Americanpolitics

Photo of NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen courtesy of Yahoo News

Twenty-five NATO allies promised to send an additional 7,000 more troops to Afghanistan as America has pledged 30,000 more troops and while this total does not meet the 40,000 McChrystal requested, S.O.S. Hillary Clinton has said she was pleased with the “significant contributions” from NATO allies.

When I listen to the politicians discuss the Afghan war and the play on words they use such as “withdrawal,” “occupation,” “residual forces,” “transition,” “no long term occupation” and how confusing their mission is based on these contradictory phrases, I have to wonder about the audiences they are addressing and how the contradicting words play in the minds of the various audiences.

I find it difficult to wade through the words to get to what is real. First it was a “withdrawal” of troops starting in 2011 but now it is called a “transition,” which will be based on an evaluation to determine if the withdrawal is feasible. Conversely, there will remain a “residual force” in Afghanistan long after the battle troops leave even though we have no plans for long term “occupation” of these foreign lands. This is just a mild interpretation of the double talk of politicians that I have been listening to over the past few days.

Courage to fight a war is something I will never understand. I guess if I became angry enough, I would stand and fight, as in domestic violence, but then that is a direct threat to me personally. However, to read the words of a West Point Cadet who listened to the President’s speech last week and to attempt to put myself in his shoes was something my imagination could not do because the only blind faith I have is the blind faith in Jesus Christ.

Cadet Eric Bernau put it simply, “I came here to West Point for four years because I have one singular goal of serving this country while we’re at war. If you’re involved in sports you don’t want to spend all your time practicing and then never play in the game. It’s the same thing for us. I always expected to go to war. I want to go. I’m honored to go.”

“I’m honored to go” – these words are deep. While I can understand the words, it felt more like “looking for action” rather than action being forced on you. Domestic violence is something that is forced on you personally, like street crimes, where as war is a choice and I guess like many others, as long as the violence is not touching me personally, I have no desire to fight and if I can walk away from it I will because my belief is that violence does not solve problems but instead it either creates more violence or creates other means of brutality.

Truth is when I read Cadet Bernau’s words, my heart swelled with pride for the courage and dedication he expressed. The article goes on to say that he was the first in his family to join the military, leaving behind a worried mother with roots as a religious pacifist and a miffed group of friends who later bragged about their light schedules at the University of Wisconsin.

Bernau, on the other hand, was captivated by the purposefulness of the Army; he asked to be assigned to infantry because he hoped to be counted on when it mattered most. While I am deeply affected by the words Cadet Bernau spoke, affected by his dedication, strength and courage, my heart is heavy with the choice he has made to offer his life in exchange for a peace that I have doubts of ever being achieved.

Because I have doubts, does this mean that peace can not be achieved – no it doesn’t and so I say to Cadet Bernau and all the other brave troops who are serving and have served that I sincerely regret that peace can not be achieved in other ways, I regret that lives have to be lost, I regret the changes, in you, that will take place as a result of your mission.

I regret that you will become part of a violence that is so intense that even if you are not physically touched you will be forever mentally and emotionally touched by what you will see in this war zone and I thank you for being who you are as I pray for your safe return.

Bernau was not the only Cadet who voiced his resolve, anxious anticipation even, to go off to war and as I read the comments of others I somehow felt lacking in courage, faith and even character in comparison to these kids who are willing and ready to offer their services to a cause much greater than daily living. I felt such admiration for them as I understood the sacrifice and marveled at their nobility and their selflessness.

More importantly, I suggest that the time of sacrifice, after all these years mankind has been on earth, should be over, that we, as thinking, feeling, people should have learned by now how to get along without war – but it is what it is and the lessons have not been learned and so the madness continues as kids like Bernau stand strong and eager to do what they feel is right while those who commit to war make the decisions that allow for the sacrifices made by youngsters like Bernau.

And that’s the way I see it!!!!

Footsteps on the Ice: The Antarctic Diaries of Stuart D. Paine, Second Byrd Expedition

Photo courtesy of MSNBC

The long awaited justification for the continuation of the war in Afghanistan is scheduled to be unveiled today by President Obama himself. Why he feels justification is in order, I’m not sure since regardless of any justification, he has made his decision and troops will be sent, lives will be lost, money will be spent and the war rages on.

