Monthly Archives: September 2014

September 30, 2014 · 20:56

Komen We Look to Someone Else for a Cure?

Tomorrow is October 1, and tomorrow all the little pink ribbons come out. We will see them everywhere from purses to NFL helmets. They are the primary symbol of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, the biggest breast cancer awareness/research campaign in the US. Or, as their mission states, “to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering others, ensuring quality care for all and investing in science to find the cures”.

A very laudable goal.

Breast cancer is bad. Cancer in general really sucks, whether that be breast, brain, or bone. Pick a body part. If its cells can go haywire, repairing and curing them is going to be a torturous process and the faster mankind finds a way to do that, the better. By now, I don’t think there’s a one of us who has not been touched by cancer in some way, shape, or form. Therefore, I cannot bring myself to disagree with Komen’s mission statement.

I can and do disagree with its methods, and as such, cannot and will not support anything Komen does. I will not purchase products with a pink ribbon, I will not donate to groups collecting for Komen, and I will not participate in any relays, 5ks, walks, or really anything having to do with the color pink for the next 31 days.

Two years ago, it came out that Komen was one of Planned Parenthood’s biggest donators. There was some initial outrage, and Komen withdrew their pledge of support from the abortion giant but soon caved to political and social media pressure  and reinstated the funds.

I cannot be the only person to find it ironic that a group that has dedicated itself to the elimination of breast cancer supports an organization whose primary offering actually causes breast cancer. That a group that is out to supposedly protect women from the ravages of a most horrid disease gives money to an organization that procures a procedure to kill nearly 333,400 children in the womb. In doing so, Planned Parenthood puts mothers at risk not only for breast cancer, but damage to the uterus and cervix (causing, in some cases, sterility), infection and sepsis, damage to other organs, and death. There is emotional trauma to consider as well – regret, anger, depression, guilt, shame, insomnia, relationship issues, nightmares, eating disorders, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts or feelings.

Susan G. Komen, by funding Planned Parenthood, what is it, exactly, you are trying to accomplish?

Not only is this the biggest abortion provider in the nation, but this is a group that supports sex-selection abortion. Which sex you might ask? Females. Girls are being aborted at a far higher rate than boys are.

Planned Parenthood is in our children’s schools. In the name of “safer sex”, Planned Parenthood receives $500 million in taxpayer dollars (read: what comes out of your paycheck every week) to teach kids about:

  • BDSM, anal sex, toys, porn sites, and role-play practices (Indianapolis, IN)
  • asphyxiation, bondage, whips, gags, sex shops (it is against local law for a minor to enter a sex shop; the girl in the video is 15), porn, “safe words” (Littleton, CO; receiving extra money through Obamacare for teen sex ed)
  • fetishes, “educational” porn, porn sites, kink (Willamette, OR)
  • whips, nipple clamps, ropes, “anything sexual is normal as long as it’s consensual”, role-play, 50 Shades of Grey, birth control, (St. Paul, MN)

These are just examples from four locations; clinicians speaking to a fifteen-year-old female patient posing as someone whose boyfriend had suggested “trying something new” in the bedroom. Negating the fact that fifteen is a little young to be having sex, how many of you would like a stranger “educating” your son or daughter, niece or nephew, brother or sister, grandchild, or cousin on erotic asphyxiation, bondage, whips, gags, safe words, and pornography without your knowledge or approval?

Planned Parenthood doesn’t need or want your approval, and when their “prevention” methods inevitably fail, they’ll be the ones accepting your money for her abortion.

So I will not be supporting Komen. I will not sport a pink ribbon this month, nor any other month until Komen re-directs those funds toward a charity or research that helps women instead of harming them. The American Life League suggests instead the Mary Kay Foundation (research for cancers that affect women: breast, cervical, ovarian, uterine) and does not award grants for research using embryonic stem cells or aborted baby’s tissue.

Komen wants to save women. Why support the foundation that murders them?

 

I keep dreaming of a future, a future with a long and healthy life, not lived in the shadow of cancer but in the light.      -Patrick Swayze

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September 30, 2014 · 17:22

Not Cool, Southwest Air, Not Cool

Well, I can add Southwest to my list of “airlines I won’t fly”.

