Wednesday
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE AMERICAN DREAM?
September 28, 2011 of our 9th year of publication.
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A thought for today, for this week and for the future:
"Whereas the American Dream was once equated with certain principles of
freedom, it is now equated with things. The American Dream has
undergone a metamorphosis from principles to materialism.
John E. Nestler, Haverford College, 1973
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WHEN, OR WHERE, DID WE DEPART FROM THE DECLARATION
OF INDEPENDENCE -- THAT ALL MEN ARE ENDOWED BY
THEIR CREATOR WITH THE UNALIENABLE RIGHTS OF
LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS?
In later years the world would use words like "The American Dream" to describe
what our nation's Founding Fathers, (the men who pledged their lives, their fortunes
and their sacred honor), spoke of as self-evident truths, that all people are created
equal and are endowed with -- not as entitlements, but as the free gift of their
Creator-- certain unalienable rights. "Unalienable" means a possession which cannot
be sold or transferred; and to secure those possessions, a government was being
established, and it was planned to operate with the consent of the governed.
Those rights as described in 1776 formed the foundation upon which the
"American Dream" would be built, and it would become the life-style most desired
to be experienced by people throughout the entire world.
But how the intent of the Founding Fathers has changed! For example, the first
right referred to as unalienable and secured, was the gift of life. Yet after nearly
200 years of respect for life as the gift of God, in 1973, by a 7-2 vote of 9 men in
the U.S. Supreme Court, the legalization of abortion was made part of American
law, and in the ensuing years some 50,000,000 babies have lost their lives because
of the vote of just those 7 men.
Similarly, the priceless gift of liberty has been, and is being diluted and eroded, as
the government that was intended to operate with the consent of the governed has
become so domineering as to resemble the oppression from which those pilgrims
fled to this new land. And the pursuit of happiness is clearly taught in the Scriptures
-- "happiness" is not a Bible word, but every time "happy" is used it relates directly
to man's relationship with God, and compliance with His rules. For example, "he
that keepeth the law, happy is he." (Prov. 29:18) Yet as a nation, we have
departed from God' laws, from His clearly stated rules for life, and this Creator-
endowed, unalienable right is being discarded by our government, and is being
denied to the American people.
For example, in the very beginning of life and this planet, we have the Biblical
account, "So God created man in his own image ... male and female created
he them ... and God blessed them and God said unto them, Be fruitful and
multiply ..." (Gen. 1:27-28) But we have allowed God's plan to be ignored, and
a small minority of people, who have chosen a life-style which God has condemned,
has influenced the nation's decision makers to establish a new concept of same-sex
"marriage," and are influencing a whole new generation of our young people to turn
aside from God's plan for marriage and the family.
So the "American Dream," based on the self-evident truths of the Declaration of
Independence, is being swept aside in a tragic down-hill departure from the
teaching of the God of our Founding Fathers.
Aside from America, the world situation is equally troubling. Just as an
example, from the 50 or 60 news sources we review every day as part of our
research, we chose this heading: "Religion Today Weekly," and in one such
report we noted these 7 headings for news stories: Is Religious Freedom
Attainable for Algeria's Christians? ... Hope Amid Chaos in Nigeria ...
Court in India Questions State's Anti-Conversion Law ... Chinese
Believers Arrested for Attending Outdoor Service ... Religious Liberty
Concerns in Middle East ... Mexican Government Called Upon to
Protect Protestant Minorities ... Praying in Streets Outlawed in Paris
and Western Australia. That single example summarizes the world-wide
scope of the persecution Christian believers are experiencing. As a Christian
nation -- or at least formerly one until Barack Obama declared otherwise -- we
have an obligation, a responsibility to pray for our fellow believers in other lands.
Looking back in American history, in 1833 U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice
John Marshall wrote: "The American population is entirely Christian, and
with us Christianity and Religion are identified. It would be strange indeed,
if with such a people, our institutions did not presuppose Christianity and
did not often refer to it and exhibit relations with it."
This leads us into consideration of the ongoing problem in the mid-East.
Last week, in the United Nations, which has been described as the "Theater of
the Absurd," despite the urging of many leaders and diplomats, Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas delivered his demand for full statehood recognition
with the "1967 borders," insisting as he did so, that “we shall not recognize the
Jewish state.” Speaking to this impasse, Dr. Mike Evans of the Jerusalem
Prayer Team, said: "President Obama’s threat to veto the Security Council
recognition of a Palestinian state does NOT mean that the danger is over.
