As any one who knows me well enough knows I don't care much for American History, say for the Revolutionary period. Here is a segment of some letters that John Adams Wrote his Wife, Abigail, on July 3, 1776.
Yesterday the greatest Question was decided, which ever was debated in America, and a greater perhaps, never was or will be decided among Men. A Resolution was passed without one dissenting Colony "that these united Colonies, are, and of right ought to be free and independent States, and as such, they have, and of Right ought to have full Power to make War, conclude Peace, establish Commerce, and to do all the other Acts and Things, which other States may rightfully do." You will see in a few days a Declaration setting forth the Causes, which have impell'd Us to this mighty Revolution, and the Reasons which will justify it, in the Sight of God and Man. A Plan of Confederation will be taken up in a few days.
But the Day is past. The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.
You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. -- I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. -- Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.
I don't know about you, but Adams' letter, though maybe hard to understand a bit here and there. Without a doubt though it is clear that Adams had a hope about this country that it would be something great. Even before the the actual idea of victory in this war was even a thought to be considered as sane or reasonable, Adams believed that Americans for generations to come would look at this event as the turning point in American history, the world would change because of it,and we should celebrate it as such. He encourages use to give Thanks to God Almighty and to celebrate with the loudest joy and pride we can muster for this great nation of ours. So as America in 2009, faces great challenges and hardships let us remember the greatness and potential that our forefathers saw in this democratic experiment that is America, and may we once again in the midst of chaos and trouble reach for the Hope that Adams had.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Iran's previous election results
Its obvious this election wasn't fair, but if you look at the past election results , this one is really no different, yet no Iranian, or foreign gov't, otherwise really protested those..so i don't know what to think. The truth is that in any fair democracy a candidate getting above 60% of the vote, especially when more than 2 ppl are running for the same office is just so unlikely that there has to be fraud somewhere...lol
So according to wikipedia (i only list the top 2, but others candidates did run but all got only a few %):
Iran election 2009:
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 62.63%
Mir-Hossein Mousavi 33.75%
Iran election 2005:
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 61.69%
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani 35.93%
Iran election 2001:
Mohammad Khatami 78.3%
Ahmad Tavakkoli 15.9%
Iran election 1997 :
Mohammad Khatami 70.0%
Ali Akbar Nateq-Nouri ~10%
Iran election 1993:
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani: 62.9%
Ahmad Tavakkoli: 24.0%
I am not saying that every election in world has to be like America's, that not my point, i understand they're a theocracy and have their own way of doing things, but if you're also going to have the title "republic" in your country's name than a least pretend to have some measure of fair elections...just my thoughts!
So according to wikipedia (i only list the top 2, but others candidates did run but all got only a few %):
Iran election 2009:
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 62.63%
Mir-Hossein Mousavi 33.75%
Iran election 2005:
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 61.69%
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani 35.93%
Iran election 2001:
Mohammad Khatami 78.3%
Ahmad Tavakkoli 15.9%
Iran election 1997 :
Mohammad Khatami 70.0%
Ali Akbar Nateq-Nouri ~10%
Iran election 1993:
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani: 62.9%
Ahmad Tavakkoli: 24.0%
I am not saying that every election in world has to be like America's, that not my point, i understand they're a theocracy and have their own way of doing things, but if you're also going to have the title "republic" in your country's name than a least pretend to have some measure of fair elections...just my thoughts!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
"We Believe" A Creed for the Modern World
Creed
by Steve Turner
We believe in Marxfreudanddarwin
We believe everything is OK
as long as you don't hurt anyone
to the best of your definition of hurt,
and to the best of your knowledge.
We believe in sex before, during, and
after marriage.
We believe in the therapy of sin.
We believe that adultery is fun.
We believe that sodomy’s OK.
We believe that taboos are taboo.
We believe that everything's getting better
despite evidence to the contrary.
The evidence must be investigated
And you can prove anything with evidence.
We believe there's something in horoscopes
UFO's and bent spoons.
Jesus was a good man just like Buddha,
Mohammed, and ourselves.
He was a good moral teacher though we think
His good morals were bad.
We believe that all religions are basically the same-
at least the one that we read was.
They all believe in love and goodness.
They only differ on matters of creation,
sin, heaven, hell, God, and salvation.
We believe that after death comes the Nothing
Because when you ask the dead what happens
they say nothing.
If death is not the end, if the dead have lied, then its
compulsory heaven for all
excepting perhaps
Hitler, Stalin, and Genghis Kahn
We believe in Masters and Johnson
What's selected is average.
What's average is normal.
What's normal is good.
We believe in total disarmament.
We believe there are direct links between warfare and
bloodshed.
Americans should beat their guns into tractors .
And the Russians would be sure to follow.
