I have finally gotten my hands on a copy of this book. It is out of print and the copies that are available are expensive to obtain. Since this is not my own copy, I may not mark or underline in it...I feel like I am reading with my hands tied. I will annotate this one as I go rather than waiting to finish the book before I record the passages that really stood out to me. This book is a collection of addresses given by Ezra Taft Benson. To those of us who have not been taught as we should have been, it is educational...it is heart-stirring...it is truth. These are warnings from nearly 50 years ago. It doesn't appear that these warnings have been heeded very well. I believe that the freedom of our country as we know it (and as we should have known it) it at stake. Perhaps it is not too late...in this the eleventh hour and fifty-ninth minute...if we will educate ourselves upon sound principles and truths and then act. We are all too apathetic...it only takes a little effort. One of the foundations of a free nation is a widely educated populace. How educated are we in the foundational principles of freedom? Do we know and understand what they are and why they work? Are we willing to defend them for ourselves and for our posterity? I am still trying to learn what I believe I should have been taught as a child...come along with me...
Chapter One: Americans Are Destroying America
(from and address given on April 6, 1968 LDS General Conference and also entered into the Congressional Record on April 22, 1968)
"The Constitution of the United States was prepared and adopted by courageous men acting under inspiration from the Almighty. It is a solemn contract between the peoples of the states of this nation which all officers of government are under duty to obey. The eternal moral laws expressed therein must be adhered to or individual liberty will perish." p. 4
(quoting Edmund Burke...English statesman) "Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition to put moral chains upon their own appetites. --in proportion as their love of justice is above their rapacity--in proportion as their soundness and sobriety and understanding is above their vanity and presumption--in proportion as they are more disposed to listen to the counsels of the wise and good, in preference to the flattery of knaves. Society cannot exist, unless a controlling power upon will and appetite be placed somewhere; and the less of it there is within, the more there must be without. It is ordained in the eternal constitution of things, that men of intemperate minds cannot be free. Their passions forge their fetters." p.5
"If American freedom is lost--if America is destroyed--if our blood-bought freedom is surrendered--it will be because of Americans. What's more, it will probably not be only the work of subversive and criminal Americans. The Benedict Arnolds will not be the only ones to forfeit our freedom."p.6
"At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected?" asked Abraham Lincoln, and answered, "If it ever reaches us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time, or die by suicide." p.6
"If America is destroyed, it may be by Americans who salute the flag, sing the national anthem, march in patriotic parades, cheer Fourth of July speakers--normally good Americans, but Americans who fail to comprehend what is required to keep our country strong and free. Americans who have been lulled away into a false security." p. 6
"Great nations are never conquered from outside unless they are rotten inside." p.6
Theodore Roosevelt said: "The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living and the get-rich-quick theory of life."
"Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women; when it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can save it." p.6 (footnote)
"The facts are clear. Our problem centers in Washington, D.C. And this applies to the administration of both political parties. In the words of James Madison, "Since the general civilization of mankind, I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power, than by violent and sudden usurpations." p.9
"If America is to withstand these influences and trends, there must be a renewal of the spirit of our forefathers, an appreciation of the American way of life, a strengthening of muscle and sinew and the character of the nation. America needs guts as well as guns. National character is the core of national defense." p. 10
(quoting Dean Alfange) "I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon. I seek opportunity to develop whatever talents God gave me--not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me. I want to succeed. I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the state of calm utopia. I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any earthly master nor bend to any threat. It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say--'This, with God's help, I have done.' All this is what it means to be an American." p.11
"It has been said that it takes something spectacular to get folks excited, like a burning house. NOBODY NOTICES ONE THAT IS SIMPLY DECAYING." p.11
(quoting the poet John Greenleaf Whittier)
Where's the manly spirit
Of the true-hearted and the unshackled gone?
Sons of old freemen, do we but inherit their names alone?
Is the old Pilgrim spirit quench'd within us?
Stoops the proud manhood of our souls so low,
That Mammon's lure or Party's while can win us to silence new?
