The truth is out there, but alas, we don't know who to believe. President Obama met with clergy recently and told them that those who claim his health care plan will provide taxpayer funding for abortions are "bearing false witness." (It kills me when people who deny the Christian heritage of a country as large as America, quote the Bible when they think it suits their purpose.)
Today, The American Family Association released details of the bill, and what they found represents a completely different story. The AFA reports that The Capps Amendment which was passed by Democrats in the Energy and Commerce Committee in July, specifically says that the public health insurance option shall provide coverage for abortion services.Earlier this month, California Democrat Zoe Lofgren admitted in a town hall meeting that abortion will be covered by one or more plans available to Americans. The Associated Press has also reported that Obama Health Care would allow a new government sponsored insurance plan to cover abortions.
So, Who's telling the truth? While we don't know the complete answer to that question, it certainly bears looking into. While a topic as controversial as abortion is hard to sort through on the pages of a blog, I will say that as a Christian, I am Pro-Life and in no way do I want my tax dollars to go toward the providing of one.
This is yet another case of our legislators not having enough information to responsibly vote on this healthcare package. One side says one thing, others say something else, and yet we, the citizens who will be living with the fallout, are condemned if we question. I encourage all of my readers to contact their legislators to insist that they find out the truth before voting.
If like me, you agree that all of God's creation is precious, then a child's life may depend upon your actions.
Posted by Teri's Christian Commentary at 12:08 PM 0 comments
Labels: Abortion, Christian Commentary, Healthcare
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Nothing Like "A Good Book"
The debate is on. School districts in New York and Georgia are thinking of allowing students to choose the books they read in class. On one hand I agree with the argument that kids would never read anything but "Harry Potter" if allowed to, so I can see where those who are against the plan are coming from.
On the other hand, as a person who loves to read, I tend to shy away from the books I have no interest in, so I can see the benefit of having kids pick their own reading materials. Unfortunately, when I was a kid, the books I tried to avoid were the "Great Classics," yet I believe those were the very books that developed my reading comprehension skills, which prepared me for college.
I do think that whatever the material, reading has to be made fun for kids and that is no easy task when teachers are competing with the internet, dvd's, I-phones and a myriad of other technological gadgets that occupy their time. Sadly, we are raising a generation who will never understand the joy of cracking open a new book with that "fresh" smell, (although, I must admit I'm now guilty of reading on my Sony Reader) and who will never value the experience of getting lost in someone's beautifully written words. For me reading is the reason I like to write.
As a writer, it's a bit scary to put your heart and soul into a piece with the realization that many people don't read anymore.
I have many friends who are or who have been school teachers and I would love their input on whether kids should be allowed to choose their own books for class. For me, I think allowing some student choice, mixed with a few classics would work best. What do you think?
On the other hand, as a person who loves to read, I tend to shy away from the books I have no interest in, so I can see the benefit of having kids pick their own reading materials. Unfortunately, when I was a kid, the books I tried to avoid were the "Great Classics," yet I believe those were the very books that developed my reading comprehension skills, which prepared me for college.
I do think that whatever the material, reading has to be made fun for kids and that is no easy task when teachers are competing with the internet, dvd's, I-phones and a myriad of other technological gadgets that occupy their time. Sadly, we are raising a generation who will never understand the joy of cracking open a new book with that "fresh" smell, (although, I must admit I'm now guilty of reading on my Sony Reader) and who will never value the experience of getting lost in someone's beautifully written words. For me reading is the reason I like to write.
As a writer, it's a bit scary to put your heart and soul into a piece with the realization that many people don't read anymore.
I have many friends who are or who have been school teachers and I would love their input on whether kids should be allowed to choose their own books for class. For me, I think allowing some student choice, mixed with a few classics would work best. What do you think?
Friday, August 28, 2009
Helping the Helpless
The latest headlines report the horrors endured by Jaycee Lee Dugard,abducted from a Lake Tahoe Street in 1991. The girl, then 11, has been held captive for 18 years by Phillip Garrido, now 58. Sadly, this girl, now a grown woman had been raped and forced to bear two children with her abductor. For 18 years she was confined to a small shed in an overgrown backyard at the home Garrido shares with his 54-year old wife.
The story once again reminds us that we need even tougher laws protecting children from convicted sex offenders who are released from prison. Garrido had been charged as an offender twenty years before he abducted Dugard, and was registered with local police when he moved into the neighborhood. His wife knew he was holding the young woman and her two kids but did nothing to help them. His next door neighbor heard the sounds of children playing in his backyard and knew he had been arrested for sex crimes but did nothing. His parole officer visited the home several years ago, and never investigated the house and back yard so the young women remained undiscovered. Perhaps the most outrageous detail of this tragic story is that Jaycee, now 29 was even forced to accompany her abductor and his wife to the parole office and no one took the time to question who the girl was.
