Blaze Interviews Author of ‘The Miracle of Freedom: Seven Tipping Points That Saved the World’
- Posted on June 10, 2011 at 1:49pm by
David Harsanyi
- Print »
- Email »
In “The Miracle of Freedom: Seven Tipping Points That Saved the World” Chris and Ted Stewart ask a question: How unusual is freedom in history? The answer may surprise some you. The Stewarts estimate that fewer 5 percent of all people have ever lived under conditions we in the Western World would consider free. The book explores a series of critical events, “obvious forks in the road leading to very different outcomes that resulted in this extraordinary period we live in.” Chris Stewart was as nice enough to talk to me about his new book:
The Blaze: When you write a book that spans a huge swath of history, how do you even begin selecting tipping points worthy of mention?
Chris Stewart: There were probably dozens of other historical events we could have picked and some of them were probably as important as the ones we did select. You just have to limit the scope and create an arch that pulls it all together. We wanted to say, look around and see this miracle of freedom – really, a golden age of freedom. There are so many people out there enjoying this blessing for the first time. We wanted to show readers how they were impacted by events from thousands of years ago and pace ourselves and create connections as we marched forward from ancient times to the Battle of Britain and then more modern times.
The Blaze: Let me be the cynic for moment. Freedom is fleeting and rare and the vast majority of us have never experienced it. What if it’s our fault? What if we don’t really appreciate freedom as much as we think we do? Even today, average people are more concerned with safety and stability than they are with liberty. Do you believe freedom is a natural human condition? Or is it rare for a reason?
Stewart: It’s a good point. I believe it is human nature to look around at the world today — or the world our parents lived in yesterday, or the world we assume our children will live in tomorrow — and say: well, this is the normal state of the world. Things don’t change. One of the main points of this book is to point out how extraordinarily unique self-governance, liberty — whatever definition you want to give modern freedom – is in this world. You can talk to historians who specialize in this area. They believe that maybe 4 or 4 ½ percent of us have been able to control our own destinies and lives.
So it is easy to just assume that this is the normal state of the world. But we have example after example of nations that have enjoyed freedom and then saw it recede, or, for reasons you mention, collapse. There are the former Soviet bloc nations: once the Berlin Wall fell most of them marched quickly towards freedom. But since then, many of them fallen back and are increasingly turning away. It’s been documented that there are only 22 nations in existence right now that have been democracies for over 50 years. I think that fact should shock people. For more than two generations there have been only 22 nations that consistently embraced freedom. I think it illustrates pretty clearly that what we have is fragile and that it isn’t necessarily going to last.
The Blaze: I guess that some people would also ask, what does freedom really mean? Were Spartans really free people? Were Christians who fought the Muslims at Poitiers in any sense more liberated than the invaders? Don’t we all have different definitions of freedom?
Stewart: I don’t think you could argue that in some of these case one people were much more free than the other. But I think one of the nations were headed in the right direction and helped developed self-government that makes those moments in history matter. When we look at them in context they are consequential. The seed of idea of freedom was dropped in ancient Greece. They were the ones who developed these ideas – freedom and democracy so on. Though they did not survive those ideas did find the seed bed of Christianity. And it was the idea proposed by Christians – and the Judeo-Christian tradition – that embraces human rights and freedom allowed the focus of many of those those Greek philosophies to take hold.
The Blaze: And today?
There is a fundamental difference between a tradition of Christianity and Islam. The exploration. The reason. The way we value human rights and the importance we put on self-government. Look at any nation that lives under what we consider the Western tradition. It was the tradition many of the people we write about were defending. So at that time, these people didn’t say this is about Christianity or this is about freedom, necessarily, But looking back at it, it’s clear that that was the consequence. We see that battle going on today. It’s continued because more tipping points in history are sure to come again.
Popular Stories
MSNBC Host Snaps in Heated Segment: ‘What in the World Is Riskier Than Being a Poor Person in America?’ 694 Comments
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 662 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 525 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 364 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 352 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 235 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 246 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order Read More- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 147 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 300 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 235 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (90)
DeltaHawk
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 11:01pmWTF Rose Ellen? We are in three wars with muslims at present 4 if you count Obama and his subversion from within. This isn’t bigotry, These bastards are EVIL incarnate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »welovetheUSA
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 10:08pmAmericans have taken for granted their freedoms….the news media has neglected to protect the American people, parents have neglected their children in most ways, schools have negelected to keep truth and honor in our schools, radical groups are put ahead of our countries values…minorities are choose to rule over the majority….the peoples vote are being hijacked….why does it take a tragic thing to happen for most Americans to Remember who we are and how much we stand to lose…..wake up folks, its going to be a ruff ride…….beat down the political correct…boycott General Motors?(GM)..they want to add a gas tax……a company that took billions of tax dollars from the American people…….whats to stop..Target..Macys…WalMart…or any compant to push a tax for their company….This is what the government does to destroy this country and the leaders are the democrat party, for 40 years its non-stop spending……………send a message to GM….take back your GM car-truck……2012 get a man in that White House before we lose this country.
