What if?

How many "what if?" questions are normal per day? Hmmm...just wondering.

So I had a fabulous weekend...till I decided to paint. Now take note I haven't held a paint brush in a very long time...so this was something very challenging. Don't panick.... I only painted my bathroom...and yes it lookd quite pathetic...but that's the beauty of owning stuff. You can make it suck as much as you want!!!! Right now...my bathroom totally sucks! I can not even show pictures. It was a great work out I must admit.
The good news though is that I redesigned my french doors in the living room...and I think I totally rock in that department! I gat skillz!

Oh I went to my concerts this weekend...and it was a blast! No pics at the moment (too lazy to upload), Fridays's concert strated very late...damned African time! I also got to hear someone called Loide-- her father is from Guinea Bissau mother from Mozambique...she was born in France and raised here...ahhh the sweet life of an African! She sho can saaaannng!!! They sort of boed her only because we were tired of waiting for Oliver Mtukudzi to come on. I loved the version of Lucky Dube's 'daddy remember me' that she did... but since it was an African show, I would have rather she sang in an African language than english. I think she would sound amazing if she did something like 'Malaika'.

You know my reggae brothers never fail to entertain! Oh and guess what? I just heard a new reggae song entitled "Barak Obama"...LOL... I was sooo tickled!

Ayaan Hirsi Ali (Magan)

So I finally finished reading 'Infidel', it was quite an interesting read. Her childhood is not unique to many Africans by any account...but what she has made of her life is extraordinary! Oh and she's soooo pretty!

I see where she's coming from with her story, but I am having trouble placing her in the 'mother Theresa' category or 'the opportunist' one. If you look at the expose video of her 'real' life, you get some shadows of doubt, but then again, that was the intention of the writer of that documentary. Her brother is a dumb ass though--he clearly states that he was warned that the documentary might hurt his sister, but he's like 'but it's okay because you assured us that it wont hurt her'...as if he knows the guys are trust worthy. Any way, you can buy people to say what you want in any part of the world!

The thing I don't agree with her on though is that the fact that Islam is all evil. I feel like the Qu'ran is like the Bible, and everyone interprets it as they chose. The bible before Jesus is quite disturbing...and I probably would have been an atheist had that been my only option!

What I agree with is that--Islam has more radicals for Allah, than does Christianity. For that purpose, we 'infidels' should be scared.

The other big controversy is that she lied on her application for asylum in Holland-- she admitted it herself. Many people lie when applying for citizenship in other countries, or even for visa's. The officials in these positions want to hear certain key phrases in order to give you what you want. There is nothing unique there either.

Her father shamelessly stopped talking to her because of Islam...how can he throw stones when he had abandoned her family and the other wives he had married? How can you claim to be holier than thou when other people had raised your children while you were alive?

Her mother sounds like she was just plain crazy-- or heart broken. Nuh...CRAZY!

Can I get a witness!

God has been really tolerant of me this week...I have bitterly complained and he has answered me more than adequately and half the time...I have discovered that the problem was me. I have been making some errors... and it's quite funny after they resolve, but why the issue is going on, I curse the day I was born and all sorts of things:-)


So I got some GREAT news as you may have gathered from the above paragraph:-) in addition to that, I found out that my man Oliver will be in town, and I will go and listen to him Friday!!! Aren't you all excited??? It will be in DC, so I will have a lot to write this weekend!

I won!!!

I am not enjoying this heat... but I am certainly glad it's summer:-)
I joined a soccer supporting club this weekend, and I get a jersey, and I am quite happy with that!
It has been a full week, and I am supposed to be doing some work right now, but haven't the energy.
I went to Wolftrap in Virginia yesterday for Gladys Knights concert! Oh what fun! It was a short but delightful. She sang for approximately an hour and a half, and most were not her songs, she did some Lona Horn, Ella Fitzgerald, boys to men, Luther V, Teddy Pendegrass...etc, and like 4 of her own songs or so. Her brother came out and he was sooo entertaining. As soon as I get my videos uploaded, I will share them with you. Gladys can move though! She was awesome to watch. The only things I hated about the evening were the heat...and the bloody almost $10 burger!! Like really, all it had was regular beef patties, a slice of American cheese, and a regular bun! same as bloody McDonald's dollar meal...and boy did I hate the traffic getting in and out of the joint!!!!
I have been invited to go back for roots, rock, reggae (with the Marley brothers), and I think I will have to use public transportation for that!

