Treading on our Heritage

I received this picture in an e-mail Forward recently. This new one dollar coin was received as change, given to the customer at a US Post Office. "In God We Trust" is missing.

I don't know the history of United States coinage, but I'm assuming this is the first time in over 200 years, the first time since the founding of America that such an abomination has occurred. It may seem like an innocuous omission, but it is no such thing. It is sickening, and I believe it is dangerous. Despite signs all around me to the contrary, I have not wanted to admit that it may be later than I think. I have continued, and perhaps foolishly still continue, to hope and look to the Lord for His best for my country, our country, because how could it be that just as I am seeing what America really has been and is, she should die?

The sender of this e-mail sounds a call to arms, so to speak, and asks Americans to refuse this coin when it is offered to them. I will be one of those Americans who do so. If you know the Lord, if you love your country, please consider doing the same. Let your voice be heard. Such godless action should not go unchallenged, and we should not just bow down to the one who seeks to set himself up as God, who is not God., and works to rob America of her heart and her very existence.

Staying out of Hell

As Christmas approaches, my thoughts have been turning towards an official 'Christmas post', but I doubt that will happen. My thoughts have also been turning towards the concept of loving others, forgiveness...that kind of thing. I'm wondering about the dynamics of spiritual realities, and wondering also, when I die & look back, will it be a case of, "Aw, man! I shoulda known! Jesus said (insert specific Scripture) and I didn't do it...!" A case of, too little, too late? I'm wondering, is there more of a - what would be the word, maybe 'metaphysical'? - essence to the instructions from our Saviour than we know?

I'm thinking about what we call 'hell'. I'm not saying it isn't a place, but I am saying that I consider the possibility that hell is a condition, as well. We use terms like 'a living hell'. Maybe your marital situation is such a hell, or you've spiraled so far downwards into drugs, or poverty...maybe your life is in danger...maybe you've served in Iraq or Afghanistan, or been captured as a prisoner of war...these are surely conditions. They exist in places, but they are, concurrently, conditions.

When Jesus issues certain commands/directions, through the living Word, I balk. I am concerned that I balk, but nonetheless..balk I do. I know that I'm saved by grace, not works of my own, so I feel relatively secure in that, but...still balking, and what will happen, in this realm and/or the next, if I don't get with the program?

Now, the key, as I see it, is love. Not my ability to love, but God's love. We love, because our Father loved first. Loved us first. And, let's not forget God IS love. Wow....imagine being love. There must be moments when you feel it, so much so that you are just about lost in loving someone, or so appreciating what a person has done for you...or you've created something, designed something, and it is close to perfect, in your eyes...that you are so absorbed by love, that for that instant, you become love. What you generate in that instant is love. It is a good and a healing place in which to be, for you and everyone/thing around you.

I would theorize that hell is just the opposite. No love there, I'm thinkin'!

The commands & directives of our Saviour are designed to protect us, and keep us out of hell. He knows the dynamics of our nature, because He created us in the first place. He created all things, including the fallen Lucifer, who wants company in 'hell' and hellish places, and has a vast array of plots & schemes designed to lure us there. But Jesus is, may I say, 'One up' on him, and has His own designs for us. Those designs originated in love, and operate in that realm as well. They function as a safeguard, and can counter-act hostility, hate, & resentment, to name a few.

Neutralize those bad guys!! Stay out of hell!



(There may be a Part 2 on its way)

The Bad News is.....Getting Better?

So...picking up where I left off...

In Mr. Kagan's article, "Planning Victory in Afghanistan", he first makes clear the necessity of not allowing the country to become a terrorist haven, and that this necessity is a major reason for our military presence there. Achieving this goal will require, Kagan writes, "building an Afghan state with a representative government." Now, in my earlier exposure to this foreign scenario, I didn't get the connection. Why not just drive out the bad guys, right? Just shows I wasn't thinking it through. Thank God, our military planners, strategists, advisers & endless other involved persons do not make that error!

