The Christian Dilemma

The greatest threat to America, and indeed to the rest of the world, at this point in history, comes from the staunch advocates of right-wing ideology, and I must submit this warning to you: There is a grave problem with the far-right movement, in that; they seem to possess a distorted sense of entitlement. They’ve set themselves apart, and seem to think that their faith gives them the right to view the world from a platitude of conceit, through condescending eyes, and with a false sense of superiority. They believe themselves to be superior beings, with manifest destiny and some strange notion that God is on their side. A people with a desire to conquer, under the false guise of Christianity, seeking to dominate in the name of Christ, their view of humanity being reduced to nothing more than a matter of “us” and “them.”

What they fail to realize is; if the Christ you believe in leads you to view other humans as lesser beings, then you are a follower of the anti-Christ. The ugly truth is; God doesn’t have a religion, and God doesn’t discriminate. Any religion that professes to be the only true religion, or that they‘re unique in the eyes of God preaches false doctrine. If the Spirit of God is right with you, it will only be known by acts of “unconditional” love and charity. No religion can claim exclusive rights to God. He belongs to all that He has created, and to foster a belief in “us,” and “them” is to divide humanity, not unite it.

And so it will be, in The End, that those who have set themselves apart from their fellow man will find that they have set themselves apart from God. The worth of a soul will only be measured by how much it has loved, nothing more, nothing less. Woe to those who have taken the widow’s mite and built castles and empires in His name. They have incurred high accountability; their suffering will be eternal.

Even Jesus will not claim to be Christian, but will only proclaim the glory of the Father. And when He returns, they will shout: "Here we are Lord!" And He will respond: "I never knew you." They have forsaken the Word and have become prisoners of the Numbers.
Those who have put themselves first will be last.

Written By: House of Public Discourse Member Gary Markle

WERE THE FOUNDING FATHERS GOOD CHRISTIAN MEN?

Founding Fathers

Just weeks ago while doing some research I came across one Thomas Paine. Much to my surprise, I was fascinated that this moderate and some - what unsuccessful man finally found his passion in life. Thomas Paine went on to write one of the most read literary works of all time, Common Sense. I was so interested in his story that I wrote an article about him.[See Article] He[Paine] and his work Common Sense has been credited as being one of the jump-starts to the American Revolution. In fact, the writings of Thomas Paine in Common Sense created the model for which sculpted the Declaration of Independence. 

Thomas Paine wrote in Common Sense.

Thomas Paine

        "... Nothing can settle our affairs so expeditiously as an open and determined declaration for independence."     

What is so interesting is at the time of his writing this pamphlet Thomas Paine was an immigrant. He was not an American citizen. He was an Englishmen, who Benjamin Franklin sponsored to America.  The reason I identify with Paine cause he was a writer but a " jack of all trades," who until he was able to write he was a lost man. He had failed at just about every endeavor he undertook. However, Ben Franklin, who was a printer, loved Paine's writing style and encouraged him to write Common Sense. Putting things into perspective from a literary standpoint Thomas Paine contribution to the American Revolution was equal to that of George Washington. It was Thomas Paine who coined the phrase " Untied States of America." So, with all this said, why has American history marginalized Thomas Paine?  The short answer, after the revolution Thomas Paine, published his feeling about Christianity and the Bible.

In Paine's literary work, " Age of Reason," he wrote:

" When I see through the greater parts of this book[The Bible] scarcely anything but a history of the grossest vices... and collection of the most paltry and contemptible tales..." 

Many historians and people of the time's claimed Thomas Paine was an atheist, but; his defenders say he believed in a God but not the one in the King James translation of the Bible. What is painful and powerful here is that Thomas Paine, a champion of the American Revolution. That many of the founding fathers themselves give equal credit for the success thereof would not be considered a Christian by the likes of modern day politicians like Rick Santorum and Texas Governor Rick Perry.

Thomas Paine went on to write that he did not believe in the creed professed by any church that he knew. According to Thomas Paine, his mind was his church.[See Source] Furthermore, Thomas Paine made it clear that he detested the Bible. In fact, Thomas Paine utterly denounced Christianity. He [Paine] called Christianity a " fable and fraud." This publication the 'Age of Reason,' sold thousands of copies. And, clearly shows that one of America's founding fathers was not a good Christian man. 

A Warning Made By A Republican Decades Ago Could Have Saved The GOP (VIDEO)

Barry Goldwater

With loudmouth Donald Trump the front runner of the GOP and Kim Davis playing the Christian martyr and the popularity of the Republican Party at an all-time low, should the GOP have listened to Barry Goldwater decades ago? 

Some have coined the late Senator Barry Goldwater the ” Godfather of Conservatism.” Senator Goldwater was very outspoken in his disdain with the influx of the religious right. Here are some of Goldwater’s pearls of wisdom on that subject:

"I am a conservative Republican, but I believe in democracy and the separation of church and state.? The conservative movement is founded on the simple tenet that people have the right to live life as they please as long as they don’t hurt anyone else in the process.”(In a 1994 Washington Post essay)”The religious factions will go on imposing their will on others.”“I don’t have any respect for the Religious Right.”“Every good Christian should line up and kick Jerry Falwell’s ass.”“A woman has a right to an abortion.”

