Last night Gloucester's school board unanimously voted to distribute contraceptives to students. Distribution requires parental consent, but it is certainly a step in the right direction. Especially considering the controversy the school had on its hands after the spike in pregnancies Gloucester saw last year. Gloucester was thrust in the spot light after the principal of the high school alleged there was a "pregnancy pact" of sorts. Now, it seems, they've taken steps to counteract last year's spike that garnered such media attention.
The availability of contraception, in conjunction with an health education program will do wonders for the town. I will go on the record as saying however, that once students hit the legal age of consent (age 16) contraception should be available without parental consent. That does not mean, however, the student shouldn't be required to continue to follow up with the school health center. The health of the student is important, but so is his or her right to privacy. Education should continue, and once they legally can consent to sex, they have the option of taking on the responsibility if that is what they desire.
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wait... I'm from gloucester and i don't know this. thanks dan for updating me.
Distributing contraceptives does 1 thing and 1 thing only : encourage sin. Next thing you know there will be sex ed classes on sodomy. stop corrupting our youth.
So Bob, what you are saying is that it was a sin that created you?
Oh yeah, and sodomy serves no reproductive purpose, so there would never be a justified reason for teaching our kids about it.
with the way those homos in our school systems are preaching their nonsense about gay rights, i wont be suprised if anal sodomy has a handbook on it. filthy heathnes
Certainly a step in the right direction!
First of all to Jake, Use your head a little bit, Bob said that it encourages sin, and you come back with "So Bob, what you are saying is that it was a sin that created you?" Comon paly. Did he he say that he was born a bastard child from an unmarried 16 year old couple? There is a big difference between a happily married couple bringing a child into their family, and a teenage hormone "accident." To me this is no different than battling the drug epidemic with clean hypodermic needles you get from the school nurse.
Also the comment about sodomy, your reply Jake was "Oh yeah, and sodomy serves no reproductive purpose," I got news for you paly, "NIETHER DO CONDOMS" So his point was that they promote safe sex, and with the encouragement of gays, as an alternate life style safe sex for them is right up the poop shoot. So why wouldnt they have a handbook on it. It would only be a matter of time until the gays started getting angry that they do not teach sex for them. The sad thing is, by that time you will be all for it. Why cause it is the cool thing to do to accept anything and everything that comes your way. Which exactly what you are doing now. You know any of you that are for this probably do not have kids of your own but I guess that doesn't matter that makes it not your problem. WAKE UP AMERICA
Dan comon paly, your smarter than this. I know you are. Tell these people what you really think. Not what your political party thinks. Comon big guy you obviously have the ability to lead people, they listen to you and jump on your wagon. Here is the news though, when you are standing before GOD his question will not be COULD you lead people? It will be HOW did you lead people? "WHAT WE DO IN LIFE ECHOES THROUGHOUT ETERNITY"
Oh yes, Danny, what we do in life echoes throughout eternity. The hatred born of ignorance and bigotry is forever.
OK Debbie lets do this, where did you find ignorance, bigotry or hatred. Is it because I talk strait and not beat around the bush? Or is it because I touched a nerve. Do me a favor, if you want to debate me, let me know what you are talking about. Don't just give me a quote you found from your college litarature class. and expect your gonna drive this amazing point home. You obviously did not read my blogs. Sometimes the truth hurts. Sorry if I hurt you.
Danny, LOL...A quote from my college lit class? Uh, no dear. That was my own statement-my own opinion. Danny, if you dont see bigotry and hatred, you may want to reread your OWN posts.
I guess you don't listen or read very well, Once again forget about the quote, if you want to debate me use some words. Now I have to wait all over again until you decide to check this. Let me give you some help. Point something out, prove me wrong, show me contradiction, call me names, SOMETHING!! IF YOU WANT TO DEBATE LETS DEBATE. Here's the deal though before I commented back last time I did reread, cause sometimes when I get pist at stupidity I fly off the handle. I didnt though, why do you think I came back to debate? Comon, Im just getting warmed up buddy.
Debbie it's me again I thought I was only debating you on 1 issue which was the contraceptive issue but it turns out I've been debating you all along haven't I.
