May. 21, 2008 - Welcome to "The Sweet Life" blog tour!

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May. 20, 2008 - Blog of Distinction Award

Sandy gave me an award!  Thank you Sandy!  It always makes me feel great to know that what I write blesses and encourages others.

Blogs I want to pass this award on to:
Seeking Faithfulness-one of the most encouraging and thought provoking Mom-blogs ever. :)

Making Home-full of good stuff!

Happy to Be Called Mommy--Bethany is so incredibly creative.  She also ministers in a special way to mom's who have lost little ones.  She's even writing a book!

And I have just completely run out of steam for thinking and writing, so I will have to stop there.

 

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May. 20, 2008 - Thank you Uncle James!

If we can't live on a farm, we can at least pretend.

Biruk with grandma:

Biruk with grandpa:

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May. 17, 2008 - Super Savings Saturday

This is part of my haul this weekend.  $29 seems like a lot for such a small pile, but one of the blouses originally cost $35, and was still brand new with it's price tag on.  Two skirts, two shirts for me, and they all fit *well* and look good, which makes them worth their weight in gold for someone my size.  Scrub pants for Josiah, shoes that Asrat will be growing into, and leather boots for Gebre.  Also in the front you can see two kids "carpenter" projects, which went straight into my gift drawer for Christmas.  Also that sturdy little laundry basket, a diaper cover, a Thomas book (Gebre's obsession) and a picture frame.

Also this weekend I found an umbrella stroller in great shape for $4, and two bags full of never-worn maternity/nursing (for next time around) and infant clothes for $8.  The garage sale at which I found those clothes was really mind blowing.  The sellers had set up racks and racks to accomodate the many hundreds of clothing items, some of them never worn that had belonged to the two children in the family.  And for once, the prices were decent--.25c to $1 for individual items. 

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May. 17, 2008 - Biruk's Deduction

Hmmm.  A large, heavy, round thing.  With a convenient handle.

I wonder what it's for?

I shall ponder a moment.

Aha!  I know!

It's a....

Hat!!

[Actually, I do believe he was experimenting with the noises and sensations produced by hitting himself over the head with it.  He tends to do that when he finds pots and pans and cookie sheets.  Not hard enough to hurt himself, or I wouldn't let him do it.  But he seems to find it a fascinating game.] 

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May. 17, 2008 - Hard Workin' Men

Josiah found a job the boys could do with him and they are still talking about it 5 days later!

Raking up grass with Baba:

Spreading grass in the mud-pit that passes for our back yard:
Can you see the "crop circle" the boys have worn into our postage stamp of grass? 
This is how that happened:
Around and around and around they go.  When they will stop, nobody knows!

Biruk likes to help too.
Here he is, washing up in the sink:

And mopping the floor:

With all these hardworking menfolks around, I may be able to "retire" in about 5 years.  Not that I would, of course.  I'll probably just set them to building my dream house.   

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May. 10, 2008 - Birthday pics

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May. 10, 2008 - Cuteness

Asrat and his beloved plane.  It used to be a "biplane" but somebody took off a set of wings, so I guess it's a uniplane now.

Gebre posing sweetly (above).
Gebre being his normal self (below).

Biruk working on his standing up:

Who wouldn't want to kiss him?

I am so very, very blessed!

 

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May. 8, 2008 - Guest blogging at Bellies and Babies

I got invited to write a guest blog for the Bellies and Babies blog.  Go check it out.  She's got a lot of truly great stuff there, and birth videos and information.

Also, I should note, in my blog I didn't mention my parents, but I am extremely grateful for their support and encouragement.  I know the medical training and parental concern must have made it difficult sometimes, the nuttier I got.  Thanks Mom and Dad!

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May. 7, 2008 - Jermiah Wright:divisive and race-obsessed

Yes he is.

