The Wars We See

Iraq. Afghanistan. Vietnam. World Wars I and II. We've even fought a war with ourselves.

And, largely, we've emerged victorious. While that may be contested from one side of the aisle or the other, we are still America, and our spirit has survived the wars we fight.

At least, it's survived the wars we see.

The closest we've come to seeing the real wars going on in America was the Civil War. To most, it's just a dark spot in history that we recognize now as foolhardy and tragic, but nothing more. If anything, it connotes nothing more than the first relative conquest of prejudice, at least by law. When people think of the Civil War, they think of Lincoln, slaves, and Confederate flags.

They don't think of the year 2011.

But we are indeed fighting a civil war every day. When we have no shortage of real and dangerous enemies in the quickly (d)evolving world around us, we manage to find foes in our countrymen.

Can anyone truly tell me that terrorists are not a threat? Can anyone truly tell me that they'd rather we hadn't killed bin Ladin? Can anyone truly tell me that it would have been better not to fight the American Revolution? I think we can all agree on the point that we are America, and I think we can all agree on the point that we would prefer to continue to be.

Does anyone want higher taxes? Does anyone want unemployment? Does anyone want higher gas prices? No matter which side of the aisle you're on, deep down we all have the desire for true freedom. We are still America.

The parties (or should I say ideologies, since the parties barely define anything anymore) are divided, that much is certain. And our country was founded on conservative principles. But no matter how wrongheaded certain ideologies may be, they have a right to express themselves and share their ideas for what it right.

But they don't even do that. Neither side does.

At this point, it doesn't matter what's right and wrong, because no one really cares about that. I could go on all day (and have many times) about the evils of liberalism and the benefits of conservatism. I could name a million reasons why we need to do it this way instead of that way. But sadly, American political discourse is not yet at that level.

Before we can debate right and wrong, we must first acknowledge that there is a debate to be had, and that the debate we are now heatedly engaged in is not that. We aren't debating whose idea is better for America. I don't think we even know what we believe at all. And since we don't know what we believe, we have to cover it up by making our opponents sound crazier than we are. We aren't even fighting an ideological war anymore; we're just throwing manure at each other's faces and screaming incoherent "talking points," shouting epithets at imagined enemies.

I'm sure our real enemies, i.e. al Qaeda, the Taliban, are laughing their heads off right now at the fact that we spend more time fighting over what to fight about than we do fighting them.

What are we really gaining from the politics of America today? Screaming that one or another group is racist, pinning one or another public enemy as a right-wing religious zealot, indignantly claiming that one or another candidate is insane... Why? Why do we engage in this? These aren't "tactics." This is the most ridiculous war that's ever been fought. And we don't seem ready to surrender (cough, win, cough), even though we're all losing.

Why did President Obama have to schedule a congressional address on the day of one of the GOP primary debates, a debate that's been planned for a long time? According to FOXNews, "the administration would 'welcome' a decision by debate hosts to 'adjust the timing of their debate so that it didn't conflict'... [but will continue their plans for the address] regardless of 'whatever the competing opportunities on television are, whether it's the wildlife channel or the cooking channel.'"

They claimed that it was "coincidental," yet cited "competing opportunities." Conveniently, they mentioned the wildlife channel or the cooking channel, as if that was where the real competition would come from.

This is one more attack in the war that we don't really see. The media reports the casualties constantly, however. Unemployment, stock market fluctuations, rising oil prices, confused voting Americans who are wondering if it might be better just to not vote at all this year.

What do we gain from this? What do we gain from not having any talking points of our own and hoping it'll be enough just to refute the other side's equally nonexistent talking points? What do we gain from calling names and wasting time pretending that we care enough to try? What do we gain from endless hours of fruitless debate that produce nothing but a lukewarm compromise or two that will leave us, in the end, in the same place we started but with more damage to show for it?

This is the war we don't really see.

Or is it the one we really don't want to see?

What do we gain from ignoring the wars we see?

Cast Party

I've come to the conclusion that the world needs a therapist. It has way too many problems, and I'm sick of living with it. Sadly, the "sane world" store is only open on Smundays, which is actually a good thing because if there were other worlds available the liberals would have already seized them and started talking smack about their atmospheres.

Like, for real? Your stupid ozone layer isn't broken, you just forgot to plug it in.

And speaking of the realm of environmental fanaticy (yes, I just coined a word), if you're worried about the trees, why don't you just go plant one? Get out of my face.

Poor America. We need a therapist all to ourselves. Like a cosmic Dr. Phil.

Or, we could all get a life and take charge of our country because we have a whole world on our shoulders and it's a little too late to be pretending nothing's wrong. And, like I said, it's a long time till Smunday, and while the Earth is definitely not going to get barbecued by lack of ozone, we might blow it up ourselves. And there's not a new one out there anywhere. (Except for wherever the liberals came from.)

For example, Obama called a debt ceiling meeting a while ago with congressional leaders. Oh, my mistake, he called two. One with the Democrats and one with the Republicans, to talk to them individually about working together.

Just a thought, but as far as working together goes, being in the same room might help. But what do I know? I'm just a concerned American citizen (and part-time unlicensed Internet therapist for the world at large).

This is getting very, very old. You know those movies where everything works out in the end and people don't get obliterated by the sheer might of evil?

This isn't like that.

