Letter Writer: What Will We Do After the Fireworks Are Over?

May 15, 2021

1257

May 15, 2021

Something to think about.

My oldest daughter is a nurse. On July 3^rd a service man escorted an older relative into her clinic. As she was taking vitals, she said to the man, “Thank you for all you do to defend our freedoms!” He replied, “Thank you for being worth the sacrifice.” Wow! I have never thought of that. Have you?

July 4^th is Independence Day for these Great Untied States of America.

For a few days prior to and on the 4^th of July we party, have picnics, BBQ, games, parades, fun, fun, fun and fireworks! Whoot! Whoot! We are patriots. We are thankful for all that have sacrificed for us to be free! For a lot of us in Utah, Idaho, and through out the U.S.A. and around the world, we continue to celebrate our heritage of the Mormon pioneers. The faithful, diligent, courageous pioneers that suffered and sacrificed so much to settle this wild frontier. Until the 24^th of July, Pioneer Day.

And what about the days, weeks, and months after? Are we making any sacrifices to keep and maintain the liberties and freedoms we enjoy? That so many sacrifices were made and so much blood was shed to gain?

After the fireworks are over do we return to our gods of competition, sports, and entertainment? As the pagan Romans of old? In the fall (weeks past) will we send our children back to the federally funded/subsidized public schools to be further indoctrinated with Marxist philosophies? To be subjected to the drugs, sexual abuse and constant bullying that is so prevalent? To be segregated into classes because of athletic abilities, academic abilities or because of family situations which are totally out of the child’s control? Whatever it takes to make my child or children “The Best,” that is our god. Too bad for the rest. We suppose this makes our children better citizens.

“From the fifth grade through the fourth year of college, our young people are being indoctrinated with Marxist philosophy, and I am fearful of the harvest. The younger generation is further to the left than most adults realize. The old concepts of our Founding fathers are scoffed and jeered at by young moderns whose goals appear to be the destruction of integrity and virtue, and the glorification of pleasure, thrills, and self-indulgence.” Ezra Taft Benson (“The Greatest Work in The World.” Improvement Era 70 [January 1967]; 26.)

I was 8 years old at the time. And where are we some 54 years later? “As a watchman on the tower, I feel to warn you that one of the chief means of misleading our youth and destroying the family unit is our educational institutions.” Ezra Taft Benson (God, Family, Country, p. 225.). The false Gods before mentioned and Common Core curriculum are blatant sign of this.

Alma 47:18 And it came to pass that Amalickiah caused that one of his servants should administer Poison by degrees to Lehonti, that he died. (The Book of Mormon). Do we feel we are patriots because we vote? Because it is our right and our responsibility. Truth be known, how many people that could vote, do vote? How many of them that vote really know what they are voting for and/or what their candidate really stands for? But we still get that warm fuzzy feeling.

Do we feel we are patriots when we are lounging in our plush recliners watching our big screen television? With all the hot drinks, cold drinks, and every snack food that can be thought of? Of course we are as long as we are cheering for Team U.S.A. Olympics, World cup soccer and so on…………

Over and Over we hear/say, “Why don’t they do something?” “The system is broken! They need to fix it.” The truth is, the system is not broken. The Constitution of these great United States of America is A God inspired document that provides and protects the freedoms of all Americans and allows us the responsibility to uphold it. The politicians have become corrupted and self-serving. “We The People” (The Government) are slowly but surely becoming “We The Sheeple,” believing and following all the propaganda the major news media and politicians dish out.

“We are going through what J. Reuben Clark, Jr., once termed the greatest propaganda campaign of all time.” Ezra Taft Benson (An Enemy Hath Done This, pp.58-59). Somewhere along this path of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, this liberal train we are riding has to be slowed down and stopped!

The first thing we have to do is put Jesus the Christ back as the leader of nations and recognize him as the author of liberty. And then it will take every true blooded freedom loving person in this country to stand tall for Liberty. “Yes I’m in! Wait, sacrifice? Give up something? Let me think about this…”

What is the difference between a lazy blinded liberal waiting for the government to provide everything, or a self-centered, self-serving, conservative waiting for the government to fix everything?

“We need not solicit persecution, but neither should we remain silent in the presence of overwhelming evils, for this makes cowards of men.” Ezra Taft Benson (CR October 1964, Improvement Era 67 [December 1964]: 1067).

Darnell R. Shipp, St. Anthony, Idaho

Editor’s Note: Darnell Shipp is the Chapter Leader for the John Birch Society (JBS) in Rexburg, Idaho. To learn more about JBS, and the work they do educating citizens about the U.S. Constitution and principles of freedom, contact Mr. Shipp at (208) 206-9487.