Scenes from OC- Spectrum and the Awesome Kina Grannis

On a Friday night, you can find many of Orange County’s residents, young and old, at the Irvine Spectrum. It’s an entertainment oasis where you can eat an expensive meal at one of the restaurants and then buy cheap toothpaste at the adjacent Target.

If you are there at the right night and time, you might catch singer and songwriter Kina Grannis. She is the winner of the 2008 Doritos Crash the Super Bowl contest and a rising star from Mission Viejo. Most importantly, she was my classmate and National Honor Society President in High School.

Here is Kina singing “Strong Enough” at the Irvine Spectrum. Check out more of her music here.

With Hope And Change For All

It was a big production fitting for the party of big government. The Democrat National Convention came to a close last night, leaving me with a few questions and thoughts.

The Democrats seems convinced that they are running against President Bush again. He was mentioned dozens of times at the convention, but the “McCain is Bush” line is pretty weak. For a party that is advocating “change,” they sure haven’t changed their message of 8 years.

Democrats, Gov. Tim Kaine especially, hate homeowners. Gov. Kaine told the delegation, “”Maybe for John McCain the American dream means seven houses – and if that’s your America, John McCain is your candidate. But for the rest of us, the American dream means one home.” What about vacation homes, or time shares? What if you own another house that you rent out? Sorry, you are only allowed one. Where the heck do the Democrats get their definition of the American Dream? Doesn’t the American Dream also mean financial success? Doesn’t owning more than one home indicate financial success? Clearly, the American Dream under Democrat rule is a restricted one.

If hope is making a comeback, why do we need a big government to treat us like we’re hopeless?

Instead of “hope” and “change,” why not get back to the basics? Let’s talk about “Liberty,” and “Justice.” You know, the the principles upon which this country was founded. Instead of a “Green Economy,” why not a “Free Economy?” Those things are still quite important, and they have worked pretty well in the past. Even if freedom and liberty have diminished under President Bush, it is doubtful that it will be given proper attention by Obama. In Obama’s acceptance speech, the word “Freedom” appeared twice, and “Justice” and “Liberty” zero times. Meanwhile, the word “Hope” appeared 4 times, and “Change” 12 times.

On to St. Paul…

Real Hope Runs for VP

There was no mass text message, or stadium-sized buildup. Just a strong woman standing next to her humble family, prepared to defend life and liberty for all of America’s son and daughters. Meet Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin, the GOP’s Vice Presidential candidate.

The Democrats are going to make a lot of noise about Palin’s supposed inexperience, but they really have nothing on the Alaskan Governor. Palin has a record of accomplishments that the American people can actually read about; Obama has two words from the dictionary.

Palin has raised what can be considered the everyday American family: A blue-collar husband, a son in the military, and a baby boy that was given a shot at life. She hunts, fishes, and during her day job she stands up to special interests, big government spenders, and lobbyists.

In her first speech today as the vice-presidential candidate, Palin thanked Geraldine Ferraro and Hillary Clinton for the precedent they set for women in politics. Next time, she might also want to thank women like Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, and Sen. Elizabeth Dole, strong Republican women that have contributed so much to this country. In fact, it isn’t a huge surprise that McCain chose a woman on his ticket. The GOP values ideas and principles, no matter what gender, race, or ethnicity they come from. Palin’s gender indeed scores some big political points, but she would not have been selected if she weren’t a strong and consistent conservative and a dedicated public servant with a fighting spirit.

I am most inspired by Gov. Palin’s dedication to life. As many already know, Palin brought her son into this world even though she knew that he would be born with Down Syndrome. Despite the challenges involved in raising him, the Palin family welcomed young Trig into this world. With her newborn son, Palin reminded us, “every innocent life has wonderful potential.”

Now that’s hope.

Noonan Clip of the Week

America’s greatest writer on Barack Obama and abortion:

As to the question when human life begins, the answer to which is above Mr. Obama’s pay grade, oh, let’s go on a little tear. You know why they call it birth control? Because it’s meant to stop a birth from happening nine months later. We know when life begins. Everyone who ever bought a pack of condoms knows when life begins.

Send Michelle Obama an Olympics DVD

Even though the Olympic Games are over, there is no reason we can’t continue to chant “USA” and take pride in our country. It was refreshing to see all the American athletes remind us that patriotism is still cool. Win or lose, America’s Olympians were not afraid to show off the red, white, and blue. They didn’t need their spouses to run for President to know that America is a great country.

Since Michelle Obama became an adult, there have been 14 Olympic Games—7 summer games and 7 winter games. That’s 14 chances for the would-be first lady to be “really proud of my country.” I guess she wasn’t watching.

Proud yet, Lady Obama?

