American Suicide
Posted by angela on 04/11/08 in Domestic Ramblings
This was passed on to me in a forward. I’m sure many of you have probably seen it before. I took the time to look it up on snopes using the keyword: Mexifornia. Everything here is written and this story dates back to 2005 according to snopes.
We know Dick Lamm as the former Governor of Colorado. In that context his thoughts are particularly poignant. Last week there was an immigration over population conference in Washington, DC, filled to capacity by many of America’s finest minds and leaders. A brilliant college professor by the name of Victor Hansen Davis talked about his latest book, “Mexifornia,” explaining how immigration - both legal and illegal was destroying the entire state of California. He said it would march across the country until it destroyed all vestiges of The American Dream. Moments later, former Colorado Governor Richard D. Lamm stood up and gave a stunning speech on how to destroy America.
The audience sat spellbound as he described eight methods for the destruction of the United States. He said, “If you believe that America is too smug, too self-satisfied, too rich, then let’s destroy America it is not that hard to do. No nation in history has survived the ravages of time. Arnold Toynbee observed that all great civilizations rise and fall and that ‘An autopsy of history would show that all great nations commit suicide.’” “Here is how they do it,” Lamm said:
“First, to destroy America, turn America into a bilingual or multi-lingual and bicultural country. History shows that no nation can survive the tension, conflict, and antagonism of two or more competing languages and cultures. It is a blessing for an individual to be bilingual; however, it is a curse for a society to be bilingual. The historical scholar, Seymour Lipset, put it this way: ‘The histories of bilingual and bicultural societies that do not assimilate are histories of turmoil, tension, and tragedy.’ Canada, Belgium, Malaysia, and Lebanon all face crises of national existence in which minorities press for autonomy, if not independence. Pakistan and Cyprus have divided. Nigeria suppressed an ethnic rebellion. France faces difficulties with Basques, Bretons, Corsicans and Muslims.” Lamm went on:
“Second, to destroy America, invent ‘multiculturalism’ and encourage immigrants to maintain their culture. Make it an article of belief that all cultures are equal; that there are no cultural differences. Make it an article of faith that the Black and Hispanic dropout rates are due solely to prejudice and discrimination by the majority. Every other explanation is out of bounds.
“Third, we could make the United States an ‘Hispanic Quebec’ without much effort. The key is to celebrate diversity rather than unity. As Benjamin Schwarz said in the Atlantic Monthly recently: ‘The apparent success of our own multi-ethnic and multicultural experiment might have been achieved not by tolerance but by hegemony. Without the dominance that once dictated ethnocentricity and what it meant to be an American, we are left with only tolerance and pluralism to hold us together.’ Lamm said, “I would encourage all immigrants to keep their own language and culture. I would replace the melting pot metaphor with the salad bowl metaphor. It is important to ensure that we have various cultural subgroups living in America enforcing their differences rather than as Americans, emphasizing their similarities.”
“Fourth, I would make our fastest growing demographic group the least educated. I would add a second underclass, unassimilated, undereducated, and antagonistic to our population. I would have this second underclass have a 50% dropout rate from high school.”
“My fifth point for destroying America would be to get big foundations and business to give these efforts lots of money. I would invest in ethnic identity, and I would establish the cult of ‘Victimology.’ I would get all minorities to think that their lack of success was the fault of the majority. I would start a grievance industry blaming all minority failure on the majority placation.”
“My sixth plan for America’s downfall would include dual citizenship, and promote divided loyalties. I would celebrate diversity over unity. I would stress differences rather than similarities. Diverse people worldwide are mostly engaged in hating each other - that is, when they are not killing each other. A diverse, peaceful, or stable society is against most historical precedent. People undervalue the unity it takes to keep a nation together. Look at the ancient Greeks. The Greeks believed that they belonged to the same race; they possessed a common language and literature; and they worshipped the same gods. All Greece took part in the Olympic games. A common enemy, Persia, threatened their liberty. Yet all these bonds were not strong enough to overcome two factors: local patriotism and geographical conditions that nurtured political divisions. Greece fell. “E. Pluribus Unum” — From many, one. In that historical reality, if we put the emphasis on the ‘pluribus’ instead of the ‘Unum,’ we will “Balkanize” America as surely as Kosovo.’
