My computer has officially bit the bullet... kicked the bucket... bought the farm... it's spirit has gone to that big appliance center in the sky...
I hope to have a replacement soon, but until then, I'll post when I can!!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
I Honestly Can't Believe This Happened!
I'm glad my computer is holding up so far, because when I saw this on this news last night, I really wanted to say something about it:
A teacher in Port St. Lucie, Florida recently kicked an autistic student out of her class and let the remaining students vote on whether he would be allowed back into the room. He was stood in front of the class and each child was allowed to say right there in front of him and everyone else why they "didn't like Alex."
This story would infuriate me even if Alex didn't have Asperger's. Public humiliation is not an acceptable form of punishment for someone that young. But to punish a kid who has very little control over his actions in such a way is just reprehensible. As the mother of a boy who may or may not have a behavioral disorder (we're going to wait and see how he adjusts to kindergarten this fall before deciding whether to have him tested), I am especially appalled. Alex had just as much of a right as any of his classmates to be in that classroom. In fact, Asperger's Syndrome is a "high-functioning" form of autism, which means that while Alex has a hard time processing social cues, he was probably the most intelligent child in his class.
I am also amazed that the state attorney's office was able to determine that the incident did not constitute emotional abuse. If this doesn't constitute emotional abuse, what does?? According to Alex's mother, the only friend Alex had ever made was forced to take part in deciding whether to vote him out of the class. Alex had to learn why 16 of his peers didn't like him. They didn't like him because of something that he couldn't control. Even without Asperger's-- if Alex had been misbehaving just because he wanted to be naughty-- this would be crushing to anyone, much less a kindergartener.
A teacher in Port St. Lucie, Florida recently kicked an autistic student out of her class and let the remaining students vote on whether he would be allowed back into the room. He was stood in front of the class and each child was allowed to say right there in front of him and everyone else why they "didn't like Alex."
This story would infuriate me even if Alex didn't have Asperger's. Public humiliation is not an acceptable form of punishment for someone that young. But to punish a kid who has very little control over his actions in such a way is just reprehensible. As the mother of a boy who may or may not have a behavioral disorder (we're going to wait and see how he adjusts to kindergarten this fall before deciding whether to have him tested), I am especially appalled. Alex had just as much of a right as any of his classmates to be in that classroom. In fact, Asperger's Syndrome is a "high-functioning" form of autism, which means that while Alex has a hard time processing social cues, he was probably the most intelligent child in his class.
I am also amazed that the state attorney's office was able to determine that the incident did not constitute emotional abuse. If this doesn't constitute emotional abuse, what does?? According to Alex's mother, the only friend Alex had ever made was forced to take part in deciding whether to vote him out of the class. Alex had to learn why 16 of his peers didn't like him. They didn't like him because of something that he couldn't control. Even without Asperger's-- if Alex had been misbehaving just because he wanted to be naughty-- this would be crushing to anyone, much less a kindergartener.
Posting Is About To Get Thin(ner Than Usual).
I just wanted to let everyone know that my computer is in the process of crashing, so I don't know how much time I have left! So if posting gets really thin, that's the reason. Hopefully we'll get a replacement soon!! Wish me luck!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Quote Of The Day
"But government “change,” Obama change, NOPEC change is nothing to do with that. In fact, it obstructs real dynamic change. On energy, on environmentalism, on health care, government “change” generally does nothing more than set in motion the next crisis that the next change-peddling pol has to pledge to address. So we complain about four-dollar-a-gallon gas, and our leaders respond with showboating legislation like NOPEC and feelgood environmental regulatory overkill like putting the polar bear on the endangered species list, while ensuring that we’ll continue to bankroll every radical mosque and madrassah on the planet. In Britain, new “green taxes” do nothing to “save” the planet, but they are estimated to cost the average family about $6,000 a year. That’s change you can believe in." -Mark Steyn
Monday, May 26, 2008
Doing Things The Redneck Way
Ok, so I was going to title this post "How To Clean A Rug." But then I decided that it just didn't sound so inviting. Who reads this blog for cleaning tips, right? (Or, the question I often ask: Who reads this blog... period??) So I've chosen "Doing Things The Redneck Way" instead. Because this topic can actually cover a number of things that I do on a daily basis that make for interesting blogging-- if for no other reason than for you to point and laugh at me. So, we begin now with "How To Clean A Rug The Redneck Way."
First, I gotta tell you about my rug. It's the only carpet in our entire house, except for a Cars rug in the kids' room. (The kind that looks like a map for your cars to drive around on.) I bought it for $20 at Fred's. (For those who don't know, Fred's is to dollar stores what Target is to WalMart-- a little higher up the ladder, but not by much.) It's an 8'x10' berber rug. I figured, "I have children, so why spend more." So after about 2 1/2 years, the rug was starting to look pretty rough. But I certainly wasn't going to rent a shampooer (sp??) for one tiny rug. So I decided to do it the redneck way. I am going to share the instructions with you, step-by-step, and hopefully it will be helpful to someone.
Step One: Take the rug out of your house and haul it across the yard to the trampoline. Hoist it up to the trampoline, and make sure it's lying flat. Make sure the waterhose is long enough to reach the trampoline, then spray the rug.
Step Two: Once the rug is wet, drizzle it all over with laundry detergent, paying extra attention to stains.
Step Three: Turn the hose to that setting which peels the paint off of cars. On our hose, it's called "stream," which I find ironic since water moving that fast would be considered not so much a "stream" as "raging river rapids." But I digress. Use the water to work the soap into the rug.
Step Four: When you realize with awe that even the "paint-peeling" setting isn't affecting the set-in stains, you'll have to get something with bristles to scrub the rug. I used the car-washing brush. (I just realized at this moment that I left it in the yard by the trampoline...). Hop up onto the trampoline, bearing in mind the fact that it's soaking wet and covered in slick soap. Scrub the rug.
