June 30, 2009 - Msg 73645:
AUh20-- One of my favorite Abe Lincoln quotes is:
"Whatever you are....be a good one!" Now some will
tell you that Calvin Coolidge said that, but all
he ever did was to talk about the weather! ha
Possum- ever feel like you willed your body to science before you were done using it!? ha
Ouch, using the words "deep" and "drilling" together gives me the willies! Ewww
I watched a LITB last night, and gee, June 'set up' a date for Wally! Some creepy girl who belonged to a fancy club. ha Of course Eddie haskel was mixed up in the whole deal as well.
Anyway, a funny one! I love the ones where Wally's voice is changing and cracking.
Reminds me of my days....
Take care all and God bless,
MDC
June 30, 2009 - Msg 73646: Great to hear from you, BOO.

POSSUM: Hope you feel 100% soon.

AUH2O: I guess I just felt like I wanted to point out "the rest of the story," as good old Paul Harvey used to say. You're comment was true, but I thought a little more context makes it appear a little differently. To me, more information is usually better. But, your points above are well taken. This certainly isn't a matter I would stake my life on. Frankly, whatever side wins out in Honduras the practical outcome is pretty much the same politically and economically. It's about as meaningful as asking, who do you like better Fidel or Raul? One problem I see is people equated the Honduran President, Court, nas Congress to ours. In theory, that may be fine, but not in reality.

Sorry, I don't agree (surprise!) about Obama seeming like a Marxist. A socialist, maybe, but not a Marxist. I wore my wife's bathrobe once--that doesn't make me a cross-dresser.

Boy, if we can make this much hay over the rinky dink nation of Honduras, imagine the great moulage we can make with one like China or India!

Are we doing "Old MacDonald?" With a quack, quack here, and a quack, quack there...

M-T
June 30, 2009 - Msg 73647:
Wow, I swept with a LITB ep!
I better rectify that:
Andy:What did you put on such a big act for?
Jim: What'd you expect me to do? Come back to my hometown and say, "Come on folks, come look at your hometown failure!"
(He could have also said, "But look, I can make an acoustic guitar sound like an electric!" ha)
MDC
June 30, 2009 - Msg 73648: MDC: I love LITB! Some may find it corny, but I think Ward and June had some great lessons for parents tucked in there.

While we're giving quotes, how about this Mark Twain zinger: "I am quite sure now that often, very often, in matters concerning religion and politics a man's reasoning powers are not above the monkey's."

M-T


June 30, 2009 - Msg 73649:
MT- Whatever you are, your a good one! (:
Prayers for you and your family as your new little life is about to
spring onto the scene!
MDC

June 30, 2009 - Msg 73650: YOU'RE
June 30, 2009 - Msg 73651: And the reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated! (:
June 30, 2009 - Msg 73652: AUNT BEE: Did you like the white beans you had for supper?
ANDY: Um huh.
AUNT B: Well, you didn't say anything.
ANDY: Well, I ate four bowls. If that ain't a tribute to white beans, I don't know what is. AUNT B: Well.
ANDY: Eatin' speaks louder than words. (Pause) AUNT B: You know, your education was worth every penny.

June 30, 2009 - Msg 73653: That's a VERY famous saying!

M-T
June 30, 2009 - Msg 73654:
Which one?
June 30, 2009 - Msg 73655: "Eatin' speaks louder than words." (Andy says, "That's a very famous saying" after Briscoe repeats Andy's line later and Aunt Bee says to Andy, "You told him to say that!")

M-T
June 30, 2009 - Msg 73656: TATERS!!
June 30, 2009 - Msg 73657: I don't know about Obama seeming like a Marxist, ...yet. The socialist angle is a pretty good bet though.

Hey Me-They, did you also wear your wife's slippers? ;)


Had a tense moment on Saturday when Kai woke up with and kept having a headache, with chills. We had remembered the nurses telling us to be mindful of headaches, so we
called Mayo and they said though it probably wasn't heart related, it wouldn't hurt to take her to the hospital to check.

At the hospital they did the routine check-up things, and did some blood tests to check for infection, but luckily they found nothing. So that is how I spent most of my Saturday. Just glad it wasn't anything serious.

About TVLand, I have decided to not even watch them anymore. Haven't wrote them yet to tell them why, but will.
The decision-maker was when I happened to stop on the channel and they were showing some ad for a disgusting "alternative-type" awards show(from another channel). I just found it wasn't worth it trying to watch something decent like TAGS or LITB all the while being assaulted with promos for some of the most inane shows they seem to like to produce(and watching a cut-down version of said shows just to make space for those promos).
I have been having fun buying dvds of some of my favorite shows and watching them instead anyway. And Kai likes watching most of the shows I watch as well, so that is a double plus!


-Sterling Holobyte
June 30, 2009 - Msg 73658: MEAT!

STERLING: I hear ya brother. The commercials are worse than some of the programs. We've found it's a lot less stressful, and a lot easier on our clicker trigger finger, to just pop in a DVD rather than have to be one top of every commercial. I suppose TiVO would be another alternative, but we don't have digital cable.

