The State of Wisconsin's sons and daughters in the National Guards are headed to Iraq, in the largest deployment since World War II. They have been in training for this mission for 14 months.
MADISON, Wisc., , Feb. 20, 2009 – Citizens of Wisconsin gathered this week to send the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team off to Iraq with tears and smiles in the Wisconsin National Guard’s largest operational deployment since World War II.
Thousands of family members and more than a hundred civilian and military officials converged Feb. 17, 2009, at Dane County Veterans Memorial Coliseum to bid farewell to some 3,200 members of the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team on its way to service in Iraq.
“Not since World War II has so much been asked of our Soldiers,” said Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle. “Almost every Wisconsin county can name a student, a mother, father, son or daughter, who is part of the 32nd.”
The brigade is the direct descendant of the 32nd Division, which earned its “Red Arrow” patch by piercing every enemy line it faced in four World War I campaigns.
The division also logged 654 days of continuous combat in World War II, more than any other U.S. Army division in any war, and played a key role in capturing the enemy stronghold at Buna, Papua New Guinea, in early 1943.
After service at Fort Lewis, Wash., during the Berlin Crisis of 1961-62, the 32nd Division was deactivated and reorganized as the 32nd Separate Infantry Brigade.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, many of the brigade’s units and individuals have deployed for duty in Iraq or Afghanistan, to the extent that about half of the Soldiers deploying now are veterans of one or more recent combat deployments.
More than 14,000 members of the National Guard and Reserve have been called to active duty from Wisconsin communities since 9-11.
The brigade has trained intensively for its mission in Operation Iraqi Freedom, since it received the first alert order in late 2007.
“They have been training relentlessly for 14 months now as we mobilize under a new model that forces us to complete many training requirements prior to entering active status,” said Col. [...]
The Adjutant-General of Wisconsin, Brig-General Don Dunbar, spoke about the deployment of the famous 32nd Infantry Brigade, which many might resent.
"Many have said, ‘It’s not fair’ — And you know? It’s not fair. It’s never been fair. That’s what makes these Soldiers special.""
"Taking Chance stars Kevin Bacon as LtCol Michael Strobl, USMC, in the story of a fallen Marine's final journey home. The 2009 Sundance Film Festival Official Selection premieres Saturday, February 21 at 8pm - only on HBO."
I was really upset when some right-wing bloggers dared to question whether this photo was a staged shot of the Presidential couple, showing a lot of affectionate body language towards each other.
Guys, this below is real. THIS was phony. I mean, can't you tell?
The other fact which stuck out for a lot of bloggers, mostly male themselves, was that the men riding in the elevator with the First Couple looked like they wanted the lift to open up and swallow them whole.
Men are strange that way. They would gawp at a couple on a screen having hot sex, but the first sign of tender affection right in front of them, and they're all like "get me out of here".
Mind you, it wasn't always that way. Grandpapa and his generation seemed to enjoy watching a couple making out. Look at the guy with the cigarette and the Fairbanks 'tache.
70 years later, and you can still hear his silent, "awww".
...give the Obamas a break, okay? They genuinely love each other, and I don't know about you, but that's what I want in a President and his old lady, I mean!, First Lady.
EXTRA: Oh. Remember? Ouch.
IN THE COMMENTS:Chickenlittle says he's down with the Prez and Wifey being genuinely in love, but queries where on earth Mrs. Obama got that dress.
Well, Chicken, I don't know about the provenance of her ostrichy ball gown, but the one she wore to the Inauguration I think came from this.
As Ace put it, "Who shot the curtains?". Heh, right-wing bloggers rule.
The computer quit on me three times, then I left it running all day -- when I got back, it was still on. Whew. I may be able to compose that Movie Guide tonight, as my family and I will be staying in.
Incidentally, I went to Wal-Mart for the first (and very possibly, the last) time in my life. Yes, I know, I know. Miami's own Paris Hilton blogs before you...at least I knew they didn't sell walls there.
