Taking the Higher Ground

The so-called Ground Zero Mosque (GZM) is a story that refuses to go away. Or more pointedly, the people who want it to happen won't allow it to go away, because they consistently rub it in our faces. I noted my own major objection last time, so I'll look at other views instead.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, taking a moment away from her duties to her fellow Leftist constituents in San Francisco (and breaking with other Leftists including desperate-for-votes Harry Reid and Howlin' Howard Dean), couldn't resist the temptation to add her two depreciated cents on the matter, not surprisingly giving her support for the mosque. On Tuesday, she told reporters that "I think everyone respects the right of people in our country to express their religious beliefs on their property." After missing the point with that remark, she immediately followed up with an accusation that Republicans were somehow "ginning up" the controversy, sayin that, "I join those who have called for looking into how...this opposition to the mosque [is] being funded."  Should we be surprised that she doesn't feel a need to find out who is funding the GZM itself?

Meanwhile, the congregation of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, the only church actually destroyed by the 9-11 attack (when Tower Two collapsed on it) is being stonewalled by city officials in its bid to rebuild the church, in part because their plan to rebuild it would cause the church to rise above the proposed Ground Zero Memorial (which still isn't complete, nearly ten years later). Obviously, no such height restrictions have been placed on the GZM Mosque project.

Religion remains one of the most unifying - and divisive - elements of human personal and social behavior.  More good has been done in the name of God than under any other banner. More evil has been done in the rejection of God than for any other expressed reason.  And there has also been no small degree of crossover in both causes. Individual interpretations of faith - or the lack thereof - have literally meant the difference between improving the quality of life for millions, or directly causing the deaths of millions. 

President Obama's own vision of his faith, as he describes it, appears to be a highly personalized yet vaguely-defined and fundamentally unscriptural version of the Holy Bible which allows him to pursue social change according to his political agenda, yet not feel any deep commitment to God's own stated requirements for us.  "[He finds] it hard to believe that my God would consign four-fifths of the world to hell," he states in a 2004 interview.  What I would consider an alarm bell occurs when, asked "what is sin?", Obama defines it simply as "Being out of alignment with my values."  His values, not God's.  That leaves a lot of territory open to interpretation.  Just a poor choice of words?  I dunno; he's the one with the Harvard degree. I never went to college, so perhaps I'm just to dull and ignorant to grasp his deeper nuance.

I will tell you that, after decades of being lost in selfishness, loneliness, sinfulness (according to God's word) and near-death experience, I finally came - almost grudgingly and over several years - to what I believe is a saving faith. I can tell you that no one comes to real faith on their own; it just doesn't seem like much fun, at least when you don't know much about it. You're either raised in that belief (and it therefore becomes habit at an early age), or you're convinced by someone else, or you discover it within your own self through personal experience and observation. 

I'm of the "school" that believes God Himself calls those He chooses to call, and He guides our path through life, and that he eventually led me, stumbling and bumbling, to what I now believe. Is that cruel, to think most people aren't saved? Perhaps, but for me at least, it isn't quite that simple. I also believe many delude themselves into believing they are saved, yet use that belief to justify their own sinfulness. Guess what: I could be just as guilty of such delusion as anyone else. I trust in God, I know He is in charge of my life (even though I don't even approach sinlessness), and that trust keeps me plodding along, trying my best to be a better person - a better Christian - than my natural inclinations would lead me to be.  And keep in mind, Christianity gives you a choice. Now, you may believe differently than me. Refer to my point above. I'm honest enough with myself to realize I could be wrong (although of course I don't think I am). But so could you.  The best we can do is to follow our conscience; He already knows how it will all turn out.

"Hero" worship.  New information has finally come to light that might have affected history much differently if it had been more well-known. Adolf Hitler was always portrayed to the German people (before his election as Chancellor) as a WW1 war hero. But according to a researcher, he was little more than a rear-echelon messenger, who was looked down on by the men at the front.  Hmmm...an unknown candidate who comes from obscurity and is hyped up as a larger-than-life fugure in order to get elected to the highest office in the land. Why does that sound familiar? [Note: translation of the Hitler propaganda poster says, "Give me 4 years' time."]

Get your mind "right."  There is a new, independently-owned, conservative TV network lauching September 8. RightNetwork hopes to be able to give a place and a voice for the not-so-Left-minded (wouldn't that be "right-brained") folks to settle in for news, entertainment, history, commentary and more. Kelsey Grammar has been doing promos for the network in advance of the opening. Ambitious, yes; and the sort of change I've been hoping for.  If it's not on your local cable (or satellite) provider's fall lineup, call and ask, "Why not?"

Thanks to Glenn Beck's website for putting up the Leftist think-tank Politico's new PowerPoint presentation designed to convince people to support Obamacare. There's plenty to discuss among the two dozen slides, but the very last point on the last slide was perhaps the most telling, in a way they probably didn't intend. The final "Do Not..." it warns the activists of is, "...say the law will reduce costs and deficit." 'Nuff said.

