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Mr. Jefferson, Tear Down This Wall

Political cartoon from 1800
Library of Congress I learned something very interesting one day while watching the Glenn Beck program on Fox News, two things that most likely just sent any Liberal reader heading for the exits. Knowing this, I couldn’t write this piece using Glenn Beck as a source, so I decided to research on my own; something for which Beck should be applauded more often. He is singly responsible for a great many people who of late have taken a keen interest in their nation’s founding, and history in general. 

The cartoon above was run during the Presidential campaign of 1800, and the kneeling man is Thomas Jefferson, who was being attacked as an infidel by the Federalists. It is titled The Providential Detection, author unknown. From The Library Company of Philadelphia:

In this cartoon, the eye of God has instigated the American eagle to snatch from Jefferson’s hand the “Constitution & Independence” of the United States before he can cast it on an “Altar to Gallic Despotism,” whose flames are being fed by the writings of Thomas Paine, Helvetius, Rousseau, and other freethinkers. The paper, “To Mazzei,” dropping from Jefferson’s right hand, was a 1796 letter that was interpreted by Jefferson’s enemies as an indictment of the character of George Washington.

We know how the election turned out, but the history of Jefferson’s relation to God has been misconstrued ever since, and to this day people still mistakenly insist that Jefferson was anti-religion and cite him as the architect of the alleged “wall of separation”.   

Liberals use this misnomer to rail against any religious symbol on public land, from Nativity scenes on Town Hall lawns to crosses erected in desolate deserts. So it was intriguing to learn that as recently as 1850, the Capitol Building was used as a church. Of particular distinction is the fact that Thomas Jefferson attended these masses every Sunday. Strangely, Liberals who complain about these symbols, or about the audacity of school prayers at something as innocuous as a football game, shout that the “Constitution has a wall of separation”, and those things are a violation of the Constitution. Clearly, they claim to stand in defense of that which they have not read. The phrase “a wall of separation between church and state” is not contained anywhere in the Constitution, nor was it the Founders’ intent to include it at any time. The phrase is part of a passing sentence in a letter from Jefferson to The Danbury Baptists in response to a congratulatory address by that association. The full text of the sentence:

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature would “make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” thus building a wall of separation between Church and State.
Thomas Jefferson, The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Albert E. Bergh, ed. (Washington, D. C.: The Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association of the United States, 1904), Vol. XVI, pp. 281-282.

For anyone who claims that Jefferson, or any of the other Founders, for that matter, were somehow anti-religion, or desirous of the segregation of faith and governance, keep in mind that all the presidents attended services in the Capitol building, and Thomas Jefferson was no exception, riding his horse the 1.6 miles, even in the pouring rain, to attend.

The video below explains even further how religious these Founders were, and why the hysteria about God and government being some sort of explosive mixture is nothing but foolishness from the Left.

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About the Author:
Daniel James Wood is the author of Boomer, a political thriller available on Amazon.com and a recreational writer commenting on the political landscape at Sanity Sentinel.
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Bob Townsend spent his early school years in different States due to his stepfather’s job in the US Army. For the same reason, the family had to relocate after every 18 months on average which let Bob study in different schools of Wyoming, Germany, Arizona, Utah and Oklahoma. Later in 1976, he became a high school graduate from the Broken Arrow School System. Bob’s thirst for study brought him to Sheridan, Wyoming to attend college but after a short period he moved back to Broken Arrow where he got married to Dana Townsend, a 33 years old lady who also attended Broken Arrow School System.

Custom Services Inc., a company founded by Bob and Dana in 1980 has been dedicatedly providing air conditioning, heating, and energy management systems to small, medium and large sized businesses. Their client’s list includes RDS Manufacturing, Broken Arrow School System and Victoria Christian Center, City of Broken Arrow and many more.  For 7 years, Bob has served Big Brothers/Sisters and he is still an active part of it. With his wife Dana, they attend church at Church on the Move in Tulsa, Oklahoma which keeps them in touch with their religion.

Bob also graduated from Victory Christian Centers and Victory Bible Institute where he completed his Bible Training program. During his bible school, Bob served the Hispanic Ministry for one year as well. Later on, he assisted Tulsa Technology Study group with their research and development regarding Energy measurements and Management techniques of W. Edwards Deming, the father of modern Quality Management techniques. Bob has also represented twice the Deming Study Group of Tulsa in Washington D.C at their meetings. These meetings were attended by distinguished consultants on Deming’s management techniques from all over the world.

Bob has excellent knowledge about Heating and Air conditioning, which caused him to serve as an advisor on Tulsa Technology Air Conditioning board for three years. Despite of all other responsibilities, Custom Services has always remained an important and major focus of Bob and family. Started with one employee in 1980, the company has now serving Oklahoma State with around 40 hardworking employees. Besides this, Bob has successfully acquired/merged with 12 other businesses related to Heating and Air Conditioning expanding his business roots more deep.

