Is violence natural?

What is natural? Death is natural. Killing for food is natural, right? What about the violence involved in that kill? Of course it is! If violence is natural, though, then why are we so shocked about the the rape, violence, and subsequent death, perpetrated against Anene Booysen? (Read to the end before you judge me!)

As a biology teacher, I'm often faced with having to explain to my kids how nature works - the natural order of things. I have to describe or explain the 'nature red in tooth and claw' idea. This inevitably leads to a discussion about ethics - e.g. Is it okay to hunt?

I have to accept that predators exist, and kill prey, and that a particular species only ever sees another species as food. That's just the way things are on earth, and have been since Adam and Eve were kicked out of Eden.

The Bible speaks about the lion and the lamb lying down together though. Some will argue that it's an analogy, a picture to show that in God's kingdom even enemies, even species that war with each other, can find peace. It's a promise that one day, when Jesus returns, we will enter a time of peace, when there will be no more war, no violence, no death, no suffering, no tears. But that's not natural. Natural means what we do instinctively, without thinking. And that kind of peace isn't natural. Right?

Although this video is old (from 2008), it shows a remarkable series of relationships, between unlikely animals. It's not unique, by any stretch of the imagination. Do a quick search online and you will quickly discover hundreds of videos, photographs, and stories, of unlikely friendships where species that would normally NEVER be found together, love, care and support for each other - going entirely against what is their "natural" instinct.

So maybe God was serious when he said that the lion and the lamb would lie down together - maybe they really will. Maybe it's not just allegorical.

When a leopard hunts, it only does so for food, not for sport, or trophies, or even to stockpile for the winter. While I still find it horrendous to watch, I can rationalise it to myself. When human beings turn on each other like this though ... violence for the sake of violence... I don't understand that and I can't rationalise it.

Yet, if violence is 'natural', then why are we so upset? I think the obvious answer is that violence is NOT natural. Violence, even between a predator and prey, is not natural. Animals killing each other is NOT what God intended, and I have come to believe that that is yet one more effect of the Fall, one more sinister and all-pervading effect of sin. If it were, then we would be able to watch animals killing each other without even the slightest twinge of a reaction (even in our inner most private thoughts where our rationalisations can't reach).

I long for the peace of two enemies coming together in love and mutual companionship, when all animals will live side by side in peace. I long for the day when the peace that existed in Eden returns to this world. I long for the day when we will truly love and care for others (and not just ourselves or our immediate family and friends).

Violence may be part of our nature NOW, but I don't believe that violence is natural. If it were, then we wouldn't be so outraged, nor would we feel so sickened, by the events this week. No, violence is not natural, which is why we have to fight it everywhere that we encounter it - starting with ourselves, and our children.

Teaching our kids that being angry is acceptable, but losing our temper is not, is, I believe, an important first step. We have to teach our kids (and remind ourselves) how to deal with anger and disappointment without resorting to violence - whether verbal or physical. We have to teach them how to respond to pain, without striking back.

Why? Because if violence were natural, then it wouldn't matter who I hit, or swore at, or how much I hurt others. But violence is not natural.

So I'm pleased that the nation is outraged by Anene's brutalisation and her death. I'm pleased that the nation has remembered its heart, and its spirit. I pray to God that her rapists do too, that they find redemption somehow, and somewhere, through this.

I did it!

This is a short video I've edited from Monday, after an afternoon of Nathan playing on my laptop. Google Chrome has a nanny site called Zoodles. Once you've set up a profile, including the age, for your child, it selects appropriate games. You can veto any game it selects, but at least you know that the games your kid is playing are good ones. So, today, Nathan and I (since we were both sick at home) worked on his colour and shape recognition, as well as learning how to use the mouse on a laptop (not the easiest thing for a little one who isn't even sure whether he's right- left-handed!)

National pride

At bedtime, one of us will always sing a song to Nellie. One of her regular requests, and an all-time favourite, is the national anthem (go figure! What a patriot!). Needless to say, she was thrilled to BITS when we got to sing it for the first rugby game. Our church cancelled the second service and we all stayed to watch the game on the big screens. I recorded it for her (and for my amazing husband who was still standing in the queue to collect our boerie rolls). Although it's WELL after the event, I thought I would post it, because I love this country, and I love this song, and I love what this song represents for all South Africans.

Sadly though, I do not love the Bokke Jive... I just don't like the song, and so I haven't got into it at all, so I won't be recording it, nor will I be dancing it, nor will I be posting anything else about it. I think it doesn't come close to the soccer world cup Diski Dance, and even that wasn't the ... um... captivating dance (at least I learnt it though, and that made it more fun to hum along to).

