Free Audio Book: Magna Sententia Reading 3

Click on the following link to listen to the lastest episode of the free audio version of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society:

Part One: Preliminaries,

Chapter One: The Illogical Value Systems Of Traditionalism And Feminism,

Sections: Positive Aspects Of Unadulterated Feminism In Contemporary Society -

Cat And Dog Of Montgomery Hill;

Pages 20 – 28

Find out more about Magna Sententia.

Example Ask Anna & Ellie: “Still Ringless”

The following excerpt from Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society is a fictional example for future “Ask Anna & Ellie” entries.

Dear Anna and Ellie:

Since we met during our third year in college, my boyfriend “Troy” and I have had a passionate and fulfilling relationship. He is an amazing person, and during these last five years together, we have grown extremely close. I do not know what I would do without him in my life! Two years ago, we started living together: We were talking about getting married, but both of us have parents who divorced when we were young. Because we never want to get divorced ourselves, or force our future kids to live through the unhappiness that we experienced, we decided to live together first to see if it would really work out between us.

When we moved in together, we both acknowledged that our living arrangement was only temporary. We agreed that we just needed some time to find out if we were compatible living under the same roof and if we could handle the various problems that inevitably come up with work, our families, and everything else. Over the last two years, we have frequently brought up the time when we would be married and referred to it as though it would definitely happen in the near future. Lately, however, something has changed. I am completely confused and would sincerely appreciate your opinion.

About three months ago, Troy began getting quiet every time I made a casual reference to marriage or us getting married. Admittedly, I made a few comments hinting that I think we are ready since it has probably been long enough for any problems to surface, and we know that we get along great. I hate to keep bringing the subject up, but at the same time, I am starting to resent his procrastination. Last week was my birthday, and I thought that maybe his recent silence regarding marriage was just because he wanted to surprise me with a proposal. Much to my disappointment, the day came and went without so much as a word of our being together forever.

Now what do I do? Troy is the love of my life, and he says that he loves me, but apparently, there is no ring in sight.

–Still Ringless

Dear Ringless:

Your situation with Troy is unfortunate. Life is very difficult when you love someone and your relationship is causing anxiety, disappointment, or frustration. Cheer up though because there is a resolution to your dilemma that will give you a new confidence and ensure that if you and Troy do marry, your relationship will have the greatest chance of success.

First, let’s look at what you and Troy have done correctly. Both of you handled many aspects of your relationship quite responsibly: Throughout the last five years, you took the time to truly get to know each other, which is much preferred over rushing into marriage only to discover that you are wrong for one another. This was an especially wise choice because you were both quite young when you began dating, and individuals frequently go through many changes during college and while they are establishing their careers.

It is also admirable that you do not want to repeat the unhappiness you already experienced when your parents divorced. However, you must never forget that you and Troy are not your parents, and your future is not doomed to become a replication of their history. Just because your parents had difficulties, it does not mean that you and whomever you marry will too. It all depends on your choices, your partner’s choices, and the way you both handle your relationship. While you cannot control how your partner will respond to every situation, you can control your actions, so take responsibility for your happiness and for yourself as an individual and a partner.

Now, we will tackle your problem with Troy. Curiously, you say that you are “extremely close,” yet for some reason, the two of you cannot openly discuss his sudden unwillingness to talk about getting married. There could be any number of reasons for his silence, and without a sincere, direct conversation, it is impossible for you to know why his behavior has changed:

Troy could have developed feelings for someone else; he could want some freedom because you have been together since you were in college; he could be upset about a situation at work that is making him feel unsure of himself and his ability to make you happy for the rest of your lives; he could be in a fight with his mother; he could be seriously ill and not know how to tell you; or he could have decided that he does not want to get married after all. In short, Troy’s reticence could be caused by anything. (It could be about you or have nothing to do with you.) No matter what the reason, there is no way that you can identify the root of the problem until you and Troy have a candid, yet considerate, dialogue.

