The Fallen: The Epitome of Patriotism

It’s difficult for many of us with active-duty family members to put into words the pain that has been buzzing around our bodies & souls for most of today, & it’s next to impossible to rid ourselves of the bite that tears at hearts every time we learn of a newly fallen American.

Many in the media, as well as fellow bloggers, have been apt to focus primarily on the soldier who slaughtered those brave men & women on our own soil—I will choose a different road because what “type” of person Mr. Hasan is will become evident to all who don’t yet know in the near future, I’m sure.

Instead I will redirect focus to the soldiers & police who have lost their lives, to their families, and to those still serving.

Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, there exists less and less discussion on our military—at first the transition was subtle, now it seems that only during certain times of the year are our brave men & women remembered, honored, and thanked.

It is a shame.

So here is my reminder:

They are AMERICANS too. They are the epitome of “patriotic” & to regard them as simply names on a page or a ticker running across the bottom of our television screen is one of the greatest injustices I can fathom.

“Through Amber Lenses” is a blog which was written by a soldier stationed in Iraq. Jordan was KIA a few months ago, September of 2009. His blog will clue you in…he was a person with hesitations, humor, wit, and frustration—he was an American.

I encourage you to read through some of his postings.

THROUGH AMBER LENSES

 

I am an American Soldier.
I am a Warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills. I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.
- The Soldier’s Creed

“I will never leave a fallen comrade…” The essence behind the actions of those who reportedly ripped off their own uniforms to aid the injured, those who ran INTO a building that everyone else was running away from…American Soldiers.

Life is precious & often times fleeting; our military & the families know this first hand.

Today’s fallen were Americans whose admiration and love for freedom—for liberty—outweighed their personal lives at times. Todays fallen were family members—spouses, children, friends…

They were heroes in their own right and like those who have passed before them, deserve to be remembered forever.

And for our leadership stateside, the message is this:

Many Americans struggle with the ugly realities of war—including those who serve & their families—but please do not allow those realities to cloud the fact that these men & women are protecting what they value—what we value—America.

When Americans, either at home or abroad, are being killed—particularly by our own—there is no place for political advancement or propagation. Serious times call for serious measures, as the saying goes.

Now is most definitely that time.

Now is the time to remember.

Finally, God Bless all the families of those Fallen & those currently serving. And God Bless all that aided (in any way) today at Ft. Hood. You are all in my prayers & I’m sure, the prayers of many.

God Bless America.

Negligent Excuses for a Horrific Form of Muslim “Law”

A few days ago, I wrote an article about another advisor to the president with extreme views, Ms. Dalia Mogahed, in which I discussed, among other things, the danger in the words she spoke during an interview with IslamChannel in Britain.

The entire transcript of the interview with Dalia Mogahed & Dr. Nazreen Nawaz can be read here.

Ms. Mogahed has attempted to defend her remarks while on Muslimah Dilemma about Sharia’ah as “gender justice” in her most recent interview with U.S. News & World Report.   

When asked how she was booked on the show & if she had any knowledge of the “shaky” connections to the radical “political party”, Hizb ut Tahrir, Ms. Mogahed merely stated that her people had contacted a PR firm in Britain who had informed them the show was legitimate.

She then continues to state that she has no regrets about her remarks on the program, but rather would have perhaps thought twice about appearing on Muslimah Dilemma had she known who would be participating.

She also states that while Hizb ut Tahrir is admittedly an ideologically extreme organization, it is not her place as an “analyst” to comment on “ideological differences” and that her statements are representative only of the data she compiled & not of her own views.

After re-watching the program, I can state with complete confidence that nowhere during the course of the interview is Ms. Mogahed reserved in her statements, nor does she come across as uncomfortable in any way.

In fact, she states during the interview that while her conclusions are based on data she has collected, she concurs with those opinions.

So all in all, Ms. Mogahed, while perhaps having second-thoughts about her media performances, “means what she says and says what she means…”

The pathetic attempt at excusing the ideological differences, which are at minimum extreme, is disingenuous if not wholeheartedly negligent.

As an advisor to the President, she has an obligation to present the ENTIRE picture, not just what her skewed results appear to state. For example, as part of Sharia’ah, did Ms. Mogahed denounce the Honor Killings of late or are they, too, included as “gender justice”?

Was Noor Faleh Almaleki being run over by her own father, who condones Sharia’ah law, justified because he believed she was “too westernized”?

This is definitely the direction the United States, whose citizens enjoy an abundance of freedoms including that of life, could be headed if the population doesn’t speak out against such horrific crimes & those who fail to denounce them.

As President Obama once stated, we should judge him by who he surrounds himself with, not necessarily what we’ve “heard…”

Has Radical Islam Entered Your Life Unexpectedly?

On Saturday evening the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will be celebrating its 15^th anniversary as the apologetic-propagandist machine that it is. The notorious Rev. Jesse Jackson will be speaking at the banquet along with Imam Siraj Wahhaj of the Masjid Al-Taqwa mosque in Brooklyn, New York.

Born Jeffrey Kearse, the native-New Yorker is the “No. 1 advocate of radical Islamic ideology among African-Americans,” according to Stephen Schwartz of The Center for Islamic Pluralism. Schwartz also states that, “…His stuff is very appealing to young Muslims who are on a radical path…”

If this particular Imam’s name rings a bell, it’s likely a result of his testimony as a “character witness” in the case of the “blind sheikh,” Omar Abdel-Rahman, who was convicted of devising the plot to bomb the World Trade Centers in 1993. Although never formally charged, Wahhaj made the “list of unindicted persons who may be alleged as co-conspirators,” according to US Attorney Mary Jo White.

The Clarion Fund, who came to prominence in the public arena by way of their documentaries Obsession: Radical Islam’s War against the West & The Third Jihad, have called for the cancellation of the banquet.

So while this Imam’s presence may strike a chord with the average New Yorker, as most references to the WTC do post-9/11, should there be another reason behind that “twinge?”

The answer is yes.

It seems as though (in light of recent exposures by some in the press) people within the Obama administration who hold deep-seated ideological differences from many in America may be contributing drastically to the “fundamental Change” campaign that was promised. From the mouths of Presidential advisors have spewed hateful, anti-American rhetoric that would make the likes of Nancy Pelosi shutter, so the question that Americans should be asking themselves is how far this “Change” should be permitted to go from the Founder’s intentions.

A woman with relatively little media notoriety is the Obama administration’s Advisor on Muslim Affairs, Dalia Mogahed, who recently participated in a joint-interview on a British fundamentalist-Islam television network with Dr. Nazreen Nawaz, a member of the radical Islamist organization, Hizb ut Tahrir. Ms. Mogahed, with the backing of Dr. Nawaz, professed that “…the majority of women around the world associate gender justice, or justice for women, with Sharia’ah compliance…”

That’s right. According to her “scientific research” even Muslim-American women, who are the beneficiaries of many years of struggling against women’s past inequality, attribute gender justice with Sharia’ah compliance…We’ll touch on this again in a moment, but first let’s examine the type of thought that Ms. Mogahed sides with.

Hizb ut Tahrir, while only on a “watch list” in the US, has been designated a “Terrorist Network” in many countries for advocating the overthrowing of Capitalism & democracy as well as the imposition of a system of global Sharia’ah. Rather than condemning “Jihadist” viewpoints & actions, this group has been known to advocate for their use as a political means of progress, while not directly contributing to the killings.

Their organization has devised a strategy for implementing global Sharia’ah:

Stage #1- Culturing the masses to believe in an Islamic-world view by gathering them to form groups.

Stage #2- Interacting with “Ummah” so they will promote these ideas & join the cause.

Stage #3- Establish government, implementing Sharia’ah (generally & comprehensively) while continuing to carry its message to the rest of the world.

