Best interest

In reality, it comes down to who has the best of the child at heart. As a general rule, I would say the parents given their investment. One can always find the exceptions to the rule, there will always be abuse and poor parenting, but I would wonder about the ratio of adequate vs bad parents compared to the foster care system.

My wager is those with more invested come out on top.

I love this quote from former Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger as highlighted on ParentalRights.org

The law’s concept of the family rests on a presumption that parents possess what a child lacks in maturity, experience, and capacity for judgment required for making life’s difficult decisions. More important, historically it has recognized that natural bonds of affection lead parents to act in the best interests of their children.

…

The statist notion that governmental power should supersede parental authority in all cases because some parents abuse and neglect children is repugnant to American tradition.

Show me a government program that is efficient, effective and under-budget. Then we can talk about the government's role in raising children.

But the government intervention isn't always about the best interest of the child, but more often in the best interest of the state.

I'm still voting

For Ron Paul.















looks like this came from deesillustrations.com.

A standard

Kevin O'Brien of the Plain Dealer marvels that we have apparently found a standard, below which we will not stoop to allow.

Finally, we have a broad consensus that somewhere, someone's "lifestyle" has gone too far.
...
We've picked a battle. Praise be.

He speaks of the almost unanimous outrage regarding the Yearning for Zion's abuse of the young girls. In our culture of sexual liberation and deviancy, they, the leaders of this cult, have gone too far. We won't accept the indoctrination, brainwashing and abuse of these young girls.

But Kevin wonders if it isn't a bit hypocritical?

But how is it that so many of us fail to see - or choose to ignore - the same things befalling young girls everywhere?

Long before they're 18, the prevalent culture in America's cities steers black girls into lives of single motherhood and serial relationships with men who aren't interested even in "spiritual" wives.

Mom took that route. So did Grandma. No stigma. No outrage. It's just how life works.

Or how about girls in idyllic, white, small-town America? The prevalent culture rushes them through childhood, has them dressing provocatively at 12 and involved in "serious relationships" and/or casual hook-ups with potentially life-altering consequences before they're 16.

That's what the appealing young people on MTV do. That's how the popular girls play it.
...
Polygamy or older men marrying young girls? Either may seem weird or downright distasteful to us, but aren't those just different kinds of marriage? If we declare the whole one-man, one-woman thing obsolete, how can we then draw artificial lines by age, sex or number of partners? Besides, who are we to doubt the capacity of two (or more) people to love one another enough to make a marriage work?

Young kids having sex? Aw, they're all doing it. Right? Can't stop 'em. Just issue the girls condoms, explain the plumbing and invite them to make "wise choices." Isn't that how we "empower" girls who don't live in cults?

I think he hits on something here. Given his points about how the media, Hollywood or whatever cultural bogyman we fear treats young girls, why cry foul here? The proverbial slippery slope, Kevin is happy to see something has finally elicited people to dig in their heels and "No, we don't allow that here."

He is right, we, and I emphasize 'we', need to say that more often. It isn't the job of the media or Hollywood to raise our daughters; to say 'NO' once in a while. It is the job of the parents, especially the fathers.

I don't believe the outrage of the media regarding the abuse of these girls. They are just angry that it was not the approved method of indoctrination and sexification of these children. If the polygamist leaders would have been handing out condoms and telling the boys to "be boys" and score as many girls as they could, the silence would have been deafening. If the girls were instructed to "make their own choices" and sleep with whom they wanted, no cry would have been raised. But since this wasn't the "approved method", and it makes news, the media has been all over it.

But the media doesn't control the destiny of our children. Hollywood only has the influence that we give it. But have we already lost that battle? Do we fathers even know there is a battle going on?

Were does our attention turn when Brittany, Paris or the latest pantiless young girl is paraded across the news? What is being spewed from the TVs in our living rooms, the magazine on the coffee tables or the computer in the den? Do we think our daughters are so naive not to notice what gets our attention? Where do girls learn the basics for relationship? From the actions of the fathers. So we can lament the state of the world all day long, but undue those eloquent words with a few simple actions that speak otherwise.

Quick Q&A

Stopped at the grocery store and one of the boys noticed an ambulance in the parking lot. He asked what would an ambulance be doing at a grocery store?

We got our quick answer. As we were entering the store two male EMTs were leaving. So the answer to the question: What is an ambulance doing at the store? Why, picking up BBQ sauce of course.

