Friday, September 25, 2009

Property Rights vs Freedom of Religion -Jummah prayer on Capitol Hill

When a foreign national buys a piece of property in America, it is commonly understood that such property does not then fall under the sovereignty of that foreigner's government. It is commonly understood that the United States of America retains sovereignty over that property. This presents us with a problem when it comes to the Nation of Islam because that common understanding is not shared by it's followers. If we are truly tolerant of other religions we would recognize the legal aspects, within a religion, of an individual's duty to their God.

The Nation of Islam is a nation without borders. It is composed of the followers of Islam. Islam is not just a religion, but rather a complete system of government. It's followers consider themselves to be Muslims first and any nationality second. (As do most Christians and followers of other religions consider themselves to be followers of their religions first.) Under the Islamic system, our commonly held belief that property is not transferred to the sovereignty of an external government is incorrect. Under the legal system of Islam, property purchased by a member becomes the property of Allah - in perpetuity, unless otherwise stated in the purchase agreement. (I'm not sure that stating otherwise in the purchase agreement can nullify this transfer, but hope that it is true as I have read that caveat emptor applies to the seller being unaware of said transfer. This implies that it could be addressed in the purchase agreement. I hope that any readers with better information would share.)The principle of caveat emptor applies. There are agencies within the Nation of Islam whose purpose is to record the transfer of property into the possession of members of the Nation of Islam to be held in trust for Allah.

This poses a problem for America. While Americans, in general, hold that an individual has a primary duty to their God and the right to worship freely, we tend to forget that there are natural limitations on the right to worship. Those limitations are the same as the limitations on our other rights, namely that our right to practice our religion ends where such practice begins to infringe upon the rights of our neighbors. Is it an infringement of our rights, as a nation, to allow the followers of Islam, whether American in nationality or not, to purchase land when that purchase results in a transfer, in the minds of the purchasers and the records of their scribes, of sovereignty over that land?

It seems a folly to allow the members of a group of people to purchase American land at all when their motives may be to transfer the ownership/sovereignty of that land to an entity other than the nation in which that land is located. To put restrictions on the buying and selling of property seems an extreme and possibly unconstitutional solution. It would not be unconstitutional or extreme, however, to recognize that Islam is a governmental system as well as a religious one while protecting our national interests with a law preventing the transfer of sovereignty upon the mere act of purchasing property. That America has not done so already seems more a function of a general ignorance over the tenets of Islam than a self-destructive display of religious freedom at all costs. Freedom without limitation is not freedom, it is license. It is not respectful to the followers of a religion to ignore the governmental aspects of that religion in our law. (If there is a law in place that restricts the transfer of sovereignty/ownership in this way, I hope a reader will direct me to it.)

As there is to be a gathering of Muslims on Capitol Hill this weekend for prayer, I am concerned that this prayer meeting will turn Capitol Hill, in the eyes of the worldwide Islamic community, into a mosque. The legal system of Islam also transfers sovereignty/ownership of all mosques to Allah in perpetuity and prohibits infidels and other non-Muslims from setting foot on holy ground. In Maalmo, Sweden, not so long ago, a group of Muslims rioted over just that issue. A building in the community had been rented to a Muslim group to serve as a community center. Within the community center was a room or rooms set aside to serve as a mosque. When the landlord refused to renew the lease to the Muslim group, some youth declared that the mosque, as a mosque, now belonged to Allah and not the property owner. Are we setting up the same sort of reaction for Capitol Hill? Probably not-or at least not yet. The Muslim community is not quite strong enough yet to insist that religious freedom would allow them to prevent the kaffir or infidels from setting foot upon the now holy ground of Capitol Hill or from openly declaring that Capitol Hill now belongs to Allah, once again, in perpetuity. Will that still be the case in 10-20 years? Not if we don't start recognizing the governmental and legal aspects of the Islamic faith now, with an eye towards preserving both our land and our freedoms.
America must address the governmental and legal aspects of Islam in a way that respects religious freedom while retaining our sovereignty and our republic. It is not a violation of religious freedom to restrict worship to worship and prevent the imposition of a foreign governmental, financial or legal system upon the citizens of this nation under the guise of freedom of religion.

"Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;
A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day:
And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known. " ~Deut 11:26-28

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Home Again

I just wanted to thank you, gentle readers, for your prayers regarding our travels and let you know we are home safely.
I also have a question for you. While on the trip, I was able to access my blog through my son's laptop and a hotel computer. I noticed a strobing effect with the color of the Biblical quote at the end of my posts on certain monitors. Has that been a problem for anyone? I'm trying a bit of a different color for this one, just to check.

Your feedback is appreciated.

" He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed." ~ Prov 13:10

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

A Tale of Three Mothers


I am heading to South Dakota for the funeral of a very dear older woman. This is the 9th such loss I have had in the last 13 months. It has given me reason to stop and consider. In light of that consideration, I am going to compare three of the five women lost from my life this year.

This first woman, the one whose funeral I will be attending soon, raised several children who are all, to the best of my knowledge, kind, polite and loving people. They have raised their children in the same vein. In our current political climate, where people of all stripes are looking at our personal duties to each other vs. our duties to each other as a community, I look at the life of this woman and I cannot help but think, that if all the children in the world were raised as this woman and her husband raised their children, there would be no need for the discussion. We would just help our neighbors as naturally as we breathe. And that is perhaps the best thing anyone could say about another.

We lost another elderly woman early this year and that was a cause for reflection also. That woman had a stormy life as did her children. Even though her children are not in a position to see it, no matter how badly her children thought they were treated (and by today's standards, they were roughly treated), their treatment at her hands was much, much better than the treatment her parents gave her. The same is true for their father.

Then there is the third woman I lost this year. This was a young woman, whom I had known for over 20 years. She had a rough start in life, adopted by alcoholics, and made many decisions over the years that did not improve her lot by much. She told me that her husband was abusive and she had several serious health issues, including one that was terminal. She fell into a depression and ultimately shot herself this spring.

The object of this current funeral did her family the ultimate courtesy of arranging her own funeral. She had issued a do not resuscitate order several years ago, when her health started declining, but changed it at the request of her children who loved and needed her. As a result, she lived at least ten years longer than she would have otherwise with a reasonably good quality of life. In doing so, she taught her children the value of sacrifice. Her children have coordinated with each other on the disposition of her property over the years and, I have no doubt, will not say a cross word to each other, but will spend their time supporting one another in this time of grief.

The other elderly woman refused to leave a will. She had disowned one daughter for marrying someone of whom she did not approve. While she did speak to this daughter when she came by to help while her mother was going through surgeries and cancer treatment, it was the first time in many years. She was not given the foundations for providing a kind and loving home environment by her own parents. She did the best she could with what she had and considered that her children were doing better than she did and was content with that. Her children are were unable to get together at her funeral without harsh words to one another. As is common in stormy families, the siblings all had very different experiences of their parents growing up. This made it difficult for them to reconcile their feelings for and about each other and their parents.

The third woman left her family when her husband's abuse became too much for her, assuring me that they were safe with him, because he never hurt them-only her. She ignored the fact that he was hurting them, as was she, by not becoming the type of man who does not abuse his family. She went back when her husband refused to let her see her children otherwise. She left her daughters with feelings of anger and resentment along with grief and an example that says when the going gets tough, give up and leave and that people who behave badly cannot change. I am angry at her myself as she had promised me, personally, that she was not going to take the suicide option, regardless of the challenges she faced. She assured me that her main concern was for her children, and that she would not want them to have that example.


Some of the things these women had in common? They all made their own choices and lived and died with the consequences of those choices. They were all unique and wonderful people in their own way. They all faced challenges of varying degrees in their lives with varying degrees of success. I think sometimes we forget that there is value in the challenges we are called to face. Making life easier is not the same as making life better.

