In response to the LAPD's iWatch ads asking us to observe each other in fear and report terrorist activities...

Seems to me the real terrorists are the ones who spread venom in an attempt to split the country in two and undermine the president. Those who have openly declared war on him and turned their backs to the needs of the people for the sake of putting party and themselves first above all else. And those who sell our representation to the lobbies for a mess of pottage. They're the ones we should be afraid of.

When terrorists from other lands strike it can galvanize us together in a common goal. But when the domestic kind preach and act they push us further into the "us vs. them" pattern that has threatened our Union since the first ships landed here. If our country falls, it won't be due to al qaeda or other predators, but rather to the subversives within our own borders and the effect we allow them to have on us all.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/23/lapds-iwatch-terrorism-ad_n_331575.html

Fighting for the Right to Choose

If it's wanted, it's a child. If not, it's just tissue.

Personally, I think society would be better served by "fighting" for widespread education on prevention and responsibility rather than fighting for more widespread abortion. They're already legal and routinely available. But isn't it better to teach our kids to avoid problems and be responsible for themselves rather than simply flushing whatever "minor annoyances" come their way?


I'm not talking about abstinence only education. Our kids needs every tool available to protect themselves from a host of dangers, complications and life changing situations. While abstinence is the only sure way, it's unrealistic to expect that of everyone. They need a wide range approach. To be prepared, they need to understand all the risks, all the ways to protect themselves and be instilled with a sense of responsibility for their actions.

Simply fighting for greater acceptance of abortion isn't a solution. It's a cheap excuse to relieve us all of responsibility. There's a tendency in our culture to dispose of our problems rather than manage them. We throw away marriage, family, children, friendships, financial and legal obligations, jobs, anything that might take extra effort. Trouble is, we don't learn anything and we end up losing out on the things that can bring the most joy into our lives, all for the sake of convenience.

Nowadays, with all we understand about HIV/AIDS, std's, etc, it's more important than ever to think before we act. If you don't want to be at risk for pregnancy or other things, it's very easy to prevent them. We're not mindless animals who must have unprotected sex at every opportunity.

Yes, there are situations where abortion should be considered. But it must never be touted as the normal form of birth control when there are so many things we could have done to prevent it. Whether you consider a fetus tissue or a child, wouldn't it make sense to prevent it from forming rather than having to rip it out afterwards?


This is in response to an article on Huffington Post by Frances Kissling, "The Best Candidate For Choice." She describes her many years of fighting for the right to choose, and how it applies to the current presidential candidates.

The Best Candidate For Choice

Celebrating Our Differences Into The Toilet

Clarence B. Jones wrote an article for Huffington Post. Clinton vs. Obama: Lest We Forget
He discussed the racial overtones that have been needlessly injected into the battle for the nomination for president, as well as a perceived struggle between race and sex discrimination. He talked about the life's message of Martin Luther King, Jr, his impact on us all and how we should be continuing in the path of tolerance and understanding.

Here are a few of my own thoughts...

It's too bad we even have to have this discussion. Many have devoted and even sacrificed their lives to make this a better country. We stand in their shadow and reap the rewards, yet we wear their suffering on our sleeves as if it were our own. Some are quick to offend and others take offense easily. The rest of us range from simple voyeurs to tag team slugging partners. Whether racist, sexist, religious or any other form, bias is ugly.

It shows up in many ways, too. Outright discrimination and abuse, crude jokes, slanderous speech, insensitivity, indifference. But also crying race as a tactic, harboring resentment for things that didn't happen to us personally, overgeneralizing and even celebrating one's race or working to advance one against another.

As long as we tolerate bias, we'll always be "us vs them." Instead of focusing on color, ethnicity, sex, lifestyle or other differences we should be working together to be better neighbors, citizens, Americans.

Beautiful walls are made by blending hues, not by throwing on colors that compete for attention. Our country is a grand melting pot. We can come together in a fine way, or continue to promote our differences as uneasy tenants and enemies. In which case the sacrifices of our forebearers will have been for nothing.

Beauty

Recently a study showed a higher rate of suicide among women who had breast augmentation surgery. Some of the responses to the article at Huffington Post talked a lot about insecurities and depression, but little about why.

We've created a society where women would rather be cut open and mutilated than learn to be comfortable with themselves. Where self esteem comes from a knife and a bottle instead of from within. Where we tell them they must look anorexic, but with disproportionate breasts and plaster faces. Where if they look natural and age normally they're ugly and somehow less valuable. And if they commit suicide they must be flawed.

The flaw isn't so much in the tortured soul as it is the sick machine that causes the pain in the first place. The fashion industry. Hollywood. Advertising. Television. Cosmetic medicine. And a gullible public that has come to believe their propaganda.

