Put ME in Charge....

Recently through a friend, I came across a young woman's right-wing rant about what she would do if she were in charge of allocating public assistance programs in America. Here is the post, which is currently in circulation on Facebook:

WRITTEN BY A 21 YEAR OLD FEMALE
PUT ME IN CHARGE . . .

Put me in charge of food stamps. I'd get rid of Lone Star cards; no cash for Ding Dongs or Ho Ho's, just money for 50-pound bags of rice and beans, blocks of cheese and all the powdered milk you can haul away. If you want steak and frozen pizza, then get a job.

Put me in charge of Medicaid. The first thing I'd do is to get women Norplant ...birth control implants or tubal ligations. Then, we'll test recipients for drugs, alcohol, and nicotine. If you want to reproduce or use drugs, alcohol, or smoke, then get a job.

Put me in charge of government housing. Ever live in a military barracks? You will maintain our property in a clean and good state of repair. Your home" will be subject to inspections anytime and possessions will be inventoried. If you want a plasma TV or Xbox 360, then get a job and your own place.

In addition, you will either present a check stub from a job each week or you will report to a "government" job. It may be cleaning the roadways of trash, painting and repairing public housing, whatever we find for you. We will sell your 22 inch rims and low profile tires and your blasting stereo and speakers and put that money toward the "common good.."

Before you write that I've violated someone's rights, realize that all of the above is voluntary. If you want our money, accept our rules. Before you say that this would be "demeaning" and ruin their "self esteem," consider that it wasn't that long ago that taking someone else's money for doing absolutely nothing was demeaning and lowered self esteem.

If we are expected to pay for other people's mistakes we should at least attempt to make them learn from their bad choices. The current system rewards them for continuing to make bad choices.

AND While you are on Gov't subsistence, you no longer can VOTE! Yes, that is correct. For you to vote would be a conflict of interest. You will voluntarily remove yourself from voting while you are receiving a Gov't welfare check. If you want to vote, then get a job.

Now, if you have the guts - PASS IT ON...I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GET THIS BACK, IF EVERYONE SENDS IT, I WILL GET OVER 220 BACK!!! I WOULD KNOW YOU SENT IT ON!!!

 

Normally I would dismiss posts such as this one, but for some reason this just stuck with me.  And it made me angry.  It wasn't just the sheer amount of ignorance the post exudes- case in point, the repeated phrase "get a job" presumes that most people on welfare don't work, is decidedly a falsehood; in reality, the majority of food stamp recipients are indeed working, but in underpaid positions in the workforce. Or they simply don't work because they are elderly, children, or disabled. Ironically, this woman probably believes the government should be the least intrusive in the lives of individuals....but I guess the exception to that rule must be for the poorest folks it seems, as she has a lot of ideas about restricting their basic rights as citizens. No, what really got under my skin was the cynicism, and that I know people who agree with this person's views.

 

Admittedly, I don't know the young woman who wrote this post.  But I do wonder if she identifies as a Christian.  I wonder this, because I know a lot of people who do consider themselves charitable, Christian folk. And at the same time, this is how they too see the recipients of welfare:  as taxpayer -dollar -sucking, lazy wasteoids who have no interest in putting in an honest day's work but instead, are living it up on government handouts.  The argument I hear again and again is, that Jesus asked us as individuals to help the poor, not the government doing so.  What some Christian folks are forgetting is, if they as individuals are speaking about the poor in this fashion, they have already strayed from what Jesus called Christians to do, and that is to care for the least of society. If you agree with the above- if you speak about the least of society in this fashion? You simply are not furthering the work Christ asked us to do on earth, period.  Never mind the fact that our government is acting on behalf of us as a collective of individuals. Wouldn't we then want the government to enact some measure of social justice, as Jesus would? And sorry, but agreeing with the above and then making a tax deductible donation to a charity does not give you a free pass on this issue, nor does it give you the right to assume that every person on food stamps is undeserving of that assistance. Sure, there will always be scammers, but it's good to remember that doesn't apply to everyone.  Far from it, but people like this young woman still keep saying such things hold as an absolute truth for all the poor folks collecting any form of public assistance.  