While it is important for tougher laws to be enacted to protect the innocent lives of our children it is even more important that everyone work to be a solution to the problem. Yes, court/police staffs are overworked and underpaid. Yes, kids sometimes fall through the cracks, and yes this case is extreme. What is not extreme or even rare? The number of kids who are abused to some degree every day in this country. That number goes into the millions and it is only going to be stopped if we all "love our neighbor" enough to get involved.
As citizens we are responsible for Jaycee Dugard and the faceless children around us. While most of us don't want to get involved, we are called to defend the defenseless and that means at times we'll have to step in. We may lose a neighbor/friend, but if that person is hurting a child, who cares?
While I'll be the first to defend anyone's right to privacy and of course we can't just accuse people of crimes if there is no proof, there are times when being a nosy neighbor is appropriate. If only the woman who heard Jaycee had called the police, so much tragedy could have been averted.
Yes, it's too late for Jaycee and her children, but maybe her case will teach us all an important lesson ----sometimes we have to step in and help our fellow man. It's not only the Christian thing to do, it's the right thing to do.
The story once again reminds us that we need even tougher laws protecting children from convicted sex offenders who are released from prison. Garrido had been charged as an offender twenty years before he abducted Dugard, and was registered with local police when he moved into the neighborhood. His wife knew he was holding the young woman and her two kids but did nothing to help them. His next door neighbor heard the sounds of children playing in his backyard and knew he had been arrested for sex crimes but did nothing. His parole officer visited the home several years ago, and never investigated the house and back yard so the young women remained undiscovered. Perhaps the most outrageous detail of this tragic story is that Jaycee, now 29 was even forced to accompany her abductor and his wife to the parole office and no one took the time to question who the girl was.
While it is important for tougher laws to be enacted to protect the innocent lives of our children it is even more important that everyone work to be a solution to the problem. Yes, court/police staffs are overworked and underpaid. Yes, kids sometimes fall through the cracks, and yes this case is extreme. What is not extreme or even rare? The number of kids who are abused to some degree every day in this country. That number goes into the millions and it is only going to be stopped if we all "love our neighbor" enough to get involved.
As citizens we are responsible for Jaycee Dugard and the faceless children around us. While most of us don't want to get involved, we are called to defend the defenseless and that means at times we'll have to step in. We may lose a neighbor/friend, but if that person is hurting a child, who cares?
While I'll be the first to defend anyone's right to privacy and of course we can't just accuse people of crimes if there is no proof, there are times when being a nosy neighbor is appropriate. If only the woman who heard Jaycee had called the police, so much tragedy could have been averted.
Yes, it's too late for Jaycee and her children, but maybe her case will teach us all an important lesson ----sometimes we have to step in and help our fellow man. It's not only the Christian thing to do, it's the right thing to do.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
There's Strength in Numbers - Stand Up!
Another "RED ALERT" for those of us who are calling for the right to free speech for Christians in this country.
A Florida couple appearing on Fox, said they were fired from their jobs and evicted from their apartment because of a picture they had displayed that had words from the book of Matthew on it. The picture of a lily had been on the wall of the apartment office (where they had been managers) for years. No one had ever complained.
Enter a new district manager who asked the elderly woman to remove the picture. When she went to get her husband and they returned to comply with the order, they were told by Hallmark Management that they were fired and that they were being evicted.
The reason? Insubordination! How sad that two elderly people who had simply placed an inspirational photo on a wall and had never been criticized for doing so, are now out of work and on the streets. They are suing and I pray that they'll be compensated.
As Christians we need to rally around these people (in fact this type of case is why I started this blog) and demand from all of our leaders that Freedom of Religious Speech be extended to all faiths, including Christianity. Even if the management company was right when they said the picture violated Federal Law (although that is being disputed in court) all they had to do was have it removed. No one had to be fired, and no one had to be kicked out on the street.
Is this what we are going to tolerate as we go forward? There is strength in numbers and 85% of us in America call ourselves Christian, yet we tolerate this type of discrimination against our own. If it can happen in Florida, it can happen where any of us live.
Perhaps, the bigger problem is that many of us call ourselves Christian but we don't want to take the time to get involved with defending our faith. Can we honestly claim to be a follower of Christ or Christianity, if we refuse to take a stand on something this outrageous? I don't think so.
A Florida couple appearing on Fox, said they were fired from their jobs and evicted from their apartment because of a picture they had displayed that had words from the book of Matthew on it. The picture of a lily had been on the wall of the apartment office (where they had been managers) for years. No one had ever complained.
Enter a new district manager who asked the elderly woman to remove the picture. When she went to get her husband and they returned to comply with the order, they were told by Hallmark Management that they were fired and that they were being evicted.