Before you try to have this discussion with Troy, realize that it is secondary to determining for yourself whether or not marriage to him is really what you want. Your knee-jerk response to this question will undoubtedly be, “Yes!”; please resist this temptation, and put some serious thought into it. Marriage is supposed to be one of the two most permanent decisions in life (the other being to have children), and “until death do us part” is a very, very long time. Both you and Troy have not been alone since you were young adults in college, and while he could be the “love of your life,” you need to be sure that he is, that he thinks of you this way, and that you do not want to get married just because you are scared of being on your own.

From your letter, it sounds as though you need a partner who is willing to openly discuss his feelings. Although this is a quality that we believe benefits all of an individual’s relationships, it is undeniable that some people are naturally more private than others. In keeping with Realistic Expectation Six: “Never ask the moon to brighten your day,” this is not a characteristic that you can force on Troy if he is the type who always clams up whenever something is bothering him. We are not saying that you cannot have a meaningful relationship with someone who is quite private, but you also cannot expect him to come running to you with his feelings. If you choose to have a relationship with such a person, you must be willing to be observant of his demeanor and to be the only one who instigates communication. If this is not for you, then maybe someone else would suit you better.

Again judging from your letter, it also appears that it would be a mistake for you personally to ask Troy to marry you merely because you are tired of waiting for him to propose to you. In today’s society, it has become in vogue for women to make the first move when it comes to romance, and while this movement is not flawed in and of itself, it does make some women feel weak or outdated for preferring that men pursue them. According to the Axiom of Respect, women must respect themselves enough to know and accept what is truly right for them. There is nothing wrong with desiring romantic relationships to be more traditional, and since you seem to want Troy to propose to you, there is a high probability that you will resent it in the end if you ask him to marry you.

Moreover, realize that marriage is best reserved for two individuals who love one another deeply and long to be legally bound for the rest of their lives. In fact, we would go so far as to say that marriage is only for the couple who would be miserable if they were not together forever. This is not old-fashioned or something out of a storybook; rather, married partners need this strong of a bond at the beginning for their commitment to survive all of the struggles and tribulations that a lifetime brings.

Notice the words “forever” and “lifetime.” Even though it is a popular occurrence, our society and the individuals in it do not benefit from serial monogamy. Children’s lives are turned upside down, and adults suffer, all because people bounce from one relationship to the next without ever fixing their own problems or enduring the often-long wait that is required to find their true match. Divorce makes it quite easy to cut and run from one relationship and then start fresh with someone else. Unfortunately, these new relationships usually do not last either since individuals take their problems with them. The wisest course, and the easiest in the long run, is for people to get themselves in order before they reach for someone else with whom to share their lives.

Today, many couples chose to live together before marriage, or without ever marrying, for a variety of reasons: There are those who are fully committed to one another but do not care for or believe in the institution of marriage, or at least not as it is currently defined. Some, like you and Troy, are unsure or afraid of making a long-term commitment, whereas others are so lonely that they would rather be with someone who is not right for them than be by themselves. Even still, there are those who have no intention of making a commitment and are only interested in having some fun.

While it is inaccurate to say that all unmarried couples who live together are destined to break up, living together without being legally bound can add a burdensome complexity to a relationship and create problems that would not be present otherwise. For example, consider a boyfriend and girlfriend. At this stage and labeling of their relationship, there is an obvious commitment, but it is typically perceived as far less than the legal commitment that would be implied if they were husband and wife. If this boyfriend and girlfriend have their own places of residence, it is relatively easy for them to decide that they no longer want to be together and go their separate ways. Alternatively, if they live together, they may still view their relationship as less committed than if they were married, but they cannot break up without a divorce-type mess on their hands that lacks an enforceable settlement to help them dissolve their relationship.

Further, while most individuals recognize the emotional strain of getting married and divorced several times, they may be less aware of the significant emotional strain of moving in and then breaking up with several partners. As in Realistic Expectation One: “The ending always begins at the beginning,” when people choose to live together (married or unmarried) they are choosing to give of themselves mentally, emotionally, and physically. Living with another person is a big deal, no matter what the legal status of your relationship!

You and Troy already made the decision to live together, so there is little use in questioning whether or not it was for the best. What’s done is done. (Realistic Expectation Seven: “Only look backward if it helps you move forward.”) Right now, the two of you need to figure out what you want, and although you probably will not like the following advice, we think it will give your relationship the greatest chance of success: Tell Troy that you have been thinking it over, and you decided that you need to move out. You are not breaking up with him, and this is not an ultimatum to make him propose, but you feel that the two of you need some room to make sure you are right for one another.

