Summer brings a lot of fun things - fishing, barbeques, swimming, fireworks, and parades. We had the chance to get to two parades this summer. I couldn't help but notice the contrast.
At the first parade, there was a lot of noise with the fire trucks blasting away, the bands playing loud songs and the various "floats" playing their music. The first parade came with boat loads of candy - tossed gently by the parade walkers. And finally some good old fashioned water spraying. A couple of the floats had the "heavy artillery" guns and shot at those who wanted to get wet. We had a great time!
The second parade was much, much more subdued. The fire trucks were silent! Silent! Have you EVER been to a parade where the firetrucks were silent? I hadn't until this last weekend. There were NO bands. Not a single one. There were some "floats" that had music, but they were pretty tame. And not a drop of water was sprayed.
Before the second parade, my son said, "but parades are boring!" That's not what he said after the first parade. Perhaps he was being prophetic, because the second parade was boring!
I can't help but think that we have become so OVER sensitive that we can't do anything fun because someone might be uncomfortable. Look, I have kids with disabilities and some things need accommodations, but quite frankly if the noise is too much, we either leave or don't go at all. I don't ask the rest of the world to quiet down just because one of my kids doesn't like noise. And water, oh my goodness! Are we all 'wicked witches' who will melt if we get wet? Seriously! If you don't want to get wet, MOVE!
If someone complains about the noise of the fire trucks, tell them to bring ear plugs. If someone complains about getting wet, tell them to bring an umbrella and let the rest of us celebrate!
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Happy "License Day"!
On this 4th of July, I'm struck by where our nation is headed. We no longer value freedom, but instead put license up on a pedestal. As a starter, let's look at the definition of the two words.
Freedom: 1: the quality or state of being free: as
a : the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action
Examples of FREEDOM
He thinks children these days have too much freedom.
She has the freedom to do as she likes.
License: a. Lack of due restraint; excessive freedom: "When liberty becomes license, dictatorship is near" (Will Durant).
b. Heedlessness for the precepts of proper behavior; licentiousness (and licentiousness means: lacking legal or moral restraints; especially : disregarding sexual restraints)
At first glance, the words Freedom and License may appear to be interchangeable. But if you look closer, you will see a dramatic difference.
The definition of Freedom talks about the absence of constraint. So that means I can do whatever I want right? No. The dictionary goes on to say "Freedom emphasizes the opportunity given for the exercise of one's rights, powers, desires, or the like." This means that you have the opportunity to exercise your rights etc, but there's also an implied amount of restraint. License on the other hand is defined as excessive freedom.
Here's a practical example. We have speed limits in our country. And while few of us adhere to the 'letter of the law' and stick to the actual number posted, most use "freedom" to stay near the limit. A minority of people will use 'license' to drive at whatever speed they feel like. Freedom uses some restraint, license does not.
What I'm observing in our country is more disturbing than violating a speed limit. It's taking license with moral issues. I'll highlight two examples - abortion and 'gay marriage.'
In 1973 it became "legal" in the United States to kill an unborn child. The arguments for both sides have been debated ad nauseum so I won't delve into them here. Instead, let me point out that the 10 commandments are very clear - Thou Shalt Not Kill. We've taken license with abortion and justified it with arguments that make us feel better and now it's legal to kill an unborn baby. While it may be "legal" in the United States, that does not (and never will) change the fact that it is immoral.
In the last year, we have been overwhelmed with a push to 'legalize' 'gay marriage.' In fact, Minnesota has now 'legalized' such actions. The Supreme Court has overturned a law against 'gay marriage.' The fact that a state has made it 'legal' or that the Supreme Court does not agree with California's law, once again does not change the fact that it is immoral. If you read the Bible, it's once again clear in Romans 1:26 and 27 that God is not pleased with what we call 'gay marriage' but instead 'gave them over to shameful lusts.'
If you cannot bring yourself to read the Bible and accept the truth of it, that does not change the argument I am making here. Freedom comes with some restraint. License does not. We now have the 'license' to kill a child in the womb. As a nation, we are gaining the 'license' to practice more and more types of immorality because we have 'legalized' it.
I'm confident that many people feel better in their justification of committing immoral acts because they are legal. You may feel fine for a time, but if you search deeper into your soul, you will find that just because something is 'legal' doesn't make it 'moral.'
As you celebrate today, and call it "Independence Day" remember that being completely independent from God and his righteous limitations is not Freedom, but License. So call it what it is and enjoy your License.
Freedom: 1: the quality or state of being free: as
a : the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action
Examples of FREEDOM
He thinks children these days have too much freedom.
She has the freedom to do as she likes.
