September 11th - 8 Year Anniversary

September 11th, 2001...a day that no American will ever forget.

Today marks the 8 year anniversary of the horrific and tragic terrorist attacks that occurred on the morning of September 11th, 2001. Though time has passed, the hurt and wounds from these horrible acts still remain fresh. That day, innocent human beings lost their lives.

When I re-watch the footage of that awful day, when I see the planes smashing into the twin towers.. I think of the people inside who were initially hit. The people who were in the direct line of where the planes crashed through. They never had a chance. They never had a chance to run, never had a chance to even try and escape. I think about the horror that the people in the buildings felt. I think about the people running as fast as they could, literally running for their lives. I think about the people in the Pentagon who never knew what was coming. I think about how scared and terrified the people on the hijacked planes were. How they knew that they were living their last moments on earth. I can close my eyes and see people running from the smoke and debris as the Twin Towers collapsed. I remember seeing that on TV and my heart felt like it dropped to my feet. To this day, those images are fresh in my mind. They will never fade away. I remember looking outside, looking at the New York skyline... and all I saw was black smoke.

I remember the fear I felt that day. I remember sitting in my room, the news on the TV, and not being old enough (I was a freshman in high school at the time) to fully understand everything that was being said. I remember hearing the word "terrorist attacks," and I was scared. I remember news stations covering what was happening, hearing sirens, people screaming. I remember watching as people walked over the Brooklyn Bridge to get out of the city and out of harms way. I didn't know what to think. I specifically remember asking my dad "Do you think we will be attacked again? Do you think they are going to attack again tonight?" For the first time, my Dad couldn't give me a straight answer. He didn't know. Nobody knew. I lay awake in bed that night, fearing that we were going to be attacked again, only even worse. I lay awake thinking about all the people who died, all the people who didn't make it home that day, all the children who lost parents, parents who lost children, family members who lost family members, friends who lost friends. I thought about the people who lost their lives, trying to save another.

Then, I stop, and I remember how America came together and united as one. I remember attending prayer vigils, I remember hanging American flags, I remember seeing an American flag hanging from everyone's home and on everyone's car. I remember how many men and women decided to enlist in the military to fight for our country. I remember how our President at the time, President Bush, helped us not to surrender. I remember how his speechs always made me feel just a little bit safer. He reminded Americans that we were strong, and though we were knocked down, we were going to get back up, and stand up for our country. I remember people giving blood to the American Red Cross, I remember people volunteering to help out at ground zero. I remember the heroes... the NYPD, the FDNY, the military, the volunteers. I remember that though September 11th, 2001 was a horrible, horrific, tragic day...it brought America closer. It brought Americans closer.

Though it's 8 years later, the pain remains. The tears are still fresh. I still wonder to myself how ANYBODY could have planned such a horrific act of hatred.

I know that God opened his arms to everyone who lost their lives that day due to the hatred of others. I know that God wrapped his arms around the world, and comforted us all, and helped us to realize that we were going to be okay. God helped us to see that as long as we were there for each other, we would be okay.

Today, even if it's just for a minute, close your eyes, and take a moment to remember those who lost their lives that day. Remember those who lost loved ones that day. Remember the heroes. Remember the men and women who have been fighting for our country and remember their families. Most importantly... remember to pray. Pray for peace. Pray that the hatred that runs through the veins of some people runs dry and that all there is left to do is love.

September 11th, 2001 - Never, ever forgotten.

Written By: Maryann Rotondo (xitaliancutie@aol.com)

Update, Youtube, Twitter, Oh MY! =]

I am so sorry that I have neglected my blog for so long!!

I am now back with a few short updates!

I have recently started my own YouTube channel. You can visit it at http://www.youtube.com/user/pink0BSESSION . If you love it, subscribe! :] It is a makeup/vlogging channel.. so I hope you enjoy the videos I have up so far!!!