Then, get your own place as soon as possible. Separate your living space from Troy’s so that both of you can breathe. This does not mean that the two of you have to alter the exclusivity of your relationship, but it does mean that you should not regularly spend the night with one another. Our reasoning behind this suggestion is that as it stands now, Troy knows you are waiting for a proposal (you told him so), and he also knows that you are disappointed every day the two of you continue to live together without him proposing. This puts a large amount of pressure on him and your relationship, and if he would ask you to marry him tomorrow, you would never know whether he proposed because he wanted to or because the pressure made him feel forced. (Nothing forced ever works out.)

With a little distance, you and Troy might be able to open up the lines of communication and discover the root of his recent change in behavior. You need to know how he truly feels about your relationship before you marry him, but it is unhealthy for his reasons (or lack thereof) to be the focus of your life. To take your mind off your troubles, make some new friends who do not know Troy, or try something new that you have always wanted to do for yourself. Take an exercise class, learn to play an instrument, or start studying the stock market. Develop yourself, establish some positive relationships, and then see how you feel about Troy. By doing so, you will be following the Axiom of Responsibility in taking responsibility for your own happiness.

If, after living separately and honestly communicating, you and Troy independently decide that you want to be together for the rest of your lives, then and only then is marriage advisable for the two of you. Troy is aware that you want him to be the one who proposes to you; therefore, if he truly loves you enough to be a good spouse to you, he will honor your wish and ask you to marry him. Allow him to do this in the right way and for the right reasons, and you will forever be grateful for the assurance of knowing that you belong together.

–Anna & Ellie

Do you have a life or relationship question for Anna and Ellie? Do you want to know how Magna Sententia applies to your situation? Submit your question here!

Disclaimer
Anna Sherise and Ellie Sherise are not licensed or trained healthcare professionals, counselors, or financial advisors. “Ask Anna & Ellie” is provided for informational purposes only, and is not intended to take the place of the care and advice given to you by your physician, counselor, other healthcare professional, or financial advisor. Sherise Media LLC, its members and representatives, specifically disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this article and/or website.

Cathedral Of Christ The Light’s New Rooftop Garden “Atones” For Clergy Sexual Abuse

The Axiom Of Respect

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Treating Themselves And Others

Respectfully And Respecting

Only Those Who Earn It

The Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland, California, is trying to help the Catholic Church “atone for the sins of its past” by opening a “first-of-its-kind” rooftop garden that “honors victims of clergy sexual abuse,” providing “a place for people to come and connect to their spirituality [that is] not inside the church.” (“Cathedral Offers Garden To Sex Abuse Victims“) According to Terrie Light, who “was abused by a priest at age 7″ and “has been a vocal advocate for abuse victims for many years,” there are victims who “want to go into a church [but] cannot. It’s too painful, too emotionally traumatizing.” Others are “ambivalent — [they] want to be there and not want to be there. This [garden] gives them the option.” (Watch “Clergy Abuse Victims Remembered“)

We are pleased that the Catholic Church is attempting to console those who suffered so horrendously at the hands of numerous Catholic priests, and we applaud Ms. Light for working diligently to make the idea of this garden a reality. Nonetheless, for us, the paramount issue surrounding clergy sexual abuse is teaching children that although treating positions of authority respectfully is in general the right thing to do, they must never blindly respect or trust the authority figures themselves.

Under Magna Sententia, treating positions of authority respectfully is necessary for our society to function. Without this, there would be no social order: Law enforcement officers, teachers, and others would be unable to perform their duties. However, we live in a world of widespread abuse of power, and to keep our children safe, they must understand that even though it is important to treat positions of authority respectfully, if an authority figure behaves inappropriately or hurts them, they must tell you or a trusted adult immediately. Make sure they know that you will protect them, even if the perpetrator threatens to harm them or someone they love. (And if they do confide in you, it is imperative that you listen to and believe them.)

