My guest hijacker today is Stephen T McCarthy from Ferret-Faced Fascist Friends. Stephen and I go back to my pre-blogging days. In fact I credit him as the one who got me started blogging so I hope you'll show him respect by reading what he has to say here in this post. Stephen does not shy away from controversy and was hesitant to do a guest post on my site for fear of driving away readers. I however welcome intelligent discourse that may be considered controversial by some people. If we don't talk about certain things we never learn anything of real value. Please read and then give your thoughts in the comment section. We want to know what you think.
BECOME AN “EDUCATED” AMERICAN PATRIOT
[The following edited essay was originally composed in February, 2005]
ARE YOU PATRIOTIC?
We have seen a collective change in America's consciousness since the horrendous terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Everywhere people are flying the flag and pledging allegiance to it. Bumper stickers on countless automobiles broadcast proud slogans: “God Bless America”;“Stay Brave, Stay Free”; “9/11, We Will Never Forget”; “Support The Troops”; and “United We Stand”. Americans all across our once-great Nation are filled with a patriotic fervor unmatched since World War II. Unfortunately, this is only a highly superficial patriotism.
Why do I say that? Because in order to really support one's country, a person must first know what their country stands for and why it deserves support. Equally important, a person is required to be able to recognize the concepts that are enemies to their country's belief system. Before we start waving the flag and proclaiming the greatness of our nation, we had better have a true understanding of just what it is about our nation that indeed makes it unique and great!
Sadly, most Americans have almost no knowledge at all about the principles upon which their country was founded. Oh sure, they know when the next episode of the TV programs ‘THE BIG BANG THEORY’ and ‘DANCING WITH THE STARS’ will air, but they don't know what the BILL OF RIGHTS is and why it was conceived. Americans know who got kicked off ‘AMERICAN IDOL’ last week, but they can't tell you who GEORGE MASON was. Americans are made ecstatic by an offer of 1,000 free, anytime cell phone minutes, but they're not the least bit disturbed that they are constantly being denied the freedoms secured for them by the TENTH AMENDMENT to the U.S. CONSTITUTION. As long as their stock portfolio is healthy, they have cable TV in every room, and their professional sports team of choice makes the post-season playoffs, most Americans are quite content. Never mind that what little greatness remains in the United States is but the final vestiges of the Founders' handiwork, and more of it dissipates with each passing year!
Nothing impacts our lives both individually and collectively to the degree that religion and politics do, and therefore no other topics are more worthy of conversation than these. Unfortunately, these are the two subjects that are most likely to be avoided by conversing Americans. "I NEVER DISCUSS RELIGION AND POLITICS" has nearly become an American maxim. I am convinced that the reason for this lies in the average American's dismal knowledge in these areas. Joe is so concerned that Dave will discover how uninformed he is, that he refuses to discuss these subjects at all. Ironically, Dave is ducking the subjects with Joe for the same reason! What a shame that people don't simply educate themselves so that these most significant topics could be discussed and better understood by all. A little less TV and more scholarly reading would do the trick.
Now I have a confession to make: 18 years ago I was the most politically and religiously ignorant man in America! Why? Partially because like most of America's youth, I had been deliberately "dumbed-down" by our Federal education system. (Ignorant people are easier to manipulate and control!) But at the age of 30 or 31, I became aware of (and embarrassed by) my ignorance and decided to educate myself. I turned off the Boob Tube, and after 18 years of an intensive reading program, I elevated myself to a status of adequacy in terms of American history and government. At the least, I can now articulate what it was about America that made Her great, who it was that brought Her down, and why.
If America's greatness can be recovered at all, it will be accomplished only through SELF-EDUCATION; loud, non-violent protest; and STRICT CONSTITUTIONALISTS being elected to Congress. Engaging in this plan of action is your duty as an American citizen and true patriot. It is also what you owe your children and grandchildren if you are serious about leaving them decent living conditions as an inheritance.
THE PATRIOT'S LIBRARY
The following books will be invaluable in the self-education process. Some of the titles are actually links to reviews I’ve posted for the book:
‘THE POLITICALLY INCORRECT GUIDE TO THE CONSTITUTION’
by Kevin R. C. Gutzman, Ph.D.
