What I learned from the Civil War

I just spent the weekend in the 1860’s when gentlemen were gallant and tipped their hats when passing a lady; when children would offer to help a burdened passer-by carry their parcels for no greater reward than a “thank you, young man”, when a nation was torn asunder by many of the same factors that we are facing today.

I know that you believe what you were taught in school, those bastions of intolerance, indoctrination and the aggrandizement of inferiority through enforced conformity, that the bloodiest war of our history was fought over slavery or economic and cultural disparities… but you would be wrong. Granted, those issues were symptoms of the problem and helped to catalyze the conflict, but they were not the driving force behind the eruption of war. The “the causes which (impelled) them to the separation” were, in fact, quite similar to those that drove the 13 colonies to leave behind the Rule of King George and which are dividing us today. Those causes would be such things as the intolerable intrusion of government into the daily lives of its citizens, an overbearing government dictating the terms under which a citizen must conduct his/her private life and an ever expanding government taking on itself authorities well beyond those allowed by the conventions established to guide the government. (In the case of the Civil War and now, that would be the Constitution.)

Then, as now, we had a government attempting to overstep their boundaries and take on a greater authority than allowed by the Constitution. Then, it was the usurpation by the federal government of rights specifically given to the states and local governments; today it is usurpation by the federal Government of private industry and personal choice in our day to day lives. I doubt that this will erupt into a civil war, but there do seem to be some uncivil scuffles happening. They seem to have started when the voices raised against the government’s violation of the Constitution were deemed to be too loud and too numerous by that same government, who then called out the bully boys and thugs to threaten, batter and intimidate those who hold opinions in contradiction to those of their masters in the government.

This weekend I sat quietly, which was difficult for me in and of itself, and listened to a discussion by two brilliant and insightful people. One noted that the repression of opposing thoughts through thug violence and citizens spying on their neighbors were both part and parcel of the rise of totalitarian governments in Germany and the Soviet Union. The other proposed that revolution would occur in this country before we tolerated that behavior for too long. The first commenter then indicated that the essence of “rebellion”, too much citizen unrest, would be the excuse used by a government on the path of Germany or the Soviet Union to establish Martial Law. The second person indicated that she believed that this nation would then rise up in full scale rebellion once again if such a repressive action was taken. Both felt that our military would not support such an order and that would be a decisive difference between this nation and those of then Germany and the Soviet Union.

While I think that this conversation was exploring the outer fringes of possibility, it frightens me that intelligent, insightful people, people well educated in the history and the laws of this land, would even draw parallels to such places, events and behavior patterns as Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.

And so I am back to the Civil War, to the need to adhere to the Constitution and the requirement to remain ever vigilant and on guard against this government and any government that presumes too much authority over its citizenry, their businesses and their private lives.

But what do I know…. I’m just a Political Terrorist, Union defying, Right Wing, concealed carry permit holding Mob Member. But no worries! I’ve already turned myself in to Big Brother, so you won’t have to.

California must be so proud

Barbara Boxer is at it again. First she insults BG Michael Walsh, a man who has actually put his life on the line for many years to preserve her right to bear the title of Senator by demanding, in a whiney, self aggrandizing tone, that he address her as Senator instead of Ma’am, which by the way is the traditional honorific in the military to a female superior… Then she condescends to imply to Harry Alford, the President of the Black Chamber of Commerce, that he shouldn’t be disagreeing with her because he’s black and other black people agree with her…. And now… NOW she is implying that citizens of this nation who are speaking out at Town Hall Meeting all across the nation are plants, are feigning outrage. Her proof? Well, HELLO?!! Isn’t it obvious? They’re too well dressed!! The man in the t-shirts & blue jeans, too well dressed. The lady in the tank top, too well dressed. So, I guess I’m over dressed as I sit her in my sweatpants and tank top to be expressing my own feelings on this matter.

Alas, I will have to go to the thrift shop and buy a whole new wardrobe when I head out to my town hall meeting, or I wonder if a sports bra and my flannel boxer shorts will do? Of course that will trigger a need for a lifetime of counseling for all in attendance. Now, both of the Senators from WA and most of the Representatives already need counseling, but I am quite worried about the innocent citizenry that will be in attendance. Hmmmmm, I may have to rethink this plan.

In all fairness to Barbara, though, I can understand how she would naturally suspect people who are too well dressed of harboring nefarious purposes. When I drive down the street and see a man walking by in a three piece suit I quickly check my door locks. He can’t be up to any good. When I step into an elevator and am confronted by women in clean, freshly pressed dresses, I slowly back out of the elevator and take the next one. And when I see some well dressed representative of my government speaking on the tv… You got it, I start to panic. Their lips are moving! I can’t trust them!!!

Yep, California must be so proud!

And So It Begins!!!

I am a quiet, artsy sort of person by nature. Well, artsy in a "no real talent" sort of way. I have never really taken a political stance on anything in a public format before. Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm out there on Freedom Bridge waving flags in support of our troops on a regular basis. But as for outright politics... that's for "other sorts of people than I". Until today.


When I read the following paragraph on the WHITE HOUSE web site, I knew that the time of silence was past and the time to step up the fight on the Home Front had begun. That "eternal vigilance" of which Mr Jefferson spoke suddenly became so very real to me.

Your White House and mine actually posted this statement on their web site:
"There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov."

So... today I am starting a political blog. I haven't the wit or the time that many bloggers out there have to apply to this game, but I have the passion. And I'm starting out by reporting myself to the White House. I want to be on their rolls as one who will speak freely whether they have approved my thoughts or not.

I disapprove of the changes being forced down our throats on Health Care "Reform" primarily because they are being forced down our throats. We have no time to study carefully how we will make such enormous changes or what the impact of those changes will be on our nation and our economy. Oh no, we must leap NOW to avoid the possibility that the people for whom this change is being effected will opt out and say no. Oops, too late! We already are objecting! We're objecting in Town Hall Meetings across the nation and in letters and phone calls to our elected officials; who seem to be ignoring our preferences, by the way. Why? Oh... because the objections are coming from the people, the grass roots, those who elected them to REPRESENT us!!

So, here we go... flag@whitehouse.gov Come and get me!!! I'm speaking out against the program, the policies and the tactics that I recognize from many a tyranny of the past; The Tyranny of a government that attempts to silence the free citizenry of its nation! The Tyranny that asks one citizen to spy on another. The Tyranny that compels eternal vigilance from all its citizens.