Upon The Second Inauguration of Barack Hussein Obama, Words of Wisdom From Winston Churchill

The day so many us of worked to see never come is upon us. Not to despair, as Providence rules, and moves in its mysterious ways.

But Winston Churchill had words to say in his day, in 1938, about the gathering darkness in Europe, and OS offers them to his legion of readers. Do they not speak today with uncanny force?

I avail myself with relief of the opportunity of speaking to the people of the United States. I do not know how long such liberties will be allowed. The stations of uncensored expression are closing down; the lights are going out; but there is still time for those to whom freedom and parliamentary government mean something, to consult together. Let me, then, speak in truth and earnestness while time remains. 

Can peace, goodwill, and confidence be built upon submission to wrong-doing backed by force? One may put this question in the largest form. Has any benefit or progress ever been achieved by the human race by submission to organized and calculated violence? As we look back over the long story of the nations we must see that, on the contrary, their glory has been founded upon the spirit of resistance to tyranny and injustice, especially when these evils seemed to be backed by heavier force. Since the dawn of the Christian era a certain way of life has slowly been shaping itself among the Western peoples, and certain standards of conduct and government have come to be esteemed. After many miseries and prolonged confusion, there arose into the broad light of day the conception of the right of the individual; his right to be consulted in the government of his country; his right to invoke the law even against the State itself. Independent Courts of Justice were created to affirm and inforce this hard-won custom. Thus was assured throughout the English-speaking world, and in France by the stern lessons of the Revolution, what Kipling called, "Leave to live by no man’s leave underneath the law." Now in this resides all that makes existence precious to man, and all that confers honour and health upon the State.  

Alexander the Great remarked that the people of Asia were slaves because they had not learned to pronounce the word "No." Let that not be the epitaph of the English-speaking peoples or of Parliamentary democracy, or of France, or of the many surviving liberal States of Europe. 

There, in one single word, is the resolve which the forces of freedom and progress, of tolerance and good will, should take. It is not in the power of one nation, however formidably armed, still less is it in the power of a small group of men, violent, ruthless men, who have always to cast their eyes back over their shoulders, to cramp and fetter the forward march of human destiny. The preponderant world forces are upon our side; they have but to be combined to be obeyed.

We must arm. Britain must arm. America must arm. If, through an earnest desire for peace, we have placed ourselves at a disadvantage, we must make up for it by redoubled exertions, and, if necessary, by fortitude in suffering. We shall, no doubt, arm. Britain, casting away the habits of centuries, will decree national service upon her citizens. The British people will stand erect, and will face whatever may be coming.

But arms--instrumentalities, as President Wilson called them--are not sufficient by themselves. We must add to them the power of ideas. People say we ought not to allow ourselves to be drawn into a theoretical antagonism between Nazidom and democracy; but the antagonism is here now. It is this very conflict of spiritual and moral ideas which gives the free countries a great part of their strength. You see these dictators on their pedestals, surrounded by the bayonets of their soldiers and the truncheons of their police. On all sides they are guarded by masses of armed men, cannons, aeroplanes, fortifications, and the like--they boast and vaunt themselves before the world, yet in their hearts there is unspoken fear. They are afraid of words and thoughts; words spoken abroad, thoughts stirring at home--all the more powerful because forbidden--terrify them. A little mouse of thought appears in the room, and even the mightiest potentates are thrown into panic. They make frantic efforts to bar our thoughts and words; they are afraid of the workings of the human mind. Cannons, airplanes, they can manufacture in large quantities; but how are they to quell the natural promptings of human nature, which after all these centuries of trial and progress has inherited a whole armoury of potent and indestructible knowledge? 

Dictatorship--the fetish worship of one man--is a passing phase. A state of society where men may not speak their minds, where children denounce their parents to the police, where a business man or small shopkeeper ruins his competitor by telling tales about his private opinions; such a state of society cannot long endure if brought into contact with the healthy outside world. The light of civilised progress with its tolerances and co-operation, with its dignities and joys, has often in the past been blotted out. But I hold the belief that we have now at last got far enough ahead of barbarism to control it, and to avert it, if only we realise what is afoot and make up our minds in time. We shall do it in the end. But how much harder our toil for every day’s delay! 

Is this a call to war? Does anyone pretend that preparation for resistance to aggression is unleashing war? I declare it to be the sole guarantee of peace. We need the swift gathering of forces to confront not only military but moral aggression; the resolute and sober acceptance of their duty by the English-speaking peoples and by all the nations, great and small, who wish to walk with them. Their faithful and zealous comradeship would almost between night and morning clear the path of progress and banish from all our lives the fear which already darkens the sunlight to hundreds of millions of men.

The 'Gun Violence Epidemic', Brought To You By Barack Obama

One hardly knows where to begin, so OS decided he should begin by actually looking up and reading the documents Himself signed today.

He's just getting underway.

The first one seems to be more about coordinating the information at hand into the NICS criminal identification system. 

Standard stuff--form committees, issue memos, burn money, issue press releases, burn money, go on research junkets to London, burn money, hold conferences in warm locations, deliver papers, listen to papers being delivered, burn money.

The second one borders on the bizarre:

In addition to being a law enforcement challenge, gun violence is also a serious public health issue that affects thousands of individuals, families, and communities across the Nation. Each year in the United States there are approximately 30,000 firearm-related deaths, and approximately 11,000 of those deaths result from homicides. Addressing this critical issue requires a comprehensive, multifaceted approach.

Recent research suggests that, in developing such an approach, a broader public health perspective is imperative. Significant strides can be made by assessing the causes of gun violence and the successful efforts in place for preventing the misuse of firearms. Taking these steps will improve our understanding of the gun violence epidemic and will aid in the continued development of gun violence prevention strategies.

The language sounds high-flown and noble, unless it is actually read.

Influenza is a public health issue, like smallpox once was. There was an influenza epidemic in 1918-1920 which killed millions.  A real virus was transmitted person-to-person which created sickness for 500 million, and death for some 20 million.

That, friends and neighbors, is an epidemic.

People committing violent crime with any sort of weapon  is not an epidemic-it's delinquent behavior. To even utter the phrase 'gun violence epidemic' is a crime against the English language, against moral sensibility, against common sense.

This is Orwellian DoubleSpeak, pure and simple. Think back to Bill Clinton's famous summation of his presidency: 'It Depends Upon What Your Definition Of "Is" Is'. Words have no objective meaning, but are sounds produced in order to get one's way today.

'Gun violence epidemic'.

There is no such thing.

There are, however, amoral thugs with all manner of weapons, guns included, who fear neither God nor man. They are responsible for over five hundred murders in Obama's home turf of Chicago in 2012. Baltimore, Detroit, Philly, D.C, New Orleans...the list goes on. All of them strongholds of the Democrat Party power base, all of them killing fields for the citizens.

And, today, the mayors of those cities gathered in Charleston to hear and cheer Joe Biden as he lectured the rest of us on why we should all be disarmed. 

Take a few minutes, listen at the link...

Joe also dismissed any plans to have armed guards in schools by declaring 'We don't want rent-a-cops in schools'. Ass. Hole.

Williamson County Tennessee, blessedly, won't be heeding his advice.

'Gun violence epidemic' indeed.

Twenty-two Murders In Chicago In The First Eleven Days Of 2013. And The Chicago Machine Politicians Want To Tell Us How To Run The Country

Really. President Obama says he wishes to reduce gun violence.

Let him begin by walking the streets of Chicago, unarmed, with no security guards, no nothing except His Marvelous Manner, and let Him work his Nobel Peace Prize magic on the the gangstas in his old neighborhoods.

Bound to succeed. After all, it's Himself in action. Right?

Obama In The Twilight Zone: 'I won the election, I have no need to negotiate with anyone about anything...'

It is a strange thing to watch this man spend five minutes not answering a direct question, as if the question were merely a prompt to allow Himself to pontificate. There was no conversation per se, simply Himself declaring that, having run the deficit to Olympean heights, never operating off a budget since He took office, having spent all his energies finding new ways to spend money we don't have...

Members of Congress who insist on restraint are holding the economy hostage.

This is a classic Gino and Vito scenario, the local thugs who shake down the local shopowners, and then blame them for the crime wave.

This is The Twilight Zone, pure and simple.

