Not All Freedoms Are Treated Equally

Today I saw this picture on Facebook and thought it to be a very good depiction of the moral decay in our country.

On one hand, we have a young woman who has had a very successful career, albeit as more of a child star than as an adult.  In the interest of rebranding herself, Miley took a path of what some would consider a more immoral approach.  Raunchy dancing, sexual depictions and innuendos, and prancing around half naked.  She used the shock approach to get more publicity and become someone different than the person people knew.  Society, though shocked and in very few cases, outraged, accepted what she did since she is a performer.  It was fine for her to do what she did, and continues to do, because society has lowered its standards for what is considered acceptable behavior. 

On the other hand, we have a gentleman who was interviewed by a magazine.  He was asked specific questions which he answered honestly and in complete line with his character.  He did not pretend to be someone he isn't or give answers he considered "safe" or "politically correct".  This is a man who is quite religious and has not hidden that fact from anyone during personal appearances, his book, or during their show.  His life revolves around his relationship with God and his answers reflected that.  Why then, does he get raked over the coals when a group doesn't like his comments, but Miley got a pass for offending parents and some religious groups?

It seems to me that we have become a nation of double standards.  As long as what you are doing is not religious in nature, you may feel free to do whatever you want.  Unless, of course, those activities are anti-Christian, then they can be religious in nature.  It also seems that if the activities  or the person, are less wholesome, they get a pass.  But if you are genuinely a good person, maybe even religious, and offend a group you don't agree with, it's  open season. 

I believe the words bigot and homophobe get thrown around way too often for the wrong reasons.  Let's look at those two words using Merriam Webster:

Bigot: a person who strongly and unfairly dislikes other people, ideas.  This definition, in my opinion, could have everyone labeled a bigot, unless you make "strongly and unfairly" both necessary to the definition.  But who defines "unfairly"?  Even then, just about everyone could be a bigot.  It definitely means all Democrats and Republicans are bigots!!  Phil not agreeing with homosexual behavior labels him a bigot because he holds that belief "strongly".  His belief is his and I don't see it anymore as bigotry than the gay person who calls me names as a Catholic because I don't believe in gay marriage.  Is a person a bigot because they accuse me, a Catholic, of worshipping Mary because we pray to her?  Many of the statements made by liberals and gays could also be taken as bigotry.  Let us also remember that Mr. Robertson said he did not agree with homosexuality but does not have anything against gays as people.  Much like people may not like that he hunts, but may have nothing against him personally.

Homophobe:  a person who hates or is afraid of homosexuals or treats them badly.  This word gets unfairly thrown at anyone and everyone who has anything to say that does not agree with the LGBT agenda.  Mr. Robertson said he doesn't see why a man would choose another man over a woman.  I do not see that as showing hat or being afraid of homosexuals.  I do not believe there is a record of him treating them badly.  Simply disagreeing with someone does not automatically make you hateful of that person.  It is as ridiculous as saying that I have a phobia against Harley Davidson motorcycles because I don't like how loud they are and wouldn't get one.

Those two words are quickly thrown out there to cause fear and obedience to what liberals want you to believe or do.  I, for one, hope the Roberson family rallies around Phil, as I expect they will, and force A&E to withdraw their dismissal of Phil, or leave the network.

A Letter to My Congressmen

The following letter was mailed to my two state senators and state representative.  I have called them all on numerous occassions about this and other matters.  I visited both of my state senators in their Washington, DC offices while stattioned in Virginia.  I AM an active participant in the politics of our Nation, by voting and by telling my elected representatives what I think.  I encourage you all to do the same, regardless of your party affiliation.  My letter...

                                                                                                                                                                October 29, 2013

 

RE: The Affordable Care Act

Dear Senator Thune, Senator Johnson, and Rep. Noem,

I am writing to you as a concerned and fearful constituent of yours.  I have chosen to include you all on the greeting so you all understand that I place this blame on you, my elected representatives, as a whole, not as Republican or Democrat.  As a Congress, you have all failed the American people miserably.

Our Congress has shown us, over the past few months, that the needs of America are trumped by the needs of politicians to get what they want, by selfishness, and by political grandstanding, the American people be damned.  A budget that is non-existent (No Sen. Johnson, an actual budget has NOT been passed since President Obama took office as you told me during my visit to you last February, continuing resolutions are your excuse for incompetency), a debt that is way out of control, and a Constitution that is simply a piece of paper with no protections for the people.

