Two Powerful Poems I recently came across these two poems at opposite ends of the country. One was used as a prayer at a conference of the National Abortion Federation, addressing the child to be aborted. (I heard it on a tape.) The other was written by a pro-life activist, also addressing a child in danger of abortion. One is the perfect reverse of the other. --Fr. Frank Pavone Come Forth Copyright: December, 1979 By: RoseMarie Come, pass this way, unseen one Come, walk through the shadows of life I invite you, want you, need you Do not drop back into the unknown void. Come forward into the bright Sunshine, feel the softness of the snow, See the vivid brightness of the stars. Run over the warm hot sands Of time, with pink chubby toes, Reach out cherub arms, innocent Hands to catch butterflies, fish, Worms, puppies, whatever pleases your heart. Grow in happiness, love, agony, despair Let life be kind or cruel, it matters not. Just come forth, there is love, Delight waiting, watching,
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St. Peter Chrysologus, Doctor of the Church 406 - 450 He was born and died in Imola in northern Italy. Peter had a short life, but it was full of accomplishments. An adult convert, he later became a Deacon, then a Priest, and finally the Bishop of Ravenna in 433. He fought paganism and the Monophysite heresy , enforced reforms, and built several churches and ornate altars in his see. As a Preacher gifted with well- developed language skills, he was given given the name Chrysologus, referring to his "golden word". Known as The Doctor of Homilies, Peter was known for his short but inspired speeches; he is said to have been afraid of boring his audience. 176 of his homilies have survived; it is the strength of these beautiful explanations of the Incarnation, the Creed, the place of the Blessed Virgin Mary and John the Baptist in the great plan of salvation that led to his being proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1729 by Pope Benedict XIII. Peter believed in frequent reception
Catholic Pro-lifer Writes New Song: Free Speech Gone Wrong Dr. Bruce L. Thiessen, aka, Dr. B.L.T., a Catholic magazine writer and conservative singer/songwriter/psychologist, outraged by the display of Pearcy's Anti-American "art" at the Department of Justice in Sacramento has written and recorded a retort in the form of a song called Free Speech Gone Wrong (The Pearcy Protest Song). The song (music co-written with Darryl Ens) is being released on Right-wing Records, Dr. BLT's own independent label. Dr. BLT has openly debated Pearcy in the past regarding the Pledge of Allegiance with reference to the "…one nation under God…" phrase, and this debate was published in Inside the City , a Sacramento newspaper. Listen to Free Speech Gone Wrong (The Pearcy Protest Song) by Dr. BLT and Darryl Ens ©2005 for free at this link http://www.drblt.com/music/GoneWrong.mp3 .
Joke for the Day Sister Mary, who worked for a home health agency, was out making her rounds visiting homebound patients when she ran out of gas. As luck would have it a gas station was just a block away. She walked to the station to borrow a gas can and buy some gas. The attendant told her the only gas can he owned had been loaned out but she could wait until it was returned. Since the nun was on the way to see a patient, she decided not to wait and walked back to her car. She looked for something in her car that she could fill with gas and spotted the bedpan she was taking to the patient. Always resourceful she carried the bedpan to the station, filled it with gas, and carried the full bedpan back to her car. As she was pouring the gas into her tank two men watched from across the street. One of them turned to the other and said, "If it starts, I'm turning Catholic.''
