Family Values - RushOnline.com

Senior Citizens are constantly being criticized for every conceivable deficiency of the modern world, real or imaginary.

Upon reflection, I would like to point out that it was NOT the Senior Citizens who took:

* The melody out of music,

* The pride out of appearance,

* The romance out of love,

* The commitment out of marriage

* The responsibility out of parenthood,

* The togetherness out of the family,

* The learning out of education,

* The service out of patriotism,

* The civility out of behavior,

* The refinement out of language,

* The dedication out of employment,

* The prudence out of spending,

* The ambition out of achievement,

* And they certainly are not the ones who eliminated patience and tolerance From relationships.

* * *

Think freely

Patience. Patience.

Smile often.

Savor special moments.

Make new friends. Rediscover old ones.

Tell those you love that you do.

Feel deeply.

Forget trouble. Forgive an enemy.

Hope. Grow.

Count your blessings.

Observe miracles. Make them happen.

Discard worry.

Give. Give in.

Trust enough to take.

Pick some flowers. Share them.

Keep a promise.

Look for rainbows.

Gaze at the stars. See beauty everywhere.

Work hard. Be wise. Try to understand.

Take time for people. Make time for yourself.

Laugh heartily. Spread joy.

Take a chance.

Reach out. Let someone in.

Try something new.

Slow down.

Be soft sometimes.

Celebrate life.

Believe in yourself. Trust others.

See a sunrise. Listen to rain.

Reminisce. Cry when you need to.

Trust life. Have faith.

Enjoy. Wonder.

Comfort a friend.

Have good ideas. Learn!

Make some mistakes. Learn from them.

Explore the unknown.

Hug your kids.

Happy New Year!!!!!

The Kamenshine's

* * *

Today's Laugh: Signs in the Kitchen

1. A messy kitchen is a happy kitchen and this kitchen is delirious.

2. No husband has ever been shot while doing the dishes.

3. If, we are what we eat, then I'm easy, fast, and cheap

4. A balances diet is a cookie in each hand.

5. Thou shall not weigh more than thy refrigerator.

6. A clean house is a sign of a misspent life.

7. Help keep the kitchen clean --- eat out.

8. Housework done properly can kill you.

9. Countless number of people have eaten in this kitchen and gone on to lead normal lives.

10. My next house will have no kitchen ----just vending machines.

* * *

Dad's Brownies---Great lesson!!

A father of some teenage children had the family rule that they could not attend PG-13 or R rated movies. His three teens wanted to see a particular popular movie that was playing at local theaters. It was rated PG-13. The teens interviewed friends and even some members of their family's church to find out what was offensive in the movie. The teens made a list of pros and cons about the movie to use to convince their dad that they should be allowed to see it.

The con's were that it contained ONLY 3 swear words, the ONLY violence was a building exploding (and you see that on TV all the time they said), and you actually did not "see" the couple in the movie having sex - it was just implied sex, off camera.

The pros were that it was a popular movie - a block buster. Everyone was seeing it. If the teens saw the movie then they would not feel left out when their friends discussed it. The movie contained a good story and plot. It had some great adventure and suspense in it. There were some fantastic special effects in this movie. The movie's stars were some of the most talented actors in Hollywood. It probably would be nominated for several awards. Many of the members of their Christian church had even seen the movie and said it wasn't "very bad". Therefore, since there were more pros than cons the teens said they were asking their father to reconsider his position on just this ONE movie and let them have permission to go see it.

The father looked at the list and thought for a few minutes. He said he could tell his children had spent some time and thought on this request. He asked if he could have a day to think about it before making his decision. The teens were thrilled thinking; "Now we've got him! Our argument is too good! Dad can't turn us down!" So, they happily agreed to let him have a day to think about their request.

The next evening the father called in his three teenagers, who were smiling smugly, into the living room. There on the coffee table he had a plate of brownies. The teens were puzzled. The father told his children he had thought about their request and had decided that if they would eat a brownie then he would let them go to the movie. But just like the movie, the brownies had pros and cons.

The pros were that they were made with the finest chocolate and other good ingredients. They had the added special effect of yummy walnuts in them. The brownies were moist and fresh with wonderful chocolate frosting on top. He had made these fantastic brownies using an award-winning recipe. And best of all, the brownies had been made lovingly by the hand of their own father.

