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Here's an apt truism for our inaugural issue of Patriot News:
"There are two ways of exerting one's strength: one is pushing
down, the other is pulling up."
--Booker T. Washington (1856-1915), Educator
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Editor's Note: Here's a story that really gets you thinking about
America's unsung heroes.
According to a Kalamazoo (MI) Gazette report written by Barbara
Walters, Harry F. Klein led a secret life fighting terror and defending
our freedoms until his death in 2002. His sister Marcia Klein Pszcolowski,
never knew how he saved a colleague's life when militants in Lebanon
thrust a rifle into their car and fired. (He sped away.) She did
not know that her brother oversaw the U.S. government's first publication
on terrorism when he was a senior officer at the Defense Intelligence
Agency under George H.W. Bush, the article said.
It wasn't until the nation's counter-terrorism unit in Washington
was recently renamed the Harry F. Klein Center that Marcy began
to learn about the astonishing feats of brother's secret life.
She told the Gazette that "It's just now I'm finding out what
a wonderful man he was."
The family heard of his colorful life in ceremonies dedicating the
namesake center in Washington, DC, last fall, where Defense Intelligence
staff credited Klein for his unwavering passion and love for his
country, his inexhaustible drive and unquestionable work ethic.
It's hard to imagine living a life where for the sake of national
security you must forsake sharing the triumphs and tribulations
of your lifetime with your own family.
We are deeply touched by Mr. Klein's example of this devotion.
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Editor's Note: We applaud all those who volunteer for freedom, but
we were fascinated in particular that this mother-of-eight chose
to give in this way.
Sarah Chuby of the Battle Creek Enquirer in Michigan offered up
an inspiring story in her article about Federal Center employees
who have offered their services overseas to help with the war effort
this year.
According to the story, Twyla Zink had always been daddy's little
girl. Her father, Byron Marsh, a passionate patriot, was never able
to fulfil his dream of joining the armed services due to deafness
in one ear. So Twyla, mother of eight grown children and property
disposal specialist at the center, decided to help the war effort
and honor her father's dream at the same time. She said her father
loves this country, and wanted to do whatever he could to defend
it.
She departed for Kuwait in early January, where she will spend her
time and energy aiding the war effort.
"I think I can be a valuable asset to them. I will give 150
percent of myself. Whatever they need of me, I will do," she
told the Enquirer.
Apparently, Battle Creek is home to a bevy of brave-hearted volunteers.
Marine Col. Joseph D. Cassel Jr., commander of the Defense Logistic
Information Service at the Federal Center, told the Enquirer he
has been impressed with the people who have approached him to volunteer.
"The work force in Battle Creek is patriotic, supremely competent,
and willing to do what it takes to support forward deployed military
forces. The do what they need to do…They have stepped up and
volunteered to go to Iraq and Afghanistan and other places. It is
quite a big sacrifice, for which we owe them great thanks,"
he told the Enquirer.
We agree, and acknowledge all the civilians out there
giving 150 percent. You do us proud!
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I recently searched for events where Americans
were celebrating America. I have to tell you that what I found was
and eye-opener for me. I thought at least on the 4th of July Americans,
no mater what creed or religious background, would find this day
as a common ground. This day is, after all, a celebration of the
birth of a nation whose creed is so eloquently written on the base
of the statue of liberty. It reads:
Give me your tired, your poor
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore
Send these, the homeless, tempest tossed, to me;
I lift my lamp beside the golden door
Let us remember that the majority of our ancestors came to the shore
of this great land looking for opportunity to live free and prosper?
They came escaping persecution and even starvation. Have we forgotten
that this is the land of opportunity? I do not say that lightly,
I have seen time after time those who reached out for a dream and
achieve it on these great shores. I have also seen those who quit
along the way because they thought the cost was too great.
I know America has gotten lost many times on her journey. I know
that there have been those that have suffered greatly from these
mistakes. I also know that 'united we stand and divided we fall'.
John Quincy Adams said, "Posterity - you will never know how
much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope
you will make good use of it." Have we?
If you are disappointed in America and what she has become, I ask
you, who do you blame? Do you blame those who have made the changes,
or those of us that have sat idly by while the country has gone
down some wrong roads?
Nathan Hale was quoted as saying, just before his hanging on September
22, 1776, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for
my country!" What will you choose to do with the life God has
given you? Will you leave this country a better place because you
were here?
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Dear God:
I am disturbed by the fact that the fundamental faith that this country
was founded on is slowly being eroded away by small complaining voices.
I know the institute of religious freedom is also part of our foundation.
I know that every one does not serve the God that I do. I know that
we all have to live here on a common ground and try to get along.
What I do not understand is, when did a minority voice become greater
than the majority? Do we really believe our founding fathers wanted
God taken out of government?
John Adams said, "Statesman may plan and speculate for liberty,
but it is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles
upon which freedom can securely stand." Does this sound like
a man that would want religion out of government?
Samuel Adams said, "We have this day restored the Sovereign,
to whom alone men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and from
the rising to the setting sun, may his kingdom come." Do you
think this man would have approved of the fact that we took the Pledge
of Allegiance out of schools or that 'under God' can’t be said?
President George Washington said, "No people can be bound to
acknowledge and adore the invisible hand which conducts the affairs
of men more that the people of the United States. Every step by which
they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems
to have been distinguished by the some token of providential agency."
Would he have taken Prayer out of school?
What are we letting happen to our government and our nation? The things
that these men stood for are what make our nation great. They knew
that it was under God that this nation was founded and they would
have been appalled that we have let those few who oppose this foundation
reign supreme.
Benjamin Franklin reminded General Washington and congress what hand
had been on this nation from its very foundation. He warned of the
lack of wisdom in not continuing on this course when, during a rather
heated session of the congressional congress, he said, "How has
it happened, sir, that we have not hitherto once though of humbly
applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understands? In
the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible
of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine protection.
"Our prayers, Sirs, were heard and they were graciously answered.
All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequently
instances of Superintending Providence in our favor...And have we
now forgotten that powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer
need His assistance?"
"I have lived, Sirs a long time, and the longer I live, the more
convincing proofs I see of this truth - that God governs in the affairs
of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His aid?
We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that "except
the Lord build the house they labor in vain that build it." I
firmly believe this. I also believe that without His concurring aid
we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders
of Babel; we shall be divided by our little partial local interest;
our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach
and byword down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter
from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing governments
by human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest."
"I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayer imploring
the assistance of Heaven and its blessing on our deliberations to
be held in this Assembled every morning before we proceed to business."
In 1789 Congressional Congress implemented the Franklin recommendation.
The practice continues today at the beginning of each daily meeting
when congress is in session.
Do you want this to be taken from us too? Do you want a nation not
under God? Those that founded this country were also of different
denominations serving the same God yet they pulled to gather for a
common goal and their union empowers them. Christians today however
are so divided that they have disabled their own power. God is about
unity. It is time we forgot our differences and remember our common
goals. It is time we found our voice. Let’s keep this nation
under God.
Robert F. Kennedy said, "Each time a person stands up for an
ideal, or acts to improve a lot of others, or strikes out against
injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each
other from a million different centers of energy and daring, these
ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of
oppression and resistance."
I think it is time we as Christians started a few ripples of our own.
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