Behind the scenes, the President is placing enormous pressure on my dear
friend Prime Minister Netanyahu to make the concessions being demanded
by the Palestinians. Mr. Obama is not backing down in any way from his
support of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital."
And even former president Bill Clinton got involved, issuing a prediction which
almost meets the farcical standards established by Pat Robertson: "The two
great tragedies in modern Middle Eastern politics, which make you wonder
if God wants Middle East peace or not, were former Prime Minister Yitzhak
Rabin's assassination and former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stroke."
Mr. Clinton has had practical experience in bringing peace between Jews and
Muslims; he performed the marriage ceremony between Muslim Huma Abedin,
a top aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Jewish former Congressman,
Anthony Weiner.
For months we have reminded our readers about our "Countdown" to
Election Day, Nov. 6, 2012 . . . there are as of today 405 days remaining --
405 days to pray for our nation, for our leaders, and for our fellow believers all
over the world. We so often recall the words of Benjamin Franklin in 1787:
"The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: 'that God
governs in the affairs of men.' And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground
without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?"
You may not have noticed, because the Obama controlled main line media
pretty much ignored it, but the Islamic mosque serving as a permanent memorial
to the Muslim attack on America on 9/11 opened last week, with hundreds of
Muslim men kneeling in prayer. The Christian Science Monitor was one of the
few media outlets which carried the story -- and even published pictures of the
Islamists praying in the mosque. Looking back some 60 years, we should be
grateful that no Japanese shrine was opened at Pearl Harbor on the 10th
anniversary of Dec. 7, 1941. But Harry Truman was president, and would never
have permitted such a memorial, let alone encourage it as Barack Obama did in
this present affront to America.
There is much to inform and amuse in "What Others Are Saying:
Our 30th President, Calvin Coolidge in 1928: "It seems to me perfectly
plain that the authority of law, the right to equality, liberty and property,
under American institutions, have for their foundation reverence for God.
If we could imagine that to be swept away, these institutions of our American
government could not long survive."
Robert Tracinski in TIA Daily: "The Republican primary contest has
become a referendum on Social Security, with Texas Governor Rick Perry
standing by his earlier statements denouncing the program as a Ponzi
scheme... Yes it is, in its own way, but that doesn't quite cover it. In reality,
Social Security is much worse than a Ponzi scheme...The numbers are well-
known, and Charles Krauthammer rehearses them succinctly: 'When Social
Security began making monthly distributions in 1940, there were 160
workers for every senior receiving benefits. In 1950, there were 16.5; today,
three; in 20 years, there will be but two.'" And Tracinski concludes: "The
whole system is intellectually dishonest, economically destructive, and
morally corrupting...It is a fraud and a monstrous lie, and the sooner we tear
it down, the better."
Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite (professor at Chicago Theological Seminary):
“Americans sharing more equally in the burden of pulling our country out
of massive debt, and using tax revenue to stimulate the economy and create
jobs isn’t ‘class warfare,’ it’s actually Christianity.” [Apparently there is
Chicago politics and Chicago theology.]
And there is Ms. Thistlethwaite's description of Jim Wallis of "Sojourners:"
"an evangelical Christian who works on poverty issues from a biblical
perspective."
Ben Bernanke (Chrm. Federal Reserve Board): "Economic growth remains
slow. Recent indicators point to continuing weakness in overall labor market
conditions, and the unemployment rate remains elevated.”
And we found a few great "One Liners" this week . . .
Ann Coulter (on the Union-led rioting in Wisconsin): "As the 2012 election
draws nearer, I fear sickening scenes like this will become as frequent as
Nancy Pelosi's Botox appointments."
Anonymous: "By the time you can make ends meet, they have moved
the ends."
Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson: "My next-door neighbor's
two dogs have created more shovel-ready projects than this president."
Bob Livingston: "75 percent of the total United States budget goes to
making war or paying people to do nothing."
And, as always, there are a few "Afterthoughts," selected at random . . .
Friday was a busy day last week: Summer ended and Fall began . . . that
satellite fragment fell to earth, apparently without hitting anyone... the stock
market wound up a consistently bad week, losing 6.4% of its value in just 5 days,
and after 40 years on American TV, "All My Children" finally ended its run.
You just have to give President Obama credit! Just when you think there is
no way he can further demean the office of President of the United States, he
steps up and even tops his own record. This week he visited us here in San
Diego, and it was publicized that at a gathering in a supporter's home, admission
to the affair was $5,000. per person, but if you want to have your picture taken
alongside Mr. Obama, it cost another $5,000. per person. Think back: can you
imagine Abraham Lincoln charging an American citizen to have their picture taken
with him? Or Franklin Roosevelt? Or Dwight Eisenhower? Or Harry Truman? Or
John F. Kennedy? Or Ronald Reagan?
