The news coverage for the last few days has all been about the attempted terrorist attack on flight 253 on Christmas day. While this is a serious breach of security on a national level, most of us would not be personally affected by it. We are, however, all affected daily by the local safety and security that we have here in Duvall.
Duvall is the safest city in King County and has been for years. I credit our Police Department and the vigilant officers that we have patrolling our streets. They address everything from ripping out political signs to domestic violence calls. They serve well and the serve valiantly.
So here is my hats of to Chief Merryman and the offices and staff of the Duvall Police Department. You make it possible for us to worry about the national issues because we are very safe at home.
True Christians cannot in good conscious esteem Thomas Paine as the blogger does. inC3:16
ReplyDeleteI will leave your conscious up to you.
ReplyDeleteI was reading a letter from James Monroe to Thomas Paine today and I came across a passage that I thought you might enjoy.
"Is it necessary for me to tell you how much all your countrymen, I speak of the great mass of people, are interested in your welfare? They have not forgotten the history of their own Revolution and the difficult scenes through which they passed; nor do they review its several stages without reviving in their bosoms a due sensibility of the merits of those who served them in that great and arduous conflict. The crime of ingratitude has not yet stained, and I trust never will stain, our national character. You are considered by them as not only having rendered important service in our own Revolution, but as being, on a more extensive scale, the friend of human rights, and a distinguished and able advocate in favor of public liberty. To the welfare of Thomas Paine, the Americans are not, nor can they be, indifferent.
Of the sense which the President has always entertained of your merits, and of his friendly disposition toward you, you are too well assured to require any declaration of it from me. That I forward his wishes in seeking your safety is what I well know, and this will form an additional obligation on me to perform what I should otherwise consider as a duty."
As for me I have no problem valuing the merits of great men despite any religious differences I may have with them. I esteem those who work for the cause of liberty. Thomas Paine has clearly earned the respect of many of the founding fathers including Washington, Madison, Monroe, Franklin, Jefferson and many others. I am proud to stand with them in my respect for his efforts to bring independence and liberty to this great land.
While I am a professed lurker of many blogs one sentence can bring me to the defense of someone who's apparently main focus is to provoke thought. Do I always agree with Thomas- heavens NO! But "annonymous... 1:35 p.m." piqued my moral compass, so here it is...
ReplyDeleteHow ignorant that someone cannot esteem another who shows different beliefs than their own. I am not catholic but see good in Mother Teresa. Ghandi was amazing in his leading his people but I am not Hindu. I am friends with those of all beliefs and political standing. Some of their faith I find endearing, some I do not. Sometimes their vote is different then mine and sometimes it is not. I take from them what I will and leave behind what I choose to not belive in. I think it is most unchristian to show such disdain. We are taught (as christians)to "judge not that ye be not judged" (Matt 7:1) and again "judge no man." On the earth there has been but one perfect example and leader of man and until His return we know there will be no politician or ruler that will not be unrighteous. We follow our modern day government and politicians within the dictations of our own conscience and faith. Myself being unperfect I am confident in my assessment of you- christian perhaps, but ignorant for sure.
Without addressing the religous side of the argument, I am interested to know who "inC3:16" believes that we should hold in esteem. I find the apparant paradox facinating and I would love to address it further. Perhaps you can email me privately at goneright@live.com and we can discuss this.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for commenting and being involved.
Thomas