The Primary Season is upon us and in full swing.
When going to vote for a candidate for the President of the United States, it doesn't matter which party you are identifying with, what matters is that you are voting. Pick a candidate that best covers what you want in a President and ask questions and do research on that candidate. Ask why they want the job, who are they, what type of life and qualifications do they possess, where are their morals based upon and look at their standing on important issues.
Check to see who is backing and supporting this person. Are these backers wanting favors later? Do you see problems with those who lobby for them? Are there serious issues with their demeanor?
Just remember that whomever you pick to vote for in the primary can possibly and ultimately become the next President of the United States after the election in November. Please do some serious thinking on the future of this nation that has been through so much and needs to gain further momentum into a new era for our country. Hopefully, this nation will move further to the side of right and gain more moral fiber to itself instead of being lead by a handful who have squandered the life from our nation.
Remember also it doesn't matter if you are Democrat, Republican, Independent, or Libertarian all these titles will not make the person. The person is whom is inside and lives and breathes just as you do. Please above all get out and vote if you are registered because it is your right to do so and that is the way to make changes in the status quo of our existence.
Pastor Dr. Mike Moon, D.D.
“A Day of Southern Remembrance 2015”
April 26th was set aside years ago as Confederate Memorial Day. The day that Southerners who had relatives in the War Between the States could remember their lost loved ones. Many graves dot the countryside and battlefields from Pennsylvania to the south and west. Graves would also dot the P.O.W. camps near Chicago and Point Lookout. The South lost nearly 300,000 men to battle and disease during the war. The State of Georgia lost 18,253 dead.
Today we descendants of those who died in the war appreciate the chance to remember them in a correct fashion. The US Government began recognizing the Confederate dead as full American Soldiers in 1958 by act of Congress and signed by President Eisenhower. Think about the Confederate dead right here in Henry County, Georgia. Over 1,000 graves dot the landscape in Church cemeteries, private cemeteries and city cemeteries.
Governor Nathan Deal on January 5, 2015 signed a Proclamation declaring April as Confederate History Month and April 26th as Confederate Memorial Day. State Offices will observe the Day by closing on April 27, 2015.
Please take time to say a prayer for those men who fought on the Southern side in the War of wars. Here is a prayer: “Father in Heaven, I come to thee at this time to remember those who fought in the long ago Civil War who died for various reasons. Father, I pray for those who died on both the North and the South in a war that many of those who fought went to fight to save their homes. Lord, may they be friends today in Your presence in eternal glory on high. I ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.”
Pastor Dr. Mike Moon
Senior Researcher for the Cemetery Research Group and B&M Civil War Research Group
Easter Story
Last year April on a Sunday we
took one of our "nowhere" drives. My husband
was quietly driving a back road. I was occupied
in the front passenger seat watching the scenery.
I noticed out of the corner of
my eye that my husband was straining to look out my
window. This startled me, since his eyes should have
been on the road in front of him. I asked him
what he was looking at out the windows, and he quietly
replied, "Nothing." His eyes went back to
the road in front of him. After a few minutes, I looked
over at my husband and noticed a tear. I asked
him what was wrong. This time he told me,
"I was just thinking about Pop and a story he had
once told me" Of course, because it
had to do with his Pop I wanted to know the story, so
I asked him to share it with me. He said, "When I
was about 8 years old, Pop and I were out fishing and
that's when he told me that the Pine trees know
when it is Easter.." I had no idea what he
meant by that, so I pressed him for more information.
He continued on... "The Pine trees start their
new growth in the weeks before Easter -- if you look
at the tops of the Pine trees two weeks before, you
will see the yellow shoots. As the days get
closer to Easter Sunday, the tallest shoot will branch
off and form a cross. By the time Easter Sunday
comes around, you will see that most of the Pine trees
will have small yellow crosses on all of the tallest
shoots."
