The traditional meaning of tolerance means, to “endure” or put up with something such as a persons behavior, belief, or attitude, without necessarily agreeing with them.
The statement, “love the sinner, hate the sin” has grown out of the traditional meaning of tolerance.
However, today’s new and revised definition would be better defined as “love the sinner, love the sin.”
The definition of tolerance in today’s world says that a person’s behavior, beliefs and attitudes are inseparable from who she or he is. Therefore, any attack on behavior, beliefs or attitudes is seen as a personal attack.
This evolution of tolerance is the result of the evolution of other aspects of human existence, including the concept of truth.
Simply stated, the evolution has gone through three stages. First, under ethical theism, people believed that all truth was revealed by God. In the second stage, modernism, the emphasis shifted from God to man, and the concepts of truth changed from being what is revealed by God to being something that is discernable by man. Finally, in the third, post modern stage, truth has changed from being something that is collectively true for human beings to something that is determined by each individual person, based on that person’s culture, which in turn consists of behaviors, attitudes and beliefs.
Because each person’s idea of truth is based on their unique culture, we accept the Biblical idea that all people are created equal, but reject the idea that there is any superior truth, such as the Bible. Instead all truth claims are equally valid.
Which brings me to what I wanted to say.
Christians believe that Jesus is God and that “He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” His truth is superior to other “truths” because He is the Truth. These biblical convictions, when viewed through the lens of “new truth,” are seen as intolerant. It is then O.K. for a tolerant society, or group within that society, to persecute it in what ever way is necessary to force it to become tolerant.
The tactic then to make Christians conform is to equate non-agreement with phobia, non-conformity with hate, conviction with fanaticism, Christian creeds, prayers and symbols with discrimination, and selective segregation with justice.
In this environment, which defines our culture today, a crucifix suspended in urine is considered art, animals and the environment are more important than people, sexual perversion is encouraged while traditional families are discouraged.
Every time someone like Faith & Freedom or others take a position in support of traditional marriage, they are called bigoted, and accused of being filled with hate.
When Christian leaders attempt to advance Judeo-Christian values in our society, they are called “narrow” or accused of trying to create a “theocracy.”
The Founding Fathers embraced the beliefs of “ethical theism” that all truth is revealed by God. This is reflected in their letters, their speeches and in the wonderful documents they wrote in framing the laws and society of this great country.
These beliefs gave us the greatest country in the history of the world.
One can only wonder if left unchecked, what kind of country the “individual truth” folks will deliver to our children.
This is why we at Faith & Freedom do what we do. Thank you to all who are standing with us.
Josh McDowell has written a great book on this subject. I highly recommend it. It’s entitled, “The New Tolerance.”
______________ Gary Randall President Faith & Freedom
A little more than a year ago, people who should have know better, were scoffing publicly at the notion that there was any linkage between a new and energized effort to legalize polygamy and the gay rights effort to legalize gay marriage.
Now, we are being told that indeed, the polygamists are getting traction and making progress.
The Washington Post in reporting that the effort to “mainstream” polygamy is taking on a whole new look with it’s own new vernacular of words like, “sister-wives,” “plural marriages” and “plural wife.” The Post is also reporting that they are, “consciously taking tactics from the gay-rights movement” as they reframe their struggle, choosing in interviews to de-emphasize their religious beliefs and focus on their desire to live “in freedom.”
The authorities in Utah have said, “The thinking is this: this is a big group of people. They are not going away. You can’t incarcerate them all. You can’t drive them out of the state. So they are here. What do we do about it?”
Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, has written op-eds for USA Today calling for the legalization if bigamy – and same-sex marriage.
The Seattle P.I. columnist Joel Connelly wrote last Friday, “As we try to respect one another’s beliefs, noisy people keep intruding – they proclaim a ‘War on Christmas,’ force retailers to put ‘Merry Christmas’ in advertising and then proclaim that they’ve rescued the manger.”
Mr. Connelly is clearly reacting to Bill O’Reilly’s book, “Culture Warrior” and in a more general sense to Fox News.
