The United States of America is a vast melting pot of many people of different origins and religions….And, thank God, we are still free to worship at the church, synagogue or mosque of our choice as our nation celebrates her 234^th birthday as an American-Christian Republic.

But, today, some folks are questioning the wisdom, or lack of, in building a Mosque and Islamic Center near “Ground Zero” the sacred site where the World Trade Center was destroyed by terrorists on September 11, 2001. This is sacred-honored ground that some compare to the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii where thousands were also senselessly killed.

Is this the same America of forty-five “45” years ago, when our nation celebrated the Civil War Centennial or over two-hundred “200” years ago, when our founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence? Are children still taught the words to the Declaration of Independence or Bill of Rights?

Why do some of our Washington representatives, who are sworn to defend the Constitution and American people, criticize the State of Arizona for upholding the Constitution and protecting their people?

If only we had the values of the 1960s when….

Mothers, Fathers, Grandmas and Grandpas shared stories and words of wisdom with their children. The young folks were encouraged to live more constructive and fruitful lives by avoiding cigarettes, alcohol and drugs and obeying the laws of God—that are the Ten Commandments and the laws of man.

During 1961-65, America remembered the men of the Union Blue and Confederate Gray of the War Between the States and….

In 1965 people enjoyed quality time at the drive-in or in-door picture show to see such great movies as: “Shenandoah” starring James Stewart, “A High Wind in Jamaica” starring Anthony Quinn, “Von Ryan’s Express” starring Frank Sinatra, “The Sons of Katie Elder” starring John Wayne and the academy award winner “The Sound of Music” starring Julie Andrews. Veteran Movie Director Henry Koster was still making family film classics like: Dear Brigitte starring James Stewart and Glynis Johns.

Television shows during the autumn of 1965 were magnificently transcending from black and white to color, that included such shows as: “The Lawrence Welk Show” on ABC, “Daniel Boone” staring Fess Parker on NBC and “The Andy Griffith Show” also starring Don Knotts on CBS.

During the 1960s, presidents hardly ever apologized for America, the family attended church on Sunday and streets were safer even though firearms were easier to purchase.

The music scene of 1965 exploited with excitement with such entertainers as: the Beatles, the Supremes, the Dixie Cups, Elvis Presley, the Beach Boys, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Louis Armstrong, Tennessee Ernie Ford, George Jones and Loretta Lynn—to name a few.

In 1965, a Mother could safely leave her front door unlocked to go the store, school bands still played “Dixie” and everyone respected the fireman, policeman, paramedic, school teacher and soldier.

America has never been perfect but Capitalism, not Communism, has endured the test of time. When I was growing up, no one quoted former Communist or Socialist leaders. Americans quoted from great men like: George Washington, Sir Winston Churchill, Thomas Jefferson and Robert E. Lee.

The world looks toward America as the last hope for the free world. But, are we still the land of the free and home of the brave and is our motto still “In God We Trust?”

© Calvin E. Johnson

 

WesternFront America

“We must call upon God, and He will see us through.” — Glenn Beck

America will not survive the political and social trials that are to come if we are not engaged in the fight to protect our Judeo-Christian beliefs and our American way of life. We do not want to become a socialist country by “forcing Peter to give to Paul.”

Redistribution of wealth is immoral. We will head in the wrong direction by continually pushing our nation into socialism. We must stop it at the ballot box.

There comes a time when people are shoved to the edge of despair, but then the rush of a mighty wind comes out of the ash heap and awakens a spiritual revival. With humbled hearts, a million or more patriotic and God-fearing people are expected to arrive in Washington, D.C., a few steps below the Lincoln Memorial on August 28th, with a pledge of Restoring Honor at a nonpartisan rally led by Glenn Beck.

The event

GlennBeck.com says of the Restoring Honor Rally —

“Throughout history, America has seen many great leaders and noteworthy citizens change her course. It is through their personal virtues and by their example that we are able to live as a free people. On August 28, come celebrate America by honoring our heroes, our heritage, and our future.

“Join the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, and many more for this non-political event that pays tribute to America’s service personnel and other upstanding citizens who embody our nation’s founding principles of integrity, truth, and honor.