Goldwater felt the matter of abortion was one for the courts. In 1981, Senator Goldwater made the following remarks in the U.S. Congressional Record:

There is no position on which people are so immovable as their religious beliefs. There is no more powerful ally one can claim in a debate than Jesus Christ, or God, or Allah, or whatever one calls this supreme being. But like any powerful weapon, the use of God’s name on one’s behalf should be used sparingly. The religious factions that are growing throughout our land are not using their religious clout with wisdom. They are trying to force government leaders into following their position 100 percent. If you disagree with these religious groups on a particular moral issue, they complain, they threaten you with a loss of money or votes or both. I’m frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in ‘A,’ ‘B,’ ‘C,’ and ‘D.’ Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me? And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of ‘conservatism.’

Goldwater is on the record saying that his beloved Republican party would be ruined if the religious right gathered any sufficient strength within the party:

"Well, I’ve spent quite some years carrying the flag of the ‘Old Conservatism. And I can say with conviction that the religious issues of these groups have little or nothing to do with conservative or liberal politics. The uncompromising position of these groups is a divisive element that could tear apart the very spirit of our representative system if they gain sufficient strength."

All of this ties into the mass exodus of the George Wallace Southern Dixiecrat to the open arms of the Republican Industrial elites. With this new anti-civil and voting rights voting blocks now in the flock, the Republican Party had to shift some gears and what transpired was Lee Atwater's infamous, “Southern Strategy.”

Massive resistance was a policy declared by U.S. Senator Harry F. Byrd, Sr. of Virginia on February 24, 1956, to unite other white politicians and leaders in Virginia. In a campaign of new state laws and policies to prevent public school desegregation after the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision in 1954. Although most of the laws created to implement Massive Resistance were negated by state and federal courts by January 1960. Some policies and effects of the campaign against integrated of public schools continued in Virginia for many more years.  Many schools and even an entire education system were shut down in preference to integration.

We have seen this massive resistance used on a broader scale within the Southern Strategy applied to a myriad of issues. From gerrymandering districts to voter ID laws and attacks on women's right to choice and more recently the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

It is becoming more evident since the government shutdown the Republican Party may be in need of some serious soul-searching  Could we see this same old George Wallace crowd move in with the Libertarians, Tea Party, and Religious right and form a new third-party in this country?

"The religious factions will go on imposing their will on others Unless the decent people connected to them recognize that religion has no place in public policy.? They must learn to make their views known without trying to make their views the only alternatives. . .? We have succeeded for 205 years in keeping the affairs of state separate from the uncompromising idealism of religious groups, and we mustn’t stop now. To retreat from that separation would violate the principles of conservatism and the values upon which the framers built this democratic republic."[Barry Goldwater]

Needless to say, Senator Goldwater fell out of favor and now with some of his warnings ringing true. Donald Trump and Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis examples thereof. There is a hint of in- fighting going on with the Republicans. However, with these gerrymandered districts throughout not just the South but the entire country creating “safe zones,” many Republicans seem just fine with their blind indifference to the point of shutting down the government and circumventing the Constitution.

 A Liberals Like Christ article entitled "Goldwater versus Religious Right" offers a good evaluation of this conflict.. 

Mr. Conservative: Barry Goldwater vs. the Religious Right

Dominion Theology Is A Cult

Every day you see in the news or our social media timelines some wacky statement from a politician, Pastor, Priest or right wing pundit that the world is coming to an end. They pummel us that this demise is because of abortion, same-sex marriage, and removing prayer from school are the reasons. They blame the progressive social agenda is behind it all. 

Woman are being fired from their jobs for getting mammograms. We have seen gay people rights violated for being who they are. The "Christian Right" and political factions and players who are under their spell or in their pocketbooks have waged a full-blown attack on the church and state clause in our constitution.

There is an enormous difference between a conspiracy theory and covert plan to take dominion over society. The House of Public Discourse has been for years now eyeballing the activity of the Dominionist in America. There is an evil plan that has been in the works for years. And, unless we wake up there plan once deemed too radical to ever work will be materialized by these demons parading as Christians. Dominion Theology is a cult.

Radio Host David Pakman recently spoke to Rachel Tabachnick, researcher, writer, and speaker on the impact of the Religious Right and one of the foremost authorities on Dominionism.

There are Dominionist running for President in 2016, and the House of Public Discourse will be covering their escapades. When you see people advocating Moses as a founding father you have seen a Dominionist. When you see groups trying to replace science with the Bible, you have seen a Dominionist cult. When you hear Jeb Bush claim that unwed mothers are shameful, you have heard a Dominionist. When you read about politicians on both the state and federal government levels implementing legislation such as the recent Religious Freedom Act, your civil liberties have been violated by a Dominionist. For a detailed analysis on Dominionism read: " The Counterfeit Promise Of Dominionism."

