The Power of the People

It has been a while since I've written. Between a hectic work schedule with far too much travel, the holiday season, and a temporary computer outage, I've completely blown my goal of keeping this blog updated. I've also been dedicating some time to another project that I look forward to sharing details about on this blog sometime in the Spring. But its a new year, so I'll pick up the shattered pieces of a goal left un-achieved, and start anew.

Despite my negligence in actually writing blog posts, there have been a number of them rambling around in my mind over the past couple of months. There is a lot I want to write about. I've mentally composed posts on global warming, Congress becoming an elite class, the origin of rights, a look back at the impact of 2009 on preserving our freedoms, and at least 3 other topics, including, of course, healthcare.

But what is most on my mind at the moment, that I'd like to spend a few minutes addressing, is the outcome of the special election in MA to fill the senate seat vacated by Ted Kennedy. In the last couple of posts way back in November we discussed the small victories that had occurred in elections in New Jersey and Virginia and how these races have provided an example of what can happen when people take a stand and make their voices heard. The following post then focused on how we can ensure those running for office in the upcoming 2010 mid-term elections hear our voices and know what is expected of them if they wish to represent us.

I pick up that theme again in looking back at what happened in Massachussetes earlier this week. Massachussettes is arguably the most liberal state in the union. It is a bastion of left leaning thought that has served as a base for the Democratic party. This is the land of Teddy Kennedy, John Kerry, and Barney Frank. When one considers the prevailing center-right mentality of the nation as a whole, Massachussettes is generally looked at as an outlier. But the radical nature of what is happening in our country has proven too much for even this bluest of all blue states. So the voices of the people banded together to express their will.

It has been altogether interesting and amusing to watch many of the pundits and commentators on television, who clearly support a progressive agenda for our country, as they've reported on the outcome of this race and the movement that produced it. It is shockingly clear how out of touch these people have become with the mainstream mindset, even among independents and average members of the Democratic Party.

Here is one amusing example: (I was unable to edit out the last few minutes of this segment. To avoid some unnecessary and distasteful comments, stop this clip after the first 4 minutes)



There has been no shortage of commentary over the past three days outlining the implications of this election. Many are calling it a referendum on the radically progressive policies of the Obama administration. Its also widely reported that this outcome sends a resounding message about the feelings of the American people specifically regarding government run healthcare. Some claim it is a victory in maintaining a balance of power between the different branches of government. Practically everyone seems to agree that the outcome of the election will make it significantly more difficult for Obama, Pelosi, and Reid to accomplish their stated agenda.

I agree with all of this analysis. But, I think the most important outcome of this election is the confirmation that despite all the efforts to disrupt and undermine our democratic system, which occur both overtly and covertly in this age, power still rests with "We the People" to shape the direction of our country.  This is one of the key answers to how our liberty can be defended and perpetuated. The people of the United States are still a powerful force that cannot be silenced, despite the nefarious efforts of many. We are still the source of governmental power in this republic. That has not been lost yet. When the people of the United States, even in liberal Massachussettes, band together in support of our liberty, victories can be achieved.

Just as the small victories we discussed back in November in Virginia and New Jersey teach some valuable lessons, so to does the monumental election we just witnessed in Mass. The lesson I hope we all learn is that our voices do count for something, and banding together across the nation we can make a difference. The lesson I hope all of the elected representatives across America learn is that if they disregard the voice of the people and continue to move our country away from the principles upon which it was founded, they will lose the privilege of representing us.

Let's keep standing together and do what we can to keep the flame of liberty burning in this great land!

Thanks,
Richard

A Cascade of Voices

In the last post made to this blog I spoke about a letter I would be drafting for those entering the 2010 congressional elections. My intent is to outline for those seeking my vote exactly what it would take to earn my support. There are a lot of incumbents across the country who will be seeking re-election. There are also many challengers who feel they will be better suited to represent the people within their states and districts. In a few cases the sitting senators or elected representatives are retiring from office, and new candidates from both parties will be seeking to fill their vacant seats.

In fairness to those who will be campaigning for my vote, and in an attempt to use my vote to shape the direction of our nation in the way I believe to be most appropriate, I have pulled together this letter to outline for them what I expect of the successful candidate. The way I see it, candidates for office are actually applicants applying for a job. It is you and I collectively who make the hiring decision. It would not be fair to hire someone for a job if they did not know what was expected of them, right?

