With the way the country is, and the way Lincoln trampled the constitution (even call these united states “a nation” instead of looking at this as a union of independent states) we need not a right of cessation, but a right to expel. I’d like to put on the list Maryland, Mass., California (at least the southern part), New Jersey, Delaware, Illinois, Michigan and a hand-full of New England states.
Browsing Posts in Culture
One of the things I think is forgotten in this day is how many of the great thinkers of the past received much of their education. Prior to the mid 1800’s, there was little or no formal education in this country. Many of the greatest minds in our country had no early education outside the home. Yet my thoughts on education are not based on what I see of history, but what I see as a parent.
One of my children, my seven-year-old son, is autistic. He is “high function” meaning he is in many ways a very bright young boy that learns well in many areas, but his communication and social skills are far behind his other skills. His experience is just one child, but I have seen a pattern that is more than just one child … I’ve seen it with many children. What does this have to do with schooling? It has a lot to do with home schooling and a non-random, informal sampling (the kind the human mind does very well by just observing what a person sees) of comparison of home schoolers and modern “warehouse” (many students, all the same age, in a classroom) schoolers.
One of the most frequent questions/complaints by those not associated with home schooling is “what about socialization of home schoolers” as a sort of trump card argument against home schooling. What about it? It seems to me that socialization occurs best in the home school environment. One of the things I have observed is that nearly universally, if children playing with my seven-year-old and being kind, not being mean at all, they are home schooled. It seems that socialization, if that means being able to deal kindly with others and get along with others, is best done in a home school environment.
My wife, being a home school mom, has taken our children many places, and one thing she has observed is that many of the places we’ve taken our kids, she has been asked if we home school our children by those that see children in large groups every day (like at parks and historical sites). Typically, she will respond “Yes, why do you ask?” The response is often “the children are well behaved and polite … that is what we see with home schoolers all the time.”
So while I teach my children at home for religious reasons, I believe they get, serendipitously, a better education … especially in socialization, than what their public school peers do. Home schooling costs taxpayers nothing, delivers a better education, and produces better socialized children than public schooling. Why do we have public schools again? Oh, that’s right, in large measure because parents cannot afford to give their children the best education … one of the parents stay home and teach … so we have institutions for warehousing the children.
So if you want to save money on taxes and have a better citizenry, provide incentives for home schooling children. We spend well over $10,000 per student to educate them per year. Provide a grant (tax free, no strings attached, no reporting needed grant) of even $5000 per student who is either home schooled or in a private school would reduce taxes and provide a better education to those that choose that route.
The contrast between the two viewpoints could not be drawn in a manner any starker. Reagan is the adult in a room full of dimwitted children. “We want what we want, and we want it now”, is an apt summation of the cries of the Democrat Congressmen. Reagan’s counter point, one of personal responsibility could not be more poignant.
The Republicans will win the battle this fall. They will win not because of their brilliance, but because of a nationwide revulsion of the Democrats in power. The question is can the Republicans win the war. The 40% of the country that self identifies as conservative will be watching. If the Republicans revert to their 2006 big government big spender mode – they are finished as a party.
The answer to the Pelosi-Obama-Reid Democrats is not accommodation. Healthcare needs to be repealed. The mountain of deficit spending demands large cuts in spending, not an increase in taxes – we are long past the peak on the Laffer curve. Cap and trade is a job killer as is the recent economic ‘reform’ bill that only increased the level of uncertainty in the market.
Accommodation and compromise are called for when the two parties at the table have some common ground. When the issue on the table is the choice between liberty and servitude, where is there common ground? When the issue is a choice permanent state of national indebtedness and economic freedom, how does one accept servitude? When the choice lies between the US maintaining its hard won sovereignty and the likes of the UN making decisions for us, do we agree to let the likes of Libya, Sudan and China telling us how we are to live?
Reagan did not compromise his principles. He made deals in order to further his agenda and philosophy, and took what he could in the face of a foe who had the media in his pocket. The American people know the difference. We will be watching. The yardstick by which Republican performance will measured is not the sad marker set down by the Teleprompter in Chief. The yardstick will be the one stacked out by legacy of the Great Communicator.
It is now on Verizon On Demand, and presumably on the other cable outlets. Do not read the reviews, do not ask around. Just go watch Kick Ass: definitely the most enjoyable film experience I have had in years.
While rated R for good reason, it also has a touching familial side and a quaint ultraviolent side. Seriously, don’t muck up your thinking with other people’s takes: just put the kids to bed and watch the damn movie. Twenty minutes in I told my wife “this may be the greatest movie I have ever seen.” Do yourself a favor. My Second Amendment, libertarian brethren in particular.
And you’re welcome.
