Clinging to My Guns and Religion

“And it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”

These words have resonated eerily through my psyche since first uttered by Barack Obama back in April of this year. Our country's founding fathers ensured us certain inalienable rights when the first ten amendments to the constitution, the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791. The First Amendment states in part: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech; guaranteeing us opportunity for free expression without consequence. The Second Amendment ensures that the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Mr. Obama, I along with many others do cling dearly to these rights afforded to us by our forefathers; not to explain our frustrations, but out of love for our country. We have no desire to live in a world that touts a "one world religion" like proponents of the "new age" or abolition of religion like the former Soviet Union. We greatly respect our right to own firearms for self protection in a hostile world.

Additionally, we have no antipathy toward others who aren't like us but only a strong desire to see all people treated equally and no one receiving preferential treatment because of race. With the exception of the native American population, we are all essentially immigrants so we are not "anti-immigrant" as long as the immigration was acheived legally. And we're certainly not anti-trade; we just don't enjoy seeing our beloved country sold out to foreign interests.

Mr Obama, we may need change as you declare but as long as change is for the better. If change means restrictions on our expression of free speech or our ability to worship, we must say "no thanks". If change makes hand guns illegal, we must say "no thanks". If change means whining about a war to fight terror that costs $10 billion a month but allowing illegal immigrants access to our social programs at a cost of $300 billion per year, then we must again say "no thanks". If change means selling our assets to foreign interests and allowing a huge trade deficit, we must say "no thanks".

We do need change, Mr. Obama. We need a legislature that eliminates "pork barrel" spending and promises true tax reform rather than false boasts about tax cuts. We need affordable health care for all people. We need a strong military that deters the threat of terrorism anywhere on earth. We need repair of our economy and a system that allows people affordable home ownership. What we really need, Mr. Obama, is less rhetoric and more action. John McCain may not be the answer either but he's fought evil and has the scars to prove it!

As for me, I'll cling to my guns and religion; not as a way to express my frustration, but out of deep respect and reverence for a country that shines above all others. God bless the USA!