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Monday, 06 April 2009

Oh, brother

I resent the President's implication that Americans have harbored unfounded resentment toward Muslims. Someone needs to give the man a recent history lesson. America did not initiate the war against radical Islam. Radical Islam attacked us first. And the terrorists didn't just happen to be Muslim. It was the driving force behind their decision to attack. They did it in the name of their god to further their religion's mission. Period. There's no politically correct way to interpret the situation. Now we have a President who is "on tour" apologizing to people who hate us. And we have Americans who practically worship him for being a man of "peace". I don't get it.
If Obama means to apologize to the countless innocent Muslims who had nothing to do with the havoc wreaked in our nation and abroad, why is he under the impression that an apology is in order? These Muslims do not think that Americans hate them. In fact, they are fully aware of our respect for them, as we have sent innumerable troops to fight for their freedom. So, who exactly is Obama apologizing to? The very people responsible for causing so much senseless bloodshed?
I do not doubt that there are ignorant, hate-filled individuals in this nation who have treated anyone wearing Muslim garments unfairly, but are they the majority? Does a blanket apology have to be made to the entire world by our President to right this wrong? Ignorance will always exist. Surely Obama isn't narcissistic and egotistical enough to believe that he can annihilate ignorance with mere rhetoric.
I felt much safer with Bush's resolve than I do Obama's naivete.
Give the man a shovel, because he's digging our grave.

Thursday, 05 February 2009

Currently
Right From Wrong
By Josh McDowell
see related
The Idol of Individuality

How did Western culture become so far-removed from the rest of the world in its view of community? I won't even focus on the culture at large - let's just focus on the Church. In the book of Acts, several verses indicate that believers lived as one. They knew true community. They had built-in accountability. They had support. Their needs were met. Everyone was an active participant. In today's world, as my pastor recently reminded us, the 80/20 principle is in effect. 20% of the Body of Christ gives their time and resources, while 80% just shows up. There are people who attend church while working hard to preserve their anonymity. They don't wish to be known because that would hold them responsible. That would mean change (for the better, of course, but they don't see it that way). These same people often consider their faith to be private and individual. The only problem with that is it is not biblical. Our adversary (the one who prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour) preys on those in the dark. He convinces them that they're the only ones who have ever struggled with x, y, or z. They would not be as vulnerable to attack if they were walking in community, transparent and exposed. I recently read, "Nothing keeps us honest like a witness." All I know is I want witnesses in my life. I'm even open to multi-family living. I need other people, and I'm not too proud of my individuality to admit it.

Tuesday, 27 January 2009

When Rhetoric Prevails

Sure enough, Barack Obama kept his promise. "The first thing I’d do as President is sign the Freedom of Choice Act." I'm sorry, but if this man truly feared God, truly served Him as he claims to, promoting abortion would never in a million years be his top priority. Everyone knows full well that Obama was elected primarily because of what he could do to help the economy. You'd think that would emerge as his top priority. But, no, he would rather propose increased government spending. He would rather allot taxpayer dollars toward abortions (oh, and more corporate bailout, er, I'm sorry, "stimulus").
But you know what's sad? I can't really blame him. He's actually remaining true to his promise. It's the American people that willfully elected him knowing that FOCA was his number one goal. The American people believed that his plans to redistribute the wealth outweighed any damage he might impose on human life. Let's review the implications of FOCA, shall we?
FOCA will do away with state laws on parental involvement, on partial birth abortion, and on all other protections.
FOCA will compel taxpayer funding of abortions.
FOCA will force faith-based hospitals and healthcare facilities to perform abortions.
(taken from http://www.fightfoca.com/)
We would never advise a medical doctor to take a teenager's gall bladder out without parental consent. We would never advise a medical doctor to perform any major procedure on a minor without the parents being informed of all of the benefits and risks. Why on earth would we want a young girl to be able to make the decision to "terminate a pregnancy" on her own? Why would we ignore the research that has indicated that physical scarring and psychological hardship inevitably follow such a procedure? Why would we be in favor of "covering up" the girl's poor decision to have unprotected sex? Would we also be in favor of covering up teenage drug use? alcohol abuse?  gang involvement? homicide? By all means, whatever the cost, don't tell their parents!!!
Why is there EVER a need to kill a full-term baby, to perfom a partial-birth abortion? Why should protecting this heinous crime be a priority of any administration?
Why should taxpayers be asked to pay for abortions of any kind...ever?
And why, in our free nation, would a faith-based hospital, be forced to perform an abortion against its conscience? Doesn't a woman seeking an abortion have the choice to go to a different hospital? I mean, why don't we just offer to come straight to her house to make it easier for her?
These are scary times indeed. This has nothing to do with protecting choice. It has everything to do with protecting entitlement. Proponents of abortion appealed to people's sense of entitlement and succeeded in cloaking murder in the guise of "choice." This is likely the greatest feat of rhetoric in American history. How were we ever duped like that?  Just how stupid are we? Women have ALWAYS had a choice -- the choice to have irresponsible sex or not. The only exception is women who are raped (which is a tiny percentage of the abortion pie, by the way). But, advocates of BIG government believe it's the government's job to provide a way out for people who poorly exercise their freedom of choice. The American people have the right to act irresponsibly, right? They shouldn't have to follow through and actually carry an unwanted baby to term. That would be cruel and unusual. I mean, it's not as though there are thousands of families seeking to adopt that unwanted child because they themselves are not able to conceive naturally.
In one of the debates, Obama revealed his motivation for wanting Roe v. Wade's ruling to stand: he wants his daughters, Sasha and Malia, to have the right to choose an abortion. So, if one of his daughters were to end up pregnant before she was ready, Obama would rather see his grandbaby aborted than carried to full term and offered the same freedoms and opportunities that he himself has been given? What if that baby had the potential to become another President? What if that baby had the cure for cancer?  I would rather his daughters act responsibly and never have to face an unwanted pregnancy to begin with.
But our new President doesn't just care about his own daughters; he cares about the whole world. Recently he expressed his support of the United Nations Population Fund. We should help pay for women all over the world to kill their babies...for the sake of population control. Again, the power of rhetoric...
How about we support the castration of rapists, the forced spaying of women who cannot afford to pay for children on her own? I'd sooner support measures as drastic as these. I'd be in favor of birth control medication being dispensed in other countries. These would be proactive ways to "control the population". But, no, we have to be reactive. We have to offer a way out, so that people can continue freely living irresposibly. I mean, we wouldn't want to deny them the great pleasures of unprotected sexual ecstasy, would we? Why would we promote self control? It's not as if it's a fruit of the Spirit or anything.
Why have we resigned ourselves to thinking, "people are going to act irresponsibly anyway"? If people aren't held to a higher standard, they sure will. That's the beauty of self-fulfilled prophecy.
After a campaign promising "change," he proceeded to appoint many of the same people that worked under Clinton's administration. But, boy, he sure did keep his word about FOCA. The audacity of hope indeed.
"For You formed my inward parts; you wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made...My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth. Your eyes have seen my unformed substance, and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me when as yet there was not one of them."
President Obama, either you believe the Word of God, or you don't.

