I think I have said this before. Mexico believes that the southwestern part of the United States is rightfully theirs. They are conducting an invasion right now, which we call illegal immigration and they call La Reconquista. Our senators are in the process of passing a bill that will eventually make many of the illegals, legal, and even give them a "path to citizenship." I wonder how this will benefit the USA?
Speaking of the USA, did you know that at the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico City this week, Miss USA was booed by the Mexican audience?
Build the d*mn fence.
---Katie
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Jerry Falwell, RIP
Add this to your "Don't believe everything you hear from the media" file:
I wanted to give a quick update to our Get Ready to Lead subscribers. It's been a whirlwind for the last few weeks, and God is at work. I am looking forward to bringing you up- to-date in next week's issue. I have some exciting news to share about what God is doing through the Passing the Baton effort.
Right now our family is on a whirlwind tour of the Maritime provinces of Canada, a trip that involves some speaking and some vacationing. On our way home I'll do some speaking in New England and Virginia.
I have been praying for you lately and realized that I haven't communicated much, so I wanted to pause to send a brief note this evening.
As you may know, if you've been watching American news, Dr.
Jerry Falwell died last week and was buried Tuesday. As a college student I met some of the debate team members from Liberty University, the college Dr. Falwell founded. Up until that moment I had bought into the media's portrayal of Dr.
Falwell hook, line and sinker. I'm embarrassed to say that I razzed the LU debate team members about him.
Rather than act defensively, LU's debaters responded with
graciousness: "You should really meet him--he's a funny, caring guy who is not at all like what is portrayed in the media."
Even though I did several events on Liberty's campus, and was present at some meetings with Dr. Falwell, we never personally met. I wish we had.
Most people know that Dr. Falwell founded the Moral Majority, but few know that it was founded--at least in part--as a response to the Carter administration's harassment of Christian schools. That was a few years back, and it's all too easy to forget how determined the Carter educational bureaucracy was to nationalize the education system based on a thoroughly secular humanist worldview.
Even though he was ravaged by the media, Dr. Falwell mustered public opinion to force our federal government--and the various state governments--to respect the legitimacy of Christian education. This led to the growth of Christian schools and helped spark the legalizing of homeschooling, the charter school movement, the fledgling voucher movement, and other trends that have rolled back the ability of secular humanist elites to indoctrinate America's children.
For this, and for his influence in exposing the seamy immorality under-girding the secular humanist worldview, Dr.
Falwell became "public enemy #1" among America's leftist elites.
For most of my life the mention of his name in conversation in "secular" society brought sneers of derision.
Secular humanists could have chosen their villain better.
According to friends of mine who were close associates of Dr.
Falwell, he was a hard man to hate in person. Dr. Falwell was so gregarious, outgoing, friendly, and good humored, that even one of his worst critics--pornographer Larry Flint--admitted that while he hated everything Dr. Falwell stood for, he liked him very much as a person.
My purpose is not to nominate Dr. Falwell for sainthood. He was far from perfect. But for all of the thousands of hours he spent being interviewed, it is a testimony to his discernment that only a handful of "ridiculous" statements have been trotted out in an attempt to shame his memory.
In addition to opening the door for Christian engagement in the public square, Dr. Falwell founded a church, a college, a Christian school, several ministries of compassion, and ministries that opened the door for Christians to once again have a voice in the public square. He accomplished as much in his 73 years as any other ten men.
I know Dr. Falwell had his critics, both inside and outside the church. Many people didn't like his methods. More than a few found him to be smug. But his life has challenged me to ask these questions:
"Would I be willing to speak up, knowing that derision and persecution would be my lot?"
"Do I really believe there are evils worth fighting against, and what am I willing to do to stand for truth?"
"If the whole world had the wrong impression about me, would I fold up my tent and go home, or would I continue to stand for what I know is right?"
"Could I still be loving and good-humored knowing that millions of people snicker when they hear my name?"
This is no time for armchair quarterbacking. The real question is who will take the baton that Dr. Falwell has passed? Who will speak the truth in a world of lies and deception? It falls to all of us to do so.
Make it a great week,
--Jeff
Jeff Myers, Ph.D., President
Passing the Baton International, Inc.
http://www.passingthebaton.org
Jerry Falwell was not my favorite "preacher in the spotlight" and I cringed occasionally when the media featured some odd thing that he said, but I do have to say...I wish I had known him.
---Katie
I wanted to give a quick update to our Get Ready to Lead subscribers. It's been a whirlwind for the last few weeks, and God is at work. I am looking forward to bringing you up- to-date in next week's issue. I have some exciting news to share about what God is doing through the Passing the Baton effort.
Right now our family is on a whirlwind tour of the Maritime provinces of Canada, a trip that involves some speaking and some vacationing. On our way home I'll do some speaking in New England and Virginia.
I have been praying for you lately and realized that I haven't communicated much, so I wanted to pause to send a brief note this evening.
As you may know, if you've been watching American news, Dr.
Jerry Falwell died last week and was buried Tuesday. As a college student I met some of the debate team members from Liberty University, the college Dr. Falwell founded. Up until that moment I had bought into the media's portrayal of Dr.
Falwell hook, line and sinker. I'm embarrassed to say that I razzed the LU debate team members about him.
Rather than act defensively, LU's debaters responded with
graciousness: "You should really meet him--he's a funny, caring guy who is not at all like what is portrayed in the media."
Even though I did several events on Liberty's campus, and was present at some meetings with Dr. Falwell, we never personally met. I wish we had.
Most people know that Dr. Falwell founded the Moral Majority, but few know that it was founded--at least in part--as a response to the Carter administration's harassment of Christian schools. That was a few years back, and it's all too easy to forget how determined the Carter educational bureaucracy was to nationalize the education system based on a thoroughly secular humanist worldview.
Even though he was ravaged by the media, Dr. Falwell mustered public opinion to force our federal government--and the various state governments--to respect the legitimacy of Christian education. This led to the growth of Christian schools and helped spark the legalizing of homeschooling, the charter school movement, the fledgling voucher movement, and other trends that have rolled back the ability of secular humanist elites to indoctrinate America's children.
For this, and for his influence in exposing the seamy immorality under-girding the secular humanist worldview, Dr.
Falwell became "public enemy #1" among America's leftist elites.
For most of my life the mention of his name in conversation in "secular" society brought sneers of derision.
Secular humanists could have chosen their villain better.
According to friends of mine who were close associates of Dr.
Falwell, he was a hard man to hate in person. Dr. Falwell was so gregarious, outgoing, friendly, and good humored, that even one of his worst critics--pornographer Larry Flint--admitted that while he hated everything Dr. Falwell stood for, he liked him very much as a person.
My purpose is not to nominate Dr. Falwell for sainthood. He was far from perfect. But for all of the thousands of hours he spent being interviewed, it is a testimony to his discernment that only a handful of "ridiculous" statements have been trotted out in an attempt to shame his memory.
In addition to opening the door for Christian engagement in the public square, Dr. Falwell founded a church, a college, a Christian school, several ministries of compassion, and ministries that opened the door for Christians to once again have a voice in the public square. He accomplished as much in his 73 years as any other ten men.
I know Dr. Falwell had his critics, both inside and outside the church. Many people didn't like his methods. More than a few found him to be smug. But his life has challenged me to ask these questions:
"Would I be willing to speak up, knowing that derision and persecution would be my lot?"
"Do I really believe there are evils worth fighting against, and what am I willing to do to stand for truth?"
"If the whole world had the wrong impression about me, would I fold up my tent and go home, or would I continue to stand for what I know is right?"
"Could I still be loving and good-humored knowing that millions of people snicker when they hear my name?"
This is no time for armchair quarterbacking. The real question is who will take the baton that Dr. Falwell has passed? Who will speak the truth in a world of lies and deception? It falls to all of us to do so.
Make it a great week,
--Jeff
Jeff Myers, Ph.D., President
Passing the Baton International, Inc.
http://www.passingthebaton.org
Jerry Falwell was not my favorite "preacher in the spotlight" and I cringed occasionally when the media featured some odd thing that he said, but I do have to say...I wish I had known him.
---Katie
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Michael Moore's Letter
Just in case you were interested, here is the letter Michael Moore sent to Fred Thompson:
May 15, 2007
Senator Fred Thompson American Enterprise Institute
110 Seventeenth Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20036
Dear Senator Thompson,
Given that it has been publicly reported in The Weekly Standard, a leading neo-conservative publication, that you support Fidel Castro and the Cuban regime by being a purveyor of fine Cuban exports despite the trade embargo, I was surprised to see your recent op ed in a more traditional conservative outlet, The National Review, regarding my trip to Cuba (I suspect you choose The National Review in an effort to pander to an outlet that had criticized you for your opposition to medical malpractice legislation).
In your May 2, 2007 National Review article, “Paradise Island,” you specifically raised concerns about whether my trip to Cuba with 9/11 heroes, who have suffered serious health problems as a result of their exposure to toxic substances at Ground Zero that have gone untreated was somehow going to support Castro ad the Cuban government:
“It always leaves me shaking my head when I read about some big-time actor or director going to Cuba and gushing all over Castro.”
