Liberals Don’t Know What Patriotism Means
December 1, 2008 | Filed Under Anti-Americanism, Barack Obama, Conservatives, Constitution, Democrats/Leftists, Education, Founders, Government, Corruption, Media Bias, Military, News, Patriotism, Publius Contributor, Security/Safety, Society/Culture, Warner Todd Huston | No Comments
-By Warner Todd Huston
Some think it a canard that liberals aren’t patriotic. In some ways, it is a canard, but only just. Some liberals really do imagine themselves patriotic. But in what ever way liberals imagine they feel for their country, it doesn’t seem that patriotism is really what they feel. At least not in the way that patriotism is properly defined. There has been a spate of stories in the media since Obama’s election that serve to illustrate why liberals seem incapable of being patriotic.
But, first, what is patriotism?
After the War of 1812 one of our most celebrated sea captains, Stephen Decatur (America’s first post Revolutionary War military hero) once gave a toast at Norfolk to his fellow seamen that is the most perfect illustration of true patriotism. As he lifted his glass, Decatur said,
“Our country! In her intercourse with foreign nations, may she always be in the right; but our country, right or wrong.”
What does this ‘Freedom’ and ‘Liberty’ Stuff Mean, Anyway?
November 17, 2008 | Filed Under 1st Amendment, Conservatives, Constitution, Founders, Free Speech, History, News, Publius Contributor, Rights, Security/Safety, Society/Culture, Warner Todd Huston | No Comments
This is a great little video that helps explain what is meant by life, liberty, freedom, property rights, and all that jazz.
Created by www.jonathangullible.com/.
MY President or Just THE President
November 6, 2008 | Filed Under Barack Obama, Democrats/Leftists, Elections, Family, Founders, Ken Marrero, Military, Patriotism, Society/Culture, Taxes | 2 Comments
-By Ken Marrero
Tuesday night, Barack Obama spoke to a waiting country and a wondering world. Found in his words are a myriad reasons to reject what he stands for. The election is over and Obama is President. Some say the healing must now begin and we must unite behind Barack. Obama himself appealed “…to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn — I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.”
I say, Obama will be the President; but he will never be my President. Obama wants what he is unwilling to give. To get the job, Obama divided us. Now on the job, he yearns for unity’s strength. But leopards don’t change their spots. As he ran, so will he govern. I will not be a party to that.
Obama’s speech text is here. The video is here. Please read it before reading my comments.
When Obama “wonders if the dream of our founders is alive”, I remember what those Founders wrote. They were “dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” Obama believes some men are more equal than others. When advocating for nonexisent rights or for granting more rights to some than to me, he will be the President, but not my President.
Where is Your Common Sense, America?
August 16, 2008 | Filed Under Constitution, Founders, News, Patriotism, Publius Contributor, Society/Culture, Warner Todd Huston | No Comments
Thomas Paine speaks to this generation! He is good (New York accent aside, the real Paine would have had an English accent!). This guy is passionate and spot on in his commentary.
Baptists, Puritans, and the Witch Hunt!
July 12, 2008 | Filed Under Don Boys, Education, Europe, Founders, History, Media Bias, News, Patriotism, Publius Contributor, Religion, Society/Culture | No Comments
-By Don Boys, Ph.D.
Hatred of Baptists was not limited to the Old World. The New World had its haters also and Baptists had to suffer the whip, the club, and prison to gain their religious liberty.
Boston authorities imprisoned three Baptists and whipped one of them grievously. This whipping of Obadiah Holmes was witnessed by Henry Dunster, president of Harvard College, and it made a life-changing impression on him. Dunster looked closer at the question of infant baptism and concluded that the Baptist position was the Bible position. When he made that announcement, it produced heartburn in every Puritan in New England.
Dunster was a scholar of Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and the Oriental languages. He was also an able preacher, and his conversion to Baptist principles was one of the most sensational events that occurred during that period. He refused to permit his own child to be “baptized” in the Congregational Church where he was a member! He felt strongly impressed (by the Puritans) to resign his position at Harvard. (Hey, what happened to academic freedom?)
All this sensational news didn’t hurt the growth of Baptists in New England, and they continued to erect buildings (illegally) while the Puritans turned up the heat. The Baptists built a church building in 1679, but the Puritan officials passed a law that required a “license from the authorities.” The Puritan authorities thought they could control the Baptists if they required a license to meet. That is what a license is for today—control.
Did Baptists Influence Thomas Jefferson?
July 11, 2008 | Filed Under Congress, Constitution, Don Boys, Education, Founders, News, Patriotism, President, Publius Contributor, Security/Safety, Society/Culture, The Law | No Comments
-By Don Boys, Ph.D.
Baptist people have been the most principled people since the time of Christ. I do not believe that the designation of “Baptist” is nearly as important as the doctrine, but I want people to know where I stand. I am a Baptist, and am proud of my heritage that has made an incredible impact on this world—even Jefferson and the U.S. Constitution!
Baptists have stood for the free exercise of a person’s will and against oppression (religious or political) down through the ages.
The English historian, Skeats wrote, “It is the singular and distinguished honor of the Baptists to have repudiated from their earliest history all coercive power over the consciences and actions of men with reference to religion. They were the proto-evangelists of the voluntary principle.”
While that is true, it is also true that there have always been people, since the time of Christ, who held Baptist principles. In fact, a Methodist historian, John Clark Ridpath, who died in 1900 wrote, “I should not readily admit that there was a Baptist Church as far back as 100 A.D., although without doubt there were Baptist Churches then, as all Christians were then Baptists.” (Emphasis added.)
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