Yet more invasion of privacy in "Healthcare Reform" bill

Right now government officials cannot come into your home and interfere with the parenting of your children unless there is reason to believe that you are neglecting or abusing them. That is all getting ready to change. How many times have you had a discussion with someone about child-rearing practices and just had to agree to disagree? Not everyone approaches child-rearing the same way. Does it seem that it is becoming PC to consider raising children in the Christian faith as "brainwashing" and requiring your children to attend church as unreasonable? Ever heard stories of people's children being taken away from them by overzealous social workers when there was no abuse going on? (If you haven't, you need to get out more.) If any of those things have bothered you, then this should curl your toes. I got this from NHELD.

Did you know? One of the proposals for health care revision may lead to increased accusations of parental abuse and neglect regarding the upbringing and education of your child.

The House version of the health care legislation, H.R. 3200, entitled, “America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009”, sponsored by Congressmen John Dingell, Henry Waxman, and Charlie Rangel, among others, contains many provisions that are worthy of questioning, not the least of which is Section 440. That section is entitled, “Home Visitation Programs for Families with Young Children and Families Expecting Children.”

The title, itself, gives one pause for concern.

This section of the bill authorizes the provision of federal money to be given to the states on the condition that the states will develop certain programs that include “voluntary home visits” by government officials.

The visits by government officials will be through the implementation of programs that, among other things:

“ adhere to clear evidence-based models of home visitation that have demonstrated positive effects on important program-determined child and parenting outcomes, such as reducing abuse and neglect and improving child health and development”;

“establish appropriate linkages and referrals to other community resources and supports”;

“monitor fidelity of program implementation to ensure that services are delivered according to the specified model”;

“provide parents with-- knowledge of age-appropriate child development in cognitive, language, social, emotional, and motor domains…
· knowledge of realistic expectations of age-appropriate child behaviors;
· knowledge of health and wellness issues for children and parents;
· modeling, consulting, and coaching on parenting practices; and
· skills to recognize and seek help for issues related to health, developmental delays, and social, emotional, and behavioral skills…”

Those are all laudable sounding goals. But is that the job of the government, or the parents?

What happens if the government worker comes into your home, sees what you are doing as a parent, doesn’t like it, tells you to change it, and you disagree with the opinion of the government worker?

There is a provision in the bill for the information gathered during the home visits to be shared with other government agencies.

There is another provision in the bill for the state to report back to the federal government on what was learned during the home visits, including information about the people who were visited.

Who believes that information learned during the home visits will not be shared with child protective services agencies, especially when one of the goals of the program is to reduce child abuse and neglect?

Who believes that a parent’s right to educate their child at home will not be questioned by government workers who may have a vested interest in seeing the public, i.e., government, school system continue to thrive?

In case you think that this is some insignificant section of a very large bill, and won’t really matter, consider this - the government will be expending on only this one small section of the bill the following amounts:

..(1) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
..(2) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;
..(3) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2012;
..(4) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2013; and
..(5) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2014.

Apparently, the program is designed to expand in the future. How many homes will be visited ultimately?

Don’t take our word for it. Go read the bill for yourself. Your legislators certainly won’t be reading it before they vote on it. Somebody should read it, after all. Parents need to know what their government is proposing, how the government very soon, could be inside your home. If states accept this money, they will be obliged to conduct the “voluntary” home visits. Do you want government officials coming to your home, telling you how to parent, and reporting what you do to other state and federal agencies? If not, you better act now before this bill becomes law, and before your state officials decide it’s a great way to get more money from the feds. For the sake of your children and your grandchildren, NHELD strongly suggests you read this bill, and any others being proposed, then act to safeguard your rights. The text of the bill can be found at http://www.opencongress.org/..bill/111-h3200/text

ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME????

A lot of things going on nowadays scare me. I am very worried for the future of my country. But I think this scares me more than just about anything I've heard.

In Rhode Island, at the "oldest 4th of July parade in the country," a Tea Party group had a float in the parade. They agreed to follow the rules of the parade and even went further. Other floats were allowed to throw lollipops and so forth from their floats but this group was told they couldn't throw tea bags "because they might put out someone's eye." Okay, well, they want to follow the rules and not violate any safety issues so they don't throw tea bags or anything else.

Next, they want to play PATRIOTIC music so they ask for a PA system. The other floats were given a PA if they asked for it but this group was denied. Instead, they were given a bullhorn. Seriously! I'm not making this up! My imagination couldn't have come up with stuff this crazy!! Oh, and let's not forget that they were told they couldn't have people on the float dressed as Indians either. Other floats... yeah you get the idea.

So, parade day comes and our intrepid band of patriots are dressed in their patriot outfits to celebrate the founding of this nation. I guess a little while into the parade, they are not only kicked out of the parade but BANNED FOR LIFE because a fellow not even on the float was walking alongside the float and handing out subversive materials to the crowd. Yup, that dirty rotten scoundrel used our country's celebration to hand out... wait for it... Pocket copies of the Constitution Bill of Rights!!!