Monday and Tuesday are my last two days as a teacher. (They are teacher work days … getting grades in, graduation, getting signed out and other “end of year” work.) Friday was the last day with students. What I find both very touching, encouraging, and also at least a little sad is that I had about 20 students come up to me and hug me. There were students that I had ridden hard to improve their grades, and some that had needed encouragement to do their best, and some that showed what appreciation they could.
As the students left on the last day, I can remember feeling sad. While I am sure that what I go to will be rewarding, I also know that there is little chance of the same kind of reward … knowing that I made a difference in a young student’s life. The kids are wonderful, and I earnestly hope they have even better teachers next year.
“NEVER AGAIN!” was the cry after the National Socialist Workers Party was done with its attempt at a final solution to the “Jewish Question” in WWII. The West as a whole vowed to never stand by and allow a new pogrom to reignite. Today the liberals are not standing by. They are actively taking part and assisting the likes of Hezbollah and mad Mullahs of Iran.
Obama and his cabal have treated Israel with contempt, and grovelled before the dictators of the world. A nation has the right to guard its borders. A nation has the right to protect its people. Obama condemned Israel for doing this. Last year over 100 rocket attacks were inflicted upon Israel. These attacks emanated from Gaza and the West bank. These attacks were conducted by Hamas. The Turkish ambassador to the US has said that, “Hamas must be part of the final solution to the Israeli conflict.” This thug is still on our soil?
Imagine if India were to attack Chinese cities on 100 separate occasions. What do you imagine the response would be? Imagine if Buffalo NY, Flint MI, Boston MA, and Seattle WA were subject to weekly rocket fire from Canada. Would our media advocate not only restraint but concession in light of such bombardment? I instead would imagine that such action would be viewed as a casus belli.
Many in the West are echoing the propaganda of the Junta’s of the Middle East. The dictators that rule from Morrocco to Pakistan echo the puerile antisemitism that is common fare of Wahhabi dominated mosques. On college campuses today it is cool to be an anti-Semite. MSM today is slanted towards this warped view. If a second holocaust is to be avoided, good people must stand up in the public square and cry NEVER AGAIN.
UPDATE: Former Clinton spokesman, Joe Lockhart, said: “I hope we are strong enough as a country to sustain voices that are wrong, voices that offend, even voices that incite.” Cry me a river. This yahoo support’s shutting down the voices of descent with the ‘fairness doctrine.’ Great 1984-ism that bill.
Did I get your attention? Do I really mean that? Well, in some instances I do. Joe and I were talking and came up with an added approach for this blog. It appears that although we get many good comments on the issues of the posts, we don’t really resolve anything. The idea is for YOU to have control and a say that MEANS something. The idea is a series entitled:
“HOW WOULD YOU DO IT?”
The object is to post on an issue that can be resolved with the input YOU give. You could post on singular things like how to prevent a BP spill from happening ever again or generalize it like containing environmental catastrophies. We have some exellent posters here and anyone can continue the series with any issue they feel. What makes it different is this: you may agree with the poster completely and you are heard. You may want to add something which gives you a louder voice. You may disagree with some parts or totally BUT don’t comment why it’s wrong, rather say you would exclude something to REPLACE it with something else. Your voice is heard loudly. I know, not everyone has the rights of posting but EVERYONE has the rights of commenting. We will post for you on the subjects you desire. You comment by telling us how you would do things.
The blog will continue with its teeth gnashing-finger biting-in your face liberal points of view to the many sound and intelligent posts here. This will be different because we DON”T WANT BLAME–WE WANT CONSTRUCTIVE SOLUTIONS. And I intend to get these posts sent to political bodies of every state and the U.S. so someone can use them. It just isn’t much fun when you shoot ducks in the barrel all the time. Instead we want people to have ideas to work things and change things. These won’t just be solutions for today and now but to prevent problems tomorrow. That’s the beauty of construtive solutions.
You can put your subject ideas here. We will use them to post. I am up to my behind in things but in 3 days I will be able to relax. I have the priveledge of writing the first in this series and I hope to have it to you by the beginning of next week. The style is easy. The concept is sound. The end results very beneficial. And every one of YOU has a say on how YOU would do it.
Well, we often thank Ace for the good, and today we must thank him for the bad.
So MIA is just another dumb celebrity. Sheer heartache.
Longtime readers will know why this pains me so.
Alas, one final time, credit to the “original.”
Speaking of which: anyone want to go play with toys at Silver Eagle let me know, I will be spending some time there.
If you go here, you will learn the Pledge of Alegiance and its meaning as well as the do’s, don’ts and etiquette of the U.S. flag. You need to know this for a reason and I will relay to you why thru my Memorial Day experience.
