Life is messy and full of unexpected twists along the way leaving even the most obsessive control freaks among us feeling a bit undone, considering so much of the change introduced into our lives is rarely invited and not always good.
You see, I speak with experience, having been forced to join the ranks of the widowed some years back. Those of us left behind tend to cling to our loved one’s last gifts, last words — pretty much last anything. As I write, I am wearing an old brown Ann Taylor sweater, size “smaller than it used to be.” It’s the last gift my husband gave me. His last piece of advice before taking his last breath? “Susan, take a deep breath...just inhale.” I feel as if I’ve been inhaling ever since. Over time, this radical event helped to mold me into a better version of myself, or so I’ve been told. However, this is not about me.
A handful of Americans learned a similar lesson as well, on what began as a normal Tuesday morning in September of 2001, when they learned the airplanes they boarded would not reach their planned destination, but would instead rocket them to an unplanned and final one. Most had no idea the goodbyes they shared with loved ones that morning would be their last. Nor did the rest of us realize the savage acts of a malevolent few would change our lives forever.
In an instant, American patriotism seemed to be resurrected from Ground Zero’s ashes when people of all stripes laid aside their shallow biases to focus on things that really mattered, to wit, our unity as “one nation under God.”
But that was then. Watching the Democratic National Convention last week, I found myself asking the question: How did we go from two mile-long lines to donate blood at Ground Zero to Democrats losing their minds over the insertion of the word “God” in the party’s platform? Baby steps, I suppose.
For the past five or so years, President Obama has preached to the country about what he views as a dire need -- to bring fundamental change here in America. It really should come as no surprise to anyone that mentioning God’s name at the Democratic Convention would inspire booing. I guess the sacrifice of his son wasn’t enough for them; maybe they think God has not yet paid his “fair share.” Hah.
Obviously, not all change is positive. The “change” that President Obama and now former President Bill Clinton espouse should give all freedom-loving Americans reason for pause. In case you are not quite sure what Obama’s definition of change is, President Clinton spells it out in a new campaign advertisement. The part where Clinton says, “President Obama has a plan to rebuild America from the ground-up” tells us everything we need to know about what an Obama second term would entail.
You see, one cannot build something from the “ground-up” unless there is a “ground zero” to start with. Look back over the past four years of the Obama presidency, and you will see the handiwork of a Progressive wrecking ball which has wrought havoc on the very essence of much of which makes this country great.
Writing about change, C.S. Lewis once penned the words, “And what matters is the nature of the change in itself, not how we feel while it is happening.” Unplanned events leave us with little choice except to decide whether we will wither in its wake...or flourish. However, some things we can control, specifically Obama’s plans for “change,” wherein both “the nature of the change” and its process stinketh to the core.
Copyright 2012 Susan Stamper Brown, an opinion page columnist, motivational speaker and military advocate who writes about politics, the military, the economy and culture. Email Susan at writestamper@gmail.com or her website at susanstamperbrown.com.
chatmandu002 posted at 11:23 am on Wed, Sep 12, 2012.
Susan,
First, let me say I am sorry for your loss. Second, I'm also not happy with the changes that have been hoisted upon our shoulders. Big government means fewer freedoms. Dependency on big government saps the human will and spirit. Dominance by big government stifles individual initiative. Control by big government brings about a culture malaise. This "change" for the sake of ideology is leading to a "hopelessness" for future generations.
mnjcpa posted at 12:50 pm on Wed, Sep 12, 2012.
How eloquent Susan to write such a remarkable piece, and to have it published on a day when I'm seeing what was so accurately depicted in 2016 Obama's America unfold right on television. And is it any wonder?
The democrats spiked the football on killing Bin Laden over 20 times at their convention. The crowds were chanting `we're ALL Osamas`. And on a day that the WORLD should be mourning the lack of Obama have any foreign policy leadership has allowed radical, muslims to continue to kill innocent people while he turns his back on our allies.
November can't come soon enough for this voter.
mnjcpa posted at 5:34 pm on Wed, Sep 12, 2012.
It's gut wrenching, sad and dark at the same time. Serious medication required.
Cerulean posted at 8:58 pm on Wed, Sep 12, 2012.
Mrs. Stamper Brown invokes God as if that makes it accetpable to say anything, even willfully lie. She did willfully lie.
Stamper said, “ It really should come as no surprise to anyone that mentioning God’s name at the Democratic Convention would inspire booing.”
The Democratic Convention DID NOT boo at the mention of God. It was, in fact, a Methodist minister who stood and said, “As an ordained minister, I am here to attest to our faith and belief in God as central to the American story and informs the values we’ve expressed in our party’s platform. In addition, President Obama has recognized Israel as the capital of Jerusalem and our party platform should as well. . . . “ The Amendment reads: Jerusalem is and will remain the capital of Israel. The parties have agreed that Jerusalem is a matter for final status negotiations. It should remain an undivided city accessible to people of all faiths.
What people were booing was the inclusion that Jerusalem be the Zionist capital. Many Jews in Israel do not want Jerusalem as a Zionist capital. Many Jewish Americans do not want Jerusalem as the Zionist capital.
Susan Stamper Brown is a liar.
mnjcpa posted at 7:25 am on Thu, Sep 13, 2012.
A little naive Cerulean?
Regarding God, since Karl Marx, the aim of the Left - everywhere on Earth - has been a godless society. And the Democrat party has evolved over the last half century so much so that it is indistinguishable from leftist parties in Western Europe. The fact that tens of millions of Democrats believe in God is unrelated to the fact that the left wants a Godless society.
