Is There a Right To Be Heard?

The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States defines its relationship with the "right" of free speech: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.". The amendment never speaks to a "civil right", or the citizen's rights, but only states that Congress (meaning the government) cannot abridge the freedom. This is not an additive process that establishes what a government can and will do, but a reductive process that states what a government cannot do, thereby leaving it open to future generations to establish what free speech is. Does this mean that just because the government, through the constitution has agreed not to abridge the implied, or natural right to speak freely, that there is an implied right to be heard?...and is the government responsible to provide that right?...and is the government the arbiter of free speech?

This lends to a deeper discussion of whether or not the government is the one that bestows rights upon its people. The "Bill of Rights" ammendments to the Constitution of the United States is about the government abridging the rights of its citizens. It infers that the rights of the citizens are inherent and bestowed upon the peoples of the world by a "higher power". Man's efforts to abridge, or control, the inherent rights has varied throughout history. Longheld institutions have been co-opted by government in the modern era, simply because government has decided that it can do it more fairly. The has led to government control of charity, education, religious expression, speech, marriage, families, etc., all under the guise of making an even playing-field, or fairness.

The 1st amendment simply and succintly states: "Congress shall make no law...", and then goes on to define where it shall no infringe the long-held, natural rights. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation in that it specifically targeted the 14th amendment for a specific enforcement. Many people of that era fought for these rights, and some died. But really, what it did was take away the government's infringement to those natural rights, then sought to bestow rights that made a class of people that were more "equal" than other citizens.

The question is, "Is there a right to be heard?"....maybe, but it is a natural right, and the government should get out of the way and stop inventing "fairness" doctrines, and campaign "reforms" that further infringe upon our natural rights. The Congress seems to have as its objective, to try to tip the scales so that they can remain in power, and to maintain the status quo. When the Democrats took control of Congress in 2006, it was the ideal situation. A Republican President and a Democratic Congress; nothing got done. As soon as laws were passed, they were vetoed by the President. They could not pass any laws. As soon as the electorate figures out that this is the real utopia, we will be there, but of course, this is just an observation.....

Who is the Sole Survivor?

Another season of Survivor in the can; in the end you wanted the villain (Russel) to win. I can imagine how people could have sympathy for the devil, but that is how he works. He preys on others, and like the parable of the snake and the frog where the snake says after carrying the frog across the water, "why are you suprised that I bit you, you knew that I was a snake, when you met me. I haven't tried to do anything but what I am."...In the end he was bitter and only wanted the glory, the title of "The Sole Survivor"! He was even willing to pay the winner (Natalie) for the title.

In the grand councils of Heaven where we planned out this earth life there was one who wanted to be the one to bring us back to our Heavenly Father, but wanted the glory for himself and wanted to take away the gift of agency (free will) and force all of us to make correct choices. Our Father in Heaven knew that we had to choose for ourselves and so the Savior offered himself to be the One to lead the way, to show us the right path and give the glory to our Heavenly Father (Abraham 3:22-28). So now we find ourselves in the thick of the fight between good & evil. We know what the outcome will be. We know who will win the fight. We know who the Sole Survivor is.....and it is not the one that lies, cheats, plots, and tramples all others to get to the end. It is the one who will pay the price to do what is right.....but this is Just an Observation....

Moral Relativism Redux

I was wondering at how the founding fathers would feel, if they knew that the modern-day enlightenment found their practice of slavery as morally reprehensible, inexcusable and a social embarrassment. But would the founding fathers find it equally reprehensible, inexcusable and a social embarassment in the modern-day practice of abortion?

After all, not everyone of that era practiced slavery, and not everyone of our era practices abortion, but yet these topics seemed to be argued and re-argued and not resolved. The practice of slavery led to the Civil War. What will the practice of abortion lead to?

But, of course, this is just an observation......