Your Tax Dollars At Work: National Endowment for the Arts Burns 100,000 Dollars On A Politically Correct Video Game

Can't make this stuff up. It's really happening.

Safe Sex In Topeka Kansas: Pastor Peters Tells The Tale

Welcome to Topeka, where broad-minded stupidity meets the toothy grin of the welfare state.

Topekan William Marotta sought only to become a sperm donor — but now the state of Kansas is trying to have him declared a father. Nearly four years ago, Marotta donated sperm in a plastic cup to a lesbian couple after responding to an ad they had placed on Craigslist.

Marotta and the women, Topekans Angela Bauer and Jennifer Schreiner, signed an agreement holding him harmless for support of the child, a daughter Schreiner bore after being artificially inseminated.

But the Kansas Department for Children and Families is now trying to have Marotta declared the 3-year-old girl’s father and forced to pay child support. The case is scheduled for a Jan. 8 hearing in Shawnee County District Court.

Mr. Marotta's life has gone seriously pear-shaped, because it never occurred to him that Murphy has a way of riding his black steed into these sorts of situations.

Pastor Peters has wise words to share on this situation, and OS commends them to you. 

My point is not to dwell on the detail but just how much we crave an escape from consequence and responsibility.  By all accounts this was a selfless act (as far as sperm donation goes).  He got no money for it and he had the approval of his wife.  He was helping out a lesbian couple who wanted to be mommy and mommy.  But life is not so simple.  Actions are not without consequence.  Responsibility cannot be written off with a signature on paper.

The state acts in the interest of the state.  It seeks a father and a mother, a stable home, for children.  Absent this ideal, it seeks financial address to help make something as close as this possible.  You may not like it here but we cheer the actions of states who seek out dead beat dads to cough up child support and stand up to their duty. 

Well and truly said, Pastor Peters! But we must further consider this: If Mr. Marotta and his wife decide, since they will be supporting this child, they wish a role in parenting her--up to and including some form of custody if Mommy and Mommy appear to not be getting the job done, there will be hell to pay. The Gay Left will draw their knives on this gent and his family. Wait for it. This story is just getting underway.

By the way: There is a three-year-old child involved here, who is now the legal and political equivalent of a hockey puck. Welcome to the Culture Wars, young lady.

Welcome To 2013, And Hang On To Your Hats: Gunshops Are Packed Out

The good news as we woke up yesterday morning was: Congress, unwilling to watch the markets drop 20% on Wednesday, cobbled together and passed a bill to keep the government running.

The bad news as we woke up yesterday morning was: Congress, unwilling to watch the markets drop 20% on Wednesday, cobbled together and passed a bill to keep the government running.

On another note, Mr. and Mrs. OS purchased a new automobile late last week, and drove to the dealership to pick it up, in a suburban location north of Nashville. Typical suburban small-town, gas station followed by restaurant followed by hardware store followed by gun shop.

Gun shop. Holy cow. The parking lot is jammed, and the store is filled...

Holy Cow.

Bob Owens,  a knowledgeable writer on the subject of firearms and firearms law, etc. posted much the same report. Only he went into the store, to find it had been cleaned out by purchasers.

Gulp.

In a related incident, OS visited a pawn shop in Louisville a few weeks ago, before the Newtown atrocity, to find people from the poor black neighborhood nearby purchasing inexpensive 9 mm pistols for home defense. One 60+ year-old gent explaining, 'I've got to protect my little grandbaby from the home invaders'. The salesman explained that, with a pistol at that sub-200 dollar price point, reliability may be a big issue, which could prove very dangerous for the purchaser. The old gent replied, 'I can't afford that four-hundred dollar model, I'll have to take my chances.'

Holy Moly.

OS fears bloodshed, the operative word being 'fears'. All nerves seem to be on edge, from all corners.

If you are one of those new gun owners, OS urges four things:

1. Join the NRA. Today. Even if you don't own a gun, join to support those millions of responsible owners.

2. Get training, both in markmanship, behavior, and the law. Every county in every state with a concealed-carry-permit law has several good law enforcement officers who offer training. No excuse not to get trained. It is a safety issue, for you and everyone around you. The TV shows make pistol marksmanship look easy, but that is pure fiction. It is not an easy thing to place a  group of shots in an acceptably tight circle from twenty yards, or ten, or five--especially for a novice in a stressful situation. Bullets that miss hit people.

