Polish Sausage and Cabbage Soup Crock Pot

I’m using my crock pot today for Corned Beef, but this would have been a good one too for this chilly, not so May like day.

Polish Sausage and Cabbage Soup Crock Pot

2 cups potatoes, cubed and peeled
4 cups cabbage, shredded it fine
1 carrot, shredded it fine
1 large onion, chopped
2 teaspoons caraway seeds, crushed (optional)
1-1/4 lb Polish sausage, cooked, halved lengthwise and cut into 1/2 inch slices
4 cups fat free chicken broth or you can just use water
black pepper and salt to taste

Directions:

Place potatoes, cabbage, carrot, onion, caraway seeds, sausage, pepper and salt in crock pot. Pour broth over all. Cover, cook on low for 10 - 12 hours or high for 5 - 6 hours.

From FB of Barbara Jane Miller

Obama is very wealthy, but demonizes the rich

“According to financial disclosure forms released this week, the president and first lady listed assets worth between $2 million and $7 million for 2013, of which $1 million to $5 million were in Treasury notes, as reported by International Business Times.

I can’t help but note that the Obamas’ net worth at the end of 2007 was “only” $1.3 million. The $7 million figure represents a 438% increase! Yes, I’m sure that’s change he can believe in, but what about the rest of us?”

Read more at http://allenbwest.com/2014/05/obamas-net-worth-jumps-438-since-taking-office/#pDUbvJYlTQ1gVffa.99

Warren Buffett huge supporter of abortion

Liberal billionaire Warren Buffett, the “Oracle of Omaha,” has donated more than $1.2 billion to abortion organizations from 2001 to 2012--$289,811,421 to Planned Parenthood. That's enough money to abort 2.7 million babies--the population of Chicago, or Kiev. If you give $1,000 to a ballot initiative to defend traditional marriage, that’s controversial. If you give $1.25 billion to promote abortion, journalists, who are wildly pro-abortion, don’t dare see any controversy.

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/05/13/warren-buffet-donates-12-billion-to-abortion-groups/

One of the reasons Democrats, the party that supports abortion, are so eager for loose immigration laws is that our birth rate is below replacement and we have no way to sustain our standard of living or pay for our social benefits. It takes 2.1 children per woman for a generation to replace itself; ours is 1.88.

Power to do bad—politicians

IRS targets revealed in e-mails

Newly released internal Internal Revenue Service emails obtained by the group Judicial Watch document active direction by the federal tax agency's headquarters in targeting Tea Party and conservative nonprofit applicants during the 2010 and 2012 campaigns.

The emails were obtained by the conservative non-profit in response to a Freedom of Information Act request.

Read more here.

And it didn’t begin with over zealous Cincinnati IRS staff.

Uptalk

I hate it. It's that imaginary question mark you hear at the end of a statement. And it's not just young people sounding like Valley Girls. I remember attending a workshop back in the early 90s lead by a colleague (who will remain nameless, but is about my age) whose uptalk was so bad I couldn't even pay attention because I thought she was asking questions instead of making statements.... Uptalk is used more by women than men and it makes them sound weak and tenuous.

Example: I'm a librarian? And I'm here to explain the Dewey Decimal System? No, that's not John Dewey? He's the philosopher and education guy? Melville is our guy??

Now, go forth and make statements--unless you're asking questions.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/01/a-female-senator-explains-why-uptalk-is-part-of-womens-nature/283107/

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/23/overturning-the-myth-of-valley-girl-speak/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2013/12/28/men-and-women-use-uptalk-differently-a-study-of-jeopardy/

A good thought

A mother’s prayer for her 5 year old Ben who is dying

Lord, comfort your beautiful son in these next few days. Give him peace. And alleviate his pain. Show him the way into heaven and promise me, You'll be the first to greet him. Wipe away his tears and let him know we won't be that far behind him. Tell him to look out for his big brother and baby sisters while they navigate this life. Perhaps you can introduce him to his sibling we lost in-utero more than two years ago. I'm sure his relatives that are there waiting won't have a problem recognizing him for themselves. He's going to love all of the animals - frogs and snakes are his favorite - and he's going to be thrilled to have his own wings. I'm sure he'd love playing with David's slingshot, too! And God, grant us peace, as well. Those who are left behind. As we come to grips with our new future without Ben being close. As we find the grace you've given us and discover joy in the knowledge that You're carrying all of us in the palm of Your hand.

We are scared. We are hurt. We are sad. But we trust You. For You are Good.

Amen.

http://bensauer.blogspot.com/

Update: Ben is in heaven. May 13, 2014

Modal verbs, can, could, may, might, must, ought, shall, should, will, would

27 million men, women, and children are trafficking victims at any given time.  Boko Haram is adding terrorism to the centuries old African slave trade and religious persecution by kidnapping Christian school girls.

“It ought to concern every person, because it’s a debasement of our common humanity. It ought to concern every community, because it tears at the social fabric. It ought to concern every business, because it distorts markets. It ought to concern every nation, because it  endangers public health and fuels violence and organized crime. I’m talking about the injustice, the outrage, of human trafficking, which must be called by its true name – modern slavery.” President Barack Obama, September 25, 2012

This would be a much stronger statement without all the "oughts."  For instance, "Slavery concerns every person because it is a debasement of our common humanity." A modal verb is an auxiliary verb which is used with another verb to talk about possibility, probability, permission, intention, etc. Sounds preachy and finger wagging without any action intended.

The next victim group

Imagine if next year Rednecks became a protected victim group, everyone who has shared this photo, or laughed at it, or "liked" it, would lose their job.

CRC on labor unions, March issue

Ever wonder what it would be like if radical unions and their allies gained control of New York City? Wonder no more.  “Labor Watch” reports on how the nation’s most powerful union local, Service Employees International Union 1199, and its radical allies such as former ACORN leader Bertha Lewis, now dominate city government. The key: they successfully backed Bill de Blasio, the city’s new mayor.

Wall Street Journal wrote a stinging editorial on de Blasio’s payoff to his cronies in the city’s teachers’ union via a new contract. The sweetheart deal “is walking back a decade of [school] reforms and blowing the bank” on $5.5 billion in pay raises for teachers.