The reason? Insubordination! How sad that two elderly people who had simply placed an inspirational photo on a wall and had never been criticized for doing so, are now out of work and on the streets. They are suing and I pray that they'll be compensated.
As Christians we need to rally around these people (in fact this type of case is why I started this blog) and demand from all of our leaders that Freedom of Religious Speech be extended to all faiths, including Christianity. Even if the management company was right when they said the picture violated Federal Law (although that is being disputed in court) all they had to do was have it removed. No one had to be fired, and no one had to be kicked out on the street.
Is this what we are going to tolerate as we go forward? There is strength in numbers and 85% of us in America call ourselves Christian, yet we tolerate this type of discrimination against our own. If it can happen in Florida, it can happen where any of us live.
Perhaps, the bigger problem is that many of us call ourselves Christian but we don't want to take the time to get involved with defending our faith. Can we honestly claim to be a follower of Christ or Christianity, if we refuse to take a stand on something this outrageous? I don't think so.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Remember 9/11
I don't typically forward or blog about e-mails I receive but I think this one is important and I encourage all of my readers to pay tribute to those who died: The following is the e-mail I received this morning:
"On Friday, September 11th, 2009, an American flag should be displayed outside
every home, apartment, office, and store in the United States. Every individual should make it their duty to display an American flag on this eighth anniversary of one of our country's worst tragedies. We do this to honor those who lost their lives on 9/11, their families, friends and loved ones who continue to endure the pain, and those who today are fighting at home and abroad to preserve our cherished freedoms.
Plan:
So, here's what we need you to do ..
Fly an American flag of any size on 9/11. Honestly, Americans should fly the flag year-round, but if you don't, then at least make it a priority on this day.
Thank you for your participation. God Bless You and God Bless America!"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"On Friday, September 11th, 2009, an American flag should be displayed outside
every home, apartment, office, and store in the United States. Every individual should make it their duty to display an American flag on this eighth anniversary of one of our country's worst tragedies. We do this to honor those who lost their lives on 9/11, their families, friends and loved ones who continue to endure the pain, and those who today are fighting at home and abroad to preserve our cherished freedoms.
Plan:
So, here's what we need you to do ..
Fly an American flag of any size on 9/11. Honestly, Americans should fly the flag year-round, but if you don't, then at least make it a priority on this day.
Thank you for your participation. God Bless You and God Bless America!"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goodbye Teddie
Ted Kennedy has died, bringing an end to the elder Kennedy dynasty that's been at the forefront of American politics for decades. The Massachusetts Senator was the second most senior member of the Senate behind Robert Byrd of West Virginia, and the third longest serving senator in U.S. history.
While his politics were the polar opposite of my own, I always enjoyed following Kennedy, mainly because he was so willing to stretch his hand across the aisle. As the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee he became known as "The Lion of the Senate" with more than 300 of his bills becoming law. One of those, occured when he traveled with former President George W. Bush to my hometown to sign "The No Child Left Behind Act," at my former high school. On that day it didn't matter what his political background was. In fact it made it all the more special because he was so far left of President Bush, and the majority of the people in my town. For me, I'll always remember the day Teddie died, like so many remember what they were doing when his brothers were killed.
In spite of the many personal trials and scandals that defined his life, Ted Kennedy brought hope to the common man. I hope when the news surrounding his death has died down, all of those who remain in Washington will try to live up to the example that the Senator set. In spite of our differences we can work together if we put the good of the nation ahead of our own ambitions. Service is it's own reward, and now that Ted Kennedy is gone, I only hope that his vision will continue to define the American Dream.
While his politics were the polar opposite of my own, I always enjoyed following Kennedy, mainly because he was so willing to stretch his hand across the aisle. As the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee he became known as "The Lion of the Senate" with more than 300 of his bills becoming law. One of those, occured when he traveled with former President George W. Bush to my hometown to sign "The No Child Left Behind Act," at my former high school. On that day it didn't matter what his political background was. In fact it made it all the more special because he was so far left of President Bush, and the majority of the people in my town. For me, I'll always remember the day Teddie died, like so many remember what they were doing when his brothers were killed.
In spite of the many personal trials and scandals that defined his life, Ted Kennedy brought hope to the common man. I hope when the news surrounding his death has died down, all of those who remain in Washington will try to live up to the example that the Senator set. In spite of our differences we can work together if we put the good of the nation ahead of our own ambitions. Service is it's own reward, and now that Ted Kennedy is gone, I only hope that his vision will continue to define the American Dream.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Here a Czar, There a Czar, Everywhere a Czar, Czar
What's with all the Czars in America these days? Currently, there are over 30 people in these positions that have been created by the Obama administration, and their titles include everything from "Auto Recovery Czar," "Aids Czar," Afghanistan Czar," and more recently the "Green Czar" and "Diversity Czar."
