Archive for November, 2010
Thanksgiving: A different, special kind of national holiday
By Donald S. Conkey – Thanksgiving is a unique and different American holiday. Its uniqueness is because it is distinctively American with it roots sunk deep into America’s early history, reaching back to the Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620, and who, being grateful to their God for their survival held a feast of thanksgiving.
America’s national holiday, Thanksgiving, is different because of all of American’s national holidays it is America’s only holiday for all Americans regardless of religious beliefs, cultural beliefs, racial identity, or profession. Christmas focuses on Jesus Christ; New Years focuses on reflections, and football; Martin Luther King’s Birthday holiday focuses on equality; President’s Day focuses on George Washington and Abraham Lincoln; Easter’s focus is on the resurrection of Jesus Christ as mankind’s Savior; Memorial Day is associated with the Civil War veterans; July 4th celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence; Labor Day’s focus in on the working man and woman, and Veterans Day focuses on America’s millions of veterans.
Georgia Women Leading Political Parties – Column No. 1044
By J. Randolph Evans – Two women led their respective political parties in Georgia into the 2010 election cycle. They were the chairs of the Georgia Republican Party and the Democratic Party of Georgia. It was the first time this has happened in Georgia history. Next year, both political parties will hold conventions and elect party officials heading into the Presidential elections in 2012. Here is what convention delegates will have to consider.
Recently, a Georgia Republican party activist asked, “What is there left to do?” The answer is, “not much.” For the first time in Georgia history, Republicans carried every statewide race from Governor to Public Service Commissioner, all without a single runoff – even after an especially bitter and divisive primary and primary runoff. For a political party prone to self-destruction and division, the numbers are truly impressive.
The new House can restore sanity, but will they?
By Donald S. Conkey – The 2010 election is over with Republicans making major gains as they take control of the House of Representatives. And the liberal press is already asking if the Republicans are willing to compromise with Obama, suggesting if they don’t there will be gridlock or a possibly government shutdown. The war for America’s soul continues with both parties already geared up for the 2012 presidential election.
While pondering this divisive war for America’s soul, and asking how America could become so divided, I read Judges 2:10-14. These verses read: “And also all that generation (Moses) were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the work which he had done for Israel. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the of the Lord, and served Baalim: and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and provoked the Lord to anger. And they forsook the Lord … and the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.”
2010 Elections Were Nothing New – Column No. 1041
By J. Randolph Evans – In case anyone missed it, there was an election on November 2, 2010. So, here is how it works. Americans let elected officials govern. Every so often, elected officials get confused about what this means and start to believe that indeed they have the power. So, Americans remind them about who has the real power in this country. Sometimes, the reminders are subtle, gentle reminders. Sometimes, they are not. On November 2, 2010, the reminder was in the “not so subtle” category.
Most recognize, including Republicans, that the November 2, 2010 election did not have much to do with Republicans at all. The Pledge To America was not the primary motivating factor moving voters to show up in big numbers to vote out incumbents. None of the Republican leaders (in either the House of Representatives or the Senate) were powerfully charismatic leaders using powers of persuasion to play on the emotions of voters to win an election in spite of the issues.
Can our generation do less?
By Donald S. Conkey – Now that the election is over and, for the most part, we all know which political party will guide America through the crisis America is now encountering there will be those who will say it’s up to them (Congress) now to fix America. How dangerous that thinking is. The war for America’s soul is just beginning. Remember it took a strong leader, George Washington, and nearly eight years to win that “unwinnable war” against the greatest army in the world at that time. Then it took more years to create America’s unique governing documents that led to our “land of the free and home of the brave.”
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