Ten years ago, I would have embraced Rev. Jeremiah Wright as a hero of the faith.  I would have ignored his racism (I’ll get to that in a minute) and adored him as a prophet of the modern church.  I would have cheered and clapped and swooned over his impassioned speeches.  I would have had sage discussions with my schoolmates about his ever-so-wonderful ideas.  Back then I was a teenager and we were in a community that frequently flirted with the radical left while trying to maintain a conservative theology (bad idea, by the way).  The hero ten years ago was Mumia Abu Jamal.  We children were heavily involved in the campaign to “Save Mumia” and I wrote a few impassioned letters to the judge presiding over his case, citing the Bible (“Judge not lest ye be judged”) and threatening the judge with eternal hellfire if he didn’t free Mumia.  Every child in the community school had a death-row inmate pen-pal.  We sent them newsletters and I corresponded with my pen pals for years, until one of them combined an attempt to convert me to Islam with a proposal of marriage in his letter.   

We were so angry, so self righteous, and so very, very ignorant.

These days, I’m more inclined to think of the Reverend as a jerk.  And I know that is highly uncharitable.  But the other descriptions I can think of are hardly more kind.  He’s a racist.  He’s a supporter of Hamas.  He’s a twister of truth.

I wonder of Obama’s annoyance with this guy is genuine.  ‘Cause mine certainly is.  I have listened to and read transcripts of his sermons/speeches that caused so much trouble and I cannot understand how people can defend him so staunchly.  He is a master of manipulating words and emotions in order to make his point.  When I heard him claim that all opposition to him is actually a racist hatred of the way black Christians worship, my jaw dropped open.  I have not heard one single person mention the worship style of African American churches as a reason why they dislike this man.  How could anyone possibly believe that??  Heck, I go to a predominantly black church, who’s pastor was raised in black pentecostalism.  We see the dancing, clapping, shouting, Amen-ing, every week and get resonant, energetic preaching on a frequent basis.  That style has nothing, absolutely nothing, with the nonsense that comes from Rev. Wright’s pulpit. 

I’ve mentioned his racism several times and I’m sure some will grimace and curse me for doing so.  One thing I noticed is that this man is, by his obsession with all things related to the “black experience” and “black theology”, perpetuating the “one drop rule”.  That is the ridiculous notion that one single drop of “black blood” makes one black, for all intents and purposes, to the exclusion of all other heritage.  This is the thinking that resulted in those ridiculous labels-mulatto (half black), quatroon (one quarter black), octaroon (nobody can tell by looking but your great-grandma was black, so you are too).  In one of his speeches he mentioned his own color, stating that it’s not his fault he’s light skinned.  I suppose that’s true but the deeper implication is, he’s mad about his light skin.

Also, the “Afrocentrism” that he and his church so proudly proclaim really baffles me.  Some of the books in their online bookstore are actually quite disconcerting (One subtitle asks “Did all the good things in Christianity really come from African religions?”).  The problem with this thinking is that it completely ignores that while Africa has had it’s very great civilizations and has also suffered a great deal, Europe and America didn’t have a corner on evil.  Africans (and Arabs) enslaved each other, and willingly participated in the slave trade, joining forces with white slavers to capture their prey.  When talking about slavery and religion, Wright also completely ignores the fact that white Christians played a huge role in ending slavery.  He talks about African American Christianity being a “religion that fought slavery”.  Perhaps he’s forgotten about the Underground Railroad, Quakers and other white Christians who provided food and safety and transport.  Their work and hospitality and love and sacrfice don’t count because they were white?  Hmmmm.  Apparently it’s OK to discount and hate someone because of their skin color, as long as they’re white. 

There is another interesting thing about Afrocentrism.  African immigrants often experience a great deal of racism and hatred from black Americans.  For all their love of the “mother continent” they seem to have an inordinate dislike of recent immigrants from the great continent.  One black man (from our church!) actually confessed to Josiah that he thought Africans were backwards and stupid until he met my husband.  He isn’t the only one who thinks that way. 

Moving on to another outrageous claim of his…..Jeremiah Wright said that the government introduced AIDS (and drugs) into the black population.  His “proof”, which was so brilliantly stated by Rosie O’Donnell this week, is that “It’s already happened-the government was infecting blacks with syphilis at Tuskeegee for fourty years!”  Now, Tuskeegee was a completely inexcusable ethical and moral failure, and I want to be clear on that.  However, the government was studying men who were already infected, on the basis of the thought that the treatments of the time might be doing more harm than good.  The ethical failure was in not telling the men they had the disease.  That was wrong, wrong, wrong.  But it wasn’t necessarily racist.  If you look at pictures of the medical personell involved, you will also note that several administrators of the study were…..African American.  The "whistle blower" on the project, who eventually went public with his concerns was...a white man.  Hmmmm…and hmmm again.  Yet somehow Tuskeegee has morphed into an example of how whites hate blacks and want to kill them all.

