(USA Today) The U.S. government has escalated the debate over Arizona's recently passed immigration law. The U.S. government is suing Arizona to stop its new law which is tougher on immigration enforcement. The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Tuesday in federal court in Phoenix, 23 days before the state law is scheduled to take effect. The new Arizona law requires police to question the immigration status of suspects when there is "reasonable suspicion" they are in the country illegally. The government lawyers charge in court documents that the Arizona law "crossed a constitutional line" and threatens to launch a "patchwork of state and local immigration policies throughout the country" banned by the federal law and the Constitution. "Arizonoans are understandably frustrated with illegal immigration, and the federal government has a responsibility to comprehensively address those concerns," Attorney General Eric Holder stated. "The Arizona law," Holder says, "will only create more problems than it solves." How so? The federal government has abdicated from it's job in securing the borders and enforcing federal immigration laws.
Government lawyers said the law would cause harrassment and possible detention of legal immigrants, harm diplomatic relations with Mexico and increase burdens on federal agencies. Arizona Republican Governor Jan Brewer defended the state measure because the federal government has failed to do its part to secure the border. "Today's (lawsuit) is nothing more than a massive waste of taxpayer funds," Brewer said. "These funds could be better used against the violent Mexican cartels than the people of Arizona." I say Amen to that. In the past eight years, the Justice Department has challenged at least five state or local laws in four states, but none as politically charged as this issue. Many Latino rights advocates claim the law improperly targets Latinos and exposes them to increased scrutiny based on ethnicity and race. Several prominent legal groups, such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, already have sued to block the law.
The new immigration law that Arizona passed April 23 gives police the right to question the legal status of suspects when there's a reasonable suspicion that they are in the country illegally. A person that's in this country as an illegal alien has no civil rights in this country. The civil rights laws apply to those that live in the U.S. legally. How complicated is that? This isn't a race issue. Those that claim that it's a race issue are engaging in race baiting. This is about the safety and security of those citizens that border Mexico. There have been numerous drug cartels along the border. There have been illegals that have crossed the border and murdered homeowners in Arizona. Enough with this outrage! It's dangerous to have people that reside in this country and there's no documentation on them. Any illegal that's in this country needs to be identified and documented. If they've committed a crime, then they should be immediately deported. If any illegal that lives and works here desires to become a U.S. citizen, then they should go in line and be subject to a thorough background check. Then they should go through the normal process of American citizenship.
The reason why the Justice Department and the Obama administration don't like the Arizona law is because they want to pass an amnesty bill to make all those illegals residing in America legal citizens. The Obama administration desires to make them legal citizens so they can have a powerful voting bloc that will continue voting for Democrats and the socialist agenda. We can no longer afford to take care of the illegals with our tax dollars. It's outrageous. Our federal government from the president all the way down to Congress (includes both Democrats and Republicans) aren't concerned about border security. I wonder about their patriotism as a result. I know I can't judge a person's heart, but the actions of our elected elite concern me. It makes me believe they aren't patriotic and would sell out this great country in a heartbeat. This problem didn't start under President Obama. Our federal government has been lax on illegal immigration for the last few decades. Now it's high time we close our borders. We don't have a choice.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Michael Steele Says Afghanistan is President Obama's "War of Choice"
(Huffington Post) At a Connecticut fundraiser last Thursday, GOP Chairman Michael Steele was commenting on the state of the war in Afghanistan. He stated that the war in Afghanistan is a war of President Obama's choosing and it's not a war that the U.S. has actively prosecuted or the U.S. wanted to engage in. Steele also accused Obama of "demoralizing Iraq while saying the battle should be in Afghanistan." Steele said that if President Obama was a student of history he would recognize that you don't fight land wars in Afghanistan. He stated that there have been those that have tried to fight Afghanistan for over a thousand years and haven't been successful. Steele also extended his criticism of the War in Afghanistan to the missions strategy. He also addressed President Obama's firing of General Stanley McChrystal. "The General McChrystal incident, to me, was very comical. "I think it's a reflection of the frustration that a lot of our military leaders has with this Administration and their prosection of the war in Afghanistan," said Steele.
At the outset of what Michael Steele said, I agree that the war in Afghanistan is the war of Obama's choosing--at least in the sense that he chose to continue the war that began nearly nine years ago during the George W. Bush administration. President Obama didn't choose to send troops to the war or to enter the war. Our troops were already in Afghanistan when Barack Obama became president. It would've been more accurate for Steele to say and clarify Bush started this war and Bush's policies in Afghanistan also didn't finish the job. The truth of the matter is that President Obama is still using the same type of strategy in Afghanistan that Bush used when he was president. There are some that are critical over President Obama firing General Stanley McChrystal in Afghanistan when he criticized certain members of the Obama administration. President Obama has the right to fire McChrystal, like it or not. General David Petraeus isn't going to turn the situation around in Afghanistan unless the rules of engagement and strategy to win are changed.
The problem with this war is there's no commitment to winning the war. Why are we still in Afghanistan? We're failing at the mission as of right now--not because we don't have capable troops to finish the job, but because of the politics from the Pentagon. Whenever you commit troops to a war effort, there must be devastating force used to overwhelm the enemy so he will surrender. I believe we need to use air power to wipe out Al-Qaeda and Taliban strongholds. Fighting a land war is going to be useless unless we destroy as many strongholds we can through air power. I don't like the thought of killing civilians either. I believe there are methods that can be used to evacuate a civilian area when a bombing is going to take place. War is war. If we're going to continue this operation, there must be devastating force used if we expect Al-Qaeda and the Taliban to surrender. If the Obama administration isn't committed to winning this war as quickly as possible so we can pull U.S. troops out of Afghanistan, then we need to exit Afghanistan immediately. It's a farce. June was one of the deadliest months for U.S. troops in the War in Afghanistan. Enough is enough. We either win the war or we exit quickly.
At the outset of what Michael Steele said, I agree that the war in Afghanistan is the war of Obama's choosing--at least in the sense that he chose to continue the war that began nearly nine years ago during the George W. Bush administration. President Obama didn't choose to send troops to the war or to enter the war. Our troops were already in Afghanistan when Barack Obama became president. It would've been more accurate for Steele to say and clarify Bush started this war and Bush's policies in Afghanistan also didn't finish the job. The truth of the matter is that President Obama is still using the same type of strategy in Afghanistan that Bush used when he was president. There are some that are critical over President Obama firing General Stanley McChrystal in Afghanistan when he criticized certain members of the Obama administration. President Obama has the right to fire McChrystal, like it or not. General David Petraeus isn't going to turn the situation around in Afghanistan unless the rules of engagement and strategy to win are changed.