Now when our land to ruin's brink is verging,
In God's name let us speak while there is time;
Now, when the padlocks for our lips is forging,
Silence is a Crime. (The Freeman, July 1967, p.413)
"Our priceless heritage is threatened today as never before in our lifetime..." p. 12
It was Alexander Hamilton who warned that: "Nothing is more common that for a free people, in times of heat and violence, to gratify momentary passions, but letting into the government, principles and precedents which afterwards prove fatal to themselves." p. 12
(quoting Thomas Paine)
"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it NOW, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain to cheap, we esteem too lightly; 'tis dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed, if so celestial and article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated." (The Political Works of Thomas Paine, p. 55)
(quoting General Douglas MacArther) "In this day of gathering storm, as the moral deterioration of political power spreads its growing infection, it is essential that every spiritual force be mobilized to defend and preserve the religious base upon which this nation was founded. For it is that base which has been the motivating impulse to our moral and national growth. History fails to record a single precedent in which nations subject to moral decay have not passed into political and economic decline. There has been either a spiritual reawakening to overcome the moral lapse, or a progressive deterioration leading to ultimate national disaster." (General Douglas MacArther, December 12, 1951; A Soldier Speaks, pp.285-286) p.13 (footnote)
(quoting Cicero) "...Law is not a product of human thought, nor is it any enactment of peoples, but something eternal which rules the whole universe by its wisdom in command and prohibition...Law is the primal and ultimate mind of God, whose reason directs all things..." (Cicero, Laws II, 8) p.13 (footnote)
Chapter Two: The Threat To Our Freedom
(from an address given on May 12, 1964 at a luncheon of the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany.)
"A great German once said "Truth must be repeated again and again because error is constantly being preached round about us." (Goethe) p. 15
George Washington stated, "Truth will ultimately prevail, where there are pains taken to bring it to light." p. 15
"Past material advances have been the fruit of our freedom--our free enterprise capitalistic system, our American way of life, our God-given freedom of choice. Progress of the future must stem from this same basic freedom." p.17
"Yes, the founders of our country bequeathed to us a heritage of freedom and unity that is our most priceless political possession. But to be enjoyed, freedom must be won continually. The major responsibility of government is to guard the lives and safeguard the freedom of its citizens. Yet even in the operation of government--especially big government--there are real dangers to our freedom." p. 18
"We must be aware of the price we pay when we place more and more of our lives in the hands of centralized government. We must realize what this trend, what these changes toward centralized power in government are doing to our free institutions." p. 18
(quoting Glover of Oxford University) "It is better for the development of character and contentment to do certain things badly yourself than to have them done better for you by someone else." p. 19
"It is high time we awakened to the dangers of excessive government in business, in education, in agriculture, and other segments of our economy. It is time we realized the perils of too great a centralization of power, and too much dependence on public agencies." p. 19
"We must not forget that nations may--and usually do--sow the seeds of their own destruction while enjoying unprecedented prosperity." p. 19
"We have seen in the past quarter century a tremendous shift from individual to governmental responsibility in many phases of economic and social life. We have seen a rapid shift of responsibility from the states to the federal government." p.21
"The indebtedness of our country exceeds the combined indebtedness of all other countries." p.21
"Fighting first a prolonged depression and then a devastating war was used as an excuse to shift undue responsibility to the federal government. The shrinking of time and distance and the growing interdependence of our economic lives have been used as a guise to centralize more authority at the national capital. This has in it real danger." p. 21
"...sooner or later, the accumulation of power in a central government leads to a loss of freedom. Once power is concentrated, even for helpful purposes, it is all there, in one package, where it can be grabbed by those who may not be helpful in its use. If power is diffused, this cannot happen. This is why the founders of our country carefully divided power between the state and federal levels." p. 21-22
"The framers of our Constitution knew that many forces work toward the concentration of power at the federal level...Raids on the treasury can be all too rapidly accomplished by and organized few over the feeble protests of an apathetic majority." p.22
"The history of all mankind shows very clearly that if we would be free--and if we would stay free--we must stand eternal watch against the accumulation of too much power in government." p. 22
"The drift toward centralization of power is not inevitable. It can be slowed down, halted, reversed. How? By state and local governments insisting that theirs is the responsibility for problems that are essentially local and state problems--insisting upon this, with the knowledge that responsibility and authority go hand in hand." p. 23
"The people come to look to the federal government as the provider, at no cost to them, of whatever is needful. The truth is that the federal government has no funds which it does not first, in some manner, take from the people." p.23
"George Washington said: 'Government is not reason, it is not eloquence--it is force! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master:" "It is hardly lack of due process,"said the supreme court, "for the government to regulate what it subsidizes." We must ever remember that a planned and subsidized economy weakens initiative, discourages industry, destroys character, and demoralizes the people." p.24
"These abundant blessings have come to us through an economic system which rests largely on three pillars:
1. Free enterprise . . . the right to venture . . . the right to choose.
2. Private property . . . the right to own.
3. A market economy . . . the right to exchange. (p.24)
"Yet, these basic American beliefs, principles, and attitudes are threatened today as never before.
By whom are they threatened? These basic concepts are threatened by three groups:
1. They are threatened by well-meaning but uninformed people who see the shortcomings of our economic system and believe they can legislate them out of existence. They try to reach the promised land by passing laws. They do not understand our economic system and its limitations. They would load it down with burdens it was never intended to carry. As their schemes begin to break down, more and more controls must be supplied. Patch is placed upon patch, regulation is added to regulation and ultimately, by degree, freedom is lost--with or without our desiring to lose it and without our knowing why or how it was lost.
2. Our heritage of freedom is threatened by another group--self-seeking men who see in government ligislation a way to obtain special privileges for themselves or to restrain their competitors. They use demagoguery as a smokescreen to deceive. These people have no love for freedom or enterprise. The would bargain away their birthright for a mess of pottage. They would learn the value of freedom only after it was gone.
3. A third, still much smaller group is dedicated to the overthrow of the economic and social system that is our tradition. Their philosophy does not stem from Jefferson, but is foreign to our shores. It is a total philosophy of life, atheistic, and utterly opposed to all that we hold dear as a great Christian nation. These men understand our system thoroughly--and they hate it thoroughly. They enlist innocent but willing followers from the uninformed and the unprincipled. Through rabble-rousing and demagoguery they play upon the economic reverses and hardships of the unsuspecting. They promise the impossible, and call black white, an mislead with fallacies masqueraded as truth.
If we lose our freedom, it will be to this strange and unlike coalition of the well-intentioned, the slothful, and the subversives.
It will be because we did not care enough--because we were not alert enough--because we were too apathetic to take note while the precious waters of our God-given freedom slipped--drop by drop--down the drain." p. 25
"In this struggle it is not enough to be right--we must put strength and action back of that which is right." p.27
"It is my firm conviction that the Constitution of the U.S. was established by men whom the God of heaven raised up unto this very purpose. This is part of my religious faith." p. 28
Chapter Three: Stand Up For Freedom (from an address first given on Feb. 11, 1966 at the Utah Forum for the American Idea, in the assembly hall on Temple Square)
"Another recent development has been the call for national unity. I believe there needs to be a unity in our land. But it must not be a blind, senseless, irresponsible unity. It should not be unity just for the sake of unity. It needs to be a unity build on sound principles." p. 34
"In other words, there are some legitimate functions and services which the federal government can and should provide, but those who want the federal power to exceed the authority delegated to it by the Constitution will be resisted by both Democrats and Republicans." p. 35
"What country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance?" (Thomas Jefferson) (footnote p. 35)
"Why is it that men in high places in government, regardless of party, have been deceived? I am convinced that a major part of the cause can be justly laid at the door of the socialist-communist conspiracy which is led by masters of deceit who deceive the very elect." p.36
"I believe one of the most serious mistakes a President could make would be to weaken the Constitution." p. 37
"From the time I was a small boy I was taught that the American Constitution is an inspired document. I was also taught that the day will come when the Constitution will hang as it were by a single thread. I was taught that we should study the Constitution, preserve its principles, and defend it against any who would destroy it." p. 37
"I, of course, also believe that the institutions of church and state should be separated, but I also do not agree that spiritual leaders cannot comment on basic issues which involve the very foundation of American liberty." p. 37
"I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty towards the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings." (footnote) p. 37
"Speaking out against immoral or unjust actions of political leaders has been the burden of prophets and disciples of God from time immemorial. It was for this very reason that many of them were persecuted. Some of them were burned, many were imprisoned. Nevertheless, it was their God-given task, as watchmen on the towers, to speak up. It is certainly no different today." p.38
"We hold that our loyalty is due solely to the American Republic, and to all our public servants exactly in