Look, Ma, no hands!

This video is about a week late. It should have posted last weekend, but there was a problem with my Pixelpipe (lovely little site that allows you to upload a video just once and it then posts it to multiple sites for you). Anyway, here it is finally...

I should point out that we had two screaming fits beforehand - the first because he didn't want to get dressed to get in the car, the second because he didn't want to get undressed to go swimming. Oh the joys of parenting a two-yr old!

Christmas family madness (video)

I can feed myself now!

On the wings of a butterfly (video)

Rollin' rollin' rollin...

We had a fun time at the recent Baba Indaba at the CTICC. For the first time ever, there was something I wanted to do while we were there - roll around like a hamster. Just call me Rhino. (If you don't get that reference then you don't have small kids.)

As much fun as this looks - it's HARD work.

Invictus & 67 minutes of doing good

I finally got to see Invictus last night (gotta love home viewing!). While there were several errors and omissions (and yes, I realise that this is a work of fiction, only BASED upon the truth) it was still an awesome movie.

As we were watching, G and I were talking about our memories of that time - voting in the 1994 elections, our hopes and fears at that time, our rising hopes as the Springboks won match after match, and the day we won the Rugby World Cup. That was a truly emotional time - and to be honest, we didn't even know the half of what was really going on. In that regard, it was incredible to watch this movie, which filled in many of the blanks for us.

It's not the best movie I've ever seen, but it touched my heart deeply. I feel more patriotic than ever, more proud to be South African, more proud to call this rainbow nation (or butterfly, as Tutu called us) my own.

As someone said - in 1994, we put the World Cup bandage on the wound of our history. In 2010 we took it off. What lies below? What state is that wound in? Is it healed? Is it well on its way to being healed, or is it festering and gangrenous?

I'd like to think that it's healing, but maybe not as fast as we'd like it to. I'd like to think that reconciliation is taking place.

This morning, in church, we watched a video on poverty in Cape Town, with interviews from various people living in squatter camps around the Peninsula. The service went on to focus on Madiba's vision for us all to make this world a better place for everyone - which means uplifting those in poverty.

Given that I live in middle class suburbia, and earn a decent salary, I recognise that my view on whether or not reconciliation is taking place is going to be skewed. I'd like to believe that it's happening, but I can't really say - I'm protected, to a large extent, by my income.

So where does that leave me?

Hoping.

I live in hope that the sacrifice of one unique, incredible human being (and I'm not referring to Christ here) made has not been in vain.

I live in hope that the sacrifice of the unique Son of God made has not been in vain either - for it if is to have meaning, then the people of God need to step up to the plate in whatever way we can to make that hope a reality.

I needed a laugh today (video post)

Today I found out that a good friend, who has been battling cancer, and had seemed to have been healed, isn't. She is now resistant to her cancer drugs and so needs a bone marrow transplant, and urgently, if she's going to live. She has two young daughters. She's already tried the bone marrow register, and she's already had a drive to get people to get tested and sign up as donors. No luck.

What a sucky morning I had after finding that out!

So I needed a laugh.

Thank God for blogs, Facebook and Twitter - who all came through for me today. I thought I'd share a few bits here, in case you needed a laugh too.

I had to watch this one a few times - first time I was like : WTF??? But after a few times, all I find myself saying is "I'm on a horse!" BWHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

There's that horse again...

or how about this discussion over on Tertia's blog about things you never thought you'd hear yourself say? I nearly wet myself with some of them.

or how about this website detailing all the faux pas people make on Facebook? (not always funny, but guaranteed to take your mind off your own problems for a few minutes.

Sigh! Laughter is good medicine to help take the edge off my pain.

Speaking of which - I have a swollen lip and a massive cut inside it. Why, you may well ask? Because my daughter saw fit to connect the top of her head with my lips when I was trying to kiss her goodbye. Yup, I have two very purple tooth impressions on the inside of my lip to go with that lovely cut. Of course, I can't drink or eat or talk properly now. Which is also kind of funny (given how much I love talking and eating and drinking) - okay, more like ironic, but who's counting?

I'll leave you with this one... (courtesy of @FunnyOneLiners on Twitter)... I'm sick and tired of my computer being the only one to get naps and cookies!

"No Money Guy" seeks your help!

There's a guy here in SA called The No Money Guy. His name is Adin van Ryneveld. He's a CApe Town life coach who has undertaken to live without spending any money for 5 years. (Currently he's about a year into the project.) He also wants to give away a ridiculous amount of money over the 5 years.

Anyway, he's desperate to have his own chat show in which he tells the story of people who are social uplifters - people who do good, not because they want the spotlight, but because they want to leave behind an earth that is inheritable by our kids.