We believe that man is essentially good.
It's only his behavior that lets him down.
This is the fault of society.
Society is the fault of conditions.
Conditions are the fault of society.
We believe that each man must find the truth that
is right for him.
Reality will adapt accordingly.
The universe will readjust.
History will alter.
We believe that there is no absolute truth
excepting the truth
that there is no absolute truth.
We believe in the rejection of creeds,
And the flowering of individual thought.
If chance be
the Father of all flesh,
disaster is his rainbow in the sky
and when you hear
State of Emergency!
Sniper Kills Ten!
Troops on Rampage!
Whites go Looting!
Bomb Blasts School!
It is but the sound of man
worshipping his maker.
by Steve Turner
We believe in Marxfreudanddarwin
We believe everything is OK
as long as you don't hurt anyone
to the best of your definition of hurt,
and to the best of your knowledge.
We believe in sex before, during, and
after marriage.
We believe in the therapy of sin.
We believe that adultery is fun.
We believe that sodomy’s OK.
We believe that taboos are taboo.
We believe that everything's getting better
despite evidence to the contrary.
The evidence must be investigated
And you can prove anything with evidence.
We believe there's something in horoscopes
UFO's and bent spoons.
Jesus was a good man just like Buddha,
Mohammed, and ourselves.
He was a good moral teacher though we think
His good morals were bad.
We believe that all religions are basically the same-
at least the one that we read was.
They all believe in love and goodness.
They only differ on matters of creation,
sin, heaven, hell, God, and salvation.
We believe that after death comes the Nothing
Because when you ask the dead what happens
they say nothing.
If death is not the end, if the dead have lied, then its
compulsory heaven for all
excepting perhaps
Hitler, Stalin, and Genghis Kahn
We believe in Masters and Johnson
What's selected is average.
What's average is normal.
What's normal is good.
We believe in total disarmament.
We believe there are direct links between warfare and
bloodshed.
Americans should beat their guns into tractors .
And the Russians would be sure to follow.
We believe that man is essentially good.
It's only his behavior that lets him down.
This is the fault of society.
Society is the fault of conditions.
Conditions are the fault of society.
We believe that each man must find the truth that
is right for him.
Reality will adapt accordingly.
The universe will readjust.
History will alter.
We believe that there is no absolute truth
excepting the truth
that there is no absolute truth.
We believe in the rejection of creeds,
And the flowering of individual thought.
If chance be
the Father of all flesh,
disaster is his rainbow in the sky
and when you hear
State of Emergency!
Sniper Kills Ten!
Troops on Rampage!
Whites go Looting!
Bomb Blasts School!
It is but the sound of man
worshipping his maker.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Holcaust and Abortion..Difference!!??
A quote from President Obama at the Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony on April 23, 2009.
Obama speaking about Nazi Germany in the 1940s:
"It is the grimmest of ironies that one of the most savage, barbaric acts of evil in history began in one of the most modernized societies of its time, where so many markers of human progress became tools of human depravity: science that can heal, used to kill; education that can enlighten, used to rationalize away basic moral impulses; the bureaucracy that sustains modern life, used as the machinery of mass death, a ruthless, chillingly efficient system where many were responsible for the killing, but few got actual blood on their hands."
Obama's speech is right on.Indeed! My Comment is simply this, now, replace Germany with America, and the Holocaust victims for those who are unborn, and then reread the quote with that idea in mind. Sad and Scary isn't?
In a 100 years, I wonder what History books will say about this time and the whole Abortion movement....
Obama speaking about Nazi Germany in the 1940s:
"It is the grimmest of ironies that one of the most savage, barbaric acts of evil in history began in one of the most modernized societies of its time, where so many markers of human progress became tools of human depravity: science that can heal, used to kill; education that can enlighten, used to rationalize away basic moral impulses; the bureaucracy that sustains modern life, used as the machinery of mass death, a ruthless, chillingly efficient system where many were responsible for the killing, but few got actual blood on their hands."
Obama's speech is right on.Indeed! My Comment is simply this, now, replace Germany with America, and the Holocaust victims for those who are unborn, and then reread the quote with that idea in mind. Sad and Scary isn't?
In a 100 years, I wonder what History books will say about this time and the whole Abortion movement....