I agree with the columnist that Christmas is about the heart and that proper preparation for the coming of Christ should include reading, meditation or listening to appropriate music. I also agree that Jesus taught the virtue and blessing of being a peacemaker.
Mr. Connelly makes his own personal point by quoting Dr. Alan Wolfe, a political science professor at Boston College who recently wrote, “From stem cell research to alleged plots against Christmas, culture war issues have more to do with the policies of advocacy groups than they do with the politics of ordinary Americans.” The columnist then says, “The notion of a ‘culture war’ was first ginned up to rouse the troops as the first Bush Presidency faced defeat in 1992.”
With this, I strongly disagree.
With all due respect to Dr. Wolfe, culture war issues have little to nothing to do with the politics of advocacy groups and only come to bear on the politics of ordinary Americans when the deeply held beliefs of those “ordinary” folks are continually attacked by secularism and political correctness.
These particular advocacy groups didn’t exist until Christians began to take note of the direction the elitists in the media and higher education were leading the country. It was out of concern and the need to be heard that these advocacy groups were birthed.
The relentless attack by the ACLU on prayer, the words Christmas and Easter, religious symbols such as the cross, and the public display of the Ten Commandments on public property is well-documented.
If growing up on a Yakima apple orchard makes one an “ordinary person,” then I would be counted among them and we are not mindless pilgrims who are easily led by advocacy groups and their policies. This, of course, would be the view of the elitists.
Jesus taught that His peace was the inner peace that comes from knowing God through his Son. And He said, “These things have I spoken to you, that in me you may have peace.” John 16:33.
Most Christians are first and foremost driven by their personal belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He was born of a virgin, lived, taught, was crucified and rose from the dead three days later.
Jesus also taught that we are to be salt and light. As salt, we seek to reduce the moral and cultural decay by sharing the gospel and the personal hope and peace that comes through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. And secondarily, we involve ourselves in politics merely as a vehicle to be used for what we believe to be greater and nobler purposes.
Tens of millions of Christians, who do believe that there is indeed a culture war and feel called to participate, will also be in prayer and meditation during this holy season. They will reflect is an advent “Quiet Day” and they will listen and participate in the hymns and songs of the season.
The nativity and all that it means will indeed remain the focus.
_________________ Gary Randall President Faith & Freedom
This past week was a time to reflect and give thanks for so much on a personal level. And we did.
We also received several email messages for which we are thankful.
This past week Wal-Mart, in an official statement, began to distance itself from organizations that support “highly controversial issues” such as same-sex marriage.
Wal-Mart had been criticized for making a $60,000 donation to Out and Equal, an organization for homosexual employees which deals with workplace issues, but also supports changing the definition of marriage. The company also had joined the Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce for $25,000 a year.
The Wal-Mart executive who served as the company’s representative to the Chamber has resigned and left and Wal-Mart announced that person would not be replaced.
Wal-Mart said, “Going forward, we’ll be looking differently at organizations we donate to. There are some areas we need to get corrected and that is what we’re focused on.”
We sent in all of the names for our Just Say Christmas campaign asking retailers to Just Say Christmas – so far we have received a response from Target assuring us they would and were already saying “Christmas” in their ads and store signage. We have not yet heard from Wal-Mart, Costco and Sears.
Also, we were pleased to see the action or “non-action” as it was by the Alaska legislature last Monday.
The Associated Press said that the state legislature decided to flaunt a court order to provide health insurance for gay partners of state employees.
Governor Frank Murkowski called law makers into a special session to grant the commissioner of administration the authority to adopt the new benefits plan. But instead, the Senate passed a house bill that prohibits the commissioner from taking action on the plan by the court deadline of January 1.
This is certainly not the end of the matter in Alaska, but it’s refreshing to see politicians take a stand on their personal convictions.
Those of us who are involved with Faith & Freedom have no reason to take the positions and the criticisms we endure, other than out of deep conviction – not hate, but a deep conviction that America is great because God has blessed it.
And America has been blessed because it has stood on biblically-based principles.