Authoritarianism + Racism + Fascism =The Tea Party

Mussolini

If you are behind the curve on just what Authoritarianism is please see Leave Your Authoritarianism At The Church House Please! As we begin the 2016 Presidential Election in earnest knowing who your constituents are is vital and even more important where they came from, in short, their history. In asking myself this question with the task of answering it properly my study was quickly directed to a term Mussolini American Republicans. Our research here in the HOPD quickly found that the Tea Party mindset is nothing new and has origins dating back to Mussolini. There was an attempt to set up a fascist dictatorship in America. The upshot of the movement was to create an organization with a goal of reaching some 500,000 men. Their purpose was clear and simple. Intimidate the government. A Congressional committee was formed on the matter. Subsequently evidence found a plot to overthrow FDR.  This behavior is very much akin to the growing Secession Movement in America today coming primarily from the Tea Party crowd.[See Article] 

How fascists plotted to overthrow the US Government

Then low and behold the name Prescott Bush  materializes. That's right the original Bush traitor. The Daddy and Granddaddy to the modern day, Bush family who all but ruin this country and drove into the ditch. Prescott Bush was a Nazi traitor to this country and like his grandson Bush, Jr should have been tried for treason. [See Source] 

In 1932, Mussolini stated:

" We are absolutely opposed to Liberalism." 

Just like the Tea Party of today the Mussolini American 

Republicans felt that Egalitarianism was an absurd political lie.

What is Egalitarianism? 

Just like the Tea Party of today the Mussolini American Republicans felt that Egalitarianism was an absurd political lie. The moocher comments we hear today from the Tea Party and the go " fend for yourself," mantra of the Libertarians are shockingly similar to the outcry's of the Mussolini American Republicans. They claimed FDR's New Deal would lead to collective irresponsibility. Not unlike today's Tea Party, they claimed the fertile and beneficent inequality of men cannot be leveled by suffrage. 

These Are Not Lincoln Republicans!

Our research in the House of Public Discourse has concluded that the modern-day Tea Party is nothing more than a fascist movement motivated by racism and enabled by Authoritarianism. With the 2008 election rendering America, the first person of color to the White House created the spark to ignite this reemergence of blatant Fascism in America. The movement has been spearheaded by the American Christian Right. See the right-wing authoritarian follower is easily brainwashed. The late Jerry Falwell, Pat Roberston, and John Hagee have been some of the biggest perpetrators with a list growing daily. TV Pastors see money in Fascism, Racism, and Authoritarianism. They are obvious power and control seekers.  

Buy Our Source Here

Another similarity, just like the Mussolini American Republicans hated FDR the same can be said of the Tea Party towards Barack Obama. 

The Tea Party tries to sell their organization as a cross-section of America. They allege they are a nonpartisan mix of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans. This is absurd. Our research in the HOPD clearly reveals that the Tea Party is primarily made up of Right-Wing Authoritarian Followers who make up the ranks of the Republican Social Conservative faction within the party. The Religious Right. According to a study conducted on the issue found that most of the Tea Party followers suffer from " The Hitler Syndrome." [See Source]

BREITBART AND THE TEA PARTY HITLER SYNDROME

The study points out over a dozen traits found in Tea Party members were consistent with Authoritarianism. These evaluation were based on the answers given by those participating in the study. All of these answers were a clear indication that a vast majority of Tea Party members suffer from "The Hitler Syndrome." 

THE RELIGIOUS-REICH AND RIGHT WING DEATH SQUADS

Russ Limbaugh stated on a national radio station he wanted the right-wing death squads to come to America. What appalls this writer is our tax dollars funded these death squads? The American Republican Right has sponsored one of the most bazaars morally reprehensible acts ever in the history of man that is only rivaled by today's Isis. All this killing was done in the name of "GOD." Under Ronald Reagan, he merged the CIA operation with the " Vatican." In Reagan's zeal to bring down Communism, he empowered several former Nazis in Eastern Europe. Our study found that many of these operatives were Holocaust deniers. Moderate and Liberal Priest who opposed the Nazis doctrine were removed from power. Under G.W. Bush, the Bill of Rights was annulled. This annulment granted the now merged CIA and Vatican the right to spy on any American for any reason. What very few Americans realize is that our U. S. Supreme Court was given over to the Vatican.

In England, Bush's counterpart Tony Blair restored the Church of England to the Vatican and the E.U, was brought under the control of the Vatican. 

All of this was by design a plan and now the last piece of the puzzle. This   activity was said to prove GOD's forgiveness. And, while Rome's GOD had plenty of forgiveness for Nazis and pedophiles it strangely couldn't find any for the Nazis resistors in the Church. 

Rev Jay Smith

A South Carolina Roman Catholic priest has told his parishioners that they should refrain from receiving Holy Communion if they voted for Barack Obama because the Democratic president-elect supports abortion and supporting him "constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil."[See Source] It became apparent that no matter what President Obama does the extreme racist  Religious Right Nazis were going to criticize, obstruct, and commit sedition in this writers view. Here in the recent, we can add the 47 senators letter to Iran which constitutes treason under the Logan Act. The bottom-line is we have hoards of people walking around who call themselves Tea Party Patriots who are nothing more nothing less than brainwashed Nazis repackaged as American Patriots. 

