Will Someone Please Stand Up for a Mad Woman Like Me?

Wow, I have not done this in seven years, but I just wrote an unforgivably long FB comment that I cannot post on someone else's feed. Instead, I will post it here. Probably no one is reading, but I will hope for catharsis.

Witty-Thoughtful-Cousin just posted a lovely quote on FB:

"If you find yourself in any conversations about the latest attack and ISIS and Islam are equated, kindly and firmly remind folks that this terrorism was carried out during the holy month of Ramadan, where, literally, Muslims the world over fast and abstain from fighting. ISIS is not Islam."

-Reverend Micah Bucey, Associate Minister at Judson Memorial Church

I cannot overstate how much I LOVE that sentiment.

One commentator on the post was, however, concerned that the ISIS risk is not being given due consideration and noted that part of what helped us win WWII was that we "knew who and what the real threat was." While it is true that patriotic Americans united to sacrifice all they could to vanquish a tyrant (Grandpa-GI-Joe served honorably in both Europe and Asia), it is also true that America stood by for YEARS and watched Hitler rise and push his evil agenda.

Before we liberated Auschwitz, we officially refused to accept Jewish refugees when their plight was known, abandoning them to die in Europe. We thought it was someone else's problem. We wanted to stay neutral. As a result, we missed an opportunity to save so many. As someone who loves America and democracy, I have to ask, have we learned our lesson?

Right now we are facing the biggest humanitarian crisis since WWII. There are currently some 11M displaced people (coincidentally that is the same number generally sited as total Holocaust victims), and many call for a ban on Syrian refugees coming to America. Based on dooms day news reports, you would think we were awash in Syrian refugees, but fewer than 3,000 have been admitted into the US in the last four years. Are we doing our part? Am I?

Many Americans seem to fear these Syrian Refugees as part that "known threat" without understanding that, in fact, these refugees are displaced by ISIS (and Assad). Islam is not ISIS. ISIS is at war with true Islam. Do we really know our enemies from our friends?

In the spirit of love and good will, I implore my Americans brothers and sisters to please beware of charismatic leaders who tell you that the problems in society are not our fault and then provide a list of others that we can blame in oder to provide a solution. Hitler blamed Jews, gays, communists, union leaders, etc. Today we have a would-be leader blaming Mexican immigrants, Muslims and other minority groups. I am not merely trying to be inflammatory when I say that I see a lot of similarities between the rise of Hitler and our current political climate.

Hitler used racism and people's fears to rise to power. He called for mass deportations to make Germany great again. He was an anti-Jew Fascist. Sound familiar? Surely we learned our lesson! We cannot have forgotten the obligatory Holocaust lessons that shocked our tender hearts in middle and high school! The America I love cannot possibly support an anti-Muslim Fascist for President. We must stand up for the good in all of the minority groups that comprise our beautiful American family, as well as the displaced peoples of foreign lands. In my ears, the beautiful plea of Reverend Micah Bucey rings familiar, and I recall the words of another religious leader, Pastor Martin Niemöller. You remember it from middle school. "First they came for the Socialists..."

So, I must stand up and post this annoyingly long blog that no one but my mother will ever possibly read (and even if they do, they will write it off as partisan fighting or silly babble from a mad woman who needs to go to bed) in the hopes that when the day comes that the intolerant blow-hards come for me (as they will inevitably come for each of us) SOMEONE will be left to stand up for me.

Now I must publish before I lose my nerve.

Check Out the Map

An interactive map at the Health Reform website allows you to view health care statistics (sources sited) for your state and look at projected improvements that might be realized through reform.

Some interesting statistics for Nevada are as follows:
-Since 2000 alone, average family premiums have increased by 61 percent in Nevada.
- 14 percent of middle-income Nevada families spend more than 10 percent of their income on health care.
-18 percent of people in Nevada are uninsured, and 70 percent of them are in families with at least one full-time worker.
-While small businesses make up 73 percent of Nevada businesses, only 44 percent of them offered health coverage benefits in 2006.

Setting the Record Straight

I have heard some interesting things from friends who are opposed to health care reform. Here are a few of my favorite myths:

Myth 1: Proposed bills will provide free health care for illegal aliens.
TRUTH: The proposed legislation specifically states that "undocumented aliens" will not be eligible for credits to help them buy health insurance, in Section 246 on page 143.

Myth 2: Proposed bills will mean I cannot pick the doctor that I want.
TRUTH: Americans will still have access to private health insurance. Public insurance options will not assign doctors to patients. The bill does NOT propose a single-provider or "socialized" solution where the government controls doctors and/or hospitals.

Myth 3: Health care will be denied to those the government deems too old or too sick.
TRUTH: Section 142 of the bill says that a Health Choices Commissioner (HCC)will make sure that insurers are offering basic benefits and adhering to the regulations. Individuals then choose their own plan from offerings on the exchange. The health commissioner does not "decide health benefits for you." Individuals will be able to choose among competing insurers that are regulated via the exchange. The HCC will help establish standard system procedures, but will not review individual cases for approval or denial.

4. Government workers will be able to access my bank account to withdraw fees.
TRUTH: Section 163 sets out goals for electronic health records. One of the goals is to include features that "enable electronic funds transfers, in order to allow automated reconciliation" between payment and billing. The legislative summary says the intent in the section is "to adopt standards for typical transactions" between insurance companies and health care providers. The legislation generically describes typical electronic banking transactions and does not outline any special access privileges to accounts of citizens.

For more information, check out the Setting the Record Straight website.

Milan, London, New York, Tokyo, and Unincorporated Las Vegas

A short time ago (June 2006) this blogger told you about her decision to dabble a bit in the world of haute couture. Well, I can now (finally) report that someone actually paid $17.95 for one of my t-shirt designs. I was exstatic to receive the email notification that I will be receiving $2.00 in designer's royalties once the purchase is finalized. Yes, I have officially gone pro! All I can say about the lag between design release and purchase date is that I have always been ahead of my time.

And it could not have come at a better time (neither the $2 nor the fame)! My big sister is becoming a superstar photographer (in case you have not heard), and I needed to save a little face (and buy milk). I may need to take some vacation days from my day job to work on my Summer 2009 line... I will let you in on a little secret... argyle is the new black.

Confessions of a Wanna-Be Enviro-Warrior

I knew it would happen. I told myself that I would forget about Earth Hour unless I took certain percautions. Still, the event did not make it into my Outlook... Thus I was doomed to fail and let down my Mother Earth. Oh the guilt!

Knowing that my weekends generally fly by in a haze of late nights, late mornings and excessive piles of laundry, I was prepared to have my dreams of a darkened livingroom and a clear conscience go unfulfilled...

StillI was not prepared to find that Sin City as a whole out shined me by turning down the glow. Nice job, Las VEgas.

I guess there is always Earthweek 2009 (April 19-25)...

Support Stem Cell Research

I just sent a letter to President Obama asking him to issue an executive order to overturn funding restrictions on stem cell research. You can too... I am providing a link for those who are interested.

Remember, "For people living with MS and other chronic diseases or disabilities, potential new funding offers hope for treatments or cures to be discovered." In case you forgot, George W. Bush cut the possibility for Federal funding of any new embryonic stem cells in 2001.

I'm Dreaming of a Safe Constitution...

Day two of the Hope Administration and I still have a lot of it (hope, that is)! In a time where everyone is consumed with worry about their stock portfolios and mortgage payments, it would be SO easy to just sweep campaign promised under a rug. So far so good with follow through--word and deed!

"As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake."