Open Source America

Extrageographical America?

Thanksgiving; Duty of All Nations.

General Thanksgiving
By the PRESIDENT of the United States Of America
A PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:

NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;-- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;-- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;-- and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;-- to enable us all, whether in publick or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations
(especially such as have shewn kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

(signed) G. Washington

 

 

 

Accede to America.

Succession? ...from America? Hell no!

Accession to America!

It is time, now more than ever, for accession to America. America, history and the world's and mankind's great idea and ideal. Those promoting seccession would allow America to be left, to be splintered, to be fractured, to be divided, to be bifurcated.

E pluribus unum! Our flag was still there. Long may it wave. Land of the free and the home of the brave.

It is time to "double down" because the "chips are down" and to not "fold 'em."

Beyond poker similies, something very serious is afoot.

America needs you! Now more than ever.

Your talents, your ideas, your votes, your religion, your speech, your assembly, your petition, your organization, your family, your powerful personal leadership example of self-governance, your publications and disseminations: print, email, video, and blog.

"It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." - Honest Abe.

So where are the American patriots of politics?
...the patriots of culture?
...the patriots of religion?
...patriots of family?
...the patriots of commerce?
...the patriots of media?
...the patriots of invention?

Are you there?

Serve America. Love America. Defend America.

Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, One nation, Under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.

Veterans Day 2012.

Thank you brave American soldiers.

American'ts versus Americans.

What about "the divide" in America?

What is the cultural-political difference in America, between those who say that We The People America can't do it, and those who say that America can?

The difference if you will between the American'ts and the Americans:

"You can't build that.," versus "You can build that if you try."

"You need the government," versus "The government needs you."

"We'll take care of you," versus, "I can take care of myself, and others."

"The past is dark," versus, "The future is bright."

"This isn't my fault," versus, "I got this."

"The dream is over," versus, "The dream is possible again."

"Take from those who have more to give to those who have less," versus, "Grow more for everyone, and We The People, if we are good, must ourselves help those in need."

"Your fellow citizen is a crook, cheat," versus, "America is good."

"Spread the wealth around," versus, "Spread the wealth."

"We'll grant you permission," versus, "We'll grant you room."

"We can't be 'arrogant' through our success," versus, "Failure is blindness to merit."

"That other guy is against you," versus, "Try to be for the other guy too, if you can."

"We are divided," versus, "We are united."

"We are many races, many peoples from in one America" versus, "We are one America in many races, many peoples."

"We are rich and poor," versus, "We are all striving."

"We The People can't," versus, "We The People can."

The politics of doubt, versus the politics of possibility.

"No," versus, "Yes."

 

God Bless the USA.

You have heard this before. But you should hear, and see, it now. Please turn up the volume on your computer and then pass to a friend.

 

The great Lee Greenwood.

VOTE!

 

"Candidate America."

There are only six days to go before election day. Who are you going to vote for?

There is a *best* candidate on the ballot next week. And it isn't "none of the above."

You simply have no choice, if you love America, but to vote for America and nobody else.

This is just one guys opinion, and...

No person, no party, no personality, nor interest group, nor entitlement, nor union, nor promise, nor hope, nor fear...is as deserving of your vote as is:

"Candidate America."

Just ask yourself, you Democrats, you Republicans, you Greens, you Independents, you DTSs...

"Will any candidate do more for me than America will?"

"Can any candidate inspire the world as can America?"

"Can any candidate get our economy, and world economy, out of the ditch like America?"

And ask yourself...

"Does any candidate have a better track record at delivering the results that matter most in your life, than America?"

"And who will do more with your vote of confidence?"

Candidate America's platform: Build freedom and liberty, and prosperity, hope and good change.

So vote for America this Tuesday on Election Day.

Because America depends upon no person, except you.
America needs no endorsement; except yours.
America requires no contributions; save yours.
America has no "flip flops;" other than our own.

America is asking for your vote.

And moreover YOU need the American vote. WE THE PEOPLE need the American vote.