OK, Danny, You REALLY dont see anything at all wrong, and just plain RIDICULOUS about this statement:
"So his point was that they promote safe sex, and with the encouragement of gays, as an alternate life style safe sex for them is right up the poop shoot. So why wouldnt they have a handbook on it. It would only be a matter of time until the gays started getting angry that they do not teach sex for them."
Danny, I get annoyed at stupidity too.
OK Debbie, once again talking straight is a lot different than hatred and bigotry. What did you want me to say. Did you want me to give you more words to describe what they are doing so that we could more better cover it up and make it sound beautiful. Should I have used bu++hole or a n a l cavity instead of poop shoot. Or would you rather of me used h o m o sexual or life partner? Look, In California they are getting ready to vote on prop 8 which is to make gay marraige legal. This would have been an outrage even a decade ago and you would have been laughed at. Now we are on the verge of making it legal. So how is this stupidity. I'm a New Yorker who has lived through 911 and I have almost lost my life to many times so I'm not interested in making a play on words so that I can be politically correct to get the same damn meaning across. So here is the deal,You better jump on the bandwagon for polygamy, incest, beastiality and whatever else people may want to do. America was such a great country and part of that was due to our boundries and limitations, our black and white, now you have just moved into the grey and there is no turning back. so for 1 if they came this far to make it ok to make it legal for a gay couple to get married and it is taught in schools as an alternate lifestyle they will have sex ed on it very soon. The rest of the groups that I mentioned above are going to want their piece of the pie now and your gonna have to give it to them. You can't say yes to some people and no to others. I say yes to the bible on which this country was founded and has worked for centuries. Take it easy. By the way you are anonymous aren't you
Danny...Uh, We are in MA...we have ALREADY legalized gay marriage.
Danny, in truth, our country requires the separation of church and state. There IS a reason for that. I dont know about you, but those countries under Sharia (Islamic) Law dont look so appealing to me. There is no place for religion in our government. I understand what youre saying about Christian principles, and I am a firm believer in freedom of religion-but there is no place for it IN our government. Danny safe sex is being taught in school. There isnt instruction on how to partake in sexual acts-I dont think you need to worry about instruction in either hetero- OR homosexual acts. SAFE SEX..protection is what is being taught (and not very successfully it seems. Kids are NOT being taught (by teachers in the classrooms anyway) how to have sex. Youre right Danny, there IS alot wrong with our society today-in my view,that has more to do with a serious lack of humanity than anything else.Parents are less and less involved, children are being raised to be self centered and arent being taught basic respect. ADULTS no longer even have respect for each other. Forums such as this where there is a fair amount of anonymity make it very easy for people to name call, belittle, bully and demean others and then just walk away. Unfortunately, many people are carrying those behaviors out into the "real world" as well. I dont know WHAT the answer is, Danny-but I dont think the blame lies at the feet of homosexuals. And yes. :) Be well.
OK Debbie, once again talking straight is a lot different than hatred and bigotry. What did you want me to say. Did you want me to give you more words to describe what they are doing so that we could more better cover it up and make it sound beautiful. Should I have used bu++hole or a n a l cavity instead of poop shoot. Or would you rather of me used h o m o sexual or life partner? Look, In California they are getting ready to vote on prop 8 which is to make gay marraige legal. This would have been an outrage even a decade ago and you would have been laughed at. Now we are on the verge of making it legal. So how is this stupidity. I'm a New Yorker who has lived through 911 and I have almost lost my life to many times so I'm not interested in making a play on words so that I can be politically correct to get the same damn meaning across. So here is the deal,You better jump on the bandwagon for polygamy, incest, beastiality and whatever else people may want to do. America was such a great country and part of that was due to our boundries and limitations, our black and white, now you have just moved into the grey and there is no turning back. so for 1 if they came this far to make it ok to make it legal for a gay couple to get married and it is taught in schools as an alternate lifestyle they will have sex ed on it very soon. The rest of the groups that I mentioned above are going to want their piece of the pie now and your gonna have to give it to them. You can't say yes to some people and no to others. I say yes to the bible on which this country was founded and has worked for centuries. Take it easy. By the way you are anonymous aren't you
Danny, did you mean to repost the same thing that I have already responded to, or was it just and accidental reload of the page? (I've done that too.)