His latest big speech was full of this kind of ridiculosity.  He claimed that black and white minds are different, that we think differently and learn differently by biological fact.  Remember the uproar when someone noticed men and women use their brains differently?  I wondered why Jeremiah Wright got cheers and claps for his statement.  Didn’t anyone laugh when the “proved” brain differences by having his audience clap, and insisting that whites and blacks naturally clap on different beats.  In the same speech he defended “ebonics” and mocked several presidents in a most viscious way for their accents, hoping, apparently, to connect regional accents with bad language skills.  Now, I have no problem with accents.  But my husband will tell you that being understood by others requires good language skills, and is very important in order to succeed.  He knows this by experience. 
Rev. Wright kept repeating that "different does not mean deficient" and I agree with that.  What annoys me is that he is taking righteous anger over past problems and playing the martyr today.  I don't care about his color or his style.  I care about what he says.  And what he says is outrageous and wrong.  And hateful.  And yes, it is also divisive, despite his protestations to the contrary.   

Some might wonder why I appear so upset about this.  I’m a white woman, what does it matter to me?  Well, I happen to be married to an actual African (as opposed to an "Afrocentric" born and bred American).  And my sons are, by Jeremiah Wright’s figuring, “black”.  Remembering my own youthful and misguided political passions, it occurs to me that someday my sons are going to be faced with similar things.  Will one of them be drawn in by his generation's Reverend Wright.  Will they tolerate me because I birthed them, but secretly bear shame for their light skin and “privilage”?  I worry about this.  Racism reversed is still racism.  I want my children to grow up without obsessing about skin color, one way or the other.  I want them to identify as humans, as sons, brothers, friends, as Christians.  Not as “black” or “white” or “mixed”.  I am going to teach them the blessings and the curses of their entire heritage, Euro/American and African.  There is enough blame to go around to everyone, and God’s grace is enough to cover that blame, too.  I’m so glad God isn’t color-obsessed. 

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May. 5, 2008 - For Biruk: On your "oneth" birthday

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May. 3, 2008 - For Asrat

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May. 2, 2008 - Meghan Rose Series and giveaway!

Since 2000, Lori has published over fifty short stories, devotions, puzzles, poems, and articles for children, teens, and adults. She has been published in Focus on Your Child, MOMSense Magazine, Spirit Led Writer, Pockets, and Devozine. She is the author of 

A graduate of Wheaton College, Lori has worked with children for over twenty years, both as a teacher in the classroom and as a volunteer for local churches, museums, and schools.  When she's not busy driving her two children to various church, sporting, and artistic activities, she moonlights as a speaker for women's groups and schools.

Lori, welcome. Thanks for taking time to be with us today.

My pleasure.

 

You often introduce yourself as first a mother, then a teacher, and finally a writer. Why is that?

I feel like being a mother is my highest calling in life. And that means I’m a caregiver, nurse, tutor, cheerleader, counselor, transportation expert, and nutritionist. Doing all those mommy things is a bit like filling a jar jam-packed with marbles. I pursue my own interests in the empty spaces around those marbles because being a mommy trumps all.

I call myself a teacher second because working with kids has been such a huge part of my life. Just as God gifts different people for different tasks, I feel like God has given me a special ability to understand and work with children. Or maybe I’m just not ready to give up playing and comics yet.

I call myself a writer last because I often feel like writing too much fun—and pays too little—to be a real job. But then again, writing is another interest in my life I have felt called to pursue. God blessed me there too. When I decided to start writing, my first submission won second place in a science fiction writing contest. My second submission won MOPS International story writing contest.

I guess what I want moms to realize is, it’s okay to put the mommy part of our lives first and to trust that God will still bless, fulfill, and lead us in other areas as well.

Why would parents like your series?
A good question—one that I have to answer from my own experience. When my daughter was in first grade, her teacher started reading the Junie B. Jones books in class. Since Meghan liked them, I picked up a few copies.

Well, I enjoyed the humor in those books, but had to edit out some of the grammar slips, name calling and attitudes. I thought there had to be an alternative choice—a book that was just as funny, but also had a good take-away value. I scoured the Christian bookstores. I couldn’t find any fiction for that age group, only devotional books and Bible stories.

