John Leland

John Leland   (May 14, 1754 – January 14, 1841)was an American Baptist minister who preached in Massachusetts and Virginia, as well an outspoken abolitionist. He was an important figure in the struggle for religious liberty in the United States

You can read about this fascinating man here.

I had found the first quotation below someplace and really liked it.  I did a little research (thank you Wikipedia) and found out about him.  

"The notion of a Christian commonwealth should be exploded forever...Government should protect every man in thinking and speaking freely, and see that one does not abuse another. The liberty I contend for is more than toleration. The very idea of toleration is despicable; it supposes that some have a pre-eminence above the rest to grant indulgence, whereas all should be equally free, Jews, Turks, Pagans and Christians."

Other Quotations listed from Wikipedia are:

• "Truth disdains the aid of law for its defense — it will stand upon its own merits." - Right of Conscience Inalienable.

• "Every man must give account of himself to God, and therefore every man ought to be at liberty to serve God in a way that he can best reconcile to his conscience. If government can answer for individuals at the day of judgment, let men be controlled by it in religious matters; otherwise, let men be free." -Right of Conscience Inalienable.

• "Resolved, that slavery is a violent deprivation of rights of nature and inconsistent with a republican government, and therefore, recommend it to our brethren to make use of every legal measure to extirpate this horrid evil from the land; and pray Almighty God that our honorable legislature may have it in their power to proclaim the great jubilee, consistent with the principles of good policy." - Resolution for the General Committee of Virginia Baptists meeting in Richmond, Virginia in 1789.

Google Books has made available a book (The Writings of The Late John Elder)  which you can download and read for free.  I started reading it and found this statement:

In the summer of 1772, I met with one thing singular. When I was returning from my frolicks or evening diversions, the following words would sound from the skies, "You are not about the work which you have got to do." The last time I heard those sounds, I stood amazed; and turning my eyes up to the heavens, it seemed that there was a work of more weight than a mountain, which I had yet to perform.

Needless to say I am intrigued..  All this from one quotation.  The Internets are wonderful

Quote of the Day

He added that after the park closed "a First Amendment area will remain open on the Spring Street City Hall steps."   - The Mayor of Los Angeles on clearing out the Occupiers.

Funny I thought the Constitution applied to everyone in the entire country. Particularly on public lands...First Amendment AREA????? just wonderin'

Let's call it the Boehner Recession.

Put the blame where it belongs.  John Boehner (Orange Julius) and his party are responsible for any recession that occurs.  Go read about it by clicking on the quote below.


One effortless vote makes the entire problem disappear. I can’t think of any potential crisis that’s so serious and yet so easy to resolve. But this isn’t even a possibility because the Republican Party has lost its mind.

Quote of the Day

There is simply no rationale for continuing American involvement with no end in sight, rising deaths for civilians and our brave soldiers, declining public sentiment, and serious economic pain at home. Continuing our involvement in Afghanistan is not affordable, it's not just, and it hurts American foreign policy interests. It's time to go.”      Dennis Kucinich


Read article here. 

Republithugs strike again - Quote of the Day

"These Republican governors have risen to power in what will eventually be seen as one of the great political farces of our time. The Tea Party movement talks a good game about democracy and limited government, but in practice its elected leaders are crony-capitalists and union-busters. There is nothing limited about a state government that can erase entire cities or take control of school districts and local governments with the swipe of a pen. Manufactured crisis and a litany of politicians and power-brokers talking about how broke we are is all it takes to rob us of our democracy."


From here:  Michigan Governor Plays Fast and Loose with Democracy,  Forbes

Michigan Governor Plays Fast and Loose with Democracy, Invokes

Michigan Governor Plays Fast and Loose with Democracy, Invokes

Major problems - Quote of the day

The quote of the day is:

"The trouble with quotes on the Internet is that you can never be sure they're genuine." - 

Abraham Lincoln

h/t John

I have called Mediacom and they are coming out to fix things.  My Internet and telephone connections are all screwed up and are not working correctly.  In the meantime I shall read a book and do what I can with my Palm.  (Which was also frozen and necessitated a trip to the Shack to see if they could fix it.  They did)

"The sexual orientation of my parents has had zero effect on the content of my character."