CRC senior editor Matthew Vadum exposes a related phenomenon: the increasing presence of labor union bosses in the secretive, pro-Democratic funding powerhouse known as the Democracy Alliance. Co-founder George Soros’s son Jonathan accidentally left behind a partial membership list at the Chicago Ritz, and it shows that new members of the donor group include leaders from Workers United and Communication Workers of America, as well as Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers.

http://freebeacon.com/politics/jonathan-soros-left-a-confidential-document-at-his-donor-conference/

http://observer.com/2013/05/1199-seiu-endorses-bill-de-blasio/#axzz31eETVZdO

Bullies (paid) of the worst kind—race and ethnicity

When I was working back in the 90s at Ohio State, I attended a number of workshops on being sensitive to people of other cultures and abilities. Most were pretty good, because you might not notice how difficult access is to buildings, or the strain on necks and arms for high counters and closed doors unless it was brought to your attention. But some were not so good, like recognizing cultural differences and the speaker could barely speak English or the body odor was so overwhelming it filled the room. So I'm wondering about these new workshops to convince those of European descent, particularly men, that they are the scum of the earth and the source of all problems from global warming to the kidnapping of Nigerian school girls. We know it by another name, bullying. And, if it were me, I'd look into an EEO complaint if attending one was a requirement--for anything--particularly reprisal. (Federal fair employment laws prohibit discrimination and require the government to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disabling condition or reprisal.)

http://imcw.org/calendar/events/vw/3/sm/613/itemid/794/Weekend-Workshop-White-Identity--Racial-Awareness.aspx

http://www.amazon.com/White-Awareness-Handbook-Anti-Racism-Training/dp/0806135603

http://www.cirtl.net/diversityresources/workshop/awareness

Jackie Kennedy’s letters to a priest

Here's something to remember about private letters. In the U.S. they (content) belong to the writer (or estate), but in England (and I assume Ireland) they (content) belong to the recipient. Regardless, I think it's tacky to sell Mrs. Kennedy's private letters to a priest. Although technically this was an act of friendship not confession, who knows how she saw it. They should have been returned to her daughter.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/05/13/jacqueline-kennedys-newly-discovered-personal-letters-reveal-14-years-of-secrets/

The Nigerian school girls

Michelle Obama's comments about the abducted Nigerian girls has gotten some attention, "In these girls, Barack and I see our own daughters." All North and South Americans could be reminded that we can see our fellow citizens with African heritage in this tragedy.  This reenacts in the 21st century what Arab (Muslim) and African tribal groups, where reducing your enemy to slavery was the custom, contributed to the slave trade of the 17th and 18th centuries.  Europeans couldn't get to the interior of Africa (just as they aren't having much luck finding these girls today) so had to rely on those who knew the territory.  It was lucrative for all involved--Arabs, Africans and Europeans (especially Dutch and Portuguese). Today's slave trade is far larger than the Atlantic slave trade of 5 centuries ago, much of it for sex and cheap labor of children.

“The sex trafficking of boys is often hidden, reflecting cultural taboos in many parts of the world. In Afghanistan and coastal Sri Lanka, boys are more likely than girls to be subjected to prostitution; in Mexico and Central America, boy migrants are vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation en route to the United States; boys in Southeast Asia are exploited in prostitution; to a lesser extent, men are victims of sex trafficking; in recent years, Brazilian men were identified in forced prostitution in Spain and men were identified as sex trafficking victims in the United States.” U.S. State Department report on Trafficking, 2013

American Jesus

Today I'm previewing a DVD, "American Jesus, " which shows the response of many Christian groups to the culture--from rodeo pastors, to surfers, to bikers, former porn stars, reaction to materialism, yoga, snake handlers and athletes. Some I knew about, but most I didn't. There’s no mention of gay churches, or mainline churches that raise funds for “social justice” causes, or those who pray to mother/father gods. 

It's pretty good and fair with just straight filming of many groups allowing them to explain why the traditional organized church doesn't work for them--up to about 50 minutes in, and then Franky Schaeffer (son of L'abri founder) takes over the narration. And since he's moved from right wing evangelical, pro-lifer, over to the dark side, it takes a hard left turn--anti-Bush, anti-Israel and pro-Obama. Says he doesn't trust the Bible, and his Christianity isn't based on the Bible (no shock there). The film morphs to a PBS interpretation of Christianity.

The culture, particularly the media, love nothing more than a famous turn coat--unless the celebrity/author/movie star are left wing humanists and have moved right. It's almost as if a curtain was pulled back and you see the point of the film when Schaeffer begins. It is, however, very well done and eerily convincing. The literature says "street date May 13, 2014, price $19.98. I have no idea if this means theaters or store. But don't be fooled. It is what it is.

Caring for elderly parents, guest blogger, Jacqueline Marcell, author of Elder Rage

“For eleven years I pleaded with my ‘challenging’ elderly father to allow a caregiver to help him with my ailing mother, but he always insisted on taking care of her himself. Every caregiver I hired soon sighed in exasperation, ‘Jacqueline, I just can't work with your father. His temper is impossible to handle and he’s not going to accept help until he's on his knees himself.’

When my father’s inability to continue to care for my mother nearly resulted in her death, I stepped in despite his loud protests. It was heart-breaking as one minute he’d be my loving dad and then some trivial little thing would set him off and he’d call me nasty names and throw me out of the house the next. I took him to several doctors, only to be flabbergasted when he could act completely normal when he needed to.

Finally I stumbled upon a thorough neurologist, specialized in dementia, who put my parents through a battery of blood, neurological, memory tests and P.E.T. scans. After ruling out numerous reversible forms of dementia, such as a B-12 and thyroid deficiency, and evaluating their medications, I was stunned by the diagnosis of Stage One Alzheimer's in both of my parents–something all their other doctors missed entirely.

What I'd been coping with was the beginning of Alzheimer’s, which starts very intermittently and appears to come and go. I didn't understand that my father was addicted and trapped in his own engrained bad behavior of a lifetime of screaming and yelling to get his way, but that it was coming out intermittently in inconsistent spurts of irrationality. I also didn't understand that demented does not mean dumb (a concept not widely appreciated), and that he was still socially adjusted never to show his ‘Hyde’ side to anyone outside the family. Conversely, my mother was as sweet and lovely as she’d always been.

