Some Thoughts on the Egyptian Revolution

For eighteen days I've watched the protests in Egypt with a mixture of anticipation and dread.  I've studied the modern history of Egypt and its culture in an effort to gain understanding of what was taking place.  I've puzzled over bits of information and their meaning.  I've pondered it all at great length.  I've been hesitant to put into words my perception of these events and the questions that nag at me.  I've been hesitant because I'm unsure that I understand what is happening and I don't know what the ramifications are for the future of the Middle East and even the world.  I've been hesitant because I'm not sure I can even adeqately express what I feel is the enormity of these events.  However, it has occurred to me that I must document this for my children and grandchildren.  For after all, the whole purpose of this blog is to record my thoughts and special memories for my girls and to give them insight into who I am.  You're just along for the ride!

These protests turned revolution are being compared to the fall of the Shah in Iran in 1979.  That revolution also started as a "democratic" movement but eventually led to tyranny of the worst kind.  I have often wondered if people here in America sensed at the time the danger that lay ahead.  I was only nine at the time but I rememember that our extended family had gathered for the holidays and we were shooting fireworks.  My Uncle Allen had managed to rig several types of fireworks together to produce what we all hoped would be a spectacular blast and he called it the "Ayatollah Khomeini Bang".  Of course, I had no idea what that meant at the time but for some reason that has always stuck with me.  And so I've found myself wondering what my girls, who are 10 and 14, will remember from this period of their lives. 

Today, February 11, 2011, on the 31st anniversary of the overthrow of the Iranian Shah, the president of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, resigned under pressure from the protests of the Egyptian people.  I'm watching on Fox News as the people of Egypt are flooding the streets waving the Egyptian flag and shouting with joy that they have won their freedom.  But I can't help but wonder--have they simply exchanged one dictator for another?  The protests have been hailed as a pro-democracy movement.  We are being told that we are witnessing another revolution for freedom akin to that of America in 1791 which ended in the greatest experiment in freedom the world has ever seen. But I can't help but fear that we are seeing a revolution in the vein of the French revolution which ended in guillotines.

Democracy.  It sounds like a good thing.  But in its most simple form it is "mob rule".  Let us not forget that democracy doesn't equal freedom.  For if the people of Egypt, in their new-found democracy, choose to follow the wrong leader they will wind up in bondage to an Islamic state and sharia law.  We should also keep a watchful eye on the rest of the Middle East for the success of this revolution will almost certainly embolden revolutionaries everywhere. 
 

Nothing Clever to Name This Post

I have been plotting and planning a clever yet introspective blog post to wrap up 2010.  And then I took 509872 pictures of the snow we got and I was planning a cute post about that.  And then the tragedy happened in AZ and it just didn't feel right to be light-hearted.  And then I wanted to tell you my take on the shameful politicization of that tragedy by politcians and media on the left and right.  But now I have something serious and close to home that I need to tell you about.

I received news yesterday that a bloggy friend of mine, Joanne aka The Simple Wife, had a stroke.  She's 38 and has a husband and two young daughters.  If you've been reading my blog for awhile you may remember that I reviewed Joanne's book Misplacing God (and finding Him again).  While I've never met her face to face, I know someone who is close to her.  And while Joanne and I have only corresponded by email and blog comments I feel like I can call her friend.  I know it may seem strange that I can feel connected to someone I've never met but bloggers share a special kind of community.  While my blog certainly isn't on the same par as Joanne's she has always been gracious and kind.  We've talked about some difficult things that we share in common and we've prayed for each other.  But most of all she loves Jesus with all her heart and and that's a GOOD thing we have in common.  It makes us sisters.

Could you pray with me for Joanne?  For complete healing, for peace and comfort for her husband Toben and their girls, Audrey and Emma.  Pray for wisdom for the doctors and nurses.  Pray that God will be glorified through this.  I've shared on this blog before my reservations about the power of prayer and God's goodness after the loss of my niece.  In the last two years I have questioned everything I thought I knew.  God and I are still working things out but today, for my friend, I will boldly approach His throne and plead for her.  Will you go with me?

