Strategy

"What's the
 solution?" my friend asked. "How do we win the war against a culture that lies to women about their worth?"

Could we develop a strategy for victory on this beauty battlefield? Some women from the past would tell us, "Good luck with that. We've been fighting these battles for a few millennia. Nothing's going to change."

This battle is a part of the whole struggle between good and evil. That war will end only when a force more powerful than evil invades and conquers it. I have good reason to believe that Jesus is the invader. He has already won the war against evil via his death and resurrection. We are witnessing evil in its death throes. As we should expect, that's ugly. Both women and men suffer. But on the whole, the suffering of women is different. Seldom does a man suffer as the result of the systematic oppression of males. Women endure discrimination and brutality simply because they are female, especially in developing countries.

We witness the march of Evil. But are you paying attention to the march of Good? Especially in the West, women have more rights and a stronger voice than ever. Messages from the media are often destructive, but some are constructive. When was the last time you watched a movie climax where a helpless woman was waiting to be rescued by a man? Not in recent films. We are making progress.

What's the solution? Ultimately, the death of a Man on a cross. What's the strategy now? Keep fighting.

Me and My Alter Ego

A few posts back I said plastic surgery is okay,
 especially if it's to correct signs of aging. A

few readers claimed I was capitulating to a beauty- and youth-worshipping culture. My alter-ego and I have been hashing it out.

Me: Not all plastic surgery is bad. I would not deny corrective surgery to a child born with a facial deformity. And a woman has the right to reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy.

Alter Ego: But a face-lift is going too far, because wrinkles and sagging skin are a normal part of aging.

Me: The fact that something is normal does not mean we must accept it. Would you say, "Old sick people should not be treated because illness is a natural part of aging"?

Alter Ego:  Not the same, because sickness means a part of the body is not functioning properly, or it has been invaded by a virus or bacteria. Sickness involves suffering. Wrinkles don't cause suffering.

Me: Speak for yourself.

Alter Ego: You're vain.

Me: Yes, I am. But unwrinkled is how God intended for us to be. Won't God restore our youthful looks in heaven?

Alter Ego: Who knows?

Me: I still say having a face-lift is a personal decision.

Alter Ego: What about other body parts? Should small-breasted women who feel inferior get boob jobs? Isn't that caving to cultural pressure?

Me: Um . . .

Alter Ego: Well? I'm waiting.

Me: That's a personal decision, too. For example, I know a woman who is six feet tall and small-breasted. She says, "I've considered a boob job, but not because I hate my breasts. I think my body would look more balanced if I had a larger bust. It's no different from buying the type of clothing that looks good on your build. Granted, surgery is more trouble than buying a new dress."

Alter Ego: Hmm. I'll have to think about that. I still say you're a hypocrite.

Me: Most definitely. But I don't think the position I'm taking in this debate is hypocritical. And you can go away now. The conversation is over.

Alter Ego: But I have more to say.

Me: You always do. Save it. I'll need something to blog about next week.