I am very exhausted because I haven't had much sleep the past few days...
Early this morning, we were in Federal Hill for brunch( http://www.regisamericanbistro.com/brunch.htm : check out the brunch menu! I had the salmon Benedict...all I can say is oooohhh baby!) and shopping, I got some really pretty jewelery.
After that, I went to a 'Tastefully simple' ( http://www.tastefullysimple.com/Cultures/en-US/ ) party. I had never been to one, but was glad my first one went great! I ate and drank so much I am bloated at the moment! Then, I WON THEIR GIFT BASKET!!! I haven't won anything in a long time, so I was quite happy, I didn't even know what was in the basket till later, so it was a nice surprise:-)
I have to try to walk off dinner before I puke in my sleep or something:-)

Oh wait! The west has now "discovered" Mahuyu!!! Also I had no clue it had more vitamin C than oranges! That's really cool! I remember buying them from vendors in the neighborhood, cracking those babies open and enjoying the powdery freshness of the fruit. Ahhh, such fond memories. Sometimes I crave them, but what can I do? They are not here and will probably be a stupid amount here anyway.

Watchusay jonk?

Libya!...that's where Qaddafi stays!...etc (I am singing my Sarafina songs!)

So this week Jessie Helms was buried. I do not like to speak ill of the dead, but I shall say this: I do not think flags should have flown at half mast in North Carolina no matter how many times he was elected because of the tactics he used. The end.

Okay let me just say one thing here: Mugabe is an arse! Did you see what was written in the weekly Observer (Kampala) last week? He said he wants to learn from Mwanawasa how to defy death!!! He said he was impressed that Mwanawasa didn't die....I mean what an asinine comment to make at such a time! He said that's the only thing he can learn from an African country!
I do not understand why the people of Zimbabwe juts wont have a coup. They fought bravely for independence from the colonial master, so why wont they fight this dumb ass? If they are willing to be killed by xenophobic South Africans when they illegally cross the border, then surely... they can die for their country no?
So I s'ppose with comments like that I am now persona non grata in Zim:-)
Also, this week China and Russia rejected a UN security council resolution to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe. Quite frankly, I commend them for this. If you have been reading my blog for a while you know that I am a firm believer that sanctions do more damage than good for the local people. If you impose sanctions on Zim, Mugabe probably has Swiss accounts and will get his money and still be living large. The local people do no have that option. They already have food shortages and other economic issues.
Any way... that's how I feel about the issue.
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Talking about arses (don't worry it's not a story of my poop!), Omar al-Bashir's ass is about to be taken down!!! The International Criminal Court (ICC), is preparing to lay down the charges. If you haven't seen the documentary 'Dafur Now: Six Stories. One Hope', see www.enoughproject.org or maybe www.savedarfur.org it might give you a better understanding on the ICC investigations and that sort of thing.
Alternatively, if you know me, you're welcome to stop by my house (with proper notification of course) and can watch the many Sudanese documentaries I have. I'm I obsessed? may be a little:-)
One of the sections of my christian life that I will not let falter is my belief in social justice. I may lack spirituality sometimes, I may gossip, occasionally doubt the existence of God, act a fool, but I will do my best for social justice, even if it's just writing one or two lines on my blog with the hope that I may help others through knowledge:-)
I believe in the sovereignty of countries, but there is a point when the rest of the world has to say enough is enough...and with Sudan I think that time is now. His fellow country men are protesting this impending indictment any way... but look at the color of the skin of the protesters. Duh...! Of course they do not believe this is going on!
I am not done reading Infidel yet, but it's very enlightening. I am learning how clans work in Northern Africa, and how the lighter skinned Somali's think they are more noble than darker skinned "slaves".
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Moving forward... today is treat Manena Sunday, so I am feeding Manena, and I will take her to the movies:-) I want to see either War inc., or The children of Huang Shi... I am not sure if I want to laugh or cry yet... so I'll decide later. Probably once I get to the theater. Then after that, a nice long bath, wine, candles, a nice supper...some Nora Jones, and then lights out:-) ahhh, the little pleasures in life!
Because everyone complains when I watch Pride and Prejudice... I suppose I will stray and watch Emma or Persuations, or Sense and sensibility now.... y'all are just haters!

