Well, I just wanted to say that it's not that I don't have an opinion, it's just been very hard to find the time to post anything anymore; and when I do get around to it, it seems that anything I want to say isn't really relevant anymore, so why bother?
I've decided I'll just say it anyway, relevant or not.
First thing, Sarah - don't let the door hit your behind on the way out! What was up with that resignation speech? It seemed as incoherent as most of her speeches, so I guess I really shouldn't have expected more from her. I'm sure she'll find a way to keep herself and her family in the spotlight. That was always the biggest thing I didn't like about her - putting her family in the spotlight. She should've just said, "Yes, my daughter is pregnant and unmarried. This is a family matter and please leave my children alone." And kept on saying it, every time the media asked her about her family. Eventually they would've quit asking. I really respected the Obamas for keeping their daughters mostly out of the spotlight. Kids should be allowed to be kids.
I, for one, would've liked to have seen a qualified woman leading this country. Hillary would've been excellent, except she had too much baggage with Bill hanging on there. I think he did a great job of supporting her during the campaign, it's just that I think there would've been too many voters out there who would've voted against her because they didn't like things her husband did. Throwing the baby out with the bath water kind of mentality. I'm very excited that President Obama picked her to be the Secretary of State. I also think Hillary would've made a good candidate for Supreme Court, but again, maybe too many senators would've killed that because she's a Clinton.
For the most part, I am satisfied with what the Obama administration has done so far. I think they set a very ambitious agenda for themselves, and I think they are doing their best to get everything passed as quickly as possible. I am a little curious why they decided to push the global warming/climate change stuff before health care, though. Although I don't care to ruin our environment at all, I am sure many more people are concerned about their health care and that of their friends and family. Case in point, I just came from the pharmacy paying about $360 for a month's supply of medicine for my diabetic husband and my son who has a knee injury. I didn't even get any of my asthma medications, either. The doctor was so nice as to give me samples when I told her I couldn't afford to pay for everything this week. And I have good health insurance! Seriously, I am a federal government employee!
And where is Bill O'Reilly? Haven't heard much from him lately. I don't watch his show, so maybe he is taking a vacation? Haven't heard of him putting his foot in his mouth lately, as he so likes to do. Even Rush seems to be piping down a little bit, or at least not providing a lot of fodder for MSNBC. In case you can't tell, I really like watching Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow. At work it seems all anyone watches is Fox News. I try to stay out of the break room. The only anchor on there I really like is Shepard Smith. He at least seems to occasionally have an opinion that is not sanctioned by the religious right.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not against religion in any form, I just don't like those who act like theirs is the one and only true religion, and all others are false. I really don't like those who try to impose their religion on others. (I'm not talking about your children - please, teach them some sort of religion or spiritual way of living!) I'm currently trying to teach my 14yr old Ukrainian son about spirituality and religion, but getting him up and out of the house on Sunday mornings is proving to be a real pain in the butt! There are several teenagers at our small church (about 300 members), but many of them opt not to come over the summer break. Hopefully they'll be back by late August when school starts again. I'm sure Yarek would enjoy church more, if he could spend it with kids his own age.
I have a bumper sticker on my car that seems to puzzle many people around here. Many of them get very angry after reading it. It's not an anti-religion slogan at all, they just misinterpret it with their small minded thinking:
"Please keep your religion away from any law that may affect me."
What does this mean to me? It means that I don't want anyone else telling me that I have to wear a burka (sp?) or not eat meat on Friday or that I need to wear certain undergarments, or never cut my hair and always wear skirts/dresses, etc. What I mean is, I don't want any of that to be LAW. I want to do those things because I believe in them, not because I am forced to do it by law.
Don't kill, don't steal - good laws. Good for everyone, no matter what your religion or lack thereof. But worshipping idols, coveting another's goods and adultery should not be laws of the land. Maybe bad choices, but not criminal.
I believe there are universal truths to all religions, and that is what I seek to learn. Now, if I could just get my own butt out of bed on Sunday morning. I haven't been to church in weeks.
Natalie
TX
