You might as well tell the truth right off the bat and get it over with. I will find out anyhow and then the punishment will make you wish you hadn't lied to begin with.

Wipe that smirk off your face and look the American people in the eye!

My mother passed away a week ago today and I am taking every opportunity to honor her spirit. This seemed like a fitting occasion, since she did not suffer fools gladly.

--Norma Gay Prewett

Some words of wisdom from my mother:

"You catch more flies with sugar than with vinegar."
The U.S. government could influence Iran and the Iranian people more with positive overtures than with threats. I once read a suggestion for empowering the Iraqis to break loose from Saddam Hussein and develop closer ties with us: drop packages of food and medical supplies rather than bombs. By bombing Iraq, we played into terrorists' rhetoric that we are a threat to Muslims; if we had showered the Iraqis with kindness instead, we would have showed the lie to that image and garnered the good will of the people and empowered them to overcome Saddam themselves since they'd know they have trustworthy allies in that effort. The same idea would now apply to Iran.

"If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all."
Our government might get a lot further if we'd be quiet and listen. Instead of issuing threats and demonizing Iranian leaders, we could truly listen to the fears and needs hidden behind those leaders' own bombastic rhetoric and address those fears and needs rather than lash out at the surface statements. That strategy would provide a longer-lasting solution to deep-seated issues rather than just pursuing a path that could lead to military intervention but not get at some of the underlying issues that will come back to bite us at a future date anyway, as they have in Iraq.

Anyway, that's my two cents' worth,
--Marianne Comfort

"All I really want is for you and your brother to get along."

My Mother would tell the Administration that all people really need from a superpower is the effort to cooperate and be peaceable.

Everything else that can be bought from a store doesn't mean much by comparison. My Mother would remind them that this may be simple, but it will not be easy. Then she would tell them to get a move on, because time is wasting, and the one thing we never get any more of is our time.

Then she would go make them a sandwich just the way they liked it with the crusts cut off and give them a big hug to let them know she loved them.

--Deborah Wilson

It's always good to share.

See what happens when you are greedy and do not want to share, it rubs off on other people and they do not want to share.

If the other countries had shared their oil maybe we wouldn’t have so many soldiers dying, and being hurt.

--JoAn Anderson

If you don't undertand, ask questions.

Don't touch it until you understand it!

Remember the trees and bird, rivers and fish, deers and dogs, all are your brothers and sisters, it is your world to share with them for it is their world too!

Freedom is the ability to pray the way you wish or not!

--Deborah Roberts

I think the most important things my mom taught me was that all people are precious and valuable, not because of what they do or who they are or the gifts and the talents they have been given, but simply because they are people and, second, that human dignity and compassion, the things that make us truly human, have nothing to do with how intelligent or gifted we are or what country we live in or even what God we worship.

I've worked all of my life with people with developmental disabilities and mental illness and her teachings have been confirmed for me every day of our life.
Peace,
The Rev. Mark J. Lukens