Vice presidents

For McCain: the nominees are Tim Pawlenty, Colin Powell, Mitt Romney and Bobby Jindal (how about my gurl Condee?).
So I think He needs to pick Colin Powell or Bobby Jindal.
Reasons:
Colin Powell counteracts the Obama effect. Also a lot of service men might find McCain more palatable with Powell by his side. There is much ado about Powell being a C student...but what the heck...so was McCain..and so are a lot of other folks out there!
Bobby Jindal would also somewhat counteract the Obama effect. I just think he has a brilliant history, seems like a well rounded lad, and his age will benefit McCain and make him look not so old. He will probably appeal to a lot of immigrants-- you know the whole 'American dream' thing.
Why not Tim Pawlenty?-- say what now? Tim who????
Why not Mitt Romney?-- might as well use Newt Gingrich! or better yet, Ann Coulter's crazy ass! The guy just kinda creeps me out! Okay, so maybe he would be as silent as Dick C., except when he shoots people with pellets... or something:-) Which is highly doubtable coz the guy seems like he likes his own voice plenty!

Obama has Hillary Clinton, Kathleen Sebelius, John Edwards, Joe Biden.
I pick Hillary and Joe
Hillary Clinton:- Well since she only lost by a few points, and has proven to be a tough candidate, and she knows people and can get blue collar people...etc, I think she would be helpful to Obama. The problem with her is that he ran against her and things got a little ugly...so if I were him, it would be a tad hard to trust her. Though maybe she would work hard to leave a legacy as vice president! Who knows.
Joe Biden: Well...4 words. Foreign relations committee chairman. His son is also attorney general of Delaware, and is with the national guards and may be deployed to Iraq soon. So there you have it.
Why not Sebelius: Don't get me wrong, I have a soft spot for her since that one priest refused to give her communion...etc. State of the union speech was comme ci comme ca. The problem is, she is as unknown as Obama... Okay she is motherly looking enough that she would appeal to women voters...a lot more than Hell-ary, so if a woman is really needed this election...sure he could use her.
Edwards: I am not being a hater... y'all know I just think this man should stay home and help care for his dying wife instead of stressing over elections and such. He would be okay, but he obviously hasn't been strong enough in two campaigns. I am sure you will say, well neither has McCain and look where he is now, or that Biden had been unsuccessful twice... but still. Edwards can do other work... secretary of state? or whatever.

Nothing even matters:-)

Happy belated independence:-)!!!
I hope your weekend was as swell as mine:-)

Okay, so talk about being a free loader! I haven't had to make a meal all weekend, coz I ate at other people's homes:-)

The party on the roof by the harbour was awesome! We had a splendid view of the fireworks, and they played several drinking games that I am unfamiliar with--and would probably suck at if I played:-)

The party on Saturday was just as great-- then I jinxed the pickles...spilt the juice on the carpet...and thereafter, everyone did something similar with the pickles! Lucky they were changing over to hardwood floors the next day, coz i figure they would have black listed me from their parties:-)

Today, my mission as a free loader continued...tomorrow, I will resume cooking, and acting grown up:-)

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Venus v. Serena....like wow! My Williams sister will always be Venus. We shared a special moment when she won her first Wimbledon... and I will forever be loyal to her. It's just amazing to have two people from the same family just that good! I wonder how much money they took home from this game....I am up for adoption Williams family!-- I could be Manena Williams... the super bad tennis player!
Then Federer lost today...bummer! I was hoping he would win.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7490340.stm
Ghana has imposed steep prices on nurses trained in the country that want to leave and work abroad to help curb the 'brain drain'... nice planning.
It makes sense if you have trained the nurses and doctors, and they deserve repayment if they choose to abscond! Though, if they paid for the tuition themselves, then I do not believe that the government should impose travel fees on them when they try to leave just because they were trained in the country.
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The G8 summit started... hmmmm wonder what will change post the meeting...

Mwanawasa is Alive

Okay I am getting tired of this post. Bloomberg.com says he is alive
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601116&sid=aKse6rwDROtE&refer=africa

and that no one called zaza works at the high commision in south africa.... if he did, i would have suggested he gets fired!

So el presidente is alive...pray for his family and Zambia.
Viva Zambia

President Mwanawasa is dead?