Our country is at a cross-roads. We are going to either preserve the nation and system of government inspired by God and laid out by our founding fathers, or we are going to witness the founding of a new America. The are many clamoring to be the founding fathers of a new nation that will have very little resemblance to the land we know and love. Our votes in the upcoming elections are not just votes for individual candidates, they are votes for what future we want to see for America. As outlined in the last post, some citizens in a few states have already started to let their voices be heard. They shouted a clear message. . . with their votes. We can do the same.

And so, back to the letter. I have provided the link below to a letter that I will be sending to those seeking office in my home state in the 2010 mid-term elections. I want them to know where I stand and where they need to stand if they want my vote and any influence I wield in shaping the opinions, and thereby the votes, of others.

Letter to Candidates For Office

I invite all to join me in this. You are welcome to use my letter if you would like. And by all means, please share with anyone else who you feel may adhere to the same views and would send the letter to those seeking office in their area. Or, perhaps this has stirred some thoughts in your own minds and you'd like to draft a letter of your own. I would love to see the offices of all candidates seeking office in 2010 flooded with such letters.

To help you with this, if you are interested, I'm also including the following link to see who is running for open seats  in November across all 50 states for both Senate and House. Simply click on your state to see who is running for each position, and determine who you want to send a letter to.

Who's Running In My State -- House and Senate

If you draft a letter of your own, please share with the rest of us to help stimulate ideas. If you choose to use my letter, I apologize for my long windedness (if that's even a word), but I hope you can use it nonetheless. Together we can join to make a cascade of voices that will be heard and respected by those seeking to represent us.

Thanks and God bless. . .

Richard

_________________________________________________________________

All Class III Senate seats are up for re-election in November of 2010:

Bayh, Evan (D-IN)
Bennet, Michael F. (D-CO)
Boxer, Barbara (D-CA)
Burris, Roland W. (D-IL)
Dodd, Christopher J. (D-CT)
Dorgan, Byron L. (D-ND)
Feingold, Russell D. (D-WI)
Inouye, Daniel K. (D-HI)
Leahy, Patrick J. (D-VT)
Lincoln, Blanche L. (D-AR)
Mikulski, Barbara A. (D-MD)
Murray, Patty (D-WA)
Reid, Harry (D-NV)
Schumer, Charles E. (D-NY)
Specter, Arlen (D-PA)
Wyden, Ron (D-OR)
Bennett, Robert F. (R-UT)
Bond, Christopher S. (R-MO) - Retiring, will not seek reelection
Brownback, Sam (R-KS) - Retiring, will not seek reelection
Bunning, Jim (R-KY)  - Retiring, will not seek reelection
Burr, Richard (R-NC)
Coburn, Tom (R-OK)
Crapo, Mike (R-ID)
DeMint, Jim (R-SC)
Grassley, Chuck (R-IA)
Gregg, Judd (R-NH) - Retiring, will not seek reelection
Isakson, Johnny (R-GA)
LeMieux, George S. (R-FL) - Retiring, will not seek reelection
McCain, John (R-AZ)
Murkowski, Lisa (R-AK)
Shelby, Richard C. (R-AL)
Thune, John (R-SD)
Vitter, David (R-LA)
Voinovich, George V. (R-OH) - Retiring, will not seek reelection

Small Victories

Its easy to be disheartened when so many things around you seem to be going wrong. The giants of history are those men and women who were able to transcend the moment when failure seemed assured and the path to victory was completely hidden from view. Have you ever wondered how Abraham Lincoln kept going when half the Union had seceded and families were raising arms against their own? It must have seemed an impossible task for him to hold the nation together and remain true to what he believed was right. Or what about George Washington? Imagine how he must have felt in the winter of 1776. His ragtag army had just suffered humiliating defeats and had been forced to retreat across the state of New York. The conscriptions of a large portion of his troops were on the verge of expiring and he stood to lose any semblance of a fighting force to go against the British. There were few people anywhere in the world that believed this revolution could ever succeed. I can’t imagine a situation in which failure could appear more assured. How did he muster the courage to cross the Delaware on Christmas Eve to attack forces in Trenton and then Princeton, effectively marking the turning point in the revolution?