Unholy Alliance, Putin and The Christian Right

Vladimir Putin 

In this writer's mind, there is no greater example of old-school Cold War  KGB than current Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Most Americans have a negative view of Russia and Vladimir Putin. However, our research here in the House of Public Discourse has found among  the Christian Right, Zealots, Extremist, and the Tea Party his popularity is on the rise. There has been some mild reporting on this growing alliance but not much. I think it fair to inspect the motives here. What are these people up to? Where's their end game?  There needs to be an explanation. 

Unholy Alliance, Putin and The Christian Right

Over the last several years, there has been a strange shift in Putin's popularity with the American Right. They seem to love him now. Ole Joe McCarthy and the John Birch Society folks are turning over in their graves right about this second. Remember Mitt Romney called Russia our greatest geopolitical rival and was all so quick to point out Putin's illustrious KGB career. What's one " hell of a note," not from the American Left but the American Right.

Noted Right Wing Mouthpiece Pat Buchanan has gone as far to say Putin's got GOD on his side.

Buchanan has been loud with his praise of Putin's  anti-gay laws that most in Russia call propaganda laws. However, there is a larger tie in here. There's no question the American Right is going to praise the authoritarian, anti-equality, and Pro Christian policies of Putin. Dominionism!

Pat Buchanan is not a minority voice in the Republic Party. These people want to change the government to a Theocracy so bad it boggles the mind. This is important. These type alliances do matter because gone unchecked can influence policy for a few that oppresses the many. As we reported from Ramblin Rose, the President has beefed up his Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships with the understanding  this focus is both a national and global one.  There needs to be an active eye kept on this activity. [See Article]

Putin was correct to call the United States a “godless” country:

We published an article  Is American Really A Christian Nation. The empirical data clearly shows that America is indeed moving away from Christian Values. Don't let this so called Russian Orthodox Christian fool you. He is no different than the American Evangelicals. Cherry-Picks his faith with the best of them. 

Putin seems to have mastered the rhetoric of religiosity over the past several years, both for the purposes of internal Russian politics and on the international level. Internally, he has strengthened the relationship between the Russian State and the Russian Orthodox Church and brought the Church into his sphere in much the same way that the Czars, and even the Soviets, did during their time in power. He has cast the conflict with rebels in Chechnya and Dagestan as a battle against Islam itself, for example, and portrayed his support of the Assad regime in Syria as part of an effort to protect the Syrian Christian community.[See Source] 

Putin and the Dominionist goal is to place as many of their people in as many key government positions as possible. 

We are keeping an eye on this Unholy Alliance, Putin and the Christian Right. 

Christian Right Obsessed With Vladimir Putin

Domestic Terror: The Deadliest Game!

With the big emphasis being on counterterrorism, since 9/11, what has gone unnoticed  has been the rising number of events amounting to Domestic Terrorism done in the same time frame.
People who commit "acts against the state," and draw their inspiration from U.S. inspired ideologies and movements have killed American citizens and damaged property across the country. The Department of Justice [DOJ] and the FBI do not officially list domestic terrorist organizations but have them listed as a "threats" category.  Crimes in the name of ideologies supporting animal rights, environmental rights, anarchism, white supremacy, anti-government ideas, black separatism, and anti-abortion beliefs were all labeled as " threats to public safety.[See Source]

Domestic Terror Groups Are On The Rise In America.

All too often, we hear in America just how awful Jihadi terrorism is and very little is made of the rising events of domestic terrorism and the horror they invoke as well. What's disheartening, these events are on the rise with no end in sight. In the last decade, there has been a steady increase in hate groups across America. There are your usual players the "Klan", and Neo-Nazis organizations. However, spectacularly where the biggest rise came from was the so-called " Patriot Movement." There have been two-dozen incidents of Domestic Terrorism since 9/11, and there appears to be growth in the anti-government extremist activity according to several watchdog groups. 

A large number of these new-age domestic terrorists use non-traditional tactics, suicide bombings or airplane hijackings, which are old-school to these modern-day terrorists. Needless to say, they have been engaged in vandalism, trespassing, and 'Tax Fraud," for example.  Much like the Jihadists, Domestic Terrorists are Internet savvy and use the source as a base for operations. 

Many domestic terrorists rely on the concept of leaderless resistance. This involves two levels of activity. On an operational level, militant, underground, ideologically motivated cells or individuals engage in illegal activity without any participation in or direction from an organization that maintains traditional leadership positions and membership rosters. On another level, the above-ground public face (the “political wing”) of a domestic terrorist movement may focus on propaganda and the dissemination of ideology—engaging in protected speech[See Source] 

Is terrorism becoming just another form of politics? 

One of the main issues we have in combating domestic terrorism is one of a proper definition. Different federal agencies use different criteria to define or describe Domestic Terrorism. Our research also found no real clear data showing just how many incidents have occurred or how many plots have been foiled. Also, there seems to be poor inter-agency communication regarding intelligence gathering with no set standard in place. This intercommunication goes to the state and local areas as well.  You cannot get a precise, comprehensive, and public answer as to why from the government.

