Is It About Our Children?

Oft times over the years, teachers have expressed that they are professionals.  (By the way, I was a teacher.  I taught at all levels from pre-school through college, in public and private schools.)  Over the years teachers have told parents that they are interested in doing what is best for our children.  They are the trained professionals.

Please know that I know and am aware that there are many honest, hard working, quality teachers who want to do what is best for our children.  I am not talking about these professionals who really make a difference in the lives of their students.

However, there are those who are looking for the paycheck and the summer vacations.  And then there is my next observation professionals do not go on strike when they encounter barricades in agreements.  They do not need to join unions.

On the other hand, the teachers in this video may have told you their primary focus is in the best interests of your child, the speaker says otherwise.  Is it really about our children?

What do you think about the actions of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker?

Civility or Censorship?

In the coverage of the Arizona tragedy where six Americans lost their lives at the act of one individual, "civility" and a call to limit our rhetoric has dominated.  But is it really a call for “civility” or a disguised move towards “censorship?”  

We the people prosper when there is an open exchange of ideas.  This is what we the First Amendment of our Constitution protects...our right to free speech.

This is the beauty of America.  Our ability to discuss openly and freely on any subject, even when we view the words, tone and discourse as inflammatory, disrespectful or mean-spirited.  Take for example the desecration of our symbol of liberty, the American Flag by groups or individuals.  We who believe in freedom will defend the right of those who take such actions the ability to express themselves as long as there is not harm to life, liberty or property.  It is challenging at times to restrain ourselves, but we allow this expression because we believe that liberty of expression is more important.

Discussion furthers understanding.  The open exchange of ideas is based on the understanding that truth will emerge victorious.  Instead of pointing fingers at the tone, attitude or words, the high road is to find ways to continue the discussion.  After all when a finger is pointing, there are three more pointing back at the accuser.  

If we are to protect our liberty to free and open discussions, we, as individuals, we must not be intimidated by rhetoric and  be willing to stand and courageously enter into the discussion.

Cody Alicea of Denair Middle School in California, is an example.  While Cody rode his bike to school last fall he did so with an American flag.  Under the “concern for safety” he was told during Veterans Week he could no longer display the flag on his bike.  After public outcry, Cody is now allowed to continue to wave the flag proudly on the back of his bike.  

This is just one instance where our liberties are being challenged in the land of the free.  It takes courage to stand for what is right and to secure that freedom.  Cody should be an inspiration to all.  Read more.  As word spread, Cody also received support from fellow citizens in the form or e-mails, phone calls and letters to the school officials. The American Legion veterans helped him celebrate the return of his right to display the American flag.  

Once in A Lifetime

Recently one of the wonders of science occurred on December 21st.  A lunar eclipse where the full moon passes through the shadow of the earth was to be visible to us here in America.  For the first time in some 372 years.  As seems so typical we here in NH would be able to see this once in a lifetime event at 3:15 AM.  So as I departed for bed with the alarm set the sky was clearing.  However, at that wee hour of the morning, the snow clouds blotted all views of the eclipse.

But this morning, due to the wonders of technology, William Castleman, caught this wonderful observation.  What wonderful Creator made the heavens to declare the glory of our Maker.  And thanks to Doug Philips of Vision Forum, I am able to share it with you.  Enjoy - Goodnight Moon


Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse 2010 from William Castleman on Vimeo.

Regarding the TSA and Airport Security

I understand that the Transportation Security Agency is not the enemy.  I also understand that they are using methods to protect the public and our country.

But here is my question.  Each time I book a flight to travel, I am asked to verify my birth date for validation that I am who I am.  Additionally, over the past several years, I have been cleared by the FBI, the US military, the OSI, etc. to represent my country both in the USA and abroad.  I have also obtained a security clearance to work for the State Department and been cleared numerous times to be in the presence of Presidents of the United States and other dignitaries.  All of which include extensive background checks. My husband and other family members who have and are serving this country as military members, and their families, have been cleared multiple times as representatives for this country. Why are we continually subjected to any of the full body scanners and/or pat downs?  Why are we continually required to be humiliated and harassed?

I have other questions, but time and space do not permit a full discussion.

However, it is time to stop all the politically correct nonsense and follow the advice of the consultants our tax dollars employ.  According to these advisors, body scanners do not reveal the information we need to stop bombings such as the most recently prevented attempt at the tree lighting festivities in Portland, Oregon.  Employing techniques like those tried and proven in Israel that profile and observe behavior work.  

For true security we should profile and observe behavior while asking questions, more questions and still more questions.  We should coordinate the information we have on individuals and focus our effort on those people whose profile is questionable. This will deter and protect the traveling public with the minimum hinderance on their ability to transit through our country.

What do you think?

SECULAR SANCTUARIES

I’m tired of hearing from Christians, pastors and lay people alike, who buy into the fantasy of the separation of church and state.  Sure they all can quote the First Amendment that says the government should stay out of a church’s business and all can rail about attacks on Christian beliefs by our government, but they are missing the point.  No where in the First Amendment does it say that churches should leave the battlefield to non-believers and politicians.

