Tuesday, December 30, 2008
2009 Edition: Getting to Know YourFamily and Friends.
1.What is your occupation right now?
Retired - Stay at home mom
2.What color are your socks right now? white
3.What are you listening to right now?
hum of the computer and humidifier
4.What was the last thing that you ate?
a bite of chocolate frosting from our Happy Birthday to Jesus cake
(that means it won't spike my sugar levels ?!? - argh)
5.Can you drive a stick shift?
OH! YEAH! That's REAL driving!!!
6.Last person you spoke to on the phone?
My sister, Rachael (jarca)
7.Do you like the person who sent this to you?
YES!! - ALL of them!!!
8.How old are you today? 61
9.What is your favorite sport to watch on TV?
lately...Tennis
10.What is your favorite drink?
milk
11.Have you ever dyed your hair?
You bet!
12.Favorite food?
Anything I don't have to cook! LOL
13.What is the last movie you watched?
14.Favorite day of the year?
15.How do you vent anger?
Vent??? Me? Vent...??? chuckle
16.What was your favorite toy as a child?
My BOOKS! and a little cook stove!
17.What is your favorite season?
Winter
18.Cherries or Blueberries?
Cherries (Chocolate covered - of course!)
19.Do you want your friends to e-mail you back?(or in this case post on their blogs)
If they like - I love to read them! smile
20.Who is the most likely to respond?
21.Who is least likely to respond?
22.Living arrangements?
At home with my DH, Carl(the Patriarch) and Titus our dog
23.When was the last time you cried?
oh gosh - I even cry at movies and books - just ask my kids (though they are good and don't tease! Thank you children)
24.What is on the floor of your closet?
Scary - would you believe: 2 gallons of green paint; 2 storage drawers of electronic parts and wires and connectors; boots; clothes that need to be donated...oh my gosh!
25.Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending to?
26.What did you do last night?
watched Angie and Jason play the Wii fit! FUN!
27.What are you most afraid of?
something happening to my children
28.Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers?
Jack-in-the-Box's Ultimate CheeseBurger - of course!
29.Favorite dog breed?
our smooth hair Collie is the best! Collie personality and gentleness without the hair!
30.Favorite day of the week?
31.How many states have you lived in?
California - Utah - Minnesota(3 months-smile)
32.Diamonds or pearls?
Pearls are gorgeous!
33.What is your favorite flower?
Carnations! love the fragrance!!!
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Kellie Coffey Sings...
Sometimes you stumble upon something that reminds you how very blessed you are
and
you just have to share...
Saturday, December 13, 2008
"The 12 Days of Christmas" ~ Origins and Religious Meaning ~
"The 12 Days of Christmas"
~ Origins and Religious Meaning ~
Caveat: there is a controversy disputing the authenticity of this interpretation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catholics in England during the period 1558 to 1829 were prohibited by law to practice their faith either in public or private. It was illegal to be Catholic until Parliament finally emancipated Catholics in England in 1829.
"The Twelve Days of Christmas" was written in England as one of the "catechism songs" to help young Catholics learn the basics of their faith. In short, it was a coded-message, a memory aid. Since the song sounded like rhyming nonsense, young Catholics could sing the song without fear of imprisonment. The authorities would not know that it was a religious song.
"The 12 Days of Christmas" is in a sense an allegory. Each of the items in the song represents something significant to the teachings of the Catholic faith. The hidden meaning of each gift was designed to help Catholic children learn their faith. The better acquainted one is with the Bible, the more these interpretations have significance.
The song goes, "On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me…"
The "true love" mentioned in the song doesn’t refer to an earthly suitor, but it refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person. i.e. the Church.
1st Day:
The partridge in a pear tree is Christ Jesus upon the Cross. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge because she would feign injury to decoy a predator away from her nestlings. She was even willing to die for them.
The tree is the symbol of the fall of the human race through the sin of Adam and Eve. It is also the symbol of its redemption by Jesus Christ on the tree of the Cross.
2nd Day:
The "two turtle doves" refers to the Old and New Testaments.
3rd Day:
The "three French hens" stand for faith, hope and charity—the three gifts of the Spirit that abide (1 Corinthians 13).
4th Day:
The "four calling birds" refers to the four evangelists who wrote the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John—which sing the song of salvation through Jesus Christ.
5th Day:
The "five golden rings" represents the first five books of the Bible, also called the Jewish Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
6th Day:
The "six geese a-laying" is the six days of creation.
7th Day:
The "seven swans a-swimming" refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.
8th Day:
The "eight maids a milking " reminded children of the eight beatitudes listed in the Sermon on the Mount.
9th Day:
The "nine ladies dancing" were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.
10th Day:
The "ten lords a-leaping" represents the Ten Commandments
11th Day:
The "eleven pipers piping" refers to the eleven faithful apostles.
12th Day:
So the next time we hear "the Twelve Days of Christmas" consider how this otherwise non-religious sounding song had its origins in keeping alive the teaching of their faith.
adapted from email messages,from "How To Decode the Twelve Days of Christmas,"by Hugh D. McKellar,U.S. Catholic, 12/1979,and from "‘12 Days of Christmas’ is no nonsense, but a serious riddle"by David CrowderEl Paso Times, 12/19/1993.Also, Origin of "The Twelve Days of Christmas"An Underground Catechismby Fr. Hal Stockert 12/17/95 http://www.cin.org/twelvday.html
Friday, December 12, 2008
...she dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered.
A good Christmas message...
author ~ unknown
"I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: 'There is no Santa Claus,' she jeered. 'Even dummies know that!'
My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her world-famous cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true.
Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. 'No Santa Claus!' she snorted. 'Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad. Now, put on your coat, and let's go.'
'Go? Go where, Grandma?' I asked. I hadn't even finished my second world-famous, cinnamon bun. 'Where' turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything.
As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. 'Take this money,' she said, 'and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car.' Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.
I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church. I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's second-grade class. Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out for recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough, and he didn't have a coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat! I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that. 'Is this a Christmas present for someone?' the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down.
'Yes,' I replied shyly. 'It's for Bobby.' The nice lady smiled at me. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag and wished me a Merry
Christmas. That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat in Christmas paper and ribbons (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked
it in her Bible) and wrote, 'To Bobby, From Santa Claus' on it --
Grandma said, 'Santa always insists on secrecy.' Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially one of Santa's helpers. Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. 'All right, Santa Claus,' she whispered, 'get going.'
I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his doorbell and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.
Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.
I still have the Bible, with the tag tucked inside: $19.95."
author - unknown
===============================
He who has no Christmas in his heart will never find Christmas under a tree.
YOUNG WOMEN THEME - Virtue
YOUNG WOMEN THEME
We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him. We will "stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places" (Mosiah 18:9) as we strive to live the Young Women values, which are:
Faith
Divine Nature
Individual Worth
Knowledge
Choice and Accountability
Good Works
Integrity
and Virtue.
We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values, we will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Elder Steven Tolboe has been in the field for 53 days
Elder Steven Tolboe
Assigned to the Everett Washington Mission
as an ASL Missionary
Mission: Washington Everett
Entered the MTC on: October 15, 2008
Expected Release Date: October 15, 2010
Favorite scripture: D&C 78:17-18
Latest News:
November 4 - Assigned to Lake Forest Park, Washington, Companion Elder Moss, Assigned to learn ASL
November 4 - Elder Steven Tolboe left MTC and flew up to Everett Washington, arriving at 9:34a.m.
