Category: take action

politics, social justice and ways you can make a difference in the world around you.

Constitution Party Nominates Baldwin

Via email and Chalcedon Blog:

The Constitution Party has settled on a presidential nominee, and it won’t be Alan Keyes. According to an April 26 press release, the Constitution Party has nominated Chuck Baldwin of Florida, a Baptist pastor and radio talk show host.

Baldwin, to my delight, is joining the chorus begun by Congressman Ron Paul denouncing the immoral U.S. wars in the Middle East while declaring war on the “New World Order.” If this equates to awakening more conservative Christians to the error of supporting the present American system, then I’m glad to see it.

As I’ve stated repeatedly concerning the Ron Paul campaign, the real value in this election is education. There is no more important objective than to unplug conservative Christians from the Matrix of Republican statism; and without the Religious Right, the GOP is hopeless–with the exception of conservative Christians rallying behind Dr. Paul. To that end, I do hope the Constitution Party understands the priority of this educational mission and will use Baldwin’s nomination to gain ground in that area. Chuck has dedicated himself to alerting Christians to the present threats to our national sovereignty, so I’m hopeful he’ll continue with that thesis in this election.

My point is that we should be concerned as much for future elections as we are the 2008 presidential race. Therefore, the future belongs to those that can build a sizable constituency, not those that can produce a candidate. As Ron Paul’s campaign has demonstrated: what’s the true value in a great candidate, if he has no widespread support? In the case of Ron Paul, the value lies in his ability to create the grassroots of a future mass constituency of freedom-loving conservatives determined to reverse the course of imperialism. That’s why the Ron Paul campaign already represents the single greatest political victory in the last 100 years. Not because he won a nomination, because he hasn’t. What Dr. Paul has achieved is the creation of a new (or old) type of American citizen. He’s launched a new political constituency that is radically motivated, and therefore, will only grow as the U.S. crises deepen. In short, if you thought 2008 was a ride, wait until you see 2012 when the new constitutional conservatives number in the millions.

Lastly, as Doug Phillips recently noted: “The nomination of Chuck Baldwin means that Christians have the option of voting for a biblically qualified, God-fearing, Constitutionally informed and committed candidate for President.” I concur. In the likelihood that Dr. Paul is unable to secure the GOP nomination, Christians will still have an opportunity to vote their conscience, and rest in the fact that they used their vote to support the Scriptural definition of a godly leader:

The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. 2 Samuel 23:3

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Still don’t know what I’ll do in November. Don’t know much about this guy so we’ll just see.

Ron English :: anti-advertising

From the artist, Ron English:

It’s great to be a criminal, right? You’re in pretty good company. It’s hard to explain to your kids, because they think that if you break the law you go to jail and you’re a criminal. But if you take out a history book, a lot of the people on the forefronts of social movements were considered criminals. We’re just ahead of the curve. Maybe the bad guy is the one who owns and puts up all the billboards all over the neighborhood, selling people malt liquor and cigarettes.

What ad would you change to make people think?

What advertising drives you nuts?

Are you OK with the current rate of consumption/consumerism?

If not, are you doing anything about it?

Mother Earth

I read an interesting view on “mother nature” yesterday and why Christians often have a hard time with living green or caring for nature (aka natural conservation – which sounds like the very essence of a conservative).

First off, because most Christians believe the earth is going to be destroyed in the end – so why should we worry with protecting the environment?
Secondly because most Christians traditionally consider themselves “conservative” there is a tendency to be against anything and everything those “liberals” are for.
And third, the idea of a “mother earth” seems mystical or too spiritual or giving too much authority to the rest of creation. It also seems to reflect a Darwinist viewpoint that we all evolved from a single cell somewhere that was birthed my “mother earth.” And I think in addition, there’s a fear that “treehuggers” have taken it their love of God’s creation to the extreme. Some how the dolphins and Pygmy Three-toed Sloths have become more important than humans and well – we can’t have that.

So how about this? What if rather than using the term, “Mother Earth” which tends to give a higher authority to the rest of God’s creation – we used a new term, “Sister Earth?” After all, we do have the same Father/Creator.

Thoughts? Ideas? Have you faced some of the same struggles? Do you care?

Earth Day pointers

A co-worker shared this idea with me…

We save water (and keep our plants outside in good shape in summer) by saving our pre-shower water, you know, that water that just goes down the drain as we wait for the shower to heat up?

It fills a bucket per day for us, a bucket of water I am paying for that usually goes down the drain. Instead, it goes on my potted plants and trees outside, making them very happy, even when rationing starts in the summer.

And here are some good tips for what to do with left over 2-liters:


2 Liter Recycling – video powered by Metacafe

We’ve been trying to save all our milk jugs and water jugs and such to recycle but there are certain rules/restrictions you have to follow in Red Oak. Our jugs were starting to pile up and so the other day while we were working in the yard I started cutting the tops off of some of them and are now using them to hold soil, grass clippings etc until we get a “formal” compost box.

Also – anyone know where I can get rid of several cups worth of old gasoline?

Imagine…

Imagine if suddenly…
rather than seeking revenge, you sought reconciliation
rather than repaying violence with violence, you sought creative transforming nonviolent alternatives
rather than focusing on external conformity to moral codes, you were internally transformed by love
rather than loving insiders and hating outsiders, you welcomed outsiders into a new “us” and “we”
rather than anxiety about money or security or pleasure, you trusted ourselves to the care of God
rather than living for wealth, you lived for God who loves all people, including our enemies
rather than hating our enemies and competitors, you loved them and did unto them not as they have done unto you – or before they do unto you – but as you wish they would do for you