Reading this new Mark Steyn makes me really miss being in the loop...
Mollifying Muslims and Muslifying Mollies

Posted by: Sarah at 07:53 AM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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1 Sarah, I miss your comments on the news. I'm glad you linked to this piece. Although Molly Norris wouldn't like us, we can't let her be forgotten.

Steyn wrote,

But Molly Norris is merely the latest squishy liberal to learn that, when the chips are down, your fellow lefties won't be there for you.

Look at who is there for her. People like Steyn. Ironic, isn't it?

Posted by: Amritas at September 27, 2010 01:39 PM (5a7nS)

2 I love that he called Obama a "craven squish".  It made me giggle.

And that was a FANTASTIC article!  I agree wholeheartedly.  I can't wait till we get a MAN in office again, who'll look these evil killers in the eye and say, "Go ahead.  Make my day!"

Posted by: Deltasierra at September 27, 2010 10:20 PM (u2K2X)

3 I'll say the same thing I said on this on another site- I don't recall Ayaan Hirsi Ali or Irshad Manji going into hiding and changing their names.

Posted by: airforcewife at September 28, 2010 08:11 AM (uE3SA)

4 AFW, I don't know what you are trying to get at. That Molly Norris should have been courageous enough to retain her name and remain in the public eye? Yes, it would have been far better if Norris had been heroic, but I am hesitant to judge those who are in life-threatening circumstances, particularly since I myself use a pseudonym. I reserve my condemnation for Anwar al-Awlaki and those who agree with him.

Posted by: Amritas at September 28, 2010 11:31 AM (5a7nS)

5 I also don't think much of Irshad Manji. She wants Islam to revert to its "fun-loving roots". This is either an incredibly naive statement or something far worse. Read a biography of Mohammed to understand why.

Posted by: Amritas at September 28, 2010 11:42 AM (5a7nS)

6 I use an online pseudo as well, Amritas (although it's pretty easy to find out who I am in real life as well).  So it's not that I think people should never use a pseudonym.  Or that people should all be like Ayaan Hirsi Ali (there are many things Manji says I don't agree with, but I can't question her courage.  She regularly gets death threats and is often treated quite horribly by the Muslim community). 

My disagreement with Molly's particular actions is that she decided on a course of action that she should have 100% understood the ramifications of, and then first backtracked, then hid - and all the while has not seen fit to mention the differences in her safety levels between making fun of Islam and making fun of other religions.  Given the furor over the Mohammed cartoons, she could not have been so blind as to not realize what would happen.  Unless she is claiming a psychotic fugue or something. 

I get that she just wants it all to go away.  I do understand that.  But we don't always get the choice - we don't get to wish away diseases that affect us, we don't get to wish away personal hardships. 

Salman Rushdie was in hiding for years as well, but he continued to put out the very things he was in hiding for producing in the first place.  He is another person I do not always agree with, for that matter. 

I do have more of a point to this, but I'm having a hard time collecting my thoughts into something coherent at the moment.  I will do so later after a bit more coffee and probably a sandwich.    I did not want to give the impression I was ignoring valid points, though.

Posted by: airforcewife at September 29, 2010 01:10 PM (uE3SA)

7 AFW, you are now discussing some different though related issues. Your original comment came off as a criticism of Norris changing her name and hiding unlike Ali or Manji. Now you are also talking about the foolishness of Norris' actions. She was utterly naive. Her biggest mistake was backing down. Too late. At no point would I describe her as being heroic. And I do not know if I'd behave that much differently if I were in her shoes at this point. Terror and clear thinking often don't mix.

When I say, "Remember Molly Norris," I don't mean to make her a role model. Rather, I intend to make people think about free speech. What I think of Norris or Manji or Rushdie (not much) is irrelevant; what matters is that they have a right to free speech. Saying dumb things should not be a capital crime. Who is worse, the speakers or their would-be slayers? Let's not lose sight of who the real bad guys are and what their ideology is.

