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The Question of the "Fence"by K.L. Marsala
Monday, May 22, 2006
Living in such close proximity to the border between Arizona and Mexico I have often pondered the complexity and history behind illegal border crossing. It was just recently on a trip to Nogales, Arizona that I stood and photographed the border entry and the fence between us. It struck me as I photographed the entry point how there were faces looking through the fencing screen at me with eyes filled with what I could only ponder in interpretation. I do not know what they were really thinking, nor did they know what I was thinking- but it was a sobering passing of a moment gazing at one another through a screen in a fence between two different worlds. The day gave way to me thinking about many aspects and it is now what I want to share with you. How long have those who felt compelled to cross over illegally been doing so? Did they do it because they were ignorant to the operational system to come to America legally? On the other hand, were they well aware of the complexity of it but felt such a deep seeded fear that legal means overwhelmed them, thusly compelling them into taking other measures? Did they just have no regard for law and order? Did those who crossed via the "help" of a coyote, seem to take extreme measures? Did they feel it to be the only way to earn more than a meager day's wages of non-existence in their own country? Still yet, I wonderedŠ how many crossed over open desert in scorching temperatures because they felt there was no other way to find economic freedom. Where does the responsibility lie over the illegal crossings and will we ever find the answers to a problem left to fester and boil over the past fifty or so years? Being an investigation junkie and enjoying the absorption into the complexities of why we humans do what we do, I have observed that when law enforcement is in pursuit of any long term illegal activity that they look carefully and examine each and every layer in order to find the nucleus, the "boss hog" so to speak, of the operation. So, if we begin to look at this illegal entry activity, or better yet what many think to be a breech in our national security, let us begin this investigative view by looking at the "fence." Approximately, there is a 2,000-mile long border separating the United States from Mexico. Along this boundary line between countries, there are snippets of fencing, over worked border patrol officers, volunteer patrollers, air surveillance, and such like trying to uphold our laws for entering our country. Along a small stretch between San Diego and Mexico a more complex fencing situation has seem to be a deterrent, its cost was said to have been around 25 million dollars or 1.7 million per mile . A great point about the building of a more complex fencing system I believe is made viable in the research on this topic by VDARE.com. An article by Edwin S. Rubenstein presents logic in that our government never had a problem with creating our 46,000 eight-lane Federal highway system, so why would our political leaders have a problem funding a border protection plan of complex fencing? This is something I believe the citizens of the U.S. ought to be asking of their political leaders, why indeed. Apparently, some sitting in the U.S. Senate either have seen the light or are running politically scared- for our U.S. Senate has finally approved a proposal to build 370 miles of a triple-layer fence along parts of the border that stands between the U.S. and Mexico. Now that only leaves around 1,620 miles in need of complex fencing system (figure is minus the 10-mile complex-fencing border built in San Diego). Do not take comfort in this yet though as progress being made by our political leadersŠ Since the United States can no longer seem to function as a self-contained entity of her own constitutional letter- According to an AP report, "Mexico and four Central American nations condemned the U.S plan to build hundreds of miles of triple-layered fencing on its southern border, saying it would not stop illegal immigration." As the foreign ministers of Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Mexico held a news conference they stated that building barriers was not the way to solve problems between neighboring nations, but did these four nations who do not economically take care of their own citizens offer any solutions? No simply stated, Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez was quoted saying, "The position of Mexico and the other countries is that walls will not make a difference in terms of the solution to the migration problem. Therefore, Mr. Derbez, according to your colleague, Guatemalan Foreign Minister Jorge Brizs the solution offered is that the U. S. needs to make a major immigration overhaul and that was the only way to stop the wave of people heading northward. Briz stated, "All of us are looking for a comprehensive migratory regulation so that millions of Latin Americans can continue working in and supporting the United States economy." Hmmm, now that is a very interesting philosophy for a political leader to be offering his own country menŠ go to the U.S. so you can help support their economy. What is Mr. Brizs implying here? Is he really saying to heck with his own country's economic needs? Of course, the President of Mexico, President Fox, had to put in his own two words as well, "Building walls, constructing barriers on the border does not offer an efficient solution in a relationship of friends, neighbors and partners." Might I ask then, what does President Fox? Is neglecting your own citizens in a country rich in natural resources and, having the ability to become her own strong independent nation, but never doing so in the time you and those before you have served her own citizens of Mexico? Why do others outside the U.S. continually expect us to acquiesce to their demands and needs? In addition, the million dollars a year stolen from American citizens economically via free medical care, social security fraud, and so on- does the real "boss hog" of this continual problem really lie within our own government? I am posing this question. We can point our fingers at world leaders and their demands, shouts of discontent, tirades of how dare we say noŠ but ultimately who is responsible for caring for their own? President Fox will pontificate, "We will go on defending the rights of our countrymen without rest or respite. With passion we will demand the full respect of their human rights," but ask yourself, where are our political leaders of the United States? Where are their words of passion to care for their own? The "boss hog," of this illegal alien wave lies within our own government and their lack of taking care of it for over fifty years; it is not the responsibility of any other government or nation. The real question of the fence is just this, how much longer will we try to pass the blame? Will our leaders continue to play politics to gain votes, acquiesce to other nations demands, let volunteers do the governments' job, and then act as if we do not understand why hoards of illegal aliens are willing to die to cross a desert? It was through our poor excuses for border control that our political leaders contributed to the day 9/11 occurred in this country. Ask your political leaders today, how much longer before you take responsibility for your lack of action and your contribution to a national crisis. If safety has to begin with a fence then- begin it today.
Rudolph Fired- For Saying “Merry Christmas” By K Marsala Late last night an announcement came across the NPP (North Pole Press) wire; and it has now been confirmed- the jolly red man formerly known as Santa has fired Rudolph for wishing all the other reindeer a Merry Christmas. It had been rumored that during the “reindeer- not just exclusive but inclusive games” last week that Rudolph was heard saying as he was passing out high hooves to all his teammates- “Have a Merry Christmas!” Santa, who recently just changed his name to The Representative of the United Nations, had over heard Rudolph cheerfully wishing Blitzen a very Merry Christmas. It was stated that Santa immediately flew into a rage and fired Rudolph on the spot. Reports are now saying that Rudolph is going to file a suit against Santa because his free speech rights were violated. Santa has been unavailable for comment. Evidently, this story all began after last years secularists tried to abolish God from the season known as the celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth. Santa had begun to succumb to the pressures of not only the protests and nasty letters being sent to stop making the holiday season sound Christian in nature, but the yearly demands of meeting quotas set forth by market forces, as well as his home life disintegrating and his employees increased demands equated itself to Santa’s depression and questioning, “What is Christmas really all about?” Feeling that no one really cared anymore, Santa decided he had had enough of all this sappy religious stuff anyway. Santa had had his doubts over a baby named Jesus and, with his world seemingly falling apart Santa thought-what had Jesus ever done for him? Perhaps these secularists were correct after all. Santa’s year had begun on a tough note; during the year Mrs. Santa had become a feminist, joined the Peace Corps. and ran away with another woman. His elves were tired of the demands of making faster and better toys. The hours the elves kept were grueling and they could not afford to further their education to keep up with the fast pace of technology. Santa tried to obtain government grants, since his elves were considered minorities, but thanks to the Bush Administration spending so much money on the war, the funding was gone and only a few elves could be subsidized to go to school. This caused jealously amongst the elves, and at last, the elves formed a union. The union stated that if Santa wouldn’t cover all their expenses for schooling, limit their working hours to 36 a week and guarantee pay raises of 12% every six months that they would all strike, alas the elves walked. Prior to their walk out, the elves in frustration over the lack of the government’s involvement to meet their demands- trashed, gutted, and torched the toy factory. Many of the elves now work as lobbyist. After the elves left Santa knew he could never meet the strenuous toy making demands. He rallied the reindeer team to help him, but due to their appendage challenging mobility to hold an object and paint details the reindeer soon began to complain that they could not be expected to take over the elves production pace and produce the same quality toys for all the children. The reindeer honestly wanted to help Santa but, they were not designed to produce trinkets, cars, X