State v the Creator - The Global War Continues

"[T]he same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe - the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God," said John F. Kennedy in his Inaugural Address nearly 50 years ago.  Those words continue to ring true today as they did over a generation ago.

Most nations continue to cling to the belief that what a person can do depends upon what the state allows.  This understanding means we have privileges, not rights; and makes the people subjects, not citizens.  This allows the all powerful state to  oppress the people - even slaughter them when it decides to.

Turning the world topsy-turvy, our Founding Fathers declared that it was the Creator who provided us rights - and those rights came first and before the government.  Such rights cannot be given or taken away by the government - that is why they are called "unalienable."

Unfortunately, this First Principle of unalienable rights seems to be almost forgotten today.  When is the last time you heard a major politician utter the words "unalienable rights"? This fundamental First Principles is at the heart of what makes America, well, America.  If we intend to remain free, we must begin to reassert our unalienable rights vigorously - otherwise we will simply join the rest of the globe in slowly, but surely, losing our liberty.

Freedom Dies Slowly

Before the Virginia Ratifying Constitutional Convention, James Madison (1788)  explained that "There are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." 


In other words, our liberties are most likely to be slowly eroded than taken by a bold, dramatic action.  The small, incremental steps are generally easily disguised as simply a slight modification, a minor change, and general meets little or no resistance.  But in retrospect, dozens of "minor changes" amount to dramatic infringements of our liberties.


This is why we must be ever vigilant, because those in power (of whatever political persuasion) are much more likely to slowly chip away at our freedom than to make a huge power grab.  This is why every action of government should be viewed and critiqued in light of our First Principles of the rule of law, equality, the Social Compact, unalienable rights, and limited government.  We must hold the line now, or the line will be slowly erased, and we will cease to be America.

Good Riddance May Day, Welcome Law Day

May 1 marks "May Day" - a traditional holiday that had been usurped and celebrated in totalitarian communist regimes to show solidarity in the international movement for the overthrow of freedom loving, capitalist societies.  In 1904, the International Socialist Congress called for a work stoppage each May Day not only to support an 8 hour work day, but to express support for the "class demands of the proletariat . . . ."  Once the communist party took control of the Soviet Union (USSR), May Day became a major celebration - usually accompanied by military displays - of communists nations.

In 1961, American countered by declaring May 1"Law Day" - a day dedicated to the First Principle of the rule of law.  Declared by President John F. Kennedy, the idea of Law Day is to celebrate the fact that we as a free people rely upon the protection of our unalienable rights through the law, and that the law - as opposed to brute force - governs.  

Now that the USSR lies in the ash heap of history, we can say good riddance to May Day, and give Law Day its due.  As we move forward in this tumultuous times, we would be best served by remembering that we should work to support the rule of law - otherwise May Day may return with all of its attendant horrors.