President George Washington
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor, and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint committee requested me to "recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanks-giving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many single favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness”.
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the Service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. That we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks, for His kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation, for the single and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of His providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war, for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed, for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, of the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have to acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge and in general for all the great and various favors which He hath been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humble offering prayers and supplications to the Great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions, to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually, to render our national government a blessing to all people, by constantly being a government of wise, just and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed, to protect and guide all Sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace and concord. To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us, and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone know to be best.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Friday, September 5, 2008
Where are we headed as a country ?
Where are we headed as a country ?
We seem to have a great divide that is evolving and being thrust upon our country….and this divide seems to be centered in the differences between the foundational beliefs that we hold. Those to the right who base their beliefs about our country upon the ideals of our founding fathers (as delineated in our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution) as opposed to those on the left who wish to see our country move further towards progressive socialism.
Founding ideals – limited government (powers at both the federal and state level which include limiting the powers of taxation and regulation), adherence to the constitutionally mandated powers of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government, serving in government to uphold the ideals of democracy as well as for the benefit of the common good of our country, the sanctity of life, the ability to pursue liberty, strong national sovereignty, strong national security…
Progressive socialism – government leads the way in all facets of our lives, taxation as a way to cure all of societies ills, governmental regulation as a prime directive, judicial activism in the legislative process, the government’s redistribution of wealth, devaluation of life within certain contexts (abortion, euthanasia), weakened sovereignty, weakened national security of our country, open borders, political correctness…Progressive socialism leans toward the view that the founding ideals are no longer valid in our day – the founding documents should be considered ‘living’ documents – that is to say that we can change the way we interpret as well as understand them as we see fit – they are situational in nature.
We have politicians who say they can reach across the isle to come to agreement on the issues that our country faces today as well as for our future. With such a great divide mounting in our foundational beliefs it may be extremely difficult, might I say almost impossible, to bring such diverse views together to gain consensus.
The issues: the amount of government intervention in our daily lives, continually increasing tax burdens, governmental spending run amok, career politicians whose goal is attaining more power (as well as generating earmarks), judicial activism, ……will surely stretch any politician on either side beyond their abilities to construct effective legislative movement to address these issues.
Where will we find the statesmen that are concerned more about the honor and integrity of their actions than gaining political advantage, who are willing to stand true to the foundational truths that started this country and created the greatest experiment in democracy in the history of the world, who are willing to forsake their lives, their fortunes and their honor to keep our country the land of the free and the home of the brave…
As we have seen throughout the history of civilization – it is not the enemy without that destroys great civilizations but the enemy within that slowly erodes the foundations that they were built upon…
P.R. Barriball (August 2008)
We seem to have a great divide that is evolving and being thrust upon our country….and this divide seems to be centered in the differences between the foundational beliefs that we hold. Those to the right who base their beliefs about our country upon the ideals of our founding fathers (as delineated in our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution) as opposed to those on the left who wish to see our country move further towards progressive socialism.
Founding ideals – limited government (powers at both the federal and state level which include limiting the powers of taxation and regulation), adherence to the constitutionally mandated powers of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government, serving in government to uphold the ideals of democracy as well as for the benefit of the common good of our country, the sanctity of life, the ability to pursue liberty, strong national sovereignty, strong national security…
Progressive socialism – government leads the way in all facets of our lives, taxation as a way to cure all of societies ills, governmental regulation as a prime directive, judicial activism in the legislative process, the government’s redistribution of wealth, devaluation of life within certain contexts (abortion, euthanasia), weakened sovereignty, weakened national security of our country, open borders, political correctness…Progressive socialism leans toward the view that the founding ideals are no longer valid in our day – the founding documents should be considered ‘living’ documents – that is to say that we can change the way we interpret as well as understand them as we see fit – they are situational in nature.
We have politicians who say they can reach across the isle to come to agreement on the issues that our country faces today as well as for our future. With such a great divide mounting in our foundational beliefs it may be extremely difficult, might I say almost impossible, to bring such diverse views together to gain consensus.
The issues: the amount of government intervention in our daily lives, continually increasing tax burdens, governmental spending run amok, career politicians whose goal is attaining more power (as well as generating earmarks), judicial activism, ……will surely stretch any politician on either side beyond their abilities to construct effective legislative movement to address these issues.
