Trump for President or Reality Star Gone to Far

  Donald Trump for president...hum, well I guess if we can can have an ex-president who was a movie star then why not a reality star. Seems like just about anything goes these days. This must be just the next crazy step for Americans.
  Trump is more than a reality star. He is also an author, chairman and CEO of Trump Organization, real-estate developer, Founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts, executive producer, devoted father and husband.. Wow! What a resume. Love or hate him most of us can agree on at least two things: The Donald knows how to sell his brand at any cost, and no matter what always seems to come out on top.
  There are many layers to Trump. that is obvious. We all know that he "acts" like he doesn't like to be criticized or questioned. However, when seriously contemplating a run for the presidency, a individual opens him/herself up for this type of commentary. Come on, the presidency is the most powerful job in the United States if not the world. So if you are not just putting on an act for ratings and self-promotion, than you need to grow thicker skin. This "Charlie Sheen"- "Winning"- and "I'm better than you" mentality is getting old, and will not get you or anyone like you elected. If you can't handle good folks opinions (eg. Mr. Bill Cosby or mine) you better stick to what you know best, business, real estate, and reality television.
  That's the thing about Donal Trump, he is a brand builder. All his talk about "birther issues" is just that...talk. First and foremost, he is a businessman. A smart businessman. He will do or say whatever it takes to sell himself to either get more people to buy whatever he is selling. If he decides to run in the election of 2012 he will do whatever it takes to get elected. Any great business person is truly a politician at heart, in my opinion. They know how to sell themselves - by definition they are "a schemer who tries to gain advantage in an organization in sly or underhanded ways." I have never met a "great" business person who didn't get to the top without following the definition to some degree.
  Yet, I am so sick ad tired of hearing about this birth certificate issue regarding President Obama. Recently I have met some "die-hard" Republicans on my trip in Chicago. They say they too are tired of hearing about this issue. Every time I have gotten on this subject with anyone they have stated "Obama was born in the U.S. and people need to drop it." Even Mr. Trumps political friends who he described as, "some of the smartest and most talented in Washington DC," told Trump to drop the issue. You ask why he doesn't drop it. Because of publicity! If he runs in 2012 he will also be able to get the birther votes.
  Many do not think he will run. New Jersey Governor Chris Christye said on an interview on ABC that after speaking to his friend Donald Trump he doesn't think he serious about wanting to run for president. Time.com and the Huffington Post both believe this is a promotional tool for his reality show The Apprentice. I ask why waste our time at all? Unless you are serious about running in 2012. Oh yeah...GREED!!! Greed is the most selfish thing in politics or business and can be the most powerful. You don't care who you hurt or use to get where you want to go. You work hard to build others up just to tear them down later for your own self-serving intentions.
  America and Americans face real problems. We do not have time right now to listen to a self-serving, narcissiotic, shady corporate businessman. We are facing a $14 trillion debt, non-stop partisan fighting, two wars with no end in sight, higher food and gasoline cost, and a high unemployment rate just to name a few things. Sorry Mr. Trump, you can't just walk into the House or Senate and say "You're Fired," when you you don't like whats going on. It just doesn't work that way.
  As much as you like to bark what you would do if you were in charge of this or that situation, I have a feeling you are in for a rude awakening if you do get the job of president in 2012. See Americans have short memories, but elections seem to awaken those sleeping memories that we have worked so hard to hide or get away from. For example, Trumps past bankruptcies. From 1989 to 1997 he not only attempted to buy into the airline industry, buying the Eastern Shuttle Routes, but also two Atlantic City Casino businesses including the Taj Mahal Casino from the Crosby family. Trump had to file bankruptcy on both ventures in a time America was prospering, and the real estate market was booming. Again in 2008 Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago failed to pay $40 million in loans to Deutsche Bank by that December. Trump tried to claim the crisis was an "Act of God" and he evoked a clause in the contract to not pay the loan. Then he initiated a countersuit asserting his image had been damaged. The bank answered back in court was that, "Trump was no stranger to overdue debt and that he has twice previously filed for bankruptcy with respect to his casino operations."
  I don't know about all of you out there, but I don't want someone in office who doesn't take full responsibility for their own debt. It doesn't bother me if someone has to file bankruptcy once, but to say it was an "act of God" is absurd, then having the nerve to counter sue for damages on his image is even more of an outrage. Obviously neither his image nor his business was harmed. I bet he got out of paying the $40 million though. If he becomes president what will he do with the debt we are in? He can't file bankruptcy on it. No he wants to do even more absurd things such as charge our allies to continue to keep our military bases on their land.
  STOP!!! We don't really expect them to pay us do we? He does realize that in some case we owe some of these countries money, while the reason we are in the other countries is because we have situated ourselves there after major wars. We conquered. We stayed. We may be an empire as some have sugested. However, lets not forget history - over and over again, all major empires fall when they have gotten too powerful and too greedy.
  Trump would also be running as a Republican this time around. From 2001 to 2009 he was a registered Democrat. Trump stated in an old interview, "I'm very much independent in that way. I go for the person, not necessarily the party. I mean I vote for Republicans and I vote for Democrats."  personally respect this. When I tell people this they always accuse me of being an Independent. Thank God we live in a free country where you can change your mind, opinion, and your political party as much as you want.
  Look I'm nt a fan of Donal Trumps. On some level i think he is a brilliant businessman. He has great qualities, such as, being a very loyal friend and familyman. Yet, as president I think he would be wasting our time. He is about making money. Making money for himself. Public office is about helping others. Doing what is right for the greater good of not just one, but the whole country. In some case the world...if they need us. He has to show me that there is more to him then a reality star, and that he wont go off half cocked everytime he doesn't like what someone has to say or think. Like i said before, this "Charlie Sheen" attitude is getting old and doesn't look good on him or anyone else. In the end you mayhave your money but that doesn't mean you are truly "winning" anything.

