From My Perspective - - -
In January 2009, The Harris Poll conducted its regular Hero Survey of a cross-section of Americans regarding Our Top Heroes. Asked whom they admire enough to call their heroes (up to three names), those mentioned most included: 1. Barack Obama; 2. Jesus Christ; 3. Martin Luther King; 4. Ronald Reagan; 5. George W. Bush; 6. Abraham Lincoln; 7. John McCain; 8. John F. Kennedy; 9. Chelsey Sullenberger; 10. Mother Teresa; 11. God; 12. Hillary Clinton; 13. Billy Graham; 14. Franklin D. Roosevelt; 15. Mahatma Gandhi; 16. Colin Powell; 17. George Washington; 18. Bill Clinton; 19. Condoleeza Rice; 20. Oprah Winfrey; 21. Sarah Palin; 22. George S. Patton; 23. Bill Gates…In another question, responders were asked to select from a list of choices what made someone a hero. The top definitions given were: (1) Doing what's right regardless of personal consequences (89%); (2) Not giving up until the goal is accomplished (83%); (3) Doing more than what other people expect of them (82%); (4) Overcoming adversity (81%); Staying level-headed in a crisis (81%).
Some might ponder why the one with whom many can identify - Charlie Brown - did not make the list. Charlie Brown tried to achieve and succeed – but – was most often frustrated and seen as a loser. An apt and brief biography of him is: “Charlie Brown is a loveable loser, a child possessed of endless determination and hope, but who is ultimately dominated by his insecurities and a permanent case of bad luck, and often taken advantage of by his peers.” Charlie had no lack of desire and was motivated to give many situations his best effort – but all in vain. He can be viewed as a hero because he (a) tried his best; (b) he was trusting of others; (c) he was wistful and wanting to believe the best about his peers and others; (d) he never responded in anger; (e) he demonstrated perseverance; etc. Charlie was not caught up in the webs of intrigue, nor the possible manipulation of others. He was who he was and tried to do what was right and best – with principle, ethics and a sound moral base.
This nation seems to be roaring into a new age. Individual rights are being marginalized; Business Protocols are being usurped; National Focus and Resolve are being diminished; Indebtedness has reached proportions heretofore unimagined; and Expenditures are only limited by the speed of the Printing Presses to generate more Currency to saturate the nation and world (is it any wonder that China and Brazil no longer want to have the American Dollar as the Monetary Standard for International transactions?). The Pundits add to the confusion and absurdity of our time by speaking of Capitalism fading into Socialism, while same allow that the Republic is rapidly becoming Fascist or Marxist. While there remains some subtlety to the all of this, the rapidity at which things are transpiring may get the nation to an unseemly destination so rapidly that there will be little or no possibility of averting the impending disaster. An illustration is a news item from yesterday headlined - FEDERAL RESERVE PUZZLED BY YIELD CURVE STEEPENING: “The Federal Reserve is studying significant moves in the U.S. government bond market last week that could have big implications for the central bank's strategy to combat the country's recession. But the Fed is not really sure what is driving the sharp rise in long-dated bond yields, and especially a widening gap between short and long term yields…”
Lurking in the background is the Harris Poll that (a) makes a distinction between Jesus Christ and God in the first place, and (b) relegates Jesus Christ to second place, and God to eleventh. Although a man may pronounce that “we are no longer a Christian nation”, does not and will not be able to alter or deny Psalm 47:6-8, “Sing praises to God, sing praises…For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm! God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne…” In Psalm 59:5-8, “You, Lord God of hosts, are God…Rouse Yourself to punish all the nations; spare none of those who treacherously plot evil…There they are, bellowing with their mouths with swords in their lips for ‘Who, they think, will hear us?’ But You, O Lord, laugh at them; You hold all the nations in derision. O my Strength, I will watch for You, for You, O God, are my fortress…” Whether Polls rank God second, eleventh, or not at all – the fact remains - He Is Lord - and one day will cause all nations to bow down and acknowledge that He Is Lord to the Glory of God the Father!
