tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75126456599756045192024-03-05T14:15:31.812-08:00CentinelKeeping WatchAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290852359697124577noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512645659975604519.post-1845976108915154592018-03-16T12:05:00.000-07:002018-03-16T18:42:41.777-07:00Shadows of the Dawn<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEybAO5PtULzC_JEYcdnQ5sZwjuQ48AefrJVcTxR7vmM_ZT8LYFUzILDI4_Lv_lvtohvXsZBWJwNGSAdVaSp4neCTPSQrbW5qmarsHSDBKKc4dyaAbwDOh_TjvLpZ5iEBpuNlqJL7HIgp/s1600/morning+star.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="1161" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEybAO5PtULzC_JEYcdnQ5sZwjuQ48AefrJVcTxR7vmM_ZT8LYFUzILDI4_Lv_lvtohvXsZBWJwNGSAdVaSp4neCTPSQrbW5qmarsHSDBKKc4dyaAbwDOh_TjvLpZ5iEBpuNlqJL7HIgp/s320/morning+star.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"> </span> A world away and still not far</div>
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Like fabric woven into ours</div>
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The dawn, it shot out through the night</div>
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And day is coming soon</div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></div>
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The kingdom of the morning star</div>
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Can pierce a cold and stony heart</div>
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It's grace went through me like a sword</div>
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And came out like a song</div>
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Now I'm just waiting for the day</div>
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In the shadows of the dawn</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jspJpZ08nxJmYc1zJom192j27Dw_rhSpvnzyCUUwGoWnIMjAXcpeLuQZU3bO5kjFY1myqLvT0tr8I67t9zDfo_gBOuRU_cOsI9UdeSk_bSpsAloWpp6iBSGyK4lqaB6iCdQFg7Muw9Dx/s1600/fun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #333333; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="1000" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jspJpZ08nxJmYc1zJom192j27Dw_rhSpvnzyCUUwGoWnIMjAXcpeLuQZU3bO5kjFY1myqLvT0tr8I67t9zDfo_gBOuRU_cOsI9UdeSk_bSpsAloWpp6iBSGyK4lqaB6iCdQFg7Muw9Dx/s320/fun.jpg" width="320" /></a>But I won't wait, resting my bones</div>
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I'll take these foolish roads of grace</div>
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And run toward the dawn</div>
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And when I rise and dawn turns to day</div>
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I'll shine as bright as the sun</div>
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And these roads that I've run will be wise</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6JJszS7eTqLvGhkppF-JocDVQm7-rmjtSP5OzN6bKMfmaego2L_b_DNIgAYgV1v2Sg4r_Ogh0XCMzPvkK5lOot4TQ5Sw4AvTj6ec6MTFlXjgVdSxInH4js4QT-25KbCYO422sSMn3QGRH/s1600/waiting+for+the+dawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #333333; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6JJszS7eTqLvGhkppF-JocDVQm7-rmjtSP5OzN6bKMfmaego2L_b_DNIgAYgV1v2Sg4r_Ogh0XCMzPvkK5lOot4TQ5Sw4AvTj6ec6MTFlXjgVdSxInH4js4QT-25KbCYO422sSMn3QGRH/s320/waiting+for+the+dawn.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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It's veiled and stands behind the shroud</div>
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The final day when trumpets sound</div>
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Sometimes I glimpse into the fog</div>
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And listen for the song</div>
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Till then I'm waiting for the day</div>
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In the shadows of the dawn</div>
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I met a ghost deep in the valley</div>
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And then a river came in view</div>
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And the water, I drank it down</div>
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And inside me—</div>
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The valley came bursting into bloom</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCjZO4N3NZ448ucGkMx5fwTnJW-1_lw9lg1QbeyqbP_kflq6MTpihwoxsdUO3Tl-EWD9ZW0QyAHOx3YpbzF7B2D-MGPHFtADqiwZPd23nkZzTWSkZy0qVZlIQ1RvYN8laTiDAtzfTXGmm/s1600/bursting+into+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCjZO4N3NZ448ucGkMx5fwTnJW-1_lw9lg1QbeyqbP_kflq6MTpihwoxsdUO3Tl-EWD9ZW0QyAHOx3YpbzF7B2D-MGPHFtADqiwZPd23nkZzTWSkZy0qVZlIQ1RvYN8laTiDAtzfTXGmm/s1600/bursting+into+view.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">#Grayhavens #cancer#nancyborowick#Christ</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290852359697124577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512645659975604519.post-32615247104432824872017-08-26T01:19:00.000-07:002017-08-26T01:19:21.206-07:00 Happy 23/24th<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Am I a man?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQkvgAGY3uUClHetx_IQTMwfpbTL_15IiVY5MFi-GzRU93-79bjH4xuRjWvRLUfeHi5kaweRAieT6aJZUhE6aWQ0-fgFrOa-HEnYC_NXncQT55fJ5EZgFIK8xCiXVJyAShRv7Jh21MzXS/s1600/red+dress+adjusted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQkvgAGY3uUClHetx_IQTMwfpbTL_15IiVY5MFi-GzRU93-79bjH4xuRjWvRLUfeHi5kaweRAieT6aJZUhE6aWQ0-fgFrOa-HEnYC_NXncQT55fJ5EZgFIK8xCiXVJyAShRv7Jh21MzXS/s320/red+dress+adjusted.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_9fRZO3f_FZ9nxIPx4rBFfRh2BTpKWfbmcOVrJjzQH12lfSceIzeOpK9ZWGdL3RGBBpS1mafnyYplEad4CMJamdzLfG59vbzLZG2gxizZBwGGO2853uJPoJo2IH9SY9SC3iBAYfmYLRv/s1600/knees.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1041" data-original-width="749" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_9fRZO3f_FZ9nxIPx4rBFfRh2BTpKWfbmcOVrJjzQH12lfSceIzeOpK9ZWGdL3RGBBpS1mafnyYplEad4CMJamdzLfG59vbzLZG2gxizZBwGGO2853uJPoJo2IH9SY9SC3iBAYfmYLRv/s200/knees.jpeg" width="143" /></a>Can a man love the sweetness<br />
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of a kiss?</div>
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or quiet morning bliss?</div>
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Can a man love the soft curve of knees drawn close</div>
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or the boldness of a crimson pose?</div>
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Am I a man?</div>
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Can a man love a ringlet curl</div>
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or the tender whispers of a pretty girl?</div>
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Can a man love elegant wedding veils</div>
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or stirring romantic tales?</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Am I a man?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A man I am</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Through and through</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love these things because</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I see them in you</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290852359697124577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512645659975604519.post-46004982925274589542017-04-17T19:28:00.000-07:002017-04-22T05:28:56.573-07:00 Toto for a Day<div class="tr_bq">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!"</blockquote>
<br />
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<br />
This famous line from the perennial classic movie, "The Wizard of Oz", has often been expressed as meaning the people secretly in the background pulling the levers of a hidden machine. Everyone is awestruck by the power and eminence of the "Great Oz", only to discover (after Toto scurries up and pulls the curtain) that the Great Oz is actually a great fraud.<br />
<br />
Often in the marbled, grand legal world, the American people huddle and shake like the characters of this story as the court system thunders, "Do not arouse the wrath of the great and powerful Court!"<br />
<br />
Only on rare occasions do you find Toto scampering up and, for a brief moment, revealing the truth--that the great and powerful legal system is not a rule of law but a rule of man. The judges are pulling the levers. This Halley's Comet event slipped by quickly across the corner of the legal sky on April 4th in the case, <i>HIVELY v. IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF INDIANA, </i>before disappearing over the legal horizon as quickly as it appeared.<br />
<br />
This important Seventh Circuit opinion was about a lesbian who claimed she was denied promotions at this Community College due to her sexual orientation. She sought redress through a statue, a law passed by Congress, a monumental and historic law in fact, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It has been made famous for its prohibition of discrimination on the basis of race in employment but also had other prohibitions. This Act made it unlawful for employers subject to the Act to discriminate on the basis of a person’s “race, color, religion, sex, or national origin."<br />
<br />
It was the "sex" part that was at issue. Hively claimed sexual orientation should be included. The problem was the this word has <i>always</i> been understood to mean male or female. It was understood that way in 1964 and still is today. Indeed, a long series of cased upheld this common understanding but that does not stop the modern legal system. The majority would begin with:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The question before us is not whether this court can, or<br />
should, 'amend' Title VII to add a new protected category to<br />
the familiar list of 'race, color, religion, sex, or national<br />
origin'. Obviously that lies beyond our power."</blockquote>
<br />
They would then spend 21 pages utilizing classic legal doublespeak to obfuscate, obscure and ultimately do exactly that.<br />
<br />
None of this, unfortunately, is unusual.<br />
<br />
You have to look to the concurring opinion of Judge Richard Posner before you catch a glimpse of Toto at work.<br />
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<br />
This 78 year old prolific legal writer happens to be long past any illusions of a seat on the Supreme Court. We have all seen the many memes on social media:<br />
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<br />
Posner is a bit tired of the charade and reaches up, pulling the curtain:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
"I join the majority opinion, but I wish to explore<br />
an alternative approach that may be more straightforward...</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I would prefer to see us acknowledge <b>openly</b> that today we, who are judges rather than members of Congress, are imposing on a half-century-old statute a meaning of 'sex discrimination' that the <b>Congress that enacted it would not have accepted</b>. We should not leave the impression that we are merely the obedient servants of the 88th Congress (1963– 965), carrying out their wishes."</blockquote>
This was a brazen admission that the Court was in truth, flat ignoring the Constitutional mandate that it is Congress and not the Court that makes the law:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"<b>All </b>legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives." </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Article I of the US Constitution</blockquote>
The dissent would of course stridently attack this judicial defiance:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Th[is] result is a statutory amendment courtesy of unelected judges. Judge Posner admits this; he embraces and argues for this conception of judicial power. The majority does not, preferring instead to smuggle in the statutory amendment under cover...Either way, the<br />
result is the same: the circumvention of the legislative process by which the people govern themselves. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
When we assume the power to alter the original public meaning of a statute through the process of interpretation, we assume a power that is not ours. The Constitution assigns the power to make and amend statutory law to the elected representatives of the people."</blockquote>
<br />
This Toto's reveal hit the bottom of the news feeds for a few hours and then quietly slipped into the dusty legal blogosphere. <br />
<br />
Whenever the Great and Powerful Oz's finally decide the issue, you can be certain the curtain will be firmly back in place. Whatever the mighty ones decide, there will be no Toto--they might get noticed--so there will only be what Scalia said back in 2011 in <i>MICHIGAN v. BRYANT :</i><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Today’s tale . . . is so transparently false that professing to believe it demeans this institution. In its vain attempt to make the incredible plausible, however – or perhaps as an intended second goal – today’s opinion distorts our...jurisprudence and leaves it in a shambles. Instead of clarifying the law, the Court makes itself the obfuscator of last resort."</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Go - before I lose my temper! The Great and Powerful-- Oz -- has spoken!"</span></blockquote>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290852359697124577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512645659975604519.post-52995087376644148602017-03-18T13:20:00.000-07:002017-03-22T05:21:16.614-07:00Eternity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
"Before the mountains were brought forth,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Even from <b>everlasting to everlasting</b>, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You are God."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-- Psalm 90</div>
<br />
<br />
Whether a theist or an atheist, you cannot escape eternity. When you go back to the beginning of the universe and peer into the deep, humanity is faced with two logical options with time immemorial--eternally existing energy/matter, or an eternally existing intelligence we call God.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
At this point there is no before. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There is only always.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Which of these two is true?</div>
<br />
<br />
As Thomas Jefferson grew gray, he wrote his old friend John Adams and answered that question:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"In every hypothesis of Cosmogony you must admit an eternal pre-existence of something...</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
They [atheists] say then that it is more simple to believe at once in the eternal pre-existence of the world, as it is now going on, and may ever go on by the principle of reproduction which we see and witness, than to believe in the eternal pre-existence of an ulterior cause, or Creator of the world, a being whom we see not, and know not, of whose form substance and mode or place of existence, or of action no sense informs us, no power of the mind enables us to delineate or comprehend.<br />
<br />
On the contrary I hold (without appeal to revelation) that when we take a view of the universe, in its parts general or particular, it is impossible for the human mind not to perceive and feel a conviction of <i>design</i>, consummate skill, and indefinite power in every atom of its composition.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The movements of the heavenly bodies, so exactly held in their course by the balance of centrifugal and centripetal forces, the structure of our earth itself, with its distribution of lands, waters, and atmosphere, animal and vegetable bodies, examined in all their minutest particles, insects mere atoms of life, yet as perfectly organized as man or mammoth, the mineral substances, their generation and uses, it is impossible I say, for the human mind not to believe that there is, in all this, design, cause and effect, up to an ultimate cause, a fabricator of all things from matter and motion, their preserver and regulator while permitted to exist in their present forms, and their regenerator into new and other forms.</blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMBIy8C7PkUl3JdCovL3Oh7XXDn34KqIHoOW7wSOBfeI_9OU3uBJXN2znZs4tsJOMg6tup6kxbTD5EjmNbnYbT_mRjhsuyo2Zq2ekTPYaei2Vr9OO6e9kP7DyY-MGarkyCEkRTR0KAZvT/s1600/jefferson+adams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMBIy8C7PkUl3JdCovL3Oh7XXDn34KqIHoOW7wSOBfeI_9OU3uBJXN2znZs4tsJOMg6tup6kxbTD5EjmNbnYbT_mRjhsuyo2Zq2ekTPYaei2Vr9OO6e9kP7DyY-MGarkyCEkRTR0KAZvT/s1600/jefferson+adams.jpg" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
We see, too, evident proofs of the necessity of a superintending power to maintain the universe in it's course and order. Stars, well known, have disappeared, new ones have come into view, comets, in their incalculable courses, may run foul of suns and planets and require renovation under other laws; certain races of animals are become extinct; and were there is no restoring power, all existences might extinguish successively, one by one, until all should be reduced to a shapeless chaos.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
So irresistible are these evidences of an intelligent and powerful Agent that, of the infinite numbers of men who have existed thro' all time, they have believed, in the proportion of a million at least to [one], in the hypothesis of an eternal pre-existence of a Creator, rather than in that of a self-existent universe."</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Jefferson to Adams April 11, 1823 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
"God has put eternity into man's heart."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
-- Ecclesiastes 3:11<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290852359697124577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512645659975604519.post-73223094793605795142017-02-04T13:25:00.001-08:002017-02-04T13:25:13.690-08:00Sacred<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Set apart. Holy.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Is the United States Constitution sacred? </div>
<br />
In a civil sense, the United States Constitution is indeed sacred. Not because the words are inherently divine, unalterable, and worshipful. Though crafted brilliantly, it was not without fault.<br />
<br />
What makes this document sacred is not its articles and subsequent amendments, but <i>the place of these magnificent words in the minds and hearts of its citizens.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
In the midst of the struggle for independence and in the year that the Colonies would declare their freedom from the Crown, that great wordsmith Thomas Paine expressed what so many felt when he wrote in <i>Common Sense</i>:<br />
<blockquote>
“[that] the world may know, that so far as we approve of monarchy, that in America <b>the law is king</b>. For as in absolute governments the King is law, so in free countries the law ought to be king; and there ought to be no other.”</blockquote>
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<br />
<br />
When the Constitution would be created eleven years later, the framers would include an oath not as it had been with the mother country — “ I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty …” — but instead an oath to our “King”.<br />
<blockquote>
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</blockquote>
This formal acknowledgement that the rule of law was supreme only holds power to the extent that hearts and minds believe, accept,<i> and demand it</i>.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin3wdqgLlpk__xCjN8oqpQt1cYNUtWVg24x5FLY6GkWdb86UT7RgDr_l7lfIhW3mbb0wIXGBCOYJ88Bym-CFqXSb3PdUdfAz0z6qFn_Jgzut3GPJxVWE-6oeL-z-Hik80jpzO3U1fRImZN/s1600/Man+and+constitution.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin3wdqgLlpk__xCjN8oqpQt1cYNUtWVg24x5FLY6GkWdb86UT7RgDr_l7lfIhW3mbb0wIXGBCOYJ88Bym-CFqXSb3PdUdfAz0z6qFn_Jgzut3GPJxVWE-6oeL-z-Hik80jpzO3U1fRImZN/s1600/Man+and+constitution.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
When Scalia was before the Senate seeking confirmation to the highest court he said this, echoing the father of the Constitution, Madison (who said the Constitution was just a parchment barrier):<br />
<blockquote>
“Because the amendments [Bill of Rights], by themselves, do not do anything. The Russian constitution probably has better, or at least as good guarantees of personal freedom as our document does. "</blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsoa-Um1_RxdMiJx9a083L1Kh2F-iWBwd6IoMC9-MRqMO9dyC1ZzbTimNPNrTO4GIUJrxvtm3c8aUzKSFbCsRj4QCQemqodjVY_3iDuOs8Uxw2XkCcQBMG-0xNJbdTKtl4F6QVyjfshEdA/s1600/soviet+abuse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsoa-Um1_RxdMiJx9a083L1Kh2F-iWBwd6IoMC9-MRqMO9dyC1ZzbTimNPNrTO4GIUJrxvtm3c8aUzKSFbCsRj4QCQemqodjVY_3iDuOs8Uxw2XkCcQBMG-0xNJbdTKtl4F6QVyjfshEdA/s1600/soviet+abuse.jpg" /></a><br />
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What is the real difference? why was the Soviet Constitution empty, and the United States Constitution full?<br />
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Americans actually believe and demand they be applied to all from the weakest citizen to the strongest. Though we pursue it imperfectly, it is the rule of law (as ultimately expressed in the Constitution), that we do in fact pursue.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJM44xzfD10p2yl32Fy6ZT75RfNY9YFg7Z8kSh7kq561lm0eymBFCrqtJKSvsbaUw9wSFEYIdz-Q6pYfmiN4q3qXPfm72paEqDrMuKUFwrSsFCrkB5Ye1N-GNWrQu6N1aC9knuRY0x5zdl/s1600/nixon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJM44xzfD10p2yl32Fy6ZT75RfNY9YFg7Z8kSh7kq561lm0eymBFCrqtJKSvsbaUw9wSFEYIdz-Q6pYfmiN4q3qXPfm72paEqDrMuKUFwrSsFCrkB5Ye1N-GNWrQu6N1aC9knuRY0x5zdl/s1600/nixon.jpg" /></a><br />
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So when we have a President who disobeys our law, as Nixon did in the 1970s, "We the people " demand that even the supreme executive must bow the knee to our true king.<br />
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Through so many centuries, kings were held as sacred, holy and ruling by the “grace of God” or by His authority. The true revolution of America 230 years ago was that no, the<b> King</b> was not sacred.<br />
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The rule of law as ultimately expressed in our <b>Constitution</b> was sacred.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91haPw_8m5a3B3Obo7D0njrD_MuxLNTftCD50xuFRrUvYWIysIZ4W2p67Dp-rmPCiW4aRf3tFA00KgF60xPhWYwX7xHlP4PI_yLyaHeWRfPhQcnVeNQApdrJ22QuMl8Ui9vXtTCsfpSiX/s1600/document.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91haPw_8m5a3B3Obo7D0njrD_MuxLNTftCD50xuFRrUvYWIysIZ4W2p67Dp-rmPCiW4aRf3tFA00KgF60xPhWYwX7xHlP4PI_yLyaHeWRfPhQcnVeNQApdrJ22QuMl8Ui9vXtTCsfpSiX/s1600/document.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290852359697124577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512645659975604519.post-44259755909676757882016-10-02T15:25:00.000-07:002016-10-03T18:13:05.182-07:00Seven Sons<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nRsZN62_N-72Dva00mLlceqHoKTeKjKYQU9Ksu4JM08gqKdC3X8n9k1UGPkhKZgiEhNglevzqRJvNGI-f0vPfOGdCrd_P6FtAaPloXOdJhb-FqUN5LVsEspxTDWSQuIbQLuagT8jUFzG/s1600/preacher+in+prayer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nRsZN62_N-72Dva00mLlceqHoKTeKjKYQU9Ksu4JM08gqKdC3X8n9k1UGPkhKZgiEhNglevzqRJvNGI-f0vPfOGdCrd_P6FtAaPloXOdJhb-FqUN5LVsEspxTDWSQuIbQLuagT8jUFzG/s1600/preacher+in+prayer.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">All night I've wrestled Jacob's angels</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And prayed with Matthew, Luke and John</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Struggling to find the words when I face the </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">task that comes at the </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Blood red dawn.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicp7TLrKnlWyDup4dpQJ7qPZEbZDFI4ApY_31hUDaQzH39X4Q6OJ_DCmTnKocQXbJQsJ1i7lSVGxuqa8a4Yaw1IRxEqZgcvcBAvcjHa2HWdCF5q8rlDL4fgPV664e94XLbp_O_wXj3fTfR/s1600/blood+red+dawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicp7TLrKnlWyDup4dpQJ7qPZEbZDFI4ApY_31hUDaQzH39X4Q6OJ_DCmTnKocQXbJQsJ1i7lSVGxuqa8a4Yaw1IRxEqZgcvcBAvcjHa2HWdCF5q8rlDL4fgPV664e94XLbp_O_wXj3fTfR/s1600/blood+red+dawn.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I've buried men before their time</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Of alcohol and blackened lung</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But how to bury seven of these</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Appalachian miners' sons?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUIsfY1gThoRtwia0L55sHaSVQUE_8AglwV5dThmr0328IR7uqCjEQJxPESfNJX0RsOpzyol-36C_CiP92WHjDkCldwFbK-UwfUfkAaxuS3W0Oyxee4Vu-2-pVwckErKT2YKL9h_E3Jm65/s1600/storming+beaches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUIsfY1gThoRtwia0L55sHaSVQUE_8AglwV5dThmr0328IR7uqCjEQJxPESfNJX0RsOpzyol-36C_CiP92WHjDkCldwFbK-UwfUfkAaxuS3W0Oyxee4Vu-2-pVwckErKT2YKL9h_E3Jm65/s1600/storming+beaches.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">They stormed the beaches wave on wave,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">they have sailed home to these rocky graves,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">to family plots that bear their names.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Tomorrow I'll walk up seven hillsides </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Tremble before my flock on seven hillsides</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Seven sorrows, seven sons, seven mothers and every one</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Will turn to me for the word of God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhti9qCpTbHhQq9RJ59MWxgkegsjbiRdW58duPHQGIc6yuKQ_iuVbUs7SYY754ShHtuOIl2jxLfzc0ENMfPDaK6s2Trh-ptf7nbaVJIQDK9QDuK-YJWaeKPcB1zH06e5y7SPuKxACoulnyU/s1600/grief+mother+at+grave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhti9qCpTbHhQq9RJ59MWxgkegsjbiRdW58duPHQGIc6yuKQ_iuVbUs7SYY754ShHtuOIl2jxLfzc0ENMfPDaK6s2Trh-ptf7nbaVJIQDK9QDuK-YJWaeKPcB1zH06e5y7SPuKxACoulnyU/s320/grief+mother+at+grave.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What does this mean?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There I'll stand, good book in hand,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A shepherd to these precious lambs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What will I say?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What can I say?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The time has come to keep the faith</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For others shattered by their loss.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Remind them of the loving God</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Whose son, like theirs, paid the cost</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To save a sad and wicked world</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Through sacrifice, our love is heard.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And I pray that they believe those words.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Tomorrow I'll walk up seven hillsides</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Tremble before my flock on seven hillsides</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Seven sorrows, seven sons, seven mothers and every one</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Will turn to me for the word of God</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What does this mean?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc76Lc6HltxrJg-gB1Wy8u1szQaTyodBZcF5r_hY9vz4-8C9LilusaJBFk_eQVFYAUGUQI9s3LgcYExtHPGNgbmuG2INtA3kUEeSjv2ZLFQGfnrGizHhGuWi6J3jIemV_ilpmvcN6KxmtU/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc76Lc6HltxrJg-gB1Wy8u1szQaTyodBZcF5r_hY9vz4-8C9LilusaJBFk_eQVFYAUGUQI9s3LgcYExtHPGNgbmuG2INtA3kUEeSjv2ZLFQGfnrGizHhGuWi6J3jIemV_ilpmvcN6KxmtU/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Dear God, what does this mean?</span></div>
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Based on lyrics by an unknown sorrow filled author in memory of the 38 West Virginia soldiers who died on D-Day.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Winston Lodge Alexander, McDowell County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">James O Boggess, Kanawha County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">David E. Casto, Nicholas County</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Donald G. Colangelo, Mingo County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Darius W. Crites, Upshur County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Joe DiCiuccio, Raleigh County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Jasper N. Elswick, Roane County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Curtis C. Feathers, Preston County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Jesse M. Hawkins, no home county identified</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Elsworth M. Heck, Cabell County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Martin V. Hughes, Kanawha County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Edward L. Jones, Wood County</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Alva Jackson Night, Braxton County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Eston C. Kuhn, Barbour County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">James D. Lake, Braxton County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Bernard H. Lipscomb, Doddridge County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">John Manfredi, Barbour County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Charles H. Manning, Hancock County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Conrad Cecil Mason, Ohio County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">John Hobert Mathews, Pocahontas County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Charles G. McCalvin, Logan County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Jamie Edgar McComb, Pocahontas County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">John Burk McCue, Monongalia County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Vernon C. McDaniel, Berkeley County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Norman G. Miller, Harrison County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">William L. Mollohan, Jr., Kanawha County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Louis F. Nesci, Mineral County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Shirley J. Phillips, Randolph County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">John Henry Shreves, Harrison County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">William H. Smith, Raleigh County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Floyd Spiker, Preston County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Max L. Stemple, Preston County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Robert Charles Stonebraker, Harrison County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Raymond L. Winebrener, Mason County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Benjamin F. Winn, McDowell County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Benjamin H. Wirtz, Mercer County</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Robert L. Wolverton, Randolph County</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bbaUI7U_1Lge8a1o9eXoQMOVLsAROcKWFO04hw74a5BScHP8mfn0N7q3yacjWmKlHwkn3Uop68r5CJFtpkRIcZBkid4N-_3R7pjKsZlRSret-S9dFgT6yBYotL1TLPT2izG31eKSi-o6/s1600/dead+bodies+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bbaUI7U_1Lge8a1o9eXoQMOVLsAROcKWFO04hw74a5BScHP8mfn0N7q3yacjWmKlHwkn3Uop68r5CJFtpkRIcZBkid4N-_3R7pjKsZlRSret-S9dFgT6yBYotL1TLPT2izG31eKSi-o6/s1600/dead+bodies+beach.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290852359697124577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512645659975604519.post-59088576991847669852016-09-05T08:53:00.000-07:002016-09-05T08:53:39.561-07:00Still Standing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The recent upheaval concerning the professional football player refusing to stand for the national anthem (Colin Kaepernick) got me thinking about patriotism and America. </span><div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zW6BZH9D6fXs-1ApDv6jaVaVKSfRukuHWjWGI6DIiPFI-k2Rz0EtndzV02aXC2QYeQrXBiU4GrnMQqZW66mlS5357gFCUMYAn7RRBb1dsIdKc3CyE7kFRDP5SyMtBeeiw__FocYTkdxn/s1600/Kaepernick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zW6BZH9D6fXs-1ApDv6jaVaVKSfRukuHWjWGI6DIiPFI-k2Rz0EtndzV02aXC2QYeQrXBiU4GrnMQqZW66mlS5357gFCUMYAn7RRBb1dsIdKc3CyE7kFRDP5SyMtBeeiw__FocYTkdxn/s320/Kaepernick.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Symbols often have deep meaning for many people across all walks of life.The American flag and national anthem hold such a position for millions of Americans, myself included. To not stand is to itself symbolically say, "NO". </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not just "no" to particular policies, but really "<b>no" to the country itself</b>. </span><div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The colors in the flag are themselves symbolic. The red is representative of the "hardiness and valor" in the country or - for many - the blood that has been shed to create and preserve the country.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I continue to have significant issues with and concerns about the future of America, but I have always stood in respect for the blood that has been shed so that even people like Mr. Kaepernick are free to disrespect the country. Blood shed like this from people who -interestingly - did it directly or indirectly to free people of color from slavery:<br /><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">“The men rose up and dashed eastward through the open fields and along the railroad cut. Color-Sergeant John Hinchcliff, whom a fellow soldier described as “a Swede, six feet two, fair haired, blue eyed,” offered a conspicuous target as he attempted to escape with the flag. He was struck by several bullets and killed instantly. Sergeant William Wybourn, known as “a brave Irish lad,” rushed back and pulled the blood-soaked standard from underneath Hinchcliff’s lifeless body.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97d7KTbSuiX404pMd5tK3fD1OCFdKkiwZUeYbgmuXSB6XD0xctKVgCL-JJ_v1pnvakq5GZVmYIizuzKe4fhCDVPlVA8W0IfQkKM5oR4OVTdV_Mq0shCh3trIyQPiLvop4uKXQlJSwaRts/s1600/civil+war+flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97d7KTbSuiX404pMd5tK3fD1OCFdKkiwZUeYbgmuXSB6XD0xctKVgCL-JJ_v1pnvakq5GZVmYIizuzKe4fhCDVPlVA8W0IfQkKM5oR4OVTdV_Mq0shCh3trIyQPiLvop4uKXQlJSwaRts/s320/civil+war+flag.jpg" width="239" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">Lieutenant Pierce narrated the remarkable conclusion of the incident: “I climbed up the rocky face of the cut, on the south side, and made my way with many of our men across the meadow between the railroad cut and the Chambersburg Pike, crossed the pike into a small peach orchard, and I overtook the colors in the hands of Sergeant William A. Wybourn. Just as I joined him he received a shot, and fell on the colors as if dead. I tried to remove the colors, but he held to them with true Irish grit. I commanded him to let go, and to my surprise he answered, ‘Hold on, I will be up in a minute,’ rolled over and staggered to his feet and carried them all through the fight, and was commissioned for his courage.”</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Battle of Gettysburg</span><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJefprV4DJYJ7Er0quWXTOqlphqT0sucDWgvPWo3SHFTC-ZWs_XbOpYYEjvkRQgNoSmjdyNMMEt5cCE3ubqdzpzQQUjoSAZ5mAteN8p95R9otVCAfdkxUPvvi4lzGEYGz6l5amJ1eVk93S/s1600/burning+the+flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJefprV4DJYJ7Er0quWXTOqlphqT0sucDWgvPWo3SHFTC-ZWs_XbOpYYEjvkRQgNoSmjdyNMMEt5cCE3ubqdzpzQQUjoSAZ5mAteN8p95R9otVCAfdkxUPvvi4lzGEYGz6l5amJ1eVk93S/s1600/burning+the+flag.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Patriotism, though, is something that has to be voluntary, something that has to be freely expressed and not forced. To force patriotism would be for America to cease to be America. Back in 1989, there was a case that reached the Supreme Court, Texas v Johnson. It was about a state law forbidding the burning of the American flag. The Court ruled this law unconstitutional and said these good words.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">"The way to preserve the flag's special role is not to punish those who feel differently about these matters. It is to persuade them that they are wrong.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"> The remedy to be applied is more speech, not enforced silence.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"> And, precisely because it is our flag that is involved, one's response to the flag-burner may exploit the uniquely persuasive power of the flag itself. We can imagine no more appropriate response to burning a flag than waving one's own, no better way to counter a flag burner's message than by saluting the flag that burns, no surer means of preserving the dignity even of the flag that burned than by -- as one witness here did -- according its remains a respectful burial.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"> We do not consecrate the flag by punishing its desecration, for in doing so we dilute the freedom that this cherished emblem represents."</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />I will stand and be counted among those who still respect the country, </span><span style="font-size: large;">even with all its imperfections.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />I will also stand in defense of Mr. Kaepernick’s right to disrespect the flag and the country it represents and in so doing prove to him that we -and he -<br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
are still free.</div>
</span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSK_W9X2yzgFWDz0wRKjTc5qCYyx7uLTb57hRIxrVyf-7GkLhu8pFAOtHAJ2UqXTM_80s08o1QKTOg0aZ6HoAxd1yKif8nG-gLVdyrtIbipjWYUnCXVWovB_q6QwppbxvdPLdvquX7Yn4/s1600/navy+salute.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSK_W9X2yzgFWDz0wRKjTc5qCYyx7uLTb57hRIxrVyf-7GkLhu8pFAOtHAJ2UqXTM_80s08o1QKTOg0aZ6HoAxd1yKif8nG-gLVdyrtIbipjWYUnCXVWovB_q6QwppbxvdPLdvquX7Yn4/s320/navy+salute.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290852359697124577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512645659975604519.post-18790637484095658702016-08-01T19:27:00.002-07:002016-08-09T04:38:45.024-07:00 Raised Too Right<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Summer 2016</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, it's down to two candidates now. Hillary or Trump. Not a big fan of Trump, but I hate Hillary."</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">As I sat comfortably on the couch listening to my dad, I started to think. My father and I have never shied away from respectful disagreements. I continued the conversation.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisU3gDIGNLlUpSKkLwb4N1A1eOBbmHBtQIJxCO10r8QuRgEwWA3g-L2MNkmjGMspptbjZbY8mKyEx6-cFMZR-y-SW8FB2x4JuBkZ72royouQa_8BQj6z1LutCfPjKwzqTbWNjc18y6YUU/s1600/living+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisU3gDIGNLlUpSKkLwb4N1A1eOBbmHBtQIJxCO10r8QuRgEwWA3g-L2MNkmjGMspptbjZbY8mKyEx6-cFMZR-y-SW8FB2x4JuBkZ72royouQa_8BQj6z1LutCfPjKwzqTbWNjc18y6YUU/s1600/living+room.jpg" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">"I could never vote for her either, but I don't know about Trump, Dad," I said. "He openly advocates for bribery, lies, and treats people despicably. He is a scoundrel and is just plain corrupt."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dad settled into his favorite chair and sighed. "Sometimes you just have to choose the lesser of two evils. Trump is bad, but he is better than Hillary."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">As he continued talking about the evils of Hillary Clinton, I started to stare out the window. My mind wandered back to my childhood...</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Summer 1974</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the floor of our postage sized little house, I was playing with my matchbox cars and building a racetrack for my favorite Porsche to race on. Dad stood up to adjust the rabbit ears on the TV.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_Rss7mdbhT84Nd5NK9OkPfizkNuc9vhs9R7EnnZJIFbHTxIT6FUwU9xDp6MQKeB0pbIzaW1no3CtwYQ1apfH2d-5nrx9gJam7RWEgM0Px5iWumcxu15Aj-YuyFldfoPUYytV1NfwwZVO/s1600/nixon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_Rss7mdbhT84Nd5NK9OkPfizkNuc9vhs9R7EnnZJIFbHTxIT6FUwU9xDp6MQKeB0pbIzaW1no3CtwYQ1apfH2d-5nrx9gJam7RWEgM0Px5iWumcxu15Aj-YuyFldfoPUYytV1NfwwZVO/s1600/nixon.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"It's official. President Nixon has resigned. The Watergate scandal has finally caught up with the President. After his Vice-President resigned last year due to bribery and extortion charges, the extent of the corruption is now complete in the White House..."</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"What a mess," my dad said. " How can we have leaders so crooked? How does this happen?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Summer 1984</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sitting at the dinner table, Mom passes the bowl of fresh green beans over to me as Dad talks about my brother's 'friends'. The horrific accident from the prior year has left him debilitated but still resilient. His largest struggle might be the 'friends' who have been making fun of him lately. My dad has zero tolerance for such people.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbe2ahqPiWAXwYry8A7rcqtyKx6fhGlEXiPw-xdQoEs4qiWZFEbWD1Y7nKGfwrj8i5tbcgIU68cvCewSyekSm0AGjcuxP-yK2oV78VXYOCb45P5PyoiwuEcaRup99u1d8EpuVLkqSYGEG1/s1600/handicapped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbe2ahqPiWAXwYry8A7rcqtyKx6fhGlEXiPw-xdQoEs4qiWZFEbWD1Y7nKGfwrj8i5tbcgIU68cvCewSyekSm0AGjcuxP-yK2oV78VXYOCb45P5PyoiwuEcaRup99u1d8EpuVLkqSYGEG1/s320/handicapped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbe2ahqPiWAXwYry8A7rcqtyKx6fhGlEXiPw-xdQoEs4qiWZFEbWD1Y7nKGfwrj8i5tbcgIU68cvCewSyekSm0AGjcuxP-yK2oV78VXYOCb45P5PyoiwuEcaRup99u1d8EpuVLkqSYGEG1/s1600/handicapped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"You can tell a lot about a person by how he treats people who are handicapped. We don't need those kind of people in our life and anywhere for that matter. </span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They are the true scum of the earth."</span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Fall 1984</span></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrh7IyemhN58NAa_UW1zXxLI-6FVMYplGlrb25k1a1MWqEmf_b_uKotwbbUCIUqEYBtaKPf6mUrasPadlgnpKcY5h_Xx1g4-ZVCYpFyyaxQo_wc45rlptnnzM5_dt1hzai745RLgBa0i3q/s1600/college.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrh7IyemhN58NAa_UW1zXxLI-6FVMYplGlrb25k1a1MWqEmf_b_uKotwbbUCIUqEYBtaKPf6mUrasPadlgnpKcY5h_Xx1g4-ZVCYpFyyaxQo_wc45rlptnnzM5_dt1hzai745RLgBa0i3q/s1600/college.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As my parents are unloading my luggage and getting me settled into my dorm room at a conservative university, I can tell Dad is wanting to sit down and talk. I stop moving and sit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"I know this school is strict. They are that way for a reason, though. We have talked about the evils of the modern world, what with moral relativism so big. 'It all depends on the situation,' they say. 'Sometimes you have to do the wrong thing if the situation calls for it.' Don't believe it. Don't sacrifice your conscience for such nonsense. I am just a simple man, but I know the truth. These people will help you understand these things even better."</span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Spring 1987</span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Do right! Even if the stars fall, do right!"</span></div>
</blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The words of the university's founder ring out loudly through the auditorium.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5iyWbWV8Ue8CZVZlh3wZFjcQkh5TI1RwVGMrHdNxXAdWhYitzg1UyFO8ZVQtIy5-SLP9jpmDCT59U4LkUD-mtGrA5Syyq6YMGz0yM0ysXJfXWM5TyicsbC5_q5Asn5lfJAalZ1Y1CHHz/s1600/BJU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5iyWbWV8Ue8CZVZlh3wZFjcQkh5TI1RwVGMrHdNxXAdWhYitzg1UyFO8ZVQtIy5-SLP9jpmDCT59U4LkUD-mtGrA5Syyq6YMGz0yM0ysXJfXWM5TyicsbC5_q5Asn5lfJAalZ1Y1CHHz/s320/BJU.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The speaker is playing an old recording of his famous sayings. He continues with another old recording.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"It is never right to do wrong, even to get a chance to do right!" </span></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Fall 1998</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"I can't believe it." my dad growled as we sat around the living room over Thanksgiving watching the Detroit Lions play again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDWEHksMPOSyXuSOzQiLHFkLB7SxdakG7Jgi10ncEp4YkPy1XZTmIJLv1W84ygY0B04HBJZPrNUdFQ8JF-UVJy0txXV_DpDMD9TG4TKlChPyCNsraquF02ZR3wWPzGU5ZN0-bqdtWimHO/s1600/clinton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDWEHksMPOSyXuSOzQiLHFkLB7SxdakG7Jgi10ncEp4YkPy1XZTmIJLv1W84ygY0B04HBJZPrNUdFQ8JF-UVJy0txXV_DpDMD9TG4TKlChPyCNsraquF02ZR3wWPzGU5ZN0-bqdtWimHO/s1600/clinton.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> "I cannot believe how the country just ignores this whole Lewinsky affair. The man cheats on his wife--in the White House no less-- lies about it, and the country lets him off the hook. Doesn't anybody care any more? What has happened to the morals of this country?! If a man cheats on his wife and lies, what do you think he will do with the country?"</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Christians care," I said.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> "Yeah, but that's it." he quickly countered. "If we stop caring, there will be nothing left to stop the devil."</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Summer 2016</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Aren't you listening?" my dad snaps me back to the present.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjsLfaOSeM0IDYIZ_Ef62QiSFP-_TP9FbGW0KowjeTyZQw8sFBxvZe_UvE64NYC4OprkM6JufXagi54JkGNfbshmU5O89mxoA5_OA963YPk05Qx-q5IbFLUrXlYdSrKPU4ZdYfcWzK96I/s1600/Dad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjsLfaOSeM0IDYIZ_Ef62QiSFP-_TP9FbGW0KowjeTyZQw8sFBxvZe_UvE64NYC4OprkM6JufXagi54JkGNfbshmU5O89mxoA5_OA963YPk05Qx-q5IbFLUrXlYdSrKPU4ZdYfcWzK96I/s1600/Dad.jpg" /></span></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">"I'm sorry," I muttered. "I just don't think I can vote for Trump."</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"What? You have to."</span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">"I respect your judgment more than anything, but I just can't."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Grimacing with disappointment, he said,</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">"Did I somehow raise you wrong?"</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">I dropped my head thinking,</span></div>
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<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">No, Dad. You raised me too right...</span></i></div>
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"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."</div>
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Proverbs 22:6</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290852359697124577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512645659975604519.post-91412257454357414512016-07-12T18:11:00.000-07:002016-07-12T18:11:00.979-07:00The Court of Public Opinion<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just how damaging will be the recent email scandal on Hillary Clinton?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmHQkXQkPxHCdlGQx6F2dmJXW6g_WlrpX625haGi5YeK700LaDbHRvZBZK1idVET08Lj1YJWy8MNlPg0bA_21KS0FwuVEUPDHt_kMUlpsmlVAvhPtvqV0WGJOgQ45dxk7J4oBYizGIbpJ2/s1600/clinton.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmHQkXQkPxHCdlGQx6F2dmJXW6g_WlrpX625haGi5YeK700LaDbHRvZBZK1idVET08Lj1YJWy8MNlPg0bA_21KS0FwuVEUPDHt_kMUlpsmlVAvhPtvqV0WGJOgQ45dxk7J4oBYizGIbpJ2/s1600/clinton.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sadly, not likely to be very damaging.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />The degradation of the bedrock principle of the rule of law first caught my ire in this situation, but upon reflection something deeper troubles me more.<br /><br /><br />What troubles me more than the court of law is the court of public opinion. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">FBI Director Comey was presented with a situation in which he could go forward and recommend prosecution (he had strong evidence) but he did not have a bullet proof case. When dealing with high public officials bringing a charge itself would be fatal. By the time the case would run its course, even if not convicted, the candidate would have been destroyed.<br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So what to do? </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVks5v1Zu-uV3z1T5G8w_oSNLikFKAObc6zXRADky3Rk3cYJvEyefqA1gKw_xN-Jve_dkNBDR1FH6-FvCc9xM4A7CmfGLhV93_0jtms5Pko2x74ml3_EXrweobD0iQ1nUXjpWrrYdEw2h/s1600/comey.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVks5v1Zu-uV3z1T5G8w_oSNLikFKAObc6zXRADky3Rk3cYJvEyefqA1gKw_xN-Jve_dkNBDR1FH6-FvCc9xM4A7CmfGLhV93_0jtms5Pko2x74ml3_EXrweobD0iQ1nUXjpWrrYdEw2h/s1600/comey.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">He could have given the Department of Justice the information and they no doubt would have issued a statement making Clinton look like a falsely accused martyr.<br /><br /><br />No, instead, he quietly and with no advance notice issued the public statement himself. He listed in damning detail the failures of Clinton while noting he did not have the air tight case needed to recommend prosecution.<br /><br /><br />When Congress erupted in anger and demanded explanations, he promptly appeared the next day and directly answered pointed questions with pointed answers showing to the entire American public the liar and low character person Hillary Clinton is. The firebrand US Representative from South Carolina, Trey Gowdy, provided the pointed questions:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Gowdy: Secretary Clinton said she never sent or received any classified information over her private e-mail, was that true?</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Comey: Our investigation found that there was classified information sent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Gowdy: Secretary Clinton said there was nothing marked classified on her e-mails sent or received. Was that true?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Comey: That's not true. There were a small number of portion markings on I think three of the documents.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Gowdy: Secretary Clinton said "I did not e-mail any classified information to anyone on my e-mail there was no classified material." That is true?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Comey: There was classified information emailed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Gowdy: Secretary Clinton used one device, was that true?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Comey: She used multiple devices during the four years of her term as Secretary of State.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Gowdy: Secretary Clinton said all work related emails were returned to the State Department. Was that true?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Comey: No. We found work related email, thousands, that were not returned.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Knowing he could not proceed in a court of law he proceeded to the Court of public opinion.<br /><br /><br />Better to note publicly the failures of the official (as he did) and the public surely will in turn seek out an official with higher personal character.<br /><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The problem is that many Americans simply do not care.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozOnJPQhQXcxwxWRXTuMoS77sujHXY5z0VN5_c-518xEao91I5SLy-Zl7X2lSXDGeJKr6xOk6MP6-jahnx8BFDcJ9oXxP0TE6LqSvlj8QD6F5NUAWXkcFWswh6Fj_0isL4nW1Gjo9IrjN/s1600/protest+ag+trump.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozOnJPQhQXcxwxWRXTuMoS77sujHXY5z0VN5_c-518xEao91I5SLy-Zl7X2lSXDGeJKr6xOk6MP6-jahnx8BFDcJ9oXxP0TE6LqSvlj8QD6F5NUAWXkcFWswh6Fj_0isL4nW1Gjo9IrjN/s1600/protest+ag+trump.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Democrats are so committed to the implementation of their desired policies, so committed to the defeat of Donald Trump that they will elect with open eyes a candidate with low personal character. <br /><br /><br />But before any Republicans can puff out their moral chests and pound it with pharisee-like arrogance, consider:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Which candidate with low personal character are you so committed to that you likewise simply do not care?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3j0SpWuk0xkJL3Wpcs3X0gmbSPO8J0yn9GdHcRoEbX7UwsXIRGPmKs0W9giIiA1DXHalW3E8uU3yTkHwBK3LX9nnbvYxuFZGVv1oEhJh4egb1-pLEiwYbdm9bLtmfCdmNJBmf_m9fGNQJ/s1600/trump.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3j0SpWuk0xkJL3Wpcs3X0gmbSPO8J0yn9GdHcRoEbX7UwsXIRGPmKs0W9giIiA1DXHalW3E8uU3yTkHwBK3LX9nnbvYxuFZGVv1oEhJh4egb1-pLEiwYbdm9bLtmfCdmNJBmf_m9fGNQJ/s1600/trump.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Where stands the soul of America?</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their [government]. If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the [government]…. If the next centennial does not find us a great nation … it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.”</span><br />
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James Garfield</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290852359697124577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512645659975604519.post-22320158713729528842016-05-30T12:17:00.000-07:002016-05-30T12:17:09.174-07:00The Sound of Silence<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_8N7VnX8DlD7AKIXxIIBtqRyeFPDOyFMRgutQLJOZ1FqZ9FSc4Zzl8SivaWd5UPuDqw8iDamxm3NVbnLENyqcke2N2CYAQkA6TFAkmWXqZkCbQJNSVcGO7fbZiPZLiaUhlYaOhUJ0pAL/s1600/mustang+tailpipes.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_8N7VnX8DlD7AKIXxIIBtqRyeFPDOyFMRgutQLJOZ1FqZ9FSc4Zzl8SivaWd5UPuDqw8iDamxm3NVbnLENyqcke2N2CYAQkA6TFAkmWXqZkCbQJNSVcGO7fbZiPZLiaUhlYaOhUJ0pAL/s1600/mustang+tailpipes.jpg" /></a><div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Whether it is the deep growl of my old 302,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ch23j" data-offset-key="c086b-0-0">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SqsZRXB0viYNEq0spwwX6ormTcwNMCnspdNFG6qx4fr1SxJcjkVykchuiH8fPQUbz3Fll4I2BmORa7zmgS67_0hfk9Px_vkUNWt8wokaRjcvRzUH4OQPSQVq43c4kgGZPfCwjot0yhul/s1600/thunder.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SqsZRXB0viYNEq0spwwX6ormTcwNMCnspdNFG6qx4fr1SxJcjkVykchuiH8fPQUbz3Fll4I2BmORa7zmgS67_0hfk9Px_vkUNWt8wokaRjcvRzUH4OQPSQVq43c4kgGZPfCwjot0yhul/s1600/thunder.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">the rolling roar of a dark summer sky,</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9pVSGamBjletvlRke8a00Yh3LF45KrTzLybRW5Gyles4zJ_lVU35VJLRqgZ9aMyUvk6DuOBwhZewTYojXWPgbxKaGZ8-3TygKShpvNLbMH0EUmvQCdPhi2nU9-mspLri4aEd86Oy0IB-/s1600/downhill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9pVSGamBjletvlRke8a00Yh3LF45KrTzLybRW5Gyles4zJ_lVU35VJLRqgZ9aMyUvk6DuOBwhZewTYojXWPgbxKaGZ8-3TygKShpvNLbMH0EUmvQCdPhi2nU9-mspLri4aEd86Oy0IB-/s1600/downhill.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c086b-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
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or the wind whipping through my hair as I ride down a long hill,</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I enjoy so much of this life.</span></div>
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When the pleasures and thrills roll to a quiet stop in the still of the night, I find myself at peace and yet somehow uneasy with the sound of silence. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Slow at first, gradually increasing in intensity, the empty void becomes deafening. As I unconsciously rise, I find myself gazing into the immense starry sky.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So scanty my pleasures, so small my life, so short my existence.</span></div>
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Why am I reaching to the sky?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivY6Gcmfgmjwdx35pS00WUJ8MQJiCa-FYwE9KWbbqcRtdKQNgOpw8Nw9lqH-GJlgMZD3Jn4FPpblHHwh98wmcr9vVbpKzhL9QNRrOCjhZMIUoU7sC6dgHxrRw_u7rM4SvwW-aUtKoIXwwF/s1600/reaching+into+the+sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivY6Gcmfgmjwdx35pS00WUJ8MQJiCa-FYwE9KWbbqcRtdKQNgOpw8Nw9lqH-GJlgMZD3Jn4FPpblHHwh98wmcr9vVbpKzhL9QNRrOCjhZMIUoU7sC6dgHxrRw_u7rM4SvwW-aUtKoIXwwF/s320/reaching+into+the+sky.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">C.S. Lewis</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290852359697124577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512645659975604519.post-29783550319090829682016-05-15T13:47:00.000-07:002016-05-15T13:47:51.833-07:00The Flip Side of the Coin<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Back in 1993, the Trump Plaza hotel and casino were looking to expand. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrk39UK4OORgrw-2NgQGcqFekfhzdY5Ovypvi99iT_xHrTFh_KVf6yGka3allQvJBELfBJ1UUJzsIIszSyw6q-DKVNvqS1WdmB_S_bguW0aqikT7muBTqzaHtMToJ8zVVpYa9AqArOSsc/s1600/plaza+hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrk39UK4OORgrw-2NgQGcqFekfhzdY5Ovypvi99iT_xHrTFh_KVf6yGka3allQvJBELfBJ1UUJzsIIszSyw6q-DKVNvqS1WdmB_S_bguW0aqikT7muBTqzaHtMToJ8zVVpYa9AqArOSsc/s1600/plaza+hotel.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just a little.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just a small limousine parking lot. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the process of buying several nearby properties, they encountered a problem. Three nearby owners, including an elderly widow named Ms. Coking, refused to sell. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">No matter how much he offered, she was not interested. Ms. Coking had lived there for decades and the property held sentimental value to her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> No deal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_OlJ2ZbFxAkXZ4Z07H8HXwS5rty5AGswDx3TVE2ZKgNqE3mCq42iLrQbECj95n9NoBReWz_SUpYP4Cs9MVmV9SKC96WzlL4gutQh49JIv5oYrDEN91zqQgGmLYH36odcC3eCJbzG3626/s1600/coking+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_OlJ2ZbFxAkXZ4Z07H8HXwS5rty5AGswDx3TVE2ZKgNqE3mCq42iLrQbECj95n9NoBReWz_SUpYP4Cs9MVmV9SKC96WzlL4gutQh49JIv5oYrDEN91zqQgGmLYH36odcC3eCJbzG3626/s1600/coking+house.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Donald Trump, it has been said, does not take no for an answer. If someone or something is in his way, if the widow would not sell, he would force her. He turned to a government agency and was interestingly able to persuade them to use eminent domain to take it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Eminent domain allows for governments to take private property and use it for necessary public use. Roads, hospitals, bridges, etc. Private property was considered sacred by the Founders, so they mandated (Fifth Amendment) it <i>must</i> <i>only</i> be taken for public use. One might be hard pressed to explain how a limousine parking lot for a casino could be considered public use but the Constitution is not something of great concern to Donald Trump.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBd56KlOhlb3HoWASySUCSJuIMj6F9xOfaP2DyQTBwidsnOMiDgK7c5HtAR1uwhpTDH8X4sjSXvDGhH82lwulu4Qq5CJBz3wj1jnMaXhPVNZuFL70iIsP-_psqCdqjo_4xM-z671fk0E_Y/s1600/eminent+domain+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBd56KlOhlb3HoWASySUCSJuIMj6F9xOfaP2DyQTBwidsnOMiDgK7c5HtAR1uwhpTDH8X4sjSXvDGhH82lwulu4Qq5CJBz3wj1jnMaXhPVNZuFL70iIsP-_psqCdqjo_4xM-z671fk0E_Y/s1600/eminent+domain+pic.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">While his efforts against the old widow would ultimately be stymied by the Courts, he had demonstrated a willingness to use <i>any means</i> to achieve his goals.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">How could he persuade a government official to use eminent domain to get him a limousine parking lot? Years later when running for President, he would be accused of "buying" or bribing government officials. Remarkably, he would brazenly admit to it. With pride.</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2P7WK1HG2oA/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2P7WK1HG2oA?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Many of his supporters have considered the open bribery he has employed as irrelevant since after all he was doing the bribing and was not the one being bribed. <i>Two sides of the same coin</i> as it were, but unlike the politicians, he only operated on the one side of the bribery coin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">He was self-funded. Invulnerable!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">He would, in fact, make this a staple of his stump speech.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For example, in January in South Carolina while campaigning he said this:</span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">"What’s happened is all of this money is being given to them [government officials] by special interests, by all of these people, including lobbyists, and these lobbyists make our leaders do — our leaders, can you believe our leaders? This is what — but <b>they make the leaders of our country do things that they don’t even want to do</b> because they’ve given them tens and tens and tens of millions of dollars."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">The day after effectively winning the nomination for the Republican party on May 3, he suddenly discovered he would need more money in the general election than even he had. As a result, he announced he would begin to solicit funds for his general election campaign.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">No longer self-funded.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">He would instead begin the process of asking for money on a large scale. He would have to begin opening his extensive Rolodex and start making those phone calls asking for large contributions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Quietly, with downplayed fanfare, the bribery coin had been flipped over. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLDO45urr2yCOY9ooql0Mw-rUeJ0aOsKAjVU3j3TMXmCFafQ1iXajop9zVJaBj26UR3cZXsvt9F3-1an2nIPJ4go7HZ13mEltArKbb1pjBOCAYXFW-QhzkiRo8r9Y9RyijPB9J81YvHCL/s1600/coin+flipping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLDO45urr2yCOY9ooql0Mw-rUeJ0aOsKAjVU3j3TMXmCFafQ1iXajop9zVJaBj26UR3cZXsvt9F3-1an2nIPJ4go7HZ13mEltArKbb1pjBOCAYXFW-QhzkiRo8r9Y9RyijPB9J81YvHCL/s1600/coin+flipping.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not to fear --- we all know Donald Trump is a man of high character. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We all know <i>he</i> could never be bought.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, <b>Bribery</b>, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">US Constitution Article II section 4</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290852359697124577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512645659975604519.post-2113650576603657912016-04-23T19:48:00.000-07:002016-04-23T19:48:10.906-07:00Standing Man<br />
<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">"This is a notorious case, with a notorious defendant. Yet we must take care to enforce the Constitution without regard to the nature of the crime or the nature of the criminal. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Fourth Amendment protects 'the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures.'</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> This right is a basic one of <b>all the people</b>, without exception; the Amendment's protection is thus made effective for everyone only by upholding it when invoked by the worst of men." </span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Abel v United States</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: helvetica neue, verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">The quote above is from a case in 1960 dramatized in the award winning film </span></span><i style="line-height: 24px;">Bridge of Spies</i><span style="font-family: helvetica neue, verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">. In this true to life film, attorney James Donovan defends a notorious foreign spy, Rudolph Abel.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5p3owZL_IQHgchjtWnJt5kswk0RPmdkEAUTSWNhaJLUuI6WZ6VungC8h7clg3fVXYJP6Y_Uf_ybLeexcUiiVfiyJwP4WZbf_lyvcjlWjY-vWXKmi5hHC6UJM6RHDx8PKkLGhOfRSN15cr/s1600/Abel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5p3owZL_IQHgchjtWnJt5kswk0RPmdkEAUTSWNhaJLUuI6WZ6VungC8h7clg3fVXYJP6Y_Uf_ybLeexcUiiVfiyJwP4WZbf_lyvcjlWjY-vWXKmi5hHC6UJM6RHDx8PKkLGhOfRSN15cr/s320/Abel.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px;"> Abel is caught virtually red-handed but also with methods that do not meet the standards of 4th amendment protections. Donovan is given the unenviable task of having to defend him. Donovan, a true patriot (having fought in World War II), understands that to truly protect America in the long run from tyranny, we must not abandon our principles even with the "worst of men". He understands that even a Communist spy has rights. This -- our principles -- is who we as Americans really are.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Many of the amendments included in the Bill of Rights were</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">viewed by the Framers of the Constitution as inalienable or rights inherent in all men -- not just citizens. These were things all humans should possess. At times in the history of the United States, we have not treated these inalienable rights as such but there always seems to be at least a few men who are willing to stand up for these natural rights even at great cost. Even if knocked down, they stand again, refusing to yield to even a hint of tyranny. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This relentless lawyer James Donovan would get shot at, threatened even by police and the CIA but would take the struggle all the way to the Supreme Court, arguing before them as dramatized in the film:</span><br /><br /><br /><br />"I<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"> know this man. [Russian spy Abel]</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">If the charge is </span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">true, he serves a foreign power --</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">but he serves it faithfully. If he</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">is a soldier in the opposing army --</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">he is a good soldier. He has not</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">fled the battle to save himself; he</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">has refused to serve his captor, he</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">refused to betray his cause, he has</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">refused to take the coward’s way</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">out. The coward must abandon his</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">dignity before he abandons the field</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">of battle. That, Rudolf Abel will</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">never do. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Shouldn’t we, by giving</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">him the full benefit of the rights</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">that define our system of</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">governance, show this man who we</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">are? <b>Who we are: is that not the</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><b>greatest weapon we have in this Cold</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><b>War? Will we stand by our cause</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><b>less resolutely than he stands by</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><b>his?"</b></span></span></div>
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Through the course of this fight, spy Abel grew to appreciate the kindness and steadfast commitment to the American principles Donovan showed. He recognized him for what he was. He called it in Russian "Stoikey Muzhik".</div>
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Standing man.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">At the end of the film, Donovan is standing on a bridge about to exchange Abel for an American held in Russian custody. Donovan was trying to also gain the release of a young American held in East German custody but time had run out and the CIA handlers insisted Abel cross. In the confusing conversational melee, Abel perceived that Donovan was fighting for another man.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDSlPP0EL3bnvuZJWMs_EfdfU4sd4PcQ0npxdiGJoYGtoxQifSfH80Vdykr3JZYapwJZDKfnPcZvXFgzIs9ig_6Snt6FOqtAVFvWmkyBVHhJjjirplkaoaGwHGCo856YWbKAJwzubgwrl/s1600/BridgeOfSpies_glienicke-bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDSlPP0EL3bnvuZJWMs_EfdfU4sd4PcQ0npxdiGJoYGtoxQifSfH80Vdykr3JZYapwJZDKfnPcZvXFgzIs9ig_6Snt6FOqtAVFvWmkyBVHhJjjirplkaoaGwHGCo856YWbKAJwzubgwrl/s320/BridgeOfSpies_glienicke-bridge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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"<span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">We’re waiting for another man?" Abel said as he looked at Donovan. CIA agent Hoffman replied, "</span><span style="font-family: helvetica neue, verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Doesn’t matter what he wants, sir, </span></span><span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">I’m in charge and you are free to </span><span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">go. Please go. Walk across."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">Looking at Donovan, Abel simply said, "</span><span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">Stoikey Muzhik."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>"<span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">I can wait." Abel then said. Only after the East Germans released the other man did Abel cross.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">On the plane ride back home, Donovan opened a gift Abel had left for him. It was a portrait of Donovan drawn by Abel while in prison.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwlWgwL0SqcYgiftMvygmDa6ox9HQ9saEyk-4Mt95DlGMmeGeDhqdON903RkCNhgJZVMJdNxqqqcSicM9Vbcj7ujwtdiwOg_GvTe-iLW1R-BaN8Mbj4IAI1J7kNdr5_r358UflbkTdR0e/s1600/Donovan+portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwlWgwL0SqcYgiftMvygmDa6ox9HQ9saEyk-4Mt95DlGMmeGeDhqdON903RkCNhgJZVMJdNxqqqcSicM9Vbcj7ujwtdiwOg_GvTe-iLW1R-BaN8Mbj4IAI1J7kNdr5_r358UflbkTdR0e/s1600/Donovan+portrait.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Respect for men of character knows no borders.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Respect for standing men.</span></span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">"Though a righteous man falls seven times, he will stand up."</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;">Proverbs 24:16</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290852359697124577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512645659975604519.post-55698364757626235222016-03-10T14:41:00.000-08:002016-03-10T14:41:08.416-08:00What Makes America Great?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I sat watching the Republican debate on March 3, I was
astounded to hear Donald Trump openly advocating, on a full national platform, for direct torture. When questioned about the possibility of subordinates rejecting
the order, he said:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">“They won’t refuse, they’re not going to refuse me, believe
me. If I say do it, they’re going to do it. That’s what leadership is all
about.”</span></blockquote>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHSn9C7L7WfD12i_7qzVY7Kd72k3bEBXqWsMtIJNv6AuHeonl0XkrEHmKD7EIOeWOIIoKEVBnhf_DRGLIhUkucsX_jdNobpKJRDxmo1aJghpBp3UIDhfSo4a8z3TFzrdE92iIcbh1uucI/s1600/trump+at+debate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHSn9C7L7WfD12i_7qzVY7Kd72k3bEBXqWsMtIJNv6AuHeonl0XkrEHmKD7EIOeWOIIoKEVBnhf_DRGLIhUkucsX_jdNobpKJRDxmo1aJghpBp3UIDhfSo4a8z3TFzrdE92iIcbh1uucI/s1600/trump+at+debate.jpg" /></a></div>
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ed </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I knew that torture was against international law, against
United States law, and against United States military code. To hear a candidate openly
calling for the <i>breaking of law </i>was
shocking to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Is this what “making America great again” is all about? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">What is the answer to the question? What does make America
great?</span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The answer became clearer a few days later when, in response
to Trump, a retired general publicly said this:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRP8fnYzhXcEYCmRFhSMEG2DMXqQGuoX04NnC6G0ipGxIel_oBfEMItF_X5s2rlCCSRBHsl1mpL6A32JThV-PjYy1LqrMwaRW3C5Sv0LJLjj0V7xxN9okAhQEpL3r2Kb_6su8fq6QMojEO/s1600/Hertling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRP8fnYzhXcEYCmRFhSMEG2DMXqQGuoX04NnC6G0ipGxIel_oBfEMItF_X5s2rlCCSRBHsl1mpL6A32JThV-PjYy1LqrMwaRW3C5Sv0LJLjj0V7xxN9okAhQEpL3r2Kb_6su8fq6QMojEO/s1600/Hertling.jpg" /></a></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">“Somebody needs to remind Mr. Trump that the military is not
his palace guards. </span><span style="font-size: large;">We do not do this,” </span><span style="font-size: large;">retired general Hertling said. “They take an oath to defend
the Constitution of the United States against all enemies -- foreign </span><span style="font-size: large;">and domestic</span><span style="font-size: large;">.</span><span style="font-size: large;">”</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">He was supported in a public statement by over a hundred national
security leaders in which they said they would not obey that order. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Trump </span><span style="font-size: large;">backed down.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3k6W-AvCWqhDxMAnqMYeufwV68PhGAc_mpPgU-p6TYHaYBh387_Xil03TfKo5jxI74XH4tG86_IBkiRLFpsn6n3V9lPEMuuBSddFAwtf8tADvHYXVTVCMouLIf4HPLhfO7J3Ggzf3caOT/s1600/constitution.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3k6W-AvCWqhDxMAnqMYeufwV68PhGAc_mpPgU-p6TYHaYBh387_Xil03TfKo5jxI74XH4tG86_IBkiRLFpsn6n3V9lPEMuuBSddFAwtf8tADvHYXVTVCMouLIf4HPLhfO7J3Ggzf3caOT/s1600/constitution.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Here were Americans reminding Trump, and really all of
America, that we are not a country ruled by a man. We are ruled by a
Constitution. We do not swear allegiance to a man. We raise our right hand and take
an oath to the Law. The Founders, in framing the new America and in coming out
from under the tyranny of King George, split the power apart in a brilliant
system designed with the purpose of never again coming under the rule of a
tyrant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Following the rule of law and not the rule of man is surely
a necessary thing, but I knew this could not be the final answer. I knew from
history and humanity that power was intoxicating and, given opportunity, leaders
would simply not follow the rule of law. It is not enough. If Trump were to
become president and surround himself with similar minded, power hungry men, what would become of the law?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I remember a previous president and his right hand<b> </b>man:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">Early in the morning of June 17, 1972, several burglars were
arrested inside the office of the Democratic National Committee, located
in the Watergate building in Washington, D.C. This was no ordinary robbery
though: The prowlers were connected to President Richard Nixon’s reelection
campaign, and they had been caught while attempting to wiretap phones and steal
secret documents. Nixon, in a brazen violation of the law, was trying to secure
his reelection. One illegal act was followed by numerous illegal acts in an
attempt to cover it up. He raised “hush
money” for the burglars, tried to stop the Federal Bureau of Investigation from investigating the crime, destroyed evidence and fired uncooperative
staff members who would not go along with his illegalities.</span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOpGoy673I_7_BcrStGK2Qq91Bit75snj8mFcb7gkfc3ldHNm19ye21KXUSn5GkJaa_0odyh6D3vVc2uk6cJIu-bFwdWL9ujFLt5e9YjicVwUHp3Q_T7KBQUYv9XSbASs9G1M6_unSel5/s1600/nixon+colson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOpGoy673I_7_BcrStGK2Qq91Bit75snj8mFcb7gkfc3ldHNm19ye21KXUSn5GkJaa_0odyh6D3vVc2uk6cJIu-bFwdWL9ujFLt5e9YjicVwUHp3Q_T7KBQUYv9XSbASs9G1M6_unSel5/s1600/nixon+colson.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">There was one staff
member, though, who was solidly behind the president -- Charles Colson. Colson, a
former Marine and self-described “flag-waving American”, loved his country.
Though trained in the law, he would do everything in his power to break it in
order to help Richard Nixon. He knew Nixon <i>needed</i> to be reelected. The
ultra-liberal Democrat George McGovern had to be stopped. Ultimately, when it
all came crashing down he would be sent to jail for obstruction of justice.</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Here was a president and some of his staff who were
convinced they<i> knew</i> what the right result was and were going to
get it done <i>no matter the means</i>. The law was not sufficient.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I remembered a different story from 2004 in which a man was
confronted with the same choice:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Do I follow the rule of law or do I follow the
rule of men?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">In 2004 when James Comey was deputy attorney general, he was asked to reauthorize a package of top secret, warrantless surveillance targeting foreign terrorists. But Comey believed significant aspects of the massive program were not lawful. He refused to sign.</span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1E8zv9DJa3Ecp8V9qIijTpeO1-PIUESbUNkk2oiohabN2Q_Bt0eqhncyka4Et92H36onP0GXo-cGm5pH6P6eR5PBVfCN8KH9tMTuEcPgESYIMyXBtNYvx0PuMninQ-Tv23rTym79aNEQu/s1600/comey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1E8zv9DJa3Ecp8V9qIijTpeO1-PIUESbUNkk2oiohabN2Q_Bt0eqhncyka4Et92H36onP0GXo-cGm5pH6P6eR5PBVfCN8KH9tMTuEcPgESYIMyXBtNYvx0PuMninQ-Tv23rTym79aNEQu/s1600/comey.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">At the time, Comey was in charge at the Justice Department because Attorney General John Ashcroft was in intensive care with near fatal pancreatitis. When Comey refused to sign off, the president's Chief of Staff Andy Card headed to the hospital to get Ashcroft's approval.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">Comey jumped in his car and raced to the hospital to prevent this from happening. He managed to get there first, and attempted to explain to Ashcroft but he was too disoriented from his illness, so Comey waited.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHk5iNeSnjI0-zTBQROUlL2TiBaOdqNNRsR9OdOjzk70GiDsS59Ux3lXH5VNHhZFzyw17M3OGbhhGicmF16hz3brP2aAIQIysgqUt0870mRyYbt6Ybb6uR4pruZlF7SOw1on7y-Ox7Nzaq/s1600/ashcroft+gonzales.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHk5iNeSnjI0-zTBQROUlL2TiBaOdqNNRsR9OdOjzk70GiDsS59Ux3lXH5VNHhZFzyw17M3OGbhhGicmF16hz3brP2aAIQIysgqUt0870mRyYbt6Ybb6uR4pruZlF7SOw1on7y-Ox7Nzaq/s1600/ashcroft+gonzales.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">In walked Andy Card and White House Counsel Gonzales. They spoke to Attorney </span><span style="font-size: large;">General Ashcroft and said, in very strong terms, that the program should be reauthorized. Ashcroft surprised Comey when he pushed himself up on his elbows and said, "But that doesn't matter because I'm not the attorney general." He turned to Comey and pointed weakly. "There's the attorney general." Then Ashcroft fell back, and the others had no choice but to turn and leave. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">The next day, some in the White House tried to force the authorization through a different way. So, Comey wrote a letter of resignation to the president, calling the situation "apocalyptic" and "fundamentally wrong." He left the letter on his desk as he and FBI Director Robert Mueller went to the White House to resign.</span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPvFp7mY9_NeqYgwvDdf-bmlGExaaWwnjn2hSkKmAXN7BL-L95pqtsHmHqAUmhUuHUKc-rlZX52JQH6GiPpVYLQ-IzZa5jLpqpFivMRyxlxjUm2S_ny5LJd-sjdAdXNtKR6F3SRz2aJWP/s1600/resign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPvFp7mY9_NeqYgwvDdf-bmlGExaaWwnjn2hSkKmAXN7BL-L95pqtsHmHqAUmhUuHUKc-rlZX52JQH6GiPpVYLQ-IzZa5jLpqpFivMRyxlxjUm2S_ny5LJd-sjdAdXNtKR6F3SRz2aJWP/s1600/resign.jpg" /></a></div>
</blockquote>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">As they looked out at the Rose Garden, waiting to meet the president, they both fully expected that this was the termination of their government careers. </span><span style="font-size: large;">In the end, however, President Bush was persuaded not to implement the unconstitutional changes.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">Comey was asked about this episode later in an interview.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">Interviewer: Wasn't it your responsibility to support the president?</span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">James Comey: No. No, it was my responsibility. I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.</span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">Interviewer: Help me understand the principle at stake here that caused you to write a letter of resignation, to rush to the attorney general's bedside, to tell the president that he couldn't have what he wanted, and to face down the president's chief of staff. What was it that motivated that?</span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">James Comey: The rule of law. Simple as that.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What was the difference between Colson and Comey? What would
compel the one to follow the Constitution and the other to pursue power
instead? </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0h7SGdZHmi_lqJ0fBwtxm6ogNOt6LXEk0x11sPoNWss7N8KpqHZ7tOJBDYE1_vSjVBjkLDzT7hSUSZwc2yUJI7Z8G_Jjm_aYtvVwjHLSFmbmxlIJPa3bZfeYKfPKZ32r3r4mg2DeiJM6k/s1600/tocque.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0h7SGdZHmi_lqJ0fBwtxm6ogNOt6LXEk0x11sPoNWss7N8KpqHZ7tOJBDYE1_vSjVBjkLDzT7hSUSZwc2yUJI7Z8G_Jjm_aYtvVwjHLSFmbmxlIJPa3bZfeYKfPKZ32r3r4mg2DeiJM6k/s1600/tocque.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">There was a wise sage from France, Alexis de Tocqueville,
who visited the young republic of America in 1831. He traveled throughout the
country examining our people, noting our vast </span><span style="font-size: large;">resources and our wonderful new
Constitution. How was this new country so successful? <i>Why was it great?</i> How
would it continue to be even greater? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Tocqueville made this trenchant observation:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Despotism may govern without faith, but liberty cannot.
