FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

President Biden

@POTUS

President Biden delivers remarks marking one year since the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1yNxaNpMYLrKj

"A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS." WITH DONALD TRUMP, IT COULD BE WORTH THE FATE OF FREE PEOPLE EVERYWHERE. (UPDATE)

When I first published this post, the gesture used by Trump reminded me of something from the history books. Well, further research has revealed the following:

The ADL, (ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE), LISTS THE SAME GESTURE AS THE "ARYAN FIST."  IT IS A WHITE SUPREMACIST SYMBOL USED TODAY.

So, is the Gesture used for Communist/Fascist Symbolism, White Supremacist Symbolism, or perhaps both? 

I'll take Door #3.

Below is the original post.

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These are just a few examples, but they represent a common gesture that Trump uses in public appearances. I kept asking myself: Where have I seen this before?

                                                                           CNBC

Julia Nikhinson/AP

                                                                  THE GUARDIAN.

                                                                  MOTHER JONES.

Here is what I found.

To make a long story short, I went to PIXABAY.COM and typed in the following Category:

COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA IMAGES.

WHICH TOOK ME TO THE FOLLOWING:

Communist Propaganda Posters Pictures, Images and Stock Photos.

There you have it. I assume this could be of value to those who can still think for themselves.

THE CONSTITUTION IS MORE THAN JUST THE 2ND AMENDMENT.

 

IN a recent article Titled; "BY DEFINITION: GUN CONTROL, AND THE 2ND AMENDMENT," I began an analysis of the Meaning contained in the TERMINOLOGY used in the 2ND AMENDMENT. To complement that line of reasoning, I have decided to use this post to look at other parts of the BILL OF RIGHTS, and see if that can aid us in properly interpreting the true meaning contained in the 2nd Amendment. 

To do this, we must understand the following: THAT THE BILL OF RIGHTS CONTAINS TWO DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF RIGHTS THAT WERE CREATED AND DRAFTED BY THE FOUNDING FATHERS, AND INTERPRETED BY SUBSEQUENT JUDICIAL REVIEW AND PRECEDENT.

ABSOLUTE RIGHTS- RIGHTS THAT CAN NEVER BE LOST OR TAKEN AWAY BY THE STATE. (ALTHOUGH THEY MAY BE GIVEN UP VOLUNTARILY.) ALSO, THAT THEY ARE NOT DEPENDENT UPON SPECIFIC EVENTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES.

 

For Example:

   Amendment VI- INCLUDES SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF ABSOLUTE RIGHTS.

  "All criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense."

    

CONTINGENT RIGHTS- RIGHTS EXTENDED TO THE INDIVIDUAL THAT ARE SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE LIMITATION OR TERMINATION DEPENDING ON THE INDIVIDUALS ACTIONS AND/OR INTENT IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS OR SPECIFIC EVENTS. 

    For Example:                                                                                                                        

The First Amendment reads as follows: 

""Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

FROM THE FIRST AMENDMENT, WE FIND THE FOLLOWING CONTINGENT RIGHTS.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH-  DOES NOT ALLOW US TO SAY ANYTHING 

WE WANT, ANYWHERE WE WANT, AT ANY TIME, AND USE "FREEDOM

OF SPEECH" AS A UNIVERSAL DEFENSE TO AVOID SANCTIONS OR 

PUNISHMENTS.

FREEDOM OF RELIGION-  DOES NOT ALLOW POLYGAMY, PHYSICAL

ABUSE, CONSUMPTION OF CERTAIN DRUGS, DISCRIMINATION IN THE

EMPLOYMENT SECTOR...AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO BE COVERED 

BY CONSTITUTIONAL LAW.

FOR OUR PURPOSES, WHEN DISCUSSING THE 2ND AMENDMENT, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:

THAT EVEN IF YOU HOLD TO THE OPINION THAT EVERY CITIZEN HAS A "RIGHT" TO OWN OR POSSESS A GUN OR FIREARM, IT DOES NOT FOLLOW THAT THE STATE CANNOT SET GUIDELINES OR RULES TO:

-  RESTRICT THE FIREPOWER OR DESTRUCTIVE POTENTIAL OF EACH FIREARM.

-  SET A MINIMAL STANDARD OF INTELLECTUAL AND/OR

MENTAL COMPETENCE OF THOSE OBTAINING SUCH A WEAPON.

-  MAINTAIN STANDARDS OF MORAL CHARACTER (CRIMINAL) OF THE INDIVIDUAL.

BEFORE THEY ARE ALLOWED TO LEGALLY POSSESS A GUN.

HISTORY HAS SHOWN US THAT UNRESTRICTED SPEECH AND UNINHIBITED RELIGIOUS PRACTICES, IN THE HANDS OF UNSCRUPULOUS AND SELF-CENTERED INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS, CAN CAUSE SUCH DESTRUCTION THAT IT COULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE DESTRUCTION OF WHOLE SOCIETIES AND CULTURES. THIS IS WHY EVEN OUR MOST REVERED "RIGHTS" MUST BE CAREFULLY EXAMINED FOR POSSIBLE ABUSE.

SO, SHOULD WE CONTINUE TO SUBJECT EVERY AMERICAN TO A LEGAL SYSTEM WHERE "RIGHTS" OF FREE SPEECH AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION ARE MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN THE "RIGHT"  TO POSSESS AN AUTOMATIC WEAPON WITH AN AMMO CLIP THAT COULD KILL SCORES OF PEOPLE IN ONE OR TWO MINUTES?

To find a reasonable solution, or compromise,

we must ask the following questions.

Question #1-  Do we Agree that there are certain Individuals and/or Groups

that SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED ACCESS TO FIREARMS. If so, who and why?

Question #2-   Have Previous Judicial Decisions and Legislative Actions set

 PRECEDENTS as to what ACTIONS ARE PERMISSIBLE and COVERED BY THE

"BILL OF RIGHTS" SET FORTH IN THE U.S. CONSTITUTION?

WHAT MANY AMERICANS SEEM TO FORGET IS THE FOLLOWING:

YES, IT SEEKS TO PREVENT UNREASONABLE GOVERNMENT

INTRUSION INTO THE LIVES OF ITS CITIZENS, BUT IT ALSO...

...CREATES GUIDELINES THAT THOSE SAME CITIZENS DO NOT USE

THE "BILL OF RIGHTS" TO ABUSE AND HARM OTHER CITIZENS WITH

UNREASONABLE, MALICIOUS, AND UNJUSTIFIED WORDS AND ACTIONS.

Question #3- CAN ANY PROPOSED LIMITATIONS ON THE 2ND

AMENDMENT BE...

-   ...UNACHIEVABLE, OR WILL NOT

   PRODUCE DESIRABLE RESULTS?

-  ...AN UNREASONABLE BURDEN 

   ON THE LAW-ABIDING GUN OWNER?

-  ...A PUNISHMENT ON HONEST GUN OWNERS, INSTEAD OF

   REINFORCING THE RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS THEY

   ALREADY MAKE?

A TRIBUTE TO ALL VETERANS: WHILE THE GOP MAY IGNORE YOU, OTHERS HONOR YOU.

 WHEN THE U.S. CAPITOL WAS ATTACKED, 

ON JANUARY, 6, 2021.

EVERY SINGLE MONUMENT, 

EVERY SINGLE MEMORIAL,

EVERY SINGLE CEMETERY,

ON THESE SHORES...

AND THOSE FAR FROM HOME...

WAS ALSO ATTACKED...

LET US  REMEMBER TRUE PATRIOTS, TRUE HEROES. 

TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER

OMAHA BEACH MONUMENT

 

                                                            USS ARIZONA MEMORIAL

                                            

                                                              IWO JIMA MONUMENT

                                                              KOREAN WAR MEMORIAL

                                                              VIETNAM WAR MEMORIAL
                                                    

I LEAVE YOU WITH THE WORDS OF ADMIRAL CHESTER W NIMITZ.

        

                                                                          AMEN.

REWARD FOR THE FALLEN. FULL STORY.

The man found himself on a dirt road.  How he came to be there was a mystery, for he could not remember the circumstances of his arrival.  In fact, he had no recollection of anything in the past.  All around him was an alien landscape and heavy foliage lined the path that stretched into the distance.

"What is going on?", he said to himself, "Why am I here?"  The man decided that perhaps the answer lay at the end of the trail, so he began to walk.