proportion as they efficiently serve the Republic. ...Every man who parrots the cry of 'stand by the President' without adding the proviso 'so far as he serves the Republic' takes an attitude as essentially unmanly as that of any Stuart royalist who championed the doctrine that the king could do no wrong. No self-respecting and intelligent freeman could take such an attitude." (Theordore Roosevelt) p. 30 footnote
"One of our most serious problems is the inferiority complex which people feel when they are not informed or organized. They dare not make a decision on these vital issues. They let other people think for them. They stumble around in the middle of the road to avoid being "controversial" and get hit by traffic going both ways." p. 45
"To the patriots I say this: Take that long eternal look. Stand up for freedom, no matter what the cost. It may help to save your soul--and maybe your country." p. 45
"May God give us the wisdom to recognize the dangers of complacency, the threat to our freedom and the strength to meet this danger courageously. . . .
In this mighty struggle each of you has a part. Every person on the earth today chose the right side during the war in heaven. Be on the right side now. Stand up and be counted. If you get discouraged remember the words of Edward Everett Hale, when he said:
"I am only one, but still I am one.
I cannot do everything, but still I can do something;
And because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do." p. 45
Chapter Four: Strength For the Battle
(from and address given July 4, 1966 at the New England Rally for God, Family, and Country, Boston MA.)
"Those who fail to cherish the noble deeds of their forefathers will never do much, for good, to be remembered by their posterity." p. 46
"President David O. McKay, of the Mormon Church, has warned us time and time again that there is present in our own United States, "influences the avowed object of which is to sow discord and contention among men with a view of undermining, weakening, if not entirely destroying our Constitutional form of government. . . . It is the enemy from within," warns this great leader, "that is most menacing, especially when it threatens to disintegrate our established form of government." p.50
"It is our own ignorance--ignorance of our own history and our heritage of liberty that threatens us. . . . Our lack of faith in freedom and in ourselves, our lack of confidence in the greatness of America and all that she stands for morally and materially is what puts us in mortal danger." (quoting from Indianapolis Star) p. 51
"I have great faith in the American people. When fully informed they will make wise decisions. They will stand up and be counted for what is right." p. 52
"I am a firm believer in the people. If given truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts." -Abraham Lincoln p. 52 footnote
"But today the Christian constitutionalist mourns for his country. He sees the spiritual and political faith of his fathers betrayed by wolves in sheep's clothing. He sees the forces of evil increasing in strength and momentum under the leadership of Satan, the archenemy of freedom. He sees the wicked honored and the valiant abused. He senses that his own generation faces Gethsemanes and Valley Forges that may yet rival or surpass the trials of the early apostles and the men of '76. And this gives him cause to reflect on the most basic of fundamentals--the reason for our existence. Once we understand that fundamental, the purpose of mortality, we may more easily chart a correct course in the perilous seas that are engulfing our nation." p. 53
"Because the fight for freedom is God's fight. For free agency is an eternal principle. It existed before the world was formed--it will exist forever. Some men succeed in denying some aspects of God-given freedom to their fellowmen, but their success is temporary. For freedom is a law of God, a permanent law. And, like any of God's laws, men cannot really break it with impunity. They can only break themselves upon it. So when a man stands for freedom he stands with God. And as long as he stands for freedom he stands with God. And were he to stand alone he would still stand with God--the best company and the greatest power in or out of this world. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty; and because truth is eternal, any man will be eternally vindicated and rewarded for his stand for freedom." p.55
"Now being assured that freedom is a God-given principle that will triumph finally and eternally, there yet remains the crucial question: Can freedom triumph now? But the answer to that hangs on the answer to a yet more crucial question: What are we doing to keep freedom alive? For the answer to that first question--Can freedom triumph now?--you see, is speculative. But the answer to the second question--What are we doing to keep freedom alive?--has riding on it matters which will have eternal consequence to every soul, not matter what the temporary outcome; for the Lord has so endowed this matter of freedom with such everlasting repercussions that it sifted the spirits of men before this world in the Great War in heaven. And it seems today to be the central issue that is sifting those who are left in the world." p. 55
