Opportunity, Assimilation And A Lesson From Sweden

As the immigration debate rages on, we need to make sure we agree on the importance of assimilation (as opposed to developing boatloads more “progressive” voters who are able to keep the tax and spend crowd in power).  While some immigrants will fully embrace their new country with unbridled enthusiasm, others will live here, disaffected and unproductive for years. A permanently alienated population of millions is nothing but trouble.

Lavish welfare payments aren’t the answer. (Whenever something is given away as a hand out, not a hand up, there is no gratitude, and no assigned value. In fact, there is not only a quick dependence but a demand for more and more government largesse.)  Learning the language is essential, of course, but there is still something else.

In fact, the only thing that really encourages immigrants to assimilate, to become productive citizens with a sense of belonging, is opportunity. Opportunity to put their God-given gifts and talents to work, opportunity to create their own businesses, opportunity to earn, save, build and create – to assimilate fully into everything society has to offer those who work hard and play by the rules.

Stockholm, in the notoriously welfare-happy country of Sweden, is, literally, on fire. Unhappy (and ungrateful) immigrants are sending a message. Are we here in the U.S. ready to listen and learn?

I am committed to fighting for an economy which embraces opportunity.

What are you committed to? Go and make it happen!

 

Parenting Is Supposed To Be A Verb

Buckley school

Manhattan private schools are furious that nannies are being made to participate in activities that they feel parents should be involved in.

According to the New York Post, well-to-do mothers and fathers are calling on hired help to take their place in bake sales, biannual ‘safety patrol’ duties and even accompanying children to entrance interviews.

Manhattan Private School Advisors’ Amanda Uhry told the paper: ‘They’re sending nannies for bake sales, book clubs, for the ice-skating group. Parents can’t be bothered two days a year for an hour.

‘Now the schools are getting angry – and other parents are getting angry. They don’t want to work the school bake sale with someone’s paid employee.’

But after many began deferring the duty to nannies, it issued a stern warning on its website.

‘Parents are the only acceptable option for patrol,’ it read. ‘Caregivers, housekeepers, etc. may NOT walk safety patrol.’

One local mother, whose daughter goes to the $40,000-a-year Birch Wathen Lenox School, is not so impressed by such diktats though.

‘These schools are exorbitantly expensive, they hit you up for school fees, donations, and then they want your time?’ she argued. ‘I have three kids at three different schools. If I can send my nanny, I’m happy to do it.’

For some schools though, working with hired help is preferable to dealing with parents.

The former admissions director for the Horace Mann school, Dana Haddad, says children often behave better at entrance interviews when accompanied by a nanny instead of a parent.

And Epiphany School welcomes them to the extent that they serve up a Caregivers’ Breakfast where nannies and their wards can dine together and take home a photo of the occasion.

Parenting is supposed to be a verb, an action word.

I am committed to supporting parents who actually do their jobs.

What are you committed to? Go and make it happen!

I Don’t Care What You Are, Just Leave Me Alone!

http://FunnyOrDie.com/m/800c

Have you seen this mock Public Service Announcement video narrated by three well-known actors, George Takei (of the original Star Trek television series), Jesse Tyler Ferguson of ABC’s Modern Family and Brad Goreski, who has a new show on Bravo? The video was produced to promote an organization which gives money to gay marriage initiatives.

Here’s how Takei’s narration begins as he describes an actor, “Dale,” who represents a “typical” supporter of traditional marriage:

“There is one person living on this street whose orientation threatens to destroy society…What you can’t tell about Dale is that he’s sick. He opposes marriage equality. Dale looks normal, but he gives off clues of his prejudice with buzzwords like “pro-family”, “traditional marriage” or…” – this is a family blog, so we’ll delete the offensive reference to oral sex.

The video goes on to say that “Dale would let any two idiots marry, unless those two idiots are gay.” In the video, Dale is seen shouting at and arguing with his wife, and Takei points out he’s been divorced twice. Takei says his current wife is unhappy being married to Dale and shows Dale with a drinking problem.

Blah, blah, blah….before concluding:

“The most important thing to remember when dealing with people who don’t support marriage equality is to be kind. They’re most likely hiding their own homosexuality [Editor's Note: Dale pinches a man's butt as this line is delivered] … besides these people don’t know they’re being a**holes.”

