Almost three years ago, I wrote my "manifesto". It's time for an update. Changes and additions are in bold type. You can compare it to the original here. I'll eventually replace the one linked with this one.
I believe in the shining city on the hill. I’m a Reagan Republican.
I believe in not asking what my country can do for me, but what can I do for my country. I’m a JFK Democrat.
I believe in the power of the individual. I believe that it is individuals that make a society great, not society that makes great individuals.
I believe that victim-hood robs a person and people of greatness. I believe that a person or a people who rise up from and conquer victim-hood are truly great.
I believe in the goodness of the American people. It’s the same goodness that brought billions in Tsunami aid to the people in Asia and Indonesia and who brought help and aid to the victims of disasters in our own backyard.
I believe in America’s greatness and I believe that without a great and strong America, the world will be a much more dangerous place. I believe in American exceptionalism. Since it's inception, this country has been the refuge of the world.
I believe that the family is the basic unit of society and if society is to survive, society should work to strengthen the family but not to the point where the family is dependent upon Society.
It's not your color or who you sleep with that matters, it's your character.
I believe in God and more to the point, I believe in the Christian God. I believe, in America, you should be able to believe or not believe according to your conscience.
I believe that the responsibility of government should be limited. I believe that government is (as President Reagan once said) the problem and not the solution.
I believe in an orderly society, but it's not government's job to tell me what to eat, where to live or what kind of car I must drive.
I believe in freedom and I believe that such freedom must come with a certain amount of responsibility and humility. You have the freedom to speak, you do not have the freedom to incite or cause harm.
I believe that in order to keep our freedoms, we must maintain a strong national defense. We must be ready to defend our country from every threat. That might mean we attack first before the other guy gets the chance.
I believe in the individual. I believe in America and the potential of her people who, in times past, saved the world. I believe we will do so again if we are called upon and if we have not decimated our armed forces.
The Violence Worker
November 21, 2007
Updated October 28, 2010