Why then do you support the Democrat party? It's really pretty simple - because you're naive about the left.
There was no hiding the intent behind what we saw on cameras Cerulean. The main stream media couldn't whitewash that spectacle. And for this voter whose grandmother was a staunch FDR democrat, who emboldened the beliefs of our founders that America was governed under God? She's screaming from her grave.
It's disgusting where the Left has taken the Democrat party. Wake up Cerulean.
chatmandu002 posted at 9:43 am on Thu, Sep 13, 2012.
BSNBC and the godless liberal/progressives = perfect match. LOL
mnjcpa posted at 3:21 pm on Thu, Sep 13, 2012.
Cerulean - My grandmother wasn't a religious fanatic and she was a die hard blue dog Democrat. She loved FDR so much, no one would keep her from voting Democrat. The radical left controls the Democrat party today.
FDR was no man of the left. He regularly spoke of the need to defend and preserve `Christian civilization` and of the centrality of the Bible and religion in American life.
One thing my grandmother was NOT was mindless. Open your eyes Cerulean. Your party is being directed by a broken moral compass.
sockratties posted at 2:31 pm on Fri, Sep 14, 2012.
Susan says it’s not about her but it is. It’s about her agenda which is Limbaughesque at its ugliest. She starts off by exploiting her own loss then trying to use such drivel for political means. What rot!
If Obama could “rebuild America from the ground up” it would do to start with some Round-up. A good spraying might get rid of the Limbaughs and Stampers. We don’t need to be a Christian Republic any more than we need to be an Islamic Republic or a Jewish Republic. God belongs in our churches, not in our constitution nor in our political platforms.
Susan inserts her mythology into the discussion as if it were some kind of fact. I don’t think she can really believe in the tenets of her chosen religion if she uses it as currency in so many of her arguments. Jesus despised the money changers in the temple. I wonder what he thinks of Susan exploiting his plight for her personal gain.
mnjcpa – what you neglected to note was that it was the crowds in Cairo that were chanting “we’re all Osama” not at the convention as you implied. “It's gut wrenching, sad and dark at the same time. Serious medication required.” You might want to try oxycodone, it works well for Rush.
Morality and Religion have little to do with each other except that religions try to dictate morality according to their interpretation. A person who lies, such as Susan, will lie regardless of their religious beliefs. Same as for killing, greed, et al. Of course religious texts explain when it’s okay to kill, steal, display wrath, seek revenge and practice subterfuge. That should make it all right.
A person who doesn’t steal because they think it is wrong is morally superior to a person who doesn’t steal because they are trying to grab the carrot or dodge the stick as threatened by their religion.
Those who flew airplanes into the twin towers thought they were doing what Islam demanded of them. Of course we know they were fruitcakes that were duped by those willing to mislead them to achieve a different agenda. That only puts it in perspective, it doesn’t make it right. One has to develop a moral compass oneself, sometimes in spite of religious dogma.
mnjcpa posted at 3:28 pm on Fri, Sep 14, 2012.
Any wonder the public discourse is so negative when people promote a Godless America, also seem keen on murdering infants and people that disagree with their point of view. Sounds like America is the new Middle East.
You despise Limbaugh, as if the Democratic superpac known as the mainstream media speaks from a position of ethics and neutrality. Just another stunning example of a moral compass gone adrift with American culture infected with liberalism.
You live in a deep dark rabbit hole sockrattles, and sincerely hope you find happiness, somewhere, somehow.
sockratties posted at 4:09 pm on Fri, Sep 14, 2012.
Mnjcpa... thank you for your good wishes.
It would be just as bad to have a "godless" America as a "Christian one. One of our strengths is our diversity.
Like Jerry Falwell told Larry Flint, "I don,t hate you, Larry, I just hate what you do." I dispose Limbaugh's halve truths, innuendo and lies. I couldn't care less about Rush himself.
How about those superpacs? Too much money going into both parties. That's one of the reasons I'm an independent with no allegiance to any party.
As long as you attempt to guess my politics and judge my morality you will continue to amuse me. The rabbit hole you imagine is in your own warren.
Engaged Voter posted at 4:43 pm on Fri, Sep 14, 2012.
Just read the comments, both those from the "deity-faithful" and also from the "godless".
Take careful note where the insults, false claims, and hate spewing are coming from. ;)
mnjcpa posted at 5:37 pm on Fri, Sep 14, 2012.
Yeah, you're the real expert on that subject aren't you EnRaged?
mnjcpa posted at 5:58 pm on Fri, Sep 14, 2012.
Hey sock - the super pac I'm referring to is not as it's legally defined - it's the mainstream media. That's all they are - a megaphone for Obama. Where one politician can say whatever he wants and the other can't and the self-appointed referees ( the media) are also the fans. The same type of media in Venezuela with Hugo Chavez ruling.
It's none of my business what your politics or religion are. Given the depth of darkness in someone's heart that wishes others dead because they disagree is a real messed up way to think in my world. Or to make assumptions about Susan's intent in writing the article leads me to believe you're just another busybody liberal that makes light of a serious situation and then spits on the messenger.
My apologies if you're the exception to the rule.
sockratties posted at 6:50 am on Sat, Sep 15, 2012.
apology accepted
onerebel posted at 12:16 pm on Sat, Sep 15, 2012.
At least now we all should know where the majority of Democrats stand when it comes to God. The only thing funny about it was after three votes, the Democrat party did what they knew they would have to for votes, against the will of their DELEGATES. Now the Democrats know how the rest of us feel after the health care vote!