You may remember the "Occupy Wall Street" demonstration, planned for
Saturday, Sept. 17, with 20,000 or more expected to join it in protest. Calling it
"The War of the Parasites," Bojidar Marinov described the dismally failed revolt
on Wall Street in these words: "The 'Occupy Wall Street' campaign beats all
records of collective stupidity this nation has seen in its history. A couple
hundred leftist protesters established a camp on Wall Street, protesting
against . . . well, against something, the bankers, the global warming, and
against the Solar System..." But the protesting and the rioting continues,
growing more violent every day. This is not in the mid-East; this is in America.
You already knew this -- we discussed it here at the time: Mr. Obama's
two new re-election campaign busses costing just over $1 million each, were
made in Canada. And we mentioned at its dedication that the huge Martin Luther
King memorial statue in Washington was created by a Chinese sculptor, Lei Yixi,
with the assistance of 10 Chinese stone masons, using 1,600 tons of Chinese
granite. (Mr. Lei is famous in China for his statues of Mao Tse-tung.)
But maybe you didn't know that the new World Trade Center tower -- "Freedom
Tower" -- is being built with steel from Germany, and blast resistant glass from
China surrounding the lower floors. There was a time when the United States
produced more steel and glass than any country in the world, but a new word has
entered our national vocabulary: we have become deindustrialized.
Last week we mentioned Pat Robertson's views on Alzheimer's disease;
this week we noted the comment of Dr. Russell D. Moore of Southern Baptist
Seminary: "On his television show, Christian broadcaster, Pat Robertson,
said a man would be morally justified to divorce his wife with Alzheimer's
disease in order to marry another woman ... This is more than an
embarrassment. This is more than cruelty. This is a repudiation of the gospel
of Jesus Christ. Few Christians take Robertson all that seriously anymore.
Most roll their eyes, and shake their heads when he makes another outlandish
comment."
It is amazing how perceptive of future trends our Founding Fathers were:
"It is evident from the state of the country, from the habits of the people,
from the experience we have had on the point itself, that it is impracticable
to raise any very considerable sums by direct taxation."
-- Alexander Hamilton, 1787
"Where an excess of power prevails, property of no sort is duly respected.
No man is safe in his opinions, his person, his faculties, or his possessions."
-- James Madison, 1792
"To contract new debts is not the way to pay old ones."
-- George Washington, 1799
"The principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of
funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale." -- Thomas Jefferson, 1816
Hello, Mr. Obama . . . did you ever study our nation's Founding Fathers?
THIS WEEK THE UNITED NATIONS!
September 21, 2011 of our 9th year of publication.
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A thought for the day and for the week:
"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom.
It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."
William Pitt, British Prime Minister, 1783
It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."
William Pitt, British Prime Minister, 1783
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THIS WEEK THE UNITED NATIONS WILL BE FACING THE
MOST IMPORTANT DECISION OF THE CENTURY, OR
POSSIBLY OF ALL TIME, FOR THE WORLD
The Palestine Authority (PA) president, Mahmoud Abbas, is in New York to
present his appeal to the United Nations for recognition of the state of Palestine.
This official bid by the PA brings the long disputed Mideast conflict to the
world's attention. It is Abbas' intent to have the UN declare Palestine a
sovereign state without any negotiations with Israel. The U.S. has indicated
it will veto any such proposal in the Security Council. The U.S. has favored
a two-state solution to the problem -- a position with which Israel agrees --
but Palestine steadfastly refuses to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. The U.S.
veto will prevent Palestine from becoming a member state, but the UN General
Assembly will doubtlessly grant them observer status as a non-member state,
which is a win-win situation for Palestine.
It becomes increasingly evident, beyond any question, that the world leaders --
in the UN, and in our own government -- do not acknowledge the authority of
the Bible in the affairs of men and of nations. Yet this book, the Word of God,
precedes by thousands of years other often quoted religious books, such as the
Quran or the Book of Mormon. God has stated clearly and unequivocally in the
Abrahamic Covenant His pledge to Abraham, the father of Israel: "I will make
of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great ...
and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee ..."