St. Martha, Virgin +84 Martha was the sister of Mary of Bethany and Lazarus. Saint John tells us that Jesus loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus (John 11:5). Apparently Jesus was a frequent guest at Martha's home in Bethany, a small village two miles from Jerusalem. We read of three visits in Luke 10:38-42, John 11:1-53, and John 12:1-9. Many of us find it easy to identify with Martha in the story Luke tells. Martha welcomes Jesus and his disciples into her home and immediately goes to work to serve them. Hospitality is paramount in the Middle East and Martha believed in its importance. Imagine her frustration when her sister Mary ignores the rule of hospitality and Martha's work in order to sit and listen to Jesus. Instead of speaking to her sister, she asks Jesus to intervene. Jesus' response is not unkind, which gives us an idea of his affection for her. He observes that Martha is worried about many things that distract her from really being present to him. He reminds her
Joke of the Day A pastor went out one Saturday to visit his church members. At one house it was obvious that someone was home, but nobody came to the door even though the pastor had knocked several times. Finally, the pastor took out his card and wrote "Revelations 3:20" on the back of it, and stuck it in the door. {Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and him with me.} The next day, the card turned up in the collection plate. Below the pastor's message was the notation "Genesis 3:10". {I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.}
Supreme Court Action Alert Since August recess is near, please call your senators in both their district and Washington, D.C. offices. Please encourage them to quickly confirm this qualified nominee. Below is a list of senators who could possibly prevent Judge Roberts' confirmation. We must flood their district offices with pro-Roberts calls on Thursday! Thank you for taking action. For Washington, D.C., offices, call the Capitol Switchboard 202-225-3121. District numbers: ARKANSAS: Sen. Blanche Lincoln Little Rock: 501-375-2993 Fort Smith: 479-782-9215 Texarkana: 870-774-3106 Jonesboro: 870-910-6896 Sen. Mark Pryor Little Rock: 501-324-6336 CALIFORNIA: Sen. Dianne Feinstein San Francisco: 415-393-0707 Fresno: 559-485-7430 Los Angeles: 310-914-7300 San Diego: 619-231-9712 Sen. Barbara Boxer: San Francisco: 415-403-0100 Los Angeles: 213-894-5000 San Diego: 619-239-3884 Fresno: 559-497-5109 San Bernardino: 909-888-8525 Sacramento: 916-448-2787 COLORADO: Sen. Ken Salazar Den
Joke of the Day A Jesuit, a Dominican, and a Trappist were marooned on a desert island. They found a magic lamp, and after some discussion decided to rub it. Lo and behold, a genie appeared and offered them three wishes. They decided it was only fair that they could each have one wish. The Jesuit said he wanted to teach at the world's most famous university, and poof, he was gone! The Dominican wished to preach in the world's largest church, and poof, he was gone! Then the Trappist said, "Gee, I already got my wish!"
Pilgrims flock to see 'moving' Virgin Thousands of pilgrims have flocked to the Church of St. Peter in Acerra, Italy to view a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary come to life. Witnesses reported the statue’s movement initially began with a leg and a vest and later entailed the ears and the face, which appeared as flesh. Others reported seeing a bright light. The testimony has yet to be evaluated by the Bishop and is far from being confirmed by the Catholic Church as an authentic apparition, but if it is true, I have questions. Why would the Blessed Virgin appear in this particular community? Why does she appear in the form of a statue and say nothing? What is the message she is trying to convey? Is she attempting to convince a people who are weak in their faith that she is real and not merely a historical figure? Don’t get me wrong – I think apparitions are beautiful and are God’s way of strengthening man’s faith, but it makes me sad that people flock to these apparitions,
The Supreme Test of Faith Once again the specter of religious bigotry rears its ugly head into the judicial confirmation process. Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, reported in an op- ed that Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) asked Judge John Roberts last week "what he would do if the law required a ruling that his church considers immoral?" The revelation of Senator Durbin's query comes on the heels of his weekend performance on "Meet the Press" where he said that a pro-life stance would "disqualify" Judge Roberts from serving on the Supreme Court. Though Judge Roberts is described as a practicing Catholic, Senator Durbin's litmus test would exclude any person of orthodox religious beliefs whether Christian, Jew, or Muslim. Repeatedly, judicial nominees have been blocked for 'deeply held beliefs' on moral issues. Senator Durbin's questioning is clearly an attempt to place Judge Roberts in the position of choosin
Roe Education Plan Announced in Light of Supreme Court Battle Washington, DC --Fr. Frank Pavonne, National Director of Priests for Life, announced that his organization will launch a two-month educational campaign to bring Americans to a deeper understanding of how extreme the Roe vs. Wade decision is, and how out of step it is with the American people. The campaign is meant to counteract the view that opposition to Roe is extreme -- a view that will be assumed in many discussions during the Supreme Court confirmation battles. "Roe vs. Wade legalized abortion nationwide throughout all nine months of pregnancy. Most Americans don't know that and most Americans oppose that policy."
