Border walls are one sign of isolationism.
Historically, the U.S. has been a beacon of freedom and global leadership. However, this ideal has become stale in the mind of many Americans.

Rejecting Globalism

In countries all around the world today there is a growing movement urging a retreat from "globalism" the focus on global issues and international relationships. These feelings have clearly been lurking under the surface for some time, but proponents of this ideology have become increasingly vocal and influential over the past few years.

The result? We are now witnessing a marked shift of focus away from global issues, and toward domestic ones. Instead of looking abroad for opportunities to connect with other nations and improve the world as a whole, countries are instead turning inward and asking "what will best serve our interests?" Advocates of renewed isolationism argue that focusing attention outward does more harm than good. Every country should look out for own and let other nations do the same. International organizations and alliances once recognized as vital to keeping the peace and promoting global development are now being criticized as "unnecessary" and "a waste of money".

Brexit

Last summer, citizens of the UK shocked the world by voting to pull out of the European Union. Since the UK was a prominent member, all the polls and expert opinions indicated that it would vote to stay. However, as was the case with the recent U.S. election, the polls were wrong. A groundswell nationalist movement led voters to reject cooperation with other countries and instead gamble with their own destiny. As it turned out, the Brexit vote was a harbinger of renewed popular support for isolationist policies around the world.

"America First"Sign urging a border wall in U.S.

America has long viewed itself as a beacon of freedom in the world, a champion of peace and prosperity for all mankind not just our own. Historically, our role on the world stage has been that of a country willing to come to the aid of other nations, should they require it. However, this ideal appears to have become stale in the mind of many Americans. In its place is a trend toward isolation.

Following a campaign built on putting "America First", the Trump administration appears to be changing the status quo. Perhaps the most controversial policy proposal involves building a wall along the entire southern border of the United States. The president recently signed an executive order indicating that construction on the wall will proceed as planned.

ULC Response

Every country must seek to promote the welfare of its own people. However, this trend toward isolationism is troubling. As citizens of the world, our greatest advantage is the ability to work with one another to solve complex problems and make the earth a better place everyone to live. Division only leads to misunderstanding, and misunderstanding to animosity.

As a church that actively works to encourage unity among humankind, the ULC rejects any attempt to divide people. We may believe in different gods, have different skin colors, and speak different languages, but we have much in common, too. We all breathe the same air. We all derive from the same ancestors. And, most importantly, we are all children of the same universe.

63 comments

  1. The Prophet of Life's Avatar The Prophet of Life

    Isolationism is a narrow minded approach to governance. We live in a global society. If we put tariffs on imports from other nations, they will, in turn put them on our exports. It will be more difficult to protect advances and intellectual property we create from piracy and more difficult to take advantage of innovations created by other nations. Isolation will only turn America into a second rate nation that becomes outpaced by nations that are more globalized. Think about what happened to nations that didn't get on board with industrialization. They are now third world countries. Globalization is tomorrow's Industrial Revolution.

  1. Just a fellow traveller's Avatar Just a fellow traveller

    Diversity is only pushed on White-majority nations. There is never a call for more ~Diversity~ in black or brown majority nations. Only for White ones. 90% Black? FINE! 90% Brown? SO CULTURAL! 90% White? OMG RACISTS REPLACE THEM NOW!

    White people have a right to exist as White people in White homeland nations. Stop this soft genocide nonsense. Nations have a right to sovereign borders with a unique culture and a unique language.

    1. Randy McDonald's Avatar Randy McDonald

      We, (the Whites) took this land from the American Indians. So suddenly we are a white homeland nation? Sorry, can't grasp the logic!!

      We are also far from 90% white in the United States. The White, non-Hispanic or Latino population make up 62.6% of the nation's total. (2015 U.S. census). American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent, April 1, 2010 (a) 0.9% - What did we do to them?

      It is so very sad that we are at each other's throats because of Race, creed or religion. The people who came here came to escape just such problems and persecutions.

      So, here we are again regressed by how many years? Please open your heart if you cannot open your mind.

  1. Brother Saul's Avatar Brother Saul

    Time to build bridges not walls.

  1. Hank's Avatar Hank

    The problem with globalism vs isolationism is that neither concept works totally on its own. I see the true path as one of a mixture of the two. Before anything should be done outside the country, inside should be corrected and then sharing the results is the right thing to do. However, in our society, we are treating people who are not citizens better than our own citizenry. This should never be.

  1. Philip's Avatar Philip

    There are no easy answers, doing all that can be to to assure LEGAL entry is a prudent move. Living in Southern Arizona, I see the devastation that illegal immigration brings on a daily basis. America must take stock and get our "national household" in order... otherwise we will cease to exist in any meaningful manner ... perhaps that was the underlying goal of the former administration, the absurd move in the UN is definite proof of this.

    Like it or not Trump is the President and just as many had to accept the Obama presidency for the past 8 years now it is time to accept the Trump administration.

  1. Jim D.'s Avatar Jim D.

    Globalization will not happen on our planet for many centuries, perhaps even many millennia. It can't happen yet because there are so many differences between all the different peoples on Earth.

    Think about it. We have a planet where we still look at people in terms of race. We are all the same race: Human... homo sapiens... call it whatever you like, but that's the truth. As soon as you identify people by skin color, there will prejudice, mistrust and hatred.

    Technology: How can we have a global society when part of the world can purchase bottles of clean water in every supermarket and convenience store, or even get a glass right out of our refrigerator doors, and in another part of the world there are women and children trying to scoop out a mouthful of water from a puddle filled with elephant dung and monkey piss. Now consider all the rest of the modern world that we live in, and how many parts of it are stuck in the very distant past. In spite of the wealth of the developed world, I don't see any nation rushing into some dirt-floor village in deepest, darkest Africa to the get them caught up to the rest of us.

