Category: History

Nena Dutch Army

99 Luftballoons – January 1983 Remembered

The Beginning Of The End

In January of 1983, I was beginning the last semester of my Senior Year in High School. And the only thing on my mind was leaving home and heading off to college. I had arranged my schedule where I had just one required course – English Literature for Seniors – basically college prep, and an elective class – German III. The remainder of my day was a mix of working in the office/homeroom – which became an extended, often off campus lunch time. A class on being a consumer. The concept being that we would learn everything from buying cars to homes, financing, taxes etc. – My assignment, as the only Senior was to set up interesting field trips to expand our knowledge base. And a few other classes like that which required very little homework, or study. I was working about 30 hours a week at the new Tom Thumb Supermarket and did not have the time to mess with homework. If it couldn’t be finished at school, in class, or during homeroom, it did not get completed.

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Thanksgiving

Though not the first to celebrate Thanksgiving in the new world, the Pilgrims have given us one of the first calls by civil authorities to give thanks to God...How can you ignore God’s role in our prosperity in a Thanksgiving message of all places?

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Where Was God During 9/11?

It seems every time there is a national tragedy or terrorist attack or seemingly any random act of violence, the question comes up, "Where is God?" A discussion of God's promises of protection.

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Norway Terror Attack

Norway Terror Attack

The facts aren’t all in yet, but a quick search of Google shows that the worldwide media is gleefully reporting the “Conservative, Christian, Right-wing Radical” meme. At least one German paper acknowleged in the opening sentence of one of their reports that the motive is not known. That was nice.

When we see attacks like this we automatically assume that they have an islamic root. The reasons are quite obvious. Most terrorist attacks for that last 25 years have been done in the name of islam. It is a simple fact. There have been over 17,000 attacks just since 9/11. This does not mean that all Muslims are terrorists. But there is plenty of evidence that the majority of attacks have been launched by Muslims in the name of Islam.

Now, like the Oklahoma City bombing before, we are faced with an attack that on the suface appears to be from a native Norwegian with unknown motives. But sometimes, things aren’t always as they seem. In the OKC case, there was ample evidence of islamic involvement that has been swept under the rug for decades. President Clinton instead used the attack as an opportunity to blame Conservative talk radio.

We should never assume anything until all the facts are investigated. It is just as bad to automatically assume it was inspired by Islam as it is to assume that it was motivated by Christianity – a humorous conclusion I will debunk later in this blog. Let’s remember the Giffords case where the media automatically blamed the TEA Party and Sarah Palin when the perp turned out to be a leftist lunatic.

But take a look at a few of the comments I culled from the Interweb:

A Christian — another prime example of why one can’t be normal and be one.  If one didn’t realize this guy was from Norway he would sound like a recent graduate of the tea parties boot camp.

Perhaps NOW Homeland Security will start taking the threat of Tea Party terrorism seriously.

 

Yep, those darn Christians and TEA Partiers should be locked up before they go all Timothy McVeigh on the world. Geez.

But let’s focus on the Christian terrorist theme – an oxymoron for the ages. Can someone cite the verse in the New Testament where Jesus commands his followers to go on a murdering spree?

I don’t care what this nut’s Facebook page might say, the man is not a Christian. To be a Christian means to imitate Christ. We do that by living a life with one simple commandment – Love God with all our heart, and love others as ourselves. Obviously, this man failed in this area. He may have received Christ at some point in his life. He may have been a member of a church. But he was greatly under the influence of the evil one. The Holy Spirit would NEVER direct someone to murder children or set off explosives in hopes of murder and mayhem.

And that my friends is the crux of the problem. There is good and evil in this world. A spiritual battle is raging behind the scenes and those that willingly follow the wishes of Satan can be easily swayed to do all sorts of evil from murder to rape to slaughtering millions by famine or mass executions. If you are spiritually dead, whether you admit it or not, Satan controls you. There is no middle ground, and no lawful neutral alignment. But even if you are born again, you have to continually renew your mind with the Word of God and resist the devil’s temptations.

