Making It In America

Across the country Americans are touting the win of Barack Obama as a major victory in the war against racism.  While it is a victory that would not have happened years ago, it is not the victory people claim!

Let’s look at what has happened.  The secret service began protecting months before any presidential candidate in the past.  Since his election, the guard around Obama is greater than any past president-elect because they worry about racially motivated attacks.  As for the inaugeration, ABC ran a quote by Secret Service spokesman Malcom Wiley.  He said, “The fact that this is an African American is not lost on us. We understand that this is a historic event; we understand that this is different from other inaugurations. It is one additional piece that we factor into the plan.”

Then we look at the empty seat the former senator leaves behind.  The question is, “Should the seat be filled with race as the major qualification?”  First Bobby Rush said the seat had to go to a black man because there were no black senators in the Senate with Obama’s election.  Then the disgraced Blagojevich nominated former Attorney General Roland Burris. Many question the choice based on the governor, not the electee. Now Bobby Rush is back to challenge them not to approve the nomination saying, “There are no African-Americans in the Senate, and I don’t think that anyone, any U.S. Senator who is sitting right now would want to go on record to deny one African-American from being seated in the U.S. Senate. I don’t think they want to go on record doing that.”  I don’t know the record of Mr. Burris, but he should be approved or not based on his qualifications, not his race.

Then, of course, there in the song, “Obama, the Magic Negro”, showing up on a CD distributed by Chip Saltsman.  This same man is hoping to gain the role of chairman for the Republican National Convention.  I’m sorry, but bad taste and poor judgment should eliminate him from the process.  Who things of songs like this?  In our new and open-minded nation, we still have a long way to go to truly rid ourselves of the plague of racism.

Over 80 hospitals, including critical care hospitals have closed.  Others have had to file bankruptcy.  Still others have suffered from salary freezes and the inability to hire new staff members.  Most pinpoint the major cause of their problems to the government programs in place.  Medicare, Medicaid and a few other government-run programs do not pay enough of patient costs to keep the hospitals solvent.

Now they want to run the whole show.  Many have touted the socialized medical programs of England and Canada.  Many Americans, that is!  In the actual countries, not everyone is all that excited about their health care choices.  People are overlooked for surgeries due to their age.  People are not allowed to become citizens because of health issues.  I just hope that the powers that be look into the programs more closely before they send us in that direction.

Hospitals are laying off workers now.  What will it be like when they lose complete control of their programs.  As a person who may get sick someday, I’m not holding my breathe or wishing for socialized health care.  How about you?

According to the American Obesity Association close to one-third of all Americans, yes 33%, are obese.  A whopping 32.5 % are considered overweight.  That includes almost 2/3 of the American population.  We love our food, fast and fat.  We want to eat, and yet, we hate being fat.  So what do we do?  Do we eat a more healthy diet and add exercise to our daily routine?  No, we go to the drug store and buy drugs that guarantee us weight loss, fast and easy and now you can even buy them on the internet!

Here’s the bad news.  The FDA is warning against buying drugs sold on the internet.  Many of them are made in China, a country not known for its careful safety and health standards.   Dieters need to consider other options instead of risking a visit to the ER or even death!

A high percentage of the pills contain a powerful appetite suppressant called sibutramine, sometimes containing up to three times the necessary dosage. This cousin to amphetamines can cause heart attacks, heart palpitations and strokes.  If you have a history of high blood pressure or heart disease, the chances are increased.

Other pills have been found to contain phenolphthalein.   This chemical,  used as a laxative, has been taken off the market because of cancer risks it causes.  The worst information about these drugs is that the do not list the harmful ingredients anywhere on the label so the dieters have no way of knowing about the contents of the drugs they are taking.

If you want to lose weight and feel you need a diet pill, please do your research.  Find out which drugs contain these or other harmful ingredients.  A better idea would be to get a buddy and work together to lose weight in a healthful way that may last longer.  The more the weight-loss involves good lifestyle changes, the more likely it is that the weight-loss will be permanent!

It is normal to want to look good.  Two-thirds of us need to lose weight.  I just hope none of us are dying to be skinny!

The question has been asked, “should parents be held accountable for the actions of their children?”  My answer to that question is definite “maybe”.

It seems that parents are being put on trial.  The question about the responsibility of the parents is, in my opinion, dependent on the parent.  Were they a parent, a buddy or just the method used to give the child life?  Let me explain.

First, take the case of the mother who bought weapons and explosives.  Her son was upset and he was planning a Columbine-style response to his life.  The vote is in-responsible.

Then there are the third-grade children who planned the attack on their teacher in Georgia.  Mom and dad did not supply the weapons, but where did they get ideas like this.  I would venture that you have innocent parents whose children were drawn into the plot by others whose parents are suspect.  Parents are responsible for what their children view and the knowledge that they have gained by third grade should be fairly innocent.  Yes, I thinking there were some guilty parents involved.

Absentee parents are guilty.  Whether they are gone or absent in the home, parents who give birth and then don’t take their responsibilities seriously need to rethink the situation.  Too many parents are wrapped up in their own world and their own needs.  Then they are upset because their kids give them problems too!

Parents need to step up to the plate and protect their children from the real dangers in this world.  Many of these dangers are invited into our house via our televisions, computers and dvd players.  Do not think for one minute your child is immune for what he or she sees and hears. Monitor everything.

Then children need to learn responsible ways to deal with frustrations, anger and mean people.  Never, in the eyes of society, is it acceptable to gun them down or blow them up. Modeling is one of the best ways to do this and in my days on this earth I’ve seen some of the best and some of the worst models out there!  Teach your children well.