License: a. Lack of due restraint; excessive freedom: "When liberty becomes license, dictatorship is near" (Will Durant).
b. Heedlessness for the precepts of proper behavior; licentiousness (and licentiousness means: lacking legal or moral restraints; especially : disregarding sexual restraints)
At first glance, the words Freedom and License may appear to be interchangeable. But if you look closer, you will see a dramatic difference.
The definition of Freedom talks about the absence of constraint. So that means I can do whatever I want right? No. The dictionary goes on to say "Freedom emphasizes the opportunity given for the exercise of one's rights, powers, desires, or the like." This means that you have the opportunity to exercise your rights etc, but there's also an implied amount of restraint. License on the other hand is defined as excessive freedom.
Here's a practical example. We have speed limits in our country. And while few of us adhere to the 'letter of the law' and stick to the actual number posted, most use "freedom" to stay near the limit. A minority of people will use 'license' to drive at whatever speed they feel like. Freedom uses some restraint, license does not.
What I'm observing in our country is more disturbing than violating a speed limit. It's taking license with moral issues. I'll highlight two examples - abortion and 'gay marriage.'
In 1973 it became "legal" in the United States to kill an unborn child. The arguments for both sides have been debated ad nauseum so I won't delve into them here. Instead, let me point out that the 10 commandments are very clear - Thou Shalt Not Kill. We've taken license with abortion and justified it with arguments that make us feel better and now it's legal to kill an unborn baby. While it may be "legal" in the United States, that does not (and never will) change the fact that it is immoral.
In the last year, we have been overwhelmed with a push to 'legalize' 'gay marriage.' In fact, Minnesota has now 'legalized' such actions. The Supreme Court has overturned a law against 'gay marriage.' The fact that a state has made it 'legal' or that the Supreme Court does not agree with California's law, once again does not change the fact that it is immoral. If you read the Bible, it's once again clear in Romans 1:26 and 27 that God is not pleased with what we call 'gay marriage' but instead 'gave them over to shameful lusts.'
If you cannot bring yourself to read the Bible and accept the truth of it, that does not change the argument I am making here. Freedom comes with some restraint. License does not. We now have the 'license' to kill a child in the womb. As a nation, we are gaining the 'license' to practice more and more types of immorality because we have 'legalized' it.
I'm confident that many people feel better in their justification of committing immoral acts because they are legal. You may feel fine for a time, but if you search deeper into your soul, you will find that just because something is 'legal' doesn't make it 'moral.'
As you celebrate today, and call it "Independence Day" remember that being completely independent from God and his righteous limitations is not Freedom, but License. So call it what it is and enjoy your License.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
America, why are you surprised?
I can't help but be puzzled by the reaction of the media surrounding the story of the abortionist in Pennsylvania who is charged with murdering 5 people.
Let me be clear - If he did what he's accused of, it's horrible. Absolutely horrible. But so is the murder of all of the other babies he's killed in his "clinic."
And that's what puzzles me. The media is upset almost to the point of vomiting when they talk about what he did to "four viable babies" and one mother, BUT they are not upset when talking about those very same babies when they are killed when inside the womb.
Huh? Let's look at that again. They are upset when the baby comes out the womb and killed, but not when that same child is inside the mother and killed.
Years ago - in 1973 - "freedom of choice" won over morality. In the last 40 years, millions upon millions have died inside the womb. Where's the outrage from the media for all of those deaths? Now we have 4 babies in Pennsylvania who died outside the womb and there is a huge outcry!
America, this is what you asked for! By the same argument used for "freedom of choice" the doctor was merely exercising that freedom wasn't he? It just happened to be that the baby was outside of the womb this time. So why the outrage? If we can see the baby, we're outraged, but take that same baby out of sight (i.e. in the womb) and we don't give a rip.
If we allow "freedom" over morality, this is what we get. Freedom does not mean the ability to do whatever we want no matter what the consequences. License is the ability to do whatever you want without considering the consequences. According to Merriam-Webster license means "3a : freedom that allows or is used with irresponsibility." Freedom on the other hand comes with great responsibility and is not the same as license.
When we provided women the license to kill an unborn child, it was only a matter of time before something like the deaths of these babies came about. How? We seared our collective conscious in order to grant license for abortion. Once the conscience is seared, the license only grows into actions similar to what this doctor is accused of doing.
America and the media - your outrage is off kilter. It should be outraged at the actions of this doctor, but it should also be aimed at the murder that we cleverly disguise as abortion.
Let me be clear - If he did what he's accused of, it's horrible. Absolutely horrible. But so is the murder of all of the other babies he's killed in his "clinic."
