It's Officially Gone to the Dogs!!



Malachy the Pekingese

Seth Wenig/AP

 The scream was piercing..."Nooooooooo!!!!"

As they announced that Malachy, the Pekingese, had beaten out those renowned and stately breeds such as the German Shepherd, the Doberman Pincer, and the stately Irish Setter (a personal favorite of a friend of ours and she shows them), her scream of displeasure and disbelief about woke all the children.

"That thing looks like an Ewok from Star Wars", she exclaimed.  I have, in fact, seen pictures today that showed that if you combined Chewbacca with an Ewok, you would get Malachy.

Not being overly opinionated about dog shows, and yes there are some things I am not opinionated about, I really didn't care which dog won.  I did, however, have to agree that this is not a great choice.  I understand that Malachy met all the criteria in his class and is a fine specimen of a.....dare I say it?....dog, but his class is the "Toy" class.  How can the "Big Dog" of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show be a dust mop from a class that doesn't even have a real use other than to dust hardwood floors.

Well, Malachy won and that is all there is to it.  It may not be my idea of a dog and definitely not my wife's, she is a German Shepherd fan, but you have to admit, even Malachy looks better than some of those other breeds.  Besides...look at that face....that is his face, right?

Congress shall make no law...

...respecting an establishment of religion.  So states the beginning of the first sentence of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.  I think it can be agreed upon that this amendment has always been a magnet for debate.  What does it truly mean and debates like that.  One thing that I think the vast majority of Americans will agree upon is that it keeps the government from telling religions in America how they will practice their religions.

The big news maker right now is the mandate being handed down by the Administration through the Department of Health and Human Services stating that all individual and group health insurance plans cover and subsidize contraception, sterilization procedures and pharmaceuticals that even result in abortion.  This includes all hospitals, universities, etc. that have a religious affiliation.  If providing these services goes against the teachings of that religion, then how can the government demand they provide them? 

This is not a debate about abortion or birth control or whether they should or should not be legal.  This is about the government telling a religion that they MUST do what the government says, even if it is against their beliefs.  The government is infringing upon that religion's right to practice as they wish.  Being from a Catholic background, I can only relate this to the government telling the Catholic Church that they must have female priests.  It would be the same for other religions, Jewish, Muslims, etc, being told them must do something that is totally against their beliefs or practices.

I am sharing two articles written by the Bishop of Pittsburgh, Bishop David A. Zubik.  Though his articles specifically speak from a Catholic point of view and focus on the abortion issue, the problem here is shared by all religions.  It is also not only the Catholic Church that fights against abortion, others do as well.  And the ability of government to dictate to a religion would not stop at health insurance.  It could easily spread to other issues, such as female priests. The bigger issue is that of government dictating what a church does in regards to it's teachings and beliefs.  Please read these, they are very good.

http://diopitt.org/bridging-gap/hell-you

http://diopitt.org/hed-checking-air-outside

If we allow our government to trample all over the first of our Constitutional rights, how do we stop them from lining them all up to take a fall?  This is a call to action.  Contact your congressmen and women and the president.  Tell them not to mandate what a religion will do, especially against their basic beliefs.

Where Has Our Compassion Gone?

Yesterday's news about Michelle Duggar having a miscarriage in her 2nd trimester was very sad to hear.  As bad as that news was, it was quickly followed by hateful, mean-spirited, and extremely rude comments against her, her husband, and their family.

The fact that they have 19 children and this would have been 20 cannot be ignored.  Other facts that cannot be ignored is that the practice of their religion has them put the number of children they have in God's hands, they are not on welfare or other assistance, and they are able to financially support the whole family.  If you have ever seen the show, ALL children receive plenty of attention from mom and dad.

What this story did, however, was show how cruel we can be.  The comments were horrible.  Here are a few:

These people are truly stupid! This woman is going to kill herself trying to have a thousand kids

Great news she miscarried.

 

She is only upset because of the extra money she is losing out on by not having another child

 

There were, however, a few compassionate people out there with similar comments to this one:

 

It doesn't matter how many children they have decided to have, at this moment they lost a baby that they loved. They suffered a lost, everything else is irrelevant right now..

 

or this one:

 

I'm willing to bet not one of her 19 children would spew the venom that Ive read on this thread if any of you had lost a baby.Makes you wonder whose parents should have taken birth control...

 

The vast majority of comments were cruel and uncalled for.  Those who showed compassion were quickly attacked.  It seems to be the way, now days.  Especially in the world of Facebook-style relationships.  We use this wonderful tool to keep in touch with old friends and maybe even make new ones.  Yet, when a discussion thread grows legs and opposing views are stated, people lose all sense of decorum and say things that I absolutely know they would not say to the person to their face.  We like to hide behind the safety of animosity and our computer screen.  I see things said that would never be said in decent society...if that even exists anymore.

 

This is not something that happens only with the Duggars.  I see it all the time in the comments below news articles.  Whether it be about a child abuse scandal, someone arrested, or a sports icon trying to make a comeback.  We, as a society and an educated people, have forgotten how to wish someone well.  We no longer believe in innocent until proven guilty.  Instead, we try, judge, and convict as soon as the allegation is made. 

 

What happened to us?  Where did our compassion go?  What happened to being sad when someone loses their baby...whether is is #1 or #20?  What happened to hoping someone learned their lesson and can become a better person?  Maybe that is why so many young people are so messed up.  They have never seen compassion, so how can they have any?  We look at the person holding the sign that says, "My family is starving, please help.  God Bless You!" with disdain and contempt and say under our breath..."Go get a job".  Not realizing they may have had a very good job that they were laid off from and can't get one now because they are "over qualified".  Or the two jobs they are working still can't pay the rent.

 

I urge you, not just during this Christmas season, but always, to look at those who have been struck by misfortune or adversity with a little more compassion.  Soften your comments as you post or speak to someone.  There is a way to bring peace around us...and it starts with one person...you!

 

God Bless you all and have a very Merry Christmas!!

Another Second Chance Denied

Some time ago, I asked the question, "When DO you deserve a second chance?"  At the time, I was reflecting on all of the hateful comments being made about Michael Vick and his comeback in the NFL.  If you remember, some things being said about him were so bad as to wish him great bodily harm or even death.

This time, it seems that Tiger Woods is the recipient of all the ill-will.  You see, it seems he won a tournament this past weekend, the first for him in about two years.  If you haven't heard, he cheated on his wife, who then divorced him, and his career took a severe slide as he tried to get his act together.

Now, it would appear, instead of people wishing him well now that he may have put his demons behind him, they are calling him names and saying he doesn't deserve a second chance.  That may be true with his former wife, but this is a sport folks.  No one is saying that what he did to his ex-wife was acceptable, but let's allow the man to pick up the mess he made and get back to business.

It reminds me of the zero-defect policies the Army had for many years.  One mistake and you could lose your career.  No more DUIs or fights or anything that would have, for Soldiers in years past, simply been part of maturing and growing up.  An officer getting a DUI had just ended his career.  A Soldier getting into a fight at the club could expect to be sent packing.  I have known a few, very good Sergeants Major in the Army who had been demoted almost as many times as they had been promoted.  By being allowed to make mistakes and learn from them, they had become great leaders.

The same goes for those who are in the spotlight.  No one liked what Michael Vick did.  So now, let's use his lessons and let him move on, using his path as an example to those behind him who look up to him as a quarterback.  Let him teach them that dogfighting and criminal activity is not the path to follow.  Let him also show him that you can pay the price, make amends, and become a better person.  Tiger Woods doesn't need to apologize to me...I wasn't married to him.  Let him try to heal the wounds with his ex-wife and then be an example to those who look up to him.  Let him show kids that you can work through adversity and still become something.  We need to stop showing our youngsters that no matter what you do, once you make a mistake, you will forever be labeled.

Forgiveness is a trait that is far too often left behind.  Compassion needs to be given freely.  It is time to look at someone who made a mistake and is trying to make things better and wish them the best.

Child Pornography... a Thought Crime?

I was reading an a story about the professor who was seen viewing images of 5-10 year-old children nude or performing sex acts.  After reading the article I did what I always do, read through the comments posted by readers.  That is usually where the most interesting stuff is anyway.  Unfortunately, it is also where you can often see the worst our society has to offer.

This is a verbatim comment by a poster: 

Child pornography possesion is a thought crime. I realize i'll be called a pedophile for that comment but i'm sorry. It makes no logical legal or constitutional sense to imprison someone for possesing pictures.

Obviously, the comments that followed were not kind at all.  However, I must admit to having pondered a moment on his comment and the logic he was using.  He did continue by saying that if he was abusing children, then OK, he should be dealt with.  But if his only "crime" was possessing some pictures, then we probably have better things to do with our efforts.  His argument, as well as a couple of other comments, is interesting.

One person commented by saying, "How do we take the physical liberty away from someone who has not taken the physical liberty away from another?"  As I understood him, how do we put this guy in jail just for looking at some pictures.  He didn't produce the pictures or abuse the children.  I am sure this poster was strictly commenting on the pure legal technicalities.  Would that be comparable to arresting a kid who has a bottle of liquor in his hands but the seal is still intact and there is no alcohol on his breath?

It was an interesting way to look at actions which most decent people would automatically condemn.  I do not, in any way, think that the posters were condoning such pictures, they were just looking at the fine lines, I believe, that may exist there. 

Personally, I am of the mind that if the pictures exist, they had to have been created somehow, so therefore a child was abused to do so.  Much like mainstream pornography.  Every one of those men and women in the porn world are some one's brother, sister, even mom or dad.  I know, many of them choose that life and love it...but those children didn't.  So by having those pictures, you create a demand.  By purchasing porn, you create a demand.

I understand the poster's comment and I appreciate the view and the thoughtful moments it caused me.  But I do, wholeheartedly, Mr. realtalker1, disagree with you.

Loose Lips...

I read a story today about how Hezbollah had captured or killed many CIA operatives and had badly crippled the CIA's abilities in Lebanon.

As bad as that is, that isn't the worst part of it.  The worst part is that we are our worst enemies.  The CIA acknowledged the damage...something you never do.  NEVER let your enemy know they were successful.  Of course, they were "anonymous sources not authorized to speak on such issues".  Isn't that always how it is?

Then, the story went on to explain just how it had been done!!!  We have no covert operations anymore.  Everything is there for the world to know about.  As a matter of fact, just the other night, during one of the Republican Debates, those running were discussing what covert operations they would do if elected!  Really?!?!?  You can't have "covert" operations if you are talking about them!  What happened to the CIA being a "secretive" organization?  Remember when we didn't really know about Seal Teams and Delta Force?  No wonder we had such horrible intelligence about Iraq.

It never ceases to amaze me at how easy we make it for our enemies to collect information on us.  All the specifications for a new weapon are on the Internet.  The strengths of our units, the problems and the vulnerabilities of our military.  Even what we are doing in different parts of the world.

There is a time and a place for the public to know what their government is doing.  I would argue, though...that with the way the world is today...the time and place for sacrificing security for a right to know...has not come.

Keep in your prayers, all the men and women in our Intelligence agencies who are put at risk every day by those in our government too stupid to keep their mouths shut.

I Can Officially Stop Parenting

Now that the Government has decided that the HPV vaccine is to be mandatory for boys as well as girls, I guess I can stop making parenting decisions.  It would appear that the Government has taken me out of the equation as an unnecessary and incompetent decision maker.

Let me make this part clear.  I am NOT against the HPV vaccine nor is this about whether or not it is a good or useful or safe vaccine.  My daughter received this vaccine after much research and discussion with her and her doctor.  She received it as a precaution against cervical cancer, which is originally why it was recommended for girls.  Now, it is being pushed as a protective measure against certain STDs, which is an assumption that my daughter is going to be sexually active.

The real heartburn I have with the mandatory use of this vaccination for girls in some states and the recommended (read-soon to be mandatory) for boys, is that this vaccination is for a medical issue that is caused by a choice.

Unlike the past vaccinations for polio or smallpox, which were mandated to wipe out diseases that were extremely contagious or were contracted without certain behaviors, the HPV vaccine prevents ailments contracted by personal choices or actions.

I, as a parent, should be able to decide if my child receives this vaccine, just like a flu shot.  If I am teaching my children about morals and that sexual activity needs to wait for marriage, I don't need the government telling me that my child "is going to do it anyway", so I must vaccinate.  I don't need to protect the girls at school from my son with a shot.  I will protect them by teaching him about premarital sex.  The same goes for my daughters.  If I think the vaccine is good for them, I will get it based on our doctor's recommendation, not because I am forced to.

We, as parents, need to speak out against all this government interference in raising our children.  It is bad enough they have tied our hands behind our backs when it comes to discipline and decided for us when and how our children should be taught about sex.  Now they want to make medical decisions for us, sometimes without our knowledge.  If you want to raise your children the way you think is proper, be a voice against government mandating so much in our childrens' lives.