Americans recently celebrated Independence Day, albeit in a country far less free than that in which previous generations recognized this country’s most important national holiday.
Media sources (mostly conservative) across the country lamented the disturbing decision of a small Oregon town’s officials to cancel fireworks displays in order to avoid frightening area birds.
One could say the actions of one small town is nationally inconsequential, but the trend of taking away what once were considered basic American rights seems to be picking up steam every day.
Bad decisions are decidedly not reserved for small towns; New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg sparked a heated debate over his support of government-mandated soft drink sizes.
The sad fact is that these examples are far from rare. Americans voters have repeatedly chosen to cede even more freedom to a supposedly benevolent government in exchange for it’s cradle-to-grave provisionary promises. The New Deal led to the Great Society, which led to the entire Obama presidency. There has been a century of specific spikes in government growth with incommensurate conservative gains.
We’re now at the point of government telling us what to eat, where to live, and how to smell. Lest you think the last entry in the preceding list was hyperbolic, there have been numerous attempts to prevent supposedly free individuals from wearing any fragrance whatsoever.
In policy proposals that smack of anti-smoking laws in their complete disregard for personal liberty, governments across America have tried to ban certain segments of the population from wearing perfume or cologne. Luckily, many of these attempts have failed at the legislative level, though such rules have been successfully implemented elsewhere.
Not to pick on Oregon unnecessarily, but city workers in Portland have been prohibited from wearing fragrances since last year, and all cleaning products are required to be unscented. The parks and recreation department in Jefferson City, Mo., doesn’t want anyone wearing perfume or cologne to any its functions. Visitors to a Bremerton, Wash., hospital must chose flowers without a prominent scent while both employees and visitors are asked not to wear personal fragrances. These are just a few examples of what an empowered nanny-state government can force its subjects to do (or not do.)
Their argument for restricting fragrance use is almost unanimously the fact that some people are allergic to such scents; some so-called experts even liken the effect to that of cigarette smoke. Although I do believe the reported dangers of second-hand smoke are inflated to an absurd level, I’m not going to accept the fact that when I wear my cologne of choice, I’m offending others in much the same way as if I were to exhale a cloud of chemical-ridden smoke in their face. We gave them the power to restrict smoking, and there was little resistance. Now they have the mandate to restrict whatever else they deem unsavory.
Granted, there are those who wear far too much fragrance, and I can see that being an annoyance to someone stuck beside him or her on a long bus trip. When legislation affecting an entire population is enacted to prevent the mere possibility of a mild annoyance, though, our priorities have become seriously skewed.
As an aside, if there are rules prohibiting fragrance, is body odor going to be outlawed next? If so, how are individuals supposed to combat such natural occurrences without some other fragrance to take its place? The bottom line is that we have no business regulating smell. As long as flatulence on a crowded elevator is still a protected (if despised) right, I don’t see how the inhalers of any other scent can possibly complain.
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Many years ago at a tobacco company’s meeting concerning cigarette taxes, the topic was discussed, what would be the long term effects if the cigarette companies were forced to add extra taxes onto their price of cigarettes and forced to pay claims to the govenment which blamed them for accused smoking related fatalities. The discussion turned into a marathon, including the discussion of the government eventually banning smoking from most public places and stigmatizing smokers to the point of making them 2nd class citizens. But the real focus turns out to be that the legal experts for the tobacco companies rightfully saw the tobacco companies as victims of a government consiracy in which the rights of all people would be attacked and eventually alotted by government decree, with the cigarette companies being the focus of the initial attacks because of how easily smoking could be related to health issues, making it a convienient scapegoat. The attack on smoking was nothing more than a ruse in order to set the precedents in which more power for regulation could be usurped by the government, to eventually include ANYTHING the government so desired to tax and regulate. A mantra was coined for bumper stickers that read something like, “Taxing and Attacking Rights of Smokers–What’s Next?” and, “Smoking is a Right; What’s Next?” The tobacco companies knew they were bad boys for the government and the government knew the tobacco companies having the money they did, being the biggest bad boy on the block, if they could beat him up, everyone else would simply fall into line..
What you people have done is let your apathy of tobacco and smoking come back and haunt you in many different areas. You should have defended the smokers and tobacco companies. Too late now to complain.. You’ll just have to pay the price like everyone else, more so than the smokers ever did.
