Posts Tagged ‘Freedom’
“Isn’t our choice really not one of left or right, but of up or down? Down through the welfare state to statism, to more and more government largesse accompanied always by more government authority, less individual liberty, and ultimately, totalitarianism, always advanced as for our own good. The alternative is the dream conceived by our Founding Fathers, up to the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with an orderly society. We don’t celebrate dependence day on the Fourth of July. We celebrate Independence Day.” –Ronald Reagan
Did that headline get your attention? It should have. It’s true, by the way. I’m not pro-illegal alien; I’m pro-freedom, and in the current party philosophy, that makes me a libertarian-Republican. While I have serious concerns with the spending addiction demonstrated by many Republicans over the last 15 years or so, I still believe that the Republican Party is better for America than the Democrat Party.
So, I want what’s good for Republicans, and that means the news that Arizona has seen a drop in illegals by more than 100,000 people is bad news.
Wait, wait… let me explain.
In 1965, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act as a part of the legislative push for civil rights. It was intended to make sure states didn’t discriminate against blacks through poll taxes, literacy tests, etc. The federal government determined which states or jurisdictions had a history of such discrimination and essentially took control of the electoral process through a process call “pre-clearance.”
What that means is that if a state makes any kind of change that affects elections, that change must be approved by the U.S. Justice Department. The absurdity of the law, now more than 40 years later, is that a local election panel (in a pre-clearance state) can’t change even a polling site without the Fed’s blessing.
Arizona is a pre-clearance state, purportedly because the state elections process at some point discriminated against Native Americans.
The biggest impact pre-clearance has in Arizona is on redistricting. Before any new boundaries go into effect, the Justice Department must approve.
Without getting into the nitty gritty of the legal jargon and process, the way that this works in Arizona is that districts (both Congressional and Legislative) currently represented by a minority are protected to maintain their “majority-minority” status. That is, the majority of voters in that district must be minorities, which in this day and age is mostly Hispanic.
For example, during the 2001 redistricting process, the first Congressional district drawn was Rep. Ed Pastor’s, because it needed to have a sufficient number of Hispanics in order to pass DOJ muster. Because Hispanics have low turnout in elections compared to others, Pastor’s district had to be “packed” with a larger number of Democrat voters to “ensure” he could be re-elected.
The 2001 redistricting produced two new Congressional districts as a result of population growth. One of the new districts was a majority-minority district in Southwestern Arizona, which Raul Grijalva won. The other was the creation the sprawling 1st Congressional District, originally won by Rick Renzi.
So, what does this have to do with illegals fleeing the state being bad for the GOP?
According to a number of reports, the number of illegal aliens in Arizona is down more than 100,000 in the past year or so. Until last year, it was conventional wisdom that the next census would result in Arizona again gaining two Congressional seats. But with a loss of 100,000 people (yes, the census counts illegals, the census is not a count of citizens; it is a count of people – it’s plainly in the Constitution), Arizona is likely to only gain one Congressional seat.
Because of the need to protect Pastor and Grijalva in the newly-drawn districts, the majority of the Hispanic population would be gerrymandered into one of those two districts, leaving too few minorities to populate a third majority-minority district.
Which means that Republicans, who could have added two seats to their delegation, can only add one. As a Republican, that frustrates me, particularly as we go into a couple of election cycles that will be very good for Republicans. Democrats already hold three seats that should be Republican (CD1, CD5 and CD8), and there is a good chance that all three will be recaptured by Republicans this fall. With Congressmen Jeff Flake and Trent Franks running for reelection, and since CD3 will certainly stay Republican, the shift in the Arizona delegation could go from three Republicans and five Democrats to six Republicans and two Democrats.
If we had those 100,000 illegals back, 2012 could see an 8-2 GOP-Dem delegation.
That’s pro-Republican and pro-Freedom.
This is tragic, and hits close to home. I’ve known Tom Stewart for a number of years, and was always impressed by his commitment to the American Dream. He was a guy who put his money where his mouth was, walked the walked, talked the talk. He was a freedom fighter.
No one will ever know how much of an impact he had on conservatism in America, because no one person knows all the different things in which he engaged. What small part I saw in that world was impressive by itself, but I know it was just a smidgen of his influence.
Tom Stewart was a “great American” before being a great American was cool. Not only did he create thousands and thousands of jobs, he worked hard at protecting the system that allowed him to be successful. He didn’t just take his piece of the pie, he made sure there was a bigger pie left behind.
When I learned of his death, it rattled me. Bad. I realize now it is because it is not just the passing of a man, but the passing of era.
Our prayers go out to the families of Tom and Madena Stewart. RIP.
