January 28, 2017

Phil Beaver works to establish opinion when the-indisputable-facts-of-reality have not been discovered. He seeks to refine his opinion by learning other people’s experiences and observations. The comment box below invites sharing facts, opinion, or concern. (I read, write, and listen to establish my opinion as I pursue the-objective-truth.)
Note:  I often connect words in a phrase with the dash in order to represent an idea. For example, frank-objectivity represents the idea of candidly expressing the-objective-truth without addressing possible error or attempting to balance the expression.
 
The Advocate:
 

Our Views La Supreme Court abuse: I wrote to my state representatives and requested an amendment to the Louisiana Constitution or whatever it takes to relieve a civic people of this abuse.

 

Our Views Greener: “. . . local . . . movement . . . to deal with a changing global climate.” About all we can count on from global movements is failure. Even WWII was a disaster.

 

Most of all, take care of your own provisions. If not on high ground, move to high ground. If your property is subject to land subsidence, move to solid ground. Be prudent about insurance. Build financial security. A changing globe is a certainty. But for all we know, a downturn will follow the current upswing in temperatures.

 

Today’s Thought. Dean’s brevity obscures meaning. 

After much study, it seems my origin was good and so is my destiny. In the meantime, I trust in and am committed to the-objective-truth of which most is undiscovered and some is understood. For example, the earth is about 4.6 billion years old. But Dean’s way is good for Dean, whatever it is.

 

Liberal intolerance (Evans). Your letter denotes that some people live in the best of times.

 

Progressives are everywhere and appreciate their like-mindedness so much they don’t realize how barbaric their behaviors may be--perhaps have not read Caligula. Yet liberals are of “the people” you reference.

I suggest modification of your expression: “[Liberal democrats] have forgotten that all ‘federal’ funds are derived from the [civic] people.”

The preamble to the constitution for the USA has the subject, “We the [Civic] People of the United States” and follows with purpose and establishment of the USA. Thus, powers to the states are delegated by the civic people in their state.

By “civic” I mean the people who commit to both their state constitution and the purposes stated in the preamble to the constitution for the USA. The preamble is a civic (rather than secular) contract. I speculate that about 2/3 of citizens are civic but would not articulate the practice--for them, it comes naturally from American memes.

Pipeline (Olivier). A very well written letter. We are going to use and therefore must move that oil. Let's move it with safety and economy.

That activist's sign, "United against oil dependency," is absolutely, universally utopian but oh so stupid: We would like to power our lives for free. However, we must pay to live. Each person who wants freedom from oppression must earn a living and pay for energy.

Rich Lowry column. At last; writing I like yet do not agree.

 

“. . . well-honed sense of propriety.” Trump seems a representative-man* with integrity without honesty. Therefore, few persons have the propriety to debate him. If the other person has integrity, there’ll be warmth and harmony, even in civic disagreement.

Later, the dignity and equality of children may come to President Trump’s administrative focus.

“. . . imposing his morality on anyone clearly isn’t one of [Trump’s ambitions]. I’m not sure anyone has the propriety to make that claim. Perhaps Trump is focused on civic morality rather than either social morality or religious morality. I’d say he wants to nudge people toward his civic morality: don’t pray for forgiveness when you can correct your mistakes and move on; speak your complaint, but don’t burn the American flag; if you don’t want me to lie to you, don’t lie to me; if you don’t want me to embarrass you, don’t try to embarrass me; if you want civic behavior, behave civically.

Trump’s ministers for his inauguration expressed his religious preference: Judeo-Christianity. The next day he was more ecumenical. I think too much, yet speculate that he was making the statement that Judeo-Christianity most closely conforms to the US Constitution and therefore are worthy to represent him at his inauguration. That does not mean he does not expect them to reform wherein their doctrine conflicts with the constitution. (I’m really out on a limb with that thought.)

IMO, Trump wants a civic culture. Therein, most people collaborate for public-integrity. If Trump succeeds, a super-majority will appreciate a way of life with broadly-defined-safety-and-security, hereafter Security. Every real-no-harm religion and culture will thrive in the USA. The culture wars here will end.

