So, the big news this week is Obama’s address to school children.  Should or should he not be allowed to do this without parental consent?  

I got a phone call from my kid’s school yesterday letting me know that they will be listening to the Presidential address.  While I appreciate them letting me know, I found it kind of odd.  I don’t remember a note going home or a phone call being made to my parents when Ronald Reagan had something to say.  I clearly remember watching Reagan a LOT.  “Just say no, kids!”

From what I’ve been told, Obama’s student address has nothing to do with politics.  He’s encouraging kids to stay in school and achieve their dreams.  While I don’t agree with a lot of what Obama has to say, I’m not sure anyone can argue with this particular message. 

Hearing the President speak is a memorable moment and it is one that I’m glad my daughter will have. 

Despite all of the many challenges our nation is facing, being an American is still something to be proud of.  I, for one, hope that pride is passed on to my kids.  And while you might not like Obama or support him, as the President of the United States of America – the country YOUR CHILDREN ARE GROWING UP IN, you’d better hope and pray that he succeeds. 

I still Pledge Allegiance to the Flag… ONE Nation.  Under God.  With Liberty and Justice for ALL.

In my living room stands a beautiful 42 inch flat panel television.  I’m not sure why it’s there.  Other than the occasional (and profoundly obnoxious) episode of Go (effing) Diego! Go! or Hannah Montana, the television remains in the constant state of OFF.  I have three current shows that I like to watch: Grey’s Anatomy, Heroes and True Blood.  I say “like to watch” because I rarely ever actually “watch” any of them.  Hell, True Blood comes on HBO and I don’t even bother to subscribe.  Thank God for the invention of the DVR.  Maybe someday I’ll finish watching season two of Heroes… what season is it in now anyway?

Being too busy to relax in front of the boob tube has been detrimental to my knowledge of current events.  The last time the news was on in my home, I’m pretty sure, was 9-11.  However, judging from my daily digest of Top Headlines from the Tennessean, I’m not missing too much.

Family keeps digging for centuries-old truth – The biggest story in today’s paper.
Nashville Mom Turns Yellow Teeth White  – And we wonder why other states make fun of us.
Four out of 13,000 win elk hunting rights in Tennessee – Welcome to Tennessee.

I’m so proud to live here. 

One bit of Tennessee news has caught my attention lately.  I’m curious to hear your responses to it.  On July 14^th it will be legal to carry guns into establishments that serve alcohol.  This has always been a big no-no in our state and while I am huge supporter of the Second Amendment this new bill makes me a little nervous.  Our governor who vetoed the bill and was outspoken by the House and the Senate, in my opinion said it well… “It is possible to exercise our Second Amendment right and common sense at the same time.”  (paraphrase)

This new legislation retains an existing ban on the consumption of alcohol while carrying a handgun, so those who choose to hit Happy Hour packin’ wouldn’t legally be allowed to drink… in the same manner that those who choose to get behind the wheel of a car aren’t legally allowed to drink over the limit.  *crickets*

There are a lot of good arguments in support of this new bill and all of them do make me feel better about my future Nashville night life experiences.  The first is that most permit-holding, NRA supporters have common sense in spades.  In fact, I honestly feel safer in their company.  39 other states have similar legislations such as this and have been successful.  And finally, restaurant/bar owners maintain the right to ban firearms from their establishments, which the paper tells me the majority of them are doing.

What are your thoughts? I’m still reeling over the fact that our state government was so adamant about allowing firearms into bars and yet they vetoed the hell out of allowing me to purchase wine in the supermarket.  Go figure.

Everyone else is writing and screaming and inhaling and choking on this subject so I’m going to throw my dice into the lot as well. Why all of the sudden is there so much fuss about marijuana? Apparently, America’s gotten itself into a pinch and is looking for a lucrative way out of it… Legalize the use of America’s most popular illegal substance and start raking in those tax dollars!

Being that I am from an incredibly conservative Christian background and I spent nearly a year in a rehabilitation facility (not for smoking pot), my opinion might just SHOCK the CRAP out of some of you and might, very well, get me shunned at the Thanksgiving dinner table. I’m all FOR legalizing the use and sale of marijuana. Actually, I think banning it is one of the most ridiculous and asinine rulings our judicial system has ever made.

Prohibition simply seems like a lose/lose scenario for the government and the people. Aside from the BLATANT FACT that they are losing an ungodly amount of sales tax dollars and they are spending and ungodly amount on the virtuously ineffective “War on Drugs”, by banning the substance outright, the government has tied their own hands with controlling it. When I was 17 it was easier for me to buy a quarter bag of marijuana than it was to buy a pack of cigarettes. Guess which one is going to kill me first???

It just seems like a no-brainer to me.

But Marijuana is the “gateway” drug! Well, here is the order in which my drug experience unfolded:
First: Nicotine, Second: Alcohol, Third: LSD, Fourth: Cocaine, and then…. Marijuana. But hey, that’s just me.

But it’s going to negatively impact our youth! No… BAD PARENTING is the only thing that will negatively impact our youth. ‘Nuff said.

But what about driving under the influence? People could die! People are already dying! The CDC estimates that around 14,000 people die each year in alcohol related accidents. How many accidents do you hear of that are caused by the influence of marijuana? Not many. You know why? Drunks get stupid and think they can drive. Stoners get high and WANT TO SIT ON THE COUCH and eat Cheetos. OOO… scary! And if the occasional pothead does get behind the wheel, you can bet they’ll be the most focused driver on the road. “Am I in between the lines? I am going EXACTLY five miles under the speed limit. Is that a cop behind me? Do you hear birds? Where was I going?”

Crime is going to go up! How is that possible? It only makes sense that prison rates would go down (or have more room for people that actually BELONG there), gang activity would plummet, a LOT of high dollar drug cartels would be put out of commission and more money would be saved to spend on things like EDUCATION.

It’s a sin! Maybe so. Maybe not. This could turn into a really really BIG debate and it’s beside the point here since there’s that whole matter of separation of Church and State. Religious folks often seem to forget that the government is not here to be our spiritual/moral authority. That takes me back to my earlier point that the responsibility of raising kids falls with the PARENT… but again that smells like a bunny trail that I don’t want to venture down. I’ll leave that one between me and The Almighty.

I guess I could rant all day, so I’m going to stop now. It’s kind of humorous that I’m ranting now since I can honestly tell you that I gave up smoking marijuana a VERY long time ago, simply because I try to be a law-abiding citizen.

In closing, check out this video clip I got from Judi Sunshine. It’s an interview that aired on CNN with actor Stephen Baldwin and Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul. It took me the first 2 minutes to get over my surprise at WHO was arguing for WHAT. Ron Paul was for. Stephen Baldwin (Mr. Bio Dome) was against. And might I add that Stephen should’ve just stayed home and played in his private skate park. He was as prepared and informative as I would be if I showed up to a NATO meeting.

Watch the video and leave your thoughts, comments, links, opinions… and if there are any conservatives out there with something intelligent to say, I’m all ears!