In what appeared to be following the lead of abortion groups, ABC news reporter, Dan Harris, wrote an article last Thursday saying that induced abortion has no link to various confirmed medical risks. (To read ABC article, click here).
He said that crisis pregnancy centers are “offering information long discredited by the medical community.” He also said, “The centers harass and mislead women by telling them … that abortions can lead to breast cancer, sterility and depression.”
I personally spoke to Dan Harris last night at ABC in New York and asked him about his claims.
He reiterated that all the studies that are used to support the fact that woman often suffer medical and psychological consequences following an abortion have been discredited.
I told him I was not aware that the study was published last January in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry that found that mental problems, including depression, anxiety, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts were much more likely to occur among women who have had an abortion than among those who had not, had been discredited.
In fact, the study found that 42 percent of the women who had abortions had experienced major depression within the last four years, which is almost double the rate of women who never become pregnant. The risk of anxiety disorders also doubled.
A 2004 Bowling Green State University study examined data on nearly 11,000 women between the ages of 15 and 34 who had experienced an unexpected pregnancy and had chosen to have an abortion. It found that they were 30 percent more likely to experience subsequent problems with anxiety.
Harris told me that the “medical community” believes abortion doesn’t lead to depression or sterility. He said that all the medical advisors at ABC support his statements. He said the ABC medical unit is highly respected in the community.
Harris and ABC based their view on a new study conducted by researches at Oxford University that claims induced abortions do not raise a women’s breast cancer risk.
However, Professor Joel Brind, a researcher from Barch College in New York and the President of the Breast Cancer Prevention Institute says the new Oxford study is “seriously flawed in the direction of covering up the link.”
Harris told me that the American Medical Association came out last night in support of his story. I have not heard that from any source except him.
Here’s what I know.
As a pastor for nearly 30 years, I have seen the unexpected consequences of abortion. I have heard the stories.
Further, I know that God created life and every life has eternal value. When a society believes they have the right to end life as a matter of choice, they are not only committing murder, but they are attempting to play God.
I’m reminded of the Pope’s words this past Friday, “To take God’s place without being God is insane arrogance, a risky and dangerous venture.”
We wanted to make you aware of an article recently released from Focus on the Family that we felt was very important for you to read.
11-16-2006
Faith Groups Take Stands on Homosexuality from staff reports
Christian leaders are rejecting the gay agenda.
Catholic bishops, a state convention of Baptists and the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) recently took steps to affirm that homosexual behavior and Christianity are incompatible.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops told its members that scriptural teaching is clear regarding the issue of homosexuality. C.J. Doyle, executive director of the Catholic Action League, said it left no doubt where the church stands.
"Homosexual behavior is objectively sinful," he said. "Homosexual orientation is disordered, and same-sex marriage and civil unions are morally impermissible."
The bishops also declared that gay adoption is wrong, although children living in same-sex households may be baptized if there is an intention to bring them up Catholic.
Norman Jameson, president of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, said the organization will expel any church that affirms homosexuality.
"A church will be considered not to be in friendly cooperation if it acts to affirm, approve, endorse, promote, support or bless homosexual behavior," he told Family News in Focus.
In North Carolina, the PCUSA put a minister on trial for conducting a gay wedding. The charges were dismissed on a technicality.
But Joe Dallas of Genesis Counseling said it's part of a growing tendency for churches to push back against the pressure applied by homosexual activists.
"These are encouraging development," he said. "They do show that Christian leadership, both Protestant and Catholic, is taking biblical standards seriously and literally."
Patrick Henry once said, “The only way to know the future is to know the past.” If this is true, and I believe it is, the next two years will be an all-out political assault on conservative, Christian voters.
The press will, in unprecedented ways, seek to create an atmosphere of Nirvana around the actions that our newly elected secular progressives will take. From federal government to local government, these warriors of progressive secularism will be hailed as near messianic.
Let’s look at the media’s recent past – the last four weeks.
Keith Olbermann, host on MSNBC, used his program to demand that President bush apologize to the troops in Iraq, while blaming him for inspiring acts of “domestic terrorism” against his critics. He equated the President to King Henry and Archbishop Thomas Becket and then injected the race card by making a comparison between Bush supporters attacking the President’s opponents and the 1856 caning of anti-slavery Senator Charles Sumner by pro-slavery Congressman Preston Brooks.
