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I keep hearing liberals and Democrats say that John McCain's choice of Alaska governor Sarah Palin is "surprising," and "interesting." I've heard them say, "That won't go over with the conservatives..." and "The conservatives won't like that!"
Ummm...hello?
Let's get something straight, my friends. Conservative does not mean sexist, oppressive, or cultural throwbacks. If these opinions are hinting that conservatives do not want a woman in one of the highest offices in the world, the opinion holders are ill-informed and misguided.
The fact is, Governor Palin finally, finally gives conservatives something to be excited about. Up to now, we've mostly been resigned to voting for John McCain because we are appalled by the idea of Barack Obama being president. Many conservatives were actually thinking about not voting at all.
Sarah Palin changes all that.
She is pro-life, and she put her money where her mouth is when her own sonograms showed that her son would be born with Down Syndrome. Many people think that's a sufficient reason for an abortion, but Gov. Palin and her husband didn't think so.
She is a member of Feminists for Life, an activist group that protects the rights of women and their children.
She opposes same-sex marriage, but extended domestic partner benefits to all state employees in Alaska.
She is a lifetime member of the NRA, and supports the 2nd Ammendment rights of American citizens, as well as gun safety training for youth.
Her husband is a blue-collar worker (a commerical fisherman), and her son is in the Army, getting ready to be shipped to Iraq. They have 5 children in all.
She sold the governor's jet after taking office, because she said there was no need to make the tax payers pay for it. As mayor and governor, she tightened the budget, halted wasteful government projects, and rooted out corruption in both parties--she sure didn't spare Republicans.
So, yeah...she's a true conservative, and conservatives are pumped!
But you know what I like? She's a lot like me and most of the people I know. She was on the PTA, ran for city council, became mayor and them defeated her own party's incumbent to become governor. She's a working mom, married to a hard-working dad, just trying to take care of her kids and do her part to make their world a better place. That's what normal people are like.
Unlike some people who attended private schools in Hawaii...that's nothing like anyone I ever met. Governor Palin didn't come from privilege, and she makes me believe the American myth that anyone can become President. That was an ideal I'd left behind a long time ago...but maybe this one real human being can prove that it's true.
God bless America.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
November Observances
I usually get these in a newsletter, and I do not know what happened to October! But, here are the observances for November.
November 2008 is:
Monthly Observances
American Diabetes Month
Aviation History Month
Celebrate Empty Nester Month
Diabetic Eye Disease Month
Epilepsy Awareness Month
Family Stories Month
Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month
Lung Cancer Awareness Month
MADD's Tie One On For Safety Holiday Campaign
Military Family Appreciation Month
National Adoption Month
National AIDS Awareness Month
National Alzheimer's disease Month
National American Indian Heritage Month
National COPD Awareness Month
National Family Caregivers Month
National Georgia Pecan Month
National Home Care National Hospice Month
National Impotency Month
National Inspirational Role Models Month
National Life Writing Month
National Marrow Awareness Month
National Novel Writing Month
National Peanut Butter Lovers Month
National Pet Cancer Awareness Month
National Pomegranate Month
National Roasting Month
National Scholarship Month
Prematurity Awareness Month
Vegan Month
Weekly Observances
National Patient Accessibility Week: 1-7
World Communication Week: 1-7
National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week: 2-8
National Long-term Care Awareness Week: 2-8
Pursuit of Happiness Week: 8-14
National Hunger & Homeless Awareness Week: 9-15
Green Ribbon Awareness Week: 13-19
Childrens' Book Week: 13-19
American Education Week: 16-22
National Geography Awareness Week: 16-22
National Farm-City Week: 20-27
Tellabration! Storytelling for Grownups Week: 20-23
National Family Week: 23-29
National Game & Puzzle Week: 23-29
National Bible Week: 23-30
Better Conversation Week: 24-30