Boxes, and dolls, their talents lay solely in flying, leaping and playing games. Without the support of a loving wife, his toy makers on permanent strike and a production factory gone- Santa decided God didn’t take care of him when he was in need so, there must not be one. It was then Santa left behind St. Nick, Saint Nicholas, Santa, Kris Kringle, and Santa Claus, he legally became known as The Representative of the United Nations- aka RUN. RUN had held a meeting earlier in the fall and announced to his ever shrinking staff that there would no more mention of God and especially no wishing anyone a “Merry Christmas.” As he made his declarations known to his staff he informed them that all orders for toys would now come via China and he was considering hiring the illegal aliens that arrived just last week by snowplow. RUN was locked into a contract to supply the children in the world with all they desire every 25th of December and his contract would not run out for another 75 years, he was stuck. RUN was an aging, unhappy, oversized elf. Divorced, overworked, budget strained and living with a few reindeer had taken its toll upon what was once a right jolly elf. RUN had no faith, hope or belief in himself or anything larger than himself. RUN’s- “HO, HO, HO!” had turned into “Oh, oh, oh I cannot allow any form of Merry or Christmas into my life ever again.” The other reindeer collectively agreed that Rudolph was not always the brightest bulb in the pack, but understood his intentions when he wished them all a “Merry Christmas.” Donner spoke for the herd, “We all believe Rudolph has the right to wish anyone a Merry Christmas, quite frankly, speaking as a half Jew myself- I have never had a problem with it. I and my family enjoy all the holiday’s many festivities.” According to the gossip magazine, Northern Exposure, the latest scuttlebutt is this- Frosty the Snowman has offered to buy out Santa, but Mrs. Frosty has stated that the whole idea leaves her cold. Rosa Parks- Don’t Let Her Life Become Just Another Story by: K Marsala cnuseeme@cox.net
A condition all to familiar in our media of today- our news is copiously overflowing with nothing more than political nit-picking. The bombardment of political folderol snatches the headlines and tragically, a story about the passing of a great individual becomes a forgotten infinitesimal blip of news. I fear that the “mother of the civil rights movement” Rosa Parks, will become nothing more than just another story, a folk tale, or a legend. All societies have their stories of old; we elaborate, and add detail along the way, sadly, though the truth of these pivotal moments quickly is forgotten or at times misused. I do not want this to happen to a movement sparked by the courage of Rosa Parks. Rosa Parks was not the first black to refuse giving up her seat, but she was the chosen catalyst to move things forward and in 1955, in the town of Montgomery, Rosa Parks took a stand and made a statement as she “set” her ground. Blacks were not allowed to sit with, across or within the vicinity of whites and it took a woman to stand strong in her sitting to be one of many people to lead the way for all men and women to be treated equally. As Rosa Parks was arrested, convicted and fined $14.00 she sparked a revolution. Rosa, by sitting and not moving became the instrument that instigated an unsettling movement amongst people of all colors. From that point, no force could argue for segregation, prejudice, or bigotry. The pebble had been dropped upon the waters of freedom and its rippling influence had begun to cause tidal waves of taking a stand against such like. Our behaviors as a nation were wrong and it was time for all lovers of freedom to show the world that America was truly, what she preached herself to be- the land of the free- where all men are created equal. In Montgomery, blacks comprised approximately 2/3 of the bus riders and they decidedly took matters into their own hands. By peaceful means, blacks found other modes of transportation for the next 381 days, ultimately hitting public transportation where it hurt the most... the fat wallets of the city officials. The boycott ended on Nov. 13, 1956 and the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that Montgomery's segregated bus service was unconstitutional. Rosa’s convictions came to her through her faith that all are created equal. In her book entitled “Quiet Strength,” you can begin to understand this woman’s faith. It was Rosa Parks’ unfaltering belief in God that provided the strength to send a message to all who would listen- "Our mistreatment was just not right, and I was tired of it." Thankfully her weariness of injustice kept her sitting right there on that bus seat. To her it was the soul of humankind that was to be respected; loved and cherished it was not the color of skin, it was not economic or social status, nor was it religious beliefs. Rosa and others, who thought like her, knew prejudice for any reason was wrong; thusly Rosa began a peaceful march to demonstrate the need for change. Rosa and her counterparts, such as Martin Luther King Jr., planted, watered, and nurtured the spreading of the roots of what freedom is for all humankind. Growing the immovable tree of truth that prejudice and bigotry in any form is wrong. Rosa Parks on that day she stayed seated stated that she had a dream a dream that one day: “Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.I have a dream today!I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.I have a dream today!I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together" (Isaiah 40:4-5 King James Version of the Holy Bible). Martin Luther King Jr. “I Have a Dream” delivered August 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D. C. We all have a dream and in this present time when our world is filled with fighting, turmoil, and genocide, the legacy of what Rosa Parks and her fellow counterparts began must not perish. With injustices occurring upon many continents, within many nations, and within many villages worldwide we need now more than ever to take a seat- an immovable seat- and dare to live the dream. No longer can we turn a blind eye to our brothers fighting brothers, nor our sisters hating sisters for we are all created in the image of the Almighty. We as a people owe it to the children of today and to the generations of tomorrow, to honor her legacy and give all we can of ourselves in the name of love. I pray that dream will not fade away into the archives of the past, but continue to live on and shine forth brightly in honor of all of those who kept their seat on the bus in a town full of prejudice one afternoon in 1955.
It's the Gas Prices Stupid
Kerry L. Marsala- www.therant.us | “Help! I can’t afford to fill my tank anymore!” This is becoming the cry of the American driver and the rising costs of fuel are distressing every facet of our economy. With prices soaring at our pumps, choosing between a gallon of petrol and a gallon of milk is fast becoming a household’s budget dilemma. When it comes to deciding whether we want to drive a gas-guzzler or buy a carton of milk- the milk will win every time. Gas just doesn’t soak up the flavor of our Coco Krispies the way milk does.
Certainly, overall, America’s gas prices are much less than that of Europe, but we’re spoiled and used to having our gas guzzling SUV’s and monster 4x4’s. The problem with the rising costs of our energy sources isn’t just about what drizzles down our auto tanks and burns carbon crap into our air- its how the pricing of energy begins to inflict pain in almost every venue of our lives.
Those big semi-trucks that deliver our groceries to our local supermarket are feeling the gasoline pinch too, this is being reflected at our stores by the daily increase of necessities and food items. The basics such as clothing, food, cooling and heating of our homes are headed for trouble. Inflation has been rising for about a year now, and as of yet we aren’t headed down the path of the 1970’s, but if action and relief aren’t administered to help deter the rising costs of fuel, we could be headed towards an ugly summer and a dreadful year.
Could a recession be on the horizon if the broad energy bill President Bush spoke of isn’t put into action immediately? The energy bill put forth by Bush includes .1 billion in tax breaks, mostly for energy companies, and would open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska (ANWR) to oil development, bringing with it relief at the pump and the following domino effect of the lowering prices of consumer goods. The Democrats by majority aren’t big proponents of the ANWR development. However, the only offerings coming from the Democrats so far has been just looking for alternative fuels to be our answer, but implementing such takes time something many pocketbooks don’t have.
 While most economist leave out the mathematical equations of how America’s economy is doing in their addition and subtraction game (while playing with our inflation numbers) it still feels very real to The Jones’, The Gomez’s, The Slotsky’s and The O’Doul’s family’s down any neighborhood street, USA. The Feds, the egg headed Economists and the far removed from reality Politicians can play verbal games all day with how they want to dress up our economy, but frankly sitting here at the bottom of the economic numbers it is iniquitous.
I think America is tired of politics. Talk to anyone sitting at Joe's Bar and Grill on a Friday night. As they try to unwind from a weeks long grinding to the bone workweek, they’ve had it with being tossed around as if they are pawns in the game of American politics. Most don’t give a rat’s behind about whether you’re a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian or Independent politician. Collectively we all have come to the place where we have been deceived so much that the only thing real is the fact that our wallets are becoming slimmer and slimmer. Retirement for many has become highly questionable. Sending our kids to college is becoming the number one reason dads who are heads of their households are going bald it’s called financial stress. Most wives and moms no longer can stay at home, they’re being force to go to work just to make ends meet. Young married couples who dreamed of purchasing a starter home within the first five years of their marriage are kissing those dreams good bye. Who can afford a starter home of 900 sq ft. that runs well over 250,000 and isn’t located in the best area of town anymore?
Let’s not forget whilst we are whining about our economy to make mention of the soaring credit debt. Most families have to utilize their credit cards to pay for gasoline and groceries, because they are living from paycheck to paycheck. Americans are in debt and claiming bankruptcy at alarming rates-, this isn’t good for anybody.
