here is the obama half-hour ad, in case you missed it. i am proud that i helped pay for it...
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
6 days
less than a week, and then no more commercials or debates. it has been a long, exhausting cycle...here is some comedy relief!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
7 days
I have already voted, so I have mostly turned off the news, etc, as it all makes me to neurotic! Yes, i proudly voted for Barack Obama and proudly voted NO on Prop 8...
As the campaign comes to a close, Barack onceagain reminds us why he is the right person for the job: KNOW HOPE!
As the campaign comes to a close, Barack onceagain reminds us why he is the right person for the job: KNOW HOPE!
Monday, October 27, 2008
8 days and counting
8 days to go until the voting comes to an end- what an exciting, exasperating time to be an american! while much of the back and forth get tiring (even for a political junkie like me!)
i have been thinking about all that we, as a family, have learned over the past 18+ months of campaigning and all of them are lessons we can apply to our lives:
-to stand up for what we think and back it up with evidence
-not to be bullied by others, regardless of how they represent their beliefs
-to listen to others, even when we disagree
-to talk about why we disagree, later, in private, so as not to hurt feelings of those we need to show respect for
-that adults don't always tell the truth, and just because someone is a teacher does not make their arguments factual
-that you can disagree with some positions of a candidate, but support the bigger picture.
-words matter
-your vote counts
-dinner is more interesting when you bring some ideas to the table
-that you can persuade people, if you are brave and well reasoned
And, the most important lesson of all:
-the choices we make today, shape our world for the future.
i have been thinking about all that we, as a family, have learned over the past 18+ months of campaigning and all of them are lessons we can apply to our lives:
-to stand up for what we think and back it up with evidence
-not to be bullied by others, regardless of how they represent their beliefs
-to listen to others, even when we disagree
-to talk about why we disagree, later, in private, so as not to hurt feelings of those we need to show respect for
-that adults don't always tell the truth, and just because someone is a teacher does not make their arguments factual
-that you can disagree with some positions of a candidate, but support the bigger picture.
-words matter
-your vote counts
-dinner is more interesting when you bring some ideas to the table
-that you can persuade people, if you are brave and well reasoned
And, the most important lesson of all:
-the choices we make today, shape our world for the future.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Why I will not vote Yes on CA Prop 8
I was driving K. to the middle school to drop her off for drama and there, outside our church, was a "Yes on 8" sign. I was taken aback that our church would directly enter into the political fray by displaying campaign signs, and it has caused me to really question my membership in the church.
Prop 8 is the attempt of the mormon church, the Knights of Columbus (of which my dad and brothers have long been members) and the christianist churches to outlaw same-sex union in the state of CA.
this is purely discrimination and an attempt to drag religion, once again, into the public governance of this state.
I cannnot, in good conscience, support a propostion that says that members of our community are, somehow, less than the others. let me tell ya' a same sex couple does NOTHING to diminish my marriage or my family. in fact, committed same sex couples strengthen my community by fully participating in the institutions that we have declared important.
Jesus preached love and tolerance, and I teach my kids the same.
Furthermore, the campaign for the "Yes" vote is full of misinformation, which tells you that they are on the wrong side of this issue, morally, because they have to lie to bolster their case.
-lie #1: Churches will be forced to marry same-sex couples. This is completely FALSE. Due to seperation of church and state, churches cannot be forced to marry anyone they do not wish to. EXAMPLE: divorced catholics are not allowed to be married in the church without an annulment.
-lie #2: schools will be forced to teach "gay marriage". Again, completely FALSE. guess how many times I have taught "marriage" in nearly 20 years of teaching- exactly 3 and those times were in catholic school as part of the marriage and family life curriculum. public schools don't teach marriage! in our high school health class the curriculum is available for review by the parents and parents have the right, by STATE LAW, to opt their child out of any teaching that covers topics of health and sexuality.
in closing, I will vote no on prop. 8 and I will take my weekly contribution to my church and send it to the "no on Prop 8" movement. as a democratic society, we need to honor those who want to step up and fully participate in our institutions. we will have stronger families and communities when we do not discriminate.
Prop 8 is the attempt of the mormon church, the Knights of Columbus (of which my dad and brothers have long been members) and the christianist churches to outlaw same-sex union in the state of CA.
this is purely discrimination and an attempt to drag religion, once again, into the public governance of this state.
I cannnot, in good conscience, support a propostion that says that members of our community are, somehow, less than the others. let me tell ya' a same sex couple does NOTHING to diminish my marriage or my family. in fact, committed same sex couples strengthen my community by fully participating in the institutions that we have declared important.
Jesus preached love and tolerance, and I teach my kids the same.
Furthermore, the campaign for the "Yes" vote is full of misinformation, which tells you that they are on the wrong side of this issue, morally, because they have to lie to bolster their case.