What is today’s secular sanctuary?  Where do the secular worship?  I’ll tell you where, it’s in the halls of government.  It’s in the Statehouse in Concord and in our Congress.  It’s in our schools.  It’s in a multitude of government institutions.  To use a familiar phrase, “What Would Jesus Do?”  We don’t have to speculate.  All we have to do is read the story of Jesus rampaging through the temple and over turning the money changer’s tables.  If he were alive today (and when he returns), I believe that’s what you would see him do.  He’d rampage through all these secular sanctuaries, overturning the tables and chasing the scoundrels out.

So what are our pastors and lay people doing?  We are called upon to be Christ like, but what do we do?  We hide in our homes and behind our pulpits, not engaging and rampaging in the secular sanctuaries.  We rant about the horrible politicians and what they are doing to our freedoms and our families, but for the most part, we do this behind our Christian walls.  We’ve ceded the battlefield to the enemy and the enemy is having a great romp!  Maybe we should think, “What WILL Jesus Do?”  What WILL he do when he returns and sees that all we’ve done is wait for his return behind our walls?

In the recent elections, it was clear that we are playing it safe and staying home while non-believers are rampaging through the secular sanctuaries.  Our voting record, both in quantity and quality is abysmal.  It’s time that we do what Jesus did and rampage through the secular sanctuaries!

Immigration - The Rule of Law

I hear a lot of rhetoric about immigration.  Let’s be clear, the issue is not immigration.  With very few exceptions, all of our ancestors are immigrants, and all of them came to this country under a variety of conditions, whether they were in the cramped quarters of a sailing ship or on an airplane.  We are a nation of immigrants.  We are a state of immigrants.  This is what makes this country great. When we become the melting pot our forefathers envisioned, the whole society is greater than the sum of the individual citizens. 

The real issue is not immigration, it is the rule of law and whether or not we are a nation of laws that respects these laws.  My grandparents came to this country in the early 1900’s under the laws of that time.  These laws were not always easy, but they were the laws of their new country and they abided by them.  During WWII, my grandfather worked with Governor Carr* of Colorado to resettle many displaced Japanese in Colorado.  All during that time, they lived according to the laws of their chosen country.  Whether we like the law or not, the way to change laws is not by mass violations as we see happening today all along our borders.  The way to change our laws is through the legislature and courts that adhere to the constitution.  I want to reframe the argument on illegal immigration and address the rule of law.  It’s quite simple:  If you come to this country (or this state), you follow the law. The New Ipswitch case a few years back was a travesty.  The officer should have been encouraged, rewarded, not reprimanded.  Our Courts and the Attorney General should have backed the law enforcement officers who were enforcing the rule of law.

Like a lot of issues, some people like to frame the issues with terms that fit their argument.  Or, place bogus arguments on the table such as “... how can we deport 20 million illegal immigrants?”  The answer is actually simple... arrest the employers and show them in handcuffs on the seven o’clock news.  The illegals go home and our business ALL compete on a fair basis.  Too many of our small businesses who follow the law are forced to compete with businesses who break the laws and hire illegals.  Too many of our skilled citizens are unemployed because employers who follow the law can't compete with those who do not and are going out of business.

 As your Governor I will enforce the laws, and I will work with the legislature to pass requirements for proof of citizenship before receiving State aid, including health and public education, and I will seek prosecution of business owners who hire illegal aliens.  It is time we remember that we are Americans and we must follow the law.

*P.S. If you want to know my model for a great Governor, read the book "The Principled Politician: The Ralph Carr Story."

Transparency

Many politicians like to talk about transparency but really never understand or define it in a meaningful way to you.  I’m going to change that.  It’s simple.  Transparency means that you, the person paying the bills, know what you are getting for your money.  As an example, take the Financial Resource Mortgage Ponzi scheme.  Friends of mine called all the agencies responsible for overseeing companies like FRM before they invested.  The response from these supposed "watch dogs" of the health of companies like FRM: Don’t worry, we have no issues with FRM ... this, despite the fact that there were nearly ten years of reports about the vermin.  Based on this "clean" report of FRM’s health, my friends proceeded to invest and lose several hundred thousand dollars!  I just looked online at the Manchester Health Department’s inspection record of eating establishments and found that on March 11th, one restaurant had “...openings [that] have not been tightly sealed to prevent the entry of vermin.”  Why couldn’t all the financial regulatory and oversight agencies of FRM put what we now know was years of similar findings about “...the entry of vermin” into FRM?  At a bare minimum, we should know that there are "pending investigations" on these institutions.

As your governor, this practice will change.  We will post all findings from agencies, regardless whether they are inspecting restaurants or financial institutions online immediately so you, the person paying the bills, know what you are getting for your money.  This is true transparency.

While we are on the subject of transparency, let’s talk about checkbooks (or more likely today, credit card statements).  Most of you can go online right now and find all your charges or checks for any given period-of-time, in most cases up to yesterday, if not sooner.  Why can’t you do this for all the expenditures by all the departments in the State?  Sure we can find a copy of the budget on line, but that is just how those in Concord plan to spend of our money.  What you really want to know is who receives that money, why and when.  And, I want you to know this because you are the best auditors we have.  That’s how vigilant Windsor citizens found discrepancies in the town’s property tax system.  As your Governor I will put our state’s checkbook online.  Well run companies know this level of detail, and so will you.  Join me in bringing real transparency to New Hampshire.  

See you at the polls on September 14th!