
Saturday, September 11, 2010
September 11, 2001 in Ft. Worth, Texas
We all have our own 9-11 stories. September 11, 2001 is a day that is forever etched in our minds and hearts. EVERY American remembers where they were, what they were doing and how they felt as they learned of and watched the murderous attack upon our country that beautiful Fall morning. I have often pondered on the irony of that day. When I got up that morning, I, following the routine that my youngest daughter,Allie, and I had established for weekdays, stepped outside to get the morning paper. I so clearly remember standing there for a moment and thinking, "God, what a beautiful morning!" The air had just a slight nip to it, unusual for early September in Fort Worth, Texas. The sky was sooooo blue and not a cloud in it. It was so refreshing.
I went back in the house and got my morning cup of coffee...and just placed the paper on the kitchen table to look at after getting ready for work. I liked getting my make-up on and hair done before the morning struggle of getting Allie out of bed. I had just returned the evening before from an out of town client call and I had awakened tired, but the fresh morning air had cleared my mind and I almost felt enthusiastic about my day. All the "big guys" at work were out of town on client calls, so aside from my paper work from my trip, the day promised to be an easy and relaxing one at the office.
Also, routinely, I turned on the TV in my bedroom and sat down at my dressing table to put on my "work" face and bend a few curls in my hair. The subject of the newscast was about the Shandra Levy murder case...did Condit do it and why did he toss the watch into the trash..and yada yada yada. The voices soon just became background noise as I went over my agenda for the day...paperwork a few calls and where to go for lunch.
Once I was "beautified", I started the task of getting my daughter up. She did not greet the morning with enthusiasm. She, like me, is NOT a "morning person", but after three tries, three false starts and one threat from me, she got up and stumbled into her bathroom. I heard the shower start and knew she would stay up this time. I stopped on my way back to my room for my second cup of coffee. Upon entering my room, the voices on the TV caught my attention. They were saying a plane had hit one of the towers at the World Trade Center. "What the hell...." I actually said out loud. By then, they had a shaky video, apparently from a hand held camera, showing this gash in the tower that was hit. I stood frozen, watching, looking at the building and the sky. It was as clear in New York City as it was in Ft. Worth. "How in the HELL could a pilot NOT see that building?" I asked...again, out loud. I sat down to put on my jewelry for the day, but was keenly aware of the newscast now.
I heard my daughter finally in the kitchen fixing her cereal. It was such a "normal" day, but now marred by this horrible accident in New York City. I finally realized I could not just sit there, I had to get dressed, so I went about choosing my outfit for the day; something simple and comfy, but still..the dreaded heels and hose...argh!
My daughter wandered into my room and I pointed to the TV and began to tell her about the plane hitting the tower. Her fifteen year old self mumbled "OhmyGod........Mom...hurry up, we're gonna be late!" All in one breath. How does that work...I had to drag HER out of bed, now she was rushing ME? TEENS!
So, make-up on, hair done, dressed, purse and briefcase in hand, a quick check of cat food in Miss Scarlet's dish, Allie with her 300 pound back pack slung over her shoulder, we stepped out into September 11, 2001.
I delivered Allie to school with the usual, "Do you have your lunch money?" "YESSS, Mom" and a roll of her eyes. "Are you going to Sissy's after school?" "YESSSSS, Mom.."..another roll of her eyes....and my "Have a good day..." that was never heard because she was always already 10 steps up the sidewalk. So, I pulled into the line of cars waiting to exit the school parking lot. I changed the station BACK to WBAP, from some station that played NOISE in the name of MUSIC. They were announcing that a second plane had hit the other tower of the World Trade Center in New York. A cold chill ran up my spine. The "accident" was NO ACCIDENT.
I do not remember my ten mile drive from the Everman area to our offices out on west I-30. I don't remember taking the right exits or stopping at traffic lights, but I am sure I did. I arrived safely and without getting a traffic ticket. I just remember hanging onto every word I heard from the radio. I DO remember that at some point, I grabbed the car phone and called the office and told our receptionist to have everyone turn on their radios.
