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First Amendment rights apply differently in schools

First Amendment rights do not apply in schools for either the student or the faculty. I have found no specifics in writing as to exactly what this means. The closest I have come to finding some defined guidelines can be found on the National School Boards Association website. This leaves it open for every first amendment right to be violated to the maximum.
An Indianapolis school has banned only certain websites pertaining to religion which has created controversy with the students and parents.
The Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire shut down their newspaper displaying a blank front page because students were writing about teen pregnancy, shoplifting and students who drink and do drugs. The Chicago Tribune had something to say about the staffs decision to shut down the paper.
For a school to insert their personal opinions or beliefs on any given subject is unjust for the student. Banning specific websites because it doesn't comply with certain Christian ideologies is prejudice. In banning specific websites or free speech sends a message that is not in accordance with the First Amendment. By banning all religious websites is to say that school is no place for religious opinions or beliefs. (Look it up at home). By allowing all religious websites this says that children are free to learn and compare. School is about teaching children how to make informed decisions. When they are not fully informed, they aren't making an informed decision, but are being led to believe that they are. If we only show them certain perspectives how will they learn to be tolerant and open to others? When we only show them what we think is 'the right way' it teaches them prejudice.
Let's look at the definition of prejudice shall we: an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand, or without knowledge, thought, or reason.
This sounds a lot like what is happening. The kids don't get all the information, therefore, without knowledge.
The United States of America is the land of freedom, is it not? People come here because they are allowed to be who they are here; supposedly.
I am curious to know what you think.

Habeas Corpus

Habeas Corpus (Latin for you should have the body) is the name of a legal action or writ by means of which detainees can seek relief from unlawful imprisonment. With that being said, I would like to remind you that this is not a right against unlawful arrest, but a right to be released from imprisonment after an arrest. Resisting arrest is a crime. You can only uphold Habeas Corpus after you have been detained.

After seeing a movie last night I had a revelation about our government, so I pounded away at the computer this morning doing research on many of the ways that we Americans have had to fight against our own government for our freedoms and fundamental rights.

Some of these wars were fought to gain our freedom and it was clear that this is what these wars were about. There was no confusion to some wars as to what we were really fighting for. Once the wars start to become unclear as to why they are being fought, it is no longer about the Americans freedom, but is then over a need to control and have power. Since we have "earned" our right to be free, our battles have been against our own government to keep our freedom and fundamental rights as American citizens. I am doing research so I can present the facts on a later post.

The American Revolutionary War allowed the United States to gain it's independence.
The Civil War between the North and South, abolished slavery and united this country as one.
World War I A war that had nothing to do with us originally and then Britian, France and Russia asked us to get involved and most Americans were against this but the government went ahead anyway.
World War II Originally Germany invaded Poland and somehow spilled onto America.

When we go into a country declaring war on them because they won't give us something that they have, is that morally right?

Let's see an example on smaller scale:
Your little sister wants something you have. You won't let her have it. And you really have no valid reason for it, except you just don't want to. Does that give the little sister the right to then go into your room and take it anyway? The little sister has justified it because she really needed it, but does that make it right?

I just don't understand how killing people will bring about positive change. (oxymoron)
It seems to me that we have many issues to resolve as a country within itself. Is it condusive to America to focus so much on what everyone else is doing?

Two movies that I recommend are American History X and Pirate Radio. When watching these movies, look at the bigger picture. Tell me what you think.

Sarah Palin

What is up with society? I am utterly baffled at the fact that people choose not to see that her choices are based on her families well-being. Finally, someone who is living what they believe and she is perpetually crucified for her choices. Talk show after talk show reminding us over and over again about her comments on abortion. She had the baby! I think that's pretty commendable for a woman with such a full life already, to make a lifelong commitment like that. Not that people who choose to have abortions are wrong either. People make choices based on their circumstances and how dare anyone judge anyone for a decision they have made. No one knows what each individual has come through that compels them to make the choices they make. What is right for one person may not be right for another and that makes no one right or wrong, it just makes it right for the individual.
The media twists and exaggerates peoples lives and we all know this. All they wanted to do from the beginning was dive into her family, her children, her marriage and find something wrong with it all. How sick and twisted is that? How can anyone form an opinion based on what they see on camera?  It has been said and seen multiple times that she has a lot of support from her extended family. The way I keep seeing it is her family is number one. Isn't that the way it should be? Sure she has her flaws, but who doesn't? Look in the mirror, I'm sure you'll see plenty. Does that make you material to be thrown into the public eye and be ripped apart? And just because you choose not to be on camera doesn't mean you're flawless. Their are still lives that are affected by you and your choices but yet you dismiss them because you're not on T.V. What makes their humanness different than yours? We all have family dysfunction and plenty of personal defects. Not one better or worse than the other. What would happen if the media started digging for all the good that people have done in their lives and displaying it for all to see? I wonder. It's unfortunate that our society thrives on such negativity and utter disrespect for human beings. Yes, they have made choices that throw them into the public for everyone to know their business, but that makes them no less human. They deserve some privacy too, but for some reason the country feels entitled to know all about people they see on the screen. There is some shit that is just none of our business and then we want to judge people when they are being interviewed and get caught off guard by a question that they know if they don't answer correctly, will be talked about, judged and hung out to dry. So they fumble for words as to not disappoint the people and then it's played repeatedly so that it can be picked apart and analyze every little thing about what they said and how they said it and the expression on their face when they said it...Pa-fucking-thetic I say!