As Olbermann concluded his attack, he addressed President Bush, who of course was not present, and said, “You instructed no one to mail the fake anthrax [received by Olbermann], nor undermine the FBI’s case, nor call for the execution of the editors of The New York Times, nor threaten to assassinate Stephanie Miller, nor beat up a man yelling at Senator George Allen, nor have the First Lady knife Michael J. Fox, nor tell John McCain to lie about John Kerry. No, you did not, Sir. And the genius of the thing is the same as in King Henry’s rhetorical question about Archbishop Thomas Becket; ‘Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest?’ All you had to do, Sir, is hand out enough new canes.”
That was MSBNC.
Suzanne Malveaux, a reporter on CNN said, “We hope John Kerry’s gaffe goes away.” Charles Gibson, ABC’s news anchor while appearing on The View, denied media bias when Elizabeth Hasselbeck asked him about a “perceived liberal bias in the media.” Gibson assured them that he strives for balance, yet at the same time ABC news political director Mark Halperin was telling Hugh Hewitt on his radio show that, “Well over 70% of the people working on his network’s political coverage are liberal and will vote Democratic.”
And it continues this week: ABC’s Diane Sawyer asked Barak Obama, “Is the US more racist or more sexist?” Chris Matthews, on MSNBC, hailed Hillary Clinton’s “ability to bring us all together.” And Time Magazine is declaring, “The Reagan Era now over.” Interesting, TIME said the same thing in 1993.
The networks gave extensive coverage to anti-Iraq War Congressman John Murtha. Monday night CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric gave him additional coverage, painting him as a “victim of conservatives” wrath who is now “vindicated” by last Tuesday’s elections.
ABC’s Sam Donaldson said the Democratic win was “a good thing.”
And it isn’t just on the national media. Look at the Seattle PI Friday, November 10, 2006. “A Memo to Dino Rossi: Take note of the trouncing your party took in the state on Election Day. Not only did voters shift dramatically the balance of power in both houses of the Legislature, but the ballot initiative you came out to promote – I-933 – was roundly defeated – a lot has changed in two years, and there’s nothing to make things look rosy for Republicans two years out, either. There is no longer any rational questioning of Gov. Chris Gregoire’s legitimacy. Democratic majorities have swelled.”
They continue, “Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike McGavick’s 39 percent share of the vote against a vulnerable Maria Cantwell fell short of George Nethercutt’s 43 percent share against Sen. Patty Murry in 2004, and Ellen Craswell’s 41 percent out against Gary Locke in the 1996 Governor’s race and even John Carlson’s 40 percent against Locke in 2000.”
“So, carefully temper any dreams of comeback in ’08 with the realities of ’06.” Seattle PI Editorial Board.
This drumbeat will continue and increase in both intensity and frequency during the next 24 months.
We must use discernment as we receive the news. This is an attempt to not only build up the Democratic Party, but more importantly, advance the secularist agenda of their platform. Equally , it is an all-out attempt to suppress the activities of the conservatives and Christian activities and voters by discouraging them.
Our activities must be, not so much toward recessitating the Republican Party, but rather toward advancing the Biblical principles upon which this great country was built and electing those who hold those convictions.
These are challenging times for those who care about our culture. These are critical times for those who are committed to the cause of righteousness in our culture.
Our causes are both Biblical and noble, therefore: “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (Galatians 6:9).
While the liberals did not present a clear case for what they were for or what their agenda would be, they made the case for what they were against. And a majority of Americans joined them – on some things.
While America voted against the War in Iraq, the way they perceive the President has handled that war, Jack Abramoff, Duke Cunningham, Mark Foley (and maybe even Ted Haggard), a party that has overspent and some Republican leaders who have forsaken their traditional, conservative, pro-life roots, it did not vote against conservative values in most cases.
People mostly voted against a congressional face that they perceived to look like self-indulgence and corruption.