Escuela Intermedia de Marco Forster

Kim McCarthy, whose child attends Marco Forster Middle School in San Juan Capistrano, raises some concerns about the school’s national identity. The Orange County Register has re-printed McCarthy’s letter to the Capistrano Unified Board of Trustees online. Here it is:

TO: Trustees Ellen Addonizio, Anna Bryson, Larry Christensen, Ken Maddox, Sue Palazzo, Duane Stiff, Mike Darnold

Thank you to the trustees for omitting on the blue request to speak card, the requirement of stating your children’s name and school they attended. I can tell you first hand my involvement in the original recall landed me and my family’s names on the enemies list. As a result, I was reluctant to speak before the previous Board majority.

My concern tonight is this: For the last 2 years my daughter has attended Marco Forster Middle School, and before her my son attended Marco. Consequently, I have spent a significant amount of time at Marco, yet I have never been comfortable there. Why? Because this school is operated as if it is a Mexican Public School, not an American Public School.

• The Mexican flag is painted on the multi-purpose room wall next to the portrait of a Mexican man with a quote in Spanish.

• Many signs throughout the school at various events are in Spanish.

• Most everyone behind the office counter is often electing to speak Spanish.

• Many a time have I been sitting in the office when the principal walks in, Carrie Bertini, and she is choosing to speak in Spanish instead of English as well.

• The messages on the phones are in Spanish, all of the paperwork is in both Spanish and English.

• On parent teacher night when parents only are requested, many of the Latinos bring their children anyway, as interpretors.

• An awards ceremony at the end of the school year was given in English and then parents had to painstakingly sit through it interpreted by teachers in Spanish to the gasps of the many English-speaking parents.

• Subsequently, due to the way in which this school is run, my daughter and her friends say Spanish is spoken by the majority of Latino’s in the hallway who are perfectly capable of speaking English. Why not, when the principle is doing it and no one is telling them any different! Is this promoting assimilation? NO, it promotes divisiveness!

There are 140 languages spoken by California’s children, is the CUSD prepared to include them on all paperwork, the phone system, speak their language at awards ceremonies and represent their flags on the wall as well?

What happened to PROP. 227, “REQUIRING ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL INSTRUCTION TO BE CONDUCTED IN ENGLISH?” I consider anything that goes on in the public school system as some form of instruction.

Even more disturbing, why is the Catholic organization CHEC, allowed to promote themselves using our public school system? This is a religious organization targeting one race in our public school. Is this even legal? If so, why don’t they make a check out to the CUSD Foundation for ALL of the children of CUSD?

Why is the principle of Marco, Carrie Bertini, getting involved in San Juan Capistrano’s local politics and attending the 5/6/2008 City Council meeting to speak on behalf of the Catholic organization CHEC when residents of SJC were opposing the city renewing CHEC’s license to operate in one of our residential neighborhoods? And let me make it very clear, because I have it on tape, she introduced herself as the principal of Marc Forster Middle School and identified herself once more during her speech that she was the principal. Miss Bertini gave out her own statistics, crediting her schools relationship with CHEC for a drop in expulsion.

The divisiveness at Marco is disturbingly out of control and it appears, is being perpetuated by the principal.

Bottom line:

• I am asking you, the board of trustees, to enforce the laws of The United States of America and PROP 227 at Marco and throughout the district.

• Please do not allow the Mexican flag to remain on the walls at Marco.

• Do not allow any one religion to single out one race of children and use our public school system to promote it and their organization.

• Please ask Marco Principal Carrie Bertini to stop promoting the use of the Spanish language thus enabling Latinos to create Mexico within our public school system. Maybe then these students will better assimilate, which in turn will foster better relations all around.

What is happening at Marco is unacceptable. I and many other parents and children are tired of it and want it to end but we need your help to do it. I’m asking for your intervention.

Thank you,

Kim McCarthy

Here is the mural to which McCarthery refers:

Source: OC Weekly

Superintendent A. Woodrow Carter’s written response is here. Since it is a pdf file, I can’t copy and paste it on the blog like I did with McCarthy’s letter.

I myself am a product of the Capistrano Unified School District. Every school I attended throughout my K-12 education was a CUSD school. While I paid little attention to the demographics of my elementary classrooms to comment on assimilation as a a kindergartener, I paid enough attention to it to notice the significant change in racial composition, and the increase in Hispanic students in particular once I graduated from High School. Though Superintendent Carter minimizes the concerns raised by McCarthy, the parent’s letter provides important examples of the continuing need to foster a culture of assimilation in our public schools.

Carter asserts that all classroom instruction is done in English, while hallway and office conversations in Spanish do not violate Proposition 227, the law that requires public school instruction to be conducted in English. While one has every right to speak whatever language one wants, students should be encouraged to speak English. When school administrators and staff choose to speak Spanish most of the time, they set a poor example for the students that may be less inclined to speak English. Carter further reveals that PTSA newsletters are translated in Spanish, providing fewer opportunities for students to learn English. Admittedly, I rarely read the PTSA newsletters that were mailed home, but consistent English exposure in and out of the school environment can only help an English learner.

