The Potatohead Leadership Maxim

When in danger.
When in doubt.
Run in circles.
Scream and shout!

Considering Card on Credo

"True believers in a cause often behaved in self-defeating ways because they expected other people to see the rightness of their cause if they just stated it clearly enough. As a result, they tipped their hand in every game and couldn't understand why everyone ganged up against them."
From "Ender in Exile", by Orson Scott Card

Remembering Tom

Recently, I've been prompted to revisit the polemical writings of Thomas Paine.
This one time Quaker and eventual Deist was our country's first advocate of personal liberty and freedom of choice.
He was a true Son of Liberty, who refused to profit even a penny from any of his pamphlets.
However, in his later years, he was the sad victim of gross and inexcusable American ingratitude.
Finally, President Thomas Jefferson, one of his few remaining friends, sent a ship to France in 1802, to bring Paine back to his beloved and adopted country, where he died in obscurity in 1809.
After his death, most American leaders continued to disdain him.
Even the great President Theodore Roosevelt never read Paine's writings, but ignorantly referred to him as "a filthy little atheist".
Truly, this American patriot spoke out bravely on behalf of George Washington's beleaguered and defeated troops, as well as to all of us across the ages, when he observed that "these are the times that try men's souls".

Postscript: The "No Guarantees" entry at this blog addresses a related issue regarding our current personal responsibilities.

Sad and Sobering

"Some people choose to become victims, even when they have other options."
- Brian Herbert

Four Powerful Personal Principles

The recent Independence Day weekend stirred my soul to further reflection about the basic principles of our citizenships and lives, so much so that it seemed both prudent and proper to also share these gleanings with all of you gentle readers:

* Power in Persistence

"...There was in a city, a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
And there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, Avenge me of my adversary.
And he would not for a while: but afterward he said unto himself. Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge has saith.
And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night to him, though he bear long with them?"
(Holy Bible, New Testament, Luke 18: 2-7)

* Power in Prayer

"...for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood....I will liken (you) unto the parable of the woman and the unjust judge, for men ought to pray and not to faint.."
(LDS Church Doctrine & Covenants, Section 101, Verses 80-81)

* Power in Personal Weakness

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then I will make weak things become strong.."
(Book of Mormon, Ether, Chapter 12, Verse 27)

* Power in Humility

"Be thou humble; and the the Lord God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers."
(LDS Church Doctrine & Covenants, Section 111, Verse 10).

Worrisome

Sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes?