40 Acres and a Mule…and a couple of low income apartments, and a nice tax break, and…

The Fall of Charlie Rangel

If you know anything about Congressman Charlie Rangel’s legacy, you have to ask yourself why, after more than four decades in the US House of Representatives, and numerous allegations of wrongdoing, did Mr. Rangel’s colleagues vis-á-vis the House Ethics Committee, wait until now to bring his alleged wrongdoing to the fore? Granted, Mr. Rangel has consistently employed his usual tactic of belligerence dressed up with a touch of charm and a measure of incredulity to beguile his foes and delay the Ethics Committee hearing, the timing of the hearing is suspicious. In my opinion, Mr. Rangel and his benefactors thought it best to wait until after the crucial midterm elections in order to soften anticipated voter outrage. On the one hand, had Mr. Rangel lost his bid for reelection, the charges would be mute, on the other; however; with a win, the Rangel Camp hoped to ride the wave of voter excitement to achieve an indefinite adjournment, if not an outright dismissal. Unfortunately for Mr. Rangel, the larger than expected Democrat losses in the House of Representatives motivated the committee to proceed with the hearings with uncharacteristic fervor and swiftness. Rangel’s delay tactics appeared to have backfired.

Among Mr. Rangel’s numerous delay tactics, was the dismissal (firing) of his legal team mere days before the hearing commenced, then appealing to the Committee to grant him additional time to retain new Counsel. Following the Committee’s denial of his last-minute bid for an adjournment to allow him to retain new counsel, Mr. Rangel suggested that an undisclosed group of New York attorneys would represent him pro bono. When the Ethics Committee informed Mr. Rangel that accepting free legal services amounts to an ethics violation, he promptly held a press conference at which he castigated the Committee; suggesting they had it in for him. Mr. Rangel did not specify whether Democrat or Republican Committee Members [or both] had it in for him. And in keeping with the Obama tradition, Mr. Rangel has even raised the specter of his race as a motivation for his ethics charges. This tired old tactic reminds me of my favorite quote from Mark Twain: “if you are ever being run out of town, get out in front and make it look like a parade.” The image brings a wider than normal smile to my face. I say, strike up the band, let’s have a bunch of parades; there are a few scoundrels in need of some motivation.

Mr. Rangel’s consistent misbehavior speaks volumes for the potency of the singular malady suffered by the career politician‒the loss of all concern for doing good, and a hyper greed fueled by the ever-present lure of easy money. Keenly aware of the potential for moral corruption, the founding fathers struggled with the concept of refreshing the body of elected representatives with freshly elected citizens who, by virtue of their newness would be less prone to succumbing to the entrapments of political power. Furthermore, these freshly elected representatives would, by virtue of their recency among the populace, tend to be more in-tuned with the actual needs of the constituency.

Irrespective of your political or ideological position, Mr. Rangel’s blatant disregard for the most basic of rules speaks volumes for his contempt of the House and its processes. Worst still, his willingness to hide behind the Race Card is shameful. I am not a gambler, but I would be willing to speculate as to the verdict if he were to be tried before a jury of his [citizen] peers. I am also certain that many of his fellow Democrats, who ultimately voted to convict and censure Mr. Rangel, did so only after witnessing the carnage that befell the Democrat party in November’s elections. Ironically, of the 12 members on the bipartisan House Ethics Committee, the only other African American on the committee, G. K. Butterfield of North Carolina cast the only vote to acquit Mr. Rangel. Surely, he did not buy Rangel’s racial conspiracy dribble; you have to wonder. But considering the frequency with which Race has been used over the past two years to explain abhorrent behavior, I have come to expect it.

Charlie Rangel, at long last, has had to face his misdeeds. To hear Mr. Rangel explain that “mistakes were made,” (a clever play on words intended to cash the shadow of blame elsewhere) one can only conclude that Mr. Rangel is clueless as to the state of his personal and professional affairs. If, by his own admission, Mr. Rangel is so out of touch with his own financial affairs then he lacks fiduciary competence to effectively represent the people of the 15th Congressional District of New York.

Having faced his colleagues in the Well of the House was for Mr. Rangel just another day in the office. His record is such that he typically faces the aftermath of his charges with what resembles conciliation and contrition. Similarly, Mr. Rangel’s record is such that, in very short order, it would be business as usual. Mr. Rangel’s behavior is reminiscent of a [long oppressed] Third World Dictator who upon his ascent to power behaves much like the proverbial “kid in a candy store”—stuffing his pockets with as much loot as possible. These individuals leave a legacy of carnage and debauchery; haven’t the people of Harlem endured enough?