Over the weekend I saw a poll, as well as casual interviews of Pakistani people stating that 59% felt as though it was as a result of Americans that they were experiencing a surge in violence in their land, that innocent people were being killed.

In Afghanistan, the Taliban have already said how they feel about American occupation in their land, they don’t appreciate it and they will continue to fight. Meanwhile, some Afghan people believe that with a surge of U.S. troops, life for them becomes more dangerous.

Obama, on the other hand feels that Afghan security forces need more training to be able to stabilize the violence there. He feels that by making tougher demands on the governments of both Pakistan and Afghanistan, peace can be achieved, the negativity of the Taliban/al-Qaeda can be diminished and a new world order can be achieved – I say please spare me the pipedream mentality.

These beliefs are held even as, statistically speaking, this has been the deadliest year for American and NATO troops since the onset of the war eight years ago as the death toll began to rise in earnest, after Obama decided to deploy an additional 20 thousand plus U.S. troops, earlier this year as part of his refocus on the Afghan war.

While in Iran, diplomacy, sanctions, threats made by the U.S. government in an attempt to prevent Iran from creating nuclear material has the government there boasting they will build an additional ten nuclear power “enrichment” plants in defiance of what America wants.

Although some in the international community feel Iran’s declaration to build the number of plants they have announced is impossible to achieve, keep in mind that while the world thought they had only one plant, recent discoveries have indicated that they indeed have more than one plant in process currently.

Even if this Iranian threat to build more nuclear enrichment plants is more about a distraction than a reality, it indicates to me that Iran has no respect for the sanctions or the words of the United States government and they plan to continue, business as usual, regardless of what the U.S. says and being geographically so close to Afghanistan, Pakistan and the negative forces in these lands, possibility becomes more probability.

Still, on another level, while the United States would have you believe their involvement in Iraq was of noble reasoning, the freedom of Iraqi people, the true bottom line was revenge and oil.

Photo courtesy of MSNBC

The revenge was a George Bush thing against Saddam Hussein, while the reasons of oil can be analyzed in reading the article I read this morning which outlines oil companies who are looking to future profits, now that they have a foothold in Iraq due to Americans’ invasion of Iraq.

All of this leads me back to Obama’s verbal justifications for waging war in a country where the prime suspect of the 9/11 catastrophe may be long gone, where the government is so corrupt that in all the previous years, the Taliban and al-Qaeda have been embraced, where the people are sitting on the fence waiting to see who has the most power before they truly commit to helping themselves.

With the Republican Party strongly behind a troop surge, which makes me suspicious right away, and none of the rationale being spoken of being logical, in my mind, I have to wonder what the real reason is, behind the loss of life of American and NATO troops, in Afghanistan/Pakistan. I have to wonder why Obama has decided to send more troops to a land that demonstrates such strong feelings about U.S. occupation in their land.

More importantly, I have to wonder what justification Obama will relay to the American people regarding this war. How can politicians justify the amount of money to be spent on this new surge in troops when they bicker continuously on the amount of money the health care/insurance reform legislation will cost the American people over time? I have to wonder will truth be part of this justification for war.

And that’s the way I see it!!!!

Sensual bath, Sensual Kit - Basket of love

Photo courtesy of Yahoo News

While America never gives Obama the praise or support he is due on any level, he has no problem being consistently viewed in the positive by other countries. Washington’s ambassador to Beijing cited the fact that true to form, the news media in America, when discussing Obama’s trip to China, failed to take into account important progress on many issues.

Instead they criticized his visit as “not productive” and “failing to gain concessions on key issues such as Iran’s nuclear program, climate change and weak on human rights.” This according to a Yahoo News article I read yesterday morning.

On the other hand, in China, Obama’s trip was the top news story. According to surveys in China which suggests the views in China are primarily positive as it relates to successful communications and opinions of the American president. Citing the fact that “the visit yielded important progress on cooperation in areas such as clean energy, military-to-military exchanges and stopping the spread of nuclear weapons.”

While American’s criticized the “bow” Obama took, with Cheney even going so far as to say that American’s should not be bowing to any nation, China was viewing the President in a light of respect. Even though “good will” was earned by Obama’s visit through the eyes of China, those in America did what they do best when it comes to Obama and that is criticized, in an attempt to ostracize which goes to show how petty the American public is becoming in light of the election of the first black president.