3. Practice. Regularly. Preferably at a range with an instructor.This is a learned skill, not a magic trick. Read, stay informed. And practice. If you are not willing to practice, you are not a good candidate for ownership.

4. Safety first. One of OS's early childhood memories is of his next-door neighbor, a police detective with two young boys in the home. Every evening, he would come home, unholster his service revolver, empty the chamber. The shells went into a dish above the reach of the boys on the mantle, and the revolver was placed in a closed china cabinet, out of reach of the boys. 'Nuff said?

And finally--there are people who should never be allowed to handle deadly weapons.  OS can immediately think of five homes where no guns should be in residence. Period.

Your home may be one of them.

OldSouth Wishes A Merry Christmas To One And All

OS could release a torrent of words upon the world and not begin to describe the depth of his gratitude to his Creator, Saviour and Sustainer; his Prophet, Priest and King; the Word made flesh, full of grace and truth.

Christ reached down and did for OS what was otherwise impossible--out of his mercy and love he reached down and rescued a young man whose life was completely swirling the drain, restored him to health, sanity, productivity, and placed him into an extraordinary marriage and family. Every bit of it completely undeserved, and yet granted in love. Every day since, Christ has done the same.

While OS is loath to preach, he does wish to convey that the Babe in the manger, who is Lord of Creation, offers you the same grace.

Merry Christmas.

Susan Rice Learns The True Cost Of Loyalty To The Winner Of The Nobel Peace Prize

Liberals become enraged when reminded that words have meaning, and that words spoken by government officials about serious matters really do have consequences.

OS has been amused to hear the name-calling at Outside The Beltway to just such assertions.

Susan Rice will never be Secretary of State. That's because she deliberately spread misinformation about the attacks on Benghazi on September 11, 2012. Not just one time, off-hand, but on five different networks, repeating the same disinformation--that the attacks were 'demonstrations' about a YouTube video that simply got out of hand.

That story was coming apart at the seams even as she was attempting to sell it.  She never refuted it, never returned to any of those networks to withdraw it. It was a case of loyalty trumping integrity, and she is shocked to find that the Senate wants a Secretary of State who is in the habit of telling the truth.
  
The Obama White House knew from the get-go that there never was a demonstration.

They knew it was al-Qaeda.

 Obama was too busy fund-raising to bother to rescue those poor people.

She says she was handed an intelligence briefing, one which the CIA later disavowed. Apparently, she didn't bother to ask questions before being sent out to take one for the team.

So, either she knew it was a lie (likely), or was just too lazy to ask questions (possible). In any case, she was completely willing to go out and try to sell the implausible story that a disorganized mob armed itself with mortars and instantly learned how to use them in a coordinated attack viewed real time by the White House situation room.

 It all fell apart, rapidly. She never went back to correct the record, and salvage her credibility.

Obama won his election, but just like Nixon, the odor of a major scandal lingers in the air.

And in dangerous times like these, the last thing this country needs is a replay of that soap opera.

Just Remember, Our Tax Dollars Rescued These Union Members. Violent Mob Outside The Capitol In Lansing Michigan

And Duh' Left characterizes people who attend Tea Party rallies as goons, people who attend church as intolerant morons, people who vote GOP as racist know-nothings.

And these are The Heroes of Duh' Left, doing what they do best.

Expecting to hear a peep of protest from the White House? Don't hold your breath.



Three cheers for the Michigan legislature and governor. Here's hoping and praying that more legislatures gain inspiration from their example. State by state, county by county, village by village, the Obama agenda can be disassembled, one little Leggo block at a time.

By the way, the governor of Tennessee announced today that his state won't bend its citizenry over the table by establishing one of Obama's 'Health Care Exchanges'.

He concluded that HHS is run by a clown circus, and he wants no part of it. And, he realized that the Tennessee legislature would never cooperate in the scheme.

If Himself wants to run the health care system, he can certainly try. He'll be finding fewer and fewer people willing to cooperate, especially as this video of his most loyal supporters circulates.