This is like one of those movies where the main character is staring at post-apocalyptic Earth and thinking eloquent, productive thoughts like, "Oops." To paraphrase. This is like one of those movies that makes you feel sick, so you throw up in your popcorn bucket and dump it on the bald guy in front of you, starting a fight and possibly burning down a small-town, double-screen movie theater that wouldn't have made it in this economy anyway. This is like one of those movies where you take off your 3D glasses and--oops--you were in the movie the whole time, but you sat there in your comfy theater seat, confident that there's always a happy ending (and if there isn't, you can get a refund). But there are no refunds. There are no happy endings for the compliant seat-watchers.

We were going to give out complimentary tissues at this therapy session, but all household items are now being rationed due to the fact that the system sucks.

Do I sound radical? Do I sound crazy? Do I sound like I drank too much coffee during a Glenn Beck marathon? Do I sound like all of the above?

Bravo. You've just learned the art of noticing something.

Notice anything else?

Like the fact that our elected officials--Democrats and Republicans alike--are running around Washington like chickens with their heads cut off (not that they needed them anyway)? Like the fact that the rest of the world isn't blind and if they aren't peeing their pants right now because their economies depended on ours they're laughing their butts off because they've figured out how to replace the dollar as the world reserve currency as soon as the United States takes one more step toward the edge? Like the fact that we're wasting our time on these silly, pointless things while people are out there dying for our country, and all we can do for them is have "meetings" and hope something "productive" happens? Like the fact that we have no idea who we are and no idea where--or if--we'll be in ten years because we were never ones for the long-term, were we? Like the fact that, as much as we pretend, this debt ceiling "argument" is just the cherry on top of one enormous ice cream cone that's going to kill us all?

And if that's not how it's going to go down, then tell me. Tell me we'll pull through this. Tell me that even if Congress and the White House do nothing, we'll still pull through 'cause that's America's thing. Tell me you can't taste the desperation. Tell me you can't hear the thunder rumbling in the distance. Tell me we don't need to do anything except get up for a refill on popcorn and enjoy the show.

And if that's what you're telling me, if that's what you're saying, then FINE. Enjoy your movie.

Don't hold your breath for a sequel.

But you might want to take a look at the prologue.

Act I, Scene I. People are persecuted. They cross the sea, looking for freedom.

Act I, Scene II. People want to explore the world. They cross the sea, looking for new life.

Act I, Scene III. People are oppressed. They fight back.

Act I, Scene IV. People WIN.

Act II, Scene I. People have no idea what to do, now that they've won.

Act II, Scene II. People draft the Articles of the Confederation.

Act II, Scene III. The Articles of the Confederation fail miserably.

Act II, Scene IV. People come together to discuss and deliberate over what the heck they're going to do now. They don't speak to the press. They don't speak to the people. They are the people. And they make choices.

Act II, Scene V. A Constitution is born, and people discover that they are people first. And the people second.

Act III, Scene I. Bad stuff happens. People, with darker skin, want freedom.

Act III, Scene II. People fight. People are divided. And a house divided cannot stand. (Ahem.)

Act III, Scene III. People win. People come together. And people discover (rediscover?) that, the way things should be, being people and being the people should co-exist. They should be one.

Act IV, Scene I. Many things have happened, and now the people are in the midst of a Depression.

Act IV, Scene II. During these times, the people still hope, still work. But there is a growing separation between "people" and "the people." Now, it seems "the people" means "the few who decide what people get."

Act IV, Scene III. Over half a century later. People have long since emerged from the Depression. Or have they? Are their minds still mired in what happened in those days? The choices that were made, the precedents that were set?

Act V, Scene I. People struggle to remember the beginning, and struggle to see beyond just a few years ahead. Things are dark.

Act V, Scene II. Everyone

Sits

Down

For

A

Movie.

The script ends there. There are no directors or producers or fancy cameras to edit out the bad parts, the parts where we mess up.

There. There's your therapy. I may sound more like a nagging mother with a political complex than Dr. Phil, it's true.

But SUCK IT UP. I'm not a therapist.

Because a therapist, I've decided, isn't what we need.

What we need is already here. (See Act II, Scene V.)

It's all up to us. Every one of us.

So, as I said before, enjoy your movie.

See you at the cast party.

This Is Why We Fight

The 4th of July. What kind of images does that statement prompt? Waving flags? Red, white, and blue sequined top hats? Parades and fireworks? Hot dogs on the grill, afternoons at the beach, Americans celebrating who they are?

If you answered yes to that, kudos. If you answered no, you might be who I'm talking about.

Because at my 4th of July parade, amidst the veterans and the flags and the marching bands, there was also a group of people shouting. "Peace! Stop the wars!"

Dear fellow citizens, obviously, we would stop the war if we could. No one wants to fight. No one wants to die. Everyone wants peace. But you can't just say you want peace and leave it at that. It's not that easy. You say you're working for peace, or marching for peace, or protesting for peace.

Yeah, well, we're fighting for peace. Because we want it that badly.

Is the American Revolution included in the "wars" you want to stop? Because the American Revolution is still going on, every day. It's what started us, and what keeps us going. And guess what gets in our way? (Ahem.)

The 4th of July is for celebrating America. Slamming our foreign and military policy, not so much.

Because, cupcake, war is a fact of life. It's a fact of existence. And if you don't think that's true, you should learn a few things about your fellow humans. It doesn't mean it's right to fight. But you know what would happen if America didn't fight? We'd be annihilated. And you'd get your peace. You'd rest in peace. If that's what you want, then go for it. But go for it somewhere else, because the rest of us are busy defending our country, whether at home, or as the soldiers you berate.

Do you have no gratitude at all? For the people who risk their lives just so you can live in a country where it's okay to bash them for it? For the people who miss their families at Christmas, the fathers who miss their children's birthdays, the mothers who worriedly wait for their son's call because they're off in a war across the sea fighting for you? Fighting for your peace?

