Wants and Needs, not just for Christmas

I grew up with my father reminding me—often—that I needed to distinguish between wants and needs. Well, here are a few:

Yes, I would love to have a president with governing experience. But, more importantly, I need someone who understands how our government is meant to work and what will keep us strong.

Yes, I would love to have a president with experience working with other nations. But, more importantly, I need someone who understands our position in the world, along with why and how we must maintain our status as the strongest country on earth.

Yes, I would love to have a president that wants to fix the economy and bring the budget back under control. But, more importantly, I need someone who understands the long-term picture of our nation’s welfare and has knowledge and experience of building and repairing businesses and economic structures.

Yes, I would love to have a president with dependability, accountability, and high moral values. But, more importantly, I need somebody who understands that the way you live shows what you stand for and inspires greatness far more than any words.

Yes, I would love to have a president my children can look to as a role model and hero. But, more importantly I need a president that can build this nation to be the kind of country where my children will grow up to be heroes themselves.

So, I think my dad would agree that I’ve learned a bit of how to distinguish between wants and needs. And one thing I know is that yes, I would love Mitt Romney to be President. But, more importantly, our nation needs Mitt Romney as the leader of our country, the greatest nation in the world. It's a great thing when our needs and wants fit the same bill.

Psych. 101

Psychology 101: if you tell someone something enough, they may believe it.

If your child does well on an exam, you wouldn’t say, “Wow—I’m really surprised, because I thought you were kinda dumb.”

No, you praise his hard work and efforts and congratulate his success.

Positive reinforcement is known to do wonders for anyone, not just school kids. When a team plays hard, and a coach cheers them for being great, the players try even more to do their best and win. When we hear about how great an organization is that we’re involved in, we feel proud to be a part of it. That includes being a citizen in the greatest nation on earth.

Here are a few quotes some of our great leaders have said about America:

"Americanism means the virtues of courage, honor, justice, truth, sincerity, and hardihood -- the virtues that made America." -- Teddy Roosevelt

"There is nothing wrong with America that faith, love of freedom, intelligence, and energy of her citizens cannot cure." -- Dwight D. Eisenhower

"America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand." -- Harry S. Truman

"We must always remember that America is a great nation today not because of what government did for people but because of what people did for themselves and for one another." --Richard M. Nixon--

"Patriotism is easy to understand in America. It means looking out for yourself by looking out for your country." -- Calvin Coolidge

"I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis." - --Abraham Lincoln

So, what happens when our president speaks about Americans in a negative light? How do we respond when the person who should be standing up for us the most, who should be our greatest champion and hero speaks less than positively about us? President Obama has referred to his fellow Americans as being “behind,” being “soft,” even “lazy.” He says we’ve “lost our ambition and imagination.”

When he talks that way he seems to be forgetting who he is, that he is an American too. If America is lazy, so is he. If America is behind or soft, so is he. If America is losing its creativity and imagination, so is he. We are all America. And I think I see a different America than President Obama, even right here in my own home. I see hard work, creativity, and imagination every day from my husband all the way down to my kindergartener.

I still see the American spirit that is stronger than sentiment, more powerful than pessimism, that is undying, unyielding, and unwavering.

Mitt Romney said, “The American people are the greatest people in the world. What makes America the greatest nation in the world is the heart of the American people: hardworking, innovative, risk-taking, God- loving, family-oriented American people.”

He also said, “The principles that made this nation a great and powerful leader of the world, have not lost their meaning. They never will. We know we can bring this country back.”

Maybe it does take some people a few semesters of psychology, and maybe it does take some people a couple of parenting classes and self-help books to learn how to lead and inspire others. It’s about believing in them, encouraging them, and reminding them of who they really are.

As John Quincy Adams said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

That’s the kind of leader America needs. That’s the kind of leader we can find in Mitt Romney.

Field of Presidential Dreams

The great thing about running for President in this country is that you don't have to be super smart, experienced, presidential looking, wise, and have really great hair (but, in Mitt's case, all these things help). Almost anyone can run.

Take some of the other candidates, for instance:

That guy in your uncle's high school class voted "most likely to become a REAL boy"

Herman Cain...oh, wait, no, that's just his campaign guy

R...R...Rick...oh, what's his name? I forgot. Oopsy Daisy

Our Muppet friend, Beaker

and

Mad Eye Moody

Oh, yeah, it was Perry...that other guy was Perry.

The great thing about voting in this country is that we actually get to choose who we want to win.

The Greatest Nation in the World

With November here, I have thought quite a bit about our recent Veteran’s Day and our upcoming Thanksgiving. I have contemplated the blessing of living in this great nation and the cost of both gaining and maintaining freedom.

In Mitt’s book No Apology he mentions hearing Shimon Peres, Israel’s former prime minister, respond to someone’s question of what he thought about the conflict in Iraq. Peres said:

“First, I must put something in context. America is unique in the history of the world. In the history of the world, whenever there has been war, the nation that is victorious has taken land from the nation that has been defeated—land has always been the basis of wealth on our planet. Only one nation in history, and this during the last century, was willing to lay down hundreds of thousands of lives and take no land in its victory—no land from Germany, no land from Japan. America. America is unique in the history of the world for its willingness to sacrifice so many lives of its precious sons and daughters for liberty, not solely for itself but also for its friends.”

As a nation we have enjoyed many years of freedom and peace in our land and have been involved in helping others pursue the same blessings for themselves. We do not seek power or property, but peace and prosperity throughout the world.

