Thoughts on the Inauguration

"Peaceful transfer of power"

Those are pretty amazing words. What an amazing and inspiring event. Think about it. From the earliest governments the transfer of power has most often been anything but peaceful. I cite just a few:

Saul and David
Bloody Mary and Elizabeth
The Entire book of Ether
Most 3rd World Countries

I truly love that as heated and partisan as the politics get in this country, we do have peaceful transfer of power every 4 or 8 years.

It makes me proud.

I was less than proud to hear the booing of people when Bush and Cheney arrived at the inauguration. Come on people, they are still our leaders and they are headed out. Class it up guys.

I don't remember any other inauguration that received so much attention. We had a day of doctors and other things that kept us out and about and yet everywhere I went there was a television with inauguration coverage showing. People were talking about it. I felt a general sense of excitement and hope.

I'm glad that most people (regardless of politics) are hoping for good things from this new administration. Many are praying for Obama's success.

I love this country!

So tell me...

What is it about Obama that you like? I don't mean the superficial stuff or even the semi-superficial stuff (like that he is charismatic). What policies that he represents make you think, "hey, I'm going to vote for Obama-Biden?"

On the other hand, what is about McCain that makes you want to vote for him? Again, I'm not interested in hearing some emotional response to him or an emotional response to his competition that makes you want to vote for him. What issue-based reasons have made you support the McCain-Palin ticket?

Are you a PATRIOT?

I boldly and proudly proclaim that I AM NOT.

What is patriotism? I've given this much thought over the past few weeks as it has become a popular discussion on radio programs as we lead up to the election and Independence Day. The discussion usually goes something like this, "Is it patriotic to leave our troops in harms way?" or "Can one be a patriot and still be critical of the government?" or "The most patriotic thing a citizen can do is to join the dialog and try to help the government improve."

I humbly and respectfully declare that these people are asking the wrong questions. The right question is this: "Can a lover of democracy possibly be patriotic?" or this, "Should a democracy even ask her citizens to be patriots?"

Let's examine the word "patriot" for a moment. It comes from the Latin prefix "Patr" which refers to "father." We see it in words such as "patriarch" and "paternal." I therefore see two things wrong with our country asking for patriotic citizens.

1. We are a democracy (a republican democracy to be sure, but still a democracy). Therefore it should not be about the "father" or the head of our country. Our allegiance should be to the brotherhood (or sisterhood if you prefer). Shouldn't then, we be asking our citizens to be fratriots (or sorortriots if you prefer)?

2. Let's allow that we aren't referring to any one figure head but to our country as a united whole. Fine, but don't we usually refer to the United States as a female? "Proudly SHE stands," we must protect "her" in times of war, etc. Therefore, even if we believe that our allegiance should be to the collective "one" - meaning our country - shouldn't we ask our citizens to be matriots?

"Patriot" seems to only refer to one scenario and that is that we are declaring our allegiance to the male-dominated bureaucracy which has taken over our democratic republic. It is this kind of "patriotism" that made it impossible for Hillary to assume her rightful place as the Matriarch of this land (ok, now I've gone too far...)

And there you go. Call me a fratriot or sorortriot. You can even call me a matriot. But please, don't call me a patriot. It just makes no sense.


******Please note: the preceding commentary does not necessarily reflect the views of this blog and is meant to humor Dr. Nick and others. Do not send hate-comments. Thanks.******

Informed...ish

Four years ago I invited several friends to join me in learning about the various issues related to the election. A few of them took me up on my offer. We met a couple of times and decided upon about 8 topics/issues. Then we each volunteered to become informed about one issue. That meant reading up on the topic, learning what each candidate had to say about the topic, researching what others had to say about the topic and the candidates' stands/proposals on that issue. For the following eight weeks we each took a turn to educate the rest of the group on each topic/issue.

When November came along, we were able to vote as informed voters (well, more informed). It felt good. We didn't all come to the same conclusions (Phil and I didn't even vote for the same candidate). Even those who voted for the same candidate did so for different reasons. The purpose was not to convince everyone else to "see the light." This was a strictly non-partisan exercise. I really liked it.

