Don't you want me to be happy??

There's a lot of political stuff I could talk about but this has been on my mind for a while. I know it will continue to pop into my head until I write about it so here goes.


The battle cry of millennials and liberals everywhere. We have a right to be happy.  Kids use this one all the time.
"Why can't I (fill in the blank)....DON'T YOU WANT ME TO BE HAPPY?"


This is purely manipulative. It's about as bad as "Don't you trust me?" which is code for I'm about to go put myself in a dangerous/stupid situation but you can trust ME to do the right thing, Mom.


Right..


But back to my original, philosophical point. Do I want my kids, husband, family to be happy? Well, maybe... But what does it really mean? What does 'happy' mean in this context?


Let's start with some basic definitions.
Happiness is generally a feeling. It's also temporary most of the time like all other feelings. I can feel happy several times a day and usually do. My kids laughter, my husband getting home from work, a phone call from my parents just to hear my voice, a really tough workout. All these things make me feel happy. But I can go from happy to sad or frustrated pretty quickly. When my kids are fighting and I want to knock their heads together, when I'm fighting with my husband, etc. My point is happiness can be and usually is temporary. It comes and goes.


Joy is something different altogether. It's something deeper. It isn't based on basic human emotion. It can be much more constant and isn't even based on whether you are happy or not. I know. It sounds contradictory but let me explain.


Joy is something that can characterize your life on a daily basis no matter what else is going on. My kids give me great joy every day and have since they were born. I'm so overwhelmed that I get to be their mom. Being married to a really great man gives me joy. Being a grandmother to the cutest baby ever gives me endless joy. But whether I'm happy or not can change from minute to minute. (Hey, I'm a woman. It happens.)


See where I'm going here?


Here's the thing. Happiness can be based on lots of changeable things in your life. Lots of things can make you feel temporarily happy.  Some good, some bad. Being with your friends can make you feel happy. So can getting drunk. Being married to the right person can make you happy. So can having an affair. A good, spirited debate can make you happy. So can screaming at someone or teasing them.


See what I mean?


"I just want my kids to be happy." This is a trap. What it really means is I want my kids to move from one thing to the next as long as they can maintain that temporary feeling of happiness and that's exactly what they will do. It's what we all do sometimes but kids are particularly vulnerable to this.
What if being happy means moving from one temporary relationship to the next? Will the love, affection and sex make them happy? Sure. But there will be a lot of heartbreak in between. A lot of anger and bitterness mixed in too. What if being happy is based on drinking every weekend? Will you feel happy while you're drunk? Probably. Maybe. You'll also deal with hangovers, lost memories, possible drunk driving charges. "But as long as YOU are happy" What if shopping makes me happy?
That is definitely a temporary feeling. Yeah! I have new stuff. But that's worn off so now I need more new stuff.


I hope you get the point here.


If someone asks me if I want my kids my kids to be happy, I have some questions first. Happy based on what? Getting whatever they want? Feeling good about themselves all the time? Pursuing an immoral lifestyle? Then my answer is emphatically NO. I want my kids to feel happiness just like anyone else. But not based on giving up their moral backbone. Not at the expense of their ethics.


What I want for the people I love is to experience joy. In other words, something long lasting and immovable. Something based on real things, real accomplishments, the fact that God loves them unconditionally. These things are undeniable. They don't change.


Happiness is incredibly temporary. It changes based on your temporary circumstances.
It can also be brought on by doing incredibly dangerous and stupid things. Your pursuit of your own happiness and hang the consequences can hurt those around you and eventually yourself.


So..do I want my kids to be happy? Honestly, it depends. I'd much rather see them joyful from day to day, year to year for their entire lifetime based on living a good, moral, Godly life than temporarily
happy based on pursuing from moment to moment what makes them feel good.


Joy can be permanent if you pursue it. It's a much better pursuit than temporarily feeling happy.
Be joyful all the time and happy some of the time. It's a much better lifestyle.

Follow the bouncing liberal "logic"

I'm going to give an example of some stunning liberal logic here. Try to follow along. It does bounce all over the place.

So there's a new campaign out there called #Freethenipple. I'm not kidding. Look it up. The ridiculous premise is that if men can go shirtless, women should be able to do the same because of "equality". This is what prompted the topless protest in NY a few weeks ago. Yes, ladies. If you want to let it all hang out, go ahead. If a man looks at you in a sexual way (which they will do, being men and all) shame on them! Boobs aren't sexual! (actual quote).

Here's the other end of this liberal "logic".