I turned to look out the window and I couldn't
believe my eyes. It was a week before Easter,
and you could see all of the trees with the tall
yellow shoots stretching to Heaven. The tallest ones
shone in the sunlight like rows of tiny golden
crosses. MAY
GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU WATCH FOR THE CROSS
The Blog Staff.
Here are the various forms of governments and the different sub political parties thereof to mull over. Thought it would be educational and not too hard to understand.
Liberals believe in government action to achieve equal opportunity and equality for all. It is the duty of the government to alleviate social ills and to protect civil liberties and individual and human rights. Believe the role of the government should be to guarantee that no one is in need. Liberal policies generally emphasize the need for the government to solve problems.
Conservatives believe in personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, traditional American values and a strong national defense. Believe the role of government should be to provide people the freedom necessary to pursue their own goals. Conservative policies generally emphasize empowerment of the individual to solve problems.
Independents are those who vote for candidates, measures, etc., in accordance with his or her own judgment and without regard to the endorsement of, or the positions taken by, any party. They want to be not dependent or contingent upon something else for existence, operation, etc.
Socialists are those who support the political philosophy of socialism, which is a governmental system that advocates community ownership and control of all lands and businesses rather than individual ownership. As opposed to a capitalist, a socialist advocates a society based on cooperation rather than competition .
Libertarians believe in free thought and freedom from government inclusion in personal lives. The core doctrine of libertarianism begins with the recognition that people have certain natural rights and that deprivation of these rights is immoral. Among these natural rights are the right to personal autonomy and property rights, and the right to the utilization of previously unused resources. These two basic assumptions form the foundation of all libertarian ideals.
Communism is a socioeconomic system structured upon the common ownership of the means of production and characterized by the absence of social classes, money, and the state; as well as a social, political and economic ideology and movement that aims to establish this social order.
Fascism is a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.
Authoritarianism is a leadership style in which a leader dictates policies and procedures, decides what goals are to be achieved, and directs and controls all activities without any meaningful participation by the subordinates.
Monarchy is a government or state headed by a monarch: called absolute when there is no limitation on the monarch's power, constitutional when there is such limitation.
Moderates are those in politics who are opposed to radical or extreme views or measures. They align themselves in the middle.
Progressives favoring or advocating progress, change, improvement, or reform, as opposed to wishing to maintain things as they are, especially in political matters.
The encourage making progress toward better conditions; employing or advocating more enlightened or liberal ideas, new or experimental methods, etc.
Anarchy a state of society without government or law and political and social disorder due to the absence of governmental control.
Republic a state or nation in which the supreme power rests in all the citizens entitled to vote (the electorate) and is exercised by representatives elected, directly or indirectly, by them and responsible to them.
The above Republic is supposed to be our form of government. But as you look at all the forms of government preceding this one you will find that many of them are integrated into our form of government. Thought this would be a good thing to let folks look over. Have a nice afternoon.
Dr. Mike Moon.
“Know Your Rights to Peaceful Protest”
The right to join with fellow citizens in protest or peaceful assembly is critical to a real democracy. But it is also very true that governments and police can violate this right. They use mass arrests, illegal use of force, criminalization of protest, and other means intended to thwart free public expression a clear violation of the Constitution of the United States.
Standing up for your right to protest can be challenging, especially when demonstrations are met with violence from the police. But knowing your rights is the most powerful weapon you have against police abuse. Read on to learn what you need to know before heading out to exercise your constitutionally protected right to protest and free assembly.
1. The First Amendment prohibits restrictions based on the content of speech. Police and government officials are allowed to place certain narrowly drawn "time, place and manner" restrictions on the exercise of First Amendment rights as long as they are clearly posted and not made up as they go along.
2. All types of expression are constitutionally protected in traditional "public forums" such as streets, sidewalks, and parks.
3. The general rule for private property is that the owners of private property can set rules for speech on that property. If you disobey the property owner's rules, they can order you off.