Now, Mr. Rangel closes the year under yet another cloud of ethics violations; here we go again. On the heels of these new allegations, Mr. Rangel has appeared somewhat more conciliatory in recent days. Absent his usual taunts and jabs, one could conclude Mr. Rangel knows there is more substance to this new set of charges. Mr. Rangel should save himself and the Democrat Party any further humiliation by following President Obama’s earlier suggestion and step down. He should think of the people of Harlem and allow for a younger generation to take the reins of leadership. If he is to be believed when he professes his love for the people of Harlem, then he would do the right thing and step down now.

Enemy of the State, Part II

Siege at the O.K. Corral

Now that we have weathered to Post Obama election cycle, the American electorate have spoken in a profound and unequivocal fashion: they disagree with Mr. Obama’s policies; including his administration’s opposition to and, his legal challenge of SB-1070. Punctuated by the election of Jan Brewer to a full term as Governor, the people of Arizona have also spoken.

News reports to the contrary notwithstanding, Arizona is well within its rights (as prescribed by the Constitution) to pursue enforcement where Federal Laws fall short. Governor Brewer’s summary of a Ninth Circuit Court Hearing on SB 1070 provides the relevant facts of Arizona’s argument. Arizona’s efforts are a last resort attempt to navigate the broken immigration enforcement system.

I find myself with a bit of a dilemma; I risk betraying my predecessors by announcing my unequivocal support for Arizona’s [new] immigration enforcement law. With that, I am compelled to state that I am a naturalized American citizen. I emigrated to the United States in the 1970s with my family in pursuit of a “better life.” When I took my oath of citizenship, I swore [on the Bible] to adopt America as my home and to “forsake all ties” to the land of my birth (somewhat like a vow of marriage). I further swore to “support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic”—that is, all laws not just the ones I like. Thus, I must obey the law which requires me to maintain a speed at 30 MPH when driving in a residential neighborhood with the same zeal with which I obey the law that restrains me from robbing my neighborhood bank because I am broke and hungry. The President is likewise obligated to “support and defend” the laws of the land. By agreeing to “…preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States," Mr. Obama and the Justice Department are similarly compelled. It is; therefore, puzzling to see the zeal with which The Administration has attacked Arizona.

It would be hypocritical of me to deny my sensitivity to the plight of immigrants; however, it would be equally hypocritical of me to condone lawlessness by looking the other way while lawbreakers breach our borders with reckless abandon and contempt. These are “crimes against the people,” of which we are the people. Moreover, how can the American people (the We) justify the efforts and diligence of those individuals, the world over, who visit American embassies daily, in pursuit of a LEGAL pathway to American residency and citizenship? These individuals and families have chosen the legal route to American residency and should not be punished. Lawbreakers should be punished; not rewarded with the prize of their illegal pursuit. To be fair, Arizona is not the only breech point for illegal immigration, nor is Mexico the only country whose citizens seek to violate US Immigration laws. Those seeking to enter the United States do so for two basic reasons: to seek a safe harbor from political and ethnic violence, and pursuit of better economic conditions that are characteristic of the US.

Like many would-be immigrants, I too was captivated by the myth of American streets being paved with gold. In retrospect; however, the gold metaphor could be said to be true; instead of bits of precious metal, the true commodity is one of opportunity. Agreeably, the United States, like no other nation on earth offers endless opportunities for success in just about any endeavor to those with the vision, courage and fortitude to have a go at it. At the risk of over simplification, whether one pursues an education, commerce, invention or philanthropy, the only limitations are likely to be self-imposed. A short walk down any American street would validate this observation. Nowhere else on the planet do opportunities to improve one’s condition exist as they do here.

From its earliest days, America has served as a beacon to the world through its open and [somewhat] liberal immigration policy, yet reports of illegal immigration paints the opposite picture. Whether Irish, Italian, Eastern European, or in recent times, African and [Southern Hemisphere] Hispanic, recent migrants frequently encounter hostility from the largely immigrant populace.