Step Five: Rinse the rug. Turn your hose to a setting somewhere more forceful than "shower" but less forceful than that "paint-peeling" setting. Rinse, rinse, rinse... this takes about 20 minutes to finally get all of the soap out of the rug. You'll probably have to walk around the trampoline to make sure the water doesn't just pool in the middle of the rug.
Step Six: Remember how heavy the rug was when you tried to hoist it onto the trampoline?? It's about a bazillion times heavier than that, now. So recruit some help and hold the rug up sideways to let some of the water drain off. Leave it on the trampoline to dry. I'll have to get back to you on how long that takes... hopefully not too long, because now our living room sounds like an echo chamber.
Thank you for tuning into this installment of "Doing Things The Redneck Way." I hope I've helped someone... somewhere...
First, I gotta tell you about my rug. It's the only carpet in our entire house, except for a Cars rug in the kids' room. (The kind that looks like a map for your cars to drive around on.) I bought it for $20 at Fred's. (For those who don't know, Fred's is to dollar stores what Target is to WalMart-- a little higher up the ladder, but not by much.) It's an 8'x10' berber rug. I figured, "I have children, so why spend more." So after about 2 1/2 years, the rug was starting to look pretty rough. But I certainly wasn't going to rent a shampooer (sp??) for one tiny rug. So I decided to do it the redneck way. I am going to share the instructions with you, step-by-step, and hopefully it will be helpful to someone.
Step One: Take the rug out of your house and haul it across the yard to the trampoline. Hoist it up to the trampoline, and make sure it's lying flat. Make sure the waterhose is long enough to reach the trampoline, then spray the rug.
Step Two: Once the rug is wet, drizzle it all over with laundry detergent, paying extra attention to stains.
Step Three: Turn the hose to that setting which peels the paint off of cars. On our hose, it's called "stream," which I find ironic since water moving that fast would be considered not so much a "stream" as "raging river rapids." But I digress. Use the water to work the soap into the rug.
Step Four: When you realize with awe that even the "paint-peeling" setting isn't affecting the set-in stains, you'll have to get something with bristles to scrub the rug. I used the car-washing brush. (I just realized at this moment that I left it in the yard by the trampoline...). Hop up onto the trampoline, bearing in mind the fact that it's soaking wet and covered in slick soap. Scrub the rug.
Step Five: Rinse the rug. Turn your hose to a setting somewhere more forceful than "shower" but less forceful than that "paint-peeling" setting. Rinse, rinse, rinse... this takes about 20 minutes to finally get all of the soap out of the rug. You'll probably have to walk around the trampoline to make sure the water doesn't just pool in the middle of the rug.
Step Six: Remember how heavy the rug was when you tried to hoist it onto the trampoline?? It's about a bazillion times heavier than that, now. So recruit some help and hold the rug up sideways to let some of the water drain off. Leave it on the trampoline to dry. I'll have to get back to you on how long that takes... hopefully not too long, because now our living room sounds like an echo chamber.
Thank you for tuning into this installment of "Doing Things The Redneck Way." I hope I've helped someone... somewhere...
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Sign The Letter!!
From Michelle Malkin:
"The good news: Republican senators went on record against the Feinstein/Craig illegal alien farmworker amendment today in a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid.
Sen. Inhofe wants you to sign the No Amnesty letter. You can do so here. The text:
'Dear Majority Leader Reid:
We write to express disappointment that the Senate Appropriations Committee chose to include in the War Supplemental more than 100 pages of immigration language that would grant legal status to more than one million illegal alien agricultural workers and their families. We urge you to remove these controversial provisions from the bill so we can enact essential funding for our troops without delay. If these provisions remain in the bill, you can expect a vigorous debate on immigration policy. '"
"The good news: Republican senators went on record against the Feinstein/Craig illegal alien farmworker amendment today in a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid.
Sen. Inhofe wants you to sign the No Amnesty letter. You can do so here. The text:
'Dear Majority Leader Reid:
We write to express disappointment that the Senate Appropriations Committee chose to include in the War Supplemental more than 100 pages of immigration language that would grant legal status to more than one million illegal alien agricultural workers and their families. We urge you to remove these controversial provisions from the bill so we can enact essential funding for our troops without delay. If these provisions remain in the bill, you can expect a vigorous debate on immigration policy. '"
The Obaman Commandments
The list of things that Republicans aren't allowed to say about Obama seems to be growing daily. Nevermind the fact that it's just ridiculous strategy to let your opponent decide what subject matters are off-limits, I have to wonder what the list would look like if the Obamessiah himself compiled it. So, without further ado, I give you The Obaman Commandments:
1. I am Barack Obama, the Great Uniter. Thou shalt not use the racially-charged sermons of my former pastor against me. Though I sat in a pew in his church for 20 years, I knew not what he was saying.
2. Thou shalt not make for yourselves a propaganda-style poster making fun of the size of my ears, my elitist tendencies, or my love of arugula.
3. Thou shalt not take my middle name in vain, for (like any other subject I don't feel like discussing) doing so is merely a distraction from the "real issues."
4. Remember my platform-- Hope! Change!-- and to keep it feeling warm and fuzzy.
5. Honor my wife Michelle, and do not point out her racist comments. Do not hold her accountable for the things she says, because America has been "just downright mean" to her.
6. Thou shalt not mention my race.
7. Thou shalt not refer to my voting record.
8. Thou shalt not express any concern about the fact that I attended a Muslim school in my youth and can still recite the opening lines of the Arabic call to prayer in a "first-rate accent."
9. Thou shalt not accuse me of advocating the appeasement of our enemies.
10. Thou shalt not bring up my friendship with Bill Ayers, or any other questionable connections I may have. Thus saith Obama.