Quote of the Day - Recommended Reading

A child was murdered today. She was killed because some think their political gain is justified by any rhetoric, any lie or any action. This myth of wingnutopia that justifies any action in the defense of their fantasized and bastardized notion of liberty is a real threat to America.

I’ve lost all tolerance for those who would excuse and justify this politics of hate. They do not get to wash the blood of today off of their hands. They are splattered with this blood and if we do not take them on there will be more blood in the future as more of these wingnut inspired psychopaths kill again.

Dennis G. Writing at Balloon Juice.

‎"Justice denied anywhere diminishes justice everywhere."

MLK Words to live by

Where does the bullying come from?

Did you ever wonder where the bullying in schools is coming from?... If we say it's okay to be vulgar, to insult and demean, and to disrespect even the highest office in the land, is it any wonder that kids think it's okay to do that to their peers? Add to that the rants of the religious right which do nothing but heighten the fears and bigotry that run so deeply in society. Folks, it's time to reclaim some human dignity here, and I call upon every person who holds or hopes to hold a position of influence or authority to model the common decency and respect that they would like to experience

.

h/t - Nick

Quote of the Day

" I want to do even more here in Iowa..."

Chuck Grassley

Perhaps it is time to grant him his wish and bring him back to Iowa.

Another quote from Senator Grassley:

"We can't wait on Washington to do it."

...but Senator, you ARE Washington.

Quote of the Day

Thanks to Mustang Bobby for the Quote of the Day

"If you’re making $1 billion a year after a very bad financial crisis where 8 million people lost their jobs and small businesses can’t get loans, then I think that you shouldn’t be feeling put upon."

President Obama

Quote of the Day

Over at Margaret and Helen

Palin and Beck don’t care about you, me or anyone except themselves. They are getting filthy rich pandering to angry white mobs so transparent in their racist feelings toward the President that a sheet of Saran Wrap would cast a darker shadow.

Read the entire letter here. It is worth it.

Flushing Remonstrance

America has a tradition of Religious Freedom from the 1600's

"The consciences of men at least ought ever to remain free and unshackled,"

Dutch West India Company

Read about it here.

I would not limit the practice of any religion even though I may not agree with all its tenents.

Unbelievable quote of the day

Senate candidate Sharron Angle (R-NV) on freedom of the press:

"We wanted them to ask the questions we want to answer so that they report the news the way we want it to be reported."

Where do they come from?



Ht/TPM

Quote of the Day

On July 26, 1948, three months before a very tough election, President Harry S. Truman issued Executive Order 9981, which desegregated the military

"Harry Truman's integration of the armed services represented the most significant institutional advance for the civil rights of black Americans since President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation."

Civil Rights icon Dorothy Height

Quote of the Day

“When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.” – Sinclair Lewis, American Writer (1885-1951)

Quote of the Day

“Politics is like driving. To go backward put it in R. To go forward put it in D.” — Tom Harkin

Quote of the Day - Recommended Reading

Until progressive groups successfully address the challenge of funding themselves independent of the elite individuals and institutions that act as enforcers of a corporate agenda, they will not be able to successfully advocate for progressive causes.

Read the article at FireDogLake

Sierra Club: Pro-Corporate, Anti-Grass Roots

Quote of the day

An Absence of Class

By BOB HERBERT
Published: March 22, 2010
Writing in the New York Times.

It is 2010, ... it is time for every American of good will to hold the Republican Party accountable for its role in tolerating, shielding and encouraging foul, mean-spirited and bigoted behavior in its ranks and among its strongest supporters.

Read the entire article Click here.