Their stratagem bears a striking resemblance to the Muslim Brotherhood’s (Ikhwan) 20 year plan to establish an “Islamic government on Earth”—the Project, available here both in its original form & as an English translation.  

It’s largely up to the individual in determining the meaning behind her support of various organizations, but prior to her appointment as the Muslim Affairs Advisor, Ms. Mogahed was a member of the US Muslim Engagement Project (who holds strong, un-renounced ties to the Muslim Brotherhood). She currently serves as the Senior Analyst & Executive Director at the Center for Muslim Studies at Gallup and also directs the Muslim West Facts Initiative, a collaborative effort between Gallup & the London-based Coexist Foundation.

Back to Ms. Mogahed’s statement & assumed authority as described in the book she recently co-authored with John Esposito, “Who Speaks for Islam?: What a Billion Muslims Really Think.” It’s important, when discussing her statement in the interview, to confront a common misconception made as a result of the vague generalities often associated with the topic of Sharia’ah. The primary one being that Sharia’ah deals with only certain legal matters (which to many Americans would likely encompass what we consider “civil law”), but one must understand that Sharia’ah is actually an entire way of life.

There was controversy which arose in Britain when it was suggested that Sharia’ah courts should prevail above British law when dealing with the British-Muslim population. The case was made by many “multiculturalism” defenders, both in the U.S. & abroad, that Sharia’ah courts were similar to Catholic marriage tribunals or Jewish family courts. The component of this argument which is consistently overlooked is that only Sharia’ah imposes its rule over every person living within the society, regardless of their faith or beliefs. Good examples of this would be the Islamic Republic of Iran or Saudi Arabia, both of which squeeze out & eliminate all other cultures. Therefore, when properly implemented, the result is absolutely no “freedom of religion” (or even from religion)—and in all honesty, there goes the Constitution as well.

The system of Sharia’ah instills both fear & dependence within many women who, when living under its rule, are brutalized by what is considered to be the “word of Allah.” Earning the verbal approval of any Muslim, when on a pre-slanted quest, doesn’t change the fundamental nature of Sharia’ah. When people are living in fear of being critical of their own system which gives a man the “divine right” to stone a woman to death, Ms. Mogahed is naïve at best to expect “honest” answers from the majority of the Muslim women she polled.

Fox News Host Glenn Beck has exposed radical ties for many within the administration’s network, including most recently Communications Director Anita Dunn, with her Maoist-admiration. Without the denial of these ties with any verifiable credibility (apart from sweeping “mistakes” under the rug), it’s only fair to question how much of Obama’s time Ms. Mogahed is occupying & how that will potentially impact future policy decisions.

Another nary discussed aspect of the “Change” Americans may need to pay attention to is the fusion of Islamic propaganda inside our educational system. It has continued to increase as the years have progressed as a result of the politically correct culture that’s overwhelmed American minds.  Imagine Valerie Moore’s surprise when she pulled up to the front of her children’s school (Joseph Kerr Junior High School in Elk Grove, Ca) to find a banner loudly proclaiming that, “There is one God, Allah, & Mohammed is his prophet…”

Or perhaps a better example would be the lawsuit (3^rd entry down in the archive) filed against Excelsior School in Byron, CA where students participated in a three-week “simulation” on Islam. “Islam: A Simulation of Islamic History & Culture” authored by the Council on Islamic Education, instructed the children to “…Analyze, explain, & recite the jihadist scripture:

‘Believers, why is it that when it is said to you—March in the cause of Allah—you linger slothfully in the land? If you don’t fight, He will punish you sternly & replace you with other men.’

They were also instructed to “profess” as “true” the Muslim belief that “The Holy Qur’an is God’s word.”

The Mission Viejo chapter of ACT! for America, a grassroots organization committed to Western values & democracy as well as their staunch opposition toward the “authoritarian values of Islamofascism,” recently compiled a special report, Islam in America’s Classrooms. It served as a one-stop source & in-depth look at the propaganda found in Junior High School textbooks across America, compiling information gathered by two committees established to review textbooks; they were responsible for detailing their findings on what is portrayed as “fact” in History classrooms across the U.S.—everything from generalities used to “whitewash” the often violent history of Islam; “half truths;” the liberal-myth of Islamic “multiculturalism & broad-mindedness;” and finally, the presentation of Islamic beliefs as facts while referring to all Judeo-Christian values as mere “emotional spirituality” which occasionally went as far as to actually demonize both Judaism & Christianity.

One of the committees, the Textbook League published “Reviewing ISLAM: A Simulation,” which was the unit that sparked the heated debate & eventual lawsuit against Excelsior School. An editor on the committee stated in his findings that, “…Page for page, this is the most malignant product that I’ve seen during all my years as a reviewer…”

They also published “How a Public School in Scottsdale, AZ Subjected Students to Islamic Indoctrination” detailing “blatant propaganda” from the popular middle-school textbook, “History Alive! The Medieval World & Beyond.”

When the American Textbook Council compiled a report in June of 2008 titled, “Islam in the Classroom: What the Textbooks Tell Us,” one of the editors stated that, “…the misinformation surrounding Islam & textbooks is disturbing more so because much of it is intentional.”

According to the study, the majority of the information being taught via textbooks fails to meet the “academic definition of history” defined by former-President Clinton’s mandate on guidelines for religious expression and tolerance in public schools.

Ironic since the phrase “under God” is such an elephant in the room during the Pledge of Allegiance…

Don’t ever assume that this type of “whitewashing” & propaganda exists only in primary schooling (K-12), in reality it runs rampant throughout the country when in fact many American universities & colleges either make use of textbooks which are written in a “propagandist”-style or employ professors who subscribe to these same schools of thought.

Here in Northern Nevada, Western Nevada College (WNC) uses “The Western Humanities: Volume I” for its Humanities 101 course; its text is not immune to this frightening phenomenon. Within the book’s eighth chapter, “The World of Islam,” it is stated as fact that, “…Muhammad, as the voice of Allah, was a ruler & not a consensus builder & Islam…the only source of spiritual & secular authority.” Another passage uses the phrase “in the name of Allah” as an indication of Allah’s blessing for the remainder of the chapter’s text, doing so in a way that doesn’t seem to actually enhance the student’s understanding, but instead operates as both “normal” and “factual.” (Underline mine.)

Two commonly glamorized professors—Rashid Khalidi & Joseph Massad, both of whom are tenured at prestigious-elite Columbia University & are outspokenly opposed to not only Israel, but also America.

Professor Massad received a review for a class he instructs that was anything but praiseworthy in which a former student stated:

“This was possibly the most offended I`ve ever been. Massad does not even pretend to give the entire picture, he states that on the first day. Besides being offensive, is it really worth it to take a class that doesn`t tell you both sides of a controversy? I worry about the people who enter the class with little to no knowledge of the topic and form their opinions based on Massad`s lectures and assigned readings. Massad also doesn`t allow students to finish their questions before answering them. The class is taught unethically, and should be renamed “Why Palestinians Hate Israel.” In sum, it sucks to take a class and walk away not feeling like you can form an educated opinion. It also sucks when your professor, (in my opinion) lies and even after being proven wrong by students, continues to lie.”

Rashid Khalidi recently served as a “moderator” for the United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) “forum” hosted by Columbia University during which he allowed his divine moderation skills to overcome him by reiterating his fellow Western-destructionists’ views of both Israeli & Western policy.

Another “expert” professor at the same forum reportedly “joked” with the commissioner general of UNRWA stating that he was baffled as to why she hadn’t yet “sprouted horns” for incorporating Holocaust studies into UNRWA’s school curriculum.

