Review-Rules for Radicals

In 2004, a community organizer was elected to the U.S. Senate. In 2008, he was nominated by the Democratic Party over Hillary Clinton for president. He was elected over John McCain and inaugurated as President of the United States January 20, 2009. According to Sanford Horwitt, his biographer, he was influenced by Saul Alinsky, and followed in his footsteps as a Chicago-based community organizer. In view of these facts, and that Hillary Clinton wrote her senior thesis on Alinsky’s work, I felt I needed to read from the source Saul Alinsky’s book “Rules for Radicals”. I must add that the primary reason I took on this project was that I unintentionally offended an author friend, AJ Scudiere, author of the Nightshade and other great series and books, by suggesting that she might be subjected to some of these techniques. And this was my retribution for this offense. After reading it, I decided to write this review. I will try to highlight many of the points and not to interject my own view until the conclusion of the review. It is interesting reading because Alinsky supports many of his views with history including Lincoln and the Civil War. I found that it helped me with understanding the motivations of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. I recommend that all Americans read the book. Further, I have quoted Alinsky often to give the reader of this article a taste of his writing and hopefully encourage the reader to read the book. Quoted from “Rules for Radicals”:

“About the Author

“Saul ALINSKY was born in Chicago in 1909, and educated first in the streets of that city and then in its university. Graduate work at the University of Chicago in criminology introduced him to the Capone gang, and later to Joliet State Prison, where he studied prison life. He founded what is known today as the Alinsky ideology and Alinsky concepts of mass organization for power. His work in organizing the poor to fight for their rights as citizens has been internationally recognized. In the late 1930’ s he organized the Back of the Yards area in Chicago (Upton Sinclair’s Jungle). Subsequently, through the Industrial Areas Foundation which he began in 1940, Mr. Alinsky and his staff have helped to organize communities not only in Chicago but throughout the country from the black ghetto of Rochester, New York, to the Mexican American barrios of California. Today Mr. Alinsky’s organizing attention has turned to the middle class, and he and his associates have a Training Institute for organizers. Mr. Alinsky’s early organizing efforts resulted in his being arrested and jailed from time to time, and it was on such occasions that he wrote most of Reveille for Radicals. He died in 1972.“

The Book

“The Purpose”

“Rules for Radicals is written for Have-Nots on how to take it away.” For the purpose of this book, Alinsky initially classifies people into two groups, the Haves and the Have-Nots. Note that later he modifies these classifications as the Haves, the Have-Nots, and the Have-a-Little-Want-Mores. He claims that this is not an ideological book “except insofar as an argument for change…”. He rejects dogma as “the enemy of freedom”. A surprising comment is “Those who enshrine the poor of Have-Nots are as guilty as other dogmatist and just as dangerous. Supported by the Declaration of Independence, the writing of Thoreau and Lincoln, he believes in the God-given right to revolt. He points out that at the conclusion of a revolution the new Haves, now in charge, declare the dominance of the status quo and resist any change regardless of whether or not the change is is beneficial for the Haves and Have-Nots. He points out that, until the Russian and Chinese revolutions, the status quo has been defended by “meaningless conglomeration of abstractions about freedom, morality, equality, and the danger of intellectual enslavement by communistic ideology.” “Today revolution has become synonymous with communism while capitalism is synonymous with the status quo.”

“Ideology of Change”

He best explains his ideology concerning the organizer in the following: “To begin with, he does not have a fixed truth—truth to him is relative and changing; everything to him is relative and changing.” and He accepts the late Justice Learned Hand’s statement that “the mark of a free man is that ever-gnawing inner uncertainty as to whether or not he is right.” Because EVERYTHING is changing the organizer must recognize the changes and to influence them by working within the perceived changes and providing the power of organizations to achieve reasonable but positive goals. He criticises religious institutions that have “come to support the status quo so that today religion is materially solvent and spiritually bankrupt”. One example of that is the religious institutions accepting tax exemptions in exchange for not speaking out against government corruption and campaigning for someone for public office for which they have more confidence in the rule of law.

“Class Distinctions”

“Mankind has been and is divided into three parts: the Haves, the Have-Nots, and the Have-a-Little-Want-Mores.” The Have-a-Little-Want-Mores class is divided into two parts, the Doers and the Do-Nothings. The Doers according to Alinsky are made up of people like Moses, Paul of Tarsus, Martin Luther, Robespierre, Georges Danton, Samuel Adams, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, Napoleon Bonaparte, Giuseppe Garibaldi, Nikolaj Lenin, Mahatma Gandhi, Fidel Castro, and Mao Tse-tung. On the other hand are the Do-Nothing's who talk a good game but contribute nothing toward the betterment of man. At the end of the Chapter 1 The Purpose is included: “I believe that man is about to learn that the most practical life is the moral life and that the moral life is the only road to survival. He is beginning to learn that he will either share part of his material wealth or lose all of it; that he will respect and learn to live with other political ideologies if he wants civilization to go on. This is the kind of argument that man’s actual experience equips him to understand and accept. This is the low road to morality. There is no other.” This is probably the most succinct description of his fundamental beliefs and the foundation of his work.

“Of Means and Ends”

Alinsky restates the question “Does the end justify the means?” as “Does this particular end justify this particular means?” This chapter gives 11 rules of the ethics of means and ends. With each rule he gives a lengthy explanation of how the rule applies and how to apply the rule. The following list includes the list but his accompanying text is very instructive.

one’s concern with the ethics of means and ends varies inversely with one’s personal interest in the issue.
The second rule of the ethics of means and ends is that the judgment of the ethics of means is dependent upon the political position of those sitting in judgment.
The third rule of the ethics of means and ends is that in war the end justifies almost any means.
The fourth rule of the ethics of means and ends is that judgment must be made in the context of the times in which the action occurred and not from any other chronological vantage point.
The fifth rule of the ethics of means and ends is that concern with ethics increases with the number of means available and vice versa.
The sixth rule of the ethics of means and ends is that the less important the end to be desired, the more one can afford to engage in ethical evaluations of means.
The seventh rule of the ethics of means and ends is that generally success or failure is a mighty determinant of ethics.
The eighth rule of the ethics of means and ends is that the morality of a means depends upon whether the means is being employed at a time of imminent defeat or imminent victory.
The ninth rule of the ethics of means and ends is that any effective means is automatically judged by the opposition as being unethical.
The tenth rule of the ethics of means and ends is that you do what you can with what you have and clothe it with moral garments.
The eleventh rule of the ethics of means and ends is that goals must be phrased in general terms like “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity,” “Of the Common Welfare,” “Pursuit of Happiness,” or “Bread and Peace.”