Putting aside the fact that you, like the Bush Administration, seem far more concerned about the trip to Cuba than the health care of these 9/11 heroes, I was struck by the fact that your concerns (including comments about Castro's reported financial worth) apparently do not extend to your own conduct, as reported in The Weekly Standard’s April 23, 2007 story, “From the Courthouse to the White House Fred Thompson auditions for the leading role” (emphasis added):
“Thompson’s work space looks just like what the home office of a successful politician or CEO should look like — though a little messier: a large desk, dark wood, leather furniture, lots of books and magazines and newspapers, a flat-screen TV, and box upon box of cigars — Montecristos from Havana.”
In light of your comments regarding Cuba and Castro, do you think the “box upon box of cigars — Montecristos from Havana” that you have in your office have contributed to Castro's reported wealth?
While I will leave it up to the conservatives to debate your hypocrisy and the Treasury Department to determine whether the “box upon box of cigars” violates the trade embargo, I hereby challenge you to a health care debate.
Survey after survey has indicated that health care is one of the top issues to the American voters. Today, more than 46 million people lack health are coverage, including 9 million children. We pay significantly more than any other country in the world — and get less back. Americans life expectancy is lower than other Ground Zero 9/11 workers live in a society where the Bush Administration has shown more concern about their travel than about their health.
Our debate would provide you an opportunity to appeal to the right wing of the Republican Party by continuing to attack me; it would give me a chance to discuss health care and tell you exactly what happened in Cuba, given your apparent inters; and it would provide the American people an opportunity to see just how serious Hollywood can be, with a purported conservative and an avowed progressive Hollywood personality on stage.
Over the course of the debate, we could specifically address the following issues:
(1) Your work as a lobbyist in light of the fact that the health care and insurance industries have maintained the current health care system through their effective control of the political establishment.
(2) The fact that you raised hundred of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the health care and insurance industries.
(3) Discuss the fact, highlighted in yet another conservative outlet The New York Sun, that you inexplicably wanted to cut funding for AIDS research.
(4) Your relationship with the Frist family and by extension HCA, one of the nation’s largest for-profit hospital chains. It has been reported that former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (who was renowned for his over-the-television-screen Schiavo diagnosis) is serving as one of your confidantes on your potential presidential campaign. The Frist family has historically controlled HCA, which paid a record $1.7 billion in civil and criminal fines, including a $631 million penalty for Medicaid fraud — in other words, ripping off the taxpayers.
(5) Discussing whether Arthur Branch, as the District Attorney of Manhattan, supports a woman’s right to choose, gun safety reforms, gay marriage, the trans fat ban and anti-smoking laws (which would impact Cuban cigars, including your Montecristos).
Like American Idol, we could even have the country vote to determine which one of us wins the debate. Though in the spirit of full disclosure, I feel obligated to forewarn you that I was the winner of the 1971-72 Detroit Free Press Debate Award for the state of Michigan.
The winner of our health care debate could even light a Victory cigar with one of your Montecristos (though we may want to consider shopping them to the safe house where I have put a master copy of SiCKO in the event that the Bush Administration tries to seize the film).
Sincerely,
Michael Moore
Considering Michael Moore's age, I suspect that was a high school debate award...so, you forty and fifty somethings...do you brag about your high school accomplishments? Would you use the fact that you won a debate award as a high schooler to try to intimidate a successful senator and actor? Would you ask said actor to debate what his character in a tv show would say about the issues?
Moore is such a moron! Or, as my daughter and I would say, "What a Maroooon!"
;-)
---Katie
May 15, 2007
Senator Fred Thompson American Enterprise Institute
110 Seventeenth Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20036
Dear Senator Thompson,
Given that it has been publicly reported in The Weekly Standard, a leading neo-conservative publication, that you support Fidel Castro and the Cuban regime by being a purveyor of fine Cuban exports despite the trade embargo, I was surprised to see your recent op ed in a more traditional conservative outlet, The National Review, regarding my trip to Cuba (I suspect you choose The National Review in an effort to pander to an outlet that had criticized you for your opposition to medical malpractice legislation).
In your May 2, 2007 National Review article, “Paradise Island,” you specifically raised concerns about whether my trip to Cuba with 9/11 heroes, who have suffered serious health problems as a result of their exposure to toxic substances at Ground Zero that have gone untreated was somehow going to support Castro ad the Cuban government:
“It always leaves me shaking my head when I read about some big-time actor or director going to Cuba and gushing all over Castro.”
Putting aside the fact that you, like the Bush Administration, seem far more concerned about the trip to Cuba than the health care of these 9/11 heroes, I was struck by the fact that your concerns (including comments about Castro's reported financial worth) apparently do not extend to your own conduct, as reported in The Weekly Standard’s April 23, 2007 story, “From the Courthouse to the White House Fred Thompson auditions for the leading role” (emphasis added):
“Thompson’s work space looks just like what the home office of a successful politician or CEO should look like — though a little messier: a large desk, dark wood, leather furniture, lots of books and magazines and newspapers, a flat-screen TV, and box upon box of cigars — Montecristos from Havana.”