I have also recently become ADDICTED to Twitter. If you would like, please follow me on Twitter for my random where abouts and what I am doing. I also post pictures from time to time from my crazy life! =P You can follow me on twitter by going to http://www.twitter.com/mariana1987

I will be updating my blog daily now...sometimes with just random blogs, othertimes with makeup swatches, etc!

Talk to you all soon!

Peace, Love, & Pug Hugs!,
Maryann xo

Rest in Peace Bea Arthur :(

Today, we lost another beloved person/actress... Bea Arthur. Most remember her as Dorothy from the TV show "The Golden Girls" where she starred alongside Estelle Getty (who passed away July 22nd, 2008), Betty White, and Rue McClanahan. Bea Arthur was 86 years old and died at home today. She had cancer.
I am only 22 years old, but I used to watch "The Golden Girls" even as a young age, and enjoy watching the show even more now (replays on television, I also have some seasons on DVD!). "The Golden Girls" was a good, wholesome show. No violence or questionable storylines. Just a great show, with hysterical one-liners from the women, about four best friends living together. It is a show that always, and will always put a smile on my face, and I will always especially love watching Bea Arthur and Estelle Getty (Dorothy and Sophia, mother and daughter on the show) acting together. The four women created something special that can never be replaced.
The show holds a special place in my heart, as do each of the individual actresses that made the show what it was. I believe Estelle Getty was waiting at the gates of heaven for Bea Arthur this morning when she passed away. I hope all four actresses, Estelle, Bea, Betty, and Rue, know just how much joy they brought to people through their acting. Rest in Peace Bea Arthur... You will always be a "golden girl".

Peace, Love, and Pug Hugs,
MaryannXO

This Sickens Me!

I read the following story and can't help but feel sick and disgusted by this: (Here is the link to this story http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/04/23/bullying.suicide/index.html)

"My Bullied Son's Last Day on Earth"
by Mallory Simon
CNN

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Eleven-year-old Jaheem Herrera woke up on April 16 acting strangely. He wasn't hungry and he didn't want to go to school.But the outgoing fifth grader packed his bag and went to school at Dunaire Elementary School in DeKalb County, Georgia.He came home much happier than when he left in the morning, smiling as he handed his mother, Masika Bermudez, a glowing report card full of A's and B's. She gave him a high-five and he went upstairs to his room as she prepared dinner.

A little later, when his younger sister called him to come down to eat, Jaheem didn't answer. So mother and daughter climbed the stairs to Jaheem's room and opened the door.Jaheem was hanging by his belt in the closet."I always used to see these things on TV, dead people on the news," says Bermudez. "I saw somebody die and to see this dead person is your son, hanging there, a young boy. ... To hang yourself like that, you've got to really be tired of something."Bermudez says bullies at school pushed Jaheem over the edge.

He complained about being called gay, ugly and "the virgin" because he was from the Virgin Islands, she said."He used to say Mom they keep telling me this ... this gay word, this gay, gay, gay. I'm tired of hearing it, they're telling me the same thing over and over," she told CNN, as she wiped away tears from her face.But while she says her son complained about the bullying, she had no idea how bad it had gotten."He told me, but he just got to the point where he didn't want me to get involved anymore because nothing was done," she said.Bermudez said she complained to the school about bullying seven or eight times, but it wasn't enough to save him."It [apparently] just got worse and worse and worse until Thursday," she said. "Just to walk up to that room and see your baby hanging there. My daughter saw this, my baby saw this, my kids are traumatized."She said Jaheem was a shy boy just trying to get a good education and make friends.

"He was a nice little boy," Bermudez said through her tears. "He loved to dance. He loved to have fun. He loved to make friends. And all he made [at school] were enemies."Bermudez said she thinks her son felt like nobody wanted to help him, that nobody stood up and stopped the bullies."Maybe he said 'You know what -- I'm tired of telling my mom, she's been trying so hard, but nobody wants to help me,' " says Bermudez.After Jaheem's death, the school board expressed condolences, saying the school staff "works diligently to provide a safe and nurturing environment for all students."

