War, Abortion, and Evil

Recently over on Fr. Longenecker's blog Standing On My Head there has been quite a lot of back and forth about abortion and war, and the numerical comparisons of which is a greater or lesser evil and in writing a response to a post over there, I began to write the following and thought it should really stand on its own over here.

None of us were alive when Christ walked the earth, yet we believe through our hearts, our minds, our faith and our understanding through His revelation in the world and in our lives that Jesus the Christ is the Messiah and the Son of God and that no one comes to the Father but through Him. Even for those with doubts it would be better to err on the side of belief, than of disbelief. Make sense?

None of us have ever seen a soul enter an unborn baby so no one can say beyond a doubt at which definitive moment a human being is created. Our Catholic Church states that it is at the moment of conception and that is the wisest of choices. Imagine the scandal if it was said that an unborn baby became human at X number of weeks only to later be proven wrong! Better again to err on the side of life, rather than death.

We then agree, as all Catholics should, that all abortions are wrong. Many are constantly making the comparisons to war but fail to understand a few basic facts. First is that a child in the womb is completely defenseless, while a combatant is not. An unborn child has not formed a conscience, while a combatant has. A defenseless child in the womb is at the full and complete mercy of the mother and does not God desire mercy?

I agree that the taking of an innocent life is inherently evil and that the taking of any other human life is something to be avoided at all costs, but I cannot say that it is always wrong, or that all war is wrong because innocent life must be defended against evil that would take that life. Sometimes that evil is personal, sometimes it is societal. Sometimes is means dealing a lethal blow, sometimes it means war and hopefully it will always be a Just War.

If I recall, God Himself commanded armies to war for righteousness sake, and St. Michael led battles in Heaven and defeated Satan and I'm sure it wasn't over a friendly game of Acey-Deucey. So then logically all war and all battles, in and of themselves are not necessarily wrong, but often necessary to defeat evil.

To say that you personally would not wage war or do battle is to say you would bend to the will of Satan, for indeed we all must at all times be ready to do battle and wage war against evil and the devil himself. Don't believe in the devil or his works? Well, His Holiness John Paul II is said to have spoken "He who does not believe in the devil does not believe in the Gospel."

My opinion on abortion is as clear as the position of our Church, that it is one of the most despicable and grievous sins against humanity. A far greater evil than war. I base that not on numbers or calculation of casualties. It is based on my moral conscience, my faith in the Magisterium and in the Holy Spirit that guides our Church.

So why do so many worry over which evil is greater or lesser, abortion or war? The lesser of two evils is still evil. Comparing which is the lesser or greater, counting the numbers of abortions or war casualties does nothing but place your focus on evil, instead of good. Why then not err on the side of belief in our Church and on the side of God?

And why also do we focus so intently on things over which we have no control? Can any one of us stop all war? No, there have even been battles in Heaven. Choose if you must to not participate in a political war and educate others through Love on the horrors and reality of such wars. Can anyone of us stop all abortions? No, people will too often choose convenience and self over life. Choose to not have an abortion and educate others through Love that may not know or understand the issue as we do. Can any one of us stop poverty? No, there will always be poor amongst us but we can be a living examples of Christ Jesus to one another, giving what you can when you can.

We must always have faith not only in the promises that Jesus gave us, but in each other and indeed in ourselves for we are living as the body of Christ! Are we not His Church in the world today? Did not Jesus also say "And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)

While evil may exist, men may be corrupted with greed and power, abortions and wars will continue, governments and laws may lead men astray, sinners will walk amongst the Saints even at times in the Church, but as Christ Himself has promised us even the gates of hell shall not prevail against His Church, against us! What a beautiful and perfect revelation!

There is no need to sit and ponder all these things until we work ourselves into quite a lather. We are not morally alone and much of work on questions of morality has already been done for us! If your thinking is clouded or something is unclear, turn to prayer and turn to the Church. Since as Jesus taught us our Catholic Church will stand against the very gates of hell, she MUST be correct in both her authority and her teachings!

Perhaps we should stop trying to analyze everything in our own narrow-visioned worldly ways and have faith that God's plan will unfold in His way and His time, not ours. Only Jesus can bear the sins of the whole world. While still keeping our responsibilities to do unto one another as Jesus commanded us, perhaps we need to focus less on all the social ills of the whole world and before attempting to remove the speck in your brother's eye, remove the plank from your own.