Will the bottom drop out again? Who knows. The pendulum always swings back and balance is regained. I do believe its time for the Washington pack to stop playing with the American workers’ dollars though. Spending must come under control, we need to begin drilling in Alaska, we need to implement alternative fuels, and we need to stop playing politics with our land and our people.
It’s way past time for Washington to grow up the American people aren’t a part of Washington’s Political Economic Roulette Wheel, nor do we want to be. We need politicians who really care about the interests of those who put them in office and not the vying for saint-hooded position of I’m right you’re wrong-shut up sit down bullying game that takes place amongst both sides of the political fence. Just do your jobs and take care of the fuel pricing we’ll fall in line and do our part too, even if it means giving up my Dodge 4x4. |
For the Sake of Terri Schiavo- Why the Rush to Put Her to Death? By: K L Marsala
I demand to know where the human rights and women’s rights groups are over the case of the Floridian woman Terri Schiavo. Where are her civil rights? Did she loose them the moment she could no longer audibly answer or respond for herself? Why do human rights organizations stand and give tirade after tirade to defend the war criminals at Guatanomo Bay, but where are they over a woman supposedly living in a Persistent Vegetative State (PVS) and her rights? Why haven’t the women’s rights groups spoken out against Terri’s “estranged” husband, Michael, who wants to pull the feeding tube and let his wife die a slow death of dehydration and starvation? Shouldn’t Michael’s desire to have his wife die be classified under- spousal abuse? Truly, if this case is a reflection of how Americans are moving forward in handling bio-ethics then we are all screwed. This case, which should never have become a topic at America’s water coolers, has so many facets and layers to it. When it comes to the topic of bio-ethics, we’ve only begun to lift the lid off a deadly and dangerous box of medical morality. In 1972, two neurologists stated they had identified a condition of "wakefulness without awareness." This state is caused when a patient, due to head injury, lack of oxygen, degenerative disease, or loss of all upper brain functions- becomes what has been termed Persistent Vegetative State or PVS. This wide-ranging term has delivered only uncertainty in diagnosis, treatment, and ethical decision-making regarding these types of patients. PVS has become one more thing out of the bio-ethics Pandora’s Box that shouldn’t have been opened. A large portion of the danger in using such a general term is that many people who only hear sound bites of news and discussion over the condition of PVS are so deeply misguided and uninformed. Most of us when we hear the word “vegetative” immediately think of an individual who is nothing but brain dead. This is a misnomer. Patients who are unable to live without being hooked up to every tube, beeper, electronic regulator, and waste remover; and with no hope of ever recovering brain activity are classified brain dead. With the bio-ethics questions over PVS we’ve painted the manifestation that without bells and whistles this body is nothing but an inconvenience and a burden or a last will and testament needing to die so, darn it, I can obtain my inheritance! There are citizens, judges and lawyers who don’t even comprehend PVS and they are deciding if it’s okay to go ahead a murder someone how does this make sense? The term Persistent Vegetative State, has come to be applied to people who actually do show some signs of awareness (Terri Schiavo). PVS often is confused with "brain death," although the two are not the same. (Brain death is defined as the irreversible loss of all functions of the brain.) Appallingly, "right to die" advocates and Terri’s husband Michael- have used the PVS to unite people to their rationale. It has even tainted the positions in some states laws altering them to classify the basics of life (food and water) as medical treatment! Imagine a cup of chocolate malted flavored protein drink it has now become classified as medical treatment. I didn’t know feeding someone sustenance or giving him or her a cup of cold water was considered medical treatment. I thought it was just caring for those who can’t care for themselves due to their physical challenges or financial inabilities. I guess all the quadriplegics had better be watching out and so should third world nations. Human rights organizations may see you eating and drinking H2O and decide no, you’ve no right to medical treatment- give me that bowl of rice, NOW! Persistent Vegetative State is not easily diagnosed. Although accepted signs of PVS include the absence of awareness of oneself or one's environment, we cannot measure thought or awareness -- only behavior and movement. Today's medical tests are not specific enough to make a certain diagnosis of PVS. As a result, the rate of misdiagnosis is high, approximately 40 percent in some studies. Physical disabilities experienced by many of these patients, such as blindness and paralysis, can stop them from exhibiting behaviors that could make their awareness known. Recent video footage shot of Terri Schiavo shows her smiling and responding to her surroundings, leading many to question whether she is actually in the state of PVS. If you really want to know the answer to this, ask her parents and friends.
Reality check the 1972 definition and the recent attempts to define PVS are not clear enough to tell the true state of patients who’ve suffered serious brain injury. According to Cindy Province (who holds master’s degrees in medical surgical nursing and bioethics, and is a cofounder and associate director of the St. Louis Center for Bioethics and Culture), this is her reasoning we cannot let the death sentence of PVS fit all situations, “Part of the reason is that consciousness is a continuum, not an all-or-nothing phenomenon. In general, terms, human brains aren't like light bulbs that are either on or off. Instead, they are more like irons, which, while turned on, may be anywhere from warm to hot. Unfortunately, medical treatment and ethical decision-making have not always taken into account that there are many things that are still unknown about severe brain injury.” Do we understand this? How can we make a judgment of life or death based on knowledge that is still incomplete? Neurosciences has barely touched the cusp of understanding the smallest part of our grey matter we’ve a long ways to go before we can mark someone with a death sentence.So what if someone is in the position of a Terri Schiavo or they were in a PVS state for seven years or more is life not worth allowing the injured brain time to go from lukewarm to hot? Are those like Terri, who are alive, allowed the same pursuit of happiness, protection, and equality? Or do we want to give only preferential treatment to ourselves and to what we define as “living”? As I had jested over those who are quadriplegic or from a third world country, will we make the same applications to our elderly folk as we are to those who appear to be in a state of PVS? Your children- grandma- may decide you don’t deserve medical treatment (i.e. food and water) when you get too feeble to go to the kitchen and cook it. How cold hearted have we become?
Ms. Province relayed recently that on the, “medical horizon, a large amount of work with severely brain-injured patients is taking place.” This research is happening inside and outside the United States. Not long ago, at the Royal Hospital for Neurodisability in London, a diagnostic tool was developed to help medical professionals identify awareness in patients previously diagnosed as unaware. Some of these patients have begun to communicate, and to recapture some physical function, but more significantly -for ethical concerns- to express their wish to live. Shouldn’t we all be given the right to express our wishes? Terri Schiavo and others like her deserve the right to live. Everyone deserves food and water. Sometimes it seems we treat our criminals sitting in today’s penitentiaries better than we treat those who cannot defend themselves. Whether its patients like Terri, our elderly or our unborn human children, ethics of who we are as a race must be brought up to the moral standards of love and compassion for humanity. None of us living in a nation so full of plenty should ever deny another human being nourishment. Food, water and the right to live cannot be decided by a textbook definition that is completely filled with the nuances of variables. There is still so much we don’t understand about the human brain and how it functions. We have barely scratched the surface of the brains amazing recuperative abilities. With our minimal knowledge of how this all works are we willing to starve another human to death because we were given guardianship rights over them?Terri Schiavo, if the human rights advocates and the women’s right organizations don’t take a stand for you- I want you to know there are those who will fight for you, pray for you, and believe you’ve the right to live and Terri- I am one of those here for you. God Bless you.
