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The resident raptor raps about current events

The Worst Call Ever! or Was It?

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

All the talk today has been about the LAST PLAY of the Green Bay-Seattle football game. All the people ‘in the know’ have cried foul over the final call by the referee. All the buzz has been about how the ‘NFL franchise’ is being tarnished by these ‘unprofessional’ replacement refs calling the games.

That got me to thinking.. watch out folks when this bird-brain starts thinking.

Whoever enters an athletic competition wins the prize only when playing by the rules. 2 Timothy 2:5 (GW)

Anyway I only have a few things to say about the replacement refs, the tarnishing of the franchise, and the result of the last play of the Packers and Seahawks game.

Tarnishing the brand?

Well if wearing PINK SHOES and PINK gloves does not tarnish the brand then I think the NFL can survive a few weeks or even a season of ‘unprofessional’ referees. If the sissification (my made-up word for the kid-glove tackle policies of the NFL) of game play does not tarnish the franchise of the NFL neither will unprofessional referees.

Apparently the team owners are not concerned about tarnishing the brand since they are the ones who are supposedly behind the lock-out of the regular referees over defined pension benefits packages. (Those costly unfunded benefits that are drowning cities and states in red ink.)

The NFL referees only work part-time averaging about 20 games a year and hold down other jobs as their main career. Yet they are paid on average around $149.000+ a year. And want more of course.

We Are All Professionals Here

The players are crying about safety issues and fairness in officiating and yet they all are paid pretty handsomely to play a “GAME”. In addition they refer to themselves as PROFESSIONALS and as such I would think they could behave PROFESSIONALLY with or without professional supervision. Hey just saying.

Everyone on the field and on the sidelines are familiar with the rules of the game and yet, as I have been observing, it is apparent to me that the players and the coaches are taking advantage of the ‘unprofessional’ staff officiating thus showing a total disregard and lack of respect for the role of the officials on the field and the rules of the game.

You would think PROFESSIONALS would conduct themselves with more PROFESSIONALISM. Or could it be that FOOTBALL is at the core a brutal sport played by brutal men, who enjoy rough-housing on Sunday’s?

As a point of perspective I recall, in my younger days, the pick-up football games we would play at the local school yard after school and on weekends. There were no officials, and we all played for the love of the game. Yes there were a few who would ‘play dirty’ but even as kids we all knew this was wrong and would police ourselves. If the game got too out of hand we simply quit playing and went home. BUT WE WERE NOT PAID MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO PLAY.

Was it Really a Bad Call?

Finally to address the last play of the Packers/Seahawks game that seems to be causing all the controversy today I have only one thing to say. Why did Jennings CATCH THE BALL? All he had to do was BAT IT DOWN and the whole thing would be a non-issue.

So now I have to ask who really made the biggest bone-headed decision in that game? The referees calling it or Jennings who caught the ball? By Jennings catching the ball he put himself into a position to get a simultaneous possession call which he should know would be called for the offense. AND YET he held on to the ball… or could it have been that Golden Tate was the one who was actually holding onto the ball since Jennings would have every reason to let go of the ball?

Hummmmmmmmmm perhaps the replacement refs made the right call after all?

In the end though it is ONLY A GAME get over it already!

But what do I know I am only a bird-brained commentator.

This has been a view from the nest. And that is the way I see it. What say you?

This has been A View from the Nest. The statements, comments, or opinions expressed are solely that of the author and do not represent the views or opinions of the host of this site or any affiliates thereof. Any questions or comments should be directed to myself and not to the host or hosts of this site.
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Why I Can Not Vote Democrat

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

 

 

There are lists circulating the Internet listing the 12 or more reasons why people vote republican or democrat and I was going to make a list why I vote republican but that list would be very short since the only reason I vote republican is because I can not vote democrat. Now I would prefer to vote Constitutional Conservative but since there is no Constitutional Conservative party candidate on the ballot I am left with only a couple of options. Not vote at all, vote for a third-party candidate which is most likely not going to win, or vote for one of the other two candidates and since this article is about why I can not vote democrat that leaves me with only one option the Republicans get my vote by default. Now if the democrats ever change their policies to include my positions then I could just as likely vote democrat, but since I have been of voting age the democrat party has continued to exclude more and more of my positions leaving me with absolutely nothing in common with the current democrat party. So let’s see why it is exactly that I can not vote democrat.