The problem with this war is there's no commitment to winning the war. Why are we still in Afghanistan? We're failing at the mission as of right now--not because we don't have capable troops to finish the job, but because of the politics from the Pentagon. Whenever you commit troops to a war effort, there must be devastating force used to overwhelm the enemy so he will surrender. I believe we need to use air power to wipe out Al-Qaeda and Taliban strongholds. Fighting a land war is going to be useless unless we destroy as many strongholds we can through air power. I don't like the thought of killing civilians either. I believe there are methods that can be used to evacuate a civilian area when a bombing is going to take place. War is war. If we're going to continue this operation, there must be devastating force used if we expect Al-Qaeda and the Taliban to surrender. If the Obama administration isn't committed to winning this war as quickly as possible so we can pull U.S. troops out of Afghanistan, then we need to exit Afghanistan immediately. It's a farce. June was one of the deadliest months for U.S. troops in the War in Afghanistan. Enough is enough. We either win the war or we exit quickly.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
The Media's Hypocrisy Concerning Racism
Last Monday on June 28, 2010, Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) passed away. He was 92 years old. He had served a very long career in politics dating back to the 1940's in West Virginia state politics. Robert Byrd ran for his first House of Representatives seat in 1952. In 1958 he ran for the U.S. Senate for the first time and won that race. He won every successive race since until his death last Monday. Robert Byrd at one time was racist towards blacks. He even was a member and a recruiter of the Ku Klux Klan in his 20's and 30's. He was very involved in that racist organization at one point. Even when he supposedly lost interest in that organization, he made a statement back in 1946 that the "Klan was needed now more than ever." In 1958 when he ran for his first Senate seat he defended the Klan. Even after Byrd stopped participating in the Klan's activities he still was racist in his beliefs. He supported segregation at one point. In 1964 he was one of the Senators that led a filibuster of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. He also voted against both of the black Supreme Court justices appointed to the Supreme Court (Thurgood Marshall and Clarence Thomas). A few years after he led a filibuster of the 1964 Civil Rights Act he had a change of heart and admitted he was wrong in his attitudes towards blacks. He admitted he was wrong to have ever been involved with the Ku Klux Klan and that racism was wrong. He said he would apologize a thousand times for it. He repented of it.
I don't hold anything against former Senator Byrd because he admitted he was wrong and apologized for it. The Bible says that if a person asks for forgiveness we should forgive them. That's not where the problem lies. What bothers me is that in the case with Robert Byrd the news media will downplay his involvement with the KKK and say that's all in the past but if somebody calls themselves a conservative or a Christian and they oppose President Obama because they don't agree with his agenda then they're labeled a racist, for example. That's hypocrisy. How can you prove that because a person is opposed to President Obama's policies that means he/she's racist. You can't. However, if a conservative or a Republican says something against a minority or supports Arizona's new immigration law, then it means they're racist. Any statement that's made that could possibly give the slightest hint of racism, the media will jump on that bandwagon. Why the double standard? Robert Byrd was a Democrat and liberal on several policy issues. The Left wing controls the Democrat Party. It's unfathomable. Many civil rights leaders, politicians, and news outlets will use race baiting as a technique to push for some agenda or to marginalize their opponents when it comes to promoting an agenda. Politics is crooked. The Left has used race baiting on a number of occasions to promote their agenda.
I have two examples I want to use concerning the media's hypocrisy on racism. The first example took place on December 5, 2002 at the 100th birthday of retiring Senator Strom Thurmond (R-SC). Strom Thurmond was once a segregationist and racist himself. He eventually repented from racism a few years after the 1964 Civil Rights Act was passed. He ran as a third party candidate in the 1948 presidential election as a Dixiecrat. He was originally a Democrat at that point but he believed in segregation. At Thurmond's birthday party, then Senator Majority Leader Trent Lott had a lighthearted moment and said that Mississippi (state Lott represented) voted for Thurmond in 1948 and said if Thurmond had been elected America wouldn't have been a lot different. There was all kinds of media outcry against Lott over his comment. As a result of all the attacks Lott received, he was pressured to give us his status as Majority Leader and eventually did that. The media was trying to paint him as racist because of that statement. I agree that he should've stated his words differently, but to try to make him an overt racist because of that statement is stretching it. For your information, I'm no Lott fan and I'm glad he eventually resigned from the Senate. However, the media wants to blow the statement Lott made out of proportion but ignore somebody like Byrd who once was a recruiter for the Klan. If Lott was a recruiter for the Klan, he would have been crucified. However, he wasn't a part of the Left wing so he was fair game for criticism.
The second incident I would like to point out is last Fall when President Obama was giving a speech before Congress about his healthcare bill that he was trying to push. In the midst of Obama's speech South Carolina Representative Joe Wilson shouted "You lie!" As true of a statement as that probably was Wilson was wrong in yelling that while Obama was addressing Congress. I didn't approve of Wilson's shouting that while Obama was speaking. What was disturbing was a statement that former president Jimmy Carter said concerning Wilson's outburst. He stated that Wilson's statement was indicative of the belief of some in America that a black man shouldn't be president. In other words, Carter was stating that Wilson was racist. How can you squeeze racism out of Wilson's outburst? You can't. It's just a means of marginalizing those you disagree with. President Obama and Congress had an agenda to pass healthcare legislation and many critics decided to marginalize Wilson by saying that he was indicative of some in America that a black man shouldn't be president. This is hypocrisy. The media will overlook politicians who are progressive that once were blatantly and obviously racist at one point but use race baiting against anyone that opposes the Progressive agenda. I stated last year that if the media or a politician is going to make the charge of racism, they must provide ample evidence of why they think those they oppose is racist. This double standard is appalling.