DiCaprio, Bullock, Nelson, Leno- Putting Their Money Where Their Hearts AreK L Marsala There are certain entertainers and wealthy tycoons with whom I don’t agree with on many levels of political rhetoric, but it is so refreshing to read of some of the entertainment industry's best giving to causes that truly reflect the reality of those needing help during a catastrophic disaster. Out of the nonsense that so often spins itself around the entertainment industry (How much did Springsteen spend to stop the evil empire -Republican Party- from taking the White House again?) it is a resounding glimmer of hope for humanity when stars really give of their means to help those in need. Fun can be poked at espousers such as Madonna, Babs Streisand, Alec Baldwin, George Soros and others over their misguided laments and tirades against conservative thinkers--but we should never be backwards in giving praise when a generous heart steps up to the plate of giving. Sandra Bullock, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jay Leno, Willie Nelson, and others are contributing a large portion of their monies or they are bringing together various artists to perform and raise money for the victims of the Tsunami. Donations made by various artists and entertainers are going to the Red Cross, UNICEF and other relief organizations, all with the hope of helping the victims of the calamity in south east Asia. Did you ever wonder why the mainstream media doesn’t play up these types of unselfish acts performed by well-known stars? The "Rock the Vote" crusade to oust President Bush had more coverage and halleluiahs of praise than it ever deserved. It will be interesting to see how the mainstream media will treat the rock 'n roll concert scheduled in Wales for January 22nd. With bands coming together, much like in the days of "Live Aid," will U2, Coldplay, Franz Ferdinand, and the androgynous Boy George get the exposure to raise monies to help those left in the wake of the Tsunami disaster? Let us hope so, this is a cause worth coming together over. The focus needs to be on raising cash to go to legitimate relief organizations to help those desperately in need. It should always be a concern in times of global or local disaster relief efforts that all the money donated is going directly to the cause. I don’t mean to sound cynical, but at times such as these when we have astounding amounts of cash flowing freely there are those who will take advantage. Tragedy has many ugly sides to it, and at times the component to its ugliest side to view can be humans taking advantage of other's plight. Be sure you know to whom you are giving your donations.The time for utilizing one's talents and using the availability of voice to a listening world is now. The raising of cash for the victims and displaced should never hold within its purpose politics, greed, or stardom. Far too often, the mainstream media leads us to believe that all of the entertainment industry and the rich are nothing but self-seekers. There are facets of the entertainment industry and the powerfully rich that have misguided loud mouths, but there are those within the ranks of stardom and riches that are genuinely giving. More often than not, these stars and the well to do will only receive quiet accolades for their generous hearts. Whether we agree with their political views is but a moot point. Writing out a donation of upwards to more than a million dollars to those suffering and hurting is truly what American entertainers, American politicians, and the American successful entrepreneurs overall are all about. (Side point--maybe some should stop ranting about the rich not paying their fair share. Seems to me when someone needs money it’s the rich we run to. Something to think about anyway.)It isn't only those whose star lay along the walk of Hollywood Blvd. or those who carry Inc. after their business names, but it is Americans as a whole that are far more generous, forgiving, loving, and moved than any other people within any other nation the world over. Our freedoms allow us this privilege, the privilege to be so giving. Certainly, we did not receive the name "Captain America" for nothing. Too often, those who sit in an air-conditioned building in New York City around the United Nations table forget the definition of what stingy means. We will not mimic the "Oil for food" swindle. That is not what America is about.Bullock, DiCaprio, Leno, and others who have given personally we appreciate your munificent kindness. To share what you have with others is a great example to everyone. It should move us all to give of our means and ourselves wherever we stand. Helping with disasters such as the Oklahoma City bombing, September 11th, and the earthquake/Tsunami of south east Asia shouldn’t be about politics, moral values, bitter feelings, skin color, or economic standards. What relief efforts, open hearts, and willingness to care about others is all and only about is loving humanity. Reaching out to others who are hurting and encircling them in the love, we can give to them collectively. Whether it is by dollar amount, prayer, or participation in restoration efforts this is but a small glint of a planet filled with millions of people just like you and I trying to survive on our journey here. Whether or not Sandra Bullock, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jay Leno, Willie Nelson, U2, Coldplay, Franz Ferdinand, or my next-door neighbor ever read or hear of a small insignificant writer--I give to you my thanks for charitable hearts and placing your generosity where it belongs--in the love of helping humankind. In the months that lie ahead for a people devastated beyond comprehension, let us remember others in their struggles and help shoulder some of each other’s burdens. A gift of kindness, no matter the size given from the heart, is larger than any important name on the screen or name after the initials CEO.Don't You Cry for Amber Frey K L Marsala The whole Scott Peterson trial is revolting and disgusting within itself. How anyone could come across anymore obdurately or detached from their spouses' death and that of their own child is enough to make one vomit vehemently. For me, what finally was the last straw of this mockery of justice was when Amber Frey began her testimony. Listening to her and those who are in support of her has me saying-- enough with this empty headed woman named, Amber Frey.
Ms. Frey, who is now giving her testimony, if I were you I would be embarrassed over my inexcusable, nymphomaniac lifestyle. All I feel for people like Ms. Frey is absolute disgust. Who in their right mind goes out on a blind date to a bar and then a of couple hours' later winds up in bed screwing someone they've just known for all of two hours? Evidently, people like Peterson and Frey do. Where is the self-respect? What happened to sensible intelligent decision making skills?
We have a woman, who has just met a guy on a blind date. After a little dinner and a little dancing they go and have a little sex in the hotel room. Not only is this completely brainless for anyone woman, single or single with a child (Ms. Frey has a little girl she's supposed to be raising responsibly) but did she ever consider the guy she's having sex with could possibly be the guy who is a pathological liar and may have murdered his wife and son? Where are her brains? Why the lack of self worth Ms. Frey? Do people flippantly go around having sex with strangers? (Isn't sex with strangers, just like prostitution? Ms. Frey was just paying her dinner bill wasn't she?) Was there no thought given to the possibility that she might have ended up alone with a mass murderer in a hotel room? How many unthinking people have received their "fifteen minutes of fame," on the next day's newscast--murdered due to a similar situation? They were no longer in one piece--part of them was in the dumpster, part buried in a shallow grave, part never found--THINK about it!
Ms. Frey stated she felt that the relationship with Peterson, all within a few days, was moving from just sex, to something more serious. What happened to developing a relationship based on getting to know each other first-- before we play horizontal mambo? Evidently for a certain percentage of people out there, they begin with sex first and then perhaps decide to develop it into something a bit deeper. How does this make humans any different from animals?
The horrible judgements of people like Ms. Frey only progresses. After her second date with Scott Peterson, she gives Peterson a car seat, the keys to her house, and asks him to pick up her daughter at day care.
Okay lets analyze this and see if we can make any of this sound like someone who is capable of making good judgements.
We have a single parent who meets a guy she's never known before on a blind date. They eat; dance and a couple hours later have sex. They go on a second date, approximately a couple weeks later. On the second date the guy, who appears to be a night in shinning armor, carries the single mom's 22-month-old daughter while they go on a hike. Somewhere during this time the guy says something to the effect that he would raise the child as "his own." Well, who wouldn't get warm fuzzes over such a statement? Surely anyone could see in such a brief period of time that this meant more than just sex and could make a sound judgement for themselves and a defenseless little child. (?) Obviously any person who has been in the physical presence of another (maybe 10-12 hours) and they state a desire to raise your child as their own, would prompt anyone to give that total stranger a car seat and the keys to their house-- where you live-- by yourself-- with a young child. After all if you feel an immediate trust for your young daughter to be alone with a complete stranger--this must justify it all.
Are you following the stupidity of this mother? Where are child protective services? Would anyone who is a good parent, and in their right mind give "alone" time with their child to a complete stranger? Let alone the keys to their house?
Ms. Frey is far from being a struggling, poor victim here. She's a person who repeatedly lacks the ability to think. The use of hormones to guide ones self from relationship to relationship is deadly. People want to believe what they want to believe. Sure Peterson is a liar, and a good one, but I'll never cry for Amber Frey--she needs to develop self-esteem and a brain. Not only for her own self-preservation, but for that of her child.
For the love of God, she's a single mother who's having sex with men she doesn't even know and thinking that the storybook fantasy of "Cinderella or Snow White" really exists. Honey it doesn't and its time to wake up from dreamland! Keep your legs closed and build a relationship based on getting to know the other person first, and I mean getting to know their personality, likes and dislikes-- character-- it speaks volumes. Ms. Frey you owe it to yourself, to other mindless singles out in the world, but most of all-- you owe it to the child you've created and decided to be responsible for--Grow up!