Following the thread of this idea of building a representative system of governance in Afghanistan expanded my vision. This country is not a stranger to political organization. In fact, the villages often have 'representative bodies', and/or elders, who manage local issues & tribal concerns. But there does not exist a strong tie to centralized government. In fact, even among themselves, many villages are 'highly localized', not connecting with other villages and possibly viewing Afghans from another area as outsiders. Multi-ethnicity and many years of internal warring added to the mix ensure a violent resistance to any form of government not representative of such diversities among the people. However, Kagan believes that "building local solutions that do not connect with the central government is the path toward renewed warlordism and instability."

(Talk about cliques!)

We can compare such a situation to our early history, during the times prior to the framing of our Constitution, when the Articles of Confederation were in effect. America lacked a strong central government, and though she had individually developed states, those states were at risk for becoming individual monarchies, of sorts. What was supposed to be one united nation was actually thirteen of them! basically doing their own thing. Not exactly the best of plans! Washington predicted 'the worst consequences' for such a government, which was fast becoming impotent, & ridiculed by other nations as well. (Wayne Coffey, How We Choose A Congress) So, as in the case of those thirteen United States, Kagan sees Afghanistan's hope as "develop{ing} local solutions that are connected to the central government but not necessarily completely controlled by it." Has a familiar ring to it...

However, if the government to which the people & their states are connecting is corrupt, stability will be hard to come by.

Bottom line, "...we must work hard to develop local solutions to local problems, but always with the goal of integrating those solutions into a loose but real central support-and-control system."

***

Let's talk about counterinsurgency.

"Absent a counterinsurgency and nation-building strategy that leads the population to reject the terrorists, killing bad guys will not defeat well-organized and determined terrorist networks."

In Iraq, during 2006, "...U.S. Special Forces teams had complete freedom to act against al-Qaeda...",with tremendous air and ground support, both US & Iraqi, killing "scores of key terrorist leaders", including al-Qaeda's head in Iraq, Abu Musab al Zarqawi. Yet, in a sense, it was to no avail, producing rather an increase in terrorist activity, violence and control. Not until a counterinsurgency approach was applied did we defeat al-Qaeda in Iraq.

The proof is in the pudding, people...

***

Kagan discusses the concept of 'awakening', which proved so effective in Iraq in 2007, and caused the Sunni-Arab rejection of al-Qaeda as well as their turning to coalition goals. He specifies that this change of heart was the result of 'myriad local developments' (meaning, not a pre-determined, regulated movement, I'm assuming?) and that each grouping of Iraqis remained independent. From there, he extrapolates that, concerning the Afghanistan populace, "...we must allow and encourage local movements to grow organically—in accordance with local conditions and traditions, but moderated by Afghan and coalition forces that understand the local area." If memory serves, a major strategy change in General McChrystal's plans is just such a move - partnering our troops with the Afghan soldiers in a way that they will be not just fighting with them, but living in their midst, walking their streets, getting 'down with the people'. In other words, 'understand{ing} the local area' through exposure to the local dynamics. Mirroring McChrystal's thinking, Kagan believes that such understanding can be gained "...only by living among the people..."

Working from the inside out...

***

(Unless otherwise indicated, all quotes are from the National Review Online article "Planning Victory in Afghanistan" by former West Point professor and Yale graduate Frederick W. Kagan.)

Having Compassion for our Commander-in-Chief

It was a few minutes past midnight when I suddenly awoke & groggily switched on the TV. The screen was filled with the face of our newly chosen President-elect, Barack Hussein Obama, speaking to the nation that would soon be under his leadership and command. For reasons I still don't understand, I wept, deep, sorrowful tears.

The face I now see on that TV screen, or computer screen, or in magazines, has aged far more than one year. The tears I shed then are now replaced with a different strong, deep emotion - compassion. The face I see now looks far more like the face of a man in his late fifties, not forties, and the weight of his first year in office shows markedly in his countenance. 'Grim' would not be an inappropriate word to use in its description.

Most understandably so. President Obama is "...learning every day the challenges of a wartime presidency." ( Joel Achenbach, Washington Post )

You or I may not have voted for him, may be against some/all of his policies & decisions, but he is a man in a very hot seat that most of us couldn't endure for more than a few minutes, let alone a year...with more to come. Watching President Obama recently, I was struck with this realization. Yes, he chose to run for the office of President of the United States of America, he wanted the job...but like any job, or, in fact, any new situation, its reality often turns out to be a sledgehammer! And once you're in it, you're in it, and there is no reprieve. Can you imagine bearing the crushing burden of making the decision to send tens of thousands of young men & women to war in a foreign land? Knowing you are sending some of them to their deaths? And, that among the survivors will be many living the rest of their lives without an arm or leg(s), disfigured, perhaps blinded? Their entire perception & experience of life will be forever changed. Re-integration into civilian life may not be so easily accomplished, and some may not ever really recover from the after-effects of their wartime military experience.

Just writing about this, I am feeling sick to my stomach. How does one actually make this kind of decision without the gut-wrenching soul searching that ravages, leaving a person sick, and sick at heart?

Right now, for me, all of the 'Is Obama the Anti-Christ?' hoopla, and all the evil! terrorist! Muslim-connections-of-his-past, (and let's not forget his middle name!), the ruckus revolving around his Kenyan descent, and whatever else was/could be thrown into the mix of opposition to our President, is irrelevant at this point. At this point, he is the man at the helm of our nation, with gale-force winds & approaching tidal waves. (Just yesterday the ship was fiscally sinking, and there were so many holes & so much damage that one didn't know what to plug up first, where do we begin to fix it? But today one hears that it's possible the ship is being righted. Tentatively, and only once or twice, I've heard/read that signs are being seen that the economy has officially begun to recover. I work in retail, and here and there, I've seen prices actually dropping...however, America has not yet reached her safe harbor.) A tsunami called Iran's Nuclear Weapons program is not that far in the distance, with global repercussions, and there is mutiny & tragedy roiling in the belly of the ship. Within and without...

I can go to sleep at night, confident that others are manning the ship, and forget about all this. Obama cannot. I can wake up on my days off and savor a big mug of coffee, leisurely, while I ponder changing jobs, or what blogging activity to engage in that day. He cannot. He's in this to win this, and there may not be a truly 'leisure' time for President Obama for quite awhile.

Whether Democrat or Republican, or neither, have a heart of compassion for your President right now. If you are a Christian, pray for him. If you are not, pray anyway.

The Bad News is... (con'd.) - or, 'Hard is not Hopeless'

I love it when a succinctly-put phrase, or a concise, hard-hitting sentence or two, breaks it all wide open and I'm struck by genius. I really love that. (And of course I mean the 'genius' of another...my IQ isn't that high!)

In the process of re-reading, reviewing & organizing papers and notes, in order to begin this post, I read such a statement that I must've missed the first time around. Following the trend of thought & logic presented by former West Point professor and Yale graduate Frederick W. Kagan, concerning the necessary ingredients for victory in Afghanistan, I found this most enlightening (to me) conclusion: " That does not mean the problem lies with our overall “footprint” in Afghanistan, but rather that we should rethink where (emphasis mine) to put our feet......Understanding this principle is vital, because if we misinterpret the nature of the “footprint” problem we might come to the erroneous conclusion that success requires fewer forces rather than more—or, as some senior leaders are increasingly suggesting, that our presence is the problem." (Frederick W. Kagan, "Planning Victory in Afghanistan" )

Alternative viewpoints can be invaluable. Alternative viewpoints conceived our American democracy. Such viewpoints engender conflict, struggle and ultimately require compromise in policy, as was with our Constitution. These are good things.

ooo

This will probably be my last post on Afghanistan (for awhile, at least). (I hope I'm not hearing cheers out there!) Anyway...in my recent readings & writings, I've noticed similarities and/or parallels of sorts, between the above-quoted Frederick Kagan's viewpoints, and ensuing AfPak developments. My intent with this post is to point them out.

ooo

"Afghanistan is not now a sanctuary for al-Qaeda, but it would likely become one again if we abandoned it."

" Allowing Afghanistan to fail would mean allowing these determined enemies of the United States to regain the freedom they had before 9/11."

I continue to be completely unable to comprehend how so many Americans appear to not get this, as dwindling support for our military presence here would seem to suggest. With sharpened Taliban fighting skills leading to greater Taliban control (Bad News, Pt.1) of this critical area, it should be obvious that insurgency dominance is equivalent to a wide open door for al-Qaeda. "Birds of a feather...", right? Though all indications evidence al-Qaeda & its key leaders to be primarily Pakistani-based, as well as the removed head of the Taliban government, from these havens contacts are maintained between the two organizations, and insurgent activity is supported in both southern & eastern Afghanistan. Give up Afghanistan, and you're giving bin Laden free reign. Do that, and America will be looking at a disaster scenario far worse than 9/11.