Report Post »SlimnRanger
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 9:27pmRose-Ellen,did you cheer when the twin towers fell? or did you cry like most of us did for the tragic loss of so many innocent Americans,I admit tears ran down my cheek that day as it did when the federal building in okla city was bombed,I totally support israels actions to defend themselves
Report Post »Teaparty-grammy
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 4:08amI daresay she did–her hatred for this country, and her TOTAL ignorance of what it stands for and where it came from shines through her every utterance. OBVIOUSLY she has benefitted greatly from her LIBERAL education/brainwashing! Since she loves the Arabs so very much, I think we should bundle her a$$ into a burka and sell it in one of the Middle Eastern slave markets to some big, mean Muslim who will beat her five times a day after his Muslim prayers, then will be acquitted by a jury loaded with OTHER Muslim men and turned loose scott-free after he KILLS her when she tries to run away from him, because it was his RIGHT to beat her as often as he liked, and she should have been killed for running away. That’s called Sharia Law, honey. And THIS Is the system you think is so wonderful? So much more civilized than our own? But then as I said before, she MUST be brain dead . . .not to mention certifiably CRAZY!
Report Post »NSWPP
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 7:32pmFreedom is not an illusion, but it is a perpetual motion machine — nice idea but reality stops it succeeding. Witness modern America, witness ancient Rome. Romans and Americans learned how to vote themselves bread and circuses, meanwhile turning their backs on their distinctive racial and cultural heritage and allowing their lands to be invaded by aliens and becoming mongrel races. We have seen the same thing in Spain and Portugal in the centuries since the New World was opened to the White Man. Iberia became not a melting pot but a chamber pot — Spaniards and Portuguese are little more European Whites than the mestizo/mulatto/mongrels of Latin America. To think they once had empires circling the globe. As did Britain — same story, in progress since 1945. America — started here too. White man, take a stand!
Report Post »lacosa4597
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 1:06amNSWPP.. Email me.
lacosa4597@gmail.com
Report Post »Teaparty-grammy
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 3:52amGee, you have obviously mistaken this for a White Supremacist blog who actually GIVES a sheet about your loony ideas.
Report Post »NoIPhone
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 6:45pmWaiting to read the book in its entirety…..thanks for the interview!
Report Post »nomercy63
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 6:38pmNo one in America has true freedom as it was created by the founders, what you have is the illusion of freedom! All the freedoms we thought we had have been gone for a long time now!
Report Post »Katydidnt
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 6:37pmHe missed the most important coin-flip of all time. If Henry VIII’s first wife Catherine of Aragon (from Spain) has a boy instead of a girl. There is no divorce, no seperation from the Church, Elizabeth I is just one of his many bastards. Spain and England remain solid instead of intense competitors in the New World. It is staggering how much history changes.
Report Post »fixer
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 6:23pm@ rose-ellen
if you’re not indigenous muslim saudi why would you want to live in a muslim theocracy of indigenous saudis.israel was settled by non indigenous people who displaced indigenous people and now allow jews priority there over displaced indigenous non jews.
If you truly believe this statement,then reverse it.why would ANY muslim want to live here in the US?pretty stupid statement to be basing an argument on.
Report Post »fixer
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 6:19pmThe Tree of Liberty occasionally needs watering with the blood of tyrants and patriots!
Report Post »BBomber66
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 6:11pmThe basis for our freedoms is not taught; the development of this American experiment into self-determination is not taught; and the dangers of ambivalence toward the responsibilities are not taught. Our children cannot love liberty if they do not know about our liberty, our republic, our founding fathers and the persistent, insidious undermining of that information. The leftist, progressive indoctrination machine that are our education system today and the syncophants in the media are the mouthpiece of socialists and undermine our self-reliance and strengths.
Parents take charge of your childrens education. Get involved.
Report Post »Teaparty-grammy
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 3:56amAmen – the leftists have coopted the schools and stolen our children’s heritage from them, while we were asleep at the switch. Now they control the schools at all levels from Kindergarten to College. It is high time we took our schools back. It has been said that Freedom is forever only one generation away from extinction. It would be a sad irony, indeed, if we manage to wrest our country away from Odumber and his Commie friends, only to have our kids give it back to them, because they have been so brainwashed by this nihilistic leftist crap!
Report Post »palrider1
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 6:04pm@Rose-Ellen Perhaps you should show some concern about our southern border. Should we give back our southern states to Mexico because we are now opressors? I bet you believe in social justice and collective salvation too. Go In Peace.
Report Post »rabblechat
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 4:28pmProbably a good read if you like looking at things from a western ethnocentric point of view.