We should all support the manufacturers of gender-free clothing. Either shapeless clothing that doesn't reveal any kind of figure or dressing like the opposite sex. We shouldn't force children into molds that reinforce what gender they were born with. No one should know my gender based on my clothing. Judge me as a person! Not a girl! Or any of the other 50 gender choices.

So, which is it? Or is it both depending on how I feel today? I'm so confused.

But what if you are a feminist? Do I love being a woman? Or do I reject my womanness and become gender free??

Oh boy.

So according to the liberal logic, men and women are not supposed to look at each other in a sexual way. If you do, you've got a problem. Or you better have gotten written consent to do so first.

Side note: a good many schools these days are teaching sex ed at younger and younger ages. Not just the mechanics. Details, positions, I know this for a fact because a school system in our area started this years ago despite parental objection. Then when these children become hormone-ridden teenagers, they're supposed to stop looking at each other as sex objects. Men are supposed to obtain written consent before looking or touching. If you don't, you're part of the newly minted "rape culture".  No wonder there are so many confused kids out there.

Here's some real logic for you.

Whether you believe in evolution or creation, we all got here somehow. We are men and women. It's in our DNA when we're born. Evolution says men will be attracted to women with a shape. That shape was given to us to carry babies. Not all women have babies. Some women can't. But most of us fall into the childbearing category. We have boobs. We have them to feed our children. Men like them. They have evolved to do so. Or God made them that way. Eve was gorgeous. Trust me. Adam loved every inch of her. In order to change these things, we would have to change the very nature of how we were made. We can take all kinds of steps to change the outer shell, but the insides stay the same. Rejecting our gender is a new kind of crazy. This won't end well.

Side note: man nipples are not made to feed babies.  They can't do it. So doesn't that show that there is a gender difference?  Quite a big one, in fact.

This crap isn't equality. It's insanity. I'm not going to run around naked. You're welcome. Nor will I buy clothing that hides my shape. I spend hours, HOURS, at the gym every week and work very hard to stay in shape. A woman's shape. I have too much respect for myself and others to run around shirtless. I do love a beautiful dress with a low neckline. I appreciate that other men find me attractive. No gender free clothing for me. I love being a woman. My husband makes me feel womanly. I'm not ashamed of it or oppressed by it. Only when we fully accept who we are will there be equality. There's the real logic.

You want equality? Let me be a woman with no shame. Let my girls be women without shame. Let my husband, sons, Dad, and brothers be men without shame. Don't ask me to reject the very nature of who I am and suppress my feminity or the men in my life to suppress their masculinity. Let men be men and women be women. Let each of us be who we were truly made to be, whether by God or by nature.

Lessons learned

Two weeks ago today, my mother passed away. I would be lying if I said it was a shock despite her young age. She was 67 but had been actively killing herself with prescription drugs and alcohol for years. Actually, she had been doing this as far back as I can remember. I had mourned her so many times, when she finally died, I just felt a peace about it. It sounds cold and unfeeling  but you can only mourn for so long.




Whenever we lose someone, whether it's someone close or not, we always learn something. Maybe it's just a reminder that we are all mortal and our time could come at anytime. But sometimes there are deeper lessons to be learned.




Here's just a few reflections from my experience:


1. Don't waste your life. Don't actively destroy your own life or the lives of those around you by running from your past or your pain.




2. Always be you. There's lots of touchy, feely stuff out there about "embracing who you are". But the people around you need to see not only the beautiful but the awful. Don't hide the bad parts. Just work on not repeating those mistakes. We grow when we are stretched and hurting. Just like a good, hard workout will make you sore, you won't get stronger unless you work through the pain.




3. Be yourself  in front of your kids. When your time finally comes, don't leave them wondering who you were. Always be real with your family. If you aren't truthful with your family, they will find out when you're gone. It only adds to the mourning and makes things even more difficult for them.




4. Don't look for and easy fix to whatever is painful. Those easy fixes are often the most dangerous and addictive. Life isn't pain free and we shouldn't try to live that way. You're not getting rid of the pain. It will still be there until you face it head on. I've tried it. It nearly destroyed my marriage and my relationships with my kids. It did destroy my relationship with my mother. Just don't do it. It's not worth it.




5. It's OK to reject your parents mistakes. Believe me, they want you to. As parents we all try our best. We should all be encouraging our kids not to make the same mistakes we did. It doesn't make us failures as parents. It means were all fallible human beings. We mess up. It's all part of the process. Make mistakes in front of your kids then admit them. Denying them won't work. They'll see right through that. Besides all you teach them by denying is that it's OK to hide things, never apologize, and never be humble.