You know what? I bet that the men with amputated limbs and the boys who watch their friends die and the people who never make it home and die in POW camp or alone in a field or a forest somewhere, I bet they want peace as much as--or more than--you do. I bet they wish they could see their families. I bet they wish they didn't have to fight. I bet they wish there was no such thing as war.

And this is why we fight.

Look out the window at the nearest American flag.

This is why we fight.

Look at your children, your parents, your friends.

This is why we fight.

Look at the beautiful, spacious skies, the amber waves of grain, the purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain.

This is why we fight.

Look in the mirror. Look around you. Now close your eyes and imagine being anything you want. Being safe. Being peaceful. Being free. And realize you are.

Realize that this is why we fight.

I could never understand the courage of a soldier.

It's something I turn over in my mind all the time. You're putting your life on the line day after day. You're watching your friends die around you. You're separated from your family, not sure if you'll even live another day to see them through a computer screen. You're working tirelessly, faithfully, day and night, through all kinds of conditions, whether it's raining water or bullets. And you're there. You're there. You're right there, in the middle of it, and you don't pee your pants or run or hide behind someone else.

You stay.

And not only do you stay, you fight.

And not only do you fight, you win.

You win a victory for us every single day. Every day, whether you live or you die, whether you fight or you fall, whether you talk to your family for the first time in weeks or go another night without them, you win a victory for us with every day that you fight, with every day that you stay, with every day that the enemy falls and with every tired step you take in the name of your country--in the name of us.

There is nothing more deserving of praise. There is nothing more deserving of recognition and honor. We never did anything for you. And you fight for us. For our safety. For our pride. For our freedom.

And I wonder how you do it, day in and day out. How you're strong enough, brave enough.

And then I realize that this is America. (thank you)

Land of the free. (thank you)

Because of the brave. (thank you)

Thank you.

To all the lost soldiers, to all on their way home, to all that still strive for peace on foreign battlefields...

America thanks you.

Happy 4th of July.

You are why we fight.

The Falling House

So there have been calls to raise the debt ceiling or else things will get "bad."

Um, unless you can elaborate on that, you've already given us bad, it's already bad, it's still getting bad, so it seems like not raising the debt ceiling wouldn't be that much of a problem.

There is a problem, though (weird, right?), and that problem is this: There are all of these "or else" type threats floating around, but no one is telling us what will happen if we DO agree to raise the debt ceiling. How will it benefit us? How will it benefit my children, and their children, and--if children haven't been outlawed by then--their children?

We are America. We've been through "bad." We've been through worse than "bad." We were in a war with ourselves. I mean, come on. That's about as "bad" as it gets.

So stop threatening us with "bad." We want results, not threats and excuses.

Because if there's one thing I know, it's that when you raise the roof, the house starts falling apart. There's a strong foundation, but the walls are cracked and unstable.

And you want us to blow the ceiling off the place?

Like I said, we are America.If you have a problem with that, please take it up with a representative at our offices in Somewhere Else.

This is, thankfully, the sentiment of most sane Americans. (And luckily, the quantity of sane Americans has been growing as of late.) There is no clear consensus in Congress, either. However, there is talk that this might not matter. Because there is talk of--wait for it--reinterpreting the Constitution (gasp) in a manner that would allow Barack Hussein Obama, current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue (indefinitely, until we find a President) to bypass Congress and raise the debt ceiling himself.

Wow. It seems like you'd need to be pretty strong to raise a roof. You'd need to have a lot of power to raise a roof. Wouldn't you?

Wouldn't you indeed.

And here I am, sitting in my living room, blogging. Here you are (all two of you), sitting there reading this blog. Sitting. Blogging. Reading. A couple of angry remarks at the state of things, and then, look, our favorite show is on.

As we sit in our living rooms, do we realize that the house is falling?

Indivisible

"I'm sorry that I didn't keep my word and be the stubborn, obstinate lunatic I promised to be. Which isn't to say I won't try hard in the future. It's just that some flip-flopping is necessary in order to further THE MASTER PLAN. So just hang in there and re-elect me, and I promise, I'll be just the partisan President you've always hoped for. I am the Messiah, you know. I am the only one who can save America. Er, I mean, we are the only ones. So turn your thinking caps off, stare at biased television screens, and pay my salary with your tax dollars while I use them to campaign for more. You've been a wonderful audience. God Bless America. (But not America exclusively; bless the Middle East, bless Russia, bless China... Oh, are we still rolling?)"

And so begins another presidential election in this, the United States of America.

But it doesn't really matter.

Actually, it does, but try convincing the rest of the country of that. Because we currently live in a country where we have no sense of identity, no sense of pride, and no sense of patriotism. A prime example of this (though you wouldn't be hard-pressed to find many more)occurred in Eugene, Oregon.

The dispute?

This one's a doozy. You know, I think I can actually see where the Left is coming from on this one. Namely, the nearest drug dealer. Because unless you're on your way back from a date with a substance, your argument shouldn't be this lacking in substance.

To introduce this dispute, I'd like to first define a word. The word is "divisive." It means "tending to cause disagreement or hostility between people."

Now, tell me if the following is divisive: "I pledge allegiance to the flag..."

Yes. Yes it is. It is divisive between a terrorist and a Marine, divisive between Saddam Hussein and the little old lady across the street, divisive between Osama bin Ladin (cue liberals' chorus of, "May he rest in peace") and a newborn baby. It is divisive between someone who loves and pledges allegiance to America and someone who does not.