We have so many brave and valiant citizens serving in our armed forces who understand the value of freedom, not only in our own nation, but for people everywhere. What a tremendous debt of gratitude we owe our military for their sacrifices. Their noble efforts bless lives beyond those of just our country, they influence people throughout all the world.

For their grander vision, for their bravery, for their unselfish service, our military deserves a “thank you” greater even than the sacrifices already made.

Now we must maintain the freedom for which so many have so nobly fought, and we must remain ever vigilant and strong in a world where our peace no longer can be taken for granted.

To do so requires a leader with both a love for this great nation, and an understanding of not only why America must remain the greatest country in the world, but also how.

Our nation did not become great through people bound by birth or blood, but by men and women, regardless of background, empowered by the ideals of courage, greatness, and freedom.

With a leader who emulates this vision, our nation will rise to the challenges we face at this moment. In this time of darkness and doubt, America will stand brighter as a beacon of light and hope to the rest of the world, willing to pay the price for greatness, understanding the blessing of freedom.

Clamor for Change

One of Obama's political strategists, Steve Schale, said recently in response to the Wall Street protesters, "Clamoring for change is hollow unless you vote."

He's right.

Our country has already changed since Obabma was voted in as the head. That was one of his campaign calls--change. Well, we've seen the sort of change he has brought about, and it hasn't been for the good. We've seen the direction his change has taken us, and it does not "secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity." Does he merit another chance to make even more changes in our great nation?

We absolutely need change in this country. Lots of change. And it has to begin at the top. A vote for Mitt Romney is a vote for change--for the better.

Real, Pure, Genuine Americans?

Two weeks ago President Obama, while campaigning and pushing his jobs bill said that, “This is a contest of values. This is a choice about who we are and what we stand for. And whoever wins this next election is going to set the template for this country for a long time to come.”

Well, I agree, 100%. This is a contest of values, and recently Mitt Romney’s values have been brought into question simply because a few people, who still don’t understand “Mormonism,” have, yet again, said Mitt Romney doesn’t have Christian values, because he isn’t a Christian, because Mormons aren’t Christian.

I can’t help but feel that when people say Mormons aren’t Christians it is just expressing their own ignorance. “Mormons” is just a nick-name. The actual name of the Church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and if the name doesn’t give it away, all one has to do is look up LDS.org or Mormon.org on line, or better yet, ask a church member what they believe, to find out.

Ideally, the members’ belief and devotion to Jesus Christ is demonstrated in the way they live. Whether through the countless volunteer hours of Mormon Helping Hands service projects cleaning up neighborhood parks or building shelters and new homes after natural disasters, or through simple acts of kindness like making a meal for a sick neighbor or canning fruits and vegetables for the hungry and needy, these people strive to be Christ’s hands here on earth.

Along with donating 10% of their income for tithing, “Mormons” give a fast offering monthly to help those in financial need; they believe in the sanctity of marriage and family and practice sexual abstinence until after marriage; they don’t drink or smoke; they read scriptures daily and have an evening set aside every week for Family Night. “Mormons” attend church each Sunday, and as part of that they partake in the sacrament, renewing their covenant to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ—that means they always remember Him and try to do the things He would do if He were here.

Now, having said all that in an small attempt to clarify whether or not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, “Mormons,” are Christian, I think about many of my neighbors and friends who are not Christians, but rather Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, etc. Many of these people are also very kind and generous. They give service whenever they can. They pray. They do things to strengthen their homes and families and the neighborhood. I don’t think it’s news to anyone that “Mormons” do not have a monopoly on “goodness.” Christians are not the only people with good, moral values.

So can we say that feeding the hungry is only worthwhile if a Christian is handing out the bread? Will a drink only quench thirst if offered by a Christian? Is clothing the naked only useful if a Christian gives the clothes? Would it be true that caring for the sick, the stranger, those imprisoned only counts if done by a Christian?

Goodness benefits everyone in society, no matter who offers it or who receives. Christ himself was no respecter of persons, meaning he loved all, no matter their religion, their culture, their spiritual status. Can we not do the same?

Christianity aside, I am reminded of what Al Smith said in his presidential run against Hoover clear back in 1928: “Let me make myself perfectly clear, I do not want any Catholic to vote for me because I am a Catholic. But, on the other hand, I have the right to say that any citizen of this country that believes I am capable of steering the ship of state safely through the next four years and votes against me because of my religion is not a real, pure, genuine American.”

What values will we base our votes on? Are we real, pure, genuine Americans? Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, British, Japanese, Italian, African—this great melting pot of culture and ideas is what makes us America. Our common value and love of freedom and peace and goodness is what makes us Americans—real, pure, genuine Americans.

Better than a Super-Mom?

Russia has an interesting way of doing politics. Somehow or other, Vladimir Putin will be switching places with their President Dimitri Medvedev next year (Putin would probably still be president now rather than prime minister but for their constitution's banning a president from serving more than two consecutive terms). Sure, they'll have an election, but we all know who will win.

And I think a I know what did the trick.

Take a look at some of these photos recently published by The Atlantic in Ann Taylor's article "Vladimir Putin--Action Man" (you should see the whole thing). What Russian wouldn't want this guy for president?














Seriously? I mean, this guy is like Buckaroo Bonzai! Can he do brain surgery on Mars, too?

I don't know, but I'm saying whoever his publicists are, maybe Mitt should give them a call. I'd love to see our future President Romney flying the space shuttle and curing cancer and saving the white rhinos from a satellite falling from the sky. Only, Mitt would do it all without a hair out of place.

Hey, if anyone can do it, Mitt can! That's what the American spirit is all about!