In God We Trust. All Others We Monitor

Grace and peace unto you.

Someone left me a link to his website yesterday, where he commented on my blog post regarding America’s jubilation over the death of Osama Bin Laden.  It seems he believes America’s celebration was justified because Bin Laden had killed many Americans.  I will not argue that point.  This is America and at least for the time being, we are entitled to our opinion.

The gentleman also talked about the issue of government surveillance, which I found very interesting, because he thinks the contention that the government may be listening in on the private telephone conversations of American citizens is a bit conspiracy theory-ish.  (He gave the example of him calling his wife to tell her that he loved her as an example of a conversation that did not merit surveillance.)  He then went on to say that he didn’t feel there was anything special about him that would merit the government’s attention.

Unfortunately, this gentleman is woefully uninformed and apparently oblivious to the nuanced definition of terrorism under the USA PATRIOT Act.  You see, prior to 9/11, Section 2331 of Title 18, United States Code, defined terrorism as “acts that attempt to affect the conduct of a government by assassination, or kidnapping.”  Section 802(A) of the USA PATRIOT Act, however, amends this definition to read “acts that:

1. “involve acts dangerous to human life…
2. “appear to be intended to intimidate or coerce…
3. “influence the policy of a government… and
4. “affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping.” [Emphasis mine.]

How do you like the new and improved version?  Notice that terrorism now includes “activities that appear to be intended to intimidate or coerce.”  Appear to whom?  Something may “appear” to be one thing to you, but “appear” to be something totally different to me.  We may even both be wrong.  This wording is very subjective; and it is intended to be.  It justifies any action the government may take against a citizen, because all they need say is that it “appeared” you were participating in terrorist activity.

Note also that terrorism includes activities that are “dangerous to human life.”  This is potentially very troublesome.  There are many things that are dangerous to human life many of which are considered fun.  Take skateboarding, for instance.  Skateboarding can be dangerous, as I have seen some pretty bad skateboarding injuries.  Are skateboarders to be considered terrorists?  Probably not, but this vague wording gives the government the freedom to regulate a wide variety of activities and have even greater control over the lives of American citizens.  The potential for abuse is great.

What, for instance, should the government have to do with “childhood obesity?” Nothing. Yet they are passing stricter regulations on school lunches using the issue of childhood obesity as an excuse.  If you keep in mind that somewhere there is a law for everything the government does, you should now understand that under this nuanced definition of terrorism, the government can legally take action to “protect” its citizens against actions that are “dangerous to human life,” including eating unhealthily.  Hitler did the same thing in Nazi Germany.  You can look for a lot more of this to happen as the government exerts unprecedented control over our lives.  Welcome to 1984.

It should now also make sense to you why the government is getting involved in “bullying.”  Bullies have always been problematic.  But now they can be considered terrorists.  If you think this a stretch, consider that the new definition of terrorism does not say “acts that appear to intimidate or coerce the government,” but merely “acts that appear to intimidate or coerce”—period.  That means anybody.  If your kids are “bullies,” you might want to sit down and have a talk with them, or you might see them on the six o’clock news.

But what should most interest our innocent blogger and all lovers of freedom is that the third definition of terrorism includes acts that “influence the policy of a government.”  Did you know that when a person pickets in front of the White House he is in effect attempting to influence the policy of a government?  Of course you did.  You should now know that picketing can now be considered terrorism.  This should be of concern to our blogger, because of remarks such as this which appear on his website:

“Mr. President, don’t you know that the Bible says “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Pro 14:34)? Don’t you know, sir, that your actions here are unGodly?  Why do you wish to bring America down once more? Aren’t we stooped enough in sin as it is?  

“Why would anyone who claims to be a believer in God and his word want to do away with an act [DOMA] that will keep marriage between the people that God made marriage for in the first place (men marrying women only)?”  [Brackets mine.]

It must be added that this gentleman noted that whatever he posts to his blog, he also sends to the President.  Now, can there be any question that his intention when sending these words to President Obama is to influence government policy?  If not, then why send them to the President?  To show him how well he can write?  Under the PATRIOT Act, this can be considered terrorism.  This gentleman needs to understand this.

But what is most important for him to know and that is more to our purposes, brothers and sisters, is this:  A couple years ago, a document was “leaked” on the internet that made quite a stir among lovers of freedom all over America.  It was published by the Department of Homeland Security and was entitled Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment. This unclassified document identified several groups as potential targets of rightwing extremist recruitment and/or activity and therefore, of concern to the U.S. government.  Included are groups that the government has traditionally labeled as “the extreme right” such as Republicans, pro-lifers, and so-called Fundamentalist Christians.  But it also includes groups that one would not normally expect.  We will examine those groups shortly.

Now let us return to our zealous blogger.  Note the boldface above and compare it to the boldface in his words to the President:

“Nothing is said [in the Bible] about two men or two women.  One man, and one woman for life.  Those are the only ones that God will join together in marriage. What about the homosexuals?  God does not recognize them as being married, and while President Obama has turned his back on God’s laws, God won’t.  

“God will punish homosexuals in the day of judgment because they are not living in accordance with his divine will.   God will punish, not only them, but also those who “have pleasure in them that do them” (Rom 1:32).  [Brackets and boldface mine.]

I count seven references to God in this statement.  Only an alien does not know that in America the Biblical position is considered “fundamentalist.”  It is important to understand that so-called fundamentalism is considered extremist.  Is it a coincidence that the media calls Islamic terrorism (such as that attributed to the Taliban) Islamic fundamentalism?  No, it is not a coincidence.  It is intended to draw a parallel between Islamic terrorism and Biblical Christianity and instill in the American psyche the errant belief that Biblical Christianity is radical and extreme.