"For someone to feel they have to go into witness protection because of making such a mild gesture, frankly, is beyond appalling. Her freedoms and rights are being trampled on. We really can’t let this kind of thing stand or the fanatics will try to intimidate everyone to bowing before their faith."

- James Hudnall

Posted by: Amritas at September 29, 2010 03:25 PM (5a7nS)

8 Apparently, during the late 1930s there was considerable pressure on writers/journalists in Britain to avoid saying anything that might offend Nazi Germany. Winston Churchill spoke of the unendurable..sense of our country falling into the power, into the orbit and influence of Nazi Germany, and of our existence becoming dependent upon their good will or pleasure…In a very few years, perhaps in a very few months, we shall be confronted with demands” which “may affect the surrender of territory or the surrender of liberty.” A “policy of submission” would entail “restrictions” upon freedom of speech and the press. “Indeed, I hear it said sometimes now that we cannot allow the Nazi system of dictatorship to be criticized by ordinary, common English politicians.

Churchill’s concern was not just a theoretical one. Following the German takeover of Czechoslovakia, photographs were available showing the plight of Czech Jews, dispossessed by the Nazis and wandering the roads of eastern Europe. Geoffrey Dawson, editor of The Times, refused to run any of them: it wouldn’t help the victims, he told his staff, and if they were published, Hitler would be offended.

In my view, a very hard line should be taken against those who threaten Americans, including arrest for those within our borders, pressure for extradition or local trial for those residing in friendly countries, and Hellfire missile attacks (or whatever works best) for those being protected by rogue regimes. Obama, of course, is much more likely to focus on restricting the speech of Americans.

Posted by: david foster at October 01, 2010 03:34 PM (Gis4X)

9 David, you reminded me of this article by Iranian ex-Moslem Ali Sina:

Charlie Chaplin knew the great power of ridicule. A strong opponent of racism, in 1937 Chaplin decided to make a film on the dangers of fascism. As Chaplin pointed out in his autobiography, attempts were made to stop the film being made: “Halfway through making The Great Dictator I began receiving alarming messages from United Artists. They had been advised by the Hays Office that I would run into censorship trouble. Also the English office was very concerned about an anti-Hitler picture and doubted whether it could be shown in  Britain. But I was determined to go ahead, for Hitler must be laughed at.” (Charles Chaplin, My Autobiography, 1964)  

Just like in the thirties, today there are many useful idiots who defend Islam, apply censorship and try to silence its critics. These fools must be put to shame too.

Posted by: Amritas at October 02, 2010 01:56 AM (hBtE2)

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Evidence that our priorities are completely out of whack...

In the USAA Magazine this month, my husband noticed a section on buying a car.  It was adding two cents to common buyer claims.  And to the claim "I just need something to get me from here to there," this financial advisor said, "Really? Can you truly be happy with no frills [...] Deep down, you don't want your car to reveal that you're on a tight budget."

And that, dear readers, is part of the reason America is going to hell in a handbasket.  Because financial advisors tell us to pretend that we're all ballers.  Don't buy a cheap car you can afford; people might think you're living within your means!

Terrible advice.

Posted by: Sarah at 07:34 AM | Comments (11) | Add Comment
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Just this morning, I thought of something I wanted to blog.  I told my husband, "Shoot, if I keep blogging, this is exactly what I'd say..."

I have been looking into educational books for my kiddo and I was intrigued by the "Who Was" series.  They are way above her level for now, but I was investigating them to see if they have a PC agenda or if they're good biographies for her to read someday.  And I noticed something funny about the list of books.  Here are some of the people they cover:

Albert Einstein
Queen Elizabeth
Mark Twain
George Washington
Sacagawea
Leonardo da Vinci
Neil Armstrong
Mozart
Hellen Keller
Barack Obama

One of these things is not like the other.

