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Political Bias in the Classroom

Posted on 05/13/2002 4:41:06 PM PDT by belleoftheball414

I am a fifteen year old girl in Southern California, the land of raging liberals. I've given up being shocked by anything having to do with politics, especially when they are discussed in the classroom, but the amount of political bias and intolerance is appalling.

Take, for instance, an incident that happened one year ago, when I was in eighth grade. On the first day of school, my U.S. History teacher (a twenty-five year old anit-American PETA member) told us that we were not in his class to learn about "dead white men." Not until later did I find out that these "dead white men" were our Founding Fathers. He was true to his word. The only thing we learned about Thomas Jefferson, Benjiman Franklin, or George Washington was that they were all white, rich, landowning men. Who had slaves.

This same teacher humiliated me in front of my classmates by telling me that I was "cruel" because I own a horse. And that I was rascist and homophobic because I had more white/caucasian and straight friends than black or gay friends.

Just a few weeks ago, when I wrote a Letter to the Editor to the school paper, I was told by my Journalism teacher that the words "God" and "Christianity" must be omitted from my letter, as they might be offensive to atheists, Jews, or Muslims. The letter was never published, even with the omissions.

Last semester in English, we had to write a journal entry on "Something good that happened was when..." Being voluntarily politically incorrect, my response was "A good thing that happened was when Al Gore lost the election." When it was time to share our responses, half the class had no idea what I was talking about, and the other half looked at me like I was a peice of cow dung, and whispered things like "She's a REPUBLICAN!" Sheesh. I thanked them for being so tolerant.

My AP World History teacher told us that we should be vegans and support reparations. I was reminded of the German "Hitler Juggend," or Hitler Youth, but thought it wise not to say anything.

I've been told that teachers are the worst advocates for the Democratic Party, and I now agree. I'm still quite shocked, but get through the days by assuming the role of a spectator: quietly observing the world from the outside, and being equally amused and disturbed by it.

I will have an article in this months school newspaper. It will be an Opinions article against the "condom club," which distributes condoms to the student population during lunch.


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1 posted on 05/13/2002 4:41:06 PM PDT by belleoftheball414
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To: belleoftheball414
Don't let 'em grind you down. It's not you, it's them.
2 posted on 05/13/2002 4:45:38 PM PDT by wbill
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To: belleoftheball414
article cont.

I'm not looking forward to the reactions to it, but they should make some good memories to look back on when I'm older, and a regular poster here at Free Republic.

I have no doubt that everyone has heard all of this before. It's not like I'm posting anything shockingly new-fangled or interesting; my experiences are nothing more than phytoplankton in the immense sea of liberal opression. Therefore, I am a spectator, only coming out of the stands every once and awhile to talk about the game going on in the field. I'm rather proud of that little metaphor, and happy to say that none of my leftist teachers had anything to do with it's making. : )

3 posted on 05/13/2002 4:50:05 PM PDT by belleoftheball414
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To: wbill
Out them. Parents should be made aware of what you're be subject to.
4 posted on 05/13/2002 4:51:26 PM PDT by DoughtyOne
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To: belleoftheball414
I volunteer to adopt that kid!
5 posted on 05/13/2002 4:52:06 PM PDT by RAT Patrol
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To: belleoftheball414
article cont.

I'm not looking forward to the reactions to it, but they should make some good memories to look back on when I'm older, and a regular poster here at Free Republic.

I have no doubt that everyone has heard all of this before. It's not like I'm posting anything shockingly new-fangled or interesting; my experiences are nothing more than phytoplankton in the immense sea of liberal opression. Therefore, I am a spectator, only coming out of the stands every once and awhile to talk about the game going on in the field.

I'm rather proud of that little metaphor, and happy to say that none of my leftist teachers had anything to do with it's making. : )

6 posted on 05/13/2002 4:52:25 PM PDT by belleoftheball414
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To: belleoftheball414
Heh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to post the second part twice. : )
7 posted on 05/13/2002 4:53:07 PM PDT by belleoftheball414
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To: belleoftheball414
Welcome to FR, belle. Start hanging out here on a regular basis, and you'll get one heck of an education. You'll also become equipped to make your loony-lefty teachers and their blind-follower students look like complete fools.
8 posted on 05/13/2002 4:53:19 PM PDT by GovernmentShrinker
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To: belleoftheball414
I admire your insight and courage, especially at such a tender age.
9 posted on 05/13/2002 4:55:06 PM PDT by Constitutional_Republican
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To: belleoftheball414
First off, let me be one of the first to offer you a very sincere welcome to Free Republic.