Trying desperately to understand what went wrong, Bermudez asked her son's best friend to recount what happened on the day Jaheem killed himself."He [said he was] tired of complaining, tired of these guys messing with him," Bermudez said, recalling the conversation with Jaheem's best friend. "Tired of talking, I think to his teachers, counselors and nobody is doing anything -- and the best way out is death."Allegations of such severe bullying surprises experts familiar with the school district. It's anti-bullying program was considered exemplary and includes programs to raise awareness and a specially trained liaison. Students are even asked to sign a no-bullying pledge. But other parents told CNN they have complained about bullying as well.

Despite recent strides towards preventing bullying in schools and increased awareness programs, a Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network study showed that 65 percent of teens are bullied each year and most believe adults can't help them.Less than a month before Jaheem's death, a boy in Massachusetts killed himself after being bullied, harassed and called "gay."Eliza Byard, executive director of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, says to be effective, awareness programs need to include education about the harm that can be done by teasing someone about sexuality or perceived sexuality."Anti-gay language is really the ultimate weapon for a bully who wants to degrade his or her peers," she says. "And any effective response to bullying has to take that on."Bermudez doesn't understand why the children at school couldn't learn to get along. Because of it, she'll never get to see her son grow up."My baby, that's my only boy, and I lost him now," says Bermudez. "He was my first child and ... to lose him 11 years after, he didn't live his life."

She hopes her son's death will result in positive changes that will help other kids being bullied."Those that are being bullied -- they need to talk to their parents, they need to not hold back," she says. "I lost my son and now something has to be done."


I do not even know where to begin explaining how I feel about this story. The fact that an 11 year old child commited suicide, actually took his own life, because he was being made fun of so badly at school...its truly a tradgedy.

I KNOW what it is like to be made fun of by your classmates. I went through it almost every year that I was in grammar and high school. I know everyone gets made fun of at one time or another, but there are certain kids in a class that get singled out, and made fun of, and talked about, and pointed, and laughed at. It is the worst feeling the the world walking into a place when you feel like you are all alone and like you have nobody but yourself to rely on. Thank God I had a loving family, and a few close friends who supported me and helped me through those difficult times.

Children today are nasty. They are cruel. The sad part is, it is not even entirely their fault. They grow up in homes with ignorant parents and family members, racist family members. They grow up being taught that it is OKAY to make fun of someone for their size, their ethnicity, their sexuality, their families, their religious beliefs. I never agreed with the saying "Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me." Names DO hurt. Names DO stick with you, even when you are way out of school and way past that time in your life. Names can sometimes hurt more than a punch in the face. Nobody.. not a child, not an adult... should feel like the only way out is to take their own life. ESPECIALLY a child. A child should be able to enjoy school.
I believe we need to teach out children that are growing up that bullying, teasing, making fun of people.. its NOT right. It is NOT okay.

We live in a nation of diversity. We live our lives amongst people of different ethnicities, different colors, different religions, different sexualities, different beliefs. We should EMBRACE that. We should RESPECT each other and what we believe in. Just because a person is gay, it does not give others the right to judge them, or make fun of them, or make them feel like they are anything less then we are. We don't have to agree with another persons choices, or way of life, or beliefs, but we DO need to respect them, and let them live their life, and support them in any way we can.

I grew up a Christian. Catholic. One of my best friends is an Atheist. She knows how I feel and what I believe and vice versa. We respect each other and each others beliefs. We do not judge each other for it, we do not make each other feel like what we believe is wrong. We respect each other and we move on. It has NEVER been an issue in our friendship. The past few months, I have realized that MY own view on certain things were being affected by the people surrounding me. I believe that if a person is gay (if they CHOOSE to be gay, if they are BORN gay, whatever the case), it is my responsibility as a human being, as a Christian, to respect them, no matter what. It is not my place to tell them if they are right or wrong. It is not my place to make fun of them. It is their life. I don't have to agree with it, but I can respect them for it. Parents seem to forget that their children pick up on everything they overhear. If a child overhears their mother or father, or other family members saying "being gay is wrong, stupid, etc." or "african-americans are horrible people." or "white people are nasty, snobby, stuck up, and stupid.", they are going to think that is the RIGHT way to think and they are going to act on those beliefs that were planted into their brains.