In light of your comments regarding Cuba and Castro, do you think the “box upon box of cigars — Montecristos from Havana” that you have in your office have contributed to Castro's reported wealth?
While I will leave it up to the conservatives to debate your hypocrisy and the Treasury Department to determine whether the “box upon box of cigars” violates the trade embargo, I hereby challenge you to a health care debate.
Survey after survey has indicated that health care is one of the top issues to the American voters. Today, more than 46 million people lack health are coverage, including 9 million children. We pay significantly more than any other country in the world — and get less back. Americans life expectancy is lower than other Ground Zero 9/11 workers live in a society where the Bush Administration has shown more concern about their travel than about their health.
Our debate would provide you an opportunity to appeal to the right wing of the Republican Party by continuing to attack me; it would give me a chance to discuss health care and tell you exactly what happened in Cuba, given your apparent inters; and it would provide the American people an opportunity to see just how serious Hollywood can be, with a purported conservative and an avowed progressive Hollywood personality on stage.
Over the course of the debate, we could specifically address the following issues:
(1) Your work as a lobbyist in light of the fact that the health care and insurance industries have maintained the current health care system through their effective control of the political establishment.
(2) The fact that you raised hundred of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the health care and insurance industries.
(3) Discuss the fact, highlighted in yet another conservative outlet The New York Sun, that you inexplicably wanted to cut funding for AIDS research.
(4) Your relationship with the Frist family and by extension HCA, one of the nation’s largest for-profit hospital chains. It has been reported that former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (who was renowned for his over-the-television-screen Schiavo diagnosis) is serving as one of your confidantes on your potential presidential campaign. The Frist family has historically controlled HCA, which paid a record $1.7 billion in civil and criminal fines, including a $631 million penalty for Medicaid fraud — in other words, ripping off the taxpayers.
(5) Discussing whether Arthur Branch, as the District Attorney of Manhattan, supports a woman’s right to choose, gun safety reforms, gay marriage, the trans fat ban and anti-smoking laws (which would impact Cuban cigars, including your Montecristos).
Like American Idol, we could even have the country vote to determine which one of us wins the debate. Though in the spirit of full disclosure, I feel obligated to forewarn you that I was the winner of the 1971-72 Detroit Free Press Debate Award for the state of Michigan.
The winner of our health care debate could even light a Victory cigar with one of your Montecristos (though we may want to consider shopping them to the safe house where I have put a master copy of SiCKO in the event that the Bush Administration tries to seize the film).
Sincerely,
Michael Moore
Considering Michael Moore's age, I suspect that was a high school debate award...so, you forty and fifty somethings...do you brag about your high school accomplishments? Would you use the fact that you won a debate award as a high schooler to try to intimidate a successful senator and actor? Would you ask said actor to debate what his character in a tv show would say about the issues?
Moore is such a moron! Or, as my daughter and I would say, "What a Maroooon!"
;-)
---Katie
Not "Fair" At All
From the Christian Worldview Network
Not "Fair" At All
By Gary Bauer
For years conservatives have been painfully aware of the liberal bias in "big media." On the three big networks ABC, CBS and NBC, the bias permeates everything from news shows to the entertainment programming of sit-coms and dramas. On cable, CNN and MSNBC are not just anti-conservative, their coverage of international issues consistently undermines the interests of our nation.
But in recent years the liberal "monopoly" has been broken. Conservative talk radio has been an incredible success, while Christian radio has grown and cable alternatives like FOX News have taken off, too. The left-wing agenda no longer has a free-ride - it has competition.
But don't celebrate too soon because the "tolerant" Left appears to be ready to use its new power in Congress to launch an attack on conservative media. The American Spectator, a conservative magazine, quotes an aide to Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying, "Conservative radio is a huge threat and political advantage for Republicans and we have to find a way to limit it."
That "way" may be to revive the so-called "Fairness Doctrine," which would require equal time for the leftwing worldview on every conservative radio show. The article goes on to suggest that the staff of far-out leftist Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) is investigating Salem Radio, the largest Christian radio network. And Rush Limbaugh apparently has a target on his back, too. The Spectator quotes sources saying, "We can't shut him up, but we want to make life a bit more difficult."
Ironic isn't it? The Left always presents itself as the tolerant defender of rights. It defends the right of Islamofascist imams to spout anti-American invective; it rallies to the banner of the local atheist, who insists his rights are violated if he sees a Christmas tree; it hyperventilates if a prisoner at "Gitmo" doesn't have his own ACLU lawyer and a government provided Koran.
But when it comes to conservatives, the Left doesn't hesitate to figure out how to use the power of big government to "make life more difficult." With your help, Campaign for Working Families will fight with every resource we have to stop Pelosi and company from regulating conservative news alternatives by putting her back in the minority.
