5/15/09

Um, An End To Hunger And World Peace?

Here is a great example of the indoctrination (excuse me, I meant education) foisted upon our children over the last 30 years.

I use Google almost exclusively for my browser. It’s quick, easy and usually brings up exactly what I want without a lot of visual “stuff” to sift through. The other day I’m at the homepage and I notice Google sponsored a contest for kids to design its logo. If you know anything about Google, you know they typically alter their logo artwork to celebrate holidays and honor people. I think this is very cool and creative and it’s another reason why I use their service. I notice I can vote for various “doodles” presumably so the winner will have their piece displayed to the world in cyberspace.

So I check out the artwork and I’m generally impressed with the quality. (There are some very talented children out there.) As I’m perusing the drawings, “oohing” and “awing” over how cute they are, I slowly realize a theme is emerging. Every single piece I saw dealt with some aspect of global warming, recycling, homelessness, saving the planet and all its animals (except man), going “green”, equalizing the playing field for all, and every other issue de jour the left deems trendy for the moment. Oh, how PC it all is.

I conclude this had to be Google’s guideline for the contest: show how much you care by picking one of these topics and working the visuals into our logo. Then, write a bleeding-heartfelt paragraph explaining it in your innocent voice so that evil grownups will read it and feel bad for how they are decimating our environment and suppressing underprivileged people.

Here is what one 12-year-old said in her paragraph, “What I wish for the world is that every child and every adult have a chance to go to school and learn.”

What?! Who is stopping anyone from going to school? Public education is free, occurs in every city and town in America, and last time I checked, it was compulsory! Yes, some public schools suck, but an education is provided. It is up to the student to make the most of it by (here’s a thought) taking responsibility to do the work and going to class each and every day.


As far as adults go, I know from personal experience all kinds of programs and classes are offered through adult-ed and community colleges. If you happen to be a hyphenated American of any ilk your education can be virtually free. Listen, opportunity for education abounds in this country. Yes, some people may have to put out a little effort on their own (eeek!) by working a job and maybe only taking one class at a time. But there is absolutely no excuse for anyone to say they don’t have access to education.

The problem with educational opportunities in other countries occurs largely because corrupt governments bleed the life out of their people. Foreign aid is siphoned off to the governments and militias. Innocent people have enough to do just surviving the day; learning something is the last thing on their minds. Maybe what this girl should have said was "My wish is that corrupt dictators of the world would stop victimizing their people and provide them basic necessities so they can go to school and learn. Then they can become productive citizens and help better their countries." But, this would place the blame where it belongs and promote the notion that American-style democracy brings freedom and opportunity. The left can't have that!

This poor little misguided 12-year-old clearly exemplifies what has happened to so many people in this culture through years of leftist infiltration of our public school curriculum. She has forgotten how to think. Reason has gone out the door because no balanced voice can be heard. We have replaced teaching kids how to think with teaching kids what to think. Having said that, I know dedicated teachers (yes, in public schools) who have drawn a line in the sand and said “To hell with curriculum. I’m doing what’s best for my kids.” To you I say thanks. What we need are more dedicated teachers who allow for a reasoned, balanced voice in the classroom.


5/14/09

Drizzle, Drazzle, Drozzle, Drome

Thank you to those of you who responded to my interactive blog about unusual words, made-up or real, you use around the house. I am using your meaning, spelling and origin when provided. I’m guessing most words are spelled phonetically. Notice how many sound Germanic. Probably because I got the most responses from families whose relatives actually speak German.

Beepschien - A term of endearment, generally used in reference to our cat. Also used occasionally as a verb describing a noise halfway between purring and suffocating. "Look at the beepschien squinching." Or "Quiet, you can hear her beepschiening." This word was created by my mother and originated from a word that Russian grandmas use in describing their grandchildren. She is neither Russian nor a grandma,so I'm not sure why she started using this word.

Dinking around – Not doing anything when you should be working. “Stop dinking around!”

Flaz – The pulp in orange juice. “I love orange juice with flaz.”

Gobbleschnarf – To eat a lot of food fast and messily. “Don’t gobbleschnarf your food.”

Pazzle – To go around naked. “The baby is puzzling”. Or “No pazzling allowed.”

Pdiddle -The term for a car with one burnt-out headlight. You want to be the first one to say it when you see the car so that you can get a kiss from someone else in the car with you. It's kind of like the slug bug game.

Plutz - A term of disgust, used in place of swear words. "Plutz! That guy just cut me off!" Origin: my dad's grandfather used to say it around my dad and his brothers and sister when they were kids.

Strawbleberry – Strawberry. “We love strawbleberries too.”

One person responded that she and her husband use phrases and words from a movie to comment on things happening around them. We do that around here too. It can be extremely funny when well-timed. Please respond with any other words you remember. My goal is to go national with this and collect enough material to publish a book. Hey, I can dream can’t I?

And now, some wise words from Wizard the Lizard, also affectionately known as Mr. Wizard “Be what you is and not what you is not! Folks that is what they is, is the happiest lot!”