Wake Up Congress-We Are

By Crystal Laramore
Edited by Deborah Martin and Cheryl Laramore

Ever heard the old saying “I’m so mad I could chew up nails and spit out tacks”? Well that is how I felt when I heard a congressman say something like: The American people need to rediscover the republican agenda. They need to rediscover the core values of the Republican Party. Is he kidding? Seriously? I’m pretty sure it was the American people who organized the tea parties. Right? It certainly wasn’t congress! And they, the American people, were right and left. I’m pretty sure, congressman, it is the American people and ONLY the American people who are pretty damned sure what our conservative core values are! And we’re pretty damned sure you congressman, and your colleagues are the only ones who have forgotten what our core values are. Clearly, there is a difference between the American people’s core values and those of congress. Clearly.

But never fear; we the American people are here to remind you, sir, and your colleagues. Hence, the tea parties, you sap. Ever since the AIG bailout all I could think about was tea and Boston . I told everyone who would listen, “People are going to start throwing tea over the side of the boat any day now”. So, it was no surprise to me, you sap, when tea parties started popping up all over the United States of America.

And now you have the audacity to stand there on national television in your designer suit and tell us, via Fox News, that WE need to re-connect with OUR values???? You did not. Oh, yes you did. Jesus said “What a man thinketh in his heart, so is he”. I was a hater today, sir. You made me want to hate you. Jesus says it’s a bad thing to cause someone to stumble, and I was stumbling all over the place today, sir. Again, I wanted to hate you or hit you. But instead, I’m going to pray for you. I’m going to pray that you learn to whom YOU are speaking. God forbid that we the American people REALLY get together and tell you how connected WE are. And make no mistake about it, sir, we are connected; in thought if not in action. But, the thought does come first doesn’t it. Look out, sir.

And for full disclosure let me state that I did vote for GW. Also for full disclosure let me state that I did NOT vote for GW to bail out AIG. That did not line up with my core values, sir. It did not line up with a free-market, sir. They were NOT too big to fail, sir. Nor are you. Careful how you speak to us. We are the American people. When we’ve had enough we will fight back. Can’t you feel the earth move under your feet?

California is certainly feeling the earth move and by no fault of the fault lines. No, this time their government is causing the movement. California , liberal California, is voting NO to higher taxes. But Barney Frank wants to bail them out. Listen Barney, you need to let California fail if that is what it takes. Oh wait; I have a better idea-let Texas govern them. Tee hee hee. Hey, it’s a good idea. In 2008 Texas produced more jobs than the other 49 states combined! Oh yes we did. And, Texas also produced more new businesses and cut taxes and we’re cutting taxes again. People WANT to do business in Texas because we are “The Friendly State”. We are friendly to strangers, entrepreneurs and gun owners.

And while we, the gun-toting, Bible-thumping, Jesus-loving people of America are holding onto our guns and our religion you had best hold onto your tongue. Do not speak down to us. We put you up there - on that pedestal and, with the help of our buddy Toby Keith, we can knock you off of it! I’m beginning to understand why you guys want to take away our guns!

Can anyone spell TERM LIMITS? These careerist politicians have no inkling what the founders meant when they intended ordinary people to “serve” their districts by going to DC. Instead, narcissism now exists in the place of service to others – by both parties!! Narcissism has never been more evident than in Arlen Specter – vote for me all you dumb PA democrats. I’ve turned my back on my friends, colleagues, those who helped me win elections and not to mention my own principles, if I ever had any. And why you ask? Because at 76 years old I need to be sure I win another election…Because…well, because it is ALL ABOUT ME and only ME!!! I just can’t give up the POWER, the POWER…..THE POWER!! I am too important. My opinions, my votes and my influence – it’s all TOO IMPORTANT!! But, don’t worry, I’d never sell you Dems down the river to pad my own nest or ensure my pedestal is secure….HA!!! I hope he gets his A$$ kicked by Pat Toome!!!!!

68% of Americans do NOT want to pay higher taxes in order to provide health care to all.

76% of Americans OPPOSE a federal bailout of ailing insurance companies. That 76% is made up of Republicans and Democrats; libs and repubs; blacks and whites; pro and anti abortionists; Christians and atheists. Oh! Which equals THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!!!!!!!

And the leader of the most unfavorable pack? You guessed it; CONGRESS.
Yep, over 90% of Americans do NOT TRUST CONGRESS.

The Supreme Court happens to be the branch of govt. we trust the most and that is a tenuous relationship, at best.

Wake up Congress-we are!

QUEENS AND QUESTIONS

By Crystal Laramore and Deborah K. Martin

People are always asking me how I come up with stuff to write about week after week after week. Are you kidding me? I can barely contain myself sometimes. Especially in the cultural and political climate today!

My thoughts at this moment are:

I am outside on my patio piddling (a Texas word) around and listening to all the controversy surrounding a beauty queen, another kind of queen and a question. Last week the Miss USA beauty pageant was held as usual but the outcome was anything but normal. By the time it was over all hell had broken loose in the media over one question and its answer. What was the question? “Do you believe in gay marriage?”

Believe it or not this question does not have a right or wrong answer like “Is 2+2=4?” There are still quite a few subjects we have a perfect right to disagree on without fear of being criticized, ostracized or blacklisted. Aren’t there? Do we have to water down all our opinions these days for fear of offending someone out there???

The smarmy weasel who asked the question was none other than Perez Hilton, a BLOGGER, for Pete’s sake. His name isn’t even Hilton, its Mario Armando Lavandeira, Jr. Exactly what ARE his credentials for judging beauty pageants anyway? He asked a question whose answer he almost certainly already knew. The fact that Miss California is a conservative Christian was well known and he HAD to know this would stir up controversy but he asked it anyway. The little twerp didn’t really want to know what she thought. This was ALL about HIM, and his political agenda.

My gay friend Marty Morales said this: “Perez Hilton did not speak for the whole gay community when he verbally attacked Miss California. Miss California spoke her mind. Is there something wrong with that? Whatever happened to just being you? Good for Miss California for being herself, regardless if I agreed or disagreed with her answer.” Thanks, Marty. Your tolerance is showing, as well as your integrity.

Miss California valued her integrity and her faith more than she valued a crown and a title. Her reply was her opinion based on principles she believes in and frankly a lot of other Americans do as well. No offense to anyone, but marriage HAS a definition. In my New Webster’s Dictionary and Thesaurus marriage is defined thusly: mar-riage n. the institution under which a man and a woman become legally united on a permanent basis.

Now, being that it is 2009 and we are as tolerant as we are I did NOT find that definition on my Microsoft Word dictionary…hmmmm. Seems the definition has changed to “a legal relationship between spouses”. My favorite definition was number 2. specific marriage relationship: a married relationship between two people, or a somebody’s relationship with his or her spouse.

From where I sit high upon my writer’s pedestal I have a few things to say about this:

First of all if you are gay, straight or crooked, I don’t care. There are many gay people, male and female alike, in my circle of influence from family members to customers to great friends; NONE of whom care, or seem to care, what term is given to the union with their partner. So what is all the fuss about on the news and in congress and on the internet? Well, it’s just like anything, there are those on the fringes of all cultures, in all sectors of society, that just cannot relax and let folks be. They scream that they want us to be tolerant but that happens to be the last thing they are. Tolerant, I mean.

But here’s this guy on Utube calling Miss California a cu*t! Are you kidding me? And you wonder why our tolerance is dwindling away. Or do you really?

Once again, marriage has a definition. Let it go. Get another definition for a union between two people who happen to be of the same sex. WE DON”T CARE!!!! Most of us love you no matter what race, religion or sex you happen to be. And, as far as your sexual preferences we straight people really don’t care. Most of us. Again, there are some on the fringes…but don’t worry about the fringes. If you please them on one issue, there will always be another issue for them to gripe about.

You know, I've had a question for gay/lesbian folks for some time. Perhaps some of our readers are of the gay/lesbian persuasion and can enlighten me. Why is it that militant gay people seem to be so defined by their sexuality? I'm straight and no one cares about my sex life. Why should I care about yours? Aren't we ALL more than that part of our lives which takes up so little actual time? I'm just curious.

Back to other issues; I can see a legitimate issue for gay couples. When my gay friend Marty had surgery, the hospital staff didn’t want his partner, Shaun Carter, to come back to support him while he was waiting. Why? He wasn’t “family”. Actually, this can be an issue for straight couples sometimes. Sandra Bullock was asked why she married Jesse James and her answer was a light bulb moment for me. He had a motorcycle accident and as he was being put into the ambulance she realized just how powerless she was. Here they were, partners for life, but she had no legal rights whatsoever in determining his care, simply because they were not legally married.

That’s the complaint I hear from gay and lesbian friends and I have to agree. We can call the institution something else if we want to. We can disagree on whether it’s “right” to be gay. We can disagree on whether people were born that way or “made” gay at some point. Meanwhile, many people make a lifetime commitment without the ability to make life and death decisions for and with the person who means more to them than anyone else. Is that fair?

There are people of integrity on both sides of this issue and then there are others who use their status as a bludgeon against those who disagree. Seems like my friends Sean & Marty and Miss California have a lot in common even though they are on opposite sides of this issue. She stated that her answer was her opinion and though she didn’t wish to offend anyone and wasn’t angry with anyone, she had to be true to herself. Marty confirmed that he believed in her right to her opinion (and maybe even the crown?) even if he didn’t agree. He didn’t withhold approval of her just because he disagreed with her.

And in the end it doesn’t matter of Perez Hilton is gay or straight. He’s a sleazy opportunist and don’t we have those in every sector of society? Doesn’t sleaze cross all sectors of society? Likewise, don’t we have courageous role models who are male, female, gay, straight, black, white, Christian, Muslim, atheist? I haven’t always held a high opinion of beauty queens but this year I’m glad one had the poise and courage to speak up for what she believed in. We should all try to follow her example; gay, straight OR crooked!