And that's what puzzles me. The media is upset almost to the point of vomiting when they talk about what he did to "four viable babies" and one mother, BUT they are not upset when talking about those very same babies when they are killed when inside the womb.
Huh? Let's look at that again. They are upset when the baby comes out the womb and killed, but not when that same child is inside the mother and killed.
Years ago - in 1973 - "freedom of choice" won over morality. In the last 40 years, millions upon millions have died inside the womb. Where's the outrage from the media for all of those deaths? Now we have 4 babies in Pennsylvania who died outside the womb and there is a huge outcry!
America, this is what you asked for! By the same argument used for "freedom of choice" the doctor was merely exercising that freedom wasn't he? It just happened to be that the baby was outside of the womb this time. So why the outrage? If we can see the baby, we're outraged, but take that same baby out of sight (i.e. in the womb) and we don't give a rip.
If we allow "freedom" over morality, this is what we get. Freedom does not mean the ability to do whatever we want no matter what the consequences. License is the ability to do whatever you want without considering the consequences. According to Merriam-Webster license means "3a : freedom that allows or is used with irresponsibility." Freedom on the other hand comes with great responsibility and is not the same as license.
When we provided women the license to kill an unborn child, it was only a matter of time before something like the deaths of these babies came about. How? We seared our collective conscious in order to grant license for abortion. Once the conscience is seared, the license only grows into actions similar to what this doctor is accused of doing.
America and the media - your outrage is off kilter. It should be outraged at the actions of this doctor, but it should also be aimed at the murder that we cleverly disguise as abortion.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
The Longest 15 Days
What do you do for 15 days with an active 8 year old when he's been told to basically do nothing if he wants his brain to heal?
Here are a couple of examples of creativity:
1. Draw tattoos of his favorite sports teams all over his arms and legs. It does keep him still!
2. Listen to vidoes on how to - curve sticks, make a "defender" etc.
3. Actually curve the sticks (over the stove, but don't tell mom)
4. Make a "defender."
5. LOTS of bored games, I mean board games!
6. Hang out with the dog.
7. Hang out with your sisters (shhhh, he won't want anyone to known this) :)
And after 15 days, we returned to the concussion clinic to learn that he is doing VERY well. The Physical Therapist was very impressed with his balance and his endurance. So you will see below he was allowed to be back on the ice!!! Nothing fancy, but he was happy to lace up the skates and shoot on a real net!
Thanks for all the support.
Here are a couple of examples of creativity:
1. Draw tattoos of his favorite sports teams all over his arms and legs. It does keep him still!
2. Listen to vidoes on how to - curve sticks, make a "defender" etc.
3. Actually curve the sticks (over the stove, but don't tell mom)
4. Make a "defender."
5. LOTS of bored games, I mean board games!
6. Hang out with the dog.
7. Hang out with your sisters (shhhh, he won't want anyone to known this) :)
And after 15 days, we returned to the concussion clinic to learn that he is doing VERY well. The Physical Therapist was very impressed with his balance and his endurance. So you will see below he was allowed to be back on the ice!!! Nothing fancy, but he was happy to lace up the skates and shoot on a real net!
Thanks for all the support.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Grasping the Wind
Think for a moment the last time you were successful at grabbing the wind and holding on to it. Hmm let's see there was the time in 1982 when I... No it was 1994 and I was... Oh wait, I'm being silly, you can't hold the wind!
Trying to grab the wind and hold on is the best way I can describe dealing with a concussion. Let me explain the injury and then I'll talk about trying to grasp the wind.
On Tuesday the 12th, Andrew was in the final minutes of a hockey game. He went into the defensive zone and blocked two shots. After the second shot block, he was on the ice (not hurt yet). He was lying on his back and his head was about 2 feet off of the ground - think about trying to do a sit up. As he was trying to get up, a kid from the other team took his stick and whacked Andrew across the helmet/mask!
Andrew got up and skated toward the puck, but then immediately turned around and headed to the bench. He was holding his head on and off as he skated toward the bench. He sat down on the bench and immediately fell backward off the bench! That's when I stopped shooting video and ran around the arena to his bench. By the time I got there, he had his helmet off, but was saying he was OK. After 30 seconds of saying "get your helmet on" the game buzzer went off and the game was over.
He went out and shook hands and then headed to the locker room. I immediately started asking the coaches 'what do you know about concussions?' At that point, I wasn't sure if Andrew has been seriously hurt or not, so I wanted to gather as much info as possible.