According to Reuters and the Sydney morning herald the President of the Republic of Zambia is officially dead. Zambia denies those claims... so not sure....
http://news.smh.com.au/world/zambian-president-mwanawasa-dead-report-20080703-3176.html
Okay, I am shaken and I actually did cry a little which is weird....okay I put myself on national mourning even though it has not been confirmed yet...I told my job I aint going in!

Do you realise we have never had a president die-- not even an ex president!!!

MHSRIP....

Pantu Mu Konkluda!

Zambians and rumours! So apparently hotlanta Zambians have a thing going around about H.E. Levy Mwanawasa being dead...well according to inside sources, I would like to dispel those rumours. He is in fact alive as I write this. Please send some positive vibes to his family for his health and all. You all know I am not his greatest fan, but he is still the president of my country, and for that purpose, I respect him and wish him well.

He is also one of the biggest voices in the southern African region saying Mugabe must go. So actually the Zimbabweans must help us pray for our leaders health!

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Can y'all believe I worked for 24 MINUTES on Tuesday? I can not! They are encouraging my lazy tendencies and really... that's not christian!

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Okay the last few nights I have been having some really weird dreams... how about on Monday, I dreamt that I was with Gwen Eiffel and another politician that I didn't recognize, and we were chilling out, and talking politics right?

Then last night, I dreamt that I was hanging with Michelle and Barak Obama, and that at one point, Barak comes back in a wheel chair...and then he starts learning to walk!

Dude...I am thinking I am one step closer to be the U.N Secretary General or something!

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Hold up....where have I been like really??? It seems they have decided that HIV actually originated from Africa because it resembles the SIV virus in some species of monkeys??? Okay, the implication here is that the Africans were either eating the monkeys or fornicating with them, caught some stuff...got on a boat and delivered the disease to the rest of the world. That doesn't explain the death of the American teen in 1969, nor that of the Norwegian sailor in 1976, because the catastrophe started in the 1980's in Africa?...they counteract that claim with the claim that the earliest case was that of a Congolese man in 1959!

Okay I know I am a scientist...but B. flippin S.!!! Y'all aint pinning this on Africa like y'all have so many other things okay?

Coz even if it was from there...why were the many first cases mostly in homosexuals??? so like are you saying Africa had like a gazzilion U.C.B's (under cover brotha's) that like got on boats and came to chaya ya kumbuyo??? na wah oh!!!

I rebuke this research in the name of my ancestors!!! Tell me another story! They claimed a similar story about the Haitians...and the poor Haitians suffered in the USA...but tell you what? we aint going down like that! Give me the money for research and I'll prove you all wrong!

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Oh and the forbes list of eligible royalty:- first of all, there is no way Prince William is hotter than prince Andrea Casiraghi or even prince Carl Phillip!, also Hell no is Princess Beatrice hotter than Princess Charlotte Casiraghi, princess Madeline or even Princess Sikhanyiso!!!

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Okay Canada is also saying The president is dead... I am tired. Let me know in the morning so I can call out from work and mourn at home!

Okay, I pray he is still alive coz I am scared of what will happen at home if he is not... Also I guess it will mean Mugabe has some really strong Juju! The kind you get in Malawi!

ONE ZAMBIA-- ONE NATION!

News in brief

Last week is kinda vague.... I suppose because I worked every day except Friday, then I helped my aunt orchestrate a surprise party landing in another country:-)

I went out Friday evening with miss B, so i obviously slept late... woke up early Saturday to do some work...and found that my aunts neighbors have all wizened up, and I can no longer use their unsecured wireless Internet connections! So hence, I am behind in my work...and will have to catch up tomorrow...really I should be doing it now...but...ummm...I am not in the mood:-)

Saturday night we went for Angela's farewell party, and it was really great:-) I laughed a lot, danced a lot, and had only 2 drinks for some reason even though there were more drinks than people at the party:-) It was a really diverse crowd...just the way I like my parties! They had a lot of countries represented, and the music was fabulous, and of course I took out my chitenge and did my thang on the dance floor:-) We got home at 4 in the morning, and then I was awake stupidly at 8 am...not sure what's up with that!
I am sooooo fatigued at the moment....but I enjoyed my Football game....oh my song is playing: Raki by Oliver Mtukudzi:-) gotta go!