Feast of St. Anne & St. Joachim Today is the feast day of St. Anne and St. Joachim, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the grandparents of Jesus. Joachim and Anne were a rich and pious couple who found themselves childless. They viewed their infertility as a curse -- a punishment from God. Anne cried out to God for mercy, asking that this curse be removed. She and Joseph both desired to have a child and they promised to dedicate their first born to the service of God. An angel appeared to Anne and told her, "The Lord has looked upon thy tears; thou shalt conceive and give birth and the fruit of thy womb shall be blessed by all the world". Joachim also received the same message from the angel. Anne gave birth to a daughter who she called Miriam (Mary). St. Anne is the patron saint of the province of Quebec, where the well-known shrine of St. Anne de Beaupré is located. St. Anne is patroness of women in labor and those who have difficulty conceiving; she is represen
Feast of St. James, the Greater Apostle He was the brother of St John and, like him, a fisherman. He was one of the witnesses of the Transfiguration and one of those who slept through most of the Agony in the Garden. He was the first of the apostles to be martyred, being beheaded by King Herod Agrippa I to please the Jewish opponents of Christianity. He was buried in Jerusalem, and nothing more is known about him until the ninth century. At this time we learn of a tradition that the relics of St James were brought to Spain some time after his martyrdom, (perhaps early, perhaps as late as 830), and his shrine at Compostela in Galicia grew in importance until it became the greatest pilgrimage center in western Europe. In every country there are churches of St James and known, well-trodden pilgrim routes. In Paris, the Tour St Jacques marks the start of the route and the Rue St Jacques points straight towards Compostela. In England, pilgrim routes lead from all parts of the country to the
A Vacation in Paradise Praise the Lord! What a beautiful vacation He blessed me with this past week! Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is truly God’s country with its beautiful waterfalls and lakes, abundant trees and wildlife and white sand beaches. This was my first trip there and will definitely not be my last. God literally sent me to Paradise located in the northern part of the U.P. close to Canada. In honor of this special visit, I have created 10 Signs that you are in the U.P. Ten Signs that you are in the U.P. You just might be in the U.P. if… 1. Every motel, forest, park, and utility company is named Hiawatha. 2. You are never more than five miles away from a lake, lighthouse or waterfall. 3. Snowmobile signs abound. 4. You find yourself consuming Mackinac Island Fudge or Moose Tracks ice cream. 5. Every highway you travel on is located in the middle of a forest. 6. The natives refer to themselves as the Youpers. 7. Pasties are something you eat rather than something you wear. 8. You
Blessed Kateri Tekawitha (Also known as Catherine Tegakwitha/Takwita.) Kateri Tekawitha, known as the "Lily of the Mohawks", and the "Genevieve of New France" was an Indian virgin of the Mohak tribe born in 1656 in what is now the state of New York. Her mother was a Christian Algonuin who had been captured by the Iroquois and saved from a captive's fate by the father of Tekakwitha, to whom she also bore a son. When Kateri was about four years old, her parents and brother died of small-pox, and she was adopted by her aunts and a uncle who had become chief of the Turtle clan. Although small-pox had marked her face and seriously impaired her eyesight and she was reserved and detached, her aunts began making plans for her future marriage. When Kateri was 20 years old, despite family objections, she was converted and baptized by Fr.Jaques de Lamberville, a Jesuit missionary. She took a vow of chastity three years later. Following her conversion and baptism, she was p
HE'S HAVING A BIRTHDAY Today, some 21 years ago (or so), a great hero was born -- the love of my life. Today, he is working his usual ten hour work day, coming home for a brief party, and then dashing off to his 4th degree Knights of Columbus meeting. Happy birthday, Bill! "Today is your birthday...you're gonna have a good time!"
St. Henry II (972 – 1024) A German King and Holy Roman Emperor, Henry was born in Hildesheim, Bavaria, Germany in 972 to Duke Henry II and Princess Gisela of Burgundy. He was a man of great piety who exercised his power to extend the Kingdom of God by promoting missionary work. He also founded schools, quelled rebellions, protected the frontiers, worked to establish a stable peace in Europe, and to reform the Church. His wife was St. Cunegund , also known as Cunegundis. He was miraculously cured of an unnamed illness by St. Benedict. Tradition states that Henry desired to be a Benedictine monk after the death of his wife, but lived as an Oblate. He was canonized in 1146. He was declared the patron saint of Benedictan Oblates by Pope St. Pius X (1903-1914). St. Henry is the patron saint of childless people, disabled people, those rejected by religious orders, and kings.
