Social Issues & The Culture War in America

2007-12-09T21:17:00.000-07:00

TIME TO WAKE UP AMERICA

Several decades ago America was one nation under God with liberty and justice for all. Many of the social issues we see today had not become hot button political social issues. Most Americans regardless of the different cultures and religions of people was headed in one direction and that oneness was the glue that held America together while becoming the greatest nation on earth. We are still a great nation but the nation is becoming very fragmented and divided. History teaches us that strength is anchored in "united we stand and divided we fall." We are no longer one nation under God with liberty and justice for all. The self-interest groups both personal and political are determined to have their way. We are fast becoming one nation under the professional politicians with selective liberty and justice for the politically connected and the social issues and groups that drive the professional political agenda. The public media with their self-ordained position as the fourth branch of government has contributed to the ploy helping to divide the nation with the red and blue states philosophy that has rippled into other divisions often found in religion and race issues. The nation has lost its sense of direction and where we came from.

Just like our personal individual existence on this planet there are no more vital questions that can be asked and answered than (1) Where did we come from (2) What are we doing here and (3) Where are we going. Just the same as in our own personal lives, as a nation those three questions are inseparable for our national success, peace and progress. Today we have a selective memory about where we came from and we are struggling to answer question number 2 and 3 because of that selective memory. Because of that selective memory several vital parts of our national history are missing as self-serving social issues cause the political spotlight to shine brightly.

Traditional family values are one of the cornerstones of a nation on its way to greatness. The basic social unit in any society is the family. The family has always been the laboratory of society and what comes out of that laboratory is what we get in society. Today that memory lapse of our history is missing. We have a 52% divorce rate and that laboratory is in a shameful state of disarray and shambles.

Another cornerstone in our great nation is our service to each other. Today we see a self-serving culture asking what can you do for me, bent on instant personal gratification with no concern for consequence to our fellowmen.

The third cornerstone is our human relationships. All human relationships have spiritual roots. Cut those roots and violence will spread like wildfire. Today we have gained the title of the most violent nation on earth.

The fourth cornerstone is our rights and freedoms under the Constitution. The right of freedom of speech today comes to the forefront. With every right there is a required responsibility. Today that responsibility in freedom of speech is nowhere to be found. Freedom of speech has become a right of passage for a counter culture to create a utopia of peace without God and divide the nation. Our media screens and the Internet feed Americans a steady diet of Pornography that was born out of the freedom of speech right. That shameful industry has grown to a $50 billion per year demeaning the great women and children of our society.

Demagogues have appeared atop the political power forums in our society as self appointed moral leaders that in fact are hypocrites and racist promoters further dividing the nation.

Finally our recognition of and worship of the God that led every race of people to this very special continent is the very foundation of our entire national structure. Today we have a very deceptive counter culture that has turned the "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" inside out. Today there is little forgiveness to be found for anyone's mistakes. In fact the public media has dogged determination to place blame, cause and continued public conflict to protect their ratings. It is all about "do others before they do you" and that has led to outrageous and extreme personal behavior. Religious freedom and tolerance under the constitution has become meaningless to those who engage in bigotry.

Now lets go to the question of laws. Laws are the safety net for the nation. Any society is a reflection of its laws and how those laws are administered. When people forsake the higher moral laws the counter culture of crime and violence increase. We see that today with a crime increase of over 350% over the past 40 years. A staggering part of that statistic is violent crime such as murder, manslaughter, assault and battery, armed robbery, rape, domestic violence, child abuse and other violent crimes of force. If we added the 40 million plus unborn babies that have been killed since Roe vs. Wade in 1975 the crime increase would be astronomical. The safety net is our own man-made laws and judicial system that administers those laws. When a judicial system becomes a monopoly of political, corrupt and a financial opportunity for lawyers the nation suffers. The one shelter of refuge designed to protect victims from lawbreakers becomes a game of Russian roulette for the victimized. The criminal justice system has become a revolving door for criminals. Recently in my own city a man with 55 prior arrests was arrested fleeing from law enforcement. Also in my city a DWI was arrested with 21 prior arrests and several convictions. Illegal immigrants flood across our borders at the rate of over one million annually. Over 80,000 of those illegal immigrants are known criminals and their whereabouts are unknown. While professional politicians jockey for personal and party position the nation is placed at great risk. Is the safety net broken? Do we have serious social issues? Do we have a counter culture making great inroads? Will these crime problems evolve into an ugly state of vigilante justice? Will the nation finally reach a state of anarchy?

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Time To Remember Our Beginning And Where We Came From. Before all our national social issues became hot-button political issues it would be traditional values that would solve the problem. In the early beginning of the nation, community and political service to the nation was found in the man who would drop his plow at the end of the furrow, go and serve for a couple of years, come back and pick up his plow and get on with his life. Traditional family values were found in our dedication to our family units, our schools, community and our churches. We were a God-fearing nation willing to follow the roadmap that our Creator designed for us (The Ten Commandments). Out of that roadmap came service to and love for our neighbors, forgiveness of offenses and mistakes of each other. The acts of adultery and murder were at an all time low. Violence upon other citizens was rare. Our children were taught to choose the right and to avoid evil by a loving father and mother. It was in this setting that a great nation was born that became a beacon to the entire world.

