I am reading a book called "An Enemy Hath Done This" by Ezra Benson, former Sect. of Agriculture. I found some amazing insights that are very applicable to what is happening in the political scene and I wanted to see what everyone thought about it.
"We as Americans have strayed far from sound principless - morally constitutionally and historically. It has been getting us into a quagmire of trouble all over the world, and especially here at home.
Americans at the grass roots level have sensed that their way of life is being threatened. During the last several years there has been a rising tide of resistance to the prevailing political trend. Comprimises with communism abroad and flirtations with socialism at home have stirred up opposition in both political parties. If this has led to disunity then by all means let us return to a program of sound constitutional principles on which we can unite
There would be no virtue in calling for unity to support certain legislation if the majority of Americans are opposed to it. And the fact that both Democrats and Republicans in Congress have at times resisted certain legislation shows that the executive brance of the government may get out of step with the people.
I believe the American people know what they want. It would appear that the people want their civil rights but not a destruction of state rights...
And anyone who tries to equate this love of constitutional principles as meaning hatred of our national leaders is using a Goebbels-styled deception. History has already demonstrated that conservative opposition to national leaders was not "hate" but an attempt to do them a favor...
Therefore let them who call for unity and the elimination of hate be sure that they are not merely trying to silence the friends of freedom. These are they who respect their leaders and resist them only when it is felt that they are headed for catastrophe. What patriotic American would wish to stand silent if he saw his President verging on a blunder because of bad advice or a mistaken judgement of the facts?"
I was inspired by these words and felt the desire to stand up for the principles I hold dear. I feel that our President is standing on the verge. We need to speak out and remind all our elected officials of the principles we stand for. Be involved. Be patriotic. Be loyal. Be a voice of warning.
One other interesting point. His words were written in 1969. I can only imagine what he would say today...
As I read through the post I thought for sure that this was written recently. It is amazing how applicable this is to all the stuff that is happening right now.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this.
Wow! I had to go look up "Goebbels-styled deception" - As soon as I read that Joseph Goebbels was responsible for the Nazi propaganda engine it made sense - and it's not something I would want to be called :P
ReplyDeleteSome thing tells me that you don't have to worry Bart.
ReplyDeleteI think that most of the people on this blog are more like the Nazis then they care to admit. They only care about their own agenda and they are trying to make everyone be subject to their narrow view of the world. When are you going to open your eyes and see what is really going on. your small minded view of the world is dying off and I couldn't be happier.
ReplyDeleteThomas, anyone who read your comments can see how you blew your composure with Ralph. And your facts of convenience approach to supporting your views is a joke. I doubt that any influential person in town takes this blog seriously. Jimmy
ReplyDeleteJimmy,
ReplyDeleteWould it be helpful to you if I preface my comments with a humor warning? The last posting I had for Ralph was complete sarcasm. Sorry that you did not get that.
And as far as "influential people" taking my blog seriously, I think the most influential people in town are the citizens. They seem to like it.
Oh and one more thing. As a smart guy I am sure that in the future you will be able to figure out that your post should have been attached to the last posting not this one. Try to pay a little more attention next time so us simple folks dont get confused by your genious. Oh wait I should have prefaced that with a humor warning. My Bad. I guess being called a Nazi tends to put me in a bad mood.
It seems like those who don't like what is being talked about here are more concerned about making Thomas look bad rather than actually discussing the issues. I wonder if they know that it makes them look like that have a weak argument, or no argument at all.
ReplyDeleteI think that that is an important distinction between the two approaches to the discussion. Note this section from the above post.
ReplyDelete"Therefore let them who call for unity and the elimination of hate be sure that they are not merely trying to silence the friends of freedom."
All too often I see the approach to political discussion as a win at all costs, shout down the other side to make your point.
We, as Americans who honor the principles of freedom of speach, should understand that we should allow others to speak and then convince then by the virtue of our argument that they should change their position. We should not convince others of our position because we shout them down and make them feel inferior because they are exercising the very right that those who are yelling are using.
Lets raise the level of debate rather than lowering it to the level of those who want to only have their point of view heard.
I just recently found out about this blog from my neighbors and am just starting to get interested in it. The issues are the things we care about, but few other sources seem to be discussing them. I don't understand the reasons for the personal attacks - I'm sure there's history I don't know about or want to know about. But I would appreciate it if people would provide some context when making statements. For example:
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said: "They only care about their own agenda and they are trying to make everyone be subject to their narrow view of the world." What is the agenda and what is the narrow view of the world?
