yeah, but your danish. It might not show the swedish in a nice way. Nut still it's good for a laugh.

I know, but if can't laugh of yourself, who can you laugh of?

So right so right. A few people could learn a few things about that. some take things to personal.

Very funny! Seriously though, the nordic countries should consider a union again. At least those with no oil.

I'd love to visit Norway.  Two of my great uncles and my grandparents were born there, after all.  It's a beautiful country, and I'm envious of all your snow.  But I'm so gosh-darned bless to live in my very favorite country of all.  I'm so way incredibly proud to be an American, and I just know that I couldn't handle living anywhere but here.  I'm related to two of our now-deceased presidents, after all.  This is the land where our great forefathers gave everything to earn our freedom and say such things as, "Give me liberty, or give me death."  Or, "If you take advantage of everything America has to offer, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish."  Or, "I regret that I have but one life to give for my country."  Or, "I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives.  I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him."  Or, "There are those, I know, who will say that the liberation of humanity, the freedom of man and mind, is nothing but a dream.  They are right.  It is the American dream."  Or, "Our great modern Republic.  May those who seek the blessings of its institutions and the protection of its flag remember the obligations they impose."  Or, "This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in."  Or, "I love my freedom.  I love my America."  Or, "I believe in America because we have great dreams - and because we have the opportunity to make those dreams come true."  Or, "America is much more than a geographical fact.  It is a political and moral fact - the first community in which men set out in principle to institutionalize freedom, responsible government, and human equality."  Or, "And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free.  And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.  And I'll proudly stand up, next to you and defend her still today.  For there ain't no doubt, I love this land.  God bless the USA."  Or, "May I never wake up from the American dream."  Or, "United we stand, divided we fall."  Or, "Our country is not the only thing to which we owe our allegiance.  It is also owed to justice and to humanity.  Patriotism consists not in waving the flag, but in striving that our country shall be righteous as well as strong."  Or, "Those who won our independence believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty."  Or even, "A real patriot is the fellow who gets a parking ticket and rejoices that the system works."  :p  And yes, I've really done that when I got a speeding ticket once.  The system worked beautifully.  I shouldn't have been speeding, and I was happily and properly punished for it.  :p  "I think there is one higher office than president and I would call that patriot."  This one, I think, is so necessary to remember each and every day, "We have enjoyed so much freedom for so long that we are perhaps in danger of forgetting how much blood it cost to establish the Bill of Rights."  But it isn't really even so much that people once said these things, it's that I live in a country where almost everybody truly believes these things.  I might disagree with my much more liberal neighbor on what it will take to keep our country strong and safe, but that we can disagree, and can democratically participate in the election of others who believe and will vote as we do, well, that means the world to me.

So no, I cannot live anywhere else but my America.  I would die for her, even though it would leave my beautiful children without a mother.  Because by my dying for my country, I might be able to ensure that my children could grow up as free as I was.  Anything is possible here.  No matter how poor I might have started out, and I did, believe me, I can rise up beyond that with the American Dream.  A dream that, so far, I am playing out happily.  I will start out my first year teaching at over double what my daddy makes now, and he's worked for almost 50 years.  I will make over four times what my momma makes now, and she's worked for about 40 years.

Anyway, I know, I know...I go on and on about my country.  I just can't help it.  :p  I'm prouder than I could ever hope to express that this is my country, and that I can be a small part of ths wonderful place.  Lecturing me on the great parts of other countries won't make any difference, either.  Believe me, Anni has tried.  :p  Just as I'm hopelessly in love with Anni, my children, and my nephew, I am also hopelessly in love with the good ole US of A.  :p

Note: I might not have posted those quotes verbatim.  It's been years since my last history course, although many of those are on some of my Americana decor.

You tell them! Dont let others influece you that much. :)

When it comes to America. I got nothing against it's people. Just sometimes their politics. Like going into Iraq. Stuff like that. Also the way elections are being held in America seems a bit faulty. You might get most votes, but still not win. That makes me wonder is it then the will of the many or the will of the few as long as you get enough states.  It just makes me wonder. To all Americans reading this. Don't shoot me for expressing my opinion.

