Carrie Wigal

I specifically wanted to check out the National Archives building on Constitution Avenue in DC this past weekend, more specifically the original Charters of Freedom documents.

We were one of the last visitors on Saturday to view the U.S. Constitution housed in the Rotunda, and it was a remarkable experience.

Unlike the scene depicted in the Disney movie, National Treasure, the rotunda was smaller, darker and much more crowded. And of course, I was sure to pick up my copy of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights in the gift shop before leaving…my only real tourist-trap souvenir purchased during the whole weekend-long trip.

My husband and I had the distinct pleasure of traveling to our nation’s capitol for the first time as a couple this weekend. We left our children for a few days with friends and family and caught a bus ride to Union Station in Washington DC.

After finding our way through the city’s Metro system, we checked into our hotel and quickly ventured out to see the various sites along the Mall.

Our first visit was to the Capitol Building.

It was a beautiful evening and we enjoyed the intimate setting as the sun dipped behind the majestic home of the United States Congress.

We knew the scene would be quite different the following day when thousands of modern day American revolutionaries would swarm this site demonstrating a call for liberty and a return to the Constitution.

Local Republicans’ July 4th Float Produces Fresh Fodder for Democrats’ John Deere.

In this year’s Annual 4th of July Parade through downtown Scottsville, VA, local Democrats showcased a wagon full of Tom Perriello supporters hitched to the back of a John Deere tractor. Not too far behind were Republicans Congressman Virgil Goode and Delegate Rob Bell ushering in the Local Fluvanna Republican Committee’s float…a hay wagon full of Republican supporters hitched to a Hummer.

In this YouTube video, you’ll see Virgil Goode greeting parade attendees, with my husband in the background driving a Hummer, showcasing Goode and Bell campaign signs, and waving an American flag as I’m handing out invitations to a FREE “Meet the GOP” Barbecue. I’d like to say that we own that vehicle but we don’t, some other Fluvanna County resident does (not Virgil and not the Republican Party). But isn’t it wonderful that in America we are still allowed to purchase vehicles of our own choosing and drive them down the main streets of our communities? If we buy it, and we fuel it, then what’s the problem?

“Nothing like a Hummer for fuel economy…,” one bystander shouted. To that my husband replied, “Drill now!” But of course his response didn’t make it on the clip. I find it amusing that some folks seek to blame consumers for the current fuel prices. Uh, hello! It’s still a free country isn’t it? If we had the opportunity to buy gas that’s made in America, we would. But it seems there are many in Washington who are still playing partisan politics concerning any bills that would allow drilling in our own country despite the fact that over 70% of our population favor it.

See for yourself => HR 6107 American Energy Independence and Price Reduction Act

Even though Virgil Goode had nothing to do with the Hummer’s presence in the parade, I’m glad this clip made it onto the net.

“I believe that reasonable energy costs are crucial to a viable economy. We must be allowed to drill for oil in Alaska and develop sources of energy in this country. We must continue efforts to promote alternatives such as switchgrass, canola, and hybrid poplars.” - Congressman Virgil Goode, 5th District VA [SOURCE]

Drill Now!

I am outraged over the California Supreme Court recent decisions to not only override the will of the people concerning the traditional meaning of marriage, but also despite the fact that an amendment to the state’s constitution will be on the November ballot to be voted upon by the whole state, they refuse to stay (hold) the ruling until this vote!

If this doesn’t enrage you, it should!

Never mind the fact that a few judges are trying to ram homosexual “marriages” down the throats of God-fearing Americans, but they are abusing their power as justices by doing whatever they want.

1. They are taking an institution that has been understood for several thousands of years to be between opposite-sex individuals and redefining the institution, making it into law, despite the fact the vast majority of the people in it’s jurisdiction has already emphatically stated the traditional definition should remain.
2. Knowing that this ruling stands a really good chance of being overturned in November when the people of California hit the polls and vote on amending its state’s constitution indicating the same thing they already voted on less than a decade ago, these judges refuse to stay the ruling.