We were outraged when the truth came out about the tobacco industry and how they lied. We tried to make them responsible for the deaths they caused. Yet we are silent when our daughters suffer and die from eating disorders. When women jeopardize their health with fad diets and pills. When we spend many millions every year so doctors can inject poison in our faces and other, more brutal procedures so we can look the way we're told we must look.

Real beauty can't be painted on or carved into the skin. It doesn't come from a syringe. No amount of cutting or stretching can create it. It comes from within. It shines from a smile. It twinkles in the eyes. It radiates from a woman who knows & likes herself, and as a result can love others. It comes from the joy of serving others. From loving and being loved. From appreciating happiness after enduring sorrow. It's a reflection of the eyes of her children.

I've seen plenty of real beauty in women who society would consider plain or even disfigured. I rarely, if ever, see it in those who are obsessed with their looks. If you think about it seriously, I bet you'll agree.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/08/08/study-women-with-breast-_n_59719.html

Another Weather Disaster

This text is from a county emergency manager out in the western part of North Dakota after the recent snow storm. I wish I could meet him and shake his hand.

WEATHER BULLETIN

Up here in the Northern Plains we just recovered from an Historic event ---

may I even say a "Weather Event" of "Biblical Proportions" --- with a historic blizzard of up to 44" inches of snow and winds to 90 MPH that broke trees in half, knocked down utility poles, stranded hundreds of motorists in lethal snow banks, closed ALL roads, isolated scores of communities and cut power to 10's of thousands.

FYI:

* George Bush did not come....
* FEMA did nothing....
* No one howled for the government...
* No one blamed the government
* No one even uttered an expletive on TV...
* Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton did not visit
* Our Mayor's did not blame Bush or anyone else
* Our Governor did not blame Bush or anyone else either
* CNN, ABC, CBS, FOX, or NBC did not visit - or report on this category 5 snow storm
* Nobody demanded $2,000 debit cards.....
* No one asked for a FEMA Trailer House....
* No one looted....
* Nobody - I mean Nobody demanded the government do something
* Nobody expected the government to do anything either
* No Larry King, No Bill O'Rielly, No Oprah, No Chris Mathews and No Geraldo Rivera
* No Shaun Penn, No Barbara Striesand, No Hollywood types to be found

And

* Nope, we just melted the snow for water
* Sent out caravans of SUV's to pluck people out of snow engulfed cars
* The truck drivers pulled people out of snow banks and didn't ask for a penny
* Local restaurants made food and the police and fire departments delivered it to the snow bound families
* Families took in the stranded people - total strangers
* We Fired up wood stoves
* Broke out coal oil lanterns or Coleman lanterns
* We put on an extra layers of clothes because up here it is "Work or Die"
* We did not wait for some affirmative action government to get us out of a mess created by being immobilized by a welfare program th at trades votes for 'sittin at home' checks.
* Even though a Category "5" blizzard of this scale has never fallen this early...we know it can happen and how to deal with it ourselves.

resourcefully!!!!!!!!!

Immigration Reform

It's good to see the discussion coming back about immigration reform. I'm all for the tired, poor and huddled masses. That's how my ancestors came here. In fact, except for Native Americans, we all came from somewhere else. Lately, though, with all the trouble with terrorism, job security, market and welfare woes, it seems the gates to our borders are being overrun with very little control. The republican promise to do something about it is long overdue, and a welcome sight.

Drew McKissick has an excellent commentary with links you should check out.
Link

While we're on the subject of immigration, is it too much to expect people who come here to live and work to learn the language? If you or I moved to Brazil, would we expect their government to cater to our every need? Of course not. Yet we spend countless millions every year printing everything in many languages. We hire translators in all kinds of places, even in schools! We make it so easy that many feel they don't have to learn english. That, to me, is a crock. There are too many other things we need worse right now. Medicine and health care for the needy. Social security. The list is a mile long. If we have to cut back on something, besides pork projects and government bloat, the list should also include making english the standard language in America.

Banning the Pledge of Allegiance?

I'm so sick of us having to tippytoe around and change our policies and beliefs because someone might be offended.

This is America. You are free to believe whatever you want here. But when one faction tries to force their beliefs on the other by law, that is unconstitutional. It shouldn't be allowed. That's what's happening here. Atheists, who are a very small minority, are trying to force the whole of the nation to comply with their own beliefs. They have convinced judges they're right, which makes it a legal case promoting one "faith" over another. That's expressly forbidden in the constitution.

"Offended" is a much abused term. Here it's an emotion brought on by the intolerance of a few toward the many. Wow, what a great reason to legislate against the majority of the country!

