I had the opportunity to talk to, and with, three different groups of genuine constitutional conservatives. I was impressed with both the similarities and differences of each group, and the many individuals I spoke with from each. The people I met and saw covered a wide spectrum of society. From the guy who makes his own Colloidal Silver to the guy who bought a $19,000 item at a charity auction ... from the mother of a pilot concerned about anthrax vaccines, to the man moving his family to avoid the worst case scenario of Y2K. They were all different, yet all the same.
Everyone I came in contact with had different concerns, but everyone wanted to "protect and defend the Constitution." It is fascinating that these people who want what the framers wanted are now being relabeled by the Clintonista cabal as potential domestic terrorists by those who would, and do, violate their oaths, abuse their power under the color of authority, and routinely and consistently undermine the very document to which they made a sacred commitment.
Friday night's Preparedness Expo panel was an all-star collection of eclectic mix: Former Sheriff Richard Mack, Joseph Farah, Terry Reed, Bo Gritz, Jack McLamb, Dr. Len Horowitz and me. I felt kinda like the bad guy who had to watch the clock and cut off a list of men who each could have (and would have) talked for the entire 90-minutes. My task of "herding cats" was made easier by the fact that every panelist had been a guest on my radio talkshow, and I have developed friendships with many of them.
Former Sheriff Mack (who challenged in court, and won a key element of the Brady Law) was first. He responded to the critics of "right wing conservative wackos" who accuse us of racism and bigotry. He called to the stage a representative group from the large audience. They included: an Hispanic woman, a black woman, a native American man, a pacific islander man, and a Jewish woman. There were also children and teen-agers, generation x-ers, 30-somethings, mid-lifers, and seniors. There were former hippies, veterans, and active duty military. The attendees were, and are, We the People.
Joseph Farah was next, and he addressed the morass of the mainstream media, and shined the light of hope we have seen from the synergistic growth of WorldNetDaily. He touched on a common theme I often talk about regarding the mainstream media ... the abrogating of the responsibility by the 'Fourth Estate" to expedience. The journalistic dishonesty of not only what they report, but what they don't report.
Terry Reed, author of "Compromised," and veteran of numerous CIA activity, touched on the corruption he witnessed, the administration (and previous administrations), and some of the details of "the big game."
Bo Gritz is as subtle as a brick, and as uncompromising as the Ten Commandments and Bill of Rights. I love the guy despite his flaws. Duty, Honor, Country ... God and family are his foundation. His classic close including the burning of a small U.N. flag. His friend and neighbor Officer Jack McLamb (one of the sweetest, nicest men you could ever meet) mirrored the common theme of preparedness. He announced that his publication which directs police and law enforcement officers to focus on the Constitution has now been labeled a "terrorist publication." Go figure. Dr. Len Horowitz spoke about the dangers of Aids, Ebola and "Emerging Viruses."
Each brief speech was really a prelude and tease for their longer presentations later during the weekend. Each man personifies the words of Dr. Robert Jarvick (inventor of the artificial heart) who said "Leaders are visionaries ... with a poorly developed sense of fear and no concept of the odds against them. They make things happen."
Saturday morning I drove 100 miles to attend a gun show. Notwithstanding (or maybe because of) the President's recent rant against gun shows, the turnout was significantly larger than usual. Several people spoke to me about the impending flood of anti-gun legislation coming to California and asked about the results of the Australian gun ban. Many are concerned about the worst that could result from Y2K, and others worry about erosion of personal freedom and liberty.
Saturday night I spoke to a Safari Club fundraiser. There were a lot of high rollers there as evidenced by auction items fetching close to $20,000, and most everyone buying at least $200 worth of raffle tickets (Yes, I spent $200 on raffle tickets. ... No I didn't win anything).
Each group was different. Yet each group has commonality. One grandmother stopped me with the most common question: "What can we DO?" The administration seems to be conspiring with the mainstream/establishment media to treat us like mushrooms and ignore any plea to redress wrongs. I told her to do three things as best she could: 1) prepare for the worst; 2) hope for the best; and 3) pray.
The title of an essay by Montaigne -- "that the taste of good and evil depends in good part upon the opinion we have of them" -- is reflected in the challenges we face.
For Plato, the good is not a matter of opinion, but an object of knowledge. Knowledge of good and evil is the best fruit of the tree of knowledge. "Let each one of us leave every other kind of knowledge," Socrates says at the end of the Republic, "and seek and follow one thing only," that is, "to learn and discern between good and evil".
The
people I met this past weekend know the difference between good and evil.
Their frustration, and perhaps yours, is the reluctance of our so-called
leaders and policy makers to be able to "discern between good and
evil." OR, frankly, to care.