It is much easier to get lost than it is to find our way back. Regardless of the needed collective effort it is time to find our way back. Everywhere we look today social issues appear to be overwhelming. Masses of self-interest leaders are crying “choose me”. A nation is divided. What happened to that great nation and how do we find our way back? Instead of spending multi-billions of dollars to stake out and protect our political bases, we must look at the road we have traveled and what has changed our nation to find the answer. Following are the roadmarks;

1. We have lost our self-identity as a God-fearing nation.

2. We have a counter culture attempting to create a utopia of peace without God.

3. Politics has become the God of the land vying for the hearts and minds of all.

4. A secular society has emerged following the law of situation ethics.

5. The lust for greed and power has replaced service to each other.

6. Yesterdays immorality has become today's morality.

7. Selfish instant gratification has become the ruling emotion for millions.

8. The sacredness of human life has been lost.

9. A sexual revolution has engulfed the nation with carnal desires.

10. Honesty has been replaced with deception in our society.

11. Government has evolved into a non-responsive bloated bureaucracy.

12. First Amendment rights have lost their original meaning.

13. The Laboratory of society (family) is self-destructing and is the huge casualty of society.

It is time to wake up America and get back on track before we join other great nations in the history books of self-destruction. A good start on the road back for America would be to read very closely the message by a man that obviously knows where we came from, what we are doing here and where we are going and then adopt those principles. Governor Mitt Romney gave us a great message on freedom of religion and faith in America. The full text of the Romney message is outlined below.

Sammy Sorrell

Author and Crusader for Legal Justice Reform

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY ADDRESS

Thursday, Dec 06, 2007
"Faith In America"
Remarks As Prepared For Delivery

The George Bush Presidential Library College Station, Texas
December 6, 2007

"Thank you, Mr. President, for your kind introduction. "It is an honor to be here today. This is an inspiring place because of you and the First Lady and because of the film exhibited across the way in the Presidential library. For those who have not seen it, it shows the President as a young pilot, shot down during the Second World War, being rescued from his life-raft by the crew of an American submarine. It is a moving reminder that when America has faced challenge and peril, Americans rise to the occasion, willing to risk their very lives to defend freedom and preserve our nation. We are in your debt.

Thank you, Mr. President. "Mr. President, your generation rose to the occasion, first to defeat Fascism and then to vanquish the Soviet Union. You left us, your children, a free and strong America. It is why we call yours the greatest generation. It is now my generation's turn. How we respond to today's challenges will define our generation. And it will determine what kind of America we will leave our children, and theirs.

"America faces a new generation of challenges. Radical violent Islam seeks to destroy us. An emerging China endeavors to surpass our economic leadership. And we are troubled at home by government overspending, overuse of foreign oil, and the breakdown of the family.

"Over the last year, we have embarked on a national debate on how best to preserve American leadership. Today, I wish to address a topic which I believe is fundamental to America's greatness: our religious liberty. I will also offer perspectives on how my own faith would inform my Presidency, if I were elected.

"There are some who may feel that religion is not a matter to be seriously considered in the context of the weighty threats that face us. If so, they are at odds with the nation's founders, for they, when our nation faced its greatest peril, sought the blessings of the Creator. And further, they discovered the essential connection between the survival of a free land and the protection of religious freedom. In John Adams' words: 'We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion... Our constitution was made for a moral and religious people.'

"Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom. Freedom opens the windows of the soul so that man can discover his most profound beliefs and commune with God. Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone.

"Given our grand tradition of religious tolerance and liberty, some wonder whether there are any questions regarding an aspiring candidate's religion that are appropriate. I believe there are. And I will answer them today.

"Almost 50 years ago another candidate from Massachusetts explained that he was an American running for President, not a Catholic running for President. Like him, I am an American running for President. I do not define my candidacy by my religion. A person should not be elected because of his faith nor should he be rejected because of his faith.

"Let me assure you that no authorities of my church, or of any other church for that matter, will ever exert influence on presidential decisions. Their authority is theirs, within the province of church affairs, and it ends where the affairs of the nation begin.

"As Governor, I tried to do the right as best I knew it, serving the law and answering to the Constitution. I did not confuse the particular teachings of my church with the obligations of the office and of the Constitution – and of course, I would not do so as President. I will put no doctrine of any church above the plain duties of the office and the sovereign authority of the law.

"As a young man, Lincoln described what he called America's 'political religion' – the commitment to defend the rule of law and the Constitution. When I place my hand on the Bible and take the oath of office, that oath becomes my highest promise to God. If I am fortunate to become your President, I will serve no one religion, no one group, no one cause, and no one interest. A President must serve only the common cause of the people of the United States.

"There are some for whom these commitments are not enough. They would prefer it if I would simply distance myself from my religion, say that it is more a tradition than my personal conviction, or disavow one or another of its precepts. That I will not do. I believe in my Mormon faith and I endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers – I will be true to them and to my beliefs.