Why is this so outrageous?

A decision was made against the will of the people in May. The people petitioned to vote on amending their constitution, and they won…the vote will be on November’s general election ballot. BUT, the decision is going into effect next week in June, and the people of California can do nothing about it. So for four and a half months the people in California will have to live under tyranny…in AMERICA!

Wake up, folks…this is SO wrong.

If these judges can wield their power in this fashion, what is preventing other state leaders or even federal leaders in our government from doing much worse to you and I?

Maybe you’re not one to get into political affairs, but I’m telling you point blank, if you don’t rise up and get involved right now, then the freedoms we have are going to be snatched away from us before you can say “boo”.

This is not a movie, guys…this is not some two-dimensional, fictitious Hollywood picture that’s being filmed…this is what real men gave their very lives for. Real people died so that we can live in a free society. Not just actors on a silver screen portraying a distant tale, but scores of ordinary people with an extraordinary passion to fight for religious freedom and liberty from tyrannical governments sacrificed not only their own lives but the lives of their wives and children so that we can have this very precious right to self-govern.

And here we now have a handful of justices dictating to not only Californians, but to the rest of the country how we should operate as a society. Do not take this lying down, people!

Contact your key leaders and demand they put pressure on these justices to stay this ruling until the people have a chance to vote on it.

We must not allow this kind of dictatorship, this form of tyranny to take place unchecked in our country! Contact the following California leaders: Governor Schwarzenegger, Senator Boxer, Senator Feinstein as well as your own state’s U.S. Senators and tell them this ruling must be halted until the people of California are given their opportunity to be heard.

My personal blog here has gotten a bit heavy on the political side lately, and I’m afraid folks who seek me out on the internet might think that’s all I’m about. While public policy has certainly peaked my interest, it’s certainly not my sole defining issue. So in an attempt to balance things out, I have decided to move all my political blogging to a brand new site, Grassroot Americans.

The goal of this new blog is to educate and empower the American people in order to restore our government to be of, by and for the people as America’s founding fathers intended it to be. This is a joint project between my husband and I, and we invite you to join us over there for continued conversation in the matters of our society.

I personally am thrilled with this new development because it not only gives me an avenue to continue my passion for discussing politics, but it frees me up to touch on the other categories of my life that I’ve neglected here recently…like my faith, family, work and play.

Please take a quick peek at Grassroot Americans and let me know what you think. Thanks!

I just watched some video footage of the Mayor of San Francisco, CA claiming homosexual marriage is inevitable…that the door is wide open now. Oh, it sickens me that this door was opened at all. Last week I signed a petition requesting a stay on the California Court decision until the Voters of California have their say in the November election concerning a marriage amendment. Whether you agree with homosexual marriages or not, I encourage you to sign this petition because the way the ruling was carried out was just wrong.

Unelected officials made the decision to knowingly over-ride the will of the people. If Californians want to allow this decision then they will not amend their state’s constitution come November and this decision will likely stand. But if Californians turn out like they did before and amend their constitution defining marriage as being between one man and one woman, then this decision will be struck down.

Watch this video and see how this decision is going to affect you.

“The Wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

“Therefore God gave them over in their sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the created things rather than the Creator — who is forever praised. Amen.

“Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

“Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. Read more »

On April 2, 2008, the Fluvanna Republican Committee held a mass meeting and elected their new chairman to serve for the next two years. The evening proved to be very tense and long…the current chairman was not going down without a fight.

Members from the Republican Party of Virginia (RPV) were in attendance to assure a fair election would be held. Here’s a rundown of what happened based on my personal recollection and a digital recording of the event. (If you have a few hours to kill, you can listen to the recording in full…it gets pretty interesting about half way through.)

