Ladies and gentlemen, before I proceed to go on a rant, please allow America’s Clown Prince, the late Mr. Bernard “Red” Skelton,  to explain our Pledge of Allegiance:

Under God.  This week, Liberals, within the Halls of Power of our own government, have decided to deny our soliders access to a Christian service on the National Day of Prayer.

Evangelist Franklin Graham’s invitation to speak at a Pentagon prayer service has been rescinded because his comments about Islam were inappropriate, the Army said Thursday.

Graham, the son of famed evangelist Billy Graham, in 2001 described Islam as evil. More recently, he has said he finds Islam offensive and wants Muslims to know that Jesus Christ died for their sins.

Army spokesman Col. Tom Collins said Graham’s remarks were “not appropriate.”

“We’re an all-inclusive military,” Collins said. “We honor all faiths. … Our message to our service and civilian work force is about the need for diversity and appreciation of all faiths.”

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation had raised the objection to Graham’s appearance, citing his past remarks about Islam.

Collins said earlier this week that the invitation to attend the National Day of Prayer event at the Pentagon wasn’t from the military but from the Colorado-based National Day of Prayer Task Force, which works with the Pentagon chaplain’s office on the prayer event.

As co-honorary chair of the task force, Graham was expected to be the lead speaker at the May 6 Pentagon service. Country singer Ricky Skaggs was expected to perform.

Since Graham’s invitation was rescinded, the task force has decided not to participate in the military prayer service, Collins said.

From last Sunday’s Blog, “The Dangers of Prayer and Eye Black”:

The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.

By trying to stand for everything, Liberals are making sure that the United States of America stands for nothing.  Just like their President, they are bent on overseeing the radical changing of this country from “the shining city on a hill”  to a third-rate Democratic Socialist nation.  The whole message, especially the last couple of weeks, has been:

Timothy McVeigh claimed to be a Christian.  The Tea Partiers are mostly Christian Americans.  Therefore, they are violent and pose a bigger threat than Islamic Terrorists.  

Just like Goebbels and the National Socialist (Nazi) Party  in Germany demonized the Jews, these Alisky-ites in power are trying to demonize Conservatives, whether you proclaim Christ, or not.  

Unfortunately for the Libs, 75 % of Americans identify themselves as Christians.  This is unlike Europe, where their lifestyle and ambivilence has allowed Sharia Law to gain a major foothold on their continent. 

Isn’t it amazing how those that claim to be the most tolerant among us are actually the least?  Franklin Graham’s dad, the Reverend Billy Graham, remains the greatest Evangelist of our lifetime, leading millions to Christ , while serving and couseling Presidents from Harry S. Truman to George W. Bush.  He actually was a registered Democrat, but leaned Republican in his later public life.

According to a 2006 Newsweek interview, “For Graham, politics is a secondary to the Gospel…. When Newsweek asked Graham whether ministers—whether they think of themselves as evangelists, pastors or a bit of both—should spend time engaged with politics, he replied: ‘You know, I think in a way that has to be up to the individual as he feels led of the Lord. A lot of things that I commented on years ago would not have been of the Lord, I’m sure, but I think you have some—like communism, or segregation, on which I think you have a responsibility to speak out.’

For The Federal Government to do this to the son of this great man, a fine Christian leader in his own right, because he dared to speak out against evil, stands against the history of our country.  For those of you who claim to be Conservative and are saying :

Meh.  Why should I care?   We need to expand our tent and make it more encompassing, so that we can win elections.

 Allow me to end this rant by quoting a highly-educated (holder of  a Doctorial degree) man I respect greatly.  He recently said:

The only thing in the middle of the road is a yellow line and dead possums.

Sources:  dailycaller.com, newsweek.com

This past Thursday, we had two rulings aimed at Christians that made the national news.  The first ruling came from U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb (a Clinton appointee), who ruled that the National Day of Prayer, scheduled for May 6th, was unconstitutional.    Crabb wrote in her ruling (excerpt):

It goes beyond mere “acknowledgment” of religion because its sole purpose is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer, an inherently religious exercise that serves no secular function in this context. In this instance, the government has taken sides on a matter that must be left to individual conscience

One might argue that the National Day of Prayer does not violate the establishment clause because it does not endorse any one religion. Unfortunately, that does not cure the problem. Although adherents of many religions “turn to God in prayer,” not all of them do.