The way I read it, the view of the world is that individual freedom trumps the collective good and the agenda is to move the United States back to promoting individual freedoms. Do I read this wrong? Is there a different agenda? Please enlighten me so I know which side I'm on.
Thanks,
Jill
Your assumption is correct, for me at least. I believe that when the founders wrote that "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" they clearly specified that people are endowed with these rights, not a group, a nation or a community. These rights are by definition individual, and when the Government infringes on these rights it is the people's solemn obligation to defend these rights for their own well being and for the well being of their posterity.
ReplyDeleteBy saying that the other side is shouting down your side is just as bad as me "lumping" all of you together as the crazy nuts you are. Nice try but we see passed your lame rhetoric.
ReplyDeleteI would say that the difference is that I am decribing in general terms my experience with those on the opposite side of the political spectrum. When you are calling me crazy, nuts or a Nazi, you loose your credibility unless you have first hand experience with me personally.
ReplyDeleteNow we may disagree politically and on principle but I can assure you that if we were to actually discuss honestly the differences that we have I doubt that either of us would come away from that meeting accusing the other of being any of those things.
(humor alert for Jimmy)
But I could be psycho. You never know.
Please stop arguing with Thomas for a minute and answer my questions. I'm trying to decide if this is a worthwhile blog or if I'm missing something. Why are the people on this blog crazy nuts? What is their small minded view of the world? and what makes them like nazis?
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Jill
Jill - I think that some of the issues are related to the latest election in which TP was a campaign manager for one of the candidates who was defeated (John Durant). He also writes freelance for the local paper and challenges the city government's behavior regularly. There may also be some religious overtones because TP (and myself) are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (aka the Mormons).
ReplyDeleteMany of the detractors here have issues with the campaign, the challenge to the city to behave more responsibly and within the bounds of the state constitution, or with his religious views.
As with any controversial topic, there are those readers who make an earnest effort to learn about the issue and discuss the alternatives, and there are many who choose to belittle anyone who thinks differently. I've been labeled a member of the flat earth society, the tin foil hat club, crazy, or many other less than flattering names. Usually when I've raised concerns that the other side doesn't have an adequate response to and feels that reverting to kindergarten is a good response.
Poor Jimmy. I hear he's related to Ralph. lol.
ReplyDeleteThomas,
ReplyDeleteOnce again, narcissists (and that is not a personal attack - that is just obvious to all of us by reading posts by Jimmy, aka Ralph) have overstepped the boundaries. While it may be entertaining for some to watch the banter back and forth, there really isn't anything of substance being discussed. They fling mud instead of answering any questions.
Let's move on. For anyone deciding whether or not this blog is worth their time...yes, this is a worthwhile blog, a great vehicle for exchanging ideas and for discussing possible solutions to the ailments of our government as well as a place to celebrate the great contributors to our society (like Thomas' tribute to a teacher who passed earlier this year).
Saturday Night Live is full of characters modeled on people like Ralph / Jimmy. Let people go elsewhere to get their laughs - Thomas, let's please lock the gate to the negativity (again) and move on with the dialogue.
Thanks, as always, for providing an important forum for the citizens.
In the effort to be friendly, here is a little shout out to Ralph. Happy Birthday my little friend. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the explanation. I think it's really sad that someone is willing to take up the side against individual freedoms just to carry out a personal vendetta. Character and integrity are the most important qualities we have, even when we are hiding behind an anonymous lable.
ReplyDeletePerhaps this will help explain these actions.
ReplyDeleteAnother quote from the book.
"So now you can see the picture. These liberals want you to know how much they are doing for you - with your tax money, of course. But they don't want you to realize the path they are pursuing is socialistic and that socialism is the same as communism in its ultimate effect on our liberties. When you point this out they want to shut you up; they accuse you of maligning them, of casting aspersions, of being political. No matter whether they label their bottle as liberalism, progressivism, or social reform, I know the contents of the bottle are poison to this Republic and I am going to call it poison.
We do not need to question the motive of these liberals. They could be most sincere. But sincerety and supposed benevolence or even cleverness is not the question. The question is: 'Are we going to save this country from the hands of the enemy and the deceived.'"