I was listening to Glenn Beck on Fox News and he was mentioning the headlines of the New York Times at the deaths of both Strom Thurmond in 2003 and Robert Byrd a couple of weeks ago. The first headline read, "Strom Thurmond, Foe of Integration, Dies at 100." The second headline seven years later read this for Byrd, "Robert C. Byrd, A Pillar of the Senate, Dies at 92." The truth is both Senators were once racist and both eventually denounced racism towards blacks. However, Thurmond wasn't a Democrat nor Progressive. Therefore, they didn't mind stating on its headline that he was once a foe of integration. However, Byrd supported many liberal or Progressive ideas. That's why they didn't mention in the headlines that he was once a recruiter for the Ku Klux Klan. When it comes to politics, there's no such thing as fair play. It's a battle. There are two sides fighting for power. Each side will utilize whatever means necessary to marginalize their foe to gain an advantage. That's why race baiting is used frequently. However, racism is racism. If it's wrong for a conservative to be racist, it's wrong for a Progressive to be racist. An ace is an ace and a spade is a spade. The media's portrayal of racism on both sides of the aisle is an example of their hypocrisy.
I don't hold anything against former Senator Byrd because he admitted he was wrong and apologized for it. The Bible says that if a person asks for forgiveness we should forgive them. That's not where the problem lies. What bothers me is that in the case with Robert Byrd the news media will downplay his involvement with the KKK and say that's all in the past but if somebody calls themselves a conservative or a Christian and they oppose President Obama because they don't agree with his agenda then they're labeled a racist, for example. That's hypocrisy. How can you prove that because a person is opposed to President Obama's policies that means he/she's racist. You can't. However, if a conservative or a Republican says something against a minority or supports Arizona's new immigration law, then it means they're racist. Any statement that's made that could possibly give the slightest hint of racism, the media will jump on that bandwagon. Why the double standard? Robert Byrd was a Democrat and liberal on several policy issues. The Left wing controls the Democrat Party. It's unfathomable. Many civil rights leaders, politicians, and news outlets will use race baiting as a technique to push for some agenda or to marginalize their opponents when it comes to promoting an agenda. Politics is crooked. The Left has used race baiting on a number of occasions to promote their agenda.
I have two examples I want to use concerning the media's hypocrisy on racism. The first example took place on December 5, 2002 at the 100th birthday of retiring Senator Strom Thurmond (R-SC). Strom Thurmond was once a segregationist and racist himself. He eventually repented from racism a few years after the 1964 Civil Rights Act was passed. He ran as a third party candidate in the 1948 presidential election as a Dixiecrat. He was originally a Democrat at that point but he believed in segregation. At Thurmond's birthday party, then Senator Majority Leader Trent Lott had a lighthearted moment and said that Mississippi (state Lott represented) voted for Thurmond in 1948 and said if Thurmond had been elected America wouldn't have been a lot different. There was all kinds of media outcry against Lott over his comment. As a result of all the attacks Lott received, he was pressured to give us his status as Majority Leader and eventually did that. The media was trying to paint him as racist because of that statement. I agree that he should've stated his words differently, but to try to make him an overt racist because of that statement is stretching it. For your information, I'm no Lott fan and I'm glad he eventually resigned from the Senate. However, the media wants to blow the statement Lott made out of proportion but ignore somebody like Byrd who once was a recruiter for the Klan. If Lott was a recruiter for the Klan, he would have been crucified. However, he wasn't a part of the Left wing so he was fair game for criticism.
The second incident I would like to point out is last Fall when President Obama was giving a speech before Congress about his healthcare bill that he was trying to push. In the midst of Obama's speech South Carolina Representative Joe Wilson shouted "You lie!" As true of a statement as that probably was Wilson was wrong in yelling that while Obama was addressing Congress. I didn't approve of Wilson's shouting that while Obama was speaking. What was disturbing was a statement that former president Jimmy Carter said concerning Wilson's outburst. He stated that Wilson's statement was indicative of the belief of some in America that a black man shouldn't be president. In other words, Carter was stating that Wilson was racist. How can you squeeze racism out of Wilson's outburst? You can't. It's just a means of marginalizing those you disagree with. President Obama and Congress had an agenda to pass healthcare legislation and many critics decided to marginalize Wilson by saying that he was indicative of some in America that a black man shouldn't be president. This is hypocrisy. The media will overlook politicians who are progressive that once were blatantly and obviously racist at one point but use race baiting against anyone that opposes the Progressive agenda. I stated last year that if the media or a politician is going to make the charge of racism, they must provide ample evidence of why they think those they oppose is racist. This double standard is appalling.
I was listening to Glenn Beck on Fox News and he was mentioning the headlines of the New York Times at the deaths of both Strom Thurmond in 2003 and Robert Byrd a couple of weeks ago. The first headline read, "Strom Thurmond, Foe of Integration, Dies at 100." The second headline seven years later read this for Byrd, "Robert C. Byrd, A Pillar of the Senate, Dies at 92." The truth is both Senators were once racist and both eventually denounced racism towards blacks. However, Thurmond wasn't a Democrat nor Progressive. Therefore, they didn't mind stating on its headline that he was once a foe of integration. However, Byrd supported many liberal or Progressive ideas. That's why they didn't mention in the headlines that he was once a recruiter for the Ku Klux Klan. When it comes to politics, there's no such thing as fair play. It's a battle. There are two sides fighting for power. Each side will utilize whatever means necessary to marginalize their foe to gain an advantage. That's why race baiting is used frequently. However, racism is racism. If it's wrong for a conservative to be racist, it's wrong for a Progressive to be racist. An ace is an ace and a spade is a spade. The media's portrayal of racism on both sides of the aisle is an example of their hypocrisy.
Monday, July 5, 2010
The Preservation of Liberty
"When good people in any country cease their vigilance and struggle, then evil men prevail." Pearl S. Buck
One of the responsibilities that a free people of any given nation have is the preservation of their liberties. We can't allow ourselves to grow complacement simply because our freedom was bought in America by our forefathers 234 years ago. It's always crucial that we safeguard our liberties. I believe I've heard the quote that says the price of liberty is eternal vigilance. That statement is very true. Why? Simply because we live in a sinful world. Life is a battle. You read that in the book of Ephesians when the Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 6:10-17 when the Apostle Paul states that we need to put on the whole armor of God as Christians. Paul mentions that we don't wrestle against flesh and blood but we wrestle against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). There are men that are evil and they love power. They consider themselves as the ruler or like a god and they consider all the masses peasants, just plain simple people who don't know much and aren't worth much. There are dictators that classify themselves as philsopher-kings, as the ancient Greek philosopher Plato mentions about in his book, The Republic. There are evil despots that would like to do everything in their power to usurp authority over people in a country. We've always had them throughout history.
