Many of the commentors on my blog have their own which I make a daily read. The newest one to my list is Thump Thump Eyes who has just recently gotten her own blog up and running.
Head on over and give it a look-see! Welcome her to the neighborhood! :D
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Friday, January 4, 2008
Baby Eleanor
John & Cynthia Burke, married for 6 years, decided to adopt a baby boy through a New Jersey state adoption agency. Adopting a baby is never easy, there are a dizzying array of hoops to leap through including personal evaluation forms you have to fill out, references provided, past history checked into, etc... Basically, the feds go over your life with a fine toothed comb looking for lice.
Their "processing" went along just fine until the investigator got to the "religious affiliation" line on the forms. It was blank. *GASP!!!* Blank? The horror! What kind of person would leave the religious affiliation line blank? Everyone has a religious affiliation. Do they? John is an atheist and Cynthia is a pantheist. The investigator promptly got out the big stamp he kept in his bottom drawer for just such occasions and the red ink pad, his favorite, and firmly pounded **REJECTED** across their adoption application.
Not being the type to submit quietly and meekly, the Burke's immediately began court proceedings to appeal the decision. Fortunately for the happy couple, the bureau reversed their decision and changed their policy, allowing the happy couple to adopt a bouncing baby boy- David.
Thirty-one years later, John and Cynthia decided to adopt again.
Now my immediate reaction is of course, "Are you barking mad? You are in your 50s at least, what the heck are you thinking of wanting to raise another child?" I certainly would not want to start over being a parent in my 50s. But that is just me. I would never tell them that they couldn't adopt a child now. So, if they want to adopt a child, give it a loving home, raise the child as their own, love and care for it.... well go for it! The world needs people like the Burke's!
Last year the Burkes presented their adopted son, David, now 31, with a baby sister, Eleanor Katherine, now 17 months, whom they acquired from the same East Orange agency. I'm including this quote from the article so you get a sense of how long baby Eleanor has actually been with this family: long enough to learn to talk a bit, walk a bit, and form strong parental attachments. This baby just opened her own christmas presents!!!
Now, knowing what you know of today's society, guess which of the two issues has become a bone of contention in her adoption: age or atheism.
*DING! DA-DING DING DIIIIING!* Move to the head of the class! That's right, the religious affiliation line has come to the fore again.
Superior Court Judge William Camarata in an effort to be named the biggest prick on the planet has denied the Burke's petition to adopt Eleanor Katherine because John and Cynthia do not believe in a Supreme Being. He quotes the New Jersey State Constitution, "no person shall be deprived of the inestimable privilege of worshiping Almighty God in a manner agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience."
Even though the person in question is only 17 months old, Judge Camarata believes, "the child should have the freedom to worship as she sees fit, and not be influenced by prospective parents who do not believe in a Supreme Being."
What I find truly horrifying about this is first of all, a state constitution that commands respect for a person's right to believe without categorically stating that the practice of that belief cannot infringe on another's life, liberty, or property. All it has to do is be agreeable to the dictates of the believer's conscience. How about the religious nutballs who walk around with "God Hates Faggots!" signs or "Kill the Queers!" posters? Is that their "inestimable privilege"???
The second aspect that bothers me is that a Superior Court Judge has now implemented a defacto religious test for all parents wishing to adopt a baby in New Jersey.
Question 13. Do you believe in the Almighty God?
___ YES- See question 14
___ No- See question 666
Question 666. Are you sure you don't believe in God?
___ YES- Please return the form and exit the building as rapidly as possible.
___ No- Seek religious counseling and return with the sponsorship of a pastor, priest, or rabbi from the list provided below.
The judge has ordered that baby Eleanor be removed from the only home she has ever know, never again to see her Mother, Father, or older brother and returned to the New Jersey adoption agency.
The Burke's, with the help of the ACLU are appealing the decision to the New Jersey Supreme Court, which has agreed to hear their case.