My Life Starts In 11 Days: Freedom Can be Yours and Mine

  I sit here and wonder what happened to the last 36 years of my life. I have done so much but so little. I look around the world and see so much mistrust, pain, prejudice, back-stabbing, in-fighting, bullying, and destruction, yet I have done little to do anything to change it. I have done little to change it till now.
  Can one person make a difference? Many people ask themselves this question everyday. Even I ponder the thought from time to time. Can we? Can any of us truly fix the difficulties that we as a county and a world are having? As I watch how our leaders handle the crisis's that we face I find myself questioning their abilities, and I do not like the feeling that gives me.
  Over the years, I have experienced first hand how our judicial system truly works, and that too gives me pause. It is truly broken. We all know it but no one seems to be doing anything about it. This saddens me. We not only have fathers who must fight for years, for the right to see their children, but also mothers. Sometimes, if you do not have the money, you can't even fight for those rights. Lets face it, if you don't have the money, you almost always lose the court battle. If you even can afford to go to court. I will not get into my story now. You can read my book when it comes out. I will admit that I did make my mistakes. However, I nor anyone that knows the story, other than my ex believes that I deserve all the torture my ex, or the courts have put me through in the last sixteen years.
  Child custody or child support issues are not the only two issues broken in the judicial system. To many innocent people are being sent to jail and not enough people who are in power are being brought down for their crimes. There is a double standard in this country and around the world. Some in this country are saying "we are policing the world" right now. How can we police the world when we can't even police our own leaders. Our police officers, governors, senators, financial executives, the list goes on and on. We allow our own police to get lessor to no sentences for drunk driving or killing others while drunk driving. We allow our attorneys and judges to abuse the legal system by going around the court and ethical rules because who they have lunch with or play gulf with. (If they want a certain ruling or don't like the ruling they got they find a judge that will give them that ruling) We allow our financial executives the right to steal our money...pocket it...and let them go free while we as Americans suffer, lose jobs, homes, benefits, etc. We allow our politicians to continue to promise things they can't possibly keep, drive up deficits, take away our rights, and put up with their endless childish fighting. We don't expect enough from our doctors. There are few great doctors. It took me years to find a great doctor. To many doctors are more interested in pleasing the insurance companies and pushing their drugs than really curing you. When all you really want is to feel better and lead a normal life.
  All, most people want is to have a good job, be loved, live comfortably, and live their lives in peace with their families. Unfortunately we do not live in such a world. Not most people. We as a nation maybe even a world have become addicted, entitled, and afraid. My theory is, that we are all addicted to something. Some of us are addicted to good things and some to bad things. It is not for me or anyone but yourself to determine what you are addicted to. Only you can determine what it is. It could be exercise, drinking, drugs, God or religion, politics, work, sex, gossiping, partying, anything. The only way to figure it out is finding out who you are. Then ask yourself this question. Can I live with it? Meaning...Can you live with who you are and what you give out to the world. Are you living the best life you can live? Are you being the best person you can be? Not for you only but also for those around you. Who do you want around you? Are the good or toxic? We are always going to come across people that are not going to be our cup of tea, however, it is our choice to put up with it.
  I am tired of being quite. Anyone who knows me, knows that it is not in my nature. I have always known I have to speak up for what I believe in. In eleven(11) days I leave for a trip that I have waited for for nineteen(19) years. I have tried my hand at a little bit of everything. I used to be ashamed of the fact that I worked in fast food or gas stations. That I had to start out in community college and never really finished with anything but a bachelors degree in psychology and never finished my law degree. I'm not anymore. I also raised 8 kids, plus was a nanny for a year. I took care of a mentally ill man for six years. I came from a broken situation, foster homes, children early in life, took on 5 children like they were my own, have tried my hardest to overcome my severe disabilities over the last six years (SLE-Lupus, Degentergative Disc Disease, Cancer, Kidney Disease-Lupus, Partial Blindness-Lupus, Full Body Nuropathy, PTSD-Mild Depression), and screwed up while cleaning up along the way.