"Men receive blessings by obedience to God's law. And without obedience there is no blessing. Before the final triumphal return of the Lord, the question as to whether we may save our Constitutional Republic is simply based on two factors--the number of patriots and the extent of their obedience. That the Lord desires to save this nation which he raised up there is no doubt. But that he leaves it up to us, with his help, is the awful reality." p. 55
"Certainly spirituality is the foundation upon which any battle against tyranny must be waged." p.56
"The least any Christian can do is to daily study the word of the Lord and seek divine aid through daily prayer." p. 56
"Mothers, train up your children in righteousness. Do not attempt to save the world and let your own fireside fall apart." p. 56
"The home is the rock foundation--the cornerstone of civilization. This nation will never rise above its homes. The church, the school, and even the nation stand helpless before weakened and degraded homes." p. 56
"No one can delegate his duty to preserve his freedom, for the price of liberty is still eternal vigilance." p. 57
"An ounce of energy in the preservation of freedom is worth a ton of effort to get it back once it is lost." p. 57
"How a person should apportion his time among his several duties requires good judgment and is a matter over which each should invite divine assistance." p. 57
"Today you cannot effectively fight for freedom and not be attacked--and those who think they can are deceiving themselves. While I do not believe in stepping out of the path of duty to pick up a cross I don't need, a man is a coward who refuses to pick up a cross that clearly lies within his path." p.58
"A man must not only stand for the right principles, but he must fight for them." p. 58
"We must each of us do our homework. "My people are destroyed," said Hosea, "for lack of knowledge." (Hosea 4:6) We must be wise as serpents; for as the Apostle Paul said, "We wrestle against the rulers of darkness, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12) We are going through what J. Reuben Clark once termed the greatest propaganda campaign of all time. We cannot believe all we read, and what we can believe is not all of the same value. We must sift. We must learn by study and prayer." p.58
"Study the scriptures an study the mortals who have been most consistently accurate about the most important things. When your freedom is at stake, your information had best be accurate." p. 59
"Righteous concern about conditions is commendable when it leads to constructive action. But undue worry is debilitating. When we have done all we can, then let's leave the rest to God--including the worrying. Man needs beneficial recreation, a change of pace that refreshes him for heavy tasks ahead. Man also must take time to meditate, to sweep the cobwebs from his mind so that he might get a more firm grip on the truth and spend less time chasing phantoms and dallying in projects of lesser worth." p.59
"Finally, BE PREPARED. We have a duty to survive, not only spiritually but physically. Not survival at the cost of principles--for this is the surest way to defeat--but a survival that comes from intelligent preparation." p. 59
"Let us go about our business. For any Christian constitutionalist who retreats from this battle jeopardizes his life here and hereafter. Seldom has so much responsibility hung on so few, so heavily; but our numbers are increasing, and we who have been warned have a responsibility to warn our neighbor." p.60
"...time is on the side of truth and the wave of the future is freedom. There is no question of the eventual, final, and lasting triumph of righteousness. The major question for each of us is what part will we play in helping to bring it to pass." p. 60
"There are some people who hesitate to get into this fight for freedom because it is controversial, or they're not sure if we're going to win. Such people have two blind spots. First, they fail to realize that life's decisions should be based on principles--not on Gallup polls. ...After all, the basic purpose of life is to prove ourselves--not to be with the majority when it is wrong." " ...the second blind spot of those who hesitate to get into the fight. And that is their failure to realize that we will win in the long run, and for keeps, and that they pass up great blessings by not getting into the battle now when the odds are against us and the rewards are greatest." p. 61
Chapter Five: Trade and Treason
(first given on Feb. 17, 1967 at the Portland Forum for Americanism. Entered into the Congressional Record on Mar. 14, 1967)
This chapter is a speech in which Benson points out the betrayal of our political leaders during the Vietnam war as they built up and traded with Russia who then supplied Vietnam to arm against us. How often have our leaders done this! They still do so today. We continually build up and feed the monsters that become our enemies...even while we are fighting them. It is senseless...I can see why this chapter is labeled as it is.
