Saw the movie Last Ounce of Courage today. I don't want to include any spoilers here, but I will say it was inspiring, encouraging, and contained a really great message!! The description of the movie at the movie guide site link does not really do it justice.
Click here at Stand U.S.A. to see a clip of the movie. That site has a better description. Although the movie does concentrate on the issue of Christmas, it more about individuals taking a stand (no matter the cost) to protect our freedoms.
The fact that the issue of being able to freely celebrate Christmas or display Christian symbols in a town, outside your own home, at a soup kitchen, or even in a school play are several examples of how creeping secularism is attempting to destroy MANY of our freedoms, one by one. There are those who, though they are most affected by it all, unfortunately just sit and take it.
Great song at the end! Gave me goosebumps! I would highly recommend this movie. Bring some tissues. I plan to purchase and read the book, too.
~ Christine
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7 comments:
Being able to freely celebrate Christmas is not an issue. I know of nowhere in the USA where Christmas is banned, and I'll bet you don't either. Are you telling me that someone can't plant a Xmas display on their own lawn (if they have one)?
A soup kitchen might be a different matter. Even if it's church-run, if that church accepts government funds, they cannot proselytize, because that would imply that the government endorses that particular religion or sect. (You know, like sharia law.) If an indigent Catholic attends a soup kitchen in a predominantly Methodist community, should he have to hear doctrine he disagrees with in order to be fed?
I don't understand 'creeping secularism' in a school play...unless it's a play about, say, Galileo.
You said it yourself: “There are those who, though they are most affected by it all, unfortunately just sit and take it.” That would include that giant cross on Mt. Soledad, right? There aren't supposed to be any sectarian symbols on Federal land. What does that cross imply—that only Christians are good enough to be memorialized up there? If it had been a giant crucifix, it would be just as sectarian—and a good deal more obvious. In this country, government is supposed to be officially neutral toward religion; yet God's name is on our money, he got shoehorned into the Pledge of Allegiance, no politician dares to end a speech without asking for him. Where IS this 'creeping secularism' that's got you so upset?
GM,
There are dozens of examples where an atheist/secularist etc. "complained" about any type of Christian display. Yet, the "free speech" of so-called "artists" who create a crucifix dipped in urine are protected by the ACLU and their ilk. What is wrong with that picture?
The creeping secularism started long ago, but was accelerrated by a particular law signed by Lyndon Johnson that threatened to take away the tax exemption status of churches if pastors, preachers, and/or priests discuss political issues from the pulpit. THAT is a DIRECT offense against the 1st Amendment! But the churches didn't want to lose their tax exempt status, so they let the creeping secularism dictate to them what they could and could not do (or say).
There is a growing movement that has been happening over the past 3 (?) years (I think) where clergy ignore the "risk" and preach biblical principles - even if it involves political issues - from the pulpit. It is like they are proclaiming, "come and get us" to the IRS. You can read about Pulpit Freedom Sunday which is coming up on October 2, 2012. Each year, hundreds more (perhaps thousands by now) pastors are participating.
I chuckled when your comment reminded me about the school play scene in the movie. What the school play director wanted the students to do in the play was absolutely hilarious! In fact, it was even mockingly funny. Don't want to give away too much information here because what ends up happening is one of the greatest moments in the movie.
People in the theatre cried, laughed, and cheered this movie. But knowing how you think, GM, you probably would not like it.
P.S. Christmas is not only a religious holiday, it is also a national holiday. Look up the facts.
Oops...wrote wrong date but this gives me the opportunity to include the main website. Pulpit Freedom Sunday is on October 7, 2012.
Hey little lady. I sit here and just shake my head at the asinine reasoning of Mr. Pilot. He not only doesn't know U.S. history, he has no understanding of the so called 'separation of church and state' idea.
Briefly, because I'm not in the mood to deal with absurdity ... When America was founded, the idea of "separation of church and state" was to keep the govenment out of the church ... not God out of the government. "Separation of church and state" ... "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ...." was not meant to have a wholly secular government. According to Mr. Pilot, Obama's abomoinable health care bill forces the church to provide birth control, contraceptives, etc to people that may be employed within that group, which is against the practiced faith of that particular sect. ... what gives Obama the authority to force any religious body to do anything? (except to refrain from violating the law in cases of murder, rape, robbery, etc)
Finally the phrase "separation of church and state" is no where in the constitution. Secularists took something Thomas Jefferson said ("A wall of separation between church and state") and manipulated that so far out of context ... creating people like Mr. Pilot.
Let's see what George Washington had to say about it. From his Farewell Address to the Congress and the American people:
„Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labour to subvert these great Pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men & citizens. The mere Politican, equally with the pious man ought to respect & to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private & public felicity. Let it simply be asked where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the Oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure--reason & experience both forbid us to expect that National morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle. 'Tis substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule indeed extends with more or less force to every species of Free Government. Who that is a sincere friend to it, can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric.“
Hey Mr. Steve!
Thanks so much for posting that great quote from George Washington! Wonderful words of wisdom from our first president which are soarly lacking from our current one!
I think I might utilize that quote in an upcoming post.
I have been reading a book from the early 1980's called "America's Dates With Destiny." It was written by Pat Robertson [who has, unfortunately, become a bit forgetful (or perhaps senile?)] lately. But this book has been a good history lesson for me. I recently read about a gathering of Christian believers - from all denominations - on the Mall in Washington D.C. on April 29, 1980. Over half a million attended. The main purpose was to pray. It was a march on Washington to present a mandate to return to our Judeo-Christian roots.