I have restated the rules with the hope the reader will go to the source to enjoy Alinsky’s discussion directly. Of particular interest was his pointing out that, even our Declaration of Independence employed ends justifying the means by only stating the complaints against the King of England. Any statement of the advantages of remaining a colony would have discouraged some members of the colonial army to participate. Then there is a discussion about Lincoln and what some call the “War of Northern Aggression”. Even though he didn't mention it, he alluded to it in this section. “The winner gets to write the history.” Most histories list slavery as the primary cause of the war. They ignore the fact that Northern States first broke the agreement. The first paragraph of South Carolina’s “Declaration of the Immediate Causes Which Induce and Justify the Secession of South Carolina from the Federal Union” reads: “The people of the State of South Carolina, in Convention assembled, on the 26th day of April, A.D., 1852, declared that the frequent violations of the Constitution of the United States, by the Federal Government, and its encroachments upon the reserved rights of the States, fully justified this State in then withdrawing from the Federal Union; but in deference to the opinions and wishes of the other slave-holding States, she forbore at that time to exercise this right. Since that time, these encroachments have continued to increase, and further forbearance ceases to be a virtue.” The Constitution of the United States, in its fourth Article, provides as follows: "No person held to service or labor in one State, under the laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall be delivered up, on claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be due." The fourth Article was adopted to bring South Carolina and other southern states into the Union. Was the federal union living by the terms of the US Constitution? For those of us who believe slavery is wrong, we cannot deny the fact that the union was breaking an agreement that brought South Carolina into the union in the first place. What Lincoln said at his first inauguration sheds even more light on the issue, “I do but quote from one of those speeches when I declared that “I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so.” Those who nominated and elected me did so with full knowledge that I made this and many similar declarations and have never recanted them.” Also, “This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it.” Aug. 22, 1862: President Lincoln told a New York newspaper that preserving the Union was his main goal of the Civil War — not abolishing slavery. "If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all slaves I would do it”. And from the History Channel: “When the American Civil War (1861-65) began, President Abraham Lincoln carefully framed the conflict as concerning the preservation of the Union rather than the abolition of slavery. Although he personally found the practice of slavery abhorrent, he knew that neither Northerners nor the residents of the border slave states would support abolition as a war aim. But by mid-1862, as thousands of slaves fled to join the invading Northern armies, Lincoln was convinced that abolition had become a sound military strategy, as well as the morally correct path. On September 22, soon after the Union victory at Antietam, he issued a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that as of January 1, 1863, all slaves in the rebellious states “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” While the Emancipation Proclamation didn't free a single slave, it was an important turning point in the war, transforming the fight to preserve the nation into a battle for human freedom.” (http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/emancipation-proclamation)

A Word about Words

This chapter is about words their actual meanings and emotions they evoke. The dictionary meaning doesn't necessarily include the connotations generally attached like Political, Power, self-interest, compromise, and conflict. Alinsky argues against avoiding the use of these words or using substitutes but rather to use them as they are to evoke maximum response. A good example is the word ego. “If he or she [the organizer] does not have that complete self-confidence (or call it ego) that he can win, then the battle is lost before it is even begun.”

The Education of an Organizer

At one time Alinsky’s organization had a school for organizers. The course was a full time 15 month course. Beyond that he lists experience as the primary source and that organizers grow from the experiences they have on the job. Later in the chapter he lists the characteristics of organizers and discusses each one.

Curiosity.
Irreverence.
Imagination.
sense of humor.
A bit of a blurred vision of a better world.
An organized personality.
A well-integrated political schizoid.
Ego.
A free and open mind, and political relativity.

Communication

“ONE CAN LACK any of the qualities of an organizer—with one exception—and still be effective and successful. That exception is the art of communication. It does not matter what you know about anything if you cannot communicate to your people. In that event you are not even a failure. You’re just not there.” Concerning subjects of the organization: “They believe that he knows his job, he knows the right tactics, that’s why he is their organizer. The organizer knows that even if they feel that way consciously, if he starts issuing orders and “explaining,” it would begin to build up a subconscious resentment, a feeling that the organizer is putting them down, is not respecting their dignity as individuals.” In my experience, the following is also true. “The organizer knows that it is a human characteristic that someone who asks for help and gets it reacts not only with gratitude but with a subconscious hostility toward the one who helped him.” We belonged to a church that spent enormous personal energy helping people that had drug problems and a variety of personal problems. They were invited to and attended church for a time. However, after they seemed to have recovered or well on their way they stopped coming. It took us a while but finally concluded that this hostility was the reason they stopped coming. A point that should be evident is that communication has to be at a level that both should understand. An organizer that speaks at a level above the object may be impressive but will not recruit the object into the group.

In the Beginning

“IN THE BEGINNING the incoming organizer must establish his identity or, putting it another way, get his license to operate. He must have a reason for being there—a reason acceptable to the people.” In this chapter Alinsky discusses some of the issues an organizer must face when he insinuates himself into the base he intends to organize. He also lays out basic truths to help the organizer better face the situation. “Love and faith are not common companions. More commonly power and fear consort with faith. The Have-Nots have a limited faith in the worth of their own judgments. They still look to the judgments of the Haves.” “Power means strength, whereas love is a human frailty the people mistrust. It is a sad fact of life that power and fear are the fountainheads of faith.”

POLICY AFTER POWER

“One of the great problems in the beginning of an organization is, often, that the people do not know what they want. Discovering this stirs up, in the organizer, that inner doubt shared by so many, whether the masses of people are competent to make decisions for a democratic society. It is the schizophrenia of a free society that we outwardly espouse faith in the people but inwardly have strong doubts whether the people can be trusted.” “It is common for policy to be the product of power. You begin to build power for a particular program—then the program changes when some power has been built.”

RATIONALIZATION

“A large shadow over organizing efforts, in the beginning, is, then, rationalization. Everyone has a reason or rationalization for what he does or does not do. No matter what, every action carries its rationalization.”

THE PROCESS OF POWER

“From the moment the organizer enters a community he lives, dreams, eats, breathes, sleeps only one thing and that is to build the mass power base of what he calls the army. Until he has developed that mass power base, he confronts no major issues. He has nothing with which to confront anything. Until he has those means and power instruments, his “tactics” are very different from power tactics. Therefore, every move revolves around one central point: how many recruits will this bring into the organization, whether by means of local organizations, churches, service groups, labor unions, corner gangs, or as individuals.”

TACTICS

“TACTICS MEANS doing what you can with what you have. Tactics are those consciously deliberate acts by which human beings live with each other and deal with the world around them. In the world of give and take, tactics is the art of how to take and how to give. Here our concern is with the tactic of taking; how the Have-Nots can take power away from the Haves.” Again Alinsky sets out a number of rules which are listed here.

Power is not only what you have but what the enemy thinks you have.
Never go outside the experience of your people.
Wherever possible go outside of the experience of the enemy.
Make the enemy live up to their own book of rules.
Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon.
A good tactic is one that your people enjoy.
A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag.
Keep the pressure on.
The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself.
The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition.
If you push a negative hard and deep enough it will break through into its counter-side.
The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative.
Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.”

The illustrative anecdotes are good in this section both to illustrate and for history.