Debbie No I did not repost this it must of been a reload. I also I have written another blog directed to you but it did not post. I will redo it now
Debbie, I respect what you said in the previous blog. In spite of how rough of a start we got off to, this is the direction I hope to get to in the end. You may say you do not agree with me on some issues but in fact I dont think that is the case. I think you like most people don't agree with the way I present my viewpoints which is fine. I never did say I was the most tactful person in the world. Sometimes I have to create shock value to get people to think. However you do not have a problem in that department which is something to be proud of. What actually urks me the most is earlier in in this column someone called you a w h o r e, but dont even get me started on that problem. So where are we? I guess the bottom line... I understand what you are saying about seperation of church and state but the point I was trying to make was regaurding the scripture laid out as so much of the foundation of this country. Our four fathers obviously found it important to have in our constitution and it wasn't anything you had to believe in, but more principals and morals. Now the way I feel watching this country is the way I felt watching Our beautiful towers go down on 911. Sometimes people have such amazing visions but don't quite see the whole picture. A while ago Ben Siegel came across a beautiful desert and he thought he could enhance this desert with a beautiful building. He thought I could make some money as well as others and mix modern building with mother nature. Most agreed with him and felt "whats the harm" This is now a place where you go to throw money at what will soon become an addiction called gambling. On top of that, it is the perfect place to break your vows to your spouse and do things you normally wouldnt do elsewhere like cheat. Undernieth it all lies the beauty of the desert never to be seen again and the surrounding desert has become a dumpster for dead bodies and red light districts like the bunny ranch. This all started as an amazing idea to enhance a desert that is now called sin city The Beholder of the Casinos. LAS VEGAS. Where am I going with this? A school used to be a place to learn math history reading and writing and basic principal. What happened to us? Thanks for talking to me.
Thanks for the kind words, Danny. As I said in a previous post (a different blog, I think) I dont think some of our views are all that dissimilar, however I consider myself "middle of the road" politically,and based on what you type, I know that my viewpoint is more liberal overall than yours. I am finding myself becoming more conservative with each passing year, however.
In your references to Las Vegas, gambling and cheating, I do have to disagree. If people are going to cheat, they are going to cheat. They dont need Las Vegas to do it. The same holds true for gambling, but yeah, clearly, there is more temptation in a place like Vegas. It is important to note, though, that addiction is an illness. A place like Las Vegas isnt the CAUSE of a gambling addiction. Booze isnt the CAUSE of alchoholism. The addictive personality is there. That being said, having an addictive personality is not a character flaw or weakness, either. It DOES require treatment-like any illness. And now Im off topic. Regardless, I understand the point you are making. I just dont necessarily agree with it-not completely, anyway-but I understand it.
Nevermind about the "delightful" man who called me "whore." I admit, that type of misogynistic mentality incenses me, but in the end, when people resort to those tactics, it speaks more to their (lack of) character than that of the person they "attack.' :) I was having this same discussion with my son this weekend and he told me "mom, this is what these people set out to do is to get people upset. Dont feed the trolls." I realized A. that he was right, and B. I raised a pretty smart kid. From this point forward, Danny, Im gonna take my kid's advice, and not feed that particular troll :) People like that are EXACTLY what is wrong, at least in part, with our society today. Until next post, be well.