(Genesis 12: 2-3) And God confirmed that covenant, defining the land He was
granting to Israel, in these words: "In the same day the Lord made a covenant
with Abraham, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river
of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates." (Genesis 15:18)
This covenant, given by God to Israel, through Abraham, is unconditional (not
based on human compliance), is literal (clearly defined), and is everlasting (or
never-ending). And this additional promise from God is something the other nations,
including the U.S., do not seem to understand, that He will bless them who bless
Israel, and will curse them who curse Israel. Thus, this pending action from the UN
can have a profound effect on the world, as we know it. God's Word does not
change with time. And this is not one of the "obscure verses" Mr. Obama speaks
of with respect to Christian beliefs -- more than once God reminds us, "I have set
before you life and death, blessing and cursing ..." (Deuteronomy 30:19)
And avoiding any speculative date-setting, we are truly in the "last days."
We are familiar with some of the oft-quoted "signs of the times" -- earthquakes in
diverse places ... nations rising against nations ... wars and rumors of wars ...
famines ... but Jesus also warned that in those last days "false prophets shall arise,
and shall deceive many." This may be perhaps the least noticed, but the most
significant happening of these times.
Recently, on the 10th anniversary of "9/11," New York's Mayor Bloomberg ruled
out any mixed clergy participation in the official observance, and few had the Bible
centered perception that he was right. Dr. Michael Youssef, writing in his Blog
(www.michaelyoussef.com) courageously agreed with the mayor, seeing it as "an
act of mercy, sparing us the spectacle of bundling all religions together, as if
they are worshipping one god, or if all those gods are equal..." Dr. Youssef
reminds us that beginning in Sinai, before Moses entered into the Promised Land,
God warned that His people must not bundle their worship with that of the
Canaanites who worshipped other gods than the one true God -- the God of
Abraham, and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he concludes that, "Sadly,
America is committing the same abomination of syncretism, mixing the God
of the Founding Fathers with all those other 'non-god' gods."
We saw it in the pronouncement of the American Episcopal Primate, Bishop
Katherine Jefferts Schori, at a 9/11 service, "Jews, Christians, and Muslims
share God's vision for a healed world where all live together in peace, shalom,
salaam." We saw it also in a service commemorating 9-11, where liberal activist
Jim Wallis of Sojourners, called for "peace and unity" with the focus on better
relations with Muslims. (Wallis even claims to be an "Evangelical," but we recall
that Jesus warned of "false prophets.") And similarly the United Methodist General
Board of Church and Society (GBCS) held an interfaith service of remembrance in
Washington, with prayers from each of the "three Abrahamic religions" in English,
Hebrew and Arabic. (These deluded representatives of Christianity never seem to
note that none of their "interfaith" services are ever held in Mosques.)
This is a time for Christian believers to return to Jesus' first announcement that He
was building His church, and that it was to be an aggressive, forward moving body
of believers against whom the gates of Hell could not withstand. (Matt. 16:18)
This seems a good time to remind you of our Countdown for Prayer.
There are now just 412 days till election day, Nov. 6, 2012 -- 412 days to
pray for our nation and for our leaders to have wisdom in governing it, and for
God's solution -- not men's solution -- to the conflict in the Mideast between
God's people, Israel, and her Muslim enemies which surround her. And pray
also for our fellow Christian believers who are suffering persecution from the
Islamic jihadists all over the world . . . and ask God's direction as we go to the
polls in 2012 and vote to restore America to the nation it was intended to be.
Last week a new political campaign program hit the Internet: in a glaring
red and black announcement format, inviting viewers to join by sending their
Email addresses to President Obama's re-election campaign organization -- its
name: "Attack Watch." Its goal is to enroll thousands of "snitchers" who will
report to Obama headquarters the names of anyone who makes any kind of a
criticism of President Obama. One observer commented, "Attackwatch.com
is merely the latest in the depressing succession of botched U.S. Leadership
101 tests by Barack Obama and his team." But perhaps the best comment
on this latest Obama sponsored civilian spy program came from Jack Marshall,
writing in Ethics Alarms: "What is frightening is the naked incompetence
and juvenile instincts of the people the President allows to represent and
advise him, who don’t understand the culture of the nation they are
supposed to govern and how deeply offensive this kind of paranoid, Big
Brother-style, enemies list behavior seems to most Americans when it
comes from a President. The fact that he allows this shows that the
President doesn’t understand, either. This is, after all, the man who is
supposed to work for and respect the opinions of supporter and critic alike."
No indication is given as to what retribution would be brought by the Obama
administration against Americans who might criticize him.
In considering this frightening application of ruling government power, we are not
alone in recalling George Orwell's novel, "1984," where the ominous phrase, "Big
Brother is watching you," became part of our vocabulary.
Whether it is called "stimulus" or "investment," the corollary is always "Debt,"
and our first two presidents left us with very meaningful thoughts on that subject:
"No pecuniary consideration is more urgent, than the regular redemption
and discharge of the public debt: on none can delay be more injurious, or
an economy of time more valuable." --George Washington, 1793
"There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation ... one is by the sword.
The other is by debt." -- John Adams, 1826
It is always interesting to read "What Others Are Saying" . .
"It both annoys and amazes me that a majority of Americans - including
many so-called conservative commentators - still take Barack Obama to be
a serious, well-meaning individual who is simply 'in over his head.' I might
actually agree with that assessment if he were just another liberal politician.
But he's not. Barack Obama is an angry, anti-American, anti-capitalist,
anti-liberty hate monger who is committed to implementing the dreams
'from' his father (a self-avowed communist) and transforming the United
States of America into the Soviet States of America." -- Robert Ringer
"All propaganda must be so popular and on such an intellectual level, that
even the most stupid of those toward whom it is directed will understand it...
Through clever and constant application of propaganda, people can be made
to see paradise as hell, and also the other way around, to consider the most
wretched sort of life as paradise." -- Adolf Hitler, 1935
"... polls show that more than 60 percent of Americans disapprove of
Obama’s handling of the economy. Memories are long. The $800 billion
stimulus package nearly three years ago didn’t work. So why do it again?
Large dollops of government spending combined with temporary tax cuts
do not promote investment or entrepreneurship, which are the true
job-creators." -- Larry Kudlow
"We don't know yet what the overarching theme of President Obama's
reelection campaign will be, but the word 'change' is likely to once again
play at least a co-starring role. But this time it's different... there is another
kind of change he needs to talk about if the change he proposes is to be
believed. He needs to make clear the changes he intends to make in himself,
in the way he governs, and in the way he approaches the big, systemic
changes he claims to want to see." -- Arianna Huffington
And this week we found a varied assortment of "One Liners" . . .
Ralph Nader (on TV): "The only remedy left ... is impeachment."
Thomas Sowell (on Obama): "Arrogance is no substitute for experience."
Scott Baker (in The Blaze): "Huntsman had more lines fall flat than Dick
Cheney‘s heart monitor."
James Carville (on the N.Y. and Nevada elections): "What should the White
House do now? One word came to mind: Panic."
Barack Obama (campaign speech in No. Car.): “If you love me, you got to
help me pass this bill,”
If you could use a little touch of humor, here are two amusing quotes from
James Delingpole's book, 365 Ways to Drive a Liberal Crazy:
(1) Q. What's the difference between Obamacare and a car battery?
A. The car battery has a positive side.
A. The car battery has a positive side.
(2) You remember the Reagan era, when Ronald Reagan was President, and
Bob Hope and Johnny Cash were still with us?
Well, now we have Obama, no hope and no cash.
And now, selected at random, here are some "Afterthoughts" . . .
We almost hate to give him any further publicity . . . because that may be
one of his reasons for using his own personal TV show to make what has been
described as "kooky" pronouncements. But Pat Robertson stepped over his own
ridiculous line last week by declaring that if one's married partner -- husband or
wife -- is suffering from Alzheimers, that is a valid reason to divorce the mate,
and let the non-affected partner get on with their life. The embarrassing and very
unfortunate aspect of his weird statements is that he is labeled by the media as an
"Evangelical." As a wealthy individual who controls his own TV facilities, he is
doubtlessly entitled to express his own personal opinions, but should not attempt
to clothe them in the respectability of Evangelical beliefs. This appears to be an
example of reshaping Biblical teaching to conform to current day trends. Among
the many comments on this latest escapade was the suggestion that Mr. Robertson
may be suffering from dementia - he is said to be 81 years of age.
Obama's "non war" war in Libya continues to raise questions . . . like
what kind of government will replace Qaddafi? There is a possibility that it might
be worse. The first General Provision of the constitution for the reorganized
Libya includes this provision: "Islam is the Religion of the State and the
principal source of legislation is Islamic Jurisprudence [Shariah Law]."
With Israel so much in the news, it is interesting to note that a new DVD
series titled "Israel, A Journey of Light," has been released by Christians for
Israel. Filmed on location, the series begins with the birth of monotheism in the
time of Abraham, through the birth of Jesus Christ and into the modern era, thus
spanning the entirety of Judeo-Christian culture. It is from Israel that came the
laws which have been the foundation for Western life and culture. Our world
has been forever changed and shaped by the nation God chose and called
"Israel." We have not seen the production, but look forward to doing so.
