Just Say No

"But there is another group of Christians in the military that there is hope for. This group recognizes that the Iraq war is not a good idea. Some of them would go further and say that it is unconstitutional. Others would even say that the war is unjust. But still, they choose to fight. Why? There are, of course, a variety of reasons for this behavior. " Read More...

Much of the year I spent on "hiatus" was in fact spent dealing with the "demons" that haunt me so fiercely. My various deployments to Iraq have indeed scarred me in deeper and more profound ways that that I can possible understand or explain. I cannot put out of my mind that I have killed, with my own hands and by my own actions in an unjust war.

I remember the Vietnam war only vaguely. When the last plane with American Soldiers left that country I was but seven years old. When I grew older I came to view those that protested the war as something worse than the scum that grows on the bottom of a tarp one might use to cover a swimming pool during winter.

I remember when the American Embassy in Tehran was taken and the "Desert One" mission failed. I wanted to go even though I was still a boy.

In 1979 I asked my mother to let me stay out of school so that I could go and hear a speech by Ronald Reagan. I actually got close enough to shake his hand. I was completely sold on the idea of standing against the "Evil Empire" In 1985, while still a junior in High School, I joined the Army National Guard and went that summer before my senior year to basic training. The Marines would not let me join at that young age so I took what I could get. I graduated and headed off the The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina. After that it was into the Marine Corps, a visit to Iraq, then Haiti.

In order for any of these excuses to soothe the conscience of the Christian
soldier, he must subscribe to what I have expressed elsewhere as state-sanctified
murder. This is the ghastly belief that the commandment "Thou shalt not
kill" (Exodus 20:13) does not apply to killing anyone in any war as long as the
U.S. government says that he should be killed. With his conscience thus
assuaged, the Christian soldier thinks that he will not have to answer to God at
the judgment as to why he killed some nameless raghead who did not want him
occupying his country.

Interesting point, I do not believe that God will judge a man too harshly for making the mistake of going to an unjust war and doing what must be done to survive, at least not if the mistake is only made once. I do wonder what sort of answer is required of someone that makes the mistake more than once.

I cannot say what I want to say better than Vance:

I appeal now to all Christians in the military: Just say "no" when it comes to
killing for the state. To all parents: Just say "no" when it comes to
encouraging your children to join the military. To all pastors: Just say "no" to
glorifying the military in your sermon illustrations. To all church youth
directors: Just say "no" when your young people seek guidance regarding joining
the military. To all school counselors: Just say "no" when it comes to the
military option. To all young people: Just say "no" to the recruiters who entice
you with cash bonuses. To all veterans: Just say "no" when it comes to
recommending a career in the military. And to all voters: Just say "no" to
politicians who start wars.

Wars fought in defence of one's home or in the justifiable defence of an innocent are one thing. Wars of aggression based upon lies and deception; there is no justice, honor or morality in that.

Christian; war; Iraq

War of Secession in Iraq

"In Iraq, the Iraqis fighting against us in Baghdad used to be insurgents, fighting an army of occupation. More and more, it looks like they're fighting in a civil war, faction against internal faction. This is not an improvement, particularly when your troops are caught in the middle. It's distinctly possible that we'll eventually see a war of secession, as Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis draw borders in the sand and ethnically cleanse their respective bailiwicks." Read More...

Not anything different than I talked about so forcefully two years ago.

Iraq; secession

New Hampshire Too

"This is to inform you of the launch of our website representing the New Hampshire Independence Movement. Click here for Republic of New Hampshire. We look forward to working with our neighbors in Vermont to establish true freedom in our lifetime"

Wake up Southerners!!!

SVR Launches The "Vermont Sovereignty Declaration" Ad Campaign! | Second Vermont Republic

"SVR Launches The 'Vermont Sovereignty Declaration' Ad Campaign!"

Why is Vermont leading the way while Southern States sit on their lazy behinds as the leviathan grows in power each day? Shame on us all!!

States' Rights Bloggers Alliance

I encourage all bloggers to read The Declaration of States' Rights and if you agree join the States' Rights Bloggers' Alliance. Political affiliation does not matter, you must simply agree on the principle of states' rights.

States' Rights; blog alliance

Reading list

Here is a Partial List of Recommended Books that I would recommend to anyone in the Cause or interested in freedom and self determination.

Two Updates and some help please

I spent the weekend updating the code on Shouting From the Mountaintop. During my Hiatus things got a little messy.

I have also been busy reconstructing the American Secession Project. Arkie I am calling you out in public buddy. When you get back in the fight I need your help.

Matt, Lee, Larry, Joseph and any of you other good fellow out there I am calling you out too. Back in 2004 when The American Secession Project began NOBODY was talking about a collaboration of all the independence and secession groups in North America. Now the Middlebuy Institute is hosting the first National Conference this November that will bring together folks from Hawaii, Alaska, California, South Carolina, states from all over New England (to include Vermont of course), Christian Exodus and the League of the South. Major kudos to the Middlebury Institute for making this dream a reality.

There is still a work for the American Secession Project to complete. We must engage in the battle to make States' Rights, self-determination, and secession topics of polite conversation. These issues must enter the mainstream of political thought if we ever truly hope for freedom. Y'all give us some help with ASP!!

