Here are just a few quotes that I have lying around. Thought it would be useful to dispense of them and let others gain whatever wisdom they seem to impart.
"It is impossible to discourage the real writers - they don't give a damn what you say, they're going to write. " – Sinclair Lewis
"I wonder how many people I've looked at all my life and never seen." – John Steinbeck
"You don't have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body." - C.S. Lewis
"The duty of a patriot is to protect his country from its government." – Thomas Paine
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it." – Thomas Paine
"Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing." – Benjamin Franklin
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." – Benjamin Franklin
"A man is as free as he chooses to make himself, never an atom freer." - George MacDonald
"No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another." – Charles Dickens
Then of courese my own self-induglent reference.
"The belief that intelligence equals omniscience is a true sign of ignorance" - E.W. Lewis
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Washington is Burning
It has been nearly 200 years since the near forgotten War of 1812 (an odd name considering it lasted three years). This was the first war since independence was won and as such was the first test for a fledgling nation. The British enemy was far superior in weaponry and veteran service among its men, yet the Americans were not fully defeated. One would be hard pressed to say the Americans won this skirmish, but we can certainly proclaim that we were not conquered as could have been the result.
There is one specific battle that I wish to venture into today; the day the Brits walked on Washington D.C. It was this assault by the Brits that could have changed much of today’s history. At the time the Secretary of Defense did not believe that England would attack the Capital and therefore left few resources for its defense. Instead he believed they would hone in on Baltimore leaving the young capital city at peace. After all Baltimore was a major commercial site and Washington D.C. was little more than a governing city.
Regardless of the contemporary speculations the British did strike Washington D.C. first and were met with little opposition (possibly 500 troops to their thousands). Quickly the British marched into the capital while good old Dolly Madison fled at the last moment with the nation’s beloved first president in portrait under arm and many other citizens full of fear.
Their first stop was the Capitol building where they held a mock congress and voted to burn the city. Then, with the Capitol in flame, they progressed toward the White House and ate the President’s dinner that was still on the table. With much cheer and spirit (or spirits) they then turned the blaze on the President’s home.
One would think this was the end of what was destined to be great. With Washington D.C. taken there was little hope for America. The Brits once again had a stronghold. However, there was a stronger power at play that night and He had a greater plan.
Sometime in the early morning hours the party was harshly interrupted with a great gale wind that swelled into a hurricane quite quickly. Without fair warning, what was a party of the ages quickly became a panic of the century. The winds became so intense that men were holding onto one another as to not be blown away. In the background the flames continued to burn.
Then, without any regard to the life, a tornado touched down in the center of town and ripped and roared through the badly beaten city laying waste to whatever dared remain. The British soldiers were frightened and certainly were praying to whatever God they knew.
As daylight broke the storms subsided and not a single British soldier remained. I can only imagine the prayers of thanks that were being murmured from street to street by the residents of the burned capital. I can only imagine the joy they felt. It is truly inspiring to look back on this day in history and become humbled by a single act of divine interference.
“’Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit’ declares the Lord Almighty.” What a powerful piece of scripture that completely captures the emotion of what happened back in 1814. So often today we try with all of our might and power to make things happen in our life, when instead, we should be allowing the Spirit to open the doors of our progress. It is time we stop watching our city (our lives) burn to ash, and begin to be whisked away by the power of the Lord
There is one specific battle that I wish to venture into today; the day the Brits walked on Washington D.C. It was this assault by the Brits that could have changed much of today’s history. At the time the Secretary of Defense did not believe that England would attack the Capital and therefore left few resources for its defense. Instead he believed they would hone in on Baltimore leaving the young capital city at peace. After all Baltimore was a major commercial site and Washington D.C. was little more than a governing city.
Regardless of the contemporary speculations the British did strike Washington D.C. first and were met with little opposition (possibly 500 troops to their thousands). Quickly the British marched into the capital while good old Dolly Madison fled at the last moment with the nation’s beloved first president in portrait under arm and many other citizens full of fear.
Their first stop was the Capitol building where they held a mock congress and voted to burn the city. Then, with the Capitol in flame, they progressed toward the White House and ate the President’s dinner that was still on the table. With much cheer and spirit (or spirits) they then turned the blaze on the President’s home.
One would think this was the end of what was destined to be great. With Washington D.C. taken there was little hope for America. The Brits once again had a stronghold. However, there was a stronger power at play that night and He had a greater plan.
Sometime in the early morning hours the party was harshly interrupted with a great gale wind that swelled into a hurricane quite quickly. Without fair warning, what was a party of the ages quickly became a panic of the century. The winds became so intense that men were holding onto one another as to not be blown away. In the background the flames continued to burn.
Then, without any regard to the life, a tornado touched down in the center of town and ripped and roared through the badly beaten city laying waste to whatever dared remain. The British soldiers were frightened and certainly were praying to whatever God they knew.
