Hold on to Your Joy

I don’t know about you but I have to fight to hold on to peace and joy.  A friend brought me a gift yesterday as a memento of her trip to celebrate St. Joseph’s Feast Day with her family. I prayed this morning than opened it for encouragement.  Here is the answer to my prayer:

Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise me, in this I will be confident.

One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.

For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His Tabernacle He shall hide me; He sall set me high upon a rock.

And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing; yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.  When You said, “seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.” Psalm 27:3-8

This is all the more meaningful to me because I did an oil painting of the face of Christ and it hangs near my desk.  I do gaze on Him throughout the day.  Sometimes, like today, I need a reminder.

Troop Support? Obama/ Napolitano Flops!

We are no longer fighting the real enemy, TERRORISM.  The present administration is vilifying those who serve our country with its new hit piece- the DHS document Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment

“The possible passage of new restrictions on firearms and the return of
military veterans facing significant challenges reintegrating into their communities could lead to the potential emergence of terrorist groups or lone wolf extremists capable of carrying out violent attacks.”

Ed Morrissey reports: American Legion to Napolitano: Apologize

Of all the smears listed in the new DHS warning about “right-wing extremism,” none are more dastardly and despicable than the insinuation that returning military veterans represent a security threat to the nation they willingly served. The Commander of the American Legion has sent the following letter to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano explaining to her that military veterans are not the enemy

10th Amendment

The Tenth Amendment

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

10th Amendment Center give us these as well:

10th Amendment Resolution Introduced in Wisconsin

Pleading the 10th in Georgia
Serving Notice in New Mexico
Sovereignty for Ohio
Alaska Resolution: Sovereignty Under the 10th Amendment
Michigan: The Confines and Original Intent

Scapegoat in the Making – DHS Document

President Obama needs a scapegoat.  He is in the process of creating one with the help of Janet Napolitano.  George W. Bush worked for a while but Obama needs a handy underdog not unlike Hitler needing social unrest and the Jews.  The DHS document is a wake up call.  It smacks of the same sardonic mentality and underhanded efforts to stereotype veterans as were operative in the production of the Pennsylvania State University (video below).   The admittedly unsubstantiated document targets various conservative segments of the population that have legitimate grievances with the current administration.

Roger Hedgecock who first covered the story wrote,

“The report linked people holding conservative views on immigration, abortion, the U.N., the New World Order, etc., to dangerous and violent “militias” that Missouri law enforcement were instructed to be on guard against. Conservative opinions were demonized and made the subject of law enforcement scrutiny.”

Liberty Paper’s Stephen Gordon also early writing:

“Also targeted in the report are veterans, folks anticipating additional restrictions to their Second Amendment rights, and those concerned about the loss of U.S. sovereignty.

This report implies that one harboring these sorts of views is a racist as well as a potential terrorism suspect.”

Michelle Malkin called the document “one of the most embarrassingly shoddy pieces of propaganda I’d ever read out of DHS. I couldn’t believe it was real.”

Ed Morrisey calls it  “The execrable DHS report on “right-wing extremism”

The Anchoress thinks “DHS Documents picking a fight”

Jim Blazsik  has a Warning: If you are a pro-life conservative, you may be considered an enemy of the State.”

The “report”: Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment…. (PDF file here).  The report state it has no specific information that domestic rightwing terrorist are currently planning acts of violence but it say rightwing extremists may be gaining new recruits by playing on their fears. It points to returning veterans as possible perpetrators of violence.

Happy Easter Rescue – Happy Outcome

Breaking News of great joy on this Easter Day.  Foxnews is reporting the rescue of Martine captain:

American sea Captain Richard Phillips was safely rescued Sunday from four Somali pirates, who had been holding him for days in a lifeboat off the coast of Africa, a U.S. intelligence official said.

Three of the pirates were killed and one was in custody after what appeared to be a swift firefight off the Somali coast, the official said.

Initial reports indicate Phillips jumped overboard for a second time and the military was able to take advantage of the situation.

Ed Morrisey writes:

Looks like we brought three of them to justice.  The fourth will get more protection than he deserves, but at least we’ve freed the captain and delivered something of a message.  We’re not going to let pirates run free, and if “elders” think we will, they found out differently today.

Update: Second time’s the charm.  Phillips jumped overboard again, and this time, the Navy was ready to take out the pirates.  Great work, Navy!

Glenn Reynolds writes:

PIRATE UPDATE: Official: US sea captain freed in swift firefight. About time. But though this may take the current story off the news, it doesn’t really solve the underlying problem.

UPDATE: Related: “Great news, and — yes, I’ll say it — tip o’ the hat to President Obama for signing off on the mission. Now I have two questions. What will we do with the prisoner? Do we believe that this action is sufficient to restore deterrence against piracy?” Indeed.

Vatican Rumor -No to Caroline Kennedy Appointment

Carolyn Kennedy must be getting used to rejection.  She’s had her share lately and I guess she’s earned it on her own.  The latest AllahPundit reports: Vatican Rejects Fairytale Princess:

Vatican sources told Il Giornale that their support for abortion disqualified Ms Kennedy and other Roman Catholics President Barack Obama had been seeking to appoint…

The Italian paper said that the Vatican strongly disapproved of Mr Obama’s support for abortion and stem cell research. The impasse over the ambassadorial appointment threatens to cloud his meeting with the Pope during a G8 summit in Italy in July.