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About the Author:
Learn more about <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” target=”_blank” href=”http://tulsablogging.com/bobtownsend/”>life of Bob Townsend</a> and discover about his <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” target=”_blank” href=”http://tulsablogging.com/bobtownsend/”> success and achievements</a>.
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To borrow the Fox News moniker, I try to be fair and balanced when I write articles with political content.  I try to give information to support either side of an argument, though admittedly, you usually know which side of the fence I’m on by the time you reach the bottom of the article.  This article will be different; mainly because, in my opinion, there is NO plausible, contradicting argument.

The Obama Administration made its report to the UN Human Rights Council public.   This report delineates the condition of human rights in America.  Included in this report is the Arizona SB-1070 law and Gov. Brewer is, rightly, irate.  But, let us not stop there.  Apparently America  also violates human rights because of poverty, high unemployment rates, poor housing, lack of health care access, discriminatory hiring practices (does Affirmative Action mean nothing to them?) and hate crimes.  Are you kidding me?  I am disappointed that our president continually denigrates America to gain favor with the UN.

Do they understand what a human rights violation is?  I sure bet women who live under the rule of Sharia Law know what a human rights violation is.  When women are buried up to their waste and then stoned to death for adultery that is a violation.  When Rwandan rebels gang rape hundreds of women, this is a violation of human rights.   When Sharia judges impose public flogging punishments, this is a human rights violation.

Mr. President, if you honestly think a high unemployment rate is a human rights violation, and you feel that our country should take its cues from the likes of North Korea, Saudi Arabia (which is considering paralysis as a form of punishment) and Libya, well then perhaps you should trek over to one of those Sharia judges and turn yourself in.  It was, after all, under your watch when the unemployment rate jumped up to near 10%.  Maybe you’ll only get 80 lashes for making false statements to the American people; I believe it was you who said signing that gargantuan stimulus bill would increase jobs and that the unemployment rate would not go above 8%.  Am I wrong?  Oh, and maybe another 100 lashes for allowing the tax cuts to expire, which will devastate small business and cause an even higher unemployment rate.

And, by the way, Americans are sick to death of you and your administration’s continual need to apologize on our behalf.  We owe NO ONE an apology, least of all the hooligans at the UN and tyrants, dictators and thugs of countries that are NOT our allies.

Gov. Brewer was absolutely correct when she said, “The idea of our own American government submitting the duly enacted laws of a state of the United States to ‘review’ by the United Nations is internationalism run amok and unconstitutional.”  Unlike you, Mr. Obama, I do not welcome “observations and recommendations” from concerned members of the U.N. Human Rights Council.  We’ve already addressed who sits on that board.

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About the Author:
Stephanie Keller
At www.americandiversions.com we try to offer a little of everything.  We offer ideas and solutions to get you started in a new hobby or recreation.  We offer family fun ideas and great shopping deals.  We also offer a bit of political commentary.  We’re always interested in your thoughts and ideas, so drop us an email at comments@americandiversions.com.
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For quite a while, the issue of Father Eustace had been the main talking point all over Imo State and even beyond. Sincerely speaking, I detest and condemn in the strongest possible terms the humiliating treatment that was given to the reverend by some overzealous security operatives in governor Ohakim’s convoy on August 8th 2010.

It is unbecoming and goes to show the level of depravity which our society has sunk. God and his ministers are no longer respected even when they bear reverend because just like when Eve touched the forbidden fruit and did not die, she thought that God had lied but the consequences of that stupid act is what we are suffering today as death even as God pronounced it and so it is with these zealots. Because some have done it to some God’s messengers and temporarily were unpunished, others now think that they can trample on these anointed men with impunity. But God has warned: “touch not mine anointed and do my prophets no harm.” If God is true, then this injunction is eternally sacred and the reason is that God honours his word more than his name.

I really pity those security operatives that manhandled Father Eustace Okorie. Maybe, God will forgive them if they repent and apologize to the humiliated priest. Do you know that because King Saul was anointed, King David could not harm him even when it was within his power to do so easily. You could as well remember and that is, if you are a Bible reading Christian, what happened to the fool that brought the ‘good’ tidings of King Saul’s death.

The perpetrators of the dastardly act are in real trouble except they ask for forgiveness. They are like Abacha’s Al Mustapha. The frenzied zealots are ready to cut off somebody’s ear at their own bidding without the master’s consent… too bad.

What they have succeeded in doing is to give bad name to the Governor. I know that Ikedi Ohakim will not condone such brazen and undignified treatment of Father Eustace and this he has proven by leading his entire executive council to meet with his grace, Archbishop AJV Obinna, to apologize for the excesses of those security operatives. This indeed is a demonstration of humility, piety and uncommon reverence for God and his true agents.

Thank God, the fatherly archbishop understood the real nub of the matter and accepted the apology. He has also issued a statement exonerating the governor from culpability.

It is therefore baffling but not surprising that the enemies of the governor and some insurgent and desperate writers have chosen to make cheap political capital out of the very unfortunate incident.

