Today we are faced with much violent confrontation; great differences on every subject; I'm right and you are wrong; on and on and on!
The following letter homes in on one issue that seems to always evoke thoughtless remarks----The Bill of Rights. The following is a letter written about twenty five years ago in response to remarks made by a University of Wyoming teacher. I reprint it as written then and shortened by the Press. It is copied from the original with the permission of the writer:
"The Declaration outlines for us the concept of divinely granted rights assumed and regarded above all else in the establishment of governments. The framers of the Constitution used this as their basic premise when they set about to bring forth this nation. It is the Bill of Rights which establishes for us those specific rights which were considered to be inalienable. Mr. Hanks should understand that the Bill of Rights is more than just a summary of what men thought our rights should be for a time; they are an agreement that these rights are divinely given and cannot be usurped by man. It is this premise that is central to the Second Amendment debate.
The founding fathers understood that certain truths, as they pertained in this case to certain of our rights as citizens, were self-evident, which is to say they are strengthened, not at all, by the words of men, for man can add not to divine intention.
The frustrations for those like Mr. Hanks lies in the assumption that because I choose to exercise my right to own and carry a firearm, that I therefore must lack the wisdom to judge its proper use, and since I lack that wisdom (his assumption), I am a threat to the welfare of others. This is a gravely ignorant mindset, which to exist must first ignore that these rights exist in all men. Mr. Hanks would do well to spend his time understanding the responsibility we all have in preserving and protecting this republic for it can only grant us the rights we are first willing to recognize and and by choice exercise."
(signed by) S.L. Smith
Medicineman!
My blog will attempt to be a source of accurate information on any subject put forward. My approach to any question will come from the conservative, freedom loving,and Christian. My background includes history, medicine and military. Welcome!
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Thursday, April 18, 2019
SAMUEL CHASE 1741-1811
This man, Samuel Chase, who played such a bold role in the early formation of our Independence was another man born just at the right time, in just the right place and to just the right circumstances for the job he had to do.
Born to a prominent clergyman and a family well educated and prosperous in Arlington, Maryland Charles was schooled at home in the classics and sent off to study law where he graduated at the head of his class. Charles Chase was admitted to the Bar at age twenty.
Mr. Chase was chosen for the Provincial Assembly shortly after and his independence of thinking and action quickly offended those members who groveled at the feet of the royal governor.
Chase was quick to damn the Stamp Act and to rally with hose who opposed it. He even went to the limit by joining a young bunch calling themselves "Sons of Liberty", even to the point of attacking the Stamp Office and destroying the stamps.
Young Chase became such an irritant to the authorities in Arlington that they tried to discredit him which only extended his notoriety and made him more popular with the people.
The people of Maryland elected Samuel Chase as one of the five to the Continental Congress in 1774 while at the same time appointing him to that very important post as member of the "Committee of Correspondence".
Chase was bold and energetic in his desire for complete independence, even though many in the colonies wanted reconciliation in the dispute. He was reelected in 1775 and continued with the same zeal for independence.
Early in the spring of 1776 he joined Dr. Franklin and Charles Carroll on a mission to Canada for the purpose of joining them with the colonies in the common effort of independence. The trip was a failure however.
When they returned to Congress the item of independence was on the table and to his great delight the state of Maryland lifted her restrictions and allowed her delegates vote as they liked and ,of course, he voted FOR.
Samuel Chase stayed in Congress until 1778 but remained active in the politics of his state, becoming Judge and filling other important areas of Maryland government. In 1796 he was appointed by President Washington to the Supreme Court and confirmed be the Senate, a fitting place for such a man to finish this life....Medicineman!i
Born to a prominent clergyman and a family well educated and prosperous in Arlington, Maryland Charles was schooled at home in the classics and sent off to study law where he graduated at the head of his class. Charles Chase was admitted to the Bar at age twenty.
Mr. Chase was chosen for the Provincial Assembly shortly after and his independence of thinking and action quickly offended those members who groveled at the feet of the royal governor.
Chase was quick to damn the Stamp Act and to rally with hose who opposed it. He even went to the limit by joining a young bunch calling themselves "Sons of Liberty", even to the point of attacking the Stamp Office and destroying the stamps.
Young Chase became such an irritant to the authorities in Arlington that they tried to discredit him which only extended his notoriety and made him more popular with the people.
The people of Maryland elected Samuel Chase as one of the five to the Continental Congress in 1774 while at the same time appointing him to that very important post as member of the "Committee of Correspondence".