Now here we are once again looking at a presidential election. I have moved and don't have that same group of friends to help me get informed. Well, I still have those friends but I don't think we'll be meeting at Adam's Park every other Saturday through the summer. So, how about if we meet in cyberspace instead?

If you are interested in joining me in this activity of political awareness, leave a comment and also suggest the topics/issues that you'd like us to delve into (your suggestion doesn't commit you to have to become the "expert" on that particular topic). Depending on how many of you want to join in this and how many topics we want to discuss, I may start a separate blog for this enlightening and politically responsible exercise. So, stay tuned...

Let's get informed...ish!

Rant

Although I am normally an MMM (mild mannered mommy) on this blog, I am going to turn into another version of myself - the ranting politico!

I am so absolutely tired of receiving forwarded emails with half truths and untruths about various political individuals and situations. Ann Coulter, I despise your methods! I think that there is very little worth in most of what you say. You demean the process for your own fun and gain and fame. Shame on you and everyone else like you!

I am insulted by the propaganda of fear and emotionalism. It just gets me all bugged to receive these forwards which contain lies and partial truths and get good people riled up about the conditions of our nation and society. Certainly there is great cause to be concerned and to get involved so why re-focus people's attention on things that are not legitimate?

Here are some of my most hated lies:

• "In God We Trust" is NOT being removed from our coins. Some of the new coins have it on the ridge but it is NOT gone!
• Barak Obama is not a Muslim and even if he was, that would not automatically make him a terrorist or someone who hates America.
• Obama removed his lapel pin American Flag in a speech indicating that after 9/11 it became fashionable to wear one and thereby "appear" as a patriot without doing much else. He said he wants to wear the flag in his heart and have his patriotism manifested in his actions NOT his accessories. You can argue with that decision but quit saying it is because he doesn't believe in America!
• While it is true that Obama was caught on video tape NOT pledging the flag during the National Anthem, he is also the only candidate in that very same footage who is SINGING the Anthem. I don't know why he didn't have his hand on his heart but it seems I can't get to the bottom of it because everyone's time and trouble is focused on whether he is anti-American or not.
• There is not legislation or an FCC petition to make it so the LDS Conference, Music and the Spoken Word, the 700 Club, or any other mention of religion or God via the airwaves will be illegal. The FCC reviewed the petition mentioned in the 1970s (and the petition was only that the FCC ensure that channels reserved for education not include religion) and found that it was not within their rights to approve it. The supposed instigator - Madalyn O'Hair - has been dead since 1995.*

What really makes me mad about all these kinds of things is that it completely distracts good people from being involved in reasonable political discussions. Instead of wasting our time on these lies let's discuss how it is that "We the People" can follow the example of other successful civilizations (including in the Book of Mormon) and the admonition of Christ to take care of the widows and children and impoverished. Let's discuss how "We the People" can end war and quit turning our young men and women into physically and emotionally wounded veterans. Let's discuss how "We the People" can insure the right of all children to be born but let's also discuss their right to an education and food and a life outside of poverty. Let's discuss how "We the People" can preserve our families and the Lord's definition of marriage. Let's discuss how "We the People" can take better stewardship of the Lord's creation - earth.

I'm insulted that pundits and "entertainers" and people who can make a YouTube video think they can put together some emotionally-charged words, images, and music and get me to quit thinking for myself. And yet, it seems to be successful for so many. Let's take a stand and refuse to be manipulated! I'm just so darn sick of it, aren't you?

*Madalyn O'Hair was not involved in the petition but she was an athiest and was one of the main instigators of removing prayer from schools - I bet she knows better now.

more ranting... how do you really think an email petition is going to work? If I sign it and send it to 10 people each of those ten have now started a whole new stream of emails. It doesn't all end up with the same list of signatures, does it?

Snopes.com is a very good place to check your facts. You can also check the AP wires or Reuters. Choose reliable sources and check your facts before you forward!

I Voted

Phil and I went to our neighborhood community center to vote this morning. We each got a sticker exactly like this one. Eden got one too. Have I mentioned that the neighborhood we live in is a very "well established" one? (That is code for "everyone-in-our-neighborhood-is-really-
really-old-except-for-us.")

