NICE VS. COMPETENT

When my mother fell and was injured, she was sent to St Luke's hospital here in Houston (2007). She had turned 90 a month earlier, and seemed to be suffering from dementia, unable to communicate much with others. The injury was causing her much pain.
In the hospital there was a nurse from one of the countries of Asia who was very business-like and brusk. I thought of her initially as less caring than some other nurses because of her manner.
However, in the few days that my mom was in her care, I saw how this excellent nurse did several things, and tweaked things to make mom's care the best it could be. I was sad to leave the acquaintance of this woman, even as I was mourning the looming death of my mom.
That was a real eye opener about the difference between niceness and competence,
appearance and substance.

FULL DISCLOSURE

Last post was on the painful subject of the championing of "abortion rights" in the US.
I don't WANT to hurt others, especially friends, by discussing my view that abortion is really and definitely wrong. But I believe we all must be true to God as best we can at any one time, speaking the truth in love.
I see that I must also make full disclosure (approximately) before some "hearers" could be open to what I have to say.
Plus I need to be honest. I'm still working on full honesty.

I have not gone to doctor's office, abortion clinic or illegal abortionist to have a child growing within me destroyed, killed and expelled. have not.

However, I did "conspire (with myself) to commit abortion"- that is, kill my unknown unborn child.
(Specifically, I tried to induce  "natural " miscarriage by ingesting a natural substance known to constrict blood vessels which would cause the uterus to shed or expel a very early fertilized egg.  I did that. It was a really private matter. No one but me and God (and the baby, if there was one) knew about this thing I did.)
I tell this to you because I must.
I want you to know that I empathize with those who have chosen abortion and chosen to fight for abortion rights.
Also I must confess that I have NOT been an active vocal and self-sacrificing "choose life" person. I made a few feeble attempts to work for the cause, to help. That was years ago, before my children were born (Was there another that I denied the opportunity to live?)
So my inaction about the cause of protecting the unborn was also responsible for the so many children lost and so many women desensitized to what their hearts were trying to tell them -harmed in that way.

I remember when Bush Junior was running against Gore in 2000, I maybe heard a "still, small voice" saying to me (something like) the way to help the unborn is NOT to vote for your champion, and put on his shoulders the responsibility to take care of the little ones. That's not going to do it. Plus that is too big burden to put on one man. It is wrong of the pro life voters of the country to think our responsibility ends with voting for the most pro life candidate.
It's not enough.
I think that our corporate, if unspoken, choice to put all the responsibility for righting the wrong of state-endorsed abortion on President , Presidential candidates and other politicians is one of the forces that warped the Republican party causing jingoism and slogans and buzz words to push out thoughtful answers, discussion and other slow loving forces from the public discussion arena of Republican party.