Dum Spiro Spero
El Cid

America: Freedom to Fascism

Take a gander at this trailer. This very well may be the most important film of our time.

fascism

The United States, America and The People revisted

[4th-of-July]

It is again time for Americans of all ilks to place meat on grills celebrate the essence of being Americans. All patriotic occasions dedicated to the symbols of the United States cause me much anguish, it has been ever increasingly so for the last ten years.

I am not un-American, I am certainly not un-patriotic. I love my country, its people and the principles upon which it was built. I loathe the federal government and all that the United States has become. It is entirely possible to have it both ways. The United States government is merely the current executive agent exercising central power. My country and my countrymen are merely subjects to that entity. The flag in the past was meant to represent us, it is now used by them. Many of my countrymen fail to see any difference at all.

Liberty and freedom will not be restored on the North American continent by the under the three national governments. Mexico is a complete failure; Canada has progressed far down the road toward socialism and decay. The United States government long ago abandoned its principles, true direction, republican form of government and Constitution. It is now leading the way toward leviathan.

Being an American and celebrating the 4th of July ought to mean remembering those 13 colonies that each individually declared their independence from the crown and asserted their status as FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES. It is the spirit of those colonies and their people that we ought to celebrate. True nationhood and sovereignty cannot long live in large collectives. Union and collectivism is beneficial for trade and unity of effort toward common goals but such efforts ought never be confused with nationhood. We should look to our proper countries for a true restoration of liberty.

Citizens of Vermont, New Hampshire, Hawaii, Alaska, all of the Southland, Native American tribes and anyone else that desires to establish liberty in our time in their home take note. Celebrate the spirit of those brave citizens of thirteen free and independent states. Reflect on what they gained and what has been lost under the umbrella of Union. Liberty in our time will only come from the local level. Be a citizen of your home first, an American second and refuse to be a subject to the American Empire.

Two years ago on the occasion of the 4th of July I wrote a piece entitled The United States, America and The People. I believe those words still have relevance and have included parts here for this 4th of July.



First of all what is America? In terms of the common usage it is really a confused concept. It is in reality the embodiment of nation-groups of people with a shared history and a shared culture. To be certain within the American cultural group there are many very well defined subcultures; some of these are differentiated enough to qualify as full-blown cultures and people groups on their own. Within what we call Americans exist several bona fide countries. Some have existed in the community of nations as free and independent states. All retain their sovereignty no matter their current condition.

America is not a nation in terms of existing in one particular form of government. Many countries, even most countries, presuppose the current national government that represents them. As one example Russia, as a country, was represented by the Czar. During the revolution of 1917 Russians did not cease to be Russians and take on the mantle of Soviets. Russia was merely submerged for a time under the Soviet Union. When the Soviet Union fell, Russians remained Russia; the notion of a country of Russian had never ceased to exist.

The people groups that comprise America have had many governments represent them. We were represented at the signing of the Declaration of Independence by thirteen sovereign and newly independent States. We were represented by a Confederated central government from 1781 until 1791. We did away with that government and created a new central government under the Constitution. No matter what form or name the central government has taken the underlying fact that America still exists, as a nation-group of people, has remained unchanged.

The notion of America predates that of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In fact we began as a people soon after colonization. Shared values, a common sense of purpose, the belief that man ought to be able to determine his own destiny with his own hands and the aid of God, these things bound us together early.What then of the People? We, those fortunate enough to have inherited the birthright that is the American ideal, comprise The People. In 1776, we acted through our sovereign states to demand independence for us and all of our off-spring. This was not the birth of the United States; it was simply the birth of freedom. It was the assertion of the inalienable rights of The People to establish for themselves the forms of government that best suited their needs and values.Americans, i.e. The People, enjoyed for almost eighty years the right and privilege under the Constitution the right to self-government on most matters through their State government. Prior to that, The People enjoyed this privilege to a great degree under the Articles of Confederation and earlier still to a surprising degree of profoundness under the Royal Charters proceeding independence. During the majority of over four-hundred years of American history The People have exercised and enjoyed great latitude in matters at the State level.

The United States is but the executive agent of the will of the people and the formal representation of America. It is neither The People nor America. It is a separate entity that was created to serve the needs of these two other entities. If the United States as a government were to be replaced by a different central government we would remain Americans. If the various States were to reassert their sovereignty and elect to discontinue their participation in the union we would remain Americans in much the same way that Europeans remain European no matter the form of various national governments or unions of states (i.e. European Union).The notion that The United States as an entity is irrevocably meshed with that of America or The People is a dangerous one and acceptance of this idea can and will invariably lead to tyranny. If The People cease to hold dear their right to establish their own form of government and if patriotism to America is so interwoven into patriotism to a government we have no hope of recourse.

Americans of all our various sub cultural groupings must come to agree that it is more important to be an American than it is a citizen of the United States. Better said, it is more important to be a citizen of your state than an citizen of the United States. Being Americans guarantees us the right to self-determination and perpetual freedom. It gaurantees us the right to retain our countries even if we choose to allow our free countried to enter into compacts with others (i.e. united states) Being Citizens of the United States guarantees us only preeminence in the world (for a time) while our true values and principles are eroded and stolen at home.

As you ponder the aftermath of this weekend's celebrations also consider the bold statement of freedom by The People and their States way back in 1776. Try to remember what being American really means. When you feel a surge of patriotism at the waving of the flag remember where that emotion and loyalty truly belongs.Our allegiance is to God, our families, our home, our country and then the government that represents us. So long as that government represents us well it is fit to stand. Whenever it may cease to serve its intended purpose it deserves neither our respect nor our loyalty. That is a very American point of view.