What on earth is in the Barack Obama book?  I mean really...how does he possibly stack up to Edison and da Vinci?  The only presidents in this series are Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Kennedy, Reagan, and...Obama?  Wow, that's some prestigious company he keeps.  Especially since there is no benefit of hindsight whatsoever.  The book was published before he'd even finished his first year as president!

I'd really love to know what's in the Obama book.  Once upon a time there was a boy who lived in Indonesia and Hawaii and then went to law school and then was a community organizer and then a senator and then president.

The only thing the man has done is get elected.  And triple the already-too-awful national debt.

And somehow that stacks up to Mozart and Helen Keller.

Posted by: Sarah at 09:54 AM | Comments (11) | Add Comment
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1 *stands and applauds loudly*

Posted by: Amber at September 04, 2010 12:58 AM (ZGOWU)

2 RAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCCCCCCIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He's the Precedent of the United States!  The Lightworker!  The first President to place global opinion ahead of what's best for America!

A book about teh one would be easy to write:

America's Best Golf Courses and Vacation spots:  38 Places to stay in under two years"  By The Empty Suit, The First Wookie, and Hairplugs McPlagiarist.

Posted by: Chuck at September 04, 2010 07:37 AM (0iBcg)

3 He single-handedly absolved America of her racist, RACIST history and, um, advanced us into the post-partisan . . . I mean, exiled corruption from Washington . . . I mean, brought worldwide respect back to . . . um . . .

chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaange . . .

Posted by: Lissa at September 04, 2010 11:49 AM (mgjM7)

4 The Obama book is the only book in the series that belongs. The rest must go. Where are the books on Pelosi, the Clintons, Carter, Kerry, and Kennedy (Ted, of course)? Don't let your child grow up Democrat-deficient!

Posted by: kevin at September 04, 2010 12:44 PM (hBtE2)

5 Sarah - I've had to resort to writing stories for my kids about subjects I think they should know about but that there aren't readily available in engaging age-appropriate books.

Now, I definitely want my kids to know about George Washington Carver, but I also want them to know about George Custer.  I want them to know about Maximilian Kolbe as well as Martin Luther King, Jr.  And while I understand that some people are considered "must know" and others are "if you have some extra time", that's not the way I teach my kids.  So, we had to pick and choose amongst things rather than grab full sets. 

I just found a book called The Dangerous Book of Heroes by the same people that wrote The Dangerous Book for Boys.  It's awesome.  It even includes the women of the SOE!   The Dangerous Book for Boys and The Daring Book for Girls have also been wonderful resources for both our boy and our girls.  And Mom and Dad, quite frankly.    We also like Tales from Shakespeare, and A Child's History of the World (from the Calvert Curriculum, which is cheaper through the Sonlight website). 

And all of my kids learned to read using Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons.  It's an AWESOME resource!

Posted by: airforcewife at September 04, 2010 07:26 PM (uE3SA)

6 AFW...if you're interested in the women of SOE, you might be interested in posts I've written about three of them...

Krystyna Skarbek

Violette Szabo

Noor Inayat Khan

Posted by: david foster at September 04, 2010 08:45 PM (Gis4X)

7 I've written a number of posts "reviewing" various children's books.  Some I like, others, I don't.  I do write these from the conservative POV, and a "what you should know" on some of them, like those PC/Leftist indoctrination things you worry about.  You can find them here.  I have done both picture books and chapter books (to include some 'young adult', not just children's stuff).

Posted by: Miss Ladybug at September 05, 2010 12:40 AM (4xYAD)

8 Thank you David!  I'll show those to my second daughter, who is particularly interested in the subject. 

Also - in addition to having dogs named Ike and Mamie, we named our cat Virginia Hall.  You'd be surprised how many people don't "get" Ike and Mamie.  Pretty much no one "gets" Virginia Hall.  We've stopped explaining.

Posted by: airforcewife at September 05, 2010 10:32 AM (uE3SA)

9 Well, Hellen Keller & Barack Obama, are both deaf and blind.

Posted by: tim at September 07, 2010 11:41 AM (vb4Ci)

10 There are a whole bunch of children's books out about Obama, too, written around the time of his election.  They are disgustingly obsequious and they read like train wrecks; you can't pull your eyes away from them!

