Freedom Lives Here

June 29, 2009

american flag

At church yesterday, our congregation celebrated the 4th of July.  Every church I have belonged to has taken America’s independence very seriously.  Patriotic hymns, special music, and sermons based on the foundation of this Country seem to always take place in Baptist churches.  I wonder if true reflection on the formation and continuation of this experiment in democracy takes place in the hearts and minds of our citizenry.

There is so much that can be written when we consider the truly precious gift of our individual freedoms.  When I think about our Country and the prosperity we enjoy, the first thing I do is thank God for his providence and blessings.  Then I remember, that is exactly what the Founding Fathers did.  Each session of the Continental Congress started with prayer.  Anyone who believes that we would have the freedoms we enjoy without the framer’s trust in God is mistaken.  Luckily we have their writings to reflect on.

President John Adams was commenting on the Constitution when he said:

“Our Constitution was made only for a religious and moral people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other.”

President Adams realized that our concept of freedom and liberty must be rooted in something more than just a legalistic view of the language in the Constitution.  Without the moral fiber required of us, the Country will fall apart.  President Adams also cautioned of this outcome:

“Statesmen, my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone, which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free Constitution is pure virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People in a greater Measure than they have it now, they may change their rulers and the forms of government, but they will not obtain a lasting liberty.”

Prior to the 1940’s, the term “separation of Church and State” was used in just 2 court cases.  In the last 60 years, it has been referenced many, many times.  Maybe you think that the disintegration of the moral fabric of this Country is a normal progression and an acceptable change to a secular government.  I heartily disagree.  I believe we experience problems, social ills, economic troubles, and political discourse because we have, as a whole, turned our collective backs on the principles that made this Country great.  Our Founding Fathers would be disgusted with the America we have created.  Our leadership today is weak. 

I am on the mailing lists of all my congressmen/women.  All I get from them is how wonderful they are.  Their priority is getting re-elected.  It is a shame that “Mr. Smith” no longer is able to go to Washington.  Even if an outlier did make it in, the political parties would never allow real change.  Seniority rules and the requirements of political parties to vote as the leadership dictates, mutes any real and meaningful debate.  You cannot get elected without party assistance and blessing. 

One of the tenants of the recent political campaign by President Obama was a concept of “change.”  The “change” we got with this socialist is not what we need, or what the 65 million of my misguided fellow citizens thought was coming.  Did you know that the socialist didn’t participate in any event on the National Day of Prayer on May 7?  I guess he believes that there is nothing to be gained by participating.  But let’s remember, socialism frowns on religion. 

This march to socialism with President Obama leading the charge has got to stop.  This “change” is not what freedom loving people want.  Protect your rights and speak up when the government steps over their boundaries.  Write your elected representatives.  Express your opinion and be heard.  Get informed and then do something.  Our freedom depends on it!  The two biggest threats to our freedom are ignorance and apathy.  The pastor had a funny joke about these two attributes…A man was walking down the street when he was asked about what needed to change in Washington to make things better.  He answered, I don’t know and I don’t care.  That certainly rings true.

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Posted by scr2695

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

June 22, 2009

If I was still in school, I would have a great example of why this Country is great to tell.  I just spent a week buried neck deep in American History.  I went to Philadelphia, Gettysburg, and Washington DC with my wife, kids, and father-in-law.  I want to show you a few photos, and then tell you about a demonstration I found myself in the middle of.

Our first full day out was spent in Gettysburg.  It was about my fifth trip there, but my family had never been there before.  I love the place, and so did the family.  This was my first trip since the new visitor’s center opened.  It is fantastic.  It rained the entire time we were there, but we bought the auto tour CD and saw the battlefield that way.  Here are a couple of pictures:

The Angle:

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The Lee Monument:

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In Philadelphia, we saw Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and many of the sights around the old town.  The weather was a little rainy, but the temperature was very nice.  In Philly, the entire family participated in an experiment to see which steak sandwich was better, Geno’s or Pat’s.  After buying $60 worth of Philly Cheese Steak sandwiches, the original vote was 2-2, but my father-in-law said both were good, so Geno’s wins 2-1-1.  I liked Geno’s better.

genos

In Washington, we took the Capitol Tour through the new visitor’s center.  It was very well organized and time well spent.  After that, we went to another of my favorites, Arlington National Cemetery.  This was also the first time for the family.  This place never ceases to leave me with feelings of awe and thankfulness.