You now have a new home away from home on the Internet where your values will be respected, your opinions listened to, and a place where you can rant about liberal stupidity to your heart's content.

Having said that, I agree with wbill. Don't let them grind you down. There are probably a lot more conservatives around you than you realize. It is just that most of them have been intimidated into silence because of the overwhelming leftist cant that surrounds them.

Keep posting, and keep checking FR when you have a chance. I and others will be looking forward to reading your posts as you continue your battle against Demoncrap stupidity.

10 posted on 05/13/2002 4:56:21 PM PDT by Ronin
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To: belleoftheball414
Not to worry -- accidental double posts happen a lot around here. If you hit "Post Reply" and it seems to be taking forever to go through, it usually already did. You can open a new window, go back to the thread, hit "Refresh" on your browser, and check to see if your post is already up.
11 posted on 05/13/2002 4:57:43 PM PDT by GovernmentShrinker
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To: belleoftheball414,CincinnatiKid ,jd792 ,dixie sass,chesty puller,antivenom,muggs ,Grendelgrey ,GR
Find out how he likes being sued for slander then see if he squawks about that the commie pig

ITS TIME TO FIGHT THESE TRASH TALKERS WITH WHAT THEY UNDERSTAND..... THEIR POCKETBOOK!

12 posted on 05/13/2002 4:57:52 PM PDT by ATOMIC_PUNK
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To: belleoftheball414
Don't give up. Make sure to try to balance what it taught. One word of advice, no your facts. Defending the truth is a duty.
13 posted on 05/13/2002 4:59:54 PM PDT by Wrigley
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To: belleoftheball414
Keep fighting the good fight. ;-)
14 posted on 05/13/2002 5:04:37 PM PDT by Texas_Jarhead
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To: belleoftheball414
"My AP World History teacher told us that we should be vegans and support reparations. I was reminded of the German 'Hitler Juggend,' or Hitler Youth, but thought it wise not to say anything."

What a frightening thought...because it is true.

15 posted on 05/13/2002 5:04:47 PM PDT by The Westerner
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To: belleoftheball414
I like to say that I managed to get an education in spite of school, not because of it.
16 posted on 05/13/2002 5:05:44 PM PDT by AmishDude
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To: belleoftheball414
Hats off to you. We need more young people like you. God bless!
17 posted on 05/13/2002 5:06:16 PM PDT by Salvation
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To: belleoftheball414
Perhaps you could homeschool. Check out classical education sites such as the Well-trained Mind, Great Books Academy, Angelicum Academy, http://classicalfree.org/. I especially like the first page of classicalfree.org as it specifically tells parents to remove their kids from the government indoctrination centers. My brother and his wife removed their 16-year old daughter from her California public high school and put her into a Christian school because of some of the nonsense that was going on in her school. California public schools are pathetic, as well as the public schools in Massachusetts and most other public schools between the two coasts, sorry to say.
18 posted on 05/13/2002 5:12:55 PM PDT by ladylib
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To: belleoftheball414
It's truly a tribute to your intelligence and good values, and those of your parents, that you have managed to survive nine years of this kind of indoctrination and still see these weasels for the deluded tyrant wannabes that they are.
19 posted on 05/13/2002 5:13:23 PM PDT by Still Thinking
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To: Wrigley
Make that "know your facts". Sheesh. :)
20 posted on 05/13/2002 5:13:24 PM PDT by Ronin
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To: belleoftheball414
Hitler Jugend has only one "g". The word means "youth".

Not all teachers are liberals - my wife is a special ed teacher in VA, and she is a member of the Second Amendment Sisters.

As it happens, though, you are in the worst educational system in the country, CA.

Don't loose heart - lots of people are rooting for you.