Where will we find the statesmen that are concerned more about the honor and integrity of their actions than gaining political advantage, who are willing to stand true to the foundational truths that started this country and created the greatest experiment in democracy in the history of the world, who are willing to forsake their lives, their fortunes and their honor to keep our country the land of the free and the home of the brave…
As we have seen throughout the history of civilization – it is not the enemy without that destroys great civilizations but the enemy within that slowly erodes the foundations that they were built upon…
P.R. Barriball (August 2008)
Sunday, August 17, 2008
assimilation
August 17, 2008 RE: Quotable Quotes – Linda Chavez, Syndicated Columnist
Ms. Chavez opines, ‘Isn’t it time we quit obsessing about race and ethnicity? America has successfully integrated millions of people from every region of the world. Every indication is that we are still doing so. The naysayers keep being proven wrong when it comes to the great American assimilation machine.’
We have historically been very successful with the assimilation of peoples from other countries who desire and seek after the freedoms that America provides for its citizens. But we appear to be entering a new age of assimilation which is not comparable to the assimilations of the past. Just look at your OFFICIAL VOTING MATERIALS information that you received from the Maricopa County Recorder of Elections.
It is written in TWO different languages ! Is this assimilation ? Where are the other minority languages that have become part of the success story of the great American melting pot ? Yet, Ms. Chavez says that the naysayers keep being proven wrong ?
Might we be better served as a country to adhere to the following admonition –
Let us recognize and appreciate our diverse cultural heritages yet stand together as one nation indivisible.
Ms. Chavez opines, ‘Isn’t it time we quit obsessing about race and ethnicity? America has successfully integrated millions of people from every region of the world. Every indication is that we are still doing so. The naysayers keep being proven wrong when it comes to the great American assimilation machine.’
We have historically been very successful with the assimilation of peoples from other countries who desire and seek after the freedoms that America provides for its citizens. But we appear to be entering a new age of assimilation which is not comparable to the assimilations of the past. Just look at your OFFICIAL VOTING MATERIALS information that you received from the Maricopa County Recorder of Elections.
It is written in TWO different languages ! Is this assimilation ? Where are the other minority languages that have become part of the success story of the great American melting pot ? Yet, Ms. Chavez says that the naysayers keep being proven wrong ?
Might we be better served as a country to adhere to the following admonition –
Let us recognize and appreciate our diverse cultural heritages yet stand together as one nation indivisible.
Monday, June 16, 2008
where are we headed
As we move ever closer to progressive socialism* in our country - that is the belief that we should place total reliance upon the government to meet all of our needs and solve all of our problems - we move further away from our founding ideals that made this country great – we the people NOT we the government !
Our government can presently be defined as –
1) a growing bureaucratic political power base controlled and directed by a small minority of power seeking elites
2) centered in the legislative branches creating multitudes of laws and regulations attempting to solve all of the ills of our country (and in reality creating more ills)
3) over the last 30 years a judicial branch (at all levels) that has unconstitutionally moved to legislate rather than adhere to their constitutional mandate to adjudicate
4) creating lifelong bureaucratic positions which abuse their constitutional mandated powers by creating the ability to
a. tax and spend without control
b. emaciate the value of our liberties as provided in our founding ideals
c. destroy the balance of power as detailed in our constitution
d. build a divisive country of people predicated upon the creation of an ever growing entitlement class
When will we, the people, awaken from this slumber that has slowly eroded our country and moved it so far from the greatness that resides in our founding ideals ?
The form of government we have allowed us to become a great country---not the government.
It is the individual (we the people) acting upon our responsibility as citizens of this great country to uphold and fortify the freedoms and liberties that have come at so great a cost that makes this country great – it is not for us to become any more reliant nor beholden upon the politicians and bureaucrats who seek to assuage their desire for power and control through our government….
*Progressive Socialism is defined as the political elites’ ever growing governmental control over our lives by way of -
1) continually escalating entitlement programs creating a dependent class,
2) unbridled legislative action dissipating the liberties of all Americans,
3) weakening and subsequent reduction of the our individual freedoms as guaranteed in our founding documents,
4) weakening and degradation of our founding ideals as espoused in our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution,
5) globalization of political power as opposed to our sovereign rights as a country,
6) the erosion of capitalism and free markets through political means
Our government can presently be defined as –
1) a growing bureaucratic political power base controlled and directed by a small minority of power seeking elites
2) centered in the legislative branches creating multitudes of laws and regulations attempting to solve all of the ills of our country (and in reality creating more ills)
3) over the last 30 years a judicial branch (at all levels) that has unconstitutionally moved to legislate rather than adhere to their constitutional mandate to adjudicate
4) creating lifelong bureaucratic positions which abuse their constitutional mandated powers by creating the ability to
a. tax and spend without control
b. emaciate the value of our liberties as provided in our founding ideals
c. destroy the balance of power as detailed in our constitution
d. build a divisive country of people predicated upon the creation of an ever growing entitlement class
When will we, the people, awaken from this slumber that has slowly eroded our country and moved it so far from the greatness that resides in our founding ideals ?