Back in the 1930's you read about the rise of German dictator Adolf Hitler and how he was on a quest to conquer the world. He seized Poland in 1939 which was the start of World War II. How did Hitler rise to power? He rose to power as the result of a financial crisis in Germany, especially the Weimar Republic. Prior to the financial collapse of Germany, there was hyperinflation. As a result of that, the country couldn't thrive economically. There arose Adolf Hitler. He was democratically elected by the people. Whenever an economy collapses and the security of the people is threatened, they will vote for someone that will offer an assurance of stability even when it's false. That day will come when the antichrist will make his appearance to the world. The antichrist will offer to the world his solutions to the worlds problems. America is being torn apart and in shambles. We have czars in the Obama administration such as Van Jones, Mark Lloyd, and Cass Sunstein that are doing everything in their power to strip away America's right to free speech, for example. It's time we Americans stand up and claim our roots. I want to devote the rest of this time explaining how we can preserve the liberty we still enjoy. We can only do so if we'll become actively involved.
The first thing we need to do as Americans is to recognize the great principles upon which the Founders built this great nation upon. One of them was freedom of speech and religious
liberty, which is found in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Our Founding forefathers fled England so they can establish the freedom to worship in this country. America was built upon Judeo Christian principles. We've become a pagan nation drastically within the last 50 years. It's time that we recognize who the God of our forefathers are. We need to repent individually as a nation of our sin and turn to God. II Chronicles 7:14 states, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." I recognize that this scripture that was penned down was during the Dispensation of the Law and I know it was speaking of Israel. However, if God's people in America will repent of their sin and turn to God, I believe God will hear us. We must turn back to the God of our forefathers. True liberty comes from God. It doesn't come from man nor the government. We will lose the liberties we have if we don't repent of our sin and turn back to God.
Another thing we must do is we must participate in the election process. What I mean by that is that we vote which is the primary, general, and even special elections. One of the problems we have when it comes to voter participation is many voters won't vote during the primary process. The only election where you have any kind of choice of candidates is the primary. If more people would vote in the primary like they should, probably more incumbents would be defeated. That's my opinion. The general election pits the nominee of the Democrat Party vs. the nominee of the Republican Party. Most of the time neither nominee is worth the ink that's printed on paper. The Republican candidate is Democrat-lite, which isn't much different than the Democratic nominee on the ballot. The choices to represent a political party is in the primary. So if you don't vote in the primary, don't complain because you don't have a choice of a candidate to vote for in the general election. Outside the 2008 presidential election, the last election where there was 50% or better turnout was the 1960 presidential election in which John F. Kennedy defeated Richard Nixon. It's pitiful where there are countries such as Iraq in which people will face harm's way to vote and here we are in America and we don't face harm's way to vote. It's appalling.
Lastly, we need to participate in the political process in general whether it be through writing our Congressmen and Senators or participating in community forums, rallies, etc. We can participate in community service which benefits our communities in which we live. I'm thankful for the Tea Party movement that started last year. Even though it's not perfect and it doesn't have a leader to guide it, I'm thankful that at least we have a movement that's trying to make an impact on our political process. They're at least trying to make their voices heard. We need that. We need a grassroots effort that will stand for the principles of our Founders. We must stand up for what is right. I'm thankful for the choices we have on internet and the radio in which there's talk radio that will speak up or speak against issues and politicians that are corrupt. That's a process that some in government are trying to silence. Free speech is a precious commodity. We don't want to abuse it nor lose it.
I want to wish everybody a happy Independence Day even though it was yesterday. Many people will be off to celebrate this holiday today. Let's remember our Founders as we celebrate this day.
One of the responsibilities that a free people of any given nation have is the preservation of their liberties. We can't allow ourselves to grow complacement simply because our freedom was bought in America by our forefathers 234 years ago. It's always crucial that we safeguard our liberties. I believe I've heard the quote that says the price of liberty is eternal vigilance. That statement is very true. Why? Simply because we live in a sinful world. Life is a battle. You read that in the book of Ephesians when the Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 6:10-17 when the Apostle Paul states that we need to put on the whole armor of God as Christians. Paul mentions that we don't wrestle against flesh and blood but we wrestle against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). There are men that are evil and they love power. They consider themselves as the ruler or like a god and they consider all the masses peasants, just plain simple people who don't know much and aren't worth much. There are dictators that classify themselves as philsopher-kings, as the ancient Greek philosopher Plato mentions about in his book, The Republic. There are evil despots that would like to do everything in their power to usurp authority over people in a country. We've always had them throughout history.
Back in the 1930's you read about the rise of German dictator Adolf Hitler and how he was on a quest to conquer the world. He seized Poland in 1939 which was the start of World War II. How did Hitler rise to power? He rose to power as the result of a financial crisis in Germany, especially the Weimar Republic. Prior to the financial collapse of Germany, there was hyperinflation. As a result of that, the country couldn't thrive economically. There arose Adolf Hitler. He was democratically elected by the people. Whenever an economy collapses and the security of the people is threatened, they will vote for someone that will offer an assurance of stability even when it's false. That day will come when the antichrist will make his appearance to the world. The antichrist will offer to the world his solutions to the worlds problems. America is being torn apart and in shambles. We have czars in the Obama administration such as Van Jones, Mark Lloyd, and Cass Sunstein that are doing everything in their power to strip away America's right to free speech, for example. It's time we Americans stand up and claim our roots. I want to devote the rest of this time explaining how we can preserve the liberty we still enjoy. We can only do so if we'll become actively involved.
The first thing we need to do as Americans is to recognize the great principles upon which the Founders built this great nation upon. One of them was freedom of speech and religious
liberty, which is found in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Our Founding forefathers fled England so they can establish the freedom to worship in this country. America was built upon Judeo Christian principles. We've become a pagan nation drastically within the last 50 years. It's time that we recognize who the God of our forefathers are. We need to repent individually as a nation of our sin and turn to God. II Chronicles 7:14 states, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." I recognize that this scripture that was penned down was during the Dispensation of the Law and I know it was speaking of Israel. However, if God's people in America will repent of their sin and turn to God, I believe God will hear us. We must turn back to the God of our forefathers. True liberty comes from God. It doesn't come from man nor the government. We will lose the liberties we have if we don't repent of our sin and turn back to God.