  1. RIGHT TO LIFE: I am a strong supporter of the Declaration of Independence right to LIFE provision. And that to me means all life should be considered SACRED and should be protected. ALL have the RIGHT TO LIFE and that right should be protected at all costs. Since the democrat party protects at all cost the killing of innocent children and are not the party of “Right to life” I can not vote democrat.
  2. DEFENSE OF TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE: Since I believe solid families make for a solid community I support the defense of marriage act. Since the democrats have come out so strongly for non-traditional marriage and redefining the terms of marriage they again leave no door open for those of us who happen to believe in the traditional marriage make-up. Therefore I can not vote democrat
  3. FATHER KNOWS BEST: Yes I know this is old-fashioned but marginalizing the role of fathers in our society has led to many ills. Many souls who are imprisoned will lament the absence of a solid father figure. Studies show households with both fathers and mothers outperform homes of single parents in many key factors. According to childwelfare.gov Fathers are important in the healthy development of children. The democrat “war on poverty” policies have had a devastating effect on many urban families. And as such I can not vote for more of the same so I can not vote democrat.
  4. TAXES: The progressive income tax has cost many American jobs. We now have the highest corporate tax rate of any developed nation and as a result many companies are taking jobs and investments off shore. As a result our job market is being adversely affected. Democrats seem to like HIGH TAXES and have yet to propose any solution to this high corporate taxation. Therefore again I can not vote for a failed policy and  thusly I can not vote democrat.
  5. OBAMACARE: This really does not need much of an explanation. I do not believe the federal government should be involved in health care at all. Medicare and Medicaid are failing and since the government is in charge of these programs I am convinced that another program like it will fail just as miserably. Besides forcing an individual to buy anything is unconstitutional even if the supreme court says that it is.
  6. THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS: The second amendment has been a thorn in the Democrat side for years in fact I recall then candidate Obama saying that we like to cling to our guns and our religion. With that attitude toward gun owners I find it impossible to pull the lever for a Democrat so as a believer in the second amendment I can not vote democrat.
  7. THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH: Corporations are indeed a group of people. Brick and mortar do not create jobs nor pay taxes nor hire employees and since the democrats have a real problem with corporations contributing to candidates other than democrats I can not vote democrat. Usually the democrats love the Supreme court but in the “Citizen’s United” case they are singing another tune. Recently Obama and the democrat party has gone on a rampage against business and free enterprise and as a result I can not vote democrat.
  8. FREEDOM OF RELIGION: Forcing religious organizations to violate their conscience is unconscionable. The constant railing against religion disenfranchises those of us who take our religion seriously. Again this comes down to a right protected by the Constitution and yet another reason I can not vote democrat.
  9. THE RULE OF LAW: Ours is a nation governed by the rule of law not the rule of men. However since taking office Obama has ignored Constitutionally passed legislation and has ignored Supreme court orders. His is a lawless administration but no one from the democrat party seems to have a problem with Obama’s selective refusal to obey or enforce the law. And since I believe very strongly in the ‘rule of law’ I can not vote democrat.
  10. THE CONSTITUTION: This founding document is the ruling law of this nation and its enumerated powers clause was meant to be a hindrance to run-away government. Our founders knew the dangers of too much government and tried to safe guard future generations by limiting the powers of the central government. Democrats have a history of finding clever ways to get around the Constitution of the United States even so much as calling it “living and breathing”, meaning that it has no regulatory meaning at all if it can be changed at the whim of any lawmaker or special court ruling. I can not support interpreters of the Constitution, what I can support are defenders of the ORIGINAL INTENT of the Constitution. Therefore I can not vote democrat.
  11. STATES RIGHTS: Once again we are faced with a Constitutional dilemma. Powers not specifically granted to the federal government remains with the states or the individual. Since taking office and appointing Eric Holder as US Attorney General there have been many lawsuits brought against the STATES regarding Voter ID Laws, Defense of Marriage amendments to state constitutions, illegal immigration enforcement, and even attempts to tell companies which states they can work in. All this is beyond the powers enumerated in the Constitution of the United States. States are free to operate independently of federal intervention. Where the federal government fails to fulfill its duties to the citizens the citizens have a right to expect their States to work in their best interests.   Since I believe in the sovereignty of states and enumerated powers granted to the federal government by the states I can not vote democrat.
  12. A STRONG NATIONAL DEFENSE: This issue comes up each time the democrats gain control of both houses of congress and the white house. Defense spending is the only area they ever find waste and cost cuts. No other department is ever considered for any cuts or reductions it is always the military. The current administration is unilaterally disarming our military while the rest of the world is arming themselves. This I feel is a very dangerous policy and as a result I can not vote democrat.
  13. SCHOOL CHOICE: I believe parents should be given options when it comes to educating their own children. Since democrats are beholden to the teachers unions they are against school choice and any voucher program and education reform in general. One of the current administrations first act as an elected leader was to end the DC VOUCHER program. For this reason and because I believe in school choice I can not vote democrat.
  14. ENTITLEMENT REFORM: The democrat’s experiment with the “great society programs” have all proven to be failures. Yet there is not one democrat willing to discuss the failures and offer solutions or fixes. Whenever a proposal is made by the opposing party to discuss the failures of these programs it is demagogued to death and the sponsors of the bill are demonized. For this reason I can not vote democrat.
  15. FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY: No budget since 2007. The primary responsibility for congress is to present a budget every year. The democrat controlled Senate has not produced a budget in over 3 years. As a result we are accumulating $1 trillion plus debt every year. This is irresponsible and reprehensible. And another reason I can not vote democrat.
  16. NATIONAL SECURITY: Border control is important. Our country is being infiltrated by trespassers and the current administration wants to grant these lawbreakers amnesty, and bestow upon them rights retained for true American citizens. There are many who wish to come to this country legally and I am all for LEGAL ORDERLY immigration policy, but this, crash our borders, squatters rights is not in the best interest of this country and as such I can not vote democrat since they promote this continued illegal activity.
  17. FOREIGN POLICY: Two words “Arab Spring”. A huge reason I can not vote democrat.
  18. TEA PARTY: Democrats do not want us therefore I can not vote democrat.

