While conversations continue on three of the past four posts (with few readers actually able to see all the comments on this one, unless they see and click the "load more" at the bottom of the comments, or subscribe to the comments via email as I do*), it's weird to keep moving on, but move on I will -- because I'm progressive that way, ha ha!
[Quick note: Just found out that one of my old, fun posts has been reprinted today on Catholic Lane! Stacy made "my" daughter a redhead, just like in real life, ha ha! And by the way, since the article first ran here, my daughter did bring home a "virtues" man!]
1) See the thing is, I don't care what atheists do (as long as they are not killing unborn human beings or taking away my religious liberties), so I have never understood why they can't just leave religious people alone as well. Generally, we should all just tolerate each other (in the correct sense of the word). How about that? But no, apparently that can't happen. I have watched the pesty "Freedom From Religion Foundation" folks wreak their havoc lately, folks whose primary agenda seems to be insinuating themselves into situations where no one is actually being hurt, and then causing all sorts of problems like bullies are wont to do. I do appreciate it when they outright admit that they are just being bullies:
A Pennsylvania atheist filed a grievance with the state's Human Relations Commission this summer after he learned that Prudhomme’s Lost Cajun Kitchen in Columbia was offering a 10 percent discount on meals to people who brought their church bulletin with them.
“I did this not out of spite, but out of a feeling against the prevailing self-righteousness that stems from religion, particularly in Lancaster County,” John Wolff, a retired electrical engineer, told the Intelligencer Journal of his decision to go toe-to-toe with the restaurant.
“I don’t consider it an earthshaking affair, but in this area in particular, we seem to have so many self-righteous religious people, so it just annoys me.”
In that case, the restaurant's owner refused to halt the promotion [you go, girl!]. And the matter is still pending before the secular Pennsylvania commission. [emphasis mine]
Did you get that? Religious people "annoy" him, so he files a complaint, and the FFRF calls in its gang of lawyers to intimidate the proprietor and potentially ruin a family's business. These are not good people, dear readers! I hope our resident atheists here will denounce their bully tactics.
2) Oh, how I love this! Simcha says it so well. Anyone with lots of little ones, plus some older ones, will relate:
3) This blog, written by a woman for a beloved, lost sister, breaks my heart:
Julie's sister is shouting for the truth to be heard, but no one is listening. The Pill is like a sacrament in this culture, and no one cares if healthy young women die along the way.
We've said it before on this blog: The Pill Was Never Designed to Improve a Woman's Health (check out the stories in the comments, too).
We've said it before on this blog: The Pill Was Never Designed to Improve a Woman's Health (check out the stories in the comments, too).
4) Tolerance. I don't think it means what the Gay Liberation Network thinks it means:
God bless that priest! [I had a whole thing about the Family Research Council shooting here, too, and then "poof" it was gone! Sigh.]
5) Look at this absolutely gorgeous quote!
But what I am suggesting is this - secularists are wrong when they ask believers to leave their religion at the door before entering into the public square. Frederick Douglas, Abraham Lincoln, Williams Jennings Bryant, Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King - indeed, the majority of great reformers in American history - were not only motivated by faith, but repeatedly used religious language to argue for their cause. So to say that men and women should not inject their "personal morality" into public policy debates is a practical absurdity. Our law is by definition a codification of morality, much of it grounded in the Judeo-Christian tradition.Who could have said it? Rick Santorum? Robert P. George? Cardinal Dolan? No, it was Barack Obama… in 2006. I will not comment on this irony, other than to thank JoAnna for the reference.
6) Considering my own orientation, I vote this the best t-shirt of the year:
Introvert readers will understand. ;)
7) Orphan time! Meet Payton and Penny. I don't have a Reece's Rainbow link to give you, because their files were only available to RR for a short time. However, they are still adoptable (please email Shelley at shele337@gmail.com for information). What I can tell you is that they are in the Bad Place, and that is not good. I wrote an entire post on them on my Orphan Report, here.
Meantime, here are their photos and a few details….
Payton
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| Payton is eight years old and weighs 17 pounds. His main issues seem to be cerebral palsy and severe malnutrition. He could really use a mama and daddy, and his country is relatively easy for adoptions. This photo breaks my heart. |
Penny
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| Penny is almost 12 years old and weighs just 21 pounds. Her main issues are internal hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, and rotted teeth. A woman who met her recently said, "There is a sweet little girl trapped in there!" |
There are only two ways to save these children: 1) Please adopt one or both. 2) Please share their faces and information.
(PS: A wonderful lady who is adopting a child from the Bad Place recounts some of her experiences, here.)
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There is another child who is very special to me, because he is so very special to one of the regular bloggers, Brenda, at Life As We Know It. If you know Brenda at all, you know that she loves Miles and wanted to be his mommy, but she and her husband are not in a position to adopt at this time.
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| Yes, I am adorable! |
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| And I am handsome! |
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| Click my photo for more information! |
I wrote an entire post on OR called "When Brenda Saw Miles…", which will give you a little more information on this sweet, worthy boy.
In a nutshell, three-year-old Miles has HIV, which is controlled by medication. He is in every way a normal little boy, developing beautifully. If he is adopted, he will live a normal lifespan and do everything that everyone else does. That is the situation with HIV today. It is not scary like it used to be. And HIV has never been transmitted via normal, casual contact or play. Ever.
There is an adorable video of Miles and extra photos, here.
I can't thank you enough for spreading the word or considering Miles for your own family.
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Also, please don't forget Oliver's matching grant which only runs for two more days! He needed $2,000 to get the full grant, and as of this posting he only needs $508.10! That is pretty darn great, but can we push him to the finish line? Donate here (tax deductible).
And finally, as Sylvia and her husband get closer to traveling to get their two little girls (it could be just six weeks from now!), they are scrambling to raise the rest of the needed funds. The facebook auction was a huge success, and now she is back to the Baby Shower/Giveaway, where any donation or sharing (facebook, twitter, blogs, email) will get you entered to win an iPad/flat screen TV/camera/Keurig or a host of other prizes. This is for real guys (I actually won an iPad in a recent giveaway… crazy!), and soon Yulia and Elaine will be orphans no more. Click here for more info!
Okay, everyone, have a fantastic weekend! And thanks to Jen, for hosting!
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*This is what you should see and click to get to all the comments when they run over 200 or so:
Note the "Load more…" and the "subscribe by email". And, yes, I hate blogger. But the thought of switching over to something else makes me want to run in a cave and hide forever.
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