Another thing we must do is we must participate in the election process. What I mean by that is that we vote which is the primary, general, and even special elections. One of the problems we have when it comes to voter participation is many voters won't vote during the primary process. The only election where you have any kind of choice of candidates is the primary. If more people would vote in the primary like they should, probably more incumbents would be defeated. That's my opinion. The general election pits the nominee of the Democrat Party vs. the nominee of the Republican Party. Most of the time neither nominee is worth the ink that's printed on paper. The Republican candidate is Democrat-lite, which isn't much different than the Democratic nominee on the ballot. The choices to represent a political party is in the primary. So if you don't vote in the primary, don't complain because you don't have a choice of a candidate to vote for in the general election. Outside the 2008 presidential election, the last election where there was 50% or better turnout was the 1960 presidential election in which John F. Kennedy defeated Richard Nixon. It's pitiful where there are countries such as Iraq in which people will face harm's way to vote and here we are in America and we don't face harm's way to vote. It's appalling.
Lastly, we need to participate in the political process in general whether it be through writing our Congressmen and Senators or participating in community forums, rallies, etc. We can participate in community service which benefits our communities in which we live. I'm thankful for the Tea Party movement that started last year. Even though it's not perfect and it doesn't have a leader to guide it, I'm thankful that at least we have a movement that's trying to make an impact on our political process. They're at least trying to make their voices heard. We need that. We need a grassroots effort that will stand for the principles of our Founders. We must stand up for what is right. I'm thankful for the choices we have on internet and the radio in which there's talk radio that will speak up or speak against issues and politicians that are corrupt. That's a process that some in government are trying to silence. Free speech is a precious commodity. We don't want to abuse it nor lose it.
I want to wish everybody a happy Independence Day even though it was yesterday. Many people will be off to celebrate this holiday today. Let's remember our Founders as we celebrate this day.
I Pledge My Allegiance
YouTube - I Pledge My Allegiance - Gaither Vocal Band
In the mid-western town children form a parade.
With the flag bearers leading the way
There's farmers and teachers, the old and the young
Lift together their voices to say.
(Chorus)
I pledge my allegiance to the grand oh flag
And the promise of hope from sea to sea
Under God one nation undivided we will stand
Lift the banner of liberty.
It's the final kickoff for the NFL and the stadium is packed with screaming fans
All the banners are flying
The color guards advance like a wave
Silence moves through the stand
(Chorus)
I pledge my allegiance to the grand oh flag
And the promise of hope from sea to sea
Under God one nation undivided we will stand
Lift the banner of liberty.
Where a child is hungry, Where men have no homes, Where the powerless are yearning to breathe free,
Oh may we fight for justice till there's justice for all and become what God made us to be.
(Chorus)
I pledge my allegiance to the grand oh flag
And the promise of hope from sea to sea
Under God one nation undivided we will stand
Lift the banner of liberty.
In the mid-western town children form a parade.
With the flag bearers leading the way
There's farmers and teachers, the old and the young
Lift together their voices to say.
(Chorus)
I pledge my allegiance to the grand oh flag
And the promise of hope from sea to sea
Under God one nation undivided we will stand
Lift the banner of liberty.
It's the final kickoff for the NFL and the stadium is packed with screaming fans
All the banners are flying
The color guards advance like a wave
Silence moves through the stand
(Chorus)
I pledge my allegiance to the grand oh flag
And the promise of hope from sea to sea
Under God one nation undivided we will stand
Lift the banner of liberty.
Where a child is hungry, Where men have no homes, Where the powerless are yearning to breathe free,
Oh may we fight for justice till there's justice for all and become what God made us to be.
(Chorus)
I pledge my allegiance to the grand oh flag
And the promise of hope from sea to sea
Under God one nation undivided we will stand
Lift the banner of liberty.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
God Bless America or America Bless God?
YouTube - God Bless America By Kate Smith
During this time of year it's common to hear the famous song, "God Bless America." I enjoy that song. That song was written around 1918 or 1919 by Irv Berlin. Kate Smith made that song famous starting in the late 1930's. That song was sung extensively during the World War II years when our soldiers were trying to defeat the forces of Nazism and Fascism across the globe. That song was sung by members of Congress on the very day of the 9/11 attacks. I thank God for his blessings upon America over these last 234 years. Anyone that has any sense at all would have to say that God truly has blessed America. We are the most blessed country on earth. We are blessed with land, natural resources, churches that preach the gospel (the ones that remain), food, technology, science, medical care, all kinds of retail stores, and the list continues. God has been good to us in spite of us. I want to thank the Lord for his goodness upon us.
I recall a statement a preacher made over 13.5 years ago. He said that he felt it was "criminal" or something to that affect to sing God bless America. Why would he utter such a statement? The reason was because of the condition of our churches in America today and the fact that sin abounds in this great nation today. Today vice has become virtue. For example, the homosexual lifestyle is no longer considered strange or weird. Society, along with the help of the media, has tried to make it a normal, acceptable lifestyle in this nation. There are forces to try to make "gay" marriage legal in all our states. Abortion today is couched in terms such as "reproductive choice" or a "woman's right to choose." Hollywood presents all kinds of filth and rancor on the internet and our television screens. In most of the sporting events that take place in America today, they are sponsored by beer-making companies. Many people in our country don't think about darkening the door of church on Sundays. Instead they regard the day just like any other day. Anybody that logs on to the internet knows there's all kinds of evil and filth that spew from it. We live in a society that's forgotten God. We live in a post-Christian nation. We've forgotten God. Isaiah 1:4 states, "Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters; they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward." That sounds like America today.