October 15 - Elder Steven Tolboe entered the Provo MTC, 1:00 p.m.
Gail - Steven - Richard Tolboe
South Africa Durban Mission link, ACTIVATED
http://arlosandy.blogspot.com/
----- Original Message -----
From: Arlosandy
Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 8:03 AM
Subject: Christmas Greetings from South Africa
Christmas Greetings from South Africa
From home to home, and heart to heart.
From one place to another,
The warmth and joy of Christmas,
Brings us closer to each other.
Emily Matthews
The words in the above poem say it all and how wonderful it is to have a season that allows us to renew the warmth and joy we find in our friendships! The holidays are truly upon us, and it just doesn't seem possible. The usual comment is, “Where has the year gone?” and we concur with that. Especially this year, as our holiday greetings need to come early for a special reason!
The Mickelsen's have received a mission call to serve in the South Africa Durban Mission for the next 18 months as Perpetual Education Fund missionaries. Our call came the middle of July and we have been busy since with all the preparations that a foreign call brings, but now we are ready and anxious to go. For those of you who don't know what the PEF is, we refer you to the Ensign, August 2008, page 76. Our entry date for the MTC is November 17th, where we will be for 10 days. Thanksgiving will be celebrated with lots of family and then on the 29th we will begin a very long plane ride (Salt Lake City – Chicago – London – Johannesburg – Durban) -- somewhere around 36 hours!!
There are 11 fantastic grandchildren in our family who keep their fantastic parents busy with all their school, church, music and sports activities.
Arlo served on the High Council and as our Homeowners Association President this past year and Sandy has coordinated the Humanitarian Projects for our branch.
As we bring this letter to a close, we send our love and friendship to you all. At this time of year, we are mindful of the birth of Jesus Christ and the sacrifices He made for us. Our past missionary service brought and continues to bring tremendous blessings to us and our family, and we are looking forward to this new opportunity to be of use to our Savior . Our prayers are for a wonderful Christmas season for each of you.
P.S. Some of you will receive this letter via e-mail and others by snail mail since we don't have e-mail addresses for everyone. If you have one, please let us know. Postage is expensive to and from South Africa, so we hope you will send us your Christmas greetings via internet! Our e-mail is arlosandy@aol.com and we will have a blog (http://arlosandy.blogspot.com/) as soon as we officially begin our mission, if anyone is interested. We'll be back in St. George sometime in May, 2010
P.P.S. This letter was written and to have gone out before entering the MTC and it just didn't happen. This is being sent from Johannesburg, South Africa where we are having additional training in this truly inspired Perpetual Education Fund program, before going on to Durban.
You can find additional information on the church website: http:lds.org
then follow through with these links:
Home and Family
Education
Perpetual Fund
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Divine Connection (a little irreverent humor + a Woot shirt)
Divine Connection
by Wootbot Wednesday December 3, 2008 12:00 AM
at: http://shirt.woot.com/Blog/
And the LORD formed the computer nerd of the dust off His keyboard, being mainly the powdered remains of heavenly Chee-tos, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, which wasn’t easy, given the computer nerd’s deviated septum; and the computer nerd became a living soul, if you can really call it living.
And the LORD set up a vast network eastward in Eden; and before it He put the computer nerd whom he had formed, saying “here, I need an admin, get thee to it.”
And the computer nerd set about exploring the many files and folders on the network, discovering various digital wonders and delights, but there was one machine the LORD forbade him to access, speaking unto him: “All of this is created for thee to use and master, My pasty-skinned, soft-bellied creation. Except stay away from the Apple, would you? I keep My personal files on it, and thou shalt poketh around in them not.
“Not that I’m going to password-protect it or anything, because I trust you.”
This shirt was designed by: Robert Gould. No, not the one David Mamet condemned to Hell; another one.
Wear this shirt: if you hear a voice in the garden, and are afraid, because you are naked, to hide yourself.
Don’t wear this shirt: in Paradise. It’s strictly topless and bottomless there. Or so we have read.
This shirt tells the world: “Hallelujah, I’m right-click-saved as”
We call this color: We Call The Light “White,” And The Darkness We Call “Black,” And This Color In The Middle, Oh, Let’s Call It Like A “Heather Gray.”
Ann Hansen - Living in Israel
Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 7:45 AM
Subject: Ann Hansen - living in Israel
This afternoon as I was sitting in the hospital, waiting to do a bone
mapping (this is a translation from Hebrew - I don't know what it's called
in English), I looked around and thought what a perfect example this was of
what it is like to live in Israel.
In the waiting room with me were a Russian, an Ethiopian couple, a soldier
from the same division as my son, a Druze man in traditional dress, a
Beduoin, Israel's version of a Yuppie couple (middle-aged Ashkenazi Jews
with high-tech toys to while away the time), and an older kibbutznik. I
grew up in the US, and the TV was set on "Viva" - a channel which features
only Spanish-language soap operas from Spain and South America. I heard
people speaking Hebrew, Arabic, Russian and Amharic.
The room where I was doing this exam sits in the basement of the Sfat
hospital's new wing, which was built mainly to house the new emergency
room(s). The wing was finished just a couple of weeks before the war with
Lebanon in 2006. It was a good thing, because as the hospital nearest the
border it treated a lot of wounded soldiers and civilians. The hospital
itself was also hit by rockets many times. The new wing is actually a huge
bomb shelter, complete with blast doors and windows.
While I was waiting I was reading the biography of a Jewish woman from
Vienna, who was writing about her life just before and during WW II. She
had been picked up in the street one day, and sent off to work on an
asparagus farm in northern Germany in conditions which were about one step
above slave labor. She was talking about the factories in that area of
Germany- Opel cars (appropriated from its Jewish owner) and Siemens
electronics - which did use slave labor, mostly Romanians and Serbs. Just
then I was called in to do the mapping. As I laid down on the bed (its
like doing a CAT scan) and the machine was put over me, I noticed that the
machine was built by Siemens!!! It was a weird feeling seeing that so soon
after reading about its slave labor 70 years ago.
As you leave the hospital and look west, you see literally layers upon
layers of hills. In the fading light they look like they were built of
separate layers of blue and gray construction paper which were glued on top
of each other. It reminded me a bit of how the Smoky Mountains looked in
the early morning. Sfat itself has been continally inhabited since medieval
times, and carries the scars of centuries of war. Onthe very top of the
city are the ruins of a castle built by the Hospitalers ( a knights' order
named after Christian knights who set up a hospital next to the Dome of the
Rock on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem) during the Crusader period. The city
also contains synagogues which are centuries old, the ruins of a mosque, an
Ottoman Turkish period building now used as a community center, a building
which was built as a hospital by Scottish missionaries in the nineteenth
century, and several buildings built by the Bristish army during the
mandate.
