tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65328694640165488912024-03-12T16:43:44.716-07:00i.saneAmy Ferris and Hollye Dexter (and a few friends now and then) weighing in on the sanity side of politics. Won't you join us?isanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06001289337129853053noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532869464016548891.post-74212846830690148582011-05-03T13:13:00.000-07:002011-05-03T13:13:34.248-07:00No Champagne for Me, Thanks.<!--StartFragment--> <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0sMB3qJOQ4o0laUh2Gsc6CA2oDhooHKuDvlCNFQFiRWkkCRq-gBink1mn7GcC_gj_OAHViMtueOrxGr2O-QllXuonCkEthszjUotxK_ItOmfdtC_aG0xYFhGJZGol0gDZqudOO498HA/s1600/Sit+room+Bin+Laden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0sMB3qJOQ4o0laUh2Gsc6CA2oDhooHKuDvlCNFQFiRWkkCRq-gBink1mn7GcC_gj_OAHViMtueOrxGr2O-QllXuonCkEthszjUotxK_ItOmfdtC_aG0xYFhGJZGol0gDZqudOO498HA/s320/Sit+room+Bin+Laden.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Photo courtesy of White House photographer Pete Sou</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">za</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Yes, Osama Bin Laden is dead.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Yes, this is a victory our country has long sought, and I, like most Americans, am relieved. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>And yet…</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I understand people celebrating the fact that the man behind the heinous attacks of 9/11 is now gone from this Earth. I pray the families of the 9/11 victims feel some sense of closure. I am incredibly proud of our President, the decisions he made, and above all, proud of the heroic Navy Seals who took on that mission.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>But…</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I have to say, all that cheering in the streets felt a bit off to me. I remember the horrid dread I felt on 9/11, when people in the Middle East were cheering in the streets over American deaths. Although our victims were innocent, I still believe we as Americans have to set the bar higher. This “Us Against Them” mentality never gets us anywhere but right back into the middle of the conflict. It's like kicking a hornet's nest. No one wins.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Don't get me wrong. Bin Laden was evil and this needed to be done.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But look at the faces of President Obama and Hillary Clinton in the above photo. This was no celebration. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My husband’s friend Steve Kettman wrote a great piece on this in the Huffington Post today. I can’t say it any better so I quote him here:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“</span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I heave a sigh of relief, glad that bin Laden is out of the way, but forgive me if I pop no Champagne corks. This was a grim necessity, not a touchdown.”</span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My sentiments exactly, Steve. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">To read Steve Kettman’s piece, click here:</span></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13.0pt;">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-kettmann/taking-out-osama-was-grim_b_856178.html</span><o:p></o:p></div><!--EndFragment-->Hollye Dexterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184998678584429429noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532869464016548891.post-11947420880947058962011-04-26T17:09:00.000-07:002011-04-26T17:13:13.250-07:00Dear Donald<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5A4i363tN3Ml08-Un8e5TMYBDc09doWaaOWtWw3A57SnFciitAO_sLU2kCO8pDnVyWNTzLeN-a-b2rXdipEEcMg8EzVwFc5PfJhVmCndKvU7oFO5c2UlNN4n4JQ_hXH_UnHW_Fu6cro/s1600/trump.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5A4i363tN3Ml08-Un8e5TMYBDc09doWaaOWtWw3A57SnFciitAO_sLU2kCO8pDnVyWNTzLeN-a-b2rXdipEEcMg8EzVwFc5PfJhVmCndKvU7oFO5c2UlNN4n4JQ_hXH_UnHW_Fu6cro/s1600/trump.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I mean, truly, America...is the the best we can do? Really?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: ComicSansMS; font-size: 13pt;">dear donald:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: ComicSansMS; font-size: 13pt;">let me just say up front that you were never my type. i never liked you. never ever. when you were married to ivana i knew you were gonna leave her flat. i knew it. i saw it. when ivana had her face done and lips plumped (pumped?) i knew it was because you wanted younger, sexier, hotter. when you were married to marla i knew - KNEW- it was not the best sex she ever had (thank you NEW YORK POST for THAT HEADLINE) because there is no way you can have sex with a man who has a combover and it be the best sex ever. and then you left her high and DRY, and now you're married to Marvana, or Marlena or Maramar, (or whatever her name is) and i give this marriage maybe a couple of more years. Maybe. i just never thought of you as 'the guy.' i thought you were arrogant and cocky and full of shit. But you didn't really deeply offend me. Your taste in furnishings offended me, all the gold gilded bathrooms and louis the 14th drapes and marble floors and bathtubs with hot and cold running rubies. But ... that didn't feel personal. Not my taste. i like simple, plain, uncluttered. i like southwestern, you like south of france. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: ComicSansMS; font-size: 13pt;">and i don't like your lips. not only wouldn't i wanna kiss them, i'm awfully offended at what comes out of them. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: ComicSansMS; font-size: 13pt;">you're so not my type. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: ComicSansMS; font-size: 13pt;">i like harvard men.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: ComicSansMS; font-size: 13pt;">with no respect what so ever, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: ComicSansMS; font-size: 13pt;">amy<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Dear America,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Oh, how you exhaust me. I just spent years trying to educate you about the dangers of giving power to a narcissist – especially an ignorant narcissist. Alaska, remember when you voted Palin in to power, and when the accolades weren’t pouring in anymore, she quit? Have we learned nothing here?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Now everyone’s talking about a man who has gold plated sinks, who openly engages in public feuds through “media statements” and twitters, who treats women as nothing more than arm candy, who publicly declares that our President is not an American citizen even though all the proof is before him. Sounds like I’m talking about Kaddafi, but no. I’m talking about someone who calls himself “The Donald”. Yes, the Donald, a reality TV star who recently challenged President Obama’s college records, denying he was even a good student. (Uh, Helloooo? Magna cum laude at Harvard, President of Harvard Law Review? Not difficult information to come by, The Donald. All you had to do was google it.)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If any of you, seriously ANY of you, are truly considering this man as a candidate for the American Presidency, I officially give up on you. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Done.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I’ve had it!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Barb and Deb, fluff up the pillows in the guest room. I may be moving to Canada soon. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Disgruntledly yours – </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hollye</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Hollye Dexterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184998678584429429noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532869464016548891.post-18542001345791652842011-04-06T16:29:00.000-07:002011-04-06T16:38:22.093-07:00Here we gooooo....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqBot7C0gUhHxw6U7-6-EG9eDmha_1fPYvHreT30wl_evqjR78To25XBD7mt8XqshgdEb1CpRYP7SJkdLrnCmNK09812Kh1osbyPfFogo0Mjv6ELb8YeafbbL4tVHbiniyKaV7yIfvAo/s1600/glenn+beck+cryin.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqBot7C0gUhHxw6U7-6-EG9eDmha_1fPYvHreT30wl_evqjR78To25XBD7mt8XqshgdEb1CpRYP7SJkdLrnCmNK09812Kh1osbyPfFogo0Mjv6ELb8YeafbbL4tVHbiniyKaV7yIfvAo/s200/glenn+beck+cryin.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For a fleeting moment today, I was absolutely giddy. I felt like it was my birthday. No - even better than that. I was ready to put on a party hat and do my Snoopy- dance, confetti falling from the sky, fireworks displays. Pure joy!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Why? Because in addition to President Obama announcing his run for 2012, today The Washington Post released the news that Glenn Beck is ending his show on Fox. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Thank you Santa!!! It’s just what I always wanted!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I mean really, can it get any better?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I could hear Schroeder playing the piano…my feet started to shuffle…</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But then, I came back to earth as I remembered sitting in a pizza parlor with my son when news broke that Sarah Palin was quitting her job as governor of Alaska. I whooped, I hollered, did my Snoopy-dance. I thought…finally, it’s over. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But nooooo….it’s never over. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">President Obama’s run will bring the crazies back in fuller force, and Glenn Beck will just pop up somewhere else, like the Sea Witch at the end of the Little Mermaid. Just when you thought she was a goner, she reemerges from the ocean ten stories tall. Maybe Beck will get a reality show, or start posting apocalyptic tweets on Twitter. With another campaign coming up, you don't think he's going to miss the opportunity to whip people into a mad frenzy, do ya? </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Whatever. Regardless of what the crazies do, we’ve got to stay cool, calm and collected as we near this 2012 campaign. We’ve got to stop approaching politics as a war, and think about the people of this country. We need to look for what both sides can do to bring positive change, and focus on our common desires, rather than our differences. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It is not going to be easy but our objective at iSane is to keep ourselves calm, and hopefully you’ll stay calm with us. Either that or you get really mad then we calm you down. Or maybe you’ll calm us down. Either way, “calm” is the objective. Calm, rational, sane. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So as we move forward into the season of insanity, we invite you to get on board with us, … and maybe bring some dramamine or something, ‘cause I have a feeling it’s gonna be a </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">bumpy</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> ride. </span></span>Hollye Dexterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184998678584429429noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532869464016548891.post-59489025484500385632011-01-19T15:55:00.000-08:002011-01-19T15:58:02.071-08:00The Second Amendment Means Rights for Who, exactly?<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This afternoon as I was driving my son to school in Woodland Hills, I was literally almost hit by a speeding police car. I swerved to the middle of the road, as they whizzed past at about 90 miles per hour, other cars following on their trail, sirens blaring, helicopters whirring…</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I caught my breath, and dropped my son off at his Kindergarten, wondering if there was some kind of a high-speed chase on the nearby freeway. After I returned home, I found out that there was an officer shot at our neighborhood high school, El Camino, just two blocks away from my son’s Kindergarten. This is in a nice suburban neighborhood, one of the best high schools in Los Angeles. The shooter was a man in his forties, who was suspiciously loitering around the school, when the officer approached him. He shot the officer in the chest and ran off, into our neighborhoods.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I immediately called my son’s kindergarten and told them to lock their doors, since they are only two blocks away from where this incident took place. Before I could even get back, the streets surrounding my son’s school were shut off, cops swarming everywhere. I called the school again, and was told they were on lockdown. Are you getting this, people - MY SON’S KINDERGARTEN WAS ON LOCKDOWN.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I went back anyway, and against the schools’ initial protest, I took my son home.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We are just days away from the murderous rampage in Arizona. This is the second shooting in the Los Angeles school district in 2 days. And yet no one wants to give up one ounce of their freedom when it comes to guns.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Who, exactly, is free, when every lunatic in America has the right to own a gun? </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Who is free, when I can’t feel safe dropping my son off at Kindergarten? </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Who is free, when I can no longer take my children to political rallies and peaceful demonstrations?</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I’ll tell you who is free. The lunatic with the gun. He is free, running loose in my neighborhood as I write this. He is free to buy a gun, to carry a gun, and to open fire at will. He is free to act upon his insane notions on a whim.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I don’t know what the answer is, but I’ll tell you this. The second amendment was written in a time when the right to bear “arms” meant </span></span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Muskets</span></span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">, not semi-automatics. This “right” has been carried too far. Okay, you want a gun for self-protection, or a rifle for hunting - whatever floats your boat. But what gives citizens the “right” to carry semi-automatic weapons in our society? This is an American problem. You don’t see this level of violence in countries who have gun control.</span></span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">When nineteen people were shot at a peaceful political gathering in Arizona, when a student brought a glock to school in L.A. yesterday and shot two kids, when a police officer was shot at a high school with a semi-automatic, when nine schools today were on lockdown, when KINDERGARTEN was ON LOCKDOWN, it is clear that something is very, very wrong with our society. We can no longer go on with business as usual. </span></span><!