"The economic significance of this aid to our enemies is overshadowed by its moral meaning. Our actions and policies towards communism reflect the extent of subversion within our own government, our incredible confusion, indecision, and even cowardice. We tremendously overrate the productivity of communism and lack faith in the values we defend. We are weak intellectually and morally. In our confusion we are betraying the intellectual and moral heritage of the West." (Italics added)
This paragraph really popped out at me. And perhaps because I am studying Isaiah right now and trying to understand, this verse came to mind from Isaiah 2:6 (or 2 Nephi 12:6) "Therefore, O Lord, thou hast forsaken thy people, the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and hearken unto soothsayers like the Philistines and they please themselves in the children of strangers." The footnote for "be replenished" in Isaiah 2:6 says "are filled, supplied with teachings, alien beliefs".
Perhaps Isaiah is referring (at least in part) to just this political circumstance.
"I challenge the fathers and husbands of this nation. Gentlemen, who is to restore honor, honesty, virtue, integrity, and loyalty to our way of life? We, as fathers and husbands, are the real leaders of our civilization--of our nation. We are responsible if the blight on its glory is not removed. Gentlemen, let our cry be: "I shall become and remain a man of principle. I shall lead my family, my friends, my community and my nation also in the way of principle and not of expediency. I will defend my freedom and the freedom of my fellow men. I will raise my head high and look every man in the eye unashamed of my defense of that which is good." p. 86
Chapter 6: It Can Happen Here
(given Feb. 28, 1966 at a meeting sponsored by the American Wake Up Committee in St. Louis Missori)
"The courts of the United States have stated the following acts to be treasonable: The use or attempted use of any force or violence against the Government of the United States, or its military or naval forces; the acquisition, use or disposal of any property with the knowledge that it is to be, or with intent that it shall be, of assistance to the enemy in their hostilities against the United States; the performance of any act or the publication of statements or information which will give or supply in any way, aid and comfort to the enemies of the United States; the direction, aiding, counseling, or countenancing of any of the foregoing acts; such acts are held to be treasonable whether committed within the United States or elsewhere; whether committed by a citizen of the Untied States, or by an alien domiciled, or residing, in the United States, inasmuch as resident aliens, as well as citizens, owe allegiance to the United States and its laws." (footnote) p. 81 (Proclamation issued on April 16, 1917 by President Woodrow Wilson)
"It seems almost unbelievable that an average of 52 million liberty-loving people could be brought under communist bondage each and every year since World War II. Why this shocking record? How could this happen? How can men, many of them in high places, who seem to be so strong for Christian principles and basic American concepts be so effectively used to serve the communist conspiracy? How can our own people be lulled away into a false security crying, "All is well"?
I believe the answer is found in the fact that these godless communist conspirators and their gullible fellow travelers are masters of deceit--who deceive the very elect. Then, too, it has never happened here. We have always enjoyed freedom. Our liberty has never been seriously endangered in our lifetime. It can't happen here, we say. I say to you, it can happen here. It is happening here. In our comfortable complacency it is really happening here--now." p.88
(quoting J. Edgar Hoover) "I confess to a real apprehension so long as communists are able to secure ministers of the gospel to promote their evil work and espouse a cause that is alien to the religion of Christ and Judaism. I do fear so long as school boards and parents tolerate conditions whereby communists and fellow travelers under the guise of academic freedom can teach our youth a way of life that eventually will destroy the sanctity of the home, that undermines faith in God, that causes them to scorn respect for constituted authority and sabotage our revered Constitution." p.90
"Our complacency as a nation is shocking--yes, almost unbelievable!