“Next to last, I would place all subjects off limits. Make it taboo to talk about anything against the cult of ‘diversity.’ I would find a word similar to ‘heretic’ in the 16th century - that stopped discussion and paralyzed thinking. Words like ‘racist’ or ‘xenophobe’ halt discussion and debate. Having made America a bilingual/bicultural country, having established multi-culture, having the large foundations fund the doctrine of ‘Victimology,’ I would next make it impossible to enforce our immigration laws. I would develop a mantra: That because immigration has been good for America, it must always be good. I would make every individual immigrant symmetric and ignore the cumulative impact of millions of them.”
In the last minute of his speech, Governor Lamm wiped his brow. Profound silence followed. Finally he said, “Lastly, I would censor Victor Hanson Davis’s book ‘Mexifornia.’ His book is dangerous. It exposes the plan to destroy America. If you feel America deserves to be destroyed, don’t read that book.”
There was no applause. A chilling fear quietly rose like an ominous cloud above every attendee at the conference. Every American in that room knew that everything Lamm enumerated was proceeding methodically, quietly, darkly, yet pervasively across the United States today. Discussion is being suppressed. Over 100 languages are ripping the foundation of our educational system and national cohesiveness. Even barbaric cultures that practice female genital mutilation are growing as we celebrate ‘diversity.’ American jobs are vanishing into the Third World as corporations create a Third World in America Take note of California and other states. To date, ten million illegal aliens and growing fast. It is reminiscent of George Orwell’s book “1984.” In that story, three slogans are engraved in the Ministry of Truth building: “War is peace,” “Freedom is slavery,” and “Ignorance is strength.”
Governor Lamm walked back to his seat. It dawned on everyone at the conference that our nation and the future of this great democracy is deeply in trouble and worsening fast. If we don’t get this immigration monster stopped within three years, it will rage like a California wildfire and destroy everything in its path, especially The American Dream.
Do you have any thoughts OR ideas about this post? Please, speak up!
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Gayla McCord | Apr 11, 2008 | Reply
Wow - It seems as if America has hit the trifecta or has all the makings of a perfect storm as far as this plan goes.
Congrats to our government - Mission Accomplished!
Tracy | Apr 11, 2008 | Reply
I HIGHLY recommend viewing the following link to part of seminar on this very issue.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=n7WJeqxuOfQ
jafabrit | Apr 12, 2008 | Reply
This is where I have question: ““Second, to destroy America, invent ‘multiculturalism’ and encourage immigrants to maintain their culture.”
What about Little Italy, and all those Greek, Dutch, French, Polish, Irish, French, German communities in which the immigrants enriched the cultural heritage of this country. They maintained their heritage and to this day we see wonderful examples of that in the various festivals, language, parades, architecture, food, etc etc.
jafabrit | Apr 12, 2008 | Reply
English is an international trade language, and the most dominant language worldwide. If you look at the breakdown of languages spoken in the United States historically, the fear that English will disappear isn’t valid. There is no way this country would cripple itself linguistically in the global market by allowing English to disappear or diminish.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_the_United_States
Just look at all the languages the early immigrants and settlers spoke, yet English remained the dominant and unifying language nationally and internationally. I do not see that changing with the new immigrants, just as it didn’t with the old.
Tracy | Apr 13, 2008 | Reply
Jafabrit– you make great points and pose a good question.
My grandparents were born in Armenia, and came here as newborns with their parents during the Armenian Genocide in the early 1900’s. They lived in Armenian communities in New York. To this day, there are “subcommunities” there, each with their own churches, delicatessens, shoe stores, butcher shops, etc. The Greeks have their community, the Russians have theirs, etc. Because they lived in these subcommunitites they kept their culture and traditions alive and thriving.
In addtition my father’s family all came from Canada. They all spoke French, and lived in a “French Canadian” community, much like the Armenian, Greek and Russian communitties.
The difference though, between what you spoke of (which is exactly how my parents grew up), and what the article Angela posted spoke of, is this: the kept their culture, their language, their traditions, etc AND became Americans and were PROUD to call themselves Americans. They fly AMERICAN flags– they don’t fly Armenian or Canadian flags above American ones. They all came legally. They all learned English and they INSISTED that their children learn English. They didn’t demand that Americans learn THEIR language, or provide Television stations, radio stations, newspapers, government documents, etc, etc be printed in Armenian and French. They kept their language and culture, but became Americans in every sense of the word.