Just remember that generally speaking, our politicians don't do anything anyway.

These past couple years have been an exception, however :(

Now, It's not all our fault. Bush tended to lie to us.

On the electoral college, it is constructed in quite a specific way, and, barring a total rewrite(which would not happen, and it wouldn't be much better) it is the best system. It ensures that noone neglects the smaller states completely, as they can have an equal impact on the process for the amount of time spent pleasing their people. It also ensures that the minority isn't ignored, as candidates have to get their crucial votes in tight elections, whereas they wouldn't care about them without the "winner take all" system.

Superficially, it is objectionable and undemocratic looking, but deeper, it is a well thought out system.

Oc course, that doesn't prevent people from being stupid.

Yeah, but can you then say that all voices are equal. That one man in Florida and one man living in some other part of America has the same amount of power if there votes does not have as much meaning as some the other guys vote. Can you then say that all are equal. No. The system you have now is a system developed a long time ago. Is it then not time for a upgrade. IF all shall be equal in a nation then each and every vote must have just as much power. You mentioned minorities. Well would not there vote also be just as important if you removed the system of today. would not the politicians just as eagerly hunger for there vote. The same goes for the small places. Would not also they be hunted for there votes. The election system you have now was great when your country was buildt, but now I fear out of date.

It becomes much more efficient to campain in large places where more people will hear you than in small states, so very little attention would be payed to them.

Minorities COULD be safely ignored, instead of campaigning for their vote, you would just go somewhere where people are more disposed to your ideas and it's just a matter of getting them to the polls, whereas the 100,000 minority in a state represents a small drop in a big bucket, whereas they would be a big drop when they are the swing factor, voting against a candidate that doesn't protect their rights.

The electoral college is a tool of "Majority Rule, Minority Rights" and has only failed a couple of times. It is almost allways representative of the majority vote.

That's the problem with having a "united states" at all. Each state has to believe that it's mostly self-governed. I know that we in England are starting to move that way, what with giving Scotland its own parliament, but even so... I like the method we use - vote for an MP for your area, who then counts as a 'seat'. Whichever party has the most 'seats' wins the election - so counties can have their say without being ignored or pushed aside, because (as far as I'm aware) different counties have different numbers of candidates - larger counties have more candidates, but also more people to vote for them... basically, it's one MP per however many people, not one MP per geographical region.

we have aproooooooximately 1 electoral college member attached to each 600,000 people, and we try to keep it that way.

(though, most US citizens don't understand the electoral college, I don't know how well all you know it.)

Well first, Bush hasn't lied to us any more than any other president in recent years starting with his father.  Clinton was the king of lying, as even liberal democrats have admitted.  So it's not really fair to just say one guy lied because he's the current president.  They're all politicians.  Almost every single politician is going to lie at one time or another because he either feels it necessary for the greater good or because it personally benefits him or her.

Second, our system of the electoral college for voting in the president and vice-president has been time-tested and proven.  (Now I'm really sick, so please forgive me if I say some facts wrong here.)  The minority vote, first off, isn't ignored in the least.  Believe me, our politicians go for every vote possible, in ways I can't even stand sometimes.  But the system is set up in such a way that every vote means the same as every other vote.  For instance, some states have a lower population than others and thus have very different priorities such as farming.  Other states are much more industrialized.  This isn't bad, and it certainly doesn't mean that the farming states should be 'run' by the industrialized (i.e., more populated) states.  That would be a terrible thing for the people living in those states that are smaller (population-wise).  To have our laws and decisions based on what is only best for big business would harm the middle and lower classes, especially small-business owners and farmers and the like.  Our system of government, the way we elect our president and vice-president as well as our senators and congressmen, is designed to make certain that the 'little people,' as they are often called, are not forgotten.  My vote counts.  Every vote counts.  It doesn't matter what state you live in (Although, coincidentally, my state has a very good record of "predicting" the next president - basically, whichever candidate 'wins' us is usually elected president.  Ohio is another good predictor.), your vote counts.