...Oh, I Don't Watch TV

Have you ever noticed that the supposed illuminati always say that? In a casual conversation you might innocently comment, "...Did you get your iPhone at the Buy More?", which is an obtuse reference to the TV show "Chuck". They will say, "What? What's a Buy More?", and then you will explain the TV show and they will then say, "I don't watch TV", or "I only watch PBS", like that is some kind of virtue. Granted, most TV programs are crap, especially on the constant-fill news channels, or E!, or Spike and the like, but there is some interestingly entertaining content out there. I will readily admit my preference for movies and have suffered through some real garbage (anything with Billy Bob Thornton), but you take the bad with the good, and hope that you only remember the good. Back to the illuminati....I have observed that most of those who "don't watch TV", tend to be well informed on the CNN (No Bias, No Bull, which is a bunch of bull) or MSNBC point-of-view. Notice that I didn't make it a plural (points-of-view) because the seem to be pretty singular on their biases. So for an out-of-touch demographic (the non-watching-TV group) they seem to be in-touch with their kind. So, what is it? Are they so much better for not watching who gets voted off the island on Survivor, or the latest plot twist on The Closer, or Andy Rooney's ungroomed eyebrows on 60 Minutes?

We, as the baby-boom generation, grew up on TV content, and suckled on cartoons and game shows. Our children are truly multi-attentive by texting, surfing and watching television at the same time. What does the future hold for us? Will we be a bunch of zombies in a rest home watching a test pattern, partially catatonic? I hope that entertainment will rise above the lowest common denominator and actually become a means of education, instead of a fascist means of propaganda......but this is only an observation.

Tolerance - An Intellectual Stalemate

"Cry tolerance" seems to be a child-like emotion, but it is more a bullying tactic in modern times. Tolerance implies equal consideration of an issue, or idea, from opposite viewpoints. More often it is the bullying of an established more from an non-standard, non-accepted idea. Appealing to the sensitivities of the masses, the non-standard proponents try to guilt those of the accepted mores to open up to the non-standard idea. The tolerance.org website uses the UNESCO definition of tolerance: Tolerance is respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich diversity of our world's cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human. Tolerance is harmony in difference.

I would submit that they have it half-correct. Yes, tolerance is respect, but it is not acceptance. Acceptance has put away tolerance and embraced the idea. We can appreciate the diversity of all cultures, but we don't have to accept the garbage and the errors of those cultures. As creatures of freedom, we are free to choose what we feel is acceptable from all ideas. We don't have to feel that we are bullied into accepting an idea that is different, simply because it is different!

Tolerance is declared almost as much as a plea for mercy. It is interesting to see that those appealing for tolerance are usually appealing for a change in law, or a change in the time-tested norms of society. Societal tolerance and societal change seem to go hand-in-hand. A practice, or a principle first is tolerated, then becomes accepted, then integrated into the norms of society. As there are always opposing sides, opinions, etc., one side always becomes the loser, when change occurs. The time for attention is when tolerance starts to appear, because once the change occurs, tolerance has already lost

Tolerance IS difference! There is no harmony there. It is an intellectual stalemate. You don't have to give up your stand and I don't have to give up mine. We agree to disagree. Is there any question on how you believe something, if you believe it is true? Does the truth give into error? Then where does tolerance lose its ground? When it accepts a lesser standard and degrades itself and its integrity......but this is only a tolerant observation.

Sayonara, Mr. Redford

I was reading an article about the sale of oil & gas leases (on BLM managed public lands) in the State of Utah. It shows Robert Redford "going public" to bring attention to this "outrage". My first instinct would be to discredit Mr. Redford, but I think that his history has shown he has done so well by his own efforts. Those who seem to have resonance with his annual hypocritical rants would never listen to the rest of us anyway.
The lives of many have been held hostage by special interests who purport to be looking out for our children's future by not managing our natural resources in favor of becoming enslaved to forces (of evil) outside of the this nation. These outside forces do not have any qualms about exploitation of their own natural resources and as a result have obtained power over us and our children for the forseeable generation. We have the power to control our own destiny, but have forfeited that power due to the influence of those special interests, like Mr. Redford. He is not a voice crying in the wilderness; he is crying for the wilderness that we will become.
Choose Freedom over enslavement. These resources can be managed and we must hold corporations (the boogeyman) accountable, but you don't throw out the baby with the bathwater.