BTW, my old buddy IKANTSPEL recently wrote an excellent piece that drives home the point that the only way to fix what is wrong is the change the system entirely.

Douglas Wilson wrote a pretty amazing piece describing why and how things will fall for the United States government, reemphasising why it is important to place our loyalties with our true various countries.

also be sure to read Happy Secession Day by Thomas J. DiLorenzo

America; patriotism; Independence Day; Secession Day

Twenty-Four Justifications for Our Cause

A Partial List of Grievances

First: In violation of the War Powers Clause of the Constitution(Article 1, Section 8), the President has colluded with the Congress to pass legislation that transfers to the President the power to apply the armed forces of the United States of America in hostilities in Iraq without a Congressional Declaration of War.

Second: In a hasty response to widespread fear and panic following 911, our elected representatives enacted the U.S.A. Patriot Act (with many having not read it), which by the plain language of the Act, violates and seizes a number of the unalienable rights of the People.

Third: Our government has relinquished direct control of the monetary system of this nation to a privately owned central bank and has transformed our money into nothing but limitless debt. And, a significant portion of the Federal Reserve stock is held by foreign entities.

Fourth: the U.S. Department of Justice and the Internal Revenue Service reneged on their July 2001 agreement to appear at a recorded, public forum to answer the Petition of The People, with its well documented legal charges, relating to the fraudulent origin and illegal operation of the federal income tax system. The United States government as the central government representing the American nation has failed us, The American People. The government itself has thus far been unwilling to seriously address our pleas for redress. It is unlikely that any serious effort will be forthcoming to address the justifications of our cause listed herein or the dozens of other righteous complaints we hold as the tenets of our cause.

Fifth: IRS tax codes relating to churches prevent pastors from speaking out from the pulpit on political matters. Our history is replete with the free exercise of speech from the pulpit. The current laws and regulations amount to nothing more than the denial of a basic human right to a segment of the population.

Sixth: The United States government has ignored the wise words of George Washington and has progressively engaged in foreign entanglements and wars.

Seventh: The United States government has failed to ensure the most basic of human liberty, that of life, to millions of unborn Americans. Furthermore the central government has denied the power of the various states to act on this basic matter of human liberty.

Eighth: The central government through overt and nefarious action has enacted (the 14th) and passed (16th and 17th) amendments to the Constitution that are contrary to the original intent of the compact of union and detrimental to the liberty of the People.

Ninth: The United States government has redefined for itself roles and functions outside the original intent and delegated powers included in the Constitution (ex. Department of Education, Social Security, Federal Police Power).

Tenth: The United States government continues to hold its own judgment of the righteousness, justness and constitutionality supreme above the cries of the States and the people.

Eleventh: The United States government continues to abandon the principles, values and traditions of America, her people and the various States.

Twelfth: The President has, without due process, suspended the constitutional rights of American citizens; detaining them without trail or without bringing charges.

Thirteenth: Taxation of working citizens amounts to nearly 40% of their income. Government takes from those that work without asking; and spends their money without explicit permission or fiscal responsibility.

Fourteenth: The IRS tax code makes guilty men of innocent taxpayers; forcing those accused to prove their innocence. This is contrary to basic American principles of justice that state the accused is innocent until proven guilty.

Fifteenth: Parents of school age children are not afforded real choice in the education of their children. They are instead forced to pay twice for choice; once through taxes and again through tuition to the school of their choice.

Sixteenth: The US government has taken unto itself through the dispensation of funds the management and leadership of our public education system. This is contrary to the powers specifically delegated to the central government and reserved to the States and People.

Seventeenth: Since taking over the primary responsibility for the education of our children the quality of the education provided has steadily deteriorated.

Eighteenth: The United States government has entered into numerous treaties and agreements that undermine the sovereignty and autonomy of the Nation.

Ninetieth: The United States government has abandoned the basic tenets of the American Republic and slowly but steadily replaced it with a social welfare state consisting of two classes; those that work and those that feed at the government trough.

Twentieth: The United States has further abandoned the Republican form of government by dictating the manner in which states elect senators and redefining the role of the individual citizen and their relationship to the central government.

Twenty-First: The United States government has failed in its responsibility to secure the nations borders. As a result many government programs and citizen tax money goes to support illegals.

Twenty-Second: The United States government has failed in the primary task of all good governments; that is to protect the people from evil. Our popular culture has transformed from that of a model for others to aspire to emulate to that of a pariah. Our children are exposed to every form of perversion and right minded Americans have their sensibilities offended at every turn. Instead of protecting the citizenry from this evil, the central government has endorsed an atmosphere that encourages the continued demise of our culture.

Twenty-Third: The sanctity of a man's home and the Fourth Amendment no longer hold any relevance, police may enter homes unreasonably and without even knocking.

Twenty-Fourth: The Executive Branch has assumed powers unto itself that exceed the intent of the Constituion, in effect establishing a Unitary Executive with the power to ignore laws the President deems as contrary to his powers. This novel theory of government makes the Legislative and Judicial branches unnecessary.

The Declaration of Independence listed twenty-eight justifications why the various colonies demanded their independence from Britain. They were demanding outright freedom. I have listed twenty-four valid and pressing justifications here. We are only asking for a restoration of our rights. I think the weight of our grievances is sufficient to justify our cause and this list is by no means exhaustive.