COMPETITION

“Once we understand the external reactions of the Haves to the challenges of the Have-Nots, then we go to the next level of examination, the anatomy of power of the Haves among themselves.” “Any attack against the status quo must use the strength of the enemy against itself.”

THEIR OWN PETARD

“The basic tactic in warfare against the Haves is a mass political jujitsu: the Have-Nots do not rigidly oppose the Haves, but yield in such planned and skilled ways that the superior strength of the Haves becomes their own undoing.” Forcing the Haves to live by their own rules often weakens their power to permit changes to the advantage of the Have-Nots. Several examples are given here where organizations failed because they didn't foresee the outcome had they persisted. One example was that of a school boycott in Birmingham.

TIME IN JAIL

“The reaction of the status quo in jailing revolutionary leaders is in itself a tremendous contribution to the development of the Have-Not movement as well as to the personal development of the revolutionary leaders. This point should be carefully remembered as another example of how mass jujitsu tactics can be used to so maneuver the status quo that it turns its power against itself. “Jailing the revolutionary leaders and their followers performs three vital functions for the cause of the Have-Nots: (1) it is an act on the part of the status quo that in itself points up the conflict between the Haves and the Have-Nots; (2) it strengthens immeasurably the position of the revolutionary leaders with their people by surrounding the jailed leadership with an aura of martyrdom; (3) it deepens the identification of the leadership with their people since the prevalent reaction among the Have-Nots is that their leadership cares so much for them, and is so sincerely committed to the issue, that it is willing to suffer imprisonment for the cause.”

NEW TACTICS AND OLD

“Speaking of issues, let’s look at the issue of pollution. Here again, we can use the Haves against the Haves to get what we want. When utilities or heavy industries talk about the “people,” they mean the banks and other power sectors of their own world. If their banks, say, start pressing them, then they listen and hurt. The target, therefore, should be the banks that serve the steel, auto, and other industries, and the goal, significant lessening of pollution.”

The Genesis of Tactic Proxy

“THE GREATEST BARRIER to communication between myself and would-be organizers arises when I try to get across the concept that tactics are not the product of careful cold reason, that they do not follow a table of organization or plan of attack. Accident, unpredictable reactions to your own actions, necessity, and improvisation dictate the direction and nature of tactics.” As Alinsky says below, this is a difficult chapter to be described, and to review. However, the case studies are important examples. “Since the nature of the development of tactics cannot be described as a general proposition, I shall attempt instead to present a case study of the development of the proxy tactic, one that promises to be a major tactic for some years to come. I shall try to take the reader into my experience with the hope that afterward he will reflect candidly upon the hows and whys of his own tactical experience.” The Way Ahead “ORGANIZATION FOR ACTION will now and in the decade ahead center upon America’s white middle class. That is where the power is. When more than three-fourths of our people from both the point of view of economics and of their self-identification are middle class, it is obvious that their action or inaction will determine the direction of change. Large parts of the middle class, the “silent majority,” must be activated; action and articulation are one, as are silence and surrender.” In this chapter Alinsky describes the middle class of the Nixon-Agnew era. According to his definition, I would have been in the lower middle-class but don’t remember ever fitting into his description. For me and the people I knew, it was a time of opportunity. Even though we were among the Have-Some-Want-More class we were aware of the Haves but were not interested in taking from them any more than payment for goods and services. They represented instead goals toward which we worked. Could it be that this resulted from my southern religious training?

In My Humble Opinion

I hope you have read the book. In fact, I would hope for some healthy debate on the subject.

The Purpose

In addition to stating the purpose, Alinsky outlines his view of the existing classes. It may be for his intended audience but is oversimplified. For this discussion I have recast in two dimensions recognizing that there are probably more but are difficult to illustrate on a two dimensional medium.

Attributes	Groups
Controlls	Progressives	Progressives	Progressives
Want More, Willing to work	Have-Nots	Have-a-Littles	Haves
Want More, Any Way	Have-Nots	Have-a-Littles	Haves
Do Nothings	Have-Nots	Have-a-Littles	Haves

Even though Alinsky says the purpose is “for the Have-Not on how to take it away”, it appears that the lessons are really for the Progressives, who want control. For example name one Progressive that is not a Have. Alinsky talks about his accomplishments but reveals little about his organization that takes projects that provide it with income. He describes all of the groups mentioned in the chart above including the Progressives, although he called them the Organizers. Once they gain prominence, usually elective office, they identify themselves as Progressives. One point he makes is that organizers should not assume that the Have-Nots are the poor. In fact in the final chapters he points out that by far the greatest power rests in the middle class and, if they can be organized, the good (his definition of good) they can accomplish.

Everything Is Changing

This is the fundamental belief of Alinsky, or at least what he requires of his organizers. He spends some time defending that position. Even though scientist now have a theory that the universe was created by a “big-bang” event and point to data that shows it is expanding, they cannot explain what blew up or what was there before the event occurred. Even more, where the rules came from that govern the results of the explosion. Science is about the discovery of rules that govern the universe, from the organization of the galaxies, to attraction of physical bodies, to the operation of the neutrino in a molecule. By understanding these rules, man has learned to fly, and capture immense amounts of destructive and beneficial energy from the atom. However these rules are inviolate. Where situations appear to be changing, like the average temperature of the earth, the underlying rules remain the same. So it is with personal relationships. Eons of years have gone into the study of rules governing these relationships. Men have always been involved in tribes that required rules to survive. Religions have risen and fallen while trying to find workable rules that governed relations between its members. Today the Jews, Christians, and Muslims dominate the world regarding codifying rules that thus-far been discovered. It has been demonstrated that violating the rules of the personal relations section of the Ten Commandments always result in some undesirable outcome. Islam and the Prophet expand on those and some sects have moved Islam into an ideology that enforces their rules with specific administered punishments. All of this is to say, that, by considering a limited number of observations, one could conclude that “everything is changing”. But, once you drill down, there is one or a combination of unchanging natural laws that result in the observation.

Of Means and Ends

Alinsky’s rules listed in the main section above entitled “Of Means and Ends” depend heavily on his assertion that “everything is changing”. If the reader believes this and rejects the arguments of the previous chapter I suggest he stop reading now. This is not to say I am not willing to debate the issue in my blog but my assertion of the fact that everything is not changing is the basis of my arguments following. Worthy of more discussion is the assertion that Lincoln’s use of the race issue as a means to assure his end “to save the Union”. Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, stated in his book that he foresaw the end of slavery had the South been successful. There are still some who question whether the resulting union justifies the 620,000 deaths (roughly 2% of the population), the disenfranchisement of every southern person involved in the war, the severing of the southern states from the union, and the colonizing of those same states with “carpetbaggers”. Certainly, the elimination of slavery was a good thing but was the war necessary to accomplish something that was already inevitable? The “Union”, now without the threat of secession, with a weakened Constitution, has slowly drifted back to the European style of government and away from what our founders intended. American citizens are born indentured to the union for life to pay a percentage of his or her income often to redistribute to others or pursue activities not consistent with his or her religious beliefs. Because of the 16th Amendment, the union may tax any activity and set the rate of taxation without regard to whether it advances freedom or even benefits its citizens. States, or more precisely state governments, have lost their influence in the union by the passage of the 17th Amendment which changed the method by which Senators are elected. The Congress, enabled by a court decision made by a Franklin D. Roosevelt court and the “Commerce Clause”, now routinely pass laws that violate the word and intent of the 10th Amendment. The most obvious law that has passed recently is what is commonly known as Obama-care. An act that seeks to control one sixth of the union’s economy is certainly outside of the founders intended scope of federal government. Even the plans proposed by Republicans are out of that scope but at least they make choices of both coverage from a market driven system available.

