Is That You Mom?

So I am off to the airport for another volunteer midnight to 6am shift (that's 0600 where I am going) with an organization that supports our troops. I have almost recovered from the last one...not the time, but a moment of absurdity. While a young marine and I waited for either airport police or someone with an escort badge to get him through security, we were allowed to watch an episode of the theater of the absurd. A woman (?) wearing a burka, showing only her eyes appeared at the security checkpoint, flashed a drivers license and was let in.

I guess the TSA recognized her eyes? Her distinctive black burka? My husband the Constitutional law practicing landscaper, often quotes the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution to government auditors, licensing bureau, innocent bystanders. Here I was wanting to do the same. I have been patted down for wearing a full skirt...how does this lady (?)...I mean really how would you know? get through security without a second, or for that matter, a first look?

My marine was very good natured about having to empty his pockets, have his ID checked multiple times, but he did make the best quote ever. When asked by me how in the world could they recognize her as the lady on the license. He smilingly said, "you want to throw a flag on that play?"

Yes I did. And for my husband I say,"I want equal protection against being searched or for that matter recognized."

The Congressional Black Caucus -- Really?

In the August 2011 issue of Ebony magazine there is acknowledgement of the Congressional Black Caucus’ (CBC) 40th Anniversary. Technically, these events are sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, a non-profit, non-partisan (pause for laughter here) organization that was founded in 1976. In fairness the CBCF does leadership training and scholarship programs in addition to sponsoring the social event of the year in Washington, D.C. I once had a job that made me attend the CBCF’s annual meeting and Gala because they thought it was a perk for Black employees. For those of use who have conservative values it was painful, but I did learned two things there:

• It is the Democrat Black Caucus – those who were Republican were not welcome in the Caucus
• It is a wonderful advertisement for term limits

Of the founding members of the Black Caucus, two are still in Congress. The Black Caucus was originally founded in January 1968 as a Democrat Select Committee, and renamed in February 1971 by a motion by Charles Rangel (still there). Even Wikipedia only cites a moment of silence for Michael Jackson’s passing as major accomplishments. Interestingly, each member represents a district or city that continues to send Democrats to Congress despite the fact that the success and achievement continue to elude them. My memories of Black Caucus weekend include:

• Senator John Kerry telling an audience that “when I am elected President, you will not have to come through the back door of the White House like you have to now.” Did Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice know about this?

• Senator Tom Daschle asking the audience after introducing all the members of the Black Caucus. “Would they (Republicans) let you do what we’ve (Democrats) let you do?” Why how very white of them to let these individuals work for election to Congress.

Perhaps J.C. Watts said it best when he refused to join the CBC citing its members as “race baiting poverty pimps.”

Where is the CBC’s focus on stopping the over-taxation of Americans, job creation in the private sector, encouraging Black entrepreneurs through tax cuts, achievement in schools, and success without government subsidies? Where is the call for recognition of those who have achieved greatness in this country in both parties, such as Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell, J.C. Watts, Alan Keyes, etc. When will they stand up for the values of Black families like life, the open practice of religion, including Christianity, and family values?

I can’t help, but think that a truly effective CBC would celebrate the election of a Black president and its 40th Anniversary by acknowledging that its time of division and race-baiting has come and gone.

Our Kids Don't know History?

A couple of weeks ago the Wall Street Journal ran an article entitled,”Students Stumble Again on the Basics.” The article lamented our children’s lack of literacy in Social Science or History. According to this article, only 20% of 4th Graders, 17% of 8th Graders and 12% of 12th Graders are considered proficient or advanced in understanding history skills according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress. The test revealed that U.S. schoolchildren have made little progress since 2006 in their understanding of key historical themes, including the basic principles of democracy and America's role in the world.

Interestingly, the teachers feel that this deficiency is due to the need to focus on reading and math for the No Child Left Behind tests and standards. Surprisingly in my day we managed to learn math, reading and social studies. While the teachers seem to feel that NCLB is taking too much time, they still find time to teach “my two moms”, “my two dads”, “Betty wears a Burka” or “Felipe is illegal”. Or hours of curriculum about the environment and the evils of fossil fuels.
I took a little visit to the curriculum for the highest income school district in our area – Council Rock Bucks County. The Council Rock curriculum does not teach United States history until 5th Grade. From 1st to 4th Grade the children learn – about what it means to be a citizen using books with titles like “About My World” and “Neighborhoods Near and Far”. This curriculum, while interesting are based on Time Magazine for Kids – need I say anything about Time Magazine for adults? Do you really want these people teaching their values to your children? The magazine that has brought us both Global Cooling and Global Warming within 30 years as irrefutable science?

The bottom line is that we have time for our children to learn our history, how we fit and have changed the modern world while also learning to read and do math. We need to allow the social engineering to remain outside of the school and focus on learning academic skills.

Let’s not have another year of our children failing at history and social studies.

When you put down, Sarah Palin, you put down me and others!

So another weekend of attacking Sarah Palin for...for being considered by others as a candidate for President. Or maybe it is for being a mom. Or maybe its for owning and using guns or maybe...enough already.

Whether you would like her as presidential candidate or not, media please note how she resembles many women I know. Media please note that when you put her down, you insult all women. Media please note, how irrelevant you are becoming. You are following Mrs. Palin, because she won't grant you status to know her schedule. If I were less of a lady, I would ask "who's your Momma now?"