1. I am Barack Obama, the Great Uniter. Thou shalt not use the racially-charged sermons of my former pastor against me. Though I sat in a pew in his church for 20 years, I knew not what he was saying.
2. Thou shalt not make for yourselves a propaganda-style poster making fun of the size of my ears, my elitist tendencies, or my love of arugula.
3. Thou shalt not take my middle name in vain, for (like any other subject I don't feel like discussing) doing so is merely a distraction from the "real issues."
4. Remember my platform-- Hope! Change!-- and to keep it feeling warm and fuzzy.
5. Honor my wife Michelle, and do not point out her racist comments. Do not hold her accountable for the things she says, because America has been "just downright mean" to her.
6. Thou shalt not mention my race.
7. Thou shalt not refer to my voting record.
8. Thou shalt not express any concern about the fact that I attended a Muslim school in my youth and can still recite the opening lines of the Arabic call to prayer in a "first-rate accent."
9. Thou shalt not accuse me of advocating the appeasement of our enemies.
10. Thou shalt not bring up my friendship with Bill Ayers, or any other questionable connections I may have. Thus saith Obama.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Mark Steyn
I really like Mark Steyn, and his column today is excellent, so I just thought I would share it with you. Enjoy!
(Notice how the link is in the text, now!! I've become almost technologically astute!!)
(Notice how the link is in the text, now!! I've become almost technologically astute!!)
Why Should We Leave Her Out Of It?? ~UPDATED~
Barack Obama is upset that his wife has been criticized for remarks she has made while on the campaign trail.
“The GOP, should I be the nominee, can say whatever they want to say about me, my track record,” Obama said. “If they think that they’re going to try to make Michelle an issue in this campaign, they should be careful because that I find unacceptable, the notion that you start attacking my wife or my family.”
I don't know whether Obama has noticed or not, but so far the only one of his family members to be "attacked," is his wife. I wonder why that could be? Let's look at the facts here:
Obama's children-- Have been nothing more than arm candy throughout the primary season. Media attacks: none.
Obama's parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins-- Have made no speeches throughout the primary season. Media attacks: none.
Obama's Wife-- Sticks her foot in her mouth nearly every time she opens it. The times she doesn't insert her foot, she's saying things the people can really relate to, like: Gee, it's hard to pay for ballet classes, and music classes, and pay off student loans, especially when you're only making a million dollars a year...
Media attacks: (And by media, I mean anything not liberal-owned) Several.
If Michelle Obama insists on inserting herself into the political process, then she needs to be ready for the criticism that that activity brings. If she were quiet, if she never gave "vote for my husband" speeches claiming that Obama will fix our souls (Jesus took care of mine, but thanks anyway, Obama), then he would be justified in asking everyone to leave his wife out of it. "Attacking" her would be just as reprehensible as "attacking" his children. Instead, in true liberal fashion, Michelle Obama has made her bed and the potential Democrat candidate believes that she shouldn't have to lie in it.
~UPDATE~
My dad, who apparently has issues with remembering his password to log on and leave comments (if senility sets in at 46, then maybe we really do have to worry about McCain), has e-mailed me this excellent point, which I have decided to add as well:
"Well said. You could add that he has trouble clarifying the difference between attack and rebuttal. She has yet to be attacked, but there are plenty of rebuttals to what she has said. Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from criticism regarding your remarks (especially when they are racially charged and/or unAmerican)."
Good point!
“The GOP, should I be the nominee, can say whatever they want to say about me, my track record,” Obama said. “If they think that they’re going to try to make Michelle an issue in this campaign, they should be careful because that I find unacceptable, the notion that you start attacking my wife or my family.”
I don't know whether Obama has noticed or not, but so far the only one of his family members to be "attacked," is his wife. I wonder why that could be? Let's look at the facts here:
Obama's children-- Have been nothing more than arm candy throughout the primary season. Media attacks: none.
Obama's parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins-- Have made no speeches throughout the primary season. Media attacks: none.
Obama's Wife-- Sticks her foot in her mouth nearly every time she opens it. The times she doesn't insert her foot, she's saying things the people can really relate to, like: Gee, it's hard to pay for ballet classes, and music classes, and pay off student loans, especially when you're only making a million dollars a year...
Media attacks: (And by media, I mean anything not liberal-owned) Several.
If Michelle Obama insists on inserting herself into the political process, then she needs to be ready for the criticism that that activity brings. If she were quiet, if she never gave "vote for my husband" speeches claiming that Obama will fix our souls (Jesus took care of mine, but thanks anyway, Obama), then he would be justified in asking everyone to leave his wife out of it. "Attacking" her would be just as reprehensible as "attacking" his children. Instead, in true liberal fashion, Michelle Obama has made her bed and the potential Democrat candidate believes that she shouldn't have to lie in it.
~UPDATE~
My dad, who apparently has issues with remembering his password to log on and leave comments (if senility sets in at 46, then maybe we really do have to worry about McCain), has e-mailed me this excellent point, which I have decided to add as well:
"Well said. You could add that he has trouble clarifying the difference between attack and rebuttal. She has yet to be attacked, but there are plenty of rebuttals to what she has said. Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from criticism regarding your remarks (especially when they are racially charged and/or unAmerican)."
Good point!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Bush's Speech
I'm giving you the whole text of the speech here, because I think everyone should read it. It's an incredible speech which speaks for itself-- there is no commentary I could add to it, he pretty much says it all. It's long, but do yourself the favor and take a little time to read it.
President Peres and Mr. Prime Minister, Madam Speaker, thanks very much for hosting this special session. President Beinish, Leader of the Opposition Netanyahu, Ministers, members of the Knesset, distinguished guests: Shalom.
Laura and I are thrilled to be back in Israel. We have been deeply moved by the celebrations of the past two days. And this afternoon, I am honored to stand before one of the world's great democratic assemblies and convey the wishes of the American people with these words: Yom Ha'atzmaut Sameach.
