Thoughts on Unbroken

I have just finished reading the book, Unbroken, by Lauren Hillenbrand.  I have not seen the movie yet, but I plan to.

My library includes a number of volumes concentrating on the treatment of POW’s and civilian populations of countries that were conquered by Japan.  In most of the volumes on this subject, we are given background in the reasons that an entire culture might sink into a cesspool of despicable and inhumane actions against their fellow man.  Most of these refer to the fact that Japanese citizens were brainwashed into the conviction that the Japanese culture and race were superior and therefore licensed to treat any other culture and/or race as they saw fit.  We know the result of this attitude.

But my main reason in submitting this letter to the editor is not the bygone days of WWII.  This letter is an observation about history repeating itself.  Geographic settings are only minimally important.  Is there still anyone out there in this country who believes that the religion of Islam, especially the fringe jihadist elements of it, does not call for the same type of inhumane policies?

Head severing; executions of entire groups of non-combatants, especially women and children; crucifixions, destruction of historical and religious sites:  these are the actions of men fired with the same cultural attitudes that plagued the Japanese during the 20^th Century (and before).  And, Mr. Obama, these actions are not workplace violence.

This nation is already “behind the 8 ball” in dealing with these creeps.  Presidents Obama and Bush both had opportunities to protect our country and crush these people in their infancy, but those opportunities have evaporated.  News agencies have reported that there are cells of Islamic terrorism alive and well in this country.  Some American citizens have already checked out to go fight for ISIS.  We are closing Gitmo and releasing the “worst of the worst” who will then return to the battlefield as heroes.

Finally, “It can’t happen here?”  Hide and watch.

Is there a traitor among us?

Is There a Traitor Among Us?

What is a traitor?  According to the Websters 9^th Collegiate Dictionary definition #2 has it as “one who commits treason,” which brings us to the definition of “treason.”  Again, a definition from the same source, #2,  “the offense of attempting by overt acts to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance or to kill or personally injure the sovereign or his family.”

This definition holds several interesting phrases:  1) The actions of a traitor must be “overt.”  2) They must be designed to injure the country “to which one owes allegiance.”  In most countries, the act of treason is considered a most heinous crime, which can merit the death penalty.

Let’s examine the possibility that there could be a traitor among us.  He/she could be guilty of one or several of the acts listed below.  Having the power to enact most of the following list of actions would give a traitor a much easier road than a person working alone without any of that power or authority.

Consider the following actions, which could be deemed treasonous or traitorous:  What if a person, group, or organization might--

1)    Negotiate with stated enemies of the nation, such as Cuba or Iran?

2)    Release prisoners of war, who were captured as armed and avowed enemies of the country, and this release being done before the end of the war?  None of those released have disavowed their desire to destroy this country.   At least one such release being made in exchange for a man who deserted his military post and his comrades under fire.  At the same time other citizens are being left in the hands of barbarians, who butcher them for sport.

3)    Outright lie to the citizens of the country regarding a product they are forced to purchase?

4)    Threaten and reduce the sovereignty of the nation by destroying the borders and refusing to protect them from invasion by aliens who wish to cross it illegally?

5)    Abuse the power of the executive mandate to sabotage the economic power and the employment possibilities for the nation, particularly the oil and gas industry?  (Keystone Pipeline and ANWLR restrictions are examples.)

6)    Hasten the economic destruction of the nation by out-of-control spending, thus saddling the citizenry with crushing debt.

7)    Manipulate public sentiment with the use of propaganda to promote the idea that the nation is not exceptional, that it is simply one more mediocre country among many?   All this is accomplished with the complicity of corrupt and/or lazy media outlets, of course.

8)    Promote class and racial warfare to fragment the country, making it simpler to “divide and conquer”?

9)    Illegally employ governmental agencies to spy on citizens?

10) Illegally authorize governmental agencies, such as the IRS, to thwart those of opposing political persuasion from speaking out or standing up or being accorded their due rights?

11) Consistently deny the true nature of our enemy?

12) Pretend to fight an enemy by dribbling, ineffective bombing runs, which do not advance the war effort, but do endanger allied troops on the ground?

