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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
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 Blacks were not allowed to sit with , across or with in 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 In Montgomery Montgomery 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.with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.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.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, with in many nations, and with in many villages worldwide we need now more than ever to take a seat- an immovable seat- and dare to live the dream. 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
This case, which should never have become a topic at America
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
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
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
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 Royal Hospital for Neurodisability in London
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.
Monday, May 22, 2006
Kerry L. Marsala- www.therant.us
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.
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
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
DiCaprio, Bullock, Nelson, Leno- Putting Their Money Where Their Hearts Are
K L Marsala 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?
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, but for grandparents and sometimes for mothers. More often than not in the court system it's the mom who receives preferential treatment, she is the one who controls the situation. To balance this situation each case must be carefully analyzed and the conclusions need to be addressed independently of other cases. Certainly there have been times when it is the mother who is unfit.
There are many exceptions to the rules, we know there are parents (moms, dads, grandparents) who do not deserve to have any contact with their children. They may be child molesters, abusers, or drug addicts, these type of parents need the court systems to step in and protect the innocent who haven't any control or defense. We aren't talking of these types of parents though, we need to be addressing those who are being unjustly dealt with and who deserve their rights to parenthood.
What can parents who really desire to be parents do when divorce rears its ugly head and destroys a home? This is what rights groups like Fathers 4 Justice really need to be working on, not playing drama queen roles. Irrational drama always turns the public's support away from what needs to be fixed. The point as a whole is supposed to be about the children and their needs. Parents and grandparents need to set aside their selfish ambitions and remember who it is they are supposed to be protecting. No, this will not be easy. The opposing parents often lie and make statements that are not true in order to hurt the other spouse. These are the types of parents who are just as selfish as those who go around and reproduce children outside a committed relationship. Our hearts need to go out to these parents who are having their children stolen from them by the viciousness of a former spouse. We need parental rights groups to work through the justice system, fight with the law on their side, pray for the best thing to happen for their children and to place the focus on loving their child-not just trying to win or score in the battle of the "Jones'."
Mr. Hatch and his capped crusaders are doing more to hurt the cause of parental rights. Fathers 4 Justice have an undeniable truth within their organization, parents and grandparents have rights to their children, but their execution of said fight needs to be taken back to the "Bat Cave." It's time for Batman and Robin to have a session with the wisdom of "Alfred." Perhaps then the tuning of the "Bat Channel" might become clearer and the timing of "Bat Time" may be more affective in protecting what we all really want as parents and grandparents, and that is the loving, caring and raising of our own offspring. We all need to take responsibility and be a part of what we've created.
Just Give Them a Pill
K Marsala
ABC's and 123's- all across this nation our public schools are reaping what we've so carelessly sown as parents.
There are sixth graders having sex before comprehension of consequences, and there are seventh grade students lying in hospital beds after a Wednesday morning "cat fight" at a local Jr. High School. We've first graders lashing out in anger at their teachers, and we've police officers being called in because fourth grade students are threatening their teachers with physical harm. Jr. Highs are practicing lockdowns as routinely as fire drills. High Schools have weapons and narcotic shakedowns on a regular basis to keep the students under control. Almost every campus in America-- from High School down to grade school-- have police officers patrolling their campuses, ticking their walks to the beat of our school time clocks.
America's children are exploding emotionally. What are we as their parents going to do?
As the teachers try and schedule conferences with the student's parents for the first time, the reasons for our problems become clear. The rising numbers of parents who don't show interest in their children's academic achievements or needs have quadrupled in the last couple of years. These children are falling quickly through the cracks and are being sucked down the abyss of, "No one cares about me, so why in the world should I care?" When a teacher calls repeatedly to meet with the parents or a parent, and the line of communication finally opens-- the answer from the parents is, "I've done what I can, it's your turn to fix them." Better yet many times the answer is "Well, I'll ask their doctor if we can just up their meds, then they'll behave better."
