Conservative With A Heart

Good, positive and uplifting thoughts and actions carry me through my day. Last year I discovered Glenn Beck, and his words encouraged me. I started taping his shows and signed up for his newsletter. My family also began to attend Tea Party events. The words about doing and changing were exciting.

The climate changed somewhere along the way. Turning on the news, even Glenn Beck, became a hate fest. All of the negative thoughts and words began to drag me down. So I turned it all off. I even stopped opening the emails sent to me regularly and just trashed them when they popped up.

A few days ago, I posted and article about Obama bashing. The negative talk had reached my breaking point. Enough was enough.

To my surprise, I was not the only one that felt the negative had gotten out of hand. Glenn Beck announced yesterday that he was changing his tune.

See, I can want something different from you and that does not make either of us bad people. My words can counter your idea – or even prove it wrong – and that does nothing to lessen you the person.

People are fundamentally good. That may be the optimist in me, but it is a statement that I hold true. Ideas may be wrong, because of misdirection, misinformation, or misguidance, but people are at their core good, positive and uplifting.

I vote in elections. Sometimes I will even openly support a candidate. But when the dust settles, I have to choose to get behind the PERSON that is elected even if I do not agree with the ideas. That means I can push against the ideas and even offer up my own ideas, but I should never attack the person.

The political season has just begun. America will only survive the chaos if we quit fighting and look for the good, the positive and the uplifting that we can all agree makes this country such an amazing place.

1. We have the freedom to have different views.
2. We have the freedom (and opportunity) to express our views.

There are so many more things that make this country great! What are the good, positive and uplifting ideas that you see?

My whole life centers around the positive. My kids hear the phrase “if you cannot say anything nice then do not say anything at all” so often that they will say it before I get a chance to say it. The family motto comes from Philippians 4:8.

I am also a conservative – deep down, hard core conservative. It may surprise you when I say that I am tired of people talking negative about President Obama. It shocks me a little that I am even writing the words because I agree with very little of what President Obama has done, has said or wants to do.

I do not know President Obama, nor have I ever even seen him in person. But I believe that he is sincere in his convictions. I still think he is wrong, but I do feel like he believes that he is correct in his ideals. Bash his ideas all you want, but quit talking about him.

President Obama has pushed for the health care plan – now known as Obamacare. He thinks that it will benefit the country. Trash the plan, not the President.

President Obama wants to placate the terrorists and the countries that support terrorists. Trash the idea that these people can BE placated, but skip the negative talk about the President.

I do not agree with the things that I see coming out of the White House, but I refuse to judge the man that puts those ideas out. Even if I had the privilege of meeting and getting to know President Obama, I could never truly know his heart.

Mommy Patriots are just a few of the patriots that are taking a stand from all walks of life and from all corners of the country. These people are waking up to their responsibility for this land and for the future of the children.

Glenn Beck may have been one of the ones lighting the flame originally, but the ordinary people (maybe even the ones living next door to you right now) like the Sisterhood of the Mommy Patriots, are the patriots that are spreading the word that this country is ours and we have to take responsibility for its directions.

Any time spent watching the news might cause depression or at least the feeling of loneliness. It seems that no one thinks like I do. Many people have spent the last several years hiding their personal beliefs in an attempt to make life a little easier for them and for their family.

The time for a smooth ride is over. Mommy Patriots, Daddy Patriots and Children Patriots are coming together to give notice that they will be quiet no more.

The Sisterhood of the Mommy Patriots is just one of the outcomes from all that Glenn Beck has been talking back. These are mommies that have felt alone but are beginning to recognize that there are other Mommy Patriots out there. These Mommy Patriots are connecting through the internet and even local Tea Parties to discover that they are not alone and there is strength and power in numbers.

Mommy Patriot Sites

As A Mom is the main Patriot Mommy site and it also supports the 9-12 Project that was first ignited by Glenn Beck. It is “Network of principled mothers, grandmothers, daughters, & guardians of our nation’s children dedicated to the 9 Principles & 12 Values.”

See what started the Mommy Patriot movement.

Mommy Patriots and the other patriots that are fueling the Tea Party movements, the 9-12 Project and other ideas are concerned about the direction of the country. It will be interesting to see if the politicians hear their concern and act on it or wait for the full force of the Mommy Patriots to move from sea to shining sea.