A lot of things worry me lately but I have reached a new level of fear for our future. If this was published in a fictional book ten years ago, it would have seemed riduculously far-fetched. Now it is our reality. Welcome to Obamaland. Are you happy now?

INTRODUCING.... MY NEW GRANDSON SAWYER!!!

Interesting that the Russians have got more of a clue about what is happening than half of the American people. Sheeple indeed....
The following is from Pravda, the English version obviously. Pravda is a Russian news source. Couldn't seem to find the byline so I can't give you an author but here is a link to the actual article:


It must be said, that like the breaking of a great dam, the American decent into Marxism is happening with breath taking speed, against the back drop of a passive, hapless sheeple, excuse me dear reader, I meant people.

True, the situation has been well prepared on and off for the past century, especially the past twenty years. The initial testing grounds was conducted upon our Holy Russia and a bloody test it was. But we Russians would not just roll over and give up our freedoms and our souls, no matter how much money Wall Street poured into the fists of the Marxists.

Those lessons were taken and used to properly prepare the American populace for the surrender of their freedoms and souls, to the whims of their elites and betters.

First, the population was dumbed down through a politicized and substandard education system based on pop culture, rather then the classics. Americans know more about their favorite TV dramas then the drama in DC that directly affects their lives. They care more for their "right" to choke down a McDonalds burger or a BurgerKing burger than for their constitutional rights. Then they turn around and lecture us about our rights and about our "democracy". Pride blind the foolish.

Then their faith in God was destroyed, until their churches, all tens of thousands of different "branches and denominations" were for the most part little more then Sunday circuses and their televangelists and top protestant mega preachers were more then happy to sell out their souls and flocks to be on the "winning" side of one pseudo Marxist politician or another. Their flocks may complain, but when explained that they would be on the "winning" side, their flocks were ever so quick to reject Christ in hopes for earthly power. Even our Holy Orthodox churches are scandalously liberalized in America.

The final collapse has come with the election of Barack Obama. His speed in the past three months has been truly impressive. His spending and money printing has been a record setting, not just in America's short history but in the world. If this keeps up for more then another year, and there is no sign that it will not, America at best will resemble the Wiemar Republic and at worst Zimbabwe.

These past two weeks have been the most breath taking of all. First came the announcement of a planned redesign of the American Byzantine tax system, by the very thieves who used it to bankroll their thefts, loses and swindles of hundreds of billions of dollars. These make our Russian oligarchs look little more then ordinary street thugs, in comparison. Yes, the Americans have beat our own thieves in the shear volumes. Should we congratulate them?

“What grade is your daughter in?"

Why must people become so wrapped up in their own mindset, their own frame of reference that they can't see that there could be any other way of truth and value? My mom used to say, “Their mind is made up, don't confuse them with facts.” As a homeschooler, I encounter people like that all the time, although not nearly as often as I used to. When I started homeschooling 16 years ago, it happened daily but nowadays it is more like a few times a year. Of course, if I go to the NEA website, it happens much more frequently;o)

Here's what got me to thinking about this subject; someone asked me what grade Harmoni was in. Simple question, right? But is it? My answer was, “She isn't.” Completely bumfuzzled them. How I answer this common question depends a lot on who is asking and why... and my mood. Some people might get, “Well, lets see, she is 12 so I guess that is about 6th or 7th grade, right?” To some I would say, “Well, it depends on which subject you are talking about; anywhere from 5th grade to college.” But the real, true answer is, “She isn't.” Hello? Homeschooler!

People don't seem to understand that the system most of us were raised in isn't the only way. The more you diverge from traditional “public school” methodology, the more difficulty people have accepting it. There are even a lot of homeschoolers who look down their noses at anyone who doesn't use desks and textbooks and gradebooks with a red pen. I have tried to explain to some people (the ones who were worth the effort) that grade level is simply a useful construct for the public school system to function. (At least that is an arguable point; I won't go into why I don't really believe that it is in this post.) But what does “grade level” mean in real terms? Of what use is it to a homeschooler unless they are basically doing school at home? Grade level is an arbitrary label applied to make things easier for school administrators. Period. I have exactly two students at this point in time. I manage to keep things rolling without those labels. The only reason I could have for using them is to compare my children with the children of other people who are around the same age. That serves no useful purpose to me. I am much more concerned with whether or not my girls are setting and reaching goals in a relevant and timely manner.

I don't assign grade levels to my girls. We figure out what our goals are. We ask ourselves what useful and worthy things are there to learn? “If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”[1] We ask what things will make us feel culturally literate and what things will move us toward our goals. Then we work on achieving those goals. At a certain point, usually the early to mid-teens, getting into college hopefully becomes one of those goals. (Bear in mind that I have already graduated two homeschooled kids as well as one who went through public school.) At that point, we start looking at what is required to achieve that goal. The materials we use may have “grade levels” attached but that still has very little meaning to us in any real and useful way.

