Blog Abandoned, it weeps.

Are we better today then before 1954? I wish I had the resources and researchers to do the numbers and find out if we were.

Daily Kos

“I was having dinner with my 82-year old mom last night and we got to talking politics. Tis the season, after all. I don’t remember exactly how this came up, but I think it was in the context of the Republican apoplexy over Democrats dropping reference to God in their party platform and Romney pledging to keep the word God on our coins (’cause I guess that’s a key element of his Jobs Program, or something). My mom said she remembered that as a young girl, the Pledge of Allegiance they recited everyday in school was simply, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” No mention of God anywhere.

My mom my be old, but she’s not senile, so I assumed her memory was accurate. Still I decided to Fact Check this morning (it’s all the rage these days). A simple search of the tubes confirmed that the words “under God” weren’t added to the Pledge until June, 1954 by a Joint Resolution of Congress.

But just as interesting, if not more so, was the Pledge of Allegiance was originally written back in 1892 by an avowed Christian Socialist who thought Capitalism was “idolatrous and rooted in greed”. That’s right, our nation’s Pledge was written by a stinkin’ Socialist. How’s that for insidious? I don’t suppose too many of our Republican friends know this, or I think we’d be seeing a mass epidemic of spontaneous cranial implosions on the streets by now.

Do you think we should tell them and enjoy the ensuing meltdown, or just smile with smug satisfaction every time we see a Republican reciting the Pledge?”

My Mom, someone I consider very religious says, I got along very well before 1954. So that says to me or makes me think, is this our problem?

Did we hate as we do today? Did we take life for granted as we do today? Do many of us live at a pace that tramples and gives no consideration to those around us? Are we accountable for our contribution to the emotional wake we leave? Did we have easy access to machines that can kill hundreds of people or children just going about their day? Did we individually think that our way was the only way, my way or the highway?

I said it in my last post and will repeat it.

I don’t believe that we need God in the schools for us to be the good descent caring human beings. We are stronger and better than that. Be accountable at home; take care of your own house. We have to be responsible for our families and ourselves in terms of goodness, spirituality and religion. That responsibility lies nowhere else.

Okay, I’m going to rant a bit! Imagine this writing in all caps…my bark is always worse then my bit. Maybe….

I refuse to claim the title, directly or indirectly of misinformed. Or it being “my fault” that President Obama was re-elected. And most certainly will not accept that I or anyone who voted for President Obama is part of the “dumbing down of America”!

Come on people! Wake up to the evolving ever changing (thank God) world that we live in. Where because of the nature of a country that offers life liberty and the pursuit of happiness, by that statement alone opens doors and yes boarders.

And I refuse to slap a title onto anyone who voted differently that I did. I wish I were that smart. I take that back. I don’t ever want to be or even think that I am that smart, that I can assume that anyone made a misinformed decision because it was different from mine.

I read my eye’s dry most days. A luxury of unemployment. (she says in gest) If only there was a news outlet on television that I could watch that would give me “the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help them God” reporting. One station just talks, one just shows the clips that justify what they want to be the truth, another show shows context but it’s a comedy show.

If the media took an entire statement, start to end and actually analyzed what was said and then was actually given the opportunity to ask questions of the statement and have reasonable expectation that they would actually get an answer. Then we might have something.

I try to read and when I do listen to people, I listen to those who have some sort of background the allows me some level of confidence that they freaking know how to speak on the subject of what they are talking about. And that it’s not based on their own fear of change or personal ideology that in no way supports the nature of this diverse county. I refuse to listen to those in the media who pontificate and spew hatred and fear with no facts or information to back it up their words.

I’m not the smartest person in the room, nor will I ever be. But I am smart enough to know where to find information to make my own informed and God given right to a decision.

Some of the places I go to read and try to understand;
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
http://online.wsj.com/home-page
http://www.nytimes.com/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ (because it pulls from everywhere)\
http://thehill.com/
http://www.ap.org/
http://www.economist.com/

I watch;
http://www.pbs.org/weta/washingtonweek/
http://www.thedailyshow.com/ (cause I need a laugh and he gives context that I can then go check)

I try to watch;
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/
http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/
http://www.cbsnews.com/face-the-nation/

I do not watch shows that base their opinion on the hatred or the demonization of anyone, official or otherwise. I have tried to watch or listen. I can’t stomach it just like I can’t stomach what I’ve been reading this week from people who I believe to be loving and caring individuals. We may have differing opinions, but the lack of respect for those difference to me is destructive.

