Monday, May 31, 2010

Memorial Day


Hi everyone! I hope you've all had a great Memorial Day. Today we honor those that paid the ultimate price for our freedom... and those that continue to believe in this great nation enough to put their lives on hold and in harms way to defend our way of life. As I posted in a previous blog post honoring our military... they fight so we don't have to. As we sit comfortably in our homes, they willingly face unspeakable dangers, half a world away. We plan vacations, they plan the next enemy assault. The nation is nearly put on hold for Michael Jackson's funeral, media obsesses over celebrity break ups, scandals, and deaths, yet the soldiers that pay the ultimate price are only a statistic on the six o'clock news.

If you enjoy being able to speak your mind, thank a soldier. If you enjoy being able to pray to the God you believe in, thank a soldier. If you enjoy being able to assemble peaceably, thank a soldier. If you appreciate the right to bear arms, thank a soldier. For every personal freedom we take for granted every day, we can thank America's finest.

I'll post again a quote I found on a Facebook fan page...

Remember,

It is the soldier, not the reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the soldier, not the organizer,
Who has given us freedom to demonstrate.

It is the soldier, Who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.


And I'm going to quote my cousin, Mike Fellows: "It is empty to praise the courage of those who paid the ultimate price for our Freedom and yet lack the courage to defend the principles upon which Freedom rests with our own lives."

To our servicemen and women, past and present, and to the families of those who have lost a loved one in defense of our nation... thank you, and God bless.

May others have the same courage to protect the ideals that made America great.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Summer is here!

Hey everyone! I am happy to say that finals are FINALLY over and summer is here! I hope everyone is having a fun and safe summer already... and congrats to all who have graduated! Just one more year and I'll be graduating too. :o

I have a few interesting links I wanted to share with you...

Santa Ana College in Orange County, CA is offering a $2500 scholarship, and those eligible include illegal/undocumented immigrants. Yeah... a school endorsing the breaking of the law. Why it is so difficult the concept of ILLEGAL as in AGAINST THE LAW?!

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/05/28/calif-college-offers-scholarship-to-illegals/#content

While a spokeswoman for the college, Laurie Wiedner, speaks on behalf of this scholarship and says public funds will NOT be used, Dana Rohrabacher, (R-Calif) holds different opinions: "The fact that a public employee of a public college is seeking to circumvent immigration laws is problematic," he told FoxNews.com. "The fact that it's being associated with a public institution means there's public funds involved: If you have a fund being operated by public employees, it's public."

Why is it America is continually for everyone BUT Americans? Wow.

Hillary Clinton thinks "the rich are not paying their fair share..."http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0510/Clinton_The_rich_are_not_paying_their_fair_share.html

And the left is STILL blaming the Bush Administration even after the Obama Admin. has been in office for over a year.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/pelosi-blames-bush-administration-for-bp-oil-spill-95175304.html

Really, Nancy... it's time to come up with a new excuse, that one's so cliche these days.

Whatever happened to responsibility? Why can't we stop trying to lay blame on anyone and everything, and start coming up with some solutions to this oil disaster?

Have a great day!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Michelle Obama, BMI, Elena Kagan, the First Amendment... oh my!


Hi everyone! I have been swamped with school work this week, as finals are fast approaching! However, I just couldn't resist posting a few links that I think you'll find interesting (or disturbing, or both)...

America has the constant threat from the Middle East, the economy in a rut... but the government is armed and ready to combat your (or your child's) french fry fetish.


Michelle Obama's Obesity Crusade has led to legislation in Congress that would give the federal government the power to keep tabs on the BMI (that's body mass index) of all children ages 2 through 18... this info would be forwarded to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for analysis... the bill "would establish and fund a wide range of programs and regulations aimed at reducing obesity rates by such means as putting nutritional labels on the front of food products, subsidizing businesses that provide fresh fruits and vegetables, and collecting BMI measurements of patients and counseling those that are overweight or obese."

Uh yeah... I'm not kidding... here's the link... read for yourself!

Ok, I'm sorry, but this is ridiculous. It all boils down to rugged individualism and personal responsibility, on the part of individuals and on the part of parents. If I want to stuff my fat face full of the delicacy of saturated and trans fats and the culinary masterpiece of McDonald's and similar fast food establishments, then I will do as I damn please with my french fries and milkshake, thank you very much. And I don't need the government to "counsel" me on my eating habits. That's my business.