On both sides of my family, my grandparents became American citizens, joined the Army and fought during World War II. Even my grandmother joined with the Women’s Army Corps.
Yes, the early immigrants and steeler spoke many languages and English remained the dominant and unifying language— but WHY?
Because the made the effort and saw the importance of LEARNING English. That isn’t happening now.
jafabrit | Apr 14, 2008 | Reply
Tracy I don’t disagree with much of what you say, well except I do know there were many radio stations and newspapers printed in the language of the various cultural groups. “Italian-language newspapers existed in many American cities, especially New York City, and Italian-language movie theatres existed in the U.S. as late as the 1950s.” wikipedia
Also Louisiana law recognizes both English and French.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana#Culture
I looked at the language patterns of most of the immigrants (I am talking about legal immigrants) and it was a couple of generations, maybe less that the emphasis on old world language died out or became secondary. It does not make sense for legal latino immigrants to discourage their children from learning English because in a global economy they would be at a disadvantage. So in that sense I do not see it being an issue. In regards to illegal immigrants, I don’t see they have any claims at all when it comes to national policy, nor the power to alter national/social/cultural policy on the use of English. If they don’t want to learn English, so be it, it hurts them more than us.
Tracy | Apr 14, 2008 | Reply
“well except I do know there were many radio stations and newspapers printed in the language of the various cultural groups.”
Yes– even my grandparents had an Armenian paper. I guess I wasn’t very clear in my point. The Armenians, Italians, Greeks, etc didn’t DEMAND from the government these kinds of things. If there wasn’t an Armenian paper or an Italian radio station, or Tax forms in Greek, they didn’t cry “discrimination” or “intolerance”– first, they were all learning English or already knew it, or had a friend who could translate and help them.
The churches made their own newsletters for the community, or individuals created their own businesses to print papers in their language. They used good old fashioned capitalism and entrepeneuralism to start their own papers, print books, etc.
Now, the idea is that the government — city, state or federal,depending on what the specific demand is–should PROVIDE these things in Spanish. Teachers, translators, documents, access to media, etc.
Unless everything is available in Spanish, it’s supposedly evidence of “immigrant intolerance” or a lack of “multiculturalism”. Whether it’s the paper, television stations, radio broadcasts, school textbooks, government documents, store advertisements, signage— even food labels. You can’t even call your the phone company, electric company or credit card company without first having to choose 1 for English or 2 for Spanish.
In an effort to assuage the demand and to appear to be “tolerant” and “show a regard for diversity”, companies jump on the “Look! We’re “diverse”" bandwagon.
jafabrit | Apr 15, 2008 | Reply
The argument is “History shows that no nation can survive the tension, conflict, and antagonism of two or more competing languages and cultures”
This is not true, if you look at all the countries with dual languages, that argument is not supportable. What of Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, England (welsh), Canada,for example.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_multilingual_countries_and_regions
It really has no impact or is a threat on the English language as being the dominant language. This system of dual language has been around for a long time in the USA, namely in Louisiana. However my feeling is is that legal immigrants are doing themselves a huge disservice not learning English, and it hurts them more than us (I am a legal immigrant and a US citizen).
Tracy | Apr 16, 2008 | Reply
Yes– I agree. I don’t think that English is being “threatened” per se. It’s not like Spanish is going to “take over”. But I DO think that there’s a push to make Spanish an “equal” language so that they are both to be “official” languages.
As you’ve already noted, Switzerland for example, has 4 “official” languages. It does seem though for business across the country (from region to region) is generally conducted in French– and IF I remember correctly– I belive their Federal Assembly conducts it’s meetings in French as well.
I actually lived in Europe for several years and you know what’s funny? Switzerland’s public school system requires learning a second language, just like our high schoolers. And even though German and French are the most widely spoken languages in Switzerland, English is one of the most widely learned languages. In fact, it’s very common for those from the different regions ( French speaking, German speaking, Italian, etc) — that they either communicate with each other using French or….. English!!
