There's a loss in our soceity. Its impact is evident in our homes, schools, churches, businesses, and government. The loss of Thanks.
Expressing appreciation for the actions or just mere presence of others may be so edifying for ourselves and others.
Imagine the impact of just saying the word 'thanks' to your family: spouse, parents, children, siblings, et al.
Imagine the impact of just saying the word 'thanks' to your school: teachers, administrators, office workers, and volunteers.
Imagine the impact of just saying the word 'thanks' to clergy and laity.
Imagine the impact of just saying the word 'thanks' to employees and supervisors.
Imagine the impact of just saying the word 'thanks' to friends and opponents because opponents challenge us to think and act beyond ourselves.
Imagine the impact of just saying the word 'thanks' to leaders and civil servants.
Imagine the impact of just saying the word 'thanks' to God.
Just Imagine.
We take for granted the simple pleasures that peoples in other countries view as luxuries.
O' the countless times we've forgotten to express our thanks for the effforts the individuals who work 'behind the scenes' daily to make our lives just a little more comfortable. So I would like to express a simple thought to everyone: Thanks
The Blue Dog Coalition - who celebrated 13 years of leadership in 2008 - has built a reputation as a serious player in the policy arena, promoting positions which bridge the gap between ideological extremes. Many of the group's policy proposals have been praised as fair, responsible, and positive additions to a Congressional environment too often marked as partisan and antagonistic.
The 47 conservative and moderate Democrats in the group hail from every region of the country, although the group acknowledges some southern ancestry which accounts for the group's nickname. Taken from the South's longtime description of a party loyalist as one who would vote for a yellow dog if it were on the ballot as a Democrat, the "Blue Dog" moniker was taken by members of The Coalition because their moderate-to-conservative-views had been "choked blue" by their party in the years leading up to the 1994 election.
The Coalition was formed in the 104th Congress as a policy-oriented group to give moderate and conservative Democrats in the House of Representatives a common sense, bridge-building voice within the institution.
Most agree that, since then, the Blue Dogs have successfully injected a moderate viewpoint into the Democratic Caucus, where group members now find greater receptiveness to their opinions. In fact, the continuing political success of "Blue Pups" in the 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006 elections points to the public's approval of the centrist, fiscally responsible message represented by The Coalition. Since 1996, 24 Blue Dogs won their seats by defeating a Republican incumbent.
The Coalition has been particularly active on fiscal issues, relentlessly pursuing a balanced budget and then protecting that achievement from politically popular "raids" on the budget. Past Coalition budgets have won the endorsement of the nonpartisan Concord Coalition and multiple newspaper and magazine editorials. As one column pointed out, the Blue Dogs have proven that "common sense, conservative economics and compassion aren't necessarily mutually exclusive."
Blue Dog Coalition proposals have served as middle-ground markers which laid the foundation for the bipartisanship necessary to bring about fundamental reforms, and helped set into law policies reflecting the "common sense, conservative compassion" so often attached to the group's efforts.
In the 110h Congress, the Coalition intends to continue to make a difference in Congress by forging middle-ground, bipartisan answers to the current challenges facing the Country. A top priority will be to refocus Congress on balancing the budget and ridding taxpayers of the burden the debt places on them.
The group also expects to be involved in a variety of issues, where the stale extreme left vs. right approach requires a breath of fresh air.
Enjoy! The photos of President Obama's first 100 Days are awesome.
Photo's taken by Callie Shell.http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1893255,00.html
In the past I considered him to be a principled politician. His advocacy, along with Sen. Kennedy, for the Comprehensive Immigration Bill caught my attention and earned my support. Unlike Lieberman, it seems as though Specter's party-switch is not principled, but political and personal. The Democrats in general and President Obama in particular shouldn't boast too loudly.
Remember....
President Obama:
Beware of short-term thinking, mere tactical planning. Thus far, the problems your Adminstration have encountered have been the result of hyper-partisans in the Democrat party seeking short-term results. The short term results often were to debase the Republicans. Caveat: "The difference between a rut and a grave is the depth." In other words, the ditch that is dug for others may become the grave in which may bury oneself.
Thus far, I have not agreed with all your decisions (and didn't expect to) nor am I willing to rubber-stamp your ideas. ( I will not be part of the demagogue-like hysteria that characterized some media outlets & grassroots individuals/organizations) This was not the reason you receive my vote.
************
The 'Proverbial Report Card' (Overall: B+)
Message Discipline: C+ --- At times tend to be reactive, disjointed, and unclear/confusing.