And as if the criticism is not enough, Republicans are still playing their petty game as it relates to the health care/insurance reform debate. Saturday night I watched as the question as to whether the health care/insurance reform debate should continue on the floor of the Senate was voted on. To my knowledge, not one Republican voted to have this debate continued. It is not like the vote was to pass the bill the vote only determined whether the conversation would continue.

To add to the divisions the Republicans are striving for, the Catholic Church, through the voice of Bishop Thomas Tobin, is again attempting to show that they are the deciding voice of “who is worthy” in this life, in their attempt to take on the persona of God by passing judgments, by refusing Holy Communion to Patrick Kennedy for his support of abortion rights because of his “yes” vote on the health care/insurance reform legislation.

Photo courtesy of Yahoo News

From my reading of the Bible, there was a situation where Jesus was questioned about his breaking bread in the home of someone who was not a believer. Jesus’ answer, in essence, involved the truth that he was not here solely for those who believed but for those who did not believe.

If Jesus saw the potential in others, what makes this Catholic Bishop so intolerant of others - this does not seem “the Christian way” as far as my understanding of the Bible. What makes Bishop Tobin so righteous that he can pass judgment on another man? Who gives Tobin the right to judge another man’s soul? Furthermore, abortion, to my recollection, is not even mentioned in the Bible.

The more I listen to the lame excuses put forth by the Republican Party regarding this bill, the more I lose the little respect I had for them as a viable party to the government of the United States of America. The more they open their mouth, the more I see how unreasonable, irrational and petty they are.

The more they protest this bill with inaccuracies (that have been detected by others), lies, figures they pull out of the air for the purpose of distraction and deceiving, the more I am incline to believe this bill is just what the American public needs – this opinion based not on actually reading the bill just based entirely on the irrational actions of the Republican Party.

What is it the Republicans hope to accomplish with the division they are attempting to create? Who do Republicans impress by the criticism and lies, the refusal to work in a productive manner, as a unified team with Democrats, when it comes to health care/insurance reform? What is their real goal?

Whatever the goal is, it is obvious it does not have the best interest of the people at heart and the more they play these childish games, the more I question their sanity, their rationality, their service to “we the people.”

And that’s the way I see it!!!

Sarah Palin, Fox News, Fort Hood, Oath Keepers are they all signs of our times. If these are examples of where America is heading, we are definitely going down some dangerous roads leading to what could be the destruction of the United States of America.

Sarah Palin is a detriment to America with her lies, denials and attention seeking personality. Sarah Palin is a small town girl with the narcissistic desire to be in the lime light regardless of how she gets there. Once she gained national attention she was awe struck by the applause and at this point her need for that applause, that attention continues to grow.

While she posed for the picture recently posted on the cover of Newsweek, the original pictures were taken for another magazine called Runner’s World in August of 2009, noting the fact that she was a runner. Palin allowed herself to be posed with the American flag draped over a chair as she stands in spandex shorts with full insight of the way the media works after having been, according to her, “bashed” by the media in her run for vice-president.

Now she is in an uproar about Newsweek’s use of the photo in a discussion regarding her relevance as a political figure, calling it a sexist attack on her. As a “political figure” she should have known better than to pose for such a picture.

If she did not want the photos released, she should not have had them taken under any circumstances in light of her previous exposure in the media. She can not be that naive and if she is that naïve then is she a good candidate for President of the United States or any other public figure representative?

Fox News, not only under fire for its controversial anchors, the lies the station allows to be aired, but now, for the second time in less than two weeks they have been accused of airing misleading video.

In an attempt to give a recent protest, held in Washington, DC, more clout than it deserved, Hannity rolled a video shot of a previous rally. Bolstering the current rally as having a large turnout but showing footage from a previous rally where the turnout was impressive.

They were called on this misleading footage by The Daily show which noted the rapid change in seasons which was an indication that the footage being shown was not, as indicated by Fox News, current.

Less than two weeks later, they attempted to give the impression that the people lining up for Sarah Palin’s book signing in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was huge by airing a segment of a 2008 McCain/Palin campaign rally indicating the turnout was for the book signing.

