Dream Reader: Dear Coop

September 18, 2014October 21, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 2 Comments

Blogging 101 Challenge : publish a post for your dream reader, and include a new-to-you element in it (Post 1 of 3 in this series).

Dearest Coop,

I fell in love with you the moment I looked into your deep brown eyes. I wasn’t expecting to and I know my husband didn’t when he introduced us. You came into my life at just the right moment, filling and empty void.

It was a good thing my husband wasn’t the jealous type. He worked and said whatever made me happy. “At least you won’t be moping around the house any longer.” I think he meant it in the nicest way.

Coop, I loved our walks and the afternoons we spent cuddled together. Those were my favorite times with you. I miss them.

Leaving you was the hardest thing I ever had to do.

(to be continued)

Stay Safe, Officers

September 15, 2014October 20, 2017 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 2 Comments

I opened the newspaper this morning to another article discussing the “Militarization of law enforcement. “ This issue has become a national topic, discussed on every venue after a black unarmed teenager was shot and killed by a white police officer. What followed was nothing less than chaos. Protestors marched; chanted demanding justice while unchecked looters and provocateurs destroyed a city. Policemen outfitted in riot gear, clashed with the mob of protestors and looters. It was an ugly scene.

It is not my intent in this post to discuss the merits of the case. Whether the shooting was or was not justified is not up for debate here. I was not present and do not have the facts, as the protestors, news media and provocateurs did not. The facts of the case and the outcome will be decided, by our justice system.

I want to discuss the issue that has made national attention and, in my opinion, demonizing our police force, “The Militarization of the Police,” as it has been dubbed. Let me first say, I agree there are bad apples in every bunch. I get that. I am not suggesting all cops are wonderful. They are human, which makes them fallible just like the rest of us. So you’ll get no argument from me. If one breaks the law he or she deserves the same judgment and punishment as the rest of us.

Since the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act in 1997, the Defense Logistics Agency’s 1033 Program has given more than $5.1 billion in military equipment to local law enforcement agencies across the United States. In my own county our sheriff’s department has obtained a remote-controlled bomb disposal robot, personal protective and physical security enhancement equipment, (helmets, vests and body armor) and armored vans through military surplus. Gross/SHJ.

Daniel Gross of the Spartanburg Herald Journal did an excellent job giving an overview of the purchase, use, and need for this equipment by our law enforcement divisions. I applaud him and it was evident that both the Police Chief and Sheriff rely heavily on the 1033 program to help keep our officers safe. I applaud them as well. And, I have to agree with Sheriff Wright. Our officers wouldn’t have to gear up if citizens didn’t create chaos.

There was a time when we all respected authority. Parents could parent, teachers could teach and discipline, and kids knew when to sit down and shut up. They were not the center of the universe. There was a time when we all understood, life wasn’t fair, and not everyone won. It took hard work, integrity, and ingenuity. You learned how to be a good loser and better winner. There was a time when family meant more than the individual. A time when we grew up playing in streets after dark, knew all our neighbors, church and family were our foundation, and time we taught our children policemen and firefighters were our friends.

How dare we now demonize the very men and women who serve to protect us every day?

I’m not canonizing policemen, but I do respect them. They serve every day to keep my family and me safe. Each morning they wake up pin on their badges, strap the gun on their hips, and walk into the line of fire for us. Sometimes they make it home and sometimes they don’t. They go into places we wouldn’t be caught dead in, because it’s their job. They face down the hostile drunk, belligerent druggie, deadly gangbanger, murder, or thief. They talk the would-be suicide off the bridge, or the hostage taker into freeing hostages. They keep our kids safe from predators. Moreover, when the call comes like it did on 9/11 they don’t hesitate. They don’t just go in, they RUN in to save as many as they can.

They don’t rest. They loose sleep. They do whatever they can to bring those responsible to justice when necessary. Yes, sometimes there is a bad apple. Just like you and I, they are human. But I don’t see you or I getting up each morning pinning a badge to our chest and walking the beat to protect yours and mine. And until we do, whatever they need to keep themselves safe in this chaotic world we now find ourselves, where there is no longer a respect for authority. I say, “Stay safe, officers. Stay safe and thank you.”

The Susan G and Planned Parent Puppet Show

February 6, 2012August 15, 2017 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 2 Comments

Melodrama – defined as a sensational, dramatic piece with exaggerated characters and exciting events meant to appeal to emotions.

