FREEDOM TAKES DUTY, HONOR AND COURAGE

FREEDOM TAKES DUTY, HONOR AND COURAGE

By Domenick J. Maglio, PhD., Traditional Realist

It is easy to rely on others to take care of us.  Dependency takes less effort but as soon as the people caring for you are no longer willing or able, the circumstances of one’s life deteriorates. However, being accountable for your own life decisions takes energy and time. Learning to be independent and responsible minimizes the vulnerability of being helpless when facing the hard knocks of living.

Confronting and overcoming difficult situations in life takes courage. Many times people dealing with problems become immobilized due to fear of failure. Those with strong moral values are compelled by honoring their beliefs to do their duty regardless of the possible adverse affects. Practically every time people do a heroic act by putting their lives on the line to save someone else in civilian life or in combat, they usually express the same thing. They did what anyone else would do. It was their duty to assist the person in need. This is not phony humbleness. It is the thinking of an honorable individual.

When people are convinced they have a right to be free, anyone or anything that attempts to restrain or usurp that freedom immediately gives warning that there is something wrong. It might be a governmental bureaucrat who informs them that private property is no longer theirs to use. It may be a business that calls individuals day and night disregarding their privacy or billing them for services not rendered. It might be a professional’s office that makes appointments and keeps the clients waiting for hours. It might be an institution like education, health or military that treats people without dignity or respect.

People not only have a right but a responsibility to stand up regardless of the degree of hassle or retaliation. They should voice their objections about the inappropriateness of other’s actions. This tends to inhibit a person from continuing their obnoxious actions. Standing up to disrespect and discourteous behavior  protects others from suffering the same fate.

Even national leaders should have the honor and courage to go to war rather than to surrender to an overpowering tyrant. Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Great Britain, inherited the unenviable position of being the leader of the British Empire. It was the only power left in Europe to fight for their freedom against Nazi Germany in WWII. Other less resolved nations were overwhelmed by the blitzing power of the German war machine.

Prime Minister Churchill refused to surrender to a superior armed force even after numerous devastating defeats. Churchill’s sense of duty to his nation led him to do incredible acts of valor. He put his life on the line taking long and secret dangerous trips across enemy positions to communicate personally with allied leaders. He made memorable speeches highlighting past heroic British people. He inspired the English people to face insurmountable odds and persevere to victory. The honor and duty of Englishmen emphasized by Churchill did not allow the people to be frightened into submission. He led his people every step of the way to endure the brutal extended periods of bombing of London and crushing defeats by the Nazis to retain their nation.

The responsibility of national leaders is to present a consistent disciplined, honest message to the citizenry. Churchill’s sincere, dignified behavior influenced the people to follow suit in their actions with others. The leader’s role modeling sets the tone of the nation.

The behavior of authority figures does influence the citizenry. The actions of the people rise to the high standard set by them. It is the duty of every citizen to insure being treated as a person with dignity. This requires conviction that overrides our fear of reprisal. In the same manner it takes vigilance to counter the small daily attacks on reducing our ability to think and do things we believe are in our best interest as long as they do not interfere with the rights of others.

When people believe they have the unalienable right to be free bestowed by their creator they rightfully resent individuals, groups or governments who limit their freedom. This powerful articulation from our founding fathers is one of the most important truths that have been the bedrock of America’s exceptionalism.

The enslavement might begin with political correctness by government leaders but the media, educational and business institutions will follow the leader in squelching people’s freedom.

Without courage to do the morally right things we gradually see our inherent freedoms evaporate one by one until we become docile sheeple living under tyranny.  As Edmond Burke warned us, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

Domenick Maglio, PhD. is a columnist carried by various newspapers, an author of several books and owner/director of Wider Horizons School, a college prep program. You can visit Dr. Maglio at www.drmaglio.blogspot.com.