In both instances, Fox has apologized and cited a production error as the cause of the mistake, but was this another of Fox’s ploys, used deliberately to mislead the public? One mistake is understandable, two in less than two weeks is suspicious, to say the least. It has me wondering just how frequently this has happened in the past unbeknownst to the gullible, unsuspecting public.

The reluctance of the United States Government to confirm the attack on Fort Hood as a terroristic act amazes me. Just like Army personnel lived in denial regarding Hasan’s behavior, so too are they now attempting to put this horrific incident on “work place violence” alone. Yes, it is work place violence to the degree that it happened in the workplace but by the same token it is a terroristic act based on Hasan’s associations, rhetoric, beliefs and actions.

While you can not blame all Muslims for the acts of one individual, you can call the attack on Fort Hood what it is, a terroristic attack on United States soil in an effort to stop deployment of military personnel to join the fight against Muslim extremist, based on the facts that have been uncovered, the beliefs of the shooter, the contacts he made prior to the attack and the specific area he chose to attack.

Paranoia, hate, fear and ignorance are what fuels the militia group called The Oath Keepers. Founded in March of 2009, shortly after the inauguration of the first black president of the United States, they believe the worse threat this nation faces is not terrorists but it is the government of the United States.

Although they are in denial about what motivates them, they believe strongly that the mission of the United States government is to disarm them and vehemently proclaim “Not On My Watch” to those who think they will be able to deprive them of their constitutional right to bear arms.

Even though this is not the only threat they perceive the government guilty of, for they believe that the government oversteps many constitutional boundaries, their aim is to curb federal power and they pledge to prevent dictatorship in the United States.

I am left shaking my head in dismay and wondering, am I the only one in this country who sees the perilous road we are streaking down. Are we on a mission of deceit symbolized by our refusal to see things as they truly are for the sake of political correctness? Are we so confused by lies that truth is an allusion even when it is smacking you in the face?

Is it easier to believe a lie because we have been lied to for so long by those in power? It’s a sad state of affairs that I am viewing. While everyone keeps asking the question of how the Fort Hood incident could happen, my question becomes how could any of this confusion and madness be happening here in America. How can the lies be believed so easily? How could the intention to mislead take over so completely? How can we reach a positive outcome with so much negativity swirling around?

And that’s the way I see it!!!!

America The Last Best Hope 1

Photo courtesy of New York Times

Father Henry Willenborg, the blood father of Nathan Halbach who was conceived while Father Henry was a practicing priest. Nathan, a twenty something year old young man who is dying of brain cancer, who has had little contact with his “righteous” priest father during his entire life as the church sought to keep this indiscretion a secret and pay off the mother of Nathan in the guise of child support payments in exchange for a pledge of silence regarding the identity of Nathan’s true father.

Pedophiles, gay couplings, illegitimate births, molestation of under-aged children both boys and girls, accusations made, cover-ups, lies, deceit, payoffs, law suits and protection of the guilty – all have been acts the Catholic church, its priest and administrators have been guilty of yet, they are taking a strong stand against the health care/insurance reform as it relates to abortions.

After Representative Patrick Kennedy, of America’s favorite family Kennedy’s, questioned the stance the Church was taking against health care/insurance reform, as it relates to abortion, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin fired back in a radio interview stating that “If you freely choose to be a catholic, it means you believe certain things, you do certain things. If you cannot do all of that in conscience, then you should perhaps feel free to go somewhere else.”

Where was Bishop Tobin, during all of the perversions that were taking place with his priest and all of the cover-ups that followed? Why is it that those priests were not excommunicated from the Church or at the very least relieved of their duties as priests?

While abortion is a personal choice, a woman’s choice and an individual loss of an embryo that has yet developed into a thinking, feeling person, the crimes against impressionable, sometimes vulnerable, thinking, feeling people and in too many cases children, committed by “holy men” is a far bigger crime with lasting consequences that affects a lifetime of living.

For those of you, who think religion and politics are two separate entities, think again. Religion has always been part of politics and will continue to be a driving force in decision making as the Bishop calls upon the Catholic majority in the Senate to ban abortion in the health care/insurance reform legislation currently on the table.