Fortunately we still have parents who are raising their children in stable, nurturing homes. They discipline their children with love, help them with their homework, back up the teacher's request to help their child excel, take them to social activities and monitor their friendships. The children of these parents are doing the best they can to help grow strong adults, but these children are mixed in with a growing majority of time bombs--labeled "troubled students." Plus, depending on what part of the country you live in, throw into this mixture of problem students' those who cannot speak English. Not only do we have children in classrooms who are easily distracted, constantly vying for attention (negative mostly), spewing out words of profanity, and dressing like cheap two dollar whores, but we also have those who cannot even read or write in English.
Surprised? This is all sitting in our classrooms daily-- our children completely lost and devoid of any chance of understanding why their parents have left them to their own devices. With 28% of our children under the age of 18 as of 1999 living in single parent homes, our society has created an atmosphere more often than not that fosters chaos and stress. This is not to say there aren't many single parents doing their jobs, some better than two parent households, but the general mirror is a reflection on how many of us as parents are behaving abhorrently. A group of Oregon scholars recently divulged in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing that not only are the risks high for mental and emotional disorders increasing, but the number of public age school children are at risk for mental and socioemotional outcomes, this truly is alarming. When the studies compared single parent homes to their married peers, single parent homes were likely to report aggravation in trying to juggle bills, rent, daycare and with all these stresses being handled by a single parent the load at times causes the single parent mental problems. This study showed that children who are now developing these multiple mental health conditions are now carrying them to school. Their findings showed at times there's no single parent, in fact at times there's no parent at all. The Oregon scholars are seeing serious implications in the familial disintegration, which has now put six percent of children under the age of eighteen in grandparent-headed households. These grandparents are doing their best to respond to the problems of this parentless generation (brought on by divorce, incarceration, or child abuse); but many of these grandparents are often single and therefore are more likely to live in poverty.
When did we as the responsible adults decide that we'd just give birth to this human being, dress it up, play with it when convenient, call it our son or daughter, and then just hand it over to the world to deal with when we didn't want to deal anymore? How did we become so selfish and self-centered? Where did it become okay not to take care, love and nurture your own flesh and blood? Why when children misbehave do we automatically feel we must run to the doctor and demand a pill to control their behaviors? Are we raising a generation of children on "Mother's little helpers?" We must be, because it would seem we don't want to deal with behavioral problems at all. According to a recent study released by, CMDA News and Views on 8/19/04, ADHD is hard to diagnose, but once diagnosed can be treated. Many of our children may be suffering from bipolar disorder. If we continue to react though to what our public schools report home about behavior problems and not deal directly with the individual patient we are misdiagnosing and treating unfavorably problems or pseudo problems. Many of the cases of behavior problems can be contributed to substance abuse used by the mother when pregnant or by a chaotic living environment. Our nation is looking at a growing problem of children who are at mental risk.
We know that at times some children and adults aren't wired right and they need medicines so they can "reconnect" or restore the brains neurons correctly. But it would seem that pill popping our children because we can't cope with being parents has become the 21st century cure all for discipline. I don't have the time to spank Johnny when he needs it. I don't have time to sit and help Samantha with her homework. I don't have time to meet Scott's new friend from school. I don't have time to shop with my daughter, Sheila, so I just give her my credit card and trust her judgement. I, I, I or maybe better yet- I am just too selfish and I don't deserve these precious gifts that were given to me. Self-centered and parenthood seem to go hand in hand in today's society, so just give my kid a pill would you?
What do you think these lost children of today are going to do without a loving caregiver? How can we as parents expect anything out of our youth today when we won't invest in them? We'll invest in stocks, plastic surgeries, manicures, dye jobs, shopping excursions, career climbing, sports cars, oversized houses, but we won't invest in our children. We won't invest in the most important production we decide to create. Could it be possible that in order to have overall academic success as well as emotional health that we need to return to marital and family commitments? With a return to stability in the home, where mother and father work together as a unit, could we resolve the explosion of mental and behavioral problems were are seeing in today's youth?
What will happen to these uncared for children of today? What will they become without someone to love them and show them the way? Oh, these kids today, they are survivors. They'll find ways to obtain love- pregnancy out of wedlock-several times over- abortions- moving from relationship to relationship- drugs, alcohol, psychiatrist couches, mental hospital wards, performing another Columbine, and quite possibly the sad repeat of the next generation who will be raised to put "I" first before anyone or anything else. To what end will our cities, states, countries, and world become, because no one will take the time to love their children?