Sfat sits at an altitude of 900 meters (about 3,000 feet). My house,
however, is almost 100 feet below sea level, so the drive home is all
downhill! On the way I pass a moshav built by Morrocan Jews in the late
1950s, and a kibbutz which has on its grounds an ancient well which,
according to tradition, was where Joseph's brothers put him in a pit until
he was sold to the passing caravan. The well is mentioned by travellers in
several sources written up to 500 years ago, including Mark Twain and Eliza
R. Snow. The well was notorious for having the foulest-smelling water in
all the Holy Land. Thankfully the smell is gone now! Below me is the Sea
of Galilee, but first I have to so down the "curvy road" (which roughly
parallels the ancient Roman road), past the Mount of Beatitudes and the
church at Tabgha, past the site of an ancient fortress, and finally past the
pumping station of the National Water carrier, before I reach home, which is
in the area where the biblical prophet Habbakuk is reported to have been
buried. The valley below my house is part of a natural draw which leads
from the northern part of the lake up to the route to Nazareth. I
frequently wonder if Jesus ever walked it on his way to Magdala or
Capernaum.
For as long as I have lived here, I still haven't gotten used to the
amazing diversity of topography, history, culture, religion and language to
be found in such a small geographical area. It continues to take my breath
away.
Happy Thanksgiving all!
Ann Hansen
Paradigm Shift...
A young couple moves into a new neighborhood.
The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young
woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside.
"That laundry is not very clean", she said.
"She doesn't know how to wash correctly.
Perhaps she needs better laundry soap"
Her husband looked on, but remained silent.
Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the
young woman would make the same comments.
About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a
nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband:
"Look, she has learned how to wash correctly.
I wonder who taught her this?"
The husband said, "I got up early this morning and
cleaned our windows."
And so it is with life. What we see when watching others
depends on the purity of the window through which we look.
Christmas Greetings from South Africa - Arlo / Sandy Mickelsen
----- Original Message -----
From: Arlosandy
Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 8:03 AM
Subject: Christmas Greetings from South Africa
Christmas Greetings from South Africa
From home to home, and heart to heart.
From one place to another,
The warmth and joy of Christmas,
Brings us closer to each other.
Emily Matthews
The words in the above poem say it all and how wonderful it is to have a season that allows us to renew the warmth and joy we find in our friendships! The holidays are truly upon us, and it just doesn't seem possible. The usual comment is, “Where has the year gone?” and we concur with that. Especially this year, as our holiday greetings need to come early for a special reason!
The Mickelsen's have received a mission call to serve in the South Africa Durban Mission for the next 18 months as Perpetual Education Fund missionaries. Our call came the middle of July and we have been busy since with all the preparations that a foreign call brings, but now we are ready and anxious to go. For those of you who don't know what the PEF is, we refer you to the Ensign, August 2008, page 76. Our entry date for the MTC is November 17th, where we will be for 10 days. Thanksgiving will be celebrated with lots of family and then on the 29th we will begin a very long plane ride (Salt Lake City – Chicago – London – Johannesburg – Durban) -- somewhere around 36 hours!!
There are 11 fantastic grandchildren in our family who keep their fantastic parents busy with all their school, church, music and sports activities.
Arlo served on the High Council and as our Homeowners Association President this past year and Sandy has coordinated the Humanitarian Projects for our branch.
As we bring this letter to a close, we send our love and friendship to you all. At this time of year, we are mindful of the birth of Jesus Christ and the sacrifices He made for us. Our past missionary service brought and continues to bring tremendous blessings to us and our family, and we are looking forward to this new opportunity to be of use to our Savior . Our prayers are for a wonderful Christmas season for each of you.
P.S. Some of you will receive this letter via e-mail and others by snail mail since we don't have e-mail addresses for everyone. If you have one, please let us know. Postage is expensive to and from South Africa, so we hope you will send us your Christmas greetings via internet! Our e-mail is arlosandy@aol.com and we will have a blog (http://arlosandy.blogspot.com) as soon as we officially begin our mission, if anyone is interested. We'll be back in St. George sometime in May, 2010
P.P.S. This letter was written and to have gone out before entering the MTC and it just didn't happen. This is being sent from Johannesburg, South Africa where we are having additional training in this truly inspired Perpetual Education Fund program, before going on to Durban.
You can find additional information on the church website: http:lds.org
then follow through with these links:
Home and Family
Education
Perpetual Fund
Monday, November 24, 2008
Doctor Who Trivia: First aired on November 23, 1963
Makes this BBC Series 45 Years Old !
(I purchased a hand made 12 foot scarf for my DH (from England - no less) that is the rival of any that Tom Baker ever wore!!! - oh! yes! SMILE)
For any of you who are not educated in the ways the the Tardis travelling Time Lord - a quick summary:
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a mysterious alien time-traveller known as "the Doctor" who travels in his space and time-ship, the TARDIS, which appears from the exterior to be a blue 1950s police box. With his companions, he explores time and space, solving problems, facing monsters and righting wrongs.
Read more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Who
The character of the Doctor was initially shrouded in mystery. All that was known about him in the programme's early days was that he was an eccentric alien traveller of great intelligence who battled injustice while exploring time and space in an unreliable old time machine called the TARDIS, an acronym for Time And Relative Dimension(s) In Space. As it appears much larger on the inside than on the outside, the TARDIS has been described by the Third Doctor as "dimensionally transcendental"[35] and, due to a malfunction of its Chameleon Circuit, is stuck in the shape of a 1950s-style British police box.
However, not only did the initially irascible and slightly sinister Doctor quickly mellow into a more compassionate figure, it was eventually revealed that he had been on the run from his own people, the Time Lords of the planet Gallifrey.
As a Time Lord, the Doctor has the ability to regenerate his body when near death. Introduced into the storyline as a way of continuing the series when the writers were faced with the departure of lead actor William Hartnell in 1966, it has continued to be a major element of the series, allowing for the recasting of the lead actor when the need arises. The serial The Deadly Assassin established that a Time Lord can regenerate twelve times, for a total of thirteen incarnations (although at least one Time Lord, The Master, has managed to circumvent this). To date, the Doctor has gone through this process and its resulting after-effects on nine occasions, with each of his incarnations having his own quirks and abilities but otherwise sharing the memories and experience of the previous incarnations:
- First Doctor, played by William Hartnell (1963–1966 [36])
- Second Doctor, played by Patrick Troughton (1966–1969 [36])
- Third Doctor, played by Jon Pertwee (1970–1974 [36])
- Fourth Doctor, played by Tom Baker (1974–1981 [36])
- Fifth Doctor, played by Peter Davison (1981–1984 [36])
- Sixth Doctor, played by Colin Baker (1984–1986)
- Seventh Doctor, played by Sylvester McCoy (1987–1989, 1996) [37]
- Eighth Doctor, played by Paul McGann (1996)
- Ninth Doctor, played by Christopher Eccleston (2005)
- Tenth Doctor, played by David Tennant (2005–2010) [7]
The current Tardis - The Tardis used from 1980-1989
Calling Evil Good
Calling Evil Good
by H. Wallace Goddard
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20
Satan is the master of inversion. Where God offers Light, Satan provides darkness. God confers joy, peace, and love. Satan dispenses lies, misery, and bitterness. Satan’s latter-day lies stand in contrast not only to heavenly revelation but even to good research on families and human development.