"Some believe that such a confession of my faith will sink my candidacy. If they are right, so be it. But I think they underestimate the American people. Americans do not respect believers of convenience. Americans tire of those who would jettison their beliefs, even to gain the world.

"There is one fundamental question about which I often am asked. What do I believe about Jesus Christ? I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of mankind. My church's beliefs about Christ may not all be the same as those of other faiths. Each religion has its own unique doctrines and history. These are not bases for criticism but rather a test of our tolerance. Religious tolerance would be a shallow principle indeed if it were reserved only for faiths with which we agree.

"There are some who would have a presidential candidate describe and explain his church's distinctive doctrines. To do so would enable the very religious test the founders prohibited in the Constitution. No candidate should become the spokesman for his faith. For if he becomes President he will need the prayers of the people of all faiths.

"I believe that every faith I have encountered draws its adherents closer to God. And in every faith I have come to know, there are features I wish were in my own: I love the profound ceremony of the Catholic Mass, the approachability of God in the prayers of the Evangelicals, the tenderness of spirit among the Pentecostals, the confident independence of the Lutherans, the ancient traditions of the Jews, unchanged through the ages, and the commitment to frequent prayer of the Muslims. As I travel across the country and see our towns and cities, I am always moved by the many houses of worship with their steeples, all pointing to heaven, reminding us of the source of life's blessings.

"It is important to recognize that while differences in theology exist between the churches in America, we share a common creed of moral convictions. And where the affairs of our nation are concerned, it's usually a sound rule to focus on the latter – on the great moral principles that urge us all on a common course. Whether it was the cause of abolition, or civil rights, or the right to life itself, no movement of conscience can succeed in America that cannot speak to the convictions of religious people.

"We separate church and state affairs in this country, and for good reason. No religion should dictate to the state nor should the state interfere with the free practice of religion. But in recent years, the notion of the separation of church and state has been taken by some well beyond its original meaning. They seek to remove from the public domain any acknowledgment of God. Religion is seen as merely a private affair with no place in public life. It is as if they are intent on establishing a new religion in America – the religion of secularism. They are wrong.

"The founders proscribed the establishment of a state religion, but they did not countenance the elimination of religion from the public square. We are a nation 'Under God' and in God, we do indeed trust.

"We should acknowledge the Creator as did the Founders – in ceremony and word. He should remain on our currency, in our pledge, in the teaching of our history, and during the holiday season, nativity scenes and menorahs should be welcome in our public places. Our greatness would not long endure without judges who respect the foundation of faith upon which our constitution rests. I will take care to separate the affairs of government from any religion, but I will not separate us from 'the God who gave us liberty.'

"Nor would I separate us from our religious heritage. Perhaps the most important question to ask a person of faith who seeks a political office, is this: does he share these American values: the equality of human kind, the obligation to serve one another, and a steadfast commitment to liberty?

"They are not unique to any one denomination. They belong to the great moral inheritance we hold in common. They are the firm ground on which Americans of different faiths meet and stand as a nation, united.

"We believe that every single human being is a child of God – we are all part of the human family. The conviction of the inherent and inalienable worth of every life is still the most revolutionary political proposition ever advanced. John Adams put it that we are 'thrown into the world all equal and alike.'

"The consequence of our common humanity is our responsibility to one another, to our fellow Americans foremost, but also to every child of God. It is an obligation which is fulfilled by Americans every day, here and across the globe, without regard to creed or race or nationality.

"Americans acknowledge that liberty is a gift of God, not an indulgence of government. No people in the history of the world have sacrificed as much for liberty. The lives of hundreds of thousands of America's sons and daughters were laid down during the last century to preserve freedom, for us and for freedom loving people throughout the world. America took nothing from that Century's terrible wars – no land from Germany or Japan or Korea; no treasure; no oath of fealty. America's resolve in the defense of liberty has been tested time and again. It has not been found wanting, nor must it ever be. America must never falter in holding high the banner of freedom.

"These American values, this great moral heritage, is shared and lived in my religion as it is in yours. I was taught in my home to honor God and love my neighbor. I saw my father march with Martin Luther King. I saw my parents provide compassionate care to others, in personal ways to people nearby, and in just as consequential ways in leading national volunteer movements. I am moved by the Lord's words: 'For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me...'

"My faith is grounded on these truths. You can witness them in Ann and my marriage and in our family. We are a long way from perfect and we have surely stumbled along the way, but our aspirations, our values, are the self-same as those from the other faiths that stand upon this common foundation. And these convictions will indeed inform my presidency.

"Today's generations of Americans have always known religious liberty. Perhaps we forget the long and arduous path our nation's forbearers took to achieve it. They came here from England to seek freedom of religion. But upon finding it for themselves, they at first denied it to others. Because of their diverse beliefs, Ann Hutchinson was exiled from Massachusetts Bay, a banished Roger Williams founded Rhode Island, and two centuries later, Brigham Young set out for the West. Americans were unable to accommodate their commitment to their own faith with an appreciation for the convictions of others to different faiths. In this, they were very much like those of the European nations they had left.

