Today, the President tried to belittle the current cloud of dissent surrounding his health care proposals but suggesting that those who oppose his plan are simply "wee wee'd up." First I would like to know what the phrase even means and secondly, let me just say that I find it disturbing that the leader of the free world would even use this kind of language. Please, whoever is in charge of the teleprompter - make sure he has it, because frankly, he appears to be a blathering idiot without it, which is a terrible disappointment.
Yes, the American people are wee wee'd up. Frankly, many of us are spitting mad. I don't like it than in 8 short months my country is barely recognizable. Let's recap, in the last 8 months we have sold our children and grandchildren into servitude for a stimulus that even the administration admits isn't working, we have become the proud owners of several car companies, and now, in our infinite wisdom we are also going to allocate the health care of ALL of our people to the government in one form or another because, Lord knows, they do everything else so well.
Yes, that does make me one very angry American. I want my country back and I have resolved that I am not going to sit idly by and wait for others to fix it for me. I am going to be proactive in being a part of the discussion on the issues that are important to me and to all Americans. I am going to be part of the solution. I think that a proactie electorate - no matter how you vote - is FAR better than what I believe our country is mainly full of - apathetic citizens.
How can anyone sit by while Obama suggests to our senior citizens - many of whom have done more for this country than just about any previous generation of Americans - that they just forego a life prolonging surgery, take a pain pill and say goodnight? Is that what you want for YOUR parent? What about for your child? I don't know about you, but what I want are; more choices not less, lower costs not rationed care, less government interference and more freedom. It really is that simple Mr. President, so if those feelings make me all "wee wee'd up" then I guess that I am guilty as charged.
You know what though? I'm not starting or limiting myself to taking aim at national representatives, I am going to hold my local government officials accountable too. It is high time that they got off their dead asses and actually worked FOR the people. In the chaos of everything that has happened over these last several years, so many seem to have come to this misconception that the government is of the government, by the government, and for the government. It isn't. WE THE PEOPLE are still the ones who matter and it is time we all stand together and show ALL the politicians on BOTH sides of the aisle what real change is and exactly what we can do.
Admiral Yamamoto once said that on the day of Pearl Harbor, he feared his country had "awakened a sleeping giant." He was right, but that giant wasn't the military of the United States or our government - it was the WILL of the American People and now, our own government has made that very same mistake - they have underestimated us. So what say you? Will you go quietly into that good night like a sheep to the slaughter? Or will you STAND UP and make your voice heard?
How can you stand up? Get involved! Actually read the health care proposed bill for yourself and formulate your own opinion on the topic, then get involved. Attend local government meetings, hold your representatives accountable to the will of the people and when they forget who actually runs this government, remind them on election day of who really holds the power in this country. You voice, your choice. Your vote, our hope. Make it count.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
June 6th, 1945
Today, our country is losing it's greatest national resource at an alarming pace. I bet you are wondering to what I am referring? The answer isn't what - it's who. Today, so few of them are left and every day we lose more and more - our country's Greatest Generation.
65 years ago today, they faced insurmountable odds and an unlikely outcome, and they faced it as young men and women - most probably in their 20's or younger. They faced this challenge the way they faced all the other hardships in their lives - head on- with hard work, dedication, devotion and bravery. Their victory in the fielf of battle made our country synonomous with Freedom on the one hand and overwhelming military might on the other. Their sacrifices liberated an entire continent of oppressed people and saved a people from total annihilation. They were liberators.
Winston Churchill once said ( of the Battle of Briton but can certainly be said of Normandy) "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. " And yet, 65 years later, so mahy of us forget the contributions of the Greatest Generation.
My husband's grandfather, Addison Hogue Thomson, was one such a man. He was the kindest, gentlest man that it has ever been my privilege to know. He was slow to anger and quick to forgive. He loved his country - very much. When she called, Addison answered. He bravely served his country as a medic for the duration of the war. He would only talk occassionally about his experiences. He never thought of himself as a hero, and yet, believe me when I tell you that he was one.
Addison Thomson was one of six brothers, five of whom fought for their country as members of the Greatest Generation. His brother David was simply too young to serve. He was at D-day plus one. I can remember him telling me of his experiences there. The first thing he learned when he hit the beach with the 101st was to cover the Red Cross on his helmet with mud as the Germans used it for crosshairs so that the wounded could not be tended. He had horrible memories of the war and hated Patton with an intensity that it was difficult to believe considering his otherwise peaceful demeanor.
Addison Thomson epitomises the greatest generation. They were ordinary men and women who rose up to the challenges presented and accomplished extraordinary things, then quietly went back to lead their lives, never wanting or needing gratitude or accolades. Yet today, of all days, those men deserve both the accolades they are given and the undying gratitude of free men and women everywhere. I hope we never forget their contributions and their sacrifices. I hope that a new generation will look to those that have come before and aspire to be something more, to do something more, not just for ourselves, but for the betterment of the world.
65 years ago today, they faced insurmountable odds and an unlikely outcome, and they faced it as young men and women - most probably in their 20's or younger. They faced this challenge the way they faced all the other hardships in their lives - head on- with hard work, dedication, devotion and bravery. Their victory in the fielf of battle made our country synonomous with Freedom on the one hand and overwhelming military might on the other. Their sacrifices liberated an entire continent of oppressed people and saved a people from total annihilation. They were liberators.
Winston Churchill once said ( of the Battle of Briton but can certainly be said of Normandy) "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. " And yet, 65 years later, so mahy of us forget the contributions of the Greatest Generation.
My husband's grandfather, Addison Hogue Thomson, was one such a man. He was the kindest, gentlest man that it has ever been my privilege to know. He was slow to anger and quick to forgive. He loved his country - very much. When she called, Addison answered. He bravely served his country as a medic for the duration of the war. He would only talk occassionally about his experiences. He never thought of himself as a hero, and yet, believe me when I tell you that he was one.
Addison Thomson was one of six brothers, five of whom fought for their country as members of the Greatest Generation. His brother David was simply too young to serve. He was at D-day plus one. I can remember him telling me of his experiences there. The first thing he learned when he hit the beach with the 101st was to cover the Red Cross on his helmet with mud as the Germans used it for crosshairs so that the wounded could not be tended. He had horrible memories of the war and hated Patton with an intensity that it was difficult to believe considering his otherwise peaceful demeanor.
Addison Thomson epitomises the greatest generation. They were ordinary men and women who rose up to the challenges presented and accomplished extraordinary things, then quietly went back to lead their lives, never wanting or needing gratitude or accolades. Yet today, of all days, those men deserve both the accolades they are given and the undying gratitude of free men and women everywhere. I hope we never forget their contributions and their sacrifices. I hope that a new generation will look to those that have come before and aspire to be something more, to do something more, not just for ourselves, but for the betterment of the world.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Honoring Memorial Day
Ignorance is bliss, sometimes that really is the truth. I was reading the New York Times online today, ( I know, I can already hear your heads collectively shaking...) and I came across a piece in the OpEd section on how the readers of the Times define America. Here, on the cusp of one of our most important American holidays, I was saddened by what I saw. I would like to say that I was shocked, but in actuality I wasn't.
The Times commentary was full of those who quite frankly hate their own country. They defined it as the land of the brainless and home of the obese. They talked about our collective delusion that we are the worlds lone Super Power. Some discussed how, in their opinion, our country enforces our morality at the end of a gun. It makes me so sorrowful to think that this is the way the majority views their country. Fortunately, I then remembered that I was reading the Times and that, in and of itself, was sure to tip the results in one direction, predominantly supporting one point of view.
Thankfully though, in the United States of America, there are many points of view. This is mine.
Let's start with Memorial Day before I address the definition of the United States of America. What does Memorial Day mean to you? Why do we honor this day and what exactly are we remembering? In what manner do we choose to celebrate?
For me, Memorial Day is a day of reflection and gratitude. It is a day to pause from our daily lives and reflect on those things that most of us take for granted every day. I have been fortunate in my life to know real heroes – the men and women of the United States military. Some of these men and women have laid down their lives – paid the ultimate price of freedom – because they love their country and all the ideals she represents. I know that Freedom isn't free. These individuals and their families have paid the price – and continue to pay the price. Today I have a friend – actually many – who is missing her husband as he defends this country. Today I have a friend that is being sent into harms way in spite of promises by our politicians to end this war. Today, I have a friend who every day mourns the loss of her only son. He gave his life so that all of us could live happy and free. Scott Vincent, and the hundreds of thousands just like him, are eternally my heroes. To them I owe the deepest debt of gratitude – one that can never be repaid. The very least that I can do for them is to take this day and remember, and to teach my children to do the same.
It is my honor to be a citizen of the greatest country this world has ever known. I was lucky to be born an American, and I will never be anything but proud of my country, I will never feel anything but the deepest love for her and all she represents. Does that mean that I do homage to the land of the brain dead and home of the obese? No. This is how I see my country:
In my normal day as an American citizen I have more freedom than most of the world will ever know. That isn't wishful thinking – it's the truth. I can go where I want to go.I can use any mode of travel that I see fit with minimal interference in my life relative to the rest of the world. I can express my opinions in almost any manner that I see fit. I can wear what I want without fear of reprisals – or worse. I don't need a male relative to escort me out of the house. I have no fear of dying in a soccer stadium because of my sex. I can go to any religious establishment and worship as I chose. Or not. Simply put, I am an American and because of that fact, I do what most of the world can only dream about. I have a voice and I have a choice.
To me, my country is about hope, choice, dreams, accomplishment and above all Freedom. The greatest compliment someone can give me is to say that I am an Idealist. It is then that I KNOW I am an American because, in the words of Woodrow Wilson, “America is the only idealistic nation in the world.” She seeks to do the right and criticizes herself for anything less than perfection. Yes, I Love my country and today, I celebrate and honor all those who paid the price for me to live in the greatest country in the world.
The Times commentary was full of those who quite frankly hate their own country. They defined it as the land of the brainless and home of the obese. They talked about our collective delusion that we are the worlds lone Super Power. Some discussed how, in their opinion, our country enforces our morality at the end of a gun. It makes me so sorrowful to think that this is the way the majority views their country. Fortunately, I then remembered that I was reading the Times and that, in and of itself, was sure to tip the results in one direction, predominantly supporting one point of view.
Thankfully though, in the United States of America, there are many points of view. This is mine.
Let's start with Memorial Day before I address the definition of the United States of America. What does Memorial Day mean to you? Why do we honor this day and what exactly are we remembering? In what manner do we choose to celebrate?
For me, Memorial Day is a day of reflection and gratitude. It is a day to pause from our daily lives and reflect on those things that most of us take for granted every day. I have been fortunate in my life to know real heroes – the men and women of the United States military. Some of these men and women have laid down their lives – paid the ultimate price of freedom – because they love their country and all the ideals she represents. I know that Freedom isn't free. These individuals and their families have paid the price – and continue to pay the price. Today I have a friend – actually many – who is missing her husband as he defends this country. Today I have a friend that is being sent into harms way in spite of promises by our politicians to end this war. Today, I have a friend who every day mourns the loss of her only son. He gave his life so that all of us could live happy and free. Scott Vincent, and the hundreds of thousands just like him, are eternally my heroes. To them I owe the deepest debt of gratitude – one that can never be repaid. The very least that I can do for them is to take this day and remember, and to teach my children to do the same.