I want to, really really want to say I liked it. I love Country Music. I like diners. I even feel I could like NASCAR, if I started watching. In short, I like loads of blue-collar, just folks things. But Wal-Mart? Yeesh.
It actually made me want to stop shopping, and my darlings, that's not a good thing.
Not only does Pepito wish you a very blessed Christmas day, but so does your humble Sundries blogger. May today bring you peace and happiness, pausing to remember why today is special to so many of us around the world.
Ahh. Room Service. One of the pleasures of an extended hotel stay, especially one which falls during the most cherished of American holidays, Thanksgiving.
As I dig into my delicious turkey sandwich and scrumptious lamb soup this day, I want to wish the Sundries readership a very blessed holiday -- to you, and to all your families!
I'll be back soon, guys. Just recharging those batteries en famille. Hope you are doing the same.
As we give thanks for our blessings this day, though, please spare a prayer for those in other hotels today, who are in the grips of a terror few of us will ever know...
Believe it or not, I'm off to watch Changeling instead of staying at home and catching Senator McCain on Leno.
In many ways, I feel uninterested in his own election post-mortem, doubtlessly which he will make into some kind of joke to a pliant Leno. What is he going to say anyway? That he gave it his all or that he was up against a candidate for the ages?
Neither response would leave me satisfied. He ran a shambolic campaign, with a half-hearted attitude that a true Conservative would never have had versus an incomprehensibly compromised man.
To top it all, he never passed up the opportunity to chastise Republicans for sentiments he considered dishonourable, but sat by for a solid week whilst the lady who prevented his ticket to have been SLAUGHTERED (we're talking 10-15 million votes against, instead of 8 million), to be criticised wholesale by some anonymous campaign flunky.
I still believe he's a good man, a great American hero, but as a politician, I am so over John McCain.
I don't want to spoil the film for you, so I'll use vague terms to describe this, but I thought the 'baddie' was far more effective and a much better actor than, as an example, "There Will Be Blood"'s 'baddie' (the preacherman, played by Paul Dano). It's difficult to get the mannerisms of the age to reflect a demented pathology, and Jason Butler Harner reminded one of a sociopathic Dick York. Angelina's lips continue to irritate though.
I have pondered the effects of the recent Presidential results in more ways than I can describe here on Sundries.
You cannot imagine how torn I am between being desperately unhappy at the result, and surprisingly happy that we've turned some kind of page in our country's history. I've read the majority of conservative bloggers express similar sentiments, so I know I am not alone.
But Barack Obama's historic election as the first African-American president was never brought closer to home than when I saw Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, enthuse over the win.
She pledged that the transition would go as smoothly as possible, not only because it is the President's own wish (something few journalists have given him credit for...as ever), but because she PERSONALLY wants to make it so.
I love Condi. I think most readers here know that.
I continue to love her despite sometimes being disappointed by her skills -- especially given her forté, Eastern European/Russian studies. One of the serious problems the Bush Administration has left for the next ones is a rampant Russia again; their championship of Vladimir Putin was so obviously wrong. Not wrong in retrospect, but I felt that way in real-time.
I get the sense that much of what she has done, though, will not be known or appreciated fully for many decades, so I give her the benefit of the doubt.
There I was, listening to her talking about this transition.
"One of the great things about representing this country is that it continues...to...SURPRISE."
The way she belted out that last word, "surprise", was so pregnant with joy, gratefulness and no small amount of pride, that a little thought crossed my mind:
Do you think that Condi voted for Obama/Biden because of the historic nature of that ticket's candidacy? Or was she a loyal Republican, and voted for McCain-Palin, but nevertheless was genuinely happy when Obama became the first black President?
(Remember that Condi was once a registered Democrat, though her father was a Republican since the 50s. She changed after Jimmy Carter's disastrous foreign policies made it untenable for her to continue being one -- ironic, no?)
Maybe it's because I am white, and British, that in many ways I am left motherless by this win.