 

Also glaringly obvious to me, is that this 21 year old female who wants to be in charge, has never spent a day in her life with anyone poor. I'm sorry that the poor are not living up to her standards in terms of neediness. I'm sorry that her cynical viewpoint that everyone is a scam artist, overshadows the realities the poor in America are faced with. I'm sorry she thinks it justifiable to kick people who are down on their luck... with her "ideas". I'm even sorrier that other people buy into this way of thinking, and that it results in lawmakers who think that blindly trimming dollars from food stamp programs, will somehow make those dependent upon that help miraculously self-sufficient. Because as she so insistently stated, none of those poor people work to begin with.

 

Funny, I seem to remember Jesus saying in the scriptures, something about it being easier for a rich man to pass through the eye of a needle, than it is for them to get into the kingdom of Heaven. He also said the poor were blessed and would inherit God's Kingdom- the last, shall be first, and the first shall be last.  How do either of these scriptures coincide with a person keeping more of their tax dollars that would otherwise help the needy? I ask my fellow Christians especially, to hold themselves to a higher standard and purpose.

 

This is my rebuttal to the above piece, which is also posted on Facebook:  

 

WRITTEN BY A 38 YEAR OLD MOTHER
Put ME in Charge........
Put me in charge of food stamps. I'd treat people with dignity when they are struggling. I wouldn't presume to know what a person would like to buy or eat. I would understand that... food is a basic need, and anyone receiving assistance is worthy. I would honor those who are elderly and can no longer work, the children who can't help they were born poor, and the veterans who cannot find work in the country they fought to serve. I would treat people as I would want to be treated if I'd fallen on hard times, and thank my God for my prosperity.

Put me in charge of Medicaid. I would hire enough people to eliminate forever, the billion dollar plus fraud business perpetuated by organized crime, instead of the three agents charged with this responsibility. I would then ensure we have a system that takes care of our most vulnerable citizens. Never again would anyone go bankrupt over healthcare costs. I would create a system that is patient centric and healing centric, not a system for profit. After all, Jesus never healed people for money. He also never dictated who could or could not reproduce, and valued all life regardless of circumstance.

Put me in charge of government housing. I would send an army of volunteers to repair and restore the broken, depressed, unclean overcrowded "homes" of those who have multiple jobs and cannot provide more for their families. I would create quiet, peaceful places in these housing units for children to play safely, and do their homework. I would challenge citizens to do more for the invisible homeless who don't even qualify for any government housing. I would beseach lawmakers to consider, that when a person has dignity restored, they will do more for themselves and society only benefits from investments in its people. And then I would ensure the working poor have opportunities that would pay them a living wage so their dignity could be maintained along with their children. No longer would it be more appealing to sell drugs or brandish a weapon, and going to college would be far more attainable.

I would never demand that the poor and the most vulnerable of our society, should not enjoy any pleasure, or that they should all be working. I do not expect grandparents, children, or the infirmed and disabled to work, and any society that expects that has their priorities all wrong.

In addition, every citizen will be required to do at least one selfless act for their community. Spend an afternoon feeding the hungry out of your own pocket, and go eat a meal with them. Go have cookies and milk with homeless children in a shelter and read them a bedtime story. Go to the inner city and help paint murals on a playground. Go be a mentor to a teen. Go and sit for an hour with an old person in a home who has no family left and no visitors. Because if everyone did that, I guarantee nobody would find value in any material things. They would instead, find value in one another. And the distasteful finger pointing at the most vulnerable, would cease to exist.

As a follower of Jesus, I know his greatest commandment was to care for the least of these, and if I follow him it is my calling to act as He commands. Please. Put ME in charge.

Now, if you have the guts? Don't just share this, go out and do something that makes a difference. Be thankful for what you have and less judgemental of those that do not have. Do something that makes the world a little kinder. Living is hard enough as it is.

 

Living IS hard enough as it is. When we expect the best of others, that is what we get and cultivate. When we treat the least of these with dignity, they too embrace dignity again. Until the cynics get on board with these truths, they will only see what justifies their cynicism. 

 

-- T

 

D is For......

The most recent development in my family is that we adopted a rescue dog.

And over the last 4 months of dog ownership, one thing has become abundantly clear: we got a defective one.