“Our freedom is possible only if we remain virtuous. Help us restore the values that founded this great nation. On August, 28th, come join us in our pledge to restore honor at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC” (emphasis added).

That’s a praiseworthy purpose all decent Americans can support.

America in a free-fall

If we had been a more vigilant and wise people, we would have elected a president who shared the same principles as our Founding Fathers. They believed in the teachings of the Holy Bible. America’s birth was premised upon the Christian faith.

Our country has been in a free-fall since President Barack Obama was sworn into office. It will not be enough for us to depend on our own humanity to pull this mighty nation out of the turmoil we find it in today. Too much harm has been done by this tone-deaf and arrogant administration. They have touched every facet of our lives, including our houses of worship. Progressive pastors have used invective and unscriptural teachings to mislead their parishioners and congregations. The emotional stress is taking its toll. America needs divine intervention to help set us on a path of self- responsibility, healing, and righteousness.

Our economy is plummeting. For a growing number of Americans, jobs are nowhere to be found. Things worsen with each passing day. More people than ever before are looking to government for help to sustain them and their families. Americans resent having to live like that. We are naturally a “can do people” with a hard work ethic. It goes against our grain to have to live on an unemployment check.

And when it comes to our foreign and domestic policies, we stand back and shake our heads in disgust and fear. The president, however, loves to party while everything around us falls apart. His mishandling of the oil spill is one example. There is not one day that the American public gets a respite from the president and his destructive Democratic Party.

Thought-provoking scenario

On Aug. 10, American Thinker ran a visionary article by economist Monty Pelerin titled “Desperate Economic Action Ahead?” Here’s an excerpt:

“The economic condition of the country continues to decline toward its rendezvous with an as yet unknowable catastrophe. Speculation regarding this outcome is natural because self-interest, if not self-preservation, is at stake.

“Here is but one possibility. It is not a prediction, but a look at a series of not improbable events that could develop. Any similar government desperation would change our economic world overnight.

“It is mid-year 2012. The country has officially been in recession since the end of 2010. Many believe that it never recovered from what began in 2008. The word ‘depression’ is now almost commonplace.

“Trust in Congress has fallen to single digits. Similarly, government reports and statistics are increasingly mocked by the public. The media is likened to Pravda because only government-speak is allowed. Distrust, despair, and fear are everywhere.

“2012 Economic Scenario:

Official unemployment numbers approach 14%. Unofficial estimates of unemployment range from 30%-35%. There are no signs of a turnaround in employment.

• The Dow-Jones average has hovered around 4,500 for the past month.
• Official GDP has been declining for four consecutive quarters. Independent analysts estimate the true numbers have been declining for two years.
• Tax collections continue to drop while federal spending accelerates. The deficit is expected to exceed $3 trillion. Federal debt now exceeds $16 trillion.
• The rate of foreclosures has doubled from the previous high in 2011. Personal and corporate bankruptcies have reached levels thought impossible.
• Major companies have left or announced intentions of leaving the U.S. to avoid the confiscatory taxes and regulations. College students, unable to find jobs, are emigrating to more favorable economies.
• California, Illinois, and several other states are in bankruptcy court. Almost a thousand municipalities have filed as well. Many states and municipalities are using IOUs for payments.
• Welfare and unemployment checks are two months behind on average. Social Security checks and Medicare reimbursements are delayed. Some private pension funds have reduced their payments by 10%-25%.
• Hospitals and doctors refuse to see Medicare patients until federal reimbursements, already eight months behind schedule, are paid.
• Public unions across the country are on strike. Large areas are without teachers, police, firemen, or hospital staff.
• Food stamps are rejected at grocery stores because of slow reimbursement and government default risk.
• Martial law has been imposed in several cities to counter rioting and looting.
• Isolated runs on banks have occurred. Mattress-stuffing is considered less risky than zero-interest returns from banks.
• The dollar is rejected by local merchants around the world. Oil is priced in a weighted basket of currencies of which only 20% represents dollars.
• Foreign disinvestment in Treasuries has been accelerating as a result of trade wars, concerns of default and the desperate need for funding at home.
• Gold is selling at $2,800 per ounce.

