Dear Mark: What a great essay! As always, you inspire us and remind us of those underlying principles that bring us together as Americans.

Keep up your great work! Ed

Well spoken and compelling words, I applaud your grasp of the founding principles. The question is how do we begin to live out those principles in our daily lives in a way to effect those around us? I am ashamed to say that I don't know how to do that and am not sure how to learn. But I am inspired to try by the words you have written!

In Jefferson's words, "Honor, justice, and humanity, forbid us tamely to surrender that freedom which we received from our gallant ancestors, and which our innocent posterity have a right to receive from us. We cannot endure the infamy and guilt of resigning succeeding generations to that wretchedness which inevitably awaits them if we basely entail hereditary bondage on them."

This says it all,

Jim Jefferson

The Declaration of Independence should have been codified as law. Much of what Americans believe descends from that document, but is not supported by the Constitution. This causes a true problem, when knowing something to be true, one seeks the reference, and finds it is not in a law, but in "merely" the Declaration. That Declaration should be appended to the Constitution as the Pre-preamble, so that the Supreme Court, for example, would be forced to rule in favor of our Creator.

"Kennedy said, 'Ask not what your country can do for you -- ask what you can do for your country.' Neither half of the statement expresses a relation between the citizen and his government that is worthy of the ideals of free men in a free society. The paternalistic 'what your country can do for you' implies that the government is the patron, the citizen the ward, a view that is at odds with the free man's belief in his own responsibility for his own destiny. The organismic, 'what you can do for your country' implies that the government is the master or the deity, the citizen, the servant or the votary. To the free man, the country is the collection of individuals who compose it, not something over and above them... [H]e regards government as a means, an instrumentality, neither a grantor of favors and gifts, nor a master or god to be blindly worshipped and served."

I am glad you printed this, Mr. Alexander. By the time Kennedy made that "quote", we, in America, had devolved into "government thinking", NOT what we were established, a Nation where individuals have rights and privileges Under God.

Incrementally, we were given "platitudes" that sounded "high and good", but they end in the "ditch."

Thanks for your good work.

For God & Country

The American

Mark,

Nicely done!

What we (conservatives) "can do for our country" is continue the Patriotic fight to limit and reduce the feds reach and control over our personal lives.

And we should pledge to do what is necessary should forthcoming events fail to limit the federal governments unconstitutional oversteps and illegal intrusions into our freedoms and liberties, no matter the cost.

So I will start it off. "I, Bob W, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same."

Purposely left out, “and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States” since he has, by virtue of his aggressive unconstitutional, illegitimate, and communistic actions, lost the loyalty he would normally earn.

Wait a minute, that oath sounds familiar!

Any other oath takers ready should measures fail in November?

Mark - I have only recently become a reader of the Patriot Post and I wanted to tell you that it has had a great influence on me. I look forward every day to getting my emails.

Previous to this, I was completely disheartened with the direction to which this country has been steered. I thought that I was alone and that there was nothing that I, one small person could do about it. I was so mad that I had stopped voting and had even gone so far to stop flying my American flag, "Old glory", in front of my house.

Now, my patriotism renewed, (Big thanks to you and your staff.)I have raised my flag high and will tell anyone that will listen about the Patriot Post and more importantly what it means to be American and a Patriot.

I keep my Essential Liberty guide handy as I try to converse intelligently with those who would blindly go along with whatever our runaway government would do in the name of "good of the people".

Keep it coming!

Semper Vigilo, Fortis, Paratus et Fidelis!

Vincent Lockyer.

Ask not what the state can do to preserve and protect life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; ask what you can do to perserve and protect life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Keep preaching those fundamentals Mark. We all need to hear it in order to combat the menace to freedom that this current administration has revealed itself to be. Amen!

Perhaps the greatest thing to come from the Obama

chapter of American history is that it has brought about a renewal of patriotism and concern for their country to many Americans.

The Tea Party movement reflects a new and growing awarness by Americans that the preceding 50 years of slumber can no longer be allowed to continue.

For this country to move forward under our First Principles that awareness has to be acted upon and activly supported by the majority of Americans.