I simply do not take race into account in politics (and in very little else in life), as I also don't take gender into account either. It's the way I was raised by my parents, to believe that race is a non-issue and that character is paramount, just like Dr. King said. Finally, I was born to a nation which had had several women rulers before, and a few years after my birth, we had a woman Prime Minister.
As Wesley Snipes said in White Men Can't Jump, it ain't no thing.
But to women like Condi Rice, from Alabama, whose neighbourhood church was bombed in 1963, and who knew at least one little girl killed in it, these kinds of assurances I was born into did not exist.
Sometimes, you just don't feel you belong until you see someone exactly like you, at the pinnacle of power.
Again, I am not hardwired to think this way, but if one of the consequences of Barack Obama's win is that a woman as accomplished as Condoleezza Rice feels joyful at the news, there has got to be something in it.
There is no other way of putting it. Election Night 2008 was one of the worst nights of my life.
I'm not talking just of the psychological toll the near-certain win by Senators Obama and Biden, as polls closed and the results crept by, including the State I had gone on record saying would remain Red, my own -- Florida.
But perhaps somewhat prophetically, my body started collapsing.
At 5 PM, I knew something was terribly wrong. By 6 PM, I was running a high fever. By 8 PM, my throat was aflame.
By 9 PM (when it was almost certain McCain-Palin would lose), my body started shutting down; telling it to sleep and conserve its energies, so I did. I slept for a while, but woke up to post what I did on Althouse, and to post the four lowly little posts on Sundries.
I didn't want to leave you guys, who mean so much to me, without einen Punkt setzen.
Then I turned off every means of communication I had on me, from mobiles, internet, television, Kindle, everything and slept. I woke up at 4 AM covered in perspiration -- I touched the sheets, and it was like a swimming pool. I changed sheets, took a shower (which horrified my mother, raised in the deathly cold of more northern climes), and slept a further 12 hours after that.
All day Wednesday, I slept. I only woke up for the troika of O'Reilly-H&C-Greta (more about that later) and promptly turned everything off again.
Only a few hours ago did I wake up, slightly improved but still coughing and hoarse. If you were to talk to me, it would be like hearing a rather damped version of Harvey Fierstein.
Here I am, though. Fired up, and ready to take on all comers. My own life has been characterised by winning rather than losing. I have God to thank for that, my parents, but also my own resolve.
Life likes winners.
When Life gives me lemons, I don't make lemonade, I throw a parade. Balloons, band, clowns, the works. This blog has been the equivalent of me throwing a parade every day for the past two months. Maybe the frequency might be dimmed in the coming months, but never the intensity.
Above all I want to say this:
Let no American reading this feel down in the mouth should you feel forlorn today politically. The one good thing about this election, regardless of result, is that it allowed certain "Republicans" to be smoked out for the elitist, dismissive, vindictive human trash that they are.
Those of us who had to endure that, will never forget what they said.
Never mind the Democrats and their allies in media -- they are the opposition, and to think they would be kindly or even fair towards anyone who posed a threat to getting back power is childish.
We need to reinvent the wheel on the Republican side, having lost sight of what we feel is important:
- Small, capable government - National security - Decreased taxation - Accountability and responsibility - American values of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
Whoever comes closest to promoting these in their political careers in 2012 will have my support. The next four years of our lives will be wonderful. It always is when you have a GOAL.
So, are you ready to turn the page on history, Sundries readers?
I have toyed with Sundries' readers long enough. Here is the much ballyhooed blogpost on the two McCain Rallies!
The first was held on October 17, whilst the second was overnight on November 2/3 -- both were held in two similar but in many ways, very different venues. The October one was at Florida International University's basketball arena. The November one, at the University of Miami's Bank United Centre. The latter was the scene of Senator Obama's rally, which of course, I also attended.
Ladies and gentlemen, I had never before attended an US political rally in my life until 2008.
I had never contributed to a political campaign in my life until 2008.
I had never covered, obsessed over, become depressed and elated by a political campaign in my life until this one in 2008. It seemed my experiences were shared by so many of my fellow Americans, many of whom were so kind as to share these on my blog.