Gayla McCord | Apr 17, 2008 | Reply
I have my hands full trying to raise my kids to respect other people and their differences. This is America - if you don’t want to speak our language and abide by our laws, Leave. It’s simple!
If I decided to go to Germany - a place I’ve ALWAYS wanted to visit or even live - I would at least TRY to speak their language and I sure as heck would not want them to bend their laws to accommodate the differences I brought with me and I damn sure wouldn’t expect them to support me or my kids with government assistance.
ptg | Apr 17, 2008 | Reply
Illegal, uncontrolled, and un-assimilated immigration make up the real elephant in our living room. The best way I’ve found to help the situation is to let your representatives in Congress know how you think about this American cultural suicide.
The easiest way to do that is to sign up at Roy Beck’s NumbersUSA. There you will find tools enabling you to make your views known to the folks with the power to change this nasty situation. Free faxes, numbers to call, and free updates on the Mexamericanadian schemes being hatched by the anti-American open-borders gang.
Paul | Apr 17, 2008 | Reply
Wow! I’m sure glad I don’t live in your fear filled little world. I think the saddest part of your post was the part about ‘victimology’, I guess you don’t see that you are in fact, playing the victim, a victim of all those nasty foreigners coming in and ruining ‘your’ country.
What you fail to understand is that we’re all esentially alike. We have different languages and different customs etc. but these differences are superficial. What we all have in common is far more important than our differences, love of family, community, a desire to contribute etc.
And I’m sorry to break this to you, but ALL empires fall and America, as an empire, will fall too. But that’s not a bad thing because maybe then we’ll be able to finally realize the dream of our Founding Fathers, i.e. a true democracy where everyone is free to pursue happiness.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
ptg | Apr 19, 2008 | Reply
You ought to be sorry, Paul. You personify the “America last” brainwash-ees produced by the US public schools.
The world is made better when everyone strives to be the best. Wishing for mediocrity in the name of grade-school egalitarianism is stupid.
Why do you suppose so many cats want to immigrate to the US? Its because they see the results of more than 200 years of our citizens aiming to be number one.
You are correct in one sense, if we were all to think like you, Paul, the immigration problem would go away. Nobody wants to join a loser. Cats would be looking for a better opportunity.
Get the fear, Paul, because your ‘progressivism’ spells ruin for our great nation.
Paul | Apr 19, 2008 | Reply
Wishing for mediocrity in the name of grade-school egalitarianism is stupid.
Where did this come from? I didn’t even mention public schools much less ‘wish for mediocrity.’ Our schools are mediocre because the rich would rather cut taxes than pay for quality schools that their children don’t attend anyway. And they’ve brainwashed those like you into buying into there ‘trickle down’ bs.
Get the fear, Paul, because your ‘progressivism’ spells ruin for our great nation.
This country was founded on progressive, liberal values. That’s what the Enlightenment was all about, shedding absolutist monarchies for liberal a democracy. What’s ruining this country are the tribalistic, herd-mentalilty values advanced by websites like this.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
Tracy | Apr 20, 2008 | Reply
“Our schools are mediocre because the rich would rather cut taxes than pay for quality schools ”
Oh Paul, Paul, Paul……. get a grip, son.
I WORK in the public schools. Believe me, money has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with it. Neither does greediness on the part of the rich.
Our schools get TRILLIONS of dollars– money that you can’t even possibly imagine. And the POORER the students that attend the school, the MORE money they get from the government. I WORK in an inner city school– they get money you could only dream of.