Dum Spiro Spero

El Cid

(originally posted 20 April 2005, list updated 01 July 2006)

[secession]; [leviathan]; [tyranny]

Christian paleoconservative paleoconservatism Southern Nationalist

Dedication and Leadership

Read Dedication & Leadership by Douglas Hyde.

There will be a discussion later. If I can convince you that things are as bad as I have said and will say and if you are truly convinced that you should have a part in changing things you must read this book.

Five Alarm Fire

It is not merely that speeches, statistics, and records of every kind must be constantly brought up to date in order to show that the predictions of the
Party were in all cases right. It is also that no change of doctrine or in
political alignment can ever be admitted.
George Orwell, 1984

No real comment on the Orwell quote required for the thinking man.

I am happy to see that the fellows over at Backwater Report are still up, running and producing excellent work. Bret McAtee recently wrote an interesting piece entitled Five Alarm Fire. Within the five categories he lists one could pretty well place most of the ills our society faces.

#1 Cultural Self-Hatred

#2 The Eventual Return Of Economic Reality

#3 Immigration

#4 Dumbed Down Population

#5 Break-down of the Family Unit

leviathan

The Death of the Constitution Party

The Constitution Party, possibly the last best hope for the restoration of the Republic, is dying. It is possible it has yet to die, thus I say dying. I have, as mentioned previously been remiss in keeping up with the particulars of all that has occurred and is occurring currently in the world outside of my daily focus. I do still receive a lot of email and have begun again the task of reading various messages from folks in the know on these matters.

I have been a strong supporter of the Constitution Party. I recieved and relay the news of the parties folly with great regret.

Steve Lefemine (Columbia Christians for Life) recently sent me two messages relating the troubles occurring within the ranks of the Constitution Party. Michael Peroutka posted his thoughts on the mistakes the national party has made here. Apparently the Constitution Party has determined to become nothing more than a clone of the GOP. What possible purpose could such compromise serve? The abandonment of such a core issue as life itself is inconceivable for a party that claims to want a restoration of the Republic. First among the rights guaranteed by the Republic of our forefathers is that of life. Compromise on core issues is not compromise at all: it is capitulation.

It has been said that politics is all local, it is also said that politics is all compromise. Each statement is correct. From the perspective of the latest news out of the Constitution Party compromise is death, not survival. If the CP continues down its current path it will neither restore the Republic or exist long as a viable third party. The GOP already has the market cornered for folks that believe they are conservative desire small government etc. etc. The truth of what the GOP is all about is apparent to any that have eyes to see. The CP is possible little better.

If the CP does not correct its course its actions will prove the first premise above, i.e. all politics is local. The CP was the last best hope for right minded, true conservatives. This was for all practical purposes the last real and viable effort at true restoration of the Republic. The failure of the CP at the national level to remain 100% true to its principles can only mean that it is pointless to continue to try to restore the Republic at all. Local politics is likely the only viable option for restoration of liberty and sanity.

Constitution Party

Kachi Kapchida

Just so to set the record straight that I am not all doom and gloom I intend to relate some observations about a small nation comprised of a heterogeneous people group. There is a purpose to my story, as I believe my observations here will directly relate to points in later posts.

The people that I refer to fought a bloody war with their northern neighbors and former country men. Families fought and died on each side. A visitor to this nation cannot help but be struck by the amalgamation of old and new, agrarian and technological. This people enjoy a long history albeit not altogether one that might be considered successful. Numerous other people have attempted to occupy and oppress them over the years; most succeeded. Reverence of family and respect for one's elders is not only good manners in this nation but also required social behavior. Within this people lives a keen sense of self-identity and pride. They have a propensity to drink too much and dance weirdly and socialize profusely. Despite the drinking, and accepted drunkenness this is a very moral people, at least on the surface. Skimpy clothing, pornography, homosexuality and many of the things flaunted so openly in other places are frowned upon and virtually unseen here. To top it all off they produce some pretty good barbeque.

Does this people sound familiar. You possible may be thinking that I am talking about the Irish, they have fought a war more or less with their northern cousins. Before they were Irish their Celtic ancestors were driven from most of Europe. But these are not the Irish, although some make the comparison.

I can personally see a grand similarity with the Scots (although the primary historic nemeses of the Scots is the to the South not North). If I were to tell you that most of the Christians in this nation are Presbyterians the similarity might be more apparent, but this is not Scotland despite the abundance of mountains and vales.

There is a distinct similarity to my own homeland in the South. In fact the further south one travels in this nation the more obviously Southern things become. The barbeque changes; the dialect even changes to omit a few of the vowels natural-born Southerners find offensive. But alas this is not my home.

The nation I speak of is of course the Republic of Korea if you have yet to figure it out. For all of the similarities to other people there are differences, variances that only disappear when you begin to understand the nuances of this culture.

I think it is important to discuss Korea because as a people they represent what is good and bad for the future of the world, and more specifically the future of liberty, freedom and morality in the world.