It's hard to understand the ACLU . . . or is it, really? The ACLU has been
fighting religion in general, and Christianity in particular, for decades, and has taken
action to ban prayers in public schools. . . but now has suddenly come out in
support of allowing Muslim students to pray in public schools. Kevin Keenan, the
spokesperson for the ACLU in San Diego, explained it this way: "Performing
these prayers is widely recognized as one of the five essential pillars of Islam."
Perhaps someone should explain to Mr. Keenan, and his ACLU cohorts, that
prayer by Christians is also a widely recognized essential of Christianity.
There is always something to be learned from our Founding Fathers . . .
"We are either a United people, or we are not. If the former, let us, in all
matters of general concern act as a nation, which have national objects to
promote, and a national character to support. If we are not, let us no longer
act a farce by pretending to it." -- George Washington, 1785
"Let the American youth never forget, that they possess a noble inheritance,
bought by the toils, and sufferings, and blood of their ancestors; and the
capacity, if wisely improved, and faithfully guarded, of transmitting to their
latest posterity all the substantial blessings of life, the peaceful enjoyment of
liberty, property, religion, and independence." -- Joseph Story, 1833
Where are you going now, America?
September 14, 2011, of our 9th year of publication!
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A thought for today, and for this week:
"This generation will nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope of earth ...
The way is plain, peaceful, generous, just -- a way which, if followed,
the world will forever applaud, and God must forever bless."
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1939
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NOT TO BE OVERLY REPETITIVE, BUT SEVERAL ISSUES AGO
WE USED THE LATIN PHRASE: "QUO VADIS?" (WHERE ARE
YOU GOING?) ONCE AGAIN IT SEEMS TO BE APPLICABLE:
"WHERE ARE YOU GOING NOW, AMERICA?"
Two national disasters, Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941, and "9/11," Sept. 11, 2001
-- with 60 years and perhaps 3 generations between -- have reshaped America's
destiny, and each has asked the same question: "Where are you going now,
America?" In 1941 we prepared for war, went to war , and won the war, World
War II. But today, 10 years after 9/11, the answer to that same question is not as
clear and definite as we could wish it would be. We are a different nation today --
in 1941 we were a united nation with strong leaders; today we are a divided
nation, virtually leaderless.
Sunday's observance, even though the "official" view obscures the fact that this
was an Islamist terrorist attack, was as appropriate as any memory of an attack
on our nation could be, and we should be proud that 10 years later, we still honor
those thousands who lost their lives that day, and are still joining to rebuild our
nation's economy which suffered such a disastrous blow.
It is to be regretted that the division between Conservative and Liberal, between
pro and anti-Americans, has been so widened. Liberal columnist, Paul Krugman,
a prominent voice of the Liberal propaganda sheet, The New York Times,
expressed the Liberal view of 9/11 (which may also be the Obama administration's
view), in these words: "What happened after 9/11 -- and I think even people on
the right know this, whether they admit it or not -- was deeply shameful. The
atrocity should have been a unifying event, but instead it became a wedge
issue. Fake heroes like Bernie Kerik, Rudy Giuliani, and, yes, George W.
Bush raced to cash in on the horror." Calls for the Times to fire Krugman were
already being voiced on Sunday shortly after his opinion appeared.
The threat of a possible retaliation for the capture and killing of Osama bin Laden
did not materialize (one almost feels the regret of the media), and we have now
completed one full decade without further Islamic organized attacks. (The murders
at Fort Hood by a Muslim U.S. Army major who shouted "Allahu Akbar" as he
shot his fellow soldiers, is considered an individual attack, and not one organized
by Al Qaeda.)
Mr. Krugman and the Liberal view to the contrary, there is much to be learned
from 9/11. The Heritage Foundation expressed it these words: "In the days
after 9/11, Americans stood together as one, setting aside partisan fervor
and recognized a common enemy in Islamist terrorist groups...National
security was rightfully restored as our nation's highest priority. Ten years
later, Osama bin Laden is dead...But one terrorist's death does not justify
returning to the national security mindset that existed prior to that day. As
Thomas Paine said, 'Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom
must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.'"
As a person gets older (at 92, your editor can legitimately claim that distinction),
he tends to equate current events with the past. Shortly after WW II, in 1949, in
Orson Welles' The Third Man, the principal character, Harry Lime, spoke
concerning Switzerland: "In Italy for thirty years under the Borgias they had
warfare, terror, murder, bloodshed—but they produced Michelangelo,
Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly
love, 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The
cuckoo clock."
