WILLIAMS – The Community United Methodist Church of Williams will hold it’s annual St. Patrick’s Day corned beef supper next Tuesday. The supper will run from 5 to 7 p.m. or until they run out of food. The church is located on the corner of Sherman and 2nd Street.
This popular event includes potatoes and carrots, rolls and desserts with the traditional corned beef and cabbage. Drinks included.
Impressed with a conviction that the due administration of justice is the firmest pillar of good Government, I have considered the first arrangement of the Judicial department as essential to the happiness of our Country, and to the stability of its political system; hence the selection of the fittest characters to expound the law, and dispense justice, has been an invariable object of my anxious concern. — Letter to U.S. Attorney General Edmund Randolph (September 28,61 1789). Source: The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799. John C. Fitzpatrick, Editor.
To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace. — First Annual Address, to both Houses of Congress (8 January 1790).
A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined; to which end a uniform and well-digested plan is requisite; and their safety and interest require that they should promote such manufactories as tend to render them independent of others for essential, particularly military, supplies. — First Annual Address, to both House of Congress (8 January 1790).
No punishment in my opinion is too great for the Man who can build his greatness upon his Country’s ruin. — George Washington to President of Congress Joseph Reed, 12/12/1778, The Writings of George Washington, 13:383).
Don’t interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties. — Abraham Lincoln
“Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.” ― Abraham Lincoln
Today is Martin Luther King day. Today is meant to celebrate the civil rights leader of the sixties who made the following speech on August 28th, 1963.
Almost 52-years later, Mark Dice, a political activist in San Diego, asked people about King. The trick is that he asks in the same way that he does many historic topics. His claim to the people is that Martin Luther King just passed away and he wanted to know if they people were going to attend the memorial services.
Bear in mind that he edits the videos showing the goofiest answers he received. He did show one person who knew who the civil rights leader actually was and there were probably other examples.
What is sad is that even when he went off the deep end, as he often does in his videos, some people followed simply because they had a camera in their face.
Sheriff Julian Whittington of Bossier Parish, Louisiana vowed that the ACLU would not stop the second annual “In God We Trust” rally. One editorial noted that it “…followed the best of our traditions.” He took the line from the Supreme Court decision of Zorach v. Clauson, 343 U.S. 306 in which they stated:
We are a religious people whose institutions presuppose a Supreme Being. We guarantee the freedom to worship as one chooses. We make room for as wide a variety of beliefs and creeds as the spiritual needs of man deem necessary. We sponsor an attitude on the part of government that shows no partiality to any one group and that lets each flourish according to the zeal of its adherents and the appeal of its dogma. When the state encourages religious instruction or cooperates with religious authorities by adjusting the schedule of public events to sectarian needs, it follows the best of our traditions. For it then respects the religious nature of our people and accommodates the public service to their spiritual needs.
In preparation for the Independence Day holiday, we presented a good read from the “Father of the Constitution,” James Madison. His paper, known as Property or On Property, is one of his unpublished papers reflecting his thoughts on what property is. Here is another thought by our fourth President. You might be interested in some thoughts on the Tenth Amendment. Here is a quote from Thomas Jefferson.
A newspaper owned by Benjamin Franklin which became available at an auction contained a simple report of a significant event in American history. It confirms that Independence was actually declared on July 2.
In the midst of celebrating our Independence, the administration allegedly celebrated by suing an American company for requiring their workers to speak English. In Mississippi a disgruntled former employee entered Keith’s Superstore and stabbed the manager eight times. A concealed carry permit holder chased the criminal down and held him for police. The manager then posted no guns signs.
Arizona was accused in court of denying drivers licenses to immigrants. This, of course, is a lie. Arizona denied licenses to illegal aliens. Recently the courts ordered Arizona to start issuing licenses to illegal aliens. Arizona was accused of batching an execution because Joseph Rudolph Wood III snored before he died. Unlike his victims who died in pain.
July 27 is a day to honor Korean War veterans in Arizona.
After the devastating Slide Rock fire, State Route 89A and Oak Creek Canyon businesses started opening.
The forest near Williams suffered some lightning caused fires. 32-year old Rocky Deibler of Williams lost his life in a one vehicle accident near Williams. An inmate committed suicide at the Coconino County Detention Facility.
Bearizona held its annual Backwoods BBQ.
IRAN – While you were passing presents amongst yourselves and hoisting a glass to a mythical baby with a 2015 banner, American hostages were languishing in an Iranian prison.
According to his wife, Naghmeh, Pastor Saeed Abedini—who has been in prison for over two years and subject to harsh beatings for his Christian Faith—is in severe pain. The American Center for Law and Justice posted a portion of a letter he wrote which described his difficulty and how his Christian faith has seen him through.
The ACLJ was also gratified when Obama noted the plight of Pastor Saeed at the National Prayer Meeting held in Washington D.C. in February of 2014. In September, a UN panel “blasted” Iran over the imprisonment of Saeed.
Pastor Saeed is not the only prisoner being held by the terrorist regime. Amir Hekmati, a former United States Marine, is also being held. Rumors have surfaced that the lawyer for Hekmati, Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabaei, was quoted as saying that a proposal was made for a prisoner exchange. It was allegedly sent from the Administration was sent to the Iranian government via the Swiss embassy. The rumor was denied by Washington.
Hekmati was born in Flagstaff, Arizona and served as a U.S. Marine from August 2001 to 2005. He obtained the rank of sergeant. He was a translator in Iraq but received no military intelligence training. He was arrested for spying.
Jason Rezaian holds dual American and Iranian citizenship and was working as the bureau chief for the Washington Post in Tehran since 2012. He was arrested in July for unspecified charges. According to his family, Iranian judiciary has held him without bail and access to legal representation.
According to U.S. State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke, the prisoner exchange rumor is false, but the U.S. does call for the release of American prisoners and to assist in locating Robert Levinson.
Robert Levinson was a former DEA and FBI agent turned private investigator who was in Iran allegedly researching a cigarette smuggling case. He was taken hostage, according to reports, by Iranian security forces on March 9, 2007 and has not been seen since.
WILLIAMS – It appears that the shadow of the Grinch was spotted on a garage door at Sheridan and 1st. Make sure the presents are still under the tree.
The St. John’s Episcopal-Lutheran Church Advent concert series continues this Sunday at 4 p.m.
This concert features blue grass music from Julie and Roger Sullivan and friends.