Week 19 and All is Well!

Above is the latest picture of our new baby. We are now approxiamtely on week 19 of the pregnancy for our baby. Here's the latest on the baby's health:

We are crossing the threshold for the development of heart block. For fuller details of this possibility I will refer you to the blogs from May – September 2005 with our first child, Grace.

We have been doing weekly ultrasounds and heart tests since week 14 and so far there are no indicators that heart block will develop. The most significant window for the development of heart block are weeks 18-20. After week 20 the probability of full heart block goes down dramatically. They will not rule out the possibility of full or partial heart block but they will say it lessens dramatically.

Here are a few other details in case you’re wondering. The due date is August 24 (sometimes they say August 20th so we don’t know what to think for sure). At first they were saying the 24th then the 20th now they are saying the 24th but they won’t change the date back since it is less than two weeks between the two. Go figure.

Also, we know definitely that we are having a boy! They actually told us at week 14 but I was hesitant to say anything just in case they were wrong. I’ve heard stories of people who have painted their rooms and bought tons of clothes only to find out the doctors were wrong. But with this many ultrasounds and with the confirmation of two different technicians and the perinatal specialist I am fairly confident they are right.

Have we decided on a name yet? The answer to that is yes. So what is it? Well, last time we told people that if we had a boy we were going to name him Dolf Egbert. Were we serious about that? Heck no. But we were in the D’s and E’s when people asked us so that was the first odd names that came to Jenn’s mind. We had decided to tell people the weirdest name we could think of to get people’s reaction. It worked. I was rebuked and pulled aside by friends to warn us not to do such an evil thing to our child. Of course, our first child was a girl so that freed up the name until now.

We have decided to name the baby Alexander Jonathan Monreal. In addition to them both being strong names they also are the names of two very close friends whom we respect dearly and admire their close walk with the Lord. I guess we’ll have to save Dolf Egbert for next time!

The New Taboo-Criticizing Homosexuality

Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, gave an interview on Monday to the Chicago Tribune. Among the topics discussed was the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that has been a part of the military for over a decade. The present policy is that a person will not be asked his sexual orientation and does not have to tell provided that he or she does not engage in homosexual activity. This was a compromise position enacted in 1993 under President Bill Clinton after criticism erupted over his attempt to overturn the longstanding tradition of not allowing homosexuals to serve in the military.

Pace said he supports the present position about homosexuality. He then added, "I believe that homosexual acts between individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts. I do not believe that the armed forces of the United States are well served by saying through our policies that it's OK to be immoral in any way." He then compared homosexuality to adultery which, he stated that in his view was likewise immoral.

Immediately General Pace was criticized for his position and there is incredible political pressure for him to retract his statement and apologize for what he has said. Here’s my problem with what is going on. First of all, I happen to agree with the General. In fact, there are a great number of Americans who would also agree with what he has said concerning homosexuality. In a free country we are within our rights to hold to our convictions and moral standards. We have a right to publicly and privately express our moral beliefs. He never said this was the position of the military or necessarily this is why the military has this position. The stated reason for the policy is to not disrupt the cohesion in combat and would also hurt morale and recruitment.

Secondly, why is it that homosexuality has suddenly become the new protected class? We have blurred the lines in our arguments and have tried to join together racial issues such as discrimination against blacks or other minorities and moral issues such as homosexuality. Homosexuality is a behavior and a lifestyle, it is not a race. We should not allow the thought police to put it into the same protected category as racial discrimination or racism. One can have a view of homosexuality as inherently sinful or immoral or whatever and not be a bigot or homophobe. One does not need to go to sensitivity training or to rehab if he believes that it is wrong (or if he happen not to like homosexuals).

I believe there are a lot of complex reasons and circumstances that causes homosexual orientation and homosexual behavior. However, explaining some of the reasons behind the behavior does not mean that we have to then accept the behavior as normal and moral. I could give a detailed analysis on why someone is an alcoholic (dare I use the word “drunk”), looking at his family background, circumstances etc., and still be completely justified to say that the behavior is harmful and that person should change his behavior. Likewise, I could study all the reasons and circumstances that have lead a person to homosexual behavior including the increased health risks and still be perfectly justified in saying that the behavior is wrong and the person would be better to change. (In addition to added sexually transmitted diseases there are a host of psychological problems known to exist among practicing homosexuals.)

My point here isn’t to debate homosexuality (although I’d be willing to discuss it if you like). Rather to address a larger issue that a person should not be automatically castigated for speaking out his personal moral opinions. Opinions I might add that have been held by many throughout history. I hope that the General sticks to his guns and doesn’t cave under the thought police and the politically correct crowd.