Americans

I have copied this email that I received (yes, I do have my own original thoughts once in awhile, but this was better than anything I could ever come up with) that explains why I am becoming worried about yours and my grandkid’s futures. You may not get this in your email box, but hopefully you will. And if you care, you should forward it to as many people as you can.
We are losing our very own unique culture, our heritage and our privileges.
Please do not think that I have a problem with any other cultures (that’s not counting the ones that are trying to kill us, though).
What I do have is a problem with is different cultures coming to American and trying to change who and what America is all about:

“Think about this: If you don't want to forward this for fear of offending someone-----THEN YOU'RE PART OF THE PROBLEM !!!!

Will we still be the Country of Choice and still be America if we continue to make the changes forced on us by the people from other countries that came to live in America because it is the Country of Choice??????

Think about it!
All we have to say is, "When will they do something about MY RIGHTS?"

I celebrate Christmas...........but because it isn't celebrated by everyone.............we can no longer say Merry Christmas. Now it has to be Season's Greetings.

It's not Christmas vacation, it's Winter Break. Isn't it amazing how this winter break ALWAYS occurs over the Christmas holiday?

We've gone so far the other way, bent over backwards in order to not offend anyone, that I am now the one being offended. But it seems that no one has a problem with that.
This says it all!
This is an editorial written by an American citizen, published in a Tampa, FL Newspaper. He did quite a job; didn't he? Read on, please!

IMMIGRANTS, NOT AMERICANS, MUST ADAPT.
I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Americans. However...... the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the "politically correct" crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others.

I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to America. Our population is almost entirely made up of descendants of immigrants. However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some who were born here, need to understand.

This idea of America being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity.
We are AMERICANS.
And as Americans...... we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle. This culture has been developed over centuries of struggles, trials, and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom.

We speak ENGLISH, not Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, learn the language!

"In God We Trust" is our National motto. This is not some Christian, right wing, political slogan. We adopted this motto because Christian men and women.......with Christian principles............. founded this nation..... and this is clearly documented.
It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home........because God is part of our culture.

If Stars and Stripes offend you, or you don't like Uncle Sam, then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from.
This is OUR COUNTRY, our land, and our lifestyle.
Our First Amendment gives every citizen the right to express his opinion and we will allow you every opportunity to do so! But once you are done complaining...... whining..... and griping....... about our flag....... our pledge.... our national motto........or our way of life, I highly encourage you to take advantage of one other Great American Freedom......

THE RIGHT TO LEAVE.

It is Time for Americans to Speak up

If you agree -- pass this along; if you don't agree -- delete it - You are in the WRONG Country!

AMEN

I figure if we all keep passing this to our friends (and enemies) it will also, sooner or later get back to the complainers, lets all try, please.”


My own personal addition to this would be to eliminate the prefacing word of one’s ancestral ethnicity that’s being commonly used. The one that describes what kind of American you are…as in Latin American, African American, Italian American, Irish American, Mexican American, etc. The word that unites you with another culture.

Your ancestors may have come to America from different countries, but here, in America…if you are born here or if you arrived later in life and then applied for and gained your legal citizenship… then you are an AMERICAN citizen. That means THIS is your country, culture, your legacy, now.

My ancestors came from different places and I’m very proud of that fact. I have much information concerning my ancestor’s roots. My heritage is Irish, Dutch, Cherokee and Nez Perce.

But I am not Irish American, nor German American or Native American. I am an American.

If you’re not a citizen of America and are just here on vacation, visiting our great country, that’s fine. We’ll listen to what you think and then you can go on back home.

But, if you’re an American and you have a problem with certain rights that belong to me or other Americans…the same rights that America was built upon, then all I can say is:
Ta-ta and toodles, dearie. I hear France needs more cynical whiners.

Why do we have no problem with wishing people “Happy Thanksgiving” when it’s the celebration of the very reason we are able to be AMERICANS?

