My new fascination...

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 16:18:42 GMT

I have developed a new interest in politics. I have voted for years, but I cannot say that I have always been the most informed voter. I just went in the booth and voted for the Republican candidate. My vote was determined by my conservative beliefs so I voted pro-life and pro tradtional marriage. I didn't concern myself with other important issues.

This year I am working in US and World History classrooms and the teachers and students are engaging in daily conversations about the candidates and the issues. I love it. One of my favorite leisure activities has been taking online quizzes on the candidate's stances on important issues. The most recent one I completed is from the Washington Post. I took a quiz for each party, to expand my thinking. It took me over an hour to complete the quiz because I read the full comments from each and every candidate on each issue. The results on the Democratic quiz was Obamah over Clinton. The Republican quiz left me in a quandry. Ron Paul earned 28 points, Mike Huckabee 23 points, and John McCain 23 points. I don't believe that I will be voting for a Democrat, but like I said, I am trying to be open-minded.

After reading various articles from news stations I don't believe that Ron Paul is truly a contender in this race. So, that leaves me with Huckabee or McCain. McCain is pretty darned old and I wonder if he would even live through his term if elected. Huckabee? I don't know that much about him, so I am going to have to do a lot more research. If I were asked to vote today, I would be completely undecided. None of the candidates have the same beliefs and concerns that I do and it is hard to determine what I am willing to comprimise.

Geesh, who would ever have guessed that I would be interested in anything that makes me think so hard? I usually reserve my brain cells for work or college classes. I hope everyone who reads this goes out and votes. When I have time, I will blog about my reason for becoming a citizen who exercises her right to vote. It involves a very interesting excerpt from my grandfather's life.

Theodore Roosevelt's thoughts on immigration

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 23:27:38 GMT

In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that's the English Language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that's the loyalty to the American people. THEODORE ROOSEVELT 1907

I have to admit that I agree wholeheartedly with Theodore Roosevelt's statement. I have no problem with people coming to come to the US to pursue their dreams of a better life. I do have a problem with them being here illegally. I have a problem with them NOT wanting to be citizens and taking on the responsibilities of an American citizen. My sister-in-law's father came here from Mexico. He was proud to be a US citizen. He learned English perfectly and spoke Spanish fluently. He enjoyed his Latin music and Mexican food, and served in the US Armed Forces. He thought it ridiculous that our schools started putting up signs in Spanish, and that places of business seek out people who speak Spanish and English. He said that he had to assimilate, and so should everyone else. The US shouldn't change to suit the immigrants, the immigrants should change to fit into the US. I would be happy to have more immigrants like him in our country.

Meandering Thoughts of MomTo3Kidz: News and politics

My new fascination...

Theodore Roosevelt's thoughts on immigration