The important thing is that when we lose someone, we hang on to whatever we've learned. We will learn things about that person and things will be revealed in ourselves. What will we do with our new knowledge? Will we forget what we learned when things go back to "normal"? Or will we apply it and make changes in our own lives so that people remember us well when we're gone?




I'll miss my mom but I never really knew her. That's sad. It's left me feeling a little lost and confused. I wish things could have been different between us. But I can't change it now. All I can do is apply what I've learned and do my very best to make things better with my husband and kids. I'll try to learn the hard lessons that came with her passing.




Here's to a better future.

Age of Assumptions

I am white. German and Irish with a little native American thrown in. You don't get much whiter than that.




I am heterosexual. Cisgender if you want the P.C. term for it which I hate. I love men. Especially my husband. My dad is the patriarch of the family. I say that without hesitation or shame. I'm grateful for him every day.




I am female. Not just how I identify myself. I have girl parts and my estrogen is higher than my testosterone.




I am, most importantly of all,  a Christian.  Not just a cultural Christian, meaning not Jewish or Muslim. A born again, bible believing Christian.




I believe in the Constitution THE WAY IT WAS WRITTEN. Not the way it's being interpreted but the way the founders wrote it.




I am also a conservative libertarian. Gasp. Yes, I said it.




Now, you could assume a lot things about me based on what I just said. This is what's happening everywhere in this country right now. If you say any of this, especially if you are conservative, an awful lot will be assumed about you. This in a time when no one is supposed to judge anyone based on color, gender or any other factor. At least that's what I've been told. But if you  are a conservative AND a Christian, nasty names will be thrown at you from some of the most "tolerant" people in society.




Let's break this down.




I am white. I'm not ashamed of it. It's not racist for me to say it. I am not a racist for saying it. I am very proud of it. Why shouldn't I be? This is the way I was made. Now, according to current thinking, all the way up to the White House, racism is also part of my DNA. I'm hearing a lot of people talking about 'white privilege'. An awful lot of the media and the left wants to divide us up into groups by race. The left has a group for everyone. Hyphenated Americans. What a shame. I don't feel that way.
That's certainly not what MLK Jr. preached. His message was all inclusive. The current message is far from it.




I am heterosexual. I've always loved men. I make no bones about it. Now anyone could put this together with my faith and conservative views and assume that I'm a homophobe. I hate homosexuals. I want to oppress their rights as Americans in some way. I've said this before-because of my faith, I'm not allowed to hate anyone and I don't. What I don't want is for any group to get special rights because they are a special group. That's not equality. Equality is the name of the game these days. But when the left says it, they mean something very different from it's original meaning.



I am female. I wasn't born male and decided to reject my makeup and DNA and change sexes. I was born a girl. Everyone was born with, ahem, parts. You have boy parts or girl parts. I suppose if you want to change that up, it's your choice. But you better also accept that no matter how much you change the outside, your insides will remain as God intended.




I believe in the Constitution. Is it a perfect document? No. The men who wrote it were men, not angels. But our country was built on it. All our laws are based on it. Again, not always right but certainly better than any other country on earth. That document guarantees our rights. We also have the right to toss our government out and start over. I think it's time to consider that option.




I am a conservatarian. The minute you say you are a conservative, many, many assumptions will be made about you. You must hate gays. You must be a racist. You must be a hater. You must hate anyone different from you. You must hate the poor. You must love big, corrupt businesses. You must blah, blah, blah...And people will assume all of this and more, simply based on your political leanings. I've had it done to me, repeatedly. Without talking to me or asking any questions or finding out what's going on in my head, I must be all of the above and worse. Wow. I sound like a horrible human being.




I am a Christian. Boy, has this one gotten a bad wrap. Christians are the most vile, hateful, disgusting people that have ever existed. At least that's what you would believe if you listen to the current narrative. Not Muslims who behead, drown, electrocute, and blow up anyone that doesn't tow the line. Not Muslims, who currently own slaves, kidnap girls as young as 9 to be "brides", and have an active death cult going on. When that happens, we're told that "that was just a one off. A lone wolf. That's not real Islam". To call these people animals gives animals a bad name. Animals don't act like that. Dogs have more compassion. But if a Christian says something "wrong", if a Christian screws up, which we tend to do, being sinners and all, all Christians must be condemned. They are all guilty.




Assumptions. Assume-makes an ass out of u and me. But mostly you, if you do it.




Now, anyone can read this and think whatever they want about me. I really don't care. But there's an awful lot of hypocrisy out there from those of us that claim to be the most tolerant.




