Merry Christmas!
Joyeux Noël!
Feliz Navidad Prospero Ano y Felicidad!
I'm loving this Christmas vacation but I actually kinda miss school...! But I guess we all need a break now and then!
Happy New Year everyone!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
The Zero Factor
The Zero Factor is also known as Tecumseh's Curse. You might have learned about it in history class, but just in case you didn't, here's the background:
Tecumseh was the leader of the last big Indian uprising. Basically, he tried to unite all the Indian tribes as one confederation with himself as the leader. In the end Tecumseh failed, but he placed a "curse" that every President who was elected in a year ending in zero would die in office.
I don't really believe in curse, but I do find the following information interesting.
1840: William Harrison - died of pneumonia
1860: Abraham Lincoln - assassinated
1880: James Garfield - assassinated
1900: William McKinley - assassinated
1920: Warren Harding - died of a stroke in 1923
1940: Franklin Roosevelt - died of cerebral hemorrhage
1960: John F. Kennedy - assassinated
1980: Ronald Reagan- shot but not killed
Weird, eh?
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Rebuttal
This is a follow up to the post titled Liberals Don't Make Sense When They're Mad. My cousin's response in in purple and mine is in red.
Rebekah,
I think that we see many issues extremely differently, and since I'm not going to change your mind on those and you won't change mine, I don't want to go point by point by any means. I guess that's just our world view. But I would like to say that to me political correctness is simply using respectful language, and when people get up in arms about it, it's because they're aiming for the most respectful terminology possible. I also think that intentions are far more important than specific words (e.g. My grandfather used a lot of politically incorrect language, but I would never fault him for that because he never had anything but good intentions for everyone). So I would ask you to think about what message you're intending to convey when you call Barack Obama by his middle name, but not Sarah Palin or John McCain or Joe Biden. Actually, I would have no problem calling Sarah Palin "Louise" or Joe Biden "Robinette" or John McCain "Sideny", It's their legal names, why not use 'em?
I don't attempt to defend extremism from either side, so I can't really respond to your remarks about acts of ignorance that detract from real issues. Of course they're not acceptable. I don't expect you to defend the people who shouted "Kill him" at McCain rallies, because I know that you would not do that and that you wouldn't endorse that.
I respect your differences of opinion on how we should decide who pays for things like infrastructure, education, our military, etc. (although I believe that those making over $250k will have an easier time contributing than those who use every dollar to put food on their table) Contributing means to give. If Obama become President he would make it a law, not just letting people "contribute" towards., but as someone who is paid by taxes and directly sees their benefit to all of society, I do see it as a patriotic duty to ensure opportunities for all. (If millionaire liberals believed Biden's "patriotic duty" about taxes then why do they look for tax shelters like every other wise American?) I love living in a capitalist society as well, and don't think that higher taxes for our wealthiest citizens make for a socialist economy Would this be a fair summery or your view? "From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need". If we're all agreed that everyone will have access to healthcare, shouldn't those with money left over after paying for necessities kick in more than those without? So after I've paid my taxes and for everything necessary (like food and stuff like that) then I would have to give the money that I would have used do something like go to the movie or a concert and give it to others? Yeah, I think that's great if you want to do that, but to be forced to do that, then it's wrong.
Lets say you work five 8 hour days and I work three 8 hour days. You make $300 more then me a week. Should you have to give me some just because I don't make as much as you? I doubt you would want to "contribute" to me. 40% of Americans don't make enough to be taxed. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/13/obama-tax-cut-refunds-those-who-dont-pay/ So an Obama Tax Plan is really like a "hand-out" from the government.
I LOVED Palin on SNL and after watching it truly thought, "Wow, what a good sport!" Jokes on SNL are a good venue for off-color remarks! As I said, I definitely don't think we're going to see eye to eye on most issues, but I wanted to respond to those points that I feel are a bit more factually debatable. I'm glad you're doing well and are so busy!
Well, I guess you're right that "I'm not going to change your mind on those and you won't change mine"!
Liberals... they are sometimes beyond hope...
Rebekah,
I think that we see many issues extremely differently, and since I'm not going to change your mind on those and you won't change mine, I don't want to go point by point by any means. I guess that's just our world view. But I would like to say that to me political correctness is simply using respectful language, and when people get up in arms about it, it's because they're aiming for the most respectful terminology possible. I also think that intentions are far more important than specific words (e.g. My grandfather used a lot of politically incorrect language, but I would never fault him for that because he never had anything but good intentions for everyone). So I would ask you to think about what message you're intending to convey when you call Barack Obama by his middle name, but not Sarah Palin or John McCain or Joe Biden. Actually, I would have no problem calling Sarah Palin "Louise" or Joe Biden "Robinette" or John McCain "Sideny", It's their legal names, why not use 'em?
I don't attempt to defend extremism from either side, so I can't really respond to your remarks about acts of ignorance that detract from real issues. Of course they're not acceptable. I don't expect you to defend the people who shouted "Kill him" at McCain rallies, because I know that you would not do that and that you wouldn't endorse that.
I respect your differences of opinion on how we should decide who pays for things like infrastructure, education, our military, etc. (although I believe that those making over $250k will have an easier time contributing than those who use every dollar to put food on their table) Contributing means to give. If Obama become President he would make it a law, not just letting people "contribute" towards., but as someone who is paid by taxes and directly sees their benefit to all of society, I do see it as a patriotic duty to ensure opportunities for all. (If millionaire liberals believed Biden's "patriotic duty" about taxes then why do they look for tax shelters like every other wise American?) I love living in a capitalist society as well, and don't think that higher taxes for our wealthiest citizens make for a socialist economy Would this be a fair summery or your view? "From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need". If we're all agreed that everyone will have access to healthcare, shouldn't those with money left over after paying for necessities kick in more than those without? So after I've paid my taxes and for everything necessary (like food and stuff like that) then I would have to give the money that I would have used do something like go to the movie or a concert and give it to others? Yeah, I think that's great if you want to do that, but to be forced to do that, then it's wrong.