I will also not blame any “one” person for where we are because I do not believe that any “ONE” person has that much power and singlehandedly got us to this point. That is just being narrow minded and not open to the entire conversation.

Do we not have a House of Representative? Do we not have Congress? The guilt for blame is wide spread and hits more people than I have the time to or care to mention.

What is it you all want? A dictatorship? A county run by one person and one agenda? That is not what we have and certainly what we will ever have as long as the democracy that was created for us years ago is allowed to continue. Please?

Conservative or Republican ideas or ideology have never set well with me. I don’t think that we, by any stretch of any means live in a black and white world. In my opinion Conservatives and the Republican party want a black and white, cut and dried nice little tidy world. We don’t live in a just black and white (literally or figuratively) or tidy world. Change is painful, but always necessary.

It’s not easy. We have to work for it like everything else in our lives. I am that large percentage of the “unmarried woman” who voted for Obama. I have never had or have been in a two-income family or household. Or had a second income to help me through three stents of unemployment. I have family and friends who have graciously helped, but I am in this game all by myself. I am also an uninsured unmarried woman. Because ten years ago I accepted a referral from my MD for a therapist. I’m not insurable. Not crazy or unstable. Very stable I think, considering. Just not enough to be insured. Not something I care to be at the age of 52, uninsured that is.

But I digress.

I can go out and find hundreds of video and words to support my convictions just like the ones I have seen and watched all over Facebook since Tuesday. Video’s, real or otherwise of people taking advantage of systems. People saying incredibly stupid and yes misinformed things.

OF COURSE THAT is what you will find. How about making your point with real ideas of how to change things. How systems can be better monitored instead of blaming one man for everything.

But I choose to find out as much as I can, to read both sides of what is really going on and stay away from any thing that sounds like, looks like or feels like that in four years we will somehow this country will be down the drain.

We don’t talk about the issues we point fingers and blame others for not playing the game the way we want it played. We don’t debate the issues in true debate format so that actual thoughts and ideas can be explained or even completed. We don’t answer hard questions because deep down when we get to what we really for a real solution, the answer is the same and that scares the crap out of us. Really? We believe and want the same thing? I believe that we do, that we all have rights and liberties that we don’t want taken away or changed.

Well guess what folks. The world is changing and we have to let some of it go. I don’t see anything but love in the changes that I see for this country. God forbid that we have a government that projects us from terrorists and financial failure and allows us to live in love and safety.

Why do we vote? We vote because we believe in the system that has been handed down to us for generations. There isn’t a right or wrong an informed or misinformed party. And I am up to my eye balls freaking tired of seeing it and hearing it.

There. I think I’m done.

There are two ways to head west from my house. I saw this sign this morning.

This is on the corner of the street I have turned left on since moving to this side of town. If I don’t turn on this street I go about 4 blocks further North to turn left to come to where this street ends. I think they are just going to have to put up with me. Didn’t realize you could choose who drives down your street by putting up a sign.

Think I’ll start posting a few signs.

• Use Your Blinker. Signaling is a legal requirement and a courtesy. Please.
• You may turn right if there is no sign to prohibit the turn. Like NO traffic, not there’s room for your car if you hurry. Please.
• If you are going to drive slow on the highway, right lane. Please.
• Put the phone down! Please.
• No Lane Changes next 500ft. DON’T CHANGE LANES! Please.
• Left Lane Closed in 1 mile. Don’t rush into left lane and crowd traffic where the lane is closed. Please.
• Drive like you are NOT the only person on the road. Please.

One more thing.

• PICK A LANE! Please.

I would start a run on banks!

Considering the week I’ve had. Scratch that, the month I’ve had. I think I handled this pretty ridiculous, unbelievable situation very well. Calm, cool and even with, granted probably sardonic, sense of humor.

