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Why the Gun Is Civilization

11/30/2015

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gun is civilization

​​By: Marko Kloos  
 

Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. If you want me to do something for you, you have a choice of either convincing me via argument, or force me to do your bidding under threat of force. Every human interaction falls into one of those two categories, without exception. Reason or force, that's it.

In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclusively interact through persuasion. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.

When I carry a gun, you cannot deal with me by force. You have to use reason and try to persuade me, because I have a way to negate your threat or employment of force. The gun is the only personal weapon that puts a 100-pound woman on equal footing with a 220-pound mugger, a 75-year old retiree on equal footing with a 19-year old gangbanger, and a single gay guy on equal footing with a carload of drunk guys with baseball bats. The gun removes the disparity in physical strength, size, or numbers between a potential attacker and a defender.

There are plenty of people who consider the gun as the source of bad force equations. These are the people who think that we'd be more civilized if all guns were removed from society, because a firearm makes it easier for a mugger to do his job. That, of course, is only true if the mugger's potential victims are mostly disarmed either by choice or by legislative fiat–it has no validity when most of a mugger's potential marks are armed. People who argue for the banning of arms ask for automatic rule by the young, the strong, and the many, and that's the exact opposite of a civilized society. A mugger, even an armed one, can only make a successful living in a society where the state has granted him a force monopoly.

Then there's the argument that the gun makes confrontations lethal that otherwise would only result in injury. This argument is fallacious in several ways. Without guns involved, confrontations are won by the physically superior party inflicting overwhelming injury on the loser. People who think that fists, bats, sticks, or stones don't constitute lethal force watch too much TV, where people take beatings and come out of it with a bloody lip at worst. The fact that the gun makes lethal force easier works solely in favor of the weaker defender, not the stronger attacker. If both are armed, the field is level. The gun is the only weapon that's as lethal in the hands of an octogenarian as it is in the hands of a weightlifter. It simply wouldn't work as well as a force equalizer if it wasn't both lethal and easily employable.

When I carry a gun, I don't do so because I am looking for a fight, but because I'm looking to be left alone. The gun at my side means that I cannot be forced, only persuaded. I don't carry it because I'm afraid, but because it enables me to be unafraid. It doesn't limit the actions of those who would interact with me through reason, only the actions of those who would do so by force. It removes force from the equation...and that's why carrying a gun is a civilized act.


This article was originally published on The Patriot Post (PatriotPost.US).
It is shared here with permission.

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Celebrating Thanksgiving

11/20/2015

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First Thanksgiving
The First Thanksgiving

By the time they reached the shores of America, the Pilgrims had sacrificed much of what they held dear to worship God.  They left their native country, family, friends, home, livelihood and many of the comforts of life, and landed in a cold and hostile wilderness.  

William Bradford tells us, “Being thus arrived in a good harbor, and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of Heaven who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean, and delivered them from all the perils and miseries thereof, again to set their feet  on the firm and stable earth, their proper element.”

But their troubles were far from over.  Bradford recounts, “It pleased God to visit us then with death daily, and with so general a disease that the living were scarce able to bury the dead.”  More than half of the Pilgrims died the first winter.

And yet, when spring arrived and the captain of their ship offered to return them to England for free, not one Pilgrim accepted his invitation.  Their faith in God gave them the strength to persevere.

Governor William Bradford declared, “Thus out of small beginnings greater things have grown by His hand. Who made all things out of nothing, and gives being to all things that are; and as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light enkindled here has shone to many, yea, in a sense, to our whole nation; let the glorious name of Jehovah have all the praise.”

The Pilgrims were willing to sacrifice everything for the freedom to worship God as they believed.  In so doing, they laid the foundation for the creation of the greatest nation in the history of the world.

As we enjoy a feast with friends and loved ones, let’s take time to give thanks to God, to retell the story of the Pilgrims and the incredible price they paid to be faithful, and to recommit ourselves to pay the price to be true in our day. 

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving!  

Here are some resources to help your family create happy, meaningful memories.

Watch
  • The Thanksgiving Story for Children
  • Plimoth Plantation Virtual Field Trips
  • The Story of Thanksgiving
  • William Bradford for Kids
  • Squanto, the Legendary Friend of the Pilgrims
  • Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving
  • Let’s Learn about the Mayflower
  • The Mayflower Story
  • A Thanksgiving Message from Ronald Reagan

Do
  • Work together to prepare your Thanksgiving feast and to clean up afterwards.
  • Do something nice for a military family and tell them how thankful you are for them.
  • Help refugees or other immigrants in your community.
  • Make or draw "We Are Thankful for You" posters or pictures and deliver them to friends and neighbors.  Kids love to make it an anonymous surprise.  Tape the picture to the front door or on the windshield of a car, ring the doorbell, and run.
  • Take pictures of things you are thankful for and make a "Gratitude Scrapbook."
  • The Pilgrims and Indians had friendly competitions.  You could participate in the local Turkey Trot, play games like catch, football, horseshoes, or frisbee golf.  
  • Make Pilgrim Hats and Indian Headdresses for the kids.
  • Do the Five Kernels of Corn activity.
  • Make a Gratitude Craft.
  • Do some Plimoth.org: Just for Kids Activities.
  • Do some Apples4theTeacher.com Activities.