I am in Korea presently of course, thus the occasion to remark and commentate on things Korean. I have been here before but this time I have learned much more. In the last several weeks I have been struck by the fervor over the World Cup. I am of course not a soccer guy, I have a theory about nations that play soccer and their ability to consistently win wars but that is not the point. In Korea soccer is big, big in a way that an American football fan cannot grasp. Sure in the US a momentary flash of solidarity and pride might surface during special times like say the 1980 Olympic hockey match against the USSR. For the most part Americans are happy to send overpaid professionals off to compete against the world and care little for the results, i.e. the inaugural World Baseball Series. Korea’s win in that event was a spectacular event to watch, every Korean watched, every Korean felt pride in being Korean by watching.

A few weeks ago I began to notice a preponderance of red shirts everywhere I went. On the Korean television channels I began to see commercials with folks doing this little dance to this catchy little song. My daughter learned all the words to the song; I still do not know what it means. I began to hear the song everywhere and all Koreans around would sing it. Then the billboards went up and I made the connection, it was the World Cup of soccer that had everyone so pumped up.

I do not mean to trivialize an entire people with a discussion of their dedication to their national sports teams. Truly, to a Korean this is not trivial, it is the same pride that lives within them and calls them to their homeland, tells them who they are and where they belong.

Korea is a pretty good example of a people that struggled for and desired sovereignty for many years. The Chinese and Japanese occupied this land at various points. The early history of the ROK-US alliance is filled with machinations by the United States into the domestic affairs and political structure of the South Korean government. Today, however, South Korea is strong economically and militarily; they are fully capable of standing alone against their northern cousins.

The point to be taken from an analysis of Korea is what they have done with their freedom and sovereignty. The older generation, those affected by the war in 1950, is stoic, conservative, frugal and moral. Their parents and grandparents struggled under oppression. As young folks they either fought an aggressor for their freedom or had their entire lives torn asunder by the death and destruction that plagued the entire peninsula. They remember and have remained true to their core.

The younger generation is different entirely. They inherited the pride, sense of identity and love of country but lost something significant. The fire in the belly is gone, gone too are many of the social restraints.

Abortions are prevalent here because the younger generation is more concerned with finances than with moral imperatives. The large Presbyterian church is silent on this issue. It is really rather a touchy feely organization more concerned with worship than solid theology. Morally, things that once would have been unacceptable in public now find their way into the mainstream. Adultery (public) and divorce are not unheard of now. In some ways this is still 1950 America, in others the moral decline is apace with the rest of the world.

Koreans use their freedom to protest everything. They are rapidly traveling a path toward socialism, faster even than in the United States. Anything and everything that the people could possible want can and does generate a protest. Protest can and do result in more governmental programs to correct whatever perceived wrong generated the protest in the first place.

In one generation the Korean people have forgotten their struggle for freedom and now clamor for the government to save them, never fully realizing they are in fact trading one master for another.
.
There is indeed something to learn from Korea and Koreans. The struggle and sacrifice required to achieve freedom is not the end of the journey, it is the beginning. Complacency and moral decline followed freedom in Korea and fast behind that a new form of tyranny has taken root. We would do well when considering restoration and redemption in our localities to keep the lesson of Korea in mind.

Korea

Redemption

Much has occurred since I left the blogshere last June. For starters I allowed my domain name (southernnationalist.org) to expire. The group I started that project with is an interesting lot. It consists of fellows I made a vow with back in 1989. We will someday renew our cooperation but the work of Southern Nationalist ran its course. I also allowed the domain name for the American Secession Project to expire. I did not intend for that to occur, but my inattention to such matters ruled the day. In the process I lost some of the excellent papers (Secessionist Papers) written by some of the contributors. That is a real shame. A few months back I even received an email from a fellow involved with the Mildbury Institute asking me to participate in a secessionist conference. At the time I was not ready to contemplate such participation. I was still deeply involved in the objective of my hiatus. The biggest downside of letting my domain name expire was the loss of my email. My new address is posted to the left. I apologize to anyone that emailed me in the interim.

I notice that many more things have occurred. Stoney is gone and his page defunct. Likewise Matt, I notice someone else in blogging under his blogspot address now. Arkie is on a hiatus of his on with no explanation given on his page. It is encouraging that the membership rolls of the Rebel Alliance have grown tremendously.

I went completely AWOL from Christian Exodus. It was not intentional. The reasons and questions present in my head which precipitated my hiatus made is difficult for me to articulate why I simply had to pull away for everything related to the broader movement. I must apologize to Cory, Celtie, Sam and all the other good folks that fought and are still fighting the good fight. I will do that in good time personally. I would have been of little use to them the last year and my greatest fear was that my personal questions might have in some way discouraged them. Thus I left quietly and went off to arrive at answers on my own.

There are undoubtedly many other negative ramifications to my departure. The loss of my domain name will make it very difficult for anyone that read my blog in the past to find me now. I actually worked very hard on web optimization and search engine placement in the past and had good results getting people to find me based upon the topics I wanted to present. With a blogspot address that will simply not be as successful and at this point I am not ready to spend money on a domain name. I am not sure yet where I will take my blogging efforts.

I turned off blogging and stopped reading or answering most 'movement' related email for a simple yet complicated reason. I asked myself what is the point, what is possible, what will happen and what ought we do to get there. I have been constantly torn between my dispensational upbringing and my more or less covenantial adult outlook. I have pondered what is right; religiously, morally, and socially. I have contemplated the meaning of the word duty and what it means in the here and now and as it relates to future generations.

