Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream.
'Tis the star-spangled banner. Oh! long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Oh! thus be it ever when free men shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation,
Blest with victory and peace, may the Heaven rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto, "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

The poem written by Francis Scott Key September 3, 1814 and put to the tune of "The Anacreonic Heaven" on September 17, 1814 was made the national anthem of the United States of America by a congressional resolution on March 3, 1931 (46 Stat. 1508, codified at 36 U.S.C. § 301), which was signed by President Herbert Hoover. For 78 years it has stood as the companion to our flag as the symbol of patriotism and national pride. Why have I chosen this as a subject to talk about after almost 2 years without a posting? Read the words! Our country which was founded on freedom of religion, freedom from an oppressive government, freedom from taxation without representation has come full circle. We are back to square one again. How has this happened? Ignorance, laziness, avoidance of civic duty and worst of all greed.

"The disadvantage of men not knowing the past is that they do not know the present. History is a hill or high point of vantage, from which alone men see the town in which they live or the age in which they are living.", (Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874–1936), British author. “On St. George Revivified,” All I Survey (1933)).

As we are about witness the inauguration of our 44th president of the United States of America, let us consider what platform he ran on. Change we can believe in. This last presidential campaign was one of the mose tragic of our time. We had every minority group represented in this election save gays and lesbians(until Hillary comes out of the closet). A black candidate, a senior citizen candidate, a female candidate, a couple of millionaires(one of which was mormon)and a southern baptist minister. Each spent more time hacking away at the competition than any other endeavour. We had three sitting U.S. Senators that abandoned their positions for more than 2 years to campaign(talk about a lack of leadership). They cried out about the economic state of the country and yet lived high on the hog. It was about as ironic as the big three automakers flying in on separate private jets to ask for bailouts for their companies. What do I mean high on the hog? 1.6 billion dollars were raised for this last campaign. Our president-elect raised 750 million dollars and has 30 million left over.(http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/05/us/politics/05donate.html?em) Since February of 2007 he has spent an average of $2,627,737.23
per day on his campaign for president. Not only did he break an individual candidate record, he raised more than both parties combined in the last election. How can any of these people that propose change look us as Americans in the face and tell us they know how we feel. That they will make changes in spending to alleviate the burdens on the people. They just spent 1.6 billion dollars just to attain power. That is the single greatest display of vanity in this generation.

How is this pertinent to the Star Spangled Banner? Our president-elect called it a war anthem, he called our flag a symbol of tyrrany. We have judges, congressmen, local governments that are restricting the reciting of the pledge of allegiance, condoning the burning of the flag, the removal of any symbol, verbage or representation of a supreme being from anything that is connected to government. Since when do public servants have the right to restrict the freedoms of the masses? Since we let them get away with it. They only have the power to do what we allow them to.

In the 4th verse of our national anthem it reads "Blest with victory and peace, may the Heaven rescued land. Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,And this be our motto, "In God is our trust."" There are some that would have us remove God from our country. Our forefathers were God fearing men. They prayed to the God of all things for help in creating a new nation, for the strength to fight off the oppressor in very insurmountable odds. Was it just because of clever military leaders? George Washington stated "Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the rest is in the hands of God." Our founding fathers knew that without God this land and their freedom was lost. General Washington urged is troops "The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army." Later as the 1st President of The United States of America, Washington stated in his Thanksgiving address "In such a state of things it is in an especial manner our duty as a people, with devout reverence and affectionate gratitude, to acknowledge our many and great obligations to Almighty God and to implore Him to continue and confirm the blessings we experience." Thomas Jefferson also referred to God by stating " The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time; the hand of force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them."

Why does this generation seek to tear apart all of the principles, morals and values upon which this country was created? It's simple, we now live in a society where immorality is praised and encouraged. Our government has become so concerned with being re-elected, that they will cater to any group that brings the media to their doorstep. What happened to responsible leadership. The whole point of government is to govern not appease. I will state a very unpopular setiment. George W. Bush was the first leader since Ronald Reagan that had the best interests of our country at heart. He did the unpopular, he didn't care what hollywood or the media said about him. He was mocked, scorned and made to be a fool because he chose to be a christian publicly, to make the most difficult decisions a president has had to make so far. Yes he went to war with two countries. Let's not forget that they were run my tyrranical dictators that killed and tortured their own people to maintain power. I am sure that people would call the French barbarians for coming to the aid of the colonies in defeating england.

