"One of the more disturbing aspects of political correctness is that impressionable children are being taught they should be afraid to use certain words because someone, somewhere may take personal offense. The stifling of free thought — and with it, the elimination of “precise and forceful expression” of ideas in constructive dialogue — is astonishing in a country which, as part of its foundation, included freedom of speech in the First Amendment of its Constitution." Excerpt from an editorial published in the Sanford North Carolina Herald Newspaper, February 20, 2013

Good Wednesday morning, on this April 17, 2013, where many are counting the blessings of life after another murderous attack against our nation and most likely, against our freedoms and way of life. Hate is a powerful force whether done for personal revenge by an individual or when it acts in response to fanatical religious objectives. While we do not yet know who or the specifics of why, we are aware there are those in the world, both at home and abroad, who seek to harm Americans. Just last year one influential cleric suggested that US sporting events would be a good target in order to inflict maximum damage. How would you like a steady diet of that kind of preaching each week to stir folks up for action? Again, the authorities will do their investigation and we will not know any of the details until they are released, and we know there is expertise that will help to identify the source of this heinous crime. It's hard to listen to the doctors describe the bodily harm that occurred to folks who were maimed for no other reason than their exercise in being a part of a free and open society. I will make one personal comment about this ongoing saga we face that is fomented and financed by hate: Folks, it's time for us as a nation to wake up and quit this insane politically correct posturing when it comes to dealing with evil. We need God's help folks. We most certainly do! Amen.

I do share President Obama's thoughts about how that when our nation is under attack we are first and foremost not identified by our party affiliation, but rather we are connected through our common heritage as Americans. I haven't forgotten how we as a people came together after 9/11. I don't necessarily think it was a bad thing that we had a shortage of United States flags in the aftermath of that unprecedented attack on our homeland. Unashamedly, we felt a desire to show our common resolve as a free people that we would not be cowered in the face of terrorism. Some would come to criticize this show of patriotism but for me it was a time punctuated by shared grief, shared community, and shared Americanism. We can debate the issues and do so with fervor and passion. We can stand in opposition to that which we believe to be wrong. But, when it comes to any threat against the common welfare and good of our nation, we proudly stand shoulder to shoulder in saying to any and all foes that we are united in our commitment to our great nation and what she stands for. May God lead, guide, and direct our nation is my prayer. Amen.        .....More later.