It makes me very sad to see the protests around this country regarding the building of mosques. I understand that 9/11 was a great tragedy for this nation. I know how many lives were lost, and I understand that mourning needs to occur. Still, I wish it could be different.
The vast majority of people who practice Islam are not terrorists. Islam is a religion that preaches peace, however, there is a sect of Muslims who believe in terrorism. It is really not unlike other religions or groups. There are extremists everywhere. There are people who call themselves Christians, yet believe it is their duty to kill doctors who perform abortions. It just seems that many Americans can't see that not everyone who wants to build a mosque is an extremist who will bring terrorism to our nation.
I think these protests send such a bad message to the rest of the world. We are supposed to be the land of tolerance - a place that was founded on the notion of freedom of religion. Isn't that why the first settlers from Europe came here?
Perhaps a location so near to Ground Zero may not be the best place for a mosque or a Muslim Cultural Center. Maybe it is too soon. Still, I believe that we need to remember the principals that are the foundation of this great nation. We need to continue to exercise those freedoms that we hold so dear and allow these mosques to be built around the country. Perhaps then, and only then, the true healing of this nation can occur.
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Quote of the Day
And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from
the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: Know that
America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a
future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more...Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends -- hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States of America
Monday, November 03, 2008
One More Day
One More Day. One final day, and it will be over. I am talking about the 2008 elections. In a mere 24ish hours, we will know who will be our new president for the next 4 years. Boy, will I be glad when it is over.
I know this election will be historic. No matter who wins, it will be a first for this country. I know this election is important. Every vote counts as we come down to the wire. I will do my duty and vote tomorrow morning. I will vote for the man I believe will steer this country in the right direction for the next 4 years, and I will feel good about it.
I will be so happy to have the political commercials behind us. I will be glad to have another topics of conversation beside the elections. I will be so happy to not have to talk about the candidates. I will be glad that my friends and family who are voting for the other party will have no more to say about the process anymore. I will be glad when things are normal again.
I know this election will be historic. No matter who wins, it will be a first for this country. I know this election is important. Every vote counts as we come down to the wire. I will do my duty and vote tomorrow morning. I will vote for the man I believe will steer this country in the right direction for the next 4 years, and I will feel good about it.
I will be so happy to have the political commercials behind us. I will be glad to have another topics of conversation beside the elections. I will be so happy to not have to talk about the candidates. I will be glad that my friends and family who are voting for the other party will have no more to say about the process anymore. I will be glad when things are normal again.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Politics on Monday
Here is an e-mail I received today which I found to be interesting:
I'm a little confused. Let's see if I have this straight....
If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're "different."
Grow up in Alaska eating moose burgers, -- a quintessential American story.
If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.
Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you're a maverick.
Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.
Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.
If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.
If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 10,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive.
If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.
If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married heiress Cindy the next month, you're a Christian.
If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.
If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're very responsible.
If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's.
If your husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA , your family is extremely admirable.
OK, much clearer now.
I'm a little confused. Let's see if I have this straight....
If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're "different."
Grow up in Alaska eating moose burgers, -- a quintessential American story.
If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.
Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you're a maverick.
Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.
Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.
If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.
If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 10,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive.
If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.
If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married heiress Cindy the next month, you're a Christian.
If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.
If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're very responsible.
If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's.
If your husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA , your family is extremely admirable.
OK, much clearer now.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Sarah Palin scares the s&^t out of me
The more I hear and read about Sarah Palin, the more she scares me.
There is just about nothing I agree with her about. She is anti-abortion rights. I firmly believe that the choice of terminating a pregnancy or not lies with the parents of child, not the government. She is pro creationism. I do not believe that religious teachings have any part in schools other than history classes. She opposes comprehensive sex education classes in schools. I believe that abstinence should be the main message in sex-ed classes, but birth control also needs to be a topic of the conversation. She opposes gay marriage or any sort of partnership plan for homosexual couples. I think that any two people who want to commit themselves in a loving relationship should be allow to do so, whether they are a man and a woman, or two men or two women. I think they should all have equal rights and it is really not the business of the government.
I also think she has problems with her memory. She was for "the bridge to nowhere" before she opposed it.
It concerns me that the American people are so taken by this woman. It seems they just love her because she is gutsy and tells it like it is. I think she has very little qualifications for the job of VP (she wasn't sure what the VP did all day a few months ago). It also troubles me that she has such a young child. I know, this may set feminism back many years, but I feel that she can't devote time to the position of Vice President when she has a newborn baby with Down's Syndrome. How can you go around the world and be available for your country 24/7 with an infant. I don't think it is fair to either us or her child.
I don't know, maybe I was a 50s housewife before I became a flower child.
There is just about nothing I agree with her about. She is anti-abortion rights. I firmly believe that the choice of terminating a pregnancy or not lies with the parents of child, not the government. She is pro creationism. I do not believe that religious teachings have any part in schools other than history classes. She opposes comprehensive sex education classes in schools. I believe that abstinence should be the main message in sex-ed classes, but birth control also needs to be a topic of the conversation. She opposes gay marriage or any sort of partnership plan for homosexual couples. I think that any two people who want to commit themselves in a loving relationship should be allow to do so, whether they are a man and a woman, or two men or two women. I think they should all have equal rights and it is really not the business of the government.
I also think she has problems with her memory. She was for "the bridge to nowhere" before she opposed it.
It concerns me that the American people are so taken by this woman. It seems they just love her because she is gutsy and tells it like it is. I think she has very little qualifications for the job of VP (she wasn't sure what the VP did all day a few months ago). It also troubles me that she has such a young child. I know, this may set feminism back many years, but I feel that she can't devote time to the position of Vice President when she has a newborn baby with Down's Syndrome. How can you go around the world and be available for your country 24/7 with an infant. I don't think it is fair to either us or her child.
I don't know, maybe I was a 50s housewife before I became a flower child.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!
I have probably blogged about this topic before, but I think it bears repeating.
September 1 to January 1 is my absolute favorite time of the year. I have always loved the fall. To me, it seems that all the good stuff happens this time of the year. College football starts (Go Dawgs - #1 this year!), hockey begins in October (the Canes have got to have a better season this year), Bill's birthday is in September, my birthday is in October, the leaves change and fall, the temperatures get cooler, and all the best holidays happen - Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. What's not to love?
Of course, there is a downside. The Junior League also starts. Last night was our first general membership meeting of the year. I had to stand for about 1 1/2 hours to listen to the all the new information for the year. I really began to wonder why I was there and not with my friends at The Sauce. I really think I will like my placement this year - Extra Hands - and working on small volunteer projects that are typically done in one day. I like the idea of being part of the community and helping people in need. I just wish there was not so much bureaucracy and cash outlay involved. Oh well, I am stuck for at least one more year.
This fall is also special for the election of our new President. Must more on that another time...
September 1 to January 1 is my absolute favorite time of the year. I have always loved the fall. To me, it seems that all the good stuff happens this time of the year. College football starts (Go Dawgs - #1 this year!), hockey begins in October (the Canes have got to have a better season this year), Bill's birthday is in September, my birthday is in October, the leaves change and fall, the temperatures get cooler, and all the best holidays happen - Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. What's not to love?
Of course, there is a downside. The Junior League also starts. Last night was our first general membership meeting of the year. I had to stand for about 1 1/2 hours to listen to the all the new information for the year. I really began to wonder why I was there and not with my friends at The Sauce. I really think I will like my placement this year - Extra Hands - and working on small volunteer projects that are typically done in one day. I like the idea of being part of the community and helping people in need. I just wish there was not so much bureaucracy and cash outlay involved. Oh well, I am stuck for at least one more year.
This fall is also special for the election of our new President. Must more on that another time...
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Happy Super Fat Tuesday!
If you are lucky enough to be in a state holding their primary today, please go out to vote!! I wish I were voting today, but, alas, my state's primary is not until May. I feel like the candidates will be decided before I even get a chance vote my opinion. I will be watching coverage tonight when I get home to see how things are going. I am quite interested to see who will be the party front runners come tomorrow morning.
If you are a Catholic, get out there and enjoy all of your bad habits. Today is Mardi Gras which means tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. I will never forget the first time my in-laws came over after Ash Wednesday services. I looked at my father-in-law and had a moment of panic. I thought he had fallen and bruised his forehead - thank goodness it was only the ashes!
If you are a Catholic, get out there and enjoy all of your bad habits. Today is Mardi Gras which means tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. I will never forget the first time my in-laws came over after Ash Wednesday services. I looked at my father-in-law and had a moment of panic. I thought he had fallen and bruised his forehead - thank goodness it was only the ashes!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
And then there were two...
With John Edwards withdrawl from the Democratic Presidential bid yesterday, we Democrats were left with two candidates - a woman and an African American man. One of these two people will make history and become the first of their demographic to be nominated by a major party for the presidency. What a great and wonderful time for American politics!
So, the question is, will Americans vote for someone new or will they go with the white male standard presented by the Republicans? Nine months, five days...
So, the question is, will Americans vote for someone new or will they go with the white male standard presented by the Republicans? Nine months, five days...
Friday, January 25, 2008
It's Hard Out There for a Liberal
Being a Liberal (yes, Dad, I am a Democrat) is pretty tough. A lot of my political beliefs come down to choice. I believe that a woman has the right to choose to have an abortion if she wants it. I believe that homosexual people should be able to choose who they want to marry just as heterosexual people do. I believe that people should have the right to speak their minds and have their opinions heard. The tough part comes in when their opinions differ from mine.
It boils my blood that people think that there should be an amendment against gay marriage. Who do these people think they are to deny any two people who love one another the right to a holy union? I just do not believe that love, in any form, is wrong. The hard part for me is allowing others to be against it without me thinking they are stupid and closed minded. We all have a right to our beliefs, even if they differ from mine. Still, I really hope neither Huckabee nor Romney become the next President of this great country.
It boils my blood that people think that there should be an amendment against gay marriage. Who do these people think they are to deny any two people who love one another the right to a holy union? I just do not believe that love, in any form, is wrong. The hard part for me is allowing others to be against it without me thinking they are stupid and closed minded. We all have a right to our beliefs, even if they differ from mine. Still, I really hope neither Huckabee nor Romney become the next President of this great country.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Our President to Be
My sister-in-law sent me a link to a quiz about the upcoming Presidential election. Just answer 11 questions and rank them in importance, and the results will tell you which candidate agrees with your views. Take the quiz by clicking here.
My results were not a total surprise. My highest match was with Hillary Clinton with a score of 42. She was closely followed by Bill Richardson with a score of 41 (too bad he dropped out of the race yesterday!). Obama was tied with Edwards at 39 points, and Fred Thompson was dead last. Like I said, I am not surprised - I am a Democrat after all. Time to do some more research!
My results were not a total surprise. My highest match was with Hillary Clinton with a score of 42. She was closely followed by Bill Richardson with a score of 41 (too bad he dropped out of the race yesterday!). Obama was tied with Edwards at 39 points, and Fred Thompson was dead last. Like I said, I am not surprised - I am a Democrat after all. Time to do some more research!
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Illegal Aliens
The local paper had a front page story about the outgoing system chief for the state's community colleges says that illegal aliens should be let in to the schools. His reasoning is that with the huge amount of illegal immigrants in this area, we need them to be educated and able to take more demanding jobs. It would be a strain to have to support them if they were not educated.
I see his point, but if these people are smart enough to attend college, can't they become American citizens? I don't understand why our country gives so much to people who will not stand up and become our citizens. Why should we support you if you are not here by legal means? Why should a freeloader get the same benefits are a citizen? If my taxes go to support the community colleges, I want to support people who are citizens who will be giving back to this country over time. It may not be politically correct, but it is how I feel.
I see his point, but if these people are smart enough to attend college, can't they become American citizens? I don't understand why our country gives so much to people who will not stand up and become our citizens. Why should we support you if you are not here by legal means? Why should a freeloader get the same benefits are a citizen? If my taxes go to support the community colleges, I want to support people who are citizens who will be giving back to this country over time. It may not be politically correct, but it is how I feel.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Fathers and Daughters and Politics
I guess there are things that fathers like to believe about their daughters, and mine is no different. Fathers like to believe that their daughters are virgins until they get married (not quite), never done drugs (that's true), and follow in their political footsteps (no way).
Somehow, my father always seems shocked to find out that I am a registered Democrat. I guess I grew up in a household of the GOP, but much like religion, we never really discussed it. I'm not surprised by my own democratic leanings - I have pretty much sided with them since college. It should be of no surprise that I am starting to get very interested in the 2008 elections.
I have no idea who our Democratic candidate will be. Will Hillary make history for all women? Will Barack become the first African American nominee? Will John continue to have great hair? At this point, I don't know. Recent years seem to indicated that the candidate leading at this point in the race (Hillary) is usually not the person to win the nomination. Candidates are one screaming "Yeah!" from losing all momentum. Whoever it will be, I'm sure I will be voting Democrat in November '08. With the mess left behind by Bush, Dad may even vote with me.
Somehow, my father always seems shocked to find out that I am a registered Democrat. I guess I grew up in a household of the GOP, but much like religion, we never really discussed it. I'm not surprised by my own democratic leanings - I have pretty much sided with them since college. It should be of no surprise that I am starting to get very interested in the 2008 elections.
I have no idea who our Democratic candidate will be. Will Hillary make history for all women? Will Barack become the first African American nominee? Will John continue to have great hair? At this point, I don't know. Recent years seem to indicated that the candidate leading at this point in the race (Hillary) is usually not the person to win the nomination. Candidates are one screaming "Yeah!" from losing all momentum. Whoever it will be, I'm sure I will be voting Democrat in November '08. With the mess left behind by Bush, Dad may even vote with me.
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