All of these issues are alarming, but particularly in a country said to be so united behind “Hope & Change.” Many, I’m sure, will ignorantly label this as another “right-wing extremist,” anti-Muslim diatribe, but nothing could be further from the truth. The problem is not Islam as a religion, but rather the forced conversion that groups like Hizb ut-Tahrir (and quite possibly people affiliated with the current Obama administration) would like to implement. It is not to say that Sharia’ah is “coming to a town near you,” but it is to bring to light the stark contrasts between American value systems & those of other cultures. An informed people are a strong people, after all. Additionally, it’s irresponsible of Dalia Mogahed (or any woman who has fulfilled her career-ambitions while openly practicing her Muslim faith or any other faith for that matter) to espouse an oppressive system which stands in stark contradiction to the very values every American enjoys; in this country we value human rights for all, not exclusively for men and therefore, the often violent edicts of Sharia’ah as the epitome of “gender justice” does not apply. Ms. Mogahed’s words should be infuriating feminists & human rights activists across this country. Instead…there’s a deafening silence. There is a difference between being a cultured society that is acceptant of others & having a “fundamental change” forced upon an unsuspecting nation in an attempt to completely destroy the fabric of our country. So, it seems that the puzzle for many who advocate for “change” is being mindful of the balance…

If you are interested in more perspectives dealing with this topic, I would refer you to Dr. M. Zudhi Jasser’s article, “The Un-fought War on Islamism: To Stay Civilized & Free, We Can’t Be Ignorant.”

The Reno Chapter of ACT! for America can be reached via email: ACT-NNv@callhsb.com

“Remembering a Fallen Soldier…” by Brigitte Gabriel

I received this via email earlier this morning & for the life of me could not get it out of my head. It’s a clear & sobering reminder that walks hand in hand with the events of the last week or so.

Take a moment & read Brigitte’s letter…then, I encourage you to visit the website.

Remember the fallen soldiers & honor them as Nevada welcomes home one of our own, Pfc. Thomas Lyons who leaves behind a wife & 3-month old baby.

God bless everyone fighting for freedom in America & abroad.

 

Remembering a Fallen Soldier…

Remembering What We Are Up Against and Why We Must – and Will – Prevail

by Brigitte Gabriel

I don’t believe I’ve ever written a letter quite like this to you before.

Indeed, it is difficult to write this without tears welling up in my eyes.

It started as a rainy Friday morning in late August. I was flying from my presentation in Springfield, Missouri, to my next destination connecting through Atlanta. Little did I know that what I was about to experience that day was going to shake me to the depth of my soul, inflame my passion for our country (I didn’t think it was possible to be more passionate) and remind me why ACT! for America is so important to our security and the future of America.

I looked out my window at gloomy Atlanta as the plane took off, closed my eyes and pictured home and my loving family meeting me at the airport with open arms, smiles and kisses, waiting to whisk me off to Outback Steak House for dinner as planned.

It was a quiet, uneventful flight. No beverage service. No announcements from the captain — until we landed at our final destination:

“Welcome to “…….” . Ladies and Gentleman we have a special request to ask of you. We are carrying on this plane today a fallen soldier brought home from Afghanistan. His body is accompanied by Sgt. “……”. Please kindly allow Sgt. “….” to deplane first so he can do his job in escorting the body below. We will leave the seat belt sign on until the body has been taken off the plane. Then when the seat belt sign is turned off, you can deplane.”

The plane continued slowly down the runway as the captain’s shocking announcement reverberated among the passengers. As we taxied closer to our gate, tears began to flow as we saw a police car, a military hearse, and a team of Marines standing in formation waiting to carry the body. And the saddest scene of all — his family, wife and children, all lined up against the wall waiting for him.

Burning tears were flowing down my face as my heart sank into utter pain and agony at such a sight. We always hear about this on the news and feel sad but to experience it in person is completely different. We pulled up to our gate and Sgt. “….” stood up in all his gloriously decorated uniform, opened up the overhead compartment carrying a folded American flag and a back pack, and started walking out of the plane amid the clapping and tears of all of us on board.

No one in the plane even touched their cell phone. People were transfixed, staring out the window, sharing our respect and sorrow.

At that moment we were not Democrats, Republicans or Independents. We were Americans soberly watching one of our own come home in a coffin draped with an American flag.

As they removed the body from the plane, two men holding his wife started walking towards the plane as the wife covered her face and began sobbing. She was followed by her children. The Marines walked in formation and carried his body to the hearse.

We started getting out of our seats and deplaning without a word from anyone except the sounds of crying coming from different people looking out the window as they walked out of the plane.

As I entered the airport, people were standing in lines and rows facing the window watching all this. Some men were saluting the body. We all stood next to each other, honoring this soldier until his body was finally in the hearse and he was driven off the tarmac.

It was the most sobering, heartbreaking, and patriotic scene. As I cried for the following few hours sitting with my family at home eating Chinese take-out for dinner (I just wasn’t up to going out for dinner), I was reminded of why we need to continually remind Americans that we are at war.

Our men and women are fighting and dying overseas to protect America from an enemy who is not only fighting us across the globe but also advancing here at home. Just because we have not been successfully attacked at home doesn’t mean our enemy has forgotten about us. Their tactics have become more sophisticated. They not only wish to attack us militarily, they are moving at full speed in the advance of their cultural Jihad invading America. Islamic foot-washing basins in airports; Shariah finance being introduced by American banks; college campuses designating Islamic prayer rooms for Muslims only; Islamic compounds practicing Shariah law springing up across America; public schools using our tax dollars to indoctrinate American students into Islam; demands by Muslim parents that their children be provided private prayer rooms in their public schools; Muslim workers demanding special workplace accommodations no other religious person would ask for; and the list goes on.

As history demonstrates, only organized resistance will stop this. Unopposed by organized resistance, the advance of cultural Jihad in Europe has proceeded to the point that many think a full-blown “Eurabia” is inevitable and irreversible. And even if we win the war against Islamic terrorism, but lose the struggle against cultural Jihad here at home, we may protect our safety but lose our liberties and our way of life.

I just don’t believe this young man who fell on the field of battle would consider that a victory. “Freedom” is not just freedom from the physical harm our Islamist enemies want to inflict on us. It is freedom from the tyranny and oppression of shariah Islamic law and the supremacist political ideology our enemies are determined to impose upon us.

So, just as that soldier was on the front lines of this war overseas, we are on the “front lines” here at home. That soldier was part of the “organized resistance” in Afghanistan. We are part of the “organized resistance” here in America. We cannot afford to fail in our military missions overseas. Failure would embolden and empower Islamists throughout the world. We also cannot afford to fail here at home.

This is why I appeal to you to take heart and help me continue building ACT! for America. We are the only nationwide organized resistance to this threat. As I said, we are the front lines here at home. Our families, our communities and our nation are depending on us, even though many do not yet realize it.

For instance, two years ago ACT helped pass the bill in Congress that protects every citizen from lawsuits when they report suspicious activity in public places.

How many Americans know this happened? Very few. Yet they are now protected from lawsuits, which means America is safer as a result.

I know there are other issues right now, such as health care and the economy, that are dominating the attention of the American people. And I understand why that is. But for those of us, you and me, who grasp the seriousness of the threat of radical Islam, we must continue to do everything we can to make sure that the reason 9/11 occurred is not forgotten. That the reason we are fighting in Afghanistan is not forgotten.

We must continue to push forward, to inform, organize, and ring the alarm bells, even when it feels like a lot of people aren’t paying attention right now or don’t seem to “get it.” Because there are many good Americans out there ready to respond to our message, if we can only get it to them.

Because we are the modern “Paul Revere’s,” the messengers who are warning America even when a lot of America is preoccupied with other matters. It is estimated that over 2/3 of the colonists either were loyal to Britain or were indifferent to the political struggles the colonies were experiencing in 1776. Yet, through the leadership and sacrifice of the remaining colonists, independence was declared and Britain was defeated.

