Jim Wallis' Blog

Megan posted this link of facebook today and it's amazing: Jim Wallis in an incredible, evangelical man and I was just really encouraged to read his moral "non-negotiables" when it comes to voting. He encourages everyone to get their non-negotiables down on paper too!

Check it out. It's a quick read and you won't regret it! God's Politics: A blog by Jim Wallis and Friends

Ayudame

I need help.  Our foundation can't be called the Susan C. Sine Foundation b/c memorial foundations have a hard time getting grants.  So... we need a new name.  And there have been so many okay names, but nothing great. 

• A Touch of teal
• Teal hope
• Leaves of Hope.. An ovarian Cancer Foundation
• Autumn Promises: a foundation of hope and care for those suffering from ovarian cancer (thanks joe!)
• Teal Angels
• Leaves of Change

We want it to tell people what we do and none of those names do that.  

AHHH 

Ayudame, por favor

Update: Nikki wants to know what we're doing.  Okay, so in a nutshell.. we're going to give "life grants' to women with ovarian cancer.  Money for things like: wigs, childcare during treatments, maybe a month's living expenses while she has to miss work for treatments, $ for supplements, etc. etc. all the while, raising awareness of OvCancer. 

Leaves of Hope is special to me because "leaves" represent my mom- she was ALL ABOUT the fall: born in the fall, died in the fall, wore colors from the fall, LOVED the fall... so Leaves are a representation of her- and obviously.. HOPE is what we're going to (hopefully) be bringing women! I do believe a name should somewhat tell what we're about- not necessarily "in your face" but definintely a little bit... Still, nothing feels 100% right!

Some pretty pictures to go along with our theme...

Hurricane Omar

Should I be scared about this? 

PS.. I'm in Puerto Rico... does that help you make your decision?

Why I love Barack Obama

So.. I'm voting for Obama.. Has that been obvious?  I have so many reasons why I love Obama that I wanted to start to get them down on paper/blogosphere. Mainly for myself.. but then I thought it would be a good place to send people who want to know WHY I love him.

I currently have strep throat and am really sweaty. Plus I was watching Grey's anatomy when I started this (actually I started it days ago).. so... It will be sloppy, too long, not detailed enough, etc. etc.... and I wish it was spelled-out in a more interesting way... but please... I am passionate about this topic, about Barack Obama and Change we really need.

So, here are the issues: Enjoy!

UPDATE: I wrote A LOT, plus I'm still updating, so I decided to break the issues into different blog posts :)

UPDATE 2: I noticed I had some anonymous posts on my site.  I LOVE posts, but I don't read those that are anonymous.  I make my site really easy to post on because I want to encourage them, but I always look at the name first. If I see anonymous, I assume it's something no one should read, so I delete without reading. I apologize if you had some great thoughts that I deleted! Please re-post and use your name :) GRACIAS

Amazing quote from the New Yorker's endorsement of Obama: 

"The election of Obama—a man of mixed ethnicity, at once comfortable in the world and utterly representative of twenty-first-century America—would, at a stroke, reverse our country’s image abroad and refresh its spirit at home. His ascendance to the Presidency would be a symbolic culmination of the civil- and voting-rights acts of the nineteen-sixties and the century-long struggles for equality that preceded them. It could not help but say something encouraging, even exhilarating, about the country, about its dedication to tolerance and inclusiveness, about its fidelity, after all, to the values it proclaims in its textbooks. At a moment of economic calamity, international perplexity, political failure, and battered morale, America needs both uplift and realism, both change and steadiness. It needs a leader temperamentally, intellectually, and emotionally attuned to the complexities of our troubled globe. That leader’s name is Barack Obama."