Mental Illness?

My intention here is not to offend anyone but just in case I do, please refer to my post; Overcoming Self-Pity and read the third paragraph.
I have been doing research for a book I am writing and have always been fascinated with the practice of how patients are treated for mental illness. I am currently reading Toxic Therapy by Peter Breggin, M.D. There are many conflicting messages out there and I find it quite disturbing and harmful to human beings who have emotions and baggage just like the rest of the world. From my research I am saw at one point that medicine came a long way from what it used to be and is now digressing to the inhumane treatments that were tolerable and then intolerable and are becoming tolerable again.
The pattern I am beginning to see is that the people labeled with mental illness or disease are just extremely sensitive human beings. The way they perceive and digest events that have occurred in their lives determines how they react to a situation. Many people I have known in my lifetime have simply needed guidance on how to perceive, process and react to situations. I am a firm believer in quality time and love for these types of personalities. There is nothing "wrong" with most if not all of these people initially. Many of these anti psychotic drugs cause more harm than good and this is not only from what I have experienced but it's written down by 'experts', just in ways that make it sound like a lesser of two evils. Some medications that are used for bipolar or depression have side effects of schizo affective disorder. Covering up one problem b y creating another hardly seems like a solution to me. Extensive studies that I have read show improvement in those that were shown love and time. Basic essential tools were given to people and they were guided on how and when to apply these tools. Not every human being is born with these instincts. Some need to be taught and then they become second nature after some direction and practice. Again, we come to the bottom line of many of my posts, which is giving time, actually participating in someone's life as opposed to throwing money or prescription drugs at the issue.
There is something that every human is born with and that's intuition. When something doesn't "feel" right to you, it's NOT right. Period. I don't care what kind of an 'expert' your talking to, you know what your gut is telling you. And because of the need for others to control others we end up not paying attention to what's really right for ourselves as individuals.
Just because you're an expert doesn't mean that way is right for all. And let's keep in mind that history has proven over and over again that facts change? Of course every expert claims that this is the ground breaking solution and this is 'the way'. Then years later it's proven harmful or ineffective. This has happened throughout the beginning of time. Nothing is flawless because it is all created by flawed human beings. And just because it may be a solution for one person does not mean it's a solution for everyone. The only thing I have seen remain consistent is love. Love promotes healing in every situation. this is one thing that has remained unchanged, but it doesn't make anyone any money so people want to find another long term solution that can creates butt loads of cash. But all that I see continuing to happen is problems on top of problems and solutions for a problem that will create another problem.The "quick fix" (pill) is exactly that; a quick-fix. There is something to be said for hard work, time and effort to all parties involved in this incessant loop of madness.
Here is an excerpt from the book I am reading that has a copyright date of 1991. Tell me how many of these projections that he had have come true?

What will happen to the well-being and values of Americans if the 1990's become not the Decade of the Human Spirit and the Human Community but the Decade of the Brain?

• Parents and teachers increasingly will surrender their RESPONSIBILITY for the care and education of children to mental health professionals when problems arise at home or at school.
• Millions of children will end up on "legal" drugs or in psychiatric hospitals.
• Untold numbers of children and adults will be saddled with the false conviction that they have  genetic defects and lifelong "crossed wires" and "biochemical imbalances."
• Innumerable adults with solvable personal problems will end up taking drugs, getting shock treatment, or being locked up in mental hospitals - or all three.
• Many millions of elderly people will be drugged and shocked into oblivion and hurried to a premature death, often while residing in nursing homes.
• Psychiatrists will make renewed calls for an increase in lobotomy and other forms of psychosurgery.
• Droves of homeless people will be corralled into revamped, but still dreadful, state mental hospitals. 
• Organized psychiatry increasingly will become dominated by the interests of the multi-billion-dollar pharmaceutical industry as the profession becomes wholly dependent on the drug companies for its survival.
• Several million more Americans will suffer permanent brain damage from psychiatric drugs and electroshock while the profession denies that it is happening.