Schools stink because SCHOOL BOARDS stink, with their ultra-liberal ideas all in the name of “progress” but all their so-called “progress” has turned out to be nothing but compltele FAILURE!!! They throw all the money in the wrong places and they placate to minority groups. They let the kids run the place in the name of “compassion and understanding”. They don’t enforce rules, don’t enforce dress codes, don’t enforce learning standards, grade performance– nothing. They assume that everyone is so poor they can’t afford to buy breakfast or lunch so they GIVE it to them free of charge, while they’re all standing there with WADS of cash, buying $1.25 sodas, spending $3 or 4 dollars on cookies, bags of chips and ice cream, talking on their cell phones, listening to their IPODS, wearing their $150 sneakers and $100 official sports jersey’s and $80 pants (the new style is to keep the price tag on your clothes so everyone can see how much it cost). All that, while they’re saying they’re so poor that they can’t pay $1.65 for lunch, or even the reduced price of 40 cents. And that’s how it ALL goes. They pass kids who shouldn’t pass because “oh, the poor things come from a bad neighborhood and don’t have parental support” and “oh, they’re minority kids– you can’t expect too much, they’re doing their best” NO THEY’RE NOT!! They’re NOT doing their best because no one EXPECTS their best from them. They treat them like their all a bunch of stupid morons who can’t learn. But their NOT stupid. They are giving EXACTLY what everyone expects of them. No one holds them to a high standard, and the kids live up to what everyone expects of them– absolutely nothing. If School Boards and administrators would stop placating, stop letting the kids run the schools, start enforcing rules, good behavior, respect and honesty, then YES, things would improve. But as long as they keep treating them like they’re unteachable, unable to be disciplined, poor in pocket and poor in intelligence, like they’re untrainable animals, then that’s EXACTLY what they’re going to get. Treating them like they’re stupid isn’t compassion. It’s despicable. And yes, it’s American Suicide.
Tracy | Apr 20, 2008 | Reply
ooops, typing too fast and not paying attention– sorry for all the typos.
jafabrit | Apr 20, 2008 | Reply
Tracy,
In response to your comment “But I DO think that there’s a push to make Spanish an “equal” language so that they are both to be “official” languages.”
All immigrant groups try to push for things, and it causes resentments with each generation. In the end it will not be much of a victory if they do get spanish on legal forms, because it would still put spanish speaking immigrants and their children at a huge disadvantage if they don’t bother to learn English. I see that as “their” problem and I have little concern over their making such a poor choice in that regard. Spanish or not this country will still communicate globally and nationally in English, so I don’t feel the least threatened, concerned or resentful about it. I see it going the same way as french in Lousianna, and nothing fell apart there as a result.
Nice exploring the issue with you though.
regards jafabrit
Paul | Apr 20, 2008 | Reply
Tracy,
I’m 47 years old and I’m not your son. I’ve attended California’s public schools when they ranked at or near the top in the nation and I’ve watched as proposition 13 (just one method that’s been used to defund schools), decimate our schools that now rank near the bottom.
Your entire comment is just one long string of baseless, unsupported assertions that you expect to be accepted uncritically because you accept them uncritically. Not only have I seen our schools at both their best and their worst, I have seen my own three children through the public school system. My kids had plenty of disipline and their shoes together didn’t cost $150, nor did their shoes have anything to to with the dilapidated and over-crowded schools they had to attend. Your ‘arguments’ are nothing more than the tired conservative canard of ‘blame the victim,’ I’ve watched it time and time again, from welfare queens to immigrants the scapegoats change but the song remains the same.
If you really want to know what’s happened to this country over the past 3 or 4 decades then you should read this excellent and enlightening article which I have more or less summarized here. In it you’ll learn how a society operates when the goal is to actually expand and support the middle-class as opposed to how we operate today.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
Queen of the Click | Apr 20, 2008 | Reply
Angela Stevens,
Please remove my copyrighted image from your site and from any other sites. I saw it at two now. The image does belong to me and under US Copyright, you don’t have the right to use it. I will seek legal damages as this is an original image - not one copied from the web. If it is not removed by April 25th, my attorney will be contacting you.
Marlene
Tracy | Apr 21, 2008 | Reply
Paul, my kids didn’t just “attend” the schools. I didn’t just “send” them. I WORK in them. I KNOW what happens. I’m THERE in the meetings. I didn’t say YOUR kids have $150 shoes. I said the bulk of the “poor” kids have them. And I am NOT kidding. I see it EVERY SINGLE DAY. I’m THERE. My kids didn’t have $150 dollar sneakers either. I get them at Walmart– IF they’re on sale. But see, I’m HONEST about our family income. So we paid full price for lunch. But the “poor” kids who get free lunch, are there with all their electronic equipment, IPODS, Camera phones, portable CD players, wearing their $100 jerseys. None of which I can afford, since I’m paying all my own bills, buying my own groceries, buying my kids’ school uniforms, paying my own mortgage,etc. Most of those other kids qualify for free lunches because their parents are NOT honest about the money coming in, how many working adults are in the house, etc and are collecting AFDC, getting WIC, food stamps, etc. And you know what? We live in the SAME NEIGHBORHOOD!!! Figure that one out!
