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Showing posts with label corruption. Show all posts
Showing posts with label corruption. Show all posts

Very Important Message From Texas Attorney General

This is how I feel about the UN





http://contentz.mkt5241.com/ra/2013/13925/04/17142864/AbbottLogoHeader.jpe 
Your Liberty -- as a United States citizen -- was weakened and threatened yesterday when the Obama Administration helped the United Nations pass the Arms Trade Treaty.  Immediately after this disappointing vote, I wrote a letter to President Obama urging him not to sign the treaty.  If the President signs the treaty allowing the UN to be involved in regulating firearms in the U.S. , Texas will lead the charge to have the treaty overturned in court as a violation of the U.S. Constitution.  I need your support.  Please help us get the word out by referring 3 of your friends right now, and forwarding this email to 5 of your friends.  Together, we can make a difference.  America is exceptional in part because our Constitution safeguards our individual liberties – including the right to keep and bear arms enshrined in the Second Amendment.  The new UN treaty threatens your rights:
  • it doesn't recognize the individual right to keep and bear arms or the fundamental right to defend yourself, your family, or your property;
  • it empowers a new UN bureaucracy focused on firearms restrictions that will be run by international bureaucrats who are not accountable to the people of the United States .
  • it could impose firearm registration requirements that may empower international authorities to get information about American citizens and businesses.
This UN treaty does more than trample Second Amendment rights.  It also threatens to erode all liberties guaranteed to Americans in the Constitution by giving the UN power to govern our lives.  Please refer 3 of your friends today and forward this important message to 5 of your friends right now.  Your voice must be heard on this issue.  When the Constitution says, “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed,” it means no one—including the UN—can infringe upon that right.  UN treaties do not trump the Constitution.  And with your help, we will make that message clear to President Obama and this administration.
 
Sincerely,
http://contentz.mkt5241.com/ra/2013/13925/04/17142864/AbbottSignature.jpg
Greg Abbott

Colorado Bill Coming After the Standard Shotgun

GUN LAWS

'Coming After the Standard Shotgun': Colorado Bill is Under Fire

Republican state reps are outraged by proposed law

Next>
Image: Colorado.com
A bill that's passed the Colorado House legislature could ban the state's most popular hunting shotgun.
"They're coming after the standard shotgun," Republican state Sen. Greg Brophy told CBS4. "This is the most extreme thing anybody's ever done related to firearms."
The bill is supposed to ban high-capacity ammunition magazines, and defines them as magazines that can hold or be converted to hold over 15 rounds or eight shotgun shells.
The "can be converted" part is where the problem arises. The pump or semi-automatic shotgun is the state's most popular, according to CBS Denver, and it can easily be converted to hold more that eight rounds. The bill will ban new sales of the shotgun after July 1, and owners can only keep the shotgun if they "maintain continuous possession of it," which means they can't surrender it to a gun owner for repair or to a family member to use.
Democratic lawmakers say they're drafting an amendment that will exempt the shotgun from the law.
Colorado is looking at a raft of gun bills that are making gun owners anxious, including a Democratic proposal to make sellers and owners of assault weapons liable for damages caused by shootings.
Biden told Colorado Democrats last month that the bills would "send a strong message to the rest of the country that a Western state had passed gun-control bills."
Via CBS Denver.

Mainstream media now openly admits the FBI and CIA are reading all your emails



via NaturalNews.com on 11/17/12

For years, those of us who have tried to warn the American public that Big Brother monitors all Internet users were demonized, vilified and ridiculed. Now, the mainstream media has proven us correct. "The U.S. government -- and likely your own government, for that.



 matter -- is either watching your online activity every minute of the day through automated methods and non-human eavesdropping techniques, or has the ability to dip in as and when it deems necessary -- sometimes with a warrant, sometimes without," ZDNet reported earlier this month. "That tin-foil hat really isn't going to help. Take it off, you look silly."

The Petraeus case

Where's the proof that the government has this capability?