Chase was bold and energetic in his desire for complete independence, even though many in the colonies wanted reconciliation in the dispute. He was reelected in 1775 and continued with the same zeal for independence.
Early in the spring of 1776 he joined Dr. Franklin and Charles Carroll on a mission to Canada for the purpose of joining them with the colonies in the common effort of independence. The trip was a failure however.
When they returned to Congress the item of independence was on the table and to his great delight the state of Maryland lifted her restrictions and allowed her delegates vote as they liked and ,of course, he voted FOR.
Samuel Chase stayed in Congress until 1778 but remained active in the politics of his state, becoming Judge and filling other important areas of Maryland government. In 1796 he was appointed by President Washington to the Supreme Court and confirmed be the Senate, a fitting place for such a man to finish this life....Medicineman!i
Friday, April 12, 2019
THOMAS McKEAN 1734-1817
Yes, I can almost see the look on your face, "Another signer I never heard of." Well don't feel bad, for most of these great men were here in the Colonies at just the right time and most of them played behind the scenes, not in the ranks, to kick-start this great country.
I grew up with a Tom McKean, went to high school with him and went to his father, the local Dentist, under duress. Tom went on to Dental School under the NROTC program of the day and spent his years in the U.S. Navy.
But this McKean was born in New London, Chester County PA. Thomas was a very bright student and was admitted to the Bar before he was yet 21. He was appointed by the Attorney General of the Province of Deleware as his deputy and to prosecute all claims for the Crown in the County of Sussex.
The next year he was appointed to practice law in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, while at the same time he was clerk of the House of Assembly of Delaware.
In 1765 he was a delegate to the "Stamp Act Congress" and placed on the committee to prepare the response to the House of Commons. He and his associates used unstamped paper in all their writings.
Mr. Mckean was so well thought of by his peers that he became a part of almost every important event of that time. He was a judge and the Collector of Customs for the port of Newcastle.
McKean was in favor of the General Congress and was appointed delegate to the body and there in 1774 for it's formation. He remained a member of the Continental Congress until the treaty of peace in 1783. He was there for the vote on the Declaration of Independence in 1776 but was called away by General Washing to bring a regiment of "Pennsylvania Associators" of which he was a colonel to aid General Washington in New Jersey. McKean placed his name on the document in September. He served the new country in so many varied and important roles until his death in 1817, a great American!....Meedicineman!
I grew up with a Tom McKean, went to high school with him and went to his father, the local Dentist, under duress. Tom went on to Dental School under the NROTC program of the day and spent his years in the U.S. Navy.
But this McKean was born in New London, Chester County PA. Thomas was a very bright student and was admitted to the Bar before he was yet 21. He was appointed by the Attorney General of the Province of Deleware as his deputy and to prosecute all claims for the Crown in the County of Sussex.
The next year he was appointed to practice law in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, while at the same time he was clerk of the House of Assembly of Delaware.
In 1765 he was a delegate to the "Stamp Act Congress" and placed on the committee to prepare the response to the House of Commons. He and his associates used unstamped paper in all their writings.
Mr. Mckean was so well thought of by his peers that he became a part of almost every important event of that time. He was a judge and the Collector of Customs for the port of Newcastle.
McKean was in favor of the General Congress and was appointed delegate to the body and there in 1774 for it's formation. He remained a member of the Continental Congress until the treaty of peace in 1783. He was there for the vote on the Declaration of Independence in 1776 but was called away by General Washing to bring a regiment of "Pennsylvania Associators" of which he was a colonel to aid General Washington in New Jersey. McKean placed his name on the document in September. He served the new country in so many varied and important roles until his death in 1817, a great American!....Meedicineman!
Thursday, April 11, 2019
NOW YOU KNOW!
During the Korean War (sometimes referred to as "The Forgotten War" the adversaries talked terms at the table while the war raged on.
In one such fight was a Company of the 7th Infantry Division led by Lt. Joe Clemons. In April 1953 they were tasked with the job to dislodge a superior force of Chinese from a hill called "Pork Chop Hill" and to hold it. They took the hill while losing 110 of their Company strength of 135. Then they were told that they would not be reinforced. That order was later rescinded. The hill was of little value except as a bargaining chip at the table. The Armistice came three months later on July 27, 1953. 35,000 Americans died there!....Medicineman!
In one such fight was a Company of the 7th Infantry Division led by Lt. Joe Clemons. In April 1953 they were tasked with the job to dislodge a superior force of Chinese from a hill called "Pork Chop Hill" and to hold it. They took the hill while losing 110 of their Company strength of 135. Then they were told that they would not be reinforced. That order was later rescinded. The hill was of little value except as a bargaining chip at the table. The Armistice came three months later on July 27, 1953. 35,000 Americans died there!....Medicineman!