Does Kai like "Little House?" Nora really has gotten into "Road to Avonlea," which is based on "Anne of Green Gables" and is set around 1900 in a village in Canada. It originally aired on Disney in the early 90s. It's very well written and I even enjoy them. The DVDs are a little pricey (about $50-$70 for a season) but if Kai is anything like Nora, they'll be watched over and over again. Anyway, I recommend them--wholesome values and great stories for girls (and grown men, too!).

Glad Kai's headache was just that and nothing more.

M-T
June 30, 2009 - Msg 73659: Good evening, porch. Boo, glad you're back. New Neighbor, that goes for you, too. Sterling, praise the Lord for simple headaches.

Gotta run - have to work tonight, still need to feed Toye Starr and get dressed, and have to leave in less than half an hour. Be blessed, all. --Romeena
June 30, 2009 - Msg 73660:
RO- been meaning to ask, Any chance of dressing at the hospital, so Starr wont be so upset?
Just a thought. On the soaps they always show
"locker rooms" at hospitals! (so I've heard.)ha
Sterling, you beat everthing, you know that! ha
(the comment about the slippers!) Cute.
Prayers for Kai,
MDC
June 30, 2009 - Msg 73661: Thanks for the warm welcome home~!

Sterling?! Is it really you? Been missing you on the porch. So glad Kai is doing well.

"I wore my wife's bathrobe once....that doesn't make me a cross-dresser."...really M-T, you're losin' it, buddy. ;-) You are too funny. I have been reading the dialogue between you and Auh20 and my head is spinning. How do you guys know all this stuff? Are you really that brilliant or are you just blowing smoke? (just kidding...do people outside of Texas use that term, "blowing smoke'?).

Do you all have Dollar Tree in your area? If you do, find the drinking glasses and see if they have the glasses with lemons on them. I found the cutest lemonade glasses today for a dollar a piece (you all know how I am about glasses...glasses and pens, actually...love them both). They are iced-tea glass sized and are clear with yellow lemon wedges on the outside. Adorable!

Well, things are taking too long with the house. Bruce decided finally decided on a bank to finance the contruction and it is taking forever for them to get their ducks in a row. We were dealing directly with the bank president concerning the loan and she went on vacation this week and left the papers instruction with someone else (we were supposed to close on everything today) but they messed something up and we are still waiting. We can't start the foundation until those papers are signed. It just seems to take forever, but guess what?...I will be getting a new septic tank soon (top of the line)! I now know how Barney's parents must have felt....sniff.

Better go deal with some laundry.

Boo


June 30, 2009 - Msg 73662: Just for the record, I had just gotten out of the shower, the phone rang, and it was handy. Seemed better than a towel. And it is plaid and flannel, so it's not like it has little pink flowers on it or anything! You people!

Brillant--no, I can't say taht I am, at least. AUH2O is pretty shiny, though. And no, we're not blowing smoke. We just listen and read more news than is probably good for us.

Incoming shorts!

Sorry, I have to visit the little boys room. That's probably too much info, huh? As much Coke as I've had today, you'd think I have urimiciticous (remember that one, BOO?).

Me-They
June 30, 2009 - Msg 73663: It was you're fault, BOO. You had to mention spetic tank...

M-T
July 01, 2009 - Msg 73664: Me-They, I hope you are talking about the soda, and not the other coke. ;)

To answer your question, yes, Kai loves Little House. While I was working Friday, they actually went shopping and brought home the ENTIRE Little House series on dvd. It is a pretty nice set, with interviews, the three last movies, just about everything.

We'll have to check out that "Avonlea" show sometime. Kai would probably like that. And I probably would as well.


Since the 4th of July holiday is coming up soon, I have something that has been gnawing at my gizzard(What?).
Something that I had no idea of and something that my wife brought to my attention.
She stated that the Indian nation that she belongs to, and works for, and that I work for as well, doesn't celebrate the 4th of July holiday.
Now, I can understand that in one way. I mean, everyone knows a lot of Indians aren't happy that we(Europeans) came over here. So, if they don't want to celebrate it, so be it.
But it seems to go a lot deeper than that, and it's been getting my goat thinking about it.
Not only do they not celebrate the 4th, they actually started their own holiday, honoring one of their fallen war veterans.
Now, this is kind of a sticky situation for me because that war veteran, who also earned a Medal of Honor posthumously, is my wife's grandfather.
When my wife told me they celebrate this holiday instead of the 4th, I was incredulous because while I had known about their holiday through work emails, I had no idea they used this holiday to diminish the significance of Independence Day. Their holiday is "officially" on Friday the 3rd, but the celebration lasts all weekend with pow-wows and feasts and such.
I swear to you, they don't even mention the 4th of July date. I just opened a work email titled something like, "Holiday deadlines", where they need things in by the 6th, and what "holiday" do they mention in the email? Well, it wasn't the 4th of July holiday. It was theirs.
It's kind of petty and ridiculous to me that they can't even mention the 4th of July holiday.
And these are a people who consider themselves a "warrior people". You would think they would have a little more respect for other warriors like the Minutemen, who probably went through h#ll fending off the British.