Buckle Up

Hello! I've been wanting to post for a while but our satellite Internet is dead. We are going on Week 4 of being bamboozled, dismissed and abused by various Hughesnet technicians. Today the tech says he can't come because his truck is ON FIRE. Well.

But this post can't wait any longer. I need to clear my conscience. You know my general views on government and economics and I've always half-jokingly promised that I would tell you when I thought it was time to start building a bunker and storing canned goods.

I'm no longer joking. I need you to know that now is the time to prepare for hard times. I believe that my grandchildren will look back at 2010 as the year America ceased being a "superpower".

Our lifestyle is no longer sustainable. America as we knew it or at least as we thought we understood it no longer exists. Economic collapse IS coming and we've brought it on ourselves. I don't know when it will happen or if it will come down with a giant crash or if we will slowly deteriorate into desperation. But it's going to be painful.

Violent Marxist revolutionaries are taking Europe by storm and they will come here. They have been planting the seeds of revolution for decades. The bomb-throwing, America-hating hippies of the '60s are now the establishment. They are running our education system, financial system, political system, industry and healthcare. The only piece remaining that they don't completely control is the media. And they have their sights set on it with "net neutrality" and the FCC. And once we are no longer free to communicate competing ideas with each other it's checkmate. Game over.

But I haven't lost hope. America WILL survive. She won't look quite the same. There will be scars that remain but her principles are indestructible. All men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

So buckle up--it's gonna get dicey. But the good news is I believe the good guys win in the end.







- Posted using BlogPress from Dixie, my iPhone

Happy Election Day Eve!

Oh, I am giddy about the Big Day tomorrow!  It should be an historic election of gargantuan proportions!

I love a good hyperbole.

I thought I'd share some of the races I'll be keeping my eye on tomorrow night.  I know you are all dying to know who I'm rooting for. 

Rooting for...it sounds like I'm getting ready to watch a big game.  Unfortunately, politics HAS become a game, and I don't actually like the Democrats OR the Republicans.  They are all a bunch of big-government, progressive weasels.  I'd like to give them all a big, giant foam finger. That being said, I'll be wearing red and rootin' for the Republicans tomorrow since I believe the Democrats have already sold their souls to George Soros.  Time will tell if the "Tea Party" Republicans sell out too.

So some of my favorite races to watch tomorrow night are:

Nevada-Senate race: It will be HISTORIC (and hilarious) if Tea-Party favorite Sharron Angle beats Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.  Reid is an elitist, arrogant jerk.  Go Sharon!

Delaware-Senate race:  It would be so awesome if Christine O'Donnell could beat Chris Coons.  At first I thought she was a little kooky, and she may well be, but she started to grow on me. And I have to root for anybody who's been treated by the media like she has been.  I love an underdog.

Florida-Senate race:  I am a HUGE fan of Marco Rubio.  Dare I say he seems...presidential?!  Meeks seems like a decent fellow but Crist is a shameless dirtbag.

California-Governor:  I don't know much about Meg Whitman but she does have one really, REALLY important qualification--she's NOT Jerry Brown.

California-Senate race:  I think I like Carly Fiorina.  And I know I don't like Barbara "Call Me Senator" Boxer.  I'd like to call her "Former Senator Boxer".

Alaska-Senate:  Joe Miller seems like a decent guy.  Lisa Murkowski seems to be a spoiled brat throwing a temper tantrum over not winning the Republican nomination.

Ohio-Governor:  John Kasich.  I've always liked him.

Connecticut-Governor:  What the h-e- double-hockey stick is wrong with you Connecticut? How is Richard Blumenthal even in the running against Linda McMahon?  Not that I'm a big fan of Linda's but HELLO!, Blumenthal is an unprincipaled moron.
 
Arkansas-House: I'm pulling for Beth Anne Rankin.  I went to college with her and she's a lovely person.  And Mike Ross is not.

Arkansas-Senate:  I can't wait to retire Blanche Lincoln!  Woo Hoo!  John Boozman!

