Everyone seems to be chiming in so I thought I would add fuel to someone's fire. Though I am not sure whose at this point. Mostly I am perplexed by the reasoning and approach. Here are some of the things I am hearing and then my editorial. Ok, so if they shop at stores or own property, they HAVE to pay those taxes. Can't really get around that. As far as being paid under the table, whose fault is that? I would have to say, I know of a few people that are affluent US citizens that do stuff under the table specifically to avoid taxation. My understanding is that the ones breaking the law here aren't just those non-citizens but those that are paying them under the table. Removing their employees, is somewhat of an indirect punishment for an employer but not really proportional. So, my thought is it's not an entirely valid argument for reform. Ok, so this one actually bothers me. Because there is a couple other contradictory claims. One is that, it cost too much to teach illegal immigrants and medical expenses for illegal immigrants is costing too much. So, an illegal immigrant is and educated, sickly, criminal...I would have to argue, that none of these conditions are unique to citizenship. I am pretty sure that all of these can be solved by gainful employment, however, as mentioned in item one that would be increasingly more difficult. This one is kind of funny, if you have seen the images of this, there is tons of debris along a specific corridor of the border where people come through and dump their stuff. Really, how sneaky are they if they leave a trail, and how do we get TONS of stuff in the SAME place...I mean seriously, if we are doing any effective monitoring how do that many people leave that much stuff in the exact same spot? Now, I know that there are a lot of reason why reform needs to take place, and I agree that there needs to be a solution to manage the number of people that want to come into the country. I recognize that. But the bottom line is that this is America and we are about bringing in those huddled masses for the promise of a better life. We can see people and images on the news in third world countries and recognize that there are places that need help. I think and offer of help goes out not based on location or country of birth but on the premise that you are a human being and you have specific inalienable rights. People are people regardless of race, etc. Do I have a solution? Not really, do I know what needs to be done, I think so. We need to find a way to allow people who are trying to provide for their families and give them a better life a way to do so, we need to care for those that are ill, and educate those that are willing to be taught. That's all I am trying to do...how about you?
So, this summer's family vacation will be minus dad. Though I probably could beg for the time at work, they have been patient with moving and illness so I am being responsible. Meanwhile the family is headed to California to visit with the in-laws. (I would make an outlaw comment, but I think they actual read my posts. ;-D) The kids are fairly excited, having moved to Utah a couple years ago and getting to California being difficult without having a car that fits the whole family, (run-on sentence) this is the first time in a long time. They all want to see the friends they left behind to move out here. I am sure that they will agree it was tough and sad, but in the end it has proven to be a very wise decision. Back to vacation, I think it has been too long since I have had a real vacation and the thought of my family taking off without me, is fairly depressing. I find it hard to fit everything in a day when all the kids are around, and quite the contrast, too much free time when they are not. Gratefully, I am sure my wife will have a list prepared before she leaves of all the things, I CAN do if I get bored. I really never succeed at finishing one of her lists, to her credit she is very thorough and creative. I have two or three list hidden floating around the house that have one or two items left on them to finish, again, if I get bored. Honestly, I am totally harassing her as I know she may actual read this now. That being said, to all my California friends, my family is on its way Friday, if you see them say Hi...and ask where I am...just so they don't forget about me.
So today was way cool. We decided that it would be fun to sit down as a family and watch the USA take on Ghana in the first round of knockout at the World Cup. With young kids, I was fairly skeptical that it would keep their attention but figured it was worth a shot. My oldest made a huge sub sandwich out of a loaf of French bread and we all camped out in front of the big TV. By big TV, I mean non-flat panel, 25-inch, take up half the room, big TV. With the nine of us taking up a couple couches, several bean bags, my lap and various spots on the floor, we watched eagerly to see if the USA would pull of another of those wondrous games we had already missed. Alas, long-story short, it didn't happen. However, what made everything completely wonderful was my eleven year old, who played soccer for the first time this year. She'll tell you herself, she is not really into sports, but today, something magical happened. When Ghana was up by one, and the US was trying to score, she, my sweet creative daughter started talking to the television set. She began encouraging, our US players, and the clincher was her jumping off her bean bag, high into the air screaming with excitement when the US tied up the game. I couldn't have been prouder...the rest of us in the family looked amongst each other, exchanging smiles. Each of us knowing that she had crossed over into being a fan of soccer. It was pretty cool to watch...even if our team ended up losing.