Further, the statute seems to contemplate a specifically Christian form of prayer with its reference to “churches” but no other places of worship and the limitation in the 1952 version of the statute that the National Day of Prayer may not be on a Sunday.

The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.

Judge Crabb, what part of the fact that the National Day of Prayer is voluntary don’t you understand?  A voluntary event means you do not have to participate if you do not want to.  On the other hand, our new Obamanation of a Healthcare, err, Health Insurance, err, Healthcare Reform Law involves mandated purchase of Health Insurance Policies, with the IRS (Revenuers) reinforcing the fines for not purchasing an insurance policy.  That, my dear judge, is an example of something unconstitutional.

The second ruling against Christians involved the writing of messages on eye black by college football players.  The NCAA banned this practice.  This ruling was the result of Tim Tebow, the Unversity of Florida star quarterback and strong Christian, writing scripture verses on his eye black.   For his last home game as a Senior,  Florida fans urged everyone to wear eye black (with or without Bible verses on them) in honor of Tebow.  It sounds like the fans were really offended, doesn’t it, NCAA?

In both these rulings, it appears that some Liberals in positions of power are taking steps to insure that President Obama’s proclamation that “America is not longer just a Christian nation.” is reinforced.  I’ve got some news for the psuedo-intellectual Elite:  75 % of Americans identify themselves as Christians.  The freedom Americans have experienced for over 200 years is God-given, not man-made.  It is not yours to give or take away.  That is way above your pay grade.

By the way, Judge Crabb, if you want to speak to me on May 6th, you will find me at my town’s City Hall, attending our National Day of Prayer Service.  I’ll save you a seat.

 Sources:  examiner.com, nationaldayofprayer.org, cbsnews.com

I am a Christian American Conservative.  The trendy apellation for that is ” Social Conservative”, or “SoCon”.  At least, that seems to be  the  handle given to us by all the “cool” “super-smart” people.  What do “Social Conservatives” believe?  It depends on who you ask.   According to some of the things I’ve read on some Conservative Blogs and Facebook lately, we’ve been identified as not being too bright, very puritanical, and likely to marry our cousins. 

 About.com lists our beliefs as follows:

Advancing pro-life and anti-abortion stances on unwanted or unplanned pregnancies

Advocating for pro-family legislation and a ban on gay marriage

Eliminating federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research and finding alternative methods of research

Protecting the Second Amendment right to bear arms

Maintaining a strong national defense

Protecting US economic interests against foreign threats and eliminating the need for trade unions

Opposing illegal immigration

Limiting welfare spending by creating economic opportunities for America’s needy

Lifting the ban on school prayer

Implementing high tariffs on countries that do not uphold human rights

That’s a pretty good,  encompassing list.  Of course, everyone’s different and each person has their own belief system they bring to the table.  If you were raised (or reared, as we say in Dixie) in a permissive situation, then you’re going to believe, as John Lennon said, Whatever Gets You Through the Night, It’s Alright. 

 But, if you were raised by parents who instilled in you a set of moral and ethical values unphased by the shifting sands of society, that belief system will remain with you all your life.  We old fogies used to call that, knowing the difference between right and wrong.    That love of God, Country, and the concept of Freedom itself, is what is driving the Tea Party movement and the rest of the Conservative rebirth.  Beltway Business as usual, self-centered psuedo-intellectual squishiness (so-called “Moderate” Republicans), and reliance on Uncle Sugar to solve America’s problems, have gotten us where we are today.  We have a guy in the White House who doesn’t even like the country or people he’s leading.  He is an individual with a undocumented past, who is bowing to our enemies and ridiculing our friends.  He is the product of radical parents, and his sole purpose is to radically change our Free Republic into a third-rate Democratic Socialist state, whose people are dependent on their Federal Government (the Politboro) from cradle to grave.  And if you do not believe this, you obviously have not been paying attention.

It’s time for Conservatives to man up.  We must regain that fiery passion for freedom that prompted the birth of this great nation.  In doing this, we must stand together.  Conservatives can not fight one another and expect to be victorious this November or in 2012. 

Allow me to leave you today with a quote from the finest President of the United States in my lifetime, Ronald Reagan, who said:

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.