At the risk of offending “other survivors” of the Holocaust, I would like to say, “Leave Herman Rosenblat and his wife alone.”  They shared the story of their life, having met as young children on both sides of a concentration camp wall.  She gave his apples and bread when she could.  He moved.  They both survived and, having met again on a blind date years later, married one another.  They are an adorable couple with a romantic story-if indeed, a story involving concentration camps can be considered romantic!

Now Holocaust exerts are speaking up and saying the story isn’t possible because of the way the wall was constructed.  She would have been seen. I guess that may be true if you don’t believe in the power of God, perfect timing, or luck.  Many things happened in and around the concentration camps that should not be true, but they are.  Read the book, The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom if you need a good dose of God’s miracles in and around concentration camps.  But even if it isn’t true, who is hurt by the story?  I am moved by fictional stories that are romantic.  Face it, we Americans love our romance almost as much as we like to drag one another down.

Other survivors are upset about the story.  Why? What does the story of the Rosenblats take away from their personal story?  How does the Rosenblat story affect them?  People who have already suffered through and survived the concentration camps need to find ways to celebrate life and not spend their time lamenting the other people’s lives or stories.

Mr. and Mrs. Rosenblat do not need to defend their story.  It is what it is and that’s enough.  If you don’t like their story, don’t read it.  If you don’t believe their story, ignore it.  If you are offended by their story, get over it.  To the Rosenblats I say, “Thank you for your wonderful story.  I believe it!”

Today a great voice was silenced.  In spite of treatment she was undergoing in New York, Eartha Kitt succumbed to colon cancer, a battle she had been fighting since 2006.  How ironic that she, whose voice I have been hearing over and over again for the past twenty-five days, would die today of all days, Christmas!  After learning of her death, her most famous song was played on the computer.  Her list included cars and mines among many others.  What a shame she did not ask “Santa Baby” to bring good health down her chimney last night.  She will be missed by all who enjoyed her mellow, melodic voice.

“Hugs your kids because you don’t know how long you’ll have them!”  Those words came from the parents of Tylara Leigh Delgado after her unborn daughter and she were needlessly killed by a drunk driver.  Excited about the birth of their first grandchild, Mr. and Mrs. Delgado are now in constant sorrow as they plan the double funeral on Saturday.  What a needless trajedy!  

A little four year girl was left alone with her  seven year old sister were left alone while her mother ran to the store. The little girl’s clothes caught on fire.  Not knowing what to do, her big sister and she ran down to the first floor to her aunt’s house where the fire was put out.  She was burned over 60% of her body.  She won’t be enjoying Christmas this year.

Every Christmas, trajedies happen.  Homes are ruined; lives are lost.  What is happening in your life?  Is it a trajedy or an uncomfortable event?  Count your blessings and thank God.  Don’t create a Christmas sorrow where a mere inconvenience exists!  Hug your kids and have a Merry Christmas!

Well, the weather outside IS frightful.  Anyone listening to the weather report would know it was going to be a terribly frightful winter storm.  Anyone who did not know was not listening.  So………..tons of people were caught unprepared when the storm left them stranded!  How does that happen?

I don’t mean to sound like I do not care; I do.  Airports are not the most comfortable even when the weather is good, all flights are going and nothing has been canceled.  The floors are hard; the spaces are packed and there are not any pillows or blankets.  It is dreadful, but IF the travelers did their homework, it should not have been a big surprise.

As I watched weather videos tonight, one crying woman appeared on at least three of them.  She had been stranded at the airport for three days without the benefit of clean clothes, blankets or, it appeared, her autistic daughter’s medicine.  She said that “they” (and by they I assumed she meant the airlines) needed to be held accountable.  Ok, this is where the hair on the back of my head goes up.  Accountable for what?  The snow?  I don’t think they have any way to control the weather.  The length of her unwelcome stay? Again, hear me out, people’s safety probably outweighed clean clothes.  Her daughter running out of medicine?  Who packed her stuff?  Wait, there is someone that should be held accountable for that-the crying woman! I do feel badly for the girl, but mom should have considered the possibilities before she left home.

There’s a reason for weather reports.  When we travel, we can check to see what to expect as we plan our flight, ride, or whatever mode of travel we take.  But please, don’t hold the airlines accountable for that over which they have no control.   I have a better idea, let’s blame President Bush!

J.K. Carpenter had his hand on the pulse of America when he wrote this song. No matter how far away you roam-I have lived all over the United States but always tried to make it “home” for the holidays. Home being where my parents lived. Now my children are spread all over, none of them are able to make it home this year, so I started thinking, maybe it would work next year if we start planning now…the thing was, my first thought was that we could all meet in Colorado…at my mother’s house, “home”. I like to think it is the love we have for our family members that keeps this desire going, keeps the home fires burning. This year my husband and I will be alone, but “I’ll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams.” Merry Christmas everyone!

In my day to day existence, I do not discuss my sexual preferences with anyone. Neither do any of my friends. I cannot imagine calling in to work to say I cannot be there because of my sexual preference. I cannot imagine walking down a parade route touting signs that say I am proud of my sexual preference. In fact, outside of my personal relationship-with someone I am proud to be with-the word pride is never a thought in the same sentence as sex. I have had friends who were straight and friends who were gay. The conversations we had never centered on that facet of our lives.

In Arizona, they are trying to pass a new rule for lawyers. They have to swear that they will not let their opinions of a person’s sexual persuasion interfere with their handling of a case. It amazes me that, in the twenty-first century, we are still at ground zero for respecting people. If a lawyer cannot, however, handle something about their client, should we force him to do it. I would say not anymore than we force doctors to do things against their belief system but we already do that. I do not agree with prejudice, but wouldn’t it be better to have a lawyer who can respect you and truly serve you than one that was forced to take an oath? Just a question.