How I wish I could be standing in your presence this very moment, to grasp your hands, look into your eyes, and say “be encouraged!” We will win this struggle against radical Islam. It won’t be tomorrow, or next year, but we will, in time, prevail — so long as good, patriotic Americans like you do not lose hope and keep taking action. We are winning victories, and we will continue to win more – and bigger – victories, so long as good, patriotic Americans like you do not lose hope and keep taking action. Let’s remember how far we have come together. In less than two years we have built the largest grassroots organization in America dedicated to combating the threat of radical Islam, with 62,000 members and 315 local chapters. Be encouraged!

I want to close with this.

Last week, when Guy Rodgers and I were at the EMP conference in Niagara, NY, the president of a national security organization sat down with us and thanked us profusely for what ACT! for America is doing and has already accomplished. I wish you could have seen his face and heard his words. This is a man who has served at high levels of government and been around Washington politics for decades. His message to us – and ultimately to you – was that ACT! for America is KEY to all our efforts to defeat radical Islam. He has watched us grow, witnessed our activism, and rejoiced for our victories. So I’ll say it again. Be encouraged!

Always devoted,

Brigitte Gabriel

9/11: Don’t allow America to again become complacent

I awoke this morning with a deep, sinking feeling (as I do each year on this day) at the thought of the thousands of lives snuffed out in a few moments of time. I typically go about my business, silently pray for each family affected by this not-so-distant memory, and watch the memorials on my television screen across the rest of America.  

Today—September 11, 2009—was different.

I scanned channels; swept quickly over social networking sites…I was stunned.

My eyes have been red & my voice has been cracked. This year’s anniversary of the slaughtering of thousands of Americans has awoken me to a reality I don’t much care for, to a horrifying truth…A truth that has so affected my mood today that it has evidently ensured I am one of the final posts on this topic today.

America has largely forgotten the tragedies of 8 years ago.

People will say that this is merely my “hatred” of the new administration, but I can honestly say it is not. I take issue with many a decision they have made, but the problem is much larger. The problem lies within politicians with self-serving agendas, special interest groups, political correctness—the list goes on & on.

The Leftist underbelly of the MSM continues to chip away at the significance of 9/11 & works to distract from the meaning behind the attacks, but in the name of what? A National Day of Service & Remembrance which will focus on Education, Health, Energy/Environment, and Community Renewal.

So, I’m curious, as I’m sure many are, how these particular areas of focus relate to remembering September 11, 2001?

Perhaps that’s the point.

As can be expected, the original news footage has largely disappeared from all networks because they pretend to know what’s “best for us.” Few in the MSM actually wish to remember the victims. Few wish to focus on the brave men & women of Flight 93 who went down fighting for their lives & the lives of their fellow Americans.

No one in the MSM wishes to remember the parades & celebrations that took place overseas when the enemies of America—when the TERRORISTS—slaughtered nearly 3,000 people on U.S. soil.

The media & many politicians wish Americans to forget that we were attacked for the values we hold dear. We were attacked by individuals who don’t follow our rules or laws; by individuals who don’t care to listen to what we may have to say; by individuals hell-bent on destroying our civilization in its entirety.

Whether the elite wish to acknowledge it or not, radical Islam is at war with America in the struggle between good & evil.

There is no “reasoning” with terrorists & radicals of any kind. Many prominent individuals wish you to forget that.

Don’t. Humanity stands beside us.

There are countless days every year in which Americans can renew their service to their communities, to education, to energy & the environment…but there is only one September 11^th each year. There is only one day each year when 3,000 souls lost their precious lives in an instant; there is only one day each year when the children & families of these people learned that their loved ones would never return—September 11^th should be a day of remembrance, solemn & strong. It should be a day in which every American renews their commitment to the security of their families, friends, and that of every other American citizen.

If you wish for education to be your focus: Educate your children on why America was attacked on September 11^th. Educate your children on what it means to be “American.” Educate your children about the brave souls that lost their lives that day & those who continue to fight for our freedoms in spite of their dwindling support from those who “lead” liberty at home.

Honor the fallen men & women, like local Nevadan Pfc. Thomas Lyons KIA just a few days ago in Iraq, leaving behind a wife & a 3-month old baby.

If you wish for community renewal to be your focus: Planting trees, changing light bulbs, etc. can be considered little else but trivializations of the memory of each life lost. If volunteering is your aim in your community, then volunteer for those that serve you—military service men & women, firefighters, paramedics, & police officers. Write them letters, send them care packages… just let them know how grateful you are for everything they do.

Display your American flag proudly in front of your home…explain to your children why Old Glory waves to this day as she does…

I, for one, don’t wish to live in the America that takes for granted liberty & prosperity.

I don’t wish to live in the America where divisive actions, self-serving actions, social agendas are the primary focus of a government that was intended to represent me.

I’m tired of living in a place where the complicity of the MSM & educators in our schools praise individuals like Barbara Kingsolver in all their hypocrisy…Every year I read this article & every year it makes my blood boil.

“Patriotism seems to be falling to whoever claims it loudest, and we’re left struggling to find a definition in a clamor of reaction. This is what I’m hearing: Patriotism opposes the lone representative of democracy who was brave enough to vote her conscience instead of following an angry mob. (Several others have confessed they wanted to vote the same way, but chickened out.) Patriotism threatens free speech with death. It is infuriated by thoughtful hesitation, constructive criticism of our leaders and pleas for peace. It despises people of foreign birth who’ve spent years learning our culture and contributing their talents to our economy. It has specifically blamed homosexuals, feminists and the American Civil Liberties Union. In other words,

 

the American flag stands for intimidation, censorship, violence, bigotry, sexism, homophobia, and shoving the Constitution through a paper shredder? Who are we calling terrorists here? Outsiders can destroy airplanes and buildings, but it is only we, the people, who have the power to demolish our own ideals.

 

It’s a fact of our culture that the loudest mouths get the most airplay, and the loudmouths are saying now that in times of crisis it is treasonous to question our leaders. Nonsense. That kind of thinking let fascism grow out of the international depression of the 1930s. In critical times, our leaders need most to be influenced by the moderating force of dissent. That is the basis of democracy, in sickness and in health, and especially when national choices are difficult, and bear grave consequences.

 

It occurs to me that my patriotic duty is to recapture my flag from the men now waving it in the name of jingoism and censorship. This isn’t easy for me.”

THAT ISN’T MY AMERICA.

The “America” Ms. Kingsolver just described has always been the antithesis of the America I grew up in.

I can only pray to God that it remains that way.

So even now, 8 years after this atrocity was perpetrated against our civilians & anyone who holds our values close to their hearts, I urge you—don’t become complacent.

Don’t forget.

Watch the footage & cry—I do. I still am overwhelmed with anger, shock, horror…you name it, and I feel it.

So, please remember the way you felt that day. Help others to remember who are too young or who have gotten caught up in the everyday hustle & bustle.

Remember the hopelessness, the anger, the fear, the love you felt for others and most of all—remember to cling to the truth at all costs, as ugly as it may be.

God bless the United States of America.

 

In addition, I urge you to put partisanship aside & pre-conceived notions of Glenn Beck…WATCH THIS EMOTION, WATCH THIS PASSION, WATCH THE HONORING OF ALL THAT LOST THEIR LIVES.

http://www.foxnews.com/video/index.html?playerId=011008&streamingFormat=FLASH&referralObject=9448002&referralPlaylistId=playlist

The ’specifics’ turned comedic mystery on Healthcare Reform according to Obama administration

Comedic mystery abounded from the POTUS address last night—which MSM’ers would lead you to believe had the same effects as Ronald Reagan’s address against socialized medicine (Similarities, anyone?)—including VPOTUS Biden cluing in the rest of America as to yet another of his many talents…Anyone who has yet to become aware, he is among the first in his position to literally sleep with his eyes open during the President’s address.