    We have nations that are not content with what they have. They feel the need to invade other nations (Russia) or make new land in the middle of international waters (China) and claim the ocean as it's own. Globalization through world domination is doomed to failure. Don't believe me? Ask the Romans and the English.

    Religion... oh, where do I start? Every war that has been fought since the dawn of time has had religion as one of the main reasons for the conflict. No one considers the American Revolution as a holy war, but the colonies did fight for freedom of religion, something of which King George was not in favor. And yes, you can find religion in every other conflict as well. We will need one religion, or no religion.

    Ethnic pride plays a part. We are all still to hung up on our ethnic backgrounds, too quick to believe that somehow we are a little better than everybody else because our ancestors came from some other country. Admit it. You do it too. Don't tell me you don't feel an automatic kinship with a fellow Italian, or Irishman, or German. You don't speak the language. Hell, you probably haven't even visited the country your grandparents came from. Yet, you (and your new found paison, or comrade, or chum) feel a certain superiority over other ethnicities. We have to think of ourselves as coming from Earth first. I know, it sounds very Star Trek.

    Isolationism does not sound very good. But I understand the perceived need for it. Right now we live in a world where every nation seem determined to screw practically every other nation to get what they want. And whether or not it's still true, the United States has been the prom queen of nations for decades... the most powerful, the most prosperous, the one that everybody want to emigrate to. I don't see boatloads of people trying to get into other countries. It's because the U.S. has always been the land of opportunity.

    So, you want globalization? Here's the formula: In the very distant future there will be no differentiation in race because the gene pool will be very will mixed by then. Boarders will mean nothing, and we can travel from place to place with no worries. We'll all have nice homes to live in with all the amenities our technology can provide. Children in school learn that the Earth used to be divided into nations, all speaking different languages. They laugh at the idea that people can understand one another because of a language barrier. (How silly!) If you ask where they come from, they say "Earth." It's all they've ever known. Religion has faded far into the past. No one argues over whose supreme being is more supreme. As a global society we are free to explore the human condition, to focus our efforts and our resources on the betterment of ourselves as individuals and as a species. To explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where no one has gone before. (Sorry, I just couldn't resist.)

  1. angel's Avatar angel

    Here'e the problem, I think we ALL want some type of world peace/humanity but we are encountering a few HUGE issues! The first, the people. The general population has lost their voice to government decisions that do not account for the people's voice. The government as a whole runs EVERYTHING and thus far the ONLY unity that has been achieved is through the government which has left the people in the dust. I understand not everyone is going to agree with government choices, but when their choices are bad for the people all for the sake of "global unity" which we all know is an illusion anyway's then someone has to stick up for the people. The INTENTIONS of the government is soley about power/control and creating some kind of Country Club membership for all the governments to help each other out, but NOBODY is helping the people, the one's who put them there to begin with! The government takes from the people gives to other people in order to "save face and become more popular" without ANY reguard to their own people in whom their loyality should be to! They get richer and more powerful, but the people get poorer and weaker. What they fail to realize is that there are more of us then there are them, if you starve a person eventually they will die. You do this to everyone and eventually you won't have anyone left to govern! The government doesn't make a people strong or weak, the people do. It's ALL about power and control and when you this people get fed up, they go on survival mode (psych 101) and they rebel! It's a means to an end if they choose NOT to take care of their own. On a greater scale, if they can't even agree on anything now and can barely take care of their countries, what makes them think we will trust a one world governement. People are fighting for freedom, not world domination. It's takes away the most important gift we recieived, freewill! By taking away freewill defeats the purpose on why we are here, on a more spiritual scale, the higher up's in the sky would NEVER allow that to happen, and neither will people. In short, the agenda of the government is NOT for people of this earth but to stroke their own ego's. The people know this! So we are forced to look out for ourselves. We know this to! The next problem, everyone is so involved with their freewill that noone is on the same page with idealizations and how this world will be run, why? because it will take away from our freewill! We are programmed with a spiritual need to grow, and we can't grow by becoming a bunch of drones. Some societies are so ingrained with their beliefs and traditions that they won't ever budge. We have emotions, we have pride, our own ideas and enjoy the ability to express that without consequence. Alot of the problems we have now revolve around centuries worth of belief and traditions. In order to achieve globilism, not only would there have to be a one world government, there would have to be a one world religion. And that will NEVER happen! This is why Rome declared Christianity as their religion, he knew that there would be division through different religions so he forced them to have one, why? for control! Our desire for freewill requires us to defend this, which is why it NEVER works! its part of our DNA. Some of these religions and beliefs are so strong, they honestly believe that killing in the name of their God is an honor, and they honestly believe they are purifying the world from evil. Most religions brainwash people into believing it's their way or the highway! There is NO WAY your going to get all these religions to get together and agree upon one world religion, there are to many differences. Some of these religions pose a serious risk to our physical safety and that is what we are forced to protect! These different ideas and beliefs are what makes us humans. As individuals those beliefs are split even further. Sure, in theory it sounds great and this site is proof that it MIGHT be plausable to believe we could all live in accordance, but in reality, it only proves the opposite! Though the ULC tries to support everyone they can, I can attest on the boards, there have been all and out wars about beliefs. Some have even been kicked out because their belief was offensive. Imagine if that belief caused physical harm to your children? Are you going to stand for that? No, again survival, it's engrained in us. It's at the very fiber of our being, just like animals. The need to survive out does any desire for peace. Ok, so you may have some that will sacrifice themselves for the greater good, it's a fruitless endevor because it will never be recognized by anyone else, at least not enough to change enough people to get on board, therefore..pointless! Now, for the "greater picture", if we were all the same, lived in piece and harmony and everything was great, we would loose our freewill, which is the entire point we are here. Through chaos we grow, through war, we learn and appreciate piece, through death we live. If God or whoever wanted a bunch of drones, they would have made a bunch of peaceful drones and we would have no purpose. But this chaos we live in in this world helps us evolve to the point of where we could possibly,maybe one day at least get on a page together enough to be able to live in harmony. But we are not even close to being there yet. We are still in our infancy and all the change that people are crying for, this is it! It's not pretty, but any kind of growth isn't easy. We will never learn to set aside our differences if we are not even aware that these difference all unite us and make us the same! On the greater picture, we are here to evolve as human beings, to evolve as spiritual beings and to evolve as individuals. We are light and we are dark. It's not about being more light then dark, it's about balancing the two and using it to make this world greater. But, before we get there, we have to evolve further, and hopefully we will evolve to that point before we blow this world up. (But that's where divine intervention comes in). Because of all of the above, and probebly more factors I failed to mention, the world is forced to retreat into smaller groups gain our stance again. Though technology is advantaged to accomplish, our evolution as human being are not there yet. In fact the advanced our technology, the more we as humans devolve. We're right back at square one, survival mode. It's like giving a gun to a bunch of three year old. This world is a loaded weapon and we all know it. And it's kind of interesting you wrote this article. In the bible, Revelations calls the one world government as the "end times", it was prophisised that this will happen, do you think that maybe all of this termoil and division could possibly prevent or at least delay us from a very detrimental fate? This very well could be the answer to our prayers! As a whole we are not ready for this. We are not ready for globalism, and our government certainly is NOT ready for it yet either. That notion is a ticking time bomb and will lead us ALL to the slaughter. Anyway's,this is just my opinion.