Travelers with Disabilities Week: 30-12/6
Daily Observances
All Saints' Day: 1
National Authors' Day: 1
Sadie Hawkins Day: 1
National Family Literacy Day: 1
Daylight Saving Time ends: 2
Digital Scrapbooking Day: 3
Sandwich Day: 3
Election Day: 4
Guinness World Record Day: 6
National Men Make Dinner Day: 6
International Tongue Twister Day: 8
National Parents As Teachers Day: 8
Kristallnacht: 9-10
National Child Safety Council: 9
Area Code Day: 10
Gingerbread House Day: 10
Marine Corp Birthday: 10
Death/Duty Day: 11
Veterans Day: 11
National Young Readers Day: 11
Thanksgiving Day ( Canada ): 13
World Kindness Day: 13
National American Teddy Bear Day: 14
National Donor Sabbath Days: 14-16
World Diabetes Day: 14
America Recycles Day: 15
I Love to Write Day: 15
International Day for Tolerance: 16
Transgender Day of Remembrance: 16
World Day of Remembrance for RoadTraffic Victims: 16
Homemade Bread Day: 17Mickey Mouse Day: 18
National Educational Support Professionals Day: 19
African Industrialization Day: 20
Great American Smokeout: 20
Universal Children's Day: 20
World Hello Day: 21
World Television Day: 21
Humane Society Anniversary Day: 22
International Aura Awareness Day: 22
National Adoption Day: 22
National Family Volunteer Day: 22
National Survivors of Suicide Day: 22
International Day For the Elimination of Violence Against Women Day: 25
Thanksgiving Day (US): 27
Black Friday: 28
Buy Nothing Day: 28
So...what exactly do we do on Area Code Day?
November 2008 is:
Monthly Observances
American Diabetes Month
Aviation History Month
Celebrate Empty Nester Month
Diabetic Eye Disease Month
Epilepsy Awareness Month
Family Stories Month
Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month
Lung Cancer Awareness Month
MADD's Tie One On For Safety Holiday Campaign
Military Family Appreciation Month
National Adoption Month
National AIDS Awareness Month
National Alzheimer's disease Month
National American Indian Heritage Month
National COPD Awareness Month
National Family Caregivers Month
National Georgia Pecan Month
National Home Care National Hospice Month
National Impotency Month
National Inspirational Role Models Month
National Life Writing Month
National Marrow Awareness Month
National Novel Writing Month
National Peanut Butter Lovers Month
National Pet Cancer Awareness Month
National Pomegranate Month
National Roasting Month
National Scholarship Month
Prematurity Awareness Month
Vegan Month
Weekly Observances
National Patient Accessibility Week: 1-7
World Communication Week: 1-7
National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week: 2-8
National Long-term Care Awareness Week: 2-8
Pursuit of Happiness Week: 8-14
National Hunger & Homeless Awareness Week: 9-15
Green Ribbon Awareness Week: 13-19
Childrens' Book Week: 13-19
American Education Week: 16-22
National Geography Awareness Week: 16-22
National Farm-City Week: 20-27
Tellabration! Storytelling for Grownups Week: 20-23
National Family Week: 23-29
National Game & Puzzle Week: 23-29
National Bible Week: 23-30
Better Conversation Week: 24-30
Travelers with Disabilities Week: 30-12/6
Daily Observances
All Saints' Day: 1
National Authors' Day: 1
Sadie Hawkins Day: 1
National Family Literacy Day: 1
Daylight Saving Time ends: 2
Digital Scrapbooking Day: 3
Sandwich Day: 3
Election Day: 4
Guinness World Record Day: 6
National Men Make Dinner Day: 6
International Tongue Twister Day: 8
National Parents As Teachers Day: 8
Kristallnacht: 9-10
National Child Safety Council: 9
Area Code Day: 10
Gingerbread House Day: 10
Marine Corp Birthday: 10
Death/Duty Day: 11
Veterans Day: 11
National Young Readers Day: 11
Thanksgiving Day ( Canada ): 13
World Kindness Day: 13
National American Teddy Bear Day: 14
National Donor Sabbath Days: 14-16
World Diabetes Day: 14
America Recycles Day: 15
I Love to Write Day: 15
International Day for Tolerance: 16
Transgender Day of Remembrance: 16
World Day of Remembrance for RoadTraffic Victims: 16
Homemade Bread Day: 17Mickey Mouse Day: 18
National Educational Support Professionals Day: 19
African Industrialization Day: 20
Great American Smokeout: 20
Universal Children's Day: 20
World Hello Day: 21
World Television Day: 21
Humane Society Anniversary Day: 22
International Aura Awareness Day: 22
National Adoption Day: 22
National Family Volunteer Day: 22
National Survivors of Suicide Day: 22
International Day For the Elimination of Violence Against Women Day: 25
Thanksgiving Day (US): 27
Black Friday: 28
Buy Nothing Day: 28
So...what exactly do we do on Area Code Day?