I don't remember walking from the car to the building or the elevator ride to the second floor where our suite of offices were. I do remember that when i walked in everyone was gathered around one of the consultant's radio. That is pretty much where we all stayed. Our minds trying to grasp what was happening...as each of the crashes were reported...the Pentagon. The crash of Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. One of our consultant's parents lived near the Pentagon. She was on the phone frantically trying to reach them. The offices next to us had a TV, and at some point, our staff wandered over there to watch. I felt we needed to stay together, so I hopped in my car and ran to an Office Max just down the street, ran in and bought a small TV set for the office, thinking that would at least keep the staff together and near the phones. But, after a bit, they fell silent.
The day's events, although in remote places suddenly became very local. We had managers in Indiana and in New Orleans, who were now stranded. All air traffic other than military, had been banned. They were scrambling to rent cars to get back home. Around 11:00 or so, our building alarms sounded. I remember thinking, "THIS is NOT the time for a damn fire drill!" But, as it turned out, it was NOT a fire drill...our building manager had received a BOMB THREAT! We ladies all broke protocol and grabbed our purses...before being herded down the exit stairwell. The scene..what we were doing..ALL of it was so surreal! As I scrambled down the stairs with the folks from all over the building, I thought of my kids. "God," I prayed, "Please...let me see them again!"
Once outside in what had in what had felt like such a wonderful Fall day just hours before, we learned that seven buildings in Ft. Worth, including the Federal Building where the wife of our managers who was stuck in New Orleans, worked, had been threatened. The Ft. Worth bomb squad was spread thin that day.
Our staff gathered together at the furtherest end of the parking lot and discussed what was happening, keeping each other calm and trying to inject humor when and where we could. There wasn't much. The firemen arrived, the bomb squad arrived, the police arrived and suddenly, all I wanted to do was to go get my kid and go home! Two hours later, we got the "all clear" to return to our offices. We did..but just long enough to shut it down.
Perhaps the most chilling moment was...when I went to my car...I heard the roar of jet engines. Our offices were located near the Carswell Joint Services Base. I looked in that direction to see stealth bombers taking off, one after another...scrambling. THAT brought reality of the situation into very clear focus for me. It shook me to the core. I got into my car and wept. I knew then that out world ..our country...our lives had just changed forever..on that beautiful, perfect Fall morning.
School was dismissed. I got my daughter HOME. I walked in, turned on FOX News for the very first time and I don't remember how many nights it was before I really slept again. Even now, nine years later, at LEAST one of my five television sets is tuned to FOX, lest there should be another horrible attack.
In the days that followed, I remember the eeriness of NO PLANES in the sky. Now, when you live in the DFW area, that is just WEIRD! DFW International ALWAYS has, at any given time, at least a half a dozen planes either landing or taking off. There were NONE. The only planes we did see, from time to time were military...jet fighters.
I remember, however, the sudden appearance of the American flag. It was being flown on homes, on cars...taped to windows. I heard choruses of "GOD BLESS AMERICA" from everyone. There was this wonderful, bittersweet, unification of ALL Americans. I hate that we lost that over these last nine years. I remember the deep sense of PRIDE...in being an AMERICAN. I remember watching President Bush...and thinking, "God thank you for this man as our President...and NOT Al Gore!" I would watch him and weep with pride...at his courage to stand up against the terrorists...and NOT treat them as common criminals, having the courage to identify our enemy and go after them!
I don't know if we will ever have that kind of unification in our country again. I do know that we MUST if we are to survive...and I pray every day that it will NOT take another 9-11 to bring it about. It is way past time for us to be AMERICANS...tall, proud and courageous, once again.
God bless America..ALWAYS!
Sammye G.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Like many of you, I get most of the news from FOX News Channel. In fact, at least one of the five televisions in my house is always on FOX...and has been since 9-11-01. So, to tell you that I have been sitting here "facebooking" with FOX on in the background, is nothing new.Today, as with most days lately, I hear the show commentators and their guests mulling over the latest polls..who is leading who in what race. Commenting on all the different issues and trying to guess what they may or may not mean in the upcoming mid-term elections. Will this or that "hurt" one or the other of the political parties. Will we voters "remember" this, that or the other thing that Congress has done...what Obama has done..or not done. Are we voters angry? Will that anger show in the elections? Are we more concerned about the economy or are we mostly concerned with homeland security and the war on terrorism? Are we upset about all the spending ...the bailouts...the pork...my my...what IS bothering all of us..and..will we remember November 2, 2010!?! Is THIS the year of the newcomers to the Washington scene? Is it anti-incumbent? JUST what are we the voters thinking of...they keep asking, over and over.