The brownies only had one con. The father had included a little bit of a special ingredient. The brownies also contained just a little bit of dog poop. But he had mixed the dough well - they probably would not even be able to taste the dog poop and he had baked it at 350 degrees so any bacteria or germs from the dog poop had probably been destroyed.

Therefore, if any of his children could stand to eat the brownies which included just a "little bit of foreign substance" and not be effected by it, then he knew they would also be able to see the movie with "just a little bit of smut" and not be effected. Of course, none of the teens would eat the brownies and the smug smiles had left their faces. Only Dad was smiling smugly as they left the room.

Now when his teenagers ask permission to do something he is opposed to the father just asks, "Would you like me to whip up a batch of my special brownies?"

From Annie

* * *

I have seen repeatedly the breakdown of the cost of raising a child, but this is the first time I have seen the rewards listed this way. It's nice, really nice!

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140! That doesn't even touch college tuition. For those with kids, that figure leads to wild fantasies about all the money we could have banked if not for (insert your child's name here). For others, that number might confirm the decision to remain childless.

But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into $8,896.66 a year, $741.38 a month, or $171.08 a week. That's a mere $24.44 a day! Just over a dollar an hour.

Still, you might think the best financial advice says don't have children if you want to be "rich". It is just the opposite.What do your get for your $160,140?

Naming rights. First, middle, and last!

Glimpses of God every day. Giggles under the covers every night. More love than your heart can hold.

Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs. Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies. A hand to hold, usually covered with jam.

A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites, building sandcastles, and skipping down the sidewalk in the pouring rain.

Someone to laugh yourself silly with no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140, you never have to grow up. You get to finger-paint, carve pumpkins, play hide-and-seek, catch lightning bugs, and never stop believing in Santa Claus. You have an excuse to keep: reading The Adventures of Piglet and Pooh, watching Saturday morning cartoons, going to Disney movies, and wishing on stars. You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof, taking the training wheels off the bike, removing a splinter, filling the wading pool, coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

You get a front row seat to history; to witness the first step, first word, first bra, first date, and first time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren.

You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.

In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there with God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost.

* * *

Light Bulb---Joke

How many Christians does it take to change a light bulb?

Charismatics: Only one. Hands already in the air.

Pentecostals: Ten. One to change the bulb, and nine to pray against the spirit of darkness.

Presbyterians: None. Lights will go on and off at predestined times.

Roman Catholic: None. Candles only.

Baptists: At least 15. One to change the light bulb, and three
committees to approve the change and decide who brings the potato salad.

Episcopalians: Eight. One to call the electrician, and seven to say how much they liked the old one better.

Mormons: Five. One man to change the bulb, and four wives to tell him how to do it.

Unitarians: We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a light bulb. However, if in your own journey you have found that light bulbs work for you, that is fine. You are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your personal relationship with your light bulb, and present it next month at our annual light bulb Sunday service, inwhich we will explore a number of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, fluorescent, three-way, long-life and tinted, all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence.

Methodists: Undetermined. Whether your light is bright, dull, or completely out, you are loved -- you can be a light bulb, turnip bulb, or tulip bulb. Churchwide lighting service is planned for Sunday, August 19. Bring bulb of your choice and a covered dish.

Nazarene: Six. One woman to replace the bulb while five men review church lighting policy.

Lutherans: None. Lutherans don't believe in change.

Amish: What's a light bulb?

From Annie

* * *

Subject: Television

Remember the old programs like Andy Griffith? Shows like this were loaded with great examples of good moral values. There are not shows today that compare to the programming of 20-30 years ago.

Jay

Proost Twin Falls, Idaho

* * *

The high school basketball coach who pushed his students

Rush, On Wed. show, you talked about the basketball coach who pushed his players to be the best they can be. They didn't complain. They did what was expected of them. Great story.

In Centerville, Ohio, we have a high school football coach with that same idea. His way is hard work will pay off. You have to pay a price to be successful. He pushes his player to be the best they can be. 25 years ago when I played for him, I bought into his idea's. So did some of my team mates.