As we finished dressing, Andrew made an interesting statement. "What is Mom making for dinner?" It wouldn't have seemed like on odd statement except that we had eaten an evening meal before the game. I responded vaguely and asked him if he had eaten before the game. He said that he had and described a lunch type meal. This was the first blowing of the wind. I reached out, tried to grasp it and failed when I asked "what was it that we had to eat?" He called it 'Bird's Nest Pie.' We had a quiche. Hmm.
He said he wanted to go home and I said that would be OK. I asked him what day it was and he said "Saturday." It was Tuesday. Now the wind was really starting to blow. It was reasonable that he thought it was Saturday because most of his games had been played on Saturdays. I responded by saying "IF it was Tuesday, where would you go?" He mentioned something about playing games at church, but could not come up with the word "AWANA." At this point, we had a steady force going, with gusts increasing. I asked two more questions. "Andrew, how many brother's do you have?" With some hesitation, he said "5." He has 5 siblings, but only 3 brothers. The last question turned this into 90 mph straight line winds. "Andrew, who's the president." With more hesitation, he said, "Jefferson." I decided we were headed to Urgent Care.
We checked in at Urgent Care and the Physician's Assistant we saw did a typical neurological exam. Andrew seemed reasonably normal except that I knew he was very mellow. I showed her the video and then asked if I could repeat some of the orientation questions I had asked. When I gave her the correct answers to my questions and when she heard who Andrew thought the president was, she said, "You need to have him checked out more." We headed to Children's Mpls ER.
The first part of the ER was essentially a repeat of the Urgent Care. After the triage, he was brought to a room where the exam was much more detailed. He really checked out pretty well, except for the confusion part. All of his physical responses to tests were normal. He was partially oriented and was also being very resourceful. Every time they asked him "where are you?" he looked at my visitor badge and said "Children's." They decided to do a CAT scan. That test is non-invasive so he handled it quite well. The wind started to die down a bit when they came back and said "He has a negative CAT scan."
The other thing that helped the wind die down was the ER doc we had. At one point, he was talking "sticks" with Andrew - curves, flexing, brands etc. They actually lost me for a minute. At the end of the night, he said "Andrew, I played hockey and had concussions. You WILL be back on the ice, but it may take a while." For a moment I felt like the wind had stopped.
It didn't last long when they told us to follow up with the Concussion Clinic. The follow up wasn't going to be a big deal, only a few days a way, but the 2-3 week wait after the initial visit caused large gusts again.
Taking him home and not being 100% sure what the future held combined with having to wait 2-3 weeks to find out kept the winds swirling.
The visit to the Concussion Clinic was very underwhelming. I must have had high expectations of tests, questions and then a discussion of a treatment plan. I felt like they asked us more questions in the ER than they did in the clinic. And the treatment plan...do NOTHING for several days. Right. I'm supposed to get an active 8 year old to do NOTHING. No TV, reading, active games, video games, etc. Now that's grasping the wind.
In the days since the Concussion Clinic, we have worked hard to do NOTHING with Andrew. One of the caregivers for our oldest daughter came up with the idea of drawing tattoos on Andrew. He has everything from the MN Wild logo to "Hockey Rocks" to sticks all over his arms, legs and chest. It kept him quiet for several hours. He won't admit this in years to come, but he did spend some time decorating his sister's hair with various bows etc. He's managed to play some quieter board games that don't take much brain power. He's had his mother read to him - books that don't take much concentration - I might add. I let him sit and watch as I played with his brothers on the ice in our back yard. These were good activities, but most don't last long as he gets bored easily - more grasping the wind.
I had to take my turn at occupying his time so I decided that I would let him *listen* to videos on You Tube about "how to curve a stick" or "selecting the right sized stick." The more we listened, the more I was AMAZED at how much he knows about the primary tool of the game - the stick. I would pull up a video and he would say "Oh yeah, this is the one where the guy...." And he knows the difference between a toe curve and a heal curve on a stick. I didn't, but I do NOW.
On a side note, I realized that in a lot of his spare time before the concussion, he not only worked on his game, stick handling, skating, shooting, but he *studied* aspects of the game. I know he used to watch "hockey's best fights." When I told him to look into the *game,* he started learning how to do all kinds of trick shots. Some of them he can actually do on the ice. If you ask, he can tell you many different things about the stick, how to change it, who does what kind of change etc. He has more hockey knowledge than many adults who watch the game.
So all of this brings me back to my title "Grasping the Wind." This entire process has been 100% out of my control. I couldn't control his injury. I couldn't control the results. I couldn't control the time off and I definitely can't control him during his recovery. Oh sure, I can put some limitations on it and I can supervise him more closely (which I am doing), but we've already run into some incidents where he ended up doing some things that he really shouldn't - fortunately they were very short lived.