And really, I believe that parents (for the most part) know how to raise their kids better than the federal government that has difficulty managing anything well these days. They don't need Michelle Obama and the U.S Department of Health and Human Services sitting at the dinner table, helping to count calories. Just another outlet for government intervention into private life.

Moving on... so how about that Supreme Court nominee of Obama's... Elena Kagan? Seems she to have a slight issue with the idea of Free Speech--which is part of the first amendment, which is a part of a little thing called the U.S Constitution (which, of course, justices of the Supreme Court uphold)... check out this article. It's a bit lengthy... but it's a bit disturbing that a woman who argued on behalf of "government’s right to restrict constitutional free speech during an election". And, just a brief excerpt that caught my eye, during the Clinton administration, Kagan was "a fierce advocate of homosexual rights, and the ACLU has credited her with shaping the administration’s hate crimes policy. Hate crime laws chill free speech rights by empowering government to accuse and prosecute people for “inciting” hate crimes by, for example, proclaiming the Biblical understanding that homosexuality is a sin" .


Wow. And just for fun, here's the First Amendment itself... I wonder if Kagan's ever read it.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

And lastly, kudos to Rand Paul for winning the Kentucky Senate primary! http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/20/us/politics/20teaparty.html

Well those were just a few of the fun stuff I have heard on the news over the past few days... hope everyone is having a great week. I ask that you please keep our soldiers overseas and this great nation in your prayers... and as always, God Bless America. :)


Sunday, May 16, 2010

The Ostrich Effect

Hey everyone! Sorry for the long absence... AP test week and fast approaching finals week have been keeping me ridiculously busy and unable to post on my blog but I finally have a little time to breathe, so here I am :).

Last weekend I overheard an indirect comment that has been on my mind and that I have a few things to say about. While in normal conversation a few people agreed that, when it comes to politics and events going on in the world today, they "...choose to ignore it." Being the person I am, it took me by surprise. I had known there were people out there that don't keep themselves educated on current events but never had it occurred to me that some of "those people" could exist in my sphere of acquaintances.

So it's been bothering me. These people "choose to ignore it." They don't have time for the stimulus packages, the bailouts, the corrupt politicians, the controversial legislation, the natural disasters, the general abridgements of freedom occuring in the US today... they just don't have time for it. Why watch the news? It's depressing. And Glee is on, anyway. There's nothing I can do. It's ok, we live in America. Bad stuff can't happen here.

I may be generalizing this a bit, but from what I've seen in my peers and adults such as the ones I speak of today, many of the above qualities describe their feelings perfectly. Let me preface this by saying that, I know, I know, not everyone is (nor should be) as intrigued (or is it obsessed?) with politics and current events as I am... and I am not saying they should be. Nor am I trying to bash those that don't pay attention to the news or what's going on in this country in general. I'm expressing my belief that it is the responsibility of every citizen of this country to stay educated--through legit sources--on what is going on in their nation.

Everyone is busy. Appointments. Kids to take care of. Careers. School. Studying. I know, because half my life my nose has been stuck in a text book. It can get difficult to even remember to eat, let alone keep up on current events. But we've got to. It's not an option anymore. Politics and current events have turned from optional interests to events, legislation, actions that will affect every American personally, and it is our responsibility to keep tabs on it... if government gets out of hand--as it is--We the People must stand up, speak out, and do something about it. But if everyone "chooses to ignore it" and remains in their happy worlds, oblivious to what is going on outside, "... then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter." (Washington)

I'll use the simile of an ostrich with it's head in the sand.