The FBI generally relies on two fundamental sources to define domestic terrorism. First, the Code of Federal Regulations characterizes “terrorism” as including “the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.”6 Second, 18 U.S.C. Section 2331(5) more narrowly defines “domestic terrorism” and differentiates it from international terrorism and other criminal activity.7 This definition comes from Section 802 of the USA PATRIOT Act (P.L. 107-52). According to 18 U.S.C. Section 2331(5), domestic terrorism occurs primarily within U.S. territorial jurisdiction, and domestic terrorism involves (A) ... acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State; (B) appear to be intended— (i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping.... [See Source]

  In fact, the Bureau’s practical, shorthand definition of domestic terrorism is “Americans attacking Americans based on U.S.-based
extremist ideologies.

What is confusing is the term "U.S. based ideologies."  The FBI 's definition seems to be straightforward. However, a closer evaluation of many so-called domestic terrorist organizations reveal they have international roots. In addition, they still have active followings abroad.  There is ambiguity on how these incidents are handled, categorized, and reported.

 Decades Upon Decades of  Endless Struggle. 

As the fight against racism took shape in America, the forces of injustice became brutal. This brutality enacted a heavy toll on " life and limb." This struggle continues to this day. The well-published murders of three civil rights workers in Philadelphia, MS, is but just one of many examples of this brutality.

Since 9/11, there have been more American deaths by Domestic Terrorists than Islamic Extremists. 

Anti-Government sentiment is on the rise and rebellion is in the air. The important thing to remember is that acts of domestic terror are not new to the American culture, but the fact they are on the rise is troubling. What we are seeing is the "Christian Right, Return To Its Racist Past."  

1995--Ex-Military turned Domestic Terrorist Timothy McVeigh= Oklahoma City Bombing

This truck bomb attack by Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols killed 168 people on April 19, 1995, – the deadliest domestic-based terrorist attack in US history and, indeed, the deadliest act of terrorism in U.S. History,  before the September 11, 2001 attacks.  It inspired improvements to United States federal building security.[See Source]

      

1996--Ex- Army Explosive Specialist turned Domestic Terrorist Eric Rudolph= Centennial Olympic Park Bombing

The Centennial Olympic Park bombing was a terrorist bombing on July 27, 1996, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, during the 1996 Summer Olympics, the first of four committed by Eric Robert Rudolph, former explosives expert for the United States Army. Two people died, and 111 were injured.

There Were Zero Muslims Terror Attacks In U.S., In 2012.

 

Prof. Charles Kurzman
UNC School of Sociology 

“Counter-terrorism policies have involved surveillance — not just of Muslim-Americans, but of all Americans and the fear of terrorism has justified intrusions on American privacy and civil liberties all over the internet and other aspects of our lives. I think the implications here are not just for how we treat a religious minority in the U.S., but also how we treat the rights & liberties of everyone.” [See Source]

 Since the 9/11 terror attacks, 33 Americans have been killed by Islamic Terrorists, during that same time frame, 180,000  people were murdered in America. What is more shocking and more troubling is the 66 Americans killed by " Mass Shootings, " which is twice the number who died at the hands of Islamic Terrorists.

 Right-Wing Extremism Is More Of A Threat To Public Safety Than Al Quaeda. 

Common Sense tells us we must have some system in place to detect those who would do harm to the public safety. Most sensible Americans agree that a fair percentage of our tax revenue should go towards this purpose for the common good. And there have been success stories of foiled attempts.

Terrorist incidents from American Muslims is on the decline for the third straight year. After an uptick in 2009, there were 18 plots in 2011 involving 21 U.S. Muslims. And it’s not just violent plots: Fewer Muslim-Americans are getting indicted for money laundering, material support for terrorism, and lying to investigators. There were 27 people indicted on those terror-support charges in 2010, eight in 2011 and six in 2012. [See Source]

 You would think the conservatives in America would be performing " ring-around-the-roses," however, factions within their party are screaming " Big Brother," at the Obama Administration. With the anti-government fear  being what it is today, there have been many groups to organize and more or less radicalize themselves. Right-Wing Extremists are not just racist and hate groups. they also include the people with the mindset that rejects federal authority. The so-called Tea Party-Patriot Movement is a good example. The data is indisputable. Right-Wing Extremism is fueling Domestic Terrorism in America.

 We The People must demand our government to stop ignoring home-grown terrorist organizations. If protecting someone's personal freedoms to be a domestic terrorist endangers the overall public safety, we must apply the common good and wants to override such injurious activity.  Of course, your right-wing gun nuts are going to scream governmental overreach. In the meantime, some whacked-out ex-military holy warrior is going to get in his mind to go "Save America" and shoot up the foreigner's place of  worship. Case In Point:

Wisconsin Sikh Temple Shooting

Wade Michael Page

On August 5, 2012, Wade Michael Page fatally shot six people and wounded four others in a mass shooting at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Page was an American white supremacist and United States Army veteran from Cudahy, Wisconsin. All of the dead were members of the Sikh faith.[See Source]

You hear this hate garbage all over right-wing radio, and the internet is ablaze with anti-government revolution in the air narratives.  Evidently some people take the message to heart and we have dead people to prove it. 


