Christmas Tree Boots
© 2011 Linda McKinney All Rights Reserved
Filled with dirt,
Frozen through,
It started there,
In WW two.
Tradition: it starts somewhere.
A friend had died,
Though not alone,
And given up
His boots to Jones.
Christmas: it started there.
Rhoades took the boots
And dug the dirt,
And carried it
Wrapped in his shirt.
Stacking: starting with Jones’.
And from there
It all began,
Tradition passed
From Man to Man.
Trees: from shoes one owns.
In the circle,
Toes pointing out,
Recall the names
That it’s about.
Filling: support to give.
Ten to eight,
Eight to six,
Six to four,
Soon it’s fixed.
Single: from one who lives.
A soldier’s boot
Now stands tall
For Christmas-time
Has come to all.
Tree: dirt-filled soldiers’ boots.
In frozen snow,
Or sandy desert,
It helps to ease
A soldier’s hurt
Normalcy: our own roots.
When next you see
A soldier brave
Remember thank them,
Salute their grave.
Freedom: won day by day.
Even on Christmas
They gave their all,
Served our country,
Answered the call.
Sacrifice: the price they pay.
Imagine now
The soldiers’ boots,
Stacked up tall,
First owners mute.
Blood: red and green contrast.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
American Community Survey: AN UPDATE
The doorbell rang about thirty minutes ago. My hubby went to find out what the man at the door wanted. Turns out he worked for the Census Bureau. The guy asked if we had received the ACS and hubby said that we had. Hubby told the Census worker why we had not returned the questionnaire: too invasive. Hubby also asked the Census worker if the Census worker had ever read the questions and the answer was no. The Census worker had a computer that showed how many times they had called us and all of that information. Census worker said that if you don't want to answer the questions you don't have to all they needed was our name.
Excuse me?! What about the written threat that is printed ON the ACS that it is required by law that we respond? What happened to that? Back in 1962, a guy named Rickenbacker was convicted of not answering the questions. But nowadays, with the Tea Party and people becoming more aware of the liberties they have been losing over the last forty years, people have started standing up to the government and refusing to cooperate with the government's invasion of our privacy, property rights and religious freedoms. In other words, the people learning their rights and the U.S. Constitution is doing the people some good! That frightens the government.
I also think that it's very telling that the Census worker told hubby that he's also working a government survey that asks the citizens how much they spend on groceries!! Can you imagine the government actually needing that information? I won't respond to that one, either!
I'll let you know if there is any further action taken by the Census Bureau. I don't trust them.
Excuse me?! What about the written threat that is printed ON the ACS that it is required by law that we respond? What happened to that? Back in 1962, a guy named Rickenbacker was convicted of not answering the questions. But nowadays, with the Tea Party and people becoming more aware of the liberties they have been losing over the last forty years, people have started standing up to the government and refusing to cooperate with the government's invasion of our privacy, property rights and religious freedoms. In other words, the people learning their rights and the U.S. Constitution is doing the people some good! That frightens the government.
I also think that it's very telling that the Census worker told hubby that he's also working a government survey that asks the citizens how much they spend on groceries!! Can you imagine the government actually needing that information? I won't respond to that one, either!
I'll let you know if there is any further action taken by the Census Bureau. I don't trust them.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Biblically Speaking, Women CAN Be President!
During the John “Reach Across the Aisle” McCain/Sarah Palin candidacy I heard many reasons why people would not vote for the ticket, but mainly would not vote for her. Some didn’t like the fact that she was so sure of herself (lame excuse). Some didn’t like the fact that she was so Conservative (lame). Some didn’t like the fact that she was “inexperienced” (want “inexperienced” look at who is president now). But of all the lame excuses I heard – on election night, no less – was when my friend told me that he – or some men he knew – could not make themselves vote for McCain/Palin because of the Bible.
Excuse me?
The Bible, they said. The Bible!
What was explained to me, utterly to my surprise and disgust, was that men could not vote for Sarah Palin because women should not “have authority over men”. That was their argument. That was their defense. That was the part of the Bible they threw out there for me to pounce upon. I say “pounce upon” advisedly. All they did was to throw me a ball to knock out of the park.
In I Timothy, Chapter 2: “9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
“10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
“11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
“12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
“13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
“14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in transgression.
“15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing. If they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.”
In my Bible, “The Holy Bible” KJV, Reference Edition by Thomas Nelson Publishers, © 1989 Thomas Nelson, Inc., the above passage appears on page 993 in the second column and is headed, “Women in Public Worship”. I want you to pay attention to that heading.
The book is written by Paul to Timothy and it covers everything from the conduct of a minister to the correct way to do prayer in a public worship. It talks about how we should not “give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith”. It talks about qualifications for Bishops, Deacons and how to treat your elders, what a false teacher is, how to treat widows and it talks about how to behave yourself in the House of GOD. Oh, yes. It also has the above statements about women.
Now, I ask you to recall the subject header over the section starting with verse nine: “Women in Public Worship”. I ask that you keep that in mind; “public worship”. For it is in Judges 4, we see that GOD ordained a woman to be a Judge over all the people. See Judges 4:3-5:
4:3 “And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.
4:4 “And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
4:5 “And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Beth-el in mount Ephraim; and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. [my bolding]”
Deborah was a judge! She made decisions for the people based upon the Word of GOD. She had no restrictions on her about whether she was supposed to have “authority” over men. Why? There were no restrictions because she was not making her judgments in the temple, but rather, in the gates. She took GOD’s word outside of the temple where the priests were, and she decided what was what. We are allowed to do that, even in the Old Testament, and yet nowadays some people – men and women – believe that women should not be in any position of authority over any man. I beg to differ.
Deborah’s judgments were apparently fair and even-handed because she was a judge of the people until they were carried away into slavery in Midian.
Let us also not forget that she was a prophetess, and as such, used by GOD to tell Israel what was going to happen. She was consulted by regular people as well as by the king, Barak, and even went into battle with him because he was afraid of his enemy.
Sound to you as if GOD thought women should not have any authority over men? Was she not the one who decided issues that men brought to her as well as women? It does say she judged “Israel” and Israel is made up of more than just women.
Look at Proverbs 31:10-31: “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” That’s how it starts. In this segment, it says that woman “seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands” (13), so we know she is involved in making their clothes and the buying of the supplies for such things. She cooks (15), she buys land with what she makes and plants vineyards (16), she is strong (17), she knows the worth of her merchandise so that she doesn’t get ripped off by unscrupulous people and she works through the night (18). A virtuous woman also gives to the poor and needy (20), has made sure that her household is clothed in warmth during the winter (21), she wears nice clothes (22) and all of this allows her husband to sit among the elders and relax (23). She participates in other business deals (24), is honorable (25), and wise and kind (26), is not idle (27), her children and husband call her blessed (28), she fears the Lord (30), and her works shall “praise her in the gates” (31).
In the Old Testament it’s okay for a woman to be a judge and prophetess, and it’s apparently expected that “virtuous” women be involved in all kinds of business. This sounds to me as if a woman is considered the equal to a man outside of the temple.
Women are a big part of the Bible (Eve, Hannah, Ruth, Esther, Rachel, Mary, Mary Magdalene and others), and are given major parts to play, not just in the roles of mother and wife, but also in the protection of and saving of the people of GOD, the Nation of Israel. If women were considered second rate citizens by GOD, why would He use them for so much of His work? Why even bother allowing them to be mentioned in the Bible? Why would Jesus Christ’s female followers have been mentioned so frequently and used so much in His ministry? Females were the first to see Him after His resurrection and they told the male members of the group of followers: even the eleven main male disciples that were left (remember Judas Iscariot hanged himself).
In the New Testament, women are treated as equals outside of the temple. Women are prophetesses (see note 1) and they are used by GOD to set forth His will. In the case of Anna, in Luke 2:36-38, she is mentioned as being in the temple and “departed not from the temple, but served GOD with fastings and prayers night and day.” She is mentioned as being in the temple serving GOD, but it does not say that she was anyone with authority over anyone else. She is said to have recognized Christ when she saw him and of witnessing of Him thereafter (38). It never states that Anna had any kind of authority over anyone within the temple. She fasted and prayed.
Now back to that heading: “Women in Public Worship”.
When Paul writes in I Timothy of the role of women in the church, he writes (2:12), “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” Notice that word, “usurp”. In the Easton Bible Dictionary definition of “usurp” we have the definition: “1. (v. t.) To seize, and hold by force, or without right; as, to usurp a throne; to usurp power; to usurp the right of a patron is to oust or dispossess him.” Paul is writing that women in the church should not be teaching nor usurping – seizing – authority over men. Women should not teach men nor boss them around in the church!
Paul was not saying that women outside the church cannot have authority (witness Deborah, the prophetesses and the “virtuous woman” defined in Proverbs 31). He was saying that inside the church – as GOD set up in the family – the men should be the head and not the tail (31:13-14). Women are allowed to be a big part of the church. Women are allowed to teach inside the church, just not teach men. Women are used by GOD all the time and throughout history. Paul was just saying that inside a church they are to be modestly arrayed (I think it helps prevent others from coveting and being jealous, cutting back on cattiness), they are to do good works (playing the piano, singing in choir, helping clean the church, etc.), should learn from men instead of teaching men (they can teach children and other women, just not men), and that’s all. Women should not be bossy female dogs in church. That’s what Paul was saying.
As to a female president? According to the Bible – witness Deborah and others – women are on equal footing throughout the Bible as political leaders, in business, in ability, strength, wisdom, integrity, courage (Esther), kindness (Ruth), favor (Mary, mother of Christ), and all other ways. For men to not vote for Sarah Palin because of her gender is not just wrong, it’s wrong in GOD’s eyes, too! Sarah Palin was not asking you to allow her to teach you your religion, to be your pastor, she was asking you if you would trust her to govern – as did Deborah – the country fairly, justly and wisely, with strength and courage, with discernment and with guidance from GOD as the prophetesses of the Bible demonstrated women can have. That’s what Sarah Palin was asking. She was not asking to be your intercessor with GOD, she was asking simply if you would trust the next four years of the leadership of this country – not your souls – to her care.
The same is being asked of you by Michele Bachman. Do not allow one very small section in the Bible – seven verses only – that speak of what a woman’s place is (according to the heading and Paul’s own words) in public worship prevent you from voting for someone in whose hands the country would be better off. Sarah Palin and John McCain (although I am no fan of McCain) would have been better than obamination, yes? Those men and women who would not vote for the ticket because of Sarah Palin’s gender distorted the teachings of the Holy Bible in order to justify their vote for someone else – and their helping obamination get into office.
Public worship is not public office. Public office rules the land; public worship has to do with GOD’s house and the two are not to be compared nor are they to be used as excuses for twisting GOD’s word. Do not be deceived this election. If Michele Bachman is the best person, she’s the best person, period. If she won’t be teaching in your church and usurping – seizing power from – men, then don’t worry about her gender! Vote for her – or if Sarah Palin gets back into the race, Sarah – based upon your views of her politics, her steadfastness, her integrity, her plans for the future of the country. This is truly the one place where “separation of Church and State” is correct!
(1.) For “prophetess” see also Miriam in Exodus 15:20-21; Huldah in II Kings 22:14, Isaiah 8:3; Anna in Luke 2:36; Acts 21:8-9.
Excuse me?
The Bible, they said. The Bible!
What was explained to me, utterly to my surprise and disgust, was that men could not vote for Sarah Palin because women should not “have authority over men”. That was their argument. That was their defense. That was the part of the Bible they threw out there for me to pounce upon. I say “pounce upon” advisedly. All they did was to throw me a ball to knock out of the park.
In I Timothy, Chapter 2: “9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
“10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
“11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
“12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
“13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
“14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in transgression.
“15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing. If they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.”
In my Bible, “The Holy Bible” KJV, Reference Edition by Thomas Nelson Publishers, © 1989 Thomas Nelson, Inc., the above passage appears on page 993 in the second column and is headed, “Women in Public Worship”. I want you to pay attention to that heading.
The book is written by Paul to Timothy and it covers everything from the conduct of a minister to the correct way to do prayer in a public worship. It talks about how we should not “give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith”. It talks about qualifications for Bishops, Deacons and how to treat your elders, what a false teacher is, how to treat widows and it talks about how to behave yourself in the House of GOD. Oh, yes. It also has the above statements about women.
Now, I ask you to recall the subject header over the section starting with verse nine: “Women in Public Worship”. I ask that you keep that in mind; “public worship”. For it is in Judges 4, we see that GOD ordained a woman to be a Judge over all the people. See Judges 4:3-5:
4:3 “And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.
4:4 “And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
4:5 “And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Beth-el in mount Ephraim; and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. [my bolding]”
Deborah was a judge! She made decisions for the people based upon the Word of GOD. She had no restrictions on her about whether she was supposed to have “authority” over men. Why? There were no restrictions because she was not making her judgments in the temple, but rather, in the gates. She took GOD’s word outside of the temple where the priests were, and she decided what was what. We are allowed to do that, even in the Old Testament, and yet nowadays some people – men and women – believe that women should not be in any position of authority over any man. I beg to differ.
Deborah’s judgments were apparently fair and even-handed because she was a judge of the people until they were carried away into slavery in Midian.
Let us also not forget that she was a prophetess, and as such, used by GOD to tell Israel what was going to happen. She was consulted by regular people as well as by the king, Barak, and even went into battle with him because he was afraid of his enemy.
Sound to you as if GOD thought women should not have any authority over men? Was she not the one who decided issues that men brought to her as well as women? It does say she judged “Israel” and Israel is made up of more than just women.
Look at Proverbs 31:10-31: “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” That’s how it starts. In this segment, it says that woman “seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands” (13), so we know she is involved in making their clothes and the buying of the supplies for such things. She cooks (15), she buys land with what she makes and plants vineyards (16), she is strong (17), she knows the worth of her merchandise so that she doesn’t get ripped off by unscrupulous people and she works through the night (18). A virtuous woman also gives to the poor and needy (20), has made sure that her household is clothed in warmth during the winter (21), she wears nice clothes (22) and all of this allows her husband to sit among the elders and relax (23). She participates in other business deals (24), is honorable (25), and wise and kind (26), is not idle (27), her children and husband call her blessed (28), she fears the Lord (30), and her works shall “praise her in the gates” (31).
In the Old Testament it’s okay for a woman to be a judge and prophetess, and it’s apparently expected that “virtuous” women be involved in all kinds of business. This sounds to me as if a woman is considered the equal to a man outside of the temple.
Women are a big part of the Bible (Eve, Hannah, Ruth, Esther, Rachel, Mary, Mary Magdalene and others), and are given major parts to play, not just in the roles of mother and wife, but also in the protection of and saving of the people of GOD, the Nation of Israel. If women were considered second rate citizens by GOD, why would He use them for so much of His work? Why even bother allowing them to be mentioned in the Bible? Why would Jesus Christ’s female followers have been mentioned so frequently and used so much in His ministry? Females were the first to see Him after His resurrection and they told the male members of the group of followers: even the eleven main male disciples that were left (remember Judas Iscariot hanged himself).
In the New Testament, women are treated as equals outside of the temple. Women are prophetesses (see note 1) and they are used by GOD to set forth His will. In the case of Anna, in Luke 2:36-38, she is mentioned as being in the temple and “departed not from the temple, but served GOD with fastings and prayers night and day.” She is mentioned as being in the temple serving GOD, but it does not say that she was anyone with authority over anyone else. She is said to have recognized Christ when she saw him and of witnessing of Him thereafter (38). It never states that Anna had any kind of authority over anyone within the temple. She fasted and prayed.
Now back to that heading: “Women in Public Worship”.
When Paul writes in I Timothy of the role of women in the church, he writes (2:12), “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” Notice that word, “usurp”. In the Easton Bible Dictionary definition of “usurp” we have the definition: “1. (v. t.) To seize, and hold by force, or without right; as, to usurp a throne; to usurp power; to usurp the right of a patron is to oust or dispossess him.” Paul is writing that women in the church should not be teaching nor usurping – seizing – authority over men. Women should not teach men nor boss them around in the church!
Paul was not saying that women outside the church cannot have authority (witness Deborah, the prophetesses and the “virtuous woman” defined in Proverbs 31). He was saying that inside the church – as GOD set up in the family – the men should be the head and not the tail (31:13-14). Women are allowed to be a big part of the church. Women are allowed to teach inside the church, just not teach men. Women are used by GOD all the time and throughout history. Paul was just saying that inside a church they are to be modestly arrayed (I think it helps prevent others from coveting and being jealous, cutting back on cattiness), they are to do good works (playing the piano, singing in choir, helping clean the church, etc.), should learn from men instead of teaching men (they can teach children and other women, just not men), and that’s all. Women should not be bossy female dogs in church. That’s what Paul was saying.
As to a female president? According to the Bible – witness Deborah and others – women are on equal footing throughout the Bible as political leaders, in business, in ability, strength, wisdom, integrity, courage (Esther), kindness (Ruth), favor (Mary, mother of Christ), and all other ways. For men to not vote for Sarah Palin because of her gender is not just wrong, it’s wrong in GOD’s eyes, too! Sarah Palin was not asking you to allow her to teach you your religion, to be your pastor, she was asking you if you would trust her to govern – as did Deborah – the country fairly, justly and wisely, with strength and courage, with discernment and with guidance from GOD as the prophetesses of the Bible demonstrated women can have. That’s what Sarah Palin was asking. She was not asking to be your intercessor with GOD, she was asking simply if you would trust the next four years of the leadership of this country – not your souls – to her care.
The same is being asked of you by Michele Bachman. Do not allow one very small section in the Bible – seven verses only – that speak of what a woman’s place is (according to the heading and Paul’s own words) in public worship prevent you from voting for someone in whose hands the country would be better off. Sarah Palin and John McCain (although I am no fan of McCain) would have been better than obamination, yes? Those men and women who would not vote for the ticket because of Sarah Palin’s gender distorted the teachings of the Holy Bible in order to justify their vote for someone else – and their helping obamination get into office.