GO SPAIN!!!!

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT A BEAUTIFUL GAME. I F'IN LLLLOOOVVVEEE TORRES!!!
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BRB WITH MORE NEWS AFTER I DANCE:-)

quick updates!

Okay, excuse the silence because I am being very selfish:-) I am reading 'Infidel' by Ayaan Hirsi Ali and 'Road Work' by Mark Bowden....I know you're think WTF??? But seriously, I am into both books, so I am doing a chapter a piece...hence the lack of communication.

So while we're at it... who in the world thought the picture below was real???? common now! primitive cultures with bows and arrows pointed at the plane??? They probably didn't get their lessons from Shaka Zulu!!! That is not how you conquer!

The two very important things I learnt from Shaka Zulu were:

1. Confuse the enemy


2. Never leave an enemy behind

Also Zimbabwe...oh my! So to some extent, I was happy that Tsvangirai stepped down before the elections, because I fear if he had "lost", the situation would have been Gabon! Or Croatia! (pick your catastrophe!). I also heard a rumour he was offered money to step down... but who knows what's real these days?

Next on the agenda: Evangelist Dobson.

Obama said this [among other things] "Democracy demands that the religiously motivated translate their concerns into universal rather than religion-specific values," Obama said. "It requires their proposals be subject to argument and amenable to reason."

and Dobson heard this:
Dobson said the suggestion is an attempt to lead by the "lowest common denominator of morality." [and this]"Am I required in a democracy to conform my efforts in the political arena to his bloody notion of what is right with regard to the lives of tiny babies?" he asked. "What he's trying to say here is, unless everybody agrees, we have no right to fight for what we believe.

Now, English is my second language, and y'all know the mention of babies would have me in agreement... but for real??? The dude is saying, take all religion into consideration. Religious people live by faith. Don't a lot of people believe no one can safely say that they belong to the one true religion and all others are wrong.?

Seriously, ask the Pew Research Center that reports that there is a growing number of religiously unaffiliated in the USA...why? read report here http://pewresearch.org/pubs/743/united-states-religion

LOL...they say Heathrow needs a third run way...ummm not if the gas prices keep going up they wont!

p/s: I am working a lot this week because I was a lazy bum last week:-) I am tired!

Milandu ya kale-- History

I am Manena, daughter of Matete, son of Lefted...etc

Resolved: History is dictated by the historian

I was watching Congo: White King, Red Rubber, Black Death, and for many reasons I feel cheated out of my history, and feel the need to trace my roots--which in itself is close to impossible as those that know my history are deceased, and hence I must start where I can. Any way...

If you haven't seen that movie or read King Leopold's ghosts, I would suggest you do at your earliest convenience.

I do not know about you, but I do not recall learning anything about king Leopold II in my history classes, unless I was up to no good when they taught. I also do not remember learning anything about Liberia (the first black governed country in Africa), nor do I recall being taught anything about the revolution in Algeria! Yet, i remember the 'splendid isolation', 'treaty of Versailles', china's revolution...and vaguely--the Shaka wars. Oh and the brief history of the Bemba's and other Zambian tribes...of course!

Over the last few years, I have developed a major interest in history because it gives a better understanding of why things are the way they are. E.G.-- After watching Tubman, I see why Mugabe is the way he is...as was a lot of leaders that came in post Tubman of Liberia.

Two names I remember from the movie that I had never heard of were:-

Edmund Dene Morel:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._D._Morel

and

Roger Casement: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Casement

Those that aided in exposing Leopold and his hand cutting cronies....

Lawd have mercy!!! You know the world is coming to an end when people of other races actually want to be classified as black!!! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7461099.stm This story made my day fo sho!

okay...I just got distracted and forgot what else i was going to write:-) aaahhh old age! Oh and it's my birthday in 4 months!!!!:-)

Friday njikata!!!

ala mwandi! I can not explain how much I love fridays!!!

I am sooooo happy right now just thinking that tomorrow will be FRIDAYYYYY!!!

aaahhhh! I can not wait! I am working early in the morning because I aint rich enuff to quit my day job... then I have a few plans... A, B & C.