Thursday, August 28, 2008
...and You, Sir, Are No Martin Luther King, Jr
Today's Wall Street Journal published an editorial by Juan Williams exhorting Obama to stake a stand ("Obama Needs To Take A Stand on Race and Other Issues")
Williams details the ways in which Obama has either contradicted himself or refused to take a clear stance on issues such as racial justice, poverty, education, and unemployment. To quote from Williams:
But how is it possible that Mr. Obama, as he rises to claim the mantle of Dr. King before 75,000 people and a national TV audience of millions here tonight, remains a mystery on the most important civil rights issues of our day?...If Mr. Obama is really to remind the nation of Martin Luther King, he might follow King's example of taking a moral stand.
It's ironic that it's Juan Williams of all people who is criticizing Obama in this way, since Williams is a liberal's liberal and usually saves his criticism for conservatives.
I have studied the writings, sermons, and speeches of MLK for over ten years. I know a lot about what he believed, what he did, and what it cost him. And if Obama thinks he can present himself to the world as the new MLK, he's got another thing coming. He has nothing in common with MLK but skin tone, and since I judge people by the content of their character, that's not enough for me.
Williams details the ways in which Obama has either contradicted himself or refused to take a clear stance on issues such as racial justice, poverty, education, and unemployment. To quote from Williams:
But how is it possible that Mr. Obama, as he rises to claim the mantle of Dr. King before 75,000 people and a national TV audience of millions here tonight, remains a mystery on the most important civil rights issues of our day?...If Mr. Obama is really to remind the nation of Martin Luther King, he might follow King's example of taking a moral stand.
It's ironic that it's Juan Williams of all people who is criticizing Obama in this way, since Williams is a liberal's liberal and usually saves his criticism for conservatives.
I have studied the writings, sermons, and speeches of MLK for over ten years. I know a lot about what he believed, what he did, and what it cost him. And if Obama thinks he can present himself to the world as the new MLK, he's got another thing coming. He has nothing in common with MLK but skin tone, and since I judge people by the content of their character, that's not enough for me.
I've Studied Martin Luther King, Jr....
Today is the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr's I Have a Dream speech. I use this speech in my Speech 101 class, so I get to watch it a few times every semester. If you haven't seen the whole speech, it's worth your 17 minutes.You can see the whole thing here. You can also see the text with the video here.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
And It Gets Bigger
For a long time, abortion opponents have been asking, "If we can kill children in the womb, how long until the line is extended allowing us to kill children outside the womb?"
That question has mostly been blown off, tagged a "slippery slope" argument and dismissed. But it's happening. There are eye witnesses, brave enough to stand against politicians and hospital administrators and the media and tell their stories. One of the most well known of these witnesses is nurse Jill Stanek, who discovered that babies were being born alive, tossed in with the dirty laundry, and left to die. Her story is incrediby moving, as she tells how she held one such baby for 45 minutes until he died. She was later fired by the hospital for her outspokenness.