Domestic Terror, the deadliest game that more and more Americans seem eager to play. Extremism is the fuel that ignites this fire. One study found that most law enforcement personnel equate extremism with terrorism. Bottomline is there is a " lack of uniformity" in the way domestic terrorist activities are litigated in America. By using the term, 'Extremist' allows prosecutors, policymakers, and investigators the mobility to discuss terror-like activity without labeling it as " Terrorism." We will cover just "What Is an Extremist" in our next edition[ Read: Personality Traits Of The Right Wing Extremist]

These Type Groups Are Everywhere!

Has Liberty Given Way To Gerrymanding?

Has Liberty Given Way To Gerrymandering? 

Has Liberty Given Way To Gerrymandering?  In continuance to seeking an answer to the question, Where Do Democrats Go from Here, we find ourselves faced with another one, Has Liberty Given Way To Gerrymandering?  Like influence peddling, the practice of redistricting called today gerrymandering has a long history. 

Late in 1788, just after Virginia voted to ratify the Constitution and join the union, former Governor Patrick Henry persuaded the state legislature to remake the 5th Congressional District, forcing Henry’s political enemy James Madison to run against the formidable James Monroe. The ploy failed, and Madison won, eventually becoming the nation’s fourth president. Monroe’s career wasn’t over, though: He succeeded Madison as president.[Library of Congress] 

Where Did the Phrase Gerrymandering Originate? 

The origin of the word “gerrymander” was a combination of “salamander” and the last name of Elbridge Gerry, who as governor of Massachusetts in 1812 signed into law a redistricting plan designed to benefit his political party. The term was put into print for the first time by the Federalist-leaningBoston Gazette on March 26, 1812. Printed alongside this cartoon, it described a newly formed district in Essex County, said to resemble the shape of a salamander. The portmanteau stuck. [Library of Congress] 

Shortly after the Voting Rights of 1965 passed, in Congress,  some states created black and white voting districts. This creation of congressional districts  was mostly achieved by evaluating Census data.  This type of redistricting got the name " affirmative gerrymandering." Its intent was to curtail discrimination and promote minority politicians. This brief overview of the origins of gerrymandering is valuable. Why? Because the redrawing of voting districts lines based on race or ideological criteria was not the intent of our founders or does, it represent a balance for Democracy as a whole. What is concerning to many is its use in these modern political times. Our research has found a shifting precedent regarding the redrawing of voting district lines.

The whole business of political redistricting [gerrymandering] can get ugly. Moreover, often at the taxpayers expense. 

"The opportunity to control the drawing of electoral boundaries through the legislative process of apportionment is a critical and traditional part of politics in the United States, and one that plays no small role in fostering active participation in the political parties at every level." Davis v. Bandemer, 478 U.S. 109, 145 (1986)(O’Connor, J., concurring in the judgment)

In short, the state of North Carolina was found in violation of the Constitution in its 12th Congressional District by drawing the lines using race as the predominant factor in 1993 However, the court shifted in the 1999 case Hunt v. Cromartie (99-1864),

Gerrymandering Created An Uphill Battle For Democrats in 2014!

This all centers around the 2010 Census. The Republicans through political design and lack of democratic voter participation were able to be successful in gaining control of state legislatures especially in the Red States. Their apparent first order of the day were to gerrymander their prospective districts. Create the now coined phrase " political safe-zones." 

Why this is, a problem for Democrats is as clear as a bell. These districts have been drawn with a partisan mindset which introduces us to another type of redistricting call partisan-gerrymandering. In states like Ohio, Michigan, and North Carolina we have witnessed Democratic voters being packed into the fewest voting districts possible.[See Article] This activity is gerrymandering in its purest form. We have a situation where Republicans voters have been systematically placed to provide a win-win no matter the issues or the qualifications of the participants.  Granted geography had a role to play in some cases, but, by and large these areas were designed with partisanship in mind. 

Let's Be Clear Here! 

The practice of gerrymandering is not sovereign to the Republican Party. Democrats have been willing partakers of gerrymandering as well. With the way, the House and Senate have shaped up and with the next census not due to be taken soon Democrats have a significant issue to solve. Gerrymandering is one of those issues that many Americans feel there isn't much difference between the parties, in terms of how they use it.  

Regarding our focus at House of Public Discourse we hold the position that next to unbridled influence peddling made legal by Citizen United. The haphazard, and wholly undemocratic practice of redistricting based on race, and other social factors hampers our nations democracy. This dangerous ingredient in our political system has helped this country slip into something less that a Republic. In fact, gerrymandering is a total undermining of Democracy. 

Many in America, this writer being one feels that gerrymandering should be banned period. There is a better way. No question there has been criminal behavior associated with the practice of gerrymandering. Many have given up hope on changing a system that the very people we would ask to do so benefit. From a Progressive Liberal point of view, we contend we can overcome this disadvantage by doing what Liberals do, thinking outside the box. We need to fight in the courts, in the state capitals, and on the front steps of City Hall, and anywhere the fight takes us to overcome these corrosive elements in our governance. I want us[ liberals] to answer the question, Has Liberty Given Way To Gerrymandering, a no, but, hell no answer.

However, Did Liberty Give Way To Gerrymandering In The 2014 Mid-Term Elections?

Fresh off, Republicans winning their largest House majority since the Hoover Administration, Where do the Democrats go from here? Democrats lost of their second straight mid-term election has many in the party pointing fingers. There are the normal scapegoats, weak candidates, bad money allocation choices, dismal narrative to inspire the Democratic base.

