Quotes from the Founding generation, Part III: Religion and Government
While many think of our founding as secular in origin and in action, history tells a different tale. A separation of church and state does not imply “without god” but rather not my god over your god. Many of the founding fathers were freemason’s and their belief in god was absolute and unwavering, others were equally passionate about religion. Many politicians and historians with biased motivations label them Diest’s, and while this is true (they believe in a supreme creator of the universe), many were also religious and more specifically, Christian. This is not the opinion of some right wing Christian attempting to proselytize and claim America as a Christian nation, I was raised Jewish, I am not a Christian but I do believe the morality and intentions of the founders were rooted in Judeo-Christian tradition.
So, lets take a look at what the Founding Generation thought about religion…In their own words.
George Washington-
“It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.”
John Adams-
“Statesmen may plan and speculate for Liberty, but it is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand.”
Thomas Jefferson-
“Religion, as well as reason, confirms the soundness of those principles on which our government has been founded and its rights asserted.”
Benjamin Franklin-
“ God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?”
James Madison-
“We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We’ve staked the future of all our political institutions upon our capacity…to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.”
Alexander Hamilton-
“For my own part, I sincerely esteem it [the Constitution] a system which without the finger of God, never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests.”
The Copenhagen Climate Summit is currently under way; On the agenda: 9:00 a.m. weakening the American Empire, 12:00 p.m. Strengthening Nations (America not included), 1:00 p.m. How to destroy industry with the stroke of a pen, and 2:30 p.m. Exercises in killing jobs.
The Copenhagen Climate Summit is an attempt by the Anti-American United Nations and the Anti-American Obama administration to weaken American industry and our economy while propping up other less prosperous and less successful nations. The joke of this whole show, and thats what this is, a show, is the absolute audacity of the “leaders” involved. It has been reported (on Fox News and CNN) that over 1200 limousines are being used to shuttle the VIPs around. It gets better;When asked why Hybrid cars were not being used, the director of the Danish Limo company leasing the limousines for the event said “The government has some alternative fuel cars but the rest will be petrol or diesel. We don’t have any hybrids in Denmark, unfortunately, due to the extreme taxes on those cars.” HA HA HA HA. Stop the presses! Socialist Denmark’s taxes are so high that the “green” nation has prevented the public from getting affordable hybrids. Liberals and their screwed up, self centered righteousness. What a joke.
Oh yea, and over 140 private jets have been used to bring the VIPs to Copenhagen.
Quotes from the Founding generation, Part II: Guns, Guns, Guns
George Mason-
“To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.”
Thomas Jefferson-
(1) ”Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not.”
(2) ”No freeman shall ever be debarred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.”
Richard Henry Lee- (first to formally propose independence from Great Britain, signer of Declaration of Independence)
“To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them.”
Patrick Henry-
“Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? Where is the difference between having our arms in possession and under our direction and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?”
George Washington-
“Firearms stand next in importance to the constitution itself. They are the American people’s liberty teeth and keystone under independence … from the hour the Pilgrims landed to the present day, events, occurences and tendencies prove that to ensure peace security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable … the very atmosphere of firearms anywhere restrains evil interference — they deserve a place of honor with all that’s good.”
Thomas Payne-
“Arms like laws discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe and preserve order in the world as well as property.”
Alexander Hamilton-
“The Constitution shall never be construed to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.”
Benjamin Franklin-
When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.
John Adams-
The happiness of society is the end of government.
George Washington-
Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.
Thomas Jefferson-
A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned – this is the sum of good government.
Alexander Hamilton-
If the federal government should overpass the just bounds of its authority and make a tyrannical use of its powers, the people, whose creature it is, must appeal to the standard they have formed, and take such measures to redress the injury done to the Constitution as the exigency may suggest and prudence justify. (Federalist 33)
Samuel Adams-
The natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on Earth, and not to be under the will or legislative authority of man, but only to have the law of nature for his rule.
The debate over abortion funding in the senate health reform bill brought to mind a topic that I have often found interesting; Liberal’s love affair with science…until it comes to abortion.
Global Warming: Liberals point to the science (which is actually grossly misinterpreted or ignored if contemptuous of the status quo).
Evolution: Look at the science.
Homosexuality: Again, look at the science.