--EndFragment-->Hollye Dexterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184998678584429429noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532869464016548891.post-10286342570967265592011-01-09T19:52:00.000-08:002011-01-09T20:06:18.914-08:00Words. Have. Power.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqFUE12AQXjE3hdskTpVF8qXIuiK0A1QlqSfWsLnX3vNODpfZpFPNFv7rZU0LatrUbMZm6TclAcj6lvtxVQ3wARE_2i-Wp-mjTVrNjDHTJeA2h2U83xVnWCfEsqKItTqFs2NUmPtBOj0/s1600/flag.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqFUE12AQXjE3hdskTpVF8qXIuiK0A1QlqSfWsLnX3vNODpfZpFPNFv7rZU0LatrUbMZm6TclAcj6lvtxVQ3wARE_2i-Wp-mjTVrNjDHTJeA2h2U83xVnWCfEsqKItTqFs2NUmPtBOj0/s200/flag.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560403670122787810" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;mso-layout-grid-align:auto;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other"><span style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Words have power. They can heal, inspire, initiate forgiveness. Or they can wound, divide and annihilate. My life revolves around words. They are my way of being in the world, my way of processing, making sense of what I observe in this world. Words sustain me, uplift me, encourage me. They have also hurt me, frightened me, devastated me. </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;mso-layout-grid-align:auto;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other"><span style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Words have power.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Words can move a nation. We look to those we elect for guidance. In times of trouble, we anxiously await their words. Remember waiting for President Bush to speak after 9/11? Whether you voted for him or not, his words meant everything to us as a frightened, grieving country. During World War Two, families gathered around the radio at night waiting eagerly to hear the words of President Roosevelt- their hope hung on his every word. Those words kept America afloat in a sea of despair, as we waited and prayed for our husbands, fathers and sons to return.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Words have power. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">They can hold one up in prayer. They can hold a nation together. They can be used to incite war. The words of one can lead a bullied teen to suicide, another to murder…</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Words. Have. Power.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I have a few words about some of our elected officials, and their words. I don’t like to engage in negativity, nor to perpetuate the anger and vitriol that’s being tossed about in the political arena. I do my best to ignore the ugliness, aiming toward being part of the solution.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I don’t blame the heinous act of violence yesterday on anyone but Loughner, who is clearly mentally disturbed. But I call out those whose words have hurt the American people and our political system. I call them out for knowingly spreading lies, and fanning the flames of hate and fear solely to further their own political agendas. They must face themselves in the mirror in the aftermath of this tragedy, and reconcile their hateful words. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;mso-layout-grid-align:auto;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><b>SARAH PALIN:</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><b>August 7, 200</b><b>9</b>:</span></span><span style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> Posted on her facebook page: Seniors and the disabled "will have to stand in front of Obama's 'death panel' so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their 'level of productivity in society,' whether they are worthy of health care."</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-weight: normal; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">(This was an egregious lie meant to frighten mothers and senior citizens. It is shameful that we allow our government officials to lie to the public without consequence.)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">March 23, 2010</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">: Palin puts a map of the US on her facebook page, targeting twenty democratic members of congress with crosshairs, with an accompanying list of their names.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Simultaneously, she posts on twitter: "Commonsense Conservatives & lovers of America: 'Don't Retreat, Instead - RELOAD!'</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><i>(and by the way, is this statement to suggest that those who are in need of healthcare are NOT lovers of America? What ignorance.)</i></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">November 4, 2010</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">, Palin on twitter: “Remember months ago “Bullseye” icon used 2 target the 20 Obama-care Lovin’ incumbent seats? We won 18 out of 20 (90% success rate; T’aint bad.)”</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><i>(Although her “people” are denying the crosshairs were meant as anything more, Palin called it what it was, a bullseye.)</i></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">SHARON ANGLE: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">(Palin-endorsed Tea Party candidate)</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">"If this Congress keeps going the way it is, people are going to start looking for second amendment remedies...” </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">(second amendment - the right to bear arms)</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> "The first thing we need to do is take Harry Reid out."</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">JOYCE KAUFMAN:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt"><span style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">(Chief of staff to Republican Congressman Allen West)</span></span></span><span style="font-weight:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">July 4, 2010 : "If ballots don't work, bullets will." (And if West lost the election): "I'm going to go up into the hills of Kentucky, I'm going to go out to the Midwest, I'm going to go up into the Vermont and New Hampshire outreaches and I'm going to gather men and women who understand that some things are worth fighting for and some things are worth dying for."</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">WORDS. HAVE. POWER. </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">These words incite fear, anger, insecurity in the American people (and I am deeply ashamed that the above quotes are all from women - the suffragettes must be rolling over in their graves). And to what end? What has it done but to ensure votes for the fear pushers? These words contribute to a sick society, one in which an unbalanced person could be pushed over the edge. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Maybe Loughner was influenced by these hateful words, maybe not. Maybe he had a political agenda, or maybe he’s plain apeshit crazy. Either way, Congresswoman Giffords is in an ICU, her life hanging in the balance. Six are dead, others wounded. Among the dead, a little girl born on 9/11 who had just been elected to her student congress, and only wanted to learn about our political process. She represented America’s future. What unspeakable grief for her family, for all of us. Is this what we are handing down to the next generation?