When I asked about it, bookstore owners often commented that they wished they could offer such a book. In fact, they’d had numerous parents come to the store, all asking the same thing: Do you have a fiction book my young child will enjoy reading? And, like them, I walked away empty handed.

So I wrote the book I couldn’t find—a book for my daughter AND for all those other mothers just like me. I put in everything she wanted—an interesting story filled with giggles and characters worth rooting for—and everything I wanted—good moral values (but with nothing preachy about the story at all). And because I don’t believe I’m alone in those desires, I’m convinced other parents (AND THEIR KIDS!!!) will like the series too.

Why did you include discussion questions and activities at the end of each book?
That’s the teacher part of me flaring up big time! LOL. But seriously, how many times have you as a mother read a book and thought, “There’s a good lesson in here” but didn’t know how to draw your child into a discussion about it? I remember reading Where the Red Fern Grows with my daughter and wanting to talk about the tender topic of death that book touches on. Since I didn’t know where to start, I couldn’t fully take advantage of that teachable moment. (Instead we both just cried all the way through the last few chapters.)

That’s why I included questions for parents or teachers to use after they read the story, so they can capitalize on the book’s underlying message. (Although I hope people laugh through the last few chapters of Meghan Rose instead of cry!)

And the activities are all for the kids. They love extending the story experience by creating their own volcanoes or whatever. I also put a ton of other ideas for parents and kids on my website under the BLAM (Brilliant Little Activities to Make) link (www.MeghanRoseSeries.com).

So each book has an underlying message? Tell us about that.

As I mentioned, I wanted the stories to do more than entertain. I wanted them to have takeaway value. Each book’s message is very subtle but still evident throughout the book. While Meghan Rose on Stage! talks about discovering your talents, it’s ultimately about friendship. Meghan Rose Has Ants in Her Pants explores the idea of patience—a difficult area for most kids to deal with. The newest two books—Meghan Rose All Dressed Up and Meghan Rose Has a Secret—address inner beauty and kind words. But again, none of it is preachy. It’s heavy on the humor and very, VERY light on the lesson…yet neither quality is lost on the child.

Are the books just for girls?

Not at all! One mother of two boys emailed me about how much her sons enjoyed reading them with her. She said they could hardly read for laughing so hard—they were all HOWLING!! The youngest one loved it so much he started sleeping with the first book under his pillow at night.

In fact, the comment I hear most from people who read the books is, “I laughed out loud.” The second comment I hear most often is about how much kids (and parents) like the discussion questions and activities. How can all that just be for girls?

Where do you get the inspiration for the humorous parts of the books?

Most of that comes from my upbringing. My dad was always coming up with puns and jokes. He made them up on the spot, and they were hilarious! I can’t tell you how many hours we spent laughing around the dinner table. I think dad influenced all my sisters. In fact, one of my sisters was part of an improvisational comedy team. (She’s also a pastor’s wife—it’s a fun combination.)

I also grew up on a steady diet of comic books. Peanuts and Garfield were my favorites, and later Calvin and Hobbes. And we’d also watch comedy on television, especially The Carol Brunette Show.

That said, some of my inspiration just comes from everyday life. My kids crack me up. They both have a great sense of humor.

The main character in the Meghan Rose series shares your daughter’s name. Why is that?

She was the foundational basis for the character. When I started the series, I needed someone likable, outrageous, clever, spunky, and sensitive all rolled into one. Well, that’s my Meghan. And since I originally wrote the books just for her, I simply used her name. You’ll also see the names of other people I’ve met, although the character they’re named for is totally fiction. Mrs. Arnold, for example, was the name of Meghan’s real first grade teacher. But she’s not like the Mrs. Arnold in the book.

Are any of the characters like you?

I think maybe there’s a little bit of me in all of them. Certainly a lot of me is reflected in the teacher, Mrs. Arnold. Then Ryan shows the jokester side of me, Kayla has the goofy side, Lynette has the rule-following, show-off side, and Meghan’s Mom has the practical side. The Meghan character herself is about 80 percent of the “real” Meghan, 10 percent of me and my creative musings, and 10 percent total fiction.