A and C are top secret operations... B?...it's open for discussion! Tomorrow night, or Sunday, I may go to the Symphony Orchestra... they are playing Rachmaninoff this weekend and tickets are cheap...so I might as well! I like listening to Rachmaninoff because 1) his name is funny 2) I think I can pick up the turmoil of his life in his work:-) 3) dude died 5 months after becoming an American citizen!
Saturday, for plan B- I will be out shopping (read: spending money that I don't have) with the girls at an outlet mall:-)

OMG!!! The funniest thing just happened! When C$ and I went to Adams Morgan, we were at a Bar that is usually frequented by 'public enemy #1' also known as kapoli (bush pig), and we kept thinking...OMG any minute now...he's like going to walk through that door, and it will be on and poppin! Needless to say, he didn't show... but today I was looking at another friends pictures...and there was Kapoli at the same place we were-just a different day of course...but it was hilarious!!!!
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perceptions during childhood:- When I was a kid, I used to think that everyone with the last name Tembo (and others for that matter) was a gardener or servant of some kind--and was almost always poor. So one day, my daddy's little sister came home and announced she was getting married to a Mr. Tembo...and everyone was excited except me! I was dismayed that they would be letting her marry a 'Tembo', and that I was to be on the wedding line up! I was thinking to myself...OMG! Princess M in a wedding party probably in Garden or Bauleni compound??? Hell no! Over my dead body! The dust in the compound would mess up my pretty pink dress with white flowers!!! Come to find out the dude had more money than my father, mother sister brother and me combined!
That's when I learnt that names didn't necessarily define poverty! Like how dumb was I??? I don't even know how old I was at the time. I just know that I was a dancing diva and was on so many wedding line ups...even of people I didn't know, and i wasn't about to mess up my roll nuh meen?
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Okay, I am going to bed now so I can wake up and it can be Friday:-)

Confused Catholic Voter

"Conscience is what summons us to love good and avoid evil; to do this and to shun that; To obey it is the very dignity of man. According to it he will be judged. Conscience is the most secret core and sanctuary of man. There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths. But conscience is no infallible guide. It frequently errs from invincible ignorance (ignorance for which we are not responsible). We Christians search for truth and for the genuine solution of problems in collaboration with others and in fidelity to our own conscience . (Vatican II document, The Church in the Modern World, #16 ).


I have been fighting with my conscience who the better candidate is in this election as far as moral issues and social justice..etc.

So I came across this website:- http://www.ewtn.com/vote/brief_catechism.htm and it explains clearly what the church's standing is on that issue. This was the church's advise in 2002 before the last election.


So I understand that Abortion is a 'disqualifying issue', because voting for someone that is pro abortion is assisting in the act itself by default. I also now understand that even though our calling in the church is to preserve life-- we can allow capital punishment such as the death penalty because it is an act of self defense.


The problem is this:- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns/wh2000/stories/mccain082499.htm

He (McCain) added that while he ultimately favors repeal of Roe, "we all know, and it's obvious, that if we repeal Roe v. Wade tomorrow, thousands of young American women would be performing illegal and dangerous operations."

and this:-http://www.ontheissues.org/Social/Barack_Obama_Abortion.htm


[An abortion protester at a campaign event] handed me a pamphlet. "Mr. Obama, I know you're a Christian, with a family of your own. So how can you support murdering babies?"
I told him I understood his position but had to disagree with it. I explained my belief that few women made the decision to terminate a pregnancy casually; that any pregnant woman felt the full force of the moral issues involved when making that decision; that I feared a ban on abortion would force women to seek unsafe abortions, as they had once done in this country. I suggested that perhaps we could agree on ways to reduce the number of women who felt the need to have abortions in the first place.


It sounds like the same guy is talking!!!


Another issue that, Pope John Paul II (MHSRIP) stated before the 2003 war that this war would be a defeat for humanity which could not be morally or legally justified. He strongly opposed the war, as he strongly opposed abortion.


So if one candidate is sort of anti abortion, but supports the war, and the other is pro abortion and does not support the war, are we morally obligated to boycott the elections as catholics?


If we vote for either one of the candidates, aren't we guilty of sin by association for either encouraging the death of the unborn child, or the death of the living child?


My questions come in the light that Douglas Kmiec and Gov. Sebelius were both denied communion recently based on issues to do with abortion. So if we vote do we get excommunicated then?

