Monday
Dealing With The Future
`
IT IS OFTEN EASIER TO DEAL WITH
THE FUTURE IF YOU REMEMBER
AND LEARN FROM THE PAST
You have doubtless noted that in every issue of
ANC we provide one or more quotations from
our nation's Founding Fathers. We do that for
several reasons, aside from the fact that those
were very wise men, and some of their thoughts
are very applicable even in today's happenings.
But one of the main reasons is to remind us
that this nation was founded on historic Judeo-
Christian principles, and has always been a
Christian nation. This current president is the
first one ever to deny that fact, but it is perhaps
understandable since he was born and raised in
an environment where Islam, the religion of
Muslims, was practiced.
So in this critical period in America's history,
it is -- as always -- appropriate to reflect upon
the past.
Near the close of the 18th century, in 1789,
Edmund Burke, a British philosopher and
statesman and philosopher made the statement
which has been modified and attributed to others
through the years, "Those who don't know
history are destined to repeat it." Not only the
source of a great many very wise quotations,
Burke is also considered to be the philosophic
founder of the modern political conservative
movement.
In making that oft quoted statement, Burke
may have had in mind the monumental work
of Edward Gibbon in 1776, "The Decline and Fall
of the Roman Empire." After more than 230
years, Gibbon's work remains as one of the
world's most reliable historical sources.
Here are 5 reasons that he cites as leading to
the failure and death of the vast Roman empire:
1. The dramatic increase of divorce undermined
the dignity and sanctity of home and family, the
very basis of human society.
2. Higher and higher taxes undermined the
economic stability of the government. The
increased taxes went to pay for the deficit
government spending, free bread and government
sponsored activities such as sports and circuses,
diverting public attention from the news of
problems within the Empire.
3. The mad craze for personal pleasure became
intense, almost to becoming an obsession, so
that sports and other entertainment became more
exciting, more brutal and more immoral.
4. The building of great armaments when the real
enemy was within, where hidden conspirators
were working within the government to secretly
destroy it, while at the same time proclaiming
their unswerving support of it. Coupled with
this was the decay of individual responsibility.
5. The decline of religion—faith fading into mere
form; losing touch with life, and thus as people
lost their faith, both religiously and in their
government, the Roman government lost its
power to guide the people.
After reading those 5 reasons from history,
do you see any relationship to the present
conditions here in America? This is an
appropriate time to apply Burke's rule: "Those
who don't know history are destined to repeat
it." (In some versions of this quote, "destined"
becomes "condemned.") In other words: history
does repeat itself, and the conditions which
brought on the collapse of the vast Roman
Empire fifteen hundred years ago are with us
here in America today.
Apparently the president's good relations
with the Pope have already worn off and have
been forgotten. The nation's Catholic bishops
have told Congress that they oppose H.R. 3200,
America’s Affordable Health Choices Act, as it
currently stands, because the health-care reform
bill would mandate funding and insurance
coverage for abortion. Cardinal Justin Rigali,
chairman of the pro-life committee of the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote, “Much-
needed reform must not become a vehicle for
promoting an ‘abortion rights’ agenda or
reversing longstanding policies against federal
funding and mandated coverage of abortion.”
But President Obama essentially called the Bishop
a liar, by saying that the bill does not fund abortion
and that those who say otherwise are guilty of a
"fabrication.” And last week during a conference
phone call with leaders of what is called the
"religious left," the president said those who were
opposing his health reform plan were "bearing
false witness."
CBN News White House Correspondent David
Brody said the president's comments may have
ramifications beyond the health bill. "When you
come out on a FAITH conference call and use
the words ‘bearing false witness,' that is a
direct slap down of conservative Evangelical
groups. In essence he was calling these
Christian groups a bunch of liars. It's a serious
charge."
The president's excesses in attempting to
promote this keystone piece of his announced
agenda may possibly be attributed to his lack
of understanding of the Christian faith and the
distinctions between Evangelicals and the
so-called "religious left" to whom he has turned
for support.
