Out Loud

Starting tomorrow, I'll be blogging with a new host.  I acknowledge that getting used to a new blog might be frustrating for some of you, but it's a necessary change for me.  I'm going to invite you to the new blog, but if you don't get an invite (by accident), just email me and I'll make sure that you get an invite from Blogger, my new host.

The new blog is also private, but the signing in process is easier and more obvious. 

After you're on the new site, you should bookmark the new site and delete the bookmark to this one to eliminate confusion.

Talk to you on blogger.

I thought that some of you, particularly my Christian friends, would find this AMAZINGLY interesting.  Fresh Air's (an NPR program) Terry Gross interviewed the man who invented Black Liberation Theology and found out how he began to understand God as a vengeful defender of the weak.  It's like 20 minutes...just click here and then click "Listen Now" on the Fresh Air page.

Then, she interviewed a Professor of Religion who goes to Obama's church and whom talks about the historical perspective of this theology and about Rev. Wright specifically.  Very interesting.

I don't care how you voted/plan to vote, I do believe that the speech Obama gave today is THE most important speech of my lifetime.  As the Mom of an interracial family, I believe that EVERY AMERICAN should sit down for 37 minutes and contemplate what exactly Obama is saying about race!  Provocative and Inspiring!

I've been tagged by Tarah...so here goes the game:

HERE'S HOW YOU PLAY. ONCE YOU'VE BEEN TAGGED YOU HAVE TO WRITE A BLOG OF TEN WEIRD, RANDOM THINGS, FACTS OR HABITS ABOUT YOURSELF. AT THE END, YOU CHOOSE FIVE PEOPLE TO BE TAGGED, LISTING THEIR NAMES AND WHY YOU CHOSE THEM TO BE TAGGED. DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE THEM A COMMENT "YOU'RE IT" AND TO READ YOUR BLOG. YOU CAN'T TAG THE PERSON WHO TAGGED YOU. SINCE YOU CAN'T TAG THAT PERSON BACK, LET HIM OR HER KNOW WHEN YOU'VE POSTED YOUR BLOG SO HE OR SHE CAN READ YOUR ANSWERS.

1.  My favorite books, are, in this order:
    1.)Roots
    2.)Uncle Tom's Cabin
    3.)Harry Potter, #1-7
    4.)Bridget Jones' Diary, #1-2
    5.)The Awakening
    6.)Gone with the Wind

2.  I've always wanted to adopt and used to have dreams in which my kids were sitting in their carseats in the backseat...and my children were ALWAYS African-American.  Hmph.

3.  I changed my name to Valentina for two years in college.

4.  My first Presidential campaign that I was fired up about was Ross Perot in 8th grade.  My Dad loved him and so I loved him...but then I switched to supporting Bill Clinton.

5.  I was born with a New York accent and had to go to speech therapy to get rid of it because it creeped my Mom out.  When I'm around New Yorkers...it slips back in and I start wanting "Cawfee", etc.

6.  Nick and I were friends for years before we dated...I even fixed him up twice with two of my friends in High School.

7.  I taught Bubba to lift the lid on the toilet when he was young by chasing him down and rubbing his bare bottom all over the wet toilet seat when he peed on the seat.

8.  I sleep with my dogs.

9. I'm a feminist AND a stay-at-home Mom and I don't see a conflict in this situation at all. :)

10.  Other than books, I don't have many favorite things.  No favorite movies, TV shows, songs, etc.

Most of my friends don't have blogs, so I tag Katy and Jessica...you're it.
   

My friend Sarah (we were in Ethiopia together becoming parents) suggested that I put my top 10 reasons why I'm supporting Barack Obama on my blog...so, here it goes.

10.  I would never vote for McCain.  I used to like him, but I believe that his reactionary and often angry outlook on the world (I've heard many a public tantrum when he lets his anger show) is not what will turn this country around.

9.  I would not vote for Hillary.  I joined the Hillary Rodham Clinton fanclub in 8th grade and have a great deal of respect for her...BUT...she has never been anything except for a divisive figure in US politics...and if I think so, than I know that Independent voters will agree!   I think that a better role for her would be as party leader...where the old "us v. them" rhetoric is acceptable.  And...as much as I loved Bill Clinton, I do believe that his shenanigans led to 8 years of Bush and I COULD NOT TAKE another 8 years of anything remotely like this.

8.  He never supported the war in Iraq.  Some people say that his opinion didn't matter b/c he was just in the IL legislature, but I disagree.  I often hear our state legislators speak on topics that they don't get to vote on and I think that their voices are incredibly important in shaping public opinion in their state.

7.  He isn't a Bush or a Clinton.  I'm sorry, but I took a lot of International Politics courses in college (b/c I wanted to take any class I could with Dr. Williams...thanks Robert!), and I can honestly say that political dynasties can destroy democracy.  I mean come on, in a nation of 300 million people, we can't come up with more than two families to run this country?  I think not!

6. On a personal note, I am inspired by his life story.  If you are interested in learning more about his character, check out his memoir "Dreams of My Father."  His accomplishments and strength of character as a black man raised by his white family gives me hope for Sammy's future!  In addition, he has grown into a leader...and truly sees things differently than many of the people who feel that they were born to be President.

