Linkin Park - What I've Done

Way to Go Mr. Carter

I used to of think of President Carter as kind of wimpy, but his remarks to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette this weekend totally changed my mind. He didn't impress me much as President, but I knew he did great works for peace and his humanitarian efforts since leaving office have been remarkable. Finally, someone is showing the backbone that most in Washington lack. Many people share his views of the Bush administration, but few are brave enough to admit it publicly.

From the AP

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Former President Carter says President Bush's administration is "the worst in history" in international relations, taking aim at the White House's policy of pre-emptive war and its Middle East diplomacy.The criticism from Carter, which a biographer says is unprecedented for the 39th president, also took aim at Bush's environmental policies and the administration's "quite disturbing" faith-based initiative funding.

"I think as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world, this administration has been the worst in history," Carter told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in a story that appeared in the newspaper's Saturday editions. "The overt reversal of America's basic values as expressed by previous administrations, including those of George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon and others, has been the most disturbing to me."

"We now have endorsed the concept of pre-emptive war where we go to war with another nation militarily, even though our own security is not directly threatened, if we want to change the regime there or if we fear that some time in the future our security might be endangered," he said. "But that's been a radical departure from all previous administration policies."

Carter also offered a harsh assessment for the White House's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, which helped religious charities receive $2.15 billion in federal grants in fiscal year 2005 alone.

"The policy from the White House has been to allocate funds to religious institutions, even those that channel those funds exclusively to their own particular group of believers in a particular religion," Carter said. "As a traditional Baptist, I've always believed in separation of church and state and honored that premise when I was president, and so have all other presidents, I might say, except this one.

Farewell Falwell

I'm sure you've heard the Reverend Jerry Falwell has died. I have mixed feelings about writing anything negative about someone after their death, but after the past 24 hours of hearing what a "saint" he was, I have to speak up. I'm not glad that he died, I'm never happy to hear of anyone dying. I feel bad for his family and anyone that loved him, but with that said, I hope people remember who this man truly was.

This is the man that referred to Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Civil Rights Movement" as "Civil Wrongs Movement". He referred to Ellen as "Ellen Degenerate" and demanded sponsors yank their advertising from her show. He claimed the "Antichrist" will be a Jewish man. He called Noble Peace prize winner, Desmond Tutu a "phony". He called AIDS God's punishment for homosexuality. In case there's anyone who hasn't been offended yet, I'll leave you with a few of his quotes.

Falwell on segregation: "If Chief Justice Warren and his associates had known God's word and had desired to do the Lord's will, I am quite confident that the 1954 decision would have never been made."

Falwell on schools: "I hope I live to see the day when, as in the early days of our country, we won't have any public schools. The churches will have taken them over again and Christians will be running them."

Falwell on Bush: "I am such a strong admirer and supporter of George W. Bush that if he suggested eliminating the income tax or doubling it, I would vote yes on first blush.

Falwell on Ellen: "Vice President Gore recently praised the lesbian actress who plays 'Ellen' on ABC Television...I believe he may even put children, young people, and adults in danger by his public endorsement of deviant homosexual behavior...Our elected leaders are attempting to glorify and legitimize perversion."

Falwell on global warming: "I believe that global warming is a myth. And so, therefore, I have no conscience problems at all and I'm going to buy a Suburban next time."

Falwell on terrorists: "God continues to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give us probably what we deserve."

Falwell on 9/11: "I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way -- all of them who have tried to secularize America -- I point the finger in their face and say you helped this happen".

Falwell on civil liberties: "The First Amendment is not without limits." " The ACLU is to Christians what the American Nazi party is to Jews."

RIP Jerry

Sappy Mother's Day

I've always hated Mother's Day. Well, not always, just since I was seven and my own Mother died. It was probably the most dreaded day of my childhood. I don't know if it's a tradition everywhere, but where I'm from you spend the day at church with a rose pinned on your dress. The lucky girls got red roses, red meant your Mother was alive. I got a white rose, white was the "dead mommy" rose. I hated that damned rose so much. I hated the attention that it brought. I hated the stares and I especially hated the questions, questions I didn't want to answer. I tried to get out of wearing it but my bitch of a stepmother insisted. No matter how hard I tried to pretend I was invisible, all eyes were on me. I ended up being teased by other kids, cornered by nosey adults and running into the house crying after church. I thought when I was an adult I would make things different. I would have my own kids and we would skip church that day, skip the stupid roses and just have fun. But after actually having my own children, I ended up missing my Mom more than ever. We didn't go to church and we didn't wear roses but I still spent the day feeling sad. I felt sad for my kids not having a Grandma, I felt sad for my Mom never being able to meet my sweet kids and I felt sad for not having her to go to with my own questions. I wanted so badly to be happy, but I had so many painful memories tied to this day. I also felt guilty for even trying to be happy on a day honoring mothers when mine was dead. But this year something changed, I changed. I decided the day would not be sad. I would not be sad. I would find a different way to honor my Mom's memory and I would make this day about myself and my family. I promised only to focus on the good things we had, with no thoughts of what was missing. I wouldn't allow a single negative thought on this day.

My husband got up early with the kids and let me sleep in. I woke up thankful for a rare rested feeling. I was immediately showered with hugs, kisses and told how much they "missed" me while I was sleeping. I asked my husband in advance not to spend any money, but they still managed to fill my arms with gifts. I took time to really enjoy and appreciate each one of them. There were beautiful homemade cards and presents, my favorite flowers and a very thoughtful automatic can opener. (That probably sounds funny to most people, but I have arthritis in my thumb and forefinger and I was too forgetful or maybe too cheap to ever buy one for myself, so it was a very welcomed gift.) I just kept focusing on how sweet and thoughtful my family was and how they made me feel so special. I thought about how much I loved each one of them and how lucky I was to have them. I felt so thankful for my wonderful husband, so grateful to have healthy and happy children. I finally let go of the past and allowed myself to feel all of the joy and love in the present. Everyone kept asking what I wanted to do. They said it was my day and we could do anything, but I knew it didn't matter where we went or what we did because I already had everything I needed. For the first time I can ever remember, I felt at peace on Mother's Day.

We finally decided to go for a drive on this perfect Spring day. We had a picnic with food from my favorite drive in. We ended up back home soaking up the sun on our deck and watching our beautiful children play on the most beautiful day I can ever remember.

Pink Says It All...

No Child Left Unsolicted?

I've had problems with the so-called "No Child Left Behind Act" since the beginning. For example, the funding promised is not equal to the funding received. The yearly progress is based on the total number of students in a school with no exception for students with disabilities (that need special help or are unable to even take the tests). You've probably heard of these and other unfair parts of this bill, but did you know military recruiting was also slipped into this mess? Schools now HAVE to allow military recruiting (starting in middle school) in order to keep their funding! Not only do they get to talk to your children without your supervision, they also get a list of names, addresses and phone numbers. Unbelievable...

SEC. 9528. ARMED FORCES RECRUITER ACCESS TO STUDENTS AND STUDENT RECRUITING INFORMATION.

(a) POLICY-


(1) ACCESS TO STUDENT RECRUITING INFORMATION- Notwithstanding section 444(a)(5)(B) of the General Education Provisions Act and except as provided in paragraph (2), each local educational agency receiving assistance under this Act shall provide, on a request made by military recruiters or an institution of higher education, access to secondary school students names, addresses, and telephone listings.