There's certainly a running assumption out there that racism is absolutely everywhere. Based on the actions of one racist sociopath, all of us white folks deserve to be tarred with the same brush. Tarred and feathered. This is all perpetuated by a complicit, obedient media that tells us what they are told to say by the government. The narrative must be maintained. Damn the truth. The truth just gets in the way of a good story. Good stories sell. Truth doesn't.




Sidenote--the attack on the good people of Charleston was not political. It's not the fault of a flag or a gun. Shame on all of those who tried to turn it into a political football before the bodies had even been removed from the church. One evil man did a horrible, evil, racist thing. This is not a systemic problem.




Where does it end??


I really don't know. I have no idea how to combat this.




We have a whole generation, brainwashed by schools, colleges, and the media to believe the absolute worst of Christians, conservatives, and anyone who doesn't mechanically repeat the story. Christians are evil. Conservatives are racists and homophobes. White people should be ashamed of being white and are all racists. The Constitution is outdated and should be tossed. If you don't believe all of this, you can't be part of the club. You'll be drummed out and ruined.




What a shame.




No one is allowed to have an opinion that differs from what is dictated by the left and speak publically about it. Yikes. What happened to free speech?


Where's my country??

Socialism is NOT ok.

I've seen a disturbing trend over the past number of years.
Socialism is no longer a dirty word.


I know that no one studies history anymore. Most public schools aren't teaching real American or world history anymore and have started teaching a distorted view of both. Suddenly, socialism and communism are just fine. They're just different forms of government and just because we disagree with them doesn't make them wrong. Really? REALLY??


Merriam-Webster defines socialism this way:

Full Definition of SOCIALISM

1:  any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods

2a :  a system of society or group living in which there is no private property

b :  a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state

3:  a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done

Does anyone else see the glaring problem here? 

Where's the freedom? When do we get to think for ourselves? Create, dream, start businesses? Under socialism, never. Everything you do is for the state and they get to decide how it's used. You are nothing but a cog in their wheel.

Every time socialism has been tried, it's failed. European countries have been trying to function this way for years and are now collapsing. They've taxed their people into oblivion and the people get nothing. As Margaret Thatcher said "The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money." Socialism says "I'll take all your money and decide what you should have based on what I believe your perceived needs are." So we have no say in how the money we've earned is spent.

The whole premise of this flawed philosophy is based on the belief that the government will always know what's best for us "workers" and always supply our needs. The gov't is a pure entity that has our best interest at heart. Well, given our world history, this just categorically untrue. Government is just one, big greedy monster that, no matter how much you give it, will always want more. What we will get is what we're seeing right now. The people at the top, i.e. the White House and politicians jetting around the country and being picked up by limos and black SUVs, going on luxurious vacations, golfing at the best country clubs, receiving outrageous speaking fees while the people who elected them and are paying their salaries are struggling to find work, pay astronomically high taxes and are living paycheck to paycheck.

Professor Ludwig von Mises said the following about socialism:

Capitalism means free enterprise, sovereignty of the consumers in economic matters, and sovereignty of the voters in political matters. Socialism means full government control of every sphere of the individual's life and the unrestricted supremacy of the government in its capacity as a central board of production management.

As a human being, excluding for the moment that I'm also an American, I have to ask, where's the cry for freedom? Are we really willing and able to give up our freedom for "free" stuff? And by free, I mean things that people who don't work get from the gov't that is funded by the rest of us who do work. Where is shame? Where is the work ethic?

I understand that there are some legitimate hard luck cases where people can't work. This isn't what I'm talking about. I'm talking about able bodied men and women who can work but won't because it's so much easier to accept handouts. Those people SHOULD be ashamed of themselves. But it seems that shame is dead. Doing what makes us happy at any given moment is just fine. Even if it means taking from others who actually work and need the money they make.

All of this comes from a belief that society is unfair and socialism will fix everything. Well, I can't think of one single thing the gov't does right. NASA did pretty well for a while and when the gov't condescends to take care of the military, it functions adequately too. But right now, the space program is being dismantled and our vets are being treated like garbage. We are in no way ready to fend off an attack by terrorists because bureaucrats keep hacking away at our armed forces and denying benefits for those who've already fought and continue to do so. And why? To fund social programs and hand out goodies to make everything "fair".

The cold hard truth is in order for socialism to work, we have to believe that everyone will work an equal amount of time and that the gov't can be trusted to treat everybody fairly. This kind of utopian society is not even remotely possible. There will always be those of us who work hard and those of us who refuse to work because it's just too hard. The more free stuff that's distributed, the less people will be willing to work because given the choice, an awful lot of people will choose laziness. It's just our human nature. Work is hard. Sitting around on our asses doing nothing while the gov't pays for your food, housing, phones, healthcare and whatever else they "provide" is SO much easier.

