In the wave of conversation centering on illegal immigration, one point of interest has not been properly discussed: civil disobedience. When does civil disobedience become the only civil option to uphold our Constitution? In a country whose hallmark is plowing the road for liberty, a new first is on the horizon. We became a country by challenging the abuse of law by tyrants living overseas who would neither listen to our complaints nor govern fairly. If we are to preserve our country, we now find ourselves having to challenge homegrown tyrants who are neither listening to our complaints nor governing fairly.

Civil disobedience needed again

In the past we rebelled and created a central government that was instituted to protect our god-given rights. Our founders, who understood the pitfalls of human nature, had the wisdom to limit the powers of our central government and those holding public office. I am sad to report that the limited government they designed is no longer limited or operating as designed.

Today we have a man occupying the White House that has stealthily declared himself king. We have a criminal in charge of the Justice Department (credit given to Rick Oltman for coining this title). Holder is bad but not the only one perverting our Rule of Law. Our Manchurian president has appointed as many foxes as he could find to guard all the hen houses in the country. Our Alien in Chief (again credit given to Rick Oltman for coining this title) has also shut down jobs, destroyed our prosperity, assaulted our Christian principles, given our stimulus money to foreign countries, and supported the Muslim Brotherhood’s rebellion in Egypt. It should be no surprise that our Alien in Chief has gone out of his way to protect other aliens – legality notwithstanding, The list goes on and on resulting in our loss of sovereignty, loss of prosperity, loss of our religious liberty, and the destruction of our Constitutional principles at every corner turned.

On top of all of this, we have wimps representing us in Congress and the Senate who do not legislate properly, and legislators on the bench who either don’t understand our Constitution or are committed to changing it to conform to their personal ideologies. Whatever happened to their oath of office that requires them to protect this country from foreign as well as domestic enemies? This country has suffered a coup de tat of epic proportions and those in charge of the hen house continue to crow as if everything is fine back on the farm.

Holy Spirit and human spirit

Patrick Henry. Portrait by George Bagby Matthews (1857 – 1943), after Thomas Sully (1783-1872).

Doom and gloom would almost be a foregone conclusion – except for two things: the supernatural Spirit that led us in the creation of this country and the human spirit of those who pledged their lives, their treasures and their sacred honor to follow the Spirit’s call for the cause of liberty. Does that Spirit exist today and will it preserve what it once created? Not if we continue to play-along-to-get along. Compromise is only considered a virtue by those without a backbone. Freedom has a price, as it did back in the 1700s. Hopefully this generation is willing to pay it.

Patrick Henry once asked:

Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?

2000 years ago Peter and other Apostles were put in jail by the high priest for preaching in the name of Christ. When they were released, they stood boldly in the temple and continued to preach in the name of Christ. Once again they were brought before the high priest who admonished them for disobeying the command to stop preaching in His name. Peter responded:

We ought to obey God rather than man. (Acts 5:29)

Peter and the Apostles understood when civil disobedience is righteous. Do we?

Whom shall we obey?

Whom should we obey today? Should we obey those who have distorted and contorted our government? Or should we obey our Alien in Chief? Or perhaps we should obey the Criminal in charge of the Justice Department. As it was in the past, it is today – there is a time for civil disobedience that is moral, righteous and noble.

When did Americans become afraid to stand up for what is right and against what is wrong?

When did peace become a more desirable commodity than liberty? I don’t believe they ever have in America.

I believe…

I believe the Spirits (both supernatural and natural) that formed this country live in many American patriots today. And therein lies our greatest hope. Hope that God will once again have mercy on those who love liberty and will preserve the country that understood that He alone is the giver of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

I believe that Americans will rise up against those committing crimes against our Constitution.

And I believe that what is good and what is right will prevail over tyranny and corruption.

But believing in this day and age may not be enough. Civil disobedience may prove to be our best hope for civil restoration – another first here in this land of milk and honey.

Two last questions

My last two questions are: Do we have the moral fortitude to preserve liberty and do we understand when civil disobedience becomes our civic responsibility?

Let me close with a few more words from Patrick Henry that are as relevant today as the day he spoke them:

They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations; and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace! But there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!