Unprepared

Beloved,
Mbuya used to sing the old girl guide song and quote their motto often 'Be prepared'. She would laugh often when you asked for something and remind you 'be prepared'. That motto has helped me thus far, and made me somewhat of a pack rat. I keep things I am not sure I will ever use, and I find it hard to throw things out in case I need them. I am always a resource for information when people need it. That is what I do.

I however was unprepared for THIS. I am sitting holding a cup of tea I made over an hour ago, but really couldn't drink too much of. Should I curl up in a ball and lay down on the floor? What can I say? Is there anything to say? I have DVDs and books of the subject, but nothing makes sense to me at present.
I am sorry if my response was silence. This was not in my 'life in 2011' hand-book. I did not see this coming.

Claustrophobia. It took me out of my cool house to the hot humidity outside--because there was more air there.
If only I was not too weak. I could probably scream or cry.
I will do anything for you to call me and tell me it was a joke, or that I am asleep right now. Alas! I know 'tis not so.
I could drink my wine. No. Tequila. But the circumstances will remain the same.
Why don't I have Paris Hilton's money? For at least then I would have flown us to Tahiti or something. Some paradise where everything ceases to exist.
I am glad you are still laughing. Thank you for that.
My duties as a friend are being tested as is my strength.

Where for art thou sanity?
"As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For thou art with me..."
The devil is a liar! This too shall come to pass.

Faithfully yours,
Manena

Comme ci, comme ça

The weekend was comme ci, comme ça... Friday, the date called and since I was not doing anything worthwhile... I accepted his invitation to hang out. Okay, let me make this clear-- I shalln't be going on any more dates for a while, and will not be seeing him either. The trauma! I can not go into details right now... but if you follow the script, you will pick up the reason somewhere:-)

My baby brother has settled in nicely in Zed and I am jealous that he's home and I am here:-(, well my mum is on a major campaign for me to meet her in London in August. I haven't really looked at ticket prices so I can not agree yet, and I also i'm not sure how recession friendly this trip might be. As for my homeland? not sure if I will go this year...maybe Warren Buffet will call before then and marry me so we can live in happiness traveling the world.

I went to Bethesda Saturday and stayed till today. It was soooo much fun!!! Saturday, we hang out down town, I got to eat sushi at a place I haven't eaten at in 6 years or so. The food was so so... nothing to write home about. I should stick to places I know really!

Oh and the highlight of my weekend? Guess what I bought???????? You will never believe it! He-man and She-ra on DVD!!!! Yes! The first 5 She-ra episodes when the sorceress tells her that she was kidnapped by the horde and that He-man is actually her twin brother! Then she meets her parents for the first time...and I just wept!!! Like OMG! I was soooo happy for her!

Moving along-- I also watched Glory, the story of the 54th (infantry?) of Massachusetts. If you haven't seen it and are interested in American history it would be something great to view. It's about the negro military from the north fighting the soldiers in the south...and it was so heart warming...hope i'm sounding sane!

I spent part of Sunday in Georgetown...oh what fun!

I also watched Darfur Now, a story about 6 people trying to make a difference for the darfurian people. My favourite person was the female rebel...she is sooo cool!

Okay, so Ladies: Listen to me and listen good. If a man can not kiss... and he's my age or older... Houston we have a problem!!!

Gentlemen: If you are older than 21 and do not know the ART of kissing. Please, stop reading now-- pick up a copy of karma sutra, cosmopolitan magazine, Google it or a pron video or something!!!!! It is very embarrassing for you and for the person you are kissing! It is so traumatizing.

I am off to watch 'Path to War' and will tell you all about it later today. The news is still the same today as it was Friday...eh?

Tainted food

What is up with all the tainted food in the country? What the heck can we eat? Yesterday, Tomatoes had salmonella scare, today some cheese is tainted with TB!!!

OMG!!!

Obama

Tonight, I curtsy to Obama.
Regardless of how I think or feel about his policies, loyalties, promises...etc-- The man has made HISTORY. That is more than you can say about many- myself included.

After many years since the abolition of slavery in the USA, this is the first black citizen to come close to being called 'Mr President' and for that I commend him and the American people for finally 'somewhat' suspending the color divide.

Who I'm I kidding! Once the real race is on, it will all come down to black versus white and not so much who has better policies.

Any hoo, Obama has made it further than I thought possible for him, and so he deserves a curtsy from me.