Kenneth L., Well said! Hear! Hear!

We have responsibility for a pre-teen, and we felt she did need to have a cell phone. We explicitly told the salesperson we wanted voice only service; no texting and no internet. When we received a huge bill we learned the provider ignored our instructions and gave the girl internet access. We were fortunate in that her activity was confined (so far as we can verify) to harmless internet games. Be warned; the cell phone providers are not reliable.

No, teens are not babies, but they are far from responsible adulthood. We turn them loose with a driver's license at 16 and they die because they aren't really ready for that responsibility; tests have shown there is actually brain development that must take place before a child is really cognizant of the likely results of behaviors such as street racing, hill jumping, and "sexting". Parents need to limit television and internet and (gasp) cell phone access. We also need to be LOUD in our response to programming (e.g., "Glee") that glamorizes destructive behaviors. And it would be a REALLY good idea, albeit a very unpopular one, to raise the driving age. God help us.

I am a Christian and the Bible tells me my mission is to love, serve and share the good news of redemption through the blood Jesus Christ, the Messiah shed for us on the cross and that after He He was raised from the dead He ascended to Heaven. I believe He will rule and reign on earth as I now strive with the help of His spirit to extend His reign through all aspects of my life. To succeed in living as a Christian is to live a life full of love and grace and service. If I can share the love of Christ with someone of another faith, he or she may subsequently chooses to destroy the literature of that faith, I know they will not predictably be made aware of the love and redemption available to them in Jesus by MY taking that...

I wonder what other inappropriate behaviours the little girl's parents are teaching them? Ask Miss Manners, and I'm sure she would confirm that a child needs to be fully dressed when he or she goes out in public. Sheesh!

I mean you would be more effective WITH your claws sheathed.

Oh Ann, You have made sneering your trademark--you have plenty to articulate and you would, frankly, be more effective without your claws sheathed. Not all liberals are athiests, as you aver. Some are misguided and unthinking Christians. While I am uber dismayed at our president's actions and attitudes, I simply don't have the authority to judge his spiritual condition. Neither have you. I can--and do--support his conservative opponents with all the resources available to me. I think he is doing a terrible job as president, and do not see much to praise about him a a person. I don't understand your last sentence. Why are you attacking Mike Huckabee? He's conservative. Period. He's intelligent, articulate, and has proven...