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
OKINAWA IN 1945
I had two or three friends who took part in the invasion of Okinawa. One was Infantry and wounded there. One was Exec. on a Mine Sweeper cruising back and forth,moving ever closer to the shore, to make a way for the assault troops, Army and Marine. The third was a sailor on the Carrier Coral Sea.
Okinawa was the first home island of Japan.
The invasion fleet numbered 1,500 ships with some 1,000 Aircraft, and some 500,000 Allied troops. The Japanese defended with 130,000 determined"to the death" Japanese.
The landing was largely unopposed, but the defenders were in the mountain slopes and dug in for the final, die to the finish fight which lasted from April, 1 to June 23rd, 1945--almost three months. The defenders had to be removed from caves and destroyed, almost, one at a time.
While the land forces dealt with these fanatics our ships were facing another huge threat--Kamikasi---Pilots trained to fly only one way. A flying bomb, and they did great damage to the fleet.
Allied losses, killed wounded and captured were 82,600, over 49,000 of those American. Japanese losses numbered 124,755. The next target was Japan itself!
President Truman sent a message to Tokyo telling the Emperor that he needed to quit right now or suffer the same destructive might of Allied Forces that Germany had! They refused and we dropped the big ones. ...Medicineman!
Okinawa was the first home island of Japan.
The invasion fleet numbered 1,500 ships with some 1,000 Aircraft, and some 500,000 Allied troops. The Japanese defended with 130,000 determined"to the death" Japanese.
The landing was largely unopposed, but the defenders were in the mountain slopes and dug in for the final, die to the finish fight which lasted from April, 1 to June 23rd, 1945--almost three months. The defenders had to be removed from caves and destroyed, almost, one at a time.
While the land forces dealt with these fanatics our ships were facing another huge threat--Kamikasi---Pilots trained to fly only one way. A flying bomb, and they did great damage to the fleet.
Allied losses, killed wounded and captured were 82,600, over 49,000 of those American. Japanese losses numbered 124,755. The next target was Japan itself!
President Truman sent a message to Tokyo telling the Emperor that he needed to quit right now or suffer the same destructive might of Allied Forces that Germany had! They refused and we dropped the big ones. ...Medicineman!
Sunday, April 7, 2019
"OLD HICKORY"
Back when Andy "Old Hickory" Jackson was President, in the year 1833, Joseph Story was writing a series of commentaries on the Constitution of the United States. The following is one of those commentaries:
"The importance of this article will scarcely be doubted by any persons, who have duly reflected upon the subject. The militia is the natural defense of a free country against sudden foreign invasions, domestic insurrections, and domestic usurpations off power by rulers. It is against sound policy fort a free people to keep up large military establishments and standing armies in time of peace, both from the the enormous expenses, with which they are attended, and the facile means, which they afford to ambitious and unprincipled rulers, to subvert the government, or trample on the rights of the people. The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has been justly considered, as the palladium of the liberties of a republic, since it offers a strong moral check against the usurpation and arbitrary power of rulers, and will generally, even if these are sucessful in the first instance, enable the people to resist and triumph over them."
It may seem that a lot has changed since "Old Hickory" was in the White House, but the Bill of Rights is unchangeable......Medicineman!
"The importance of this article will scarcely be doubted by any persons, who have duly reflected upon the subject. The militia is the natural defense of a free country against sudden foreign invasions, domestic insurrections, and domestic usurpations off power by rulers. It is against sound policy fort a free people to keep up large military establishments and standing armies in time of peace, both from the the enormous expenses, with which they are attended, and the facile means, which they afford to ambitious and unprincipled rulers, to subvert the government, or trample on the rights of the people. The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has been justly considered, as the palladium of the liberties of a republic, since it offers a strong moral check against the usurpation and arbitrary power of rulers, and will generally, even if these are sucessful in the first instance, enable the people to resist and triumph over them."
It may seem that a lot has changed since "Old Hickory" was in the White House, but the Bill of Rights is unchangeable......Medicineman!
Saturday, April 6, 2019
GEORGE READ 1734-1798
George Read was born in the province of Maryland in 1734, the eldest of 6 brothers. His Grandfather was a wealthy resident of Dublin, Ireland and his father emigrated to America about 1726. He was placed in a highly regarded school in Pennsylvania where he learned Latin and Greek, his father already prepared him with a good English education.