Two headlines of the past week merit our
attention. The first was in the usually liberal,
pro-Democrat daily newspaper, the Washington
Post: "Faith in Obama Drops as Fears Arise."
The story by Dan Palz and Jon Cohen was
condensed into these few words, "Public
confidence in President Obama's leadership
has declined sharply over the summer, amid
intensifying opposition to health-care reform
that threatens to undercut his attempt to enact
major changes to the system, according to a
new Washington Post-ABC News poll."
The second was on a nationally syndicated
Associated Press story, "Projected 10-year
deficit: $9 trillion." The accompanying story
was condensed into these few words: "The
Obama administration expects the federal
deficit over the next decade to be $2 trillion
bigger than previously estimated, White house
officials said yesterday, a setback for a
president already facing a Congress and
public wary over spending."
Perhaps the two headlines and the related stories
played a part in the story in the Internet "New
Media Journal" headed : "White House: Obama
'Quite Comfortable' as One-Term President."
This was the very brief accompanying story:
"President Barack Obama is 'quite comfortable'
with the prospect of being a one-term president
in order to address the issues he is concerned
about, White House Press Secretary Robert
Gibbs said Friday. The comment came on the
same day the president’s approval reached a
new low, with only a 45 percent approval
rating in the Zogby International poll released
Friday. The poll said that 51 percent disapprove
of the president’s job performance."
To cap all the Obama bad news, the Rasmussen
daily presidential approval index dropped to a
-14 rating at the end of last week, passing its
previous low of -12 at the end of July.
An almost forgotten principle, but one which
is very applicable to these farcical town hall
meetings to discuss the proposed health reform
plan -- it's from the Declaration of Independence:
"Governments are instituted among men,
deriving their just powers from the consent of
the governed." "From the consent of the
governed." The present Democrat government,
and the House and Senate, should remember
that phrase . . . or perhaps they have decided
to ignore our nation's basic laws. It is also
significant that the latest polls show a substantial
majority of the American people favor no health
reform action at all, rather than adopting the
presently proposed plan.
Not a Founding Father quote, or even a former
president, but from a respected national statesman
and presidential candidate: "How did it happen?
How did our national government grow from a
servant with sharply limited powers into a master
with virtually unlimited power? In part, we were
swindled. There are occasions when we have
elevated men and political parties to power
that promised to restore limited government
and then proceeded, after their election, to
expand the activities of government. We have
taken the bait, preferring to put off to another
day the recapture of freedom and the restoration
of our constitutional system." -- U.S. Senator
Barry Goldwater
Some Random Afterthoughts . . .
An occasional "one liner" or two: "Here's
the least surprising news of the week: Americans
are souring on the Democratic Party. The wonder
is that it's taken so long for public opinion to
curdle." (Eugene Robinson)
"Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed
there are many rewards; if you disgrace yourself
you can always write a book." (Ronald Reagan)
"It's been a hilarious August, watching media
supporters of President Obama's health care
package puzzle over the obscure motivations of
the noncompliant Americans rallying against
it." (Matt Welch)
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
(ELCA) joins the ranks of losers among the
nation's main-line churches. At their convention
last week in Minneapolis, they adopted by a
majority vote of 68%, a rule permitting gays and
lesbians to serve as clergy in the denomination's
churches. This action makes the group, with
about 4.7 million members in the US, one of the
largest US Christian denominations yet to reject
the authority of the Bible on homosexuality.
The American Episcopal church which has
preceded them in such a decision is paying the
price in lost members, and a loss of standing in
the world-wide Anglican communion. The
Lutheran reasoning was set forth in the debate
in these words: "We live today with an
understanding of homosexuality that did not
exist in Jesus' time." Thus they have degraded
the omniscience of God, and the eternal truth
of the Word of God. The term "Evangelical"
in their title is obviously a misnomer.
