The Two Wolves An old Grandfather, whose grandson came to him with anger at a schoolmate who had done him an injustice, said, "Let me tell you a story. I too, at times, have felt a great hate for those that have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do. But hate wears you down, and does not hurt your enemy. It is like taking poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times."
He continued, "It is as if there are two wolves inside me; one is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him and does not take offense when no offense was intended. He will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way."
"But the other wolf, ah! He is full of anger. The littlest thing will set him into a fit of temper. He fights everyone, all the time, for no reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great. It is hard to live with these two wolves inside me, for both of them try to dominate my spirit."
The boy looked intently into his Grandfather's eyes and asked, "Which one wins, Grandfather?"
In my mother's antique shop were a variety of treasures for a curious child. My personal favorite was the Victrola that sat stately in the corner, a large internal phonograph that begged to be heard. The sounds it made were bold and cavernous, like an opera in a wooden box. This one was an early model, so I heard adults say, and it was in great condition. So it seemed peculiar to me that our frequent requests to put it into action were, from time to time, resisted. To me it was a perfect treasure, a magnificent and flawless toy. To the owner of the store, it was a treasure that was capable of breaking before it sold. "As is" was not a phrase she wanted to add to the price tag.
"As is" was a label that was seen occasionally within the shop, conveying an item with damage or brokenness of some sort. "As is" marked the clock that had stopped ticking, or the rocking horse that had a crack in one of its legs. Because I knew my mother as one who could fix almost anything, the label also conveyed to me a certain sense of defeat. Whatever the item, it was a lost cause--a treasure bearing some distinguishable, irreparable flaw.
I suspect from time to time many of us feel something like the object marked "as is" or the treasure with only a matter of time before something goes awry. With a sense of defeat, we view our lives through the lens of what is broken or has been broken, what is irreparable or what might break. Looking ahead, we see the baggage behind us, which seems to declare emphatically our status "as is."
Writing centuries before our own, King David wrote of God:
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise (Psalm 51:16-17).
Such words run counter to cultures anywhere. Brokenness is usually not something we are comfortable admitting, let alone presenting it as something that is pleasing to anyone. Whether in ourselves or in others, we are at times almost averse to fragility. Even as Christians who hold knowingly to the cruciform image of Christ, we seem now and then distinctly uncomfortable with broken and grieving people, defeated and weakened lives. Yet it is by the Cross that we live: "Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows... But he was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities" (Isaiah 53:4-5). Isn't it strange that we who are saved by one who was broken should struggle in the presence of brokenness at all?
Like the psalmist, the apostle points to the potential within fragility. "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body (2 Corinthians 4:7-10).
Whether we come to God shattered by our own sin, like David, or broken from living in an imperfect world, we are never so near Him as when we come with nothing in our hands to offer. God's desire is that we would come as we are--weary or heavy laden, defeated or broken by life. Before the Cross, there is no lost cause or irreparable flaw. For in life, as in an antique shop, there would be no recognition of brokenness if there were not such a thing as wholeness.
Jill Carattini is senior associate writer at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.
A husband and wife had a human cannonball act in the circus. One day the wife ran off with the lion tamer. The husband was extremely dejected. The strong man asked him what he was going to do.
The husband answered, "This is a disaster. I don't know where I'm going to find another woman of her caliber."
AT&T is striving to make text-to-speech sound as authentic as possible. Listen to male and female voices say whatever you type in--even foreign languages. Type in your name and listen. TO VISIT THIS SITE, GO HERE: http://www.research.att.com/projects/tts/demo.html
Howdy says: "FORWARD TO FRIENDS & YOUR MAMA!" First Published In Last Century - July 26,1997 Thought For The OPEN Mind - Humor From American Culture
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As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. --Psalm 103
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"It is the duty of nations, as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God and to recognize the sublime truth announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord." -- President Abraham Lincoln
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Q. What did one pickle say to the other? A. "You mean a great dill to me."
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TRIVIA:
WHAT MAKES A WAVE BREAK?
A wave breaks when the water underneath supporting the wave is only about 1.3 times as deep as the wave is high. When that happens, the water at the crest is moving faster than the water below. Most often, waves break in shallow water near the shore, but waves may also break father off if the wave is high enough.