 

Do you ever visit schools to talk about the books?

Yes!  I've visited several schools and talked about the steps a writer goes through to get from idea to published book.  I've also shared ways to boost everyday creativity and develop writing ideas.  All three presentations seem to fire up everyone, even the reluctant writers.  Kids tell me that what they enjoy most about the time we spend together is learning my two-handed drawing trick and discovering how to write their own jokes.

 

 

As a teacher, I value school visits. I think it’s important to inspire and encourage all children…to help them see opportunities and possibilities. As a mom, I can’t help seeing my own children reflected in the faces I meet. That gives me extra incentive to make kids want to reach their dreams, whatever they might be.

 

Can you share one idea for mothers to help their children be more creative?

Sure.  Hmmm.  Hard to pic one.  I guess one great idea is to encourage your children to be involved with artistic endeavors.  That can include a whole variety of options, like drawing, painting, or making things out of shoe boxes.  Children can listen to or dance to music.  Or make their own music.  They can dress up and put on a show for family or friends, or memorize a silly poem.  And it should be fun, not work.

  

Where can readers learn more about you and the Meghan Rose books?

They can visit my website at www.MeghanRoseSeries.com. My award-winning illustrator, Stacy Curtis, designed it. It offers jokes, puzzles, and activities for kids and great ideas for teacher and parents (on Mrs. Arnold’s BLAM page). It also introduces the books and characters, provides links to book reviews, and gives ordering information. I posted a retold fairy tale reader’s theater that gives visitors a good feel for the style of humor found in the books at www.meghanroseseries.com/teachers_LittleRed.asp .

You can also purchase a copy of Meghan Rose on Stage!, Meghan Rose Has Ants in Her Pants, Meghan Rose All Dressed Up, Meghan Rose Has a Secret by clicking on the titles here.

 

 

That sounds great. Well, thank you for your time!

Thank you for letting me visit with you.


I am giving away our two books (once we finish reading them outloud!).  Unfortunately, Gebre got ahold of one of them so it is rather rumpled.  I hope the winner won't mind.  Post a comment and I'll randomly pick the winner next week!

Here is the rest of the blog schedule--you can see what others have written about these books:

April 27

http://jewelsamples.blogspot.com

April 28

http://www.marybethwhalen.com

http://triciagoyer.blogspot.com

http://sprightly-amyanne.blogspot.com

http://www.karenehman.com

http://jewelsamples.blogspot.com

http://mommymonk.blogspot.com/

 

April 29

http://www.loricalabrese.blogspot.com

http://www.bellaamadis.blogspot.com

http://www.survivingthechaos.blogspot.com

http://pursuingsimplicity.blogspot.com

http://ramblinroadstoeverywhere.blogspot.com

http://jewelsamples.blogspot.com/.

April 30

http://ladiesofsuspense.blogspot.com

www.RumorsOfGlory.net/blog

May 1

http://karenrobbins.blogspot.com

May 2

http://zyphe.blogspot.com 

http://www.cornhuskeracademy.blogspot.com

http://www.jaxcreations.blogspot.com

May 3

http://www.terragarden.blogspot.com 

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/cappuccinosmom

May 4

www.booksformoms.blogspot.com

 

Busy Moms’ Devotions to Go and four Meghan Rose titles. In addition, Lori has contributed to over a dozen books including Real Moms, Cup of Comfort, Book of Prayers, and 2007 Eppie Award winner Infinite Space, Infinite God. 

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Apr. 30, 2008 - See Mom Retch

Well, we have reached new heights of disgustingness in our house. 

Gebre made a wonderful big "stink" in the potty this morning.  A really stinky "stink".  You can already see which road this story is heading down, I'm sure.  Now, I did immediately dump and wipe down the potty, responsible mother that I am, but I missed something.

A few minutes later, I notice Biruk is messing with something, and then he puts it in his mouth.  I turn to put down what I'm doing so I can go make sure he's not going to choke on anything.  Then, I notice a smell.  That smell.  Where is it coming from?  Did I miss some on the potty?  I look around.  I notice a little pebble of poo on the floor by Biruk.  Reality is beating on the door but I'm not willing to let it in yet.  I look a little farther and notice some smudges on Biruks pants.  And his shirt.  And that smell.  He grins up at me.

Oh. No.

