R3VOLution, Where’s the Love?

I met someone online recently.  I’m sure he wants to change the world.  He is aggressive, obnoxious, belligerent, and exhibits stalker-like tendencies.  Every freakish encounter left me saying, “Where’s the Love?” 

On January 16, 2010, I attended the Nullification Rally at the Capitol in Austin, Texas.  We brought the whole family because there are few political events young children will endure.  The invocation was one of the more rousing speeches.  That’s not sarcasm.  He was a preacher with a passion!  The woman from Columbia brought tears to my eyes, and John Stacey delivered a forceful and empowering speech.  The strange part was the crowd.  They weren’t always “with it.”  It seemed significant portion of the crowd was interested in handing out flyers or pamphlets.  Vote for this guy or gal, donate to my PAC, and so on.  It’s hard to listen to speakers when someone interrupts you every 3 minutes to tell you about their organization and how it will change the world.   The best and worst part was the end of the rally.  A large portion of the crowd, including me, wanted to hear Debra Medina speak.  She is the only gubernatorial candidate that supports nullification.  But, alas, she was not invited to speak.  Disappointing, but life often is.  The scene started with chants from the crowd, “Debra, Debra,” but deteriorated  into a few screaming matches, bullhorns, loud country music from the event coordinators, and scuffles over power cords.  The blogs and (some) meetups were on fire for a few days with who is to blame.  As I wandered through the small pockets of chaos with my wide-eyed children, I saw the atrocious, immature behavior from people donning Medina and Perry gear, as well as those with no political paraphernalia.  Who is to blame?  The individuals who behaved like immature children, regardless of who each supported… or his or her agenda.  All sides had passion and fervor.  But, again, where’s the love?

Do force and violence make a nation want to become a democracy?  Does someone screaming in your face make you want to vote for their candidate?  Will you change your mind on an issue if someone harasses you incessantly about it?  Will you buy  a Kirby vacuüm because the salesman won’t leave you alone  for 30 seconds to think?  For most normal people, the answer is no to all.

I’m no hippy, trust me.  But how do you change hearts and minds without love?  The R3VOLution taught me love is necessary for real change in our political world.   Love.  Peace.  Dignity.  Grace.  Maybe it’s because I was raised in the South, but I have this notion that Southern hospitality still goes a long way.  What’s wrong with a man speaking as a gentleman when he presents his viewpoint?  Does it not take intelligence and self-control to harness your passion and present it concisely with love and respect?  And ladies, why can’t we be steel magnolias?  Beautiful, permeating with the fragrance of liberty, yet strong as steel in mind and conviction.  Liberty is Beautiful.  But who can tell if we are ugly in our words and behavior?  The message is lost if it is cloaked in anger, hostility, and meanness.

This ideal completely coincides with my Christian faith.  Love each person regardless of  his or her beliefs or role in life.  Show them the Light by your actions.  Speak kind words.  Give.  Sacrifice.  Work hard.  Prior to joining the R3VOLution, I had only met hostile atheists.  In the last 2 years, I’ve worked shoulder to shoulder with many flavors of religion or non-religion.  We are all bound together with love.  Love for humanity and personal sovereignty, the right for each person to live life without coercion or force by another human being.  The right to live, work, own property, and keep the fruits of your labor.  The right to live in peace and not be harmed by another human being.

Be wise with your words and actions.  Changing someone’s heart takes work and time, but the payoff is long-lasting.

Vaccines and Rick Perry

Until a few months ago, I was completely on board with vaccines.  Both my children received routine vaccines.  Even our two dogs and two cats got their regular shots too.  Personally, I’m not so good about my own.  Needles make me ill.  I’m fairly healthy.  Why go through it?  I never questioned vaccine safety or necessity.  I must admit, I thought parents who didn’t vaccinate their children were a bit odd, over-concerned, and occasionally paranoid.  However, I have always believed it is the parents’ right to decline vaccines or any other medical treatment.  Sometimes, it was a matter of religion.  For others, vaccines are unnatural.  They prefer a natural, organic, hippie sort of lifestyle.  Of course, some people thought the government was out to control, sterilize, or kill them.  Then there is medical corporate lobby that pushes vaccines on politicians, and an unreliable FDA that approves them with little testing or documentation.   Whatever their reasons, parents have the right to refuse vaccines for their children.

