Posted: 5/17/18 at 8:04pm
"There are moments that the words don’t reach
There is suffering too terrible to name..."
Posted: 5/17/18 at 11:54pm
I almost became physically ill when I saw that headline yesterday. I was in disbelief for many reasons mentioned...one of which was that the pregnancy was virtually at full-term. It is so, so rare to miscarry that late- which makes me think the unborn child was, in fact, not unharmed from the incident as previously thought...
On the flip side, I am truly disgusted that the driver is from my home borough. That picture of her using a damn iPhone on the stretcher fills me with rage. It implies the lowest of my fellow Staten Islanders.
Posted: 5/18/18 at 12:43am
I donated to Ruthie's kickstarter or fundraising campaign when this news first broke. I received this message earlier today. They are no longer accepting donations. I'm glad I donated when I did. I hope to see Ruthie in some future production; love her on THE KING AND I cast album.
##
A statement from Ben Rubinowitz, family attorney:
"As many of you know, Ruthie and Jonathan’s daughter, Abigail, was tragically killed. At the time of the crash, Ruthie was pregnant and was severely injured. This past Friday, Ruthie and Jonathan lost their baby, Sophia Rosemary Wong Blumenstein.
The pain suffered by Ruthie and Jonathan is nearly impossible to fathom. As you might imagine, they are overwhelmed by the sadness of the deaths of their children. Ruthie and Jonathan are grateful for the support of their family and friends but wish and ask that their privacy be respected during this most trying time.
Ruthie and Jonathan continue to seek God’s presence, mercy, and peace.
Help spread the word!"
Again, just like with mass shootings, etc., I see a lot of "thoughts and prayers" messages thrown out by Republicans, but "thoughts and prayers" aren't what's needed most, it seems. I hope I'm not the only person on this board that donated to Ruthie's cause...but if I am, I'm glad I took some acton rather than just offering "thoughts and prayers"...
Posted: 5/18/18 at 12:56am
Updated On: 5/18/18 at 12:56 AM
Posted: 5/18/18 at 12:58am
MichelleCraig said: "I see a lot of "thoughts and prayers" messages thrown out by Republicans, but "thoughts and prayers" aren't what's needed most, it seems. I hope I'm not the only person on this board that donated to Ruthie's cause...but if I am, I'm glad I took some acton rather than just offering "thoughts and prayers"..."
How did the Republicans creep into this?!
Posted: 5/18/18 at 1:17am
"MichelleCraig, I don't think gloating and condescendingly patting yourself on the back at this time is really appropriate. :/"
I agree. Gross.
Posted: 5/18/18 at 1:39am
Updated On: 5/18/18 at 01:39 AM
Posted: 5/18/18 at 3:08am
I mean the poster is obviously right that praying is not going to do anything. They have literally done scientific studies on this lol. And I found it annoying when it first happened instead of thanking the people that actually likely made a difference, such as the first responders, some decided to thank god and pray *roll eyes*. But I assume/hope most people here don’t actually believe praying or thanking or calling on God is going to help anyone - it’s just the ‘polite’ Pavlovian response to terrible news. Anyway, I do respect that this probably isn’t the time to have such a conversation. This is just such a terrible tragedy. There are no words.
Updated On: 5/18/18 at 03:08 AM
Posted: 5/18/18 at 5:54am
Given the sheer number of donations that were received, it seems entirely likely that others from the board donated. They probably just didn’t feel the need to pat themselves on the back for it.
Updated On: 5/18/18 at 05:54 AM
Posted: 5/18/18 at 8:03am
Posted: 5/18/18 at 9:20am
qolbinau said: "I mean the poster is obviously right that praying is not going to do anything. They have literally done scientific studies on this lol. And I found it annoying when it first happened instead of thanking the people that actually likely made a difference, such as the first responders, some decided to thank god and pray *roll eyes*. But I assume/hope most people here don’t actually believe praying or thanking or calling on God is going to help anyone - it’s just the ‘polite’ Pavlovian response to terrible news. Anyway, I do respect that this probably isn’t the time to have such a conversation. This is just such a terrible tragedy. There are no words."
It's almost like your Pavlovian response to **** all over someone else's beliefs.
Posted: 5/18/18 at 10:34am
Posted: 5/18/18 at 11:22am
Posted: 5/18/18 at 11:58am
This. ^
Posted: 5/18/18 at 5:52pm
Elfuhbuh said: "stlrod said: "Regardless of your personal beliefs, Ruthie Ann Miles is clearly a person of faith. To question those who have offered prayers dishonors the very person who must bear this tragedy."