You might recall a fellow by the name of (retired) Gen. David Petraeus. He's been in the news lately.

This four-star general-turned-CIA chief just resigned his post after news broke that he had engaged in an extra-marital affair with is biographer, herself a West Point graduate and former Army officer.

What led to this shocking discovery was Petraeus' use, of all things, Google's online email service, Gmail.

According to federal law, mind you, authorities are not legally permitted to electronically snoop around in your email box.

"The government can't just wander through your emails just because they'd like to know what you're thinking or doing," Stewart Baker, a former assistant secretary at the Homeland Security Department who's now in private law practice, told The Associated Press. "But if the government is investigating a crime, it has a lot of authority to review people's emails."

Or, in the case of the CIA, if the agency wants to track a suspect ostensibly for "national security" purposes. Ditto the NSA.

The wrangling of Petraeus' email account has certainly landed him in a world of trouble, but his story has also, once again, ignited a new the debate over when, how and why governments and law enforcement agencies alike are able to access the email accounts of ordinary citizens - even if they head up the most powerful spy agency in the world.

Granted, experts say "the little people" needn't worry much about having their online presence tracked. Agencies like the CIA generally tend to have bigger fish to fry, so to speak. But nevertheless, the technology to pilfer email accounts at will obviously exists.

"Forget ECHELON, or signals intelligence, or the interception of communications by black boxes installed covertly in data centers," writes Zack Whittaker for ZDNet. "Intelligence agencies and law enforcement bodies can access - thanks to the shift towards Web-based email services in the cloud - but it's not as exciting or as Jack Bauer-esque as one may think or hope for."

(Editor's Note: ECHELON, for those who are unfamiliar with it, is the name of "a global Communications Interception (COMINT) system created by the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to routinely and indiscriminately monitor and record all forms of electronic communications worldwide (both military and civilian) and overseen by the National Security Agency," according to one published description of the program.)

How the top CIA official got busted

When he set up his private Gmail account, Petraeus used a pseudonym and composed email messages but never sent them. They were instead saved as drafts. His lover, Paula Broadwell, would then log in under the same account, read the drafts then reply to them in the same manner - as a draft, without actually sending the message.

The exchanges would not be sent across the networks through Google's data centers, which would make it nearly impossible for the NSA or any other ELINT (electronic intelligence) agency (like Britain's GCHQ or the Israeli Mossad) to "read" the messages while they are in transit between accounts.

Other sinister operators - terrorists, pedophiles and the like - have been known to use the same trick to avoid detection, ZDNet reported.

"But surely IP addresses are logged and noted? When emails are sent and received, yes. But the emails were saved in draft and therefore were not sent. However, Google may still have a record of the IP addresses of those who logged into the account," the report said.

In the end, the FBI used a little-know law called the Stored Communications Act, which is part of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, as the basis for getting a warrant to view Petraeus' private Gmail account. And that's how agents found the stored messages that were never actually sent.

"Once it knew Ms. Broadwell was the sender of the threatening messages, the FBI got a warrant that gave it covert access to the anonymous email account," the BBC's Mark Ward reported.

Biased Media Tells Only One Side

 
Just the Short List of Media Coverage during the 2012 Election
 
Presidential Leadership
Congress hasn’t passed a budget in 3 years, the press says nothing.
Military personnel have to be bribed or coerced into attending Presidential appearances, they cannot respect their Commander and Chief; the press says nothing.
There are more law suites filed against the US Government by its own employees and internal divisions than at any time in history, the press says nothing.
The pledge to unite has been so totally ignored that our political division is at its highest since the Civil War, the press says nothing.
 
Administration’s Track Record
There is none, mostly just setbacks, no tangible successes of any kind other than “unity”, “hope” and “change”….and a hollow claim to have killed Osama Bin Laden; the press says nothing.
 