The pity party ain't happening Ms. Frey, we haven't any reason to cry for you, --you're an adult--the only shedding of tears I'll be doing is for your child if you don't get your life together. Commercial Meat K L Marsala While attending a talent show at a local public school recently I was so impressed when certain young people performed on various instruments the 'Star Spangled Banner'. One young person prior to his rendition even recited the pre-amble by heart to the audience. There was also one young lady that truly had talent of voice; her heart and soul went into each note that echoed across the auditorium. Witnessing true passion and effort at local talent shows is always inspiring. Even fun can be had when we display our 'no talent-talent' abilities bringing the audience to laugh along with us at our attempts to be talented. What I did find most disparaging though was the few young ladies whose parents had allowed them to dress themselves and perform for us all in the fashionable reflection of a Spears or Aguilera. Their body movements were sexual in nature, and the stage became a reflection of a young generation that is being processed to appear like many of our modern commercialized sluts. The attitude, music, clothing etc... demonstrated was filled with sex, laziness and materialism, no real talent, just a mirror image of the entertainment generation. We are witnessing an increase within our society to promote within our public schools certain forms of entertainment under the guise of education; i.e.: plays (Vagina Monologues-High school), half-time Cheer events (hip gyrations that would have caused those of ancient Babylon to blush) to talent shows at the elementary school level to be quite risque in nature. Truly our youth have become a reflection of the MTV; VH1 and Hollywood slut appeal and we as parents, teachers, principals, and citizens seem to be giving these children the thumbs up. As I sat there in embarrassment over a couple of particular routines, the young ladies who were scantily clothed, shook and shimmied what they have not yet fully developed. Amazingly enough though, you could hear the whoops of the adults. I kept thinking to myself, 'Please dear God, don't let there be any pedophiles in here tonight.' Shame on us as the adults applauding such hedonistic displays amongst our children. How dare we paint their eyes, lips, and cheeks and dress them up like provocative pole dancers for our viewing pleasure! Another item that struck me was some of these children, who are being directly influenced by the music industry, seem to be all carbon copies of one another, almost like fast food. Same patty, bun, dressing, heat lamp and service-where was the heart and soul of originality? All the 'dancers' looked to be of the same genre of Brittany and Christina-one even reminded me of the abused and murdered pageant child in Colorado a few years ago. She dressed, danced, and performed a very grown up tune in a very childlike body. Is the mentality of the Broadway or Vegas ShowGirl really what we want for our eight and nine year old girls? What are the messages we are sending our daughters? That in order to have self worth you must paint your face, tease your hair, wear little clothing, and shake your undeveloped body parts? Where are the women's groups and feminists on this subject? Where is the outrage over the exploitation of our children? As for the boys sitting in the audience what message is being sent to them? Girls are for your entertainment and are here just to pleasure you? Don't be fooled our young boys understand body parts and how they function much earlier now. We're feeding it to them by the sexual bowl full through media, radio, books, and all forms of entertainment. Is this really the direction we want our youth to go? What freedom is there in the obsessiveness of sexual exploitation? Do we really want our young daughters of twelve and thirteen to have full knowledge of sexual promiscuity? Many young girls at this age are already on the birth control pill and are well known by their classmates as being easy. Are we helping our children into the realm of secular hedonism, full speed ahead, and no holds barred? What industry are we trying to support and can we as a society afford to continue to abuse our children and our children's children? What will we do? Who will take a stand and let the innocence of childhood once again be enjoyed in its entirety? Let your children be children, please. I Challenge Our Youth Today Kerry L Marsala Many of us on a daily basis witness the degradation of our young people's minds. With the bombardment of free flowing ions speeding at rapid rates into our homes, schools, and malls it's a wonder any of us have any grey matter left at all. There was a dictator in recent history that believed that if you fed his way of indoctrination consistently and prior to the age of seven that you would have a robotic produced child that would think in the way this diabolical man thought. Feeding our youths' minds to mold them to societies standards is nothing new. But in previous times of mankind's history the instructors were to be the fathers, the head of the household. They were to teach their children as they rose up, walked along the way and laid their heads down at night. It was the influence of teaching that formed the direction each child individually and collectively went as adults functioning within their villages, towns, cities and countries. Where are those fathers now? Where are those parents now? Where are the instructions coming from? Just who is running the asylum? At what point did the break down of having parents involved in the raising and nurturing of their children's minds deteriorate? I do not know if we can specifically name a date or time this degeneration began to transpire, but we are sowing the blatant attempts to keep the 'dumbing down' of our youth perpetuated. Try having an intelligent conversation with most people and they will more often than not steer the dialogue to sex, sit-coms, music, movies, clothes, reality TV, alcoholic beverages, and mall shopping. In the mix of these empty shells of conversation you too will find a smattering of curse words, incorrect grammar and the finite inability to use more than a few words. Now, please do not get me wrong, I am not stating that all of us can be star etymologist such as William Safire. Nor can we all carry the weight of articulation to the extent that William F. Buckley does, but can we not challenge ourselves, as well as our young people, to stretch beyond the ignorant boundaries that we have enclosed ourselves into? Where is the desire, where is the hunger, where is the thirst for knowledge? Have we all become brain numb? Have our skulls shrunken into shriveled shells? Is running on auto-pilot really all we can do? For I believe America's self piloting system is broken and we are now witnessing our beneficiaries running amok within the mire of no captain aboard. Quickly our youth seem to be heading at an alarming rate of speed towards the planet of complete ignorance and empty mindedness. Shall we all sit idly by and let this continue? We have choices to make as parents, teachers, and concerned citizens for the youth of our country and the future of our nation and world. Will we let the music industry and Hollywood continue to dictate to the rest of us that they know what our young people need and want? After all, the two aforementioned media industries claim to be on the cutting edge, they believe they understand what we need and desire as our society evolves. Are we buying into their propaganda? It would appear so far that we have been. Images and words mean something, the speech from Bono from the music group U2 using the f*** on television should have been stopped. Why does a musician and a parent feel it necessary to use such ignorant language to express his elated happiness? When Madonna gave her full mouth and tongue kiss to two young women on stage during the music awards, what was the point? Madonna has been the envelope pusher on sexuality for many years, was this stunt a frustrated old has-been still trying to shove her agenda to the young men and women of America? Lastly, this latest escapade demonstrated by those of the cutting edge elite's, was the breast peep show delivered during our nation's celebration of our Super Bowl. Huh? To the rest of this world has America just become labeled a nation with gyrating hips, pelvic thrusts, indecent exposure, ignorant bafoons, distasteful speakers, and just plain over sexed loud raucous blobs of protoplasm? Was Super Bowl Sunday's half-time peepshow the straw that broke the camel's back? It should be for all of us if we care even a smidgen for our youth. It is time to take back our children and be their guides and instructors on how we educate ourselves and live within a society that encourages, no better yet challenges, our young people to grow, stretch and push themselves to excel. The cutting edge does not have to dictate to the rest of us our level of morality, our political views, nor our intelligence level. It is time we tell the cutting edge elite's to take all of their refuse home and place it within their own confines. We do not want it in our homes, neighborhoods, villages, towns, cities, states, or country anymore. They may say we are not 'hip', or 'open-minded' enough to accept putrescence, but I challenge the youth of this world today to take a stand against the bullying placed forth by these gutter pushers. In this challenge we need to say, "Enough is Enough"; and we as parents need to back our children up, and lead them towards levels of excellence that all people everywhere can obtain regardless of economics, gender or race. We must challenge each other to expand our knowledge of this world and how it works. We must challenge each other to cultivate the learning of more