For many years, I was an administrator in the real estate industry and in my spare time worked as a fitness instructor. In December 2003, however, I was involved in a very bad car accident, suffering a severe spinal cord injury. I was in terrible shape; my level of injury was C6/C7, and most of the doctors who treated me were convinced I’d be completely paralyzed, ventilator-dependent, for the rest of my life. As active as I'd always been, I found the prospect devastating.
I had two things going for me, however. My spinal cord wasn't severed; although it had been twisted and severely damaged, it remained intact. Most importantly, however, was my faith in God. He saved my life the night of the accident, and I believe He has guided my recovery since. I AM walking again, and continue to make progress every day.
When I was still in rehab, about 8 months after the accident, one of my therapists showed me a little cartoon she'd found. I don't remember the drawing - some little doodle - but I do remember those words. "Move Without Fear." I LOVED those words, and put 'em everywhere I could! I tried to use them as an email address, but there were too many characters, so movefearlessly was the natural progression. When I began posting in various forums and blogs, movefearlessly became my user name; I eventually started my own blog and have been writing ever since.
I write daily on a variety of topics in addition to politics on my blog. Feel free to stop by anytime!
THERE...I SAID IT...
“I distinguish between two kinds of politicians. There are those who view politics as a tactical game, a game in which they do not reveal any individuality, in which they lose their own face. There are, however, leaders for whom politics is a means of defending and furthering values. For them, it is a moral pursuit. They do so because the values they cherish are endangered. They’re convinced that there are values worth living for, and even values worth dying for. Otherwise they would consider their life and work pointless. Only such politicians are great politicians and Ronald Reagan was one of them.”– Pres. Lech Walesa
I think the quote pretty much speaks for itself.
I am today thoroughly disgusted with myself...I could have done more to stop what is happening today. We ALL could have. I valued my comfort, my own standard of living, over the liberty purchased with the blood and sweat of my forefathers. I am ashamed.
But I vow to do better.
When will Atlas Shrug?
I've been MIA for most of the past week, in a funk of my own creation. I'm an avid reader; since I could walk and talk, I've loved books of all genres. I was one of the nerds who delighted in literature assignments, usually the weirder the better.
Many moons ago, I read Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged. This was near the end of the Reagan era, when capitalism and patriotism were on the rise, and to me it was just another interesting novel - a fascinating source of grief that I tried to work into a challenging semester load. Last week, I decided to re-read it. What a source of grief again, for entirely different reasons!
I admit I had a difficult time with Rand's creepily prescient work. Many times I had to put the book down as I cried, overcome with an anxiety approaching ice-cold fear. We are headed for Rand's societal meltdown. And unbelievably, it's not that far in the future.
Turning things around is going to take a lot of work from all of us. We need to get informed -- which won't be easy if the current administration is successful in locking down the Internet -- and we need to get involved. Above all, we need to replace as many liberal politicians as possible come November. Our government is strangling production in this country. These people do not produce jobs, do not generate income, accomplish nothing effectively. And they continue to cry "You HAVE to!" as they conspire to steal from future generations under the guise of entitlement spending.
We must stop it, now.
Or Atlas WILL shrug.
LOVE THIS MAN
Lt. Col. Allen West is running for election in Florida's District 22. A third-generation military man with a love of God and country, he is an all-around Republican rockstar, and I sincerely hope he waxes the floor with his competition in November.
This man is a true conservative. He's a straight shooter, unafraid to tell the truth and completely unapologetic when it comes to standing up for his principles. I'm sure my husband will forgive me for saying I love this man!
One of the insidious diseases currently eating away at our country is the pressure to be politically correct. I've spent part of my day reading one report after another covering this offensive "monster Mosque" being proposed for construction in the shadow of the former World Trade Center. Quite honestly, I don't see how any American can consider the project anything other than an abomination. I won't say anything else about it (I'd hate to break yet another no-profanity vow), other than this: being politically correct will only get us killed.
Take a few minutes to watch this video, and I think you'll understand why I wish I could cast a vote for Lt. Col. West this fall, and why I think all of us might eventually have the opportunity to vote for him in the future. The beginning of the clip is his answer to a question about the "perversion" of Islam by Jihadists. He doesn't pull any punches, doesn't bat an eye, lays out the cold hard truth clearly and eloquently. This man is a statesman rather than a politician, and electing candidates like him will help us set our country back on the right path.
- Watch more Videos at Vodpod.
NEVER FORGET
I'm not going to write the post that's been eating at my heart and mind for most of the week; for one thing, I'm furious, and I have a very difficult time articulating in a sane and thoughtful manner when I feel this way. I will say: the fact that our Commander-in-Chief has decided against a visit to Arlington on Memorial Day in favor of a visit to Chicago (REALLY?? NOW you decide to honor your promises?) is distressing. Unseemly. Decidedly UN-presidential.
I love Memorial Day, and at the same time it's a holiday that hurts. It is incredibly appropriate that we observe the amazing sacrifice made by so many for the freedom we enjoy today. We should always remember that FREEDOM is not FREE - it is bought and paid for with the blood, sweat, and tears of those who cannot bear oppression. It is preserved by those whose courage and valor are greater than their love of comfort and wealth. The men and women who serve in our armed forces - directly AND indirectly - certainly at the least deserve a holiday commemorating the sacrifices they and their predecessors have made.
But to many people, this is a just another three-day weekend. Time to party, right? Yes, actually, it is - that, and a bit more. Celebrate your freedom by sharing it with your loved ones. Enjoy the get-togethers, barbecues, parties...and remember the sacrifices that purchased them.
