LIBERTY or LEISURE?

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control, COST of FREEDOM, government control, identity, leisure, liberty, The Americans Who Risked Everything, VALUE of FREEDOM

Whether it is the nation as a whole, or my little corner of it (family), the challenge is the same. IDENTITY!

Many of us have been quite active over the last few weeks working toward the defunding of Obamacare. It didn’t matter that logic was on our side. It didn’t matter that the American people were on our side. The media was not, and perhaps, never will be. So … now what?

I saw a discussion on facebook about the creation of a third party. The poster stated, correctly in my view, that the Republicans have left a large segment of their constituents behind and become the old Whig Party, denying the Conservative stand of most Republicans. His claim is that the media ignores or tarnishes anyone who disagrees, and this prohibits contrary views from being part of the public domain. The IRS scandal (which has been quickly pushed out of the headlines) is clear evidence of this “silencing” of views that oppose the President.

The question remains, how do we, the opposition, move into the next election cycle without faith in our leaders? How can we change our leadership? It’s not so much the fiscal issues that divide, but the social issues. Abortion, even after 40 years, is still as hot a topic as it was back when Roe v Wade went to the Supreme Court. In addition, we have now the gay marriage issue which divides us and even gun control.

I don’t know if a third party WIN is possible, but I do know that Americans have to make a decision, the sooner the better, concerning morality and civility. We must decide WHO we want to be. Are we going to be the compassionate, helpful, generous, and kind people we have been until this current President took the reins? Or are we going to continue down the road of hate, destruction, resentment, his false notion of “fairness,” and poverty?

The political actions of this administration are very simply make clear Obama’s hatred for everything America has represented for over 200 years. And, while some people declare him incompetent, he has succeeded beyond expectation in the destruction of America’s economy, America’s middle income industry, and small business. He has brought a depth of jealousy and greed between socio-economic levels that never existed before his regime. He has also brought about a resurgence in racial tensions as he drives false wedges between races and other social differences. We now experience the lowest morale within the military ever known resulting in unprecedented numbers of suicides and untreated PTSD among Veterans. In short, in the 5 years of his presidency so far, he has succeeded in turning Americans against one another in record numbers simply for his (and his party’s) benefit. It’s all about CONTROL!

The Gun laws are all about CONTROL!

Obamacare (The un-Affordable Healthcare Act) is all about CONTROL!

The Global-warming myth is all about CONTROL!

On and on the list grows while the people of this great nation ignore the outrageous scandals, the dismantling of our 235+ yr old brilliant CONSTITUTION, and generally surrender more and more CONTROL to the government. If only those who have sworn to “support and defend” our CONSTITUTION for ALL enemies, both “foreign and domestic,” maybe America could self-correct.

Calling on BOTH Democrats and Republicans
to uphold their Oath of Office

I don’t really understand this mindset. Does it really feel that good to sit around and watch “Let’s Make a Deal,” and collect welfare? Or are we too busy working 2 or 3 part-time jobs (since Obamacare is moving quickly to eliminate our 40 hr week)? Have we all pulled back into our shells in the hope the bad behavior of our leaders will just go away? Or maybe their bad behavior justifies ours?

Who are We Now? Who will We be in a Decade?

If we want our “Representatives” to be honest, WE must be honest!

If we want our Leaders to be KIND, WE must be kind!

If we want our elected officials to respect LIFE, WE must respect LIFE!

We must demand integrity in ourselves first, then we can search for it in those who wish to represent us. We must treat others as we want to be treated if we want our leaders to work together in spite of differing ideals. We must respect our differences if we hope our representatives in government will consider all sides of a debate. It’s up to us! Don’t you see? This is exactly why our Constitution is so BRILLIANT!!! Ultimately, the POWER is in OUR hands. Over the past few decades, we have abdicated our responsibility and surrendered our POWER, but it’s TIME to take it back, don’t you think? The ball is in our court, so to speak. What will we do with it? Will we mature and take responsibility for our lives, our fortunes, and our honor? Or will we continue to yield our Liberty in exchange for leisure?

Perhaps a little reminder of the COST of FREEDOM will help to inspire us.

The Americans Who Risked Everything

Maybe a reality check will help us appreciate the VALUE of FREEDOM.

ADDITIONAL READING:

Thinking Outside the Two Party Box

Obama’s new world order

The Man Who Despises America

Obama’s Hatred for America

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Road Rage & Cousins

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America, choices, control, COURTESY, Grow up, IMPERFECTION, kindness, out of control, plan ahead, road rage, Self-control, self-government, unacceptable behavior

Ever been on either side of a “Road Rage” incident? Someone cuts you off and nearly drives you into another car or obstacle? Or maybe someone forgets to signal for a turn and you wait and wait … then they turn! It’s enough to make your blood boil, right? Of course it is! You’re justified in your feelings, so what’s your response? Do you pound the steering wheel and let loose a string of colorful words? Do you flip the “idiot” the bird? Do you ram his car from behind?