 

In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So you’ll recognize them by their fruit. — Matthew 7:17-20 HCSB

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Battle of Thermopylae

Battle of Thermopylae

I was fortunate to be one of the first to see the movie “300” opening day in Dallas. This was one of the few films scheduled for release in 2007 that I was eager to view. Needless to say, I was very impressed. It is based on a version created by Frank Miller of “Sin City” fame and while the film is quite embellished, it does follow closely the orginal story of the Battle of Thermopylae.

For those that don’t have any interest in history or just didn’t pay attention in school, here is a brief background on this important event.

In the 5th century BC, Persia was the dominant world power. They had conquered most of what we now know as the Middle East and controlled vast amounts of territory and people including many Greek colonists living in Asia Minor (modern Turkey). The Greeks were not the dominant power they would later become under Alexander, but were made up of many feuding, often warring city states with Athens and Sparta always at odds over dominance in the region. Their presence in the eastern Meditteranean would naturally bring them into contact and conflict with the Persian Empire.

During an Ionian (Greek colonists) revolt, the Athenians came to their aid and put Greece (and specifically Athens) right in the cross-hairs of the Persian King Darius. The Persian army attacked and was beaten at the Battle of Marathon. The race of the same name was named after a herald that had run the 20+ miles from the battle to Athens to announce the victory. Although Darius died before returning to Greece, his son Xerxes swore revenge against the Greeks.

Xerxes built an army and navy that has been estimated as large as 2 million men and over 1,000 ships. This force included many Greek allies who decided Persia was a safer bet than the feuding Greek city states. As the Persian army marched down towards Athens, the call went out to the remaining free Greek cities to join the fight against Persia. King Leonidas of Sparta answered the call, but was prevented from taking the entire Spartan army because of a religious festival. Instead, Leonidas assembled 300 Spartans, his personal guard and only those that had adult sons, to accompany him to the pass of Thermopylae – a strong, defensible choke point.

Sparta was the most militarily advanced of Greek city states and their presence, however small, would rally other cities. Every citizen was trained from youth to be a complete soldier. Surrender was never an option.

In all, approximately 7,000 Greeks arrived at Thermopylae to face the Persian horde. The narrow pass prevented the Persians from employing their cavalry, which was their only real tactical advantage other than numbers. The other large contingents included 1,000 Phocians who were tasked with guarding the one known flanking path around the mountains and 700 Thespians that would play a crucial final role in the battle later.

After the usual diplomatic pleas for surrender were rejected, a Persian proclaimed that they would, “…blot out the sun with their arrows.” Dienekes, a Spartan dryly replied, “Then we will fight in the shade.”

The first couple of days were a complete slaughter. The Spartans and their allies fighting in their typical phalanx formation were too strong for the various Persian attempts to breakthrough. Xerxes even orderd his famous Immortals into the fray only to have them fall back.

A Greek traitor named Ephialtes informed him of a path around Thermopylae and offered to guide the Persian army through the pass for a reward. Xerxes sent the Immortals who surprised the Phocians who had not really expected the Persian army to appear.

Leonidas heard of the flanking move and the retreat of the Phocians. He ordered the bulk of the Greek army to retreat before they were encircled. His 300 Spartans and 700 Thespians agreed to hold the pass until the very end. This time they marched forward to attack and kill as many Persians as possible. When the Persians approached from the rear, they climbed a small hill where they made their last stand. A sky full of arrows finally decimated the remaining soldiers. Archaeologists have confirmed the massive arrow attack from digs at the site.

The delaying action and attrition of the Persians drained the morale and will of Xerxes. A naval defeat at Salamis and a decisive win by the Greeks at Plataea led by the entire Spartan army, would end any further Persian incursions. Alexander the Great would later lead a united Greek expedition that would completely conquer all of the Persian empire.

Historians have noted the importance of this battle for centuries. Greek culture would become the foundation of Western Civilization. If Greece had fallen to Persia, the world as we know it would be radically different.

But more importantly, it showed that a small determined force can play a vital role in delaying an overwhelming attack and play a major role in defeating a determined enemy. The actions at Thermopylae have been compared to futile last stands such as The Alamo or successful ones like Rorke’s Drift.

It has always amazed me how the actions of only a few can change history. God Bless all those people throughout history that have fought and/or died defending freedom against tyranny.

Originally published March 12, 2007 read more

Remember Goliad!

