Invasion is Not Immigration

Well, this is only my third posting, and it's already time for me to be controversial. Thank God. Political correctness is ripping our country apart, and is actually creating more racism and extreme views. I hate to sound Freudian, but how can we relate and govern properly without a little free association? Without refusing to suppress and repress our true concerns, feelings, and convictions? It just turns genuine worry into pent-up rage. Since when did it become un-American to take a stand on an issue, any issue? Liberals need to learn that opposing gay marriage is not equal to homophobia or "hatred." I mean, really...just as many conservatives need to realize "Democrat" does not imply "atheist" or "agnostic." One of my best friends is a Catholic Christian, pro-life Democrat, God bless her. She and I haven't strangled each other yet, not even over Iraq or gay marriage--yes, we can coexist.

I thought long and hard about which issue has been the most polluted by "PC"/B.S. At first I was leaning towards gay marriage--you know, the whole "Conservatives are homophobes" thing. I decided, however, after listening to Lou Dobbs and Glenn Beck many times and considering the situation thoroughly on my own, that "PC" has by far hijacked the immigration debate the worst. You know, the whole "Illegal immigration reformers are fascist, racist scoundrels" thing. That just doesn't sit well with me. Perhaps it has something to do with my own ancestors fleeing actual religious persecution, revolution, and famine, and still having the consideration to immigrate legally to America. The last I checked, Mexico and Central America were not collapsing in war, plague, and starvation. Third World countries, yes; carte blanche to sneak across our borders, no. Wait your turn--stand in line...just like the Chinese, Irish, Italians, Japanese, Jews, and other legal Mexican and Latino immigrants to the U.S.

By now, you're probably convinced I'm a racist. My response? Oh, well...I know I'm not. "Bigotry" and "racism" are the card played by virtually every minority group nowadays, except, seemingly, conservative Christians. Some of these minorities aren't even ethnic, but they still play the card, even when the deck of facts and decency is clearly stacked against them. I have nothing against Mexicans, Latinos, and Hispanics who immigrate legally to the United States. In fact, I have great respect for Latino culture: I love Mexican food, I listen to Joaquin Rodrigo and Carlos Santana quite often, and I've had more than one good Hispanic friend. And believe me, amigo, I've taken my fair share of Spanish classes. Nonetheless, the beauty and uniqueness of Latin culture form no excuse for the recent illegal influx of 12 million Mexican and other immigrants. They pay little in taxes, fill our ERs, take our benefits, and drag down our schools. At the very least, please learn English. If we Americans did these things to Canada, the U.N. and the world at large would scream, "Bloody murder!" Isn't it great being the world's lone superpower? If we'd like to stay in that bittersweet position, illegal immigration needs to emigrate elsewhere. It can feel free to take PC with it; the First Amendment has no room left for it here in Freedomland.

Quote of the Day: "Continued dependence upon relief induces a spiritual and moral disintegration fundamentally destructive to the national fiber. To dole out relief in this way is to administer a narcotic, a subtle destroyer of the human spirit." Hmm, who do you think spoke these words? Ronald Reagan? William F. Buckley? George Will? Hardly...Franklin Delano Roosevelt! These words come from the supposed father of modern liberal, neo-socialist thought. Even he understood that social security, welfare, and government spending should be as limited and temporary as possible. I have nothing against supplemental, "safety-net" health care and benefits...but for goodness' sake, let's give that safety-net to legal, documented Americans first.

The Spirit of Yorktown

On this date 225 years ago, America was born...well, saved from impending doom, we'll say. (I'll stick with the conventional wisdom that the U.S. officially began on July 4, 1776.) At Yorktown, Virginia, the military operations of the American Revolution drew to a close... On that warm, misty morning of October 19, 1781, the British forces of Lord Charles Cornwallis surrendered to the once-ragtag Continental Army led by the father of our country--George Washington. Thousands of brave, war-weary redcoated conscripts stacked their arms on the Yorktown battlefield, while equally brave and tired, but spiritually ecstatic, blue-uniformed American Continentals watched. Washington remained in his tent, showing a new-fangled American resiliency to the arrogant Englishman Cornwallis, who feigned sickness to avoid the humiliating surrender ceremony. The British martial band played an apt tune for the occasion: "The World Turned Upside Down." Indeed it was...and we feel the repercussions yet today.