Thousands of WWII veterans are dying each month. A generation with first hand experiences is about to be lost forever, fading into history books, to be taught to others as people deem fit. Korean War vets are close behind. Then it will be the Vietnam era. I, like many others, look forward to the 3 day weekend for cookouts, gatherings, even shopping and this is all okay. We are a society that gets to enjoy our days as we deem fit…….as long as a tribute is paid for the occasion of the holiday-Memorial Day.
I took my ride in Rolling Thunder as I have for 23 years now (although I did take a break twice to watch live the CocaCola 600 NASCAR race in Charlotte). I have been noticing as of late that the purposes to many just seems to be a “group” ride to the city. Once there, people sit in the shade away from the ride to drink, talk and relax. Many make new friends or meet up with old buddies they served with. I watch the bikes for awhile (the procession takes about 6 hours these days) and although it was cruelly humid, the drenching was part of the price. I happened to have my oldest daughter ride with me this year as well as my nephew. It was a first for the both of them. We walked the Wall, saw the nurses memorial and then went to the WWII memorial. I noticed many foreigners that were marveling on their vacation the sights of the memorials. Some with disrespect such as sticking their feet in the WWII memorial fountain or the loud talking and running past people at the Wall. They showed no regard to the vets crying over their buddies or the families remembering Dad with gifts, memorabilia, pictures and poems. This hit me hard. Do people not have respect for our fallen heroes?
Depending on which side of Costitution Ave. you are on, if you haven’t returned to the side you need to before the parade starts at noon, you will be stuck for at least 4 hours. We returned to our side, watched some of the parade and then left to visit my parents at the Lee estate. We rode into the cemetary and parked at the curb next to the row where my parents headstone is placed. I saw many people walking the paths going to “those special attractions” and even tourist trams for those that want the riding tour. I marveled at this. How do you get to understand the enormity and the individuals in Arlington Cemetary if you DON’T get off the path? Every headstone has a name and every headstone has a story. The story, albeit brief, gives a name, rank, war served, birth, death and, sometimes, award. These are but a smattering of the heroes buried in this nation that served our country so that I could write and talk about this. My daughter had noticed something and it got my attention in a very upsetting way. It appears that all too many gravestones had numerous scratches and chips in them due to the people mowing the grass. The headstones are always trimmed by other means so that this doesn’t happen. This, in my mind, is another sign of disrespect and contempt. And, as usual, every headstone and market had an American flag in front of it to show honoring. This is a timely endeavor but is part of the price paid. Do tourist really understand what it is about?
As with Sunday, I noticed as I went out Memorial Day to visit my wife’s Dad in Leesburg that there were no flags about. I will be generous and say that for evryone 40 residences there was ONE flag. It was no different in Leesburg either, although, on a couple of streets, they had hung flags on the light poles. This is a day to give honor; a day to remember those who fought and died protecting our freedoms yet I guess everyone was too busy with their own needs. A flag doesn’t cost much yet where were they? I know I will see more during the 4th of July than I saw this weekend.
Everyone should own a flag for display outside. They are very affordable and it is our patriotic duty to fly said flags during special times. I have many American flags of different materials, sizes and patterns. They range from $10 to $100 and I USE them. I do not own an American flag made anywhere but in America. It just doesn’t seem honorable to fly my countries’ flag that was made in communist China. I have given you flag etiquette…..read it. Some people just put a flag out and leave it out. Okay. Some put there flag out on special days. Okay. Believe it or not, flying the American flag can be a chore at times because you must keep track of all conditions and how to do it. Flying the symbol of my country will NEVER be a chore because it is my duty to not only do it but to know how to do it respectfully. I like to fly my parents flag because that is what they flew on their house when they were living. Regardless which American flag I fly I will always have pride and give honor to the people of my country.
Where is all this going? Let me tell you how I feel and why I needed to write this before I just broke down and cried. I have felt a rage and deep loathing for those politicos, teachers, parents and all others whose job it is as Americans to instill knowledge and duty into every citizen about our heritage, the sacrifices of our citizens for this country and what is so important about its symbol. I feel pity for those Americans that are ignorant of the value of our flag. Those that pursued that knowledge on their own and kept it I have great admiration. I have disdain for those who come to this country, having no “skin in the game”, that give no honor or respect of their perspective new home or that use us with no regard to those who gave sacrifice of which they reap reward. I am saddened and, at times, cry for those fallen or living that have a deep respect and understanding of duty, honor and valor, yet feel betrayed, lost or remorseful for their contributions. We are losing America and I feel betrayed.