Our dog is 8 months old now.  In addition to her name which we didn't change after adopting, she's got several nicknames and a few catchy sung phrases too created just for her (All my children have their own songs. This is just what I do.) She wags her tail incessantly, sometimes coupling this with jumping up on people to say hello.  The jumping doesn't always go over so well with small people, but I digress.  The new family dog is relatively smart.  She knows the following commands:  sit, stay, down, watch me, and back.  Of course like most members of my family, the mere mention of the word "treat" has her willing to do just about anything.  Food motivated is kind of an understatement.  She hardly ever complains when asked to go in her kennel.  If you put your face near hers, she'll give you kisses.

Our dog is a couch hog.  Her favorite pastime when she's not playing or eating, is sleeping...preferably on said couch and as stretched out as she possibly can be.   The couch is always the default position for her, and her own dog bed is second. The fact that she is not finished growing, yet already takes up nearly 3/4 of said couch, is rather disconcerting.  Thankfully she prefers a human companion to share the couch with.  And she doesn't discriminate. Kids or adults are most welcome to snuggle and cuddle.

Our dog is playful. Sometimes she gets fits of energy and runs all over the backyard like a wild thing.  She is learning how to play fetch, but you really need two tennis balls because she hasn't quite gotten the concept yet of "drop it".  Leash etiquette is not her strong suit.  A harness has helped.  She just loves walks even though she is a tad leash-spastic, especially when she gets to greet other dogs.  She thinks that all dogs she meets are friendly, and is rather surprised when this is sometimes not the case.  She is learning that people and children do not play in the same way that other dogs might play with her, but honestly for a puppy she doesn't mouth much if ever. Running free and playing with her own furiends at the dog park, ranks high on our dog's to-do list.

Our dog is loyal.  If she could talk, she'd probably quote Ariel from The Little Mermaid:  "I want to go, where the people are."  The kids adore her, but none more than my nearly 6 year old daughter, who often will work on tricks and training with the dog, almost to a level of some kind of dog-whisperer prodigy (I'm seriously not exaggerating. There could be a future career here for this child.)If my kids are sad, which is a rarity, the dog is checking on them.  Don't mistake loyalty for guarding though.  This is no guard dog.  She hardly barks at anything, unless its Buster, our resident feline who arguably bosses her around quite a bit....which is very funny considering the cat is probably a third of her size at best. We've discovered that turning on the sprinkler sends her running indoors.  Sometimes I wish she would bark when the doorbell rings, or at least when I'm turning the key in the lock.  I mean, what's the point of owning a large dog if they don't bark at the appropriate times?  But no, not this dog.  She sure does bark if I leave the house without her, unless she's in her kennel of course. When out and about, she periodically "checks in" with me, looking up at me as if to say "How'm I doin?", or "So what's next?".  We are her people. She's definitely loyal.

Our dog gets into trouble.  She has a ridiculously cute face and trust me, she works this to her advantage to get out of jams. One look at that face and you're suddenly wondering where the dog biscuits are so you can give her one.  It's truly terrible. Her newfound size has enabled her to perfect things like putting her paws up on the pantry counter in the hopes someone left a tasty food item within reach.  Let me be the first to say that many a loaf of bread has met an early demise.  No, I don't condone this behavior and we're working on correcting it, but sometimes the dog wins in the maylay that comes with a three-children-household. Mia culpa.  She's also 8 months old and not completely housebroken. I realize part of this is on me and the hubs, for not always seeing her cues.  However, standing at the back door silently in a household like mine, may not always get noticed.  This is where a bark or two would be more than helpful!  Just sayin. Guaranteed if the silent backdoor vigil is not noticed within what feels like a hot second, trouble of an elimination kind ensues. Recently if she's caught in the act, and I immediately usher her outside, her whole attitude is like, "Oh yeah! I'm sposed to go out HERE!"  Sigh. Obviously we are getting played.

Our dog is generally obedient, though not without consistent reminders. This dog probably hears the word "NO!" about a bazillion times in a 24 hour period. Here I thought I said no a lot to my children!  Not even close. Her favorite home turf pastime is finding toys not belonging to her and making them her own.  This is not to say that she doesn't have a growing number of her own toys to play with, including an abundance of treats and rawhide chews. But if given the opportunity, she's more than happy to attempt to personally add to her own toy collection. She also thinks that stealing recycled cardboard and cereal boxes and shredding them up is helpful. Um, no.  I suppose I should be grateful this does not include furniture chewing. She is still a puppy, after all.  She has never chewed the furniture.  Not even once. Barbie however, has not been so lucky.