Read
  • The Pilgrims Depart from the Old World
  • Pilgrims Arrive in the New World
  • The Mayflower Compact
  • Stories of the Pilgrims 
  • Plimoth.org: Just for Kids
  • Five Kernels of Corn
  • George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation
  • Abraham LIncoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation
  • Thanksgiving Quotations
  • Paying the Price to Be True​
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The Story of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic"

11/18/2015

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PictureJulia Ward Howe

On a day much like this one, in November of 1861, Julia Ward Howe wrote the words to a song that encouraged the Union soldiers, influenced the course of the Civil War, and perhaps changed the course of history. 

This is the inspiring story behind that song, “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” as told by Julia's great-great-great grandson.

It's a story we can share with our children to give them inspiration and confidence as they face the challenges ahead.
​



"I awoke in the grey of the morn­ing, and as I lay wait­ing for dawn, the long lines of the de­sired poem be­gan to en­twine them­selves in my mind. Having thought out all the stanzas, I said to my­self, 'I must get up and write these vers­es, lest I fall asleep again and for­get them!' So I sprang out of bed and in the dim­ness found an old stump of a pen, which I re­mem­bered us­ing the day be­fore. I scrawled the vers­es al­most with­out look­ing at the p­aper."

​
​
Battle Hymn of the Republic

Lyrics: Julia Ward Howe

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.


Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence in the dim and flaring lamps;
His day is marching on.


Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on.


In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free;
While God is marching on.


Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on.



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Celebrating Veterans Day and Honoring Veterans

11/11/2015

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Picture

​As  Americans, we live in abundant freedom, peace, and prosperity.  Few people in all the history of the world have enjoyed the blessings we often take for granted.  

But there is a price attached to freedom.  Our men and women in the military sacrifice every day.  Many live in hell, some fight and are wounded, others pay the ultimate price.  Each one sacrifices much they hold dear to keep us free. 

Here are some great ways to honor our veterans as we celebrate Veterans Day.  

  • Attend your local Veterans Day Parade.  Wear red, white, and blue.  Take pictures.  Express appreciation to any veterans you may see.  Invite your kids to look for opportunities to say thank-you too.  Usually, even teens come home happy they went.

  • Take a veteran out to eat. Many restaurants and eating places offer discounts or free food on Veterans Day. Take a favorite veteran or two out for a treat. They will remember your kindness for a very long time. 
​
  • Visit with a veteran.  Whether you call, visit them, or invite a vet into your home, this can become a favorite family tradition.  My dad and father-in-law both served in World War II. We have called them for Veterans Day and Memorial Day and invited them to tell us about their experiences.  Of course, we've heard the same stories before, but we never get tired of them.  We hope our kids tell them to our grandkids so our family legacy is passed from one generation to the next.

  • Thank a military family.  You could make them a card or a poster and take them a treat.  Tell them how grateful you are for the sacrifices they are making (or have made) for our country.  Be sure to make plenty of treats so your family can have some when you return home. 

  • Pray for those who are serving and their families.  Talk about some of the sacrifices military families make, and ask God to bless them.  

  • Watch "The Price of Freedom."   It's an amazing tribute, a powerful history lesson, and a touching musical you will always remember.

  • Serve.  Not everyone serves in the military, but we can all do something to lighten the burdens of those who do and their families.  Talk with your family about the best way you can help. The happy glow that comes from serving others may be your favorite part of the holiday. 

  • Keep a family history book. Include in it stories of grandpas, uncles, and other family members who have served in the military. Share inspirational experiences and include plenty of pictures. A family history book can become a favorite source for bedtime stories! 

  • Set up a tent. Talk about what the life of a soldier is like.  If it's too cold outside, you could set up a tent in the house, complete with sleeping bags, snacks, and great stories.

  • Read or tell a patriotic story.  Share your feelings about the blessings we enjoy in America.  If you don't have any stories handy, you could read "A Story from One of My Favorite Veterans" or "7 Heartwarming Veterans Stories" or "I Knew You Would Come."  Or you could watch some of the videos at PatrioticMoms.com, like the video of soldiers being reunited with their families. ​
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