Lastly, Superintendent Carter defends the Mexican themed mural depicting Mexican President Benito Juárez as an appropriate response to a hate incident that occurred on campus. The mural additionally features a quote from Juárez, written in both Spanish and English. It reads:

“Entre los individuos, como entre las naciones, el respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz.” “Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.”

If you want to promote peace and tolerance, why not use this quote: “Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” And it just so happens to be from an American President, no less. Carter finds the mural to be a beautiful depiction of “Two cultures coming together to create beauty and harmony out of adversity.” That may be true, but it certainly doesn’t depict national solidarity or the principle of E pluribus unum—things that often take a backseat to lessons in “diversity.”

Two cultures can harmoniously come together, but under which principles and virtues do they unite? While Juárez’s words appear to echo Jefferson or Lincoln, one would think that an American school would echo the words of an American leader. According to the superintendent, the mural was designed by the students. I guess they were all absent during the lesson on our nation’s founding.

Scenes from OC- Where Olympians Are Made

Here is further proof of Orange County’s awesomeness: 47 of the 596 athletes on the US Olympic team are from Orange County. Mission Viejo in particular (the greatest city in the greatest county ever) has a proud history of producing some of the greatest swimmers and divers through the Mission Viejo Nadadores, one of the country’s largest swimming and diving clubs. Some notable Nadador olympians include diver Greg Louganis, Larsen Jensen, and Dara Torres.

Honoring Orange County’s Olympic connection is this video of the 2008 Mission Viejo Invitational at the Nadadores aquatic center. There aren’t any olympians in this video, but you get to see the inside of the place where gold medalists are made.

That’s not smog…

…I call it the fog of progress.

The Politics of Pomposity

There sure are plenty of media folks in Beijing. Barack Obama must be on his tour of Asia.

Speaking of Obama, there has been much discussion about the Chosen One’s Olympic size ego. Orange County Register Intern Allysia Finley writes in a guest column about the uniqueness of Obama’s arrogance. She writes:

But what makes Obama different from many politicians is that he is not just arrogant, but also narcissistic.

A few self-absorbed Obama quotes and the fact that the Chosen One wrote a memoir at the young age of 45 are just some of the examples of the senator’s one of a kind narcissism that Finley cites. It is true that in politics the humble and the modest need not apply. Anyone who thinks that he or she deserves the authority to introduce laws to the public requires some degree of self-importance. Democrats have more of it than Republicans, but in general all public office holders share the same trait. Someone who is unsure of himself seems unlikely to pass with confidence a law that will affect a mass of strangers. The difference between one candidate and another, aside from ideology and policy, comes from the ability to efficaciously manipulate one’s self-importance. For most accomplished politicians, it is the ability to both downplay and draw upon one’s ego that leads to votes.

Where Finley gets it wrong is her assertion that Obama’s arrogance is somehow unique to him. Obama’s arrogance meter is off the charts, but it isn’t entirely inherent. The public and the media have overfed Obama’s ego, and he was just clever enough to use it to his advantage. It was especially useful in the primary; Hillary’s presumed inevitability and political street-cred had to be matched by a superstar facade. Obama knows that the same strategy is needed against McCain, whose own romance with the mainstream media gives him an exceptional advantage.

What makes Obama unique is how he has manipulated his self-importance. Rather than masking it under false modesty, he has embraced it, exaggerated it, and projected it to the entire world. He may be naturally arrogant, but he is also aware that his arrogance is pliant.

Leave it to the greatest speechwriter ever to beat me to the analysis. As Peggy Noonan writes of Obama’s excessive showmanship: “It’s not vanity, it’s strategy.”

Scenes from OC- Roundabouts or Bust

Since I am incredibly proud to be an Orange County resident, I’ve decided to devote Friday posts to the greatest region of California, perhaps the world. It is amazing how much you can learn about the people and places of the OC on YouTube. The sunburned surfer dude or bleach blond mall rat, for instance, have a fascinating take on life that is often dismissed by city-dwelling elitists who would secretly give up their Priuses just to live minutes from the beach. But we need not our most stereotypical residents to show us what life is like behind the Orange Curtain. While I actually think reality shows like Laguna Beach: The Real OC and the Real Housewives of Orange County offer mostly accurate representations of life in South County, the poor saps of suburbia that weren’t lucky enough to get their own shows also have some important perspectives.

Take DENJCA29 for example, who is certain that roundabouts will cure all of Orange County’s traffic problems. I guess we all need to have some pet issue, and someone somewhere has got to push for the construction of roundabouts. DENJCA29 filmed his or her drive through Mission Viejo, Las Flores, and Ladera Ranch to prove that stoplights are inefficient, though I can’t imagine a roundabout at Crown Valley and Marguerite creating happy motorists. I post this video not because I endorse DENJCA29’s “roundabouts here roundabouts now” plan, but because the video takes you through some familiar neighborhoods. Hey, I can see my house!