What will IL "Dictator" come up with next? Well, you never know what new law or mandate or immoral action Gov.Blagojevich will come up with next. He always seems to develop with some new devious plan, whether it is to donate money to Planned Parenthood and attempt to disguise it as an altruistic act towards women on his part or forcing Christian pharmacists to distribute abortifacients via his executive order. Well, he has really done it now -- read below for details. July 12, 2005 Illinois Funds Immoral Embryonic Stem Cell Research with Taxpayer Dollars Illinois Family Institute (IFI) today condemned Gov. Rod Blagojevich's decision to issue an Executive Order to fund immoral embryonic stem cell research with $10 million in Illinois taxpayer dollars. By Executive Order, Governor Blagojevich today directed the Illinois Department of Public Health to create a program that will award $10 million in grants to medical research facilities for the development of treatments a
Questions and Answers: Why Should I Care About Judges and Judicial Nominations? Summary: Many of the negative changes in American society over recent decades have been imposed by unelected, activist judges. This paper examines how that has happened and why the fight over judicial nominations in the Senate is so important. by: Mr. Peter Sprigg Q - Why should pro-family citizens care about the appointment of judges? A - Many of the negative changes in American society over recent decades have been imposed by judges. The removal of prayer from public schools, the creation of a nationwide " right " to abortion, and the legalization of same-sex "marriage " in Massachusetts were all decisions imposed by activist judges, without considering the will of the people and their elected representatives. Q - What do you mean by "activist" judges? A - "Activist" judges are judges who impose their own policy preferences in their decisions. Judges are only s
NEW STUDY FINDS HIGHER SUBSTANCE USE RATES AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN WHO HAVE HAD ABORTIONS Women Who Carry "Unwanted" Pregnancies to Term Are Not at Higher Risk A new study published in the British Journal of Health Psychology has found that women with a history of induced abortion are three times more likely to use illegal drugs during a subsequent pregnancy. The study supports a growing body of evidence which suggests that later pregnancies may arouse unresolved grief over prior abortions which women may seek to suppress by increased reliance on drugs and alcohol. Researchers from Bowling State University, the University of Texas, and the Elliot Institute examined data from a study sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The data included 1,020 women who gave birth in one of eight Washington, D.C.-area hospitals during 1992. Analyses of the data revealed that while women who had induced abortions were significantly
'Nuremberg Files' website free speech? Pro-lifers in appeals court to defend provocative 'wanted posters' Pro-life advocates who were assessed a $120 million jury verdict for allegedly threatening abortion providers will argue for a reversal in federal appeals court today. The so-called "Nuremberg Files" case, Planned Parenthood v. American Coalition of Life Activists, primarily was based on the defendants' use of a website that featured "wanted" posters naming abortion providers. [More]
Seeking Signs and Wonders Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." He said to them in reply, "An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will it be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet." (Matt. 12:38-39) "And as He was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God aloud with joy for all the mighty deeds they had seen. They proclaimed: "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." And He said in reply, "I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!" --- Luke 19:36-40 As I read the article about Chicago's latest " miraculous" image , the passages above came to mind. Apparently, a crowd of 250 people are fascinated by a shadow resembling Jesu
Right to Life, pro-choice rivals break for lunch Like the author of this article states, this was no Camp David, but at least it was the beginning of a dialogue. They ate Greek salads, dressing on the side. It was the unlikeliest lunch group in Lansing last Thursday -- or maybe all year. One guy from Right to Life. Three women on the pro-choice side, from Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, MARAL. [ Read More ]