Grassroots Network (Organizing for America): D --- Increase presence of spam on site, vitriol language as well. Corruption of your concept in community organizing and its purpose. Some people may be discouraged to even visit the site. already it has been expressed that emails from Democrat Party are not welcome specifically when soliciting donations due to increased spam. It shows lack of leadership of the site administrators. It undermines grassroot effectiveness.
Accessibility/Exposure: C- --- Need to guard against 'over-exposure'. The words and appearance of the President should command attention, not be 'too familar' or mundane. Need to guard against the appearance of campaigning instead of governing.
Style: C --- Need to balance between being 'natural', conversational and formal, authoritative. For the most part, the problem arises situationally. Introducing novelty while maintaining dignity of office has been good; should continue to exercise balance in this regard. See <Accessibility/Exposure>
Politics: C --- Need to guard against shift towards far-left idealogy/trying to please those who ascribed to the far-left idealogy. Danger of being tagged as knee-jerk liberal as well as encouraging a more polarizing political environment. (This is mistake of your predecessor) Remember: Balance and Process Matters.
Policy Formulation: A+ --- Great comprehensive approach to Nation's issues and concerns. See <Message Discipline>
Personnel: B --- Highly qualified individuals; Execution of their duties adequate --- often with lingering perception of incompetance.
Promises: B --- Given the complexity of the issues, this isn't so bad.
Transparency: A- --- Given the complexity of the issues, this isn't so bad.
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Persons responsible for this crime, namely the I.N.S executioners, in their Immigration officers' quality, and gaolers of York’s prison, seriously soiled the reputation of the United States of America, already considerably tarnished by recent acts of torture and of inhumanity committed at Guantanamo’s Bay in CUBA or still in the prison of Abou-Grahïb in IRAQ.
These despicable behaviours, you will agree upon that, shouldn’t have to exist in a Democracy, which respects itself. Elements of facts reported in my autobiographical narrative and the enclosed material proofs, prove the fault of the American Administration, which violated the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the General assembly, resolution 217 A III), on December 10th, 1948, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights comes into force, on March 23rd, 1976, and in fine, the Third Agreement of Geneva.
Thus, on August 31st, 2003, my brother, Mister Marc SILVA, at the time of the facts, Sergeant of National police, appointed to the O.C.R.B. (Central Bureau for Repression of Banditism), our retired mother, Madam Marie-José MARQUEZ and myself, Miss Elisabeth SILVA, were all three forced to go into exile in England to escape tracking and hostile pursuits exercised against us on the French territory, apparently, in reason to the reference to a classified SECRET DEFENCE Affair, namely, Léo BALLEY affair in Grenoble, for which, my brother and myself had been heard on rogatory commission, on February 26th, 2002 by the Brigade of Research of Grenoble (B.R.D.), represented by Mr OMER.
In any case, and by virtue of international standards on the subject, we should have been authorized to exercise our right of asylum, with actual assistance of a lawyer, without means of pressure, notably within the framework of a complete and fair procedure, which forbids formally to be exposed to measures which strike a blow at individuals, that are the violations of our fundamental rights.
The States of New York and York (U.S.A) are parties to the Agreement of 1951 relative to the status of refugees of 1967. Besides, New York and York are also parties to the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (PIDCP) which arranges, that nobody shall be placed in detention, in a illegal way, or subjected to torture or every other punishments or cruel and inhuman punishments.
At the end of each of these international legal instruments and international laws, the American Authorities owed to respect the following articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, by virtue of which :
Article 7 : No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
5. Anyone who has been the victim of unlawful arrest or detention shall have an enforceable right to compensation.
I owe to remind you, Mr President, the importance of the responsibility, which falls to you in the SILVA-MARQUEZ, French-American affair of state, carried as a last resort in the knowledge of the highest Authorities, on the global scale and, whose repercussions have already found their resonance. You don’t ignore that this scandalous injustice, that we try hard to hush up for three long years, by all the means, may burst at any time and cause a big stir with the peculiarity, that presents the SILVA-MARQUEZ file, from which it emerges that a French policeman, Servant of the State, his 60-year-old mother and her young sister, all three innocents of any offences or crimes, had been arbitrarily imprisoned on the American ground, where they came to exercise their justifiable right of asylum application. It is collectively allowed, that torture is the term, which appoints any act, which is deliberately imposed on person, in the purposes notably to obtain information, to intimidate her, to press her or a third person, for a motive or the other one. It is all the more grave, when such pains and sufferings are attributable to members of the police force or quite other member acting in official title and belonging, above all to a democratic society.
