Evil Rhetoric

Have you ever considered removing rhetorical tricks from your political opinions? There are many things that don’t sound so good anymore. If we are going to divide the rhetoric into “left” and “right,” the “right” has far more damaging rhetoric, but that doesn’t mean that the “left” is guiltless.  Consider the following.

Many nationalistic slogans are popular among the right wing. “America first” is among them. This slogan only sounds good if there is no thought involved. Asking a few questions will change the color of “America first.” Who is second, third, or fourth? Do we even care? Why should America be put first before any other nation? How will this affect the other nations of the world? Does “America” include those who immigrated here? How should we deal with other nations if we consider ourselves above them?

This motto discards the needs of all other cultures and nations. It is overtly xenophobic. Foreign policy cannot be shaped around this motto. If a foreign diplomat hears this slogan uttered by a leader in the US, they will deal with us as a condescending or nationalist state, and if “America first” is our slogan, they are correct to do so. However, as previously stated; the left is not guiltless.

The left wing, after decades of seeing US politics drift steadily to the right, has begun to assert itself. This has caused a resurgence of interest in campaigning for civil rights, environmental protection, free and fair elections, as well as many other issues. However, this reawakening has had a dark side, particularly in civil rights.  The damaging version of this is inherent in one single word: “mansplaining.”

“Mansplaining” is a reaction to bossy men who are often over-opinionated. It is based in fact. I know many men who fit this description. However, in this ideological stance, sexism and racism have not been erased. Sexism and racism have remained intact, but been pointed in a different direction. If someone is male or white, they can do no right. If they agree that they are inherently wrong because of their race and gender, they still will not be praised in any way, but they will be berated. There is no defense.

There is no opposing “womansplaining” to accompany this slur. There are many women who share this trait, but they are never targeted or belittled by this irrational left-wing perspective. Moreover, a man’s expertise is outright irrelevant. If the conversation is astrophysics, and a man is the only astrophysicist in the conversation, it makes no difference, he is still targeted. I do not have the time to address the related “safe space” culture that has become pervasive on college campuses, but I will say that it is a form of left-wing authoritarianism which crushes both conversation and decent.

“Personal responsibility” is possibly the most ghoulish phrase in modern rhetoric. I will apply it to economics: when translated into economic terms, this means “if you do not have money, you should die.”

The most obvious place that this may be applied in economics is the preposterous state of US healthcare. The idea that healthcare must remain privatized because some people would willingly choose to remain uninsured is clearly ridiculous, but this view becomes even more heinous when “personal responsibility” is applied.

“Personal responsibility” blames the victim who dies because he or she could not afford insurance. The whole idea that the deceased party somehow opted out of treatment is so outlandish that it can’t even be considered. So now, the misanthropic right suggests that the deceased was just irresponsible and could have fixed the problem at any time. It doesn’t matter if the damaged party had to choose between food or insurance, the victim somehow dug his or her own grave and will not be forgiven for it. This results in the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans every year. It justifies negligent homicide by the US government and multinational corporations.

Still staying within the economic realm, “personal responsibility” continues to be atrocious. If a person or that person’s children starve to death, it was their fault for not “applying themselves” (whatever that means). If someone loses their home, it is their fault for not making more money. Apparently, people choose to die from exposure. Applying it to the realm of geopolitics, if a person is murdered by a dictator, it is their fault for not moving. It does not matter if that person is forced to cross a desert and refused asylum by other countries (like the US). Applying it to criminal behavior, the violation and murder of a young woman will be blamed for wearing too short a skirt and drinking in a bar, as well as not being an expert in fitness and hand-to-hand combat. The justification for suffering and death continues to be morbid and absurd.

Essentially, “personal responsibility” is used to make excuses for a preventable heap of corpses and human misery. It is thoroughly disgusting. When a politician (which is arguably the most irresponsible 21^st century profession) starts speaking about “personal responsibility,” they should immediately pay a political price.

Sometime, listen to politicians and pundits speak (regardless of whether they are on the left or on the right) and subtract the coded rhetoric. You may discover that they are saying something morbid and shocking.

