Sunday, July 17, 2011

Diversity Training in Omaha Public Schools; Or Proof that I Rant

Friday on  The Five on Fox News, I saw a conversation about a new text book, paid for with stimulus money, that is coming to Omaha Public Schools. Mark Steyn also mentioned the book in his most recent article for NRO.  Since I don't have priestly faculties to perform an exorcism, I haven't read the book, and don't want it in my home.  What (or who) has possessed people to think of spending money in our cash strapped world on diversity manuals for children?

Diversity, like tolerance, is one of those words that has become a mantra for the forces of darkness in education.  These forces do not really want to teach, do not expect children to learn, do not expect parents to raise their own children, and do expect police protection at every school.

Diversity training is the victimization of a group based on the supposition that skin color provides privilege.  After victimizing the target Christian Caucasians, diversity training seeks to elevate the sinful behavior of a protected class, like an African American transgendered lesbian parent of children with fetal alcohol syndrome.  Diversity training would have us believe that the behavior of the latter person is not just equal  in virtue to the Christian Caucasian,  but of greater value because from that deviant we can learn about tolerating drunken perverse sexuality and the horrors it visits on the children of its practitioners.

Here's the demographic breakdown of Omaha Public schools:
Students, in 2006 47,044
White 20,098 43%
Black 14,724 31%
Hispanic 10,640 23%
Asian 828 2%
Native American 754 2%

Christian Caucasian students are in the minority in Omaha.  What better time to make them feel disenfranchised?  What better time to instill self-loathing?  Bob Beckel said on The Five that there were no black people in Nebraska.  Perhaps he should refer to the New York Times, my source for the above demographic breakdown.  Mark Steyn may have thought the same when he made his comment at NRO.

The problem isn't a lack of understanding of diversity.  It is a lack of virtue.  The moral cesspool that our schools have become is shocking.  Omaha has rates of STD infections that are double the national average.  Most of those infections, about 70%, are among 15-24 year olds.  Aren't these the same kids who have been given a steady diet of safe-sex training, with only an occasional mention of abstinence as the truly safest way to stay healthy?

So then they have their children and blended families, they fight at lunch time over a betrayal by a boy- and/or girlfriend, and we say its a diversity problem.  They receive healthcare and most of their meals at the school, so the  parents have plenty of time and money to pursue something other than good parenting, and diversity training will solve this?

But students have been taught well that their pent-up rage is the result of institutional racism.  It's not because they've been taught narcissistic self-love is, as Whitney Houston could belt out before the crack destroyed her, "the greatest love of all."  It's not because they don't feel well after trying to replace the lack of care at home with sexual escapades with the infected homeroom drug dealer.  It's not because their tired after working the streets for the family business the night before.  It's not because they just started to inject the same drugs their parents do.  It's not because mom's new boyfriend likes to walk in on them in the shower.  It's not because they know in their gut that it would be murder to keep the appointment at the planned parenthood that was just set up  by the school "health" care staff.

A strong dose of fidelity, chastity, and responsibility would do more to help the students in Omaha Public Schools.  It would also help the faculty.


All scenarios in this post are based on real circumstances I encountered while teaching in the Omaha Public School District.  No names have been used to protect those who have tried to move on from the depravity they learned while attending the public schools.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Political Candidates in a Perfect World, Revisiting the Herd

For those of you who have never visited before, I live in a low population state with a late primary, Nebraska.  That means that my individual vote comes after the other states have chosen a front-runner.  I am determined to influence those who have a primary vote that matters.  Read at your own discretion.

Having previously discussed the names on the (seemingly endless) list of GOP candidates, It is now time to check back in.  Some are out already, some may not enter regardless of our wishes and prayers, others continue to be foisted on us by people who really don't understand true conservatives.

I'm going to work backwards through the above categories, and end with my perfect world assessment as of today.  New information comes to light in campaigns on an almost daily basis, so I can't say with certainty who will ultimately be the candidate to get my support.  This is how it looks to me today:

If I hear one more pundit tell me that Mitt Romney could be our best GOP candidate, I will be forced to vote for a third party.  A true conservative would never have allowed his state to oblige people of religious beliefs to provide adoption services to homosexual couples and individuals.  Nor would he institute state-run health care.  Nor would he then use his position as governor to provide waivers at his discretion.  The last action here is the worst.  It shows a kind of imperial attitude towards executive privilege that is completely unconstitutional.  No Mitt.  No republican organization gets any money from me until I'm certain it will not help Mitt.  No. No. No.

