These Are the Times....

THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.-The American Crisis, Thomas Paine (December 23, 1776)

These are the times that try men's souls. Today our Nation faces a multitude of threats, teeming crises, gathering enemies, both foreign and domestic. The values of our Declaration of Independence, the principles of our Constitution, the foundations of our personal freedom, and the fabric of our common liberty are under assault by hordes of anarchists, jihadists and Marxists, and a motley crew of tyrants from around the globe and around the corner. 

We have faced these dangers before, and we overcame them because we were united in purpose; "one Nation, under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all."  Today, we are a Nation divided. And we have been divided by design.

You must stop and ponder that last statement: WE HAVE BEEN DIVIDED BY DESIGN!

Our greatest strength as a Nation, unity of good purpose, has and is being intentionally torn asunder, shredded, for political self-interest.

"Divide and conquer" is a battle tactic, the intention of which is to destroy an enemy forces' ability to fend off an attack.  It has been used in war by conquering armies throughout history.  In politics, the phrase is changed to "Divide and rule," a strategy of gaining and maintaining power based on the fact that many smaller opponents are easier to overcome and manipulate than one larger one. This strategy includes  breaking up power alliances into smaller chunks that are easier to subdue; and preventing small power groups from linking up and becoming more powerful. This technique allows a weak individual or party to fragment those who collectively would have greater influence.  The primary method of accomplishing "divide and rule" is the use of deceit and dishonesty to incite fear, anger and derision. Lying with a smile, hurling false accusations with a sneer, ridiculing with a smirk; the skill set of tyrants and demagogues.
 

"Hope and change," that all-but-forgotten, wispy, ephemeral  platitude of the academic has worn thin and been packed away while a new-old, rough and tumble, Chicago-style bag of tricks is unpacked.  Pushing punishment for "millionaires and billionaires", countering greedy, "big-money interests" by making them pay their "fair share" and doling out the dole to "ordinary Americans," insuring "Wall Street and Main Street play by the same set of rules" so the "middle-class" can have "a fair shot," the seeds of divisiveness of race, culture, and class are sown.  Proclaiming his "work isn't done yet," that he deserves a second term, admonishing those who want to "return to the same failed policies of the past" while ignoring his own failed policies of the past three years, with a straight face, the President warns Congress not to "muck up" the recovery by thwarting his economic policies.

 

"With the magnitude of the challenges we face right now, 

what we need in Washington are not more political tactics -- 

we need more good ideas. We don't need more point-scoring -- 

we need more problem-solving."

We are no longer a Nation that offers a helping hand. We are a Nation that reaches out and promptly gets our hand slapped. We are a Nation led by a Blamer in Chief so one man can win reelection.

     "I guarantee it's going to be a close election because

  the economy is not where it wants to be and even though I believe all the choices we've made have been the right ones,

        we're still going through difficult circumstances."

 We are no longer a Nation where leaders lead by example. We are a Nation with leaders who won't take responsibility for their own failures. We are a Nation led by a Not-My-Fault in Chief so one man can win reelection.

"We can’t expect to solve our problems if all we do is 

tear each other down. You can disagree with a certain 

policy without demonizing the person who espouses it."

We are no longer a Nation that inspires and is inspired by our President. We are a Nation led by a Lecturer in Chief so one man can win reelection.

  
"You got their (Republican) plan, which is let's have dirtier air,  dirtier water, (and) less people with health insurance."

 We are no longer a Nation that pulls together. We are a Nation that is being pulled apart. We are a Nation led by a Divider in Chief so one man can win reelection.

 "They get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy 

to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment 

or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

Apparently, Barack Obama has yet to change his opinion of what he likes to call, "the suffering middle-class." One wonders if middle-class, middle America has changed their opinion of Barack Obama.

 
Esther 4:14
"For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (ESV)

Esther had to make a choice: Facing her own death, she could muster the courage to speak up in a time of crisis, or remain silent, shirking her allegiance to her Nation as "the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot" of Thomas Paine. 

Courage and allegiance foster action; action of consequence, of purpose, of substance, of value.  

These are the times....... Make a choice while you still can. Take a stand. Speak up.
United we stand, divided we fall.