"It was in Philadelphia that our founding fathers defined a revolutionary vision of liberty, grounded on self evident truths about the equality of all, and the inalienable rights with which each is endowed by his Creator.

"We cherish these sacred rights, and secure them in our Constitutional order. Foremost do we protect religious liberty, not as a matter of policy but as a matter of right. There will be no established church, and we are guaranteed the free exercise of our religion.

"I'm not sure that we fully appreciate the profound implications of our tradition of religious liberty. I have visited many of the magnificent cathedrals in Europe. They are so inspired ... so grand ... so empty. Raised up over generations, long ago, so many of the cathedrals now stand as the postcard backdrop to societies just too busy or too 'enlightened' to venture inside and kneel in prayer. The establishment of state religions in Europe did no favor to Europe's churches. And though you will find many people of strong faith there, the churches themselves seem to be withering away.

"Infinitely worse is the other extreme, the creed of conversion by conquest: violent Jihad, murder as martyrdom... killing Christians, Jews, and Muslims with equal indifference. These radical Islamists do their preaching not by reason or example, but in the coercion of minds and the shedding of blood. We face no greater danger today than theocratic tyranny, and the boundless suffering these states and groups could inflict if given the chance.

"The diversity of our cultural expression, and the vibrancy of our religious dialogue, has kept America in the forefront of civilized nations even as others regard religious freedom as something to be destroyed.

"In such a world, we can be deeply thankful that we live in a land where reason and religion are friends and allies in the cause of liberty, joined against the evils and dangers of the day. And you can be certain of this: Any believer in religious freedom, any person who has knelt in prayer to the Almighty, has a friend and ally in me. And so it is for hundreds of millions of our countrymen: we do not insist on a single strain of religion – rather, we welcome our nation's symphony of faith.

"Recall the early days of the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia, during the fall of 1774. With Boston occupied by British troops, there were rumors of imminent hostilities and fears of an impending war. In this time of peril, someone suggested that they pray. But there were objections. 'They were too divided in religious sentiments', what with Episcopalians and Quakers, Anabaptists and Congregationalists, Presbyterians and Catholics.

"Then Sam Adams rose, and said he would hear a prayer from anyone of piety and good character, as long as they were a patriot.

"And so together they prayed, and together they fought, and together, by the grace of God ... they founded this great nation.

"In that spirit, let us give thanks to the divine 'author of liberty.' And together, let us pray that this land may always be blessed, 'with freedom's holy light.'

"God bless the United States of America."

2007-10-06T14:16:00.000-06:00

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SAMMY SORRELL

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Social Issues
Crime In America
Justice In America
The Culture War
The Secular Society
Vigilante Justice Coming
Anarchy in America

2007-09-06T21:12:00.000-06:00

2007-04-21T15:35:00.000-06:00

THE VIRGINIA TECH MASSACRE

CAUSE AND THE CURE

America’s Greatest Threat Is Homegrown Terrorism

PART II of A SERIES

In Part I of this series our spotlight focus was on homegrown terrorism. Most of the murders and particularly the mass murders we see in this nation are acts of homegrown terrorism. In Part I, for the purpose of this article we defined all violent crime in America and the mass murder at Virginia Tech as homegrown terrorism. When these planned acts of unconscionable homegrown terrorism become more frequent in our nation as they have in the past few years it is time to ask the really hard questions.

Certainly the professional scholars while largely avoiding the terms evil and homegrown terrorism have analyzed and studied criminal acts for decades. Many contributing factors have been and will be suggested. Law enforcement will point to the permissive laws in our society as they “lock them up” and the judicial system “turns them loose”, leading criminals to believe there is little fear of quick and sure punishment for lawbreakers. The medical experts and in particular the Psychologists will point to the mindset and behavioral influences operating in our society. The medical examiners will look for a medical condition that could have changed the mental capacity of the killer. Economists will point to the different classes of people in society and the class/poverty influences. The clergy will point to the question of higher moral laws (The Ten Commandments) of our Creator and the influences of good and evil operating upon society. Politicians who effectively are the makers and the keepers of the laws of the land will point to the vast sums of money (multi-billions) they have chunked at the problems in society for the past several decades. As is the case in the Virginia Tech tragedy, the public media will look for someone close to the tragedy to blame and they will continue that critical and judgmental dialogue for months as their ratings skyrocket (as in the Anna Nicole Smith demise). The entertainment media while marketing their violent games and programming will say don’t look at us-everyone has their own free agency. Those of us who have spent many years in the cause for legal justice reform will point to the revolving door “criminal injustice system.” The most dominant culture in America, the lawyers will undoubtedly point to the judicial system as the best system in the world to take care of the problems. Self-interest groups will contribute theories that support their own cause. Counselors will stand by to help grief-stricken parents, families and friends when these tragedies occur so that victim survivors can move on. As we crank up all the secular machinery and the best learned minds search for answers, one cannot escape the vivid mental picture of the Savior of the world centuries ago hanging on the cross as he says; “Forgive them father for they know not what they do.”