Transferring licenses in PA

I am a teacher from New Mexico. My wife received employment in PA and we decided to relocate. So far, we love Pittsburgh and we are happy to be residents here. The schools are wonderful, the city is interesting, the nature is beautiful, and the prices are reasonable. Most every aspect of Pittsburgh is wonderful, save one: the process that it takes to transfer my teaching license.

Most of the process can just be attributed to having high standards. I take no issue with this. I had to have my former principal sign a form that verifies that I have been a successful teacher for two years. No problem. I had to seek out obscure information about my professional career. I got this! FBI clearance? Well, I expected this cost. Background check? I’ve done it before, but I wish that I didn’t have to pay again. $260 application fee…whoa! The test to teach English is $150? That is a little steep isn’t it? The practice test is $20? Now you are just trying to squeeze blood from a stone. Wait…I also have to take a pedagogy test? Another $50? Hold on, I also have to take a general competency for English and social studies, and another one math and science, each at $50 a pop? That is outrageous! At least if I take them all at once, I can save $10. Oh for crying out loud! Those 3 more practice tests that I have to take! I have to flush another $60! I hope that the math test isn’t timed…crud! Of course it is timed. I hope that the math test isn’t last. Of course it is last. Oh no! I need to take the math test again? That is another $50! Have mercy! Please, have mercy!

My wife (half-jokingly, half-outraged) commented on the fact that transferring her medical license cost her $70, and it is costing me ten times that amount for a profession which is notorious for its low pay. As I discovered, I couldn’t even substitute teach in Pennsylvania without a teaching license, despite my previous years of experience teaching in a high-needs area. Over the past two months, my family was steadily drained every cent of our savings. I applied to substitute as a paraprofessional.

Why all of the fees? It does seem excessive, doesn’t it? The $260 fine was excessive, but I understand that the PDE does need to keep itself funded for purposes of oversight and providing services to the schools. The fees on my background are necessary for working with children. The endless fines for tests and practice tests, however, is inexcusable. Why would this happen? Also, it isn’t as if I don’t know my material. I have been a teacher in another state. I understand taking a test, but four of them (at great financial cost) is ridiculous, isn’t it? Well, the companies who provide these tests are Praxis and Pearson. This should bring everything into focus.

Praxis and Pearson are two companies who provide tests, resources, and testing materials. They once served as legitimate contractors in education. Now, in the age of high-stakes testing and “accountability,” they have morphed into parasites who grease the correct palms to make their products mandatory. I have seen an extreme case of this. Like I said, I was a teacher in New Mexico.

In New Mexico, there is a unique situation. After Pearson contributed to Governor Martinez’ campaign, New Mexico discarded the NMSBA (New Mexico Standards Based Assessment) and replaced it with the PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers); a Pearson product. Governor Martinez also violated the state constitution to make Hannah Skandera Secretary of Education.

The state constitution mandates that a person must teach for a minimum of three years to assume the position. She had no teaching experience. After months of pressure and brow-beating from the Governor, the state legislature confirmed Skandera. Although she had no qualifications as an educator, she was on the PARCC board. Later, after she assumed the position as Secretary of Education, she began trying tie PARCC scores to teacher pay (they were already part of teacher evaluations), as well as high school graduation. She also became PARCC chair, displaying the most overt conflict of interest in education to date.

I am not suggesting that these private companies be removed, but they need their power decreased. They need to return to their original position of providing services for schools instead of finding ways to vampirically draining the money out of teachers, schools, and communities. Pennsylvania should be proud of its top-notch education, as well as the high standard of its teachers, but it does not need to allow this bad behavior by companies that should be serving education, instead of milking money out of it. The testing requirements for receiving and maintaining a teaching license in Pennsylvania must be reexamined.

It's been a while.....

 I guess I just haven't had much to say these past few months, but life has definitely been a whirlwind.  Papa R and I have finally purchased our first home together, so we have been busy getting that all put together.  And the process getting here was a  nightmare, but I'll spare y'all that.

We also decided we are getting on the Baby Numero 2 train.  Which is proving to be a bit more challenging this time around.  I have an appointment with my doctor in a few weeks to see if we can figure out what's up.  So that's been fun.