Alzheimer's makes up 60-80 percent of all dementias and there's no stopping the progression nor is there yet a cure. However, if identified early there are four FDA medications (Aricept, Exelon, Razadyne and Namenda–and many more in clinical trials) that in most people can mask dementia symptoms and keep the patient in the early independent stage longer.

Once my parents were properly treated for the Alzheimer’s, as well as the often-present depression in dementia patients, and then my father’s aggression, I was able to optimize fluid and nutrition with much less resistance. I was also able to manage the rollercoaster of challenging behaviors. Instead of logic and reason, I learned to use distraction and redirection. I capitalized on their long-term memories and instead of arguing the facts, I lived in their realities of the moment. I also learned to just go-with-the-flow and let hurtful comments roll off. And most importantly, I was able to get my father to accept two wonderful live-in caregivers. Then with the tremendous benefit of adult day health care five days a week for my parents and a support group for me, everything finally started to fall into place.
Alzheimer's disease afflicts more than 5.4 million Americans, but millions go undiagnosed for many years because early warning signs are chalked up to stress and a ‘normal’ part of aging. Since one out of eight is afflicted with Alzheimer’s by age 65, and nearly half by age 85, healthcare professionals of every specialty should know the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s and help educate patients and families so everyone can save time, money–and a fortune in Kleenex!”

TEN WARNING SIGNS OF ALZHEIMER'S
www.ElderRage.com/Alzheimers.asp

The author is available for speaking engagements.

'Elder Rage, or Take My Father... Please!
How to Survive Caring for Aging Parents'
Book-of-the-Month Club Selection
www.ElderRage.com

Happy Mother’s Day

We had a wonderful brunch after church at our daughter's with 2 new recipes that we all loved—a baked egg/shredded potato/cheese casserole and a ‘French toast blackberry’ baked dish with warm syrup. Told favorite "mom stories." Amazing how similar my son and SIL stories were--I guess little boys are all alike. A fun day. I received a lovely plant in a cute “watering can,” and a $25 gift card for Barnes and Noble.

Progress in wiretaps

Happy Mother’s Day

I know many "pro-life" people who say abortion is wrong except in cases of rape, incest, or if the baby has deformities. This woman knows what Mother's Day really means.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVPLsz1sqV4#t=98

D.E.A.R. to defeat Alzheimer’s

While the primary focus of the D.E.A.R program is Alzheimer's prevention; following these simple lifestyle and dietary modifications can also prevent or lessen the symptoms of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, joint and spine disease and many other health issues.

1) Diet--a food ratio at each meal that is one-third carbs, one-third protein, and one-third good fats.

2) Exercise--“3 Ss - Stretching, Strengthening, and Stepping” - all to boost brawn and brain power.

3) Accentuate your brain reserve—challenge your brain to allow more blood flows into neural regions and form new connections, daily "brain boosters," such as math problems, sections to read aloud, lists to memorize, organizational tasks.

4) Rest and recovery—relaxation and sleep, prayer, meditation, and optimism (worriers have poor health)

Read more here at Dr. Vincent Fortanasce's  web site.

“Obesity, smoking, lack of physical activity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are some of the culprits. . . .  So keeping these under control is crucial.  Depression is another risk factor for memory loss, so managing stress and staying socially connected is also important.  B vitamins may prevent dementia in those who are deficient and there are some simple blood tests that can detect this.  For the vast majority of people, however, there are no prescription medications that have been proven to prevent dementia. This means that a brain-healthy lifestyle is really our best bet for delaying the onset of memory loss.” Dr. P. Murali Doraiswamy     http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-alzheimers-be-cured/

The resurrected campaign issue

DeBlasio and the teachers’ unions

Will Cain has made a film about a charter school, Success Academy, in NYC where his son is enrolled. He's thrilled with the school--Will is from a small town with one school, he had no idea that public schools in NYC could be so bad. This school has the highest test scores in the state--a school of underprivileged, black and brown children (32% Latinos and 38% African-Americans) with single parents, bad living conditions, you name it, and these kids overcame what the research said was impossible given their economic and family status. They are testing higher than the kids of the one percenters! And Mayor de Blasio, a Sandanista supporter who honeymooned in Cuba, has decided the charter school must be closed as, "not in the best interest of the children." Ha! Not in the best interest of the teachers unions. http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/07/opinion/cain-charter-de-blasio/

It’s just us—the gay lobby

HGTV has withdrawn (aka fired them) a new program hosted by two Christian brothers (twins, it looks like) who had the audacity to speak of the "homosexual agenda" along with a long list of sins of heterosexuals specifically listed in the Bible—abortion, infidelity, adultery.  And their father protested at abortion clinics!  It seems they believe marriage is about more than “love.”  One brother had actually led a prayer rally outside the Democratic National Convention in 2012.  How awful—the party that booed God and voted for abortion in its platform had people praying peacefully outside.

Homosexuals have successfully built a TV and literary image of "just folks like the rest of you, give us a chance" and now they are becoming their own worst nightmare of bigotry and anti-Christian assaults.  HGTV has had a very strong gay presence in all its programs both with hosting and in their real estate shows. It has contributed to the "just folks" image, but are losing it fast.

Think of the filth, violence and silliness you can see on TV—but gays object to this? You know no script about abortion or gay lifestyle would be on the show, but it is their private beliefs that can’t be tolerated by this lobby.

“The Benhams, who are graduates of Liberty University, said they were saddened to hear about HGTV’s decision.

“With all of the grotesque things that can be seen and heard on television, you would think there would be room for two twin brothers who are faithful to our families, committed to biblical principles, and dedicated professionals,” they wrote.”

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/05/08/ex-hgtv-hosts-if-our-faith-costs-us-tv-show-so-be-it/

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2014/05/07/hgtv-nixes-benham-brothers-series-anti-gay-extremist-abortion/8810393/

Remember—he promised to make fossil fuel too expensive to use

Obama is desperate to energize his base who believe he hasn't gone far enough to the left, and Democratic Senators who have to run on his Obamacare record in 2014. Thus, the new, scary climate report.

