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Memories of My Mother

Mom was a lighthearted woman.  She sang around the house (we teased her, claiming that her voice was terrible.  It wasn’t a Grammy-quality voice, but it was fine).

Like most people, she sang the songs of her youth – in her case, the 1940s.  I didn’t realize how often I’d heard them, until one day, I was watching Name That Tune.  The music of the show was WWII songs – I was, for once, VERY good – I knew them all.

Mom was patient.  She listened to my brother and I read stories aloud (prompting us to “sound it out” when encountering an unfamiliar word), let us recite our times tables, and helped us learn new skills – cooking, sewing, knitting, etc.

At a relatively young age (early 40s), Mom developed Rheumatoid Arthritis.  By the time I had my last child, she was in a wheelchair.  From that point on, she largely stayed home; it took much planning to arrange outings.  My dad retired early, both due to his poor health (he had pancreatic cancer), and to care for her.

Mom’s life was not one that makes great biographies; she never held prestigious jobs, attended college, or managed charities or organizations.

What her special gift was that she made everyone that knew her feel special.  She had time to listen to those that needed it.  She gave her attention to others, without needing to be the focus of attention.

That’s a very rare quality, and a large part of what made her special.

WHY Leftist Goals Aren’t Good for America

I’ve not before found an explanation that better capsulizes the Leftist philisophy, and makes clear why it is NOT sustainable:

The left constantly approaches the economy like it’s a gigantic daycare. When people need something, “all we need to do is share.” If someone has something another person doesn’t, the solution is to have the “teacher” force him to share. This is how liberals approach the economy. But what is lost in this daycare mentality approach is that individuals need to put effort into creating, producing, and selling goods and services. They do not just exist, like a birthday cake that should be cut up and handed to the rugrats on a plastic plate. And liberals don’t notice that after a few semesters, the teacher is really packing on the pounds.

People, the tangible things of an economy don’t just materialize.  They come into being because of the hard work of the producers.  If you think that people should just “share” their money, try this:

Here’s an experiment – the next time someone says that “we” need to do something about a social problem, say “Great!  I’ve been hoping you’d agree.  Let’s see, that program will cost about 3 billion dollars – you don’t think that’s too expensive, do you?”  They’ll likely say NO amount is too great to solve the problem.  Then respond, “Wonderful!  I’m so glad that you have the commitment to solving the problem.  Your share will be $1000.  I’ll take a check.”

The concept that there just isn’t a fairy godmother, with LOTS of money, who will wave her wand and dole out cash, is lost on many people.  This is a deeply immature mindset.  It is the mindset of one who FEELS poor, but FEELS surrounded by others who have SO much money.  Like the non-birthday girl at a party, she just can’t fathom that the birthday child wouldn’t want to make her happy by “sharing” some of the gifts – and by sharing, I mean being forced to give them up.

These Things Fall Under the Heading “Things I Did Not Know”

Did you know it’s a CRIME to deposit less than $10,000 in the bank, if you received the money in greater quantities?  There are farmers that did so, and have had their money confiscated.

Gibson Guitars had 1/2 MILLION dollars worth of wood taken from them, without recompense, and NEVER have had charges brought against them – in 3 years.

Guess they never heard of that silly thing called the Bill of Rights:

Article the sixth [Amendment IV]
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Article the seventh [Amendment V]
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Article the ninth [Amendment VII]
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Now, I’m not a Constitutional Lecturer, but I just think – MAYBE – Gibson has a case under these articles.

MULTIPLE attempts to jail/shut up Ted Nugent (I don’t particularly care for him – he is a bit of a jackass – BUT, he does have his rights, and the Federal Government is trampling all over them).

I’m particularly upset that my elected legislators seem more concerned about posturing on the news than fighting – tooth & nail – for ALL AMERICANS’ rights.

“Green Energy”?

MASSIVE failure.

Well, expect for the green that the companies have received in the form of government subsidies and loans.

I used to read Mother Earth News.  I actually put some of their ideas into play.  We recycled, reused, and otherwise followed the conservative – in the sense of conserving resources – guidelines.

We never went full-out and built a model low-energy home.  Lack of funds was largely the problem – instead, we bought used houses – sometimes, VERY used.

