From My Perspective - - -
If left unnoticed and unattended, Termites can quickly undermine the integrity of a structure. The intriguing fact is that Termites are very small but can cause considerable damage as they work in a united way as an army with a mission to accomplish. The only remedy for Termite damage is to (a) immediately attack and treat the area of termite activity, and (b) almost as immediate, replace what has been damaged by the Termites. Where there is an area of Termite activity, one would be very wise to pay the Treatment costs rather than the modification and reconstruction costs. Could it be that the Termites have begun to gnaw on The Big Stick of American Diplomacy?
Big Stick ideology, Big Stick diplomacy, or Big Stick policy was the slogan describing President Theodore Roosevelt’s corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. The term originated from the phrase: "Speak softly and carry a big stick." The idea is to negotiate peacefully, while simultaneously threatening with the big stick, or the military. By application, it means to always negotiate from strength and not from weakness or a Caspar Milquetoast posture. In his style of governing, Theodore Roosevelt described his style of foreign policy as "the exercise of intelligent forethought and of decisive action sufficiently far in advance of any likely crisis”! It is contrary to the Caspar Milquetoast style of life and governing (a milquetoast is a weak, ineffectual or bland person. It is derived from the character Casper Milquetoast from the 1924 comic strip The Timid Soul). For those of you too young to remember, “Caspar Milquetoast was a comic strip character created by H. T. Webster for his cartoon series, The Timid Soul. It featured Caspar Milquetoast, a wimpy character. Webster described Caspar Milquetoast as "the man who speaks softly and gets hit with a big stick". The character's name is a deliberate misspelling of the name of a bland and fairly inoffensive food, milk toast. Milk toast, light and easy to digest, is an appropriate food for someone with a weak or "nervous" stomach. When the term is used to describe a person, it typically indicates someone of an unusually meek or submissive nature, who may appear overly sensitive, timid, indecisive or cowardly.”
The classic example that could be cited is the Historical Meeting of Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister of England with Adolph Hitler, Fuhrer of Germany. The issue was to seek restraint on the part of Germany with its ambitions in Eastern Europe, most notably, Czechoslovakia. Chamberlain thought he had received an honorable agreement with Hitler by the signing of the Anglo-German Agreements. German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop remonstrated with Hitler for signing it, the Führer replied, "Oh, don't take it so seriously. That piece of paper is of no further significance whatever." England thought otherwise. The Prime Minister would state: “My good friends, this is the second time there has come back from Germany to Downing Street peace with honor. I believe it is peace for our time. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Now I recommend you go home, and sleep quietly in your beds…” The King of England, King George VI, issued a statement to his people: "After the magnificent efforts of the Prime Minister in the cause of peace, it is my fervent hope that a new era of friendship and prosperity may be dawning among the peoples of the world." That wasn’t to be! World War II would soon begin. Great atrocities would occur and millions of people would die in both Europe and Asia.
It becomes vital for us to know and embrace the true source of peace. It will not be achieved as elected officials bow to foreign leaders who would like to see our demise as a nation and power. Our peace is based upon a relationship with Jesus Christ. He has stated – John 14:27 (NLT) – “I am leaving you with a gift -- peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid.” In Psalm 91:1-2 are these words: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, (You are) my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." The Chorus to an old Hymn contains these words: “Under His wings, under His wings, Who from His love can sever? Under His wings my soul shall abide, Safely abide forever.” Positionally – that’s where you can be – under the protecting, sheltering, comforting, peace-providing wings – where the Lord will be for you a refuge and a fortress. Consider these things with me!
If left unnoticed and unattended, Termites can quickly undermine the integrity of a structure. The intriguing fact is that Termites are very small but can cause considerable damage as they work in a united way as an army with a mission to accomplish. The only remedy for Termite damage is to (a) immediately attack and treat the area of termite activity, and (b) almost as immediate, replace what has been damaged by the Termites. Where there is an area of Termite activity, one would be very wise to pay the Treatment costs rather than the modification and reconstruction costs. Could it be that the Termites have begun to gnaw on The Big Stick of American Diplomacy?
Big Stick ideology, Big Stick diplomacy, or Big Stick policy was the slogan describing President Theodore Roosevelt’s corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. The term originated from the phrase: "Speak softly and carry a big stick." The idea is to negotiate peacefully, while simultaneously threatening with the big stick, or the military. By application, it means to always negotiate from strength and not from weakness or a Caspar Milquetoast posture. In his style of governing, Theodore Roosevelt described his style of foreign policy as "the exercise of intelligent forethought and of decisive action sufficiently far in advance of any likely crisis”! It is contrary to the Caspar Milquetoast style of life and governing (a milquetoast is a weak, ineffectual or bland person. It is derived from the character Casper Milquetoast from the 1924 comic strip The Timid Soul). For those of you too young to remember, “Caspar Milquetoast was a comic strip character created by H. T. Webster for his cartoon series, The Timid Soul. It featured Caspar Milquetoast, a wimpy character. Webster described Caspar Milquetoast as "the man who speaks softly and gets hit with a big stick". The character's name is a deliberate misspelling of the name of a bland and fairly inoffensive food, milk toast. Milk toast, light and easy to digest, is an appropriate food for someone with a weak or "nervous" stomach. When the term is used to describe a person, it typically indicates someone of an unusually meek or submissive nature, who may appear overly sensitive, timid, indecisive or cowardly.”
The classic example that could be cited is the Historical Meeting of Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister of England with Adolph Hitler, Fuhrer of Germany. The issue was to seek restraint on the part of Germany with its ambitions in Eastern Europe, most notably, Czechoslovakia. Chamberlain thought he had received an honorable agreement with Hitler by the signing of the Anglo-German Agreements. German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop remonstrated with Hitler for signing it, the Führer replied, "Oh, don't take it so seriously. That piece of paper is of no further significance whatever." England thought otherwise. The Prime Minister would state: “My good friends, this is the second time there has come back from Germany to Downing Street peace with honor. I believe it is peace for our time. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Now I recommend you go home, and sleep quietly in your beds…” The King of England, King George VI, issued a statement to his people: "After the magnificent efforts of the Prime Minister in the cause of peace, it is my fervent hope that a new era of friendship and prosperity may be dawning among the peoples of the world." That wasn’t to be! World War II would soon begin. Great atrocities would occur and millions of people would die in both Europe and Asia.
It becomes vital for us to know and embrace the true source of peace. It will not be achieved as elected officials bow to foreign leaders who would like to see our demise as a nation and power. Our peace is based upon a relationship with Jesus Christ. He has stated – John 14:27 (NLT) – “I am leaving you with a gift -- peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid.” In Psalm 91:1-2 are these words: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, (You are) my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." The Chorus to an old Hymn contains these words: “Under His wings, under His wings, Who from His love can sever? Under His wings my soul shall abide, Safely abide forever.” Positionally – that’s where you can be – under the protecting, sheltering, comforting, peace-providing wings – where the Lord will be for you a refuge and a fortress. Consider these things with me!
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