This separation of respect and respectfulness is essential for adults to remember as well. Just because someone is in a position over you, it does not mean he or she can take advantage of you, harm you, or put you in an uncomfortable or dangerous situation. We must stand up for and protect ourselves and those we love.

Our hearts go out to all the victims of clergy sexual abuse, and it is our hope that they will find strength and healing.

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

Newburyport Schools: Parents Are Too Irresponsible To Pack Their Children’s Lunches

The Axiom Of Responsibility

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Taking Responsibility

For Themselves And Their Children

Although the new Wellness Policy of Newburyport Public Schools in Massachusetts is well-intentioned, it crosses the line, infringing on parental rights and invading families’ privacy.

“Newburyport schools are [. . .] permanently banning kids from bringing in everything from cupcakes to candy, [. . . ] also nixing candy and soda in school and limiting celebrations with cakes, pies and other treats.” (“Newburyport Bans Junk Food In Schools“) The Wellness Policy applies even if children bring lunches prepared at home. “Teachers, nurses and other school officials intend to confiscate any contraband, [Superintendent Kevin] Lyons said, but hope parents will opt to send their kids to class with fruit, vegetables and juice.”

Essentially parents, Newburyport Public Schools think you are too irresponsible to be in charge of what your children eat, so they are making the decision for you.

Admittedly, not all parts of the Wellness Policy are bad: “Under the new plan, the school will encourage milk, fresh fruit, vegetables and 100 percent juices, and push whole grain products and healthy foods listed on the Massachusetts a la carte food and beverage standards list. Celebrations that once featured frosted cupcakes and other sweets will now feature activities rather than food, and parents and teachers will have to adjust to a ‘no sweet’ reward system.” (“A Not-So-Sweet Deal: New Policy Bans Candy At City Schools“)

There is absolutely nothing wrong with schools: encouraging physical fitness; offering healthier alternatives on their lunch menus; removing vending machines from school premises (or replacing the soda and candy in them with real fruit juice and healthy snacks); or mandating that sweets not be distributed in class for birthday/holiday parties or as rewards (although we feel this option is a bit extreme). In fact, these types of strategies, especially the first three, are ways in which schools can help fight the childhood obesity epidemic.

Where the Wellness Policy goes from promoting health to Big Brother-esque is its language allowing school employees to monitor what parents pack in their own children’s lunches. This is unduly intrusive and infringes on parental rights, particularly because children do not have to be obese for school employees to take their homemade cookies away from them. According to a “[Center for Disease Control (CDC)] study of Mass. high school students,” 11% of students are obese. (Watch “Candy Banned From School“) In trying to assist 11% of the student population, Newburyport Public Schools are punishing the other 89%.

The real problem with policies such as this is that they erode personal freedoms while failing to accomplish what they intend. If you forbid children from having sweets and soft drinks, you only make sweets and soft drinks more appealing, and worse still, you never teach children how to have a healthy relationship with these kinds of foods.

Additionally, children need to get more exercise: The CDC study also found that “28% [of students] watched 3 or more hours of TV a day” and “29% used computer or video games a day.” In school, young children should have recess (“Elementary Schools Increasingly Restrict Or Ban Recess For Kids“), and at home, parents must teach their children how to incorporate physical activity into their daily routine. Remember, abiding by Magna Sententia, parents (not schools) are responsible for their children’s health.

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

Racial Slurs Found Printed On Receipts: Another Case Against The N-Word

The Axiom Of Respect

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Treating Themselves And Others

Respectfully And Respecting

Only Those Who Earn It

Enough is enough! If we do not eliminate racism from American culture, we will never come together as a united, strong nation. With existing ignorant and dishonorable prejudices, we continue to divide our country, and we all need to listen closely to Abraham Lincoln’s wise words, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” To truly achieve the American ideal, every individual has to consider people of all races to be fellow citizens of equal worth and value.