Yes, I know there was alot of bad blood between some colonists and Indians, as well as the U.S. government, but the generations of Indians now have not been suffering, unless it is through their own hands.
I wonder if they would have liked it better if the British Empire had won. I don't think they would've faired very well under the system they had. And what if the Chinese or the Vikings would've came over instead and wanted the land. Do the Indians really think those cultures would've shared the land with them?
No, they would've obliterated the Indians. And, unlike the Americans, if someone would've spoke up to their leadership against extermination under one of those other cultures, that someone would've not lived long.
And I hardly think the Indians would be operating multi-million dollar casinos as they do these days, if the people who did start America worked as some of those empires operated.

Sorry for the rant, but I find this rather despicable and disrespectful of every soldier who fought against the tyranny of the British Empire, hoping to have a land where they could work hard and make their own success if they should want to.




Hey Boo! Yes, it's me. Hope your computer troubles are being lessened.

-Sterling Holobyte





July 01, 2009 - Msg 73665: Hey there, Sterling! I am curious about what your ancestery is. I know I am a big mixture of many races, including a little bit of Native American from my Dad's grandmother. You know, it sounds like you and your wife are a bit like oil and water about many things. I'll bet things are never boring in your relationship! ;-)

I think I will hit the ironing board. I have been up late going through old emails and deleting things...trying to work out this computer mess I have! Goodnight..

Boo
July 01, 2009 - Msg 73666: Good morning everyone.

STERLING: Well, nearly all the Native American groups that took part in the War for Independence fought with the British, with pretty good reason. (It's debatable whether they would have been better off had the British won, who promised they would reign in teh colonists from encroaching farther into the interior. But they pretty much knew it was the beginning of the end for tehir way of life if the British lost.) So in a way they were on the "losing" side. In that respect, their grudging of Independence Day is somewhat like modern-day Southerners who rue Lee's surrender at Apomatox. Some people just can't let go of lost causes, or hard feelings.

Me-They
July 01, 2009 - Msg 73667: I was just thinking, STERLING, that's it's a shame they have to carry those hard feelings (which truthfully, hurt the carrier more than those they are carried against). But at least they have turned it into a celebration of something positive--a war hero--rather than something negative, like an anti-July 4th protest or something.

M-T
July 01, 2009 - Msg 73668: That's interesting, M-T. BTW, as a southerner, I'm certainly holding no grudges about Apomatax. I was raised by parents who weren't very "old south" in their thinking. I have mentioned before how my dad witnessed public lynchings as a child growing up in Louisianna and parts of Texas. It left a real bitter taste in his mouth, to put it mildly. My mom has the most tender heart in the south and is always on the side of the suffering. If she had been alive during the civil war, she would have moved North, I'm sure. We were strongly taught that all men are equal and I am thankful for it.

Plenty to do today. Laundry, as usual, and time to change the bed sheets. I also want to go through and get rid of some things like Erin's outgrown shoes, etc. Bruce called a minute ago and said that we are signing the final papers at 3:30 today and the builder claims the foundation will begin in a week. He also said he would have the house finished in 4 and a half months...don't know why he knows that, but more power to him, as Briscoe would say.

Will they EVER stop with the Michael Jackson news coverage?!

Boo
July 01, 2009 - Msg 73669: Gee, after your post I'm not sure if I should whistle "Dixie" or "Beat It" just to bug you.

Being in Maryland, and being involved with history, I meet a lot of people who still have that "War of Northern Aggression" chip on their shoulder. In my opinion, it's kind of silly. They are so worried about pride and honor. Truth is their pride in their forefathers' willingness to stand up for what they believe in is fine, great. But the other truth is that their forefathers, knowingly or in ignorance, were fighting on the wrong side of a war for self-determination. Unfortuantely, the main point they wanted to determine for themselves was whether they could own other people. I think if your striving for pride causes strife, it's probably sin. That's just me.

M-T
July 01, 2009 - Msg 73670: Hey gang.sorry just been so busy and now headed to ride bikes.......prayers and will holler tonight.SPOT
July 01, 2009 - Msg 73671:
What happened between the first thanksgiving
with the indians helping the settlers with their
crops, etc., and where we are today with an indian casino "on every corner?" Well, a LOT, of
course. But where does one begin? ..That the
settlers were just trying to teach Chritianity to tribes who had been warring agaisnt each other for centuries? ...That the spread of settlers to the west caused a "push comes to shove" match for
land? ...That treaties were broken on both sides/
etc etc. It is all pretty convoluted, so Sterling,
there could be many reasons I think.
BOO- good to hear about the house. If he has built a lot of homes, I'm sure he knows apporoximately how long it takes for that size etc. Sorta like you estimating how long it will
take to do this week's laundry with MT's shorts
thrown in. haha
I see Al Frankin is in! Yikes!I dont understand why it
took 8 months to re-count ballots, when on election day, ballots are counted overnight. Looks like 312 vote margin. Lord help us!
Prayers,
MDC
July 01, 2009 - Msg 73672: Well Boo, I am mainly of German and Norwegian descent. No American Indian in me, except by marriage. ;)
This really wasn't something my wife and I were railing against each other about, as she isn't bothered by celebrating the 4th. It was just something she relayed to me.

Me-They, I have a hard time believing the Brits would've left the American lands alone and untouched. I imagine that is one reason they wanted control of the colonies, and they probably wouldn't have minded building another part of the empire in a new, natural-resource rich land. So had the British won, the Indians would've been protesting against them. Though due to their system of governing, the Indians would have probably had even less sway with them than they did with the Americans.
Just saying, it could have been alot worse.

I actually see what they are doing AS a form of anti-July 4th protest. It just seems like they are using the memory of this war hero in their bitter vendetta, and I don't know that he would be particularly honored by it, given the courageous things he did, in the American military, for his country.
Like I said before, they don't even mention the holiday, like it is some sort of evil monster you can't speak of. Like ignoring it will make it go away.

Don't mean to sound anti-indian. Most I deal with are very nice and down-to-earth. This whole policy just irritates me. Thanks for letting me vent about it.

-Sterling Holobyte


July 01, 2009 - Msg 73673: I agree, Sterling (about the Brits)...seems it has always been about power and money when it comes down to it. You can vent here anytime, but don't be surprised if you incite a moulage now and then. ;-)

Al Frankin?!...Oh, brother.

M-T, please don't whistle "Beat It"..."Billie Jean", maybe but no "Beat It"! (Have mercy). I actually have some fond memories of "Billie Jean" from the mid-eighties, especially a hospital Christmas party at the Holiday Inn and one particularly good dancer who was my date. Fun! I was in my 20's then...hard to believe it has been that long.

Better get back to the chores...BREAK OVER!

Boo
July 01, 2009 - Msg 73674: MDC: Well, history has not been particularly kind to the Indians. I'm not an apologist, but it doesn't really take one to study the facts and see that the European's efforts to "Christianize" had a whole lot less to do with the Great Commission and a whole lot more to do with greed for land and a view of native peoples as distinctly inferior human beings. Both sides broke treaties, but only one side the people and the power to do permanent damage.

As for tribes waring against each other for centuries, that sounds a whole lot most of Europe ;-). Hardly an excuse, but then, we don't need to make excuses for the errors of our ancestors, any more than we need to apologize for them. History is what it is: history. Better to analyze it dispassionately. Not only do we not have a horse in the race, the race has been over for 200 years.

And here I thought we wouldn't have a moulage today! Anyway, STERLING, I pray for peace for you. Things like that can really get under your skin.

M-T
July 01, 2009 - Msg 73675: I wonder if you wouldn't mind saying a little prayer for me today. For some reason I am feeling a liitle bit nervous about the closing on the loan today...jitters...kind of like marrying a mortgage. We have been debt-free for years and this is a big step from the 600.00 house payment I used to have on the house I sold. Yikes!

Thanks,
Boo
July 01, 2009 - Msg 73676: Oh, I forgot to mention that although is remains to be seen that the Indians would have fared better under the British, there is good reason that they may have, at least in the short run. The British government and the Indians had one important common goal: limiting the expansion of the colonists. For reasons of control and governance, the British government also tried in vein (militarily and through law) to keep colonists from expanding west. (There not only was the Indian issue, but France and Spain claimed land that was being "invaded" by English colonists, and reigning them in was seen as necessary to keep the peace between European nations.) And, to their credit, the British government did what they could to keep colonists (who were then Bristish subjects) from breaking treaties with the tribes. But, read any history and you will see that no matter how much British law tried to stop colionial expansion, colonists just ignored it. During the war, for the most part the Bristish army did honor their commitments and agreements with the Indians, which is prety well documented from all sides.

Me-They
July 01, 2009 - Msg 73677: Prayers going up for you BOO!

M-T
July 01, 2009 - Msg 73678: Thanks, M-T! I really appreciate it.

Dang, you sure know your history. I know the bible warns against coveting but I am pretty jealous of all your knowledge on the subject. I guess if I had more time, I could do more studying.

Back to work...only 2 more loads of laundry and I'm done.

Boo
July 01, 2009 - Msg 73679: Well, I guess "jealous" isn't the right word. I admire your knowledge...that sounds better. :-)

Boo
July 01, 2009 - Msg 73680: Well, it is my "chosen profession," BOO, just as nursing is yours. And, to tell the truth, I don't know much more than I know, if you know what I mean. What I do know you could fill a very small booklet. But I just keep repeating it so it looks like more!

M-T
July 01, 2009 - Msg 73681:
MT- Today is the feast day of Rev. Junipero Serra.
Thru swaet and determination he founded 21
missions throughout California. At least his goal
was the great commission. (:
MDC
July 01, 2009 - Msg 73682:
Andy: And then they fired a shot that was heard
clear around the WHOLE world!
Barney: Noooo? Yer kiddin'?
July 01, 2009 - Msg 73683: Oh, you are too modest, M-T.