Our children are ready and waiting for us, what are we waiting for? Hell and fury or just the next hour they're scheduled to receive their "magic" pill?
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, but for grandparents and sometimes for mothers. More often than not in the court system it's the mom who receives preferential treatment, she is the one who controls the situation. To balance this situation each case must be carefully analyzed and the conclusions need to be addressed independently of other cases. Certainly there have been times when it is the mother who is unfit.
There are many exceptions to the rules, we know there are parents (moms, dads, grandparents) who do not deserve to have any contact with their children. They may be child molesters, abusers, or drug addicts, these type of parents need the court systems to step in and protect the innocent who haven't any control or defense. We aren't talking of these types of parents though, we need to be addressing those who are being unjustly dealt with and who deserve their rights to parenthood.
What can parents who really desire to be parents do when divorce rears its ugly head and destroys a home? This is what rights groups like Fathers 4 Justice really need to be working on, not playing drama queen roles. Irrational drama always turns the public's support away from what needs to be fixed. The point as a whole is supposed to be about the children and their needs. Parents and grandparents need to set aside their selfish ambitions and remember who it is they are supposed to be protecting. No, this will not be easy. The opposing parents often lie and make statements that are not true in order to hurt the other spouse. These are the types of parents who are just as selfish as those who go around and reproduce children outside a committed relationship. Our hearts need to go out to these parents who are having their children stolen from them by the viciousness of a former spouse. We need parental rights groups to work through the justice system, fight with the law on their side, pray for the best thing to happen for their children and to place the focus on loving their child-not just trying to win or score in the battle of the "Jones'."
Mr. Hatch and his capped crusaders are doing more to hurt the cause of parental rights. Fathers 4 Justice have an undeniable truth within their organization, parents and grandparents have rights to their children, but their execution of said fight needs to be taken back to the "Bat Cave." It's time for Batman and Robin to have a session with the wisdom of "Alfred." Perhaps then the tuning of the "Bat Channel" might become clearer and the timing of "Bat Time" may be more affective in protecting what we all really want as parents and grandparents, and that is the loving, caring and raising of our own offspring. We all need to take responsibility and be a part of what we've created.
Just Give Them a Pill
K Marsala
ABC's and 123's- all across this nation our public schools are reaping what we've so carelessly sown as parents.
There are sixth graders having sex before comprehension of consequences, and there are seventh grade students lying in hospital beds after a Wednesday morning "cat fight" at a local Jr. High School. We've first graders lashing out in anger at their teachers, and we've police officers being called in because fourth grade students are threatening their teachers with physical harm. Jr. Highs are practicing lockdowns as routinely as fire drills. High Schools have weapons and narcotic shakedowns on a regular basis to keep the students under control. Almost every campus in America-- from High School down to grade school-- have police officers patrolling their campuses, ticking their walks to the beat of our school time clocks.
America's children are exploding emotionally. What are we as their parents going to do?
As the teachers try and schedule conferences with the student's parents for the first time, the reasons for our problems become clear. The rising numbers of parents who don't show interest in their children's academic achievements or needs have quadrupled in the last couple of years. These children are falling quickly through the cracks and are being sucked down the abyss of, "No one cares about me, so why in the world should I care?" When a teacher calls repeatedly to meet with the parents or a parent, and the line of communication finally opens-- the answer from the parents is, "I've done what I can, it's your turn to fix them." Better yet many times the answer is "Well, I'll ask their doctor if we can just up their meds, then they'll behave better."
Fortunately we still have parents who are raising their children in stable, nurturing homes. They discipline their children with love, help them with their homework, back up the teacher's request to help their child excel, take them to social activities and monitor their friendships. The children of these parents are doing the best they can to help grow strong adults, but these children are mixed in with a growing majority of time bombs--labeled "troubled students." Plus, depending on what part of the country you live in, throw into this mixture of problem students' those who cannot speak English. Not only do we have children in classrooms who are easily distracted, constantly vying for attention (negative mostly), spewing out words of profanity, and dressing like cheap two dollar whores, but we also have those who cannot even read or write in English.