Yet, when it comes to abortion and when a life becomes a life, liberals throw science out the window and scream and whine about a woman’s choice and individual rights. I find this interesting due to the massive amount of science that supports the beliefs of pro-life advocates, life begins at conception. Liberals are so quick to allow the murder of an unborn baby regardless of the science that supports the fact that it is in fact a baby. Still, they (liberals) love to defend the lives of murders and rapists and evil human beings on death row.
Whats wrong with this picture? Bad morals, bad people and a culture of “its not my problem and its not my fault”.
Allow me first to explain that my opinion on this subject has derived from a long and strenuous journey through the heart of American politics, culture and history. My opinion did not come easily or without reservation but it is none the less my opinion on the issue.
The Republican party, the party of small government and individual liberty, time and time again uses the definition of marriage debate as a rally cry for much of its constituency to join united for a cause. But ask yourself, is this the right party for such an opposition? The Conservative Right unequivocally opposes the ability for homosexual couples to be united in marriage under government, not God, government and this opposition has permeated the rank and file of the Republican party. Is the Republican party a haven for anti-gay marriage advocates? Yes. Should the Republican party hold such opinions about gay marriage? No. The Republican party has always been the protective barrier that stood between large, intrusive Federal government and the individual liberty of citizens. The party was founded on such principles and would do well to look to history as their guide on this hot topic.
There was a time when America was split over whether a certain group of people (African American slaves) deserved the same rights as other citizens. The Right is attempting to make the gay marriage issue about the “traditional definition of marriage” and that it is between one woman and one man as defined in the 1994 Defense of Marriage Act. The problem with this definition is that it is rooted in religion not in the US constitution or US law. Individual groups have the protected right to express their beliefs in a public forum and this right must be protected. Religious beliefs, while held by many American citizens, should not dictate the rights of other American citizens. When I hear someone on the right arguing for Federal legislation to define marriage, I have to pinch myself to make sure I am awake. When did the Republican party decide that the federal government had the right to deny an American citizen from marrying another? When did the Republican party decide federal legislation was an avenue worth taking for any cause what so ever? This issue is clouded in blind religious fervor. It is irrelevant whether gay marriage is forbidden by faith. No one is trying to force churches, synagogues or other houses of worship to marry homosexuals, only that the government, both federal and state, recognize and allow civil unions of gay couples. For those on the Right that might argue this topic as a state rights issue, recall, the South’s view on slavery as a state rights issue and Abraham Lincolns realization that slavery (like preventing gay marriage) infringed on the individual liberty of US citizens. The constitution trumps the rights of both state and federal government to act against a citizen on such issues.
Remember, the constitution of the United States was founded on the principle that every member of the union was to have equal protection of their individual liberties and their pursuit of happiness. The founders created a document to build a strong government, but more so, a stronger right for the citizenry to be protected from the very same government. Forbidding gay marriage infringes on the individual liberty of American citizens and their personal pursuit of happiness. The American Right looks to prevent American citizens from pursing their protected right to follow their own path in life. Recall the famous words of Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, “They: The makers of the Constitution: conferred, as against the government, the right to be let alone, the most comprehensive of rights and the right most valued by civilized men.” Religion, while undoubtedly the most important of all institutions (in personal life), should not impede on the rights of others who do not believe the same and most importantly should not dictate the laws of the United States or the position of Federal or state governments.
Once again President Obama has disgraced his position as leader of the free world by bowing to another member of a “royal” family. During his introduction to the Emperor of Japan, Barry took it upon himself to bow, a sign of submission and humbleness, numerous times and without reservation. This was no camera angle or trip up, no sneeze or charlie horse, or any other excuse similar to the ones given when Obama bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia. This was the President of the United States showing reverence to a King, something that American presidents do not do. Hell, American tennis players do not bow to the Queen of England at Wimbledon. America has had a tradition of not recognizing any superiority of “royalty”, of representatives of foreign nations or of other nations flags, and it has been a tradition among American Presidents since our inception as a sovereign nation not to do so.