Public worship is not public office. Public office rules the land; public worship has to do with GOD’s house and the two are not to be compared nor are they to be used as excuses for twisting GOD’s word. Do not be deceived this election. If Michele Bachman is the best person, she’s the best person, period. If she won’t be teaching in your church and usurping – seizing power from – men, then don’t worry about her gender! Vote for her – or if Sarah Palin gets back into the race, Sarah – based upon your views of her politics, her steadfastness, her integrity, her plans for the future of the country. This is truly the one place where “separation of Church and State” is correct!
(1.) For “prophetess” see also Miriam in Exodus 15:20-21; Huldah in II Kings 22:14, Isaiah 8:3; Anna in Luke 2:36; Acts 21:8-9.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Why obamination Is NOT Impeached
A friend of mine sent me an e-mail that supports my Birther-ism. I know obamination is ineligible, the e-mail just proved it again. When responding I chose to look into a few things that would result from proof that obamination is an illegal president.
• Executive orders he has signed: nullified.
• Laws an ineligible president signed: negated.
• Appointments of federal judges: unseated; rulings nullified; cases retried.
• Lawsuits the administration filed against the states : over ballot issues, over illegal immigration, and more issues resulting in more law suits the administration has filed: dismissed.
• Czars he has appointed: fired.
• Jobs within the bureaucracy: gone!
• International treaties signed: unenforceable.
• Vacations he and his family have taken: must be reimbursed.
• Presidential salary and pension plan: reimbursed and revoked.
• He would, of course be jailed.
• Thousands of voter fraud cases investigated and prosecuted.
• Staff of ms obamination: fired.
• Etc. Etc. Etc.
The thing will be a holy terror to straighten out. Unemployment numbers would skyrocket.
This is the biggest reason the administration thinks the House and Senate cannot do anything. The administration can't imagine the House and Senate dealing with the implications and ramifications. And, in actuality, it's the truth. It's fear freezing feet when it should be right making righteous indignation act and strength against weakness making them bold. Too bad our House and Senate are men with "feet of clay" (Daniel 2:33).
Oh! I forgot one thing:
• Status within the Dem./Wrongie party: GOD! For pulling the biggest fraud in history on the American people.
• Executive orders he has signed: nullified.
• Laws an ineligible president signed: negated.
• Appointments of federal judges: unseated; rulings nullified; cases retried.
• Lawsuits the administration filed against the states : over ballot issues, over illegal immigration, and more issues resulting in more law suits the administration has filed: dismissed.
• Czars he has appointed: fired.
• Jobs within the bureaucracy: gone!
• International treaties signed: unenforceable.
• Vacations he and his family have taken: must be reimbursed.
• Presidential salary and pension plan: reimbursed and revoked.
• He would, of course be jailed.
• Thousands of voter fraud cases investigated and prosecuted.
• Staff of ms obamination: fired.
• Etc. Etc. Etc.
The thing will be a holy terror to straighten out. Unemployment numbers would skyrocket.
This is the biggest reason the administration thinks the House and Senate cannot do anything. The administration can't imagine the House and Senate dealing with the implications and ramifications. And, in actuality, it's the truth. It's fear freezing feet when it should be right making righteous indignation act and strength against weakness making them bold. Too bad our House and Senate are men with "feet of clay" (Daniel 2:33).
Oh! I forgot one thing:
• Status within the Dem./Wrongie party: GOD! For pulling the biggest fraud in history on the American people.
Friday, December 2, 2011
It’s Xmas in the Red House
The obaminations have decorated the Red House(used to be White until Commies moved in) with their vision of Xmas. Thirty-seven trees decked out with what they think is appropriate for Xmas decorations, garlands draped over everything horizontal, Bo idols strategically placed.
One tree has Bo all over it. One has more traditional ornaments. One has Purple Hearts, military medals, etc. One has … Wait. What? Purple Hearts? Purple hearts as in papier-mâché, painted glass, or something like that? No. As in the medal, Purple Heart, given to those members of the military who “are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy and posthumously to the next of kin in the name of those who are killed in action or die of wounds received in action. It is specifically a combat decoration.” Notice it doesn’t mention hanging on a tree? Check the website. Notice it doesn’t say that it’s appropriate to use as a Xmas decoration? Notice it doesn’t say that it can be used helter-skelter, willy-nilly however anyone wishes? It states that it is to be awarded to those who “are wounded by an instrument of war”. When did that tree get “wounded by an instrument of war”? If the tree did not fight and get wounded, it should not be decorated with a Purple Heart, much less with multiple Purple Hearts.
For the obaminations to use a Purple Heart, the military medal, as a decoration for their Xmas tree is not just wrong, it’s a slap in the face of all Purple Heart honorees worldwide. That tree could have been just as much of a tribute to our military men and women without denigrating one of the most revered awards the military has. For obaminations to use a Purple Heart as a tree decoration says to those who have been awarded it that their valor, their sacrifice, their heroism is just as valuable to the obaminations – and because it’s in the “People’s House”, the (used to be White now-) Red House – and that the nation as a whole, that their sacrifice is cheap, like a souvenir we bought while in Aruba, Alaska, or Madrid. The nation as a whole is now attributed to the denigration of the Purple Heart, to slapping the honorees in the face and making their Purple Heart worth as much as a glass ornament, a popcorn string, or paper chain.
That’s just wrong and I, for one, resent the obaminations denigrating the Purple Heart’s vaunted place in the lexicon of military history and honor. From now on, every Purple Heart honoree will be so proud to know that the award is so special that it also hung on a Xmas tree. Won’t that make the medal on his/her chest even more revered?
Then there’s the whole thing about the Xmas decorations being a witness to the obaminations’ extravagance in times of want. They put up thirty-seven trees, decked every horizontal surface, had a different decoration for every tree, and a different designer for each room, a whole slew of folks in there to volunteer to help with the decorations. Question: did those volunteers get time with the obaminations? (How valuable is the ear of the president even if he’s an ACORNed president?) Did they get fed at taxpayer expense? Did the decorations get purchased by the taxpayers? Did the trees get donated or were they purchased by the taxpayers? How about all those decorations? Were they donated? The lights and the electricity they use, were/are they donated?
In years past previous presidents reused some of the ornaments of past Christmases, or decorated their own tree (and here near the bottom of the page). Yes, Laura Bush had more trees (“nearly fifty”), than the current family, but when reusing ornaments, it’s cheaper to do so. The current “first” family seems to think that they are royalty and that we, the taxpayers, should pay for their every whim, no matter how difficult it is for us to pay our own bills, feed our own family, keep our own house!
Then there’s the whole idea of Christmas and where it is represented in their decorations. Obamination has long said he’s a Christian (well, at least since it became convenient and he had to hide his hatred of America and his Islamism). Anyone see a nativity? Anyone see a manger? Anyone see Christ? See an angel even as a tree topper? I see stars, but they’re the “regular” stars, not one that is considered the traditional representation of the Northern Star that led the Wise Men to Jesus in the manger. Anyone see anything even remotely resembling a Christian symbol at all? I see Bo, the family’s dog. I do not see Jesus. I do not see a Nativity scene. I wonder what kind of Christian celebrates Christmas – Xmas in this case – without a Nativity? To me, that is what Christmas is all about. No Christ, no Christmas. Where is the Christ in their Christmas? Thus, the “Xmas” designation is more appropriate for the obaminations’ décor.
The Bo thing gets to me, too. I see a tree there that has Bo all over it. I see Bo in almost every room: on tables, in marzipan in front of the gingerbread White House, and in buttons, hanging by his neck on a tree (in the bottom video). Yes, they love the family pet. If they wish to celebrate this way, why not change the name of their celebration to “Bo-mas”? After all, that seems to be who they are celebrating instead of Christ. Having that many Bo-icons (pronounced Bow-ih-cons) as the focus of the decorations seems to indicate what is most important in the family’s celebration of the season. So they are having “Bo-mas” instead of a Christmas, are they not? After all, Christ can’t be mentioned unless He’s convenient and necessary for the hiding of the truth. This assertion is proven every time obamination drops the name of Jesus. It’s only there to hide the truth, to distort the facts, to be a convenient touch point. Obamination’s actions speak louder than his words even in his un-Christmas decorations.
In my family – and I would venture to guess, in yours – when Christmas comes around there is a Nativity scene, as well as a few Holy Family representations around. There are ornaments that remind us, as well as traditions that remind us, about what Christmas is all about. We read the story of Christ’s birth in Luke every Christmas Eve, and we remember Him on Christmas day with thanksgiving, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord”. Anyone see a Christian Bible in those pictures? I don't. What does that tell you?
One tree has Bo all over it. One has more traditional ornaments. One has Purple Hearts, military medals, etc. One has … Wait. What? Purple Hearts? Purple hearts as in papier-mâché, painted glass, or something like that? No. As in the medal, Purple Heart, given to those members of the military who “are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy and posthumously to the next of kin in the name of those who are killed in action or die of wounds received in action. It is specifically a combat decoration.” Notice it doesn’t mention hanging on a tree? Check the website. Notice it doesn’t say that it’s appropriate to use as a Xmas decoration? Notice it doesn’t say that it can be used helter-skelter, willy-nilly however anyone wishes? It states that it is to be awarded to those who “are wounded by an instrument of war”. When did that tree get “wounded by an instrument of war”? If the tree did not fight and get wounded, it should not be decorated with a Purple Heart, much less with multiple Purple Hearts.
For the obaminations to use a Purple Heart, the military medal, as a decoration for their Xmas tree is not just wrong, it’s a slap in the face of all Purple Heart honorees worldwide. That tree could have been just as much of a tribute to our military men and women without denigrating one of the most revered awards the military has. For obaminations to use a Purple Heart as a tree decoration says to those who have been awarded it that their valor, their sacrifice, their heroism is just as valuable to the obaminations – and because it’s in the “People’s House”, the (used to be White now-) Red House – and that the nation as a whole, that their sacrifice is cheap, like a souvenir we bought while in Aruba, Alaska, or Madrid. The nation as a whole is now attributed to the denigration of the Purple Heart, to slapping the honorees in the face and making their Purple Heart worth as much as a glass ornament, a popcorn string, or paper chain.
That’s just wrong and I, for one, resent the obaminations denigrating the Purple Heart’s vaunted place in the lexicon of military history and honor. From now on, every Purple Heart honoree will be so proud to know that the award is so special that it also hung on a Xmas tree. Won’t that make the medal on his/her chest even more revered?
Then there’s the whole thing about the Xmas decorations being a witness to the obaminations’ extravagance in times of want. They put up thirty-seven trees, decked every horizontal surface, had a different decoration for every tree, and a different designer for each room, a whole slew of folks in there to volunteer to help with the decorations. Question: did those volunteers get time with the obaminations? (How valuable is the ear of the president even if he’s an ACORNed president?) Did they get fed at taxpayer expense? Did the decorations get purchased by the taxpayers? Did the trees get donated or were they purchased by the taxpayers? How about all those decorations? Were they donated? The lights and the electricity they use, were/are they donated?
In years past previous presidents reused some of the ornaments of past Christmases, or decorated their own tree (and here near the bottom of the page). Yes, Laura Bush had more trees (“nearly fifty”), than the current family, but when reusing ornaments, it’s cheaper to do so. The current “first” family seems to think that they are royalty and that we, the taxpayers, should pay for their every whim, no matter how difficult it is for us to pay our own bills, feed our own family, keep our own house!
Then there’s the whole idea of Christmas and where it is represented in their decorations. Obamination has long said he’s a Christian (well, at least since it became convenient and he had to hide his hatred of America and his Islamism). Anyone see a nativity? Anyone see a manger? Anyone see Christ? See an angel even as a tree topper? I see stars, but they’re the “regular” stars, not one that is considered the traditional representation of the Northern Star that led the Wise Men to Jesus in the manger. Anyone see anything even remotely resembling a Christian symbol at all? I see Bo, the family’s dog. I do not see Jesus. I do not see a Nativity scene. I wonder what kind of Christian celebrates Christmas – Xmas in this case – without a Nativity? To me, that is what Christmas is all about. No Christ, no Christmas. Where is the Christ in their Christmas? Thus, the “Xmas” designation is more appropriate for the obaminations’ décor.
The Bo thing gets to me, too. I see a tree there that has Bo all over it. I see Bo in almost every room: on tables, in marzipan in front of the gingerbread White House, and in buttons, hanging by his neck on a tree (in the bottom video). Yes, they love the family pet. If they wish to celebrate this way, why not change the name of their celebration to “Bo-mas”? After all, that seems to be who they are celebrating instead of Christ. Having that many Bo-icons (pronounced Bow-ih-cons) as the focus of the decorations seems to indicate what is most important in the family’s celebration of the season. So they are having “Bo-mas” instead of a Christmas, are they not? After all, Christ can’t be mentioned unless He’s convenient and necessary for the hiding of the truth. This assertion is proven every time obamination drops the name of Jesus. It’s only there to hide the truth, to distort the facts, to be a convenient touch point. Obamination’s actions speak louder than his words even in his un-Christmas decorations.
In my family – and I would venture to guess, in yours – when Christmas comes around there is a Nativity scene, as well as a few Holy Family representations around. There are ornaments that remind us, as well as traditions that remind us, about what Christmas is all about. We read the story of Christ’s birth in Luke every Christmas Eve, and we remember Him on Christmas day with thanksgiving, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord”. Anyone see a Christian Bible in those pictures? I don't. What does that tell you?
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
American Community Survey: AN UPDATE
Well, it's been a while since I posted the American Community Survey info and now it's time for an update. Since then, we've received up to four calls in one day from the Census Bureau. We have also received mail from them "asking" us to respond.
I wonder if it's okay for the U.S. Census Bureau to harass the public. I wonder how long they'll continue with their program of harassment and intimidation? I also wonder if they'll do anything more than harassment?
Either way, it's ridiculous that they're having people WE PAY harass the people who PAY THEM! I think it's high time someone took on the U.S. Census Bureau and make them leave us alone after the initial contact in which they ask us to respond. If we choose not to -- there is NO LAW that states we have to, it's a regulation: something a bureaucracy made up for us to obey. There is no reason for us to obey the people we PAY who should be OBEYING US. After all, we are their BOSSES, are we not? They are the "public servants"; not vice versa.
I wonder if it's okay for the U.S. Census Bureau to harass the public. I wonder how long they'll continue with their program of harassment and intimidation? I also wonder if they'll do anything more than harassment?
Either way, it's ridiculous that they're having people WE PAY harass the people who PAY THEM! I think it's high time someone took on the U.S. Census Bureau and make them leave us alone after the initial contact in which they ask us to respond. If we choose not to -- there is NO LAW that states we have to, it's a regulation: something a bureaucracy made up for us to obey. There is no reason for us to obey the people we PAY who should be OBEYING US. After all, we are their BOSSES, are we not? They are the "public servants"; not vice versa.
Friday, November 11, 2011
A Veterans' Day Poem: SHE SERVES
Sometimes during the night hours
She sits watch and thinks about
The loved ones back at home
Those she’s doing without
And when in sadness, weary,
She feels so all alone,
She looks back at her squadron
And lonely no longer bemoans.
Sometimes on patrol
Within the danger zone
She worries about her safety
But not for hers alone
She wonders how her family
Without her there would fare
And her fellow soldiers
Would do without her there.
She knows it’s not her presence
That ensures their safety, success
It’s just that when she’s with them
She’s their Momma Bear Princess.
She listens to their problems,
And comforts their fears and doubts
And sometimes, lends a shoulder
For them to cry them out.
For when she made the Army
Her home, her family,
She knew the sacrifices
Enormous, hard would be.
Yet, worth it all she counts them
With all the worries, cares,
When in harm’s way she enters
She knows her brothers there
Have got her back and always
Will watch out for her here.
Here where harm surrounds her
She keeps her “brothers” near
Sometimes safety rides in numbers,
But here danger lurks in secrets
The enemy whisper soft
And moments are divided by
Escaping danger oft.
‘Tis eighty days till home
Will greet her weary eyes
A daughter, a son, a husband
Await her to arrive.
A memory will haunt her
At home with family’s love
A brother soldier died
While cradled in her arms.
He was her “little brother”
Her laughter when depressed,
He kept them all together
When anger was trumped by jest.
His smile was contagious
And never did it fail
To bring about the unit
That needed laughter’s hail.
His mother she did contact
And tell the sad, sad news
And wept as long as she did
For her heart was broken, too.
When home she sees at last,
She’ll call her once again,
Go visit grave of “brother” passed.
So now she sits and watches
And keeps her squadron safe
And thinks about her loved ones
Back home she’s keeping free.
She knows it’s all been worth it,
Her country more secure,
Because she chose to serve us
America’s Freedom will endure.
So now we thank our soldiers
On this, their Veterans’ Day,
We thank them for their service
And for the price they pay.
We thank their friends and family
For their own sacrifice
Of time without their soldier
And too oft, for their lives.
© 2011 Linda McKinney
She sits watch and thinks about
The loved ones back at home
Those she’s doing without
And when in sadness, weary,
She feels so all alone,
She looks back at her squadron
And lonely no longer bemoans.
Sometimes on patrol
Within the danger zone
She worries about her safety
But not for hers alone
She wonders how her family
Without her there would fare
And her fellow soldiers
Would do without her there.
She knows it’s not her presence
That ensures their safety, success
It’s just that when she’s with them
She’s their Momma Bear Princess.
She listens to their problems,
And comforts their fears and doubts
And sometimes, lends a shoulder
For them to cry them out.
For when she made the Army
Her home, her family,
She knew the sacrifices
Enormous, hard would be.
Yet, worth it all she counts them
With all the worries, cares,
When in harm’s way she enters
She knows her brothers there
Have got her back and always
Will watch out for her here.
Here where harm surrounds her
She keeps her “brothers” near
Sometimes safety rides in numbers,
But here danger lurks in secrets
The enemy whisper soft
And moments are divided by
Escaping danger oft.
‘Tis eighty days till home
Will greet her weary eyes
A daughter, a son, a husband
Await her to arrive.
A memory will haunt her
At home with family’s love
A brother soldier died
While cradled in her arms.
He was her “little brother”
Her laughter when depressed,
He kept them all together
When anger was trumped by jest.
His smile was contagious
And never did it fail
To bring about the unit
That needed laughter’s hail.