than the approximate 200-word vocabulary we all seem to be stuck in. Use the grey cells and discover what is waiting beyond. Where are tomorrow Edison's, Einstein's, Earhardt's, and Curie's? If we will step outside of our boxes we will discover they are right here in front of us, just waiting for the auto pilot switch to be turned off so they can once again be their own pilot flying high and in control of what possibilities lie before them. Taste freedom from oppression, I challenge the youth of today, I challenge parents, teachers and concerned citizens to awaken from their state of dazed mindlessness and live! Use your mind for it is a terrible thing to waste! Pass the Condoms and Let's Forget Ideology Kerry L Marsala What works 100% of the time to prevent sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS? The science of condoms? Or the ideology presented by Ugandan President Yowen Museveni at the AIDS Conference recently held in Bangkok? President Museveni, whose country Uganda is a success story in Africa's war on AIDS, stated that he, "looked at condoms as an improvisation, not a solution." Museveni stirred the pot further by calling for, "optimal relationships based on love and trust instead of institutionalized mistrust, which is what the condom is all about." Uganda's implementation of Abstinence, Being faithful and Condoms has become a model for the AIDS policies the Bush Administration has given them to model. And the efforts of the Ugandan people to abstain until marriage must be working: of the 26.5 million citizens of Uganda 6% of them are now infected, this number is down by 30% since the 1980's. With 20 million people dead from the AIDS virus and 38 million infected, the ideology of waiting until marriage has certain people like US Representative Barbara Lee (who is the only member of Congress to attend the week long meeting) accusing the 'ideology' method to be nothing more than the Bush administration dictating policy instead of using science. Rep. Lee is quoted in the same Reuters article as stating, " In an age where five million people are newly infected each year and women and girls too often do not have the choice to abstain, an abstinence until marriage program is not only irresponsible, its really inhuman. Abstaining from sex is oftentimes not a choice and therefore their only hope in preventing HIV infection is the use of condoms" (Reuters Report on the Global Aids Conference 7/12/04). I am not sure what Rep. Lee means by "abstaining from sex is oftentimes not a choice", perhaps she means for humans who are sold into sex slavery or rape victims it isn't a choice. In cases of sex slavery and rape the problem isn't making sure condoms are distributed, it's stopping illegal sex slavery organizations and prosecuting sex offenders. Other than that, abstinence from sex is a choice and it is the only 100% defense from contracting the HIV virus. Is it possible that you can buy a product and stop AIDS from being sexually transmitted? Let us look at the science and take out the ideology for the moment. How effective are condoms, what percentage of them break and what factors contribute to the success of them preventing sexually transmitted diseases? The success of condom usage various greatly. There are many factors that come into play. Does the person use a condom every time they have sex? Do they put them on properly? Does the condom user remove the condom in the time suggested? Where were the condoms made? Were they tested properly at the manufacturing plant? How long has the person carried them around in their wallets? Were they defective to begin with, but given the stamp of approval for distribution anyway? Surgeon General Dr. Jocelyn Elder deliberately over saw the distribution of more than one million condoms she knew had more than ten time the failure rate allowed by FDA in Arkansas. In fact, she blocked the FDA's seizure of the defective condoms and the condoms were distributed as freebies without any of the recipients being told of the problem. [1] So many variables for such a living or dying possibility, all for a moment of pleasure, when our youth is told, "abstaining from sex is oftentimes not a choice." In a study reported by Dr. Margaret Fishel to the III International Conference on AIDS, married couples with one HIV-free partner, using condoms for protection, tested HIV-positive in 17% of the cases after only a year and a half. Dr. Fishel stated in JAMA, the professional medical journal, "that one in three sexually active persons using condoms would contract HIV, not due to user failure, but due to condom leakage, seepage, breakage, and deterioration." Other studies, including the study done in 1992 by Carey and printed in the publication, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, "found leakage of HIV-sized particles through 33 % of the latex condoms in their test." In another test run by Steiner's, and printed in the 1992 issue of Contraception, they tested old and new lots of condoms. They found, "actual breakage rates of 3.5% to 8.8% in the newer and 9.8% to 18.6% for the older." Dr. Richard Gordon, a researcher and presenter at the AIDS International Conference, reported that he had studied, "live subjects using condoms coated with red dye for tracing purposes." His findings were seminal fluid would seep up and over the rims of intact condoms during intercourse. Thus, condom failures occur quite readily [2]. Even according to Consumer Reports, who did a study and rated condoms found that as a contraceptive, condoms are inexpensive and easy to acquire. But they are far from perfect. Condom reliability in preventing pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases depends on how it's measured. Researches don't count the number of individual condoms that fail, this would be impossible. They define contraceptive failure as the percentage of women who use a given method but who nonetheless become pregnant over a year's time. "For condoms, the typical failure rate is about 12%," for pregnancies occurring [3]. "If couples used the condoms consistently and correctly, researchers estimate, the failure rate would plummet to 2% to 3% or even less." It is estimated that approximately 2% to 5% of condoms tear during use. "Most of those failures," according to Consumer Reports, "are thought to stem from misuse, not inherent flaws." According to Consumer Reports, one of the favorite ways of testing condoms for inherent flaws is the water test ("manufactures pour 10 ounces of water into a condom, then press and roll it along blotter paper. If it leaks up to the equivalent of more than 4 per 1,000 condoms in a run, the entire lot must be scraped.") The smallest hole the water can find its way through is still 100 times bigger than the HIV virus, but officials, researchers, and the AIDS activist for science still believe the water test is sufficient enough. What sense does it make to tout condoms as the super hero of prevention (whether it is pregnancy, AIDS, or other STDS) when it is completely dependent on consistent and correct usage? The studies collective over the decades since the inception of latex condoms shows a significant drop in the rate of the spread of AIDS, but it does not cut it "quite to zero." A review in the 1992 American Journal of Public Health found that, "condoms on the average cut the risk of infection in half." How many more of our youth are we willing to let slide on the science of virtually? I guess when you play sexual roulette with AIDS, 2% to 5% isn't bad for science protection. Another perspective in the use of condoms to think on as well. If there is a "failure to prevent pregnancy in 18% of couples," in a study reported by Family Planning Perspectives, and "HIV is 450X smaller than sperm" wouldn't the likely hood of becoming infected by an HIV carrier be just as possible as becoming pregnant with the use of a condom? Even though a woman is really only fertile about nine days out of the month, HIV infection can occur anytime and any day of the year. Yes, science has brought down our uncontrollable animalistic behaviors to a latex rubber. The percentage rate when all factors of condom usage is followed to a 'T' is almost zero. 2% to 5% is but a nominal number in the grand scheme of all that is sexually ours to enjoy. So why bloviate against ideology? We know abstinence, and monogamy prevent sexually transmitted HIV/AIDS 100% from ever taking another human life. Do we as guardians against AIDS/HIV want to stand in every bedroom and make sure the male is using a fresh, non-defective, appropriately applied condom to guarantee that he is having safe-sex with who ever? No we do not. Just as I am sure we don't want to be placing ourselves between two amorous people telling each to abstain from sex until married. So, what do we do? Do we just set out a colorful bowl full of condoms at our front doors and remind our children as they leave the house not to forget their prophylactic? Do we go on treating people like animals in heat that cannot control their urges? Do we throw people condoms that aren't 100% guaranteed to save them from AIDS/HIV? Or, do we use common sense and dignity; do we entitle people of all ages with choices? People can choose whether to have sex outside of marriage or they can choose to abstain until married. People can choose to be guaranteed 100% that they will not contract diseases such as AIDS/HIV, Chlamydia, and other horrible Venereal Diseases. We are human beings, created like no other life on this planet, given free will, and the power to reason, the ability to utilize the precious gift of self-control. We need to teach each and every human being, that they are unique and able to overcome whatever challenges are before them and that includes abstaining until the couple pronounces- 'till death do us part.' Ideology, what a concept, and it's guaranteed 100% of the time.