Although we often don't dress Eden in lots of pink, today her daddy dressed her in a pink turtle-neck (with thin blue stripes) and pink sweat pants. She was looking all girl. Imagine my surprise when one of the many elderly gentlemen at the community center approached me and said, "he is a cute little fella, i'int he?" "Is he a good boy?" "Is he always such a happy little fella?" etc. I can only imagine that this man's ability to see color has deteriorated along with his four front teeth (which were completely missing, creating a rather adorable grin). He really was a nice man.

Our ballots here were different than I've ever seen. There is a broken (in the middle) arrow. The voter is given a black marker with the instructions to draw a line through the broken section of the candidate/delegate of choice. I completed my ballot and went to take Eden from Phil who was carefully completing his arrows (not just a line connecting the two parts but actually "finishing" the arrows). I LOVE this man/artist of mine!

As we left the community center we were approached by a reporter with a video camera. She asked if we would do an interview for the local newspaper. She asked us who we voted for and why. It made me glad that I voted for the actual candidate I hope wins instead of my one-time plan of voting for Obama simply as an anti-Hillary vote. I figure Alabama is going republican and probably not with my guy so my vote could be best used voting against the Clintons. This morning I decided to vote my honest choice instead of such a calculated, strategic, cynical vote. I'm glad that the Anniston Star doesn't have to do a story on my strategy.

After we voted, Eden and I went ... where else ... to Target. I was picking out the ice cream for our FHE tonight (Phil teaches on Mondays so we have it on Tuesdays, unless of course he has a show opening or I have YWs on Tuesdays, then we have it on Sundays, unless of course he has had chemo that weekend, then we have it on Thursdays, at any rate, we are having FHE tonight and since he has chemo this weekend and will therefore be unable to eat anything cooler than room temperature we are having ice cream tonight - because we can). After selecting the Target brand version of Moose Tracks, I turned my attention back to my cutie. She had that "who me?" look on her face so I immediately scanned her to see why she looked so guilty. It wasn't long before I realized that her "I Voted" sticker was no longer on her pink-with-blue-stripes shirt. At that very moment she tightened her lips as if to say, "I dare you to infiltrate and retrieve." I won. The sticker was not ingested (although I suspect most of the adhesive was).

Good times!

Romney Wins!

... in Nevada and (more significantly) on Musings and Mysteries!

Mitt's speechification:
"Thank you to all the Musings and Mysteries readers who voted for me! I think I received more votes on this blog than I did in Wyoming (and I still won Wyoming). Without the support of people like you, our road to change would be impossible. Now, go out there and make whatever promises you need to..."


The results (these results reflect voting on this blog only, they are not official in any way and carry no delegates)
Romney - 13 (59%)
Huckabee - 0 (0%)
McCain - 1 (4%)
Clinton - 0 (0%)
Obama - 2 (9%)
Edwards - 0 (0%)
Another Republican - 1 (4%)
Another Democrat - 1 (4%)
I'm not voting - 0 (0%)
Undecided - 4 (18)

Presidential Elections

You can see from this week's poll that I'm interested in your opinions about the current presidential election. Many of you have posted your informed opinions on your own blogs. See this one for a good analysis/prediction and this one to learn which candidate has the stink of crazy about him. (Don't I have intelligent, witty friends?)

I have a fabulous friend (who wishes to remain anonymous) who actually lives in Michigan and therefore got to vote today. She sent me a wonderfully fun and informative email about her agony in making the decision. I asked her if I could post it as a guest commentary. She said... YES! Yippee! So, without further adieu, here it is (it is a bit long but worth the read):

I have been watching with interest and feeling like I'm a sponge soaking up everything I can about this race. So today I'm going out to vote and of course will be taking my pre-schooler with me who will no doubt talk to every voter he can whether they pay attention or not. I'm sure I will hear "you are a good boy for voting today" and he will likely be passing out something to everyone. In the past he has handed out things like imaginary light bulbs to everyone at the grocery store, yesterday it was imaginary breakfast to everyone walking in/out or at the preschool/methodist church.