13) Refuse to help arm and support those allies that are fighting the enemy? (Kurds, Ukranians, and Jordanians are three examples.)

If, by chance, we could uncover such a traitor, would it not be incumbent upon us to report this person or group to the proper authorities?  More importantly, would it not be a patriotic act, which would then gain the undying appreciation of the American people?  Let us be vigilant, lest someone of this description might be found amongst us.

What they think of us

Have you ever wondered what the pols in D.C. and their baton carriers really think of us? Forget the election time rhetoric about what they are doing for our benefit or how they will go to Washington to represent the people who elected them. The old saw, “Actions speak louder than words,” I believe, comes closer to the truth.

Let us take a look at some of their actions, which I believe reveal the mindset of the politicians when they are comfortably ensconced in their commodious leather office chairs in the halls of bureaucracy.

1) They think we are an “easy touch.” They can just mandate another tax, tell us to send them the boodle by April 15 every year---and we do it.

2) They think we are incapable of the most basic human reactions—self-preservation. Note the mandated signs and labels that grace the products we use. For example: “It is unsafe to put your finger in this light socket.” or “Complications could follow if you are pregnant or may become pregnant.”

3) They think we are bigots for demanding secure borders and an immigration policy that is in touch with reality. Since we disagree with the current lack of policy, they claim we are racist.

4) They think we have a proclivity for violent action. For example, they deride those Tea Party people with all their signs and speeches because they might become a raging rabble at any time.

5) They think we are “memory challenged.” They believe we have long forgotten the campaign promises of honesty and transparency in Federal Government actions. Individual Congressmen and Senators believe we have not kept track of how they voted and what they promised.

6) They think we are stupid and cannot properly understand the written word. They think we don’t read their proposed legislation and couldn’t understand it if we did. They think they know better than we do what we need and what is best for us. For example, just look at the pile of legislation passed by this overbearing bunch of politicians in the past year and a half and what they are trying to pass even as this is being written. Most of these bills were opposed by the majority of us, but they passed them anyway. (They are now, more than ever, determined to stack on “Cap and Trade” to the monster socialist agenda they have already pushed down our throats.)

I could add several more egregious examples of what the Washingtonians believe we are, but I think you get the idea. Now, it is our job to help these folks we have sent to D.C. to understand. If we can disabuse them of some of these misconceptions they have of us, we will all have a better time of it.

Jack Newbury

Felsenthal

The Line in the Sand

As Conservatives, we have become activated in the last year. We join Conservative groups; we support causes and candidates who are like-minded; we attend tea parties and town hall meetings to make our values known. Some of us blog, tweet, email, text, and facebook. We VOTE. Some of us even run for office.

And like our Founding Fathers, we appeal to those in power for redress and authentic representation. However, as Patrick Henry stated in the excerpt below, we have tried it all, and we continue to try to reach our representatives in Washington, but they will not listen.

“Sir, we have done everything that could be done, to avert the storm which is now coming on... Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne.”

Most of us are frustrated, as our Founding Fathers must have been, to be so ignored, spurned, and insulted. Our Congressmen and women have voted in direct opposition to the majority opinion on so many issues, we wonder if they hear us at all. Most of us cannot fathom what our next steps must be to preserve our liberty and our great nation from the storm that is upon us now. We hesitate to contemplate what steps we will be willing to take if our pleas and actions continue to fail to elicit a listening, responsive ear from Washington.

Many freedom-crushing and potentially devastating circumstances confront us today. The enforcement of the so-called “Fairness Doctrine” would not result in fairness at all but rather a silencing of dissent. We already are being punished for use of language that is not “politically correct.” Gun confiscation would effectively render a populace prey to a tyrannical government. Massive voter fraud, orchestrated as in past elections by ACORN or similar groups, would effectively deny you a vote that counts. The lack of a governmental will to protect us from illegal immigration and Muslim extremist violence imperils us more each day. Confiscatory taxation will deny the American dream to many. A monetary meltdown—caused by irresponsible and reckless spending of your tax dollars, as well as those of your children and grandchildren--is the tsunami rushing upon us. Top all of this off with a budget devastating government run health care system—and make no mistake, there will be a government run system if ANY kind of bill passes. No matter what it says when passed, it will morph into that totalitarian monolith of the United States Health Care System run by unelected bureaucrats appointed for their Socialist/Communist points of view.

