The Screening At Ellis Island

Between 1892 and 1954, over 15 million immigrants were screened at Ellis Island.  All immigrants were required to submit to the standards of the early 20th Century.  They were all screened at Ellis Island where they had to produce 4 things:

1.  Good Health. Sickly immigrants were returned to their home country. (millions were returned)
2.  A sponsor. Most were sponsored by a church that shared their ethnicity.
3.  Evidence of a job.  Often provided by the church or relatives.
4.  An oath to respect American (and only American) law and to assimilate into the cultural fabric of this nation.

Abraham Lincoln Died For Freedom

I do not know the exact date that he said it, however, he said it.  Lincoln said it because he was no ordinary man.  He said it because he respected freedom.  He was willing to die for it.  And he did.
Below, is a quote that supports my statements.


"I have never had a feeling, politically, that did not spring from the Declaration of Independence. That all should have an equal chance.  This is the sentiment embodied in the Declaration of Independence.  I would rather be assassinated on this spot than surrender it."
Abraham Lincoln   (1809-1865)   16th US President

A Quote By Louis Brandeis

"Liberty is the secret of happiness, and courage is the secret of liberty."  (Brandeis)

Pray For Your President

When Barack Obama was President, I often reminded my conservative friends, readers, and listeners that scripture commands we pray for our leaders. Many of them would reply that they had prayed Obama resign, die, lose re-election, not cause lasting harm, or otherwise prayed every which way they could pray about him without actually praying for him. Having mentioned on social media last week that people complaining about President Trump should pray for him, some demanded to know if I had ever done the same for Barack Obama. Yes and repeatedly over the course of eight years. Others, however, did exactly as some had done to Barack Obama. They prayed all sorts of things about the President, but did not pray for the President.If you are a Christian, scripture commands you to pray for the President. You should pray for his protection, his well being, that God grants him wisdom, that he is a faithful instrument of God’s will, that he glorifies God in all he does, etc. You are to pray God’s blessings on the President and ask God to be with the President. Yes, you can pray that God turn the President’s heart, but pray for him too. Scripture commands it. Put bluntly, if you cannot bring yourself to pray positively for the President, you are no better than your view of the President. Pray for his safety, his leadership, his    wisdom, his family, and that he is surrounded with capable people. Again, this is what scripture says to do. There is no reason to obfuscate it or try to weasel your way out of it.  Pray for the President and pray sincerely.

 

 

Pray For The USA

I suppose there is a reason why I look at it this way.  To me, July is a month when I truly reflect upon my love for this country.  The United States of America is a great country.  It is a great country in spite of the fact that some of the it's political and business leaders are not impeccable. Well, what can I say?  Do we expect perfection from people?  We can do our part to keep some of them in line, but most of us do not have that kind of time.  But we can pray.  When it comes to the topic of prayer, volumes could probably be written.  My point in this short message is this: Pray for this country.  As I have already mentioned, patriotism rings clear for me during July.  As you probably have already surmised, it is because it is the month when Independence Day is celebrated.  Perhaps that is the reason.  However, I am patriotic 12 months a year.  We live in a great country.  Prayer has a great deal to do with it.  "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord."  Of course this nation is blessed.  And, of course we need to keep on praying for it.

Freedom? Be Vigilant (Part II)

  Please know that my short discourse discusses three aspects of government.  Government taking from some, government providing for some, and government restricting certain conduct due to the concern for the safety of people.  The first two work together.  Government takes from those who have in order to provide for those who do not have. Does that not sound reasonable? Who can argue with government wanting to protect you?  When government makes decisions that are designed to protect the populace, there is no doubt that in most cases freedom/freedoms is/are restricted.  It is a trade off.  Please realize that I understand that the protection of life and limb is of paramount importance.  Must we also be protected from certain "ideas" as well? Yes, if you are dealing with the very young. Yes, if you are dealing with the very vulnerable.  All of these government involvements affect freedom. Does it mean that we do not live in a free country?  No, it just means that when it comes to freedom, we need to be vigilant.  Are the Bill of Rights safe and sound?  No, because tyranny is like an uninvited person who keeps knocking on the door of the house where the "freedom celebration" is taking place.  Freedom?  Be vigilant.

Freedom? Be Vigilant (Part I)

Be alert.  Be watchful.  Do not lose your freedom.  I know, those words sound kind of strange. Particularly if you have been born and bred in the United States of America.  However,  I think it is a good idea to sometimes think about the function of government.  I will be the first one to say that it is a necessity.  However, I will also be the first to say that I do not want government bothering me, or mistreating anyone.  I might add that you probably will not find too many people who are more patriotic than myself. I love this imperfect country.  It is my home.  I also love freedom.  They have in a very real sense, become synonymous, that is......America and freedom.  Nevertheless, I can envision the possibility of this country or any so-called free country, to become a tyrannical state.  It could happen through something I would define as "societal evolution toward tyranny."  I will henceforth refer to the aforementioned as SETT.  SETT can be a creeper, crawler, walker, runner or even swifter than the four previous ways.  When government makes excessive rules (which are generally designed for our betterment, protection, or even our "survival") it is possible that they can become tedious, a nuisance and/or expensive. When government offers excessive gifts, grants, rewards, and other financial offerings, we must not forget that those financial resources come from working people. When government offers  financial rewards, I think it is a good thing. But I am persuaded that it needs to be a "reward" for something positively accomplished.