Posted by: Deltasierra at September 09, 2010 10:16 PM (u2K2X)

11 What crap. And you can add "un-deserving Pulitzer prize winner" to that list as well.

Posted by: Sara at September 16, 2010 08:12 PM (tz27a)

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Yesterday was my baby's six month birthday.



Motherhood has, in many ways, been exactly what I expected.  It's tiring, it's grueling, and it's repetitive.  It takes up every minute of your day and every thought in your head.  Much of my free time is unfortunately devoted to researching problems: annoyingly short naps, night waking, nursing strikes, etc.  Other moments are spent researching more fun things, like baby food recipes and age-appropriate toys.  But thankfully, at six months, there is indeed free time.  I do get about four or five hours to myself every day.

I just have to prioritize those hours.

Half that time is spent with my husband in the evening.  I still get to knit and wind down before bedtime, which these days is 9:30.  The other half is during the day, and it gets split between research, housework, and relaxing.

And while blogging used to be one of my favorite hobbies, it's just not at the top of my priority list anymore.  I barely make time to follow the news, much less form an opinion on it.

It should come as no shock to you -- seeing as I have written only 30 posts in the past six months -- that this blog is winding to a close.  And the thing is, I hate when blogs peter out.  I never know if I should keep checking in on Rachel Lucas or if she's done.  I hate that.

So I was all ready to write this post last night and close up shop...and I checked my email first.  And there was an email from a lurker who said she misses me...

And I took pause.

The only thing keeping me here anymore is all of you.  All the people I've met and the sharing of ideas I've made a tiny contribution to over the years.  I hate to not share anymore.

It's quite painful for me to quit.

Even moreso after I went back and read this post and its comments.

I was very ready to hang up my hat yesterday.  At peace with it even.  But now that it comes time to do it, I can't quite bring myself to it.

But I also hate to leave this blog hanging too...

I have to sleep on it.

Posted by: Sarah at 08:01 PM | Comments (18) | Add Comment
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1 Hrmpf.

Based on your title in my bloglines, I expected a different kind of announcement, LOL!

I hope that you decide to keep blogging, even if only sporadically. I'm betting in six months you'll be back blogging away more regularly again.

Posted by: Heather at September 02, 2010 07:21 PM (pP752)

2 I would understand if you closed your blog, but I have a selfish hope that you don't. I've always enjoyed reading your thoughts... maybe you could just declare a temporary moratorium on blogging and revisit the issue in a few months?

Posted by: Sespi at September 02, 2010 07:52 PM (glwpe)

3 Babies grow and change and multiply and require an amazing amount of attention.  But I'm going to urge you not to retire this, unless you really, really have to see the ending.  It's an enormous amount of thought, effort, and putting yourself out-thereness.  If I can name one thing that motherhood made me, it's more introverted.  Mainly only meaning that I now much more than before derive my energy from myself.  So on the one hand, blogging is you, your head, your thoughts, your post topics, your words, on the other hand, it's a lot of controversy to invite into an already sleep deprived and crazy making lifestyle. 

So may the force be with you.  But I tend to think an all or nothing approach is the wrong road.  Life is fluid - the next six months with look completely different than the last.  When L.E. turned 7 months I realized I had a completely different life going.  And I needed to get some activities, STAT.  You may wake up dying to talk to people about some political or worldly development in just a few short weeks, and unless you have a very different play group than I did, the other mom's at baby playdates might not really want to hear your deep opinions on the matter.  Or even worse, they might judge your baby! 

Posted by: Lane at September 02, 2010 08:12 PM (u8biq)

4 Sarah, she's beautiful! And, like Heather, I thought there was an announcement of a different kind. I can fully understand that you can't give the blog the attention that you used to, but just as I still have Rachel in my feed list, I'll keep this one there too, for the day that you find you have some time on your hands & want to share your thoughts (and cute baby pics!) Whatever you decide will be the right thing. Take care, and give those baby toes a kiss for me!