The results 25 years later - There are 4 of us who started our own business. We all do different things. I believe we all got our work ethic from this man. America needs teachers and coaches to "Push" these kids. The future of this country depends on people who are willing to take chances and have confidence in their ability to be sucessful.

After 25 years, this guy is still coaching. His current group of kids have bought into his ideas. They made the state football playoffs this past fall. Our record, his first year coaching at our school,(1973) was 3-7. Rush, keep the positive news coming!

Tim

* * *

Is America Good?

A wise man once said " America will cease to be great, if she is not good" Rush, do you believe that with all the moral decadence and filth in Washington,have we ceased to be good?

Also,are we turning into a socialist state where everyone wants to be taken care of instead of taking care of ourselves? This leads me to believe we are turning into Russia, the Old Roman Empire, and a shadow of our former selves. What do you think?

Sincerely,

Phil

* * *

The thought that politicians would look to gain from the tragedies of school shootings should be a testimony of their moral character. Laws will never stop the evils of man. Faith in God and the return of morel values is/are only hope. Thank you for providing a voice of reason in a insane world

Larry

* * *

EVERYTHING UP ON YOUR SITE LOOKS GREAT ... IT SEEMS YOU HAVE IT ALL covered, but I'd like to add:

We have to work so much, both parents, to meet the obligations --mostly imposed by government that children often get neglected. They turn to each other for peer support. When they say, "School's the safest place" give me a break... it's where they were allowed to congregate and do a bunch of stupid stuff leading to the tragic results, and all under the eyes and auspices of the 'school authorities'.... Children we can neglect as long as whales we protect I guess. And as Rush stated, they can have had at them through laws already in place, but they turn a blind eye, seeming to only want to turn the screws on honest citizens.

* * *

A good friend of mine sent this to me and it is powerful. This minister wascertainly gutsy! May God answer his prayer.

Love, Mary

When minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual politically correctgeneralities,but what they heard instead was a stirring prayer, passionately calling our country to repentance and righteousness. The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out during the prayer in protest. In six short weeks, the Central Christian Church had logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding negatively. The church is now receiving international requests for copies of the prayer from India, Africa and Korea.

Commentator PAUL HARVEY aired the prayer on The Rest of the Story on the radio and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired !!

THE PRAYER

Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance.We know Your Word says, "Woe on those who call evil good," but that's exactly what we have done.We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We confess that: We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it pluralism.We have worshiped other gods and called it multiculturalism.We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle.We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have neglected the needy and called it self-preservation. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.We have killed our unborn children and called it a choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it buildingself-esteem.

We have abused power and called it political savvy.We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent to direct us to the center of Your will.

I ask it in the name of Your Son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.

What awesome insight !!! With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called a Christian nation that fears the Lord! Please send this prayer to as many of your Christian friends as you can. Let us all help to get the Lord back into our lives and most importantly into the lives of our children.

The Jensen Family

Camas, WA

* * *

IF I WERE THE DEVIL (order revised) - by Paul Harvey

I would gain control of the most powerful nation in the world; I would delude their minds into thinking that they had come from man's effort, instead of God's blessings; I would promote an attitude of loving things and using people, instead of the other way around.

I would persuade people that the church is irrelevant and out of date, and the Bible is for the naive; I would dull the minds of Christians, and make them believe that prayer is not important, and that faithfulness and obedience are optional. I would take God out of the schools, where even the mention of His name was grounds for a lawsuit. I would attack the family, the backbone of any nation; I would make divorce acceptable and easy, even fashionable. If the family crumbles, so does the nation.

I would make it legal to take the life of unborn babies; I would cheapen human life as much as possible so that the life of animals are valued more than human beings. I would make it socially acceptable to take one's own life, and invent machines to make it convenient; I would come up with drugs that sedate the mind and target the young, and I would get sports heroes to advertise them. I would dupe entire states into relying on gambling for their state revenue.

I would get control of the media, so that every night I could pollute the mind of every family member for my agenda. I would convince the people that right and wrong are determined by a few who call themselves authorities and refer to their agenda as politically correct. I would compel people to express their most depraved fantasies on canvas and movie screens, and I would call it art. I would convince the world that people are born homosexuals, and that their lifestyles should be accepted and marveled. I would convince people that character is not an issue when it comes to leadership.