Minneapolis Baptist pastor, and author, John
Piper, wrote concerning the decision: "Official
church pronouncements that condone the very
sins that keep people out of the kingdom of God
are evil. They dishonor God, contradict
Scripture, and implicitly promote damnation
where salvation is freely offered."
An apology to Michelle Obama by Paul L.
Williams, Ph.D.: "We were wrong. Michele
Obama, as we reported on July 7, is not served
by twenty-two attendants who stand by to cater
to her every whim. She is served by twenty-six
attendants including a hair dresser and
make-up artist. The annual cost to taxpayers
for such unprecedented attention is
approximately $1,750,000." Is this a great
country or what?!?! Michelle must have been
overjoyed to learn that she could have an army
of servants to cater to her every whim, and
without costing her a penny, not because of
anything she had accomplished, but simply
because she was married to the president.
This probably represents a permanent change
from her twice repeated claim in 2008 that
"For the first time in my life I am proud of my
country." Now she can be proud several times
every day.
Speaking of women in the news: people
are talking about Forbes magazine's list of the
"100 Most Powerful Women in the World."
Several thoughts come to mind -- of the 100,
63 are from the US, but from Muslim countries,
there is a total of 3, 1 from Indonesia, 1 from
Jordan and 1 from the United Arab Emirates.
Great Britain and France each had 4. Germany
had only 1, Angela Merkel, the Chancellor --
but she was also No. 1 in the total list -- the
most powerful woman in the world. And oh yes
-- among the Washington women on the list,
Nancy Pelosi was at #35, Hillary Clinton was
at #36 and Michelle Obama was at #40.
We quote the Founding Fathers frequently,
but their opinions seem always to be pertinent:
“God who gave us life gave us liberty. And
can the liberties of a nation be thought secure
when we have removed their only firm basis,
a conviction in the minds of the people that
these liberties are a gift from God? That they
are not to be violated but with His wrath?
Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect
that God is just, and that His justice cannot
sleep forever.” -- Thomas Jefferson, 1781
- - - - - - - - - -
IT IS OFTEN EASIER TO DEAL WITH
THE FUTURE IF YOU REMEMBER
AND LEARN FROM THE PAST
You have doubtless noted that in every issue of
ANC we provide one or more quotations from
our nation's Founding Fathers. We do that for
several reasons, aside from the fact that those
were very wise men, and some of their thoughts
are very applicable even in today's happenings.
But one of the main reasons is to remind us
that this nation was founded on historic Judeo-
Christian principles, and has always been a
Christian nation. This current president is the
first one ever to deny that fact, but it is perhaps
understandable since he was born and raised in
an environment where Islam, the religion of
Muslims, was practiced.
So in this critical period in America's history,
it is -- as always -- appropriate to reflect upon
the past.
Near the close of the 18th century, in 1789,
Edmund Burke, a British philosopher and
statesman and philosopher made the statement
which has been modified and attributed to others
through the years, "Those who don't know
history are destined to repeat it." Not only the
source of a great many very wise quotations,
Burke is also considered to be the philosophic
founder of the modern political conservative
movement.
In making that oft quoted statement, Burke
may have had in mind the monumental work
of Edward Gibbon in 1776, "The Decline and Fall
of the Roman Empire." After more than 230
years, Gibbon's work remains as one of the
world's most reliable historical sources.
Here are 5 reasons that he cites as leading to
the failure and death of the vast Roman empire:
1. The dramatic increase of divorce undermined
the dignity and sanctity of home and family, the
very basis of human society.
2. Higher and higher taxes undermined the
economic stability of the government. The
increased taxes went to pay for the deficit
government spending, free bread and government
sponsored activities such as sports and circuses,
diverting public attention from the news of
problems within the Empire.
3. The mad craze for personal pleasure became
intense, almost to becoming an obsession, so
that sports and other entertainment became more
exciting, more brutal and more immoral.