Should the Burke's fail, the agency will place Eleanor with a family that meets the religious qualifications that will have been established by court ruling for all adoptive parents in the State of New Jersey.
What a horrifying precedent!
Fortunately, their appeal, granted 1 July 1971, was successful.
The judgment of the trial court is reversed. Since the sole ground for denying the adoption was the Burkes' beliefs regarding religion and it is clear from the record that they are otherwise fit, we grant the adoption in the exercise of our original jurisdiction. See R. 2:10-5; In re Adoption by B, supra, 63 N.J. Super. at 104.
Judgment is entered in accordance with this opinion.
Reason prevailed. This time.
Their "processing" went along just fine until the investigator got to the "religious affiliation" line on the forms. It was blank. *GASP!!!* Blank? The horror! What kind of person would leave the religious affiliation line blank? Everyone has a religious affiliation. Do they? John is an atheist and Cynthia is a pantheist. The investigator promptly got out the big stamp he kept in his bottom drawer for just such occasions and the red ink pad, his favorite, and firmly pounded **REJECTED** across their adoption application.
Not being the type to submit quietly and meekly, the Burke's immediately began court proceedings to appeal the decision. Fortunately for the happy couple, the bureau reversed their decision and changed their policy, allowing the happy couple to adopt a bouncing baby boy- David.
Thirty-one years later, John and Cynthia decided to adopt again.
Now my immediate reaction is of course, "Are you barking mad? You are in your 50s at least, what the heck are you thinking of wanting to raise another child?" I certainly would not want to start over being a parent in my 50s. But that is just me. I would never tell them that they couldn't adopt a child now. So, if they want to adopt a child, give it a loving home, raise the child as their own, love and care for it.... well go for it! The world needs people like the Burke's!
Last year the Burkes presented their adopted son, David, now 31, with a baby sister, Eleanor Katherine, now 17 months, whom they acquired from the same East Orange agency. I'm including this quote from the article so you get a sense of how long baby Eleanor has actually been with this family: long enough to learn to talk a bit, walk a bit, and form strong parental attachments. This baby just opened her own christmas presents!!!
Now, knowing what you know of today's society, guess which of the two issues has become a bone of contention in her adoption: age or atheism.
*DING! DA-DING DING DIIIIING!* Move to the head of the class! That's right, the religious affiliation line has come to the fore again.
Superior Court Judge William Camarata in an effort to be named the biggest prick on the planet has denied the Burke's petition to adopt Eleanor Katherine because John and Cynthia do not believe in a Supreme Being. He quotes the New Jersey State Constitution, "no person shall be deprived of the inestimable privilege of worshiping Almighty God in a manner agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience."
Even though the person in question is only 17 months old, Judge Camarata believes, "the child should have the freedom to worship as she sees fit, and not be influenced by prospective parents who do not believe in a Supreme Being."
What I find truly horrifying about this is first of all, a state constitution that commands respect for a person's right to believe without categorically stating that the practice of that belief cannot infringe on another's life, liberty, or property. All it has to do is be agreeable to the dictates of the believer's conscience. How about the religious nutballs who walk around with "God Hates Faggots!" signs or "Kill the Queers!" posters? Is that their "inestimable privilege"???
The second aspect that bothers me is that a Superior Court Judge has now implemented a defacto religious test for all parents wishing to adopt a baby in New Jersey.
Question 13. Do you believe in the Almighty God?
___ YES- See question 14
___ No- See question 666
Question 666. Are you sure you don't believe in God?
___ YES- Please return the form and exit the building as rapidly as possible.
___ No- Seek religious counseling and return with the sponsorship of a pastor, priest, or rabbi from the list provided below.
The judge has ordered that baby Eleanor be removed from the only home she has ever know, never again to see her Mother, Father, or older brother and returned to the New Jersey adoption agency.
The Burke's, with the help of the ACLU are appealing the decision to the New Jersey Supreme Court, which has agreed to hear their case.
Should the Burke's fail, the agency will place Eleanor with a family that meets the religious qualifications that will have been established by court ruling for all adoptive parents in the State of New Jersey.