“Despite incredible money-creation, the deflationary spiral continues. Banks continue to add more excess reserves. Creditworthy borrowers refuse to borrow. People and businesses everywhere have hunkered down, waiting for the next shoe to drop. Many withdraw funds from the banking system in fear of its collapse.

“It is against this backdrop that the President of the United States appears with a major economic announcement. . . .” Full Article

Honoring God

We’re headed off the cliff, and we need to draw a line in the sand and stand with God. Let us learn from our past mistakes and move forward with dignity and boldness. Do everything that is “honoring to the Lord.” As God requires, continue to grow in the faith.

I have no idea why it seems that God called out a man named Glenn Beck. As an Evangelical Christian, I can see by his deeds why Beck said yes to the Lord. And like Moses who was reluctant to take on the job of leading the children of Israel to the promised land, Beck continues to put one foot before the other. American conservatives want to restore honor to our country. We’re all about helping others to live a better life while we are here on this earth. America will see her better days once again if we will only humble ourselves and pray and seek His face.

Song RISE UP — For GLENN BECK’S RESTORING HONOR RALLY

Marie Jon is a political/religious-based writer and founder of www.DrawingClose.org — a sister website to RenewAmerica. Marie extends her hand of welcome; visit DrawingClose and receive your free gift of salvation by taking an online Bible study.

 

WesternFront America

I come from a generation, just as several before it, that was drafted into military service. The Draft, conscription, goes back to the days of the Civil War and, before that, it was understood that able-bodied men would serve in militias.

After the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941, many American men lined up around the corner to volunteer to fight the Japanese. Others would be dispatched to the European theatre of war to fight the Nazis.

Still others waited to be drafted into service. During the years leading up to Pearl Harbor many Americans simply wanted to stay out of the Asian conflict that had begun with the Japanese invasion of China many years earlier and the European conflict that had begun when Hitler invaded Poland in 1939. That changed in 1941.

The “greatest generation” fought and won. They did it by being absolutely merciless toward our enemies because that is the only real rule of war. Kill them before they kill us. Lose the war and you are their possession, their slaves.

World War Two was all-out war with civilians dying in the hundreds of thousands because the people’s will to fight on had to be extinguished. Dresden was bombed to dust; Berlin became a shell of shattered buildings. As American forces waited to invade the homeland of Japan, President Truman ordered the bombing of Hiroshima and, when the Japanese emperor and generals still refused to meet the terms of unconditional surrender, he bombed Nagasaki. World War Two ended.

I often tell people that the history of mankind is the history of war. It is always the history of winners and losers. It may take a short breath, but war is a constant throughout history and in the life of each new generation.

Shortly after the end of World War Two in 1945, the Korean War began when North Korea invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950. That war drew Americans back to a new battlefield until, on July 27, 1953, a truce was signed. The two Koreas are technically still in a state of war because no peace treaty exists.

Then, of course, for most Americans today there was the Vietnam War. Whether of the generation who fought it or those born after it, the Vietnam War remains the war we lost. It remains a cauldron of debate over its conduct. What emerged from that war, however, was an all-volunteer military, a warrior class.

Over the years of the Iraq-Afghanistan conflict I had occasion to write that these were the wrong wars in the wrong places, that the U.S. was wasting its treasure and young men (and women) there. I think, on reflection that I was wrong.

I think, now, that even this veteran of the U.S. Army, drafted in the 1960s, simply grew weary of these wars and neglected the broad history of conflicts dating back to biblical times.

A friend of mine, a professional soldier who served for 25 years, had this to say:

“When I first came in, the drill sergeants, platoon sergeants and sergeants majors were all ‘Nam vets and they all told us the same thing; we are an all-volunteer Army, none of us were drafted; having served in a conscript Army they all said that we wouldn’t want to be in conflict with a bunch of draftees who did not want to be there. They told us about disciplinary problems in the draftee military you would not believe.”

“The war we are currently engaged in is The One Hundred Years War and the sooner the American people get used to that, the better. I do not differentiate between the ‘Iraq War’ and the ‘Afghanistan War’; they are simply different theaters of the same war.”

