We hear the age-old cliché that “Freedom Isn’t Free” and readily acknowledge the truth, but have we truly calculated the Cost of Freedom? This date, July 4th, is recognized as Independence Day in America and should inspire pride, hope, courage, and determination in the hearts of ALL American Citizens.
Notice I did not say Legal American Citizens, for there are no other kinds of American Citizens but Legal. Yes, there are people living here who are illegal occupants, and that, according to our laws, is a Crime, but that is another topic for another time.
America’s Independence was a costly endeavor then, and preserving it is now! In 1776, the colonists put their lives, families, and fortunes on the line by joining the rebellion and becoming Freedom Fighters in America. They risked their possessions and lives to pursue an ideal that all should be Free to enjoy “Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness.”
They bravely joined themselves to the ideal and belief that there should be Freedom to practice one’s religion without government interference. They believed there was a right to keep and bear arms and that private property was never to be confiscated without due cause and via the courts. Many lost everything to secure those rights and liberties and did so with the thought that successive generations would valiantly and continuously preserve those for the next generation.
John Adams said: “Posterity, you will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in heaven that ever I took half the pains to preserve it.”
With the current state of affairs in this great nation, I fear Mr. Adams must be repenting if he is aware of what is transpiring. When I think of the host of lives lost and forever altered in the fight for Freedom and to protect our Freedom, I weep. I am a Vietnam veteran and know the horrors of war and salute the incalculable price paid for Freedom by so many in our history and in the present. July 4th is more than a holiday to me. It is a Memorial, a Reminder, and an Objective!
The colonists had to repel the British in more than just the American Revolution. Whenever a threat presented itself in America, Americans rose to the occasion. The cost of living has become astronomical. Admittedly, Congress and Presidents have not always acted wisely, prudently, or effectively, and have cost Americans much in the process. Still, Americans have felt the call of patriotism and risen to the cause. We saw a glimpse of that spirit after 9/11, but that has abated, and we have largely reverted to the post-Vietnam mindset.
When the world was threatenedin WWI, Americans rose to the occasion. Then, in WWII, the sacrifices of the generation identified as the “Greatest Generation” should grip the hearts of even the most callous individual. Americans on the battlefield and the home front embraced the sacrifices required and did what had to be done. They believed freedom was worth the sacrifice and that anything short of complete victory was defeat.
What happened after WWII is speculative, but that mindset had changed by the time the Korean War emerged. For the first time in our history, we demonstrated a lack of resolve to finish the job and win a complete victory. That shift has produced devastating results.
My generation of Vietnam veterans experienced an even harsher attitude. We were branded as “baby killers, rapists, murders and terrorists” and placed on watch lists as dangers or menaces to society. We were and possibly still are feared and viewed as subhuman.
Today, I pray that everyone will pause a moment from their barbeques, fireworks, boating, and beer and consider the price paid to afford you the luxury and privilege to do what you are doing. I pray that everyone pause and consider what is at stake today in America, how our freedoms are being assaulted, and determine the cost we are willing to pay to preserve our Freedom. The Freedom you now enjoy was not without cost, and if we fail to remember our heroes and those who sacrificed, we will soon become an afterthought in World History.
I conclude with this question and thought: “What Does Independence Mean?” I do not say that rhetorically. When I look back to the history surrounding 1776 and attempt to envision the mindset of those living in the colonies, I sense an urgency that is largely absent today. I sense an awareness of what Independence means that does not seem to exist. Our Liberties have spoiled us and are in danger of losing them due to ignorance and failure to fathom life without liberty.
When I fast forward to the more modern era, I consider the American resolve in WWI and WWII and proudly salute those patriots and citizens. When I move a bit forward to Korea and Vietnam, I see a visible diminishing of the resolve to win or die. The American attitude during the World Wars was, “Win! Finish the Job!” It was about preserving Freedom and Liberty.
America can remain free with God’s help, the needed resolve, and the willingness to lay aside petty differences and preferences. If we are to remain free, everyone must be free! I stand for Faith, Family, and Freedom and ask you to join me in Prayer for America and the world and to become involved at whatever level and to whatever extent you believe God would have you invest yourself.
Tomorrow, we celebrate a proud day in American History. On July 4, 1776, the American colonists, led by an illustrious group of patriots, declared independence from the Kingdom or Nation of Great Britain! Sadly, the day has become more associated with baseball games, barbecues, fireworks, parades, and even family reunions than with the event we are celebrating.
That is why, as my title suggests, I do not celebrate the Fourth of July as a holiday; I celebrate INDEPENDENCE DAY! I make the distinction, and if you consider it hair-splitting, I’m okay with that because it is personal and important to make the distinction.
History records that on July 2, 1776, the actual legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain transpired with the passage of a resolution proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia to declare the United States independent from Great Britain. The resolution was debated and revised by the “Committee of Five,” with Thomas Jefferson being the principal author of the revision and approved on July 4, 1776.
John Adams wrote his wife, Abigail, saying:
“The second day of July 1776 will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”
He was only off by two days, and from the very beginning, most Americans celebrated Independence Day on July 4th, the date on the Declaration of Independence.
An interesting side note is that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only two of the signers of the infamous documents, who went on to serve as President, and both died on the same day: July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration. Interestingly, James Monroe, although not a signer but one of the Founding Fathers, died on July 4, 1831, becoming the third in a row to die on July 4th. Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President, was born on July 4, 1872. Although those tidbits mean nothing in the entire scheme of things, they are interesting side notes.
When I think of how much was sacrificed to make America free, I cannot stop the tears that well up in my eyes, the lump that gathers in my throat, and the sense of appreciation and pride that wells up in my heart as I reflect on this special day. As an American by birth, a combat veteran, and a Christian, I take special pride in what this day means. I have a difficult time with those who diminish its importance and significance and refuse to allow it to become just a holiday and day off work to me.