4. If marchers stay on the sidewalks and obey traffic and pedestrian signals, their activity is constitutionally protected even without a permit. Marchers may be required to allow enough space on the sidewalk for normal pedestrian traffic and may not maliciously obstruct or detain passers-by.
5. You may approach pedestrians on public sidewalks with leaflets, newspapers, petitions, and solicitations for donations without a permit.
6. Picketting is permitted as this is also an activity for which a permit is not required. However, picketing must be done in an orderly, non-disruptive fashion so that pedestrians can pass by and entrances to buildings are not blocked.
7. If Stopped by Police Don't argue, resist, or obstruct the police, even if you are innocent or you believe that the police are violating your rights. In some states, you must give your name if asked to identify yourself, but you do not have to provide an ID or other paperwork. Make sure to keep your hands where police can see them. Point out that you are not disrupting anyone else's activity and that the First Amendment protects your actions. Ask if you are free to leave. If the officer says yes, calmly and silently walk away.
8. Do not resist arrest, even if you believe the arrest is unfair. If you are under arrest, you have a right to ask why. Otherwise, say you wish to remain silent and ask for a lawyer immediately. Don't give any explanations or excuses. Don't say anything, sign anything, or make any decisions without a lawyer. You have the right to make a local phone call, and if you're calling your lawyer, police are not allowed to listen.
9. You never have to consent to a search of yourself or your belongings. Police may "pat down" your clothing if they suspect you have a weapon, and may search you after an arrest.
10. Remember: the street is not the place to challenge police misconduct. Don't physically resist officers or threaten to file a complaint. As soon as you can, write down everything you remember, including officers' badge and patrol car numbers, which agency the officers were from, and any other details. Get contact information for witnesses. If you are injured, take photographs of your injuries (but seek medical attention first). Once you have this information, you can file a written complaint with the agency's internal affairs division or civilian complaint board; in many cases, you can file a complaint anonymously if you wish. You can also seek the assistance of an attorney or the ACLU.
11. When you are lawfully present in any public space, you have the right to photograph anything that is in plain view. That includes pictures of federal buildings, transportation facilities, and the police. When you are on private property, the property owner may set rules about the taking of photographs or video. Police officers may not confiscate or demand to view your digital photographs or video without a warrant, nor may they not delete your photographs or video under any circumstances. However, they may legitimately order citizens to cease activities that are truly interfering with legitimate law enforcement operations.
The Staff of The Henry County Community News Blog
Over the years since the War Between the States ended many people have thought that the Government of the Confederacy surrendered the day General Robert E. Lee surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia. General Lee only surrendered his army not the government of the Confederacy. Here are the exact words to which General Lee and Union General Grant set their hand to on that day in April 1865.
“In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the 8th inst., I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of N. Va. on the following terms, to wit: Rolls of all the officers and men to be made in duplicate. One copy to be given to an officer designated by me, the other to be retained by such officer or officers as you may designate. The officers to give their individual paroles not to take up arms against the Government of the United States until properly exchanged, and each company or regimental commander sign a like parole for the men of their commands. The arms, artillery and public property to be parked and stacked, and turned over to the officer appointed by me to receive them. This will not embrace the side-arms of the officers, nor their private horses or baggage. This done, each officer and man will be allowed to return to their homes, not to be disturbed by United States authority so long as they observe their paroles and the laws in force where they may reside.”
Richmond had fallen on 2 April and President Jefferson Davis and the Confederate government had evacuated the city. Davis and his cabinet temporarily located themselves in Danville, Virginia but they were soon forced to flee before the advancing Union forces and travel through as yet unoccupied portions of the Carolinas and Georgia.
Following Lee's example, other Confederate generals also began to surrender in the next few weeks. But Davis continued to urge armed resistance right up until he was captured by Union troops on 10 May. On that date, Andrew Johnson, the recently inaugurated American president, declared armed resistance in the South had effectively ended.
