Abnormally Normal People: Organizations & Worthy Causes

Ellis Island - The Door To The Great American Dream or Historical Nightmare?

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 22:25:21 GMT

With the exception of Native Americans, all people residing in the United States today have "roots" elsewhere. My humble heritage primarily is from the British Isles. My ancestors on my paternal grandparent’s side emigrated here in the 1850's from Ireland...County Cork and County Kerry to be more specific. Once in America, the Goggin clan initially became railroad workers and later proud firemen for the State of Maine and the Maddocks lineage came from England with a recorded family tree that dates back into the 1500's. On my maternal side, the Ingalls line is also well-documented and easy for anyone doing genealogy research to tie into (I'm told that all Ingalls living in the United States have common ancestors) and the Farrell’s seem to have came from seafaring people originating from many ports of call. Like everyone else, my ancestry is a mixture and I am the product of people coming to America to pursue the Great American Dream. Many of us are a unique blend of many cultures and some of us are products of many races blending together over time. This great country we call home has come a long way since our founding fathers invited people from all foreign lands to come here. As our ancestors heeded that call, they came here to live together and stand united by becoming American citizens.

Inscribed on the Statue of Liberty are the following words:

Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:

I lift my lamp beside the golden door.

For many, those were the first English words that greeted them as they passed through the buildings on Ellis Island on their way to pursue their dreams and destiny. Now many years later, as the 2008 presidential campaign progresses, we will hear about hot issues like illegal immigration, but my objective today isn't to express my personal views on the current immigration problem or to debate who is right or wrong as our borders are flooded by people seeking a better way of life. My intention is only to make people aware of an integral part of American history that is in true jeopardy. Like many other historical places that fall by the wayside to make room for expansion and modernization, Ellis Island now stands in need of our help to preserve its legacy so it can remain forever “the golden door”. Anyone interested in lending a helping hand on their ancestors behalf or who is knee deep in the throes of genealogy research and needs alittle additional help, please visit Save Ellis Island or The Statue Of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc.

How Well Do You Know Your Neighbors?

Mon, 27 Feb 2006 02:55:31 GMT

The days of children being able to play safely in their neighborhoods from sunrise to sunset may be gone forever. Playgrounds have become empty! Neighborhoods have become silent! Sometimes I wonder if "cosmic" justice may be, in part, responsponsible for the beginning of electronic era that so many of us complain about being the culprit that has turned the youth of today into couch potatoes...

I highly recommend anyone who has children/grandchildren/nieces/nephews,etc or who is just a concerned citizen to check out the FAMILY WATCHDOG website. How well do you know your neighbors? Are there any registered sex offenders living near you? The Family Watchdog website not only gives you the addresses and vital information of registered sex offenders, but they also have current pictures posted of each offender along with safety tips and other useful information.

Be informed, stay informed and spread the word!

Bloggers Anonymous

Tue, 07 Dec 2004 04:46:04 GMT

I foresee the wave of the future as being bloggers worldwide huddled in small conference rooms sipping coffee and sitting in a circle.

" Hi my name is Karen and I'm a blogger. It's been 3 days since I've blogged and I've got the shakes. I snuck downstairs last night with the intention of posting a blog only to find a post it stuck to my monitor screen. OMG...it was The Serenity Prayer! I immediately called my sponsor and was able to get alittle sleep after revealing my weakness to another human being. And to think technology used to be fun and useful! Now, I find myself trying to think of new words and witty catch phrases."

Just tonight I stumbled onto another lost soul who thought up the word "FLURB", yet was at a loss for a meaning for his new word. I immediately knew what a "flurb" is...I proudly typed "a 'flurb' is a blog that sits out in cyberspace and never gets any comments written on it" rather like the red headed stepchild of blogs...the outcast!!! We, bloggers strive for recognition, for comments, for attention in our safe little domain where we reign as royalty.

Signed

HRH Red Kitten (she's full of herself tonight)