   So I am going to do what I know I am good at. I have had almost 36 years to hone my skills. I have truly perfected them with the help of some wonderful people I like to call family and friends over the last 10 years. I am going to make a difference. I am a writer and a speaker. My strengths are business management and training issues, customer service issues, legal advocacy, family law advocacy, child and adult disability issues, educational management and reform issues, state and federal government domestic political issues, etc. I will write on these issues. I will speak out and tell you what I really think. You may or may not agree. That is alright. We all have that right. I am open to other people's opinions. I believe we can always learn from others. I don't know everything. I am open to learning new things. However, I am tired of not doing anything. The more we allow things to continue the way they are the longer they will spiral out of control. So can one person make a difference? Yes. Yes they can. It is never easy, but they can make a difference if they do it for the greater good...others...and not for themselves.
  So my articles will be slightly different. I will still continue to report on the news, however, there will be more commentary from me. You are going to find out what I really think and what i really think should happen as a result of the issues we face. I will only talk about the subjects I am versed on. I will not pretend to be something I am not. I love the law, business, advocacy, and politics. So These will be the different subjects I will write about. My first book coming out in the fall will be about my life. "Life Without Love Tragedy Without Defeat" My second book hopefully will be published in 2012 and I am currently working on it and is called "In My Opinion" which is a book about the issues I am passionate about. However I also interviewed and I am presently in the process of interviewing many different individuals for the book. It gives different points of view on these political and social issues. Once it is complete it will be the book everyone will be talking about. The truth of what people are really thinking and guides on how to fix the issues that are covered by the people from the people. The world will see that everyday people can make a difference and their opinion counts.
  I know that in eleven days my life will begin again in a metaphoric way. My hope is that someone will be inspired and they too will begin again. Stronger, better, wiser. We can do it. Not divided but together. If we truly want to, we can do it.