[1] derekcrane.com [2] Marylin George- Condom Causalities Santa Rosa Education 5/2000
"Let Freedom Reign" K L Marsala The glorious day of handing the "reigns of freedom" over to Iraq has come and gone. Their day of Independence causes me to reflect back in time to the beginning of America. Iraq is but a babe in democracy, but she now has the chance to stretch and grow her own wings, and soar to the heights she desires. The hand over of sovereignty to Iraq from coalition forces took place quietly and two days ahead of schedule. There wasn't a great deal of fan fair, or press coverage. It was a time to reflect on where Iraq had come from, and an occasion for pondering future hopes and dreams. The birth of democracy is a time for celebration, but it should give pause for repose. Congress appointed a committee of five (Adams, Franklin, Jefferson, Sherman, and Livingston) to draw up America's declaration. Jefferson was given the duty of being the one who penned the papers, with Franklin and Adams deleting, changing, and adding here and there. When Congress reconvened on July 1, 1776 they set the documents of declaration before Congress. Until the eve of July 4th a number of changes and debates occurred. Over sixty changes were made, but not one of the "ancient principals'' our Declaration was based on, was taken away. According to historians, the agreement on the Declaration was done quietly and without fan fair. Congress continued on with the next item after all the documents were satisfactory. In fact, the first public hearing of the Declaration of Independence wasn't read till July 8th, 1776 to a cheering crowd of Philadelphia people. Our founder's documents of declaration were not even signed until many months later. Furthermore, the names of the delegates who signed were also kept concealed. There was fear of retaliation. Iraq has quietly signed her papers. She has announced to her people Iraq's sovereignty, and there is a mixed sense of elation and fear. Just as America's journey towards becoming a free people was met with gun battle from our enemy, Iraq's too is being met with insurgents who hate the idea of someone having a voice. The terrorists don't desire their people to be free. The murderous thugs don't want the Iraqi people to build a better life. Iraq has discovered there are three very important things to the happiness of humankind. First of all, humankind desires freedom-both personally and nationally. Secondly, all humankind desires prosperity- both personally and nationally. Thirdly, all humankind longs for peace and the means of escaping from the horrors of anguish, brought on by the plague of war. The Iraqi's day of 'Let Freedom Reign' has just begun. There will be hard and bloody days ahead. Remember in America's beginning we didn't just sign a document and not have to pay a price. We fought side by side, all races, all faiths, all ages- for what all humankind dream of. The Iraqi's days are just beginning, their fight, their stand, their "Declaration of Independence" from the tyranny of Saddam Hussein, al Qaeda, and other militant groups, who scream in the name of Allah, as they blow up, gas and behead their own people. The Iraqi citizens must find their own formula for freedom that works within their society. America, Britain, and their allies who believe in these principals will be supporting them, side by side with Iraqi soldiers, police, government officials, and parents alike to assist them and be a friend to the Iraqi people who have finally tasted the sweetness of freedom. May they keep freedom close to their hearts, and remember as Jefferson so solemnly stated, " If a nation expects to be ignorant and free as a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be if we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed." May Iraq heed these words and make application to their country as well. Happy Fourth of July America, remember who you are and where you came from. Happy journey Iraq, may your country be filled with rich blessings. Remember who you are and how your freedoms began. Buyers Remorse K L Marsala While talking with a car salesperson the other day, I asked them how their 'buyers remorse' worked. They proceeded to tell me, that as car sales people their main goal is to try and cover as many possible scenarios and questions for their potential customers prior to their purchase. It is the sales persons top responsibility to address all possible situations and offer up front all information to the customer on a vehicle they may be interested in purchasing. A good dealership always will listen tentatively to their customers desires and needs, then they will offer them complete information that is specifically designed for their unique car buying client. As it sometimes occurs, on rare occasions, a buyer may have second thoughts about their purchase after driving their new vehicle home. If this happens any outstanding dealership that is genuinely interested in their customers happiness and well being, offers what is a called a 72-hour 'buyers remorse'. Thusly allowing the customer full benefit of possibly changing their minds due to illness in the family, leg or head room on second thought wasn't adequate, changed their minds on the color, or decided that maybe their payment wasn't exactly what they were looking for. With excelling dealerships, this car sales person informed me, this rarely happens because they will strive to address all the possibilities before the customer signs on the dotted line. But the comfort of knowing that this option is there, to mull things over is a right any customer should have when they are making a decision that has a huge impact on their lives. I applaud the automobile sales companies that have such high standards for the working men and women of America. To care so much about the potential client and offer them all information, with the ability to even change their minds after purchase is wise and responsible. Any major decision within ones life should always be a decision made that is complete and well informed. Most of us would not walk right in post haste and even think of buying a car without doing some research on safety, reliability, and options. Nor, would many of us just take the car salespersons word at face value. No, we go home and think, research, study, mediate, discuss and so on before we lay down a huge chunk of our hard earned dollars. This is wise in all our decision making. Now lets take the idea of a '24 hour' waiting period to have an abortion and compare the decision making that those on the far left would like to push you through to do, without full information, research, study, mediating, discussion and so on for a short period of one full day. SB1007 has been struck down by Arizona's leading sales person, our Governor Janet Napolitano. She states that the bill 'represents intrusion.' I don't really believe our Governor read the bill, because there are not any intrusions, of any sort. Their doctor gives all information in its complete form to the patient (client). SB1007 stipulates that no abortion shall be performed without the voluntary and informed consent of the woman, but if there is a medical emergency provision is stated that the physician is to provide, before the abortion if possible, information to the woman for the medical reasons that the physician deems an abortion necessary to save the woman's life or prevent harm of major bodily functions. Might I ask what is wrong with a physician verbally informing a woman at least 24 hours before the abortion of the nature of the procedure or treatment, risks and alternatives, the gestational age of the unborn child and the medical risks relative to carrying the child to term? (As stated in SB1007). Lastly, the woman is to certify in writing before the abortion that the required information has been provided. Wait all this fuss by Napolitano and abortion rights activists is over making sure that a woman has full power? If the abortion activists are truly for a woman's right to choose, why wouldn't they support such legislation that I myself as a women, will be given full knowledge, information and sign on the dotted line that I agree with the procedure and life decision I am making? If I demand as a customer or client of an automobile dealership to give me the right to full disclosure about my decisions and to even have a 72 hour period to change my mind, why shouldn't I have the same rights when it comes to my own body? Yes, someone could walk through the doors tomorrow of any dealership and demand to buy a car on the spot without any information, disclosures, study, research or time to contemplate, but would one call such a half cocked, impulsive, nit wit intelligent? I think not. It would seem to me there is more to the abortion activists agenda than being 'pro-choice'. If this group of lobbyists for 'women's reproductive rights' is honestly trying to give all women kind control over their own bodies, then for heavens sake let a woman know exactly what she is 'buying' into and give her time to make an intelligent decision. Word to the Governor and those of you who support abortion, women are intelligent enough when given the facts and deserve the time to reflect to make choices that will be based on being well informed and comfortable with their own ability to control their own lives. I as a woman, if I am comfortable with my decision will be just as comfortable 24 hours later. Happy New Year...is that politically correct? K. L. Marsala Ah, another season of madness has passed. Our belts have been loosened- as our girth spreads and flops over our pants. Our garbage cans are full of politically correct wrapping paper and boxes. Bright colored ribbons bounce over the edges of our garbage cans- as the refuge containers line our neighborhood curbs- awaiting their garbage day pick-up. The refrigerators are filled with leftovers and our ovens are in desperate need of cleaning. Our closets and garages hold the over abundance of unneeded wants and desires. Smartly, we’ve scheduled our community second hand store pick-up to arrive soon, so that we might unload the undesirable gifts received and pass on the toys, electronics and tight fitting clothing on to a needier person or persons. We’ve already scavenged the malls for after “season” sales and returned the hideous tie Uncle George and Aunt Martha sent. Life is good here in America. It is now a few days before a new year begins for us. With the political correctness of the elites running amok I am not sure whether saying “Happy New Year” would be acceptable or politically correct. After all that wouldn’t be recognizing so many other nationalities and their new year- now would it? How about “Happy anytime or place you wish to be in this space time continuum?” Will that satisfy? Doubt it. There have been many commentaries on the ridiculousness of the radical secularist who are trying to demean anything that sounds remotely “religious.” I never dreamed in my lifetime that saying the words “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Chanukah” could be made to sound like a dirty curse word. (Amazingly enough though a student can tell their teacher at our public schools to go f*** themselves and only receive a timid reprimand from our bound and gagged educational system.) Strange- every time I walked around the mall and heard generic holiday music and saw the mall Christmas tree it never moved anyone around me into a conversion of Christianity. I thought with all the hubbub being made over nativities, Christmas songs, trees, Menorah’s, and the ten commandments that someone was bound to be hit by the uncontrollable urge to run through the mall and scream “I’ve been born again against my will!” or to begin their conversion towards Judaism, yelling in Yiddish- “ Where’s the nearest Kosher deli! I’m in serious need of some matzo balls and gefilte fish!” Come on people, honestly have you ever seen anyone being forced to convert by a large brightly decorated tree at the mall? When was the last time a Menorah forced anyone to become a Jew? Does the crescent and star symbols of Islam drive you to want to become Muslim? Does a little happy Buddha statue sold at your local floral section in the grocery store coerce you to become Buddhist? The only thing a pine tree decorated with lights should really do to anyone is convert them back to paganism since this is where the holiday season of Christmas originated from. It was those darn Catholics who “Christianized” the celebrating of the Winter Solstice by those pagan Druids and others, so they could feel good about merging two religions into one (the merchants who wanted to make money were probably a part of this evil plot too). So wouldn’t you think that the secularists would be all for this? Pagan day on the 25th of December, the elves would fit right in- wouldn’t they? Really it seems to me every year the only god that gets worshiped during this season, by a large portion of the population, is the god of excess. Too much food, too much drink, too much material garbage that satisfies our longings for maybe thirty days at the most before we want bigger and better. Now I am not saying that there are not those of you out there who truly feel a burning in your bosom of gratitude for the birth of Christ, nor those of you who truly appreciate the meaning of Chanukah- but overall do we not attach too much materialism to this time of year? Why can’t the concerned secularists lobby our courts over the excess of the gimme, gimmes? If they truly are that concerned over the indoctrination of our nation- the religion of gluttony should be a major cause for those who haven’t anything better to do with their time than push their agenda of wanting to take away our freedoms. Forgive me if I just don’t understand your fears secularists (and I am sure there will those of you who will email and explain to me my stupidity for not seeing the evils of moral Judeo-Christian ethics). Our founding fathers based so much of whom we are as a people and a nation on the ethics and principals found within... the Bible. The founders didn’t want a state run religion such as the one they had left in England, shoot I’d say we all can agree to that. No one wants one religion dictating to them, but the basis of our society cannot be denied. The secularists fear our foundation, they fear our base, and they fear our cornerstone. Secularists and those of you who agree with them, you are welcome to leave and live anywhere else in this world. You are free to find those who oppose our desired form of established government. Join their country and live with those you are likeminded with. Support those countries with your tax dollars, build your business’ there, and live among those who agree with your interpretation of how you think a country should work, but leave America alone. We happen to like the way our founding fathers established her. We like the fact that we believe that we have been endowed by a Creator and we like to recognize the one we honor and give gratitude to freely- because we are free in this country to do so. Just like anyone else who lives here. We may freely recognize our deity by signs, symbols, banners and such like. The only real threat to freedom comes from radicals who want to suppress those who want the right to be free to express their beliefs- uninhibited by those who wish to squash freedom of religion (our constitution doesn't claim from religion). Get a grip. A pine tree, a candlestick, a flag, a statue, a light, a birth scene, nor a jolly fat little red suited old man hasn’t caused near as much confusion, sadness or chaos as has the secularists who don’t want little Tommy to sing “O Come All Ye Faithful” or “Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel... ” at his school, outside the public courthouse or even listening to it at the mall. Heaven forbid Tommy, should ever say- “Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah” as he hands back the lady, who just purchased 385.00 dollars worth of plastic encased electronic toys, on her over abused credit card. This is the United States, and Christmas and Chanukah have now passed- so take this you secularist hum bugs! Happy New Year, Happy Valentines Day, Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Happy Yom Kippur and Happy or Merry anything else to anyone who loves freedom and wants to celebrate with their family, friends and loved ones their special holidays. Let the songs ring through our stores, let the words of celebration and elation flow from the merchants smiling lips, let the children enjoy happiness and the magic that comes with every season here in the United States. Let us enjoy our freedoms to celebrate publicly and privately our own special dates, times and hours. Giving honor and respect to all celebrations. Wishing all of you a most peaceful and joyous of New Years. Be happy we live in the land of the free and the home of the brave- Happy New Year America! There now, that is the only appropriate and correct way to say it.