The GOP benefited from the most egregious gerrymandering in American history.

Backed by the likes of ALEC state lawmakers were on the take from big lobbyist, advocating state-wide redistricting or gerrymandering. Redrawing congressional lines was the paramount focus of this enterprise. Due to the poor Democratic participation in 2010 and the emergence of the Tea Party, right-wing radical state Governors and Legislators carved out huge chunks of political real-estate based on partisan gerrymandering. This tactic paid huge dividends for the Republicans in  Ohio, Pennsylvania Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Arizona, Tennessee and beyond.[The Nation]

James Madison On Church and State

There is one thing for certain when reporting on the issue of church and state; there will be those people no matter the evidence will insist that the American Constitution is founded on Christian principles. These same people are the very ones who totally disregard the existence of the separation of church and state. In our past reporting, here at the House of Public Discourse. We have provided evidence and quotes from our founding fathers that show clearly and without any ambiguity that their empathic intentions were not to co-mingle government and religion. We intend on taking a look at one of our most prominent founding fathers James Madison and go where the research takes us on his position regarding this much in the spotlight effect of our modern times.[See Source]

Who Was James Madison? 

James Madison  is widely known and recognized as the " Father of the Constitution." Madison more than any other founding father is responsible for the construction of the First Amendment. Our first example of Madison position on church and  state is his, "Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments"    document. This document was in response to him opposing a bill  that would have allowed tax-support for Christian ministers in the state of Virginia.

Here is James Madison first point of a fifteen-point memorandum concerning this proposed legislation.

Because we hold it for a fundamental and undeniable truth, "that religion or the duty which we owe to our Creator and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence." The Religion then of every man must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man; and it is the right of every man to exercise it as these may dictate.
This right is in its nature an unalienable right. It is unalienable, because the opinions of men, depending only on the evidence contemplated by their own minds cannot follow the dictates of other men: It is unalienable also, because what is here a right towards men, is a duty towards the Creator. It is the duty of every man to render to the Creator such homage and such only as he believes to be acceptable to him. This duty is precedent, both in order of time and in degree of obligation, to the claims of Civil Society. Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe: And if a member of Civil Society, do it with a saving of his allegiance to the Universal Sovereign. We maintain therefore that in matters of Religion, no man's right is abridged by the institution of Civil Society and that Religion is wholly exempt from its cognizance. True it is, that no other rule exists, by which any question which may divide a Society, can be ultimately determined, but the will of the majority; but it is also true that the majority may trespass on the rights of the minority. [ Source: James Madison]

There are many sources that give us a window into the mind of James Madison concerning the separation of church and state. One such source is his letter to Jasper Adams.

Jasper Adams was president of the College of Charleston. He had sent Madison a copy of his pamphlet, The Relation of Christianity to Civil Government in the United States, and requested Madison's comments. Adams contested the view "that Christianity had no connection with our civil government." Rather, he argued, "the people of the United States have retained the Christian religion as the foundation of their civil, legal, and political institutions." Adams sent the pamphlet to numerous other statesmen, including John Marshall and justice Joseph Story. Marshall replied, "The American population is entirely Christian, and with us, Christianity and religion are identified." Story went further, writing, "I have read it with uncommon satisfaction. I think its tone and spirit excellent. My own private judgment has long been (and every day's experience more and more confirms me in it) that government can not long exist without an alliance with religion; and that Christianity is indispensable to the true interests and sold foundations of free government."
Madision, of course, disagreed. In his reply, Madison argues that history demonstrates that religion flourishes most freely when it is not supported by the state, and that the state should not impose religion on its citizens.

Madison Argued That Religion Should Survive on Its Own Merits.

In fact, James Madison advocated a strict separation of church and state because he felt distrust for the appeals of irrational sources of authority in the American Republic.[(James Madison on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, p. 150] [See Source]
   



It's important to remember that James Madison considered himself a Christian. Whereas Franklin, Jefferson, and Thomas Paine did not. So, we here at the House of Public Discourse have chosen a founding father who, in fact, considered himself to be of the faith. Madison's summary of the First Amendment clearly pointed out that Congress should not establish a religion and enforce the legal observation of it by any law. [See Source]  Madison went on to express that no act of Congress should compel anyone to worship God in any manner contrary to their conscience. Moreover, no one sect of religion might obtain a pre-eminence over another. That no religion should be established that would force the citizenry to conform too. [Annals of Congress, Sat Aug 15th, 1789 pages 730-731] [See Source] What James Madison has expressed over and over is that religion is and should be distinct from civil government and exempt from its cognizance.

"The settled opinion here is that religion is essentially distinct from Civil Government, and exempt from its cognizance; that a connexion between them is injurious to both; that there are causes in the human breast, which ensure the perpetuity of religion without the aid of the law; that rival sects, with equal rights, exercise mutual censorships in favor of good morals; that if new sects arise with absurd opinions or over-heated maginations, the proper remedies lie in time, forbearance and example; that a legal establishment of religion without a toleration could not be thought of, and with toleration, is no security for public quiet and harmony, but rather a source itself of discord and animosity; and, finally, that these opinions are supported by experience, which has shewn that every relaxation of the alliance between. " [James Madison]

The Tyranny of Religion.