He's got my vote!

Anyway, here he is, telling his story. Please help him to get Oprah's attention. Cheers

Blowing raspberries

Yesterday the little man woke up having learnt, overnight (literally), how to blow raspberries. He hasn't even been attempting to blow them. Yet, when he woke up yesterday, he was suddenly able to. He spent the first few minutes of his day lying in his cot, blowing raspberries to himself and then grinning idiotically with pride at his new-found skill. It was so cute! Today, G managed to catch him blowing a few on camera.

Nathan laughs

Just recently Nathan has really started to laugh when we play games with him. He has learnt to anticipate tickles and starts laughing even before you start tickling. His favourite game is 'peekaboo'. We put the cloth on his face, then he pulls it off - and you should see his face! He's so proud of himself for pulling the cloth off his face so Mommy/ Daddy/ Nellie can exclaim 'Peekaboo!' (I really ought to get that on video too...) Anyway, here's a quick clip of him laughing. It's not as cute as that video of the quads lying on the bed with their mother laughing, but it's still infectious.

Not my greatest video effort, I'm afraid. It was taken on my cell phone, while trying to stop Nellie from talking, all while worrying about dropping my phone into the bath.

If I'd waited till the weekend, I'd have had no problems. He's just learnt that he can squeal, so takes great delight in doing just that at every opportunity. Good thing he was asleep for the service on Sunday!

Oh I SO gotta get me one of these...

Who needs locks to childproof a home?!

My sister-in-law sent me this video clip via email. It was just too cute not to share. I have no idea where it comes from, so apologies to whoever owns it that I can't acknowledge you properly. (If anyone knows whose it is, please let me know so that I can do so.)

Then, when I tried to upload it from my computer, it crashed. So, now I've embedded it from YouTube. Sigh! Anyway, at least you can get to enjoy it.

"Laughing with"

What do you make of the last line of this song? What exactlt is Regina Spektor getting at? Is it a gentle poke at our excuses or a statement about how we (humans in general) view God?



Here are the lyrics, in case you don't want to download the video.

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God
When they’re starving or freezing or so very poor

No one laughs at God
When the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one’s laughing at God
When it’s gotten real late
And their kid’s not back from the party yet

No one laughs at God
When their airplane start to uncontrollably shake
No one’s laughing at God
When they see the one they love, hand in hand with someone else
And they hope that they’re mistaken

No one laughs at God
When the cops knock on their door
And they say we got some bad news, sir
No one’s laughing at God
When there’s a famine or fire or flood

*Chorus*
But God can be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke, or
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they’re ‘bout to choke
God can be funny,
When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious
Ha ha
Ha ha

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God
When they’ve lost all they’ve got
And they don’t know what for

No one laughs at God on the day they realize
That the last sight they’ll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes
No one’s laughing at God when they’re saying their goodbyes
But God can be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke, or
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they’re ‘bout to choke
God can be funny,
When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one laughing at God in hospital
No one’s laughing at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God when they’re starving or freezing or so very poor

No one’s laughing at God
No one’s laughing at God
No one’s laughing at God
We’re all laughing with God

Britain's got Talent 2009

If you haven't yet seen or heard of Susan Boyle, then you really need to get with it. Her story is a modern fairy tale, a dream come true. It also is a story that makes one realise just how cynical and materialistic our world is. Her video, on YouTube, is the most downloaded video EVER. Embedding it in other sites has been disabled. So, you will just have to follow the link and watch it on YouTube for yourself.

Today, I saw another video from the same programme: Stavros Flatly. This one is just as unusual, but for a completely different reason. Again, embedding it has also been disabled. Again, it's worth clicking on the link, going to YouTube and watching it for yourself. Amazing!!

Scan baby 2

At long last I'm getting around to loading the video footage we got from our last scan onto the computer. I was really hoping to be able to upload some clips here on the blog.

However, I've run into a massive hitch: the video format is IFO, and Windows Movie Maker doesn't support IFO. I then downloaded a freebie DVD ripper, which coverted a portion of the video to mpeg. Great!, I thought, until I tried to then load the mpeg into WMM, only to have it still come up with an error message to say that there were too many something or other points to make it possible to import the video. Blast!

So tomorrow I'm going to check with a mate of mine who has a DVD ripper, to see whether I can either pop over to use his, or whether he will loan me his software so I can do it at home.

I'm gutted though! I was really looking forward to sharing the video with you all tonight. He's so cute: he was hiccoughing during the video. While I hope you all get to see it, I'm afraid you will have to wait a while longer.

Little Red Riding Hood

The tale of Little Red Riding Hood, but in a modern context...


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