    1. Rev. Jo-An Josephine's Avatar Rev. Jo-An Josephine

      Mystic Angel....WELL SAID!!

  1. espinja's Avatar espinja

    People on H1-B Visas who provide skills we don't have (brain surgeons, software developers, etc.) seem like the kind of immigrants we should be looking for.

    When it comes to the rest (immigrants, illegal aliens, refugees, asylum seekers), why are we taking any in? What purpose, other than giving us the feeling that "we're doing some good in the world," does it serve to allow them in, or allow them to stay?

    Is this article really just a long-winded way of saying, "What does it say about us as people if we aren't charitable?"

    Because my question is this (and obviously, I'm asking it from the United States' point of view):

    How, in a country with a national debt approaching $20 Trillion, can we bring ourselves to be any more charitable, when the money we're spending isn't ours, it's the money that will have to be earned/created by the next 3 generations of Americans?

    We are no longer talking about cash on hand. Every penny we spend is on credit, not cash. Every penny we send out of this country in either services our resources doesn't even belong to us, at this point.

    We are ransoming the future generations of this country.

  1. Jack Mabry's Avatar Jack Mabry

    How can anyone possibly say, since 9/11 only so many people have been killed by terrorism. By ignoring the horror of 9/11, you are disrespecting the almost 3000 people who died so horribly. Shame on you!

  1. biblical scholar's Avatar biblical scholar

    America needs to ban all people from bad parts of the world permanently. Build the wall and while we're at it build another one to keep communist canadians out too! President Trump truly is ordained by god and will make America great AGAIN!

    1. Mary Therese Lemanek's Avatar Mary Therese Lemanek

      All bad parts of the world? And how would one determine just what geographical areas that would include? Would it be a permanent decision or would the definition of "evil and dangerous lands and their people" change? In 1942 we put the kibbosh on Japanese Americans, not Germans even though we were at war with them also. We failed to accept persecuted Jews. After the war, while the Nazis were being tried in Europe, we happily took many of their scientists into our space program. In 1970 North Vietnam held the baddies and today we go there on vacation. There is no way to keep "bad" people out and certainly a policy that bars well vetted immigrants and refugees is a waste of time, money and integrity.
      As for Trump being "ordained by God" ~ I suspect the Almighty would disagree

      1. espinja's Avatar espinja

        It's amazing no one else challenges any of your comments, since all you do is slam the United States.

        The Japanese were placed in camps. The Germans and Italians already here were well-assimilated, but still had to register as "Enemy Aliens" during the war. And let's not forget that Canada ordered the DEPORTATION of 22,000 Japanese Canadians during the same time. Many returned to Japan, losing all their belongings in the process. Less than 7,000 remained in British Columbia, the rest scattered elsewhere.

        Those Nazi scientists were key to wining the war, by the way. What would you rather had been done with them?

        The Japanese attacked us. The Germans tried to exterminate non-Germans.

        I'm convinced, based on your comments, you either hate what America is and does, or you think you're just morally superior to everyone who voted for Trump.

        Here are some things you might not know:

        According to the Center for Immigration Studies, we can help 12 times as many people near their home, as we can by bringing them here:

        http://cis.org/High-Cost-of-Resettling-Middle-Eastern-Refugees

        We're taking on 1.5 million immigrants per year:

        http://cis.org/immigration-Surging-1.5-Million-Arriving-Annually-

        Do you think it's fair to help 1/12th of the people we COULD be helping?

        Do you think it's fair to bring 1.5 million people per year to the US, where we have to immediately put the majority of them on social services, welfare, and housing assistance paid for by US taxpayers? Just how many maids and gardeners do you think we need, when 1 in 4 are illiterate in THEIR OWN LANGUAGES, let alone ours?

        Do you think it's fair that our American children have to lose more and more programs, like sports, band, and other community services to free up money for the ever increasing cost of the services immigrants require?

        You think you're doing the world a favor by bringing "the tired, the poor, the huddled masses" to our struggling, debt-ridden country.

        You are wrong, and you are immoral for ignoring these realities, while implying anyone who doesn't agree with you is guilty of anything but a desire to not end up like the failed countries who are sending us their "refugees."

        I have kids of my own. I didn't bring them into this world to have them robbed of the wonderful chances they deserve.

        People should be expected to solve their own problems.

        1. Brother John's Avatar Brother John

          espinja asks, "Do you think it’s fair that our American children have to lose more and more programs, like sports, band, and other community services to free up money for the ever increasing cost of the services immigrants require?"