So here is my news flash, like Mrs Palin:
* I am a business woman with a family
* I use my husbands last name
* I value my rights, as enumerated in the Constitution including my right to carry a gun
* I am intelligent and, at times successful
* I try to live my Christian values
* I don't think that the media should have the right to know or to tell me what I should think, do or consider
* I have helped my husband maintain a small business
* I care about men and women, born and unborn
* I did not abdicate my intelligence by wearing a tiara

Unlike Mrs. Palin, I have not been as consistent over time in living my beliefs. I started living my beliefs much later in my life.

To the Sarah Palins and Michele Bachmanns of the world--thank you for your consistency, your values and your example for young and old women. Thank you for showing that marriage and a family is possible with a successful, public minded career.

To the press, this is how I define feminism--achieving your dreams regardless of your gender without having to be less of a woman, or a democrat.

Run ladies, run!

Doing the Right Thing!

On Thursday, May 19th, I had the privilege of watching the life story of a dear friend. Melissa Ohden is not your average woman. Melissa is the unintended consequence of a late term salient abortion. That's right, for those who don't speak lawyer, she lived.

Her story, "A Voice for Life" (www.avoiceforlife.com), is so honest and unvarnished that if you make it through without a tear you are a stone. This film is compassionately made by Gunther Meisse II and written by Melissa Ohden and Steve Feazel. We watched it with Melissa, her husband and her beautiful daughter (a second generation miracle).

When I tell people about Melissa, my pro-abortion friends are usually politely awed. My pro-life friends are moved to goose bumps and tears. The reaction that affected me the most was when a retired physician friend asked, "They let her live?"

I had to hear it twice to understand the question. That question proves that Melissa is doubly a miracle, and that Kermit Gosnell (Philadelphia abortion "doctor", indicted for killing children who survived the abortion process and other gruesome acts) is just the worse example of what has been accepted in our society--the death, by neglect, of the accidentally born. Something once advocated by our President on the floor of the Illinois legislature.

Last week we had the opportunity to review our lives. Some seriously considered that Rapture might take place on May 21, 2011. Others hedged their bets by revisiting their faith and beliefs. Others just thought it was all a big joke. Most of us, should be grateful to still be here--to have another chance.

I firmly believe that when the time comes, and we meet our God, we will not just have to answer for what we have done to live a life of faith. I believe we must also answer the question--"what have we done to help others turn from evil?"

Turn from evil--not tolerate evil or justify evil, but turn from it. The nurse who saved Melissa when she heard this tiny child grunting turned from evil. Are you ready to do that? Is our country ready to do that?

Let's thank God for the time to have a do over. Let's make it count for ourselves, our families and our country.

Martin Luther King and Abortion

A couple of days ago I came across an article in the Seattle Times, entitled "Black babies at twice the risk of whites, study indicates." April 4th is the anniversary of Martin Luther King's murder and I just can't believe that this was a part of his dream. The article notes:

"A college-educated black woman in the United States is more likely to lose her baby then a white woman with only high school eduction. an African-American woman who starts prenatal care in her first trimester is more likely to lose her baby than a white woman with late or no prenatal care. A black woman who does not smoke has worse birth outcomes than a white woman who smokes."

Why, asks the author? She concludes that the difference is not due to higher rates of poverty and chronic disease, that the real answer is stress, not just during pregnancy, but from a lifetime of being black.

Hold the phone! The article does not even mention the fact that the rate of abortion for black women is more than twice the rate for white women (55.5 versus 20.2, respectively). A pretty close correlation to the rate of preterm births and miscarriages. The American College of Gynecology (ACOG) completed a study over three years ago in conjunction with the March of Dimes which noted in the appendix, that induced abortion has an impact on preterm births and miscarriages.

How much more important is incidence of abortion than stress? How much of that stress is due to living with the abortion? Why is this nearly direct correlation ignored?

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, let us also remember his views on abortion:

"The Negro can not win...if he is willing to sell the future of his children for his personal and immediate comfort and safety"--Ebony, Vol. 41, No.3, January 1966, Page 63.

Let's not be afraid to see the real issues and the real facts that affect the lives of black women. And to my white counterparts, think of the future outcomes of your actions as you usher minority women into the doors of abortion clinics.

Whatever happened to parents in popular culture?

One of my favorite saying is--"It takes a village, to absolve me of the responsibility to raise my own children."

I have been watching too much television lately. As a result, I have noticed how children and parents are portrayed. When did parents become completely ineffective in the media? My favorite examples are the Mirena commercials and a luncheon meat commercial.

In the Mirena commercial(the African American version), a mom is trying to remember if she has taken her birth control pill and to decide if she would like another child. Meanwhile her two current children crash the shopping cart into the watermelon display while unsupervised in the grocery store, drop water balloons from the balcony while unsupervised at home, take the jelly beans that their father is eating one after the other while not supervising them in the yard, and pulling the dogs fur while they bath it unsupervised. Trust me the white version of this commercial is not any better.

Or let's look at the luncheon meat commercial where in the mother's and father's fantasy, it is a lovely Thanksgiving dinner with fine china and well behaved children. In reality it is a screaming scene of children throwing food and helpless parents eating sandwiches.

News flash--Mirena parents, you do not need any more children until you learn how to supervise and raise the ones you have.

Luncheon meat people, put down the sandwich and discipline your children.

Thank God, I have been spending a lot of time speaking at high schools to very responsible young people. They are focused on protecting life and achieving goals that are measured in units of intelligence and compassion. Their parents are involved in their lives.

If only the popular culture would take a moment to look at real children and parents, and stop trying to convince us that it everyone's responsibility to raise our children except ours.