Perspective

I can't post the video directly, but follow this link for a very funny and astute political commentary from Jon Stewart.

The part of the speech that made me happy. . .

I was thinking Obama was quoting Fred, but it really is Ginger! Glad he likes the old musicals as much as I do!">

Mommy Going Out!

Ignore the Laundry. . .don't worry about the overflowing recycling bin. Just go have a good time at the local Republican Party party(our 3 county candidates won!).

This is a Day

That The Lord has Made. Let us rejoice and be Glad.

No--my guy didn't win. But I don't dwell on disappointment. I get warm and fuzzy over the "work together" and "I'm your president too" comments in the concession and victory speeches.

Lest you think I'm of pure intentions, I also am motivated by the desire to be more graceful in defeat than the Dems who publicly spouted about the "F***ing Republicans" after the last election. No foot stamping and temper tantrums from me. This is the US of A, and I'm looking forward with confidence and a bit of anxiety.

As long as we still have freedom of speech and freedom of religion, I'm cool.

Now. . .about my future in politics. . .

Counting Blessings

So--sometimes God takes something away so you can REALLY NOTICE what a blessing it is and REALLY APPRECIATE IT when it returns. Like, say, income. Yup--regular income sure is a nice thing. It will be really great to have it again sometime soon!

I'm keeping a sense of humour about this because the winter projects will be coming into the boatyards soon, and John will be landing one of those jobs. And we don't pay rent, and we are all healthy etc etc. Life is good in many ways. But I'll tell ya--not a penny of John's future paychecks will be squandered! What a blessing work will be!

The culture shock of returning to Maine has hit us in the past few weeks. Grass is always greener syndrome; I miss all the large generous Catholic families in Oregon (only small miserly families here in Maine don'tchknow). And Thaddeus insists on crying to return to Oregon, and talks about his "girl" Anne ALL THE TIME.

One fun thing is that the kids and I volunteered at the republican headquarters for our County on Monday. You'd be surprised at who is republican. That old actor with long hair? Republican. The really cute 22 year old with the superman T-shirt. Totally pro-life republican! I had a great time and felt that it was a good civics lesson for the children.

Some family members have been asking me "why McCain Palin?" (they're asking because I got sick of the anti-Republican stuff I was being sent in group emails so I sent out an email revealing myself as a member of the other side. . )

I can stretch myself to think of some thoughtful answers. I've listened to enough radio to pull together an intelligent response. . .but really the bottom line for me is the sanctity of life. I really want to hold our country to the high standards of respecting life from conception till natural death. I don't think that killing an innocent life is a choice that should be legal. We have lots of choices before conception. This country has enough money, and childless couples to care for every baby. It kills me that Downs babies, black babies, and girl babies are all at high risk for being aborted. The inherent eugenic, racist, sexist stance makes me shudder.

But maybe I'll just say I like her glasses...

You Go Girl!

Now this is the kind of woman I can disagree with, and yet still agree with in many of her most fundamental points! Well said!

Yes, I am a Republican

How to get a couple of Boomers to choke on the gourmet sandwiches I just served them? In response to a dispariging remark about Sarah Palin say "Well, I'm a republican. And I LOVE her!"

I could see them struggle. A gen X-er working at The Green Gourmet a Republican?

Then came the quiz. "Do you believe in Global Warming?"
(btw I didn't know it has to be an act of faith. . .)
"Climate change is real, and I'm committted to doing our best for the environment."

"What about Iraq."
"I'm not thrilled about it. But I'm more concerned about abortion, frankly."

It stayed quite civil. I fell back on my "Aren't we glad we are allowed to be either Democrat or Republican without being persecuted. It's so great to live in a pluralistic country where we can have opposing views and still know that we are all American doing our best to help the country. Google Crunchy Con and you'll see what I'm about"

That stops them in their "Inclusiveness at all costs unless you're pro-life" tracks.

But I REALLY am excited about Sarah Palin. I've been a McCain fan since his first run--Sarah just ads fuel to my fire. . .Also-this plank of the Republican party:

Maintaining The Sanctity and Dignity of Human Life

Faithful to the first guarantee of the Declaration of Independence, we assert the inherent dignity and sanctity of all human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed. We support a human life amendment to the Constitution, and we endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment’s protections apply to unborn children. We oppose using public revenues to promote or perform abortion and will not fund organizations which advocate it. We support the appointment of judges who respect traditional family values and the sanctity and dignity of innocent human life.

We have made progress. The Supreme Court had upheld prohibitions against the barbaric practice of partial-birth abortion, the Born Alive Infants Protection Act has become law, and states are now permitted to extend health care coverage to children before birth. We invite all persons of good will, whether across the political aisle or within our party, to work together to reduce the incidence of abortion; to protect girls from exploitation and statutory rape through a parental notification requirement; and to oppose sex selection abortions. We all have a moral obligation to assist, not to penalize, women struggling with the challenges of an unplanned pregnancy. We salute those who provide them alternatives, including crisis pregnancy centers, and we take pride in the tremendous increase in adoptions that has followed Republican legislative initiatives.

I think it's very well worded. And I hardly ever get to ask a pro-choice person--Since we no longer have a social stigma against single mother-hood, where is the necessity for abortion? It's not like you'll be shamed for being pregnant--or even giving a baby up for adoption. If anything women today would have encouragement for those choices--so the fear of illegal abortions is not well founded.

As I said to the Boomer customers today: The environment begins with our bodies. Respecting the environment means respecting all life.

If you havn't seen it yet--watch Mad World/Obama on youtube. How inhuman can we become?