November 7, 2016

November 7, 2016 -- Election Eve

My granddaughter asked for help with a generations project at school.
I showed her our trail of ancestors that led to 1620 and the Mayflower.
We studied a vein that led to those who made the trek by handcart to Utah Territory in the 1800s.
We talked about her great grandfather who was a prisoner of war in Germany during WWII.

All the while, I was thinking of our rights to life, to safety, to the fruits of our Founding Fathers who willingly offered their "lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor" in exchange for documents that have secured the freedoms citizens have enjoyed in The United States of America for 240 years.

I am only one voter,  grateful to be a beneficiary of millions of American patriots who came before.
My vote matters.
And I will.

Open Borders

Just read this article. Wow.

https://imprimis.hillsdale.edu/who-we-are-as-a-people-the-syrian-refugee-question/4/#

Justice For All

To me, "justice for all" means "justice for all." I'm against dividing people into baskets by color, gender, religion, ethnicity, women, men, etc. and treating them "differently" -- realizing that everyone is subject to being defined by categories after all we can do to prevent that. I'm for the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of choice -- unless and until the demonstration of those freedoms interfere with the same rights of others. An example would be the implementation of Sharia Law in America by some Muslim sects that would put the rights and lives of others in danger.

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All includes all. Illegal means illegal for all. Justice for all means justice for all. Vetting means vetting for all. Nobody's "special," although some populations (example, disabled) need special consideration and accommodations. When applied to specific people, labels like sexist, homophobic, bigot, sinners, xenophobic, zealot, etc. are divisive and destructive, serving no other purpose than to make the "other side" or specific person feel inferior to the perceived "right" side. For example, many would label me sexist because I am opposed to abortion on demand at any time during a pregnancy. I am also opposed to women serving in combat roles in the military. It doesn't affect my beliefs to be labelled sexist, but what's the point except to try to downgrade my opinions or humiliate me? That would be like me labeling all Muslims as evil because some Muslim sects believe in killing women who commit adultery. Or like saying we should avoid vetting and setting standards for all who emigrate or come into our country for work or travel because that would be discriminatory.

Strong Opinions

I like that my children and grandchildren have strong opinions. Yes, I would rather vote for Mike Pence than Donald Trump. Any day. But he's not on the ballot. I'm sticking with the candidate who in my mind is most aligned with preservation of The Constitution, The Bill of Rights, The Declaration of Independence and the rule of law. There are enough labels to go around on both sides in this election. Do I think the millions of people in Hillary Clinton's "basket of deplorables and irredeemables" are going to tip the election to Donald Trump? Probably not. But when the history books are written about this era, it will still be important to me to have aligned my vote to "one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." That is my American Dream. Unfortunately, my American Dream is not a part of the present election cycle.

Christian Principles

Facebook post from my son, Ethan, who feels I should reexamine my rhetoric:

"In my view, Christian politics means a candidate's wife publicly washes her husband's mouth out with soap as soon as he betrays his principles in order to "win." It means "political differences never justify hatred or ill will." It means respectfully disagreeing with others without inciting contention, anger, or fear. I've talked with you privately and your reasons for voting for Mr. Trump and refusing to vote for Mrs. Clinton or a third party candidate make sense to me. Given the options, I can see why you might still reluctantly vote for him. But I am surprised at you calling him God's miracle. We the American voters gave ourselves these options, and I don't think Christians should be blaming God for this mess. Abandoning Christian principles certainly isn't going to clean it up."

My response:
"I made a mistake by posting someone else's writing, and I'm sorry I did that.
I never referred to Donald Trump as 'God's miracle,' and I don't believe God is responsible in any way for the mess we now refer to as American politics.
I believe the American citizenry is fed up with; challenges to the rule of law, the economy, ever-increasing entitlements, the debt, weak military, ISIS, immigration issues, and on.
I believe Donald Trump was legitimately selected by members of the Republican party (what's left of it) and, according to the voters in this moment of history, he is the one they have chosen to act on behalf of The Constitution, which I revere as a divinely directed document. He wasn't my first choice, or even in the top ten for that matter. But he is the one of two candidates in this election who best aligns with my vision of America as it was and can be again.
We don't need four more years of corruption to learn our lesson.
I can still be true to Christian principles by speaking out for the preservation of The Constitution and The Declaration of Independence and defying the corruption and divisiveness created by Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in America and around the world."

Choices

American citizens have three choices.

They can:
(a) opt out and not vote
(b) vote for an outlying candidate, or
(c) vote for Clinton or Trump.

Although each of these choices has consequences for the final outcome, I am invested in my responsibility to make my vote count by voting for one of the two candidates who has the possibility of becoming the president and the one who is most closely aligned to my own values and the values I cherish as an American citizen.