A recent conversation with my brother, an attorney with a sizeable immigration practice, shed some light on this phenomenon. Historically, American immigration policy and laws have tightened against targeted ethnic groups as they sought entry into the US. For example, in the early stages of the Industrial Revolution, Irish immigrants were met with twofold obstacles; hostile incumbents and equally hostile immigration laws. Similarly, once the Irish were adequately assimilated, they in-turn discriminated against the incoming wave of Italians. With discrimination came the inevitable legal obstacles that at a glance, reeked of anti-Italian sentiment. This phenomenon has repeated with incredible consistency over the ensuing years; and continues today with the current wave of immigrants, thus blurring the line between opposition to illegal immigration, and anti-immigrant sentiment.

As a diplomatic tool, immigration serves two essential functions; the first is economic and the second, humanitarian. When applied for the economic benefit of a nation (such as labor force expansion), both the recipient nation and the immigrant benefit from the resulting economic intercourse; however, when applied for humanitarian reasons, the immediate beneficiary is likely to be the immigrant.

I suspect, it is this latter application that engenders hostile emotions in incumbents. A closer look at the current immigration debate, especially as it pertains to Mexico, reveals coexisting humanitarian and economic triggers to the immigration wave. While Mexicans flee deteriorating economic conditions, and increasing drug violence, they make ideal targets for American anger, especially in communities hardest hit by the recent global economic downturn. Nowhere is the disruption caused by the economic slump starker than it is in Arizona. With state by state unemployment ranging from 4% to 12.9%, Arizona is near the top at 10% of its workforce unemployed. Furthermore, Mexican citizens who receive medical care in the United States, effectively shift the burden of health care cost from one failed Welfare State (Mexico), while threatening to create another (Arizona). A review of Arizona’s government support systems, revealed that utilization by Mexicans outstrip that of native Arizonians and non-Mexican immigrants in 8 of the 9 categories reviewed. Allowed to continue, the daily influx of illegal immigrants will, in short order, overburden the State of Arizona, while inflaming anti-Mexican sentiments. With this approach, everyone loses—the taxpayers, by having to shoulder the burden of inflated social programs (including law enforcement costs); and the illegal immigrants, by perpetually settling for substandard living conditions and recipients of the wrath of angry citizens.

A solution to the illegal immigration dilemma will come only after those responsible for devising one, take the time to understand, fully, the historical and behavioral nature of the debate. This is only achievable with a dispassionate approach to the situation. Unfortunately, if Washing’s emotional response to Arizona’s SB1070 is any indication of the intended approach, this debate will continue unabated into the foreseeable future.

Historically, there have been periods when the United States was compelled to relax its immigration policies in order to accommodate displaced and economically deprived peoples. We saw this during the industrial revolution, where in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, large numbers of Europeans, fleeing economic distress, migrated to the United States. As fate would have it, the United States was also in the throes of its own economic crisis. Then, as now, new immigrants received much of the blame for the state of the economy. Are we to, once again, head down the same road, that of knee-jerk tightening of immigration laws? Or are we better off seeking a solution that, once-and-for-all, puts the on-again, off-again debate to rest. Immigration has the potential to catapult a nation to social and economic heights never before imagined. Tragically, however, immigration does not always lead to redemption. Whether as a result of misapplication, or mismanagement, immigration can, equally, account for the destruction of a culture as it can for its advancement. By failing to equitably enforce existing immigration laws, the United States faces such a danger.

In the final analysis, consistent and equitable enforcement of existing immigration laws would go a long way to quashing the racial tensions that fester around this topic. In addition, a solidly bipartisan effort to derive a legislative solution is mandatory. To be effective, any solution must be made to remain intact with every coming wave of immigrants. The legacy of shifting policy to stem the current tide is wrongheaded and immoral. In the words of Glendoval J. Stephens, Esq., “we create illegal immigration by not allowing legal immigration.” This is tantamount to social cannibalism, and betrays the legacy of what makes America exceptional—its “melting pot” of diverse cultures operating as one harmonious body. Stephens further emphasized the need to include cultural education in primary and secondary schools. By learning what makes us different [culturally], we can better understand and accept what unites us socially.

GOD bless America.

Enemy of the State, Part I

Arizona’s New Shootout at the O.K. Corral

Rare is the occasion when an elected official appears willing to be tossed out of office because he or she has taken a position on a particular issue, that is unpopular or cuts against the mainstream political current. It is, therefore, rather refreshing to see Jan Brewer, Governor of the embattled State of Arizona put it all on the line for the lawfully passed Immigration Bill SB-1070, which calls for cooperative enforcement of federal immigration laws. Brewer, and a majority of the State Legislature, has committed to doing the will of the people of Arizona: “to work together to discourage and deter the unlawful entry and presence of aliens and economic activity by persons unlawfully present in the United States.”