* (see R.W Emerson essays)

Bernard Goldberg column.  Icon Lewis may have a conversation with 1966-march-icon James Meredith, who states that the black race has forsaken the duty and responsibility of citizenship.

Michael Gerson column.  “Christian faith, at its best, points to a transcendent order of justice that stands above politics.”

That sentiment caused America’s arrival at a civic-moral nadir after 228 years’ operation “under God.” Christian faith promises a good afterdeath and could care less about justice on earth. Abraham Lincoln expressed this point in his first inaugural address: “Why should there not be a patient confidence in the ultimate justice of the people? Is there any better or equal hope in the world?”

Screenings and more (Page 1A). Thank you, President Trump.

“The Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, said it would file a federal lawsuit.” The CAIR needs to demonstrate that all Muslims in this country have no desire for Sharia law or any other conflict with the preamble to the constitution for the USA.

Trump’s deference to Mattis on torture demonstrates that Trump is neither bigoted nor a tyrant.

I have been so distracted by the hope to end the long-standing coyotaje business. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coyotaje. However, imagine what the wall will do to curtail the drug-lord violence in Mexico. And what a drastic change in drug availability in the USA. I cannot imagine. No wonder Trump and first responders---border patrol agents---seem to be the vital proponents for the wall.

Why hasn’t the press core brought these businesses to our attention? Why publicize only car factories and other legitimate businesses? See therecoveryvillage.com/drug-addiction/drug-trafficking-by-the-numbers/ and archives.fbi.gov/archives/news/testimony/drug-trafficking-violence-in-mexico-implications-for-the-united-states .

Deficit (Page 1A). “We should have addressed the overgrowth of government many years ago.” Is that Edward's admission that government is excessive now?

“. . . reimbursed by the federal government . . . not expected before . . . June 30.” Really? One year after the flood?

Where’s the governor for whom the people of Louisiana comes first? What has he been doing?

Fetal remains (Page 2A). A civic people may vote proponents of such legislation out of office: hospitals handle these issues according to civic morality.

Ferguson officials (Page 3A). When officials do not conduct business according to civic morality, they lose the opportunity to govern.

Holocaust-survivor loneliness (Page 3A). This article is the saddest I have read in decades. Old and alone is a difficult combination, but when the alone part is so unjust it is exponentially sadder. I am glad volunteers are helping.

United Nations (Page 4A).  Haley sounds promising.

U.S pays 22 % of regular budget and 28% of peace-keeping among 193 nations.

Make what’s 1) working better, 2) wrong fixed, 3) bad terminated. Blunt language rather than diplomacy. Taking names of enemies. “This is a time of getting things done.” Sounds like the CEO of my home.

Healthcare-Ryan (Page 4A). Universal access sounds good.

Deficit (Page 6A). Rainy day fund $853 million in 2009 to $359 m now, may drop to $240

House has 41 Dems, 58 Reps, 3 Indp. Need 70 votes.

Anti-abortion (Page 7A). Pence goals: end taxpayer-funded abortion and supporting supreme court justice. Trump already banned US aid to foreign groups that provide abortions and similar acts to follow. GOP: stop funding Planned Parenthood and ban most abortions after 20 weeks. Someone in last week’s Women’s March on Washington said “women often feel pressured to have abortions.” I doubt that happens often. I am delighted that the article did not mention church influence in the debate.

 

Terry Robinson column (1D). Phil Beaver should not be so lucky: Rev. Smith’s black liberation theology published alongside the mayor’s “One city One church One hope” or OOO. 

 

Read the two articles yourself, please, so as to know what is happening in Baton Rouge: “a movement of God’s people in this city.” I’ll have no part of such civic tyranny!

Rev. Fred Jeff Smith, pastor of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church did not attend OOO for a reason: his theology matters. “Anyone that is oppressed, Jesus saw it as a ministry to relieve them of that oppression. It's that position in general that African-Americans have historically had in their approach to Jesus. (White people) don't have that history. They don't have that connection with historical oppression in this country — nor in their religion. Therefore, their approach to Jesus is from the standpoint of the oppressor." I’ll have no part of Dialogues on [white guilt]”.