UPDATE
An updated story here. The official statement from SGA below.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Feb. 15, 2010) – Services Group of America (SGA) has announced that Chairman & CEO Thomas J. Stewart was killed in a helicopter accident yesterday (Feb. 14) north of Scottsdale at approximately 3 p.m.
The company helicopter was en route to Scottsdale Air Park from the Flagstaff area when it crashed in a desert wash.
A total of five passengers were aboard the helicopter when it departed from the Flagstaff area. Authorities conducted a thorough ground and air search of the crash area Sunday afternoon and into the night. They are certain there were no survivors. Authorities are advising that it will take some time to identify all of the passengers.
The cause of the crash is not known at this time and the company is working closely with the investigating agencies.
Stewart, 64, was a long-time philanthropist who supported education and the arts; a community activist championing free enterprise; a life-long adventurer; and a foodservice industry leader.
Services Group of America is a $2.7 billion company which is ranked 157th on the Forbes’ Largest Private Companies in the U.S. list. The company is the parent company of a number of companies including Food Services of America, Systems Services of America, Amerifresh, Ameristar Meats and Development Services of America. The roots of the company go back 40 years when Stewart was building Stevedoring Services of America in Seattle.
He moved the corporate headquarters from Seattle to Scottsdale in 2006.
The company is privately-held and family-owned, a structure that will not change despite the accident, according to Peter K. Smith, president and COO of SGA.
“Tom was first and foremost a visionary,” he said. “He had a clear and concise continuity plan for the enterprise in place and was completely confident in the current leadership team.”
“With our people, our processes and our technology, we will continue our current operations without missing a beat,” said Smith. “That’s how Tom planned it and that’s what he wanted. We continue to be a privately-held, family-owned business that offers the highest level of service in our industries. That will never change.”
Stewart was known for being a deft financier and a calculating risk taker. During his career, he formed or acquired 45 companies; sold or spun-off 22; merged 18 into other companies and closed 79. He is legendary for his epic adventures including a horseback trip with his family riding the 2,600-mile Pacific Crest trail from Mexico to Canada and a jeep safari across the continent of Africa. He was an avid golfer, horseman, rancher, fisherman, skier, scuba diver and team roper.
The Stewart family is currently making memorial service arrangements which will be announced at a later date.
For more historical information on SGA and Tom Stewart, go to www.servicesgroupofamerica.com
Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall coming down. I remember standing in the living room of a friend of mine in Indiana in shock with what was happening. The first thing I thought of was Reagan’s speech at the Brandenburg Gate in 1987, in which he said:
General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!
To think that only two years and five months later the wall came down. That’s power. That’s influence. That’s leadership.
I received an email today from my brother-in-law that he had written to mark the 8th anniversary of the horrific terrorist attacks of 9/11 2001. It is excellent.
Like most of you, I remember clearly where I was and what I was doing when news of the attacks was received on September 11, 2001. Shortly after the first tower fell, I was driving my daughter to work, and I recall making the comment, ‘The world will never be the same.’ Through the ensuing years that prophetic statement is being realized…..in both positive and negative ways.
A particularly positive outcome was the surge in patriotism and expressions of faith that followed. In many ways those positive effects continue to this day. During the aftermath, it was common to hear people speak of faith and divine intervention.
These comments were often made in business settings, where in the past it would have been very unusual to hear such pronouncements. The comments weren’t in reference to a particular religion or belief system, but rather references to belief in a supreme being, with expressions of gratitude for his love, protection, comfort and care.
Another positive of singular note was the selfless sacrifice of those on flight 93, who gave their lives that others might live. The ultimate sacrifice and evidence of true friendship. ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ John 15:13
My employer in 2001, Marsh & McLennan, had 1,908 colleagues based in the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Miraculously, only 295 perished on 9/11, an additional 54 victims were vendors, consultants and insurance company reps who were meeting with Marsh colleagues at the time of the attack. Among the victims were a few dear friends, along with numerous acquaintances and respected colleagues. I was a frequent visitor to Manhattan during the years before and after the attacks, and I remember the many phone calls from friends and family members confirming that I wasn’t in New York that particular week. For several days after the attacks there was a constant stream of phone calls and emails as we networked together, confirming who was and who was not in the WTC that morning. There were stories of loss, and amazing stories of faith and protection. One good friend was in the lobby waiting for an elevator, fortunately the first elevator was full and while he waited for another, the plane hit the building. He remained in the area briefly and narrowly escaped when the building came down. Multitudes of similar stories can be told. In remembrance, I periodically wear a lapel pin with an image of the flag, the Marsh logo and the inscription, ‘Semper Unitas’ (Always Together), 9/11/2001.
