Charlotte Chooses Life...

I have a cousin - I’ll call her Stacy... Stacy was born with what most people would say was two strikes against her in a game with only three. Very early on, it was determined that Stacy had both heart and brain damage and while opinions varied as to the causes, one thing was sure – Stacy was a weak little girl with a lifetime of problems ahead of her.

The first of six children, Stacy was tiny and frail and it didn’t take a genius to look at her and determine that one bad infection could wipe out her little life. It was 1965 and her condition was such that many people might have considered institutionalizing her, rather than deal with the uphill battle her parents faced.

I can assure you that for Stacy’s parents, that was never an option.

Fast-forward nearly 40 years. On October 21, 2003, a little girl was born prematurely at a European hospital, weighing approximately 1 pound. Little Charlotte Wyatt was like most premies and had to be ventilated and the possibility existed that she may suffer long-term brain and vital organ damage due to her very difficult and early start in this world. Obviously a fighter, Charlotte managed to beat the odds and stay alive but during her 9^th month, the hospital evidently grew tired of caring for her and decided they would not resuscitate her should her lungs collapse due to an infection. In an act that defies the modern Hippocratic Oath…

…But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.

the doctors have chosen to play God.

Charlottes parents, refusing to give up, faced the hospital in Court in September of 2004 (when Charlotte was nearly a year old), expecting the Court to stand for what is right and honorable, only to be told that the Judge agreed with the doctors.

Without the chance of resuscitation, the world held their breath expecting the worst for baby Charlotte, only to learn that instead of growing worse, she became stronger. 6 months after the first ruling, Charlotte’s parents went back to Court to show the Judge that not only was Charlotte NOT deaf and blind as the doctors had instructed the Court, but she was growing stronger all the time, requiring 55% less oxygen than she had required only months before. In spite of strong evidence that proved the doctors wrong, the Judge refused to change his Order, but instructed Charlotte’s parents to gather more evidence and come back to Court.

On April 21, 2005, the Wyatt’s returned to Court. The Judge had made his original ruling based on information given to him by the doctors which indicated that Charlotte was blind, deaf, unresponsive and in constant pain. Charlotte’s parents brought forth strong evidence to the contrary, showing the Judge that she could see, hear, respond and smile. She was a sick little girl, yes, but the doctor’s previous observations that this child’s condition was “terrible and permanent” and that she had no quality of life and would be “better off dead” were being proven wrong by little Charlotte herself.

In a decision that stunned every reasonable-minded person who heard it, the Judge again refused to overturn his original Order, once again siding with the doctors who have determined baby Charlotte’s life is not worth fighting for.

Charlotte celebrated her 2^nd birthday last October. A milestone that defied all that the doctors and judges have predicted for her. On that day, the Judge lifted his Order, allowing baby Charlotte a chance at life that she deserves. Happy Birthday Charlotte! Unfortunately, the joy of this decision was short-lived. Just a few short months later, Charlotte became ill with a viral infection and true to form, the hospital asked the Court to overturn its previous decision and allow them to let baby Charlotte die. The Judge has once again sided with the hospital.

As of yesterday, Charlotte’s prognosis was grim. She is currently on 65% oxygen and in the “care” of doctors and nurses who have chosen to and have been given permission to let her die, should the opportunity present itself. Charlotte needs prayer above all else.

This tiny life is a reminder to all of us that the liberal mind-set that life is not valuable is a threat to us all. Those who would say that a woman has the right to choose whether or not to give life to her unborn child would also say that a mother who chooses life does not have the right to keep her child alive once it’s born. Why am I surprised that they want it both ways?

Our justice system failed Terry Schindler. The justice system in England has failed little Charlotte Wyatt. It’s maddening that there is nothing we can do to intervene on Charlotte’s behalf, but those of us who believe there is a God in heaven who hears us and loves little Charlotte can continue to pray for her as she fights for her life.

For those of you who don’t believe this little baby deserves to be fought for, let me conclude this post by finishing my story about my cousin Stacy…

Stacy turned 40 last year. She graduated from high school, albeit a couple of years late. She may not be able to balance a checkbook, but she can do her own laundry, bake peanut butter cookies and she’ll tell you obscure facts about Elvis that even his biggest fans probably don’t know. She loves to swim and go to amusement parks. The “experts” might say she’s slow, but that’s only because they’ve never seen her quick wit when she picks on her father. Stacy is a beautiful, bright, vital part of my family and a joy to everyone who has ever met her.