Having said that, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you very humbly for your presence here. I hope that I brought you a measure of comfort, some chuckles, and perhaps even a little basic decency between ideological foes.
Remember, you are not a Republican or a Democrat when you enter the voting booth -- you are an American. And you're an American too, when you leave it.
AND THE WINNER IS...
2004 was amazing, and I'm sure those of you who remember 1972, there are shades of that one today. But I think you will agree: 2008 was a Presidential election year unlike the United States has ever seen. I can't believe that today it is finally over.
Have no fear of an electoral college tie, 269-269. Not going to happen. It's going to be a landslide either way, but for those of you out there who share my politics, know this:
They don't call us the Silent Majority for nothing.
If you haven't, go out and vote NOW. John McCain gave 5 and 1/2 years of his life for his country, and you're telling me you can't spare him and America a few hours of your own?
COUNTRY FIRST
Let me also say this. I may not always have been a great admirer of the Republican nominee's politics, but I love John McCain's campaign slogan.
Whenever I put on my "Country First" t-shirt, and drive around this city, I get thumbs up, happy grins, and a demonstrably patriotic reaction from all concerned. More than one person has approached me to ask me where I bought it (on eBay).
This simple slogan, with its elegant colours and lone star of fighting defiance, pierces the heart of many Americans, some of whom are not even Republicans.
I know. They've told me. Some have even shown me.
Hope? Change? Well, if you like amorphous ideas which have nothing to do with this land, but all to do with ideology, maybe you like that.
But me, I like my country...first.
MCCAIN HEADQUARTERS
It is with this feeling of spilling patriotism that I attended the first rally. Sarah Silverman spoke of the Great Schlepp to Florida in 2008. Well, baby, I made a great schlepp of my own to the heart of McCain's Westchester headquarters, just to get those tickets.
Wow, if I had ever been to that part of Miami, the memory mercifully eludes me.
You have to realise that this is the primary McCain office in Miami. There are others, but this is the biggie. I don't know what I was expecting, but "seedy" and "rundown" were not amongst them. Well do I remember the Bush HQs in 2000/2004 -- centrally located on Coral Way near Little Havana, and beautifully decorated inside. What a difference a nice campaign kitty makes, eh?
I gulped hard at the faded paint on the handrails, and entered. There were no tickets for walk-ins since they had not arrived from the printer's until late in the day (!). But I wrangled two of them anyway.
Hey, I know how to speak to Cubans to get my way when I have to. I count this as a minor miracle, since that was the day after McCain's famous Joe the Plumber debate and two days before Sarah Palin's famous appearance on SNL.
Republicans in Miami were at a fever pitch that week. There was not a ticket to be had in the joint!
ON MY WAY
I had two thoughts when I saw this filling station nearby FIU. It reminded me of Reverend Wright's infamous "AmeriKKKA", but also, I thought what a good omen. Incidentally, forget these prices at this cut-rate generic station. I bought Premium at a Chevron for $2.75 last night. Man, it's like Christmas!
Obviously, Obama protesters had to grace our rally with their presence. But this being Florida, and not hard Left detritus stinkholes like Frisco, we were all laid back about it.
They shouted their inane little slogans at us ("What's wrong with free health care?!" "Down with McBush!" "The US should be like Canada!"), and we shouted our patriotic comebacks ("If you love Canada so much, why don't you move there!", "Nobama!" and this one was mine, "Go drink your Kool-Aid!". I was proud).
It was a knitting circle compared to Berkeley.
The queues were enormous.
Turns out, over 10,000 people made it into that teency arena. Another goof by the campaign.
But when one got inside, you knew you had made it home. America Reagan Country. Absopalinlutely.
Our bitter foes in 2008: Mainstream media turned out to cover the event. Boooo!
You have to understand. This was the FIRST Miami Rally since Palin had come on board, and if you were claustrophic, you were SOL. I was at a prime location up top, about 100 feet away from the podium.
This was at the height of Joe The Plumber Mania. Each sign was a belt 'round the mush to Obama.