Folks, I’d like you to meet Daniel:

daniel

Daniel is three years old and suffers from a very rare neuromuscular disease. Unfortunately, his condition is terminal. His family has compiled a small bucket list in order to cram as much happiness into Daniel’s regrettably short life as they can. In order to help, the ever-wonderful Big Fluffy Dog Rescue, who apparently rescues sad humans as well as sad dogs (Daniel’s family adopted a dog from BFDR some time ago) has organized a trip to Talladega next month along with local PD, fans, and random people everywhere. According to Jeanne at BFDR:

“One of the things we thought we had covered were airline tickets from Baltimore to Birmingham. People offered to donate miles to help get them there.  Then Southwest Airlines decided to suck.” 

Southwest’s lame-o excuse? They only donate tickets to Make-a-Wish families, and Daniel has already been granted his wish. If people want to donate their miles, they’ll be charged. (Keep in mind that these aren’t miles that will cost Southwest anything; these are miles that others have already accrued and people want to donate and be kind. Just like donating gently used clothes. These are gently used miles. Sorta.) Why who uses these free miles should even matter to Southwest is beyond me, but charging for what should be free is unacceptable.

More from BFDR:

So, we’ll buy their tickets. We need to fundraise $3500 to buy this family of four tickets to get to Talladega. This is likely the last trip this family will take as Daniel is fading. We wanted him to have the trip all little boys want where he gets to see an honest to God NASCAR race up close and in person. We will make sure he gets it, even if Southwest Airlines sucks epicly. Our fans have already made this a trip of a lifetime, and this is the last piece of the puzzle.

Please spread the word and donate if you can. Feel free to spread the word that Southwest wanted to charge for donating miles to help a dying boy. If you would like to donate, please do so here: http://bigfluffydogs.com/pay-online.php. Make sure you email jean@bigfluffydogs.com after you donate and put the word “Daniel” in the subject line. I will post and let you know when we have what we need. Thanks for being the best fans in the world and helping a dying boy even when Southwest Airlines wants to profit from the well wishes of people.

 

So Delta had lost my business for their horrid customer service, and now Southwest has lost it for their complete and total Scrooge-itude. When a multi-million dollar company cannot stand the thought of its frequent fliers participating in charity, we have a major problem.

 

 

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September 24, 2014 · 17:59

Missed it by *that* much…

I work in the public school system. (I know, I know…). In the People’s Republic of New England, as well as across the United States, there is apparently a new thing this year that requires schools to collect racial and ethnic data on every student in the building. This is not optional. Don’t worry, assures the paper, all information will be kept confidential.

Given the current flux of people moving around in this country, legal or not, I suppose I can see why, from a statistical standpoint, why that data might be wanted now rather than waiting until the next census is taken. Here’s my problem, though. In post-racial America*, the only racial/ethnic data that the government is interested in is whether or not a student is or is not Hispanic. If the student is not Hispanic, they would like to know if he is of Asian, African-American, American-Indian or Alaskan Native, or Pacific Islander descent. For all others, please just check “white”, because, well, screw you, Europe. As I’m going through these sheets, some parents have checked off multiple ethnicities and races because, well, again, post-racial America, y’all. The problem is that the computer only accepts one answer for each student. So when I’m staring at a kid’s sheet that looks like a multiple choice test, it’s been suggested that I look at the kid’s picture, decide what race/ethnicity he best represents, and go with that. (Though being the federal government, I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if it turns out the schools get more money for having more minority students.)

Here’s the kicker. Go back to the “about” page and take a good look at that photograph. Blonde hair, hazel eyes… gotta be some brand of European, right? I certainly couldn’t check off any of those boxes indicating I was a racial minority. Well, except, I could. Enter Exhibits A and B:

emma and molly

These are my cousins, and for privacy’s sake, even though they gave me permission to use this photo and I blocked their faces, we’ll call them Sandy and Olivia. Sandy and Olivia are sisters, and they are the closest thing to blood sisters that I have. Our fathers are brothers, and our mothers are sisters. Yes, brothers married sisters. It’s not nearly as confusing as it sounds. We’re talking pretty much same exact gene pool. Anyway, Sandy looks like me, with the blonde hair and dark eyes. Just like our mothers’ side of the family. Olivia on the other hand… well, face it. Anyone could, and understandably would, look at her and think she’s Latina. Nope. Half-Polish, quarter Slovak, and a quarter Scots and Irish. Ever hear of the black Irish? Yup. Bunch of Spanish traders come up the western European coast, decide Ireland is as nice a place as any to settle down (or at least find a warm bed on land for a night or two), and voila! The black Irish are born. You can find us in Scotland, too. Olivia is living proof of that.