Surprised? This is all sitting in our classrooms daily-- our children completely lost and devoid of any chance of understanding why their parents have left them to their own devices. With 28% of our children under the age of 18 as of 1999 living in single parent homes, our society has created an atmosphere more often than not that fosters chaos and stress. This is not to say there aren't many single parents doing their jobs, some better than two parent households, but the general mirror is a reflection on how many of us as parents are behaving abhorrently. A group of Oregon scholars recently divulged in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing that not only are the risks high for mental and emotional disorders increasing, but the number of public age school children are at risk for mental and socioemotional outcomes, this truly is alarming. When the studies compared single parent homes to their married peers, single parent homes were likely to report aggravation in trying to juggle bills, rent, daycare and with all these stresses being handled by a single parent the load at times causes the single parent mental problems. This study showed that children who are now developing these multiple mental health conditions are now carrying them to school. Their findings showed at times there's no single parent, in fact at times there's no parent at all. The Oregon scholars are seeing serious implications in the familial disintegration, which has now put six percent of children under the age of eighteen in grandparent-headed households. These grandparents are doing their best to respond to the problems of this parentless generation (brought on by divorce, incarceration, or child abuse); but many of these grandparents are often single and therefore are more likely to live in poverty.
When did we as the responsible adults decide that we'd just give birth to this human being, dress it up, play with it when convenient, call it our son or daughter, and then just hand it over to the world to deal with when we didn't want to deal anymore? How did we become so selfish and self-centered? Where did it become okay not to take care, love and nurture your own flesh and blood? Why when children misbehave do we automatically feel we must run to the doctor and demand a pill to control their behaviors? Are we raising a generation of children on "Mother's little helpers?" We must be, because it would seem we don't want to deal with behavioral problems at all. According to a recent study released by, CMDA News and Views on 8/19/04, ADHD is hard to diagnose, but once diagnosed can be treated. Many of our children may be suffering from bipolar disorder. If we continue to react though to what our public schools report home about behavior problems and not deal directly with the individual patient we are misdiagnosing and treating unfavorably problems or pseudo problems. Many of the cases of behavior problems can be contributed to substance abuse used by the mother when pregnant or by a chaotic living environment. Our nation is looking at a growing problem of children who are at mental risk.
We know that at times some children and adults aren't wired right and they need medicines so they can "reconnect" or restore the brains neurons correctly. But it would seem that pill popping our children because we can't cope with being parents has become the 21st century cure all for discipline. I don't have the time to spank Johnny when he needs it. I don't have time to sit and help Samantha with her homework. I don't have time to meet Scott's new friend from school. I don't have time to shop with my daughter, Sheila, so I just give her my credit card and trust her judgement. I, I, I or maybe better yet- I am just too selfish and I don't deserve these precious gifts that were given to me. Self-centered and parenthood seem to go hand in hand in today's society, so just give my kid a pill would you?
What do you think these lost children of today are going to do without a loving caregiver? How can we as parents expect anything out of our youth today when we won't invest in them? We'll invest in stocks, plastic surgeries, manicures, dye jobs, shopping excursions, career climbing, sports cars, oversized houses, but we won't invest in our children. We won't invest in the most important production we decide to create. Could it be possible that in order to have overall academic success as well as emotional health that we need to return to marital and family commitments? With a return to stability in the home, where mother and father work together as a unit, could we resolve the explosion of mental and behavioral problems were are seeing in today's youth?
What will happen to these uncared for children of today? What will they become without someone to love them and show them the way? Oh, these kids today, they are survivors. They'll find ways to obtain love- pregnancy out of wedlock-several times over- abortions- moving from relationship to relationship- drugs, alcohol, psychiatrist couches, mental hospital wards, performing another Columbine, and quite possibly the sad repeat of the next generation who will be raised to put "I" first before anyone or anything else. To what end will our cities, states, countries, and world become, because no one will take the time to love their children?
Our children are ready and waiting for us, what are we waiting for? Hell and fury or just the next hour they're scheduled to receive their "magic" pill?