I know what you are thinking.  Sounds like a perfectly normal dog, you say? Yeah, she's pretty wonderful, and a great addition to our family.  Even strangers think so. She's becoming an avid social networking canine, with her own Facebook page and a growing number of human fans and furiends alike, some as far away as Australia.

But I'm telling you, she's defective! Something is clearly wrong with her.  She is not anything like I'd heard a dog like her would be.

Meet our family dog, Piper.  The pitbull.

Twenty Two Reasons for Gratitude

It's that time of year when hopefully, we Americans will take pause and be thankful for what we have.  This Thursday, millions will gather at the homes of their family or friends, have some delicious food, and enjoy each other's company.

And then trample each other the next day for a Black Friday sale.  I know, ironic.

All kidding aside though, in the spirit of gratitude- which a wise spiritual teacher recently dubbed for a talk as "the magical attitude"- I thought I would list some of the reasons that I'm thankful this year.

1.  My husband.  He's not just uber-cute, he's a really quality good guy.  He works really hard to provide for our family, sometimes to stress levels uncomprehensible to most.  He is smart, creative, and he has a big heart. He is a very good father, and my best friend. 

2. My firstborn. My son is an absolute gem of a kid.  Don't get me wrong, he, like most kids that are 7 1/2, has his whiny, not-so-shiny moments.  He's also loud but admittedly, so are his parents (mia culpa, we are stage people. What else is there to say?). But the neatest thing about being his Mom is watching the person he is growing into-  kind, thoughtful, big-hearted, intelligent, generous, and funny.  He can also draw some very realistic Angry Birds.

3.  My middle child.  She is truly the Princess of the family.  Often stubborn, extremely opinionated, known to sometimes stomp her foot but then flash you the prettiest smile you've ever seen.  She is 5 going on 25, whipsmart, gorgeous, and when she wants to be, the sweetest cuddlebug with a giving spirit. She can also be an absolute bear.  I suspect this is true for many middle children.  In watching her try to navigate her position in birth order, I think that being in the middle is a difficult road. I am looking forward to helping her find her own unique mark in the family and the world.

4.  My youngest daughter.  She turns 3 tomorrow! Everybody loves her.  She also does not take crap from anybody- if she feels wronged, you will know.  I love that she is tough and sticks up for herself.  I am enjoying watching her become more independent. Out of all three children, she seems to be the most inclined to singing and performing, which is pretty neato.

5.  My parents.  Parenting is hard. My parents were not perfect and no parent is, but they did their best.  And they both have qualities I admire and try to emulate.  My mother is a hard worker, and yet she can be silly and spontaneous.  My father was very wise, had a big heart and appreciated the simple things in life.  My Dad passed away in 1994 so he never got to meet my husband or my children. I wish he had lived long enough to meet them.  I wish my Mom lived closer but she is a wonderful Nonna and my children adore her.

6.  My sisters and my brother. Especially my younger sister whom I grew up with.  I wish I lived closer to all of them! I am also thankful for my extended family, including my in-laws. 

7.  I am grateful that I get to do work that is fulfilling, and that I can balance that work with family life.  Sometimes this is a juggling act of epic proportions, and sometimes I fail miserably.  But at least I get to make the attempt!

8.  I am grateful for our home.  It is not perfect, and in places it needs work.  But it is more than many people have in the world.  I'm also thankful to live in a swell neighborhood, and with nifty neighbors.

9.  I am thankful that my children attend a great public school, with teachers who understand them and that are developing them into quality learners.

10. I am thankful for my friends new and old, who listen and are a source of support and understanding.

11. MUSIC, and the gift of song.  There is nothing in this world that makes me happier than singing, and sharing music with other people.

12. I am grateful for a healthy body and mind. I am thankful that I have the energy to take care of my family, and also myself. Health is something we often take for granted. 

13.  Chocolate!   No really, if you didn't expect to see chocolate on this list, you don't know me that well.

14.  A Minivan.  This makes the list because we were a one-car family for 5 years.  You have no idea how thankful I am that we will soon embark on a long drive to South Milwaukee to see my brother....with an extra set of seats separating us parental units from the offspring. 

15. Bacon.  Yes, this indeed needs to make the list of gratefulness.  I don't get to eat bacon all that often, but I enjoy it when I do.  A friend once told me, "Everything tastes better wrapped in bacon, or dipped in chocolate.".  Wiser words were never spoken! 

