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This was from Robert L. Hundley
What Patriotism Means To Me By Chuck Baldwin July 7, 2000 If Bill Clinton taught us anything, he taught us that words mean different things to different people. To some, patriotism means driving the speed limit and paying taxes. That definition doesn't do it for me, however. While I consider myself a law-abiding man, it must be noted that laws are often nothing more than the tools of tyrants. Laws are no better or worse than the men that make them. Furthermore, there is a higher law than any law manufactured by man that must take preeminence in the patriot's heart. Submitting to laws that violate the patriot's conscience and encroach upon those liberties endowed to him by his creator is not an act of patriotism; it is an act of treason. The Apostle Peter said, "We must obey God rather than men." Ben Franklin said the same thing in a slightly different manner by saying, "Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God." I agree. It would seem, therefore, that I am not the patriot I should be. It shames me to know that I have acquiesced to a myriad number of over-reaching and burdensome laws and regulations. I pay unconscionable and ungodly taxes, the kind of which my ancestors would rather have died than paid. I submit to rules and dictates that any freeman should find nonsensical and asinine. Americans today know freedom only in part. With scores of federal law-enforcement agencies employing nearly 100,000 gun-toting, badge-carrying agents forcing us to bow down to tens of thousands of decrees and dictates, we are more like subjects than citizens. Yet, we wave the flag and pretend that we are patriotic. Our Forefathers sacrificed their lives and fortunes over far less usurpation. Neither is patriotism simply a warm and fuzzy feeling that comes on us every July 4th. Part of our problem today is that all we know is a feel-good citizenship coupled with the feel-good religion. Like discipleship, citizenship is arduous labor. Freedom is not free and spirituality is not cheap. The person who squanders either is extremely foolish. First of all, patriotism means being responsible for my actions. It means being willing to own up to my misconduct. It means apologizing when necessary. If I was at fault, it might even mean compensating for someone's loss. It is what our Founding Fathers called self-government. There can be no lasting freedom without it. Patriotism means giving to society something that will make it better. Patriots are givers, not takers. They recognize that society owes them nothing; they owe society something. The welfare state that has been created in this country is as un-American as it can be! That also applies to the spirit of hedonism and licentiousness that is running rampant in our land. Both are cancers that eat out our liberty. Finally, patriotism demands that we stand up for the fundamental principles upon which our nation was built, including moral responsibility, freedom of conscience and limited government. It means learning our history and heritage. It means putting principle before profit and putting conviction before convenience. It means shouldering responsibility for my family's well being. It might mean shouldering a firearm for my nation's liberty. Whatever else it means, patriotism is a debt I owe to my nation and my God. It is a debt that cannot be paid in part; it must be paid in full, whatever the cost. Please forward this e-mail to a friend or friends. I support the Constitution of the United States of America. I do not advocate or support a violent overthrow of the United States Government. I prefer to live in peace