WITHDRAWING THE LEGITIMATE USE OF POWER SPREADS CRISES

WITHDRAWING THE LEGITIMATE USE OF POWER SPREADS CRISES

By Domenick J. Maglio PhD., Traditional Realist

Abdicating one’s power is an irresponsible act. It is easy to sit back and relax rather than worry about preventing future problems. Effective actions usually take planning and execution that requires the person devoting time and effort to do it right. This increases the stress level of someone’s life but it pays great dividends.

Our lives would be less hectic and simpler in the short run if we disregard our responsibilities. But in the long run it will create crises that would require greater time and energy to resolve with less likelihood of success. Once the genie is out of the bottle it is hard to get it back.

Our modern culture is instructing us to relax, self-medicate and be happy. We are not supposed to be preoccupied with children’s misbehavior, potty training, speech or even character development. The same philosophical notion holds true for the child’s unwillingness to contribute to the home and master subjects they do not like in school. When the child has issues at home we blame the other adults in the family. In school we attack the teacher and administration for children’s inappropriateness and laziness.

As citizens we do not keep ourselves informed about our local representative’s legislative actions. It takes too much effort. We love our own representatives since we are saturated with their PR efforts. On the other hand we have no regard for representatives in other parts of the country, especially if they take a controversial stand to do the right things. These patriotic behaviors are usually ridiculed in the media. We are too lazy to research the story under the headlines by using other sources.

Our nation’s view of foreign policy has been that we are the leader of the free world. However our political elites want to relinquish the responsibility of this leadership. The world should take care of itself. The USA’s lack of use of its power (leading from behind) will force other nations to do more. This will eventually create a Utopian world of peace.

Because of this unrealistic fantasy drivel many nations have tested the waters to see if they can obtain what they want through intimidation and military force. Many “two bit” dictators have grandiose ideas of becoming the leader of the world. They are not constrained by concern for other nation’s rights. They presently have no fear of American power stepping in to stop their aggression. This is the same scenario that occurred when America withdrew its power as the world leader under the Carter administration in the late 1970s.

Whenever the benevolent power of a parent, teacher, judge, representative or the president of the US is withdrawn, inappropriate acting out and evil will eventually fill the vacuum. Undisciplined parents, judges, teachers, local, state and national leaders, who are not judiciously administering power will create resentment, lawlessness and ultimately open rebellion.

Responsible use of power to develop moral values and punish wrong doers establishes societal order. Appropriate behavior becomes the standard to judge others. Courageously standing up to overt aggression is a formula for developing internal and international stability.

Eternal order and peace will not be achieved given the imperfections of humans and the willingness of some to cross the line into immorality and perversion. Avoiding taking a principled stand shows weakness, not strength. Appeasement of our subordinates creates an environment for future insubordination.

Improving our children’s potential, our institutions and national leadership require long-term conscientious day in and day out positive role modeling by all authority figures, especially parents. They should not shrink from their responsibilities but embrace them. A leader leads with a strong moral conscience

Righteous people need to stand up to evil to save us from it. The wisdom of their decisions will shine the light to guide the people to a high level of exceptionality as a nation.

In our short history as a nation we have been graced with leaders of moral character. Americans need to execute their responsibilities with dignity on a personal, familial and professional level.  America should elect representatives on every level of government whose main goal is the self-interest of the nation rather than just their own. 

Once we perform our duties with utmost morality in our everyday lives we will be more aware and sensitive to choosing better leaders on every level. These people will courageously act to teach and protect their charges rather than sit on their hands due to laziness, selfishness or personal gain.

Domenick Maglio, PhD. is a columnist carried by various newspapers, an author of several books and owner/director of Wider Horizons School, a college prep program. You can visit Dr. Maglio at www.drmaglio.blogspot.com.

MOVING FROM SECULARISM TO ATHEISM AS A STATE RELIGION

MOVING FROM SECULARISM TO ATHEISM AS A STATE RELIGION

By Domenick J. Maglio PhD. Traditional Realist

America was founded as a religious haven for Europeans persecuted for their religious beliefs.  What many of the first settlers wanted was freedom to practice their religion without repercussions from the government. Our nation has been a beacon of religious freedom throughout the world for the past three centuries.

Our founders were God-fearing men. They convened all their political functions with a prayer. References to God are in full view inside and outside our historical government buildings. The personal and official authors spoke openly concerning the Supreme Being. The first amendment to the Constitution states that all people have the freedom to practice religion equally and openly under the law. There is no wall of separation between church and the federal government mentioned in the Constitution, nor is there any disallowing the freedom to discuss or practice Christianity or any other religion. There is a direct prohibition against establishing a national religion.

In our post 1960 progressive, secular revolution a frontal attack has been unleashed on Christianity. Recently in the United States we have seen a spectacular rise in atheism and a repression of anything Christian. Public prayer has practically become an illegal act. A prayer no longer introduces most government meetings. Mentioning God in a commencement ceremony has become shockingly controversial national news.

Ministers and pastors are being intimidated by the IRS as to what they can say. The military has removed references to God from their training manuals. Military chaplains are not allowed to counsel using Biblical references. Atheist “chaplains” have been established and given the same rights by our military as those religiously trained.

 “Freedom from religion” is really repression of Christianity. Some are calling atheism the new secular religion. The federal government’s promoting of atheism and significantly limiting Christianity is approaching the violation of our First Amendment rights. The belief in no God signals that government alone thinks it has the power to create a plentiful, peaceful and just world. This is promoting allegiance and reverence for an all-powerful government, which has been an essential element in all communist and fascist dictatorships.

Antonio Gramsci, a prominent Italian communist intellectual, noted in the 1920s that Christian moral values had to be undermined and eliminated for communism to take root with the people. It is for this reason; communist nations eventually deny citizens the opportunity to practice Christianity openly. Christianity had to be repressed for the state to replace it as the ultimate force of what is good and bad for the people.

Currently the freedom to express and practice Christianity worldwide is under attack. The United States is silent about hundreds of thousands of Christians being persecuted and killed in the Middle East and Africa. The United States has contributed little military assistance, humanitarian aid and no verbal outrage against the atrocities that have happened.

Atheists are targeting the symbol of Christianity, the cross, across the nation. Crosses that have been present for decades in national parks are being forcefully removed. Even crosses in cemeteries and roadside shrines are being called discriminatory against non-believers. Christmas and Easter have been significantly undermined as religious national holidays. They are currently being referred to as “Happy Holidays” and the “spring holiday.” Even Christ has been removed from Xmas. The nativity displays have been prohibited in public space by often just a single request.

The Affordable Care Act is a nationally imposed health program. It is requiring Christian organizations and businesses with strong Christian convictions to buy services although they oppose it on religious grounds. These services include abortion on demand, contraceptive device distribution and progressive sexual education. It is an obvious ignoring of their First Amendment rights.

Non-spiritual men did not found the USA. They did not seek a society based on a belief in no God. All religions were welcome to lawfully practice the beliefs of their choice, including atheism. The concept of religious freedom was inclusive, not exclusive. The founders were wise men that often called upon God for guidance.

Our progressive national government has no Constitutional right to inhibit Christianity. Neither does it have the right to sanction and facilitate the establishment of the belief in “no God”- atheism, or promote science as a quasi religion. Albert Einstein, one of the most revered scientists in history, and many other prominent scientists, have noted the hand of God in their sophisticated investigations of the inspirationally beautiful interconnections of the universe.

A vigorous free nation does not attempt to control the speech and thoughts and beliefs of its people. A so-called “secular society” whose national government suppresses Christianity or imposes any one religion on its people, is not secular. It is either a theocracy or a totalitarian government.

Domenick Maglio, PhD. is a columnist carried by various newspapers, an author of several books and owner/director of Wider Horizons School, a college prep program. You can visit Dr. Maglio at www.drmaglio.blogspot.com.