Something has GOT to be done about bullying in schools. Having a "program" in a school telling children why bullying is wrong is not going to cut it. They need to be told the hard truth...they need to be told what bullying can do to a person... emotionally and physically. They need to be repremanded for bullying. They need to see and believe that bullying is something that will NEVER be tolerated. Parents need to talk to their children about bullying and why its wrong. They need to be HONEST with them, and tell them how EVERYONE is different. No one person is the same. Our diversity is what makes us beautiful. Bullying in schools cannot be taken lightly anymore. It has done so much harm to so many children and so many families, and we need to stand up and make a change.

Ill leave you with this question...Youre walking down the street, its pouring rain,you have an umbrella, and you see someone without an unbrella stumble and fall, dropping everything they were holding, scrambling to pick everything up and get somewhere dry...do you run past them, and ignore them, or do you stop and help them? Its not just being NICE.. its respect.. something we dont give each other often at all!

Peace, Love, and Pug Hugs,
Maryann XO

Update on Yours Truly!! :]

I know I have not blogged much lately. For those of you who are not aware, I did delete my old myspace account, so this is now my primary, and only myspace account that I have. Unfortunately, all my old blogs got deleted with it, and I forgot to save them :[ Oh well. I just wanted to give you all a brief update on me. If you don't really care, then dont read! LOL

I am finally DONE (yes, absolutely, positively DONE) with my ex-boyfriend (Boyd, for those of you who don't know his name). A lot of people have been asking me if we still talk, whats going on with us...well there is your answer. We are done. I don't speak with him anymore, I don't wish to speak with him either. Its over. We will never be together again, and I truly believe that one day, he will realize what a good thing he had with me, and his will be kicking himself in the ass because he lost it. I know that I finally feel free. I am finally able to be myself without feeling the need to hide it. Its awful that after almost 6 years, I realized that I was bascially living in someone elses shadow - letting them make decisions for me, letting them tell me who I am and who I should be, letting them tell me what is right and what is wrong. One of my best friends, Manda, sent me a link about a month or so ago, and it explained emotional abuse. I highly advise everyone out there to research that topic. It is something that I really did not believe exsisted until I read this article. NOBODY has the right to make you feel inferior, nobody has the right to make you feel like you are less than what you are, nobody has the right to make you feel like you are somehow wrong about everything. Its scary to think a person could have such control over me (or anybody for that matter!), but I have learned my lesson and I am moving forward with my head held high and a smile on my face. My heart seems to be in a good place right now. I know many have been worried about me because I have kinda been "M.I.A" since the whole Boyd situation. I guess I shut out a lot of people because I just didn't want to deal with it. But Im ok, and I know I am better off without him, and I know that this all happened for a reason. I would never have been happy in the long run if things had continued. I know I am not perfect, but I was a KICK ASS girlfriend and I put up with a lot of crap that not many other girls would put up with. One of my best yet worst personality traits is that when I love someone, I love them with all that I have, all that I am. That will never change. All I can say is THANK YOU to my family and friends who have been there for me through this awful, stressful situation. You truly realize who your real friends are when you are in a situation when you need love and support and I want you all to know I am truly thankful for having each and every one of you in my life. If it were not for my family and friends, I am not sure I would have made it through the past 3-4 months.

On a happier note, summer cannot get here quickly enough for me. I am desperate to sit/lay on the beach with the sun beating down on me and the smell of the ocean filling my nose! I was down the shore this past weekend, and seeing the beach, the ocean, the boardwalk, it made me want summer to be here NOW. I plan on getting to the beach AS MUCH as possible this summer, considering last summer I did not see the beach even ONCE!