I do have so much I want to say.  I keep seeing things and saying "oooh, I should blog about that!" and then I never seem to have the energy to actually put it all down.  So I am making a promise that from now on, I will actually write what I say I am going to write about.  Unfortunately for you, it will most likely be about trying to conceive for the next little bit!  ;-)  I'm sure I'll throw in a few more things here and there for you though!

Until next time!

The Grass is Always Greener....

For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a stay at home mom.  I wanted to be Donna Reed, or June Cleaver.  I would always have a home cooked meal, fresh baked goods, a tidy home and a kiss for my husband as he walked through the front door.  All while being impeccably groomed and smiling and singing all day long.

And then, I finally got what I always wanted.  I was able to stay at home with Baby R.  And let me tell you, 1950's TV lied to me!!  Don't get me wrong, I love being able to see Baby R grow and learn.  It's the rest of it that drives me crazy!

My house is rarely clean.  As I sit typing this, I have a sink full of dishes, crayons and other miscellaneous toys strewn about my living room floor, chair cushions on the floor of the front room (because where else should they go, says Baby R).  I haven't put makeup on all week, but I DID manage to cook some meals and bake some cookies.  How did these women do it??  How do the millions (?) of other stay at home moms do it?  It is a struggle day to day for me.  I've tried organizing myself.  I gave myself one room to concentrate on per day in the hopes that I would be able to keep them all up.  Problem is, those rooms don't stick to the schedule as to when they get messy!  (How rude!)  I've tried cleaning as I go, but then there is the 15 month-old tornado right behind me every step of the way.  (Oh, you wanted those to stay folded mom??  Silly woman!)  I'm pretty sure checklists won't help because I'll just forget to check them off.

Then there's the guilt.  For the majority of our relationship I was always the breadwinner.  I have now gone from being the breadwinner to contributing nothing financially to our household.  We are struggling financially and I feel immense guilt because I could be working, but I'm not.  I know that if I go back to work, we could be so much better off financially and we could give Baby R so much more.  I also feel like I am missing out socially by not working.  We live in a new place where I know very few people.  Most days the only people I see are Baby R and Papa R.  While I love them both very much, sometimes I just need a break!  And then there comes the guilt again of am I being selfish?  Should I put my child's care in the hands of strangers just because I need some "social time"?  Is it better to provide her with a financially stable life or one where I am her sole caregiver?

Would I be a better mommy to her if I did have more time to myself?  Sometimes I think I would, but then I think about all that I would miss out on if I were stuck behind a desk for 8+ hours a day.  Would she be better off in a daycare environment?  I struggle with this one the most.  I think that this is something she really needs to boost her social skills.  She does so great with other adults, but when she is around other kids her age, she doesn't really interact well.  I feel like putting her in a daycare environment would help her with that.

I guess there really is no right answer here.  Ultimately I need to do what is best for our family.  I just need to figure out what that is....

Raising a Politically Aware Child

With all the election buzz going around, I thought I would get in on the action too.  Now that I have a child I've realized that things I say and do will trickle down to her.

Now I was never one to follow politics.  When I was younger, I found them confusing.  My family never talked politics.  At least they never did in front of us.  I remember when I was in junior high, I think it was the election of Bush the 1st, I asked my mother who she had voted for in the election.  My mother turned to me and said "None of your damn business!"  I have always remembered that and to this day I am grateful that she did that.  The way my parent's raised me I was able to make up my own mind and not just blindly follow the party they did.  I still don't know what party either of my parent's belong to and honestly, I don't care.  My brothers and I each share our own views, some of them similar and some VERY different.  While I do align myself with one side, I do try to look at both (or all) candidates before making a choice.  9 times out of 10 I pick one side over the other.

My husband, on the other hand, is very politically minded.  He has such passion and he gets very heated when he sees what he perceives as injustice from the other side.  His parents are also very politically minded, so I know that he was raised in a different manner than I was.  I'm not saying this is bad, mind you, just different.

