purplerabbit (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
purplerabbit) wrote2005-09-20 12:09 am
purplerabbit) wrote2005-09-20 12:09 am
Weird Fact #3 & #4
Weird Fact #3: I consider myself a pacifist.
Weird Fact #4: I won a Gold Medal in the Texas State Karate Championships in 1982.
Many members of my family are military and I do not oppose their standing up for their beliefs in their own way. My Dad, John, was a Marine (12 years, 2 tours of duty in Viet Nam). My Uncle Jim was in the Army. My cousin Terry is a Lt. Col. in the Air Force. My brother-in-law Charles was in the Navy. These are all men I love and respect.
Yet, I believe strongly that war is organized mass murder. I grew up during the Viet Nam war and saw the horrors of that "conflict" on the tv and in my family life. I grew up among the anti-war protests. I was raised by a feminist mother who has worked hard against domestic violence. I was also raised a liberal Christian who believed strongly in "turning the other cheek." I admire the Quakers and others who have been conscientious objectors.
When I was young, I was beat up a lot. I was struck by parents and care-givers who believed that spanking was good discipline. I was verbally and physically assaulted by other children who believed that being different deserved this treatment. I felt powerless to stop them. I didn't want to become like them. I didn't want to be violent. I believed that when I grew up, I wouldn't ever allow anyone to hit me again.
Yet, at age 22, three people I loved assaulted me in only a couple months. My boyfriend broke the window of the car I was driving (while the car was going down the highway). My best friend choked me and left finger marks on my neck. The worst was my own sister, Beth. I was home recovering from an auto accident when she beat me badly and clawed the 2nd degree sunburn I had at the time. It was the last straw. I decided no one was ever going to beat me again. I called around and found out about martial arts schools in my area. I signed up for the largest Tae Kwon Do school in my area and became very devoted to learning self-defense. I came to believe that although violence should never be the preferred way to handle conflict, it is also important to be willing to defend yourself and others from violence. Sometimes being willing to stand up physically against violence is the best deterrent to violence.
I began taking classes in June 1982 and by November I had not only earned my orange belt, but I competed in the Texas State Championships. I earned the 1st Place Medal for Women's Beginners Division in Sparring. Since that time I have also trained to orange/yellow belt again in my thirties and just recently.
Over the years I have several times used my martial arts skills to defend myself and others. I once stood up to a friend who was going to drive 300 miles drunk, stoned and mad. I had to be willing to fight him to keep him from getting in the car. When I made it clear that I was willing to do so, he finally went and slept it off. Later he thanked me for saving his life. I have also stood up for several people in domestic violence situations and saved myself greater injury when attacked or in an accident. Knowing how to fall probably saved me head injury during the fall that shattered my leg two years ago.
So, I am a pacifist and a marital artist. I consider them complementary. I would like to learn Aikido.
Weird Fact #4: I won a Gold Medal in the Texas State Karate Championships in 1982.
Many members of my family are military and I do not oppose their standing up for their beliefs in their own way. My Dad, John, was a Marine (12 years, 2 tours of duty in Viet Nam). My Uncle Jim was in the Army. My cousin Terry is a Lt. Col. in the Air Force. My brother-in-law Charles was in the Navy. These are all men I love and respect.
Yet, I believe strongly that war is organized mass murder. I grew up during the Viet Nam war and saw the horrors of that "conflict" on the tv and in my family life. I grew up among the anti-war protests. I was raised by a feminist mother who has worked hard against domestic violence. I was also raised a liberal Christian who believed strongly in "turning the other cheek." I admire the Quakers and others who have been conscientious objectors.
When I was young, I was beat up a lot. I was struck by parents and care-givers who believed that spanking was good discipline. I was verbally and physically assaulted by other children who believed that being different deserved this treatment. I felt powerless to stop them. I didn't want to become like them. I didn't want to be violent. I believed that when I grew up, I wouldn't ever allow anyone to hit me again.
Yet, at age 22, three people I loved assaulted me in only a couple months. My boyfriend broke the window of the car I was driving (while the car was going down the highway). My best friend choked me and left finger marks on my neck. The worst was my own sister, Beth. I was home recovering from an auto accident when she beat me badly and clawed the 2nd degree sunburn I had at the time. It was the last straw. I decided no one was ever going to beat me again. I called around and found out about martial arts schools in my area. I signed up for the largest Tae Kwon Do school in my area and became very devoted to learning self-defense. I came to believe that although violence should never be the preferred way to handle conflict, it is also important to be willing to defend yourself and others from violence. Sometimes being willing to stand up physically against violence is the best deterrent to violence.
I began taking classes in June 1982 and by November I had not only earned my orange belt, but I competed in the Texas State Championships. I earned the 1st Place Medal for Women's Beginners Division in Sparring. Since that time I have also trained to orange/yellow belt again in my thirties and just recently.
Over the years I have several times used my martial arts skills to defend myself and others. I once stood up to a friend who was going to drive 300 miles drunk, stoned and mad. I had to be willing to fight him to keep him from getting in the car. When I made it clear that I was willing to do so, he finally went and slept it off. Later he thanked me for saving his life. I have also stood up for several people in domestic violence situations and saved myself greater injury when attacked or in an accident. Knowing how to fall probably saved me head injury during the fall that shattered my leg two years ago.
So, I am a pacifist and a marital artist. I consider them complementary. I would like to learn Aikido.