True Believers

 

 

Believing
(by R.P.Edwards)

I believe, in believing
The holding to unseen…more
A foundation beyond the feeling
A certain, distant…shore
But “believing,” itself, is not virtue
Unless the object, is true…and right
For believing, askew, brings darkness
A cold…and bitter…night

“This is done,” the words spoken by the Commander in Chief as he finished signing the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.  Yeah, I watched the news conference and, I must say, I found it somewhat …inspiring.  Yes, with the well-crafted rhetoric and home-style spice, I actually found myself wanting to believe the premise that “gayness” is in exactly the same category as race, and creed.  That discrimination against those so oriented--in the military setting (even though involving youthful sex drives)--is just as wrong as singling out a black, a white, a Baptist…or Jew.  Yes, I found myself wanting to join “the cause,” the march, the movement that claims a seat at the civil rights table.  However, what hinders me from jumping on “the wagon” is…my belief in God.  And, what puzzles me, is how our “religious” leaders are so quick to discount what has always…been true.  Consider Joe Lieberman; as an orthodox Jew he honored  his God by walking to the Senate (it being the Sabbath and driving is…out), but then he went right on to add his amen to a lifestyle that the Torah condemns.  And then there’s Joe Biden; one who’s known for taking the religious step of having the Lenten ashes applied to his forehead at the appropriate time (being a good Catholic), but he too has no apparent problem with saying, “God, on this one…your wrong.”  And, of course, Barack Obama also seems to have a Bible with pages missing.  Yes, believers all.  I’m just not sure how their “belief”…is divided. And so, with the full force of their “convictions” (whatever their true source), the law is repealed, and the president adds,  “this law I’m about to sign will strengthen our national security.”  Time…will surely…tell.

As an aside:  You know, watching the President do his thing; I really think he is…sincere.  For sure, I think he’s terribly wrong; and that his unhindered leadership will tear us down, perhaps even destroy us. But, in spite of all this…I like him.  For (and call me foolish) I believe his direction is heart led.  And, I believe if he finds his foundations…faulty; I believe he will turn his affections…elsewhere.  And “elsewhere,” these days, means back…to the proven path.

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"Son, don't enlist"

 

 

 

When America rose to Greatness
(by R.P.Edwards)

When America rose to greatness
The churches all…were full
God was in the courtroom
And God was in the school
Right and wrong had boundaries
Good and evil…had a place
And words had simple meanings
Such as Honor…and Disgrace
But today, we wayward children
The inheritance…we splurge
We dismiss our parents warnings
As we yield to every urge
And we speak of revelation
And the truths…they couldn’t see
But when “their” money runs out
Oh, how wretched…we will be

Some recent quotes of note:

"We have an opportunity not just to right a wrong, not just to honor the service of a group of American patriots who happen to be gay and lesbian, not just to make our military more effective, but to advance the values that the founders of our country articulated,"
Senator Joe Lieberman

“I want to thank Majority Leader Reid, Senators Lieberman and Collins and the countless others who have worked so hard to get this done. It is time to close this chapter in our history. It is time to recognize that sacrifice, valor and integrity are no more defined by sexual orientation than they are by race or gender, religion or creed. It is time to allow gay and lesbian Americans to serve their country openly. I urge the Senate to send this bill to my desk so that I can sign it into law.” President Barack Obama

“I hope that when we pass this legislation that we will understand that we are doing great damage. And we could possibly, and probably, harm the battle effectiveness which is so vital to the survival of our young men and women in the military.” Senator John McCain

Perhaps it’s because I’m working the midnight shift, but I’ll be blunt…and brief.  To begin; I know that America…has changed.  I know that practices, and lifestyles, and deeds, and doings that would, at one time, be shunned, criticized, abhorred…are now, often, accepted.  And, with this acceptance, there is a tendency to ascribe “rightness” to the act; to say that we have “evolved” or “matured” to a place where what was once considered error is now, appropriately and openly, proclaimed as…truth.  And, since many of our old “delusions” had a foundation in our religious “faith,” this too, of necessity, has evolved, matured, …changed.

Well, the lame-duck congress has passed the repeal of “Don’t ask, Don’t tell.”  The policy, enacted in the Clinton years, which allowed “gays” to serve in the military…as long as they weren’t open about their chosen lifestyle.  Believing that open homosexuality would effect the cohesive nature of our defenders, this seemed a reasonable compromise for our pluralistic society.  Some say it worked well and should have remained.  Others; especially among the left, thought it didn’t go far enough.  Thus, with the urgency of the soon to be ousted, it has been repealed and, with the President’s promised signature, it will soon become the law of the land.

Now, to the “I’m working midnights” frankness.  Without apology, I am a Christian; the kind that believes there is a God who is well able to preserve His “will” in written form.  And, as a believer so armed, it is my firm understanding that it has been God’s hand that has granted this nation…favor.  It is He who has lifted us up, empowered us, given us strength and position.  And, since no amount of “military readiness” can avail when God turns His back on a forgetful people, I believe the unnecessary action of molding our military into the image of the new-definers is just another step in a most dangerous direction.  And, since the Biblical admonition--“the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”--has been soundly rejected, my advice to my young men is simply this…don’t enlist. Don’t go into the military.  For, although, in the past, the armed forces have been a source of structure, and necessary honing for young minds and bodies, they are now becoming yet another tool of transformation from those who would, inadvertently, destroy the old foundations, and replace them with the “new.” 

Oh, to be sure, I will continue to have the highest regard for those who are serving.  And, if there is a draft implemented, or an imminent and dire threat to national security, or a “calling” of God to go in (for I certainly believe in such things), well, that’s a different matter.  But, to me, our national leaders--although speaking in the highest moral tones--by their actions they display a glaring ignorance of our divine benefactor.  And, as such, they boldly invite…His rebuke.

One final, tedious, thought:  I know there are many who are vehemently opposed to this expressed opinion.  And, I’m sure that bloggers, especially, will have no problem in loosing their vitriolic best; but, to these, and indeed to all of “this” generation, a simple reminder:  None; absolutely none of our wealth and position; our freedom and  independence comes…from us.  Oh, we may move and juggle the coins, the playing pieces, but the riches; the true riches of these United States… are inherited; an inheritance earned by generations past.  Generations who, although imperfect, understood what “under God” meant.  And, although we may malign and mock them, soon the store (which “they” stocked) will be depleted, and then, my fellow citizens, we--the enlightened ones--will be required to back up…our boasting.  Let’s see if we, alone, can sustain...our cause.

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