Besides, it's so very hard to see the face of Christ in one another with a plank in your own eye.

May God Bless Each of You.

Christian Infidels in Iraq Will Have Throats Slit...

Al Qaeda-linked group orders Iraqi Christians to leave country or have throats slit (link)

The letter reads:

“The Secretary General of the members of the Islamic Brigade decided to give the Christian crusader infidels of Baghdad and the other provinces the last warning, to leave Iraq immediately and permanently and join Benedict XVI and his followers, who have trampled on the greatest symbols of humanity and Islam.”

“There’ll be no room in Iraq for the Christian infidels from now on,” the letter continues, threatening that those who remain will have their throats slit as “it is happening to the Christians of Mosul.” This is more than likely a reference to a recent attack on two sisters who were killed by Muslim extremists.

OK, it's not as if we haven't heard this rhetoric before, but when is enough enough? This isn't our brother that needs forgiveness seventy times seven times, but an evil declared enemy who is swearing to exterminate Christians.

It's obvious that their own religious or political leaders cannot control them and neither can our political leaders. When are people going to wake up to the fact that this IS a religious war that they started and it cannot be fought on political terms!

I find it both sad and intriguing that the evil in the world recognizes that Catholicism is the True Church as founded by Jesus Christ and the center of true Christian faith and therefore their enemy, but even Fundamentalists and Evangelical Christians don't! Kinda funny, kinda sad, kinda pathetic. Perhaps we should just send over all the Fundamentalists and Evangelicals to fight, since the enemy doesn't think of them as true Christians? Hmmm....

Even taking all the money out of the Middle East with alternative energy, it would take decades to deplete the accumulated oil wealth and even that won't change their sociopathic and egocentric spiritual beliefs. I'll call it as one of two outcomes: 1) Their own nuclear detonation with a nuclear response or 2) One Last, Final, and Most Holy Crusade. (If they think THIS is a Crusade, they don't have a clue as to what is coming.)

How long will these atrocities be allowed before the whole world opens it's eyes?

Catholic Bishops Will Fight Obama on Abortion!

AMEN! It would seem that our American Catholic Bishops are finally taking a more traditional and morally correct position on the issue of abortion and taking it right to the politicians who are leading American Catholics astray.

I only wish our Bishops took this hard stance long BEFORE the election, say 30 years ago. In fact, this has ALWAYS been the position of the Catholic Church and it has never changed and never will. Personally I'm very proud that the American Catholic Church has has this "re-examination of conscience" and is willing to stand up to these politicians and organizations for not only defying the church teachings, but more importantly in defense of innocent life.

In the past, some of the American Catholic Church leaders mistakenly embraced certain of the more "liberal" politicians and political entities who then gained a foothold amongst the Catholic faithful. But Catholic public leaders and even some "Catholic" organizations need to realize that the do NOT stop being a Catholic when governing, legislating, judging, policing, or whatever and they have a moral responsibility to not lead the people astray away from God's laws and teachings. There is most certainly a higher authority that you will have to answer to.

OK, time for a little Catechism 101:

The Catholic Church bases all of its teachings on Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture (the Bible). The teaching authority of the Catholic Church, called the Magisterium, teaches only from Tradition and Scripture.

Jesus the Christ empowered his Apostles with the Holy Spirit and commanded them to go forth, teach what they witnessed and learned from Him, and create the Catholic Church throughout the world. Very basically, their words became the Sacred Scripture but HOW they lived their lives and HOW they inspired others to live through their examples is our Catholic Sacred Tradition.

Today our Bishops, Cardinals and His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI are descended from that very line of authority and with that same empowerment - to teach and spread the gospel of Jesus through both Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. Still with me? Hang in there!

The task of interpreting the Word of God rests solely with His Holiness the Pope and with those Bishops in communion with him. Men who have dedicated their lives to Jesus and the careful and deliberate study of those teachings. It is most certainly not a task for some "Cafeteria Catholic" that thinks he or she can interpret it on his or her own according to their own agenda.

Actually, if you take away the teaching authority of the church (the Magisterium) and eliminate Sacred Tradition, what you are left with is only the Bible by itself: Sola Scriptura and that, my friends is the doctrine of the Protestant Church! That one individual can completely interpret the Bible alone with no need of divine inspiration, no sacred tradition, no milennia of collected studies, nothing!

