Ok folks, you get a "twofer" treat this morning...
First things first. Our "fearless leader" (and I use the term "leader" loosely, here) is in another controversial position...go figure. His hero, Nancy Pelosi, is caught up in a media frenzy over statements she made regarding the CIA's practice of waterboarding. She claims that she knew nothing about these "torturous" events. Oh, but wait, that was her FIRST story. Now she says that she DID know, but she was misled by the CIA. This, of course, raised the ire of CIA head Leon Panetta (who was appointed by Obama, uh-oh!) who claims that the CIA is not in the habit of misleading Congress.
I agree that the CIA, or any governmental agency for that matter, hasn't always had the cleanest reputation. I tend to believe them in this instance, however A person in a high-ranking position like Nancy Pelosi, with her thumb on the pulse of America, could not NOT know about the goings on of the CIA. Sorry, Nancy! Be a woman and own up to the fact that YOU are actually the one who tried to mislead Congress and the American people by lying about what you knew.
So what will Obama do? It's been asked when he's going to speak about this situation with his beloved Nancy Pelosi. My opinion? He'll say nothing and he'll do nothing. After all, without Geppetto there would be no Pinocchio would there?
Now, as promised, part two of my Sunday morning rant. Wanda Sykes. And before the comments come in that I'm only speaking out against her because she's a black, lesbian, Obama-supporter - hold your tongue. My problem with her is that she's a poor excuse for a human being. Even Dennis Miller, the king of off-color comedy, said in a recent interview with Bill O'Reilly that she was unprofessional.
She can cry until the cows come home that her comment about Rush Limbaugh was "just a joke." Whatever, Wanda. Maybe she didn't come right out and say that she wanted him to die, but wishing someone's "kidneys would fail" isn't exactly wishing that person a long and happy life, is it? Was anything done? Nope. Was she forced to apologize? Nope. But let's look at the CBS Sportscaster David Feherty who made the comment about Nancy Pelosi, Henry Reed, Osama Bin Laden and a U.S. Soldier with a gun and two bullets in an elevator. He was forced to apologize for his comments. Wait, wasn't it "just a joke?" Oh that's right, it's only funny when the current administration isn't the butt of the joke. My fault.
As always, I welcome your comments...
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Just Another Media Feeding Frenzy...
Let's see...what's going on in the world today? Oh that's right, swine flu. Oops I forgot, we're not allowed to call it that anymore. The correct term is H1N1 Type A Influenza, or H1N1 for short. We've had to change the name to its correct medical term because it was causing panic and annoying pig farmers.
Really? The NAME of the flu is causing panic? I don't think so. It's not the name. It's not even the actual disease. It's our friends in the media inciting panic yet again. Think I'm crazy? Let's take a closer look...
Every year, 30,000 people in this country ALONE die from the flu. Not Avian flu. Not Swine flu. Just regular Influenza. There are 900 reported cases of swine flu worldwide. Seven of those cases were fatal in Mexico. Yet we have WHO (World Health Organization) and the CDC (Center for Disease Control) clamoring that we have a pandemic on our hands. I'm not trying to minimize the tragic deaths of the people who contracted this disease. However, we once again need to put things in perspective. Something our friends in the media have yet to figure out how to do.
Here are a few more statistics you may or may not be aware of. More than 2700 people worldwide die from malaria. Just since January of this year, 13,000 people in the United States have died from influenza. Worldwide, it is estimated that between 250,000 and 500,000 people die of regular influenza each year. Why isn't that considered a pandemic? And really, if swine flu, or H1N1, is so dangerous, where is the treatment? Where are the vaccines? The health "experts" can only tell us to take the same precautions we take when we are protecting ourselves from the regular flu: wash your hands and avoid large crowds in confined spaces.
I think I'll play the role of a conspiracy theorist here. I think, and I know without a doubt this will ruffle some feathers, that this is just another way for the current administration to continue down the road toward socialism. They can use this "pandemic" scare as an argument for controlling our medical care and further expand their governmental control.
I for one am not participating in this media feeding frenzy, much in the same way I am not participating in this "recession." Those of you reading this who are familiar with the teachings of Dave Ramsey will understand what I am talking about. Yes, we will be careful and take normal precautions to prevent the flu. But I refuse to be drawn in to this panic.
As always, I welcome your comments.
Please visit www.startswiththefamily.org.
Really? The NAME of the flu is causing panic? I don't think so. It's not the name. It's not even the actual disease. It's our friends in the media inciting panic yet again. Think I'm crazy? Let's take a closer look...
Every year, 30,000 people in this country ALONE die from the flu. Not Avian flu. Not Swine flu. Just regular Influenza. There are 900 reported cases of swine flu worldwide. Seven of those cases were fatal in Mexico. Yet we have WHO (World Health Organization) and the CDC (Center for Disease Control) clamoring that we have a pandemic on our hands. I'm not trying to minimize the tragic deaths of the people who contracted this disease. However, we once again need to put things in perspective. Something our friends in the media have yet to figure out how to do.
Here are a few more statistics you may or may not be aware of. More than 2700 people worldwide die from malaria. Just since January of this year, 13,000 people in the United States have died from influenza. Worldwide, it is estimated that between 250,000 and 500,000 people die of regular influenza each year. Why isn't that considered a pandemic? And really, if swine flu, or H1N1, is so dangerous, where is the treatment? Where are the vaccines? The health "experts" can only tell us to take the same precautions we take when we are protecting ourselves from the regular flu: wash your hands and avoid large crowds in confined spaces.
I think I'll play the role of a conspiracy theorist here. I think, and I know without a doubt this will ruffle some feathers, that this is just another way for the current administration to continue down the road toward socialism. They can use this "pandemic" scare as an argument for controlling our medical care and further expand their governmental control.
I for one am not participating in this media feeding frenzy, much in the same way I am not participating in this "recession." Those of you reading this who are familiar with the teachings of Dave Ramsey will understand what I am talking about. Yes, we will be careful and take normal precautions to prevent the flu. But I refuse to be drawn in to this panic.
As always, I welcome your comments.
Please visit www.startswiththefamily.org.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
The Answer is NO!
Maybe some of you reading this can explain to me what is wrong with this tiny little word and why it’s so difficult for some people to say.
I’ve been told “no”, you’ve been told “no” and you can rest assured that my children are told “no” – A LOT! And guess what? Nothing bad happens – imagine that! The world didn’t come to a screeching halt because my husband and I told our daughter “NO” she wasn’t going to get a new cell phone because she dropped hers into a sink full of water. Was she upset? You bet! Is it inconvenient? It sure is, but life DOES go on. She will have to earn back the privilege of having a cell phone.
Ok, this is using the concept of “no” in its simplest form, but really – does it have to be that difficult to tell people “no”? I have no problem telling a server at a restaurant, “no” you’re not getting a good tip, you were rude. Poor, irresponsible, lousy behavior should not be rewarded – under any circumstances!
So, why, then is our government rewarding big business for their financially irresponsible behavior? They’re out of money? TOUGH! You don’t get anymore! If you can’t take care of what you had, what you had been trusted with, you certainly aren’t going to get anymore – the answer is NO! Say it with me, current administration, the answer is NO! It’s time for these corporations to take responsibility for their own actions, own up to the fact that they mismanaged their business, and take the consequences that come with it. Is the government going to come and offer Joe Taxpayer a “bailout” because he mismanaged his checking account and is now overdrawn? Hardly! Yet, that’s what they’ve done with banks and the Big 3 Automakers – only on a much larger scale and with a much greater risk.
And what have these companies done with it? They have rewarded the financially irresponsible behavior of their CEOs with multi-million dollar bonuses! The American people are struggling to keep a roof over their head and food on their table, but we have CEOs getting fat bonus checks and a pat on the back. They’re allowed to keep the jobs that they abused. They are allowed to stay in the same positions they held while they ran their companies into the ground.
Speak up, folks! We DON’T have to take this treatment from a government that is supposed to work for us. We elected these people, we “gave” them their jobs – they work for US – not the other way around. It’s time to make our voices heard. Write to your senators, write to the White House. Let them know that enough is enough. Do we want anymore bailouts? Do we want them to spend anymore money so that our great-grandchildren will have to work to pay it off? The Answer is NO!
As always, I welcome your comments...
I’ve been told “no”, you’ve been told “no” and you can rest assured that my children are told “no” – A LOT! And guess what? Nothing bad happens – imagine that! The world didn’t come to a screeching halt because my husband and I told our daughter “NO” she wasn’t going to get a new cell phone because she dropped hers into a sink full of water. Was she upset? You bet! Is it inconvenient? It sure is, but life DOES go on. She will have to earn back the privilege of having a cell phone.
Ok, this is using the concept of “no” in its simplest form, but really – does it have to be that difficult to tell people “no”? I have no problem telling a server at a restaurant, “no” you’re not getting a good tip, you were rude. Poor, irresponsible, lousy behavior should not be rewarded – under any circumstances!
So, why, then is our government rewarding big business for their financially irresponsible behavior? They’re out of money? TOUGH! You don’t get anymore! If you can’t take care of what you had, what you had been trusted with, you certainly aren’t going to get anymore – the answer is NO! Say it with me, current administration, the answer is NO! It’s time for these corporations to take responsibility for their own actions, own up to the fact that they mismanaged their business, and take the consequences that come with it. Is the government going to come and offer Joe Taxpayer a “bailout” because he mismanaged his checking account and is now overdrawn? Hardly! Yet, that’s what they’ve done with banks and the Big 3 Automakers – only on a much larger scale and with a much greater risk.
And what have these companies done with it? They have rewarded the financially irresponsible behavior of their CEOs with multi-million dollar bonuses! The American people are struggling to keep a roof over their head and food on their table, but we have CEOs getting fat bonus checks and a pat on the back. They’re allowed to keep the jobs that they abused. They are allowed to stay in the same positions they held while they ran their companies into the ground.
Speak up, folks! We DON’T have to take this treatment from a government that is supposed to work for us. We elected these people, we “gave” them their jobs – they work for US – not the other way around. It’s time to make our voices heard. Write to your senators, write to the White House. Let them know that enough is enough. Do we want anymore bailouts? Do we want them to spend anymore money so that our great-grandchildren will have to work to pay it off? The Answer is NO!
As always, I welcome your comments...
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Another "Victim" of our Friends in the Media!
Yes, another issue in the media this week is causing me to yet again to climb up high to the top of my soapbox! Unless you have been living under a rock this past week, you are surely familiar with the controversy surrounding this year's Miss USA Pageant. This firestorm that the media has stirred up is absolutely ridiculous! Once again, we have a victim of the media simply because she chose to stand behind her convictions.
In case you don't know - here it is in a nutshell. Miss California, Carrie Prejean, was asked if she believes in gay marriage. Her response was: "We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite. And you know what, I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe a marriage should be between a man and woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised." She never once denounced gay marriage, gay relationships or said it was wrong. She simply stated that in HER family a marriage should be between a man and woman. Is she the ONLY person on the planet who thinks so? Hardly!
Good for you, Carrie Prejean! I applaud your courage for standing up for what you believe in and how you were raised. This feeding frenzy that has been created has absolutely nothing to do with the issue of gay marriage and everything to do with the fact that this girl stood her ground.
Let's look at this for a minute...the judge who posed the question was openly gay gossip columnist Perez Hilton. If any of you have ever listened to or read anything he's done, you know he makes his living by basically putting down other celebrities. Guess what? Thanks to our forefathers and every member of the military personnel who ever wore the uniform, he has that right to freedom of speech. So who is he to denounce this girl and call her vulgar names for speaking her mind? The same goes for anyone else who does so. We have the right to speak up for what we believe in, right or wrong. If the shoe was on the other foot and he was criticized for the things he says in his column, you can bet he would be up in arms.
By the way...who won the pageant? Does anyone know? Again, the media has blown this so far out of proportion that the winner, Miss North Carolina, Kristen Dalton, has been pushed aside. Her victory has barely even been mentioned because of this. All the media reports is that Miss California's statements "cost her the crown."
A friend of mine put it best: "I am extremely upset that we are being forced to either (1) succumb to dishonesty in order to achieve our goals or (2) stay true to ourselves and risk the possibility of watching our dreams slip through our fingers!" She took the words right out of my mouth! To Carrie Prejean: who cares about that crown - if you have to become a self-sacrificing, belief-hiding person to earn that title - you don't need it. That crown isn't worth the plastic it's molded from.
I welcome your comments...
In case you don't know - here it is in a nutshell. Miss California, Carrie Prejean, was asked if she believes in gay marriage. Her response was: "We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite. And you know what, I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe a marriage should be between a man and woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised." She never once denounced gay marriage, gay relationships or said it was wrong. She simply stated that in HER family a marriage should be between a man and woman. Is she the ONLY person on the planet who thinks so? Hardly!
Good for you, Carrie Prejean! I applaud your courage for standing up for what you believe in and how you were raised. This feeding frenzy that has been created has absolutely nothing to do with the issue of gay marriage and everything to do with the fact that this girl stood her ground.
Let's look at this for a minute...the judge who posed the question was openly gay gossip columnist Perez Hilton. If any of you have ever listened to or read anything he's done, you know he makes his living by basically putting down other celebrities. Guess what? Thanks to our forefathers and every member of the military personnel who ever wore the uniform, he has that right to freedom of speech. So who is he to denounce this girl and call her vulgar names for speaking her mind? The same goes for anyone else who does so. We have the right to speak up for what we believe in, right or wrong. If the shoe was on the other foot and he was criticized for the things he says in his column, you can bet he would be up in arms.