While the image of Marsh has been tarnished in the post Spitzer era, the days following 9/11 were its finest hour. The firm responded immediately, humanely and generously. In the 2001 annual report, MMC recorded pre-tax charges of $126 million for costs related directly to 9/11, which were not covered by MMC’s insurance program. The insurance funded charges were many multiples of the uninsured charges incurred. A monument to those who were lost stands in the plaza adjacent to the Marsh world headquarters in mid-town Manhattan. It was my privilege to attend the dedication on September 11, 2003. Eight years have now past, yet feelings remain tender during this season of the year.
My purpose in writing is not to harrow up memories of tragedy or loss. I write in remembrance and respect for those who are gone, and more importantly, as a reminder of the transient nature of our lives and relationships, and the importance of living fully in the moment and appreciating and cherishing our families, friends and colleagues.
Semper Unitas
Iran is in meltdown. Iran is the new frontlines of democracy and expanding freedom.
Which is it? For days after the latest election in which Ahmadinejad claimed victory, the Western press largely ignored the budding protests in Iran. These protests are essentially demonstrations by what we could call the grassroots of Iran saying that their voices have been stifled by an unfair election process.
It’s also kind of a big deal that the U.S. is officially not recognizing the election of Ahmdinejad.
Here is a link to a youtube video of thousands of people marching through the streets of Tehran. Here is a series of photos from flickr. Amazing stuff. Can you imagine this happening even ten years ago?
This is a direct result of policies of George W. Bush and his vision of spreading democracy across the world. You can’t tell me that the protests in Tehran and other parts of Iran aren’t part of a growing freedom movement there. And this will not be the last time we see these kinds of events in countries that have been less than free.
Hopefully, this will provide some clarity to the Obama administration on foreign policy posturing.
One of the best analysis of the situation in Iran is here, on CBS News, by a friend of mine, Ben Domenech. Here are some excerpts:
There is only one conflict in Iran today, to paraphrase Viktor Yushchenko — and it is between the regime and the people.
You wouldn’t know that from watching the news channels on TV in America today, or from reading sites like CNN World, featuring lonely wire service stories on what’s going on in Tehran. But news and images streamed in all day from Facebook and Twitter with reports from individuals on the ground — reports of students standing up to the onrushing military and police forces, of rocks and fire and tear gas, and even of clerics protesting the election’s result. Taken together, the scene appears to be the most violent protests in Iran in decades.
Many of these reports are unverified, as everything from within the fog of war tends to be. But the images and videos coming through are not. And Agence France Press has reported that at least ten leaders of two Iranian reformist political groups have been arrested. And throughout the day, access to means of communication were restricted.
***
Unfortunately, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s opponent, Mir Hossein Mousavi, is not exactly the paradigm-shifting reformist the Western press has made him out to be. The reason neoconservatives like Daniel Pipes have professed support for the current president is that Ahmadinejad’s extremist statements exposed the blatant radicalism of the Iranian regime, ruled by Spiritual Leader Ali Hoseini Khameini (the president is merely his flunky in Iran’s system of rule). Even if given the presidency, the reform-minded Mousavi will not have any real impact on nuclear policy or other areas that threaten America’s interests in the Middle East.
Yet this does not make him any less important. At the moment, Mousavi has become a symbolic expression of the disenfranchisement of the populace, his victimhood the fuel for a social uprising that resembles in so many ways the Tiananmen student movement whose anniversary the world marked just days ago. Supreme Leader Khameini has officially endorsed the Ahmedinejad victory, meaning that the revolt going on in Iran at this moment is not a revolt within the system, but against it. Mousavi is no longer just another politician, but he has by his actions become an enemy of the Islamic Republic — a republic in name only — and the protesters today have joined with him in this action. This is not the sort of thing that the ruling authorities will forget or forgive. There will be consequences, and they will almost assuredly be bloody.
Secretary of State Clinton has voiced her concerns about the election result, while the White House reiterated its offers of dialogue with the Iranian regime. It is a strikingly disturbing thought that President Obama would do such a thing, in the wake of the events of the past few days — granting legitimacy to the Mad Hatter of Tehran — but this is obviously his decision. Let us hope someone will call the president’s mind to a higher purpose, to catch hold of a moment when his support for freedom has the potential to have a very real impact.
“Any system is inherently unstable that has no peaceful means to legitimize its leaders. In such cases, the very repressiveness of the state ultimately drives people to resist it, if necessary, by force. While we must be cautious about forcing the pace of change, we must not hesitate to declare our ultimate objectives and to take concrete actions to move toward them. We must be staunch in our conviction that freedom is not the sole prerogative of a lucky few but the inalienable and universal right of all human beings.”
Ronald Reagan said it nearly 27 years ago. The world needs to say it today.
Solid stuff.