'The current bad science is all based on a theory that the increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from the exhaust of the burning of fossil fuels leads to a dramatic increase in “the greenhouse effect” causing temperatures to skyrocket uncontrollably. This theory has failed to verify and is obviously dead wrong. But the politically funded and agenda driven scientists who have built their careers on this theory and live well on the 2.6 billion dollars of year of Federal grants for global warming/climate change research cling to this theory and bend the data spread to support the glorified claims in their reports and papers.'

John Coleman blog, first Weathercaster on “Good Morning, America” and the founder of The Weather Channel.

Distracted driving, teens and cell phones

A well known TV personality in Columbus is promoting awareness about distracted driving. His beautiful teen daughter was killed last year. Statistics are already grim for teens and driving, but add in a smart phone and we're all at risk if we're sharing the road with them (as I was yesterday). "Currently, 77% of drivers talk on their phones while driving, 81% of young adults write text messages while driving, and 92% of young adults read text messages while driving. Drivers are 23-fold more likely to crash if texting while driving." But it's not just teens. I see a lot of moms chatting on the phone with kids in the car, watching her behavior. http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1745570#WhatParentsCanDo

Other distractions about which older people need to be reminded: eating and drinking, changing channels on the radio or disc player, hands free phones, passengers in the car talking, checking the GPS, adjusting seats, taking off jacket or other clothing, looking for sun glasses, adjusting the visor to keep out glare, finding a tissue . . . keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road and the other drivers.

We need to revise our unfair tax system

“At the beginning of the 20th century, federal taxes accounted for 3 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product, and federal tax rules filled just a few hundred pages. But for the past sixty years, federal taxes have averaged about 18 percent of GDP, and today, federal tax rules and regulations span over 60,000 pages.

The federal government extracts over $2 trillion in federal taxes from families and businesses each year, which imposes a huge economic cost. The key problem with current federal tax laws is that high rates and the unequal treatment of economic activities create enormous distortions that reduce economic growth.

The reduced growth leaves people with less money to buy food, clothing, and other needed items.
The federal tax rules impose other costs too. The complexity of federal tax rules creates compliance and administrative costs, and it makes financial planning more difficult for individuals and businesses. 

Furthermore, the hidden nature of many federal taxes imposes a cost in transparency. In particular, it is difficult for citizens to figure out the overall burden of taxes they are paying under the current system. “

Read more here about flat tax or national sales tax.

Sean Astin, Christian movie star

I was watching Sean Astin on Fox this morning discuss the new Christian movie, "Moms night out," so I checked out his faith, and found out that after a long journey with many twists and turns, he is a baptized Lutheran and serious about his faith.

Interview comments on The Blaze.

http://www.catholic.org/news/hf/faith/story.php?id=39608

The minimum wage as a campaign issue

The Ohio Food Assistance Program (federally known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP) is designed to raise nutritional levels, to expand buying power, and to safeguard the health and well being of individuals in low-income households in Ohio. A household may consist of an individual or a group of individuals who live together and usually purchase, prepare, and eat their food together. The minimum wage in Ohio is $7.95 and in a 2 person household full time employment at minimum wage would put them $13,000 above qualifying for food stamps/assistance. Very few people stay at minimum. Studies show that low wage earners do better if they change jobs, which would mean having a good record at the first job.

Why don't the Democrats want something better than minimum for workers? Where are their demands for less regulation and a freer market which creates good paying jobs?

Cool or cruel?

Recently an abortion clinic worker posted a video of her own abortion. No way to know if it was real or just a way to get attention. But when I saw the video of the kidnappers of the Nigerian girls spew hate for Western culture, I think he must have that in mind--when a woman calls killing her own baby, "Cool."

Obama hits the dusty trail . . . again

The White House has nothing. And it's campaign season again. So . . . roll out climate change, racism, income inequality, and rape. Of course, there has always been climate change; Donald Sterling has always been a racist; in the same position with same life choices, there is no inequality; and the definition of rape keeps getting redefined. Never you mind. I know some voters who will fall for this.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/may/6/obama-hits-campaign-trail-wary-democrats/

http://www.firstthings.com/article/2014/03/the-public-square

http://blog.heritage.org/2014/01/29/u-s-debt-poses-greater-barrier-economic-opportunity-income-inequality/

http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/06/politics/white-house-climate-energy/

http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/29/living/campus-sexual-violence-report/

Did you vote?

            

I voted today. Showed my ID, just as I do when I pick up a prescription, see a doctor, board a plane, cash a check or enter a government building. If I used a food pantry, I would show it; if I went to a free medical clinic, I would also show it.

“Stopping voter ID laws is crucial to Democrats who argue college students, the elderly and minorities will be prevented from voting under the new laws.

“It’s no surprise that these voter suppression efforts are being pushed by Republicans in key swing states,” said Democratic Governor Association spokeswoman Lis Smith.” http://dailycaller.com/2011/07/07/democrats-continue-fight-against-voter-id-laws/

So the elderly and minorities don’t need ID to get free medical care or government food, and students don’t fly or buy prescriptions drugs?

Book club selections for 2014-2015

Our book club has been meeting for 35 years with some of the original “founding mothers” still with the group, and which began in the Clintonville area of Columbus.  I joined in 2000.  I don’t read a lot, and it it weren’t for this wonderful group, I wouldn’t probably be reading any fiction. Yesterday we voted on the selections for next year, first Monday at 2 p.m. except where noted (we don’t meet in the summer).

September 8, Monuments men by Robert Edsel, led by Bev, co-meeting with the night group, private home

October, Snow in August by Pete Hamill, led by Carmen, private home

November, The book thief, by Markus Zusak, led by Marcie, at Panera’s

December, Citizens of London, by Lynne Olson, led by Carolyn, at private home.

January, The mother daughter Book Club, by Heather Frederick, led by Marti at Panera’s

February, Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver, led by Adrienne at Panera’s

March, My name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira, led by Letha at Panera’s

April, Cain at Gettysburg, by Ralph Peters, led by Carmen at private home

May, Dirty Life, by Kristen Kimball, led by Courtney at private home

Liberalism and liberals

About once a day, I hear (or read) about the hypocrisy of liberals who are not accepting of other views or who don’t allow conservatives the rights guaranteed in the constitution or demonstrate a lack of compassion.  Most recently it was about Condi Rice and the shameful behavior at Rutgers University, a school that in 2011 had the performer known as “Snooki” Polizzi as an invited speaker.