Boo
July 01, 2009 - Msg 73684:
Anyone up for a quote-a-thon as we welcome the
month of July?
"Welcome sweet sum--mer, we greet thee with SWEATTT!" ha
MDC
Prayers for Boo's soul to be still.
Corinthians- be anxious for nothing...
July 01, 2009 - Msg 73685:
Hey Folks

Boo-Being from the great Nanny State of New York, I can tell ya, we know about blowing smoke. The big ole "Village" even dampens our leg and then tells us it's raining.

Good to see ya Sterling. As for the topic Native Americans, from what I've read, I think it's a case of siding with the devil you don't know. I do think the Founders were troubled that the natives didn't want to assimilate. I know it troubled Washington particularly.

"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." Margret Thatcher.

auh2o
July 01, 2009 - Msg 73686:
Andy: "Barney, you're gettin' all steamed up over this. Why don't you just
take the rest of the day off? Go on over to the drug store and have a nice
lunch. The business man's special is a hollered out tomato stuffed with
avacodo and raisins. It's good too! Then top things off with a lemon
phosphate and you're right in business... Take a walk on over to the Grand,
watch 'em change the marquee... you always enjoyed that!"


July 01, 2009 - Msg 73687: Good evening, porch. Wow - big old moulage going! Since my knowledge of history is sorely lacking, I'll not have much to say on the subject. I know basically what happened and when, the bare facts, but am totally ignorant of all the little whys and wherefores. So, I'll choose instead to throw a rabbit amongst the hounds and see if anyone chases it.

The question was whether the Native Americans would have been better off with the British or the colonists. Another side of that question is whether they would have been better off if all the Europeans had stayed home. No colonists, no Brits, just native Americans here. What would the country look like today? Would there still be huge herds of bison, and clusters of tepees on the plains? Hmmm, that might not be so bad.

Here's another sticky wicket. There is a demand these days for a formal apology from White America to Black America, even expectations of monetary reparations, because of the unfortunate days of slavery. White America is castigated for invading their native Africa and dragging people over here in chains.

I would hope it's not necessary for me to say that I would never, ever condone such a thing as slavery, or the trafficking in human life in any way. However, that happened 150 years ago, I had nothing to do with it, and I don't owe anyone an apology, let alone money. I am sorry it happened, but that doesn't qualify as an apology.

If White America must apologize, then there is a big one due from the descendants of the tribesman who raided villages and dragged captives to the seashore, where they were picked up by the slavers, traded for weapons and other goods. You don't suppose those white sailors ventured into the dark jungles and captured those folks themselves, do you? They wouldn't have gotten twenty yards in before being killed themselves.

Also, the average American black living here today lives a darned sight better than the average African black, including Barack Hussein Obama's own half-brother. I'd like to give Sharpton, Jackson, Farrakhan and Wright the option to accept an apology, a financial reparation, and a ticket to Angola, Nigeria, Gabon or Cameroon, or staying here. I'll bet I know what they'd choose.

OK, how's that for moulage material? (heehee) --Romeena
July 01, 2009 - Msg 73688: "Step aside...big moulage coming through!"...
July 01, 2009 - Msg 73689: Whoa...call me chicken, but I ain't goin' there!

Thanks for those prayers, MDC. I was calm as a cucumber by the time I got there...no problem. The builder told us they foundation guy will start on Tuesday or Wed of next week (as soon as his current project is finished). I guess we will break out the champagne when that happens! ;-)

Better head to church.

Boo
July 01, 2009 - Msg 73690: Well Hello gang once again..Rode a ltttle ove 22 miles today on the bikes!...sorry for not cooking but between yard work and the garden...well sorry....promise at work tomorrow I will catch up.....hey possum,Boo,Tom,Rev,hazel,MDC,auh20,Asa,the queen of the porch Romeena!...I got to shut the barn down and put Otis up.....love ya porch....peace and prayers...SPOT
July 01, 2009 - Msg 73691: Evening, all. I sincerely hope no one takes offense to my #73687. Perhaps it will help if I mention that my thoughts went in that direction following a discussion at work, involving two black co-workers (one an American-born black nurse, one a Nigerian who has been here for twenty years, and both good friends of mine for several years,) one Hispanic woman, and me. The Hispanic person mostly just listened, and laughed at some of the stuff we were saying, but the two black nurses and I were pretty much in agreement. It was a quiet night, and we had been halfway watching a TV that was playing in an empty room across from our desk. A local news show had covered some demonstration staged by some folks who are pushing for the apology/payment thing. I asked them if they thought I owed them an apology, and they thought that was pretty funny. The American said she surely didn't need an apology, or any money either as she had a good-paying job and was doing fine, thank you. The Nigerian said she couldn't imagine such a thing, and was just grateful that she had been able to get out of Nigeria ahead of the Islamic terrorists who were burning villages there, and make it to America. She went to school here and got her nursing license, and is a fine nurse and a good friend.

I know there were terrible practices and a lot of cruelty in the past, and there are still injustices today, but to me, it's ludicrous to demand an apology from the citizens of the U.S. today, for the behavior of citizens of the mid-1800s. It may not have even been our own ancestors. Some of mine may have been Jews, fleeing persecution in Europe! My maternal great-grandmother was a Goldberg, for cryin' out loud!