Answer: WE ARE THINKING OF ALL OF THOSE THINGS! Yes, we ARE angry...and NO, we will NOT forget WHY we are angry.
We remember last summer, when we begged...pleaded..called our representatives...marched on D.C. and DEMANDED that Congress honor the U. S. Constitution and OUR wishes to VOTE DOWN the healthcare bill. We REMEMBER how we were ignored. We watched as Pelosi made her victory lap to the halls of Congress, gloating with every step. We have not forgotten that the bill was NOT even read by a majority of the Congress nor the Senate. We have not forgotten for one moment her, "...we have to pass the bill to find out what is in it..." comment. We have not forgotten that votes for the healthcare bill were BOUGHT ..to be paid for by US. We have not forgotten those "favored" by the passage of the bill....and we have NOT forgotten that the bill was not even about healthcare but a huge power grab, not only over our healthcare but over one of the most private and sensitive aspects of our lives...and as always..it was about MONEY. The redistribution of the "wealth" ..from those who work hard and EARN it..to those who do not...and have not earned it.
We have screamed, "STOP THE SPENDING!" We have watched as we are again, ignored. We, as the common folk, know that when our bank account is depleted, we STOP writing checks. We cut up our credit cards and we make financial choices for our survival. We do NOT keep spending what we do not have. We know that you cannot SPEND your way out of bankruptcy. Truth is..over spending and over reaching ones financial means is HOW you end up in bankruptcy.........HELLOOOO! So, Congress' and the Senate's ignorance of math..and disregard for common sense or maybe the LACK of it..has been noticed, and will NOT be forgotten. EVER.
It has not been lost on us that Obama went to China..hat in hand and the other hand out...asking FOR a hand out. It is not lost on us that we now owe way more than we can repay to China. A communist country..our enemy, and what a horrible and very delicate and vulnerable position that places America in. How can one stand up in strength to an enemy that, for all intents and purposes..OWNS YOU?! It is also not lost on us that to go down to the basement and just print up more paper money only reduces our currency to the value of Monopoly money. A dollar bill with nothing to back it up is just another piece of useless paper.
We also were paying attention when Obama traveled to countries less than friendly to America and apologized for America....and for what? For being strong? For being the beacon of FREEDOM? For rushing to everyone's aid when they needed it...for the graves in Europe of OUR men and women who gave their lives for others' freedom from tyranny and oppression? For...believing in the free market and personal responsibility? For...being the success that we have been the last 200+ years? We watched as he bowed to kings of other countries. We have watched and listened to his admonishment of the American spirit and dreams. These things will not be forgotten.
We have watched as he has taken over our banks, our automotive industry, our healthcare and taken steps to control our businesses. We have also noticed the things that neither Congress, the Senate nor Obama has done. We have noticed that NONE of them have honored their Oath of Office....to defend and protect our country and our Constitution against ALL enemies, foreign and domestic. We have watched as they have made a mockery of our laws designed to do just those things. We are watching as they SUE our states for enforcing not only state laws but FEDERAL laws. They want those of US who DARE to oppose their actions in this regard, investigated. I suppose that is easier than DOING THEIR JOB!
We have noticed the preferences to terrorists, first by their refusal to even identify them for what they are..TERRORISTS, then by such actions as dropping cases against them, setting them free to perhaps succeed another day in their attempts to kill as many Americans as they can and further their destruction of our country.
We have noticed their inaction as our country is being invaded by ILLEGAL aliens; their refusal again, to protect our country from enemies. Help was promised to Arizona. Another promise broken.
And the list goes on and on..and grows daily. The bottom line is...we the people..the voters ...consider ALL of these issues. We have NOT forgotten, nor will we. Those running for office will be best served if they keep this in mind. If you are an incumbent, rest assured, you do NOT have job security, even if you voted our way. In your way, you have facilitated all of this by NOT standing up strongly to the socialist agenda in play. We have had enough of political correctness. It will get Americans killed! It is way past time to call things as they ARE...not try to paint pretty pictures. No matter how many coats of lipstick you smear on a pig..it is STILL a pig.