The Education of an Organizer

Except for #2 and #9, these are attributes of any good leader. Those two items testify to Alinsky’s vision of his “Everything’s Changing” morality.

Other Subjects in the Book

With the exception of the chapter listed below, the book deals with details of how to accomplish the organizers’ goals, whether moral or not. At this time this author does not wish to deal with them. Once the reader rejects Alinsky’s vision of morality, the reader needs little explanation of the morality contained in those chapters.

The Way Ahead

Your author does feel this section needs attention.

2016

This year, we saw the rise of Have-Nots that Alinsky referred to in this chapter. That is the middle class. He referred to them as the “Silent Majority”. As he mentioned earlier, organizers should not assume Have-Nots are necessarily the poor. In this case, the Have-Nots are those who feel they have little or no political power. In their world, they see themselves working longer hours for less buying power. They see fewer jobs created to support the normal population growth. They see products traditionally made in the USA sport labels from other countries. They see their insurance premiums increase to pay for benefits that they will never realize. They see deductibles increase to levels that they cannot afford for medical care they previously took for granted. They see the commitment of US tax dollars to foreign governments even though the government is sinking further and further into debt. They see an erosion of their rights as other organizations demonstrate and sometimes riot against speakers with whom they agree. And, they blame the Haves of political power identified as the “Establishment” made up of Republicans and Democrats who appear to be more interested in the next election and filling their own pockets than really taking care of the government’s business, congressmen who are willing to compromise away their promises rather than standing firm on their convictions. And they found their voice. They found someone who was clearly not a member of the establishment, a brusk, undisciplined, real estate mogul, who spoke in their language and was not afraid of saying what he felt. A man willing to defend himself against the establishment even though knowing his defense would cause even more verbal attacks from an obviously biased media. In spite of having a smaller organization, spending no more than a half of what the Democrats spent, and a media almost universally opposed to his candidacy, he garnered enough votes in the right places to win the Presidency. Were any of Alinsky’s rules used, either intentionally or not associated with “Rules for Radicals”?

Power is not only what you have but what the enemy thinks you have. No. If anything, the establishment underestimated the power of the “Silent Majority”.
Never go outside the experience of your people. Yes. Donald Trump’s speeches were designed to communicate with the base.
Wherever possible go outside of the experience of the enemy. Yes. The Haves have become so confident of their power, they had lost touch with the voters in the middle class.
Make the enemy live up to their own book of rules. No, it is impossible to make someone live up to its rules when they are rules of expediency.
Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon. Absolutely! Donald Trump ridiculed Clinton in every speech. “Crooked Hillary” comes to mind.
A good tactic is one that your people enjoy. Yes. Donald Trump's speeches were entertaining. Audience Participation, and the audiences always “HUGE”, was encouraged.
A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag. Yes, even though Donald Trump’s speeches had the same theme, they were different enough to keep the audiences coming.
Keep the pressure on. Yes. Each appearance by Trump or his surrogates pointed out failure of the previous administration.
The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself. No. again the opposition did not fully appreciate the threat.
The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition. Yes. The operations of the campaign continuously kept pressure on the opposition. The promise of jobs, America First, reduced taxes, repeal of Obamacare were continuous theme of the campaign.
If you push a negative hard and deep enough it will break through into its counter-side. No. In this case the negatives of the establishment were positives for the Donald Trump campaign.
The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative. Yes. The promise of more jobs, more security, and putting “America First” resonated with the “Silent Majority” and encouraged voters to vote for a real change.
Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it. Yes. The target was the previous administration and Hillary Clinton’s association with it. Donald Trump and his surrogates never wavered from those points. The addition of Hillary Clinton’s lack of integrity, and her lack of concern for the security of the secrets of our nation may have been just enough to tip the scales in favor of Donald Trump.

So it would appear that Donald Trump used techniques expounded by Alinsky to win the election. It is unknown whether he intentionally used those techniques or was even aware of them. But the question is, was he elected by a thoughtful electorate, or was he elected by using the techniques of a less than moral writer. It is clear that Hillary Clinton was aware of the Alinsky book and that she and the previous administration used the techniques enclosed throughout her career. Even now she denies that her competency and lack of integrity were not causes of her losing the election, rather blaming James Comey, the Russians, and even the Democratic National Committee. For the purpose of this article, it is not useful to discuss any further the association of Hillary Clinton and Saul Alinsky. One should mention the techniques of the opponents of Donald Trump even after he was elected. They continue the litany of accusations that so many of their followers believe without bothering to verify: That Donald Trump is a misogynist, even though the person who ran his campaign and the first engineering manager to manage the construction of a major hotel were women; he is a racist, even though he sued a town in Florida over a racist law that prevented blacks and Jews from his club; his is an islamophobe, even though the first nation he visited as President was Islamic; Not Christian, even though he attends a Presbyterian Church regularly and participated in the “Laying on of Hands” ceremony in a predominantly black Christian Church in Detroit. And now, his opponents are claiming through unnamed sources that he is being investigated for collusion with the Russians even though there is no evidence, and obstruction of justice, because a self admitted “leaker” has testified that he might have been directing him to stop an investigation.

So How Does One Avoid Being Used in an Organization?

Be suspicious. Be sure you understand the meaning of the words/expressions you hear. Avoid Zohnerisms, like banning dihydrogen monoxide. If you don't know what a zohnerism is, do a search on the web.
Particularly of news that elicits emotional response
Decide what your objectives are for a better future.
Because we essentially have only 4 parties, read the platforms of all. Select the one which best matches your objectives and conforms to your morality.
Listen to the speeches of your candidate, preferably to the complete speech so that you understand the context. If available, read the speeches.
Check the integrity of the candidate. Particularly their past.
DO NOT pay attention to what the talking heads say, even though they broadcast through your favorite news media. The host of Fox News Sunday has been observed playing a segment by a candidate and then posing a question misstating the what the segment just played revealed. Often on this program and others, journalist ask the same question over and over obviously hoping the answer is the one they want.
Once a presentation mentions “source”, “source in the White House”, “source in the Congress”, and “unnamed source”, flag that presentation as highly suspect. Remember, those in the news media also have their agenda.

There are probably other ways but these are certainly useful. Many claim that they don't have time to read the platforms and listen to the speeches. I would suggest that they may be even worse than the Do-Nothings because they could actually be doing damage.