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I’ve said it before: America is a two-party system. We are not meant to annihilate the other party. The system was put in place to ensure healthy debate of differing views, that one party doesn’t become all-powerful. That’s democracy. People seem to have lost sight of this. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Our words must be used to promote reason, to debunk the fear and lies. Let us use our words to promote understanding and solutions. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I will continue to write and voice my opinion in years to come, but I will weigh my words carefully, because I understand all too well - </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">words have power</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I will leave you with these words, spoken today, by more responsible members of Congress.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Democratic congressman James Clyburn, a veteran of the civil rights movement, had this to say, “We're getting ready to celebrate, this weekend, the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., who admonished us that we are going to regret in this generation not just the vitriolic words and deeds of bad people, but the appalling silence of good people.”</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Let us no longer be silent in the face of hate. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">From Republican congressman Trent Franks - “True tolerance is not pretending we have no political differences, it’s treating each other with kindness and respect in spite of those differences.”</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">And finally, let’s all keep in mind the words of Abraham Lincoln,</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">"A house divided against itself cannot stand."</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">(And by the way Sarah Palin, being a Christian, I’m sure you know that Lincoln took that quote from the bible, </span></span><a href="http://bibref.hebtools.com/?book=%20Matthew&verse=12:25&src=!"><span style="text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonecolor:#2557AA;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Matthew 12:25</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand." Or had you forgotten? You might want to re-read it, some time.)</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Words. Have. Power. </span></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:23.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:23.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:23.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"> <o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Hollye Dexterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184998678584429429noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532869464016548891.post-57157830613117973102010-12-16T15:19:00.000-08:002010-12-16T15:25:19.207-08:00Give the Guy a Break!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfWOfiICfo_RC-KQ1JkSlclalo3RZnksjD0OStO20AVpmQ732f0IjDaR7qsaEs7BX-88XB2RncW8GUcwfmwwHe7qOWV7MFIzD0R3ALCZCGkL88yN5vH_95PbHtt8ljIa3lUqnRY7pBIQ/s1600/Obama+rally+PRES.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfWOfiICfo_RC-KQ1JkSlclalo3RZnksjD0OStO20AVpmQ732f0IjDaR7qsaEs7BX-88XB2RncW8GUcwfmwwHe7qOWV7MFIzD0R3ALCZCGkL88yN5vH_95PbHtt8ljIa3lUqnRY7pBIQ/s200/Obama+rally+PRES.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551424689667409522" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">President Obama addresses 30,000 supporters at USC, October 2010</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">*photo courtesy of Christina Martinez</span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">He’s just a man. Walks, talks, eats, sleeps, hopes, cries, doubts and hopes…just like you and me. Oh, and he also happens to be the President of the United States. That means he answers to BILLIONS of people, not only in this country, but all over the world. Now how do you suppose one human could set out to please every one of us, each with our unique outlooks and opinions?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If you are a right-winger, a tea-partier, independent, radical progressive or anyone else against him for the decisions he’s made, I ask you this. Who better to run this country at this moment? Mc Cain/Palin? Come on…I’m serious. Jon Stewart? Who?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I’m not thrilled about tax cuts for the rich being extended. No, I am not. Mostly because he has been pretty damned good about keeping his campaign promises, and this is one that was broken/severely compromised at the least.. BUT- I also remind you that he campaigned on a platform of bi-partisanship. He said we weren’t red or blue states, but “purple” United States. He said that. Don’t you remember? He never promised to be an ultra-liberal-leftist President. Never.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It disappoints me to see Democrats turning on their own President so aggressively. It’s like political cannibalism. You know why the Republicans are so good at winning? Because they stick together now matter how sucky their guy is (one letter – W.) The least we could do is rally behind the guy we voted in – give him our support for his entire term. He needs it.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">As much as I may read, watch the talking heads and listen to progressive talk radio, I am not a politician. I have my opinions, but I’ve never been in the game, and neither have most of you. Can we all agree that maybe just maybe, it’s a more complicated process than we realize? Maybe it’s not so easy to make all those promises happen on the timeline we prefer.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The bottom line is: You will never agree with every decision any President makes, but let’s look at the big picture here. He passed health care reform, and as an American who was denied Health Care by every major carrier, that is a miracle I never thought I’d see in my life. He has integrity, honor, intellect, a cool head. He is thoughtful, brilliant, passionate, highly educated, a Constitutional scholar, came from nothing and worked his way to the top of his class at Harvard…I mean, really. He has championed Veterans, women’s issues, education, healthcare, put two women on the Supreme Court (and the first Latina). Who better to run this country? I’m not talking some hypothetical superhero politician who doesn’t exist. What ACTUAL person is better qualified right now, right this moment?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I don’t always agree with my President, nor my husband, my friends or kids…but I still support them and believe in them. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So….where is </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">your</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> loyalty?</span></p> <span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-family:Times;font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(To see a list of Obama's campaign promises kept so far, or in the works, click here. It’s pretty damned impressive. </span><a href="http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/">http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/</a>)</span><!