16.  I am thankful for a spiritual home and community second to none.  St. Joan of Arc Church here in Minneapolis has a long-standing tradition of incredible music, activism, and promotion of social justice.  We welcome everyone.  I love singing and serving such a loving place centered on the teachings of Jesus, and the opportunity for personal growth in my Catholic faith. 

17.  Notre Dame football.  If they get to play in the BCS championship this season, that's gravy.  I'm thankful for their performance this season and the quality representation of the players both on the field and off the field.  I'd be extra extra grateful if Manti Te'o takes home the Heisman, but I'll leave that in God's (capable) hands.

18.  My cat Buster.  He is intelligent, wily, and we just have an understanding of souls.

19.  I'm thankful for Americans who still believe in optimism, that this is indeed the greatest country in the world, and that our best times lie ahead of us. I'm grateful for the ability to openly discuss and disagree or agree politically, and the free exchange of ideas. 

20.  I'm thankful for the quiet moments in life.  As a Mom of three, these come few and far between, so the quiet is definitely appreciated.

21. I am thankful for the gifts of the earth and nature.  I am grateful we live in a city with such beautiful parks, lakes, and greenery. 

22.  I am grateful for every day and every minute, that I get to enjoy life and all of the above (and whatever is to come).  I am thankful for joys, tears, sorrows, laughter- all the things that make life such an incredible journey.

We are not promised tomorrow.  Settle into today and take a moment to look around and reflect.  I bet you've got a lot to be thankful for too. 

Winter Squash: Fall Comfort Foods

As the weather becomes cooler, one thing you might see in your grocer's produce aisle are the winter squash varieties.  Butternut and acorn are two of the most common and two of my favorites to cook with in the Fall and Winter. 

Squash in both its winter and summer varieties, have many health benefits.  Winter squash specifically is high in Vitamin A (as are sweet potatoes), which support lung health.  A cup of winter squash also contains 15% of your daily value of folate, which prevents birth defects and

Folate also works to prevent heart attacks by working against elements that break down blood vessel structures in your body. There is also a correlation between folate intake and reduced incidences of colon cancer.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/2701-facts-health-benefits-squash/#ixzz2CPfplTIe


I have added diced squash to soups, chilis, and stews for an added dose of color and vitamin boost. The squash pretty much adopts the flavor of whatever you are cooking it with, and it looks very pretty.  This is a little labor intensive in that you've got to do more cutting up of the squash when it is raw, so I typically do this with acorn squash as it's a smaller variety.  Halve the squash and remove seeds.  Then quarter and cut off the outer skin, and dice into cubes.  It is an excellent addition to chili- either with meat or a vegeterian chili- soups, or stews.  Unless you are adding the squash to a crockpot dish, add it about halfway to three quarters of the way through the overall cooking time to avoid mushy cubes.

Baking is the easiest method to make winter squash, and it's also a great way for this veggie to shine in all it's glory.  All you need to do is halve your squash, remove seeds.  I like to add to the hollowed center a little olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.  Butter is nice for a special occasion, but it's not the healthiest option and quite honestly, the squash itself will taste great even if this is omitted.  Cover the halves with foil and place on a baking tray or in a shallow baking pan.  A typical acorn squash will take about 30-40 minutes to bake through in a 375 degree oven. 

Lately I've been baking acorn squash and then stuffing it to make a complete meal.  You can get creative with this!  This week I used a stuffing made from ground chicken, italian seasoning, chopped mushrooms, spinach, and topped with a little parmesan cheese.  Pictured below I used tomatoes, Morningstar farms soy sausage patties (crumbled), zucchini and wisconsin cheddar. While your squash is baking make your filling separately, remove the squash about 10 minutes before done and add your filling- top with cheese if you like, and serve right in the shell of the squash.  A salad makes a nice side dish.

 

Leftover baked squash can be scooped from the skin, pureed and made into a delicious soup. Skip the cream and use 2% milk at the end of the cooking process (ie, stir in while soup is hot), or use greek yogurt.  Squash soups can be made sweet (try cooking in green apples) or savory with traditional spices or even curry.  

I would love some more every day  recipes that are healthy involving squash.  What kinds of squash do you like to eat, and what is your favorite way to prepare it?   