I guess I would leave things pretty much the way they are.

* * *

This is a unique quote I found in a book that I found amusing: "The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism, and become lesbians." --Pat Robertson

Andrew from Wilmington, NC

18-yr.-old essayist's insight into the Colorado shooting

From Where I Stand: A Teenager's Voice from Inside the Culture of Death

On April 20, 1999, there was yet another gruesome shooting in Littleton, Colorado. Kids killing kids. And again, the entire nation in its uproar is trying to figure out why.

I am eighteen years old. I live in a small town near Madison, Wisconsin. A small town just like the ones where these horrifying shootings always seem to take place. Every time those stories come on the television, I can't help but notice how easily it could be my small town next. And I want to know why this is happening just as badly as any parent or police chief or anchorman. The thing is, I am right in the middle of it. I am in the same age group as all of these high school kids.

So I may have some insight for the world that has been otherwise unattainable since these shootings started some years ago. The night of the Littleton shooting, as I was flipping through the various news channels that were covering the story in Littleton, Colorado, I heard something that struck a chord in me. An anchorman was interviewing the mother of a victim in the Jonesboro shooting.

His question was: "If you look at America in the 1950's, you will find that this kind of thing never happened; whereas if you look at America today, this kind of thing is becoming more and more frequent. Why do you think this is happening?" The woman, of course, could not answer the question. In fact, she didn'treally even try. But I did. I thought about it for a long time that night.

And again the next morning, when my favorite morning radio talk show asked its listeners why they thought this has been happening. Many people said that it's the parents of the kids. Many people suggested television and video games. Many people even turned to popular musicians, looking to put the blame somewhere.

But I will tell you what I think it is. What I, a regular teenager riding on the coattails of Generation X, blame it on. It is not the parents or the movies or the rock stars. It is AMERICA. It is this culture of death, this culture in which liberals and feminists and activists are so anxious to let anything be "OK" that the once tightened, knotted rope of society is unraveling right beneath us.

Don't you see? There can be no order without discipline. All of those things people think are causing children to run into a school and shoot their teachers and peers and even kids they don't know-the movies, the video games, the parents, the rap artists-they are only REFLECTIONS of our society. Society breaks down, from one big metaphoric "family" into 50 metaphoric "families" and so on and so on, until you have the actual FAMILY, the one with the parents and the kids and the dog. It is not one thing or two things; it is the attitude of an entire "familiar" nation being reflected back at us in the kids.

Just as that anchorman suggested, something was different about the 1950's. WE WERE CONSERVATIVE. We had boundaries; we had a definite knowledge of right and wrong throughout the entire nation. We didn't have feminists pushing women so hard to go get a job that a woman who didn't have a job was somehow "bad," thereby leaving kids at home with inadequate parental guidance and often times with parents who were truly unhappy. We didn't have liberals fighting so avidly to legalize everything that it was at the point of completely blurring the line between good and bad. We didn't have a nationwide media surge dedicated to sex and violence so intense that if you weren't playing killing video games at age 14, then you were trying to choose between contraceptives beforehand or abortion afterwards. We didn't have disputes over whether or not we should help someone who is dying die sooner-over whether or not we should ASSIST them in committing SUICIDE. And we certainly didn't have a President who was in favor of NATO bombing and killing children in Serbia come on the television to grieve the loss for the families of children killed in America.

We live in a loosely tied society, a culture dedicated to death. If you don't want the kid, kill it. If you don't want to live out the rest of your God-given days, kill yourself. Or better yet, have someone else come help you do it. I guess, no matter how horrible or gruesome or gut-wrenching it may be, it was just a matter of time before someone got that "killing-as-a-means-to-an-end" idea stuck in their head for the part between birth and death as well. Everything that happens in families and cities and states and countries is the mirror image of the big picture.

We are falling apart as a society. Am I-some random normal teenager in Farmertown, U.S.A.- the only one who sees that? It's sad and it's hard to believe, but what's worse is that it's scary. I think it's time for our-- America's-- Mom and Dad to ground us--to say, "If you don't shape up by the time I count to three..." And then really count to three. Because we are running wild and pretty soon we're going to be too far from home to ever get back.