If the resulting furor over this act is any indication of the price these individuals would pay at the ballot box, upcoming elections in Arizona could set the stage for national debate on this issue.

I am reminded of the words of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, who, in Federalist # 52 stated as follows: [elected office is open to all citizens] “whether native or adoptive, whether young or old, and without regard to poverty or wealth, or to any particular profession of religious faith.” They further called for frequent election of fresh representatives who are expected to “have a common interest with the people” whom they represent. Most would agree that Hamilton, Madison and their contemporaries never intended for elected representatives [at any level] to aspire to life-tenure in office. The Arizona contingent appears to have taken this message to heart.

Spurred on by the Federal Government’s refusal to enforce existing immigration law, the Arizona Legislature exercised, what could be deemed a last resort option: passage of laws to compensate for shortfalls in Federal enforcement, at the potential loss of their jobs.

While enforcement of immigration laws fall under Federal jurisdiction, Arizona was compelled to take appropriate action in the face of growing violence and an ever growing drain on its law enforcement and other resources.

Whether you agree or disagree with Arizona’s decision to pass SB-1070, one thing is indisputable: the immigration debate is far from over. In fact, immigration issues are certain to play a major role in upcoming midterm elections as well as the 2012 presidential election. The president’s decision to pursue legal action against Arizona sets the stage for a constitutional battle over states’ rights. Furthermore, the Administration’s actions have unleashed the hounds of racial tension, the likes of which we have never seen before.

In previous articles I have commented on the intensification of racial tensions since Mr. Obama’s election. Mr. Obama’s public denouncement of the new law, and his subsequent comments and actions served only to embolden agitators who would like nothing more than to stir-up racial conflict. Contrary to the pronouncements of its opponents, SB-1070 is not an anti-immigration law, nor is it an anti Mexican law; in fact, this law would pave the way for improved legal immigration from Mexico. This country is built on immigrant culture, albeit, legal immigration. End part 1

High Crimes on the High Seas Part III

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

In the past one hundred years, the Middle East has seen its fair share of meddling from Europe, the Americas, Asia and Russia (and the former Soviet Union). It would be hypocritical of me to deny America’s primary interest in the region -crude oil- has not led to some past misdeeds. While I speak only to America’s reliance on crude, I would speculate that any nation’s interest in the Middle East over the past one hundred years was predicated primarily on oil. A consequence of this multi-lateral international meddling is the ever-present need to prevent any one nation from becoming too powerful, thereby threatening regional stability and the flow of oil to the world’s consumers. A consequential outcome is a dearth of local leadership; the very thing the region needs in order to assure long-term stability.

The following list of once dominant nations in the region have seen their fortunes (monetary and political) ebb through the years; and with them all chances for regional leadership:

• Egypt—waning significance since the assassination of Anwar Sadat in 1979. The Muslim Brotherhood (a precursor to Al-Qaeda), believed to be responsible for Sadat’s assassination, continues to exert its influence by quashing any attempts at moderation;
• Saudi Arabia—no real interest in leadership; quite comfortable with living on its oil-wealth;
• Syria—viewed as corrupted by Iranian meddling and instigation;
• Lebanon—ruled by Hezbollah, a puppet Terrorist State whose strings lay in the hands of the Mullahs in Iran;
• Jordan—content to stay out of the fray. Jordan has since reconciled to having Israel as a neighbor;
• Iran—in spite of the hostage crisis, which ended as Ronald Reagan took office, Iran continues to squander its chances for leadership significance.

Iran has so infuriated the international community that it has lost any credibility it might have had in the region. The Iranians are even at odds with the Saudis; more than 100 Iranian newspapers have been banned in Saudi Arabia. None of the nations listed here possesses the capability or the credibility to effectively fulfill the role of leader of the Middle East. Unmistakably, unless a strong Middle East leader emerges, the Israeli/Palestinian question is not likely to be resolved in the foreseeable future.

