Thanksgiving Blessings and Dangers from Within

As I celebrated Thanksgiving this week, I reflected on God's many blessings. I'm ‎thankful this year for the gift of life, my wife, children, grandchildren, friends and my Church. I'm also thankful for two of the greatest gifts I have received--Salvation and Liberty.

Unfortunately, America is now under attack as never before—not just by enemies outside our borders, but also by a dangerous enemy within. The danger at home is liberalism or progressivism, and its leaders are pulling off the theft of the century—they are stealing America from us with all of the capital (wealth) and control (power) they can get their hands on.

Obamacare is a perfect illustration of this fraud being perpetuated against the American people. I like others am of the opinion Obamacare was a conspiracy not between Obama and the American people against the insurance companies, but rather, between Obama and the insurance companies against the American people. Ultimately, Obama approached the insurance companies and made an offer they could not refuse. Then he advanced a proposition worthy a Mafioso Don. How did Obama pull this off? He guaranteed the insurance companies that a key component of Obamacare was to force millions of Americans who did not want to purchase health insurance, to buy health insurance. In other words Obama waylaid the American public. Obama said, in effect, we’ll use the power of the state to force them. And this, the insurance industry recognized, meant millions of new customers which translated into hundreds of millions of dollars in profits. So the insurance companies got what they wanted, more money, and Obama got what he wanted, effective control over the health care industry, which comprises one-sixth of the entire economy. And America got waylaid, especially the working and retired middle-class who were shafted yet again.

Thanksgiving Message in an Age of Moral Relativism

Have you observed, as I, that too many Americans and for that matter much of the world, no longer believe in the God of the Bible, we no longer have any standard for truth. Some even quarrel whether there is such a thing as truth. That’s how foolish it can get. The latest evidence of this assault on standards and reality comes in the form of turmoil about what to teach regarding Thanksgiving in America’s schools. A holiday that was designed to bring all Americans together is now itself a point of division and controversy. This is what happens when we accentuate our differences rather than our common ground. This is what happens when people who are in a constant state of anxiety, unhappiness and lack of gratitude gain influence. Observing Thanksgiving was once so easy. It was once so pleasing. It was once so … pure.

Did you know there are over two dozen references to the word “thanksgiving” in the Bible – all but six in the Old Testament? For the ancient children of Israel, thanksgiving was a time of feasting and fasting, of praising God, of singing songs. The Pilgrims took them seriously. The idea of giving thanks to God with a feast was inspired by that knowledge of the Bible. In a very real way, the Pilgrims saw themselves as a chosen people of God being led to a Promised Land. At the table, they acknowledged God’s good providence and blessed the God of Heaven who brought us over the furious ocean. For what could sustain us but the Spirit of God and His grace? Contrary to what the historical revisionists might say, those first Pilgrims did not murder their Native American friends. They invited them to dine with them.

It wasn’t until George Washington, the republic’s first president, proclaimed Nov. 26, 1789, as a day for thanking God for bringing America through its trials, that an official holiday was marked. Apparently, Washington, also, was a student of the scriptures. He believed that America would be blessed only if it acknowledged the source of all blessings. Here is what he proclaimed in 1798:

“Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly implore His protection and favor; and whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God...Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the twenty-six of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that Great and Glorious Being, who is the Beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country, previous to their becoming a nation; for the single manifold mercies, and the favorable interposition’s of His providence...

And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the Great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private institutions, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discretely and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us) and to bless them with good governments, peace and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue..."

These ideas could only become controversial in an age of moral relativism. There is no God. There is no truth. There is no right and wrong. Is that what we want to teach the next generation? As for me and my house, we will be thanking the Lord for all He has provided for us. How about you, the reader?

Do We Really Want Another Yes Man

We do have a legal process whereby immigrants may become citizens. A process, I may add was followed by my grandparents and two uncles in the1920’s. Ignoring this process is a slap in the face to all the immigrants who have complied with this process. And lamenting the fact that some immigrants struggle to achieve the American Dream is disrespectful to the millions of American citizens who are unemployed, underemployed or drowning in student loan debt while non-American citizens—the “Dreamers”—are awarded amnesty and free college tuition.

