We Moved to Montevideo!

Please visit our family blog about life in Uruguay: www.richlinesrock.blogspot.com

The Blame Game

When I saw the tragic news Gabrielle Gifford had been shot in the head while meeting with consituents, I felt sick. It's so much more than a shooting rampage when free speech is attacked so ferociously. And it gets even worse. At least one fellow representative is adding to the carnage because he blames those who politically disagree with the victim. Yes, according to Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Tea Partiers, incited by Sarah Palin, are ultimately responsible for the shooting.

"If you're an opponent, you're a deadly enemy," Grijalva said of the mindset among Arizona extremists. "Anybody who contributed to feeding this monster had better step back and realize they're threatening our form of government." -Huffington Post

In other words, if you have an opinion that differs from Grijalva's, you'd better keep quiet. Is this guy married? Wow. If I were his wife, I'd be in jail for "assault and battery" because I said I didn't like the steak and he did. The last time I checked, our form of government allows for free speech, Mr. Grijalva. It's not "hate" just because I disagree with another person and try to convince others of my opinion.

This representative also targets Palin. I'm not surprised, though. As soon as I saw what happened, I thought, "O.K. Someone in politics who disagrees with Gifford is going to be blamed." That's what is happening to our country. And I'm terrified, not of crazy shooters, but of this "differing opinion = hate talk" philosophy.


According to Grijalva, Palin is creating a "toxic climate" and needs to "keep quiet."

"Grijalva said that Tea Party leader Sarah Palin should reflect on the rhetoric that she has employed. 'She -- as I mentioned, people contributing to this toxic climate -- Ms. Palin needs to look at her own behavior, and if she wants to help the public discourse, the best thing she could do is to keep quiet.'" - Huffington Post

The laughable irony is that discourse is impossible with only one person doing all the talking. Mr. Grijalva, is that what discourse looks like when you talk to people?

The Religion of Christmas Deco

Without fail, the Friday after Thanksgiving, many of our neighbors are outside adorning their homes and yards with Holiday cheer. One home, notorious for Christmas lights that cover nearly every square inch of the property, was actually painted green with a red tile roof. They put up their lights a week before Thanksgiving but politely refrained from turning them on until Friday.

"I only put up a few things this year," one friend said apologetically. "I'm homeschooling and that's a priority right now. I just don't have time." Don't feel bad! A friend once chastised me for my lack of homemaking sensibility when she saw a Thanksgiving wreath still on the door after the Friday deadline. You're not a grinch if you replace some of your Christmas deco with something that's eternal and doesn't make your electric bill any higher.

My parents never put up Christmas lights and only pulled out the fake tree and train set from the attic on Christmas eve. But I do remember all the work we did to buy candy and fruit to assemble treat bags for the children in the church. For many of those kids from the neighborhood, that bulging paper bag would be one of the few gifts they received. We were also busy at church with the Christmas program taking center stage. Then we caroled in the below freezing temps, visiting widows who cracked the door open just a bit to request a favorite song. Even New Year's Eve was spent holding hands with church family singing "Glory be to the Father," and ringing the church bell to our hearts' content. If Dad had been hanging up lights, and Mom had been buying an updated wreath for the door, we wouldn't have had time or energy to carol. I know it.

"Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." James 1:27. God sees our Spirit driven efforts to love others during this wonderful season, and in his sight, our lives are adorned with brilliant, glorious Christmas deco that can stay up all year long.

End of Innocence: A six year old defines abortion

"Abortion and divorce are really bad," the six year old said to his older sister. They were role playing a radio interview in the back seat of the car. He continued, "A bad guy will break into a house and make a mommy drink poison. Then the poison kills the baby inside her." The show's host, an 8 yr. old girl, responded, "No. It's only if the mom wants it to happen." The bane of any radio station, utter silence, filled the imaginary air waves. A heavy grief too deep for tears filled the soul of their only listener, a mom, who wanted to put the lid back on Pandora's box.

On Our Way to Uruguay

My husband and I took a survey trip to Uruguay a few years ago. After the first week, we both decided that if we were ever needed, we would love to serve there. The people we met at the church in Rivera loved to laugh and sing. Their worship service was amazing! Now we are preparing to leave next spring.

The photo shows two Uruguayan children on their way to school. They all wear the national school uniform of white smocks with large ties. The country's literacy rate is higher than that of any other South American country, so those children are able to read and understand the Scripture's wonderful words of life if a messenger is willing and if the Spirit moves.

Another Homeschooling Fan

I posted that people often look for the homeschool bashers. I keep running into the nice people, though. The carpet installers had to walk in and out of our house past our homeschooling table. The kids had a hard time concentrating, but it made the day interesting. Before he left, one of the men commented, "I think it's great that you're homeschooling. I would do it, too, if I had enough patience." I didn't correct him, but anyone who homeschools realizes how terribly impatient and unqualified he/she is on day two. So far, no homeschool bashers have been brave enough to frown at me or say anything.

Don't turn Obama into a Ken Doll

I'm so angered when politicians offer news bytes that are so carefully worded that they mean nothing at all. The politicians we elect to represent our views are marketed until they are smiley, plastic Ken and Barbie dolls waving at the camera. Democracy is about bringing different perspectives and views to Washington, not cleaning up all public commentary until it's meaningless.

Sarah Palin speaks all the time without following the rules, and I love it. For the first time, a female governor is representing what I believe on the national stage. I loved her pro-life speech and the photo with her speaking while holding her newest child. She may not say it "right," and she may "turn off potential voters," but that's not the point. She's not an pretty action figure on the toy shelf. She's representing me.

So often the media tried to redefine her. Any ridicule by the media of her clothes, accent, or intelligence, made so much static that the reasonable arguments she was making on my behalf were not communicated clearly to the general public. Thus my own free speech was severely limited. But I do wish she would return to politics and speak for me again.