Aaron's Favorite Toy

This is what fills up my days. How grateful I am to be able to spend quality and quantity time with the newest love of my life. On the days when I hate people as a species, all I have to do is look into those baby blue and I'm lost.

My mother in law used to say "If I'd know grandchildren were so much fun I'd have had them first." Now I know what she means. To all of you grandmothers and fathers out there I say, "Let's get'er done, more spoil'n of them grandkids"

Childhood?

I live in a reasonably conservative small town community. It's growing, and not always gracefully, but it is still on the smallish side. So it was with astonishment that I listened as my 10 year old, described the events of his day. His account was full of the usual stuff. Who did what to who, who the teacher "yelled" at, which in child speak means, the teacher had to raise her voice to correct someone but then he segued to something entirely different.

It seems that at the end of the fifth grade year at our local school there is a Fifth Grade Recognicition "Dance." Now before I go on I want you to know I am not one of "those parents" who go down to the school everytime something happens that I don't particularly like. If the issue is important to me and will affect my child negatively then I get involved, otherwise I trust the staff (who are fantastic) to do their job and assume the PTO(A in the east) will as well. It isn't this specific event I am concerned about as much as the mind set that brought it about.

That said, when did I miss the memo that 10 year olds needed a "Dance." These are children, not adolescents. They should be worried about times tables, bike rides, ball games, dolls, frogs, dogs, roller skating, ice cream cones and cartoons. They should not be obsessed with who to ask to the dance. When did we loose our perspective of age? Do parents who condone this kind of behavior have any idea of the slippery slope on which they have placed their children. If they start "going out" at 10 what will they be doing by the time they are 14 or 16. We are so concerned about teen pregnacy and STD's that our children have to have sex ed classed in 4th grade. So we allow them to attend a "Dance" and let them think that they are old enough to make decisions that some people in their 40's have a hard time with. I remember dating, it was stressful and many times if not unpleasant or more often uncomfortable.

In our family (which works for us and is not meant to work for everyone else, BTW) children don't attend "Dances" until they are 14. They don't date (in a group- meaning more than one couple) until they are 16. Single dating is reserved for adults at age 18. Hopefully by that time they have sufficient self mastery and control as well as the positive self image necessary to deal with some of the "interesting people" they will come upon in the big, bad world. To me,(my opinion-but this is my blog) to allow young children to wade into this maelstrom is the height of folly. Would you give your 10 year old the keys to the car, cigarettes, drugs, pornography or a gun? Why would you start them on a such a dangerous path at a time when they are not mature enough to handle?

All children "play" at being grown ups. They should understand that "play" is all they can do at least for a while. Monitor what they watch on TV, ask them about the books they are reading, meet their friends, volunteer at their school. Stop encouraging them to grow up too soon. There will be years and years for them to date, et al, there is absolutely no need to rush.

I know this is contrary to what children are told constantly, "Oh why don't you NOT grow up" at least not so soon?

Unbelievable

I read a story today from our Friday paper- I know I'm just a few days behind. Anyway, it seems the mother of two boys who committed suicide ( first one, then months later the other) is suing the school, because the school should have known and stopped the boys before they committed their acts.

The school should have known? Why should the school have known, did these boys have the same teacher for the duration of their school career? Did their teacher only have 10 or 12 students to deal with so they could interact more personally with their students? Did the school keep them all summer and on vacations? Did the school take custody of these children from the time they were born? Did the school teach them to be selfish, thinking only of what is good for them, right now?

The fault, IF there is any belongs to all of the people in these children's lives. Where were the mother, father, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, mentors, and yes teachers to a smaller extent. Teachers have, especially in high school, 150 children on average to teach, discipline, and encourage. Depending on the school teachers are burnt out, exhausted and disheartened due less to the students than to arbitrary rules and regulations, that harm the students instead of help. Parents send children to school unprepared and sometimes unable to function within the confines of public behavior. Teachers have to spend valuable class time teaching children how to behave so they can get to the actual teaching, for which they are paid.

