What I Believe - Part 2

I believe Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and if you don't believe in Jesus Christ, that's your choice, but you do NOT have the right to steal a religious holiday and make it comfortable for yourself by stripping it of things that offend YOU. On Christmas Day, I will say "Merry Christmas" and I won't feel bad if you hate it. I will feel a little sad, but I won't feel guilty. If you don't like Christmas, don't celebrate it. Maybe there should be a law that states that if you are not Christian, you can't celebrate Christmas -- or even better, maybe you could make up your own "holiday" and call it "Santamas". Then maybe I can protest that you are infringing on my rights because I do not believe in Santa.

Just kidding.

My God trumps your Santa, but I won't protest signs with Santa on them. Leave our Christmas signs alone. Please?

And yes, I believe pagans have the right to celebrate Yule.

I believe life begins at conception and abortion is killing a life. I don't say "murder" because I am well aware that most women who have abortions are not setting out on a vicious quest to kill their babies. You will never see me standing outside an abortion clinic with a sign calling women "murderers". However, I would NOT be adverse to spreading pamphlets that educate women on EXACTLY what their baby looks like at the gestation they are at when they plan to abort - and EXACTLY what is done to that baby.

If it isn't shameful, then why don't programs like Planned Parenthood (what a freaking JOKE of a name) want women to KNOW??

I have done things in the past that I am ashamed of and I believe some people will always remember me for those things rather than for who I am now. It is a consequence of sin. I believe God has forgiven me. I KNOW he has - and I also know He is still working on me.

I believe some people hold against me things they THINK I've done, but in fact, I didn't do at all (okay, I know they do - and yes, this bothers me). Again, attribution by reputation and gossip is another consequence of sin.

I believe women have the right to wear burkas (or not) and nobody has the right to tell them what they can and cannot wear within the realm of decency. The same goes for pagan pentacles and clothes with Christian slogans on them.

I believe the Republican party is corrupt and anti-God. Why? Because they favor the rich over the poor. That is anti-Christ. In some ways, the wealthy make me angry. In other ways, they make me sad. When it comes to Heaven, well, good luck. They will have a harder time getting in than a poor person. It's in the Bible. Maybe they will have time to read it on their next vacation.

I believe the Democratic party is just as bad for forcing their beliefs on others. The ACLU , which SHOULD be a boon for us is horribly disgusting. Abortion is wrong. Trampling on my right to worship as I freely choose is wrong. I also believe that at the top, where it is most insidious, there are no differences between Dems and Reps. It's all about greed.

I believe child molesters should be kept OUT of public places where we take our kids and I didn't shed one tear when I saw the news story on the convicted molesters who were living under an overpass because they couldn't gain acceptance into neighborhoods with normal people and children(Tucson). Glad to know which overpass to avoid. I don't give a rat's behind if they are homeless. *spit* Sure, give them food if they are hungry, but keep them WELL away from my grandchildren. If they were in prison for the rest of their lives as they should be, they wouldn't have to worry about a place to lay their freaky heads.

I believe that 50 to 100 years ago, people were raising their voices in protest, marching through the streets, committing civil disobedience, and making nuisances of themselves. I also believe that there were people who called them names and referred to them as criminals for making their lives "uncomfortable".

If you're a woman or a person of color and you take that view of protesters now: What the heck are you THINKING?

Thank God for protesters. It shows there are still people who care. May God forgive the cops who pepper spray and beat on people who are not behaving violently. Cops are starting to frighten me -- and I'm not a criminal. No wonder people don't trust cops. As with any other group of people, the bad ones give a bad name to the good ones, but how can we tell the difference? Well, check out this link: Police Captain Arrested.

The good one is in handcuffs.

I believe the media shapes people's beliefs. There is no such thing as unbiased reporting. Unfortunately, our education system SUCKS and many people don't know that. Of course, many people think reading The Enquirer makes them knowledgable.

Unfortunately, I also believe that too many people may have to look up the definiton of "unbiased".

I believe a person who works a full-time job should not have to seek out food stamps or die early from a health issue because they cannot afford insurance. I also know that many of them DO and it is because their employers believe their rights to own expensive things should trump their employees' rights to things like FOOD and healthcare.

I believe President Obama was right when he said our country is not a Christian nation, but unlike him, the idea frightens me.

I believe some people will be offended by what I believe and that is okay. I don't choose my beliefs according to what is popular. If my beliefs offend you, then there is a good chance yours will offend me.

I believe every person has a right to his or her own beliefs.

If you've gotten this far and still want to know more about what I believe, you can read part 1 here.

Foot Massage for Toothache Pain-or My Husband's Magic Hands

So - anyone ever hear of severe tooth pain lasting for three full days, and then disappearing because of a FOOT massage? I'm talking, moaning, groaning, grasping of the jaw, ear, and forehead, Aleve popping (appropriate with the label - IMPORTANT), Anbesol, liquor swishing... and eventually a crying breakdown...

I opted for the couch tonight. My honey needs his sleep, too - but just before he went to bed, he asked if I needed anything and I suggested he rub some lotion on my feet.

Aside from the soothing relaxation, the excruciating pain in my jaw went away.  I have an abcessed wisdom tooth, so I know the pain will come back (the dentist will take care of it - soon), but I cannot describe how wonderful it feels to feel NORMAL for a while.

A basic foot massage. Nothing fancy.

Heaven.

I'm getting some sleep tonight.

HubPages for Readers

Write and Read on HubPages - Image by Petr Kratchovil

There are dozens of hubs and blogs about how to write and make money with HubPages, and these are wonderful, but there is another side to HubPages: the reading.

I admit it. I spend more time reading hubs than I do creating hubs of my own. There are fiction and non-fiction hubs on every topic of interest and if I am not careful, I lose myself hub hopping or perusing through categories and links, and I learn something new every time I look around. There are hubs on writing business plans, taking good photos, losing weight, caring for the elderly... these pages are filled with wonderful, needful things.

Just when I am ready to pull myself away and get back to my studies, I come upon a poem, short story, or essay that draws me in, stirs my imagination, and distracts me.

As it happens, November is the month for HubPatron of the Arts contest on HubPages. There will be daily drawings and judging of poetry, prose, and photography. In honor of the wonderful creative writers on HubPages, here is some of my recent favorite poetry and prose:

Tommy Delorger is a gifted writer who writes both fiction and non-fiction, but his poetry is especially beautiful. The Earthquake begins with a description of the earthquake in New Zealand and ends with a powerful poem.

For Freshly Mowed Grass and Kiwis by Blondey is a list poem about gratefulness. What do I mean by "list poem"? Check it out :)

In the mood for a short story? Katyzzz's The Strength of a Family explores loyalty and familial love.

Gotta love HubPages. :)