America the Beautiful

"A man's country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle and patriotism is loyalty to that principle."
George William Curtis


I'm fed up. I know that in today's climate of rabid political correctness, it is supposed to be unseemly to be proud of America. As though my pride in my country is somehow a condemnation of someone else's. I have decided that those who think that way are wrong. I've had it. I'm tired of being expected to feel like I'm personally responsible for all the bad things that ever happened in the history of my nation. I utterly reject the notion that I should be ashamed of my country, of its actions or of its philosophies or of its history. I'm not. I am very proud of this country, and I am proud to be called an American. It is the greatest nation on the face of the earth. It is the longest running, most successful democracy in the history of the world. It was founded on Christian principles, and built by good and honorable men. I am not ashamed. It offers more freedom and opportunity to more people from more walks of life than any other, and is the birthplace of the self-made man as a breed, rather than an anomoly. I am not ashamed. We have fought many wars, but none in conquest. We have claimed NO LAND, but that in which to bury the dead who fell there. We have been fierce warriors and generous victors. Half the world owes its present affluence and stability to us. I am not ashamed. My love of my country and my fierce loyalty to it are not character flaws. Pity the country whose citizens regard her with shame for she will not long stand.


"Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime."
Adlai E. Stevenson



It's not that I feel like people shouldn't be allowed to criticize the government. On the contrary, that is our Costitutional right and civic duty. I just think people need to learn to state their opinions respectfully. I know there are plenty of people out there who don't agree with me, but there are plenty of people who do, and we need to start making ourselves known.


I was asked a couple of questions recently and I'm going to share my answers. Be forewarned that I have not gentled them.


Should the war in Iraq be called off?
I find the assumption behind this question to be the real problem. Call it off?! Like it's all in our hands? Like we don't have an enemy who's going to continue to harm us regardless of whether we're fighting back or not? This is the question of someone who's never really had to fight for anything, and thus has no appreciation for or, indeed, any understanding of what a loss would mean. We stay. We fight. We finish. Or we die. It really is that simple. This is a matter of live or die because that's how our enemy is playing it. They have dictated those terms. Their goal is our complete annihilation. THEY WANT US DEAD. There is no middle groud between dead and not dead, so compromise is not really an option. Bush has a lot of flaws, but I am beyond grateful that seeing this war for what it is is not among them.



"The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."
John Stuart Mill





Would you burn an American flag for a million dollars?
I would not. Unlike many of my contemporaries, I do not relegate the flag to the category of a meaningless scrap of fabric. It isn't. It is a symbol of everything America and her people have gone through to give you the freedoms you take for granted. I owe my respect to that symbol. The flag represents every person who ever died for this country and the principles and honor that made that sacrifice worth it to them, and it infuriates me to no end to see people in my own country who are so contemptuous of those sacrifices. When you spit on it, or burn it,or walk on it, or hang it upside down in protest, you are doing the same to those great people and you are unworthy of being called an American.






As a sort of answer to my friend Beth's assertion that Americans think we're something special because we won independence, I'd like to ask why we should pretend our independence isn't as worthy of celebrating as anyone else's? It's true, we don't celebrate the independence days of other countries, and in many cases aren't even particularly aware of them. But by that same token, we don't expect them to be aware and celebrate ours, either.


I leave you with this:

You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence.
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.

Abraham Lincoln


Our country is based on these basic principles. It's time to get back to them.

My Totem Animal

So I was doing a MySpace survey (I know. Big shocker, eh?) and the question I came to asked what my totem animal was. Well, I had no earthly clue, so I did what I always do when I have no earthly clue: I tried to find out. I Googled. I took the quiz below, and these are the results it gave me.

Which animal totem best suits you? created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Dragon You are the Dragon. You store a lot of knowledge about everything. You are generally one who is good with personal growth and can regenerate yourself after a bad experience. Bear 92% Dragon 92% Eagle 75% Crow 75% Bull 75% Stag 75% Salmon 75% Fox 67% Wolf 67% Dog 50% Deer 50% Horse 42% Snake 33% Ram 33%

How cool is that?! A dragon! Unfortunately, that's all it gave me. I don't know what I'm supposed to do with all these other animals, or even what the dominant ones mean. So, naturally, I had to look that up, too.