I find it apauling how ungrateful Americans have become. They are so easily swayed by sensational journalism, unbalanced and immoral actors and actresses. These people's lives whom you base your opinions on are the decay of our society. They live by the code of feeding their lusts for power, money, sexual conquests and being adored by the masses. You hated President Bush because he didn't care what you thought. He wasn't elected to do what the minority groups want. He was elected to do what was best for all of the present and future generations. Unfortunately, President Obama was not elected because of his experience. It is evident that he was voted in for the very thing we as a country are forbidden to do in the work place, schools and even privately, to give preferential treatment because of race. I am sorry to say this, but if Barack Obama would have been white, he never would have made it past the primaries. He wasn't judged on what he has done. Watch the media tape coverage of his campaign. Everything was centered around his race. All his supporters could talk about was our first black president. Now look where we are. He is the first at many things already. The first president to spend tax payer's money to bailout public and private enterprises, knowing that it would not stop the inevitable. He is the first president to push socializing medicine and forcing private industry to give healthcare regardless of ability to pay. He has allowed an obscene amount of money to be printed even though we have nothing to back it.

Why am I not surprised by this? Because the wicked minority has the ear and voice of our most powerful weapon, the media. Therefore they have now become the majority, because there is no other voice to oppose them. The talk radio hosts are radical on both ends of the spectrum and are either on the side of forcing people to do what they want or letting people do what ever they want regardless of the consequence. How has all of this happened? Because we as a country have forgotten the God that granted us life and the land that many before us died for. Thomas Jefferson said "I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever". Its interesting that people can say why did this happen to us. Why have so many people been afflicted with natural disasters, fires, disease and death? If you were still praying and going to church you would know. Ronald Reagan said it best "If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under."

Someday the godless minority will figure out that "A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.
C. S. Lewis

Revolution, Separation or the fate of Rome?

I just finished a very good book that coincides with my own frustration with our very corrupted Federal Government. I suggest that you take the time to read it. It is fiction but addresses many of the problems with our country's future. It is extreme to some, but as I stated in my last post, the declaration of independence was set in defiance to corruption, tyranny and lack of representation. The name of the book is "Term Limits" by Vince Flynn. Read it and consider this question. At what point do we as the American people act, whether by revolution or separation from a government that no longer serves the people? I made reference to Rome and its form of government. It had an emperor and a senate. How was it different or similar. The senate generally made policy where as the empire was concerned, the Emperor usually was concerned with the expansion of the empire and in many cases, self preservation from his enemies. Its greatest weakness was too much power for certain individuals of influence. Lobbying took place to gain favor and priority with the upper class and royal family. Now we are hundreds of years later and not all that different. We have a president who acts alone, a senate who are more concerned with the prestige of their position than their responsibilities to the people who voted for them, and a house of representatives that bicker and fight like children over who is in charge of the of the club house and what new rules they can enact whether good or bad. Corruption is paramount in our government. Our elected officials are in office too long. They do more harm than good. Those that started out honest are smothered by the deal making and political threats of the senior members, and either leave office or join the mob.

My second frustration is that of the government enacting laws that benefit the highest bidder. I will give an example. I live in Utah and our legistlature had a quiet vote on the expansion of credit unions in our state. Now why would a law even need to be drawn up for such a thing. Isn't it commerce? Doesn't it help keep money in our economy here in Utah? The answer is yes to both questions. Then why would it even be an issue? Because the banks who operate on a for profit only basis were losing money and membership to the co-op credit unions. Credit unions have true free checking. Their interest rates are lower. They allow you to manage your money without interference. Their fees are based on overdrafts, slow payments on loans and credit cards. So why would this bother the banks? Well, their fees are for all of those things also. However, they are much higher, more damaging and based on previous fees and principal rather than just principle. They just got slapped on the hand by the federal government for their credit card fee practices that make it impossible for a person making minimum payments to ever pay the balance off. All of this aside, why would the government need or want to regulate the expansion of the credit union's membership and expansion into other areas of our state? Ask the congressmen that have their pockets lined with money, gifts and funding for their little projects that appeared out of nowhere. It disgusts me that this law was even conceived let alone withheld from a public vote.

