Jane, Thank you so much for sharing your art and wisdom. I am reassured by the thought of getting multiple chances because we are sure going to need them.

Hey Belinda. I hear what you are saying. I am going to give Obama the benefit of the doubt. I still have a great deal of hope in the possiblities for change that he brings. But one of your sentences really captures what is so heartbreaking about Obama’s decision. You stated that you would reconsider your opinion if there were any evidence that he (Rick Warren) is racist,sexist,anti-semectic or extreme in some other way. I know many people would agree with that statement. All of those types of discrimination are unacceptable as well they should be but it really underscores the point that discrimination is just not viewed upon as poorly if its just against gay folks. I look forward to the day when it is no longer legally or socially acceptable to be discriminated against. I really do think we are nearing a time in our society, where every one is valued, even if you just make up 2% of the population but these bumps along the way can be very frustrating and hurtful.

Happy Birthday Whoopi! Thank you so much for all your contributions. You make the world a better place to be!

I certainly hope we can get to the extremely serious issues on the table in this election. The McCain/Palin ticket has a very limited definition of what constitutes a family. (Daddy + Mommy (married) + kids)and it is very concerning and hurtful. I am not suggesting that there is anything wrong with this formula (it’s wonderful) but it is not the only formula for a successful family. I personally have had to choose the members that make up my “family” due to death and other issues, yet because my family does not fall with in that formula, we would continue to be invisible to their administration as we have under Bush. No government should be able to define my family for me. How is that constitutional??? McCain/Palin is going to cut government programs that don’t work. Sounds like a great idea and I am sure the big one that they will focus on will be welfare. I think most all of us could agree that welfare as it stands is not effective on many levels but we need smart people to redesign these programs to actually work and not just cut them. Forget the statistics because the numbers just make it easy to distance ourselves from the real people behind the numbers. Lots of people are really hurting but even if just one of us is hungry or without, it is one too many. It always amazes me that people get so fired up about the tax payer resources put into social welfare programs but are not at all bothered about the legacy of corporate welfare that the McCain/Palin ticket is sure to continue. This ticket insists all babies be born but then set plans into to motion to cut programs that could help them once they are here. I have many friends that have dedicated their lives to working with the developmentally disabled. Most of them earn wages that are well below the poverty line. Not everyone can afford to pay for a nanny or private care. We must have a government that exhausts all avenues of diplomacy with our global neighbors before engaging in war. Terrorism will not be defeated without building relationships that are based on what we have in common as human beings. God did not just make the United States…he made the world (in my opinion). We have been made stewards of this planet and the animals by God (in my opinion) and I don’t think we are doing such a good job of it and I don’t think we are very far off from disastrous consequences because of it. I really could go on and on…..

I could not agree more! I am really looking forward to the debates now more than ever. I didn’t hear anything new or refreshing last night. Just the same old “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps” rhetoric.

No matter what the situation…everyone has the right to say no at any point in the game. And poor judgement (for a whole variety of reasons) may be involved but the consequence should not be rape. I should be able to go to someone’s house at any hour of the day (wearing whatever I want) without feeling like I lose all my rights as soon as the door closes behind me. It is very sad that a woman is automatically suspect anytime she places herself in the company of a man alone. The implication is that men simply don’t have the ability to control themselves and therefore can not be held responsible and that is unacceptable and ridiculous. I do however agree, that in court it becomes a very difficult issue of one person’s word against another.