June 9, 2023January 17, 2024

Truth Matters

I am adding this post for two reasons. 1. I need to explain why I am withdrawing my support for Donald Trump. 2. I need a place to link you to a favorite story of mine.

1. Removing Support for Donald Trump

I am hereby removing my support for Donald Trump for president of the United States President. Where I appreciate the value of negative advertisement and I approve of a candidate pointing out deficiencies of his opponent, I do not approve of ads that are not truthful. I have seen ads by the MAGA organization that portray DeSantis as one who supports increasing the taxes of US citizens. A portion of the ad points out the fact that DeSantis supports/ed a 23% sales tax. Stretching the fact that where DeSantis support a program called the FairTax without going into positive aspects of the plan removes the ad from "Truth" and move it into the "Lie" category.

2. Story of Truth and Lie

Click http://storytelling.co.za/the-naked-truth-and-the-lie/ to take you to the best retelling of the story.

The Naked Truth and the Lie

The Truth and the Lie meet on the road one day. The Lie says to the Truth: “It’s a marvelous day today”!

The Truth looks up to the skies and sighs, for the day was truly beautiful. They walk together for a while, until they reach a beautiful well. The Lie tells the Truth: “The water in the well is very nice, let’s take a swim together!” The Truth, once again suspicious, tests the water and discovers that it indeed, is very nice.

They undress and start the bathe. Suddenly, the Lie jumps out of the well, puts on the clothes of the Truth and runs off towards a nearby village. The furious Truth leaps out of the well and runs to find the Lie and get her clothes back. The Villagers, seeing the Naked Truth, are horrified and look away with contempt and rage.

The poor Truth returned to the well and disappeared, forever hiding her shame.

And since that day, the lie travels the world, clothed as the Truth.

Epilogue : The naked Lie and the Truth. 2019-2021 versions & timelines

The original Naked Truth and Lie story comes from the 19th Century and here we are 200 years later, in a world of multiverses, the possibility that we’re living in a simulation, the concept of multiple timelines, the Mandela Effect and Apotheum. So it makes sense to explore further where the original story might have moved to, as all the characters were set in place at the end. The Truth in the well and the Lie is traveling the world in her garb.

Setup

The naked Truth dwells in the well, ashamed at how she was seen and treated by the villagers. But 200 years is a long time to dwell in a well for anything, especially the truth. Surely the truth has a purpose? Hiding in a well isn’t really meaningful and there’s not much entertainment down here, reflected the truth. Maybe, she thought, an upwelling is necessary. Because the Lie has traveled the world so long in my garments now everyone has come to believe that it is I who am the liar. And anyway, it’s so rude of the lie as it should know by now that it couldn’t exist without me, thought the truth.

TimeLine 1

Truth realises that the Lie has left it’s garments behind next to the well. The truth knows that in order not to be hated, the only way she can be accepted by the village and the world is to be covered in the garb of the Lie. And to this day, the Truth and the Lie have been indistinguishable to all except those who have seen them unclothed.

Timeline 2

The Truth stays in the well. Sometimes people come to sit by the well knowing that the Truth is in there. If they’re really sincere, the truth will out and talk with them. They’re OK with seeing her naked and she’s OK since they don’t hate her. Many seekers come looking for The Truth but she only sees them one at a time because The Truth is a very personal experience.

TimeLine 3

Truth searches and finds the web pages, twitter and instagram accounts that plainly showed the lie had infected most everyone. There are literally hundreds of billions and billions of lies. Lies everywhere. But from time to time, truth finds allies – they Love the Truth and have created so many stories about her but none of these are trending and, in fact, many of them are being deleted and downvoted and ignored. The truth suddenly, with a great sigh realised that there is a war being conducted on her by the one who took her garments; the Lie himself.

TimeLine 4

As each year passed, fewer and fewer people took the trouble to visit Truth and the few who happened on her accidentally, found Truth either ridiculous or just plain ugly.

“I must do something,” thought Truth. “If so few people consult me, the Lie who took my clothes must be creating havoc in town. People have forgotten I am here, so I will have to go out and remind them of my existence. But what on earth will I wear?”

She looked around and after a while discovered a fallen scarecrow. As best she could, she dressed herself in sacking, an old jacket and crooked hat and set off towards the town.

And so it was that Truth became a common sight in taverns on the outskirts of the town. Most of the time, she sat quietly listening to conversations. It was obvious that the Lie had done an excellent job of twisting facts, swaying people to believe without seeing and finding amusement in witty dishonesty. On the rare occasions that Truth couldn’t stop herself from speaking, she would be lambasted and thrown out of the tavern for spoiling the mood.

“It’s clear the town doesn’t want me here. They are beguiled by Lie and they also love my sister Story. Maybe I should pay her a visit.” To get to Story, Truth had to walk down the main street to the bridge over the river Po which was running in a shallow trickle – not at all the lively river Truth remembered. Along the way, those who recognised her, put on their offended faces and those who didn’t, treated her like a sack of stinking garbage. Truth felt so reviled, she hid in a fence until it was dark to avoid abuse.

Night fell and with it, a violent storm of icy rain. It was in a bedraggled state that Truth eventually knocked on Story’s front door.

“Who knocks at my door on such a night!” Story was displeased to leave the fireplace for the cold reception room. She peered through the glass and saw a miserable creature shivering with wet, but the longer she looked the more a feeling of great joy crept up on her. She flung open the door and pulled her long-lost sister into her home,

“Oh how I’ve missed you, dear Truth! Where have you been and for goodness sake, why are you so poorly turned out. Me oh my. Before you tell me a thing, get yourself cleaned up. Bin those rags; your dressing gown is still there, after all this time. Oh I am so glad you are here. You look cold and hungry. I can fix that! I can’t wait to hear everything about you. I see you have suffered but I also see how strong and true you are.”

Story prepared a fireside feast. Her furniture was made for lengthy conversations. The carpets and drapes muffled the outside world. But Truth was tired and was soon overcome by the warm welcome, warm food and luxury of feeling safe. Her bed was clean and warm and the ceiling lit with tiny gems depicting the constellations.

Truth woke up to a bright morning with noisy children in the street outside her window running and shouting: Po is back, Po is back.

“The storm must have dislodged the blockage in the mountain spring,” said Story when Truth joined her on the doorstep. “What wonderful news! Soon there’ll be boating and fishing and riverside picnics. How portentous: Truth and Po arriving at the same time But you must, must tell me what happened to you and where you’ve been.”

“Well, after our argument about fact and fiction, I admittedly didn’t want to see you for a while so I went walking with our cousins, Lie and Gossip. They have always been secretly jealous of us, so they thought it would be a good idea to separate us. They hid my clothes and convinced me that I could make it without you, Story, my wise and patient sister. For a while, I even believed them.”

Story showed Truth the plants in her garden, each one a lengthy memory of someone special who had experienced something exquisite in Time’s smelter. The sisters were glad that they were older, more able to understand why they work so well together.