Independence Day is a foundational part of our American history; without it, we would have no history of freedom and liberty. Like Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day, I enjoy the festivities but strive to keep the integrity of the day elevated to its lofty position in my mind and heart. I do not want to forget what it means, not even for a nanosecond.
Tomorrow, as we celebrate this special day, let’s all remember to thank God for our Freedom, which is in dire jeopardy from within. Let’s remember to pay tribute to the visionaries in the colonies who saw not only the nation but had the courage to organize and implement the plan to bring us this Freedom. Let’s remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to see it come to life and honor their memories with more than barbecues, parades, fireworks, and other festivities. Let’s take a moment to verbalize our appreciation and realize that what they gave us is so fragile that we could easily lose it.
The Founding Fathers realized the fragility of Freedom and Liberty and repeatedly warned us about preserving it. We have slumbered far too long, allowing those who would take it from us to entrench themselves in positions of power and allowing laws and regulations to strip away many of our constitutionally guaranteed freedoms.
As we remember what the day means, we must recommit ourselves to the cause of Constitutional Liberty and dedicate ourselves to removing from office anyone and everyone who would act in such a manner as to jeopardize those Freedoms and Liberties!
That list should include every Progressive, Left-wing Liberal, Socialist, Marxist, and RINO. The American Independence and Freedom that were purchased by the blood of patriots is hanging in the balance and threatened by those who have zero appreciation for what we have been given and what it cost.
I urge you to study, examine, evaluate, listen, talk, work, pray, and by all means, Vote in November to take America back from those who would destroy her!
God bless you, and God bless America! May Freedom Ring for all future generations!
Several years ago, when the Supreme Court decided not to hear the case brought by Elane Photography, I was concerned. This was a New Mexico business run by a husband-and-wife team who argued that their First Amendment rights allowed them to refuse service to a woman who sought to hire the company to photograph her commitment ceremony with her partner. The couple argued that to do so would violate their ‘religious convictions.’ It was a First Amendment Case!
In 2008, New Mexico declared that the company was ‘guilty of discrimination’ and had to pay the claimant’s attorney fees. We had already seen the Colorado case, where a cake maker refused a gay couple’s business. I was concerned that the Supreme Court declined to hear the case. There are many possible reasons, but in my view, it was clearly a constitutional case. I believe they should have heard it!
Why am I rehashing old stuff? Because the case focused exclusively on the company’s ‘freedom of speech.’ The lawyers for the Alliance Defending Freedom said that this case would force the photographer to ‘create expression’ in violation of her beliefs and thus would be ‘compelled speech,’ not ‘free speech.’ In writing the decision, the New Mexico Court, the judge stated that the photographer could not refuse service and that it was okay to violate her 1st Amendment Right of Freedom of Speech because it was “The Price of Citizenship.”
That statement disturbs me to my core! I have talked to a number of people who have chosen the lifestyle of the couple wanting their ceremony photographed. All but one of them said exactly the same thing, “If a business doesn’t want my business, I don’t want to do business with them.” One argued that it was incumbent upon all homosexuals to be vocal, file lawsuits, and demand their rights. My question is, “When does one person’s rights trump another? Where is the line of separation protecting the rights of both parties?”
That is the Point of Discussion – “Did our Founding Fathers truly envision a country where the ‘Price of Citizenship ’ included the violation of one’s conscience and trumped over ‘freedom of speech’?” Under the freedom of speech clause, the courts have ruled that someone can ‘burn the flag.’ Yet, somehow, they cannot refuse service based on religious convictions. What constitutional basis allows the courts to decide that a person’s religious convictions are unimportant and not covered by the Bill of Rights and Constitution of these United States?
In today’s America, we have morphed into a place where we are being forced to accept every culture with no expectation of assimilation into our society. Schools, communities, and courts have decided that the flag of another nation can be flown on particular holidays but not the American flag because it might be offensive and be considered ‘hate speech.’
My questions are, “Are we still The United States of America? Do we not still have a Constitution? Is there no longer a Bill of Rights defining our liberties?” How is it that it is okay to demand that we be tolerant of all religions other than Christianity? At the same time, our government takes actions that force people to violate their religious convictions. Is that what the Founders envisioned? I think not!
The Price of Citizenship seems to mean that if you are a Christian and have religious convictions, you must abandon them. If you are like Daniel, who refused to compromise your convictions, you are labeled a hater! You become one whom the government has decided must be put in your place and taught a lesson.
Some argue ‘Separation of Church and State’ while ignoring that this is the other side of that coin. Here, the State dictated what the church could and could not believe. The Constitution and Bill of Rights sought to prevent a National Church, not keep any religion out of government or the influence of the Bible out of political decisions. This war extends to those who hold any view other than the accepted liberal ideology of the Statist!
The Price of Citizenship seems to be rapidly expanding to mean that we must comply with the ideology of the various vocal activist groups. Under this premise, we seem to have no rights if our rights conflict with theirs. The Rights of those on the Left seem to trump the rights of conservatives, constitutionalists, and those holding to traditional moral and religious values.
The idea of the Price of Citizenship has become a weapon of the Left. Those on the Left have no such price, only those holding traditional Christian Religious views or Conservative Constitutional Values. The values and beliefs of those following Islam, in the eyes of the courts, trump the rights of Christians and Conservatives. Therefore, the Price of Citizenship seems to mean that if one is a Christian holding deep religious convictions, those convictions are not allowed. The Constitution in its original form affords us Freedom of Speech and Religion, but not the Leftist government or courts.
I am concerned about the phrasing –‘The Price of Citizenship.’ I am deeply concerned about where it will lead and what it will encompass in the coming days. America, if we love the Constitution and value our freedom, we must insist that our constitutional liberties are preserved. Whether this was a good or bad business decision is irrelevant. It was a stance based on ‘faith,’ ‘religious convictions, and ‘constitutional liberties.’
