Sitting here on Christmas Eve Day and wondering………what the hell happened to our society when the NRA is calling for armed policemen in our schools?
That great old movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” is about how the little guy wins and greed loses…..but, as I look around our country – is that what really happens nowadays?
I have had emails from friends about how there is a War on Christmas – but yet as I have shopped and driven through our fair city – I still see the Christmas Trees, the Christmas Lights, the Nativity Scenes in many places – so exactly where is this War these folks keep yammering about?
As I think of the latest tragic school shooting in Newton – when will our country stop whining about how we are not a Christian nation anymore and start acting like we give a damn about others?
(from the link): “But if Republicans continue to be led around by, and live in fear of, a base that denies global warming after Hurricane Sandy and refuses to ban assault weapons after Sandy Hook — a base that would rather see every American’s taxes rise rather than increase taxes on millionaires — the party has no future. It can’t win with a base that is at war with math, physics, human biology, economics and common-sense gun laws all at the same time.”
(from the link) For gun violence, particularly mass killings such as that in Newtown, to occur, intent and means must converge at a particular time and place. Decades of research have been devoted to understanding the factors that lead some people to commit violence against themselves or others. Substantially less has been done to understand how easy access to firearms mitigates or amplifies both the likelihood and consequences of these acts.
For example, background checks have an effect on inappropriate procurement of guns from licensed dealers, but private gun sales require no background check. Laws mandating a minimum age for gun ownership reduce gun fatalities, but firearms still pass easily from legal owners to juveniles and other legally proscribed individuals, such as felons or persons with mental illness. Because ready access to guns in the home increases, rather than reduces, a family’s risk of homicide in the home, safe storage of guns might save lives.2 Nevertheless, many gun owners, including gun-owning parents, still keep at least one firearm loaded and readily available for self-defense.3
The nation might be in a better position to act if medical and public health researchers had continued to study these issues as diligently as some of us did between 1985 and 1997. But in 1996, pro-gun members of Congress mounted an all-out effort to eliminate the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although they failed to defund the center, the House of Representatives removed $2.6 million from the CDC’s budget—precisely the amount the agency had spent on firearm injury research the previous year. Funding was restored in joint conference committee, but the money was earmarked for traumatic brain injury. The effect was sharply reduced support for firearm injury research.
To ensure that the CDC and its grantees got the message, the following language was added to the final appropriation: “none of the funds made available for injury prevention and control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may be used to advocate or promote gun control.”4
(from the link): The endless chorus from the Religious Right that all that plagues our society is the result of divine wrath has grown tiresome…and then some. James Dobson, Bryan Fischer, Mike Huckabee, David Barton, the AFA’s Buster “Test the Meat” Wilson, who blamed Sandy Hook on a lack of prayer, Franklin “I Guess Mormons are Alright” Graham, who took up the “we’ve turned our back on God” chorus, Pastor Bill Eliff of the Summit Church in Arkansas who said the murder of 20 children and six adults was “God’s grace,” Pastor Dan Delzell of Wellspring Lutheran Church in Papillion, Nebraska, at the Christian Post saying Satan did it…the list is endless.
To a man, they appear to be telling us that their god is a whiny little bitch who throws temper tantrums when we fail to fawn, and tell him to take it to the hand instead; and who goes on brutal rampages of bird and child killings, and storms and droughts wherever he can fit them in.
I wonder if these Religious Right ever wonder why so many people tune them out?
If their God is so vengeful and hateful – then why would anyone ever want to know him?
Bottom line – when the basic message is broken down – there is very little difference between the Westboro Baptist’s message and those of these Religious Right – isn’t there?
These Religioius Right are only better dressers and have fancier churches – but the message is the same – pure, unadulterated hate.
(from the link): Breitbart.com has the conservatives super confused again. This time it’s writer John Nolte, seeking to justify the NRA’s jumping-the-shark presser yesterday. How can anyone justify that, you ask? Well, he’s claiming that President Clinton put cops in school and there’s no difference between what Clinton did and what LaPierre offered up as the corporate agenda NRA’s vision for America, so how dare the media act as if Wayne LaPierre sounded crazy.