Here's an example. Gini is 15. She does not enjoy algebra. She and algebra have a hate-hate relationship. She mastered all the basics of arithmetic and some pre-algebra but when she hit algebra, she stuttered to a stop. She hasn't progressed much mathematically since she was about 13. Two things have happened to start her engine again. First, her little sister has caught up to her and is still going strong. Awkward! Second, she started thinking about going to college. And she doesn't just want to go to any old local college where we could help pay her way. No she wants to go to BYU Hawaii. Big dream. Big money. She better get one heck of a good SAT score. We looked up some information about what level of math she would have to master to get the kind of SAT score she would need to get into BYU Anywhere and especially to qualify for some kind of scholarship. I mean, have you looked at out of state tuition costs??? Anywhere, much less Hawaii???? Well, I have told them to shoot for the stars....

Now, please notice; did grade level come up in that topic at all? No. Did it need to? No. She needs to master a couple more levels of Algebra as well as some more advanced Geometry and Trig. And she needs to do it in the next year or two. Is she trying to go from an 8th grade level to an 11th grade level in a year and a half? No, she is learning a logical sequence of math skills that she needs in order to get a really good score on a specific test. Did I mention that she is interested in Veterinary Science? Yeah. Math and science heaven also known as pre-vet. (By the way Gini, OSU ROCKS for Vet Science!)

And, for the record, I have actually sat in classes at Oklahoma State University next to people who were functioning and getting by even though I knew for a fact that their math skills were still at an "8th grade level". Were they still "in 8th grade?" I tutored for my work-study money. I'm not making this up. The public schools are graduating people with less math skills that Gini has right now. Worse, in my opinion, is the fact that they are graduating people who can't outread the average ten year old and don't know the names of all the continents. So grade level begins to mean even less in that light, eh?

Now because I know this will be a question in the minds of some people, yes, I could have pushed her and prodded her and punished her through Algebra. After all, it was done to me. But I chose instead to have faith in her and in her Father's plans for her. I knew that when she came to realize that the math mattered that she would learn it much more quickly and joyfully than she would if I forced her into it. And our home and relationship would be more joyful as well. How many moms describe their relationship with their 15 year old as “joyful”? Well, I do. We have a really wonderful, loving, and yes, joyful relationship. And, guess what, I also have no doubt that she will go to college. Whether or not finances will allow her to go to Hawaii I can't say; that is several years away in a very uncertain economy. She understands that. She knows that she may end up at OSU or even local community college if finances dictate that. But I have no doubt that she will master the math now that she has set her mind to it and neither does she. With no clue whatsoever what grade level she is on, she will master Algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry. And she will take the SAT by storm. And even if she is a “year late” taking the SAT and even if she has to settle for OSU (my alma mater), she will become a fabulous veterinarian. She certainly has a gift with animals. Oh, and they won't care what grade level she achieved either;o)


[1] from 13th Article of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Here Here Mr Webster!!
from: Speeches and Forensic Arguments By Daniel Webster:
"There is no usurpation so dangerous as that which comes in the borrowed name of the people. If from some other authority or other source prerogatives be attempted to be enforced upon the people, they naturally oppose and resist it. It is an open enemy and they can easily subdue it. But that which professes to act in their own name and by their own authority; that which calls itself their servant although it exercises their power without legal right or constitutional sanction requires something more of vigilance to detect and something more of stern patriotism to repress and if it be not seasonably both detected and repressed then the Republic is already in the downward path of those which have gone before it."

"There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters."

Just because one is elected to office doesn't mean that we the people will stand for being ruled unconstitutionally by them. Public officials who were elected by the due processes set down by the Constitution might do well to honor and uphold that Constitution rather than scorn it and undermine it.

Note: Italics my own.

Do you ever have conversations in your head? I hope I'm not just giving away the fact that I'm certifiable... I was thinking I might need to break down and go to the doctor which anyone who knows me can tell you, I really, really hate to do. So I was imagining how the conversation with the doctor would go; you know, what he would ask and how I would answer. See, I have, or supposedly have, who the hell knows really, Myasthenia Gravis. Tumor in my thymus gland, unexplained muscle failure, extreme fatigue, eye weakness, trouble swallowing... fun stuff like that. Getting plenty of sleep is important for me and I just haven't been able to lately. Now, I hate to take meds almost as much as I hate to go to the doctor so I really don't know if I'll even ask about sleep aids but I was imagining the conversation as sort of a test run I suppose. So, are you under extra stress these days Natalie?