Curiously absent from this list is Turkey, which by all appearances has the potential for providing some stability within the [Muslim] Middle East. The central flaw with this wish is Turkey’s desire to join the European Union (EU). Having abandoned its Middle East roots, Turkey has sought a European identity—a pursuit that has occupied most of Turkey’s recent history (since its founding in 1923; following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire). In the interim, Turkey has seen its chances for EU membership diminish. It could be argued that Turkey is more than ten years away from meeting the basic qualifications for EU membership.

This explains why Turkey has seized upon the opportunity to supplant itself into to picture by flagrantly sponsoring and flagging a ship to sail on a military blockade. Moreover, since the conclusion of World War I, Turkey has sought a European identity. Having abandoned its Middle Eastern heritage in favor of courting the Europeans, Turkey appears to be losing hope of ever joining the EU. Furthermore, Turkey would be required to conform to many rigorous standards [such as human rights requirements and women’s’ rights, to name a few] in order to qualify for EU membership. Needless to say, irrespective of European attitudes towards Turkey, the Turks are a long way from being ready to comply with EU membership requirements. Turkey’s quest for legitimacy has led it back to the Middle East, where it hopes to emerge as the de facto leader.

If Turkey’s initial strategy is any indication of how it plans on establishing its dominance (by going after Israel), the world community could be in for far graver events in the Middle East in years to come. U.S. Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, has voiced his concerns over Turkey’s growing influence in the Middle East, and in the Balkans. Gates has also expressed grave concern over Turkey’s relationship with Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan vis-à-vis its willingness to become embroiled in local politics.

Turkey’s play for Middle East leadership has a two-pronged strategy: first, normalizing relations with its neighbors (including Armenia—home to the oldest existing Christian community); and second, mounting a credible anti-Israel effort. The anti-Israel tactic is essential if Turkey is to have any credibility with its proposed Middle East constituents. Robert Gates is right on target by monitoring Turkey’s relationship with its neighbors; however, its attitude towards Israel poses far graver consequences. Worst still, should Turkey succeed in normalizing relations with Armenia, this would give the appearance that the Muslims and the Christians have joined forces against the Jews; a prospect I do not relish.

My singular hope here is that Mr. Obama puts aside any personal/ideological differences he might have with Israel and demonstrate his willingness to defend our most loyal and stalwart ally in the region. Anything less would betray the efforts of his predecessors to cultivate a loyal ally and lay the groundwork for any future chances for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Furthermore, an abandonment of Israel would backfire on the United States by putting our other allies on notice that we cannot be trusted to be there in times of need.

These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Published December 23, 1776, these words from Thomas Paine [an immigrant at the time] sum up the moral and strategic necessity to stand with our ally, Israel. We cannot afford the shroud of personal ideological fragments to cause us to squander what hundreds of thousands of men and women have fought and died for—FREEDOM—whether ours or Israel’s.

Contact your elected representatives and tell them that you expect the United States to stand with Israel, and any of our allies or you will not stand with them on Election Day.

High Crimes on the High Seas Part II

There are a terrible lot of lies going about the world, and the worst of it is that half of them are true.

Winston Churchill

The Israeli-Palestinian question, as portrayed by the American Media, grossly understates the potential consequences to the world community generally, and the Middle East in particular. This flawed portrayal is either a deliberate attempt by the media to mislead the public, or the result of a gross lack of understanding of the historical, [regional] political, ethnic, and geographic underpinnings of the conflict. Consequently, American news consumers are, for the most part, misled as to the true nature of this conflict as they only have the benefit of a single side of the story. Case in point, recent coverage of the attempted breech of the Gaza Blockade was one-sided and grossly lacking in mitigating facts. If this flawed portrayal is indeed a deliberate attempt to mislead, it perverts the historical record and assures that there are only losers in the end.

In order to understand fully, the nuances of the Gaza Blockade vis-á-vis Israel’s reasons for implementing the blockade, and its reasons for continued military vigilance, a basic understanding of the historiography of the conflict is required.

It is important to note that there are myriad disputes in the region that date back for millennia. Much of what is needed to achieve a full understanding of the true nature of the Middle East conflict overall, was likely covered in the typical High School history class. What is lacking; however, are an appreciation for the past, and its significance for man’s future. Voltaire put it best when he proclaimed: “he, who does not learn from the past, is doomed to repeat it.” Simply, the mere regurgitation of historical facts is meaningless if it is not accompanied by a passionate appreciation for its predictive value, and a willingness to act accordingly. To be clear, the social and political history of the Middle East is vast and complex—any treatment here is cursory at best, and intended only to highlight the relevant strategic players and locales.