How many heads have been chopped off by the Catholic church in the name of God.? How many blacks in America have been hung on a tree limb in the name of God? How many millions of souls have died in so-called Holy-Wars in the name of God? How many people have been swindled by so-called preachers of the faith in the name of God? How many children have been molested by clergy representing themselves as agents of God? Concerned.  I am.

I am very concerned about the behavior and the actions of the Christian Right in our country. In our exhaustive research here at the House of Public Discourse, we have uncovered the fact our founding fathers were concerned about religious fanatics of their times as well. There is such a widespread misconception among the populist on what the founding fathers like James Madison intentions for America would be. Ever since the implementation of the Southern Strategy[ See Article] by the Republican Party to garner support from the social conservatives we have seen nothing but a downward slope of radical Christian dogmas manifest.

 Much of this manifestations took the form as political " faith-based- programs," for example George Bush's, Sr. thousand-points of light.

Bush, Sr. program was nothing more than a request to give our tax dollars to religious groups. The same exact thing that James Madison rebuke back in Virginia that we aforementioned in this article. I can remember Jerry Falwell being with hands out. Pat Robertson was there with hand out. Truth be told both Falwell and Robertson got rich off this religious facade.  To the point, they got rich off the government money. Now, in the present we are giving tax- payer money to religious schools were wide-spread misallocation of said monies is commonplace. Many of these religious schools are indoctrinating our young people with  misinformation based on interpretation of the agendas of the "religions "denominational mandates. In fairness, Bill Clinton continued the program cause the bottom-line this entailed votes. When George Bush, II got into office he put these religious terms on super-steroids.[See Article] And, current president Obama has inherited all this religious hog-wash. As, of the rendition of this article has done nothing to stop it. We have a far-reaching problem in this country, and this problem all harkens back to the very fears many of our founding fathers had like James Madison. What was that fear?

That Religious Zealots Were Going To Get Inside Of Government!

With these false man-made religious doctrines flourishing and being propagated by people with questionable motives, it is apparent there is a tranny being opposed on the minds of the people. As we reported in our last article which highlighted David Barton. When it comes to quoting the Bible to apply it to a secular situation context is everything. Radical right-wing preachers and pundits like David Barton, John Hagee, Glenn Beck, and Pat Robertson have made a living on quoting our founding fathers and the Bible out of context.

In closing its time to put the sources to the side and write from the heart. It is not our mission here at the House of Public Discourse to bash religion. In fact, we feel we are doing what God's unabated word instructs us to do. As liberal thinkers, it's not our intentions to bring you to Christ. We are not qualified or do we have the authority to do so. Our motives are to make one aware that our present day society is being over-ran with what our research reveals to be false teachings, and out and out fakes preaching from the pulpits. Moreover, that these people through their very design have infiltrated our government in direct contradiction to our Constitution.

People are sitting in church Sunday after Sunday. Year after year. Listening to the pastors in every aspect of religion from the little brown church in the dale to massive mega-churches set up in old basketball arenas. These modern day religious quacks are, in fact, fulfilling a Bible prophecy.

Jesus Explained:

When you are being preached to and are following false teaching according to Jesus, these so-called holy-men are leading you to your self-destruction. It's the blind leading the blind. People love their pastors and churches. The facts tend to show that many love their pastors and churches more than Jesus. Just because a person is standing behind a pulpit or has a TV ministry does not mean they are preaching in spirit and truth.

Modern Day Pastors Pervert God's Word For Their Purposes.

And the burden of the Lord shall ye mention no more: for every man's word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the Lord of hosts our God. [ Jeremaih 23:36]

The Bible instructs us not to believe every spirit, but to examine the motives and pay attention to their actions.[See Source] Because many false prophets have gone unto this world to prey on the vulnerable. Be aware of these priests who want to preach a message of prosperity by following them to Christ. Be aware of preachers who say following them will be your means of self-improvement. If a pastor approaches you with a message of following, him will teach you life-skills in a word, run.
In this writer, five-year study of the Bible I independently documented how many of the most famous preachers in modern-day Christendom follow their teachings and not that of the Bible. Naming names would only inflame the topic and take away from the overall goal and motivation from the House of Public Discourse, which is to encourage one to examine what their preachers are teaching them. 

See, their motivation is clear. They want to have large congregations and massive amounts of TV followers to contribute to their ministry and then claim their good fortune is due to their diligence in Christ that backs up this bogus prosperity ministry hearsay. Our mission is to shake the apple tree, to awaken the mind to this misleading religious dogma.

What these modern-day brood of vipers are doing in practice is spoiling man salvation based of the Bible with vain philosophies and deceit after the traditions of men. The Bible fore-told of these men and that because these priests, pastors,  reverends, and self-proclaimed prophets speak of things of this world that many will fall to their snare.

What is very troubling is that this is the very thing our founding fathers were afraid would happen. Religious organizations would find its way into our governance. We have seen this religious cancer grow over the years. We have seen these factions use and abuse and misrepresent the intentions of our founding fathers. Let us not be fooled any longer.