It is a rare privilege for the American president to speak to the Knesset, although the prime minister told me there is something even rarer — to have just one person in this chamber speaking at a time. My only regret is that one of Israel's greatest leaders is not here to share this moment. He is a warrior for the ages, a man of peace, a friend. The prayers of the American people are with Ariel Sharon.
We gather to mark a momentous occasion. Sixty years ago in Tel Aviv, David Ben-Gurion proclaimed Israel's independence, founded on the "natural right of the Jewish people to be masters of their own fate." What followed was more than the establishment of a new country. It was the redemption of an ancient promise given to Abraham and Moses and David — a homeland for the chosen people Eretz Yisrael.
Eleven minutes later, on the orders of President Harry Truman, the United States was proud to be the first nation to recognize Israel's independence. And on this landmark anniversary, America is proud to be Israel's closest ally and best friend in the world.
The alliance between our governments is unbreakable, yet the source of our friendship runs deeper than any treaty. It is grounded in the shared spirit of our people, the bonds of the Book, the ties of the soul. When William Bradford stepped off the Mayflower in 1620, he quoted the words of Jeremiah: "Come let us declare in Zion the word of God." The founders of my country saw a new promised land and bestowed upon their towns names like Bethlehem and New Canaan. And in time, many Americans became passionate advocates for a Jewish state.
Centuries of suffering and sacrifice would pass before the dream was fulfilled. The Jewish people endured the agony of the pogroms, the tragedy of the Great War, and the horror of the Holocaust — what Elie Wiesel called "the kingdom of the night." Soulless men took away lives and broke apart families. Yet they could not take away the spirit of the Jewish people, and they could not break the promise of God.
When news of Israel's freedom finally arrived, Golda Meir, a fearless woman raised in Wisconsin, could summon only tears. She later said: "For two thousand years we have waited for our deliverance. Now that it is here it is so great and wonderful that it surpasses human words."
The joy of independence was tempered by the outbreak of battle, a struggle that has continued for six decades. Yet in spite of the violence, in defiance of the threats, Israel has built a thriving democracy in the heart of the Holy Land. You have welcomed immigrants from the four corners of the Earth. You have forged a free and modern society based on the love of liberty, a passion for justice, and a respect for human dignity. You have worked tirelessly for peace. You have fought valiantly for freedom.
My country's admiration for Israel does not end there. When Americans look at Israel, we see a pioneer spirit that worked an agricultural miracle and now leads a high-tech revolution. We see world-class universities and a global leader in business and innovation and the arts. We see a resource more valuable than oil or gold: the talent and determination of a free people who refuse to let any obstacle stand in the way of their destiny.
I have been fortunate to see the character of Israel up close. I have touched the Western Wall, seen the sun reflected in the Sea of Galilee, I have prayed at Yad Vashem. And earlier today, I visited Masada, an inspiring monument to courage and sacrifice. At this historic site, Israeli soldiers swear an oath: "Masada shall never fall again."
Citizens of Israel: Masada shall never fall again, and America will be at your side.
This anniversary is a time to reflect on the past. It's also an opportunity to look to the future. As we go forward, our alliance will be guided by clear principles — shared convictions rooted in moral clarity and unswayed by popularity polls or the shifting opinions of international elites.
We believe in the matchless value of every man, woman and child. So we insist that the people of Israel have the right to a decent, normal and peaceful life, just like the citizens of every other nation.
We believe that democracy is the only way to ensure human rights. So we consider it a source of shame that the United Nations routinely passes more human rights resolutions against the freest democracy in the Middle East than any other nation in the world.
We believe that religious liberty is fundamental to a civilized society. So we condemn anti-Semitism in all forms — whether by those who openly question Israel's right to exist or by others who quietly excuse them.
We believe that free people should strive and sacrifice for peace. So we applaud the courageous choices Israeli's leaders have made. We also believe that nations have a right to defend themselves and that no nation should ever be forced to negotiate with killers pledged to its destruction.
We believe that targeting innocent lives to achieve political objectives is always and everywhere wrong. So we stand together against terror and extremism, and we will never let down our guard or lose our resolve.
The fight against terror and extremism is the defining challenge of our time. It is more than a clash of arms. It is a clash of visions, a great ideological struggle. On the one side are those who defend the ideals of justice and dignity with the power of reason and truth. On the other side are those who pursue a narrow vision of cruelty and control by committing murder, inciting fear, and spreading lies.
This struggle is waged with the technology of the 21st century, but at its core it is an ancient battle between good and evil. The killers claim the mantle of Islam, but they are not religious men. No one who prays to the God of Abraham could strap a suicide vest to an innocent child, or blow up guiltless guests at a Passover Seder, or fly planes into office buildings filled with unsuspecting workers. In truth, the men who carry out these savage acts serve no higher goal than their own desire for power. They accept no God before themselves. And they reserve a special hatred for the most ardent defenders of liberty, including Americans and Israelis.
And that is why the founding charter of Hamas calls for the "elimination" of Israel. And that is why the followers of Hezbollah chant "Death to Israel, Death to America!" That is why Osama bin Laden teaches that "the killing of Jews and Americans is one of the biggest duties." And that is why the president of Iran dreams of returning the Middle East to the Middle Ages and calls for Israel to be wiped off the map.
There are good and decent people who cannot fathom the darkness in these men and try to explain away their words. It's natural, but it is deadly wrong. As witnesses to evil in the past, we carry a solemn responsibility to take these words seriously. Jews and Americans have seen the consequences of disregarding the words of leaders who espouse hatred. And that is a mistake the world must not repeat in the 21st century.
Some seem to believe that we should negotiate with the terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along. We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: "Lord, if I could only have talked to Hitler, all this might have been avoided." We have an obligation to call this what it is — the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history.
