Our President

This was sent to me by a Canadian friend. I believe it should be posted.

America - He's your President for Goodness Sake! By William Thomas Posted: Friday, October 1st, 2010 There was a time not so long ago when Americans, regardless of their political stripes, rallied round their president. Once elected, the man who won the White House was no longer viewed as a Republican or Democrat, but the President of the United States. The oath of office was taken, the wagons were circled around the country and it’s borders and it was America versus the rest of the world with the president of all the people at the helm. Suddenly President Barack Obama, with the potential to become an exceptional president has become the glaring exception to that unwritten, patriotic rule. Four days before President Obama's inauguration, before he officially took charge of the American government, Rush Limbaugh boasted publicly that he hoped the president would fail. Of course, when the president fails the country flounders. Wishing harm upon your country in order to further your own narrow political views is selfish, sinister and a tad treasonous as well. Subsequently, during his State of the Union address, which is pretty much a pep rally for America, an unknown congressional representative from South Carolina, later identified as Joe Wilson, stopped the show when he called the President of the United States a liar. The president showed great restraint in ignoring this unprecedented insult and carried on with his speech. Speaker Nancy Pelosi was so stunned by the slur, she forgot to jump to her feet while clapping wildly, 30 or 40 times after that. Last spring, President Obama took his wife Michelle to see a play in New York City and republicans attacked him over the cost of security for the excursion. The president cannot take his wife out to dinner and a show without being scrutinized by the political opposition? As history has proven, a president in a theatre without adequate security is a tragically bad idea. Remember: Apart from that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play? At some point, the treatment of President Obama went from offensive to ugly and then to downright dangerous. The health-care debate, which looked more like extreme fighting in a mud pit than a national dialogue, revealed a very vulgar side of America. President Obama's face appeared on protest signs white-faced and blood-mouthed in a satanic clown image. In other tasteless portrayals, people who disagreed with his position distorted his face to look like Hitler complete with mustache and swastika. Odd, that burning the flag makes Americans crazy, but depicting the president as a clown and a maniacal fascist is accepted as part of the new rude America. Maligning the image of the leader of the free world is one thing, putting the president's life in peril is quite another. More than once, men with guns were videotaped at the health-care rallies where the president spoke. Again, history shows that letting men with guns get within range of a president has not served America well in the past. And still the birther's are out there claiming Barack Obama was not born in the United States, although public documentation proves otherwise. Hawaii is definitely part of the United States, but the Panama Canal Zone where his electoral opponent Senator John McCain was born? Nobody cares. Last month, a 44-year-old woman in Buffalo was quite taken by President Obama when she met him in a chicken wing restaurant called Duff's. Did she say something about a pleasure and an honour to meet the man or utter encouraging words for the difficult job he is doing? No. Quote: You're a hottie with a smoking little body. Lady, that was the President of the United States you were addressing, not one of the Jonas Brothers! He's your president for goodness sakes, not the guy driving the Zamboni at Monster Trucks On Ice. Maybe next it'll be, Take Your President To A Topless Bar Day. In President Barack Obama, Americans have a charismatic leader with a good and honest heart. Unlike his predecessor, he's a very intelligent leader. And unlike that president's predecessor, he's a highly moral man. In President Obama, Americans have the real deal, the whole package and a leader that citizens of almost every country around the world look to with great envy. Given the opportunity, Canadians would trade our leader, hell, most of our leaders for Obama in a heartbeat. What America has in Obama is a head of state with vitality and insight and youth. Think about it, Barack Obama is a young Nelson Mandela. Mandela was the face of change and charity for all of Africa but he was too old to make it happen. The great things Obama might do for America and the world could go on for decades after he's out of office. America, you know not what you have. The man is being challenged unfairly, characterized with vulgarity and treated with the kind of deep disrespect to which no previous president was subjected. It's like the day after electing the first black man to be president, thereby electrifying the world with hope and joy, Americans sobered up and decided the bad old days were better. President Obama may fail but it will not be a Richard Nixon default fraught with larceny and lies. President Obama, given a fair chance, will surely succeed but his triumph will never come with a Bill Clinton caveat if only he'd got control of that zipper. Please. Give the man a fair, fighting chance. This incivility toward the leader who won over Americans and gave hope to billions of people around the world that their lives could be enhanced by his example, just naturally has to stop. Believe me, when Americans drive by the White House and see a sign on the lawn that reads: No shirt. No shoes. No service, they'll realize this new national rudeness has gone way, way too far. OCTOBER 2010 SENIOR LIVING MAGAZINE VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

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Westboro Baptist Church

There is before the Supreme Court a defense of the First Amendment right of free speech by the Westboro Baptist Church. They are the picketers who go to soldiers’ funerals or interments with such placards as: God hates fags, God hates America because they tolerate fags, God hates Obama, You’re going to hell, etc.......

I suspect they’ll win the case, and I do believe in free speech no matter how reprehensible it might be.

I do object, however, to them calling themselves Christians. Do you know what that humble Rabbi Joshua aka Jesus of Galilee said about Gays? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! Not one of his biographers or subsequent followers said anything about homosexuality.