We are a prosperous nation. Our people have high-paying jobs. Our incomes are high. Our standard of living is at an unprecedented level. we do not like to be disturbed as we enjoy our comfortable complacency. We live in the soft present and feel the future is secure. We do not worry about history. We seem oblivious to the causes of the rise and fall of nations. We are blind to the hard fact that nations usually sow the seeds of their own destruction while enjoying unprecedented prosperity.
I say to you with all the fervor of my soul: We are sowing the seeds of our own destruction in America and much of the free world today. It is my sober warning to you today that if the trends of the past thirty years--and especially the past five years--continue, we will lose that which is as priceless as life itself--our freedom--our liberty--our right to act as free men. It can happen here. It is happening here.
Our greatest need in America today is to be alerted and informed." p.90
"The sad shocking story of what has happened in America in recent years must be told. Our people must have the facts. There is safety in an informed public. There is real danger in a complacent, uninformed citizenry. This is our real danger today. Yes, the truth must be told even at the risk of destroying, in large measure, the influence of men who are widely respected and loved by the American people. The stakes are high. Freedom and survival is the issue." p. 91
Lenin died in 1924. But before he died, he had laid down for his followers the strategy for conquest. It was, we should readily admit, brilliant, far-seeing, realistic, and majestically simple. It has been paraphrased and summarized as follows:
First, we will take Eastern Europe,
Then the masses of Asia,
Then we will encircle the United States, which will be the last bastion of capitalism.
We will not have to attack. It will fall like an overripe fruit into our hands." p. 92-93
The next two pages briefly show how the first two objectives have been systematically achieved...and with American aid! Chilling to me! Are we an overripe complacent fruit??
"Sovereignty for a nation is hard to come by and even more difficult to retain. It cannot be shared for then sovereignty becomes something else, and for want of a better word, when sovereignty is lessened the end-product is internationalism. Sovereignty is neither more nor less than self-government. And American self-government is blue-printed in the Constitution--a document which with the Declaration of Independence and the several state constitutions, is anything but pragmatic in letter and spirit. Such a government with its recognition of human rights--ordained by God--cannot help but be contaminated by an association with pragmatic governmental leaders, no matter what their country." p. 99-100
"As, and if, we move toward that condition [communism/socialism] there will be gradual loss of our freedom, an increase of the inducements for the acceptance of communism, and a corresponding increase of the pressures to destroy or remove all opponents and all opposition to the communist advance.
There would be a further huge expansion of government and of its control over our economy, education, medical services (italics added) , and every detail of our family and individual lives." p. 106
What does America look like now?
"There are three possible methods by which the communists might take us over. One would be through a sufficient amount of infiltration and propaganda, to disguise communism as just another political party.
The second method would be by fomenting internal civil war in this country and aiding the communists' side in that war with all necessary military might.
The third method would be a slow insidious infiltration resulting in a take-over without the American people realizing it." p. 108-109
Looks like number three to me...with possibly some of number one thrown in...in both political parties.
"The tyrant overthrows the whole...constitution, not by seizing any new powers, but by his misuse of the powers he already possesses." (Cicero) footnote p. 110
"We can no more save our Republic from communism, merely by saying we are against communism, than parents can save their children from polio by fervently being against polio. To conquer any disease requires intelligent study to isolate the germ and discover the vaccine. As the number one killer in the world today, communism is a disease which merits our urgent study." p. 111 footnote
"The only thing which can possibly stop the communists is for the American people to learn the truth in time--to become alerted and informed, to join with neighbors in effective programs of exposure and opposition. The one effective weapon is truth. It is the truth they fear. It is the truth that can defeat this godless conspiracy." p.111
"As has been well said, this is a world-wide battle, the first of its kind in history, between light and darkness; between freedom and slavery; between the spirit of Christianity and the spirit of anti-Christ for the souls and bodies of men. Let's win the battle by alertness, by determination, by courage, by an energizing realization of the danger, if we can; but let's win it even with our lives, if the time comes that we must." p.112
Chapter Seven: The Erosion of America
(May 13, 1968 at the Annual Boy Scouts Banquet in Commerce, Texas)
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