The beautiful information in this piece must be seen, understood and become part of our political landscape.

Thank you, Mark, for so eloquently describing our stand for liberty. Once as a military officer I was prepared to do battle for my country. How much more willingly now will I put my life on the line to fight, to the death if need be, for liberty.

I'm beginning to think that the way this country is growing with different immigrations from many different country's that the country will suffer in the long run. It will begin to have factions in whatever city or town the government deems to put that particular sect. It's the same with shites and sunni tribes overseas. There is just much going on in the world nobody sees it coming.

As Capt. Kirk once said, "In every revolution there is one man with a vision." Mark Alexander could be that man. We need men of intelligence, vision, and guts to come forward and make the change we so desperately need in this country. Jefferson said that there should be a revolution every 20 years. We're way overdue.

Whenever some a##hole says," members of Congress need to be more civil", I have a reply for them. Do you know fist fights were common on the floor of Congress during the early stages of the Republic. And have you ever heard of Alexander Hamilton and Arron Burr? What some of the a##holes include the Republican Leadership (still an oxymoron). I am still waiting or the Republican Leadership to say, "where is the birth certificate".

This goes against everything I was ever taught in school. Thank you for continuing to strengthen the patriotic American's intellectual arsenal.

Bravo!

Patriots must reject the label "Right" or "Conservative." The Patriot seeks Liberty as opposed to Tyranny or Anarchy. The Patriot is not Right or Left, but exalts Right over Wrong. Patriots do not want something that once was, a return to some "golden age." We want strong families and loyal citizens without prejudice or bigotry, religious freedom without violence and mean-spirited arguments between sects. Patriots reject Rush Limbaugh's long-winded arrogance and Obama's teleprompter sound bites. Give us Liberty or give us death.

So many patriots believe in their hearts exactly what is portrayed in this essay. My greatest fear is that with our current public education system "dummying-down" basic core principles, the next generation will not have a clue what patriotism is, much less how to even spell it.

To Bob W.

I am prepared to stand shoulder to shoulder with you!

To Mark Z.

Don't forget to vote this November, but make sure you know who you are voting for! In the meantime, keep you powder dry.

The above perspectives on Kennedy's speech were revelatory. Thanks. Having grown up in the 60s, I always found Kennedy's speech to be inspiring - it inspired a generation of us to serve our country, the kind of inspiration that got us to the moon (still for most Americans, ruefully, the high point of America!). It was the opposite message that the no-goods received to sit home and collect welfare. In that it was a good and timely message with a very positive outcome. But in the face of the gift of liberty we were given, it truly is a low mark in our republic's history and explains a great deal as to why we've sunk this far this fast. Continue to get the REAL word out!

Bob W.,

You were giving the enlisted oath, not the officer's oath (which is the same for civil servants, the VP, and Congress). It states:

"I, [name], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."

Interesting enough, I have seen the President and the VP mess up oaths - Obama on HIS inauguration and the VP when he was swearing someone in - you'd think they would have it down like military officers do. Here is the President's oath:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

I wonder if he can defend his actions due to the "best of his abilities" to defend the Constitution.

Bob W.,

As a fifth generation Soldier, I stand with you!

"Appeals Court Blocks Pa. Town's Crackdown on Illegal Immigrants" Fox News.Com

"President Clinton nominated Judge McKee to the Third Circuit on March 22, 1994, to a seat vacated by A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr. Judge McKee was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 8, 1994, and received his commission on June 9, 1994."

It would seem East and West coasts judges, having ruled against the people and for illegal aliens, is typical of liberal activism on the bench.

Now really, does this surprise anyone having been elected by whom? Judge McKee blocks Hazelton's illegal alien crackdown.

We are losing the battle in the courts too because liberal judges throughout the country hold the most power and sway. We are in a world of hurt!

Now, how do we rid our country of these leftists, social constructivist, and unconstitutional minded judges?

It would be an honor to stand shoulder to shoulder with all my fellow veterans and Patriots, including Frank, Mike and Brian!

I will gladly lead the charge, or follow if required, to once again "support and defend" our great constitution against all enemies.