--EndFragment--> </div>Hollye Dexterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184998678584429429noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532869464016548891.post-27925015984251230212010-12-09T13:18:00.000-08:002010-12-09T13:18:55.917-08:00McEdiocrity<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Written by Hollye Dexter & Amy Ferris<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(Hollye)</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For years my husband has pined for a woman President. He believed there would be no unnecessary wars and the world would be a better place, as women are the mothers, nurturers and healers of the world. But that was before he got a load of Sarah Palin, Christine O Donnell, Jan Brewer, Carly Fiorina, and Sharon Angle.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I agree we need the balance of more women in leadership roles, but not just any women. We need those who embody the best of what it is to be woman. There are some dangerous girls in politics today. Ignorance and lust for power make for a lethal combination.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When I reflect on our long struggle for the right to vote, then the battle just to be included in the political process, I can feel in my DNA the strength and courage of our foremothers. That’s why it breaks my heart to see women </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">not</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> striving anymore. In the past, we had to sharpen our blade to work toward shattering that glass ceiling. We had to be the best, the brightest. And now? Some women today glide in with no effort, knowledge or wisdom, get some money behind them and shoot right to the top. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mediocrity has become the measure of the day - in politics, media, and pop stars. Young women look up to reality stars like Kim Kardashian, and know more about Snooki, Paris Hilton, and Lindsay Lohan than what’s going on in their own country. Women of the generation before them hold powerful roles in the media, helping to perpetuate the idolotry of these uninformed, average “role models”. We are a country enamored of mediocrity. Big Macs. Reality shows. Cheap appliances and furniture. Phones that break after a year. Fast food. Fast information devoid of truth or fact. Quality doesn’t seem to count any more. We are spoon-feeding the next generation with empty-headed junk. And still more women are exploiting it, cashing in on it. Don't we owe something more to those generations of women who fought for our rights?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The politicians we vote in to power are only a reflection of our culture. It’s not our politicians who need to change, it’s us. Maybe when Christine ODonnell said “I’m YOU” – she was on to something. She </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">is</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> us. Average, uninformed, un-striving </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">us</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As women, the mothers of this country, we who foster the creative spirit, the intuitive wisdom, have a responsibility to rise up to our own excellence again. Where is our ingenuity, our fighting spirit, our brilliance? We must summon that suffragette spirit to be our best and brightest, because surely, this isn’t what they dreamed of for us. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's time to take an honest look at where we are and ask ourselves - what are we passing down as the mothers of this generation? </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(Amy)</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am not a mother.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And for a good portion of my years on earth - 56 to be exact - I prayed, I chanted, I screamed at the UNIVERSE: I do not want to be like MY MOTHER. Oh good god(dess), no... I am not a mother, I don't want to be a mother.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And so, I never had children.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But I will tell you what I learned from </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">my</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> mother:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I learned to be kinder. She was not very kind.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I learned to give another human being a kiss, a hand, a shoulder, a thank-you: for their life, their contribution, their gifts. Afford them their mistakes. She was not a generous soul that way. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I learned to pay attention, especially to the world around me. She paid little, if no, attention.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I learned that women who compete, who are jealous, who don't wish you well (or at least not too well), who are righteous, who fight and scream and go to battle like men, who believe they know better, who will push you down to lift themselves up, who say and know what's right FOR YOUR LIFE, who don't forgive - these are not, by any means, mothering women.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I think (one of) the greatest threats is not that ill-informed women are rising in power, I think the greatest threat is that women think if they act and behave like their mean spirited, ignorant, arrogant, and fiercely competitive counterparts, other women will be safe and feel at home. It's just </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"that home,"</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> will never be a safe haven.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As women, we are here to make this world better, to keep our children safe; to honor another color, religion, belief, faith, spirit, choice. To unite, to hold tight, to embrace, to share, to move, to trust, to create value... to share our wisdom, to nurture another heart and soul and life. To believe in the wisdom and true power of the feminine -- to know </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">without that</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> we do not and could not exist. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was wrong. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am a mother.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Just not mine.</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>isanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06001289337129853053noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532869464016548891.post-53639137028956591892010-12-02T00:51:00.000-08:002010-12-02T00:52:30.922-08:00oh. my. obama.<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">I had just moved into my new apartment on the upper Westside. It was my first grown-up apartment.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">It was January 15<sup>th</sup>, 1990.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">I walked into my building, got into the elevator, and before the doors closed, two huge black men got into the elevator with me.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">All I thought was, “Oh my god, I’m gonna be raped.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">I grew up in a family where the word <i>schvartza</i> was common. It was sprinkled about as frequently and as often as salt and pepper on steak. If there was an abandoned car on the side of the L.I.E with all tires stripped, my mother would casually say, <i>“Schvartzas.”