It should therefore not be a problem on the Eugene, Oregon city council, since I do not believe any of the above pairings exist on said council (though in light of recent events, I could be wrong).

Indeed. Sadly, when a proposition to say the Pledge of Allegiance before every meeting was struck down by a vote of 5 to 2, the accompanying excuses were that the pledge "does not unite us," according to Councilman George Brown, and apparently, to Councilwoman Betty Taylor, is equivalent to reading from the Koran.

Where are the hate speech advocates when you need them?

Because I believe that statement was very divisive. We're trying to befriend the Muslims, and some moron goes and pulls a stunt like that, comparing their holy book to the Pledge of Allegiance! If I were a Muslim, I would be very, very offended.

Sarcasm aside (for about 3.24 seconds), what is this woman thinking? Yes, of COURSE, reciting an oath to your country is the same thing as reading from the Koran. (Somehow I think, if proposed, the latter would receive less opposition.)

According to FOXNews.com,

Resident Anita Sullivan summed up a common viewpoint: “So you say I pledge allegiance and right there I don’t care for that language,” Sullivan says. “It sort of means loyalty to your country; well, I feel loyalty to the entire world.”

Even after the compromise proposal passed and the council began its regular meeting Monday night, the pledge was still too hot to handle.

A motion to say the Pledge of Allegiance was shot down even though it would be the closest meeting to July Fourth. Those voting against the measure said it was just too soon. They’ll wait until the next meeting.

I'd like to point out that apparently pledging that your country is indivisible is divisive. Ponder that a moment. With me now? Great.

Look, I don't mean to be pushy (or--gasp--divisive), but if you don't care to pledge allegiance to your country, maybe you should leave.

Because, yes, it "sort of means" loyalty to your country. Call me crazy (you won't be the first), but that's kind of the idea. Is your country not a part of the world you feel loyal to? Did I miss something? (Besides the obvious thing I missed, which would be when the general population decided to be ignorant traitors--oh, wait, I know when that happened.) It's okay to feel loyal to the world and your country at the same time. In fact, your country is one of the powers your world depends on, so I would suggest loyalty.

I mean, honestly? We have people, going on national TV and saying, "I'm uncomfortable with this whole 'loyalty to country' thing." Here's a newsflash: In "the entire world," there isn't freedom of speech. Your country is one of the few places, ironically, where you can say you hate your country. (And most don't hesitate to do so.)

What they do hesitate to do, however, is comply with the rules. The compromise stated that the most recent meeting would be one of the Pledge meetings, as it is the closest to the Fourth of July. But the argument against it is that it's just "too soon." Um, actually, it stopped being "too soon" in 1776, so unless you (to say nothing of your minds) are that old, it's not "too soon."

But it may be too late.

But, you know, whatever. America will bounce back; we always do, right?

Sure. But it's because the people care enough to do so. If you always take your medicine when you're sick, you don't suddenly stop taking it and say, "Oh don't worry, I'll bounce back." You don't deflate your basketball and say, "Don't worry, it'll bounce back." You don't snap your boomerang in half and say, "Don't worry, it'll bounce back."

Worry. And act.

Because we can't be sure we will bounce back until we make sure we will bounce back.

And we may be running out of time. (Gee, really?)

The rest of the world isn't blind. They're probably more aware of our troubles than we are, actually. And we sit here hating our country, instead trying to make friends with our enemies.

We are our own greatest enemy.

But since I don't think any of us want to blow ourselves up (aside from certain individuals on the city council of Eugene, Oregon), maybe we should focus on our other enemies.

Making friends is perfectly fine, as long as we completely obliterate their will and ability to fight first. (In other words, the hand that shakes theirs had better be a powerful one.) We need to assert our power. Or they will.

I'm not saying we go on bombing sprees and kill countless innocents. I'm saying we speak softly (but firmly) and carry a big stick. (In case you've fallen victim to American public education [which we borrowed from our friends the Germans, who used it to indoctrinate their people into anti-Semitism from the youngest age possible], you may Google that quote to see who it belongs to.)

For example, nuclear arms reduction treaties are a dangerous waste of time. First of all, it shows weakness. Second of all, we're America. We keep our end of the deal. How do we know whether or not the other side is keeping theirs? (Hopefully we'll know more than 3 seconds before we explode.)

Because there are people out there. People like al Qaeda, people like, for example, Iran, which apparently has the ability to build larger weapons but won't because they can already hit who they want to hit (namely, the U.S. and Israel).

What to do? What to do? (Inviting them for tea is not an option. Sorry, Obama.)

Oh, here's an idea: we stop acting like idiots and we recognize a threat when we see one and stop trying to please them and walk on eggshells, because those are not the shells we should be worried about.

But no. Because that would be racist, bigoted, (insert liberal catchphrase [a.k.a. name to call conservatives] here), and just plain MEAN.

I've long since stopped caring.

So, in the spirit of mean-spirited conservatism, I'd like to end by saying this:

We are America. WE ARE INDIVISIBLE. ONE NATION. UNDER GOD. And I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Who's Your Mommy?

A tree.

Your mother could also be any of the following: a leaf, a twig, a pebble on an overgrown dirt path. All of these things are the equivalent of your mother because, as Van Jones and his groupies insist, Mother Nature is, in fact, a person.

And he wants this fact to be recognized by the entire global population. The former Obama administration "green jobs czar," his newest shenanigans involve the push for human rights for Mother Nature.

Never mind the impossible logistics of this, i.e., nature isn't human. Never mind the fact that this will undoubtedly lead to "mouthpieces" for Mother Nature, which is the liberal rhetoric translation of "people who cite the rights of a tree in order to bring about a liberal utopia."