Goliad Massacre – Texas Revolution

For those who hate history, or specifically hate Texas history, read no further. For those who like myself see the benefit of remembering key moments in history, read on…

On Palm Sunday, March 27, 1836, under direct orders from General Santa Anna, nearly 400 Texas prisoners were executed by the Mexican Army.

What was the significance of this atrocity? It was one more egregious act on the part of Santa Anna that included the massacre of the Alamo’s defenders, as well as several smaller incidents throughout the Texas War of Independence. Here is a brief summary of the events surrounding the execution.

Colonel James Fannin, commanding about 300 men at Goliad had been summoned to the Alamo’s defense. He at first attempted to make the journey, but soon gave up trying to move men and cannon to San Antonio. A series of engagements led to his small army’s surrender and they were imprisoned at Goliad. They had surrendered under the assumption they were to be treated as prisoners of war, possibly ransomed back to families in the United States.

Conflicting orders kept the commanding officer, Col. José Nicolás de la Portilla from taking initial action. But direct orders from Santa Anna arrived on March 26, telling Portilla to immediately execute all prisoners. This contradicted previous orders of fair treatment made by junior officers.

At 8 am, all able-bodied prisoners were marched out in three columns in different directions. The men all assumed they would be eventually released. They were told they were going to be put to work gathering wood or some other tasks. A few miles outside of town, the Mexicans aimed their weapons and fired at point blank range killing many men instantly. The survivors were stabbed with bayonets. The bodies were gathered in heaps and burned.

Once they realized their fate, many men took off in various directions but were lanced by Calvary or otherwise hunted down. Approximately 28 men escaped to describe the events at Goliad. Another 20 were assisted by the, “Angel of Goliad”, a beautiful lady by the name of Francita Alavez, who was a Mexican who interceded on behalf of some physicians and orderlies held captive.

On April 21, under the rallying cry of, “Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!”, a small Texas force under General Sam Houston routed the Mexican Army. They later captured Santa Anna dressed as a common soldier. Many Texans wanted to hang Santa Anna for his crimes, but Houston decided to treat him with the dignity that he failed to show fellow Texans.

The Battle of San Jacinto secured independence for Texas and ended the conflict. Texas would remain an independent country for several years before joining the United States.

The bodies of those executed at Goliad were gathered and buried with military honors on June 3, 1836. Many of the survivors attended the ceremonies.

The common grave remained unmarked until about 1858, when a Goliad merchant, George von Dohlen, placed a pile of rocks on what was believed to be the site. In April 1885 a memorial was finally erected, in the city of Goliad rather than on the site, by the Fannin Monument Association, formed by William L. Hunter, a massacre survivor. A massive pink granite monument was dedicated on June 4, 1938 and still stands today.

We owe are freedom to people like these. Men and women who are willing to stand against tyrants and possibly pay the ultimate price should never be forgotten.

Originally published March 27, 2007. read more

Who’s Your Spiritual Daddy?

I recently read an article that challenged its readers with a quiz. Taking violent verses out of the Koran and Bible, the challenge was to name the source for the verse. The object of course was to prove that all religions are inherently evil – at least I think that was the point.

I do agree that individual verses without context can be twisted to mean just about anything. If we are drawing a comparison strictly between Christianity and Islam, there is a much better comparison – look at the founder and the fruit. There is a major difference between the life of Christ and the life of the prophet. Islam was spread almost exclusively by violent attacks and has been at war with civilization for over 1400 years – wiping out Christians, Jews, Hindus and other faiths in their path. For a good chronology of the spread of Islam click here and here. Rape, murder and violence were established as acceptable behavior from the very beginning and have continued into the present day.

Contrast that with the life of Christ (the founder and head of the Christian Church) and the true example of Christianity. I challenge you to find anywhere in his life where he raped or stoned anyone, attacked any villages for financial gain or destroyed any towns – in fact he rebuked his disciples for even suggesting that thought. (Luke 9:51-54) He also said if you have seen him (Jesus) you have seen the Father. (John 14)

Jesus healed the sick, forgave sinners, fed the masses and promptly ended any funeral he came upon by raising the dead! In the end, he willingly gave his life for all mankind – even those that refuse God’s love and forgiveness. If you want an ideal man to imitate, you can’t find anyone more perfect than Jesus Christ.