As daylight broke the storms subsided and not a single British soldier remained. I can only imagine the prayers of thanks that were being murmured from street to street by the residents of the burned capital. I can only imagine the joy they felt. It is truly inspiring to look back on this day in history and become humbled by a single act of divine interference.
“’Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit’ declares the Lord Almighty.” What a powerful piece of scripture that completely captures the emotion of what happened back in 1814. So often today we try with all of our might and power to make things happen in our life, when instead, we should be allowing the Spirit to open the doors of our progress. It is time we stop watching our city (our lives) burn to ash, and begin to be whisked away by the power of the Lord
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Government Housing for All
Recently, less than six months, I became a home owner, or so I thought. When my wife and I began the adventure of home ownership we thought we were fulfilling the American Dream, a dream that was quickly dismantled. After only this short time of “ownership” I am left with a nagging question of who really owns my property.
At first glance most people will acknowledge that the bank is the actual owner of any mortgaged home, and for me that would be absolutely correct, however, I have taken this question a step further. What if the property was paid in full? What if there was no bank or other lender that could lay claim to the land? Would I then “own” the land?
The answer to this question is an astounding no. I do believe that most people may have an idea of where I am heading with this post already. In speaking with others about this topic many have quickly concluded that the government owns the land through the process of eminent domain. Again this is correct, however, from what little knowledge I have a citizen may legally fight against a claim of eminent domain.
The facet of property ownership that I am digging for is not one that many have mentioned.The facet in question is property tax.
Plain and simple, by paying property tax we are essentially acknowledging that the land that we live on, or think we “own” is not ours. If it was your home and lot that you had full rights to with all privileges of ownership no other entity would be able to profit or gain income from said parcel. In many parts of America that is not the case.
By allowing the government to tax your land you give up your ownership rights in many ways, primarily the right of sole possessor of land. If you doubt this premise maybe you should try not paying your property tax and see how long it is before the land is taken from you. Sure, it may take quite a lengthy bit of time before this extreme action is enacted, but it may and can still be taken.
I will conclude with a quote by Benjamin Franklin, “there is scarce a king in a hundred who would not, if he could, follow the example of Pharaoh, get first all the people’s money, then all their lands and then make them and their children servants forever.” While I will agree that we obviously do not have a king and that we are not at a point of tyranny as of yet, the bricks to that road are quiet when laid and nearly undetectable when walked upon. If we continue to allow the leaders of our country to tax us and our possessions as they see fit we will eventually lack the funds they require. Once the treasury runs dry the land will be sure to follow and we will become indentured servants even more so than we are today.
DISCLAIMER: I wanted to add this note that states that the agencies who receive this funding are not to blame and are not the problem. Many school districts, mental health programs, and courts receive their funding in this manner and are well worth every cent they receive, however, I desire that we would utilize an alternative taxation method in order to fund these much needed services.
At first glance most people will acknowledge that the bank is the actual owner of any mortgaged home, and for me that would be absolutely correct, however, I have taken this question a step further. What if the property was paid in full? What if there was no bank or other lender that could lay claim to the land? Would I then “own” the land?
The answer to this question is an astounding no. I do believe that most people may have an idea of where I am heading with this post already. In speaking with others about this topic many have quickly concluded that the government owns the land through the process of eminent domain. Again this is correct, however, from what little knowledge I have a citizen may legally fight against a claim of eminent domain.
The facet of property ownership that I am digging for is not one that many have mentioned.The facet in question is property tax.
Plain and simple, by paying property tax we are essentially acknowledging that the land that we live on, or think we “own” is not ours. If it was your home and lot that you had full rights to with all privileges of ownership no other entity would be able to profit or gain income from said parcel. In many parts of America that is not the case.
By allowing the government to tax your land you give up your ownership rights in many ways, primarily the right of sole possessor of land. If you doubt this premise maybe you should try not paying your property tax and see how long it is before the land is taken from you. Sure, it may take quite a lengthy bit of time before this extreme action is enacted, but it may and can still be taken.
I will conclude with a quote by Benjamin Franklin, “there is scarce a king in a hundred who would not, if he could, follow the example of Pharaoh, get first all the people’s money, then all their lands and then make them and their children servants forever.” While I will agree that we obviously do not have a king and that we are not at a point of tyranny as of yet, the bricks to that road are quiet when laid and nearly undetectable when walked upon. If we continue to allow the leaders of our country to tax us and our possessions as they see fit we will eventually lack the funds they require. Once the treasury runs dry the land will be sure to follow and we will become indentured servants even more so than we are today.
DISCLAIMER: I wanted to add this note that states that the agencies who receive this funding are not to blame and are not the problem. Many school districts, mental health programs, and courts receive their funding in this manner and are well worth every cent they receive, however, I desire that we would utilize an alternative taxation method in order to fund these much needed services.
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