I mean, it's Van Jones. Come on. We saw this coming.

Oh, wait, we didn't. Because we let it happen.

I find it interesting that a personhood amendment seems so atrocious (this would give the rights of a human to all people [born and unborn]) while the people who promote, in essence, the personhood amendment for a tree, remain un-lynched. Not that lynching is a proper course of action, but we have a right and a responsibility to be angry. At our government and at ourselves.

As it stands now, the only thing we can find the strength to be angry about is the neighbor's dog barking or the Internet crashing. Really? Over four thousand babies die each day while the rights of trees are invoked as the long-lost secret to a functioning global society, and all we can do is gripe?

In my ninth grade class, I asked a number of random people if they knew who Rick Snyder was, or Nancy Pelosi, or even Joe Biden.

You'd be surprised at how many people had no idea what the heck I was talking about.

Or would you be that surprised?

If you're as angry as you should be, you probably aren't surprised at all.

And if you're as angry as you should be, you know that you're the only person who can do anything about it.

The Iceberg

I really don't understand why they're threatening us with a shutdown. That's like threatening a small child with candy. Or a new puppy. Or a freaking pony.

In other words, PLEASE. SHUT IT DOWN.

What makes them think it's going to be so bad if the government shuts down? Gasp! People will start taking responsibility for their actions! They'll be able to define "America" and "patriot" without looking them up on the internet! They'll find hope in their lives for once! That WOULD be horrible. I can see why they'd do everything in their power to make sure such a tragedy does not befall the constituents they hold so dearly to their hearts.

We are at the point where this question begs an answer: What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?

Ever heard of the Titanic?

The story of the Titanic actually gives me hope, for once. You see, conservatives are the immovable object. We are the iceberg. And the ship of liberalism and big government seems impossible to sink. Like trying to sink the ocean itself.

But they're getting cocky.

Conservatives are willing to make cuts and sacrifices, admittedly not as much as we could and arguably should be, but as much as we can without a major upset. We'll get there.

Liberals, on the other hand, aren't willing to do anything but expand government so they can do even more nothing, but with a higher price tag. They are appalled at the mere mention of the Republican budget because, lo and behold, it's actually a budget, not a super-sized, overcharged credit card.

It is a day of reckoning. Will the iceberg prevail (morbid as that sounds), or will the ship simply take even more drastic measures on an even more perilous path? Because right now, the iceberg and the Titanic are standing face to face. They're having little talks and pretending to get things done (they're good at that), but in reality, they're just waiting for the other's next move. It's time to show our true colors (i.e. red, white, and blue).

You know what they always say about icebergs? That there's more than meets the eye, under the large, but largely unassuming, tip? Well, it's true here, now. There are so many conservatives out there who have been either screaming or muttering for so long that they've lost their will or their voice or both and are hiding under the surface.

It's time to tip the iceberg.

Because, in reality, we need drastic action. It was drastic action that got us here. We take it for granted every day, but, really? Do we really need the government to force socialistic reforms on our healthcare and economic system? Do we really need them to know and monitor everything we do and are? Do we really need them to do anything but govern? (Rhetorical questions, but feel free to answer them as loudly and spiritedly as your heart desires.)

A conservative budget is a step in the right direction, but we need more than steps if we want to tip this iceberg, show our true colors, and sink the ship once and for all. (At least until they use our taxpayer dollars to build a new one... But hopefully that day is far off in the future, and hopefully, we'll be ready.)

But the iceberg stands, ready to defend itself, its country, and its freedom, and the ship is bearing down on us, full steam ahead.

"White House Summit Fails to Yield Budget Deal as Shutdown Approaches," screams the FOXNews.com headline. Well, of course. You didn't think the Titanic would turn around and go home, did you?

Obama has, of course, labeled the discussion as "frank" and "constructive." But he doesn't go much farther than that (i.e. what the heck he plans to do with our nation). He hasn't clarified exactly what was "frank" and "constructive," but don't worry, folks. If it came out of Obama's mouth, it must be true (and even if it isn't, it is). Besides, he's the emblem of "hope"! Or is that not so applicable or appealing anymore...?

According to the ObaMessiah, "If we are serious about getting something done we should be able to complete a deal, get it passed and avert a shutdown." Nice cover for the fact that you REALLY DON'T CARE. The first part of that statement is the important part, but since Obama's speaking styled is hypnotic, it doesn't really matter what he said. But let's pretend it does. The thing is, as a liberal, he's perfectly content with doing nothing at all on taxpayer payroll. We aren't serious about anything. As much as politics is their profession, it's only a joke.

Except for the part about it being funny. At all.

"No one wants a shutdown," claims House Speaker John Boehner. I am a fan of his, but I really have to disagree, especially when he goes on to insist that there are "honest differences." Yeah, if by honest you mean that one group wants to conspire thievery behind closed doors and the other wants transparency and accountability. Although I guess if they're honest about being anti-American...

But, of course, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's comments were even more appalling. (At least we can count on him for something.)

One of his comments: "We're not there yet."

Aren't we, now? I hadn't noticed. The proper statement will be. "We will fight for the rights of the American people to our last breath," not, "We're not there yet." But I suppose, seeing as how it's Reid, that wouldn't be "honest." Even though it sure as heck is a difference.

A White House aide reported that there are "signs of progress" in the debates. Which means we can expect this year's budget to be released sometime in the next decade, with no small amount of carnage along the way.