So basically, what it boils down to is this. Any Catholic that defies God's law, as interpreted and taught by the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, or causes another to do the same, has sinned against God and is not a Catholic.

God does not exist by our definition...we exist by His.

As St. Augustine reminds us: "If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself." St. Matthew also cautions us: "And if he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican" (Matthew 18:17).

Catholic Cardinals and Bishops are now reminding American political leaders, and should remind all American Catholics as well, that you cannot receive Holy Communion if you openly oppose the teachings of the Church. Any Catholic that openly opposes the teachings of the church and is Pro-Choice has by their own choice has excommunicated themselves from receiving Holy Communion.

Since these politicians are so brazen about publicly disobeying the Church and leading the flock astray with their lies and deceptions, perhaps it's time for our Church to be more public about their excommunication. If their public office and their faith are at odds, well that's an ethical dilemma they'll have to deal with. They can either step down from their office or formally renounce their Catholic Faith (they've actually informally done so already).

Perhaps they need a little "motivation" and a more formal and public Papal Excommunication of those more vocal Catholic politicians would help? Maybe that would make a proper example out of those who intentionally lead God's children astray to support the death of innocents.

I urge each and every God fearing and life respecting Catholic to write immediately to your Bishops suggesting just that. My faith is not a popularity contest, it's about obeying the will of God. I'd rather have just ONE true Catholic friend in my life than 100 "Cafeteria Catholics".

May God Bless Each of You!


Story Here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081112/ap_on_re_us/rel_catholic_bishops_9

Obama and the Bishops

I have the utmost respect for Father Neuhaus for writing this article and for all those Bishops that had the strength of their faith to say what had to be said, defending our church's position and upholding the sanctity of sacred life. Being in a position of responsibility is not a popularity contest.

For those Bishops and all Catholics that advanced the abortionist agenda through direct action or silent agreement, you have failed in your responsibilities as Catholics and your souls shall be stained with the blood of those innocents. I can only hope that our Lord Jesus will forgive your sins and not give you what you deserve, but the mercy that is His.

Then again there's that millstone thing...
-Bob


OBAMA AND THE BISHOPS
by FATHER RICHARD JOHN NEUHAUS

In a few days, the American bishops of the Catholic Church will be holding their annual fall meeting in Baltimore.

High on the agenda is how Catholic bishops can better communicate Catholic teaching on social justice both in the Church and in the public square. It is understood that the priority issue of social justice is the protection of innocent human life -- from the entrance gates of life to the exit gates, and at every step along life's way. The most massive and brutal violation of justice is the killing of millions of children in the womb.

Read the rest of the story here.

JUST LOOK by Cardinal Edward Egan

JUST LOOK
by Cardinal Edward Egan

The picture on this page is an untouched photograph of a being that has been within its mother for 20 weeks. Please do me the favor of looking at it carefully.

Have you any doubt that it is a human being?If you do not have any such doubt, have you any doubt that it is an innocent human being?

If you have no doubt about this either, have you any doubt that the authorities in a civilized society are duty-bound to protect this innocent human being if anyone were to wish to kill it?

If your answer to this last query is negative, that is, if you have no doubt that the authorities in a civilized society would be duty-bound to protect this innocent human being if someone were to wish to kill it, I would suggest — even insist — that there is not a lot more to be said about the issue of abortion in our society. It is wrong, and it cannot — must not — be tolerated.

But you might protest that all of this is too easy. Why, you might inquire, have I not delved into the opinion of philosophers and theologians about the matter? And even worse: Why have I not raised the usual questions about what a "human being" is, what a "person" is, what it means to be "living," and such? People who write books and articles about abortion always concern themselves with these kinds of things. Even the justices of the Supreme Court who gave us "Roe v. Wade" address them. Why do I neglect philosophers and theologians? Why do I not get into defining "human being," defining "person," defining "living," and the rest? Because, I respond, I am sound of mind and endowed with a fine set of eyes, into which I do not believe it is well to cast sand. I looked at the photograph, and I have no doubt about what I saw and what are the duties of a civilized society if what I saw is in danger of being killed by someone who wishes to kill it or, if you prefer, someone who "chooses" to kill it. In brief: I looked, and I know what I saw.