The question still lingers, what can we, or rather, what should we do? Does our generation care enough about our country to mount a revolution? I don't think so. Most people don't want to be bothered with the business of the country. There is a very small few that are true patriots. They study the canditates every election year. They read all of the fine print of new laws being voted on. They call and write their legistlative representatives and senators. They try to bring about an awareness of what is going on in our senate and congress. But it falls on deaf ears. We are a lazy society who lacks integrity. We are always famous about our pulling together in the face of natural disasters, tragedy and destruction, but will not do so in the saving of our country's integrity. Ask yourself these couple of questions. What is National Security to you? What is Homeland Security to you? What is Social Security to you? Why is there a National Debt in your opinion? Why is it growing faster than we can pay it off? Why is our government not fixing the existing problems with our country and instead spend our money for committees and task forces to find new problems. Why are we not putting our money and research into preserving our country? Why are we spending so much money on the most expensive and corrupt industry in the world, oil? We have the technology to use other methods of fuel, but instead we continue to give our hard earned money to oil that is imported from corrupt governments, countries and corporations that are or have been funding extremist groups that hate our country. I am not a green peace freak or bark biting extremist. I think they are misdirected, but some of what they are saying is true.

I would love to hear some responses to those questions. If you don't know, take the time to find out. You owe it to yourself and to your community, city, county, state and country to not be a mindless follower. You owe it to me, to your family, to your neighbors. Selfishness is also an unwillingness to act. Are you the problem with this country or part of the solution to fixing it?

One Nation Under God

In 1620, a group of 102 people set out on a journey from oppression brought on them because of their religious beliefs. After 65 days they landed in an area where they had no rights to settle. They voted and decided to start their own government and wrote this document to solidify it. "In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord, King James, by the Grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, e&.Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia; do by these presents, solemnly and mutually in the Presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid; And by Virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the General good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.In Witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, King James of England, France and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini, 1620." -Mayflower Compact.

These puritans were tired of religious oppression and fled their country of birth as a result. One hundred and fifty six years later a group of men gathered to make an even greater statement against oppression from a King. These men were religious men and inspired by God in their writing of the most famous and precious document of the United States of America.
"The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offencesFor abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."

These men gave praise to God for life, claimed Liberty as a God given right and their pursuit of happiness from their Creator. In 1787 another group of men, some being original signers of the Declaration of Independence gathered again to form a government with a legal document stating the duties of government and a Bill of Rights for the people. They intended for this Constitution to better people's lives not oppress it. Our laws and government over the last 20 years have effectively stripped those rights from all in an effort to stay popular, in office and to be re-elected. These court cases that have changed our laws should be thrown out all together. The Judicial Branch does not have the power to change law but interpret it. In the case where any of the 3 branches of government misuse their authority, it is the responsibility of the other 2 to object and correct. Thats why there was a checks and balances built into our constitution. What happens when all 3 branches are corrupt or the majority? Thomas Jefferson penned it best in the Declaration of Independence " We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

Education: Do we really care?

I have read many articles, seen newscasts and heard and read many different legistlative resolutions pertaining to education reform. The fact is that we still have nothing substantial that makes a difference in our education system from K-12 and our universities. Our public schools are so convaluted with beuracracy that teachers cannot effectively teach. I see two major reasons for this. First, we have taken away their ability to have order in their classes. No meaningful discipline can take place. We have substituted discipline for abandonment. When did it ever help our children by putting them in in school suspension? Children that misbehave are crying out for order, discipline and structure. Alienating them by putting them in ISS or suspending them only compounds the problems that are obviously stemming from home life. I say we give the teachers back the ability to discipline in the class. Am I suggesting that we go back to switches, paddles and the belt? Not necessarily, but think about the discipline and respect that kids had back then. Maybe our lack of backbone as a society has created the problem, but that does not mean we cannot correct it. Who thought it was a good idea to start negotiating with children rather than disciplining them? Who came up with the brilliant plan to stop spanking our children because you can talk to them instead? Who decided that young children should have a say in whether they obey or disobey rules of the house and schools? The most infuriating thing is the support of our judicial system that has wrecked any chance at keeping order in our schools. How have we as a people of "the greatest country in the world", allowed it to become a free for all? Maybe it is because we the majority, sit in silence while the leeches of society litigate and sue for that which is not rightfully theirs. Our judicial system thinks they are protecting the weak, but end up protecting the weak minded instead.