It is my honor to be a citizen of the greatest country this world has ever known. I was lucky to be born an American, and I will never be anything but proud of my country, I will never feel anything but the deepest love for her and all she represents. Does that mean that I do homage to the land of the brain dead and home of the obese? No. This is how I see my country:
In my normal day as an American citizen I have more freedom than most of the world will ever know. That isn't wishful thinking – it's the truth. I can go where I want to go.I can use any mode of travel that I see fit with minimal interference in my life relative to the rest of the world. I can express my opinions in almost any manner that I see fit. I can wear what I want without fear of reprisals – or worse. I don't need a male relative to escort me out of the house. I have no fear of dying in a soccer stadium because of my sex. I can go to any religious establishment and worship as I chose. Or not. Simply put, I am an American and because of that fact, I do what most of the world can only dream about. I have a voice and I have a choice.
To me, my country is about hope, choice, dreams, accomplishment and above all Freedom. The greatest compliment someone can give me is to say that I am an Idealist. It is then that I KNOW I am an American because, in the words of Woodrow Wilson, “America is the only idealistic nation in the world.” She seeks to do the right and criticizes herself for anything less than perfection. Yes, I Love my country and today, I celebrate and honor all those who paid the price for me to live in the greatest country in the world.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Don't We Have More Important Things to Worry About?
I hate telemarketers, don't you? Even worse, I dislike those who would impose their point of view and morality on others. Yesterday it was my misfortune to be on the recieving end of both of these.
I got a call, and I forget the name of the organization, but basically they wanted to know how angry I am about the fact that abortion is legal. Really? You really want to know? Here it is in a nutshell, but I can promise you that people who ask that sort of qustion aren't going to like my answer.
I am a mother. I am personally pro-life. That said, I realize that others may have a different moral belief than mine. Some do not believe that life begins at conception but rather that conception is just a possibility for life. My husband is one such a person. Many people have miscarriages and intervening events that stop the process of conception from resulting in the birth of a live child. So the idea of conception being a "possibility for life" is something that many agree with.
Whatever my own personal beliefs are, it isn't for me to tell my husband or anyone else that their differing beliefs are wrong. Isn't that part of what makes our country great - the tolerance for a multitude of differing beliefs? Since when did we become a society of morality police?
There are things about the abortion argument that I am passionate about - partial birth abortion is one example. Even so though, there are much more important issues facing our country. Our economic system is hanging on by a thread, the dollar is being devalued as we print more and more money for this bailout and the tax burden that will be passed on to my children and grandchildren because of it is almost unbelievable. We are currently facing a potential health pandemic and all some people care about it abortion.
Some people just don't get it.
I got a call, and I forget the name of the organization, but basically they wanted to know how angry I am about the fact that abortion is legal. Really? You really want to know? Here it is in a nutshell, but I can promise you that people who ask that sort of qustion aren't going to like my answer.
I am a mother. I am personally pro-life. That said, I realize that others may have a different moral belief than mine. Some do not believe that life begins at conception but rather that conception is just a possibility for life. My husband is one such a person. Many people have miscarriages and intervening events that stop the process of conception from resulting in the birth of a live child. So the idea of conception being a "possibility for life" is something that many agree with.
Whatever my own personal beliefs are, it isn't for me to tell my husband or anyone else that their differing beliefs are wrong. Isn't that part of what makes our country great - the tolerance for a multitude of differing beliefs? Since when did we become a society of morality police?
There are things about the abortion argument that I am passionate about - partial birth abortion is one example. Even so though, there are much more important issues facing our country. Our economic system is hanging on by a thread, the dollar is being devalued as we print more and more money for this bailout and the tax burden that will be passed on to my children and grandchildren because of it is almost unbelievable. We are currently facing a potential health pandemic and all some people care about it abortion.
Some people just don't get it.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
"Contractually Obligated"??
I have stopped watching the news and now I am relegated to getting my news soley from the Internet. The reason for this change in behavior is that everytime I watch the news, I only find myself getting angrier and angrier. Sadly this is also the case when I read the news, but one can not put one's head in the sand.
Today, I came across this headline: "Insurance Giant AIG to Pay $165 Million in Bonuses". Does this make anyone else see red??? I mean, here AIG is, raking in $170 BILLION in tax payer dollars and they are using one tenth of OUR money to pay the executives who made the disasterous decisions leading their company to the brink of disaster BONUSES???