His mother she did contact
And tell the sad, sad news
And wept as long as she did
For her heart was broken, too.
When home she sees at last,
She’ll call her once again,
Go visit grave of “brother” passed.
So now she sits and watches
And keeps her squadron safe
And thinks about her loved ones
Back home she’s keeping free.
She knows it’s all been worth it,
Her country more secure,
Because she chose to serve us
America’s Freedom will endure.
So now we thank our soldiers
On this, their Veterans’ Day,
We thank them for their service
And for the price they pay.
We thank their friends and family
For their own sacrifice
Of time without their soldier
And too oft, for their lives.
© 2011 Linda McKinney
Monday, November 7, 2011
American Community Survey: I WILL NOT RESPOND
Prior to the U.S. Census an employee of the U.S. Census process came around and asked us from what group of people we were descended: European, Oriental, African-American, American Indian, etc.? I said that I refused to participate in a racist question except to answer that I was an “American Mutt: a bit of everything”. That’s all I would tell them. And I was right to do so.
When we received the U.S. Census papers, our family obeyed the U.S. Constitution and told the government how many people lived at this address. Not a problem. We did not tell them anything else, but we did tell them the number of people who live here.
A few weeks ago, we were “chosen” to be participants in “The American Community Survey” (ACS). Not happy with the intrusiveness of the questions (all listed below so you can judge for yourselves), we chose to respond by not responding. We have not – and will not – send them our information.
Friday, Nov. 4, 2011, in the afternoon we received a phone call from an ACS surveyor asking if we had received the ACS, and if we had, did we fill it out and send it back yet? I said we had received it, had not sent it back, and that our response was to not respond. She said that not responding was not a choice. She asked if I wanted to answer the questions while I was on the line with her. I said no. She also said that we were required by law to respond (pay attention to that: we will revisit it in a moment). I said, “So sue us.” She said she would call back and ask us again to respond. I said I looked forward to it.
When I hung up, I checked my caller identification feature on my phone and wrote the number on the fridge’s white board. We agreed that we won’t be answering any calls from anyone who calls with a number that starts with the first six of those numbers (area code and first three of the number), which means no numbers from that building will be answered. That problem was solved.
My husband got curious as to what will happen when we don’t comply. He looked up the ACS noncompliance punishment on the internet and said that the most we could face is a $100 fine. Other places said up to $5,000, but the comments on that one said that it is highly unlikely and that the regulation said up to $100. So, that’s probably the max, but it will be difficult for the government to get it out of us.
When we checked the accompanying literature, we found that it states that the ACS will help, “decide where to locate new highways, schools, hospitals, and community centers; to show a large corporation that a town has the workforce the company needs; and in many other ways.” Wonderful. Our information will be used against us because it will be used to “measure the performance of programs” (and then I’m sure those programs would be given more of our money if they’re not performing up to the already low standards currently in use). I will not benefit from any of those programs, but I will be taxed more for things that I do not use (like senior citizens paying for the public schools via property taxes). Isn’t that grand?
The literature goes on to state, “Your response to this survey is required by law (Title 13, U.S. Code, Sections 141 and 193). Title 13, as changed by Title 18, imposes a penalty for not responding. We estimate this survey will take about 38 minutes to complete.” Excuse me? I got curious and did an internet search for the legal authority for the American Community Survey, and found that according to this Government Accounting Office response to U.S. Congressman, Bob Barr,
“While Census clearly has authority to conduct the ACS, we found no public laws, committee reports, or other congressional actions in which Congress has required the Bureau to develop and implement the ACS.”
According to the GAO, the government has “no public laws, committee reports or other congressional actions in which Congress has required the Bureau to develop and implement the ACS. [my bolding and italics]” So according to the GAO, there is nothing that legally requires us to participate because it is Congress and the Senate that writes the laws that we are supposed to be subject to. Other things are regulations, not law. There is a difference. Also note,
“It is clear that Census was not reacting to congressional direction in developing the ACS but acting on its own initiative to address the costs associated with the collection of data in the decennial census and the timeliness of that data.”
So the U.S. Census Bureau, an entity not established as a separate government office within the U.S. Constitution, but instead, only as a process, an activity, is now acting on its own to invade our privacy. It is taking it upon itself to ask you personal questions. Not only that, but it is costing us more to do the ACS than the regular census the U.S. Constitution delineates – counting us but not asking personal questions (read the questions below) -- and the Census Bureau is saying it is addressing costs? I don’t think so. I think they are perpetuating their own jobs and trying to preserve them, making their existence more secure via the time needed to develop, promote, gather, correlate and write reports on all the information requested on the ACS. This is not about doing what is delineated in the U.S. Constitution. It is about job preservation for the Census Bureau!
If you don’t believe me, look the questions – and the sheer number of questions -- that will command many, many people to analyze and organize the answers into some sort of government report – and tell me that the questionnaire (all twenty-eight pages of it!) is not a way to ensure Census Bureau jobs for a very long time.
Considering how intrusive the questions are, I’m surprised they didn’t ask when the last time was that Person 1 used a public library, watched NPR, or flushed the toilet. This is a ridiculously intrusive survey. It is also not what our Founding Fathers had in mind when it came to a census (they wanted a count of the people for districting only). It is what the liberals/Wrongies/progressives are using to try to manipulate us and trying to tax us more and trying to enforce more regulation on us. If, for example, there aren’t enough people using public transport the government will now know and use more of our taxpayer dollars to make more taxpayers take public transport. It’s not a good thing, folks.
I would advise you to not cooperate with the invasion of your own privacy. I would advise you to not return the ACS, or to return it with the U.S. Constitution’s delineation of the census,
“Article I, Section 2:
“Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. [my bolding and italics]”
“Article I, Section 9:
“No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken.”
There are two keys there:
1) "By Law" -- Remember the GAO states, "we found no public laws". Therefore the ACS is totally unconstitutional -- BY LAW.
2) Notice that word, “Enumeration” which means: “1. To count off or name one by one; list:”. The U.S. Census says that the U.S. government has the right to COUNT us in a manner “as they shall by Law direct. [my bolding]” Considering that the Government Accounting Office states in their own look into the authority of the Census Bureau to do the ACS, they found “no public law” that gave them or anyone else the authority to do so. Therefore, in their own words, and in the words of the U.S. Constitution, I am not obligated to comply. Nor can they compel me to comply because the government has no subpoena to compel me to do so, nor am I – even under oath – forced to answer questions due to the Free Speech Clause and the Fifth Amendment.
I’d love to see the obamination administration try to make me comply with their intrusive questionnaire. I’d love to see them try.
The following questions are in the ACS:
(NOTE: For each question, there is a box to mark your answers in, but I did not write “box” for each box that is present in the questionnaire. For those that appeared in out of the norm places, I did delineate.)
QUOTE:
Person #
1. What is Person 1’s name? (First and Last)
2. How is this person related to Person 1? (It has “Person 1” marked for you.)
3. What is Person 1’s sex? (Male, Female)
4. What is Person 1’s age and what is Person 1’s date of birth?
(Please report babies as age 0 when the child is less than 1 year old.)
Note: Please answer BOTH Question 5 about Hispanic origin and Quesiton 6 about race. For this survey, Hispanic origins are not races.
5. Is Person 1 of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin?
No, not of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin
Yes, Mexican, Mexican Am., Chicano
Yes, Puerto Rican
Yes, Cuban
Yes, another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin – Print origin, for example, Argentinean, Colombian, Dominican, Nicaraguan, Salvadoran, Spaniard, and so on.
6. What is Person 1’s race?
White
Black, African Am., or Negro
American Indian or Alaska Native – Print name of enrolled or principal tribe.
Asian Indian
Chinese
Filipino
Japanese
Korean
Vietnamese
Native Hawaiian
Guamanian or Chamorro
Samoan
Other Asian – Print race, for example, Hmong, Laotian, Thai, Pakistani, Cambodian, and so on.
Other Pacific Islander – Print race, for example, Figian, Tongan, and so on.
Some other race – Print race.
Person 2
1. What is Person 2’s name? (First and Last)
2. How is this person related to Person 1?
Husband or wife
Biological son or daughter
Adopted son or daughter
Stepson or stepdaughter
Brother or sister
Father or mother
Grandchild
Parent-in-law
Son-in-law or daughter-in-law
Other relative
Roomer or boarder
Housemate or roommate
Unmarried partner
Foster child
Other nonrelative
3. What is Person 2’s sex?
(NOTE: It goes on from there with the same questions as Person 1’s questions and repeats for Person 3 through Person 5.)
Housing:
Please answer the following questions about the house, apartment, or mobile home at the address on the mailing label.
1. Which best describes this building?
A mobile home
A one-family house attached to one or more houses
A one-family house attached to one or more houses
A building with 2 apartments
A building with 3 or 4 apartments
A building with 5 to 9 apartments
A building with 10 to 19 apartments
A building with 20 to 49 apartments
A building with 50 or more apartments
Boat, RV, van, etc.
2. About when was this building first built?
2000 or later – Specify year
1990 to 1999
1980 to 1989
1970 to 1979
1960 to 1969
1950 to 1959
1940 to 1949
1939 or earlier
3. When did Person 1 (listed on page 2) move into this house, apartment, or mobile home? (Month, Year)
Answer questions 4-6 if this is a HOUSE OR A MOBILE HOME; otherwise, skip to question 7a.
A
4. How many acres is this house or mobile home on?
Less than 1 acre – SKIP to question 6
1 to 9.9 acres
10 or more acres
5. IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, what were the actual sales of all agricultural products from this property?
None
$1 to $999
$1,000 to $2,499
6. Is there a business (such as a store or barber shop) or a medical office on this property? (Yes, No)
7.a. How many separate rooms are in this house, apartment, or mobile home? Rooms must be separated by built-in archways or walls that extend out at least 6 inches and go from floor to ceiling. (INCLUDE bedrooms, kitchens, etc. EXCLUDE bathrooms, porches, balconies, foyers, halls, or unfinished basements.)
Number of rooms
b. How many of these rooms are bedrooms? Count as bedrooms those rooms you would list if this house, apartment, or mobile home were for sale or rent. If this is an efficiency/studio apartment, print “0”.
Number of bedrooms
8. Does this house, apartment, or mobile home have – (Yes, No answers)
a. hot and cold running water?
b. a flush toilet?
c. a bathtub or shower
d. a sink with a faucet
e. a stove or range
f. a refrigerator
g. telephone service from which you can both make and receive calls? Include cell phones.
9. How many automobiles, vans, and trucks of one-ton capacity or less are kept at home for use by members of this household?
None
1
2
3
4
5
6 or more
10. Which FUEL is use MOST for heating this house, apartment, or mobile home?
Gas: from underground pipes serving the neighborhood
Gas: bottled, tank, or LP
Electricity
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.
Coal or coke
Wood
Solar energy
Other fuel
No fuel used
11. a. LAST MONTH, what was the cost of electricity for this house, apartment, or mobile home?
Last month’s cost – Dollars
OR
Included in rent or condominium fee
No charge or electricity not used
b. LAST MONTH, what was the cost of gas for this house, apartment, or mobile home?
Last month’s cost - Dollars
OR
Included in rent or condominium fee
Included in electricity payment entered above
No charge or gas not used
c. IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, what was the cost of water and sewer for this house, apartment, or mobile home? If you have lived here less than 12 month, estimate the cost.
Past 12 months’ cost – Dollars
OR
Included in rent or condominium fee
No charge
d. IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, what was the cost of oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc., for this house, apartment, or mobile home? If you have lived here less than 12 months, estimate the cost.
Past 12 months’ cost – Dollars
OR
Included in rent or condominium fee
No charge or these fuels not used
12. IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, did anyone in this household receive Food Stamps or a Food Stamp benefit card? Include government benefits from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Do NOT include WIC or the National School Lunch Program. (Yes, No)
13. Is this house, apartment, or mobile home part of a condominium?
Yes – What is the monthly condominium fee? For renteres, answer only if you pay the condominium fee in addition to your rent; otherwise, mark the “None” box.
Monthly amount – Dollars
OR
None
No
14. Is this house, apartment, or mobile home – (Mark ONE box)
Owned by you or someone in this household with a mortgage or loan? Include home equity loans.
Owned by you or someone in this household free and clear (without a mortgage or loan)?
Rented?
Occupied without payment of rent? – SKIP to C.
B
Answer questions 15a and b if this house, apartment, or mobile home is RENTED. Otherwise SKIP to question 16.
15.a. What is the monthly rent for this house, apartment, or mobile home?
Monthly amount – Dollars
b. Does this monthly rent include any meals? (Yes, No)
C
Answer questions 16-20 if you or someone else in this household OWNS or IS BUYING this house, apartment, or mobile home. Otherwise, SKIP to E on the next page.
16. About how much do you think this house and lot, apartment, or mobile home (and lot, if owned) would sell for if it were for sale?
Amount – Dollars
17. What are the annual real estate taxes on THIS property?
Annual amount - Dollars
18. What is the annual payment for fire, hazard, and flood insurance on THIS property?
Annual amount – Dollars
OR
None
19. a. Do you or any member of this household have a mortgage, deed of trust, contract to purchase, or similar debt on THIS property?
Yes, mortgage, deed of trust, or similar debt
Yes, contract to purchase
No – SKIP to question 20a
b. How much is the regular monthly mortgage payment on THIS property? Include payment only on FIRST mortgage or contract ot purchase
Monthly amount – Dollars
OR
No regular payment required – SKIP to question 20a
c. Does the regular monthly mortgage payment include payments for real estate taxes on THIS property?
Yes, taxes included in mortgage payment
No, taxes paid separately or taxes not required
d. Does the regular monthly mortgage payment include payments for fire, hazard, or flood insurance on THIS property?
Yes, insurance included in mortgage payment
No, insurance paid separately or no insurance
20.a. Do you or any member of this household have a second mortgage or a home equity loan on THIS property?
Yes, home equity loan
Yes, second mortgage
Yes, second mortgage and home equity loan
No – SKIP to D
b. How much is the regular monthly payment on all second or junior mortgages and all home equity loans on THIS property?
Monthly amount – Dollars
OR
No regular payment required
D
Answer question 21 if this is a MOBILE HOME. Otherwise, SKIP to E.
21. What are the total annual costs for personal property taxes, site rent, registration fees, and license fees on THIS mobile home and its site? Exclude real estate taxes.
Annual Costs – Dollars
E
Answer questions about PERSON 1 on the next page if you listed at least one person on page 2. Otherwise, SKIP to page 28 for the mailing instructions.
Person 1
Please copy the name of Person 1 from page 2, then continue answering questions below.
(Last name, first name, MI)
7. Where was this person born?
In the United States – Print name of state
Outside the United States – Print name of foreign country, or Puerto Rico, Guam, etc.
8. Is this person a citizen of the United States?
Yes, born in the United States – SKIP to 10a
Yes, born in Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or Northern Marianas
Yes, born abroad of U.S. citizen parent or parents
Yes, U.S. citizen by naturalization - Print year of naturalization (box)
No, not a U.S. citizen
9. When did this person come to live in the United States? Print numbers in boxes. (Year)
10.a. At any time IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS, has this person attended school or college? Include only nursery or preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, home school, and schooling which leads to a high school diploma or a college degree.
No, has not attended in the last 3 months – SKIP to question 11
Yes, public school, public college
Yes, private school, private college, home school
b. What grade level was this person attending? Mark ONE box.
Nursery school, preschool
Kindergarten
Grade1 through 12 – Specify grade 1-12
College undergraduate years (freshman to senior)
Graduate or professional school beyond a bachelor’s degree (for example: MA or Ph.D. program, or medical or law school)
11. What is the highest degree or level of school this person has COMPLETED? Mark ONE box. If currently enrolled, mark the previous grade or highest degree received.
No Schooling Completed
No Schooling Completed
Nursery or Preschool Through Grade 12
Nursery school
Kindergarten
Grade 1 through 11 – Specify grade 1 – 11
High School Graduate
Regular high school diploma
GED or alternative credential
College or Some College
Some college credit, but less than 1 year of college credit
1 or more years of college credit, no degree
Associate’s degree (for example: AA, AS)
Bachelor’s degree (for example: BA, BS)
After Bachelor’s Degree
Master’s degree (for example: MA, MS, MEng, Med, MSW, MBA)
Professional degree beyond a bachelor’s degree (for example: MD, DDS, DVM, LLB, JD)
Doctorate degree (for example: PhD, EdD)
F
Answer question 12 if this person has a bachelor’s degree or higher. Otherwise, SKIP to question 13.
12. This question focuses on this person’s BACHELOR’S DEGREE. Please print below the specific major(s) of any BACHELOR’S DEGREES this person has received. (For example: chemical engineering, elementary teacher education, organizational psychology)
13. What is this person’s ancestry or ethnic origin?
(For example: Italian, Jamaican, African Am., Cambodian, Cape Verdean, Norwegian, Dominican, French Canadian, Haitian, Korean, Lebanese, Polish, Nigerian, Mexican, Taiwanese, Ukrainian, and so on)
14.a. Does this person speak a language other than English at home?
Yes
No – SKIP to question 15a.
b. What is this language? For example: Korean, Italian, Spanish, Vietnamese
c. How well does this person speak English?
Very well
Well
Not well
Not at all
15. a. Did this person live in this house or apartment 1 year ago?
Person is under 1 year old – SKIP to question 16
Yes, this house – SKIP to question 16
No, outside the United States and Puerto Rico – Print name of foreign country, or U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, etc., below; then SKIP to question 16.
No, different house in the United States or Puerto Rico
b. Where did this person live 1 year ago?
Address, Number and street name
Name of city, town or post office
Name of U.S. county or municipio in Puerto Rico
Name of U.S. state or Puerto Rico
ZIP Code
16. Is this person CURRENTLY covered by any of the following types of health insurance or health coverage plans? Mark “Yes” or “No” for EACH type of coverage in items a-h.
a. Insurance through a current or former employer or union (of this person or another family member)
b. Insurance purchased directly from an insurance company (by this person or another family member)
c. Medicare, for people 65 and older, or people with certain disabilities
d. Medicaid, Medical Assistance, or any kind of government assistance plan for those with low incomes or a disability
e. TRICARE or other military health care
f. VA (including those who have never used or enrolled for VA health care)
g. Indian Health Service
h. Any other type of health insurance – Specify
17. a. Is this person deaf or does he/she have serious difficulty hearing? (Yes, No)
b. Is this person blind or does he/she have serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses? (Yes, No)
G
Answer question 18.a – c if this person is 5 years old or over. Otherwise, SKIP to the questions for Person 2 on page 12.