The hypocrisy of the Catholic church is enough to make me recognize them for who they truly are – controlling dictators who feel they are exempt from the very Word they preach. In their arrogance they feel they can not only provide absolution, a gift only God can provide, but they feel empowered to judge as only God can judge.

It seems to me, that they have forgotten that they are merely messengers of the Word. On no level do they themselves meet the high standards of God yet, they feel powerful enough to dictate and demand higher standards from those who follow them. Jesus taught through example, the best way to teach, yet the example taught by the Catholic Church is “do as I say and not as I do, for I am the ‘father.’”

Even God does not attempt to take away free will, choice, so who gives the Catholic Church, the Senate, the Congress or any other human being this power that they consistently attempt to wield against others. In life, ultimately, I have but one father and that is the father up above.

The man responsible for my earthly presence was my dad, daddy, papa but my father is someone totally different and as the King James version of the Bible I read states “call no man father but he that is the creator” (not a direct quote but close enough to the true meaning) and I have therefore always questioned the Catholics for using that term to address its priest as I now question their righteous attitudes towards abortion in light of their condoning the scandalous sins of their priest.

And that’s the way I see it!!!!

The SurfShelf - Treadmill Laptop Holder and Shelf

Photo courtesy of FANPix.net

Lou Dobbs said his good-byes to CNN and his viewers early this morning. For months now there has been a movement to get Lou removed from CNN and I can not help but to wonder if this movement has been successful, especially in light of the fact that his departure comes prior to his contract ending.

Lou Dobbs delivers the news with a slant that is based on his ideology and when people disagree he has a tendency to rudely interrupt or add his sarcasm, always with a beautiful smile, flashing his teeth, but the smile seems more sinister than comforting.

While he is usually very straightforward in his comments there are other times where you have to read between the lines, look behind the smile and read what is in his eyes in order to truly hear what he means. Either way, most times I am not in agreement with his perceptions but obviously, I am not the only one who views Lou Dobbs as a negative person.

In his slick way he has insulted the President of the United States with his continued comments on the “birth issue” but he also takes regular shots at Obama’s ability to run the country effectively. His views and statements on immigration have riled the Hispanic community in what they call his attempt to “spread lies and misinformation” about Hispanics.

His mindset conforms to conspiracy theories and divisions and it seems that on many levels he had difficulty drawing the line between truth and fiction even when it threatened the loss of a job he had held for years with CNN.

Even though Lou Dobbs will no longer be seen on CNN, I am sure we have not seen the last of him nor will his perceptions be altered by either his experience with CNN or the alleged attack on his home that he feels was precipitated by his views on illegal immigration and border security.

News should be delivered in a non-biased, informative way. CNN has been called “the most trusted name in news” and it has been my primary source of televised news, however with some of the comments made by Lou Dobbs this handle has been tarnished to say the least.

Lou’s contract was not set to end until 2011 and though his words implied that it was through mutual agreement that he was leaving CNN, it feels more like a push back from management at CNN. Mr. Independent, as Lou Dobbs was often introduced on CNN, had very outspoken opinions on taxpayer bailouts, illegal immigration, the citizenship of Obama, government processes as well as a number of other topics.

Now that he is no longer with CNN maybe he will become the same type of spokesman as Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck for I had long ago put him on the same level as the two of them, a closet racist, only Lou Dobbs is a tad bit more classy than Limbaugh or Beck and there is no denying that Lou Dobbs has a beautiful smile when his smile actually touches his eyes as well.

And that’s the way I see it!!!

Paradoxes of Group Life: Understanding Conflict, Paralysis, and Movement in Group Dynamics

Photo courtesy of MSNBC (In Memory Of those lost at Ft. Hood)

In retrospect, disturbing information has been cited as known issues regarding Nidal Malik Hasan, issues that have been obvious for months. At least six months ago, Hasan was in the lime light of law enforcement for his comparisons of suicide bombings with a soldier giving his life for others by throwing himself on a grenade. His internet postings lead law enforcement agents to scrutinize him however, in the end, it was determined that his article was within the boundaries his job.

He earned his rank of Major nineteen months ago in April of 2008 and received a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry in 1997. He was a devout Muslim and anyway you look at it, reality is that American’s have been and are killing Muslims. The truth is that as far back as his college days Hasan had issues with Americans interference with Muslim nations and as interference grew to occupation, Hasan’s inner conflicts grew as well.