A Peanut Allergy or Missed Opportunity for Compassion: A 6 Year Olds Fight

  Peanut allergies, food allergies, they are becoming more and more prevalent in our world and with our children every year. Recent CDC reports say 3.9% of children in the U.S. under the age of 18 have food allergies. An increase of 18% in the last decade. But in one town in town in Edwater Florida and the Edwater Public Elementary School has now made news headlines not  because of their welcoming, warm-hearted, supportive role in the fight against this epidemic. No, it is because a six year old girl, Alena Bailey, who has such a severe peanut allergy that her parents had to put a sign on their own front door to warn visitors, was publicly protested against her own community of peers and their parents. Even though the Federal and State law prohibits discrimination against such events through the ADA. (Americans with Disability Act)
  Apparently, these parents are up in arms about their children losing time in school because the children are made by the school to wash their hands and rinse their mouths before they reenter the classroom before school starts and after lunch. One parent said it takes away 2 1/2 hours a week from the children's education. Parents are also upset that the traditional snack hour has been cancelled because of possible peanut exposure.
  The parents and even some of their elementary children have began picketing the school. One parent told me, "A lot of time has been taken away from our education." This same parent during school hours, when asked if their child was with them picketing too said, "Of course they are. My child is not going back to school until my child has the same rights as the student with the peanut allergy. My child's rights are being trampled on for one student, and that is not fair. It is not fair to any of the other kids. Until the school hears and follows up with our demands, then my child will go back to school. We have taken our demands to the school board and will continue to protest until they are forced to come to a different resolution." She of course would not go on the record and allow me to share her name. But she wasn't alone. Many of the parents reportedly also feel like their children's rights are being taken away. So far it has been a four day stand off.
  The Bailey's have not brought Alena back to school either. They say "if we could come up with another resolution we would but we are talking about life or death here." Yet they are not alone in their fight. Though it may seem they may be silently alone at the moment. The six year old has been made to sit in a classroom at lunch by herself, while other children with food allergies have been alienated to a lone table in the schools cafeteria away from the other students during lunches for their "safety" the school says.
  Dr. Margaret Smith, the Superintendent of Volusia County Schools said "That the process doesn't take that long, their are many misconceptions, and knows and understands each parent wants all the kids to be safe, but also knows it is a very emotional issue." She went on to say "We as a school district have been working very hard to protect the child's safety with the peanut allergy, but also address the concerns the other parents have." One of the biggest misconceptions she said was that the children did not have to rinse their mouths out anymore, "That was just something we did as part of a school wide project for healthy mouth hygiene for awhile. It had nothing to do with the food allergy." And as for the daily snack time being taken away due to the food allergy problem, Dr. Smith says "This just was not the case. Many schools have gotten rid of there daily snack times not just because of possible food allergies but other concerns, such as possible food contamination's or foods that could possibly have drugs put in them. It was a safety issue and that was all."
  Is this a missed opportunity for compassion? Anyone with any common sense would say yes. I am an adult with a disability and have a child who has Aspergers. I know what it is like to fight for the rights of children who are different and help others, especially children with learning disabilities and adults, because I used to work in the field of social services and have been an advocate for years. It is a sad day when you have to go to a school and watch children being separated from others just because they are different. Then watch them not learning anything because the school is to lazy to do so. I was able to help change that, and now my daughter has flourished. However, because my children have been so involved with their peers and I have 8 children and have had many many children in my house over the years I also understand food allergies. It blows my mind that these parents are so narrow minded that they believe what should be just good hygiene anyway is becoming an issue about some sweet little girls food allergies.

  Each parent complain or participating in this boycott or picketing the school, especially with their children should seriously take some time and think about how much time they are taking away from their child's education now. Maybe we should take away recess. The kids don't need it really do they? It does take away from there education and study time.
  If people would take just a moment out of there day and use a little time to think things out before the acted...we call that common sense by the way...the world would be such a better place. Who I feel bad for the most is this little girl. She now has this scarlet letter on her. It is hard enough growing up and fitting in, and the grown ups have made it just that harder on her. You have missed a great opportunity to teach your children about compassion, empathy for others, and to educate them about an important topic. I feel sorry for you. I believe in second chances. I hope you take it for yourself and give one to little Miss Bailey. Also I hope you throw her a party (peanut free of course) just to say your sorry. Because if your child comes home beat up, made fun of, crying, etc, you can't complain, no matter how wrong it is...you taught them the behavior. Sad isn't it!
 
 
 

Controller Falls Asleep?