          So you're attributing the loss of entitlements (yes, band, sports and more are entitlements) to the costs of accepting immigrants? How much does it cost, do you suppose?

          Is it more than $150 billion per year? That's what it costs U.S. taxpayers to maintain it's 800+ military bases around the globe. Source: http://www.mintpressnews.com/214492-2/214492/

          But that's peanuts compared to the overall cost of the multiple wars that the U.S. has chosen to wage.

          "The United States federal government has spent or obligated 4.8 trillion dollars on the wars in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq. This figure includes: direct Congressional war appropriations; war-related increases to the Pentagon base budget; veterans care and disability; increases in the homeland security budget; interest payments on direct war borrowing; foreign assistance spending; and estimated future obligations for veterans’ care.

          This total omits many other expenses, such as the macroeconomic costs to the US economy; the opportunity costs of not investing war dollars in alternative sectors; future interest on war borrowing; and local government and private war costs.

          The current wars have been paid for almost entirely by borrowing. This borrowing has raised the US budget deficit, increased the national debt, and had other macroeconomic effects, such as raising consumer interest rates. Unless the US immediately repays the money borrowed for war, there will also be future interest payments. We estimate that interest payments could total over $7.9 trillion by 2053." Source: http://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/costs/economic

          Ironically, many of the refugees/immigrants are fleeing the death and destruction resulting from the expenditure of trillions of dollars.

          It's obvious that you love your children and want the best for them. It's a damn shame that the football program has been cancelled and the band instruments aren't provided by the school any longer. But how would you feel is your neighbourhood had been bombed into oblivion and occupied by foreign troops? What if your school, your home and your town was just a pile of rubble? Would you be angry and resentful? Would you stay and try to survive or do whatever it took to get you and your children to safety?

          I challenge you to search "images" of "child war victims". Have a good look and ask yourself which children are suffering more, yours or those in the pictures. Find a little compassion and ask yourself why these children have been "robbed of the wonderful chances they deserve"?

          Your closing sentence, "People should be expected to solve their own problems" is both heartless and ignorant. You should feel ashamed of yourself.

    2. Brother John's Avatar Brother John

      Opinions like yours, Bernard, are why the U.S. has lost the respect of much of the world. If there was a wall built on the Canadian border it would be to keep clowns like you out of Canada.

  1. Brother John's Avatar Brother John

    "America has long viewed itself as a beacon of freedom in the world, a champion of peace and prosperity for all mankind – not just our own. Historically, our role on the world stage has been that of a country willing to come to the aid of other nations, should they require it." This is a pleasant illusion many people are programmed to believe, but the reality has been U.S. hegemony and empire building through brutal military and economic warfare, decade after decade. It's interesting that the seven countries identified by Gen. Ramsey Clark (#3 in the article linked below) are the same seven under the recent immigration ban.

    http://www.globalresearch.ca/war-terrorism-and-the-global-economic-crisis-in-2015-ninety-nine-interrelated-concepts/5497812

    Any basis for chanting "WE'RE #1" that's based on reality has disturbing overtones. Until they're addressed the downward spiral will continue.

    "We have become a slothful, greedy, decadent nation that is exhibiting signs of advanced decay. Until we understand just how bad our problems really are, we won't be able to come up with the solutions that we need."

    Above is an excerpt from the linked article that details 20 of the #1 positions held by the U.S.

    http://archive.lewrockwell.com/rep2/us-number-1-not-so-good-categories.html

    1. espinja's Avatar espinja

      I'm assuming you're either Canadian, or wish you were. Tell me, why is it that so many of the world's downtrodden want to come here, if America is as bad as the articles you link make it sound?

      1. Brother John's Avatar Brother John

        Excellent assumption, espinja! I moved to Canada in 1970 after a tour in VietNam (which the U.S. lost along with most subsequent wars) and seeing the 11,432nd "Love it or Leave it" bumper sticker. Here are a couple of guesses to answer your question….

        1. Their own countries have been decimated by foreign invaders making them unliveable. Search "images" of "war in" Afghanstan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Libya and others for graphic evidence. Nearly anyplace would be better. The countries that had a hand in this immoral destruction, either through direct military intervention and/or the provision of weapons, took part in war crimes and should have a moral obligation to provide sanctuary and compensation to the survivors.

        2. The perception that the U.S. is "the greatest country on earth" and would welcome them with open arms to share the wealth and accept their religious and cultural beliefs without bigotry and hatred, aka Freedom

        3. They read the Statue of Liberty plaque and believed it.

        FYI, here's link to a list of "net migration" statistics (difference between the number of persons entering vs leaving a country based on population) according to the CIA. Scroll down to find the U.S.

        https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2112rank.html

  1. John's Avatar John

    http://www.globalresearch.ca/non-muslims-carried-out-more-than-90-of-all-terrorist-attacks-in-america/5333619

    Since 9/11, [Charles Kurzman, Professor of Sociology at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, writing for the Triangle Center on Terrorism and National Security] and his team tallies, 33 Americans have died as a result of terrorism launched by their Muslim neighbors.

    During that period, 180,000 Americans were murdered for reasons unrelated to terrorism.

    In just the past year, the mass shootings that have captivated America’s attention killed 66 Americans, “twice as many fatalities as from Muslim-American terrorism in all 11 years since 9/11,” notes Kurzman’s team.

    “Until public opinion starts to recognize the scale of the problem has been lower than we feared, my sense is that public officials are not going to change their policies,” Kurzman says. “Counterterrorism policies have involved surveillance — not just of Muslim-Americans, but of all Americans, and the fear of terrorism has justified intrusions on American privacy and civil liberties all over the internet and other aspects of our lives. I think the implications here are not just for how we treat a religious minority in the U.S., but also how we treat the rights & liberties of everyone.”