Report Post »Democracy does not equal freedom; democracy equals mob rule. That is why America was established as a republic and not a democracy. A republic has the “feel” of a democracy while keeping power concentrated in the hands of a few.
Neither democracies or republics promote individual freedom; the encourage conformity and adherence to the established rules.
Have you ever noticed how these books only focus on western society? What about the millions of Native Americans, and the indigenous people of Africa? Were they not free pre-western intervention?
rabblechat
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 5:05pm@ jaycen “No, they weren’t. Do you really think tribe members were free to say or do whatever they wanted?”
Report Post »So are you free to say or do whatever you want? If so I’d like to know what fantasy world you are living in.
Teaparty-grammy
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 3:38am@rabblechat, who posted: “Probably a good read if you like looking at things from a western ethnocentric point of view.”
Go home, you ignorant Troll. No self-respecting Conservative would be caught DEAD burbling on about how our history is “ethnocentric”. Ignorant trolls like you have taken over the schools and “purged” our history from its curriculum, leaving our kids adrift in a sea of ignorance, semi- or completely illiterate, unable to read and write, not knowing where they came from or why the ideals upon which our country were founded are important. Hell, most of them can’t even find their own state on a map of the U.S. — this is a “Liberal education” Woo-hoo — I want me some of that!! Go peddle your bullsheet masquerading as erudition somewhere else. We’re not buying it.
Report Post »Brontefan
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 4:23pmMy sincere and heartfelt sympathies, Rose-Ellen. All misguided and hate filled replies should be received with sympathy and understanding. Israel is not a racist state; quite the contrary! When Israel took over Jerusalem, both Muslims and Jews worshiped in peace side by side. And Israel has given up land for peace on numerous occasions only to find out the Palestinians don’t really want a state of their own–they want Israel. And every time the deal is made, Palestinians break it..by their non-stop attacks on Israel. Facts are what should be addressed, not some rant that includes the typical talking points and misapprehension of our President. I believe we are in a dangerous time and things could get very dicey. Hate speech is never appropriate.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 5:28pmThey gave up land after they took land in the 67war .Which is illigal.They gave up land here only to build more settlements there.hamas said they would accept 67 borders.as would all the arab states including the [horrendous truely evil syrian dictator].This is not hate speech ,these are facts.you don’t want to make peace with the warring palestinians because they are warring.The’re warring because you continue to occupy land from 67which is illigal[might doesn not make right under international american signed treaties].That is not hateful that is just.Yes there are muslim theocracies like saudi arabia which don’t welcome non muslims.They are indigenous people who set up a islamic theocracy.if you’re not indigenous muslim saudi why would you want to live in a muslim theocracy of indigenous saudis.israel was settled by non indigenous people who displaced indigenous people and now allow jews priority there over displaced indigenous non jews.Don’t mix everything up.And yes saudi is oppressive but we backed them [hence alquada rose up against us]and one day they too might have an arab spring.I wish peace for a 67 border israel and palestinians[and in the far future one state that is secular and doesn't favor any religion].Jewdaism is a religion but as a state behaves like an ethnicity which has ethnically cleansed most of the indigenous people[non jews] and that is the problem because natives of there are not allowed there but non natives are because of their religion.
Report Post »fatjack
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 6:26pmrose-ellen
I’m unemployed do you think you could get me a job trolling.
BTW how much does it pay.
Report Post »dizzyinthedark
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 7:35pm@Rose,
Respectfully, you are FREE to denounce your American citizenship and become a Frog–please do!
Report Post »NSWPP
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 7:44pmThe modern nation of Isreal, now that it exists, has every right to exist and to maintain its existence as any other nation. That is, any nations right to exist is only as strong as its will to power and to fight any and every enemy that threatens it, within or without. Good luck to them, they have won their right and the Arabs lost theirs. Too bad. Might makes right. Ever notice that however many people pray on both sides of a war, the gods seem to favor the side with the best battle plan? Israel and Isrealis have the right to run their country however they please, and if that means exterminating every last “Palestinian” (Whatever TF they are) go to it. I would be impressed, it shows they still got some ba11s, which is more than most White nations do. I’ve got no problem with Jews running a Jewish country, my problem is when they try to run other people’s countries, that’s when they become parasites. Look, there’s pleanty of desert over there for all you sand-nignogs, whether you face Mecca or Jerusalem, so how bout y’all GO TF HOME!!!
Report Post »CaptainKook
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 11:43pmThe Nazi ^^^ is a Zionist.
That figures.
Report Post »Teaparty-grammy
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 3:03am@rose-ellen.