  At Regan International Airport Wednesday just a little after midnight two 7-37's and their pilots had to land on their own planes because they couldn't reach anyone in the control tower. American flight 1012 was the first that could not reach the control tower with seven passengers aboard their flight only minutes from the other flight. The other was United Airlines, with sixty-eight people on board, and heading in from Chicago. So where was the controller? Was he or she asleep? Did they have a medical emergency? Why is there only one controller and not two?
  Both pilots had to seek guidance from a near by tower in Virginia who also attempted to contact the controller and they couldn't get a response either. Here was the response back to the pilots: "American 1012, uh we called a couple times on a landline, and uh tried to call on the commercial line, and there's no answer."-Operations Facility Message Sent- "United 628, just so you are aware, we've had one aircraft go into DCA. he tower is apparently unmanned."-Operations Facility Message Sent-Thank goodness both planes landed safely and about five minutes later the tower controller was back.
  Passenger John Schriffen says the pilot got on the loud speaker and said, "Sorry folks. I can't get ahold of the air traffic control tower. We can't land right now. We are going to keep circling until we get a response." The plane did land safely a few minutes later using procedures for unmanned airports. They made frequent radio calls to other planes to let them know what their position was.
  The government believes that the controller who was the only one on duty may have fallen asleep. However this Federal officials say this controller has an unblemished record but they are trying to find out if he fell asleep or had a medical emergency. Former airline pilot, Jim Tillman, calls it "a serious laps," and went on to say, "of all the airports on the planet, this is the worst one for this to happen to.Lets face it, that airport sits within a baseball throw of the Pentagon, of the White House, of the Capital Building. This is not a good situation." Ray LaHood the Transportation is saying he is going to make sure there are two controllers on the late shift and he will also be reviewing staffing in the towers nationwide.
  STOP!!! Does anyone happen during 9-11? Now I understand that this was not the same situation. That someone may have fallen asleep or even had an emergency, but come on. Now I will be honest, I do not fly. Not if I can help it. The security measures scare me. Having to go through long lines of people, not knowing whether or not my luggage will actually get to my destination with me or not. Frankly my anxiety is way to high for all that fuss. I like the Amtrak or the car whenever possible. But this is ridiculous.
  My point is this. They expect us to stand in those long lines. Go through the intrusive pat-downs, and screenings, but they can't even stay awake or man a station (tower) so we can land safely. Thank the Lord for the pilots. Thank God they knew what they were doing. I don't understand why there wasn't already two people manning the towers to begin with. The Government needs to get their act together. Stop making yourselves richer, us more uncomfortable, and risking our lives in the process.
 

 

Elizabeth Taylor Will Be Remembered and Missed

  Elizabeth Taylor a two time Academy Award winning actress had recent health problems in recent years and appeared very frail during public appearances, was hospitalized six weeks ago with congestive heart failure. She recently suffered a number of complications, however was stabilized and it was hopeful she would return home. Thus, these hopes failed when our dear Miss Elizabeth passed away at the age of 79 in Los Angeles, California at Cedars Sinai Hospital surrounded by her children; Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd, and Maria Burton. Taylor was also survived by 10 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
  Taylor's publicist said in a statement, "My mother was an extra ordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great humor, and love." Her son also went on to make a statement, "Though her loss is devastating to those of us who held her close and so dear, we will always be inspired by her enduring contribution to our world. Her remarkable body of working film, her ongoing success as a businesswoman, and her brave and relentless advocacy in the fight against HIV/AIDS, all make us incredibly proud of what she accomplished. We know quite simply, that the world is a better place for Mom having lived in it. Her legacy will never fade, her spirit will always be with us, and her love will forever be in our hearts."

  Taylor was born in London in 1932 to American parents who returned to the U.S. with WWII looming. Elizabeth Taylor later beamed into the spotlight at the age of twelve after starring in the 1944 box office hit sensation "National Velvet." Yet it wasn't till later when she won acclaim as an adult with the 1951's "A Place In The Sun," and went on to score Best Actress Oscar Nominations for "Raintree County," "Caton A Hot Tin Roof," and "Suddenly Last Summer." And of Course we can not leave out the violet eyed film goddess most memorable role as "Cleopatra" in 1963. But later won Oscars for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf?" and "Butterflied 8."

  Unfortunately, Miss Taylor's sultry screen life was up-staged by her all to often publicized personal life. Her life was covered by all the gossip magazines and entertainment news stations. From her marriages and divorces (all 7), to what some believed or called as her eccentric friendships and lifestyle. The one most talked about was her relationship with the late Michael Jackson. Even all her health problems and concerns made headlines. The biographers say there were up to 30 maybe even 40 surgeries. Everything from the fall from her horse during an earlier film shoot, bouts of pneumonia, skin cancer, a tracheotomy, treatment for alcohol and pain killer addictions, and hip, brain, and even heart surgeries.