For those new folks entering the political arena..we WILL be watching you. We expect and DEMAND honor and integrity! We will watch every move you make..we will listen to every word you say and everything you do NOT say. We ARE AWAKE. If you are elected, we will watch your every stance and vote on every issue. We expect TRUE REPRESENTATION. If we scream NO...you best pay attention. We will NOT EVER be ignored again. We will NOT tolerate being dismissed and "talked down to" again.
So...to you candidates and to those in the media...do not ever under estimate "we the people"...do not think that we have the attention span of a gnat...and that we cannot chew gum and walk at the same time. We are paying attention to ALL of the issues! We are coming together as never before. In fact, if there is ONE good thing about the last 20 months, it is the unification of the majority of the American people. It is the rebirth of the TRUE American spirit. It has been a hard lesson learned that we cannot afford to sleep ever again, taking our freedom for granted. GOD BLESS OUR AMERICA!
Sammye G.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
TAQIYAH
The question dejur is: IS OBAMA A MUSLIM? Obama attended Fransiskus Strada Asisia, a Catholic school from 1967-1970.
Per interviews with dozens of former classmates, teachers, neighbors and friends, Obama was not a regular practicing Muslim when he was in Indonesia, but he was registered as a Muslim on the registration form for the Catholic school, Strada Asisia, where he attended first through third grades. In those years, students were registered according to the religion of their fathers, per Israella Pareira Darmawan, Obama's first grade teacher. Since Mr. Soetoro was a Muslim, Obama was listed as a Muslim.
When Obama attended fourth grade in 1971, at the Basuki school (Sekolah Dasar Nasional Menteng No. 1), Muslim children spent two hours a week studying Islam; they learned Islam prayer and religious activities, per Hardi Priyono, the Vice Principal for curriculum.
Reportedly, Obama occasionally accompanied his father, Lolo Soetoro , to the mosque for Friday prayers. It is said by neighbors that Mr. Soetoro was usually too busy working, first for the Indonesian army and then later for a western oil company, to attend mosque. Fermina Katarina, Obama's third grade teacher, states that Mr. Soetoro, rarely socialized with people, even at the mosque. Mr. Soetoro's friends said, at the time of Mr. Soetoro's death in 1987, that he was more of a free spirit than a devout Muslim. His nephew, Sonny Trisulo, said that Soetoro always liked women and alcohol. (*from what I understand, Muslims forbid the use of alcohol, so this doesn't paint the picture of a devout Muslim to me.)
Then there is the statement from Zulfan Adi, a former playmate of Obama's that Obama REGULARLY attended prayers with Mr. Soetoro.
Source:
(http://www.danielpipes.org/5354/confirmed-barack-obama-practiced-islam)
These inconsistent reports..."no he wasn't a regularly practicing Muslim", "...yes he was a regularly practicing Muslim"...seem strangely consistent with Obama. "Yes he is a Muslim..." "No he is not a Mulsim"...all by design? What is that they say..." ...a moving target is hard to hit..?" Is the best defense...CONFUSION?
So, does ANY of this information matter? YES. IF Obama was once a Muslim and is what HE now claims "a committed Christian" (THAT is yet another subject altogether), he is now what Islamic Law calls a murtadd (apostate), an ex-Muslim converted to another religion who must be executed. As he now sits in our White House, this presents large potential implications for his relationship with the Muslim world. Apply this to Obama's apology tour to the mid-East, his bowing to the King of Saudi Arabia and his constant appeasement of the Muslims..just WHO is he trying to save?
We all know that Obama sat in the pews of Reverend Wright's church for twenty years. We all heard Obama's declarations of friendship with Reverend Wright. A man who spouts racist and anti-American rhetoric on a regular basis. Yet, Obama claims to have heard none of this? Right. Perhaps Obama suffers from hearing loss? Perhaps he is not so intelligent after all and did not comprehend what he was hearing?