Plus, no matter who is elected president, he does not get to just run roughshod over the rest of the country.  He is held accountable to the other two branches of government, the judicial (The Supreme Court which can tell the other two branches they are in breach of the Constitution), and the legislative (Congress - the Senate and the House of Representatives who are the ones who actually MAKE our laws and CAN and sometimes does override a presidential veto.)  To use local history, Bush had to get permission from the Senate to go to war, even though he is the Commander in Chief of our entire armed forces.  He got that approval.  Even people who are crying out against the war now voted for it.  Not because Bush lied, but because that's politics.  You have to look past the name calling and what the liberal media says and focus on the facts that you can find if you look hard enough.  I am so not trying to get into an argument about whether the war is right or not, just providing an example of how our president, while a supreme ruler in a way, is most definately held accountable by others.

Now some of these others, the Supreme Court, are nominated by presidents and generally hold a life-long term.  These nominations are then reviewed by and either accepted or rejected by the Congress.  There's another example of a president not getting to do whatever he wants.  And, of course, we elect our Congress in a very democratic fashion, again ensuring that every vote counts but also that the 'little people' are not forgetten.  The two houses of Congress hold similar, though not quite equal power in the legislative branch.  The Senate is slightly higher and has two elected officials from each state.  No matter what their population, they only get two.  The House of Representatives is based on population with more populous states receiving more Representatives.  The Senate ensures that every state has an equal voice.  The House of Representatives ensures that every citizen has an equal voice.  They work together and check each other to prepare laws.  Laws (called bills until made official) have to pass through BOTH or meet extraordinary requirements to pass through to the president who then either signs that measure into offical law or veto it.  The congress can then override the veto if they feel he has made an error.

Now all of this has to be taken with a grain of salt as does every other form of government out there for nothing is perfect.  A perfect government can, after all, only be perfect if all the government officials and citizens of a country are perfect and we all know that's impossible.  The president, senators, and representives help each other out by voting yea or nay on each other's bills or by supporting each other and things.  Crazy little attachments are made to bills to get somebody's pet project approved.

It's something that I have to research carefully before making a decision on who I will vote for.  A little playing of the game is necessary, I understand that.  But somebody whose position is always what's popular at the time is not going to get my vote.  Somebody who seems to always be 'in the pack,' voting for things just to do that old 'I'll scratch your back if you'll scratch mine' isn't going to get my vote.  Some integrity is most definately required, and I prefer candidates who try to keep the power in the hands of the people than taking it over themselves.

So, is our system perfect?  No, of course not.  But it is darned good.  Is it old?  Yep, it sure is.  Is that a bad thing?  No, not really.  I've learned a lot in my 30 years, though not near enough I know.  One thing I have learned, by listening to my parents and grandparents, by really and truly learning my history and civics, by just paying attention to the world around me, etc., is that things that can last and stand the test of time can very often be a very good thing.  Certainly there are bad things that unfortunately stick around, of course.  But if you notice, people try to stop those bad things.  Cancer?  Have any idea how much money is spent on the reseach of that to treat, cure, and prevent it?  Tons.  And cancer has most likely been around for far longer than we can even imagine.  AIDS?  Poverty?  World Hunger?  Same things.  People want to end these bad things.  But how many people try to change our system of government?  We've had only one major conflict amongst ourselves, for many reasons people do not even think of.  Not just slavery, although that certainly was a part of it.  Mostly it was the economic differences between the northern and southern states of our country that started the problems.  Slavery was an issue, of course.  A big one!  One I'm sorry to say that this country and many others have been a part of.  But if you notice, the straw that broke the camel's back was some states wanting even MORE freedom than our federal government allowed at the time.  As time had passed since the Revolution that gained us our Independence, the government had gotten bigger and more powerful.  Some of that was necessary, some of it wasn't.  The northern states began to grumble about things, and so did the southern.  Some had more money and more people, greater wealth per person.  Some had lots of people, but as so many of these were slaves, the money was scattered among only a few.  Definately not the American dream of, and forgive me the tears I will shed as I type some of the most beautiful and true words ever written, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."  But what began the war was the right of succession.  The southern states, displeased at the northern state's interferences and the decisions of the current government, felt that they had the right to leave the Union of These United States of America.  Did they?  The country is still divided on that very issue, as am I to be honest.  I strongly believe in, "United we stand, divided we fall," and firmly believe that we are stronger together.  Try to break one twig, and it snaps easily.  Bundle up lots of twigs, and the job is infinitely harder.  The more tightly they are bundled, the harder it is to snap them.  It's true, believe me, as one of those 'have-to-see-it- or do-it-to-believe-it kind of people, I tried with many different experiments as a child and have actually taught that to my own kids and students.  But I also empathize that the needs of the south was not being met in the government in many ways.  I take a strong exception to slavery, however, and thus fall on the side of the northern states and can only hope and pray that were I alive then that I would have the same morals and know the same truths that I do in these times.  So were it not for slavery, I can definately see what the South was trying to do and can encourage their attempts to equalize the government to serve ALL states and ALL citizens.  But the problem is that that South wasn't trying to protect ALL citizens, only the white ones as they wanted blacks to be considered as partial citizens ONLY for the purposes of counting their populations as higher when electing the very president/vice-president team and Congressmen that we've been talking about.  Again, not wanting to get into a fight over who was right or wrong there, like I said, I'm not even sure myself.  But if there's only been one major problem and the system has worked for 230 years (I was born in the USA's bicentenial in the first state that actually ratified the Constitution and was, thus, the first state of the Union - yep, I'm obviously very proud of those happenstance circumstances :p), then that's certainly proof that it's working pretty good even if other countries do not always understand it.