“Without you, Truth, Story is thin and tasteless. What’s more, Lie and Gossip have become so popular, our friends Empathy and Persuasion would much rather spend time with them. They find me too slow and insipid without your spicy presence. I have become lonely.”

Truth sat down on the grass under a massive tree surrounded by flowers. “Lying in the cold water, naked,” she said, “I realised eventually that history is fearful, awful to look at full in the face, like a Gorgon’s head. The gross greed and wicked works of scary intelligences can be seen sanely only through Story eyes. That made me realise how bravely you have listened to me always. How deeply you thought and discussed with Empathy and Persuasion how best to dress me up to appear at the Royal Audience. How you weave the kindness of the human spirit through the awful truths of our history.”

Later that day, Truth and Story went for a walk to admire the flowing Po, where they reconnected with Empathy and Persuasion who were very pleased to see them. Soon Comedy joined them and pointed to a dull cluster facing away from the river.

“Just look at them!” cried Comedy. “That’s Porky Propaganda and that wild Assumption hanging out with Data! They’re cooking up material for my next comedy show, or maybe even the news!”

“Poor Data. He is so frustrated trying to make himself understood.” Story said and turned to Truth.

“You, Truth, are the best translator Data ever had. He was always calm and happy around you, (you know we all find him boring in the extreme, poor thing) but only Propaganda and Assumption take the trouble to spend time with Data and we all know that their translations are poor and only Ideology laps it up. Look at your old friend!.”

Data was indeed shaking his head, pulling his hair and behaving like a thing demented. A bombastic Propaganda poked his finger at Data repeatedly while Assumption nodded and smiled, nodded and sneered.

“Poor Data hates stupid. Better go and save him.” said Truth and walked towards the huddle, calling for Data and waving her arms. When Data saw Truth, he broke off in mid sentence and raced towards her. Soon they were in deep conversation and Data relaxed into his old self as he enjoyed feeling understood.

Propaganda, who’d been grinding Data to give him numbers to prove a point he very much wanted to make, huffed up when he saw Truth. Hissing, he grabbed Assumption’s arm, put his tweaked nose in the air and pointedly ignored Story, Empathy, Persuasion and Comedy and bustled off to the castle to see Lie and Gossip.

Happy to know that competition is always healthy, the old friends reconnected and all agreed that it was time for Truth to take her rightful place in the Chorus of Sense-makers, as they had once called themselves.

Truth was happy to be home. She thought of how different this day was compared to yesterday, before the storm, before respectable clothes. She was grateful to feel companionship in the home that was built by her parents, Goodness and Beauty.

It’s the story you tell, how you tell it and who you tell it to that motivates people to believe in, buy, work for, pay attention to and invest in your dream. Is the story working for you? Storytelling.co.za

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July 23, 2022January 17, 2024

LGBTQ Issue

Thoughts on Methodist LGBTQ issue.

Conclusion

This may seem to be a backward way of stating my thoughts. However, if you the reader are interested, I am including notes I kept while considering this issue.

Actions

What should we do? My opinion!

Restrooms

Where organizations have public restrooms, there should be one for biological male and another for biological females. If the organization wishes it may, in addition to the previous, supply any combination of LGBQ or T designated bathrooms. To express our opinions, I recommend we boycott organizations that do not provide restrooms determined by biological sex but provide LGBTQ restrooms only.

Sports

Organizations that "oversee" sports like the NCAA should restrict "trans" men from participating in women's sports. Their bylaws should cover restricting biological mixing in sports where one sex clearly has an advantage over the other. We should boycott performances where such mixing occurs.

Public

My commitment to "Freedom of Speech" requires me to support a Public Libraries inclusion of an LGBTQ section and/or books, even though I don't care for taxpayer funding of the same.

I do not believe LGBTQ principles should be taught in public school in grades 1-7 or earlier. Further, counseling of students by teachers or staff without parental approval, should be prohibited. If LGBTQ courses are available in later grades, whether required or optional, corresponding anti-LGBTQ courses must be provided.

When appearing in public, including TV, Radio, or public internet sources, members of the LGBTQ must conform to local norms.

Members of the LGBTQ community may not hold recruitment events where children up to 13 years of age may attend.

As long as above rules are observed by members of LGBTQ, membership may not be used as the singular reason for rejection from employment.

Notes

First Impression

Who is the Methodist Church that they should be able to restrict any of God’s children access to organizations professing to be followers of Jesus Christ? The notes below include the “Confession of Faith” of the Methodist Church. I suggest readers review that “Confession” and add a comment to specify what there restricts membership of anyone in considered to be in LGBTQ.

Jesus, by his words and actions, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” demonstrated his acceptance of all of God’s children.

What should Methodist’s do about the LGBTQ issue?

Firstly, separate the parts. The definitions below suggest that at least the LGB, T, and Q are separate and can be separated in their treatment.

Secondly, add a ceremony that unites two members of the same sex with the same parts as included in the marriage ceremony.

Thirdly, make changes to the Discipline that place restrictions on or advantages to persons of one of the two biological sexes except where they concern the Transexual members.

Fourthly, establish changes that recognize only two sexes, established by human sex chromosome configuration, as male or female.

Fifthly, establish restrictions on Transexual participation where one sex has a natural advantage over the other (eg. sports, and the like)

These changes, I believe, are consistent with what Jesus wants his church to be. They do not, except in the case of what Transexuals want, restrict access to the church while recognizing the right of all of God’s children access to the fellowship of other Christians.

Definitions

L - Lesbian: 1. a gay woman, 2. relating to a gay woman. 3. from Lesbos where Sappho expressed affection for women in her poetry.

G – Gay: 1. a homosexual (used especially of a man)

B – Bisexual: 1. sexually or romantically attracted not exclusively to people of one sex or gender.

T – Transexual: 1. a transgender person, especially one whose bodily characteristics have been altered through surgery or hormone treatment to bring them in alignment with their gender identity.

Q – Queer: Today, the word queer is more commonly used as an umbrella term for anything that is not heterosexual.

Sex: either of TWO main categories (male and female) into which humans and most other living things are divided on the basis of their reproductive functions. “In humans, sex determination is the process that determines the biological sex of an offspring and, as a result, the sexual characteristics that they will develop. Humans typically develop as either male or female, depending on the combination of sex chromosomes that they inherit from their parents. The human sex chromosomes, called X and Y, are structures in human cells made up of tightly bound deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, and proteins. Those are molecules that contain the instructions for the development and functioning of all life forms, including the development of physical traits and body parts that correspond with each biological sex. Humans who inherit two X chromosomes typically develop as females, while humans with one X and one Y chromosome typically develop as males.”

What does the Confession of Faith Say?

Article I - God

We believe in the one true, holy and living God, Eternal Spirit, who is Creator, Sovereign and Preserver of all things visible and invisible. He is infinite in power, wisdom, justice, goodness and love, and rules with gracious regard for the well-being and salvation of men, to the glory of his name. We believe the one God reveals himself as the : Father, Son and Holy Spirit, distinct but inseparable, eternally one in essence and power.

