Bob Nicholas

There are a lot of news stories right now about the usage of the Confederate Flag.

Now let me be very clear: I’m not sure where I stand on whether the flag is a symbol of racism. I do not know enough about the history. This is not a post intended to discuss the racial, or lack of racial, history of the flag or the Confederate army/ideals.

The Confederate Flag was used by the south during the Civil War. I am not a student of Civil War history, and so I’m not an expert. But I do want to consider one part of the argument. Just because the flag is racist or not (I’m not sure either way), is irrelevant. Our Constitution and Bill of Rights provide Free Speech. Of course this “freedom” is trampled on all of the time, but it is provided to every person in the United States.

I don’t understand why we allow ourselves to be compromised by this stuff. Remember The American President? Great movie! Here is one of my favorite lines from the movie:

“The symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then you can stand up and sing about the land of the free.”

Should not the opposite be true as well?

As a white person I have to listen to the unReverend Jesse Jackson and other African American’s who hate white people. I dismiss them, just like I dismiss the white people who call African Americans names and speak terrible hatred from their mouths.

As a Catholic I am stuck listening to all of the ill-catechized Catholics say they want to vote for Obama who stands firm is his anti-Catholic and pro-death stance. I’m stuck listening to Gary Wills write complete junk and completely misrepresent the Church and what it means to be Catholic, let alone what it means to be obedient to the Church teachings.

As a moral and sometimes level headed person I have to live and listen to people like Hugh Heffner, Howard Stern, Rush Limbaugh, and every other morally degenerate person. I have to listen to the pro-death side of the homicide abortion issue tell me that a billion babies aren’t worth discussing because every woman should be able to commit murder. And I have to listen to those that would ruin our beautiful country by electing someone who doesn’t care about Americans.

But these are examples of the free speech God gave us, and which is present in our founding documents as a country. It is what makes the United States of America great.

None of them should be able to speak in public in my opinion. Not one. Not a racist, not a person who misrepresents their faith, not a propaganda spreading extremist, not someone who doesn’t care for the most innocent of us… Not one of them.

But lucky for them, and for me, our founding fathers and our God give all of us the right to free speech. President Shephard in The American President also says this,

“You want free speech? Let’s see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil who is standing center stage advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours.”

Let’s stop fighting unconstitutional battles in court. Let’s stop fighting about what we can and cannot say. It can all be said. The battle to fight has nothing to do with what someone says and everything to do with what we say to their soul. We will never get someone to understand God’s plan for the world by telling them to shut up.

“The battle belongs to the Lord.” We don’t have to speak to the racist, or the murderers, or the propaganda. We speak on a higher and deeper level. If we pay more attention to God’s plan, and allow Him to do His work as King and God, our words will speak to people’s souls.

A soul always longs for God.

There are a lot of predictions, opinions, viewpoints, and emotions regarding the nomination of Barak Obama by the Democrats. I’ve read countless blogs, articles and other writings from multiple points of view. I particularly like most of what one blogger writes. Ck out http://maxdaddy.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/look-at-you-america/

I think the blogger noted above has a good perspective on things and notes that while his nomination is a victory, the war is not over. I add personally that this nominee is Not the best America has to offer. (For that matter neither is John McCain.)

While most will let this event pass without notice, and some will with anger, I believe the Democratic Nominee has broken some binds that have long existed and opened the door for further dialog of racial equality. However, does his nomination reduce racism, or even kill it?

And so I ask you Off Brand Society; why are you voting or not voting for Barak Obama?

Are you voting based on race? Or based on issues?

I am not voting for either party for their political prowess or Christian morality. To be honest if I was voting on that premise I’d have to deny my citizenship.

But I feel comfortable saying that regardless of the lacking of ethics and moral fiber of either candidate, their parties have long proven stronghold issues. I am not a member of neither corrupt party and will never a-join myself to such a mockery of the Founding Fathers ideals of a Democratic Society.

But here is some reality based on fundamental issues and political platforms.

(1) A vote for Barak Obama is a vote for a party that without question denies the power of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence. A vote for the Democrats is to accept in increasing quantity the complete disregard to the law as illustrated by the CA Judge’s decision to allow gay marriage. How can a simple Judge (they want to think they are powerful but under it all they wear pants just like you and I) rule that a law signed by the Governor is unconstitutional without the Supreme Courts backing?

(2) A vote for any Democrat is to further the culture of Death that plagues our country and the rights of the unborn will continue to be desecrated in mass quantity without end. You tax dollars and mine will be used to further the “right” of every irresponsible or ill-educated young person to legally kill a child and “protect” their future and their image.

(3) A vote for democrats is to spit on the sanctity of Marriage as a Sacrament of the Church between a Man and a Woman as God ordained.

(4) And then there is the foreign policy that both Obama and Hilary Clinton embrace. Let’s remove our troops as fast as possible from Iraq, I mean we shouldn’t be there in the first place. You are right, we should not be there. I agree completely. But we ARE there and that is done. Agree or not. Should we just run out of town and leave the good folk over there to fend for themselves? That would create a terrorist vacuum not yet seen by man. Leaving is right, pulling out immediately is wrong and does 2 things: (1) it again shows the world that America is a selfish whore who doesn’t keep promises and (2) increases rather than decreases the threat of violence against the United States. This is not the opinion of some conservative politician, it’s my opinion.

(5) And lastly, universal heath care. Ah yes, the first thing mentioned by Obama in his speech earlier this week. The right of every American to proper health care. I agree with the “intent” of the democrats on this issue. Every CITIZEN should have access to proper medical care. However I don’t believe the all powerful government should foot the bill for this, and guess what, neither do they. Has anyone looked at how much money both Clinton and Obama have proposed spending and compared that to the amount of available funds? And no my friends, even the war money can’t solve this math equation. Fact is in order for his plan to work our taxes will need to significantly increase. And not even the Memphis City Council’s 18 cent tax decrease can cover this. The problem here is that those supporting universal health care are not looking at the problem; they are only looking at band aids. The problem is that the health care system makes too much money. Look at the difference between what a Workers’ compensation Insurance company pays for medical procedures, and then compare that to what our personal insurance pays. It’s unbelievable. Our personal health insurance is so high because the costs charged by health care companies and doctors are too high. Let’s address the problem of the health care industry charging too much before we try to just write a check.

These are just some of the issues to consider when voting this fall. Do not get blinded by the sun reflecting off of McCain’s lack of a tan, or by the ideal of resolving racism with a black president. Vote on issues. Vote on Christian morality. Vote on reality.

St. Joseph, pray for us that we may vote for Christ and not for man.