After all, I can't understand for the life of me how people can like being under the rule of a monarch or dictator.  Does that mean that it's necessarily bad?  No, it just means that it's not in the realm of my experience.  So I've tried to learn more about it.  And I certainly accept that it's very normal for some people, and that they actually enjoy it and even are quite proud of it.  I think that's great.  That all citizens of the world are so different, to me, makes life all the more exciting.  I love to get to know people whose experiences are similar to and also different from my own.  I love getting to know other small-town mothers and big city mothers to compare notes.  I love knowing all of Anni's much more liberal thoughts, even though it means we sometimes can't agree.  That he has researched his position, however, and doesn't just blindly believe whatever he's been fed shows me that his passionate views are firmly based and aptly gotten.  I don't agree with him in how we wants to get things done, even though we both would love for the same things to ultimately happen (you know, world peace, and end to hunger and poverty and sickeness, etc.), because I think that the way I believe in is more likely to accomplish those things.  But I respect his right to his opinion, and he has my utmost respect for how he has come by his opinions, that he can back up his views and make me have to defend my own with facts and information.  Though mostly, we talk about the kids.  :p  *giggles*

So anyway, our government isn't perfect.  But it also isn't really broken either.  It's worked pretty darned good for over 230 years.  Many other countries do not understand why we have gone to war in Iraq.  Or why we were in Vietnam.  Or Korea.  Or even WWII or WWI for Pete's sake.  But they also do not have our mindset.  If you haven't grown up here, if you do not have the same burning desire for freedom and liberty that we do, then you'll never truly understand why we want to help others achieve what we have.  Certainly some wars are entered into for political reasons, both local and world-wide.  But that is true of all countries.  And yes, sadly, there have been times when we should have acted sooner.  Much sooner.  World War II specifically coming to mind.  Many other conflicts that I wish we could have or would help with.  But even we cannot be everywhere, although I know it appears to others as though we try.  Many people, even many Americans, think we have know business 'interfering' with others.  But just imagine, what if there hadn't been a D-Day?  On June 4, 1944, the Battle of Normandy began.  The United States firmly allied itself with Britain, et. al., and entered into the war with a vengeance born of Patriotism in an act of true heroism this world has too far seldom seen.  Operation Overlord, as the allied invasion was termed, lasted 24 days.  Twenty-four days of nearly certain death and horrible injuries.  The land forces on that first day came only from the US, the UK, and Canada, truly brave heroes, though French, Norwegian, Polish, Greek, Czech, and Belgian forces assisted in later phases (again, I'm very sick so please, please forgive me if I've left any heroes out).  These allies forces were certainly at a huge disadvantage.  Terrible and well-defensible and protected terrain, plus they were outnumbered about 2 to 1.  The United States lost 1,465 heroes, with an additional 5,138 wounded, missing or captured.  The United Kingdom statistics state that 2,700 heroes were dead, wounded, or captured.  And Canada suffered the losses of 340 heroes with an additional 621 wounded or captured.  The United State's assistance certainly, without doubt, made a huge difference.  We helped to keep the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Norway, etc., and so on free from the tyrannical rule of one seriously deranged man.  Do we deserve a pat on the back?  Our heroes do, but that's not my point.  What I'm saying is, that is only one example of our desire to protect freedom wherever we can.  I know, some people are going to cry, 'But you only joined the war because of Pearl Harbor.'  