Report Post »What an ignorant little TROLL you are, and what a distorted view of history you have! Where did you go to school? The University of Chairman Mao? My GOD, woman, you are so criminally STOOPID it ought to be a crime for you to walk around. There have ALWAYS been Jews in that land, for thousands of years. It was their ancestral homeland, and it has NEVER been devoid of Jews. The so-called “Palestinians are a bunch of Jordanian malcontents who were herded there by Jordan to get RID Of them because they could not stand their trouble-making sorry a$$es anymore than the REST of the world. After Palestinians promised peace if Israel gave them Gaza, Israel destroyed her own settlements, forced her people to leave and GAVE them GAZA, and what did they do? Elected a Hamas government and started lobbing rockets over the wall at Israel. Or CONTINUED lobbing rockets over the wall at Israel, since they never really stopped. FOOLS like you will not be satisfied until we have a second Holocaust in which all the Jews are slaughtered by your “peace-loving” Palestinian friends. Will you be happy then? Hate speechl. What an ignorant A$$ you are!
fatpatriot
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 9:22amnice copy and paste from above. Idiot
Report Post »fatpatriot
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 9:26amSorry guys the copy and paste remark was directed at Rose-ellen
Report Post »NuffSaid
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 3:53pmSo. Freedom of the individual may be contrary to nature. Herds of zebras, packs of chimpanzees and neighborhoods in East LA, ruled by the strongest, most aggressive individuals, whose only goal in life is to maintain their position, is the natural state of man. An individual, seeking his own life path, thinking his own thoughts and making his own decisions is a perversion.
The French fought a revolution to be free. The Russians and the Chinese fought revolutions to be free. Fidel Castro freed the peasants in Cuba and Hugo pulled off an incredible revolution in Venezuela. NOT ONE of these groups who fought for freedom ever changed their minds and overthrew the successful revolutionary governments. No one country of these societies ever changed its mind and replaced the revolutionary autocracy with the one which had been overthrown. Looks like humans do not resent autocracy, they just want the autocracy to look more like them.
Maybe we Americans are just pig headed and don’t know what we are missing. Maybe Obama, and Hitler and Mao and Genghis Khan really understood a lot more about human nature than we are ready to admit. Maybe the US Constitution was actually a play written by the Marquis De Sade and maybe Benjamin Franklin wrote the Communist Manifesto.
In this world you’re are either a herd pig or a razorback. Bring on history, bring on the progressives and commies and their muz bedmates. Live free. Or die. Live free. Or die.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 5:00pmPeople are free because over time there are just enough people in a group who want to be free. Had we not fought the british, today we would still be free because culturally [western culture] we all value freedom.Had we not had a civil war ,slaves would still be free today because enough people believe it’s wrong.Wars have nothing to do with it really.When enough syrians want to be free they will be free as we are seeing.[i hope]. Only because enough people want it.My point is that freedom is not the result of war[though war sometimes changes the dynamics which allow freedom or other values to come faster or slower then otherwise].but a reflection of a peoples’ [or enough of a peoples'] mindset or values.The Zeitgeist[the spirit of the times] which is made up of enough peoples beliefs and aspirations is how culture and freedoms evolve. Societies evolve and change because people’ beliefs and aspirations do.Wars are not what is crucial to understanding history,evolving beliefs are.We elvolve culturally in spite of wars not because of them.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 5:12pmThe french to day are free.free enough that their government stood up at the U.N. refusing to go along with the americans when we lied to get everyone on board for that illigal preemptive slaughterer of iraqis.Their government responded to the will of their people.That’s freedom.They don’t worry about paper work or bills when they get sick and everyone there gets a government subsidy[family allocations if you have children, free day care, unemployment benefits etc.No stigma for not having a job like in this puritanical work dominated society].Yet we love to tell people to do volunteer work-real slave labor if you ask me-except of course in emergencies..Hopefully the greedy hypercapitalist value system will not take hold there though we’re really trying to push it on everyone.
Report Post »Teaparty-grammy
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 3:48am@rose-ellen Posted: “People are free because over time there are just enough people in a group who want to be free.”
Well, son of a B . . . you mean to tell me we fought WWII for NUTHIN’, and if we had just sat down on our a$$es and waited, Hitler would have beat all his swords into plowshares and said to us AND Europe, “Fly little butterflies, be free!”:
How long did it take you to formulate THIS brain-dead theory? This is yet another breathtakingly STOOPID utterance by the moron of the ages. I said before you are so criminally STOOPID that it’s a wonder you are allowed to walk around. I’ve changed my mind. You are so criminally STOOPID that it ought to be a CAPITAL crime lest you further infect the gene pool with your unique brand of TOTAL STUPIDITY. This goes way beyond ignorance–this spinning of hare-brained, contrarian theories that you apparently mistake for “reality is WILLFULLY STOOPID.
Report Post »Texas Grasshopper
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 3:51pmOne of the nation’s largest suppliers of dehydrated food has cut loose 99% of their dealers and distributors. And it’s not because of the poor economy. It’s because this particular industry leader can no longer supply their regular distribution channels. Why not? Because they’re using every bit of manufacturing capacity they have to fulfill massive new government contracts. Look, the government has always been a customer of the industry to some extent. But according to our sources, this latest development doesn‘t represent simply a change of vendor on the government’s part. It’s a whole new magnitude of business.