It's on these last two that I'll focus today by asking why aren't we concerned with who these people are? and why do they have so much power?
Here's what I've found out:
Green Czar --- Van Jones. He is a self proclaimed Communist, promoting the cause after spending time in jail after the Rodney King riots, in Los Angeles in 1993.
Quoting Jones from a 2005 interview in the East Bay Express: "In jail, I met all of these young radical people of color--I mean really radical. Communists, Anarchists. And it was like, this is what I really need to be a part of." By 1994 Jones and fellow radicals had formed a group called STORM, (Standing Together to Organize a Revolutionary Movement)declared himself a Communist and held study groups on the writings of Marx and Lennon.
This man has now been given the job of focusing on environmentally-friendly employment within the administration and will boost support for the concept across the country. While that sounds innocent enough,(although isn't that what the EPA is all about?) no one has veto power over Jones,and it's rumoured that he hasn't even gone through an FBI background check. Hmmmm,position of power, unknown monies available to him, and a self proclaimed Communist?
Why aren't we asking "WHY?"
Next, you have the "Diversity Czar" Again, unlimited power, reportedly no background check, and a man by the name of Mark Lloyd gets the appointment. Watch out Free Speech! Lloyd has served as a Senior Fellow at the left wing Center for American Progress and helped author a paper entitled "The Structural Imbalance of Political Talk Radio!" And you thought the hoopla about the Fairness Doctrine was over!
In layman's terms, this man's goal/job is basically to force "Liberal Talk" radio onto the airwaves even though it has failed in the past. The idea is to squelch "Conservative Talk" which has so vocally disagreed with policies like the Health Care Reform Act, Auto Industry reform and more. What do you want to bet that if this goal is acheived, religious free speech, and the internet will be next? No more talk of God (hey we've already seen that) the bloggers will be clamped down on, and the America we used to know will be gone. Freedom is already a dirty word for many who are trying to strongarm us into accepting their radical policies.
While I will be the first to agree that we have many problems in our society that need addressing, I can't believe that taking away open diaglogue, freedom of opinion and expression and our basic civil rights is the change that we were looking for.
When we hear the words "a dismantling of the basic American structure that has been in place for centuries," we should look to the mass apointment of Czars with unlimited power as the start of that, and be afraid. Very Afraid.
It's on these last two that I'll focus today by asking why aren't we concerned with who these people are? and why do they have so much power?
Here's what I've found out:
Green Czar --- Van Jones. He is a self proclaimed Communist, promoting the cause after spending time in jail after the Rodney King riots, in Los Angeles in 1993.
Quoting Jones from a 2005 interview in the East Bay Express: "In jail, I met all of these young radical people of color--I mean really radical. Communists, Anarchists. And it was like, this is what I really need to be a part of." By 1994 Jones and fellow radicals had formed a group called STORM, (Standing Together to Organize a Revolutionary Movement)declared himself a Communist and held study groups on the writings of Marx and Lennon.
This man has now been given the job of focusing on environmentally-friendly employment within the administration and will boost support for the concept across the country. While that sounds innocent enough,(although isn't that what the EPA is all about?) no one has veto power over Jones,and it's rumoured that he hasn't even gone through an FBI background check. Hmmmm,position of power, unknown monies available to him, and a self proclaimed Communist?
Why aren't we asking "WHY?"
Next, you have the "Diversity Czar" Again, unlimited power, reportedly no background check, and a man by the name of Mark Lloyd gets the appointment. Watch out Free Speech! Lloyd has served as a Senior Fellow at the left wing Center for American Progress and helped author a paper entitled "The Structural Imbalance of Political Talk Radio!" And you thought the hoopla about the Fairness Doctrine was over!
In layman's terms, this man's goal/job is basically to force "Liberal Talk" radio onto the airwaves even though it has failed in the past. The idea is to squelch "Conservative Talk" which has so vocally disagreed with policies like the Health Care Reform Act, Auto Industry reform and more. What do you want to bet that if this goal is acheived, religious free speech, and the internet will be next? No more talk of God (hey we've already seen that) the bloggers will be clamped down on, and the America we used to know will be gone. Freedom is already a dirty word for many who are trying to strongarm us into accepting their radical policies.
While I will be the first to agree that we have many problems in our society that need addressing, I can't believe that taking away open diaglogue, freedom of opinion and expression and our basic civil rights is the change that we were looking for.
When we hear the words "a dismantling of the basic American structure that has been in place for centuries," we should look to the mass apointment of Czars with unlimited power as the start of that, and be afraid. Very Afraid.
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