I was going to enroll into cosmetology school for skin care this past month, but things didn't work out financially the way I needed them to, so I had to put it on the backburner for now. I now see that it happened for a reason, because I really do not know if I want to go to school for skin care or for massage therapy. I am applying for different jobs right now (I gotta get back into working!), and I figure by fall I should have some money saved up to start up school.

To clear up any "misinterpretations", LOL, I am SINGLE. I am not in a relationship with anybody right now. I am not sure if I am quite ready to get serious with anyone right now, but if the "right person" were to come along and decide to catch me as I am falling for them, I would not be completely against it. ;] Im taking things one day at a time, and whatever happens, happens.

I do ask you all to please pray for me, keep me in your thoughts, because I am STRESSED OUT... *sigh* I got a speeding ticket back in March and I am going to court for it in May. (I am SO pleading NOT GUILTY.. I was NOT doing 78 in a 55... MAYBE a 68 in a 55... but my poor car cant even handle doing 78!) Im a little bit stressed about it and I truly hope that this all works out because I don't have $300+ for a TICKET! Especially for a ticket that I did not deserve! :[ I know this is not a big deal to most, but I have never gotten anything more than a parking ticket, and I have certainly never been to court for anything, so Im a little nerous to say the least!!! I have also changed my cell phone number.

If I have not given you my new number yet, please message me and I will give it to you! I guess that is it for now... I will be blogging more lately, I promise! I know there are a few of you out there who actually ENJOY my blogs! And good Lord, there are a lot of things I want to blog about.. so until then...

Peace, Love and Pug Hugs,Maryann =]

PS- If you have a facebook or myspace, please do friend request me on there. You can also "follow" me on Twitter.com LOL.

Jon & Kate Gosselin Breaking Up?