And that’s not all.
Apparently, even though they’ve cut off their regular consumer markets, the industry leader I‘ve just mentioned still can’t produce enough survival food to meet the government’s vast requirements. How do we know? Not long ago, FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) put out a Request for Proposal, or RFP, for even more dehydrated food. The RFP called for a 10-day supply of meals – for 14 million people. That’s 420 million meals. Typically, FEMA maintains a stockpile of about 6 million meals. Why the sudden need to increase the stockpile by 420 million more? (And that’s in addition to whatever our aforementioned industry leader is supplying.) It almost seems like they’re trying to stock a modern day “Noah’s Ark,” doesn’t it?
Report Post »rabblechat
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 4:33pmwho do you think will be the lucky few to get a seat?
Report Post »Texas Grasshopper
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 5:15pmgoverment employees and security I would think …..
Report Post »Teaparty-grammy
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 3:13am@ rabblechat who Posted: “who do you think will be the lucky few to get a seat?”
I am not sure, but I bet there won’t be many Tea Partiers among them! Our govt. has grown so HUGE this is probably just ODumber’s horde of czars, his SEIU pals, Communists like Van Jones and Saul Alinsky, erstwhile domestic terrorists like Ayres, ACORN, etc.
Report Post »Teaparty-grammy
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 3:17am@rabblechat
Oh, yeah, I almost forgot — all those folks at GE, Lehman, Citibank et al — you know, the ones too big to fail? Guess they are too big to be nuked, too. They are probably expecting a “gift” from our Iranian friends to land on us any day now–that would explain the stockpiles for “their” kind of people.
Report Post »Lloyd Drako
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 3:34pmPretty much agree with the Stewarts’ seven tipping points–except the conversion of Constantine. I don’t think Christianity, or the Roman Empire, or subsequent western civilization, benefited much from too close a relationship between Church and state. It took 1400 years before America’s founders became the first seriously to challenge the principle of “established religion.”
Report Post »thclad
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 3:28pmWhere is the Bilderberg coverage? You can’t ignore it anymore. Not saying all the conspiracy theories are true, but you can’t just hide from the fact it does exist. Drudge has it. http://www.drudgereport.com
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 4:29pmI’m a practicing catholic;i‘m against legalized abortion and i’m against euthanasia and i’m pro palestinian .I support an israel with 67 border;[though i believe the creation of that state was immoral, like hamas and all other arab states have said they would accept a 67border israel.Everything else is propagnda i believe violence done by palestinians is wrong but [like Carter] it is not MORE wrong then violence done by israelis who provoke the violence by expanding settlements and occupy gaza and all land taken in the 67war is occupied and illigitimate;[ethically and according to international treaties which we havve signed stating that a country cannot acquire land through war.i believe acts of islamic terrorists are wrong but not more wrong then our bombs falling on baghdad or afghanis.I believe our policies of propping up dictators and blind unjust support of israel and our allowing rendtion of people to be tortured who are dissidents to either our invasions or our policies of propping up dictators or our putting military bases in peoples holy lands against the peoples will [but in accord with brutal dictarors] is the provocation of terrorism.I believe terrorism is done for political reasons[to give us consequences for our policies toward them when prieviously we could act with impunity and only consider our interests[cheap oil, cold war support, israeli racist expansion].what we call Muslim terrorism is not a religious quest to conquer but political resistence.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 4:35pmIt’s racist because it allows a Jew born in brooklyn to live there but not a non Jew who is from there[the displaced palestinians] who watch settlements for european or american jews to be built where they used to live.To say nothing of the way they’re treated at border crossings and how the water is diverted to benefit the jewish settlers at the expense and hardship of non jews.The same for electricity and other human rights abuses based on ethnic[racial] divides.
Report Post »NSWPP
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 7:51pmFv<K the palestinains whatever the f they are, there hasn't been a country called Palestine for 60 years, and there never realy was a country called Palestine! It was a Turkish province and a British province and a Roman province and the gawdam arse-end of all creation for 2000 years. If you;re catholic, shouldnt you be off having a baby or blowing a cardinal or something?
Report Post »Teaparty-grammy
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 2:39am@rose-ellen, who posted: :”It’s racist because it allows a Jew born in brooklyn to live there but not a non Jew who is from there[the displaced palestinians] who watch settlements for european or american jews to be built where they used to live.To say nothing of the way they’re treated at border crossings and how the water is diverted to benefit the jewish settlers at the expense and hardship of non jews.The same for electricity and other human rights abuses based on ethnic[racial] divides”
Everything you say here is SO bass-ackward and WRONG that I have to conclude you are probably the blindest and most STOOPID troll I’ve ever encountered. I can find no other explanation for the vomit spewed forth above. . . .