An excellent primer, showing us what the Constitution really says and how we went wrong, allowing judges and politicians to violate, fold, spindle and mutilate it. The book includes The Declaration Of Independence and The Constitution Of The United States in their entirety.
‘WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS: A Reverent Review Of The U.S. Constitution’
by Congressman Lawrence McDonald
If you've actually read the U.S. Constitution and come away thinking it was an enigma because American legislation doesn't seem to jibe with what you read, you can be sure that there's nothing wrong with your powers of comprehension. It's just that our entire way of life is now un-Constitutional, meanwhile the dogs of Socialism run freely through our house, howling.
You’ll learn a ton of valuable information from this very small book which also includes The Declaration and The Constitution in their entirety.
by G. Edward Griffin
Perhaps the most important tome ever published on contemporary American politics and economics! A fascinating story filled with intrigue! Despite the subject matter, this is NOT dry reading.
by James Perloff
Ever wondered who REALLY makes the decisions that come from the White House and Capitol Hill? Ever wanted to know who’s really running this show?
‘THE NAKED CAPITALIST: A Review And Commentary On Dr. Carroll Quigley’s book ‘Tragedy And Hope’
by W. Cleon Skousen
Skousen's "The Naked Capitalist" begins by asking "WHY? Why do some of the richest people in the world support Communism and Socialism? Why would they support what appears to be the pathway to their own destruction?” His answers to the above questions may astonish you.
‘THE COMMUNIST MANIFESTO’
by Karl Marx
Know your enemy!
“Abolition of the family! …The bourgeois claptrap about the family and education, about the hallowed co-relation of parent and child…” … “The Communists are further reproached with desiring to abolish countries and nationalities.” Ah-Ha! There it is! That last sentence is why you MUST read…
by John Stormer
Absolutely essential reading! This classic covers a lot of ground, including the heartbreaking and nauseating truth about our government's love affair with Communism. For those who lost loved ones in the Korean or Vietnam "police actions" this book will be particularly disturbing. As Mr. Stormer accurately states: "Every communist country in the world literally has a 'Made In The U.S.A.' stamp.”
‘ECONOMICS IN ONE LESSON’
by Henry Hazlitt
If you’re only going to read one book on Economics, this should probably be the one.
‘THE POLITICALLY INCORRECT GUIDE TO THE BIBLE’
by Robert J. Hutchinson
As a longtime dedicated student of The Holy Bible, I wasn’t expecting a great deal from this book, but because I liked several other titles in this book series, I read it anyway. HOKEY-SMOKE! What a great publication! It touches on so many related topics and I love the author’s feisty personality. Chapter 11, titled “Endowed By Their Creator With Certain Unalienable Rights”, alone is worth the purchase price. Anything about that chapter title make you think of The Declaration Of Independence?
PEOPLE, THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS BECAUSE . . .
‘1984’ by George Orwell describes America's destiny if we don't wake up and become responsible patriots pretty darn quick! Read the book again and see if we aren't already two-thirds of the way there! (*Who are we scheduled to be warring with next year, East Asia, Russia, or some dirt-poor country in the Middle East?) The only thing Orwell missed was the timing.
Forget the Democrat and Republican parties, they're BOTH deceiving you!
Kill your BOOB TUBE and TALK RADIO and learn the TRUTH for yourself by… READING!
Below is a link to a (hopefully) humorous tongue-in-cheek Political / Social Studies quiz I created in 2008. It has the distinction of being partially responsible for me being “blacklisted” by Amazon.com. (I’m rather proud of my “blacklisting” and wear it like a feather in my red, white and blue cap.)
Link:
EDJUCATION-R-US: “We B Edjucatin’ U.” [Issue #1: Polatics & Soshial Studies]
~ Stephen T. McCarthy
How educated are you about the history, laws, and government of the nation in which you live? Is discussion of religion and politics something that you avoid? If so, why? Do you feel that you have a responsibility to help instigate change or would you prefer to leave that in the hands of others? What kind of world would you like to see in the future and how do you propose we get there?
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