That is such a realistic comparison with the much touted "Jobs Plan" speech for
which Mr. Obama demanded (via his "bully pulpit") a joint session of Congress,
even attempting to schedule it so as to over-ride a Republican debate among
presidential candidates. And with all the "Hail to the Chief" acclaim, and the
usurpation of America's prime TV time -- what the president produced was, in
Harry Lime's terminology, something akin to a cuckoo clock.
Some 6 million people here in Southern California missed the speech due to a
massive power blackout which began 20 minutes before the start, and continued
for at least 8 hours. So we have had to evaluate it through re-runs, and occasional
editorials and opinion pieces. It failed to create the intense national reaction the
Obama administration had hoped for, and probably expected. In essence there
were 6 major elements: two of them were repeats; three were partially new; and
there was one new element, $50 billion to prevent layoffs of teachers, and $5
billion to keep emergency personnel on the job.
Certainly not the sensational plan we had been told to expect, and certainly not the
solution to the growing unemployment problem which is strangling our economy.
One notable response was the stock market's 300+ point decline in the Dow index
the next morning. And another reaction appeared on the Internet two days after the
speech, headlined: "More Obama Lies From Fact Checked Speech." Or, as
Howard Kurtz described it: "Obama's bid to save his job."
A few small touches of humor emerged: At one point in the speech the president
spoke of Americans driving foreign made automobiles, and he strongly asserted: "I
want to see more products sold around the world stamped with three proud
words: 'Made in America.'” Yet his administration's latest major purchase of his
two new re-election campaign busses at more than $1 million each were stamped:
"Made in Canada." That has to produce a smile on the face of even the most dour.
And in spite of his insistence for Congress to "end the political circus" and to
"put partisan rancor aside," his official spokesperson, Jay Carney, said in a TV
interview right after the speech: "The president said tonight that we need to put
party ahead of country ... we need to listen to the American people." There is
something strangely contradictory -- and almost laughable --in the viewpoints
of the Obama administration.
Fellow Believers in Muslim lands need the prayers of American Christians.
Each morning, as we open our many news sources from all over the world, we
read opening lines like these: "Christians live in a cloud of fear in Zanzibar,
Tanzania," or "The death toll in Jos, Nigeria is rising as violence continues,"
and "Nigeria is a tragedy unfolding before our eyes." And these words open
a new concern for Christians everywhere: "In the daily drumbeat of Mideast
news, there is one story of historic proportion that is nearly unreported: the
growing persecution and systematic destruction in the Islamic world of some
of the world’s oldest Christian communities."
Even in lands that are not under orthodox Sharia law, Christian communities feel the
pressure of persecution. Many Christians in Islamic lands have become subject to
such terror that they are fleeing the homelands their ancestors have known almost
since the time of Jesus. Iraq’s Christian sects now feel forced to pray in secret.
Others simply leave. Although they comprise less than four percent of Iraq’s
population, Iraqi Christians now account for 40 per cent of its refugees. Lebanon’s
once politically powerful Christian community has already shrunken almost beyond
recognition. Thirty years ago, Lebanon was 60% Christian; today it is barely 25%.
A tiny minority in an overwhelmingly Muslim country, shunned and carefully watched,
unable to become citizens or to worship God in public – this is the grim reality of life
for Christians in the Maldives. This popular holiday resort, widely regarded as an
island paradise, is one of the most repressively anti-Christian societies in the world.
Islam is the only recognized religion, and the country adheres strictly to Sharia law.
Many verses of Scripture come to mind; "Ye shall be hated of all nations for my
name's sake." (Matt. 24:9), and "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall
suffer persecution." (II Tim. 3:12). All are part of the prediction that "in the last
days perilous times shall come."
The observance of 9/11 should refresh in our minds the effects of Islamic terrorism.
And do not ignore this fact that Jihadists are at work in Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Iran,
Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Jordan, Syria, across Europe, and here in
America. Their numbers and influence grow daily. Our primary responsibility in
this worldwide danger is prayer -- prayer for the Christian church in America, and
for Christian believers all over the world.
And don't forget our ongoing "Prayer Countdown." As of this date there are
419 days before Election Day, Nov. 6, 2012 -- 419 days to pray for our nation,
and for God's direction as we vote to restore America to what it used to be.
There is always much to be learned from "What Others Are Saying"
Bill Muhlenberg (in Zionica): "In June 2009 President Obama gave a speech
in Cairo. In it he said, 'I consider it part of my responsibility as President of
the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam whenever
they appear.' Sorry, Barack Hussein Obama, but the only real duty of the
President of the United States is to uphold the Constitution and defend that
nation against any threats ... And it certainly is not the duty of the US
President to become an apologist for Islam."