Harry Reid insists that Democrats have been trying to meet Republicans halfway but that they "won't take yes for an answer." We'll take yes for an answer when it comes out of your mouth in response to "Do you love your country? Do you want what's best for it? Will you do everything in your power to keep your constituents safe from foreign threats and from yourself?" And when you follow through on that "yes."

Another thing: I'm sorry, I wasn't aware that "halfway" was an acceptable way of doing business with the American people. I wasn't aware that "halfway" was good enough when it concerns liberty and Americanism. And besides, "halfway" to a Democrat is like tripping and falling in the general direction of the other party.

Another Reid comment: "We've narrowed the issues significantly."

Now, I don't know, as a fifteen-year-old, very much about government summits. Except for the ones that are posted on YouTube for everyone to see. Okay, so I guess I do know enough to pick out the trend. Let me lay it out for you:

Obama: *chin resting on his hand, eyes periodically closing*

Random Republican 1: *fires off credible statistics* And that is why we need to take action, now. The future of our great nation is at stake. Our constituents have spoken time and time again--

Random Democrat 1: Shut up. The election's over, fool.

Random Democrat 2: Yeah! Racist!

Random Republican 1: (flustered) As I was saying, it is our duty to--

Random Democrat 1: You're wrong. Stop campaigning. Sexist.

Random Republican 2: For real, we need to buckle down and get this done. There's a shutdown looming in, like, two days.

Random Democrat 3: Oh, pulling out the crisis card, are you? Too bad. We already did that. Bailouts!!

Random Republican 3: We're talking about the budget, not the...

Random Democrat 4: I have to go to the bathroom.

Random Republican 4: Can't it wait until we've at least used the word "budget" once? Or at least deliberated over something instead of calling each other racist?

Random Democrat 4: ...Racist.

Random Democrat 5: I want a sandwich.

...You get the idea.

And somewhere along that plotline, someone suggests yet ANOTHER short-term budget proposal. If it goes through (because a government shutdown would be horrible), it'll be the third of its kind in TWO MONTHS. And it'll be passed by Republicans without needing a single Democrat vote.

President Obama cites that we have already passed two in as many months and that that is "not a way to run a government." And sitting up late at night hypocritically debating whether to be fiscally responsible while the entire duty of the government and the welfare of your constituents on the line... That's a way to run government? In that case, bravo. Wonderful job.

Is this what our taxpayer dollars pay our elected officials to do? Well, yes, but the question is, should it be?

The more important question is, what are we going to do about it?

We're not on taxpayer payroll. We don't have the luxury of power. At least that's what they want us to think. But in reality, we're the employers. I honestly don't understand why we've let it get this bad. But we have.

We've allowed presidents like Obama and his Democratic Congress to do, basically, whatever the heck they want. And what they want to do is to use a "scalpel" instead of an ex to address our deficit.

I think they need to get their terms straight. A scalpel is used for medical procedures. To fix something up. To get to the heart of the problem.

Um, we are already at the heart of the problem. Recession, stalled budget plans, three short-term measures in two months? We're at the heart, and it's beating fast.

In contrast to a scalpel, an ax is used for murder. For cutting down trees. Kind of what they've been doing to liberty and individual freedom for the past almost 100 years.

Do they really want to murder our deficit, or do they want to pick at it with scalpels that only make it bleed and swell? If they won't, I hope someone has the courage to pick up the ax, run, crazed and wild-eyed, at the monstrosity that is our deficit, and murder it as violently as possible.

If that sounds morbid, it's because it is. It shouldn't be this hard. But it's what we need to do.

For example, Republicans proposed a spending measure earlier this year that included $61 billion in cuts. A brilliant step in the right direction.

Democrats won't budge.

To make matters worse, an upcoming vote on whether to raise the debt ceiling is SURE to produce even more STELLAR result that the recent summit. Can't wait for that. "Well, the issue on the table today is whether or not we should continue to bury our future in mountains of debt." Um... Is this a trick question?

Basically, we have a government that is unwilling to do anything. We have a broken system and a broken spirit. All in all, we're not looking so good.

Did you know that there was a big dispute over having the bald eagle as our national bird? As regal and majestic as it looks, it's a scrap-eater. It feeds on dead stuff.

I think that we couldn't have picked a better bird. The image of America regally leads the world forward, while in reality, we may be just scraping by. But we get by. And when it's all said and done, the carrion, the dead stuff we eat allows for new life, new growth. It sustains us, because we make do with what we've got. And we've got a lot. We've got the wings and seeds of freedom, and justice, and hope. And one day, we'll be flying off into the proverbial sunset, remembering, but not looking back.

Can bald eagles smile in utter triumph?

Can icebergs?

The Great Donkey Migration

Remember when people were up in arms (not really, since guns are immoral... 0_0) about the deliberation and composition of the certain bills without a single Republican present (and then passed with minimal Republican votes)? Oh, you remember that? Well, it looks like liberal media attempts to make you forget have failed.

Anyway. The same thing happened in Wisconsin with their budget bill, but let me tell you why we're not mad about this.

The Democrats COULD have been there if they wanted to. But they were hiding in a cave in Illinois. So I have no sympathy.

I mean, really? They ran away from their JOBS. It's their job to vote on legislation and do their best to protect their constituents. (Being liberals, they already failed at that second point.) The people of Wisconsin are waiting for their budget, and the Senate Democrats decide that they're just going to schedule a sudden vacation and take off. (I thought that was something they only did mentally, not physically.)

And the bill they're running from? A budget cut bill. Of course. Because nothing scares a Democrat more than the notion of fiscal responsibility.