That certainly gave us a great political reason to get the country behind the president to be sure.  But come now, we really could have just bombed all of Japan and been done with it.  That's not our way, though, no matter how many people try to look at us as monsters.  We don't like killing people.  We don't want people to be poor, hungry, injured, sick, or unhappy.  We're not these battle-crazed, modern day versions of beserkers, vikings, et. al.  We try as best as we can to do what is right, to fix wrongs that we see as much as possible.  And here's the thing, if we ever come over to your country to help you and you don't want our help, just say so.  But no matter what you're hearing on the news or reading in the paper, I personally know a lot of soldiers right now in Iraq who know the truth of how the people there feel about us being there.  Are they excited about the day we can be gone?  Absolutely, who wouldn't be?  So are we, believe it or not.  But we are saving lives, helping people rebuild their lives.  Many women, for the first time ever, are actually getting to have lives of their own.  They can be free, can go to school and not have to do whatever their husband or father or brother tells them.  The country has a long way to go, however.  I just hope the job can be finished quickly so that no more of my friends or my friends' sons, daughters, cousins, nieces, nephews, parents, etc., has to die to protect others.  Whether people agree with the war or not, it's already done.  Crying over spilt milk never did anybody any good, I know, my kids spill enough milk to have cost me a fortune over the years.  It's better to focus on finding solutions to the problems so that no more people have to die, no matter their nationality, culture, age, gender...

Anyway, I'm so good at rambling, aren't I?  It's even worse when I'm sick.  Sorry.  :p

Sorry WW, but tl;dr.


w00t america though.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH! TEXT!

*dies*

Wow, I write a lot when I'm sick!  I wish I'd known that while still in university!  Just think of how much easier it would have been to write all those papers!  :p  See, I had one professor who pounded it into my head that less is more and always write succinctly.  She was really intimidating, so like a good little student, I quickly made six page papers down to three.  But then I got into the education department, and they wanted more, more, more.  :p  So I really had to ramble quite a bit to earn my A's.  :p  Sorry.  It's the natural blonde in me coming out.  :p

Anyway...I had a really long nap, but I still feel awful.  I called the doctor who is angry with me for not going to the hospital last night when my fever got so high.  He's already overbooked today but is going to try to work me in even though I'm certain it's just the flu no matter his concerns for pneumonia.  I'm pretty sure I spelled that wrong, but I'm too tired to think about it and try to remember.  Anyway, I'm on here because if I don't keep my brain active, I'm afraid I'll fall asleep again and miss picking up the kids after school.  That would be very bad, so you're stuck with me again.  :p  Any less possible-volatile subjects we could discuss before I get every terrorist in the world after my poor small town just to smite me?  :p

Hmmmm...Christmas movies?  I'm addicted to them.  I just watched Deck the Halls with Danny DeVito and Matthew Broderick and loved it.  Anybody got any suggestions of Christmas movies I could buy really cheap?  Also, I need new copies of Jingle All the Way, The Santa Clause, and The Santa Clause 2.  Oh yeah, and since I loaned them out and they still haven't been returned, I also suppose I need both Dr. Seuss', The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and The Grinch, with Jim Carrey.  They're all more than I can spend this year when I found them on eBay, does anybody know if big stores like Best Buy or Circuit City or something might have them cheaper?  I'd go look, but that's an awful long drive for this country girl.  :p

Nah, you spelled it right.