By the way...who won the pageant? Does anyone know? Again, the media has blown this so far out of proportion that the winner, Miss North Carolina, Kristen Dalton, has been pushed aside. Her victory has barely even been mentioned because of this. All the media reports is that Miss California's statements "cost her the crown."
A friend of mine put it best: "I am extremely upset that we are being forced to either (1) succumb to dishonesty in order to achieve our goals or (2) stay true to ourselves and risk the possibility of watching our dreams slip through our fingers!" She took the words right out of my mouth! To Carrie Prejean: who cares about that crown - if you have to become a self-sacrificing, belief-hiding person to earn that title - you don't need it. That crown isn't worth the plastic it's molded from.
I welcome your comments...
Monday, April 13, 2009
Enough is Enough!
I read today that yet ANOTHER sports figure signed another record deal with his team. Before I get into that, let me make something clear. This is NOT about bashing athletes or celebrities. I am a football fan. My husband has commented more times than I can count that I "bleed black and gold" (guess it won't take you long to figure out my favorite team is!) But with that being said - enough IS enough!
James Harrison of the Pittsburgh Steelers signed a six-year deal today for nearly $52 million, guaranteeing him $20 million. Please don't get me wrong, Mr. Harrison is a fine football player and no doubt should be compensated for his ability. But lets put things in perspective. Mr. Harrison, along with all of the other highly-paid athletes across the sports world are just that - athletes. Athletes and celebrities are not doctors capable of saving a life. They are not firemen who can pull a body from a burning building. They are not policemen who put their lives on the line EVERY day to protect and serve. And they aren't Soldiers who sleep in trenches in foreign lands to protect our freedom. Nor are they teachers, responsible for educating and preparing our children to one day lead this country.
The same policemen, firemen and Soldiers I mentioned above who put their lives on the line day after day for ALL of us, make a pittance compared to what these "stars" are being paid. Some of them, after giving their lives in the line of duty, barely have enough left to give them a proper burial and sometimes nearly nothing is left for the families they leave behind.
We have school districts coast to coast who struggle to keep the doors open to educate our kids. Yet the "Big Business" of sports and entertainment are guaranteeing large salaries to drug users, drunk drivers and criminals.
Almost daily, we hear of another family that has fallen victim to a murder/suicide situation over the stress of being unemployed, homeless and unable to provide their families even the basic necessities of life. What does this say about our priorities as American citizens when we continue to condone this behavior by forking over our hard-earned money for outrageously-priced tickets to sporting events, concerts and movies?
Here we are in the worst economic situation since The Great Depression. We have families living in the streets or in their cars because they can't afford to pay for their homes. We have senior citizens forced to eat crackers and cat food just to have enough money to pay for life-preserving, life-saving medications. We're bailing out large companies and allowing executives to collect exorbitant bonuses, while the working class people of this country struggle to keep their heads above water, something many are unable to do.
We see advertisements on television and the Internet asking for our hard-to-come by, hard-earned money to feed starving children in poor countries. Wake up! We have starving, homeless children living in our streets here. Don't take my word for it. Visit a downtown city near you and you'll see for yourself. I'm not saying that there are not those who may be worse off than we are, but as the old saying goes, "Charity begins at home." Lets take care of our own before we try and save the world.
Let me just make this point once more. This entry isn't about begrudging anyone of anything. I am not trying to take away what these athletes and stars are able to do. They are entertainers. They provide us with a break from the daily grind. But, please, lets keep things in perspective. Do we really need to pay these celebrities these large amounts of money just to entertain us? I think not.
James Harrison of the Pittsburgh Steelers signed a six-year deal today for nearly $52 million, guaranteeing him $20 million. Please don't get me wrong, Mr. Harrison is a fine football player and no doubt should be compensated for his ability. But lets put things in perspective. Mr. Harrison, along with all of the other highly-paid athletes across the sports world are just that - athletes. Athletes and celebrities are not doctors capable of saving a life. They are not firemen who can pull a body from a burning building. They are not policemen who put their lives on the line EVERY day to protect and serve. And they aren't Soldiers who sleep in trenches in foreign lands to protect our freedom. Nor are they teachers, responsible for educating and preparing our children to one day lead this country.