Our children and grandchildren and our grandchildren's grandchildren need the American vote. And children and people in all corners of the world need the American vote. Our economy, our destiny, our history, our humanity, our globe need the American vote.

So do not forget.
Don't stall.
Don't hesitate.
And, don't fear.

No matter your party, your race, your present ideology, make sure to vote for Candidate America.

 

American-American Frank Tanabe.

This is Frank Tanabe.

Frank was born in Japan. Here is a picture of him with his mother Katsuko Okamoto Tanabe.

Frank came to America for freedom and opportunity and risked his life and family to serve America in World War Two as a solder. Here is Frank the soldier.

Today Frank is dying of cancer. Frank is seen using all of his strength to make sure that he votes. Frank is a man of duty.

Are you?

RIP and God bless Frank, and God Bless America.

Free Enterprise, the American Tradition.

 

A Nine Eleven Remembrance.

From last year, the tenth anniversary. God bless America!

 

 

Logging Off, 100 Years Ago.

From the Ericson Collection, by Swedish photographer A.W. Ericson, Humboldt State University as reported in the Daily Mail UK.

On Real Diversity.

Escape the gulag of false diversity-thought!

Is the thing that has been marketed to you as "diversity", truly diversity at all?

Is it rather preference?

So manicured and precarious is this peculiar ghostly form of 'diversity', hiding in plain sight, that it is actually deep down terrified of the light of real diversity.

The truth is that real diversity is a fact of life.

Stitched into the DNA of the universe is already a multiplenitude of options, alternatives, and expressions. Real diversity is reality itself. And who could not love this?

But then some mistake this. Or make mistake with this.

Into the bumper sticker homilies of "diversity is our strength" or of "celebrate diversity" or of just "diversity" (in rainbow colored font logo-types) some instead,
advertently or inadvertently, encode a hidden meaning. A hidden meaning of one
of two things....

'My alternative is as good as yours.'            

or

'All alternatives are equal.'

Language is falsely used. Diversity does not mean real diversity at all but rather preference; a preference for their opinions or (all) none.

Why not then just be blunt and make a sticker which reads:

'My choices are as good as yours.' ("Celebrate Me"),

or

'Don't make any choices.' ("Celebrate All")

Even though honest, that wouldn't play well.

This amalgam of vanity or nihilism each wedded to alternatives; a strident particularism or an ultimate plurality, is this real diversity?

In reality of course "diversity is indeed our strength"!

Who, in hearing the notes of a symphony, in seeing the colors of a sunset, in seeing children play at a park together, in going to a supermarket, in walking in a garden, in reading the business section of the news, does not conclude that value comes only from an abundance of possibility.

Value comes from an abundance of possibility. Value comes from...

The less possibility there is, the less real diversity there is, then the less potential for value, less soil for the strength of value which proceeds from the strength of great possibilities.

i.e. (id est) America.

E
Pluribus
Unum.

 
United
States
of
America.

Now ask yourself a question: if the message of this vain false sense is to celebrate "my alternatives" or to celebrate "all alternatives", is the purpose of real diversity being served at all? Is it real diversity?

No.

Because instead of inviting all possibilities, it chooses a few or one. Instead of farming produce from the soil of all possibility, it eats the dirt.  

Like playing a sonata with only one string or all of the strings at once.

Choose therefore real diversity; the engine of value, gift to mankind, hope for the future, soil of the seed of excellence?

 

 

The Libre Initiative.

Breathtaking.

 

 

Freedom and the Chicken Sandwich.

News flash: The chicken sandwich does not care about your opinion.


The chicken sandwich only sits there. It waits to see if you like it or not. And it will be there for you whether you express one opinion or the other on undulating societal matters. But it will wait.

It will wait to see whether you like it or not. It will wait to see whether, if you have tried it or not, whether you will try it again. It will stay, bunned and with pickles, and await the vote of commerce, of taste, of quality, of satisfaction. Of the people.

Because the chicken sandwich does not change with the winds of increasing culture and devolving subcultures. It stands, or rather again sits, awaiting your vote, your support. Or not.