 No matter what the headlines and gossipers like to say, I would like to say Thank You. Thank you for for being the most popular actress of Hollywood's Golden Age. Thank You for all the wonderful work you did for HIV/AIDS, and thank you for all my favorite perfumes. The only one's on earth I am not allergic to. My favorite being Passions and White Diamonds. You were a wonderful woman. I met you once when I was young. You took the moment to sit and talk with me. Spend time and listen. I will never forget your generosity, your kindness, your love, and your words, that I will hold close to my heart. God bless you and your family. God rest your sweet soul.
 
 

Bullying...We Have Had Enough In All Forms!!!

 Everywhere we look now a days we find ourselves seeing or experiencing bullying! When is enough going to be enough? Will it always be a part of our societal make up forever or will, we as a society be able to knick this in the butt? These are the questions I am posing to you today.
 According to www.bullying.org bullying is a conscious, willful, deliberate, hostile, and repeated behaviour by one or more people which is intended to harm others. This includes physical violence, attacks, verbal taunts, name calling, put downs, threats, intimidation, extortion, stealing of money, possession, and exclusion from peer groups. They say this assertion through peer groups gives them a sense of entitlement and they have a intolerance towards indifference's.
  If face to face bullying wasn't enough, now we have what we call cyber bullying. "Cyber-bullying involves the use of information and communication technologies such as emails, cell phones, personal web sites, defamatory online personal polling websites, to support deliberate, repeated and hostile behavior by an individual or group that is intended to harm others."(-Bill Belsey) Cyber bullying has taken on its own life. Individuals are now using it to send hate list, smut list, and even nude pictures of others they do not like or want to embarrass. We now call this sexting.
  Now a days you can turn on your televisions and everyday there is a new headline on the news about a child, adult, or even ad from some political figure bullying another person. Yes, I even included political figures. Let's face it, bullying does come in many forms. And Political Ads is one of them. Take the Presidential Campaign of 2008. McCain went as far as to compare Obama to Paris Hilton and Brittany Spears. We all know how low these ads can go. We also know and understand that political campaigns are not beneath the bullying concept either before or after the election is over. Take a look at the next three YouTube Videos as examples to my point:


 

 

  In these video's you noticed not only negative ads but the bullying concept. Putting fear into others! Isn't that what bully's do? I say yes! Especially in the second video. How are we to expect our children to act any differently when we can't even get our own leaders to behave better. We must stop the negative behavior from the top down. We must tell our political leaders not only to stop the negative campaign ads but also the backhanded remarks, side-stepping behaviors they throw around daily on our dime. Then we can make a difference in our children's lives. Then we can stop teaching our children how to bully!
  In 2007 it was a parent involving himself in a wrestling match at school. Then it was a group of Florida teens pleading to beating a girl after inviting her to a slumber party. Today we have a boy who is hung by a fence and 7 teens arrested for the assault.Take a look:

  It used to be said that this would lead to suicide. Now that is a reality. All along it was leading to suicides, however it is just becoming more and more noticeable because of the Internet and other technologies. We have to many children dying because not enough schools, parents, or by-standards really give a damn. The worst thing on this earth is to feel alone. To feel like you have no one. Even if you do, not feeling that way can be a very lonely place. It has to stop.
  Yes, even I have been bullied! It wasn't a good feeling. I was scared, lonely and confused. I wanted to die! Luckily I am here to talk about it. Once, I was so bullied in school my mother had to go to school to make sure that the 20 kids waiting for me the day before off the school bus wouldn't be trying that again. I was even more embarrassed. Now that I look back on it, I am so glad I was embarrassed and safe rather than beat up, in the hospital, or worse.
  If you are bullying someone than you must stop and get help. You can have all the excuses in the world you want, but there is a problem and a reason you do what you do, and you need to reach out for help. Maybe you have been bullied to. Maybe you are having problems at home. Maybe you need to feel like you need to fit in. Whatever the reason, you can't continue this type of behavior because we are all watching. We will no longer allow it to happen anymore!
  If you are being bullied than please reach out for help! Reach out till you are heard. You are not alone. You do have people who do care and who want to help. Do Not Give Up! You are a special human being, with wonderful skills to offer this world. Do not let them win.
  If you are enabling this to happen shame on you! If you are a parent, teacher, or school administrator, police officer, judge, or anyone else who has authority and you allow this to happen, act this way yourself therefore contribute to this problem, or say things like "kids will be kids" and turn a blind eye to this epidemic please take a look at the next video and I hope you remember what can happen.

