Patriotism...and what it isn't.

I have been trying to be good and not make any postings about the current Presidential/Vice Presidential Campaigns. I have been trying REALLY hard to behave myself and not point out any of the issues that any of the candidates have uttered that have left me shaking my head in disgust, disbelief, or just plain disillusionment, but today's rallying cry by Sarah Palin in North Carolina leaves me with no choice but to speak up.

EXCUSE ME!!! ONLY NORTH CAROLINA IS FILLED WITH 100% PATRIOTS? What the H-E-"double hockey sticks" does that say for the traitors that voted Ms. Palin in first as Mayor and then Governor of Alaska? What does that say for the traitors in Arizona that elected John McCain to the Senate all these years, and all the traitors who voted for him throughout the other 46 States during the Primaries that gave him the nomination for the Republican Party?

If I were an Alaskan right now, I'd be feeling REALLY, REALLY ticked right now...and although I am NOT an Alaskan, and am not a North Carolinian, I am REALLY, REALLY ticked that the candidate chosen by John McCain to run as his Vice President...the person who will become President if he dies in office, would have the nerve to dismiss me as being UN-patriotic because I do NOT live in North Carolina. What is WRONG with this woman?

And since she gave me no choice but to respond to HER foolishness...what the H-E-"double hockey sticks" is wrong with her running mate?

He accuses his opponent of being too inexperienced for the job of President so he takes someone LESS experienced as HIS running mate? Has McCain been checked for Alzheimer's Disease?

And while we're on the subject of McCain's mental synaptic capabilities...as someone with a MASTERS DEGREE in Special Education, I was FURIOUS with him during the last debate every time he threw Sarah Palin's experience and understanding of Autism because she has a Special Needs child. Does NO ONE bother to educate these people before they decide to introduce information during these debates. (Judging from the repeated stress McCain made concerning Joe the Plumber buying the plumbing business that he could not legally buy since he's not a LICENSED...as in LEGAL plumber...I guess verifying facts before spewing them is not a high priority.)...But let me clarify the Autism vs, Sarah Palin's Special Needs expertise issue.

Sarah Palin's last child...the baby...HER baby...not the one still cooking inside her 17 year old unwed daughter...was born with Down Syndrome. She, Ms. Palin, was made aware of this PRIOR to the child's birth because Down Syndrome is detectable during amniocentesis because it is a CHROMOSOMAL DISORDER caused by the presence of all or part of an EXTRA 21st chromosome. It is named after John Langdon Down, the British doctor who described the condition back in 1866. The condition is characterized by a combination of major and minor differences in the basic structure of the human form. Often it is associated with some impairment of COGNITIVE ability and PHYSICAL GROWTH as well as FACIAL APPEARANCE...and can be identified, as I stated earlier, during the pregnancy, or immediately upon birth.

Children born with Down Syndrome tend to have lower cognitive ability, often range from mild to moderate DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, although a small number have sever to profound mental disabilities. It is estimated 1 in 800 to 1,000 births will present as Down Syndrome afflicted, although these numbers are greatly influenced by the age of the mother.

Some of the physical features are a single instead of a double crease across one or both palms, an almond shape to the eyes, shorter limbs, a larger than normal space between big and second toes, a protruding tongues. Health concerns for children born with Down Syndrome include a high risk for CONGENITAL HEART DEFECTS, GASTROSOPHOGEAL REFLUX DISEASE, recurrent EAR INFECTIONS, OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA and THYROID DYSFUNCTIONS.

Allow me to repeat myself here DOWN SYNDROME IS CAUSED BY THE PRESENCE OF ALL OR PART OF THE EXTRA 21ST CHROMOSOME. It is a condition that presents itself with more and more challenges as the child develops. Less than a year, does NOT an expert make.

AUTISM....Autism is a BRAIN DEVELOPMENT DISORDER that is characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior...all starting before the child is THREE YEARS OLD.

Autism has a strong genetic base although the genetics of autism are complex. Unlike Down Syndrome many of its proposed causes, such as childhood vaccines are controversial; the vaccine hypotheses lack convincing scientific evidence. Most recent reviews estimate a prevalence of 1 to 2 cases per 1,000 people. The number of people known to have autism has increased dramatically since the 1980's as a result of changes in diagnostic practice.

Autism affects many parts of the brain; how this occurs is not understood. Parents usually notice signs in the first two years of their child's life. Early behavioral and/or cognitive intervention can help children gain self-care, social, and communication skills. There is no known cure. Few children with autism live independently after reaching adulthood, but some become successful, and an autistic culture has developed with some seeking a cure and others believing that autism is a condition rather than a disorder.

So, Senator McCain, Sarah Palin's child was born with DOWN SYNDROME. That has absolutely NOTHING to do with AUTISM and even with the birth of her child, she is NOT an expert of the challenges of Special Needs because her JOURNEY has only JUST begun. Her child has not begun to walk. He has not begun the challenges as his internal organs continue to develop according to the map that extra chromosome has placed within his DNA.

Her JOURNEY is still very much before her. AND even with that journey, she is not doing it alone as so many others must do. Her husband remained with her. She has help...nannies, maids, cooks, etc. The challenges she has to face in the coming years as her child grows are not going to force her to her knees...so even when she is well along the highway of her Journey, her path will be much easier...Expert? No!!!!

Senator John McCain, you should never praise someone about conditions that you have such little knowledge of...it only makes you look stupid...And given the state of the Country's fiances, this War...your voting record during the tenure of the Bush years, you really don't need to keep looking stupid!!!!