discntnt_irny_srcsm

discntnt_irny_srcsm's Journal

September 19, 2012

comprehending a belief system

Religion and politics are two topics that don't mix well in discussion but they do share some common ground. In religion, when a believer dissents from an accepted belief or doctrine, he is called a heretic. The thing about heresy is that whether political or religious, is that it originates from a fundamental defect/misunderstanding of the nature and source of the belief system.

Horwitz, who wrote this article has either deliberately ignored or consciously denied two serious contradictions. The one, mentioned elsewhere in this thread, that 2A is also part of the Constitution can be explained by the common collectivist view. However, the fact is that this country predates the Constitution and was founded by the Declaration of Independence. The Constitution founded the current federal government not the country.

The Declaration gives the reason for our country's existence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

(emphasis is mine)

In their wisdom the Founders recognized the need for the Constitution to change. They provided for that in Article Five. During the Constitutional Convention representatives for many states brought up the need for a Bill of Rights and required that a Bill of Rights be added to Constitution. This was the first use of the Article Five provisions and probably most important change to the Constitution. The Bill of Rights does a number of things but the one relevant to this topic is in the 2A. This amendment provides a second method for changing the government and had the Founders not thought that right so important, it would not have been among those clearly protected.

Adding to this misunderstanding we have this gem from Mr Horwitz:

"...the Framers knew it (liberty) could only be safeguarded if a robust government was in place to arbitrate private disputes and guarantee that each citizen has an equal voice..."

This sums up my thoughts on Huffington's heretic: The Founders knew that the principle danger to liberty was from the government. No other message comes through so loud and clear. British oppression prompted the founding of the US. What the hell could be so wrong with someone that they couldn't see that?

September 12, 2012

Bravo!

"Still, if you will not fight for the right when you can easily win without bloodshed, if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not so costly, you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance for survival. There may be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no chance of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves." - W. Churchill

Self-preservation and self-defense are requites in a productive life. A commitment to non-violence to the point of death is a black hole in society. While the death of an individual or group may make a social statement, it usually doesn't highlight a best solution to anything but deaths of those killed.

Non-aggression is very reasonable goal. Failing in your own self-defense is functionally equivalent to helping plan your own murder.

September 6, 2012

IMHO...

...a fact finder finds facts that help him form an opinion.

A fault finder finds faults that help him defend his prejudices.

just sayin'

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Gender: Male
Hometown: Philly
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Member since: Thu Apr 21, 2011, 10:48 AM
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About discntnt_irny_srcsm

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed... AND The one pervading evil of democracy is the tyranny of the majority, or rather of that party, not always the majority, that succeeds.