In his new book, “Kaboom”, Matt Gallagher traces his transformation from an ROTC college graduate to his battlefield experiences in Iraq. He wrote:

“As I watched the platoon joke, clown, and ramble their way through the holiday dinner, I couldn’t help but think about the country that had produced them. These were the men in the flesh that society only celebrates in the abstract.”

“The NCOs had served in the army long enough to stop caring about the whims of the American culture they protected so effectively; the joes were just removed enough to not fully recognize how the same society that reared us had detached itself from us the day we signed our enlistment papers. In a voluntary military, we fought for the nation, not with it.”

Americans, most of whom honor our troops, have not had our lives personally touched by the Mideast conflicts. The way of life they are fighting to protect has barely been altered as they put their lives on the line every day in a combat zone or service in any of the branches.

Under such circumstances, it is easy to forget there are countless enemies, mostly Muslim, striving to bring down America and to kill us in the same fashion as they killed some three thousand of us on a single day at the beginning of this decade.

Withdrawing from conflict zones in Iraq and Afghanistan may seem like a good idea, an end to our casualties in battle, but those who are there, our warrior class, know that it would just be a brief cessation of what will be a very long war we cannot dare to lose.

Alan Caruba writes a daily post at http://factsnotfantasy.blogspot.com. An author, business and science writer, he is the founder of The National Anxiety Center.

© Alan Caruba, 2010

 

WesternFront America

Todd Beamer uttered the immortal words: “Let’s Roll” just moments before he and a handful of his fellow passengers, aboard the doomed “flight 93,” counter-attacked their hijackers and thwarted the terrorist’s attempt to fly the airliner into the nation’s capitol building and thus saved the lives of US senators, Congresspersons, and members of their staffs, as well many other Americans just visiting the seat of their government.

I opened this commentary with the reference to Mr. Beamer’s immortal words because they capsulize the character of America.

“Let’s Roll” was a call to action by passengers on a hijacked airliner. Today, “Let’s Roll” is a call to action by Americans whose country has been hijacked by Socialist/Marxists.

We have said many times before that Americans are a breed apart. We are a mongrel nation, a mongrel people. Our national DNA, of necessity, must resemble a jigsaw puzzle. The one thing we have in common is our “uncommonness!” Many of us may resemble our European ancestors, or our ancestors from other parts of the world — until you scratch the surface. Underneath you will find a “whole ‘nother” animal.

Now, most folks don’t know this and even fewer understand it, and fewer, still, understand what being “a breed apart” means, especially when Americans find themselves in trouble.

At this moment in history, the American people understand they — and to be even more specific— their country — is in jeopardy. Granted, we were slow to come around, at least some of us were, but now roughly 80% of Americans understand the power grab in Washington by the socialists/Marxists is, in fact, “a clear and present danger” to the republic and they have determined to stop those responsible and banish them to the “wilderness from whence they came.”

The democrats (Socialist/Marxists) are convinced they can maintain their hold on power by manipulating their base, the leftists, and the sub-class of Americans who are permanent, life-long, “wards of the government,” dependent on the federal government’s dole every month for their very existence. They are convinced they can rouse those people to the polls in November in a tidal wave of socialist approval and drown the flames of freedom now lighting up the landscape of America.

In the meantime, the Socialists/Marxists/Democrats need, desperately, to re-direct the nation’s attention away from their ruthless power grab called ObamaCare. They understand the more Americans learn about the new American Socialism (which, in reality, is nothing more than the OLD socialism) the angrier they become. The deeper the passion, the higher the level of American anger, the more likely is the possibility of a political massacre for the democrats at the polls this coming November.

It requires no great imagination, nor is it difficult to predict, a new crisis, of some kind, in the near future. The Obama regime, will, in my opinion, formulate a new crisis in order to deflect America’s attention, to take America’s attention away from his Socialist/Marxist power grab. Whatever the crisis turns out to be – it will happen fairly soon. So—be ready.

Now that Americans understand their country is under attack, under assault, watch for gun sales and ammunition sales to, once again, skyrocket.