The stated purpose of this primetime buy-out according to the Whitehouse was not just to quell fears stemming from “disinformation,” but to lay out SPECIFICS of the proposed plan. Mission accomplished? Not a chance! Not only were specifics not the focus of this address, but after using the much expected Conservative-speak, President Obama attempted to draw parallels between his administration & that of Theodore Roosevelt where there weren’t many positives to draw & to push aside the “politics as usual” partisanship by laying blame for the state of the current health care system at the feet of insurance companies, health care providers, and of course—Capitalism.

First things first, are there many Americans who are aware of “savings” surpluses within the Medicare system? Are there any Americans aware of such savings? And if eliminating wasteful spending & overages were truly the government’s objective, would they not have done this prior to aiming at revamping the entire system? Why would you pump money into a system that is already faltering as a result of insufficient funds?

The tone of the speech & largely the message itself reminds any historian of FDR’s proposal for Social Security legislation, in which he said the following,

“[Economic] security was attained in the earlier days through the interdependence of members of families upon each other & of the families within a small community upon each other. The complexities of great communities & of organized industry make less real these simple means of security. Therefore, we are compelled to employ the active interest of the Nation as a whole through government in order to encourage a greater security for each individual who composes it…This seeking for a greater measure of welfare & happiness does not indicate a change in values. It is rather a return to values lost in the course of our economic development & expansion.” (Underline mine.)

It’s clear that President Obama, like FDR before him, equates Capitalism & technological progress with the downfall of America. He continues to employ government as the solution for the many crises that arise & shouldn’t go to waste with a self-serving agenda that will ultimately (like Social Security, Medicare programs) be to the detriment of all Americans, present & future.

It became evident in last night’s address that this isn’t about reforming health care so as to make it more available to Americans. Nor is it about increasing the quality of care that is provided. It most certainly isn’t about allowing the free-markets & competition to play out with the best providers rising from the ashes.

The goal is to hold the purse strings of the American people from this generation forward. The goal is to entangle every American & their children in one of the largest safety illusions this country has ever seen. The goal is addicting the people of this country to a controlled-substance that’s long been lurking in the shadows…government entitlements.

If the purpose were truly centralized around reform & helping the Americans that “fall through the cracks,” it is disingenuous on the part of the proponents of this legislation to neglect mentioning the “quick fix” with long-term positive results for at least one of the major aspects of health care that President Obama spoke of last night (i.e. losing coverage if you lose your job, move, change jobs, etc.)…I know it’s a difficult concept for many a Statist to grasp, but by simply lifting the governmental controls currently riddling the system with “problems,” and thus allowing interstate commerce for health insurance coverage…that problem disappears.

It’s merely one humble suggestion.

For an administration & campaign that was centralized upon changing the status-quo in Washington & positively promoting America’s image around the world, the Obama administration has certainly gone off-track. With the call by Obama to “…get to a point where we can have conversation…without vitriol, without name calling” it’s at least ironic that the Americans who are understandably opposed to this “sweeping” fake-reform, are vilified as mobs, etc. by the Whitehouse & other prominent “leaders.”

So in the spirit of bi-partisanship & non-vitriolic conversations on issues important to America, the final lesson to be learned from last night’s address is this:

If you feel at any time that you are losing your audience when discussing higher taxation & greater personal regulation, blame Bush!

“The Government Can” – Tim Hawkins

During a time in this great country when Americans feel more distanced from their “representatives” than ever…this video hits home.

Originally seen on the 9/12 Project website, this video is correctly described as “making you laugh…& yet making you cry.”

Wake up, uninformed America! We have a long road ahead of us which will only be exacerbated by the current government’s choices. 

Remind them they work for you!  

And please, SHARE THIS VIDEO WITH YOUR FRIENDS & FAMILY!

The assault by Progressive America spans party lines as the citizens lose their freedoms

The “change” voted into office a few short months ago was supposed to represent an overhaul in the “culture” that had become Washington—lies, corruption, blame, & partisanship. The candidate that was supposed to help unify & unite Americans—the “transcending racial barriers” candidate—this mere mortal man has created rifts so deep in the American psyche & deepened already existing ones such that race & color have become the least of the social issues. Now the government uses moral coercion to gain the American people’s support for their drastic overhaul & “fundamental change” in America. “Change” in and of itself arrived under the false “crises” premise as it usually does. Government handouts, entitlements, & wasteful spending describe the entirety of the current government’s “plan” for ‘recovery in America’—shredding an already fragile Constitution by playing on the fears of the public—“Destruction through Distraction.” 

Bankers, Wall Street, oil companies, Republicans, Libertarians, Bush, Cheney, Condoleeza Rice, and don’t forget the racists—all collectively to blame, but there exists not a second mention of the legislating body who implemented policies & regulations that worked to destroy what was left of laissez-faire markets. The government, by way of tapping the taxpayers, owns the largest chunk of private industry in history & just like could be expected, the taxpayer unwillingly forfeits any return on their “investment” in America’s future. 

Welcome to the New America. 

Do Americans believe that capitalism & free markets are the cause for the instabilities our country faces? No, they don’t. Could Americans finally be realizing that the direction the government takes us is inevitably the wrong one for not only our country, but also for our families & individual circumstances? 

THE SHORTAGE OF BECK’S “COMMON SENSE” 

Glenn Beck states in his recent book most properly titled, “Common Sense: the Case against an Out-of-Control Government, Inspired by Thomas Paine,” 

“You cannot take away freedom to protect it, you cannot destroy the free-market to save it, & you cannot uphold freedom of speech by silencing those with whom you disagree. To take rights away to defend them or to spend your way out of debt defies common sense.”  

He couldn’t be more accurate. 

1. “Taking away freedom to protect it”- The 2^nd Amendment, for example, has been under assault for years. Regulations & restrictions have been placed on citizens, infringing on their right to bear arms, yet are often disguised as “precautions” to “keep people safe…” Operating under this “theory” would entail strict adherence to “people don’t kill people, guns kill people…” The direct assault tactic to disarm the people is uncommon, but rather the regulations & restrictions that consistently grow stronger, weaken the people’s ability to protect themselves & their families. The right to bear arms as originally intended is floundering.  
2. “Destroy the free-market to save it” – By way of bailouts for financial institutions & car dealerships, Americans have watched silently as the government “saved private companies deemed too large to fail,” selling out to Unions & special-interest groups. The entire deal is eerily reminiscent of 1963 when railroad unions demanded the government nationalize railroads to preserve [ultimately useless & unnecessary] jobs by “preventing human disaster on their one-way track of making profit at human expense.” Like the totality of the Statist’s agenda, “moral imperatives” or “humanitarian” efforts are not targeting only the “rich,” but actually undercutting successful & competent people of all income levels. What’s portrayed as a “redistribution” of profit & wealth is actually much more than that—an undermining of not only business achievement, but of Capitalism and thus, the original American system itself. 
3. “Uphold freedom of speech by silencing dissent” – Earlier this month, even after the defeat of the original Fairness Doctrine, the FCC named attorney Mark Lloyd their new Chief Diversity Officer. Mr. Lloyd was not only the Senior Fellow at the uber-liberal CAP organization, but he also recently (and I do mean June 2007 recent) co-wrote a report entitled, “The Structural Imbalance of Political Talk Radio” in which he discussed re-enforcing “localism” and its use as a weapon to cut down on the number of Conservative & Christian radio broadcasts that exist. Not only is Mr. Lloyd condoning censorship in effect, he is yet another one of the wealth redistributors so common-place in America today. His policies seek to mandate that conservative radio stations pay a fine of up to $250 million per year, which would then be directly funneled into National Public Radio where there are more liberal voices. So, the question remains…what entitles a person or company to make use of something by taking it forcibly from others, particularly when they didn’t themselves contribute to its existence? If freedom of speech ever fully dies in America, the origin of its fall will be clearly traced back to the broadcasting industry.

