Burning Old Glory...

A topic that's been hot on the news lately is the controversy over flag burning in the US. I feel compelled to address this subject for numerous reasons. First, many in my family have served in the armed services for this country, second, I have several friends involved in the military at this moment, and third, because I have a big mouth and an opinion on everything and this is my blog so there!

So yesterday I was out in my front yard, painting a swastika on my garage door and torching an image of Martin Luther King, Jr. when someone came by and said that I shouldn't be doing those things because they are "offensive." And I was like "Yeah, but this is a free country and I can do whatever I want so there! And besides, I'm trying to prove a point."

Okay, none of that happened, but seriously, if you saw me standing in front of my house committing heinous acts against humanity as described above, would you be interested in hearing my opinion? I wouldn't. So why does anyone think that offending somebody is the way to persuade? If you have a point to prove, prove it. Don't waste my time by provoking me. Aren't you burning the flag of the country we live in to protest violence? Then why are you trying to hurt other people with your actions?

And can I just say, thank God you live in the very country whose flag you are burning, because in most of the places we are currently fighting, you would be thrown in prison and possibly killed for your actions. Do I think that flag burning should be made illegal? No. That is the beauty of this country. You are allowed the freedom to offend anybody you want here. But don't expect me to listen to you, mofo!

Choices...

Whose choice was it?
Not mine...
to lose a friend.
Not his...
to lose a love.
Not theirs...
To lose a child.
Whose choice was it?
Not yours...
to lose your life.

Whose choice?
His choice...
His decision...
Your life.
Your smile.
He lives.
You're gone.
What kind of choice is that?

Good News!!!

I found out yesterday that I got accepted to the Honors program at Liberty. I had myself all set up for the answer to be "no" because I hadn't heard from them yet and school starts in just two months. To get in I had to be in the top 10% of my highschool class, have a highschool GPA of 3.5 or better, get two letters of recommendation from highschool teachers, and write a five page essay on "What I hope to gain from an Honors education at Liberty." And considering I wrote my essay right after I got home from Kourtney's funeral (it had to be postmarked by that day), I'm really shocked they let me in! To be honest I was in such a fog I kind of forgot what I wrote. If I find it I may post it here (depending on how bad it really is :)

So anyway, the program gets me a $3500 a year scholarship (which I REALLY need) and all I have to do is maintain my grades and take two honors seminars a term. So I'm soooo happy. But now I have to rearrange my schedule, which was all set, but oh well. Yay!!! Congratulate me if you see me, cause I'm happy :)

For Kourtney

As time slowly passes, I am able more and more to think of my friend Kourtney Ketchersid with smiles instead of tears. She was a beautiful, funny, smart young woman who, unfortunately, was taken from us much too young. Her memory, though, will never be forgotten. I see her in the people she was closest to...her friends, who I am lucky enough to call my own friends. Her light continues to shine through them.

I encourage everyone, whether you were lucky enough to know Kourtney, or if you stumbled upon this site by accident, to think of her before ever getting behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated. The pain that was caused by one young man's selfish decision will never be fully healed, especially in the hearts of her family and close friends. Please, I beg of you, be responsible. It is not just your own life you are risking.

In Loving Memory of Kourtney Ketchersid (1984 - 2005)

Please leave your thoughts, if you'd like.

Welcome!!!

Well, I finally bit the big one and got myself a blog. I'll be heading away to school in a few short months, and I figure this is a good way to keep family and friends informed about what's going on in my oh-so-exciting life. Everyone knows how bad I am with returning phone calls, so this is much better, I think! Check back soon...I'm still learning how this thing works.