The fact is, low-energy, Earth-friendly solutions work best at the consumer level.  Stop energy leaks, keep the heating/cooling minimal, and enjoy the savings.  Don’t pay the price for organic food trucked at a great distance – plant a garden.  Don’t mandate what materials/energy savings for consumer goods should be – let the consumer decide – whether that’s clothing (used is cheaper, and definitely Earth-friendly), appliances, or cars.

Don’t subsidize cars marketed to the wealthy – which is what Prius and Volt owners are.

Don’t subsidize mass transit that isn’t used – consider programs to help working people get a used, reliable car, or lend them money to put one in working order.  Don’t demonize the owners of SUVs – many of them need to haul materials or people, or both, in those cars.

In short, stop using the environmental movement as a way to slap around those who don’t agree with you politically.

Research on the Brain Front

I’ve long been fascinated by people who’ve experienced strokes or brain trauma.  My grandfather experienced his first stroke when I was quite young, and I watched his efforts to recover physical movement, memory, and control of thought processes.  He tended to repeat himself, as he had to when first working on recovery.  That repetition served to re-build his memories.

This article, although not new, addresses some of the recent research on patients with either minimal consciousness or what has been called a “vegetative state”.  Keep reading till the end – about the 4th page, it’s clear that much of what doctors “know” about the possibilities of meaningful recovery is dead-on wrong.

For that reason, I’m generally opposed to Living Wills that work in favor of pulling the plug too early, or even those that favor sedating the patient into an early death.  I’ve made my wishes known to my husband and children, and will be filling out the Right to Life website’s alternative to Living Wills.

Read here to find out why Living Wills are not a good choice.

Round-up of Interesting Reading

I’ve been doing too much posting on Facebook (OK, it’s easier than writing a coherent post, and MUCH quicker, leaving me an opportunity to have a life).

So, here’s some posts you need to see:

From Right Wing News, some VERY disturbing quotes from people in the Obama administration.  I’m particularly disturbed about # 6.

“One way to carry out this disapproval might be to insist that all illegitimate babies be put up for adoption—especially those born to minors, who generally are not capable of caring properly for a child alone. If a single mother really wished to keep her baby, she might be obliged to go through adoption proceedings and demonstrate her ability to support and care for it. Adoption proceedings probably should remain more difficult for single people than for married couples, in recognition of the relative difficulty of raising children alone. It would even be possible to require pregnant single women to marry or have abortions, perhaps as an alternative to placement for adoption, depending on the society.” – John Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology. So, we have a man with the morals of Joseph Mengele advising the President on science. It also shouldn’t be lost on anyone that while Obama is yammering on about a “war on women,” he has someone on his staff who has come out in favor of FORCED ABORTIONS.

I’m sure that you’re thoroughly sick of hearing about the Zimmerman-Martin case.  But, Mike Adams writes about the underlying reasons why the Black community is pushing it so hard.

Mike Adams writes about a lonely older woman, bringing tears to my eyes.  If you know a senior without nearby family, please visit them this week.

PERSONAL NOTE:  I’ve been fascinated by the sight of my grandchildren using the IPad.  They are enraptured in a way they haven’t been with the computer (they used to want to borrow my Macbook when I came to visit – now, they just beg for the IPad.  I’ve offered the Mac to the losing child, but they aren’t interested).  Jobs really has something with this tech toy.

I could add more right now, but I’m working.

Reading Humanae Vitae

I was avoiding housework spending a FEW minutes browsing, and found a reference to In Humanae Vitae, the much-derided encyclical from Pope Paul VI, in 1968.

The person linking the English translation said that the entire thing was only about 4 pages long.  This intrigued me, and I decided to read the actual document, rather than what I had previously depended on, excerpts and commentaries.

It’s worth reading, especially in light of recent developments with the Catholic Church and Obama’s HHS.