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When a piece of glass cracks, the crack travels faster than 3,000 miles per hour.
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WHAT ARE THE FOUR ORGANIC GEMSTONES?
Jewelers recognize four organic substances as gemstones: ivory, pearl, amber, and coral. Other precious and semi-precious gems are considered minerals.
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The slang word "yahoo" first appeared in Swift's 1726 book "Gulliver’s Travels" as the name of a race of sub-human brutes.
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CAN A CONDEMNED MAN/WOMAN BE FREED AS A RESULT OF MECHANICAL FAILURE?
It is widely believed that if an electric chair or gas chamber should fail to operate, or the rope breaks during a hanging, the prisoner must go free because he cannot twice be put in jeopardy for the same offense. But this is a confusion between the trial and the sentence. A man cannot, under the Constitution be tried twice for the same offense. But once he has been con- victed and sentenced, then the sentence must be carried out, malfunctioning equipment or not, if the law is to be followed.
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Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy. --Ephesians 5
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If you stop believing what your professor told you had to be true and if you start thinking for yourself you may come to some conclusions you hadn't expected. You may find the Bible makes more sense than you thought or were told to think. Allow yourself to be ruined, ruined with regard to what you always thought could be true. Can you believe what you don't understand? You and I believe everyday what we don't understand unless it comes to the issue of salvation. - - - Dr. Woodrow Kroll
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"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat." -- Teddy Roosevelt
KIDS' SITE: NEWS FOR KIDS! http://pencilnews.com/index.php PencilNews is an online newspaper that covers national, international and sports news. A "pencil reports" section has in-depth stories.
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Depressed, Troubled, Worried??? Big Problems??? Want to talk with a LIVE trained counselor??? Want to get REAL help??? (FREE - English/Spanish)
{Double click on the web address above for additional information:}
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Millions of years ago, there was no such thing as the wheel. One day, some primitive guys were watching their wives drag a dead mastodon to the food & fire area. It was exhausting work; the guys were getting tired just watching.
Then they noticed some large, smooth, rounded boulders and they had a great idea! They could sit on top of the boulders and get a better view of their wives working.
This was the first in a series of breakthroughs that ulti- mately led to television...and later to the remote control.
Dave Barry
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"Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people, who have...a right, an indisputable, unalienable, indefeasible, Divine right to that most dreaded and envied kind of knowledge, I mean the characters and conduct of their rulers." --John Adams
Taking the Long View: Panoramic Photographs, ca. 1851 - 1991, collection contains about 4000 panoramic views of American main ... http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/pnhtml/pnhome.html
To judge from the covers of countless women's magazines, the two topics most interesting to women are: (1) Why men are all disgusting pigs and (2) How to attract men." Dave Barry
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If Tuesday Weld married Fredric March's grandson she'd be Tuesday March the third
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"Though I do not appreciate some of his humor, Science fiction novelist Kurt Vonnegut writes with fantastic imagination. In one scene, main character Kilgor Trout, sits content at a bar when he is suddenly overwhelmed by someone or something that has entered the room. He begins to sweat, uncomfortably aware of a presence far greater than himself.
Who is it? The author, Kurt Vonnegut, himself! The effect is fascinating. When the author of the book steps into the novel, fiction is lost within a higher reality—the reality of Kurt Vonnegut. But Vonnegut has stepped into Kilgor's world for no other reason than to explain the meaninglessness of Kilgor's life. Vonnegut came to explain to Kilgor face to face that the very tiresome life he has led was, in fact, all due to the author's pen.
In this twisted ending, Kilgor is forced to conclude that apart from the author he does not exist. But ironically, he also must come to terms with the fact that it is because of the author that his very existence has been ridiculous. It is quite a story!
The Gospel writers tell a similar story, but it is one with consequences in stark contrast to Vonnegut's tale. The Gospel of John tells it like this: "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a Father's only son, full of grace and truth… From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (John 1:14,16).
Working in urban ministry several years ago, I saw a small glimpse of the significance of the Incarnation of Christ. During the first year, I lived in an apartment just outside the city. But during the second year I was able to move into the neighborhood where many of the children involved in our ministry lived. The difference was profound. Teenagers that previously had held me at arms length came closer. Kids continually came to my door to ask if I could play. I lived among them. In their minds, I was now interested in their lives in a real and tangible way. I was a hand to hold on the way home, a next-door neighbor to sit with on the porch, a heart that knew both the joys and fears of the city. Stepping into their world changed everything.