And the list goes on and on. Again I do want to emphasize that these are reasons why I can not vote democrat and not reasons to vote republican since many republicans fail to meet these same criteria, but since the democrats are opposed to every one of these points there is no room in the democrat party for someone who holds to these principles. The only conclusion I can come to is the democrat party does not wish to include people like me who believe like I do and since they are excluding me and my views I can not vote democrat.

Now that is the way I see it. What say you?
This has been A View from the Nest. The statements, comments, or opinions expressed are solely that of the author and do not represent the views or opinions of the host of this site or any affiliates thereof. Any questions or comments should be directed to myself and not to the host or hosts of this site.
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Onerous Legislations

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

But He said, Woe to you, the lawyers, also! For you load men with oppressive burdens hard to bear, and you do not personally [even gently] touch the burdens with one of your fingers. Luke 11:46 (AMP)

United States Senate Seal

United States Senate Seal (Photo credit: DonkeyHotey)

After blasting the Senate last week for passing a 600-page bill no one had time to read, Sen. Rand Paul(R-Ky.) introduced legislation that would force the Senate to give its members one day to read bills for every 20 pages they contain. And he was looked at as if he had two heads. I mean why should congress actually be FORCED to read these bills? They are way too cumbersome and difficult for the average member of congress to understand. Thus was the sediments of John Conyers in regards to the monstrosity known as Obamacare. He said so on the Senate floor.

“For goodness sakes, this is a 600-page bill. I got it this morning,” Paul said, just before the Senate approved a massive bill extending highway funding, federal flood insurance and low student loans rates.

“Not one member of the Senate will read this bill before we vote on it,” he added.

Paul also introduced related legislation Friday, S. 3359, that would prohibit the inclusion of more than one subject in a single bill.

“At the very least, we ought to adhere to our own rules,” Paul Rand said. “Forty-eight hours is still a challenge to find out everything in here.”

The highway-flood-student loan bill came up just one day before authorization for highway spending was set to expire, and two days before the interest rate on loans was set to double to 6.8 percent. But Paul said that is no excuse for rushing a bill to the floor without giving senators a chance to learn what’s in it.