In a world where we have supposedly come so far…learned so much…benefited from so much progress…why is it that in 1965 nobody dreamed of snuffing out Stacy’s life, but today, those who are in a position to protect and preserve life – are allowed to take it away.

Pray for Charlotte.

Visit Charlott's blog here

If you have a blog - please consider posting Charlotte's banner on your site. You can get the html code here.

02/27/06 UPDATE! Charlotte's oxygen needs are down to 53% today! GO CHARLOTTE!
02/28/06 UPDATE! Charlotte's oxygen needs are down to 50% and she's growing stronger! Keep up the prayers!
03/01/06 UPDATE! 40% oxygen! Don't look back, baby girl! Charlotte's parents are going back to court to ask that the previous order to let their baby die be rescinded. They need our prayers.
03/22/06 UPDATE! Charlotte is stronger and stronger every day. Her parents are, once again, working to attempt to bring her home from the hospital. Check out her blog for new photos and keep sending prayers her way!

Accountability is not a bad word

I often comment on how appalled I am at the general disrespect for authority and the disregard for common courtesy and professionalism that has made its way into our society. Public officials and celebrities, it seems, have taken to using their positions to disrespect anyone and anything they disagree with, without so much as a slap on the wrist for their blatantly inappropriate behavior.

I’ve ranted on occasion about what treason really is and why we as a nation should take a more serious look at what is being said and done in the public eye as opposed to accepting things in the name of free speech and patriotic dissent. I, for one, am sick and tired of the acceptance of these behaviors, but it wasn’t until very recently that I realized just how far down these behaviors have trickled and become a part of our “business as usual”.

I work in healthcare management and having grown up in an economically depressed area, I learned very early that when jobs are not a dime a dozen, you don’t have the option of telling your boss where to go if you don’t like a decision he or she makes. As a responsible adult, sometimes we must bite our tongue when the “spirit moves us” to exhibit dissent on the job. In short, you don’t have to like your boss, but you do, on occasion, have to fake it. If you plan to get anywhere in life, you have to learn to recognize when it’s o.k. to disagree with the powers that be and when it’s better to keep your mouth shut.

Now, don’t assume that we’re talking about ethical dilemmas here. I certainly wouldn’t encourage anyone to cross an ethical line just because they’re not at the top of the food chain at work. Personal convictions play a big part in when it’s time to speak up and when it’s time to shut up. What I’m talking about is those moments when your boss makes a decision that you believe is a poor choice. There are a number of ways to be heard, but shouting down the boss at a meeting isn’t a good place to start. Likewise, lambasting the President about current events in the middle of a funeral is a fairly poor choice. Not only do you look like an idiot, but it shows how far we’ve sunk as a society in what we will accept as appropriate behavior. The very fact that someone would consider using that moment as a platform to fan the flames of dissent in this country blows my mind. There was a day when common sense would have dictated that to be the wrong place – the wrong time.

Is this a moral issue? An ethical issue? Is there a difference between the two? And where/when did this start? I’m sure I don’t know the answers, but I do think it’s worth noting that if you challenge Cindy Sheehan on why she is hell-bent on creating such an uproar, she would tell you that her ultimate goal is “peace”. The same goes for Hillary Clinton and John Kerry and Harry Reid and the rest. They want peace and they’re willing to stomp on anyone, violate anything, lie, deceive, create discourse, unrest and foster treason-like ideals to get it. At the end of the day, does the end really justify the means? Of course not. It’s like trying to get a baby to stop wailing by wailing yourself. It fosters an environment of inappropriate behavior that will be mimicked by every bozo who thinks they know it all. Why? Because what is missing from this equation is accountability.

A couple of days ago, I had an encounter with an employee that reminded me of just how wide-spread this attitude really is. Most of the people I’ve managed over the years would agree that I’ll always allow someone to disagree with a decision I’ve made without taking it personally. I like to think I am always open to constructive criticism and on more than one occasion, I have found that someone else may have a better way of approaching an issue than I did. On the flip side of that, I think most of my subordinates would also tell you that there is a right and a wrong way to approach me. In this most recent encounter, the employee made a poor choice in her approach.

This gal, who is very good at what she does within our facility, disagreed with a policy I wrote in an effort to create a more cohesive work environment. The problem (for her) was that adhering to this policy meant that she had to submit herself, in certain circumstances, to a co-worker whom she dislikes. Since this was not a legitimate reason to discard the policy, I couldn’t agree with or accommodate her opposition.

