Endowed by Whom?

Last week in a speech to the Hispanic caucus President Obama regurgitated a worn out liberal mantra about "shared values," values that he said British, French, Dutch and Spanish, as well as Mexicans and American Indians "all hold so dear." It was a rather bold statement considering that between liberals and conservatives most Americans can't even agree what those "shared values" are. According to the president it was "faith and fidelity" to those unnamed values that "made us all Americans." After some cheers from the crowd he went on to quote from the Declaration of Independence.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident," he said, "that all men are created equal." He paused, face turned to the right staring at his TelePrompTer, and blinked his eyes several times. Then he continued, "Endowed with certain inalienable rights, life and liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Hard core Obama defenders are saying it was no big deal, he was just paraphrasing. If it had been almost any other president that would be believable, but considering Obama's concerted effort to deny or cover up everything Christian in America it is hardly a plausible argument that he just casually overlooked "that they are endowed by their Creator" when quoting from one of the two most important documents in our history. It is particularly revealing when you consider the manner in which he edited the statement. When he reached "equal," he stopped for several seconds, apparently to figure out how to cut the phrase out. It appeared that he actually had to think about what he would say because, as we all know, he is helpless to speak intelligently without a TelePrompTer.

But even if his defenders are correct and it was just a paraphrase, no denial of a Christian Creator intended, it is a bad defense. An endowment is a gift given by someone with the ability to give. You cannot have an endowment without a benefactor. To say we are endowed without saying whom we are endowed by leaves the question unanswered: "Who endowed us with these unalienable rights?" Nature? Nature is simply the material world and its phenomena. Nature carries on in cycles the same way it has for millennia, but it only acts the way God created it to act. Nature can endow nothing. Neither are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness gifts from a non-caring deist god. Deism is a humanist philosophy that denies any godly influence in life at all. A deist god would not endow man with anything. And regardless of what the president has said, Islam had no influence on our unalienable rights either. The pagan moon god, allah, the one Mohammed chose for his religion, had nothing to do with our endowed liberties.

The truth is that Thomas Jefferson and fifty-five other signers of the Declaration of Independence agreed that we are endowed by our "Creator." It is God Himself who gives us these rights. It was the Christian God that Jefferson was speaking of and all the signers consented to. It was the God of Creation as told in Genesis chapter one, and reiterated in John 1:1-3 and Colossians 1:13-18.

The values that Americans share with our Founders are not the values of big government, high taxes, out-of-control spending, abortion on demand, gay rights, class envy, welfare state, illegal alien amnesty and Christian denial that the Liberal Left preaches. The values we share with the signers of the Declaration of Independence are limited government, balanced budgets, no taxation without representation, pro-biblical values such as life and marriage, the right to work to earn your own living, controlled legal immigration with protected borders and a Christian heritage. Furthermore, these are not necessarily values we shared with the French, Spanish, Mexicans or American Indians.

We were, in fact, founded as a Christian nation on shared biblical Christian values, and endowed by our Creator with unalienable rights. Those who deny this, people like our historically ignorant president, have no clue as to what our "values" even are. It is time we replaced the liberal anti-Christian elitists in Washington with conservatives who know and understand where America came from and what America is about.

The Star Spangled Banner

I've been thinking a lot lately about National Anthems. I believe we are right now in the crisis moment of our existence as a free people. The unbelievable spending of this government over the last almost two years is only the beginning. The open denial of our Christian heritage by our admittedly Muslim loving president (he said he favors Islam over Christianity in one of his books) is a threat to our very way of life. The health care bill passed by Congress threatens our status as a free nation and makes our future as a socialist state a dangerous reality. At the global warming conference in Copenhagen last December the president was ready to sign a treaty to create a government (yes, it used the word government) to oversee the compliance of all signing nations. In other words, had we signed, we would have given up our national sovereignty.

If that should ever happen I wonder if we'll still be able to sing our National Anthem. What's interesting is how many people wouldn't even care. I've heard plenty of people complain over the years about how our anthem is about war and fighting and it shouldn't be our anthem. People that think that way have never taken the time to learn what our anthem is about, what it stands for, or how it compares with anthems around the world. Our anthem is unique in both its focus and its conclusion.

The French national anthem, The Marsellaise, is one of the most rousing anthems with a very quick paced, march-like melody full of excitement. It was adopted in 1795 during the French Revolution and was a call of all patriots of France to throw off the tyranny of ferocious soldiers that were about to slit the throats of their sons and wives. The refrain is a call to arms for citizens to form battalions and march on to shed the blood of their enemies.

The German anthem is actually the Austrian Hymn, written by Franz Joseph Haydn in the 18th century. A poem was written a hundred years later and the tune and words were adopted in 1922. "Deutchland, Deutchland uber alles," it said. "Germany, Germany over all." It was a very inflammatory song and fit Hitler's philosophy of an Aryan master race to a T. After WW2 the first two verses were deleted and now the Germans sing the third verse which speaks of unity, justice and freedom, and a pledge of fortune for the Fatherland to flourish. The hymn itself is very beautiful and is often sung in churches with the words "Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken."

The Austrian Hymn had also been the tune for the Austrian anthem, but in 1946 the Austrians chose a quieter love of country song that avoided any mention of politics or patriotism.

The Dutch anthem, "Het Wilhelmus," is the oldest national anthem in the world. It was written in 1568 and depicts deposed Prince William encouraging the oppressed people of the Netherlands to rise up against Spanish rule. It stemmed from the period of Dutch heroism and the struggle of the Dutch people to be free. The music is very majestic and hymn-like, but goes on for 15 stanzas in which Wilhelm tells his story appealing to God for help, and declares loyalty to the fatherland.

Each of the countries of the United Kingdom have their own anthem, but the British anthem is God Save the Queen (or King). The words come from Henry VIII's time but the melody was first performed in 1607. It was not officially recognized as the anthem of Great Britain until 1745. Who wrote it is a mystery. Several names are mentioned, but it is also claimed to be a French folk song. It was known in several countries around Europe and is also the tune of the anthem of Liechtenstein. The words are not about the country but about the Queen and loyalty to the monarch. "God save our gracious Queen, Long live our noble Queen, God save the Queen. Send her victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us, God save the Queen.

"Lupang Hiniram," the Philippine anthem, means "Chosen Land." It has a very lively tune, somewhat like the French anthem. It was composed in 1898 during the Philippine revolution against Spain. The first line, "Bayong magiliw," means "beloved country." It calls the Philippines the Pearl of the Orient, and declares that the people will never surrender their chosen land. It tells of of seas and mountains, air and blue skies, and ends with a dedication of willingness to die for the land.

In Japan the anthem is called "Kimigayo." It means "May You Reign Forever." The words of the song which are rarely sung speak of Japan reigning for 10,000 years and closes saying may Japan reign and flourish. The words were written over a thousand years ago, but the music was composed in the 1800's. It is written in a somber minor key, but the harmony is very stately. Musically it is very beautiful and thoughtful. It seemed to me the perfect music to cause one to reminisce about a tragic past such as being the only nation ever to have suffered a nuclear attack, although the anthem is older than WW2, and I'm in no way apologizing for the events that happened in 1945.

The Kenyan anthem is called "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu." It is translated, "O God of all creation," but literally it says, "O God our strength." It speaks of unity and peace and being blessed within their borders. The tune is not musically beautiful and tends to ramble about until it comes to a sudden end.

"O Canada" has a very nice, hymn-odic melody and speaks about the land and the people on guard for Canada. The anthem of Israel is all about the city of Zion. Serbia's anthem is actually a prayer called "God of Justice." It is an appeal for God's deliverance for an oppressed people. The Swiss anthem is a Psalm that speaks of God dwelling in their land. The anthem of the no longer existing USSR was a very bold, dramatic, and lengthy melody about the Soviet Union being victorious.

There is a common thread in most of the world's anthems. They are all about the country, the motherland, the fatherland, loyalty to the land. Everything is the land. The UK is different in that it is all loyalty to the monarchy. Many of them are appeals from enslaved people looking for hope and freedom, and others are very bloody indeed writing about conquering people or shedding blood, some as the French anthem, in fairly graphic details.

How does The Star Spangled Banner differ from all of these? To really understand it you need to know the context in which it was written, which is why I think some people don't appreciate it. In 1814 the United States was a free nation, but had gone to war with England because of British interference with our ships on the high seas. The English invaded the United States, capturing Washington, DC, and were attempting to make a drive into the heartland, but they had to get by Baltimore first, and at the gates of Baltimore was Fort McHenry. On September 13, a lawyer, Francis Scott Key, was on board one of the British men-of-war trying to secure the release of an American prisoner and was detained when the bombardment of Ft. McHenry started.