Doing my part

In honor of Earth Day, I did my part. I drove my SUV out into the forest and idled for a while, providing the trees with a little extra CO2. Just my way of saying happy earth day without worshiping it.

Leadership

Leadership: The hard way

Local product, Alaskan governor Sarah Palin just gave birth to her fifth child. Try that while running a state. But the beautiful part, the baby has Down syndrome. Having disabilities isn't beautiful, but the love with which he was welcomed is.

The Palin family issued a statement that read: "Trig is beautiful and already adored by us. We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives.

"We have faith that every baby is created for good purpose and has potential to make this world a better place. We are truly blessed."

Plain and simple, they get it. Children are a blessing, special needs or not.

In a letter she e-mailed to relatives and close friends Friday after giving birth, Palin wrote, "Many people will express sympathy, but you don't want or need that, because Trig will be a joy. You will have to trust me on this." She wrote it in the voice of and signed it as "Trig's Creator, Your Heavenly Father."

"Children are the most precious and promising ingredient in this mixed-up world you live in down there on Earth. Trig is no different, except he has one extra chromosome," Palin wrote.

As for people who think a baby like Trig shouldn't even be born, look around, the governor wrote. Who is perfect or even normal?

God bless this family as they give silent witness to the joy of life in our sorry mixed up world.

Weather news

The only real bad thing about north Idaho getting snow and freezing temperatures on the 21st of April is that the U-Hauls are out of one way rentals back to California.

Rest in peace

Please pray for the repose of the soul of my wife's grandmother Mildred. She suffered a massive stroke a week ago and passed away yesterday around 4 pm. She was 98 and lived a very holy and faith filled life.

And I don't say that lightly, or without meaning. She bore 16 children and outlived way too many of them. Catholic until the end, even though she was not responsive when they got her to the hospital, she wouldn't let go of her rosary or holy medal.

The good news in this sadness. My wife was able to return to North Dakota in time to see her and pray with her. Grandma recovered to the point of being aware who was there and able to look at them. She also got to see our 4 month old daughter for the first time, our daughter who bears grandma's middle name Victoria.

So remember Mildred Victoria in your prayers and also my wife's family who have lost a two in the last 8 months or so, a maternal grandfather last fall and now the end of the generation on the paternal side.

Strange happenings

Last evening is sort of fuzzy, and now I know why. Seems I got a good slap upside the head (courtesy of the Ironic Catholic) in anticipation of the Pope's arrival.

So if I start acting a little strange... uh check that. If you see any behavior not normal typical for me, just know whose fault it is.

Obscure Papal Trivia *redux*

Thought I would trot out this item in honor of our Holy Father's visit.

Some little known facts about our Holy Father's likes and dislikes:

Favorite programming language: C. Not C++. Just C. There is no need for pluses when you sit on the Holy C. There is none higher on earth and the throne in Heaven transcends programming.

Truck manufacturer: Peterbilt of course! Not quite as durable as the Church that Jesus built, but coming in a close second.

Season: Winter. One might consider springtime, but remember red looks good in heavy garments. And since the Holy Father usually has several layers on, summertime is definitely out.

Operating System UNIX. Some would argue Mac, but there is always that ancient problem with apples. LINUX is more Protestant in its recent creation and frequent spin-offs. Plus it has no visible head, everyone can make up their own rules. So why UNIX? Because Jesus said there are those that become so for the sake of the Kingdom.

Needing support

My daughter and I have determined there is a great need, a need all good Christians in the Ivory Coast should fill. There is a need for a support group in the country, specifically at the Kuwait embassy in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire. Not sure if that is in the Ivory Coast or Kuwait, but where ever it is, please help these poor people.

Seems there are lots of widows there that are suffering immense tragedy. Yes, they are rich, having several million US Dollars in the bank there, but what good is money when such tragedy hits a family? It seems that a support group for these widows would be well worth the effort. They all have recently lost their husbands to a brief illness. They don't have the support of family as they are recent converts to the Christian faith (evident by their liberal use of the Bible verses).

Not only have they lost their beloved spouse, but all are suffering from cancer and stroke sickness (?) that has them not lasting "for the next eight months". And in the face of such trauma, I applaud their fortitude and courage to "not to remarry or get a child outside my matrimonial home". As of course, that sort of behavior goes against the teachings of the Bible. Not sure about the remarriage, but getting children outside the matrimonial home is for sure.

The good news is these women have all found God, and for a modest sum promise to donate their millions of US Dollars to a charity of your choice.