Joe Knows Socialism! Joe Can Smell it! Joe Plunges Obama!
(Hehe)
We had many speakers that day. In fact, all of Republican Florida seemed to be there, with the exception of legendary Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Other than her, we had current Governor Charlie Crist, Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Senator Mel Martinez, even ex-Governor Jeb Bush (yay).
But the one who rocked the hardest, and literally got on all fours on the podium and made a push up (to illustrate some point about Palin!) was Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, Lincoln's little bro. He was also the only one who I heard clearly, since the FIU speakers were a JOKE. I mean, we all know the Golden Panthers are an also-ran to the University of Miami, but come on now.
(A little gratuitous 'Cane-to-FIU bashing, don't mind me)
After all the speeches, a beautiful prayer by a lady (a surprising touch), a Youth Colour Guard came on and we all sang the National Anthem. I will spare you the misfortune of hearing me rasp out these stirring lyrics, but here is how the crowd sounded after we finished.
Yes, if you pay attention, that is me crying out John McCain! John McCain! John McCain! ...but deep inside, I was also bellowing "Sarah Palin! Sarah Palin! Sarah Palin!". You betcha.
We had arrived at 10. Doors opened at 11, and by 2 PM we were all pooped out. Just when our patience had reached its summit, the lights were lowered and on came...JOHN MCCAIN! And Cindy! And perennial "nice guys finish last", Senator Joe Lieberman.
And yes, that is me going "Yayyyy!". Smack me, I'm British. There are limits to my effusiveness.
Outside, apart from the "Blacks Against Obama" group I have already shown you, the usual gaggle of reporters were awaiting the crowd for their reactions. These ladies were being interviewed by local news, and you can see what their platform of support was.
You can tell they're Catholic Pro-Lifers too, since who else but we would carry around a solid gold chaplet?
EARLY VOTING
I tried to vote at least once before Sunday.
Coral Gables Library had a 3 hour wait time according to the Miami-Dade Elections site, so I scooted out of there. Turns out, I would've traded anything to have only stood in line for 3 hours. After all was said and done, I waited 6 hours to vote on Sunday (last day of Early Voting). This is how it looked at 9 PM. It had been utter bedlam at 3 PM.
4.3 million Floridians have voted early, but we have an electorate of 11.2 million. I can ONLY imagine the chaos today at polling stations. Thank God I voted early. *shiver*
UM RALLY
My long day on Sunday wasn't over. After a quick din-din late at night, I decided to get on out to the McCain rally at UM, after all, which had started at 7:30 PM. I didn't know what to expect, but I had my tickets ready just in case it was still going on.
There were two Univ of Miami guards blocking direct access, who dismissed my pleas to enter. "It's packed, no more room". But I sweet-talked my way into the carpack area anyway. I not only have a way around Cubans, but African-Americans too, it seems.
(Incidentally, I believe they acted in bad faith. I heard them mocking McCain supporters when we were filing out of the rally, talking about Obama this and that. If I weren't as strong-willed as I am, and had taken them at their word, I would've gone home and this blogpost area would be empty. Ah well, there are idiots everywhere)
I enter, and what do I see immediately in front of my seat...Marielitos 4 McCain! I almost doubled up laughing.
Marielitos were Cubans who left en masse from Mariel harbour in Havana, when Castro opened the floodgates in 1980. Every shrimping boat, kayak, and flotation device in Miami was shanghaied to bring relatives over during this free-for-all. Those of you who saw "Scarface" remember that Tony Montana was one of these Marielitos.
Say hello to my little friend, Albita!
She was awesome. She started singing at 11 PM, and wasn't done until 12:30 AM. On and on, she kept the crowd going with her songs, in what I presume was a delay tactic because McCain's plane hadn't landed in Miami yet.
Albita is a folkloric singer whose parents were famous back in Cuba. In the early 1990s, she escaped her Cuban handlers during a foreign tour, and defected to the United States. She is, I believe, the only openly lesbian Hispanic singer out there (unless Ricky Martin has come out and I didn't hear about it. And yes, I did just call Ricky Martin a lesbian).
