Recently, I sent my mom a video link depicting an encounter between a policeman and a protester. My mother’s response was a natural one for a sweet, Christian woman in her seventies. ‘Isn’t this just scary? Where is it going to end?” She’s right, you know. It IS scary. And to those of us who have never witnessed or experienced personally an out-of-order policeman or been face to face with an angry protester, we also wonder, “where or when will it end?”
What is the answer to that question? Perhaps we must define “it” before the question has an answer. When my mother asked the question, I believe she meant that “it” is the fighting, the bickering, and the belligerent exchanges between people of differing views. She also meant the demands placed on ordinary people who must state their views publicly at rallies, tea parties, and protests, behavior that is the antipathy of their normal workday lives usually filled with work, family, and more “peaceful” activities.
Since the mortgage and banking meltdown last Fall, Americans have been overwhelmed by the activity in Washington, D.C. We witnessed an unpleasant election process, and then a new administration putting forward an expensive agenda. Alarmed by a complex, costly, and wasteful stimulus bill and an omnibus budget bill that also appeared deceptive and wasteful, Americans jammed Congressional phones and flooded legislative email accounts with demands for “No” votes and clearer explanations.
Since the Tax-day tea parties, angry and worried citizens have taken to the streets, appeared on television, started groups, written blogs, and created video channels on the Internet. Media outlets and our own elected representatives (including the President!) have mocked and repudiated the demonstrations by patriots who wish merely for a return to Constitutional faithfulness. I know many people who continue to participate in a variety of activities. They have jobs and families, and sometimes they get tired. Like me, I bet these friends and acquaintances get frustrated sometimes because it doesn’t feel like anyone is really listening.
That question asked by my mother..... I think I have an answer, given what I know about the people with whom I “organize and demonstrate” and how they all feel about this great country of ours. If we citizens are faithful to the original tenets of this country’s founding, and if we can continue to stand strong and steadfast against this overwhelming tide of radical ideas and rationales, then we are in this for the long haul. This may never end… perhaps this should never stop.
So, Mom, this is not going to end. Some days it may seem easier, and others will be more difficult. Our freedom is worth fighting for, and it will always be under assault. Even if we see just one small fissure in our foundational freedoms, we must stand up and state the case for liberty and individual rights. Not only must we stand up for these rights, but we must educate others. These are important lessons to impart, so our work will never be finished.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
Laura Glover interviews WRVA's Doc Thompson
July 2009 - Doc shares his views about the effectiveness of grassroots efforts! He also clarifies what he sees as the real goals of conservative grassroots activism -- stop the encroachment on individual's freedoms.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Why are we here? Posted by our guest, Ralph Carter
I am finding it difficult to get to sleep at nights, finally succumbing to the sandman around 3-4 am. The body is ready but the mind is still in gear. Usually if I get up and go watch TV, I can fall asleep easily. (I wonder if that means my brain stops working when I’m watching TV.)
But, I’m not writing this to talk about my sleep habits. I just want to share some thoughts with my “facebook friends” about what has been racing through this busy think tank on top of my shoulders. You may do with it what you will.
I received an email the other day from a gentleman who told me he was a providentialist, which translates to the idea that this country was founded for a reason, and by Divine providence. While I would not argue that thought, it leads to the proverbial question…why are we here? As you may know there are others who share this providentialist’s view, you may be one. It has been the focus of some media personalities who have even reminded us about the nine principles and twelve values that were used as a foundation for the establishment of this great nation. As a matter of fact, the book titled “The 5000 year leap” discusses these and then some. But these principles and values can’t be something that we just utter because they are popular or sound good. They have to be who we are. If this is not who we are, then we are just astroturf.
Where did this 9-12 concept come from? Why are we being reminded of them now? Why do we have to be reminded of them? This nation was founded on principles and values, principles and values that originated in the mind of a Creator, not in the mind of the created. History shows that mankind in general is self-serving. We can be arrogant and pompous at times. We were reminded of these qualities on 9-11. It was insulting that this great nation had been attacked by a group of people, whom we thought to be inferior in respect to their abilities to pull off such a stunt, and with our own devices to boot. We were not attacked by ICBM’s or nuclear weapons shot from thousands of miles away, but with our own airplanes in our own backyard.