Religion is much more necessary in the republic which they set forth in glowing
colors than in the monarchy which they attack; and it is more needed in
democratic republics than in any others. How is it possible that society should
escape destruction if the moral tie be not strengthened in proportion as the
political tie is relaxed? and what can be done with a people which is its own
master, if it be not submissive to the Divinity?”</span></blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">This acknowledgement that without faith and good morals liberty
was doomed to failure would be echoed by prominent leaders from the beginning
of the republic all the way to the modern day. From Adams to Eisenhower to Reagan
and beyond, they would paraphrase and poetically expound on this truth in speeches. One example repeatedly used:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">“I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her
harbors and her ample rivers -- and it was not there. . . . in her fertile
fields and bound less forests -- and it was not there. . . . in her rich mines
and her vast world of commerce -- and it was not there. . . . in her democratic
Congress and her matchless Constitution -- and it was not there. Not until I
went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with
righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power." </span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great</span></b>.</span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">This is what makes America great.</span></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiluJSv9MSdLRPTFcAioGEYxnrL9bGba7CSd5VLlL1jxc8BTNQlGWNZoXwOLMZRHgrqQRUxvHeDwUfhE5bTSMFtBJRT2xehQaF95wEUsMIUlv5IxIhBAxOozqik8e0BX4tAjxduBjU5Gnwe/s1600/patriot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiluJSv9MSdLRPTFcAioGEYxnrL9bGba7CSd5VLlL1jxc8BTNQlGWNZoXwOLMZRHgrqQRUxvHeDwUfhE5bTSMFtBJRT2xehQaF95wEUsMIUlv5IxIhBAxOozqik8e0BX4tAjxduBjU5Gnwe/s1600/patriot.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution is designed only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for any other." </span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"> <i>John Adams</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers just men who will rule in the fear of God.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">The preservation of a republican government depends on the faithful discharge of this duty; if the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made, not for the public good, so much as for selfish or local purposes; corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizens will be violated or disregarded. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">If a republican government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the Divine commands and elect bad men to make and administer the laws. "</span></blockquote>
<i><span style="font-size: large;"> Noah Webster</span></i><br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290852359697124577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512645659975604519.post-74204940320661950792016-02-25T19:10:00.000-08:002016-02-28T12:45:32.405-08:00 The Flickering Flames<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"We’re fighting a holy war, what’s happened to America is that the wicked are bearing rule. We have to lead the nation back to the moral stance</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">That Made America Great</span></span></b></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">...we need to wield influence on those who govern us.”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Jerry Falwell Sr summer of 1980 </span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySa2R2jwLGR3pdRBlWXrrGstBQGIkWfGN_35XjzRE9g3e8m8vr21huFywxcSRK5b2cSN-pLqVa_x4bAxQtqZIs89e1WOKJlOmveMzwL8QbefoDE_epinjI0BNi8VIKkmT6du7Df-RI_ub/s1600/young+falwell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySa2R2jwLGR3pdRBlWXrrGstBQGIkWfGN_35XjzRE9g3e8m8vr21huFywxcSRK5b2cSN-pLqVa_x4bAxQtqZIs89e1WOKJlOmveMzwL8QbefoDE_epinjI0BNi8VIKkmT6du7Df-RI_ub/s1600/young+falwell.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">With the election of Ronald Reagan a couple months later and the founding of the Moral Majority, Jerry Falwell would be firmly ensconced in the Reagan Revolution. He would spend the Reagan years spearheading the fight against a variety of social sins. From abortion and pornography to alcoholism and gambling, he became in many ways the face of the fight to <b>make America great again</b> by fulfilling the principles so many of the Founders believed were essential -</span><span style="font-size: large;"> like these, noted by Samuel Adams:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">"He therefore is the truest friend to the liberty of his country who tries most to promote its virtue, and who, so far as his power and influence extend, will not suffer a man to be chosen into any office of power and trust who is not a wise and virtuous man."</span></blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As the Reagan years waned, Falwell increasingly saw the need to spend time securing the future of America through training its young to become warriors for Christ. The school he had created, Liberty University, was struggling financially and so he ultimately resigned as head of the Moral Majority to lead the school forward. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was at his desk at Liberty that he would die on May 15th, 2007, its debt having been reduced to 30 million. His Will left his insurance policy of 34 million to the school he cared so much about and thus, in death, finally made it solvent. He was, with great ceremony, laid to rest on the campus he loved. A bright "eternal flame" over his grave was lit as well as on a memorial cross nearby. Fitting it seemed as the University is known as the "Flames".</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvDJtiwQzgVdYA6jSNOIfs6X7gYQcioKZrJru9IvJ7RD4yl4rvmI1FYUaHg2CScn_CLOUjHx4hyuH9lYJfBfGIMm0N9ksNo1zDHlzf4R6HLnMYFOkxsJRVKnruK9zL3u1shyphenhyphenfhTqaArvV/s1600/bright+flame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvDJtiwQzgVdYA6jSNOIfs6X7gYQcioKZrJru9IvJ7RD4yl4rvmI1FYUaHg2CScn_CLOUjHx4hyuH9lYJfBfGIMm0N9ksNo1zDHlzf4R6HLnMYFOkxsJRVKnruK9zL3u1shyphenhyphenfhTqaArvV/s1600/bright+flame.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Falwell had made careful preparations for a transition of his leadership to his two sons. One would become pastor of his church and the other would become president of his university.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">His namesake, Jerry Falwell Jr.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"He has left instructions for those of us who had to carry on, and <i>we will be faithful to that charge</i>,” said the University Vice-President.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Just over eight years later in the summer of 2015, a press conference was held in New York in which Donald Trump announced his candidacy for president. Borrowing a slogan used by Reagan, Trump declared,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Make America Great Again!" </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Initially, many Christians were derisive of the man and his candidacy. Trump had spent his life, after all, in pursuit of much of what Christians are called to fight against. His list of moral failures is difficult to fully quantify but in part would include:</span><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"> Married three times to different women, leaving each for the next woman.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"> Proud of his sexual liberalities, openly stating in his book <i>Think Big: Make it Happen in Business and Life </i>that he has had sex with some of the "top women in the world."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"> Regularly uses the f-word in public speeches along with other obscenities so vulgar that network television would be required to bleep out these words to avoid violating Federal Communications Commission rules.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Regularly uses speech demeaning of people.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Owned and operated numerous casinos. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Opened the nation's first casino strip club.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">When asked, in 2015, if he had ever asked God for forgiveness he said,"I don't think so."</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />The first casino strip club opened just two years before Trump declared for the presidency. The manager of the strip club had this to say:</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowbyyRjiNWx3LTrzEyqjNWFMJh96QXnHIRFhw-yFTsJH4_iwbwQQ1WgD_HA3o15bX-pncT2kAABMll3879U4Rn56CXTgRM2xaEz8JkjwNy6SIzLU7Mzuzcx6wPbgrC9Y60N_vR_VZmijT/s1600/dancer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowbyyRjiNWx3LTrzEyqjNWFMJh96QXnHIRFhw-yFTsJH4_iwbwQQ1WgD_HA3o15bX-pncT2kAABMll3879U4Rn56CXTgRM2xaEz8JkjwNy6SIzLU7Mzuzcx6wPbgrC9Y60N_vR_VZmijT/s1600/dancer.JPG" /></a></div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">"We feel this is the third leg of the Atlantic City triangle: gambling, alcohol, and adult<br />entertainment, it's a natural."</span></blockquote>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Seeking broad assistance that would be crucial to the success of his run for the White House, Trump would nevertheless engage Christians and seek their support<span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span> Some, like the president of Oklahoma Wesleyan University, not surprisingly refused:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">"We choose speakers who generally promote our university's mission and who do not stand in opposition, either in word or deed, to what we claim to hold dear as a Christian community … and frankly, Donald Trump simply doesn't represent OKWU's behavioral, theological, moral or political ideals."</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">Remarkably though, there was one prominent Christian university that would accede to his request to speak and would even go a large step further-- Liberty University. The president, still Jerry Falwell Jr., would remark in December 2015:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Trump reminds me so much of my father."</span></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And on January 21st, 2016, Falwell Jr. would officially endorse Trump for President, interestingly saying of Trump:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0i4tgBmD62PKHmIdfL-n2kwoHw4k6VrnLIjRBMzPOVZC3HzBAc_h7S0KHjmj9oqR2_0Cd7BwvQC0O4yiTKS9l3Atj9omxd3DdaduuIbE6xZklATfaC5OVUm9IUWb3xyzw0p_EgSxx3yds/s1600/liberty+support2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0i4tgBmD62PKHmIdfL-n2kwoHw4k6VrnLIjRBMzPOVZC3HzBAc_h7S0KHjmj9oqR2_0Cd7BwvQC0O4yiTKS9l3Atj9omxd3DdaduuIbE6xZklATfaC5OVUm9IUWb3xyzw0p_EgSxx3yds/s1600/liberty+support2.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"He is a successful executive and entrepreneur, a wonderful father and a man who I believe can </span></div>
<b></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><b><span style="font-size: large;">lead our country to greatness again."</span></b></b></div>
<b>
</b></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The University's previously established "eternal flames", next to the grave of its fallen founder continue on today, flickering be it ever so dimly.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuyljRc1cOKDhLQYYwe_buZ3oLDd_im-D1Mb9AOCrxDejGna-9vlUZD01L9gWvb2eUejYz9nAN-L64C__P7_NJsJnaX0wDsm_zueSqBKjKg7vNK-knTo05BMWdpEq61armLnc_kKQWvY4/s1600/flame+on+cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuyljRc1cOKDhLQYYwe_buZ3oLDd_im-D1Mb9AOCrxDejGna-9vlUZD01L9gWvb2eUejYz9nAN-L64C__P7_NJsJnaX0wDsm_zueSqBKjKg7vNK-knTo05BMWdpEq61armLnc_kKQWvY4/s1600/flame+on+cross.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">" For it was so..Solomon's heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David." I Kings 11:4</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290852359697124577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512645659975604519.post-4826963950535479832016-02-07T15:06:00.000-08:002016-02-07T15:06:44.562-08:00The Son of Korah<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">About 3,000 years ago lived a man called Heman, who was obscure in his day and concealed in ours. He was a son of a notorious rebel, Korah. His ancestor had been killed for his sin and his surviving children were forever scarred by this connection. So lived Heman.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">At one point in his life his beloved walked away from him, his friends left him and he was alone. Desperately alone. During this time, he wrote a short poem which has endured and been given the imprimatur of God himself.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I spend the night on my knees before you.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsxdUJ4Im71gnhf-19DdsHbsq5DITB9Bf7n1fqgYP0ogJreq1esCRtis_ddKgK9U85yYB9gjN5CT82aI8QBPGhVtd79KpceBFutlE7C3ZTSXWbCa_cq2tjspLtniFOU23gNOyzWC-oZLH/s1600/edge+of+hell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsxdUJ4Im71gnhf-19DdsHbsq5DITB9Bf7n1fqgYP0ogJreq1esCRtis_ddKgK9U85yYB9gjN5CT82aI8QBPGhVtd79KpceBFutlE7C3ZTSXWbCa_cq2tjspLtniFOU23gNOyzWC-oZLH/s320/edge+of+hell.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"> I’m camped on the edge of hell.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Abandoned as already dead,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> one more body in a stack of corpses,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> a gravestone—</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> I am a black hole in oblivion.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtkFqWgx6CApwf1bp2tn28QXCQr6x6GoTjop5f6P_c5hxPOZzXiUklxTEgmom0KFCvR5Y6z9nssOcvFAB75m7rnbHy14Z1FKFffj93yDcZ3awwEd68Kv41IdHzUw7bCpgdoEW4-kvRuJGj/s1600/angry+wave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtkFqWgx6CApwf1bp2tn28QXCQr6x6GoTjop5f6P_c5hxPOZzXiUklxTEgmom0KFCvR5Y6z9nssOcvFAB75m7rnbHy14Z1FKFffj93yDcZ3awwEd68Kv41IdHzUw7bCpgdoEW4-kvRuJGj/s1600/angry+wave.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">You’ve dropped me into a bottomless pit,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> sunk me in a pitch-black abyss.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I’m battered senseless by your rage,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> relentlessly pounded by your waves of anger.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I’m caught in a maze and can’t find my way out,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> blinded by tears of pain and frustration.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I call to you, God; all day I call.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrk4_S9kiyVswqEFpslkrhe1y5Gjb09gAMXYX3jHsxLsRYcNZ4INilzKOUUNgzjD3vLqgAKo-wIx_8HfPexdVIa7p06eVmuZ7rR__IMt3AtWBZ5-yF31ZGcebD8zhN7K6qMhFPnHqFRPo/s1600/arms+to+heaven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrk4_S9kiyVswqEFpslkrhe1y5Gjb09gAMXYX3jHsxLsRYcNZ4INilzKOUUNgzjD3vLqgAKo-wIx_8HfPexdVIa7p06eVmuZ7rR__IMt3AtWBZ5-yF31ZGcebD8zhN7K6qMhFPnHqFRPo/s1600/arms+to+heaven.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Are the dead a live audience for your miracles?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Do ghosts ever join the choirs that praise you?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0srCv3GSMraVbpNjHXst_dZyRE4naFsGB14B3HWUSofwt8rcfOfUunnGvZxbrqwVYAtSbKlrUuB8RjccoIjA3Zp5hO4C0wkbLV3XVwOSxG0FnWm08I3KcFPLKrG5wpjpGFHVYOxwWb3v/s1600/land+of+no+memory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0srCv3GSMraVbpNjHXst_dZyRE4naFsGB14B3HWUSofwt8rcfOfUunnGvZxbrqwVYAtSbKlrUuB8RjccoIjA3Zp5hO4C0wkbLV3XVwOSxG0FnWm08I3KcFPLKrG5wpjpGFHVYOxwWb3v/s320/land+of+no+memory.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Does your love make any difference in a graveyard?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Is your faithful presence noticed in the corridors of hell?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Are your marvelous wonders ever seen in the dark,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> your righteous ways noticed in the Land of No Memory?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I’m standing my ground, God, shouting for help,</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Why do you make yourself scarce?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> I’ve taken the worst you can hand out, and am at the precipice.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Your wildfire anger has blazed through my life;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> I’m bleeding, black-and-blue.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">You’ve attacked me fiercely from every side,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> raining down blows till I’m nearly dead.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> the only friend I have left is Darkness</span></span><span style="font-size: large;">.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3hhfb7X_hrJEWRfcC9Y4WkumAC0KCzvnDleofzMzo0WfcOpoVPaNu1jUe0aZjiu1LxSJfYo6ROiD43Y5CRkn1HuothpoOr0SBRAUdvoMKYq2elNUcCI5K8pmm5PKN4RGSdzIrpNO_Gjr/s1600/dark+moon+night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3hhfb7X_hrJEWRfcC9Y4WkumAC0KCzvnDleofzMzo0WfcOpoVPaNu1jUe0aZjiu1LxSJfYo6ROiD43Y5CRkn1HuothpoOr0SBRAUdvoMKYq2elNUcCI5K8pmm5PKN4RGSdzIrpNO_Gjr/s1600/dark+moon+night.jpg" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Later in time, a chronicler listing various musicians who served King David noted this about the obscure Heman.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Of the sons of Heman were fourteen--all of these were under the supervision of their father; they were musicians in the Lord’s temple, playing cymbals and stringed instruments as they served in God’s temple, </span><b style="font-size: x-large;">according to the promise of God to exalt [Heman].</b><span style="font-size: large;">"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">His poem is known today as simply Psalm 88. Just three psalms later another work is written with an unknown author.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I like to think its words pertain to that of Heman.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>"</b>Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him;</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I will be with him in trouble,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I will deliver him and honor him.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> With long life I will satisfy him</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> and show him my salvation.”</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2BhKHvv7JeBaNCO1U7iwJ44rKhBcRwcW0sMQ5jGOHu1JJPsGiT07d5pLSmq9Jf0xfpHacwUruaeEa-htsNsI0qwHrrD5aAgUmH7En3inFlZWgVVbX1RNnY2uc2idaf8W_0A01bHhHXdR/s1600/sun+in+forest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2BhKHvv7JeBaNCO1U7iwJ44rKhBcRwcW0sMQ5jGOHu1JJPsGiT07d5pLSmq9Jf0xfpHacwUruaeEa-htsNsI0qwHrrD5aAgUmH7En3inFlZWgVVbX1RNnY2uc2idaf8W_0A01bHhHXdR/s1600/sun+in+forest.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Based on Psalm 88, 91 and I Chronicles 25:4-6</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290852359697124577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512645659975604519.post-18208525668366720812015-12-06T09:54:00.000-08:002015-12-09T11:03:05.501-08:00Nothing new under the Sun<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><i><b>"</b></i></span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 21.4667px;"><i><b>We are not well served when, in response to a terrorist attack, we descend into fear and panic. We don’t make good decisions if it’s based on hysteria or an exaggeration of risks."</b> </i>President Barack Obama</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 21.4667px;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 21.4667px;"><i><b>"This is a moment where it is better to be safe than to be sorry, so we think the prudent, the responsible thing is to take a pause in this particular aspect of this refugee program in order to verify that terrorists are not looking to infiltrate the refugee program" </b></i>Representative Paul Ryan</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><i>March 21,1942</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">The President sat restlessly on his couch in the White House.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">The three months after Pearl Harbor had been an endless stream of bad news
for Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The list of Japanese advances to date were not short:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpi-YhaKX-ohqJTIXLgDelC2PrHCFKX4p-rkj1e_XaxmwEz89mfQTSQltWhVsY5hiKOibrABhmog6TAgyxp5KC1_uddAS9i4PL7yAbLda2dxJmQBgVL1Dp3qMSIqOQHUwThsENswA_f5T/s1600/roosevelt3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpi-YhaKX-ohqJTIXLgDelC2PrHCFKX4p-rkj1e_XaxmwEz89mfQTSQltWhVsY5hiKOibrABhmog6TAgyxp5KC1_uddAS9i4PL7yAbLda2dxJmQBgVL1Dp3qMSIqOQHUwThsENswA_f5T/s320/roosevelt3.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Guam </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Wake Island </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Dutch East Indies</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Hong Kong</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Malaya</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Singapore</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Philippines</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">and on</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">The Japanese had even
threatened the West Coast of the United States-or at least, Americans
there felt threatened. With over a hundred thousand Japanese-Americans living in that area of the country, the population was greatly concerned and the President had tried to quench these fears by signing an
executive order (#9066).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_QdUpCWo_qddr1qFktvYUbo6YhspTXkrWJUFdMlJ1mWpmc35QYZNiCF2aYKNe9M2e14GwMgVGrK0ESRwgOsfLQ6bDFxbSxVV2f4-1h-E9dLMqP8C9WNFHekKS8vHW1UhATmZLTFEJgSc/s1600/9066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_QdUpCWo_qddr1qFktvYUbo6YhspTXkrWJUFdMlJ1mWpmc35QYZNiCF2aYKNe9M2e14GwMgVGrK0ESRwgOsfLQ6bDFxbSxVV2f4-1h-E9dLMqP8C9WNFHekKS8vHW1UhATmZLTFEJgSc/s1600/9066.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">This order, back on February 19th, had mandated their detention. However, there was not enough movement so
legislation was deemed necessary to enable federal courts to enforce the
provisions of Executive Order #9066. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhOWwsM58Lk-o2SgI0eA0uhkpOGGUxhPG3F30hQq3pl3M0T_UMDIKdkXD3kIkdVlleEgZhC6pNeMWFCxaCcWh05VZ5IAn91FLV_6CiXoXgaLsp4f1b9iKdrzT4OIyMqcbxBESn_KjlWRU/s1600/Senator+Robert+Taft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhOWwsM58Lk-o2SgI0eA0uhkpOGGUxhPG3F30hQq3pl3M0T_UMDIKdkXD3kIkdVlleEgZhC6pNeMWFCxaCcWh05VZ5IAn91FLV_6CiXoXgaLsp4f1b9iKdrzT4OIyMqcbxBESn_KjlWRU/s1600/Senator+Robert+Taft.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">It was that legislation that concerned the President this cold March
morning. The bill had been hastily approved by both the House and Senate and sat
before him for his signature. Senator Robert Taft had asked to meet with him before he signed.
The Senator from Ohio was a powerful Republican opponent and did not approve of
the bill so Roosevelt invited him in to discuss it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">As Senator Taft entered the Oval Office he was immediately taken aback.
There in the corner was none other than
the Secretary of the Navy, Frank Knox. Perhaps no other person was a greater proponent
of the bill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">“Well, Mr. President. It appears you want a little more than a quiet
discussion this morning.” said Senator Taft as he stopped in mid-stride.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">“Come now, Robert. I am sure we can discuss this important issue calmly.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">“I am not sure I can Mr. President. You are in the process of forcibly
removing hundreds of thousands of law abiding people<i>, tens of thousands of whom are citizens</i>. All because of empty
threats and mindless panic. Further---“<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9Swve45-4E4ZNDFlSSqaR9iH0qPTNvddsnng3UVFwzSWpX9ndDZy9DISlw5ONB5HpbNT56Ek4N2ZMvVDPJtzpELqOmyx5cu5sZGJlk3oHqAXTvnbU79asv2i_AkJZ5KwHL2e1VhlA3Hr/s1600/knox+painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9Swve45-4E4ZNDFlSSqaR9iH0qPTNvddsnng3UVFwzSWpX9ndDZy9DISlw5ONB5HpbNT56Ek4N2ZMvVDPJtzpELqOmyx5cu5sZGJlk3oHqAXTvnbU79asv2i_AkJZ5KwHL2e1VhlA3Hr/s1600/knox+painting.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Secretary Knox had risen from his seat ostensibly to shake Taft’s hand but
with furrowed brow he </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 21.4667px;">interrupted</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">“Empty? Mindless? Have you forgotton December 7<sup>th</sup> so quickly?