THE PRELIMINARIES

The Official Call indicated the mass meeting was to be held at the new County Courthouse in Palmyra. However, at the last minute the venue was changed to the old County Courthouse (just down the street a bit). Unfortunately the old building is not handicap accessible (for those who need to use the restroom) and one couple had to leave without getting the opportunity to participate.

There was a handwritten sign posted near the door that indicated a maximum occupancy allowed in the old courthouse was 75. I thought that was a bit odd. I have a feeling it was meant to be a deterrent, but that’s just my opinion.

It was crowded and very uncomfortable, but those who were there definitely had a purpose in mind for being there. We registered and received our ballots…there were two names listed: Robert J Schwarz and Douglas R Johnson.

The meeting started with speeches from various candidates running for positions in the 5th Congressional District of Virginia.

BATTLE #1: Election of Temporary Chair Read more »

In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress to honor those who have died in all American wars. Its origins lie in “Decoration Day”, a time established by the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers.

In years past, we spent our Memorial Days cooking out with the family…while it was a day to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in battle for our Country, we never really did any physical act to recognize them. We prayed and my father hung the American Flag in the front of the house, but as far as I can remember that’s all we did. We didn’t decorate any graves with flowers.

Yesterday at church, my children’s Sunday School teacher took the kids around the cemetery and stopped at every tombstone that bore an American flag. She encouraged us along with the rest of the congregation at the end of the church service to remember the fallen soldiers on this special day.

This year, I’m starting a new tradition with my family. We have fields of yellow buttercups on our property and our family is going to go out and pick baskets full to take with us to our local cemetery. And we are going to decorate the graves of those who died for our freedom.

THE BUDDY POPPY

If you don’t have a family tradition for this National Holiday, I encourage you to give this idea a try. If you don’t have fields of flowers in your yard, then consider seeking out some veterans who will be distributing artificial poppies in recognition of their fallen comrades.

“In 1924, a poppy factory was built in Pittsburgh, Pa., providing a reliable source of poppies and a practical means of assistance to veterans. Today, veterans at Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities and veterans homes help assemble the poppies, which are distributed by veterans service organizations throughout the country.

“Donations received in return for these artificial poppies have helped countless veterans and their widows, widowers and orphans over the years. The poppy itself continues to serve as a perpetual tribute to those who have given their lives for the nation’s freedom.”

NATIONAL MOMENT OF REMEMBRANCE

“To ensure the sacrifices of America ’s fallen heroes are never forgotten, in December 2000, the U.S. Congress passed and the president signed into law “The National Moment of Remembrance Act,” P.L. 106-579, creating the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance. The commission’s charter is to “encourage the people of the United States to give something back to their country, which provides them so much freedom and opportunity” by encouraging and coordinating commemorations in the United States of Memorial Day and the National Moment of Remembrance.

“The National Moment of Remembrance encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation. As Moment of Remembrance founder Carmella LaSpada states: “It’s a way we can all help put the memorial back in Memorial Day.”

We plan on being at my parents’ house, cooking out at that time, but I will be sure to make certain we all stop precisely at 3PM for a moment of silence and remember as an extended family the price paid for us to gather freely on this beautiful spring day.

God bless you and your family, and may God continue to bless America.

SOURCE: US DEPT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Fluvanna County has had problems of over-crowding in the elementary and middle schools for several years now. The band-aid solutions have been to install trailers on the two campuses, but these were only meant to be temporary. Well, another school year has gone by and still no reasonable solution has been provided by the School Board for the near future.

Last fall funding for the controversial Domino Plan was granted by the Board of Superintendents despite a public outcry to the School Board for a referendum. This is the LARGEST expenditure Fluvanna County has ever seen at a whopping $100 Million and the decision was left up to six individuals to make the call. Now just two weeks ago a significant problem surfaced with the proposed site calling for another multi-million dollar expenditure in order to proceed as scheduled.

I am outraged that the School Board seems hell-bent on pushing this plan through and that more members of the Board of Supervisors aren’t saying “WHOA!”. Where is the accountability?! Read more »