Somehow these men, and others throughout history, retained their faith and vision, their courage and commitment. As we seek to emulate them, one way we can keep hope alive is to recognize small victories along the way. This is particularly true for those of us choosing to engage in the battle to preserve the nation we love and the freedoms it represents. When we hear the talking heads in Washington setting an agenda that is contrary to everything we hold dear, and do so with indifference and disdain for the opinion of those they represent, it can seem like a lost cause. Imagine the audacity of Nancy Pelosi to simply laugh off a US citizen who asked her where congress derives the authority to force Americans to enroll in healthcare coverage or be fined by the government. Rather than engage in dialogue to defend her position (although it is, in my view, indefensible) she was dismissive and disrespectful. This would be nothing more than an unfortunate incident if it had not become the modus operandi of politicians in Washington. I’m struck by the arrogance of politicians who label Americans who disagree with their views as ignorant, uneducated, or racist. The institutions of power, from politicians to media outlets to Hollywood are clearly committed to moving America away from our traditional moorings and initiating a socialist inspired new world. It would certainly appear that the house holds the advantage and the American people are about to lose their chips. In some ways it’s reminiscent of General Washington’s predicament so many years ago.

But like Lincoln and Washington, we should not give up the fight. When it seems that we’re faltering and the chances of success seem to be slipping away, we become aware of small victories along the way that give us hope and remind us that the fight can and must go on.

This past week I was driving from New York City to the location of a business meeting I had scheduled in New Jersey. As I merged onto the Jersey Turnpike and crossed over into New Jersey, I was greeted by a large sign welcoming me on behalf of Governor John S. Corzine to the state. As I saw this sign, I couldn’t help but smile as it caused me to think about one of these small victories. It was just the night before that the citizens of New Jersey went to the polls and exercised their democratic right to remove Mr. Corzine from office. Many of you are aware that the outgoing governor of New Jersey is very liberal and has a view of the role of government different than what was envisioned by the founders of our nation. So it certainly can be considered a victory that the voice of the people rejected an individual who does not defend economic freedom and individual liberty. But this victory is even more noteworthy when considering that New Jersey has traditionally been one of the most solid liberal strong holds in our nation. The victorious candidate, Chris Christie is not as staunchly conservative as I, or others, would like, but the fact that an incumbent democrat was unseated by a republican challenger in New Jersey indicates a substantial message being sent by the public . .  and this is a victory for the conservative movement.

There was also a victory achieved in the state of Virginia on Tuesday night. Similar to the change achieved in New Jersey, a democratic governor was defeated by a republican challenger. In this case the victor, Bob McDonnell is not only Republican, but considered conservative in his political philosophy (unfortunately republican and conservative are no longer synonymous).

In the 23rd Congressional District of New York, perhaps the biggest victory of the night was achieved . . . and it occurred within an electoral loss. This race was supposed to be a battle between the democratic candidate, Bill Owens, and Dierdre Scozzafava, the candidate backed by the republican party. The problem, however, was that Scozzafava, despite being the republican candidate, does not represent conservatism and cleaves to fairly liberal ideology. With the two parties not presenting any real alternative in their candidates, the usually dormant Conservative Party in New York came to life. Doug Hoffman ran as a conservative candidate and sent a resounding message to both the republican party, and the nation. Although the democrat, Bill Owens, ended up winning the election, he edged Hoffman by only about 5,000 votes. The RINO candidate backed by the party, who actually withdrew from the race 3 days before the election and promptly endorsed the democratic candidate, left her name on the ballot and received only a paltry 5.5% of the vote total.

Democrats across the nation are pointing to this race as an indicator that the public is still choosing liberal candidates. However, the facts that Hoffman was a late entrant to the race, destroyed the prospects of the republican party candidate, represented a third party, and lost only by the narrowest of margins, cannot be ignored. This race has shown that the republican base is insisting on a return to traditional conservatism. Party leaders, take note. . .

These are small victories in the context of a broader fight to preserve our liberty, but victories nonetheless. There are a couple of reasons why these local elections represent much more than victories for just the states and districts wherein they occurred. First, these victories demonstrate that there is a shift occurring in the minds and hearts of the public in some of the most liberal areas of our nation. Second, the citizens of New Jersey, Virginia, and New York have given us an example of what can be done across our nation. Where elected representatives and public servants fail to uphold our constitution and preserve the role of government intended for our nation, they can and must be removed from office. This is the mandate of our founding fathers and the responsibility of those who love liberty. Those elected to public office serve at the pleasure of the citizens they represent. If they lose sight of this most important fact, the citizens they serve must remove them from their positions. These three states have shown the power of the electoral process, and a message has been sent.