</i> If there was a robbery or a break-in in our all white neighbor, it was the “schvartzas” who would be blamed. Anything unattractive, unappealing, it was always, undoubtedbly, <i>the schvartza</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">Schvartza, goy, faggot… not uncommon words used in my house. And these words were passed down generation to generation. Rumor has it that when a black person got up from their seat on a bus, my grandmother would take her cotton handkerchief and wipe down the seat. And yet, I can’t say that my parents were hateful or prejudice. My parents were friends with gay people, non-jewish people, “colored/non-white” people. All races, all walks of life. I think the truth is there was an underlying unease, feelings of superiority and unconscious (or not) fear that seeped out without any thought what so ever. Both my brother and I, on more than one occasion, were mortified at what came out of our mother’s and father’s mouth. An off color joke here, a nasty remark there, a vile dig here, and a loud rant there. My mother often said that if I dated a black man she would disown me, and I would often respond, joke, ask ... “what about sleeping with one?” She would laugh and smile. I had then, and have now, many friends who are black.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">BUT... I grew up with the word <i>schvartza</i> embedded - like a chip - in my soul, and I would wager I’m not sharing anything new, however, it is not something I have ever admitted.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">Back to the elevator.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">There I was standing in the back of the elevator, convinced that these two men – both at least 6’7” – were going to hurt me. Rape me. Kill me. I heard the word schvartza playing over and over and over in my head. I heard my mother saying it, I heard my grandmother saying it. Schvartza. I knew I was afraid. I knew I was petrified.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">I also knew it was the night of the Cooney/Forman fight, a big night in boxing. One of the guys asked me, “You like boxing?” I said, "Yeah, oh, yeah.” “Really?” he asked, “who you betting on to win?” Without blinking, I said, “I’m betting on the Black guy.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">They both laughed.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">It turned out one of the guys lived in my building, in the penthouse. He was a professional basketball player. He played for the Nets. He was throwing a party that night - a Cooney/Forman party – and right there in the elevator, invited me to come, as his guest.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">I asked if there would be any food.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">“Yeah,” he said, “We’re roastin’ the white guy.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">I lost every bit of color I had regained. He looked at me, and saw how scared I was.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">“Hey,” he said, “I’m jokin’. Really. Cooney’s gonna lose, Forman’s gonna knock him out in the first round. Please, come on up… we’re ordering Chinese. You like Chinese?”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">“Yes, I like Chinese,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">I was the only white person in a sea of black people watching Forman punch the shit out of Cooney in the second round.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">At the end of the evening, my new friend made sure I got home safe and sound - two floors below him - and thanked me for coming to his party. He was gracious and kind, and he and I remained good friends until he moved out of the building a few years later. He was traded and moved to a different city.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">As I think about what’s happening in this country, and the tapes that play over and over and over again in someone’s head – the words that are embedded, the phrases that stick, the stories repeated, the hatred circulating, the ugly, the nasty ... the nigger, the faggot, the homo, the goy, the kike, the jew, the queer…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">I think about that night, in that elevator, and that bet that I made ... and I never, ever thought years later I would say, “I’m betting on the black guy,” out of complete love and respect, and not one ounce of fear.</span></p> <!--EndFragment-->amy ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15903450064085735423noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532869464016548891.post-53566594298141844492010-12-01T21:04:00.000-08:002010-12-01T21:08:09.956-08:00pro-choice(s)<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">i'm pro-choice. i'm all for people making choices in their lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">and, you know, they don't have to make the same choices as me.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">they can have their OPINION.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">i love that i have choices. i get to choose friends, and partners, and clothes, and food, and furniture, and politicians, and hair salons and doctors and restaurants and medication and pets and cars and all sorts of things, i get to choose where i live and what i say and who i love. my choice. and i just love that. and sometimes i make choices and wow oh fucking wow are they the wrong choices, so i get to make new choices, and hopefully i get to learn from my mistakes, and if not, well, then i get to make more choices.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">and it seems to me that those who are so clearly pro-life get to choose too. boy oh boy do they choose. they get to choose who they love and what they wear and who they don't like and what they say and who they vote for and where they eat and where they picket and what they burn and what kind of cars and houses they buy and what news and radio they listen to and the company they keep. and you bet a lot of their choices i don't agree with. not my choices.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">so, it looks like everyone is choosing. holy shit ... everyone it seems is pro-choice.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">and to clarify, i'm pretty pro-life also, i love (okay, maybe not every single day....) waking up in the morning, i love that i get to kiss my husband and friends (yes, on the lips, thank you very much!), that i get to watch the sun rise and set, that i get to write and speak and share my thoughts, visit my friends, go to the movies, and theater and laugh and cry and help someone else get through a day. i'm pretty found of life. i think life is extraordinary, even in the worst of times. i'm all for life.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">yep, yep, that sounds pretty pro-life to me.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">someone said to me yesterday that she was pro-life and ... tada.. "<i>didn't think i was</i>," which by the way, i can understand, so, i kinda looked at her and asked, well, why, what makes you think that? and she said, well, because you're clearly pro-choice, and i said to her, well yes, I am pro-choice, and she asked, well how can you be "pro-life <i>and</i> pro-choice" and i said:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">well, you know, i'm also all for pro-bowling, and pro-tennis, and pro-golf, and all for pro-bono work (which is very different than sonny bono work), and pro-skating and pro-duce, and pro-phylactics, and pro-mo and pro-ton, and pro-baseball...<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">and she kinda looked at me and said, yeah, well, what about an abortion, you think that that's okay? is that what you're saying?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;line-height:19.