I began my contemplations with a bleak worldview. I became convinced that a few good people were doing the right thing, a lot of good people thought they were doing the right thing but consistently got it all wrong and the remainder were doing whatever was best for them. The last group by the way consistently seemed to do what was bad for the whole even if that was not their original intent. I was ready to give up. I have already sold my soul to an organization that does things on a daily basis that are inconsistent with my core beliefs. I have fought and killed for a country that has lost its way. I considered myself as much a part of the problem as any of the decision makers I loathe so intensely.


I began my search in the Bible and on my knees. I came up with only one concept to guide me through my ponderings, REDEMPTION. Redemption is what most religions teach in one form or another, some through knowledge, others through ritual, and Christianity through grace. Once I knew the real question and how to posit the inquiry I was set.

I am not talking about personal redemption; I am referring to the redemption of society, culture and our nation. In the Christian world there are two prevailing views regarding redemption, that of the dispensationalist and that of those that adhere to covenantial viewpoint. This is an oversimplification of course but the is beauty in simplicity.

The problem with the dispensationalist view is that they are convinced that the end of times is near and therefore it is unnecessary to contemplate multi-generational changes in the fabric of the world. So long as the dispensationalist votes for a politician that says they support Israel and gives lip service to hot button issues such as abortion all is well. To the dispensationalist it is most important to have your own house in order.

The problem with the covenantial point of view is that they do not give much credence to the notion of an end of times at all. They look to the promises of redemption in the Bible as applying to the Church as a whole. They believe that they church can redeem the world in Christ's name if only they can get their stuff right and work hard enough.

Neither view works well. The Church is the body of Christ on Earth but is it run by men, fallible men. The dispensationalist have it right in that only God himself can redeem the entire world, some through the acceptance of salvation and other through fire when the end of times actually occurs. That the dispensationalist occupy so much of their theology and dogma on the notion that the end is near is their downfall. It prevents them from working for small victories of redemption (collective not personal). The covenantial viewpoint often prevents those of that perspective from letting go of the global concept and instead focusing on what is obtainable and winnable.

Few are capable of facing the cold ugly truth. The real truth is that we do not know when the end may come but it will come indeed. Many before us have looked at the signs and proclaimed it was in their day. I know many "experts" make a living peddling arguments that "never before in history have all the prophecies been fulfilled". These people could be right, but then again they may have it all wrong. The Bible tells us that no man knows the time.

The uglier still part of that truth is that we will be here from now until when ever the end does come. Things will not get better overall, they will get worse. Immorality, abominations, governmental encroachments into every facet of our lives, wars and rumors of wars, all of this will continue. Good culture will continue to pass away from the mainstream of popular culture. Society will continue to marginalize Bible-believing and Christ following Christians. If time continues a time will come when Bible-based Christians will be considered bigots and hate-mongers by society in general. In time the citizenry will completely forget the notion of personal freedom or privacy. We will, and already are to a large degree, accept governmental oversight of every aspect of our lives. To remain a freedom loving, principled Christian in the future will indeed be a challenge. Only the brave will walk the true path. Many will continue to claim Christianity and certainly new-aged, feel good congregations will continue to service these people but this will not comprise the church.

A year ago I was despondent over what I perceived as my personal and our collective inability to effectively change anything of substance. A few folks have good ideas and a small minority are actually working on sustainable and potentially successful projects. However, when one considers the general apathy of the general population, the advanced state of moral decay, the atrophy of good culture and the proven historical propensity of man to corrupt every good thing the outlook seemed bleak to me. I saw no point in fighting the fight any longer. I saw no reason to hope for anything better.

I spent the last year reading extensively. As I stated above I began with the Bible but I did not stop there. I have developed a theory of what will occur and why. Much of what I now believe is based upon historical, geopolitical and economic trends. My overall theory is tempered with faith and my understanding of the Bible. For many that in and of itself is enough to discount all I will say. So be it, I cannot speak to people that discount the Bible in a convincing way and that segment of the population will never be my audience.

I will write in time in detail about the particulars of my theory and attempt to provide proof and expanded justification for each point. For now I will merely summarize.

I believe the world as we know it is most likely a long way from the final judgment. Prophecy based preachers may claim that all the signs are there but that does not make it so. Jesus told his disciples of their fate, they would be tested, tortured and die because of their beliefs. God did not condemn Sodom and Gomora until all but one family had turned from righteousness. The notion that the church and believers will get off so easy as to be raptured away from the worst that the world has to offer is naive, likewise the notion that the church or Christians as a people will ever redeem the world and its institutions is foolish and naive. We are in essence engaged in a multi-generational war that we ourselves cannot and will not win. Our only hope is to win enough battles to enable our children the opportunity to continue the fight until the cavalry arrives. We can win small battles. This is, I now firmly believe, our true charge and commission in life. We must influence as many around us as we can, we must fight the good fight even when it is hopeless.

In practical terms this is what I see for the world. The United States is a waning power; economically, morally, and militarily. People argue over the validity and scope of these areas of decline (most fools do not even have a clue as to the military decline) but in coming posts I hope establish these as undeniable facts. The world is preparing for a seismic paradigm shift geopolitically and economically. Already China and its vast markets are influencing the status quo. The European Union, that decadent old man, is rising in power and influence, and getting into bed with China. The dollar struggles daily, burdened by excessive national debt and an enormous trade deficit. Immigration continues unchecked. Our education system is a complete failure. Our once noble system of government was long ago usurped by politicians and law making judges.