And you can thank ole “Dishonest” Abe Lincoln for all your miseries about to befall you. For he set the original precedents for everything else to happen…
Michael– Deo Vindicabamur
Don’t mourn too much because it will make them smile. The more they do – the harder they will fall. This is so ridiculous to be getting involved in tiny minute matters that don’t make a difference. Get a life – please! These are the kind of rules the Lord fought all through out the Gospel. At some point, the scales are going to tip. Keep praying every day!
A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step….
All things are relevant, all things are in their season and for a reason.
Actually I am looking forward to the great day justice is served back to this country. And justice is best served blindly on a cold plate!
So yes I pray every day that justice be brought to this country, and if that means its’ demise, so be it… Personally I hate living among a bunch of uncivilized hooligans who call themselves educated and then tries to rule society based on their pseudo education.
Surly the more I think I learn, the more I understand how little I really know. But I do know that some of us here know more than many who think they do and claim they know so much.
From one of my favorite books Books of Scripture:
“For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.”
For my sorrow has multiplied as I learned just a little wisdom: and my increased knowledge brought much grief.
I find that increased knowledge causes a irritation of the spirit, afflicting my spirit to discern the wisdom out of the increased knowledge.
From this I saw the madness and folly of the men of the world, and all their vanity….. Their knowledge increased, but their wisdom did not….
We now live in a world that has exponentially increased itself with knowledge, but has not the wisdom or good sense to use it!
Michael– Deo Vindicabamur
Then, ignorance truly IS bliss!
@celticwaryor
Problem is in reality true ignorance does not exist.
Only babes are truly ignorant.
Everything else is a rat race between how much knowledge one has and the wisdom or good sense he’s developed in using that knowledge. And wisdom and good sense hasn’t kept pace with the acquirement of knowledge.
Michael– Deo Vindicabamur
I really and truly want to be proved wrong on this, but I have to think that if prayer had any power, obama along with his hateful horde of vermin would have left us a long time ago. Lets face it, democrats, by virtue of being who they are don’t pray, so THEY can’t claim divine intervention in stealing the White House, therefore only those who DIDN’T want this scum elected did any praying – and see where it got us!
enoch76 : You fail to understand the ways of the LORD.
Man’s wisdom in thinking he knows all that there is to be known has always amazed me. True wisdom is gained from what we have experienced in life. There is nothing in this life that man can say for a certainty, unless he has seen, or experienced directly or indirectly that which pertains to his statements, beliefs, or faith. In other words, to say he knows God does not exist just because he personally has not experienced a life changing event is nothing less than pure ignorance.
A Loving and Righteous God is also a God of Justice and Wrath or He most definitely would not be a God of Righteousness… In the end there must be consequences for our sin. If man will live by the Law then he must die by the Law. If man lives by God’s Grace then he shall inherit life everlasting.
57 men risked their lives, their families and all their property by signing the Declaration of Independence, men with real courage, integrity and honor that our presence day leaders in the Executive Branch, Judicial Branch and most of the Legislative Branch who couldn’t even scratch the surface of these attributes.
Our unrighteous leaders, men and women are a real disgrace in every way, GREEDY, PRIDEFUL, LIARS, SWINDLERS, THIEVES, ADULTERERS and ADULTERESS who really think that they themselves are exempt from the laws of the land.
It may look as though these godless men and women are getting away with their disgraceful actions and abominations against God’s WORD, but rest assured that they will bow before the Supreme Judge one day very soon and the consequences of their past actions will be laid upon them… A eternity with no quenching of their thirst and a gnashing of their teeth, forever and ever.
Thank You Jesus, that the unrighteous will receive their judgment swift and final on the Day of Judgment.
Unrighteous leaders will lie one way and than another, which ever best fits their agendas… The Bible makes it clear just as God used heathen nations and He gave unrighteous leaders to Israel in hope that the hearts of the israelites might be drawn back to Him, so too has he done the same for America. Just as the majority of the Israelites failed to turn back to God, so too has the majority of the Americans failed to turn back to God. for her abominations against His WORD. And just as most of the Israelites refused to turn back to God, so too has most of the Americans failed to turn back to God. Thus God has made His judgment clear for America. God will never allow the destruction of a people or nation without first giving His warnings of this destruction. Amos 3:7
One revelation from God is worth far more than the knowledge gained from all the books in the world written by men who have no understanding or comprehension of the absolute truth of God’s WORD. In His great Mercy, God seeks to warn man in order to keep him from His judgment. The only thing that will save man from God judgment is man’s repentance, turning away from sin and accepting Christ has his LORD and SAVIOR.
