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JUDGMENT DAY
It has been just a year now, one hour after the election of Obama as President of the United States of America, that I changed from wearing black to wearing white attire and much has happened that still gives me hope that someday Goodness will prevail and the World will be able to live in Peace... however on this day, as President Obama contemplates sending more troops to Afghanistan, I am forced to accept the fact that there are still many forces of opposition in the USA, that continue to block the Path that would allow it to become a leader in the pursuit of a more Peaceful World. To become a good leader, I believe that the USA would have to be willing to admit to some of the more recent illegal activities of its political and military leaders, and be willing to put them on trial for their crimes against humanity. If we do not do that, how can we expect others to? To become a good leader, I believe that the USA would have to step out of the role as protector of Israel and allow the country to stand or fall on its own. How can we be a mediator in the problems of the Middle East if we are partial to one side. To become a good leader, I believe that the USA would have to silence the voices of those like Sara Palin who spread lies and promote hatred wherever they go. Freedom of speech should not include the right to lie and deceive the public. Those who speak out must be held accountable for the damage they cause to others. To become a good leader, I believe that the USA would have to rid itself of political groups like the Christian Right, who believe they have exclusive rights to freedoms that others are not entitled to. Extremist groups like these only fuel the hatred between religious groups and do nothing to bring about Peace. No Extremist group should have a voice in the government, nor should it receive tax-exempt status. To become a good leader, I believe that the USA would have to pull all of its troops from Afghanistan immediately and accept the fact that it has lost yet another war. For wherever armed troops are sent, there will be a resistance... and the stronger the reinforcements are, the stronger the resistance will become. To become a good leader, I believe that the USA would have to do all of these things and more... but it doesn't look like it will happen at any time soon because there are still a great many citizens of the USA who are naively convinced that they are above reproach and for that reason I will return to wearing Black... not in protest of Obama, but in protest of those who believe that World Domination is more important than World Peace. There are many who disagree with me, most of them defend the right of people like Sara Palin and the Christian Right to speak out even if their message is hateful and less then true. They are however reluctant to voice their own thoughts publicly and that is perhaps one of the problems with the World today. We see things that are not right but are afraid to say something about it publicly for fear of being seen as making a Judgment on others. There are many passages in the Bible warning us not to judge our brother lest we also be judged. Jesus also instructed us not to try and remove the speck in someone else's eye without first removing the log in our own eye. He is not saying we should not help our brothers... he is saying that we should first get our life together and be sure our motives are pure before we attempt to correct someone else. We are instructed to remove from our midst those who are evil. How can we do that without discernment? Many years ago Johnny Carson pushed the limits in the USA by using swear words on night time television. They were BEEPED of course because at that time it was forbidden. That defiance however paved the way for what we have today. Freedom of speech should not include the right to undermine the morality of a nation. If Johnny Carson had been taken off the air after his first offense, what might the differences be in our Nation today? Perhaps Brittany Spears would be confined to adult only burlesque shows in some out of the way strip joint at the edge of town. Some are upset because I say the Christian Right should not have a voice in politics, and I do so only because of my own background in it. Had I said a Muslim Extremist group should not have a voice, I am sure there would be no objections yet... are they not one in the same. As long as Supremacist Groups exist, there will be war between them. When I say people like Sarah Palin must be silenced I mean that her lies should be immediately made known public so that her voice has no power. If all politicians were kept honest by their constituents, where would our country be today? Impossible some have told me: "To say that someone or some organization shouldn't exist because they spread lies or we don't like their stance is a terrible step to take. Tell me one person or one organization where there is not a spreading of lies?" What a depressing way to look at our World, to see everyone as a liar, every politician corrupt, and every organization dishonest... and to say that this is okay because there is no other way it can be. Is that what Freedom means? The USA lost it Freedoms, in my opinion, when it stopped holding its political and religious leaders responsible. Perhaps Peace will not come in my lifetime... but for me to surrender all hope of it ever happening would be to lose my purpose for being. I believe Peace will come one day and it will happen because people like me kept the Dream alive and because we were not afraid to discern for ourselves, between that which is Good and that which is evil. Passing Judgment on ourselves and on others, in this life time, is not something we can leave to GOD, it is something we must do for ourselves... and holding each other responsible for the words we speak and the deeds we do, must start from the bottom, not from the top. Peace will come one day, No matter what men say, All wars will end, All wounds will mend, Blue skies replace the grey.
SOHAM... Wayne Dale Matthysse
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