While we all search for the answers, we can thank a loving God that the victims, families and friends of the Virginia Tech School tragedy can find solace and anchor themselves to that fateful day when the Savior of the world descended below all the horrific acts of mankind and atoned for all our sins so that we might all be resurrected and continue our journey toward eternal life. That is the one bright light that continues to shine in our society while some walk toward the light and many in society walk away from that light. Although our Father in Heaven is mindful of us, each of us has been placed on this earth to learn for ourselves and exercise our free agency for a very special eternal purpose. So we must continue to search for the answers that will enhance and benefit our society and hopefully we will not destroy ourselves in the process as other nations have done in the past.

As we search for the answer to the worst mass murder to date in our history it is time to ask some hard questions regardless of where the answers lead us. Did all of these monster killers who periodically shock our very conscience suffer from some kind of medical condition? Did they all have a similar environment for the past decade and even before? Did they all have a similar family relationship? Did they all have similar interests? Did they all have negative relationship experiences? Were their actions of terror connected to a terrorist group? Did their actions and behavior raise a red flag before their horrendous act was committed? While we may find some or even different similarities in all these people that committed these acts of terror we need to look for and find the one common thread. There is only one common thread that ran through each of their lives. All of these killers were members of the exact same society. Well are you saying Sammy Sorrell that our society caused these tragedies? No I am saying if society is the one common thread then society has to be factored into the picture and closely examined. How is it you say society factors into the picture? Every member of a society and in particular a free society is subject to the influences in that society. The answer to the question of crime is not so complex as many make it out to be. Any free society is in very large part a reflection of its laws and how those laws are administered. Not only the man-made laws but also how a society keeps the higher moral laws most importantly. If you accept that premise our society is in deep trouble in both areas. Our conclusion will enlarge specifically upon this premise in a later part of this series. For now lets review some of the other influences in society that relate back to the premise.

First, lets examine the society we live in and some of the powerful influences operating in that society that we are exposed to. We can begin with the sometimes over-whelming marketing forces in our nation. Since we have so-called freedom of speech (a Constitutional law) there is hardly anything that cannot be marketed to the public and the masses. Hide behind freedom of speech and that includes almost every hurtful or immoral product the mind can conceive. That includes alcohol, tobacco, drugs and the $50 billion dollar annual pornographic industry that demeans the women and children of our nation. Then there is the media-marketing blitz with a constant onslaught of sex films, immoral and extreme behavior streaming into our homes through the Internet, live TV, DVD and other movie devices. And lets not forget the print matter like “Playboy magazine” that became an institution in our society. After this tidal wave of these marketing forces, we spend billions of dollars fighting the crimes of child sex abuse, rape and other sex offender crimes. Ultimately we have strong marketing influences that teach a nation and our young people to violate the higher moral laws of our Creator and consequently the man-made laws. Add to this the almost unthinkable mention of God or religion in the affairs of our government. What is wrong with this total picture in our society? Stay with us we will connect all the dots that lead back to the Virginia Tech massacre.

Examining our society further, we have a judicial system today that has evolved into a massive lawyer crapshoot! A criminal with a good lawyer can plea-bargain his or her way out of most any crime to a lesser offense with many getting a sentence of probation only. Swift and sure punishment is no longer a factor in our judicial system. Our justice system is a big joke to criminals. This fact is a large contributing factor to the 350% increase in crime during the past 40 years and 159,000,000 million of those crimes against Americans occurring during the 13-year period ending 2002. Yes this reflection of crime and justice in America does relate to mass murderers as criminals are often glorified in books, serial films, movies and other media coverage of crimes. In Part I of this series we stated our society has become the most violent nation on earth. Our pugilistic society has become a reflection of our tolerance for violent films and movies, violent games and other extreme behavior that pushes toward harm, injury or death. The Internet has taught our young people that there is a ready stage to perform on and get their 15 minutes of fame with their cell phone cameras and other portable high-tech photo devices filming extreme and violent behavior. Somehow in the warped perception of these mass murderers the legacy they leave behind gives them great satisfaction knowing their evil deeds will be aired over and over on TV, the Internet and every other media in the land. What is wrong with this picture?

It would be difficult if not impossible to talk about where we are as a society today with crime and other animal-like behavior if we did not reflect upon where we came from. Re-visit this site for future parts of this article that will further discuss the Virginia Tech massacre and homegrown terrorism, the greatest threat America faces, the cause and the cure.

2007-04-16T22:30:00.000-06:00

THE VIRGINIA TECH MASSACRE

CAUSE AND THE CURE

America’s Greatest Threat Is Homegrown Terrorism

PART I of A SERIES

On the eve of the Virginia Tech massacre, it would be difficult to imagine a subject that occupies the minds of Americans more than the subject of senseless crime! Every good and right-thinking American has a heartfelt sorrow and sadness for the Virginia Tech victims, their friends, parents and families and millions of prayers will be offered on their behalf. No two questions will arise out of this tragedy that will be asked more frequently than “what was the cause” of the worst mass shooting in American history and “what is the cure” for this type of homegrown terrorism. We will share our answer to those questions on this site and have already answered those questions in the book; “Homegrown Terrorism, The Undeclared War Against Crime In America” American Trend Publishing, Sammy Sorrell Author. The 425-page book is offered in Soft Cover and PDF format direct from the publisher at the toll free number 800-505-6555.