Would it not be refreshing if GOP elites would abandon their foolish phobia of being called racists, sexists or throwbacks who “cling to” guns—and nominate a winner? As Rush Limbaugh has said, Republicans inside Washington's Beltway, really do believe that it is a negative to fight back, to oppose Obama… Trump does nothing but criticize them, and he does it in politically incorrect ways, and he is soaring, and still the establishment does not learn (or words to that effect). It is apparent Trump and Carson’s politically incorrect policies endear them to everyday Americans while causing GOP elites to the obvious.

If you ask the American people, they’ll say Donald Trump and Ben Carson are the most electable. Some even prefer Carly Fiorina over the rest of the field. Though Cruz is considered an insider, he is loathed by many in his own party for refusing to dance to the GOP establishment music. This in itself puts him near the head of the GOP presidential hopefuls line. Those within the GOP elite establishment will play a different tune. They will claim that a Washington insider has the orchestra behind him and he has “staying power.” Even a DC insider should realize “staying power” is different from electability. Independent and Republican voters want a leader whose presence brings the house down. They want someone who dances to a new tune. They desire a new vocalist with the tenacity to croon out and shout “no,” not another yes-man who sings off-key and is guaranteed to lose.

Sheer Delusion or Malignant Narcissitic Personality

Obama states that ISIS was not gaining in strength, though many in his own party said to express such words are essentially delusional. Of course it’s gaining in strength. But the reason that ‘delusion’ is the gentlest interpretation, I think the more likely explanation is, he knows that opposition is weakening, he knows that ISIS is robust and that it’s a menace, but in the end, he doesn’t think it matters. He’s never thought the war on terror was important or existential. I contend there is a difference between millions of people suffering and an existential threat to the West, which is what it is, and which is what he denies. Obama’s actions and attitude with regard to radical Islam as surreal.

I was reading a piece written by a psychologist, reference the Paris terror attacks. The author states “Some good people have a hard time grasping that these people could go into a crowded theater and start shooting innocent men, women and children…That’s just malevolent in our time.” This president’s not recognizing or worse yet, won’t recognize the danger for what it is. Is this not pathological that he will not recognize radical Islam? Obama’s lack of action or inaction in response to the Paris Islamic terrorist attack makes it apparent that failure to recognize the truth for what it is, is absolutely pathological. And it’s not just pathological; it’s imprudent and it’s perilous, one might even say stupid.

For numerous years, many rational Americans have been trying to explain Obama and his thought process. Some people have made inferences, including the possibility that he’s a genuine sociopath that is without conscience. I read where one columnist, George Will described Barack Obama’s intellectual sociopathy –“his often breezy and sometimes loutish indifference to truth.” Now, does the term sociopathy actually fit Obama’s profile? Are not sociopaths often well-liked because of their charm and high charisma, but they do not usually care about other people. Do they not think mainly of themselves and often blame others for the things that they do? Do they not often display a complete disregard for rules and tell untruths constantly? Though my memory may have faltered somewhat since graduate school at Boston University, my understanding is that sociopaths seldom feel guilt or learn from castigation. Seems like a pretty good fit, but let’s resume this discourse.

I have read where a forensic psychiatrist has described Obama in terms of “malignant narcissistic personality disorder.” The modifier “malignant” signifies the version of narcissistic personality disorder that may cross over into criminality. Malignant narcissism is characterized by a capitulated will. All adults who are mentally healthy submit themselves one way or another to something higher than themselves, be it God or truth or love or some other ideal. They do what God wants them to do rather than what they would desire. “Thy will, not mine, be done,” the God-submitted person says. They believe in what is true rather than what they would like to be true.

In summary, to a greater or lesser degree, all mentally healthy individuals submit themselves to the demands of their own conscience. Not so the evil, however. In the conflict between their conscience (guilt) and their will, it is the guilt that must go and the will that must win. Are you not struck by the extraordinary willfulness of evil people? They are men and women of obviously strong will, determined to have their own way. There is a remarkable power in the manner in which they attempt to control others.