All of these things I can't control are very much like grasping the wind. I can't control it. I can't manipulate it. I can't even guide it. I can only feel it's effects. And that's what I'm doing during Andrew's concussion and recovery. I'm feeling the effects. I feel the effects of worrying about a second injury every waking moment. I feel the effects of not being able to watch him play for the rest of this season. I feel the effects of him saying "why can't I just...." repeatedly. And so, I stand in the breeze and feel it change from gentle to hurricane strength and all the measurements in between. While I'm standing here, I thank God, I mean really thank Him. Because while my world has been blown around since Tuesday, it hasn't come to the point of losing Andrew completely. I still have him to talk to, to hug and to laugh with and for all of those things, I am extremely grateful.
Trying to grab the wind and hold on is the best way I can describe dealing with a concussion. Let me explain the injury and then I'll talk about trying to grasp the wind.
On Tuesday the 12th, Andrew was in the final minutes of a hockey game. He went into the defensive zone and blocked two shots. After the second shot block, he was on the ice (not hurt yet). He was lying on his back and his head was about 2 feet off of the ground - think about trying to do a sit up. As he was trying to get up, a kid from the other team took his stick and whacked Andrew across the helmet/mask!
Andrew got up and skated toward the puck, but then immediately turned around and headed to the bench. He was holding his head on and off as he skated toward the bench. He sat down on the bench and immediately fell backward off the bench! That's when I stopped shooting video and ran around the arena to his bench. By the time I got there, he had his helmet off, but was saying he was OK. After 30 seconds of saying "get your helmet on" the game buzzer went off and the game was over.
He went out and shook hands and then headed to the locker room. I immediately started asking the coaches 'what do you know about concussions?' At that point, I wasn't sure if Andrew has been seriously hurt or not, so I wanted to gather as much info as possible.
As we finished dressing, Andrew made an interesting statement. "What is Mom making for dinner?" It wouldn't have seemed like on odd statement except that we had eaten an evening meal before the game. I responded vaguely and asked him if he had eaten before the game. He said that he had and described a lunch type meal. This was the first blowing of the wind. I reached out, tried to grasp it and failed when I asked "what was it that we had to eat?" He called it 'Bird's Nest Pie.' We had a quiche. Hmm.
He said he wanted to go home and I said that would be OK. I asked him what day it was and he said "Saturday." It was Tuesday. Now the wind was really starting to blow. It was reasonable that he thought it was Saturday because most of his games had been played on Saturdays. I responded by saying "IF it was Tuesday, where would you go?" He mentioned something about playing games at church, but could not come up with the word "AWANA." At this point, we had a steady force going, with gusts increasing. I asked two more questions. "Andrew, how many brother's do you have?" With some hesitation, he said "5." He has 5 siblings, but only 3 brothers. The last question turned this into 90 mph straight line winds. "Andrew, who's the president." With more hesitation, he said, "Jefferson." I decided we were headed to Urgent Care.
We checked in at Urgent Care and the Physician's Assistant we saw did a typical neurological exam. Andrew seemed reasonably normal except that I knew he was very mellow. I showed her the video and then asked if I could repeat some of the orientation questions I had asked. When I gave her the correct answers to my questions and when she heard who Andrew thought the president was, she said, "You need to have him checked out more." We headed to Children's Mpls ER.
The first part of the ER was essentially a repeat of the Urgent Care. After the triage, he was brought to a room where the exam was much more detailed. He really checked out pretty well, except for the confusion part. All of his physical responses to tests were normal. He was partially oriented and was also being very resourceful. Every time they asked him "where are you?" he looked at my visitor badge and said "Children's." They decided to do a CAT scan. That test is non-invasive so he handled it quite well. The wind started to die down a bit when they came back and said "He has a negative CAT scan."
The other thing that helped the wind die down was the ER doc we had. At one point, he was talking "sticks" with Andrew - curves, flexing, brands etc. They actually lost me for a minute. At the end of the night, he said "Andrew, I played hockey and had concussions. You WILL be back on the ice, but it may take a while." For a moment I felt like the wind had stopped.
It didn't last long when they told us to follow up with the Concussion Clinic. The follow up wasn't going to be a big deal, only a few days a way, but the 2-3 week wait after the initial visit caused large gusts again.
Taking him home and not being 100% sure what the future held combined with having to wait 2-3 weeks to find out kept the winds swirling.
The visit to the Concussion Clinic was very underwhelming. I must have had high expectations of tests, questions and then a discussion of a treatment plan. I felt like they asked us more questions in the ER than they did in the clinic. And the treatment plan...do NOTHING for several days. Right. I'm supposed to get an active 8 year old to do NOTHING. No TV, reading, active games, video games, etc. Now that's grasping the wind.