I would like to raise Baby R in a similar fashion as I was raised.  I don't want her to say "I'm this party because my mommy and daddy are".  I want her to be able to form her own opinions and if they are different from ours, then it is what it is.  Since Papa R IS so politically minded, I think this is going to be quite the challenge.

How do you handle politics in your family?  Do you openly discuss candidates?  Do you tell your children who you are voting for and why?  Do you "bash" the party you don't agree with?  I'd really love some feedback on this one.

Struggles

It has been a hard few months in the Ramberglar household.  We moved to Roswell, NM in June so that Papa Ramberglar could start working as a police officer.  We moved away from family and friends to start this new venture.  It was tough, but not unmanageable.  He was making enough money that I could stay at home and raise Baby Ramberglar.  Life was sweet, or so we thought.

Three months into the new job, there was no new job.  Papa Ramberglar had some trouble getting through the FTO process and wasn't able to correct the problems in time.  So we were 8 hours away from any family and things were looking pretty dire.  I started to look for work so I could help contribute to the finances again.  In doing my job search I came across several open teaching positions in a few of the schools here.  Well, isn't this perfect since Papa R is a licensed teacher!  So he got on the ball and applied.  He had 3 interviews lined up and was offered a position on the the same day he interviewed.  Great right??

Since his license is held in another state, he has to transfer it.  Since he is not licensed in the State of New Mexico he can only be hired on as a long term substitute teacher at HALF the pay he would make as a full time teacher.  The State tells us it could be at least 8 weeks to get this done.  Meanwhile I am freaking out because we don't have enough money to pay rent! (Or any other bills for that matter).  We've had to borrow from the in-laws so many times my brain just hurts thinking about it.  I am so grateful to them for their help.  We've also had to tuck our tails between our legs and ask for financial assistance from the government.  Hopefully we won't need it for long.

I am again looking for work.  While I love staying at home with Baby R, I miss the adult interaction.  Plus I feel like she needs to be in an environment where she is around other children.  She is great playing by herself, but she gets upset when she is around other kids.  I think the regular interaction would be good for her.  I'm hoping to get an interview in the next week or two for one of the jobs I applied for.  It would be perfect as it is for the school district and I would have summers off with Papa R. so we could take time and visit family instead of trying to cram it all into just two weeks of vacation time.

So that is what we have been dealing with on our end.  Really hoping to see the light at the end of the tunnel soon....

Moving On

When I first got pregnant I excitedly went onto the Internet to find a group of women who would be expecting around the same time I was.  I was looking to find camaraderie and hopefully make some lasting friendships with people who were experiencing the same as me.  A bunch of us branched out from the anonymous iVillage message boards and created a group on Facebook.

As the months progressed drama ensued (as it does with hormonally charged women)  Some people left other people were removed still some of us made an offshoot group so we could talk about more controversial topics that we didn't think the others would appreciate.

A few more months went by and drama once again erupted.  Part of it was due to my blog post about Agnosticism.  (I was personally attacked for what I believe, while not attacking anyone else for their beliefs)  Part of it was due to the fact that the rest of the group found out about the 2nd group and they were hurt by it, which I can understand.

So then after some time the original group became no more.  I heard they actually started another one, and most likely were able to bring back people who left the first few times.  Which is great.  I'm sad that any of the splits had to happen.  Most of us who had been in the 2nd group as well stuck by each other and formed  closer bonds.  It truly felt as though we had a sisterhood.

Well, the drama beast couldn't leave us alone and again we found ourselves split.  I am not proud to say that I was part of the origination of the drama, but it soon turned nasty.  I tried to stay neutral and not take any one side, but I guess I didn't do a very good job of it.

Several members of the group felt as though they could no longer be a part of the drama and decided to leave.  I can't blame them for that.  I stayed because I still needed that one place I could go and vent my frustrations that I couldn't post on Facebook for all the world to see.  I needed a place to go where people could tell me I was overreacting to something my child did or that maybe I should try something I never thought of.  I am a first time mom after all, I don't know what the Hell I'm doing!

Soon after the split I got an angry text message from one of the girls.  Apparently someone had told her I was talking about her behind her back (which I wasn't).  I was able to get that straightened out pretty quickly and hopefully we are still good.  I'm pretty sure we are :-).