Unfortunatley, I missed the season finale of "Jon and Kate Plus 8" on TLC tonight. I cought the last minute or so of Jon and Kate talking about how being in the public eye has been tough on Jon and how he doesn't really like it, and he is still dealing with the fact that he cant just be "JON" when he goes out, he is "Jon and Kate Plus 8". Kate said she loves doing the show so that is where they are having some conflict, and it seemed as if they were not sure if they were going to continue filming more seasons, or just stop with this last season. I know there has been a lot of controversy going out in the media about Jon cheating on Kate, and how he wants to leave her and the kids for a "better life". I know there was a big thing going on with "Aunt Jodi" and not getting paid to appear on the show (supossedly because Kate did not want anyboy getting paid to be on their show).
First, I need to say that I truly hope Jon and Kate do not split up. I have been watching their show since Season 1, and I always considered them different. They always seem so happy with each other and with their family. They have eight beautiful children, two amazing dogs, a new, gorgeous house. They have been blessed in so many ways. When they renewed their vows I thought it was so sweet. I remember Kate saying one of the reasons why they did it was so that they could show their children that Mommy and Daddy were going to be together forever. I have to admit, Jon and Kate are my last hope at believing that true love DOES exsist and that people DO get married and stay together and stay happy even through difficult times. If they break up, I really think I will loose all hope in true love.
I think its a shame that the media has taken such a positive family and wrote such negative stories about them. There is a story circulating about Jon going to some college parties and hanging out with college girls. This story was based on ONE picture of Jon and two younger girls. Jon's face is red in the picture and his eyes are half shut. Lets just say it wasnt the best picture of him. We ALL have those pictures of ourselves. When we arent ready for the picture to be taken. When we arent looking our best and someone snaps a picture of us. Jon (and Kate) must run into fans all over the place, and I am SURE that the picture that sparked this rumor was just a random picture that Jon took with fans and people made it out to be something it is not. Katie is NOT a bad woman, nor is she a bad mother. NO, I do not know her personally, but people are juding her based on her parenting and the way she acts towards Jon. Everyone has their own parenting skills and techniques and clearly her (and Jons) are working because they have some amazing children! Nobody has the perfect marriage. Nobody gets along with their spouse 24/7 and noone agrees with their spouse 24/7. Jon and Kate are very loving towards one another. They probably do not have the time they would like to spend together alone. It has to be hard on their relationship. Kate does not treat Jon badly. Yes, it seems like Kate is the more dominant personality in their marriage, but everyones marriage is different. Jon is more laid-back while Kate is more of a "take charge" kind of person.
It is sickening to me that "Aunt Jodi" and her sister are writing blogs on their websites about their digust in Jon and Kate (mainly Kate). Why can they not be adult and deal with their issues with Kate in private? Two grown woman are on the computer, blogging and video blogging about issues they supossedly have with Jon and Kate. If I were Jon or Kate, and had a reality TV show about me and my family, I would not want anyone to be getting paid either just for being on the show (babysitters, family friends, etc.) because then how would you ever know who was truly there for you and your family and who was there just to make an extra buck? I think its sickening that "Aunt Jodi" and her sister are supossedly pissed off because Aunt Jodi wasnt making money for appearing on the show when she was watching the kids for Jon and Kate. I am SURE she wouldnt be seeking out money from them if they did not have a TV show.
I urge everyone who has some jaded, awful outlook o Jon and Kate Gosselin to go out and buy (or go to the library and check out) their book "Multiple Blessings". Kate talks about everything from when her and Jon met, to the birth of Cara and Mady, the birth of the sextuplets, the struggles and hardships they faces as a family financially, spirtually, and emotionally, and how thankful they are for everything they have ever recieved. Jon and Kate have repeatedly said on their show how thankful they are for the benefits they get for them and their kids (trips/vacations, invitations to attend certain places, etc.) They have said time and time again how they KNOW they would not be able to do all those things if they werent given the chance to. And everybody out there knows if someone came to them and said "Hey, want to go to Hawaii for free? You and your family, everything will be paid for, all you have to do is let us film you a bit while you are there." you would go in a heartbeat. I know I would! They are doing nothing wrong. They are living their life. They have been an inspiration to ME, and I hope that one day I can be married and as happy as Jon and Kate are. I truly don't believe all the rumors going around about them splitting up. Or maybe I dont want to believe them. Either way, until I hear it straight from their mouths that they are unhappy, and that all these rumors are true, I will stand behind them, and support them 110%.
Peace, Love, and Pug Hugs,
Maryann

The Innocent Beings of out World

My note: I actually wrote this a few days ago, but wanted to post it on here.(This is one of my more serious blogs, I promise I am NOT always this serious and my topics do vary! :]*I have recently become disgusted with the way our world treats the most innocent of beings.

First up, let me allow you to read an article that was posted on the Bronx Zoo's website on February 5th, 2009.

"The following statement was released today by the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Executive Vice President of Public Affairs John Calvelli:

We applaud the New York State Legislature for rejecting Governor Paterson’s proposal to disproportionately cut the Zoos, Botanical Gardens and Aquariums (ZBGA) budget line by 55 percent for Fiscal Year 2009. This was a strategic decision by our state legislators who recognize the economic, educational, and environmental importance of all 76 institutions funded by the ZBGA budget line. While the decision to protect the funding this year is vital, we ask that our state legislators recognize the importance of the state’s Environmental Protection Fund to all New Yorkers and reject the governor’s proposal to zero out the ZBGA budget line in Fiscal Year 2010. We hope Albany will use a scalpel, and not an ax, to make targeted reductions that will allow our institutions to weather the current financial storm.