Citizens of all states should sit up and take notice. We have the same opportunity to exercise the power of “we the people” and shape the direction of our land. In 2010 many of our nation’s elected representatives will be facing re-election in the congressional mid-terms. They are applying for a job, and we are making the hiring decision. I intend to send a very clear message to those in my state who will be seeking to retain their employment. I invite you all, regardless of the state wherein you reside, to join me.

In the next post on this blog I will be sharing a letter that I am going to send to those seeking reelection in my state. This letter will outline for each of them what I expect them to do and stand for if they would like to receive my vote and my influence in gaining additional votes. I will then send follow-up letters between now and next November reviewing how they’re doing in living up to these expectations. I want it to be very clear to them that they will face fierce opposition in their re-election efforts, unless they stand for the principles of individual liberty, economic freedom, and fiscal responsibility.

Once you see the letter in the upcoming post, I hope you’ll either use that letter as a template, or create one of your own to send to those holding public office in your state. It would be great to have their offices flooded with such letters making it abundantly clear what is expected of them if they want to retain the positions many of them seem to covet so highly.

Small victories can be very large when it comes to inspiring us forward. Thank you to the citizens of New York, New Jersey, and Virginia for supplying us with this gleam of hope in the face of the odds we face in our battle. Let us now carry on and be the purveyors of more small victories that will lead to larger victories, and inevitably overall success.

Richard

Halloween Frightmares

Ahhh, the autumn season. This is the time of year many look forward to. The air is getting crisp, the leaves are changing to beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow, the harvest is coming in, and Saturdays are filled with college football games. Its also the time of year the days get shorter and we start to spend more time in the dark. No wonder that its also the time of year for all things goulish and macabre. I must admit that although I'm not a big fan of horror movies, I can't resist settling in on a dark October night to watch a good ghost story. It just seems to get me in the mood for Halloween. One reason I'm not an afficionado of the scary of movie is that they just don't seem to scare me much anymore. I guess I've become too pragmatic in my old age and what seemed creepy and suspenseful when I was younger, just doesn't faze me. I don't get the adrenaline rush and sit up on the edge of my seat like I used to.

But I have to admit that this Halloween season I found myself scared out of my wits. No, its not because we're once again haunted by the specter of the BCS system, although that does send a chill down my spine.  I'm scared because of the following quote I read from a series of essays written in the late 19th century and compiled by famous playwright and avid socialist George Bernard Shaw. The essays are titled the Fabian Essays on Socialism, and were an authoritative source on how to acheive socialism through a slow and drawn out process of gradual change.

Before sharing the quote that chilled me to the bone, let me give some very quick background on Fabian Socialism. The Fabians are a group of English socialists who believed that rather than acheiving socialist rule through revolution, such as the approach advocated by some and adopted by Lenin in the Russian revolution of 1917, it could be acheived by slow, methodical change over a long period of time. The society was named for the Roman General Fabius who won battles through long, drawn-out engagements of attrition rather than through heavy conflict. Ultimately, the objective of the Fabian Socialists is identical to that of other socialist philosophies, including communism, but simply advocates a different set of tactics for acheiving that objective.

Anyway, getting back to our tale of fright, as I was doing some background reading I came across the following statement about how the fabian approach can be used to undermine a capitalist system and achieve socialstic ends.

"The private capitalist, however, will still be in business, producing and distributing on his own account in competition with the communal organization, which at present will have occupied only part of the industrial field. But. . . these private enterprises will be carried on under circumstances of ever-increasing difficulty. . . After a while the private producers will disappear, not because there will be any law against individualist production, but because they will not pay."

What, you ask, is so frightening about this statement? Well, let me explain by translating this statement using language a bit more familiar to our current national dialogue. Try this on for size.

"The private health insurance provider, however, will still be in business issuing insurance packages in competition with the public option, which at present will have occupied only part of the industry. But. . . . these private health insurance providers will operate under circumstances of ever-increasing difficulty. . . After a while the private health insurance providers will disappear, not because there will be any law against private insurance, but because they will not be able to make money."

We're all painfully aware of the ongoing debate around the future of healthcare in our country. Almost everyone has an opinion either for or against the proposals currently circulating in Washington. Whatever people may feel about the current state of healthcare or the need for reform, it is important to understand that the central aspect of this debate has very little to do with healthcare or insuring those in our country who don't currently have coverage. The core of the current healthcare debate is the expansion of governmental control.