However, in my opinion, there is no hypocrisy—liberals have never been open to the ideas of others or respected those they don’t consider part of their class.

In The Revolt Against the Masses: How Liberalism Has Undermined the Middle Class by Fred Siegel (reviewed in First Things, June/July 2014) claims liberalism did not originate in progressivism, but instead began with a small group of intellectuals and writers, mostly based in Greenwich Village—H. L. Mencken, Sinclair Lewis, Lincoln Steffens, and Edmund Wilson.  Liberals “. . . had a quarrel with the industry, immigration and economic growth that had produced unprecedented prosperity in the United State.”  They developed a contempt for American culture and politics, and hostility toward the middle class, and in the 1930s many fell under the influence of Communism.

Reviewer Geoffrey Kabaservice in First Things says “Siegel makes some telling criticisms of the pre-World War II generations of left-leaning intellectuals.  They often were dismissive of the heritage and unique qualities of the United States, clueless about capitalism, too ready to see small business owners as a proto-fascist petty bourgeoisie, and too prone to thinking of big business as an oppressive force.” He was, however, critical of what he saw as many shortcomings in the book and thought Siegel “lacked objectivity.”

To me Siegel seems on target--like what Democrats (liberals, progressives, socialists, Communists) say about the middle class today, especially the Tea Party, conservatives and Republicans.

Liberals, Siegel says, love bureaucracy, don’t understand the people they claim to want to help, and expelled whites from the cities which they then bankrupted.

https://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/opiate-elites_775988.html

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304434104579382882678398034

http://www.c-span.org/video/?317203-1/book-discussion-revolt-masses

Michael Barone loved it. “From the dumbing down of education to extreme environmentalism, from anti-family poverty programs to free-speech curbs on campuses, the excesses of our times are laid out like the pieces of a puzzle. It is a clear-eyed vision of how we got to this troubled place.”

http://nypost.com/2014/02/15/the-revolt-against-the-masses-reveals-liberalisms-elitist-roots/

Herman Cain

Sung at the funeral of a friend on Saturday

Jerusalem, by the Hoppers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hy5VxG6q98

Monday Memories—before I was born

In the fall of 1939, important things were happening, and these little kids started first grade in Mt. Morris, Illinois.  It was in their 1952 Mounder yearbook as a memory. I have two cousins in this group, and can recognize almost all of them, although I wasn’t born yet when they started school.  That’s how it is in a small town.

Good morning.

Thought I'd shake up the taste buds today. Usually I have an orange or apple with almonds or walnuts for breakfast. Today I had a baked sweet potato, 769% of Vit. A requirement and 65% Vit. C. low in sodium, and very low in saturated fat and cholesterol. It is also a good source of fiber, Vitamin B6, potassium and manganese. Then I had some fresh strawberries (picked up the rest of the Vit. C) with some almond milk, higher in many nutrients than cow's milk. High in calcium, Vit. D, Vit. E.

Of course, I added some butter and salt.

Will you live past 90? New research

Last night's 60 minutes (it's really 42 minutes) had an excellent report by Leslie Stahl on being over 90 years old. It challenged many myths about aging. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/living-to-90-and-beyond/

Some findings were no surprise to me. “People who exercised definitely lived longer than people who didn't exercise. As little as 15 minutes a day on average made a difference. Forty-five was the best. Even three hours didn't beat 45 minutes a day." However, the grim statistics were—over age 65, dementia doubles every 5 years.  Low blood pressure is worse than high blood pressure this age group, and being overweight, or normal weight, is better than being thin. Wine, dessert and coffee are good for long life.  Much of dementia in this age group is not Alzheimer’s, but hundreds or thousands of tiny strokes.  Some people seem to have something that protects them from dementia—this research will hopefully solve that puzzle.

Taking supplements doesn’t provide any protection, but being social does.  So take a friend to lunch, volunteer, go to church, join a book club, help your neighbors (it’s a 2-fer).

The death of Clayton Lockett

President Obama said the botched execution of a murderer was "deeply troubling." In 1999, Clayton Lockett kidnapped, beat, and shot 19-year-old Stephanie Neiman and ordered accomplices to bury her alive; this was after forcing the victim to witness the gang rape of a friend of Neiman.  Lockett had recently been released from prison and chose his young victim at random.  To my knowledge, President Obama has not called her torture and death deeply troubling.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2014/05/02/obama-oklahoma-execution-is-deeply-troubling/?wpisrc=nl_headlines

I love stories like this

California Chrome’s dam was purchased for $8,000 and the stud fee was $2,000.  Careful research on genes and good training.

Code words

Pretty soon using the word "Benghazi" will be code for racism or sexism. The cover up was used to ensure Obama's reelection because the theme was he had defeated terrorism.

"New York magazine columnist Jonathan Chait appeared on MSNBC with host Alex Wagner on Friday evening to preview what he thought a special committee to investigate the response to the Benghazi attacks would look like. He said that the “discourse” on the right about the deadly 2012 attack is “one notch more respectable than birtherism” and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) has avoided establishing such a committee for fear that his conference members would go overboard in attacking the administration."  Mediate.com

“President Barack Obama has described al Qaeda as having been “decimated,” “on the path to defeat” or some other variation at least 32 times since the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, according to White House transcripts.” http://cnsnews.com/news/article/obama-touts-al-qaeda-s-demise-32-times-benghazi-attack-0

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/17/romney-obama-benghazi-defeated-debate

http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/110612-632391-60-minutes-tape-suppressed-to-aid-obama.htm

Where Christians disagree—the Eucharist

What is Holy Eucharist?

Holy Eucharist is the sacrament in which Jesus Christ gives his Body and Blood himself for us, so that we too might give ourselves to him in love and be united with him in Holy Communion. In this way we are joined with the one Body of Christ, the Church.