We can choose to provide a firm foundation for our children or not. Sometimes all we can do is to do the best we can and sometimes, in a moment of weakness, we may fail. That's part of the journey. The important part is getting up and trying again. While I won't deny that it might be nice to have all families be like that of the first woman, that's not to our benefit as a nation. My own early life had some serious challenges and I have learned from those challenges. I have learned things that I could not have learned anywhere else. Those challenges are what define me. I appreciate all three of these women for the lessons they have taught me and I wouldn't have changed them for all the pain they had to go through to become who they were. Except that I would have given the third woman an abiding faith in the God she claimed, to allow her to endure past that crucial moment of suffering.
I think that, many times, when reformers want to change the world, they are talking about those bits of the world that allow people to suffer or to cause suffering. That's a goal. But it's an impossible goal. It's also a goal that would, were it possible to achieve such a thing, utterly debase and remove from us the very essence of being human. Would our armed forces be as good if they didn't have to go through boot camp? I don't think so. There would be essential components missing if they did not subject themselves to boot camp. Just so, we, missing the challenges, suffering, sorrows, joys and triumphs that have shaped us into who we are would be missing essential elements that make us into mature and fully functioning human beings. Maybe that's the deal with the comments I have seen about "extended adolescence" of late. Maybe we have made things too easy for ourselves and our children in this world of modern conveniences.

One other thing I have noticed about these three women is a significant difference in their faith. They all claimed some form of Christianity for their religion, but the two older women had faith. Real, "get out of the boat and walk on the water towards Jesus" faith. They knew, as the third woman did not, that you must do as God instructs regardless of how much it hurts or how unwise it may seem at the time. Neither of the two older women left their children debt to deal with. As far as I am aware neither of the two older women ever cheated on their spouses. The third woman did both of those things. Maybe that's just because they were older and had had time to take care of those things that required debt or because they were raised in a time when fidelity was expected. I think it far more likely that they did their best to follow God's instructions about such behaviors regardless of the fact that they may have appeared to be things that could have made life easier for them and their children. I don't know.


What I do know is that people have individual value. All people. Even the ones we don't want to sit next to on the train, bus or plane. Even the ones who make mistakes, or who treat us unjustly. I also know that faith, experience and attitude make a difference, and not all the government money in the world can change that.



"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, " ~ Galatians 5:22 RIP Lillian

"I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me"~Psalm 69:2 RIP Caroline

"For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. " ~Rom 10:3-13
RIP Nancy

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Thank You Patriots

I just wanted to say thanks to all those who were able to attend the 9-12 rally in D.C. Great job! I've heard no reports of fighting, nor have I seen any photos indicating that this crowd left a bunch of litter behind them. Just a civilized exercise of our first amendment right to peaceably assemble.
So much for astroturf.

"The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

" ~Psalm 34:15

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Liberty's Logic: Phil Zimmermann Speech from Sheboygan Tea Party On Tap

Liberty's Logic: Phil Zimmermann Speech from Sheboygan Tea Party On Tap

At my request, Soapbox Jill has posted the audio of Dr. Zimmerman's full speech on her site at this link. She also has an analysis of some of the objections to Dr. Zimmermann's speech. You can judge for yourselves. I wanted the audio, because my camera batteries died just before he got to his comments on specific portions of H.R. 3200. My thanks to Soapbox Jill for posting it.

"They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field. " ~Lam 4:9

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Liberty's Logic: First Sheboygan Tea Party: "Rescuing Lady Liberty"

Liberty's Logic: First Sheboygan Tea Party: "Rescuing Lady Liberty"

This blog has some photos and sound bites of the event. For first time visitors, I have video of several of the speakers. If you trim the url, you'll be able to see them.