Another girl, who I had helped support both emotionally and financially by contributing to her business, without a word deleted me as her friend.  I was baffled by this since she was the one who had started everything and I had actually agreed with her.  I sent her a message wondering why she deleted me, and wishing her the best in her life.  I let her know I was sad to be losing her as a friend.  She never responded.  I didn't think she would.  I was told that she just didn't want to have anyone who had anything to do with the group anymore, but that seems like a lie since I know she is still friends with people who did not leave.  But that is neither here nor there.

All of that to get to my point:  Over the past month, I have seen this girl interact with the people I am mutual friends with and it was just twisting the knife in deeper and deeper.  I was so hurt that she could just drop me as a friend just like that, without a word.  We never once said anything in disagreement to each other.  She had a major life event today and several people were wishing her well and praying for her.  I just found myself angry about it.  I couldn't find it in my heart to wish her well and that is just not like me.  I decided that I can't let these things get to me so much.  I needed to be able to talk to my friends without getting angry because she was too.  So I did something that I have never once done in the many years I have had Facebook.  I used the block feature.  And it felt good.

And now writing this all out, makes me feel even better.

So I say farewell to a friendship I thought I had, but I guess was never really there.

Working on some stuff...

It has been way too long my friends.  I had such good intentions of writing about many things on here.  And oh have there been some doozies out there that I have wanted to tackle!  Unfortunately work, and life with an almost 8 month old have gotten in the way of my creative juices.  I have some ideas floating around in my evil little brain and I plan on working through them very soon.  Please bear with me.  I will have some new stuff up verrrrryyyy soon!

 

Culture of Selfishness

One thing that I can't fathom about the 21st century, is how morals have been turned on their head. People who do evil things that hurt many people are defended as if they are the victims; people who help others are called, "idealists", "liberals" (even if they are conservative), or (my personal favorite) "socialists". Greed has become somehow more of an admirable trait than selflessness. The world that we live in has become stagnant and rotten.

Too many people that I see on a daily basis complain about worker protections, unions, welfare, social security (which everyone in the country pays for and it is not a "handout"), or anything else that would benefit the general public or the poor, even if they, themselves, are poor. Someone, who did not feel a need to help others in any way made up a word for such programs: "entitlements". This casts a light on the programs that isn't flattering. It suggests that the poor people who use these programs feel "entitled" to other people's money.

This sort of avarice and cynicism a decade ago was considered repugnant by the general public. It was normal to want to help those in need. Helping the poor, the crippled, and the mentally ill is a trademark of a civilized society. Allowing the rich to trample over the less fortunate is a sign of barbarism. This is practice that rears it's ugly head in 3rd and 4th world nations, or with feudal society. The fact that it is re-surfacing paints a grim picture for the future.

Whether it is a mining catastrophe that kills workers, an exploding oil rig that kills workers, or a financial catastrophe that ravages the world economy, none of those who orchestrated the tragedy, through careful planning or willful neglect, ever see justice. Crime must be punished, and it must be punished in every economic bracket.

There is a lot of footage of the CEO or COO talking about how they were careful to follow all laws and that they had no idea that there was any neglect or recklessness inside of their company. We saw this with Massey Energy, the Deepwater Horizon, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Goldman Sachs, and many more. I have observed more interviews with these sort of executives than I can count, and I haven't witnessed a single reporter attacking them with questions.

Moreover, the United States Government has taken to propping up these industries when they make fatal mistakes that hurt thousands or millions of people, instead of allowing them to go into financial wreckage or be litigated into oblivion, under the argument that it will cost workers their jobs. This, of course, is a silly reason to do so. Their is still a market for the good or service that these corporate monstrosities offer. One company will pick up where the other left off. The new company will employ the workers that have been let go and maybe treat them better then their previous failed employer. Letting these companies fail is nothing but a boon to the world.

Of course, the media, the elected officials, and the public go along with the poorly justified dismissal of consequence. Just to be clear, these people are thieves, liars, and murderers, but because they are greedy and rich, for some odd reason, they are treated like the victims. They need to be incarcerated with the other thieves, liars, and murderers in our society, because allowing them to run amok will turn our world into a desolate wasteland.