AIG says that they are "contractually obligated" to pay these bonuses. Failing to do so would have resulted in lawsuits, which is probably true. However, had the government allowed AIG to go into chapter 11 prior to the bailout, all bets would have been off. AIG would have had the flexibility to renegotiate their contractual obligations based on the reality of their finanacial situation. Instead, hundreds of employees who made poor choices are getting the benefit of our hard earned dollars.
Am I the only one who is angry here?
Today, I came across this headline: "Insurance Giant AIG to Pay $165 Million in Bonuses". Does this make anyone else see red??? I mean, here AIG is, raking in $170 BILLION in tax payer dollars and they are using one tenth of OUR money to pay the executives who made the disasterous decisions leading their company to the brink of disaster BONUSES???
AIG says that they are "contractually obligated" to pay these bonuses. Failing to do so would have resulted in lawsuits, which is probably true. However, had the government allowed AIG to go into chapter 11 prior to the bailout, all bets would have been off. AIG would have had the flexibility to renegotiate their contractual obligations based on the reality of their finanacial situation. Instead, hundreds of employees who made poor choices are getting the benefit of our hard earned dollars.
Am I the only one who is angry here?
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Casey Anthony is Indicative of Everything that is Wrong with our Society
If you have been anywhere near a cable news channel in the past year, you have heard the sad case of Caylee Marie Anthony. She was a little girl who lived in Central Florida with her sad excuse for a mother, Casey Anthony.
How can it be that two grandparents, who live at least part time with their grandchild, don't see said grandchild for over a month and wait that long to raise the red flag? Hello? Doesn't anyone else have a problem with this? Then you have the missing gas cans from their garage, the smell of "something dead" in the car, and you still have the incredibel audacity to believe your daughter who has lied to you about everything else. Some people are truly brain dead.
The minute I saw Casey Anthony pictured partying it up while her daughter was supposedly missing, I knew that she killed her child. THere is not a mother on the planet who would simply accept her child being missing and behave in this manner. Not unless she already knew where her child was.
Casey Anthoney gives young mothers everywhere a bad name. The fact is, she just couldn't handle the responsibility of being a mother. She wanted to be young and have fun, so she simply removed the problem - her beautiful almost three year old daughter - from her life. How truly sick.
A mother is the person who is supposed to love you more than anyone else on the planet. Now I know that many fall below this measurement but few sink to the depths of Casey Anthony's depravity.
They found the remains of Caylee Marie with duct tape around her little mouth. Her mother premeditated the act and killed her own child in cold blood. Who does that? Then, there are the pictures of the wild partying....
In our country, the fact that Casey Anthony is good looking will be to her favor. People want to believe that those who are pretty on the outside are also pretty on the iside. In reality though, often beauty hides a heinous beast underneath. That could not be more true in this particular case.
In papers across the country it is being suggested that a finger print on the duct tape will seal Casey Anthony's fate. All I can say to that is I hope so because, in my opinion, the death penalty is just too good for her.
How can it be that two grandparents, who live at least part time with their grandchild, don't see said grandchild for over a month and wait that long to raise the red flag? Hello? Doesn't anyone else have a problem with this? Then you have the missing gas cans from their garage, the smell of "something dead" in the car, and you still have the incredibel audacity to believe your daughter who has lied to you about everything else. Some people are truly brain dead.
The minute I saw Casey Anthony pictured partying it up while her daughter was supposedly missing, I knew that she killed her child. THere is not a mother on the planet who would simply accept her child being missing and behave in this manner. Not unless she already knew where her child was.
Casey Anthoney gives young mothers everywhere a bad name. The fact is, she just couldn't handle the responsibility of being a mother. She wanted to be young and have fun, so she simply removed the problem - her beautiful almost three year old daughter - from her life. How truly sick.
A mother is the person who is supposed to love you more than anyone else on the planet. Now I know that many fall below this measurement but few sink to the depths of Casey Anthony's depravity.
