Winston Churchill and Human Rights

Posted on by December 20, 2015

800px-Sir_Winston_S_ChurchillLarry P. Arn, President of Hillsdale College, in Michigan, has written a book about Winston Churchill. He give us some glimpses into Churchill’s thinking about liberty and war.

In 1940 Churchill had become the leader of Great Britain. At this time his country’s Parliament had proposed to him a peace conference which had been arranged by Mussolini, Italy’s leader who had joined with the German Nazi’s to try to conquer the world.

At that period of time Britain stood alone in the West as the only country to specifically oppose Nazi Germany. The German forces vastly outnumbered those of Great Britain. Germany had conquered France and was threatening to cross the English Channel and likewise conquer England. read more

James Madison and the Choice of Liberty

Posted on by December 19, 2015

JamesMadisonJust as Patrick Henry proclaimed “Give me liberty or give me death”, James Madison did likewise. His statement was worded just a little differently.

Madison defined “property rights” to be the same as all human rights. Such rights are specifically protected in our Bill of Rights, the first 10 Amendments, proposed by Madison and adopted by the States.

James refers to property to include such human rights at freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press. He wrote that property “included everything to which a man may attach a value and have a right, and which leaves to every one else the like advantage”(emphasis in the original writing). read more

‘Tis the Season to be Jolly

Posted on by December 18, 2015

ForgivenessThinking about it, that word “Jolly” doesn’t seem to be used much anymore—at least not in general conversation. The Thesaurus gives such similar words as cheerful, happy, good-humored, jovial, merry, sunny, joyful, joyous, light-hearted, in high spirits, bubbly, exuberant, ebullient, gleeful, mirthful, genial, affable, fun-loving, and even chirpy!

That seems to me to be saying a lot with just one old word. Perhaps it would be good for us to use that word even more. Look at all you say with it! And they’re all good meanings and connotations. read more

The Lion, The Witch, and The Government

Posted on by December 16, 2015

445192825_011af775a5_mYes, back to that author of the famous books, including “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.” I’ve said some things about his book “Mere Christianity” before. I hope you found that interesting.

In his book titled “Mere Christianity” he said some profound messages. One that caught my eye was about government. Sort of.

“What is the good of telling ships how to steer so as to avoid collision if, in fact, they are such crazy old subs that they cannot be steered at all? What is the good of drawing up, on paper, rules for social behavior, if we know that, in fact, our greed, cowardice, ill temper, and self-conceit are going to prevent us from keeping them? I do not mean for a moment that we ought not to think, and think hard, about improvements in our social and economic system. What I do mean is that all thinking will be mere moonshine [not the drinking kind] unless we realize that nothing but the courage and unselfishness of individuals is ever going to make any system work properly. . . . You cannot make men good by law: and without good men you cannot have good society. That is why we must go on to think of the second thing: of morality inside the individual.” (“Mere Christianity”, C. S. Lewis, page 73). read more

Martha Washington at Valley Forge

Posted on by December 15, 2015

Dolley_MadisonMost people know that George Washington spent the winter of 1777-8, with his troops at Valley Forge. But did you know that Martha Washington joined him there for a time?

She was driven in a carriage by one of her aides and saw miles of the filth, the dead horses, open latrines, and the appalling condition of the soldiers and their camps.

She was escorted through to the hospital which was not much more than a barn which had been made into a system of cots and straw to hold the injured soldiers. She was able to help some of the soldiers who were in dire straits. read more

Character and George Washington

Posted on by December 14, 2015

Landsdowne painting“Character is like the foundation of a house—it is below the surface.” –Anonymous

But isn’t that so true. The real and true character is below the surface, it is unseen except in the mannerisms, attitude, and language of the beholder. It cannot be faked or put aside, but is constant. It becomes a part of a person’s being.

The dictionary describes Character as: “the aggregate of features and traits that form the apparent individual nature of some person or thing.” (Websters Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary, page 247). read more

Patrick Henry and Christmas

Posted on by December 13, 2015

PatrickHenryBob Kelly is a professional speaker and a friend of mine, and so is Patrick Henry. Here’s what Patrick said, and it makes me wonder if he would feel the same way today when our liberty and very life is threatened.

“It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but on the GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!
For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity and freedom of worship here.” (Patrick Henry as quoted in “Worth Repeating”, by Bob Kelly, 2003, page 51.) read more

Our Proud Military

Posted on by December 12, 2015

navy-fleet-QBs-carrier-articleToday I watched the last half of the Army – Navy football game. The helmets of the Navy team were so beautiful in blue with an ocean and an aircraft carrier painted on them. I was impressed.

Navy won the game. And I was also impressed and gratified by the deportment of both teams. It is the tradition for each team to gather together in a group and sing their “Alma mater” song. They did it. Both teams, one after the other. Some with tears in their eyes.

It made you proud to be represented in the military by such valiant young people. Americans should be pleased and gratified to have these steadfast young people protect us and our liberty. read more

The Daughters of the American Revolution

Posted on by December 11, 2015

constitutionToday I was honored as the special guest speaker at the monthly meeting of The Daughters of the American Revolution. It was real privilege to present to them a little about our Founding Father Benjamin Franklin.

The ladies were invited to bring their husbands, and so we were happy so have some gentlemen there as well. I found the group to be well educated about our country’s revolution, and to be a most attentive and riveted audience.

In the discussion there seemed to be some confusion about the difference between the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention. It was soon cleared up. read more

Thomas Jefferson as President

Posted on by December 10, 2015

ThomasJeffersonIn watching some of the political debates and even interviews lately, I couldn’t help but think of Thomas Jefferson’s most helpful statement:

“Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.”

Having said that it is interesting to think that Thomas Jefferson would have a most difficult time being elected as President today. Why? He was not a very good speaker! He was a magnificent and awe-inspiring writer to be sure. See the Declaration of Independence for example. read more