Report Post »PBG
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 10:28am@rose
As a fellow Catholic, I humbly ask you please review the history of the state of Israel. The Muslims attacked it the day it was created, and have never stopped. A friend of mine, born a Palestinian Christian, wishes his people could have their own country, but every time they get close, one of his people effs it up. Whenever he goes home he gets interrogated for eight to ten hours at Ben Gurion, and he understands it – Israel doesn’t want to kill him; they just want to survive. He has issues with Israel, but genocide isn’t one of them.
And as far as Israeli policy, watch Hannity’s interview with Netanyahu. He publicly proclaimed that if they would recognize Israel’s right to exist, Israel would be the FIRST to recognize their state.
God bless.
Report Post »ED4237
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 3:04pmIf the progressives get WW3 started in Israel good bye freedom here they will need to protect us from reprisal attacks by terrorist. We need to get as much of our government out of lives now or we are done kiss freedom goodbye.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 3:28pmThe racist israeli state and the american military are the biggest terrorists on the planet.One mans terrorist in anothers freedom fighter.you know that yourselves as you’ve dropped bombs on villages all over the world [mccain in his plane, the bombs on iraq, afghanistan,pakistan ,yemen.]tell yourselves all you want that you‘re justified but they’re not, the only way to do that is to glorigy your evil acts by calling yourselves heroes and demonizing them .And they don’t hide behind civilians ,they were and are the civilians resisting our invasions or unjust propping up of dictators.I watch Beck beause there is no left in this country.And Fox is the most powerful genocidal propaganda machine in this country.[of course they're rather wishy washy on alot of domestic issues because their only agenda is genocide of arabs[or forced conversions] to give the whole mid east to zionists.] not all israelis are anti- arab of course but you never hear them on the genocidal Fox media.
Report Post »discardofevil
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 3:52pm@ rose Ellen this must be a fake name because it sounds like you should be some sweet lady…? Instead by your comments you must clearly be a hating Jew/Christian! Probably racist also! I disagree with you 100%. You probably like killing babies also! Go back to Germany! Russia! Cuba! These places will fit your communist needs! I feel sorry for you!
Report Post »inthedesert
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 3:59pm@Rose-Ellen
How can you say the Israeli state is racist. They allow any person living there, including all Muslims, to live just as free as any other person, including their freedom of religion. Didn’t you see the polls that show that Arabs living in Israel want to keep everything the way it is now? There is no forced religion in Israel. They do not want to live under Muslim rule. The left is all over this country. You watch Beck so that you know how to prepare for what is coming, don’t you?
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 4:47pmRose – Ellen – keep it up, some people agree with you!! Your views are interesting and I enjoy your posts! http://wp.me/pYLB7-13c
Report Post »Cold War Vet
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 2:52pm@ ROSE-ELLEN
You really are clueless, and have no idea what you are babbling about. Just another freedom-hating liberal screeching “RACISM!” at one of the few people in this country who are trying to do some actual GOOD for America. Glenn Beck speaks the truth, and it is completely verifiable. You do not. Liberals are known mostly for lies and hatred. That is very true when dealing with race issues. We all know that you are a major opponent to freedom. Take your destructive hatred somewhere else.
Report Post »Cold War Vet
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 2:45pmThis is a very interesting perspective on the history of freedom. Now, more than ever, America’s freedom is under attack from within, and we are in grave danger of joining the majority of the world’s nations in “receding” back to a less free system, as mentioned above.
For well over 200 years, we have enjoyed more freedom than most in the world. It saddens me to see it under attack. In our history, we have helped to bring freedom to other oppressed nations, especially in the 20th century. Those who oppose our freedom are certainly not of the noble ilk.
Report Post »publicuss
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 2:36pm@Texas Grasshopper
Report Post »Not sure how much longer it is gonna be safe to use forums like this. My peerblock goes crazy everytime I come on here with scripts trying to ID my computer. Right now, besides the normal ad scripts (ac neilson, adbrite, etc…), detected ap2p on amazon 3c2 cloud seems real intent on getting in… I’ve been posting that link from the CATO site this morning on all the stories here trying to get diff type of people to see it and maybe at least some to take a look at it.
Texas Grasshopper
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 3:37pm@ public ..was that english ? *LMAO* pretend that I dont know anything about computers *L* …well dont pretend. Safe ? what is ap2p on amazon 3c2 cloud ?
It is scary that even thogh was no links he issued a “ warning ” …Doesnt inspire alot of trust does it ?
Report Post »Any info on the group ?
Texas Grasshopper
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 2:24pmjust posted above you ..kinda realted to your post ..we need a freedowm watch ongoing blog on the Blaze so people can keep informed
Report Post »grannyjojo
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 2:09pmHmm, I’m going to have to read that book. It certainly sounds interesting.