Some people suggest if the United States would just break ties with Israel, all our problems in the Middle East would go away. This is a tired argument that buys into the propaganda of the enemies of peace, and America utterly rejects it. Israel's population may be just over 7 million. But when you confront terror and evil, you are 307 million strong, because the United States of America stands with you.
America stands with you in breaking up terrorist networks and denying the extremists sanctuary. America stands with you in firmly opposing Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions. Permitting the world's leading sponsor of terror to possess the world's deadliest weapons would be an unforgivable betrayal for future generations. For the sake of peace, the world must not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.
Ultimately, to prevail in this struggle, we must offer an alternative to the ideology of the extremists by extending our vision of justice and tolerance and freedom and hope. These values are the self-evident right of all people, of all religions, in all the world because they are a gift from the Almighty God. Securing these rights is also the surest way to secure peace. Leaders who are accountable to their people will not pursue endless confrontation and bloodshed. Young people with a place in their society and a voice in their future are less likely to search for meaning in radicalism. Societies where citizens can express their conscience and worship their God will not export violence, they will be partners in peace.
The fundamental insight, that freedom yields peace, is the great lesson of the 20th century. Now our task is to apply it to the 21st. Nowhere is this work more urgent than here in the Middle East. We must stand with the reformers working to break the old patterns of tyranny and despair. We must give voice to millions of ordinary people who dream of a better life in a free society. We must confront the moral relativism that views all forms of government as equally acceptable and thereby consigns whole societies to slavery. Above all, we must have faith in our values and ourselves and confidently pursue the expansion of liberty as the path to a peaceful future.
That future will be a dramatic departure from the Middle East of today. So as we mark 60 years from Israel's founding, let us try to envision the region 60 years from now. This vision is not going to arrive easily or overnight; it will encounter violent resistance. But if we and future presidents and future Knessets maintain our resolve and have faith in our ideals, here is the Middle East that we can see:
Israel will be celebrating the 120th anniversary as one of the world's great democracies, a secure and flourishing homeland for the Jewish people. The Palestinian people will have the homeland they have long dreamed of and deserved — a democratic state that is governed by law, and respects human rights, and rejects terror. From Cairo to Riyadh to Baghdad and Beirut, people will live in free and independent societies, where a desire for peace is reinforced by ties of diplomacy and tourism and trade. Iran and Syria will be peaceful nations, with today's oppression a distant memory and where people are free to speak their minds and develop their God-given talents. Al-Qaida and Hezbollah and Hamas will be defeated, as Muslims across the region recognize the emptiness of the terrorists' vision and the injustice of their cause.
Overall, the Middle East will be characterized by a new period of tolerance and integration. And this doesn't mean that Israel and its neighbors will be best of friends. But when leaders across the region answer to their people, they will focus their energies on schools and jobs, not on rocket attacks and suicide bombings. With this change, Israel will open a new hopeful chapter in which its people can live a normal life, and the dream of Herzl and the founders of 1948 can be fully and finally realized.
This is a bold vision, and some will say it can never be achieved. But think about what we have witnessed in our own time. When Europe was destroying itself through total war and genocide, it was difficult to envision a continent that six decades later would be free and at peace. When Japanese pilots were flying suicide missions into American battleships, it seemed impossible that six decades later Japan would be a democracy, a lynchpin of security in Asia, and one of America's closest friends. And when waves of refugees arrived here in the desert with nothing, surrounded by hostile armies, it was almost unimaginable that Israel would grow into one of the freest and most successful nations on the earth.
Yet each one of these transformations took place. And a future of transformation is possible in the Middle East, so long as a new generation of leaders has the courage to defeat the enemies of freedom, to make the hard choices necessary for peace, and stand firm on the solid rock of universal values.
Sixty years ago, on the eve of Israel's independence, the last British soldiers departing Jerusalem stopped at a building in the Jewish quarter of the Old City. An officer knocked on the door and met a senior rabbi. The officer presented him with a short iron bar — the key to the Zion Gate — and said it was the first time in 18 centuries that a key to the gates of Jerusalem had belonged to a Jew. His hands trembling, the rabbi offered a prayer of thanksgiving to God, "Who had granted us life and permitted us to reach this day." Then he turned to the officer, and uttered the words Jews had awaited for so long: "I accept this key in the name of my people."
Over the past six decades, the Jewish people have established a state that would make that humble rabbi proud. You have raised a modern society in the Promised Land, a light unto the nations that preserves the legacy of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. And you have built a mighty democracy that will endure forever and can always count on the United States of America to be at your side. God bless.
President Peres and Mr. Prime Minister, Madam Speaker, thanks very much for hosting this special session. President Beinish, Leader of the Opposition Netanyahu, Ministers, members of the Knesset, distinguished guests: Shalom.
Laura and I are thrilled to be back in Israel. We have been deeply moved by the celebrations of the past two days. And this afternoon, I am honored to stand before one of the world's great democratic assemblies and convey the wishes of the American people with these words: Yom Ha'atzmaut Sameach.
It is a rare privilege for the American president to speak to the Knesset, although the prime minister told me there is something even rarer — to have just one person in this chamber speaking at a time. My only regret is that one of Israel's greatest leaders is not here to share this moment. He is a warrior for the ages, a man of peace, a friend. The prayers of the American people are with Ariel Sharon.
We gather to mark a momentous occasion. Sixty years ago in Tel Aviv, David Ben-Gurion proclaimed Israel's independence, founded on the "natural right of the Jewish people to be masters of their own fate." What followed was more than the establishment of a new country. It was the redemption of an ancient promise given to Abraham and Moses and David — a homeland for the chosen people Eretz Yisrael.
Eleven minutes later, on the orders of President Harry Truman, the United States was proud to be the first nation to recognize Israel's independence. And on this landmark anniversary, America is proud to be Israel's closest ally and best friend in the world.