21 posted on 05/13/2002 5:14:12 PM PDT by patton
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To: belleoftheball414
What a fantastic kid- I wish you the very best. You may find the following authors very interesting as you formulate your arguments against the system of liberal indoctrination. They were very helpful in helping me revise my educational philosophies such that I have now left the classroom.

Please consider anything by John Holt and John Taylor Gatto. Many of Gatto's essays are online. Also, Grace Llewellyn's Teenage Liberation Handbook and Charlotte Iserbyt's The Deliberate Dumbing Down of America are excellent reads although the Iserbyt book is more of a reference manual. Nothing will irk your liberal teachers more than your ability to throw around revered names like Dewey and Bloom and in the same breath discredit them.

Best of luck to you- please keep us posted. Better yet, post your letters and articles and any published responses to them. I'd certainly love to read them.

22 posted on 05/13/2002 5:15:33 PM PDT by Lil'freeper
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To: Ronin
Oh my.

And I went to a private school.

23 posted on 05/13/2002 5:15:51 PM PDT by Wrigley
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To: belleoftheball414
A very warm welcome to you here on FR. Great first post!

I know that you feel like a fish out of water in your classes. Most of us here would feel the same, if we had to turn back the clock and venture into where you are. I admire your courage.

You are very bright, and will go far. And you are among friends here.

I know you must read voraciously; may I recommend a book? "Jonathan Livingston Seagull", by Bach. It is a short read, but might just remind you of someone....YOU! And it catches you at the first page.

24 posted on 05/13/2002 5:23:02 PM PDT by MonroeDNA
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To: belleoftheball414
You are a smart young lady and you will go far in life. Just try and remember that what doesn't kill you will only make you stronger. I went through high school and college with some similar experiences to yours. Being a female makes it a bit tougher sometimes to be a conservative, because there are so many female liberal twits out there. Hold your line and you will reap the benefits someday.

When the going gets really hard try to remember that conservative women find the best husbands and fathers for their children. :)( not that you should worry about that right now anyway) Freep mail me if you need a conservative female to compare notes with. You will find there are many more of us as you get older and get away from the liberals running the public schools. Good luck.

25 posted on 05/13/2002 5:26:14 PM PDT by Diva Betsy Ross
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To: belleoftheball414
I am sooo glad I am 46 and not 16. When I think back to the stuff that I did in High School to twit my liberal idiot teachers, I know I would get thrown in jail for trying it today.

Once in a civics class, when we were doing government simulations I stages a coup d'etat. I got four jocks in the class to help. Two of them stuffed the "dictator" in a closet. Two others made sure that the rest of the students stayed in their seats. I put on a Sam Browne belt, a phoney toothbrush moustache, jumped on the teacher's desk, fired a cap pistol into the air, gave a weird salute, and announce the establishment of the People's Proletariate Paradise.

I then paraphrased a bunch of stuff I memorized from Animal Farm, about all students being equal, only some are more equal than others, and divvied up the points so that I got an A+, my cronies got A-s, and everyone else got a C for the simulation.

Fortunately, all the other students thought it was a hoot, so I did not have to pay behind the bicycle racks or anything, even though they got real low grades.

I wonder how many years I would be in detention (or even jail) if I tried that today.

26 posted on 05/13/2002 5:27:16 PM PDT by No Truce With Kings
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To: Dick Bachert
Why don't you post your camp pictures here? Maybe this kid could use some ammo.
27 posted on 05/13/2002 5:27:22 PM PDT by patton
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To: ladylib
Sometimes its not possible to do that and sometimes its necessary not to. Kids are easily pursuaded and when you have kids like the poster here, other kids will like her beliefs and maybe the conservative movement will start in her school. Kids like to rebel and if these leftist fruits want to rebel their hippy parents, what better way to do that than by falling in the right side of the ideology thanks to the brave kids like belloftheball414 who think with their head instead of their guilt.
28 posted on 05/13/2002 5:38:02 PM PDT by smith288
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Comment #29 Removed by Moderator

To: belleoftheball414
Add to the list of suggested reading two classics by Ayn Rand. The Fountainhead, and Atlas Shrugged. Both are inspiring books to anyone who believes in freedom. These books will also reveal to you that the PC which is going on today is not new, it had its roots among the "Intelligensia" more than sixty years ago. I survived those times and I am still fighting for freedom. You are much to be admired, keep up the good fight.
30 posted on 05/13/2002 5:42:16 PM PDT by Old philosopher
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To: belleoftheball414
The only thing we learned about Thomas Jefferson, Benjiman Franklin, or George Washington was that they were all white, rich, landowning men. Who had slaves.