Me, I could give two hoots how she rolls.
She's got an amazing voice, and just the fact that unlike so many recording artists, including may I say, the somewhat disappointing Gloria Estefan (who is thought to be more liberal), she hasn't forgotten which Party have been the champions of Cuban rights all these years -- the Republican Party.
Now, I don't know her song titles worth a darn, but she's singing, "Alza tu bandera...La Patria Primero!" (Raise up your flag...Country First!). They gave her a Cuban flag, but then she wrapped herself with the US flag.
She continued singing, interspersing her songs with the chant of "McCain!", whilst the crowd literally danced with impeccable rhythm in the aisles. Meanwhile, I sat down firmly on my tush, because I have three left feet. I hate being a gringa sometimes.
She wasn't done.
With that infallible logic of stripping away the BS from life which all Cubans have, she made a stunningly simple point in Spanish. Not only did America give her to the right to live freely (read, which her own country sadly did not in its present form) but America allowed her to "practise her culture".
That's so true, and it's odd that I never thought of it quite that way. I include it here even for those who don't speak Spanish, as a testament to her character. You go Albita!
As her cameo stage appearance started to become a full-fledged concert due to the delay, the crowd were entertained by the sight of these "guajiro Cubanos" (country folk, i.e. Cuban rednecks) with their traditional national costume.
I could also further explain "la chambelona" to my American readers, but I think I'll stop for the Cubans who are currently laughing as they read this. Yo los conozco!
But finally, the Mac was not only back, but he brought Meghan, Cindy, and Kelsey Grammer with him too! Follow the red arrow.
Remember that CNN story I linked to, yesterday? Only 1,000 people showed up for him in Tampa, they wrote? Notice how they didn't say one word about the over 12,000 people in the Bank United Centre who waited until the dead of night at 12:30 AM to see him -- and then brought down the house when he was introduced.
Yeah, funny that.
We were still cheering with all our voices when he gave that rousing, barnburning ending of "Stand Up! Stand Up! Fight with me! Nothing is inevitable here! Never give up! We are going to win! This is America and its worth fighting for!".
MY HOME 'TIS OF THEE
No one can truly do justice to what they see and hear with their own eyes and ears. But if I have allowed you a peek into my world during the heady days of the Presidential Campaign of 2008, down here in South Florida, I think I have done my job as a writer.
I want to say one more thing before I close this enormously long blogpost.
Here I am, just one of millions of immigrants who have come to your shores, and found that America has given me more than a home -- it's given me a purpose.
I love this country from the bottom of my heart. And I love it too much, too desperately much to see it distorted. As long as I have breath in my body, I will fight for this country with all the tools I have in my arsenal. I think all real Americans would do the same.
So when you enter the booth on election day, ask yourself this question:
Which of the two candidates of the major Parties listed in front of you, has the same kind of love old Vic over at Sundries has for America?
I think you will find, there is only one answer. Vote McCain as if America depended on it...because, it does.
What will happen on Tuesday, November 4, 2008? Well, I am almost sure that we will have:
But always remember:
UPDATE: Wow! Just went for a drive-by to my regular polling station. No WAITING! It's about a 10-15 minute-wait to vote. Good God. In a way, this makes me happy because the Beach is overwhelmingly liberal. The ones who had to vote, early voted alongside me. The others, probably went real early. In 2004, at no point did my polling station have any kind of lull. NONE. It was packed until 6 PM, solid. Only in the last hour until 7 PM, did we have any kind of slowdown.
We'll see. Remember people. Do not look at exit polls, or pay much attention to results until 9 PM. The networks won't call Pennsylvania for McCain, until the bitter end.
Stay focused! That goes double for me. I'm going to take a nap until 6 PM.
UPDATE: The hottest woman politician in American history voted today, in Wasilla City Hall. She had arrived by jet with Todd Palin, at (get this) Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage. TED STEVENS! That's what these Alaskans were up against all these years with that man. They are well rid of him.