In a paranoid rant about how the media is attacking LaPierre’s “attractive” idea of arming up our schools, Nolte hyperventilates:
“In their zeal to rampage this left-wing agenda, the media has apparently forgotten that back in 2000, on the one-year anniversary of the Columbine shooting (which occurred with an assault weapons ban in place), President Clinton requested $60 million in federal money to fund a fifth round of funding for a program called “COPS in School,” a program that does exactly what the NRA is proposing and the media is currently in overdrive mocking.”
It’s as if he doesn’t realize that that program was already in effect, and what that program did, and who tried to shut it down.
I don’t remember Clinton’s proposal as being placeing armed policemen in schools for the sole purpose of security against mass killers – do you?
Weren’t these policemen in school an effort to bring that community policing idea into the schools? And then – wasn’t it primarily in high schools?
Newtown shooting was in an elementary school…….and the shooter was a church-going member in their own community – NOT some monster that came crawling out of the woods from ‘over there there somewhere’.
This shooter – Adam Lanza – was a member of their own community……I keep waiting for some media outlet to put a focus on this factor……and the fact he went to the same church where 8 of his yoiung victims went…..But, as of yet, I’ve not heard anyone in the media mention this fact.
Kinda blows that whole theory of this tragedy would not have happened if there were prayers in school -huh?
I’m sure this Adam Lanza was taught to pray in his Catholic Church – wasn’t he?
And – let’s not forget – Adam’s mother was a gun owner and was capable of shooting a gun – but did her guns save her in this tragedy? NO – to the contrary – her own gun was used against her – by someone she knew and loved.
Our society screams about the things that don’t matter – prayers in school – but yet when it comes to the fact that it takes money to provide mental health care to everyone – the same folks who are crying for those prayers in school are refusing to pay one more penny in taxes and want to deny health care coverage to all Americans.
We truly are one messed-up country – …..and I hope this new Mayan era we just ushered in will enlighten our country as to what is reallly important…..
And on this Christmas Eve Day when there is alot of good feelings being shown – maybe this is the year we can care about others for more than just one day?
That is my Christmas List wish……
LIke that coach said – he did not vote for Obama…but Obama is HIS president. We need to get back to that idealogy.
You think the NRA crazies will hold another press conference to tell us, “If only those fire fighters in upstate New York had been armed…”?
Gun nuts are dangerous people. Gun owners aren’t all gun nuts and just like the religious right who give a bad rap to Christians these gun nuts will need to be slapped down by the responsible gun owners. NRA membership was already declining before their head honchos went on television and made fools of themselves. Responsible gun owners see the many ways available to get the guns out of the hands of the gun nuts and also understand their rights won’t be affected in any way shape or form.
I think the NRA members who disagree with the NRA leadeship need to all cancel their memberships in protest – and start their own group of responsible gun owners.
The current NRA is nothing more than a lobbyist for the gun manufacturers.
Why else would they call for the govenrment to spend billions on putting more guns into schools?
I remember my childhood memories of Christmas Day. My mother’s family had 6 kids and then all their kids – a mighty full house, indeed.
My grandmother made everything from scratch – I especially remember her chicken and noodles….WOW
My grandpa (the one I always talk about) would give each grandkid a silver dollar. I saved mine throughout the years.
The spring my grandpa died – March 1971 – was the same time I was going to graduate from high school only two short months later.
My grandma never learned how to drive – so she asked if anyone from the family wanted to buy Grandpa’s car. I jumped at the chance.
I used my own cash from babysitting jobs and I used those silver dollars that Grandpa had given me throughout the years.
That car was the most ugly car – it was that two-tone army green color. It was an old Rambler. Not exactly what a high school graduate would be wanting to drive – huh?
But I loved that car……as much as I loved my Grandpa. I found a job as a secretary and drove that car every day to work.
I swear – there were times when I could see my Grandpa’s face in the rearview mirror – as if he was tagging along with me…..
Eventually after a few years, the car needed alot of TLC and I needed more dependable transportation. I was headed for college out of state, so I listed the car for sale in the local newspaper. One day when I was coming home from work, an older gentleman was in my parent’s driveway behind the wheel in my Grandpa’s car.
