Wednesday, June 30, 2010

American Apologetics

The answer to our dilemma really seems fairly simple, at least it does to me on its face. If we are going to make a real difference as conservative voices in this nation, a lot of us are going to have to change our approach and significantly elevate the level of conversations we have to include facts and reason.

More and more on facebook and other social media outlets, I see people who engage in heated emotional arguments sometimes degrading dialogue filled with name- calling, swearing and outright hostility.

Why all the animosity and smearing toward others? Why does anyone believe harsh language and deep resentments aimed at anyone else can change anything about the way they believe? Hasn’t anyone ever heard of the children’s story of the wind and the sun arguing about getting who could get the trench coat off the man first? The cold wind blows hard and the man only tightens his coat. The sun heats up just a bit and the man takes the coat off willingly. Lotsa truth in that folks.

I’ve observed that most people have loosely formed ideas of why they believe as they do. Yet what is it that causes anyone to believe - or disbelieve – anything in their life? Seems to me it all boils down to the way we’ve been taught by others since birth, blended with our personal experiences. In short, most of us are simply products of our surroundings, what we’ve been told, and the environments that continually envelope our lives. If we are told falsehoods, then chances are we will come to believe falsehoods, right?

The ole adage; birds of a feather flocking together, has proven itself true time and time again. As a parent this Truth has some very real personal meaning and potential consequences. If my teenage daughters were allowed to hang out with drug-addicted gang members what do you think the chances would be they would soon become drug users? And worse.

Many groups have realized this piece of reality and taken advantage of it. For instance, Moveon.org. since 1998 has been “reaching out” to people who like-mindedly consider themselves “disenfranchised,” offering to “help” and get them involved in the system so they can take advantage of all their rights.

Statistics show that liberal messaging beats conservative message by a whopping 85 to 15. Although I do believe we are gaining ground, I can’t help but
wonder what is our message?

Our message should be focused solely on: Limited government, fiscal responsibility and free markets related to our communities as opposed to national stories inflated to draw our attention away from where our true power and influence lie.

So how do we change the all-critical message? For once, GET THE FACTS on any issue or debate. If we are going to unite to keep our country free and filled with opportunity for all, there naturally will be work involved. We can’t only send continuous e-mails and post rantings and unformed opinions about the BP Oil spill on facebook, call President Obama a Marxist, and believe with any intellectual honesty that we are doing any real good and our work is done. I wish that preserving our precious Republic were that easy. Unfortunately, it’s not anywhere near what is needed.

Those of us, who truly believe our nation finds itself at a tipping point, will have to do pretty much the same things our Founders did. What say we agree to educate ourselves on historical FACTS. How, you might ask? We can begin by reading and understanding theConstitution (yep the whole thing), and the Declaration of Independence written a decade beforehand. Next, let’s all read and understand The 5000 Year Leap by W. Cleon Skousen; Why America is Great. Now we need to visit David Barton’s site at Wall Buildersfor a plethora of resources.

Then learn the names and biographies of our local representatives. Discover the pattern of their votes and how they relate to the issues facing our communities. Then let’s encourage others to come along side us, not by making our present situation about Barack Obama or Democrats or Republicans or those dratted incumbents, but rather about making our own community a more prosperous, community-minded place to live.

If you’d like to learn more about how to do this and how to utilize the social media to your best advantage contact us at American Majority. We will gladly come to your community and work alongside you toward our common goals of preserving American freedoms on every level.

Monday, June 28, 2010

BARBIE SHATTERS THE GLASS CEILING

I just returned from Toy Story 3 and I have to tell you that in our day to day battle of politics, spin and outright manipulation of facts and truth it was a refreshing story.

As a mom who’s first born is college bound this fall the story hit close to home as well. As I sat there in the movie with my family I was happily entertained. Isn’t that why we go to the movies, to be entertained?

The story follows along the live toy theme of the previous two episodes but now the toys are facing Andy, their boy, leaving for college. Andy’s mom, evidently a conservative parent, let’s Andy know that he has until Friday (his departure day) to store, pack or trash all the belongings in his room. Given that he has to decide the fate of the Toys.

**Spoiler Alert**

Andy decides to take Woody, his favorite childhood toy, along with him to college while storing the rest of his toys in the attic. Through a series of mishaps the toys for storage end up in a “Stalag 13” type day care that has been commandeered by a dictatorial stuffed bear, who had an rough childhood and is destined to take it out on the rest of toy humanity.

As Andy’s toys are remanded to custody and forced to do time in a room full of abusive toddlers, they plan their escape. As fate would have it they are caught by the Hitler Bear and his army who threaten them with an awaiting trash pick-up if they don’t return to their appointed duty.

The best line in the whole movie comes from Barbie at this point who sternly pronounces “Leadership comes from the consent of the governed not from the threat of force!” BAM! I have never loved Barbie so much in my life~ how exciting that a children’s movie is not full of anthropomorphic rhetoric on top of tree hugging liberal drivel. FINALLY a new family flick that I don’t leave with the need to deprogram.

The entire story was filled with great life lessons of personal responsibility, charity, friendship and loyalty. Not to mention the unwavering pursuit of one’s own happiness derived from the journey of life through heartache, tribulation and overcoming.

Who knew all these years Barbie was a closet conservative and just needed to suffer under the oppression of an overstuffed tyrant to take a stand. Watch out Sarah Palin, Michele Bachman and Ann Coulter; Barbie has shattered the glass ceiling!!