Over the last couple of weeks liberal Senators have insisted that they will not support a healthcare bill that does not include a public option. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has replaced the public option that had temporarily been removed from the legislation. The rationale our elected representatives have provided for including a public option is that it is necessary to introduce competition into the marketplace. This is an explanation that borders on complete absurdity when considering how a market actually works in a free enterprise system. Rather than fostering competition, the presence of a government entity can only eliminate private options. How can an organization that must create shareholder value and earn profit compete with an entity that can run at perennial losses and be continually subsidized by tax payer proceeds? It is clear that the insistence of a public option in the healthcare industry is not intended to spur competition, it is intended to acheive a single payer system in which all healthcare will be controlled by the government.

It is enlightening, infuriating, and frightening to see that the tactic being used by those in power is not new. It is directly out of the playbook developed by the fabians over a century ago.

Take a few minutes to watch the following video clip. You'll see even more clearly that the intent is not to improve our healthcare situation, but rather to gain governmental control over a vast portion of our economy. If this happens, the reach of government into our lives and the suspension of individual liberty will be immense.



As we consider those elements threatening our liberty today, we must see the current battle for what it is. One of the underhanded tactics of the ages is to keep people from seeing the true nature of the battle. In our nation today, there is a fundamental struggle occurring between the forces of freedom and the forces of tyranny. It is preserving the America founded by inspired men, characterized by free markets and individual liberty, or it is transitioning to a new America characterized by socialism and pervasive government control. .Those wishing to change America, however, are taking great care to hide their intentions. We must take note that what is happening today, as exemplified by the current healthcare debate, is nothing more than a method of converting a capatilistic nation to socialism.

I've outgrown being scared by Hollywood's tales of fright, because as much as I try to suspend disbelief, I know its all make-believe. It just takes the edge off and keeps my adrenaline levels and heart rate in check. But this horror story of liberty being lost has me shaking in my boots. But this can still be a story with a happy ending if we stand up now in defense of our liberty.

Thanks,
Richard

References:

- Fabian Essays on Socialism, Doubleday & Co., New York p. 195. Also found online at http://oll.libertyfund.org/?option=com_staticxt&staticfile=show.php%3Ftitle=298
- The Fabian Society London School of Economics and Political Science http://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/LSEHistory/fabian.htm

What Comes Next. . .

Since this blog was started earlier this year, there have been several different topics addressed. We've discussed whether or not America is traveling a road that could lead to what David O. McKay called the "soul destroying land of socialism". We reviewed some fundamental principles that are essential to preserving liberty, and the importance of helping our children cleave to true principles. Then there have been many posts discussing the price that has been paid for our liberty, those who paid that price, and the responsibility we have in our day to bear our portion of liberty's cost.

This blog has tried to outline the mainstay of freedom that has been our heritage, and the fact that our country is changing in ways that threaten to diminish our individual liberties. In many ways this has been an attempt on my part to raise a faint and feeble voice of warning about the need to preserve the liberty to exercise our agency, which I believe is a fundamental part of God's plan for His children.

It is my intent to now start using this blog to take a closer look at those things happening in our nation today, review how these things contribute to the preservation or peril of our freedom, and to hopefully explore some ways that each of us, both as individuals and as a people, can stand up to defend our liberty and way of life. By doing this we can view actual examples of our freedom in jeopardy, and come up with ways to intervene in defense of our liberty.

But I'd like to take just one more opportunity to share a few thoughts about how important it has become to defend the freedoms we possess. This time, however, it will be in the words of someone whose voice is much more articulate and empassioned than mine.