Let me give you an example– and this happens in 90 percent of the schools that are performing so badly.
Twice a week, every week, the kids at the high school where I work (and this is a district wide program) attend a class called “Advisement”. They rotate the kids through the class, since ALL students are required to take it. Supposedly, this is a class where kids learn basic “out in the world” skills. How to look for a job, interview skills, budgeting, balancing a checkbook– essentially getting “advice” for how to survive out in the adult world after graduation. (If they actually graduate) And I swear– before my time is done, I’m going to get a camera in there to film it all and expose it for what it is.
The class meets in the cafeteria. Those kids SIT THERE doing absolutely NOTHING!! I’m not kidding. There are usually 25-30 kids. There are 3 teachers. Why in the world are there 3 teachers for 25-30 kids? Who knows. Those teachers stand around chit-chatting, while the kids sit in their little groups, scattered around the cafeteria playing cards, listening to music, dancing, or LITERALLY just sitting there doing absolutely nothing.
The class is required, but they get NO CREDIT. With no credit, the teachers have no “grade” to give out. And they have no real curriculum. IT’s just “advisement”. So there’s no motivation for the teachers nor the kids.
The other day I walked in there, and there were two boys listening to music– rather offensive and disgusting music if you ask me. There were 3 teachers just standing there chit-chatting, letting them do whatever the heck they wanted. Since their teachers were letting them listen to it, I figured I couldn’t really tell them they had to shut it off. So I said, “You guys, you know you’re not supposed to have that stuff in the school. Could you at LEAST turn it down– it’s pretty offensive.”
All they did was face mug me. I asked them again. The one kid flipped me off.
I finally said in a very loud and firm voice, “You can either turn it down, or shut if off completely. Pick one.”
The kid just let out a string of curse words, called me a mother ______ and told me to suck his ____ . I walked over to shut off the music and one of the male teachers FINALLY interceded (they’d all been silent the whole time). He sort of jogged up to where we were, walked in between us and said in a quiet and calm voice “Just shut if off. You can listen to it later, okay?” Did they do ANYTHING about the way the kid talked to me? No. No discipline, no words about respect for elders, no chastisement for the filthy language. Nada.
And that’s what happens everyday, all day.
They won’t suspend or expell kids who NEED to be suspended because the schools get money for each kid, for every day they’re there. The schools get $13,000 something PER kid, per year. You expel 10 kids, they lose $130,000 a year. So they DON’T expel them. They want the money. That’s also why they don’t suspend them. When a kid gets suspended for 10 days, the school loses that kid’s alloted money for those 10 ten days, and they want their money. So they don’t suspend them. Asd your board members.
As per the article you mentioned: the word “progressive” in the link is all the warning I need. But thanks for the invite.
Marlene | Apr 21, 2008 | Reply
Please remove my copyrighted image from your site. The icon on the top right inwhich you changed the hair color of the girl on the laptop can not be used on any other site, but mine. This is stealing.
Paul | Apr 22, 2008 | Reply
Paul, my kids didn’t just “attend” the schools. I didn’t just “send” them. I WORK in them.
So only people who work in schools can have a valid opinion? That is patently ridiculous. No more ridiculous than the rest of your comment however, that like your last comment, provides nothing in the way of proof that liberals are responsible for the state of our schools. On the contrary, your remarks support my point of view far more than yours.
As per the article you mentioned: the word “progressive” in the link is all the warning I need.
So you won’t even read an article if the word “progressive” is anywhere near it? Wow! I’ve met some closed minded people before but you take the cake. It simply isn’t possible to be more closed minded than that. I’ll at least examine someone’s ideas before passing judgement. Even your pitiful excuse for not reading the article doesn’t cut it because I posted two links, one to my site (the one with “progressive” in the name) and another one that goes straight to an academic document. Why didn’t you open that one? Don’t answer, I already know. You aren’t in the least bit interested in pursuing the truth, you’re only interested in taking grotesque comfort in blaming others for your problems. Schools are about the pursuit of knowledge but you’ve demonstrated nothing but disdain for that pursuit rendering your opinion on the state of our schools null and void.
