By Warner Todd Huston
The west’s current battle with radical Islam has revealed the worst in both the west and the world of Islam. Obviously from Islam we have seen the intolerance, hatred, oppression and evil in its nature. But, from the west we have seen revealed the hollowness of its soul and a complete lack of self-regard as so many western nations allow the evil of Islam to attack them from within as well as from without. The west has lost its spine to stand up for its own principles, in fact has thrown away all pretext that it even has principles worth preserving.
Ben Franklin is reported to have said that for the American people the Founders had created a Republic but he added the caution "if you can keep it." By that he meant, of course, that it was up to future Americans to maintain the system grounded upon the first principles the Founders bequeathed to us. The same can be said of any society for if a society throws away or strays too far from its beginnings it becomes a materially different entity. Now sometimes it’s a good thing when a society strays from its genesis, to be sure. Leaving behind certain prejudices, rectifying the suppression of ideas or ending the oppression of minorities is the mark of a maturing, benevolent society. But, too much change can also be a bad thing. And change merely for changes sake is not a legitimate goal.
This dual reliance on conserving tradition while moving forward to liberalize society is familiar ground for the west in general and the United States in particular. The Founders clearly believed that both liberalization and conservatism could be enshrined in a modern state. After all, the whole thrust of the Founders’ ideology was that they were combining a preservation of the best of English tradition with the liberalization of government by the consent of the people and the ideals of religious liberty.
To the American Founders, these were principles well worth fighting for.
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Posted by Walt in Freedom of Speech, Patriotism, Terrorism categories at 9:30 AM EST
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By Robert E. Meyer
Numerous skeptics and modern historians raise an interesting question that has been hotly disputed in recent years; whether or not America was founded as a "Christian Nation."
Generally, secular humanists have tried to refute this claim by contending that certain key Founders believed merely in a deistic God which didn't intervene in human affairs.
They would be on safer ground if they had instead said that there were strains of religious unorthodoxy in the thinking of certain key Framers. The problem is that when those who claim the Founders were deists, define deism, they can't make that definition fit the concept of God expressed by the Framers themselves. It is clear that there was a solid belief in a God who actively manages and intervenes in human affairs.
Thomas Jefferson reflecting of the injustice of slavery stated…
"Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep forever."
This indicates a God who judges the deeds of humanity.
Benjamin Franklin, considered one of the least religious Founders, made this observation during the constitutional convention…
"In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for divine protection. Our prayers, sir, were heard and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor… Have we now forgotten this powerful friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance? I have lived, sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: that God governs his affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, it is probable that an empire can rise without His aid?"
Notice here that as Franklin approached the end of his life he found convincing proof that God was actively involved in human interventions.
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Posted by Walt in Patriotism, US History categories at 11:53 PM EST
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“The United Methodist Church, under its liberal leadership, is losing over 50,000 members a year, and this church lobby official is oddly worried about getting American flags out of our churches.”
—Mark Tooley, Executive Director UMAction
_________________________
Washington, DC—An official with the Washington, D.C. lobby office of the 8 million member United Methodist Church called this week for the removal of U.S. flags from his denomination’s churches. The Rev. Clayton Childers of the Capitol Hill-based United Methodist Board of Church and Society declared: “The presence of a national flag in worship can imply endorsement of national policies which often run counter to the teachings of Jesus Christ and our Christian faith.” He ominously noted: “One need only recall the way the Swastika Flag was displayed prominently in German churches during the Nazi era.”
IRD Director of UMAction Mark Tooley responded:
The United Methodist Church, under its liberal leadership, is losing over 50,000 members a year, and this church lobby official is oddly worried about getting American flags out of our churches.
Unlike the blood-soaked Swastika flags that the Nazis forced upon German churches, American churches voluntarily display their country’s flag as a reminder of the country in which God has providentially placed them. Typically, American flags stand against the side walls of American churches, quietly and obtrusively. They are hardly the idolatrous object of imperialistic worship against which the United Methodist lobby official warned.
Religious Left figures, like the United Methodist official, are hardly concerned about idolatry when their politically correct, rainbow paraphernalia and peace banners are woven into church worship services. They oppose the United States flag because they are contemptuous of our country, its history, its institutions, its culture, and its leadership role in the world.
Most United Methodists, and most religious people in America, display the flag as a symbol of God’s blessings upon our nation. Following the commandments of Christ, all Christians are called upon to love their nation, wherever they live, and to render unto Caesar his due, even as they render their worship only unto God.
Contact: Loralei Coyle (202) 682-4131
Posted by Walt in Christianity, Patriotism categories at 5:26 PM EDT
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Last week Michele Malkin reported of the attack against the Pledge of Allegiance at a California college. The Orange Coast student trustees decide to drop the Pledge as they felt no need to to recite the Pledge to God and Country.
But a true American, 18-year-old political science major Christine Zoldos still loudly recited he pledge in front of the board on Wednesday night in defiance of the rule. She also promised to attend every meeting and to proudly Pledge Allegiance to the Flag
Our country is quickly sinking into a post-modern state where allegiance to one's country is no longer considered politically correct.
Posted by Walt in Education, Patriotism categories at 9:55 AM EST
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How could a homeowner association in America deny the right to fly the American flag, the symbol of our freedom which many died protecting the flag?
The Indian Creek homeowners association has forbidden a U.S. Marine veteran to fly the American flag on his property. The political correct battle was wagged since 2000, costing George Andres, a very patriotic Marine over $70,000.
The Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005 – signed by President Bush last week – prevents a condominium association, cooperative association, or residential real-estate management association from denying an owner or resident from displaying the U.S. flag on their residential property within the association.
Andres is now hoping the new federal measure will help him as he seeks to get back the money spent for defending his ability to fly Old Glory.(World Net Daily)
Posted by Walt in Law Issues, Patriotism categories at 1:20 AM EDT
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Search engine's catchy holiday logos have honored Earth Day, Persian New Year – but not war dead!
Did Google overlook Memorial Day or did they just not want to commemorate our fallen soldiers in all our wars. Was the motive to be politically correct? Or not to ruffle the anti-American feathers of the world? In fact Google ha not commemorated Memorial Day since 1999.
World Net Daily reports:
Memorial Day visitors to the website found Google's standard logo – but no mention of Memorial Day. This was true as well at the company's news-search site.
Since 1999, Google has redesigned its logo for major holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving, as well as minor ones like Ground Hog Day and St. Patrick's Day. It's even honored artists like Picasso, Monet, and Andy Warhol as well as Earth Day and the Burning Man festival.
"If you go back through the Google archives, you'll find that, although it has over the years commemorated Shichi-go-san being celebrated in Japan, Bastille Day in France, and Korean Liberation Day, it appears that Google has never dressed up its logo for Memorial Day," wrote Newsbusters blogger Noel Sheppard.
Unfortunately, this action can be expected from Google. Last week Google moved to remove certain websites from their news listing because Google deemed them as hate content and not politically correct.
Please remember our fallen soldiers and their families, even though Google did not.
Posted by Walt in Memorial Day, Patriotism categories at 8:06 PM EDT
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