Same Sex Marriage Distracting from Economic Goals?

  I caught up on some reading last night. A pile of newspapers that accumulated in my front room. A article in the 'Conversation' section in The Indianapolis Star caught  my attention - "Marriage ban distracts from economic goals" written by Angela F. Braley, John C Lechleiter, David Simon, Jeffery H. Smulyan, and Tim Solso. All representing the companies they happen to be CEO's and chairman's to. Braly of WellPoint, Lechleiter of Eli Lilly and Company, Simon from Simon Property Group, Smulyan of Emmis Communications, and Solso from Cummins.
  Apparently these companies and their presidents are concerned with the HJR 6 measure that went before the Indiana State Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, where the ban on same sex marriage and civil union was expected to pass with a GOP majority.
  The executives wrote in their article in The Indianapolis Star, "As some of Indiana's largest public companies, we are profoundly concerned about this legislation and its effect on our employees and our state...our concerns are these:
  *The legislation is not needed because Indiana already has a law banning same-sex marriage.
  *The legislation represents government targeted discrimination against a specific group of people.
  *The legislation is ambiguously written and we believe it will have a chilling and discriminating effect on many of our employees.
  *The legislation sends a signal to the world that Indiana and its residents are less than welcoming people."
  They do go on to say "discrimination is bad in any form. When it is expressed in the form of public policy, it not only makes for bad policy, but it makes for bad business.."
  It was apparent that these companies opposed HJR 6. What took me back and made me almost gasp is when I read and re-read, "Our companies...believe it works against Indiana's sated desire to broaden its appeal to attract new business to the state...our success is directly affected by our ability to attract the best talent in the world...HJR 6 would severely limit our ability to bring those talented individuals home to Indiana."
  OK! Hold Up! Stop and think about this for a minute. Do you really believe that allowing or disallowing same-sex marriage marriages or civil unions will effect who gets hired in the state of Indiana or any other state in this country right now. With a 8.9% unemployment rate can we really afford to turn anyone away? Whether they are gay or straight. We are not so narrow minded as Americans that we wont come here or anywhere in the U.S. where same-sex marriage has been banned. Do you truly believe that the millions of Americans desperately looking for work won't go just about anywhere to find work, including Indiana if the ban is lifted or not.
  The company adds fuel to the fire by not only pointing out how they already provide "various domestic-partner benefits" but later state, "HJR 6 is a distraction that does nothing to solve our broader economic goals."
  The Indiana House voted 70-26 to pass the ban on same sex marriage and civil unions. The amendment states, "Marriage. Provides that only marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Indiana. Provides that a legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized. This proposed amendment has not been previously agreed to by a general assembly." Though it did pass in the Indiana Senate it now must go to a separately-elected House and Senate for approval which wont vote on it until sometime in either 2013 or 2014.
  In my opinion, these company executives should be ashamed of themselves. You cant say we provide domestic partner benefits and embrace diverse perspectives than slap all the employees and customers you serve in the face by saying that they are a distraction from broader economic issues. These are the people who buy your products, shop at your malls, and buy your drugs. And most of all work very hard for you.
  If it were not for all Americans including the Gay and Lesbian community, you would not have jobs, a cushy salary, or a business to begin with. It is not the legislation that sends a signal to the world that Indiana and its residents are less than welcoming to all people. No it is CEO's like yourself that look at the bottom line instead of the full picture. You are walking a tight rope. On one hand you are standing up for the opposition of HJR 6 and on the other hand you are not taking a complete stand on discrimination of same-sex couples and civil unions. For example, your first concern, "legislation is not needed because we already have a law banning same-sex marriage. Why not say we don't need the ban anymore, period.
  These companies are to be commended to some degree if they do have benefits in place for domestic partnerships. However, do not think for a moment we don't see through all the political correctness rhetoric. Ask yourselves, is it that you want the issue of HJR 6 to just go away, so the money you paid during all the political campaigns will be spent on issues or projects more palatable to you, or do you really actually care about same-sex marriage issues and civil unions? My guess is that since you believe it is a distraction...well you are intelligent well educated executives, I think you can figure it out.
  It's a shame we as Americans can't have civil right issues heard because once again those who truly run the country...Corporate America...doesn't have time or it doesn't fit their itinerary.