Election Day 2012

Today America decides who will lead our country for the next four years.  Today in Minnesota, we also will be deciding about a Voter ID amendment, as well as an amendment defining marriage in a way that I believe limits personal freedoms in our state constitution. 

If you know me on Facebook, then you know I'm political.  Extremely political. Maybe politically posting to the point of personal annoyance.  Mia culpa to you if you feel that way.  I won't however, apologize for my viewpoints.

But that's not what this post is about. At least, not exactly.

First things first:  If you are age eligible to vote, I hope you are doing so. Get your behind to the polls because folks, this might be the most important election you will vote on in your lifetime. If you feel strongly about your candidate, you better be casting your vote.  Put your vote where your mouth is!  And if you don't well, you will just have to live with whatever the rest of us decide- and you therefore forfeit the right to complain.

I think the biggest disappointment for me as an American citizen, is the complete and utter nastiness that has occured over this election, and over the last four years of President Obama's first term and also by extension, to those of us who proudly elected him into office. I have been called a sheeple, a liberal extremist, accused of having no common sense, of blindly following the "liberal media", of being laughable, without fact based arguments.  And that's just the nice things.  I have seen this on both sides of the arguments so if you are a democrat and your'e reading this?  Don't get all up on your high horse either.  We know we are just as good at slinging mud as the GOP supporters, and for some of them they might say we are better at it.  Once when I vehemently disagreed with protests by Occupy MN in regards to housing, and I voiced my opposing opinion.  Well they not only deleted my comments but they also banned me from commenting on their facebook page.  That was eye opening to say the least! I have conservative friends who have actually lost friends over their political leanings and opinions.  I don't think anyone has a get out of jail free card on the political rhetoric being less than kind.  I also don't think the answer is deleting people from your friend list, or telling them off if you don't agree with them. If you do that you're missing out on the opportunity for spirited debate, which is what our country was founded upon.

And then there is all of this nonsense going on at the polls (thankfully though, not at my polling place).  People who in the name of protecting our voting system from supposed voter fraud, harrassing citizens and intimidating them from exercising their right to have their vote counted.  I am 38 years old so I've been eligible to vote in this country for 20 years.  In all my time as a registered voter, never have I seen such utter nonsense and disregard for the democratic process.  It's a sad day in this country when people stop trusting one another to do their civic duty responsibly.  I have grandparents who were Democrats and Republicans.  I don't believe they conducted themselves in this manner.  They kept their word on a handshake.  We need to return to that kind of integrity in America.

Watching, commenting, and participating in political discussions as a Christian Catholic, has also been very interesting.  Perhaps the saddest thing I have witnessed in this election year, is the attack on the poor, the disenfranchised, the least of our nation.  When a picture of a tweet from Tim Tebow is circulated on Facebook with the sentiments that Obama will be ahead in the polls...until 5pm when the (working) Republicans go vote- and people are laughing about that?  That's just sad.  It might not have been something that Tebow ACTUALLY tweeted, but the idea that the poster child in professional football, famous for his knee-bending homage to the Lord would say such a thing...well that's more than troubling to me as a follower of Jesus. I don't care what side of politics you sit on- if you're a Christian, quite frankly if you have a heart at all- then it should really bother you too.  Because Jesus Christ welcomed all to the table- and he didn't ask how long you'd been collecting food stamps, or whether or not you were worthy of his love.  He loved everyone without condition.  We Christians need to take a step back and start making common decency our first priority, not an afterthought or something to be carefully doled out to only those we deem worthy of it.

I walked to my polling place this morning, with two toddlers in tow, and a well packed purse with juice boxes and snacks for my littlest companions.  On the way I ran into the elderly couple who live across the street from me.  I noticed they were wearing their "I Voted" stickers so I made some conversation and wished them well, asked them how the lines were, that sort of thing.  These are two of the nicest people you will meet.  They have lived on my block for many years, raised their now grown children here.  To the delight of my children every Christmas, they put up a massive light extravaganza in their yard, visible from the upstairs windows.  They are also Republicans.  And they probably voted for Romney today.  Not once have they ever had anything but a smile and a kind word for me or my family. 