Being Married
The world suggests that being married is just one rather old-fashioned and unprogressive way of living. Rates of cohabitation are exploding. Divorce is epidemic. Both cohabitation and divorce are offensive to God. "Marriage is ordained of God unto man" (D&C 49:15). The wisdom of God’s commandment is supported by decades of research. Cohabitors who later marry are more likely to divorce (and be violent in the relationship) than those who do not cohabit. Cohabitation is not an effective testing ground for an enduring relationship. The multitude of benefits of marriage for both men and women is sustained by Waite and Gallager’s new book, The Case for Marriage.
Married people live longer, have better health, earn more money and accumulate more wealth, feel more fulfilled in their lives, enjoy more satisfying sexual relationships, and have happier and more successful children than those who remain single, cohabit or get divorced.
Meanwhile the long term damage of divorce on children is underscored by Wallerstein’s longitudinal work reported in her most recent book, The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce. Both Wallerstein’s book and the Waite and Gallager book are enormously unpopular with some progressives in today’s world but both are based on good science. More important, they agree with the timeless truth given by God.
Success in Marriage
Satan has promoted a medical model of marriage: Notice anything that is wrong with your partner, think about it, talk about it, and invite your partner to fix it. It seems so reasonable. Many marriage programs have been based on skillful communication of discontents. But God recommends a very different approach to building relationships: personal repentance and love for our partner. When we cover our own sins, gratify our pride or exercise control over our partner by shifting attention away from our need to repent and to our partner’s faults, the heavens withdraw themselves (See D&C 121: 37).
No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of [spousehood], only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;
By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile-- D&C 121:41-42
The best new research in marriage makes the same point. John Gottman’s remarkable program of research on marriage recommends editing (Some things don’t need to be said!), more positives (Kindness!), and self soothing (Gentleness!). In successful marriages, partners value the relationship over being right ("Repair attempts.") Gottman has found the pattern of marital conflict to be remarkably predictable. (Satan is not creative.) But happy couples are wonderfully unpredictable. They make the creative use of differences, work to build their relationship, and actively invest in their love.
I cannot find any place in scripture where the Lord commands us to carefully catalogue our partner’s follies. Nor can I find any place where he directs us to fix our partner. He does command charity, that pure love of Christ that transcends any ordinary definition of love. It is not surprising that research is coming to recommend kindness as the essential ingredient of healthy family relationships. The Lord and His servants have always recommended kindness, patience, and love. Joseph F. Smith counseled:
We all have our weaknesses and failings. Sometimes the husband sees a failing in his wife, and he upbraids her with it. Sometimes the wife feels that her husband has not done just the right thing, and she upbraids him. What good does it do? Is not forgiveness better? Is not charity better? Is not love better? Isn’t it better not to speak of faults, not to magnify weaknesses by iterating and reiterating them? Isn’t that better? . . . Is it not better to drop [faults] and say nothing about them–bury them and speak only of the good that you know and feel, one for another, and thus bury each other’s faults and not magnify them; isn’t that better? (pp.180-81)
Chastity and Fidelity
Satan has portrayed chastity and fidelity as provincial, boring, and even lowbrow. But the Lord delights in chastity. (See Jacob 2:28). He commands it even in today’s sexualized world. What does excellent research find?
Those having the most partnered sex and enjoying it most are the married people. The young single people who flit from partner to partner and seem to be having a sex life that is satisfying beyond most people’s dreams are, it seems, mostly a media creation. In real life, the unheralded, seldom discussed world of married sex is actually the one that satisfies people the most. (Michael, Gagnon, Laumann, & Kolata, 1994)
Hollywood is wrong. The joys of married life have always been superior to the excitement of a swinging lifestyle.
Raising Children
Satan has parents looking for some magical combination of rules, consequences, timeout, and rewards that will teach their children to be good citizens. Heavenly Father provides a simple directive: "I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth" (D&C 93:40).
"Light and truth" suggest to the mind love, compassion, heavenly inspiration and the teaching of gospel principles. Decades of research on parenting confirm that nothing matters more than love. Urie Bronfenbrenner said it eloquently:
Every child should spend a substantial amount of time with somebody who's crazy about him or her . . . There has to be at least one person who has an irrational involvement with that child, someone who thinks that kid is more important than other people's kids, someone who's in love with him or her, and whom he or she loves in return. (Psychology Today, May 1977)
Love also sets the context for moral development. Hoffman (1983) suggests that children develop in their commitment to goodness and concern for others as we love them, set good examples, reason with them, and help them understand how their behavior affects others. That is bringing them up in light and truth.
Relationship with Self
Satan’s greatest coup may be in the area of our relationship with self. Old Scratch insists quite reasonably that "you cannot love anyone until you love yourself." But the Lord has always recommended the opposite course: "And whosoever will lose his life in this world, for my sake, shall find it in the world to come" (JST Matthew 16:28). Self discovery comes through forgetting self.
Even scholars have been concerned about the modern western emphasis on self. Baumeister has observed a revolution in the way people find meaning in life.
Love and work are regarded by modern Americans as means of cultivating, exploring, and glorifying the self, and if they fail in this they lose their legitimacy. A relationship that stifles the self ought to be broken off; a job that fails to foster self-expression or growth should be changed (pp. 104-5, emphasis in original).
The new emphasis on self has caused a redefinition of morality.
For centuries . . . each individual made his or her major life choices between the conflicting demands of self-interest and morality. . . . Virtue meant conquering the various forms of self-interest, including greed, lust, laziness, and cowardice. . . . Vice, in contrast meant putting the impulses and desires of the self first and acting on them even when such actions ran counter to the community’s needs, wants, and values. The hero exerted and suffered for others, and in the process the hero helped the community. The villain indulged his or her own selfish appetites at the expense of others. . . . [But] in the 20th century . . . morality has become allied with self-interest. It is not simply that people have the right to do what is best for themselves; rather, it has become an almost sacred obligation to do so. The modern message is that what is right and good and valuable to do in life is to focus on yourself, . . . Once it was a virtue to place the best interests of others ahead of your own. Now, instead, there is an increasingly moral imperative to do the opposite (p. 113).
Krauthammer has observed that "the reigning cliche of the day is that in order to love others one must first learn to love oneself. This formulation . . . is a license for unremitting self-indulgence, because the quest for self-love is endless" (1993, p.76). Satan must laugh as Americans obsess on self-love and never quite get to loving God or neighbor.
When meeting our own needs becomes the moral standard in all our decisions, marriage suffers, children suffer, communities suffer, eternity suffers. What trend could better fulfill the promised latter day doom:
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (2 Timothy 3:1-2, emphasis added)
God does not provide commandments as an arbitrary test of our willpower. They simply define the path to happiness. That God who created us and gave us Life knows how to bless us. God enjoins marriage, love, service, and unselfishness. Such commandments look like restrictions to the natural man but the spiritual person recognizes them as guides to love, joy, and peace. Truly we can choose misery or we can choose joy.
When we choose to obey Satan he pays us in the currency of his realm: misery. "The devil will not support his children at the last day, but doth speedily drag them down to hell" (Alma 30:60). When we obey God, we receive "good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom" (Luke 6:38).
God’s way is always better.
Notes:
Baumeister, R. F. (1991). Meanings of life. New York: Guilford Press.