I personally believe that what we saw last week was America voting against a “prodigal son.” People who ran conservative, only to act liberal or progressive after they were elected. They voted against a party that had, in too many instances, departed from principle and ethics.
The Washington Post was the standard bearer for the media with this headline: “A Voter Rebuke for Bush, the War and the Right.”
While voters sent a message about how they felt toward the President and the War, they did not send that message to conservatives or the political right. The mainstream media would wish that with all their heart, but it simply isn’t true.
In nearly all the major ballot issues at the state level across America, conservatives or values voters won.
For example, ballot initiatives to recognize marriage as between a man and a woman won in seven out of eight states with strong majority votes. A number of other conservative initiatives dealing with property rights and immigration won as well.
As our culture comes to grips with the real issues of the day, we find they may be less about Republican or Democrat, or left or right, and more about right or wrong – secular or Biblical.
Ronald Reagan once said, “You and I are told we must choose between a left or right, but I suggest there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down. Up to man’s age-old dream – the maximum of individual freedom consistent with order – or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism.”
He also said, “It is time, indeed, to do more than just talk of a better world. It is time to act --- freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream.”
Acting out of conviction is difficult; because there is usually something about what you are doing that is challenged by people on either side. However, it is only when we act out of conviction that we can truly impact our culture.
Last week, we had a private, closed-door strategy meeting with trusted leaders – some from business and some who hold elected office in Washington State.
Very soon, Faith & Freedom will be making several announcements regarding some positions that we will be taking on issues that will be before the public in Washington State and the actions we intend to take. This will not be well-received by some, but we are acting out of deep conviction, sincerity, and a commitment based on a Biblical worldview.
Yesterday, America handed the Democratic Party the chance of a lifetime – control.
Click to see Associated Press overview of Democrats Plan.
As Governor Ted Kulongoski gave his victory speech for a second term as Governor of Oregon, he said, “It’s party time.”
Nancy Pelosi, who will become the next Speaker of the House said, “The democrats are ready to lead.”
I find a great deal of irony in yesterday’s election and many questions in what the Seattle P.I. called “the blue wave.”
Ms. Pelosi represents one of the most liberal congressional districts in San Francisco, yet she will be third in succession to the presidency. While San Francisco values will rule the gavel, will they now control America? And where will they lead us?
The platform of the Democratic Party is very clear on the issues. The favor gay marriage and are pro-choice, not pro-life. These issues are really very close to the heart of most Christian voters. The Republican Party platform has best represented these values, although there has been great disappointment in a number of people who supposedly represent the Republic Party. In too many cases, we sent people to Washington to change government only to find that government changed them. More and more Republican candidates have assumed that because they were Republican, they would enjoy the support of the faith community, even though they may not hold some of our most important values. They were wrong. We are more committed to principles then to Party. (See Faith & Freedom Poll).
As the “Blue Wave” has swept over America, it is unlikely that there will be a national Defense of Marriage Act amendment within the next two years.
I received an email from a friend in New York today telling me that staffers for Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, 86, are saying that he is very ill and will most likely have to step down very soon. It will be very difficult for President Bush to get confirmation on a true conservative “originalist” replacement. Will that give us Alberto Gonzales as the first Hispanic judge who happens to be pro-choice? Who knows.
Here in the Northwest, the Big Shift, will be felt most on two very important social issues. Marriage and the Sanctity of Life. Particularly marriage.
Ed Murray promised after the Washington Supreme Court ruling upheld traditional marriage, that he would immediately introduce new legislation in the 2007 session to provide at least civil unions. He has the support of other liberal legislators and Governor Gregoire. Will a new, emboldened liberal legislature try for gay marriage again?
And Governor Ted Kulongoski promised Oregon that if he were re-elected for a second term he would push for civil unions for homosexuals, which is simply gay marriage by another name.
I am not sure what all this means, nor do I think for one moment that we, or anyone else for that matter, can fully explain what all this “Blue Wave” -- Big Shift means.
Many emails have come to us today, thanking us for all we do and encouraging us to not get discouraged.
Thank you. And we’re not discouraged, nor should any person of faith get discouraged. At least after today.
