Genetically modifying babies: Is it okay?

No, genetically modifying babies is definitely not okay. I believe God made us to be unique and a certain way. We are perfect as we are, even if we don't believe it. As Jeremiah 1:4-5 states, God knew us before we were formed in our mother's wombs. He knew what was good for us and made us special. Besides, babies are not toys. Whether you believe in God or not, babies were made to be born naturally and not modified. Just thinking about how your son/daughter would react upon discovering they were made a certain way because they wanted it that way and wouldn't accept you as who you are naturally, makes me sick. And frankly, it should make you sick too.

Not only this, but would it make sense to have a child looking completely different than their parents and relatives? One brother/sister might even go so far as to envy their other sibling for having "better genetic modifications" than they themselves. One thing we humans must and have to understand is that nature wasn't meant to be played with or changed. Nature is "natural" for a reason, and if we dare mess with it, it can backfire in terrible and tremendous ways.

Our Fate

Can people control their own fate?

We can influence our own fate but we can not completely control it. If we could control our own fate, there would be no suffering and pain. If people want to live a good life they can make good decisions will influence their fate, but even people who make good decisions go through obstacles and hardships they can not control.

A Woman's Dance

Her eyes glowed like a golden crop field in the summer

And her dark hair danced in the strong wind, furiously

Her arms snaked into the clear of the sky 

And her hands moved to the sound of the wind

Her dance was a ballad

The most beautiful of them all

And my eyes were captivated

She seized the moment and kept me hidden behind the trees

Absorbing her entirely 

The trees and blazing sunlight cried at her feet

And suddenly all of nature bowed to her splendor

And somehow

I found myself bowing along

Irene Garza (Part III, Essay)

Irene Garza, young, humble and beautiful. Irene’s beauty went as far as crowning her Miss All South Texas Sweetheart during her adolescent years. She was greatly envied by most girls in her neighborhood. Her beauty enchanted boys of all ages but angered most girls, leading her to a life of loneliness and very few friends as an adolescent. One might believe that beauty is all there is to a happy life but that wasn’t the case for Garza. Beauty was anything but happiness for Garza. It was what ultimately shattered and destroyed her life.

Garza lived from 1934 to 1960, through World War II and the baby boom years. During her young adult years, McAllen was under construction and growing by the day. It was also the blooming of Hispanic culture in lower Southern Texas. Irene Garza benefited from this, as she came from a Hispanic family and was Hispanic herself. She was merely five years old when she first moved to McAllen, Texas.

Garza was known to be deeply religious and passionate for Catholicism. She would occasionally hold bible study meetings in loved ones houses, with different families that often held different beliefs than that of Catholics.

As Garza grew older she found her calling as an elementary school teacher, and was profoundly loved by all her students. She loved spending time with the children and teaching them new things everyday. Overall, Garza was cherished and loved by her surroundings. She was easygoing and comfortable to be around with, but sometimes her easygoing nature could be dangerous, and lead to a dangerous vulnerability.

It was a chilly Saturday night when Garza decided to borrow her father’s car to meet with the priest for confession. Never had her loved ones and family imagined that a chilly Saturday night would turn into a tortuous horrific night, and the last night they would ever see their daughter’s tender smile nestle upon her nourishing face. To many her beauty was a blessing, but to Garza her beauty was the start of a horrifying event that eventually led to a dreadful death.

That same week, Garza was found in a McAllen canal and was officially declared dead. She lived a young life but was treasured by many. Her death was tragic but she lived according to her beliefs. The world is rid of her but she lives within the hearts of her loved ones. 

“The tragedy of life is not death but what we let die inside of us while we live.”

Norman Cousins

Everyday Use (Socratic Seminar)

During the socratic seminar, both Brandon and Joanna impressed me with the high-level vocabulary they used to both ask questions and explain the story. This vocabulary undoubtedly enhanced the socratic seminar and different perspectives of each student towards the story. Words such as "oppression" and "coincide" were often used to further explain the story and heighten one's understanding of it.

As I thought back to my participation I realized that I could have done much better than I had performed. I had trouble fully expressing and conveying my ideas, and observed more than I participated.

Individually, some of us did poorly and others did splendidly well. There was no balance between the participation. Some students participated far more than others did; however, many students tried to involve the silent students in the discussion, therefore, I believe that as a group we performed moderately well.

I hope to further my participation in the next socratic seminar.

Murder

Midnight dark, silhouettes painted on the walls
Under the bed I hid
Riveting were the sounds
Dancing in the living room
Ending before my eyes
Racing into a pitch of darkness

In Place of a Witch's Spell

A handful of sincerity
A dash of patience
A teaspoon of clarity
And liters of graciousness

I name you not selfish
I name you not jealous
I name you not hesitant
And I name you not dubious

For you are not Evil
You are everything great

Gentle as the wings of a precious dove
Thus,
I name you Love