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On the second day in Washington, and as I walked up to the front of the White House on 17th Street, I looked to the left and in Lafayette Park, a Pro-Iranian rally was taking place.  I immediately told my wife that this is the reason America is an incredible Country.  Here was a group of mostly Iranian nationals, peacefully demonstrating within 500 feet of the President of the United States.  The group was loud, but I never felt like they were violent.  What would have happened if this group was in Iran?  They would be getting the crap beat out of them.  Look at the coverage out of Iran and how the protestors are being dealt with. This is the same Iran is that Obama wants to engage in talks?  We don’t even know if they will survive this crisis.  It is the same thing that happened in Venezuela, fake votes to keep a regime in power.  I wonder if Carter thought the Iran election was fair too? 

Here is my close-up view of freedom of speech in action:

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We must all remember that we did not just receive the freedoms we enjoy because we deserved them.  Many men and women fought and died to provide us with this gift.  Hopefully our use of their gift honors their memory and sacrifice.

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Constitutionally Guaranteed TV!

June 14, 2009

mtv

When did watching television become a right?  Friday, the FCC received over 300,000 calls from people in the United States that “suddenly” lost the ability to see their favorite shows.  The FCC reported that approximately 30% of those calls were about converter boxes that wouldn’t work, so those people get a pass, but why did the other 200,000 people not know about this switch to digital?  How many hundreds of commercials and news stories do you have to watch to realize you may not be able to see Jerry Springer interview midget transvestite swingers after June 12? 

I have two problems with this situation.  1.  We have far too many citizens that have become unthinking drones unable to decide for themselves what to do and consequently rely on the government to take care of them.  2.  Why are tax dollars paying for converter boxes?

I have read the Constitution of the United States of America a few times.  I don’t remember seeing an article that says the government will take care of all your needs and make sure you can watch the State sponsored news put forward by ABC, NBC, and CBS.  It never ceases to amaze me how Americans can sit around and wait for scraps to be thrown to them by elected officials instead of relying on their own potential and hard work to get ahead.  There are citizens incapable of taking care of themselves, and the government, families, church and community groups need to step up and help them.  However, “I want my MTV” is not a cry for help that the government needs to answer. 

My second issue concerns the government (meaning taxpayer funded) coupons for $40 to go buy a converter box.  We should not be in the business of providing luxuries, like television.  According to the FCC, almost 31 million coupons have been redeemed.  $40 doesn’t sound like much, but let me do the math for you.  $1,236,559,890 for converters.  That is an outrageous use of taxpayer money.  The bad news is, there are another 29 million coupons out there floating around that could be utilized.  $2.5 BILLION to watch television.  What a waste of money.  I was looking at the FCC website and those bureaucrats are patting themselves on the back for this tremendous success.  I see it as an incredible waste of our tax dollars.  Here is a picture of the $2.5 billion converter:

converter box

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Newsweek Editor: Obama Sort of God!

June 9, 2009

This just in and you won’t see any questions or fallout from these comments on network news show or cable news save Fox News.  Newsweek editor Evan Thomas says our Socialist President Obama is God!  The ultra-liberal host Chris Matthews even agrees with him.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr4VZ8xCzOg

Shocking isn’t it?  Who would have ever guessed that the media believe’s that Obama is God?  Let the worship continue!  The candidate they wouldn’t report negative information on during the campaign is the President they faun over as a savior.  Unfortunately, we are stuck with this false prophet created by the smoke and mirror media for 42 more months.

My good friend Raul gave me some great news today.  Maybe the political winds are changing!  Two Democrat members of the New York State Senate switched parties to Republican giving the Republicans a 32-30 advantage.  First order of business…remove the Democrat Speaker.  It was chaos in the chamber, and the Democrats say the vote was illegal.  I’m sure this fight is not over.

Here is another example…How do the people of California vote against gay marriage?  More than 52% of the voters rejected gay marriage.  Isn’t California the home of San Francisco, Berkley, and Hollywood? 

These bastions of liberalism are voting like they are Alabama and Oklahoma.  Maybe there is hope for us yet.  The liberal media has got to be shaking their collective heads.  They have done everything they can to affect and shape the public’s view of the world, and their solid liberal constituency is abandoning them.  Could it be that the populace is waking up to the horror that is liberalism?  I can only pray to the one true God that is so.  By the way, that’s not Obama.

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Posted by scr2695

In The (small) Car Business Now

June 8, 2009

challenger

I went to Tamiami Chrysler Jeep Dodge today to look for a new Challenger. I was thinking of replacing my pristine condition ’81 Corvette with an up-to-date muscle car with all the modern amenities. Tamiami Chrysler Jeep Dodge is the leading Chrysler dealership in Miami-Dade County, #3 in the State of Florida, and in the top 100 in the Country.  Unfortunately, the bankruptcy court has sided with Chrysler’s plan to emerge from Chapter 11 which includes closing this dealership along with 788 other dealers.