I have seen a video of Obama referring to his Muslim faith, family and friends. I have seen a video of his claim to being a "committed Christian". BUT, the video that sticks most in my mind that belies his claim to Christianity, is the one in which he mocks the Bible. I am 63 years old. I am a Christian. Do I know the Bible, no. I have had some Bible study. I know parts of it. Do I believe what is written in it? Yes, I do. Every single word of it. Do I still attend church every Sunday? No. Would I stand up and mock even one passage of the BIble? NEVER. To my way of thinking..NO Christian would EVER do that. I personally believe that Obama is a Muslim, but that is my opinion. But, even if he is not, the ONE thing I know he IS NOT...all confusion wiped away...he is NOT a Christian.
Some say the faith of the person sitting in the Oval Office is not that important. I say it is VITAL. Our country was founded upon Christian principles. Our LAWS are based upon the Ten Commandments. How can it be NOT IMPORTANT? Apply the fact, for argument's sake, that Obama is NOT a Christian to the fact that our laws are based upon the Ten Commandments. Would this not explain his disregard for our laws? His use of them only as a means to an end, for HIM and his agenda? Our Constitution invokes our Christian principles. Obama has stated that he views our Constitution as, basically, a worthless piece of paper, no longer meaningful. Would a Christian leader take that stand? No.
Ok. So. What IF Obama IS a Muslim? What IF he sneaks off to a mosque for prayer? What IF he believes in Islam? Why would he deny it all? TAQIYAH.
TAQIYAH: THE PRACTICE OF DENYING ONE'S RELIGION, PERSMISSIBLE WHEN ONE IS FACED WITH PERSECUTION; REGARDED AS A MEANS OF PROTECTING THE RELIGION.
Source:
(http://www.balagh.net/english/shia/shia/12.htm )
The practice of Taqiyah is used by the Shi'ites. In case of danger, they dissimulate their religion and hide their particular religious and ritual practices from their opponents.
The practice of Taqiyah is based upon the verse of the Qu'ran: "Let not the believers take disbelievers for their friends in preferences to believers. Who so doeth that hath no connection with Allah unless it be that ye but guard yourselves against them, taking security. Allah biddeth you beware (only) of Himself. Unto Allah is the journeying." (lll 28).
"As is clear from this sacred verse, God, the Most Exhalted, forbids with the utmost emphasis wilayah (meaning in this case friendship and amity to the exten that it affects one's life) with un-believers and orders man to be wary and have fear in such a situation."
"In another place, Allah says, "Who so disbelieveth in Allah after his belief-save him who is forced thereto and whose heart is still content with Faith-but who so findeth ease in disbelief: On them is wrath from Allah. Theirs will be an awful doom" (Qu'ran, XVI, 106)."
So. This is WHY Obama would lie about his Muslim faith...using his LIES and us. But, it begs the question..has Obama become comfortable in Taqiyah? Has he "feel ease in disbelief"? IF so..according to the Qu'ran...he is in biggggggggggggggg trouble with Allah!
Now, you have some information. Apply it in your thought processes. I have my opinion...based upon this and what I have seen and heard FROM Obama. Remember, you can hear his words..but watch his hands at all times. The truth of anyone does not appear in their words but their deeds. Deeds come from the heart...be they good or be they bad.
Sammye G.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Well...well...well...this morning the U. S. Department of Agriculture tossed Shirley Sherrod a bone...a table scrap..and she ACCEPTED it. Wonder if she sat up and begged?
Now, you have to realize that I am not all that politically savvy. I did not take political science in college (back in those days I thought politics was borrrrrrrrrrring!). I don't read every single article that is published by the left or the right. But, I have a pretty keen sense of what is right and what is not; kinda like that judge who once said "I can't define pornography but I know it when I see it." Well, I know WRONG when I see it and what I saw this morning on Fox News, from the Department of Agriculture and Ms. Sherrod, was just WRONG.
Ms. Sherrod was literally fired on the spot..while driving down the highway. The White House directed that she be instructed to pull off to the side of the road and render her resignation immediately...right there...in the middle of traffic. Can you imagine?! She was "asked to resign" but we all know that translates into being canned! All of this was due to a short portion of a speech she made years ago, that if taken out of context..WHICH IT WAS...sounded racist. The White House got wind of it and, in the same way they treated a policeman in Connecticut, THEY "acted stupidly" and took drastic action WITHOUT knowing all the facts!