We are obliged once more to declare that the direct interruption of the generative process already begun and, above all, all direct abortion, even for therapeutic reasons, are to be absolutely excluded as lawful means of regulating the number of children. (14) Equally to be condemned, as the magisterium of the Church has affirmed on many occasions, is direct sterilization, whether of the man or of the woman, whether permanent or temporary. (15)

Similarly excluded is any action which either before, at the moment of, or after sexual intercourse, is specifically intended to prevent procreation—whether as an end or as a means. (16)

Those who argue for toleration of a lesser evil are rebuked:

Though it is true that sometimes it is lawful to tolerate a lesser moral evil in order to avoid a greater evil or in order to promote a greater good,” it is never lawful, even for the gravest reasons, to do evil that good may come of it (18)—in other words, to intend directly something which of its very nature contradicts the moral order, and which must therefore be judged unworthy of man, even though the intention is to protect or promote the welfare of an individual, of a family or of society in general.

That boldfaced part is in line with Pope Benedict XVI’s comments about an HIV-infected person using condoms – it is the lesser evil.

Following sections discuss the other consequences of contraception, which affect the quality of the relationship and the nature of the parents’ response to a “failure” of contraception.  It’s WELL worth reading.

Sowell & The Entitled Victim Mentality

He’s a true treasure, that Sowell is.

With all the talk about people paying their “fair share” of income taxes, why do nearly half the people in this country pay no income taxes at all? Is that their “fair share”? Or is creating more recipients of government handouts, at no cost to themselves, simply a strategy to gain more votes?

Assistance from others is SUPPOSED to be short-term.  Only in rare cases (permanent disability, partial or total) is the help meant to continue.  What our Liberal government has done is TAKE money from those that earned it, to give to others, who have NOT.

Examples:

  • Taking from working-class taxpayers to give to upper-middle class kids to attend college – either directly, through grants, or indirectly, through loans.
  • Taking from those who work minimum-wage jobs, so others can hold out for a better-paying job when unemployed.
  • Taking from those who DIDN’T go overboard with home price, and subsequently lose value in the home, to give to those who bought ridiculously overpriced homes with WAY too much footage.
  • Taking from working mothers to give to welfare mothers – who could bloody well get a job, just like the person that is paying their support through taxes.

No one is suggesting that we let people starve.  BUT, have you seen the poundage on many of the “poor”?  They’re NOT in the last stages of starvation.

What I am suggesting is that this is a time of crisis, which calls for triage.  If people are needy, we should:

  • Provide emergency food
  • Provide emergency shelter

That’s it, folks.  That food may not be prime rib, but it should keep them alive.  The shelter may not be palatial, but it should keep them warm and dry.  If people lose their homes, maybe they’ll learn not to bite off so large a hunk of the pie.  If people won’t work a minimum-wage job, they’re not hungry enough.

Anything more, they’ll have to find a charity to supply.  Government is NOT a charity.  Assistance is for EMERGENCIES.

Period.

This Could Save Your Life (Or, Someone You Love)

I wish I had had this information before my mother suffered the stroke that ended her life a week later.

 

http://www.stroke.org/site/DocServer/FAST_walletCard_2011.pdf?docID=8342

 

It’s a link to a site with a pdf of a wallet-sized card reminder of the things to look for if you suspect a stroke.

 

In all fairness, Mom was also resistant to the idea of going to the ER.  She’d called her regular doctor, and he said he’d see her Tuesday in the office (this was Sunday).  She refused to go to the hospital, as her doctor was aware of the stroke, and wasn’t concerned.

 

He should have been.  Before she could see him, on Monday, she had another stroke, this one more severe.

 

The argument I should have made was for Dad to realize that she wasn’t competent to make the decision.  And, I should have called 911, and let the techs persuade her.

 

I will be carrying this card in my wallet from now on, and I urge anyone with a history of cardiovascular problems in their family to do the same, as should all their family and friends.

 

Strokes can be minimized in their damage, IF you seek medical attention IMMEDIATELY.

Stand Up & Be Counted!

Are you For – or Against Blacklists?

 

What do I mean?  How can anyone be FOR Blacklists?  Aren’t they the McCarthyite (Spit!  Spit!  on his grave) tactic that all proper, good-hearted people are appalled by?  That NO person should EVER employ?  Or Support?

 

Well, not exactly.

 

In this article, Jeffrey Lord makes the case that The Tactic has returned – in fact, never left.

 

Warning – this is LONG (but surprisingly readable).  It may ruffle your feathers, and cause you to stutter, “but, but…”.

 

Just approach it with an open mind.

 

Then, ask yourself, what if this tactic were employed against ME?  Or someone whom I support?

 

Would I still think it fair?