Now, if I were in this situation, I would consider my options. The first would be to accept this change and go about my business, do my job to the best of my ability and choose to be a team player, because after all, this policy was written to help the team as a whole – I am just one small part of a bigger picture. The second choice, of course, would be to find employment where I could do what I want – when I want – without having to answer to someone I don’t care for. As a reasonably intelligent adult, it makes perfect sense to me that when we work for someone other than ourselves, we sometimes have to comply with policy and procedure we don’t like. It’s a part of life. This isn’t a new concept. However, the attitude at large, which is fostered by celebrities and people in positions of authority all over this country, dictates that a person who disagrees with someone else has the right to make a complete ass of themselves and call it freedom of speech. After all, if you’re right…you’re right! Right?

Wrong!

Unfortunately for this employee, she chose option number three; throw a temper tantrum and storm out of the facility. What is truly unfortunate, at least for her, is that in my world, accountability plays a big part in this equation and when Monday morning rolls around, it will not be business as usual in the office.

After spending the weekend thinking about what comes next for this employee, I am reminded that the only way to get a handle on the people who cultivate this attitude is to hold them accountable for their actions. I’ve encountered a few people throughout my career who have had to have their feet held to the fire on issues such as attitude and appropriate behavior at work and most people would agree that this is necessary if we want to maintain order. Why then have we allowed the people who literally shape this nation and the atmosphere we live in to act like spoiled children without holding them accountable for their actions?

We live in a nation that sets the stage for the rest of the world. If we want to continue to move forward as the greatest nation on earth, we have some accountability issues to deal with. I would argue that the blogosphere, having become a force to be reckoned with, needs to step up to the plate and demand accountability every time one of these schmucks steps out of line and becomes an embarrassment to the rest of the country. Not by writing about it – by writing TO it. We need to start holding some of these officials and celebrities feet to the fire when they cross the line and act out in an inappropriate, unprofessional and disrespectful manner. There needs to be some senator’s offices that are inundated with letters demanding an apology for things that are being fed to the media. The mailboxes of the editors of every major newspaper in the country should be overflowing with demands for retractions and/or apologies when someone uses an inappropriate venue (like a funeral!) to voice their disrespect. Some of these celebrities need to feel it where it truly hurts (in the wallet) when they become an embarrassment to the citizens of this nation. I haven’t bought another Dixie Chicks CD since Natalie Maine revealed that she is a traitor and even though most of the people I’ve heard from have been appalled by her actions, it doesn’t look like they’ve suffered at all for their inappropriate behavior.

Before you accuse me of wanting to take away our right to free speech, let me just say that I believe we have the right to voice any opinion we have. What I do not believe is that we have the right to do it in any way we want, nor do I believe we have the right to do it at any time we want. Along with the freedoms we have – there are responsibilities that should go along with exercising our freedoms. We also have the right to bear arms. We do not have the right to unload a round of bullets in the middle of town, just because we have the right to own the gun. It’s reasonable to expect people to be responsible with their freedom of speech in the same way we expect them to be responsible with their freedom to own a gun and that responsibility increases dramatically as a person’s public position increases. Not unlike being on the job, where there are a lot of opinions you might voice at home or in the company of friends that you wouldn’t say at work because it wouldn’t be appropriate.

It all boils down to human decency, respect and common courtesy. These things are in very short supply and it’s only going to get worse if we don’t put accountability back into the equation. I’ve come to realize that I don’t have a right to complain about matters such as these if I don’t have a plan of action that is at least an attempt to make things better. So, you should notice from time to time that I’ll post the name and address of someone who has stepped over the line of what we, as citizens of the greatest nation on earth, should not accept as behavior befitting someone who represents us. I hope you’ll join me in speaking less ABOUT this issue and start speaking TO it by demanding they hold themselves to the same standards the rest of us have to hold ourselves to in order to keep our jobs.

A Great Find

For some common sense answers to the issues with the Muslim world, check out A.M. Siriano's

America: Islam's Only Hope for Reform

...an excellent read!

WHO. CARES.

There’s been much ado about a bunch of poopy-ka-ka and Vice President Cheney’s hunting accident. Since everyone else seems to have something to say about it – I’ve decided that you’re all entitled to my two cents.

I think this headline is the most maddening…

“Bush Knew Saturday About Hunting Accident”

Of course he knew! Vice President Cheney did everything any one of us would have done. He notified the emergency services workers. He notified the proper authorities. He went to the hospital with his friend and he even called his boss. What I would like to know is this – under what law was V.P. Cheney required to contact CNN?