18.a. Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, does this person have serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions? (Yes, No)
b. Does this person have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs? (Yes, No)
c. Does this person have difficulty dressing or bathing? (Yes, No)
H
Answer question 19 if this person is 15 years old or over. Otherwise, SKIP to the questions for Person 2 on page 12.
19. Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition does this person have difficulty doing errands alone such as visiting a doctor’s office or shopping? (Yes, No)
20. What is this person’s marital status?
Now married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
Never married – SKIP to I
21. In the PAST 12 MONTHS did this person get –
a. Married? (Yes, No)
b. Widowed? (Yes, No)
c. Divorced? (Yes, No)
22. How many times has this person been married?
23. In what year did this person last get married? (Year)
I
Answer question 24 if this person is female and 15 – 50 years old. Otherwise, SKIP to question 25a.
24. Has this person given birth to any children in the past 12 months? (Yes, No)
25. a. Does this person have any of his/her own grandchildren under the age of 18 living in this house or apartment?
Yes
No – SKIP to question 26
b. Is this grandparent currently responsible for most of the basic needs of any grandchildren under the age of 18 who lives in this house or apartment?
Yes
No – SKIP to question 26
c. How long has this grandparent been responsible for these grandchildren? If the grandparent is financially responsible for more than one grandchild, answer the question for the grandchild for whom the grandparent has been responsible the longest period of time.
Less than 6 months
6 to 11 months
1 or 2 years
3 or 4 years
5 or more years
26. Has this person ever served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, military Reserves, or National Guard? Active duty does not include training for the Reserves or National Guard, but DOES include activation, for example, for the Persian Gulf War.
Yes, now on active duty
Yes, on active duty during the last 12 months, but not now
Yes, on active duty in the past, but not during the last 12 months
No, training for Reserves or National Guard only – SKIP to question 28a
No, never served in the military – SKIP to question 29a
27. When did this person serve on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces? Mark a box for EACH period in which this person served, even if just for part of the period.
September 2001 or later
August 1990 to August 2001 (including Persian Gulf War)
September 1980 to July 1990
May 1975 to August 1980
Vietnam Era (August 1964 to April 1975)
March 1961 to July 1964
February 1955 to February 1961
Korean War (July 1950 to January 1955)
January 1947 to June 1950
World War II (December 1941 to December 1946)
November 1941 or earlier
28.a. Does this person have a VA service-connected disability rating?
Yes (such as 0%, 20%, …, 100%)
No – SKIP to question 29a
b. What is this person’s service-connected disability rating?
0 percent
10 to 20 percent
30 to 40 percent
50 to 60 percent
70 percent or higher
29.a. LAST WEEK, did this person work for pay at a job (or business)?
Yes – SKIP to question 30
No – Did not work (or retired)
b. LAST WEEK, did this person do ANY work for pay, even for as little as one hour?
Yes
No – SKIP to question 35a
30. At what location did this person work LAST WEEK? If this person worked at more than one location, print where he or she worked most last week.
a. Address (Number and street name) If the exact address is not known, give a description of the location such as the building name or the nearest street or intersection.
b. Name of city, town, or post office
c. Is the work location inside the limits of that city or town?
Yes
No, outside the city/town limits
d. Name of county
e. Name of U.S. state or foreign country
f. ZIP code
31. How did this person usually get to work LAST WEEK? If this person usually used more than one method of transportation during the trip, mark the box of the one used for most of the distance.
Car, truck, or van
Bus or trolley bus
Streetcar or trolley car
Subway or elevated
Railroad
Ferryboat
Taxicab
Motorcycle
Bicycle
Walked
Worked at home – SKIP to question 39a
Other method
J
Answer question 32 if you marked “Car, truck, or van” in question 31. Otherwise, SKIP to question 33.
32. How many people, including this person, usually rode to work in the car, truck, or van LAST WEEK?
Person(s)
33. What time did this person usually leave home to go to work LAST WEEK?
Hour
Minute a.m. p.m.
34. How many minutes did it usually take this person to get from home to work LAST WEEK?
Minutes
K
Answer questions 35 – 38 if this person did NOT work last week. Otherwise, SKIP to question 39a.
35.a. LAST WEEK, was this person on layoff from a job?
Yes – SKIP to question 35c.
No
b. LAST WEEK, was this person temporarily absent from a job or business?
Yes, on vacation, temporary illness, maternity leave, other family/personal reasons, bad weather, etc. – SKIP to question 38
No – SKIP to question 36
c. Has this person been informed that he or she will be recalled to work within the next 6 months OR been given a date to return to work?
Yes – SKIP to question 37
No
36. During the LAST 4 WEEKS, has this person been ACTIVELY looking for work?
Yes
No – SKIP to question 38
37. LAST WEEK, could this person have started a job if offered on, or returned to work if recalled?
Yes, could have gone to work
No, because of own temporary illness
No, because of all other reasons (in school, etc.)
38. When did this person last work, even for a few days?
Within the past 12 months
1 to 5 years ago – SKIP to L
Over 5 years ago or never worked – SKIP to question 47
39. a. During the PAST 12 MONTHS (52 weeks), did this person work 50 or more weeks? Count paid time off as work.
Yes – SKIP to question 40
No
b. How many weeks DID this person work, even for a few hours, including paid vacation, paid sick leave, and military service?
50 to 52 weeks
48 to 49 weeks
40 to 47 weeks
27 to 39 weeks
14 to 26 weeks
13 weeks or less
40. During the PAST 12 MONTHS, in the WEEKS WORKED, how many hours did this person usually work each WEEK?
Usual hours worked each week
L
Answer questions 41 – 46 if this person worked in the past 5 years. Otherwise, SKIP to question 47.
41-46 Current or most recent job activity. Describe clearly this person’s chief job activity or business last week. If this person had more than one job, describe the one at which this person worked the most hours. If this person had no job or business last week, give information for his/her last job or business.
41. Was this person – (Mark ONE box.)
An employee of a PRIVATE FOR-PROFIT company or business, or of an individual, for wages, salary, or commissions?
An employee of a PRIVATE NOT-FOR-PROFIT, tax-exempt, or charitable organization?
A local GOVERNMENT employee?
A Federal GOVERNMENT employee?
SELF-EMPLOYED in own NOT INCORPORATED business, professional practice, or farm?
SELF-EMPLOYED in own INCORPORATED business, professional practice, or farm?
Working WITHOUT PAY in family business or farm?
42. For whom did this person work?
If now on active duty in the Armed Forces, mark this box -- (box) and print the branch of the Armed Forces.
Name of company, business, or other employer
43. What kind of business or industry was this? Describe the activity at the location where employed. (For example: hospital, newspaper publishing, mail order house, auto engine manufacturing, bank)
44. Is this mainly (Mark ONE box)
Manufacturing?
Wholesale trade?
Retail trade?
Other (agriculture, construction, service, government, etc.)?
45. What kind of work was this person doing? (For example: registered nurse, personal manager, supervisor of order department, secretary, accountant)
46. What were this person’s most important activities or duties? (For example: patient care, directing hiring policies, supervising order clerks, typing and filing, reconciling financial records)
47. INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS Mark the “Yes” box for each type of income this person received, and give your best estimate of the TOTAL AMOUNT during the PAST 12 MONTHS. (NOTE: The “past 12 months” is the period from today’s date one year ago up through today.)
Mark the “No” box to show types of income NOT received.
If net income was a loss, mark the “Loss” box to the right of the dollar amount.
For income received jointly, report the appropriate share for each person – or, if that’s not possible, report the whole amount for only one person and mark the “No” box for the other person.
a. Wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, or tips from all jobs. Report amount before deductions for taxes, bonds, dues, or other items.
Yes -- $ ____________ (TOTAL AMOUNT for past 12 months)
No
b. Self-employed income from own nonfarm businesses or farm businesses, including proprietorships and partnerships. Report NET income after business expenses.
Yes -- $ _____________ (TOTAL AMOUNT for past 12 months)
No
c. Interest, dividends, net rental income, royalty income, or income from estates and trusts. Report even small amounts credited to an account.
Yes -- $ _____________ (TOTAL AMOUNT for past 12 months)
No
d. Social Security or Railroad Retirement
Yes -- $ _____________ (TOTAL AMOUNT for past 12 months)
No
e. Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Yes -- $ _____________ (TOTAL AMOUNT for past 12 months)
No
f. Any public assistance or welfare payments from the state or local welfare office.
Yes -- $ _____________ (TOTAL AMOUNT for past 12 months)
No
g. Retirement, survivor, or disability pensions.
Yes -- $ _____________ (TOTAL AMOUNT for past 12 months)
No
h. Any other source of income received regularly such as Veterans’ (VA) payments, unemployment compensation, child support or alimony. Do NOT include lump sum payments such as money from an inheritance or the sale of a home.
Yes -- $ _____________ (TOTAL AMOUNT for past 12 months)
No
48. What was this person’s total income during the PAST 12 MONTHS? Add entries in questions 47a to 47h; subtract any losses. If net income was a loss, enter the amount and mark the “Loss” box next to the dollar amount.
None OR $ _______________ (TOTAL AMOUNT for past 12 months)
(box) Loss
Continue with the questions for Person 2 on the next page. If no one is listed as person 2 on page 2 SKIP to page 28 for mailing instructions.
END QUOTE
(NOTE: I found out that they send out the American Community Survey annually to different households. Check out this ACS page and see if I'm telling the truth. Also, Check out the actual form in .pdf format. Now tell me why they need to get this info from everyone in America?)
When we received the U.S. Census papers, our family obeyed the U.S. Constitution and told the government how many people lived at this address. Not a problem. We did not tell them anything else, but we did tell them the number of people who live here.
A few weeks ago, we were “chosen” to be participants in “The American Community Survey” (ACS). Not happy with the intrusiveness of the questions (all listed below so you can judge for yourselves), we chose to respond by not responding. We have not – and will not – send them our information.
Friday, Nov. 4, 2011, in the afternoon we received a phone call from an ACS surveyor asking if we had received the ACS, and if we had, did we fill it out and send it back yet? I said we had received it, had not sent it back, and that our response was to not respond. She said that not responding was not a choice. She asked if I wanted to answer the questions while I was on the line with her. I said no. She also said that we were required by law to respond (pay attention to that: we will revisit it in a moment). I said, “So sue us.” She said she would call back and ask us again to respond. I said I looked forward to it.
When I hung up, I checked my caller identification feature on my phone and wrote the number on the fridge’s white board. We agreed that we won’t be answering any calls from anyone who calls with a number that starts with the first six of those numbers (area code and first three of the number), which means no numbers from that building will be answered. That problem was solved.
My husband got curious as to what will happen when we don’t comply. He looked up the ACS noncompliance punishment on the internet and said that the most we could face is a $100 fine. Other places said up to $5,000, but the comments on that one said that it is highly unlikely and that the regulation said up to $100. So, that’s probably the max, but it will be difficult for the government to get it out of us.
When we checked the accompanying literature, we found that it states that the ACS will help, “decide where to locate new highways, schools, hospitals, and community centers; to show a large corporation that a town has the workforce the company needs; and in many other ways.” Wonderful. Our information will be used against us because it will be used to “measure the performance of programs” (and then I’m sure those programs would be given more of our money if they’re not performing up to the already low standards currently in use). I will not benefit from any of those programs, but I will be taxed more for things that I do not use (like senior citizens paying for the public schools via property taxes). Isn’t that grand?
The literature goes on to state, “Your response to this survey is required by law (Title 13, U.S. Code, Sections 141 and 193). Title 13, as changed by Title 18, imposes a penalty for not responding. We estimate this survey will take about 38 minutes to complete.” Excuse me? I got curious and did an internet search for the legal authority for the American Community Survey, and found that according to this Government Accounting Office response to U.S. Congressman, Bob Barr,
“While Census clearly has authority to conduct the ACS, we found no public laws, committee reports, or other congressional actions in which Congress has required the Bureau to develop and implement the ACS.”
According to the GAO, the government has “no public laws, committee reports or other congressional actions in which Congress has required the Bureau to develop and implement the ACS. [my bolding and italics]” So according to the GAO, there is nothing that legally requires us to participate because it is Congress and the Senate that writes the laws that we are supposed to be subject to. Other things are regulations, not law. There is a difference. Also note,
“It is clear that Census was not reacting to congressional direction in developing the ACS but acting on its own initiative to address the costs associated with the collection of data in the decennial census and the timeliness of that data.”
So the U.S. Census Bureau, an entity not established as a separate government office within the U.S. Constitution, but instead, only as a process, an activity, is now acting on its own to invade our privacy. It is taking it upon itself to ask you personal questions. Not only that, but it is costing us more to do the ACS than the regular census the U.S. Constitution delineates – counting us but not asking personal questions (read the questions below) -- and the Census Bureau is saying it is addressing costs? I don’t think so. I think they are perpetuating their own jobs and trying to preserve them, making their existence more secure via the time needed to develop, promote, gather, correlate and write reports on all the information requested on the ACS. This is not about doing what is delineated in the U.S. Constitution. It is about job preservation for the Census Bureau!
If you don’t believe me, look the questions – and the sheer number of questions -- that will command many, many people to analyze and organize the answers into some sort of government report – and tell me that the questionnaire (all twenty-eight pages of it!) is not a way to ensure Census Bureau jobs for a very long time.
Considering how intrusive the questions are, I’m surprised they didn’t ask when the last time was that Person 1 used a public library, watched NPR, or flushed the toilet. This is a ridiculously intrusive survey. It is also not what our Founding Fathers had in mind when it came to a census (they wanted a count of the people for districting only). It is what the liberals/Wrongies/progressives are using to try to manipulate us and trying to tax us more and trying to enforce more regulation on us. If, for example, there aren’t enough people using public transport the government will now know and use more of our taxpayer dollars to make more taxpayers take public transport. It’s not a good thing, folks.
I would advise you to not cooperate with the invasion of your own privacy. I would advise you to not return the ACS, or to return it with the U.S. Constitution’s delineation of the census,
“Article I, Section 2:
“Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. [my bolding and italics]”
“Article I, Section 9:
“No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken.”
There are two keys there:
1) "By Law" -- Remember the GAO states, "we found no public laws". Therefore the ACS is totally unconstitutional -- BY LAW.
2) Notice that word, “Enumeration” which means: “1. To count off or name one by one; list:”. The U.S. Census says that the U.S. government has the right to COUNT us in a manner “as they shall by Law direct. [my bolding]” Considering that the Government Accounting Office states in their own look into the authority of the Census Bureau to do the ACS, they found “no public law” that gave them or anyone else the authority to do so. Therefore, in their own words, and in the words of the U.S. Constitution, I am not obligated to comply. Nor can they compel me to comply because the government has no subpoena to compel me to do so, nor am I – even under oath – forced to answer questions due to the Free Speech Clause and the Fifth Amendment.
I’d love to see the obamination administration try to make me comply with their intrusive questionnaire. I’d love to see them try.
The following questions are in the ACS:
(NOTE: For each question, there is a box to mark your answers in, but I did not write “box” for each box that is present in the questionnaire. For those that appeared in out of the norm places, I did delineate.)
QUOTE:
Person #
1. What is Person 1’s name? (First and Last)
2. How is this person related to Person 1? (It has “Person 1” marked for you.)
3. What is Person 1’s sex? (Male, Female)
4. What is Person 1’s age and what is Person 1’s date of birth?
(Please report babies as age 0 when the child is less than 1 year old.)
Note: Please answer BOTH Question 5 about Hispanic origin and Quesiton 6 about race. For this survey, Hispanic origins are not races.
5. Is Person 1 of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin?
No, not of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin
Yes, Mexican, Mexican Am., Chicano
Yes, Puerto Rican
Yes, Cuban
Yes, another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin – Print origin, for example, Argentinean, Colombian, Dominican, Nicaraguan, Salvadoran, Spaniard, and so on.
6. What is Person 1’s race?
White
Black, African Am., or Negro
American Indian or Alaska Native – Print name of enrolled or principal tribe.
Asian Indian
Chinese
Filipino
Japanese
Korean
Vietnamese
Native Hawaiian
Guamanian or Chamorro
Samoan
Other Asian – Print race, for example, Hmong, Laotian, Thai, Pakistani, Cambodian, and so on.
Other Pacific Islander – Print race, for example, Figian, Tongan, and so on.
Some other race – Print race.
Person 2
1. What is Person 2’s name? (First and Last)
2. How is this person related to Person 1?
Husband or wife
Biological son or daughter
Adopted son or daughter
Stepson or stepdaughter
Brother or sister
Father or mother
Grandchild
Parent-in-law
Son-in-law or daughter-in-law
Other relative
Roomer or boarder
Housemate or roommate
Unmarried partner
Foster child
Other nonrelative
3. What is Person 2’s sex?
(NOTE: It goes on from there with the same questions as Person 1’s questions and repeats for Person 3 through Person 5.)
Housing:
Please answer the following questions about the house, apartment, or mobile home at the address on the mailing label.
1. Which best describes this building?
A mobile home
A one-family house attached to one or more houses
A one-family house attached to one or more houses
A building with 2 apartments
A building with 3 or 4 apartments
A building with 5 to 9 apartments
A building with 10 to 19 apartments
A building with 20 to 49 apartments
A building with 50 or more apartments
Boat, RV, van, etc.
2. About when was this building first built?
2000 or later – Specify year
1990 to 1999
1980 to 1989
1970 to 1979
1960 to 1969
1950 to 1959
1940 to 1949
1939 or earlier
3. When did Person 1 (listed on page 2) move into this house, apartment, or mobile home? (Month, Year)
Answer questions 4-6 if this is a HOUSE OR A MOBILE HOME; otherwise, skip to question 7a.