Here's the problem-once you start accepting all the goodies, your life will go no where. There's no upward mobility or chance to better yourself as long as you choose the free stuff. That pile of crappy, bottom of the barrel stuff is the best you'll ever get.

Socialism should still be a dirty word. It means, at it's core, that the government controls everything. We have no choices. I don't know about the rest of you, but I want freedom. I want the government that we're paying for to do our bidding, not the other way around. They work for us, not the reverse.

Socialism sucks. Work hard. Don't be lazy. Keep your own money and spend it however you want. That's REAL freedom.

Political Correctness sucks.

Word mean things. Or do they?


I've seen a very disturbing trend in my 46 years. The words and phrases we used when I was a kid have gone through a drastic change and not for the better. Political correctness has invaded every part of our culture. Schools, media, books, news, everything. Now, there are some words and phrases that are overtly offensive. But I wouldn't dare tell anyone not to use them The 1st amendment guarantees our right to free speech. That means we accept the good with the bad.  Just because it offends doesn't mean it should be banned. This post deals more with words and phrases that have changed but shouldn't have or are completely ridiculous. Here we go.




Hyphenated American-This is just divisive, plain and simple. Suddenly we're not just Americans. We're divided into racial groups. This is one I refuse to use. We're all Americans. Period. I happen to be from German, Irish, and Native American descent. But I'm not from Germany or Ireland. If you live here and are a citizen, you're an American. Stop participating in the hyphenation of our country. It's ok to be proud of your heritage, even celebrate it. But also be proud of being an American. If you're not, there are lots of other places to live.




Racism-Oh boy. Where do I start? When I was growing up, racism meant judging or showing prejudice against someone of another race. This has been so overused and twisted that the original (and correct) meaning has been lost. It's also been used to instill fear. Starbucks just tried to inflame emotions over race by attempting to infuriate their customers who are already grumpy and in need of caffeine by starting a conversation about race. I believe there are racists out there BUT it isn't as prevalent as the media would like to believe. Race baiters like Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and Eric Holder like to stir up trouble and make it seem like ALL white people are racists and should be plagued with "white guilt". I'm not a racist nor do I have any guilt whatsoever on the topic. Shut up and go away already.




Sexism-According to modern definition, if a man looks at a woman, he's a sexist. Because such a big deal has been made of this one, men and women can't even relate to one another anymore. Men have to be in a constant state of insecurity and discomfort. And apparently women are the only victims. Men are complete pigs so can't ever be victims. This is not only stupid but inconsistent with all the "equality" stuff the left keeps screaming about. Another blogger I read had a vulgar picture of a woman's genitals sent to him over Twitter. How is this not sexual harassment and sexism? Was she taken to task? Scolded? Nope. She was celebrated. She's a disgusting human being. What if a man did that (ala Anthony Weiner)? His career, marriage, and life would be over. But if a liberal feminist does it, it's "empowering" and shows "confidence". Well, I can get both of those with a kettlebells class and I don't have to show my lady parts. Sexism has been redefined to mean any time a man relates to a woman and she chooses to make a bigger deal out of it that it is. Real sexism does exist. But feminists want everyone to see it everywhere. Well, gentlemen, you don't have to be afraid to talk to me. I'm not like the other girls.




Hate-This one gets pinned on Conservatives and Christians all the time which makes no sense. Christians (and most conservatives) are the least hateful people on earth. We don't hate people. We might hate their actions and how they affect others, but not people. Yes, there are a few fringe "Christian" groups (i.e. Westboro Baptist) who preach nothing but hate. There are Christians who talk one way and live another. That doesn't mean we're all haters. Expressing an opinion that's in opposition to popular thought isn't hate or "hate speech". But calling someone a hater shuts down communication. I've been called a hater and several other colorful names. Saying it doesn't make it true. I'm not a hater and I hope I never am.




Tolerance-To tolerate means to put up with. Wow, sounds awesome. That's how I want people to feel about me. I tolerate cleaning toilets, changing diapers, laundry and doing dishes. Tolerance has been redefined to mean "to accept the feelings, behavior, or beliefs  of someone"-M-W Dictionary. Tolerance doesn't mean acceptance. I tolerate video games in my house. I don't accept them. I tolerate differences of opinion. That doesn't mean I accept them. Tolerance and acceptance are not synonyms. The minute I accept your opinion, mine changes. I don't tolerate those around me. I love them. How would you feel if your spouse, child, or significant other said "I tolerate you" instead of "I love you".  Yet another twisted, overused word.