In fact, all of these things are going on right now. Yet how could this happen with so little awareness on the public's part? How could professionals devote themselves to such destructive programs with so little apparent concern for the truth or the rights and well-being of their patients?
 
I could go and on about this, but I won't because I'm not an 'expert', just someone who wants to see more compassion for individuals. We are all made the way we are made for one reason or another and I think it's important to start helping people accept the way they are and to utilize every characteristic as an asset, instead of a liability.

I am interested in hearing what you think of all of this. Please comment.

Jenna Jameson on Oprah

Did anyone watch Oprah this morning? Her guest was Jenna Jameson, the number one porn star in the industry. I am curious to know how people feel about what she was saying about the industry and how she portrayed herself. What do people think of this sexual industry?

The Book

As I have mentioned before, I am writing a book and I am realizing how emotionally draining it is. I have been sitting on it for quite some time because it is a sad but triumphant story. In writing the sad parts I become emotionally drained. I am so wrapped up in the main character, that I'm sad for her and I can't believe that she has come through these things. At times I get a tightness in my chest and am ridden with anxiety. I just want the good stuff to come for already. I sat on this story for so long because I have wanted to put a humorous twist on it or something other than sad, but this is the story that's here. She is the character that lives with me right now and she won't seem to go away. So I almost feel as if I have finally given in to tell her story.

Is it normal to go through these emotions and be so enmeshed in the character? I am afraid something in my brain is going to snap and I'll be lost forever. If there is anyone out there who has experience with this, I would love to hear from you.
Thanks.

Hairspray

My guy surprised me with dinner and theater tickets last night to see the play Hairspray. I am almost speechless, which is a calendar moment in itself. We went to a small theater by our house. Everything is performed on a circular stage so that everyone can see the action up close. We can't afford Broadway plays, so we wait for our theater to buy the rights from Broadway and see it here. The musical was absolutely entertaining and hilarious. I love to laugh. Who doesn't? If you don't know what this play is about, it's set in 1962 with a chubby girl who is simply adorable, Tracy Turnblad, and all she wants to do is have unity among all human beings. She gets a chance to dance on The Corny Collins Show, similar to Soul Train in the '80's. The current Miss Baltimore Crabs has a problem with Tracy being able to be a contestant for a shot at the title, Miss Baltimore Crabs because she's plumpalicious. As Tracy does the show she becomes aware that the black people have to dance in a separate area of the dance floor because black and white can't dance together. She befriends a black guy, Seaweed, in detention and he teaches her some new moves. Now she wants everyone to dance together and be one big happy fam. Oh, and she's in love with the high school hunk Link Larkin. Yowsah! So this deals with two issues, being a chubster and being black. And happy endings with the guy of your dreams, of course. It is such a lighthearted, wonderfully funny story. Now, I'm neither pudgy, nor black, but it made me want to be both. Not at the same time, but each and of themselves it would be quite an experience. Although my butt is quite renowned for it's blackesque-ness.
Anyway, I get intensely emotional when I go to plays, the circus, ice capades or anything live because I secretly want to be them. Don't get me wrong, I love being me, but who am I really? That's so hard to define. I want to be everything I see and I almost have been. If you went to my web site and looked at my About me page, you'd see what I mean. Next on my list is acting, but not like films or anything. I would love to do plays, but the reality is, I might be a little too old to start in that arena.

NaBloPoMo

Okay, so I guess it's national blog posting month? I just found this out and I am utterly unprepared. I have been working all day and just let the blogging world pass me by today. So this is my post: It's 11pm, I've been staring at this fucking computer all day and I can hear my heartbeat thumping in my head. I sit up straight and get stiff so I hunch a little, then I have to pee, then the dog wants to go out, then my phone rings and I go back to the bright white light that is the computer screen and I sit up straight, start to get stiff and hunch a little... Vodka?

Validation

Validation is probably the single most important thing you can do for someone’s self-esteem. (Even computers need validation now days).

There is something so powerful about someone paying attention to you and what you’re doing.

It takes just ONE person to bring out the best side of you. One person to say, “You’re doing a great job”, or “You do that really well”,” You have a beautiful smile”, “You’re great with people”, and the receiver of that validation will shine. They will do their best at whatever it is they are doing. It builds confidence.

Yes, I believe it is important to validate ourselves, but you know we ALL have that daunting little man that sits on a fragment of your brain with his legs crossed, swinging his foot and tapping his fingers on the amygdala, telling you what a loser you are and that you’re not good enough or that there’s no way you’ll accomplish what your trying to accomplish so you might as well just go to bed. At those times we need an outside voice to reassure us with sincerity that we are great at what we do and what we do matters to someone, especially you.