In the days since the Concussion Clinic, we have worked hard to do NOTHING with Andrew. One of the caregivers for our oldest daughter came up with the idea of drawing tattoos on Andrew. He has everything from the MN Wild logo to "Hockey Rocks" to sticks all over his arms, legs and chest. It kept him quiet for several hours. He won't admit this in years to come, but he did spend some time decorating his sister's hair with various bows etc. He's managed to play some quieter board games that don't take much brain power. He's had his mother read to him - books that don't take much concentration - I might add. I let him sit and watch as I played with his brothers on the ice in our back yard. These were good activities, but most don't last long as he gets bored easily - more grasping the wind.
I had to take my turn at occupying his time so I decided that I would let him *listen* to videos on You Tube about "how to curve a stick" or "selecting the right sized stick." The more we listened, the more I was AMAZED at how much he knows about the primary tool of the game - the stick. I would pull up a video and he would say "Oh yeah, this is the one where the guy...." And he knows the difference between a toe curve and a heal curve on a stick. I didn't, but I do NOW.
On a side note, I realized that in a lot of his spare time before the concussion, he not only worked on his game, stick handling, skating, shooting, but he *studied* aspects of the game. I know he used to watch "hockey's best fights." When I told him to look into the *game,* he started learning how to do all kinds of trick shots. Some of them he can actually do on the ice. If you ask, he can tell you many different things about the stick, how to change it, who does what kind of change etc. He has more hockey knowledge than many adults who watch the game.
So all of this brings me back to my title "Grasping the Wind." This entire process has been 100% out of my control. I couldn't control his injury. I couldn't control the results. I couldn't control the time off and I definitely can't control him during his recovery. Oh sure, I can put some limitations on it and I can supervise him more closely (which I am doing), but we've already run into some incidents where he ended up doing some things that he really shouldn't - fortunately they were very short lived.
All of these things I can't control are very much like grasping the wind. I can't control it. I can't manipulate it. I can't even guide it. I can only feel it's effects. And that's what I'm doing during Andrew's concussion and recovery. I'm feeling the effects. I feel the effects of worrying about a second injury every waking moment. I feel the effects of not being able to watch him play for the rest of this season. I feel the effects of him saying "why can't I just...." repeatedly. And so, I stand in the breeze and feel it change from gentle to hurricane strength and all the measurements in between. While I'm standing here, I thank God, I mean really thank Him. Because while my world has been blown around since Tuesday, it hasn't come to the point of losing Andrew completely. I still have him to talk to, to hug and to laugh with and for all of those things, I am extremely grateful.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Schwarzenegger isn't violent
We've all heard about the tragedy in Newton Connecticut. There are many ideas of what to do to prevent it in the future. All of us want to prevent it from happening again? Or do we?
Read this article:
"LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Arnold Schwarzenegger may be one of the world's biggest action stars but the former governor of California says violence in films is entertainment and should not be linked to tragic events like the Connecticut school shooting in which 20 children died.
The star of films such as "The Terminator," "Predator" and "True Lies" told a press conference before the opening of his new movie, "The Last Stand," on January 18th that "one has to keep (the two) separate."
"(This is) entertainment and the other thing is a tragedy beyond belief. It's really serious and it's the real deal," Schwarzenegger, 65, told reporters.
The actor, who will star in his first leading role in the film since serving as California governor for seven years, said the tragedy in which a gunman killed 20 children and six staff at the Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, is about more than just guns.
"We have to analyze how we deal with mental illness, how we deal with gun laws, how we deal with parenting," he said.
In "The Last Stand," Schwarzenegger plays a retired Los Angeles policeman who becomes a border town sheriff who must stop a violent drug lord from crossing the border.
The film, with its violent scenes, is the type of movie that National Rifle Association chief Wayne LaPierre recently cited as a contributing factor to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
But Schwarzenegger said that gun laws and mental health guidance need reform, not Hollywood.
"How can we do better with gun laws?" asked Schwarzenegger. "If there are any loopholes, if there's a problem, let's analyze it ... Are we really dealing with the mental problems the right way as a society?"
In terms of parenting, the former politician alluded to the Connecticut killer Adam Lanza's mother, Nancy, who was also shot and killed by her own son on that tragic day.
"Does a mother need to collect guns and take her little kids shooting?" he asked.
"Everything has to be analyzed; no stone unturned," he added. "I think that's what we owe to our people." (Editing by Patricia Reaney)"
Shocking eh? The "Governator" wants to blame the guns and those with mental health issues. "Everything has to be analyzed.." he said, but NOT violent movies! Wayne LaPierre wants to blame the violent movies as a 'contributing factor,' but not access to weaponry that's meant for war. Neither of them wants to take responsibility for their contribution to the tragedy.
