Why Libya Matters

IT WAS not that long ago we were honoring the memory of September 11.  There were prayer events, political events, and times of reflection at sporting events.  The nation was reminded of that time in our recent history when we suffered violently at the hands of terrorists...  That time when so many of our American citizens died, and we swore that it would happen NEVER again.  We had our time of tears, but those tears turned to anger, and that anger fueled war, in an attempt to send a clear mesage to the world:  NEVER AGAIN.  We thought that they heard us.  The question is- did they?

That was answered 11 years after the first 9/11 attack.  11 years to the day.  September 11, 2012 was a new day for terror.  This time, the attack happened at our Consulate in Libya.  An act of violence using military grade weapons and took the lives of 4 Americans.  While it is true that we did not lose as many as we did on the orriginal 9/11, it does not discount the fact that our people were murdered.  To their families, it is irrelevant if it was 4 or 3,000.  Their lives are changed forever, their loved ones are never returning home to hug them, to kiss them, to hold them.  Their world fractured that day.  What makes it worse, though, is that a time that should be reserved for sorrow and healing has been fractured as well.  Only this time it was not rocket launchers, gunfire, or mortars that has left a crater on their soul- no, this time it is betrayal.

Betrayal.  A strong word, but we must understand the events of that day, and in so doing understand that the events at Libya were not just some random thing that happened, they were not some minor event in American history, nor was it something we should just ignore.  Now I know the concern that some may have- we should not politicize the deaths of four Americans.  I agree.  I think it would be a grave disservice to them to turn this into a partisan politics arguement.  HOWEVER- we must not avoid the discussion in fear of being taken as politicizing the event either.

We must first look at some facts that we do know:  First, that there was an attack on sovereign American soil.  International law states that a country's consulates in foreign land is sovereign soil to that nation.  Basicly, if you attack a consulate you are in effect attacking that nation.  So the American consulate in Libya was, by international law, sitting on American soil.  The attack there on that fateful September day then, in the eyes of international law- as well as our own- was no different than if they had attacked us here in the states.

Less than a mile away from the consulate, there were 2 Navy SEALs.   Upon hearing the gunshots they radiod in for support, requesting aid as they went into action to protect American soil, and more importantly, American lives.  They were denied help.  And they were told to stand down.  They were told to do nothing as their fellow Americans fell under attack.

They chose to defy orders.

They left their safety and went into action, engaging the enemy in a firefight, rescuing 30 American citizens that day.  Unfortunately they were not able to save everyone, as 2 other Americans- one of them our ambassador to Libya- were killed.  Finally, near the end of a 7 hour firefight, these two Navy SEALs were killed in action as well.

After the attack we were told repeatedly by our President, by our Vice President, by the Secretary of State, and by all the other mouthpieces in between that this was the result of an anti-muslim video that had been made and put out on youtube.  This video, which reportedly had 17 views before this incident, supposedly set the whole middle east into a blazing riot. 

But that was not the case at all, as we have since learned that there was no protest.  There was no uprising.  In fact, less than an hour after the attack began- WHILE our men were still fighting- an islamic terrorist group was taking credit for it.  Yes, my friends, we have learned that indeed this was a terrorist attack.  On our soil.  And our government, as investigations have proven, knew this the whole time.  Not only did they know about it- but they lied to the American people about what it was.  They covered up for a terrorist group as long as they could.  And as testimonies and evidence have surfaced, they watched the attack on live video feed.  They watched as these 2 SEALs fought to save others.  They watched as they called for help, for backup, for something.  They denied their requests, and then they watched them die.

Why does this matter, you ask?  First of all, because of several unanswered questions.  WHY was there inadequate security at this consulate?  WHY were the SEALs told to stand down and not engage the enemy?  WHY were their repeated calls for help denied?  WHY were other military and CIA branches also told to do nothing and to stand down when they requested to go in for back up?  WHY did our government do nothing but watch as this terrorist attack unfolded?  WHY DID THEY COVER FOR A TERRORIST GROUP AS LONG AS THEY COULD UNTIL THEY COULD NO LONGER LIE ABOUT IT BEING A PROTEST? 

WHY should we think this is anything less than treason?

Why does this matter?  How is this not politicizing this event?  Because republican, democrat, liberal, conservative, it really doesn't matter what the president believes.  This was nothing less than intentionally leaving our men to die.  They may have been killed by mortars and gunfire that day- but it was this administration's lack of involvement that enabled their murder.  By OUR law, that is called being an accomplice to murder.  It matters not what the party affiliation is.  This was just wrong.