Why I Love Barack Obama: Economy

Economy: 

Oh, where do I begin? There's too much to discuss. Too much I don't understand, and too much I love.  So here's a snapshot:

• Taxes: I believe our economy thrives because of the middle class- not the wealthy.  I don't believe that the wealthy should pay less taxes than the middle or lower classes just because they "work harder for their money" (b/c that's probably not true).  I do believe taxes should be subsidized for the poor and middle classes by those that can afford to pay a little more.  Warren Buffet who is worth 62 million pays 17% income tax. (UPDATE: when i wrote this i thought "63 billion is much too much for one man to be worth, so it must only be 62 million." then i stopped having a strep throat and my husband reminded me it is, indeed 62 BILLION) SEVENTEEN PERCENT INCOME TAX.  He pays less in income tax than his assistant. (He himself doesn't think it's fair)  Tell me how that is fair- how that encourages the middle class- the working class- who inspires our economy to grow. Obama will cut the taxes of everyone making under $150K per year.  He will keep steady most making between $150-$250k, and those over $250k will probably get a tax increase, and it won't be higher than taxes in the days of Reagan. I've done some research, and apparently the type of taxation I'm discussing (I didn't come up with it, believe it or not!) is called Progressive Taxation: Here is a great quote:

"Ordinary people just drive on the highways; corporations send fleets of trucks. Ordinary people may get a bank loan for their mortgage; corporations borrow money to buy whole companies. Ordinary people rarely use the courts; most of the courts are used for corporate law and contract disputes. Corporations and their investors -- those who have accumulated enough money beyond basic needs so they can invest -- make much more use, compound use, of the empowering infrastructure provided by everybody's tax money.

The wealthy have made greater use of the common good -- they have been empowered by it in creating their wealth -- and thus they have a greater moral obligation to sustain it. They are merely paying their debt to society in arrears and investing in future empowerment.

This is the fundamental truth that motivates progressive taxation."

First update: I realize I only discuss taxes in this section. Whoops. Also, I originally called it "economics" like i was teaching a college course or something.  See, told you I was sweaty

Why I love Barack Obama: Abortion

Abortion:  UPDATED :)

I'll be honest, I'm struggling a bit writing this post.  Abortion is such an important, yet polarizing topic to discuss, especially among Christians.  I've been frustrated with how this issue has been approached among Christians because for many, this is the ONLY issue they vote for- ignoring all the other issues that have moral implications.  The abortion issue isn't as black and white as pro-life vs anti-life. It's an argument between those for the lives of unborn babies versus those who don't believe moral issues of any kind should be legislated.    

My thoughts are these: Woman who really want to have an abortion are going to find a way to have one- legal or not.  Do I morally think abortion is wrong? Yes.  Do I think the government should tell people whether or not to have one? No way jose. So if you make me categorize myself, it is this: I am pro-choice, meaning: I think woman should be given a choice whether or not to have an abortion.  And I am anti-abortion, meaning: I hope they make the decision not to terminate the life.  Again, this isn't an issue that makes or breaks a campaign for me because I think the way the conversation has been had is tired.  I'd probably vote for Obama even if he didn't hold these values, but here is why I like Obama on this issue: 

• He has a plan to reduce abortions by 95% in 10 years- The 95/10 Initiative (is that a lofty goal? probably, but at least it's a goal).  
• He supports providing health care to everyone and has a plan to make sure everyone gets insured- studies show that abortions drop DRAMATICALLY when health care is covered.
• He has a plan to encourage responsible fatherhood, 
• A big reason women choose to have an abortion is that they are desperate- they don't know how they will afford to keep a child, or don't know they have another option (adoption, etc.), SO.. enter Obama's many economic plans to benefit the poor, worker and middle classes. More details can be found under my "economic" reasons for voting for OB, but reducing poverty, providing health care & tax breaks will definitely encourage women to keep their unborn babies.
• Barack has an amazing education plan.  Better education not only for preventing pregnancies, but for people to hopefully finish high school, allow for a better opportunity to attend college and hopefully start a career and end the cycle of poverty. 

The only plan McCain has announced is to overturn Roe vs. Wade, which even the most conservative supreme court justice has said will be near impossible. And even if it is possible, then the decision goes to the states and some states have legal abortions which means women will just travel to another state to have an abortion (or go back to the days of having abortions illegally in back-alleys).  So, all-in-all, this issue isn't a deal-breaker for me, but Obama has a plan, and I like it.

Good Site Pro-Life, Pro-Obama.

UPDATE: Relevant had a phone interview with Obama in July and asked him about the two issues that you hear anti-Obama peeps bring up most often "3rd trimester & Partial Birth abortions" and the "Born-Alive" bill.  His voting record for these issues has been completely misconstrued and reported incorrectly.  His answers to these claims are at the bottom of the interview.  I post this link in another post, but it's a good place to read about the false things that have been spread about B.O. 