Understand the danger in the term fundamentalism.  Islamic fundamentalists are so-called because they adhere strictly to the teachings of the Koran, which supposedly teaches that it is permissible to kill “infidels” (unbelievers).  When President Bush, in the aftermath of 911, said that Islam is a peaceful religion by making a distinction between ordinary Muslims and Islamic “fundamentalists,” he was basically saying that those Muslims who adhere strictly to the teachings of their holy book, the Koran, are the ones the world should be worried about, not the average Muslim.

Consequently, when the media call Biblical Christianity fundamentalist, they draw a parallel in the American consciousness between Christianity and Islamic terrorism, essentially calling Christians terrorists.  They send the message that those Christians who adhere to the Bible as the rule and guide of their lives are as dangerous as the Muslims who strictly adhere to the teachings of the Koran by killing infidels.

This is why the bloody Crusades are being brought up again and again.  This is why so much media attention was given to so-called Christians blowing up abortion centers and executing abortion doctors.  This is why all the media attention was given to the so-called Christian pastor and his church who picketed the funeral of a fallen soldier for the cause of anti-homosexuality.  This is why all the media attention was given to the so-called Christian pastor in Florida who burned the Koran.  It is to inculcate fear, resentment, and anger in the American consciousness towards the Christian church.

What’s worse is that many Christians have also begun to use the term fundamentalism to refer to themselves, unaware that they are really calling themselves terrorists.  They have drawn a target on their own backs.

So, under the PATRIOT Act, our blogger, by his actions and words, could be considered a terrorist; not only because he is trying to influence the policy of the government, but also because his Biblical views are considered fundamentalist.

But let us return to the “leaked” DHS document, for its revelations are frightening.  Not only are “fundamentalist” Christians on the government’s watch list, but so are two other groups, the inclusion of which is shocking because of the sheer likelihood that, in this economy, a large percentage of Americans with no particular political affiliation or ideological bent will at some point in their lifetime belong to them.  Those groups are:

THE UNEMPLOYED, because “high unemployment..has the potential to lead to alienation, thus increasing an individual’s susceptibility to extremist ideas” (p. 4). and

THE CHILDREN OF THE UNEMPLOYED, because “there appears to be a strong association between a parent’s unemployment status and the formation of rightwing extremist beliefs in their children” (p.4).  (Look at the bottom in the fine print.)

Is this starting to sink in?  This is incredible.  But there is yet another group that the government considers a threat to “peace and security”:

MILITARY VETERANS: because: “After Operation Desert Shield/Storm in 1990-1991, some returning military veterans –including Timothy McVeigh–joined or associated with rightwing extremist groups” (p. 7).

It should be noted that accused Norway shooter/bomber Anders Breivik is also being compared to Timothy McVeigh.  Comparing veterans to McVeigh indicates that the government considers them potential terrorists.  Veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder should be especially concerned about this, because this reports says that you have a “willingness” to join extremist groups (p. 7).

I’m a military veteran.  When I joined the Army, I took an oath “to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”  Why, then, would the government consider military veterans a threat?  Because we took an oath “to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” That’s why.  Veterans are some of the most patriotic Americans you will ever meet.  Most of us took that oath seriously.  A government that has declared war on the American people cannot abide citizens who will defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign AND DOMESTIC.

Understand that by declaring military veterans—many of whom have given their lives to defend the freedoms guaranteed us in the Constitution of the United States—terrorists, the government has essentially declared itself an enemy of both the Constitution and the United States.  This much is clear.  But by declaring unemployed people—ordinary citizens, most of whom are not unemployed by choice—and even their children, terrorists, this government has declared itself the enemy not only of the Constitution, but of the American people.  Now do many of the government’s actions and its increasing antagonism towards citizens suddenly make sense?

Are you now beginning to see the big picture?  You are seriously mistaken if you think you will escape the government’s scrutiny just because you are a good citizen or just because you pay taxes or just because you volunteer or just because you voted for Obama or just because you never discuss religion or politics.  If you are alive and breathe air, as far as the government is concerned, you are a potential terrorist.  Understand that.  If you are a Bible-believing Christian, patriot, criticize the government in any way, or would defend the Constitution “against all enemies foreign and domestic,” understand something: to the government, you are a terrorist.  Believe that.

To the blogger who supported America’s celebration over the death of Bin-Laden and anyone else who feels that the government would not be interested in his life: you my friends, have a lot to learn.  For additional information, read my essay about the government’s surveillance of Americans.  It is about a year old, but it still applies.  And it doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface.  In light of the controversy concerning airport scanners, you should pay particular attention to the section on BIOMETRICS.  It is very “revealing.”  I have included a “Works Cited” page so that you can research my claims.  And read the DHS report VERY THOROUGHLY.  Whether it is authentic or not, it is accurate based on current events that are being played out in the media right before our eyes.

The apostle Paul admonished us to “watch in all things.”  We are not to be taken by surprise by all that is going on around us, neither are we to be ignorant.  Jesus said the ungodly would not understand, but those that know their God would understand.

If you realize that events in the news are part of the coming New World Order Kingdom of Antichrist, which the Bible predicted, then you should realize that if the Bible was right about that, then it is probably right about God’s coming judgment on this sinful and rebellious world.  If you would like to escape God’s wrath, then click here to learn how you can be saved.

Be encouraged, and look up, for your redemption draweth nigh.

The Still Man

P.S.  In case you don’t think these people are serious, I went to the post office a couple of months ago, and the postal employee who helped me asked me if I had any “special operations training” because she had a “job” that she wanted someone to do.  She actually asked me this in front of a roomful of people.  Now, what do you think that was all about? Can you say, “Set up?”  Watch and pray.

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