Phobia-Phobia means an illogical fear of something. I have a phobia about snakes. Large or small, poisonous or non, doesn't matter. I'm deathly afraid of them. But to call someone who disagrees with you a -fill in the blank- aphobe. makes no sense. I'm not illogically afraid of homosexuals. I just happen to disagree with them. I'm not afraid of Muslims. I just don't agree with the "death to America" chants. I've known lots of homosexuals and Muslims. I love them because I'm commanded to by God. This is just another inflammatory word used by liberals to shut down conversation or reasonable discussion.




Bullying-This one has been hyped so much that it's completely distorted. A lot of what is called bullying these days is what we used to call teasing. I was mercilessly teased all throughout school. I was funny looking, wore glasses, had red hair and freckles, and had a weird first and last name. Being teased was a regular part of my daily routine. But according to today's standards, I was bullied. NONSENSE. Too many kids today are being raised to believe that if you are insulted or get your feelings hurt, you're being bullied. I'm not saying hurt feelings don't matter. I am saying that when you convince your precious little cupcake that feelings are all that matter, they're going to have even bigger issues growing up and functioning in the real world. Why not teach killing with kindness? Or taking the high road will serve them better? Real bullying does happen. It always will because kids can be downright awful. Just don't label everything bullying.




Liberals are notorious word burners. They twist meanings and overuse words until they lose all real meaning. Or they just try to ban them outright. It's all in an effort to scare off real debate or honest conversations. Well, just remember this-this is for all sides-the minute the name calling starts, the argument is over. Once these twisted versions of words or phrases gets thrown around, it means you're out of intelligent ideas. If you and I are having a spirited debate and you start calling me a -fill in the blank- aphobe, a bully, racist, or intolerant, the show is over folks. I'll walk. Not because I "hate" you or I'm afraid of you. Because, at that point, you have nothing intelligent left to say. Name calling makes you look stupid and childish and I just won't do it. Period.

A new political party?

Yes, I'm a conservatarian. What in the world is that??


For as long as I can remember, I've had conservative points of view on pretty much everything. I'm a big believer in our Constitution. It's not perfect, but the principles ring true. Limited government, states rights, equality for all.


As I've gotten older, my views have "evolved" so to speak. Ronald Reagan was president when I was a teenager. He was one of our best presidents because he believed in the best in all of us. He believed that limited government was the best kind of government. I've watched 2 generations run from those principals like their pants were on fire. Life is so much easier when we get "free stuff". My generation (Gen X) started to wander away from the hard working, merit based philosophy and now they've raised another generation who have completely the embraced "free stuff over freedom" way of thinking. So all of a sudden, working hard isn't worth it because, why bother? There's a government program for literally everything. Food? Yep. Housing? Sure. Cars? Phones? Here you go. Healthcare? Big fat yes. (but really not. It's riddled with flaws.) So now we have hundreds of thousands of young people who think it's not worth it to work.  Keep in mind that none of that stuff is really free. EVER.


Where am I going with this? What does this have to do with my evolving views? Well, it's like this. I do have a biblical view of the world. My faith informs everything that I think. Nowhere, anywhere, in the bible does it say accepting free stuff or sitting on your butt is OK. We're commanded to work and work hard. To do our absolute best. God doesn't reward laziness. If you don't work you don't eat. At least that's the way it should be.


Living in this country is a great privilege. People who are born here are blessed with freedom they won't find anywhere else on earth. We can say anything we want. We can worship any way we choose. We can defend ourselves. We can take risks and start businesses. We can work hard and make as much money are our talents will allow. That is not the case in most countries. The murder of Boris Nemtsov is proof. So is the mass slaughter of Christians, Jews, Muslims, and women going on around the world. Nowhere on earth can people do what they do here. What I've observed, however, is people willingly giving up their freedoms for a raft of free stuff.


I believe with my whole heart that government is one, big screwed up mess. Everything they touch turns into a steaming pile of crap. When you take the free stuff, you're just wading into the pile. Speaking as a mother of many children, I can tell you that once you get crap on you, it's very hard to get off. Why on earth would anyone want that? Because free is easy. But free is also a prison. It will never give you the best, nor will it expect the best from you. It deadens motivation and inspiration. Even well intentioned government programs to "help the poor" just end up being a jail sentence. It becomes this tangled web that just traps anyone willing to take the bait.


This is where my libertarian views have really started to dominate my thinking. I don't want the government looking over my shoulder, at all, ever. I realize this is virtually impossible. Government has managed to weasel it's way into just about every part of our lives. It's so wrong! Just leave us alone. People will figure stuff out. Most of us can work hard, raise families, and go about our daily lives all by ourselves. As a matter of fact, we'll work better and harder if the government leaves us alone.


