Good Morning!

Hi everyone... I know it's not usually typical of me to post at such an early hour, but I have some free time here at school so I figured I'd make the most of it.

Over the weekend I'm hoping that you heard at least a little news blurb regarding the 8/28 Restoring Honor Rally in Washington D.C, instigated by Glenn Beck. I had the privilige of watching it on CSPAN and on the live stream on Facebook...to those of you that actually got to go, please send me an email or post a comment about your experience! Also, any pictures you have I would love for you to share.

In total, the rally raised over $5 MILLION for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. If you've never heard of SOWF, PLEASE visit their website at www.specialops.org and help if you can. SOWF provides college educations to children of fallen special ops soldiers, and also immediate financial assistance to the wounded and their families. This was the reason for 8.28...restoring honor where it needed to be restored. In our military and veterans.

It was not one massive Tea Party protesting government spending, and I think that is what is throwing off the media. Most of the people there were there because they still believe in the greatness of their nation, and they believe that the days of America being the most free nation in the world, that city upon a hill, is not near finished.

Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, Alveda King (neice of Martin Luther King, Jr.) and various other speakers were present. Sarah Palin recognized three veterans. One of them was Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell. (A little off topic, but if you haven't read it yet, read Marcus's book, Lone Survivor. It will change your life. Seriously.)

From Glenn's website, here are a few pictures, and below his keynote speech.



















And Glenn's speech...


I personally got chills just watching the rally on TV and was near tears at times... whether we like it or not, America has been and, God willing, will continue to be a model nation for the world...a nation that puts God first, and a nation that recognized that rights were derived from God himself, not man. I feel like those in power right now are contradicting and straining to change that fact, and as Glenn said, we are going to have to first fix ourselves and turn back to God.

As I said, if anyone attended 8/28, please comment or send me an email or message! I'd love to hear about it. I have some great thoughts that I want to put into words here pretty soon... so keep checking back and reading PDP. Have a great day!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Right vs. RIGHT.

Hi everyone! Wow, sorry for the ridiculously long absence. It is now the second week of school, and it has been keeping me rather busy. But, I'm setting aside some projects tonight to get back to Present Day Patriots. Quite a bit has been going on since I posted last, and I have been sent some great links by friends that I would like to share.

Undoubtably you've heard about the big New York City Mosque debate... originally named "Cordoba House" ("reference to the Spanish capital where Muslim conquerors vanquished Spanish Catholics in the 8th century" ... spells "conquest" to me) which has been renamed to "Park 51"... basically the intent is to build a mosque and community center just a stone's throw away from Ground Zero. Now, I have a problem with this. A big problem. Let me first say that yes, yes, yes, freedom of religion is a founding principle and a Constitutional right, and I don't care if you pray to God or Allah or Tom Cruise or WHOEVER... as long as you are not persecuting or harming, you have that right. So yeah, build your mosque. Sure.

But is it right? And where is the funding for this mosque coming from? And really, why does it HAVE to be within walking distance to Ground Zero? Really?

A poll of New Yorkers taken in late June illustrated that folks in the Big Apple were against the mosque by 52%... 31% favor, and 17% are undecided. Those are some pretty clear stats.
(http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/New-Yorkers-Oppose-Ground-Zero-Mosque-Poll-97602569.html)

I know, I know, not ALL Muslims believe the same radical ideologies as those who took the lives of almost 3000 Americans on 9/11... I'm definitely not insinuating that. But the perpetrators were practiced RADICAL ISLAM. Turn the picture anyway you want and it's still going to look the same.

Let me remind you that those in New York have a pretty good idea about what happened on the morning of September 11 (not to say that those who do not live in NYC don't...but I mean, it was in their city...just saying).






Looking at those pictures just now, I still am incredulous to the fact that this really happened. New York Mayor Bloomberg stated, "The government should never, never be in the business of telling people how they should pray or where they can pray. We want to make sure that everybody from around the world feels comfortable coming here, living here and praying the way they want to pray.”
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/02/new-york-mosque-controversy-fires-national-campaign/

Totally agree with that, Mayor. But one thing...(and I would think you, as Mayor, would feel a twinge of sensitivity to this, it being your city and all) but can you not understand that Americans are just a tad sensitive with this situation? Or is that just way out of your realm of understanding? This picture sums it up for me...


Muslims consider Mecca holy ground... well, Americans consider Ground Zero, in a way, sacred ground. Being one of the few countries in history to allow such religious freedom to any and all, you think we'd get a *little* respect for that.

