In light of the recent shooting in Arizona in which a U.S. Congressional Representative and a Federal Judge were targeted, we have much to ask ourselves as a nation and as a people.
First, I've heard the line of thought that "it was good that it was a Democrat" and "the Democrats have it coming."
I've also heard the line of thought that "we need gun control now" and "this is a product of the right wing."
As an hard-core conservative myself - meaning - I am an ardent believer in the constitution and our founding principles and willing to lay down my life for my country and it's principles - reasons I enlisted in our U.S. military - and as a gun-owner and a licensed-concealed-hangun-carrier - I have much to add to this. Allow me to critically think and interrogate the suppositions listed above.
First, I think it is a grave tragedy when our elected and public officials become targets of violence - nationally, morally, personally, spiritually and conceptually. Violence to achieve a domestic national end does not serve us as a nation. While it might be "good for the numbers" - i.e. - one less Democrat - it sets a dangerous and deadly precedent for us as a nation and a people. When we begin to lose faith in the system, to where violence and insurrection alone will preserve us and achieve our goals - or so we feel - then the end of our nation is truly nigh.
For if we can eliminate anyone by violence who's views we do not share, then where will it end? Where will the bloodshed end? Who is safe?
America has ALWAYS been divided in one form or antoher - strongly, sharply, deeply, fundamentally and historically. From the American Revolution - which nearly didn't succeed politically and required a LOT of cajoling and bargaining in order to prompt - to the Whiskey rebellion, Slavery, the Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam, Manifest Destiny, even the splitting of the Dakota's and over the issues of isolationism in The Great War to the socialist movements of the 1930's - Americans have ALWAYS been deeply divided.
Unfortunately, the shedding of blood to achieve a political end isn't new to our nation either, with the assassinations of Presidents James A. Garfield, William McKinley, Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and the assassination attempts on Andrew Jackson, Gerald R. Ford, Richard Nixon, Ronald Regan, both Roosevelts, Harry S. Truman, Bill Clinton, George H. and W. Bush - and many others such as Governor Lilburn Boggs of Missouri.
Americans have always been a passionate, driven and divided people. However, despite this - we are these United States.
I personally believe the Democrat agenda to be destructive to our nation. It is clear that their path, unchecked, will spell economic, social and the moral destruction and downfall of a nation - the likes of which we haven't seen yet in this technologically advanced modern age. (And I don't know what Republicans were smoking the last few congressional sessions). However, where will we be as a nation if we can only achieve our goals through death, murder and assassinations?
Where will we be as a nation if we can only be safe by silencing the voices of dissenters and outlawing all weapons and guns to protect those who govern? It's pretty clear that if your populace isn't happy and keeping the Public Servants safe can only be achieved by disarming your public - then something's wrong with your government and your society. Further, if you have a society that can't keep its finger off the trigger and won't protect those who are sworn to represent and preside over it and no longer believe in the system of government - you've got another problem.
I'll have to quote John Adams on this one: "Our constitution is designed for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for any other."
When I listen to our news, with the rhetoric and vitriol - and I'm not talking talk radio - no - the Associated Press and people like Kieth Olberman and Chris Matthews and Helen Thomas - who make comments of genocide and assassination aspirations on a regular basis - they are the basis of much of our dissent in this country - I cannot but suppose that we will have some sort of a revolution in our country in the coming years. Although, I think what it will be based on is the premise of our constitution and its basis and its purpose and I cannot but help believe the time will come when we will vote whether to uphold the constitution or to eliminate it and frame a new government. Those on the left see the constitution as a hindrance to progress - those on the right see it as a safeguard and a shelter - that's where it stands right now!
And unfortunately, violence against government officials - regardless of which side it is on - only speeds that process up.
So what will preserve us as a nation? We need to remember the God who made us free, and the principles upon which our freedom is predicated and safeguarded.
In my military service I have been stationed in a country overthrown and maintained by violence - you do NOT want to be there. It is not glorious, it is not wonderful - it is not beautiful. We all want what has been wanted for the longest time - to raise our families in peace - and to be free to choose our own destinies and worship as we please. Unfortunately, with the loss of moral compasses, this becomes more difficult - with people asserting that "this makes no difference" and "its exactly the same thing" and "there is no harm in this" we can't but face violence ultimately as everything means nothing anymore and our only interests are our own self preservation - our last resort.
Either we will come to God, or He will come to us, but if you haven't noticed, the pace of the decay in these days is ever increasing. But as for violence to secure our peace and maintain it - I hope we never get to that point - we will lose a lot more at that point, nationally and individually - losses that would take generations to regain.