Aren't you tired of the blame game? It's absolutely ridiculous the way we keep pointing the finger at someone else when a serious issue arises. Congress and the president did it (and continue to do it) with fiscal issue. The Governor and Mr. LaPiere are doing it with violence.
It's tiring, sickening, and reminds me of children. Whenever something goes wrong and parents say "who did this?" What do you hear? "Not me! He did it!"
The reality is that if people don't bathe themselves in trash that comes from the screen or the computer - i.e. scenes filled with constant and overwhelming violence - they won't have crazy ideas in their heads. The reality is that if there were no guns, people couldn't get shot.
Sadly, we will always have violent movies and guns. We as a society don't want to ban things because we want freedoms. We want the freedom to express any idea we want - on the internet, in print, in film, in computer games - no matter how vile it is. We also want the freedom to carry guns.
Guess what? Those freedoms come with responsibility! The freedoms also come with negative consequences and tragically in some cases people die. If we insist on having these freedoms, how can we stop the nonsense? Think about it long enough and you will realize that we can't. As long as enough people are willing to pay money to see violence on a screen or in a computer game, someone else will make those movies or games. As long as we feel the need to have guns as citizens, then guns will be available to all - including the 'bad guys.'
So this isn't very good news is it? No. But it's reality. The Governor can quit pointing his finger at the guns and Mr. LaPierre can quit pointing his finger at the movies. They are both contributing factors. They are both here to stay. So Governor, Mr. LaPierre (and all of us), take responsibility for your actions and admit your part in the tragedies that will continue unfold around the world.
Read this article:
"LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Arnold Schwarzenegger may be one of the world's biggest action stars but the former governor of California says violence in films is entertainment and should not be linked to tragic events like the Connecticut school shooting in which 20 children died.
The star of films such as "The Terminator," "Predator" and "True Lies" told a press conference before the opening of his new movie, "The Last Stand," on January 18th that "one has to keep (the two) separate."
"(This is) entertainment and the other thing is a tragedy beyond belief. It's really serious and it's the real deal," Schwarzenegger, 65, told reporters.
The actor, who will star in his first leading role in the film since serving as California governor for seven years, said the tragedy in which a gunman killed 20 children and six staff at the Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, is about more than just guns.
"We have to analyze how we deal with mental illness, how we deal with gun laws, how we deal with parenting," he said.
In "The Last Stand," Schwarzenegger plays a retired Los Angeles policeman who becomes a border town sheriff who must stop a violent drug lord from crossing the border.
The film, with its violent scenes, is the type of movie that National Rifle Association chief Wayne LaPierre recently cited as a contributing factor to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
But Schwarzenegger said that gun laws and mental health guidance need reform, not Hollywood.
"How can we do better with gun laws?" asked Schwarzenegger. "If there are any loopholes, if there's a problem, let's analyze it ... Are we really dealing with the mental problems the right way as a society?"
In terms of parenting, the former politician alluded to the Connecticut killer Adam Lanza's mother, Nancy, who was also shot and killed by her own son on that tragic day.
"Does a mother need to collect guns and take her little kids shooting?" he asked.
"Everything has to be analyzed; no stone unturned," he added. "I think that's what we owe to our people." (Editing by Patricia Reaney)"
Shocking eh? The "Governator" wants to blame the guns and those with mental health issues. "Everything has to be analyzed.." he said, but NOT violent movies! Wayne LaPierre wants to blame the violent movies as a 'contributing factor,' but not access to weaponry that's meant for war. Neither of them wants to take responsibility for their contribution to the tragedy.
Aren't you tired of the blame game? It's absolutely ridiculous the way we keep pointing the finger at someone else when a serious issue arises. Congress and the president did it (and continue to do it) with fiscal issue. The Governor and Mr. LaPiere are doing it with violence.
It's tiring, sickening, and reminds me of children. Whenever something goes wrong and parents say "who did this?" What do you hear? "Not me! He did it!"
The reality is that if people don't bathe themselves in trash that comes from the screen or the computer - i.e. scenes filled with constant and overwhelming violence - they won't have crazy ideas in their heads. The reality is that if there were no guns, people couldn't get shot.
Sadly, we will always have violent movies and guns. We as a society don't want to ban things because we want freedoms. We want the freedom to express any idea we want - on the internet, in print, in film, in computer games - no matter how vile it is. We also want the freedom to carry guns.