Many off us took an oath when we were sworn into the US military. We swore to protect America from all enemies, foreign and domestic. It was a solemn oath — one we took seriously then — and continue to take seriously today. Is it any wonder Americans are beginning to feel a “showdown” of some kind is coming?

In “normal” times Americans have mini-revolutions — at the ballot box — every election day. But this coming Mid-Term Election, in November, is now understood to be absolutely critical to the continued existence of a constitutional republic on these shores – and — in order to preserve it we have no choice but to cleanse the government of as many Socialist/Marxists as we possible can and continue the process through the Presidential Election in November of 2012.

So, let’s roll, America! We have a job to do. We must rescue America! Our freedom, our liberty, depends upon it.

© J. D. Longstreet

J. D. Longstreet blogs daily at INSIGHT on Freedom at: http://www.csadispatch.blogspot.com/

 

WesternFront America

Thank goodness for YouTube.  There is a lot of archived material there; like these comments from President Reagan…

Many of us have been talking about these very ideas.  I think Reagan’s observations and suggestions are just as wise now as they were then.

However, have we held up our end of the bargain?  Reagan speaks of “informed patriotism.”  Have we worked at spreading that?  I think yes, but only more recently have we begun in the volume needed to make any changes.  I fear that we have not come even remotely close to achieving “informed patriotism” among the people.

Through the “Reagan Revolution” in the 80’s, and the “Republican Revolution” in the 90’s, Conservatives  took political power, but did not engage the culture sufficiently to achieve a long lasting change.  Conservatives could regain the White House again, as well as both houses of Congress.  However, the left still owns the culture (as evidenced by it’s continued decline).  They control most of the media, most of entertainment, and almost all of the public educational establishment.  We can gain position, but without making inroads into the popular culture and institutions, we will still have powerful forces aligned against liberty, freedom, and the America we love.

While the situation seems grim, there are signs of change.  Real change-the kind that results in a major switch in public opinion.  We see Fox News drawing more viewers than every other cable news network combined.  Talk radio ratings are also up.  Print is dying, and in particular, the major liberal leaning newspapers.  People are becoming disenchanted with the media (formerly known as mainstream), and they are turning to more right leaning source of information.  And, when they do, they find out what the mainstream media has been refusing to report, or has been distorting.  If these trends continue, we may be able to see real change.

I sometimes get the sense that Conservatives take the fact that the media, culture, and the  educational establishment are against us, and always will be.  I think that this is a mistaken concept.  It is certainly true right now, but we are seeing the country move to the right.  As the left continues to wreck the country, that trend will continue.  Conservative voices in entertainment are speaking out, and Conservative groups like Campus Reform are trying to spread the word.  If we support them, and others find their voices, we can start to see the actual retaking of these institutions.  It might take a long time, even decades, but the end result will be well worth the wait.

What is to be done?  I think many things need doing.  For those of you that read my Cultural Marxism post, you know that the left began what they called the “long march through the institutions”  decades ago.  Their goal-to infiltrate and eventually take control of our major institutions.  Then, turn those institutions against our cultural.   They have been incredibly successful in that regard.  Think back to Reagan’s words for confirmation.  He discusses that children would learn about patriotism at home, in the community, in school, and in the popular culture.  How many people get a sense of patriotism from the last two sources now?

I believe that Conservatives need to retake those institutions, by having interested people gaining access, opening the doors to others, and changing the system from within.  The left will resist.  But if we all help, their resistance will fail.

In the end, we can win all the elections we want, but as long as the left still controls much of the culture, all victories will be temporary.  We have to stop thinking about delaying and impeding the left, and start working towards re-taking the country.  We can’t think of doing big government in a “conservative way.”  That is antithetical to our beliefs, and it will be just as illogical and dysfunctional as any government bureaucracy invariably becomes.  We need to tear out the liberal power structure, as any concentration of power WILL eventually be corrupted and abused.   The concentration should not  just  be about  stopping the left from implementing more destructive policies, but undoing and abolishing earlier ones.

So, as usual, one of my posts touches on expansive issues.  There is now way to cover all of this in one post.  Please consider this an open thread.

© Matt Ross

Originally posted at Conservative Hideout 2.0

The Liberty Pen

 

WesternFront America