So okay, maybe this isn't good moulage material, perhaps too volatile a subject, but I did want to clarify my own position. No offense intended to anyone, and I hope none taken.

Be blessed. --Romeena
July 02, 2009 - Msg 73692: No offense taken here Romeena I'm of the same mind set as you and your nurse friends are and I will add, if anyone needs an apology it would be the Native Americans, white settlers come over here, invade the land they love so much, and run them out west to reservations that they can barely survive on and they aren't running around screeching for money and apologies. Either way both of those things happened centuries ago, it's a little like the MJ stuff, let it rest in peace already!
Now, I'll step down from the soapbox and give the next one a chance while it's still warm. :)
Nite porch!
*Mavis
July 02, 2009 - Msg 73693: Oh yeah, almost forgot~~WOOHOO Boo!! Glad to hear you're gettin there!
*Mavis
July 02, 2009 - Msg 73694:
Hey Folks

Romeena-Of course reparations and apologies for American slavery are ridiculous. However, that never stops the Left. They have no workable idea's all they have are feelings. Facts, history, rules, law an order, have never gotten in their way. That's how BO got elected.

Walter Williams is one of the best Educators out there. He is Conservative and of African heritage which of course makes him and Uncle Tom. Here are two of his past columns, one on reparations and the other on the slave trade that is still alive and well in Africa and funded nearly completely by blacks.

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/williams020701.asp

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/williams061301.asp

auh2o
July 02, 2009 - Msg 73695:
Opps, sorry. Here's the link for slavery in Africa today.

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/williams010301.asp
July 02, 2009 - Msg 73696: Good morning everyone! A busy day here, I'm afraid, so I'll have to keep it short (bet some of you are real disappointed ;-).

You'll get no agrument from me, ROMEENA. Reparations and meaningless apologies are just nonsense. I wouldn't go so far as to say that slavery was a good thing because blacks here may be better off; better just to say that teh LOrd works in mysterious ways.

Like I've said before, some people just can't stop living in the past, be it 20 years ago or 200. I agree with AUH2O that teh reparations thing is based on "feelings" (can ya here a "whoa, whoa, whoa?") and not on sound policy or meaningful anything. I don't particularly feel guilty any more than I particularly feel proud about what someone else did 200 years ago. I'm sorry some things happened, yes, and, yes, I'm very glad other things did. But I'm not taking credit or responsibility for things I have no business doing so. We all stand individually before the Maker.

So, no moulage from me!

BOO: Great news! Does this mean I should start making potato salad for the housewarming?

Me-They
July 02, 2009 - Msg 73697: Yep, M-They...the mayo-free kind...(smile).

Boo
July 02, 2009 - Msg 73698: Well, now I have a few minutes to post...busy morning already. I have to see the lawyer for dad today and find out about a living trust or something. Sounds like fun, huh? :-(

As far as the latest moulage..I just prefer not to comment on this one. No offense or anything, Romeena. I just remember that on the porch, discussions concerning race have caused hurt feelings so I think I will tick-a-lock. Don't mind reading your comments, though.

It is HOT out there today! I thought this might be an easy summer, the way it started off, but with this drought and the extreme heat, it is winding up to be a doozie. Only 3 or 4 months of extreme heat left for us (maybe) ;-)

M-They, I guess I will have to figure out once and for all, how to put my pics on this computer and email them to Ro...I learned but forgot already. I need to go out there this week and start my "House Chronicles", by taking a picture of the site without anything on it, then take a picture each week, etc. I will share it with you all (whethere you want to see it or not, I guess). ha..I hope everything goes smoothly. We took alot of time and prayer selecting this particular builder, checked up on him with the inspector and so on and he seems to be a real guy of action and integrity. I know he is a church goer and a couple of weeks ago, he and Bruce met at the Dairy Queen to discuss some things and he asked Bruce is they could pray together that everything goes well, so there they sat, praying in the Dairy Queen. I think he will do well for us and he is very motivated. He is a yankee, though, so we'll see...ya'll know I am kidding. I like Yankees, too. ;-)

Better go. Oh, I wanted to suggest a website to you ladies if you are interested. I came across it 2 weeks ago and have had so much fun reading about "The Pioneer Woman" and her family, the cattle ranch they run in Oklahoma, etc. She is a great writer and is hilarious. Just FYI..if you are interested you can check it out at http://thepioneerwoman.com

Better go!

Boo
July 02, 2009 - Msg 73699: Howdy, porch. Boo, your point is well taken, though in my own mind, the subject I brought up has more to do with attitude than it does with race. I think that became evident in my conversation with my black friends - they felt the same way I feel, and in fact seemed a little disgusted with those who are raising the issue. Conversely, you will often find whites in the demonstrations, offering tearful apologies and calling for reparations. It's all about attitude, and as Me-They said, some people just insist on living in the past, dredging up old injustices and keeping the pot boiling. Mavis, you are absolutely right with regard to the terrible treatment the native Americans received. The colonization of North America was a not-so-glorified land grab, pure and simple. It was inevitable in the natural progression of civilization, but I doubt that makes the descendants of those people feel any better. I would like to question whether any of those descendants would want to return to the tepee and live off the land, but that argument won't wash too well. Some of them very well might like to do that, since reservation living is often pretty much the same thing, just exchange a little shack for a tepee. Of course, others are doing much better, and have a pretty decent lifestyle.