Parents are responsible for their children. If you can't be responsible for yourself, Do NOT procreate. There are way too many ways to not get pregnant for there to be that many mistakes. There are those who say no baby is a mistake, that is true, but having a baby when you are either incapable of caring for them or too irresponsible to do so, is a mistake.

Although parents have responsibilities to teach their children proper behavior, they cannot be held responsible for all of their children stupid mistakes. People have the God given right to do stupid stuff. Some stupid stuff is irreversible, like suicide. In the end no one person or entity, is responsible for the act of another person. A person has the ultimate responsibility for his or her behavior. They will make mistakes sometimes tragically. The only thing those left can do is to try to be more available, and sensitive to those who are most precious to us. And of course, mourn.

It's time to wake the sleeping giant ... again

In the movie Tora, Tora, Tora the character of Yamamoto the Japanese admiral says "I fear all we have done is to awaken sleeping giant... and fill him with a terrible resolve." Although there is some question as to the veracity of this quote, it does reflet his true feeling that Japan could not defeat the United States. I feel it is time to awaken that giant again.
Today's Malkin has a report of protestors and anti-protestors at a California post office.

Now I realize that California (the home of fruits, nuts, and flakes- no offense) has a serious problem with the whole illegal alien debate, but even they have to see the danger of what the city of Maywood is doing. One of the most interesting facets of this story is the complete lack of coverage being given it by the Main stream media. When you ignore the wholesale disregard of laws what are you left with? Chaos and anarchy. The Mexicans and Central Americans are used to this kind of life. After all isn't this why they have come here, to escape the mess they have made of their own countries?

Next point. We (America) didn't steal any land from the Spanish, we won it. We beat them, as a matter fact we ground them into the sand. Name me one country that was settled by the Spanish that has a stable, functioning, productive government and economy, and remember Brazil is not a Spanish country, it's Portuguese.

Finally, it is time to confront this problem and actually do something about it. Round up the illegals, if it means deputizing everyday folks, fine. When they are rounded up, expel them. Dump them back over the border, after making sure that border is defended. I really don't care what is used, guns, landmines, dogs, snakes, troops, whatever is necessary. Those who break the law in defense of illegals can go to. They are giving aid and comfort to enemies of this country and as politically incorrect as it may be "they are traitors." In earlier times they would have been hung, or shot. In today's more gentle country most people don't have the stomach for such matters, so these traitors should be expelled and their citizenship should be revoked.

Harsh, you say. Yes, I agree, but unfortunately people today need to be woken up to the dangers of anti-Americanism. We may have to take it from the international community, but we don't have to take it in our own living rooms. We need to be aware that there is just as much danger from the anti-Americans within as well as those without.

Islam = terror?

In an article on Drudge this morning Firebrand Islamic academic, an outspoken Muslim radical said the following:

"Hamas is making sacrifices for you. We tell this government Hamas is not a terrorist group. It is elected by the people of Palestine. We are not terrorists. We are defenders of the truth. Fighting those who invade Muslims is a just cause."

and this is even better:

"We are Muslims in Europe, not European Muslims," Dr. Tamimi said.

Pardon me if I'm a little confused Dr. Tamimi.
The people who flew planes into the World Trade Center were MUSLIMS.
The people who set off suicide bombs in all corners of the world are predominately MUSLIMS.
The people who planned to set off bombs in ten airplanes over cities in the US, killing all on the planes and many on the ground are MUSLIMS.
Those who call for the annihilation of another country, religion and culture (Israel) are MUSLIMS.
The people who bombed the trade center years ago, blew up a Marine barracks in Beruit in 1983 leaving 241 dead were MUSLIMS
The people who rioted in the streets of France, burning cars and homes last year were MUSLIMS.