The depth of anti-Jewish sentiment in the Middle East dates back to the time before Christ at the height of the Roman Empire where Jews were more feared than hated. The best historical evidence points to the Jew’s role of banker/financier to many of the nation states in what we now know as the Middle East. Then, as now, bankers were hated, and in the case of the Jews, even feared. Hatred for the Jews grew from a fear of their potential to become financially powerful thus threatening already fragile leadership structures. In his book “Israel is Real,” Author Rich Cohen lays out a revealing history of the Jewish people and their struggles with bigotry and anti-Semitism through the ages. Cohen also chronicles the Jew’s lust for survival and his willingness to die for his beliefs. The Jew existed then, much as he does today—faced daily with a chorus of enemies plotting his demise. It could be said that conditions in the Middle East today are a mere replay of history; circumstances for Jews and Arabs alike, have not changed much since the reign of the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire suffered a lack of tertiary leadership, which hastened its downfall.

In the broad view of the world community, it is not difficult to identify nations that serve the role of regional leaders. For example, the United States provides broad leadership insight for the Western Hemisphere, the United Kingdom does likewise for Western Europe, and Japan for Asia, to name a few. While the accuracy of this list is debatable, it should put into perspective the concept of Regional Leader, and serve also to highlight the significance of such a leader for the Middle East.

When compared with its past, the Middle east lacks a strong leader—such as a nation to whom others in the region can turn for moral and financial guidance on the one hand, and to arbitrate disputes on the other.

more to follow...

Epilogue to High Crimes on the High Seas Part I

I have come to expect politicians (especially those of the Washington, DC variety) to flip-flop on just about any issue without warning. In fact, I am often suspicious of Pols who do not do an about-turn, from time-to-time—especially in the age of instant poll results and active constituent involvement. I was not surprised, therefore, when President Barack Obama made such an about-face in his treatment of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Compared with his last visit to the White House, Mr. Netanyahu met a different Barack Obama; I would even go as far as saying: Mr. Obama and the First Lady were civil to the Netanyahus, and by all appearances, treated them with the respect they deserve.

Why the sudden change of heart? Has Mr. Obama’s position on Israel suddenly change in the several weeks since Mr. Netanyahu’s last White House visit? Well, in keeping with political tradition, the answer to these questions is a profound NO! Make no mistake; Mr. Obama is as shrewd a politician as there ever was; every move [no matter how subtle] is carefully planned. What did change in the President’s views on Israel has nothing to do with the Gaza Blockade, nor does it concern Israel’s “treatment of the Palestinians.” It has everything to do with money. You see, the reality of the Democrat’s reliance on wealthy [American] Jews for fund raising is Mr. Obama’s primary focus, this time around.

I am convinced that President Obama’s position on Israel has not changed; not even to the slightest degree. Mr. Obama still views Israel as a pariah, and one that must be stopped and dealt with accordingly. In his own calculating way, Mr. Obama feels justified with his public condemnation of Israel, while at the same time relying on American Jews to help fund his mission to reduce their homeland down to size. The United States is morally obligated to stand by Israel and to protect and defend her sovereignty. Israel has withstood the front-line assault of America’s enemies in protection of our oil interests. Mr. Obama’s ideological position requires him to smash all such alliances, all in the name of portraying the right image to presumed new friends.

I wonder whether those who elected Mr. Obama, believe they are getting what they were promised. Irrespective of those promises, Mr. Obama’s handling of recent events with Israel serve only to highlight his foreign policy experience. The abandonment of Israel is reckless, and does not bode well for America’s strategic interests in the region. At this pace, the US would be out of allies well before the end of Mr. Obama’s term in office.

Happy Birthday America

God Bless America, U-S-A

It started in the Revolution and continued through the Civil War
In World War One, she was there to greet our boys back on the shore
In World War Two when we dropped the bomb, then onto Korea and Vietnam
Waving proudly for all to see --- our Stars And Stripes, our Old Glory

You see them flying on the poles and they mark every grave
For every soldier that perished for a country they fought to save
And those who seek to burn her never tasted the agony of war
They just don't understand what she really does stand for:

She stands for freedom and for justice and the right to live in peace
She stands for unity among all nations and for future wars to cease
>From the tip of Maine across fruited plains to Californ-i-a
We can all rejoice and say in one voice, "We love the U-S-A!"

