Regarding the Catholic Sun's cover story, "EXODUS: Are Arizona Immigration Laws Having An Effect on Churchgoers?".  My simple answer  to the headline's posed question is as a churchgoer, YES, I am deeply effected.  As a Master degreed counselor, I've worked in local schools, for Maricopa County Juvenile Courts, and privately.  I can attest to the fact that there is a great need to help young families suvive and thrive- to ultimately achieve the American Dream. 

Managing Editor and article author, J.D. Long-Garcia, pointed out how there is a natural desire to immigrate and improve, even quoting Pope JohnXXIII. I feel for the young family here with limited options and now a sense of urgency to leave either due to the economy or fear of new legislation. Whether the economic woes we all feel or the laws new impact, the illegal immigrants face the flip side of the American Dream: living within the law is a hard thing to do at times. 

I also read the wonderful and touching story of the Myanmar family of St. Jerome's parish who lost their son.  I was impressed to see that Catholic Charities helped the family emmigrate and find a home in Arizona.  The community helped this family in their joy and now in sorrow. The role of a Church Charity is best met in helping families achieve legal status and find a community of support. 

As a a parishioner, I've listened to presentations by pastors of Mexican parishes talk of the degredation and third world-like standards in many poor communities south of the border.  Our parisioners opened their wallets as the plate was passed. We help all of the time and want the poor to have a chance. We need more than  biased, politically charged stories from the Catholic Sun. Your piece was not a news story but an opinion commentary promoted as news.  I want to hear more about what is being done to help Mexicans thrive back home.  With some of the most fertile ground, ideal location, and world importance, why IS Mexico struggling internally?  Poor infrastructure and corruption are critical realities that,  I believe, the Catholic Church as a World-wide organization and political power needs to step up and help as negotiating statesmen. 

Organized crime and drug trafficking  is a booming business of epoch proportions in Mexico.  In fact, there are reports of how the local economies of some areas are improving from the drug cartel monies funneling into the local economies.  Sadly, the local criminals in Mexico see the need for better socieities and the locals cannot turn down the help.  I am tired of the American citizen being blamed for expecting people to follow laws while being asked to donate money while the country of origin is literally ignored.   A vital story I read stated the following: "By some estimates, some $24 billion a year is transferred to Mexico as a result of the drug trade. This is essentially free money and needs to go somewhere, making it a substantial portion of the Mexican economy. While the Mexican government is keen to stop the violence along the border and among the cartels, in some ways it is less interested in stopping the flow of money," (http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/big_business_organized_crime_mexico).

The real story, Mr. Long-Garcia,  is not  the illegal alien scared of being caught, but the multi-billion dollar corrupt practices of drugs, of using and abusing the citizens there, and the absolute drain on our loving society to try and band-aid a political wound , now bleeding out on the Arizonan border. 

"Behold, I am Funkadelic. I am not of your world. But fear me not, I will do you no harm. Loan me your funky mind and I shall play with it. For nothing is good unless you play with it. And all that is good, is nasty!"

("What Is Soul," Funkadelic, 1969)

But Parliament member, Bootsy, said it best:"

 

I pledge allegiance to the funk,
the whole funk,
and nothing but the funk,
so help me James, Sly and George,
Amen.

 

http://www.fastnbulbous.com/funkadel.htm

So as for my last take on the Phenom:

To understand the culture of the day is to study the under belly.  Looking underneath our cloaks, seek the crypto-clues of what we are wanting in a President.  Don't get lost in the psychobabble of  the "hero president" and where is the Reaganesque, swaggering John Wayne-abees? That fluff is so played. 

Get lost in the post 9/11 era and you'll miss the forest through the trees.  We really don't want a normal hero type, but a paranormal Phenom.  This generation of Gen-X, Y and now Z voters grew up watching horror films, playing video games, and reading Stephen King.  Your average 35-45 year old is much more comfortable discussing ghosts than God.  He smoked pot, looks at porn, yet prays a lot too; now has a wife and kids he cannot figure out.  His parents were likely divorced and he secretly thinks movies like Independence Day could happen.