In other words, Dale is a sick, bigoted, ignorant, drunken, hypocritical, fill-in-the-blank. Which is exactly what they want you (and the rest of society) to believe you are as well.

This disgraceful show of hate speech (toward heterosexuals) demonstrates and even declares the actors’ own heterophobia (against heterosexuals) and bigotry (against heterosexuals). Apparently some homosexual marriage activists clearly believe their own propaganda about gay marriage being inevitable. Emboldened by this misconception, they are now no longer attempting to hide their loathing and hatred of those of us who believe marriage is the unique and special union of husband and wife – man and woman.

I am committed to calling these hypocrites out for what they really are.

What are you committed to? Go and make it happen!

The U.S. Dept. of Education Wishes You A Happy Parent 1 Day!

The move is designed to better accommodate students who are brought up in gay homes where there are two mother or two fathers

From the Daily Mail: The U.S. Department of Education is replacing the terms ‘Mother’ and ‘Father’ on student loan forms with the less gender-specific ‘Parent 1’ and ‘Parent 2.’

The changes will be introduced on the 2014-2015 federal student aid form (FAFSA) and the move is designed to better accommodate students who are brought up in gay homes where there are two mother or two fathers.

‘All students should be able to apply for federal student aid within a system that incorporates their unique family dynamics,’ Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said in a statement.

For the first time the department will collect income ‘from a dependent student’s legal parents regardless of the parents’ marital status or gender, if those parents live together,’ reports the Washington Times.

The announcement has already elicited an angry response from conservative Christian groups.

‘As a mother, I find that deeply offensive,’ said Cathy Ruse of the Family Research Council.

‘I carried my children for nine months in my womb, I endured the pain (and joy) of birth, I nursed them for many months after they were born, and every morning they jump into my bed screaming, “Mommy!”’

‘But the federal government says I’m Mommy no more. I am Parent 1. Or maybe Parent 2. Mr. President, I dare you to tell my daughters I’m not their mother.’

According to education secretary Duncan the change is about more than being inclusive and will help the department to more precisely calculate federal student aid eligibility based on what a student’s whole family is able to contribute. [Editors note: Uh, what???]

The change will help ensure that taxpayer dollars are better targeted toward those students who have the most need, he said.

Happy Mother’s Day!

The brilliant Anne Taintor has it right – we know and appreciate the value of all women, whether they work  inside or outside the home (or both).

Happy Mother’s Day!

 

What Do Barack Obama And Pontius Pilate Have In Common?

Gregory Hicks

Gregory Hicks, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli on Sept. 11, 2012

After listening to the testimony today of those who told us what really happened in Benghazi on September 11, 2012, a few thoughts came to mind.

• The mainstream media has long held up Barack Obama as “The Savior.” Their Biblical references are all wrong. In fact, the feckless President Obama is really Pontius Pilate, washing his hands of any personal or administration responsibility for the unnecessary and unanswered deaths of four Americans.

• When a president lies to the American people and is clearly part of a vast cover-up, he cannot continue to govern. Obama will be lucky if all he gets away with is impeachment – and it should happen sooner rather than later.

• Hillary Clinton’s role in this sordid whole affair must be kept front and center. This woman has failure after failure and scandal after scandal on her resume. It would be disgraceful to dignify and recognize her with her party’s presidential nomination in 2016.

• I am beyond thankful that I don’t have White House Spokesman Jay Carney’s job. How you live with your conscience after having to come out with pure lies (“spin”) each and every day, including claiming the four American deaths at Benghazi happened “a long time ago” is beyond my comprehension.

I am committed to government officials taking responsibility for their actions.

What are you committed to? Go and make it happen!

Quote: RGIII

In a land of freedom we are held hostage by the tyranny of political correctness. – Robert Griffin III  (aka RGIII)

Fighting Back Against The Nanny State

Looking for an antidote to Nanny Bloomberg and his soda ban? How about Melissa Harris-Perry, who promotes her network (MSNBC, natch) by declaring that “children don’t belong to their parents,” and insisting that the community (i.e. the government) has to be responsible for all kids? Hilary Clinton’s theory that “It Takes A Village” to raise a child? Perhaps President Obama’s former Information and Regulatory Affairs czar Cass Sunstein (and now Harvard law professor) and his declaration that government paternalism is “your friend?” Uh, Bowdoin professor Sarah Conly saying that we should be grateful for restrictions on our freedoms because the government knows how to run our lives better than we do ourselves?