I think you got me a little wrong on the vegas thing. I wasn't neccassarily trying to poing at character flaws of people in vegas or by any means saying vegas causes gambling addiction. Trust me I always say if guns kill people than I can blame my keyboard on mis spelt words. What i was trying to point out was amazing visions people have without seeing the ultimate conclusion of their action. Same with what is happening in our schools and all over the country right now. As far as Las Vegas, They used to say where there was 1 indian there is sure to be another and where there is smoke there is fire. Vegas happened to be a place where the laws of the land fit the people it was going to attract and also that once 1 thing started it opened the door for the rest to fall in behind it. So I guess the point I was trying to make was when Ben Siegel decided to open the casino he never planned on what was going to fallow but the people said, "If its alright for him to do that, Than it's alright for us to do this." Any other answer from the officials would have been discrimination. No matter, were on the same page now. I would say there is a big difference between you and I in your patience and understanding towards this jerk o f f calling you names and good for you. My way is much more stressful. It's great you have a son thats smart to give you advice and also that you know how to take it. I don't have a problem with fighting, name calling, violence, death, to me its all the inevedable but towards women makes me sick. Forget the politics. Men, which there is hardly any of anymore, were supposed to protect women. What we have now is a bunch of guys running around, NOT MEN. Thats one big problem. You know what? I'm gonna stop now before you start not to like me again. This stuff kills me though. Your a very smart women. Congrats on having a smart kid and doing a fine job raising him. Take care of yourself.
WAIT A MINUTE!!!! I was right DEBBIE!! You are Anonymous. I've been talking to you all along. You wrote me as Anonymous saying our views were not dissimilar just the way we get our views across. I call you a smart Man at the time. I apologize about that. Your the only one worth talking to here. NICE
Danny,
I got your point on the Vegas thing. I just sort of went off on my own little tangent. :)
LOL-Anyone who knows me could tell you patience is NOT one of my virtues, but when dealing with people like the troll, I prefer not to resort to their level. I have, and will again, Im sure, but I do try not to. :)
The man comments DID make me laugh. AS for me being the only one here worth talking to-HAHA Danny, right now, Im the only one here talking at all, besides you. I know for a fact there are other people reading that are worth talking to, should they ever decide to type. For now, though, it appears it is going to be a 2 way conversation. Thanks again for the kind comments. And yeah, Im blessed indeed in terms of my family. I just hate it when my KIDS are right...LOL
Bob, you know what they say about most homophobes is that their really trying to hide their own repressed homosexuality. Is there something you aren't telling us?
There's nothing nonsensical about gay rights. People may be gay but they are still citizens and therefore must be treated as such. Personally I have no problem with homosexuals - people are people, after all, and to each his own.
And no, Bob, distributing contraceptives teaches kids about responsibility and safety. Kids are going to have sex no matter what adults do, why shouldn't we teach them to protect themselves if they decide to?
And Danny, there is a difference between encouraging SAFE sex by distributing condoms and fighting the drug "war" with clean hypodermic needles. The difference is that sex isn't illegal unless you're under the age of sixteen, while drugs are illegal period. A lot of those teenage hormone accidents, as you put them, could have been easily avoided had their parents or educators taught them to be safe and responsible.
Well said, Dina :)
Dina, Your partly correct, "could have been easily avoided had their parents or educators taught them to be safe and responsible."
What you should have said is, could have easily been avoided had their parents taught them to be safe and RESPONSIBLE MOST OF ALL. PARENTS, PARENTS, PARENTS. Sex ed, fine. condoms, give me a break. Remember what a school is for. Education, not to get involved in KIDS sex life and help them to make mistakes. There is a difference between educating on sex and teaching responsibility and consequences,,, and encouraging sex for KIDS. So I already know your response, "They are not encouraging sex, they are saying if your absolutely gonna do it, then use one of these." Right? Well, let me tell you something. Perception is everything. Regaurdless of the motive for handing out condoms, this is the way kids take it. "COOL, NOW WE CAN HAVE SEX AND EVERYONE ACCEPTS IT. THE BELT IS FINALLY BEING LOSENED. NOW WE DON'T HAVE TO BE WORRIED IF WE DO GET OUR GIRLFRIENDS PREGNANT BECAUSE OUR PARENTS AND TEACHERS ARE HELPING US TO HAVE SEX. SO I'M SURE THEY WILL SUPPORT OUR BABIES IF WE HAVE THEM TO. NO BIGGIE." See what you forget is that they do not think like you and Debbie and the rest of the adult world. That is why they are called KIDS!!!! That is why they are in school, which leads me to my next point.