Foreign Policy
In the past Obama has bowed to foreign leaders and apologizes to them thereby weakening our global position; the press said nothing.
Recently our embassies were stormed, an ambassador was horribly murdered, other US citizens and military personnel were killed, but Obama approved continued foreign aide to the perpetrators, apologized for the American-made film that gave them the excuse to riot, and does nothing to bring them to justice; the press says nothing.
Today Iran is threatening Israel and the US with military and terrorist actions because of Obama’s failed foreign policy regarding Iran’s nuclear weapons program and our neglected alliance with Israel; the press says nothing.
 
Domestic Policy
Food prices take the highest jump in 50 years and are project to go much higher; the press says nothing.
“Temporary” amnesty is given to alien workers in order to buy votes while our system is overburdened with a huge number of unemployed US CITZENS; the press says nothing.
Insurance premiums and medical costs take huge increases in spite of Obama’s forced health care reforms; the press says nothing.
 
Energy
Gas prices soar; the press says nothing.
Every major energy producer has put their money squarely against Obama instead of the traditional hedging of their bets by backing both candidates; the press says nothing.
 
Economic Policy
The value of the dollar has shrunk more in the past 2 years than during any time in US history; the press says nothing.
The gargantuan, unread stimulus program Democrats rammed trough Congress didn’t have any measurable positive effect on economic recovery; the press says nothing.
The Obama administration says he created 4.5 million jobs but ignores the 4.9 million job decline resulting in a net 400,000 net job loss; the press says nothing.
Obama touts an 8% unemployment rate but doesn’t include those working two to three jobs just getting by until they get a real job, or the people who have stopped looking for work and settle for jobless benefits; the press says nothing.
The National Federation of Independent Business, the US Chamber of Commerce and the National Association for the Self-Employed along with many others have surveyed their members who have all said the health care mandates will kill approximately 1.2 million jobs in 2013 and ‘14; the press says nothing.
Greece has fallen yet Obama continues to head down the exact same path that historically ends in social collapse; the press says nothing.
We don’t take in enough in tax revenues to pay for essential services and still service the interest on our debt; the press says nothing.
 
National Security
Border security is a joke and our friend Mr. Holder isn’t helping with his crazy Fast and Furious schemes; the press says nothing.
Credit is taken for political gain after an effort to eliminate Osama Bin Ladin was carried out with very little effort by Obama; the press says nothing.
Military morale is at its lowest point in history, suicides are at their highest, the press says nothing.
 
Race
No white man could have ever gained the presidency with such a deplorable record of failure and inexperience; the press says nothing.
This presidency is riddled with race baiting and side taking without review of the facts; the press says nothing
 
Religion
Obama praises his own attitudes of religious freedom yet wages a quiet but documented war against the actions and practices of Christians; the press says nothing.
Obama uses reverence when he refers to Muslims or the Koran yet uses distain when talking of Catholics and the Bible; the press says nothing.
Countless criticisms are made of Romney’s Mormonism but none are made of Obama being a closet Muslim, Biden’s Catholicism is accepted but Ryan’s isn’t; the press says nothing.
 
Romney makes his “47%” statement which was fairly accurate; the press goes ape shit and calls the election.
 
 
 

IF THIS PASSES THERE WILL BE A CIVIL WAR



U.S. reverses stance on treaty to regulate arms trade

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States reversed policy on Wednesday and said it would back launching talks on a treaty to regulate arms sales as long as the talks operated by consensus, a stance critics said gave every nation a veto.

The decision, announced in a statement released by the U.S. State Department, overturns the position of former President George W. Bush's administration, which had opposed such a treaty on the grounds that national controls were better.

On Wednesday Obama Took the First Major Step in a Plan to Ban All Firearms in the United States . The Obama administration intends to
force gun control and a complete ban on all weapons for US citizens through the signing of international treaties with foreign nations. By
signing international treaties on gun control, the Obama administration can use the US State Department to bypass the normal legislative process in Congress. Once the US Government signs these international treaties, all US citizens will be subject to those gun laws created by foreign governments. These are laws that have been developed and promoted by organizations such as the United Nations and individuals such as George Soros and Michael Bloomberg. The laws are designed and intended to lead to the complete ban and confiscation of all firearms.