In America, we celebrate Christmas. If you don't believe in Santa Claus, that's your business. But don't take away our right to celebrate just because you happen to differ. Part of celebrating Christmas is remembering Jesus with reverance. If you don't believe in Jesus, that's fine. Celebrate whatever you want or whoever you want. I don't go to Iran and tell them not to observe Ramadan. I don't disrespect Jews for their holidays and beliefs. If you're the only Jew in a school full of Christians, don't take the school board to court because you might be offended that they celebrate the holiday with programs and songs. It's a national holiday, for crying out loud!

In America, most of us believe in God. Some worship a heavenly man. Some worship a vaporous cloud. Some worship money. Some worship themselves and expect us to. Some choose not to worship. Whatever. Your right to worship or not isn't more important than mine. Tolerance!

In America, we speak english. If you want to live here, you should learn it. If I moved to Bolivia and expected their government to cater to me, do you think they would? But here, we spend millions publishing everything in 40 languages so we won't "offend" somebody.

In school we learn American history coupled with patriotism. The pledge of allegiance is part of that. If you don't like it, don't say it, but don't take it away from the rest of us.

If there's something you'd like changed, bring it up with your congressman. If it has merit, it can be voted on.

America was born of a desire for freedom. Freedom from tyrants, freedom to worship, freedom to speak our minds. Part of having those freedoms is having tolerance for others, and that goes both ways. Someone is going to have a different set of values than you. If you don't like what I believe, that's your right. If you allow yourself to become offended, get over it!

If you don't like it here, there's the door. Don't let it hit you where the good Lord split you!
Americans, don't bow down to the intolerant few who want to force us to comply. Be proud of who we are. Stand up for a change and be counted.

Bringing Katrina Home

We Americans love to disconnect from reality. The majority of us have no clue what was going through the hearts and minds of of those who struggled to survive Katrina's wrath. Nor do we want to. We'd rather spend all our energy bickering about who to blame for everything, and then go back to our sheltered little lives. That's our way. It's so much easier than taking down the walls, feeling someone else's pain and acting in a totally selfless way.

The following account was posted on the internet by someone who chose to be anonymous. That doesn't change the power of the message. The discussion on Huffington Post had been the normal left/right slinging of blame and propaganda. Suddenly this appeared and took me completely off guard. As I read it, I found myself engulfed in howling winds and rising water. The girl in the article will carry the scars throughout her life. I hope that I can carry a small portion of her pain in my heart to remind me that the universe does not revolve around me. The needs of others should be more important than my daily agenda. And in light of her and those around her, my petty troubles seem insignificant. I hope some of you can find a similar change of heart.


"When I took my son to his guitar lesson, I met one of the guitar instructors who is from New Orleans. The instructor said his niece survived the hurricane in one the parishes in Louisiana. He talked to her on the phone recently. This is the niece's account: A whole community of people assembled in the high school gymnasium to ride out the hurricane. The bleachers were full of people. The one hundred plus MPH winds knocked out all the windows. The water entered the gymnasium foot by foot. People on the lower bleachers tried to climb higher, but the upper bleachers were already full. As the storm surge rose to fourteen feet, people started to drown en mass. When the water was high enough, the niece was able to swim out the gymnasium window into the one hundred MPH winds. She said she saw a one-year old baby float past her face down."

New Orleans Bush Bashing

First, let me say how horrifying Katrina's devastation is. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims. This article is in no way directed at them in this terrible hour. It's written in response to Van Jones' editorial Bush's Role in the Drowning of New Orleans on Huffington Post. Lots of people are so quick to blame the federal government for everything bad that happens in America. In this case, most of that blame actually belongs to others. And the pundits can't see that all this bashing helps to divide the nation instead of pulling us together to aid those who so desperately need our help.

* * * * *

Everybody's so quick to blame "W" for all of this. In your article you blame him for the flooding because he diverted money. We were in the middle of a war. Should we have said, hmmm, let's leave our servicemen more ill-equipped and pour money into something that might happen years down the road? I imagine if he'd had a crystal ball things might have been a little different. "Experts" have been warning us of disaster for years. I don't know a state or city that has completely prepared for anything. You gonna blame that on W too?

New Orleans has known about the problem for how long? If you want to blame someone, blame the city fathers for not doing more about the situation and protecting their citizens. Blame the city planners for building below sea level in the middle of lakes and next to a gulf, and putting the city in a bowl with no drainage. Blame the CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) who should have stepped right in with a plan developed years ago. Community first, then state, then federal. That's how it works.

You forget that when they ran a mock flood several years ago, 1/3 of the citizens said they'd refuse to evacuate no matter what the government said, even if it was a hurricane. If I were given 3 days warning of an approaching hurricane and I couldn't drive my family out, by hell I'd walk them out! I wouldn't just sit there and blame everyone for making it happen and not rescuing me fast enough.