What a horrifying precedent!
Fortunately, their appeal, granted 1 July 1971, was successful.
The judgment of the trial court is reversed. Since the sole ground for denying the adoption was the Burkes' beliefs regarding religion and it is clear from the record that they are otherwise fit, we grant the adoption in the exercise of our original jurisdiction. See R. 2:10-5; In re Adoption by B, supra, 63 N.J. Super. at 104.
Judgment is entered in accordance with this opinion.
Reason prevailed. This time.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
naughty and nice
The following, dated 26 December 2007, was received on 31 December 2007.
Dear Santa,
You must be surprised that I'm writing to you today, the 26th of December. Well, I would very much like to clear up certain things that have occurred since the beginning of the month, when, filled with illusion, I wrote you my letter. I asked for a bicycle, an electric trainset, a pair of roller blades, and a football uniform.
I destroyed my brain studying the whole year. Not only was I the first in my class, but I had the best grades in the whole school. I'm not going to lie to you, there was no one in my entire neighborhood that behaved better than me, with my parents, my brothers, my friends, and with my neighbors. I would go on errands, and even help the elderly cross the street. There was virtually nothing within reach that I would not do for humanity.
What balls you have leaving me a fucking yoyo, a lame whistle and a pair of ugly socks. What the fuck were you thinking, you fat prick, that you've taken me for a sucker the whole fucking year to come out with some shit like this under the tree. As if you hadn't fucked me enough, you gave that little quiff across the street so many toys that he can't even walk into his house. Don't let me see you trying to fit your big fat ass down my chimney next year. I'll fuck you up. I'll throw rocks at those stupid reindeer and scare them away so you'll have to walk back to the fucking North Pole, just like what I have to do now since you didn't get me that fucking bike. FUCK YOU SANTA. Next year you'll find out how bad I can be, you FAT COCKSUCKER.
Little Johnny
The following reply was mailed on 3 January 2008:
~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Little Johnny,
I was indeed surprised to receive your letter. I am afraid, dear boy, that you have been rather hideously misinformed.
Studying in school prepares your mind for the future. It shovels the mental pathways so you will be prepared for whatever career you choose, whichever dream you want to follow. It provides the mental discipline to learn new information and helps you to know what your own strengths and weaknesses are and where your talents lie. Education is not about topping other students, it's not about being the best in your school, it's about reaching your own highest potential.
Now, on the nature of "being good". "Being good" is not something you do to earn a few Christmas presents. It is not a point-based system where an A in school is worth 5 points, helping a little old lady across the street 3 points, and not hitting your brother when you are angry 1 point, where the first kid to 100 gets a new bike. It just flat out doesn't work that way.
"Being good", son, is something you do because it makes your life better. You treat your brothers kindly because they in turn treat you kindly. Keeping the peace in your house makes life better for everyone, including your parents. When the other people in your house are happy, your life is enhanced by that.
You help little old ladies, my boy, because it is the right thing to do. Because someday you will be a little old man who would very much appreciate a kind, thoughtful lad to give you a shoulder to lean on as you cross the street.
As for the presents under your tree, maybe you should take a long hard look at your life. Your parents bought you those presents, all that they could afford. With growing boys in the house, it's not easy to make ends meet. But you would know that, if you weren't so busy "being good", but instead genuinely cared about those around you.
Why not take this opportunity to make an effort to get yourself the things you want, instead of waiting for them to be given to you? If you apply yourself to finding ways to earn your own money instead of trying to force my hand at Christmas time you will be much happier.
One final point, Little Johnny, genuine goodness is revealed when a person encounters hardships. I find it rather telling that one setback, however large you may perceive it to be, has shown what you are truly like as a person. How disappointing. You might, Little Johnny, want to spend some time deciding what type of person you want to be: the kind of person who manipulates others into giving him things, or the kind of person who goes out and earns what he wants and finds joy in the doing.
All my best to you and your family this upcoming year.