St. Benedict of Nursia, Founder of Monasticism (480 - 550) Benedict was born at Nursia, in Umbria, in central Italy, and studied in Rome. In 500, repelled by the vices of the city, he took refuge in Enfide, a small community of about 30 students just outside of Rome. He became a hermit at Subiaco and remained there for three years under the care of a monk named Romanus. Benedict's reputation spread, and some monks arrived to study with him. They asked him to be their abbot, but they did not like the discipline he imposed and tried to poison him. Benedict organized several small communities of monks and nuns in various places, including the great monastery of Monte Cassino. He drew up a set of rules to guide the communal life of monasteries, and, though not the first monastic rule ever, the Rule of St Benedict has proved so wise and balanced that it has served as the foundation for practically every attempt at communal living ever since. The Divine Office -- the daily liturgical p
The Lower Cost Alternative Our Corporate Operations Committee has defined a lower cost alternative to the previously planned switch to LINUX systems. All computers will be removed from every desktop. Instead, everyone will be provided with an Etch-A-Sketch. There are many sound and viable reasons for this decision: 1. No technical glitches keeping work from being done. 2. No more wasted time reading and writing emails. 3. Reduction in technical support calls will reduce our costs associated with maintaining our I.T. help desk. 4. Reduction in hardware costs. 5. Elimination of all software license fees. 6. Reduction in the amount of training necessary for new hires. 7. Can be used at the desktop as well as away from the office due its extreme portability. 8. Extremely low cost makes them disposable (when one breaks, we will simply replace it). 9. We can now hire 1st graders to do your job. 10. We will maintain a virus free environment... No more Norton. In anticipation of the questions
Mrs. H. Goes to Washington Well, I have always enjoyed watching this movie and have admired Jimmy Stewart for years. Now, I actually get to be one of my favorite characters. If you have not yet seen this movie, it is one you don't want to miss -- it's definitely a classic. What Classic Movie Are You? personality tests by similarminds.com
Ontario Catholic MP Denied Communion for Voting in Favor of Homosexual "Marriage" Outraged Canadian Media Reveal Ignorance of Basic Catholic Teaching TIMMINS, July 6, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Newspapers and radio shows in Canada are rife with the 'shocking' news that a Catholic politician has been denied communion after voting in favor of the federal same-sex 'marriage' legislation. Catholic NDP Member of Parliament for Timmins-James Bay, Charles Angus, has been denied communion after voting in support of same-sex marriage Bill C-38 in Parliament on June 28. Angus seems to be painting the action by his pastor as a shocking and improper action on the part of a lone priest. However, the pastor of Angus's St. Patrick's parish in Cobalt, Fr. John Lemire, told LifeSiteNews.com it is not his choice, but adherence to the clear laws of the Church which forbid Angus from being given communion. On CFRA radio in Ottawa this morning Angus said, "I feel that
Wish President Bush a "Happy Birthday" Today is the President's 59th birthday. Be sure to wish him a "Happy Birthday" and gently remind him of his promise to appoint a nominee for the Supreme Court who will to strictly adhere to the Constitution rather than write new policies into it. Please call the White House Comment Line at (202) 456-1111 and tell President Bush that you strongly agree with his view that Justices on the Court should not write law, but apply it. You may also contact the President via e-mail at president@whitehouse.gov or by fax at 202-456-2461.
St Maria Goretti (1890 - 1902) Maria Goretti was born on October 16, 1890, in Coranaldo in the province of Ancona in Italy, the third of seven children of Assunta and Luigi Goretti. When Maria was six, her father, realizing he could not support his growing family on the barren countryside, took them south, toward Rome, to a village near Anzio, believing that in the rich, warm farmlands of the Mediterranean he would find a more prosperous living and a make a better life for his family. In order to make ends meet, Maria’s father entered into partnership with a man called Serenelli, and shared a house with him and his two sons, one of whom was called Alessandro. Luigi was a hard worker, but suffering from malaria, typhus, meningitis and pneumonia, he died in 1900, leaving his family peniless. Maria, now a child of ten, was doing the work of a grown woman, suffering hunger and mortification daily. Maria impressed everyone with her radiant purity. She was naturally pious, kind, and helpful.