The Senate voted 72-22 to waive the rule requiring a 48-hour layover, after Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and other Republicans raised a point of order against the bill because it came up too quickly.

Did you ever notice how these politicians always make it sound like there is NO TIME. We must act now! They are always in a hurry and to quote Obama; “we can’t wait”. And yet it has been more than 3 years since the congress has passed a BUDGET. Apparently America can wait for a budget but not these SPENDING BILLS!

Paul also noted that Senate rules require bills to be held for 48 hours before they receive a vote so members can read them, but said the Senate failed to follow even that minimal rule. Another rule these lawbreakers do not wish to follow because it would hinder them from doing what they want to do. There isn’t a law these lawbreakers like and yet they make darn sure that the rest of us buckle and bow down to their wishes. Why should the rest of us obey the laws these lawbreakers write? Why should we allow them to enforce their wills upon us when they are apparently not under any such restraint?

While the bill officially ended the debate on highway funding, flood insurance and student loans, Congress acted too late to have the measure signed into law by President Obama over the weekend.Instead, both the House and Senate approved a bill extending the highway and student loan rate for one week, because several days are needed to prepare the bill for the president’s signature. And yet they did not seem to find the time to actually READ THE BILL.

And like all other bills that get “forced” upon the American people this bill will stay in effect in perpetuity. All these new bills seem to take on a life of their own. They are hardly ever challenged or repealed. And when they are challenged in Superior court, the court finds a way to rubber stamp them.

Any efforts to curb government spending is met with STAUCH opposition from both sides of the political aisle. Although all new laws and “new court rulings” are seen to be written in stone, the founding document of this republic is constantly being revised and transformed into an entirely different document than what was penned in Philadelphia. There is never any challenge to legislators’ attacks on the constitution but no one ever challenges the validity of all these NEW LAWS and regulations streaming out of congress at the rate of thousands upon thousands of pages each year. WHY are these laws supposedly “etched in stone” while our Constitution is considered to be “living and breathing”?

God’s laws are the only ones which were CARVED IN STONE and they filled two stone tablets. Today’s law makers inscribe their laws on parchment paper and they fill thousands of pages of government speak. Such voluminous tomes should be on book shelves and not in the government archives. For example:

  • Leo Tolstoy‘s Classic Novel War and Peace contained 1424 pages in the English translation. However, due to font and page size, that can obviously vary somewhere between 1200-1600. And many people have actually read the whole thing.
  • Any Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged” has about 1100 pages. Which has been read by many and is assigned reading in some schools
  • The King James Bible has over 700 pages. Many have read this many times in their life.

Obamacare has over 2400 pages none of which anyone who signed the bill has ever read. I guess it really wasn’t exciting reading. Or perhaps it is not worth the paper upon which it was written? Or could it be that no one really cared enough to read it? Or was it deliberately vague to be the vehicle to push forth every dumb idea the government has from this day forward? I think the latter is probably the most accurate of descriptors. The law empowers the executive branch of government. through its varied agencies, particularly the Department of Health and Human Services, which was given almost carte blanche authority to regulate the American citizen and its varied entities under the guise of managing health care.

All the secularists who bash the Christian bible and those who hold to its world view prefer this fluid lawmaking body over the structured laws of both God and our Constitution. The secularists apparently love the idea of thousands upon thousands of rules and regulations forced upon them and their fellow Americans as opposed to the personal freedom given to them by our Creator and codified in the Constitution. Our Constitution was written on only 4 pages and those 4 pages were enough to establish this great nation. Now since we have become so secular and I might add LAWLESS it takes thousands upon thousands of pages of rules and regulations to regulate our behaviour. On the contrary I believe because we have left the moral laws of God and of our Constitution and replaced Him with the whims of lawless men, we find ourselves faced with these lawless laws being written by lawless men who wish to control everyone but themselves, and “we the people” have to suffer at the hands of their incompetence and they do not even do us the honor of actually READING what they are SIGNING.