5.  He is quiet, but strong in his faith.  He was not raised with any religion, but started attending a socially-activist black church when he was organizing in Chicago and realized how powerful churches can be in changing society.  His heart was slowly softened and he chose to become a Christian, and was baptized, as an adult.  I know what this feels like and the courage it takes to make this commitment as an adult.  I love that he doesn't use God for political purposes (a la George Bush) or to justify his positions (God is on my side so I can attack anybody, etc.), because, let's face it, God is not a Democrat, or a Republican...or an American for that fact!

4.  He is fairly liberal, but I am a teacher and let me assure you, we need somebody to lead this country who is willing to invest in the public!  Our schools are ridiculously sub-par, our infrastructure is crumbling, etc.  Do you want to live in a country that is in decline, or one that invests in itself so that we can share the same American experience that people in the 50s experienced...enough roads to accommodate traffic patterns, bridges that are strong, public schools that are an option for intelligent parents, etc.?!?!  I think that there might be a time and a place to spend $5 billion a month on Iraqi infrastructure and safety...but that time is not now!   And don't get me started on safety.  There are drive-by gang-related shootings in my neighborhood on a regular basis and the police are making cuts to their staff because of budget constraints!  I've noticed a huge generational difference in this contest and I think that many older people are in denial about how bad things are for those of us trying to bring up kids today.  We are probably going to be forced to send our kids to private school at $16,000 a year just so that I can feel confident that they'll be in a SAFE and healthy environment that values learning.  I think that if the baby boomers were raising their kids today, they'd understand the "change" that Obama represents and demand it for this country!

3.  He is inspirational.  I'm sorry...but this matters.  Almost every American I know is feeling like our country is in the tank and one of the most important thing that a President can do is to make you believe that it will be better (think: FDR, JFK, Reagan).  In addition, he is a uniter.  He is able to minimize differences between people (see what he's done already to diminish the "race" vote in this country--ie--Latinos vote for Hillary, etc.) and help us all to keep our eyes on the prize: We are Americans and should fight for our country and the people that compose it.

2.  He has not taken one penny from lobbyists, special interests, etc. for his Presidential bid.  All of his money has come from supporters like me who give small amounts every month.  That means that, for the first time in decades, our President will be beholdent to nobody but...the voters!  If you know anything about politics, you know that this is revolutionary!  Can you imagine a country in which the President represents only his voters! 

1.  His policies are forward-thinking and responsible.  Although the policy differences between Hillary and Obama are minimal, I love him for the above 9 reasons and appreciate his policy initiatives: universal health care (have you seen "Sicko?"...do you know that Nick and I pay $395 a month for our family plan and STILL have a $3,000 deductible?!?!  We're relatively young and completely healthy...I mean how many of you could have raised your family at these prices?  It's a huge burden.); re-investing in infrastructure, Broadband (so that we can compete with other industrialized countries), etc.; investing in green  energy discovery so that we can move off of oil once and for all and use American ingenuity to relieve our dependence on foreign oil; give college students a $4,000 dollar grant annually if they agree to spend a period of time giving back through various charities in this country; pull out of Iraq (yes, this will be a bloodbath, but how is our presence moving their country forward?  Wouldn't our staying there just make the bloodbath come later?  I'm a history teacher and believe that you are hard pressed to find a single historical justification for staying in Iraq for another minute); re-investment in schools because it takes more than unfunded federal mandates to change education (the decline in American schools began just after the babyboomers graduated from high school and it correlates directly to a diminish financial investment in schools.  Do you know that most private schools that are unsubsidized by churches, etc. charge a minimum of $15,000 per year per child?  How can public schools be expected to do this for the most challenging students in this country for about $8,000 a year? )

Ohbama!  Yes We Can! 

P.S.--He's trying to get 1,000,000 people to make a donation to his campaign before the OH and TX primaries on March 4.  He encourages contributions of any amount (as little as $5) on his website.  So...if you're a supporter...consider giving whatever amount you deem appropriate.

Thank you to Nat and Michelle for informing me of this fabulous video riffing on John McCain and Barack's "Yes We Can" video (below).  Sooooooooooooooo fun!

K-K-K-Katy...will you be my C-C-C-Comrade?

Kudos to my dear friend Katy who recently moved to Colorado, hired a babysitter tonight, drove through the snow, parked REALLY far away and then walked through the snow (if you're not impressed enough yet, please note that Katy just moved from a lifetime in Los Angeles...snow is a BIG deal) in order to vote in her first caucus!  

Katy...you and your love of Obama inspire me!

Check out this cool video putting Barack's "Yes We Can" Speech to Music:

I'm sure that, if you don't live in Santa Rosa, you have come to think that, like many new parents, our dogs have lost their highly revered place in our family.  Well, you couldn't be any more wrong if you tried!  We still love and pamper our sweet little four-legged friends!  In fact, I'm made more and more aware of how inappropriate our love of them is everyday.  For instance, just this morning I was snuggling with them while reading the morning paper and thought "I love how sweet Jinxie's breath smells when it come directly from his lungs and through his nose!"  Wow...that IS something! :)

We love you Bella and Jinx...