As an aside here, my doctor is such a sweet man. I'm not trying to give him a bad rap. I don't like or trust the profession overall and consider it a flawed system, kind of like with teachers and the public school system. There are some wonderful teachers out there but... that's another blog;o)

So... I finally come to my point. Extra stress? Are you kidding me? People with illnesses that is exacerbated by stress are screwed these days boy! If you aren't feeling stress these days then you either live in a cave or a cloud of sweet denial and/or ignorance. I literally fear for my country and for the future of my children and grandchildren. I haven't felt this much fear for my country since September 11, 2001. And I think we are in greater danger now than then. Kind of like the difference between a wolf being attacked and jumping up prepared to fight back and a docile little lamb being attacked and, well... dead meat. The really disturbing thing is that this time the danger is within. And it wears a suit and a big $h!t-eating grin. And its followers trip along after it with blank eyes and big smiles, nodding "Yes, oh mighty and wise one, yes!" The only hope I have is that a few here and there will come out of the fog and realize that they've followed it to the edge of a mighty cliff and they'll begin to yell and shake those around them to wake them as well. I pray for that every single day and night and convincing myself for a few sweet hours that we are still in His hands is the only way I get any sleep at all.

Stress? I only have the same stress that everyone else who loves this ccountry and the beliefs that it was founded on has. God bless this poor, misled country. Even the unfortunate fools who really think that spending trillions to help get us out of debt is a good idea. Even, nay especially, the poor idiots who think the best way to protect us from criminals with guns is to take the guns away from all the good guys. God bless us all with a quick awakening, hopefully in time to keep this country from ceasing to exist as a free republic.

Boy, this one really says it all. Amen brother.

This is well worth the read

“I’m Tired”

Robert A. Hall

I’ll be 63 soon. Except for one semester in college when
jobs were scarce, and a six-month period when I was
between jobs, but job-hunting every day, I’ve worked,
hard, since I was 18. Despite some health challenges, I
still put in 50-hour weeks, and haven’t called in sick in
seven or eight years. I make a good salary, but I didn’t
inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I
am. Given the economy, there’s no retirement in sight, and
I’m tired. Very tired.




I’m tired of being told that I have to “spread the
wealth around” to people who don’t have my work ethic. I’m
tired of being told the government will take the money I
earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too
lazy or stupid to earn it.




I’m tired of being told that I have to pay more taxes to
“keep people in their homes.” Sure, if they lost their
jobs or got sick, I’m willing to help. But if they bought
McMansions at three times the price of our paid-off,
$250,000 condo, on one-third of my salary, then let the
leftwing Congresscritters who passed Fannie and Freddie
and the Community Reinvestment Act that created the bubble
help them—with their own money.



I’m tired of being told how bad America is by leftwing
millionaires like Michael Moore, George Soros and
Hollywood entertainers who live in luxury because of the
opportunities America offers. In thirty years, if they get
their way, the United States will have the religious
freedom and women’s rights of Saudi Arabia , the economy of
Zimbabwe, the freedom of the press of China, the crime and
violence of Mexico , the tolerance for Gay people of Iran ,
and the freedom of speech of Venezuela . Won’t
multiculturalism be beautiful?




I’m tired of being told that Islam is a “Religion of
Peace,” when every day I can read dozens of stories of
Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for
their family “honor;” of Muslims rioting over some slight
offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because
they aren’t “believers;” of Muslims burning schools for
girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death
for “adultery;” of Muslims mutilating the genitals of
little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur’an
and Shari’a law tells them to.




I believe “a man should be judged by the content of his
character, not by the color of his skin.” I’m tired of
being told that “race doesn’t matter” in the post-racial
world of President Obama, when it’s all that matters in
affirmative action jobs, lower college admission and
graduation standards for minorities (harming them the
most), government contract set-asides, tolerance for the
ghetto culture of violence and fatherless children that
hurts minorities more than anyone, and in the appointment
of US Senators from Illinois . I think it’s very cool that
we have a black president and that a black child is doing
her homework at the desk where Lincoln wrote the
emancipation proclamation. I just wish the black president
was Condi Rice, or someone who believes more in freedom
and the individual and less in an all-knowing government.




I’m tired of a news media that thinks Bush’s fundraising
and inaugural expenses were obscene, but that think
Obama’s, at triple the cost, were wonderful. That thinks
Bush exercising daily was a waste of presidential time,
but Obama exercising is a great example for the public to
control weight and stress, that picked over every line of
Bush’s military records, but never demanded that Kerry
release his, that slammed Palin with two years as governor
for being too inexperienced for VP, but touted Obama with
three years as senator as potentially the best president
ever.




Wonder why people are dropping their subscriptions or
switching to Fox News? Get a clue.. I didn’t vote for Bush
in 2000, but the media and Kerry drove me to his camp in
2004.




I’m tired of being told that out of “tolerance for other
cultures” we must let Saudi Arabia use our oil money to
fund mosques and madrassa Islamic schools to preach hate
in America , while no American group is allowed to fund a
church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia to
teach love and tolerance.




I’m tired of being told I must lower my living standard
to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to
debate. My wife and I live in a two-bedroom apartment and
carpool together five miles to our jobs. We also own a
three-bedroom condo where our daughter and granddaughter
live. Our carbon footprint is about 5% of Al Gore’s, and
if you’re greener than Gore, you’re green enough.



I’m tired of being told that drug addicts have a
disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay
for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a
dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their
noses while they tried to fight it off? I don’t think Gay
people choose to be Gay, but I damn sure think druggies
chose to take drugs. And I’m tired of harassment from cool
people treating me like a freak when I tell them I never
tried marijuana.




I’m tired of illegal aliens being called “undocumented
workers,” especially the ones who aren’t working, but are
living on welfare or crime. What’s next? Calling drug
dealers, “Undocumented Pharmacists”? And, no, I’m not
against Hispanics. Most of them are Catholic and it’s been
a few hundred years since Catholics wanted to kill me for
my religion. I’m willing to fast track for citizenship any
Hispanic person who can speak English, doesn’t have a
criminal record and who is self-supporting without family
on welfare, or who serves honorably for three years in our
military. Those are the citizens we need.




I’m tired of latte liberals and journalists, who would
never wear the uniform of the Republic themselves, or let
their entitlement-handicapped kids near a recruiting
station, trashing our military. They and their kids can
sit at home, never having to make split-second decisions
under life and death circumstances, and bad mouth better
people then themselves. Do bad things happen in war? You
bet. Do our troops sometimes misbehave? Sure. Does this
compare with the atrocities that were the policy of our
enemies for the last fifty years—and still are? Not even
close. So here’s the deal. I’ll let myself be sub je cted
to all the humiliation and abuse that was heaped on
terrorists at Abu Grab or Gitmo, and the critics can let
themselves be sub je ct to captivity by the Muslims who
tortured and beheaded Daniel Pearl in Pakistan , or the
Muslims who tortured and murdered Marine Lt. Col. William
Higgins in Lebanon, or the Muslims who ran the
blood-spattered Al Qaeda torture rooms our troops found in
Iraq , or the Muslims who cut off the heads of schoolgirls
in Indonesia , because the girls were Christian. Then we’ll
compare notes. British and American soldiers are the only
troops in history that civilians came to for help and
handouts, instead of hiding from in fear.




I’m tired of people telling me that their party has a
corner on virtue and the other party has a corner on
corruption. Read the papers—bums are bi-partisan. And I’m
tired of people telling me we need bi-partisanship. I live
in Illinois , where the “ Illinois Combine” of Democrats
and Republicans has worked together harmoniously to loot
the public for years. And I notice that the tax cheats in
Obama’s cabinet are bi-partisan as well.




I’m tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and
politicians of both parties talking about innocent
mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we
all know they think their only mistake was getting caught.
I’m tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or
poor.




Speaking of poor, I’m tired of hearing people with
air-conditioned homes, color TVs and two cars called poor.
The majority of Americans didn’t have that in 1970, but we
didn’t know we were “poor.” The poverty pimps have to keep
changing the definition of poor to keep the dollars flowing.




I’m real tired of people who don’t take responsibility
for their lives and actions. I’m tired of hearing them
blame the government, or discrimination, or big-whatever
for their problems.




Yes, I’m damn tired. But I’m also glad to be 63.
Because, mostly, I’m not going to get to see the world
these people are making. I’m just sorry for my
granddaughter.




Robert A. Hall is a Marine Vietnam veteran who served
five terms in the Massachusetts state senate. He blogs
atwww.tartanmarine.blogspot.com
<http://www.tartanmarine

Okay this one is going under "things that make me want to puke".

Jane Fonda is being honored by Barbara Walters as part of "100 Years of Great Women". WTF??? Are you kidding me? What about this woman is great? Barbarella? Her exercise videos? Or could it be the time she spent giving aid and comfort to the enemy at the "Hanoi Hilton?"

Now, I am 46 years old. I was just a little kid during the Vietnam War. I don't pretend to understand all the politics. But I understand young men giving everything, many quite literally giving their lives to do what they had been brought up to believe was their duty. Did really bad, wrong things happen on both sides? Yes, that has been made pretty darn clear. But is it still treason to give aid and comfort to the enemy? Last I heard it was. It is such a sign of the Obamaland New World Order that a woman like this one could be honored in this way. Not that I am surprised at Bawbawa; she is not exactly a paragon of conservative thinking, but come on! How can anyone hear the accounts of the torture, mistreatment and death of American men that went on there and then look upon that woman with anything but disgust. While young American men were suffering yards from her, suffering in ways most of us can thankfully barely even imagine, she was schmoozing and chatting up their captors. Below is an excerpt from a description of her visit by a man who WAS THERE.

