June 21, 2017

State of Hostilities

By Tammy Derouin

We have entered a very dark time in American history. Some have referred to our current state of hostilities as our second Civil War. For the most part it has been a battle of ideology rather than a battle with weapons. However, after the deliberate targeting of Senate Republicans on a baseball field, the uncertainty of our future weighs heavily on my mind.

We survived our first Civil War, but the death toll and devastation was enormous. The reconstruction of our nation was not an easy path. For those who survived, the wounds were deep. In many cases it would take decades if not lifetimes to heal. As the 1960's marked the 100^th anniversary of Civil War battles and victories, a battle for civil rights was underway. Ideology and assassinations would define the turbulent decade.

Our foundation, everything which has made us a free and independent nation, is under attack, including our God. Is it any wonder our God-given rights are being twisted into some sort of political privilege; afforded only to those who follow the political Left. Without God, our rights do not exist. Without God, we move closer and closer to a land of men rather than a land of law. Do we really want our rights to be determined by man, where they can be granted and denied at will? By the way, your life is now expendable if you do not agree with the Left. Death is becoming the called upon solution to eliminate Left-wing opposition. The dangers of rule-by-man, is that one day you too may be on the opposite side of the party line. If you are cheering today, odds are, you will be in fear tomorrow.

This is supposed to be the land of the free, where each individual has their God-given right to believe and live as he wishes. But, in today's reality, Americans are openly being targeted and condemned by fellow Americans if they do not agree with the political Left. What's even more frustrating and outrageous, is that the call for such diabolical behavior is not being challenged or discouraged, it's being encouraged.

Sadly, we are dealing with much more than normal political differences. We are dealing with ideological attacks from both foreign and domestic entities. The most corrosive and damaging foreign influence is allowing Islam to influence our way of life. Sharia Law has no place in the United States and is not compatible with our Constitution. It is beyond irresponsible to even consider it has a place in our free society. Sharia is the complete opposite of freedom. It's mind-boggling that we have to pass anti-Sharia laws in the United States. It's foreign law, it doesn't belong here, end of subject.

The domestic attacks are not only sad, but shocking in there own right. Lack of knowledge plays the most detrimental part in the anti-American attacks being perpetrated by Americans against Americans. Americans stopped educating themselves on the history of our country and our God-given rights. It's easy to dismiss or to give something away when you do not know its value or how it empowers you.

We used to pride ourselves on the peaceful transfer of power which would take place every four to eight years. That is no longer the case. The far-Left has dug its violent claws into the Democratic Party. The shameful side affects of such influence is that many Americans think it's acceptable to target and kill other Americans because of their party preference and beliefs. People are openly stating that Republicans should be killed simply because they are Republicans. What's even more sickening is when one form of execution is considered too humane. What has happened to us? This is the United States of America!

Try to explain that kind of logic to your child. Your life is meaningless because one political party has determined that your beliefs are wrong and they are the judge, jury and executioner. Now let's try to wrap our heads around this one. You are dangerous and are considered fair game because you believe in God and the great American experiment, that man can rule himself. Because of your beliefs, you have a very high regard and respect for the U.S. Constitution, our form of government, which is a Republic, capitalism and a free market system. You believe that the flag should be respected as the symbol of our freedoms.

When the core values of what once made the United States great, are no longer important and to believe in them makes you a target, we have put ourselves, our country, on a suicidal path.

“Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God. I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

Patrick Henry