Incidentally, the UPI couldn't resist even the tiniest little dig against her in their headline.
You know, I'm really thinkin' she voted for Cynthia McKinney all the way.
UPDATE: POLLS CLOSED IN SOUTH FLORIDA AT 7 PM. They will begin posting the results at 7:15 at the Miami-Dade Elections site.
I mention our underreported Florida state constitutional amendment which deals with same-sex marriage. That always brings us the social conservatives of each State, hence my rather upbeat tone about Florida.
This is a yard sign photo I took in Coral Gables. It reflects my own vote.
I'm just about to turn in for the night, when I decided to take a look around the Blogosphere for a blogpost nightcap for the readership.
That's when I found this touching clip via MSNBC (shockingly enough, although please note it's a Brian Williams NBC newscast segment). It's a report showing the effects Governor Palin has on children and parents of those with Down Syndrome.
You have seen Sarah Palin at her Barracuda feistiest during all 6 of these weeks. But have you ever seen her visibly choke up?
My single greatest fear was having a child with educational challenges. Physical challenges? No problems. It's the mind that I worried about.
I wouldn't love him or her any less, I have no doubt. But in such a high-powered family as mine, where there are graduate degrees dripping from both branches like maple syrup, my parent's expectations of me were based on being the brightest kid in my class, bar none. I can say with as much humility as I can muster when patting myself on the back so visibly..., that I know I never failed them in this respect.
But I also know that life often has ironies in store for people who so emphasise aspects of it. E.g.: If you're a racist, you can be sure that someone in your family will marry into the race you hate. It's Fate's little joke on you, and you know what? Maybe you deserve it for your attitude.
So I worry, especially as I get older. Will I be able to possibly face the challenges of a child with Down Syndrome? Will I be strong, and stick to my religious beliefs to carry the child to term?
When I was attending the 11th grade here in America, my school expected all juniors to volunteer as part of their after-school activities. You didn't have to, unlike Senator Obama's proposals for future youth "volunteerism", but I decided to anyway. I spent some time at the Lighthouse for the Blind, and I also helped out in an adult Down Syndrome facility.
I learnt that people with these disabilities are exactly the same as all other human beings. They can be sneaky, mean, disagreeable as well as utterly loving, honest, and gracious.
But, I confess again, still I worried.
Enter Governor Palin.
When she came unto the scene, I was, of course, elated. A heroine for my time. Someone who walked that proverbial walk so many people find difficult to reconcile simply because they are human, and sometimes get scared. They're not bad. They're just fragile. Could I be one of them?
But when she showed the world Trig Palin in her arms, I found myself re-examining my thoughts on the matter.
Yes, it's true.
The simple act of carrying her son in her arms that week of August 29th, allowed me to enter into an introspective dialogue within myself. That's when I realised that (a) I'll cross that bridge if and when I come to it (b) my child will be precious to me no matter what.
A child isn't a convenience that you can discard at will, especially because it "fails" our standards of perfection in some way.
This is 2008, not 1008.
We've advanced sufficiently so that every human being can realise its potential...especially if they have an intelligent parent who can help their child to do so.
That's when I realised that God put this ex-Headgirl on this earth not to worry if her child will not be an academic go-getter, but that He gave her those brain cells to USE them to come up with solutions.
My fancy educational degree is of no use to anyone, if its bearer is a narrow-minded, dismissive human being who just cares about her ego and what people will think of her children.
So you know, come what may, God willing I will use the brains God gave me, and open my heart to any of life's circumstances.
If nothing else, this is one of Governor Palin's gifts to me personally.
As you might know, my personal situation has been fraught with health difficulties at home. I have been neglecting this side of my life for over a month. So I am going to step back for a while, to get my house in order, quite literally.
Don't think I will leave Sundries in the lurch; but I will not be blogging as profusely as I have in the past. Rest assured I am confident of the future, both personally and in other aspects too. Sometimes, though, you have to know where your priorities lie.
I am already composing Saturday's posts, so please check back a bit later for them!