4. The building of great armaments when the real
enemy was within, where hidden conspirators
were working within the government to secretly
destroy it, while at the same time proclaiming
their unswerving support of it. Coupled with
this was the decay of individual responsibility.
5. The decline of religion—faith fading into mere
form; losing touch with life, and thus as people
lost their faith, both religiously and in their
government, the Roman government lost its
power to guide the people.
After reading those 5 reasons from history,
do you see any relationship to the present
conditions here in America? This is an
appropriate time to apply Burke's rule: "Those
who don't know history are destined to repeat
it." (In some versions of this quote, "destined"
becomes "condemned.") In other words: history
does repeat itself, and the conditions which
brought on the collapse of the vast Roman
Empire fifteen hundred years ago are with us
here in America today.
Apparently the president's good relations
with the Pope have already worn off and have
been forgotten. The nation's Catholic bishops
have told Congress that they oppose H.R. 3200,
America’s Affordable Health Choices Act, as it
currently stands, because the health-care reform
bill would mandate funding and insurance
coverage for abortion. Cardinal Justin Rigali,
chairman of the pro-life committee of the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote, “Much-
needed reform must not become a vehicle for
promoting an ‘abortion rights’ agenda or
reversing longstanding policies against federal
funding and mandated coverage of abortion.”
But President Obama essentially called the Bishop
a liar, by saying that the bill does not fund abortion
and that those who say otherwise are guilty of a
"fabrication.” And last week during a conference
phone call with leaders of what is called the
"religious left," the president said those who were
opposing his health reform plan were "bearing
false witness."
CBN News White House Correspondent David
Brody said the president's comments may have
ramifications beyond the health bill. "When you
come out on a FAITH conference call and use
the words ‘bearing false witness,' that is a
direct slap down of conservative Evangelical
groups. In essence he was calling these
Christian groups a bunch of liars. It's a serious
charge."
The president's excesses in attempting to
promote this keystone piece of his announced
agenda may possibly be attributed to his lack
of understanding of the Christian faith and the
distinctions between Evangelicals and the
so-called "religious left" to whom he has turned
for support.
Two headlines of the past week merit our
attention. The first was in the usually liberal,
pro-Democrat daily newspaper, the Washington
Post: "Faith in Obama Drops as Fears Arise."
The story by Dan Palz and Jon Cohen was
condensed into these few words, "Public
confidence in President Obama's leadership
has declined sharply over the summer, amid
intensifying opposition to health-care reform
that threatens to undercut his attempt to enact
major changes to the system, according to a
new Washington Post-ABC News poll."
The second was on a nationally syndicated
Associated Press story, "Projected 10-year
deficit: $9 trillion." The accompanying story
was condensed into these few words: "The
Obama administration expects the federal
deficit over the next decade to be $2 trillion
bigger than previously estimated, White house
officials said yesterday, a setback for a
president already facing a Congress and
public wary over spending."
Perhaps the two headlines and the related stories
played a part in the story in the Internet "New
Media Journal" headed : "White House: Obama
'Quite Comfortable' as One-Term President."
This was the very brief accompanying story:
"President Barack Obama is 'quite comfortable'
with the prospect of being a one-term president
in order to address the issues he is concerned
about, White House Press Secretary Robert
Gibbs said Friday. The comment came on the
same day the president’s approval reached a
new low, with only a 45 percent approval
rating in the Zogby International poll released
Friday. The poll said that 51 percent disapprove
of the president’s job performance."
To cap all the Obama bad news, the Rasmussen
daily presidential approval index dropped to a
-14 rating at the end of last week, passing its
previous low of -12 at the end of July.
An almost forgotten principle, but one which
is very applicable to these farcical town hall
meetings to discuss the proposed health reform
plan -- it's from the Declaration of Independence:
"Governments are instituted among men,
deriving their just powers from the consent of
the governed." "From the consent of the
governed." The present Democrat government,
and the House and Senate, should remember
that phrase . . . or perhaps they have decided
to ignore our nation's basic laws. It is also
significant that the latest polls show a substantial
majority of the American people favor no health
reform action at all, rather than adopting the
presently proposed plan.
