My Facebook friends have been pretty squarely in support of the refugees, but most of my more conservative Facebook friends are family, and "You don't turn your back on refugees" is pretty deeply embedded in all of us.

I've been pretty impressed with US Jewish organizations. Even the ones who are usually very right-wing on security issues -- the ones who advocate war against Iran, and protecting Israel at all costs -- have almost all issued statements in support of letting Syrian refugees in. The only exception that I was able to find was Zionist Organization of America, and they're kind of nuts to begin with -- the people that I think are right-wing nutjobs think that ZOA are right-wing nutjobs.

edit: I mean, ZOA supports Jonathan Pollard, who is a convicted spy. Most other Jewish organizations seem to regard him as an embarrassment and are trying to ignore his release as much as possible, while a few are giving half-hearted things about how we all know that what he did was wrong, but the sentence he got was disproportionate. ZOA is celebrating him as a hero.

I've been pretty impressed with US Jewish organizations

How I really, really wish I could say the same for my own country. The most optimistic thing I can say about the current climate in my country is that is disheartening and upsetting.

I really wish my country wasn't like this. I volunteer with Eritrean refugees. 3/4 of my grandparents are refugees (the fourth moved to Palestine from Germany in 1934). I learned about horrors. So I cannot understand people who can debate about the circumstances in which we can send and ignore people being sent to their deaths. As if being a refugee is a "lifestyle" choice.

Ugh Shir!

because it feels like I'm compromising my principles.

I get that, but I also think there's such a thing as modeling and ways of engaging that aren't confrontational. I admit FB is not my zone for engaging pretty much at all, I tend to leave that to the classroom, but teaching is all about letting students voice their opinions and directing them to resources where they might find the kinds of facts and information that might change their opinions. And then forcing them to analyze all of it. Only really die-hard wrongheadedness usually survives that, but trust me, it can and does. But most of the time, they come away from a paper with a much more developed understanding of things.

Oh, also wanted to say yay for #1 son! You are an awesome mom Laura. You've show such loving support and let him find his way on his own.

Thank you everyone. I am more hopeful than ever that he is going to be okay. It is wonderful to have his able assistance with my work, but that is nothing compared to the joy in seeing him take pride in his contribution.

It is a rainy overcast day here, and should be for a couple more days. I'm finding it soothing and relaxing.

Oh Shir. I have an ache in my heart, It sounds like you do also - wishing one's country were better at "doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly".

Definitely celebrate victories like this, Laura.

So I never post in Bitches, I can't even keep up in Natter these days. But I kind of want some Buffista support.

Turns out I have been diagnosed with complex endometrial hyperplasia with atypia, which means (a) that I've been bleeding like crazy for weeks on end; and (b) I'm at at least a 29% risk of developing endometrial cancer in the next several years.

My gyn/oncologist wants me to get a hysterectomy. I am resisting: I'm not even fully menopausal yet, I just had my period last month. Plus even laproscopic surgery means weeks off work and not exercising (and I just adopted an 80-lb dog!). And it's major surgery!

I don't know what to do. If I were already in menopause, it would maybe be an easier decision, but I'm not.

Have any Buffistas had hysterectomies and are willing to talk about it?

Oh Consuela, I am so sorry to hear this. I can think of at least two Buffistas who've had it and will likely chime in with how much happier they are now. And non-Buffistas I know also are much happier, although in one case it led to two adoptions rather than bio-kids, and that wasn't easy for her to fathom at first (very happy ending though, since they're one of the happiest families I know!). I can't take in an 80 lb dog if you elect surgery, guessing M can though. But I can DEFINITELY bring you food and take care of errands and that kind of thing if you end up having surgery and needing support.

Also, I need to meet the new doggie!

Suela, I had mine at 36, a "by the end of the week, no later" sort of thing, so I didn't have a lot of time to work myself up into a state about it, though I did a pretty good job of it anyway. Severely under-diagnosed fibroids and an undiagnosed PID. I was a very very sick puppy and had been soldiering on, because that's what I needed to do, for a long time. And truthfully, it worsened so slowly, it wasn't like, wow, this is a lot worse than last month. It was just a *little* worse than last time. But by the time I couldn't actually continue to function, I wasn't given a choice about the surgery.

The actual procedure turned out to be a lot more serious than they expected, but I healed well, and right on schedule. And when I'd recovered, on pretty much the expected timeline, I felt so much better that I felt like everybody I knew should have a hysterectomy! It was great!

I'm not saying it would be great, but it sounds like a sound prophylactic choice for you, and in your shoes, I would almost certainly go ahead with it. Not that *you* should, but it's what I would do. If I can, I'll be glad to answer any questions for you. I wish you well, whatever choice you make.