But what about the being that has been in its mother for only 15 weeks or only 10? Have you photographs of that too? Yes, I do. However, I hardly think it necessary to show them. For if we agree that the being in the photograph printed on this page is an innocent human being, you have no choice but to admit that it may not be legitimately killed even before 20 weeks unless you can indicate with scientific proof the point in the development of the being before which it was other than an innocent human being and, therefore, available to be legitimately killed. Nor have Aristotle, Aquinas or even the most brilliant embryologists of our era or any other era been able to do so. If there is a time when something less than a human being in a mother morphs into a human being, it is not a time that anyone has ever been able to identify, though many have made guesses. However, guesses are of no help. A man with a shotgun who decides to shoot a being that he believes may be a human being is properly hauled before a judge. And hopefully, the judge in question knows what a "human being" is and what the implications of someone's wishing to kill it are. The word "incarceration" comes to mind.

However, we must not stop here. The matter becomes even clearer and simpler if you obtain from the National Geographic Society two extraordinary DVDs. One is entitled "In the Womb" and illustrates in color and in motion the development of one innocent human being within its mother. The other is entitled "In the Womb — Multiples" and in color and motion shows the development of two innocent human beings — twin boys — within their mother. If you have ever allowed yourself to wonder, for example, what "living" means, these two DVDs will be a great help. The one innocent human being squirms about, waves its arms, sucks its thumb, smiles broadly and even yawns; and the two innocent human beings do all of that and more: They fight each other. One gives his brother a kick, and the other responds with a sock to the jaw. If you can convince yourself that these beings are something other than living and innocent human beings, something, for example, such as "mere clusters of tissues," you have a problem far more basic than merely not appreciating the wrongness of abortion. And that problem is — forgive me — self-deceit in a most extreme form.

Adolf Hitler convinced himself and his subjects that Jews and homosexuals were other than human beings. Joseph Stalin did the same as regards Cossacks and Russian aristocrats. And this despite the fact that Hitler and his subjects had seen both Jews and homosexuals with their own eyes, and Stalin and his subjects had seen both Cossacks and Russian aristocrats with theirs. Happily, there are few today who would hesitate to condemn in the roundest terms the self-deceit of Hitler, Stalin or even their subjects to the extent that the subjects could have done something to end the madness and protect living, innocent human beings.

It is high time to stop pretending that we do not know what this nation of ours is allowing — and approving — with the killing each year of more than 1,600,000 innocent human beings within their mothers. We know full well that to kill what is clearly seen to be an innocent human being or what cannot be proved to be other than an innocent human being is as wrong as wrong gets. Nor can we honorably cover our shame (1) by appealing to the thoughts of Aristotle or Aquinas on the subject, inasmuch as we are all well aware that their understanding of matters embryological was hopelessly mistaken, (2) by suggesting that "killing" and "choosing to kill" are somehow distinct ethically, morally or criminally, (3) by feigning ignorance of the meaning of "human being," "person," "living," and such, (4) by maintaining that among the acts covered by the right to privacy is the act of killing an innocent human being, and (5) by claiming that the being within the mother is "part" of the mother, so as to sustain the oft-repeated slogan that a mother may kill or authorize the killing of the being within her "because she is free to do as she wishes with her own body."

One day, please God, when the stranglehold on public opinion in the United States has been released by the extremists for whom abortion is the center of their political and moral life, our nation will, in my judgment, look back on what we have been doing to innocent human beings within their mothers as a crime no less heinous than what was approved by the Supreme Court in the "Dred Scott Case" in the 19th century, and no less heinous than what was perpetrated by Hitler and Stalin in the 20th. There is nothing at all complicated about the utter wrongness of abortion, and making it all seem complicated mitigates that wrongness not at all. On the contrary, it intensifies it.

Do me a favor. Look at the photograph again. Look and decide with honesty and decency what the Lord expects of you and me as the horror of "legalized" abortion continues to erode the honor of our nation. Look, and do not absolve yourself if you refuse to act.

Edward Cardinal Egan
Archbishop of New York

© Archdiocese of New York 2006-2008. All rights reserved

Democrats Targeting Private Retirement Accounts!

Well, that didn't take long. They've been talking about this for a while, but now the government that ALREADY cannot manage money is making plans to take YOUR hard earned retirements for redistribution.

Interesting enough in her testimony Teresa Ghilarducci, professor of economic policy analysis at the New School for Social Research in New York, in hearings Oct. 7 drew the most attention and criticism.