So go ahead, yell at the chicken sandwich. Tell it that you don't like it. That you think it is unfair. That it makes your life more unpleasant. That it doesn't share your "values." Reject that chicken sandwich, and (on behalf of others who haven't asked) reject it for them too. Tell that chicken sandwich that it is not welcome in your city. That sandwich is a bigot.

Yet it will still sit there, awaiting its next customer.

 

 

 

Flag Was Still There.

So even if we don't have vehicles to get there for now...

Why America?

Flag Day.

An early flag as displayed at the Smithsonian.
[Check out this AWESOME "interactive" program on the Fort McHenry 1814 "Star Spangled Banner" flag also from the Smithsonian.]

Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States by the Second Continental Congress in 1777. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day; in August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress.

Flag Day is not an official federal holiday. Title 36 of the US Code, Subtitle I, Part A, Chapter 1 §110 is the "Flag Day" statute. However the President has the ultimate discretion to officially proclaim the observance.

The "Stars and Stripes," or "Old Glory," is one of the most complex flags in the world. No other flag needs 64 pieces of fabric to make. The current flag has 13 red and white alternating stripes (representing the original 13 states) and 50 stars (each star represents one of the states of the Union) on a blue background. The American flag has also changed designs more than any other flag in the world.

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Poem "The Flag"
By "People's Poet" Edgar A. Guest (1881-1959)

We never knew how much the Flag
Could mean, until he went away,
We used to boast of it and brag,
As something of a by-gone day;
But now the Flag can start our tears
In moments of our greatest joy,
Old Glory in the sky appears
The symbol of our little boy.

We knew that sometimes people wept
To see the Flag go waving by,
But never guessed the griefs they kept--
We never understood just why.
But now our eyes grow quickly dim,
Our voices choke with sobs to-day;
The Flag is telling us of him,
Our little boy who's gone away.

We never knew the Flag could be
So much a part of human life,
We thought it beautiful to see
Before these bitter days of strife;
But now more beautiful it gleams,
And deeper in our hearts it dwells;
It is the emblem of our dreams,
For of our little boy it tells.

 

Allegiance. Flag. United. America. Republic.
One. God. Indivisible. Liberty. Justice. All.

Lexicon of Contemporary Indiomy, Slang, Dysphemism, and Crypto-Euphemism.

What about the meanings of things?

Of words?

If this age is a crisis of thinking, of meaning, can the tampering with words help? How much misunderstanding of meaning is caused by misunderstanding of words? How can we decode the meaning of modern usages?

When today's society says this, does it sometimes in a concealed form communicate...?

    "social networking" in the place of "using a computer"
    religion in the place of "dogma" or "doctrine"
    tolerance in the place of "acceptance"
    right wing in the place of "radical" or "dangerous"
    progressive in the place of "progress"
    love in the place of "romantic feeling" or "really like"
    hate me in the place of "disagree"
    "cloud" in the place of "don't know, not my problem"
    disruptive in the place of "good, positive"
    green in the place of "morally superior"
    parent (n) in the place of "(v) to raise a child"
    "the rich" in the place of "more money than me and probably unfairly"
    1% in the place of "the rich"
    99% in the place of "you all agree with me, right?"

Surely there are many others which you can think of.

Why does it matter?

It matters because freedom matters. And where someone else can take away your freedom if you are not careful, it is more often the case that people freely give away their freedom without realizing it. This is the usual course of things; people give up (without knowing it) the freedom which they did not know that they had. Through misunderstanding, belief in the false.

How much does ignorance take away freedom? Quite a bit.

Therefore it follows that the deeper our understanding of things, the safer our freedom.

***

On "Loading the Language," an excerpt from Chap. 22 of Robert J. Lifton's, MD 1961 book Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism...