After Baptism and Confirmation, the Eucharist is the third sacrament of initiation of the Catholic Church. The Eucharist is the mysterious center of all these sacraments, because the historic sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross is made present during the words of consecration in a hidden, unbloody manner. Thus the celebration of the Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life" (Second Vatican Council, Lumen gentium [LG], 11). Everything aims at this; besides this there is nothing greater that one could attain. When we eat the broken Bread, we unite ourselves with the love of Jesus, who gave his body for us on the wood of the Cross; when we drink from the chalice, we unite ourselves with him who even poured out his blood out of love for us. We did not invent this ritual. Jesus himself celebrated the Last Supper with his disciples and therein anticipated his death; he gave himself to his disciples under the signs of bread and wine and commanded them from then on, even after his death, to celebrate the Eucharist. "Do this in remembrance of me" (1 Cor 11:24).  Taken from YOUCAT 208, Catechism for Youth

"For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way also the chalice, after supper, saying, This chalice is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me'" (1 Cor 11:23- 25).

This, the oldest account of the events in the Upper Room at the Last Supper, is by the apostle Paul, who was not an eyewitness himself, but rather wrote down what was being preserved as a holy mystery by the young Christian community and was being celebrated in the liturgy. (YOUCAT 209-210)

“Eucharist, because it is an action of thanksgiving to God. The Greek words eucharistein¹⁴¹ and eulogein¹⁴² recall the Jewish blessings that proclaim — especially during a meal — God's works: creation, redemption, and sanctification.” cross-ref 1324

Transparency? The Press Corps reports

A new survey in Politico Magazine asked 60 members of the White House press corps varying in age and experience to share their thoughts on what life is really like within the Beltway for journalists.

Foreclosure of a mega church in Georgia

Blogger.com where I have my blogs has a feature called "next blog" so I was browsing today and found Church in the Now of Conyers, GA, and the last entry was about its foreclosure, Easter 2012. It was a huge, magnificent facility and not ugly like most mega churches. So I read through the pastor's timeline of how he started it in 1985 with 54 members, up to the sale for over $18 million, and about the other 90 churches in Georgia going through foreclosure.

Wondering where they went and expecting a rebuilding with renewed energy, I Googled. In 2010, he had announced he was gay, he says, to stem the tide of gay teen suicides. Really? How many teens listen to adults about their sexuality? Plus the highest suicide rate in the U.S. isn't gay teens--it's men over 85. And he'd been married twice and had 4 children. If claiming to be honest about sexuality, at least be honest about other things.

Over the centuries, millions of men and women have given up acting on sexual feelings and putting aside personal relationships from marriage to affairs to procreation in order to achieve a higher calling (whether or not you agree isn't the point). Millions more are caretakers for spouses and have set aside sexual desires for a higher form of expressing love.  Every day there are married people who choose to be faithful to their vows rather than act on their sexual desires.  He needed to be honest, but probably should have started with his first wife and the original congregation of 1985 and stop blaming society for his hiding his true feelings all these years. From celebrities to politicians to pastors: if you can't accept your homosexuality, don't be surprised when society isn't sympathetic with your cover up when you finally come out.

Listen, learn and exercise

I’m not really an exercise enthusiast, but since developing bursitis in December, I can’t do much walking, so I’m using my Gold’s Gym Power Spin 210 U—or an exercycle.  It keeps track of heart activity, speed, distance and calories.  I’ve figured out if I ride my power spin for 10 minutes at 3 levels of difficulty I burn about 40 calories; 4 times a day would be 160 calories, or one cookie with no chocolate chips. Sigh.

                         

              Photo predates our new carpet and flat screen TV.

Since exercising this way is boring, I’m trying to finish the audio of Jesus of Nazareth, the infancy narratives by Pope Benedict XVI, and have learned a lot, although I could probably learn more if I were reading.  For instance, today I learned that “King of the Jews” which is the title the Magi used, was not known to the Jews, and wasn’t used again in scripture until Pilot said it.  So it is a prefiguring in the infancy stories of the crucifixion.  Also the Magi brought myrrh, an expensive spice used for perfume, spice and anointing the dead. Because of the coming holy day, the women were not able to use myrrh on the body of Jesus and by they time they got to the tomb after the crucifixion, he was already gone, so the myrrh was not used—he was alive, not dead. Benedict uses a lot of Old Testament background and early church fathers.  Very interesting comments about the star made by believers even in the first and second century. It is not at all dogmatic—just provides the research and teaching over the years, even that which isn’t popular today.

“While he was interrogating Jesus, Pilate unexpectedly put this question to the accused: "Where are you from?" Jesus' accusers had called for him to receive the death penalty by dramatically declaring that this Jesus had made himself the Son of God-a capital offense under the law. The "enlight­ened" Roman judge, who had already expressed skepticism regarding the question of truth (cf. Jn 18:38), could easily have found this claim by the accused laughable. And yet he was frightened. The accused had indicated that he was a king, but that his kingdom was "not of this world" ( Jn 18:36).

And then he had alluded to a mysterious origin and purpose, say­ing: "For this I was born and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth" ( Jn 18:37).All this must have seemed like madness to the Roman judge. And yet he could not shake off the mysterious impres­sion left by this man, so different from those he had met before who resisted Roman domination and fought for the restoration of the kingdom of Israel. The Roman judge asks where Jesus is from in order to understand who he really is and what he wants.

The question about Jesus' provenance, as an inquiry after his deeper origin and hence his true being, is also found in other key passages of Saint John's Gospel, and it plays an equally important role in the Synoptic Gospels. For John, as for the Synoptics, it raises a singular paradox. On the one hand, counting against Jesus and his claim to a divine mission, is the fact that people knew exactly where he was from: he does not come from heaven, from "the Father," from "above," as he purports to ( Jn 8:23). No: "Is not this Jesus, whose fa­ther and mother we know? How does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" ( Jn 6:42). “

- See more at: http://www.imagecatholicbooks.com/book/226834/jesus-of-nazareth/#sthash.u4PCTbzR.dpuf

Thomas Watson, Puritan

I review a lot of books (from the agency hired to promote the books) and receive a lot of fluff. Rather than say "this stinks," I just don't blog about that title. That's why it's such a pleasure to report on a fantastic writer, rich with references, and blinding clarity. Thomas Watson, a British puritan (1620-1686). I was checking Google for a definition of a word we Christians hear a lot (glorify, glorification, glory) and found him. "Man's chief end is to glorify God." Absolutely wonderful. Put it on your bucket list--both the essay and the act.  http://thomaswatsonquotes.com/

How far should they go with personal, private speech restriction?