College football was never my cup of tea. I never talked about it much – I am from the South and football down here is almost a religion. Two years ago I had the opportunity to write a column about Auburn football and other players and I met Kody Burns of the Auburn Tigers and Tim Tebow of the Florida Gators and Saturdays in the fall have not been the same since.

It can be easy to be worried about the future of the United States. The news shows bad news, panic and worry. But college football shows that hope is not lost.

Reasons Football Bring Hope to the United States

Tim Tebow – This quarter back already had a Heisman trophy and two National Championships under his belt. Many guys would be focused on their future in the NFL but Tebow came back to play with his team and for his team. He puts everything into the game with a sacrificial focus. He boasts only about his Faith, his God and his team and not about self.

Kody Burns – he left his family and home state of Arkansas to play football at Auburn. He played quarter back for two years before another team member won the position. He made an appeal to his team to support the decision and said he would do all that he could do to support the team. He showed leadership through high school and has carried those qualities over into college.

It may only be two examples so far, but there are more of them showing up every day – Kids that have character and values; Young men and women who have convictions and manners; People that are more concerned about the people around them and the future than they are self and the hear and now.

Times may be tough but hope is alive. Focus on the hope and the tough times WILL be overcome!

The last several months I have talked to friends and family members about what is going on with the government. Before the election in 2008, I had even started this blog to talk about all things political.

The actions of the government or the tales that have been told about blogs and internet in general pulled me back. The what ifs put a hold on my speech. I had enough on my plate without causing more stress through my opinions (and I have LOTS of them).

It has only been in the last few days that I have decided to not hold back any more. I can not tell my kids to do all that they can do and refuse to do that myself. It is time for me to stand up and speak my heart and mind and let the chips fall where they may.

3 Rants on Government that I have Held Back

1. President Obama thinks that children are not learning because they are not spending enough days in school. The truth is that teachers are being forced to teach for tests and not for education. Home school and private school children learn more in less time and for less money.

2. The government is getting too involved with my personal life. A mother, just helping out the neighbors, got in trouble for watching the neighborhood children until the school bus arrived to pick them up. This rant also includes neighbors who are too nosey for their own good because one of the neighbors had to have called and made a complaint.

3. There are so many issues when it comes to the government “fixing” the health care system that I’m not sure where to start. The truth is that most people have health care that they want and those who do not can find health care if they make choices to get that health care.

This is only the beginning. There are so many things that we need to talk about when it comes to our daily life. The government needs to hear what we have to say. I am still a bit nervous – I must confess – but I am stepping out.

This country needs you. You are a vital part of the success of what this country is and what this country is becoming. The time has come for each person to stand up and become more – not just for self but for posterity.

Tips for Stepping Up

1. Become more involved. No matter where you are in your walk, your taxes pay for the schools, the running of the city and other items. Attend the public meetings so that you can be aware of what is going on around you. Make your voice heard. Then come out of those meetings and share your knowledge with all the people that you know.

2. Become more concerned. It may not seem like the issues coming up involve you but if you let them pass with out a blink then there will be no one standing with you when the issues do affect you. Take issues to heart and be willing to help your neighbor and not just self.

3. Become more responsible. Ultimately every issue does have something to do with your life because YOU are the government. Complaints have no room because the government is the people. When I am involved – intimately, personally and consistently – then I become responsible and aware.

It is easier to turn away from the issues than face them head on. The only thing that is accomplished by avoiding what is going on is that you give away your power. It is time to take back the power and stand up for the country. It is time to become a link in the chain that holds this country high.

The nomination for the Supreme Court Justice has been named and Bill O’Reilly was discussing Sonya Sotomayor on his show last night. The conversation turned to the base of the Republican Party and how if Republicans fought the nomination – even on the basis that she believes the appellate court is where legislation is made – that the Republican Party would suffer.

There has been so much babbling about dwindling Republican Party (I’ve only heard Glenn Beck discuss the dwindling of BOTH the Republican and Democrat Parties). The truth is that is shouldn’t matter about the parties. The Legislative Branch answers to the state and to the people – NOT to the parties.

Something has to give. When people are no longer able to say what they understand based on facts of law (and not feelings or emotions) then there is a problem. People have been raising their voices to the sky with “Tea Parties” and other types of protest. Those in the ruling class (the press, the congress, the state governments) better start listening.