After a short time, a shape emerged before him, seemingly out of nowhere.  The man was startled, but regained his composure quickly.  Looking the newcomer over, the man was puzzled.  The figure was dressed in a shabby manner, wearing a worn-out buckskin shirt and pants, and carrying an antiquated flintlock rifle.

The man wanted to speak to this new arrival, but never had the chance.  With a cursory glance, the one blocking his way said in a plain gruff voice; "You are on the right path, continue."  On that note, the individual stepped back into the overgrowth and disappeared.

"Strange," said the man, "an obvious eccentric."  So he continued on his way.

A short time later the man found his path once again blocked by an individual that appeared suddenly and without warning.  This time the intruder was dressed in a blue tunic, with matching blue trousers that had a yellow stripe running down the side of each leg.

Again, the man was given a quick once over, and then was addressed in an accent he couldn't identify;  "Ah, not a Son of Erin, but you'll do.  You're on the right path, continue."  As before, the way was made clear by the departure of this most recent interloper.

The man was confused.  "What is going on," he thought, "why am I here, and who are they that seem to pass judgment on whether or not to allow me to continue my journey?"

End of PT 1.

REWARD FOR THE FALLEN.  PT 2.

The man shook his head in bewilderment and continued on his quest to find the end of the trail.

However, things began to get more confusing.  Now his journey was often interrupted by individuals who spoke in languages he could not identify.  Almost as strange was the array of clothing that outfitted some of those who blocked his path.  

Often they were quite colorful and very extravagant.  Yet, at other times they seemed quite simple, often consisting of a plain tunic or robe.  Attire on the head and feet also represented both ends of the spectrum. It could be a helmet or cap accompanied with boots, or bare-headed with sandals.

It was not just the clothes that became more varied.  Individuals came in all sizes with many different skin colors being represented.  From time to time the newcomer was a woman, who treated him with identical solemness.

The man was becoming extremely frustrated, but that only seemed to strengthen his resolve to complete the journey.  There were a couple of more things that lifted his spirits.  He knew, inexplicably, that each person was dressed in some type of uniform.  Additionally, that they all were evaluating him and the judgment was universally positive, whether or not he understood the words spoken.  It was the tone of voice that came through loud and clear.

End of PT 2.

REWARD FOR THE FALLEN.  PT 3.

After what seemed to be an eternity, the man came upon a gate that crossed the path.  There was no way around, for the vegetation off the road seemed impenetrable.

As he gasped in frustration, he became aware of an approaching figure on the other side.  While this individual was dressed in now familiar clothes, his manner and look were different.  To the man, he appeared to be in his early twenties, but his wide-open smile set him apart from recent contacts.

"Hello Tony," the new arrival said, leaning against the gate.  "I guess you're wondering what the heck is going on."

The man looked intently at his counterpart and whispered out loud, "George Mellen, you were killed in a firefight outside of...," then he suddenly stopped, memories flooding back.

"Yeah, said his host, "I was killed in that tiny village, the one command considered vital to securing the region.  Caught one in the throat.  Wrong place, wrong time", he chuckled.

The man looked into the face of this lost comrade, and suddenly noticed that they were not alone.  Figures appeared from the trees that lay beyond the gated fence.  They were represented by every manner of dress he had already encountered, and some still unfamiliar.  The man was scared, but pride refused to let it be known to others.

"Tony, your home." His benefactor said, opening the gate.  The man hesitated crossing the threshold, and asked, "Am I dead, is this Heaven?"

"You're dead, that much is sure," George replied, "in time you'll recall the circumstances.  Is this Heaven? Let's just say it is an outpost on the edge of forever.  Just a place for men and women like you and me to rest, exchange stories, and prepare for what comes next."

As he passed through the gate, Tony became aware of the beauty of his new surroundings, and a feeling of peace and serenity settled over him.  Suddenly, he understood.  Turning to his companion he asked, "Is this just for us, no one else. Why?"

George gave him a slight smile, and as others gathered around them to offer a welcome to the new arrival, answered; "I guess someone figured that those of us who gave all it was possible to give, and lost our lives with such brutality, deserved a special place where our sacrifice was acknowledged and appreciated.  I never expected such a place would exist, but our kind never asked for much in return.  Maybe that is why it's here, because we earned something we would never have asked for."

THE END.