It is there the duty of the President of the United States of America to denounce publicly crimes committed by his own camp, so that the American justice should punish executioners, whose identities appear, unambiguously on the enclosed documents, which give evidence of my assertions. I appeal to your sense of responsibilities to redress moral, physical and material serious damages undergone by my family, to repay honours to my brave and so much honourable brother, formerly French Police sergeant, Mister Marc SILVA, to our brave and deserving mother, Madam Marie-José MARQUEZ, and finally to my autobiographical work, a poignant testimony of brotherhood and courage, which has already found a favourable echo among, illustrious readers, such as Sovereigns, Presidents, French politics and foreign Ambassadors, of any cleavages. On the reading of all information carried in your knowledge in my book " Les Piliers de la Traîtrise" then completed by elements of supplementary proofs, contained in " The open letter to the French and foreign Authorities ", written by Mr Marc SILVA, my brother, on April 15th, 2006, it is unmistakably up to the President of the United States of America, to see that our family might quickly reborn of her ashes and obtain redress and public excuses. This denunciation of arbitrary and illegal detention, instrumented by contemptible persons, must be followed by effect. Despite pitfalls, the tragedy of my family will not stay an unspoken, within world History, because rumour has already crossed the borders to reach the highest spheres. Could you henceforth have the last word in this horrifying affair and mark by your imprint the end of a slander, by registering you within the lineage of the one, who was and will remain, in the collective memory, a great Man, Mister Abraham Lincoln.
Personal thoughts on the following received in email ---> "Well done"
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/4/14/719870/-LIVE:-President-Obamas-Economic-Speech-in-Georgetown
From Obama's economic policy speech today at Georgetown University:
There is a parable at the end of the Sermon on the Mount that tells the story of two men. The first built his house on a pile of sand, and it was destroyed as soon as the storm hit. But the second is known as the wise man, for when "...the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house...it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock."
We cannot rebuild this economy on the same pile of sand. We must build our house upon a rock. We must lay a new foundation for growth and prosperity â€" a foundation that will move us from an era of borrow and spend to one where we save and invest; where we consume less at home and send more exports abroad.
----
My (Author's) analysis:
The new foundations will be rooted in care for "the least of these" in our culture - for the poor, the vulnerable, the oppressed, the young, and the jobless. We won't give them a handout - they don't want one! We'll give them a hand up with smart programs that reward hard work with living wages.
The Mobilization to End Poverty is coming up in just over a week. We need to get this message out across the country - in our churches and schools, in our neighborhoods, and in rural areas where people don't have access to broadband internet or high-speed wireless web.
President Obama isn't opposed to wealth - he knows that prosperity can benefit everyone if we have the ethics and laws in place to reward innovation and perseverence. But we need to start measuring success by the quality of life for those at the lowest end of the economic totem pole - not by the wealthiest 1% or the multinational corporations that ship American jobs overseas.
God is at work!
http://www.matthew25.org
http://www.sojo.net
Disclaimer: This blog entry is respectfully submitted not for the purpose of debate, but to offer 'something to think about' in order that we may become more tolerant of others' beliefs and philosophies.
"God Exists!" A man went to a barber shop to have his hair and his beard cut as always. He began to have a good conversation with the barber who attended him. They talked about so many things and various subjects.
Suddenly, they touched on the subject of God. The barber said: "Look man, I don't believe that God exists." "Why do you say that?" asked the customer. Well, it's so easy, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God does not exist. Oh, tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God exists, there would be no suffering nor pain. I can't think of loving a God who permits all of these things."
The customer thought for a moment, but he didn't respond because he did not want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barber shop, he saw a man in the street with long hair and a beard that was very long as well, one could tell that it had been a long time since he had his hair cut. He also looked dirty and unkempt.
The customer entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not exist." "How can you say they don't exist?" asked the surprised barber." I am here and I am a barber. Why I just worked on you!""No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist, because if they did there would be no people with long hair and beard like that man who is outside." "Ah, barbers do exist, what happens is that people sometimes do not come to them." "Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God does exist. What happens is people don't go to Him and do not look for Him. That's why there is so much suffering and hardship in this world today."
A friend of mine is frustrated with the lack of accuracy in media. 24-hour cable news/talk is interested more in sensationalism and entertainment than in providing "need to know" information. And it's hard to define what people really "need to know" in order to make decisions!
Here's what she said:
"The real problem with this discussion is that we are not distinguishing between information and entertainment. I believe that one of our corporate sins as Americans is that we have lost this distinction. As Christians we have a moral obligation to inform ourselves but we have no obligation to entertain ourselves. As a nation we have a moral obligation to demand that information be made available widely, consistently, and fairly. We ought not confuse t he F irst Amendment with some supposed “right” to be entertained by opinionated pundits who mimic our particular brand of hubris."