In January 2009, The Harris Poll conducted its regular Hero Survey of a cross-section of Americans regarding Our Top Heroes. Asked whom they admire enough to call their heroes (up to three names), those mentioned most included: 1. Barack Obama; 2. Jesus Christ; 3. Martin Luther King; 4. Ronald Reagan; 5. George W. Bush; 6. Abraham Lincoln; 7. John McCain; 8. John F. Kennedy; 9. Chelsey Sullenberger; 10. Mother Teresa; 11. God; 12. Hillary Clinton; 13. Billy Graham; 14. Franklin D. Roosevelt; 15. Mahatma Gandhi; 16. Colin Powell; 17. George Washington; 18. Bill Clinton; 19. Condoleeza Rice; 20. Oprah Winfrey; 21. Sarah Palin; 22. George S. Patton; 23. Bill Gates…In another question, responders were asked to select from a list of choices what made someone a hero. The top definitions given were: (1) Doing what's right regardless of personal consequences (89%); (2) Not giving up until the goal is accomplished (83%); (3) Doing more than what other people expect of them (82%); (4) Overcoming adversity (81%); Staying level-headed in a crisis (81%).
Some might ponder why the one with whom many can identify - Charlie Brown - did not make the list. Charlie Brown tried to achieve and succeed – but – was most often frustrated and seen as a loser. An apt and brief biography of him is: “Charlie Brown is a loveable loser, a child possessed of endless determination and hope, but who is ultimately dominated by his insecurities and a permanent case of bad luck, and often taken advantage of by his peers.” Charlie had no lack of desire and was motivated to give many situations his best effort – but all in vain. He can be viewed as a hero because he (a) tried his best; (b) he was trusting of others; (c) he was wistful and wanting to believe the best about his peers and others; (d) he never responded in anger; (e) he demonstrated perseverance; etc. Charlie was not caught up in the webs of intrigue, nor the possible manipulation of others. He was who he was and tried to do what was right and best – with principle, ethics and a sound moral base.
This nation seems to be roaring into a new age. Individual rights are being marginalized; Business Protocols are being usurped; National Focus and Resolve are being diminished; Indebtedness has reached proportions heretofore unimagined; and Expenditures are only limited by the speed of the Printing Presses to generate more Currency to saturate the nation and world (is it any wonder that China and Brazil no longer want to have the American Dollar as the Monetary Standard for International transactions?). The Pundits add to the confusion and absurdity of our time by speaking of Capitalism fading into Socialism, while same allow that the Republic is rapidly becoming Fascist or Marxist. While there remains some subtlety to the all of this, the rapidity at which things are transpiring may get the nation to an unseemly destination so rapidly that there will be little or no possibility of averting the impending disaster. An illustration is a news item from yesterday headlined - FEDERAL RESERVE PUZZLED BY YIELD CURVE STEEPENING: “The Federal Reserve is studying significant moves in the U.S. government bond market last week that could have big implications for the central bank's strategy to combat the country's recession. But the Fed is not really sure what is driving the sharp rise in long-dated bond yields, and especially a widening gap between short and long term yields…”
Lurking in the background is the Harris Poll that (a) makes a distinction between Jesus Christ and God in the first place, and (b) relegates Jesus Christ to second place, and God to eleventh. Although a man may pronounce that “we are no longer a Christian nation”, does not and will not be able to alter or deny Psalm 47:6-8, “Sing praises to God, sing praises…For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm! God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne…” In Psalm 59:5-8, “You, Lord God of hosts, are God…Rouse Yourself to punish all the nations; spare none of those who treacherously plot evil…There they are, bellowing with their mouths with swords in their lips for ‘Who, they think, will hear us?’ But You, O Lord, laugh at them; You hold all the nations in derision. O my Strength, I will watch for You, for You, O God, are my fortress…” Whether Polls rank God second, eleventh, or not at all – the fact remains - He Is Lord - and one day will cause all nations to bow down and acknowledge that He Is Lord to the Glory of God the Father!
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