Please consider the following words from Ezra Taft Benson:

"The one great revolution in the world today is the revolution for human liberty. This was the paramount issue we all faced in the great council in heaven before this earth life. It has been the issue throughout the ages. It is the issue today.
"It is difficult for Americans to understand the danger to our liberty. 'It is generally outside the range of our experience.'
"But we live today in an age of peril. We are threatened with the loss not only of material wealth but of something far more precious--our liberty itself.
"Never before in the history of our country has there been a greater need for all of our people to take time to discover what is happening in the world. Every day decisions are being made affecting the lives ofmillions of human beings.
"We as a people have never known bondage. Liberty has always been our blessed lot. Few of us have ever seen people who have lost their freedom--their liberty. And when reminded of the danger of losing our liberty and independence our attitude has usually been--It cannot hapen here.
"We must never forget that nations may--and they usually do-- sow the seeds of their own destruction while enjoying unprecedented prosperity.
"The children of Israel were willing to sacrifice liberty and wanted Moses to be their king. Generations later their descendants begged Samuel the Prophet to give them a king. He pointed out the fallacy of their reasoning.
"Samuel, like other great spiritual leaders both ancient and modern, saw the results that would follow the surrender of liberty.
"In that sacred volume of scripture, the Book of Mormon, we note the great and prolonged struggle for liberty. We also note the complacency of the people and their frequent willingness to give up their liberty for the promises of a would-be provider.
"The record reveals that men 'of cunning device. . . and . . . many flattering words, ' . . . sought. . . . 'to destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted unto them. . .'
"Then Moroni, the chief commander of the armies. . . dramatically rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it--'In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children'--and he fastened it upon the end of a pole. . . . (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty, to rest upon his brethren. . . .' (Alma 46)
"This great general Moroni, like the prophets whose words are recorded in the Book of Mormon, spoke of the Americas as a choseen land--the land of liberty. He led the people in battle who were willing to fight to 'maintain their liberty.'
"This is our need today--to plant the standard of libety amoung our people throughout the Americas.
"While this incident ocurred some seventy years before Christ, the struggle continued through one thousand years as covered by this sacred Book of Mormon record. In fact, the struggle for liberty is a continuing one--it is with us in a very real sense today right here on this choice land of the Americas.
". . . There are, of course, many reasons. Our apathy--our complacent indifference is a major cause. Today, in America we are living in a fool's paradise. We have permitted ourselves to be pacified and lulled away into carnal security as the Book of Mormon prophets predicted.
" As a people who have known only liberty we are inclined to feel it cannot happen here. We have become lulled away into a false security.
". . . .Yes, we all say, we love liberty. But that is not enough. We must protect and safeguard that which we love. We must save liberty. God grant us the wisdom and courage so to do, before it is too late. "

So there we have it, from someone with much more authority and credibility on the matter than I could ever hope to attain.

If we love liberty, which I know we all do, whether or not it is at the front of our mind or just taken as granted, then "we must save liberty"! Please participate in this blog as one form of standing up in defense of liberty. As the coming content of this blog looks at examples of our freedom being lost, and explores ways to preserve it, please take the time to comment and add your voice to the dialogue, then share this blog with everyone you can so more and more people are involved in the discussion. In this way we can work together to make our individual contributions to this small discussion forum, which can lead to more and more people taking a stand. . . but it means we all must be active in sharing our thoughts, feelings and opinions.

Thanks,
Richard

Source: The Title of Liberty, A Warning Voice. Ezra Taft Benson (compiled by Mark A. Benson) Deseret Book Company pp 92-103

Snake Oil Salesmen In Our Midst

There are those in our country who believe America is the greatest country on earth. I am one of those people. I believe that not only is America the greatest country on our planet, but it is the greatest nation in all of history. America has led the world in truth, justice, freedom, goodness, and compassion. People are not perfect, therefore our nation is not perfect, but it is a chosen land with a government inspired by God. I believe, as stated by Alexis De' Tocqueville, that America is great because America is good. I believe that the American system has lifted millions out of poverty, relieved untold amounts of suffering, and dignified the human condition.

There are also those in our country who believe America is the source of many of the world's problems. They believe America is a nation of greed, pride, excess and selfishness. These people advocate a nation in which government assumes the responsibility to care for and support the nation, because individuals are not good enough to maintain this responsibility for themselves and their neighbors. They believe that free enterprise and personal liberty can only end in selfishness and greed. They believe that the state must step in to override the greed of people. They believe that people are inherently bad, and that an inherently good government is the antitode to human frailty. They believe that the system upon which our nation was founded is flawed, that the experiment has failed, and that its time to "fundamentally change" America.

We've had these two groups of people in our nation throughout its history, and we undoubtedly always will.

Please take a few minutes to watch this cartoon produced in 1948 by Harding College.



As you viewed this cartoon clip, I'm sure many things jumped out at you as they did at me. Let me share just a few of my observations about this, then I'd love to hear some of your comments.