Racism and discrimination in all of their disgusting forms are still rampant in our society, and unfortunately, they rear their ugly heads in the most deplorable ways. Just imagine how terrible Keith Slater, 22, felt when “after returning a pair of shoes to Journeys at Oak Park Mall” in Kansas City, Missouri, he was given a receipt with “‘Cust: Dumb’ and then the n-word” printed below the transaction, employee, and store numbers. (“Man Finds Racial Slur Printed On Receipt“) In another case, Nykii Southerland of Plainfield, New Jersey found “good morning my n—–s @ US 1 holla bak” printed on his receipt “after paying for a cell phone.” (“Outrage: Man Finds Racist Remarks On Cell Receipt“)

This type of behavior is inexcusable and should never be tolerated in our country: Employers must act swiftly to terminate racist employees, and customers must vote with their dollars and put companies that permit racism out of business.

As we have said before, derogatory racial slurs have no place in our society, and we hope that one day no one uses them. We realize that some within the African-American Community use the n-word among themselves because it is a term that has been a part of their lives for generations and it is part of their culture. “‘Me and my friends, we call each other ‘n—–’ all the time,’ said business owner Abraham Sarr. ‘N—– is like calling you ‘my man.”” Nevertheless, this perpetuates its use by non-African Americans in our society, and we strongly believe that the most efficient way to rid the n-word from America’s vocabulary is for everyone to stop using it. As Magna Sententia explains, we must teach others how to treat us, and this is especially important in dealing with racial prejudices.

To all Americans: when you see your fellow citizens, whether they are a neighbor, employee, or political candidate, make it a point to think of them simply as an American. Not a black, Hispanic, white, female, elderly, wealthy, or low-income American. Just an American. You will be helping to unify our communities and make America a more respectful nation.

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

Free Audio Book: Magna Sententia Reading 2

Click on the following link to listen to episode two of the free audio version of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society:

Part One: Preliminaries,

Chapter One: The Illogical Value Systems Of Traditionalism And Feminism,

Sections: Introduction – Negative Aspects Of Unadulterated Traditionalism In Contemporary Society;

Pages 9 – 20

Find out more about Magna Sententia.

“You Might Have An STD” E-Postcards: Life Doesn’t Have To Be This Painful

The Axiom Of Respect

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Treating Themselves And Others

Respectfully And Respecting

Only Those Who Earn It

For better or worse, the Information Age is changing our lives by the day: We now keep up with family and friends via e-mail and text messaging, we use online banking and bill pay, and last week, Google launched Mail Goggles, an add-on that protects us from sending drunken emails. This week, there is even more good (?) news: We can now anonymously send an e-postcard to our past sexual partners, alerting them that we have been diagnosed with an STD. (“Got Unhappy STD News? Break It With An E-Card“)

“A public health Web site called Inspot.org has put the trend of e-cards, e-mail, and e-vites to a unique purpose: the e-postcard that notifies you that a past sexual partner came down with a sexually transmitted disease or infection. The sender can choose the STD, and whether to disclose their name, while Inspot.org will automatically send a list of local health resources to the recipient.” (“You’ve Got Mail . . . And An STD“)

Public opinion varies about the e-postcards, which contain messages including “You’re too hot to be out of action – I got diagnosed with herpes since we played”: Betsy O’Rourke, “a registered nurse and the American Social Health Association herpes board moderator,” “‘[thinks] they’re absolutely wonderful’” and will help prevent the spread of STDs.

On the other hand, Gail Wyatt, “a clinical psychologist, sex therapist and professor in the department of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at the University of California in Los Angeles,” “thinks the best way to tell a person about an STD is the old fashioned way: in person.” “‘It would be very psychologically damaging to someone who thought they had a relationship with an individual and then they end up with an e-mail like this,’ said Wyatt. ‘I think they’re sarcastic, I think they’re making light of a very serious situation.’”

In regard to Magna Sententia, these e-cards raise the question of whether we can consider ourselves responsible and respectful if we notify past sexual partners of an STD diagnosis in this manner. The short answer: not really.

Yes, you are obligated to notify past sexual partners if you are diagnosed with an STD, and while the respectful way to do so is in person, e-mail notification is far superior to none at all. Nevertheless, all of this is beside the point: We are sleeping with way too many people, much too soon. (Note: there are individuals in monogamous relationships who contract STDs because their partners are or become infected, do not realize it, and/or cheat on them, but this is not today’s focus.) The crux of the matter is that regardless of what is acceptable in our culture, it is irresponsible to sleep with individuals if you do not know them well enough to openly discuss having an STD.