There was once a great saying by a famous man that has rung true throughout the history of mankind-in every family and in every society and in every social group and in every religion-it was a frighteningly true statement that cannot be disputed. I am reminded of it now, in the wake of yet another indescribably tormenting result of a nation gone haywire...

"By their fruits you shall know them."

by Sarah Roney April 21, 1999

* * *

I'm so sick of children being allowed to "run their own show". What is the matter with these adults that allow their children to choose what they want to do. You are absolutely right, the child has NO CLUE, they haven't experienced what we as adults have. I can't believe parents that don't push their kids to do their best just because the kid doesn't "feel" like it. Most people don't "feel" like doing things that are tough, but they are
ultimately beneficial to them.

Keep preaching it!!

Brenda

* * *

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated.

But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer,Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson Jr, noted that the British General Cornwallis He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. Thehome was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart.

Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates.

Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education.

They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged: "For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

They gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books never told you a lot about what happened in the Revolutionary War. We didn't fight just the British.We were British subjects at that time and we fougnt our own government! Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't. So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.

Remember: freedom is never free!

(This article was probably taken from the research done by Rush Limbaugh's father. The entire article was published on Rush's official website.)

* * *

NEWS BRIEFS FROM AGAPEPRESS

...The American Family Association is blasting John Hancock Financial Services for a television ad it is airing during the Olympics. The ad, according to AFA, shows two lesbians adopting a baby and declaring themselves a "family." AFA's Vice President Tim Wildmon calls the ad an insult to millions of people who believe in the sanctity of marriage and the family. He says it is "especially outrageous that [Hancock] ran the ad during the Olympics, when children are watching." An earlier version of the ad, which ran in July, included comments in which both women referred to the other as a "mom." Controversy over that version led Hancock to state it would drop the comments about both family and motherhood, but the newer version only drops the comments about motherhood. Wildmon says that is because the company "buckled" under the pressure of homosexual activists. "The truth is," he says, "John Hancock took a page out of the homosexual playbook and declared two lesbians with a baby to be a family."

* * *

It is like a 3rd world virus. We close our eyes and try to ignore it. Our denial has cost us our hope for freedom. Good old fashioned ideas are considered right-wing radical ideas. This is not the fault of the liberals, it is the fault of the moderate Republicans. Liberals scare people into voting booths. Ignorance is spreading faster than even the moderate liberals can defend. I implore, pessimistic realities aside, that average Americans stand up for moral boundries. We are a country of diverse religions; however, all religions (only including Christianity, Budhism, Jewish, Catholic--and all the other major religions) emphasize ethical behavior and strong advocacy. So far, GLAAD has smeared Dr. Laura et al... and this is an organization that represents less than 10% of our population. This is just one of the many ways that the media has manipulated the gullable people of America.

* * *

In the wild, wolves find a mate and keep the same one for life. They have cubs, not because they went to school for it, but because God taught them how. When they do have cubs, they are fully responsible for their training and well-being. Wolves are loyal to their family, and band together for protection. They fight to the death to protect what they feel is right.

It's too bad that humans can't even live up to the standards of a wild animal!

Suzy

 * * *

In regard to youth violence, my thoughts:

Why is America still asking itself why?

Adequate parenting is difficult and time consuming. Contrary to the wishes of many, adequate parenting requires parents to temporarily, and in some cases permanently, forego their own interests in order to focus on the best interests of their children. This is a responsibility that parents owe our society as well as their children. Of course, assigning societal responsibilities to anyone in the 1990's is politically incorrect. Moreover, since the 1960's, self-gratification trumps any and all responsibility. Why? Because we have become a lazy, self-indulgent society.

Parents raise lazy children because its easier than raising motivated children. Parents raise bullies because its easier than raising compassionate, considerate children. Parents raise children who become dependent upon others because it is easier than raising children who will become independent. Parents rely entirely upon teachers and schools to educate their children because it is easier than becoming actively involved in their children's education. Parents allow children to make unwise decisions that ought to be reserved for adults because it is easier than making a decision that opposes the desires of their children. Parents give their children things because things are easier to give than time and attention. Parents drop their kids off at day care because it is easier and more self-satisfying to work than it is to stay at home and be with the children.