The form of government we have allowed us to become a great country---not the government.
It is the individual (we the people) acting upon our responsibility as citizens of this great country to uphold and fortify the freedoms and liberties that have come at so great a cost that makes this country great – it is not for us to become any more reliant nor beholden upon the politicians and bureaucrats who seek to assuage their desire for power and control through our government….
*Progressive Socialism is defined as the political elites’ ever growing governmental control over our lives by way of -
1) continually escalating entitlement programs creating a dependent class,
2) unbridled legislative action dissipating the liberties of all Americans,
3) weakening and subsequent reduction of the our individual freedoms as guaranteed in our founding documents,
4) weakening and degradation of our founding ideals as espoused in our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution,
5) globalization of political power as opposed to our sovereign rights as a country,
6) the erosion of capitalism and free markets through political means
Saturday, May 10, 2008
What is the American dream ?
Let’s start with what our dream was based upon -
1) our Declaration of Independence
a. what does it say about our country ?
b. and have we moved away from those founding desires for us as a country ?
2) our U.S. Constitution
a. do we know what we stand for ?
b. how far have we veered from the course ?
c. can we get back ?
d. do we want to ?
1) our Declaration of Independence
a. what does it say about our country ?
b. and have we moved away from those founding desires for us as a country ?
2) our U.S. Constitution
a. do we know what we stand for ?
b. how far have we veered from the course ?
c. can we get back ?
d. do we want to ?
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
We the people
Read these words from the ending paragraph of our Declaration of Independence –
‘And for the support of this Declaration,
with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence,
we mutually pledge to each other
our Lives,
our Fortunes and
our sacred Honor.
Consider the level of trust in God as well as the sacrifices made for God and country by our founding fathers…..how much faith and trust are we willing to place in divine Providence to restore our country ? What sacrifices are we willing to make ?
In this day of ‘me-isms’ as well as special interest groups and select special classes of people that seek to isolate and pit us against one another, who and where are the true patriots willing to stand up for our amazing country and pledge their lives, their fortunes and their honor to restore our country to ‘a more perfect union’ ?
To stand firmly upon the ideals established in our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution.
To understand that freedom comes with a cost and that cost is responsibility and sacrifice.
To reach an understanding that a strong country insures our freedom’s continuing benefits.
To reason together within the bounds of our founding ideals of democracy thereby securing the blessings of liberty for our future as a sovereign nation.
To restore honor to the virtues of self discipline and honesty and integrity
To rekindle our pride in the ideals that founded our country – life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
To acknowledge the benefits of hard work and of a job well done.
To remove the growing undercurrent of reliance upon government entitlements and the mentality of victimization.
To disengage the growing tide of class warfare that has been continually escalating by those who do not have a firm belief in our country’s founding ideals.
To restore accountability and fiscal responsibility to our systems of spending and taxation at all levels of government, soundly rejecting socialistic trends.
To recognize and appreciate our diverse cultural heritages yet stand together as one nation indivisible.
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America…
Paul R. Barriball (April 2008)
‘And for the support of this Declaration,
with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence,
we mutually pledge to each other
our Lives,
our Fortunes and
our sacred Honor.
Consider the level of trust in God as well as the sacrifices made for God and country by our founding fathers…..how much faith and trust are we willing to place in divine Providence to restore our country ? What sacrifices are we willing to make ?
In this day of ‘me-isms’ as well as special interest groups and select special classes of people that seek to isolate and pit us against one another, who and where are the true patriots willing to stand up for our amazing country and pledge their lives, their fortunes and their honor to restore our country to ‘a more perfect union’ ?
To stand firmly upon the ideals established in our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution.
To understand that freedom comes with a cost and that cost is responsibility and sacrifice.
To reach an understanding that a strong country insures our freedom’s continuing benefits.
To reason together within the bounds of our founding ideals of democracy thereby securing the blessings of liberty for our future as a sovereign nation.
To restore honor to the virtues of self discipline and honesty and integrity
To rekindle our pride in the ideals that founded our country – life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
To acknowledge the benefits of hard work and of a job well done.
To remove the growing undercurrent of reliance upon government entitlements and the mentality of victimization.
To disengage the growing tide of class warfare that has been continually escalating by those who do not have a firm belief in our country’s founding ideals.
To restore accountability and fiscal responsibility to our systems of spending and taxation at all levels of government, soundly rejecting socialistic trends.
To recognize and appreciate our diverse cultural heritages yet stand together as one nation indivisible.
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America…
Paul R. Barriball (April 2008)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)