Why I like Barack Obama: I Like him

I like him: 

Do you have to like your President enough to want to sit down and have coffee with him? Probably not- he should probably be smart enough that he's scare you if you had a chance to have a one-on-one.  I have no idea what I'd say if I was with Obama... but I know I like him, and while it's not super important, it is important.  America is a great nation and we are a powerful one around the world.  He may not need to be liked by ME so much, but he will need to be able to be liked enough to pal-around with some of the most powerful leaders of the world. I think he'll do just fine. UPDATE: Obama is inspirational.  The McCain campaign has used his inspirational tactics/speaking skills to try to portray him as a man who is all about words and no action.  While he hasn't had the years of experience in the US Senate that McCain has had, it doesn't mean he hasn't had experience.  His experience working in the city of Chicago directly correlates with the ideas that he is getting everyone so fired up about during his inspirational speeches.  To borrow the words of a friend "We feel both candidates have their weaknesses, but any day I'd rather choose a dude who's weakness is his naivety.  People who are naïve still have hope.  I like Obama for these reasons- He inspires people!  People need a leader they can follow and believe, especially during a time of so much transition in America."

Why I like Barack Obama: Social Justice

Social Justice: 

We hear a lot about social justice these days- Social Jesus, etc. etc. And I love it... I just really think Barack Obama's platform aligns much more with this idea than that of John McCain's. It's no secret that the Democrats tend to favor more programs for the poor, and I know all the arguments- towards less government control and allowing churches and non-profits to take care of the poor. And I guess I could agree that yes, churches and non-profits are probably the best place for the poor to be served, but I'm not so sure they're up for handling all the need. Is our welfare system broken? Yes it is. Is it too easy for people to live off of the government and tax-payer's money? Yes it is. Do I think getting rid of government programs and letting people "fend for themselves" is the right thing to do? No I don't. I don't know what the answer is- that's why I'm not running for President, but I do know I can trust Obama to come up with an answer. He has a passion for the poor and has worked on the issue of poverty- starting in Chicago years ago.

I love Donald Miller. This video is great. I'm not sure which category it should go under, since it touches on a few, but he's passionate about social justice, so I'm putting it here: Enjoy!

Why I love Barack Obama: Environment

Environment: 

I am passionate about windmills, and Obama's environmental plan excites me. We hear all this about "drill drill drill," which is about drilling in America.... well, Obama's says, "sure, let's do that, but instead of JUST that, or FOCUSING on that, let's do something that's going to benefit us sooner than in TEN years and only temporarily (b/c we only have 3% of the world's oil and we use 25%)"

• Obama wants to introduce 5 million "green collar" jobs. LOVE IT
• He will invest $150billion over 10 years to start private efforts for a clean energy future- WIND MILLS HERE WE COME!
• Ensure that 10% of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012 and 25% comes from it by 2025 (I bet we can do better!)
• MUCH MORE at this point I'm just copying from his site, so you best read it there!

His energy plan truly excites me- just b/c I'm a tree hugger deep in my heart and wish I didn't care about shaving my legs.... and did I mention how I feel about WIND MILLS!?

Why I love Barack Obama: Health Care

Health care: Key points

• Obama will attempt to reduce health care costs to hopefully save families $2500/year
• Insurance companies will have to cover people with preexisting conditions
• PREVENTATIVE CARE- Yeah!! Do you know that I have to pay out of pocket to have a CA-125 test or a trans-vaginal ultra-sound done? Even though my mom died from ovarian cancer and there is no screening test to find ovarian cancer?  The only hope they have of finding cancer early in me is getting a baseline CA-125 and ultrasound and checking me every year.  My insurance company would rather just pay for my treatments when I'm diagnosed with late-stage cancer instead of paying for what could potentially save my life (and save them tens of thousands of dollars) Obama will change that!
• For those who aren't insured, they will be able to get the same health coverage that current federal employees have!
• McCain has a $5,000 tax refund that will go directly to the insurance companies that he will pay for by taxing the insurance benefit provided by employers. No thank you.