In the democrat primaries in 2008, Hillary Clinton campaigned against Barak Obama, asking the question- what will you do when you get a call at 3 a.m. in the morning about an American attack...

Well...  Now we know what the answer to her question is. 

What will he do?  Nothing.  Nothing but watch. 

My friends, is this really what we want from our president?  Is this what we should expect?  This behavior does not warrant four more years as leader of the free world- it warrants 40 to life behind bars.

Attack of the 50 Foot Chicken Sandwich

I sit quietly at my table, preparing to eat my tasty dinner.  I have been ready to eat for some time, and my stomach reminds me that I have allowed too much time between meals.  I open the wrapper and inhale the delicous scent of the chicken sandwich.  My mouth waters. But then, much to my surprise, the chicken patty comes to life and begins screaming hateful slurs at me.  It picks up a sign that clearly states "I hate gays!" in bold print, waving it defiently in my face.  To top it all off, the chicken then grabs a pickle from the now barren bun and flings it in my face.  I sit back astonished, stunned, horrified.  All I can think is- I should have known.  I should have known!  Eating here, at Chik-Fil-A, was a huge mistake.  After all, the owner is nothing but a hateful bigot.  I heard it myself!  The news told me all about his "comments", and I use that term loosely.  They were nothing but pure hate...

Or were they?

While it is true that the chicken sandwich did not really attack me, what is true is this:  My exageration of my lunchtime adventure was as ridiculous as the exageration of what the Chik-Fil-A controversy is.  Let us examine what the company president Dan Cathy actually said: "We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that."  It is that quote, that statement and that statement ALONE, that has erupted into a national firestorm controversy.  It is those words that has caused celebrities to publicly decry the chicken specialists, and has spurred mayors to refuse business licenses to the popular franchise.  But look carefully- there are no hate filled slurs.  There is no bigotry.  Just a comment that Chik-Fil-A supports the traditional Biblical definition of marriage.  Not once did he say, "I hate gays".  No where in there are the words "gays aren't human" or "kill the gays".  Not even a word against homosexuality.  In fact, notice what he DIDN'T say- he didn't say homosexuality was wrong.  He didn't say homosexuals were evil.  He didn't say anything against them- just that, as a company, they support traditional family marriage.

 So the question, then, is not- why did he make hateful comments; rather, why is there such a reaction to it?  Millions of Americans feel the same way that Mr. Cathy feel.  The truth is, there is such strong support for traditional, heterosexual marriage that whenever the legalization of homosexual marriage is put on a ballot the American people ALWAYS vote to keep it between one man and one woman.  So if Mr. Cathy is, in fact, on the same level of thinking as most Americans- we must ask again, what is the real issue here?

I think that we need to come to an understanding.  We need to realize this very basic point: it is not, and never has been, about marriage.  Oh sure there are a few homosexuals here and there that really believe the debate is all about whether or not they can marry someone that has all the same body parts that they do.  But reality speaks when we listen, and the movement as a whole has nothing to do with wedlock.  What it does deal with is acceptance.  The real agenda is making sure that everyone- and I mean, everyone- accepts them, coddles them, condones their every choice.  It is not who can marry who, but who will accept their choice as normal.  The idea that some members of society still believe that their choice is a sin and not to be condoned or accepted as "o.k." is a very loathsome idea indeed, and those ideas of sin must be stomped out. 

No, my friend- it is not about whether or not Steve can wear a wedding dress or Mary a tux on their wedding day.  It is all about whether or not the good reverend can stand in a pulpit and declare homosexuality a sin.  It makes them uncomfortable to think that some believe God will not accept them into heaven unless they repent!  And at the end of the day we must realize that we will all eventually be required to take a side on this issue.  If we stay back now, cowering under a banner of false love, we are only prolonging the inevitable; for the fight will eventually come to us.  They will make sure to bring it.  And for the record, I say false love because true love speaks truth; even when it is unpopular.

Of course, Chik-Fil-A wandered in to this controversy like a chicken to the slaughter.  But not like any chicken, mind you.  No, more like a brave chicken, willing to challenge the farmer's axe.  For that, they deserve much credit.  They not only believe in traditional marriage, they hold strong to their convictions, despite the protests, despite the slander, despite every evil word that has been uttered against them- they have not bowed down to the idol of tolerance.  They have issued no apology, no hasty press release saying "we didn't mean that".  Despite the attack on their first ammendment right of free speech, they have not wavered in what they said.