The reality remains that any & all power the government now has, we have given to them. 

An uninvolved people will fail to notice as their liberties give way to government control. 

The American people must cease to allow others to tell them that their “rights” are to be solely established by the government.   

FREEDOM- THE INDIVIDUAL VERSUS THE STATE 

There is a struggle between two cultures in America today: freedom & responsibility versus control & dependence. 

“Freedom” within the scope of this political struggle means “freedom from government coercion” and that alone. The delusion that this struggle either doesn’t exist or is vastly different from the conflicts between the Individual & the State that have been waged before under various names—fascism, Nazism, socialism, feudalism, & even the “Welfare State”—is astounding & can be partially contributed to poor history lessons & false propaganda. If what a people truly desire is “freedom” within the intended context, then there exists but ONE solution—Capitalism in its entirety. It is the only moral system that serves both the political & economic aspects of life, guaranteeing man’s individual rights, thus defending them. 

Ayn Rand chronicled the state of European countries & the inevitable direction America is headed best when she said, 

“…It is only after men have chosen slavery & dictatorship that they can begin the usual gang warfare of socialized countries—today, it is called pressure-group warfare—over whose gang will rule, who will enslave whom, whose property will be plundered for whose benefit, & who will be sacrificed to whose “noble” purpose.” 

RAND’S ‘ANTI-CONCEPTS’ & THE ‘AVERAGE’ AMERICAN 

Ayn Rand describes the actions recently taken by our government as “anti-concepts” or succinctly the act of under-handedly destroying particular concepts without discussion. 

How is this accomplished in modern-day America? By summersaulting with semantics, of course! Anyone taking “Hope & Change” for .50 cents? Anyone? Anyone? 

Progressives often find themselves in a battle with vocabulary as they strive to disguise their ultimate goal & the steps that such a culture-shock would require. As we’ve witnessed most recently during the health care meetings, words are used to distract & cause commotion—“deathers,” swastikas, Hitler, racist, brown-shirts, etc—while in the next breath, “moral imperatives” are the “true” means & reasons for passing what Americans are showing overwhelming opposition to.   

Take for example the White House & the Left having deemed all Town Hall participants as “Right-wing Extremists”& Astroturf plants—and then recall the Texas Obama Delegate, I mean DOCTOR—& one would surmise that slandering American citizens had become a new summer recess blood-sport for our “leaders.” 

So break it down… 

“Extreme” has the potential to be anything so long as it is “great in degree.” In saying that all of the Town Hall people are “Right-wing Extremists,” the Left has done themselves a disservice not just by attacking citizens & portraying them under false pretenses, but also by assuming that these individuals are people separate from the “average American.” 

What makes them separate & who determines the “average” definition? Does the fact that these citizens hold an opinion opposite of the government’s automatically make them “extreme,” militia members, KKK, political terrorists, mobs, or fascists? 

Or do you believe, like Professor Marc Lamont Hill, that because the Town Hall meetings are attended by the       elderly white population (who essentially grew up as racists in a different time), that there is a reason for such categorizing? I mean, what sort of racists would work to overthrow Hitler’s death squads & free the Jewish people & all of occupied Europe? The audacity! 

The Left would do well to remember that plenty of “crazies” who now are essentially common definitions of terms like “Communist,” “Racist,” or “Terrorist” come from “their side”—trust me…we don’t want to start playing this game! 

PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH—APOLOGY NOT ACCEPTED 

The Progressive movement in general is antithetical—they paint what is not evil, as evil; what is evil, as noble; they disguise immorality as morality & vice-versa. However, don’t mistake the “Progressive” movement as merely the Democrats or Liberals, both parties are guilty in this “living document” Constitutional destruction match. The American people have elected “Conservatives” (by name only) who fail to advocate for those very principles against Statism & the Liberal causes; they (Conservatives) attempt to stealthily defend the most moral & yet misunderstood system in the world. They apologize for Capitalism around every corner, while reaping the benefits of such a system in their own careers & lives.   

Americans in general play by the rules be that by paying taxes, obtaining credit they can afford to use, purchasing/applying for firearms & ammunition legally (as well as hunting & fishing permits)—now they are watching their government as it grows more bold & decisive becoming the antithesis to their own actions. Everything from ‘sweetheart’ mortgages, printing money, spending recklessly as if America’s economy were a board game—Hell, even poker champions are more frugal with their placing of bets! To the point where even drunken sailors would receive the benefit of the doubt here… 

The American people have allowed their country to be taken over by a “living monster.” That monster is the government & in the words of Howard Dean, “It’s time to take America back!” The government that was specifically structured to be “of the people, by the people, and for the people” is long gone. Americans have permitted the loss of their freedoms by sitting idly by as the government systematically dismembers these liberties in the name of “protection.” We’ve witnessed multiple full-fledged assaults & utter disregard by the government for the Rule of Law & America’s Constitution and American citizens are paying the price.

So as the Obama Administration sets up their “citizen-fishy-spy force” under new names & as our supposed leaders target any & all dissenting voices, I’m unsure if this vilification of “average” Americans—err, I mean “Extremists”—could be more “in your face.” 

Take that, Saul Alinsky.

Sarah Palin fighting against the decline of American values

Time & time again, particularly since the last election, many Conservatives find themselves in a place where they feel scrutinized for their values & must defend them. A reader of mine “informed” me that I’m “Mexican for God’s sake!” (Gee, thanks for that much needed clarification by the way) & that there must be something seriously wrong with me if I feel the need to “empower the rich, white man…” by championing & writing for Conservative causes—small government, anti-abortion, pro-gun…aka Personal Responsibility & Freedoms.

And time & time again I’ve defended my position, sometimes because I just enjoy watching Liberal brains squirm to understand what an “anomaly” I must be, & each time I have made my case I draw similar conclusions about the Liberal mind:

Being a “minority” REQUIRES that I take all that I can from the government & live in abject poverty blaming EVERYONE but myself for my situation (or supposed situation) for the rest of my life.

Oh, and I also must indoctrinate that “value” into every youth & other “socially unaware” individual I come across…

Asinine.

I have never & will never support President Barack Obama in his quest for social justice, cosmic justice, or anti-Capitalist rule. However, as most remember, I was extremely unhappy with John McCain’s nomination as well—why? Moderate, gray-area “Republican” views worry me. It’s as plain & simple as that. These types of people, while they are welcome within the Republican Party in general, when in power lead to “Lindsey Graham & W. Bush prescription-drug-plan” types of leadership.

Then, during the last election cycle, came the “New Face of Feminism” & much to my surprise…She was not only unabashedly Conservative, but was also a strong & successful woman who rose from modest means to influence many women (& men) through her own example setting—by not compromising her values to expedite her own agenda.  

Her rise (post-selection for the VP spot on McCain’s ticket) in the public eye has brought forth some of the usual slandering, but what is a shame, is the fact that unlike the scrutiny other women have faced as they entered the political arena, many of the attacks focused on her children. They focused on truth & integrity, both are characteristics which she possessed much to the complete surprise of the Left—she was forthright in regards to her daughter’s pregnancy and therefore she was vilified. She held fast to her family values & honored her responsibilities as not only a Governor, but also as a mother & wife which unfortunately many in Nevada feel that Senator Ensign did not. If only we could have been so lucky.