    Moreover, another study undertaken by the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism – called ”Profiles of Perpetrators of Terrorism in the United States” – found:

    Between 1970 and 2011, 32 percent of the perpetrator groups were motivated by ethnonationalist/separatist agendas, 28 percent were motivated by single issues, such as animal rights or opposition to war, and seven percent were motivated by religious beliefs. In addition, 11 percent of the perpetrator groups were classified as extreme right-wing, and 22 percent were categorized as extreme left-wing.

    1. hsw's Avatar hsw

      Thank you for a voice of reason - most of the comments here seem to be coming from a place of either fear, or hatred, or both.

      1. Mary Therese Lemanek's Avatar Mary Therese Lemanek

        Ignorance (much of what is willful) and fear create a powerful force. And not for the good. Important to continue to put forth the facts and invite people to a different worldview.

    2. espinja's Avatar espinja

      What, exactly, is your point? Are you suggesting we have nothing to worry about when it comes to terrorism?

      And where are you getting your numbers? The deaths from Boston, Orlando, and San Bernardino alone are too many, don't you think?

      What, exactly, are you suggesting we do?

      1. Mary Therese Lemanek's Avatar Mary Therese Lemanek

        nobody is suggesting that there is nothing to worry about. We are suggesting that any action taken be a sensible response to a legitimate threat. Which a generalized ban is not.

        1. espinja's Avatar espinja

          There is no ban, it is a 90-120 day pause on incoming immigrants/refugees/asylum seekers, until a vetting process that works is developed.

          How is this not a good thing?

    3. Brother John's Avatar Brother John

      Thanks for your post and link, John. Problem Reaction Solution (Latin: Ordo ab Chao) is a mass mind control system. It is used to make changes to the law that the citizens would not accept otherwise. It's worked for century after century. A fearful populace is a compliant population.

      Here are a few quotes from folks who don't post on this blog…..

      "The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed -- and hence clamorous to be led to safety -- by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary."-- H.L. Mencken

      "Our government has kept us in a perpetual state of fear--kept us in a continuous stampede of patriotic fervor-with the cry of grave national emergency. Always there has been some terrible evil at home or some monstrous foreign power that was going to gobble us up if we did not blindly rally behind it ..." -- General Douglas MacArthur, 1957

      "Why of course the people don't want war. Why should some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally the common people don't want war neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country." Hermann Goering (1893-1946) Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, President of the Reichstag, Prime Minister of Prussia and, as Hitler's designated successor, the second man in the Third Reich.

      "The streets of our country are in turmoil. The universities are filled with students rebelling and rioting. Communists are seeking to destroy our country. Russia is threatening us with her might, and the Republic is in danger. Yes - danger from within and without. We need law and order! Without it our nation cannot survive." - Adolf Hitler, 1932

      "If you haven't recognised the following fact then I suggest you do a little research and deal with it. Government's, ruling oligarchies, dictatorships subtle and overt, history time and again create their own enemies. They need to manufacture enemies to indefinitely hoodwink the real enemy, the people they govern."---Paul Joseph Watson

      "Today Americans would be outraged if UN troops entered Los Angeles to restore order; tomorrow they will be grateful. This is especially true if they were told there was an outside threat from beyond, whether real or promulgated, that threatened our very existence. It is then that all peoples of the world will plead with world leaders to deliver them from this evil. The one thing that every man fears is the unknown. When presented with this scenario, individual rights will be willingly relinquished for the guarantee of their well being granted to them by their world government." At their 1992 meeting, in Evian France May 21, the Bilderburg group discussed the possibility of "conditioning the public to accept the idea of a UN army that could, by force, impose its will on the internal affairs of any nation"--Henry Kissinger

      "I found early on that you can’t trust the network media in the United States to tell the truth. They’re part of the problem because they are owned by defence contractors for a reason—which is that the $900 Billion global defence industry is going to control that which can sink them, so what do they do? They own the media."---David Morehouse, M.A. Ph.D. ex US Army Intelligence Support Command (INSCOM)

      "By making drugs hard to get and jacking up the price the controllers can create massive crime waves at anytime and at any place whenever they wish. These waves of crime frighten innocent law abiding People into agreeing to give up Rights and Freedoms in order to, "get the crime and drugs off the streets". Recent polls have claimed that a majority of the American People are willing to, "give up some of their Rights and Freedom in order to get the crime and drugs off the streets". After passing draconian legislation removing Rights and Freedoms the drugs are once again made plentiful and prices are lowered. And, what do you know... the crime disappears making the new laws look like they are actually working. This technique has been extensively used in the socialists war against the Second Amendment to the Constitution for the United States of America."--Bill Cooper

      "The connections piled up quickly. Contra planes flew north to the U.S., loaded with cocaine, then returned laden with cash. All under the protective umbrella of the United States Government. My informants were perfectly placed: one worked with the Contra pilots at their base, while another moved easily among the Salvadoran military officials who protected the resupply operation. They fed me the names of Contra pilots. Again and again, those names showed up in the DEA database as documented drug traffickers.

      "When I pursued the case, my superiors quietly and firmly advised me to move on to other investigations."

      Former DEA Agent Celerino Castillo Powder Burns, 1992

  1. Thomas William Cornfield's Avatar Thomas William Cornfield

    Ya know it all comes down to this... To the ones that scream Humanity.. they will not take responsibility when one of these refugees do attack in our country,( I pray it is not one of your loved ones ) Iwas stationed in turkey in 1978/79 torrior was there I saw it . Issis is losing badly right now and their insane leader could start on us and you have no idea!!!! and i pray that you don't.. why not see what happens in the next few months Jesus said turn the other cheek but he never had to deal with a IED or machine gun.. May the Lord Bless your day

    1. Thomas William Cornfield's Avatar Thomas William Cornfield

      really Lord Bless your day, and if you can bless someone you know

  1. Hank's Avatar Hank

    The belief that our borders should be open to anyone and everyone is as insane as leaving our cars, homes, and businesses unlocked and unprotected. Those who find fault with the US protecting its borders are welcome to leave their lives and property unprotected, but the rest of us will feel better with the protection.