The Obama administration is attempting to use tactics and methods of gun control that will inflict major damage to our 2nd Amendment before US citizens even understand what has happened. Obama can appear before the public and tell them that he does not intend to pursue any legislation (in the United States) that will lead to new gun control laws, while cloaked in secrecy, his Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton is committing the US to international treaties and foreign gun control laws. Does that mean Obama is telling the truth? What it means is that there will be no publicized gun control debates in the media or votes in Congress. We will wake up one morning and find that the United States has signed a treaty that prohibits firearm and ammunition manufacturers from selling to the public. We will wake up another morning and find that the US has signed a treaty that prohibits any transfer of firearm ownership. And then, we will wake up yet another morning and find that the US has signed a treaty that requires US citizens to deliver any firearm they own to the local government collection and destruction center or face imprisonment.

This is not a joke nor a false warning. As sure as government health care will be forced on us by the Obama administration through whatever means necessary, so will gun control.

Please forward this message to others who may be concerned about the direction in which our country is headed.

We are being led like a lamb to the slaughter (Socialism/Dictatorship).
DON'T KEEP THIS - SEND IT OUT TO YOUR LIST

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Weekly Digest Bulletin Inbox x




 CRIME-STOPPERS AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFER REWARD FOR INFORMATION ON GUN STORE BURGLARIES

274 Guns Stolen in Recent Burglaries

HOUSTON – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Crime Stoppers of Houston and local law enforcement agencies announce today a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons responsible for eight burglaries at Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) in the Houston area.
In the last six weeks approximately 274 firearms were stolen from eight burglaries. ATF is requesting the public’s assistance in recovering these firearms to prevent their use in violent crimes, said Gary Orchowski,ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Houston Field Division. ATF is working with Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Harris County Constable’s Office Precinct 4, Houston Police Department, FBI, Brazos County Sheriff’s Office and West Columbia Police Department to investigate these burglaries.
The burglaries in question are listed below:
  • Cypress Jewelry and Loan (12-2-11), 11133 Huffmeister, Cypress, TX, 37 firearms stolen, ATF and Harris Co Pct 4.
  • Great Texas Gun Company (12-17-11), 6951 State Highway 21 East, Bryan, TX, 80 firearms stolen, ATF and Brazos County SO. (Reward previously offered.)
  • Fiesta Pawn (12-24-11), 12726 North Freeway, Houston, Texas 77060, no firearms, Harris County SO, ATF.
  • People's Pawn (1-4-12), 11431 North Freeway, Houston, Texas, 10 firearms and electronics, ATF and Houston PD.
  • Amex Pawn (1-4-12), 12303 Veteran's Memorial, Houston, Texas, 131 firearms stolen, ATF and HCSO.
  • JJ Enterprise Sporting Goods (1-7-12), 505 E. Brazos Ave, West Columbia, Texas (Brazoria County), 16 firearms stolen, ATF and West Columbia PD.
  • Value Pawn (1-12-12), 10790 W. FM 1960, Houston, Texas, 77064, no firearms but other items, ATF and Harris County Pct 4.
  • Jet Pawn (1-14-12), 6135 FM 2920, Spring, Texas 77379, 3 suspects arrested during attempt, ATF, HCSO, Harris County Pct 4.
Anyone with information on these burglaries is encouraged to contact:
Crime Stoppers of Houston at (713) 222-TIPS (8477)
ATF at (800) ATF GUNS or 800-283-4867
Tipsters will remain anonymous and can be eligible for up to $5,000 for arrest and charging/conviction of persons responsible for these crimes.
ATF is the federal agency with jurisdiction for investigating firearms crimes and regulating the firearms industry. More information on ATF can be found at www.atf.gov.
###

Obama allows hundreds of thousands of Palestinians with ties to Hamas to resettle in the United States


Things are changing quickly!!!  We must stop  all immigration and foreign Aid must be limited to our allies.

 

HB 1388 PASSED

Subject: Fw: HB 1388 PASSED
IN GOD WE TRUSTHow  long will it be before our Commander in Chief's family dons
their robes, Turbans, and  Burkas?
What's  next before the Muslims take  over?
HB  1388 PASSED
You just spent $20,000,000 to move members/supporters of Hamas
a terrorist organization, to the United States ; housing, food,
transportation,the whole enchilada.Whether you are an Obama fan, or not, EVERYONE IN THE U.S. Needs to know....
 H.R. 1388 was passed, behind our backs. You may want to
read about it...
It wasn't mentioned on the news... Just went by on the
ticker tape at the bottom of the CNN screen.
Obama funds $20M in tax payer dollars to immigrate Hamas
Refugees to the USA . This is the news
that did not, and will not, make the headlines.

By executive order, President BarackM
Obama has ordered the expenditure of $20.3 million in
"migration assistance" to the Palestinian refugees
and "conflict victims" in Gaza ..
The "presidential determination" (ain't that nice?) which allows
hundreds of thousands of Palestinians with ties to Hamas
to resettle in the United States , was signed and appears
in the Federal Register.
Few on Capitol Hill, or in the media, took note that the order
provides a free ticket complete with housing, transportation and
food allowances to individuals who have displayed their
overwhelming support to the Islamic Resistance Movement
(Hamas) in the parliamentary election of January 2006.
Now we learn that he is allowing thousands of Palestinian
refuges to move to, and live in, the US
at American taxpayer expense.These important,
and insightful, issues are being "lost" in the blinding
bail-outs and "stimulation" packages. Doubtful?
To verify this for yourself:
www.thefederalregister.com/d.p/2009-02-04-E9-2488

YOU  MUST PASS THIS ON... AMERICA NEEDS TO  KNOW...

Friends, WE are losing our country at a rapid pace Sad smile

 

Journey



 Journey

I think I might need to read this every morning and remember to count my blessings every day.  Have a good day everyone!


 


Read quietly then send it back on its journey


To realize
The value of a sister/brother
Ask someone
Who doesn't have one.

To realize
The value of ten years:
Ask a newly
Divorced couple.

To realize
The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.

To realize
The value of one year:
Ask a student who
Has failed a final exam.

To realize
The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.

To realize
The value of one month:
Ask a mother
Who has given birth to
A premature baby.

To realize
The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize
The value of one minute:
Ask a person
Who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize
The value of one second:
Ask a person
Who has survived an accident.

Time waits for no one.

Treasure every moment you have.

You will treasure it even more when
You can share it with someone special.

To realize the value of a friend or family member:

LOSE ONE.

The origin of this letter is unknown,
But it brings good luck to everyone who passes it on.

Remember....


Hold on tight to the ones you love!




Newsmax Report on cost of government



Reform our Government Or Lose Our Freedom.



