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June 20, 2008
Dear Members and Co-Workers,
Can you remember any time in our modern history when so many events were
going so wrong all at the same time? A time where every major court decision
is a ringing slap in the face to all that cherish and want to preserve what
God has so graciously given, where a majority of our politicians play to
constituencies that hate our heritage?
Our Supreme Court has cleared the way for al Qaeda terrorists to enter into
our domestic courts with all the protections of our domestic constitutional
rights to challenge the right of the U.S. military to keep them from
carrying out their murderous intentions!
The California Supreme Court has sanctioned "gay marriage" in contravention
of the majority who voted against it in the last referendum. Now all of us
and all our children will again be subjected to regular if not constant
visuals showing "gay" men and women displaying romantic affections and
celebrating their "weddings." Is this the America the "great generation"
gave their lives for?
The price of oil has already gone off the chart. Despite urgent calls to
begin producing some of our vast domestic energy reserves, increase refining
capabilities and build new nuclear power plants, the arrogant,
self-important anti-God "save the planet" crowd seems to have the upper hand
with many, if not the majority of our politicians. So pervasive has been the
institutional and media indoctrination, it truly has taken on all the
attributes of a "religion." And, of course, it's simply not acceptable to
insult anyone's "faith" by questioning its authenticity or integrity.
A great many Americans seem to think electing a "messianic" political figure
would catapult us into a new era where our national ills would just melt
away. Fat chance! Particularly given current prospects.
Some years ago, Garner Ted Armstrong wrote extensively how the men who God
led to found this nation simply couldn't get elected dogcatcher in this era
of our history. It's brilliant and unfortunately, it's true. We're
reproducing it in a new brochure format titled UNELECTABLE: Why the Founding
Fathers wouldn't stand a chance in today's America. It is free for the
asking, just like everything else we produce and make available.
We've seen things improve markedly in Iraq, but only by searching out the
information. Now that al Qaeda has mostly been run off or at least into
hiding, Iraq has largely disappeared out of the headlines. To find news on
the subject, you'll have to wait for an increasingly rare car bombing in a
crowded market. Afghanistan made the news last week, because the Taliban
succeeded in pulling off a jail-break that freed some 400 of their cohorts
along with five or six hundred other criminals. And that's a case in point.
Despite the lack of media attention, our young soldiers have accomplished a
great deal to improve the plight of the Iraqi people so long subjected to
the backward and abusive environment of their former dictator. To everyone's
surprise, the hearts and minds of many over there have finally come to grips
with the truth that America truly is their benefactor.
But much of the Muslim Middle East hates America with a passion. And whether
or not they subscribe to Jihad by means of terrorism, they all yearn for a
world dominated by Sharia law. They universally despise the very existence
of Israel and indoctrinate their young to believe there is no higher calling
than to sacrifice their own lives to advance the cause of Israel's
destruction.
Israel has its own political scandals and controversies threatening the
government of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at a time when terrorist enemies
are flush with Iranian-supplied munitions, and Iran itself is frighteningly
close to perfecting the ability to produce nuclear warheads. Ahmadenijad,
Iran's diminutive president, rushes out before cameras and microphones at
the slightest excuse to rant and rave that Israel will soon be eradicated
from off the map. Can you imagine how obnoxious he'll be with nuclear
warheads under his command? The jury is still out on whether President Bush
might do something about Iran's nuclear program before he leaves office. One
editorial opined that he has accepted the inevitability of a nuclear Iran,
but he's not saying. But Iran is clearly the world's greatest short-term
danger, and the American president has reportedly been discussing options
during his recent European tour.
Events in Europe are moving at a snail's pace. Yes, there are calls for a
common European defense, but so far it's just talk. Europe's military
capabilities are extremely limited at this point, and the prevailing
attitude on the continent is not particularly aggressive. Something could
well transpire that would change the dynamics, however, and we'll certainly
be paying attention. Just last week the Lisbon Treaty was struck down by
Ireland, bringing the whole process of further European integration to a
temporary standstill. But there area host of suggestions and remedies,
including allowing certain members of the EU, (primarily the British Isles,
and a few others) to opt out of certain aspects while the core of Europe
proceeds along its own path, most importantly toward a European military
unit.
But back to our domestic situation. When our national leaders, our
educational institutions and the dominant media thumb their noses at the
fabulous blessings God lavished on this nation and in their arrogance
espouse a "higher calling" (save the planet), things do begin to look a
little bleak! Maybe we all should take the following quote from Abraham
Lincoln to heart.
We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been
preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in
numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown; but we have
forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in
peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly
imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were
produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Presidential
Proclamation — April, 1863.
"superior wisdom and virtue of our own." And that is precisely the attitude
we see all around us, and that attitude is the problem not the solution! We
recognize that we have received the blessings God promised as Abraham's
inheritance for his trust and obedience. Most would ridicule such a
suggestion. But the solution to America's state of decline is the same trust
and obedience that he displayed.
It looks as though our nation is too indoctrinated in its false religions
and philosophies to turn around and offer God trust and obedience. Let us be
the exception!
Sincerely,
Mark Armstrong
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