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, but for grandparents and sometimes for mothers. More often than not in the court system it's the mom who receives preferential treatment, she is the one who controls the situation. To balance this situation each case must be carefully analyzed and the conclusions need to be addressed independently of other cases. Certainly there have been times when it is the mother who is unfit.
There are many exceptions to the rules, we know there are parents (moms, dads, grandparents) who do not deserve to have any contact with their children. They may be child molesters, abusers, or drug addicts, these type of parents need the court systems to step in and protect the innocent who haven't any control or defense. We aren't talking of these types of parents though, we need to be addressing those who are being unjustly dealt with and who deserve their rights to parenthood.
What can parents who really desire to be parents do when divorce rears its ugly head and destroys a home? This is what rights groups like Fathers 4 Justice really need to be working on, not playing drama queen roles. Irrational drama always turns the public's support away from what needs to be fixed. The point as a whole is supposed to be about the children and their needs. Parents and grandparents need to set aside their selfish ambitions and remember who it is they are supposed to be protecting. No, this will not be easy. The opposing parents often lie and make statements that are not true in order to hurt the other spouse. These are the types of parents who are just as selfish as those who go around and reproduce children outside a committed relationship. Our hearts need to go out to these parents who are having their children stolen from them by the viciousness of a former spouse. We need parental rights groups to work through the justice system, fight with the law on their side, pray for the best thing to happen for their children and to place the focus on loving their child-not just trying to win or score in the battle of the "Jones'."
Mr. Hatch and his capped crusaders are doing more to hurt the cause of parental rights. Fathers 4 Justice have an undeniable truth within their organization, parents and grandparents have rights to their children, but their execution of said fight needs to be taken back to the "Bat Cave." It's time for Batman and Robin to have a session with the wisdom of "Alfred." Perhaps then the tuning of the "Bat Channel" might become clearer and the timing of "Bat Time" may be more affective in protecting what we all really want as parents and grandparents, and that is the loving, caring and raising of our own offspring. We all need to take responsibility and be a part of what we've created.
ABC's and 123's- all across this nation our public schools are reaping what we've so carelessly sown as parents.
There are sixth graders having sex before comprehension of consequences, and there are seventh grade students lying in hospital beds after a Wednesday morning "cat fight" at a local Jr. High School. We've first graders lashing out in anger at their teachers, and we've police officers being called in because fourth grade students are threatening their teachers with physical harm. Jr. Highs are practicing lockdowns as routinely as fire drills. High Schools have weapons and narcotic shakedowns on a regular basis to keep the students under control. Almost every campus in America-- from High School down to grade school-- have police officers patrolling their campuses, ticking their walks to the beat of our school time clocks.
America's children are exploding emotionally. What are we as their parents going to do?
As the teachers try and schedule conferences with the student's parents for the first time, the reasons for our problems become clear. The rising numbers of parents who don't show interest in their children's academic achievements or needs have quadrupled in the last couple of years. These children are falling quickly through the cracks and are being sucked down the abyss of, "No one cares about me, so why in the world should I care?" When a teacher calls repeatedly to meet with the parents or a parent, and the line of communication finally opens-- the answer from the parents is, "I've done what I can, it's your turn to fix them." Better yet many times the answer is "Well, I'll ask their doctor if we can just up their meds, then they'll behave better."
Fortunately we still have parents who are raising their children in stable, nurturing homes. They discipline their children with love, help them with their homework, back up the teacher's request to help their child excel, take them to social activities and monitor their friendships. The children of these parents are doing the best they can to help grow strong adults, but these children are mixed in with a growing majority of time bombs--labeled "troubled students." Plus, depending on what part of the country you live in, throw into this mixture of problem students' those who cannot speak English. Not only do we have children in classrooms who are easily distracted, constantly vying for attention (negative mostly), spewing out words of profanity, and dressing like cheap two dollar whores, but we also have those who cannot even read or write in English.