To add insult to injury, how about the Greek Orthodox Church, that stood in the shadow of the World Trade Centers, and has yet to be rebuilt? Requests to rebuild this church have been constantly ignored. Wait... what about this freedom of religion, freedom to worship Mr. Obama was talking about? Seems theres more concern for the mosque, than the church that was destroyed in the collapse of the towers.
(http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/17/ground-zero-church-archdiocese-says-officials-forgot/)

And Nancy Pelosi, ever the comedian, wants to investigate the opposition to this mosque. She just never quits. I mean if it weren't for prying into people's lives and denouncing their opinions as lunacy --oh, and spending tax dollars frivolously-- I really don't know what she would do all day.


And lastly I have a classic loon to share with you... seems to me he's been drinking a little too much Kool Aid. He says, in regards to September 11th, "Get over it"... yeah, you read right, and if you don't believe me, watch the clip for yourself! I only wish I could meet the lady who put this guy in his place... just thought I'd share this with you for a little comic relief!


Wow... look at those pictures of Ground Zero that I posted above. Think about the Pentagon. Think about the field in Pennsylvania. Think about Todd Beamer saying the infamous phrase "Let's Roll" on United Flight 93. Can you just "get over it?"

I returned with a rather depressing topic, but it's rather important, I think, and something we can not disregard. So let me just say this... I am all about freedom of religion. You want to pray to God, Allah, Tom Cruise, whoever, that's your prerogative (I'll take God, but that's just me). But, when you want to build a mosque two blocks from the site of buildings taken to the ground, lives ended abruptly, by radical members of your religion, that's where I draw the line. It's a right but... I really don't think its right.

"Keep the Change"

Hi everyone! Hope you all have been having a lovely summer! I have been pretty busy lately; last week I toured Webster University for the second time. I really enjoyed it and have applied there... we'll see where that leads! :)

I have some interesting stuff to share with you tonight. While driving I heard a song on the radio, called "Keep the Change" by Darryl Worley. It speaks for itself, and I think it really puts into words what a lot of Americans are feeling. But it on iTunes and share it with your friends, especially those who have yet to "wake up." Here are the lyrics:

If you see me hold my hand over my heart
Before I start the pledge of allegiance
There's a reason
It's to honor those who died

And if you see me close my eyes and bow my head
Before I break bread with my family
It ain't a habit, it's important
It's my right.

I work half the year for me
The other half for uncle sam
While he's bailin' out those sinkin' ships
And drownin' the little man.

I watch the news and have to wonder
If this country's goin' crazy
Talkin' 'bout how much they love it here
But how they want to rearrange it

I'm just your average joe
And that makes me smart enough to know
There's a bunch of us out here
That feel the same

Wanna keep our God, our freedom
A little money in the bank

Y'all can keep the change.

Now the fat cats on the hill actin' so brilliant
Ain't smart enough to notice
That we're angry
And that America's in trouble

If they don't wise-up and stop
Bustin' out the blocks that were laid
As a foundation well our nation
Could wake up in a pile of rubble

They say we're makin' progress
But it's a big old shame to me

Common sense ain't near as common
As it used to be

I watch the news and have to wonder
If this country's goin' crazy
Talkin' 'bout how much they love it here
But how they want to rearrange it

Well I'm just your average joe
And that makes me smart enough to know
There's a bunch of us out here
That feel the same

Wanna keep our God, our freedom
A little money in the bank

Y'all can keep the change.

I bet our grandpas are gettin' dizzy
Down there in their graves
Rollin' over and over
Over what's goin' on these days

I watch the news and have to wonder
If this country's goin' crazy
Talkin' 'bout how much they love it here
But how they want to rearrange it

I'm just your average joe
And that makes me smart enough to know
There's a bunch of us out here
That feel the same

Gonna keep our god our freedom
A little money in the bank

Y'all can keep the change
Just keep the change
Y'all can keep the change.

A friend shared this movie trailer with me on Facebook...I don't watch too many movies, but I think this one, "I Want Your Money" will be one of those proverbial "must sees"....



In the meantime, I encourage everyone to keep working hard every day so you can fund future Obama vacations...oh, did I just say that? Yes, I think I did. Note sarcasm.

I don't know about you, but I'm glad that our tax dollars can fund an almost $400,000 trip for Mama and Daughter O to Spain. Must be nice. Glad I can help out. Anytime.

As always, thanks for reading! Tell your friends and neighbors about PDP... regardless of their political stance. I'm not afraid of a little debate here and there...as far as I know, we still have our right to free speech and I intend to take full advantage.

Have a great week!