To read God’s judgment for America’s future or lack thereof, google: “The Message For America, Hand of Help.” For what I think will be the 2nd major terrorist attack for America, google; “The Eagle and the Serpents, Hand of Help.” And again for what I believe will be the location of this 2nd attack, google: “Watchman On The Wall, America ~ Mystery babylon?”
Hi watchman48,
I appreciate your eloquent reply to my rant. And I envy you your faith.
I guess my only response to yours (combined with my reply to Mike360000) would be that history may very well prove your points – but by that time will any Christians be around to appreciate it? In other words, if God warns us of his destruction of America and then destroys the 70% of the population who just want to get on with their lives along with them, the 30% who are actually responsible for the abominations, who will benefit?
As I said in my first post, I really hope you’re right and I’m wrong, but to me it looks as though the only solution to this situation right now requires something more “tangible” if that’s the right word than prayer or faith.
Thanks again
enoch76…. I am not a smart man… I just barely got through high school. I hated school and did no more than I had to. I now reap the consequence of those rebellious years in school.
I write in hope that should a Lukewarm Christian (Like I once was) read what I say that I might inspire him to be a strong Christian, who would share his faith with others…. And should a non-believer read what I have written I hope that I might cause him to question his thoughts on God…. to possibly start a search for the truth….
We all deserve death, because all have sinned. The wages of sin is death. Sin came through one man and salvation comes through one man, Jesus Christ, fully man and fully God. If God is a Just God than He must deal with man’s sin. He has made a way to save those who believe, but it is only by His Grace that we are saved.
Please take the time to view a short video on YouTube, type in the search bar: “Did Jesus name the antichrist?” I am no saying I believe this video, mainly because I have always thought that the antichrist would not revealed until after rapture….. AS I see it right now, only God knows for certain
Being a Just God He also must bring about the fulfillment of the prophecies spoke through His prophets concerning Israel and His judgment upon all the world. I may sound crazy to many, but it is those who think this who have no understanding of God’s ways.
@enoch76
I understand your frustration and lack of faith and hope, but there is so much more than just praying something away.
Things happen for a reason. All of life happens for a reason. We have troubles and wars, famines and despots, all for reasons we don’t fully understand. But I can add this: Regardless to who prays and who does not, things are gonna happen on a timetable. Whether you believe it is God’s timetable or just by the passing of time itself, all things take care of themselves. Some may take days, some may take eons. Just because one does not instantly see a prayer by no means would mean it is not answered.
Have you ever thought that maybe there are good and bad people on this earth for a reason? That people are here so they can sort out those differences as a sort of testimony, testifying as to each? And if you don’t believe that is the reason; Is not the simple reason of the duality of man enough reason to satisy your curiosity?
Regardless to which of the above you may believe above, or if you even believe something entirely different, let me ask; What do you personally think is gonna to this country and the world at the rate and way things are a changing? Do you see any hope of the the elitists and Gloabalists like Obama being defeated? Do you think Romney and the Republicans are going to be the answer and savior against the liberals and Marxists? I think not! I think they are all wrong and both sides are sending us down to be slaughtered, one way and the other, by another way. So, where does this leave the common man who just wants to be left alone in life? Where does that leave anyone who believes in freedom from excessive government and tyranny?
Such things takes time and depending on how one feels, one may believe there is no hope to overcome such odds in a modest amount of time, or if ever.
All I’m saying is, the Truth NEVER dies! It NEVER changes! A prayer for the Truth, and for things to be right, can never be lost and unanswered. But man must suffer as part of his testimony in proving this. So, the answer is, not that the prayer has been answered, but rather the answer is in the works…
Michael– Deo Vindicabamur
PS– I’m working on it, OK? Look up my sig..
Mike360000
Thanks for taking the time to reply to my “rant” in such a thoughtful and articulate way.