Did you honestly think I didn't know the difference between drugs and sex. Of course I do. That is not at all the point and if you read all of the blogs you would have realized that. The point is for 1, where does it stop. You see, there is a huge issue drugs and sex in this case have in common because my point is Gloucester is not just deciding to start handing out condoms to better sex education. They are doing it to put out fires and prevent lawsuits. Did you not read Dan's blog. They did this protecting their A S S. They did not even do this for the kids. "Now, it seems, they've taken steps to counteract last year's spike that garnered such media attention" as Dan put it. As I previously stated to Debbie, once you cross the line there is no turning back. So what's next? is the point. 10 years ago this would have been an outrage and the kids would have been sent to some continuation and other kids started to be extra careful. Trust me it wasn't to long ago when I was in highschool. I know.The point is as time goes on we just keep accepting more and more until next thing you know we will be handing out clean needles from the school nurse. Reading, writing, arithmetic. That was what school was supposed to be. What has happened to us. Take 1 last thing into consideration. 1 day you walk into your own home and upstairs into your 13 year old son or daughters room. He or she is in there having sex. I really hope you understand and support him or her at that point and give them their privacy. I know what your thinking but 13 and 14 is when highschool starts. Can you guaranty me that these freshman cant get their hands on these condoms. Absolutely not. Once they are in the school anyone can get their hands on them and the freshman hang out with the seniors to be cool remember. The freshman will not understand how it's ok for a senior and not for a freshman. Trust me on that. 18 for smoking and 21 for drinking. These are the only ages a highschool student understands. I know you understand what I'm saying.
So you just called me a homosexual? Tsk tsk, what a level you have sunk to.
Bob, awww...did your feelings get hurt being called a homosexual? Homosexual isnt an insulting, degrading, sexually demoralizing term. It is merely a reference to one's sexual orientation.Yet, you feel insulted. hmmmm...what level is it that calls someone a whore? Can we say HYPOCRITE Bobby?
When did I ever say I was offended or found it a bad thing? I was just pointing out your needless attacks on my sexual preference. You have no base for them. And whore has replaced "bitch" in my vocabulary, as too many females have embraced the latter term. It's nothing personal.
You said it, Bob, when you used the word "homos" in a derogatory manner. You also said it when you claimed that sodomy is a sin. And LOL, no wonder why you're on here so much. You clearly don't have a girlfriend cause you call everyone you meet "bitch" and "whore".
You've attacked me personally, so I'm going to attack you right back. Luckily, I'm no Christian, and "turning the other cheek" isn't all that big in Judaism.
Sorry, Danny, I've ignored your comments for the most part. If the definition of being an adult is thinking like you, Debbie, and the rest of the adult world, why am I not considered an adult? Why am I, in fact, considered ignorant by a member (maybe, I still think he sounds like a wounded teenage girl) of that adult community, simply because I am young? I see your point, that some kids aren't rational, but most are, and the ones who aren't usually grow up to be irrational adults. Are you telling me that they still should abstain from sex when, in their thirties and forties, they are still childlike in their thoughts?
And believe me, freshman and middle schoolers are having sex, regardless of whether or not there are condoms available to them. I went to a lovely private middle school, surrounded by the richest, most supported group of kids I've ever met (and they were all brats), and in sixth grade, in the locker room, some of the girls were talking about how big one of the guy's penis was. And about how they'd given him a handie. That was sixth grade. Seventh grade, a bunch of kids got in trouble (but not expelled) for giving blow jobs on the back of the bus on a school field trip to Pennsylvania. Do not underestimate modern kids. Rest assured, young kids, even pre-teens, are having sex.
I guess the question under debate is whether or not more kids will have sex when condoms are handed out in schools, and to be completely honest, even that is besides the point. In AP Stats, one of the first things you learn is that 'correlation does not prove causation, studies are bias, and there may always be lurking variables influencing data'. Basically, even if the number of kids having sex went up after condoms were handed out - is that because condoms were handed out or because there are more kids being born each year, and therefore a larger sample size to draw from? Or is it caused by the media's treatment of sex and sexuality? Or the fact that the kids' parents are extremely liberal and accepting? Whatever you say, it can be certain that the use of condoms leads to fewer unwanted pregnancies. Many teens feel like, if they go into a drugstore and buy condoms, someone their parents know will see them and they will be 'caught'. It's not a good idea to lie to your parents, but most kids do simply because they feel that their parents won't understand or accept them. As much as I wish it weren't true, it is.