God……I had to take a double look…..the old gentleman looked and sounded just like my Grandpa. He was so happy to get a car just like that Rambler – one that he could use to get around town – nothing fancy, just something he could work on and enjoy.
Life brings you little surprises like that – huh? Although I hated to part with my Grandpa’s car – I felt better knowing that it went to this old man who was so much like my Grandpa. In a way, I think I sensed that car also felt like it was going to a good home.
Maybe I am too sentimental ?
Anyway – when I think of Christmas Day memories – my Grandpa and his silver dollars always comes to my mind. My husband asked me if I regretted using those silver dollars to buy Grandpa’s car (knowing now what those silver dollars would be worth) – I just shake my head and reply ‘NO’……because I got more than just a car that day – I got a piece of my Grandpa.
I still have the old leather keyring that Grandpa used…….that was one thing I did not give to that kindly old man that bought Grandpa’s car……..I kept that for myself.
PrairiePopulistsAndProgressives.net 
Sitting here on Christmas Eve Day and wondering………what the hell happened to our society when the NRA is calling for armed policemen in our schools?
That great old movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” is about how the little guy wins and greed loses…..but, as I look around our country – is that what really happens nowadays?
I have had emails from friends about how there is a War on Christmas – but yet as I have shopped and driven through our fair city – I still see the Christmas Trees, the Christmas Lights, the Nativity Scenes in many places – so exactly where is this War these folks keep yammering about?
As I think of the latest tragic school shooting in Newton – when will our country stop whining about how we are not a Christian nation anymore and start acting like we give a damn about others?
An op-ed that tells how bad it is among the republicans —
Send in the Clowns
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/23/opinion/sunday/friedman-send-in-the-clowns.html?_r=0
(from the link): “But if Republicans continue to be led around by, and live in fear of, a base that denies global warming after Hurricane Sandy and refuses to ban assault weapons after Sandy Hook — a base that would rather see every American’s taxes rise rather than increase taxes on millionaires — the party has no future. It can’t win with a base that is at war with math, physics, human biology, economics and common-sense gun laws all at the same time.”
The comments are good too.
Lots of excited kiddies today! None here at my house, but I remember…
Keep track of the jolly ole man. 🙂
http://www.google.com/santatracker/
Silencing the Science on Gun Research
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1487470
(from the link) For gun violence, particularly mass killings such as that in Newtown, to occur, intent and means must converge at a particular time and place. Decades of research have been devoted to understanding the factors that lead some people to commit violence against themselves or others. Substantially less has been done to understand how easy access to firearms mitigates or amplifies both the likelihood and consequences of these acts.
For example, background checks have an effect on inappropriate procurement of guns from licensed dealers, but private gun sales require no background check. Laws mandating a minimum age for gun ownership reduce gun fatalities, but firearms still pass easily from legal owners to juveniles and other legally proscribed individuals, such as felons or persons with mental illness. Because ready access to guns in the home increases, rather than reduces, a family’s risk of homicide in the home, safe storage of guns might save lives.2 Nevertheless, many gun owners, including gun-owning parents, still keep at least one firearm loaded and readily available for self-defense.3
The nation might be in a better position to act if medical and public health researchers had continued to study these issues as diligently as some of us did between 1985 and 1997. But in 1996, pro-gun members of Congress mounted an all-out effort to eliminate the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although they failed to defund the center, the House of Representatives removed $2.6 million from the CDC’s budget—precisely the amount the agency had spent on firearm injury research the previous year. Funding was restored in joint conference committee, but the money was earmarked for traumatic brain injury. The effect was sharply reduced support for firearm injury research.
