Finding Our Role

Welcome back to “What’s Wrong With Washington!” This year has been absolutely crazy for me, and I finally have the time to return to writing my blogs, something that has been a great enrichment for my life over the past several years. It is incredible to think that it is December already and that means our winter quarter has begun on this blog as well as on “Lance’s Weekly Walk.” You may have noticed the new banners for the two blogs on Lance Pisowicz Online as well as several other great adjustments we have made to this online community. I sure hope you enjoy them! Although fall may be essentially over, the issues that monopolized the headlines these past through months are far from disappearing. Tonight, we will touch on a few of these issues and take a look at each of them.

*What began as a supposedly peaceful demonstration of our first amendment right to assemble has developed into a growing conflict in many of our nation’s metropolitan areas. The “Occupy Wall Street” movement that began in New York City has now spread across the country to cities such as Los Angeles, Boston, Washington D.C., San Francisco, and even right here in Chicago. In fact, nearly all cities of responsible size across the United States were affected by these protests.

The idea is to “pressure” Wall Street and other financial districts into shutting down. The “99%” as they call themselves are trying to justify what they consider unfair distribution of wealth. The problem is they aren’t just attacking the large corporations and their executives. They have targeted small business owners and anyone who works on Wall Street and tried to prevent them from working there. They crowd the streets and parks, and whether they intend to or not, they make commuting from one’s home to office or vice versa nearly impossible. In the past month the protestors have occupied the New York Stock Exchange and Brooklyn Bridge causing serious bottlenecks with traffic.

These protestors are certainly within their rights to protest and to assemble, but when it places other Americans at inconvenience or even physical danger, it might be time to reevaluate exactly what they are protesting. The protest is supposedly aimed at “big business” but these individuals are out there with their iPhones and Starbuck’s cups (among other large corporation products). Talk about “feeding their enemy.”

Maybe they are attacking the wrong groups. With the economy being the way it is, you would think that the goal would be to nurture business in the United States whether it be by large corporations or small businesses. Maybe the problem is not the private sector. Why isn’t the Occupy Washington D.C. movement targeted against politicians who continue to spend beyond their means and strip away the American people’s rights?

Ronald Reagan once said, “Entrepreneurs and their small enterprises are responsible for almost all the economic growth in the United States.” I believe that is absolutely true. When America benefits in a free society, everyone can benefit from one’s success if they are willing to work. Should these people not be upset for the government for failing to create jobs like they promised? Why isn’t the president under fire for failing at his top priority when he was elected in 2008? The real solution is putting America back to work, not preventing others from working. If we are to be as prominent of a nation as we once were, all of our citizens must truly work hard and do what they are best at.

*Speaking of something that the government needs to come together on and find the proper solution for is the pending threat of Iranian aggression. The country is believed to be on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon and its president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a sworn enemy of Israel, the United States, and western civilization.

The next few months will continue to develop what may become a full-scale conflict between Iran and Israel to begin with, but eventually could include the United States and NATO, as well as any allies Iran can muster. However, unrest in Syria could be what is hindering Iran from going even further with their intentions at this time.

The United States and NATO have openly vowed to impose sanctions on Iran, but without the support of China and Russia, the United Nations is very limited on what they can do regarding the situation. China and Russia are both important trading partners with Iran. The fear is that sanctions would greatly harm the Chinese and Russian economy, if they were to join NATO and the United States in such sanctions. However, I believe it is their duty as members of the United Nations to support what is right in the world, and that is the defense of a non-aggressive nation such as Israel. Even though China is a Communist nation and Russia has somewhat of a limited democracy, they should still recognize the facts at hand. But the question remains, exactly how close are the Iranians to completing a nuclear weapon?

Personally I do not think Israel will allow Iran to go that far in developing a nuclear weapon. My guess is that they are simply waiting for the support of the United States, NATO, and any other willing allies they can get before they intervene with Iran. However, if they cannot get support to use military force against Iran, Israel’s military is more than capable of disarming the country and removing the Iranian president from power, although it will come at a much higher human cost.

I feel that what everyone is hoping is that this issue can be resolved peacefully. Few people want the United States to get involved in another war because of its financial cost, but more importantly, its human cost. However, at this time, Iran seems bent on developing such weapons. I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens.

*For those who are Christians, we understand that God is in control. His hand is in whatever conflict, issue, or matter is on our mind and in our world. However, in recent years the role of the Christian in American society has come into question. Exactly what should our role be in our nation, particularly politics? Does it make us a theocrat to be concerned for our nation? Absolutely not, in fact Christians are supposed to be the ones setting the example, as good, law-abiding citizens.

With a 95% Protestant Christian population and the nearly all the rest being Catholic, it is absurd to say that George Washington was not a Christian, at least in a religious setting. However, I believe that George Washington had a true relationship with Jesus Christ.

Daniel Webster said, “Whatever makes a man a good Christian also makes a good citizen.” I believe that is exactly what Christians need to do today. Although we may not agree with abortion, homosexuality, or other social stances, Christians should never take a violent approach to such issues. That simply gives Christians a poor reputation.

For Christians, we are held to a higher standard; yet we all must remember that Christians are still human beings. We will fail, although hopefully at a lower rate than unbelievers, but it should be our goal to be like Christ. That is where we will find the next George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, or Abraham Lincoln.

Thank you for joining me on What’s Wrong With Washington this evening. Be sure to tell us what you think by leaving us a message at: http://lponline.wufoo.com/forms/z7x3k7/.

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I hope you have enjoyed our broadcast tonight, as much as I have. Thanks again and God bless you. This is Lance Pisowicz saying goodnight from Chicago.