Surprised? This is all sitting in our classrooms daily-- our children completely lost and devoid of any chance of understanding why their parents have left them to their own devices. With 28% of our children under the age of 18 as of 1999 living in single parent homes, our society has created an atmosphere more often than not that fosters chaos and stress. This is not to say there aren't many single parents doing their jobs, some better than two parent households, but the general mirror is a reflection on how many of us as parents are behaving abhorrently. A group of Oregon scholars recently divulged in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing that not only are the risks high for mental and emotional disorders increasing, but the number of public age school children are at risk for mental and socioemotional outcomes, this truly is alarming. When the studies compared single parent homes to their married peers, single parent homes were likely to report aggravation in trying to juggle bills, rent, daycare and with all these stresses being handled by a single parent the load at times causes the single parent mental problems. This study showed that children who are now developing these multiple mental health conditions are now carrying them to school. Their findings showed at times there's no single parent, in fact at times there's no parent at all. The Oregon scholars are seeing serious implications in the familial disintegration, which has now put six percent of children under the age of eighteen in grandparent-headed households. These grandparents are doing their best to respond to the problems of this parentless generation (brought on by divorce, incarceration, or child abuse); but many of these grandparents are often single and therefore are more likely to live in poverty.
When did we as the responsible adults decide that we'd just give birth to this human being, dress it up, play with it when convenient, call it our son or daughter, and then just hand it over to the world to deal with when we didn't want to deal anymore? How did we become so selfish and self-centered? Where did it become okay not to take care, love and nurture your own flesh and blood? Why when children misbehave do we automatically feel we must run to the doctor and demand a pill to control their behaviors? Are we raising a generation of children on "Mother's little helpers?" We must be, because it would seem we don't want to deal with behavioral problems at all. According to a recent study released by, CMDA News and Views on 8/19/04, ADHD is hard to diagnose, but once diagnosed can be treated. Many of our children may be suffering from bipolar disorder. If we continue to react though to what our public schools report home about behavior problems and not deal directly with the individual patient we are misdiagnosing and treating unfavorably problems or pseudo problems. Many of the cases of behavior problems can be contributed to substance abuse used by the mother when pregnant or by a chaotic living environment. Our nation is looking at a growing problem of children who are at mental risk.
We know that at times some children and adults aren't wired right and they need medicines so they can "reconnect" or restore the brains neurons correctly. But it would seem that pill popping our children because we can't cope with being parents has become the 21st century cure all for discipline. I don't have the time to spank Johnny when he needs it. I don't have time to sit and help Samantha with her homework. I don't have time to meet Scott's new friend from school. I don't have time to shop with my daughter, Sheila, so I just give her my credit card and trust her judgement. I, I, I or maybe better yet- I am just too selfish and I don't deserve these precious gifts that were given to me. Self-centered and parenthood seem to go hand in hand in today's society, so just give my kid a pill would you?
What do you think these lost children of today are going to do without a loving caregiver? How can we as parents expect anything out of our youth today when we won't invest in them? We'll invest in stocks, plastic surgeries, manicures, dye jobs, shopping excursions, career climbing, sports cars, oversized houses, but we won't invest in our children. We won't invest in the most important production we decide to create. Could it be possible that in order to have overall academic success as well as emotional health that we need to return to marital and family commitments? With a return to stability in the home, where mother and father work together as a unit, could we resolve the explosion of mental and behavioral problems were are seeing in today's youth?
What will happen to these uncared for children of today? What will they become without someone to love them and show them the way? Oh, these kids today, they are survivors. They'll find ways to obtain love- pregnancy out of wedlock-several times over- abortions- moving from relationship to relationship- drugs, alcohol, psychiatrist couches, mental hospital wards, performing another Columbine, and quite possibly the sad repeat of the next generation who will be raised to put "I" first before anyone or anything else. To what end will our cities, states, countries, and world become, because no one will take the time to love their children?
Our children are ready and waiting for us, what are we waiting for? Hell and fury or just the next hour they're scheduled to receive their "magic" pill?
Cheney Says the Mother of All Words
K L Marsala
Oh, fudge! Cheney stands accused of utilizing one of the many terms the FCC has listed as 'fineable' words. According to the 'sources', Senator Patrick Leahy approached Cheney after they had come to the chamber for the annual photo; they exchanged heated dialogue over the Democrats attacks on Vice President Cheneys ethics. The frank exchange reportedly ended with Cheney saying, "Go (expletive) yourself."