When it became clear that this was indeed happening, there was a lot of state and federal legislation drafted to protect born children. Obama voted against this legislation three times in Illinois and once in the US Senate. You can see documentation for these votes here. He voted against bills that would forbid a hospital from withholding care (including basic feeding) from a child who was born and living.
Now, I don't happen to think there's that much difference between a baby inside the uterus or outside it, but have we stopped even pretending that we care about children at all? I mean, how can it endanger the mother's health to treat the baby once it's born?
This is no longer a debate about abortion. These are not babies inside the womb, dependent on their mothers. These are babies who are outside, detatched from the mothers, and need feeding, bathing, and maybe some TLC in the NICU. My son was born early, nearly died right then and needed that kind of care. I just don't see myself voting for anyone who thinks it would have been okay just to leave him to die.
The slope is slipperier than you think...
That question has mostly been blown off, tagged a "slippery slope" argument and dismissed. But it's happening. There are eye witnesses, brave enough to stand against politicians and hospital administrators and the media and tell their stories. One of the most well known of these witnesses is nurse Jill Stanek, who discovered that babies were being born alive, tossed in with the dirty laundry, and left to die. Her story is incrediby moving, as she tells how she held one such baby for 45 minutes until he died. She was later fired by the hospital for her outspokenness.
When it became clear that this was indeed happening, there was a lot of state and federal legislation drafted to protect born children. Obama voted against this legislation three times in Illinois and once in the US Senate. You can see documentation for these votes here. He voted against bills that would forbid a hospital from withholding care (including basic feeding) from a child who was born and living.
Now, I don't happen to think there's that much difference between a baby inside the uterus or outside it, but have we stopped even pretending that we care about children at all? I mean, how can it endanger the mother's health to treat the baby once it's born?
This is no longer a debate about abortion. These are not babies inside the womb, dependent on their mothers. These are babies who are outside, detatched from the mothers, and need feeding, bathing, and maybe some TLC in the NICU. My son was born early, nearly died right then and needed that kind of care. I just don't see myself voting for anyone who thinks it would have been okay just to leave him to die.
The slope is slipperier than you think...
Only One Issue...But a Big One
I'm not a one-issue voter, but I will admit that I have a pretty short list of things that will win or lose my vote. On the short list are the full spectrum of family life issues, which includes abortion, euthanasia, health care, capital punishment, taxation, child welfare, education, adoption legislation, employment, and probably some others I'll think of after I publish this post.
This post is only going to focus on one of those issues, but it will have a sequel in a few moments.
Senator Obama stated that if elected, he would immediately sign into law the Freedom of Choice Act. I want to offer two perspectives on that act, one from Pat Buchanan, called A Catholic Case Against Barack, and one from NARAL, the National Abortion Rights Action League, which is a summary of the legislation and their reasons for supporting it.
Pay special attention to the part where the NARAL document refers to a ban on a "safe abortion method." That refers to partial-birth abortion, and you can find that procedure described here, if you have the stomach for it. Also pay attention to the part in the Buchanan article where he seems to be saying that Obama not only supports abortion rights, but the rights of parents, doctors, and nurses to either actively or passively end the lives of children already born. That's going to be part 2...
This post is only going to focus on one of those issues, but it will have a sequel in a few moments.
Senator Obama stated that if elected, he would immediately sign into law the Freedom of Choice Act. I want to offer two perspectives on that act, one from Pat Buchanan, called A Catholic Case Against Barack, and one from NARAL, the National Abortion Rights Action League, which is a summary of the legislation and their reasons for supporting it.
Pay special attention to the part where the NARAL document refers to a ban on a "safe abortion method." That refers to partial-birth abortion, and you can find that procedure described here, if you have the stomach for it. Also pay attention to the part in the Buchanan article where he seems to be saying that Obama not only supports abortion rights, but the rights of parents, doctors, and nurses to either actively or passively end the lives of children already born. That's going to be part 2...