Lets say you work five 8 hour days and I work three 8 hour days. You make $300 more then me a week. Should you have to give me some just because I don't make as much as you? I doubt you would want to "contribute" to me. 40% of Americans don't make enough to be taxed. http://www.washingtontimes.
I LOVED Palin on SNL and after watching it truly thought, "Wow, what a good sport!" Jokes on SNL are a good venue for off-color remarks! As I said, I definitely don't think we're going to see eye to eye on most issues, but I wanted to respond to those points that I feel are a bit more factually debatable. I'm glad you're doing well and are so busy!
Well, I guess you're right that "I'm not going to change your mind on those and you won't change mine"!
Liberals... they are sometimes beyond hope...
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Fairness Doctrine Really Fair?
First Amendment of the United States Constitution
Amendment I: Foundational Freedoms
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Amendment I: Foundational Freedoms
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Liberals Don't Make Sense When They're Mad
I commented on one of my friends pictures on Facebook which was a picture of the tv screen during the last debate. She tagged McCain and Obama in it as "Mr.John McCain" and "Mr.Hussein Obama" and I left this comment:
"ah yes, the Great Debate... don't Hussein (aka B.O.) look happy?"
My cousin messaged me with the following message:
"Please don't be so small minded. To call Barack Obama "Hussein" is extremely bigoted. I'd like to think that differences aside, no one in my immediate family (or of course my whole nation) is racist or bigoted. Comments like that breed hate in our country."
I got a little bit feisty, but I made sure I didn't say anything I would regret.
The following is my reply:
"ah,Laura, you can't take a little joke... It's a good thing Sarah Palin can take a joke and go on Saturday Night Live and have a good time! what about people calling a little 7th grade girl a racist b/c she wore a Sarah Palin t-shirt? At least it's the truth what I said about his middle name being Hussein...
political correctness... what a time we live in!
"To call Barack Obama "Hussein" is extremely bigoted" hmmm, that is quite funny, b/c that IS his name Barack Hussein Obama. He even joked about his middle name at a banquet last week.
I'm not against Obama b/c of his middle name... I'm not for him b/c I believe in capitalism (not "spreading the wealth" which is socialism) I don't believe in infanticide (which Obama has voted 4 time for while in the Illinois state senate) I believe we all have the write to say what we want when we want too and I believe that marriage should be between one man and one women.
I'm not going to take back what I said, nor am I sorry for saying it. You can call me "norrowminded" or "intolarent" if you wish (remember, you can do that b/c we have freedom of speech)
What "breeds hate" in our country are people who yell "God damn America" from the pulpit.
The only reason why I can say what I want on the Facebook and why Rev.Write can say what he wishes is b/c of our freedom of speech, which so many people have fought for (like our Grandpa, who lived the rest of his life with shrapnel in him b/c of defending our country and our rights.)
Anywho, I'm going downtown to grab and ice cream cone and off to the McCain/Palin HQ to do some volunteering!
btw- if you ever want to talk politics again, feel free to write me! I enjoy it!
P.S. I hope you know that even though we don't agree on politics I still love ya, not only b/c you're my cousin, but also b/c you're a pretty cool chick!"
"ah yes, the Great Debate... don't Hussein (aka B.O.) look happy?"
My cousin messaged me with the following message:
"Please don't be so small minded. To call Barack Obama "Hussein" is extremely bigoted. I'd like to think that differences aside, no one in my immediate family (or of course my whole nation) is racist or bigoted. Comments like that breed hate in our country."
I got a little bit feisty, but I made sure I didn't say anything I would regret.
The following is my reply:
"ah,Laura, you can't take a little joke... It's a good thing Sarah Palin can take a joke and go on Saturday Night Live and have a good time! what about people calling a little 7th grade girl a racist b/c she wore a Sarah Palin t-shirt? At least it's the truth what I said about his middle name being Hussein...
political correctness... what a time we live in!
"To call Barack Obama "Hussein" is extremely bigoted" hmmm, that is quite funny, b/c that IS his name Barack Hussein Obama. He even joked about his middle name at a banquet last week.
I'm not against Obama b/c of his middle name... I'm not for him b/c I believe in capitalism (not "spreading the wealth" which is socialism) I don't believe in infanticide (which Obama has voted 4 time for while in the Illinois state senate) I believe we all have the write to say what we want when we want too and I believe that marriage should be between one man and one women.
I'm not going to take back what I said, nor am I sorry for saying it. You can call me "norrowminded" or "intolarent" if you wish (remember, you can do that b/c we have freedom of speech)
What "breeds hate" in our country are people who yell "God damn America" from the pulpit.
The only reason why I can say what I want on the Facebook and why Rev.Write can say what he wishes is b/c of our freedom of speech, which so many people have fought for (like our Grandpa, who lived the rest of his life with shrapnel in him b/c of defending our country and our rights.)
Anywho, I'm going downtown to grab and ice cream cone and off to the McCain/Palin HQ to do some volunteering!
btw- if you ever want to talk politics again, feel free to write me! I enjoy it!
P.S. I hope you know that even though we don't agree on politics I still love ya, not only b/c you're my cousin, but also b/c you're a pretty cool chick!"
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