by Andy Weddington
Wednesday, 22 August 2012
"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." Thomas Jefferson
Today's brief comment is offered under the Constitutional right of freedom to speak and an unwavering belief in the civic duty to do so. It is written under conditions of troubling unanswered questions, grave concerns, fright, great angst and sadness, but sound mind, clear thinking, determined resolve and greater optimism. Original intent was to post Friday. There is no point waiting.
For today, straightforward comment - with courage; one amongst the 14 U. S. Marine Corps leadership traits, germane to the topic at hand, seared into my being.
The Oath of Office of the President of the United States:
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
And, Oath of Office of every member of Congress and every member of the United States Armed Forces:
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."
Yesterday morning I drove down to Palm Springs to watch the early bird screening of Dinesh D'Souza's '2016 - Obama's America.'
A leisure lunch, a scoop of ice cream elsewhere, an hour or thereabouts sitting on a bench watching and listening to the calming trickle of water cycle through a man-made rocky river, and the 45 minutes trip home afforded quiet time for reflection, not just about the movie, and serious thinking.
Once home I drafted a rough list of thoughts, with connections between dots, to address in comment and spent hours thinking and developing those thoughts.
After a good night's sleep, it occurred to me plenty of folks, many well-known, have been and will continue to offer diatribes along the lines of what's on my mind. But no one, at least known to me, has yet to stand and bluntly, tempering emotion, state the obvious.
Considering...
First and foremost, our beloved America as imprinted upon and known to and deeply loved by me; Mr. Obama's far different background and that learned reading sundry sources about said background during the past four plus years; enduring nearly a full-term presidency while witnessing America in economic and social turmoil and steady decline at home and as a respected world power; digesting Mr. D'Souza's message as merely a piece of the puzzle - of no more importance than any other; injecting simple logic, good old-fashioned common sense, sanity, and allegiance (to that same oath sworn to upon first entry in the U. S. Marine Corps and at every promotion thereafter); applying Thomas Jefferson's wisdom as offered in the opening quote; folding in utmost respect for our country's high office, our elected representative body, and citizens who voluntarily don the cloth of our country; and more figured into the multi-dimensional, complicated and disconcerting problem - the product is two conclusions and a prediction:
Conclusion 1: Mr. Obama is a domestic enemy.
Conclusion 2: Those sworn to the above oath(s) are derelict in duty.
Prediction: Mr. Romney will be elected president; convincingly.
They are conclusions - terribly disheartening and terrifying ones, not accusations, and a prediction - of hope, of optimism. I fervently pray I'm wrong about the conclusions, and right about the prediction. As with all else in life, time will settle.
That's my piece. I'm at peace - conscience clear. And will vote - my other civic duty - on Tuesday, 06 November.
In America, one citizen can speak; freely. That person might be heard. But it takes the citizenry to roar. They will be heard.
Post Script
Keep the faith!
Posts
4 comments:
Andy - "Spot On!" The truth is what it is, and I think you have got it right on the money.
Now - close the window shades, triple-bolt lock all access points to your house, and invest in some seismic intrusion devices. Never mind freedom of speech - DHS wogs may well deem you to be a domestic terrorist and opt to come cuff you and take you in for questioning. Also, have an attorney on speed dial. Semper Fi...Tom
You are not alone in your conclusions. I pray you are correct on your prediction..........
It is refreshing to find someone who is not afraid to say the things you have in such a well phrased commentary. I too watched the Obama 2016 movie and have told anyone who will listen that they must go and see it. When asked what the movie was about and what I learned, I had a hard time explaining it as well as you did. I, too, felt like Mr.D'Souza's message was "merely a piece of the puzzle -of no more importance than any other". However, when this piece of the puzzle is added to my observations of his actions and character over the past four years, I am motivated to speak out and jolt people out of their comas. Too many people are asleep at the wheel. I feel like shouting...Wake up! Our families, our values, and all that we admire in our nation are under attack. Wake up before it is too late!!
I, like you, will do my part on November 6th with a prayer in my heart that many others will exercise their right to vote and bring about the change we are sorely in need of. Dawna
Thanks, Tom, Steve, and Dawna. Appreciate you tuning in and opining.
Post a Comment