I would like to leave you with the folding of the flag and TAPS story. Read the story and read the words. My eyes do well-up by the understanding. At this point I feel that I have done my duty to inform you. I believe it is up to us all to inform others and keep our nations symbol in honor. And although you might come across those people that feel their right to burn or mutilate that symbol; my knowledge and understanding of that symbol gives me the right to go to jail for pummeling said individuals. That is another price that needs to be paid. Freedom is not free and will always carry a price that every citizen must pay.
I wish to thank my Dad, my Mom and all those service men and women as well as civilians who have made my liberty possible. GOD bless you all!
Where is the outrage from the ACLU? When someone’s first amendment rights are trampled, and they are terminated from a position because of their speech, you would think the ACLU would be all over it. Not so if the expression is politically incorrect. Regardless of what Mr. Katz stated, he was chosen because he is one of the best in that field for control of the old spill. The arguments against him were that he expressed ideas that were controversial on topics unrelated to the oil spill.
From the Washington Times article:
“[Energy secretary] Dr. Chu has spoken with dozens of scientists and engineers as part of his work to help find solutions to stop the oil spill,” a statement from the Energy Department said. “Some of Professor Katz’s controversial writings have become a distraction from the critical work of addressing the oil spill. Professor Katz will no longer be involved in the Department’s efforts.”
So the professor’s writings are a distraction? Tell those that are distracted to either get on task or go home. If Professor Katz is doing his job, those that are bringing this up should be reminded that free speech is not just “comfortable” speech … free speech is speech that goes against what is accepted and “correct”. Professor Katz has been wronged.
One of the saddest things I’ve had to do was to let my principal know that I was leaving teaching. I love the kids, but I cannot afford what has been a passion for the past 8 years. When I started teaching, I thought I’d be able to stick it out. If the payscale had been kept that stated what I’d be making, I probably would have been able to (this year, I might have hit “break even” on income verses expense, and I almost certainly would have next year). The pay freeze last year, and now the pay cut for next year precluded that, and so I’m moving back to private industry. With the way things are going, even though employment is picking up in the private sector, I see nothing for the next several years for teachers in Loudoun, who next year will be at the bottom of the northern VA, DC metro pay for teachers.
Folks, it isn’t there fault. There may be exceptions to the rule, but teachers are a hard working group that put in way more than the “contract hours” that is the agreed amount of time. I feel sorry as much for them as I do the students in the public schools (want to demoralize a worker? Cut his pay in the midst of inflation … the only ones that will stick around in that situation are the ones that cannot leave).
For me, I wouldn’t want to leave, but I cannot stay. I do have a choice, and the choices are good as well. What I go to is sure to be fun, challenging, and more importantly, appreciated.
My principal appreciates my work, but the people who “own the company” don’t seem to appreciate the work. They have said that not only is it not worth what is being paid (the pay cut) but the work has to increase (student/teacher ratios are increasing next year). That sounds an awful lot like “we don’t need you here” to me. In private industry, you only cut the pay of those you want to drive elsewhere, or if the company is about to go under. In either case, the best and brightest leave near immediately.
I must not be best and brightest … I stuck it out last year. But the ship is sinking … Loudoun county is unsound financially, and only those that are foolish work for an unsound company.
I feel really bad about leaving the kids. Them, I love. But that won’t feed my own family. Sigh. Forgive the long winded goodbye to the schools; I’m sentimental and I tend to be very loyal to my employer.
Most of the time I do not think of SNL as having a conservative slant to anything they ever did (at least not the times I watched it). But I have to admit the spoof here is a perfect example of why an alarm system just isn’t going to save you. (Thanks to the VCDL newsletter for pushing this out … I just want to give it broader distribution.)
I am in the woods at a secure, undisclosed location seeking wild pigs with my friend Bob.
Saw about ten last night but none came by the blinds this morning.
I plan to have a full photo round up posted at Digital Camel Monday night.
So far the wine has been outstanding and the birds this morning were spectacular.
This Mexican heritage nonsense is going way too far. Students can’t wear Old Glory on a t-shirt on May 5th ?
Five Live Oak High School students’ First Amendment rights were challenged this morning when they were asked to leave school because they donned American flag T-shirts on Cinco de Mayo. Officials at the school chose not to comment on the situation, but one student said an official called the T-shirts “incendiary.”
How in god’s name can this crew be so dumb?
A Marine lieutenant calls his hometown station, saying he is coming home early from a combat tour of Iraq and Afghanistan and wants to surprise his wife — with the cameras rolling.
But because Lt. Denver Edick’s wife is a cheerleader for the Washington Redskins, the easy score turned into a turf battle in which ABC, the network that pitched the idea, wound up barred from FedEx Field, while the team handed the ball to the NBC station in town, which happens to be its broadcast partner.
The Washington Redskins once again declare war on their fans. Brilliant.