I remember a few years ago, there was the saying, “Chivalry is dead.” Today, we’ve been told that we’ve seen the end of conservatism and are not in the enlightenment of progressivism. I echo the words of one of our founders, a profoundly religious man, Benjamin Rush: “Patriotism is as much a virtue as justice and is as necessary for the support of societies as natural affection is for the support of families.”
I ask you to consider his words, and as you do, I believe you will realize that in the minds of our founding fathers, the commitment required in a patriot was considered so vital that they could not envision a successful, free America without it. Today, we are castigated for standing for liberty and freedom. Today, preachers are told to remain silent in the pulpits. Churches are barred from participating in the political process. Yet, groups like the New Black Panthers, Media Matters, Society for the American Way, N.O.W, Acorn, BLM, Antifa, and multitudes of other left-wing organizations, including those of a religious nature, are not only given a pass but encouraged to organize, promote, and wage war to push the Progressive, Socialist, Left-Wing Agenda.
The Founders stood in open resistance and rebellion when they faced a comparable situation in the days of this nation’s founding. We dare not become silenced in fear of reprisal from a tyrannical government. We dare not allow those who desire the destruction of the core values of the Bible and the American people to be eroded to the point of extinction. We dare not become intimidated by those who push their anti-American, anti-capitalist, anti-freedom agendas and follow meekly like sheep to the slaughter.
It is time for us to stand up for Freedom and say No to their agenda! It is time that we stand and do whatever is necessary to reclaim this great nation, restore her honor, and send a loud and clear message to Washington that we, the people, have had enough!
If you share this view, please become engaged and participate in the reclaiming effort to send every politician home who does not support the Constitution as it is written. Oust all of those who do not honor the core values and principles that this country was founded upon. Demand that they respect the will of ‘We the People.’ November is coming, and it is up to you and me to get the vote out and get the message across! Let me use the cliché – Remember November!
Germane to this discussion is the question, “What Role Did Religion Play in the Founding of Our Republic?” I cannot enumerate the number of times I’ve been told to keep my faith and politics separate. I am told that they go together like oil and water. Yet, the more I study the American Revolution and the role of the ministers, churches, and Christians, I find that argument invalid. If you have studied Colonial History, you have no doubt seen just how active the preachers and churches were in the process.
I don’t believe that anyone can factually argue that the colonists, patriots, politicians, or ministers of that era believed that religion had no place in the political arena. Preachers far and wide preached from their pulpits the righteousness of the cause of the revolution. Today, they’d be told (unless they are on the left) that they would lose their status by doing so.
There was no Internal Revenue Service then. There should not be one now, but that is another topic for another debate. The ministers of the revolutionary era assured the people that resistance to tyranny was a righteous cause and effectively built a fire of patriotism in the hearts and minds of most colonials. Ministers served as military chaplains, penmen for committees of correspondence, and members of state legislatures, the constitutional convention, and the National Congress. Some even took up arms and led troops into battle.
Jonathan Mayhew,pastor of the West Church in Boston, wrote and preached about the Crown’s diabolical nature and God’s desire for all men to be free.
Peter Muhlenberg, called “The Fighting Parson,” threw off his clerical robes after a fiery sermon concerning the revolution, donned a military uniform, and led troops into battle.
James Caldwell, a Presbyterian minister in Elizabeth, New Jersey, was one of many chaplains in the army.
John Witherspoonwas possibly the most important “political parson” of that era. He represented New Jersey in the Continental Congress from 1776-1782 and signed the Declaration of Independence while preaching in support of the cause.
Even Quakers who called themselves “Free Quakers” took up arms.
Anyone who assumes that the founding fathers and the religious leaders of that day wanted to keep religion out of the political arena is ignoring the facts. It is beyond my comprehension why preachers today shy away from speaking out in support of truth, standing for biblical principles, and standing against those things that directly conflict with the Bible.
There is only one way to silence me, and unless God tells me to stop speaking out, I will continue to proclaim the message of Christ, the Love of God, and the cause of Liberty and Freedom. I am not a cat, and I do not have a bunch of lives. I have a LIFE, and it is the sum total of everything that touches me, and politics touches me too.
So, I plead for everyone to stand up for the right and biblical principles in this day and join in the fight to restore America and keep those who would destroy her from succeeding. If we do not unite and stand firm, America, as the founders intended and as we have enjoyed and desired, will be no more! Never be ashamed of your patriotism; stand for Faith, Family, and Freedom!
Conservatism, Constitutionalism post-World War II, and today: Is there a difference? Unless you have lived in a world devoid of contact with people and containing no internet, printed news, books, television, or politicians, you would say ABSOLUTELY!
However, in my conversations with people, some of whom claim to be Constitutional Conservatives, I am convinced that an extensive world of delusion exists. The demonstrated hatred for and even from those who are genuinely trying to advance constitutional and conservative values and agendas is more than disturbing; it is incomprehensible.
The post-World War II era is dramatically different today from what it was in the first few decades after that war. Both major political parties are substantially different. In the aftermath of WWII, many Democrats espoused the Constitution and even held conservative values and principles. On a national level, that is nonexistent today. No, I am not saying every person in America who views themselves as Democrat fully embraces the Leftist, Liberal, Socialist, Progressive, Globalist, and Anti-Constitutional American views and values, but many do.
I am saddened when I talk to people whom I love and respect who find it impossible to separate themselves from their party even when their party abandons their core values. They vote Democrat simply because they have always been Democrats. Yes, there are Republicans in that same boat, but there is a significant difference in the core planks of the two parties, in my view.
The post-World War II American Conservative movement was staunchly anti-communist, pro-life, pro-America, and pro-national Sovereignty. It was rigidly against Big Government, pro-limited spending, and anti-taxation to the excess and extreme of today’s government. That era was surprisingly tolerant of opposing views, as open debate was not only allowed but encouraged.
No, they did not bend on their core values and principles, but they listened to the other side to see if there was a workable compromise or common ground upon which to build. Today, that has taken a 180-degree turn, and those on the Liberal Side of the Aisle are viciously intolerant of any view that is not in harmony with their own.
The conservatives of the post-World War II era were not afforded the media coverage we have today, albeit largely negative. There was no Fox News or the various outlets afforded to conservatives today to articulate our views and argue our core values. They were not concerned about positioning themselves to be acceptable to the media; they believed what they believed, worked to see it become reality, and worked, often behind the scenes, to achieve the Constitutional Conservative Agenda.
Today, far too many are more concerned about ratings and being liked than advancing genuine constitutional and conservative principles and agendas. Identity politics and ideological agendas that result in propaganda are the norm rather than reporting the news and seeking what is best for All Americans. Our modern America is divided more than any previous generation.
I am disturbed that many so-called conservative voices in today’s world engage in theatrics for personal gain and media acceptance rather than advancing constitutional and conservative values. After all, in the world of media, theatrics pays. I don’t mind some theatrics because that can be a tool to garner the public’s attention and interest. But when it becomes nothing more than theater, I lose interest. I want issues, not rhetoric and solutions, rather than innuendos.
America was once a nation founded upon the ideals expressed and espoused by the founding fathers as they issued the Declaration of Independence. Those views, deemed to be ‘self-evident,’ included the belief that “All people are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
The many quotations from the Bible and the unmistakable evidence that the Ten Commandments provided guidelines in establishing our judicial system reveal the mindset of the founders and the colonists in the late 1700s. Sadly, those values have been eroded, and today’s America is often devoid of those moorings. We are adrift in our own agendas, greed, selfishness, and personal biases. We are watching our Republic drift far from our intended direction.
Can we see our Republic restored? Can the Constitution return to its rightful lofty prominence and authority in America? Can we move beyond personal preference and return to the conviction that Freedom of Speech must be prized and protected? Can we return to allowing people the freedom to pursue their dreams and reap the blessings of entrepreneurial investment with dedication and diligence? Can we become the United States of America again?
I believe we can, but only if we return to our founding principles, restore our moral moorings, and return to viewing the two-parent family as a condition that betters society.
I believe we can if those of us who are believers make 2 Chronicles 7:14, the Golden Rule, and God our pursuit.
I believe we can if we allow differing opinions to be expressed, discussed, and debated without vitriolic hatred prevailing.
I believe we can if we will set our hearts to do what is right and return to giving oversight to the government.
I ask that you become involved in the process, give input to your elected officials, pray if you believe in God, study what is truly happening, evaluate the facts, refuse to allow hyperbole and hysteria to drive your decisions, and Vote in every election with an informed mind.
America is a prize worth fighting for. I stand for Faith, Family, and Freedom! God bless you, and God bless America!
I, and many, believe that the least effective of the two measures was Article 1 Section 9 and the Bill of Rights. I say that because both were specific listings of actions that the state was prohibited from engaging in. Some have said that the first ten amendments should be called the “Bill of Wrongs” rather than the “Bill of Rights” because they listed what it is wrong for the government to do. You can only list so much in a document such as that.
Many believe that the more effective measure was the structuring of government to meet the goals of preservation of liberty in what we call “separation of powers.”
In public schools, this is taught almost strictly on the horizontal plane between the branches of government, and the vertical between the state and the federal government is omitted. The founding fathers wanted to ensure that individual liberty was protected at all levels, and when any part of the equation is out of balance, liberty is in jeopardy. We have seen an almost total erosion of the separation of powers, and America is in dire straits.
The “power-hungry” politicians have dangled the carrot of “free money” in front of the states for so long that the states have relinquished their rights on so many fronts that we dare not attempt to enumerate them all. State legislatures are in the habit of making decisions not based on what is best for the state or the citizens but on how much matching federal money is available for their actions.
Since the mid-1960s, we have seen an escalated move in this direction, with states willingly giving up their right of self-determination for easy money from the federal government. Money that never comes without strings attached and usually strangleholds the states and the citizens.
We are at a crossroads, and most Americans do not trust their government, and rightly so. One poll suggested that as many as 86% of the population believe the federal government is broken. Hopefully, we are beginning to wake up and realize what the founders warned us about is true: a strong, large, centralized federal government is a danger to individual liberty, not a benefit. Most things that the government runs are run poorly and inefficiently, costing many times more than if run by a competent private entity.
It is time for a rebirth of federalism in America. Our leaders in Washington need to be put on notice and demonstrate a willingness to protect and defend the Constitution and all the rights and privileges it affords individual citizens.
Sadly, the power-hungry professional political elitist class, which most who go to Washington become, no matter what their rhetoric seems to say, does not want to follow that path. They all want power and none more than those in power. The agenda of the globalists, leftists, Marxists, and WOKE adherents seems to be more than just gaining temporary power but the enthronement of a permanent ruling class! America’s best is not his interest and I believe that could be said for a majority of the present politicians serving in Congress.
What do we do?
We have to get their attention.
We have to get Obama out of office to prevent his further destruction of America.
We have to unify, organize, and become so committed to restoring the Constitutional Republic that we will pay whatever the cost to achieve that end.
Many Christians realize that prayer is the most essential element in this equation. That being said, we must not stop there. We must work at every level to get attention, provide solutions, and even provide candidates who will resist the temptation to become part of the lucrative professional political class. Where and who are those people? I do not know because it costs so much to be elected that most have been corrupted to a degree before the people confirm them.
Yet, I cannot give up hope and cannot give up my confidence in God and the American people! Giving up would be to become nothing more than a lamb being led to the slaughter with no resistance. If I am led to the slaughter, it will be with much resistance through all legal, moral, and ethical means available.
That is in contrast to those who would destroy this country. They will use any means available! So, I plead with you to make this a matter of prayer and thought and become involved at any level and to whatever degree you can.