Governor Rick Perry doesn’t agree.  A few years back, he signed an Executive Order mandating that little girls receive the Gardasil shot, a vaccine that protects against an STD.  A what?!?!  Yes, an STD.  And yes, he mandated it!  In Texas, parents can refuse to vaccinate their children.  Despite the wealth of misinformation, children can attend public school without vaccinations.  At the time I was a strong proponent of vaccines, but requiring one without any option to refuse rings of Nazi Germany and concentration camps.  If you think that’s a hyperbole, think about the scenario for a while.  You have an 11 year old daughter.  She’s a bit boy crazy, but really doesn’t have much of a clue about sex.  You take her to the pediatrician for her yearly well visit.  You expect her to measured and weighed, and to have conversations about deodorant and healthy eating.  Instead your doctor says she’s required to get a shot that will protect her against an STD.  “Thank you, but I think we’ll wait on that,” you say as you snarl at the doctor for bringing up STDs.  You’ve raised your daughter to be modest and respectful of her body.  You have an open relationship with her.  You are on the path to abstinence and would prefer to deal with the issues of sex in a different environment.  Maybe you’re a bit naïve and a little nervous, but this isn’t at all how you pictured it.  The doctor responds that you actually don’t have a choice.  The government requires it.  She will get the shot.  Sorry that you disagree, but it’s mandatory.  It will be ok.  It’s for her own good.  Think of all the disease and heartache we can prevent.  Work will make you free.  Oh sorry, wrong propaganda phrase. 

If it were me in this scenario, I probably grab my daughter and run.  Unfortunately, parents didn’t.  The death rate for this vaccine is abnormally high.  I’ve seen claims of sterilization, repeated miscarriages later on, and other disastrous effects.  So it turned out to be a bad vaccine.  That’s not what concerns me as much as that it was required, forced.  No choice allowed.  Fans of Rick Perry say he saw the error of his ways.  I disagree.  He didn’t reverse his order when parents and legislators cried out.  The Texas legislator passed legislation overriding that Executive Order.  As a final act of his defiance of parental rights, Perry would not sign it.  It went into law without his signature.  Parents today again have choice and rights.  But not with the help or support of Governor Perry. 

Why did Rick Perry assault parental rights?  I have no idea.  Perhaps he thought parents were incapable of dealing with sex education and STDs.  Maybe he really thought he’d rid the world of cervical cancer and later be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.  Conceivably he had a buddy pedaling a vaccine that no one else would buy.  Maybe he’s a control freak.  I can’t answer the why.  All I can say is that it was wrong.  I hope parents remember Perry for what he is when it comes to parental rights.  Your children are the most precious people in the world.  None of us are perfect parents and we will make mistakes.  Those are our mistakes to make and the responsibility rests fully on us as parents.  We don’t need a governor making more mistakes for us. 

As a side note, recent personal research has led us to no longer vaccinate our children.  We’ve found the risks often outweigh the benefits.  There is a wealth of propaganda in favor of vaccinating, but one must really dig to find opposing facts.  I urge you to read and research.  Come to an informed decision, whatever it is.  I wish I would have researched sooner.

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Stepping Back

Sometimes the most unexpected things force us to step back.  Nothing conquers Eric Finley, except perhaps the smile of his precious little girl.  He is a man of determination and committment.  However, Eric suffered injuries while serving his country.  These injuries require him to step back and heal.  Taking the time to heal in order to fight another day is never easy, but it is necessary.  I applaud Eric Finley for the sacrifices he has made for his country and look forward to seeing him uphold his oath to the US Constitution in Congress in the future.  Peace, rest, and healing my friend.  May God bless you on this journey.

Press Release: 4 January 2010:

“We The People” … we all know these words, yet the Washington politicians seem to have forgotten what they mean. With the Nation’s attention focused on surviving a deep recession and supporting our servicemen and women overseas, the politicians and special interest groups have rapidly chipped away at our Constitution and Bill of Rights through secret deals, closed door negotiations and hurried late night votes on bills most haven’t even read. We’ve all cried foul, yet the politicians and special interest groups continue while thumbing their noses at the American people.

As Teddy Roosevelt said in 1894, “ We Americans have many grave problems to solve, many threatening evils to fight, and many deeds to do, if, as we hope and believe, we have the wisdom, the strength, and the courage and the virtue to do them.”  Those words ring true today just as they did over one hundred years ago.

2010 is a year for reform… and that reform will start by cleaning house, literally. As I’ve said before, any man or woman who’s spent 20 years in Washington D.C. can hardly say they’re in touch with their own district. It’s time for the career politicians to either step down or be voted out in November 2010.  It’s time that “We The People” take action.  

Most know I recently returned from Pakistan due to injury.  Most do not know I was also injured in 2008 while serving in Northern Iraq.  Unfortunately, my injury in Iraq caused lasting damage to my neck and spine, as well as to my nervous system.  While treatable, several symptoms have worsened over the recent weeks to the point of concern.  At the advice of my doctors, I regretfully withdraw my candidacy from the 2010 Republican Primary so that I may continue to recover.

While I will not be able to continue the race as a candidate, I am certainly not stepping out of the political arena. We, as Americans, demand transparency in our government and honesty from our elected leaders and I will continue to uphold the oath I took “to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”

The outpouring of support I received as a candidate has been truly humbling and I thank you all for your hard work, advice, and contributions.  I, along with each of you, will continue to be actively involved in reclaiming our district and Nation.  I look forward to seeing each of you in the coming months.  May God continue to bless you, your family, and our great Nation.

Sincerely,

Eric Finley