Thank you so much to all for your continued understanding.
I don't know if this election will turn out well for you and Senator McCain, mostly due to his campaign's tactics, but it's been inspiring to see you bound up those platforms, and give those speeches.
You transmit an unadulterated joy at being Sarah Palin, which transforms itself into a throat-catching love of being American. This country needs an Army of Sarahs to make it well again.
What a shame that so many people take you for granted and refuse to see the starburst before them.
Never mind. Tomorrow is another day, and if you haven't given up, why should we?
Governor Palin met with mothers of active service personnel this Sunday, at a Philadelphia "gourmet" food shop.
Here are some photos from the touching meeting of these Blue Star moms. Hope that Hater below chokes on them.
Governor Palin enters the establishment, and is promptly greeted by either a small man "in transition" or I just insulted a poor woman from Philly. Sorry...
Crikey, I have that exact Nike tracksuit! It looks 3x better on her that it does on me, though. Also, I notice that Willow is shorter than even I remembered her to be. At 14, she might be on the verge of a growth spurt.
Incidentally, I also have a similar North Face jacket. Unlike Willow, I live in Florida, not Alaska like she does, and am just a poseur.
You think Tom Ridge, Mitt Romney or Tim Pawlenty would get these types of gratuitously enchanted smiles? The hell you say.
Every time I look at photos of Palin mixing it up with the public, I know her nomination was precisely the right choice.
Sidenote to Team McCain: LET THE BARRACUDA LOOSE! She'll knock those Dems dead.
It's not mentioned what she was having to drink, but she has an addiction to skinny white chocolate lattes.
Palin listening closely as she inspects some photos of their children, brought for her to view.
Palin with the Blue Star moms: Nancy Harding, Julie Devitt, and Lee Anthony. Thanks for your children's service, ladies.
UPDATE:More info on the visit. The gourmet place is apparently, Di Bruni Bros, a well-known stop in Philadelphia. And hey, she did indeed have that skinny white choc mocha!
Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin met Sunday with a group of military mothers at a downtown eatery, the third day of a swing through this Democratic stronghold.
The Alaska governor, along with her 14-year-old daughter, Willow, spent about 45 minutes sipping a skinny white chocolate mocha and talking privately with four women whose children are serving in the military overseas.
Palin's son, Track, 19, is deploying for service in Iraq.
As they sat at a table at Di Bruno Bros. gourmet food shop, one of the women, Julie Devitt, got a call from her son, Glen, who deployed to Iraq with the Army in December. She handed the phone to Palin, who spoke with the sergeant briefly.
Reporters were kept at a distance during the visit, although Palin answered one question about the $700 billion agreement reached in Congress and the administration early Sunday to bail out the financial industry. [...]
I recently asked Sundries readers to vote in a poll. Should I live-comment during the Biden-Palin debate, or should I attend a debate party off-blog?
It's evenly drawn at 5 Yes, 5 No, with 2 qualified Yes votes. The poll is officially closed, and this is my decision:
I'm staying in and live-commenting on Althouse on Thursday. I think Ruth Anne's kind words on the topic are the ones which swayed me the most:
Having you in the live-blog thread at Althouse is what makes it fun. It's like we're in our jammies, sharing pedicures, having pillow-fights and staying up watching politics. I would miss you if you weren't on that thread. PLUS: Your unadulterated Sarah-rah-rah helps me keep my happies up.
You know, I feel so much the same way, that I am getting a lump in my throat just thinking about it. Aww mush.
Anyway, it'll be fun! Thanks for the votes, peeps.
Can you imagine how it must be to be the parent of someone just nominated for the US Presidency, or Vice-Presidency? The feeling of pride must be absolutely overwhelming -- this knowledge of having done something uncontestably right in raising your kid.
This is how Chuck and Sally Heath greeted the announcement of their daughter, Sarah, being tapped as the Republican running-mate of John McCain.
And not to be left out, Roberta McCain, 96, crying her eyes out during her son's speech at the RNC.