A
4. How many acres is this house or mobile home on?
Less than 1 acre – SKIP to question 6
1 to 9.9 acres
10 or more acres
5. IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, what were the actual sales of all agricultural products from this property?
None
$1 to $999
$1,000 to $2,499
6. Is there a business (such as a store or barber shop) or a medical office on this property? (Yes, No)
7.a. How many separate rooms are in this house, apartment, or mobile home? Rooms must be separated by built-in archways or walls that extend out at least 6 inches and go from floor to ceiling. (INCLUDE bedrooms, kitchens, etc. EXCLUDE bathrooms, porches, balconies, foyers, halls, or unfinished basements.)
Number of rooms
b. How many of these rooms are bedrooms? Count as bedrooms those rooms you would list if this house, apartment, or mobile home were for sale or rent. If this is an efficiency/studio apartment, print “0”.
Number of bedrooms
8. Does this house, apartment, or mobile home have – (Yes, No answers)
a. hot and cold running water?
b. a flush toilet?
c. a bathtub or shower
d. a sink with a faucet
e. a stove or range
f. a refrigerator
g. telephone service from which you can both make and receive calls? Include cell phones.
9. How many automobiles, vans, and trucks of one-ton capacity or less are kept at home for use by members of this household?
None
1
2
3
4
5
6 or more
10. Which FUEL is use MOST for heating this house, apartment, or mobile home?
Gas: from underground pipes serving the neighborhood
Gas: bottled, tank, or LP
Electricity
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.
Coal or coke
Wood
Solar energy
Other fuel
No fuel used
11. a. LAST MONTH, what was the cost of electricity for this house, apartment, or mobile home?
Last month’s cost – Dollars
OR
Included in rent or condominium fee
No charge or electricity not used
b. LAST MONTH, what was the cost of gas for this house, apartment, or mobile home?
Last month’s cost - Dollars
OR
Included in rent or condominium fee
Included in electricity payment entered above
No charge or gas not used
c. IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, what was the cost of water and sewer for this house, apartment, or mobile home? If you have lived here less than 12 month, estimate the cost.
Past 12 months’ cost – Dollars
OR
Included in rent or condominium fee
No charge
d. IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, what was the cost of oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc., for this house, apartment, or mobile home? If you have lived here less than 12 months, estimate the cost.
Past 12 months’ cost – Dollars
OR
Included in rent or condominium fee
No charge or these fuels not used
12. IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, did anyone in this household receive Food Stamps or a Food Stamp benefit card? Include government benefits from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Do NOT include WIC or the National School Lunch Program. (Yes, No)
13. Is this house, apartment, or mobile home part of a condominium?
Yes – What is the monthly condominium fee? For renteres, answer only if you pay the condominium fee in addition to your rent; otherwise, mark the “None” box.
Monthly amount – Dollars
OR
None
No
14. Is this house, apartment, or mobile home – (Mark ONE box)
Owned by you or someone in this household with a mortgage or loan? Include home equity loans.
Owned by you or someone in this household free and clear (without a mortgage or loan)?
Rented?
Occupied without payment of rent? – SKIP to C.
B
Answer questions 15a and b if this house, apartment, or mobile home is RENTED. Otherwise SKIP to question 16.
15.a. What is the monthly rent for this house, apartment, or mobile home?
Monthly amount – Dollars
b. Does this monthly rent include any meals? (Yes, No)
C
Answer questions 16-20 if you or someone else in this household OWNS or IS BUYING this house, apartment, or mobile home. Otherwise, SKIP to E on the next page.
16. About how much do you think this house and lot, apartment, or mobile home (and lot, if owned) would sell for if it were for sale?
Amount – Dollars
17. What are the annual real estate taxes on THIS property?
Annual amount - Dollars
18. What is the annual payment for fire, hazard, and flood insurance on THIS property?
Annual amount – Dollars
OR
None
19. a. Do you or any member of this household have a mortgage, deed of trust, contract to purchase, or similar debt on THIS property?
Yes, mortgage, deed of trust, or similar debt
Yes, contract to purchase
No – SKIP to question 20a
b. How much is the regular monthly mortgage payment on THIS property? Include payment only on FIRST mortgage or contract ot purchase
Monthly amount – Dollars
OR
No regular payment required – SKIP to question 20a
c. Does the regular monthly mortgage payment include payments for real estate taxes on THIS property?
Yes, taxes included in mortgage payment
No, taxes paid separately or taxes not required
d. Does the regular monthly mortgage payment include payments for fire, hazard, or flood insurance on THIS property?
Yes, insurance included in mortgage payment
No, insurance paid separately or no insurance
20.a. Do you or any member of this household have a second mortgage or a home equity loan on THIS property?
Yes, home equity loan
Yes, second mortgage
Yes, second mortgage and home equity loan
No – SKIP to D
b. How much is the regular monthly payment on all second or junior mortgages and all home equity loans on THIS property?
Monthly amount – Dollars
OR
No regular payment required
D
Answer question 21 if this is a MOBILE HOME. Otherwise, SKIP to E.
21. What are the total annual costs for personal property taxes, site rent, registration fees, and license fees on THIS mobile home and its site? Exclude real estate taxes.
Annual Costs – Dollars
E
Answer questions about PERSON 1 on the next page if you listed at least one person on page 2. Otherwise, SKIP to page 28 for the mailing instructions.
Person 1
Please copy the name of Person 1 from page 2, then continue answering questions below.
(Last name, first name, MI)
7. Where was this person born?
In the United States – Print name of state
Outside the United States – Print name of foreign country, or Puerto Rico, Guam, etc.
8. Is this person a citizen of the United States?
Yes, born in the United States – SKIP to 10a
Yes, born in Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or Northern Marianas
Yes, born abroad of U.S. citizen parent or parents
Yes, U.S. citizen by naturalization - Print year of naturalization (box)
No, not a U.S. citizen
9. When did this person come to live in the United States? Print numbers in boxes. (Year)
10.a. At any time IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS, has this person attended school or college? Include only nursery or preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, home school, and schooling which leads to a high school diploma or a college degree.
No, has not attended in the last 3 months – SKIP to question 11
Yes, public school, public college
Yes, private school, private college, home school
b. What grade level was this person attending? Mark ONE box.
Nursery school, preschool
Kindergarten
Grade1 through 12 – Specify grade 1-12
College undergraduate years (freshman to senior)
Graduate or professional school beyond a bachelor’s degree (for example: MA or Ph.D. program, or medical or law school)
11. What is the highest degree or level of school this person has COMPLETED? Mark ONE box. If currently enrolled, mark the previous grade or highest degree received.
No Schooling Completed
No Schooling Completed
Nursery or Preschool Through Grade 12
Nursery school
Kindergarten
Grade 1 through 11 – Specify grade 1 – 11
High School Graduate
Regular high school diploma
GED or alternative credential
College or Some College
Some college credit, but less than 1 year of college credit
1 or more years of college credit, no degree
Associate’s degree (for example: AA, AS)
Bachelor’s degree (for example: BA, BS)
After Bachelor’s Degree
Master’s degree (for example: MA, MS, MEng, Med, MSW, MBA)
Professional degree beyond a bachelor’s degree (for example: MD, DDS, DVM, LLB, JD)
Doctorate degree (for example: PhD, EdD)
F
Answer question 12 if this person has a bachelor’s degree or higher. Otherwise, SKIP to question 13.
12. This question focuses on this person’s BACHELOR’S DEGREE. Please print below the specific major(s) of any BACHELOR’S DEGREES this person has received. (For example: chemical engineering, elementary teacher education, organizational psychology)
13. What is this person’s ancestry or ethnic origin?
(For example: Italian, Jamaican, African Am., Cambodian, Cape Verdean, Norwegian, Dominican, French Canadian, Haitian, Korean, Lebanese, Polish, Nigerian, Mexican, Taiwanese, Ukrainian, and so on)
14.a. Does this person speak a language other than English at home?
Yes
No – SKIP to question 15a.
b. What is this language? For example: Korean, Italian, Spanish, Vietnamese
c. How well does this person speak English?
Very well
Well
Not well
Not at all
15. a. Did this person live in this house or apartment 1 year ago?
Person is under 1 year old – SKIP to question 16
Yes, this house – SKIP to question 16
No, outside the United States and Puerto Rico – Print name of foreign country, or U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, etc., below; then SKIP to question 16.
No, different house in the United States or Puerto Rico
b. Where did this person live 1 year ago?
Address, Number and street name
Name of city, town or post office
Name of U.S. county or municipio in Puerto Rico
Name of U.S. state or Puerto Rico
ZIP Code
16. Is this person CURRENTLY covered by any of the following types of health insurance or health coverage plans? Mark “Yes” or “No” for EACH type of coverage in items a-h.
a. Insurance through a current or former employer or union (of this person or another family member)
b. Insurance purchased directly from an insurance company (by this person or another family member)
c. Medicare, for people 65 and older, or people with certain disabilities
d. Medicaid, Medical Assistance, or any kind of government assistance plan for those with low incomes or a disability
e. TRICARE or other military health care
f. VA (including those who have never used or enrolled for VA health care)
g. Indian Health Service
h. Any other type of health insurance – Specify
17. a. Is this person deaf or does he/she have serious difficulty hearing? (Yes, No)
b. Is this person blind or does he/she have serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses? (Yes, No)
G
Answer question 18.a – c if this person is 5 years old or over. Otherwise, SKIP to the questions for Person 2 on page 12.
18.a. Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, does this person have serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions? (Yes, No)
b. Does this person have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs? (Yes, No)
c. Does this person have difficulty dressing or bathing? (Yes, No)
H
Answer question 19 if this person is 15 years old or over. Otherwise, SKIP to the questions for Person 2 on page 12.
19. Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition does this person have difficulty doing errands alone such as visiting a doctor’s office or shopping? (Yes, No)
20. What is this person’s marital status?
Now married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
Never married – SKIP to I
21. In the PAST 12 MONTHS did this person get –
a. Married? (Yes, No)
b. Widowed? (Yes, No)
c. Divorced? (Yes, No)
22. How many times has this person been married?
23. In what year did this person last get married? (Year)
I
Answer question 24 if this person is female and 15 – 50 years old. Otherwise, SKIP to question 25a.
24. Has this person given birth to any children in the past 12 months? (Yes, No)
25. a. Does this person have any of his/her own grandchildren under the age of 18 living in this house or apartment?
Yes
No – SKIP to question 26
b. Is this grandparent currently responsible for most of the basic needs of any grandchildren under the age of 18 who lives in this house or apartment?
Yes
No – SKIP to question 26
c. How long has this grandparent been responsible for these grandchildren? If the grandparent is financially responsible for more than one grandchild, answer the question for the grandchild for whom the grandparent has been responsible the longest period of time.
Less than 6 months
6 to 11 months
1 or 2 years
3 or 4 years
5 or more years
26. Has this person ever served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, military Reserves, or National Guard? Active duty does not include training for the Reserves or National Guard, but DOES include activation, for example, for the Persian Gulf War.
Yes, now on active duty
Yes, on active duty during the last 12 months, but not now
Yes, on active duty in the past, but not during the last 12 months
No, training for Reserves or National Guard only – SKIP to question 28a
No, never served in the military – SKIP to question 29a
27. When did this person serve on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces? Mark a box for EACH period in which this person served, even if just for part of the period.
September 2001 or later
August 1990 to August 2001 (including Persian Gulf War)
September 1980 to July 1990
May 1975 to August 1980
Vietnam Era (August 1964 to April 1975)
March 1961 to July 1964
February 1955 to February 1961
Korean War (July 1950 to January 1955)
January 1947 to June 1950
World War II (December 1941 to December 1946)
November 1941 or earlier
28.a. Does this person have a VA service-connected disability rating?
Yes (such as 0%, 20%, …, 100%)
No – SKIP to question 29a
b. What is this person’s service-connected disability rating?
0 percent
10 to 20 percent
30 to 40 percent
50 to 60 percent
70 percent or higher
29.a. LAST WEEK, did this person work for pay at a job (or business)?
Yes – SKIP to question 30
No – Did not work (or retired)
b. LAST WEEK, did this person do ANY work for pay, even for as little as one hour?
Yes
No – SKIP to question 35a
30. At what location did this person work LAST WEEK? If this person worked at more than one location, print where he or she worked most last week.
a. Address (Number and street name) If the exact address is not known, give a description of the location such as the building name or the nearest street or intersection.
b. Name of city, town, or post office
c. Is the work location inside the limits of that city or town?
Yes
No, outside the city/town limits
d. Name of county
e. Name of U.S. state or foreign country
f. ZIP code
31. How did this person usually get to work LAST WEEK? If this person usually used more than one method of transportation during the trip, mark the box of the one used for most of the distance.
Car, truck, or van
Bus or trolley bus
Streetcar or trolley car
Subway or elevated
Railroad
Ferryboat
Taxicab
Motorcycle
Bicycle
Walked
Worked at home – SKIP to question 39a
Other method
J
Answer question 32 if you marked “Car, truck, or van” in question 31. Otherwise, SKIP to question 33.
32. How many people, including this person, usually rode to work in the car, truck, or van LAST WEEK?
Person(s)
33. What time did this person usually leave home to go to work LAST WEEK?
Hour
Minute a.m. p.m.
34. How many minutes did it usually take this person to get from home to work LAST WEEK?
Minutes
K
Answer questions 35 – 38 if this person did NOT work last week. Otherwise, SKIP to question 39a.
35.a. LAST WEEK, was this person on layoff from a job?
Yes – SKIP to question 35c.
No
b. LAST WEEK, was this person temporarily absent from a job or business?
Yes, on vacation, temporary illness, maternity leave, other family/personal reasons, bad weather, etc. – SKIP to question 38
No – SKIP to question 36
c. Has this person been informed that he or she will be recalled to work within the next 6 months OR been given a date to return to work?
Yes – SKIP to question 37
No
36. During the LAST 4 WEEKS, has this person been ACTIVELY looking for work?
Yes
No – SKIP to question 38
37. LAST WEEK, could this person have started a job if offered on, or returned to work if recalled?
Yes, could have gone to work
No, because of own temporary illness
No, because of all other reasons (in school, etc.)
38. When did this person last work, even for a few days?
Within the past 12 months
1 to 5 years ago – SKIP to L
Over 5 years ago or never worked – SKIP to question 47
39. a. During the PAST 12 MONTHS (52 weeks), did this person work 50 or more weeks? Count paid time off as work.
Yes – SKIP to question 40
No
b. How many weeks DID this person work, even for a few hours, including paid vacation, paid sick leave, and military service?
50 to 52 weeks
48 to 49 weeks
40 to 47 weeks
27 to 39 weeks
14 to 26 weeks
13 weeks or less
40. During the PAST 12 MONTHS, in the WEEKS WORKED, how many hours did this person usually work each WEEK?
Usual hours worked each week
L
Answer questions 41 – 46 if this person worked in the past 5 years. Otherwise, SKIP to question 47.
41-46 Current or most recent job activity. Describe clearly this person’s chief job activity or business last week. If this person had more than one job, describe the one at which this person worked the most hours. If this person had no job or business last week, give information for his/her last job or business.
41. Was this person – (Mark ONE box.)
An employee of a PRIVATE FOR-PROFIT company or business, or of an individual, for wages, salary, or commissions?
An employee of a PRIVATE NOT-FOR-PROFIT, tax-exempt, or charitable organization?
A local GOVERNMENT employee?
A Federal GOVERNMENT employee?
SELF-EMPLOYED in own NOT INCORPORATED business, professional practice, or farm?
SELF-EMPLOYED in own INCORPORATED business, professional practice, or farm?
Working WITHOUT PAY in family business or farm?
42. For whom did this person work?
If now on active duty in the Armed Forces, mark this box -- (box) and print the branch of the Armed Forces.
Name of company, business, or other employer
43. What kind of business or industry was this? Describe the activity at the location where employed. (For example: hospital, newspaper publishing, mail order house, auto engine manufacturing, bank)
44. Is this mainly (Mark ONE box)
Manufacturing?
Wholesale trade?
Retail trade?
Other (agriculture, construction, service, government, etc.)?
45. What kind of work was this person doing? (For example: registered nurse, personal manager, supervisor of order department, secretary, accountant)
46. What were this person’s most important activities or duties? (For example: patient care, directing hiring policies, supervising order clerks, typing and filing, reconciling financial records)
47. INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS Mark the “Yes” box for each type of income this person received, and give your best estimate of the TOTAL AMOUNT during the PAST 12 MONTHS. (NOTE: The “past 12 months” is the period from today’s date one year ago up through today.)
Mark the “No” box to show types of income NOT received.
If net income was a loss, mark the “Loss” box to the right of the dollar amount.
For income received jointly, report the appropriate share for each person – or, if that’s not possible, report the whole amount for only one person and mark the “No” box for the other person.
a. Wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, or tips from all jobs. Report amount before deductions for taxes, bonds, dues, or other items.
Yes -- $ ____________ (TOTAL AMOUNT for past 12 months)
No
b. Self-employed income from own nonfarm businesses or farm businesses, including proprietorships and partnerships. Report NET income after business expenses.
Yes -- $ _____________ (TOTAL AMOUNT for past 12 months)
No
c. Interest, dividends, net rental income, royalty income, or income from estates and trusts. Report even small amounts credited to an account.
Yes -- $ _____________ (TOTAL AMOUNT for past 12 months)
No
d. Social Security or Railroad Retirement
Yes -- $ _____________ (TOTAL AMOUNT for past 12 months)
No
e. Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Yes -- $ _____________ (TOTAL AMOUNT for past 12 months)
No
f. Any public assistance or welfare payments from the state or local welfare office.
Yes -- $ _____________ (TOTAL AMOUNT for past 12 months)
No
g. Retirement, survivor, or disability pensions.
Yes -- $ _____________ (TOTAL AMOUNT for past 12 months)
No
h. Any other source of income received regularly such as Veterans’ (VA) payments, unemployment compensation, child support or alimony. Do NOT include lump sum payments such as money from an inheritance or the sale of a home.
Yes -- $ _____________ (TOTAL AMOUNT for past 12 months)
No
48. What was this person’s total income during the PAST 12 MONTHS? Add entries in questions 47a to 47h; subtract any losses. If net income was a loss, enter the amount and mark the “Loss” box next to the dollar amount.