If we keep our heads in the sand--if we choose to ignore the government that is growing bigger and yet more incompetent every single day--then whatever we are dealt from the said government, we deserve all the more. We can't stand idly by while our Consitution is being trampled, our freedom of speech being put in danger by those who cry "racist" at every turn, we can't stand idly by while government takes hold of our healthcare and allows individuals illegally on American soil to hold jobs while unemployment is in the double digits. We can't stand idly by while our hard earned income is given to someone who hasn't worked--or tried to work--a day in their life.
There are the people who don't want to be bothered with the troublesome state of the country, and then there are those who care, but don't know what to do. They think there isn't anything they CAN do. I was one of those people. I had so much pent up emotion for this country and I didn't know where to direct it. I cried on several occasions... (not kidding...) because it was (and still is) painful to watch the country our Founding Fathers fought SO hard to stabilize be knocked down to her knees repeatedly because of greed and a hunger for power. That's why I started this blog, with the encouragement of family members. I don't know if I'm making a difference--maybe I am, maybe I'm not. But I'm expressing my right to free speech and if I can impact only one person with my words, I feel I've accomplished something. There is something you can do. Speak out and regardless, stand for what you believe in. Start a blog. Write letters to the editor. Stay educated and informed.
And then there are those that just want to avoid conflict. I'm only 17 but in school and outside of school, I have come across so many people that walk away when politics are brought up in conversation, or avoid the subject altogether to either avoid conflict, or avoid the judgement by others they might be subject to if their views differ. I've lost so many friends--that weren't friends at all, really-- because I refused to bend my beliefs in order to "follow the crowd." It's hurt and I've felt alone and I've been judged, a lot. But at the end of the day, what other people think of me doesn't matter, and I know I'm a better person for it... and someone's got to do the right thing, and as I've learned, it's NEVER the easy thing.
It isn't easy, and no one ever promised it would be... people like the Tea Party patriots have recieved so much flak just for standing up for what this country was intended to be, but they haven't given up. The Founding Fathers could have "chosen to ignore it"... they could have chosen to ignore the oppressive actions of Britain. But they knew that it was wrong. They knew and believed that all men are created equal, and are endowed by their Creator certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. The Founders didn't choose the easy way, they choose the right way, and the one they believed in, and the one that has given us every ounce of freedom we enjoy in America today.
Patrick Henry said, “The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.” In order to restrain our government, to keep it in check so it CAN'T dominate our lives in interests, we must know OF the Constitution... but when we bury our heads in the sand and "choose to ignore it" ... our power to maintain the republic will become inept.


Wednesday, May 5, 2010

"That's No Angry Mob, That's My MOM!"

Hey everyone! Hope you all are having a great week! I'll be ridiculously busy towards the end of this week so I wanted to update Present Day Patriots beforehand. I found a few links I wanted to share with you regarding the recent bombing attempt in NYC's Time Square.
I'm sure you've heard about this, so I don't want to dwell on the basic facts, but in short, 30-year-old Faisal Shahzad has admitted to attempting to detonate a car bomb in Times Square this past Saturday night... he was a U.S citizen and recieved bomb-building training in Pakistan, his native country. Shahzad was arrested before the plane he was on took off for Dubai.
I was browsing some recent headlines regarding this and found just a few more examples of biased media... number one, from CNN..

It sounds to me like they're sympathizing with this TERRORIST because his house foreclosure brought "pressure and heartache" to him and his family? So it's okay to attempt to blow up buildings and take American lives when things aren't going your way? If I planted a bomb every time I was under pressure or dealing with heartache, and if everyone else did the same in this world... we'd be in a lot of trouble. There is NO excuse for acts of terrorism and it's sickening that Americans (if you can even call them that) are making excuses for the potentially fatal acts of someone who obviously despises our country. To me, that makes them sharers in the guilt.
Next up, a little news bit from MSNBC's Contessa Brewer who is "sorry" that the Times Square bomber has Islamic ties...


So... she's "frustrated" the Times Square bomber has Islamic ties... this leads me to believe that she just REALLY wanted to blame this attempted act of terrorism on one of those darn "right wing extremists" that are always causing trouble, you know, those "teabagging Rednecks" that are such a danger to the country with their American flags flying and homemade posterboards and "Don't Tread on Me" flags... (note sarcasm)... now I just have to wonder what she would be saying if the bomber HADN'T been one with Islamic ties ....

Speaking of the flak the Tea Parties have been dealt, and Americans concerned over the growth of government and shrinking of values and common sense in this country in general, readers of this blog might be interested in "That's No Angry Mob, That's My Mom" by Timothy Graham. Graham exposes and comments on the ridicule that everyday Americans have had to deal with since the beginning of the Tea Party movement with classic wit and disturbing quotes from the Left that will encourage readers even more to become involved in "taking back America."
That's all for today... hope everyone has a great week... and as always, God Bless America. :)