The United States will fade from the pages of history. Our zenith was much briefer than many historical world powers. The United States represented what was a grand hope for Christian values and morals in the world. Our downfall is as much a result of our abandonment of that commission as it is due to our greed and avarice.

The fall will not come abruptly. It will be long, slow and painful. Just like in ancient Rome, most citizens will not realize what is occurring until it has long since become a reality. The march toward socialism, began under Roosevelt, will continue. Totalitarianism, made so fashionable and passable by Bush after 9/11, will continue apace. The economic downfall will likely be incremental, even bearable if viewed in tunnel vision. There will however, come a time when the American public readily accepts taxation at 80-90%, inflation at 4-5% (or higher). GDP for now seems to outpace inflation (3.55% vs. 3.59%) but this does not account for the market orientation of our economy. Real industrial output is the key to long-term viability. It is true enough that the world economy is flatter and more interconnected than at any point in history. Most economist view the shift to a market and service economy in the US as non-problematic. They are fundamentally wrong, unsustainable spending on numerous governmental programs, enormous debt, and a growing trade deficit will all eventually demand retribution. It is a simple conclusion that if you spend too much, borrow too much and do not make enough eventually you will find yourself in trouble. No arguments that the world economy is too complicated for such comparisons can dispel that fundamental truth.

What does this mean? In the short term the US will continue as the defacto military superpower. We have not engaged an enemy that exposes the weaknesses within the military. Money and technology can and do compensate for flaws. It helps also if you fight weakling nations. In time the money will become scarce and without the money technology is hard to obtain or maintain. What will be left is the defective organization, the product of fifty years of social experimentation and deliberate dumbing down. On the home front the pretense of the “War on Terror” will continue to accelerate the march toward an Orwellian future. The events of 9/11 are not solely responsible for an increase in the tyranny level but it has certainly made it easier for the government to find its way into every facet of our lives. Our education system produces citizens incapable of wisely voting or exercising their proper role. This not only makes it possible for corrupt politicians to continue to “lead’ the nation down a path toward destruction it also makes it difficult to find people of real worth to invent, create and make; items required in a sustainable industrial economy.

Morally the nation declines every year. Clearly there are still among us enough right thinking Christians to press certain issues (unsuccessfully). The notion that several states may ban abortion is but one example. These are minor and temporary victories (if they become victories at all). More likely these will be temporary movements in the right direction, followed by massive movements back toward evil. In time just speaking out against the immorality of homosexuality will equate to bigotry. The notion of denying gay couples parental rights is already viewed in many places as discriminatory. The Christian right has lost every battle it has fought for the last 40 years. They will continue to lose the war no matter what minor, temporary victories they achieve.

The Constitution of the United States is long dead. It is a well written document that any citizen with a decent high school education ought to be able to read and understand. Any decently educated college graduate ought to be able to interpret the nuances therein. There exists nothing more complicated in the document that that. However, the reality is that the document is interpreted and the interpretations are interpreted. Since 1861 successive presidents and congresses have ignored portions and redefined the original contract (without consent or authority). The Supreme Court has taken it upon itself to make law by judicial fiat. The Constitution is dead and with it the Republic it gave birth to.

There is no correction for the current system. It cannot be fixed. Replacing all the members of Congress will not fix it; a new President will not correct the course. It is impossible to cut out the cancer of bureaucracy and corruption that plague the system, the body is dying. A new system of government is the only solution. (mind you not a permanent solution because all built by man will eventually corrupt).

Thomas Jefferson knew full well that eventually all things must be done away with and started anew. "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." In our current environment the notion of patriots spilling the blood of tyrants is almost insane. The Federal government (and the numerous state and local governments that have abandoned their rightful role as sovereigns and become instead lackeys of the Fed) will not go quietly even in the face of decline. The very same spy and surveillance systems established today to protect good citizens against “terrorist” will serve a troubled government against an unhappy citizenry. Ignorance and apathy abound in the general population today, few even understand what good government ought to do and not do. How could one ever expect such an ignorant, selfish and lazy people to ever rise against a slightly or greatly more oppressive government, it will not happen. By the point that rational ordinary men ask what happened to my liberty the bindings of surveillance and control will be so complete that no hope will exist for a successfully spilling of tyrant blood.

We have set our course and we must now endure the consequences. Worse still our children must endure a fate we bequeathed them. We spent our time concerned with “hanging chads” and minor congressional squabbles and never once have we risen up as a people deserving of liberty and demanded our country back. We allowed our government to wage war illegally, grossly waste financial resources, implement numerous socialist programs and we were content to vote for people that claim to care about the important issues.

Do I see any hope at all? Yes at the end of a long and painful period of suffering two possible scenarios might play out.

First it is possible that our economic downturn could occur more dramatically than the incremental process we currently face. A depression with massive unemployment and hyper-inflation sustained over a period of a couple years or more would strain the socialist systems and create turmoil in the lower strata of society. This would result in a strengthen of government tyranny and suppression of the people in order to "save us". This event could be the catalyst for good people to do the right thing.

Second, and more probable the decline will remain incremental, even if there are spikes of extremely difficult times. Twenty to thirty years from now the system will not crash but the apparent weakness and ineptness will be apparent. States or people groups that wish to take advantage of that weakness will have an opportunity to reclaim their sovereignty and liberty. The devolution of the Soviet Union followed this model, relatively non-violently. Once the monster is too weak to fight that is the time to sneak from the cave.