~Santa Claus
PS- I will take the personal threats under advisement. Fair warning to you, little friend, Santa packs a taser and as the moral compass of naughty and nice, I'm authorized to use it.
Dear Santa,
You must be surprised that I'm writing to you today, the 26th of December. Well, I would very much like to clear up certain things that have occurred since the beginning of the month, when, filled with illusion, I wrote you my letter. I asked for a bicycle, an electric trainset, a pair of roller blades, and a football uniform.
I destroyed my brain studying the whole year. Not only was I the first in my class, but I had the best grades in the whole school. I'm not going to lie to you, there was no one in my entire neighborhood that behaved better than me, with my parents, my brothers, my friends, and with my neighbors. I would go on errands, and even help the elderly cross the street. There was virtually nothing within reach that I would not do for humanity.
What balls you have leaving me a fucking yoyo, a lame whistle and a pair of ugly socks. What the fuck were you thinking, you fat prick, that you've taken me for a sucker the whole fucking year to come out with some shit like this under the tree. As if you hadn't fucked me enough, you gave that little quiff across the street so many toys that he can't even walk into his house. Don't let me see you trying to fit your big fat ass down my chimney next year. I'll fuck you up. I'll throw rocks at those stupid reindeer and scare them away so you'll have to walk back to the fucking North Pole, just like what I have to do now since you didn't get me that fucking bike. FUCK YOU SANTA. Next year you'll find out how bad I can be, you FAT COCKSUCKER.
Little Johnny
The following reply was mailed on 3 January 2008:
~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Little Johnny,
I was indeed surprised to receive your letter. I am afraid, dear boy, that you have been rather hideously misinformed.
Studying in school prepares your mind for the future. It shovels the mental pathways so you will be prepared for whatever career you choose, whichever dream you want to follow. It provides the mental discipline to learn new information and helps you to know what your own strengths and weaknesses are and where your talents lie. Education is not about topping other students, it's not about being the best in your school, it's about reaching your own highest potential.
Now, on the nature of "being good". "Being good" is not something you do to earn a few Christmas presents. It is not a point-based system where an A in school is worth 5 points, helping a little old lady across the street 3 points, and not hitting your brother when you are angry 1 point, where the first kid to 100 gets a new bike. It just flat out doesn't work that way.
"Being good", son, is something you do because it makes your life better. You treat your brothers kindly because they in turn treat you kindly. Keeping the peace in your house makes life better for everyone, including your parents. When the other people in your house are happy, your life is enhanced by that.
You help little old ladies, my boy, because it is the right thing to do. Because someday you will be a little old man who would very much appreciate a kind, thoughtful lad to give you a shoulder to lean on as you cross the street.
As for the presents under your tree, maybe you should take a long hard look at your life. Your parents bought you those presents, all that they could afford. With growing boys in the house, it's not easy to make ends meet. But you would know that, if you weren't so busy "being good", but instead genuinely cared about those around you.
Why not take this opportunity to make an effort to get yourself the things you want, instead of waiting for them to be given to you? If you apply yourself to finding ways to earn your own money instead of trying to force my hand at Christmas time you will be much happier.
One final point, Little Johnny, genuine goodness is revealed when a person encounters hardships. I find it rather telling that one setback, however large you may perceive it to be, has shown what you are truly like as a person. How disappointing. You might, Little Johnny, want to spend some time deciding what type of person you want to be: the kind of person who manipulates others into giving him things, or the kind of person who goes out and earns what he wants and finds joy in the doing.
All my best to you and your family this upcoming year.
~Santa Claus
PS- I will take the personal threats under advisement. Fair warning to you, little friend, Santa packs a taser and as the moral compass of naughty and nice, I'm authorized to use it.
pseudoephedrine hydrochloride
The directions on the box say "Take 2 tablets every 4-6 hours. Do not exceed 4 doses in 24 hours." Yeah right. My body metabolises sudafed so weirdly. If I take two of those little red cherry bombs it makes my heart pound really hard. Not fast. Just hard. It becomes a physical sensation and I can hear it beating against my ear drums. It also makes them ring something fierce. Unfortunately, it's also the only thing that puts a dent in my head cold, another first for 2008. Yippee! (not!)