If you had read the article you would have learned that economically speaking, the 50’s, one of our most beloved decades, was probably the most socialistic period in our history where taxing and redistributing the wealth was at its greatest. This was the decade that people refer to as “the good old days”. And from that point on this country has become more and more conservative culminating in Bush, our most conservative president yet. Liberals haven’t had any real power in this country for decades, including the Clinton years that were marked by six of his eight years fighting against a hostile Republican Congress. So after thirty five years of almost uninterupted conservativism, how the liberals can be blamed for anything is beyond me. Those liberals must be some magical people!
Of course none of this will have the least bit of imact on you. You’d much rather blame the fill in the blank for whatever ails you. Good luck, you’re going to need it.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
angela | Apr 22, 2008 | Reply
Marlene of Queen of the Click wrote:
Please remove my copyrighted image from your site. The icon on the top right inwhich you changed the hair color of the girl on the laptop can not be used on any other site, but mine. This is stealing.
Hi Marlene,
Perhaps it would be in your best interest to do a little fact checking before you go off on a rant that has the potential to be quite embarrassing.
And as it turns out, you might want to check istockphoto for the very image I am using. I purchased it from there nearly 2 years ago.
However, I did not purchase exclusive rights so perhaps that is why you were able to make the purchase after mine.
I highly doubt your blog that hasn’t been updated since early February will suffer much from my using an image that’s so similar to yours.
I will be keeping my legitimate image precisely where it’s at. If you don’t like it, well, I guess that’s your problem now, isn’t it?
Have a glorious day!
angela | Apr 22, 2008 | Reply
Marlene of Queen of the Click wrote:
Angela Stevens,
Please remove my copyrighted image from your site and from any other sites. I saw it at two now. The image does belong to me and under US Copyright, you don’t have the right to use it. I will seek legal damages as this is an original image - not one copied from the web. If it is not removed by April 25th, my attorney will be contacting you.
Marlene
Hi Marlene!
If you have issue with an image that I purchased directly from istockphoto then you need to seriously take this up with them.
Here’s a link to istockphoto’s legal department: http://www.istockphoto.com/license.php
Oh and the ID# for the purchase that I made is:
#2285300
The name of the file when purchased was: MCHipster
Knock yourself out!
ptg | Apr 22, 2008 | Reply
Good for you, Angela. Marlene hasn’t got a leg to stand on, let alone a copyright infringement case. I’m guessing she is one of those creeps who try to get folks to pay a ’settlement’ to get them to quit pestering you. Its a form of blackmail.
Lynda Lehmann | Apr 22, 2008 | Reply
I am in total agreement with all the points of this speech. If we don’t put the emphasis on unity, we will dissolve into anarchy. Diversity can be celebrated, but as part of a larger whole. If we become further fragmented our institutions will founder more than they already have.
People are feeling so fearful nowadays that everyone is afraid to initiate discussion; political correctness reigns like the Thought Police. In all of nature, animals coexist while maintaining their own particular behaviors, and they prey on each other only in relation to the food chain. It’s desirable, of course, for cultures to peacefully co-exist, but in order to have democracy, organized and functional institutions, a national identity, and internal peaceful coexistance, we need to seek unity within the larger whole.
The societies cited above are good examples of fragmentation and conflict. If we give in to “Victimology” we will lose sight of the larger picture, which is our collective survival. Pluralism doesn’t mean obsession with self- or group-identity. It means cooperation and collaboration, with the needs of the individual and group being important, but not more important than the common good, or the good of the “whole.”
Thanks for a great, thought-provoking post!
Anonymous | Apr 22, 2008 | Reply
Isn’t your image created by the same artist,Heroturko, I think is the owner and artist whom created the “McHipster Girls”?
Technically that means you bought the right to use that image from the artist and I could swear I saw the image you are using in other websites and blogs too….
As a matter of fact, here’s a great link to images of the girls:
http://heroturko.com/2007/12/11/hipster-girls.html
angela | Apr 22, 2008 | Reply
I’m thinking that Queen of the Click needs to set up an appointment to see her eye specialist.
My hair is RED and I do NOT wear a tiara.
