Posted on 12/11/2003 7:16:49 AM PST by Billie
Driving around my community, you will see houses covered with twinkling lights, prancing reindeer in lights, huge inflated Santas and Snowmen (yes, snowmen in Florida) but NOT one Manger scene of the Nativity of Jesus.
We wanted to find a way to remind people passing by our house that Christmas is about the Birth of Christ.
Here's what my husband & I decided to do:
We have a large oval wicker basket with handles (a wicker laundry basket would also work). We filled with straw-like mulch from WalMart ($1.75 for a bag) . Then I went to the Goodwill Store and got a big (about 18 inches long) baby doll for $3.99. We wrapped the 'baby' in swaddling clothes (white towel) and made a gold halo from wire ribbon to put around his head.
We plan to put our Manger with Baby Jesus in front of some shrubs in our front yard and light it with a spotlight.
Just imagine if 10% of Christians put a 'Nativity' basket in their front yards what a message that would send this Christmas. While the ACLU is fighting to keep Nativity scenes out of public places....we can remind people of the real meaning of Christmas by creating our own Nativity scenes on our own property!
Oh, I phorgive them, Lady. In phact I pity them. I'm more worried about you, knowing how you loathe injustice. :-)
President Bush, denounced by Old Europe and Old Europe Democrats as a Yankee Imperialist Invader Plundering Iraq For Profit, Thursday came under even harsher attack, with Old Europe saying it wants in on Bush's Yankee-Imperialist-Invader-Plundering-Iraq-For-Profit schemes -- or else (or else they'll stump their feet and go crying to Kofi Annan, which they did). Germany, Russia, Canada and France -- wonderful U.S. allies who fought the U.S.-led effort to topple Saddam -- complain that Bush hurt their feelings by keeping them from making money with U.S.-financed Iraq reconstruction projects, totaling $18.6 billion. Old Europe calls it an outrage that the U.S. would reward countries which helped the U.S. by sending soldiers and money to Iraq -- while denying U.S. taxpayer money to countries which sent neither soldiers nor money to Iraq.But don't get Old Europe wrong, says Old Europe, which hotly denies it's only interested in the money. No way. They say all they want is to help Bush succeed in Iraq -- really! But now, with their feelings so terribly hurt, Old Europe may even say no to restructuring Iraqi debt (money Old Europe wasn't going to see anyway). But this has nothing to do with money either -- honest!
Sen. John F. Kerry, whom rumor has it served in Vietnam, strongly backed the French position. "I think limiting (expletive) contracts ... is an enormous (expletive) mistake. I think it (expletive) borders on the (expletive) stupid," said the Old Europe Democrat and '04 contender Thursday, campaigning in his home state of Massachusetts, with polls in neighboring New Hampshire showing him locked in a tight race with the flu outbreak. Kerry, furious that Bush would shut out Old Europe from Iraq reconstruction money, voted to shut out the U.S. from Iraq reconstruction money in a recent Senate vote (the vote on the $87 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan).
Like Old Europe, Democrats say it's shocking that Bush would seek to make any distinction between countries which helped and countries which didn't help topple Saddam. Democrats say the U.S. must offer Old Europe an Olive Branch and try to make up for all the harm Old Europe tried to inflict on us. (Democrats also say it's shocking that Bush decided to rescind tariffs on European steel -- this is no time to offer Europe any Olive Branches!)
"Let me make sure everybody understands," said Bush, answering questions from reporters at the Cabinet Room Thursday, that "men and women from our country, who proudly wear our uniform, risked their life to free Iraq. Men and women from other countries, in a broad coalition, risked their lives to free Iraq. And the expenditure of U.S. dollars will reflect the fact that U.S. troops and other troops risked their life."
"Sir," said one reporter, "Chancellor Schroeder says international law must apply in this case. What's your understanding of the law?"
"International law? I better call my lawyer," Bush shot back. "He didn't bring that up to me," said Bush, alluding to a telephone conversation Wednesday with the German leader, who took the occasion to complain about not being able to make any money from U.S. reconstruction contracts. (But it's not about the money -- honest!)
Frankly, I think this whole brouhaha could be put to bed in a heartbeat. Wanna get the French uninterested in Iraq reconstruction money? Tell 'em...
*No Iraq reconstruction money may be used to rebuild statutes of Saddam
*No Iraq reconstruction money may be used to rebuild Saddam's torture chambers
*No Iraq reconstruction may be used for military aid to the Fedayeen
*Remind the French Iraq is a war-zone
*Some Iraq reconstruction money must be used to erect statutes of George W. BushIf that doesn't work, if the Democrats are still angry, tell the French they'll get reconstruction money just as soon as Howard Dean unseals his records in Vermont.
;-)
Anyway, that's...
My two cents...
"JohnHuang2"
'Tis true - I do dislike injustice, especially when it is unprovoked and undeserved.
However, right must rule, and worthy causes are - well - worthy..:))
Chin up, dear Thinny....ever onward we go....phull steam ahead...
(Look forward to feasting on your latest 'Dear John' letter ;-)
hehehe! Good one, my friend ;-)
Are you still covered with snow there?
Well, just thought you'd might like to know that we're still not covered with snow here in Miami ;-)
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