It's just a simple story of honor, pride, and glory
And a bond of courage and trust to stand for the one who stood for us
A true image of democracy for generations through and through
As we walk hand-in-hand across this great land --- God Bless the Red, White, and Blue

That flag, she's seen us through it all through those conflicts in the past
We stood tall with us in victory and mourned with us at half-mast
How could anyone ever take a flame and try to erase every name
Of every soldier that paved the way for us to live, as one, in the U-S-A

She stands for liberty and bravery and the rights of all mankind
The hopes and dreams of everyone and the time we all can find
That everyone, everywhere can stand and proudly say
"God Bless America,
"God Bless America,
"God Bless America, U-S-A"

By Thomas Beechey
Copyright 2005

High Crimes on the High Seas

Israel Faces Down International Thuggery

Part one

I waited to publish this post because I wanted the typical news cycle to fade, as I suspected that the initial salvo of two runs at the Gaza blockade was just the beginning. My desire was to comment on the full breadth of the situation in order to maintain an order of fairness and balance. While I was puzzled when there were no other attempted incursions, it came as no surprise that as I write this article, Iran has ratcheted up its intention to “escort aid ships” into the Port of Gaza.

Imagine you inherit a home from a wealthy relative who promised the home for as long as you can remember. In fact, he also promised this home to your father and his father before him. Now, imagine that you have moved into your newly inherited home, and as you are hard at work, organizing your home, there is a knock at the door. You rushed excitedly to see who is there-it could be one of your new neighbors welcoming you to the neighborhood; then you discover that while you were correct about it being a neighbor, your were dead wrong about them welcoming you to the neighborhood. Instead of a neighborly welcome, you are pelted with rocks, told to leave because you have no claim to the house or the land. What is worse, your home is routinely fire bombed and a number of your children killed. Pretty ridiculous would you not say? Well, such is the case with Israel. As evidenced by GOD’s promise, Israel is obliged to protect and defend its homeland.

Exodus 13:11 "After the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as he promised on oath to you and your forefathers…”

Recently, the news media have been abuzz with reports of “aid ships” headed to the Port of Gaza claiming to carry “humanitarian aid” to the Palestinians. What many of these news reports failed to mention is the fact that the naval blockade in question has been in effect since 2006. The result of a military action, the [2006] blockade was an attempt by the Israelis to stem the flow of heavy arms (most notably rockets) that were being used to bombard Israel on a daily basis.

Also missing from news reports was an explanation of “why now?” Did the Palestinians suddenly run out of food and critical supplies? Did the Israelis suddenly decide to start blocking aid? The obvious answer is NO!

To suddenly focus world attention on a four-year-old blockade smacks of politics; the kind of politics that hopes to shape public opinion against the [chosen] enemy, Israel. It came as no surprise then, to discover that many of the so called humanitarians aboard these ships are known anti-Semitic agitators. These are individuals who have committed their lives to working towards the eradication of Israel. Keep in mind that three of the four nations that share a border with Israel have stated publically their desire to wipe Israel from the map. The fourth neighbor, Lebanon is largely toothless militarily; however, Lebanon has been overrun by Hamas—a wildly idealistic terrorist organization—with the backing of Iran.

Now, you might be wondering why you should care about a conflict that is centuries old; a conflict between individuals who seem not to want a solution. The Bible is clear about the fate of the enemies of Israel; it is therefore, incumbent upon people of faith to stand in support of Israel—the earthly home of the Messiah. In spite of our theological differences, Christians and Jews [for the most part] serve the same GOD. For practicing Christians who know that our Messiah was Jewish, why then, would we not stand with the Jews? The Bible is clear on the role of the Jewish nation in the fulfillment of prophecy.

In answer to the question of why now? Israel’s enemies have been emboldened by the public alienation by the United States. Arguably Israel’s strongest ally—and quite possibly its only ally—by making it clear to Israel’s enemies that we cannot be counted upon in times of need, the US has signaled open-season on Israel. The Obama administration has ushered in a drastic shift in US/Israel relations. In fact, President Obama has, on numerous occasions, gone out of his way to affront the Israeli President, Benjamin Netanyahu. Most recently, during Mr. Netanyahu’s May visit to the Whitehouse, Mr. Obama publically refused to pose for pictures with Mr. Netanyahu—breaking with standing State protocol. What is worse, Mr. Obama showed up for the official State Luncheon with the Israeli delegation, only to tell Mr. Netanyahu that he should make other arrangements for lunch. Has the US suddenly joined the ranks of Israel’s enemies? Have we now abandoned the only functioning democratic nation in the region? If the answer to any of these questions is anything other than an emphatic NO, then we [the US] have certainly lost our way. Yet again, the bible is clear on this matter:

Matthew 12:30 "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.”

