Obama At ASU Graduation

As you may already know, I am not a fan of Barack Obama. My personal belief is that he is not a proper leader for our republic - Obama's desired destination is socialism. He is a fine orator, and he has the ability to mesmerize his audience... as long as his teleprompter is functioning. But, an empty drum makes the most noise. He is our first black President, which is a singular achievement thus far in our nation's history. How he got to be so is another question entirely. There are unanswered questions about his true place of birth. There are questions about how many dead people voted for him in Illinois - and other states - through the fine efforts of ACORN. There are questions about his lack of demonstrated respect for Queen Elizabth II, of the United Kingdom, versus his overt display of great respect for leaders of Islamic and Arab nations.

Oddly enough, the thrust of this posting will be to defend Barack Hussein Obama. People had told me (and I found corroboration in several blogs) that Obama had said, "America sucks, capitalism sucks, and our military sucks." I listened to his entire speech online, and I did not hear anything even vaguely resembling those statements. It would take a high degree of listener inference to come away with those impressions. He even gave slightly glowing credit to those who serve in our military.

However, there was an undertone of socialist indoctrination throughout his speech. I quote:
"Graduates, it is now abundantly clear that we need to start doing things a little differently," he said, bedecked in graduate robes. "As a nation, we'll need a fundamental change of perspective and attitude. It is clear that we need to build a new foundation – a stronger foundation – for our economy and our prosperity, rethinking how we grow our economy, how we use our energy, how we educate our children, and care for our sick, and treat our environment." I can find nothing in that paragraph that is arguable. We do need to change all of those things. The real question is, in what direction?

Socialism does not work! This has been proven repeatedly throughout history. Our nation was not founded under socialism, nor did socialism transform the USA from a rebellious colony into a world leader in less than 200 years. Sooner or later you do "run out of other people's money". Socialism is anathema to everything this country was built upon and stood for... prior to January 20, 2009 (Inauguration Day).

There are enough things obviously wrong with Barack Hussein Obama as President, that we do not need to concoct others through inference and innuendo. He is leading the USA to the destruction of our Constitutional Republic, instead of strengthening it.

I suppose I could be completely wrong about this... anybody got the weather report for Hell?

Ohio Teen Expects To Be Suspended For Trip To Prom

Thus reads the Associated Press headline, followed by:
"Sun May 10, 11:46 am ET

FINDLAY, Ohio – An Ohio teenager says he expects to be suspended from a Christian school for attending a public school prom with his girlfriend. Officials at Heritage Christian School in Findlay had warned 17-year-old Tyler Frost that he would be suspended and prohibited from attending graduation if he went to the Saturday dance. The fundamentalist Baptist school in northwest Ohio forbids dancing, rock music and hand holding..."

If Tyler has met the academic requirements for graduation, then there is no reasonable argument to deny him the graduation ceremony. The school can only deny him the activities of "dancing, rock music and hand holding" upon school grounds, as that is the limit of their authority over their students. In the real world, Tyler's rights are protected by our Constitution.

The Supreme Court has expressly recognized that a right to freedom of association and belief is implicit in the First, Fifth, and Fouteenth Amendments. The First Amendment protects his right to freedom of religion, freedom of association, and freedom of expression. If he chose to associate with somebody who did not follow his school's doctrinal teachings, it is his choice, and his right to do so. (The doctrine of most "Fundamentalist" religions - and, there are several besides Baptist fundamentalists - tends to be quite restrictive, in the belief that sacrificing certain "worldy ways" gets one closer to what Jesus the Christ desires of us, were he physically here to ask it of us. Which may explain the growth of the less demanding Evangelical Christian movement in the United States.) I am not a "Bible thumper", nor do I claim to be a theologian or a lawyer. I'm just a normal person trying to understand why things are the way they are. But, as best I can recall , nowhere in the Christian Bible is there a passage that reads; "Thou shalt not dance, listen to rock music, or hold hands."

Dancing, since time immemorial, has been an expression of joy and exhilaration. Are Christians not directed to express joy at the coming of their Savior and thanks for His sacrifice for them? Is music not a means to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord"? Where is it written that the only acceptable music is psalms? And, music inspires one to dance, thereby doubling the expression of joy! Holding hands is a physical expression of fellowship with another person or persons. Are Christians not encouraged by the Lord to join in fellowship?

However... (I hate it when I have to do this) the school has it's rules and requirements, but they are only enforceable by the school within the boundaries of the school. The boy has apparently met all the Ohio State academic requirements for graduation - let him graduate with his class. If the school has a doctrinal grievance against him, then let them - through the church - disfellowship Tyler. Or, perhaps Tyler could ask for dispensation and Christian forgiveness for being a young American exercising his God-given rights.

This is an excellent example of where, when and how, Church and State should definitely be separated. A church supported school, teaching state approved curricula for secondary education, has one overriding, principal function: to provide sufficient education to allow their students to meet the minimum state requirements for graduation. Doctrinal issues should not be a consideration in education unless the student is attending a theological seminary.

There is a distinct possibility I could be wrong about this... does my personal position seem extreme in either direction to you?