Ghilarducci said, “humans often lack the foresight, discipline, and investing skills required to sustain a savings plan.”

Speaking as an outsider, I suppose? They should rename that school to the New School for Socialism Research, because folks that is exactly what this plan is. They don't think you're smart enough to make your OWN financial decisions, so they'll do it for you. They already think you're incapable of defending yourself and are after our guns. Soon enough, you won't be smart enough to make ANY decisions on your own, so they will tell you what you can say. Then what you can do. Then what to think.

Am I the only one that sees where this is headed? Don't think so? Read a history book, folks.

Democrats Targeting Private Retirement Accounts!

We are falling further and further from the Grace of God...

Oops, your agenda is showing....

Churches across America reflect on Obama election.

Really? We didn't even mention it my church; the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic church.

But this is what happens when people misuse their positions to stir fear and hatred. This is not equality. Ah, but there's too much money to be made in fear mongering and racial hatred! So who's the capitalist now? This is most certainly not what Dr. King strove for.

And who is she to speak for God? God's vindication against whom? I thought we are all equal in the sight of God? We are in the sight of my God, but apparently not in the sight of her God.

Since there is only one God, one of us is wrong.

I would bet my eternal soul on it, but it's not mine to gamble with. It too belongs to God.

Obama Zombies - Brainless, Heartless, Godless...

You have got to be kidding me! He's not "elect" for 5 days and already we have THIS? Folks, we are all witness to the beginnings of the next American Civil War which will also, by the Grace of God, be the Second American Revolution...

Barack Obama has done more to hurt racial equality and race relations than Senator Calhoun and I believe has undone everything that Dr. Martin Luther King fought to achieve. This is a disgrace.

Man arrested for Freedom Of Speech at an Obama Rally.

Notice how his blind and mindless followers follow chanting like those zombies in "The Mummy"...

IMHOTEP.....IMHOTEP....

OBAMA.....OBAMA....


People, this is about to get a whole lot uglier.

Resident or Citizen?

Originally written April 6, 2007, but it needs to be said again (and again, and again):

When I was a Boy Scout, I remember studying hard day after day to earn a Merit Badge I wanted badly; my Citizenship Merit Badge. To me, it meant that I not only understood how my community, state and nation worked, but I knew exactly where I fit in and what was expected of me. Earning that badge was one of the proudest moments of my youth.

Later in school I learned even more about citizenship, but never anywhere, either in the Scouts or school, did I ever study "residency".

What exactly is the difference between a resident and a citizen? Here's Webster Online's definition of each:

Resident:
1: a) living in a place for some length of time. b) serving in a regular or full-time capacity ; also : being in

Citizen:
1: An inhabitant of a city or town; especially : one entitled to the rights and privileges of a freeman
2: a) a member of a state b) a native or naturalized person who owes allegiance to a government and is entitled to protection from it
3: a civilian as distinguished from a specialized servant of the state

One thing I've noticed over the years is that there are more and more residents and less citizens. Why is this? A resident is just someone who lives in a city or town for a period of time. Squatters and long term illegals can be considered "residents" but in my opinion they are NOT citizens and therefore not entitled to the rights and privileges of a freedom.

Why such a harsh outlook? Because the simple truth is that with any and all rights comes responsibility and you cannot exercise that responsibility unless you do the right thing from the start. Want to be a citizen? Then EARN it!

As just a resident, you have no responsibility to your neighborhood, city, state or nation, you're just a leech, a parasite whose sole purpose is to take for yourself with nothing in return and no regard for the effect on those around you, your neighborhood, state and nation. Simply put: a drain on society (you know who you are).

Being a responsible citizen means taking part in your community, and by that I do NOT mean your PTA or soccer league. I'm talking about attending your town council meetings, contacting your state and federal representatives, voicing your opinion on the issues, and speaking out when necessary against elected leaders to remind them just who put them there and where their power comes. Giving it back to secure those blessings of liberty.

It means taking an active role in society, and not just in those areas that benefit you personally, for indeed those short term goals will give you the short term rewards you seek. But when you look beyond yourself, you just might see that those long term goals are the most satisfying and actually provide the greatest reward.