None OR $ _______________ (TOTAL AMOUNT for past 12 months)
(box) Loss
Continue with the questions for Person 2 on the next page. If no one is listed as person 2 on page 2 SKIP to page 28 for mailing instructions.
END QUOTE
(NOTE: I found out that they send out the American Community Survey annually to different households. Check out this ACS page and see if I'm telling the truth. Also, Check out the actual form in .pdf format. Now tell me why they need to get this info from everyone in America?)
Saturday, September 17, 2011
IMHO: Mother Hatred Leads Obama to Hate America
I was considering the way that Obama is treating America and I got to wondering about the question above. Does Obama hate his mother and is that why he is so dead set on making America, a nation perceived by most as a Caucasian majority country, pay for the hurts of his past? With a sad history of bigotry, did America reflect the actions of his mother in Obama’s eyes as a child? The following is my opinion on what happened to make Barack Hussein Obama so desire to destroy America. Consider:
Obama’s parents supposedly met in HI when his mom was eighteen (page 9 of “Dreams”), first her parents were said to have been “won over by his [father’s] charm” (pg. 9) then on page twelve, his grandparents – the white ones – said yes to the marriage of his parents “no matter how grudgingly” (pg. 12). Although the question of their “marriage” still is up for grabs, as admitted to on page 22 of “Dreams”. “There’s no record of a real wedding” he says. If there was no real wedding, there was no marriage. Considering the words of Michelle Obama, his mother was “very young and very single when she had him” so the marriage is even more in question. No marriage equals his birth out of wedlock and thus, he was a bastard child.
His mother took him from HI within two weeks of giving birth to Obama to attend college classes in Seattle, WA. She took him away from his father after only fifteen days with him in HI, not even giving them the chance to bond.
Supposedly they stayed in Seattle until sometime in 1963 when Obama and Momma returned to Hawaii. Obama would have been just a little one at the time, so no real resentment would have resulted from that. However, it was not too long until Momma found someone else to love. March 15, 1965, Stanley Ann Dunham married Lolo Soetoro, when Obama was three. Or did she? Stanley Ann gives two different dates for their wedding: March 5, 1964 and March 15, 1965 (read the whole thing and the commentary on it – very interesting).
A year or two after the wedding on whichever date, she dragged little boy Obama to another country where he had to adjust to new food, new customs, a new language, new people. After a while he also had to adjust to a new little half-sister, Maya, Stanley Ann had with Soetoro. As all this conspired against him, his mother’s attentions were elsewhere: school (she was still studying for her degree in Mathematics), husband (newlywed husband at that) and then little sister (cute, cuddly and doted upon no doubt): all this change and no room for Obama.
Stanley Ann used that math degree to fit her career choice: International Banking. She travelled extensively while he was young and that meant even less time for her little boy. She was gone and he was with nannies and saw that he was no longer her first priority. Everything else came first: her new husband, her new daughter, her new career. (BTW, Stanley Ann participated in a similar program as did her son years later, a program to give loans to people with bad credit and low incomes; think ACORN). Obama saw his mother as having more time for people she didn’t know, who didn’t love her, didn’t need her, who didn’t want her to love them than she had time for him. He saw the distance between himself and his mother growing and realized that she had no more time for him. Is this when resentment began to build?
In Indonesia, Obama’s Kindergarten year was repeated. He had done one Kindergarten year in Hawaii, and apparently they insisted he do another in Indonesia, learning their ways and their beliefs. So his first year of school was repeated. The boy was always a year older than his classmates while he was in Indonesia because of this repeated Kindergarten year. Did he resent this? Was he embarrassed that he had to repeat? Didn’t he want his mother to stand up for him and tell the school that he had been to Kindergarten already?
(While there, Obama studied “mengaji” (read about it under “Quranic Studies” and I do mean READ IT and “Mates”. Proves me right again.)
Then, lo and behold, Stanley Ann does the unthinkable. She took Obama as a ten-year old back to Hawaii to live with her parents. The ultimate rejection, she left him there and went back to live with his step-father and their daughter. The ultimate betrayal, she chose to keep the daughter with her, but the son got sent away. A white woman chose her “white” daughter (although the daughter had Indonesian blood in her) and denied, left, abandoned her half-black son.
It would be years before the two were reunited, and only then for relatively short periods of time. That’s when the resentment, the anger, the feelings of betrayal, abandonment, hatred and resentment began to build. Every time she would leave him, she would take the daughter she loved more than her half-black son with her. Maya got to go; Barry stayed with Grandma and Grandpa. Mom chose Maya.
According to his first “auto”-biography, on page xv, he states, “I ceased to advertise my mother’s race at the age of twelve or thirteen, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites”. He was no longer happy with his mother being white, so he stopped saying her race – half of himself – was white. He didn’t like her being white, or he would have continued telling others. Notice also, he calls himself “the tragic mulatto”. It is a “tragedy” that the world is the way it is and he is “trapped between two worlds”. All this thanks to his mother: the one responsible for his existence and his mixed race. The one responsible for abandoning him and treating him so shabbily, his mother’s white blood made her choose the way she did and he hated her for it.
To make a rather long, self-absorbed, too utterly artistic, melodramatic, self-loathing story shorter than a millennium, or just his double “auto”-biographies, I will shorten it to a few key instances in “Dreams”. He says that his parents met in HI when his mom was eighteen (page 9 of “Dreams”). First her parents were said to have been “won over by his [father’s] charm” (pg. 9) then on page twelve, his grandparents – the white ones – said yes to the marriage of his parents “no matter how grudgingly” (pg. 12). According to Obama his great-grandmother – mom’s mom’s mom – was rumored to have been such a bigot that she was even embarrassed of her Cherokee blood. (He even says that his grandfather would probably say something bigoted and not even realize it when they met his father for the first time. [pg. 17] Sweet. But I digress.)
So in his own words when he wrote the book, his grandparents who raised him were bigots. He also tells of an instance when his grandmother was scared by a black panhandler and he heard her tell the story of what happened that day and got angry. While writing the book, he focuses on race. He uses it as both a violin to make you weep and as a whip to make you bleed. If you are a white person, you are partially responsible for the things that personally happened to him; whatever he experienced, you did. If you are black, you are supposed to identify with him for you are in the same position. Either way, race is at the core – the epicenter – of everything that happens in life.
If your mother leaves you to be raised by someone else even though she may think it was the best thing to do for you, it was because of your race. If your grandmother was scared by someone of your race, it’s because of his race. It wasn’t their actions or attitudes it was race; pure, plain and simple. White folks did all of this. They caused Barry to be miserable. They were responsible for his being raised by old folks (cool old folks, for the most part, but old folks nonetheless).
Because of this, Obama punishes white America. Everything that happened to him as a child was a white woman’s fault. Everything that happened to him as a teen was a white person’s fault (teachers, neighbors, whomever). Everyone must pay because his mom treated him poorly. As president, he can do something to make them all miserable. He can make them all feel his pain. He can make them all sorry for treating him that way. Even the memory of his mother’s love and desire to do what was best for him cannot stop him from making the white world pay.
This truth is evident in everything he does. From his failure to prosecute the New Black Panther Party to his statement that police acted “stupidly” in the Professor Gates incident, Obama can always be counted on to – without knowing the full facts of the case, or sometimes in spite of knowing the full facts of the case – take whichever side has a black person in it. The problem is, he hates his black side just as much and makes the blacks of America pay dearly, too.
It also shows in the way he treats the women of his administration.
So the truth is, Obama hates his white side because of his mother’s abandonment (see “Punahou”), and he wants to make America pay the price for that. But he also must punish the black side as well because he perceives that as being the cause of her abandonment. Thus, America pays because Obama’s mother played.
(NOTE: I have "Dreams From My Father", Three Rivers Press, © 1995, 2004 by Barack Obama, Paperback edition, ISBN 978-1-4000-8277-3)
Obama’s parents supposedly met in HI when his mom was eighteen (page 9 of “Dreams”), first her parents were said to have been “won over by his [father’s] charm” (pg. 9) then on page twelve, his grandparents – the white ones – said yes to the marriage of his parents “no matter how grudgingly” (pg. 12). Although the question of their “marriage” still is up for grabs, as admitted to on page 22 of “Dreams”. “There’s no record of a real wedding” he says. If there was no real wedding, there was no marriage. Considering the words of Michelle Obama, his mother was “very young and very single when she had him” so the marriage is even more in question. No marriage equals his birth out of wedlock and thus, he was a bastard child.
His mother took him from HI within two weeks of giving birth to Obama to attend college classes in Seattle, WA. She took him away from his father after only fifteen days with him in HI, not even giving them the chance to bond.
Supposedly they stayed in Seattle until sometime in 1963 when Obama and Momma returned to Hawaii. Obama would have been just a little one at the time, so no real resentment would have resulted from that. However, it was not too long until Momma found someone else to love. March 15, 1965, Stanley Ann Dunham married Lolo Soetoro, when Obama was three. Or did she? Stanley Ann gives two different dates for their wedding: March 5, 1964 and March 15, 1965 (read the whole thing and the commentary on it – very interesting).
A year or two after the wedding on whichever date, she dragged little boy Obama to another country where he had to adjust to new food, new customs, a new language, new people. After a while he also had to adjust to a new little half-sister, Maya, Stanley Ann had with Soetoro. As all this conspired against him, his mother’s attentions were elsewhere: school (she was still studying for her degree in Mathematics), husband (newlywed husband at that) and then little sister (cute, cuddly and doted upon no doubt): all this change and no room for Obama.
Stanley Ann used that math degree to fit her career choice: International Banking. She travelled extensively while he was young and that meant even less time for her little boy. She was gone and he was with nannies and saw that he was no longer her first priority. Everything else came first: her new husband, her new daughter, her new career. (BTW, Stanley Ann participated in a similar program as did her son years later, a program to give loans to people with bad credit and low incomes; think ACORN). Obama saw his mother as having more time for people she didn’t know, who didn’t love her, didn’t need her, who didn’t want her to love them than she had time for him. He saw the distance between himself and his mother growing and realized that she had no more time for him. Is this when resentment began to build?
In Indonesia, Obama’s Kindergarten year was repeated. He had done one Kindergarten year in Hawaii, and apparently they insisted he do another in Indonesia, learning their ways and their beliefs. So his first year of school was repeated. The boy was always a year older than his classmates while he was in Indonesia because of this repeated Kindergarten year. Did he resent this? Was he embarrassed that he had to repeat? Didn’t he want his mother to stand up for him and tell the school that he had been to Kindergarten already?
(While there, Obama studied “mengaji” (read about it under “Quranic Studies” and I do mean READ IT and “Mates”. Proves me right again.)
Then, lo and behold, Stanley Ann does the unthinkable. She took Obama as a ten-year old back to Hawaii to live with her parents. The ultimate rejection, she left him there and went back to live with his step-father and their daughter. The ultimate betrayal, she chose to keep the daughter with her, but the son got sent away. A white woman chose her “white” daughter (although the daughter had Indonesian blood in her) and denied, left, abandoned her half-black son.
It would be years before the two were reunited, and only then for relatively short periods of time. That’s when the resentment, the anger, the feelings of betrayal, abandonment, hatred and resentment began to build. Every time she would leave him, she would take the daughter she loved more than her half-black son with her. Maya got to go; Barry stayed with Grandma and Grandpa. Mom chose Maya.
According to his first “auto”-biography, on page xv, he states, “I ceased to advertise my mother’s race at the age of twelve or thirteen, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites”. He was no longer happy with his mother being white, so he stopped saying her race – half of himself – was white. He didn’t like her being white, or he would have continued telling others. Notice also, he calls himself “the tragic mulatto”. It is a “tragedy” that the world is the way it is and he is “trapped between two worlds”. All this thanks to his mother: the one responsible for his existence and his mixed race. The one responsible for abandoning him and treating him so shabbily, his mother’s white blood made her choose the way she did and he hated her for it.
To make a rather long, self-absorbed, too utterly artistic, melodramatic, self-loathing story shorter than a millennium, or just his double “auto”-biographies, I will shorten it to a few key instances in “Dreams”. He says that his parents met in HI when his mom was eighteen (page 9 of “Dreams”). First her parents were said to have been “won over by his [father’s] charm” (pg. 9) then on page twelve, his grandparents – the white ones – said yes to the marriage of his parents “no matter how grudgingly” (pg. 12). According to Obama his great-grandmother – mom’s mom’s mom – was rumored to have been such a bigot that she was even embarrassed of her Cherokee blood. (He even says that his grandfather would probably say something bigoted and not even realize it when they met his father for the first time. [pg. 17] Sweet. But I digress.)
So in his own words when he wrote the book, his grandparents who raised him were bigots. He also tells of an instance when his grandmother was scared by a black panhandler and he heard her tell the story of what happened that day and got angry. While writing the book, he focuses on race. He uses it as both a violin to make you weep and as a whip to make you bleed. If you are a white person, you are partially responsible for the things that personally happened to him; whatever he experienced, you did. If you are black, you are supposed to identify with him for you are in the same position. Either way, race is at the core – the epicenter – of everything that happens in life.
If your mother leaves you to be raised by someone else even though she may think it was the best thing to do for you, it was because of your race. If your grandmother was scared by someone of your race, it’s because of his race. It wasn’t their actions or attitudes it was race; pure, plain and simple. White folks did all of this. They caused Barry to be miserable. They were responsible for his being raised by old folks (cool old folks, for the most part, but old folks nonetheless).
Because of this, Obama punishes white America. Everything that happened to him as a child was a white woman’s fault. Everything that happened to him as a teen was a white person’s fault (teachers, neighbors, whomever). Everyone must pay because his mom treated him poorly. As president, he can do something to make them all miserable. He can make them all feel his pain. He can make them all sorry for treating him that way. Even the memory of his mother’s love and desire to do what was best for him cannot stop him from making the white world pay.
This truth is evident in everything he does. From his failure to prosecute the New Black Panther Party to his statement that police acted “stupidly” in the Professor Gates incident, Obama can always be counted on to – without knowing the full facts of the case, or sometimes in spite of knowing the full facts of the case – take whichever side has a black person in it. The problem is, he hates his black side just as much and makes the blacks of America pay dearly, too.
It also shows in the way he treats the women of his administration.
So the truth is, Obama hates his white side because of his mother’s abandonment (see “Punahou”), and he wants to make America pay the price for that. But he also must punish the black side as well because he perceives that as being the cause of her abandonment. Thus, America pays because Obama’s mother played.
(NOTE: I have "Dreams From My Father", Three Rivers Press, © 1995, 2004 by Barack Obama, Paperback edition, ISBN 978-1-4000-8277-3)
Monday, September 12, 2011
Millage Rates, Tax Increases that Aren't, and Assessed Values
In a local cage liner named "Happenings", a writer wrote an article called "Good Day!" I found a few flaws in the article and decided to write a few things against to straghten it out.
September 7, 2011: 6:32 a.m. For those of you who are subjected to the local pooper paper, you may have read rupester's article starting on page four of this month's rag. To which I must respond publicly, as rupester wrote publicly. I wrote a letter in response to the owner of the pooper paper, but I seriously doubt it will appear. So, I publish it here for the benefit of all:
"Randy,
"You're publishing Rupe's rantings against Infantini where it concerns money and figures? Really? Consider:
Trudie Infantini:
Trudie's Bio
"[E]arned her Bachelor's in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting from Florida International University. Trudie became a Certified Public Accountant and earned a Master's degree in Accounting from Florida Atlantic University.
"Within a year of moving to Brevard County, Trudie became a licensed financial planner. She worked for various Wall Street brokerage firms for five years and has even earned her Principal's license, which enabled her to run her own firm. She has maintained her membership in both the Florida Institute of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs since 1983.
"In 2001, Trudie began work at Space Coast Credit Union as an Internal Audit Manager (Chief Audit Executive). In this role she was responsible for preparing and carrying out the annual audit plan, risk assessment, and coordinating efforts for the annual audit. She was also tasked with comparing budgeted to actual financial statements, analyzing tax laws and regulations to verify that SCCU was in compliance with such laws.
"Trudie worked as an Internal Auditor for the Brevard County Clerk of Courts, where she has seen first hand the waste and inefficiency in many County departments, and has allowed her the opportunity to analyze and question agenda items presented to the Board of County Commissioners. Currently, Trudie is a Professor of Accounting at Florida Institute of Technology.
Maureen Rupe:
Rupe's old campaign site with "Education and Experience.
"My education was over 40 years ago, and the education system at that time cannot be compared to the present day United Kingdom Education System. I attended an innovative school that concentrated on the technical aspects of various subjects. All students were required to pass a rigorous scholarship test to be allowed to attend this school. The Kettering Central Technical School was highly regarded and respected. Latin and French were taught routinely, along with many advanced courses, not included in schools today.
"At that time, Britain started education earlier in childhood (I started at 3) and 15 was the age to leave school nationwide, unless you attended grammar school or a technical school, as did I. The Kettering school has since closed and the education system reorganized to what it is today. All this is documented and can be verified.
"(NOTE: To see more on Technical Schools in England, you may wish to visit The History of Education in England.)
"Considering the facts, I think I'd take a CPA's word on financial things more than a person who left school at 15 and wrote on her "What qualifies me to run for County Commissioner?" page prior to reworking it, (initial page retrieved April 14, 2008), "When I was 17 and stubbornly refused to go to college" (her previous words for her educational background). Remember, "college" in England (where she was born, raised and schooled) is the equivalent to our 11th and 12th grades. According to (her own resume) she received no further formal education.
"Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, licensed financial planner, CPA and internal auditor or someone who left technical school at 15? Hmmm....
"Linda McKinney"
I have searched the BOCC website and cannot find anything that says there was a meeting on August 11, 2011. I have found one for August 2nd and 16th, but not August 11th. Therefore I can neither confirm nor deny the alleged words of Mary Bolin.
However, I would ask you to consider the following:
Andy Anderson, NOT A CPA: he has an A.A., in what it doesn't state.
Mary Bolin, NOT A CPA: she has a B.A. in Education. (Difficult info to find: it's not on her BOCC website Bio.)