Now to the purpose of this letter.  Have the three of you not been reading the newspapers or listening to your constituents?  Time and time again, I read the stories and hear from my friends how they are either losing their insurance or it is going to go way up.  I know you cannot be so callous as to not care, but if it is not that, then you should not be in office because you simply don’t get it.  I have a neighbor from back home who owns his own landscaping business and he doesn’t know what he will do.  Here is our chat message from earlier today:

I just can't believe people believe his healthcare is so good. Mine is going way up next year and now I got a letter on Saturday that it is being cancelled, it doesn't meet the standards of Obamacare. I had good insurance. Soon I will have nothing.

Is this what you want for the people of South Dakota?  His insurance was going to triple before it got cancelled.  Our economy is in trouble, mostly caused by you, and yet you will allow a faulty law destroy families.  You should be ashamed, all three of you.

Senator Pelosi said that the Affordable Care Act had to be passed in order for people to know what is in it.  Are you kidding me?  Most of your peers didn’t even read this thing before you voted it into law.  On top of that, it was done so in a sneaky way.  What happened to the President’s promise that all laws would be online for five days to review before his signature?  Another lie by our President.  And if your name isn’t in the “yea” column on this law, then you better be doing everything you can to rescind this law.  It is going to bankrupt the country.  But then, that is the plan, now isn’t it?

I firmly believe that Obamacare is nothing more than a government, drunk with power, that wants to force all Americans into some sort of government-run/owned/controlled insurance.  Look at how many companies have dropped people due to the costs associated with the law.  This law invented coverages that are unnecessary and unwanted by many people.  If a person doesn’t want to pay for mental health care or OB/GYN care as a man, they why should we be forced to pay for it or to even have it?  Our President LIED to us!!!  There is no other way to put it, he lied.  He told people they could keep their insurance, knowing they wouldn’t be able to.  This law is filled with clauses and loopholes which work against the average American.  I worry about my mother who may be told she cannot have certain medical care because she is too old.  When the government gets control of the medical plans, then it is easier to control what care is given.

This law was NOT a way to get healthcare to people who had none.  It was a way to hamstring the insurance companies and force Americans into the exchanges.  NBC News has uncovered that the President knew three years ago that people were going to be forced out of their insurance.  When will you get serious about this guy and impeach him?  Stop being afraid of those who will bring race into the mix.  His color is irrelevant, but his character is not!!

I have seven children, ranging from 3-months to 27 years old, and I have to tell you that I am petrified at the country you are leaving them.  I have fought you all on issues that I have not liked, and yet you still spend money we don’t have and pass laws like Obamacare.  Our Constitution, which I have defended for over 27 years, is under attack by the very government that established it.  I have seen different Amendments twisted and violated in ways to make this administration get what it wants.  And you, as accomplices to its abuse, have stood by and allowed it to happen.  I spoke to my 75-year-old mother on Sunday and told her that I envied her.  Before I could say anything, she stated, “I won’t be around to see what happens, but I am scared for my Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren”.  Does that say anything to your hearts?  If it does, do something about it.  If it doesn’t, then resign now!

I am a vocal, voting constituent of yours and would like to know what each of you is going to do about the affects this law is having on the American people.  Please do not give me some canned answer that smacks of political jargon.  I want to know how YOU feel and how YOU will act for South Dakota and the Nation, not what your party says.  I apologize for the length of this letter, but this is an issue I am passionate about and I will be watching to see if the Congressional Delegation from my State has my best interests in mind.

 

                                                                                                                                                Serving my country proudly,

 

                                                                                                                                                Mark D. Van Hout

Better Than Sex? Not quite...but a good try.

I said last week that since I love pretty much any food made with pumpkin, I was going to try the recipe that was traveling around my Facebook page.  Specifically, the recipe was called "Pumpkin Better Than Sex Cake". 

Luckily, it was time to get groceries anyway, so I picked up the few things I didn't already have in the kitchen.  Namely, EVERYTHING!  But, I had to try this!



Mix-n-Masher

So, late Sunday night, I put everything together, just as the recipe states.  Now for a shameless plug for Pampered Chef (you're welcome Selena!)  As I was wondering how best to mix a can of pumpkin pure' with a dry cake mix, my local Pampered Chef consultant appeared with the new "Mix-n-Masher" ($11.50).  With this shameless plugging of products, maybe I can put the recipe name to the test!!!  Anyway, the gizmo worked like a charm!

I placed the very doughy mixture into a stoneware dish.  I would not recommend using this dish.  Stay with a basic, glassware baking dish.  The stoneware retains heat for too long and caused me to wait FOREVER to place the dish into the refrigerator.  After all, I wanted to eat this thing!!  I also used the caramel syrup from a squeeze bottle, but recommend sticking to the stuff from a jar.  It was very thin and runny.

When all was said and done, it turned out as good as I had hoped.  I believe it must be about 4,000 calories per piece, but well worth it.  Maybe that is where the sex comes in...you have to burn off the calories!