Unlike the Left’s favorite divas (Hillary Clinton, Barbara Boxer, & Nancy Pelosi—and not necessarily in that order), former Governor Palin is nothing short of a hard-hitting, tell-it-like-it-is American woman of good, original Conservative values who, like many Americans, is tired of the anti-American agenda the Leftist culture is currently hell-bent on establishing in our country.

She represents not only a large majority of Northern Nevada but also a large majority of this country (even though CNN would have you believe differently) & in light of recent “overhauls” & the crushing of America’s economic system…this may lead to a Conservative resurgence in 2012, hopefully similar to that of 1980.

Her recent resignation has been seen by some in the MSM & even some within the Republican Party, as a surrendering & an admission of defeat.

I don’t see the resignation in this way.

I see it as Sarah Palin coming to the realization that she will be much more effective for the overall Conservative (but more importantly American) cause outside of her Alaskan leadership position. It will give her a platform for saying what needs to be said without damaging the people of her state by way of becoming a distraction.

There is no denying that despite her resignation as Governor, the population as a whole has not lost interest in her—I agree with Rush Limbaugh’s perspective on this issue when he stated that she is the only person on the Right that scares the living day-lights out of the press, the Obama administration, & the rest of the Liberal machine.

Her speech was not reminiscent of a woman seeking a presidential nomination in 2012, but was one of a woman who holds steadfast to foundational Conservative principles & now her national platform will easily allow her to promote those principles—she is a true “voice for the people.”

It’s been obvious for some time now that true journalism in America is dead. No where was it more evident than in the press who perpetrated personal attacks on her family & attempted to “slice her throat” if you will. These actions are direct results of a decline in morality—an erosion of the American character & worst of all, an out-of-control freefall of a system of values & principles that once elevated each & every man, woman, & child to aspirations beyond their wildest dreams.

This new dream—once the pursuit of liberty & independence from oppressive & intrusive government, want & need—is now spiraling us downward towards an inevitable nightmare. It seems that the dream now consists of a dependence on others (the government) to solve problems, others to control how it is that we may live our lives (government & Hollywood), what we can & cannot drink or eat (the government), and worst of all what we are allowed to think (the MSM & modern-day public education)…

Greatness & the pursuit of such is what has drawn so many to this country in the past & continues to do so today. We cannot afford to lose the American Dream.

It is truly a sad day for America when her citizens are afraid to stand up to the anti-Americanism so rampant in our culture today. And when they do, they are demonized & ripped apart for doing so.

There is absolutely no doubt that Obama & his administration have overrun & potentially broken our country to a point where it is almost unrecognizable for many of us. He, along with the Leftist underbelly of America & our monopolized education system, have planned & begun to execute nothing short of a quiet revolution to destroy the very foundations & rights we have today. The rights to life, liberty, & the pursuit of happiness as written by the founding fathers & secured for us by the blood of our ancestors…These are ancestors that are white, black, brown, or mixed—it’s irrelevant—ancestors that include anyone who helped to make this country great & strengthen the America we have enjoyed in the past & hopefully will continue to enjoy in the future.

So, it is true that Governor Palin may be a little green behind the ears, but I can tell you this…

She embodies the spirit of America that has dimmed considerably in the past 20 years.

She is a fighter not afraid to take on the establishment & those she feels are a threat to the very way of life that made this country the greatest in the world.

The current dismantling of America’s foundations have made our fight to rebuild the moral fiber of this country even more challenging; we now have two fronts to combat in this struggle…

1. the Left who are intent on destroying our culture—the American culture &
2. those who acquiesce

As a fellow Conservative woman, I look forward to the political & intellectual growth & strengthening of Sarah Palin & any other women like her that will emerge within the next few years.

I will support anyone—man or woman, minority or majority—that vows to strongly resist this war that’s been waged on the America I grew up in.

May God bless this amazing country that has given Sarah Palin & others like her the opportunity or vision to one day hold such profound positions within America’s structure.   

Thank you, Sarah Palin, for blazing a trail that young women such as myself may follow & for laying a solid foundation upon which we may build.

Is the Obama Administration taking 2009 health care from fiction novels of the past?

ORWELL, LOWRY, & THE NEW RELEASE?

As some specifics in the impending ‘health care reform’ legislation are leaked to the public, I would encourage the youth of America to pick up a book I read some years back entitled “The Giver” by Lois Lowry. Millions of Americans are slowly taking note of the changes in the value of life as a result of learning some of these details.

When it came to light that Obama believed the elderly were less worthy of medical treatment ‘investments’ than younger generations, a particular aspect of “The Giver” immediately came to mind…what is to be called the Release. When I read the book I remember thinking, “Who gives someone else the ability to determine when it’s ‘okay’ to end your life?”

I surmise my answer would now be…the Obama Administration.

Over the last week or so, I’ve heard of multiple parallels being drawn between Orwell’s “1984” & the new system that is being imposed upon America; for those not familiar with “The Giver” & its carefully designed Utopia, here is a quick summary of the society which is the book’s basis…

In the Community, the “world” is perfect. Every aspect of life is controlled. There exist no choices. Every person has a pre-determined Role in the Community—all competition between citizens has been eliminated in favor of a Community where all are working solely for the “common good.”

The family “unit” is constructed carefully—1 boy & 1 girl—an application must be filled out & approved by the Selection Committee & personalities must be complimentary to one another.

However, the docility of the Community is nothing more than a thick smoke-screen for the evils that go on—namely, the Release.

The Release is practiced on the ‘un-conforming’ young (i.e. a baby who cries during the night); the elderly who, by the Committee, are determined to have lived a “full life”; & anyone else who threatens the Community’s stability…

Flowery tides of carefully designed euphemisms distance the Community from the realities of Release.

The Giver’s Community is the epitome of “safety” & is free of both poverty & war. So what could possibly be the ‘down-side’ to this place? There exists but only one person with a memory of the past—he is the Giver.

Are the Orwellian-style controls & the promises of “the greater good” really worth losing America’s foundations?

‘AFFORDABLE HEALTH CHOICES ACT OF 2009’

The proposed legislation is supposed to have been specifically designed to cover the masses of uninsured individuals & make health care in general more affordable for everyone. That entire concept as it is currently structured, defies all logic.

(And on a side note, the fact that I can’t even say “uninsured American citizens” makes me angry!)

This Ted Kennedy-esque health care is not free & it is not by any stretch of the imagination “universal.” It really is just a different series of stepping stones towards another bankrupt Ponzi scheme like the Medicare we all know & love. Subsidized health care means specifically that one group of Americans/Illegal Immigrants will receive health care at no direct cost to them, but at the expense of other Americans’ contributions.

Democrats are correct when they say the current system needs reform, but the reasons they give are not accurate portrayals of the problem & frankly, the HEALTH CARE SYSTEM itself in America is the best in the world. It is the health care INSURANCE industry that is in need of reform & ‘reform’ is not synonymous with ‘overhaul’ or ‘take-over.’ The definition of “insurance” has been lost somehow within the last 50 years & this is further addressed by Ann Coulter’s article later in this piece…

The proposed legislation begins & ends with false promises.

The creation of a new centralized-power government insurance plan intended to heighten competition in the marketplace is presented in a way which would lead one to believe that they will be permitted to keep their current employer-provided health care. Reality dictates that this proposal essentially provides small-business with incentives to drop the coverage they now offer their employees at current astronomical costs & pay the fine…thus everyone is “free to join the public option.”

This means that the “competition” the government plans are said to provide in the marketplace are rendered entirely fictional. How could these private plans possibly compete with a government plan in the first place? The government, at their discretion, can further subsidize the ‘public option.’  

According to the Lewin group, an estimated 100 million Americans will be forced out of their private insurance plans as a result of this ‘sweeping reform.’ The plan also lays out a clear path for 11 million additional individuals to be enrolled into the already insufficient Medicaid program from low income, minority brackets.