We live in a society where numbers of people sleep together without any true bond. Many do not bat an eye at “hooking up” for a night of fun, and in quite a few circles, there is very little social stigma attached to sleeping with one guy (or girl) after another. Movies, television, books, and magazines glamorize sleeping together on the first date or soon thereafter, but in real life, having sex with someone you do not know well is not so glamorous: More times than not, you get used, taken advantage of, mixed up with someone who is not good for you, and/or end up with an STD.

The concept of courting would solve this dilemma and make our lives much less painful. Courting is a period at the beginning of a relationship during which couples spend time doing things together, such as going out to dinner, watching movies, playing tennis or golf, and hiking, without having sex. This provides couples with the opportunity to learn about one another without putting themselves emotionally or physically at risk. This doesn’t mean that you have wait until marriage to have sex or be a complete prude; rather, it just means that you will be better off in the long run if you take your time and really get to know someone before sleeping with him or her.

Even if our intent is to have a lasting relationship, going from partner to partner is emotionally draining and unhealthy, and our entire society would reap the benefits of us treating ourselves and those in our lives respectfully.

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

Update: Skylar Deleon Found Guilty In Murders Of Thomas And Jackie Hawks

The Axiom Of Responsibility

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Taking Responsibility

For Themselves And Their Children

On Monday, October 20, 2008, “an Orange County jury found Skylar Deleon, 29, guilty of three counts of first-degree murder and special circumstances for financial gain and multiple victims” in the murders of Jon Jarvi, Thomas Hawks, and Jackie Hawks. (“Man Found Guilty In Murder Of Couple Tossed Off Yacht, 1 Other“)

In 2003, “Deleon met [Jon Jarvi, of Anaheim,] in a work furlough program while serving jail time for burglary, and killed him in Mexico after Jarvi gave him $50,000.”

In August 2004, Thomas and Jackie Hawks put their “$440,000″ yacht, the “Well Deserved,” up for sale so that they could “move to Arizona to be with grandson Jace.” (“A Moving Love Story, Drowned By Greed“) Deleon, “a child actor from the 1990s television series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers,” pretended to be an interested buyer so that he and two of his friends, Alonso Machain and John Fitzgerald Kennedy, could steal the yacht and rob them.

On November, 15, 2004, Deleon and the two men “took a test cruise where [they] overpowered the Hawkses, forced the couple to sign over ownership of the boat, tied them to the anchor and dumped them into the Pacific Ocean.” (“Man Found Guilty In Murder Of Couple Tossed Off Yacht, 1 Other“) “The Hawkses’ bodies were never found.”

“Ryan Hawks, Tom Hawks’ son, called the verdict a ‘warm up’ for the penalty phase. ‘It felt like a little tiny piece of the puzzle was put in justice,’ he said.”

“Deleon’s attorney [Gary Pohlson] had conceded to the jury from the outset that Deleon was guilty but should not be put to death [. . .], [telling] reporters that he plans to convince the jury to spare his client’s life by having Deleon’s relatives and doctors testify during the punishment phase about his troubled past. ‘He’s had a horrible, horrible life,’ Pohlson said, noting that Deleon’s father abused him and later died of AIDS.”

Abiding by Magna Sententia, individuals take responsibility for their actions, and Deleon’s father abusing him and dying of AIDS does not in any way lessen his responsibility for committing these heinous crimes. He really deserves to be put to death for these murders.

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

Brutality In America: Jeromie Cancel, Stefan Alexander Martin-Urban, & Skylar Deleon

The Axiom Of Responsibility

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Taking Responsibility

For Themselves And Their Children

Murder is uncomfortable to think about, much less write about. Nevertheless, it is important to stay informed and remember that while we are busy meeting all of the demands of our lives and getting caught up in the upcoming Presidential election and the debate surrounding the economic crisis, innocent American citizens are being brutally murdered from sea to shining sea.