For movies, I'm not sure if it really counts as a Christmas movie, since it's kind of morbid and only partially takes place in winter, but The Illusionist is a really great movie that may or may not be about bringing people back from the dead... but I can't tell you any more about it because I suck at summaries that don't spoil.

Also, Gremlins is a great choice ;)

*giggles*  Doesn't sound like my cuppa tea for Christmas.  :p  Though I've been known to be wrong.  About once a year, actually.  :p  Just kidding, of course.

Gremlins?  Yuck.  :p  I think that's one of those I kinda missed the boat on, like Star Wars.  I didn't see those when they were new and cool and exciting.  Like Star Wars, my ex grew up watching them when they were the best special effects out there.  But I saw Independence Day first, not to mention others, so the special effects are nothing to me.  (Note: My parents are/were really strict and deemed such movies to scary for me - rightfully so.  I used to have awful, terrible nightmares.  In school, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe scared me so badly I couldn't sleep for weeks.  Obviously I've grown up some.  :p)

I'm a bit of an old romantic, despite my tomboyish tendancies, and I love families, of course, so I love Christmas romances, movies where people remember what Christmas is really all about, when people come together as friends and families.  Oops, gotta go.  The doc wants me there now...

Wait, I did?  Well that's good then, 'cause that's what I've got apparently.  Bad, too.  :(  If I'm not better in a day or two, the doctor might put me in the hospital even, which really upsets me.  But with all three of my kidlets there, I don't think he really had the heart too.  Anyway, he gave me one of the strongest antibiotics out there, really strong ibuprofen, a strong dosage of musinex (spelling?), and an inhaler to help me breathe since I'm not doing that too well.  So, if I take a little break, everybody will know why.  Sorry to those of you in my games, both with me as a player or DM.  I'll try to still check on often, though.   After all, online is about the only way I can talk to Anni without it costing a huge fortune.  Anyway, since I can barely breathe, I certainly can't talk well anyway so the phone is out for that reason, too.  :p

Ouch. Pneumonia is bad. *hugs* Sympathy. I'll do my thing if it won't tarnish your Christian soul - sorry, that sounded really sarcastic, but I can't think of a better way to ask. ><

It's not 'great'. We have a saying in England, after all - "Don't be silly, you can't have Pneumonia unless you can spell it."

Depends on what your thing is, I guess.  :p  My two wiccans friends light candles and do their kind of prayer for me, and I pray for them as I do for any other friend of mine.  So unless it's like some kind of ritualistic torture or something, I don't think I'll be offended.  I believe what I believe, and I'd love it if everybody believed it, too.  But it's terribly unrealistic of me to expect everybody to, and I'm certainly not going to pressure anybody to.  I'm no evangalist, I know I'm not capable of 'winning' souls or anything.  I'll leave that to the experts and just do the best I can at living right.  :p  I've got to be like the world's worst Christian when it comes to that, but I don't feel I have the right to force my faith on other people.

So don't go spilling the blood of babies for me or anything terrible like that.  Now basketball players are fair game, however.  They need to get themselves a real sport.  :p  Just kidding.  Seriously, I could definately use lots of prayer, happy thoughts, well wishes, etc., right now.  I've taken the prescription strength ibuprofin AND tylenol, and my temperature is still 103.5.  :(  I'm too achy to sleep anymore, I had a nice long nap but woke up to watch Dancing with the Stars (Go Helio!) and can't go back to sleep.  It doesn't matter how I sit or lay down, nothing is comfortable for more than about 10 seconds.

Home Alone, and Home Alone 2 - I watch both fairly often, and not just at Christmas time!

Well, you earned my happy thoughts and best wishes. And earned them once again with the "I don't feel I have the right to force my faith on other people."
I will pray to my angel to get you lots of others angels angelic help. Hope it doesn't sound too dumb. Its nice for me to think my I can talk a little with my guardian angel. Even if its just to complain he is always there. :) I think like this, I have connections with the biggest brotherhood in this whole universe. ;) Its a plus my angel is the annunciation angel. The one in charge of giving the call to the shepherds in christmas.