If the report is true, what does the use of the aforementioned expletive by Vice President Cheney really say about his character? Let's take a journey back in time.
For several years, the radio airwaves have carried the foul language, and innuendoes of Howard Stern. Until recently, Mr. Stern let the free flow of filthy language travel uninhibited by time and space. Even though the FCC and some offended activists are trying to pull Stern off the airwaves, for his loose tongue and vile actions, his minions find his sarcastic, ear-stinging circus of antics hilarious. His audience proclaims Stern to be a comedic genius. So, by their standards, it's okay to use the 'mother of all bad words', if you're funny.
Way out west, Arizona has a Senator named John McCain. McCain is recognized by his constituents to be a 'Maverick'. He's a John Wayne of sorts, rugged and strong, don't mess with me, former POW. Senator McCain is well known for his use of expletives around Washington DC. Many of those who've worked for McCain assert that you know where you stand with the man. His unequivocal ideas are underscored by a quick temper, and seasoned well with strong language. So, for Senator McCain, the use of curse words and strong language makes him a 'Maverick.' Maverick's are to be respected; they're referred to as, a man's man.
Lastly, remember John Kerry's interview with Rolling Stone magazine? It was
2 December 2003, Senator John Kerry, the man desiring the presidency of the United States, let the 'mother of all bad words' fly in a moment of trying to be cool.
The interviewer, Will Dana asks Kerry; "Did you feel you were blindsided by Dean's success?" The hip and cool, candle faced Kerry replied- "Well, not blindsided. I mean, when I voted for the war, I voted for what I thought was best for the country. Did I expect Howard Dean to go off to the left and say, "I'm against everything"? Sure. Did I expect George Bush to f*** it up as badly as he did? I don't think anybody did."
Well, well, well, when you're running for President and trying to get out 'and rock the vote', using expletives must be an effective tool in reaching the ages of 18 to 35, so it's an acceptable form of expressing yourself in Kerry's case. He was just trying to relate to his base, wasn't he?
So, if it's okay for Stern in comedic relief, Senator McCain in taking a stance and for Kerry in trying to connect with Generation X, what's the big deal over Cheney using it out of frustrated anger? Why do the press and the liberal's get their knickers all bunched up in the crack of their gluteus maximus? It would seem by their standards, it make would make Cheney a little more to their liking.
Daily, to our chagrin, we have politicians, construction workers, parents, CEO's, and teenagers spewing bad language in our country. We pay for music, watch videos, and go to movies where our ears and eyes are bombarded with a multiplicity of curse words. Do we shriek in disdain over this? No, we keep using it and paying for it.
We even have a former prevaricator, no I mean president, who the liberal left defends with, 'what's between two consenting adults isn't our business', committing the very act of the mother of all bad words itself. But the fretful elitists on the left, stoically defend all these other instances, but run crying, 'Mommy, mommy the VP said a bad word.' How is it suddenly the left have found moral and stalwart righteousness?
Cheney's character took a brief millisecond dip and fell onto the same playing field of the liberal left, but overall Cheney's character speaks clearly for itself. He has proven himself over, and over again to be a man of quality and high standards.
If Vice President Cheney said the bad word, I hope he apologizes to Senator Leahy, and to all that may have been in earshot. Even when one is dealing with a known partisan obstructionist to the appointment of several justice nominations, and a false accuser of Cheney, one still should never lower themselves to the level of swine wallowers.
And Senator Leahy, get off your high horse, stating, "I think he was just having a bad day" and "I was kind of shocked to hear that kind of language on the floor" (LA Times). Please, you pompous blowhard, you're making my sides split with laughter.
It would seem anyone, who had to put up with all the divisive political twirlers, that spin their own brand of subterfuge everyday, would loose their 'euphemistic' cool, as well. This doesn't excuse Cheney, just paints the picture of hypocrisy hopefully a little clearer to those who want to box only the Republicans into their version of tolerance.
As far as language on the floor, it's generally termed 'the floor' when they are in actual session. Honey we've all witnessed the black as sin ceiling of the floor- overcrowded with nouns, adverbs, verbs, adjectives and exclamation points of innuendo's, false accusations, and at times improper language.