When all the dust settles, when elections are decided at the national, the state, and the local levels- we are going to have to do some soul searching.  We are going to have to, no matter who ends up in office, begin the groundwork of burying the hatchet politically.  I would like to think that this will be something that happens in Congress, in our representatives, in Washington.  But I just don't know that will be the case unless we, the voting public, take a stand that is greater than our political opinions and rhetoric.  Some of the reconciliation has to be done by individuals- we the people.  And then, we the people need to be getting on the phone and letting those representatives know if we think they aren't representing us well.  Our individual vote is the beginning of that process, but we should not stop there.  Make a phone call.  Write an email.  Hold those elected accountable for setting the tone.  Ask them- in fact, demand- that those elected promote common decency above all else.  And if you profess to be Christian, for Heaven's sake be a force primarily for the teachings of Christ, above all else- and if you don't think that is the government's calling, you should be making it your business- by your own actions- that it's your personal one.

Finally, the next time you have the opportunity to talk to someone who doesn't agree with your political views, remember that the person might be a hard worker.  They might be down on their luck and trying to get a job. They might be struggling to make ends meet every month. They might be a parent with children to care for, a grandparent, an Aunt or Uncle.   They hopefully are a person who pays their taxes and tries their best to be a good citizen. They might be a member of your own family, or a friend from your childhood.  They live, laugh, love, breathe the same air that we all do.  Hopefully, they want what's best for America.  They, like you, are doing the best that they can every day.  This is what I choose to believe about Americans, like my neighbors.  I refuse to allow cynicism to dictate how I see this country.  For the sake of America going forward, you shouldn't either. 

To Be, or Not to Be? The NYC Marathon

In the wake of the devastation of Sandy, everyone is talking about one thing- Bloomberg's decision to have the NYC Marathon continue as scheduled.

Some people think this is heartless. This, is dirty capitalism over humanitarian efforts. This, is ignoring the suffering of the people of NYC and the Tri-State.  We should be focusing on getting help to those who are now homeless, the cleanup, food, basic needs.  There is a case for whether or not the city is ready to take on hosting an international event so soon. 

I get all of that.  Truly I do.  But there are a few more points to consider before you so harshly judge Bloomberg's decision.

A Sense of Normalcy-  To me, this is the greatest argument for having the marathon take place no matter what the condition of the city as a whole.  If they can host it AT ALL, they should do it.  You think that if they couldn't, Bloomberg would do it anyway?  Of course not.  He's considered this and is pushing forward.  Why?  Because New Yorkers want to move forward.  Because New Yorkers want to run.  Because New Yorkers after this, NEED to push forward in spite of the destruction.  Mayor Bloomberg understands this because he is a New Yorker. For crying out loud the guy takes the subway to work most of the time.  He knows his city and the best way to lead. To not host the NYC Marathon is to say to the world, "We are too defeated."  That's never been the spirit of the city or it's people.

You Underestimate New York-  I lived in NYC for 12 years, from 1996-2007.  If you have lived in the city for any period of time, you get what it's like and what the vibe is- it's perserverance.  You get knocked down, you get back up. It's truly, the place that Sinatra sang about- "If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere!".  Damn right.  No disrespect, but if you've never lived there, not just visited, you don't really get what I'm saying. Not really. You can experience the excitement that is New York as a tourist, but you have to live there to get the vibe I'm talking about.  I remember what it was like in the days following 9/11.  I worked for CBS at the time, and spent many days not doing my real job, but instead answering emails from people all over the world writing in condolences.  And some were also saying that we needed to know who did this, and we have to enact revenge.  Meanwhile, we New Yorkers were picking up the pieces, pulling together- doing what needed to be done.  I don't have to live in New York now to know, that people are quietly volunteering, helping their neighbors, and doing what needs to be done to move forward.  Hosting the NYC Marathon is part of that.  It's saying, yes, we will continue.  We always do.