By the way: if you haven't been watching Glenn Beck on his Fox TV show this week, you've missed an incredible exposure of hidden American history, revolving around slavery and civil rights.  Just one more reason I believe Beck is one of God's chosen annunciators "for such a time as this."

A Nation on Life Support

If you read no further, read this and understand: What you don't know can hurt you. And that is the purpose of this pathetic little blog, to fill in a few of the knowledge gaps, and make you more aware, and more prepared for what lies ahead.

OK, you're still reading, so buckle up. Yeah, I know; more bad news. It sucks to be us. But if we don't take our collective heads out of our nether regions, the America we wake up to one day soon may become an Amerika more akin to the Soviet Union, with all the waste, persecution, suspicion and poverty that image conjures up. Fortunately, some people are beginning to stand up and speak out eloquently on the danger we are in and what our response should be. Unfortunately, most Americans are still living in a dream constructed by master craftsmen in the art of distraction, dissembling and disinformation. It could be chalked up to mere schizoid paranoia if there weren't so much damn evidence staring us in the face.

Our present leadership is taking us on a crash course in "How to Kill a Great Nation". If you're one of those trying with all your might to ignore the obvious, allow me to burst your bubble. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi spoke to a group of illegals in a church in California recently (which tells you where she stands on "separation of Church and State"), clamoring for the suspension of ICE raids on illegal workplaces and calling them "patriotic." Oh really... patriotic to which country, Nancy? And whose side are you on?

Senator Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), chairman of the Senate Banking Committee that pushed for and oversaw the AIG deal, coincidentally received the biggest campaign contribution from AIG. Barack Obama received the second largest contribution. During interviews covering only a couple of days, Dodd first claimed he didn't know about the sweet bonus deal, then admitted that they had placed a measure in the stimulus bill to restrict the bonuses but were asked to remove it (and did). Yet he, Barney Frank and the rest of the Up-on-the-Hill Mob have the cojones to then use congressional extortion to get the bonuses back, threatening a 70% tax on those who received the money.

As bad as they might look, those bonuses were part of a contract between AIG and the employees. It goes against the Constitution for congress to violate, or cause to violate, a contract in such a way (see Bill of Attainder, Article I, section 9 ). Does it suck that they made the deal? Yes. But is it proper for the government to stoop to mob tactics to extricate themselves from a problem of their own making? Certainly not. In case you're wondering, that's what totalitarian governments do. Hmmm...come to think of it...

My question is, where are the Supreme Court Justices on this issue? They are supposed to be the protectors and interpreters of the Constitution, but the tendency is to look the other way on such matters. Look at it this way: the Senate - the supposed "thoughtful body" of congress as instituted by the Founders - has just decided that it can selectively go after individuals, using the IRS as a weapon of extortion. If they can go after individual AIG employees, who will they go after next; you, someday?

Speaking of justice, Attorney General Eric Holder thinks that a good way to protect the American people from terrorism is to release Gitmo terrorists inside the United States. Makes me feel safer already. Also, the state government of Missouri has published a Strategic Report on "The Modern Militia Movement," which in part outlines what state officials should look for as indicators of possible domestic terrorists. Ostensibly, it's a profile for potential terrorists, and includes intriguing tips for spotting these 'enemies of the state'. Among things to look for are being a supporter of Ron Paul and displaying bumper stickers that contain "anti-government rhetoric." I suppose that would include such rubrics as "Don't steal; the government hates competition."

When all the little pieces of the puzzle are seen together, they point to an ominous conclusion: our way of life has never been in greater jeopardy, and the people's righteous rancor against an increasingly oppressive and unresponsive government hasn't been this high since our forefathers took up shooting at lines of men in red jackets.

A lot of lather was worked up over Obama's careless remark on the Tonight Show, in which he supposedly dissed the Special Olympics. My opinion on this is that there is too much made of too little here. Everyone makes stupid and unthinking remarks from time to time (just keep reading me), and Obama makes more than his share when he goes off-prompter. In this instance, let's worry about the real mistakes he's making, and not dwell on subjective minutiae. But just for comparison, check out what Sarah Palin had to say about Special Olympics.

Now for some actual fun: the Media Research Center's 2009 Gala Dishonors Awards. See; those radical Right-wing conspiracists do have a sense of humor! Unfortunately, the video compilation of Jay Leno's man-on-the-street interviews is a real downer, as it shows the absolutely pathetic state of American education and the utter vacuuousness of a great proportion of American youth. (But I'd bet they can text "UR so kul 2" without even taking their eyes off the road!)

And so I can say it's not all doom and gloom, let me invite you to see what it's like to fly with the Blue Angels. Enjoy!