Unfortunately, we live in a nation that is full of "residents" with fewer and fewer citizens every year and it shows. It shows in our laws, in our welfare programs, it shows in our increasing crime rates, in increased drug use, in illegal immigration and it shows in our voter turnouts. Residents just don't care. But rest assured, the politicians in power LOVE residents and HATE citizens! Residents are apathetic and more easily controlled by fear, because they just don't know the laws. Citizens, on the other hand, keep an constant watch on those government officials in positions of power and hold them accountable They initiate change for the betterment of society and the nation.

Sadly, I don't see a hopeful future, rather I see a continued downhill decline for us as a nation unless people start making drastic, and meaningful changes in their lives. Changes that will facilitate the shift from resident to citizen.

The only way we will survive as a nation is when people shake off the selfish and apathetic role of resident and take up the noble and rewarding mantle of civil and social responsibility and become a nation of citizens! There isn't a government in the world that can stand up to an intelligent, educated, informed and well armed nation of citizens...not even our own.

I suppose the question that each of you should be asking yourselves is are you a resident or are you a citizen?

Post Election Shame

First written on November 5th, 2008 @ 0015

I am now officially ashamed of America. Not all of you mind you, but clearly 53% of you who voted for Obama and Against America. I spent my youth and young adulthood in the United States Navy confronting the Soviet threat in the 1980's hoping to deter nuclear destruction only so we could be defeated from within and by ourselves. I missed the births of my daughters, missed countless birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, funerals, family time watching my daughters grow up and it even cost me my marriage. "Sorry, sweetie, daddy has to go away so the bad guys won't come over here and hurt you." What a croc. Now I have to look them in the eye and apologize for that lie because I failed to see the enemy within.

But I felt that as long as America remained free, it was all worth it. Every moment away from home was worth it. I and many of my fellow patriots would have readily fought and died for a man of integrity, a real American Patriot who happened to be our President. Someone like Ronald Reagan. But today all that sacrifice was cast aside by people who voted merely on race, on charisma and on empty promises of change. What's wrong with tradition? What's wrong with stability and values? Where were all these voters in 2004? Sitting lazily and idly by doing nothing but complaining about their plight.

Today my nation died along with the dream that once was America AS DESIGNED BY OUR FOUNDERS, which is still the most genius design ever created until we mucked it up. Oh yes, history was made tonight to be certain. America has taken her first steps into Socialism and henceforth gets what it deserves. Try reading "The Federalist Papers" and then perhaps, we can have an intelligent discussion on the design of America.

There is a whole lot more to being an American that a birth certificate and voter registration card and your responsibilities as Americans do not begin and end at the voting booth. It takes a lifetime of hard work, dedication and loyalty to our Constitution. It means being active in your government. It means calling out your elected when the fail to keep their promises, or stray from the path. It means praising them when they succeed. It means hard, dedicated and continuous work. It is certainly the most satisfying work any citizen in the world can ever imagine. But then again, today's Americans are afraid of hard work unless something's in it for them. Believe me, neither Obama or McCain are the cure for what is wrong with America. That can only be cured by each and every one of you making intelligent, careful and responsible decisions based on the facts, not on what the media would have you believe. Or what anyone else would have you believe.

This whole election was nothing more than mass hysteria. Just 4 years ago he said he wasn't qualified to be President because he lacked the experience and amazingly and quite magically got all that experience with just 147 days in the Senate! It's a MIRACLE!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BnLozS-TnM.

Remember that nasty and boring history class that so many insisted on skipping or not paying attention in? Here's a gem for you: How about his plans to create a para-military civilian force greater than our own military!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt2yGzHfy7s

First, he has no lawful authority to do so, even as President. Second, it's already been done badk in the 1930's. Hitler created his Brownshirts for the exact same reasons in the 1930's who were later adopted into the SS.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturmabteilung

HINT: We American gun owners are already 80 million strong (that we know of wink-wink). FAR greater than anything that could be devised even combined WITH the military and stronger than any military on earth, even our own. It was kinda planned that way so the people would always wield more power than the government, be it by word or by sword. Remember that silly little "behind every blade of grass" thingie? No? Back to history class for you!

So by all means....dance and celebrate, America! Sing the praises of your new "messiah" right along with Ahmadinejad, Khadafi, Castro, Chavez, and all anti-American, pro-communist and pro-terrorist forces of the world, without any visible exception, who are all quite publicly celebrating with you tonight.

Let's see how you feel in four years. I'll wait.