Since I know little to nothing about the subject, I'll refrain from any speculation as to how those differences evolved. I suppose it's related to tribal affiliation to a great extent, and possibly individual initiative figures in as well, at least for some. I do know that if reparations were made to Native Americans, some of my in-laws would benefit, but they're not holding their breath in anticipation!

Well, I have to work tonight. Would much prefer to stay home and play with my baby dog, but since my electric bill will probably be reaching for the sky very soon, I suppose I'd better work. Be blessed, friends. --Romeena
July 02, 2009 - Msg 73700:
Well, all I'll say is that BO is apologizing for
everything to everyone, so let's just have a
big kumbya group hug and apology for everything
bad that has ever happened since Cain slew Abel,
and be done with it! ha
Prayers,
MDC

July 02, 2009 - Msg 73701: Hahahaha! Right on, MDC! --Romeena
July 02, 2009 - Msg 73702: I will read in just a bit...supper menu:Stuffed bell peppers (rice and beef),mac-n-cheese and a crisp garden salad...get 2 ....SPOT
July 02, 2009 - Msg 73703: "Now there's a topic you can't preach enough on--sin."
July 02, 2009 - Msg 73704:
Psalm 33:12
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord."
Have a wonderful 4th of July!! Celebrate!
Sure, we have had some faults, but we are still the
free-est, best-est nation on God's green earth!
Prayers porchsters, I may be pretty scarce
until Monday, so be safe and happy and enjoy
being children of THE King! Glory, glory hallelulia, HIS TRUTH is marching on!
And God BLESS America!
MDC
July 02, 2009 - Msg 73705: Ha Ha, you're funny, MDC, with the "kumbaya" moment! :)
I think that's how some people feel this land would've been like had the colonists not colonized it. All the Indians living in peace and harmony like it was La-La land.
There was warring among tribes long before the white man came, and like I stated before, it could have been much, much worse for the Indians had some other cultures decided they wanted to settle here.
Not saying that there weren't atrocities committed, but on both sides.

I like what you said, Me-They: "I don't particularly feel guilty any more than I particularly feel proud about what someone else did 200 years ago."
That about sums it up. I am not going to apologize for something that I or my parents or Grandparents had no part of, any more than I am going to take credit for all the good that my long lost descendants and/or American soldiers have done for this country.

Romeena, your comment about tearful, white apologists got me thinking about something that happened to my wife at a former job. A new guy they hired, after finding out my wife was American Indian, would time after time, get to talking about, with tears in his eyes, how sorry he is for what "his people"(meaning whites) had done to the natives. She just laughed about it. Not to him, but to me.
She knew he or any of his family did anything to her or any of her "people", but she stated she would get uncommfortable around him because of his constant apologizing for those things that happened so many years before either of them were even born.

Msg 73704, or is that you, Spot?: I was thinking about that quote after church last Sunday because the main topic had a lot to do with sin in general. And thinking about that episode made me laugh. Hopefully the pastor didn't hear me. ;)


-Sterling Holobyte
July 03, 2009 - Msg 73706: Hi Sterling! I'll bet sin sermons aren't your favorite...I know I would much rather hear a "grace" sermon. ;-) I don't even remember the sermon topic from Sunday...hmm, I guess maybe I should take notes.

Well, got Mom and Dad all set up today. Our meeting with the attorney took 2 hours, in which he explained Texas law concerning the elderly and Medicaide, etc. We are going to go through the process of making me financial and medical power of attorney for them and then redo their wills. It was an interesting afternoon (yawn).

Concerning the recent topic of conversation, today I was thinking about how man just comes into the world trying to grab everything he can get and in the process, does so much damage. The world and all of creation belong to God, not us, but man comes along and takes over, destroying resources and people, and feeling they have a right to do it. What pathetic disrespect for God and his authority. I wonder if the white man ever thought about God when they crammed terrified African women and children into those h#llish ships? Did they ever think "These people are God's creation...what gives me the right to do this?" Just thinking is all...

I have a history assignment for Me-They but he won't be back until Monday, probably. I wanted to find out what happened to each of the men that signed the Declaration of Independance. I heard someone say recently that some of them suffered much loss after taking such a step. Maybe when M-They comes back, he can help me with that.

Better go to bed...I am really tired! Goodnight.

Boo
July 03, 2009 - Msg 73707:
Hey Folks

Boo-I know you asked M-T but if I remember right the Founders Misery stories are sort of an urban legend. Some of them died having hardships but not really out of the ordinary circumstances of life or a country at war. I'm sure he tell ya'll how wrong I am. hehe

auh2o

July 03, 2009 - Msg 73708: Good morning everyone. Where is everybody this morning? What do you think this is, a holiday? No, BOO, I'm at work today. I work in the private nonprofit sector, remember; I only wish I was a government employee.