Stop, Look & Listen

Stop, Look & Listen

You look to the left, And you look to the right

And you make sure, there are no cars in sight

You listen up, And you listen down

And you make sure there are no cars around

You've got to stop, look and listen

Stop, look and listen

Stop, look and listen

Before you cross that street

The old song that we learned in elementary school has a singular purpose, but an eternal focus. We were taught that you need to: Stop in your tracks, Look both ways & Listen for cars, before you attempt to cross a street. The same advice goes when you come to a point of decision in life.. You should stop and ponder, look behind you in the past, and look forward in the present at all the things that the Lord has done for you, and Listen to the still small voice for direction that you should take..

Why should we stop and ponder?
Moroni 10:3 - Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

Alma 62: 49 But notwithstanding their riches, or their strength, or their prosperity, they were not lifted up in the pride of their eyes; neither were they slow to remember the Lord their God; but they did humble themselves exceedingly before him.
50 Yea, they did remember how great things the Lord had done for them, that he had delivered them from death, and from bonds, and from prisons, and from all manner of afflictions, and he had delivered them out of the hands of their enemies.

When we truly look around, or “...both ways”, we have to give thanks to God?
King Benjamin (as recorded in Mosiah in the Book of Mormon) admonished his people:
“O how you ought to thank your heavenly King!
“I say unto you, my brethren, that if you should render all the thanks and praise which your whole soul has power to possess, to that God who has created you, and has kept and preserved you, and has caused that ye should rejoice, and has granted that ye should live in peace one with another—
“I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls, yet ye would be unprofitable servants.” (Mosiah 2:19–21.)

2 Nephi 9:51 Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.
52 Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice.
It has been said that “an ungrateful man is like a hog under a tree, eating acorns, but never looking up to see where they come from.” (Timothy Dexter, The New Dictionary of Thoughts, Garden City, N.Y.: Standard Book Co., 1961, p. 308.)
Much of the time we are not cognizant of the things that the Lord does for us. Be cause of our lack of understanding of his ways, we don’t recognize or acknowledge his hand in our life. The following story illustrates this point:

A family was eating dinner one evening and the little boy didn’t seem interested in his meal. He was having a frustrating time cutting the meat into portions that he could manage. He then got up from the table, losing interest in the food. The father took the opportunity to cut up the meat into portions the little boy could easily eat. The boy returned to continue eating his meal….not really noting that the meat had been cut up for him, or even asking who had done it, or giving thanks for making it easier for him to eat. To him it had just miraculously appeared that way.

This parable illustrates that though we don’t always acknowledge things that are done for us, they still continue to be done. Our lack of action, or belief does not stop these things from happening. How many times do we give thanks that the sun rises in the morning, or that Spring comes after a long winter? Do we just take these things for granted? How many times have we looked back at our lives and recognized the Lord’s hand in it? We may not have expected it, but that did not stop it from happening.

Do we ever acknowledge the small, unplanned diversions in the course of our daily lives that we have no control over?

I remember an experience once, when I was with some friends going to the temple, prior to a temple marriage. We were running late and some members of the party were stressed about arriving on time. By the time we arrived at the chapel, the session had already begun. It would be over an hour or so before the sealing was to begin. A temple worker approached us and asked if we would like to do some proxy sealings. We were promised that we would be finished in time for the sealing that we had come for. It was a wonderful experience listening to the words of the covenant and a chance to meditate on its meaning, which was why we were there, but it was also a chance for us to slow down and appreciate the things the Lord had given us, in his time schedule.

As long as we acknowledge the Lord, he will continue to protect us. Consider the Nephites during the time of Captain Moroni:
Alma 46:12 And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.
13 And he fastened on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land—
14 For thus were all the true believers of Christ, who belonged to the church of God, called by those who did not belong to the church.

Now consider the Nephites during Mormon’s lifetime and how they had similar values, but didn’t put the Lord first:
Mormon 2:12 And it came to pass that when I, Mormon, saw their lamentation and their mourning and their sorrow before the Lord, my heart did begin to rejoice within me, knowing the mercies and the long-suffering of the Lord, therefore supposing that he would be merciful unto them that they would again become a righteous people.
13 But behold this my joy was vain, for their sorrowing was not unto repentance, because of the goodness of God; but it was rather the sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not always suffer them to take happiness in sin.
14 And they did not come unto Jesus with broken hearts and contrite spirits, but they did curse God, and wish to die. Nevertheless they would struggle with the sword for their lives.
26 And it came to pass that when they had fled we did pursue them with our armies, and did meet them again, and did beat them; nevertheless the strength of the Lord was not with us; yea, we were left to ourselves, that the Spirit of the Lord did not abide in us; therefore we had become weak like unto our brethren.
The following story illustrates how sometimes, it is the small things that happen in our lives overcome the big things, and we keep them in remembrance, continually in our minds