I have addressed this before, but I feel strongly that I need to reiterate my arguments and those of the legislation’s authors.
With the continued push by the Leftists and some RINOs to legalize and make citizens of the presumed 11 to 30 million Illegals now in the USA, I feel the need to address this again. I keep hearing from people on the Left and the Right that if a person is born on U.S. soil, they are automatically a citizen. That is Wrong! Before you insist I am wrong and throw something at your computer screen, let me delve into this again for the umpteenth time.
The Democrats railed against former President Trump when he declared that he would issue an Executive Order ending “birthright citizenship.” They called him everything but a human being and made him worse than Lucifer and a reincarnation of Genghis Khan. President Biden has taken the opposite path and continues attempting to bypass Congress and the Constitution. The plan and desire of the leftist globalists liberal ideologues is to provide amnesty to the illegals. The proponents deem it justified and praiseworthy. I consider it both unconstitutional and dangerous.
Many on both the Left and the Right fail to comprehend this amendment’s actual wording and intent. Like many things, it has morphed into something other than the Original Intent. I offer my two cents, hoping to bring some clarity to the argument. If I achieve that after numerous attempts, it will be nothing short of a miracle, but I feel compelled to place myself on the chopping block again for the sake of the Republic and the Constitution.
Illegal Immigration and Amnesty are not secondary issues in today’s political climate. The very anti-Trump Bret Baier of Fox News during the 2016 presidential election made it clear that he and many do not understand the intent of the authors of the Amendment nor the Founders of the Republic regarding citizenship.
This issue is, in many respects, an economic issue. It is assuredly a national security issue. It is unquestionably a national sovereignty issue. It is also a moral and social issue.
At one time, I thought that if a person were born in the United States, they would automatically be granted citizenship by the United States Constitution. As a student of history in college and over the past 50-plus years, I have discovered the writings of the authors of the 14th Amendment and their view of what that amendment was designed to do.
The 14th Amendment, as per Senator Jacob M. Howard of Michigan, in 1866, wrote, “…every person born within the limits of the United States, and subject to their jurisdiction, is by virtue of natural law and national law a citizen of the United States. This will not, of course, include persons born in the United States who are foreigners, aliens, who belong to families of ambassadors or foreign ministers accredited to the government of the United States, but will include every other class of persons.”
Please note that “subject to the jurisdiction” does not simply mean being in the country physically but means “not owing allegiance” to any other foreign nation. It is not just the physical jurisdiction but the complete jurisdiction of the United States of America. Illegals cannot make that claim because they are ILLEGAL!
In 1866, Senator Edward Cowan wrote, “A foreigner in the United States has a right to the protection of the laws, but is not a citizen in the ordinary acceptance of the word…” The words “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” were intended to exclude American-born persons whose allegiance to the United States was not complete from automatic citizenship.
The Native Americans were not initially included, although born here, because it was not perceived that their allegiance was not complete to the United States but to their own tribal councils. Regarding illegal aliens here in the United States unlawfully, their native country has a claim of allegiance, of the child as well as the parents.
Therefore, the completeness of their allegiance to the United States is impaired and precludes automatic citizenship. The proper interpretation of the 14th Amendment is that an illegal alien mother is subject to the jurisdiction of her native country, as is her baby.
In the “Slaughter-House Cases,” the Supreme Court confirmed this restricted interpretation of citizenship. In 1884 Elk v. Wilkins, the phrase “subject to its jurisdiction” was interpreted to include “children of ministers, consuls, and citizens of foreign states born with the United States.”
In Elk, the American Indian claimant was considered NOT an American citizen because the law required him to be “not merely subject in some respect or degree to the jurisdiction of the United States, but completely subject to their political jurisdiction and owing them direct and immediate allegiance.”
The Courts essentially declared that the parents’ status determines the child’s citizenship. To qualify children for “birthright citizenship,” based on the 14th Amendment, parents MUST owe “direct and immediate allegiance” to the United States and be “completely subject” to its jurisdiction. Simply, they must be citizens of the United States of America.
The argument that simply being born here automatically affords “birthright citizenship” in the United States is to ignore the wording and intent of the Amendment. One cannot merely self-immigrate Illegally and then claim jurisdiction because they are here. They are citizens of another country and subject to the jurisdiction of that country. They become subject to our laws, but that does not give them citizenship.
The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, was primarily directed at extending citizenship to the freed slaves. The Amendment’s wording was derived from the 1866 Civil Rights Act, which provided that “all persons born in the United States, and not subject to any foreign power” should be considered citizens.
The Amendment was intended to give citizenship only to those who owed their allegiance to the United States and were subject to its complete jurisdiction. Senator Lyman Trumbull, R-IL, a key figure in its adoption, stated, “subject to the jurisdiction” meant not owing allegiance to any other country.
American Indians did not become citizens Until Congress passed the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924. There would have been no need to pass such legislation if the 14th Amendment extended citizenship to all people born in America, no matter the circumstances of their birth and no matter their parents’ legal status.
I pray that everyone, including the Supreme Court Justices, always considers that fact and realizes, based on the wording and declarations of the framers, the original intent. Birthright Citizenship is not part of our Constitution; politicians have made it so, not the document itself.
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 defined citizens of the United States as “all persons born in the United States and not subject to any foreign power, excluding American Indians not taxed.” The question of American Indians Senator Howard argued, “…have always been in our legislation and jurisprudence, as quasi-foreign nations.”
Senator Lyman Trumbull (D-IL) agreed with Senator Howard, stating, “…it would be a violation of our treaty obligations… to extend our laws over these Indian tribes with whom we have treaties saying we would not do so.” Trumbull insisted that the Indian tribes were not subject to our jurisdiction in the sense of owing allegiance solely to the United States. He stated, “…it is ONLY those persons who come completely within our jurisdiction, who are subject to our laws, that we think of making citizens.”
