by Stephen Frank
Special to the Judeo-Christian Caucus
For those that know me well, I would give up politics and public policy for a good game of Bridge. It forces you to think ahead, to understand what the others players are thinking. You must be strategic, not emotional to play bridge.
So, as we say in bridge, let’s review the bidding…
Our schools are closed to real education. Government and unions are controlling the future of our children. The rich, like Gov. Newsom, send their children to private schools, while you send your child to the kitchen table to look at the computer.
The churches are closed. Yes, many conduct services and social gatherings via ZOOM. That does not replace the fellowship of greeting people in the pews or at coffee after the services. Churches were closed for Easter, and there is no doubt churches will be closed for Christmas Eve services. Though the just announced “curfew” runs through December 21, there is no guarantee that midnight Christmas Eve services will have to end by 9:30, so folks can get home before 10:00pm.
It used to be that by working hard, getting experience, having good work habits, you could succeed in your job or business. Today, government decides if you work at the office or shop, or must work remotely. San Fran is demanding all but the essential workers stay home. The numbers of customers you may have at one time is limited. This is the Christmas shopping season—and the stores will not be crowded, by order of government. While this is good for Amazon and FedEx, it is bad for the community and the small-business owner and their employees.
To me, most importantly, we are losing our traditions. Yes, traditions change over the years. In 2020 we have lost most of our traditions. No Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, there will be no Rose Bowl parade. We lost Easter, Memorial Day, the 4th of July, Labor Day. We are losing Thanksgiving.
Seriously, who is going to do a complete cleaning of the bathroom after each guest has used it? Or, since the Governor demands we eat outside, what happens if it rains?
Finally, the traditions of Christmas are being lost. From church services to the Newport Beach Christmas Parade of Boats. The home social gatherings for the holiday are gone. Will you have a sign in sheet for each guest, with their contact information, prepared to give to government?
Last year I attended my grandchildren’s’ school Holiday (I wish they would call it Christmas) program. That is not going to be allowed this year.
Government, for our “own good” has ended our traditions and freedoms.
It is time to take them back.
The process of returning to a free society is not going to be easy. Just ask Pastor Rob McCoy or Pastor John MacArthur about standing up for religious freedom. It takes guts, and it takes a foundation of belief in freedom. Freedoms are not taken away; they are given away. We have given away our freedoms to government.
Studies are conflicting about masks, lockdowns, curfew (does anybody believe that a virus is more deadly between the hours of 10:00pm and 5:00am then during the other hours? Think about that).
We need prayer, and we need action. Prayer is a personal thing, but it is most powerful when done together, in great numbers. Does anybody believe if 500 people showed up at 9:00am on Sunday and went into Wal-Mart to pray, anybody would stop it? So why are we concerned that going into a church is different? Only because government tells us it is different and wrong. Stand up for the First Amendment, that is what churches are about.
Government education has been a failure for a couple of generations. Maybe we can make a positive out of the closing of the government schools to education. Through your church or community groups create “education PODs.” Form small homeschool associations and allow your child a real education, not a government-sponsored indoctrination. This is also a good way to get to know your neighbors and people in the community.
As a free people, we need to express our values and principles. It is not enough to tell your spouse, children or close friends; it needs to be done loudly and publicly. Let the community know government cannot take our Constitutional rights from us.
As reported in Lifesite News, “Jericho Marches” are currently being held around State Capitols nationwide through December 14. These self-led, peaceful protests “support election integrity, transparency, and reform.” The Jericho March was born of a vision that an Evangelical and Catholic received independently of each other, of people of faith coming together to pray, be unified, and rise up for the cause of truth and justice.
Maybe we have to become creative to bring back our freedoms. The alternative looks like Cuba, China and Russia. The choice is ours. We must no longer complain. We need prayer, and we need action. In the spirit of Christmas, we need the spirit of Resurrection to return our freedoms.
Stephen Frank is Senior Contributing Editor of California Political Review. Read California news that is incisive, hard-hitting, and solution-oriented with a free subscription to Steve’s daily emails at http://eepurl.com/UAspv
NOTE: Blogs published on the Judeo-Christian Caucus website are the opinions of their authors and not necessarily those of the Judeo-Christian Caucus.