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">and i looked right at her and said, "<i>you my dear are trying to kill my opinions, wouldn't you call that an abortion?</i>"<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">i left it at that.</span></p> <!--EndFragment-->amy ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15903450064085735423noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532869464016548891.post-550826334833551752010-12-01T17:18:00.000-08:002010-12-09T13:21:40.615-08:00Bigfoot's Cousin<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Once upon a time Cavemen roamed the Earth. The first known human was the Neanderthal. But as the story goes, one day he evolved into the newer slicker model of human, Cro Magnon, and supposedly the Neanderthals all just…*poof*… disappeared. Or did they?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Now mentally, the Neanderthal was one enchilada short of a combo plate, if you know what I mean, and operated solely out of fear. When he encountered something he couldn’t understand with his little lizard brain (which was most everything), he feared it. Then he usually clubbed it to death.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But Cro Magnum- well he seemed to be capable of rational thought and problem solving. He learned how to use fire, and make tools. He learned how to build a peaceful society. Why you might even have called him a “Community Organizer”.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Some say the Neanderthal died out when ‘ole Cro Magnon came along, but….I’m not so sure. I have a personal belief that descendants of both still walk the earth. And I’m not talking about Bigfoot, I’m talking about everyday people who walk among us. Recently Science Journal revealed that many of us still carry traces of the Neanderthal in our DNA. Proof that my theory is correct, thank you very much!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Now, how can you tell when you’ve been in contact with a descendant of the Neanderthal tribe? Ask yourself, is this a person who operates solely out of fear, and then tries to destroy what he fears? If so, congratulations – you’ve just met Bigfoot’s cousin!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So keep your eyes open folks! Exciting discoveries are to be made everywhere you look. You don’t even need to carry binoculars or travel to far away places. Just look where fear and hate abide. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here are a few places sightings might take place, so have your camera ready!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Congress</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Tea Party Rallies</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">E Entertainment</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">FOX</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Wall Street</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Dr. Laura Radio Show</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Religious organizations who profess hate (especially those run by oppressed homosexual men!)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Be sure to let me know if there are other places you’ve seen Bigfoot’s cousin! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</div>isanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06001289337129853053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532869464016548891.post-4254196418438021272010-10-30T20:43:00.000-07:002010-12-09T13:23:55.661-08:00Sanity PREVAILS!<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I had a great time at the Los Angeles Rally for Sanity yesterday. What I am most happy about is not only the huge turn out in D.C. (CBS estimates 215,000) but the many satellite rallies like ours in Los Angeles, and all over the world! I wonder if all those crowds were tallied, what the grand total would come to? From Alaska to Hawaii, Texas to Minnesota, Illinois, New York all the way to France! ALL OVER THE WORLD! (See </span><a href="http://rallymao.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">http://rallymao.com/</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> to see all the Sanity rallies that took place yesterday). Pretty cool, huh? It just goes to show you…we are not discouraged and apathetic as the polls and pundits would have you believe. We do care about our country, we </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">will</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> show up and vote. Maybe we aren’t loud and nutballs about it – but we care.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">There was a wonderful smattering of unusual characters at the L.A. rally (well it is </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">L.A</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">.)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">which made it fun. But overall, it was filled with calm, rational citizens showing up to support sane politics. Here we were in MacArthur park, which was sort of known to be a tough neighborhood, all walks of life, young and tattooed, old and gray-haired, families with kids running around (like us) watching the D.C. Rally on a Jumbotron Screen together, cheering along. I saw only two parked cop cars- no police anywhere. It wasn’t necessary. There were a lot of people picking up trash, just to be helpful. It was feel-good day. No anger, no shouting, no hateful racist signs. I think bringing humor and levity to our political situation is the most healing thing we could have done at this point. Laughter is good medicine for what ails us as a country. I love that we are taking politics back with good humor. Hooray for us!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">After the Jon Stewart rally ended on the Jumbotron, the crowd thinned out. There was an after-show featuring a flash mob in Halloween costumes doing Thriller (totally cool!) then some L.A. stand up comics, some of them worked blue, and that was uncool. We were in a park in the middle of the day with tons of kids running around, not at the Comedy Store in Hollywood. There was one wingnut in the crowd with a sign stating that everyone was going to burn in Hell, or some such thing, and one comic went after him in a really ugly way, and that was NOT what our day was about. Extremism in any form is wrong. That’s my one criticism of the event. (But our rally was organized by an individual organization not affiliated with Jon Stewart.) Other than that it was a great day and I was really proud to be part of it with my family and friends.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Now if we all show up and VOTE on Tuesday, then maybe we won’t have any kooky tea-party candidates in Congress, and we can all (Democrats AND Republicans) breathe a sigh of relief. </span><o:p></o:p></div>Hollye Dexterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184998678584429429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532869464016548891.post-77700384102797154892010-10-25T16:49:00.000-07:002010-12-01T20:51:04.212-08:00What You Didn't See on the News...<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:LucidaGrande;color:#262626">Close to forty thousand people showed up to see President Obama at the USC rally I attended last Friday. It was peaceful and orderly- no drama. Today I can find NO COVERAGE by any major network or news outlet. Now had it been twenty people from the Tea Party, it would have been on every TV channel. Just goes to show you how our media works. Only drama sells.