Since 911, the public media and the professional politicians have focused the nation on terrorism offshore. We have all been led to believe that terrorism originates with offshore culture groups or cells of those groups that have been planted within our own nation. I have said this before but it bears repeating. The greatest threat America faces is not offshore terrorism but homegrown terrorism. Terrorism by its very definition is a method used to control and intimidate with violence or force. Now lets get real about terrorism and look at our own homegrown terrorism variety. School shootings is just one tentacle of this Octopus like monster. Child abuse, domestic violence, rape, kidnapping and assault are just more tentacles of the terrorism culture. It is this author’s contention and belief that the horrendous crime culture in America is no more or no less than a culture of homegrown terrorism. If we cannot accept this fact it is likely the entire perception in this series of the cause and the cure of Virginia Tech type tragedies will not be accepted.

For the doubters lets pursue the comparison of offshore terrorism and American homegrown terrorism in loss of lives and financial cost. As of the end of 2006 and since 911 and including 911 the war on offshore terrorism has claimed nearly 8000 American lives. Certainly there are great number of injuries also to our American military men and women. The financial cost of offshore terrorism since 911 has reached a cost of approximately $400 billion dollars. Now lets make a similar comparison with homegrown terrorism. Since 911 through the year 2006 homegrown terrorism (crime) has claimed the lives of over 70,000 Americans. Many of those murders were more heinous and barbaric than those occurring in the war on offshore terrorism. One of these monsters cut up his own mother and put her in a heating stove and scattered her ashes in the backyard. Believe it or not he got a 6-year prison sentence because of a stupid-quirky law. But we will talk more about how the judicial system factors into the cause of homegrown terrorism later. Since 911 through 2006 the cost of homegrown terrorism (crime) has cost approximately $675 billion dollars annually (U.S. Justice Dept.). Multiply that time 5-years and we are talking about trillions of dollars. America is now the most violent nation on the face of the earth. The nation is number one among all nations for incarcerated prisoners. Over 570,000 prison inmates are released annually back into society. Over 80,000 illegal immigrants with known criminal records are in America and we don’t even know where they are. In the 13-year period ending 2002, Americans were the victims of 159,000,000 million crimes.

Could it be that homegrown terrorism is the greatest threat America faces? Re-visit this site for future parts of this article that will further discuss the problem of homegrown terrorism, the cause and the cure.

2007-03-30T20:06:00.000-06:00

SOCIETY IS A REFLECTION OF ITS LAWS AND GOVERNMENT

The level of comfort and trust Americans have in their government is fast disappearing today as corruption, fraud and political infighting by professional politicians reach the top echelons of government both state and federal. A spotlight example of that problem came to light in late March 2007 in New Mexico state government and reverberated all the way to the federal government in Washington, D.C.. The New Mexico kettle of fish had been stinking since 2004 involving reported huge kickbacks in the construction of the new Metro Courthouse in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This fiasco happened under the watch of former U.S. attorney in New Mexico David Iglesias, former New Mexico attorney general Patricia Madrid and the powerful, longtime Democratic state senate speaker Manny Aragon. The conclusion of the investigation on a scheme to defraud the state burst upon the public scene with indictment of Manny Aragon, a lawyer and New Mexico’s top lawmaker for over twenty years who allegedly received kickbacks adding up to $700,000. Pleading guilty in the scheme was former Albuquerque mayor Ken Schultz, Marc Schiff, architect and senior partner in charge of the project, Manual Guara, subcontractor that inflated vouchers and kickback money. Not yet indicted Toby and Sandra Martinez the court boss and his wife that are accused of approving over $2 million in phony invoices for kickback purposes. Also not yet indicted is Raul Parra accused of skimming off $773,000 and funneling thousands of dollars more to other defendants. This scam totaled an estimated $4.2 million in fraudulent kickbacks and sent the Metro judges scurrying to the state to pay for overruns on the project.

While not involved in the chain scam conspiracy former New Mexico U.S. attorney Iglesias and former State Attorney General Madrid have been viewed with a jaundiced eye for slowdown of the investigation. U.S. Senator Pete Domenici and U.S. Representative Heather Wilson were aware of the slow-moving investigation and both called Iglegias in the fall of 2006 to see how the investigation was coming along. Those calls triggered the political lurching-reach of U.S. house and senate democrats to cry foul after Iglesias and seven other U.S. attorneys were fired. U.S. House and Senate democrats immediately rushed to press conferences to point the political finger at the Bush administration hoping to find something wrong with the dismissal of the U.S. Attorneys including New Mexico U.S. attorney Iglesias.