Thursday, May 21, 2009
My 1st Korean Haircut
So on Thursday morning I started my day off “normal,” I talk with Ashley on skype for an hour or so. With my hair curling on the side I knew it was time for a cut. So I got some pictures of the kind of cut I wanted, and have had in the past. Since there was no way I knew how to tell the barber in Korean I want a number 3 fade, sideburns, bangs, round in…blah blah, so the pictures were a great a idea, Thank you Google for your suggestion. LOL! Anyhow, I should the lady my pictures of what I wanted and she having a good eye and hands, I got my hair cut. It was pretty sweet afterward another woman washed my hair in there sink, that was 1st time I ever had done to my hair before. So all that cutting and washing was so cheap like ~6 dollars American (or 8000 Won). After that I gave my two haircut ladies each 5000 Won of like 3 or 4 dollar tip, which other than it being a very big tip; Koreans do not even a tipping system. So, they suddenly loved me whole bunch, so now that I have made a good relationship with so the next time go back there I’ll get the good treatment. Yay! Also, seeing as how I normally spent 12-15 bucks on a cut plus tip is like 15 or 18..i think I made out just as well as they did as far I am concern. After that I got ready for my classes. They went so much better today, I was way less nervous that yesterday, and with 6 new sets of kids it felt like a fresh start. ( I teach 6 sets of 50 min classes m-w-f and another tues and thurs…roughly speaking…it was long, but a good day..Now I am sleepy!
Catching my breathe
1st few days in Korea:
Ok the jetlag and craziness is settling down a bit, I thought I’d write a little bit. So much has been happening I don’t even know where to start. Finally, after getting some sleep after 30+ hrs I got some sleep; about 10hrs. After I got up (I was at a motel), I moved into my new apt, I really didn’t even have time to unpack, I had to come down and meet the new co-workers. After some friendly introductions, I started to shadow a few of the teachers here, whose names are Andrew and Cheri, they are married and from S. Africa. After a few hours, I was able to unpack in my new apt. The apt is pretty much like living in an Almy suite, only 1 person in the room and there is no connection to my roommate. There is a unique addition though, a sort of veranda, that I can step out onto and see the town and woods beyond me. I had dinner with Cheri and Andrew, and he took me around and showed where the local grocery stores. When I got back I was exhausted and passed out soon after. The next day, I woke up at 7am, internal clock not letting me sleep longer (I work from 2pm-8:30pm). So having nothing to do and not have my internet or anything like that yet. I started walking around the neighborhood block after block the town is a lot like American. So blocks are retail strips other are people homes that are fairly similar to ours. Just replace all the English signs and word and people with Korea ones…lol. About 9am I went grocery shopping all by myself. it’s hard to shop for food, when the ppl and writing are another language that you don’t speak. I went shopping in the DR before, but those words though Spanish, a least used the same ABC’s as us and the same symbols and were close enough I might be able to figure out, But not Korean, these symbols are as foreign to me as the Lifetime channel.
So after that fun adventure, a fellow Korean teacher, Eric, took me to the hospital to have physical as it were. All there medical technology seems way more advance than ours, but in some ways not. The technology was advanced, which was cool, but when it came to something as simple as urine test, instead of a plastic cup and lid, they gave me a Dixie cup basically. You thought that little test was embarrassing with the cup; imagine having to fill up a Dixie cup…needless to say I am glad to that test was over. I spent the rest of the day following teachers around and watching how they run their classes. After that Eric and I went to do some shopping at the 1000 waon store (dollar store for us). Then, got some pizza with potatoes and meat which is very good. On Wed I started my 1st day teaching. My 1st class, I had no idea what the lesion plan was since the teacher who had that class before me (kids in that class are about 7-9), was gone, so I had to look at their hmwk to figure where we were. One girl in class was crying when I got there because another boy in class had hit her before class had begun, so for the rest of class all those kids were talking about was how the boy got into trouble…it was a horrible first experience. My other classes gradually got better as the day progressed. By the end, with 13 year old kids the class was better and a least calm. Anyhow, after work there was bible study. Praise God that 3 of my fellow teachers had started up this study, this was such an answer to prayer before I came over here. I will be going to church with them on Sunday. Also, I went shopping this day by myself, which can be hard; it requires a lot of gesture and some pen and paper. I got some shirts,, luckily the clerk spoke enough English to help me out. Afterward, I saw a baskin robins ice cream store. It was like a piece of American heaven in all 30+ flavors. Best $2.00 I have spent all month.