At the time Mr. Kagan wrote this article (2/09), I don't recall just how committed the U.S. was to success in Afghanistan. Apparently not enough, though - "The Pakistani leadership appears convinced that America will abandon its efforts in South Asia sooner rather than later...", resulting in continued Pakistani support for the Afghan Taliban operating in their territory. Such support ensures a certain level of control over the insurgents, which is desirable for the Pakistanis, especially if they are unsure of American reliability in this endeavour. " Until it is widely believed that the U.S. will remain in the fight until the insurgency is defeated, doubt about our commitment will continue to fuel the insurgency." Locally, the Afghanistan populace, fearing Taliban retaliation, may hesitate to commit to us if they doubt our commitment to them. Kagan concludes that "we must make it clear that we will do what it takes to win" in order to gain the trust and cooperation of the people of both countries.

Based on previous patterns of American retreat/abandonment in Middle East crises/attacks, from 1983 through 1992, Kagan also theorizes that, by duking it out in Afghanistan, a 'changed...global perception' of American fortitude would vastly improve our own security, homeland and abroad.

(All quotes are from F.W. Kagan's article "Planning Victory in Afghanistan")

ooo

I have a number of points yet to make here, and hope to publish another post or two in this vein of thought, before finishing up with AfPak subject matter. However, this may take awhile. For over a year I have been struggling in situations that have become, finally, intolerable, remaining in them for several reasons, one of which was to continue with 'God, History and You'. I can no longer do this. GH&Y is not shutting down, but it is necessary to let it go a bit, for a season, while I attend to other matters. Posting will be sporadic, if that...! (although that's nothing new, really, is it?!) I may be off the radar for a time. Hopefully, once issues are settled, I'll have a renewed focus.

Repairing the State of the Union

There is a rumbling, low like thunder, moving across the land of the free and the home of the brave.

I became aware of this movement, just barely, sometime during the past year. To the un- or newly initiated, it may sound like rebellion or anarchy, with all the attendant associations of turmoil. I said, let me keep following this trend, and I have. What at one time may have sounded like extremism now plays a different tune. (In my ears, at least.) Persons who might have appeared fanatical to me, before, I now understand are patriotic Americans who know their Constitution. They have put their hand to the plow and are not looking back, and many of them are going forward with God.

The issue is state sovereignty.

"There are clear limits to the power of the federal government and clear realms of power for the states."

"The national government has become a complex system of programs whose purposes lie outside {emphasis mine} of the responsibilities of the enumerated powers {of the Federal govt., specified in the Constitution}..." (State Rep. Susan Lynn- TN, 57th.)

Representative Lynn makes the above statements in a clearly explained letter to the other 49 State Legislatures, requesting their partnership in a ' joint working group between the states to enumerate the abuses of authority by the federal government...' As of this posting, I am not sure if this invitation has actually been sent to the various states yet, but for sure it's on its way.

Some of the comments made regarding Rep. Lynn's initiative have encouraged and motivated me, expanding my understanding as well. I'm 'getting a grip'! Here are a few -


"Please go very public with this and allow the groundswell of support to build. We have truly found that the only thing the federal congress hears is the very loud stomping of the feet of the general population in this great country. They must hear us in this matter, before we become just another 2nd class country, {italics mine} torn apart by an egotist." - Jim, Oct.21, 4:44am

"... Let’s make this viral." - Wanda Gray, Oct.21, 6:24am

"This is a movement that will be the foundation of getting back to our founding principles. Implementing the Tenth Amendment and challenging the Sixteenth Amendment is the only way to stop the spicket {spigot? suggestion mine} of funding that enables the current trampling of our constitutional rights." - Rich Hand, candidate for Governor of Colorado, Oct.21, 6:41am, who also says

"This road is long but in honor of our founders and what they endured; well worth the effort."