Throughout the night as the guns roared and rockets flashed through the sky, the outcome was in doubt. In the morning of September 14, the guns fell silent and as the mist cleared off the waters and the fog lifted the Stars and Stripes of the US flag still waved in the breeze. The fort stood and the British began their retreat. Key, witnessing that most dramatic moment, began to write, "Oh, say can you see?"

The US anthem is unique in that it begins with a question about the outcome of a battle that may have decided US independence. It speaks of the proud defense of the fort by our troops who were greatly outnumbered and outgunned, of watching through the night to see if the flag still stood, and then at the dawn's early light learning the great truth that we had prevailed.

The first verse finishes asking another question. Does that flag still wave? It is a question that is as relevant today as it was in 1814. Are we still a free land? Do brave men still defend our shores? It is a challenge to us as Americans to follow the grand tradition of our forefathers who would not bow to tyranny but fought valiantly for our freedom.

The last verse is likewise a challenge to free men to ever stand between their homes and the threat of tyranny. Then it acknowledges that our land was "heaven-rescued." The blessings of victory and peace come from above. Our anthem places our freedom, our very existence on the providence of Almighty God, and "praise(s) the power that hath made and preserved us a nation."

"Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just." That line gives all the justification we needed for invading Iraq and Afghanistan. They were just causes necessary for the defense of our own homes. The verse finishes with the declaration that as long as our motto is, "In God is our trust," our flag will wave in triumph over the land.

Our anthem is not about the land, neither is it about a leader. It stands unique because it is about our flag, a banner that stands for freedom and a beacon of hope to oppressed people around the world.

This is not something to be ashamed of as the hand-wringing liberals think. Rather, this is something of which to be chest-thumping proud. We live in the greatest nation on earth, not because of the land, not because of the government, but because our God reigns, and He has raised up men and women who built this country by the sweat of their brow, the cost of their blood, and the bend of their knee praising the Power that made us great.

I'm telling you I am proud to be an American and I will never give up the fight for American sovereignty, no matter what false messiah usurps the reins of government and tries to overthrow the Constitution, and I will proudly stand up and salute and sing our National Anthem every time and every place it is played.

The music to the Star Spangled Banner is a great tune, but sometimes it gets butchered by country and pop performers who think they've got to do all kinds of styling to make it better. It's better when they don't do anything but sing it straight. I couldn't care less how great the vocalist is who sings it either. If it's sung too slow it dies. Too much variation distracts attention from the song. It is better sung quick and to the point. One of the best performances I ever heard was on TV on Monday Night Baseball. There was a plumber from Detroit back in the 70's who occasionally would sing the National Anthem before the game. No name recognition, no frills, he just sang and he was great. My favorite version of all time, however, is the link I've added on the blog by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I hope you'll take a moment to look it up and listen to it, and get your patriotism stirred.

We need to take back our country before the godless liberals ruin it forever.

Remember 9/11

In moments of crisis the memory of sudden, tragic attacks against the United States has fanned the flames of patriotic fervor. "Remember" has become a motto that has stirred Americans to action. It has been the battle cry that has kept the purpose for going to war close to our hearts. It has been the motivation to right the wrongs perpetrated against Americans.

In 1836, 188 Texans gave their lives at a little Spanish Mission in San Antonio, Texas. Overwhelmed by an army 25 times their size, they fought bravely for thirteen days until the end came. When Sam Houston's still outnumbered, rag-tag army caught up with Santa Anna, the battle cry, "Remember the Alamo" was on the lips of each soldier as they quickly defeated the Mexican army.

In 1898, the battleship, USS Maine, sat peacefully in the harbor at Havana, Cuba. In the middle of the night a horrendous explosion ripped a hole in the ship and it sunk in only minutes. As America geared up for war against Spain the battle cry was, "Remember the Maine." Americans remembered and quickly defeated the Spanish at San Juan Hill in Cuba and in the Battle of Manila Bay in the Philippines.

On December 7, 1941, the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor forced America into World War II. The largest war in world history ended almost four years later with the cost of almost half a million American lives. "Remember Pearl Harbor" rang from sea to shining sea as America rose to the test once again and conquered tyranny.