He's a fast foodie not eating any of that stylized sludge he watches being whipped up on the Food Channel.  He's overweight, underloved, not sleeping well and he has reflux. Yet, in spite of everything, he loves.   This fact cannot be lost in the shuffle and is the key to it all.  He is sick and tired of being judged by a projectile vomiting media telling him how to feel, live, and vote.

Maybe some thinker in a tank left of central will call him names and miss it all.  This 'guy' is the heart of the country and he lives in the fly over areas-- like Iowa, Michigan, and even Arizona. Liberals are losing more and more ground than you know because they have no clue about who is this voter.  This young Republican is a decent man (or woman) lost in the consumerism, and a product of the weak parenting of the 70s.  He's is just starting to get that he is now in charge.  He has a job, too many bills, and no time for sentimentality. Yet, he does love a good cause and he is searching. 

Women and men of my generation straddle the baby boom gap of post-World War II.  What Bill Clinton captured in the hearts of the boomers was palpable, but they are not the target audience anymore.   The 60s young are now in their sixties and what many had was over-bloated self-confidence fueling their "Me Generation".  My peers did not and do not have that luxury.  We were the first kids taught of Stranger Danger.  Now, our kids can't play in the front yard without a chaperon and are fingerprinted just in case they get abducted.  Monsters are real to us.

Our wanderlust of heart is captured not by a hero but by a superhero.  Watch the movies of our time, read the comics, and understand the love of games and sports.  Warriors, lovers, strongholds of precise drive and direction.  It's  Gladiator and Braveheart, but it's Passion of the Christ meets Predator.  Where's the candidate who shines beyond the dull of this Pale Horse we see riding in?  We truly suspect the Horseman is riding, but we are not thrown at all.  The horror of the day- we have been prepared for the Evil.  Terrorism is the Evil and our Good needs a Leader Beyond the Pale to go beyond protecting us.  We want him to save us  and triumph over Evil. 

This Phenom may not exist but, please make us think he does, and we are with you.  Why do you think confident, attractive Barack Obama sways the young: he projects stability with a touch of swashbuckle.  Yet, his message is non-existent; Obama says he'll save but does not tell us how.  Barack Obama is a stage prop at the podium. So, who is there for the Republicans?

Just today,  I heard in John McCain some substantial humanity, humility, and defined policies regarding the economy and the war.  McCain was downright contrite- thank God.  We need his reality and commanding strength to come through.  Let John be John.

I believe that the Republicans feeling disenfranchised just want proof, a promise, and a platform from our Grand Old Politician.  We need to be needed and protected, and do not buy into the teleprompter talking points shoveled in most speeches.  Give us more Mr. McCain, like you did today, and hold on tightly to your imperfection as it is your winning feature. 

Many talked of the religion issue bringing down Romney, but I don't think so.  Mitt Romney didn't have likability.  He swaggered, yes, but in the wrong way. Romney seemed like the smart, wealthy, good looking, big man on campus, who's also a bit removed from the real people who have late bills and athlete's feet.  He was not warm and I don't care about his perfect hair. 
 

John McCain is an ol'coot, with an annoying smirkiness and foul mouth.  He's very real and if he keeps his eyes on the people and off of the horrible teleprompter during the speeches, he might do this.  Good guys who are also hotheads flip flop into nice guys when it matters, as they know they are not perfect.  It's the nice guys with perfect hair you watch out for because they lack EMPATHY and seem self-serving. I did not sense any warmth from Mitt Romney and whether you like it or not, many Republicans who made the effort to vote, did not feel a kindred spirit with Mitt Romney either.

So Mr. McCain, can you become the Phenom- that wonder boy though in your seventies; that hopeful new blood on a road less traveled with your old walking papers and maverick shoddy steps?  Show me Mac, and make it an extra-value meal please.

