My thoughts on the upcoming Healthcare Vote

[MeanStreaker]

You clicked on this thread preparing to give me a lecture about iceberg sightings, didn't you?    All I can say is, "Good for you!"  That's exactly what you should be prepared to do.  In Appleseed we don't spend our time on these forums or at our events standing on the bow of the quickly sinking USS America calling out, "There's another iceberg a half mile off our starboard side!"  We don't focus on specific threats.  Instead, we try to get to the root of all icebergs by winning the hearts and minds of the American people, our neighbors... and bring them back to the fight for Liberty.

However, I wanted to share something with you... and yes, it involves the Healthcare debate and the likely vote that will take place this Sunday, March 21.

I found myself getting dragged down the past couple of weeks.  Along with the daily tasks I try to accomplish to further Appleseed, I've been spending a considerable amount of time contacting my legislators to try and make my voice heard about how I want them to represent me and my family.  That's what each of us, as Riflemen, pledged to do.

With every busy signal or canned, template email response I received, I found myself sinking a little further into a wallowing pit of "it doesn't matter" and "all my efforts aren't going to amount to anything."  




That's a terrible feeling.  

When I learned a vote will occur on this Sunday to move us closer to finalizing this battle... it hit me like a ton of bricks and made my seeming ineffectiveness even more discouraging.



After spending the past few evenings in prayer on this and other issues, it finally dawned on me late last night that all is well.  

You see, I won't be sitting around glued to the TV in a dark, depressing room waiting to hear how Sunday's vote was tallied.

No Sir.



I will be Appleseeding!


No matter how this issue turns out, I won't hear about it... and won't even care.  I'll be on a firing line this Sunday among my fellow Americans discovering with them how to know very well what we are about.  And I'll be on a different firing line in another part of the state next weekend.  And at two more a couple weeks after that.


I wish I could describe to you how peaceful that realization was to me.  


No matter the issue... No matter the battle... No matter the odds... We will keep persevering.  We will keep contacting our representatives.  We will keep organizing within our communities.  We will remain active.


And more important...  We will keep Appleseeding.


We will rely upon the goodness of the Cause.


And We Will Win.

[Hoover]

No matter the issue... No matter the battle... No matter the odds... We will keep persevering.  We will keep contacting our representatives.  We will keep organizing within our communities.  We will remain active.


And more important...  We will keep Appleseeding.

Words of nourishment for the trail.  Thanks for sharing--my day brightened immediately.

[javaguy]

Thanks for these thoughts.  I was nearing despair at what's happening in Washington.  Then I turned my thoughts to Appleseed, wrote my senators, and pushed on.  Last weekend I met many great Americans at the first AS in MN for the year and it gave me tremendous hope.  Watching the shooters persevere through difficult conditions gave me hope.  Two new Riflemen gave me hope.  Hearing the three strikes gave me hope.  And remembering how bleak things were for Gen. Washington at times, I take heart.  We will remain active and we will win.

[DryFire]

Here Here 
It can be very depressing at times hearing about how this nation is slowly sinking while I am trying to bail to the best of my abilities but reguardless WE WILL PRESS ON!!! In the end the Lord's will will be done and that is all that matters to me. 

DryFire

[SkyHawk]

I'm sad to admit I was about ready to give up until a friend (SecurePeace) turned me on to AS which has now made me positive.  Also have to admit this healthcare thing has gotten me back down a bit but your words are encouraging.  The weather has broke and my goal is to start construction of a DAR.  As our numbers build and people get up off the couch we will be able to change the direction back to what our forefathers wanted (and sacrificed) for us when on April 19th 1775 they said "ENOUGH!"   

[Gordon]

Likewise for me on all of it. Tempted with discouragement over the degree to which our Rep's really don't care what we think, and discouragement over the contempt in which they hold the Constitution and their sworn duty to it and its principles.

Yesterday I seriously considered travelling to D.C. this weekend, to participate in any rally which may spontaneously ignite. An acquaintance of mine, a fellow I know in passing and whom I'd like to spend more time with, was thinking of going, and I with him. This morning we decided to make some phone calls instead, and I think I'll be able to get him out to an Appleseed sometime soon.

"If elections are like thunderstorms, then Appleseed is about changing the climate". Yep. I'm into climate change now.

I'm not going to DC. I'm keeping my plan of going Appleseeding this weekend.

And as a "bonus" for me, it turns out that most of the people posting in this thread are RWVA bro's whom I'll be with this weekend! Meanstreaker, Dryfire, and Hoover,
I'm really lookin' forward to seeing you guys.

As the Marines so aptly put it, "Semper Fi".
-Gordon

[V]

Like the boy said in "The Patriot" - "Stay the course!"

Appleseed - Real Hope and Change

[didactic]

Voting on something Sunday?

I'm going to be grinding AQT's and telling Dangerous Old Men stories.

All ready on the firing line!

[scuzzy]

You clicked on this thread preparing to give me a lecture about iceberg sightings, didn't you?    All I can say is, "Good for you!"  

Well that is one heck of a big iceberg ahead of us. I wasn't ready to give a lecture however.

It's dang hard not to mention something looming over us like that. heh.