Bart,
ReplyDeleteAre you saying that there are still people in Duvall who hate people because of their religion? I thought we had evolved more than that. I didn't realize they we were still living in the 1500's.
I hope none of them are my neighbors.
Jan
I have heard that one of the current councilmembers said that as long as they are on the council then the LDS church would never be built in town. I wonder if that person is involved.
ReplyDeleteAnd just to be clear I did not hear this first hand but was told by somone who heard it.
She was out doorbelling last year in my neighborhood and said that to one of my neighbors too. Fortunately I wasn't home and didn't have to hear something so disgusting.
ReplyDeleteDoug
So how do we become a voice of warning? How do we make sure our neighbors find out about what the local, state and federal representatives are doing so everyone can make informed choices in the next election? I've been sharing this blog with my neighbors and my church, but I don't think that's enough. How do we get together so no one looks like the isolated "crazy nut" ? I never really cared before and I'm ashamed to admit that. But now the value of my house has plummeted, my property taxes and sewer bill have skyrocketed, 3 of my neighbors are unemployed and I was just informed by my employer to expect a huge increase in my health insurance because of Obamacare. I'm furious and I want government out of my business!
ReplyDeleteJill
It's a circular loop back to your posting on the 8/28 rally to restore honor to this country.
ReplyDeleteI was going to make a list of things we can do to get involved and then I found something wrong with each one of them:
1. Become a PCO and go door to door in your neighborhood - oh wait, this won't change things. The Washington St republican party isn't much better off than the democrats.
2. Write letters and call your representatives - oh wait, this won't do anything either, the current electeds aren't listening to what the majority wants
How did we get to such a place where our traditional options to get involved won't change things? Because for the last 30 + years, the public school system has been hiding history so we all grow up ignorant of our freedoms and how to keep them. How do we turn that around? Restore honor to America by turning back to the Creator who gave us our rights in the first place. How do we do that? Turn back to God individually and then get active in a Church that recognizes what is at stake (no specific denomination recommended - like our founding fathers, I believe it's up to you). When we are part of an active congregation we cannot be isolated.
Doug
Jan - I wish it were possible to say that we have all moved into the 21st century, but I fear that as long as people exist, there will be someone who dislikes another for the differences between them, even if they are 99.999% identical. I came home one night and found a copy of the Book of Mormon burning in the street.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that this was a malicious act against me or my family, but one of my neighbors at the time apparently felt strongly enough about the Book of Mormon that they felt it was necessary to burn a copy during a particularly dry fall without watching to see if anything else caught fire.
Doug,
ReplyDeleteExcellent point. The difficulties our country faces is because we have turned away from the values we once held dear.
I would bet that if any of us were to ask our grandparents if they were comfortable receiving government assistance, we would find that they would overwhelmingly say NO!
Yet today it almost seems like it is a right to have the government pay for your mortgage, your car and your food. Better yet millions of people not only expect this but they think it is the governments job to provide it.
For example, look at the recent statements of Obama's Aunt Zeituni who said, "If I come as an immigrant, you have the obligation to make me a citizen."
I see no where in our constitution where we have the obligation to provide citizenship (one of our finest treasures) to anyone; much less someone whi is in defiance of our nations authority by breaking immigration laws.
The time has come to stand on our principles and stand with the Constituation as our foundation and to return to the values our Founding Fathers held to, namely personal freedom, liberty and the rule of law.
Bart,
ReplyDeleteWhen did the burning of your religious book occur? Why was there not national coverage on all the television news shows?
Can anyone doubt that bigotry still exists?
I want to know if Bart immediately started rioting in his neighborhood? No? Hmmmm, apparently rioting is not an appropriate response.
ReplyDeleteIt was a few years ago. My reaction was pretty tame - I grabbed a bucket of water and doused the fire since I was far more concerned about the fire danger than about somebody burning a book :P
ReplyDeleteAfter the fire was out, I was able to read a little of the text that was left, and recognized it as a Book of Mormon. Gotta love the stupidity of some people when it comes to fires....
I would say that not only was lighting the fire a dumb move but anytime that books are burned is a dumb move. I cant see any rationalization for burning a book. Unless you were in that movie "The day after tomorrow" and your stuck in the library and need to keep warm. But I doubt that this is a very likely scenario.
ReplyDelete