As to your last point, the "18 for smoking and 21 for drinking"...what do you say to the fact that there are MANY MANY underage smokers (and, might I point out, that it's only illegal for kids btwn 16 and 18 to BUY cigarettes, it's totally legal for them to smoke them) and drinkers, and that many of those kids are leaders in their respective schools? You may not trust us with responsibility and privileges but you might want to rethink that.
School is meant to prepare kids for the real world. And in this, our real world, most people are having sex by the age of eighteen, almost all are doing so by the age of twenty. I ask again, knowing this, why shouldn't we let our kids anonymously have the protection they need if and when they choose to start having sex?
Danny Castellano: Bob< whats up paly. My name as you can see is Danny Castellano, I'm from little Italy NY. Now that I have introduced myself you will know I'm writing you with respect. If you have taken the time to read all of the blogs you will see that I have defended you quite a bit. You nad I have the same view for the most part. The only thing I can see that we don't share viewpoint wise is the way we treat women. Trust me when I tell you I wouldn't appreciate anyone insinuating I was gay either. However you did have it coming with what you called Debbie. Believe me I get so frustrated in these rooms it discusts me. However You and I are the ones with republican views coming into liberatarian rooms. Why do we do that. Because we want to change peoples minds. Also we enjoy fighting. One thing I can tell you about myself, If I saw a Man in the parking lot decapitated with his intestines hanging out of his stomache. I have no problem pulling up a chair having a plate of spaghetti and meatballs. However if I see so much as a women get a papercut, I have to run to the bathroom to throw up. Same with an animal. Here is my point. You and I are really the only people in these rooms with views like ours. I can help you and You can help me. I know your an intelligent guy so do the right thing in here and prove points and show people where you are coming from and hopefully even change a few minds, but do me a favor, dont call the women names.
Dina, as for you. 1st of all I think you must of read someone elses blog and answered it as if it was mine. 2nd of all How am I supposed to know you are young, and 3rd of all when did I ever say you weren't an adult. You just said a whole bunch about the way you must feel about yourself cause none of that stuff came from me. Matter of fact I did directly call you an adult along with Debbie. Last but not least if those questions were really aimed towards me, well....you really must have not read my blog because I already answered everyone of them. Maybe go back and read them again. By the way why do you just keep trying to rehash all the issues Debbie and I have already covered. Come up with some new material. If not have a regular conversation and stop trying to take cheap shots at me
Dina, in fairness, Danny did include you in the "adult" thing. Danny, Dina and I have been actually having the same discussions that you and I have already had. Nothing is being rehashed, per se-just discussed between 2 different bloggers. You were gone for quite awhile, and Dina and I got into a few discussions regarding the same subject matter. Booby has simply been taking cheap shots, mostly at Dina, and just behaving in general as the annoying little gnat that he is.
What we need to do is find or open a chat room so we don't have to wait as long. Well just meet on it at a certain hour. Also when you wait to long sometimes you lose some of the umf behind what you are trying to say. By the way Debbie how did you get away with cursing on this page I can't even say crap barely without getting my blogged blocked
LOL Danny-Evidently, whomever censors these blogs finds "pist" more offensive than "whore" and d***head. I couldnt type "pist" correctly, but ole bobbo had no problem getting whore through, and when I made my point about his name calling using d***head, I wasnt expecting it to go through, but oviously, it did. Something wrong with this picture...Open chat is fine, but it is also important to keep reading and contributing to this blog :)
Danny, I was actually referring to Bob's comment that, because I am only 17, I am ignorant. It rather irked me that someone could write me off so quickly. Also, I thought that I could offer some definitive opinions on teenage sex, considering I am a teenager and am still in high school. I thought it might interest you to know that kids as young as sixth graders are engaging in sexual activity - with or without the distribution of condoms in their schools. And I dunno if you actually read my post, but I thought I came up with some interesting new material; maybe I'm wrong. Anyways, I'm off.