Nine years ago today America was drawn into another conflict. This one from a more nebulous enemy. Muslim terrorists from Al Qaeda flew airliners into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon. "Remember 9/11" was the rallying cry as America went to war in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Nine years later, many Americans seem to have forgotten what 9/11 is all about. The president announced today that "America has never been and never will be at war with Islam." President Bush said the same thing. Yet nearly every terrorist organization in the world today, and every terrorist group that has attacked America are Islamic. They have no regional boundaries. They are not defined by countries or governments. They are only defined by a religion.

The president piously spoke of religious freedom in America, implying support for the ground zero mosque, which he has previously publicly supported. But if Islam gets it's ultimate goal and takes over America, there will be no religious freedom. And until our leadership wakes up and defines our enemies for what they are, we will never win the War on Terror. We've won the battle on the ground in Iraq, and we can still win the battle in Afghanistan, but terrorism will never be defeated as long as we refuse to go after the philosophy that drives it.

Now after a long drawn out war with leaders who haven't figured out who they are fighting, many Americans don't remember. It was an Islamic attack on American soil against peaceful American citizens. Never forget it.

Remember 9/11.

American Sovereignty

Of the Arizona border President Obama, defending his lack of action to protect America against Mexican drug cartels that are overrunning sovereign United States soil, said that a "nation is not defined by its borders." As he has so many other times, he proved once again his absolute ignorance with that statement. A culture may not be defined by physical borders, but a nation is. If you don't draw a line and say, "This is mine and that is yours," you no longer have sovereignty over any land. If there is no border anybody can claim it. That is exactly what is going on in Arizona right now.

Cultures can easily, and often do, cross borders. There is a large Filipino community in San Diego, California. They keep many of the same traditions, foods, and customs that they brought with them from the Philippines, but they are not a sovereign nation within the United States. Similarly, there is a large Dutch community in Denver, Colorado. Every year they hold a festival to celebrate Dutch products and traditions. They are a culture but not a sovereign nation. This is true in other parts of the world as well. The Kurds of northern Iraq have cultural and relational ties with the Kurds of eastern Turkey, but they are separated by a defined national border.

The same is true of the United States and Mexico. A defined physical border divides the sovereignty of the two nations. Illegal alien drug runners coming over the border and murdering US citizens amounts to an invasion of US sovereign territory. To do nothing about it is more than just dereliction of duty, it's criminal. The president promised to send 1200 National Guard troops to the border. Five months after the promise thirty (that's right 30) troops have received orders. Yet, the government has filed three lawsuits against Arizona to prevent the state from acting in the Federal government's absence.

To make matters worse, the president has now complained to China, to Cuba, and to the United Nations about American civil rights abuses. Let that sink in for a moment. He has complained to the world's worst human rights violators about America abusing civil rights. What does he expect them to do? Invade America? Put sanctions against us? This is nothing but a deplorable failure in leadership. If America is that bad it is the president's job to do something about it, not the United Nations or China or Cuba. He is the elected leader; it is his responsibility. But just as he has refused to take responsibility for all of his other failures, blaming them on George Bush, he now refuses to take responsibility for his country and goes crying to the UN.

It proves more than anything else that this president has absolutely no respect for the nation he is supposed to be governing. He has no respect for our national boundaries, and no concern for the safety of the American people. He has gone to war with Arizona, his Justice Department deliberately trying to prohibit Arizona from protecting its own citizens. He has not only ignored and bypassed the constitution, he has, by ignoring the Arizona border, begun to dismantle the country.

When he announced his campaign for presidency in 2007, Candidate Obama immediately played the race card. How ironic that the nation that fought a civil war to preserve the Union and ultimately end slavery, is now being driven into a new civil war by a black president who was elected by an overwhelmingly non-racist public. (How could anyone say otherwise? He would never have been elected without the white vote.)

If the polls are correct and a huge Republican victory is forthcoming in November, the new majority in Congress needs to investigate this president as vigorously as the Democrats and liberal press have covered for him for the last two years. This president needs to be impeached and the proof of his citizenship needs to be exposed. What the president is doing amounts to treason, unless of course he's not actually an American citizen. Then he needs to be arrested and put in Guantanamo.

The United States of America is a sovereign nation with definable borders. Those borders need to be enforced and protected. Illegal aliens need to be sent home, and so do illegal alien amnesty loving congressmen, no matter what party they belong to.