They claim to be fighting for the rights of their citizens, but how can they do this from Illinois? They're not fighting the good fight--they're kicking us in the shins and running.

Speaking of that fiscal responsibility that I mentioned earlier... Responsibility is such a novel trait in today's society. Maybe, if they're stripped of their collective bargaining rights, teachers will begin to take responsibility, too.

Because getting notes from the fake sick note vendors on every corner within a one-mile radius of the protest, and skipping out on their jobs without penalty in order to retain legal rights to skip out on their duties as teachers... That's just plain irresponsible.

Many teachers, sadly, do not teach. But there is nothing to distinguish their positions from the positions of those who do work, who do teach. The education system is corrupted, and we do nothing about it (because these teachers are protected by the ironclad unions). Maybe, now that they're stripped of their collective bargaining rights, they'll be forced to practice responsibility and care for the students they are entrusted with.

Or they could all just run away to the nearest protest. Or the nearest other state, if they follow the example of their valiant protectors.

It just keeps getting better and better. Where are the children these people are supposed to be teaching?

Probably learning, actually. I wouldn't be surprised if the state of Wisconsin experienced a drastic increase in test scores during the absence of these teachers.

Everything I've ever done, I can credit to genetics, and less than ten teachers in my ten-year career in the public school system. The other teachers, besides those ten, are the ones who would be hiding in caves or receiving fake sick notes from street-corner "doctors." I learned nothing from them.

I wasn't aware that there was even debate over global warming or evolution or overpopulation until I figured it out for myself. Public schooling had taught me one view and one view only. So not only are these people raising idiots, they are raising those who will follow them to their caves and protests of justice.

If these people want collective bargaining rights for their jobs, they can start by actually performing their jobs first, and see where that takes them.

I'm fairly sure it won't be a cave in Illinois.

Quick question: the teachers at this protest, and the senators in Illinois... They're still on our payroll, aren't they? Our taxpayer dollars are still paying them to be lazy and afraid, aren't they? Maybe, maybe not. It's the fact that I can even wonder that bothers me.

I've called Democrats cowards before, but I never thought they'd go to such lengths to prove me right. If I call them socialist and anti-American often enough, they might get themselves deported.

But enough beating that dead horse. We have others.

We have donkeys, too. They've recently begun a massive migration to Illinois. (And they can STAY there.)

Who Are We?

Who are you?

Who are you?

To some, you may be a spouse, a co-worker, a best friend. You might be the life of the party, or you might be the party-pooper. You might be a teacher. You might be a boyfriend or girlfriend. You might be a mother, a father, a brother or a sister.

For some, when they hear your name, they smile because of some inside joke you two had eleven years ago. For others, when they hear your name, they laugh because of the stellar job you did in the school play when you all were in high school. For still others, hearing your name might make them think of certain qualities. Are you strong? Are you fearless? Are you daring? Are you spontaneous or shy? Are you athletic or are you a couch potato? What are your favorite TV shows? What music do you listen to? Are you tall or short? Sarcastic or literal? Do you have a great sense of humor, or are you one of those people who is completely socially inept? Are you a good cook? Do you have a lot of friends, or not so many? What do you and your friends do together? What are your ambitions, your hopes, your wishes, your dreams?

No one cares.

Not as far as the government is concerned, anyway. To them, you're just a number.

It wasn't always like this, here in America. But today, the government is huge. And that’s why they have such control over us. That's why they can label us with numbers and tax us out of existence without ever knowing our names (among other things): because America’s debt and its government are both spiraling out of control. We, the people, have less power than we realize. And that, too, is part of their plan.

America's original plan goes by the name of ‘The United States Constitution.’ And I believe that this plan is what will restore America to its former glory. This plan is the future, if we act in the present. I hope this plan will be in the history books fifty years from now: how America returned to the founding principles in the Constitution. We are the history of America. In order to understand the monstrous task in front of us, we must understand our past counterparts, and how they completed this task, not really that long ago.

America was founded because the government currently in place was too oppressive to the colonists, and they were not represented. We fought a war for America against the strongest army and navy on Earth with inexperienced, uneducated militiamen and won. America was founded because all of those people believed in something better.

We signed a Declaration of Independence. Of freedom. I believe that the Declaration was as much written for the people of that time as it was for the people of this one. The Founders signed that document because they wanted to ensure freedom for their generation from Britain, and freedom for future generations from any oppressor, abroad but especially at home, that would stand in the way of freedom. In short, the Founders knew that men could not resist the idea of power, neither then nor now. But they also knew that men could not, when it came down to it, resist the ideas of hope and justice and freedom, either. And it was those ideas that America was founded upon.

According to the Declaration, we have the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and the government enforces those right with our consent. The consent of the governed. It all circles back to us, because we are the ones who fought that war. We are the ones who tasted the sweet blood and sweat and pain and fear and triumph of freedom. When it comes down to it, we are the ones who wrote the Constitution, who wrote America’s story. We, the people.

Sadly, however, we, the people have allowed government to grow more powerful than the Founders ever intended. Thomas Jefferson warned, "Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves, therefore, are its only safe depositories." The people are the only ones who can keep America alive. And we have slipped from our watchfulness. Those who watched our watchfulness chose that moment to strike, and once they did, there was no going back. This brings me to my second point: a more recent and more disturbing history of the United States of America.

It is arguable when it began. In my opinion, it began with the Great Depression or, rather, our response to it. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt responded with what he called a “New Deal” for America. It was definitely new, because we had never been introduced to anti-Americanism before. And it was definitely a deal, but not for us. For the Progressives.