Now you guys know why I tend to sport my Favorite T-Shirt on my about page.
Marlene | Apr 22, 2008 | Reply
Your site hasn’t contained my image until now. In 2007 there is no sign of the picture. Be honest.
http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://angela-stevens.com
eye doctor | Apr 22, 2008 | Reply
http://web.archive.org/web/20070519015135/http://angela-stevens.com/
so - i checked the url you sent - and the part where u said it wasnt on the site in 07 - the earliest entry on this site is may of 07 - and if you scroll to bottom of the page you will see same graphic……
angela | Apr 22, 2008 | Reply
Oh hi there eye doctor. Do you have any room in your schedule to check my eyes because I didn’t see my little Divapalooza graphic in there at all until you pointed it out.
I’m so grateful. Maybe Marlene will issue out a well deserved apology to me AND my blog visitors. #1 for harassing me and #2 for interrupting a perfectly good debate that was going on before she showed up.
I did have to refresh the page but I do see MY graphic that is rightfully mine.
Well.. I have to toodle along and jump in the shower with me sweet two year old. The sweet four year old fell asleep. The sweet 16 year old is almost done with all her stuff and is getting ready for her school day tomorrow.
I think I’ve had about enough of you Marlene and unless you want to make nicey nice with me I’d rather not hear from you.
Next time you want to shoot me an e-mail don’t send it to my yahoo inbox. You’re lucky I have my yahoo instant messenger on OR I would have never even seen your e-mails.
You are welcome to send your apology to me at angelaaa [at] cox [dot] net - Thank you very much.
*Marie* | Apr 22, 2008 | Reply
You tell her, Angela!
Now back to the discussion- It was starting to get really good.
Va | Apr 26, 2008 | Reply
Dude what are people’s issues…it is an image. Get over it. Plus, if it was purchased by divapalooza then it was purchased.
Katy | May 1, 2008 | Reply
Boring. All of you.
And by the way…what the hell does immigration have to do with 1984? I’m pretty sure going between Eurasia and Eastasia was frowned upon. And the whole thing was a warning on totalitarianism.
I’m far more concerned with my tax dollars funding the federal reserve and all the crap in Afghanistan, Iraq and, more than likely, Iran. Oh, there you go…draft illegal immigrants to fight these stupid, illegal wars!
The only constant is change.
angela | May 2, 2008 | Reply
I am concerned with the fact that there are laws on the books that are not being enforced. Laws that were created for a reason.
I am concerned that there are people with legal documents in this country OR people waiting patiently to be able to obtain these legal documents and they are being jumped by illegals that don’t believe they should wait in line like everybody else.
I am concerned that every time I pick up the phone I have to listen to a Spanish recording before I get to the English option. English in the primary language in this country PERIOD!
I am concerned that people are being killed every day that would still be alive had the laws on our books been enforced.
I am concerned that my tax dollars are going to fund the benefit and well being of people that should not even be here in the first place over people that are citizens of this country.
I am concerned that there is WAY too much special treatment towards students that are not citizens, don’t speak English, and are not Caucasian.. while students that are here legally can not get an education without working three jobs to make ends meet.
Want me to keep going?
Atticus | May 2, 2008 | Reply
It’s the same shit I’ve heard before blah blah blah
Patrick | May 2, 2008 | Reply
There is no official language of this country. English is not the official language, and neither is Spanish. Just because the vast majority of people speak English doesn’t mean that businesses or government agencies can’t cater to people who speak other languages. Often that is profitable, and for government agencies it can help them out in the long run. Your ability to speak English is not being threatened. English will always be the primary language of this country, at least in your lifetime and your children’s lifetimes. So why must you be concerned? No one is forcing you to learn Spanish. Most immigrants try to learn English. It’s not like they refuse.
There is a law in Nebraska that says you cannot spit on the sidewalk. Are you concerned that is not being enforced? Many archaic laws are still on the book and are not enforced. I understand that the immigration law is not enforced well. That is a problem. But have you been ignoring the fact that several INS raids are conducted yearly in Nebraska? They obviously try to enforce it. But if they deported EVERYONE who was in here illegally, the country would fall apart. It would. Not to mention the fact that this would be prohibitively expensive. Will your taxes pay for that?