  1. Kathy's Avatar Kathy

    I am blessed to channel information from the Heavenly Realm where there are no fences nor walls. I was told the following prior to the marches: "What needs to be done all around the world- and that is uniting their hearts together in the loving consciousness - for yes yes yes -LOVE IS THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON Kathy - an awareness and seeing firsthand - how it affects even those unaware- who will soften up this year and be more aware of power above and beyond them - and yes yes yes - taking that time for important moment of silence - to send out that - LOVING INTENTION OF UNIFICATION - around HIS MOTHER'S WORLD - to grow more in harmony and balance - more important to glow with their lights from within - shining without - to improve those conditions - and yes - SHE had a dream - but now HUMANKIND will fulfill this and other dreams for ONENESS and HUMANITY -not black - not white - not spanish - not greek- not egyptian - not muslim -not monk -nor pope - nor buddha - but all these joined in oneness - under our indivisible Prime Creator - dearest child."

  1. Brother Saul's Avatar Brother Saul

    In Soviet Russia wall not keep people out; wall keep YOU in!

    1. Marius Gabriel Burja's Avatar Marius Gabriel Burja

      We fly.?

  1. Mary Therese Lemanek's Avatar Mary Therese Lemanek

    Nothing wrong with caring for ourselves but it cannot be done on the backs of others. There is generally a resolution to any problem that allows everyone to come out relatively unscathed. We live in a global reality and if we want the benefits, then we have to accept the pieces that we would not necessarily choose. That is what community is....

    1. espinja's Avatar espinja

      What are you talking about?

      1. Mary Therese Lemanek's Avatar Mary Therese Lemanek

        If you ask this question, it is a useless expenditure of energy to try to enlighten you

        1. espinja's Avatar espinja

          you said there is generally a resolution to any problem that allows everyone to come out relatively unscathed. Then you said we have to accept the pieces that we would not necessarily choose.

          It's not a useless expenditure of energy, because I am truly intrigued as to how these two disjointed claims can follow each other, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who doesn't understand what you mean.

          So, again, what are you talking about?

  1. William w. George's Avatar William w. George

    Seperation,discrimination, racism, hatred, only allow the rich and powerful to distract us from the bull poop they do,. this country was built by people who found no value in these things, .people should read the words on the statue of liberty, and remember the difference between right and wrong ,Mexicans should be organized to take back there country ,then apply for state hood , that way they can pay taxes and help to eliminate some of the bull ..

  1. Marius Gabriel Burja's Avatar Marius Gabriel Burja

    I like to think we are all the same skin different pigment has nothing to do with belief. It is a fact of science. Respecting borders and paper trails are a matter of safety and business which has to entail politics and law. We develop law for future safety yet do more work protesting then veting or hiring citizens for security services. This is due to education? How do you educate the world if you do not have it's attention? Even an animal in training has to have his own space. All who do not understand, fear that which they do not know. So know the plan and make it happen. Bringing peace to a world that fears has to start with removing fear. The world fears terrorism. Therefore we have to remove it first then things can change for the better. This so called ban will be a snake curve in the river flow of immigrants but not a complete cut off. The river will branch off into countries that can not control it then spill over the banks. It will trickle back to us with a paper trail. Then the door is open. People on the run are a danger to themselves as well as others. We have to first care for them then give them their identity back and help them move forward. Help them breathe first then feed them then give them a home and hope. Spread that instead of conspiracy racial jihad theory stuff. It seems everyone wants to make a name for themselves in the public eye but how does that feed the river?

    1. espinja's Avatar espinja

      Conspiracy racial jihad theory.

      You sound like you've never read a single article about what's happening in Europe.

      Ask the Swedish, Norweigans, or the French how much they're enjoying sharing their culture with the cancer that has flooded in through Angela Merkel's Germany.

      You people are sick.

      You think everything is a bed of roses.

      Some people are parasitic takers, who will eat you alive if you let them. Have you seen the rape capital of the world, formerly known as Sweden? Tell them their open doors policy is good for them.

      Some cultures are better than others, but none of the ones flooding into the West are better than the West.

      I used to think a war was coming, but I was wrong. It seems you people aren't even willing to put up a fight to keep what your ancestors fought and died to build for you. Europe will fall, if it doesn't change. I'm glad Trump is brave enough to at least TRY to stop it from happening here.

      1. Mary Therese Lemanek's Avatar Mary Therese Lemanek

        This has devolved into quite a hate-filled, non rational thread. I am out.

      2. Randy McDonald's Avatar Randy McDonald

        It is not necessary to be unpleasant to state your point of view. Also: it is clear that you know not of which you speak! Vitriol and hate does not change anyones point of view, any more than anyone else's viewpoint will change your's. First you must know your enemy, and as someone who has has extensive experience with that area of the world, it is clear to me that none of your Presidents, current or past do understand them.

        I am sorry but your argument/s have so many fallacies based on ignorance and lack of understanding of both history and our enemies that they lose revallance. When you add your indicated hatred, it makes it very difficult to take your comments seriously!

        Isolationism is not the solution nor is it even possible in today's world. Furthermore picking fights with everyone only leads to everyone ganging up to deal with you. There are less offensive and dramatic ways of dealing with the rest of the world.

        1. Mary Therese Lemanek's Avatar Mary Therese Lemanek

          amen.

        2. espinja's Avatar espinja

          If you want to argue my points, then please do so, but just accusing me of vitriol and hate is useless. If you want me to change my point of view, then how about telling me why?

          The comment I was replying to took the point of view that we have to remove fear, and that the world fears terrorism. It also claimed that the flow of immigrants will not stop, but spill over the banks.