I watched with interest and then sadness this week the saga of the Susan G. Komen/Planned Parenthood puppet show. And the puppets? Hate to say it, but the public, more specifically, women. Now, I realize the blood pressure of some of you have just sky rocketed off the page, but hear me out, please.

These two organizations are very different with very different missions. On the one hand you have Susan G. Komen Foundation. A not for profit foundation, founded in 1982 by the sister of Nancy Goodman Brinker. Nancy died at the young age of 36 from breast cancer. She and her sister believed had they found the cancer earlier, she would still be alive. The foundation was born out of a promise she made to her sister. The philosophy simple, teach women how to do self breast exams, and encourage early screening to prevent breast cancer.

Today, it is the largest and most widely known breast cancer organization in the United States. It raises over $35 million a year from 60 plus marketing partnerships, and sponsors the world’s largest fundraising event, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. The organization invests more than $2 billion in breast cancer education, research, advocacy, health care services and social support. It awards more than $180 million in grants for breast cancer research.

With more than 100,000 volunteers, you would be hard pressed to go anywhere and not see a pink ribbon tacked on something or someone in support of this great, inspiring organization. I believe her sister would be proud. What a legacy! On the other hand is the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. It has a long history, starting back as far as 1916. I won’t go back quite that far. Its mission is different, and important. I’m not here to argue for or against anything, simply stating facts.

It is the largest family planning service provider in the United States with a federation of 85 independent affiliates operating more than 820 health centers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. They serve five million patients a year, 26% are under the age of 19 and 75% at or below poverty level income.

In 2009 they provided contraceptives services; emergency contraception; screening for breast; cervical and testicular cancer related services; pregnancy testing, pregnancy options counseling; testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases; comprehensive sex education; menopause treatments; vasectomies, tubal ligations, and abortions. In addition, its doctors and nurses annually conduct 1 million screenings for cervical cancer and 830,000 breast exams.

Planned Parenthood’s funding is different. It doesn’t have pink ribbons or foot races to raise funds. No, It’s received federal funding since 1970 when President Richard Nixon signed into law the Family Planning Services and Population Research Act amending the Public Health Service Act. Title X of that law provides funding for family planning services, including contraception and family planning information.

A third of its money comes from government grants and contracts, approximately $360 million, in 2009. Additional funds, about one quarter of its revenue, come from a very large and active, 700,000 membership base and private donors. Including Bill Gates, the Buffet Foundation and The Turner Foundation to name a few.

The intersection of these two, very different organizations came about because of money and boobs, but make no mistake about it Planned Parenthood is not about boobs. That isn’t their mission. Their mission is family planning and pro-choice. That is where their fight is, has always been, and continues to be, especially this election year. Breast exams is an ends to a means – money, more funds, and more grant money to keep their mission going. Why do I say this? Simple.

I worked in a clinic as an RN and anytime you do an evaluation, an exam to give a woman contraceptives, you are going to do a breast exam, and if you don’t I would question your practice. Period. In their own literature, Planned Parenthood states they provide breast exams. Mamograms are referred out, as they should be. That’s always been their practice. So you have to ask – why the uproar?

If Planned Parenthood is not changing what they have always done in how they examine a patient, why did they try to crucify Susan G. Komen? I’ll tell you.

Spin-They wanted to create an unfavorable impression to present to the public. Poor women would not get breast exams and therefore breast cancer wouldn’t be detected early! And since Planned Parenthood was the only place most of these poor women could go…..

No one stopped to consider these facts:The philosophy of the Komen foundation is about women taking responsibility for their own self breast exams, and given the resources Susan G. Komen Foundation has put in the hands of nearly everyone.

Free clinics, volunteers and a zillion other resources, women only have to ask, teach me. Instead, Planned Parenthood and their surrogates created emotional furor and fear, manipulating a public unfairly and unscrupulously forcing Susan G. Komen to cave in to their demands. Give us what we want or else.

They were willing to let the Komen Foundation who works tirelessly to save millions of lives from breast cancer, lose any amount of funding in order for them to regain a grant for family planning and abortion. After all it’s a hot topic this election year. In addition, “sympathy” donations started pouring in to Planned Parenthood. At least two donations of $250,000 each, one from Mayor Bloomberg himself, and six other donors have contributed $400,000 in just two days.

Don’t tell me it was ever about breast exams. I’m not that easily manipulated. Those who participated in this farce tarnished a promise, a memory, and a mission. For all the Susan G. Komen Foundation has done for so many of us and our loved ones, we should be ashamed. We should have stood arm in arm with them against this bully. This week the bully came for Susan G. Komen. Next week, who will it be?