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Ray Ramono--Stand Up For Your Rights!
Kerry L Marsala
It's time for men to stand up and take back their rights as men. Men have been pushed around, put down, made fun of, and ridiculed far too long. Men are portrayed in sit-coms, movies, and commercials as being nothing but stupid most of the time. Where are the men's rights groups? Where is their version of NOW? Where are their advocates? We women have them, why can't the men?
In the beginning God created male and female. The male was to be the decisive and logically thinking side and the female was created to be the emotional and nurturing side. Both perfect counter balances to each other-both sides are representative of the Creator.
There are crossovers of strength and character between the sexes. Men by nature are physically stronger and able to endure impossible tasks of strenuous proportions. Men can lift and carry more weight than women; their percentage of muscle mass is higher. Women are naturally strong as well; we can carry a growing child within our bodies for nine months and still drive, work and live our daily lives. Men at times are extremely emotional, watch what happens when their favorite team looses the play-offs. Women at times can be extremely logical, did you ever hear a mother act as judge and jury between two fighting children? She uses great logic in settling major battles on the home front.
Each sex has remarkable gifts and abilities unique to their own, and when they are used properly they work beautifully.
For sometime now, women have been contributing to a slow degeneration of what needs to find balance, if we are to survive as men and women. Due to an over zealous pendulum swing men have been under constant attack and it needs to stop.
Watch the comedy show Raymond for a few episodes and you will witness how Raymond's TV wife and mother treat him. Sure it's comedy, but it seems to be the reflection of an overall prevailing attitude from American women in general--- personified in a half-hour sitcom. Men are looked at as being louses, who are insensitive, dumb, clueless, cave men. Just because men think differently and buy tickets to the Superbowl instead of the ballet for our anniversary present doesn't make them bad guys. Just because men don't have female hormonal fluctuations every fifteen seconds, doesn't mean they can't be helped to understand how PMS and Menopause affects womankind. Even after full explanation is given, they will need reminders constantly because they don't live in our bodies-give them a break!
We as women have hurt men tremendously by the way we treat them as mere sperm donors and not expect them to be real dads. Yes, there are lousy guys who go around impregnating women and leave, so does this give women the right to use men for their sperm and then walk away? Why is it okay for women not to allow men any contact or perhaps desired responsibility for a child? And yes, I even question why men don't have any say on aborting their babies. I know you're screaming, "IT'S MY BODY, HANDS OFF!" But what about the men who don't desire doing away with their child? What if they wanted to take their child and raise it after birth? Why do men have absolutely no rights in pregnancy? Is it all based on because we women carry the child in our wombs--- so we have full say?
Too often the Hollywood types have now bought into just wanting the sperm donation all to fulfill their need to have a kid. How selfish we women have become, we leave the most important part out of the miracle of creation-it's called love between a man and a woman. Love so powerful that it protects and nurtures each other from all outside forces, it shelters those whom they have created from all elements that may want to harm it. Men have a choice to be more than just sperm donors; they can actually be real dads. Just as women have a choice as to whether they want to be more than just a depository for the other half of the chromosomal make up of a human being.
Men are wonderful---they're unique, they're our counter-balances. Men are worth more than the treatment and abuse they've been receiving. Men are not all crummy; most desire an equal relationship with a woman they love.
Men, you need to decide for yourselves, because it's only the individuals who can change how others are treating them. Do you continue to let women treat you like you haven't an IQ higher than a six pack of Bud, a bowl full of Nachos and Monday Football with the guys? Do you continue to let women poke fun at you over the fact that you process information differently? No, you don't need to tolerate it any longer. And women we need to treat our men with the same R-E-S-P-E-C-T we demand of them.
Can you imagine if a sitcom was created to make fun of women who suffer from hot flashes? We could portray men ridiculing women for their irrational behavior, their inability to cool down, their propensity not to remember things (like wear she put the checkbook), their burning of the food, their zero sex drive, their constant crying and in general their acting and looking like something the cat drug in. I don't think women in general would allow that style of sitcom, movie or commercial to play more than once and they shouldn't either--and men--neither should you.
So the real question is: Are you A Man or just a male sperm with fecundating fluid that enjoys being kicked in the groin?
Holy Parental Injustices Batman!
K L Marsala
The media is missing the desperate message being sent out by parents who feel they have had their parental rights revoked. When Jason Hatch (a member of Fathers 4 Justice) decided to model his Batman Crusader outfit, and scale the walls of Buckingham Palace, Hatch's show to the world wasn't- see the lack of security surrounding her majesty's playground- this was the last thing on this father's mind. What drives a parent, whether a mom or a dad, into pulling on uncomfortable grey tights, neatly tying a cape around their neck's and risking life and limb to make a point that deserves attention? Are people like Mr. Hatch just irresponsible kook's who need to be locked up or are they really frustrated parent's who want to be a part of their children's lives? What is the message we should be taking from this and are Hatch's antics really delivering it correctly?
This isn't the first outlandish performance given by Jason Hatch and it probably won't be his last. Hatch (who said he changed his last name after his split from his former wife Victoria Jones) had also staged the scaling of the Clifton suspension bridge in Bristol, clambered up York Minster and climbed to the top of Gloucester family court. There are parents who have legitimate reasons to fight for their rights to see and be a part of their children's lives, but I am afraid the instability of someone like a Mr. Hatch may do more harm than good for their cause. How stable is a parent who has had several children by three different women? Mr. Hatch had two children with his former wife Ms. Jones, one child with another woman in another relationship and a six-month-old baby with his current girlfriend. When you try and glue the intent of fatherhood to Mr. Hatch you come away with a parent who spends much of his time in court fighting his stage antics and a parent whom cannot seem to commit to one relationship with one woman, how stable is this parent? Aren't these the facts the court systems need to be reviewing?
The taste left in the public's mouth over Mr. Hatch and his coordination efforts for media coverage of helping parental rights isn't going to be very palatable. When you are trying to garner sympathy for your plight- observers first peer at a person's stability. That is the way it is, you cannot change people and their first impressions and judgements of your lifestyle and your engagement into activism.
I've talked with many parents and grandparents who feel the laws are skewed in dealing with all the complexities of split homes. The sad fact of the matter is, because of the stupidity and selfishness of the parents, it is the children who suffer the most. The stories of good dads having their children ripped from their loving arms is astounding. This scenario though plays itself out not only for fathers, bu | |