This same teacher humiliated me in front of my classmates by telling me that I was "cruel" because I own a horse. And that I was rascist and homophobic because I had more white/caucasian and straight friends than black or gay friends.

,,, ask your teacher if she regards herself as a slave to the government, given the role she's performing and the tax she pays to do it - make the point that at 100% taxation anyone is a total slave.

Also, you don't "own" a horse, you're it's "caregiver" - use that word and your teacher will drop in a screaming heap. Be quick to ask her which animals she has and is devoting time to in order to really know an animal and care for it.

Finally, her personal opinion influencing your choice of friends. Ask this teacher how long compatibily in relationships of any kind has been dependent on ethnic and special interest requirements.

31 posted on 05/13/2002 5:49:45 PM PDT by shaggy eel
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To: belleoftheball414
Welcome to FR from a 17 year old junior, good to see more high school students here. I've gotten the "he's too conservative" treatment from some but I'm lucky enough to go to school in a pretty conservative area of the country.
32 posted on 05/13/2002 5:49:57 PM PDT by ItsBacon
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To: belleoftheball414; loc123
You two must be a tribute to your parents. There's no way you can possibly be that articulate, able to spell, etc. as a result of a government school education.

In any case, welcome both of you to FR!

33 posted on 05/13/2002 5:53:38 PM PDT by anniegetyourgun
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To: ItsBacon
See #33 - that goes for you too!
34 posted on 05/13/2002 5:54:30 PM PDT by anniegetyourgun
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To: belleoftheball414
Here's... something---a lot more serious!
35 posted on 05/13/2002 5:55:09 PM PDT by f.Christian
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To: belleoftheball414
I am teacher, strong Conservative, Christian, and against about all the teacher unions stand for. In my district teachers are supposed to teach the facts and not interject their opinions or propogandize the students Remember, to pick your battles wisely, and then win.
36 posted on 05/13/2002 6:07:06 PM PDT by drq
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To: belleoftheball414
Welcome! Hang in there - high school doesn't last forever; it only seems like it.

Here are some websites you might find useful for your schoolwork:
History Channel (full of dead white males - good!)
CIA World Fact Book (find out what pestholes those multi-culti 3rd world countries really are)
Logical fallacies and errors in argument commonly made (usually by liberals!)
Patriotic posters from WW II (for inspiration)

37 posted on 05/13/2002 6:15:44 PM PDT by valkyrieanne
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To: Loc123 ; belleoftheball414
You each have FreepMail
38 posted on 05/13/2002 6:23:49 PM PDT by BADJOE
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To: anniegetyourgun
Thanks. Thankfully, my parents saved me from government schooling until high school (9 years of Lutheran schools here), and, the IB program, while liberal, does provide a much better education than the average government education camp.
39 posted on 05/13/2002 6:31:46 PM PDT by ItsBacon
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To: belleoftheball414
Just a few weeks ago, when I wrote a Letter to the Editor to the school paper, I was told by my Journalism teacher that the words "God" and "Christianity" must be omitted from my letter, as they might be offensive to atheists, Jews, or Muslims. The letter was never published, even with the omissions.

If your teacher continues to censor religion, contact these folks. Their whole mission in life is to help people like yourself. And thank your Mom and Dad for me, they did a heckuva job.

40 posted on 05/13/2002 6:38:32 PM PDT by jwalsh07
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To: belleoftheball414
Geez, I don't know if I envy you being so politically aware at such a tender age. But, I'm proud of you, kidooo. You may go far.
41 posted on 05/13/2002 6:39:14 PM PDT by gcruse
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To: belleoftheball414
I wish my son were older and you lived on the right coast. You are the sort of girl I would want him to meet.

