Just a Woman

12.12.2005

New Site, New Address

Come check out the new Just A Woman website! And, remember to change the URL if you've either bookmarked it or linked it on your site! It is now http://justawoman.org

I'll see you there!

11.30.2005

New Website (Update)

As you know, this week I launched the new Just A Woman website. I'll still be working out some details. However, I'm posting there every day.

Please let me know if you're finding it okay. If you're having any problem at all, please let me know.

See you there!

11.29.2005

New Website!

I'm very happy to announce that Just A Woman, the website, is now live! There are a few minor graphics details that I'm working on. However, I hereby launch the new website.

justawoman.org will get you there. But, I will now only be posting on the new site!

See you there!

Lores
Just A Woman

11.16.2005

Undermining the Commander-in-Chief...again

Virtual treason.
Undermining the President.
Betrayal.

This is some of the language used to describe the events in the Senate yesterday. To keep it very simple, here's what happened. Senate Democrats began by proposing that the President unveil a timeline to get our troops out of Iraq. Here's what one Colorado talk show host had to say, "Today, Senate Democrats tried to force the US military to surrender to the terrorists next year..."

He may sound like an over-the-top talk show host. However, outlining a timetable for our troops to get out, for all to see, would have that very effect. All our new household names--from bin Laden to Zarqawi--would get to sit back, have a beer while watching their fans on Al Jazeera. Vacation would end the day that our men and women would leave Iraq. That simple.

Thankfully, that proposal was shot down by Senate Republicans (and a few Democrats, including 4 who are up for re-election in red states next year).

"Even so, the Senate's political statement was clear - and made even more stinging when the vote was held with Bush abroad, in Asia, an embarrassing step Congress often tries to avoid. With Democrats pressing their amendment calling for a calendar for withdrawal, Republicans worked to fend off a frontal attack by Democrats by calling on the White House to do more." (reports AP via My Way News)

The report goes on to say,
"The Senate then voted 79-19 in favor of a Republican alternative stating that 2006 'should be a period of significant transition to full Iraqi sovereignty,' with Iraqi forces taking the lead in providing security to create the conditions for the phased redeployment of U.S. forces."

"It does not require the administration to do anything. Rather, it simply calls for the Bush administration to 'explain to Congress and the American people its strategy for the successful completion of the mission in Iraq' and to provide reports on U.S. foreign policy and military operations in Iraq every three months until all U.S. combat brigades have been withdrawn."

While I am glad that they did the right thing for the nation to not vote for the timeline, I am very disappointed in the Senate's obvious political motives. If they were serious and had real conviction about this matter, why did they do this while the President was out of the country?! If I had real issues with my boss, I would request a meeting with him in his office. I would not wait for him to go out of town and then make a public statement to the rest of the staff and all our clients/customers/etc. This is what the Senate just did.

I understand that Congress already receives periodic reports on Iraq. If adjustments needed to be made, they should have taken it up directly with the man with whom they have the issue.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., admitted to some potential political motives for the proposal and for the support it received. "I think it speaks to a bit of nervousness about the public perception of how the war is going with respect to 2006."

If Republicans think that their behavior is going to do anything to gain votes next year, they're missing it big time. You do not have to agree with the President to be respectful to him. You don't have to throw him under the bus in order to win an election. I suppose that if they don't figure it out now, they will get it in, oh, maybe in about a year or so.

Let your Senator know what you think about their shananigans: 202/225-3121

11.15.2005

Tri-partisan Agreement?

As pundits and analysts attempt to decipher the purpose of the Senate Republican request for the President to unveil his plan to pull our troops from Iraq, Scrappleface seems to have figured it out.

Jordanians Shocked

Upon reading some initial reports to the terrorist activity in Jordan last week, I had the same reaction I have had about previous attacks. It's evil. It's wrong, vicious and far from "righteous" to commit such acts against humanity. I don't care what religious book the victims read or in what region of the world they live or what language they speak.

I also don't care how "holy" and "right" the murderers claim to be. It only pains me to see women and children dragged into the ranks of suicide bombers.

When I read that Jordanians were shocked, it didn't faze me. Of course, everyone is shocked. How devastating! This was their September 11! How could anyone, anywhere not be shocked anytime loved ones are ripped away, especially as innocent bystanders by such deceived, evil, wicked people.

However, the more I read, the more I'm seeing something my friend Wordsmith made reference to in his comments yesterday. As time has passed, what we're hearing is more about Jordanians being shocked that Al-Qaida would strike fellow Muslims. Dennis Prager deals very passionately with this issue today. What a shame.