The alliance between our governments is unbreakable, yet the source of our friendship runs deeper than any treaty. It is grounded in the shared spirit of our people, the bonds of the Book, the ties of the soul. When William Bradford stepped off the Mayflower in 1620, he quoted the words of Jeremiah: "Come let us declare in Zion the word of God." The founders of my country saw a new promised land and bestowed upon their towns names like Bethlehem and New Canaan. And in time, many Americans became passionate advocates for a Jewish state.
Centuries of suffering and sacrifice would pass before the dream was fulfilled. The Jewish people endured the agony of the pogroms, the tragedy of the Great War, and the horror of the Holocaust — what Elie Wiesel called "the kingdom of the night." Soulless men took away lives and broke apart families. Yet they could not take away the spirit of the Jewish people, and they could not break the promise of God.
When news of Israel's freedom finally arrived, Golda Meir, a fearless woman raised in Wisconsin, could summon only tears. She later said: "For two thousand years we have waited for our deliverance. Now that it is here it is so great and wonderful that it surpasses human words."
The joy of independence was tempered by the outbreak of battle, a struggle that has continued for six decades. Yet in spite of the violence, in defiance of the threats, Israel has built a thriving democracy in the heart of the Holy Land. You have welcomed immigrants from the four corners of the Earth. You have forged a free and modern society based on the love of liberty, a passion for justice, and a respect for human dignity. You have worked tirelessly for peace. You have fought valiantly for freedom.
My country's admiration for Israel does not end there. When Americans look at Israel, we see a pioneer spirit that worked an agricultural miracle and now leads a high-tech revolution. We see world-class universities and a global leader in business and innovation and the arts. We see a resource more valuable than oil or gold: the talent and determination of a free people who refuse to let any obstacle stand in the way of their destiny.
I have been fortunate to see the character of Israel up close. I have touched the Western Wall, seen the sun reflected in the Sea of Galilee, I have prayed at Yad Vashem. And earlier today, I visited Masada, an inspiring monument to courage and sacrifice. At this historic site, Israeli soldiers swear an oath: "Masada shall never fall again."
Citizens of Israel: Masada shall never fall again, and America will be at your side.
This anniversary is a time to reflect on the past. It's also an opportunity to look to the future. As we go forward, our alliance will be guided by clear principles — shared convictions rooted in moral clarity and unswayed by popularity polls or the shifting opinions of international elites.
We believe in the matchless value of every man, woman and child. So we insist that the people of Israel have the right to a decent, normal and peaceful life, just like the citizens of every other nation.
We believe that democracy is the only way to ensure human rights. So we consider it a source of shame that the United Nations routinely passes more human rights resolutions against the freest democracy in the Middle East than any other nation in the world.
We believe that religious liberty is fundamental to a civilized society. So we condemn anti-Semitism in all forms — whether by those who openly question Israel's right to exist or by others who quietly excuse them.
We believe that free people should strive and sacrifice for peace. So we applaud the courageous choices Israeli's leaders have made. We also believe that nations have a right to defend themselves and that no nation should ever be forced to negotiate with killers pledged to its destruction.
We believe that targeting innocent lives to achieve political objectives is always and everywhere wrong. So we stand together against terror and extremism, and we will never let down our guard or lose our resolve.
The fight against terror and extremism is the defining challenge of our time. It is more than a clash of arms. It is a clash of visions, a great ideological struggle. On the one side are those who defend the ideals of justice and dignity with the power of reason and truth. On the other side are those who pursue a narrow vision of cruelty and control by committing murder, inciting fear, and spreading lies.
This struggle is waged with the technology of the 21st century, but at its core it is an ancient battle between good and evil. The killers claim the mantle of Islam, but they are not religious men. No one who prays to the God of Abraham could strap a suicide vest to an innocent child, or blow up guiltless guests at a Passover Seder, or fly planes into office buildings filled with unsuspecting workers. In truth, the men who carry out these savage acts serve no higher goal than their own desire for power. They accept no God before themselves. And they reserve a special hatred for the most ardent defenders of liberty, including Americans and Israelis.
And that is why the founding charter of Hamas calls for the "elimination" of Israel. And that is why the followers of Hezbollah chant "Death to Israel, Death to America!" That is why Osama bin Laden teaches that "the killing of Jews and Americans is one of the biggest duties." And that is why the president of Iran dreams of returning the Middle East to the Middle Ages and calls for Israel to be wiped off the map.
There are good and decent people who cannot fathom the darkness in these men and try to explain away their words. It's natural, but it is deadly wrong. As witnesses to evil in the past, we carry a solemn responsibility to take these words seriously. Jews and Americans have seen the consequences of disregarding the words of leaders who espouse hatred. And that is a mistake the world must not repeat in the 21st century.
Some seem to believe that we should negotiate with the terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along. We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: "Lord, if I could only have talked to Hitler, all this might have been avoided." We have an obligation to call this what it is — the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history.
Some people suggest if the United States would just break ties with Israel, all our problems in the Middle East would go away. This is a tired argument that buys into the propaganda of the enemies of peace, and America utterly rejects it. Israel's population may be just over 7 million. But when you confront terror and evil, you are 307 million strong, because the United States of America stands with you.
America stands with you in breaking up terrorist networks and denying the extremists sanctuary. America stands with you in firmly opposing Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions. Permitting the world's leading sponsor of terror to possess the world's deadliest weapons would be an unforgivable betrayal for future generations. For the sake of peace, the world must not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.
Ultimately, to prevail in this struggle, we must offer an alternative to the ideology of the extremists by extending our vision of justice and tolerance and freedom and hope. These values are the self-evident right of all people, of all religions, in all the world because they are a gift from the Almighty God. Securing these rights is also the surest way to secure peace. Leaders who are accountable to their people will not pursue endless confrontation and bloodshed. Young people with a place in their society and a voice in their future are less likely to search for meaning in radicalism. Societies where citizens can express their conscience and worship their God will not export violence, they will be partners in peace.