Hang in there. You're not alone. Better still, you're right and they're not.

Let me know is there is any way I can help you with your school work.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)

LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

42 posted on 05/13/2002 6:45:59 PM PDT by LonePalm
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To: belleoftheball414
Ms. Belle, I can say only one thing: BRAVO! This piece speaks volumes about the nature of our education system and of our society as a whole. This post needs to be submitted to conservative opinion outlets until someone picks it up. It needs to go national, if for no other reason than to show that American teens are intelligent, insightful, and offer great hope for our country.

I am a middle school teacher, and I often go head to head with just the sort of teachers you have described. (I wish you were in my school -- I need the help!) You might try to be on the lookout for teachers who are not so vocal about their political views. You might find some closet Republicans that way. They are out there.

Your writing style is brilliant and the content is of professional quality. Your future is very promising, as is the future of our great country with young thinkers who can express clear thoughts as well as you.

Post here on Free Republic more often.

FReegards, Semper911

43 posted on 05/13/2002 6:47:23 PM PDT by Semper911
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To: belleoftheball414
Having a mind to call your own, is a great thing, congratulations.
44 posted on 05/13/2002 7:01:52 PM PDT by Great Dane
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To: belleoftheball414
The only thing we learned about Thomas Jefferson, Benjiman Franklin, or George Washington was that they were all white, rich, landowning men. Who had slaves.

Have a little fun with your teacher. Ask him why slavery is ethically wrong. Then ask him if he can answer that question without drawing on the concepts laid out by Thomas Jefferson in the opening language of the Declaration of Independence?

Then ask him whether he agrees whether the idea that human writes come from the creator, and not from government, is not the single most important political insight of the last 18 years, and whether the whole world does not owe America's founders a debt of gratitude for those insights.

If he says no, ask him why he is a freedomphobe, and why he thinks slavery is a good thing?

That is how you handle a liberal scum sucking professor.

45 posted on 05/13/2002 7:07:11 PM PDT by Maceman
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To: Loc123
#29....... From the horses mouth, great advice.
46 posted on 05/13/2002 7:11:58 PM PDT by Great Dane
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To: belleoftheball414
Wow....

Brings back memories of my high school. It's hard to believe that I've been in college for three years now; high school seems but a recent memory.

You'll learn more here than you will in high school social studies. A lot of what's discussed here carried over to AP American History, for me. (I was a FReeper under another name then). This is a good source of information; Freepers tend to be pretty well-educated.

47 posted on 05/13/2002 7:22:00 PM PDT by jude24
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To: Maceman
When she was little, we visited the mills in Lowell, and other MA mill towns. We have discussed the 'moral superiority' of the North, yet how brutal the mill life was, and how the mills virtually owned their workers. She has studied history from many perspectives. She heard the racist jokes in MA. Her best friend in NC was black, and they were two little peas in a pod. She is very self possessed, in such a gentle way. She wont fight, but she wont back down. If someone gets ugly, she walks away. She doesnt look for trouble, but sticks up for the underdog. Quite a good mix, and I think she'll make good decisions in her life. I am very grateful.
48 posted on 05/13/2002 7:26:44 PM PDT by quitwhining
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To: belleoftheball414
Hearing about radical leftist teachers make me happy that I attend a private high school.
49 posted on 05/13/2002 7:38:42 PM PDT by ConservativeTeen
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To: quitwhining
This was what I tried to post the first time: Imagine my surprise..an article by my own Belle. Thanks for all the nice comments. She is really beaming. She's a very kind and self possessed kid, and I am proud of her. She is neither strident n or overbearing, so wins people over by her common sense and friendly manner. And I am a writer/editor by trade, and my mother was a career public school teacher, so by Gosh her English and spelling had *better* be good >;-> Shes tall and blonde, very pretty, and hip, so the other kids really cant blackball her like they might. All her friends are little soccer mommettes and she just laughs at them gently and gives them things to read. She has been a lurker on FR for a while now. I am a lurker of many years. We are looking forward to a SoCal freepathon. Thanks again for all the kind words. Belles Mom
50 posted on 05/13/2002 7:45:56 PM PDT by quitwhining
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