Not a Founding Father quote, or even a former
president, but from a respected national statesman
and presidential candidate: "How did it happen?
How did our national government grow from a
servant with sharply limited powers into a master
with virtually unlimited power? In part, we were
swindled. There are occasions when we have
elevated men and political parties to power
that promised to restore limited government
and then proceeded, after their election, to
expand the activities of government. We have
taken the bait, preferring to put off to another
day the recapture of freedom and the restoration
of our constitutional system." -- U.S. Senator
Barry Goldwater
Some Random Afterthoughts . . .
An occasional "one liner" or two: "Here's
the least surprising news of the week: Americans
are souring on the Democratic Party. The wonder
is that it's taken so long for public opinion to
curdle." (Eugene Robinson)
"Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed
there are many rewards; if you disgrace yourself
you can always write a book." (Ronald Reagan)
"It's been a hilarious August, watching media
supporters of President Obama's health care
package puzzle over the obscure motivations of
the noncompliant Americans rallying against
it." (Matt Welch)
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
(ELCA) joins the ranks of losers among the
nation's main-line churches. At their convention
last week in Minneapolis, they adopted by a
majority vote of 68%, a rule permitting gays and
lesbians to serve as clergy in the denomination's
churches. This action makes the group, with
about 4.7 million members in the US, one of the
largest US Christian denominations yet to reject
the authority of the Bible on homosexuality.
The American Episcopal church which has
preceded them in such a decision is paying the
price in lost members, and a loss of standing in
the world-wide Anglican communion. The
Lutheran reasoning was set forth in the debate
in these words: "We live today with an
understanding of homosexuality that did not
exist in Jesus' time." Thus they have degraded
the omniscience of God, and the eternal truth
of the Word of God. The term "Evangelical"
in their title is obviously a misnomer.
Minneapolis Baptist pastor, and author, John
Piper, wrote concerning the decision: "Official
church pronouncements that condone the very
sins that keep people out of the kingdom of God
are evil. They dishonor God, contradict
Scripture, and implicitly promote damnation
where salvation is freely offered."
An apology to Michelle Obama by Paul L.
Williams, Ph.D.: "We were wrong. Michele
Obama, as we reported on July 7, is not served
by twenty-two attendants who stand by to cater
to her every whim. She is served by twenty-six
attendants including a hair dresser and
make-up artist. The annual cost to taxpayers
for such unprecedented attention is
approximately $1,750,000." Is this a great
country or what?!?! Michelle must have been
overjoyed to learn that she could have an army
of servants to cater to her every whim, and
without costing her a penny, not because of
anything she had accomplished, but simply
because she was married to the president.
This probably represents a permanent change
from her twice repeated claim in 2008 that
"For the first time in my life I am proud of my
country." Now she can be proud several times
every day.
Speaking of women in the news: people
are talking about Forbes magazine's list of the
"100 Most Powerful Women in the World."
Several thoughts come to mind -- of the 100,
63 are from the US, but from Muslim countries,
there is a total of 3, 1 from Indonesia, 1 from
Jordan and 1 from the United Arab Emirates.
Great Britain and France each had 4. Germany
had only 1, Angela Merkel, the Chancellor --
but she was also No. 1 in the total list -- the
most powerful woman in the world. And oh yes
-- among the Washington women on the list,
Nancy Pelosi was at #35, Hillary Clinton was
at #36 and Michelle Obama was at #40.
We quote the Founding Fathers frequently,
but their opinions seem always to be pertinent:
“God who gave us life gave us liberty. And
can the liberties of a nation be thought secure
when we have removed their only firm basis,
a conviction in the minds of the people that
these liberties are a gift from God? That they
are not to be violated but with His wrath?
Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect
that God is just, and that His justice cannot
sleep forever.” -- Thomas Jefferson, 1781
- - - - - - - - - -
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