As earlier as his college days Hasan showed signs that he was not mentally equipped to be in the military giving a classroom presentation at one point which justified suicide bombings. In his position as psychiatrist, hearing the inner most conflicts of those who had fought the “enemy” and survived, I’m sure he heard tales that disturbed him deeply, based on who he was and his beliefs as a Muslim.

Yet he climbed the ranks in the military and was about to be shipped off to fight against those he held dear to his heart. Clearly, not only was there a conflict raging inside of him but there is conflicting beliefs within the faith of practicing Muslims. Some say that violence is not part of the religion while others vehemently believe that violence is at the core of their beliefs – violence against non-believers.

While family members are saying that Nidal Hasan was a peaceful, loving and compassionate person who never committed an act of violence and was in fact incapable of this attack that he orchestrated with ease. Others have stated that over the past few months he had become so conflicted that on some levels he spoke at times incoherently.

Only a rational mind is able to discern between righteous violence (if there is such a thing) and violence that is based on the insanity of the jihad that Osama bin Laden calls for. Hasan showed signs of, as well as verbalized feelings of, persecution for simply being a devout Muslim, he was conflicted as to what he could tell his fellow Muslim servicemen in an effort to pacify any misgivings they might hold regarding fighting fellow Muslims but deep down inside, it appears he was the only one with true misgivings.

Those misgivings lead to him marching in to the very place that military personnel went to process out to Iraq/Afghanistan and attempting to killing as many of those who were preparing to leave as he could. No way is this a judgment but a statement of fact, it appears his violence was directed at those who would willing go off to war against his people.

This was an act that is being praised by some in the Muslim community as heroic. As I watched one Muslim, living in the United States, praise Osama bin Laden and relate how he holds bin Laden dear, in his heart, I had to ask myself is America missing the point.

The point being that we are, on some levels, in danger on our own soil because with open arms, we have allowed the “enemy” to infiltrate our lands. With our freedoms of speech they are allowed to spout discontent, hatred and violence against the land they have run to in order to improve their lot in life and enjoy the freedoms they do not have in their own lands.

There seems to be a wide divide and a serious confliction of principle and ideas that has lead to the United States allowing of this behavior to flourish in our lands as we send our soldiers off to war in these lands. How could this have happened here? More importantly since it is not truly known, at any given moment in time, just what is churning in someone else’s mind, how can we, as a nation, be sure that a jihad is not being planned at this very moment within the United States of America.

As Obama decides whether to send more troops off to war, I wonder if we have not bitten off more than we can chew. Are we fighting a war that we can not win? Have we trusted the influx of people who mean us harm? Do we walk away now or continue the interference in situations that are doomed to be what they are?

I wonder if we are not setting ourselves up for more violence on our own soil. I wonder how effective a jihad would be if, simultaneously, those Muslims in the United States who idolize Osama bin Laden where called upon to act – and you should be wondering the same things.

And that’s the way I see it!!!!!

PC Tools Internet Security

Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia

Based on a law from 1976, federal funds are restricted from being used for abortions, except in cases of rape; incest; or to ensure the life of the mother. However, earlier this year Democratic leaders allowed a provision that would give permission to people to use subsidies to buy insurance that cover abortion but implied that only funds from individuals or employer paid health care premiums could go towards paying for the abortion.

Subsequently, a large portion of Democrats are now against this wording because it puts responsibility on insurance companies to determine what is private money and what is government money, a simple task that could be performed by computer programming or data entry.

There is so much hypocrisy involved in the debates against the health care/insurance reform that it reeks of legislative obstruction based on nothing more than political posturing and support of the insurance industry, who in turn supports politicians.

First it was the cost of the health care reform, but in the same breath, politicians are willing to spend billions of dollars, which over time turn into trillions, on wars you have no possibility at “winning” even stooping to paying low level Taliban, the so called enemy, to switch sides and fight with you.

Second it was the “public option” where politicians kept the lie going that no one wanted the public option because no one wanted government involvement in health care decisions citing, as the main reason the fact that health care is a private decision between patient and doctor only. Yet, Republicans endorse a bill that would extend Medicare/Medicaid, a government run heath care/insurance mechanism, to millions of additional Americans.