• This was produced in 1948. The battle we're facing is not new. But today we are much more vulnerable than we have been in previous decades. Never before has our society been so spiritually bereft and estranged from God. This makes us much more susceptible to the guiles of those peddling "isms" as the way to salvation. Those who espouse the philosophy of change are much more deeply entrenched in positions of power and influence today than at any point in our history. The executive branch and the myriad of advisors, counselers, ministers and czars are more radical in their belief that America should change than ever before. This brings us closer to the cliff's edge than we've ever been. If we reach the tipping point and go over the edge, we will land on the hard surface of socialism. With the state of government and society in this day, what was once considered a potential danger has today become nothing less than looming catastrophe.
• There are three principle groups in this clip. One group represents the voice of change, wanting America to discard the current system and adopt a new system characterized by "isms" (socialism, statism, communism, fascism. . . its all fundamentally the same). He promises that change to a new system will solve everyone's problems because the state (government) will take care of everything.. Sound familiar??? A snake oil salesman if ever there was one. The second group is the American public. Each is concerned with his personal interests, but they really just want to live their lives and be happy. The third group is represented by John Q Public. This is the voice of understanding. The voice who knows what America is all about and the evil the "isms" represent. Which group do each of us fall into?
• The peddler wants speed and urgency in making changes. No time to read the documents (sound familiar???) The voice of reason wants things to slow down and the implicatons of change to be understood. How relevant is this in a day of thousand page bills that will fundamentally change the fabric of our nation, but there is no time to even read the contents.
• Many of those forming part of the general public don't want to give up their freedom, but don't realize what they are flirting with. They need someone to help them see things as they really are. If John Q. Public had not been there to help others awaken to the danger, the worst could have happened. If each of us understand the reality of dangers we are facing, are we continuing to sit on the park bench, or are we standing up and helping awaken others, before its too late?

There were those who advocated discarding our system and changing to a new America back in 1948, and those voices are louder and more forceful today. Are we doing what we can to preserve the freedom upon which our country was founded?

Well, there's much more that can be derived from this highly relevant cartoon clip, but I'd rather hear thoughts from the rest of you. Please, please, please click on the comments link below and share your impressions. There are 260 people viewing this blog, let them know your thoughts and positions on this important matter.

Thanks,
Richard

An Un-Ending Chain

One of the least desireable aspects of my job is that it requires me to travel way too much. Don't get me wrong, I am very grateful to have employment in these troubled times that enables me to support my family and enjoy some of the comforts of life. But it would be nice to spend more time at home with Natalie and the kids.

Nevertheless, there are aspects of traveling that make airports, long flights, and lonely hotel rooms a little more tolerable. There is the benefit of piling up frequent flier miles and the award of free hotel nights to occassionally treat the family to a get away. The real perk, however, is that every now and then I get to go places that give me a much clearer perspective on life, and help me to better understand just how blessed we truly are in this day and age.

I never intended this blog to become a travel log of my business trips. But despite the past two posts, one about a visit to Valley Forge and the other describing my Constitution Day trip to Indepence Hall in Philadelphia, please indulge me just one more time to briefly recount three other recent trips that have had a profound impact on me.

Two weeks ago I had to travel to the Philippine Islands for meetings with prospective clients. While it is always interesting to travel internationally, there is one attraction in Manila that I've wanted to see, but did not get the chance in previous visits to the country. That is the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial. This cemetary is the burial site of 17,202 members of the U.S. military killed in action during World War II. There is also a monument at the site memorializing another 36,285 soldiers who were lost in the war, but whose remains were never recovered for burial.

I have had much to say in previous blog posts about the tremendous sacrifices made by the courageous men and women who rebelled from a tyrannical government to acheive our indepence. Their nobility will be diminished neither by time nor the apathy of successive generations. As much as we stand indebted to these patriots, we cannot fail to recognize those who have risen at their time in history to defend the liberty our founders passed to them. They too made the ultimate sacrifice to pass the torch of freedom they inherited on to their posterity. Just as the founders of our nation heroically fought to acheive the liberty to exercise our God given rights, countless men and women have lived and died since that time, who have similary sacrificed, not to acquire, but to preserve for future generations that liberty which they were given. These men and women forged their link in the chain of freedom. It is a link of strength, forged in the fires of their adversity, that will never break.