What I want to know is where are these mythical peace-loving MUSLIMS? Why are they not speaking out, why are they not actively working to get rid of those who glory in death, blood, and carnage? Is it because Islam is not a religion of peace, that it is in fact a religion dedicated to eradicate free will and choice? The Genesis account of creation, which Abraham believed and wrote about, God gave Adam and Eve (mankind by extension) free will and choice. They could live in perpetual paradise, but never progress, or they could transgress one admonition to fulfill a greater one. The entity who stood in the path of this plan was Satan, the father of lies, sin, and war. Who do MUSLIMS follow a god of hate and enmity or a God of Love?

There is an old saying, from the Christian Bible, which says, "by their fruits shall yea know them." These days someone might say, "if it looks like a duck, smells like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck -- it's probably a duck.
So, if it looks, smells, walks, and quacks like terrorists, logic follows that it is a terrorist. To those who are offended by this, I'm sorry. I allow facts to influence my thoughts and ideas. I deal with reality not fantasy. If you want others to think that Muslims are peaceful people get rid of people like the Pres. of Iran, Dr. Tamimi and other Imams who inflame youth and cause death and destruction. Stop dithering and start doing.

To vaccine or not to vaccine, is that even a question?

As we have been told Bird Flu is just a cluck and peep away. In an set of articles at Foxnews.com there are little gems that should get the attention of everyday Americans

"Many experts welcome offering some financial incentives to drug companies to produce more vaccines and liability-protection legislation for the pharmaceutical industry. They also advocate reducing the regulatory barriers in place that prolong getting new medicines and vaccines to market."

'"Basically we haven't really advanced much in new tech for the last 60 years," said Dr. Paul Offit, chief of the division of infectious diseases at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "'"The problem with eggs is [that] only chickens grow eggs, so you're limiting steps."

"There is also little incentive for pharmaceutical companies to pay the up-front production costs to mass-produce vaccines. And if the U.S. government stockpiles vaccines, companies can't count them as being sold for a profit until they are actually distributed.

"There is little incentive for pharmaceutical companies...." I've got an incentive for you people. If Avian flu is as deadly as experts say, you people are going to lose quite of few of your consumers. Who goes first in an epidemic. The very young who to these companies are not even on their radar and the very old, who like it or not, are very important to drug companies.
The more people die the less people are available to use your products. Add to that if people get the idea that drug companies are not interested in the greater good they may decide to try other remedies for their illnesses. Maybe people will start using herbs and minerals. That part of the economy is not hurting but I'll bet they'd be happy to take all the consumers drug companies choose to give them.

Pharmaceutical Companies have an opportunity here. They can create generation of good will, as have other companies before them by producing a drug that will help the public more than it will profit them. Or they can stand on the sidelines while people die. Those who are left will remember that their father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, aunt and cousin could have been saved, but the drug companies refused to help. Thus their already shrinking market will grow even smaller until finally there will be no company.

This is what happens when industries don't look at the big picture and allow bean counters run the show. Find someone with the ability to imagine and look to the future instead of focusing on the immediate, or face the music. It's the choice of the industry to make, this is America, we're all about freedom.

The World Is Watching

Ladies and gentlemen,
I do believe it's time to bend over grab your ankles and pray. Maybe you could hide under your desks. The end is near.

I want to thank many of you. The forces of evil couldn't have done it without you. You complain, carry on, pontificate, aggravated, harm, disappoint, discourage and just plain drive the rest of us crazy. You drive like nuts, neglect your children, participate in any and all vile and depraved activities but you can't be bothered to find out where your children are at 12:00 am. You are voyeurs, who are incapable of living your own lives so you spend your spare time watching people on TV do stupid, irresponsible things just so someone will pay attention to them.

You turn every slight, offense, problem into a major pile of horse manure. You don't want to negotiate, just kill anyone and everyone who doesn't think like you.

Well guess what? You can't change how I think or what I feel. You can't make wrong, right or right, wrong. There really are absolutes in this world and eventually that fact will be borne down on you.

As far as Israel, and the Mid East are concerned, a glass parking lot would be too good for these people. They are willing to kill every man woman and child to get what they want. I hope they enjoy it. After this life there won't be much for them to laugh about.

Those ?? virgins they're waiting for. They're camels. Watch out for them, they spit.