I can buck up and do this, and I will.

A Message for Christians

I didn't write this, but it's how I feel about the Nov 8, 2016 election:

A Message For Christians About Donald Trump

Here's a famous joke, about God and how he talks to us.

"A deeply faithful Christian man is stuck on his rooftop at home, with massive flooding up to the 2nd floor.  Rowboat comes; He says, "No, I'm waiting for God.  I prayed and I know he's coming."  2nd Rowboat. "No, I'm waiting for God."  3rd Rowboat.  "No, I'm waiting for God."

Water rises, the man drowns.  Now he's meeting God in heaven.  The religious man says, "Where were you God?  I prayed; I was faithful; I asked you to save me; Why would you abandon me?"

God says, "Hey, I sent you 3 rowboats!!!"

Did you ever consider Trump is our rowboat?

Maybe God is trying to tell us something important - - that now is not the time for a "nice Christian guy" or a "gentleman" or a typical Republican powder puff.  Maybe now is the time for a natural born killer, a ruthless fighter, a warrior.  Because right about now we need a miracle, or America is finished.  Maybe the rules of gentlemen don't apply here.  Maybe a gentleman and "all-around nice Christian" would lead us to slaughter.

Or do you want another Mitt Romney, Bob Dole, John McCain, Gerald Ford or Paul Ryan?  Did any of them win?  Did they lead the GOP to "the promised land?"  Did they change the direction of America?  No, because if you don't win, you have no say.

Paul Ryan couldn't even deliver his own state, Wisconsin!  And as leader of the House, Paul Ryan rolls over to Obama, like my dog rolls over for a scrap of food or a steak bone.  Nice, but obedient.  I mean Paul Ryan . . . not my dog.  My dog is actually a pretty good defender and loyal.

Maybe God is knocking on your door loudly, but you're not listening. Maybe God understands, we need a "war leader," at this moment in time.  Maybe God understands, if we don't win this election, America is dead.  It's over. The greatest nation in world history, will be gone. Finished.  Kaput.  Adios.

And with one last breath, maybe what we need to save us, at the last second, is someone different.  Someone, you haven't ever experienced before - - because you weren't raised in rough and tumble New York, where nothing good gets accomplished, unless you're combative, aggressive, outrageous, on offense at all times and maybe just a tad arrogant too.

Someone with a personality you've never seen on stage at your church. Maybe, just maybe, being a nice gentlemanly Christian would not beat Hillary and her billion dollars and her best friends in the media, who will unleash the dogs of hell upon the GOP nominee.

I guess you think God is only nice and gentlemanly.  Really?  Then you've missed the whole point of the Bible.  When necessary, God is pretty tough. When necessary, God strikes with pain, death and destruction.  When necessary, God inflicts vengeance.  Maybe you think God couldn't possibly be associated with someone like Trump.  Trump is too vicious, rude and crude. 

When we won WWII, was God "nice?"  Were we gentlemanly when,defeating Hitler?  Were we gentlemanly, when firebombing Germany? Were we gentlemanly when dropping atomic bombs on Japan?  Is God ever "nice" on the battlefield?  Or does he send us vicious SOB's like General George S. Patton, so the good guys can defeat evil?

It's pretty clear to me God sends unique people to be "war leaders." That's a different role than a pastor or church leader. God understands that.

And maybe it's time to re-define "nice."  Maybe Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan aren't nice at all - - because they led us to defeat.  And losing again, would mean the end of America.  And God can't allow that. Maybe Romney and Ryan mean well, but the road to hell, is paved with good intentions.  Or maybe they're just jealous; they had their chance and blew it.  Maybe they'd rather help elect Hillary, than allow a Trump victory, that would make them look Weak, Feckless and Incompetent.

"Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall; But those who wait on the Lord, Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary; They shall walk and not faint." (Isiah 40:30-31)

God is about miracles.  We don't need a "nice guy" or a "gentleman" right now.  It's the 4th quarter and we're losing 14-0. We need a miracle.

So let me repeat my message to Christians: "YOU'RE MISSING THE BOAT."

I believe Trump is our miracle!  I believe Trump is our rowboat!  Except he's more like a battleship!

No one is saying Trump is perfect.  No one is saying Trump is a perfect conservative.  But he is a patriot.  He is a warrior.  He is a capitalist.  He is the right man, at the right time.  Yes, he's a bit rude and crude and offensive. But that may make him the perfect warrior to save America;  AmericanExceptionalism, Capitalism and Judeo-Christian values. The choice should be easy for Christians.

It's Trump . . . or it's the end of the American Dream.