those curious people who have gone before, we’d still be in the dark.

 

Un-true E-mails

by on April 11, 2012 • 2 comments

I get a lot of e-mails.  Some of them spam, some of them advertisements, some are cartoons and jokes, some are cute pictures, some are prayers and yes, some are actually business.  I also get a lot of e-mails about organizations such as the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union), the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) and President Obama, who according to the e-mails is in cahoots with these organizations and their diabolical plan to destroy America as we know it.

 

After receiving another e-mail about the ACLU law suits to have all the crosses removed from Military graves, disallow the Military to pray, or not allowing a Navy Chaplin to use the name of Jesus in prayer, I was appalled.  How could the ACLU do such a thing?  So, I passed it along without any thought to the validity of the accusations.  I was wrong to do that.  Passing along erroneous information only fuels the fire of anger that is overabundant in our country.

 

In order to repent, I thought I would provide the truth to this viral e-mail that has been circling the glob.  Sadly this e-mail is an insult to the good work that the ACLU has done since they were established in 1920.  So here is the truth about the accusations made in the e-mail.

 

The ACLU does not have a lawsuit to remove crosses from military graves.  The ACLU supports the freedom for veterans and their families to choose religious symbols on military headstones.  They have fought to make sure the government cannot restrict any religious expression in federal cemeteries.

 

The ACLU does not have a lawsuit regarding prayers in the military.  According to the ACLU, the First Amendment to the Constitution protects prayer.  Members of the military have a right to pray or not pray…it is one of their fundamental rights they put their lives on the line to defend in service to the country.

 

Neither the ACLU nor the Obama administration has enacted any prohibition against Navy chaplains mentioning Jesus’ name in prayer.  This allegation may be linked to an incident in which a Navy chaplain felt his superiors were censoring him.  The chaplain ignored the Navy rule stating that prayers being delivered in settings other than religious ceremonies be non-denominational.

 

The only stand the ACLU has taken regarding prayer in the military is regarding compulsory prayer.  The ACLU feels that each individual has the right to pray or not.

 

Ironically the ACLU and the ADL are both organizations that work toward fair treatment and justice for all Americans regardless of race, religion, sex or sexual orientation.

 

I don’t know why the ACLU, the ADL and the President have become this battlefield of religious antagonism.  Is it because ACLU and the ADL fight for the rights of non-Christians? Is it because a majority of Americans still think President Obama is a Muslim?  Whatever the reason, we as Americans need to stop. We need to stop tearing our country apart.  We need to stop the anger, stop the lies, stop the hatred, stop the negativity and stop the bitching about everything you don’t like.  We, collectively and individually, are the only ones who can make that difference.  You want to restore America…then quit sniveling and do something positive.

 

So, the next time you receive an e-mail that’s has a prayer, cute animal pictures, funny jokes, interesting you-tube videos or sentimental photographs, send them to me.  Anything else, make sure the information is valid…because, if you don’t I will.  And if you’re brave enough…e-mail this to your friends.

duffyonyourmind.com

Physician Drug Education

by on March 21, 2012 • No comments

Instead of the Presidential Candidates and State Legislators being concerned with birth control, why don’t they seek a solution to a more pervasive problem like prescription drug abuse? It is astounding that since 1990, deaths relating to the use of prescription drugs have tripled. Prescription drug deaths now outnumber traffic fatalities. Why isn’t that an issue with our government leaders? Read more

Face In The Mirror

by on March 20, 2012 • No comments

It’s hard to fathom that there are more than 200 different kinds of cancer. The reality is that cancer can attack any cell in your body. It’s rare to find anyone who has not come in contact with a friend, co-worker, family member or acquaintance that has or has had or has passed away from some type of cancer. Read more

Women’s Rights

by on March 19, 2012 • No comments

I thought Arizona Legislators were outrageous proposing a bill allowing the use of birth control pills for medical reasons only and that would permit employers to fire an employee taking them for contraceptive use. Apparently Arizona isn’t the only state whose legislators have mental impairments. Read more

Arizona Bill on Birth Control

by on March 15, 2012 • One comment

Why is it that our Arizona State Legislators appear to be more interested in the sex lives of Arizonans than running the state? Arizona’s House Bill 2625, sponsored by Majority Whip Debbie Lesco, of Glendale, would require proof of a medical condition, not birth control, for women to have their contraceptives covered by their health insurance plans. In addition, it would allow an employer to fire a woman for using contraceptives to prevent pregnancy. Are they insane! Read more

Church & Business

by on March 6, 2012 • No comments

I’ve always found it curious that churches feel they have the right to rule over a woman’s body. Until the last couple of weeks I thought society had progressed from days of the Church Inquisitors, to a more enlightened culture. I seriously can’t fathom why having birth control pills subsidized by Church owned institutions has become this behemoth. It certainly can’t be price. On average, depending on brand, birth control pills cost between $15 – $80 dollars, or $.50 to $2.67 per pill. Ironically, these same institutions cover Viagra and other male enhancement drugs at an average cost of $25.00 per pill. Does this seem incongruous to anyone else. Read more

Previous articles →