[para45acp]

 

Me likey 

[desertrat144]

No matter how they manipulate rules or vote on the issue, keep Election Day filed away in brain.  That's when we get the chance to fullfill another Constitutional mandate!

No quarter was asked, none will be given!

[Birdman]

I did all I could do on the health care matter.  I then went to the reloading bench! I feel better!  A true stress reliever.  Thank you Meanstreaker and others.  You are all patriots and I am glad to be a part of Appleseed with the likes of you all.

[scuzzy]

No quarter was asked, none will be given!

Amen.

I could'nt have said it better.

Stinkin' icebergs.

Here's what yahoo news said:

"Today is the day that is going to rank with the day we passed the civil rights bill in 1964," said Rep. John Dingell of Michigan, a member of Congress since 1955. "Today we're doing something that ranks with what we did with Social Security or Medicare. This is a day of which we can all be proud if we vote for that legislation."

It ranks with SocSec? heh. That's about right. heh.

What's next?

You guessed it: http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE59E0Q920091015

And MeanStreaker: yup. Appleseed. Damn the icebergs. Full speed ahead.

[MeanStreaker]

Damn the icebergs. Full speed ahead.

That right there is a fantastic potential signature line.   

[desertrat144]

...You guessed it: http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE59E0Q920091015

Folks- Read this article!  Obama, Clinton, Holder, et al via the UN are at it again.  See also "Bloomberg to Obama: Take "Federal Action" On Guns", p. 17, Chris Cox, American Rifleman, April, 2010 (emphasis added).  There are Torries ready to make another back door 'run' at U.S. sovereignty!

Keep an eye on your flanks, while on the trail.

Tom

[MeanStreaker]

I appreciate the responses to this thread, but let's keep the topic about Appleseed, even though healthcare prompted the topic. 

You'll notice the carefully chosen words throughout my original post never even say if I'm for or against the healthcare bill.      

[gunville]

This isn't an iceberg in the distance we are seeing, this is a gapping hole in the hull.

I love history. Santayana's quote on remembering the past not withstanding, love of history is a curse. You look at things and see the past playing out again.

With history what is unfolding before us is not difficult to see. It happened a dozen or more times in the last century.  They all thought "this can't happen here."

Desertrat suggests keeping the next election in mind. I suggest instead you work to assure there is another election, and be prepared for the burning of the Reichstag.

Appleseed or not, I'm in mourning today.  Mourning for the Constitution. The pain is real. The fear is real.

Do not be complacent.  Yes, work on Appleseed, but do not "hide" in it.

I hope these words were carefully chosen enough.

See you - either on the appleseed trail, or in the reeducation camps.

[B9]

See you - either on the appleseed trail, or in the reeducation camps.

Or both. Reeducation camp schedule..... http://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?board=277.0

[SamD]

Ok folks,
Nuff said
Get back on the trail and bust yer hump  

Yer wasting daylight.

[Puff-TMD]

Ok folks,
Nuff said
Get back on the trail and bust yer hump  

Yer wasting daylight.

Ah, so true, but sometimes a little venting while bailing helps the mind sort itself out and return to course.  Keep Appleseeding or you may wake up and find that you live in the world of Atlas Shrugged (by Ayn Rand, 1957 !!)

[EZ3]

'57 was a VERY good year! 

OK.  OK,  I'm bailing!  I'm BAILING!

[Jules]

When I stand and represent Appleseed, I am non partisan, non denominational. I don't make other people wrong because they don't believe the same way I do. I would hope this, a working forum, would practice what we preach.

Jules

[techres]

For a moment of distraction from MS's test of SOM SOM, there are many events without SB's, RH's, Instructors, and most importantly - shooters.

Please step away from the future, step into the present, and bring people of their vital past.

I have absolute faith and confidence in the mission, and in our future.

I do not have absolute faith and confidence that we will sell out all the April 17-18 shoots...



P.S. If all the shoots in your state are sold out, then start promoting for the ones in the states adjacent to you.  Let me know if you fill those too.   

[MeanStreaker]

When I stand and represent Appleseed, I am non partisan, non denominational.

That is exactly right and how we all need to represent ourselves under the Appleseed banner.  Here and out on the Trail.  Hence my carefully worded post.  Meaning we have to be non-partisan in terms of modern parties.  The only partisanship we should ever show is that we are very much pro-Whig, pro-Founding Principles, and very much anti-Tory.

We don't teach people what to think.  We teach them they need to start thinking.  That's all.

[SamD]

We teach them they need to start thinking

[para45acp]

  I..I...I JUST CAN'T WAIT till my first AS in Athens on the 17-18th 



Rest of the family cannot attend that weekend, so my second shoot won't be far behind. Wife is motivated, and checking dates right now... 

[Gordon]

... Rest of the family cannot attend that weekend, so my second shoot won't be far behind. Wife is motivated, and checking dates right now... 

What part of the state do you live in?

[RPD]

Para45acp,

  We look forward to having you in Athens.  My wife is scheduled for her first shoot.  My three sons (good, wholesome show for those who remember) and one of my daughters have all been to AS and ALL enjoyed it.

See you soon,
RPD