---Katie
Not "Fair" At All
By Gary Bauer
For years conservatives have been painfully aware of the liberal bias in "big media." On the three big networks ABC, CBS and NBC, the bias permeates everything from news shows to the entertainment programming of sit-coms and dramas. On cable, CNN and MSNBC are not just anti-conservative, their coverage of international issues consistently undermines the interests of our nation.
But in recent years the liberal "monopoly" has been broken. Conservative talk radio has been an incredible success, while Christian radio has grown and cable alternatives like FOX News have taken off, too. The left-wing agenda no longer has a free-ride - it has competition.
But don't celebrate too soon because the "tolerant" Left appears to be ready to use its new power in Congress to launch an attack on conservative media. The American Spectator, a conservative magazine, quotes an aide to Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying, "Conservative radio is a huge threat and political advantage for Republicans and we have to find a way to limit it."
That "way" may be to revive the so-called "Fairness Doctrine," which would require equal time for the leftwing worldview on every conservative radio show. The article goes on to suggest that the staff of far-out leftist Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) is investigating Salem Radio, the largest Christian radio network. And Rush Limbaugh apparently has a target on his back, too. The Spectator quotes sources saying, "We can't shut him up, but we want to make life a bit more difficult."
Ironic isn't it? The Left always presents itself as the tolerant defender of rights. It defends the right of Islamofascist imams to spout anti-American invective; it rallies to the banner of the local atheist, who insists his rights are violated if he sees a Christmas tree; it hyperventilates if a prisoner at "Gitmo" doesn't have his own ACLU lawyer and a government provided Koran.
But when it comes to conservatives, the Left doesn't hesitate to figure out how to use the power of big government to "make life more difficult." With your help, Campaign for Working Families will fight with every resource we have to stop Pelosi and company from regulating conservative news alternatives by putting her back in the minority.
---Katie
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Thompson hits it out of the park....
and he wasn't even at the debate.
Watch Fred Thompson's response to Michael Moore's challenge to a debate by clicking on the title.
Is he the first potential presidential candidate to use You Tube?
---Katie
Watch Fred Thompson's response to Michael Moore's challenge to a debate by clicking on the title.
Is he the first potential presidential candidate to use You Tube?
---Katie
Blind Gunman?
I am all for gun rights, but I think I would have to draw the line at this...Yikes!
Blind man finds bias in denial of gun permit
A North Dakota man who says he would only use the gun for self-defense at close range couldn't get a permit in Moorhead.
By David Peterson, Star Tribune
Last update: May 15, 2007 – 9:52 PM
A North Dakota man who is styling himself as "America's first sightless gunslinger" is claiming to be the victim of discrimination because Minnesota won't give a blind man a permit to carry a gun in public.
Carey McWilliams, 33, of Fargo says he carries one anyway when he crosses the state line because his Utah permit is accepted in Minnesota. But he isn't sure that will always be so.
Click on the title!
Sheesh.
---Katie
Blind man finds bias in denial of gun permit
A North Dakota man who says he would only use the gun for self-defense at close range couldn't get a permit in Moorhead.
By David Peterson, Star Tribune
Last update: May 15, 2007 – 9:52 PM
A North Dakota man who is styling himself as "America's first sightless gunslinger" is claiming to be the victim of discrimination because Minnesota won't give a blind man a permit to carry a gun in public.
Carey McWilliams, 33, of Fargo says he carries one anyway when he crosses the state line because his Utah permit is accepted in Minnesota. But he isn't sure that will always be so.
Click on the title!
Sheesh.
---Katie
Well, I guess this is one way to reduce the number of environmentalist whackos
I did not know that there were a lot of people involved in the "childfree" (not childless, God forbid) movement.
Send in the assmonkeys
Behold the latest environmentalist fad: going childless
Jonathan Kay,
National Post Published: Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Last Tuesday, I wrote a column for this space entitled "At a restaurant near you, the war between Daters and Breeders." It was one of those airy, self-indulgent pieces of cultural commentary that otherwise self-important op-ed pundits publish every few months to "show their human side." (See: I eat in restaurants with my kids --just like you!)
My basic point was that restaurant diners shouldn't go hard on parents whose kids emit the odd yelp at dinner time. I know, I know -- not exactly Pulitzer material. But I can't solve the Middle East conflict every week.
Besides, vapid as it was, the column hit a nerve: In the days following publication, I got a flood of e-mail feedback. The messages came in two flavours: (1) Brief, appreciative comments from fellow parents, often punctuated with smiley-faced emoticons; and (2) searing, cuckoo-pants rants like this one from a certain Gaby Kaplan:
"Mr. Kay, I hope we never have the misfortune to have your family ruin a nice restaurant near us, because I could hardly resist the compulsion to empty ice water into the faces of both you and your broodsow of a partner. Attention, Mr. Look-My-Sperm-Works, your job as a parent does not end at ejaculation: Would you please show the rest of us the Get Out of Courtesy card that they gave you when your wife grunted out your first replicant? Polite parents do not assault diners with their loud brood of assmonkeys."