In the world of geopolitics, as in the social realm, integrity, character and trustworthiness are essential traits. The Obama Administration signaled its position on Israel long before the 2008 presidential election, so it comes as no surprise to me that the President would go out of his way to publically distance himself from Mr. Netanyahu.

True to his character though, Mr. Netanyahu took these affronts with a dignity befitting the Jewish people—a people not unaccustomed to adversity. One could argue that Netanyahu’s poise is bolstered by the knowledge that GOD’s will, would prevail.

Now, the United Nations (UN) has waded in with its usual condemnation of Israel and calls for an investigation. It is shamefully obvious that the UN, like Israel’s neighbors believes Israel should not exist. Worst still, the Obama administration has indicated its intent to support Israel’s reprimand in this corrupt body.

It is time for Believers everywhere to stand in support of Israel and for Israel’s right to defend itself. Failure to do anything less would betray our Messiah, Jesus Christ, a Jew by birth.

In the Beginning

Welcome to my Blog, a medium that has always fascinated me, and deep down inside, I always knew I would someday join the Blogosphere. I have been so moved by recent events vis-à-vis, domestic and global economic turmoil, and most importantly, what I perceive to be an outright assault on morality and Christian values. As a Christian, a husband, a committed father and a deeply patriotic citizen, I feel compelled to heed GOD's warning in Ezekiel, Chapter 33: 1-6:

¹ The word of the LORD came to me: ² "Son of man, speak to your countrymen and say to them: 'When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, ³ and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, ⁴ then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not take warning and the sword comes and takes his life, his blood will be on his own head. ⁵Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had taken warning, he would have saved himself. ⁶ But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.'

I see the sword coming and am compelled to sound the trumpet and issue my warning. To this end, I will use this Blog “Church & State” to provide a forum for men of character to freely discuss the pressing issues of the day in search of ways in which we will make a difference. And yes, we will mix politics and religion; the two, in my opinion are inextricably bound. There is a committed effort afoot that operates under guise of “the separation of church and state.” It is my opinion that this movement is lead by the evil one, who seeks to obliterate Christianity by utilizing deception disguised as common sense. The oft cited admonition from the founding fathers on the separation of church and state is a gross overstatement of their intent. A society cannot survive without GOD. In fact, man’s sinful nature precludes him from surviving for any appreciable period without moral and spiritual leadership. Let us all become spiritual leaders –men of character.

I am deeply concerned by Hollywood’s portrayal of men as effeminate loafers, uncommitted to their families, and entirely devoid of spirituality. I intend to use this Blog as a platform from which we would build each other up by learning from history, and most importantly, learning from one another.

My dream is to compile these posts into book form someday, which would form the basis for spreading the Good News to other men of character who desire to improve their lives and their communities. So, I urge you to join me in sounding the trumpet, for the sword is falling.

The Commission

Edmund Burke gave us heed when he proclaimed "all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." While I believe that works do not secure me a place in GOD's kingdom, I am compelled to speak out on what I view as the wrong path along which the West is heading. This is not to say that Eastern cultures are in any better shape, it is merely for the sake of expediency that I highlight the West. Burke's support for the American Revolution -while serving in the House of Commons of the very nation with which we waged war, was tempered by his subsequent opposition to the French Revolution. Unlike political leaders of late, Burke affirmed his support for and opposition to these violent conflicts based solely on his religious conviction. In this, Burke demonstrated a fundamental understanding of the warning in Ephesians, Chapter 6; verse 12:

                For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against
                the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of
                this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the
                heavenly realms.

Here, GOD cautions us to take seriously, the battle with the evil one–complacency results in certain death at the hands of an otherwise inferior enemy. The lesson here calls for us to view our daily existence as a battle, and our homes and communities as the battleground. Let us then, join arms, and as “iron sharpens iron,” let us build one another up [in Christ], and march on and take the battle to the enemy.


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