Proverbs 14:34 is often quoted many times on holidays such as today which states, "Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." Oh how true that is. What is righteousness! It means to be upright before God. I remember hearing people mention about the late Jerry Falwell years ago traveling across the country on God and country rallies. In 1979 Jerry Falwell along with Tim LaHaye co-founded the Moral Majority, which was supposed to promote Biblical values. They in the process tried to promote candidates that would uphold Biblical values. This same preacher that I just mentioned to you at the beginning of the post was speaking about the Moral Majority one time. He said the problem with the Moral Majority was it was about promoting "morality" or something to that effect. I'm just paraphrasing what he said. The preacher said that "Righteousness exalteth a nation," not morality. He's correct. There are only a few people that are righteous. First of all, the only people that can be righteous are God's people. Righteousness comes from God. A person has to be saved to possess God's righteousness. The Bible says that man's righteousness is as filthy rags. In other words, man's best is exceedingly insufficient. Righteousness isn't a work of man. Righteousness is from God. It's a saved person that desires to walk upright before the Lord. Isaiah 61:10 says, "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridgegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." Righteousness isn't a work of man. God's covered me with a robe of righteousness. A righteous person is holy and walks before God.
I desire to see God bless America. I would be foolish to not desire the blessings of God upon this nation. I believe the reason why we still enjoy some of the blessings of God is simply because of the Godly living of some of our past forefathers. When I speak of forefathers I'm not speaking of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, or necessarily those that fought in the American Revolution. I'm speaking of those that walked with God and served him. I'm speaking of such people as Jonathon Edwards, D.L. Moody, Phillis Wheatley, Billy Sunday, Fanny Crosby, and other Christians whose names aren't in the history books. There were Christians that walked circumspectly before the world that had a desire to see God move and do great and mighty things. In the late 1800's, a movement called the "Progressive Movement" took place in which there were so-called educated people that were too educated for God. They sought to subvert the U.S. Constitution, they would question the Bible and what it taught. They would question the inspiration of scripture, for example. Many of these people held posts in our colleges and universities. America was on the road to secularization. In the 1960's beginning with the hippie movement, the nation has went the wrong direction and continues doing so this very day. However, the biggest problem with our country isn't so much those heathen out there that hate God and hate Christianity. The problem is with those that claim to be Christian and attend church.
Our churches are in a mess spiritually in America today. They've become so worldly in their appearance and their methods that you can hardly distinguish the church from the world. There's no presence of God in our mainline denominations today. Even those churches that are fundamental with their doctrine are as dry as land that hasn't experienced rain in several months. Spritually speaking we're living in the Laodecian area that Jesus talks about in the book of Revelation. We are rich and increased with goods. However, we're bankrupt spiritually. The Bible says that judgment first must begin at the House of God. We need to recognize where we're at spiritually and recognize that the methods of the world aren't going to convert people to Christ. If the church can't win people by preaching the Word, then nothing will win them. If the church has to compromise its standard to win the world, then the church needs to shut its doors. The church needs to go back to the old paths. A church can't win people to God unless it does it God's way. If the Spirit of God doesn't show up in the church services, then nothing can be done. It's all of God or nothing.
America's headed for judgment. If America continues straying in the same path, then she will be finished. That won't be much longer. However, the only choice we have is for the church to repent and turn to God. I will close with the famous verse that's quoted so often in an Indepedence Day sermon or a God and country rally speech. It's found in II Chronicles 7:14. "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
During this time of year it's common to hear the famous song, "God Bless America." I enjoy that song. That song was written around 1918 or 1919 by Irv Berlin. Kate Smith made that song famous starting in the late 1930's. That song was sung extensively during the World War II years when our soldiers were trying to defeat the forces of Nazism and Fascism across the globe. That song was sung by members of Congress on the very day of the 9/11 attacks. I thank God for his blessings upon America over these last 234 years. Anyone that has any sense at all would have to say that God truly has blessed America. We are the most blessed country on earth. We are blessed with land, natural resources, churches that preach the gospel (the ones that remain), food, technology, science, medical care, all kinds of retail stores, and the list continues. God has been good to us in spite of us. I want to thank the Lord for his goodness upon us.
I recall a statement a preacher made over 13.5 years ago. He said that he felt it was "criminal" or something to that affect to sing God bless America. Why would he utter such a statement? The reason was because of the condition of our churches in America today and the fact that sin abounds in this great nation today. Today vice has become virtue. For example, the homosexual lifestyle is no longer considered strange or weird. Society, along with the help of the media, has tried to make it a normal, acceptable lifestyle in this nation. There are forces to try to make "gay" marriage legal in all our states. Abortion today is couched in terms such as "reproductive choice" or a "woman's right to choose." Hollywood presents all kinds of filth and rancor on the internet and our television screens. In most of the sporting events that take place in America today, they are sponsored by beer-making companies. Many people in our country don't think about darkening the door of church on Sundays. Instead they regard the day just like any other day. Anybody that logs on to the internet knows there's all kinds of evil and filth that spew from it. We live in a society that's forgotten God. We live in a post-Christian nation. We've forgotten God. Isaiah 1:4 states, "Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters; they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward." That sounds like America today.
Proverbs 14:34 is often quoted many times on holidays such as today which states, "Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." Oh how true that is. What is righteousness! It means to be upright before God. I remember hearing people mention about the late Jerry Falwell years ago traveling across the country on God and country rallies. In 1979 Jerry Falwell along with Tim LaHaye co-founded the Moral Majority, which was supposed to promote Biblical values. They in the process tried to promote candidates that would uphold Biblical values. This same preacher that I just mentioned to you at the beginning of the post was speaking about the Moral Majority one time. He said the problem with the Moral Majority was it was about promoting "morality" or something to that effect. I'm just paraphrasing what he said. The preacher said that "Righteousness exalteth a nation," not morality. He's correct. There are only a few people that are righteous. First of all, the only people that can be righteous are God's people. Righteousness comes from God. A person has to be saved to possess God's righteousness. The Bible says that man's righteousness is as filthy rags. In other words, man's best is exceedingly insufficient. Righteousness isn't a work of man. Righteousness is from God. It's a saved person that desires to walk upright before the Lord. Isaiah 61:10 says, "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridgegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." Righteousness isn't a work of man. God's covered me with a robe of righteousness. A righteous person is holy and walks before God.