I decided to cancel my initial long-winded reply and just reply to your question…”What do you personally think is gonna to this country and the world at the rate and way things are a changing? Do you see any hope of the the elitists and Gloabalists like Obama being defeated? Do you think Romney and the Republicans are going to be the answer and savior against the liberals and Marxists?”…
I believe that if martial-law is not invoked by this gang of criminals and the election DOES happen in November and (God forbid) obama is re-elected there won’t be another (fair) election in this country for at least a generation and the world will be in flames within 5 years; I said in 2007 that his ultimate goal is to facilitate the creation of a world-wide caliphate for he and his muslim-brotherhood masters (to do that he has to destroy the USA as it was founded) and so far I have no reason to change my prediction. And, of course when THAT happens Christianity and in fact ANY faith other than islam will be eradicated. With Christianity gone there will erupt the final battle of civilization between the ultimate “religious” fanatics, muslims and the ultimate “atheists” communists/marxists.
As far as… “if Mitt Romney is elected…” let me answer this way…I’m going to have to invest the same amount of “hope” in him as that which the obama-slobberers invested in obama, that Romney is more conservative than he’s letting on and he will UNDO what obama has wrought on our country. I don’t, no, CAN’T subscribe to the “they’re all the same” theory. I realize I may be proven to be hopelessly wrong here but, selfishly maybe, I’m hoping that I’ll be long gone before that happens!
Sadly from what I’ve seen over the past 6+decades, both here and in my native England, the main reason that we have arrived at this critical juncture in our existence is that over a substantial period of time the OPPONENTS of evil (the anti-communists) “tried to get along with” and in many cases have refused to acknowledge even the existence of the PROPONENTS of evil (the communists, muslims, perverts etc.), who’ve happily taken advantage of the “generosity” of the good-guy’s beliefs… “there’s good in everyone” and to “turn the other cheek” and “to love our enemies”…etc., etc. which, to me anyway, is so dastardly ironical since it has been those exact sentiments, the basic teachings of Christianity, that created all the goodness in the world in the first place…
To conclude, while I do agree that the TRUTH never dies…unfortunately, the purveyors of and the practitioners of the truth do.
Hoping…Deo Vindice Bamur
@enoch76
Hello there….
You have some interesting thoughts, albeit many people share those same ones. This post is not just for you, but for everyone.
Making a long story short…. I’m here for other reasons than just playing politics. Politics is dead and over. Both parties are the same and neither are for the working common man. Neither party follows the US Constitution. BOTH parties are owned by the same elitists that contributes money to both parties. I wrote a short article posted here in, “American: Her Call and Destiny” It concerned the 2 political parties and gave a brief history of them and why they are where they are at today. Very worthwhile reading and you will be ahead of over 90% of the people if you understand and accept it.
I’m kind’of acting as a messenger telling everyone, I told you so, and the reasons behind it. Mainly how people got to this point in the USA today. And honestly Great Britain is under the power of the same elitists, except the USA is more important in controlling for a base for directing global unification than is any country in Western Europe. The elitists that dictate US policy is actually the same bankers that dictates the laws to Great Britain, with the difference being, it is not nearly as important to push Britain in the Global direction as it is the US. So they are going this differently in Europe. Same applies for Russia, even when they were the USSR, it was the same banker family that controls the US and European banks that also controlled the banking system of the old USSR and now Russia.(The Cold War was only the bankers playing two sides of the rope against each other.) It is under these people that world affairs are dictated, and by force to such countries as in the Middle East, in order to bring them under domination.
I could give you a much deeper history of Marxism in Europe and in Russia/USSR, but my primary objective is simply for Americans to realize where and why they lost their country.
I say this because where Americans lost their country, they thought they had saved their union. In reality they had only defeated the ONLY people that was capable of actually saving their country. My people were defeated, mainly known as the Ulster Scots, the William Wallace’s of the South, but we also had people from many other places, mainly from England Proper and Ireland, but also from France and Germany. But the vast majority carried the spirit of William Wallace. And to this day you can go to the mountains of North Carolina and see this spirit of the Scots and you can go to the North Carolina Coast and see and hear it in Gaelic.
Regardless, my people were defeated again, as usual. But they were right! They fought for the right cause and still lost. In so doing not only did they lose but the entire country lost. Now it is time for people to pay the price of their apathy, arrogance and brutality. And I am here to remind them of that, and what most likely is in their future. It is NOT good. (Read my own ancestral history by clicking on my name and reading my previous posts to learn more about me.)