Hoffman, M. L. (1983). Affective and cognitive processes in moral internalization. In E. T. Higgins, D. N. Ruble, & W. W. Hartup (Eds.), Social cognition and social development: A sociocultural perspective (pp. 236-275). New York: Cambridge University Press.
Krauthammer, C. (1993, June 28). Beware the study of turtles. Time.
Michael, R. T., Gagnon, J. H., Laumann, E. O. & Kolata, G. (1994). Sex in America: A definitive survey. Boston: Little, Brown, & Co.
Smith, J. F. (1998). Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith. S.L.C.: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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H. Wallace Goddard is a son, a husband, a dad, and a grandpa. He works as a Family Life Specialist for the University of Arkansas Extension Service in Little Rock and has written several books and programs including The Frightful and Joyous Journey of Family Life (Bookcraft) and Principles of Parenting (Alabama Cooperative Extension System). He claims to be living proof that a person who makes lots of mistakes can still be blessed with joy beyond any deserving.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
SR-71/"The Blackbird" - In early 1960's I saw a strange black plane...my father told me: "You NEVER saw that"...
This Saturday I would see something I would never forget ...and years later I would finally find out what the strange black plane I saw that day really was!!!
As we were driving across the desert to one of the test ranges - I looked out my window just in time to see a huge black plane being towed out of an isolated hanger.
It was the most fantastic airplane I'd ever seen and it's black color really set it apart!
I asked my dad what kind of plane it was.
He looked at me very seriously and said: "You NEVER saw that"
It wasn't until Lyndon Baines Johnson took it upon himself to break national security that I found out that plane was the super secret: SR-71!
It out ran almost 4,000 missles!!!
From another observer:
In 1968 (1967?) a SR-71 made an emergency landing at Grand Forks AFB and was "parked" between two B-52 hangers close to the N/S road that paralled the base runway. The aircraft was completely visible to anyone using the road. Immediately after landing, GFAFB security established machine gun "nests" close to the plane. The two man crew could not exit the plane until a C-130 arrived from Edwards AFB with the ground support equipment and aircraft technicians to evacuate the crew and "fix" whatever the problem(s) were. Of course, everyone on the base came to see the 71 and security had to control traffic. After the "fixes" were accomplished (two days?), the 71 exited the base heading north. A few minutes later it returned at a very low altitude at tremendous speed in a fly by. It was awesome and was probably witnessed by about everyone on the base.
Eye candy for people who like airplanes
Grab your beverage and relax for a few minutes of awesome beauty. The SR-71 was the creation of Kelly Johnson, Lockheed, Eisenhower and the Air Force. It was envisioned in the '50s, first flew in the early '60s, retired in the '80s, briefly brought back in the '90s.
In all, 13 units of the single seat A-12 were built, and 32 of the Pilot + Recon two seat SR-71 units were built. Five A-12 were lost, one is stored. Twelve two seaters were lost. The remaining 27 are on display around the USA .. The closest is at Atwater , the old Castle AFB museum at Merced with 50 other classic warplanes. You probably have a better opportunity of viewing the one in San Diego . Ask me and I'll tell you where the others are. NY, OR, OH, DC, etc. I can find most answers to most questions. Just ask. Start
with the 2000+ mph, the 80,000 feet + altitude. More if you wish.
So enjoy. One more thing. The author of the captions to the picture in this video made one misstatement, due to youth. The U-2 Recon aircraft was created in 1955, flew operationally in 1956. Kelly thought the USSR would shoot it down in 18 months. Lucky us, it flew until Gary Powers was downed on 1 May 1960.
But Kelly Johnson already had the go-ahead from Ike for the A-12. It first flew in 1962, JFK kept the manufacture of it active. No one told LBJ, 'cause everyone knew he would spill the secret. He wasn't told til the week after JFK left us. And sure enough, LBJ gave out the secret in a matter of months.
Anyhow, the most interesting, most exciting five years of my life were spent in the program, as a KC-135 refueling pilot. Where the Blackbird went, we went. You will see several refuelings in the following.
Enjoy.
Click here to view the slideshow:
https://webmailcluster.tds.net/do/redirect?url=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.greatdanepromilitary.com%252FSR-71%252Findex.htm
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
On the table side by side - The Holy Scriptures and the T.V Guide
One is well worn, yet cherished with pride,
But that one is not the Scriptures, it's the T.V. Guide.
One is used daily to help folks decide,
No! it isn't the Scriptures, it's the T.V. Guide.
As the pages are turned what shall they see?
Oh! it doesn't matter, just turn on the T.V.
Then confusion is started, for they can't all agree
On what they shall watch on the old T.V.
So they refer to the book in which they all confide
But it isn't the Scriptures, it's the T.V. Guide.
The Word of God is seldom read.
Maybe a verse before they fall into bed.
Exhausted and sleepy and tired as can be,
Not from reading the Scriptures, but from watching T.V.
Then back to the table side by side,
The Holy Scriptures and the T.V. Guide.
No time for prayer, No time for the Word.
The plan of salvation is seldom heard.
Forgiveness of sin so full and free
We find in the Scriptures and not on T.V.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Scripture Stories Available Online and on DVD
Scripture Stories
Available Online
and on DVD
November 12, 2008 - News from the Church
Scripture Stories
These colorfully illustrated stories from the scriptures are written on a basic reading level for children. They are also a valuable resource for others who may not yet be familiar with the standard works. Select from the items below to access these stories in multiple media formats.
Available as downloadable text, audio, and video, Old Testament Stories contains colorfully illustrated stories from the Old Testament, as well as a map, glossary, and chart of events.
Available as downloadable text, audio, and video, New Testament Stories contains illustrated stories from the New Testament, along with a map and glossary for additional reference.
Available as downloadable text, audio, and video, Book of Mormon Stories contains illustrated stories from the Book of Mormon, as well as maps, glossaries, and a time line of events.
and/or
Buy Scripture Stories
Visit friend.lds.org for coloring pages, children's music, hidden pages, and other Funstuf.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
"Freedom Isn't Free" - Veteran's Day 2008
(See Gallery of Veteran's Day posters of years past)
"Freedom Isn't Free" - A Tribute
Fast Facts:
Veteran’s Day
Veteran’s Day was originally known as Armistice Day, because the eleventh hour of that day—the eleventh of the eleventh month—marked the end of World War I hostilities in 1918. It was renamed in 1954 to commemorate veterans.
Currently there are about 25 million living veterans.
About 48 million Americans have served in the military since 1776.
“Veteran” comes from the Latin vetus, meaning “old.”
Veterans may include anyone who has served in the army, excepting those with dishonorable discharge but including those who may not have seen combat.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
10 Ways to Pray for President Elect Obama
10 Ways to Pray for President Elect Obama
Barack H. Obama has been elected by the majority of voters in our nation to be the next President of the United States. Whether we voted for Obama or not, we need to pray for him. Prayer yields amazing results both for the person prayed for and the one who prays.
Here are 10 ways I plan to intercede for him regularly:
1. Pray for Obama’s protection.
We already know that some weird, neo-Nazi fanatics in Tennessee plotted to kill Sen. Obama during his campaign. Let’s pray that racist hatred is not allowed to spread. Let’s cancel every assassin’s bullet in the name of Jesus. May civility triumph over bigotry.