Of the many wonderful Christmases in my lifetime, there’s one I will never forget. I was fifteen years old and lived in Colonia Dublan, Chihuahua, Mexico, when revolutionary soldiers took control of our colony. That night—still vivid in my memory—I was terrified!
On 23 December 1915, U.S. troops issued an edict for those in the army of Francisco “Pancho” Villa to surrender, and many of them did. We watched them as they passed by our place on their way to Ciudad Juarez, where they were taken into custody. Others of the revolutionaries stayed behind with Villa’s lieutenant and prepared for a trek to join their leader in the mountains.
The next afternoon, Christmas Eve, one group of Villa’s soldiers came to our door with flour, insisting that Mother make bread for them. A group of men made their camp on our farm, helped themselves to our grain for their horses, and housed the animals in our barn. Then a little later, at about six o’clock, another small group of soldiers came into the house. They ransacked the cupboards and trunks, shooting the locks off of them, looking for food and money, and taking what they wanted. Within a few hours, six different groups had gone through our house, taking anything they felt they needed for their long journey to join their leader.
As bishop, my father had just finished tithing settlement and was preparing to send the contributions to Church headquarters. The soldiers not only took most of our food, but they found the tithing money my father had locked away and took that too. They also took our sheets, blankets, and quilts.
Around midnight, Villa’s lieutenant and a group of soldiers surrounded our house, posting guards at each of the entrances. One of the guards fired a shot into the room where we were, breaking glass in a window. A piece of flying glass cut my head over my right eyebrow. When I saw the blood running down over my eye, I thought I had been shot, and I touched the back of my head to feel where the bullet had come out. I was relieved to find no hole.
When the soldiers had come into the house earlier, they had gone upstairs looting trunks and taking what they could find. They had noticed that all of the women and children were upstairs and the men were downstairs, so now they decided they wanted to go back upstairs to the women. But my father forbade them. When they asked, “Who would stop us?” Father stood in the doorway, blocking it, and commanded them by the priesthood of God not to go upstairs. The lieutenant and his assistant, suddenly subdued, said, “If that is what you say, muy bien.” And they left. Father showed them out, lighting the doorway with his coal oil lamp. The men shot the lamp out of his hand as they left. I can still see my father standing there, a pillar of faith and courage.
Because of the night’s events, we couldn’t even sing or hang up our stockings. We hardly even remembered it was Christmas Eve. We were joined very late that night by the John B. Robinson family, whose house the looters had doused with coal oil and set on fire, because the Robinsons wouldn’t let them in. We could see the blazing fire against the night sky as the Robinson girls and their mother cried, uncertain and frightened; they feared that members of their family had been lost in the fire. They were grateful when the others joined us later. None of us got any sleep that night.
When I see Christmas stockings hung, I am reminded of scenes from that night, and I am thankful for the Savior’s gifts to me—the gifts of life, faith, and hope. The terror of that night gave way to a profound gratitude, reinforced by the image of my father standing in that doorway after using the priesthood to rebuke those men. We had been protected by the hand of the Lord; I came to know that for certain. I have been strengthened by that knowledge throughout my life. (Anson Bowen Call Jr. and Thaya E. Gilmore, “Father and the Revolutionaries,” Ensign, Dec. 1993, 44–45)

I was reminded recently of humble gratitude when our Stake President mentioned in Stake Conference about a conference call regarding Proposition 8. When the instruction was finished, he was impress by Elder Ballard giving thanks, with deep emotion, for all the efforts of the saints and their participation in the effort. And then before closing he instructed the Stake Presidents to have each Bishop offer the closing prayer in each sacrament meeting, united in faith and prayer, and gratitude to the Lord.

He is not very far from each of us. We can more closely align our will to his, if we desire it. We are the ones that have to move towards him. He is always there.

I pray that we will take time to thank the Lord for his presence in our lives. When we look back on the story of our life, we will find that he was there, that he showed us his love, and helped us along the way. That we acknowledge it, is entirely our choice.