More classics!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Thursday, November 06, 2008
So Obama has become the next president of the United States; and the question that runs though my head is... Did we vote for the best candidate or did we vote for change? What is more visible as a change from Bush than Obama? First, at the very base level it would be easy to tell them apart. Second, Obama is much more eloquent, along the lines of Clinton!
Unlike Clinton, Obama has a much tougher road to follow, he is inheriting a war in Iraq that he will never be able to fully exit the US from, he is getting an economy that has fallen apart, and he is facing a country where people have lost their jobs, their homes, and all they have is hope in him.
What happens when he fails to come through on his promises? If you go back and listen to his speech he said that the road will be tough, we will not accomplish these things without hard work, it could take years, even beyond his first term (if there is a second). Oh, and Obama even has to deal with the resurgence of the Soviet Union as they start to move nukes into Poland.
So Obama has a lot to face. He is a dynamic leader and has a great ability to inspire people, he might have the strength to help bring the US through these events but he is going to have to be a centrist and restrict the actions of the more liberal members of congress. Don't be surprised if we start drilling for oil in Alaska while passing laws to demand more clean energy. Don't be surprised when there is a hold on changing the tax laws, and eventually the government is going to have to come up with some cash so the taxes will have to increase somewhere.
Healthcare and economy will likely be his first priority while working towards REDUCING the number of troops in Iraq (which was what Bush was doing). We should not forget that we still have troops in Germany... GERMANY!!! There will always be troops in Iraq unless they kick us out.
Don't expect Obama to be the messiah to the left. Remember, a lot of people felt that Bush was appointed by God too. Bush and Obama are both men, they are bound to make mistakes, they have failed, they will fail again. In the end we should hope for an improvement in education, healthcare, and a better focus on the environment. The economy will come around, and the troops will leave Iraq (well, most of them). There will always be someone that hates the US and thus terrorism will continue. Reality is somewhere between the green party and the constitutionalists. Hopefully Obama can find it.
Unlike Clinton, Obama has a much tougher road to follow, he is inheriting a war in Iraq that he will never be able to fully exit the US from, he is getting an economy that has fallen apart, and he is facing a country where people have lost their jobs, their homes, and all they have is hope in him.
What happens when he fails to come through on his promises? If you go back and listen to his speech he said that the road will be tough, we will not accomplish these things without hard work, it could take years, even beyond his first term (if there is a second). Oh, and Obama even has to deal with the resurgence of the Soviet Union as they start to move nukes into Poland.
So Obama has a lot to face. He is a dynamic leader and has a great ability to inspire people, he might have the strength to help bring the US through these events but he is going to have to be a centrist and restrict the actions of the more liberal members of congress. Don't be surprised if we start drilling for oil in Alaska while passing laws to demand more clean energy. Don't be surprised when there is a hold on changing the tax laws, and eventually the government is going to have to come up with some cash so the taxes will have to increase somewhere.
Healthcare and economy will likely be his first priority while working towards REDUCING the number of troops in Iraq (which was what Bush was doing). We should not forget that we still have troops in Germany... GERMANY!!! There will always be troops in Iraq unless they kick us out.
Don't expect Obama to be the messiah to the left. Remember, a lot of people felt that Bush was appointed by God too. Bush and Obama are both men, they are bound to make mistakes, they have failed, they will fail again. In the end we should hope for an improvement in education, healthcare, and a better focus on the environment. The economy will come around, and the troops will leave Iraq (well, most of them). There will always be someone that hates the US and thus terrorism will continue. Reality is somewhere between the green party and the constitutionalists. Hopefully Obama can find it.
California, the same state that brought us "Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire," "... a Multi-Millionaire," "The Bachelor, "The Bachelorette," and so many other fine shows that demonstrate the importance of marriage in our society has passed proposition 8 to ban gay marriage because of the effect it would have on society!
If you visit http://www.protectmarriage.com/ you can view their video where they point out that:
Students in one classroom in one school in Massachusetts were read the story of a prince who marries a prince and the fact that Catholic Charities closed its doors there because they refused to allow same sex couples to adopt babies as their reasons behind the ban.
First, the charity certainly has its right to decide who they want to let adopt children, it should be governed by their rules not by the state's rules. There are plenty of other places where people can adopt it does not have to be a church run group. However, if the church was actually interested in the best care of the child weighing the option of keeping the child in an orphanage or in a same sex couple home... well... I imagine the child would be better off with two parents who wanted to be with him or her, no matter what the sex of the couple. I do, however respect the church's right to their belief.
