As Christians around the world prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas, the United States government continues to battle abortion as part of the health care reform battle.
The way abortions are covered under health care reform is a major obstacle to finalizing the legislation, even though the House and Senate both agree that no federal money should be used. The stumbling block is whether insurance plans that get federal money are completely barred from covering abortions, or whether they can cover it as long as they require customers to write separate checks for the procedure using their own money. …Abortions in the first trimester typically cost between $350 and $900, according to Planned Parenthood. http://apnews.myway.com/article/20091223/D9CP9T4O0.html.
Arguing over the sanctity of life at Christmas is asinine. Go home already, and start over in the New Year.
At 7:16 a.m., the Senate passed on a 60-39 party line vote a sweeping health care bill that will tighten insurance regulations, provide insurance for 31 million more Americans and cost $871 billion over the next decade. “This is for my friend Ted Kennedy, aye,” said Sen. Robert Byrd as he cast his vote. Clearly exhausted, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid mistakenly voted no before changing his vote to yes, which got a laugh in the chamber, especially from Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. via http://www.politico.com/livepulse/1209/BREAKING__Senate_passes_health_bill_.html
The Catholic bishops fired off another letter to the U.S. Senate last night urging opposition to the Democratic healthcare bill poised to pass tomorrow. Despite abortion funding restrictions that have provoked the ire of the leading abortion-rights groups, the bishops say the Senate bill still allows federal funding of abortion coverage and make clear they’ll accept nothing less than the House healthcare bill’s sweeping ban on federal abortion funding. via http://www.usnews.com/blogs/god-and-country/2009/12/23/catholic-bishops-still-opposed-to-senate-health-reform-bill.html
Only God knows what these buffoons will come up with behind closed doors with claims of transparency. In a pork filled bill, shame on everyone of them who basically were bribed with federal money for their state as a means of convincing them to vote for this bill. There is a investigation for everything else, let someone please investigate exactly who and which states will directly benefit. Lumps of coal for them all from Santa.
Even the military has a problem with pregnancy. “Facing criticism over his order banning pregnancies for those in his command in Iraq, a U.S. general has backed off, slightly. While there are still reprimands issued for those violating the order, it does not appear there will be any courts-martial involved. http://www.huliq.com/3257/89902/us-general-defends-iraq-no-pregnancy-order . Trillions in debt, 4200 dead soldiers 31000 wounded in Iraq, throw in Afghanistan and it just makes you sick.
Rob Yllescas was seriously injured while serving in Afghanistan. Sadly, on December 1st, 2008 Rob passed away leaving his wife Dena, daughters Julia and Eva, and many other loving family members and friends. You can read about the family, make a donation and be reminded that the cost of freedom is high at http://yllescasfamily.blogspot.com/2009/11/merry-christmas-from-heaven.html. From the site…
Her hair was up in a pony tail, her favorite dress tied with a bow. Today was Daddy’s Day at school, and she couldn’t wait to go. But her mommy tried to tell her, that she probably should stay home Why the kids might not understand, if she went to school alone. But she was not afraid; she knew just what to say. What to tell her classmates of why he wasn’t there today. But still her mother worried, for her to face this day alone. And that was why once again, she tried to keep her daughter home… But the little girl went to school eager to tell them all. About a dad she never sees a dad who never calls. There were daddies along the wall in back, for everyone to meet. Children squirming impatiently, anxious in their seats One by one the teacher called a student from the class. To introduce their daddy, as seconds slowly passed. At last the teacher called her name, every child turned to stare. Each of them was searching, a man who wasn’t there. ‘Where’s her daddy at?’ She heard a boy call out. ‘She probably doesn’t have one,’ another student dared to shout. And from somewhere near the back, she heard a daddy say, ‘Looks like another deadbeat dad, too busy to waste his day.’ The words did not offend her, as she smiled up at her Mom. And looked back at her teacher, who told her to go on. And with hands behind her back, slowly she began to speak. And out from the mouth of a child, came words incredibly unique. ‘My Daddy couldn’t be here, because he lives so far away. But I know he wishes he could be, since this is such a special day. And though you cannot meet him, I wanted you to know. All about my daddy, and how much he loves me so. He loved to tell me stories he taught me to ride my bike. He surprised me with pink roses, and taught me to fly a kite. We used to share fudge sundaes, and ice cream in a cone. And though you cannot see him. I’m not standing here alone. ‘Cause my daddy’s always with me, even though we are apart I know because he told me, he’ll forever be in my heart.’ With that, her little hand reached up, and lay across her chest. Feeling her own heartbeat, beneath her favorite dress. And from somewhere there in the crowd of dads, her mother stood in tears. Proudly watching her daughter, who was wise beyond her years. For she stood up for the love of a man not in her life. Doing what was best for her, doing what was right. And when she dropped her hand back down, staring straight into the crowd. She finished with a voice so soft, but its message clear and loud. ‘I love my daddy very much, he’s my shining star. And if he could, he’d be here, but heaven’s just too far. You see he is a Marine and died just this past year When a roadside bomb hit his convoy and taught Americans to fear. But sometimes when I close my eyes, it’s like he never went away’ And then she closed her eyes, and saw him there that day. And to her mother’s amazement, she witnessed with surprise. A room full of daddies and children, all starting to close their eyes. Who knows what they saw before them, who knows what they felt inside. Perhaps for merely a second, they saw him at her side. ‘I know you’re with me Daddy,’ to the silence she called out. And what happened next made believers, of those once filled with doubt. Not one in that room could explain it, for each of their eyes had been closed. But there on the desk beside her, was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose. And a child was blessed, if only for a moment, by the love of her shining star. And given the gift of believing, that heaven is never too far. —Author unknown
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/iraq/forces/casualties/ lists the names of those who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Debates go on, the debt gets higher, soldiers are dying, people are starving, there are few jobs to be held, and many in America have no insurance. Time to change the channel from C-Span and tune in to God. In a Vatican first, Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate Christmas midnight mass two hours early, at 10:00 pm (1900 GMT) on Thursday. The Vatican is blaming it on his advanced age of 82, so he can get to bed a little earlier before the Urbi et Orbi blessing, Christmas Day Mass. You can watch it on YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/vatican
Related post at https://ahrcanum.wordpress.com/2009/12/21/winter-solstice-2009-health-care/
Merry Christmas.
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