PEA RIDGE — After attending the Taxed Enough Already, TEA, Parties in Rogers (April 15 and July 4), it's obvious that "We The People" believe that the CHANGE in America is in the wrong direction. I've given much thought to how I should respond to the CHANGE.
Let's first review the opening and close of our Declaration of Independence:
"When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another : to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them : that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation :
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable (God given) Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government : under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security:
"We, therefore : appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies : are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown : And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."
We the people believe that our government is changing our Constitution and ignoring the Bill of Rights! I vow to defend the Constitution; in fact, I have raised my right handand "pledged to support and defend the Constitution with my life against all enemies, foreign or domestic."
As a Christian, I'm obligated by God's Word to "respect governing authorities" and "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's." The question is, how should I stand up to a government that is violating our moral and constitutional laws?
Two principals came to mind: First, I must "obey God rather than man." Second, I'm obligated to "defend the Constitution," not a corrupt government's, foreign-UN or domestic-US policy.
I'm angry that President Obama declared in Turkey that "America is not a Christian Country," and in Egypt he said that, "America is a Moslem Nation." I'm incensed that some senators forced banks to knowingly make bad loans, which deliberately bankrupted our economy. Our representatives passed gigantic, pork-laden spending bills without even reading them.
CHANGE has transformed my 401K into a 201K, and it may become a 001K. Our socalled conservative politicians didn't make a convincing effort to stop bad economic policies. The conservatives who sounded an alarm did not do it vigorously enough to force the issue into public knowledge until it was too late to correct the problem.
Our congressional representatives have passed Cap and Trade or Tax and Kill legislation. If passed by the Senate, it will stop the production of energy, tax the use of energy, and send many jobs to other countries that are not hindered by a carbon-tax. Tax and Kill will CHANGE the US into a non-manufacturing, third-world country. Without oil, we can't even grow or transport food. The cost-ofliving will go up, and income will go down. If I were to discover oil or coal on my property, Tax and Kill would keep me from extracting it, using it or selling it. Now I hear that Tax and Kill may keep me from heating my home with my own energy, firewood from trees felled by the ice storm. CHANGE apparently plans to tax me if I have medical insurance or tax my employer if I don't.
Like the Founding Fathers who revolted against Great Britain rather than remain overtaxed slaves without representation, I will oppose politicians who ignore the Constitution, and I will work for competent candidates. The founders knew that if they were captured or lost the war, they would be imprisoned or executed. Yet, they willingly "pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor" in a quest to establish a country that recognizes God-given human rights. Many of the founders did pay a high price, but with Divine help, they give us a country with a citizen's Bill of Rights.
America's founders remembered the Boston Massacre, where soldiers shot down unarmed citizens. However, when British troops came to seize American weapons and arrest John Hancock and Sam Adams, 77 armed patriots stopped the British Army at Concord Bridge.
Emerson's poem about the battle said, ": Here once the embattled farmers stood, And fired the shot heard round the world : Spirit, that made those heroes dare to die, and leave their children free:"
That battle led to our Independence.
The founders understood that when governments fear armed citizens, they respect human rights. That is why after giving us the Bill of Right's First Amendment: Freedom of Liberty, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Assembly and Freedom to Protest the Government; they gave us the Second Amendment Right to Bear Arms, because it is the citizen's responsibility to defend these God-given rights. As long as we have the ability and the will to defend our Rights, our votes may be all we need to keep government in check.
However, we should heed thepatriots' warning, "Keep your powder dry." In today's English that means, we must not allow a government, domestic, foreign, or world, to restrict our possession of handguns, shotguns, semi-automatic rifles, and ammunition.
Congress and the Supreme Court are regularly overturning our Bill of Rights. The First Amendment guarantees: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom to assembly, and the right to protest government policy. Yet, a chaplain or student can not pray in Jesus' name. If I stand on a public sidewalk with a sign that says, "Abortion is Murder," I'll be arrested.
If Congress passes the proposed Hate Crimes Law, a pastor who preaches the Word of God saying, "homosexuality is sin," may go to jail and lose the churches' nonprofit tax status. If a radio commentator says something politically incorrect, he may be kicked off the air.
If Americans do not uphold the Constitution, we may become like Nazi Germany, Argentina, Tiananmen Square and Tehran where unarmed citizens who want freedom are beaten, shot, crushed by tanks or just disappear.
President Obama just proposed a Prolonged Detention Bill to imprison people who may commit hate crimes.
From a previous Homeland Security Bulletin, I know I'm a suspect because I'm a: Biblebelieving Christian, a Zionist, a member of the NRA, a veteran, a conservative political activists and, worst of all, I write treasonous propaganda.
However, since I've pledged to defend the Constitution, the decision is already made and with that comes "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding."
What is the most defending the Constitution cost me? If I do nothing, I may loose my country, my freedom, my property or my life. But if I do defend freedom, I may be victorious and leave freedom for my grandchildren! And at worst, all they can do is send me to Heaven! Or, they can make me a prison evangelist, where I'll defend my faith and the Constitution, at their cost.
Opinion, Pages 4 on 07/29/2009