So I only take them one at a time. But then they only last about 3.5 hours. *sigh* It's fine during the day time, but at night, once I wake up (which I always do), I lay in bed staring at the ceiling. If I close my eyes, my thoughts, which should be peaceful, drifty, and sludgy, instead, crash and roil like the pounding surf against a cliff base. They become something I can see when I shut my eyes except they are words in images swirling in my mind. Shattered bits and pieces of thoughts going nowhere but tumbling about in a crashing, never ending jumble.
No wonder they make meth out of this stuff, if just one little red dot does that to me. sheesh!
Note to self: orange juice for breakfast.
So I only take them one at a time. But then they only last about 3.5 hours. *sigh* It's fine during the day time, but at night, once I wake up (which I always do), I lay in bed staring at the ceiling. If I close my eyes, my thoughts, which should be peaceful, drifty, and sludgy, instead, crash and roil like the pounding surf against a cliff base. They become something I can see when I shut my eyes except they are words in images swirling in my mind. Shattered bits and pieces of thoughts going nowhere but tumbling about in a crashing, never ending jumble.
No wonder they make meth out of this stuff, if just one little red dot does that to me. sheesh!
Note to self: orange juice for breakfast.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
first fortune cookie of the year
One of my favorite things to do with the Kids' Dad is to go out to eat, preferrably at a buffet restaurant, and just sit and talk the afternoon away. I would have to say the ultimate time was about three weeks ago at the Pizza Ranch where he had me laughing so hard I'd taken my glasses off because tears were running down my face and I was pleading for mercy because my stomach muscles were absolutely aching from laughing so hard. :D
Today we went to a Chinese restaurant (bet you hadn't guessed that from the title of the post!!!!), specifically the King House Buffet. :) The food was.... well there was a lot of variety and the types of food offered had changed a lot since the last time. The taste was really quite good, but it wasn't very hot, which was disappointing and probably not up to code. The problem might have been that the plates were really cold to start with. Didn't stop the visiting from being AWESOME though!!!!!
On the way out the door they have a bucket full of fortune cookies on the back of a statue of an Asian Elephant (trunk up of course) and we each grabbed one. Not a bad tasting cookie, either, which is nice. Sometimes a fortune cookie can be stale or just naff tasting. Blech. Not the place for a Chinese restaurant to skimp on as it is the last impression you will have of their establishment. The last thing a restaurant owner should want is a customer walking out the door trying to scrape the taste off their tongue with their teeth while saying, "Ewwwww that was just... nasty!" So, I cracked it open, nabbed the fortune and popped the first half in my mouth. YUM! And the little paper said....
You will be travelling and coming into a fortune.
SEE!!!!! I knew 2008 was going to be a fabulous year!!!! lol
The funny thing about fortune cookies... so often they tell a person what they want to hear about themselves, or offer general good advice. Others are just plain ridiculously inappropriate for the person receiving it. I rather miss the ones that used to say, Confucious say, 'He who farts in church, sits alone', or some other such wisdom of the Orient. But I suppose that would be as politically incorrect as children on the playground playing "Cowboys and Indians".
How about you? Have you had a fortune cookie yet this year? If not, what is the most memorable fortune cookie you've ever received????
Today we went to a Chinese restaurant (bet you hadn't guessed that from the title of the post!!!!), specifically the King House Buffet. :) The food was.... well there was a lot of variety and the types of food offered had changed a lot since the last time. The taste was really quite good, but it wasn't very hot, which was disappointing and probably not up to code. The problem might have been that the plates were really cold to start with. Didn't stop the visiting from being AWESOME though!!!!!