Why I love Barack Obama: Iraq

Iraq: 

• I hate it, I want out. Obama will get us out.
• Obama never voted for the war.
• He will get us out in a timely fashion and keep our troops safe.
• Enough for me

Why I love Barack Obama: CHANGE

He represents change: This is why I started chanting "Yes We Can" a year ago! 

• It's no lie that this country is tired of George Bush.  While not all of the nation's troubles are his fault, a lot of them are- plus decisions were made under his leadership- and many of them were bad decisions. I think it's time for a democrat to be in the White House again.  
• Barack is black- (duh) and that excites me.  I have a GREAT CHANCE to be a 25 year old and have an African-American in the white house- I knew it would happen in my lifetime, and I'm SO excited that it's not happening while I'm in my 60's! 
• American IS a great nation, but I'll be honest, I haven't felt that way in the past few years.  The world's view of our nation has worsened greatly over the last 8 years.  Don't get me wrong- McCain is different than Bush in many ways... but in one major way he IS the same. He's an accomplished, privileged white guy that was brought up on Washington.  The world wants change. American needs change.  I'm ready, and if we can vote Barack Obama into the White House- I will KNOW that America is a great nation!
• UPDATE: I was reading some articles last night about the campaign and Obama- and I came across one discussing his rally in Philly on Saturday (Oct 11).  It was so descriptive- and made references to a visit made by JFK in 1960. I got goosebumps thinking about this election- and the HISTORY I am a part of!  I ran from my computer into the living room and just told David "We're seeing HISTORY before our eyes" which is silly and obvious- history is happening all the time, but this FEELS different! And it's so wonderful to care! The article is here.

Why I love Barack Obama: Faith

Faith: 

I'm not so sure how I feel about this.  Many people feel that it's important for the leader of our country to be a Christian... I don't know if I agree... But then again, has a President not been a Christian? Or at least been brought up in some sect of Christianity?  But I guess I don't really need to make my mind up during this election because it is clear that Barack Hussein Obama is a Christian. He has been very vocal about his faith, and it's been wonderful to hear.  I just did a quick search for quotes to post here, but I'm really sleepy and my throat is starting to hurt again.

Why I love Barack Obama: In Conclusion

So, these aren't all the issues- but they are the main ones. I will add and change when I re-read:) I welcome comments, but if you want to be overly critical, stay away.  I don't listen to those who vote based on one-issue or those who don't do research (on both sides- I've read each of these issues on John McCain's website, as well) I respect opinions of others that are different as long as they are based on fact.  Mine are- so don't disrespect mine. UPDATE: Also, make sure to not post anonymously! I delete those without reading :)

I will say this:  John McCain is more than qualified to be President, but I think Obama is better suited for this time.  Would our economy get better with McCain in office? Yes- it's going to get better with the next President- it will have to.  Will our country change much? No.. probably not.. and that's the problem- we need change.  Radical change. That's why it's time for Barack Obama.  Also, Sarah Palin?  Will she learn enough in her first few months to be vice president- probably.  Is she experienced enough to take over the office of President if need be? Hell no.  Choosing her was purely a political move and one that McCain will admit to in a book in 15-20 years (oh wait.. he might not be alive...)

In case you believe the lies, here is a site that exists but shouldn't have to

Update: Forgot to discuss education. Crap. I love his education plan too. like REALLY love it. For another day...

leave me alone

Do you ever feel like you have to justify yourself to someone? I do.  It must not be enough that I'm an intelligent, educated, well-read, open-minded woman who knows what she believes and why she believes it.  It doesn't stop people from questioning what feels like every move I make. 

It's not every move, and it's not all the time, but it's definitely been amplified by A LOT lately... probably b/c November 4th is coming ever so quickly and I'm not hiding who I'm voting for.  Why would I do that? Again, I'm an intelligent, educated, well-read, open-minded woman who knows what I believe and why I believe it.  [ :) ]  I am planning on posting why I love Obama more than anything (except cats) soon for all my avid readers.  I'm just trying to organize it all in my head.

I had family question me on my church choice and political choice today, and I just didn't want to have the conversation(s).  Not because I can't communicate why I love either, but because the conversation just isn't worth it with certain people.  

I just wanted to say "Leave me alone.. I just want to eat cake."