Jesus went around talking about the Kingdom of God with a big smile and an open heart. There is one episode recorded about his forgiveness of an adulteress recorded by John.....

“4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”

John 8: 4-11

Westboro Baptist Church spreads hate. Jesus of Galilee, on whom the Christian Church is based, spread love.

Recession Raises Poverty Rate to a 15-Year High

From the New York Times

By ERIK ECKHOLM

Published: September 16, 2010

The percentage of Americans struggling below the poverty line in 2009 was the highest it has been in 15 years, 1 in 7 Americans live below the poverty line the Census Bureau reported Thursday, and interviews with poverty experts and aid groups said the increase appeared to be continuing this year.

What a sad commentary on one of the riches nations in the world. Yet many Senators want to extend the Bush era tax cuts to the very wealthiest Americans. The same Senators are cutting food stamp aid. I guess we know who they listen to and it’s not the poor.

FRAC Statement: Senate Moves Forward on $11.9 Billion Cut in SNAP Benefits; Legislation Needs to Be Fixed Before Passage

Today, the Senate voted for cloture on a bill which reduces SNAP (food stamps) benefits to generate $11.9 billion to pay for items added to the Federal Aviation Administration Bill, including aid to states and funding for teachers' salaries and FMAP (Medicaid). While FRAC supports these important legislative priorities, it is unacceptable to pay for any priority by cutting benefits for the hungriest people in the country. FRAC.org 13 Million US Children are Hungry. Learn how you can help.

www.AmpleHarvest.org Donate Food to the Needy Help End Hunger in America.

http://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/cgi-bin/id/cityfoodbanks.cgi?city=Nanuet&state=NY

Nanuet Food Pantries | Nanuet Soup Kitchens

DON’T JUST READ THIS DO SOMETHING

9/11

8:46:40: Flight 11 crashes at roughly 490 mph into the north face of the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

9:03:04: Flight 175 crashes at about 590 mph into the south face of the South Tower of the World Trade Center

9:37:46: Flight 77 crashes into the western side of the Pentagon and starts a violent fire.

10:03:11: United Airlines Flight 93 is crashed by its hijackers and passengers, due to fighting in the cockpit 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh in Somerset County, Pennsylvania..

There were a total of 2,996 deaths, including the 19 hijackers and 2,977 victims. The victims were distributed as follows: 246 on the four planes (from which there were no survivors), 2,606 in New York City in the towers and on the ground, and 125 at the Pentagon. All the deaths in the attacks were civilians except for 55 military personnel killed at the Pentagon.

More than 90 countries lost citizens

A total of 411 emergency workers who responded to the scene died as they attempted to rescue people and fight fires. The New York City Fire Department lost 341 firefighters and 2 paramedics. The New York City Police Department lost 23 officers. The Port Authority Police Department lost 37 officers, and 8 additional EMTs and paramedics from private EMS units were killed.

It is right that the rebuilding of the twin towers should include memorial space.

Let’s not forget the brave souls who tried to wrest the controls back from the hijackers on United Airlines Flight 93. There have been locations and designs for such a memorial, but a controversy rages on.

The Pentagon has built a memorial to the 184 persons killed in the attack by Flight 77. There are 184 chairs, each with a victim’s name inscribed. The Memorial was dedicated and opened to the public on September 11, 2008.

Is Obama a Muslim?

There are some ill-informed persons who still believe that President Obama is a Muslim, all evidence to the contrary. But that’s beside the point! I thought we got over that when a Catholic (John Kennedy) was elected President and when a Jew (Joe Lieberman) ran as vice presidential candidate with Al Gore in 2000.

The religion of a candidate in this SECULAR United States should make no difference, only his views on the issues that matter to the electorate.

Freedom of Religion

Is it only for religions we like?

The Constitution of the United States of America

Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. Ratified 12/15/1791.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

I can’t see any reason why Muslims can’t refurbish a building no longer usable to make a cultural center which would include a Mosque.

These are facts contrary to the right wing rant-o-philes

1. It’s Not at Ground Zero (its several blocks away)*

2. It’s Not Strictly A Mosque (it’s a cultural center open to everyone)*

3. You Can’t Simultaneously Acknowledge A Right And Insist That Your Government Suppress It*

But that’s beside the point: as our President said, “As a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country. And that includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in Lower Manhattan,....”

I am grateful to:

* http://www.cracked.com/blog/3-reasons-the-ground-zero-mosque-debate-makes-no-sense/

Marriage

Two persons of sound mind (although the fact that they want to get “married” puts in doubt the “sound mind”) get a “license” to marry from the County Clerk, then a state appointed functionary (JP, judge, priest, rabbi, etc.) witnesses the contract, and the state issues a “marriage” certificate. If subsequently the couple wishes to dissolve the contract they go to a state court to do so. “Marriage” confers on the couple certain rights, privileges, and responsibilities i.e., right to inheritance, not to be forced to testify against each other, etc. “Marriage” is a State function and it should properly be called a Civil Union.

If the couple would like to have their “marriage” blessed or sanctified by their community of faith they a free to do so. Their Pastor, Priest, Rabbi, Imam, or whatever, can perform such a ceremony, record the fact in their records and give the couple a Marriage Certificate to that effect.