Apologize Vice President Cheney, rise above the character assassins, their contemptible behaviors are so far beneath you.
Kerry L. Marsala- www.canadafreepress.com; www.ladylibrty.com; www.mensnewsdaily.com
Fa, fa, fa, fa-FASHION has turned to the right and it brings about a swelling of pride and hope to America and her dreams of continued morality and freedom for many generations to come.
According to Talon News reporter Teri Hillhouse, young fashion designer Elizabeth Cochran of New York City, has launched a new line of clothing just in time for the Republican National Convention, being held in New York City from August 30 till September 2. Her clothing line simply states, I (heart) GWB, and is available online. Fashion designer Ms. Cochran has designed her comfortable clothing line to fit all ages of Republican troopers.
When the news most of the time only depicts our youth either as troubled, in trouble, non-caring or protesting the Bush Administration, along comes a young person filled with the capitalistic spirit we wished we would of thought of first.
Fashion designer Ms. Cochran prior to 9-11, was an uninformed young Democrat. It was during former President Bill Clinton's plethora of sexual escapades that Ms. Cochran became disgusted with his lack of moral fabric. This single thread of bad behavior, spawned Ms. Cochran to begin to consider conservative policies. Upon the realization that the fabric woven by Clinton was thin, full of holes and moth ridden she began to study American History and our historical documents over the first summer of President Bush's Administration. Ms. Cochran saw the 'vision of our Founding Fathers', and quickly became an enthusiastic and creative member of the GOP.
Now proudly donning the streets of New York wearing her, I (heart) GWB t-shirts, and yoga pants she's encouraging the whole next generation to become informed and vote. Ms. Cochran wants the youth of America to know, "that it's 'cool' to vote and that they do count -- but most of all, that it's even 'cooler' to vote Republican." (Talon News)
Imagine if you can, our youth, actually taking responsibility for their own education, taking it to heart, and then doing something about it- they just did and it happened in the fashion industry. No longer does the fashion industry just turn to the left and not speak clearly, Ms. Cochran has taken the 'goon squad' down, and she has come to town to unequivocally dance the steps of freedom and morality, as she leads our youth into the power of voting.
To purchase Fashion Designer Elizabeth Cochran's I (heart) GWB clothing line for all ages visit: www.iheartgwb.com
Let us all support a true American patriot spirit!
The Democrats Are NO Longer Fashionable
Baby Found Dead On Prom Night
K L
Scanning your headline news the topic of our children plays profoundly upon the pages. It would seem that the days of reading heartwarming stories of “The Tigers Little League Team” overcoming the odds and winning their division finals has disappeared from news sources across our nation. Is it possible that we no longer can witness the sense of pride in our young people’s accomplishments, because our media and our nation no longer aspire to shine happiness and good tidings about today’s youth? Or is it because the adults who direct have failed to help our youth have any positive stories written about them? Perhaps it is a combination of the two.
A parent killing their own flesh and blood in the name of depression or fights over custody battles is disgusting and sick. If you are suffering from depression get some help, take a flippin pill would you? Do not drown your children, for the love of all that is good. If you are the mate of a depressed person, get them aid. Do not be so proud to let the demonic plague of depression reach a point that innocent blood lays dripping from your own hands. If you are in the middle of a custody battle, your children are not pawns in the game you have decided to play with your ex-spouse. They are individuals with rights, and due process to live their lives fully protected from the insanity of those who use their anger at their spouses to kill their own children. Our youth is watching our behavior and our interactions as adults. What are your children seeing and hearing?
Parents reveal to their children that binge and purge is the only way to become the waif fairing model that graces the cover of Cosmo. Children’s daddies gaze too long upon pictures of big-breasted women, with tiny waists and shapely rounded buttocks. American mommies in order to regain their youthful bodies (and grasp the gaze of their mates or their potential one-night stands) pay “Dr. Make Me Feel Twenty Again” several thousand dollars to inject, cut, stitch, and remove unwanted crap from their aging bodies. Old age is no longer held in honor and obsession with stereotypes prevails.