I'm leaving out a lot of details here, but the next chapter is entitled, "The Inauguration of Ronald Reagan" on January 20, 1981.
Is it just a coincidence that all that prayer brought us Reagan into the presidency?
Our nation sorely needs another Ronald Reagan! I don't know if Mitt Romney will be that person, but he would still be light years better than Obama!
Gotta run. Thanks again for your input here - really appreciate it my friend!
If the producers of Last Ounce of Courage had been interested in creating an authentic drama, rather than a risible work of militarist agitprop, they could have told the story of Rev. Clarence Waldron, a theologically conservative Christian whose real-life sufferings were at once similar to, and much worse than, those experienced by the fictional Mayor Bob Revere.
In October 1917, the execrable Woodrow Wilson, had managed to maneuver the U.S. into World War I, commanded churches across the nation to commemorate an event called "Liberty Loan Sunday," during which collection plates would be circulated to gather a war offering on behalf of the government.
At the time, Waldron was pastor of the First Baptist Church in Windsor, Vermont. Like many other theologically conservative Protestants, Waldron was devoutly opposed to American involvement in the European war.
To his eternal credit, Waldron defied Wilson’s demand that he decorate the sanctuary of his church in the imperial colors and sing the "Star-Spangled Banner." Rather than offering a homily on the supposed virtues of state-licensed murder, Waldron preached the Christian gospel. The offering taken in his congregation was used to provide for the ministry and the needs of the poor.
The consequences for Waldron’s peaceful non-cooperation were swift, predictable, and severe.
As Vermont historian Mark Bushnell relates, following the service a mob swarmed Waldron in front of the church and forced him to swaddle himself in the flag and sing the National Anthem.
Shortly thereafter, Waldron was evicted from his position as pastor, in large measure because of suspicions regarding his "loyalty" to the "god" revered by adherents of the Social Gospel – the American State.
In December 1917, Waldron – who had never committed a crime against anybody – was indicted by a federal grand jury for violating the Espionage Act. Passed the previous June, that measure imposed prison terms of up to 20 years for any act or statement perceived as willfully obstructing "the recruiting or enlistment service of the U.S."
The specification against Waldron was that "he had once been heard to say 'to hell with patriotism.'" As Waldron admitted on the stand, he had uttered those words – in condemnation of Kaiser Wilhelm's regime in Germany.
"If this is patriotism," a disgusted Waldron had told his acquaintances after describing Wilhelmine Germany, "to hell with patriotism."
Waldron was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison, eventually serving a little more than a year behind bars. Of the roughly 1,000 Americans convicted under the World War I Espionage and Sedition Acts, Waldron was the first to be imprisoned exclusively for his religious beliefs.
Hello Darren,
I apologize for the late response. In Sept., I was caring for my elderly mother and didn't efficiently keep up with comments here at my blog.
Perhaps Rev. Clarence Waldron's story should be told in a movie version. I would go see it! There is so much junk on T.V. and in the movies over the past decade that I infrequently go to the cinema. Lincoln was a great film and I'm glad I saw it. However, I was surprised by all the commercials that are broadcast in theaters these days - ugh!
I was never a fan of Woodrow Wilson, and I'm certainly not a fan of wars. However, from what I gather from history, Wilson was reluctant to go to war at first and struggled for three years about it.
Quote from WW:
"It is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful people into war, into the most terrible and disastrous of all wars, civilization itself seeming to be in the balance. But the right is more precious than peace, and we shall fight for the things we have always carried closest to our hearts...to such a task we can dedicate our lives and our fortunes...with the pride of those who know that the day has come when America is privileged to spend her blood and her might for the principles that gave her birth and happiness and the peace which she has treasured."
I have read that he ended up sobbing like a child afterwards. He weeped for the loss of old world dreams and values. But the free world was fighting for its life, and the United States would join that just cause.
America looked on in shock as the European powers plunged the world into global conflict. Turkey and Bulgaria joined the Central Power: Germany and Austria-Hungary. Italy and eventually Greece, Portugal, Romania, and Japan joined the Tripel Entente: Great Britain, France, and Russia. Wilson asked Congress to join the Allies in an all-out world war against the central powers.
Wilson (reluctantly) went to war precisely because he wanted to make the world "safe for democracy." In his speech at the time he reminded the audience of sinking of the British liner Lusitanis in the Irish Sea on May 7, 1915, causing the deaths of 1,198 people including 124 Americans. German subs, in their attempts to blockade England, had not discriminated between military and civilian shipping. And The Central Powers were waging a bloody land war against civilians and soldiers alike.
Wilson said, "Property can be paid for; the lives of peaceful and innocent people cannot be....The wrongs against which we now array ourselves are no common wrongs; they cut to the very roots of human life."
The fact that Waldron was imprisoned for his religious beliefs was wrong, of course. But a leftist president (we are seeing it again with Obama) usually does such things and their mantra during Bush's presidency (i.e. "dissent is the highest form of patriotism") went out the window when their secular commie/Islamo-fascist supporting "messiah" BHO ILLEGALLY became pResident of the White House. But that's another story.
Thank you for stopping by - way back in September - and for sharing the story about Rev. Waldron.
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