Click on the title to read more.
What always amuses me is that movements that encourage having just one child or none are eventually doomed because these people are not reproducing themselves. Of course, many people who think that way are placing themselves in positions of influence over children. That is why we need to "teach our children well."
As for noisy children in restaurants...I have had the misfortune of being disturbed by ill-behaved kids in a restaurant. I have also had the experience where a table full of loud adults were very disruptive to the diners around them. It seems to me there is a lot of public rudeness around, not just from parents but from adults in general. When did we stop being concerned about how our behavior affects other people?
---Katie
Send in the assmonkeys
Behold the latest environmentalist fad: going childless
Jonathan Kay,
National Post Published: Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Last Tuesday, I wrote a column for this space entitled "At a restaurant near you, the war between Daters and Breeders." It was one of those airy, self-indulgent pieces of cultural commentary that otherwise self-important op-ed pundits publish every few months to "show their human side." (See: I eat in restaurants with my kids --just like you!)
My basic point was that restaurant diners shouldn't go hard on parents whose kids emit the odd yelp at dinner time. I know, I know -- not exactly Pulitzer material. But I can't solve the Middle East conflict every week.
Besides, vapid as it was, the column hit a nerve: In the days following publication, I got a flood of e-mail feedback. The messages came in two flavours: (1) Brief, appreciative comments from fellow parents, often punctuated with smiley-faced emoticons; and (2) searing, cuckoo-pants rants like this one from a certain Gaby Kaplan:
"Mr. Kay, I hope we never have the misfortune to have your family ruin a nice restaurant near us, because I could hardly resist the compulsion to empty ice water into the faces of both you and your broodsow of a partner. Attention, Mr. Look-My-Sperm-Works, your job as a parent does not end at ejaculation: Would you please show the rest of us the Get Out of Courtesy card that they gave you when your wife grunted out your first replicant? Polite parents do not assault diners with their loud brood of assmonkeys."
Click on the title to read more.
What always amuses me is that movements that encourage having just one child or none are eventually doomed because these people are not reproducing themselves. Of course, many people who think that way are placing themselves in positions of influence over children. That is why we need to "teach our children well."
As for noisy children in restaurants...I have had the misfortune of being disturbed by ill-behaved kids in a restaurant. I have also had the experience where a table full of loud adults were very disruptive to the diners around them. It seems to me there is a lot of public rudeness around, not just from parents but from adults in general. When did we stop being concerned about how our behavior affects other people?
---Katie
Monday, May 14, 2007
Hillary for President!!!
Not!!!
Sorry. I just have to share. I'm reading Emmett Tyrrell's book (look at all the double letters in his name!), The Clinton Crack-Up. Here is an amazing quote from page 24 of the book:
"....immediately after law school, Hillary's service for the House Judiciary Impeachment Inquiry then pursuing President Richard Nixon was marred by so many acts of excess and impropriety that the committee's Democratic counsel wrote that he 'could not recommend her for any future position of public or private trust.'"
Wow, that is stunning. I wonder where this person is now. I hope he did not suffer from Arkancide.... I wonder if he would repeat his recommendation.
---Katie
Sorry. I just have to share. I'm reading Emmett Tyrrell's book (look at all the double letters in his name!), The Clinton Crack-Up. Here is an amazing quote from page 24 of the book:
"....immediately after law school, Hillary's service for the House Judiciary Impeachment Inquiry then pursuing President Richard Nixon was marred by so many acts of excess and impropriety that the committee's Democratic counsel wrote that he 'could not recommend her for any future position of public or private trust.'"
Wow, that is stunning. I wonder where this person is now. I hope he did not suffer from Arkancide.... I wonder if he would repeat his recommendation.
---Katie
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Gun ban decision upheld
Is the tide turning in gun control cases?
From the NRA:
On Tuesday, the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. circuit, declined to review the decision in Parker v. District of Columbia--the case in March that upheld the Second Amendment as an individual right and struck down Washington, D.C.'s handgun ban. The decision not to review the case means that an earlier ruling by the three-judge panel will stand.
This is a very important decision for the right to keep and bear arms. I have never understood why we should keep law-abiding citizens in high crime areas from being able to defend themselves.
---Katie
From the NRA:
On Tuesday, the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. circuit, declined to review the decision in Parker v. District of Columbia--the case in March that upheld the Second Amendment as an individual right and struck down Washington, D.C.'s handgun ban. The decision not to review the case means that an earlier ruling by the three-judge panel will stand.