This. ^"
It is clearly true that Ruthie Ann Miles is a person of 'faith' and perhaps she would find it disrespectful that people here are suggesting that praying will not lead to any real outcomes (besides perhaps placebo comfort that this is part of a some kind of higher-order plan). But where does the truth come into this? Does this actually matter at all? It's 2018 and I do find it interesting that the truth of the reality of the world does not seem to matter at all anymore. Not discounting that what Ruthie has gone through and is going through is among the worst tragedies I could ever imagine in human existence (with perhaps the exception of a gay person living in any Islamic country on earth). I just find it interesting that we hold these beliefs on such a pedestal they are willing to come before almost any other thing in reality - whether that be the truth, gay rights, women's rights. We live in fascinating times. I hope we can continue the great progress we have made over the last few hundred years and slowly change our culture to overcome these strange, outdated and counterfactual ideas.It's 2018 and yet we hold religious views in such high esteem. How very, very strange. But I understand we care more about feelings over facts and maintaining the conservative status quo than really trying to be progressive.
Updated On: 5/18/18 at 05:52 PM
Posted: 5/18/18 at 7:16pm
qolbinau said: "Elfuhbuh said: "stlrod said: "Regardless of your personal beliefs, Ruthie Ann Miles is clearly a person of faith. To question those who have offered prayers dishonors the very person who must bear this tragedy."
This. ^"
It is clearly true that Ruthie Ann Miles is a person of 'faith' and perhaps she would find it disrespectful that people here are suggesting that praying will not lead to any real outcomes (besides perhaps placebo comfort that this is part of a some kind of higher-order plan). But where does the truth come into this? Does this actually matter at all? It's 2018 and I do find it interesting that the truth of the reality of the world does not seem to matter at all anymore. Not discounting that what Ruthie has gone through and is going through is among the worst tragedies I could ever imagine in human existence (with perhaps the exception of a gay person living in any Islamic country on earth). I just find it interesting that we hold these beliefs on such a pedestal they are willing to come before almost any other thing in reality - whether that be the truth, gay rights, women's rights. We live in fascinating times. I hope we can continue the great progress we have made over the last few hundred years and slowly change our culture to overcome these strange, outdated and counterfactual ideas.It's 2018 and yet we hold religious views in such high esteem. How very, very strange. But I understand we care more about feelings over facts and maintaining the conservative status quo than really trying to be progressive."
Bernadette Peters hates you
Posted: 5/18/18 at 8:36pm
This is seriously not the appropriate thread for a self-centered debate on what constitutes progressivism and secularism and faith.
Posted: 5/18/18 at 9:14pm
ScottyDoesn'tKnow2 said: "This is seriously not the appropriate thread for a self-centered debate on what constitutes progressivism and secularism and faith."
Haven’t you realized that he does this anytime someone mentions religion or faith?
Posted: 5/18/18 at 9:21pm
Posted: 5/18/18 at 9:34pm
Dancingthrulife2 said: "I don’t think “thoughts and prayers” can stop kids killing each other with guns in school nor preventing the obviously killer-to-be drivers like the woman to ever touch the wheel again. Faith is sweet, but “Words! Words! Words! I'm so sick of words!”"
I agree with you about school shootings, 100%. However, a reckless driver (one that has been arrested and charged, mind you) killing a child and severely injuring her mother is not the sort of thing you call your Congressman about. We don’t need marches for things like this. In instances like this, I think “thoughts and prayers” are entirely justified. The theater community has donated to the cause (a significantly higher amount than the Go Fund Me had asked for) and held at least one benefit concert that I’m aware of. What else can people do?
Posted: 5/18/18 at 10:54pm
Posted: 5/18/18 at 11:05pm
Posted: 5/18/18 at 11:52pm
qolbinau said: "I do concede that it feels like a particularly tasteless discussion to engage in right now (with the caveat that there seems to never be a good time to hold anti-theist views, which is a problem). But if Ruthie can try and use faith to make sense of and/or find comfort in this awful tragedy then it does speak to one of the positive aspects of religious belief. Whatever she can do to ease the pain. "
You keep saying probably not the place to discuss it and it's a tasteless discussion yet you keep bringing it up. I say this as an atheist who agrees with a lot of what you always post about religion but you need to realize there's a time and a place and this is certainly most not it.
Updated On: 5/19/18 at 11:52 PM
Posted: 5/19/18 at 12:48am
qolbinau, I'm an atheist, and what you are doing is revolting.
My heart goes out to Ruthie and her husband. I don't know what else to say. I hope they can come through this somehow.
Posted: 5/19/18 at 1:48am
So sad. I'm heartbroken.