I believe firmly that the second scenario is not only plausible but probable. That is so long as when the time comes there are other entities ready, willing and able to step in. The time between now and then will be difficult, it will be ugly and it will be painful. We ought not bemoan the death of the Federal government. It is already a terminal case, nothing we can do, nothing at all can save it. There is no point in spending effort or thought on saving it. We should look to history, realize that all things pass away and rejoice that we are able to see the death before the beast falls and crushes us. Our time is far better spent preparing for the time when we can reclaim our liberty.

This is now my charter. Folks like Bruce Beach, Cory Burnell, the Free Vermonters and everyone else looking to secure their little piece of liberty when the time comes have it just right. When the time comes, when the beast enters its death throws localities must be prepared to assert or reassert their sovereignty. The people must be educated enough to at least understand what is at stake and a core group of founding father type leaders must be available to build anew. My mission is exposing the failures of the current system and praising the efforts of those that are building movements that will eventually lead us to a better future (at least until man corrupts the new system and it too has to be replaced.)

Christian paleoconservative leviathan

Hiatus

There is so much to say, there always is. It seems that there is more to say than there is time in available.

I could talk about the Department of Defense's new policy requiring bloggers in Iraq and Afghanistan to "register" their blogs. Imagine that, I guess they got their lead from China and their mandate to bloggers. You know it is just impossible to tell a lie believably if pesky folks keep telling the other side of the story.

I could post my usual bit about the meaning of the 4th of July, ah but I am certain many of my compatriots will do an adequate job of this.

I thought the other day of posting a detailed rant on the recent Supreme Court rulings and how we paleo-conservatives have gotten it wrong on these issues. We are mad that the court ruled wrongly when our righteous indignation ought to be focused on the fact that the court is even hearing cases dealing with property rights, a States' Rights issue.

I thought of posting a critique of the July GQ article about Christian Exodus. But then I thought and despite the fact that the article portrayed some issues wrongly it was generally fair. Folks will read that article from the perspective in which they live, those that "get it" will understand, others will not. I believe ultimately the article will serve much good for our cause.

A couple months back I asked for some assistance in getting the word out about our new Christian Exodus blog. We considered starting a blog before but the knowledge that the GQ article was coming out spurred us to action. I appreciate the plugs and links that many of my readers provided. Your links assisted us in getting the page indexed by the search engines and listed on blog directories. My goal to have the site "deeply searchable" before the article appeared was achieved thanks to you. All I really hoped for was a tool to allow people that read the magazine article the chance to see a little deeper into us. I hope and pray that we gain a few additional supporters because of these efforts. I view this as a small victory.

Other small victories I count among my blogging efforts include meeting a small group of like-minded souls. My readership is not large but I can name almost everyone that consistently reads, comments or emails me. I have learned much from your opinions and questions and I have been enlightened by your writing.

I ask myself now what ought to rightly be my next goal. I have a pretty firm idea. I believe I have achieved as much as I can at the present through my blogging efforts. I have now a group of folks that I believe I can dialogue with from time to time. I also have found a couple of folks that I see as potential movers and shakers within the paleo-conservative movement (maybe not giants but men of great potential nonetheless). I am gladdened by this. In point of fact the knowledge that there are others much more capable than myself fighting the fight encourages me greatly.

I have decided to cease my blogging activity for a time. I need to fix the mark I hope to leave within our movement, no matter how small history may deem that to be. It will take me some time to work this out and I suspect I will be emailing a couple of you to ask for assistance once I have this idea shaped into an executable plan.

Until then, it has been grand dialoguing with you. I sincerely appreciate each and every person that has taken their time to read my writing on various sites. I will be back with my project firmly in hand and a renewed sense of purpose. Please feel free to email me in the interim, especially to my blogger friends that may write something especially important. I will most likely avoid reading blogs much to quell my urge to blog myself, but I would be interested in occasional reminders to check out particular post, I really mean that.

My heart belongs to God, my love to my family, my duty to my home. May Providence grant us the courage to persevere, the wisdom to overcome and the stamina to endure.

Irony defined

" Could a hotel be built on the land owned by Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter? A new ruling by the Supreme Court which was supported by Justice Souter himself itself might allow it. A private developer is seeking to use this very law to build a hotel on Souter's land."

New member(s) of the Alliance

Y'all please welcome our newest member in the Rebel Alliance Sarx. I think I will enjoy his posts.

Also check out Brandi over at Book of Beginnings; Story Without End. I am very pleased to have another South Carolina blogger join our alliance.

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama on Lincoln

Obama, who occupies the U.S. Senate seat from Illinois that Lincoln lost to Stephen Douglas in 1858, wrote about how Lincoln shaped his life in an upcoming special issue of Time magazine.

"'I cannot swallow whole the view of Lincoln as the Great Emancipator,' Obama said. 'As a law professor and civil rights lawyer and as an African-American, I am fully aware of his limited views on race. Anyone who actually reads the Emancipation Proclamation knows it was more a military document than a clarion call for justice.'"

Supreme Court Rules Cities May Seize Homes

"A divided Supreme Court ruled Thursday that local governments may seize people's homes and businesses against their will for private development in a decision anxiously awaited in communities where economic growth often is at war with individual property rights."


SCOTUS property rights