I desire to see God bless America. I would be foolish to not desire the blessings of God upon this nation. I believe the reason why we still enjoy some of the blessings of God is simply because of the Godly living of some of our past forefathers. When I speak of forefathers I'm not speaking of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, or necessarily those that fought in the American Revolution. I'm speaking of those that walked with God and served him. I'm speaking of such people as Jonathon Edwards, D.L. Moody, Phillis Wheatley, Billy Sunday, Fanny Crosby, and other Christians whose names aren't in the history books. There were Christians that walked circumspectly before the world that had a desire to see God move and do great and mighty things. In the late 1800's, a movement called the "Progressive Movement" took place in which there were so-called educated people that were too educated for God. They sought to subvert the U.S. Constitution, they would question the Bible and what it taught. They would question the inspiration of scripture, for example. Many of these people held posts in our colleges and universities. America was on the road to secularization. In the 1960's beginning with the hippie movement, the nation has went the wrong direction and continues doing so this very day. However, the biggest problem with our country isn't so much those heathen out there that hate God and hate Christianity. The problem is with those that claim to be Christian and attend church.
Our churches are in a mess spiritually in America today. They've become so worldly in their appearance and their methods that you can hardly distinguish the church from the world. There's no presence of God in our mainline denominations today. Even those churches that are fundamental with their doctrine are as dry as land that hasn't experienced rain in several months. Spritually speaking we're living in the Laodecian area that Jesus talks about in the book of Revelation. We are rich and increased with goods. However, we're bankrupt spiritually. The Bible says that judgment first must begin at the House of God. We need to recognize where we're at spiritually and recognize that the methods of the world aren't going to convert people to Christ. If the church can't win people by preaching the Word, then nothing will win them. If the church has to compromise its standard to win the world, then the church needs to shut its doors. The church needs to go back to the old paths. A church can't win people to God unless it does it God's way. If the Spirit of God doesn't show up in the church services, then nothing can be done. It's all of God or nothing.
America's headed for judgment. If America continues straying in the same path, then she will be finished. That won't be much longer. However, the only choice we have is for the church to repent and turn to God. I will close with the famous verse that's quoted so often in an Indepedence Day sermon or a God and country rally speech. It's found in II Chronicles 7:14. "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Saturday, July 3, 2010
This is My Country
YouTube - Kassidy "This is My Country"
This song was composed in 1940 by the popular songwriters Don Raye and Al Jacobs. I'm proud to be an American and the opportunity to live in such a great country. Even though America has its faults like any other country, I don't desire to live anywhere else. When you recognize the rich history behind our nation, you have to say that God has truly blessed us. I believe the reason why we can still say we're a blessed nation is due to not only the longsuffering of God, but our forefathers and many generations succeeding them had a heart to serve God. They knew what liberty meant and they used it to honor God. Not everyone in this nation was a Christian, but there was a select group of people who were Christians that honored God with their lives and testimony. The church at one time held a standard in this country. Today it's very difficult to distinguish the church from the world. Since the church no longer holds the standard that it once did, America is falling by the wayside. In the midst of all the wickedness that's prevalent in society today, I'm glad to say that this is my country, land of my birth. I pledge my allegiance to the grand old flag. Happy Independence Day!
This is my country! Land of my birth!
This is my country! Grandest on earth!
I pledge thee my allegiance, America the bold!
For this is my country to have and to hold!
This is my country! Land of my choice!
This is my country! Hear my proud voice!
I pledge thee my allegiance, America, the bold!
For this is my country to have and to hold!
Friday, July 2, 2010
Let Freedom Ring (The Song)
YouTube - Gaither Vocal Band - Let Freedom Ring
Deep within the heart has always known that there was freedom
Somehow breathed into the very soul alive
The prisoner, the powerless, the same have always known it
There's something that keeps reaching for the sky
Even life begins because a baby fights for freedom
And songs we love to sing have freedom's theme
Some have walked through fire and flood to find a place of freedom
And some faced hell itself for freedom's ring
Let freedom ring wherever minds know what it means to be in chains
Let freedom ring wherever hearts know pain
Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key
We can be free and we can sing--let freedom ring
God built freedom into every fiber of creation
And he meant for us to all be free and whole
When my Lord bought freedom with the blood of his redemption
His cross stamped pardon on my very soul
I'll sing it out with every breath, I'll let the whole world hear it
This hallelujah anthem of the free
That iron bars and heavy chains can never hold us captive
The Son has made us free and free indeed
Let freedom ring down through the ages from a hill called Calvary
Let freedom ring wherever hearts know pain
Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key
You can be free and you can sing let freedom ring
Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key
You can be free and you can sing let freedom ring
You can be free and you can sing--let freedom ring--let freedom ring
Deep within the heart has always known that there was freedom
Somehow breathed into the very soul alive
The prisoner, the powerless, the same have always known it
There's something that keeps reaching for the sky
Even life begins because a baby fights for freedom
And songs we love to sing have freedom's theme
Some have walked through fire and flood to find a place of freedom
And some faced hell itself for freedom's ring
Let freedom ring wherever minds know what it means to be in chains
Let freedom ring wherever hearts know pain
Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key
We can be free and we can sing--let freedom ring
God built freedom into every fiber of creation
And he meant for us to all be free and whole
When my Lord bought freedom with the blood of his redemption
His cross stamped pardon on my very soul
I'll sing it out with every breath, I'll let the whole world hear it
This hallelujah anthem of the free
That iron bars and heavy chains can never hold us captive
The Son has made us free and free indeed
Let freedom ring down through the ages from a hill called Calvary
Let freedom ring wherever hearts know pain
Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key
You can be free and you can sing let freedom ring
Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key
You can be free and you can sing let freedom ring
You can be free and you can sing--let freedom ring--let freedom ring
Founder's Friday:Women in the American Revolution
On this evening's Glenn Beck program on Fox News, Glenn Beck hosted "Women in the American Revolution" on this evening's Founder's Friday special. He had David Barton and Jane Hampton Cook as guests on the program. Barton and Cook were mentioning how many colonial women played a vital role in the American Revolutionary War. It was very fascinating. Here are some women that played a major role in the War for American Independence.
1. Deborah Sampson - It was Sampson's desire to avoid hard labor on the family farm that she decided to impersonate a man and join the American army. She first enlisted under the name "Timothy Thayer" early in 1782. When she failed to report for duty after a night spent imbibing at a local tavern, her true identity was discovered. In May of 1782 she re-enlisted, this time in Captain George Webb's Co., 4th Massachusetts Regiment, under the name of Robert Shurtleft. She participated in several battles and in 1783 was named aide-de-camp to General John Paterson at West Point. Her identity was again discovered during the summer of 1783 by a physician who treated her when she became seriously ill. Shortly thereafter she was honorably discharged from the army. She subsequently returned to Massachusetts and married there shortly thereafter.