Dina, your material is always interesting to me. Want some ranch doritos? :)
Dina, I would accept anything you had to say. There are some subjects where I'm a firm believer in and my brain just turns off, however if you have read my blogs you will know the most important thing to me is that 1 day America will stop make the most horrible mistake ever of treating policics like a football game where all that is important is that their team wins, but Instead to stand together which is the only way any real change will ever happen. See you have to remember we are the ones who give the government it's power along with their paychecks and we could take it away just as easy. So a final thought on the subject would be that as long as America keeps believing that a president has the power to do what it wants we will never reach our goals, ever!!A president is only as good as what he or she inherits over the term. I just went off on a tangent, never the less. What I respect you most for is that you are a women, a young women at that and you are involved in this type of material already. You are a rare breed even if we don't agree on everything. You should be very proud of yourself. Since you are involved, you should consider doing something with it.
Debbie, I also agree we should keep up on this blog site it was just an idea. can I have some ranch doritos.
And its a good idea. I just liek to help support the bloggers too. :)
Dina will go places, Danny. Thats a fact.
Sure Ill share the ranch doritos. I think Bob might get jealous, though. LOL
Debbie - does your comment referring to me come also from what you've heard of me through your son? (Sorry Dan, I had to ask - it sounds so much like you when YOU'RE encouraging me). And I'd like to think I will - someday I hope to preface my name with the title "Dr." but it's early stages yet. I doubt I will go into politics, for the very reasons you describe, Danny. I'm too much of a pacifist for the mudslinging to ever be okay with me. I'd much rather do something with my life, like save people's lives and find a cure for cancer, than sit around bandying words with a bunch of politicians.
Personally, I consider myself to be a liberal independent who leans towards being a democrat. If I saw a smart Republican who I thought could run my country better than a Democrat, I would definitely vote for him. I knew from the beginning that I'd rather have Obama than McCain, but if McCain got elected (until his choice in running mate made me question his sanity) I really wouldn't have minded. That aside, I think Obama will do a great job and I hope I'm not proven wrong.
Dina, which comment are you referring to? That you will go places? If thats what youre referring to, in truth, it is based mainly on my own observations of how you express yourself on this blog. However, discussions with my son have in fact confirmed my opinions. :) My one regret, Dina, is that I didnt get a chance to chat with you in person-I find you to be a remarkable and interesting young woman. IN truth, I had assumed you were leaning toward medicine-based on your previous post regarding the "creationist anesthesiologist" and the conference you attended. Young people dont typically attend that type of thing unless it is something that they are at the very least investigating as a career. Good for you :) Now Dina, I know someone who will most likely one day "bandying words with a bunch of politicians," and I would still consider that HE will be doing great things with his life, also ;-) Two very different paths, but both with potential for great things.
I consider myself middle of the road with liberal leanings, although I have lately been informed <cough> that I am not liberal at all. I am an independent as well. I have always voted the person and not the party.
Interestingly, however, I have, as you probably know, fairly strong reservations about Obama, and hope that I AM proven wrong. In this case, I would be more than happy to be wrong, because in the end, it is all about what is best for this country and its people. Time will tell. I hope he DOES do a great job, I truly do. NO matter which candidate got in, they were going to have a tough road, regardless.
I know he'll go far, maybe even to the top, who knows - I mostly said that to get a rise out of Dan. Unfortunately, I hardly ever can - he's cool and thoughtful most of the time.
Well, I attended one forum on medicine and fell in love, and one forum on law and despised it. Go figure. I just don't think a career in law is for me. I'd get very disillusioned very quickly. Actually, my college essay is about the differences between the two forums I attended. :)
Exactly. It's the person that's important, after all, although for me, as I've said more than once about the McCain/Palin ticket, it's more about two people than just one.
Thanks, Dina. I think he'll do "ok" too. :) Hes pretty unflappable most of the time, and yeah, very thoughtful-but, I can manage to push his buttons on occasion :D
Its funny, I had always wanted to go into law-I had an English teacher in Jr high, that used to say "good morning counselor" each morning when I came into class. I was always "arguing" some cause, or defending someone against his "unfair" ways. LOL. See, I was once idealistic too. :) Kinda reminds me of someone else I know ;)
That sounds like a GREAT essay. Id love to read it some time.
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