Will it end with Donald Sterling? He had a black/Mexican mistress was jealous of some hunky black athletes she was hanging out with, so he said some crude things.   Perhaps their 50 year age difference made him a bit insecure in his manhood?  Now they are going to take his team away from him for being a racist.  I heard that there's another team owner who has contributed to causes to support marriage and the gay mafia are going after him.

This may not turn out well--do you want your business destroyed because you contributed to Planned Parenthood or you're not vegan, or you own a fur coat, or use coal for your electricity, or you're a pagan, or you had two mothers, or you contributed to the growth of federal control over education, or your grandmother was the vice president of a bank in Hawaii? The Democrats won't always be in power and political correctness can swing both ways.

The first (or second) gay president.

The left is outraged that Glenn Beck made a joke about the possibility of Hillary Clinton being a lesbian and mimicking her husband's behavior with women. Why? Would that be more awful than her policies, or lack of leadership as Secretary of State? Are the Daily Beast and Huffington Post homophobic? Her sexuality isn't going to affect the right wing voters, and the left wing would just praise her bravery. Rumors of her liaisons came out years ago, and mostly from left wing sources.

Hillary’s 2008 campaign staff probably started the Obama gay boyfriend rumors, and Chicagoans were blogging about them, but things have changed a lot in 5 years.  Now it is resume enhancement. Even Barney remarked on that—and would he be insulted if someone said he was a closet heterosexual?

BARNEY FRANK: "When I was 14, I realized I was gay. I said I was a lot like the other guys, but there were two things that I knew made me different than the other guys. First of all, I was attracted to politics. Second, I was attracted to the other guys. Now that wasn't going to work well because to be in politics you had to be popular. To be a homosexual was not to be very popular. Well, if this was fiction -- spoiler alert -- by the time I retire, there was still a disparity between the popularity of being gay and the popularity of being a politician. But it had flipped. And my marriage polled better than my service as a committee chairman.

 

Sterling is a jerk, but that’s not against the law

Donald Sterling's record isn't "sterling," and past sins and law suits should have gotten him bumped from ownership, but a private conversation with his mistress? How many men would be fired across the country for that? Many. (Watch out for vindictive girlfriends and ex-wives, fellas.) This sets a terrible precedent as did the firing of a CEO who voted for marriage between a man and woman. Thought police beyond anything China and the USSR came up with.

"It seems his “girlfriend,” Ms. Stiviano, decided to tape a private conversation between the two. Apparently, Ms. Stiviano had recently been sued by the estranged wife of Mr. Sterling, so there is some potential nefarious motive involved. Furthermore, the taping of a conversation without consent of the other party is illegal under California statute. There is some question as to whether he knew he was being recorded. Let’s assume for the moment he didn’t.

The national outrage against Mr. Sterling has come from an act that could be illegal and inadmissible in a court of law. Nevertheless, the court of public opinion has tried and convicted Mr. Sterling of being a jerk."

Read more at http://allenbwest.com/2014/04/folks-youre-missing-point-donald-sterling/#pUUUict0fcPdl7UT.99

Harry Reid, on the other hand, is an elected official, and has maligned and insulted millions of Americans by declaring Tea Party people terrorists.  John Kerry, our Secretary of State, has insulted and maligned the people of Israel.  Hypocrisy is coming up with the spring flowers.Our president’s insults are just too many to note here.

Obama’s Malaysian junket

Obama is a terrible "leader." He goes to Malaysia and whines about a U.S. basketball team owner who was a known loose canon, but is silent about Democrats who call patriots terrorists and Supreme Court judges Uncle Toms, and then compares Malaysia's human right violations record to ours. Well, our violations include the government NSA snooping and IRS manipulating the code to stop right wing organizations he fears, and colluding with our "free press," but he wasn't that specific. Their violations involve freedom of religion, right to assembly, free speech, elevating some races and ethnic groups as protected, etc. Well, maybe he should have gone on about the similarities.

http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/04/24/malaysia-obama-should-speak-loudly-rights

http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2013/08/09/harry-reid-launches-slanderous-attacks-on-tea-party-republicans/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/04/30/black-congressman-stands-by-comment-that-clarence-thomas-is-an-uncle-tom/

"I think the Prime Minister is the first to acknowledge that Malaysia’s still got some work to do. Just like the United States, by the way, has some work to do on these issues," Obama said. "Human Rights Watch probably has a list of things they think we should be doing as a government."
 http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/human-rights-malaysia-united-states-work/2014/04/27/id/567978#ixzz30SXBncO0

The criminal didn’t die—right away

I don't believe in the death penalty. The execution in Oklahoma of 2 men (one of which failed) is no where near as inhumane and violent as what babies in the womb are experiencing every day. For instance, the base of the fetus's skull is punctured with a sharp instrument such as a long scissors or pointed metal tube, or the body of the baby is cut into pieces and removed. A bit more violent than having a heart attack during a botched execution. One of these men, Charles Warner, raped and killed an 11 month old baby; the other, Clayton Lockett, tortured and murdered a 19 year old woman. Babies in the womb, on the other hand, did no crime except appear on the scene at an inconvenient time.

Lockett, 38, was convicted of the killing of 19-year-old, Stephanie Neiman, in 1999. She was shot and buried alive. Lockett was also convicted of raping her friend in the violent home invasion that lead to Neiman's death. Warner, 46, was found guilty of raping and killing 11-month-old Adrianna Waller in 1997. He lived with the child's mother.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/30/oklahoma-execution-botched-clayton-lockett

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/inmate-dies-heart-attack-oklahoma-execution-halted-20-minutes-due-vein-failure-officials-article-1.1773508

The Book of Common Prayer

The smoking gun—redacted e-mails

Ben Rhodes gave instructions on how to cover up the Benghazi failure.  Administration was reluctant to admit it hadn’t solved the “terrorist” problem right before the election.  I suspect there will be much more to come, if people can

tear their attention away from an 80 year old billionaire who said racist things. Read this piece by Sharyl Attkisson who was silenced at CBS (where Rhodes brother is president) when her investigative pieces became too bold and truthful.

http://www.sharylattkisson.com/new-benghazi-docs-april-29--2014.html

Her book: "My Fight For the Truth Against the Forces of Obstruction, Intimidation and Harassment in Obama's Washington"

The Donald Sterling kerfuffle

"How did Donald Sterling get away with behavior, in a professional sports league dominated by black players, which would get a college kid kicked out of school and scarred for life? Have they no morals clause in the NBA? How was Donald Sterling voted that lifetime achievement award by the NAACP? The answer to all likely lies in the adage: Follow the money." Patrick J. Buchanan

I'm listening to an NBA rep say he's going to take the team away from him and fine Sterling for being a bad old man and saying bad things in a private conversation. No punishment for being married with mistress.