There is much to learn as we move forward. And we will move forward. We know that God is in control and He allows things to happen for a reason.
Perhaps one thing that can come from this would be for every person of faith to re-evaluate how God would have us as individuals to engage in our society. Perhaps resolve can be strengthened and galvanized through these times.
Perhaps God would say to His people of today what He said more than 3000 years ago. “This is what the Lord says: stand at the crossroads and look; ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘we will not walk in it.’ I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet! But you said, ‘We will not listen.’ Disaster came because they did not listen to the ancient words of wisdom and they rejected His law.” (Jeremiah 6:16, 19).
We at Faith & Freedom have a strategic planning meeting tomorrow with leaders in Washington State, to define how God would lead us to address these most important issues in 2007.
Our desire is to act on His “ancient words of wisdom” and to influence our lawmakers to not reject His law.
Thank you for your prayers and support.
_____________________ Gary Randall President Faith & Freedom
I remember when everyone, with a few exceptions, actually voted on Election Day. Now, with the expansion of vote-by-mail, many have already voted, but not all.
While many things have changed, the most important aspect of voting has not. We still do it.
Daniel Webster, while speaking to a woman’s club in Richmond, Virginia on October 5, 1840 said, “Impress upon children the truth that the exercise of the elective franchise is a social duty of as solemn a nature as a man can be called to perform; that a man may not innocently trifle with his vote; that every elector is a trustee as well for others as himself and that every measure he supports has an important bearing on the intensity of others as well as their own.” (The Works of Daniel Webster).
Two billion dollars has been spent during this election cycle to convince you to vote for or against a person or an issue, because it’s in your best interest.
Equally as important is the effect our vote has on other people.
And sometimes things are not as they seem. Sometimes voters are fooled, both by the working of certain measures and by the words of certain candidates.
Perhaps, the most important action all Americans can take at this time is to pray
During a debate and just before a vote, Supreme Court Justice, William Patterson, reminded his fellow justices of Proverbs 29:2, “When the righteous rule, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.”
Every election is critical to what our country and our communities will become. This election is no exception.
I am personally going to spend time today in prayer for our country, our leaders, regardless of which political party, and for this election that God’s will may be done.
Please join me and millions of others as we ask God to bless America with His approval and His will.
________________ Gary Randall President Faith & Freedom
**Election results will be posted on Faith & Freedom website tomorrow as they become available.
All the major news organizations are leading with the story on Pastor Ted Haggard this morning.
Pastor Ted Haggard, founding pastor of the 14,000-member New Life Church in Colorado Springs and President of the 30-million-member National Association of Evangelicals has been accused of having had a three-year sexual relationship with Mike Jones, a gay male who says he is a former escort.
Pastor Haggard has stepped down as pastor of the church while an investigation is conducted. He has also resigned as President of the National Association of Evangelicals.
Pastor Haggard told Channel 9 News last night, “I have never had a gay relationship with anybody, I’m steady with my wife, I’m faithful to my wife.”
I was not personally aware of any of this until it broke in the news last night. I have served on the board of the NAE for many years by virtue of being a state chairman of the association.
The accuser says that when he became aware of who the pastor was, he decided to step forward.
ABC and others are playing tapes this morning that the accuser says is Pastor Haggard leaving messages on his voice mail.
My personal response to all this is shock. I am confident the truth will come out.
If Pastor Haggard has done what he has been accused of doing, it is a tragedy.
If not, it is the most malicious attack that I have ever seen.
This is what I do know.
The kingdoms of man rise and fall, but the kingdom of God is forever. The desire of Christians and Christian leaders that I know is to serve God and His kingdom in the most meaningful and effective way possible. People who disagree can be malicious and often leaders are attacked by those who disagree with them.
I also know that all people are capable of personal failure, in fact scripture says, “All have sinned and come short” and that is why we need a Savior.
The redemptive work of Jesus Christ in each of our lives is needed and absolutely necessary.