2. Mary Ludwig Hayes (Molly Pitcher) - Molly Pitcher accompanied her husband John, of the First Pennsylvania artillery into the Monmouth, New Jersey Campaign of 1778. During the battle she supplied water to the troops, hence the name "Molly Pitcher". She assumed her husband's matross assisting the other artillerymen in the Company. Shortly after the war ended John, her husband died and Mary remarried. It didn't last long. She supported herself until 1832 with grants. She didn't have a military pension.
3. Mercy Otis Warren - She wrote the first history of the Revolutionary War. She was there in person to recall the events. She got her start before the War officially began because she wanted to do something to reach the common people with revolutionary ideas. The first Committee of Correspondence was formed in the Warren home. John Adams was impressed with Mercy's writing. She wrote plays poking fun at the British. One was entitled, "The Blockhead." She couldn't place her name on the plays because poking fun at the British could result in punishment and jail time. Mercy wrote six plays in all. When her husband went off to fight, Mercy rewrote the history of the American Revolution, using her notes from meetings and conversations. Her efforts were published in 1805, "History of the Rise, Progress, and Termination of the American Revolution."
4. Rebecca Motte - Although she didn't start the fire to her own house, she provided the needed ingredient: fire arrows. Why? Her home was situated high about Charleston, S.C. It was ideally suited for a fort. The British moved her out. They moved in for a short period of time. The patriots needed the British out. They planned to burn the house. So Motte supplied the arrows to burn the British out. That's exactly what happened. However, in the process they saved the house. She lived there until she died.
5. Penelope Barker - Months before any active independence movement, Penelope Barker led the Edonton Tea Party. Unlike the the better known Boston Tea Party, Penelope and more than 50 women didn't dress up in costumes to show how they felt. Penelope wrote a declaration against the use of tea and clothes made from British cloth. All the women at the meeting signed. The British naturally laughed at women's protesting. The British took notice as more women joined the boycott of British goods. These women let the British know power lies in the hands of those who rock the cradle. Women joined their men in showing the British they wouldn't stand for taxation without representation.
6. Abigail Adams - When she married John Adams in 1764, she probably wasn't thinking about life in the White House. She displayed a great mind and love for learning, teaching herself French. She loved to write letters to friends about liberty. Staying on John's farm, she considered herself a farmeress. She wrote to her husband while he was serving in the Continental Congress. Much of what she had to say made its way into our founding documents. When John and others were considering a declaration of independence, Abigail reminded him to take care of the women, who wouldn't hold themselves bound by laws in which they had no voice.
1. Deborah Sampson - It was Sampson's desire to avoid hard labor on the family farm that she decided to impersonate a man and join the American army. She first enlisted under the name "Timothy Thayer" early in 1782. When she failed to report for duty after a night spent imbibing at a local tavern, her true identity was discovered. In May of 1782 she re-enlisted, this time in Captain George Webb's Co., 4th Massachusetts Regiment, under the name of Robert Shurtleft. She participated in several battles and in 1783 was named aide-de-camp to General John Paterson at West Point. Her identity was again discovered during the summer of 1783 by a physician who treated her when she became seriously ill. Shortly thereafter she was honorably discharged from the army. She subsequently returned to Massachusetts and married there shortly thereafter.
2. Mary Ludwig Hayes (Molly Pitcher) - Molly Pitcher accompanied her husband John, of the First Pennsylvania artillery into the Monmouth, New Jersey Campaign of 1778. During the battle she supplied water to the troops, hence the name "Molly Pitcher". She assumed her husband's matross assisting the other artillerymen in the Company. Shortly after the war ended John, her husband died and Mary remarried. It didn't last long. She supported herself until 1832 with grants. She didn't have a military pension.
3. Mercy Otis Warren - She wrote the first history of the Revolutionary War. She was there in person to recall the events. She got her start before the War officially began because she wanted to do something to reach the common people with revolutionary ideas. The first Committee of Correspondence was formed in the Warren home. John Adams was impressed with Mercy's writing. She wrote plays poking fun at the British. One was entitled, "The Blockhead." She couldn't place her name on the plays because poking fun at the British could result in punishment and jail time. Mercy wrote six plays in all. When her husband went off to fight, Mercy rewrote the history of the American Revolution, using her notes from meetings and conversations. Her efforts were published in 1805, "History of the Rise, Progress, and Termination of the American Revolution."
4. Rebecca Motte - Although she didn't start the fire to her own house, she provided the needed ingredient: fire arrows. Why? Her home was situated high about Charleston, S.C. It was ideally suited for a fort. The British moved her out. They moved in for a short period of time. The patriots needed the British out. They planned to burn the house. So Motte supplied the arrows to burn the British out. That's exactly what happened. However, in the process they saved the house. She lived there until she died.
5. Penelope Barker - Months before any active independence movement, Penelope Barker led the Edonton Tea Party. Unlike the the better known Boston Tea Party, Penelope and more than 50 women didn't dress up in costumes to show how they felt. Penelope wrote a declaration against the use of tea and clothes made from British cloth. All the women at the meeting signed. The British naturally laughed at women's protesting. The British took notice as more women joined the boycott of British goods. These women let the British know power lies in the hands of those who rock the cradle. Women joined their men in showing the British they wouldn't stand for taxation without representation.
6. Abigail Adams - When she married John Adams in 1764, she probably wasn't thinking about life in the White House. She displayed a great mind and love for learning, teaching herself French. She loved to write letters to friends about liberty. Staying on John's farm, she considered herself a farmeress. She wrote to her husband while he was serving in the Continental Congress. Much of what she had to say made its way into our founding documents. When John and others were considering a declaration of independence, Abigail reminded him to take care of the women, who wouldn't hold themselves bound by laws in which they had no voice.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Excerpts From the Declaration of Independence
When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume, among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world. . . . .
. . . . . . In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms; our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have we been wanting in our attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them, from time to time, of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity; and we have conjured them, by the ties of our common kindred, to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They, too, have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.
We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; and that, as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world. . . . .
. . . . . . In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms; our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have we been wanting in our attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them, from time to time, of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity; and we have conjured them, by the ties of our common kindred, to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They, too, have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.
We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; and that, as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
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