This week’s vote will ensure that living museums across our state funded by ZBGA, including the Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium, will receive the original $9 million allocated to them at the beginning of Fiscal year 2009. We want to thank the Bronx and Brooklyn state legislative delegations, more than 60 community organizations and businesses, and all the New Yorkers who helped to send more than 46,000 messages to Albany asking that zoos, botanical gardens, and aquariums get the funding they need as they face dwindling private donations and repercussions due to a volatile stock market.

All these ZBGA living museums are integral to our state’s local communities as they face great challenges with the financial crisis. These ZBGA-funded institutions attract more than 12 million tourists a year, helping local merchants with their sales and bottom line.

The 114-year-old Bronx Zoo and 113-year-old New York Aquarium are part of the rich history and fabric in New York State and are located in some of the most underserved areas in New York. The Wildlife Conservation Society, which manages these facilities, educates millions of students and future conservationists, employs more than 4,000 staff worldwide, and pumps more than $400 million into our state’s economy. More than 4 million tourists visit WCS facilities each year, buying from the local merchants in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and across New York. The Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium employ approximately 1,200 seasonal workers in the summer, many of whom are retirees, citizens on public assistance, and students. And each year, we train 2,000 public school teachers and nearly 2 million students visit our facilities, including 70,000 who attend our formal education programs.

If the state government eliminates funding for the Wildlife Conservation Society, it will be the first time since 1895 that we, a state chartered institution, receive no support from the state. We think that's an abdication of the state's century-old commitment to us and the people of the State of New York.

Even with this week’s vote, we ask that New Yorkers send a message of support to Albany by going to www.wcs.org. We continue to face a 100 percent cut of funding from the state as proposed by the Governor for Fiscal Year 2010."

Why is it that the second we face an economic crisis, everyone feels that animals should be the first to suffer? Why is it that they want to cut back cost when it comes to animals? Why should an animal loose its food, shelter, and safety? I grew up learning that animals are just as important as human beings. From the teeny tiny ant to the magnificent Elephant, all animals should be treated equally and not get pushed aside when times get rough.
I have heard to many horror stories about families who are going through tough financial situations that leave their pets to starve and die. There have been a few times when my family (along with over 50% of the US population) have gone through financial difficulties. We have THREE dogs, and FOUR birds. Not once was our answer to cut back on their food or water or shelter. They are just as important as we are, and they depend on us to care for them. I understand that some families truly feel they cannot care for their pets anymore when they are facing financial difficulties.. but I think if that happens, then they need to be responsible and find a no-kill shelter where they can bring their animal.

Back to the main issue...does Govenor Paterson REALLY think that cutting and bascially taking away funding and budgets from the NY zoos, aquarium, and botanical gardens is going to help with our economic crisis? I have been to the Bronx Zoo quite a few times.. and each time I went there, it was PACKED with people. The Bronx Zoo, the NY Aquarium, the Botanical Gardens... they are all an important part of NYC. They bring people and tourists in. If anything, they are HELPING the economy by boosting sales of the zoo, the aquarium, the gardens, and the areas around them. The Bronx Zoo is not only a place of employment for thousands of people, but it is HOME to a HUGE amount of animals. Some of those animals were BORN there. What will the zoo do if they loose their funding? How will they care for these precious animals? Some of the animals there are endangered species. How will the zoo ensure that those animals do not become extinct without the proper funding? These places/museums truly are a part of NYC's culture and history. I do not believe the answer to our economic crisis is taking away the funding of NYC's zoos, aquariums, and botanical gardens. How about we focus on things like the $1 million dollars in bonuses that AIG insurance paid its employees? Some bonuses paid to people who didnt even WORK for AIG insurance anymore. Nobody wants to stand back and look at the real picture. Its not the Bronx Zoo, or NYC Aquarium or the botanical gardens that is taking money away and putting us into an economic crisis. Its US, the PEOPLE, the UNITES STATES, the people who work for major corporations who are getting insane amounts of money placed in the palm of their hand and dont want to give up the luxuries they have become acustomed to, who are putting us deeper into this economic crisis we are in right now.