This is a very important decision for the right to keep and bear arms. I have never understood why we should keep law-abiding citizens in high crime areas from being able to defend themselves.
---Katie
Have you heard of Freecycle?
We have family coming to visit for graduation, so of course I am cleaning like a mad woman. I have a "home school house" which means we keep lots of stuff that might be useful. We used to keep old small appliances just to let the boys take them apart! Thankfully we are past that stage, but we have lots of stuff. And we hate to throw that stuff away!
Thank goodness for Freecycle! You can find people who would like your old stuff and they will come pick it up! The purpose of Freecyle is to keep usable stuff out of landfills. This week we have gotten rid of old computer components, a broken air compressor, clothes, books, toys, etc. It's great! I don't have to throw it away and people find a use for our old stuff!
Oh, and I have gotten some good stuff myself. One time I got a whole bag of Mary Kay items from a consultant who was downsizing. Free! It's all free!
Click on the title to find out about Freecycle in your area.
---Katie
Thank goodness for Freecycle! You can find people who would like your old stuff and they will come pick it up! The purpose of Freecyle is to keep usable stuff out of landfills. This week we have gotten rid of old computer components, a broken air compressor, clothes, books, toys, etc. It's great! I don't have to throw it away and people find a use for our old stuff!
Oh, and I have gotten some good stuff myself. One time I got a whole bag of Mary Kay items from a consultant who was downsizing. Free! It's all free!
Click on the title to find out about Freecycle in your area.
---Katie
Florida on Fire
Click on the title to see a rather sobering map of where the fires are in Florida. All last week we had lots of smoke, which tends to irritate those of us who have respiratory issues. When we had the bad fires in 1998, my oldest daughter had bronchitis for weeks. We actually packed up the camper and headed for Kentucky. Thankfully, she is in TN, but I am having some issues with the smoke. It has cleared out a bit in Central Florida, but they are having a very bad time of it up in the Lake City area.
Please pray for rain in Florida!
---Katie
Please pray for rain in Florida!
---Katie
I feel so old.
So we are preparing for graduation, again. My third child graduates from high school next week and heads off to Bryan College in the fall. How did we get to the point where three out of four are out of the nest? And so quickly! Wow.
Pray for me. I have a ton to do before the weekend!
---Katie
Pray for me. I have a ton to do before the weekend!
---Katie
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Convention is over....
And our pastor lost the bishop race 252-250. Wow.
Another resolution regarding the "homosexual issue," one in which restraint in discipline was suggested, bit the dust, but by a very few votes. There were two other resolutions that were pulled after the RIC one was voted down.
---Katie
Another resolution regarding the "homosexual issue," one in which restraint in discipline was suggested, bit the dust, but by a very few votes. There were two other resolutions that were pulled after the RIC one was voted down.
---Katie
Friday, May 04, 2007
Florida Synod Convention
Just in case anyone is interested, the Florida Bahamas Synod voted today *not* to become a reconciling in Christ synod. Click on the title if you want to know what that means.
Also, my pastor stands a very good chance of becoming our next bishop of the FL synod. That I was not expecting!
----Katie
Also, my pastor stands a very good chance of becoming our next bishop of the FL synod. That I was not expecting!
----Katie
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
There IS Integrity on the Duke Campus.
A paid ad in the Duke Chronicle:
The following petition was endorsed by over 1,000 Duke Students along with recent graduates:
WHAT DOES A SOCIAL DISASTER SOUND LIKE?
On April 6th of last year a full page ad ran in The Chronicle signed by 88 professors and 16 academic programs and departments at Duke University. Weeks before any indictment was issued, in disregard for due process, our own professors projected guilt onto our peers on the lacrosse team. In the ad they not only tacitly supported the accusations of the now utterly discredited accuser, but praised protesters who similarly rushed to judgment, while levying baseless accusations of racism against our student body.
In a time of intense emotions and enormous stakes, when our community dearly needed a call for calm, for patience, for rational and careful thinking, these professors instead took a course of action which escalated tensions, spurred divisions along lines of race and class and brought our community into greater turmoil. Their actions also further undermined the legal process and most likely emboldened a rogue district attorney.
WE, THE STUDENTS OF DUKE UNIVERSITY, DEMAND AN APOLOGY FROM THE GROUP OF 88
As students who love Duke we are ashamed by the apparent decision of these faculty members to exploit a tragic situation to further their own political and social agendas. As an institution of higher learning we expect our professors to provide a model of intellectual integrity to which we can aspire—not to act with reckless disregard for fairness, justice and jurisprudence, and then callously refuse to make an apology or accept responsibility for their actions.