 

Loading the Language

"The language of the totalist environment is characterized by the thought-terminating cliché. The most far-reaching and complex of human problems are compressed into brief, highly reductive, definitive-sounding phrases, easily memorized and easily expressed. These become the start and finish of any ideological analysis. In [some] thought reform, for instance, the phrase "bourgeois mentality" is used to encompass and critically dismiss ordinarily troublesome concerns like the quest for individual expression, the exploration of alternative ideas, and the search for perspective and balance in political judgments. And in addition to their function as interpretive shortcuts, these cliches become what Richard Weaver has called "ultimate terms" : either "god terms," representative of ultimate good; or "devil terms," representative of ultimate evil. In [some] thought reform, "progress," "progressive," "liberation," "proletarian standpoints" and "the dialectic of history" fall into the former category; "capitalist," "imperialist," "exploiting classes," and "bourgeois" (mentality, liberalism, morality, superstition, greed) of course fall into the latter. Totalist language then, is repetitiously centered on all-encompassing jargon, prematurely abstract, highly categorical, relentlessly judging, and to anyone but its most devoted advocate, deadly dull: in Lionel Trilling's phrase, "the language of nonthought."

"To be sure, this kind of language exists to some degree within any cultural or organizational group, and all systems of belief depend upon it. It is in part an expression of unity and exclusiveness: as Edward Sapir put it, "'He talks like us' is equivalent to saying 'He is one of us.'" The loading is much more extreme in ideological totalism, however, since the jargon expresses the claimed certitudes of the sacred science. Also involved is an underlying assumption that language - like all other human products - can be owned and operated by the Movement. No compunctions are felt about manipulating or loading it in any fashion; the only consideration is its usefulness to the cause."

"For an individual person, the effect of the language of ideological totalism can be summed up in one word: constriction. He is, so to speak, linguistically deprived; and since language is so central to all human experience, his capacities for thinking and feeling are immensely narrowed. This is what Hu meant when he said, "using the same pattern of words for so long…you feel chained." Actually, not everyone exposed feels chained, but in effect everyone is profoundly confined by these verbal fetters. As in other aspects of totalism, this loading may provide an initial sense of insight and security, eventually followed by uneasiness. This uneasiness may result in a retreat into a rigid orthodoxy in which an individual shouts the ideological jargon all the louder in order to demonstrate his conformity, hide his own dilemma and his despair, and protect himself from the fear and guilt he would feel should he attempt to use words and phrases other than the correct ones. Or else he may adapt a complex pattern of inner division, and dutifully produce the expected cliché's in public performances while in his private moments he searches for more meaningful avenues of expression. Either way, his imagination becomes increasingly dissociated from his actual life experiences and may tend to atrophy from disuse."

 

Dreams of a Mexican Mother.

"My Mother, came from Mexico in the 1950s.

"She came with a work permit that she waited a very long time to get. She spend a year here working and learning to speak English as a "Bracero". When she went back to Mexico, she re-applied for a visa and again spent much time waiting. When it was granted, she knew she wanted to become an American.

"My mother joined the Marines and after a certain amount of time became a US citizen and then Married my father who was also a Marine and served in the Armed Forces for 22 years.

"My mother had dreamed of becoming an American because of everything America stood for in the 1950s. Although she knew that we were a culture struggling to over come some injustices, at least we were a country who could always see what needed to be done.

"To a Mexican, former milkmaid, we were the land of opportunity, the land that made heros and the land where freedom and possibilities were always within reach.

"We were a land of morals and valor, a generous people, that stood head and shoulders above the rest.

"My 84 year old mother is the happiest, proudest American I have ever known.

"A true patriot, a veteran and a former "Mexican milkmaid" who was able to attend the University of Maryland thanks to the G.I. bill.

"My mom is the living, breathing example of what happens in America and my mother worries about the future of our land, and can not wait to vote in November."

 

[Account published with gratitude and permission from L. Santamaria of California.]

What is a "green" "job"?

Recently, Congress took testimony from experts in the field of environmentalism and "green" industries about what constituted a "green job" so far as the experts were concerned. Many of the answers were suprising.

 

Click play on both videos at the same time for maximum effect.

 

...another "green job?"

Funny.

h.t. to David Israel at www.mentalfloss.com