The US is NOT going to pull out of this situation. It is NOT possible. History dictates this! The list of abuses and false claims, coverups, lies, distortions and the love of money and self is so great in this country, its’ arrogance alone is enough to kill the country. I could list thousands of things this country has done wrong, and I don’t mean small inconsequential wrongs either. The conquering and subjugation of my people being just one. The people of this country let a lie live, let a president destroy the US Constitution and him openly admit so, and the people still worshipped him! He committed treason and the people still worshipped him! Now they honor him with a movie depicting and insulting my people yet again, this time as vampires…. and the people still worship him! He set the precedents for the destruction of this country and people still worship him! The reason this country is in the shape it is in and the reason it is about to explode is ALL because of this one man…. and the people still worship him! The recent SCOTUS ruling comes directly through from that time because of the new direction he set this country by destroying the US Constitution.
I am here simply to say the people of the US have lost their country and there is no regaining it. They waited far too long and would not take action.
What I believe will happen is, the election will pit two opposing parties against each other, both being controlled by the money of the same elitists. So it matters not which wins as the elitists wins either way. But people does not see this and thinks everything is based on the party system. They blindly play the game hoping their side defeats the other so all can be made right and peace be had. It will never happen because it is not meant to be so. The elitists are not through conquering the country yet. So we will have riots and looting, shooting, killings and this will lead to martial law by, most likely Obama. He has the union thugs and his publicly supported “Black Shirt” army, similar to Hitler’s and on the ready, guns and all. And he has the “New Black Panthers” ready to go. And on the pseudo conservative side we have the militias and armed individuals, all primed and ready to defend their party and their version of faked liberty.
(Note that what most people think are conservatives are NOT conservatives at all. They are actually “Neo-Conservatives.” Or you can say practicing Republicans, including the TEA Party are neo-conservatives. Very similar to fascists… And in place of capitalism we have, and they support “State Capitalism”, another form of fascism. Capitalism has been LONG gone from the USA. btw–the USA has not been a true Republic in decades. However it is now a Federal Democratic Union.)
So, here we are on the brink of the end. I want every last one of you to think about what I have said and then reflect on your wrongs. Oh, I know many of you will not believe this and take me for a fool, but as I said before, time will tell. And time is mitey scarce. It’s only a matter of a couple of months.. Enjoy your last charade of an election… If what I say does not come to pass by year’s end, I’ll admit I’m the biggest fool that ever walked this planet.. never to write of this again… If I’m right, you’re all toasted and fried for eternity.. For you’ve wronged many innocent people…..
You have been warned….. You now know…
Michael– Deo Vindicabamur
We stood by when assault after assault on everything to do with God from His Commandments, his name, his attributes were systenatically torn from out schools, and public forums. Now we wonder why we are in such a fix,
Two generations and soon a third will join the ranks of those totally unable to think without Big Brother telling them how to do it. Guess God figures if we know so much we can cope until he’s good and ready to deal with us. Maybe he, like Obama has a few surprises for all of us and I can’t believe they will be pleasant. Its not like we don’t deserve it. One thing is for certain. He won’t take the politically correct route.
I too greatly mourn the loss of our freedoms over the years. The very Judeo-Christian principles upon which this country was founded are under attack and we are now cow towing to all the fringe groups.
Unfortunately the fragrance sensitivity is a real condition. I’ve had it for 25 years. I’ve had to leave church services and concerts and lectures, the latter for which I paid to attend, because of intense reaction to fragrances. The response is immediate irritation of the nose and eyes along with a tightening in the throat followed by severe headache. The problem has been recognized even by manufacturers of baby products who now make more and more fragrance free products. It is actually a reaction to volatile organic compounds, found in perfumes, after shave and cleaning products. I still wear a little scent on occasion but it is all natural essential oils, not scents manufactured in a chemistry lab. I would simply ask that people not wear fragrance when they will be in tight seating circumstances as a common courtesy, or find an alternative scent made with essential oils. Otherwise, lay it on if you really need it.
Let me ask all of a simple question; if I may?
Where do you think all this started?
I mean where do you think the people of the united States originally went astray? Or rephrased another way; Where do you think the turning point came in US history where the united Stated ceased being a Republic and started down this road of destruction? Where do you lay the blame concerning government?
Michael– Deo Vindicabamur
Mike360000 – Look up Woodrow Wilson and you’ll have your answer.
Actually it was before Woodrow Wilson, although he was a bad one indeed.
The man I am referring to admitted he had destroyed the Republic.
I ask you and anyone; How can a man admit he destroyed the Republic and NOT be held accountable? He openly admitted it!
Michael– Deo Vindicabamur