BEAR


Caution, Healing, Leadership


The power of the Bear totem
is the power of introspection.
The answers to all our questions
lie within us.
Each of us has the capacity to quiet the mind,
enter the silence and know.

Just as the bear hibernates during the winter,
people with a Bear totem will be quieter
during the winter months. But they
must awaken in the spring and seek
whatever opportunities are around them.

When you have a Bear totem,
you are being guided to a leadership role.
You must be fearless in defending your beliefs.

The Bear also encourages you to exercise
your abilities as a natural healer.

Bears are associated with trees which are natural antennas, linking the heavens and the Earth.
Bear also has links to the seven color rays of the Universal Light
as well as Lunar ties, linking the subconscious and the unconscious mind.
It is associated with the Goddess Artemis.



DRAGON



Protection, Elemental Magic
Powers of Change and Transformation




Dragon represents the supernatural, infinity itself and the spiritual powers of change and transformation. It is a fierce protector and adds extra power to any magic you may perform.



Fire Dragon
Transmutation, Mastery, Energy

This powerful totem brings vitality, enthusiasm and courage.
He will help you over obstacles
and give you qualities of leadership and mastery.
He can fuel your inner fires.
He can be a powerful protector.

Air Dragon
Inspiration, Insight, Vitality

This totem must be treated with great respect.
Great flashes of illumination in intellect and psyche
are possible with this totem.
The air dragon brings insight and clarity to all problems.
Trust your inner voice.

Earth Dragon
Power, Potential, Riches

This totem shows us our potential, our riches: what we are capable of.
With his help, we can discover the beauty and power that lies in all of us.
He lives deep within the Earth and can help you ground scattered energies.
When you call him, think of a slow moving, heavy Dragon pulling himself toward you.
Feel his weight around you. He will nurture you as Mother Earth does.

Water Dragon
Passion, Depth, Connection

A water dragon totem brings memories and wishes,
perhaps long hidden, to the surface.
By facing painful past experiences,
we can achieve a sense of peace and balance in our lives.
This totem gives us the courage and compassion
in this challenge.


Gee, this dragon thing is looking cooler and cooler! If you can be all elements at once. Or at least each element when needed. I'm cool. I am Dragon. HEAR ME ROAR!!!

Did You Know This?!

And, once again, the government mucks around where it's neither wanted nor needed. Somebody tranquilize these people. Or better yet, get them in therapy for their delusions of grandeur.



Somebody needs to hold a lightbulb over their heads......

Hidden Treasures

I find odd things. There is a large amount of information out there and, frankly, no possible way to assimilate it all. But the sifting sure can be fun. Here are some of the snickers I have found lately.







Now, it may be that the Goth movement is meant to project a dark and fearsome beauty, but this....person...of indiscriminate gender....has not made any forward strides for any movement. Not even the literal kind.









Oh, I know we all have stories that would go beautifully with this sentiment. Myself, I just try not to think about how much it applies to me.





I thought this was a hilariously accurate description of atheism. A pardon to all you atheists out there, but if I have to have a sense of humor about my religion, so do you.








People scare me sometimes Really.












Definitely a sign that Carpal Tunnel is in your future.



Now, honestly, who can't use a little of this attitude?!







And last but not least, I leave you with.....






A shot at the gold, and hoping you're not going for the silver!

Pomp and Smurfin' Stance

Ah, graduation. That time of year when all the upper class (in school, that is) get to soak all their relatives for cash bask in the glory of freedom a job well done. Technically speaking, I have reached that place. I will graduate with my AA sometime next week. There will be no ceremony. I'll get my diploma in the mail(as requested). Why is this, you ask? Because I still have two more years left. Mine is but a transfer degree, though I am excited to be moving on to the next step.

I've always liked school. I like learning. But I hate, hate, HATED high school. The education was mediocre and not enough to balance the crappy social games, at which I sucked, then and now. That's one reason I'm so glad to be going to college when I'm just a tad older. I'm outside the stupid social games. Peer pressure is more likely to involve a competition over the highest grade than a competition over who can consume the most alcohol without a trip to the restroom, ER or morgue. Priorities, right?