When someone is genuinely happy to see you, you’re happy to be seen.
When a person is praised they continue to do things that are praisable.
It doesn’t matter what it is your doing as long as you do your best.

I heard Suze Orman say, “If you make average great, your dreams will become a reality”. I was choked up for a moment after that filtered through my ears and my brain swirled the phrase around.

It is vital to humans to have support and encouragement from friends, family, even strangers. Imagine if we all chose one stranger to support and encourage without conditions…

Individual Power: What's Happening in Your Community?

Imagine this...If each city took responsibility for itself what a wonderful world it would be. I was watching a report on Human Trafficking last night on MSNBC. I have been doing research. compiling information and conducting interviews on this subject matter. Come to find that people not only don't know about this modern day sexual slavery but people won't even accept that it's a reality once they are informed. I have found most individuals want to leave everything up to our government and claim powerlessness. WE ARE the government. We are the ones in charge. The government works for us but no one seems to want to take on that responsibility. It's easier to lay the problems of the world on someone else and then bitch and complain about how they aren't doing anything about it. Here's the thing, we make the rules. Each city has the ability to have their own sets of laws. If we individually take responsibility and take action in our own communities, collectively we would be a united country. No one wants sex slavery going on in their community so I can confidently say that we as individuals have the absolute power to overcome this. It is because we put it on everyone else that this country is such a mess. Take your power back and make a difference! 

The city of San Francisco has taken it on themselves to run out the traffickers. They have put in place a set of laws for massage parlors and the employees. The health department does surprise inspections consistently at these "parlors". Only to to find women that are being held against their will and made to conduct sexual acts for money. You can read more about Human Trafficking at my website under the writing samples. The mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsome talked about this issue and how he sees people deny or look the other way and put the blame on the women and child victims of this crime. He is addressing the issue and getting the community involved. He also has a CARE NOT CASH program implemented for the homeless. This is yet another person who supports getting involved and take action as opposed to taking the easy and ineffective way out by just throwing money around. I don't live in the San Francisco Bay are or even California for that matter but I love this guy. The more I learn about him, the more I like him.

I will be holding a fundraiser in the near future for The Barnaba Institute, which I will have more information at a later date. I am still in the process of all the red tape.

There are also many movies and documentaries about Human Trafficking that I have found to be quite informative if your not a big reader and I do allow my daughter to watch these films so that she is educated and knows that this type of thing happens every minute of every day. I believe this is one of those healthy fears for our children to have. I would rather educate them as opposed to a trafficker educating them first hand.

My point here is, we are the ones in control! We have to start paying attention to what is going on in our own back yard because that is where we can make the difference. We have to be a strong united country before we can start helping other countries. If you have a problem with something in your community, with your credit card rates or the price of gas, stop blaming whoever it is you want to blame and look in the mirror. It starts with you. You have control of your environment.
How do we do this? One city at a time. Yours. Get involved. Start with showing up at your park district or village hall. Wherever it is that they hold monthly meetings for your town. If each community takes care of itself, then collectively the country will be united.

Passion

Passion is our life's purpose. Living a life that we love, a life that is fulfilled, this is our purpose. It's not about survival. Working to get the bills paid and go on vacation once a year or having to decide which is more important, our kids college education or our retirement, is no way to live. We are here to enjoy everything that is on this earth. That's why it's here. Yes, we need to pay our bills, but stop and ask yourself; Are you holding your job to maintain the income that maintains all of your "stuff" that is filling a void? That void you are trying to fill is your passion. Once you start living a life that you truly love and enjoy, you will see that all that material stuff is just that; STUFF. Our kids learn from us. My kids do what I do, not what I say. They will live the way I live and by the principles I live by. I do not want them working at a job just to pay the bills, or waking up everyday having to force themselves out of bed to get to a job they despise, while dreaming in the corners of their minds about what they'd really like. I want my kids to love, love, love their lives. I do not want my children searching endlessly for things or stuff that will make them happy because they aren't DOING what makes them happy. That's how we are fulfilled, by DOING what we love. It is our birth right as human beings, every one of us, to be happy and live with passion. It is up to you and you alone to make sure that happens. Live what you love.Start by writing down all of the things you dream of doing, all the things your passionate about, all of the things you think would make you love to get out of bed everyday. You can post your list here if you'd like. What are you waiting for?
Live Happy.

The Holidays

Okay, so the holidays are coming once again and I am absolutely thrilled. I feel this way every year at this time. BUT...by the time the actual holiday rolls around, I'm fed up, done and ready for sunshine, warm weather and

my motorcycle! This year I am going to try something different. I'm doing a little research on some holiday activities. Maybe I'll do something a little holiday every day to keep the spirits up and fill you guys in. Any suggestions?