Article II - Jesus Christ

We believe in Jesus Christ, truly God and truly man, in whom the divine and human natures are perfectly and inseparably united. He is the eternal Word made flesh, the only begotten Son of the Father, born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. As ministering Servant he lived, suffered and died on the cross. He was buried, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven to be with the Father, from whence he shall return. He is eternal Savior and Mediator, who intercedes for us, and by him all men will be judged.

Article III - The Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit who proceeds from and is one in being with the Father and the Son. He convinces the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment. He leads men through faithful response to the gospel into the fellowship of the Church. He comforts, sustains and empowers the faithful and guides them into all truth.

Article IV - The Holy Bible

We believe the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, reveals the Word of God so far as it is necessary for our salvation. It is to be received through the Holy Spirit as the true rule and guide for faith and practice. Whatever is not revealed in or established by the Holy Scriptures is not to be made an article of faith nor is it to be taught as essential to salvation.

Article V - The Church

We believe the Christian Church is the community of all true believers under the Lordship of Christ. We believe it is one, holy, apostolic and catholic. It is the redemptive fellowship in which the Word of God is preached by men divinely called, and the sacraments are duly administered according to Christ's own appointment. Under the discipline of the Holy Spirit the Church exists for the maintenance of worship, the edification of believers and the redemption of the world.

Article VI - The Sacraments

We believe the Sacraments, ordained by Christ, are symbols and pledges of the Christian's profession and of God's love toward us. They are means of grace by which God works invisibly in us, quickening, strengthening and confirming our faith in him. Two Sacraments are ordained by Christ our Lord, namely Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

We believe Baptism signifies entrance into the household of faith, and is a symbol of repentance and inner cleansing from sin, a representation of the new birth in Christ Jesus and a mark of Christian discipleship.

We believe children are under the atonement of Christ and as heirs of the Kingdom of God are acceptable subjects for Christian Baptism. Children of believing parents through Baptism become the special responsibility of the Church. They should be nurtured and led to personal acceptance of Christ, and by profession of faith confirm their Baptism.

We believe the Lord's Supper is a representation of our redemption, a memorial of the sufferings and death of Christ, and a token of love and union which Christians have with Christ and with one another. Those who rightly, worthily and in faith eat the broken bread and drink the blessed cup partake of the body and blood of Christ in a spiritual manner until he comes.

Article VII - Sin and Free Will

We believe man is fallen from righteousness and, apart from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, is destitute of holiness and inclined to evil. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. In his own strength, without divine grace, man cannot do good works pleasing and acceptable to God. We believe, however, man influenced and empowered by the Holy Spirit is responsible in freedom to exercise his will for good.

Article VIII - Reconciliation Through Christ

We believe God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. The offering Christ freely made on the cross is the perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, redeeming man from all sin, so that no other satisfaction is required.

Article IX - Justification and Regeneration

We believe we are never accounted righteous before God through our works or merit, but that penitent sinners are justified or accounted righteous before God only by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

We believe regeneration is the renewal of man in righteousness through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, whereby we are made partakers of the divine nature and experience newness of life. By this new birth the believer becomes reconciled to God and is enabled to serve him with the will and the affections. We believe, although we have experienced regeneration, it is possible to depart from grace and fall into sin; and we may even then, by the grace of God, be renewed in righteousness.

Article X - Good Works

We believe good works are the necessary fruits of faith and follow regeneration but they do not have the virtue to remove our sins or to avert divine judgment. We believe good works, pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, spring from a true and living faith, for through and by them faith is made evident.

Article XI - Sanctification and Christian Perfection

We believe sanctification is the work of God's grace through the Word and the Spirit, by which those who have been born again are cleansed from sin in their thoughts, words and acts, and are enabled to live in accordance with God's will, and to strive for holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Entire sanctification is a state of perfect love, righteousness and true holiness which every regenerate believer may obtain by being delivered from the power of sin, by loving God with all the heart, soul, mind and strength, and by loving one's neighbor as one's self. Through faith in Jesus Christ this gracious gift may be received in this life both gradually and instantaneously, and should be sought earnestly by every child of God.

We believe this experience does not deliver us from the infirmities, ignorance, and mistakes common to man, nor from the possibilities of further sin. The Christian must continue on guard against spiritual pride and seek to gain victory over every temptation to sin. He must respond wholly to the will of God so that sin will lose its power over him; and the world, the flesh, and the devil are put under his feet. Thus he rules over these enemies with watchfulness through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Article XII - The Judgment and the Future State

We believe all men stand under the righteous judgment of Jesus Christ, both now and in the last day. We believe in the resurrection of the dead; the righteous to life eternal and the wicked to endless condemnation.

Article XIII - Public Worship

We believe divine worship is the duty and privilege of man who, in the presence of God, bows in adoration, humility and dedication. We believe divine worship is essential to the life of the Church, and that the assembling of the people of God for such worship is necessary to Christian fellowship and spiritual growth.

We believe the order of public worship need not be the same in all places but may be modified by the church according to circumstances and the needs of men. It should be in a language and form understood by the people, consistent with the Holy Scriptures to the edification of all, and in accordance with the order and Discipline of the Church.

Article XIV - The Lord's Day

We believe the Lord's Day is divinely ordained for private and public worship, for rest from unnecessary work, and should be devoted to spiritual improvement, Christian fellowship and service. It is commemorative of our Lord's resurrection and is an emblem of our eternal rest. It is essential to the permanence and growth of the Christian Church, and important to the welfare of the civil community.

Article XV - The Christian and Property

We believe God is the owner of all things and that the individual holding of property is lawful and is a sacred trust under God. Private property is to be used for the manifestation of Christian love and liberality, and to support the Church's mission in the world. All forms of property, whether private, corporate or public, are to be held in solemn trust and used responsibly for human good under the sovereignty of God.

Article XVI - Civil Government

We believe civil government derives its just powers from the sovereign God. As Christians we recognize the governments under whose protection we reside and believe such governments should be based on, and be responsible for, the recognition of human rights under God. We believe war and bloodshed are contrary to the gospel and spirit of Christ. We believe it is the duty of Christian citizens to give moral strength and purpose to their respective governments through sober, righteous and godly living.

What does the Bible Say?

The following scripture is provided for reference.

Anti-LGBTQ

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Leviticus 18:22

You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.

Leviticus 20:13

If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.

1 Timothy 1:9-10

Understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,

1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Romans 1:26-27

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Genesis 1:27

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Jude 1:7

Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

Hebrews 13:4

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

Romans 1:1-32

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, ...

Deuteronomy 23:1

“No one whose testicles are crushed or whose male organ is cut off shall enter the assembly of the Lord.

Mark 10:6-9

But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Jude 1:7-8

Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.

1 Corinthians 6:9 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,

Leviticus 18:1-30

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the Lord your God. You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes. You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the Lord. ...