At the age of seventeen he studied for the law and when he was accepted for the Bar he did a remarkable thing. He legally removed himself from the family's holdings leaving all to his brothers.
At the age of 29 he became the Attorney General of the lower counties of Delaware. He held that post until elected to the Continental Congress in 1774
When the English Parliament, in order to punish Boston for dumping the load of tea in the harbor, passed the Act closing the port to all shipping, in and out. They also filled Boston with Red-Coats. The people of Boston were in dire straits. George Read along with Nicholas Van Dyke organize the effort to collect relief for the people of Boston.
Then in 1774 Mr. Read, along with Caesar Rodney and Thomas McKean, were elected to the General Congress. He was reelected in 1775 and 1776 and was proud to place his signature on the Declaration Of Independence. During this time he was also a member of the Delaware Assembly.
Soon after the Battle of Brandywine in 1777, Governor M'Kinley, President of the state was captured by the British and Mr. Read, being Vice President took over the duties of the President, serving both offices at the same time.
In 1785 he was appointed Judge of a special court to settle a dispute over territory between New York and Massachusetts.
George Read was elevated to Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of
Delaware in 1793 and held that position until his death in 1798...Medicinneman!
At the age of seventeen he studied for the law and when he was accepted for the Bar he did a remarkable thing. He legally removed himself from the family's holdings leaving all to his brothers.
At the age of 29 he became the Attorney General of the lower counties of Delaware. He held that post until elected to the Continental Congress in 1774
When the English Parliament, in order to punish Boston for dumping the load of tea in the harbor, passed the Act closing the port to all shipping, in and out. They also filled Boston with Red-Coats. The people of Boston were in dire straits. George Read along with Nicholas Van Dyke organize the effort to collect relief for the people of Boston.
Then in 1774 Mr. Read, along with Caesar Rodney and Thomas McKean, were elected to the General Congress. He was reelected in 1775 and 1776 and was proud to place his signature on the Declaration Of Independence. During this time he was also a member of the Delaware Assembly.
Soon after the Battle of Brandywine in 1777, Governor M'Kinley, President of the state was captured by the British and Mr. Read, being Vice President took over the duties of the President, serving both offices at the same time.
In 1785 he was appointed Judge of a special court to settle a dispute over territory between New York and Massachusetts.
George Read was elevated to Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of
Delaware in 1793 and held that position until his death in 1798...Medicinneman!
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
CAN IT BE-------JUST ME?
It seems to me, who is well past 80 year mark, that the American people today have decided that they have no shame, and will do anything to keep from doing anything (for themselves). Now we all know that's a broad statement, and there are many of the 300,000,000+ citizens still in their right minds, but the list seems to be shrinking.
Our population is full of citizens ( leave out the illegals) who cannot tell you, for instance, how many members of the Supreme Court there are, nor name one. Many do not know the capitol of their state. Ask for the name of their congressman or senator, zip! Even now are members of Congress who fall into that number, and some are running for President! Egads! Ask about the Declaration of Independence and get a blank stare. How many have read the Constitution? Who is Vice President? What is the name of their State Governor and how many Senators does your state have and what are their names?
Colleges are turning out graduates who think YOU should pay off their student loan, and hire them although they have not learned anything saleable in the market place. Oh yes they do have a good supply of "gimmees". That includes free health care and a "fair" wage.
A few years ago we fought a terrible war in Viet Nam which was fed with draftees and was condemned on many fronts which led to the end of the Draft. From that point on, I believe, our youth began the down-hill slide we are in today. The draft was "Man Builder" and we should bring it back!...Medicineman!
Our population is full of citizens ( leave out the illegals) who cannot tell you, for instance, how many members of the Supreme Court there are, nor name one. Many do not know the capitol of their state. Ask for the name of their congressman or senator, zip! Even now are members of Congress who fall into that number, and some are running for President! Egads! Ask about the Declaration of Independence and get a blank stare. How many have read the Constitution? Who is Vice President? What is the name of their State Governor and how many Senators does your state have and what are their names?
Colleges are turning out graduates who think YOU should pay off their student loan, and hire them although they have not learned anything saleable in the market place. Oh yes they do have a good supply of "gimmees". That includes free health care and a "fair" wage.
A few years ago we fought a terrible war in Viet Nam which was fed with draftees and was condemned on many fronts which led to the end of the Draft. From that point on, I believe, our youth began the down-hill slide we are in today. The draft was "Man Builder" and we should bring it back!...Medicineman!
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