Money-  Now this is where a lot of people get stuck because, why would we choose making money over people?  Well, you need to ask yourself, is that what is really happening here?  I'm going to say no.  The city lost incredible amounts of revenue after Sandy hit.  I have friends who personally lost income because they are not salaried, and friends of friends who lost it all.  Businesses lost customers or worse, they lost everything.  Wall Street was closed for a day.  The bottom line is, the NYC Marathon is an international event.  International.  That means people participating from all over the world, and the world will be watching.  The city needs the revenue to recover from all of this.  I get that this shouldn't trump a person's access to water, utlities, a home.  All of that.  But you have to also concede that money is what makes the city run and they are going to need to pick up the pieces economically.  Hosting the marathon accomplishes this in a small way in terms of dollars but also in a huge way.  Watch the donations pour in from companies who whether or not they sincerely care, are going to put dollars there to look socially responsible.  And those companies will do what companies do to express this sentiment- they will give money. Lots of it. This is a reality of a capitalistic society.  I don't always agree with this reality, but in this case I do. At the end of the day, hosting an international event is going to help the people of New York recover.  Given it's an international event, postponing is out of the question in my opinion.  If Bloomberg says they can host on time, guaranteed New Yorkers are going to work harder than ever to make it happen.  And they will make it happen.

I'm not surprised that Bloomberg would insist on pushing forward with hosting the marathon.  In fact, I would expect nothing less of the mayor of a city that is truly, the greatest city in the world.  Kudos to New York for proving that to the world, time and time again.  People seem to be divided on this issue. I know where I stand.  What do you think? 

ADDENDUM:  At about 5pm EST, Mayor Bloomberg announced that the NYC Marathon was cancelled.  I guess this was for the best, but it does surprise me given my sentiments above.  Let's hope that all the runners already on their way to New York go anyway, and volunteer to help. I still stand by my commentary though. 

Rough Around the Edges...

This post is definitely going to be rough around the edges. 

Why?  Well that's simple.  Because I'm not sure exactly where to begin.

I thought that writing a blog would be easy.  I mean, I have a lot to talk about.  And yet, here I am stumped at what to write, other than to tell you a bit about me.

For starters, I live a relatively ordinary life.  I'm a wife to a super hubs, a Mom to three wonderful kiddos, and living in a quiet Twin Cities neighborhood.  I run a business from home and so, I get to spend a lot of time with my children.  They are 7, 5, and nearly 3....all exactly 2 yrs and 4 months apart.  In the midst of the ordinary day to day existence, my children and family life are often the sources of my entertainment, my joys, my annoyances.  Yes, sometimes they are annoying!  But they are also my greatest joys. I will likely write posts about the roller coaster that is parenthood.

I am a singer and have been most of my life.  I adore singing and if it didn't make me look like a wierdo, I would literally sing all of the time until I drew my last breath.  This holds true whether I'm singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to a captive bathing audience of small people in our bathroom (okay THAT sounds wierd, but if you are a parent you know what I mean)....or gracing a stage.  I would like to think I'm pretty good at this.  Now that my children are needing me less, I'm looking to sing more often, and perhaps get back to writing some songs too.  I am a regular professional musician at my church, so that's a good start.  I will likely write about performing and wherever that takes me.

Real Talk- in a gentle way, I'm going to tell it like it is.  I have opinions and yes, I will freely disperse those opinions.  Opinions on parenting, opinions on cooking, opinions on whether or not the last episode of XFactor was worth watching.  I have big time political opinions (mostly liberal dem here, don't hate!).  I do not expect everyone to agree with me, though like most people I do enjoy it when people DO agree.  However, if you don't agree with me, not to worry-  expect that I'll still treat your viewpoints respectfully.  I also like to give advice when approached for such, and I've been told I have some wisdom worthy of sharing with others.  Fair enough. So,  I will likely write about my insights and opinions on various subjects of interest. These may include but are not limited to:  politics, entertainment, parenting, spirituality.....and I'm probably leaving some thinga out, so I guess there will be some surprises.

 FOOD, glorious food!  I love food and kitchen gadgets and cooking.  Let it be said that my kitchen looks more old-world than I would like it to look.  Old World is a nice way of saying that our kitchen is old and it sucks, and we need to get it redone.  What can I say, our house is circa 1910 and there were some surprises underneath very ugly rooster and flour bag wallpaper.  I have decent appliances so I can't complain too much, but some actual counter space would be heavenly. And better lighting.  Actually any lighting would be an upgrade. Where my kitchen itself falls short, my cooking does not.  So I will likely talk about food, eating well, and share some recipes.  I try to eat healthy but three things I am likely to never give up eating are cheese, crackers, and dark chocolate.  Mia culpa.

So- the above is a little about what to expect from me.  There will be lots to post.  The posts will be eclectic for now.  Like me, they may be a little rough around the edges, albeit honest and heartfelt.  I hope you'll stick around and read on. :)

Momma T