Report Post »wordweaver
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 2:09pmLooks like a worthwhile read.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 2:33pmI noticed when Beck tried out his anti -muslim genocidal campaign with his his “those evil muslims want to take over the world”-propaganda,He didn‘t bite but simply said he didn’t think muslims were going to try to storm the walls of Vienna.Beck didn‘t expect that and quicky answered he didn’t mean that and looked stunned and never brought up those evil muslims again.Shows how when he knows he doesn’t have an ally in such a renowed historian ,he backs off completely and that his anti-muslim bigotry is a result of his being indoctrinated.He’s just a mouthpiece for what he has been told himself by the anti arab /muslim Fox media whose goal is genocide of arabs.He didn’t dare challenge a real scholar.
Report Post »Obama_Sham
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 2:41pm@Rose-Ellen
So you admit to watching Beck…
Report Post »BSdetector
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 2:49pmWell if she’s watching, there may still be hope for her mind to be salvaged from the junk heap of progressive “logic.”
Report Post »popester
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 3:02pmRose Ellen,
What the hell are you talking about? Are you ignorant?
Report Post »RLTW
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 4:59pmCan anyone determine the tipping point of RoseEllens sanity?
Report Post »Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 7:20pmActually, Beck is too easy on Islam in my opinion, more people are waking up to the fact that Islam is Satan worship though and a woman defending Islam, has to be the sorriest thing I’ve ever witnessed, you are a coward that apparently loves to herded around, doubt if even you are a woman, I’m sure you are a muslim P O S though.
Report Post »Texas Grasshopper
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 8:28pmyou have to be a goverment employee !!! *L:*
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 8:43pmRose Ellen the psychotropic drugs you‘re taking are not working you’re delusional seek help quickly.
Report Post »mharry860
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 12:29amSo who’s Rose-Ellen, which troll changed their name? Whack job.
Report Post »sandwizard
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 9:07am@Rose-Ellen, it’s not their land. Never was and never will be!
Report Post »fatpatriot
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 9:18am@rose ellen
Report Post »My dear little progressive useful idiot. It isn’t propaganda when the instructions are in the Koran(quran). The anti muslim sentiment is not now nor has it ever been about any delusional conspiracy theories such as your constant theme of “propaganda” ,oh wait it’s the “Zionists” oh wait it’s the “Jews”, oh wait it’s “American imperialism” or whatever you’re spewing out of your pie hole today. I have read your posts on this thread and have come to an undeniable conclusion. You are a misinformed progressive moron. Idigenous; really. The Jews were in the Holy land thousands of years before the “Palestinians”. The area of land called Palestine wasn’t even referred to as such until the first Crusades. “Catholic”; really. Do you think that because you don‘t like abortion on demand that absolves you of your racist hatred towards God’s chosen people? The occupied land you refer to was taken by Israel to ensure Israels security. After Lebanon and Syria and Egypt attacked in 1967 and then got their butts’ handed to them by a smaller force. How did that happen without direct intervention by God Almighty? The only genocidal theocracies in any of your clueless rants are the muslim theocracies. Which by the way their express purpose is subjugation of the world (that includes Catholics) and the destruction of Israel and the death all Jews. It’s Judaism not Jewdaism. It’s illegal not illigal. Those 2 are for anyone who thinks you have an intelligent argum
www.Cryptoportico.com
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 1:59pmCleon Skousen-esque…. very nice
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 2:10pmThe Joy of Freedom makes me feel Blessed and Thankful I am apart of the 5%. America needs to FIGHT to keep our FREEDOM from within and without our Borders!
Report Post »Untameable-kate
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 2:15pmbanjarmon
Report Post »If the progressive movement gains enough strength to have its way, we can kiss all that freedom goodbye and begin working for the collective reather than the individual.
Texas Grasshopper
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 2:19pmanybody have any info on this ..or the group ? heard of them but havent heard of the violent stuff ? Is it BS or not ?
, Texas — The Bandera County Sheriff’s Office issued a warning Thursday to citizens about an anti-government movement known for acts of domestic terrorism.
The law enforcement agency said followers of The Sovereign Citizens Movement have been known to carry out violent acts, including killing law enforcement officers and other public servants.
Watch Tim Gerber’s Report | Read Sheriff’s Office Press Release (PDF)
The sheriff’s office told KSAT-12 News the warning was prompted by the recent shooting death of Bexar County Sheriff’s Deputy Sgt. Kenneth Vann.
“We have domestic terrorism right at our doorstep,” said Capt. Charlie Hicks of the Bandera County Sheriff’s Office.
Hicks said while there‘s no evidence Vann’s death had any links to the Sovereign Citizens, it’s the same type of crime followers are known for.