To ensure that the CDC and its grantees got the message, the following language was added to the final appropriation: “none of the funds made available for injury prevention and control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may be used to advocate or promote gun control.”4
You know you’ve grown up when none of the things you want for Christmas can be bought at a store.
http://www.politicususa.com/religious-dead-gods.html
(from the link): The endless chorus from the Religious Right that all that plagues our society is the result of divine wrath has grown tiresome…and then some. James Dobson, Bryan Fischer, Mike Huckabee, David Barton, the AFA’s Buster “Test the Meat” Wilson, who blamed Sandy Hook on a lack of prayer, Franklin “I Guess Mormons are Alright” Graham, who took up the “we’ve turned our back on God” chorus, Pastor Bill Eliff of the Summit Church in Arkansas who said the murder of 20 children and six adults was “God’s grace,” Pastor Dan Delzell of Wellspring Lutheran Church in Papillion, Nebraska, at the Christian Post saying Satan did it…the list is endless.
To a man, they appear to be telling us that their god is a whiny little bitch who throws temper tantrums when we fail to fawn, and tell him to take it to the hand instead; and who goes on brutal rampages of bird and child killings, and storms and droughts wherever he can fit them in.
I know what you mean…
I wonder if these Religious Right ever wonder why so many people tune them out?
If their God is so vengeful and hateful – then why would anyone ever want to know him?
Bottom line – when the basic message is broken down – there is very little difference between the Westboro Baptist’s message and those of these Religious Right – isn’t there?
These Religioius Right are only better dressers and have fancier churches – but the message is the same – pure, unadulterated hate.
(from the link): Breitbart.com has the conservatives super confused again. This time it’s writer John Nolte, seeking to justify the NRA’s jumping-the-shark presser yesterday. How can anyone justify that, you ask? Well, he’s claiming that President Clinton put cops in school and there’s no difference between what Clinton did and what LaPierre offered up as the corporate agenda NRA’s vision for America, so how dare the media act as if Wayne LaPierre sounded crazy.
In a paranoid rant about how the media is attacking LaPierre’s “attractive” idea of arming up our schools, Nolte hyperventilates:
“In their zeal to rampage this left-wing agenda, the media has apparently forgotten that back in 2000, on the one-year anniversary of the Columbine shooting (which occurred with an assault weapons ban in place), President Clinton requested $60 million in federal money to fund a fifth round of funding for a program called “COPS in School,” a program that does exactly what the NRA is proposing and the media is currently in overdrive mocking.”
It’s as if he doesn’t realize that that program was already in effect, and what that program did, and who tried to shut it down.
http://www.politicususa.com/bitter-crazy-breitbart-writer-thinks-clintons-cops-progam-nra.html
I don’t remember Clinton’s proposal as being placeing armed policemen in schools for the sole purpose of security against mass killers – do you?
Weren’t these policemen in school an effort to bring that community policing idea into the schools? And then – wasn’t it primarily in high schools?
Newtown shooting was in an elementary school…….and the shooter was a church-going member in their own community – NOT some monster that came crawling out of the woods from ‘over there there somewhere’.
This shooter – Adam Lanza – was a member of their own community……I keep waiting for some media outlet to put a focus on this factor……and the fact he went to the same church where 8 of his yoiung victims went…..But, as of yet, I’ve not heard anyone in the media mention this fact.
Kinda blows that whole theory of this tragedy would not have happened if there were prayers in school -huh?
I’m sure this Adam Lanza was taught to pray in his Catholic Church – wasn’t he?
And – let’s not forget – Adam’s mother was a gun owner and was capable of shooting a gun – but did her guns save her in this tragedy? NO – to the contrary – her own gun was used against her – by someone she knew and loved.
Our society screams about the things that don’t matter – prayers in school – but yet when it comes to the fact that it takes money to provide mental health care to everyone – the same folks who are crying for those prayers in school are refusing to pay one more penny in taxes and want to deny health care coverage to all Americans.
We truly are one messed-up country – …..and I hope this new Mayan era we just ushered in will enlighten our country as to what is reallly important…..
And on this Christmas Eve Day when there is alot of good feelings being shown – maybe this is the year we can care about others for more than just one day?
That is my Christmas List wish……
LIke that coach said – he did not vote for Obama…but Obama is HIS president. We need to get back to that idealogy.
I’m Tinker Sparkley-Toes 🙂
Just call me…..Bubbles McJingle – I like it.