Now if, as they so vehemently attempt to persuade the American public, government has no place in the decisions made between doctor and patient why is it now, a concern of theirs whether abortions are covered in the so called “public option” provision.

Abortion is a very private matter. It is a freedom of choice for a woman that has been interfered with for as long as I have been in the world and longer. The pursuit of abortion has lead to death, sterilization, pain and suffering for many who have had to seek abortion through black market, unscrupulous providers and abortions will continue to take place regardless of who pays for them.

However, the real bottom line is if I am forced, through mandate, to partake in medical coverage through insurance, paying my hard earned money, even if a portion of this mandated coverage is subsidized by the same government that forced me to become covered and on the one hand you resent government involvement but on the other hand you deny my right to abortion, which is a private decision made between my doctor and me, how hypocritical is that.

According to an article I read this morning on MSNBC News, even a majority of house Democrats are concerned that provisions in the health care legislation now on the table could lead to public funding of abortion. With Republicans opposing the bill based on the public option and the Democrats opposing the wording regarding abortions, the derailment of the bill seems to be a reality that sparks on both sides of the isle for different reasons.

It appears that while Democrats are smiling in your face in an effort to get you to believe they are on your side, they are secretly working just as hard as Republicans to keep the insurance companies making money off “we the people” by the obstruction of the passage of this legislation.

Abortions are going to happen regardless of how they are paid for. I could walk into a doctor’s office and lie about being raped or choose a doctor who is willing to do abortions. I could also find a person who, from past knowledge of the process, use the unsanitary method of a coat hanger to abort my baby or any other method they are using these days – you can not stop me if that is my goal, even if I have to pay for it myself so what is the point of the debate and what are you really preventing, nothing but the passage of the legislation.

And that’s the way I see it!!!!

BJYK 12 inch Human Hair Weave (This whole health care debate is as phony as a weave but like a weave - it looks good)

The parallel universe of everyday life and politics has me wondering who is most crazy, me or the politicians.

I’m just saying, based on the desires of the politicians, we are spending billions of dollars annually supporting other countries (which over time equals trillions), yet they bitch and moan about supplying the people of America with reasonable costs for something as basic as health care on the basis of the expense.

Let the politicians tell it, we where successful in our efforts in Iraq when we paid low level Taliban to switch sides and fight on our side against the Taliban. Yet, people are still dying, car bombs and suicide bombs are still going off in areas that are “protected” by security check-points that allow bomb carrying individuals to enter guarded areas. This is a clear indication that these vehicles and people are not being adequately checked before entering any given area – what’s the point of having the check-points.

More to the point, who are the people charged with the responsibility of searches at these check-points? Could it be the same people who where paid to “be on our side” in the battle against the Taliban?

Leaving the war in the Middle East behind, as we should be doing in reality, and looking at health care/insurance reform, the parallel universe becomes even more obvious. Over and over again Republicans are saying “no” to government’s “involvement” in health care yet, their suggestion to the problem is to expand the government program of Medicare/Medicaid as a means of covering those individuals without medical coverage.

Also included in their plan was a stipulation that would make it mandatory for you, the citizen, to be covered. In some instances subsidies would be provided, by the “government,” to help cover the cost of the insurance coverage you choose.

All this “government involvement,” in covering the cost of insuring those who are uninsured, while choosing co-ops as an alternative to public options, none of which lends to the idea of lowering the basic costs of insurance but, instead puts the government on the accounts receivable ledgers of insurance companies.

Now Republicans and some Democrats, as well, who are all politicians are saying these things with a straight face and possibly a straight lie, that the public option that is on the table would give government too much control over your medical experience while they, themselves, attempt to use government money to pay the expensive premiums to the insurance companies.

On the other hand, the public option, to my understanding, allows the government to negotiate lower premiums with certain insurance companies, thereby setting up a competitive edge in the insurance business. This, according to my understanding would be the only involvement the government would have in the public option.

Even though at this point, I am unclear how they would negotiate these lower premiums or why those against the public option have the idea that this involves a “government takeover” of insurance companies, I say at face value the public option has more ability at achieving the goal of coverage and competition.