As I looked across the well manicured grounds of the cemetery, noting the gently curving rows of white marble crosses laid out so as to appear from a distance to form perfectly straight lines, I couldn't help but think of those who had tearfully waved goodbye to sons, husbands, and fathers as they departed to play their role in defending our liberty. I shuddered to think that every one of the seemingly endless crosses represented a goodbye that was destined to be the last in this lifetime. I'm sure the tears shed as loved ones deployed to their respective theaters of battle were laced with the fear that they may not return, but how many could truly fathom the intensity of the sacrifice they would be called upon to make? The 17,202 crosses on this plot of land, located on a far off island, represent not only the sacrifice of those who gave their life in battle, but also countless others whose sacrifices were made in the grief of loss that cannot be calculated.

As one of my traveling companions is a retired Major in the US Marine Corps, we were afforded the opportunity of having a tour of the grounds personally led by the cemetery's superintendent. He was able to give us background on some of those interred in this sacred spot, including several who were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

One view of the grave markers at the cemetery in Manila

Even more striking to me were the 36,285 names inscribed in the limestone memorial known as the "Tablets of the Missing". These are the names of those lost in the war, whose remains were never recovered. I can scarcely imagine the pain of not knowing where or how a loved one met their death, just the sting of them never returning. I pray there was consolation for those who sacrificed in this way in knowing that their loved ones died to preserve the freedom we all enjoy.

I think the most poignant moment of the day for me was when I read the inscription on one of the large limestone panels that captured the whole experience for me. The panel is shown in the picture below.

Inscription on wall reads:

LET US HERE HIGHLY RESOLVE

THAT THE CAUSE

FOR WHICH THEY DIED

SHALL LIVE

This then is our responsibility. It is now our turn to forge a link in the chain of freedom. As the men and women here memorialized passed the torch to us, we must consider how brightly the flame is burning while the torch rests in our hands.

A few days later it was my opportunity to travel to Hawaii and visit the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. This was one of the most overpowering experiences I've had in quite some time. To consider that 1,177 sailors on this one ship lost their lives during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was breathtaking. Prior to boarding a ferry that takes visitors to the memorial built over the sunken wreckage, there is a video presentation shown that recounts the attack on December 7, 1941, shows news footage from the period, and describes the casualties incurred on that fateful day.

As I sat there in the dark theater with tears in my eyes, trying to imagine the sacrifices made on that Sunday morning, I was completely and utterly offended by a Japanese tourist, sitting in the seat next to me in the theater, with her head back, mouth open, loudly snoring within minutes after the lights in the theater were dimmed. Now I have no illusions that the fact of this woman being Japanese is in any way reflective of the Japanese people in general. As a matter of fact, I was actually pleased and impressed by the number of tourists from Japan visiting the site. But the irony was not lost, until when thinking about the experience later I realized that this woman was representative of many of us, even in the U.S.

There are threats to our freedom all around us, both at home and abroad. Men and women have died, and their loved ones have lived with grief and loss. Countless patriots have lived and died to forge their link in the chain of freedom. Yet today, while we have the responsibility of forging the steel that will link the freedom we've been given to the freedom that our children hope to enjoy, many of us are loudly snoring. We have either grown too comfortable and complacent in the freedom we've enjoyed for so long, or we naively believe that our freedom cannot be lost. We must awaken our senses to the peril we are facing today, or the chain could end with us.

A view of the USS Arizona from the air

USS Arizona Memorial taken from the ferry as we pulled away

The wall within the USS Arizona Memorial

that shows the names of those lost onboard the ship

Last week I found myself on yet another business trip. This time I was in New York City. As I often do while visiting New York, I took the opportunity to walk the promenade along New York Harbor and look across the water at the Statue of Liberty. It really is beautiful on a clear late afternoon to see the sun glisten off the statue. I've often sat on a bench at the water's edge and thought about the state of things in our world. But this time as I gazed at the most universally recognized symbol of our liberty, I thought of those who had sacrificed to preserve the liberty the statue represents. I found myself contemplating, as I have many times over the past year, about what little I've done to defend our priceless liberty and about how helpless I sometimes feel. Although I am optimistic and hopeful about what faithful people can do in the defense of freedom, I felt a tinge of guilt over how often I thoughtlessly go about my life and enjoy the freedom I've been given, while giving very little in return. I sincerely hope that I and my family can contribute to forging the link we must contribute to the chain of freedom, and that the chain can be an un-ending one.

Thanks,

Richard