From 1963-65, Col. Larry Carrigan was in the47FW/DO (F-4E's). He spent 6 years in the'Hanoi Hilton',,, the first three of which hisfamily only knew he was 'missing in action'.His wife lived on faith that he was still alive.His group, too, got the cleaned-up, fed andclothed routine in preparation for a 'peace delegation' visit. They, however, had time and devised a plan toget word to the world that they were alive and still survived. Each man secreted a tinypiece of paper, with his Social Security Numberon it , in the palm of his hand.

When paraded before Ms. Fonda and a cameraman, she walked the line, shaking each man's hand and asking little encouraging snippets like: 'Aren't you sorry you bombed babies?' and 'Are you grateful for the humane treatment from your benevolent captors?' Believing this HAD to be an act, they each palmed her their sliver of paper. She took them all without missing a beat. At the end of the line and once the camera stopped rolling, to the shocked disbelief of the POWs,she turned to the officer in charge and handed him all the little pieces of paper.

Three men died from the subsequent beatings. Colonel Carrigan was almost number four but he survived, which is the only reason we know of her actions that day.

Enough said? Actually no but I'm trying to keep my rants somewhat brief and to the point so there ya go. I'm off to use some mouthwash. A lot of it.

This will be a very brief rant. Two things that make me just sick. First, people acting like Obama is the second coming. My gosh people, WAKE UP! It terrifies me to even wonder how long it will take before most of these people wake up and realize where this road has taken us.

The other is all the hype about how wonderful we are as a country because we have elected a black president. I hate bigotry as much as anyone else and I rejoice at signs of progress. I mourn some of the things in our nations past. And if we had elected a black president, such as Colin Powell or someone equally qualified, dignified, intelligent etc, I would find it worth rejoicing too. But folks, get a grip, OBAMA IS NOT BLACK!!!! He is 1/16 black, half white and the rest is ARAB. If you want to be accurate, or taken seriously for that matter, at least get it right. Right smack in the middle of the war on terror we have elected an ARAB president with big time Muslim ties and ties to radical anti-American groups as well. Dark skin does not equal black.

Whoever controls the children owns the future. Hitler knew it, the humanists know it and the modern left extremists know it.

My homeschooling friend, Liz E., sent me a link to a very interesting article and video at WorldNetDaily. It was in reference to a website called www.ExodusMandate.com and to a call that is being put out to Christians to pull their children out of government run schools. The video especially was very interesting. Voddie Baucham, a minister and author of the book, "Family Driven Faith" mentioned that children spend 14000 seat hours in school from K-12. Fourteen thousand hours! He said, "Whoever controls those 14,000 hours controls our childrens' worldview." That is pretty powerful. Baucham also quoted Charles Potter, a signer of "The Humanist Manifesto: "What can theistic Sunday School, meeting for an hour each week, do to stem the tide of a five day program of humanistic teaching?" Not much. That is what the humanistic, atheistic popular culture pushers are counting on.

And MAKE NO MISTAKE folks. The public schools are absolutely in the business of humanistic teaching. There are still those who want to keep their heads in the sand and think that their school is okay or that their children will follow their example no matter how many hours they are exposed to a pervasive culture of humanistic views and condemnation and ridicule of Christian views and teachings. An adult would have a hard time maintaining their beliefs if surrounded day in and day out, all day long by authority figures who communicate with everything they say and do that their beliefs were naive and somehow ridiculous, oh and hateful, Christian beliefs are hateful too doncha know. It would be extremely difficult for an adult to do and yet we expect it of little children from the age of 5! No, wait... we put them into headstart and 4 year old Kindergarten nowadays so make that from the age of 3. We are, hopefully and prayerfully, training them up in the way they should go but they are NOT TRAINED YET. They are so teachable in those early years. It is a beautiful thing how teachable a little child is... until you consider what they are being taught.

This video, "The Call to Dunkirke" was a very straight-forward, pull-no-punches challenge to Christian parents. Let's face it, the public schools are very tolerant places... to everyone except Christians. The mention of Jesus is taboo, kids can't say a prayer over their lunch, they sure to heck can't read their Bible in study hall. Nowadays, they can't even make signs that say, Merry Christmas or sing Silent Night in the "Holiday" program. The songs relating to Santa and lots of gifts are fine, I'm sure.

I about choked and then cried out aloud "Amen!" when Minister Baucham said, "...the first place we need to march is right out the front door of those Christ dishonoring, academically inferior, soul-killing government indoctrination centers!" Wow. The days of homeschooler apologetics is over folks. It's time to put it plainly and truthfully. Public schools are not doing the job they spend millions and millions of dollars to purportedly do. The only thing they are really efficient at is indoctrinating the children in the mores and morals (or lack thereof) of popular culture. I am very proud to say that my 2 youngest girls never stepped foot into a government run classroom and as long as America is still the land of the free, they never will.