If our nation was founded by Divine providence, then we are here for a purpose. God’s word reveals to us that mankind was created for a purpose, and that was for the created to worship and serve the Creator. We are not the first “nation” of people set up to do this. Other “nations” have been given the same opportunities and failed, and we now only read of their existence.
Have we failed in fulfilling our purpose? If this nation was allowed to exist for the purpose of spreading christianity and giving it a place to flourish without fear, what have we done with it? Statistics that I have seen show christianity is a floundering religion in this country, with “extremist” religions quickly gaining momentum. Is it any wonder why we are experiencing a “crisis”? We have allowed “them” to intimidate us to silence. We have allowed “them” to demoralize this nation and here we sit in the aftermath, here we sit at the crossroads. For those of you who are following the same media streams that I do, these unorthodox and damaging views are infiltrating our nations government and have been taking over while we were asleep at the wheel. If you have been following the Beck specials on Fox, he is revealing some frightening facts. Have we been too involved with our lives to take the time to stand up for what is right, hoping someone else would take care of it for us? Well, they are taking care of it and I don’t like it.
Somewhere along the line, we have got to get seriously engaged, stay engaged and get on our knees and pray for God’s help in this fight. We can not do it alone and we need to be doing it for the right reasons. We can not expect to “take this country back” and handle her the same way we have done in the past and expect be successful.
My encouragement would be for us not to be self-serving in this endeavor by having motives that only affect us, but let’s remember why we are here and why we were created as a people and as a nation. I would also encourage you to take a look at Joshua 24 and read that chapter. I’m not proposing it as prophecy for us but because it is very motivating for me. Joshua is standing before the children of Israel and he reminds them of what God has done for them and what is expected of them as they go into “the promised land”. They were encouraged to serve God and “put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt.” Then the words in verse 15 that mean so much to me… “choose you this day whom ye will serve…” “but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Thank you for your time and allowing me to share just a portion of what has been on my mind. I will now humbly step down from my soapbox.
In His and your service,
Ralph
But, I’m not writing this to talk about my sleep habits. I just want to share some thoughts with my “facebook friends” about what has been racing through this busy think tank on top of my shoulders. You may do with it what you will.
I received an email the other day from a gentleman who told me he was a providentialist, which translates to the idea that this country was founded for a reason, and by Divine providence. While I would not argue that thought, it leads to the proverbial question…why are we here? As you may know there are others who share this providentialist’s view, you may be one. It has been the focus of some media personalities who have even reminded us about the nine principles and twelve values that were used as a foundation for the establishment of this great nation. As a matter of fact, the book titled “The 5000 year leap” discusses these and then some. But these principles and values can’t be something that we just utter because they are popular or sound good. They have to be who we are. If this is not who we are, then we are just astroturf.
Where did this 9-12 concept come from? Why are we being reminded of them now? Why do we have to be reminded of them? This nation was founded on principles and values, principles and values that originated in the mind of a Creator, not in the mind of the created. History shows that mankind in general is self-serving. We can be arrogant and pompous at times. We were reminded of these qualities on 9-11. It was insulting that this great nation had been attacked by a group of people, whom we thought to be inferior in respect to their abilities to pull off such a stunt, and with our own devices to boot. We were not attacked by ICBM’s or nuclear weapons shot from thousands of miles away, but with our own airplanes in our own backyard.
If our nation was founded by Divine providence, then we are here for a purpose. God’s word reveals to us that mankind was created for a purpose, and that was for the created to worship and serve the Creator. We are not the first “nation” of people set up to do this. Other “nations” have been given the same opportunities and failed, and we now only read of their existence.
Have we failed in fulfilling our purpose? If this nation was allowed to exist for the purpose of spreading christianity and giving it a place to flourish without fear, what have we done with it? Statistics that I have seen show christianity is a floundering religion in this country, with “extremist” religions quickly gaining momentum. Is it any wonder why we are experiencing a “crisis”? We have allowed “them” to intimidate us to silence. We have allowed “them” to demoralize this nation and here we sit in the aftermath, here we sit at the crossroads. For those of you who are following the same media streams that I do, these unorthodox and damaging views are infiltrating our nations government and have been taking over while we were asleep at the wheel. If you have been following the Beck specials on Fox, he is revealing some frightening facts. Have we been too involved with our lives to take the time to stand up for what is right, hoping someone else would take care of it for us? Well, they are taking care of it and I don’t like it.