Those of us who enter into any LEGAL agreement know enough to READ a binding agreement before SIGNING it. Our legislators apparently feel they are ABOVE the average person and do not have to stoop to our level to actually read what they will be forcing their fellow citizens to endure. And since most of these elected elites exempt themselves from these same laws they do not feel they need to worry themselves with the details. How arrogant, how condescending can you be?

I prefer the moral laws God inscribed in stone above anything man has written on parchment. At the very least let us get back to the limits placed upon this wayward government by the Constitution. To think that wanting to uphold the “Supreme law of the land” is considered extreme by these lawless leaders and those who are content with enacting feckless laws.

And that is the way I see it. What say you?

This has been A View from the Nest. The statements, comments, or opinions expressed are solely that of the author and do not represent the views or opinions of the host of this site or any affiliates thereof. Any questions or comments should be directed to myself and not to the host or hosts of this site.
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The Living and Breathing Constitution May Have Taken Its Last Breath

Allen Frederick 4 Comments

And the Lord said to Moses, Make two other stones like the first two; and I will put on them the words which were on the first stones, which were broken by you. Exodus 34:1 (BBE)

The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. Exodus 18:13 (NIV)

Throughout the Supreme CourtEnglish: West face of the United States Suprem... building are several depictions of Moses and the ten commandments upon which the foundations of our law were laid. Including one directly above the chief justice’s head, in the center of the 40-foot-long Spanish marble carving, is a tablet displaying Roman numerals I through X, with some numbers partially hidden. Today, just like in times past, the supreme law of the land had been smashed to bits by a judge.

The young nation of Israel had problems with rebelling against God’s commandments. They instead chose to be like the other nations around them instead of remaining separate and devoted to God. When Moses had led Israel out of Egyptian bondage he was instructed by God to climb to the top of Mount Sinai to receive instructions for the people. While he was a long time upon the mountain the people grew restless and decided that they were not going to wait for Moses to return with the instructions from God but would instead set about to do things their own way. The people grew rowdy and asked Aaron to make them a new god, and they took their gold jewelry and melted it down and fashioned an idol in the shape of an ox. The people said this is the god who brought us up out of Egypt.

And he took the gold from them and, hammering it with an instrument, he made it into the metal image of a young ox: and they said, This is your god, O Israel, who took you out of the land of Egypt. Exodus 32:4 (BBE)

Isn’t it interesting how history repeats itself? Although it was God who gave Israel the victory over the Egyptians they gave honor to their gold instead. Although our ancestors honored God for victory over the Crown, we, the later generation, have forgotten exactly how we got here and instead of honoring God with our wealth and possessions, we pass them along to the government and watch as it is melted down and fashioned into bull. We worship and honor our wealth and prosperity and not the God of that prosperity.

This week perhaps the last death knell has been driven into the heart of our Constitution, the supreme law of the land. It may well be broken beyond repair. The Chief Justice of the land decided to rule in favor of government supremacy over the person. Justice Roberts carved in stone a precedent never seen in America giving the government power to force an individual to act against his will and perhaps even his best interest to engage in commerce and offers him no recourse. This ruling empowers the government to reign as not only the law giver but also the law enforcer. With this one ruling the barrier of restraint has been removed, and the shackles of limited power has been torn asunder from off the legs of the federal leviathan. No longer bound by any restriction the course has been set for the ruling class to make subjects of us all. Yes I know they say it’s the “right thing to do” but I am here to tell you this has been a travesty of justice, and a sad day in American history.

The beast has been unleashed, and has set its eyes upon you. Like the bowels of hell itself, this monster now unrestrained will devour us all. There is no longer any protection given the individual. We have been sold out by those who were appointed to judge rightly.

There is no way to put a silver lining on this. This ruling was another in a long list of usurpations starting back before FDR. The progressive element in this society have set themselves on a course to end the restraints placed upon Government by the Constitution. They were determined to undermine and diminish the Constitutions authority in any way possible. With the election of Barack Hussein Obama, Jr., that course was accelerated under his ‘fundamental remake’ of America. The “living and breathing” constitution may have finally met its demise.

There is hope for America, but we must decide if we choose to honor the SUPREME LAW of the land or succumb to the whims of man (which includes the special interest groups). Do we wish to abide by the limitations placed upon us and the government by our Constitution, or do we all just want to do our own thing with total abandon and disregard for the rule of law? This empowerment of the central government is not in our best interest, for history has shown us that unrestrained government leads to tyranny.