Saturday, 20 December 2008

A Glimmer of Hope After All...

So, I had to make another visit to a pharmacy yesterday. Guess what? I had better customer service than I have had in a long time. And I was even on a side of town not ordinarily known for its customer service.

I walked into a non-chain pharmacy, and the waiting area was crowded. I gave the clerk my prescription, and he promptly handed it to the pharmacist. At that point, the pharmacist said to me, "I'll have these right out for you, mam." Filling my prescription took no time at all. The pharmacist personally handed it to me, kindly adding that the pills were safe to take while breastfeeding and that I should eat a little something before taking them. He went on to say that if I ever need a prescription, but don't wish to take the baby out in the cold, the pharmacy delivers for free. Several of the employees fawned over my daughter, then one of them walked to the other side of the store to hold the door open for me as I left.

A breath of fresh air.

Thursday, 18 December 2008

Pretend it's not a week before Christmas...

I don't mean to sound all Scroogy or Grinchy right before Christmas, but I had to write this blog while it's on my mind...
Despite the economic fiasco, despite any current event, we can tell America is quickly losing its super-power status simply by looking at those around us. Incompetence is rampant. The divide between the haves and the have nots is widening, and I don't only mean in the social justice sense. There are those who have knowledge and work ethic, and there are those who do not. There are those who take pride in their jobs, no matter how menial, and there are those who do not. Do employers even train their staff anymore? Or are employees simply too apathetic to do the job the way they were trained? I am tired of going into businesses where unhelpful people are collecting a paycheck. I am tired of receiving bills in error. I am tired of calling places to make inquiries and being transferred countless times until my question can be answered. I'm convinced there has been a dumbing down of the work force.
All right, I admit, my point of view is largely informed by my experience in public schools where kids with a fifth grade reading level are receiving high school diplomas. The great majority of my students refused to do homework, no matter how large or small the assignment. If they had to do it at home, they wouldn't do it. Many of them would not even complete classwork. And if I ever designated class time for students to get a jump start on a homework assignment, maybe 10% would use that time productively (which is why I rarely designated time for that purpose). These are not behaviors that grow into capable, commendable leadership.
What happened? America would have never grown into the nation it is and has been if its people hadn't been so innovative, motivated, and resourceful. (yes, its people have also been arrogant and oppressive, but this blog is not about that) During the Presidential debates, both McCain and Obama bragged on the abilities of Americans at large. I'm not as encouraged as they seem to be based on what I observe on a daily basis. Things are not looking good. This generation is ill-equipped to lead the nation, and that's all there is to it. I am sure there were a number of forces at work to create the dilemma the nation is facing today. I can blame no one person or entity. But the situation's downright scary.
This is just one example of a great multitude I have to choose from, but let me relay my Kroger Pharmacy experience. My daughter's hematologist faxed in a prescription for a vitamin supplement. I waited a few days, then went to pick it up. The Kroger employee looked at me like I was from another planet. He looked around and claimed the prescription was never sent in (though this happens nearly every time no matter who the doctor, I decided to extend him some grace). I called the doctor's office. They had record that the fax had gone through, but they said they would call it in immediately. Today, when I went to pick it up, the dude told me he didn't have it...again. When I said this was the second time I've been told that, he dug a little deeper and located a pharmacist's note that said I could get the supplement over the counter. My question is, could Kroger not have called me to let me know that? Or perhaps they could have pulled it off the shelf for me and sold it to me, kindly letting me know that I wouldn't need a prescription in the future? Because they chose not to take this action and twice wasted my time, I will purchase the supplement at Publix -- one of the few businesses in town that makes customer service a priority!
As I end this blog, I am reminded of the biblical parable of the talents. I fear that many today will never hear the words, "You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things." And I fear American will not long be "in charge" of many things on a global scale because the nation is less and less faithful with what it has today.