Please no!

He has poop in his mouth! 

Then I notice the rag that Gebre had been using as a hankie.  Apparently he tried to clean his potty before I got there, but didn't think to let me know.  Biruk found the rag.  Biruk decided to chew on it.

Biruk has poop in his mouth.

Frantic changing and hand washing and checking for more stray pieces of waste ensues.  And then more hand washing and an attempt to wash out Biruk's mouth.  I spray disinfectent on everybody's fingers.  But the smell lingers.  I call my dad and he chuckles and says not to worry.  I ask about Listerine, but later decide not to try that on Biruk.  Eventually, I wet a rag with straight vinegar and rub it around the inside of Biruk's mouth.  Hopefully that's good enough.  I try to forget that he had poop in his mouth.  In his mouth!  I'm going to have to nurse him eventually.  Blech. 

Like I said: New heights of disgustingness.

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Apr. 29, 2008 - Basegolfis

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Apr. 29, 2008 - To Gebre: On your birthday

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Apr. 26, 2008 - Super Savings Saturday

See all the great deals people have gotten this week at Money Saving Mom

Here's my best deal of the week:

It didn't turn out exactly as planned, but the total oop was still only $3.12.  The face value of these products was about $52 before sales and coupons.  Even after the BOGO on Herbal Essences, it was around $35, so I figure I got a pretty good deal.   I think I'm good for shampoo for the rest of the year now. 

I should add that I am ever so grateful to the lady who collects coupons, clips them, sorts them by type and date, and leaves them in the library for anybody who wants them.  I discovered that treasure trove about 3 weeks ago.

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Apr. 26, 2008 - Gonna have to keep an eye on this one...

Early this morning, I heard an odd sound and turned around to see this...

Later on, I was happily snapping pictures of the boys outside, when Gebre said "Hey! Mama! Look at Biruk!"  And I turned around and saw this:

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Apr. 25, 2008 - Black pastors and activists protest Planned Parenthood's racism

Maggie Gallagher has written an excellent piece on the connection between Planned Parenthood and racism.  Her article was prompted by investigative phone calls made by a group of young people to Planned Parenthood clinics around the country, similar to the calls that caused the underage girl scandal of a few years ago.  The young man who made the calls asked if he could make donations to PP specifically to cover abortions for women of color.  Most outrageous was the glee and excitement demonstrated by the women taking his calls, after he gave reasons that were plainly bigoted and racist ("There are too many black babies being born here in Ohio and I don't want affirmative action to take away my son's chances at college").  You would think that people interested in social justice would hang up the phone the minute they heard something like that, but instead the response was "Sure, we'll take you're money, and we'll be glad make the designation as you've requested!". 

I have a huge pile of reasons to oppose abortion, but racism is certainly one of them, especially as I am the mother of children who society will view as "black" (though the more politically correct may call them "persons of color").  Margaret Sanger was undeniably racist and Planned Parenthood seems to be carrying her torch proudly into the future.  My, she must be rolling over in her grave to see people like me--white girl married to a black man (Gasp! The horror!), having colored babies (Oh, the tragedy!), raising them in a highly religious environment.  Oh, and we're "poor".  Given her standards (Wiki looks pretty mild, more specific quotes can be found in an article HERE)for who should bear children and who should not, I'm fairly sure she would classify me as a "moron" who needed immediate sterilization. 

HERE is another series of articles written by African Americans on the subject of abortion, racism, and what abortion has done to black culture.

Ironically, it is the left that is supposed to be most concerned with social justice and eradicating racism.  They've dropped the ball on this one, and left it up to conservatives like me to thumb our noses at the idea that people of color are less brilliant, less capable, and less functional than upper class whites. 

Here's to you, Margaret Sanger.  Your legacy was about death.  Mine is going to be life!

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Apr. 23, 2008 - Gebre-isms

Gebre on flowers...Forsythia is 'Puh-sipia', Violets are "Biolips!"

He also has several mantras for potty time:
1.  "Pee in da potty! Not on da fwoor!" Repeat as necessary
2.  "You dump and I fwush!"  Repeat until mama drops everything and rushes to dump the potty.  If she doesn't, flush the toilet again and again--it's sure to get her attention.
3. "Need paper!!" Repeat until mama says "Enough already"

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