What a terrible shame. Is human life not precious in every land, in every faith, in every language? Is the loss of human life not worthy of grief and compassion? Is it not the one connection, one hope for any understanding that transcends boundaries and cultures? It is obvious that the answer to my questions is "NO!." I guess I don't like to remember the pictures of Muslims cheering and rejoicing over our 9/11. I can hardly think about those scenes without getting choked up...as much for them as for us.

I wish I could say that I am shocked to hear people say that their expectation was that Muslims would be immune and that only Christians and Jews would be subject to Al-Qaida's wrath. I'm not. I am, however, grieved at the thought that anyone would celebrate death anywhere.

More on the Jordan bombings from Michelle Malkin.

11.14.2005

Five Questions

Listened to Dennis Prager this morning. He poses "Five Questions Non-Muslims Would Like Answered." A must read.

Medical Miracle?

Did you know?

By the end of 2004, an estimated 39.4 million people had HIV
4.9 million people were infected with HIV in 2004
3.1 million people died from Aids-related illness

A report in the UK's Independent reveals that 25-year-old Andrew Stimson tested positive for HIV in 2002. The following year, with no treatment or medical intervention, Stimson tested negative for HIV.

Researchers are asking whether it might be beneficial to investigate to find the key to a cure for AIDS within Stimson's immune system.

I believe that if there is a possibility to find a cure for people with AIDS, then we must do the research. Too many people are dying of this devastating disease. And, they aren't just homosexual men. They are babies in Africa; they are men and women; they are homosexual and heterosexual alike.

I visited South Africa about 2 years ago. Some friends ran a Christian group on the University of Cape Town campus. At the time, they had about 500 students who were part of the group. They informed us that one of their challenges was the number of deaths that occur among the group. Praying for the sick and attending funerals of those who'd died of this wretched disease played a significant part of their ministry on the campus. One out of every five people in South Africa dies of AIDS. It's not just those doing drugs and having illicit sex. We must seek a cure.

I feel compelled, however, to raise a critical point. One that I rarely hear brought up with this issue. In every discussion on heart disease, there's a note on prevention. In every report on obesity--even in ones revealing genetic connections--there is a mention of exercise and diet. However, it seems to be politically incorrect to say, "do not participate in activities that will put you at risk." That is, if you are having anal sex, stop. If you are shooting up, quit. If you're living a promiscuous lifestyle, change it.

We do people a disservice by telling them that they cannot change their behavior. We are not afraid to say it when it comes to food and exercise; but, we stay silent on matters of sexuality. If it's a life and death situation, we must speak up. (In reality, there are spiritual and emotional issues which also get ignored.) We cannot remain silent on issues that could save lives.

I do hope that the Stimson story will provide an important link for modern medicine. However, that will never take the place of prevention. So, if you are having anal sex, stop. If you are shooting up, quit. If you're living a promiscuous lifestyle, change it. Your life is worth more than that.

11.13.2005

Chronicles of Irony

The much anticipated release of The Chronicles of Narnia is less than one month away. The movie will tell the story of the CS Lewis classic, Chronicles of Narnia. The story is an allegory of the message and life of Jesus Christ. Aslan, the lion, eventually gives his life to save the life of a child (Edmund) and is later resurrected.

Ironically, in Florida just one week after Banned Books Week, during which schools celebrate books that have been previously banned, there is a call to remove Chronicles from the reading list in public schools. See the entire World Magazine article here.

The director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, Barry Lynn, said this: "This whole contest is just totally inappropriate because of the themes of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. It is simply a retelling of the story of Christ." (italics mine)

We want to teach our kids to have open minds, to think critically, to make their own choices. To be be tolerant, appreciate other people's differences. But, we dare not expose them to "the story of Christ." No, not that! Hmmmm... Thank goodness we are so open-minded and tolerant.

Gene Edward Veith writes in the World Magazine article that if we try to eliminate all that is Christian from our culture, we will have nothing left.

Too often, Americans have forgotten that it was Christians who risked their lives and the lives of their family members in order to create an culture to allow people freedom of expression and of religious choice. The people made mistakes, because they were human. We know about Salem. We know about the shame of slavery whose mark continues to stain the pages of our history.

However, there is no denying that what we find today is a war against the Judeo-Christian worldview. We hear little about the book Heather Has Two Mommies being read to elementary school children. Lynn doesn't appear to have a problem with students being encouraged to read Harry Potter. But, an allegory about Christ. God forbid...uh, well, maybe not God...