My granddaughter is here with me – and she would be Nipper Floppy Feet….
My grandson would be Tinker Sparkey-Toes……(same as fnord)…
Just looked up my husband’s elf name …..are you ready for this one?
Happy Monkey-Buns…….
Think I’ll start using that name and see what reaction I get – huh?
From now on, I shall be Perky Superplum; mah, don’t think so.
Merry Christmas my dear friends. I am strong enough and YOU are my brother!
Ouch – a poll done by Frank Luntz – a well-known and often-touted GOP pollster guy did this survey of the NRA members…..
Do the results of this poll go along with the NRA Leadership’s recent yammerings?
http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/luntz-poll-nra-membership-supports-gu
You think the NRA crazies will hold another press conference to tell us, “If only those fire fighters in upstate New York had been armed…”?
Gun nuts are dangerous people. Gun owners aren’t all gun nuts and just like the religious right who give a bad rap to Christians these gun nuts will need to be slapped down by the responsible gun owners. NRA membership was already declining before their head honchos went on television and made fools of themselves. Responsible gun owners see the many ways available to get the guns out of the hands of the gun nuts and also understand their rights won’t be affected in any way shape or form.
I think the NRA members who disagree with the NRA leadeship need to all cancel their memberships in protest – and start their own group of responsible gun owners.
The current NRA is nothing more than a lobbyist for the gun manufacturers.
Why else would they call for the govenrment to spend billions on putting more guns into schools?
ka-ching…..
It’s all about the money…
I remember my childhood memories of Christmas Day. My mother’s family had 6 kids and then all their kids – a mighty full house, indeed.
My grandmother made everything from scratch – I especially remember her chicken and noodles….WOW
My grandpa (the one I always talk about) would give each grandkid a silver dollar. I saved mine throughout the years.
The spring my grandpa died – March 1971 – was the same time I was going to graduate from high school only two short months later.
My grandma never learned how to drive – so she asked if anyone from the family wanted to buy Grandpa’s car. I jumped at the chance.
I used my own cash from babysitting jobs and I used those silver dollars that Grandpa had given me throughout the years.
That car was the most ugly car – it was that two-tone army green color. It was an old Rambler. Not exactly what a high school graduate would be wanting to drive – huh?
But I loved that car……as much as I loved my Grandpa. I found a job as a secretary and drove that car every day to work.
I swear – there were times when I could see my Grandpa’s face in the rearview mirror – as if he was tagging along with me…..
Eventually after a few years, the car needed alot of TLC and I needed more dependable transportation. I was headed for college out of state, so I listed the car for sale in the local newspaper. One day when I was coming home from work, an older gentleman was in my parent’s driveway behind the wheel in my Grandpa’s car.
God……I had to take a double look…..the old gentleman looked and sounded just like my Grandpa. He was so happy to get a car just like that Rambler – one that he could use to get around town – nothing fancy, just something he could work on and enjoy.
Life brings you little surprises like that – huh? Although I hated to part with my Grandpa’s car – I felt better knowing that it went to this old man who was so much like my Grandpa. In a way, I think I sensed that car also felt like it was going to a good home.
Maybe I am too sentimental ?
Anyway – when I think of Christmas Day memories – my Grandpa and his silver dollars always comes to my mind. My husband asked me if I regretted using those silver dollars to buy Grandpa’s car (knowing now what those silver dollars would be worth) – I just shake my head and reply ‘NO’……because I got more than just a car that day – I got a piece of my Grandpa.
I still have the old leather keyring that Grandpa used…….that was one thing I did not give to that kindly old man that bought Grandpa’s car……..I kept that for myself.
.
What a lovely story! You’re not too sentimental, you’re full of loving memories and you shared! Thank you.
Yes, indy, thank you.
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/borowitzreport/2012/12/a-holiday-letter-from-john-boehner.html?mbid=nl_Borowitz%20%2861%29
Somewhat crude humor, but some scary truth therein contained.
Yes, scary truth. If it isn’t Eric Cantor it will be someone equally heinous.
Democrats didn’t go to the polls in 2010. The price for that apathy is very high.
Merry Christmas my friends.