"Our only hope to preserve this Republic is for all the states to come together and assert their Constitutional rights to reset our government back to its original intent and mandate. God speed." - Ralph Luciani, BGen,(ret.) USAFMC, Oct.21, 9:41am

Bringing it down to where we live, Ruth Ann Wilson says we need some action at more local levels: "SANCTIFY THE COUNTIES once again. Use the “Private Act” to restore our Counties. As we have a 10th Amendment, so we, the people, have a 9th Amendment..." - Oct.21, 7:37am


I've only read about 25% of the comments; so far, all in favor...(I'm sure there are dissenters, but I don't know that I'll be reading through all the rest. I'm using my time instead to write this! But, later...) (Actually, just glancing over some right now & think I'd better read more of them.)

One gets the sense of another Revolution of sorts, brewing in this great country, in this great democracy. That sense is underscored by Richard's potent insight, that we need today "the effort and courage of the Founding Fathers". No doubt...

Below is Representative Lynn's letter. Please read it thoughtfully, if you have time -

"We send greetings from the Tennessee General Assembly. On June 23, 2009, House Joint Resolution 108, the State Sovereignty Resolution, was signed by Governor Phil Bredesen. The Resolution created a committee which has as its charge to:

-Communicate the resolution to the legislatures of the several states,
-Assure them that this State continues in the same esteem of their friendship,
-Call for a joint working group between the states to enumerate the abuses of authority by the federal government, and
-Seek repeal of the assumption of powers and the imposed mandates.

It is for those purposes that this letter addresses your honorable body.

In 1776, our founding fathers declared our freedom in the magnificent Declaration of Independence; our guide to governance. They established a nation of free and independent states. Declaring that the purpose of our political system is to secure for its citizens’ their natural rights. The Constitution authorizes the national government to carry out seventeen enumerated powers in Article 1, Section 8 and the powers of several of the ensuing amendments.

At the time of the Constitutional ratification process James Madison drafted the “Virginia Plan” to give Congress general legislative authority and to empower the national judiciary to hear any case that might cause friction among the states, to give the congress a veto over state laws, to empower the national government to use the military against the states, and to eliminate the states’ accustomed role in selecting members of Congress. Each one of these proposals was soundly defeated. In fact, Madison made many more attempts to authorize a national veto over state laws, and these were repeatedly defeated as well.

There are clear limits to the power of the federal government and clear realms of power for the states. However, the simple and clear expression of purpose, to secure our natural rights, has evolved into the modern expectation that the national government has an obligation to ensure our life, to create our liberty, and fund our pursuit of happiness.
The national government has become a complex system of programs whose purposes lie outside of the responsibilities of the enumerated powers and of securing our natural rights; programs that benefit some while others must pay.

Today, the federal government seeks to control the salaries of those employed by private business, to change the provisions of private of contracts, to nationalize banks, insurers and auto manufacturers, and to dictate to every person in the land what his or her medical choices will be.
Forcing property from employers to provide healthcare, legislating what individuals are and are not entitled to, and using the labor of some so that others can receive money that they did not earn goes far beyond securing natural rights, and the enumerated powers in the Constitution.

The role of our American government has been blurred, bent, and breached. The rights endowed to us by our creator must be restored.

To be sure, the People created the federal government to be their agent for certain enumerated purposes only. The Constitutional ratifying structure was created so it would be clear that it was the People, and not the States, that were doing the ratifying.

The Tenth Amendment defines the total scope of federal power as being that which has been delegated by the people to the federal government, and also that which is absolutely necessary to advancing those powers specifically enumerated in the Constitution of the United States. The rest is to be handled by the state governments, or locally, by the people themselves.

The Constitution does not include a congressional power to override state laws. It does not give the judicial branch unlimited jurisdiction over all matters. It does not provide Congress with the power to legislate over everything. This is verified by the simple fact that attempts to make these principles part of the Constitution were soundly rejected by its signers.

With this in mind, any federal attempt to legislate beyond the Constitutional limits of Congress’ authority is a usurpation of state sovereignty - and unconstitutional.

Governments and political leaders are best held accountable to the will of the people when government is local. The people of a state know what is best for them; authorities, potentially thousands of miles away, governing their lives is opposed to the very notion of freedom.