The decisive factor is that Section 5 of the 14th Amendment reads: “Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.” That includes Section 1, deemed the “citizenship clause. ”
Would Congress pass legislation granting “birthright citizenship” to the children of illegal aliens? Do wild bears live in the woods? If they follow the arguments of the authors of the clauses and amendment, they would not, but if they follow present-day political correctness, they would.
What do you think would happen if the Democrats and RINOs control the White House and Congress? You get the Gold Star it would be Amnesty and Anchor Baby Citizenship automatically.
In 2016, I was traveling to East Texas for a Nursing Home Program with my brother and heard a Republican candidate for a political office in my state speaking. As they all do, he was proclaiming his great conservatism and the subject of immigration came up. He made the following statements saying he supported:
Removing the Citizenship Birthright of Children of Illegals.
Making the ‘guest workers’ have a biometric ID card.
Ending the bi-lingual ballots for voting
The host lauded him for his conservatism on those points. Then he said, about Immigration Reform, he supported the Republican Immigration Reform Plan, which, as he stated, was: “Giving those of the 12 million or so ILLEGALS Green Cards, making them Guest Workers but without a pathway to citizenship.”
He reasoned that we could not deport twelve million illegals, and because we could not then, it made no sense to have ICE or the Border Patrol looking for them. He said that not taking this step would be a de facto amnesty. He argued that focusing on the illegals would detract from securing the border and, rather than securing the border, reducing the number of immigrants who can come and enforcing the current laws on immigration that because we could not catch them all, the law should not be enforced.
To his credit, the host challenged that, and I was yelling at my radio, shouting – REALLY? My question was, if we have bank robbers and cannot catch them all, do we cease enforcing the law? If we cannot catch all those driving under the influence, does that mean we should not enforce the law? What law do we have where we require that 100% are apprehended to make the law valid?
He further argued that most of the twelve million Illegals do not want to be citizens; they just want to work, and that by making them legal, we would suddenly have an enormous influx of tax revenue pouring into the coffers. Really? If they know that the law will not be enforced and do not want to vote or be citizens, what would motivate them to identify themselves and make them liable for taxes, etc.?
I do not believe that illegals should get free tuition to go to college. I do not believe that they should receive free health care, food stamps, or any other entitlement. I also say to the employers who knowingly employ illegals you are also a lawbreaker and should face the brunt of the law.
This is an issue concerning those who were born here or brought here at a very young age by parents illegally. Still, I do not see how that mandates that we just give what would become nothing more than blanket amnesty to those who have broken our laws and thumbed their noses at our constitution.
Immigration is one of our many issues; securing our borders must become one of our top priorities. We have the resources to accomplish that, and I believe that law enforcement reduces the number of those breaking the law over the long haul. It certainly gives pause to some who weigh the consequences.
Those for whom the consequences are inconsequential will do what they do regardless, and no reform will change that. Criminals who have utter disregard for the law will not magically change.
I have grown tired of hearing about the supposed “code words” that conservatives use for their supposed racist comments. I truly believe that has been nothing more than a desperate attempt on the part of the left to pervert the thinking of those who do not think for themselves.
I say that because if a person used any rational cognitive ability, they would realize that people often say what they really mean. They are candid rather than attempting to convey a message via some cleverly devised code. If the Conservative Politicians are using “code,” I must have missed the memo because I do not know the code, especially the code that the racist, radical left suggests has been used. If they were using code, the message was lost on most of us.
However, for over 50 years, the radical left has been using words to hide who they really are. If they were to identify themselves as “Socialist” or “Communist,” they would be rejected by many who now support them because they are Democrats.
The Leftists have transitioned from being identified as Socialists or Communists to being known as Liberals. Then, when that became too closely identified with the ideology of Socialism, they transitioned to the new self-description of being Progressive. If we look at the agenda and ideology of the Socialist, Marxist, Communist, Liberals, and the core Democrat Party, we will find that the modern Progressive stands for the same things. A rose by any other name is still a rose, but in this case, I would not call it a rose. Being a Christian, I will not use the terminology that really describes it.
Let me give you a quote, and you tell me what you think of it:
“America is like a healthy body, and its resistance is threefold: its patriotism, its morality, and its spiritual life. If we can undermine these three areas, America will collapse from within.”
What do you think of that? Does it change your view when you discover that the author of that statement was none other than Joseph Stalin?
The dedication page of a book that Barack Obama used to teach A.C.O.R.N. Community Organizers contains the following incredible statement:
“Lest we forget at least an over-the-shoulder acknowledgment to the very first radical: from all our legends, mythology, and history… the first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom — Lucifer.”
That is the dedication made by Saul Alinsky in his guidebook, which Obama used, believed in, and taught from! But former President Obama is not the only Leftist who ascribes to the Alinsky philosophy. The list is too lengthy to enumerate.
The Progressive movement originated with the father of Communism, Karl Marx. From those roots, we now have new elements after new elements, organizations, and groups arising with the same ultimate goal in mind. Mr. Al Gore’s book regarding Global Warming is deeply rooted in forming a tyrannical world government that will control everything.
The Progressives have sought to control Education and the EPA, destroy the family, and ultimately are at war with God. They know that they must dethrone God in order to enthrone man. I am driven to expose them for what they are and pray that the American people will awaken out of sleep before it is too late! We are losing our country rapidly, and they are pushing all their chips to the center of the table and going “all in.” Therefore, we must also go “all in” if we are to stop them or at least slow them down enough to allow the country to recover and survive.
The questions for each of us are “How Committed Are We to Saving America?” “How Committed Are We to God and His Purposes?” Our answers cannot be in words alone but in the total commitment of all we are and have! That is why I am so motivated and believe my efforts in this political struggle are also spiritual and directed by the Holy Spirit. As long as I have breath in my body, I will fight for my country, my faith, and the purposes of God. That is why I continually plead for everyone to become involved and vote!