          Then the comment's author claimed that people on the run must be given their identity back, and they must be helped forward. They need food, and a home, and hope.

          The rest is just drivel.

          My points in my comment are the following:

          1. Europe is being overrun with economic migrants that are flowing in too quickly, and in too great a number, to assimilate successfully into European culture. They are causing problems that Europe is unable to solve. I agree with many that Angela Merkel's decision to allow everyone in with NO VETTING is the biggest cause for the problems that plague Europe today.

          2. Pretending that all it takes is love and compassion to fix the world's problems is sick. The world is not the bed of roses we enjoy in the West.

          3. Some people are parasites. This isn't their fault, it's the result of being thrust into a situation that is driven by survival, rather than flourishing. Drop me in a country where I don't speak the language, where I don't understand the customs, and where everyone around me is behaving in a manner I have been told my whole life is immoral, and I might not be the same. This is what it's like for a strict Muslim who was raised to think women who bare their skin are immoral or ready for subjugation.

          Don't take my word for it, read up on this yourselves. I am not the one running around Europe writing these stories up, you are free to find the same stories, vetted and factual, for yourselves.

          When I said "you people are sick," I meant it. It is sick to think that no one in the world is evil or bad, and it's unfair to your fellow citizens to lay them out without the ability to protect them, the way many have done.

          The American direction is now to pull back, shore up our defenses militarily and economically. If you are one of the Americans fortunate enough to have disposable income, then use it to help your fellow Americans. When that is accomplished, feel free to continue sharing your fortunes with others who are less fortunate.

          But to imply that it is immoral to keep what one has earned is unfair, and THAT is what I've been calling out against with my comments on this article.

          Some people dedicate their lives to service, like many of you. Some dedicate their lives to defense, like those who serve in law enforcement and the military. Both groups need each other. I've worked both sides, and both have their merits. But it is UNFAIR for those here to denigrate the intentions of others who dedicate their lives to defending your ability to serve in your current capacities.

          You CANNOT SURVIVE without defending yourself, or allowing others to do it for you, because some PEOPLE, NATIONS, AND CULTURES are diametrically opposed to your mission.

          This is not new. There has always been opposition to good works. It is in our nature to war with one another. You can WISH things were different, but you can't IGNORE REALITY.

          So stop judging the actions of those who fight to defend you.

          At least acknowledge the fact that you are able to do good work, because others are willing to do the things you are not, to provide you that opportunity.

          Now, if you want to debate the arguments I'm making, please feel free to do so. Or, stick to your current claims that I'm just hateful and vitriolic. Either way, my point is made. Hopefully someone else can learn from it, whether they agree with me or not is beside the point. I am, however, open to reasoned arguments if you care to make them.

          1. Randy McDonald's Avatar Randy McDonald
            1. To imply that I said all of that in such a brief statement is ludicrous..
            2. I happen to have defended this country in war and I am a 100% disabled VETERAN as a result.
            3. It is only your opinion that the non-native English speaking will become parasites.
            4. I have lived in 4 countries outside of the United States and been to over 30 more. Do not lecture me about how these people are. I have ALWAYS been accepted and treated well, all over the world.
            5. I never said we should not vet people nor did I advocate that we not defend ourselves.
            6. Are you a native American Indian? If not, then how did your family get to this country?
            7. So I should withdraw my comments when you continue to deliberately use language that is inflammatory and provocative? I fail to understand the logic.
            8. Yes I agree with you that there are evil and bad people. We have our fair share right here at home. I don't think that we should ban a faith based on a few bad people. Yes, our vetting process currently takes several years - did you know that? I don't recommend stopping, but to prevent someone who has been vetted from returning is wrong!

            I do not have the time or energy to beat my head against a wall of prejudice and ignorance.

  1. Ray's Avatar Ray

    I don't feel legal immagration is issue. The illegal part is just crazy. Wanting to know who is coming to our society is nothing new. I think any who say negative to this, open your doors and house your new freinds from the south or middle east. If you don't, look into the mirror at a hypocrite.

    1. Grant Shramek (@NotHillery)'s Avatar Grant Shramek (@NotHillery)

      The Greeks opened their doors, how did that workout???? Every County has the right to say who is Welcome.

    2. Grant Shramek (@NotHillery)'s Avatar Grant Shramek (@NotHillery)

      I'm glad it's not 1939, You would welcome Hitler and his NAZI followers. Wakeup SnowFlake

    3. Philip's Avatar Philip

      There are legal means to enter this country, use them to enter. We are so afraid to tell any one no that we are being over run because of this absurd focus upon always making an exception. I live in Arizona and we are being over run with illegals and the issues they bring. Compassion and generosity is one thing... blind acceptance "just because" is beyond absurd.

  1. Ama Nazra's Avatar Ama Nazra

    The internet is almost global now. We don't have to give in to our leaders' desire to ignore global issues. We have the right to say no .. so we should be saying it. Trump has thrown the world into shock. America used to be a world leader; now it appears to be retreating because of fear. Are we going to let the terrorists, in other countries, and home grown (God help us all), and political bullies rule us through fear? I say no. But then, I do not live in a city, and was not in Melbourne when one man killed the five innocents with his car and bullets just recently. I can understand why people feel the way they do, and it is a very easy choice for many people.

    How do we tighten up our laws? How do we reaffirm the boundaries of good manners and thinking of others as well as ourselves, if not first, if we spend so much time fearing our neighbours instead of getting to know them? It has to be me that starts the changes towards peace, every 'me' on the planet. Waiting for someone else to start is not working, its too easy to be a mushroom (if you don't know that joke ask me). We have to take off the blinkers and quit pretending everything will be all right .. because it won't.

    BTW Brexit is struggling as the concept is illegal until passed by Parliament. Britain may be going nowhere, rapidly.