But do we still care? Our politicians and leaders talk about Washington and Lincoln and FDR and what they stood for, but do they really know? Do "we the people" know? Hardly. We live from day to day feeding on the liberties bought by the blood of Washington's patriots (and a lot of help from, I hate to say it, the French)--more than two centuries ago. What a stable, glorious, enduring legacy! Our right to vote, to worship freely, to question our own government without punishment, was paid for at Yorktown, Saratoga, King's Mountain, and Bunker Hill. For the love of everything holy (and American), I beg you not to forget it. I guess such ideals are especially important to me; my grandfather risked his life in World War II, as did my great-great uncle in the First World War. (His life and health were forever shattered by the poison gas he encountered fighting the Germans. Not convinced that war is all hell? It is.)

At the very least, the next time you, Liberal, foolishly compare Bush to Hitler, or you, Conservative, liken Ted Kennedy to Joseph Stalin, do two things: 1) think about the hyperbole--and stupidity--of your remarks; and 2) thank God you live in a free country where gulags and concentration camps don't await you. (The magnitude of those two 20th century devils may never be equalled...at least, that's the hope.) You don't have to agree with the Iraq War or the current Administration--in many ways, I don't--but remember the brave men and women who have fought, and are fighting, for your precious liberty. Using your freedom to voice dissent, while respecting and showing love for your country--that is the spirit of the American Revolution, won at Yorktown in 1781. Cherish it and keep it alive.

Quote of the Day: "To the memory of the Man, first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen." - General Henry "Light-Horse Harry" Lee, giving Washington's eulogy in 1799. The Virginian Lee, one of Washington's most loyal generals and future father of Robert E. Lee, was right...Washington was the Man. This is a good day to remember that.

An Introduction

In 1899, while giving a speech in Chicago, New York Governor--soon to be Vice-President, then President--Theodore Roosevelt made the following declaration: "I wish to preach, not the doctrine of ignoble ease, but the doctrine of the strenuous life." Little did "Teddy" know how his words would inspire millions to do great things; for instance, leading Scott Joplin to write a famous rag ("The Strenuous Life," no less) a few years later, and helping crystallize the ideas and intentions of a small-town student and blogger from Michigan...or at least giving that blogger the basis for a snappy blog title.

"The strenuous life"--a fitting description of what Teddy Roosevelt, our first 20th century President, so boldly "bullied" for. What exactly did it consist of? The simplest I can put it is this: active patriotism, both on the part of government and of the citizenry. Here are some concrete examples, which I fully endorse (not that I agree with every little thing TR said or did): deep morality both in office and in society, a strong military and defense, a profound respect for the uniqueness of the American republic, a willingness to stand up for young democracies in the face of tyranny, an active but not obsessive protection of the environment, equity as a step to social equality, and a commitment to confronting corruption and corporate greed without hurting the ifnrastructure of free enterprise. Sound like a lot? It is. Worth defending both at home and abroad? You bet. A desirable alternative to the "ignoble ease" we see manifested in today's increasingly shallow, lazy, impatient American society.

This site is dedicated to the preservation of true Jeffersonian liberty, and that of good old conservative American virtues, those of Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln (my favorite) and Teddy Roosevelt: public morality (what a drag, right?), honesty in government ("Is it snowing in Hell yet?" you ask), and above all a fervent desire to bring back the America we once knew...strong, united, decent. I'll look mostly at American history and politics, but won't shy away from our society (and world) as a whole: religion, books, music, entertainment, sports, etc. I like to think that all is fair game. You may be surprised at some of the views this conservative holds--no political ideology is a perfect mold...That being said, let the strenuous life commence.