Somewhere along the line, we have got to get seriously engaged, stay engaged and get on our knees and pray for God’s help in this fight. We can not do it alone and we need to be doing it for the right reasons. We can not expect to “take this country back” and handle her the same way we have done in the past and expect be successful.
My encouragement would be for us not to be self-serving in this endeavor by having motives that only affect us, but let’s remember why we are here and why we were created as a people and as a nation. I would also encourage you to take a look at Joshua 24 and read that chapter. I’m not proposing it as prophecy for us but because it is very motivating for me. Joshua is standing before the children of Israel and he reminds them of what God has done for them and what is expected of them as they go into “the promised land”. They were encouraged to serve God and “put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt.” Then the words in verse 15 that mean so much to me… “choose you this day whom ye will serve…” “but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Thank you for your time and allowing me to share just a portion of what has been on my mind. I will now humbly step down from my soapbox.
In His and your service,
Ralph
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Taking To The Streets
We conservatives and libertarians tend to keep to ourselves and have a desire to just be left alone. This thinking has usually worked well for us, but over the past years we have seen all kinds of crazy protests instigated by unions, homosexuals, ACORN... even illegal aliens have had the gall to prance through our streets demanding access to the public purse. Often these are the only voices coming through. Even setting aside the media bias, they are the only voices being raised.
Our political representatives often respond to public pressure when it does not conflict with contributor interests, and up to now, most of the pressure has been coming from those using one hand to hold a picket sign and the other to reach out to scoop up more goodies from the public trough. While most of us have been working to get money to pay our taxes, they have been whining and looking for to ways to take hold of more of this money for themselves. We have abdicated our responsibility to speak up and have left the playing field to the to the avaricious mob. We lost by default!
Does this mean that we can't get the word out? Definitely not! Sure it is one more thing to squeeze into your schedule and mine, but I have found that there is always time for things we see as most important. The issue then becomes recognizing the damage that is being done to our country and making a priority to stop it.
Now is the time... no, it is past time for us to overcome some of our natural tendencies to live quietly by ourselves. Although it's not really in our nature, we must band together and speak up, not just individually, but publicly as a body of citizens. There are enough of us to make a difference. Our problem is that we are busy working, spending time with our families, helping to make our community better and all sorts of other productive activities. Our opponents tend not to have so many of these demands on their time... they often don't have such a rough time fitting self-serving public protest into their schedules.
Tonight, was the first I took part in such a protest in close to twenty years... the last being way back in New Jersey when we gathered around an inappropriately located adult bookstore in the pouring rain... and made the front page of the Star Ledger.
About two hundred of us gathered outside our local ABC affiliate to protest the ObamaCare infomercial they were running. This was not a normal event for most of us but it was refreshing to spend the evening with many who had not been too involved in the past, but have been awaken from their slumber by the outrageous changes being inflicted upon our land.
We made new acquaintances, renewed old ones and found many people with whom we share a lot more in common than we would have ever thought. The first lesson learned was the WE ARE NOT ALONE! If you are concerned about your country, you are not alone either.
It doesn't matter if there are ten of you coming together or a thousand. There is a fellowship among those who cherish their liberty and are willing to take a stand for it. With the tea parties and patriot groups, combined with our government's encroachment on so many areas of our lives, there will be many more opportunities to make your voice heard. It's well worth working it into your busy schedule. Keep in mind that the most meaningful things we do are things that reach beyond ourselves and contribute to the greatness of our country and the welfare of our neighbors.
Originally posted at:
http://www.politicalchristian.org/wordpress/2009/06/taking-to-the-streets/
Our political representatives often respond to public pressure when it does not conflict with contributor interests, and up to now, most of the pressure has been coming from those using one hand to hold a picket sign and the other to reach out to scoop up more goodies from the public trough. While most of us have been working to get money to pay our taxes, they have been whining and looking for to ways to take hold of more of this money for themselves. We have abdicated our responsibility to speak up and have left the playing field to the to the avaricious mob. We lost by default!