Thursday, August 21, 2008
School House Rock Lyrics!
This is so much fun!
If you go here, you can get all the lyrics to the School House Rock thingies! Remember those? I STILL use those tunes to remember things. I mean, anyone of my generation who actually knows the Preamble to the Constitution (WHICH I DO!), only knows it by singing it to the School House Rock tune.
Kathy
(now going to be singing "We the people...in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, and ensure domestic tranquiliteee--ee-eee...")
If you go here, you can get all the lyrics to the School House Rock thingies! Remember those? I STILL use those tunes to remember things. I mean, anyone of my generation who actually knows the Preamble to the Constitution (WHICH I DO!), only knows it by singing it to the School House Rock tune.
Kathy
(now going to be singing "We the people...in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, and ensure domestic tranquiliteee--ee-eee...")
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Police Publicity Video
Let's see if I can figure out how to stick a video in this post. Anyway, this is an amusing video posted by the Baltimore Police Department (who deal with serious stuff--Baltimore's a hard-core town), showing in a tongue-in-cheek way the things that police deal with every day so we don't have to.
Okay, I can't figure it out. So, you'll have to go see it here.
Even in small towns like ours, the police work hard and deal with some scary stuff. They're the good guys, so be respectful. And if you pray, send up a prayer that they will be safe and not too stressed, and give thanks that some people are willing to do some really difficult things so that the rest of us can be safe.
Kat
Okay, I can't figure it out. So, you'll have to go see it here.
Even in small towns like ours, the police work hard and deal with some scary stuff. They're the good guys, so be respectful. And if you pray, send up a prayer that they will be safe and not too stressed, and give thanks that some people are willing to do some really difficult things so that the rest of us can be safe.
Kat
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Happy Birthday, Pooky!
Okay, I know that Pooky's birthday was really Saturday, August 9. But on that day we were still recovering from the slumber party of the night before, for Sabra's birthday, so I am very sorry I am late with this. Though I am sure you're not surprised. Sabra was actually supposed to be born on Pooky's birthday, but it didn't quite work out that way. That would have been cool, though. Still, it hasn't stopped them from having all their 2nd-born bonding going on...
For those of you who don't know, Pooky is my baby sister, Carole Jean, who turned 35 on Saturday. She's great...she's smart and funny and caring and loyal, and probably the most generous person I know. She'll do anything for anyone, because she's just that wonderful.
I remember when my other two siblings were born, but I don't remember when Pooky was. We're only 2 1/2 years apart, but I do remember the story of how I used to stick my Baby Bean up my shirt so I could feed her like Mom fed Pooky. Good times...
Sweetie, you are my best friend and I love you. I wish you every good thing for the coming year. 35 isn't so bad--I think you'll have a good time.
Love,
Your Big Sister
For those of you who don't know, Pooky is my baby sister, Carole Jean, who turned 35 on Saturday. She's great...she's smart and funny and caring and loyal, and probably the most generous person I know. She'll do anything for anyone, because she's just that wonderful.
I remember when my other two siblings were born, but I don't remember when Pooky was. We're only 2 1/2 years apart, but I do remember the story of how I used to stick my Baby Bean up my shirt so I could feed her like Mom fed Pooky. Good times...
Sweetie, you are my best friend and I love you. I wish you every good thing for the coming year. 35 isn't so bad--I think you'll have a good time.
Love,
Your Big Sister
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Red Letter Day for the Teels
Today was a big day for all my babies.
AJ found out that she has been cast in a play she tried out for this weekend! She will be the paper delivery girl in a show called "Birds of a Feather." It's being put on by the local community theater, Rebel's Bluff Theater. I'll let y'all know when we have more information.