Contrast that with the current situation with schools. Nobody becomes a teacher because they are greedy and want to make a lot of money. It is a thankless job with dismally low pay that people do in order to work for the greater good. These people care about children and they care about a well-educated and informed public. Sadly, this seems like the least respected career path in the nation.

Schools have been under attack for my entire lifetime. There is a constant stream of budget cuts, "teacher accountability measures" (trying to measure a teacher's worth in an underfunded school), and individual groups openly trying to attack them. A good example of an individual group is the anti-tax group "Empower Texans". According to the NPR story on budget cuts in Texas, Michael Sullivan, the group's president, said that "tons of money" has been thrown at education.

Of course, the NPR story neglected to give the only information that really mattered: the yearly budget, the resources the school lacks, how much those resources add to the yearly budget, and how much the district was being given. It is difficult to say how devastating a budget cut is if that information is not given. Perhaps that is why it wasn't given.

They also neglected to mention Mr. Sullivan's qualifications. Does he have a background in education? Does he have a background in accounting, and has he had a look at the district's budget? Based upon his general lack of specific information given by Mr. Sullivan in the interviews, I find these options unlikely.

This prompts me to ask other questions: Is he a radical anti-tax lawyer like Douglas Bruce in Colorado? Is he just some hillbilly that was fed a bunch of "information" by a third party? The anti-tax lawyer scenario is likely, but based on the lack of real information used, I find the hillbilly scenario much more likely. These are all questions that should have been asked by the reporter who was interviewing him. NPR markets itself as a reliable news source, but this story was a whitewash.

The only part of this story that wasn't a whitewash was the mention of a 5 billion dollar nest egg that the State of Texas was reserving for an economic crisis, that lawmakers refused to touch to help the failing schools. This is yet more abuse to a benevolent institution. (If anyone wants to read the story, look at: http://www.npr.org/2011/12/22/144079041/texas-schools-grapple-with-big-budget-cuts.)

As a society, we need to change our ways. Cruelty to the poor and weak is barbaric and propping up blood merchants is foolish. I have a few suggestions to help ourselves: First, always consider the source of information. If somebody displays an opinion, question that person's qualifications and motivations. Second, feel free to use your own moral compass. If somebody is asking you to support something that seems cruel or unethical, chances are, it is cruel and unethical, and it does not deserve your support. Third, do not go along with the crowd. The 21st century is plagued with group-think. Large quantities of people are supporting things that they don't really believe in because their social group is supporting it. Last, and most importantly, get involved. There is not point of having opinions if you don't do anything with them. Most of the corrupt do not want to see the average person vote or publicly display their views and values, so voting and displaying your values might be a good place to start.

There really is no such thing as a tough guy. Unicorns have a better chance of existing. No matter who you are, no matter how much physical pain you can take, no matter how strong you are, no matter how much be-hind you can kick, there is someone or some thing out there that can make you cry like a 6 year old with a skinned knee, so feel free to drop the act. What does exist are toughER guys and fake tough guys. As a public service, I am going to explain the difference.

Fake tough guys have a skewed idea of what a tough guy acts like. Fake tough guys will say "WHAT?!" if you look at them, they never smile at others, or perform any acts of kindness, they pick fights with weaker opponents (because only the insane pick fights that they are going to lose), they hate homosexuals, they always have a speech about how the less fortunate brought it on themselves, they carry weapons, they are chauvinists, they drink large quantities of alcohol (this makes them "tougher"), they like violent movies, they feel obligated to drive big vehicles, they don't like children, and so on. I don't feel like adding any more traits. We all know these people. Most of us don't like them either.

The posture and look of a toughER guy is unmistakable. It is easy to tell that he is going to be a heck of a combatant AND this look doesn't go away whether he is squaring off with another person, cuddling a teddy bear, or smiling at children. The fake tough guys typically don't have this part figured out. If a stout looking man (OR woman, lets not forget the toughER girls) comes into a pediatric clinic holding a 6 year old girl's hand with tears in his/her eyes, don't mess with this person. This person will give you brain damage.