When children are compassionate, motivated and ambitious, parents deserve our praise. When children are bigots, bullies, hate-mongers and murderers, their parents deserve our condemnation. Contrary to the statements made at the President's youth violence summit, we all are NOT responsible for youth violence. The complete abdication of parental responsibility and the complete failure of our society to demand parental accountability is responsible for the vast majority of crimes being perpetrated by today's youth. It is time to hold parents accountable for failing their children and their society.

Marc

* * *

Liberal Values

You've seen the slogan "Hate is not a family value". Well, it should be amended to state "Hate is not a family value, but it certainly is a liberal one!"

A couple of years ago, I was reprimanded at work under the grounds of harrassment because I listened to Rush on my radio in my office. Often I would turn it way down and close my door, and even then it was called harrassment for me to listen to Rush. The irony was that the one who was pushing the issue was a militant lesbian in the next office, who had her entire office decoreated in pink triangles, flamingos, nait-maleslogans, and Melissa Etheridge posters. She also would play Etheridge so loudly in her office when she knew I had Rush on that I couldn't hear it.

It was really weird! But it shows the intolerance and hate of the left, who deflect atttention from their own hate by accusing anyone who doesn't agree with them of being hateful! Also, please make not of the fact that it is quite embarrassing to have to say that I am from the state that elected Comrade Paul Wellstone, America's leading socialist.
God bless-
Jay - Mn

* * *

It is said that Abe Lincoln once asked his opponent: If we call a dog's tail a leg, how many legs does a dog then have? The man answered, "if we call it a leg, then the dogs then has five legs." Lincoln replied that it was wrong for just because we call it a leg, it does not become one.

Tony and Sarita

* * *

DAILY SURVIVAL KIT, TO HELP YOU THRU 2003

Toothpick....to remind you to pick the good qualities in everyone, including yourself.

Rubber band .... to remind you to be flexible. Things might not always go the way you want, but it can be worked out.

Band-Aid ... to remind you to heal hurt feelings, either yours or someone else's.

Eraser ... to remind you everyone makes mistakes. That's okay, we learn by our errors.

Candy Kiss ... to remind you everyone needs a hug or a compliment everyday.

Mint ... to remind you that you are worth a mint to your family.

Bubble Gum ... to remind you to stick with it and you can accomplish anything.

Pencil ... to remind you to list your blessings every day.

Tea Bag ... to remind you to take time to relax daily and go over that list of God's blessings.

This is what makes life worth living every minute, every day.

Wishing you love, gratitude, friends to cherish, caring, sharing, laughter, music, warm feelings in your heart and soaring with the eagles.

* * *

Paul Harvey Writes: We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse. For my grandchildren, I'd like better.

I'd really like for them to know about hand me down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches. I really would.

I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated.

I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car.

And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen.

It will be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep.

I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in.

I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother/sister. And it's all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room,but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he's scared, I hope you let him.

When you want to see a movie and your little brother/sister wants to tag along, I hope you'll let him/her.

I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely.

On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don't ask your driver to drop you two blocks away so you won't be seen riding with someone as uncool as your Mom.

If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one.

I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books.

When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head.

I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a boy\girl, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what ivory soap tastes like.

May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole.

I don't care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don't like it. And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he is not your friend.

I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandma/Grandpa and go fishing with your Uncle.

May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holidays.

I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through your neighbor's window and that she hugs you and kisses you at Hannukah/Christmas time when you give her a plaster mold of your hand.

These things I wish for you - tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, it's the only way to appreciate life.

Written with a pen. Sealed with a kiss. I'm here for you. And if I die before you do, I'll go to heaven and wait for you.

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A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks right to the top, rocks about 2" diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them in to the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. The students laughed. He asked his students again if the jar was full? They agreed that yes, it was.

The professor then picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else."Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this is your life.

The rocks are the important things: your family, your partner, your health, your children - anything that is so important to you that if it were lost, you would be nearly destroyed. The pebbles are the other things in life that matter, but on a smaller scale. The pebbles represent things like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else. The small stuff.

If you put the sand or the pebbles into the jar first, there is no room for the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your energy and time on the small stuff, material things, you will never have room for the things that are truly most important. Pay attention to the things that are critical in your life.

Play with your children. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal."Take care of the rocks first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest: just pebbles and sand…………

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