Heavy lifting

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That's me, a few years ago. It was a memorable visit. One of the high points was seeing for myself our nation's documents at the National Archives and thinking about the forging of our nation, how far we have come, and what it means to be an American. I don't mind admitting it was a moving experience, seeing tangible objects-- mere inches away-- the actual documents outlining our freedoms and responsibilities, drafted and signed by people much wiser than we are.

For most of my life, I assumed that my gratitude, along with thoughtful voting, was enough; I never took my good fortune at living in this great, free country for granted, but I certainly didn't think I would need to defend America to my fellow Americans to the extent it is now necessary.

As I've stated here before, I'm a relative newcomer to this fight, scrambling to fill in my knowledge gaps in these dangerous times, and help spread the word in my own small way.

We have so much to be thankful for, so much to lose.

In keeping with the week's Thanksgiving state of mind, I want to encourage any visitors passing through this blog to stop by the various blogs and sites whose links I've included here.

These, and countless others, are the real heroes of online media and the blogosphere. These are the folks who do the heavy lifting, the Generals in the culture war leading us foot soldiers, the leaders of the frustrated, the insightful commentators, talented satirists, passionate civilians, professional and amateur journalists of high repute, esteemed analysts. There are literally hundreds of amazing conservative blogs out there, everything from back-fence rants to elaborately sophisticated news sites. I had to limit the number of links, but if you want more destinations you can check the blog links on those blogs, and so on, and keep yourself busily reading for days.

Last night, I watched Flight 93, the story of brave citizens who "did something". Thoughtful people can't watch this film without thinking about what it means to step up and do what's necessary in unspeakable situations.

In a sense, the free world is presently being hijacked. Many people-- too many-- are in denial of this.

One thing we can do at the grassroots level is to gently encourage the good people around us to see how bad things really are. This takes some tact; you don't want to sound shrill and scare people away from the message, even though the alarm we feel is all too appropriate. Many people still rely on television and newspaper news coverage for the information shaping their frame of mind. They know bad things are happening without necessarily seeing the implications of the big picture.

I've been encouraging people I know to at least be familiar with Bloomberg, National Review Online, Michelle Malkin, and other online services. If your friends and relatives are skeptical you can start with some of the more well-established sites to ease them in, and go from there. Or perhaps they'd be curious about a specific Thomas Sowell essay, or the viewpoint of someone in the millitary. What's important is to gently open the door and give them a peek.

Thank heaven there are some heavy lifters out there in the online world who are doing what needs to be done. Their strength is inspirational; their insights and information are essential.

Light and Liberty,
brenda

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Thanksgiving Wishes

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Like so many of you, I am busy today doing all those holiday things that feel familiar and comforting. My family is smaller than it used to be, so an important part of my Thanksgiving experience is to spend a few moments and fondly remember times past. Gone is the annual Thanksgiving house filled with aunts, uncles, grandparents, and boisterous cousins. My husband and I have a lovely day together, but it's so different now.

I won't sit here typing too long when I should be downstairs, but I didn't want the day to go by without sending my love and good cheer to all the amazing people I've met online in recent months.

One of the most striking differences between the world of my childhood and the world I now live in is that the people I'm now closest to are people who live scattered across the country, or elsewhere on the globe, many of whom I've never met face to face. No longer am I closest to the people with whom I share simple geographical proximity. Likewise, family bonds don't necessarily mean shared beliefs. Several of my family members hold views completely unlike mine, and while we still love each other, the chasm between us is now wider and deeper than ever.

And so it is. This curious modern-day situation is made more profound because the ideological divide in this country is so great. We can't assume that the people where we live share our general perspective on things. Even something like basic heartfelt patriotism isn't something we can count on. What might have been a lively but essentially civil debate years ago between a democrat and a republican is now more likely to be raging warfare between an America basher and an American patriot. Who could ever have imagined we'd have to explain to people why the constitution is so important? Or capitalism? Or freedom? It always seemed self-evident to me. But that's how extreme things have gotten, that's the degree to which we are torn.

But I don't want to depress you good folks... You know exactly how it is.