______________ Gary Randall President Faith & Freedom
Yesterday, John Kerry became the news. As the story developed around the world, Kerry definitely said he “would apologize to no one.” But in the end, after much criticism of liberal Democrats, he posted an apology, of sorts, on his website last night.
America rejected Kerry when he wanted to be President and I would suspect that many really don’t care what he thinks about the military or anything else, except that Kerry is a leader in one of our two major political parties and therein is the story.
There are two very different visions for America. The one is to evolve into a global village with the rest of the world; the other is to stay true to the ideas of our Founding Fathers and the Judeo-Christian principles upon which they built this country. The one view values patriotism, tradition and the culture that has developed around those values. They believe in the “city on a hill” that has created the greatest nation in the history of the world. The other sees America as responsible for terrorism, environmental pollution, and most of the other ills that plague humanity.
The commitment to the so-called “elite progressive” view runs deep among many in our country. Fortunately, they are not a majority.
These kinds of incidents bring clarity to the difference between the two views.
This morning, ABC is running a story trying to clarify, not what Kerry said, but what he “meant” to say. Yesterday the media, including our own outlets here in the Northwest, were framing the incident as a “war of words” between the President and John Kerry. Clearly they couldn’t control the story, but we have to wonder how many stories they do control, particularly at election time.
The media knows full well that Kerry’s distain for the military and our country in general is a long-standing passion with him. And speaking out on these issues is a long-standing habit with him. When he came back from Vietnam, he threw his medals (or ribbons?) away publicly in protest, joined Jane Fonda and others speaking publicly against our country and slandered his comrades in arms, saying that in the mode of Genghis Khan, they raped and pillaged their way across Vietnam. In the end, he couldn’t prove his allegations – but he tried.
Yet the media and the secularist liberals protect these folks to the end.
And it probably is the end of any significant influence from Mr. Kerry.
The media and his colleagues have already jettisoned him with several politicians asking him not to campaign for them.
The story in this tale is not so much about Kerry as it is about the length to which secularists and elitists will go to appear to be something other than what they really are.
In fact, the tendency to appear to be something other than what one really is is so prevalent that there is a phrase that’s used to describe it – “running toward the middle.” I suppose that could be described as being everything to everyone.
The decisions we make today will directly impact our children and our grandchildren.
The words of James Garfield loom large today. “Now more than ever the people are responsible for the character of their congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them.” (Atlantic Journal 1877).
Both the future and the responsibility are in the hands of the voter. Vote wisely and vote your values.
______________ Gary Randall President Faith & Freedom
John Kerry, the most recent Presidential Nominee of the Democratic Party told a group of students at Pasadena City College on Monday, “You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.”
This comment once again affirms the elitist point of view that the secular progressives always try to advance, while simultaneously denying that they actually feel that way.
Not only did this comment demean our troops who are giving all they have for America, but it fits a pattern. The elitists like to speak from their high position of enlightenment as they attempt to lead America into their “brave new world” of globalism. And when called out for their comments, they deny and attempt to explain them away. They do it every time. And Kerry did not break from the pattern this time.
When confronted with his comments, he said they were meant as a reference to President Bush, not the troops.
Kerry’s official response was, “Enough is enough. We’re not going to stand for this. We’re going to stay in their face with the truth.”
John McCain, a decorated Vietnam veteran like Kerry, said, “The suggestion that only the least educated Americans would agree to serve in the military and fight in Iraq is an insult to every soldier serving in combat today.”
As far as standing in anyone’s face with the truth, I would suggest that John Kerry is probably the last person the American public would see as a reliable truth bearer.
Our troops do not enlist because they did not study or do their homework, they do so because they believe in the enterprise called the United States of America and they are patriots.
Seventy percent of those logging on to the AOL poll feel John Kerry should apologize to our troops. I agree with the majority and so does the American Legion.
Equally as important is that every American takes another look before we vote.
While John Kerry is not running for office today, many of his brethren of elitism are. Do we really want Howard Dean, John Kerry, Al Gore, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Barney Frank, Edward Kennedy and a platoon of others who share their philosophy and vision for America running our country?
It’s up to you.
God help us.
_________________ Gary Randall President Faith & Freedom _________________
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