Sources:  about.com, brainyquote.com

I was born three days before my mother’s 40th birthday.  To say I was a surprise is an understatement.  I truly believe that they were going to name me “oops”.   That being said, I am truly grateful that God convicted them regarding the sanctity of the life that my mother was carrying within her. 

Prior to 1973, abortions were allowed in some states but restricted or almost banned in others. Every state legislature made their own decision on whether to allow abortions and under what circumstances.  There was no Federal Law in regards to abortion.   Then, in 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court gave us Roe v. Wade. It declared a Texas anti-abortion statute unconstitutional and, in doing so, affected abortion laws in many other states.

The Supreme Court justices ruled that, throughout the U.S.:

• During the first three months of pregnancy, a woman and her physician may jointly decide to terminate a pregnancy. No significant state interference is allowed.
• Later in pregnancy, states can restrict abortion access with laws but only if they are intended to protect the woman’s health.
• Once the fetus is viable, an abortion must still be available if the woman’s health or life are at risk. State governments are free to pass legislation that will allow or prohibit late-term abortions — those on a viable fetus — for other reasons.

The new Obamanation of a Healthcare Reform, err, Health Insurance Reform, err, Healthcare Reform Bill that has just been passed says the following about abortions: 

Federal premium or cost‐sharing subsidies may not be used to purchase coverage for abortion if coverage extends beyond saving the life of the woman or in cases of rape or incest. If an individual who receives federal assistance purchases coverage in a plan that chooses to cover abortion services beyond those for which federal funds are permitted, those federal subsidy funds (for premiums or cost‐sharing) must not be used for the purchase of the abortion coverage and must be segregated from private premium payments or state funds.  

At least two lawsuits have been filed challenging the new healthcare law on religious grounds.

One was filed by a Michigan-based group, the Thomas More Law Center. The other was filed on behalf of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., which was founded by the late Jerry Falwell.

Both groups oppose abortion and take the stance that forcing individuals to participate in a healthcare system that supports abortionsis in violation of their First Amendment right to freely follow their sincerely held religious beliefs. It will be interesting to see how these lawsuits progress.

Regarding the issue of abortion itself, the  latest arguments that you hear from the pro-abortion crowd are like this one from atheism.about.com: 

Whether the fetus is declared a person from a scientific, religious, or legal perspective, this would not necessarily mean that abortion is wrong. A woman could assert a right to control her body such that even if the fetus is a person, it has no legal claim to use it. Could an adult claim a right to being hooked up to someone’s body? No — it might not be ethical to refuse the use of one’s body to save the life of another, but it couldn’t be forced by the law.

And from Salon.com:

The attempt to change the vocabulary around embryos is part of a larger strategy to elevate the fetus to ‘personhood’ under the 14th Amendment — and an effort to overturn Roe,” says Suzanne Martinez, vice president for public policy at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Relative ethics and morality sure make self-deluded attempts at logic easier, don’t they?

Here are some thoughts from The Book provided by The Author of Life:

Did not He who made me in the womb make him, And the same one fashion us in the womb? (Job 31:15)

Yet Thou art He who didst bring me forth from the womb; Thou didst make me trust when upon my mother’s breasts. Upon Thee I was cast from birth; Thou hast been my God from my mother’s womb. (Psalm 22:9-10)

For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Thy works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from Thee, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth. Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Thy book they were all written, The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. (Psalm 139:13-16)

Thus says the LORD who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you, `Do not fear, O Jacob My servant; And you Jeshurun whom I have chosen. (Isaiah 44:2)

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, “I, the LORD, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself, And spreading out the earth all alone, (Isaiah 44:24)

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

Why,  even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not;  you are of more value than many sparrows.”(Luke 12:7 )

From the scientific perspective, Dr. Carlo Bellieni, in his book “Dawn of the I: Pain, Memory, Desire, Dream of the Fetus,” says:

As soon as it is born, the child shows in a scientifically demonstrable way that it recognizes its mother’s voice and distinguishes it from that of a stranger. Where has he learned that voice other than in the maternal womb?

There are also direct proofs. For example, we register how the movements and cardiac frequency of the fetus vary if we transmit unexpected sounds through the uterine wall. And we see that at first the fetus is startled, then it gets used to it, just like we do when we hear something that does not interest us.