Colorado-Governor:  A win by Tom Tancredo would be amazing.

Kentucky-Senate:  I really like Rand Paul. 

Pennsylvania-Senate:  I hope Pat Toomey can pull out a win over Joe Sestak.

Wisconsin-Senate:  I will be so delighted to see Russ Feingold lose.

Arizona-House:  Ruth McClung is my choice.  She's a physicist.  I like physicists. (Head nod to Mr. Rascalraiser.)

Florida-House:  Please, please Florida.  Go vote for Dan Webster.  Alan Grayson is a hate-mongering psycho.  Would you like for me to tell you how I really feel?

Massachusetts-House:  Mass, what is your deal?!  How is Sean Bielat not winning against Barney "Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are not in a crisis situation" Frank?!

So there you go.  I know your life is more complete now that you know where I stand on these races.  I've got my race-tracking lists printed and the Hubs and I will be popping some corn and sipping hot cocoa tomorrow night watching the results roll in!

Woo hoo!  Go Big Red!

Freedom Of Speech Gets Kicked In The Head

Hello again.  It's been a while.  But you KNEW I'd have to come back to talk about this NPR fiasco, didn't you?!

Please, please tell me you have been paying attention to the world around you and you are aware of the fact that NPR fired Juan Williams this week.  Just in case, here's a quick explanation:  Juan Williams, a liberal news analyst for NPR and also a contributor on Fox News, was abruptly let go from his decade-long employment with NPR this week allegedly because of comments he made on Bill O'Reilly's show regarding Muslims.  I say "allegedly" because NPR has tolerated much worse statements than Juan's from the likes of Cokie Roberts and Nina Totenburg and they still have jobs.  Oh, but they only insulted conservatives and Christians so it's all good.

I feel like I need to insert right here this disclaimer:  I do not like Juan Williams.  He is very far-left in his political ideology and when I watch him I usually wind up yelling at my TV.  I don't know that I have ever agreed with Juan on anything.  However, I grudgingly respect his willingness to come on Fox News and have a reasonable debate unlike so many on the far-left.  (Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg come to mind.)  Just sayin'.

Ok, back to the summary of the situation.  Juan and Bill were discussing the Behar/Goldberg walk-out on the set of The View when Bill said that "Muslim's killed us on 9/11" and that political correctness is running amok these days when Juan decided to use himself as an example.  I'm paraphrasing but he said something like, "I'm very involved in the civil rights movement so obviously I am no bigot.  But even I get a little nervous when I get on a plane and there's someone in full-on Muslim garb."  Ok.  Big deal.  He didn't say that people in Muslim garb shouldn't be allowed to fly.  He didn't say that all Muslims that wear the traditional garb are dangerous or evil.  He was simply honest about his personal feelings and about what I suspect many Americans have also thought on many occasions. 

Well, you would think that he had called for stripping all Muslims of their citizenship and shipping them all back to the Middle East.  NPR promptly fired him, BY PHONE.  Yep, wouldn't even let him come in and discuss it in person.  In a completely unrelated story, last week far-left progressive billionaire George Soros donated $1.8 million dollars to NPR.  Also, in a completely unrelated story, George Soros donated $1 million dollars to Media Matters to "fight against Fox News." But I digress. 

Is it just me or does "freedom of speech" not mean what it used to?  I thought it used to mean that the answer to speech you didn't like was MORE speech.  Apparently now it means if you don't agree with me and I'm in power you should sit down and shut up.  Like I said, I almost never agree with Juan but don't you think it's a good idea to have a dialogue?  Wouldn't you think the lefties would WANT Juan to reach out to the Fox audience in hopes of persuading them to some of his views?  Maybe that would be too reasonable.  I guess I'm just too darn reasonable...Juan, I'll stand with you and I champion your right to free speech.  You keep on talking and I'll keep on yelling at my TV! 

I wonder how Juan feels about so many conservatives standing up for his right to free speech?

I'll leave you with some words from George Washington:  "If freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.

Baa, baa, America.