Because Michigan decided to push up the primary earlier than in the past and go against the constitution or whatever the hoopla is all about, Obama and Edwards did not enter the race or pulled themselves from the race here. Of course Hilary has not done so and probably hopes to get the token votes because of ballot confusion that will no doubt be all over the news tomorrow. The campaign if anything is that Obama and Edwards supporters want democrats to vote undecided to send a note that we will take anything but Hilary. It is tempting to send my vote that direction.

On the other hand we have the Republican race which is pretty much a dead heat race between McCain and Romney. Now Romney who is a "Michigan boy"and whose dad was in politics in Michigan and Mr Business has a personal connection here. Huckabee is still hanging in there and will likely come in 3rd but I doubt will be a contender for 1st or 2nd. Guiliani who I once admired a few years ago really fell off my radar the day I saw him speaking to a group of people and taking a cell phone call from his wife during the speech and making what he thought was a funny. It totally turned me off and I thought what a goof ball. I have issues with people and their cell phones and whether it was planned or impromptu it just annoyed me greatly and I will never forget it. SO we are back to the Romney, McCain and Huckabee race. The rest of the guys are just nowhere near the mark on the radar so I won't bother.

Huckabee - so I have had his book sitting next to my bed, about digging your grave with a fork and knife, since before he threw his hat into the race. He wrote an inspiring book, has a great story to share about his weight loss efforts and life. Although I know some really great people who live in Arkansas I have had this issue of "can anything good come from Arkansas"? But when I saw him jamming on his guitar on TV at some rally I thought goodness. I like when someone can have fun - that is very important. But honestly do we need some right wing minister to go pick up his guitar and sing ditty for some foreign diplomat? :) I like the guy, have nothing against him because of his beliefs, I just don't think he is the guy who needs to be in the Oval Office.

McCain - so here is a sad one. I have never really been aligned with him for some reason. Every time I look at him I see the face of this guy I used to work with in Illinois. I will not give the name to protect the innocent so we will just call him "HOMER". So Homer is a big gun guy, used to keep a gun in his office, in his work vehicle all against company policy. So how on earth do I get from Homer to McCain? I'm honestly not sure but I cannot get beyond the fact that every time I see or start to hear McCain speak all I can think of is HOMER!

Romney - OK so now you must be thinking that of course I must then be a Romney fan. Well, I'm not so sure. I think he has some great experience and I think he is surely capable of handling the oval office. I would also hope that his morals would create less interest from the walls of the oval office in the activities conducted within. :) But I'm running into a few problems here as well. My spouse will not let go of the fact that he has flip flopped on the abortion issue over the past many years to please the crowd at hand. I think you could probably find some similar issues if you looked long enough for almost every politician. I'm not excusing it and its still a bit of an issue but its not my biggest problem. He seems well suited to keep the status quo. Not sure that is what we need. I voted for Bush and I like him but we really do need some change. I hesitate using the word "change" since it is such a buzz word in the race. I also can't help but think of a situation when my Dad was asked to head a department at the church where my brother was in that department. He had to go out of his way to ensure no one thought he was playing favoritism. How does this relate to Romney? I honestly see the press waiting like vultures to find anything where he appears to make any decisions that align themselves with the general population of the church and making it look like he is just making those choices because of what some will view as direction from his leaders. It is sad but honestly the uneducated about our beliefs and structure just don't get it and wouldn't understand that there really is no connection other then his own convictions. I don't know if that makes sense. But the other problem is he is such a SUIT. I had a boss in Utah who I called "the suit". It's kind of like my HOMER association.I see Romney and I see my old boss - The Suit. It is not a good association.

All that said, I'm heading out in just a few minutes and will be casting my vote for Romney. But had Obama and Edwards been on the ballot I may have cast my vote for Obama instead. I was in Illinois when he emerged out of nowhere in a race that was really a mess. I can picture him negotiating things internationally in a very positive way. I worry about his lack of experience. But for some reason I lean back to him after all is said and done because he seems more likely to bring two differing opinions together rather than making things black and white. Not sure that makes sense but that is my very LONG rambling message that I just had to share. :)