It's said that the only things we cannot avoid in life are death and taxes.  I am adding debates to the list as we inch so slowly to the finish line of the vote.  The GOP is so civil and decent.  BORING.  I kinda liked the Jerry Springer element of the Donkey Kong debate of last week.   We need to get a moderator like Springer. 

 No, better yet, the World Wrestling Federation could sponsor the debate and do more of a SUPER TUESDAY-GOP Smackdown.  Young voters would go wild, we could have a ring set up in Wesley Bolin Plaza, invite Local celebutwits and high rent low brows to watch.  Hey, I am not the first to note the potential as even John McCain recognizes the fight issue, when referring to Mitt Romney.  He was quoted in late December at boston.com,  "Never get into a wrestling match with a pig. You both get dirty -- and the pig likes it."

If not Jerry Springer, I think Bill O'Reilly could do a bang up job as a moderator referee for the event:

All McCain has to do is mess up Mitt Romney's coif and it's game on.  Everybody thinks McCain could win it but I am thinking the dark horse to bring the rest down will be Republican resident craizoid, Ron Paul.  Now to be called, Ron 'the Scarecrow' Paul as he's got a simple scary thing going on; we know he's looking for his brain.

  OOPS!  Thats Ru Paul... although a good candidate for the GOP Smackdown anyway. 

    I think Ron Paul will knock over Romney, mess the mop, and it's a done deal.

 BEFORE:

AFTER:  

UNfortuantely, if John McCain and Mitt Romney are taken down by the third party Scarecrow, we're gonna get this:

   Remember all, in terms of an election, we want this:

Keep and Eye on the Ruby Slippers people....

"By accepting pregnancy discrimination in school and workplace and the lack of support in society for pregnant women and parents, especially the poor, Sarah Weddington (Roe v. Wade  case winning attorney) and the Supreme Court betrayed women and undermined the support women need and deserve. Since then, millions of women have paid the price, struggling in school and the workplace without societal support. After all, when it's her body, it's her choice, it's her problem." 

With the Right to Life movement experiencing years of relegated falsehoods, and being portrayed as a fringe group of religious reactionaries, there is a time and place for understanding.  All life matters and the original defenders of women were moms.  They loved their kids and wanted to help other mothers experience all glories of life.

Thankfully, abortion numbers are down but over a million children were terminated this last year.  Of the terminated, children of color  are disproportionately represented.  Also, a large number of women aborting are college age(http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_induced_abortion.html).  

Legislation has been introduced to counter the overwhelmingly abortion-choice focused women's health centers on college campuses today.  Many young women can tell of how they receive literature, counseling, and even funding to help them terminate pregnancies, leaving out the baby's father in the process, and taking on the burden of social norms -telling these ladies that children will ruin their lives.  The Elizabeth Cady Stanton Pregnant and Parenting Student Services Act of 2007 , was introduced in bipartisan fashion by Senators Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., and Ben Nelson, D-Neb.  “This legislation supports women who wish to be both students and mothers,” said Senator Nelson. “By fostering a parent-friendly environment in our nation’s universities, we can help these students who have made the decision to balance parenthood and education.”

As noted, the legislation asks for a mere pittance of what abortion activism receives. 

The bipartisan Senate bill, if passed into law, would establish a pilot program to provide up to $50 million in grants to encourage institutions of higher education to establish and operate a pregnant and parenting student services office. The on-campus office would serve parenting students, prospective student parents who are pregnant or imminently anticipating an adoption, and students who are placing or have placed a child for adoption. Legislation with the same name was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, and Sue Myrick, R-N.C., in February.

College, employment, and personal development are not choices instead of parenthood. Harmony is blending unique aspects, as is any family.  Many of us were unplanned and thankfully so as that is the way of nature.  Families are part of that natural course of life. If you agree with the thought here, please visit the experts-


For more information, please visit http://www.feministsforlife.org