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. " ~ Mat 18:20

Dr. Zimmermann at the Sheboygan TEA Party


Dr. Zimmermann talks about health care. Unfortunately, I ran out of batteries where this cuts off. I will attempt to find another video so you can see the whole speech, because it was quite good.

I was not able to film any of the speakers following Dr. Zimmerman. I also was a bit late so I missed the opening speaker, Scott Sidney. Bob Basso as Thomas Paine was well covered and I have provided links in an earlier post. Mark Block and Linda Hanson were the final speakers and, if I can find video of their presentations, I will post links here.

"Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?" ~ Jer 8:22 ( I was tempted to put the entire chapter here.)

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Rebecca Kleefisch at the Sheboygan TEA Party





Ms. Kleefisch encouraged the crowd to continue to act as citizen journalists.

"Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.
Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous. " ~Psalm 31:17-18

Mr. Charles Donald II at the Sheboygan TEA Party.



Mr. Donald is a small business owner who was addressing the TEA Party about the Cap and Trade bill.

"So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents." ~ 1Kings 12:16

Mr. Jerry Bader at Sheboygan's TEA Party


Mr. Bader notes that unions need to be accountable to their members. I have espoused the opinion that the members need to hold their unions accountable. That when you elect to be part of an organization, you have a responsibility to see to it that said organization reflects your personal values.

In the case of Mercury Marine in Fond du Lac, I believe his remarks are the truth. If you vote yourself out of a job, you deserve to lose it.

I was having battery issues during this entire event, so some of the speakers are cut off or have a bit missing here or there when I had to change to another set. My apologies also for the quality of the videos. I'm only of average height and so was holding the camera above my eye level most of the time to show the speakers at all. If I decide to make a habit of this, I may invest in a monopod to keep the camera steady.

"Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's..."~Deut 1:7

Monday, September 7, 2009

Pastor King at the Sheboygan TEA Party


Now I know I was going to only post the videos, but I have some thoughts about Pastor King's speech that require comment.

Those of you who saw my commentary on the Madison TEA Party know that I took exception to some of his remarks. Those remarks were repeated in Part two of his speech here. They are only a very small part of his speech and I think they are an unnecessary part. I made a point of meeting Mr. King after this event and telling him that his presentation would be better without them. He responded by telling me that he was doing as God directed him. To which, despite the fact that I was flabbergasted at the time, I would now like to say "REALLY?" You really think God wants you to be known as the pastor who makes drug and sex jokes at TEA Parties? I think it far more likely that God would want you to become known as a great man of God and that these crude jokes, at the expense of a man who is willing to serve as governor, regardless of his policies, are holding you back.

I would advise you to remember that David refused to kill Saul even though he was the anointed ruler to come of the nation. Simply because we have a republican form of government that allows us to participate in the process of electing leaders does not make us exempt from the notion that no one, good or bad, gets into a position of power without God's authority behind them. As I referenced in a relatively recent post, the reason the Israelites even had a king is because the people were tired of being responsible for themselves and asked God for a king. We voted for this man, we got what we asked for. I despise his policies, but that is not a reason to indulge in this sort of humor. It's beneath you Pastor King and it's beneath the people you are addressing.

I wouldn't challenge the will of God for love nor money(God willing), but I really don't think that God needs crude humor to get His point across. So, I challenge you Mr. King. I challenge you to make that speech and any others you may be asked to give without the crude humor and see what God will do with your willingness to speak up for His will and His church.

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. "~1 Corinthians 13:1

"If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. " ~James 1:26

TEA Party in Sheboygan 9-5-09

I was able to make it to the TEA Party in Sheboygan. Instead of blogging on the speakers, I am going to attempt to upload video of the various speakers in a succession of posts. If I can't upload the videos, I will post a list of urls for the speakers on youtube. There are some speakers that I don't have video of, particularly Bob Basso. You can see his speech in 5 parts here:
Part 1; Part 2 ; Part 3 ; Part 4 ; and Part 5