You will know people by their fruit. There may be some that do terrible things in the name of God, but that does not mean they are doing God’s will. John 10:10 is the dividing line in the Bible. Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy. Jesus came to give life (God’s love life) and all its abundance. That is your measuring stick as to what is from God and what is not. By their actions, you will discern their true spiritual father.

By reading and meditating John 10:10, it becomes obvious there is a spiritual battle in this world and there is no such thing as neutrality. While you live on this earth you still have a choice of which team to join. Here’s a hint: One side has already won the war.

Everyone needs to ask – who is my spiritual father? If it is anyone other than Jesus, I would highly recommend an immediate change of heart.

Secularists like to drag out the tired trope that religion is the cause of all evil. And I would agree, if that religion was created and ruled by anyone other than Christ. Secularism is merely a modern form of idolatry that places the state, or even the individual, in place of God. I think I would prefer my chances with God and His morality based on love, rather than someone who thinks they are God. read more

Texas Independence

On March 1, 1836, 59 delegates met at Washington-on-the-Brazos and decided whether to declare their independence from an increasingly hostile Mexican government. By day 2, March 2nd, they had ratified and signed their declaration. The document listed several charges against Mexico including:

It denies us the right of worshipping the Almighty according to the dictates of our own conscience, by the support of a national religion, calculated to promote the temporal interest of its human functionaries, rather than the glory of the true and living God.

It has demanded us to deliver up our arms, which are essential to our defence, the rightful property of freemen, and formidable only to tyrannical governments.

We, therefore, the delegates with plenary powers of the people of Texas, in solemn convention assembled, appealing to a candid world for the necessities of our condition, do hereby resolve and declare, that our political connection with the Mexican nation has forever ended, and that the people of Texas do now constitute a free, Sovereign, and independent republic…

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Suggestions For Earth Day!

Suggestions For Earth Day!

As luck would have it, today is Earth Day, that wonderful day we celebrate the planet instead of its Creator. Al Gore be praised!

To help you make the most of this glorious day, here are some suggestions on how to make the most of it.

10. Vladimir Lenin’s Birthday – To celebrate Earth Day, and the birthday of Vladimir Lenin (one of the most ruthless socialists ever), whose 100th birthday just by pure coincidence fell on the first Earth Day in 1970, make a batch of no-bake cookies. Remember we don’t want to “waste” any energy today, so better do the no-bake kind. Decorate them with a red hammer and sickle in honor of Lenin!

9. Day Without Lights – Go the whole day without lights, music, cooking or computer. Sit in the dark and contemplate how much better your life would be if Al Gore ruled the world.

8. Build a Birdhouse out of Trash – Why send your trash to some landfill to break down into fertilizer for future generations. Grab the wastebasket, and put your creative ability to work making a home for the birds. Remember, this must be done in the dark.

7. Al Gore’s Words of Wisdom – We can’t watch Al Gore’s film An Inconvenient Truth without power, but we can quote Al Gore’s words of wisdom repeatedly. Here are a few to get you started:

Future generations may well have occasion to ask themselves, “What were our parents thinking? Why didn’t they wake up when they had a chance?”

I’m Al Gore, I used to be the next president of the United States of America.

It’s important to rescue the frog.

Should we prepare for other threats besides terrorists?

I don’t really consider this a political issue, I consider it to be a moral issue.

We have here a scales that balances two different things. On one side, we have gold bars! Mmmmmm, don’t they look good? I’d just like to have some of those gold bars. Mmmmm. On the other side of the scales… um… THE ENTIRE PLANET! Hmmmm…

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True Heroes

True Heroes

The “hero” title gets thrown around a whole lot these days. But since it is Veteran’s Day, I thought it appropriate to highlight a few Medal of Honor recipients through the years. What some of these men accomplished is extraordinary. If you ever have some free time, read all the MOH winners’ stories. These are some true American heroes.

World War 1

Alvin Cullum York (December 13, 1887 – September 2, 1964) was a United States soldier, famous as a World War I hero. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine gun nest, taking 32 machine guns, killing 28 German soldiers and capturing 132 others during the U.S.-led Meuse-Argonne Offensive in France.

As a devout Christian he had applied for conscientious objector status, but it was denied. With his officers all down, he took command and overran German positions and took over 100 prisoners. His sharpshooting skills were the result of frequent hunting trips used for survival in rural Tennessee.