The fundamental insight, that freedom yields peace, is the great lesson of the 20th century. Now our task is to apply it to the 21st. Nowhere is this work more urgent than here in the Middle East. We must stand with the reformers working to break the old patterns of tyranny and despair. We must give voice to millions of ordinary people who dream of a better life in a free society. We must confront the moral relativism that views all forms of government as equally acceptable and thereby consigns whole societies to slavery. Above all, we must have faith in our values and ourselves and confidently pursue the expansion of liberty as the path to a peaceful future.
That future will be a dramatic departure from the Middle East of today. So as we mark 60 years from Israel's founding, let us try to envision the region 60 years from now. This vision is not going to arrive easily or overnight; it will encounter violent resistance. But if we and future presidents and future Knessets maintain our resolve and have faith in our ideals, here is the Middle East that we can see:
Israel will be celebrating the 120th anniversary as one of the world's great democracies, a secure and flourishing homeland for the Jewish people. The Palestinian people will have the homeland they have long dreamed of and deserved — a democratic state that is governed by law, and respects human rights, and rejects terror. From Cairo to Riyadh to Baghdad and Beirut, people will live in free and independent societies, where a desire for peace is reinforced by ties of diplomacy and tourism and trade. Iran and Syria will be peaceful nations, with today's oppression a distant memory and where people are free to speak their minds and develop their God-given talents. Al-Qaida and Hezbollah and Hamas will be defeated, as Muslims across the region recognize the emptiness of the terrorists' vision and the injustice of their cause.
Overall, the Middle East will be characterized by a new period of tolerance and integration. And this doesn't mean that Israel and its neighbors will be best of friends. But when leaders across the region answer to their people, they will focus their energies on schools and jobs, not on rocket attacks and suicide bombings. With this change, Israel will open a new hopeful chapter in which its people can live a normal life, and the dream of Herzl and the founders of 1948 can be fully and finally realized.
This is a bold vision, and some will say it can never be achieved. But think about what we have witnessed in our own time. When Europe was destroying itself through total war and genocide, it was difficult to envision a continent that six decades later would be free and at peace. When Japanese pilots were flying suicide missions into American battleships, it seemed impossible that six decades later Japan would be a democracy, a lynchpin of security in Asia, and one of America's closest friends. And when waves of refugees arrived here in the desert with nothing, surrounded by hostile armies, it was almost unimaginable that Israel would grow into one of the freest and most successful nations on the earth.
Yet each one of these transformations took place. And a future of transformation is possible in the Middle East, so long as a new generation of leaders has the courage to defeat the enemies of freedom, to make the hard choices necessary for peace, and stand firm on the solid rock of universal values.
Sixty years ago, on the eve of Israel's independence, the last British soldiers departing Jerusalem stopped at a building in the Jewish quarter of the Old City. An officer knocked on the door and met a senior rabbi. The officer presented him with a short iron bar — the key to the Zion Gate — and said it was the first time in 18 centuries that a key to the gates of Jerusalem had belonged to a Jew. His hands trembling, the rabbi offered a prayer of thanksgiving to God, "Who had granted us life and permitted us to reach this day." Then he turned to the officer, and uttered the words Jews had awaited for so long: "I accept this key in the name of my people."
Over the past six decades, the Jewish people have established a state that would make that humble rabbi proud. You have raised a modern society in the Promised Land, a light unto the nations that preserves the legacy of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. And you have built a mighty democracy that will endure forever and can always count on the United States of America to be at your side. God bless.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Stamps
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,354870,00.html
Well, I've learned my lesson. Last time I was at the post office buying stamps, the cashier asked me if I wanted regular stamps or Forever stamps. And I thought, "Gee, what are the chances that the price of stamps will go up before I use up this book of stamps?" (I'm a real quick learner...) Never mind the fact that I usually go through about two books of stamps a year-- one and a half books at Christmas-time, and then the other half book throughout the year. So now I'm stuck with 3/4 of a book of $.41 stamps. Which means now I have to get a bunch of $.01 stamps. Great...
Just thought I'd share that with the world... Happy Saturday!
Well, I've learned my lesson. Last time I was at the post office buying stamps, the cashier asked me if I wanted regular stamps or Forever stamps. And I thought, "Gee, what are the chances that the price of stamps will go up before I use up this book of stamps?" (I'm a real quick learner...) Never mind the fact that I usually go through about two books of stamps a year-- one and a half books at Christmas-time, and then the other half book throughout the year. So now I'm stuck with 3/4 of a book of $.41 stamps. Which means now I have to get a bunch of $.01 stamps. Great...
Just thought I'd share that with the world... Happy Saturday!
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Revisiting Salem -OR- Man Turns Florida Middle School Into Makeshift Hogwarts
http://www.local6.com/news/16169506/detail.html
"Teacher Jim Piculas does a magic trick where a toothpick disappears and then reappears.
Piculas recently did the 30-second trick in front of a classroom at Rushe Middle School in Land 'O Lakes. Piculas said he then got a call from the supervisor of teachers, saying he'd been accused of wizardry." (emphasis mine)
ACCUSED OF WIZARDRY!!!! Are these people serious?? How about "accused of doing magic tricks during class time," or "accused of pulling off some really convincing slight of hand?" No, no, couldn't be... this man made a toothpick disappear and then reappear-- he must be a wizard!! Methinks someone has been reading too much Harry Potter.
So... I find this story SO incredibly absurd that I will be looking more into it, and will update this post later when I know more. All I really know right now is that I'm hoping to find out it's a hoax... wizards... good grief!
"Teacher Jim Piculas does a magic trick where a toothpick disappears and then reappears.