For those who would argue their ad has been mischaracterized we offer the following excerpts, which leave no doubt as to the material it contained—
“Students are shouting and whispering about what happened to this young woman…”
“‘If something like this happened to me…what would be used against me—my clothing? Where I was?”’
“No one is really talking about how to keep this young woman herself central to this conversation, how to keep her humanity before us…”
“To the students speaking individually and to the protesters making collective noise, thank you for not waiting and for making yourselves heard.”
Some of the Group of 88 went even further in their ill-begotten rush to judgment. Some professors are alleged to have maligned lacrosse players in their courses; Professor Kim Curtis is alleged to have failed a student (with a 3.5 GPA) simply because he was a member of the team.
Other professors have made some truly shocking public statements, such as—
Prof. Houston Baker’s claim of “Young, white, violent, drunken men among us - implicitly boasted by our athletic directors and administrators - have injured lives,” and his remark that the lacrosse team “may well feel they can claim innocence and sport their disgraced jerseys on campus, safe under the cover of silent whiteness. But where is the black woman who their violence and raucous witness injured for life? Will she ever sleep well again?”
Prof. Mark Anthony Neal’s claim that, “”Regardless of what happened inside of 610 N. Buchanan Blvd, the young men were hoping to consume something that they felt that a black woman uniquely possessed.”
President Brodhead has yet to come forward and defend his students against the assaults launched by his own faculty.
WE CALL UPON PRESIDENT BRODHEAD TO FINALLY STAND UP FOR HIS STUDENTS
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
--------------------
Actually, I think the 1000 students should call for the firing of the Group of 88. Of course, that will never happen. Liberals never have to suffer the consequences of their stupid behavior; that is left to their victims. Their intentions were good, right? Who cares about due process, anyway?
---Katie
The following petition was endorsed by over 1,000 Duke Students along with recent graduates:
WHAT DOES A SOCIAL DISASTER SOUND LIKE?
On April 6th of last year a full page ad ran in The Chronicle signed by 88 professors and 16 academic programs and departments at Duke University. Weeks before any indictment was issued, in disregard for due process, our own professors projected guilt onto our peers on the lacrosse team. In the ad they not only tacitly supported the accusations of the now utterly discredited accuser, but praised protesters who similarly rushed to judgment, while levying baseless accusations of racism against our student body.
In a time of intense emotions and enormous stakes, when our community dearly needed a call for calm, for patience, for rational and careful thinking, these professors instead took a course of action which escalated tensions, spurred divisions along lines of race and class and brought our community into greater turmoil. Their actions also further undermined the legal process and most likely emboldened a rogue district attorney.
WE, THE STUDENTS OF DUKE UNIVERSITY, DEMAND AN APOLOGY FROM THE GROUP OF 88
As students who love Duke we are ashamed by the apparent decision of these faculty members to exploit a tragic situation to further their own political and social agendas. As an institution of higher learning we expect our professors to provide a model of intellectual integrity to which we can aspire—not to act with reckless disregard for fairness, justice and jurisprudence, and then callously refuse to make an apology or accept responsibility for their actions.
For those who would argue their ad has been mischaracterized we offer the following excerpts, which leave no doubt as to the material it contained—
“Students are shouting and whispering about what happened to this young woman…”
“‘If something like this happened to me…what would be used against me—my clothing? Where I was?”’
“No one is really talking about how to keep this young woman herself central to this conversation, how to keep her humanity before us…”
“To the students speaking individually and to the protesters making collective noise, thank you for not waiting and for making yourselves heard.”
Some of the Group of 88 went even further in their ill-begotten rush to judgment. Some professors are alleged to have maligned lacrosse players in their courses; Professor Kim Curtis is alleged to have failed a student (with a 3.5 GPA) simply because he was a member of the team.
Other professors have made some truly shocking public statements, such as—
Prof. Houston Baker’s claim of “Young, white, violent, drunken men among us - implicitly boasted by our athletic directors and administrators - have injured lives,” and his remark that the lacrosse team “may well feel they can claim innocence and sport their disgraced jerseys on campus, safe under the cover of silent whiteness. But where is the black woman who their violence and raucous witness injured for life? Will she ever sleep well again?”
Prof. Mark Anthony Neal’s claim that, “”Regardless of what happened inside of 610 N. Buchanan Blvd, the young men were hoping to consume something that they felt that a black woman uniquely possessed.”
President Brodhead has yet to come forward and defend his students against the assaults launched by his own faculty.
WE CALL UPON PRESIDENT BRODHEAD TO FINALLY STAND UP FOR HIS STUDENTS
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
--------------------
Actually, I think the 1000 students should call for the firing of the Group of 88. Of course, that will never happen. Liberals never have to suffer the consequences of their stupid behavior; that is left to their victims. Their intentions were good, right? Who cares about due process, anyway?
---Katie
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