One of the most peculiar parts of possessing any significant amount of strength is that the need to prove yourself isn't quite as important. If you are not compensating for anything, you are typically not afraid of being seen petting a dog or being kind to strangers. Displays of affection are not off limits for the toughest among us. Who does a prize fighter normally thank? God, his/her (training) team, his/her mother, father, wife/husband, and his/her kids for their support, and he/she does it with tears in his/her eyes. Prize fighters often admit that their strength was lent to them by their families. Sometimes a prize fighter will thank the pope. Often this monster-in-the-ring will say something about charity, or the less fortunate.

Manny Pacquio is considered one of the world's nicest and most charitable people and there was nobody who could even come close to beating him in the ring. He has admitted that his biggest goal is to help other poor Filipino kids that are experiencing the same difficulties that he did. He does what he does for his home country and the people that live there. There are no reports of him saying "WHAT?!" when somebody looked at him.

Manny brings up another trait of the toughER guys. Many times, somebody became strong because they were countering adversity. I am sure that there are some people out there that are tough by nature, but I don't think that I have met any of them. When you see somebody struggling with the same issues that you have, there is always a little bit of sympathy and an urge to help that person, isn't there?

So, I would like to give this piece of advice to the general public: give in to kindness. Help a neigbor or a friend, love your children, and don't waste your time trying to look "hard." That kind of behavior is an obvious sign of weakness.

Is There Really A God? Why I Choose to be Agnostic....

It seems these days that most arguments are centered around God & Jesus.  God says homosexuality is a sin.  God says abortion is murder, etc (these are other topics I want to get into later).  I love that we live in a country where it is good to have faith.  But at what expense?  We all have faith in something, but it seems like we are going down the road of "you don't believe what I believe, so you are wrong and I am right.  You are going to Hell for your beliefs while my beliefs will get me into Heaven".  Our country, for the most part, has become a religious pissing contest.

I'm not coming out here to say you are wrong and I am right.  These are just my opinions.  I know that you will believe what you believe and if we don't agree, I know I most likely won't change that.  And I don't want to.  That is what our country was founded on and I wish we could get back to that.

I find it funny that so many people put such blind faith into God.  There was a book written about him 2,000 years ago, so he must be real!  In this day of modern science I find it a bit funny that we put so much stock in the Bible.  In the time the Bible was written any unexplained Phenomena was attributed to a god or gods.  Zeus caused thunder and lightning, Apollo made the sun rise and set, etc.  I'm pretty sure most people would agree with me that there isn't a large being in the clouds shooting lightning bolts from his fingers or someone pulling the sun behind him in his chariot of fire.  We now know these are natural occurrences.

But still, here we sit in 2011, listening to politicians fight over things that quite honestly the church has no place in.  The church is not our government.  There are so many religions, it's impossible to make laws that satisfy them all, so why are we even trying?  The church should have no place in setting public policy.  This country was founded on the premise of escaping religious persecution, yet I see examples of that every day.  Ask some "Christians" what they think of Muslim's and they will answer "Terrorist".  Not all Muslims are terrorists and not all terrorists are Muslim (Ted Kaczynski anyone?)

Moving on the the Presidential race.  I heard on the news the other day that Rick Perry's bus tour in Iowa is labled "Faith, Jobs & Freedom".  What does faith have to do with whether he'll be a good leader?  Mitt Romney was attacked recently for being  Mormon.  Again, how does that affect his ability to lead?  When Obama was running in 2007, I recall his ability to lead being questioned  because he attended a certain church.  What does going to church every Sunday have to do with being a good leader?  Most would argue that being religious means you have good morals....riiiiighht....so what about all those politicians who have cheated on their wives?  Some of them were regular churchgoers, were they not?  I guess I could never be President because I don't go to church.  Even though I have never cheated on my husband, committed fraud, murder, rape, etc, I must have no morals!

Ultimately though, people are free to believe what they believe.  I'm not saying there is a God, and I'm not saying there isn't one.  All I know is that there really is no way to know for sure.