Piculas recently did the 30-second trick in front of a classroom at Rushe Middle School in Land 'O Lakes. Piculas said he then got a call from the supervisor of teachers, saying he'd been accused of wizardry." (emphasis mine)
ACCUSED OF WIZARDRY!!!! Are these people serious?? How about "accused of doing magic tricks during class time," or "accused of pulling off some really convincing slight of hand?" No, no, couldn't be... this man made a toothpick disappear and then reappear-- he must be a wizard!! Methinks someone has been reading too much Harry Potter.
So... I find this story SO incredibly absurd that I will be looking more into it, and will update this post later when I know more. All I really know right now is that I'm hoping to find out it's a hoax... wizards... good grief!
Monday, May 5, 2008
Quote Of The Day
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/obama-speech-wright-2033159-magic-senator
"Whatever one thinks of Sens. Clinton and McCain, they're as familiar as any public figures can be. Obama, on the other hand, is running explicitly on a transcendent 'magic.' It doesn't help when the cute girl in spangled tights keeps whining about how awful everything is, and the guy you sawed in half sticks himself together and starts rampaging around the stage. The magician has lost control of the show."
"Whatever one thinks of Sens. Clinton and McCain, they're as familiar as any public figures can be. Obama, on the other hand, is running explicitly on a transcendent 'magic.' It doesn't help when the cute girl in spangled tights keeps whining about how awful everything is, and the guy you sawed in half sticks himself together and starts rampaging around the stage. The magician has lost control of the show."
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Same Tune, Different Song
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/05/03/mccains-pastors-same-questions-different-answers/
Oh boy, the Democrats have found the moral relevancy "scandal" they've been looking for! After Obama took such heat for sitting in a church pew for 20 years and listening to his pastor spew hatred for the white man, they've finally found proof that John McCain's religious standing is just as bad! Or is it? Surely claiming that God sent Hurricane Katrina to rid New Orleans of various sinners is equally as heinous as claiming that the U.S. Government created AIDS to rid the world of black people. (Or equally ridiculous, at the very least.) So McCain should be put under the exact same scrutiny as Obama was, right? Democrats seem to think so. They seem to think that McCain should be renouncing the support of such people as Hagee and Parsley because of the remarks they've made in the past.
But there's a difference: McCain did not sit in a church pew and listen to these men for 20 years. In fact, according to a piece by Reuters, the pastor to whose church McCain does belong is an affable man who "rarely meddles in political affairs." McCain, while still accepting Hagee's endorsement, has repudiated the remarks made by Hagee that were offensive to Catholics, as well as the remarks about Hurricane Katrina. Obama, by comparison, told us that renouncing Wright's remarks would be akin to denouncing the rants of a "crazy old uncle," and told us we were all just "typical white people." (Ok, maybe that's not a direct quote, but he did say Wright was like a crazy old uncle who says things that make you cringe, and that his grandmother is a typical white person for being afraid of a black panhandler.)
Recently, Obama decided to sever all ties with Jeremiah Wright, after Wright made such comments to the press along the lines of, "He's just a politician, he had to say he didn't agree with me for the sake of politics." As you can imagine, that is a pretty damaging thing to say about a man who is running on the platform of "hopechange" and the fact that he's not your typical DC politician. Now the Democrats have set their sights on McCain. "It's not different!" They shout. And, maybe in the world of moral relevancy, it's not. But in the world of common sense, it is different.
Oh boy, the Democrats have found the moral relevancy "scandal" they've been looking for! After Obama took such heat for sitting in a church pew for 20 years and listening to his pastor spew hatred for the white man, they've finally found proof that John McCain's religious standing is just as bad! Or is it? Surely claiming that God sent Hurricane Katrina to rid New Orleans of various sinners is equally as heinous as claiming that the U.S. Government created AIDS to rid the world of black people. (Or equally ridiculous, at the very least.) So McCain should be put under the exact same scrutiny as Obama was, right? Democrats seem to think so. They seem to think that McCain should be renouncing the support of such people as Hagee and Parsley because of the remarks they've made in the past.
But there's a difference: McCain did not sit in a church pew and listen to these men for 20 years. In fact, according to a piece by Reuters, the pastor to whose church McCain does belong is an affable man who "rarely meddles in political affairs." McCain, while still accepting Hagee's endorsement, has repudiated the remarks made by Hagee that were offensive to Catholics, as well as the remarks about Hurricane Katrina. Obama, by comparison, told us that renouncing Wright's remarks would be akin to denouncing the rants of a "crazy old uncle," and told us we were all just "typical white people." (Ok, maybe that's not a direct quote, but he did say Wright was like a crazy old uncle who says things that make you cringe, and that his grandmother is a typical white person for being afraid of a black panhandler.)
Recently, Obama decided to sever all ties with Jeremiah Wright, after Wright made such comments to the press along the lines of, "He's just a politician, he had to say he didn't agree with me for the sake of politics." As you can imagine, that is a pretty damaging thing to say about a man who is running on the platform of "hopechange" and the fact that he's not your typical DC politician. Now the Democrats have set their sights on McCain. "It's not different!" They shout. And, maybe in the world of moral relevancy, it's not. But in the world of common sense, it is different.
Hagee and Parsley are just supporters, McCain’s campaign points out. Obama’sExactly. If the Democrats and the moveon.org crowd decide to run with this thing, I think it will do more to display the childish "I-know-you-are-but-what-am-I" attitude that has permeated the primary season so far-- an atttitude that both liberals and conservatives (and all those in between) seem to be tiring of. So I say, "Run with it, you silly liberals! Run with it!" To paraphrase Thomas Sowell: The only thing that could convince me to vote for John McCain is Hillary Clinton or Barak Obama!
relationship is personal, with Wright having officiated at the candidate’s
wedding and baptized his two children.
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