The right to free speech is protected by the Constitution. But at what point does free speech pollute our political process? And how can we work to get past the noise?
As the pictures flashed in my mind of all of those I represented – tears started flowing freely. As I looked around the crowd, of all races and all ages – I saw that they,too, had tears. I knew that everyone around me fully understood the historical significance of this day, January 20, 2009. This was the day that this great nation showed to itself and to the world, that it was not the same nation that was founded in 1776 and built on the backs of free or indentured labor – and ruled through much divison - instead it was now a nation in which enough people said, we will vote for a person because of the content of his character and not the color of his skin. This was a nation poised and ready to improve the lives of all Americans and this was a nation which was ready to work with everyone to make a difference. This was a nation who believed in the preamble to the Declaration of Independence. This was a stronger America. This was a nation that was now ready to work with those tough issues that cuases divisons.
The 2nd Chorus and 3rd Verse of “Lift Every Vice and Sing” was running through my mind. It goes as follows:
2nd Chorus
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered,
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,
Out from the gloomy past, 'til now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.
3rd Verse
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears,
Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who has by Thy might, Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
As I was leaving, the process was exceedingly slow because of the number of us. There was no pushing, shoving or angry tones – everyone was patient, making sure that no one tripped or stumbled. Everyone was looking out for each other. It was as if everyone knew that so much had been sacrificed to make this day possible so that all actions had to be honorable, otherwise, it would have been disrespectful of all of those who had gone before us.
As we were slowly exiting, someone started singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and all who knew it started singing it with much gusto and those that didn't know it, hummed along with the same spirit.
Yes, a great day and even though we are in tough economic times, with issues that still divide us – I left there knowing that we will overcome all of those things and that our nation will emerge even stronger and more positive in days and years ahead. How, do I know this – I know it because I will use my energy to work along with others to make the impossible, possible.
President Barack Obama bows his head in prayer during Inauguration. Help us grow the team by inviting your family and friends to join.
President Barack Obama now steps up to lead our nation into a historic new era. The challenges and demands he will face are daunting at the least and overwhelming at most. Yet, in his Inaugural Address, he invoked the good will of the American people and our willingness to roll up our sleeves and work hard. "Every so often," the President said, "the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we, the people, have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears and true to our founding documents. So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans."
This is a time to pray! The new administration will grapple with the challenges of a struggling economy, active wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and energy and environmental concerns--all unprecedented in this generation. With I Timothy 2:1-2 as our biblical mandate, The Presidential Prayer Team is dedicated to praying for our new president's wisdom, protection and success as he faces these issues, and many more, over the next four years.
I'm asking you today to help build the team of intercessors for our new President. Let us join together and uphold him as the Israelites of old did for their leader Moses. Please, invite your friends to pray for President Obama and the new administration. All you need to do is to forward this to them and tell them to click on the link below. Or, your friends who enjoy text messaging can get information about PPT via a text message by texting "PPT" in a text message to the number 411-247 for information.
Thank you for your help in growing the team that prays for President Obama and his new administration.
Your efforts will work powerfully in our nation.
John LindPresident/CEO Contact The Presidential Prayer TeamTo ensure you receive these Prayer Updates each week, PrayerTeam@PresidentialPrayerTeam.net
"Death and Life are in the power of the tongue"
Many of us already know this because we have been made aware of the damaging effects of verbal abuse. We may also have been informed about the importance of what we say to others and even more importantly what we say to ourselves. Yet, when asked the simple question, "How are you today?" We may respond, "Fine, under the circumstances". Now, this response may seem inconsequential, but may be unconsciously affecting an individual's ability to effectively deal with adverse situations.
It's more than 'just words'. Consider, why would anyone want to state that a situation has him/her defeated? Yet by adding 'under the circumstances' a person is not talking from a position of strength and capability to handle the situation. Remember, re-frame how you see yourself in relationship to your circumstances.
C'mon, let's Shake it off and Stomp it down!
Shake and StompOnce there was a farmer who wanted to get rid of his goat by burying him alive. After he dug the hole really deep so that the goat wouldn't be able to climb or jump out of it, he started the task of tossing dirt into the hole. What the farmer didn't know, as the dirt landed on the goat, the goat would SHAKE IT OFF and STOMP IT DOWN. Over and over again the farmer continued to toss more and more dirt into the deep hole. Over and over again the goat would SHAKE IT OFF and STOMP IT DOWN. Finally, after much time had passed, the packed dirt was rising and it became closer to ground level. In the last few feet from ground level, the goat was able to jump out of the hole quickly, run away, and escaped. Remember, 'There is no temptation which is common to man, that God hath not prepared a way of escape'. Lesson: Sometimes what is designed to bury us has the potential to become the means to help us, if we would just SHAKE IT OFF and STOMP IT DOWN.