2nd Amendment equipment and accessories is, as always, inspected, cleaned, oiled, locked, and readied if my country once again calls for action.

Today we see H. Clinton backing away from obozo and calling our national debt a national security crisis. Please NOTE: she did so before the Council on Foreign Relations - the number one secret one-world-government instigator. She will stick us under the governance of the UN faster than you can shake a stick. Mark my words.

It is not only the wicked bitch of the left (AKA H. Clinton) that are CFR members but so called republicans leaders. Case in point Gingrich.

I applaud your efforts at keeping patriotism and American loyalties at the forefront. Keep up the good work.

But may I make a comment here? Not to criticize, because I know not many are aware of these facts.

And it makes like fingernails on the blackboard for me when I hear Kennedy credited with the quote "Ask not..etcetc".

It was Jackie Kennedy's close association with Robert Frost that brought that quote for Kennedy's speech. Many of Kennedy's words belonged to someone else. He wasn't into much of the arts or academia above football or swim parties. So, lets give credit where credit is due. In her own quiet way, she elevated American standards to the hightest without pomposity and her husband got most of the credit.

Regarding Patrick Henry and the proposed U.S. Constitution -- he hated it with all his heart and fought bitterly against its adoption because of the despotic powers that it surrendered to the central government. He despised the false patriotism and spirit of empire that it provoked.

"If Congress shall say that the general welfare may require it, they may keep armies continually on foot...This unlimited authority is a most dangerous power: its principles are despotic."

The power to call forth the militia to quell insurrection is likewise granted to Congress, thereby neutering the states.

All of the Anti-Federalist and Patrick Henry's dire warnings about adopting the U.S. Constitution are now descending upon our heads in judgment. He predicted that the proposed Constitution would give us an imperial Supreme Court, two levels of oppressive taxation, abuse of the general welfare clause and a bloody Civil War within 100 years.

It is distressing to see that his descendants have learned nothing in 200+ years, but continue to fawn over the very instrument of their own enslavement -- The U.S. Constitution of 1787.

If you don't believe this, you can read it from his own lips at: http://www.america-betrayed-1787.com/antifederalists.html The polytheistic roots of this idolatrous document are laid bare by Pastor Ted Weiland at: http://www.kingdompromises.org/kingdompromises_audio/islaminization2.mp3

America must restore honesty throughout the population; our elected representatives must demonstrate impeccable honesty, and learn to fight in their seperate chambers against all political enemys of the constitution. Next, they must begin to install honest curriculum in all our schools including colleges and universities. The dishonest Liberals have had these institutions in their camp far too long.

Liberty and Libertarianism are beginning to morph, as relative and relativism did and there is a danger there. Liberty requires each individual to put in restraint his or her more base desires (our sin nature) to the common good. Each individual is called to be a Good Samaritan, not the government. The truth claims of Christianity, that we serve a risen Lord, who gave up all His liberty to be a propitiation for a fallen creation, is the foundation upon which we must return to. A religion that says cut off the head of the infidel, or that God does not exist, or God is in this world in everything, or God is whoever you want him to be is untenable. That said, we cannot impose any type of theocracy. The Founders recognized this and saw the need for a Moral Law Giver. We cannot build liberty on a base of sand which is what is what we have as a base in the present time:relativism and diversity. What really needs to happen is to have a heated debate over the values put forth by various religions, realize that God had given us limited freedom, not autonomy and that the only religion that addresses these truths is biblical Christianity, and the 11th commandment that Christ gave on the night before He went to the cross: "Love one another as I have loved you."

Here in America, there is much confusion about the proper roles(s) government is meant to play. Whether it is due to the over-stepping of bounds by government, the long-standing reverence for our Founding Fathers, or simply a lack of understanding on behalf of the people, most of us are unsure of what makes good sense in accordance with the laws of nature when it comes to the proper roles of government and even the Constitution.

Contrary to common belief, the Constitution is not the foundation of our country, our society, or our civilization. Instead, the laws of nature and nature’s God are the bedrock, and "we the people," together with this patch of earth and the resources it contains, are the foundation. The Constitution is simply the foundational structure for our federal government, and serves as the core structure for our governmental relationships, which are built on the foundation of we the people, but in reality constitutional principles are just tools we use to effectively utilize the bedrock. The Constitution is intended to be one of the foundational tool we use in helping us recognize and adhere to the laws of nature.