Meanwhile, John Kerry still has his job.

This Clippers/NBA flap isn't about Sterling. He was a known racist for 3 decades, the league is 81% black, and they willingly take his money. It's obviously a sport that cares little about diversity. The NBA, Sterling and the players care about green, not black. The NBA should be ashamed of their phony outrage.

The media coverage and shock and horror IS about getting Obama off the front page, particularly as new evidence keeps coming out about the Benghazi cover up. WH advisor Ben Rhodes who came up with blame the video is found in numerous e-mails planning to protect the President in the 2012 election (and they were successful, weren't they?). Ben Rhodes brother is a highly placed executive at CBS. We've got the smoking gun, but if they can smother it with the Sterling story. . .

Today Ben Rhodes’ e-mails came out

Not that we didn’t know the video story was a lie.

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2014/04/ben_rhodes_at_center_of_plan_to_whitewash_white_house_on_benghazi.html

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2014/04/29/the-ben-rhodes-email-foxs-new-false-benghazi-at/199067

http://dailycaller.com/2013/05/11/top-obama-officials-brother-is-president-of-cbs-news-may-drop-reporter-over-benghazi-coverage/

http://www.examiner.com/article/new-documents-reveal-benghazi-cover-up-emanated-from-white-house

Arkansas tornado kills father and 2 daughters

“Rob Tittle, a FamilyLife [Christian ministry focusing on strengthening the family] staff member and kindred spirit warrior for the family, died last night in the tornado that crushed parts of central Arkansas. Two of his daughters—Tori, age 20, and Rebekah, 14—were among the 16 killed in the storm.

Rob, 48, and his wife Kerry, had heard the tornado warnings and were shepherding their nine children under a stairwell when the tornado disintegrated their home. Rob was doing what a man does—putting his family first—when the twister hit.”

http://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/life-issues/challenges/death-and-dying/the-lord-gives-the-lord-takes-away?

She was told her baby was deformed—she refused to abort

Her husband left her.  Then at 20 weeks the ultrasound for her 2nd baby showed  a chromosomal disorder called Trisomy 18 in which the baby has an extra, 18th chromosome. It causes misshapen skulls, malformed ears, and mainly—heart defects. She was told the baby had no face.

http://blogs.christianpost.com/every-child/when-science-shakes-your-faithrefusing-to-believe-20475/

“Baby Abigael came into the world a perfect baby girl. No genetic defect. No missing heart ventricle. A beautiful face. It is hard for me to believe that these ultrasounds were a medical mistake—known to some as “false positives.” It is easier for me to believe my daughter is a miracle.”

Internet safety for teens

Keep children away from predators by sharing.

The Gosnell documentary getting close to goal

Kermit Gosnell was convicted of the murder of several live and viable babies at his clinic. It is thought that over a 40 year killing spree he murdered thousands of infants. Kermit Gosnell is currently serving several life sentences.

His case became controversial after the trial received almost no media coverage - and sparked allegations of a media coverup because the case shone a spotlight on abortion.

Producer Ann McElhinney said the record breaking success of the Gosnell Movie was a testament to the thousands of small donors who wanted the truth to be told.

"We have a huge number of small contributors giving to make sure the truth is not censored," she said.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/gosnell-movie#home

http://www.toomanyaborted.com/gosnell/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/04/15/the-gosnell-case-heres-what-you-need-to-know/

Monday Memories—our trip to Illinois this Easter

Ladies of the class of 1957 MMHS enjoying breakfast




















Eating at LaVinja on Daysville Road, east of Oregon, IL. Really good Italian food and great service. With my brother and his wife April 19.  We were staying in Mt. Morris and he lives in Franklin Grove, so it was a good place to meet.

The movie Philomena

I loved that movie--although sad, it had a lot joy and forgiveness and humor. Amazing acting by Judi Dench and Steve Coogan.  When I see movies that are anti-Christian or anti-Catholic, I just remember the source—Hollywood (or whatever the international equivalent is). Its bread and butter is sex,violence, denying God, and sin, or there would be no story.  As far as the gay theme, I looked a little deeper.  The Catholic Church and Philomena were people of the morals of the time—sex outside marriage is immoral and only kings and statesmen got around it—and the public was in on that, even Philomena who acknowledges her sin in the movie/book. Even as a young teen she knew what she was doing.  The eighties and nineties and early 21st century, right up to Obama’s 2012 campaign during which he claimed to support traditional marriage, had a morality that didn’t support open homosexuality for public figures.  For librarians, like my dear boss Jay and his long time partner, no one cared, or all the lesbians like Dora and Pauline I worked with in the 1960s. Both parties were hypocrites.  Remember how the Democrats pushed out an active gay representative (Republican) from Florida whose life was well known to his fellow congressmen when he sent texts to young male staffers?  Anyway, in the Philomena story, her son who is gay, goes along with the prevailing morality in order to get ahead in Washington and keep his career, with a fake girlfriend and a hidden boyfriend. These were his choices for his career. So which is more phony?  The son or society? Many gays were open; he wasn’t.  He could have been a hairdresser, an actor, an author,  a librarian, etc., and no one would have batted an eyelash.  He chose his lifestyle and his career.

Back to the young Philomena, pregnant at 14 in the 1950s.  These days it is estimated that over 60% of the abortions are forced, in the same way relinquishing babies were forced in the mid-20th century. Today’s 14 year old “Philomena” is “encouraged”with threats of abandonment and financial need, to abort by boyfriend, parents, teachers, peers, and sometimes her church.  Frankly, although God doesn’t grade on a curve, the greater sin in my eyes is killing the child for the indiscretions of the parents.