2. Cover his wife and daughters in prayer.
It is not easy to live under constant media scrutiny. Pray for Obama’s wife, Michelle, and their two daughters, Malia and Natasha, as they face invasive cameras, nosy reporters, maniacal fans and dangerous enemies. Obama is not only a politician but also a husband and a father.
3. Pray that Obama will govern with God’s wisdom.
God rewarded Solomon because he asked for wisdom instead of wealth, long life, or vengeance on his enemies (see 1 Kings 3:11-12). Pray that Obama will order his priorities like that. Despite Solomon’s tragic character flaws, his legacy was wisdom. We can ask God to give our president the same grace.
4. Ask God to keep our president humble.
Many great American leaders became corrupt after they moved to Washington. The fatal attraction of fame, wealth and power proved irresistible. The only thing that will guard a man or woman from this pitfall is humility. May God deliver President Obama from the curse of pride.
5. Pray for wise and righteous advisers to surround him.
Godly leaders cannot do their job alone. Even the best leaders have failed because they trusted the wrong people. Pray that Obama will not select his counselors based on party, race, pedigree or political crony-ism but on godly character and proven wisdom. Pray also that he will not allow secret traitors into his inner circle.
6. Ask for the spirit of reconciliation.
Some segments of our deeply divided society want nothing to do with Obama now that he has won the presidency. Even some Christians will be tempted to harbor resentment and nurse political grudges throughout his term in office. Pray that God will grant forgiveness and healing so that leaders on all political levels can have constructive dialogue.
7. Pray that Obama will adopt pro-life convictions.
Many politicians have changed their views on key issues while in office. In the 1800s some leaders who favored slavery later denounced it. In the 1950s some who opposed racial integration later became champions of it. Even though Obama won approval from many voters because he sanctions abortion, God could soften and change his heart.
8. Bind all evil forces assigned to manipulate our president.
The specter of Islamic terrorism looms over the United States, and dark forces are ready to infiltrate. Our only hope lies in prayer to the God who is able to expose and outwit the schemes of the wicked. This is truly a time for spiritual warfare, and intercessors must not come off the wall in this hour! Pray that no foreign government, terrorist organization or demonic principality will use Obama as a tool. We must stand strong against the spirit of antichrist that promotes dictatorship, persecution of Christians and hostility toward Israel.
9. Pray that Obama’s door will remain open to the church.
The loudest voices of secular culture—from Bill Maher in Hollywood to atheists in academia—would be happy if religion were removed from public life. Pray that Obama, who claims to have a personal faith in Jesus Christ, will un-apologetically welcome Christian leaders into his company and seek their counsel. And pray that false religious leaders (who claim to know Christ but deny His power) will not have his ear.
10. Pray that our nation will enjoy God’s peace and blessing during the Obama administration.
The apostle Paul instructed early believers to pray for all in authority “so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Tim. 2:2, NASB). God’s will is for America to experience peace and prosperity so that we can continue to export the gospel to the nations. This must happen whether a Democrat or a Republican is in the White House. As we cry out for God’s mercy on our wayward nation, pray that He will allow us to be a light to the world as we finance global missions, feed and heal the world’s poor and share Christ’s love at home and abroad.
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Posted by Kat at 11:11 AM
Labels: Obama, prayer
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Back to the REAL world...
'It's Only Democracy When Democrats Win'
If you have any doubts...check the headlines about the Prop.8 'victory'...
Try to find an article or newscast that has anything positive to say!
You won't find the media celebrating the affirmation of the rights of moral people and traditional marriage !
Church Responds to Same-Sex Marriage Votes
SALT LAKE CITY 5 November 2008 COMMENTARY
Since Proposition 8 was placed on the ballot in June of this year, the citizens of California have considered the arguments for and against same-sex marriage. After extensive debate between those of different persuasions, voters have chosen to amend the California State Constitution to state that marriage should be between a man and a woman.
Voters in Arizona and Florida took the same course and amended their constitutions to establish that marriage will continue to be between a man and a woman.
Such an emotionally charged issue concerning the most personal and cherished aspects of life — family, identity, intimacy and equality — stirs fervent and deep feelings.
Most likely, the election results for these constitutional amendments will not mean an end to the debate over same-sex marriage in this country.
We hope that now and in the future all parties involved in this issue will be well informed and act in a spirit of mutual respect and civility toward those with a different position. No one on any side of the question should be vilified, intimidated, harassed or subject to erroneous information.
It is important to understand that this issue for the Church has always been about the sacred and divine institution of marriage — a union between a man and a woman.
Allegations of bigotry or persecution made against the Church were and are simply wrong. The Church’s opposition to same-sex marriage neither constitutes nor condones any kind of hostility toward gays and lesbians. Even more, the Church does not object to rights for same-sex couples regarding hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment rights, or probate rights, so long as these do not infringe on the integrity of the traditional family or the constitutional rights of churches.
Some, however, have mistakenly asserted that churches should not ever be involved in politics when moral issues are involved. In fact, churches and religious organizations are well within their constitutional rights to speak out and be engaged in the many moral and ethical problems facing society. While the Church does not endorse candidates or platforms, it does reserve the right to speak out on important issues.
Before it accepted the invitation to join broad-based coalitions for the amendments, the Church knew that some of its members would choose not to support its position. Voting choices by Latter-day Saints, like all other people, are influenced by their own unique experiences and circumstances. As we move forward from the election, Church members need to be understanding and accepting of each other and work together for a better society.
Even though the democratic process can be demanding and difficult, Latter-day Saints are profoundly grateful for and respect the ideals of a true democracy.
The Church expresses deep appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the many Latter-day Saints and others who supported the coalitions in efforts regarding these amendments.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
The Epitome of Dignity and Honor - McCain Concedes
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Patriotism: Not Quite Dead in the Public Schools yet!
This arrangement of "The Battle Hymn Of The Republic" is performed by four high school choirs, plus a choir of elementary school children.
The arrangement is deeply moving.
The younger children get the first verse to themselves,then the high schooler students join in.
A small band accompanies the choir.
The soundtrack is taken from a video made by the father of one of the performing students.
To this school district, It's in their honor, this is made,
By: GreatDanePro - Taken from the web site at:
http://www.greatdanepromilitary.com/Battle%20Hymn/index.htm
Taken from the website and reproduced by TG Truman
Patriotism: Not Quite Dead in the Public Schools yet!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
How Does Jewish Tradition View Proposition 8? Look at the Midrash for the Story of Noah, This Week's Torah Portion!
In Jewish tradition, the weekly Torah portion always has special significance for the week in which it is read.
Therefore it is undoubtedly not coincidental that election day, Tuesday, November 4, the day that Proposition 8 appears on the ballot in California, falls out in the week of Parshat Noach, the Torah portion that relates the story of Noah and the Flood.
The Midrash tells us, twice in fact:
"Rabbi Huna said in the name of Rabbi Yosef, 'The generation of the Flood was not wiped out until they wrote marriage documents for the union of a man to a male or to an animal.'"--Genesis Rabbah 26:5; Leviticus Rabbah 23:9.
"I know...we should have voted 'Yes' on Prop. 8. I guess we missed the boat on that one."
Monday, October 27, 2008
"Operation Free Speech"
Vigilance and Technology = Arrests
It's for our Children!!!