The second reason we have inhibited our teachers is by expecting mediocrity in three categories. First is their salaries. How do we expect quality and quantity in personnel if there is no financial incentive? Why do we not pay our teachers better? The obvious reason is because they are funded through the government. I think that it should be opened up to the private sector. If there is anything we have learned in this country, its that private organizations can always do it better than our bogged down bureaucratic government. The second category is how well prepared and educated our teachers are to teach. For one of the most crucial professions for the strength of a nation, we sure don't have a lot of schooling for them. Lets make a comparison to the medical profession. There is approximately 4-5 years of undergraduate work for both professions. Then this is where the major difference is. In the medical field there is a rigorous test called the MCAT. This tests general and specific knowledge covering all aspects of medicine. It is a great weeding out of people. Then there is a process of applying to schools where acceptance is only granted after a thorough interviewing process. This is just to get into the program. Then for the next 4 years the student will learn all aspects of the human body, disease, injury and treatment and medicines related to both. There are many hours of rotations, which entail working with doctors of every type of specialty. This is to determine what your interests may be specifically in practicing as well as real work experience. Then once the student has chosen their specialty, they apply to a residency with a teaching hospital somewhere in the country, where they will spend the next 2-3 years concentrating on that specific area of medicine. In contrast, the teaching program has an exceptance program with student teaching. Herein lies the great divide. They are learning from people who have all the prejudices, complaints and are weary from the very flawed system. They are told of the impossible task of the "no child left behind" initiative of the Bush administration. They are told of the impossible task of discipline and how very little they can do to prevent misbehavior without the possibility of lawsuit. They are also shown how little funding there is for their classroom supplies and equipment for teaching. They are lead by administration that were once themselves teachers and spent nights going to school to get a MBA to enable them to make more money. So the teachers with experience and care for the kids are looking to be promoted to survive financially. The third category is technology and training to keep up with the everchanging business world. Ultimately, isn't schooling supposed to prepare us for the business world? If we are years and years behind in computers and other technilogical advances in our schools, how do we expect the teachers to effectively prepare our kids and us for the current business world?

To me the solution is simple, charge for schooling. Now I know I am going to get the people can't afford it routine. That is not the rule but the exception, in which case the government can pick up the slack with their current education budget. It is easy enough to show a family's income. Don't just give them the money though. Do scholarships, student loans to be paid by the student when they are finished with schooling. Promote business, jobs and it will not only make our kids better students, but make them appreciate their education. Do away with the ridiculous citizenship grade that inhibits kids from graduating. I hate to make comparisons to other countries, but they do not have the same problems in their school systems that we do. They have respect and order and kids want to do well.

Here are a few of my thoughts on changes at home. First and foremost, if you don't plan on teaching your kids to be good citizens, to work hard and make a contribution to society, don't have kids. The laziness of parents today has caused most of these problems. Stop occupying your kids time with television, Xbox, Playstation, PSP, Wii and even multiple sports. These kids do not need the same buy schedule adults run their lives with. Moms, there is a reason that your grandparents were successful parents. Because grandma stayed home and taught the kids the same morals, values and life lessons her mother taught her. Teach your kids their responsibilities at home. Stop handicapping them by doing it all for them. Part of growing up is doing your part in the community you live in, starting from the family to the neighborhood, to the city, the state, country and finally planet. Moms teach your kids how to be kind to one another and to respect authority. I am not suggesting that women should not work. However, if you decide to become a parent, you cannot do both effectively. You and someone else can, but do you really want a nanny or child care person to be the one instilling values, work ethic, morality and acceptable behaviors in your child? Dads, teach your kids how to work hard and be valuable employees and to earn their pay. Teach your boys how to treat women with respect by example. Teach your girls how to respect themselves and to contribute to their relationships rather than being taken care of like daddy did for them. For those of you who are screaming at me right now, who are most likely in this category, look at your child's behavior and tell me I am completely wrong. Remove your justification and be honest with yourself and you will see the errors of your ways.