On the way out the door they have a bucket full of fortune cookies on the back of a statue of an Asian Elephant (trunk up of course) and we each grabbed one. Not a bad tasting cookie, either, which is nice. Sometimes a fortune cookie can be stale or just naff tasting. Blech. Not the place for a Chinese restaurant to skimp on as it is the last impression you will have of their establishment. The last thing a restaurant owner should want is a customer walking out the door trying to scrape the taste off their tongue with their teeth while saying, "Ewwwww that was just... nasty!" So, I cracked it open, nabbed the fortune and popped the first half in my mouth. YUM! And the little paper said....
You will be travelling and coming into a fortune.
SEE!!!!! I knew 2008 was going to be a fabulous year!!!! lol
The funny thing about fortune cookies... so often they tell a person what they want to hear about themselves, or offer general good advice. Others are just plain ridiculously inappropriate for the person receiving it. I rather miss the ones that used to say, Confucious say, 'He who farts in church, sits alone', or some other such wisdom of the Orient. But I suppose that would be as politically incorrect as children on the playground playing "Cowboys and Indians".
How about you? Have you had a fortune cookie yet this year? If not, what is the most memorable fortune cookie you've ever received????
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
First Post of 2008
The whole year ahead of me.
The first day of the year is an arbitrary designation based on an inaccurately calculated calendar, and placed, for no discernable reason that I've ever heard, smack dab in the middle of winter (at least where I live, summer for my Aussie friends).
So while the first is an artificial seperation between the old and the new, without any inherent magic, mystery, or need for attention, it can still be used as an opportunity. A time to do things differently. Time to make changes and a clean break with past bad habits and start afresh with new behaviors.
When I think ahead to the upcoming year, I wonder not only where I will be on January 1, 2009, but where I will have been during 2008. The possibilities are staggering. Back in April 2007 when I started blogging I thought my life was mired down into a never-ending routine that wouldn't let up until the kids left home. What a tremendous difference in 9 months!
Now I sit and contemplate the opportunities to try new things, the time to be spent with new friends and family, and the changes that can and will take place in my life in the next year and it makes me shiver with excitement.
What a great time to be alive! And hey! If you stick around, you'll get to be a part of it! WOOOHOOOO!!!!!!!
The first day of the year is an arbitrary designation based on an inaccurately calculated calendar, and placed, for no discernable reason that I've ever heard, smack dab in the middle of winter (at least where I live, summer for my Aussie friends).
So while the first is an artificial seperation between the old and the new, without any inherent magic, mystery, or need for attention, it can still be used as an opportunity. A time to do things differently. Time to make changes and a clean break with past bad habits and start afresh with new behaviors.
When I think ahead to the upcoming year, I wonder not only where I will be on January 1, 2009, but where I will have been during 2008. The possibilities are staggering. Back in April 2007 when I started blogging I thought my life was mired down into a never-ending routine that wouldn't let up until the kids left home. What a tremendous difference in 9 months!
Now I sit and contemplate the opportunities to try new things, the time to be spent with new friends and family, and the changes that can and will take place in my life in the next year and it makes me shiver with excitement.
What a great time to be alive! And hey! If you stick around, you'll get to be a part of it! WOOOHOOOO!!!!!!!
open forum 9
Here it is again, the start of a brand new month and that means another open forum. Your chance to probe the inner workings of my mind. Sometimes when you're out and about in the blogosphere reading away on a blog you think, "hmmm would love to ask the blogger a question, but how?"
Well with me you have two options:
1- E-mail me directly atheisthomeschooler @ yahoo.com or
2- Post the question in the comments section of the current month's Open Forum post.
It's your chance to ask a question that may have been niggling in the back of yours: personal, atheist, homeschooling, whatever you can come up with.
Consider it like truth or dare.
You ask, I'll answer. :D
Well with me you have two options:
1- E-mail me directly atheisthomeschooler @ yahoo.com or
2- Post the question in the comments section of the current month's Open Forum post.
It's your chance to ask a question that may have been niggling in the back of yours: personal, atheist, homeschooling, whatever you can come up with.
Consider it like truth or dare.
You ask, I'll answer. :D
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