Abortion Pills are Not 'Essential Medicines' The Bush administration has been working in recent months to ensure that the drugs mifepristone (aka RU-486) and misoprostol, which are used to end early-term pregnancies, are kept off the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. According to the WHO, a medicine is considered essential if it satisfies "the priority health care needs of the population." Once a medicine is designated to be essential, efforts are stepped up to ease access and widen distribution. Abortion is certainly not a priority health care need, and these drugs absolutely do not belong on the List. Inclusion of misoprostol and mifepristone on the List of Essential Medicines would be not only morally and ethically unacceptable, but also scientifically irresponsible. Very serious health risks attend use of these abortifacients, and in response to reports of the long-term ills and even deaths that have resulted from its use, the FDA issu
HUGE MOSAIC OF JOHN PAUL II BEING PREPARED FOR WYD 2005 Organizers of the next World Youth Day are preparing a gigantic mosaic containing a depiction of John Paul II. The portrait will be made up of thousands of small pictures of the Pope sent in by young people from all over the world. The initiative will allow many people "to be" in Cologne even though they cannot make the trip. Photos can be sent via the internet. The mosaic will be put on display at the Cathedral of Cologne during World Youth Day, and every person who sends in a picture will be sent a link to their individual photo and be able to see the mosaic online. According to the project's promoters, Ingo Brüggenjürgen, Lutz Langel and Ralf Walter, "with this action we want to show that love is stronger that death and that the message of John Paul II continues to live in thousands of people." Their goal is to make the world's largest mosaic. Source
Beyond just Hail Mary passes The summer before his senior season, Joe Freedy approached his personal line of scrimmage and surveyed the field. The University at Buffalo quarterback knew the options at his disposal. Freedy peered to his right and found comfort that a primary route was starting a family with the girlfriend everyone adored. He glanced to his left and recognized he could use his communications degree for a possible career in sales. He then swallowed hard and made one of the most momentous audibles a man could imagine. He checked off the possibility of a wife and children, checked off on the sales gig, checked off on a life virtually everyone else in the world would consider normal. Freedy, the starting quarterback of a Division I football team and big man on campus, decided to become a priest. "It was a huge tug on my heart," Freedy said, "but the Lord was calling me to this." Freedy is studying at the epicenter of an extraordinary time in the Roman Cat
New Florida Hearsay Evidence Law Adversely Affects Disabled The Empire Journal If you suddenly become incapacitated, cannot speak for yourself and have left no written declarations pertaining to your medical treatment, Florida legislators and Gov. Jeb Bush have made it law that a family member or even a friend can decide to end your life, saying that they remember you saying that you wouldn’t want to be kept alive. In fact, even your estranged spouse by whom you may have been a victim of domestic abuse and violence could decide to end your life by claiming you told him or her that you wouldn’t want to live if incapacitated. [more]
I HAVE A DREAM Praise the Lord in His sanctuary,praise Him in the firmament of His strength. Praise Him for His mighty deeds, praise Him for His sovereign majesty. Praise Him with the blast of the trumpet,praise Him with the lyre and harp,Praise Him with timbrel and dance, praise Him with strings and pipe.Praise Him with clanging cymbals.Let everything that has breathpraise the Lord! Alleluia. ~ Psalm 150 Praise the Lord for this glorious day and for our many freedoms -- all precious gifts from God Almighty. "So let freedom ring. From the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire, let freedom ring. From the mighty mountains of New York, let freedom ring. From the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania, let freedom ring. But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia. Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. And when this happens, when we let it ring, we will speed that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentil
H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y , A M E R I C A ! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Today most of you will gather with your loved ones for a birthday party--America's 229th birthday party. You may go to the beach, or the lake. You may have backyard barbecues and take the kids to see nightfall fireworks. There will be a lot of Stars and Stripes forevering. It is the way honest John Adams thought we should celebrate our nation's birth. It is the Glorious Fourth. America is the only great nation whose birthday we can pinpoint with precision. July 4, 1776 marked the beginning of a "new order of the ages." The Declaration of Independence was our birth certificate, Thomas Jefferson's great charter of liberty, and it was unanimously approved by Congress. George Washington had it read to his troops in the field. Later, at Gettysburg, Lincoln pointed to our nation's birth and said we were "dedicated to the proposition that all men ar