Honesty is the foundation of strong character. Dishonesty is the foundation of weak character. Like a house built on a sandy foundation weak character will ultimately collapse and often with a loud bang. Government leaders representing the people are expected to be held to a higher moral standard. Their standard of morality can lead a nation to the higher moral ground or lead them to the depths of immorality. These people are the lawmakers of the nation. Every democratic society is a reflection of its laws and how those laws are administered. When lawmakers engage in immoral acts of dishonesty the reflection of the nation’s laws is permanently impaired and we have arrived to the age-old excuse (everybody does it) that sends a nation further toward the edge of the slippery slope of immorality. History records great nations that have destroyed themselves because of that slippery slope. Could this all be placed at the doorstep of a counter-culture with a strong foothold in our nation hell-bent on creating a utopia of peace without God?

2006-10-23T18:31:00.000-06:00

HAS PROFESSIONAL POLITICS BECOME AMERICA’S GOD?

Just a few decades ago when America was the fledgling superpower of the world there were strong-minded but few if any professional politicians. Community and family-minded men would simply drop the plow in the last plowed furrow and go to serve their government for a couple of years-then return and pick up the plow and get on with their lives. Seldom were laws passed that were self-serving and the United States of America was on the way up with a great sense of patriotism and national belonging and traditional family values. Gasoline cost less than one dollar per gallon. Crime was largely under control. Americans did not have an illegal immigration problem. The traditional family unit of a man and woman and children was firmly in tact. Most Americans were thankful for their God-given rights and freedoms and remembered their roots and heritage. America was fulfilling its role as a beacon to the world as a land of freedom.

For the past few decades a culture of professional politicians have been running the nation. Separation of church and state has been overblown to keep God out of our governmental affairs. We have counter-culture’s making a great attempt to create a utopia of peace in the nation without God. Yesterday’s immorality has become today’s morality. The average American has no chance to serve their government. It cost over $200,000,000 million dollars to make a run for president and millions are spent on most-lesser state political offices. Political connections and endorsements are now an absolute must for any political office. Gasoline is sliding between $2 and $3 per gallon at the pump. Crime has increased by 350% during the past 40 years with “homegrown terrorism” becoming our largest national threat. Illegal immigrants are pouring across our borders at estimates of 4000 per day. There are estimates of twelve to twenty million illegal immigrants in our nation and nobody knows the actual number. Admittedly 80,000 of these illegal immigrants are known criminals and we don’t even know where they are. America is the superpower of the world and millions of Americans are asking what happened? The answer to that important question is easy to answer with a simple history lesson. Professional politics has become a year-around, powerful all-consuming marketing force in the nation. Concurrently the nation forsakes the God that made our nation great. While professional politicians engage and focus the nation in partisan politics, counter-cultures, division, hatred, power struggles, self-serving laws and greed, the major problems of the nation have been germinating and now have come into full bloom.

First let’s take the gasoline issue. Since the mid-east discovered it had a lethal weapon to use against western powers in their oil supplies in 1975 this Nation has not created one new oil refinery. After thirty years of do-nothing professional politics, Americans discover there is a serious energy crisis reaching into their pocketbooks. During the past forty years crime in America has increased over 350% with 159,000,000 million crimes committed against Americans in the thirteen -year period ending 2002 (U.S. Justice Dept.). The political party out of power has divided the nation over the war on terrorism in an attempt to regain political power. While the professional politicians focus upon dividing the nation over offshore terrorism and political handling of that war, the nation is being overrun with homegrown terrorism (crime). A decades long lawyer-dominated federal congress refuses to consider serious legal justice reform that has created a monster judicial (injustice) system with a revolving door for criminals putting the entire nation at risk.

For the past two or three decades illegal immigrants by the millions have poured across our borders. When the problem becomes unbelievably complex then and only then do the professional politicians even begin flirting with the issue. If we accept the premise that any society is a reflection of its laws and how those laws are made and administed by politicians and judges-America is in big trouble. With this vision the problem comes into clear view. The partisan politics of professional politicians with a national liberal-leaning media that thrives on conflict has divided a nation on almost every serious issue. That same political scheme has directed a vitriolic hatred toward an American president that is unprecedented in the nations history. With that premise just maybe as we track our history and national heritage, professional politics has become the God of America forsaking the one and only true God that inspired our forefathers and made our nation great. Absent drastic reform in our system of government, laws and term limits in our political system and total legal justice reform the future of our great nation could be anarchy.

2006-10-03T19:51:00.000-06:00

THE WAR WITH THE CRIMINAL CULTURE

We are in a war with the criminal culture-the entire nation is terrorized by this culture-this culture has changed our total lifestyle. Immorality is a giant feeder for the culture. But our justice system and lawmaking bodies do not handle this terrorist onslaught as a war. Our government spends billions upon billions of dollars fighting crime in America. According to the U.S. Justice dept. those billions now amount to $675 billion annually. Instead of treating this attack as a war, the system treats it as some kind of a giant social experiment that amounts to no more than hacking away at the leaves while no one is digging at the roots. One of those roots is the flood of immorality that has engulfed the nation that translates into crime. The nations lawyers and the ACLU leading the parade have made such a sacred cow out of freedom of speech violations that millions of good Americans are suffering the consequences. The $50 billion dollar per year Pornography industry that translates into innumerable sex crimes and broken families is just one example of the overreach of freedom of speech with little to no legal consequence for that immoral industry. This culture springs from the secular part of our society that would create a utopia of peace without God. But this nation did not become the greatest nation on earth without God and the observance of God’s laws that give us our traditional moral codes. This nation will not remain the greatest nation on earth without respect for God’s law and moral codes. That is not a threat that is a promise.