One would think with them all being from the Kuwait embassy in the Ivory Coast, they might have already shared stories, but I think this is not the case. At least I haven't received an email from their support group yet!

A sucker

I am a sucker for tweaking the looney environmentalists. Cross that with proclaiming the gift of children, and we have a winner here from Promo Presto




















Those "carbon footprints" are going to be funding your social security.

And since plants need CO2, we can look at it as "Saving the rain forests, one breath at a time."

via Creative Minority Report

We can agree on one thing

Seems American's can agree on one thing, Bible is America's favorite book:

"Finally, they may not agree on candidates, but one thing that brings together partisans is their favorite book. For Republicans, Democrats and Independents, the top two books are the same -- the Bible followed by "Gone With the Wind."

The second place book wasn't as firm as the Bible, as different segments of society varied more widely.

"Gone With the Wind" was number two in the southern and midwestern United States while easterners chose "The Lord of the Rings" and westerners opted for "The Stand".

Men also preferred the LOTR over the romantic "Gone with the Wind" chosen by women. I find the regional breakdown more fascinating. The romantic south, independent west and the good taste of the midwestern. Not sure how the easterners came up with the best #2, but hey, even a broken clock is right twice a day.

No good deed

goes unpunished, as the saying goes. Red Cross refuses blood donations from homosexuals, Thai human rights group threatens lawsuit

I have donated blood, that is one of the questions they ask. But the question is, does Red Cross or the blood banks have a right to screen their applicants? Funny how on critical issues such as blood supply, this "discrimination" has yet to come up. Until now.

Signs, signs, everywhere the signs

Signs are good. They point us to our destination. In Christian typology, signs point us toward the greater good. So why, to continue robbing from the Tesla song, would I find they are "clogging up the scenery, cluttering up my mind"?

Well it is simple really, signs point to a greater good. They are not the good, they just help us find it. So if the sign holders get disordered, they can actually cloud the view of the destination. Imagine so many signs along the roadway that you miss the exit. Okay, enough analogies, how does this apply to us.

The ultimate good in the eyes of a Christian is Christ. Being connected with Him, having a relationship, knowing and loving Him. For Catholics, the ultimate connection with Jesus is receiving Him; Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Eucharist. All Sacraments point towards this ultimate Sacrament. The priesthood was given so Jesus could continue offering Himself to us at every Mass. Confession washes in the blood of the Lamb and reminds us that we are indeed forgiven, reorders our lives to better receive Him in the Eucharist.

The Eucharist is the ultimate good, the most Awesome connection we have to Jesus on this earth. Many signs point to this. Marriage is a prominent sign or type of the Eucharist. Type being something that prefigures or points to the Anti-Type. Adam, Moses and Elijah were all types of Jesus, Jesus being the Anti-Type. Eve was an type of Mary. The union of marriage points to heaven, our ultimate union with God. Without going to heavily into Pope John Paul's Theology of the Body, our earthly marriages should point to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

A quote I am going to work in here by Fr. Euteneuer of HLI, "The marriage bed is the altar of the domestic church." God intended our marriages to bring life to others, to bring love to the world. A good marriage requires sacrifice. "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." Ephesians 5:25. That is the basis for the e5 Men.

So marriage is a sign pointing to the Eucharist, to Christ's love for all humanity. Where does the clutter enter? Many of us have a passion for liturgy, we do our best to right the wrong and pray when we can't. But abuses can happen from any angle. It is an abuse when the Rainbow Sash people try to make Pentecost about themselves. It is also an abuse when the Marriage Encounter people twist the sign to point to themselves.

Perhaps you are not familiar with the practice of the husband and wife receiving Communion together. It seems to be gaining ground in our parish and it needs to stop. The husband and wife walk side by side to receive the Eucharist and wait for each other. Then when receiving the Blood of Christ, the wife takes the Cup first, and then hands it to her husband as a sign of their unity and love.

What could be wrong with standing up for good marriages, you ask? When you are in the presence of God Almighty, the signs shouldn't get in the way.

Think about it. We are at Mass to worship God. Any demonstration that draws attention away from God probably shouldn't be there. What is greater, the sign or the destination? The creature or the Creator?

***Update***
Thanks to Frival in the comments for correcting me on the Type/Anti-Type reversal. It is fixed in the article now. And for those dealing with this, feel free to use the article to help your case if you act on this.

Fun for a day

April 1st is a day to enjoy. Thanks to the INSERT COIN trick, my printers have been talking back today.

Best result so far, NEED ICE CREAM

Until I pulled this one out late in the day.