Shake and Stomp
Once there was a farmer who wanted to get rid of his goat by burying him alive. After he dug the hole really deep so that the goat wouldn't be able to climb or jump out of it, he started the task of tossing dirt into the hole.
What the farmer didn't know, as the dirt landed on the goat, the goat would SHAKE IT OFF and STOMP IT DOWN. Over and over again the farmer continued to toss more and more dirt into the deep hole. Over and over again the goat would SHAKE IT OFF and STOMP IT DOWN. Finally, after much time had passed, the packed dirt was rising and it became closer to ground level. In the last few feet from ground level, the goat was able to jump out of the hole quickly, run away, and escaped.
Remember, 'There is no temptation which is common to man, that God hath not prepared a way of escape'.
Lesson: Sometimes what is designed to bury us has the potential to become the means to help us, if we would just SHAKE IT OFF and STOMP IT DOWN.
Since the initial blow up, Rev. Warren has said he regretted equating gay marriage to incest, etc. He even went so far as to remove insensitive language regarding homosexual relationships off of his church's website. This has been lauded as a symbolic victory of sorts by the GLBT community. Here's the raw truth people: It never would have happened had not PE Obama invited Rev. Warren to pray the invocation.
As the end of the year approaches, I offer a familiar song as a reminder to and prayer for all Americans: Best wishes in the New Year.
GOD BLESS AMERICA"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea, Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free, Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. " God Bless America, Land that I love. Stand beside her, and guide her Thru the night with a light from above. From the mountains, to the prairies, To the oceans, white with foam God bless America, My home sweet home.
GOD BLESS AMERICA
"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea, Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free, Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. " God Bless America, Land that I love. Stand beside her, and guide her Thru the night with a light from above. From the mountains, to the prairies, To the oceans, white with foam God bless America, My home sweet home.
Listen here http://www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/godblessamerica.html
Words and music by Irving Berlin© Copyright 1938, 1939 by Irving Berlin© Copyright Renewed 1965, 1966 by Irving Berlin© Copyright Assigned to the Trustees of the God Bless America FundInternational Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved.Used by Permission
People see what they want to see
Some people see a 'white' person. Some people see a 'black' person. Some people see a 'foreign-born with a strong accent'. Amusing is the latter given I was born and raised in the 'heartland' of United States.
People see what they want to see, but they don't see me. They just see my invisibility.
My age is a mystery. Proof is presented without an ounce of shame. While being referred by many as an 'ole soul', not by name.
The 'Religious Right' sees a heretic who is for abortion and gay rights. The 'Liberal left' sees a zealot who believes in an Almighty God; Faith that moves mountains and gives the blind sight.
Emphasize equitable distribution of sacrifices and rewards, people see a 'spread-the-wealth' idealogue. Emphasize hardwork and personal responsibility, people see a cold-hearted selfish expletive equivalent to a female dog.
Politicians, the self-proclaimed public servants, an oxymoronic distinction at best, seems to be the greatest offender of all. There's much hand-shaking, baby-kissing, data collection, policy formulation, and impact analysis ad nauseum. There's a tendency to lose sight it's about real individuals, not them.
Whether in a community of 30, 50, 10,000, or more. Each individual is relevant and can make a difference. Individuals are the keystone of democracy. People see what they want to see, but they don't see me. They just see my invisibility.
Invisibility is a comforting blanket. It's reassuring I'm more than a 'sound-bite' or a statistic on a chart. I'm not wholly defined by the constraints of biases, stereotypes, and demographic categories. Though, it's comforting to know that individuals are not robots, as you can see. Invisibility is a smothering blanket that takes my breath away, denying me the opportunity to express 'I'm free'.
I realize tis true. People see what they want to see, but they don't see me.
Why? They don't know me.
I'm Invisible. Yes, that's me.
I have this one question and it stems from when I was watching the debate over the failed pagckage to rescue the auto industry in Detroit. I can't help but feel resentful towards the Senators in the south for their out right denial of any help to Detroit unless the Unions were destroyed as we know them. To me (and I'm not even an auto worker) it was a slap in the face and a punch in the gut to every worker out there.
As a Christian I have to show love to everyone, but I find it harder and harder to do so when I see and expeirence a lack of intellect, heart, and soul when dealing with issues discussed here. My question is simple: Why are Conservatives (Neocons, etc.) so inflexible?