At the close of the Continental convention, a woman asked Benjamin Franklin what type of government the Constitution was bringing into existence. Franklin replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.”

Regardless of one’s judgment concerning the type of government that the Constitution brought into existence in 1787, no one can deny that it was truly the most unusual and radical in history.

Consider: With the tragic exception of slavery, the United States was a society in which people could, by and large, engage in any occupation or economic enterprise without a government license, permit, or regulation.

Where people could travel anywhere in the world without restriction (no passports) and trade with whomever they pleased without the permission of their government officials.

Where people could accumulate unlimited amounts of wealth without government interference, because the Constitution did not permit the government to levy taxes on income.

Where people were free to do whatever they wanted with their own money — save, spend, donate, invest, hoard, or even destroy it.

Where government was not permitted to take care of people — no Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, welfare, education grants, or foreign aid.

With a few exceptions (e.g., 1850s Massachusetts), there were no compulsory public (i.e., government) school systems.

No wars on drugs, poverty, or wealth.

My how things have changed. Today there is not one activity a citizen can engage in without having to seek some type of permission slip from the Government. No matter how much power and control the central government grants to itself it is never satisfied. The government continues to grow and continues to seek new ways to infringe upon the rights of the individual. This week the government succeeded in gaining complete access to the individual’s life and health. We are now wards of the state. The government can now force us to do anything it wants of us since there is no longer any safeguards on our liberty.

Will the constitution lie in pieces upon the floor of the Supreme Court, or will we the people insist upon its resurrection? Will we once again honor and respect the SUPREME LAW of the land upon which this great republic was built, or sit back and allow this republic to be trampled under foot like the Constitution has been? You decide. But as for me…. GIVE ME LIBERTY or GIVE ME DEATH for I REFUSE to live in the midst of TYRANNY! I have not yet begun to fight but fight I shall and may God be with us.

July 4th is the day we celebrate our FREEDOM! I am afraid that this year we need to mourn freedom’s last gasp. May God bless America again? I hope so, but that depends upon us. If we truly desire God’s blessing then we must accept God’s rebuke and repent of our evil ways and return to the

God of our Father’s whose almighty hand
Leads forth in beauty all the starry band
Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies
Our grateful songs before Thy throne arise.
 
Thy love divine hath led us in the past,
In this free land by Thee our lot is cast,
Be Thou our Ruler, Guardian, Guide and Stay,
Thy Word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.
 
From war’s alarms, from deadly pestilence,
Be Thy strong arm our ever sure defense;
Thy true religion in our hearts increase,
Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.
 
Refresh Thy people on their toilsome way,
Lead us from night to never-ending day;
Fill all our lives with love and grace divine,
And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine.
Daniel C. Roberts, lyrics, 1876

Amen! Let it be so!

This has been A View from the Nest. The statements, comments, or opinions expressed are solely that of the author and do not represent the views or opinions of the host of this site or any affiliates thereof. Any questions or comments should be directed to myself and not to the host or hosts of this site.

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Celebratory Occasions or Obligations?

Allen Frederick 1 Comment

But the former governors lived at the expense of the people and took from them food and wine, besides forty shekels of silver [a large monthly official salary]; yes, even their servants assumed authority over the people. But I did not so because of my [reverent] fear of God. Nehemiah 5:15 (AMP)

English: Queen Elizabeth II at Queen's Park

English: Queen Elizabeth II at Queen’s Park (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Last week, Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in observance of her 60 years as constitutional monarch of the Commonwealth realms. The four-day celebration included public holidays throughout Britain, a 1,000-vessel flotilla on the Thames River, and a public concert outside Buckingham Palace (the queen’s residence). Impossible to miss was the day of pageantry during which crowds thronged the streets around the palace and World War II aircraft flew over. The queen remarked publicly about being humbled by the outpouring of support her subjects had given her.

Notice she used the term subjects as meaning subordinate to her. I am not well versed on Kings and Queens of England but to think that one person would be subject to another is slavery. Those in positions of authority rule over their SUBJECTS without regard to the needs and well-being of those subjects.