Mammie wants to know "WHY?"
I want to to do a post on some of the Why’s that I'm curiuos about in life. It’s going to be a 101 eventually, and maybe you can help me out and make it a “tag” of some sorta thing. Maybe it won’t have that many Why’s, maybe more. Add a few, if you want!
But I promise you that some might be thought provoking and some (hopefully) amusing. And I warn you… be prepared for some touchy subjects.
I would love to read the comments based on your reactions to them.
I promise, I will not comment or email you back with “Man, you’re a stupid *&(^#@ and I don’t know how you’ve lived this to be this age” as the main subject.
OK?
Why do I want to know all this?
I’m just curious.
Ok, maybe morbid. Just wait for the next 101!
And for the record, there’s not a one of them I wouldn’t answer (100% truthfully, too) if I thought anyone was interested. Just ask me. I will tell you anything you want to know – whether it’s something on this entry or just something you want to know.
That’s just the kind of girl I am. You can even ask me anonymously.

1.Why do 99% of the world (mostly men and some women) find the female breast arousing? Or legs? What’s that about?
2.Why do we judge people or consider them successful or not, based on money and items?
3.Why is one bodily function - output (defecation, urination, farting…etc) considered a personal and totally undiscussable subject; while input actions (eating, drinking, sipping, etc) are even included as a portion of celebrations – weddings, birthdays? (and I ask you…have you seen some people eat?
4. Why don’t people believe the WHOLE bible? Why do they choose and pick which parts of the bible they believe in and how do they figure out which is which?
5. Why do people care what celebrities think, care how they vote, covet what they wear, admire what they think and how they act?
6. Who first thought to eat puffer fish? And why?
7.What one thing really scares you and why?
8. What one trait do you most admire in people? Why?
9. What’s the most horrible, shameful thing you have ever done? Would you ever tell anyone?
13. If you’re a Christian - when you think about eternity, the hereafter - what do you think it’ll be like?
14. If you’re NOT a Chrisitan, when you think about dying, what do you think about it?
15. Do you see the love of your spouse, the love of your children or your dedication to your faith as being successful?
16. Why do you think we have 10 fingers and 10 toes, but only 2 arms? And only 1 of other things?
17. Why do men have nipples?
18. Do you think our traits (i.e. generosity, compassion, distaste) are learned or are they genetic?
19. Do you believe the Bible is the totally the infallible word of God?
20. If you could have named yourself, what would you have it be?
20. If you died tonight, would you go to Heaven?
21. How many people do you really think have had an affair during their current marriage?
22. What’s the biggest obstacle that keeps you from God?
23. Did you really think you would not turn into your parent?
24 How did blue eyeshadow EVER make it into anyone’s makeup kit?
25. WHO keeps electing Teddy Kennedy? Is this proof of alien infiltration in the US?
26. If evolution is the real deal, then why do we are we still apes? AND why are there still only a male and female each of every species?
27. If the USA is such an evil and immoral country, why do we have so many illegal aliens? Shouldn’t the exodus equal to the influx?


I’m going to say this is all - at this time. I'm tired and I ran out of my current thinkable supply of Why's.
Next time I’ll do one that’ll have ya’ll talking for years to come. Ha.
So consider this a time to comment or a tag for everyone out there. Even if you don’t
answer me, it should get ya’ll thinking a little bit, anyway, right?????

Love ya’ll

Heros

Everyday Heros - now there's an oxymoron

Last week, John Kerry said,
"You know education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well, and if you don't, you get stuck in Iraq"