In fact, the scientific evidence is immense. We cannot understand how it can be thought that it becomes a person at a certain point, perhaps when coming out of the uterus.

From the physical point of view, at the birth very little really changes: Air enters the lungs, the arrival of blood from the placenta is interrupted, the type of circulation of blood in the heart changes, and not much more.

As I often say, only blind faith in magic arts or some strange divinity can lead one to think that there is a “human” quality leap at a given moment — certainly not science.

I know that there are some of you that read my blog that are non-believers.  For you and for my Christian brothers and sisters, I offer the following closing thoughts: 

There is a curious unique enzyme found in the human body.   Laminin is defined by the Webster Medical Dictionary as a “glycoprotein that is a component of connective tissue basement membrane and that promotes cell adhesion.”  In other words, a glue within the body.

Colossians 1:15-17 tells us:

¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. ¹⁷And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Sources:  religioustolerance.org, csmonitor.com, atheism.about.com, salon.com, godandscience.org, bible.com, truthorfiction.com,zenit.org

The White House, according to sources, is in the process of rewriting the United States National Security Strategy Document.  They are eliminating any reference identifying Islam as the source of Terrorist activities.  This comes on the heels on yesterday’s announcement that Scooter Obama has decided to enter into a non-proliferation and nuclear arms reduction treaty with the Russian Bear, trusting without verifying.  And we are not going to retaliate with nukes unless it is a very naughty country like Iran.   Hey Scooter, want to buy some beachfront property in Arizona? 

Gone will be the terms Islamic Extremist,  Islamic Jihadist, and Islamic Fundamentalism.  They are going to replace those terms with Very Angry Person of Middle-Eastern Descent Who Disagrees with the Flawed Foreign Policy of Boooosh…or something like that.

“You take a country where the overwhelming majority are not going to become terrorists, and you go in and say, ‘We’re building you a hospital so you don’t become terrorists.’ That doesn’t make much sense,” said National Security Council staffer Pradeep Ramamurthy.

Ramamurthy runs the administration’s Global Engagement Directorate, a four-person National Security Council team that Obama launched last May with little fanfare and a vague mission to use diplomacy and outreach “in pursuit of a host of national security objectives.”

Since then, the division has not only helped change the vocabulary of fighting terror but also has shaped the way the country invests in Muslim businesses, studies global warming, supports scientific research and combats polio.

I hear they also sell autographed pictures of Scooter sinking a jump shot. 

So, Obama is worried about offending devotees of Islam by linking them to extreme behavior.   After all, those weren’t Muslims that killed 3,000 people in the Twin Towers on 9/11.  Those weren’t Muslims that killed 220 Marines in their barracks in Beirut Lebanon in 1983.  Those weren’t Muslims that killed  sailors on the U.S.Cole in the waters off of Yemen.  Those weren’t Muslims that hijacked the Achille Laro.  That wasn’t a Muslim that blew up Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270.  No.   We must have been mistaken all these years.  All the Islamic Fundamentalists, err, devout religious practicers, are as peaceful as that private madrassa, err, school Scooter attended when he was living in Indonesia as a child.

According to the White House and their sycophants, err, Democratic Congressional leaders, the real enemies of America are all the Seasoned Citizens and Average Americans of all races attending the Tea Party Rallies.  And, for gosh sakes, be careful around those Southern Baptists and Chamber of Commerce members like me.  We might attack you with one of those killer casseroles.

Sources:  foxnews.com, guardian.co.uk, arlingtoncemetery.net

I am a Christian American Conservative. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I will not apologize for the greatest country on Earth.  

There has been a lot of conversation lately within the ranks of American Conservatives. In-fighting about what political philosophy and attitude to take. Should Conservatism be abandoned for the same kind of pseudo-intellectual arrogance and snarkiness that the Liberals practice with regularity and glee?

Or should Americans embrace Conservatism? Which kind of Conservatism? Fiscal? Social? Beltway/Moderate/Independent (a.k.a. Squishy)? 

The Republican Party has been practicing “Squishy” Conservatism in the last two elections. We are currently living with the consequences of that. Practicing this political philosophy of relative ethics and relative morality is akin to building a house on shifting sand.