What all this is getting at is this: You bloggers, journalists, and online friends are amazing, and mean a lot to me. I learn from you every day, and draw strength from knowing there are capable, admirable people who share my deep concerns. In our lives when we can't always connect positively with people based on family ties or geography, in the online world we can connect via our shared beliefs. I'm proud and humbled to know you.

I hope you are having a marvelous Thanksgiving. Thank you for all you do, but also for helping me feel less alone in difficult times.

Cheers, and bless you all.

love,
brenda

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Michael Steele

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The more I find out about this man, the more convinced I am that he's the right choice to lead the GOP.

Here's a link to his website. He encourages active participation and is optimistic about the future of the party of Lincoln:

http://steeleforchairman.com/


Thank you.

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Powerful brief video on global warming fallacies

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Not merely an intellectual or economic debate, human lives in the developing world are literally at stake. Let the light of reason shine:

http://tinyurl.com/6qsohm

Share the link. Hat tip to Giovanni's World.

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Quotes of the day

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America suffers as much today from a well-intentioned identification of its citizens by race as it does from old-fashioned racism.

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[R]ace, though a biological fact, is a dangerously empty distinction because it can carry whatever meaning we give it without the support of reason and evidence.

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Shelby Steele, 1996

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This is an age of the world when nations are trembling and convulsed. A mighty influence is abroad, surging and heaving the world as with an earthquake. And is America safe? Every nation that carries in its bosom great and unredressed injustice has in it the elements of this last convulsion.

Harriet Beecher Stowe, 1852

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In today's conception of fairness, only when all have the same prospects of winning is the fight fair. It was not in The Nation or some other left-wing magazine, but in the neoconservative quarterly The Public Interest that we find opportunity equated with "the same chance to succeed" or "an equal shot at a good outcome"-- regardless of the influence of social, cultural, or family background.

This confusion between the fairness of rules and the equality of prospects is spreading across the political spectrum. Regardless of which of these two things might be considered preferable, we must first be very clear in our own minds that they are completely different, and often mutually incompatible, if we are to have any hope of a rational discussion of policy issues ranging from anti-trust to affirmative action.

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Thomas Sowell, from a speech on Race, Culture, and Equality

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Israel up for grabs?

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Those of us who have seen this coming take no pleasure in seeing it now unfold: the threat against Israel is becoming more ominous and specific.

During his campaign, Obama worked hard to downplay his sympathies for Israel's aggressors because he didn't want to lose the Jewish vote. (And lest we forget, the Los Angeles Times helped him accomplish this by refusing to release a tape of the Obamas at a Jew-bashing fete). While Jews in America apparently bought into his rhetoric-- I'm always amazed that the Jewish vote is so consistently against the best interests of Israel-- the Israeli Jews knew better. And while Obama did not disclose this at the time, he was audaciously communicating with Israel's bloodthirsty enemies before he was elected.

Small wonder, then, that the war cries against Israel are getting louder and more urgent by the day. In my view, they've been emboldened by Obama's sympathetic noises. Obama is apparently about to find out that oldest of truths: you can't be all things to all people, and eventually he'll have to choose a side. Under GWB we knew that the enemy of Israel was our enemy, too, but this new administration seems to be saying "all bets are off".

Are we really ready to lay Israel on the chopping block? Peace at any price? I can only hope Israel is strong enough on its own in the interim before we remember who our friends are. It's tragic we're so busy trying to make our sworn enemies leave us alone by rolling over. If ever there was a formula for defeat, that's it.

For review, here is what I feel is an excellent slideshow history of Israel and the conflicts in that region, courtesy of the David Horowitz Freedom Center:

http://www.terrorismawareness.org/jimmy-carters-war/

My comments here are brief and general; to read a detailed report on the newest threats against Israel, go to Gateway Pundit (link at left, in blogroll). Thank you.

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The Modcon Project -- a comprehensive plan for American political realignment

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This PDF file is the executive summary of a new movement to bring conservatism together into a clear, articulate, and powerful new force. I'm impressed at what these people are doing and intend to become involved in their efforts. Take a peek and see what you think:

http://www.modernconservative.com/videos/Modcon_Project_brochure.pdf


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