No, not the attack in the Harbor, Mr. Taft, the attack by the so called
‘Japanese-Americans’ on the island of Niihau. There were three of these <b>citizens</b> of yours who assisted that
downed Zero pilot with a change in their allegiance so quick as to shame Benedict
Arnold. This alone is proof that no one can trust any Japanese - even if an
American citizen - not to go over to Japan if it is expedient.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Oowv0FL_uGRhJcPxqaI8kuTLMBXbEtIzGQWI06lINxXzzRZGT00ia-YibDUDffYwo0ZXv854x33xLns04gaBlk2jZpfhgI01UMrag4QQMH5vH2PagAW7cz6A55v5pEMsrx7OUGqIJQNw/s1600/Nishikaichi%2527s_Zero_BII-120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Oowv0FL_uGRhJcPxqaI8kuTLMBXbEtIzGQWI06lINxXzzRZGT00ia-YibDUDffYwo0ZXv854x33xLns04gaBlk2jZpfhgI01UMrag4QQMH5vH2PagAW7cz6A55v5pEMsrx7OUGqIJQNw/s320/Nishikaichi%2527s_Zero_BII-120.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">The President’s arms were raised—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">“Gentlemen, </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 21.4667px;">gentlemen</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">, please calm yourselves down and take a seat. I must
decide whether or not to make a law today and I need opinions given that are well-reasoned and not over heated.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">With eyes still glaring in anger, the men slowly sat down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">“Good. Now, Mr. Knox, I would like
you to speak first and explain to me why I should sign this bill—slowly Frank.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Calming himself, Secretary Knox began, "Sir, as you know, I visited the
Hawaiian Islands shortly after that terrible attack and personally investigated
the incident I mentioned a moment ago. It is very difficult to ascertain the
extent of disloyalty, but some is clearly present. In fact, in the report created
by Mr. Munson after his extensive investigation of the sympathies and loyalties
of Japanese Americans living in California and the West Coast of the United
States, he noted the following:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">"There are still Japanese in the United States who will tie dynamite
around their waist and make a human bomb out of themselves…There will
undoubtedly be some sabotage financed by Japan and executed largely by imported
agents... In each Naval District there are about 250 to 300 suspects under
surveillance."</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Also, as you know Mr. President, our navel fleet was decimated at Pearl
Harbor and we are thus temporarily weak. While the Japanese should not be able
to mount a sustained invasion, they have shown themselves more than capable of
striking a severe blow. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We will win this war, sir, but we must not allow the enemy any foothold - even any </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 21.4667px;">semblance</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> of a foothold. I therefore respectfully ask you to do your
utmost as Commander-in-Chief and sign
this bill into law.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">“Thank you for your thoughts, Frank. Now, Robert, why are these good
reasons incorrect?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">“Mr. President, I want to say I do appreciate you giving me the
opportunity to speak to you today. I feel very strongly about this issue."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqt9zDdPPX5Am5f_C2UVqySyjUmVyvEIYex-Z9VBStVel1yiVTHTtno5uvUVMyMJ3aayAqZMbJWZoHGSfK7kil9k8-QouvFmIr3gZJhvNqYXPOetkOzkT_ZgeWq3N6JKpnfCx4JRPDhQQ3/s1600/taft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqt9zDdPPX5Am5f_C2UVqySyjUmVyvEIYex-Z9VBStVel1yiVTHTtno5uvUVMyMJ3aayAqZMbJWZoHGSfK7kil9k8-QouvFmIr3gZJhvNqYXPOetkOzkT_ZgeWq3N6JKpnfCx4JRPDhQQ3/s320/taft.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">"I believe the Japanese-Americans living in our country pose no threat and
are actually a source of strength. They love this country and many are willing
to die for it. Secretary Knox quoted a bit from the Munson Report but you read
the report sir. Let me remind you of a passage he omitted:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">"There are still Japanese in the United States who will tie dynamite
around their waist and make a human bomb out of themselves<b>. We grant this, but today they are few."<o:p></o:p></b></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Mr. Hoover and the Federal </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 21.4667px;">Bureau</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> of Investigation are well aware of these
few and track them as Mr. Taft himself mentioned. To incarcerate what will be
well over 100,000 people due to a </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 21.4667px;">suspicious</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> few individuals is beyond
excessive. There will probably be at least half who will be citizens. That
represents about 50,000 to 75,000 American citizens who will be denied their
due process rights Mr. President. As a result, they will lose their jobs, businesses, and
perhaps most of all their dignity. The Supreme Court may very well overturn
this law as well since it is clearly unconstitutional.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">President Roosevelt had tried to listen without </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 21.4667px;">interruption</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> but could
contain the view he favored no longer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">“They might overturn, but I think not.” he said. “the justices are
Americans too and recognize the necessities of war, Robert."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Undaunted, Senator Taft shot back, </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">“Must we surrender our freedoms in order to maintain them?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">“War is a terrible, terrible thing. You know your history Mr. Taft. During
that great conflict between the states, my predecessor Lincoln issued numerous
executive orders and military regulations without even the initial sanction of
Congress.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFjYAsFqKdhAV7tBCU4TZqtN5E4I6TooYx-VXFTPFPuI16NCXEU2SOr7tw7ntqeLyvfFAPnMesUnJPkPUxa049mnbJPsXFvWA5yPpCVrQPjaVDCo337Ra6ZQFLDPijrWnUM8bxaNttxHA/s1600/lincoln.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFjYAsFqKdhAV7tBCU4TZqtN5E4I6TooYx-VXFTPFPuI16NCXEU2SOr7tw7ntqeLyvfFAPnMesUnJPkPUxa049mnbJPsXFvWA5yPpCVrQPjaVDCo337Ra6ZQFLDPijrWnUM8bxaNttxHA/s1600/lincoln.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">He declared martial law far from combat zones, seized property,
suppressed newspapers, and suspended habeas corpus all because of one thing - he
was determined to preserve our country. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Presidents must make difficult decisions in grave moments.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Leaning against the table before the President he took one last shot. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">“We cannot succumb to irrational fear, sir. We cannot violate our Constitution simply because some </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 21.4667px;">citizens</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> have the face of the enemy. This law would be a genuine
travesty and future generations will rise and condemn our actions this day.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Arching his back and leaning forward the President continued,“You mention fear, Mr. Taft. I seem to recall saying something or another
about that in my first inaugural address. We have nothing to fear except fear
itself I believe it was. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">If there is one thing I know it is that fear, whether
rational or not, paralyzes. Our country
is currently swept with this emotion and no place more so than the beautiful
cities on our West Coast. Do you not think the Japanese know this truth?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG66pxEJrzzM2TXev4BeiRCx6Mb8r1pgsWiVHTz8Lg9-MwG5SDLyouX3ee2RgpZczpp7g7JpnsFn54HoUYvC3Ibmd-cL_da51ImsVb86wxK2H-6Ejz0u70VuX2IKxZoKwHTfswrnGRVlkz/s1600/sub+attack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG66pxEJrzzM2TXev4BeiRCx6Mb8r1pgsWiVHTz8Lg9-MwG5SDLyouX3ee2RgpZczpp7g7JpnsFn54HoUYvC3Ibmd-cL_da51ImsVb86wxK2H-6Ejz0u70VuX2IKxZoKwHTfswrnGRVlkz/s1600/sub+attack.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Leaning forward with his cheeks beginning to glow red he continued, “Why,
a mere five minutes after I began my speech two weeks back, a Japanese submarine
rose from the depths and proceeded to fire upon our land sir! Not an island far
into the Pacific ocean, but American soil! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">The following two days the fair city of Los Angeles was in a virtual panic over a fictitious second attack! You heard of the newspaper reports."</span></div>
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</div>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJz4rJVytjfdmOFEavltBPApTOXvkvFb32AGGtcL0zQvg5za2Qk-t9SyygDTvYXX_G-AKPGmUwwZYT5pG4Uxt9zPSwhuXE6eDBEahjyxW2AuijHzuZU2ERCQS_kZR44HjVjrSdo19sdXb/s1600/los+angeles+attack+newspaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJz4rJVytjfdmOFEavltBPApTOXvkvFb32AGGtcL0zQvg5za2Qk-t9SyygDTvYXX_G-AKPGmUwwZYT5pG4Uxt9zPSwhuXE6eDBEahjyxW2AuijHzuZU2ERCQS_kZR44HjVjrSdo19sdXb/s1600/los+angeles+attack+newspaper.jpg" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Slumping back down into his seat, the Senator weakly mumbled,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">“There was virtually no damage, Mr. President. It was a timid effort with
nothing accomplished.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">“Nothing, you say? That was not an effort at diminishing our military </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 21.4667px;">capability</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> but an effort at diminishing our morale and a good one at that. The people
cannot fight, Senator, they cannot win if filled with fear. We must give them
reason to hope and will do so boldly with a surprise attack of our own within a
few short weeks time. In the mean time, we must also remove all causes of anxiety
and this includes the fear of attack at home."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">The President stared down at the bill before him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">“May future generations forgive me and this country for the loss it will
create, but I must do all in my power to ensure victory.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">“I must sign this bill, Robert."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">President Roosevelt leaned forward and signed Public Law 503.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pdwhf99hTtvD-rTExyLSArAFimngol-rbItF3WKTDvxxgIPCAIJc0XhNtARYsgj3S2i1UsR_xBuODcPjzWYqWrYU4kT-SDTS7mJKZeyxmVw1TkxSMSGeJgeVJcOXlOYV0D-0F1ELwWKt/s1600/roosevelt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pdwhf99hTtvD-rTExyLSArAFimngol-rbItF3WKTDvxxgIPCAIJc0XhNtARYsgj3S2i1UsR_xBuODcPjzWYqWrYU4kT-SDTS7mJKZeyxmVw1TkxSMSGeJgeVJcOXlOYV0D-0F1ELwWKt/s320/roosevelt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Subsequently, approximately 115,000 Japanese-Americans would be interned.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqX8ypcNM-b7EqLRUVv-qHfeDUnd_VzyyF4yDl03-6OjOb-TWDB6LrClYnKIn7oJ5wOlJ27VZoH8Y3VwLl6Cy-a55tthPg4sfrGQsW0-XaVgCK5ZDUTTKIZoP_wdGLE7OsjES8eR501SdG/s1600/interned+child.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqX8ypcNM-b7EqLRUVv-qHfeDUnd_VzyyF4yDl03-6OjOb-TWDB6LrClYnKIn7oJ5wOlJ27VZoH8Y3VwLl6Cy-a55tthPg4sfrGQsW0-XaVgCK5ZDUTTKIZoP_wdGLE7OsjES8eR501SdG/s1600/interned+child.jpg" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Supreme Court would uphold the constitutionality of Executive Order #9066 in Korematsu v United States.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39D9TWPkXHu3l1PiRJanQbB2dahrFq8tNetWM2u9IxZbXum_KYaBl1GRWNyYAug8KhD5-6iW6Cnca21tBkKvv2uIDsWD5nL6G9fdyWw9Dw4h4WHpNBxn3i8_QGo1jVDlR1LKiOYflFIbT/s1600/korematsu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39D9TWPkXHu3l1PiRJanQbB2dahrFq8tNetWM2u9IxZbXum_KYaBl1GRWNyYAug8KhD5-6iW6Cnca21tBkKvv2uIDsWD5nL6G9fdyWw9Dw4h4WHpNBxn3i8_QGo1jVDlR1LKiOYflFIbT/s1600/korematsu.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 21.4667px; text-align: start;">The Japanese would surrender to the United States.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF26biHjHLpfb__97XlcOTx1rUuY9QEAHoIoAF6L5gDqlAh-MGWb8FTLf5ylb0hov7NEK4Ch5TBHgHf12-2yPxolX9vTkfqQ5Q6WSt8MzKPvqrHKpj5iGUzPk0VZrAYQalIPhZ_UlMd3XQ/s1600/surrender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF26biHjHLpfb__97XlcOTx1rUuY9QEAHoIoAF6L5gDqlAh-MGWb8FTLf5ylb0hov7NEK4Ch5TBHgHf12-2yPxolX9vTkfqQ5Q6WSt8MzKPvqrHKpj5iGUzPk0VZrAYQalIPhZ_UlMd3XQ/s1600/surrender.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 21.4667px;">President Ronald Reagan would sign into law the Civil Liberties Act, which apologized for the internment on behalf of the U.S. government and authorized a payment of $20,000 to each individual camp survivor. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhwIfPoRe-Xy6zaH4-ZbgIQeO-LEb_XI6BboemWKD8tOLczw2VtnsdLDgIlRdW9eTSXAi3ItR45J8hNeJEIvv16rf6WCGleym4ulw_Z2GlXJOl3uamKELxw_7VFCL012S4ag5J1H_Xdxy/s1600/reagan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhwIfPoRe-Xy6zaH4-ZbgIQeO-LEb_XI6BboemWKD8tOLczw2VtnsdLDgIlRdW9eTSXAi3ItR45J8hNeJEIvv16rf6WCGleym4ulw_Z2GlXJOl3uamKELxw_7VFCL012S4ag5J1H_Xdxy/s1600/reagan.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br /><br />"<b>Well of course Korematsu was wrong... but you are kidding yourself if you think the same thing will not happen again... That's what was going on — the panic about the war and the invasion of the Pacific.</b>” Justice Antonin Scalia<br /><br /><br /><i>Inter arma enim silent leges</i>-"In times of war, the law falls silent." Cicero<span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 21.4667px;">"What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which is is said, 'See, this is new'? It has been already in the ages before us." Ecclesiastes 1:9-10</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21.4667px;">#korematsu#japaneseinternment#syrianrefugees</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290852359697124577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512645659975604519.post-13061704998640360572015-10-17T17:15:00.000-07:002015-10-18T05:01:50.365-07:00The Man in the Middle<span style="color: red;"><br /></span>
Rising early on this cold, bitter morning, I realized I was late. Though I wanted to and tried, I just could not get going. I had stayed up late vigorously studying the old Calvinist/Arminian debate and was attending a seminar today at a local hotel. I was really hopeful the renowned speaker could help shed some light on this subject.<br />
<br />
As I walked into the hotel, I quickly noticed the crowd of people in front of a breakfast table, wonderfully set up with its array of juices and muffins. I walked over. Sure enough, this was the seminar room.<br />
<br />
"It's heresy, Chris. I don't know how anyone can't see how destructive that philosophy is."<br />
<br />
I didn't need to know which side he was on-it applied to both. I was at the right place.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWmiNMly4j0egntj4OhgclGI93SjE5il_WZ2vYelGMddVV76VFDsTWZh7r_BtaHuviojMgaLCbaxSTormLHm2oOEjYEfuFYU3htQ_WwywCDfh5iQQWwtu7UP_7dnEBkFwn2evswc5J_zl/s1600/falling+juice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWmiNMly4j0egntj4OhgclGI93SjE5il_WZ2vYelGMddVV76VFDsTWZh7r_BtaHuviojMgaLCbaxSTormLHm2oOEjYEfuFYU3htQ_WwywCDfh5iQQWwtu7UP_7dnEBkFwn2evswc5J_zl/s1600/falling+juice.jpg" /></a>As I sipped my cranberry juice, I noticed a painfully skinny young waiter nervously scurrying about the table. Moving a bit too fast, he bumped the table and off tumbled the glass of orange juice a person had just poured. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Horrified, he quickly set about cleaning. I could not help but kneel down and help him clean.<br />
<br />
"I am going to get fired," he said, distraught. "I am worthless and <i>don't belong anywhere</i>. My dad was right."<br />
<br />
"No, no. I saw how meticulously you had everything prepared," I said gently. "Nobody is worthless."<br />
<br />
He smiled weakly and then the doors opened. "You need to go in," he said.<br />
<br />
I entered the room. The speaker had a good reputation, and I was looking forward to his presentation. He spent the first couple hours going over the rudimentary aspects of each position and then rose and asked the audience to divide. "Calvinists to one side," he said, " and Arminians to the other."<br />
<br />
In my studies, Arminianism had always felt like the correct perspective, but Calvinism was so logical and tight. It just seemed to fit together so well. Realizing I was the last person to move, I reluctantly recognized that I needed to make a decision. I walked to the Calvinist side.<br />
<br />
Smiling, the Calvinists greeted me warmly. "I saw you hesitating there," one said.<br />
<br />
"Yes," I said, "Tough for me but I decided on Calvinism."<br />
<br />
"Well," he said, "maybe that was not the best choice of words. You know, you really did not make a decision."<br />
<br />
"Well, I did," I said. "I had to."<br />
<br />
"It was just an illusion," he said.<br />
<br />
"Illusion? Surely that cannot be."<br />
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"I really doubt you are Calvinist. It is probably best for you to walk over to the Arminian side." Rejected, I slowly made my way over to the other side of the room.<br />
<br />
"Great!" one said. "I am happy you chose Arminianism! A little indecision I saw there, but you made the right choice!"<br />
<br />
"I actually did not choose Arminianism. I had no choice really."<br />
<br />
"Wait, now. You always have a choice. God ensures it."<br />
<br />
"But I didn't, you see --"<br />
<br />
"No. You don't see. I really think you don't belong on the Arminian side."<br />
<br />
Befuddled and feeling out of place, I took a few steps over to the middle. Standing alone there, I knew I just <i>did not belong anywhere</i>. <br />
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Quietly, I exited the back door.<br />
<br />
I saw the skinny waiter with his coat on and trudging slowly out into the bitter cold. I quickly caught up with him.<br />
<br />
"Done so soon?" he said. "I thought that seminar went all morning."<br />
<br />
"Ah... I don't think that was the right seminar for me." I smiled softly at him. "You know, I could really use a cup of coffee. Missed my usual cup in the rush this morning. Would you like to join me?"<br />
<br />
"You know, I think I would. All that preparation this morning, but nothing for myself."<br />
<br />
Chatting amiably, we strolled away.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">#gospelinaction#calvinism#arminianism</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290852359697124577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512645659975604519.post-28966216558023215872015-08-24T19:13:00.000-07:002015-08-25T14:07:41.258-07:00Road trip to Yoderville<br />
Travelling across the sea swells of southeastern Ohio we arrived at our beautiful bed and breakfast. Only not quite so. Faux actually. This was the first time I stayed a night somewhere and from the start to the finish NEVER laid eyes on any employee whatsoever. There was no one at the desk so we called the number listed. We were given a code to our room. When we checked out we simply left. I assume the code was subsequently changed.<br />
<br />
We discovered quickly that arriving in Amish country on a Sunday afternoon was a bad move. I am sure that even Chuck Norris could not get a decent meal anywhere within miles. This was Sunday and the place was as quiet as a Chick-Fil-A kitchen on the first day of the week. We ended up going to a Wal-Mart and purchasing some wonderfully fresh food. We noticed a sizable stall on the adjoining property. Empty Amish buggy spots. Apparently even they like Sam Walton--not on Sundays though. <br />
<br />
Monday morning we began driving. Our heinies could have become numb from the driving but fortunately there are many places to exit and shop. We noticed that apparently everyone here has the same name.<br />
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Sheesh; and they say West Virginians are inbred. Well, we soon found another name. </div>
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Heini's.</div>
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Easy to find actually. We just had to follow the road map left by previous buggy horses.</div>
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Those are not oil stains, friends. The Amish apparently have no issue with sunglasses (saw one with what could have been a nice pair of Oakley's) but they do horse bun bags. Not sure if these were coming or going from Heini's but I suspect likely leaving Heini's. Makes sense to me. </div>
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<div>
Our time there was actually quite nice. These people truly make great cheese. You can sample an assortment and they will even cut it right there. In hindsight, that might not have been a good idea.Would have been nice to have a swallow of water from time to time and maybe even some floss. Would have completed the picture.</div>
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Alas, our time in Yoderville was all too short. As they say in their Pennsylvania Dutch,<br />
<br />
Hallicher schmierkase !<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290852359697124577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512645659975604519.post-47151393041605635462015-08-08T10:52:00.000-07:002015-08-08T10:52:19.301-07:00 Mr. Smith<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Becoming one of the greatest science fiction thrillers of
all time, <i>The Matrix </i>exploded on the
screen in 1999 and brought to wide knowledge the dystopian world where reality was not quite what it appeared to be. The antagonist in the film was called
Mr. Smith. </div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Agent Smith to be exact.</div>
<br />
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No matter where you turned in that world,
Mr. Smith could be lurking. A police officer? </div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: center;">Say hello to Mr. Smith.</span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Helicopter pilot?</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUBjE7nlxjlqhVuoBbDqUAoa5-3OUt7Ha7nioAF01U-vvn-DYuUIHy_aNpeqz9o0tpHqufHxitg2E1AnyTvWh75HCs1MrQcPX51b7hVWcuVKdYZ1BvdNdKi5wG2rIPV62ExpJxk-Fw05d/s1600/smith3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUBjE7nlxjlqhVuoBbDqUAoa5-3OUt7Ha7nioAF01U-vvn-DYuUIHy_aNpeqz9o0tpHqufHxitg2E1AnyTvWh75HCs1MrQcPX51b7hVWcuVKdYZ1BvdNdKi5wG2rIPV62ExpJxk-Fw05d/s1600/smith3.jpg" /></a></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In a dark alley?</div>
<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
There was no escaping him and he could not be
defeated. The protagonist was told early in the film:</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
“A little piece of advice…you see an<span style="color: red;"> </span>agent (Smith) you do what
we do- Run!” </div>
</blockquote>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
This reminded me of another Smith. A Smith
just as devastating in its world as the famous agent. I am talking about the free exercise of religion and a largely
forgotten Supreme Court case called <i>Employment
Division v <b>Smith</b></i><b>.</b>
This was a case way back in 1990 in which some people demanded the right
to smoke dope.</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What? How so?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
They demanded the freedom to do so under the free exercise
of religion. You see they were Native Americans and held that peyote was a part
of their faith but the Supreme Court was having none of it and refused but in
reaching this decision they abandoned a key protection for religious
freedom.<br />
<br />
Previously, they had
acknowledged that this First Amendment freedom deserved heightened protection (like the rest of the Bill of Rights). The Government could not violate it unless it could show
it had a “compelling reason that was narrowly tailored” or in other words they
had better have a darn good reason for violating this essential right and had
better do it in the least restrictive way possible.<br />
<br />
In reaching this decision,
they said that a law that was generally applicable to the population (like drug
laws) <b>did not have to meet this exacting standard</b>.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Agent Smith was born.</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWP45iJXgRF9fCD8EGx8GAFxAM5ulcbbAyYcjLt8tUSKzMk9OKuo3qdzh2xk536by8SBGvTSZfTXUPrjhsPxxhwcfvLP9b4MpO5M-7FWx03FtkySPs-B4LwJB1HJrOEA8UUvaBKhB4ZRaZ/s1600/smith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWP45iJXgRF9fCD8EGx8GAFxAM5ulcbbAyYcjLt8tUSKzMk9OKuo3qdzh2xk536by8SBGvTSZfTXUPrjhsPxxhwcfvLP9b4MpO5M-7FWx03FtkySPs-B4LwJB1HJrOEA8UUvaBKhB4ZRaZ/s1600/smith.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since then, if someone claimed a violation of their
Constitutional right to the free exercise of religion they would have to face
Agent Smith and their chances of success were about as likely as the average
rebel in <i>The Matrix.</i></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
What about cases like <i>Burwell
v Hobby Lobby</i>,<i> </i>you might ask? The government
tried to mandate that they had to pay for abortifacients but Hobby Lobby
claimed a violation of their religious freedom and won. </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hobby Lobby did not argue a “free exercise”
case however. They knew they could not defeat Smith. No, they argued based on a
violation of a law Congress had passed. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act
(RFRA). </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is what lawyers have had to resort to in order to gain success
when religious freedom is violated. Because they cannot defeat “Agent Smith”
they have been forced to try arguing based on other things. They have tried the freedom of speech but have failed as it really does
not apply.</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lawyers, though, have had success arguing based on a law passed by the people’s representatives either in
Congress or State Houses. The federal RFRA, state RFRAs, employment laws, the
1964 Civil Rights Act etc.</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
If religious freedom is still maintained, then what is the
problem?</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The problem is that
religious freedom is now only maintained if a majority of people choose to allow
it</b>.</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
If a majority chooses not to, then they will sooner or later
direct their representatives to remove protection. </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
When the Bill of Rights was
added to the Constitution, it was to protect minorities from abuse by
majorities. It represented basic fundamental rights that all people should have
whether they were in the majority or not. With the Supreme Court effectively
removing religious freedom from this protection, by placing the indefatigable Agent Smith before it,
believers are placed at the mercy of the general population.</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
How would believers gain security in their lives if a majority of the American population were to turn against them? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They can't. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In <i>The Matrix</i>, the
only way Agent Smith could be defeated was by someone referred to as “The One”.