New York: On August 31, 2008, 19-year-old Pace University student Kevin Pravia was murdered by 22-year-old Jeromie Cancel, a homeless man. New York prosecutors say Cancel “told them he killed [Pravia] because he was bored and had nowhere to go.” (“Homeless Teen: I Killed NYC College Student Out Of Boredom“) Cancel has shown absolutely no remorse for his actions, even “bragg[ing] about the murder to his father.” (“Killer Smiled As He Bragged To Dad About Chilling Student Murder“) When reporters “asked [Cancel] why he did it,” he yelled back, “Because I wanted to. You got a problem with that?”

Please, please, please take responsibility for your safety: Pravia was “drunk when he stumbled into a cab about 5:30 a.m. [. . .] after leaving a party.” “Thirty minutes later Pravia was in Union Square looking to score drugs and crossed paths with Cancel, the suspect told cops. Cancel offered to sell him drugs and the two men returned to Pravia’s home, where the boozed-up student fell asleep. Cancel confessed to punching the sleeping student, fastening an electrical cord around his neck, stuffing a plastic bag down his throat and smothering him with a pillow.”

Always be aware of your surroundings (along with the people around you), and never put yourself in danger by engaging in risky behavior.

Colorado: A most disturbing tragedy occurred just last Saturday, October 11, 2008, in the relatively peaceful city of Grand Junction. Two couples, Dr. Mike and Floyce Gallagher and their friends Dr. Terry and Linda Fine, had planned a vacation together in Las Vegas. At approximately 8:30 a.m., the Gallaghers arrived at the Fines’ home to pick them up. As the group was preparing to leave, Stefan Alexander Martin-Urban, “a 22-year-old Lakewood man with no apparent ties to the Grand Valley” or the victims, drove up to the house, got out of his SUV, and started shooting at them. (“GJ Police Look For The ‘Why?’ In Slaying Of Dentist, Friend“)

Martin-Urban killed Dr. Fine and Floyce Gallagher, as well as wounded Linda Fine and a neighbor who tried to help. A perfect stranger and a crime without context, there is no way the Fines or the Gallaghers could have protected themselves from this deranged gunman who ended up taking his own life later that day.

California: The same incomprehensible viciousness appears in the murders of Thomas and Jackie Hawks. In August 2004, the couple put their “$440,000″ yacht, the “Well Deserved,” up for sale so that they could “move to Arizona to be with grandson Jace.” (“A Moving Love Story, Drowned By Greed“) 29-year-old Skylar Deleon, “a child actor from the 1990s television series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, pretended to be an interested buyer so that he and two of his friends, Alonso Machain and John Fitzgerald Kennedy, could steal the yacht and rob them. On November, 15, 2004, Deleon asked the Hawkses to take the yacht out “so he could swim below and examine the bottom.” During this trip, Deleon, Machain, and Kennedy “blindfolded, [beat, and] shackled [the Hawkses] to the anchor under their own beloved yacht, and dragged [them] to their deaths” beneath the sea.

These stories are enough to make a person physically ill, and they serve as reminders to us all to enjoy, and be thankful for, every single day of our lives.

Sadly, even if you take precautions, there are times when it is impossible to stop people from hurting you or your loved ones. Magna Sententia requires that individuals take responsibility for their actions, and as a society, we must demand harsh punishment for criminals, especially those convicted of heinous crimes such as these. Because it is obvious that they value others’ lives so little and that they truly are a scourge on society, in our opinion, these murderers (if convicted) really do deserve to pay for the terror they have caused with their lives.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Gallagher and Linda Fine, their families and friends, as well as the families and friends of Kevin Pravia, Floyce Gallagher, Dr. Terry Fine, and Thomas and Jackie Hawks.

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

Parents Do Not Need To Fear Foxboro Elementary Music Teacher For Being Transgender

The Axiom Of Respect

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Treating Themselves And Others

Respectfully And Respecting

Only Those Who Earn It

In Vacaville, California, numbers of parents are concerned because the administration of Foxboro Elementary School did not “notify them ahead of time” that a music teacher at the school had gone through gender reassignment surgery. (“Kids Pulled From Transgender Teacher’s Class“) The teacher, who was born biologically female, “returned to school as a man at the beginning of the school year.”