Only a handful of inalienable individual rights bestowed by our Creator are among the laws of nature and nature’s God expressly listed and protected by the Constitution, including freedom of expression and the right to worship. Such rights also expressly include liberty – freedom of choice, as well as fundamental private property rights.

These fundamental, universal principles transcend time, location and current events.

In accordance with the laws of nature and nature's God, our Constitution and the rule of law, the paramount role of governments is protection of life, liberty and property rights. When circumstances occur where mediation of sensitivities is at odds with protection of such fundamental inalienable rights, protection of those rights must be the highest priority, regardless of how we may otherwise feel, or how hard the winds of the media or public opinion may blow.

In terms of the Federalist / Anti-Federalist Debate, “Federalism” is a concept and term, whose meaning and usage has changed and evolved over time and is not clearly and universally understood today. Obviously, in the original debate, the Anti-Federalists were the strong proponents of states’ rights, a representative republic, dual sovereignty system, and paramount protection of inalienable individual rights. But even the Federalists at the time sought a healthy balance between the states and the federal government. At this point, even someone like James Madison, who is often called the “Father of the Constitution,” and one of the original deans of the Federalist position, is undoubtedly writhing in his grave over how the concept of Federalism, even as he envisioned it, has mutated and evolved over the years, and how out-of-balance and abusive our “Federalist” system has now become. The Federalist positions of 220 years ago have now morphed and mutated into the Progressivism of today.

I understand the Federalists to have written about how the Constitution would work if we followed it according to how it was written and how it was intended to be. The Anti-federalists wrote about what could happen if the Constitution was manipulated, as history has shown. I guess that's why it's important to study both sides. Since we have failed to follow the spirit of the Federalist writings, we are living out what the Anti-federalists predicted.

This is one of your best essays. It is to the point and quotes the Founders quite well. I truly wish we had more like our Founding Fathers. They always leave me in awe.

Dear Mark,

A wonderful piece on Anerican Patriotism.

God forbid that I, as a Christian, would ever think of sharing in the precious freedom He has granted me through my beloved America, without sacrificing my all for Her. In fact, if I were ever to fail as a patriot in my responsibility, I sincerily believe that He would be very disappointed in me. When evil is about, as is Islamic Terrorism, it is the patriotic duty of all Christians to stand, and having done all, to stand against it, with fervor.

Cumberland City, TN

I weep for the Constitution's degradation, and as a result, our country.

Hopefully Patric Henry's warning remains just a warning.

Excellent comments, Mark;, and in truth the very reason this nation, to date, has been the most free nation in all the long history of mankind.

We shall never acquiesce to tyrants nor tyranny for those are but the chains which more hapless folk accept as being normal. We are not blind fools for accepting that which has been given us by our God who inspired our forefathers in the long and successful struggle towards Liberty.

That our Liberty must be protected in every age is a given not to be ignored nor slandered by indifference. It was rightly and variously said that "if ye love security more than the enlivening battle for Liberty then leave us in peace, bow down and lick the hand that feeds you and we shall forget that ye were our countrymen."

It really is that simple. True patriots shall never forget that our Liberty in Freedom not only is not free but that both come from our Lord God himself. No mere mortal can change that immutable fact.

Patriotism is just geography.

The rest is hot air.

"...all men are created equal...." My interpretation of this phrase is that birth produces no royalty over commoners. The Founding Fathers expressed their belief that royalty-because-of-lineage was not valid. They recognized the basic equality of man in terms of community.

Regretfully, too many people today believe that that equality means equality this day in talent, knowledge, and competence. Not so. Once born, all men have to accept their responsibility to use their talents to advance and grow and contribute in the community in accordance with their self-established abilities and competence.

There should be no free rides.

@ Sharon re: 09 09 10 at 12:44 -- While I cannot help but agree, I am deeply disturbed by images of Mr Alexander with pointed ears and a thin, pointed goatee. ;-j