Elusive "Religion of Peace"

Are you, like me still rifling around for substantiation of this vague, elusive, and likely mythical or make-believe “religion of peace” Obama and his liberal minions keep talking about, but just like the imaginary leprechaun, the unicorn or the Wizard of Oz, it’s nowhere to be found.

The UC Merced, Garland Texas, Chattanooga and Little Rock Recruiting/Reserve Center, Fort Hood, and more recently downing of a Russian passenger airliner and Paris bloodbath, Islamic perpetrated terrorism incidents proves two points, liberals would rather bury their head in the in the sand or up their posterior than admit; One, weaponries, if used can save lives, and two, radical Islam is a serious threat to our nation and for that matter the world.

 Since the unbalanced noninterventionist liberal left are so into all of this dialogue and discourse drivel, how about we have a discussion on those two topics? If recent world events are an indication, discussion and conciliation with adherents of the "religion of peace" are now more than ever non-negotiable. Indeed, to pursue the just mentioned is silly and irrelevant foolishness.

Medieval Theocratic Ideology is at War with Civilization

The global jihadist or Islamic extremist movement is intent on eliminating every non-radical Muslim civilization’s way of life, pronounced and straightforward, and as free people it is up to those nation’s citizens who are under attack to use every resource at their disposal to eliminate them first. This being the case, we must, as a civilized people also recommit ourselves to doing everything in our power to defeat the medieval theocratic ideology that led not only to the most recent Russian passenger airline and Paris carnage, but is directly responsible for other widespread and indiscriminate slaughter around the globe.

Veterans Day 2015, Numbers Paint a Poignant Portrait

Do you have any idea how many men and women have served America in our Armed Forces? I had no idea until I did some elementary research and number crunching.  Did you know there are 19.3 million U.S. veterans living today? Roughly half are 65 and older. Nearly 2 million are under the age of 35.

Still interested? Here is some more numbers to chew on. Those older than 70 served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam and the 2 million under 35 served mostly in Iraq and Afghanistan after 911. According to statistics World War II vets are dying at a rate of approximately 492 a day. This means there are approximately only 855,070 veterans remaining of the 16 million who served our nation in World War II. “The greatest generation” is dying off.

Of the 5.7 million who served during the Korean War, 2 million veterans are still with us. And, then there is the Vietnam War. Of the 8.7 million veterans who served in that disturbing conflict, 7 million are still breathing. To round out the numbers, 5.5 million veterans served during the Gulf War era, which spans 1990 to the present. Roughly 4.4 million veterans served during peacetime.

Sometimes we forget that other veterans had it extremely rough. How so? Nearly 63,000 living veterans served during the Vietnam War and both periods of the Gulf War. They served from August 1990 through August 2001 and then from September 2001 and beyond.

Some of our living veterans served through three wartime periods! Nearly 37,000 served during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

The makeup of the armed services is changing as our demographics change. Though nearly 80 percent are 'non-Hispanic white,' nearly 12 percent are black, 6 percent are Hispanic, 1.5 percent are Asian and nearly 2.5 percent are Native Americans, Alaskans and Hawaiians. What about women who serve? Those numbers are growing, too. There are currently 1.6 million female veterans in our country.

We are lucky to still have these men and women with us and the purpose of Veterans Day is to honor all of those who have served. But what about the people who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country? It is estimated nearly 1 million Americans have died for their country? Approximately 4500 soldiers died during the American Revolution. Then there is the Civil War, this nation’s bloodiest. Nearly 370,000 Union soldiers and 135,000 Confederate soldiers died during that war. We lost nearly 120,000 veterans in World War I and nearly 405,000 in World War II. The Korean War claimed 34,000 and the Vietnam War 48,000.

Are these not sobering numbers? Is there not a silver lining as far as war goes? There is somewhat of a silver lining. Our war-fighting techniques and medical technologies are resulting in fewer battlefield deaths. Of the 1.5 million who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq, we have suffered approximately 6,500 losses. However, nearly 50,000 were wounded and unfortunately, many of the casualties are still suffering from their disabilities.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then numbers paint a poignant portrait of memories past and history worth recalling. The numbers mentioned are a reminder of what Veteran’s Day is all about. It is a special day when we honor all of those who have served.