There always seemed to be two prevailing subjects when growing up in my household... politics and religion (unless, of course, you counted the monthly shouting fits my father took upon my mother whenever the latest credit card statement arrived in the mail).

My father was Jesuit-raised among the bomb shelters and debris of World War II London, England, while my Catholic-reared mother spent her time 3000 miles across the Atlantic. One went without many luxuries such as soap, butter, clothes and toys and had a healthy dose of what the real world was like, while the other was raised in a two-parent, work-ethnic, privileged environment.

Even at a very early age, my parents beliefs reflected in their arguments in front of my siblings and I, and I suppose to some extent, made us who we are today (the idea that some parents believe what they say and do in front of their children has no consequences on them in their adult life, live in a fantasy world).

Aside from the monthly financial arguments between my parents, I can remember my father preaching about the high ideals of America; that the country was a land of golden opportunity for those who were willing to work hard to achieve their dreams and desires. Being without during his youth, he was hungry for change and growth that he believed he couldn’t find in his native country of England, but only in all those stories of wealth, riches and opportunity he had heard about in the united States.

My mother on the other hand who never really did without, because of her hard working, Italian immigrant parents being given the chance to start their own business in their newly adopted country around the turn of the century, never realized what hardship was like during her youth, and therefore would fight my father in just the opposite way, trying to push those very philosophies upon her children... that the government owes you; has the obligation to support you.

Thus, in later years, I could understand why my father was a Republican and my mother a Democrat, and in my nucleus environment, saw the values concerning the two biggest political parties the majority of this country’s citizens lean toward.

Since my youth, I have been involved in politics when I began volunteering after school hours at our town’s Republican headquarters toward Richard Nixon’s re-election campaign.Yes, I may lean Republican because I believe in a solid work ethic in order to achieve one’s dreams and desires, but I have also chosen to support candidates from other parties (most people don’t realize we have in this country roughly a dozen different party affiliates) over the years through cash contributions, personal appearances on their behalf, and door-to-door get the word out.

When I do involve myself with a candidate, I’m more likely to go head-to-head with them and not pull my punches, especially when it comes to their faith and their home life; do they attend church services on a regular basis, and do they care more about being a politician or a Statesman?

And I watch them when I ask them these questions for any twitching and eyeball blinking. I basically want to get to know them as a person and which direction will they lead this country. I take literally, the Biblical quote from Proverbs, chapter 29, verse 2 that states...

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;

but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

As most people who do get to know me after a while, I love history, facts and quotes and often state them in my conversations, asking those who wish to lead this country (and not for the perks) to remember what our forefathers stood for when fighting for this country’s freedom over two centuries ago, and not buy into the myth that we have some sort of "separation between church and State."

You’ll never find that quote within the framework of the Constitution, and when illiterates and revisionists who try to pass themselves off as Historians, lie and say, "well, that’s what the Signers meant," call them on the carpet; from which source are they quoting from, and ask to give you some examples. Those who crafted our country’s documents and created an entire new government from scratch once freed from England’s King George, knew what they meant. If not, then would we have such documented phrases from our forefathers such as...

John Jay, first Secretary of State under George Washington and first Supreme Court justice... Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers and it is our duty and privilege to choose and prefer Christians for our leaders.

Patrick Henry, famous for, "Give me Liberty or give me death," also stated quite boldly, "It cannot be emphasized too strongly nor too often that this great Nation was founded not by religionist, but by Christians; not by religion, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here."

Thomas Jefferson, whom revisionists love to proclaim was a Deist, wrote these words in his well worn Bible, I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus Christ. I have little doubt that our whole country will soon be rallied to the unity of our Creator.

Let us also point out that Jefferson was the chairman of the American Bible Society, which he not only considered an honour, but the highest and most important role he had ever had, including that of being the third president of these united States!

And while we’re on the subject of the American Bible Society, let us also not forget that shortly after the creation of the Declaration of Independence, the first act of the First Continental Congress was to vote and purchase (with government funds) the import of 20,000 Bibles for the people of this Nation. Several years later in 1782, Congress also voted and approved a resolution that the Holy Bible be in use in all schools. Today’s Congress would be crucified if they did such a diabolical thing!

As I pen these words, we have just a smidgen over a month before perhaps one of the biggest and most important elections our country has ever faced. It certainly has become one of the most hated with the Democrats and their 527s pouring millions of dollars to defeat a single human being, not to mention all the free press coverage the various media are giving to the Democrat’s favorite son, John Kerry with total funds reaching into astronomical heights.

It used to be when I was growing up that in this country anyone who kept to a steady course could one day become president, but today’s generation know that if you don’t have the right connections and are not super, filthy rich enough, you haven’t got a prayer.

Just as I know that the Lord will not give us what we want in order to teach us and to train us to be better children, Satan is just the opposite in that he will give you your heart’s desires, all for the price of an insignificant thing (according to him) called your soul.

And it’s the same with politics...the candidate; the party that can buy your vote, that can make you the promises you want to hear and convince you he’s telling the truth, has the better chance of winning (of course, there’s always the chance that the people might wake up come election day).

The line in the sand has been drawn, and it isn’t in Iraq. It’s one of faith and religion. Satan and his children have always been in the minors, and always will be, yet we as a nation cater to them; do what we possibly can to accommodate them and their ways, but it still isn’t good enough.

A politician can try and make as many promises to as many different groups as possible; bow down and sway to the latest polls, but can a Statesman do likewise, or must, if he truly is to be a leader, stand strong and firm before God and man?

One of my favorite authors growing up was a man who’s stories were as colorful as he was in life. His books made me dream of adventure. I have visited his house often. I have a great deal of love and respect for him. He was also a famous atheist and proud of it, so I don’t suspect I’ll have any fellowship with him in the next life, and that saddens me for I would so love to spent time with him.

Exactly 100 years ago, in 1904, during another presidential election, in which Theodore Roosevelt became the eventual winner, this atheist author had this to say to the American people...

It will be conceded that a Christian’s first duty is to God. It then follows, as a matter of course, that it is his duty to carry his Christian code of morals to the polls and vote them. Whenever he shall do that, he will not find himself voting for an unclean man, a dishonest man. If Christians would vote their duty to God at the polls, they would carry every election, and do it with ease. Their prodigious power would be quickly realized and recognized, and afterward there would be no unclean candidates upon any ticket, and graft would cease. If the Christians of America could be persuaded to vote God and a clean ticket, it would bring about a moral revolution that would be incalculably beneficent. It would save the country.

That author was Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known worldwide as, Mark Twain.

 Until Next Month,