Also, there are to be fines imposed on individuals who elect not to purchase health insurance because they a) don’t feel the need or b) can pay for their medical costs out-of-pocket. The argument for this is “What if you ended up in the E.R. & could not pay? You would then become everyone else’s problem & responsibility…” Well, pardon me but is that not exactly what we do for illegal immigrants currently?

Obama has also said that “…health care decisions will not be made by the government” & in the next breath describes the new Federal Health Board that will tell doctors which treatments can be had by which people.

He has attempted to tell the American people that health care spending will be cut with the implementation of this bill; the reality is that he will do this through reducing physician incomes & turning away “bad investments”—the elderly.

UNALIENABLE RIGHTS AT WAR WITH MISTAKEN ‘RIGHTS’

I find “Liberalism” in general to be a huge contradiction in & of itself—the value of life is one of the largest hypocritical positions this ideology promotes.

For example, how is it that self-described ‘bleeding heart’ Liberals are fine with an elderly individual who has lived a generally peaceful, productive, & loving life being told that he/she is no longer worth the “government’s investment” & then is “lovingly given” the attention of a government-appointed shrink who attends to their “End of Life” counseling to help ease their impending death?

Some are even supportive of infanticide up until the time when the toddler can audibly discern one day from the next…

And yet, these very same ‘bleeding heart’ Liberals staunchly oppose the death penalty for murderers, rapists, & other violent individuals who have been convicted in a court of law? These very same people who are fine with what amounts to the slaughter of millions of children in the womb each year in this country…

The arguments for Universal coverage surround the belief that health care insurance is a “right.” The individuals who promote this have lost sight of the truth…

If we were to take that belief at face value, then explain to me how it is that a governmental body can take current health coverage away from individuals because it doesn’t meet their [government’s] qualifications? What gives the government the authority to determine what coverage is sufficient for an individual & what is not? Certainly not the Constitution.

Any other answer? Precisely.

The only way that health care could possibly be a ‘right,’ is if no man has the power or authority to take it away.

People that believe health insurance is a right would do well to remember that with every personal “right” comes personal responsibility.

Lack thereof seems to be the overall theme found within the “crises” our country has faced & Obama has “fixed” since his election. Even though it is constantly written off as inaccurate, personal responsibility & accountability for one’s actions—that is exactly where the “uninsured” group lacks direction & the evidence clearly supports that statement.

THE UNINSURED—VOLUNTARY OR INVOLUNTARY?

If we are to break down the “problem,” we should start by looking at who makes up the uninsured group.

According to a study by 2 economists of the Employment Policy Institute, 43% of the “47 million” uninsured can afford to purchase health insurance, but choose not to. And in 2007, the US Census data showed that 20% of uninsured households in America earn at least $75,000 per year.

So now we are left with who (by the authors) have been deemed the “involuntarily” uninsured—these people cannot afford health insurance, but the question still remains why it is that these people cannot afford it…Is it financially impossible or is it that after purchasing other non-necessary items (i.e. cell phones, flat screen televisions, & new cars), there is nothing left?

Let’s examine who comprises the “involuntarily” uninsured group.

Nearly 1/3 are high school drop-outs; disproportionately young; close to 1/3 are undocumented & illegal immigrants, primarily of Hispanic origin; & finally, 40% of these “involuntarily” uninsured do not work during the year

If we were to remove the undocumented immigrants from the equation entirely, we see that we are left with roughly 1/3 of 47 million—is it not obvious that ‘47 million’ is a grossly overstated figure? Would this, also, not be an incentive to become documented?

Proponents of this sweeping legislation continually “forget” to mention that programs already exist to help these individuals…Medicaid & Emergency Room visits that are essentially “complimentary.” Again, these already existing programs should be the ones reformed.

PROPAGANDA & THE ACCESSIBILITY DECEPTION

Furthermore, another piece within the misconceptions commonly propagated by the MSM & the new Statist Administration is accessibility— an independent study found lack of health insurance does not mean one has no access to health care. This same study then examined if the mortality rates of the “involuntarily” uninsured were drastically different from the voluntarily uninsured or the insured themselves—there was relatively no difference.

In her most recent article, “Take Two Aspirin & Call Me When Your Cancer is Stage 4,” Ann Coulter sums up not only the purpose of insurance, but also the mindset of “entitlements” perfectly…

“The whole idea of insurance is to insure against catastrophes: You buy insurance in case your house burns down — not so you can force other people in your plan to pay for your maid. You buy car insurance in case you’re in a major accident, not so everyone in the plan shares the cost of gas.

Just as people use vastly different amounts of gasoline, they also use vastly different amounts of medical care — especially when an appointment with a highly trained physician costs less than a manicure.

Insurance plans that force everyone in the plan to pay for everyone else’s Viagra and anti-anxiety pills are already completely unfair to people who rarely go to the doctor. It’s like being forced to share gas bills with a long-haul trucker or a restaurant bill with Michael Moore. On the other hand, it’s a great deal for any lonely hypochondriacs in the plan.” 

MANDATORY PREVENTIVE MEDICINE & PERSONAL CHOICES

Another aspect of the proposal that must be addressed is the dictation that Americans & other individuals will undergo when the “selection committee reviews” if their previous health behaviors warrant treatment.

If these law makers would like to journey down this road, let’s see who comprises the current groups that struggle with a variety of illnesses & other health issues that can be directly linked to their own behaviors…

By recent estimates, of the roughly $2.5 trillion annual U.S. health care bill, nearly 10% of the expense can be directly contributed to poor personal choices. Therefore, somewhere around $240 billion of this spending relates to:

Obesity & Sedentary lifestyles, Substance abuse, HIV/AIDS- ½ of this spending is from Medicaid, Other sexually transmitted diseases…

These lifestyle results occur disproportionately in low-income (& often minority) communities—the same groups that receive a good majority of their health care for “free.”

When, in an unbiased manner, one carefully examines what the root cause of the health care coverage issues are today, it’s found that lack of personal responsibility is forefront & that those who do not personally endure their own health care costs are far more likely to behave in ways in which they are more susceptible to illnesses & health problems.

WHAT THE FUTURE MAY HOLD

Obama’s health care proposals from both the House & Senate are set up to get as many people (Americans or otherwise) on the government “option” as possible. That is no “option.”

This attempt at putting more people on welfare will have the same results as other government “intervention experiments”: government dependence will increase dramatically & being “poor & disadvantaged” will be seen as beneficial to both majorities & minorities alike.

It seems this Statist government wants nothing more than to pursue their own ideals. They have bestowed upon themselves God-like powers with the ability to dictate who lives & who dies—they do this under the guise of promoting the “greater good.” They seem to feel not only “morally obligated” to make decisions for the rest of America’s citizens (because they see us as inferior to them), but they also believe they are entitled to make these decisions without ever having to live the repercussions of the legislation.

Attn: Legislators-

If your “reform” is not good enough for you to also participate in, if you would not place your children in this system by choice, then get off the backs of the American people.

Life is devalued as a result of this so-called Universal Coverage plan; an actual “right” is denied at the government’s discretion & yet so few people seem to be questioning this reality.

Life was meant to be protected. It is not something that is to be dealt & re-shuffled when the “superiors” deem necessary or in this case, cost effective.

I agree with Dick Morris in his most recent article “Rhetoric vs. Reality: Health Care by Orwell” where he states that…

“President Obama’s rhetoric last night summoned the memory of “1984,” George Orwell’s novel of a nightmarish future — where the slogan of the rulers is “War is peace; freedom is slavery; ignorance is strength.” [& then concludes with] Orwell’s heirs should sue for violation of copyright.”

The blighted future that exists in nations whose citizens view themselves as mere victims is astounding, but the nations with possibilities of prosperity for all begin with a free & responsible people.

Wake up, America.