Report Post »Eraldo NY Tea Party
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 2:40pmNext tip point will be jerusalem
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 3:10pm@Banjarmon and Untamable Kate:
Indeed, we have for too long forsaken our own resposibilities to hold the leadership and the govt to our standards and remind them, they have jobs at OUR sufference; not the other way around. This will be the generation that will change America…it is our time for the good fight, and run the good race..we will be known as the generation of the Restorers of the Republic; or as the generation that chose to let her pass into the night forever.
My choice is long made up, she will not pass without me doing the best to keep it from happening.
Report Post »ILUVAMERICA
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 3:16pmI know of NO Christian who would wear a skull and crossbones Badge for ANY reason
Report Post »Please, Mr. Beck, explain the mreaning of the Badge you so proudly wore on you GBTV video
Eric_The_Red_State
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 3:34pmI‘m worried that it will be a nuclear bomb set off in New York that will be needed to get everyone’s attention…..
(If it were Chicago – nobody would care)
Report Post »fatjack
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 3:55pmILUVAMERICA
Mr. Beck, explain the mreaning of the Badge you so proudly wore on you GBTV video
Hey luvly follow the subject line, please. Glenn’s shirt is not the subject.
Report Post »CaptainKook
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 6:46pmI find it hard to see the conversion of Constantine to Christianity and the founding of the Catholic state religion as a turning point that “saved the world” or promoted liberty in any way.
The Roman Catholic Church has long been one of the biggest impediments to liberty in human history.
Report Post »Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 7:15pmILUVAMERICA (BS) – That is the origin of the Purple Heart, originally called the Badge of Merit given out by George Washington, which only 5 were known to be awarded. It’s from a possible clothing line, utilizing a closed-down textile factory that it located in a town without jobs, American made clothing, the best! It’s called entrepreneurship, if you had half a brain and actually watched Beck, you’d know these things.
Report Post »avenger
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 7:36pmmust read book…the lemmings are clueless..freedom is food stamps and not paying taxes,living off the gov….bad times are coming….
Report Post »BonnieBlueFlag
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 9:18pm@Texas Grasshopper
Bandera County Sherriff’s Department are one of the most corrupt agencies in South Texas. Check links below for evidence. Your posted article sounds just like the Tucson Sherriff blaming Sarah Palin and Ruh Limbaugh for that psycho kid’s shooting spree.
I thought they already had a suspect in custody in the Bexar County officer slaying? The two are clearly not related but maybe Bandera County is trying to get some DHS money- that’s my guess. 99% of Sovereign Citizens are completely law abiding folk- just like any group. They do not target police- that is a complete lie.
http://www.ksat.com/news/27316059/detail.html
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Bandera-ex-deputy-s-suit-dismissed-1040926.php
Report Post »mharry860
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 12:27amILUVAMERICA, it‘s a heart and Washington’s compass, your blind. If you would have watched the premier of GBTV, you would have known.
Report Post »Teaparty-grammy
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 2:24amWhat is really scary is how willing these “Progressives” are to hop into bed with radical Islam as a means of gaining power over the rest of us. They “think” they can control those billions of Muslims who hate us. I think they are wrong. They–and we–may very well pay dearly for this blind spot of theirs.
ODumbers idiotic remark aside–you know, the one about the primary mission of NASA being to make the Muslims feel good about their scientific accomplishments (all of which occurred 5,000 years ago, before Mohammed reared his ugly head)–the Muslim countries have accomplished little, and have, in fact experienced a precipitous decline from their pre-Islam glory days. That is because scientific advancement does not co-exist with the kind of repression of individual thought and freedom that Muslims regard as “normal”.
If these people gain the upper hand, the Dark Ages will descend upon human civilization once more, and that’s a fact. And if it happens, ODumber and others like him will own a huge share of the credit for bringing it about.
Report Post »Teaparty-grammy
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 2:32am@ Obama_Sham who Posted @Rose-Ellen: “So you admit to watching Beck”
Far be it from me to defend any ignorant troll, but that is better than the one I read earlier today by the idiot who said “I never watch Beck and never would, but I know his kickoff GBTV show was hate-filled.
Now I wonder . .. how would he KNOW that, if he did not watch? If he HAD watched, he would know better than to make a dumb statement like that.
And no, I don’t believe for a minute that GB is a “Muslim bigot” or advocating “Muslim genocide”. He is merely taking issue with fools like this troll who are apparently OK with Israeli genocide and clamoring for another Holocaust. Un-freaking-believable how blind and STOOPID these people are!
Report Post »CaptainKook
Posted on June 11, 2011 at 9:39amWhat is really scary is how willing these “Progressives” are to hop into bed with radical Islam as a means of gaining power over the rest of us.”
Ridiculousness at its finest.
Report Post »michael8506
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 3:32pmSomeone needs to write a new book, “The Severn Tipping Points That Destroyed The World.” It would be about what sent America off the edge, how we lost our souls and our country turned to socialism.
Report Post »