-lie #1: Churches will be forced to marry same-sex couples. This is completely FALSE. Due to seperation of church and state, churches cannot be forced to marry anyone they do not wish to. EXAMPLE: divorced catholics are not allowed to be married in the church without an annulment.
-lie #2: schools will be forced to teach "gay marriage". Again, completely FALSE. guess how many times I have taught "marriage" in nearly 20 years of teaching- exactly 3 and those times were in catholic school as part of the marriage and family life curriculum. public schools don't teach marriage! in our high school health class the curriculum is available for review by the parents and parents have the right, by STATE LAW, to opt their child out of any teaching that covers topics of health and sexuality.
in closing, I will vote no on prop. 8 and I will take my weekly contribution to my church and send it to the "no on Prop 8" movement. as a democratic society, we need to honor those who want to step up and fully participate in our institutions. we will have stronger families and communities when we do not discriminate.
Sunday, October 05, 2008
crunch-time, the importance of artists and other thoughts
greetings! mooklettes reminds you that the time to register to vote is drawing to a close.i don't want to hear about how you are trying to avoid jury duty, either. it is crucial that you exercise your constitutionally protected right to vote- it does matter!
i have been reflecting on the importance of artists in our country over the past couple of weeks during my morning run. i find it funny that people think artists shouldn't have an opinion on things that deal with national policy and how support from an artistic community can lead one to being labelled a"celebrity". i don't necessarily think artists should hold more sway than others, but part of the reason that people come into a national consciousness is because they can effectively communicate their thoughts in a way that grabs people's attention. if that was an everyday talent, then we would all have crowds of thousands following us, wouldn't we?
it is with this in mind that I am going to try and connect some dots...as we stand at the edge of what i hope will be a turning point in american history, many artists have stepped up to talk about american values: equality, truth, living fearlessly, questioning the government when necessary, and standing as a beacon of freedom for all people,here and abroad. these are just some of the qualities that seperate america from other countries. the u.s. is really the only place in the world where you can go from having nothing, to expressing yourself on a national stage. that being said, please take a few moments to view the three following videos, even if you have seen them before, because as a set, they show what is important in the country and it is shown through the eyes of artists who have stood up, fearlessly, to express themselves and to give a voice to those who are not heard. it is important when artists are courageous, they mirror the society they are part of (not seperate from) and through their gifts and talents that they so generously share- they honor you and me.
god bless all artists, particularly, on this day, bruce springsteen and tom smothers and will.i.am....
(it should be noted that an important part is left off Tom's speech- he sacrificed his opportunity for a writing emmy in 1968 because he felt his controversial views regarding the nixon adminsitration and the vietnam war would hurt the success of his team, including a little known comedian named steve martin- tom, i gotta' say you are someone i admire greatly, and you sure were smart to marry such a classy, intelligent, good-lookin' gal. in our current political climate where people are being hoodwinked by sarah palin and her "folksiness", marcy is my ideal of a role model for my girls!)
i have been reflecting on the importance of artists in our country over the past couple of weeks during my morning run. i find it funny that people think artists shouldn't have an opinion on things that deal with national policy and how support from an artistic community can lead one to being labelled a"celebrity". i don't necessarily think artists should hold more sway than others, but part of the reason that people come into a national consciousness is because they can effectively communicate their thoughts in a way that grabs people's attention. if that was an everyday talent, then we would all have crowds of thousands following us, wouldn't we?
it is with this in mind that I am going to try and connect some dots...as we stand at the edge of what i hope will be a turning point in american history, many artists have stepped up to talk about american values: equality, truth, living fearlessly, questioning the government when necessary, and standing as a beacon of freedom for all people,here and abroad. these are just some of the qualities that seperate america from other countries. the u.s. is really the only place in the world where you can go from having nothing, to expressing yourself on a national stage. that being said, please take a few moments to view the three following videos, even if you have seen them before, because as a set, they show what is important in the country and it is shown through the eyes of artists who have stood up, fearlessly, to express themselves and to give a voice to those who are not heard. it is important when artists are courageous, they mirror the society they are part of (not seperate from) and through their gifts and talents that they so generously share- they honor you and me.
god bless all artists, particularly, on this day, bruce springsteen and tom smothers and will.i.am....
(it should be noted that an important part is left off Tom's speech- he sacrificed his opportunity for a writing emmy in 1968 because he felt his controversial views regarding the nixon adminsitration and the vietnam war would hurt the success of his team, including a little known comedian named steve martin- tom, i gotta' say you are someone i admire greatly, and you sure were smart to marry such a classy, intelligent, good-lookin' gal. in our current political climate where people are being hoodwinked by sarah palin and her "folksiness", marcy is my ideal of a role model for my girls!)