This is what Nehemiah found to be happening to his kinsmen and brethren in his homeland.

NOW THERE arose a great cry of the [poor] people and of their wives [driven to borrowing] against their Jewish brethren [the few who could afford to lend]. For some said, We, our sons and daughters, are many; therefore allow us to take grain, that we may eat and live! If we are not given grain, let us take it! Also some said, We are mortgaging our lands, vineyards, and houses to buy grain because of the scarcity. Others said, We have borrowed money on our fields and vineyards to pay the [Persian] king’s heavy tax. Although our flesh is the same as that of our brethren and our children are as theirs, yet we are forced to sell our children as slaves; some of our daughters have already been thus sold, and we are powerless to redeem them, for others have our lands and vineyards.

I [Nehemiah] was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. I thought it over and then rebuked the nobles and officials. I told them, You are exacting interest from your own kinsmen. And I held a great assembly against them. I said to them, We, according to our ability, have bought back our Jewish brethren who were sold to the nations; but will you even sell your brethren, that they may be sold to us? Then they were silent and found not a word to say.

Also I said, What you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts and reproach of the nations, our enemies? I, my brethren, and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us stop this forbidden interest! Return this very day to them their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses, and also a hundredth of all the money, grain, new wine, and oil that you have exacted from them. Then they said, We will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say. Then I called the priests and took an oath of the lenders that they would do according to this promise. Nehemiah 5:1-12 (AMP)

What a contrast between the Diamond Jubilee Celebration of Queen Elizabeth II and the jubilee declared by the then Governor Nehemiah. He noticed that his fellow citizens where being bought and sold like slaves because the nobles and officials thought it proper to exact a heavy tax upon them. These were all the same flesh, yet those in positions of authority were able to relegate those less fortunate than themselves to a lower class. They became SUBJECTED to these rulers who were using the economic downturn to enrich themselves at the cost of their fellow citizens.

Nehemiah was right in rebuking these wicked overlords for doing to their own people what they complained about while being subjected to Egyptian bondage and servitude. Nehemiah reminded them that they too were servants and subject to a higher authority, God, and if they wish to be treated mercifully by God then they ought to treat their fellow-man just as mercifully.

And make us free of our debts, as we have made those free who are in debt to us. Matthew 6:12 (BBE)

Jesus taught his disciples to pray to be released from the burden of indebtedness just as they should release others from that same burden. God takes no delight in exacting heavy taxation upon a free people. In fact it was because of the inhumane treatment Pharoah placed upon the Israelites held in Egyptian bondage that brought about the wrath of God upon that land.

Isn’t it funny how those who live off the livelihoods of others consider themselves worthy of such high praise and adulation? Jesus on the other hand came to GIVE to others and not take anything in return and for that he was vilified, mocked, scorned and ultimately crucified.

Should the crowds throng the streets to honor and praise Queen Elizabeth II? Was this celebration in honor of her majesty the Queen or was it an occasion to honor and thank the people for making her life possible by their sacrifices? A good and righteous ruler would take no more than that which was needed to allow the people as much freedom and wealth as possible.

I fed 150 Jewish leaders and their people who came to us from the surrounding nations. Preparing one ox and six choice sheep was necessary every day. Poultry was prepared for me. Once every ten days a supply of wine was ordered. Yet, in spite of all this, I never demanded anything from the governor’s food allowance, because these people were already carrying a heavy load. Nehemiah 5:17-18 (GW)

Can this same be said of today’s political leaders? Is there anything that can be learned from this? Whom do you suppose God would look favorably upon? The ruler who has mercy upon his fellow-man or the one who only thinks about enriching himself by the sweat of the brow of his fellow-man?

I do not know about you but I do not plan on dancing in the streets to honor another year of the service of our present leadership class? I will however be dancing in the street when all of them have been removed from their ivory towers and reduced to common man status. I will be rejoicing when my neighbor is released from the burden placed upon him by the government taxation and regulation. I will rejoice and celebrate when America is once again the land of the free and the hope of the nations. I will celebrate when the burden of government debt has been removed from the backs of our children and our children’s children. I shall not rejoice in the servitude of a tyrant.

And that is the way I see it. What say you?

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