As if that were not bad enough, they then tried to blame Fox News, namely Glenn Beck for THEIR own actions. Is there something that is beyond stupid? Stupid and dumb just do not cover it! Their contention was that Fox brought all this about by airing the portion of the speech in question. Ms. Sherrod went right along with it, joining in the finger pointing at Fox and Beck and her threatening suits against them and Mr. Breitbart. In short order, Fox documented their programming timeline, proving that all this took place between 5 and 6 PM and they did not air one word of the speech OR this incident until after 8 PM that night. The next day, Glenn Beck actually DEFENDED Ms. Sherrod, shouting in his articulate way that "CONTEXT MATTERS" and chided the actions of the White House for taking such actions without hearing the entire speech and knowing all the facts. Still, Beck and Fox remained in the government's and Ms. Sherrod's cross hairs.
This morning, as I listened to the big announcement that now the Department of Agriculture has "hired" Ms. Sherrod as a "consultant", I could only shake my head and feel a bit sick to my stomach. Had I been in her place, I would have told them what they could do with their "consultant" position....SIDEWAYS! What an insult! As they fell all over themselves with compliments and statements of professional "love fest", I kept waiting for the apologies. Well, we will all die of old age before we hear any. Silly ol' me, I kept waiting to hear someone apologize to Fox and Glenn Beck. I mean, how naive am I?!
I suppose that if this were the only such incident that has occurred during the Obama regime, I could get over it...in time. But it is not. There is the aforementioned incident with the police officer, that Obama accused of "acting stupidly", as the officer performed the job he was hired to do, complete with accusations of racism. Did he apologize to the officer? Who knows? Certainly nothing public. There was the now infamous beer summit for a "teachable moment". But, who taught whom, what? Clearly, Obama did not learn anything.
And, more recently, there were Obama's comments supporting the erection of the Muslim cultural center near Ground Zero, formerly named the Coronado House, but renamed the Park 51 Project. (..I guess if you slap a new coat of lipstick on a pig it won't oink any longer!) Then, the VERY next day, he back peddled on his comments, YET..refused to comment on the wisdom of the project's location. Since he had already stuck his nose into something he should NOT have, he could have at least addressed the wisdom or lack of, placing a Muslim flag of victory where 19 terrorist, in the name of Islam, murdered nearly 3,000 innocent Americans. Sitting here rethinking this, I don't think that Obama is qualified to speak to the wisdom...of anything.
This whole current administration is void of any shred of character, integrity and humility. They refuse to take any amount of accountability for their own mistakes and misdeeds. The first casualty of all this...CREDIBILITY. Trust is very delicate. It is easily destroyed...sometimes impossible to restore.
Sammye G
Monday, August 23, 2010

Here is what I have to say about THAT....
"THAT" is the subject of the day. Today it is all about starting this blog. Now..I am sure you are not as nervous reading it as I am writing it! I have been told by several folks that I should write and now that I am here doing it, I just have one thing to say to them..."EASY FOR YOU TO SAY..." lol! Seriously, I love my friends for their encouragement and support and if all goes well, I thank them from the bottom of my heart. If it does not, then, of course, it is all THEIR fault and all nasty comments about my blog WILL be forwarded to them. Seems only fair to me.
I am 63 years old. I am from Texas. This tells you that I have lived long enough to have seen a lot of changes in this country and have lived long enough to have developed an opinion on just about everything and am not shy about expressing them. Now, whether my opinions rise to the definition of "wisdom", I don't know. They are just what I think or feel, based upon the information I have at the time and through life experiences. Thing is..they are MINE. They are not yours. I cannot speak for you. I will share mine with you...and you can share yours with me. Yours do NOT have to agree with MINE. It is the 23rd of August, 2010...9:10PM EDT, and as far as I know, we still enjoy "freedom of speech" in this country. This means I can say what I think and feel...and so can you..and neither one of us has to agree with the other. It's wonderful, no? Now, what I will NOT allow in "Comments" are threats..those WILL be reported. I will NOT allow harsh profanity...and please, try to stay on topic and not dis anyone else's comments. Address the topic, tear it apart if you want, but not each other. I think that is called civility and respect. I expect that here.
Ok, it is late. Tomorrow I begin in earnest, with a REAL topic. In today's world there are a million to choose from, but I am all about what is happening in America and doing what I can to STOP it.
God bless OUR America..and God bless you.
Sammye G
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