I do have to ask would the negotiations sacrifice services for lower prices or would the lower prices come as a result of group coverage alone, as is the case with most coverage coming from job situations at this time? My impressions are that this is not the case, that services would not be compromised however this is the case being made by those opposing the public option.

I feel as though what the Republicans are offering is the insurance version of the old bait and switch con game. I feel they show more love to foreigners than they do to their own people, who they were hired to protect and serve. I feel they are intentionally confusing the issues with only their best interests at heart. I feel “we the people” are being duped with a word game played by politicians that think they are smarter than us.

And that’s the way I see it!!!!

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Over the next five years, the United States Legislation has committed $1.5 billion PER YEAR, in nonmilitary aid to Pakistan. This outrageous amount is viewed by Pakistani citizens as compromising their country’s sovereignty even though President Asif Ali Zardari, of Pakistan, has agreed to the stipulations in the Kerry-Lugar bill.

In Afghanistan, America is considering paying Afghan citizens to side with America in the fight against the Taliban, citing the fact that this method of bribing citizens worked in the war efforts in Iraq.

American still believes that anybody can be bought because this is the American way and while they throw money to Iraqis, Afghanis and Pakistanis the war in these countries against America and their intruding principles, rages on.

This morning on CNN I saw a reporter interviewing what appeared to be young, college age Pakistanis who clearly view the United State’s involvement in their country as an intrusion.

With the rising incidences of violence in Pakistan, fast forward to a point in time where these college students lose a parent, a favorite aunt or uncle, a brother or sister, as a result of the violence that is growing in that country based on the needs of America and you have the makings of a militant, a Taliban or al-Qaeda operative.

In Palestine, according to Amnesty International (AI), Israel deprives Palestinians of something as basic as drinking water. Amnesty International, a human rights group, states that Israel is pumping disproportionate amounts of drinking water from an aquifer it controls in the West Bank while blocking infrastructure projects that would improve existing water supplies to Palestinians.

While the Israel government vehemently denies these allegations, I say Israel’s track record of dealing with the Palestinians speaks volumes to the truths of the suffering of 2.3 million Palestinians living in Gaza and therefore, for me, these allegations ring true. I believe that Israel would, as a means to maintain control through their inhumane treatment of the Palestinian people, deny them the basics of drinking water. Yet, America continues to support Israel in the lack of compassion it shows towards 2.3 million souls.

Headlines today read: 93 killed in blast at Pakistan market; Afghan militants hit U.N. guest house – 12 dead as gunmen target U.N. staff in Kabul; Baghdad attacks stir fears of Sunni violence.

Violence in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq continues and America refuses to take their blinders off to see what their occupation in these lands is accomplishing – not a damn thing!!! America continues to throw billions of dollars at the governments and citizens of these countries yet fail to see that this is wasted money.

The thing that continues to anger me the most is that it is one thing for the United States to be ignorant and blinded by ego in their belief that they can win, on any level, in their dealings with the Middle East. It is unbelievable that so much money is being donated to so many Middle Eastern countries, but it is another thing to send innocent children off to do your ignorant bidding, losing life, spirit, friends and in some cases losing their minds.

Open your eyes to see, your ears to hear and recognize this: Just because the United States Senate and all those who have trustingly been given the task of governing and serving “we the people” but instead have shown us how easily they can be bought, paid off, to doing the bidding, not for what is in the best interest of we the people but, for big business or the highest bidder does not mean that those in the Middle East will be so willing to jump on the bandwagon of our immoral principles and sell out their own people based on America’s need to control and intrude.

As a United Nations human rights investigator warns the United States that its use of unmanned warplanes, called drones, used to carry out targeted executions may violate international laws, I say recognize that as much as you attempt to convince yourselves that you are winning the war on terrorism in these countries, preventing attacks on American soil and promoting the “democratic” way throughout the world you are doing nothing more than creating more animosity, more hatred and a burning desire for revenge while supplying financial assistance to the goal of destroying America.

I say it is time for America to get a grip on reality – we are no better than the way in which we view Hamas, the Taliban or al-Qaeda, in these foreign lands, we are no better than Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians and as these militant groups get stronger with the new recruits that emerge from our interference and their pockets bulge from the money we are donating, I say what we perpetrate we perpetuate and the ugliness will come back to us eventually.

And that’s the way I see it!!!!

Psychology and Life