It is with this, these final words I must relate to you- that I gladly stand in support of Chik-Fil-A.  I am proud to call Mr. Cathy my brother in Christ.  It is with their example, that I can look and say there is still courage in the American church, still strength to be willing to do what is right.  Thank you Chik-Fil-A for being an inspiration, a hope, a reflection of truth- and the love of God- in this dark society.

To Hope Or not To Hope; That Is The Question

I am sure that you know by now that I was as surprised as you that Obamacare was not overturned last week.  I think that we all were expecting to see the Supreme Court rule differently than it did.  How could 9 people, sworn to uphold the Constitution, charged with ensuring that Congress never strayed from her, the people’s supposed last defense against overreaching government, look socialism in all it’s wickedness dead in the face and turn aside to allow it to devour the American people?  Without a doubt it will impact America more than any other decision that we have seen perhaps since Roe V. Wade.  And to think that the one justice that we all believed would be on our side, that would surely rule with wisdom and cast this monstrosity aside, the one sure man we could count on-  cast his lot with the liberal justices, leaving his name and reputation to be compared to the likes of Judas Iscariot in the mind of many conservatives.

Upon initially hearing of this I was at first distraught, angry, and heartbroken all at the same time.  My emotions were raging, a swirl of thoughts going through my brain like a hurricane.  How could this be, I thought?  Anyone with a mild understanding of the Constitution could see that this law stood for everything the founders of our Country did not!  When the patriots began the Revolutionary War, it was to overthrow the yoke of tyranny placed around their necks by Britain.  The government that had become a slavemaster, mandating what could and could not be bought, taxing without relief, ruling with an iron fist- THAT government had to go.  So they fought, they spent their gold until there was none left to spend, they sacrificed, they shed their blood, and many even died for the belief that government is of the people, by the people, and for the people.  They gave their all to overcome.  And now we find ourselves 236 years later, our Supreme Court upholding law that represents the very nature of the beast that they had slain…  Despite the will of the people.

After all our prayers…  After all our rallies…  After all our letters and phone calls, all our pleading, all our raised voices in anger, all for naught.

 Upon first glance, it is easy to feel defeated.  It is easy to hang our heads and go home.  It is easy to surrender.  It is easy to lose all hope.  The demon of socialism, it seems, has finally wrestled liberty from our grip; we have lost too much ground; there is no coming back from this abyss that our foot has slipped into.  The Government has the power now, and there is no returning back from this grave.

Yes, it is easy to give in to those feelings.  It is easy to talk about no hope; to talk about no chance. But the reality is that we have NOT yet sacrificed for this cause of righteousness.  Rather, we have been seeking after our own gain.  We have been seeking our own treasure.  We have given lip service to the ideals we profess, but we have not yet issued one drop of blood- or even sweat- for that which we claim to hold so dear.  And while we have been busy seeking after the American dream, the enemy has enclosed around us a socialized nightmare!  Because of this, we are left in shatters, with so many of us talking about giving in to the nightmare- for there is no light left…

 But brothers and sisters, I implore you to listen!  Listen to what the enemy will NOT tell you; that despite them, despite what they have done, despite what they will no doubt continue to attempt, there is ONE GLARING FACT that CANNOT be ignored:  LIBERTY WILL NOT DIE UNTIL THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HER GIVE UP!!!

We can be downcast, but I ask what will that gain us?  We can be downtrodden, but what will that gain us?  We can buy the lie that all hope is lost, BUT WHAT WILL THAT GAIN US?  I say, NO!  NOW is NOT the time to hang our heads in defeat!  Now is NOT the time to accept loss!!  Now is NOT the time to surrender hope, but rather to cling to it!  We must clench our fist tightly, grit our teeth, and renew our resolve!  If we fold now, then we are no better than the tyrannists that wish to rule over us!  They may have won this battle, but we must remember that they will NOT win this war!

But there is only one way.  There is only one path to victory.  There is only one hope.  We MUST put our personal desires aside.  We must put our pride down.  We must put our differences aside and unite together in this fight.  And we must repent.  Repent for being more concerned with personal achievement than defending liberty.  Repent for allowing ourselves to be comfortable with the socialist demons that have crept in amongst us.  Repent for turning our backs on the ideals that founded this Country.  Repent for the murders of the innocent, the greed, the debauchery, the self-worship that have offended the very God who inspired our forefathers to form this great nation known as the United States!

We have a decision to make, my friends.  Now is the time that we must decide whether or not we will lay down and give up in defeat, or if we will stand on our convictions, stand for what is right, stand our ground and never give up hope.  What will you choose?  As for me and my house, we will choose the Lord… And we will choose hope!