We invite your state to join with us to form a joint working group between the states to enumerate the abuses of authority by the federal government and to seek repeal of the assumption of powers and the imposed mandates."


Susan Lynn [send her email] is a member of the Tennessee General Assembly; serving on the Commerce Committee and Chairman of the Government Operations committee. She holds a BS in economics and a minor in history. She is the Chairman of the American Legislative Exchange Council’s Commerce Task Force. Visit her blog at http://susan-lynn.blogspot.com/
ooo

In the course of putting this piece together, I've come across a number of relevant links, etc., that I am soon on my way to check out...and may include them later, or post on the site.

Thank you for taking the time to read this today.

Christina

The Centrality of our Constitution

Where do I begin?

If the passion hasn't gripped you , or America's early history at least presented intrigue, then my next statements will fall flat. Dudsville. If we were in a face-to-face, you'd be looking at me funny...it's happened before!! (Not that long ago, either...) In an apparently ill-chosen moment with a poorly-selected subject, I tried to express my vivid sense of the 'here & now' continued existence and presence of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln...men of destiny. They live on. There was an instant when I felt I was walking with them, invigorated, having fellowship. Having entered their heart's desire myself, and having found it to be vital & alive, still beating in the spirit, I found them there as well. Absence of their physical beings matters not. They are alive.

So today, this sense of connection & continuity appears again, as I'm gaining more understanding of the basic mechanics of government, (which understanding has begun to grow as a result of even small attempts to learn about, and the specifics of, our Constitution.) I know that I keep using words like 'amazing' and 'stunned', and I apologize for repetitiveness! (so I will refrain from their use right now) but they so make the point!!! Besides the Word of God, I cannot fathom any other written works, EVER, to be, or to have been, so priceless. Wrought with such wisdom and resulting in such enduring democratic governance. I think of the Genesis 1 description of the earth being 'without form,and void', and 'darkness was upon the face of the deep.' It occurs to me that, until recently, this would've been a pretty accurate description of my knowledge of our Constitution, and the structure of our nation's government. But just as God moved upon those dark waters, and started speaking shape & form & structure into existence, so is He now doing with me. Light entered. It is starting to make sense now...more than make sense, the power of God is exploding, and it is exploding in my personal Constitutional epiphany.

Talk about the 'Big Bang Theory' !

My point is that getting an understanding of the structure & function of government today underscores potently the words, plans & activities of the Founding Fathers, because this is what they produced. They are IN IT. We are co-workers with them! Americans can carry on the legacy of the Revolution. But they cannot do it by side-stepping or skipping over the Constitution of the United States of America. The answers lie therein.

ooo

"...citizens have evidently not been teaching the Constitution and its history to their children for many generations..." ( B.Johnson, comment on the subject of state sovereignty, a 10th. Amendment principle)

More to come...just getting started!

another Personal Note...

I know I've said this before, more than once, but the miracle in my heart continues & I am almost compelled to sound the trumpet yet again.

I think about the days of Revolution more & more. I realized today that I want to go back in time & be a part of it. What it must have been like in those days is barely conceivable! Can you imagine the excitement of shaping a nation?? I feel a discernible sense of camaraderie with the men who met in Philadelphia in 1787 to forge & frame a new Constitution for a young America. I remember reading that Jefferson was not present and wanted, so wanted! to be...he was living in Paris, our ambassador to France, an ocean away, and felt left out, being in a sense excluded from what he termed "the assembly of demi-gods". (Lerner, Max - Thomas Jefferson: America's Philosopher-King) And god-like it was, I can see that now, to have been in such a place at such a time, such an amazing, amazing time in history!

This afternoon, I began reading a book entitled "How We Choose a Congress" . Every word came alive. It was almost as if I was there, on Capitol Hill, somehow involved. The saga continues, the dream lives on. The pricelessness of what we have here in America stuns me. The moments when I realize this are the moments of reality clear, true and brilliant. By stark contrast, the many other moments of my day & life, the humdrum, uneventful or so-so times that make up the fabric of a day or week...are causing me to wonder, how long have I been asleep? What am I doing with this gift of life & Liberty? I am coming late, way late to an awareness of the miracle, and find myself re-assessing priorities.