Nolan Chart provides an opportunity for Freedom of Speech and in my view, epitomizes the American promise. by Mark Vogl
(conservative)
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Nolan Chart, and other sites like this on the internet, may be the most important evidence of the greatness of America's Founding Fathers. It seems to me that there is no freedom more important to the sustenance and preservation of liberty. Freedom of speech is a light given to us by the Great Almighty. It insures that all ideas and practices are fully aired, and that their potential for evil fully explored. Humanity, unlike God, does not possess timeless wisdom, or some sense of right which is always incorporated in the decisions made. Even the United States has made mistakes. Even the Supreme Court, the home of the black robes, where men and women educated in the Ivy Halls, and supposed to be true patriots are imperfect. Some fifty million unborn souls have been slaughtered because of their "wisdom." And should these judges find themselves facing the merciful Father, they may have some difficulty explaining their decision to endorse the right to live as one wants, even when it costs the life of a divinely inspired soul.
Nolan Chart allows all voices in the choir to be heard. I know from personal experience that some or many of my points of view are not shared by the editor of this site. I know how concerned he is with the professionalism of this site. I know he must devote a fair amount of time to making this site work. And there seems evidence that he, or a cadre of editors, must read each article before it is posted here. It must seem so tempting to censor, to block the publishing of ideas and concepts opposite in view to their own. But they do not do it. Yes, there are rules, and yes those rules must be followed. But the rules preserve the intent of the site. That intent seems to be to allow a full, open and free discussion of events and issues of the day. Further, if you wish, you can write an article about sports or entertainment, or whatever you like. While these articles do not directly contribute to the political discussion, they might bring new readers to the site.
Like everything else in life, Freedom of Speech has multiple sides. Freedom of speech is not just about saying what you think but realizing that in a democracy your role is important, your duty and responsibility to the nation vital to its existence. Many who cherish liberty say "Freedom is not free," but maybe we should add "Freedom is not without work." Citizenship requires time, effort, thouight, and a willingness to understand that while your participation may cause you grief, personal grief, if you don't participate your special view of life, unique to you, is left unrepresented. Since I believe the human condition does not change, I believe that intangibles like leadership and freedom are never really appreciated by most people.
Leadership is a gift, a talent, as much as being able to run fast, or have strength or beauty, or to be smart. Leadership is something we are given by God. It is composed of many aspects, and though I have never pondered long over the concept of leadership I know some of its basic components are; a foundation in Christianity, vision, the ability to see the possible, communication skills, thinking skills, and understanding that man reacts to both good and evil. Men have a soul, and can be moved. Leadership is about influencing thought, about helping someone see a new perspective or motivating someone to act, to do something they might not have done. Leadership requires patience and the ability to accept criticism, measure it, assess it, but to continue down the path God has shown.
Freedom is work to. Liberty and self-governance requires one to understand that each time they abdicate, each time they turn away from the problems of their community, state and nation they surrender something men have suffered, bled and died for. When you say, I don't care, or it doesn't matter, or I don’t know enough, or its not my problem, you turn your back on the patriots who gave you the chance to govern yourself. Americans are too unaware that what they have few in history have had. We, hopefully with the help of God, control our own future. We will decide, or more likely not decide how to deal with massive debt and the ever expanding powers of the federal government. We will blame it on the politicians, not wanting to realize that what is happening is our fault. It is us who refuse to address the issues, to say enough, no more.
Citizenship is not easy. People's feelings intermingle with issues, and some participants participate with little real understanding of fairness, equality, liberty. If you want to see why our Congress is held in such low esteem, look around at your local civic organizations, and at how poorly some members of your community treat others. How much real discussion goes on about important things in your local community? How much time and effort is invested in making a decision? At the time of its birth, the United States could operate on the wisdom and brain power of the average American. But with each passing year, Congress, state governments, and the County Court House added pages of new law. And law wasn't always based on common sense or the Bible. So that today the law is more like a scoreboard of who is winning and who is losing. Its why lawyers are Democrats, it keeps them employed by creating chaos out of order.
Do you remember when we were children, and one of the first crime shows, Perry Mason was airing. Mason was an attorney, a defense attorney. He took on innocent clients, and most shows, maybe all of them were about finding out who really did the crime! Mason was about justice, about finding out what really happened. Mason's clients were not found not guilty because of some parlor trick, or violation of Miranda, or a plea deal, Mason's clients were proven innocent by Mason finding the real culprit. That's the way America was. Get the bad guy. But that's now America today. America today is about getting off, getting away with sin or crime. Today's defense attorneys don’t work to find what really happened, they attempt to find cracks in the law, or new meanings for the Bill of Rights which can get their guilty client set free. How did this happen?
You and I allowed it.
Nolan Chart provides an opportunity to make this observation. It provides an opportunity to discuss it. It provides an opportunity to be a citizen.
Nolan Chart is important because it allows people who are not on national television, or writers for the Washington Post, the opportunity to express their point of view. The heartland of America used to have voice, the elected representatives used to listen to their neighbors. But, that happens less and less as more and more special interests dominate the national discussion.
So thank you. And, Merry Christmas!!!! Ho - ho - ho.
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The views expressed
in this article are those of Mark Vogl only and
do not represent the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates.
Mark Vogl is solely responsible for the contents
of this article and is not an employee or otherwise affiliated
with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