How much more the Author of life has stepped into our world to change our lives. John relays as an eyewitness that Jesus Christ, God incarnate, fully divine and fully human, came to live among our world in flesh and blood. Eternity stepped into time bringing grace and truth; the Author of life stepped into the presence of his creation bringing the message of eternity, proclaiming the meaning of life. In intense contrast to the author of Kilgor's life, God stepped into our world to touch the story of our lives with his hand and his face, in order that we might know Him.
Think about this. The Author himself chose to become one of us, dying a painful lonely death on behalf of us, all in order to reach us. This is the story you are a part of. How will you respond? Let us not, as Isaiah warned the people of his day, turn things upside down, regarding the potter as the clay (Isaiah 29:16). Asks Isaiah, "Shall the thing that was made say of its maker, 'He did not make me' or the thing formed say of him who formed it, 'He has no understanding'?" To know the Author is to know the way, the truth, and the life. He is the highest reality. He is the meaning. And He wants to make sure that you know. Jill Carattini
To subscribe, send blank e-mail with the subject 'Subscribe': slice-subscribe@lists.gospelcom.net
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Is Islam, in fact, a peaceful religion?
While public relations campaigns in America promote Islam as being a peaceful religion, Christians around the world in countries like Pakistan, Indonesia, and Sudan continue to suffer under this shroud of misinformation. This is not to say that all Muslims are either radical or promote violence. However, a further understanding of Islamic teachings demonstrates the acceptance and even encouragement of persecution against Christians as well as others who oppose Islamic teaching.
Today in most Islamic controlled countries, Christians are under some threat and possibly extreme danger for practicing any type of evangelism among their neighbors. Even greater dangers loom for any Muslim who chooses to convert to Christianity. While propaganda sweeps rapidly throughout the United States, Christians must learn the truth. Americans must wake up to the call to support those who are persecuted for their belief in Jesus Christ.
If you are an individual who is concerned about those who are persecuted and want to learn first hand of the incredible faith and courage of Christians living in Muslim nations click below for your FREE subscription to the Voice of the Martyrs monthly newsletter - - a publication that no one should be without. http://www.persecution.com/
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"If the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made not for the public good so much as for the selfish or local purposes." --Daniel Webster
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it." --Thomas Paine
"Providence has given our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as privilege and interest, of a Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." --John Jay
"Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants." --William Penn
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Faith and love are apt to be spasmodic in the best of minds. Men and women live on the brink of mysteries and harmonies into which they never enter and with their hand on the doorlatch they die outside. GK Chesterton
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Who is Jesus? (http://www.ccci.org/whoisjesus/interactive-journey/)
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Quite often we change jobs, friends and spouses instead of ourselves.
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A Short Look at Six World Religions: http://www.probe.org/docs/world.html
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Pretty Stones & Dead Babies
There's an abortion clinic in Pittsburgh that defies all the stereotypes. The walls are lined with pink paper hearts containing heartfelt messages from parents to their aborted children. Family members are encouraged to write in a journal in the waiting room. And at the end of every pre- abortion counseling session, the patient is given a pretty, colorful stone to take with her.
What does a pretty, colorful stone have to do with abortion? The answer proves to be as bizarre as the question.
This novel approach to abortion is the trademark of a group of abortion clinics called the November Gang. A story in the September GLAMOUR magazine explains that at these clinics, "intensive counseling is offered to patients . . . Despite being staunchly pro-choice, counselors venture more willingly into areas like grief and regret than at most abortion clinics." They talk with the women about religious and psychological issues and let the women talk about their feelings toward their unborn babies.
Though the story doesn't say so, I wouldn't be surprised if the members of the November Gang are simply copying the counseling-centered approach pioneered by pro-life crisis pregnancy centers. But what the abortion clinic counselors are counseling is very different.