Another thing... you just have to play the RACE CARD, don't you. Take a natural disaster and turn it into whites hating blacks. I think color was the LEAST of anyone's worries as they tried to get out. It's true that most of NO's survivors are poor and black, which was also true of the community before the flood. That doesn't make it a race issue. It means that New Orleans had a large number of PEOPLE who were poor, under educated and stuck in a rut. Blame the city for not working hard enough to train and motivate them. Blame the welfare system for making it too easy to live on checks and stamps. Blame the people for not having the balls to stand up and change their own lives. Blame bleeding hearts like you who find it easier to complain about it than to dig in and help people improve their lives.

Better yet, stop blaming. There are far too many who need our help, and they need it NOW. Put down the poisoned pen and either start writing checks or handing out food and water. The way to insure America's survival is to help each other instead of tearing each other down.

Smoke and Mirrors

"Remember the huge tobacco lawsuits of the late 1990's? Threatened with having to foot the bill for all smoking-related illnesses, the nation's largest tobacco companies agreed to pay 46 statesan unbelievable $206 billion. The idea was that the states would use the money 1) to pay for smoking prevention programs, and 2) to defray the costs of health care for smokers who got ill.

So far, however, less than 5% of the $33 billion paid out has gone to prevent smoking. And it gets worse: several states have earmarked their share of the money to help... the tobacco industry. In North Carolina, for example, $43 million of the $59 million they've received has gone to marketing and producing tobacco, the state's biggest crop. They bought equipment for farmers, built a new tobacco auction hall, and put $400,000 toward a new tobacco processing plant. Other states have used the money won from tobacco companies to buy stock- in tobacco companies."

Where is the accountability? Money that was mandated to help citizens who are suffering the effects of smoking is pumped back into the same filthy, decietful machine that caused the problem to begin with. I thought government was supposed to protect citizens, not invest in their deaths!



(Note: The article in quotes was used by permission and is copyright by the Bathroom Reader's Institute. It can be found in Uncle John's Unstoppable Bathroom Reader, 16th edition, p. 243. Some of the most fscinating, enjoyable reading I've found.)

Three Thousand Dollars??????

I used to work in a clock store. One Christmas we advertised a special grandfather clock for $995. Sold a bunch of them. A fellow called to verify the price, then came in with his sons. They got the grand tour of all the features. Burled wood panels, gold-plated numerals, beveled glass, the works. "We'll take three!" I excitedly rang up the sale, which came to just over three thousand dollars. He about had a stroke... "Three thousand dollars? That should be thirty dollars!!!" He genuinely believed the price was $9.95 each, even though he'd seen the beautiful clock.

They left the store in a snit, but long afterward there was still the lingering fragrance in the air of the word- DUH!!!!!

My Christmas Wish

This was a letter to a best friend, a soldier serving in Baghdad...

I'm thinking tonight how grateful I am that you and so many others
are willing to sacrifice so much. We're sitting home, fat, lazy, safe (or
at least relatively safe in this neighborhood!), trying to get the spirit
of Christmas in our hum drum little lives. We seem almost oblivious
to the fact that you're over there, a million miles from home, family,
loved ones, in the valiant struggle for freedom.

We think we have it rough here. Financial troubles, traffic jams,
angry bosses, pesky neighbors, the occasional sound of a gunshot
from somewhere else. You're seeing the other side of life first-hand.
How different it would be here if it weren't for you who have either
put your lives at risk or given them up entirely to ensure our safety.
Someone asked, where are Bat Man, Superman and the other super
heroes when we need them? Well, we don't need them when we
have you! The men and women of the armed forces. You are the
real heroes. We owe you a debt we could never repay. And the way
we act sometimes, I hope we're worth it.

We whine and complain. We distort the truth to fit our political slant.
We are quick to point a finger at others and slow to take
responsibility, unless it makes us look good. We are a breeding
ground for laws, lawsuits and lawbreaking. We remove God from our
lives and then blame Him for our problems. We are a country of
greedy, selfish, pompous asses. At first glance, it might seem better
if God would just wipe the country clean and start over.

But we are also a country of hard workers. Of people who dream, and
sometimes fulfill those dreams. We were founded on principles of
faith, and most still cling to those standards. We are a society of
freedom. Free to speak our mind. Free to move about. Free to
worship. Free to help our neighbor. Free to reach our highest
potential or wallow in the lowest depths And we owe those freedoms,
in large part, to you... in Baghdad, and around the world.

My Christmas wish for you is that God will reward you generously for
your efforts. That He will keep you safe and bring you home soon.
That your families will be provided for well in your absence. That
loneliness will be replaced with comfort. That He will guide you in your
activities. That you will continue to do your best and act honorably.
That your work will help to bring peace to a troubled world and keep
our nation free. And that we will be more deserving of your service
and sacrifice.

Merry Christmas (Written 12/25/03)