One thing clear and incontrovertible is that Governor Ohakim neither flogged nor ordered the sub-human treatment of the catholic priest. This class of ‘rolling stone’ enemies of the governor, who gather no moss, forgot that Ikedi Ohakim is a hooded knight of the order of Saint Christopher and cannot indulge in wanton aggression against a priest; although, I must admit that he is not a saint. The governor cannot forget so quickly how God established him and helped him to win 23 lawsuits in succession to condescend to the extent of flogging, brutalizing and incarcerating a reverend.

I am not Ohakim’s mouthpiece and he never paid me for this; I only have the passion for balanced analysis of events and situations. I only feel that Imo people have had enough of cheap political mudslinging. Let us help the governor by praying for him to rule well. This, according to the Bible is incumbent on all of us whether in the New Face Organization or not. Ohakim as a created being; is bound to err and when he does that, must we crucify him? Who is infallible?

It is unfortunate what happened to Father Eustace and I pray that such will never occur again. Nevertheless, I urge the Catholic priest to see it as part of the cross he has to carry for Christ; after all, Jesus himself, suffered stiffer humiliation in the hands of the Roman soldiers. In view of that my dear Father, count it all joy that you can suffer such for the sake of Christ. Do not harbour any grudge; please remember our brother, Stephen.

On the other hand, the governor must avert a recurrence of such dastardly deed by ensuring that those bigoted zealots among his security detail who mask their real feelings and who perhaps are not Christians and who are so demented to touch the Lord’s anointed in such an ignoble way, are sent packing out of the state or removed from his security retinue.

This drastic measure must also be extended to his hordes of lieutenants. There are some hypocrites within that fold whose actions and utterances are only detrimental to the governor’s political prospects. Some of them are virtually idle and have turned to unwieldy liability to the governor, government and people of Imo State.

I have said this before and I have to repeat it. Your Excellency sir, you have no excuse for failure, having overcome all. You rightly called yourself “orji” or iroko tree in Obowo recently and this is true at least euphemistically but you must remember also that any tree that does not bear good fruits must be hewn down.

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About the Author:
Benedict Ahanonu is a writer, journalist and social critic based in Owerri. He is also a poet and author of books.
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There are a large number of true grass-root workers and leaders in our party. You know the difference between a true leader and a neta. You are the first to know that leadership cannot be created; it has to be built, slowly, brick by brick. There is no fast track to success in creating leaders.

I believe, looking into the future, our party has a large opportunity because we have three strengths. The first strength is our experience. We have a capable and experienced senior leadership, a talented team. They brought us to power and are serving our country and our party. We have Manmohan Singhji, our Prime Minister, and Sonia Gandhiji, our President, the President of our party, who make us proud.

Our second strength is our grass-root worker. That man or woman in every village and mohalla, whom we often ignore. The tireless person, who fights our battle in the field, who carries our flag, who takes the lathis from the opposition. He is the backbone of the party.

Our third strength is our youth. Today, we are the oldest party in India, but we are also the youngest. Out of all political parties today, we have the largest number of young leaders. Out of all political parties today, the young are looking towards us. Out of all political parties today, we have most young and the most modern thinking. We must embrace the young of our country; we must use our organization to unleash the immense energy to build a better India.

With due respect, I would like to make two appeals. First appeal is to our grass-root worker and the youth in our party. The second appeal is to our leaders.

To our grass-root workers and the young, I would like to humbly say, let us move into our battlefields, the heart of India, let us go to the villages, the towns and the cities. Let us go to the universities and schools. Let us move away from the corridors of power; let us rebuild our links with our people. Let us truly listen to the wisdom of our great people; let us understand their concerns and aspirations. Let us become leaders by listening, learning and working, rather than through posts and positions.

To our elders, I humbly want to say, we are your soldiers, provide us with the tasks you want us to fulfill. Identify and reward our success. Open the doors of the Congress party to the thousands and millions who believe in our ideology and are struggling to make this country great. But most importantly, recognize the enormous mass of workers, who fight our battles, who carry our flag and give them a voice in our organization.

The Congress party and the Indian people have a glorious history together. We struggled together for our freedom; we strived together to become self-reliant in food production. Together we built India’s bridge into the 21st century. We have new challenges to over come, new dreams to fulfill, new examples to set and a new reality to shape. Let us cement the Congress party’s unique partnership of youth and wisdom and make it unbeatable.

Thank You

I have one last thing to say:

Someone once asked me, what my religion was. I thought about it and I answered, “the Indian flag was my religion”.

I promised myself; after my father died that I would serve the people this flag represents. By taking up a job, before I know what the worker and the people feel, and need, I would be doing a disservice, both to my religion and to my party.

My place right now is among my people, my place right now is to learn and understand, so that I can serve my people and party better. I appreciate and I am grateful for your feelings and support, I assure you, that I will not let you down.

Thank You.

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About the Author:
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