    Love & Peace Ama

    1. Minister Greg's Avatar Minister Greg

      AMA, our Republic will win over Communists like you and your Communist (Democrat) friends

      1. Ama Nazra's Avatar Ama Nazra

        HI Greg, our Prime Minister would love to have a Republic, from what I have read about him, but our Democracy (and I use that word lightly) doesn't seem to want to change. The Melbourne I wrote of is in Australia, BTW, and I'm not a Communist. And truthfully, I never know which party to vote for at Election time, because they all seem the same to me, one way or another.

  1. Kirk's Avatar Kirk

    Globalization is a new form of communism. It, communism/globalization ignores human desire/individuality as it tries to force uniformity by demonizing anybody that wants to do something different. For example, President Trump is doing many of the same things that all of his predecessors did, but globalists pretend that he is the only on that has done these things, dividing the country/world. Supporters of Trump and Brexit are not nationalists! They simply believe that like the old communism, the new form has done nothing but weaken nations and their ability to pull the rest of the world up. I know so called liberals don't want to believe any of this, but technically, they are no longer liberal.

    1. John Owens's Avatar John Owens

      Great commentary here, Kirk. I'm glad to see there are still realists in the world. So many just believe whatever they are told to believe.

  1. Randy McDonald's Avatar Randy McDonald

    I for one am very troubled by what is happening. As our world stands today, it is no longer possible for a nation such as the United States to retreat into itself. We simply cannot survive on only our own resources with the current population without a great period of suffering. If you are so naive as to believe that the world has not become totally interconnected, then you might think we can withdraw into ourselves. The truth is that it is so interconnected and to become isolated would be virtually insane.

    1. Minister Randy's Avatar Minister Randy

      The fact is yes we must retreat unto ourself for a short period of time while we get the country back on track . At this time we can't afford to be the worlds police . We must strengthen our border and come up with ways to vet people that come from certain areas . Once we rebuild our economy after the hit it took the last 8 years and once we secure our country which is what the border wall is supposed to help do then we can once again start tying to help. The reason it's America first is unless you have your own house in order you can't possibly help any get theirs in order

      1. Mary Therese Lemanek's Avatar Mary Therese Lemanek

        If we wait until we have all of our gaps filled, bank accounts filled, homeless sheltered etc. etc. to care about anyone or anything beyond our borders, we will never do anything. That is a facile excuse that people use who either do not know what to do or want to do nothing about any of it. Isolation does nobody any good

        1. Minister Randy's Avatar Minister Randy

          You really don't sound to bright . No one said cover all gaps but when your FBI and NSA say we can't get these people then you can't let them in . And a countries first duty is to its citinzens after they are taken care of the. You start helping other countries ! We have plenty that need help and we can't afford to help everyone so no it's only right that the money taken from tax payers first be used to take cre of those who are citizens

        2. espinja's Avatar espinja

          There is absolutely nothing stopping you from donating what you consider to be excess time and money to an international charity of your choice.

          This national retreat to "America First" is a re-allocation of resources to fix problems at home, first.

          But if you're intent on helping others with the excess resources at your disposal, then why not start at your front door? Why does your money have to be sent halfway around the planet to help strangers, or worse, why must those strangers be brought here? Wouldn't that just make them tomorrow's locals you will ignore, like the locals you ignore today?

          1. Mary Therese Lemanek's Avatar Mary Therese Lemanek

            why does it have to be either or? Doing both is possible if you are willing to give whether or not it is "excess". But wait, that might mean that many in this country would have to let go of some of their "entitlements" and maybe live with a little less so that there is plenty to go around.

          2. espinja's Avatar espinja

            Follow your own logic. You have people in need right outside your door, in your own community. Why send your money so far? Doesn't helping one's neighbor count as much as helping complete strangers?

            And what do you mean by "entitlements?" I earn my own money, and I pay my taxes. Who are you to judge what I should do with the money I earn? Isn't it already bad enough, having to pay into a tax system that does what it pleases with money sent out of the country as "aid?"

            Like I suggested, if you want to sell all your belongings and give to the poor, by all means, go right ahead. But don't go telling me what to do with mine. You have no right to do so, or to "shame" me about the personal property I acquired, and you judgingly call "entitlements."

      2. Meg's Avatar Meg

        Thanks, Randy. I wanted to say the same thing, take a pause, regroup and then re-enter.

    2. Rev. Jo-An Josephine's Avatar Rev. Jo-An Josephine

      Randy McDonald, this is in answer to your first post dated Jan 30 2017 at 5:35 PM. You are absolutely Correct. If the US were to become isolated, and depend solely on self, they would need to give up all their cell phones and other devices for they are all, for the most part, fabricated in China and Japan. The very caps that say (make america great again) are made in China...not America. That's just the beginning. Many foods cannot be or are not grown in America and therefore come from other Countries.....the very oil everybody is fighting over via the pipeline, doesn't come from America either. So much of how we survive today depends on other Countries. It's a slippery slope for sure. And insanity is sure to follow under this new leadership. :(

      1. Randy McDonald's Avatar Randy McDonald

        Thank you, sanity not emotions should be our course of action. It is way too late to exist solely on the resources we have. Were we to do so, the entire country would suffer! The poor would feel it the most, but ALL would suffer to some degree.

        Starting a Presidency by alienating our allies does not bode well for the sane approach.

        I am a war veteran and am 100% a patriot American who wants what is best for this country. I have been all over the world and do not view the majority of them as being out to harm the U.S.

        If we stay our current approach, we can however turn many more into our enemies.

        Unfortunately nothing said here will sway anyone, so I'll not continue.

Leave a Comment

When leaving your comment, please:

  • Be respectful and constructive
  • Criticize ideas, not people
  • Avoid profanity, insults, and derogatory comments

To view the full code of conduct governing these comment sections, please visit this page.

Not ordained yet? Hit the button below to get started. Once ordained, log in to your account to leave a comment!
Don't have an account yet? Create Account