Although I posted it on my FB page, here is the recipe once again:

Pumpkin Better Than Sex Cake

 •1 box yellow cake mix
•1 – 15 oz. can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix)
•1 – 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
•1 – 8 oz. tub cool whip...
•½ bag Heath Bits (I used a chopped up Heath bar, next time will use two)
•Caramel Sundae Sauce

Instructions:
1. In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix and pumpkin puree until a smooth batter forms.
2. Pour batter into a greased 9×13 baking dish, and bake at 350º, according to the directions on the cake mix box (approx 23-28 mins).  (Who are we kidding, you don't "pour" anything, you will have to spread this around the bottom of the pan)
3. Remove cake from oven and let cool for about 10 minutes after baking.
4. Using the end of a wooden spoon to poke holes all over the top of the cake.
5. Pour the sweetened condensed milk over the cake. This should fill in the holes and soak into the cake.
6. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
7. Remove cake from refrigerator and spread cool whip over top of cake. Sprinkle on the heath bits, and drizzle caramel over top. (I didn’t think the cake needed a lot of caramel at this point so I only used about ¼ of the jar. I thinned it out first by heating it in the microwave.)
8. Refrigerate for 3-4 hours, or overnightSee more

And a final shout out to my brother, Dean, who shared the recipe to begin with!!!

The Next Chapter...

In just under two weeks, Selena and I will pack Anna in the truck, hook up the trailer carrying our mini-van and head north.  Lucky for the boys, they will be visiting their grandpa and will miss the joy of traveling halfway across the country in a truck.

It has been ten years since my last move.  I have sunk some pretty good roots here and it will be hard to leave.  But, an opportunity arose that will allow me to get back to the Plains, back to God's country.  I would have been crazy not to take it, and Selena was more than supportive.

With that being said, have you seen the weather in Bismarck the past couple of days?  What was I thinking?  Seventeen inches of snow!  Yeah Baby!!!!  I am so excited to be going there.  I miss real winters.

In addition to getting back to snow, I will also now be much closer to my parents, who are not getting any younger.  It will be nice to let them see Anna and Anton grow a little.

There is a huge downside to this though.  I will be leaving my three kids here in Virginia.  It is a difficult thing to do.  Usually, it is the child who moves away from home.  This time...it is the parent leaving the children.  I know I will miss them terribly.  I hope they can visit once in awhile.  And if you are ever in Bismarck...stop on in!

We will keep everyone up to date on our new life.  Anton will be born in July and our life will get crazier still.  But, we thank God for what he has given us and remember daily that He is good...all the time.

When Did I Become the Problem?

Somewhere along the line, the government began to see me as part of the criminal element.

I am a gun owner...and according to the government, or at least the anti-gun elements of the government, I cannot be trusted with my guns, nor do I know how to use them responsibly.

Let me explain.  The majority of the current gun control legislation that is being proposed is addressed at the legal gun owners of this country.  None of the proposals address the criminals, save a couple that address trafficking and such.  They look to take certain guns away, ban certain magazines, or tax the dickens out of ammunition to make it impossible to afford it.  Not one of the proposals is actually addressing the problem of attacks on our children in school.

If you look at just three of the worst, Columbine, Sandy Hook, and Virginia Tech, all were in gun-free zones, two with little to no security.  Suggest putting armed guards in our schools to protect our nation's most prized treasures, and the anti-gun crowd goes crazy.  I bet the parents of the children who go to school with the President's children sure feel confident that their children are safe with all those armed guards there to protect his children.  Personally, I don't think his children are any more special than mine are...but there is not one security guard in my son's school...NOT ONE!  The only way to stop a shooter is with another gun.

But who needs 15-round clips in a handgun, you ask?  How about the woman who, upon hearing thugs attempting to get into her house, grabs her pistol and she and her children hurry into the attic.  When the criminals find them, she shoots at them, striking one and they both flee.  Two criminals, one very frightened, protective mother who may or may not be a good shot.  If she has only 7 rounds, as proposed by many lawmakers, she better hope she is a really good shot, extremely calm, the robbers aren't armed, and that there is only one.  It is common in a police shooting that the policeman will fire several times and not even hit the criminal.  Keep in mind, the policeman is a trained marksman and should be better able to remain calm.  If I have to deal with a criminal at my door, I do not want to be left wishing I had one more bullet.

Even if you don't like guns, or think they are the cause for all the problems with gun violence, don't let emotions blur out the facts.  Chicago, New York, and Washington, DC are the most violent cities in the nation...and have the strictest gun laws.  Why?  Because the criminals know they are attacking an unarmed populous.  Easy victims.