I have never had a graduation ceremony. I graduated a year early from high school, and due to a slightly odd set of circumstances, well that's just how it worked out. I'm not complaining. I kind of like it that way, actually. It just seems like a whole lot of expensive fuss for not much. I'm still debating whether I'm going to do the whole Cap and Gown route when I actually graduate with a Bachelor's.... in something. Right now, I'm leaning away from it. I don't want to pay $50 for a tank of gas to get there, pay for a cap and gown, sit in stultified air for several hours listening to people I don't know talk about how the future is out there just waiting for total domination by the current graduating class. This does not inspire any kind of positive passion in me. If I ever get a Master's, you can bet that I'll be taking that walk. But probably not just for this.

Besides, all this is just a lead-up to the really exciting news. After my last final (8:00 Thursday morning) it will officially be summer vacation for me! Woohoooooo!!!!
I cannot tell you how ready I am for this. My brain alternates among three options. 1)Leaking out my ears, 2) Being sucked down my spinal cord, and 3) simply freezing. Did you know there is no reboot button for the human brain. Yeah. I've looked. Not there! But there is a reboot process, and it is known as Summer Vacation. Well, I am ready.



Reboot me!

Election Year Therapy

It's that time again. That time when we begin to avoid all media outlets like the plague for they will soon be bombarding us with that stomach-clenching, molar-snapping, apoplexy-inducing soundbite known as The Political Ad.

Here it comes. That 30-second bid for your vote. It all starts out innocently enough. Vote for Me. I'm the best Guy for the Job! The other guy is a good person, but he just "doesn't get it".

But it never stays that way, does it?

In no time at all, it becomes politely vicious. And as all of you know, polite viciousness is the worst kind. Now, not only is he the Best Guy for the Job, suddenly his opponent is Satan's henchman, who is planning to lead us all into the Seventh Circle of Hell with a gleeful look on his face as he flings our tax dollars into burning pits of fire and brimstone along the way.



Now we enter the time when you take your life into your hands by asking "So, who are you gonna vote for?" Every four years we endure this trauma.

I wish it could just be.....respectful. I know there are a multitude of differing opinions out there. I know there are lots of different ways to handle things. I just don't think it's impossible to be respectful of someone else's point of view. Or even to acknowledge it's strengths without moving you from your own convictions. I'd like the politicians to figure out that all they need to do is let their record speak for itself. Specific questions usually get answered in debates. Character assassination isn't an endearing trait.



So I'm just gonna pre-pay my therapist for all the anger management sessions I'll be taking. I will research voting records, and watch officially sanctioned debates and that's it! Then I will vote for the candidate whose basic principles most closely align with my own. And I will be voting. That's a freedom I have no intention of taking for granted.

Crazy 8's

I feel incredibly flattered right now. Marni and Claudia have tagged me for a Meme. I love this stuff. SO much fun. Even though I don't really know what a Meme is or even how to pronounce it, I can throw myself whole-heartedly into this.

Eight Things for Which I Have a Passion:
This is, frankly, a life-long pursuit. I'm not sure I have a passion for eight things, but I'll wrack my brains and present you with the results.

1) I have a passion for being joyfully alive. I know that sounds incredibly generic and cop-outish, but it's true. I love the feeling of a deep breath, how I take the air in until my lungs sting from the stretch, and how the smell of the air always makes my heart feel a little fuller than it was a moment ago. I love how the feel of the wind on my skin and the sun on my head makes me grin like a drooling idiot. I love the sounds of traffic and kids screaming in their yards and parents laughing together and the smell of dinners cooking makes me feel. The energy of life is incredibly buoyant. Sometimes the joy of it makes me feel like I'm about to levitate.

2) I adore stories. In their myriad forms, I crave them. Movies, books, music, people; they're all just stories waiting for someone to love them. And I do.

3) I have a passion for learning. Most of the things I aspire to do directly involve learning. Languages, musical instruments, singing, dancing, cultures, painting, sculpture, business, travel; I just want to know EVERYTHING.

4) I passionately adore language, most particularly English. I have mentioned once or twice that talking is my favorite past time, and the fact that I will do it even when no one else is around. You think I'm kidding, but I'm not. I talk to myself all the time. I love the process of finding out and saying exactly what I mean. I highly recommend this process to everyone. You don't know what something sounds like until you've said it out loud. Then you may find yourself thinking, "Hm. That's not exactly right. What's a better word for that?" It's an amazing thing to find out exactly what you mean by finding the exact right words to say it.