Last year Americans Worked Till Aug. 12 to Pay for Government
"Cost of Government Day" fell on Aug. 12 this year, meaning the average American worked until that date to pay for government spending and regulations.
Each year, Americans for Tax Reform publishes its Cost of Government Day (COGD) report, and this year the organization calculated that Americans on average worked 224 days to pay for local, state, and federal government spending and regulations.
This year marks the third straight year that COGD has come in August. Prior to the Obama administration, the latest it had ever fallen was July 21.
"Americans have lost 29 days of the calendar year thanks to Obama's overspending and regulatory zeal," the report states.
The average American worked 103 days this year to pay for the cost of federal spending, and 44 days to pay off state and local government spending.
In addition, Americans worked 77 days to pay for total federal, state, and local regulations.
The report also measures varying government burdens in each state to determine its COGD. As in past years, taxpayers in Connecticut must work the most days to pay for government spending and regulation, 253, and the COGD there is Sept. 10. In New Jersey, taxpayers must work 249 days, and in New York, 242 days.
Taxpayers in Mississippi labored "only" until July 19 to pay off their burden of government, a total of 200 days, while taxpayers in Tennessee worked 201 days, and in South Carolina, 204 days.
This year's overall COGD "comes only two days earlier than last year's revised date of Aug. 14," according to a statement from Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist and Mattie Corrao, executive director of the Center for Fiscal Accountability.
"This small step towards an earlier Cost of Government Day is likely temporary. The coming implementation of regulatory behemoths that will also cause federal spending to skyrocket augurs a dismal future for taxpayers.
"The implementation of the Dodd-Frank financial regulatory overhaul, coupled with adjudication of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, portend far later COGDs in the future."
However, on a more hopeful note, the authors add: "The discussion of the government's overspending problem has shifted from billions to trillions — a significant step toward coming to terms with the country's fiscal recklessness."


MEDICARE PREMIUM INCREASE




Look carefully at the 2014 rate compared to the 2013 rate. For those
of you who are on Medicare, read the following. It's short, but
important and you probably haven't heard about it in the Mainstream
News:

"The per person Medicare Insurance Premium will increase from the
present Monthly Fee of

$96.40, rising to:

$104.20 in 2012

$120.20 in 2013

And

$247.00 in 2014."

These are Provisions incorporated in the Obamacare Legislation,

NDAA and SOPA 2 more ways we lose our FREEDOM


The two most important issues in America right now are the NDAA (just signed by Obama) and SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act, a way for the government to take down any websites it does not like). The battle rages on over SOPA, and if SOPA passes, it will mean the end of NaturalNews and all "alternative" news websites.
Just so you know, we are all fighting for our basic liberties here. Obama has betrayed the nation, but he is also awakening the nation to the simple truth that Big Government is the enemy of freedom. If we do not correct these injustices, soon the internet will be "cleansed" of all "non-compliant" websites like NaturalNews, and your Republic will be lost forever.
Welcome to 2012, huh? What a way for Obama to usher it in: You are all now enemies of the state!


NaturalNews Insider Alert ( www.NaturalNews.com ) email newsletter
(Unsubscribe instructions at bottom)
Dear NaturalNews readers,
While America was out partying last night, drinking it up and celebrating the end of 2011, Obama quietly signed the NDAA, the National Defense Authorization Act, which nullifies the Bill of Rights and declares America to be a "battleground" in which all American citizens can be arrested, imprisoned, tortured and even killed with no due process.
You don't even have to be charged with a crime. Now, thanks to Obama, the military can simply "disappear" you.
"President Obama's action today is a blight on his legacy because he will forever be known as the president who signed indefinite detention without charge or trial into law," said Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
With this signing, Obama has cemented his position as the most traitorous U.S. President in history, not merely violating his promise to close Guantanamo Bay and end the military's secret prisons, but actually expanding the power of those secret prisons over ALL Americans!
It is time to impeach this President and all those who voted for this freedom-crushing legislation. Read my urgent story today on the NDAA and the nullification of the Bill of Rights:
http://www.naturalnews.com/034537_NDAA_Bill_of_Rights_Obama.html

With your help, NaturalNews achieved significant health freedom victories in 2011. Here's a compilation of what we were able to achieve in just one year thanks to the First Amendment (which is now under assault by SOPA, of course):
http://www.naturalnews.com/034531_achievements_2011_Health_Ranger.html

Feds' War on Religion by Chuck Norris

 

Feds' War on Religion 

 



