Why wait for someone else to lobby and champion your cause!? Be your own champion! Stand boldly for your values; stand firmly in support of your causes!

Acorn versus the “Nuts”

The wonderful thing about news in the modern day and the advent of blogging is that I don’t have to place too much educational materials to catch up the Reader on what I am discussing on the blog.  Thus, if you are and educated and well-informed reader, you will know that Acorn is currently saturating the media, well certain networks, at the very least.  That is great and it should.  The American people are paying for Acorn and as it is have a right to see what their taxpayer dollars are funding.  The ridiculousness that, ‘it’s just low level employees’, doesn’t hold water.  Acorn is responsible for their employees, no matter how far away from the top they happen to be.  Own up for goodness sake!  Realize that you have a flawed system and fix it!

I, for one, am among a moral majority that thinks Acorn is a rotten to the core.  It has been billed as this non-partisan entity that is supposedly for everyone.  These infractions are not isolated.  When you have at least five sites that have taken part in illicit behavior, you have to think that it is not an isolated issue, but a systemic issue.  Why do we still have congressmen and senators speaking out in favor of this organization? The extent of the corruption speaks not to a bottom issues but a question of leadership.  The attack by Acorn against the amateur journalist that uncovered these incidents speaks volumes on the character of those involved at the top.  Rather than admit wrong doing and fix the system they seek to cloud it all in litigious battling.

Recently, I was in a conversation with a liberal friend.  Yes, I have them and I find them quite valuable at times, because we are Americans, regardless of political leanings and beliefs.  This particular friend referred to those pushing the Van Jones issues, 9/12, tea parties and the like as Right Wing “Nuts”.  Well I for one was almost tempted to get R.W.N tattooed on my arm.  I am proud to be a “nut”, no matter the connotations of the word.  To be lambasted because I speak boldly about issues that trouble me and that I stand firmly for values.  I believe firmly that America is a wonderful and fantastic country, yet we have lost our way.  Fear not, however, we “Nuts” are pushing on the rudder because we think a true madman may be at the steering wheel.  No matter how far he tries to steer this Country away from what is right, this “Nut” along with others will keep speaking boldly about what is right and trying to move this Country in the direction in which it needs to go!

Speak Boldly!

Jeremy Brown

Fort Worth 9/12 Rally

Whew!  I am back from the Dallas/Fort Worth area and attending the 9/12 Rally that was held there.  It was a truly inspiring event and I feel honored that I was able to spend time with some remarkable people.  Was it a group of politicians?  No.  Was it a radio talk show star?  No?  A celebrity?  No.  I was standing next to everyday people, American citizens.  Why are they remarkable?  Simply put, ‘they were there’.  Those present took an opportunity to gather as is their right to express their displeasure for how our current government is being run.  How can you be pleased with corruption not being a vein of the whole, but so insidious that it is the creature itself?  They stood and shouted their displeasure; through rain and clouds,  nothing deterring their opinion that things should be said.  I am always proud to be an American, however, during the past day, I was proud to  be in the company of many remarkable Americans.

Now that I am back home as are many of the attendees of the Fort Worth or other rallies; the true challenge begins.  We cannot let the flames of our anger subside.  We cannot let our calls for reform cease.  They [the administraion] state that they want ‘Change’.  Then they need to change.  Why do we continue to have such huge pork barrel spending with such a financial crisis looming over our country?  Answer that!  Why is it that corruption is revealed in government sponsored organizations, yet our judicial review process is being stopped by ‘the powers that be’?  Answer that!  The Administration screams for for reforms, but how are you going to accomplish that?  ANSWER THAT!

As you travel through your days; question, answer and speak boldly as you do so.  If you do not get the answers you want or answer that are not in line with your values, stand firmly for your values.  Values centered leadership and a moral base helped build this country on an unshakable foundation.  Look to that rock as you travel through your days.  As always,

Speak Boldly,

Jeremy Brown

Speak Boldly, Stand Firmly

“You lie.”

These two words, spoken by Joe Wilson, R-SC, on national television, during the recent joint session of Congress called by President Obama to address growing concerns over healthcare reform seem to have ignited the news machines to action. Now, do I think it was proper for him to state that during an open session, to the President of the United States? No, I do not. While I disagree with President Obama on many issues, as a Soldier I understand the need to respect people due to their position. He is still the duly elected President of this fine country. Respect that. Do I think that perhaps he could have found a better venue in which to state his ill regard for President Obama’s stance and statements? Yes, he could have easily released a statement at a later date that said exactly that or something more verbose and engaging. Do I think he could have phrased his dissent in a more eloquent fashion, filling it with double entendre and coy jabs at Obama? Yes, of course. As a member of our Congress, I would hope that he is perfectly capable of delivering a rousing and eloquent rebuttal to a point that is counter to his beliefs. So why, oh why, am I making my first blog post about Representative Joe Wilson, Republican from South Carolina? I am writing about him because he spoke boldly and in his own way, stood firmly for his beliefs.

He has since apologized for the lack of civility his statement was conveyed with, yet he did not apologize for the statement’s content. He further elaborated upon it. He was the most vocal opponent, yet he was not the only one who expressed displeasure with the President’s Health Care Reform statements. Rep Louie Gohmert (R-TX) held up signs asking, “Why Bill?” and “What Plan?” These politicians were doing what I require. They were standing up for beliefs which I cherish by expressing a lack of belief in portions of the Obama Healthcare Reform Bill and its presentations. In the white noise that has become rank and file of liberal media and leftist attack strategy, sometimes one must be bold to break out of the white noise. Far too often when speaking with proponents of Obama care or the stimulus package and asking them questions, I get superficial answers on why I should support it.

“Don’t you want everyone to have healthcare?”

Why, yes, that is a wonderful goal and I would love to work towards such a goal, but “HOW” is important as well. How are you going to implement such far reaching change? Does it involve even more government involvement and bloating? If so, we need to find another way. How are you going to pay for it? Don’t give me idyllic fields and mythical efficiency cuts. Show me numbers. I want to see it.

If you see a problem, your view of reality and how it should be doesn’t mesh with how it truly is; question why. This method works whether you are liberal, moderate or conservative. If your expectations are realistic then move to change the world through speaking boldly, drawing people to your cause through intellectual discourse, but before you can begin that intellectual discourse, they need to hear you. Speak BOLDLY! Let them hear your dissatisfaction with the current version of reality.

Now, as you speak up, you will draw proponents and most assuredly, opponents to your view. Don’t fear the tests of debate. Don’t apologize for your views. Stand firmly in your views. If you support a particular value and that is a guiding factor, don’t change just to acquiesce to the crowd or to appease the politically correct crowd. Values based debate is necessary to ground you and guide you in a direction that you will find pleasing. While compromise has been a factor in the success of government; I do not think compromise on values is a good place to begin those inroads. Trust yourself to know what is morally abhorrent. Your desire for a fully explained healthcare plan is not barbaric, it is reasonable.

As you travel through life, remember,

“Speak Boldly”

-Jeremy Brown