I question both the depth and the breadth of Smith’s black-church history. Black church dates from 1758, while liberation theology dates from the 1950s in Latin America and 1969 as black power according to James H. Cone. 

 

As Smith mentioned, liberation theology can be applied by anyone who feels oppressed. I feel that my trust in the-objective-truth of which most is undiscovered and some is understood is not equitably appreciated.

I have no problem with Rev. Smith's theology as long as it is kept private in his closet, home, and church. If one is to imagine God has skin, there's a corollary to God made in man's image. But any attempt to impose religion onto civic morality is immoral---civically, civilly and religiously.

Of course, the imposition of theism is traditional in the USA, and I am sincerely niggling enough to work for reform. See Greece v Galloway (2014) to read about niggling.

To Tom Ledet:

Speaking of faith, if you take the Bible as The Word, then slavery is condoned. However, most whites concluded that the physics of slavery---chains, whips, brutality and rape to slaves with both physical and psychological burdens to masters---informs humankind that the Bible is wrong.

 

White church in the South claimed white church in the North erred in Bible interpretation and fired on the USA to prove their Bible interpretation. (See the Declaration of Secession for the error statement.) It will turn out, though, that the war itself was erroneous. The Bible is The Word: slavery is true.

 

However, Africa is the mother country, and The Word came from there. God is black, Jesus is black, and God's chosen people are black Americans. Thus, black Americans will emerge masters and fulfill the Bible. Whites in the USA will be slaves.

 

I learned these ideas after hearing Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Jr. at Southern University in February, 2015: look not to the USA (the people) for victory. Look to God.

Mayor Broome (Jan. 27, Page 1A). I like hope.

  

What would you think if the mayor treated church-racism (see 1D) as a private rather than civic matter and rallied Baton Rouge dissidents---whether dissident by ignorance, vigilantism, theology, criminality or evil---to observe statutory law?

 

I think law enforcers might perceive that the mayor was observing their civil rights as persons and citizens. After all, Baton Rouge authorizes the law enforcers to respond to attacks on public safety.

 

Other dialogues:

quora.com/Is-there-a-reasonable-limit-to-how-far-out-of-ones-%E2%80%9Cecho-chamber%E2%80%9D-one-needs-to-reach/answer/Phil-Beaver-1

Is there a reasonable limit to how far out of one's “echo chamber” one needs to reach?

I have been trying hard to break out of my comfort zone, and listen and understand opposing views. But there are some views I find incomprehensible. White power advocates, conspiracy theorists, various forms of reality-denial, etc. At what point is it acceptable to close one’s ears?

Phil Beaver

IMO, if I understand “echo chamber” everything you know about your statement is false: Social morality is false.

IMO, the human being is so psychologically powerful that he or she may perfect his or her person within a lifetime, perhaps 120 years. This is a civic idea, and private development depends upon civic morality.

Civic morality entails mutually appreciative connections in all public contacts and transactions. Thus, both parties appreciate the other party’s behavior. When one part is evil, they must be constrained.

According to society’s instructions, each person is to reject another person the moment he or she discovers a difference in private preferences.

For example, I, Phil Beaver, work for civic morality rather than social morality. It’s public-integrity rather than dominant-opinion. As soon as people discover my passion, they avoid the topic.

People cannot stand the challenge of private integrity that iteratively collaborates for public-integrity. They prefer to think: I don’t understand you, Phil Beaver, and I do not intend to comprehend what you are writing.

As long as someone merely expresses that they reject my thoughts, I continue to offer them. The moment they state: I have had enough of your opinion, I stop. I will discuss sports or the weather, but not public-integrity.

If the other party returns, I let them choose the topic. Whether it is public-integrity, sports, or the weather, I enjoy talking and them.

Phil Beaver does not “know”. Phil trusts and is committed to the-objective-truth of which most is undiscovered and some is understood. Phil Beaver is agent for A Civic People of the United States, a Louisiana, an education non-profit. See online at promotethepreamble.blogspot.com.