Wow. That's a tall order, BOO, and I'm afraid I can't really answer your question with a lot of research. There were nearly 60 (actually, I think the number is 56 or 57) signers of the Declaration. The usual suspects, like Franklin, Jefferson, teh two Adams, etc., and a bunch of others. I'm sure some met with misfortune, but a number went on to serve in state and federal government, and some were quite wealthy. I do know that the longest lived and last surviving signer was Charles Carroll of Carrollton in Maryland. He was one of the richest men in teh U.S. when he died at age 95 in 1832. (I know a lot about him because I used to work at the B&O RR Museum and he set the first ceremonial spike in America's first railroad.) I'm sure in any group that large you'll find a fair number of winners and losers.

I agree with your greed assessment, BOO. You can weigh what happened to Indians and Africans with the reminder to, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." It's a great "sin" among historians to introduce modern sensibilities and judge the past by standards accepted today. But a lot of evil could have been avoided back then if more so-called Christians had truly take that to heart, never mind the rest of it. God makes it so simple; we start scr*wing it up by trying to find loopholes that suit and benefit us. I can't judge past societies for believing that some races were inferior and not deserving of considerations they themselves enjoyed, but I will say that Christians absolutely should have known better. The Bible makes it incredibly clear that that wasn't true, and anyone who read the same Bible I now read and couldn't see that was lying to himself (or herself). Only God knows.

ROMEENA: Left to their own devises and allowed to evolve socially, I'm not sure the Indians would still be living in teepees (in fact most Indiansd groups did not live in teepees). We often think that without Europeans Indians would have remained backward, half-naked heathens. But who knows what an Indian nation might have looked like in 2009?

STERLING: There's nothing wrong with expressing regret for past injustices. As an American, I sincerely regret and am troubled that slavery is part of our national past. But that a far way from feeling personal guilt. That guy you spoke of sounds like a flake. Since yesterday, though, I did think of something; if I thought, standing in front of someone, that it would genuinely make that person feel better if I did apologize, I would. After all, it costs me nothing and they feel better. I can't tell you how many times I've said I'm sorry to family and friends when in my heart I thought I was right. Life's too short and if I have to eat a little pride for a greater happiness now and again, I'll do it, and gladly. Maybe that's where Obama is coming from?

BOO: Hope all was worked out with your parents.

Me-They
July 03, 2009 - Msg 73709: AUH2O: Didn't see you there while I was writing my book. THough it pains me to admit it, you're right I think. (Kind of leaves a bad taste in your mouth, doesn't it?)

M-T
July 03, 2009 - Msg 73710: Oh, I forgot to mention that I listen to the annual reading of the Declaration on NPR this morning (yep, AUH2O: NPR). I always enjoy it. TH DoI reads well, but there's something about hearing it read aloud. Podcast it if you can.

M-T (again)
July 03, 2009 - Msg 73711: Hi All.
Bin busy keeping up what my stepdad because of all the heat we had last week .
He just would not stay out of it ,because he want to fish at the same time.
We are srating home on the 4 of july.

I SEE GOD

I see IN THA FACES OF CHILDREN
Who are smiling with innoentlove...
The magificent light of His glory
Reigns down from the heavens about.

I see God in the joy of my friendships
And I weep at the kindness they've show...
Rrflections of Chist all around me,
I know I am never alone.

I see God i the touch of creation
When the blossoms of soringtime arrive...
The season of hope and the promise
That Jesus, my Lord, is alive!

TOM

July 03, 2009 - Msg 73712: Beautiful, TOM. And so very nice to hear from you! Don't be such a stranger.

Me-They
July 03, 2009 - Msg 73713: Thanks for the input! I appreciate it.

Thank you for that lovely poem, TOM.

I got up WAY too early this morning and I think I will take a little nap...sounds good, eh? Be back later!

Boo
July 03, 2009 - Msg 73714: Happy 4th of July weekend everyone! I hope you all have a safe one. We've got a family rebellion tomorrow first one I've ever been to on this particular side of the family so it should be interesting, lots of shall we say "colorful" people would be about the best way to describe them. TOM thanks for the poem, hope you are doing well these days. Ya'll have a great day--Salty Dog
July 03, 2009 - Msg 73715: Hey, SALTY. You still napping, BOO?

Well I wish you all a happy and safe Independence Day! Happy 233rd birthday!

Me-They
July 03, 2009 - Msg 73716: Nope, I've been up and about for a long time now. Looks like everyone else might be napping, though.

It is HOT outside today! They say we are in the worst drought since 1950 or something. We need rain badly but I just love not having to fight the mosquitos we usually have this time of year.

I have been appliance shopping via internet and trying to decide what I want to buy. There are some good 4th of July sales going on tomorrow so I might take advantage of it. I have been reading consumer reports on washers/dryers and my head is on spin cycle! ;-)
July 03, 2009 - Msg 73717: Ooops, that was Boo.