I do wish that Sarah Palin and Chris Christie would run.  They have real star power, and fairly solid records.  Palin is probably better suited to being head of the fundraising end of the GOP, and I'm concerned for her family if she runs.  Vows and vocations come before careers.  So on some level, I don't want her in the race.  Christie has some issues with being the only republican to attend a state dinner for the Chinese.  I'm sure it was a decision based on the fiscal gain he could achieve for his state, but that's a serious deal with the devil.  China's human rights violations are so perverse and pervasive, (forced abortions, ordaining 'Catholic' priests and bishops...)   his attendance at the dinner is truly problematic.

Two that I hoped for initially but could not support now are Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry.  I was listening to Dennis Miller recently and heard him deflate as he learned that Perry had been a campaign manager for Gore.  Like Dennis Miller, I could have overlooked the Gardasil vote as a mistake, but promoting Al Gore shows a real lack of insight.  Newt's out of his own accord.

So in a perfect world the remaining candidates for me fall into the following jobs, if God loves us and allows each of them to do their best:

Rick Santorum- President  (He is a man of principles and is most in line with my beliefs, see previous posts.  I trust him.  He's my choice.)
Herman Cain- Vice President or Chairman of the Federal Reserve  (As vice president he would preside over the senate and could be key in proposing reform legislation.  He's had experience on the Fed so he would be a star there.  I like him for president too, but with out political experience, he's my second choice.)
Michele Bachmann-  Speaker of the House, or Secretary of the Treasury (She's a proven organizer and should use her tax expertise where it is most needed.  I like her for president, but I think she's needed more in these other positions right now.)
Sara Palin- Chief of Staff  (Perfect for her, she knows how to run a shop!)
Chris Christie- Chairman of the National Labor Relations Board or Secretary of Education  (Enough said!!!)
Paul Ryan- Secretary of Health and Human Services (Beyond enjoying the reaction to him in this position from the left, he has the chops to streamline entitlements and get it done.  I'd vote for him for president, but he's not running.)
John  Bolton- Secretary of State  (The best foreign policy mind in the country.  And the Eastern Europeans always respect the 'stache.)
Tim Pawlenty- Secretary of Commerce  (His primary work in Minnesota was balancing the budget.)
Ron Paul- Chairman of the Fed (If Herman Cain is VP)

So there's my line-up to date.  What do you think?

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Thanks to Father Sam, SOLT

Medley Minute with Fr Sam: I am deeply saddened at the news of my brother pri...: "'What do you think? He is your brother priest and part of your order?' people ask me this about the sad news that the sexual allegations a..."


I only want to add that this whole saga has me sad and wondering.  When I told my husband that I was sad for all of the grey-haired ladies who followed Father Corapi, he said, "What about me?"  Yes indeed.  What about each individual who has been helped and led to the better life?  God help us all. 

It looks like Father Sam could help.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

SOLT News: Press Release Concerning Fr John Corapi from SOLT ...

SOLT News: Press Release Concerning Fr John Corapi from SOLT ...: "July 5, 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE From: Rev. Gerard Sheehan, SOLT Regional Priest Servant Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Ro..."

This is incredibly sad news.  Incredible in that Father Corapi profited greatly from those who consider themselves to be very orthodox Catholics, while clearly leading a life of grave sin.  Sad in that so many will have their faith shaken by this.   I'm reminded of Sinclair Lewis's Elmer Gantry.

Elmer Gantry was an indictment of revivalism in Christianity.  At a time when main-line protestants were seeing a drop in church attendance, revivals traveled the country (and still do via the media) to enhance the spiritual experience.  But their ability to bring people back to a religious center is limited, because the revivalist movement is based solely on an ego maniacal obsession with bring-em-in.  Make some money, move on.  Elmer Gantry had very real accusations against him.  Given the above statement by the SOLT, the accusations against Father Corapi are just as credible.

Like Elmer Gantry, Father Corapi gave up the high life for a higher life, for a while.  Unfortunately during that time in pursuing the higher life, he found his schtick and descended back into the high life.  We need to pray for him.

I remember being shocked when he made repeated reference to being hounded by photographers (and exiting his home, naked, and guns blazing) during his visit to Omaha last year.  It was creepy to have those images fleeting through the mind as he spoke.  But, of course, it was all about him. 

After Elmer's true spiritual foil dies in the fire, he leaves, blessing those gathered in sorrow.  Will he continue on the straight and narrow?  Will he return to his decadent ways?   The reader is left to decide that for himself.

So it goes with Father Corapi.  Was he maligned but planning to continue in holiness?  Has he been decadent and now wants to continue to be so uninhibited?  His followers are left to wonder.

God bless Father Corapi.  I refuse to not call him Father.  He took the vows.  He is no less a priest now than I am any less a married woman, even though less than 10% of my activity would require me to be married.

Sad.  And Incredible.