Americans do not tolerate vacillating leaders for very long. Look at the problems besetting The Magnificent One, Barack “Scooter” Obama. Few Americans, except for his Far Left sycophantic base, are buying the “Hope and Change” he is selling. And they are upset with him because he is not “hoping and changing” fast enough to suit them. He even tried to reach out to the rank and file of his party and the Independents (one or two) who still might support him by attending church on Easter Sunday. He held a photo op at Allen Chapel, a historic African Methodist Episcopal Church, founded shortly after the Civil War. This action from the man who once said, “Whatever we once were, we’re no longer just a Christian nation…” and who regularly worships at the Sanctuary of the Holy Basketball Court. But I digress… 

Conservatives have a great opportunity ahead of us this November. But we will blow it if we do not present a united front. Our country is under siege from enemies, internal and external, that want to turn the “shining city on a hill” into a third-world barrio. We don’t have time for Internet Flame Wars, questioning the legitimacy of each other’s Conservatism. Nor do we have the luxury of wasting time ridiculing another Conservative for being old-fashioned or Christian. It’s time to man up. The barbarians have knocked down the gate and they are ransacking our homes. They have burdened future generations with a tax burden that may be insurmountable. For our children’s children’s sake, we must politically repel these invaders who wish to make us subservient to their failed ideology. 

So before I wrap this rant up, I wish to leave you with the words of the greatest American President in my lifetime. There are those who say he wasn’t a believer. I beg to differ. 

“Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged. “ 

“If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.”

“We are never defeated unless we give up on God.” 

“We have the duty to protect the life of an unborn child.”  

“Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face.”

“Without God, democracy will not and cannot long endure.” – President Ronald Reagan 2/6/11-6/5/04

courtesy cbn.com, brainyquotes.com

Friends have asked me if I believe that Christ would be in favor of this “Social Justice” movement that has consumed some churches in America. I believe first you need a working knowledge as to who Jesus was. The following is from a blog I wrote on manlyrash.com at Christmas, “The Reason for the Season”

As some of you know, I was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. I now reside in Northwest Mississippi.The following piece was written in 1912 by the editor of the Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tennessee, C.P.J. Mooney. Since then, it has remained so popular, that the newspaper has published it on their op ed page every year at Christmas.

JESUS, THE PERFECT MAN

There is no other character in history like that of Jesus.

As a preacher, as a doer of things, and as a philosopher, no man ever had the sweep and the vision of Jesus.

A human analysis of the human actions of Jesus brings to view a rule of life that is amazing in its perfect detail.

The system of ethics Jesus taught during His Earthly sojourn 2,000 years ago was true then, has been true in every century since and will be true forever.

Plato was a great thinker and learned in his age, but his teachings did not stand the test of time. In big things and in little things time and human experience have shown that he erred.

Marcus Aurelius touched the reflective mind of the world, but he was as cold and austere as brown marble. …

Thomas a Kempis’ Imitation of Christ is a thing of rare beauty and sympathy, but it is, as its name indicates, only an imitation.

Sir Thomas More’s Utopia is yet a dream that cannot be realized.

Lord Bacon writing on chemistry and medicine under the glasses of the man working in a 20th century laboratory is puerile.

The world’s most learned doctors until 150 years ago gave dragon’s blood and ground tails of lizards and shells of eggs for certain ailments. The great surgeons a hundred years ago bled a man if he were wounded.

Napoleon had the world at his feet for four years, and when he died the world was going on its way as if he had never lived.

JESUS TAUGHT little as to property because He knew there were things of more importance than property. He measured property and life, the body and soul, at their exact relative value. He taught much more as to character, because character is of more importance than dollars.

Other men taught us to develop systems of government. Jesus taught so as to perfect the minds of men. Jesus looked to the soul, while other men dwelled on material things.

After the experience of 2,000 years no man can find a flaw in the governmental system outlined by Jesus.

Czar and kaiser, president and socialist, give to its complete merit their admiration.

No man today, no matter whether he follows the doctrine of Mill, Marx or George as to property, can find a false principle in Jesus’s theory of property.

In the duty of a man to his fellow, no sociologist has ever approximated the perfection of the doctrine laid down by Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount.

Not all the investigations of chemists, not all the discoveries of explorers, not all the experiences of rulers, not all the historical facts that go to make up the sum of human knowledge on this day in 1912 are in contradiction to one word uttered or one principle laid down by Jesus.