So one soldier wrote the senator a letter. He is currently deployed to Iraq, and in defense of this recent comment, he says:
I am a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. I am currently on my second tour in Iraq, a tour in which I volunteered for. I speak Arabic and Spanish and I plan to tackle Persian Farsi soon. I have a Bachelors and Associates Degree and in between deployments, I am pursuing an M.B.A.
In college, I was a member of several academic honor societies, including the Golden KeyHonor Society. I am not unique among the enlisted troops. Many of my enlisted colleagues include lawyers, teachers, mechanics, engineers, musicians and artists just to name a few. You say that your comments were directed towards the President and not us.
If we were stupid Senator Kerry, we might have believed you.
I am not a victim of President Bush. I proudly serve him because he is my Commander and Chief. If you were President, I would serve you justsas faithfully.
I serve America, Senator Kerry, and I am also providing asservice to the good people of Iraq. I have not terrorized them in the middlesof the night, raped them or murdered them as you have accused me of before. I am doing my part to help them rebuild.
My role is a simple one, but important. You see Senator Kerry, like it or not, we came here and removed a tyrant (who has terrorized Iraqis in the middle of the night, and raped them and murdered them). And we have a responsibility to see to it that another onesdoesn't take his place.
The people of Iraq are recovering from an abusive relationship with a terrible government and it's going to take some time to help them recover from that. We can't treat this conflict like a microwave dinner and throw a temper tantrum because we feel like it's taking too long.
Senator Kerry, you don't have to agree with this war. You don't have to say nice things about those of us who choose to make sacrifices for the rights of every American rather than sit back and simply feel entitled to it.
But, please Senator Kerry, if you're going to call me a stupid, murdering rapist, stick by what you say. Don't tell me that I misunderstood or that you would never insult a veteran because you were one too. Having been there and done that does not give you a free pass to insult me.
My suggestion for you, Senator Kerry, is to remember that your speeches are recorded, and broadcast to us simpletons over here. You may want to write down what you want to say before you say it, maybe have somebody look at it before you say it and tell you what others might hear. Remember that we can't read your mind, if there are any misinterpretations in what you say, it's because you didn't communicate clearly.
Good luck to you, Senator Kerry.
If nothing else, it's always entertaining towatch you try and climb out of the holes that you constantly dig foryourself.
Sincerely,
Somebody who is watching his daughter grow up in photographs so that you can have the right to say whatever you want about him

As a side note to this, here's my commentary of this entry:
I'd never really thought about it, but the Armed services does consider a major portion of the male poulation to be disposable. They were called the infantry and most WWII movies are all about them.
But I'm not sure it's the same now, because the enlisted men and women are all volunteers now.
Once upon a time, during the days of the mandatory draft, if you didn't join before your 'number' came up, then you did become one of the potentially disposables - usually a foot soldier.
My Hubby joined just out of HS, before he would be a 'number', he joined the Navy. He served on aircraft carriers and also did shore patrol. Both potentially dangerous jobs.
My Daughter, after 4 years of college joined the Navy in the hopes that she would be awarded a scholarship and after spending her time in college, she was a assigned to an aircraft carrier that was stationed in the Persian Gulf for many months at a time. She spent a number of months stuck on a ship and then another eight months outside of Dubai and off the coast of Iraq.

Not too dangerous you say? Remember the U.S.S. Cole.

My son-in-law, after his 4 years of college, also joined the Navy (for the second time) in the hopes he, too, would also receive a scholarship. He spent the majority of his time as the ship's surgeon living day to day on a transport ship, training on equipment, dispensing medicines and transporting troups - Marines, soldiers and other 'infantry men' headed to Iraq to rebuild a country. He is still in the Navy and will be sent to Iraq or somewhere else in that region at some point in the future.
Since there is no mandatory enlistment service program currently for men or women, they have all join based on their own decisions. Our armed services, while servincg in them is indeed dangerous, it can provide a future that many of our young people could only dream about. Many, many people spend their whole working their whole life serving our country.
While I agree with the Senator to not waste the educational opportunities offerred to people by American schools; but don't bust a vein watching our young soldiers being handed guns, keep in mind that the vast majority of these young people are voluntarily serving in the armed forces because they felt it necessary to defend the USA and what it stands for.
What I disagree with concerning Kerry's remarks, is the fact that he indicates that only morons or 'nobodys' get caught up in an ongoing war that seems to the majority of Americans to serve no purpose.

Many of my friends and my church member's family have loved ones in that area and they all write home complaining about the poor image the media paints of this situation. All say the Iraquis are so excited to see the assistance of the world's greatest countries helping them out. They see each and every soldier as the epitomy of the American citizen.