I needed/wanted $29 cash to buy the book that goes along with the current feature being made where I work ParaNorman, that will be released in August.

I had $8, but couldn’t come up with the extra dollar in change while out and about. So I stopped by Chase in the Pearl to get some cash and change for that extra dollar I needed.

Parked, hit the ATM at the front of the bank and went inside for my change. Ten, five and five ones. Easy right? Wrong.

I’m not a fan of “banks” and have had a credit union account since I worked at one in a former life back in the early 80’s. But with the mortgage comes the “bank”. First at WAMU, then Wells Fargo.

WAMU is now Chase and I had never closed that account. So when they came up with that app that allowed you to take a picture of a check and deposit it, I thought that was worth keeping the account open. I also thought, this could help me budget. Use my credit union account for house, car, insurance type payments, the boring stuff and Chase for the rest.

Today I wanted cash to pay for the book. Guess I should have just taken a check. But who writes checks anymore? So I stopped by the Chase branch in the Pearl, hit the ATM for $40 cash and went inside to the teller to get change for one of the twenties. Again, easy right…wrong!

First I waited a few second, no teller’s. No biggie. Someone comes up behind me chuckling and says, “Guess it’s self service day! Someone will be right with you.” “That’s fine. I say. I’ll take it all in tens!” I wait a few more seconds and a girl comes out to one of the five teller bays.

“I’d like change for a twenty, ten, a five and ones. I need some ones. I say.” She takes my twenty, pulls out a ten, a five and two ones. She says, “I’m sorry I don’t have enough ones.” Pushes the twenty back at me.

I kind of giggle and say, “Really? This is bank, you don’t have money?” “No I’m sorry I don’t”, she says. “Really? I just need five ones, I can’t get five ones?” She calls to a “Chase” behind the wall. No answer. I laugh and say, “ A Chase working here really”, with a smile keeping it light. She says, “Yeah, sorry I don’t have enough ones.” I ask one more time, “You really can’t get me ones?” She calls another name and he peaks around the corner at her and me, no response but continues to stare at me like I had on a mask and a gun in my hand! I was asking for five ones from a bank for God’s sake!

She says, “I can’t access the (she rattles off an acronym pointing to a machine that apparently has all the ones) to get more ones. “I got hit up by a business earlier and they drained me.”

Still in an okay mood at this point, but starting to think, this is ridiculous. I say, this is my bank I just got money from the ATM, really you can’t get me ones?” She says, you can go across the street to US Bank and ask for change there. Like somehow it’s Miracle on 34th St, she’s Macy’s and Gimbels is across the street.

So I step back and say with a question, “maybe I should close my account, but do you have the money if I did that?” “I’m sorry, I just don’t have access to the (≈ƒ´ß†º).” Whatever! I’m not getting my change that’s obvious. But I’m still thinking, really???

I’m certain my perplexing look said more than I was saying. But really, it’s A BANK!

As I walk out I see the guy who tells me it’s “self- service” day. So I say on my way out, “not self-service day, out of ones day. Should I close my account? I just need a one!” A quick re-cap and he pulls money out of his pocket and hands me a one-dollar bill. I tell him, I can’t take your dollar, but I’m having a hard time understanding why I can’t get change at a bank I have an account at, should I close my account?”

This is when he gets a bit huffy and irritated at me and says, “I have five ones, here I’ll give you change, don’t close your account.” And he huffs off. But now giving him the 5, I don’t have the five and I have eight ones, right back where I started. Needing one (1) flipping dollar because I only had about 40 some odd cents in the car and bag combined.

I wasn’t going to close my account. And if I did, it would be NO great loss to Chase. But the attitude and delivery of, “here’s your change, don’t close your account” was the nail in the coffin.

I’m closing my Chase bank account like I should have done years ago. Being able to deposit checks via an app on the iPhone, worthless. As is Chase.

There was a debate this week in the House of Representatives about abortion. Well there probably isn’t a week that the House in is session that there isn’t a debate about abortion.

If we are going to demand that every child be born. Then we should demand that each and every one of those children have a good life. If we pass legislation to ban abortion, we must also pass true pro-life, beyond birth legislation. If we are going to take Planned Parenthood down, are we prepared to take care of EVERY SINGLE CHILD BORN? We don’t even do that today!

