“Those who live next6 door to an internationally known Muslim cleric who is an enemy of…president of Turkey and… President of Russia, may want to take an extended vacation in Florida this winter.”
“God forbid that we should ever be 20 years without such a rebellion.” – Thomas Jefferson[i]
To what was Thomas Jefferson referring? A dozen years following the Declaration of Independence, a dispute exacerbated by poor economic conditions led some folks, particularly of Massachusetts, to rebel. The outbreak of violence, known as Shay’s Rebellion, stirred leaders to call a convention to establish a Constitution rather than the Articles of Confederation and to promote inter-state trade. The rebellion was quickly quelled and only a few lives were lost; eventually President Washington pardoned those convicted of treason citing that it was ignorance not malevolence that encouraged them to action.
Still, one wonders how a man like Jefferson who sought always after a peaceful life surrounded by nature and his love of architecture could promote rebellion within the U.S.
Thomas Jefferson feared the lethargy of the people over a rebellion conspired by discontent. He believed that usually the discontent will be from the ignorance of some, they being misinformed of the propriety of certain government actions. He writes:
“The people can not be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions it is a lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty.”[ii]
Lethargy of the citizenry should be feared more than insurrection. How lethargic is the population of the U.S. in 2013? (Notice, I did not ask if they are lethargic.) In today’s modern world, men often believe themselves well informed if only they drink of the pablum of mainstream media. It is possible however, with some effort to be accurately informed on the issues of state. If they are well-informed and thereby discontented, assured of the legitimacy under the Constitution of their stand; would Jefferson still be inclined to give them a free pass for rebellion? I believe he would based on his own writings wherein he has questions himself on the legitimacy of the actions of some and even questions concerning the Constitution. (Contrary to popular understanding, Jefferson was not involved in the writing of the Constitution directly though his thoughts on limited federal government and power in the hands of the people is certainly part and parcel of the document.) His strongest argument in support of revolution, however, is not a desire for anarchy but his fear of the lethargy of the people. That would be America’s death sentence.
Jefferson is often quoted from this same letter about the tree of liberty and it needing to be refreshed from time to time by the blood of patriots and tyrants. A realist, Jefferson saw that revolt was more critical than peace if that peace is promoted by the people’s lethargy. He reasoned that if an uprising of the people cost a few lives then a few in consideration of the greater citizenry was not critical. Few quote the next sentence from the ‘tree of liberty’ portion of the letter. Please, allow me:
“It is its natural manure.” [iii]
RICAN EMBASSIES AND AMERICAN PERSONNEL OVER SEAS
THREAT LEVEL—HEIGHTENED
EXPECTED VIOLENT ATTACKS UPON U.S. EMBASSY AND CONSULATE PERSONNEL ON ANNIVERSARY OF 911
HIGHEST RISK: AMBASSADOR CHRIS STEVENS—BENGHAZI LIBYA
CURRENT STATUS: UNKNOWN BELIEVED ENROUTE TO EMBASSY FROM U.S.
PRESIDENTIAL ACTION: ACCORDING TO INDEPENDENT SOURCE PRESIDENT WENT TO BED/NO ALERT GIVEN
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The Heart of the Matter ~ While the President Slept |
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PARODY– in part 11 SEPTEMBER 2012 – MINUS -48 HOURS NATIONAL SECURITY INCIDENT REPORT AND SECURITY WARNING AMERICAN EMBASSIES AND AMERICAN PERSONNEL OVER SEAS THREAT LEVEL—HEIGHTENED EXPECTED VIOLENT ATTACKS UPON U.S. EMBASSY AND CONSULATE PERSONNEL ON ANNIVERSARY OF 911 HIGHEST RISK: AMBASSADOR CHRIS STEVENS—BENGHAZI LIBYA CURRENT STATUS: UNKNOWN BELIEVED ENROUTE TO EMBASSY FROM U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ACTION: ACCORDING TO INDEPENDENT SOURCE PRESIDENT WENT TO BED/NO ALERT GIVEN LOCK DOWN ORDER: NONE SECURITY BRIEFING: NONE PREVENTATIVE DEFENSE ACTION: NONE 11 SEPTEMBER 2011 + PLUS + 48 HOURS REPORT –AMBASSADOR STEVENS—DECEASED REPORTED THAT AMBASSADOR STEVEN’S BODY DRAGGED THROUGH STREETS—BENGHAZI—SEE VIDEO INDICATIONS—AMBASSADOR POSSIBLY SODOMIZED PRIOR TO DEATH (INDEPENDENT NEWS) NOCK LIST—OTHER EXTREMELY VITAL DOCUMENTS—MISSING MARINE ‘SEAL TEAM’ MEMBER: KIA TWO OTHER EMBASSY PERSONNEL: KIA ACTION BY PRESIDENT: NONE—INDEPENDENT REPORT SAYS HE WENT TO BED CONSEQUENCES OF A HARDENED HEART RESULT:JEREMIAH 17:13 Will you draw a line in the sand? Are you willing to stand up and be counted for what is right? Will you take a stand in your local community, your school district, and in the voting booth to take back America? One national organization put it this way recently: At this election, it is time to “Go All In” A political candidate for President in 2008 asked the question… ‘When the phone rings at 3 a.m. , who is going to answer it?” The events of this past week have given us the answer to that question—no one. Sadly, even if our current President had have answered the phone, he would not have known what to say. We have heart disease. So very many Americans truly love this country and have served it or are serving it very well. But many have atherosclerosis when it comes to our heart for America. Slowly, over time, our disenfranchisement with all that is going on in Washington and trouble locally and around the world, our heart and its arteries begin to harden, to block the blood flow. The blood must flow to the brain so we can think, to the heart so we can feel and to the body so we can take action. Fixing what needs fixed in America and not touching what doesn’t takes brains that are on full gear. To stand strong against the fiercest of enemies takes a heart that beats strong with love of country, of God, of family. Then, for Americans to stand up and take action, it requires blood flow to every muscle group. We cannot let the blood flow be blocked. A current day comedian known by most as “Larry the Cable Guy” is on a commercial. “Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of alive should fail, and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold, and there be no cattle in the stalls, I will exult in the Lord. I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds’ feet., and makes me walk on my high places.”2 “I know whom I have believed, and He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that day.”3 _______________________________ 1 Beck, Glen The Blaze 2 Habakkuk 3:17-19 3 2 Timothy 1:12 |
Larry looks at the camera and asks, “Do you know what it is I love about this country?” In a split second with a great big grin, he says, “Trick question! I love everything about this country!” Loving it doesn’t mean Americans don’t see where it needs fixed but they do love it. God is willing to help Americans heal their land but they must turn to Him and they must trust Him. One of the best statement of such trust comes from the prophet, Habakkuk. He, too, saw the big trouble the nation of Israel was in. Here is his statement of trust:
Doc Riggs' Ministry Minute 