The worst part of this whole gun control fiasco is that no one is really looking at how to stop the violence on our children.  We aren't looking at how to protect them, but how to take the guns away from their parents.  We are allowing the government to destroy our Constitution under the lie of security, just like we did after 9/11.  The 2nd Amendment says our right to bear arms "shall not be infringed".  Well folks, that is exactly what ALL of this legislation is doing.  Today, Connecticut signed into law some of the "toughest" gun control laws in the nation...and did NOTHING to make anyone safer...nothing!  The bad guys will still have a gun-free killing zone at every school in the nation because our cowardly lawmakers are too scared to address the real problems.

So before you jump on your anti-gun platform, look at what you are wanting the government to take away.  A Constitutional right.  The only right that directly exists to allow us to protect ourselves from the very government that claims they are trying to protect us by disarming us. Tell that to the Germans, Russians, Chinese, and Cambodians.

The guns are not the problem...the problem is our government trying to put a band aid on a knee when it is the elbow that was skinned.

Upon Further Review...

I might be wrong.  There, I said it.  There is a possibility that I may be wrong in my boycott of the Girl Scouts and their cookie sales.  Just a possibility, mind you, but still a possibility.

As the father of a little girl and of one former Girl Scout, this has bothered me a bit.  Just as my boys have been and are in Boy Scouts, I would like my daughter to be able to participate in some sort of scouting organization.

By my nature, I am someone who believes in following issues and supporting my beliefs on an issue to the best of my ability.  Therefore, when I found out that the Girl Scouts of America were partners with Planned Parenthood, I did a little research and boycotted their cookies and anything else to do with them.

Now, if I am going to go so far as to boycott something, I want to make sure that I am standing on solid ground.  So this year, as I saw a young girl selling her cookies in the back of the church this past weekend, I decided to dig a little more.  What I found has loosened the ground a little bit.

Most of the data I found was at least two years old and much of it was thin, at best.  It would seem that most of the items brought up is focused more on the organization called the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.  It is the international body, so to speak, of Girl Scout-type groups to which the Girl Scouts of America is a member.  Much of the problem people have is with the things WAGGGS does.  They are very heavy into the United Nations and very involved with bringing about international abortion rights, sex education in all it's forms, as well as LGBT issues.  This organization also has close ties with International Planned Parenthood who provided it with much of its sexual education materials.  I do know that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops looked into the alleged connection between GSA and Planned Parenthood in the Spring of 2012.  I have not been able to find out the results of that inquiry.

GSA is also accused of pushing a very liberal agenda and not providing neutral materials in the books and resources available for earning badges.  I am also adamantly against them allowing young boys into the organization just because they "identify" themselves as a girl.  Sorry, but to me, you belong to the group that your parts say you belong to.  At the ages I have seen this happening too, in my opinion, it is the parents trying to push their Liberal agenda.

What I have found, is that unlike the Boy Scouts, GSA does not control the lower echelons of the Girl Scouts as much as BSA does.  Each Regional Council is allowed to do pretty much what it wants (like partner with a local Planned Parenthood), and each local troop operates pretty much on its own.  It would appear to me, then, that the main issue is up above and not with the local troops.  Many of the issues seem to arise when Girl Scouts participate in different conferences and such and they sponsor them.  Unfortnately, this often places the Girl Scouts on the same advertisements as Planned Parenthood and other organizations that are not acceptable to many peoples' ideas of what young girls need to be involved in.  It makes the Girl Scouts a de facto "co-sponsor" of an event with those other, less favorable organizations, even if the Girl Scouts have nothing to do with them.

How does someone like me allow my daughter to join Girl Scouts without completely laying waste to my principles?  One way is to ensure that the local troop is teaching the lessons and earning badges with methods that are in keeping with my values.  From what I have researched, that should not be difficult to do.  Another way to hit the national GSA and WAGGGS organizations is to look at where the money is going from my local troop.  One method is by subscribing to the method called "Just One Box", a means of Girl Scout Troops who do not like some of the policies of the national organization to still stay in "good standing" with GSA without filling the coffers with money.  You can find more information here:  http://www.honestgirlscouts.com/action_justonebox.html

I did come across one very helpful site that is called HonestGirlScouts.com.  This is their mission statement:  "Americans wanting explanations for how Girl Scouts spends the money we give, why it permits the promotion of explicit sexual education for children, and its presentation of Progressive radical ideas and curricula for our youth."  They have some ideas for how girls can be a member of the Girl Scouts and not feel like they are supporting something they don't believe in.

 

I am not sure, yet, if my daughter will be a Girl Scout, but I do know I will stop promoting the boycott of the organization.  I may, however, encourage people to be mindful of the involvement of their Regional Council as to whether it is in line with their own values and beliefs.  And don't hold your breath waiting for me to purchase those cookies...I don't think I see that happening anytime soon.