Posted by: Toni at September 02, 2010 09:03 PM (OoGre)

5 Do not make me find you irl on facebook. Because I HATE facebook and I'd much rather read your blog. Even if you don't blog very often. That being said, I totally understand about blogging not being top priority anymore. I've had those sorts of thoughts about closing up shop, but it's the connection that always makes me stay (at least for the time being). Whatever you decide, I wish you all the best.

Posted by: dutchgirl at September 02, 2010 11:26 PM (IuAGt)

6 Sarah, I'm not you and don't know what's best for you. I only know that I don't want to see this blog go. I agree with Lane. No one knows where you'll be six months from now. You could leave this blog up as a potential outlet. I'm willing to wait, and I doubt I'm alone.

Posted by: Amritas at September 02, 2010 11:49 PM (hBtE2)

7 Nah, don't hang it up.  It's ok that you don't have the same time to devote to it now...you may be surprised...that time could come back.  As Rusty got older I found I had more time for things like blogging.  Now that I'm starting to work again and am pregnant I don't have as much time again, but the blog is always there.  I'm thankful for it.  I don't ever want to close up shop...and I hope you don't either!  Stick around!!!

Posted by: stacy at September 03, 2010 12:19 AM (oubiR)

8 *teehee* BabyGrok has no hair!!  *kiss kiss*

Me, I've got your blog linked in my sidebar, so I can tell when you update. Once every couple months is just fine!

Posted by: Lissa at September 03, 2010 05:59 AM (mgjM7)

9

Sarah, I have missed your posts, but assumed you were enjoying your little one. I hope you don't stop blogging, but honestly, you have to do what is best for your family. If you do decide to "close up shop" I wish you many years of happiness - It's been great getting to know you over the years, even if we'll probably never get the chance to meet "in real life"

Wishing you all the best!

Keri

Posted by: keri at September 03, 2010 09:15 AM (Tb2Kh)

10 Sarah,
I like it that you are busy with life but I would appreciate a little post now and then with the all the baby milestones.
I feel like I know you after all you've shared with us ,but I know you are a private person.
And I still check Rachel some to see if she's back.
I have you in RSS feed so if you post I will see it. Not begging, just saying. ;D

Posted by: Ruth H at September 03, 2010 11:19 AM (KLwh4)

11 Sorry for the crazy sentence in that post, my comment panel doesn't show me where the cursor is, guess I should be more careful.  Or use Internet Explorer.

Posted by: Ruth H at September 03, 2010 11:20 AM (KLwh4)

12 Joining with other lurkers in hoping you don't hang it up completely!

Posted by: Pat in MN at September 03, 2010 01:52 PM (1fuE/)

13 No need to quit...and no need to feel you have to post with any particular frequency. Just keep the blog up & throw up a post whenever you feel like it, even if it's just twice a year.

If we clap enough for Tinker Bell, maybe she'll stay  around..

Posted by: david foster at September 04, 2010 05:53 PM (Gis4X)

14 NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Don't go!!!

Posted by: Stephanie at September 04, 2010 11:45 PM (ccH8C)

15 I'd *still* miss you if you quit. I do miss your posts, now. But I also totally get not having time to blog.

And, happy 6-month birthday to the Grok family. =)

Posted by: Lucy at September 06, 2010 01:28 PM (IDfv2)

16 Exactly what Sespi said!  I'd understand, but would miss you...time changes everything

Posted by: Connie at September 07, 2010 05:35 PM (L6nIP)

17 For what it's worth - I do enjoying reading your blog! Even if it is just a blog post here and there

Posted by: Tootie at September 21, 2010 05:27 PM (hc4/D)

18 Thanks for sticking around ... Even if it's only sporadic.

Posted by: Darla at September 26, 2010 03:19 AM (t/qhR)

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