The GLAMOUR article reports, "One of the questions November Gang clinics sometimes ask patients is, Can you see abortion as a 'loving act' toward your children and yourself?" Faced with that query, "a lot of them are totally taken aback," says clinic director Debi Jackson. "Then they actually think about it, and they're like, 'Yeah, that's what I'm doing. I do love this child, but I can't [have] it right now.'" If a woman asks if God will forgive her, a counselor will turn the question back to her: "'Do you think there are any things that God considers completely unforgivable?'"
What these abortion counselors are doing is coaching patients to twist their own words, emotions, and moral understanding so that they can feel justified doing something that they're clearly acknow- ledging is wrong. In language full of sentiment, these women are gently encouraged to put their own short-term needs first, and not to think about what's best both for their babies and themselves in the long run.
The pink hearts signed "Mommy"; the informal baptism ceremonies that some women hold after their abortions; the stones that the women are told to "imbue . . . with whatever meaning they choose" -- all these things meant to heal and comfort are rendered duplicitous by the brutal act taking place. All the pink paper hearts in the world don't change the fact that abortion is taking a life with the mother's permission.
Pro-life advocates and counselors have been using the language of help and healing for a long time now and with great results. We need to keep doing that, but we also need to point out that language can be deadly when it is not used in service of the truth. Women do need to know that comfort and forgiveness are always available through Christ, if repentance is sincere. But they also need to understand that a child's life for a pretty, colorful stone is a very bad deal. Chuck Colson
1) All bombs are fitted with electronic timing devices, which have large red read-outs to tell you exactly when it will go off.
2) Should you need to pass yourself off as a German officer it will not be necessary to speak the language, a convincing accent will do.
3) All apartments in Paris overlook the Eiffel tower.
4) Most lap top computers are powerful enough to override a bank security system or the communication system of an invading alien civilization.
5) Every single person in martial arts film has a black belt in karate.
6) When staying in a haunted house, women should investigate any strange noises in their most revealing underwear.
7) 1 man shooting at 20 men has more chance of hitting them than 20 men shooting at 1 man if he is the hero.
8) During a police investigation it will be necessary to visit a strip joint at least once.
9) Large studio-type apartments in big cities are affordable by single people with a low wage.
10) The entire British population lives in London.
11) It doesn't matter if you are heavily outnumbered in a martial arts fight; your enemies will attack you one at a time while the others dance around you menacingly.
12) In musicals everyone you meet in the street will know all the words to the songs and the steps to the dances.
13) When captured by an evil international terrorist, guns are not necessary to defeat them, sarcasm and wisecracks are your best weapons.
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Q: If you are stranded on a desert island with Adolph Hitler, Atilla the Hun, and a lawyer, and you have a gun with only two bullets, what do you do? A: Shoot the lawyer twice.
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A UNC cheerleader was having sharp pains in her side. The doctor examined her and said, ''You have acute appendicitis.''
The student yelled at the doctor... ''I came here to get medical help, not get a stupid compliment!!''
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UNC 'Breviated Medicul Deckshunnary!
adenoids.....(n) Space critters whut are keepin' Elvis alive on Pluto anasthesia...(n) Rushun princess y'all red 'bout in skool. antacid......(n) aloosinagenic drugs uzed by itty bitty bugz. bowel........(n) A alfabit letter lyke A, E, I, O, or U or why? bronchitis...(n) dinosour frum the plastikseen age; extinked. catscan......(v) lukin' fer hookers (don y'all do this) cauterize....(v) makin' eye contak with a strange woman (berry dangerous) d & c........(n) Warshingtun; whar the weirdos, purvurts, & kongress type peepul live. emema........(n) sumone who ain't never no frend no how fester.......(n) yer unkles name (mos likelee) heart........(v) when u cauz pain to some1 hypodermic...(n) huge, big, fat zoo crittur; mostly live in de woter mamogram.....(n) short note sent 2 yer ma er other female papsmear.....(v) when peepul sez veri ugli things bout yer pappy recovery.....(n) place wear yew fix up yer fernitur rectum.......(v) whut happenz when yew drive yer pick up truck drunk seizure......(n) Emperore of Rome. series.......(n) tv continuin show, fer sample, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. tumor........(n) how many beers yew can drink after last call urine........(v) xact oppisyte of yerrout
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Please note: If you see a UNC student or liberal reading 'Thought & Humor', please explain to them which is thought & which is humor. They always get it backwards.......