As for the school, if they cannot teach creationism then I can't really agree with them reading a story supporting another controversial issue. However, if it was a onetime event then I do not see why it is so horrible. Parents can take the responsibility to explain to their children that some people have different ideas and beliefs. Perhaps this could be done during the time that these kids usually spend watching TV... I mean we are the most obese country in the world, perhaps taking the chance to get involved in your child's life and getting them away from the TV is the way to share your values over those that school and California are introducing.
The other day Logan said she was going to vote for McCain in her school's election. I asked "Why do you want to vote for him?" Later she came home and said she had voted for Obama, my wife said "Good." I asked "Why did you vote for Obama?"
Unfortunately she is in first grade and the concept of the election and the ideas behind both men is probably far too complex for her to grasp; but I felt it was important for her to ask "why" and not impress her with my own beliefs. I have not told her who I voted for because I want her to listen to what I say about the world around her and help her form her own ideas and opinions based on what she learns at school, what she learns from friends, and what I teach her. That way she can be more of herself then just a copy of who my wife and I are.
She, of course, will be affected by the actions I take and those of my wife so along the way our beliefs will have become the base for her own. If this election has taught us nothing else, it is that anyone can be president and that was one of the ideas that our founding fathers wanted.
I want my girls to believe that they can do it... whatever it is.
So, on the same base, if we look at the idea that gay marriage will destroy family values (because let’s face it America, we long ago destroyed the sanctity of marriage) I cannot find a way that allowing gay people to get married, teaching about it in school, will affect my children’s values. The only thing it could do is help them to see that people are different and that we need to respect their ideas, their dreams, and their hopes.
The ban on gay marriage simply does not make sense to me, parents should not be afraid of their children learning, they should embrace it and take the time to be involved in their children's lives and help them to understand these things, even if they are not things you agree with.
However, California has spoken and I hope that this change helps them to make their children stronger, more rounded individuals, who are not afraid to express their opinions while valuing the ideas of others.
If you visit http://www.protectmarriage.com/ you can view their video where they point out that:
Students in one classroom in one school in Massachusetts were read the story of a prince who marries a prince and the fact that Catholic Charities closed its doors there because they refused to allow same sex couples to adopt babies as their reasons behind the ban.
First, the charity certainly has its right to decide who they want to let adopt children, it should be governed by their rules not by the state's rules. There are plenty of other places where people can adopt it does not have to be a church run group. However, if the church was actually interested in the best care of the child weighing the option of keeping the child in an orphanage or in a same sex couple home... well... I imagine the child would be better off with two parents who wanted to be with him or her, no matter what the sex of the couple. I do, however respect the church's right to their belief.
As for the school, if they cannot teach creationism then I can't really agree with them reading a story supporting another controversial issue. However, if it was a onetime event then I do not see why it is so horrible. Parents can take the responsibility to explain to their children that some people have different ideas and beliefs. Perhaps this could be done during the time that these kids usually spend watching TV... I mean we are the most obese country in the world, perhaps taking the chance to get involved in your child's life and getting them away from the TV is the way to share your values over those that school and California are introducing.
The other day Logan said she was going to vote for McCain in her school's election. I asked "Why do you want to vote for him?" Later she came home and said she had voted for Obama, my wife said "Good." I asked "Why did you vote for Obama?"
Unfortunately she is in first grade and the concept of the election and the ideas behind both men is probably far too complex for her to grasp; but I felt it was important for her to ask "why" and not impress her with my own beliefs. I have not told her who I voted for because I want her to listen to what I say about the world around her and help her form her own ideas and opinions based on what she learns at school, what she learns from friends, and what I teach her. That way she can be more of herself then just a copy of who my wife and I are.
She, of course, will be affected by the actions I take and those of my wife so along the way our beliefs will have become the base for her own. If this election has taught us nothing else, it is that anyone can be president and that was one of the ideas that our founding fathers wanted.
I want my girls to believe that they can do it... whatever it is.
So, on the same base, if we look at the idea that gay marriage will destroy family values (because let’s face it America, we long ago destroyed the sanctity of marriage) I cannot find a way that allowing gay people to get married, teaching about it in school, will affect my children’s values. The only thing it could do is help them to see that people are different and that we need to respect their ideas, their dreams, and their hopes.
The ban on gay marriage simply does not make sense to me, parents should not be afraid of their children learning, they should embrace it and take the time to be involved in their children's lives and help them to understand these things, even if they are not things you agree with.
However, California has spoken and I hope that this change helps them to make their children stronger, more rounded individuals, who are not afraid to express their opinions while valuing the ideas of others.
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