The #1 complaint our Soldiers have is that it appeears that the people back home seem to have forgotten them and that the government contiunally cuts back on guns and ammo. The things they need in order to survive. We can't back out now, just because the Democrats are in power for the moment.

I wonder, just who does Senator John Kerry think has been defending HIS America for he last 200+ years?

A Mammie Ramble

I have stupid, random thoughts on occasion. When I start to tell Hubby more than 2 or 3 at a time, he gets a look on his face that says, “Oh no, not getting theoretical again, are you?”
So I’ll make ya’ll read them instead.

Pretty people – why are 90% of the people that are on TV gorgeous, when in real life it’s like maybe 26%?

And where’s all these obese people I keep hearing about? Are none of them actors?

On most of the new crime/drama/forensic science shows, most of the characters look like they are in their late 20’s. Would they even be out of school or have an ‘expert in their field’ rating? You never see any older people (over 40) with the exception of Mandy Patinkin on Criminal Minds; William Peterson on CSI and a few on the Law&Order's spinoffs.

Doesn't it look like that Dr. Phil has gotten new teeth?

In this day in age, with the exception of the WB channel and a few others, why are there no minorities in mainstream TV? Usually, there is the occasional ‘older’ woman. Very seldom is she in a sexy role.

All of the current TV drama shows plots that have been “ripped from the headlines’ - what a crock. I think the writers are just getting lazy. Sure, real life is probably way more interesting, but come on…change a few more details. Don’t plagiarize real life.

Why do hardly any of the soap actors ever have dull jobs? They are all doctors, nurses, policemen, CEO’s or lawyers. NO one works at regular places like JCPenneys, Walgreens, UPS or Taco Bell. And nobody ever does their laundry or dishes.

Who gives soap characters their names? In a few more years, no one will ask when our birthday is. Just as soon as they hear our name, they’ll know what year we were born and what soap operas our parents watched.

Are those new shoes, ‘Crocs’ really comfortable? They just don’t look like they are.

I don’t know why, but find short, confident men to be extremely sexy. Right now, I have the hots for Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer. Before him, it was Jeffery De Munn and François Truffaut.
For the record Hubby is the big, strappin' kind of guy. I find him sexy, too.

How hard is it to get on ABC's ExtremeHome Makeover show? How much do you think the show spends per episode? I wonder how many people can afford to pay for the stuff that comes along with these homes – property taxes, utility bills, landscape upkeep. Do they sell them and buy another home?

Why do some people have the crappiest handshake? Don't they ever read a how-to magazine? I wonder what they think when I shake hands with them. I don’t do it hard, but do try to make more than a 2-finger contact.

Why would anyone agree to meet someone they'd just met online who was claiming to be 13? With the intention of having sex? I guess they don’t watch NBC Investigations. Parents need to be so much more vigilant.

It's a good thing some of the perverted creeps are so dumb.

I’m getting sick of the way political ads are being run. It’s all about what their opponent did wrong. Evidently they did nothing worth bragging about.

Ok, enough for now...
The Princess went to the NASCAR race today. It’s her second time. Her dad took her. He’s also a big fan (along with the hunting thing). Her favorite driver is Dale Ernhart, Jr. So for the next few days, she’ll be telling the rest of the town about him - anybody who'll listen. The other half of town heard about it this time last year.

Tomorrow, it’s going to be all about laundry, dishes, folding clothes….yadda, yadda, yadda.

Oh, how I wish I had been domesticated.