Something else that has disgusted me is President Obama's view on abortion. I have ALWAYS been a FIRM believer that the SECOND a male sperm fertilizes a female egg, a HUMAN LIFE is formed and begins to grow. Abortion takes that LIFE, and KILLS it. I am tired of hearing all the excuses. Here's my take on these "excuses"..

"What if a woman was raped and becomes pregnant as a result?" - When a woman is sexually assaulted or raped it is, without a doubt, a horrible, terrible, traumatizing experiece for that woman. I am in NO WAY taking that away from victims of rape/sexual assault. BUT, in life, things happen. Things that we dont WANT to happen. Things that we dont anticipate happening. Sometimes, we have to deal with what life gives us. I believe if a woman is raped, and becomes pregnant because of that rape, then the woman should give birth to the baby, and then give the child up for adoption. Yes, the nine months leading up to the birth and the birth of the baby may be hell on earth for the woman, but that child did not ASK for her to be raped. That child deserves to LIVE. That child deserves the chance to be brought into this world. There are thousands and thousands of couples out there who can't have children naturally and who would love to adopt a beautiful baby girl or boy.

"What if a teenager has sex and becomes pregnant and cannot take care of a baby?" - Again, life has unexpected turns and we have to deal with what live gives us. If a teenager decides they are mature enough to have sex, then they are mature enough to give birth to a baby. Again, if the teenager cannot give the baby a proper home, and love and shelter and safety, then they can give that baby up for adoption. Why is it that a teenager is mature enough to make the decision to have sex, but isn't mature enough to realize that the baby they are carrying inside of them deserves to live?

"What if the mother's life is at risk?" - This has always been tough for me. I dont believe I have ever heard of a doctor telling a woman "If you do not abort this pregnancy, you will die." I believe that certain things are in God's hands. Now if the woman is in labor, and the doctor feels that the baby or the mothers life is in danger, that is a completely different story, and a doctor has to make a tough call. But I do not believe that a woman would DIE if she did not terminate a pregnancy.

"What if the woman finds out the baby will be deformed, or be a special needs child?" - So what? Just because a child does not grow the proper way or does not have the same mental capabilities of most in the world, they should just be killed and forgotten about? AGAIN, life has unexpected turns, and THAT is one of them. If a woman feels she cannot raise a child with special needs, then again, she can put that baby up for adoption and there is someone who WILL be able to raise that child and love that child.


I have come to notice that in our world, we feel that those who are innocent, those who do not have an actual "VOICE" (animals, unborn babies, young children) do not matter. Its as if most people think that they do not have feelings. They DO. Just because an animal cannot TALK to you and just because an unborn child cannot TALK to you, does not mean that they do not want to, does not mean that they do not deserve the same love that any other human being would get.

Don't allow people to invalidate the feelings of the innocent beings of our world. They deserve to live a beautiful life, just like anybody else.

Take action... and take action now!!!

To take action against Govenor Paterson taking away funding from New York's zoos, aquariums and botanical gardens please visit: http://capwiz.com/wcs/issu....es/alert/?alertid=12198681
To take action against Abortion and President Obama's decision to fund abortions please visit: http://www.prolife.com/

Peace, Love, and Pug Hugs,
Maryann

Introduction!

Hellooo Beautiful people. :]
My name is Maryann. I am 22 years old. I live in New Jersey. I have been blogging on my myspace page for a while now, but I don't feel like my blogs reach as many people as I would like them to, so I figured this site would do a better job of that.
Writing is a creative outlet for me. I write about a variety of topics from what I think about a certain television show to my feelings on new laws that are getting passed. My blogs are just my opinion and are NEVER meant to offend anybody or hurt anyone's feelings! Some topics I am most passionate about are topics that can be very controversial, but I feel that we all have the right to express our opinions on whatever topic we want!
So sit back, relax, "follow" me, and be on the lookout for my blogging adventure here to begin! :]
Peace, Love and Pug Hugs,
Maryann