What if it’s YOU? What if YOU’RE the one who forgot to signal because you were engrossed in a conversation on our phone? What if YOU are the one who lost concentration for a second and pulled out in front of an oncoming vehicle? Never done it? I have! I confess! Not often, but it has happened.

Most of us ave been on BOTH sides of bad driver courtesy. Hmmm COURTESY … is that a WORD? Is it something any of us think about any more? Yea, sure there are LAWS, but then there is … COURTESY. What happens if two cars arrive at a 4-way stop at the same time? Who goes first? Is it just a matter of reflexes and which punches the gas first?

Road rage is just one evidence of a universal problem we humans experience – IMPERFECTION! Now, I realize some of us are … almost perfect, but we all know the other guy is anything but perfect! In fact, the other guy is an absolute idiot, if you tell the truth, right? Until … you miss that STOP sign hidden behind a low-hanging tree branch and fly through the intersection past a parked patrol car! Ooops!

GIVENS:

1. ALL HUMANS ARE FLAWED
2. EACH live HUMAN WILL OFFEND (disappoint, discourage, frighten, embarrass, confuse, irritate, annoy, bother …) SOMEONE TODAY
3. EACH live HUMAN WILL BE OFFENDED TODAY, and, sad but true,
4. YOU WILL OFFEND SOMEONE TODAY

In light of the fact that I KNOW I will offend someone today, or at least will have the opportunity to offend someone today (in or out of a car), I can CHOOSE (gotta love FREEDOM) ahead of time, what my response will be. I can, therefore, BE PREPARED when the incident occurs.

It is humanly possible to decide ahead of time what my response will be to “OFFENSE.” ( as in disappointment, discouragement, fear, embarrassment, confusion, irritation, annoyance, bother …) I can CHOOSE:

• to throw my justified “rage” (or other justified reaction) at the well-deserving “idiot” for daring to ruin my day, OR
• to acknowledge the “mistake” graciously, as I would like to be treated in the event of MY error.

If I respond in RAGE, I can expect RAGE when I mess up. If, on the other hand, I can hold it together and wave off the mistake kindly, maybe the next time I drive with my head in my phone instead of on my driving, I will be shown kindness as well.

THIS is called: SELF-CONTROL! YES! (or Self-government) You and I have a DOMAIN! It is our own thoughts, words, and deeds! I have the ability to be … IN CONTROL of my words – to choose to speak kindness or not. Btw, truth need not ALWAYS be spoken, if it cannot be done in kindness! Honesty is wonderful, but it is trumped by Kindness!

RIGHT???

I make plenty of mistakes, just ask my kids! It is my hope, that when I do, kindness will be the response. Anger serves no positive purpose. NONE! It raises our BP, and who knows what all inside our body, and it takes our mindset to a bad place … an unsettled place.

It is the SOFT answer that turns away wrath! Did you know this? Try it next time someone yells at you. Quietly apologize. (Right or wrong!) So the next time you are distracted while waiting for the traffic light to change until a horn blasts you back to reality, smile and wave in apology as you drive away. Or the next time you’re BEHIND someone asleep at the light … don’t honk heavy … just tap it enough to alert the distracted driver in front of you and wear a smile when he looks back. Both of you will feel so much better than an ugly “Road Rage” incident.

SELF-CONTROL
is just controlling your SELF

Just in case you aren’t sure, this approach works for OTHER things as well. FREEDOM is a great thing – it allows us CHOICES!!! Wise men and women have debated the various structures of government for millennia, but most have been unwilling to recognize that even the seemingly perfect structure cannot provide security and freedom without self-government. The individual must “govern” his own choices, his own thoughts, his own responses, and his own behavior for Liberty to endure.

Each individual must undertake this journey. It does no good if only a few manage themselves well. For security and freedom to flourish in any civilization, the people must learn SELF-GOVERNMENT … self-control! We must teach our children to control their urge to lie, to steal, to throw a tantrum when they don’t get their own way. We teach them both by example and by correcting unacceptable behavior. Throwing a tantrum because mommy won’t buy that candy bar at the check out is NOT acceptable behavior.

It is time to Grow up, America! We have behaved badly for too long. Stop pointing to other people’s bad behavior as an excuse for our own bad behavior. Stop looking for JUSTIFICATION! When we throw our tantrums, we shame the GOOD and HONORABLE among us. We disrespect our GOD and our HERITAGE when we do not extend COURTESY to one another. We cannot control the thoughts and behaviors of others, but we CAN and MUST control our own! We KNOW better! We were taught better, at least if we’re over 35!

Just like our CONSTITUTION is not there to define our boundaries, but to define the boundaries of government, so GOD’s law is not here to confine us, but to release us to a more flavorful, more fulfilling life … if we just follow His WORD.

RESPONSIBILITY is FREEDOM‘s
last name!

Not the greatest video, but the SONG is GREAT!