"Give unto Caesar the things that are Caesars" Mark 12:17. The problem is Caesar (the government) has become this multi-tentacle creature that demands more and more. More money, more freedoms, more control. Yet we keep electing people who are part of the problem. We keep believing that they'll get it right this time. Question-When has this ever happened? Answer-Never. Taking our stuff doesn't make things better for us. It just feeds the beast. Now, I'm not advocating not paying your taxes or disobeying the law. When Jesus said "give unto Caesar", he meant pay your taxes. We're also commanded to obey the unless it contradicts His law. Here's the thing, government has created so many laws it's impossible to keep up. And taxes? Don't get me started. Here in MD, we have a RAIN tax. No joke. Look it up.


My point is, laws should be minimalist. Our taxes should be few. Enough to keep the lights on and fund our vastly underfunded military. That's it. LEAVE US ALONE! STOP TAXING US TO DEATH AND EVEN AFTER WE'RE DEAD!


So, what's a conservatarian? My definition is someone who has a deeply rooted faith in God but also believes in a minimalist government so I can go about my daily life, worshipping how I please, conducting my marriage, raising my kids, homeschooling them, feeding them how I see fit, WITHOUT the government telling me otherwise.


So, who's with me?

Here's the thing...

I'll just dive right in here. Feminism isn't necessary anymore.


Patricia Arquette is living in the past and a fantasyland all wrapped up in one.


In order to be a good modern, progressive (M.P.) feminist or 3rd wave feminist (whatever the heck that is) you have to be a victim. This is why I will never be a feminist. Now if I wanted to hang that sign around my neck, I certainly could. I was psychologically and verbally abused as a kid. Not what our modern culture calls bullying. We're talking real, damaging abuse that had far reaching consequences. The abuse was perpetrated by a man. Now, am I a victim? Nope. I dealt with it and put it behind me. M.P. feminism can't exist without a culture of victim hood, real or imagined. I'm not saying there aren't pockets or families where girls are being abused or oppressed. "Assholes are everywhere" as the saying goes. It is not, however the prevailing thought or culture.


When the feminist movement first started, it was all about making sure women had equal opportunities. They could vote, own property and have jobs that were relegated to men only. I don't have any real problem with that. But, like many good things, the movement has been twisted to serve quite a different purpose.  Today's M.P. feminists call for more. In it's evolution from voting rights, it has become a dangerous ideology. Ever since the 60's, it has become a way to demoralize men. Having the same opportunities as men suddenly wasn't enough. Now women have to prove they are better than men. Men have been emasculated for 40 years now. It's no longer about equality. Women have put themselves on pedestals and mostly undeservedly so. Modern feminism isn't about being equal, it's about dominating-on the job, at home, in marriage. Terms like 'patriarchy' and 'rape culture' are tossed around in an effort to make men feel bad about being men. "All sex is rape" and "Women need men like a fish needs a bike" The point is we need each other. We need men to be men and not be afraid of it. We also need women to embrace being a woman without being put down for our choices. Making a choice to be a stay at home mom for example. According to feminists, there's nothing noble in that. The only acceptable choice is to dump your kids in daycare and pursue your own interests.


For a lot of SAHM's, the choice to stay home is not an easy one. It means one income. It means less stuff, waiting to buy a home and driving crappy cars. In our family, my husband has made tremendous sacrifices, such as turning down promotions to prevent 80 hr. work weeks. Family comes first. I know there are families where 2 incomes is not a luxury but a necessity. I have nothing but respect for those families. Just don't denigrate me for choosing my kids over furthering my education and pursuing a career.


Rape culture. This one really rankles my soul. It isn't something new. It wasn't dreamed up by M.P. feminists. It was actually conjured up by a 70's female professor (Smith, Merril D. (2004). Encyclopedia of Rape (1st ed.). Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press. p. 174. ISBN 0-313-32687-8). It was and still is a way to state that men are sex crazed beings and women are always the victims. WHAT COMPLETE RUBBISH! I don't believe that every man wants to rape women. But that depends on your definition of rape. Some schools of thought out there actually state that just kissing a woman passionately is rape. Ridiculous. Rape is a violent act committed by someone with a sick, twisted mind. Most men are fine, upstanding people. Just because a man gives a double take doesn't mean that his mind jumps all the way to raping you. It means that he's a guy who recognized an attractive woman. It still happens to me from time to time believe it or not. But I don't whine about it or suddenly become victimized. I'm flattered and then I move on with my life. Women are beautiful. Men notice. That's what makes life on earth possible. Men these day's have become afraid of their own shadows. That's not the world I want to live in nor is it the world I want my girls living in.