You know, the MSM can blame themselves for this. If it weren’t so obviously open season on this administration and anyone associated with them, perhaps people would be more eager to give them a story.

So, my two cents is this…

Imagine, if you will, former President Bill Clinton on a hunting trip (I know it’s difficult to picture him pointing a gun at an animal – what with all the hugging of little squirrels and birdies that goes on at those democrap fund raisers). He’s out on the range with Al and Hill and someone gets hurt. Let’s say Hillary, since it’s so much fun to picture her covered in buck shot. So, what do you suppose they do once they’ve realized there’s been a hunting accident? Do you think the first plan of action, after calling the EMT’s, of course, is, “Hey! We better alert the media!” PA-LEEZ!

And one more thing…

It would be a different story altogether and most definitely news-worthy if the Vice President had hurt someone, oh say in a drunk driving accident, and failed to call the police…leaving that person to die. That wouldn’t be something that would get swept under the rug…or defended for years to come…or completely irrelevant to his political career – oh nosiree! That doesn’t happen in America (at least not to a Republican).

The week in weird

I’ve seen so many ridiculous, outrageous, infuriating things this week that made me want to sit down and peck out a rant – I just don’t know where to begin. I thought I would combine them and get it all off my chest at once.

We’ve all seen the show, “What Not To Wear”…
Perhaps TLC could come up with a show called, “What NOT To Say At A Funeral”. I’ll defer to AM Siriano here – his question, “If George W. Bush were the one in the box, with Coretta Scott King sitting on the stage, do you suppose Franklin Graham would take the opportunity to attack her for her ridiculous support of same-sex marriage, veganism, and animal rights?”

I think not.

I am disgusted beyond words at the disrespect and grandstanding that took place at the King funeral. Her family should be appalled.

Cartoons…

They’re cartoons people!
Cartoons!
With this in mind – I challenge anyone who still says Islam is a peaceful religion.
This…

is over…

a Cartoon…

We constantly hear Liberals saying Christian conservatives are over-the-top. When was the last time you saw a Christian catching something on fire because someone mocked Jesus?

UPDATE: Iran's over-the-top Pres says, "The U.S. should pay a heavy price" because of these cartoons. I don't know about you, but that sounds like a threat to me.

No excuse is good enough…

I usually don’t pay any attention to the likes of celebrities and what they're doing in their personal lives. In fact, I couldn’t possibly care less what most of them do, but this week Britney Spears proved me right regarding my opinion that people should have to pass a test and get a license before having a baby.

It takes something like 10 lbs of pressure to kill a baby. It would seem that common sense should dictate that there's something very bad about putting your 5 month old baby between you and the steering wheel of an SUV (at any speed).

Her excuse is ridiculous and if it was you or I, the child would be in foster care by now.

Miss Britney – your excuse is crap and you put
your child in more danger than anyone with a camera ever could.

Jill Carroll’s Kidnappers Set “Final Deadline”

Ok, so I am not sympathetic to journalists and those in war zones performing “humanitarian work”. There is a simple solution to reducing the risks they take – stay the heck out of war zones!

Personally, I think only the military should be allowed to perform humanitarian duties during times of war (which they do…every day…in Iraq and elsewhere) and there really should be some sort of control over journalists wandering around in places like that.

Having said all that, however, there really is something fishy about the whole Jill Carroll thing. Either she’s been kidnapped by wishy-washy abductors, or something else is going on here because we’ve never seen such time lapses between a kidnapping and the carrying out of the threats of death. These guys usually don’t give more than one deadline or “second chances”. It’s all very fishy – verrrrry fishy.

Human Head Fails to Ward Off Evil...

A Haitian born American citizen was arrested yesterday in Ft. Lauderdale trying to smuggle a human head, still equipped with skin, hair, teeth and apparently lots of dirt into the country.

Her reason? To ward off evil spirits, of course!

Evidently it didn't work because the 30 year old now faces up to 15 years in prison.

That's it for now, but as always...as long as there are still idiots in this world, I'll always have something to rant about.

Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Liberty

I have never been able to comprehend the thought process of those who cannot connect the dots between our freedom and the freedom of other nations. We’ve all heard the complaints, in fact, there have been plenty of them vented right here on this site – I like to call them nasty-grams… “It’s not right for George Bush to push his ideals on other countries who don’t even want to be liberated” and, “Iraq was never a threat to us” and, (believe it or not!) “We should just give Iraq back to Saddam, at least he kept order there” (yes, someone actually posted that comment!) Is it so hard to understand that those who seek to dominate the weak are a threat to us as well? It seems pretty clear that the “let’s just mind our own business” strategy didn’t work. 9/11 was proof positive that those who seek to dominate the weak, are also interested in dominating the strong – particularly when the strong goes to sleep and exposes their belly. Is it really so difficult to comprehend that being the world’s superpower comes with responsibilities and challenges that demand a vigilance not required of other nations? Does it really take a rocket scientist to recognize that investing in the liberty of other nations is not about trying to be our brother’s keeper, but about eliminating our brother’s oppressor, who also seeks to oppress us? We can talk all day long about whether or not George W. Bush has accomplished the goals he set. He is not unlike any other past president – he has accomplished some…but certainly not all of what he outlined when he was elected. And don’t make me name names – this is just a ridiculous conversation. We can talk all day about the cost of freedom, but you’ll never convince me that it should or ever could be free or that the price we’ve paid, not only with this war but in every war that preceded it - isn’t worth it. The problem is - we’re spoiled. Most of us grew up thinking we were untouchable and that we’ve somehow earned an undeniable respect, just by virtue of being America. After all, we’re the good guys, right? And now G.W. Bush is ruining everything with his “culture of corruption” (Hillary’s newest mantra). It’s all pretty arrogant, really. The truth is - our forefathers didn’t shed their blood so we could sit around like fat cats and ignore all that threatens to destroy their heritage. We have an obligation to continue the vigil as long as there is an America. Otherwise, there will be no land of the free or home of the brave. I think Ann Coulter said it best when she said, “Whether they are defending the Soviet Union or bleating for Saddam Hussein, liberals are always against America. They are either traitors or idiots, and on the matter of America's self-preservation, the difference is irrelevant”. Can I get an Amen?

A Bipartisan Committee...Possibly Impossible

A bipartisan committee, by definition, is a good thing. Two sides coming together to make decisions that are in the best interest of everyone involved. Many an important decision has been made by bipartisan committees and there will always be decisions that should only ever be made by bipartisan decision. The problem with our President’s suggestion last night for a bipartisan committee to work on Social Security reform is that in order to come to a decision, you have to find participants who are willing to work together for the good of everyone involved. I, for one, do not believe this is possible given the current condition of our nation. I believe we are involved in a civil war that we won’t see an end to until the liberals of this era develop a love for their country that exceeds their hatred toward conservatives. Do I believe it will happen? Absolutely not. Not regarding Social Security reform. Not regarding the War on Terror. Not regarding healthcare reform. Not today. Not as things are. We, as a nation, have deteriorated to such a state of division that it may never be possible to achieve a bipartisan decision again. How did we get here? The answer lies within members of a democratic party who have seemingly abandoned any real agenda in exchange for an obsession to destroy anything conservative. Their hatred is as real as any and appears to be without prejudice – with one exception… Enter the poster child for their obsession. George W. Bush. When Bush won the first election, liberals became like the x-husband who becomes obsessed with the man who marries the love of his life. They felt robbed. They truly believed they were better (which truly amazes me given their choice of candidates). He was living their life. From that moment on, politics had a new face. It was no longer about managing a nation. Their obsession was now about pay-backs…refusal to acknowledge the President’s position… and hatred. Then…when things looked as though they couldn’t get any worse – he did it again. He beat the democrats at their own game and held on to the position they were refusing to acknowledge as long as he held it. This is way beyond a Republican/Democrat thing. This is beyond competition or opposing views. It’s about an obsession that skews the holder’s ability to reason, use common sense or exhibit even the most reasonable degree of respect for the object. George W. Bush can’t do anything right. His ideas are ridiculous. His views are absurd. His tactics are completely unacceptable and his supporters are second rate citizens. This is the code of the liberal. No matter how ridiculous and absurd it is to stand by their code, they continue to do so in spite of how disturbed it makes them appear. There was a day when both sides put their differences aside to show respect where it was due for the Presidential State of the Union Address. Last night democrats heckled the president when he mentioned his proposed Social Security measures and, true to form, Hillary Clinton showed us all how ugly she was when she repeatedly disrespected the President as he spoke of the security of our nation. Find a bipartisan committee? Perhaps we should start with something easier… The Loch Ness Monster? Big Foot?