5) Food. But not just eating it. I like to play with it. I like to cook, bake, saute, fry and fricassee. I'll eat almost any kind of food with my hands (with the obvious liquid exceptions). The smells, the tastes, the textures, even the sounds associated with food prep makes me a little giddy.

6) My faith. I don't really think of myself as zealous or freakishly devoted, but my religion is the foundation of who I am. I love understanding the nature of God, and my place in the the grand (and not so grand) scheme of things. I love that the questions of who I am, where I came from, why I'm here, where I'm going and how to get there are all answered. I love that everything is my choice. I love that it doesn't conflict with logic or science, and that I'm expected to be thoughtful and active in both mind and body. I love knowing that my children will be mine long after we've all passed the portals of death, and that I will be a part of my family for all eternity. I love knowing how loved I am, that I will never be really alone, and that, no matter how small I am compared to the universe, I am completely unique and irreplaceable.

7) Music!! Music is such a power. It doesn't even need words. Words are a power in themselves, but they are only enhanced by music. It's like a direct line into emotion. So far, in my humble opinion, the power of music has been vastly untapped.

8) I am developing a passion for looking good. All the hair and make-up stuff that I refused to compete with my sister over lo, those many years ago, I am now taking an interest in. I don't think I'll ever be haute couture, but I see no reason why I shouldn't work up to my hotness factor. I'm hoping I'll know when I've reached it.


Eight Things I'd Like to do Before I Die:
I'm not sure I can restrict myself to a mere eight, but I shall endeavor--

1) I want to see the world. Travelling is a big dream of mine. If you want to know details, I will direct you to a previous post(go directly to the D answer) entry in which I spelled out, ad infinitum, the things I want to do.

2) I want to be un-fat. Not necessarily skinny, but just not fat. I want to not sit in my own lap. I want my arms to look like arms, not something that belongs on a meat hook in a butcher's freezer. I want to be able to buy Ann Taylor off the rack. Is that too much to ask?

3) Whale watching and swimming with the dolphins. I hear both can be life-changing experiences.

4) Become a Master gardener. I would love to have the know-how to create a verdant wonderland. *sigh* With my own raspberry bushes and peach trees.

5) See what my kids decide to be when they grow up. Seriously, I'm terribly excited to see what they do with themselves.

6) Hang-gliding. I think this is a much better sense of flight than skydiving. I don't like adrenaline. I like the more peaceful sensations.

7) Sail around the world. But only if they come up with a permanent cure for motion sickness, and the captain of the luxury yacht is hot.

8) Find my inner Warren Buffet and get stinking rich.


Eight Things I Say a Lot:
1) Cool
2) Right on
3) Who knew?
4) It's true, LeFou!
5) Apparently...
6) Curses!
7) Nuh-uh!
8) Who is this LeFou person you keep referring to?


Eight Books I Have Read Recently:
In the interests of interest, I'm going to just say some of my favorite books, because pretty much all I've read lately are textbooks, and I don't want people falling asleep on their keyboards. Trust me, it's hard to get the drool out from between the keys.
1) Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand. Fascinating premise, fantastic philosophies.
2) Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen. Who doesn't love this story?
3) Anthem, Ayn Rand. What? She's really good!
4) The Hungry Girl Cookbook. So many yummy recipes!
5) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I love the innocence and magic of that first story.
6) The Charlie Bone series, Jennie Nimmo. It's a lot like Harry Potter, but enough different to keep things entertaining.
7) Eragon, Eldest and Brsinger, Christopher Paolini. These are awesome books, and the movie SO didn't do it justice.
8) The Leven Thumps books, Obert Skye and Ben Sowards. If you haven't read these, you must. I am anxiously awaiting the paperback release of The Eyes of Want. Squee!


Eight Movies I Have Seen Eight Times:
*snort* If you know me at all, you're going to realize how hard this is to narrow down. I watch movies A LOT.

1) Charley's Aunt (1932)
2) Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
3) Pride and Prejudice (BBC)
4) On a Clear Day
5) Encino Man
6) Jupiter's Darling
7) The Great Race
8) Sleeping Beauty


Eight People Who Should, but are in no way obligated, Do This Meme:

1) Melain
2) Melissa
3) Beth
4) Jihan
5) This is where it becomes
6) Abundantly clear that
7) I don't have enough
8) Friends in the blogging world.