The same policemen, firemen and Soldiers I mentioned above who put their lives on the line day after day for ALL of us, make a pittance compared to what these "stars" are being paid. Some of them, after giving their lives in the line of duty, barely have enough left to give them a proper burial and sometimes nearly nothing is left for the families they leave behind.
We have school districts coast to coast who struggle to keep the doors open to educate our kids. Yet the "Big Business" of sports and entertainment are guaranteeing large salaries to drug users, drunk drivers and criminals.
Almost daily, we hear of another family that has fallen victim to a murder/suicide situation over the stress of being unemployed, homeless and unable to provide their families even the basic necessities of life. What does this say about our priorities as American citizens when we continue to condone this behavior by forking over our hard-earned money for outrageously-priced tickets to sporting events, concerts and movies?
Here we are in the worst economic situation since The Great Depression. We have families living in the streets or in their cars because they can't afford to pay for their homes. We have senior citizens forced to eat crackers and cat food just to have enough money to pay for life-preserving, life-saving medications. We're bailing out large companies and allowing executives to collect exorbitant bonuses, while the working class people of this country struggle to keep their heads above water, something many are unable to do.
We see advertisements on television and the Internet asking for our hard-to-come by, hard-earned money to feed starving children in poor countries. Wake up! We have starving, homeless children living in our streets here. Don't take my word for it. Visit a downtown city near you and you'll see for yourself. I'm not saying that there are not those who may be worse off than we are, but as the old saying goes, "Charity begins at home." Lets take care of our own before we try and save the world.
Let me just make this point once more. This entry isn't about begrudging anyone of anything. I am not trying to take away what these athletes and stars are able to do. They are entertainers. They provide us with a break from the daily grind. But, please, lets keep things in perspective. Do we really need to pay these celebrities these large amounts of money just to entertain us? I think not.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
What Are the Most Important Issues Facing American Families Today?
Now more than ever, American families need to be strengthened if we are to survive as a nation. It Starts With the Family is dedicated to providing information, resources and support to any and all families in need.
While we as an organization have a strong indication of what the toughest issues you and your family may be facing today, we want your opinion. We want to know what your family, or a family you know, may be dealing with.
Please take a minute to complete the poll at the right. You may remain anonymous and your answers will be kept confidential.
Results will be posted and discussed in a future post.
Thank you,
Melanie
While we as an organization have a strong indication of what the toughest issues you and your family may be facing today, we want your opinion. We want to know what your family, or a family you know, may be dealing with.
Please take a minute to complete the poll at the right. You may remain anonymous and your answers will be kept confidential.
Results will be posted and discussed in a future post.
Thank you,
Melanie
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The Rebuilding of America begins April 6...
Hi Everyone!
My name is Melanie and my husband Doug and I have started the organization It Starts With the Family. The aim of our organization is simple - to strengthen the cornerstone of America - the family. We are not a political organization out to push the agenda of any particular candidate, nor are we a religious organization out to promote one particular religious denomination. We believe strongly in God, Country and Family.
Our corresponding website, http://www.startswiththefamily.org/, will launch on Monday April 6. The site will be an extension of the organization and will provide information and resources to families on issues they may be facing. The site will not only address the family unit as a whole, but also each individual member of the family in each "season" of life. We do not condone, we do not condemn, we inform. We believe that it is not our place to judge one for whatever situation they are facing in life. We only provide a way to help fix what is broken.
Please visit our site today. We have a temporary page posted with a guestbook. If there is something that your family is facing or having a difficult time with, write to us and let us know how we can help. Please be sure to sign our guestbook while you're there and mark your calendars - the Rebuilding of America begins April 6!
Melanie VanNuys
melanie@startswiththefamily.org
My name is Melanie and my husband Doug and I have started the organization It Starts With the Family. The aim of our organization is simple - to strengthen the cornerstone of America - the family. We are not a political organization out to push the agenda of any particular candidate, nor are we a religious organization out to promote one particular religious denomination. We believe strongly in God, Country and Family.
Our corresponding website, http://www.startswiththefamily.org/, will launch on Monday April 6. The site will be an extension of the organization and will provide information and resources to families on issues they may be facing. The site will not only address the family unit as a whole, but also each individual member of the family in each "season" of life. We do not condone, we do not condemn, we inform. We believe that it is not our place to judge one for whatever situation they are facing in life. We only provide a way to help fix what is broken.
Please visit our site today. We have a temporary page posted with a guestbook. If there is something that your family is facing or having a difficult time with, write to us and let us know how we can help. Please be sure to sign our guestbook while you're there and mark your calendars - the Rebuilding of America begins April 6!
Melanie VanNuys
melanie@startswiththefamily.org
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