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To Be American

7/14/2012

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A  friend in Italy recently read the American Declaration of Independence and asked
me for my comments and insights. I replied with the following letter:

As far as I know the "Declaration of Independence" is still taught in every classroom
in America. A short essay, written largely by Thomas Jefferson, the third President of 
the United States, it outlines our grievances against the King of England and declares
our independence from his rule. 
 
The signers of that historic document knew when they signed it, that they were
putting  their fortunes and lives at great risk. The first signer, John Hancock wrote
his name in large bold script so that it wouldn't be missed by anyone in the British 
Ministry. "There,” he said, “ I guess King George will be able to read that!" 

You are right, Gian, America is a great nation, and what makes us great are men
like Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock, George Washington, John Adams,
Alexander Hamilton,  Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Abraham Lincoln,
Teddy Roosevelt, and many other brave men and women—past and present—
willing to put their lives and fortunes on the line in the cause of freedom and justice.
They were—as we are--sons and daughters of immigrants from every country in
the world.

Americans are people of the world: German, Italian, French, English, Irish, Japanese,
Chinese, Korean, Arab, Russian, Philippine, Vietnamese, Burmese, Iranian, African,
Spanish, Greek, and more. To be American is not a claim to a new race, but an idea,
a belief, that every man, woman and child on this planet has a right to pursue their
individual destinies in freedom and peace, unencumbered by the weight of oppressive
government, or the self righteous intolerance of most religions. 
 
We as a people still need these institutions in our lives; yet, any government or religion
not actively engaged in the protection of our individual liberties, and in fostering an
atmosphere that would give us the opportunity to achieve our full potential as free
thinking human beings, must be questioned and held accountable for its omissions.

For, when government and religion fail in their responsibilities, all “Americans”
 (that is, everyone in the world who shares these beliefs) must speak out as bravely
against tyranny as did the signers of the “Declaration of Independence.”  

 

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Ron Paul on Iran

7/13/2012

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When questioned by Charles Krauthammer of Fox News about Iran's  effort to obtain nuclear weapons, then presidential candidate, Ron Paul, said that he would not use military force to prevent it. He supported his position by saying that Russia and China have had nuclear weapons for many years, yet we never stopped talking or trading with them. Therefore, he reasoned, Iran should be treated no differently. This is a dangerous, and very  naïve position. Yet, neither Krauthammer, nor anyone else on the panel, put forth a reasoned argument against it. 

England, France, India, North Korea, Israel, and Pakistan also have the bomb. However, none of  them are ruled by Islamic extremists who believe that all non-Muslims are unworthy of salvation, that the Mahdi (their messiah) can only return to an earth cleansed of all infidels. Thus, if they cannot convert us to Islam we must be killed, and the extremist elements among them are willing to martyr themselves  to accomplish it.

Indeed, they are promised Allah’s absolution for them and their families, and life in a paradise of 72 mansions, each with its own virgin. Should a fanatical enemy with this twisted mindset attain nuclear weapons, would it not be wise to assume they would use them?  
 
Iran is on the verge of attaining such weapons, and its President, Ahmadinejad, sees himself as the chosen facilitator of the Mahdi’s return. He has also stated that the Holocaust never happened, and that Israel must be
driven into the sea. Can any U.S. President assume that he, and the Ayatollahs behind him, will suddenly become rational, responsible human beings after they possess the one weapon that can make their dreams of an all Islamic world a reality?

Terrorists are products of radical Islam, who kill on order without conscience, or mercy. They cannot be reasoned, or negotiated with; which they see as a weakness of the decadent West. The only thing they respect is power, and they would respect ours if they thought we had the will to use it. Unfortunately, our actions (or inactions) lead them to think otherwise.

Providing them the protection of our laws is a foolish precedent to set. It reinforces their belief that we are weak, and emboldens them to strike us harder and more often. They are not battlefield soldiers fighting to protect their country, but vicious killers who cowardly target innocent civilians, and use women and children as human
shields. When captured they should be treated as war criminals, thoroughly interrogated, and incarcerated for the duration of the war—as has historically been done.
      
Diplomacy, empty threats, and economic sanctions are all exercises in futility when dealing with people whose earthly lives mean nothing to them. Appeasement of the enemy has never, any time in history, resulted in anything but disaster for the appeasers. 


 
 

 
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    Spent 12 years in the Middle East. 

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