Chuck Nelson, NOT A CPA: his degree is (Shock! Surprise!) Phys. Ed.!
Robin Fisher, NOT A CPA: he's a Public Relations major.
So, considering the studies and backgrounds of the other four Commissioners, I think it's reasonable to follow Commissioner Infantini's lead - especially when it comes to money matters -- and go with her recommendations. CPA v rupester and the four Commies? Yeah. Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, licensed financial planner, CPA and internal auditor Infantini every time!
September 7, 2022: 4:00 p.m. NOTE: I wrote to the County asking for a copy of the minutes of the August 11, 2011 meeting rupester quotes in her article. The response is below:
"Good morning Ms. McKinney,
"I was forwarded your request for the minutes of the August 11, 2011 Board of County Commissioners meeting. There was no Board meeting held August 11, 2011, however there were three regular meetings in the month of August. If there is particular subject or item you are interested in, we would be happy to research that for you.
"All completed minutes of the Board of County Commissioners meetings are posted on the Brevard County Government webpage, as well as the Clerk of Courts webpage.
"If you need anything further, feel free to contact me.
"Best regards,
"Tammy Etheridge
"Clerk to the Board"
So, I sent a request to the pooper paper's owner/publisher/editor that he print a correction in next month's pooper paper. We'll see if he actually does anything about it.
Update: I received the meeting notes from the County for a meeting that happened AUGUST 9, 2011. Contrary to what rupester asserts in her article, Infantini is not accused of the mentioned "sins". Read the meeting notes here. Notice that when Comm. Bolin is speaking, she does NOT mention Comm. Infantini at all. She never mentions any names. She just states that there is misinformation out there. rupester assigning words to Bolin in order to make Infantini look as bad as possible. This, to me, is NOT reporting. rupester is creating a misimpression and is trying to influence people to her way of thinking (as if she actually thinks?).
I have written to the pooper paper's owner and reminded him of rupester's history of proven plagiarism, possible copyright infringement, her assigning words to Bolin and errors in dates and facts. I have asked that from this date forward he label rupester's writings as "OPINION" instead of allowing them to stand as reporting. I have taken journalism and I know the difference between a fact, rhetoric and a hit piece. rupester's every mention of Comm. Infantini is a hit piece filled with rhetoric. I think it's time the pooper paper be held accountable. If you agree with me, write to Happenings and tell them it's time their writer be held accountable to the rules of journalism or have her writing labeled "OPINION". It's time.
*******************
That didn't do the job well enough, I thought. So I did a
whole page on the same subject. I hope you like the truth because there it is in cold, hard facts.
September 7, 2011: 6:32 a.m. For those of you who are subjected to the local pooper paper, you may have read rupester's article starting on page four of this month's rag. To which I must respond publicly, as rupester wrote publicly. I wrote a letter in response to the owner of the pooper paper, but I seriously doubt it will appear. So, I publish it here for the benefit of all:
"Randy,
"You're publishing Rupe's rantings against Infantini where it concerns money and figures? Really? Consider:
Trudie Infantini:
Trudie's Bio
"[E]arned her Bachelor's in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting from Florida International University. Trudie became a Certified Public Accountant and earned a Master's degree in Accounting from Florida Atlantic University.
"Within a year of moving to Brevard County, Trudie became a licensed financial planner. She worked for various Wall Street brokerage firms for five years and has even earned her Principal's license, which enabled her to run her own firm. She has maintained her membership in both the Florida Institute of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs since 1983.
"In 2001, Trudie began work at Space Coast Credit Union as an Internal Audit Manager (Chief Audit Executive). In this role she was responsible for preparing and carrying out the annual audit plan, risk assessment, and coordinating efforts for the annual audit. She was also tasked with comparing budgeted to actual financial statements, analyzing tax laws and regulations to verify that SCCU was in compliance with such laws.
"Trudie worked as an Internal Auditor for the Brevard County Clerk of Courts, where she has seen first hand the waste and inefficiency in many County departments, and has allowed her the opportunity to analyze and question agenda items presented to the Board of County Commissioners. Currently, Trudie is a Professor of Accounting at Florida Institute of Technology.
Maureen Rupe:
Rupe's old campaign site with "Education and Experience.
"My education was over 40 years ago, and the education system at that time cannot be compared to the present day United Kingdom Education System. I attended an innovative school that concentrated on the technical aspects of various subjects. All students were required to pass a rigorous scholarship test to be allowed to attend this school. The Kettering Central Technical School was highly regarded and respected. Latin and French were taught routinely, along with many advanced courses, not included in schools today.
"At that time, Britain started education earlier in childhood (I started at 3) and 15 was the age to leave school nationwide, unless you attended grammar school or a technical school, as did I. The Kettering school has since closed and the education system reorganized to what it is today. All this is documented and can be verified.
"(NOTE: To see more on Technical Schools in England, you may wish to visit The History of Education in England.)
"Considering the facts, I think I'd take a CPA's word on financial things more than a person who left school at 15 and wrote on her "What qualifies me to run for County Commissioner?" page prior to reworking it, (initial page retrieved April 14, 2008), "When I was 17 and stubbornly refused to go to college" (her previous words for her educational background). Remember, "college" in England (where she was born, raised and schooled) is the equivalent to our 11th and 12th grades. According to (her own resume) she received no further formal education.
"Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, licensed financial planner, CPA and internal auditor or someone who left technical school at 15? Hmmm....
"Linda McKinney"
I have searched the BOCC website and cannot find anything that says there was a meeting on August 11, 2011. I have found one for August 2nd and 16th, but not August 11th. Therefore I can neither confirm nor deny the alleged words of Mary Bolin.
However, I would ask you to consider the following:
Andy Anderson, NOT A CPA: he has an A.A., in what it doesn't state.
Mary Bolin, NOT A CPA: she has a B.A. in Education. (Difficult info to find: it's not on her BOCC website Bio.)
Chuck Nelson, NOT A CPA: his degree is (Shock! Surprise!) Phys. Ed.!
Robin Fisher, NOT A CPA: he's a Public Relations major.
So, considering the studies and backgrounds of the other four Commissioners, I think it's reasonable to follow Commissioner Infantini's lead - especially when it comes to money matters -- and go with her recommendations. CPA v rupester and the four Commies? Yeah. Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, licensed financial planner, CPA and internal auditor Infantini every time!
September 7, 2022: 4:00 p.m. NOTE: I wrote to the County asking for a copy of the minutes of the August 11, 2011 meeting rupester quotes in her article. The response is below:
"Good morning Ms. McKinney,
"I was forwarded your request for the minutes of the August 11, 2011 Board of County Commissioners meeting. There was no Board meeting held August 11, 2011, however there were three regular meetings in the month of August. If there is particular subject or item you are interested in, we would be happy to research that for you.
"All completed minutes of the Board of County Commissioners meetings are posted on the Brevard County Government webpage, as well as the Clerk of Courts webpage.
"If you need anything further, feel free to contact me.
"Best regards,
"Tammy Etheridge
"Clerk to the Board"
So, I sent a request to the pooper paper's owner/publisher/editor that he print a correction in next month's pooper paper. We'll see if he actually does anything about it.
Update: I received the meeting notes from the County for a meeting that happened AUGUST 9, 2011. Contrary to what rupester asserts in her article, Infantini is not accused of the mentioned "sins". Read the meeting notes here. Notice that when Comm. Bolin is speaking, she does NOT mention Comm. Infantini at all. She never mentions any names. She just states that there is misinformation out there. rupester assigning words to Bolin in order to make Infantini look as bad as possible. This, to me, is NOT reporting. rupester is creating a misimpression and is trying to influence people to her way of thinking (as if she actually thinks?).
I have written to the pooper paper's owner and reminded him of rupester's history of proven plagiarism, possible copyright infringement, her assigning words to Bolin and errors in dates and facts. I have asked that from this date forward he label rupester's writings as "OPINION" instead of allowing them to stand as reporting. I have taken journalism and I know the difference between a fact, rhetoric and a hit piece. rupester's every mention of Comm. Infantini is a hit piece filled with rhetoric. I think it's time the pooper paper be held accountable. If you agree with me, write to Happenings and tell them it's time their writer be held accountable to the rules of journalism or have her writing labeled "OPINION". It's time.
*******************
That didn't do the job well enough, I thought. So I did a
whole page on the same subject. I hope you like the truth because there it is in cold, hard facts.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
A Soldier's Grace
A Soldier’s Grace
© 2011 Linda McKinney
All Rights Reserved
I
A soldier’s grace
Always resides
Inside his soul and faith.
In danger’s face
Or sorrow’s place
He stands upon one thing:
His fellow soldiers,
His spirit d’ corps,
His training, his confidence,
All reside
Inside his soul
And from it eternally spring.
His country relies
Upon his grace
To stand and take the call
To defend us all
And go to fall
If need requires it.
A soldier’s grace
Gives his call
A higher calling still.
And when in war
He’ll go before
Face the brunt of it.
Harm and loss
He faces,
Answer to the call
And some do fall
And others hurt
Our stead they give it all.
Let none deny
The soldier’s cry
“Freedom lives if I die.”
A soldier’s grace
always resides
inside his soul and faith.
II
A soldier bowed his head
To bless the MRE
He sighed and calmed
And quietly said these words to GOD:
“Dear Lord, I’m here
In this desert place.
I came to defend my country,
to keep my family safe.
I pray you watch o’er them,
Keep Jenny and Brandon brave,
Keep my beloved wife
Having faith in me
Don’t let them want
For any little thing.
Keep them all healthy,
Lord, keep them healthy,
So I can return
And see them all.
Don’t let them hurt,
Don’t let them fear,
Don’t let them cry
From things idiots say
About their dad serving
To keep terrorists at bay.
Lord, bless them, keep them,
In your loving arms,
And keep my buddies,
Here, Lord, safe from desert harm.
If I have to fall, Lord,
Pray let it be to serve,
Those who are here with me,
As well as those who “don’t deserve”
Who say that I am wrong, Lord,
For being here in answer
To my country’s call
To protect them from those
Who would see freedom fall.
Lord, I pray for my president,
Let him see Your path, Lord,
To do as You would have him,
And if not guided by
Your loving arms and sight,
Let our president do no harm
To those who fight for what’s right.
Lord, guide me, also,
And don’t let me do wrong.
If I wander near it, Lord,
Stop me, make me strong.
Lord, bless this food now,
Bless this MRE.
Make it nourish me,
Make me grateful,
Remind me that others have less,
And with it I am truly blessed.
GOD I bless and thank You,
For all You say and do,
Your guidance, Lord,
Is what I crave,
Your wisdom, I desire, too.
Let me please You, Lord.
Let me make You proud
Of having a son, Lord,
A humble son like me.
I ask all this in Jesus’ name,
And for Him I thank you more,
Than anything I can think of
His book has my name.
So, thank you, Lord,
For this food,
And for my buddies, too,
Who help me through this desert place,
And who thank You, too.”
With these words,
And another sigh,
Soldier raised his head.
Upward looking,
Soldier smiled
and whispered, “Amen”.
III
“Excuse me, Ma’am,” the grieving widow heard,
“It’s about your husband, Bird.”
The widow said, “What is it?” her heart beat out her fears.
The blonde soldier in Class As wiped away a tear.
“I want to tell you that I loved him,” she covered her mouth in dismay,
“No, not like that! I’m sorry, Ma’am. I meant a different way.”
“You see, he was my sergeant, but he was more as well:
My friend, my shoulder, my rely-upon, my laughter when life was hell.
He kept an eye out for me, he lifted my spirits tall.
He made my two years over there into my life’s call.
He told me to remember why we served in sand.
To keep in mind my loved ones: my sis, my mom, my dad.
He showed me pictures of his kids, of you and Bucky, too,
And told me of the reason he lives: it all went back to you.
He told me that you brought him to the Lord when he was twenty-two,
And that he was always thankful for the Lord giving him to you.
He loved you very much, you see, and with that love his eyes shone
And with your memory he said that he was never alone.
He saw you as his shining star that led him from afar
His thoughts of you kept his head high and took him from the war.
He loved to talk about you, his children and his dog;
But mostly you, Ma’am. You made him all agog.”
Blonde soldier held out her hand, within it a letter, tattered, torn,
“He asked me to give this to you, if he should never make it home.”
Soldier’s widow tried to smile, a small “Thank you” was all she said,
A quick salute, blonde soldier left her, at the grave of husband dead.
The letter, tattered, torn, was dated a year or so ago,
And as she read it, her tears fell softly upon its indigo.
“My dearest Catherine I love you.” the letter started there,
The words took her away; of others she was not aware.
Blonde soldier made it to the car, collapsed inside,
Pain’s burden weighed her down, but from loss blonde soldier cried.
She wished her friend had survived to return to those he loved.
She knew he died to save others and herself, to safety she was shoved.
Blonde soldier finally sat upright, and wiped the tears away,
And, looking at the sight where her best friend’s body lay,
She said aloud, “I promise you I’ll ne’er forget the lessons you taught me, Sir.
Nor will I ever go back to what I once was, because you’ve made me better.”
She nodded to the friend who had brought her to the grave,
And hoped she had handled things with poise and with some grace.
© 2011 Linda McKinney
All Rights Reserved
I
A soldier’s grace
Always resides
Inside his soul and faith.
In danger’s face
Or sorrow’s place
He stands upon one thing:
His fellow soldiers,
His spirit d’ corps,
His training, his confidence,
All reside
Inside his soul
And from it eternally spring.
His country relies
Upon his grace
To stand and take the call
To defend us all
And go to fall
If need requires it.
A soldier’s grace
Gives his call
A higher calling still.
And when in war
He’ll go before
Face the brunt of it.
Harm and loss
He faces,
Answer to the call
And some do fall
And others hurt
Our stead they give it all.
Let none deny
The soldier’s cry
“Freedom lives if I die.”
A soldier’s grace
always resides
inside his soul and faith.
II
A soldier bowed his head
To bless the MRE
He sighed and calmed
And quietly said these words to GOD:
“Dear Lord, I’m here
In this desert place.
I came to defend my country,
to keep my family safe.
I pray you watch o’er them,
Keep Jenny and Brandon brave,
Keep my beloved wife
Having faith in me
Don’t let them want
For any little thing.
Keep them all healthy,
Lord, keep them healthy,
So I can return
And see them all.
Don’t let them hurt,
Don’t let them fear,
Don’t let them cry
From things idiots say
About their dad serving
To keep terrorists at bay.
Lord, bless them, keep them,
In your loving arms,
And keep my buddies,
Here, Lord, safe from desert harm.
If I have to fall, Lord,
Pray let it be to serve,
Those who are here with me,
As well as those who “don’t deserve”
Who say that I am wrong, Lord,
For being here in answer
To my country’s call
To protect them from those
Who would see freedom fall.
Lord, I pray for my president,
Let him see Your path, Lord,
To do as You would have him,
And if not guided by
Your loving arms and sight,
Let our president do no harm
To those who fight for what’s right.
Lord, guide me, also,
And don’t let me do wrong.
If I wander near it, Lord,
Stop me, make me strong.
Lord, bless this food now,
Bless this MRE.
Make it nourish me,
Make me grateful,
Remind me that others have less,
And with it I am truly blessed.
GOD I bless and thank You,
For all You say and do,
Your guidance, Lord,
Is what I crave,
Your wisdom, I desire, too.
Let me please You, Lord.
Let me make You proud
Of having a son, Lord,
A humble son like me.
I ask all this in Jesus’ name,
And for Him I thank you more,
Than anything I can think of
His book has my name.
So, thank you, Lord,
For this food,
And for my buddies, too,
Who help me through this desert place,
And who thank You, too.”
With these words,
And another sigh,
Soldier raised his head.
Upward looking,
Soldier smiled
and whispered, “Amen”.
III
“Excuse me, Ma’am,” the grieving widow heard,
“It’s about your husband, Bird.”
The widow said, “What is it?” her heart beat out her fears.
The blonde soldier in Class As wiped away a tear.
“I want to tell you that I loved him,” she covered her mouth in dismay,
“No, not like that! I’m sorry, Ma’am. I meant a different way.”
“You see, he was my sergeant, but he was more as well:
My friend, my shoulder, my rely-upon, my laughter when life was hell.
He kept an eye out for me, he lifted my spirits tall.
He made my two years over there into my life’s call.
He told me to remember why we served in sand.
To keep in mind my loved ones: my sis, my mom, my dad.
He showed me pictures of his kids, of you and Bucky, too,
And told me of the reason he lives: it all went back to you.
He told me that you brought him to the Lord when he was twenty-two,
And that he was always thankful for the Lord giving him to you.
He loved you very much, you see, and with that love his eyes shone
And with your memory he said that he was never alone.
He saw you as his shining star that led him from afar
His thoughts of you kept his head high and took him from the war.
He loved to talk about you, his children and his dog;
But mostly you, Ma’am. You made him all agog.”
Blonde soldier held out her hand, within it a letter, tattered, torn,
“He asked me to give this to you, if he should never make it home.”
Soldier’s widow tried to smile, a small “Thank you” was all she said,
A quick salute, blonde soldier left her, at the grave of husband dead.
The letter, tattered, torn, was dated a year or so ago,
And as she read it, her tears fell softly upon its indigo.
“My dearest Catherine I love you.” the letter started there,
The words took her away; of others she was not aware.
Blonde soldier made it to the car, collapsed inside,
Pain’s burden weighed her down, but from loss blonde soldier cried.
She wished her friend had survived to return to those he loved.
She knew he died to save others and herself, to safety she was shoved.
Blonde soldier finally sat upright, and wiped the tears away,
And, looking at the sight where her best friend’s body lay,
She said aloud, “I promise you I’ll ne’er forget the lessons you taught me, Sir.
Nor will I ever go back to what I once was, because you’ve made me better.”
She nodded to the friend who had brought her to the grave,
And hoped she had handled things with poise and with some grace.
Monday, July 4, 2011
July 4, 2011: Independence Day Redux
This is the day we celebrate our independence from King George III; his tyranny, taxes, arbitrary rules and fickle finger of fate. We celebrate our sovereignty, our opportunity, our liberties – or do we?