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How's That Again??? (Actual Headlines)
Eye Drops Off Shelf Kids Make Nutritious Snacks Dealers Will Hear Car Talk at Noon Milk Drinkers are Turning to Powder Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant Two Sisters Reunited After 18 Years at Checkout Counter Include Your Children When Baking Cookies Old School Pillars are Replaced by Alumni Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors Lawmen From Mexico Barbeque Guests Two Soviet Ships Collide, One Dies Red Tape Holds Up New Bridge Iraqi Head Seeks Arms Hershey Bars Protest
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AMERICA ARCHIVED http://www.archives.gov/ This government site offers access to historic documents. View the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights.
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You can either be honest or dishonest, you cannot be little bit honest and little bit dishonest like one can either be pregnant or not pregnant but one can't be a little bit pregnant!!
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The Bible, Slavery, and America's Founders This article by Stephen McDowell of the Providence Foundation provides an in-depth look at slavery both in the Bible and in early American history. Read Article >> http://www.wallbuilders.com/resources/search/detail.php?ResourceID=94
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Watch your thoughts, they become your words. Watch your words, they become your actions. Watch your actions, they become your habits. Watch your habits, they become your character.
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A man is walking along the beach when he trips over something in the sand.
Upon examination, he sees that it's a genie's lamp. He eagerly rubs the lamp and out pops a genie who says, "I am the genie of the lamp. I have been trapped in this lamp for 1,000 years. For setting me free I will grant you one wish."
The man thought and thought. Finally, he pulled out a map and said, "It's been my goal in life to do something for mankind for which everyone else will remember me. You see this region here on the map? It's called the Middle East and it's a very violent region. I realize I could wish for a lot of money, or fame, but I'd like to use this wish for peace in the Middle East."
The genie looked disappointed. He said, "I'm sorry sir, but I can't grant that wish. The people of that region have been fighting for thousands of years. The wars go back many, many generations. The religious battles and opinions run rampant in that area. Boundary disputes are constantly occurring. Violence and hatred is too far engrained into this part of the world for even one of my wishes to do any good.
I'm sorry, but I just can't do that. Have you another wish?"
"Well," said the man. "If I can't do that for mankind, perhaps I can do this for men. I would like to understand how women work. What makes them laugh? What makes them cry? What affects their emotions? How do I make them happy? Why do they do the things they do? I wish I could fully understand women."
The genie replied, "let me see that map again."
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Actor Mel Gibson on what women want ..... "After about twenty years of marriage, I'm finally starting to scratch the surface of that one. And I think the answer lies somewhere between conversation and chocolate."
THE LAW IS THE LAW This is one of the better e-mails I have received in a long time! I hope this makes its way around the USA several times over!!!!! So Be It!
THE LAW IS THE LAW
So if the US government determines that it is against the law for the words "under God" to be on our money, then, so be it.
And if that same government decides that the "Ten Commandments" are not to be used in or on a government installation, then, so be it.
And since they already have prohibited any prayer in the schools, on which they deem their authority, then so be it.
I say, "so be it," because I would like to be a law abiding US citizen.
I say, "so be it," because I would like to think that smarter people than I are in positions to make good decisions
I would like to think that those people have the American Publics' best interests at heart.
BUT, YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE I'D LIKE?
Since we can't pray to God, can't Trust in God and cannot Post His Commandments in Government buildings,
I don't believe the Government and it's employees should participate in the Easter and Christmas celebrations which honor the God that our government is eliminating from many facets of American life.
I'd like my mail delivered on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving & Easter. After all, it's just another day.
I'd like the US Supreme Court to be in session on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving & Easter as well as Sundays. After all, it's just another day.
I'd like the Senate and the House of Representatives to not have to worry about getting home for the "Christmas Break." After all it's just another day.
I'm thinking that a lot of my taxpayer dollars could be saved, if all government offices & services would work on Christmas, Good Friday & Easter.
It shouldn't cost any overtime since those would be just like any other day of the week to a government that is trying to be "politically correct."
In fact...
I think that our government should work on Sundays (initially set aside for worshipping God...) because, after all, our government says that it should be just another day....
What do you all think????
If this idea gets to enough people, maybe our elected officials will stop giving in to the minority opinions and begin, once again, to represent the 'majority' of ALL of the American people.