I bet you are wondering where this is going…I sit here asking myself why does the Socialist President Obama’s administration have anything to do with this?  You and I, through our new socialist’s administration, brokered a deal where a 35 percent of Chrysler will be sold to Fiat, 55 percent will go to the workers, and the US and Canadian government share the remaining 10 percent stake in the company.

What does Chrysler get?  They get technology to make small and fuel efficient cars.  The Obama Administration is going to cause another run on a product.  The last time was with guns because they are sure to be banned.  Now it will be muscle cars, because Americans have no business being different from the rest of the world.  I guess we will all be driving Yugos soon.  I wonder how I am going to fit in that car?

yugo

Back to the dealership.  I saw the owner, Mr. Planas, in the lobby.  I told him that I hoped the situation would work out in his favor.  It is un-American for hard working and successful people to be put out of business by the government.  I told him this was just another example of socialism taking over our Country.  The salesman told me that tomorrow, June 9, Chrysler will take all the cars off the lot and send them to other dealers.  100 people will lose their jobs at one of the most successful dealerships in the Country.  This is insane.  What happened to the concept that being successful meant you continued in business?  The government needs to get out of the car business, the insurance business, the mortgage business, the healthcare business, and everything else they are into now.  Late today, Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsburg issued a temporary order to delay the sale of the assets to Fiat.  Hopefully, this will give them some time.

I didn’t buy the car, I really had my heart set on the Challenger in Hemi-Orange. They only had blue and black.  I guess I will have to go to one of the government approved dealerships and hope that our elected dictator will allow me to buy I car I would like to drive.

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Panderer In Chief

June 4, 2009

In early April, our socialist President went on a world tour trashing the United States of America.  He bowed to the king of Saudi Arabia:

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He then went to Strasbourg, France and called American citizens dismissive and derisive.  Here is an anti-American quote from his speech:

“So we must be honest with ourselves. In recent years we’ve allowed our Alliance to drift. I know that there have been honest disagreements over policy, but we also know that there’s something more that has crept into our relationship. In America, there’s a failure to appreciate Europe’s leading role in the world. Instead of celebrating your dynamic union and seeking to partner with you to meet common challenges, there have been times where America has shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive.”

So then he jumped back into the plane paid for by the hard work of those nasty derisive Americans and flew off to Trinidad and Tobago for a meeting of the Summit of the Americas.  Our elected leader, a representative of the people of the United States of America, again disparaged the greatest country in the world:

“While the United States has done much to promote peace and prosperity in the hemisphere, we have at times been disengaged, and at times we sought to dictate our terms. But I pledge to you that we seek an equal partnership. There is no senior partner and junior partner in our relations; there is simply engagement based on mutual respect and common interests and shared values. So I’m here to launch a new chapter of engagement that will be sustained throughout my administration.  The United States will be willing to acknowledge past errors where those errors have been made.”

Thankfully that trip came to an end.  I thought the socialist would divert to Asia and apologize to China for wanting Taiwan’s people to be free.  Maybe he could have stopped by and said he was sorry to Kim Jong Il for causing all his country’s problems.

Fast forward to this week.  The socialist that 65 million of my fellow citizens voted for was again in another country begging for international acceptance and validation.  Socialist Obama believes the United States of America is one of the largest Muslim countries in the world.  Here is the quote:

“Now, the flip side is I think that the United States and the West generally, we have to educate ourselves more effectively on Islam. And one of the points I want to make is, is that if you actually took the number of Muslims Americans, we’d be one of the largest Muslim countries in the world.”

This obvious attempt of pandering to the Muslim world community is not only laughable, it isn’t even accurate.  I wonder what the interns on the White House staff are doing when they create dribble for our Panderer in Chief to say.  A simple search of world statistics on Muslim populations of all countries shows that the United States of America is #52, with 2,350,000.  We are not in the top 60 countries when you look at the number as a percentage of population.  The U.S.A. is at 0.8%.

You could almost dismiss this as political pandering if it were not for a comment the socialist made in Turkey on April 6, 2009, where he said the U.S.A. is not a Christian country.  It is true that our system of government is separate from religion, however, if we are one of “the worlds largest Muslim countries” based on simply having 0.8% of the population belonging to that religion, shouldn’t we be called a Christian nation if 78.5%, or if you prefer numbers, 236,395,000 people consider themselves Christian.

It’s clear that Obama does not have the best interests of the people that elected him in mind.  He certainly does not speak for me.  Every day I hear another extreme liberal/socialist policy being put forward by him and it really makes me sick.  I also don’t understand his obsession with bad-mouthing our Country to the rest of the world.  I’m sure that when the world needs saving from another despot or psychotic dictator, we will stand up and take care of business even though we are derisive and dismissive.

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Posted by scr2695