That is until the commencement of Barack Obama’s Official 2009 I hate America too Tour, which should be visiting a country near you soon. Come and join President Obama as he bashes former American Presidents, apologizes for defending America and its allies from outside threats, destroys American tradition and defends all actions taken by other nations while berating his own. Next stop: Tehran, where President Obama will join in the local tradition of burning an American Flag and chanting “death to America”. (Disclaimer: Since the White House wants to snuff out descent and any anti-Obama opinion or fictitious humor, I would be remiss in not saying that the above is fictitious, Obama will not be visiting Tehran…yet)
Here is a video of said encounter with the Emperor of Japan: Ignore the sound (check out the numerous bows, big and small)
And,
Here’s a great montage of photographs of world leaders not bowing to Emperor Akihito with a little Barry mixed in:
1. Act like Republicans first; Conservatives Second.
The voting public is caught up in popularity contests and reality television, not good, sound political reason. Republicans need to lay of the hard line social agenda, temporarily, and go back to the basics. Small government and individual responsibility come to mind. Focus on these two fundamentally Republican beliefs, convince the public of their value and watch the votes come rolling in. ( A little inspiration )
Acting like Republicans first ensures that a conservative agenda, fiscal and social, can be achieved easily and with an agreeable voting public. Small government addresses welfare, wasteful spending and suppression of liberty. Individual Responsibility ends the blame game, the abortion debate and class warfare. Concentrate then conquer.
2. Speak the truth.
As Republicans, we use reason and logic to guide our decisions not the overwhelming emotional standard used by Democrats. When confronted with a social issue which tugs at the heart strings or a fiscal reality that might anger some, we dance around the issues in an attempt not to offend. Stand tall, speak the truth. The truth will always win in the end. The Democrats have become the party of “yes, you can have it and we will find someone to pay for it.” Unlike the delusional mind of a liberal, a conservative should understand the greatness of the individual. People want to make it in this country, they want to succeed and thrive but the inspiration is lacking when handout after handout keeps them blinded by convenience. Tell them the truth. The truth might hurt but it will make them and you better.
3. Kick, Scream and Yell.
The Democrats have control over ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, NPR, Hollywood and most newspapers and magazines. They consistently protest about everything from freeing Palestine (SEE: Lovely Liberal Protesters ) to saving the albino, long toothed bird moose (is that even real?). They scream for freedom of speech so long as it is their speech not descent ( SEE: Ignorant, brainwashed students ) and they are outspoken in their public speaking and indoctrination attempts.
Republicans need to start kicking, screaming and yelling at every opportunity. When one of our elected officials is invited to debate on a news program, they need treat the interview like a hostile interrogation (which it will be from practically every left leaning news organization) and fight tooth and nail on every issue debated. The reason the Left is being heard is because they are louder. Be loud. In the arena of ideas liberals will always lose because sob stories and a historically failed ideologies are not ideas just pander. I am not recommending a protest on every street corner (most Republicans have responsibilities and cannot drop everything to protest bread sales) but a united front and, yes, if the issue is important enough (fighting FOCA, National Healthcare, Stimulus) public protest, nationwide.
The GOP needs to encourage the growth and recognition of new organizations that push Republican and Conservative ideas and solutions. We need new, fresh faces to help sell our ideas in order for future generations to appreciate and understand our ideology. Attack the liberal indoctrination that runs rampant in our education system beginning in grammar school and continuing through university. Support conservative writers, bloggers, websites, newspapers, magazines and radio shows. Support conservative Hollywood and ignore the pretty faces and tiny brains of the Hollywood “elite”. Educate your neighbors and your friends and most importantly your children. Remind them that “Republican” and “Conservative” are not bad words. It is not wrong to be pro-life. It is not wrong to expect citizens to take responsibility for their own lives. It is not wrong to want government to stay out of your life, your business and your wallet.
A new Gallup Poll released on November 11, 2009 polled 894 registered voters across the United States about the 2010 congressional elections. Here are the results of that poll.
From Gallup.com
Republicans have moved ahead of Democrats by 48% to 44% among registered voters in the latest update on Gallup’s generic congressional ballot for the 2010 House elections, after trailing by six points in July and two points last month.
Gallup also discussed the direction that Independent voters were leaning in the 2010 elections so far.
“Over the course of the year, independents’ preference for the Republican candidate in their districts has grown.”.
Over the course of the year, independents’ preference for the Republican candidate in their districts has grown, from a 1-point advantage in July to the current 22-point gap.
Bottom Line
Roughly a year before the 2010 midterm elections, Republicans seem well-positioned to win back some of their congressional losses in 2006 and 2008. Independents are increasingly coming to prefer the Republican candidate for Congress, and now favor the GOP by 22 points. Political conditions could still shift between now and Election Day to create a more favorable environment for Democratic candidates, but a Republican lead on the generic ballot among registered voters has been a sign of a strong Republican showing at the polls in the coming election.