The human experiences of 2,000 years show that Jesus never made a mistake. Jesus never uttered a doctrine that was true at that time and then became obsolete.

Jesus spoke the truth, and the truth is eternal.

History has no record of any other man leading a perfect life or doing everything in logical order. Jesus is the only person whose every action and whose every utterance strike a true note in the heart and mind of every man born of woman. He never said a foolish thing, never did a foolish act and never dissembled.

No poet, no dreamer, no philosopher loved humanity with all the love that Jesus bore toward all men.

WHO, THEN, was Jesus?

He could not have been merely a man, for there never was a man who had two consecutive thoughts absolute in truthful perfection.

Jesus must have been what Christendom proclaims Him to be — a divine being — or He could not have been what He was. No mind but an infinite mind could have left behind those things which Jesus gave the world as a heritage.

No. I do not believe that Jesus would be a part of the social justice movement. His was and is a soul-saving movement. One that still brings hundreds of thousand of peoplle to salvation on this terrestrial ball every day. A movement that, in fact, was embraced by the founders of this cherished land.

The following is courtesy of adherents.com:

There were 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence. There were 48 signers of the Articles of Confederation. All 55 delegates who participated in the Constitutional Convention of 1787 are regarded as Founding Fathers, in fact, they are often regarded as the Founding Fathers because it is this group that actually debated, drafted and signed the U.S. Constitution, which is the basis for the country’s political and legal system. Only 39 delegates actually signed the document, however, meaning there were 16 non-signing delegates – individuals who were Constitutional Convention delegates but were not signers of the Constitution.

There were 95 Senators and Representatives in the First Federal Congress. If one combines the total number of signatures on the Declaration, the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution with the non-signing Constitutional Convention delegates, and then adds to that sum the number of congressmen in the First Federal Congress, one obtains a total of 238 “slots” or “positions” in these groups which one can classify as “Founding Fathers” of the United States. Because 40 individuals had multiple roles (they signed multiple documents and/or also served in the First Federal Congress), there are 204 unique individuals in this group of “Founding Fathers.” These are the people who did one or more of the following:

– signed the Declaration of Independence
– signed the Articles of Confederation
– attended the Constitutional Convention of 1787
– signed the Constitution of the United States of America
– served as Senators in the First Federal Congress (1789-1791)
– served as U.S. Representatives in the First Federal Congress

The religious affiliations of these individuals are summarized below. Obviously this is a very restrictive set of names, and does not include everyone who could be considered an “American Founding Father.” But most of the major figures that people generally think of in this context are included using these criteria, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, John Hancock, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and more.

Courtesy adherents.com

Religious Affiliation of U.S. Founding Fathers

# of Founding Fathers/% of Founding Fathers

Episcopalian/Anglican 88 54.7%
Presbyterian 30 18.6%
Congregationalist 27 16.8%
Quaker 7 4.3%
Dutch Reformed/German Reformed 6 3.7%
Lutheran 5 3.1%
Catholic 3 1.9%
Huguenot 3 1.9%
Unitarian 3 1.9%
Methodist 2 1.2%
Calvinist 1 0.6%
TOTAL 204

The Founding Fathers were, I do not doubt, aware of the following passage:

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
2 Corinthians 3:17:

Isn’t it interesting that the enemies of personal freedom are always the enemies of relgious freedom as well?

In service to The King,

your humble kingsjester

Benjamin Netanyahu was born in 1949 in Tel Aviv and grew up in Jerusalem. He spent his high school years in the US, where his father, historian Benzion Netanyahu, was doing research. Returning to Israel in 1967, Mr. Netanyahu enlisted in the IDF and served in an elite commando unit, Sayeret Matkal. He took part in a number of military operations, including the rescue of hostages in a high-jacked Sabena airplane in 1972. In the same year, he was cited for outstanding operational leadership by the late Major General Motta Gur. Discharged from the IDF in 1972, Mr. Netanyahu participated in the Yom Kippur War and reached the rank of captain.

Mr. Netanyahu received a B.Sc. degree in architecture and a M.Sc. in business management from MIT. He also studied political science at MIT and Harvard University.

Between 1976 and 1982 Mr. Netanyahu worked in the private sector, first with the Boston Consulting Group, an international business consultancy, and then in a senior management position at Rim Industries Ltd.