INDEPENDENCE DAY 2005 We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which has preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us. It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended power, to confess our national sins and to pray for clemency and forgiveness. ~ Abraham Lincoln, March 30,1863
MAN PROPOSES SEIZING SOUTER PROPERTY A California man wants to take advantage of a recent Supreme Court decision on seizing private land -- proposing a hotel on Justice David Souter's land. Souter, a resident of Weare, N.H., joined in the majority opinion that allows governments to seize private property and turn it over to a private developer if the action would benefit a community. Freestar Media Chief Executive Officer Logan Darrow Clements Tuesday faxed a letter to the Weare Town Hall, proposing seizure of Souter's property for a hotel that would "better serve the public interest," the Concord Monitor reported. City officials say they are taking the letter seriously. "Am I taking this seriously? But of course," said Charles Meany, who handles building requests. "In lieu of the recent Supreme Court decision, I would imagine that some people are pretty much upset. If it is their right to pursue this type of end, then by all means let the proc
I AM THE UNITED STATES I was born on July 4, 1776, and the Declaration of Independence is my birth certificate. The bloodlines of the world run in my veins, because I offered freedom to the oppressed. I am the United States. I am 185,000,000 living souls, and the ghost of millions who have died for me. I am Nathan Hale and Paul Revere. I stood at Lexington and fired the shot heard around the world. I am Washington, Jefferson, and Patrick Henry. I am Paul Jones, the Green Mountain boys, and Davy Crockett. I am Lee, Grant, and Abe Lincoln. I am the Brooklyn Bridge, the wheat lands of Kansas, and the granite hills of Vermont. I am the coal fields of the Virginias and Pennsylvania; the fertile lands of the West; the Golden Gate and the Grand Canyon. I am Independence Hall, the Monitor and the Merrimac. I am big. I sprawl from the Atlantic to the Pacific, three million square miles throbbing with industry. I am more than 5,000,000 farms; I am forest, field, mountain and dessert. I am qu
Pro-life Quote of the Day "Many people are concerned with children of India, with the children of Africa where quite a few die of hunger, and so on. Many people are also concerned about the violence in this great country of the United States. These concerns are very good. But often these same people are not concerned with the millions being killed by the deliberate decision of their own mothers. And this is the greatest destroyer of peace today- abortion which brings people to such blindness." ~ Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Court vacancy: 'Women's lives on the line' Activists rev up rhetoric ahead of historic confirmation battle National Organization for Women warns women's lives at stake in judicial confirmation battle Activists revving up for a fierce confirmation battle responded immediately yesterday to the announcement of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's retirement, warning Americans that her replacement will have a profound influence on America's most divisive cultural issues. "It is inevitable that this confirmation battle will revolve around values," said Gary Bauer, president of Virginia-based American Values and former Republican presidential nominee. "The administration should not be afraid of such a debate." The website of the National Organization for Women opens with an "Emergency Alert" pop-up that warns "Justice O'Connor Resigns ... Women's Lives on the Line." Beneath photographs, the site's front page says, &qu
You Know You're From Illinois When... You can immediately identify what part of the state someone is from as soon as they open their mouths. When you say "the city" - you mean Chicago, unless, of course, you live downstate, where you mean Peoria. You know why they call Chicago "The Windy City". Your favorite place to get a burger is White Castle. In winter, the trunk of your car or your garage doubles as a deep freezer. You know what's knee-high by the Fourth of July. Stores don't have bags; they have sacks. You eat breakfast at 6a.m., lunch at noon, and supper at 5:30p.m. Your dream vacation is a trip to the state fair. You think of the four major food groups as beef, pork, corn on the cob and Jell-O salad with marshmallows. You know what "Bessie Bingo” is and how to play it. Your favorite pass-times are mushroom hunting, deer hunting, fishing, and riding the 4-wheeler. Going on an extravagant shopping spree means stopping at all the local garage
Abortion Advocates Say Wal -Mart Should Stock Morning After Pills Bentonville, AR -- The world's largest retail chain is coming under fire from abortion advocates because it does not stock the morning after pill at any of its 3,000 locations. Wal-Mart operates more pharmacies in the United States than any other chain, but it will not stock the Plan B drugs, which sometime cause an abortion. Wal-Mart spokeswoman Jacquie Young told the Associated Press that the retailer doesn't carry the morning after pills for "business reasons." She declined to elaborate, but previous Wal-Mart representatives have said the decision is in response to customer concerns. [more]