In 1776 it was a dream, a plan, a yearning, beating within the hearts of men in a land that offered the choice of freedom or continued servitude. In 1776 the monarch of England had done so much wrong that the Colonists had had enough. They wanted out. They could no longer take the king’s control – distant though it was – and wanted to rule their own destinies and find out what their own decisions could do for them: for their futures, their opportunities, their children’s futures. They wanted to see if they could truly make it on their own without the help nor interference of a distant ruler. Their heartbeats kept time to the drums of liberty beating deep inside and getting louder within their breasts with every passing day, each usurpation, each arbitrary breaking of the king’s previous agreements and decisions. It was freedom that called them, spurred them on, fought to be heard, to be dreamed of, aspired to, worked toward, planned for. Liberty beckoned to them like a far off voice and they had to listen. It was this drumbeat, this sweet, sweet voice that made them act, and – thankfully -- made America. It was to this call, sweet and lusty, that the Founding Fathers answered and answer to still.
“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 them 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.” – U.S. Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776.
The Founding Fathers said, “You’ve given us enough cause.” They were fed up. They’d had enough. They were tired of the games, the whims and fancies of a fickle king and they would no longer tolerate it. Not only were they tired of King George’s fancies, but they declared that GOD Himself was tired of King G’s fickleness: “the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them… [my italics]” They were saying that GOD says they are entitled to be free, to be self-ruling, to have the liberties they delineated in their Declaration of Independence. They were not only fed up with King G., they were basically saying that GOD was fed up with King G., as well. They were saying that they were ready to answer not only to GOD but to posterity as well; they’d answer to us, to their future and their progeny.
They answer still today; although, to a different set of questions. While yesterday’s questions were things like, “How may I get to America and – with hard work and perseverance – make a lot of money and make my own and my grandchildren’s futures bright?” or “When I make enough money to open my own shop, will I be able to build that house and bring Momma over, too?” Or sometimes the questions were more esoteric: “Why in America and nowhere else in the whole world can I work hard and make a lot of money and live like a rich person when elsewhere in the world it’s always prevented?” Where is it written that the Founding Fathers no longer answer to those who wished for a brighter future in 1776, instead of just us?
The Founding Fathers would be appalled at today’s questions, “When does the government check come for this month’s groceries and when does the check come for the rent, car payment, and the medical care?” Oh, and if you’re paying attention, “Why did America’s Founding Fathers make such a mistake as to make America a Representative Republic instead of a Communist country?” or “Why is America such a horrible country, why is it so evil?”
These questions are being asked of the Founding Fathers by people who have been taught inside-out lies: right is wrong, death is life, prison is freedom, tyranny is good, want is plenty and servitude is the natural yearning of every human heart. It’s not that the Founding Fathers never foresaw the possibility of such a thing. I’m sure there were those in 1776 who were being told the same thing by those who wished to perpetuate King G’s reign and who would benefit from America being under his thumb for years to come. “The Federalist Papers” were written to cover just such attacks and idiocies, to educate the people in the truth, in the correctness of the journey to freedom, to help them hear the beating of the drum of freedom as did the Founding Fathers.
However, since “The Federalist Papers” are no longer taught in schools – public, private, nor home schools, for the most part – it is up to each of us individually, to look at the truth without the distortions that tell us that servitude is freedom and want is plenty. It is up to us to look at the truth, to read the Founding Fathers’ writings, to read their own words in individual correspondences, in public writings to find out the truth about our country’s founding and the Founders’ beliefs, desires for our country and their goals and satisfaction in setting up such a radical experiment.
If it is found that Jefferson wanted every person to be able to prosper off of their own work and not to have to hand over most of what they worked hard to earn to someone other than themselves (government or private individual), then that must be taken into consideration in the reader’s evaluation of our Founding. Whether Jefferson actually had slaves or no is not the question. The question is rather, “What is it he wanted for the country – for America, for her future – as a whole?” If the answer is that Jefferson wanted everyone to own slaves and thought that America as a whole would have been better off if everyone everywhere owned slaves, then so be it. If not, however – and there is no evidence to even suggest such a thing -- that must be taken into account when you look at the person. Yet, those who would teach us that America is bad – those with the inside-out “truth”: wrong is right, death is life, etc. -- would teach us that it was okay to consider one portion of Jefferson’s life and not the whole. That’s like saying a lasagna is just the noodles!
America is the greatest country on earth, but the liberals, progressives, Wrongies, wish to have America be labeled as a failure so that they can get it into the thought processes, beliefs and ideals of Americans that we are bad people who need -- nay, deserve --- to be punished. Whether they punish us via restricting our words (political correctness, anyone?), our deeds (airport security?), or our right to self-defense (gun control?), it is still a just and deserved punishment in their own minds. Remember, wrong is right, servitude is freedom: to people who believe that, our punishment is just strictly based upon the fact that we believe in the U.S. Constitution and we wish our lawmakers to abide by it.
The inside-out lies form the basis of a vast amount of our neighbors and those who are in places of power: george soros, obama, nancy pelosi, (I only cap the names of people I respect). Their lies are the foundation of our current dire circumstances. Their inside-out beliefs, twisted as they are, form the foundation of their actions, their votes, their speeches. They have nothing more to base their ideals on than a belief that they were somehow wronged by those who are not themselves. There is no evidence that they were somehow mistreated by others: obama was in an elite school in Hawaii instead of a school that had no running water, peeling leaded paint, and teachers who drank themselves into stupors during the third hour of the school day. Yet his inside-out lies lead him to believe that he was mistreated, somehow wronged, by those of another skin tone. Based upon what facts does he make this assumption, this enormous jump to fantasy land, is what I want to know. Read his two “autobiographies” and see if he was mistreated by the white man. Yet, it’s this kind of thing that he bases his hatred of America upon. Where did he learn to believe the inside-out lies? He learned it from a drugged up Communist/Marxist. He swallowed it all, hook, line and sinker: greedily drinking in the hatred, disdain, venom of his teacher and the inside-out lies became his. He owned them and he loved them. As a normal man’s heart loves freedom, obama’s heart now loved the hatred of America and Americans. It all went against what GOD had ordained, what the Founding Fathers established, fought and -- all or most – lost to establish, nurture, preserve.
This Independence Day, King G. would be dancing in his grave and grinning ear to ear because we are now a nation more foolish than wise, more mislead than informed, more inside-out than true to the truth. It is time for those of us who wish to change things for the better to make a choice and to contemplate that awful position to be in, “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 them 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.” Is it time for us to do the same type of thing? Is it time for those of you in the Republican Party to leave that party in order to form a “more perfect union” and to align yourselves with a more important cause than political party – the “R” label after your name?
I propose a three point questionnaire for you to ask yourselves and your representatives in order for you to make an informed decision regarding leaving the Republican Party. Here are the questions:
1) Is the Republican Party leadership showing inside-out leadership – as in are their ideals, policies and practices along the same lines as the Founding Fathers would have them be, or are they somewhere else?
2) Are you happy with the direction the Republican leadership of America is trying to take the country, and if not, what is the political party you are affiliated with doing to prevent it from going in that direction?
3) Will your children’s futures be positively or negatively affected by the Republican leadership’s direction?
If the answer to all three is a negative answer, then either you are happy living in an inside-out world and look forward to fully joining the inside-out cause celeb of the moment, or you are on the wrong side – part of the problem and not the solution – and you need to change that. If the answer to two of three are negatives you are dangerously close to being in an inside-out world and you need to step away from the “lies are reality” fairy tale and avoid being sucked in completely If the answer is one of three, you are just on the edge of the easy slippery slope to the inside-out world and you should swallow hard and be sure that it won’t pull you back again. Yes, we need you in this fight out here, but we also need someone with a good enough head on their shoulders to recognize “inside-out world” when they see it.
America, look at where we are. Look at who our leadership is. Look at what your neighbors want and what they believe. Is this where, twenty years ago, you actually thought we would be? If not, turn off your inside-out glasses and look around. Who got us here? Who allowed it to happen (besides ourselves) and how can we fix what has already gone wrong? Is it fixable within the Republican Party, both parties, or is there another way to fix it? What options do we have to be able to make America the vision of the Founding Fathers as it should have been instead of leaving it the upside-down, inside-out world of obama’s lies?
Would not a good place to start be in a third party political candidate who would be the vision of the Founding Fathers and who sees America as it should be, and not twisted into an evil empire of the progressive left’s lies? Let us not pledge allegiance to a political party. Instead let us pledge allegiance to America – as she should be and can be once again.
God bless America today, tomorrow and forever with a people who will stand up for her, who will stand up for election, facing the arrows and rocks sure to be thrown as the inside-out lies are hurled at the candidate who will say, “Enough! America as the Founding Fathers envisioned her is our future, our basis, our greatest gift as a nation. Let us now go forward as a people who refuse to listen to the lies of our enemies – internal and external – and let us re-found America as the land our Founding Fathers intended. Let us work together to make America into the land of opportunity – a land of hard work and integrity leading to prosperity and a heritage for our children’s children’s children. Let us stop looking to progress into change, and instead regress into our biblical foundations, into our constitutional principles, into our Founders’ cry of freedom for our nation, our lives and our posterity!”
In 1776 it was a dream, a plan, a yearning, beating within the hearts of men in a land that offered the choice of freedom or continued servitude. In 1776 the monarch of England had done so much wrong that the Colonists had had enough. They wanted out. They could no longer take the king’s control – distant though it was – and wanted to rule their own destinies and find out what their own decisions could do for them: for their futures, their opportunities, their children’s futures. They wanted to see if they could truly make it on their own without the help nor interference of a distant ruler. Their heartbeats kept time to the drums of liberty beating deep inside and getting louder within their breasts with every passing day, each usurpation, each arbitrary breaking of the king’s previous agreements and decisions. It was freedom that called them, spurred them on, fought to be heard, to be dreamed of, aspired to, worked toward, planned for. Liberty beckoned to them like a far off voice and they had to listen. It was this drumbeat, this sweet, sweet voice that made them act, and – thankfully -- made America. It was to this call, sweet and lusty, that the Founding Fathers answered and answer to still.
“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 them 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.” – U.S. Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776.
The Founding Fathers said, “You’ve given us enough cause.” They were fed up. They’d had enough. They were tired of the games, the whims and fancies of a fickle king and they would no longer tolerate it. Not only were they tired of King George’s fancies, but they declared that GOD Himself was tired of King G’s fickleness: “the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them… [my italics]” They were saying that GOD says they are entitled to be free, to be self-ruling, to have the liberties they delineated in their Declaration of Independence. They were not only fed up with King G., they were basically saying that GOD was fed up with King G., as well. They were saying that they were ready to answer not only to GOD but to posterity as well; they’d answer to us, to their future and their progeny.
They answer still today; although, to a different set of questions. While yesterday’s questions were things like, “How may I get to America and – with hard work and perseverance – make a lot of money and make my own and my grandchildren’s futures bright?” or “When I make enough money to open my own shop, will I be able to build that house and bring Momma over, too?” Or sometimes the questions were more esoteric: “Why in America and nowhere else in the whole world can I work hard and make a lot of money and live like a rich person when elsewhere in the world it’s always prevented?” Where is it written that the Founding Fathers no longer answer to those who wished for a brighter future in 1776, instead of just us?
The Founding Fathers would be appalled at today’s questions, “When does the government check come for this month’s groceries and when does the check come for the rent, car payment, and the medical care?” Oh, and if you’re paying attention, “Why did America’s Founding Fathers make such a mistake as to make America a Representative Republic instead of a Communist country?” or “Why is America such a horrible country, why is it so evil?”
These questions are being asked of the Founding Fathers by people who have been taught inside-out lies: right is wrong, death is life, prison is freedom, tyranny is good, want is plenty and servitude is the natural yearning of every human heart. It’s not that the Founding Fathers never foresaw the possibility of such a thing. I’m sure there were those in 1776 who were being told the same thing by those who wished to perpetuate King G’s reign and who would benefit from America being under his thumb for years to come. “The Federalist Papers” were written to cover just such attacks and idiocies, to educate the people in the truth, in the correctness of the journey to freedom, to help them hear the beating of the drum of freedom as did the Founding Fathers.
However, since “The Federalist Papers” are no longer taught in schools – public, private, nor home schools, for the most part – it is up to each of us individually, to look at the truth without the distortions that tell us that servitude is freedom and want is plenty. It is up to us to look at the truth, to read the Founding Fathers’ writings, to read their own words in individual correspondences, in public writings to find out the truth about our country’s founding and the Founders’ beliefs, desires for our country and their goals and satisfaction in setting up such a radical experiment.
If it is found that Jefferson wanted every person to be able to prosper off of their own work and not to have to hand over most of what they worked hard to earn to someone other than themselves (government or private individual), then that must be taken into consideration in the reader’s evaluation of our Founding. Whether Jefferson actually had slaves or no is not the question. The question is rather, “What is it he wanted for the country – for America, for her future – as a whole?” If the answer is that Jefferson wanted everyone to own slaves and thought that America as a whole would have been better off if everyone everywhere owned slaves, then so be it. If not, however – and there is no evidence to even suggest such a thing -- that must be taken into account when you look at the person. Yet, those who would teach us that America is bad – those with the inside-out “truth”: wrong is right, death is life, etc. -- would teach us that it was okay to consider one portion of Jefferson’s life and not the whole. That’s like saying a lasagna is just the noodles!
America is the greatest country on earth, but the liberals, progressives, Wrongies, wish to have America be labeled as a failure so that they can get it into the thought processes, beliefs and ideals of Americans that we are bad people who need -- nay, deserve --- to be punished. Whether they punish us via restricting our words (political correctness, anyone?), our deeds (airport security?), or our right to self-defense (gun control?), it is still a just and deserved punishment in their own minds. Remember, wrong is right, servitude is freedom: to people who believe that, our punishment is just strictly based upon the fact that we believe in the U.S. Constitution and we wish our lawmakers to abide by it.
The inside-out lies form the basis of a vast amount of our neighbors and those who are in places of power: george soros, obama, nancy pelosi, (I only cap the names of people I respect). Their lies are the foundation of our current dire circumstances. Their inside-out beliefs, twisted as they are, form the foundation of their actions, their votes, their speeches. They have nothing more to base their ideals on than a belief that they were somehow wronged by those who are not themselves. There is no evidence that they were somehow mistreated by others: obama was in an elite school in Hawaii instead of a school that had no running water, peeling leaded paint, and teachers who drank themselves into stupors during the third hour of the school day. Yet his inside-out lies lead him to believe that he was mistreated, somehow wronged, by those of another skin tone. Based upon what facts does he make this assumption, this enormous jump to fantasy land, is what I want to know. Read his two “autobiographies” and see if he was mistreated by the white man. Yet, it’s this kind of thing that he bases his hatred of America upon. Where did he learn to believe the inside-out lies? He learned it from a drugged up Communist/Marxist. He swallowed it all, hook, line and sinker: greedily drinking in the hatred, disdain, venom of his teacher and the inside-out lies became his. He owned them and he loved them. As a normal man’s heart loves freedom, obama’s heart now loved the hatred of America and Americans. It all went against what GOD had ordained, what the Founding Fathers established, fought and -- all or most – lost to establish, nurture, preserve.
This Independence Day, King G. would be dancing in his grave and grinning ear to ear because we are now a nation more foolish than wise, more mislead than informed, more inside-out than true to the truth. It is time for those of us who wish to change things for the better to make a choice and to contemplate that awful position to be in, “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 them 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.” Is it time for us to do the same type of thing? Is it time for those of you in the Republican Party to leave that party in order to form a “more perfect union” and to align yourselves with a more important cause than political party – the “R” label after your name?
I propose a three point questionnaire for you to ask yourselves and your representatives in order for you to make an informed decision regarding leaving the Republican Party. Here are the questions:
1) Is the Republican Party leadership showing inside-out leadership – as in are their ideals, policies and practices along the same lines as the Founding Fathers would have them be, or are they somewhere else?
2) Are you happy with the direction the Republican leadership of America is trying to take the country, and if not, what is the political party you are affiliated with doing to prevent it from going in that direction?
3) Will your children’s futures be positively or negatively affected by the Republican leadership’s direction?
If the answer to all three is a negative answer, then either you are happy living in an inside-out world and look forward to fully joining the inside-out cause celeb of the moment, or you are on the wrong side – part of the problem and not the solution – and you need to change that. If the answer to two of three are negatives you are dangerously close to being in an inside-out world and you need to step away from the “lies are reality” fairy tale and avoid being sucked in completely If the answer is one of three, you are just on the edge of the easy slippery slope to the inside-out world and you should swallow hard and be sure that it won’t pull you back again. Yes, we need you in this fight out here, but we also need someone with a good enough head on their shoulders to recognize “inside-out world” when they see it.
America, look at where we are. Look at who our leadership is. Look at what your neighbors want and what they believe. Is this where, twenty years ago, you actually thought we would be? If not, turn off your inside-out glasses and look around. Who got us here? Who allowed it to happen (besides ourselves) and how can we fix what has already gone wrong? Is it fixable within the Republican Party, both parties, or is there another way to fix it? What options do we have to be able to make America the vision of the Founding Fathers as it should have been instead of leaving it the upside-down, inside-out world of obama’s lies?
Would not a good place to start be in a third party political candidate who would be the vision of the Founding Fathers and who sees America as it should be, and not twisted into an evil empire of the progressive left’s lies? Let us not pledge allegiance to a political party. Instead let us pledge allegiance to America – as she should be and can be once again.
God bless America today, tomorrow and forever with a people who will stand up for her, who will stand up for election, facing the arrows and rocks sure to be thrown as the inside-out lies are hurled at the candidate who will say, “Enough! America as the Founding Fathers envisioned her is our future, our basis, our greatest gift as a nation. Let us now go forward as a people who refuse to listen to the lies of our enemies – internal and external – and let us re-found America as the land our Founding Fathers intended. Let us work together to make America into the land of opportunity – a land of hard work and integrity leading to prosperity and a heritage for our children’s children’s children. Let us stop looking to progress into change, and instead regress into our biblical foundations, into our constitutional principles, into our Founders’ cry of freedom for our nation, our lives and our posterity!”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)