Sabra got her first boyfriend today! He is a very nice boy named Bradley. He has liked Sabra forever, and he asked her out a few months ago and she said no, but then she regretted it, so today they got together. (Daddy is pouting, but I think in time he'll remember that he actually likes young Bradley) Bradley told Sabra that now that they have lockers, he's going to put her picture in his.
And David learned how to ride a two-wheeler! AJ took his training wheels off and Sabra pushed him around in the street behind our house until he got it. And now he's great, like he's always been doing it. I think he just got tired of being left behind by the big kids.
So, my babies are great, and I'm very proud of them.
Kathy
AJ found out that she has been cast in a play she tried out for this weekend! She will be the paper delivery girl in a show called "Birds of a Feather." It's being put on by the local community theater, Rebel's Bluff Theater. I'll let y'all know when we have more information.
Sabra got her first boyfriend today! He is a very nice boy named Bradley. He has liked Sabra forever, and he asked her out a few months ago and she said no, but then she regretted it, so today they got together. (Daddy is pouting, but I think in time he'll remember that he actually likes young Bradley) Bradley told Sabra that now that they have lockers, he's going to put her picture in his.
And David learned how to ride a two-wheeler! AJ took his training wheels off and Sabra pushed him around in the street behind our house until he got it. And now he's great, like he's always been doing it. I think he just got tired of being left behind by the big kids.
So, my babies are great, and I'm very proud of them.
Kathy
Friday, August 8, 2008
Happy Birthday, Sabra!
Yesterday was my Sabra Lou's birthday! Yay! She turned 11. We went out to the free movie in Springfield, then the kids spend the afternoon swimming at John & Nancy's. Then Matt made her special birthday dinner of fried chicken (one of the two times in a year when we have fried chicken, and it is sooo goooood...). She got a new bike, a kangaroo webkins, a book about the Titanic, some new barrettes, and a huge box of gourmet popcorn. It was a truly Sabra day.
Tonight is her birthday party. We are going out to pizza, bowling, then her friends are coming to spend the night. It should be lots of fun. She pointed out that she's never had a slumber party before, which I guess is right, even though AJ has had several. Grammy and Papa are coming in, and Uncle Mark, Aunt Lisa and Baby Audrey will be down for a wedding, so they'll stop by, too.
I remember 11 years ago, when she was born in St. John's hospital in Springfield. Mom came down the day before, and she took care of AJ. Sabra was born at 2:26 in the afternoon, and weighed 9 pounds 4 ounces--she was a little pot roast! She's so skinny now, it's hard to believe she was my chubbiest baby. She slept 6 hours her first night, and the nurses kept telling me to wake her up to feed her, but I kept saying that she would wake up when she was hungry...which of course she did. Even then she loved to sleep!
She has always been my snuggliest, most affectionate baby. For her, coziness is a primary value. She has a beautiful, kind heart, a bright smile, and a quick and quirky mind. I am so proud to be her mommy. Happy Birthday, my precious girl!
Mommy
Tonight is her birthday party. We are going out to pizza, bowling, then her friends are coming to spend the night. It should be lots of fun. She pointed out that she's never had a slumber party before, which I guess is right, even though AJ has had several. Grammy and Papa are coming in, and Uncle Mark, Aunt Lisa and Baby Audrey will be down for a wedding, so they'll stop by, too.
I remember 11 years ago, when she was born in St. John's hospital in Springfield. Mom came down the day before, and she took care of AJ. Sabra was born at 2:26 in the afternoon, and weighed 9 pounds 4 ounces--she was a little pot roast! She's so skinny now, it's hard to believe she was my chubbiest baby. She slept 6 hours her first night, and the nurses kept telling me to wake her up to feed her, but I kept saying that she would wake up when she was hungry...which of course she did. Even then she loved to sleep!
She has always been my snuggliest, most affectionate baby. For her, coziness is a primary value. She has a beautiful, kind heart, a bright smile, and a quick and quirky mind. I am so proud to be her mommy. Happy Birthday, my precious girl!
Mommy
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