FAIR AND BIASED: Not since Truman has the US showed this much courage in regard to Israel!

Monday, May 14, 2018

Not since Truman has the US showed this much courage in regard to Israel!

Weekly Opinion/Editorial

MOVING OF EMBASSY TOOK GUTS!

by Steve Fair

On Monday, the nation of Israel turned seventy years old. That is of course modern Israel. Israel is the land promised to Abraham by God about 4,100 years ago. This small parcel of 8,000 square miles is about 11% the size of Oklahoma or approximately the size of the state of New Jersey. More battles over this small piece of ground have been fought than any in the history of the world. Three monotheistic religions- Judaism, Christianity, and Islam- all have sacred sites in Jerusalem. The Muslims want to spilt the city, but Israel’s parliament and current leadership do not want to concede what Abraham was promised.

For years the American embassy in Israel was in Tel Aviv, but on Monday the embassy was moved to Jerusalem. Twenty three years after the U.S. Congress passed a law moving the embassy to Jerusalem, it finally happened. President Trump, who did not attend, but sent his daughter and son-in-law to represent him at the opening, appeared via video and said, “We extend a hand in friendship to Israel, the Palestinians and to all of their neighbors. May there be peace. May God bless this embassy.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the move "courageous" and "momentous." "What a glorious day. Remember this moment!" Netanyahu said to the applauding crowd. "President Trump, by recognizing history, you have made history. All of us are deeply moved. All of us are deeply grateful." Two observations:

First, Trump’s move was courageous. Since Congress passed the mandate to move 23 years ago, three presidents from both Parties have failed to order the move. Moving the embassy was seen as so controversial because it would stir up the Muslims and they were unwilling to risk that. Trump had made the moving of the embassy e a part of his campaign promises and like it or not he fulfilled it.

Second, a nation has a right to declare where their Capitol is. Just because the United Nations says that a nation can’t put their Capitol somewhere doesn’t take away their right to do it. President Harry Truman’s recognition of Israel as a nation in 1948 took great courage. Trump’s recognition they can decide where their Capitol also took courage.

Israel is America’s closest ally in the Middle East and strategic in US foreign policy in the region. During the Obama presidency the relationship with Israel was tense at best. Obama and Netanyahu didn’t mesh well and when the US refused to vote on a critical UN Security Council vote on Jerusalem, relations between the US and Israel moved to their lowest point ever. Trump did the right thing in moving the embassy and while controversial, it shows this president is not your standard run of the mill politician. He has guts!

1 comment:

OklahmaMick said...: We shall surely be blessed from God for this wonderful act of support for His chosen people! I could care less if Trump is not considered to be “Presidential” or how many people he may offend on a daily basis. If he continues this overwhelming support of Israel we WILL see God’s grace in this country.; May 23, 2018 at 10:13 PM

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Why FAIR & BIASED?

FAIR- because that's my name and BIASED because the truth is we are all biased- either for something or against it. What's important is that our bias(opinions) are based on right- on absolute truth and not on changing values. What's right cannot change based on a change in circumstances. That is the basis for situational ethics.

Situation Ethics is a theory that is concerned with the outcome or consequences of an action; the end, as opposed to an action being intrinsically wrong. In the case of situation ethics, the end can justify the means. There are no absolutes. Your actions are guided only by your conscience.

A person's view of right can be subjective. But there is a way mankind can definitely know what's right and that is revealed in God's Word- the Bible. As His creatures, we should be biased toward things our Creator is for and biased against those things He is against. May God grant us the grace and understanding to know the difference.

PARTY AFFILIATION IS IMPORTANT! by Steve Fair- written in 2009

How important is political party affiliation? Some people mistakenly believe only politicians need political affiliation, which they use for support to get elected. They contend the electorate or voters, do not need to be aligned with any Party. These same people often state they “support the man, not the Party.” But whether they recognize it or not, they are supporting a party when they “support the man.”
Most of the Founding Fathers had a negative view of political parties. In his farewell address to the nation, George Washington warned about political parties saying, “However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.” In spite of Washington's warning, political parties were formed anyway.
From 1796 to 1828 the first political parties were formed. Starting with the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, two opposing factions arose. Each was concerned with how the new government was to be organized. The Federalists believed in a strong central government. Their philosophy and beliefs would closely mirror the Democrat Party today. The Anti-Federalists strongly supported the rights of the states. They would more closely align with Republicans today.
Since the mid 1800s, the Ds and Rs have been the two major political parties in our country. Political parties flourished in our government mainly for legislative organization and expediencies sake. Why is Party affiliation important for the average voter? Party affiliation is important for three very simples reasons.
First, party affiliation is the first vote a citizen casts. When a citizen registers as a Democrat, then they are aligning philosophically with the values, beliefs, tenets, and positions of the Democrats on the issues. Party affiliation “defines” you are and what you stand for. It should be taken as seriously as a vote for a specific candidate. Research what each Party stands for, their positions on issues, and then align with the Party that is closest to your values. Copies of both major Party platforms are available on-line or at the local library.
Second, legislatures organize themselves and conduct business using party affiliation. The legislative branch of government is the most powerful arm of the three branches of government. Legislative bodies hold closed meeting of party members, called a caucus to decide on questions of policy or leadership. The Republicans hold a caucus meeting and the Democrats hold a caucus meeting-both at the state and federal level. Unfortunately, conservative, moderate and liberal philosophies do not hold caucus meetings or control the legislative agendas- parties do. When someone says they vote for “the man,” not the party, they fail to understand the power and function of a caucus system in a legislative body. The Party in the majority controls appointments, Chairmanships, the agenda and countless other things through the caucus.
Third, party affiliation should be a matter of conviction, not convenience. Often, people align with a party so they can vote in primary elections or based on family tradition or geographies. Even candidates will align, file and run affiliated with a Party they have little philosophical agreement with. That decision is made out of convenience, not conviction. While no political party is perfect or has all the answers, there is a distinct difference between the two major parties and honest citizens should align with the Party that reflects their convictions.
The Democrat Party is more liberal than the Republican Party. Liberals believe in more government control of business, the environment and speech, using large bureaucratic programs to address real or perceived social ills and constant reinterpretation of the Constitution. Liberals are more inclined to trust government than the people themselves. They see the role of government as a great provider of goods and services and have little faith in the individual to solve his own problems.
Republicans are more conservative than Democrats. Conservatives believe in less government control of the environment and business. They want fewer and less comprehensive government programs to address real or perceived social ills. They believe in personal responsibility and trust individuals to make decisions for themselves. Republicans believe in a strict literal interpretation of the Constitution. A person should find out which of these philosophies best fits their view if they wish to actively participate in the political process.
Party affiliation is important. Washington’s prophecy has come to past, and political parties have been used to empower “unprincipled men,” on both sides of the aisle, but like it or not, political parties are a reality in our system of government. Each concerned citizen should evaluate the philosophy, values, beliefs and tenets of each Party and align their party affiliation accordingly.

FAIR AND BIASED

Monday, May 14, 2018

Not since Truman has the US showed this much courage in regard to Israel!

1 comment:

You can reach Steve by email at okgop@aol.com or call him at 580.252.6284.

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PARTY AFFILIATION IS IMPORTANT! by Steve Fair- written in 2009

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