Technically, then, I could just as easily mark “Hispanic” on my own theoretical ethnic/racial sheet as I can “white”. Not even “Caucasian”. Just “white”. I have Spanish ancestry, after all. We melanin-challenged individuals are so discriminated against.

 

*If we’re in a “post-racial America” as was much hailed with the election of the first half-black president, why are we even wasting trees on all this? And trust me, it’s a lot of trees, judging by the stacks of paper on my desk.

 

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September 19, 2014 · 01:19

Fighting Microaggression

…also known as, cry me a river, build me a bridge and get over it.

The following video is from Andrew Klavan on “The Revolting Truth” over at YouTube. Special thanks to The Matt Walsh Blog for posting the video to his site first. (Seriously. Go read Matt’s blog if you don’t already. He’s awesome.)

 

First world problems, y’all.

Of the major news networks, current headlines are generally tuned into the Scottish independence vote, but the more national ones:

CNN: “Where is this missing UVA student?”
NBC: “Bachelorette party mom feels ‘lucky’ to be home”
ABC: “Lawmakers propose overhaul to federal black lung program”
FOX: Fox News seems to be the only MSM to buck the trend by having its front page banner focused on ISIS rather than our kilted friends and makers of fine whisky. FOX’s home page reads “Congress OKs key plank of Obama’s ISIS strategy [Editor’s note: glad to hear his staff figured one out] in bipartisan vote.” and their US news page follows up with “Mystery man reportedly seen walking with missing UVA student night of disappearance”
BBC: Obviously, they’re a bit busy tonight (nearly dawn, now, and it looks like Scotland is staying. Sorry, Prince Tearlach. You’re still bonny, even if, by history, you were a sot and really quite a failure, the ’45 notwithstanding. Slainte mhath.) so most of their coverage is devoted to what the north is up to, but their US and Canada page is headlined: “Eight dead in Florida house shooting”.

Thankfully, NBC seems to be the only washout tonight, and really, what can you expect with MSNBC dragging at their heels? No wonder Rush calls that crew PMSNBC.

Sorry, that must have been a bit aggressive, there.

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September 18, 2014 · 13:35

A New Era of Revolution

Seeing my own country’s flag: the Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, the Star Spangled Banner – the American flag- always fills me with a sort of quiet pride, knowing the history of our nation. Knowing, academically in many cases, the many men and women that fought the world over to keep that flag flying. The more famous photographs and paintings – the original Old Glory, waving o’er Ft. McHenry, black-and-flag draped coffin of Abraham Lincoln, the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima, on the moon, at the rubble of the World Trade Center. Heck, even on the cover of Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” album.

Fighting for independence, one country breaking ties from another, is oft seen as an American venture. Far from it. Today, that notion of sovereignty is as important as it was in 1776.

Today, Scotland is voting on a referendum that will tie or sever its 307-year union with Great Britain.

2014 less 307 is 1707.

Those who have watched “Braveheart” know the the part William Wallace, the Highland laird who first led resistance to English rule in the 1300s after the original Royal Scottish line died out. After some success, he was captured, hanged, drawn, and quartered. In 1306, after Wallace’s death, the throne was taken by the eighth Robert the Bruce (Generally just known as “Robert the Bruce”). England met Bruce with no mercy and the two countries fought a series of battles which culminated in 1314 when the troops of Edward II were crushed.

In 1320, a letter, written in Latin and addressed to the Pope, was sent to declare Scotland’s independence as a sovereign state and confirm its right to defend itself when unjustly attacked.

…as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom – for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.

Sound a bit familiar? The American Declaration of Independence wasn’t written, of course, until 1776. This, the Declaration of Arbroath, was written in 1325. In 1328, England renounced overlordship Scotland and confirmed Robert the Bruce as King.