Bill O’Reilly is wrong. Those men and women that feel Sotomayor is a bad choice for the Supreme Court should reveal the facts. There may be no way to STOP the truck – as was mentioned several times on Bill O’Reilly’s “The O’Reilly Factor” – but it may be slowed down just enough that the truck doesn’t do as much damage.

The other night I watched a movie from the Hallmark Channel about a lady that saved orphans during World War II. I was moved by the fact that one woman was able to make such a difference. Then it dawned on me that often times it is just one voice, one person, or one family that takes that extra step and makes the impact that moves the world. The truth is that we should all be that one person.

One Life CAN Make a Difference

1. Your life is not perfect, I get that. There may be clothes piled up (clean or dirty doesn’t make a difference if they are still piled up). You may be struggling with running late, being unorganized or some other habit that tends to slow down the process. There will always be a reason or excuse NOT to get involved but you have to push through to make a difference.

2. You may not be in a position of authority, but you can write to your congressmen and senators. You can sit down with your family and discuss the issues that you are passionate about. You can take some time to LEARN what the issues are. Knowledge is a empowering and the tongue is the only offensive weapon in the arsenal (according to Ephesians 6).

3. You may be very busy in your own life (especially if you have children that are into extra activities). It only takes five minutes to call up a friend, send a nice note or let another person go before you in line. Would you be willing to give up five minutes if you knew it could change the world?

4. It takes smaller pieces to make a masterpiece. Try to see the smaller parts and quit focusing on the larger image. You can be one of the grains of sand that creates the sandcastle even if you have no idea how the sandcastle will come together.

Without one person there would be no Christianity, there would be no emancipation proclamation, there would be no “dream” or Obama. One voice and one person has made a difference since the beginning of time. What are you going to do today that will begin to make an impact on the world?

Yesterday I received a phone call from a lady that wanted me to come get some of her plants. She calls me every time she divides her plants even though I don’t see her or hear from her any other time of the year. She does it because of the respect that she had for my Grandmother and Grandfather (who have been gone for two decades).

The character that the two of them had has carried over to the third generation. I am reaping the results of the character of my grandparents. It’s proof to me of the importance of character even in this day when your word, your integrity and your character seem to be the least important thing around.

Tips for Building Character

1. Be on time. It seems like a small thing but if I can’t trust you to just be where you say you’ll be when you say you’ll be there then how can I trust anything else that you say?

2. Say no. Stop hem-hawing around the issue and say no if you are unable to attend an event or if you have no intention of attending.

3. Finish what you start. Our children have to complete any activity that they start even if it turns out that they don’t love it. Everyone should have this mind set. Once you commit to doing something – teaching Sunday school, participating on a board or cleaning a park – you should do it consistently and with all that you have until the end of the term. If there are no terms then give a sufficient notice so that you can be replaced before you leave.

4. Follow the rules. You may not agree with all of the rules but if you will break one then how can I be sure that you won’t break another? Besides, it’s hard to tell the kids to follow the rules when you don’t follow them yourself (this DOES include the speed limit).

Character matters and it will not just follow you but will follow your children and grandchildren. Leave a legacy that they can carry proudly.

The other day I was asked about how I feel about the direction of the country. The economy is still struggling and the government is spending like they are printing money but I believe that the country is headed in the right direction. It has nothing to do with circumstances or even stimulus packages. The country is headed in the right direction because of the people.

The news media has portrayed a recent poll about the direction of the country as a rise in support for Obama. The truth is that people are seeing these United States as their own once again and are feeling like it is possible to make a difference.

Reasons the Country is Headed in the Right Direction

1. People do no longer trust the media for their news. They are digging into the truth for themselves and then spreading the word by grassroots efforts and just sitting around the picnic table.

2. Individuals are speaking up to their representatives in all levels of government to let them know they are unhappy or that they do support the stands that are being taken that goes against the norm.

3. Consumers are recognizing that debt is enslaving for their personal lives but also for their government and are demanding that the government sticks to a budget just like individual households and businesses must stick to a budget.

People see that the country is moving in the right direction because they are taking personal responsibility. They believe in their own abilities and that is reflected in the direction that these United States are now moving.