Look no further than writer Abby Wisse Schachter’s new blog, Captain Mommy, which grew out of Abby’s previous blog, the New York Post’s Capitol Punishment  . Abby also opines over on Acculturated. Can’t wait for her current book project – Captain Mommy vs. the Nanny State: A Libertarian Parenting Manifesto.

Hockey Players Don’t Play The Blame Game

 

Bruins 2_21_13Susan Milan Lucic 4_21_13Susan Zdeno Chara 4_21_13Bryan and Susan Bruins 4_21_13

We went to see the Bruins pounce on the Panthers Sunday, and Mr. D. got us these absolutely amazing Row 1 rink-side seats. I had my Bruins sweater on just in case Lucic (17) or Chara (33) needed to take a break and have me fill in, but they decided they could handle it without my skating prowess. Good idea. The Bruins went on to win 3-0.

After the game, they gave the shirts off their backs to Boston’s first responders which was terrific, especially when one of the recipients traded shirts with his favorite player, Andrew Ference. I love hockey players for lots of reasons (hey, I’m married to one who played in high school and college and  is still on the ice three times a week – note his sweater) and the way they interacted with everyone was really heartwarming.

Here’s another reason they have my respect: Unlike some other sports, no one gives excuses for messing up. After last night’s, ahem, less than stellar performance against the Flyers, Coach Claude Julien (who has to be one of the nicest guys on the planet) was asked,  “So, was fatigue plaguing the B’s at all this time out?”

“Let’s stay away from making excuses because it’s not going to work,” said Julien. “That’s not going to work.”

“We have to take responsibility and quit hiding behind those excuses.”

Amen, Coach.

The Bruins are committed to excellence.

What are you committed to? Go and make it happen!

The Remarkable Maggie Thatcher

We lost my political hero, The Iron Lady, Baroness Margaret Thatcher, today. She left behind an amazing legacy, in addition to her colorful quotes, many of which I use often:

“This is no time to go wobbly, George!”

“I don’t think there will be a woman Prime  Minister in my lifetime.” — BBC,  March 5, 1975

“If a Tory does not believe that private property  is one of the main bulwarks of individual freedom, then he had better become a  socialist and have done with it.” — Daily  Telegraph, Jan. 30, 1975.

“The Russians are bent on world dominance, and  they are rapidly acquiring the means to become the most powerful imperial nation  the world has seen. The men in the Soviet politburo don’t have to worry about  the ebb and flow of public opinion. They put guns before butter, while we  put just about everything before guns. They know that they are a super power in  only one sense—the military sense. They are a failure in human and economic  terms.” – Speech,  Jan. 19, 1976 (The Russians would respond by calling her the “Iron Lady”

“Socialist governments traditionally do make a  financial mess. They always run out of other people’s money. It’s quite a  characteristic of them.” Speech,  Feb. 5, 1976

“Pennies don’t fall from heaven, they have to be  earned here on earth.” Speech,  Nov. 12, 1979

“No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he’d  only had good intentions; he had money as well.” Weekend  World, Jan. 6, 1980

“Economics are the method; the object is to  change the heart and soul.” Sunday  Times, May 1, 1981

“I came to office with one deliberate intent: to  change Britain from a dependent to a self-reliant society — from a  give-it-to-me, to a do-it-yourself nation. A get-up-and-go, instead of a  sit-back-and-wait-for-it Britain.” Speech,  Feb. 8, 1984

“It was a lovely morning. We have not had many  lovely days. And the sun was just coming through the stained glass windows and  falling on some flowers right across the church and it just occurred to me  that this was the day I was meant not to see.” Channel  4, Oct 15, 1984, following an assassination attempt  by the IRA.

“I like Mr. Gorbachev. We can do business  together.” — BBC,  Dec. 17, 1984 No. No. No.” — House  of Commons, Oct. 30, 1990