Thanks so much for your prayers and thoughts, but please don’t forget Chelle, now. And please, any advice that will make this journey easier, please, please send it to me texasmammie@yahoo.com

I confess, I blatently stole this blog entry from Maria’s at Single Mom's Insanity and emailed to my friends. It is so appealing to me that I couldn’t help it. I hope you enjoy and that she doesn’t get mad. She seems like a nice person.
Xoxo~

November 3, 2006

Sorry my posting is so erratic. We’ve been so busy that sometimes I have trouble even remembering what day it is.
This week, Chelle had OP surgery to install a central IV line; a bone scan and a full body CT scan. The doctors will start her treatment off with chemotherapy and then do a mastectomy. Chelle has decided to have a double mastectomy in order to reduce the chances of recurrence and to have a better chance of having her boobies match when it’s reconstruction time.
An amazing thing happened on Sunday. Those of us who were there and knew about my sis’s condition got to witness a miracle as it unfolded.
This was the first time that Chelle had gone to church with me. I’ve invited her several times, but this time she came. The preacher changed up his routine a little bit and instead of the usual sermon, a husband and wife gave their testimony.
It was about breast cancer, their struggle with it and how God works things out.
It was completely amazing. When the lady began her story with, “One day I felt a lump in my breast and was diagnosed with breast cancer”, Chelle’s jaw dropped and she looked at me like I had planned the whole thing out.
Like I have that kind of clout.
This was not the first time that I’ve seen God in action, it’s just usually I don’t get to see the miracle while it’s unfolding.

I have to share this with you, too. If anyone wants to have their house smelling like a candle shop…go to Bath and Body Works. They have this new scent collection (oils, candles and outlet diffusers) by Elton John that is absolutely delicious. I think it’s called Fireside.
In three days time, I do believe that I wound up buying everything they had.
I first got some oil, and then I went back the next day and got more oil and 2 diffusers. Then I went back again the day after that and got even more diffusers and some candles. Now, I’ll have to go online to buy more or wait for the next shipment. I’m hooked on this stuff. It’s the Chik-Fil-A of the candle world - it’s addictive.
I also use candle warmers and they double the intensity of any candle.
You see, inside my small house, I have a variety of….umm…..how do I say it nicely…unwanted aromatics?
For instance:
A hard-working man who loves chili and beans (sweaty and gassy),
A beautiful, but messy 4-year-old (spilled food and drink),
A gorgeous 10-month-old puppy (who used to be a not-so-housebroken puppy),
Then add in several cats (and you all know that smell).
They spend all their time milling around like little worker ants, making and leaving unwanted smells everywhere.

Plus, I have a keen sense of smell and all this indoor ‘pollution’ drives me nuts. Especially in the cooler months when there’s not as much air circulating.
I’ll tell you, I cannot say enough good things about this Elton John stuff. It smells yummy.
Bath and Body Works also slips a coupon or two into your bag.
No, I don’t get a commission from them. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever bought anything from there before.
The Princess got a new dog -another schnauzer that she’s named Angel. It’s a blondish color. I’ve never seen that color on a schnauzer before. She looks like Benji with a schnauzer haircut.
Has anyone ever gotten a virus from brand new software? My keyboard and mouse kept screwing up, so I went to Wal-Mart and bought a Logitech cordless keyboard and mouse. While I was installing them, (using the CD that came with it), my virus protection program detected a virus. I wound up having to get rid of 3 separate Trojan infections. I returned the stuff to WM and told them why, but the clerk looked at me like I had an extra ear. I think she thought I was trying to scam her.
I finally wound up reinstalling (or updating, can’t remember which) my display drivers and now my keyboard and mouse work just fine.
I don’t get computers anymore. Well, wait…I understand the concept, I just don’t get the mechanics. A long, long time ago, I used to be a ‘key-punch operator/data entry processor’. Back in the days when computers were huge and it would ‘read’ the holes in a card. No screens, no menus…we really had to work when we worked on a computer.
I’ll be getting my first mammie-o-gram (heh heh) on Tuesday. I’ll let you know the results when I get them.
Today -Friday- was supposed to be the first day of my little sis's chemotherapy treatment. She had some stomach pains, got shuffled from doctor to doctor, had her second CT scan of the week and the conclusion is that she has a kidney stone. So we'll begin the chemo next week.
She has started her own journal (forced into it by family and friends) and could use all the support ya'll are willing to give.

Chelle's journey

thanks to everyone~
Dana