Any of these possibilities or any combination of them will crush what this nation has been. The only people who cannot see this are those who choose not to.

It would be shortsighted to assume that “It can’t happen here.” It is already happening in many instances, and surely there is more to come if this administration and Congress have their way.

The question then becomes this: “How far am I willing to go to secure the freedoms I still have and retrieve the freedoms that are already lost?” The answer to that question will require much soul searching for each of us. Are we willing, for instance, to break laws which are patently unjust? Thoreau did. Remember “Civil Disobedience”? Are you ready to form Committees of Correspondence? Are you ready to man the barricades? Are you ready to do battle with SS-like thugs? (Remember how the SEIU thugs beat up a “teabagger” for disagreeing with them peacefully.) I do not believe I am overstating the situation. Progressives have no boundaries or stopping points. They cannot be expected to “play by the rules.” If it works, it is right. (Reference Saul Alinsky, the Progressive’s guru.)

If the Progressives (read Liberals) take our measure in the coming months and find us wanting in resolve and fortitude, they will continue to push. They will keep pushing either incrementally or act in one fell swoop. The end results will be the same. They will sew chaos and obtain their ends. Our Republic will be gone and we will be slaves to an atheistic system that punishes initiative and hard work. We will lose America. If, however, they get their nose bloodied in the imminent confrontations, they will be forced to back down. The uncertainty currently evident among their ranks, which was created by the setback in Massachusetts, will dissipate. They will regroup and formulate another tactical plan, as evidenced by the arrogant State of the Union Address. We must, however, present a united and forceful front against all forms of Progressivism or it will crush us.

Given this assessment of the Progressive threat to our freedoms--and the rapidity with which it is already taking place--your own private commitment should be made quickly. Once again, you must decide for yourselves what price you are willing to pay. Where will you draw the line in the sand that shouts: “Go no further; we will not abide it.” When you have honestly made that self-commitment, then you will be ready to help take back our future. As Patrick Henry said in 1775 and I quote:

“Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

What have the rats been gnawing on?

Fellow Arkansans (and other Americans too; we are all in this together):

For too long now we have elected people to carry out our will in Washington (or Little Rock), and then promptly turned our minds to more pressing matters such as earning a living. Maybe we occasionally wonder how these Senators and Representatives are looking out for our state, but our busy lives preclude much more serious thought and our wondering fades from our minds. Then something will happen. Our attention will suddenly and in a quite focused manner turn to some proposed piece of legislation which will have impact on our lives, or perhaps some law maker is caught with his/her fingers in the till--or worse. We are awakened from our political slumber.

Such is the case, I believe, with this health care initiative, which isn't really about health care at all. It is about assuming power of a huge portion of our lives and a large slice (1/6 or 1/7, depending upon the source of the numbers) of the entire national budget--not the government budget--the national budget. The politicians want to control our national medical expenditures as well as what they already control.

A recent Rasmussen poll found that 67% of Arkansans do not want this legislation to go forward, but our Senators and our Representatives are moving "hell bent for an election" to hop on the bandwagon and cram this down our throats. They are selling out their constiuencies to partisan political pressure.

Even though they are Democrats, I believe that OUR REPRESENTATIVES--paid for out of our pockets, and serving at our leave--MUST be held accountable to us. We must demand a higher standard from OUR representatives than those espoused by the likes of Chuck Shumer, Barbara Boxer, or Al Franken.

My point is this: We can no longer afford--and probably never could have--to let legislators, no matter which party they claim--have a free reign. They are, after all, our employees. No boss would let his/her hirelings behave in such a way as to be detrimental to the boss. Why should we? We must pay very close attention to what our elected members of Congress and state legislatures are doing. Yes, I understand that it is just another responsibility we must commit ourselves to, while trying to keep food on the table and the mortgage paid. If we do not keep a close vigil, we will wake up some morning to discover that the rats have gnawed away our Republic.