The studies have been done about how many children are aborted. What is the % of that % that is because of a threat to the life of that child or the mother?

Where is the study of children born into this world today who are not taken care of? Children who go hungry? Children who are abused? Children who are neglected? Children born addicted to drugs? Children who die because of neglect, abuse and malnutrition?

I’m once again reminded of that line in the movie “sex, lies and videotape”, when Ann is at the therapist and she can’t stop worrying about the barge of garbage in the bay.

Ann: Garbage. All I’ve been thinking about all week is garbage. I mean, I just can’t stop thinking about it.

Her therapist asks, what is it that she is really worried about? Does anyone ever have a substantial, meaningful, in-depth conversation about the cause and effect of a decision?

I am pro-choice. But I’m also pro-life. So there! I am however not pro-birth. Which I think is what pro-lifer’s actually stand for. And I didn’t know really how to articulate that until I heard a Benedictine Nun talk about it on Bill Moyers PBS show NOW in 2004. She said;

‎“I’m opposed to abortion.

Sister Joan Chittister (2004)

Exactly! THANK YOU!

Are there enough homes in America to put children who are born to women not in the position to care for a child? Are there enough families ready to care for a child born to a mother who dies in child-birth because of complications that could have been avoided? Who protects the Mother? Is that not a life? Does she not somehow become defenseless if she is somehow incapacitated due to complications?

Pro-lifer’s. What choice in life that you can freely make are you willing to give up? If you do not have the choice to manage your own body, what next. Well, it’s kind of already started. You’ve had this before so we don’t have to pay for it now. You have in the past asked for help due to depression, we will not insure you. So be depressed, possibly do something to your self that puts you in a coma or persistent vegetative state and someone else can pay for you long term care.

What if we let individuals make choices about their own body, provided everyone health care. Even better, preventative health care and then the raging cost of taking care of the sick might decrease because people aren’t as sick as they used to be. We have created a society dependent on being sick and needing health care. How do we reverse that?

How do we get those we have elected to have the conversations that go beyond the surface or beyond one line of scripture and make the decisions that will take care of all of us an not just who a few think should be taken care of?

NaBloPoMo theme for February is character.

“Who even cares” my old boss asks after I posted the reason for my question on Facebook.

How so you prove your faith or religious beliefs? Who if any of us have the right to question another’s belief system?

And I agree with him. But someone, somewhere does so it will continue to be pushed in our face and be a talking point for the 24 hour news cycle and those who have too much time on their hands. Who it seems can’t really comprehend what is a big world with too many differences to even attempt to bring to one table and have somehow been granted the right to judge.

Why do I ask this? I’m not really asking. Because I know I won’t get an answer. Because I don’t think it has anything to do with anything. But I turned on CNN the other morning to see the question in the title of this post because President Obama made reference to prayer and his religion in a morning speech.

It amazes me what people get wrapped up in. It amazes me the energy they spend on things they will never truly know the truth to and for the most part there is no tangible proof for. Like their belief. I believe. I believe. Yes you believe, but does that prove a thing?

“Religion is a cultural system that creates powerful and long-lasting meaning, by establishing symbols that relate humanity to truths and values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life. They tend to derive morality, ethics, religious laws or a preferred lifestyle from their ideas about the cosmos and human nature.” Wikipedia

In my opinion, if you feel you have the authority or the nerve to ask this question, you will never accept the answer. Your agenda is to shine the light on your self.

Your agenda is not to enhance the dialogue or conversation. It is self serving, pointless and reckless.

My old boss goes on to say, “I still fail to understand how being a “person of faith” is even part of the Presidential litmus test. What possible bearing does that have on one’s ability to govern or create good policy? This country is still living in the late 1950′s.”

If you are going to throw around religion or Christianity pay attention to the “word”. If you are going to use this as your guide, it says that we will be judged by our “work”. At the risk of being judgmental, your work may get you in trouble.

Pardon me if I, like the zealots of the world, take these out of context. That is how you do it right?

REV 20:12:
“another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”

REV 20:13:
“and they were judged every man according to their works.”