The Founding Fathers would oppose the socialist trend that America is taking. Our first President, George Washington, said: “The Constitution that we have is an excellent one if we can keep it where it is.” I cannot fathom how anyone could deny that we have an “out of control” Federal Government today. It has grown into a self-feeding monstrosity that is placing a burden on the present and future generations that is unsustainable and shows no signs of being willing to change.
The Founding Fathers’ grievance with the British Crown was, “They are taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our government.” I shuddered when Obama declared, “We are five days from fundamentally transforming the United States of America!” Isn’t that what the Founding Fathers complained that the British Monarch was doing? Now, the Biden administration is Obama on steroids.
The Left desires to transform America radically and fundamentally. That must be viewed based on their actions and rhetoric. They believe in “redistribution of wealth,” a Socialist /Communist philosophy. If you examine the very words, you will find that he believed that “socialism” was a stepping stone to “communism.”
The Founding Fathers designed the Constitution to prevent “power” from being ripped from the hands of the people and placed in those of a few or one. In those countries where socialism and communism are the governmental model, the power has been stripped from the people and placed in the hands of a few or one despot who reigns in tyranny. We endured the Czars of Obama and now the underhanded actions and edicts of Biden. They attempt to bypass Congress and subvert the Constitution.They desire to transform us into a globalist nation and strip our inalienable rights, liberties, and freedoms from us. Tyrannical Rule by the “Elite Ruling Class” who, in their view, know what is best for us better than we that is their objective.
Our Founding Fathers pledged their lives, fortunes, and honor to establish and defend our liberty, so the pertinent question is, “Are we willing to do the same?” If so, then each of us needs to get up, get busy, get involved, and vote the followers of toxic liberalism out of office and replace them with someone who will follow the original intent of the Constitution and the Rule of Law.
We can only win if we refuse to give up and are willing to give our all to secure freedom and liberty. May God watch over each of us and bless America again!
Yes, I know that could be construed as caustic, but is Joe Biden the best that the Left has to offer? Likewise, is Kamala Harris the best for the 2nd position? If so, what does that say about the future of this nation? I never desire to come across as mean-spirited and unfeeling, yet I have to ask these questions because of where we are.
Our national elections have become more about identity and personality than policy and agendas. This shift, if it truly reflects the political landscape in America in 2024, is a cause for concern. We find ourselves in a challenging situation, and it’s not improving.
Joe Biden is in a visibly diminished state, physically and cognitively. I will not address morality at this time because that would send too many over the edge ranting about Trump and their perception of his morals. I do not know the hearts of either man; only God does. Since I am not God, I will let Him judge them on the merits of their moral fiber. In this consideration, I am looking at what is best for America and our future as a free republic.
Joe Biden’s administration has led to a significant shift in our international relations. Like Barack Obama, his actions have alienated our allies and emboldened our enemies. This administration is essentially an extension of the Obama agenda but on a larger scale. The difference is that Biden’s inability to navigate public opinion without appearing incompetent is a cause for concern.
Joe Biden has abandoned his supposed Catholic faith in his commitment to weaponizing abortion and is promising to make Roe v. Wade the law of the land. Hold your horses, Mr. Biden; the Supreme Court, in the Dobbs decision, returned the abortion issue to the states as it should have been all along constitutionally. He is promising his supporters the moon, but he can’t even provide a dim candle in this matter.
He insists that America and his support for Israel are rock solid, yet he continues to stab Israel in the back, as did Obama. His actions embolden and facilitate the actions of the terrorists. He has refused to send Israel the needed arms (approved by Congress). Some of his college-aged supporters are demonstrating for Hamas, and he is attempting to force Israel to agree to a unilateral cease-fire. I say unilateral because Hamas and other Islamic terrorist groups have shown an unwillingness to abide by any agreement.
The southern border is non-existent and costing us gargantuan sums to provide for the freebies his administration is determined to provide for the illegals. Our homeless and needy veterans are treated shamefully while these intruders are given the red carpet treatment. How is that for being pro-America?
I don’t know about anyone else, but my bank account tells me that inflation is not under control and things are not getting better. When I fill my tank on my automobile, I am made painfully aware of how much better off we were before he took office. The cost of goods and services has made it incredibly difficult for most Americans. Well, for those who work and pay taxes. If one does neither, life is good, and the Biden policies have had little negative impact.
Joe Biden’s approval ratings have remained in the 30-percentile range, yet he is assured of millions of votes in November. What could those people be thinking? It seems from many polls and surveys that his largest group of supporters are women. Almost two-thirds of women 18-34 identify as progressive or liberal, and women over fifty give Biden the nod by four percentage points over Trump or virtually anyone else. Ladies, is the abortion issue that powerful to you? You have virtually nothing else with him.
We have the illegals, the weaponization of the abortion issue, the freebies, including the vote-buying scheme of forgiving student loans, and the partisan activism by the intelligence agencies of our government. That suggests this election will be highly suspect at best and fraught with irregularities and fraud. No American should want that.
However, if you believe that winning at all costs is good and that the end justifies the means, you probably are good with that. The activism by the intelligence communities during the past two elections shows no signs of diminishing. They are backing a feeble old man with a diminished cognitive condition, but are they supporting him? I say no; they are supporting the agenda to achieve total control. Biden is, at best, a figurehead.
Biden’s condition is so diminished that even the liberal media is engaged in ‘fact-checking’ him. They do so to cover for him, but the fact that they have openly acknowledged that his fabrications are beyond the pale. I do not know if Biden is even cognizant of his fabrications and tall tales, but if he is, he is extremely sinister and evil. I’m sorry, but I don’t know how to soften that.
In the Biden world, the Left has targeted Christians who regard the Bible as their guide for life. PBS launched a campaign to suggest that churches and people who follow the Bible have ‘politicized religion’ and must be stopped. The Left has made it abundantly clear that the Bible is, in their view, anathema to what they want America to be.