FDR took advantage of the crisis by ushering in a new era of reforms aimed at combating the crisis on the surface, but in reality aimed at nothing more than expanding the role of government. The government was allowed to reach into every facet of our daily lives, under the guise of "protecting us from another Great Depression." Maybe these reforms would be acceptable, even beneficial, had they been repealed as soon as the Depression was over or it became clear they were not producing the desired effects. But systems like Social Security still exist today.

Why is this bad? Because Social Security is a Ponzi scheme doomed to fail. The system is bankrupt. It was only put into place to give the government even more intrusive rights to your money and your information. Didn’t believe me earlier when I told you you were simply a number? You have a Social Security number, don’t you? That’s all you are to them.

According to Reuters (which cited a Treasury report), the national debt is projected to be $19.6 trillion 2015, about a $5 or $6 trillion increase. What could the government possibly be doing that would require an almost 40% increase in the debt in just a few years? Being way too powerful. That’s what.

But what can we do? I'll show you. Even though the Founders already did that themselves.

“A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government," says Thomas Jefferson. So, what must we do? We must aim for a wise and frugal government. We must elect people not based on the letters next to their names, but the truths in their hearts. We must be frugal, and not spend more than we need to on earmarks, on extravagant and irrelevant proposals. We must not take from those who have earned. No Robin Hood-style government. Welfare programs are to be reserved for extreme cases if they are used at all, and in those cases, to be used temporarily. We must not tax people out of existence. A small government will not require a large tax revenue.

A small government does, however, require the will of the people to sustain and restrain it, for people to speak up. Because, as Jefferson states, "All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."

I believe America is full of people of good conscience. Silent people. Oppressed people. People of good conscience who have been silent and oppressed long enough. Vote. Protest. Be heard.

I ask you again, as I did at the beginning of this post: Who are you?

Jefferson answers, "Do you want to know who you are? Don't ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you."

And if you act on what I have said here today, you will be defined, maybe even in the history books, as America.

Life As We Know It... Or Don't

Life. What does that even mean, anyway? People walk around saying, "I hate my life" or "I love life" or "Life is good" or "Life is tough." But what, honestly, does that even mean? Sometimes I think we don't give half a thought to the words that come out of our mouths. (In fact, I'm sure--have you listened to the Democrats [and Republicans] lately?)

But honestly, when the word "life" passes our lips, do we even realize what we're saying? Do we have any idea that we're invoking the most precious, most fragile miracle of the known and unknown universe? Do we realize how we take it for granted every day?

We don't. Or else I wouldn't need to ask.

In Washington, D.C., I had the opportunity to, of course, participate in the March for Life, a Vigil Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, and a youth rally held at the D.C. Armory Stadium. I haven't felt so truly alive in a long time. It's only when you're fighting for life when you realize how truly amazing it is, this glorious prize you're fighting for.

At the Vigil Mass, if we weren't all Christian there would have been brawls breaking out everywhere over floor space in the CRYPT--two hours before the Mass even started. That's how crowded it was. Crowded with thousands upon thousands upon tens of thousands of people who were there to fight for the pro-life cause.

There's that word again. Life.

At the D.C. Armory Stadium, there were TEN THOUSAND young people like me there. At the other session held at the Verizon Center, there were twenty thousand. Thirty thousand young people amassed in the service of a single cause: life. When everyone started singing and doing the hand motions to "Awesome God," it was like looking out at a sea of people. A sea of life. What else could it be? I've never, NEVER felt more alive than I did at that rally, at the Mass, at the March.

It makes me think of all those people who wander around searching for the meaning of life, when they should be just living. That's the meaning of life. Life is one of the most simple, profound words in the English language. Its meaning is itself.

At the March for Life... Well, obviously that was one of the greatest things I've ever experienced in my life. Half a million people or more, all gathered in our nation's capital for a single purpose: life.

Honestly, I can't think of a greater cause to support. Life. Simple. Profound. Beautiful. Why wouldn't you want to support life?

Because we don't understand what it truly is. Because it's become so easy to rationalize. Because it's something we take for granted. Because it's something we put labels and price tags on, when in reality, all life is universal, and all life is priceless.

Fifty million. Fifty million souls. Gone, since the legalization of Roe v. Wade almost forty years ago. But I hate the number 50 million. Why? Because it's a statistic. And these lives must be known by more than just a statistic. They must be known as people, each individual one, each member of the 50 million.

When we acknowledge that life is life, that life is precious, that life is a miracle, that life is a right that no one has the right to take away from anyone else, only then can we begin to live.

If we can't live, we're somewhat screwed, so I suggest we start very soon.

50 million. Imagine everyone you know, wiped off the face of the Earth. Fifty million. What if we randomly selected 50 million members of the U.S. population to be annihilated (we really do this)? That's 16% of the population, or about one in six people. Your chances of being killed? One in six. Scared?

It's a lot scarier when it's personal. When it's you whose life is hanging by a thread (or an umbilical cord). Here's a newsflash for you: It is personal. You are connected to everyone on this Earth. You share their common humanity, and if we can kill our own children, we can kill anyone. We can kill you. Just keep that in mind the next time you denounce pro-lifers as crazy religious zealots. That we may be. But it might save your life.

Life. There's that word again.

We take it for granted until it's gone, and then we can't take anything back. There are no returns, both in your own life and FOR the life of someone else.

Killing innocents is wrong. Killing innocence is wrong.

Abortion, therefore, is wrong.

Join me. Join us. Join the fifty million dead, and the millions across America and the world. Fight for life, or die trying.

True life is found in the willingness to die for it.

And, of course, God bless America.

:)