Johnson's announcement was a little premature. Confederate troops in Palmito Ranch, Texas launched a successful attack on 12-13 May and it was not until 23 June that Stand Watie became the last Confederate general to surrender his forces at Doaksville, Oklahoma. The American Civil War officially ended on 20 August 1866 via a Presidential declaration.
But you'll notice that while the war did effectively end by the various military capitulations, the Confederate government never formally surrendered. Davis certainly did not and, as far as I can tell, the Confederate Congress was too disbursed by April 1865 to issue a surrender. On August 20, 1866, President Andrew Johnson signed a Proclamation—Declaring that Peace, Order, Tranquillity, and Civil Authority Now Exists in and Throughout the Whole of the United States of America. It cited the end of the insurrection in Texas, and declared
... that the insurrection which heretofore existed in the State of Texas is at an end and is to be henceforth so regarded in that State as in the other States before named in which the said insurrection was proclaimed to be at an end by the aforesaid proclamation of the 2d day of April, 1866.
And I do further proclaim that the said insurrection is at an end and that peace, order, tranquillity, and civil authority now exist in and throughout the whole of the United States of America.
As it says above President Johnson of the United States said that the insurrection was over, but no where does it say the Confederate Government signed any formal surrender. They cannot make it so until a formal surrender is signed since the Confederate Government was a sovereign Government with a Constitution and President with its Congress. No where does it say they relinquished these. President Davis was imprisoned for two years at Fort Monroe as a pure act of vengence.
Because Congress was not sure that white Southerners had really given up slavery or their dreams of Confederate nationalism, a decade-long process known as Reconstruction expelled ex-Confederate leaders from office, enacted civil rights legislation (including the right to vote) that included the freedmen (ex-slaves), and imposed conditions on the readmission of the states to Congress. The war and subsequent Reconstruction left the South economically prostrate, and it remained well below national levels of prosperity until after 1945. The legacy of the Civil War and Reconstruction Era, as seen in thousands of lynchings (mostly from 1880 to 1930), the segregated system of separate schools and public facilities known as "Jim Crow", that lasted until the 1960s, and the widespread use of poll taxes and other methods to frequently deny blacks of the right to vote or hold office until the 1960s. In more modern times, however, the South has become the most integrated region of the country. Since the late 1960s blacks have held and currently hold many high offices, such as mayor and police chief, in many cities such as Atlanta and New Orleans. So, the War Between the States and it’s aftermath lasted at least a hundred years; and it continues to be a factor even in 2014 as the South has had lower percentages of high school graduates, lower housing values, lower household incomes, and lower cost of living than the rest of the United States. These factors, combined with the fact that Southerners have continued to maintain strong loyalty to family ties, has led some sociologists to label white Southerners a "quasi-ethnic regional group". The South in the past 50 years has seen a larger influx of people from the North moving here to live, African American Communities growing and people of other international races moving here especially in the bigger cities. But there is still the strong influence of a separate South in the rural areas.
The Staff of the Henry County Community News
It has been 13 years since America was attacked and thousands of her people were murdered and countless affected by the actions of cowards. For me it seems just yesterday that my world turned upside down for ever because it still hurts so much. Sweetheart I dream of the life we would have had together and it cuts my heart like a knife. I think of all the fun and work we had planned on doing in our life with each other and it makes me feel so empty inside when I turn and find you are not there by my side. I feel that sometimes my life has been sucked away from me in the lonely nights and days without you.
I still have nightmares about that day I re-live the moments hour by hour in my mind. They invade my sleep like a devil in the night. I try to keep myself busy to keep from crying. I was part of the team that tried to keep them from building on top of Ground Zero because we feel and know it is a cemetery. But we failed because of greed of money. I have become a watchdog here in Henry County and try to keep the cemeteries here protected but it is a hard fight. I will never give up the fight never. I wanted to let you know that I have never stopped thinking about you and darling I still love you with all my heart and always will.
Alfred.