Ok the jetlag and craziness is settling down a bit, I thought I’d write a little bit. So much has been happening I don’t even know where to start. Finally, after getting some sleep after 30+ hrs I got some sleep; about 10hrs. After I got up (I was at a motel), I moved into my new apt, I really didn’t even have time to unpack, I had to come down and meet the new co-workers. After some friendly introductions, I started to shadow a few of the teachers here, whose names are Andrew and Cheri, they are married and from S. Africa. After a few hours, I was able to unpack in my new apt. The apt is pretty much like living in an Almy suite, only 1 person in the room and there is no connection to my roommate. There is a unique addition though, a sort of veranda, that I can step out onto and see the town and woods beyond me. I had dinner with Cheri and Andrew, and he took me around and showed where the local grocery stores. When I got back I was exhausted and passed out soon after. The next day, I woke up at 7am, internal clock not letting me sleep longer (I work from 2pm-8:30pm). So having nothing to do and not have my internet or anything like that yet. I started walking around the neighborhood block after block the town is a lot like American. So blocks are retail strips other are people homes that are fairly similar to ours. Just replace all the English signs and word and people with Korea ones…lol. About 9am I went grocery shopping all by myself. it’s hard to shop for food, when the ppl and writing are another language that you don’t speak. I went shopping in the DR before, but those words though Spanish, a least used the same ABC’s as us and the same symbols and were close enough I might be able to figure out, But not Korean, these symbols are as foreign to me as the Lifetime channel.
So after that fun adventure, a fellow Korean teacher, Eric, took me to the hospital to have physical as it were. All there medical technology seems way more advance than ours, but in some ways not. The technology was advanced, which was cool, but when it came to something as simple as urine test, instead of a plastic cup and lid, they gave me a Dixie cup basically. You thought that little test was embarrassing with the cup; imagine having to fill up a Dixie cup…needless to say I am glad to that test was over. I spent the rest of the day following teachers around and watching how they run their classes. After that Eric and I went to do some shopping at the 1000 waon store (dollar store for us). Then, got some pizza with potatoes and meat which is very good. On Wed I started my 1st day teaching. My 1st class, I had no idea what the lesion plan was since the teacher who had that class before me (kids in that class are about 7-9), was gone, so I had to look at their hmwk to figure where we were. One girl in class was crying when I got there because another boy in class had hit her before class had begun, so for the rest of class all those kids were talking about was how the boy got into trouble…it was a horrible first experience. My other classes gradually got better as the day progressed. By the end, with 13 year old kids the class was better and a least calm. Anyhow, after work there was bible study. Praise God that 3 of my fellow teachers had started up this study, this was such an answer to prayer before I came over here. I will be going to church with them on Sunday. Also, I went shopping this day by myself, which can be hard; it requires a lot of gesture and some pen and paper. I got some shirts,, luckily the clerk spoke enough English to help me out. Afterward, I saw a baskin robins ice cream store. It was like a piece of American heaven in all 30+ flavors. Best $2.00 I have spent all month.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
day 4
DAY 4:
Travel day aka judgment day…Have I mentioned how much I hate heights.. I have flown on 12 planes in the last 5 yrs…I still don’t like them…Take offs and landings are like….lots of praying for me….flying is okay…it the looming dread of crashing into a mt or a terrorist that I don’t like. Needless to say I didn’t sleep much. Like an 1 hr. My ride to airport came at 5am. I got checked into JFK and made it through security pretty easy..just the normal stuff..no special treatment for me..YAY! I love being normal! Anyhow, on the van ride to JFK, I met a few interesting people. One was a girl from Denmark, who apparently was backpacking through South and North America, and was now on her way home. How cool I though, we go to Europe to backpack, they come to the Americas. The other person I met was a girl who was a Canadian that was at some conference at the UN and was now going home; apparently she also plays the Celtic Harp. Go figure. Next, was the flight from JFK to Detroit only a few hours, which was the shortest of all my flights. It was good warm up to the 13 hr flight that awaits me. I made it to Tokyo the 12 hr plane ride, plus 45 min quarantine by the Japan govt to make sure no one has swine flu i guess. I dont have much time left, but i want to tell you i am safe and love you very much. i hope grad was fun for you all. I'll email when i get to Korea
Travel day aka judgment day…Have I mentioned how much I hate heights.. I have flown on 12 planes in the last 5 yrs…I still don’t like them…Take offs and landings are like….lots of praying for me….flying is okay…it the looming dread of crashing into a mt or a terrorist that I don’t like. Needless to say I didn’t sleep much. Like an 1 hr. My ride to airport came at 5am. I got checked into JFK and made it through security pretty easy..just the normal stuff..no special treatment for me..YAY! I love being normal! Anyhow, on the van ride to JFK, I met a few interesting people. One was a girl from Denmark, who apparently was backpacking through South and North America, and was now on her way home. How cool I though, we go to Europe to backpack, they come to the Americas. The other person I met was a girl who was a Canadian that was at some conference at the UN and was now going home; apparently she also plays the Celtic Harp. Go figure. Next, was the flight from JFK to Detroit only a few hours, which was the shortest of all my flights. It was good warm up to the 13 hr flight that awaits me. I made it to Tokyo the 12 hr plane ride, plus 45 min quarantine by the Japan govt to make sure no one has swine flu i guess. I dont have much time left, but i want to tell you i am safe and love you very much. i hope grad was fun for you all. I'll email when i get to Korea
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