Reflecting on all of this has made me aware of how thankful I am for the relaxed days of learning and teaching and growing with my girls. Those 14,000 hours are spent in an atmosphere of love and faith and learning. I've thought before about how people are losing more and more of their children's time to the government nannies. I watched a video about the "two million minutes" kids spend in high school and got to thinking that if my kids were in public school, I would be in their company for maybe 3 or 4 hours a day M-F. And honestly, those are some of the busiest hours of the day in most households. The hour or so getting everyone around to go to school and work in the morning and the hours from 5 or 6 pm to bedtime getting supper made and eaten and baths and everything ready for the next day. How much of that time is spent conveying our deeply held beliefs about God and country?

In comparison, the breakfast hour is very relaxed around here and yes, we absolutely do talk about things like freedom and faith every single day. The dinner hour to bedtime is pretty busy around here too, but that's okay because there were preceded by several hours of reading and writing and discussing things at our leisure. Mr Potter was correct folks. Like it or not, a few hours a week of our good example is not going to compete with 40 or more hours a week of being completely submerged in a humanist atmosphere. It just is not. There are some blessed families who will pull their kids through the fire with diligence and faith but I'm not up for playing russian roulette with my childrens' futures. How about you?

I just finished a book called "The Flowers" by Dagoberto Gilb. I didn't particularly like it but it did get me to thinking. (Uh oh.) The book was sort of a rambling, pointless exploration of the life of a latino kid in Los Angeles. It takes place immediately before and during the Rodney King fiasco. It is apparently supposed to explore race relations in the area/time and the affects of prejudice and so forth but what kept striking me is that if most of the inner city kids have no more of a moral compass than this kid then we are all in a world of hurt. And the really horrible part is that I have a feeling that it was probably a pretty true rendering of the heart and head of a basically decent but lost kid.

This kid wants to be a good person but has literally not been taught how. He has been raised in the age of no absolute truth therefore no absolute right or wrong. A hot older girl comes onto you, of course you make out with her. Her husband isn't going to be home until much later. A man you don't like leaves money laying around (in his home) of course you take it - he deserves it and besides you have a right to some of the nicer things in life too! Someone offers you a beer.... You get the idea.

How many kids, latino, white, black, grey or green are being brought up exactly like this kid. They're told to be a good boy but they aren't told exactly what that means. If we say, "Ricky isn't a good person because he uses drugs" the world tells us that Ricky isn't "wrong" or "bad", he is a victim of ___ fill in the blank. (And that's just the part of the world that isn't just telling us that Ricky is cool or Ricky is just exercising his right to choose his own "truth".) Hillary's "village" has tried desperately to make us feel guilty for daring to do what parents, and specifically American parents have done for centuries; teach our children our own beliefs and world view. Yes, I want my children to think for themselves when they are grown but they have to have solid roots and a solid foundation to start with. Asking an adult to untangle the complicated mess of philosophy, politics and religion is one thing. Expecting a child to do so is ridiculous.

People, wake up. There is right and there is wrong. There is truth and there are lies. Teach these to your children. Teach them to make decisions about the things that are not absolute based on the things that are. When they are older, they will figure out that others have different ideas of what those consist of and as adults with a strong sense of who they are and what they are, they can make decisions as to their own views. The key is that they can make those judgement calls and lifestyle decisions as adults. Adults who know that it is important to stand for something. And that some things are true always and some things are wrong... always.

Okay, here is rant number one. We'll call it a mini-rant since it will be pretty short and sweet. Ummm, well short anyway.

I recently got behind a very expensive sports car in traffic here in Tulsa USA. It sported a bumper sticker that I am proud that the little blond driver has the right to sport. It said, "Feeling blue in a red state." Yes, Oklahoma was one of the very few (I believe Alaska was the only other) 100%, every county, RED state in the election. (I knew I liked Alaska8O)

I am also very proud to know that in this great country (so far anyway) I will also have a perfect right to sport my new bumper sticker once I can get some printed. It will say,

"Feeling blue in this red state??? Feel free to MOVE."

I LOVE OKLAHOMA!!!

Some big things have happened since I last abandoned my blogging post...

Bonni is engaged! She will be marrying a really awesome man named Gerome on March 1!!! They are crazy in love and so right for each other. So she is right in the throes of wedding planning, family blending (he has a really sweet little boy of 6 named Caleb... so now we have 3 boys!), and home remodeling. Yup, right in the middle of wedding planning she took on a complete overhaul of her bathroom and that was after redoing all the hardwood floors in her home! YUP she is certifiable... or she soon will be. Enjoy the pics!

This is a video of Cheyenne singing a song called "Selfishly" she wrote when my Mom (her grandma) passed away. She says this song was a gift because it came to her completely written. It is a beautiful song. This performance is totally a capella and she is at the Roxy Theater in Muskogee Oklahoma.
The other video available on the same page is Cheyenne singing another song she wrote called "Not Afraid of Love" at the same show.
This material is copyright protected. Please do not use without permission from the owner.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=32807218

This just cracked me up! This is a quote from Sandy Wiseheart, editor of the Knitting Daily newsletter:

"The ONE exception to the Animal Fibers Are Candidates For Felting rule is silk. Silk comes from silkworms, and I would argue that worms are not animals, they are worms, thus: bugs. Silk is not worm hair. Silk is extruded from the worm; silk starts out as a liquid. (Ahem. Use your brains, here, folks: "extruded" plus "liquid" equals...oh yes. That's what silk is. Hardened Bug Extrusion. Very pretty and wonderful hardened bug extrusion, it is, too.)"

Now, I LOVE silk but somehow, I don't think I'll think of it quite the same now that I fully realize that it is basically... wormsh*+. Doh!

I got this in an email forward from a good friend. I found this more than just a little disturbing. I love Oprah's good works and her love for others but she has such a widespread influence that can also do much damage. Use of bold and italics are my own. Those are the most "are you kidding me" moments.

Oprah on Religion: Check out 'A Course in Miracles' in Wikipedia.

Oprah Winfrey, beginning January 1, 2008, on her daily radio program will offer a year-long course on the New Age Christ , in a lesson a day and completely cover the 365 lessons from the Course in Miracles 'Workbook.'Listeners will be encouraged to buy A Course in Miracles for the year-long course, and an audio version, recited by Richard (John Boy Walton) Thomas will be available on compact disc. Those who finish the Course will have a wholly redefined spiritual mindset-a New Age worldview that include the beliefs that there is no sin, no evil, no devil. A Course in Miracles teaches its students to rethink everything they believe about God and life, and, bluntly states: 'This is a course in mind training' and is dedicated to 'thought reversal.'

The Course in Miracles -in reality- is the truth of the Bible turned upside down.Oprah told her television audience that Williamson's book, A Course in Miracles was one of her favorite books, and that she had already bought a thousand copies and would be handing them out to everyone in her studio audience. Oprah's endorsement skyrocketed Williamson's book to the top of the New York Times bestseller list .

A Course in Miracles is allegedly a 'new revelation' from 'Jesus' to help humanity work through these troubled times. This 'Jesus'-who bears no doctrinal resemblance to the Bible's Jesus Christ-began delivering channeled teachings in 1965 to a Columbia University Professor of Medical Psychology, Helen Schucman.One day Schucman heard an 'inner voice' stating, 'This is a course in miracles. Please take notes.' For seven years she diligently took spiritual dictation from this voice that described himself as 'Jesus.'Here are some quotes from the 'Jesus' voice of A Course in Miracles :
'There is no sin . . . '
A slain Christ has no meaning.
''The journey to the cross should be the last ' useless journey.''
Do not make the pathetic error of 'clinging to the old rugged cross.''
'The Name of Jesus Christ as such is but a symbol... It is a symbol that is safely used as a replacement for the many names of all the gods to which you pray.'
'The recognition of God is the recognition of yourself.'
'The Atonement is the final lesson he [man] need learn, for it teaches him that, never having sinned, he has no need of salvation.'

Popular author Wayne Dyer told his PBS television audience that the brilliant writing' of A Course in Miracles would produce more peace in the world.The Course in Miracles-based book, Forgiveness, continues to be sold in Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral bookstore as Schuller prepares to host a January 17-19, 2008, 'Rethink Conference' at his Crystal Cathedral.

2 Timothy 3: 1-5 (KJV) reads as follows:"1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come."2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,"3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good," 4 Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;"5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

"It's not surprising at all that Oprah Winfrey is supporting Barak Obama!!! Christians.....MUST Take heed!!And PLEASE pass this one on......if you never forward anything else!

Love of Christ and humble awe of his sacrifice are the underlying foundation of ALL my beliefs as a Christian. When someone denies Christ or the atonement, it just completely breaks my heart.

I can't believe Ryley is 7 months old - almost 8!! How did that happen?

This is Cheyenne and Ryley in the new rocking chair that was handmade by Great Uncle Hubert. I need to get a picture of just the chair too because it is just beautiful but mainly, Rob wanted to give Hubert a pic of Cheyenne rocking the baby in it.
Oh and you can't see them really well but those boots Ryley is wearing are John Deere boots that Aunt Bonni got her for Christmas8O)

Puppies, puppies, puppies! Princess last litter (ever, I assure you - my girl is getting too old for this and so am I;o) was a beautiful bunch of pups. There were 10 of them plus 1 stillborn. Everyone who has ever met Princess wants a Princess puppy so finding homes for them was no problem at all. Harmoni (in stripes) and Gini (in orange) named the males for King Arthurs knights of the Round Table and the females for midieval/fantasy princesses: Galahad, Lancelot, Gawain, Tristan, Bors and Dagonet for the males and Guinevere, Arwyn, Eowyn and Aria for the females. Ten points for whoever can tell me the source of all the female names8O)