Sergeant York was a movie starring Gary Cooper that told Alvin York’s story.

World War 2

Desmond T. Doss (January 17, 1919–March 23, 2006) was the first conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor (Cpl. Thomas W. Bennett, an army medic during the Vietnam war, is the only other). He was a Private First Class (at the time of his Medal of Honor heroics) in the U.S. Army assigned to the Medical Detachment, 307th Infantry, 77th Infantry Division.

Throughout training, his superiors tried their best to break him and make him quit because of his refusal to carry a weapon and his unwillingness to kill because he was a devout Christian. But when he was placed in a combat situation, he more than proved his worth. From his citation during combat on Okinawa:

He was a company aid man when the 1st Battalion assaulted a jagged escarpment 400 feet (120 m) high. As our troops gained the summit, a heavy concentration of artillery, mortar and machine gun fire crashed into them, inflicting approximately 75 casualties and driving the others back. Pfc. Doss refused to seek cover and remained in the fire-swept area with the many stricken, carrying them 1 by 1 to the edge of the escarpment and there lowering them on a rope-supported litter down the face of a cliff to friendly hands.

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Independence Day

Independence Day

Tomorrow of course is July 4th, the day we celebrate American Independence. For some its a time to travel, watch fireworks, go to the lake, or just relax. Few really appreciate all that transpired some 232 years ago in Philadelphia. So of course you have me to remind you.

By July of 1776, the Thirteen Colonies had been at war with Great Britain for over a year. At the start of hostilities, there were still many that had hoped for a peaceful settlement of grievances with the mother country. Among the many issues were excessive taxation and lack of representation. Also, the tyranny of King George and Parliament who saw the colonies as assets to exploit instead of citizens with rights of the Empire.

When the Continental Congress convened, there were few left that believed there was any other alternative but to declare their independence. Thomas Jefferson was tasked with drafting the declaration. He borrowed liberally from many sources including the Bible and John Locke. Chief among these was the concept that all men were created equal and were given rights by God – not government. Government was organized by men and ruled by their consent. And when government turned to despotism, men had the right to change governments. These were pretty radical ideas in the age of monarchs.

The most precious of these God-given rights is life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Jefferson pulled these from Locke who said, “no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions.” Remember, in Europe the idea of private property was for the most part limited to the nobility at the whim of the monarch.

Jefferson went on to list the various charges against the king and lay out the case for why America was declaring its independence. One of my favorite charges in the document is:

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

When I have visited Washington and seen the hundreds of thousands of government workers, redundant departments and excessive bureaucracy, I’ve always thought about this line and chuckle at what the Founding Fathers would think of what liberalism has and continues to do this great country. But back to the story.

Once the document was edited, the Congress gathered in Philadelphia and adopted it on July 4th. The adopted version was sent to the printers and later 56 people would sign their names, including John Hancock who signed it first in rather enormous letters. The moment these men signed their names they became traitors to Great Britain and most lost everything.

Here is an excerpt of a short essay on the lives of these Patriots. I encourage you to read the entire essay to really appreciate what these brave men endured for your freedom:

Lives, fortunes, honor Of those 56 who signed the Declaration of Independence, nine died of wounds or hardships during the war. Five were captured and imprisoned, in each case with brutal treatment. Several lost wives, sons or entire families. One lost his 13 children. Two wives were brutally treated. All were at one time or another the victims of manhunts and driven from their homes. Twelve signers had their homes completely burned. Seventeen lost everything they owned. Yet not one defected or went back on his pledged word. Their honor, and the nation they sacrificed so much to create is still intact. — From Our Lives, Our Fortunes, Our Sacred Honor

There are still people out there who continue to attempt to take your life and freedoms away from you. Some try and do it by force and for the most part are external threats. Some do it by nice speeches and promises of “change.”

Freedom comes with a price of vigilance. We must always protect those rights that so many freedom-loving people have fought to protect. Whether the threat comes from terrorists in Iran, or liberals in Washington, always remember that once you lose your freedom, it might never be won back without a bloody fight.

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Remembering 9-11

Sometimes it seems I'm the last to know what's happening in the world. I didn't know we had been attacked until well after all four jets had made their deadly plunge.

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