Last week, I documented more than a dozen ways in which, in just the past six months, the Obama administration is trampling on the religious liberties of America's finest military service members. (If you haven't read Part 1, you can find it here.)
I am very disappointed by the dissolution of religious liberties in the U.S. military. Times have sadly and radically changed since my father served in World War II, since I served four years in the Air Force and since my two brothers, Wieland and Aaron, served in the Army in Vietnam. (My brother Wieland paid the ultimate price there in the line of duty.)
I thank God that I served in the Air Force during a time in which moral absolutes and a deep reverence for God pervaded culture, especially the military. No service member was ashamed or afraid to express his faith in God or his Christian beliefs. In fact, the very thought that service members would somehow have to protect or defend their Christian faith would have seemed ludicrous.
Remember that it was only a few short decades ago when a commander in chief spoke passionately about his Christian faith. President Ronald Reagan said this before the lighting of the national Christmas tree Dec. 16, 1982: "In this holiday season, we celebrate the birthday of one who, for almost 2,000 years, has been a greater influence on humankind than all the rulers, all the scholars, all the armies and all the navies that ever marched or sailed, all put together. ... It's also a holy day, the birthday of the Prince of Peace, a day when 'God so loved the world' that he sent us his only begotten son to assure forgiveness of our sins."
The First Amendment secures our total religious rights and liberties: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." The American Civil Liberties Union and like-minded groups, such as the Freedom From Religion Foundation, are not preserving First Amendment rights; they are perverting the meaning of the establishment clause (which was to prevent the creation of a national church like the Church of England) and denying the free exercise clause (which preserves our right to worship as we want, privately and publicly). Both clauses were intended to safeguard religious liberty, not to circumscribe the practicing of religion. The Framers were seeking to guarantee a freedom of religion, not a freedom from it.
I respect all religions but adhere to one. I believe what Benjamin Rush -- a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a member of the presidential administrations of Adams, Jefferson and Madison -- wrote: "Such is my veneration for every religion that reveals the attributes of the Deity, or a future state of rewards and punishments, that I had rather see the opinions of Confucius or Mohammed inculcated upon our youth than see them grow up wholly devoid of a system of religious principles. But the religion I mean to recommend in this place is that of the New Testament."
And in so doing, I believe in the collection of beliefs stated almost poetically in the Apostles' Creed: "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended to the grave. The third day, he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from where he will come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy Christian church; the fellowship of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and eternal life. Amen."
Any questions?
No Christmas hesitations here. My family celebrates Christ in Christmas; that 2,000 years ago, God sent a savior, named Jesus, born to die for the sins of mankind; that whoever believes in him will have eternal life, which I chose to do decades ago at a Billy Graham crusade in Los Angeles.
Friends, now is not the time in the history of our republic to be sheepish about our patriotism or religious convictions, as so many of our leaders are. Now is the time to demonstrate with boldness in what and whom we believe. That is the type of leader and president that we need in America's future.
We need more God-fearing men and women like those portrayed in "Courageous," the inspiring film about everyday heroes that also was expanded into a best-selling novel by my friend and prolific author Randy Alcorn (http://www.epm.org). In the novel, one character speaks for many of us and challenges the rest: "But there are some men who, regardless of the mistakes we've made in the past, regardless of what our fathers did not do for us, will give the strength of our arms and the rest of our days to loving God with all that we are and to teaching our children to do the same. And whenever possible, to love and mentor others who have no father in their lives but who desperately need help and direction. We are inviting any man whose heart is willing and courageous to join us."
Whatever your religious persuasion, don't be ashamed of it. And don't hesitate to let others know where you stand, respectfully speaking. Freedom of speech and religious liberty are your First Amendment rights. This is America. And that's one of the things that still make us a great nation. In God we trust.
(As a way to promote patriotism, courage and the continued support for our troops, my wife, Gena, and I are inviting everyone to join us Jan. 7 for the premiere of the documentary "Answering the Call," about my trips to Iraq during the war to encourage the troops. You can get tickets via http://www.KickStartKids.org. We hope to see you there!)

DISCLAIMER

I DO NOT CLAIM OWNERSHIP OF ALL PHOTOS AND ARTWORK USED IN THIS BLOG OR IT'S CONTENT.

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