It’s Memorial Day, one of the most sacred of days to remember the sacrifices made for our freedom. On a day like today, I like to read the words of one of the most inspiring communicators of our time, Ronald Reagan. When you read his words, you realize that we haven’t had anyone like him since – and probably never will.
What follows are remarks he made at a Memorial Day Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on May 26, 1986.
Today is the day we put aside to remember fallen heroes and to pray that no heroes will ever have to die for us again. It’s a day of thanks for the valor of others, a day to remember the splendor of America and those of her children who rest in this cemetery and others. It’s a day to be with the family and remember.
I was thinking this morning that across the country children and their parents will be going to the town parade and the young ones will sit on the sidewalks and wave their flags as the band goes by. Later, maybe, they’ll have a cookout or a day at the beach. And that’s good, because today is a day to be with the family and to remember.
Arlington, this place of so many memories, is a fitting place for some remembering. So many wonderful men and women rest here, men and women who led colorful, vivid, and passionate lives. There are the greats of the military: Bull Halsey and the Admirals Leahy, father and son; Black Jack Pershing; and the GI’s general, Omar Bradley. Great men all, military men. But there are others here known for other things.
Here in Arlington rests a sharecropper’s son who became a hero to a lonely people. Joe Louis came from nowhere, but he knew how to fight. And he galvanized a nation in the days after Pearl Harbor when he put on the uniform of his country and said, “I know we’ll win because we’re on God’s side.” Audie Murphy is here, Audie Murphy of the wild, wild courage. For what else would you call it when a man bounds to the top of a disabled tank, stops an enemy advance, saves lives, and rallies his men, and all of it singlehandedly. When he radioed for artillery support and was asked how close the enemy was to his position, he said, “Wait a minute and I’ll let you speak to them.” [Laughter]
Michael Smith is here, and Dick Scobee, both of the space shuttle Challenger. Their courage wasn’t wild, but thoughtful, the mature and measured courage of career professionals who took prudent risks for great reward — in their case, to advance the sum total of knowledge in the world. They’re only the latest to rest here; they join other great explorers with names like Grissom and Chaffee.
Oliver Wendell Holmes is here, the great jurist and fighter for the right. A poet searching for an image of true majesty could not rest until he seized on “Holmes dissenting in a sordid age.” Young Holmes served in the Civil War. He might have been thinking of the crosses and stars of Arlington when he wrote: “At the grave of a hero we end, not with sorrow at the inevitable loss, but with the contagion of his courage; and with a kind of desperate joy we go back to the fight.”
All of these men were different, but they shared this in common: They loved America very much. There was nothing they wouldn’t do for her. And they loved with the sureness of the young. It’s hard not to think of the young in a place like this, for it’s the young who do the fighting and dying when a peace fails and a war begins. Not far from here is the statue of the three servicemen — the three fighting boys of Vietnam. It, too, has majesty and more. Perhaps you’ve seen it — three rough boys walking together, looking ahead with a steady gaze. There’s something wounded about them, a kind of resigned toughness. But there’s an unexpected tenderness, too. At first you don’t really notice, but then you see it. The three are touching each other, as if they’re supporting each other, helping each other on.
I know that many veterans of Vietnam will gather today, some of them perhaps by the wall. And they’re still helping each other on. They were quite a group, the boys of Vietnam — boys who fought a terrible and vicious war without enough support from home, boys who were dodging bullets while we debated the efficacy of the battle. It was often our poor who fought in that war; it was the unpampered boys of the working class who picked up the rifles and went on the march. They learned not to rely on us; they learned to rely on each other. And they were special in another way: They chose to be faithful. They chose to reject the fashionable skepticism of their time. They chose to believe and answer the call of duty. They had the wild, wild courage of youth. They seized certainty from the heart of an ambivalent age; they stood for something.
And we owe them something, those boys. We owe them first a promise: That just as they did not forget their missing comrades, neither, ever, will we. And there are other promises. We must always remember that peace is a fragile thing that needs constant vigilance. We owe them a promise to look at the world with a steady gaze and, perhaps, a resigned toughness, knowing that we have adversaries in the world and challenges and the only way to meet them and maintain the peace is by staying strong.
That, of course, is the lesson of this century, a lesson learned in the Sudetenland, in Poland, in Hungary, in Czechoslovakia, in Cambodia. If we really care about peace, we must stay strong. If we really care about peace, we must, through our strength, demonstrate our unwillingness to accept an ending of the peace. We must be strong enough to create peace where it does not exist and strong enough to protect it where it does. That’s the lesson of this century and, I think, of this day. And that’s all I wanted to say. The rest of my contribution is to leave this great place to its peace, a peace it has earned.
Thank all of you, and God bless you, and have a day full of memories.