Someone who was prophesied, someone who would die but be miraculously raised to
life, someone who was beyond the Matrix. someone new- as it says in the
Greek, <i>Neos.</i></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
Neo.</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FSk2gGnOJsC5vnRYCMOA8YLkWXeVaxO8RNmIG_n6KTYspGdtYZGyphu9uXgB0FbZ_c-4hiezpUpj45NQ24SK26oaLj593zcojhBpjiYmzHb92DpQBEZffVYpYjwmLlkPq6zS9813VB4u/s1600/neo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FSk2gGnOJsC5vnRYCMOA8YLkWXeVaxO8RNmIG_n6KTYspGdtYZGyphu9uXgB0FbZ_c-4hiezpUpj45NQ24SK26oaLj593zcojhBpjiYmzHb92DpQBEZffVYpYjwmLlkPq6zS9813VB4u/s1600/neo.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /></blockquote>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sound familiar?</div>
<br />
Unless a majority of Americans choose to support religious freedom, unless Jesus the Christ is revived in the American heart, then Mr. Smith and his hordes will never be defeated.<br />
<br />
As Morpheus explained in the Matrix:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvl0LDhqy-WbBKFaRHJ1ouFE21sV1b0-ldE_yC0l1fKhGY1xxXmzfIDLthqFo9ctNWSaH6Ld40560w33OphVAm6APqaDKjZP9sgCZa9qvpVB1vwx8_sqqbZCLvhIlgM4vp8HzvC6aG0ul/s1600/morpheus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvl0LDhqy-WbBKFaRHJ1ouFE21sV1b0-ldE_yC0l1fKhGY1xxXmzfIDLthqFo9ctNWSaH6Ld40560w33OphVAm6APqaDKjZP9sgCZa9qvpVB1vwx8_sqqbZCLvhIlgM4vp8HzvC6aG0ul/s1600/morpheus.jpg" /></a>"At first, all they wanted was to be treated as equals, entitled to the same human inalienable rights. Whatever they were given, it was not enough...all they needed to control...was something to occupy our mind."<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Until American hearts and minds are released, there will be no sure footing for religious adherents.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Come quickly, long ago prophesied one. America needs You.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290852359697124577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512645659975604519.post-5253744501683777402015-07-14T13:14:00.000-07:002015-07-16T05:14:18.657-07:00Of Fists and Flags<br />
Recently I spent an evening with what was almost entirely a large group of black Christians as they honored Jesus Christ utilizing a variety of art forms--vocalists, dance, musicians, expressive speeches all carefully crafted to bring Christians together in worship. I was there to support my daughter, who was performing with a group of teenage dancers--all white. No matter. We were Christians!<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."</blockquote>
<br />
As the evening drew to its finale, the organizers brought together all the performers on stage. As the performers assembled, the scene unexpectedly shifted to a political one. Not knowing what was to transpire, the performers had been told to "follow the lead of the organizers at the front" and they dutifully did so. They were marched back and forth across the stage as the screen in back displayed various scenes. There were images of blacks with hands raised saying "hands up, don't shoot" mixed with an image of Martin Luther King Jr. melded together with Barack Obama walking together, hand in hand, down the National Mall.<br />
<br />
My surprise began to turn to outright anger as this display ended with all the performers stopping and raising their clenched fists forward. This symbolic act was one I instantly recognized as hearkening back to this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0MTZg6f5jFngdjjj75SAHtpNw_bYm3LJvssSCyEtYuYSjvDXgAiD0Fd8XourdtmABYdYU8iHCmAGozzRVojz-iDA09ph7hGyiogwDrEqh3LIoKVg2Laa9gkdy1IvimQ5ipd_BTeBZgFo/s1600/power+fist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0MTZg6f5jFngdjjj75SAHtpNw_bYm3LJvssSCyEtYuYSjvDXgAiD0Fd8XourdtmABYdYU8iHCmAGozzRVojz-iDA09ph7hGyiogwDrEqh3LIoKVg2Laa9gkdy1IvimQ5ipd_BTeBZgFo/s320/power+fist.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This was the old Black Panther Party--a group known for advocating militant action in pursuit of its political goals.<br />
<br />
How could this be?! The sight of these teenage white girls with fists raised in solidarity with violent black protest was outrageous.<br />
<br />
As the program ended and hugs and congratulations were extended all around, I grew more reflective. I knew the young, black Christian girl who had organized the event. Her heart was filled with love for Christ and her mixing of King (non-violent protester) with the Black Panthers (violent protesters) told me she did not understand the symbolic nature of that raised fist. In discussions afterwards, I realized many others did not understand the fist as well. That symbol was for me completely offensive but to others it meant something different.<br />
<br />
This got me to thinking about another symbol that is currently wreaking havoc across America:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VRQesH0ucwSSdmjC7Tei3OowfFR6bdPzYRjQSKrXKjzq9iM_58fIfet8-XLvuKon-SyMhHyrqfV9_wcPYZ0AVprvxXnnBE-DSzltioUKlDP5fwQqUWbzAastVIA8EY1vdySzvVprfsDA/s1600/confederate+flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VRQesH0ucwSSdmjC7Tei3OowfFR6bdPzYRjQSKrXKjzq9iM_58fIfet8-XLvuKon-SyMhHyrqfV9_wcPYZ0AVprvxXnnBE-DSzltioUKlDP5fwQqUWbzAastVIA8EY1vdySzvVprfsDA/s1600/confederate+flag.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
For me, this symbol represents self determination, a long ago fight by people I identified with, whose attempt to become a nation failed. The sight of that flag for me brings thoughts of valor on the battlefield, honor, self-sacrifice.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieb_9dh_GTOZ_G3JdyZt1CuI7w2yBOBMlnPUswL1T458CawJnaeZiflXK6QTryzEc0wl22uFY3NXnOgyoHwsDKJNTrbAT2gfARk-yOwdFxqsdJeWynqOKw2cVhMduld5R_3yR18FJERm4w/s1600/flag+charging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieb_9dh_GTOZ_G3JdyZt1CuI7w2yBOBMlnPUswL1T458CawJnaeZiflXK6QTryzEc0wl22uFY3NXnOgyoHwsDKJNTrbAT2gfARk-yOwdFxqsdJeWynqOKw2cVhMduld5R_3yR18FJERm4w/s1600/flag+charging.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I have no doubt what that symbol would represent to that group of black Christians and it is completely different than mine.<br />
<br />
It would likely conjure up images of blacks dangling from trees on ropes, being water hosed, or the KKK.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3sOz7W-EohR_qCqKBodhSJI76swYfnNODYdrL9f81651EpNStkt-qI6-MW6a8EUESrvh7rY_nnxWd8Sglo0beTI_K0hbevmmH6CCI4pr0M1OsSZSrkeOgxnAc7vTDiuxRBMsN1uP8oiQ/s1600/kkk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3sOz7W-EohR_qCqKBodhSJI76swYfnNODYdrL9f81651EpNStkt-qI6-MW6a8EUESrvh7rY_nnxWd8Sglo0beTI_K0hbevmmH6CCI4pr0M1OsSZSrkeOgxnAc7vTDiuxRBMsN1uP8oiQ/s1600/kkk.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Symbols are powerful things and their meanings are different to different people and can change over time. We live in this world and must pay attention to it, but as I age, more and more what is seen in this world fades and what is unseen grows brighter as spoken in the old hymn:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,<br />
Look full in His wonderful face,<br />
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,<br />
In the light of His glory and grace.</blockquote>
<br />
Blacks need to replace the clenched fist with an upraised open hand.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkd44GFhxTElrQ9-lzgPXvXRWdR5T7IJKmwEadhSq3E5DHQN6-qknYr7BVso-7wdMkjg7daE3dX-_A5hxQfV8d-1eNiPtzU5SjH5ZAEoVlSuVMaIQpfxG5tPSXqWHvGmN8xMFiBBefwn6/s1600/open+hand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkd44GFhxTElrQ9-lzgPXvXRWdR5T7IJKmwEadhSq3E5DHQN6-qknYr7BVso-7wdMkjg7daE3dX-_A5hxQfV8d-1eNiPtzU5SjH5ZAEoVlSuVMaIQpfxG5tPSXqWHvGmN8xMFiBBefwn6/s1600/open+hand.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Whites need to replace earthly flags with heavenly ones.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrtLks8khH8zgTDPVvEbzunSgxLzFIb0u2QhA2Ff9h7IQUq1ECR5dSNitxZq9fzjUT0SNhiSPrtCzg-mIX_2pUSHRObWyV6uk8-lYzeleHwP-lUECWiAGWhHIGrhOfRuJFcJcf6YCs5J3/s1600/christian+flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrtLks8khH8zgTDPVvEbzunSgxLzFIb0u2QhA2Ff9h7IQUq1ECR5dSNitxZq9fzjUT0SNhiSPrtCzg-mIX_2pUSHRObWyV6uk8-lYzeleHwP-lUECWiAGWhHIGrhOfRuJFcJcf6YCs5J3/s1600/christian+flag.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
If we as Christians are to fulfill the prayer of Jesus:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. "</blockquote>
<br />
then we must not let our eyes rest too closely on things of this earth, but instead:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith."</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">#confederateflag #blackpanthers</span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290852359697124577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512645659975604519.post-14033540472323029592015-07-04T12:21:00.000-07:002015-07-04T12:21:21.330-07:00Golden Triangle of Freedom<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<i>"...land of the free and home of the brave..."</i></blockquote>
</blockquote>
How many times have you heard those words sung as you rise from your seat with heart stirring?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAmq0gJQBBOWKu7eeLUjivf9d5rFxUlU8VF8le3QP9cEEQMGykZvzVUILsf19iuNQNPM-4Ovd_UCfKsoM0gXqR9Vp-D8gqsAhQ00oVBNl5-lVG1p-4Z1S9yS4JwZ_7sRzcZ5j6DkLd2FT/s1600/free.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAmq0gJQBBOWKu7eeLUjivf9d5rFxUlU8VF8le3QP9cEEQMGykZvzVUILsf19iuNQNPM-4Ovd_UCfKsoM0gXqR9Vp-D8gqsAhQ00oVBNl5-lVG1p-4Z1S9yS4JwZ_7sRzcZ5j6DkLd2FT/s1600/free.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The great thinker Augustine argued that the best way to define a people is by their "loved thing held in common," or what it is they altogether love supremely. Is there any word that would define the common American love better than freedom? When this erupted on the international scene 239 years ago --<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"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,<b> Liberty</b> and the pursuit of Happiness."</i></blockquote>
<br />
the world changed and Americans' passion for freedom has never really vanished. Sadly, as any formerly star struck lover can tell you, time has a way of unraveling the most intense of emotions. How can our love affair with freedom continue? What must be done to sustain our love affair indefinitely?<br />
<br />
The modern day Alexis de Tocqueville, Os Guinness, has considered this question deeply and suggested for this American passion to endure, three things are required. A three pointed triangle, if you will, in which all three support one another in a never ending enduring state.<br />
<br />
Here are the components of this non-ending triangle:<br />
<ol>
<li>Freedom requires virtue</li>
<li>Virtue requires faith</li>
<li>Faith requires freedom</li>
</ol>
and so on infinitely.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2U1foSO4ItvYLi61sdIRrbHe0smBp1MkDTtv2p45frxRt8qLUHT4Hsd_eQbGrHYga_AJZuaLv2XoeGie40h6FN0fvm7ZyOUcMXd4ibHFoVgWs8rUMkRrcc2iLh8avCCAV3sYDfG8pJeBI/s1600/triangle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2U1foSO4ItvYLi61sdIRrbHe0smBp1MkDTtv2p45frxRt8qLUHT4Hsd_eQbGrHYga_AJZuaLv2XoeGie40h6FN0fvm7ZyOUcMXd4ibHFoVgWs8rUMkRrcc2iLh8avCCAV3sYDfG8pJeBI/s1600/triangle.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
The first of these seems self evident and difficult to deny. Virtue, that old word which means high moral excellence, is truly indispensable. Who watching in recent years the wild rioting in the streets have not despaired over the ruinous effect of low morals?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8Uvx6XHfGaNiEOXjtU-KJrqRpSIrqUmjb8f90UL-hTjuBSJp4owd3ja0ctNOhhoDNRkW988dKo4GAgQFrxzAe-osaevsRjSIQLXNjlLO_obPE4HkW7jz0-uZY5vE-1iA33joLwgx82lT/s1600/rioting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8Uvx6XHfGaNiEOXjtU-KJrqRpSIrqUmjb8f90UL-hTjuBSJp4owd3ja0ctNOhhoDNRkW988dKo4GAgQFrxzAe-osaevsRjSIQLXNjlLO_obPE4HkW7jz0-uZY5vE-1iA33joLwgx82lT/s1600/rioting.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
It inevitably follows that, in order to avoid chaos, laws must be passed and enforced to counter bad behavior. Freedom, then, is diminished. As Benjamin Franklin said so long ago:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"No longer virtuous, no longer free; is a maxim as true to a private person as a commonwealth."</i></blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">As virtue decreases, laws increase, and freedom declines.</span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The second point of the triangle, that virtue requires faith of some kind, was something quite clear to the Founders of America. Listen to these words from George Washington in his Farewell address in 1796:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><br /></i><i>And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."</i></blockquote>
<br />
If there is only a view of life as dust to dust, and you are presented with an opportunity to commit a crime in which you believe you can get away with (thus avoiding any lost respect or pain from punishment), then, truly, why not? Conscience? No worries. That is simply the product of social and cultural conditioning, moderns tell us.<br />
<br />
In contrast, religion provides an eternal view in which our actions in this life have repercussions in the next.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">As faith decreases, </span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">virtue decreases, laws increase, and freedom declines.</span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
The last point of the triangle, faith requires freedom, was also readily apparent to the Founders. They were coming out of centuries of bloodshed, the many Wars of Religion and the painfully slow realization that faith needed to be free. As James Madison stated in his monumental work, "Memorial and Remonstrance":<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"We hold it for a fundamental and undeniable truth that religion or the duty which we owe to our Creator and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence."</i></blockquote>
<br />
State mandated religion would only stifle faith, not encourage it. This realization they enshrined in the first clause of the First Amendment:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<i>"Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion..."</i></blockquote>
<br />
They also understood that for faith to flourish, it must not be restricted in its exercise. We have witnessed in the past century the debilitating effect severe restrictions on the exercise of religion had in the Soviet Union and the eastern bloc. East Germany to this day is still significantly more atheist than West Germany. Faith struggles to flourish in a society that does not grant it the freedom to actively work in the public square.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<i>"...or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."</i></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">As freedom decreases, faith decreases, </span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">virtue decreases, laws increase, and freedom declines.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
As I wait to witness the annual fireworks display this July 4, I am feeling like a popular blogger who said recently:<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"These patriotic holidays are becoming more reflective than they are celebratory. I feel like a divorcee on his wedding anniversary. I’m thinking about what once was, rather than rejoicing over what currently is."</i></blockquote>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I believe that faith and virtue are declining in America and thus, slowly, is freedom. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“From whence shall we expect the approach of danger? Shall some trans-Atlantic military giant step the earth and crush us at a blow? Never. All the armies of Europe and Asia...could not by force take a drink from the Ohio River or make a track on the Blue Ridge in the trial of a thousand years. No, if destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher.</i></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i> As a nation of free men we will live forever or die by suicide.”-Lincoln</i></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbruJTJ0k6O9Qu7MfFkJHUBEkm9GzyY6l4jEcPRNQ9E8uEFBLFRSKr5LD7lqy5BCizIRXklSAMTYvEsVd0WRwLFbw5-uPwM5WGOXE0sKpwgGCFDaN2Zd1g_opd86dSYfelVOxQLbha3L8/s1600/flourish2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbruJTJ0k6O9Qu7MfFkJHUBEkm9GzyY6l4jEcPRNQ9E8uEFBLFRSKr5LD7lqy5BCizIRXklSAMTYvEsVd0WRwLFbw5-uPwM5WGOXE0sKpwgGCFDaN2Zd1g_opd86dSYfelVOxQLbha3L8/s1600/flourish2.jpg" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290852359697124577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512645659975604519.post-58039738176150450532015-06-14T11:17:00.000-07:002015-06-14T11:17:27.263-07:00Brewing Storm<br />
Peering through a window, I watch as the trees begin to bend and the leaves start to fall. As I step outside to take a look, I'm immediately greeted by wind and the realization that nature is stirring.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkLjXP1-kmMFStbFQFcrTJnZCGkG4KpJbeNr0mLODCBKTDapUSfCwL7btSswNMyNFxzxPOT5yd0CXNLMlg6dlNhYUb7Z55p8ehjDyU01a6klLWGJ61gkooxrSGSuCtN-dRaVLxLNOA18e/s1600/IMG_3446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkLjXP1-kmMFStbFQFcrTJnZCGkG4KpJbeNr0mLODCBKTDapUSfCwL7btSswNMyNFxzxPOT5yd0CXNLMlg6dlNhYUb7Z55p8ehjDyU01a6klLWGJ61gkooxrSGSuCtN-dRaVLxLNOA18e/s320/IMG_3446.JPG" width="239" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Retreating inside, I sit and continue to read the oral arguments in the case <i>Obergefell v Hodges</i>.<br />
<br />
This is the gay marriage case currently before the Supreme Court. When argued back on April 28th, Justice Scalia inquired of the attorney asking the Court to mandate gay marriage:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGbrC3tRXykxXSCyPlh976r_5dIBoCdSBv5r6hXB-ec9DUzCESbrxmC3BEhkFey46dEELsV2Zlu-WoRRCRyEKTEPhoAEt8WwS1vgPvw-KXkNwNBOM3grrVd6Ldw2ohE7PbCgimYyU-ZFi/s1600/sSC150608_Scalia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGbrC3tRXykxXSCyPlh976r_5dIBoCdSBv5r6hXB-ec9DUzCESbrxmC3BEhkFey46dEELsV2Zlu-WoRRCRyEKTEPhoAEt8WwS1vgPvw-KXkNwNBOM3grrVd6Ldw2ohE7PbCgimYyU-ZFi/s320/sSC150608_Scalia.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Is it conceivable that a minister who is<br />
authorized by the State to conduct marriage can decline<br />