Lt. Col. James Zumwalt (USMC, Ret): "Islamic traditions of 'honor' are
cruel, oppressive and barbaric. Moderate and influential Muslims must
stand up and denounce such practices. While a majority of Islam’s followers
may be peace-loving, they will choose silence—intimidated by the violent
extremist minority. As such, it should be understood by the West that
Muslims who do not act to deter extremism, support it."
Vaclav Klaus (Pres. Czech Republic): "Europeans today prefer leisure to
performance, security to risk-taking, paternalism to free markets,
collectivism and group entitlements to individualism... The critical situation
in Europe today is visible to everybody... Of course, with the way your
American government has been going, you might be able to catch up with
us -- in terms of our problems -- very soon."
Carl Leubsdorf (Dallas Morning News): "A decade after Pearl Harbor,
the United States stood supreme, despite the tensions of the Cold War with
the Soviet Union and a shooting conflict in Korea. The country was stronger
militarily, economically and strategically than before. That is not true today.
While experts generally believe the United States is less vulnerable to
terrorism, the nation's global position as a whole has weakened in the decade
since 9/11."
Dr. Michael Youssef (in michaelyoussef.com): "President Obama is far
fonder of quoting what he calls the “holy Qur’an” than the Bible. He is a
man who forgets the Easter proclamation, but never forgets a national
proclamation of the month of Ramadan. He is not about to offend his own
universalist, syncretistic crowd. May God have mercy on America."
In recent days, all "One Liners" sound pretty much the same . . .
Jimmy Hoffa, Jr. (speaking of the Tea Party): "Let’s take these sons of
bitches out and give America back to America where we belong.” (Joins
Maxine Water (D, CA) as a master of civility in Democrat political rhetoric.)
And Mr. Obama's evaluation was: “We are proud of . . . Teamster President
Jimmy Hoffa.” He's probably also proud of V.P Biden who referred to the
Republicans as "barbarians at the gates."
Even our Founding Fathers foresaw the possibility of lack of civility and corrupt
manners: "Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the
liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt."
-- Samuel Adams, 1749
And there are always a few, at random, "Afterthoughts" . . .
Like Franklin's "death and taxes," Obama vacations are always with us.
Now with the announcement that the Obama family (and probably friends) are
planning to tour Bali in November, Columnist Suzy Rice asks these questions:
"Do they have a golf course? Will Michelle and entourage fly there earlier
or later by a few hours either way [increasing the transportation costs], and,
will she wear conflicting batik prints with or without her bomber belt? And
not to be overlooked is the safari from Bali into Australia and, uhh, perhaps
also to Thailand." [Our advice: get all those globe circling vacation trips planned
before Election Day, 2012!] In looking at the need to get away from Washington,
Ms. Rice points out: "Relative to the U.S. Presidency is the round-the-clock
luxury residency in a greater-than-five-star-hotel, the White House, complete
with abundant servants, entertainment, adulation, personal physicians at the
wait-and-ready, private chefs galore, butlers, cosmeticians, florists, maids,
drivers, cooks, chefs, servers, all level and types of minders and keepers and
assistance imaginable." It's easy to understand wanting to get away from all that.
A new "Politically Correct" term: Amid the plethora of new terminology put
in use during the Obama administration is this one: "political optic." It is
defined as "the superficial appearance of an event or person as formed
through coverage and opinion in the print and broadcast media and the
blogosphere." It appears to be a natural development of the widely utilized
"photo-op" by the American president.
In re Obama's "non-war" in Libya, who can you believe? (From a news
report): "Libyan fighters have surrounded ousted dictator Moammar Gadhafi,
and it is only a matter of time until he is captured or killed, a spokesman for
Tripoli's new military council said Wednesday. The council's deputy defense
minister said, however, that Libya's former rebels had no idea where Gadhafi
was, and they were focusing on taking control of territory instead of tracking
down the former leader."
Our Founding Fathers offered wisdom on so many subjects . . .
"There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought
to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty."
-- John Adams, 1772
-- John Adams, 1772
"A universal peace ... is in the catalogue of events, which will never exist
but in the imaginations of visionary philosophers, or in the breasts of
benevolent enthusiasts." -- James Madison, 1792
"Laws are made for men of ordinary understanding and should, therefore,
be construed by the ordinary rules of common sense. Their meaning is not
to be sought for in metaphysical subtleties which may make anything mean
everything or nothing at pleasure." --Thomas Jefferson, 1823
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