They found the remains of Caylee Marie with duct tape around her little mouth. Her mother premeditated the act and killed her own child in cold blood. Who does that? Then, there are the pictures of the wild partying....
In our country, the fact that Casey Anthony is good looking will be to her favor. People want to believe that those who are pretty on the outside are also pretty on the iside. In reality though, often beauty hides a heinous beast underneath. That could not be more true in this particular case.
In papers across the country it is being suggested that a finger print on the duct tape will seal Casey Anthony's fate. All I can say to that is I hope so because, in my opinion, the death penalty is just too good for her.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Spending Into Oblivion - Isn't Anyone Paying Attention?
Some months ago I was sitting in front of the television late one night when the foundations of my entire world were shaken beneath my feet. I watched as the President of the United States told all of us that our economy - the economy that drives the world - was on the verge of collapse. Since then I have heard story after story about the Great Depression part two. That should be enough to wake us up, shouldn't it America?
Honestly though, since then, what have we done? Have we tightened up our belts looking for ways to really improve our country or our economy? No. We have relied on politicians - some of the very people who got us in this damn mess in the first place - to discern a way out of this economic imbroglio. Am I the only one that has a problem with this course of action??
Instead of pulling ourselves up by the bootstraps, what do we do? Well, we borrow ourselves into oblivion on the belief that more money in the economy is going to save us - it won't. It will just make digging ourselves out of this hole all that much harder. We are borrowing our tomorrows to pay for today and so many as just marching on in quiet oblivion. How is this possible in my country?
So we just passed a 750+BILLION bailout. Great. Where is that money coming from? We are going to save the housing industry, the car makers, the airlines, and anyone else asking for a handout. Even the porn industry is trying to get in on the action.
If all of that weren't bad enough, we are now looking at ANOTHER $410 Billion in spending. That's an 8% increase over last year people. Just do the simple math - you are making less, your economy is on the verge of collapse but the admission of it's own leaders, and we are spending 8% more than last year??? The comment from one of my favorite movies comes to mind: " Go sell crazy somewhere else. We're full up here!" Part of said $410 BIllion bill is a program for a measly $500,000 for what is described as a Senate "pilot program" that will defray the cost of mass mail postcards to households notifying them of a nearby town meeting to be attended by any senator. Hello? Has anyone ever heard of a newspaper? How about the interent, it's free?
We are all in big trouble here people..... Buckle up, because it's going to be a very bumpy ride.
Honestly though, since then, what have we done? Have we tightened up our belts looking for ways to really improve our country or our economy? No. We have relied on politicians - some of the very people who got us in this damn mess in the first place - to discern a way out of this economic imbroglio. Am I the only one that has a problem with this course of action??
Instead of pulling ourselves up by the bootstraps, what do we do? Well, we borrow ourselves into oblivion on the belief that more money in the economy is going to save us - it won't. It will just make digging ourselves out of this hole all that much harder. We are borrowing our tomorrows to pay for today and so many as just marching on in quiet oblivion. How is this possible in my country?
So we just passed a 750+BILLION bailout. Great. Where is that money coming from? We are going to save the housing industry, the car makers, the airlines, and anyone else asking for a handout. Even the porn industry is trying to get in on the action.
If all of that weren't bad enough, we are now looking at ANOTHER $410 Billion in spending. That's an 8% increase over last year people. Just do the simple math - you are making less, your economy is on the verge of collapse but the admission of it's own leaders, and we are spending 8% more than last year??? The comment from one of my favorite movies comes to mind: " Go sell crazy somewhere else. We're full up here!" Part of said $410 BIllion bill is a program for a measly $500,000 for what is described as a Senate "pilot program" that will defray the cost of mass mail postcards to households notifying them of a nearby town meeting to be attended by any senator. Hello? Has anyone ever heard of a newspaper? How about the interent, it's free?
We are all in big trouble here people..... Buckle up, because it's going to be a very bumpy ride.
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