Question of the Day

I apologize for the abscence of posts lately, and I really have no excuse. Now, though, the question of the day:

What is patriotism?

Thought of the Day

"Truth does not become more true by virtue of the fact that the entire world agrees with it, nor less so even if the whole world disagrees with it." --Jewish philosopher Maimonides (1135-1204)

Our British Allies...in more than one sense

Why does it take Bishop Nazir-Ali to tell us how it really is?

Last updated at 7:16 PM on 31st May 2008

By Peter Hitchens

Why is it that nobody in our own elite actually likes or understands this country or its people or its traditions?

Why did we have to wait for Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, born and raised in Muslim Pakistan, to remind us that, as he put it, ‘the beliefs, values and virtues of Great Britain have been formed by the Christian faith’?

Just as important, why did we have to wait for him to urge us to do something about restoring that faith before we either sink into a yelling chaos of knives, fists and boots, or swoon into the strong, implacable arms of Islam?

Most of our homegrown prelates are more interested in homosexuality or in spreading doubt about the gospel or urging the adoption of Sharia law.

Then again, why did it take the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, to explain to us that our parliamentary system was the best guarantee of liberty in the world and to remind us of the courage and valour of our people in war?

This is not what British leaders say or even think, not least because they are busy pulling the constitution to pieces.

It is not what our children are taught in schools.

In fact, any expression of national pride is viewed with suspicion by the state, by the education system and above all by the BBC.

It was not always so.

Half a century ago, we had churchmen, broadcasters, academics and military men who thought it normal to love their own country, normal to support the Christian faith which made us what we are, and were willing to defend it.

The question of what happened in the years between is one of the most interesting in history.

We know, thanks to their endless memoirs and the dramas about them, that this country’s foreign and intelligence services were maggoty with Communist penetration.
I am sometimes tempted to wonder if the same organisation targeted both political parties (especially the Unconservatives), the Church of England, the BBC, the Civil Service, the legal profession and the universities.

The Communist leader Harry Pollitt certainly urged his supporters back in the Forties to hide their true views and work their way into the establishment.

An organised conspiracy could not have done much more damage than whatever did happen.

We have a country demoralised in every sense, its people robbed of their own pride, its children deprived of stability and authority, terrifyingly ignorant of their own culture, its tottering economy largely owned from abroad, its armed forces weak, its justice system a sick joke, its masses distracted by pornography, drink and drugs, its constitution menaced, its elite in the grip of a destructive, intolerant atheism.

Ripe, in fact, for a foreign takeover.

The article above is written by Peter Hitchens for the Daily Mail of the UK. As an experiment, when you read it for a second time now, replace all reference to Britain with the USA. You'll find it eerily close in the result.

Aside from references to weak armed forces and Communist conspiracies and espionage, that is remarkably close to the situation we find ourselves in here in the US. What's the significance of that? I won't try to define it, but it warrants some thought.

Question of the Day #3

Have you ever owed someone money, but they wouldn't let you pay it back? What are normally the intentions of someone who won't let another repay their debts?

Now, imagine someone loaned you a large sum of money. And they gave you this money whether you wanted it or not. The funds they are using actually come from a group of investors. They also do the same thing for several other people. You're not really sure how to take this; it's made apparent that you will have to pay the money back, but you don't know when or at what rate of interest. Then, the person loaning the money decides that one of the others they loaned to isn't using the money wisely, and they take control of the decision-making for that person. Now, you start getting concerned that they'll do the same to you. So, you contact the person that loaned you the money and try to pay them back, but they won't let you. Why would they do that?

If you haven't yet made the connection, I'm trying to illustrate what seems to be going on with the bail-out, or stimulus money, given to banks, financial organizations, and auto companies. So, here's what I want answered:

Why wouldn't the government allow companies receiving money in bail-out or stimulus form to repay the loan as soon as possible?

Expressing displeasure well beyond taxes on tea...

Today there will be hundreds of peaceful protests in our country regarding government spending and the levying of unwanted, and in many cases, unconstitutional taxes. To find a site near you, check here http://taxdayteaparty.com/.

I read a very insightful article this morning on these protests. It's worth reading when you have time, as it points out some key, and exciting, differences going on behind this movement. Find the article here http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123975867505519363.html.

Let's all remember one thing: this is our country, not the government's country. They are elected, by us, to represent us and our views when decisions are to be made. These protests are a good way to let your view be known, but they aren't and shouldn't be the only way. Find new ways to voice yourself. It makes a difference.

Three Relevant Definitions

UPDATE: Additional definition...

Capitalism - An economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately or corporately owned and development is proportionate to the accumulation and reinvestment of profits gained in a free market. The social system associated with capitalism is based on the principle of individual rights.

Fascism - A social and political ideology with the primary guiding principle that the state or nation is the highest priority, rather than personal or individual freedoms.

Socialism - a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.

Communism - A system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single, often authoritarian party holds power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people.

Words and Actions have consequences

Follow the link below to an opinion article highlighting the differences in the American Revolution and the French Revolution, what the important facets and outcomes were of each, and the dangerous path we are treading as a nation...

http://www.patriotpost.us/opinion/ben-shapiro/2009/04/08/the-second-french-revolution.html