Friday, October 24, 2008
"Samuel the Lamanite" says...
Brian Andre from Irvine created this graphic.
(Brian is also the graphic designer who created the poster of the four candidates for Pres and VP who all said they support traditional marriage)
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Would the Last Honest Reporter Please Turn On the Lights?
By Orson Scott Card
Note: Orson Scott Card is a Democrat and a newspaper columnist, and in this opinion piece he takes on both while lamenting the current state of journalism.
An open letter to the local daily paper — almost every local daily paper in America:
I remember reading All the President's Men and thinking: That's journalism. You do what it takes to get the truth and you lay it before the public, because the public has a right to know.
This housing crisis didn't come out of nowhere. It was not a vague emanation of the evil Bush administration.
It was a direct result of the political decision, back in the late 1990s, to loosen the rules of lending so that home loans would be more accessible to poor people. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were authorized to approve risky loans.
What is a risky loan? It's a loan that the recipient is likely not to be able to repay.
The goal of this rule change was to help the poor — which especially would help members of minority groups. But how does it help these people to give them a loan that they can't repay? They get into a house, yes, but when they can't make the payments, they lose the house — along with their credit rating.
They end up worse off than before.
This was completely foreseeable and in fact many people did foresee it. One political party, in Congress and in the executive branch, tried repeatedly to tighten up the rules. The other party blocked every such attempt and tried to loosen them.
Furthermore, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were making political contributions to the very members of Congress who were allowing them to make irresponsible loans. (Though why quasi-federal agencies were allowed to do so baffles me. It's as if the Pentagon were allowed to contribute to the political campaigns of Congressmen who support increasing their budget.)
Isn't there a story here? Doesn't journalism require that you who produce our daily paper tell the truth about who brought us to a position where the only way to keep confidence in our economy was a $700 billion bailout? Aren't you supposed to follow the money and see which politicians were benefiting personally from the deregulation of mortgage lending?
I have no doubt that if these facts had pointed to the Republican Party or to John McCain as the guilty parties, you would be treating it as a vast scandal. "Housing-gate," no doubt. Or "Fannie-gate."
Instead, it was Senator Christopher Dodd and Congressman Barney Frank, both Democrats, who denied that there were any problems, who refused Bush administration requests to set up a regulatory agency to watch over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and who were still pushing for these agencies to go even further in promoting sub-prime mortgage loans almost up to the minute they failed.
As Thomas Sowell points out in a TownHall.com essay entitled "Do Facts Matter?" ( http://snipurl.com/457townhall_com ): "Alan Greenspan warned them four years ago. So did the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers to the President. So did Bush's Secretary of the Treasury."
These are facts. This financial crisis was completely preventable. The party that blocked any attempt to prevent it was ... the Democratic Party. The party that tried to prevent it was ... the Republican Party.
Yet when Nancy Pelosi accused the Bush administration and Republican deregulation of causing the crisis, you in the press did not hold her to account for her lie. Instead, you criticized Republicans who took offense at this lie and refused to vote for the bailout!
What? It's not the liar, but the victims of the lie who are to blame?
Now let's follow the money ... right to the presidential candidate who is the number-two recipient of campaign contributions from Fannie Mae.
And after Freddie Raines, the CEO of Fannie Mae who made $90 million while running it into the ground, was fired for his incompetence, one presidential candidate's campaign actually consulted him for advice on housing.
If that presidential candidate had been John McCain, you would have called it a major scandal and we would be getting stories in your paper every day about how incompetent and corrupt he was.
But instead, that candidate was Barack Obama, and so you have buried this story, and when the McCain campaign dared to call Raines an "adviser" to the Obama campaign — because that campaign had sought his advice — you actually let Obama's people get away with accusing McCain of lying, merely because Raines wasn't listed as an official adviser to the Obama campaign.
You would never tolerate such weasely nit-picking from a Republican.
If you who produce our local daily paper actually had any principles, you would be pounding this story, because the prosperity of all Americans was put at risk by the foolish, short-sighted, politically selfish, and possibly corrupt actions of leading Democrats, including Obama.
If you who produce our local daily paper had any personal honor, you would find it unbearable to let the American people believe that somehow Republicans were to blame for this crisis.
There are precedents. Even though President Bush and his administration never said that Iraq sponsored or was linked to 9/11, you could not stand the fact that Americans had that misapprehension — so you pounded us with the fact that there was no such link. (Along the way, you created the false impression that Bush had lied to them and said that there was a connection.)
If you had any principles, then surely right now, when the American people are set to blame President Bush and John McCain for a crisis they tried to prevent, and are actually shifting to approve of Barack Obama because of a crisis he helped cause, you would be laboring at least as hard to correct that false impression.
Your job, as journalists, is to tell the truth. That's what you claim you do, when you accept people's money to buy or subscribe to your paper.
But right now, you are consenting to or actively promoting a big fat lie — that the housing crisis should somehow be blamed on Bush, McCain, and the Republicans. You have trained the American people to blame everything bad — even bad weather — on Bush, and they are responding as you have taught them to.
If you had any personal honor, each reporter and editor would be insisting on telling the truth — even if it hurts the election chances of your favorite candidate.
Because that's what honorable people do. Honest people tell the truth even when they don't like the probable consequences. That's what honesty means . That's how trust is earned.
Barack Obama is just another politician, and not a very wise one. He has revealed his ignorance and naivete time after time — and you have swept it under the rug, treated it as nothing.
Meanwhile, you have participated in the borking of Sarah Palin, reporting savage attacks on her for the pregnancy of her unmarried daughter — while you ignored the story of John Edwards's own adultery for many months.
So I ask you now: Do you have any standards at all? Do you even know what honesty means?
Is getting people to vote for Barack Obama so important that you will throw away everything that journalism is supposed to stand for?
You might want to remember the way the National Organization of Women threw away their integrity by supporting Bill Clinton despite his well-known pattern of sexual exploitation of powerless women. Who listens to NOW anymore? We know they stand for nothing; they have no principles.
That's where you are right now.
It's not too late. You know that if the situation were reversed, and the truth would damage McCain and help Obama, you would be moving heaven and earth to get the true story out there.
If you want to redeem your honor, you will swallow hard and make a list of all the stories you would print if it were McCain who had been getting money from Fannie Mae, McCain whose campaign had consulted with its discredited former CEO, McCain who had voted against tightening its lending practices.
Then you will print them, even though every one of those true stories will point the finger of blame at the reckless Democratic Party, which put our nation's prosperity at risk so they could feel good about helping the poor, and lay a fair share of the blame at Obama's door.
You will also tell the truth about John McCain: that he tried, as a Senator, to do what it took to prevent this crisis. You will tell the truth about President Bush: that his administration tried more than once to get Congress to regulate lending in a responsible way.
This was a Congress-caused crisis, beginning during the Clinton administration, with Democrats leading the way into the crisis and blocking every effort to get out of it in a timely fashion.
If you at our local daily newspaper continue to let Americans believe — and vote as if — President Bush and the Republicans caused the crisis, then you are joining in that lie.
If you do not tell the truth about the Democrats — including Barack Obama — and do so with the same energy you would use if the miscreants were Republicans — then you are not journalists by any standard.