Diversity: Is it unifying us or segragating us?

I believe in firsts for everything. I chose my name based on how I feel. So let me get straight to it. I am tired of living in a country where the policies, laws, ammendments and statutes are dictated by small minorities with bull horns. Our constitution has been rewritten, our state laws perverted, our basic human rights changed. What happened to Life and Liberty? I make the assumption that there will be many of these minority groups that will disagree with me. I assume that because I hear it everyday on the news, in the paper and from their protests. I want to make a comparison that I already know will be taken out of context, but because it is such an obvious one I must. The conflict in Iraq is fueled by small groups of radicals that have no desire for peace or free will. They want terror, fear, anarchy to rule. Where the strong survive and the weak suffer the burdens of their strength. I ask you to tell me the ideological difference between them and our non violent groups in the USA. Remove the blood and carnage from your response. Let me suggest a few of these so called leaders of these small groups in the USA that have strong lobbying backing them. This is our from one of our latest elections. Gay marriage. We believe in a society that does not cater to specific groups, yet we are bombarded with legistlation to provide preferential treatment. Since when did sexual orientation have anything to do with National Security, Social Security, Homeland Security, feeding the poor, providing homes and shelter for the homeless, providing jobs for the jobless? The Gay and Lesbian movement is not one of tolerance, it is one of acceptance. It always has been. They do not want to be shunned. They want to be validated. Let me say this, as long as we have a " Nation under God" there will never be acceptance and validation. Lifestyle choices do not rewrite religious convictions that are centuries old. This may make those of you who are gay or have gay loved ones, angry. But who are you really mad at? Me, because it is my God given right to disagree and/or despise your lifestyle? You want us(the Majority) to concede and adapt to you minority views. Its not going to happen. So this conflict will continue in a vicious circle with no winner. My next group I must preface with this. I have many friends of different, ethnic, cultural and racial backgrounds. I have friends and family of every color of skin and beliefs. Having said that, I have to address these so called leaders of diversity. These self proclaimed leaders of the anti-racial movement are the ethnic minority's worst enemy. I will throw out a few names to illustrate my point. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton may have started out with good intentions after a great leader like Martin Luther King Jr was killed, but they have little interest in doing any good for those they claim to represent. Remove the power, the money and the prestige and they would disappear. Take away the television time, front page articles and praise of the masses and they would not continue to be public figures. Here is my opinion. Segragation, racism and inequality will end when, we stop supporting race specific organizations, churches, neighborhoods, schools etc. Our generation has got to do what our parents either could not or would not do. I am from a very undiversified area of the country. However, those relationships that I do have are not one of Black and White, Mexican and American, Caucasian and Polynesian and so forth. It is man to man, man to woman, woman to woman relationships based on strength of character. The problem is not in skin color, belief system or even sexual orientation(which I think should not even be a topic of discussion in the public forum, but something dealt with in the home and in privacy). The problem is lack of character, selfishness, vanity, morality. I am personally sickened by the issue being race, sexual orientation or religious beliefs. Stop hiding behind or validating your actions with these subject matters. Everyone is accountable for who they are not what their skin color, religion or sexual preference is. The fact is, if you are an ass, you are because of who you are not your racial, sexual or religious background. Take responsibility for who you are. Stop trying to buck the system for preferential treatment. Stop crying wolf and wallowing in your self pity and pool of hypocracy. Stop wasting our(the Majority) tax dollars on your sob stories. Your causes are not how the majority of this country feels. Unfortunately, most of us are busy working to provide for ourselves and our families and do not have the time or desire to waste fighting the yapping little dogs nipping at the heels of Washington DC. I invite any and all to respond to this. I would really love to hear from people with an open mind and those that have been feeling this way. I am sure I will hear from the the yipping dogs as well. I am deafened from your constant whining, but this is open to all.