In 1979 and 1984 Mr. Netanyahu initiated two international conferences that emphasized the need to fight terrorist organizations and regimes that provide them support. US Secretary of State George Schultz wrote that Mr. Netanyahu’s social activism and books had a decisive influence in shaping American policy on international terrorism.

In 1982 Mr. Netanyahu assumed the position of deputy chief of mission at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC. In 1984 he was appointed Israel’s ambassador to the UN, a position in which he served for four years. During this time he became renowned as a tireless champion of Israel’s cause in the international arena. As such, he led the effort for declassification of the United Nations archive on crimes committed by Nazi Germany.

Returning to Israel in 1988, Mr. Netanyahu was elected to the Knesset on the Likud party list and was appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. During the Gulf War he served as Israel’s principal representative in the international arena. In 1991, he was a senior member of the Israeli delegation to the Madrid peace conference and as such, participated in the first strategic cooperation program between Israel and the US.

In 1993 Mr. Netanyahu was elected Likud party chairman and served as head of opposition until his election to Prime Minister of Israel in 1996.

During his term as Prime Minister, Mr. Netanyahu implemented policy that combined fighting terror with advancement of the peace process. Its cornerstone was the conclusion of well-measured agreements with the Palestinians that insisted on reciprocity. During his three year term the number of terror attacks drastically decreased.

In the economic realm, Mr. Netanyahu led the liberalization of foreign currency regulations, accelerated privatization of government-owned companies and reduced budget deficit. During his term in office, the scope of foreign investment in Israeli high-tech industry reached billions of dollars per year.

After the completion of his term as Prime Minister, Mr. Netanyahu served as a business consultant to Israeli high-tech companies and was a popular speaker on the global lecture circuit.

In 2002 Mr. Netanyahu returned to politics, first as Minister of Foreign Affairs and then, in the course of 2003, as Minister of Finance. He initiated policies that encouraged growth by reducing the public sector and strengthened the private sector. They included the reduction of government expenses, tax cuts, transition from welfare to work, breakup of monopolies, resumption of privatization and introduction of pension reform. These steps, praised by the US administration, credit rating companies and the IMF, put an end to economic decline, lowered unemployment and spurred growth. An Israeli economy that was shrinking by about 1% each year starting in 2001 grew by 4.2% in 2004.

Mr. Netanyahu has written a number of books that appeared in Hebrew and English, with some also translated into Russian, French, Arabic, Japanese and other languages:

Self-portrait of a Hero: The Letters of Jonathan Netanyahu (1963-1976) – editor, together with brother Ido Netanyahu (1978)

International Terrorism: Challenge and Response – editor (1979)

Terrorism: How the West Can Win – editor (1987)

A Durable Peace : Israel and Its Place Among the Nations (1992)

Fighting Terrorism: How Democracies Can Defeat Domestic and International Terrorism (1996)

Mr. Netanyahu is married to Sara, a psychologist, and is a father of three. The Netanyahu family lives in Jerusalem

Courtesy Netanyahu.org

This week something happened at the White House that has never happened before in American history. A sitting President walked out of a meeting with the Prime Minister of one ofour closest allies and, foregoing the traditional photo op, press conference, and evening meal together.

All because this petulant man-child that was elected President and hisadvisors do not approve of Israel beginning construction in East Jerusalem. This is the same President who has apologized around the world for American Exceptionalism. The same POTUS who bowed and kissed the ring of a Saudi Arabian Prince. The same politician who sat in the pew of Jeremiah Wright’s Trinity Church in Chicago for 20 years, a bastion of Black Liberation Theology. Black Liberation Theology, by the way, views Jesus as a revolutionary leader, like Che, and the movement does not believe in the Resurrection. They evidently do not study Genesis 12: 1-3, either. 1Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” For further information on Black Liberation Theology, please check out the blog “luoamerican.com”. Among his friends and admirers are also Louis Farakkhan, American Muslim Leader and avowed Racist. So if we can’t come right out and call President Obama a Muslim, can we at least say that he is a Muslim sympathizer?

The way Prime Minister Netanyahu was treated this week was a disgrace. The petulant man-child basically told Bibi and the Israelies, “If you’re not going to play with me the way I want you to, I’m going to my room and pout.”

Unprecedented, indeed. Shameful, too.