The "war on women" is a farce dreamed up by a bunch of man hating M.P. feminists. It doesn't exist except in their imaginations. When you constantly imagine yourself the victim, it's not a far leap to believing you are one. We have all the opportunities we could possibly want. We have free speech. We can protect ourselves however we choose. A lack of access to birth control does not a war on women make. Besides, there is no lack of access. Condoms and other forms of BC are available in just about every store, gas station, and bathroom in America. Get over yourselves.


You want to fight a real war on women? Please go to the Middle East or Africa. Girls are being rounded up, kidnapped, raped, and sold into marriage starting at age 9. AGE 9. They don't even have all their adult teeth yet. They are complete slaves. There's your war. What women in the U.S. have dreamed up is completely ridiculous by comparison and detracts from the seriousness of the real war on women.  It keeps our focus here on an imagined "war" instead of on those areas where the real war rages on.


If men and women are permitted to express who they really are, there will be real equality. And the world will be a better place.

Here's the thing..

What people don't understand about the terrorists.

Yep. I'm diving right in with some political incorrectness.

Politicians, atheists, and those at the White House don't really understand the terrorist mindset. This was made obvious by the comments of WH rep Marie Harf. She stated that all they need is jobs and they'll put the guns down. There is a fundamental disconnect between what she's saying and what they are doing. Their whole world is based on a complete devotion to Allah and the Koran. Whether their interpretation is correct is up for debate. The point is the Koran calls for Jihad and violence. I've seen the verses. Terrorists aren't driven to murder because of poverty or lack of opportunity. Offer them jobs and they'll refuse it on the spot. They have jobs. Jihad is their job. They are completely driven by conviction and devotion to Allah. This can't be changed by offering other options.

Here's how I know. I am a Christian. My faith also requires devotion to God. I have deeply held convictions. (side note-belief is something you hold on to. Conviction is something that holds on to you.) I would lay down my life my life for my faith. So, how is my faith different from theirs? My God requires defending life at all costs. The Koran demands taking life. My faith requires me to be kind to and accept others. The Koran demands convert or die. Mohammed led his people by the sword. Jesus leads His people to the Cross. These people are driven by deeply held convictions taught from childhood. So am I. You couldn't talk me out of my faith with a job offer.

This administration does not understand that because there are no religious convictions among these politicians. They are completely driven by a politically correct view of the world. "If we don't hurt them, they won't hurt us." This is not only completely wrong and backwards, it's dangerous. These sub-human terrorists who behead and burn people alive don't give a rat's ass about jobs or starting businesses. They are driven by a bizarre death cult that calls them to kill in the most violent, heinous ways and then videotape it for the world to see.

Go ahead, point out the Crusades. Point out slavery. Then please direct my to anywhere in the world today that Christians are mass slaughtering or keeping slaves today. You have to go back pretty far to find evidence of Christians behaving that way. Besides, the cold hard facts are that the Crusades were an effort to stop Muslims from marching all over the world and it was Christians who were at the forefront of abolition. Deeply held religious convictions can't be changed with a job offer, Ms. Harf.

This is a dangerous time we're living in and I'm afraid we're going to find that out the hard way very soon.

Here's the thing..

So I haven't posted anything here since 2007. You know, raising kids and stuff. However,kids are getting older and I have a little more free time. My husband has been after me for quite a while to start writing again. So, let me reintroduce myself to social media. I am, first and foremost, a Christian. Doesn't mean I'm perfect. Doesn't mean I won't occasionally swear or get really passionate about things that other Christians might get offended at. I'm also a wife. I've been married for over 25 yrs and I'm still figuring out this marriage stuff. I hope I never do because then life would get pretty dull. I'm a mom and grandmother. This is something I will definitely never figure out completely and I will screw it up sometimes. But I do my best, pray A LOT, and give my kids space to become who God wants them to be, not who I want them to be. This will be a blog where I state my opinions on a wide range of topics. Sometimes political, some things about my faith, and some about marriage and kids. Read it if you like. Please leave comments. But also bear in mind that this is my blog and if you leave racist, threatening, and vile comments they will be deleted. These categories will be determined by me, not by any PC nonsense. Debate is fine. Just don't step over the line. Hopefully, this will be thought provoking. The things I say might make you stand up and cheer or get really angry. As long as you think things through and don't allow your responses to be dictated by emotion, we'll get along great. I'm going to shoot for one a week, maybe more, maybe less. I do still have kiddos to take care of. Here's to hoping you read and think, not read and react.