Does this mean that we can't get the word out? Definitely not! Sure it is one more thing to squeeze into your schedule and mine, but I have found that there is always time for things we see as most important. The issue then becomes recognizing the damage that is being done to our country and making a priority to stop it.
Now is the time... no, it is past time for us to overcome some of our natural tendencies to live quietly by ourselves. Although it's not really in our nature, we must band together and speak up, not just individually, but publicly as a body of citizens. There are enough of us to make a difference. Our problem is that we are busy working, spending time with our families, helping to make our community better and all sorts of other productive activities. Our opponents tend not to have so many of these demands on their time... they often don't have such a rough time fitting self-serving public protest into their schedules.
Tonight, was the first I took part in such a protest in close to twenty years... the last being way back in New Jersey when we gathered around an inappropriately located adult bookstore in the pouring rain... and made the front page of the Star Ledger.
About two hundred of us gathered outside our local ABC affiliate to protest the ObamaCare infomercial they were running. This was not a normal event for most of us but it was refreshing to spend the evening with many who had not been too involved in the past, but have been awaken from their slumber by the outrageous changes being inflicted upon our land.
We made new acquaintances, renewed old ones and found many people with whom we share a lot more in common than we would have ever thought. The first lesson learned was the WE ARE NOT ALONE! If you are concerned about your country, you are not alone either.
It doesn't matter if there are ten of you coming together or a thousand. There is a fellowship among those who cherish their liberty and are willing to take a stand for it. With the tea parties and patriot groups, combined with our government's encroachment on so many areas of our lives, there will be many more opportunities to make your voice heard. It's well worth working it into your busy schedule. Keep in mind that the most meaningful things we do are things that reach beyond ourselves and contribute to the greatness of our country and the welfare of our neighbors.
Originally posted at:
http://www.politicalchristian.org/wordpress/2009/06/taking-to-the-streets/
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Grassroots: Labor of Love (J. Ranson posting)
Several weeks ago, I attended a widely publicized event in the area called Liberty 101. It featured exhibits by dozens of groups interested in educating citizens about liberty, our country’s founding principles, and grassroots activism. A main stage featured bands and keynote speakers, while a fan-“cooled” building hosted educational seminars on a variety of constitutional topics from guns to taxes.
This event was extremely well-planned. By whom?, you might ask. The answer might surprise you given the recent press reports depicting conservative grassroots activism as “Astroturf” and “well-funded by special interests.” This event was put on entirely through volunteer work of people passionate about their country and its freedoms. Mostly, the brains behind this event emanated from the local Tea Party group.
These volunteers labored long hours for weeks in advance of the event. They also invested gallons of sweat on that 100-degree day to bring educational opportunities to local citizens. Oh sure, they received some business sponsorships and donations from private individuals, but this was no “Astroturf” event. As Mickey White told me, “It was a labor of love.”
After the event, I was motivated to write about it, but I didn’t. Around the time of Liberty 101, a lot of negative press was swirling around the fake and manufactured grassroots activity going on all around the country. I thought my disclaimer would just be more clutter in the blogosphere. But the passion of the American people has not been quelled. We still wish to be heard, to be taken seriously, and, above all, to reclaim the liberty bequeathed us through the struggles of our founders.
Yet amidst the disparagement of grassroots efforts to push back on healthcare reform as currently envisioned in Congress, the former-community-organizer himself, President Obama, has tried to gin up grassroots workers who will pressure lawmakers into passing a massive healthcare overhaul. Contrast the “labor of love” work of my local compatriots to recent Craigslist advertisements to pay $15 per hour to “volunteers” to work to pass Obama's Healthcare Plan. Quite a difference in commitment, wouldn’t you agree? Real grassroots is “money-poor and people-rich” according to Wikipedia. Hmmmm.....
I’ve been calling and writing to my representatives for nearly ten years. Yeah, a real time-waster, I know. Until this year, I had never marched in the vicinity of a legislator’s office, but I’ve now done so three times. I still haven’t carried a handmade sign! But I really do admire the creativity of my grassroots colleagues.
Individuals around this great land have spoken up to our government leaders and found themselves thrust into the spotlight. So many of them have faced cameras and questions from all types of media and held their own in the debate. I have been enormously impressed by their courage and their passion. I don’t care much about the limelight, but I am going to keep working on the grassroots projects I’ve committed to. No one has to pay me; it’s a labor of love.
This event was extremely well-planned. By whom?, you might ask. The answer might surprise you given the recent press reports depicting conservative grassroots activism as “Astroturf” and “well-funded by special interests.” This event was put on entirely through volunteer work of people passionate about their country and its freedoms. Mostly, the brains behind this event emanated from the local Tea Party group.
These volunteers labored long hours for weeks in advance of the event. They also invested gallons of sweat on that 100-degree day to bring educational opportunities to local citizens. Oh sure, they received some business sponsorships and donations from private individuals, but this was no “Astroturf” event. As Mickey White told me, “It was a labor of love.”
After the event, I was motivated to write about it, but I didn’t. Around the time of Liberty 101, a lot of negative press was swirling around the fake and manufactured grassroots activity going on all around the country. I thought my disclaimer would just be more clutter in the blogosphere. But the passion of the American people has not been quelled. We still wish to be heard, to be taken seriously, and, above all, to reclaim the liberty bequeathed us through the struggles of our founders.
Yet amidst the disparagement of grassroots efforts to push back on healthcare reform as currently envisioned in Congress, the former-community-organizer himself, President Obama, has tried to gin up grassroots workers who will pressure lawmakers into passing a massive healthcare overhaul. Contrast the “labor of love” work of my local compatriots to recent Craigslist advertisements to pay $15 per hour to “volunteers” to work to pass Obama's Healthcare Plan. Quite a difference in commitment, wouldn’t you agree? Real grassroots is “money-poor and people-rich” according to Wikipedia. Hmmmm.....
I’ve been calling and writing to my representatives for nearly ten years. Yeah, a real time-waster, I know. Until this year, I had never marched in the vicinity of a legislator’s office, but I’ve now done so three times. I still haven’t carried a handmade sign! But I really do admire the creativity of my grassroots colleagues.
Individuals around this great land have spoken up to our government leaders and found themselves thrust into the spotlight. So many of them have faced cameras and questions from all types of media and held their own in the debate. I have been enormously impressed by their courage and their passion. I don’t care much about the limelight, but I am going to keep working on the grassroots projects I’ve committed to. No one has to pay me; it’s a labor of love.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Daren's Welcome Message
Citizens, we want to welcome you to the Citizen's Roundtable. It will be the undertaking of this small group to bring you the important facts about the issues you and I face in our nation today. Our hope is to enlighten you with the response of other citizens, just like you, and their feelings on the same issues we all fear are tearing our nation apart. Stay tuned as we develop this forum, and as we strive to bring everyone a clearer perspective on these issues.
Our goal to make you an informed citizen, so when election time comes, you can vote with confidence.
Americans, we all want what is best for our country. The survival of our freedom, and the rights, granted to us by the "United States Constitution" are being challenged on a daily basis by those who govern this land. The very ones we elected and put in office to do the people's business. The thievery and mismanagement of those whom we have entrusted is a disgrace to our country. The very ones involved in these acts are ridiculing the private sector, and penalizing them for the very same thing. We encourage your comments.
If you would like to be a participant, in a future segments of Citizen Roundtable, please let us know, we would love to have your input.
Our goal to make you an informed citizen, so when election time comes, you can vote with confidence.
Americans, we all want what is best for our country. The survival of our freedom, and the rights, granted to us by the "United States Constitution" are being challenged on a daily basis by those who govern this land. The very ones we elected and put in office to do the people's business. The thievery and mismanagement of those whom we have entrusted is a disgrace to our country. The very ones involved in these acts are ridiculing the private sector, and penalizing them for the very same thing. We encourage your comments.
If you would like to be a participant, in a future segments of Citizen Roundtable, please let us know, we would love to have your input.
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