Guess what? Those freedoms come with responsibility! The freedoms also come with negative consequences and tragically in some cases people die. If we insist on having these freedoms, how can we stop the nonsense? Think about it long enough and you will realize that we can't. As long as enough people are willing to pay money to see violence on a screen or in a computer game, someone else will make those movies or games. As long as we feel the need to have guns as citizens, then guns will be available to all - including the 'bad guys.'
So this isn't very good news is it? No. But it's reality. The Governor can quit pointing his finger at the guns and Mr. LaPierre can quit pointing his finger at the movies. They are both contributing factors. They are both here to stay. So Governor, Mr. LaPierre (and all of us), take responsibility for your actions and admit your part in the tragedies that will continue unfold around the world.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
You'd cry too
It was reported this week that after the election, our President cried. Why is that news?
The current speaker of the House, John Boehner, has been crying for 4 years. Other world leaders have been shown crying in recent years.
It shouldn't be news if a leader cries. It shows that they are human.
It IS news when you learn the real reasons WHY a leader is crying.
Consider the last 4 years for our President. He came into to office the first time on a wave supported by the word "change." He was the first black President in our history (an amazing thing that I believe is a good thing in our country). He gave away trillions of dollars. He had at least 3 big reasons NOT to cry.
Over the last 4 years, change hasn't happened in many ways. Unemployment is still very high. People still don't have health insurance. The economy overall is still weak.
However, some things have changed. The debt we owe has grown exponentially. The deficit budgets we've lived under have exploded.
In spite of giving away tons of money, the BIG CHANGE has been in making things WORSE.
So why is the President crying? He's crying because now that a sleeping country decided his plans were good ones and re-elected him, he's actually facing BIG trouble. He's crying because he realizes he can't give away any more money - UNLESS - he taxes the snot out of the rich. Or maybe he's crying because he realizes his original redistribution plan is going to work! It will work that is unless the other crying leader, Boehner, stands up to him and says lets REALLY get this thing under control.
If real change doesn't occur very, very soon. It won't be just our leaders who are crying. The recent relief at the pump will go away, and then some. The ability to get a job will only be possible in another country. The people that we owe money to (i.e. foreign governments) will take us over. The greatest country on earth will become a distant memory in terms of strength and leadership.
With all of that to look forward to, what do we do? I'll tell you what I'm doing. Steadily I'm saving my money and working to pay off the debt I have. I want to be in a position where any financial disaster in our government has minimal impact on my family. I'm also clinging to my God. He is the one who allows men to be in power in the first place. None of this is beyond His control. If He counts hairs on heads and knows when sparrows fall, He certainly knows when a nation will collapse.
Join the President and cry if you must, but be assured that "We know that in all things God work for the good of those that love him." Romans 8:28
The current speaker of the House, John Boehner, has been crying for 4 years. Other world leaders have been shown crying in recent years.
It shouldn't be news if a leader cries. It shows that they are human.
It IS news when you learn the real reasons WHY a leader is crying.
Consider the last 4 years for our President. He came into to office the first time on a wave supported by the word "change." He was the first black President in our history (an amazing thing that I believe is a good thing in our country). He gave away trillions of dollars. He had at least 3 big reasons NOT to cry.
Over the last 4 years, change hasn't happened in many ways. Unemployment is still very high. People still don't have health insurance. The economy overall is still weak.
However, some things have changed. The debt we owe has grown exponentially. The deficit budgets we've lived under have exploded.
In spite of giving away tons of money, the BIG CHANGE has been in making things WORSE.
So why is the President crying? He's crying because now that a sleeping country decided his plans were good ones and re-elected him, he's actually facing BIG trouble. He's crying because he realizes he can't give away any more money - UNLESS - he taxes the snot out of the rich. Or maybe he's crying because he realizes his original redistribution plan is going to work! It will work that is unless the other crying leader, Boehner, stands up to him and says lets REALLY get this thing under control.
If real change doesn't occur very, very soon. It won't be just our leaders who are crying. The recent relief at the pump will go away, and then some. The ability to get a job will only be possible in another country. The people that we owe money to (i.e. foreign governments) will take us over. The greatest country on earth will become a distant memory in terms of strength and leadership.
With all of that to look forward to, what do we do? I'll tell you what I'm doing. Steadily I'm saving my money and working to pay off the debt I have. I want to be in a position where any financial disaster in our government has minimal impact on my family. I'm also clinging to my God. He is the one who allows men to be in power in the first place. None of this is beyond His control. If He counts hairs on heads and knows when sparrows fall, He certainly knows when a nation will collapse.
Join the President and cry if you must, but be assured that "We know that in all things God work for the good of those that love him." Romans 8:28
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