You're just the public relations machine of the Democratic Party, and it's time you were all fired and real journalists brought in, so that we can actually have a news paper in our city.
This article first appeared in The Rhinoceros Times of Greensboro, North Carolina
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Proposition 8: Who's Really Lying?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Proposition 8: Who's Really Lying?Date:
Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:15:38 -0700
Memorandum Contact: Chip White
For Immediate Release
October 16, 2008
Proposition 8: Who’s Really Lying?
Public Records Show Proposition 8 Opponents Want Gay Marriage To Be Taught In Public Schools – ‘The earlier the better.’
Sacramento -- The top issue that has emerged in the Proposition 8 campaign is whether same-sex marriage will be taught in California public schools if the initiative is not enacted.
Opponents of Proposition 8 are spending millions of dollars on television commercials telling voters that the Yes on 8 campaign’s claim that gay marriage will be taught in public schools is a lie.
Yet a review of public records filed with the First District Court of Appeal in Boston shows these same organizations who claim our statement is a lie fought to make it true in Massachusetts. Specifically, they fought to ensure that gay marriage be taught in Massachusetts public schools, even over the objection of parents who sought an “opt out” for their children.
Gay marriage was legalized by Massachusetts courts in 2003.
Further, their assurance that parents can always “opt-out” of such instruction when it is taught is belied by the fact that in Massachusetts, they argued successfully that Massachusetts’ parental opt-out provision should not be permitted.
“These damning public records show that it is in fact the organizations leading and financing the No on 8 campaign who are lying to California voters,” said Yes on 8 campaign manager Frank Schubert.
“On one coast of the country they tell judges that gay marriage should be taught to children in school at the youngest possible age.
But, on the opposite coast, here in California, they have the audacity to tell voters that gay marriage has nothing to do with public schools.”
Lying…who’s really lying?
The Yes on 8 campaign has been airing television and radio commercials factually presenting what happened in Massachusetts where second graders were taught in class about gay marriage using the book, “King and King.”
This book is about a prince who married another prince, and includes an illustrated scene of the two men kissing.
In response, the No on 8 campaign has purchased at least $1.25 million in television time to run an ad that says, “They’re using lies to persuade you…[Prop. 8] will not affect teaching in schools.
Another lie.” (Source: No on Prop. 8 Ad available at www.noonprop8.com)
In the greatest irony, of course, just two days after the No on 8 “Lies” television commercial began airing, a first grade public school class in San Francisco was taken on a field trip to a lesbian wedding at City Hall, officiated by Mayor Gavin Newsom.
School officials said they wished to provide their five and six year old students a “teachable moment.”
It should also be noted that the day after the first Yes on 8 ads began running, the Los Angeles Times reported that "Newsom called the (Yes on 8) ad 'classic distraction' and misleading."
Ten days later, he officiated at the above-mentioned and now infamous field trip.
“Not only do the organizations leading the No on 8 campaign want gay marriage, under the guise of ‘diversity,’ taught in public schools, they believe it is important to teach it at the earliest possible age,” Schubert said.
Massachusetts begins its “diversity education” to five year old children in kindergarten.
According to legal records on file with the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston, Massachusetts in the case Parker v. Hurley (514 F.3d 87 (1st Cir.2008)),
some of the very organizations who are funding and driving the No on 8 campaign have argued vociferously that gay marriage should be taught in the public schools under the guise of “diversity,”
and any attempt to prohibit such instruction –
or to permit parents to opt their children out of it – must be stopped.
The following are statements filed in amicus curiae briefs in Parker v. Hurley.
The statements show how organizations leading the No on 8 campaign are lying to California voters when they say gay marriage will not be taught in California public schools.
From the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Amicus Curiae Brief: “In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where the right of same-sex couples to marry is protected under the state constitution, it is particularly important to teach children about families with gay parents.”
[p 5]“Diversity education is most effective when it begins during the students’ formative years.
The earlier diversity education occurs, the more likely it is that students will be able to educate their peers, thereby compounding the benefits of this instruction.”
[p 3](Note: The ADL is a leading member of the No on 8 campaign, and publicly announced they had joined the campaign opposing Proposition 8 on September 9, 2008.)
From the Human Rights Campaign Amicus Curiae Brief:
“There is no constitutional principle grounded in either the First Amendment’s free exercise clause or the right to direct the upbringing of one’s children, which requires defendants to either remove the books now in issue –
or to treat them as suspect by imposing an opt-out system.” [pp1-2]
“In short, there can be no serious dispute that the books in issue are both age-appropriate and reflect the growing diversity of American families.” [p 9]
“Lexington’s selection of the [three] books…for inclusion in its curriculum is firmly rooted in the long-recognized tradition of public schools as a place for disseminating the knowledge and information that helps to foster understanding between diverse groups and individuals for the overall benefit of society.” [p 13]
(Note: The Human Rights Campaign has organized one of the largest recipient committees to oppose Proposition 8.
The committee, Human Rights Campaign CA Marriage PAC (ID# 1307246) has received more than $2.2 million in contributions (as of 10/8/08), including over $100,000 from the Human Rights Campaign itself in non-monetary contributions.
The committee has funneled over $2 million of its funds to No on 8, Equality for All (ID# 1259396), the main No on Proposition 8 campaign committee.)
From the ACLU Amicus Curiae Brief:“Specifically, the parents in this case do not have a constitutional right to override the professional pedagogical judgment of the school with respect to the inclusion within the curriculum of the age-appropriate children’s book…King and King.” [p 9]
“This court has astutely recognized that a broad right of a parent to opt a child out of a lesson would fatally compromise the ability of a school to provide a meaningful education, a conclusion that holds true regardless of the age of the child or the nature of the belief.” [p 18]
“First, a broad right of a parent to opt a child out of a lesson would subject a school to a staggering administrative burden…
Second, in contravention of the axiom that ‘the classroom is peculiarly the ‘marketplace of ideas’’ [citations], a broad right of a parent to opt a child out of a lesson would chill discussion in the classroom…
Third, the coming and goings of those children who have been opted out of lessons would be highly disruptive to the learning environment.
Moreover, such comings and goings would fatally undermine the lessons that schools teach the other students.”
[pp 22-23](Note: The Northern California Chapter of the ACLU has also formed a Proposition 8 opposition committee:
No on Prop 8, Campaign for Marriage Equality, a project of the ACLU of Northern California (ID# 1308178).
This committee has collected $1.6 million in contributions (as of 10/8/08), including more than $70,000 from the ACLU of northern California, as well as $8,000 from the ACLU Foundation.
This committee has contributed $1,250,000 to No on 8, Equality for All (ID# 1259396), the main No on Proposition 8 campaign committee.)
These are the facts.
This is the truth about the calculated efforts to deliver gay marriage into our public school classrooms, against the wishes of the people of our state.
Voters may differ about how they feel about gay marriage, but there is no disputing that the organizations funding and leading the No on Proposition 8 campaign have already revealed, in their own words, their desire to impose this subject on children in the public schools –
‘whether you like it or not.’
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Northern & Central California (Sacramento Press Office): Chip White
Los Angeles & Southern California: Sonja Eddings Brown
Protect Marriage, 915 L Street, # C-259, Sacramento, CA 95814
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