2006-08-19T10:14:00.000-06:00

THE LIBERAL POLITICAL CHANT; “THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION” IS DEAFENING

All at once now, “The Bush Administration” did it, didn’t do it, is responsible for it, should have known, have done nothing, have done the wrong thing, have no strategy. The tone of this political rhetoric not only is deafening but also shows the stupidity of the far left Democrats and their total worn-out policy of playing the blame game. Watch any TV clip with one of these far left “experts” on the screen and this will be the exchange. Host; “Do you believe the gray wolf population is ultimately going to become extinct?” Far left expert; “Well the Bush Administration has no policy on saving the gray wolf.” This is the Pavlonian theory of repetitive teaching. It closely parallels the most annoying commercial on the air today; “Head on apply directly, head on apply directly, head on apply directly.”

For five years the terrorists have not been able to penetrate our shores. After the 9/11 attack, the Bush administration has employed an intelligence strategy that kept the terrorists from reaching our shores. That strategy has been multi-faceted. It has included creation of a Homeland security department, consolidation of various intelligence agencies, taking the war on terrorism away from our shores into Iraq and a Secretary of State that travels the globe working the diplomatic efforts. In a consolidated intelligence program with other nations a likely terrorist destruction of at least ten major airliners headed from England to the United States was recently averted. Undoubtedly we are living in a time and in a nation where the supply of criticism far outnumbers the small limited demand.

2006-08-11T22:07:00.000-06:00

DANGEROUS TREND EVOLVING
UNDER GUISE OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Freedom of speech is a foundation principle of a free nation. Imposition of political and personal will has no place in the freedom of speech concept or intent as we are seeing today. Imposition of political and personal will is the very doctrine which free nations resist and thank God for that. As a legal matter, your freedom of speech right gives you the right to disagree with me and I will defend that right to the death. But freedom of speech does not give you the right to take away any of my freedoms or impede my path of progress. It does not give you the right to break any civil or criminal law or do any other thing to force or impose your will upon me or anyone else who disagrees with you. It does not give you the right to block any street, which I want to travel on. It does not give you the right to lie down in the middle of any public road, which I travel on. It does not give you the right to block or impede my entrance into any building, which I desire to enter. It does not give you the right to prevent me from doing any other legal or lawful thing, which I desire to do.

For the past few decades we have seen a very dangerous trend by political special interest groups, dissenting or opposing a whole menu of subjects. They set about spinning their web of ulterior political motive under the guise of freedom of speech. This agenda has included a whole plethora of political causes that is intended to shock the moral, spiritual and logical conscience of our nation. These causes range from one end of the spectrum to the other extreme end. Some of the more common causes have included burning of the American flag, invading the Internet with a blitz of child pornography, sitting in the redwood trees in California at the expense of contemporary progress, preservation of the silvery minnow at the expense of vital water rights for humanity, preservation of the spotted owl at the expense of the lumber industry and preservation of the gray wolf at the expense of ranchers and farmers livestock. This so-called freedom of expression also includes the devastation and terror in this nation caused by those who drink (alcohol) and drive (DWI) killing and maiming more innocent people than in all of our wars combined. It includes over 50,000 deaths annually of non-smoking Americans who die from second-hand smoke. And the list goes on!

Now we are watching and even more dangerous trend being carried over into the “war dissenters” movement. Many of these people are out there spinning their political web under the guise of freedom of speech. This obviously is a well-organized worldwide movement with leaders who hate the USA and know how to incite innocent people to join their movement under the guise of freedom of speech-to carry out their ulterior political motives. Unfortunately these people could be engaging in an activity akin to sedition and treason. The theme to cover that political agenda is a claim of “support for the troops” but not support for the “commander and chief” of the troops. This has a very hollow political ring. In fact one “war dissenting” female told a reporter her concern goes back to the last “illegal presidential election.” So this appears not to be a war protest but a ballot box political agenda. A great number of others interviewed exclaim “Saddam Hussein” is not a threat to this nation and it has not been proven he has weapons of mass destruction. Another statement that has a hollow ring! The documented record shows that Iraqi has used chemical warfare upon it’s own people. That same record shows there is a supply of Anthrax still unaccounted for after the last Gulf war, which could wipe out millions of people-yes even Americans. One madman who hates Americans brought death and harm to over 3000 of our citizens on 9/11. Do we want to risk another 9/11, only a thousand times worse by another madman? I am proud to be an American. I love our freedoms and stand ready to exercise responsibility in the use of those freedoms along with the majority of Americans. I am honored to be included among those that support our great president (Bush) who is obviously willing to risk his entire political career to protect the American people and our homeland. Imagine with me if this president did not exercise the courage to meet this threat of another murderous tyrant and our nation was attacked again! Many of these same “war dissenters” would be back out on the street (with their political agenda) decrying the failure of this president to meet the threat before it hit us! Freedom of speech yes! Imposition of political will no!