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:LucidaGrande;color:#262626">As we stood for hours in lines that stretched on for eight city blocks, I noticed first how positive and happy everyone was. People showed up with their young children, babies in strollers, grandmothers in wheelchairs. There were young college students and silver-haired couples, buses full of school children. Everyone was smiling, excited, chatting with one another about our President, his integrity, how he’s kept his campaign promises and continues to do so. Forty thousand people getting along. Happy.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:LucidaGrande;color:#262626">And no media – no cameras, no film crews, anywhere.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:LucidaGrande;color:#262626">When we finally proceeded inside USCAlumni Park, it was a human sea of bodies pressed tight together, everyone trying to get closer to where the President would soon stand. And yet, not once was there a fight, no shouting matches, nothing. Peaceful. Forty thousand people. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:LucidaGrande;color:#262626">There was a group of young Republicans standing outside the entrance holding signs “We’ll knock the left out with a HARD RIGHT.” No one said anything to them, just walked past. I had no problem with them being there. America is a two party system, but it just bothers me how aggressive and sometimes violent their slogans are ( RELOAD, AIM …). It’s just unnecessary. How about some good ideas on those signs instead? Don’t have any?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:LucidaGrande;color:#262626">For the seven hours I was there, I searched the crowd for signs of news media, and saw nothing but a Fox News truck. They must have been hoping to catch some negative drama. Sorry guys.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:LucidaGrande;color:#262626">The rally was so exciting. The crowd was pumped up, and started spontaneously chanting OBAMA OBAMA….Let me tell you, forty thousand voices in unison is pretty thrilling when you’re standing in the middle of it. Jamie Foxx was the emcee. He was taking videos of us chanting for his twitter feed. Next was a concert of world music, then speeches by our local democratic candidates – Jerry Brown and Barbara Boxer. (Jerry Brown quoted Ghandi in his speech. I like that in a candidate.)</span></p> <span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:LucidaGrande;color:#262626;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">And finally…what we’d all been waiting hours for - President Obama. The crowd’s cheers were deafening. It was such a thrilling moment. The President gave an inspiring speech, as he always does. One of the things he said that stuck with me was “I know many of you are thinking back to Inauguration night, the celebration, the party…but I told you then the road ahead was going to be hard. I told you – power concedes nothing without a fight.” I remember him saying that and I remind people when they start to criticize him for not getting everything crossed off his To-Do list after two years. Give the guy a break. I mean, aside from the mess he inherited, he’s had pirates and flu epidemics and oil spills. I mean, he’s not Superman. But the overall message was – don’t get tired. Not now. Don’t give up on our mission. Don’t get discouraged. Stand up, be counted, vote! </span><!--EndFragment-->Hollye Dexterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184998678584429429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532869464016548891.post-74958298818741905592010-10-03T18:46:00.000-07:002010-12-09T13:25:41.867-08:00We The People<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So the other day I’m at my local café where I do much of my writing…and these two guys walk in. Let me just say that from the get-go, it was obvious these two were a little off. Not to be judgmental, but they were dressed awkwardly, and ordered their coffee too loud, to where everyone in the place stopped and looked up. Then, unfortunately, they settled right next to me and proceeded to have an obnoxiously heated conversation about how the “government” is a bunch of criminals no different from the 39</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">th</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> street Crips, except they have better P.R. They railed against the indignity if you don’t pay your taxes (which by the way collecting taxes is illegal according to these guys) the “government” would come with their guns and haul you away, and steal all your stuff like the thugs they really are. </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I used to be proud to be an American, but not anymore</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">…one of them said.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Okay. I don’t like to use my blog as a political soapbox, but this is just common sense stuff, people. First of all, I </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">am</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> proud to be an American, because in America, WE ARE THE GOVERNMENT. We live in a democracy, not a dictatorship. It’s WE THE PEOPLE, remember?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">WE are free to choose the people who represent us. WE are free to become one of those representatives. WE are FREE. And the folks who work in government offices? Just everyday American citizens like you and me, not some mythical villains from a comic book. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We are the government</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">, so stop making the “</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">government</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">” out to be some scary boogieman who comes in the night and steals all your freedoms away. Quit playing the victim. You don’t like the way things are - quit flapping your gums and get involved in your community. Run for office. Volunteer to campaign for someone you believe in. Do something to make your world better. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Second, democracy is a two-party system. It’s designed that way to make sure that any one party doesn’t become all powerful….like that scary </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">government</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> so many of you talk about. The two-party system was not designed to be a death match. We aren’t supposed to hate each other because we see things differently. It was put in place to encourage healthy debate, to consider many sides of an issue before we enact the laws of our land. So quit with the hate already!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And third, countries who don’t pay taxes are called THIRD WORLD countries. They don’t have paved roads and freeways and fire departments and veteran’s hospitals and schools and museums and libraries. If you want to live in a civilized country, you have to pay taxes. Period. If you don’t wanna pay taxes - try your fate in another country. You won’t hear me cryin’ as you pack your bags…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Finally, </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Quit yer bellyachin’!</span></i></b><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> The rest of us would like some peace and quiet while we’re trying to write stuff in a coffeeshop!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Sheesh!</span></span>Hollye Dexterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184998678584429429noreply@blogger.com1