“Some parents told Travis Unified School District that they feel like their rights to know were violated.” However, “the school board said such disclosure would violate HIPAA privacy rules,” and Superintendent Kate Wren Gavlak asserted, “We have a legal obligation to protect our employees.” (Watch “Kids Pulled From Transgender Teacher’s Class” Video)

Although we feel that Ms. Wren Gavlak and the Travis Unified School District made the appropriate decision in following HIPAA privacy rules, we also completely appreciate why parents were alarmed: In this country, transgender individuals are deeply misunderstood and quality information about the transgender community is not widely publicized.

The goal of Magna Sententia is to strengthen America by helping each individual live with personal responsibility, respect, and realistic expectations. To that end, it is impossible to live with these values if we lack knowledge and understanding or our beliefs are rooted in prejudice or based on misinformation. Unfortunately, the transgender community is faced with the daunting challenge of living in a society that has almost no clear comprehension of their situation, and we hope that the following will clear up some of the common misconceptions about their struggle:

The transgender teacher at Foxboro Elementary school is a female-to-male transsexual (FTM). What does that mean? While usages vary, in general transgender refers to “a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies that diverge from the normative gender role (woman or man) commonly, but not always, assigned at birth, as well as the role traditionally held by society.” (Wikipedia: “Transgender“) Hence, the blanket term “transgender” encompasses a great deal of people and behaviors, including (but not limited to) transsexuals.

Transsexualism is “a condition in which a person identifies with a physical sex different from the one with which they were born.” (Wikipedia: “Transsexualism“) This means that the physical sex of transsexual people’s bodies does not match the gender of their brains. For instance, the music teacher at Foxboro Elementary School identifies as a man, even though he was born biologically female. Transsexualism has nothing to do with sex, sexual activity, sexual orientation, or mental illness. (There are heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual transsexual individuals.) On the contrary, there is increasing evidence that transsexualism is a medical condition that develops in utero and is “hard-wired” into the brain.

For example, one of the ways you can tell male and female brains apart is the “central subdivision of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTc),” a part of the hypothalamus. (“A Sex Difference In The Human Brain And Its Relation To Transsexuality“) The BSTc is consistently “larger in men than in women,” and when researchers dissected the brains of male-to-female transsexuals (MTFs, individuals who are born biologically male but identify as female), they discovered that MTFs have brains with a “female-sized” BSTc. “This study [was] the first to show a female brain structure in genetically male transsexuals and supports the hypothesis that gender identity develops as a result of an interaction between the developing brain and sex hormones.”

Also, “regardless of sexual orientation, men had almost twice as many somatostatin neurons as women.” (“Male-To-Female Transsexuals Have Female Neuron Numbers In A Limbic Nucleus“) In a separate study, researchers found that “the number of neurons in the BSTc of male-to-female transsexuals was similar to that of the females” and “the neuron number of a female-to-male transsexual was found to be in the male range.”

Transsexualism is not a choice, and as a society, we can help transsexual individuals by becoming informed and treating them respectfully. This is especially important for parents with transsexual children. In order to truly take responsibility for transsexual children, parents must surround them with love and understanding, as well as seek the best medical care available.

Please, never abandon, belittle, or ridicule your transsexual child. They did not ask to be born with a brain that does not match their body, and they need your help to make the necessary changes so that they can build a fulfilling life for themselves. And never, ever send them to religious “counseling” to get them to “change their mind.” This only prolongs their agony. You do not want your child to have to live a lie and make extreme changes later in life, particularly after they have married and had children.

“So far, 23 students from 15 different families have transferred their children out of the [Foxboro Elementary School] music class.” We hope that parents there change their minds and give the music teacher a chance to show their children that being different does not make you a bad person. We cannot ignore, abuse, or isolate transsexual individuals and be a nation that is strong, compassionate, and wise.

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

References
1. Kruijver F. P. M., Zhou J.-N., Pool C. W., Hofman M. A., Gooren L. J. G., & Swaab, D. F. (2000). Male-to-female transsexuals have female neuron numbers in a limbic nucleus. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 85(5), 2034-2041. [Abstract]

2. Zhou J.-N., Hofman M. A., Gooren L. J. G., & Swaab, D. F. (1995). A sex difference in the human brain and its relation to transsexuality. Nature, 378, 68-70. [Full Text, as reprinted in The International Journal of Transgenderism, 1(1)]