to marry two men if indeed this Court holds that they<br />
have a constitutional right to marry?"</blockquote>
This query roused the liberal members of the Court who quickly denied such a thing and attempted to douse this line of questions concluding with Justice Breyer saying,<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"It's called Congress shall make no law respecting the freedom of religion..."</blockquote>
<br />
I suspect a wry smile may have been present on his face. He supports religious freedom, as long as it is within the four walls of the church that is--outside... not so much. He was, after all, one of the justices who voted in <i>Christian Legal Society v Martinez </i>(2010) to stop a college Christian society from amazingly trying to exclude those who did not hold Christian beliefs.<span style="color: red;"> </span> This<span style="color: red;"> </span>resulted in Justice Alito saying,<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"I can only hope that this decision will turn out to be an aberration." </blockquote>
<br />
Unfortunately, I don't think so.<br />
<br />
As is often the case at oral argument, questions asked are designed to lead the conversation a particular direction and maybe, just maybe, gain an undesired admission.<br />
<br />
A few moments later, Chief Justice Roberts pulled the conversation back:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Counsel, I'd like to follow up in a line of questioning that Justice Scalia started. We have a concession from your friend that clergy will not be required to perform same sex marriage, but there are going to be harder questions. <b>Would a religious school that has married housing be required to afford such housing to same sex couples</b>?"</blockquote>
<br />
When pressed further by Justice Alito, after stammering around a bit in a vain attempt to avoid the question, the attorney finally made the undesired admission:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmAP3t5VzhChSfKl4RakzTou4tu8hjvnShmzA7AKR6yja0YN9hL7Omlk9Rjbobc7GTv8p4s1Sf5tNVUOHef-B4-HVVV38d9GD23jZdRtAHFo6ytsYvVp8tra2VULQBIhhf5kRd63ZaLRh/s1600/court+drawing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmAP3t5VzhChSfKl4RakzTou4tu8hjvnShmzA7AKR6yja0YN9hL7Omlk9Rjbobc7GTv8p4s1Sf5tNVUOHef-B4-HVVV38d9GD23jZdRtAHFo6ytsYvVp8tra2VULQBIhhf5kRd63ZaLRh/s1600/court+drawing.jpg" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
" it's certainly going to be an issue. I... I don't deny that. I don't deny that, Justice Alito. It is... it is going to be an issue."</blockquote>
<br />
The irreverent question asked by Scalia had produced its desired result.<br />
<br />
Outside my window, I see the trees bend just a little further.<br />
<br />
A storm is brewing.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290852359697124577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512645659975604519.post-49916732559861445222015-05-16T10:52:00.000-07:002015-05-18T08:47:35.051-07:00Just the Rain<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOq20n-49lEKkST41Lfk6y5SnUIMp6DVahGORYB_Hu8sceQESMKETjMF0qYhK3CKjbr2g6qeTjDojbmm4tYTHAnXIgyUUWZIpWBgfvShld3XRW7AuNatN4N4HbswcHOpkJqewFH-dADYVe/s1600/bland+face+in+rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOq20n-49lEKkST41Lfk6y5SnUIMp6DVahGORYB_Hu8sceQESMKETjMF0qYhK3CKjbr2g6qeTjDojbmm4tYTHAnXIgyUUWZIpWBgfvShld3XRW7AuNatN4N4HbswcHOpkJqewFH-dADYVe/s1600/bland+face+in+rain.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Flowing, flowing<br />
<br />
across my lips<br />
<br />
endlessly streaming<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Just the rain<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJo7fpCfSmO-MQZ_bu6Nr33jquOHTctC9gap4nMTKFH3R2NlJ8wgAGoKOPQWktl-dAXLR0B5IUPGsE8l0XTHXbMaXFLcT5JU3eDulbEq4xmm7qIz9B7SymQmuQtRPl8Tx1DSmOkBavVF2/s1600/sitting+in+the+rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJo7fpCfSmO-MQZ_bu6Nr33jquOHTctC9gap4nMTKFH3R2NlJ8wgAGoKOPQWktl-dAXLR0B5IUPGsE8l0XTHXbMaXFLcT5JU3eDulbEq4xmm7qIz9B7SymQmuQtRPl8Tx1DSmOkBavVF2/s1600/sitting+in+the+rain.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Rise up, rise up<br />
<br />
the path is before you<br />
<br />
the affliction is behind<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Just the rain<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjE06VtWOyQyImNMQsRAEISQlz16C8iRF435YmdYNXyQRaFkAAlwDWCZNfPCv-SweNagXpdbGDyql2w3Y2N9zstwmKxcnAa-_IkCbL9o_m4JAq-pCORMIYzbOCGxQ5xHW3nxXebHTlHnI/s1600/walking+in+rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjE06VtWOyQyImNMQsRAEISQlz16C8iRF435YmdYNXyQRaFkAAlwDWCZNfPCv-SweNagXpdbGDyql2w3Y2N9zstwmKxcnAa-_IkCbL9o_m4JAq-pCORMIYzbOCGxQ5xHW3nxXebHTlHnI/s1600/walking+in+rain.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Walk on, walk on<br />
<br />
the salt is deceiving<br />
<br />
the pain is deluding<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Just the rain<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290852359697124577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512645659975604519.post-59850088371480617552015-04-05T15:40:00.000-07:002015-04-07T08:41:44.974-07:00 The Open Box: Bush v Gore Revisited<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The most perverse misuse of the Equal Protection Clause I've seen in my 40 years of law."</blockquote>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Alan Dershowitz, Harvard Law Professor on the Bush v Gore decision</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
In the crashing aftermath of the landmark Bush v Gore decision in 2000, a case in which the Court effectively picked the President by a 5-4 margin, entirely along partisan lines, many were enraged. How could the five justices completely ignore their openly avowed conservative principles and, in bold, hypocritical fashion, render a decision based simply on power?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
How could this be?</div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbn1QSpoSGtYBuXkoUKLOMG8T0tyogYg0EBiwkM23aE0enrEzIm5qFYlx75J1Tsq-7FfR4W9JVmqEAlFkMo4SnZrOypIU0TmcbEl5mZWXiXeU-gVK_h1OP8NY1z_s00tMNsgtGR0ytxKeF/s1600/pandoras-box.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbn1QSpoSGtYBuXkoUKLOMG8T0tyogYg0EBiwkM23aE0enrEzIm5qFYlx75J1Tsq-7FfR4W9JVmqEAlFkMo4SnZrOypIU0TmcbEl5mZWXiXeU-gVK_h1OP8NY1z_s00tMNsgtGR0ytxKeF/s1600/pandoras-box.png" height="265" width="320" /></a>Many of us are familiar with the old metaphor of "Pandora's Box". Based on Greek mythology, it was a story of a woman named Pandora who possessed a box that contained all the evils of the world. Unable to restrain herself, she cracked open the forbidden box. Suddenly, out flew these demons, and try as she may, they could not be put back in the box. <br />
<br />
<br />
Today the phrase "to open Pandora's box" means to perform an action that may seem small or innocent, but that turns out to have severely detrimental and far-reaching consequences.<br />
<br />
You see, what happened in Bush v Gore cannot be explained unless you go back in time, back to the days when well meaning justices, thinking of equity in their day, quietly lifted the lid to the forbidden box.<br />
<br />
In the Bush v Gore decision, interestingly the Court only relied on four prior decisions. (One other was mentioned in a perfunctory manner). These decisions were:<br />
<br />
Gray v Sanders (1963)<br />
Reynolds v Sims (1964)<br />
Harper v Virginia Bd. of Elections (1966)<br />
Moore v Ogilvie (1969)<br />
<br />
<br />
All of these decisions were during the era of Chief Justice Earl Warren, a man determined to make things right--even if that meant departing from the Constitution. Justice indeed was achieved but did the end justify the means?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF2_vCLHGUfsXQZWaf8YiofvemuY8n8Gw_TyRUXbolkyvmj6H2gyArW-4JIpIozaoDdxT8zahtpYHSZBJ_lITo4eifVyIOzTGsahGIDesorxCc0NIYLU8whxX07ldqZXgb0MgnLwewhiIw/s1600/earl_warren.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF2_vCLHGUfsXQZWaf8YiofvemuY8n8Gw_TyRUXbolkyvmj6H2gyArW-4JIpIozaoDdxT8zahtpYHSZBJ_lITo4eifVyIOzTGsahGIDesorxCc0NIYLU8whxX07ldqZXgb0MgnLwewhiIw/s1600/earl_warren.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Each of these cases were voting rights cases in which people were unjustly denied proper voting rights. From giving unequal voting power to rural counties, to improper apportionment, to an inability to register, to finally an improper formula for electors. In each case, Warren's Court was clearly achieving justice by invalidating those state laws. All based on the famous dictum stated in the first case, "One Person-One Vote", a concept that has since become ingrained in the conscience of American society.There was only one problem:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Voting rights had been left to the states.</div>
<br />
A dissenting justice, Frankfurter, quoted Representative Bingham, the author of the 14th Amendment (while going through the entire history of the voting rights):<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"To be sure we all agree, and the great body of the people of this country agree, and the committee thus far in reporting measures of reconstruction agree, that the exercise of the elective franchise, though it be one of the privileges of a citizen of the Republic, is exclusively under the control of the States."</blockquote>
<br />
The Warren court had run roughshod over the rights of states and left behind the Constitution. What did the means matter? Did not the end result of justice for the voter justify it?<br />
<br />
In a somber warning, Justice Harlan said this in dissent in Reynolds v Sims:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0UWK9Fb8ewq2aKHxz8v09ewNc34BgS5TH2Im5L7ljGGaFTYkXlTEPuinnVQh2Spx4qXkk9TJsa8HvI4TeOWMUqgYrrlGoaPJtyAqJY2-3UzbbMSvqu71oAMRQgIo1F8x7pWoGBedwA5G/s1600/harlan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0UWK9Fb8ewq2aKHxz8v09ewNc34BgS5TH2Im5L7ljGGaFTYkXlTEPuinnVQh2Spx4qXkk9TJsa8HvI4TeOWMUqgYrrlGoaPJtyAqJY2-3UzbbMSvqu71oAMRQgIo1F8x7pWoGBedwA5G/s1600/harlan.jpg" /></a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"What is done today deepens my conviction that judicial entry into this realm is profoundly ill-advised and constitutionally impermissible. As I have said before, I believe that the vitality of our political system, on which in the last analysis all else depends, is weakened by reliance on the judiciary for political reform."</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Let's return now to 2000. Though accused of departing from their conservative principles, there is one legal principle held by all justices of every judicial stripe. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3d1AOGK7-K4EWUbR1l21Ik-1IBffmoFWZlCgbcf9CFjUCHpDsLybMwIKQkVceIvTi7VXic612bxEz8cOg-ghBEr6aiLF3n5Ju1l-HUcHrZI0ScwPcbgXWYPbYMsdyW013rolX9NdTHPWF/s1600/stare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3d1AOGK7-K4EWUbR1l21Ik-1IBffmoFWZlCgbcf9CFjUCHpDsLybMwIKQkVceIvTi7VXic612bxEz8cOg-ghBEr6aiLF3n5Ju1l-HUcHrZI0ScwPcbgXWYPbYMsdyW013rolX9NdTHPWF/s1600/stare.jpg" height="140" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
A legal principle by which judges are obliged to respect the precedent established by prior decisions. If Courts flip flopped back and forth from session to session society would have no firm footing upon which to live lives. Courts will reluctantly depart from this principle only rarely. Conservative jurist Scalia has said he will follow precedent, even if unconstitutional, if it involves a new legal principle that has been "generally accepted by society". (p 412 Reading Law)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Who would deny that "one person one vote" has been generally accepted?</div>
<br />
<br />
The "Pandoras" on the Court in 2000 desperately tried to put the ghosts back in the "state" box. Witness their vain attempts:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"When questions arise about the meaning of state laws, including election laws, it is our settled practice to accept the opinions of the highest courts of the States as providing the final answers."-<span style="font-size: x-small;">Stevens</span></blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2qMrZJiq2thSrMO_IOdVBM2zuX3oo12Cwml46TnGN9WXFHp5TmR1OXWQa9OvfybY5DGZe0OUfjW1qByDMwVFQo4iHn4T6vjW4P2gRxeZqXeO-Khrq2shc6lZnlsPk45n2C18ccULlygm/s1600/stevens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2qMrZJiq2thSrMO_IOdVBM2zuX3oo12Cwml46TnGN9WXFHp5TmR1OXWQa9OvfybY5DGZe0OUfjW1qByDMwVFQo4iHn4T6vjW4P2gRxeZqXeO-Khrq2shc6lZnlsPk45n2C18ccULlygm/s1600/stevens.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The extraordinary setting of this case has obscured the ordinary principle that dictates its proper resolution: Federal courts defer to a state high court's interpretations of the State's own law. This principle reflects the core of federalism, on which all agree. "The Framers split the atom of sovereignty. It was the genius of their idea that our citizens would have two political capacities, one state and one federal, each protected from incursion by the other." <span style="font-size: x-small;">Ginsburg</span></blockquote>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIF8ysTiMK_BPJhpBQFH_xdaQdLAJ1FYOMr6RAUYMw-Vl2RfNl6KRu76FsXJ1hJzMrten7vMGwXIAmvaBB63el9QoqCnzHtD-cQVHfyVkCZfslCbPzbtN9aeCubA47gK1tLCmhvLhnSSHr/s1600/ginsburg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIF8ysTiMK_BPJhpBQFH_xdaQdLAJ1FYOMr6RAUYMw-Vl2RfNl6KRu76FsXJ1hJzMrten7vMGwXIAmvaBB63el9QoqCnzHtD-cQVHfyVkCZfslCbPzbtN9aeCubA47gK1tLCmhvLhnSSHr/s1600/ginsburg.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Really?</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
They were about 40 years too late.<br />
The demons could not be returned to the box.</div>
<br />
<br />
"Many liberals were brought up to believe that whatever happened to the other branches of government, the Supreme Court belonged to 'us'. It was 'ours'.<i> </i><b>Bush v Gore</b><i> </i><b>demonstrated the harm in empowering the courts to become actively involved in solving the nations's political problems--a harm liberals ignored as long as the solutions were ones they favored.</b>"<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Dershowitz-Supreme Injustice (p 196)</div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">#bushvgore</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290852359697124577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7512645659975604519.post-76117763700141347642015-02-26T09:57:00.000-08:002015-02-26T09:57:25.804-08:00 Broken Together<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
What do you think about when you look at me?</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2EJ-RWyM5yoEf8yOesYlePUo9fQDejlonHfBlWLhr4_xQ76rUaVgIa_nxxt-0ycdKXdWBJD8f7wEG3MS0tHNAOwwV6tt6JtdXHsiYabl-uvPVMIlUf-1s-qZvI3DlIEedKnw9vWjk0M1/s1600/look+at+husband.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2EJ-RWyM5yoEf8yOesYlePUo9fQDejlonHfBlWLhr4_xQ76rUaVgIa_nxxt-0ycdKXdWBJD8f7wEG3MS0tHNAOwwV6tt6JtdXHsiYabl-uvPVMIlUf-1s-qZvI3DlIEedKnw9vWjk0M1/s1600/look+at+husband.jpg" height="156" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I know we are not the fairy tale you dreamed we would be</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You wore the veil, you walked the aisle, you took my hand</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8z803jrOh-hFNdrEWK_pD1JMmHuNgmSP0wSLMyjxpeH3ZQzKzMGwbcrK6oauX0Py3c6-RIMkr7PoaOPryo9XY6n_LpJlG0hrzgSjD6c90zIp-lmpj6IHzsKKvI63FAlWUK0AGv0JRsUr/s1600/wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8z803jrOh-hFNdrEWK_pD1JMmHuNgmSP0wSLMyjxpeH3ZQzKzMGwbcrK6oauX0Py3c6-RIMkr7PoaOPryo9XY6n_LpJlG0hrzgSjD6c90zIp-lmpj6IHzsKKvI63FAlWUK0AGv0JRsUr/s1600/wedding.jpg" /></a></div>
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We dove into a mystery</div>
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How I wish we could go back to simpler times</div>
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Before all our scars and all our secrets were in the light</div>
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Now on this hallowed ground, we've drawn the battle lines</div>
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Can we make it through the night ?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VmuV9WONUUulzN92KXSpU7slFAmYm350viJ98phmpdo8y10mqDXxPkBgJT3cI4JVy2WXrlftKE6XIibjvploSWXHax3ivwyHGbKe_Ca_dyUIQ_Y8GFQvpzzLUr7T-MaQm_AqVNLgs1R9/s1600/287_Bedroom+Sadness_Jackie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VmuV9WONUUulzN92KXSpU7slFAmYm350viJ98phmpdo8y10mqDXxPkBgJT3cI4JVy2WXrlftKE6XIibjvploSWXHax3ivwyHGbKe_Ca_dyUIQ_Y8GFQvpzzLUr7T-MaQm_AqVNLgs1R9/s1600/287_Bedroom+Sadness_Jackie.jpg" height="320" width="222" /></a></div>
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It's going to take much more than promises this time</div>
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Only God can change our minds</div>
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Maybe you and I were never meant to be complete</div>
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Could we just be broken together?</div>
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If you can just bring your shattered dreams and I'll bring mine</div>
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Could healing still be spoken and save us?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5gOfjpwpTNpSWWsRgZOQFrGYgjM134QG12104EXgZsbXNbYpAFTEOTyU_50t45q84e2h5n8pnMMw4TIF84OgQPEJyu-nIznUBiczT0goop1qOwyZ6W7xJCOUolVaDTBh8R0D2UqkPOe7/s1600/o-HANDS-REACHING-facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5gOfjpwpTNpSWWsRgZOQFrGYgjM134QG12104EXgZsbXNbYpAFTEOTyU_50t45q84e2h5n8pnMMw4TIF84OgQPEJyu-nIznUBiczT0goop1qOwyZ6W7xJCOUolVaDTBh8R0D2UqkPOe7/s1600/o-HANDS-REACHING-facebook.jpg" height="312" width="320" /></a></div>
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The only way we'll last forever is broken together</div>
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How it must have been so lonely by my side</div>
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We were building kingdoms and chasing dreams and left love behind</div>
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I'm praying God will help our broken hearts align</div>
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I won't give up the fight</div>
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Please--Let's be broken together</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Casting Crowns</span></div>
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