1 Corinthians 7:2

But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

1 Corinthians 4:7

For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

Romans 1:26-28

Matthew 19:4

He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,

Ezekiel 18:25

“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?

Deuteronomy 23:17

“None of the daughters of Israel shall be a cult prostitute, and none of the sons of Israel shall be a cult prostitute.

1 Timothy 1:8-11

Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

Romans 8:25-29

But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Romans 8:1-39

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. ...

Romans 1:32

Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Romans 1:27

And the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Romans 1:18-32

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, ...

Deuteronomy 22:5

“A woman shall not wear a man's garment, nor shall a man put on a woman's cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God.

Genesis 19:1-38

The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant's house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” ...

Genesis 19:1-11

1 Peter 3:15

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

1 Timothy 1:10

The sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,

Romans 2:1-29

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. ...

Romans 1:26

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Luke 15:1-32

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ...

Matthew 8:22

And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”

Matthew 6:1-18

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ...

Daniel 5:1-31

King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand. Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote. ...

Revelation 11:1-19

Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. ...

Revelation 1:1-20

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood ...

Romans 7:1-25

Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress. Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. ...

John 3:16-18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Genesis 2:1-25

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens. When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, ...

Genesis 1:1-2:25

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. ...

What did Jesus Say?

The list above seems overwhelming. However when you look at what Jesus said, one might conclude there is a case for LGBQ’s acceptance>

Mark 10:6-9

Matthew 19:4 E

He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,

Luke 15:1-32

Matthew 8:22

And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”

Matthew 6:1-18

Note that Jesus does not, in his own words, condemn anyone in the LGBTQ.

Consider Matthew 9:38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.

Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Mark 16:15 “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

From the above scripture and its sources, I believe that Jesus is more inclusive than exclusive. The actual history referenced by old testament law is different from what the conditions are today.

Why do we have to deal with LGBTQ?

As I was researching the scripture, it occurred to me that we are trying to deal with problems associated with an organization or pseudo-organization. Way back in my career history I learned that problems can best be solved by breaking them into their parts. I believe the same is true here. Therefore I would like to deal with the components rather that the one overall problem.

Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual

As the definitions above, this segment is about homosexuals of the human race. The problem exists primarily because of Old Testament Law. I did not find that, (short of Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”) Jesus emphasizes the law, but rather draws sinners to Him. Read the story “Woman in Somaria” John 4:. The story in Luke 18:9 about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector also illustrates the dichotomy of Jesus’ thinking. Again, Matthew 18:20.

Egairram

Marriage is just a word: “the legally or formally recognized union of two people in a personal relationship (historically and some jurisdictions specifically a union between a man and a woman)”. Why not introduce another word, egairram, to remove the parenthetical part of the meaning of marriage. Certainly the writers of the Methodist Discipline can modify services to accommodate erairram to be officiated by Methodist Clergymen. Will partners of egairram be living in sin? Isn’t that a determination to be made by God?

Other Issues

Generally, the transsexual issues are more extreme than the LGB defined ones. However, the following issues, along with covering LGB instances, cover those when Transexuals are involved. A basic rule followed is that no group has “rights” than another.

Bathroom Accommodations

I suggest that bathroom accommodations be determined by physical sex of the attendee as determined by either the reproductive organs or the configuration of the human sex chromosome. Such separation is recommended for parents of underage children who prefer they remain separated. Angela Markwalter writes in her article (https://artwench.wordpress.com/2016/04/23/target-transgenders-in-womens-bathrooms/) “that one in five women been violated by a man and who will forever suffer psychological and emotional damage.” and asks are we “supposed to inflict further damage by inviting men into the women’s restroom? “

Competition

Where physical attributes by sex make a difference in the ability of competitors, competitions must be separated by sex. (Eg. track and field sports, swimming, usually give the advantage to males). A complete list should be developed by governing bodies of the sport.

Conclusion

The conclusion is included at the beginning of this article. If you get to this paragraph, I would be interested in your thoughts on the subject.

June 13, 2022January 17, 2024

Abortions

You may get tired of me saying this, but I had a dream last night that God was telling me to post on this subject. So I am! Our politicians and most of us are upset enough after the school shooting in Texas that we really want to find a solution. Understood. But I have a couple of questions.

The shooter entered an entrance that was propped open.

How did he know which one was so configured?
Did he have an accomplice?

More importantly, are we pouring resources into the wrong problem? I did a little research and found that from 2009-2018 we had an average of 11.4 deaths from school shootings a year. Not good! But I also found that we had 885000 murders (to slaughter wantonly) of children before they were born. That accounts for 97.84% of deaths. Government funded Planned Parenthood accounts for about 39.14% of the deaths where school shootings only account for about 0.01%.

Please pray with me to have our government at least work on that problem.


Cause of Death	Total	per year	Per week	Per day	Percent of total abortions	Percent of total deaths

Abortions		885000	17019	2,424.66		97.84%
Planned Parenthood		354000	6808	969.86	40.00%	39.14%
Death by Gun		19384	373	53.11		2.14%
Death in School Shooting(10 year average 2009-2018)		114	2	0.31		0.01%
Total Deaths (excluding Planned Parenthood)		904498	17394	2,478.08		84.00%



School Shooting Deaths

2009	5
2010	4
2011	3
2012	31
2013	6
2014	12
2015	3
2016	5
2017	8
2018	37
	114

“About the Author

The Book

“The Purpose”

“Ideology of Change”

“Class Distinctions”

“Of Means and Ends”

A Word about Words

The Education of an Organizer

Communication

In the Beginning

POLICY AFTER POWER

RATIONALIZATION

THE PROCESS OF POWER

TACTICS

COMPETITION

THEIR OWN PETARD

TIME IN JAIL

NEW TACTICS AND OLD

The Genesis of Tactic Proxy

In My Humble Opinion

The Purpose

Everything Is Changing

Of Means and Ends

The Education of an Organizer

Other Subjects in the Book

The Way Ahead

2016

So How Does One Avoid Being Used in an Organization?

1. Removing Support for Donald Trump

2. Story of Truth and Lie

The Truth and the Lie meet on the road one day. The Lie says to the Truth: “It’s a marvelous day today”!

The poor Truth returned to the well and disappeared, forever hiding her shame.

And since that day, the lie travels the world, clothed as the Truth.

Epilogue : The naked Lie and the Truth. 2019-2021 versions & timelines

Setup

TimeLine 1

Timeline 2

TimeLine 3

TimeLine 4

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Conclusion

Actions

Restrooms

Sports

Public

Notes

First Impression

What should Methodist’s do about the LGBTQ issue?

Definitions

What does the Confession of Faith Say?

What does the Bible Say?

Anti-LGBTQ

1 Corinthians 6:9 ESV / 7 helpful votes

John 3:16-18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

What did Jesus Say?

Matthew 19:4 E

Why do we have to deal with LGBTQ?

Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual

Egairram

Other Issues

Bathroom Accommodations

Competition

Conclusion