America, we are at another critical crossroads, and if we are unable to lay aside personality preferences and seek for the betterment of the Republic, we are lost. I find it impossible to believe that America can survive as a Constitutional Republic without some dramatic changes. We must return to Constitutionalism and moral sanity—the moral sanity taught by the Bible. If we continue to allow the fundamental transformation of America into a globalist, hyper-tolerant, politically correct entity, we will have effectively ended the American experiment that our forefathers gave their lives for.
I pray that my grandchildren will have a free republic and a world with moral sanity. I pray that they will be allowed to express their views without fear of governmental encroachment or being attacked by activist mobs who disagree. I pray that they will be able to pursue a viable career, have a two-parent family, and adhere to biblical teachings without being inundated with superfluous diatribe that makes them feel they are the dregs of society.
God help us to return to being the land of the free and the home of the brave. Oh Lord, help us to return to being a people who believe that all are created equal and have inalienable rights given by the Creator, not the government. Oh Lord, help us return to a long-lost level of civility in differing opinions. Lord, help us to stop making partisan politics our god. We can save America, but only with God’s help and a level of unity that does not now exist in this nation.
I have been concerned for some time about the true reason for allowing the flood of illegals to cross our southern border. I believe that one of the major reasons is to replace the lost votes from moderates, independents, and liberals through Biden’s incompetence. I believe that they have a multipronged approach to stealing the election in November.
I list only some of the prongs on the fork of destruction:
Sully Trump in the Minds of Voters Through the Courts and Media.
Utilize the Voting Machines to Skew Results.
Use the Federal Law Enforcement Agencies to Threaten the GOP members of Congress.
Silence As Many Conservative and Christian Voices as Possible.
Give the Illegals a Pathway to Voting in the National Elections.
Those are just a few of the prongs on this fork of destruction that are being implemented and expanded by the Leftists, Globalists, and Establishment power brokers.
It would not be possible to fully examine even those few prongs that I mentioned, so I would like to address the issue of ‘Noncitizen Votes.’ If this is not prevented, it could well and will likely be the determining factor in the election in the so-called ‘Swing States.’ That is one of the reasons for the relocation of illegals to various portions of the nation.
Recently, Jen Psaki, the retired Biden Press Secretary, used her new gig with MSNBC to attack those fighting for America to have legitimate elections. She attempted to shape the narrative and present the imagery that the GOP ‘SAVE ACT.’ This Act would require “proof” of citizenship and eligibility to vote. She lamented that this was the latest chapter in the MAGA playbook to spread unsubstantiated doubt as to the integrity of our elections. It is anything but unsubstantiated.
We have documentation that there are many, possibly millions, of illegals who are being groomed and given a pathway to vote in November. She ignored the facts, but that has never mattered to the adherents of MSNBC or any of the Leftist media outlets and their listeners. If it is on the News or the Internet, it must be true, right?
Senator Mike Lee, one of the co-sponsors of the SAVE Act, wrote an enlightening piece for the Federalist:
“Those making this argument [that noncitizen voting in federal elections is already illegal] ignore a glaring problem: the government officials who register voters and conduct federal elections aren’t allowed to require proof of citizenship. It’s, therefore, shockingly easy for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, leaving our elections dangerously vulnerable to foreign interference. Anyone — even an illegal alien or other noncitizen — can register to vote in federal elections just by checking a box and signing a form. This is all on the honor system. No proof of citizenship is required.”
They have already made inroads in allowing the illegals to vote, after all we are simply citizens of the world and borders are immoral, right? Cities such as Oakland and San Francisco, California, DC, Burlington, Vermont, and NYC and others have already approved measures to allow them the right to vote. Right? Well, the ability or opportunity to vote!
Congressman Chip Roy released information that detailed the plan in Washington, DC, to ‘train’ illegals to vote in local elections. The Left argues that this voting access is only for local elections. Has anyone seen the flying pigs and unicorns that are prevalent in the delusional world of the Left?
Think about it: we are asking people who are already violating our Laws to be law-abiding and refrain from voting in the national elections. We are supposed to believe that although they are beholding to the federal ‘sugar daddy’ and urged to support all leftist causes and candidates, they would suddenly become honorable and not vote. Seriously? If you believe that, you may be more delusional than Biden himself.
The report shows that approximately 54% of the illegals who have crossed our borders since 2022 still do not have jobs, which makes this even more dangerous. Those illegals realize that if the Democrats lose power, the GOP and if there is a Republican in the White House, their gravy train would either end or be greatly reduced. Therefore, they have every incentive to vote early and often, like many others. The dole, sugar tit is too tempting not to elicit their willingness to walk through the open door presented.
Add to that equation the reality of some of Biden’s handlers (not Biden) that the incompetence and destruction of this administration’s policies are enabling some voters to overcome their fear of Trump. Biden seems oblivious to the damage his mouth and pen are doing, even in the strongholds of the Left.
Biden’s abandonment of Israel is impacting the Jewish community negatively. His devastation of the economy has motivated some in the Black community to abandon him. Even rapper Macklemore, an old-school hip-hop banger, has turned on Biden. Other Blacks of note have joined in and declared that there is no way they would vote for him in the fall.
Polls indicate that Trump is leading Biden in 5 of the 6 ‘swing states’ due to the shift of political winds and the migration of young Black and Hispanic voters. My question has been, “How did it take this long for people to begin waking up?” However, I realize that history suggests that millions will vote for the Democratic ticket regardless because it is ingrained in them that a vote for a Republican is the ultimate evil.
God help us to wake up. I believe that if the truth is presented articulately and the economy remains in shambles, no matter the spin, people see the truth at the gas pump and grocery store. Inflation numbers are meaningless when the cost of goods is beyond the availability of funds for voters.
If we are going to reclaim our Republic, we must embrace 2 Chronicles 7:14 and return to moral, fiscal, and relation sanity. We can see America restored and preserved, but not by pursuing the path that brought us to the juncture.
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