Thoughts from a History teacher...

In his inaugural address over 200 years ago, Thomas Jefferson, probably not a believer, said this about government:

"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 and bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government."

As Barack Obama swore an oath today to "protect, preserve, and defend" the Constitution this morning in front of millions of people (odd in itself since he believes the document is "fatally flawed")*, so many Americans echo the cry of Jefferson in what constitutes "good government." Imagine a world where government allowed its citizens to live without interference--in business, in healthcare, in education. Two hundred years ago, those men who shaped our government desperately wanted a government institution that punished evildoers and protected its people--that's it! There are countless examples of presidents like James Madison and Thomas Jefferson vetoing bills that they deemed "unconstitutional" because they were outside of the federal government's jurisdiction. Look at just a few of the quotes from our founding fathers and former presidents:

"I can find no warrant for such an appropriation in the Constitution, and I do not believe that the power and duty of the General Government ought to be extended to the relief of individual suffering which is in no manner properly related to the public service or benefit."
-- President Grover Cleveland vetoing a bill for charity relief (18 Congressional Record 1875 [1877]

"Those who would give up essential Liberty to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
-- Ben Franklin, Respectfully Quoted, p. 201, Suzy Platt, Barnes & Noble, 1993

"I cannot find any authority in the Constitution for public charity. [To approve the measure] would be contrary to the letter and spirit of the Constitution and subversive to the whole theory upon which the Union of these States is founded."
-- President Franklin Pierce's 1854 veto of a measure to help the mentally ill.

How vilified would our President be if he refused to give government money towards healthcare? He would be seen as arrogant, selfish, and evil. The media would destroy him. And yet so many of our former presidents feared gratuitous interference by the federal government.


Nevertheless, Neal Boortz, however polarizing he is, made a good comment about today's historical events:
"The institution is larger than any man, and any man in that office deserves our respect: Perhaps not our support at all times, but always our respect."

It is good to be reminded of that, and despite my disapproval of virtually everything Barack Obama says, he is our President and he deserves my respect.

Reverend Joseph Lowery, however, does not. As a white person (which makes me evil, in case you did not know), I took serious offense at his closing remarks this morning during his benediction following Obama's speech:


"....help us work for that day when black will not be asked to give back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man, and when white will embrace what is right."

His assumption is that over the course of history, white men and women have rejected what is right, what is moral, what is just. If we have still not "embraced what is right," then what exactly was happening when thousands of American men gave their lives to prevent the Nazi world from taking over? And what was happening when William Wilberforce abolished the slave trade in England in the 19th century? Or when Jim Elliot selflessly gave his life to evangelize to the Waodani people in Ecuador?

The list goes on, folks; he should have thought more carefully before he said what he said. But of course, the media refuses to address these issues--for now we must continue to idolize Barack Obama by shooting footage of weeping women waving their American flags with Obama’s picture plastered over the stars and stripes. We must continue to honor him, not because of the “content of his character, but because of the color of his skin.” Martin Luther King, Jr. would be ashamed.

*http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Civil-Rights-Examiner~y2008m11d3-Obamas-AntiCivil-Rights-Movement)

Christmas 2008 and a New Year!

After two relaxing weeks of break, I returned to work ready for another semester. Christmas break was incredibly relaxing, and Michael and I really enjoyed the time off that we got to spend together. His parents gave us a wonderful gift: money to buy a coffee table! We found one at Rooms-to-Go, although there was a slight misunderstanding with the one we unpacked in our living room and the one we ordered, so the right coffee table is going to be delivered this Saturday.

Owning a home (well, almost owning a home--in 30 years) gives us so much to be thankful for. Just last week, he and I sat on our couch and commented on how much of our "home furnishings" we owe to others, whether it be hand-me-downs or gifts.

Even though we made this purchase back in November, our Christmas gift came in the form of a golden retriever/lab that we adopted from the nearby animal shelter. We kept it a secret from Michael's guy friends who love giving him a hard time about his tendency to buy on impulse and regret the decision later (as evidenced by our Great Dane whom we owned for 3 days back in April). She is affectionately called London, and I am convinced that the Lord made her calm, docile, and sweet--knowing that I couldn't handle much more than that. Haha. All in all, we've had very little destructive behavior, save the chewed dry-wall in the garage and the strip of carpet that evidently tasted so good she had to pull it up. She's certainly not a great dane but playful enough that Michael and I really enjoy her company. Seriously, in a million years, I never imagined that owning a dog (or in pet lover terms, "a new addition to the family") would be so much fun.

On another note, I'd like to remove all doubt about whether or not I've become an old married lady. Yes, I think I have, and here's why. I play the Grocery Game. If you think that sounds like some sort of Supermarket Sweep board game, you're wrong! My dear friend Shannon told me about the Grocery Game back in November, and since then I have saved hundreds of dollars at the grocery store--a cause totally worth being called an old married lady.

The website is www.grocerygame.com if you're interested. The idea is to buy items at their lowest price (using coupons and the sales at the grocery) so you begin "stockpiling" instead of need shopping. It takes a little bit of time to build up to that point, but eventually you're spending virtually no money because you already have a mini-grocery at your house. If you're willing to take the time to do it, you will find that it's totally worth it! Just last week, I spent $36 dollars at Lowes Food and saved $31. This week I spent $40.59 and Harris Teeter and saved $30.96. There are times when good coupons fall on the same week as a super-sale item and you get it for free. So I have become one of those people who clip coupons, stroll slowly through the grocery store while flipping through the pages of my coupon book. Fun!