Things were tentatively okay with Scotland’s southern neighbors until the death of James IV at the Battle of Flodden. His granddaughter, Mary, Queen of Scots, was sent to be reared in France with her mother’s family (Mary was twice-royal; her mother was Marie de Guise.) Problems arose when she became of age and returned to Scotland – a 15 year old Catholic girl suddenly had the Protestant Reformation on her hands. That very schism of religions, Catholic Mary in the north and Protestant Elizabeth I in the south had the British Islands in an uproar. Elizabeth, seeing her cousin Mary as her rival, had her imprisoned in the Tower and as plots swirled on both sides, Mary was executed in 1586.

Elizabeth died in 1607, and the crown went by default to Mary’s son, King James VI of Scotland, who was now also James I of England, thus uniting the two crowns after centuries of just-barely contained hostilities. A century later in 1707, Acts of Union formally joined Scotland to Great Britain. This came after a brief period of upheaval between the parliaments of Scotland and England. Following this, James II of Scotland was exiled, and the nations were linked. This did not stop periodic revolutions such as the one in 1715, an ill-gained attempted at regaining Scottish independence, nor the famed ’45, with James II son, Charles, (“Bonnie Prince Charlie”), which although saw initial strong success, ended in slaughter on Culloden Field. So angered were the English troops that for years they ravaged the Highlands, killing and imprisoning. Famine struck the land, and many chose to leave their homes for new lives in France or the colonies.

Despite atrocities against Scottish culture in the years that followed including the Diskilting Act of 1746 which made ownership of arms and the wearing of Highland dress illegal, the Scots have never given up on hopes of one day regaining national sovereignty. In 1934, the Scottish National Party (SNP) was formed and made an Independent Scotland its primary goal. 1997 saw a referendum that kept Scotland part of the United Kingdom, but gave it control over its own education, health care, and finally, a Parliament.

Seven years ago, the SNP won a brilliant upset against the incumbant Labour Party. This exchange in party power led to the vote we are seeing today.

It is this writer’s opinion that despite the official documentation, Scotland’s independence died with the Stuart cause on Drumossie moor that cold, raining, awful April morning in 1746. The spirit of Scotland never did.

scotpols.net_

Alba gu bràth.

 

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September 11, 2014 · 18:21

When “Never Forget” becomes “We Don’t Want to Remember”

Ask any adult today, say anyone aged 20 or older, give or take a few years, and they will be able to tell you where they were on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001. Quite like how most of our parents will tell you where they were when they found out Kennedy was assassinated. We remember where we were, what we heard, what we saw on television. We heard the patriotic music and felt the swells of pride when we saw the Stars and Stripes waving in the wind. Younger children and teens felt slightly more grown up if Mom and Dad let them listen to Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue” unedited, and we cried when we heard “God Bless the USA”. As a nation, we swore we would never forget the site of those burning towers, the shock of the Pentagon, or the burnt debris field in Pennsylvania.

For the last 13 years, wherever I have gone to school or worked, if I was there at 08:46, everyone dropped what they were doing for, if nothing else, a moment of silence for the victims of that terrible day. (The first plane hit Tower 1 at that time.) This morning, I said something about how I was surprised that the school was not having a second moment of silence at that time inremembrance in addition to the regular silent moment we have every day when school starts at 8:00. Another staff member told me, “What does it matter? These kids weren’t even born yet or were, at most, a year old. It ain’t our job to teach them.”

Granted, we have administrative positions, but I beg to differ. We adults in the building were certainly all alive, and living in the northeast corridor, our small city lost natives on the planes and in the towers. No one who signed the Declaration of Independence is alive today, but we all celebrate it each year. Ditto Memorial Day, established officially in the 1860s after Lincoln’s assassination. Ditto Veteran’s Day, and I’m pretty sure there are no surviving Veteran’s of WWI (The day is celebrated on the day the war ended) – we get a whole day off from school for that.

“What does it matter?”

It matters because we are still fighting against the evil that, within a matter of hours, killed 3,000 Americans in the most cowardly way. Make no mistake. These people are evil. And they will get their comeuppance one way or another. For the children who weren’t born yet, or are too young to remember, we need to remember for them, so that they too may honor the victim’s memories, and honor the soldiers who have died to keep us safe, and those who continue to serve, sacrificing everything to that people who thing “what does it matter” can sleep soundly tonight.

groundzerocross

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. -A. Lincoln, November, 1863

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