Today my daughter gave her first talk in church. She was incredibly nervous. She did however, do a wonderful job and had no reason to be nervous. I was really proud of her. In a church where members give the messages from the pulpit and you don't have a specific sermon delivered by paid clergy, the variety of talks can range quite drastically. When someone is given the opportunity to speak on a specific holiday, you always run the risk of hearing a talk about a specific member of THEIR family. In our family, we believe that church is a place to share uplifting and spiritual talks that everyone can relate to, at least on some level. For that reason, when my daughter spoke today, she spoke on fathers earthly, the father of our ward, and our heavenly father. With her permission, I am sharing that talk with you below. Good morning Brothers and Sisters, I would like to start my talk by reading the words to the primary song called "Fathers". The father of our home leads our family The father of ward tends with living care And now we'll sing great praise and reverently recall Fathers are so special with a very special love. The first father in our life that I would like to talk about is our earthly father. What is a father? "A Father Is…The dictionary defines the word father as "a male parent," but every grateful son or daughter knows that definition to be woefully incomplete. A good father is many things: He is a leader, a provider, an advisor, a disciplinarian, a teacher, a recreation director, a friend, a spiritual guide, a babysitter, a transportation director, a handyman and a banker. In talk given in 2004 by L. Tom Perry He gives three of the most important roles of the father. 1. The father is the head in his family. "Fatherhood is leadership, the most important kind of leadership. It has always been so; it always will be so. Father, with the assistance and counsel and encouragement of your eternal companion, you preside in the home. It is not a matter of whether you are most worthy or best qualified, but it is a matter of [divine] appointment." 2. The father is a teacher. When you recognize the importance of teaching your children, you become humble, because at once you realize that this is accomplished by precept and example. You cannot be one thing and effectively teach another. You must live and study and pray for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. You must purify and organize your life so that your example and leadership reflect the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 3. The father is the temporal provider. President Ezra Taft Benson expressed it clearly: "The Lord has charged men with the responsibility to provide for their families in such a way that the wife is allowed to fulfill her role as mother in the home. … In the Family Proclamation it says "By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families." The Second father I would like to talk about is the Father of our ward. This is our Bishop. Just like our fathers are the head of our home, the Bishop is the head of our ward. He leads us and teaches us. We try to follow his example. We know he loves us and wants what is best for us. We can trust him. In the book of Titus Chapter 1 Verses 7-9 it says: 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon The last father I would like to talk about today is our Heavenly father. In the New Testament we have a glimpse of the Savior's relationship with Heavenly Father. One of the most vivid of these glimpses is found in the book of Luke chapter 22. Jesus is in the garden just before His betrayal: It says "[Jesus] kneeled down, and prayed, We know that our Heavenly father loves us and will not leave us alone. This is why He has given us our earthly fathers and our Bishops. Our Heavenly Father is the ultimate example of what a father should be like. He is kind, loving, each individual is important to Him. He is patient, he teaches us through the Holy Spirit all that we need to know. He was willing to sacrifice His son for each of us. I know that each of these Fathers, our earthly father, our Bishop and our Heavenly Fathers play crucial roles in our lives and that father are a very important part of Heavenly Fathers plan. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
with wisdom's light in all that's right;
my father's good to me.
each member's needs with kindly deeds;
Our bishop's always there.
the Holy One who gave his son
The Father of us all.
They watch us and protect us.
They guide us and direct us
back to our home above.
To a young child, a father is an all-purpose, a-powerful, all-knowing figure. As the child matures, the father's image may tarnish-temporarily. But the adult child, armed with a better understanding of the demands of parenthood, is very likely to appreciate the father more than ever. And rightly so.
…we consider the wide-ranging implications of fatherhood, a job so demanding and so important that God reserved it for dads" (Excerpt from, "Fathers are Forever", Dr. Criswell Freeman)
angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
"Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
"And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him."
Have you ever had one of those moments that you truly weren't sure what you were thinking when you looked back on something that you had done. I think that people's personalities are dynamic, more so than we think. Now, I am not referring to a moment when you were under the influence of drugs, alcohol or love. Because, we know that we have little control when we succumb to those influences. I am referring to simply doing something and looking back on it and wondering why did I do that. So, back to the dynamic personality thing...I seriously think that people are not as stuck in their ways as they would like to think. I think that who we are and the decisions we make are heavily influenced by environment, the people around us at that moment and our state of mind at that given point. I think this manifests itself most in religious circles. I see all the time people who simply act differently at church or around those they go to church with. Of course, that would be the definition of hypocrite, a term also very commonly used in religious circles. Another prime example, is in a work environment. I think people act differently when they are around people they work with, more specifically their bosses. Maybe, they are trying to impress or present their best side. I think the term for this particular scenario is usually, suck-up. Going back to my initial paragraph, if we don't question what we were thinking when we did something, everyone at work and church most certainly will.
Ok, so I have heard a lot about Empire Avenue and the concept of being able to buy and sell shares of people in social networks sounds like a cool idea. I actually got an invite and joined today. My stock ticker is MHIP...I have added a ticker here on my blog for you to keep track...assuming I have any blog readers.
