You're missing the Point, the Repubs in Congress and the Bush Administration would simply ignore this type of South Carolina rebellion of the Supreme Socialist Lawyers in Black robes out of political expedience. Not necessarily out of any loyalty.
Posted on 07/03/2005 2:07:41 AM PDT by Dan Evans
A year after suggesting possible secession from the United States, a group of Christians fed up with American laws they believe are at odds with the Bible is beginning to move to its target state of South Carolina.
ChristianExodus.org has attracted more than 700 members from across America since WND broke the news of its inception last May, and already a half-dozen families have picked up and transplanted to the Palmetto State.
"A year ago, no one had moved. It was just a project on the board," said Cory Burnell, a financial adviser who is president of ChristianExodus. "Now, it's actually happening. Whether it's a couple of years or 20 years, we're gonna get it done."
Calling the legalization of same-sex marriages in Massachusetts the straw that broke the camel's back, the group was inspired to concentrate like-minded Christians in a single area to influence local laws, with secession a possibility. Recent Supreme Court decisions regarding the seizure of private property and the debate over the public display of the Ten Commandments have only served to strengthen the resolve of many.
"We, like other believers, as well as many other conservatives have seen the political situation in the United States dominated by liberals over the last 40 years, whether they were in power or not," says Mike Sawyer, who is looking to make the move. "The 'conservative Republican' party has let the people who have worked to get them elected down repeatedly. The latest 'filibuster disaster' regarding judicial nominees is a case in point. Basically, a handful of Republican senators decided to cave in to the liberals, again. We believe that this can only be turned around with a concentrated effort in one state."
But is splitting away from the U.S. a serious option?
"The thought of secession is a last resort strategy," Sawyer said. "We hope to work within the system as much as possible in order to restore a true constitutional government."
That sentiment is echoed by Frank Janoski, who moved his wife, Tammy, and their four children from Mohrsville, Pa., to South Carolina in February.
"I believe we can work with 'the system' if you will to effect the outcome of local elections and certainly the CE theory is to do this county by county," Janoski said, "but I do not discount the possibility that the federal government or the rest of the 'union' may not agree with our objectives or core politics. So secession may be a very real alternative – and is as I believe our constitutional right if things lead to that."
"I'm about as patriotic as anyone you'll ever meet," says Charles Lewis, who moved his family of four from the nation's capital for the opportunity to raise his children in a wholesome, Christian-friendly environment. "However, the secession option is firmly in the Constitution – it's the linchpin of the whole thing, [the] ultimate safety valve."
Nevertheless, Lewis' love for America remains clear.
"The USA is God's country, the greatest nation of modern times," he told WND. "We've fed the world, fought its wars, sent out more missionaries to spread the word of God than any other. Our Declaration and Constitution were divinely inspired."
ChristianExodus members are coordinating with the Constitution Party, the political party most closely aligned with the goals of Burnell's group. Those who make the move are expected to play an active role in local and state politics, with many looking to run for elected office.
Burnell says he's excited about the movement due to the sheer youth of those involved.
"Most of our leadership is in their twenties, thirties and forties," he said. "We're a project driven by young people. We're not going anywhere – except South Carolina."
Though ChristianExodus does not have any test for citizenship, it does post a statement of beliefs on its website. Burnell says Catholics, Mormons and even Jews are members, all looking to reestablish constitutionally limited government founded upon Christian principles.
When news of the movement first came out last year, both ChristianExodus and WND received both positive and negative reaction, with critics saying:
"Talk about giving the 'left' a weapon from our weakness! These Christians are asking the state that started the Civil War to leave the U.S., and start a new country? With ideas like this, we won't need a devil." (Peter Ward)
"Those 'Christian secessionists' are just not thinking properly. Their heads are just as muddled as the rest of the citizens. They should be arrested for high treason against the USA. ... An independent 'Christian state' where the vast majority of the 'Christian' population is prayerless and continues to be addicted to TV entertainment is far from being the solution. (James Chai)
Yes.
The boys are seen as competition, but since they have no clout, the are driven off.
I heard of an older man in the community whom they turned on. He was expelled, and his wives and daughters were parceled out to the "Faithful".
Not the first time that has happened there, either.
It's the price of dissent to the leadership.
The whole thing reminds me of "The Handmaid's Tale" if you've ever read that.
(The movie was awful)
Wow, what a great idea.
Instead of staying where we are and fixing things, let's pick up our marbles and run off and form our own little commune.
I find this mindset funny from a group who consistently tells illegal aliens they'd be better off back in their native lands fixing what's wrong there.
Creepy stuff. Some of them are on welfare and some are pretty rich people. I imagine some are genuine too. And they probably would be left alone if they didn't do this 13-year-old marry 65-year-old stuff.
Actually both the Republican Party and Lincoln explicitly said that they would respect slavery in states where it existed; they were however firmly opposed to expansion of slavery in the territories. In fact, that was their core belief (which SCOTUS ruled unconstitutional in the Dred Scott decision). The Republicans then violated the Pelosi Doctrine by not treating Dred Scott as a decision from God.
In other words, if a state wanted to leave the union, I would have considered it their prerogative. I would have let them go.
Of course, that's assuming that I was living in those times, and not looking back at events with almost a century and a half of hindsight. As for today, I still think there should be a legal process by which a state can properly secede without resorting to muskets and cavalry. At present, it's kind of like a business contract with the Mafia...you can get into statehood, but you can't get out. =]
Uh, yeah. The Bush administration has stood up so well for States' Rights. Sure thing.
It's not necessarily American laws but the double standard in enforcing them that's becoming more of a problem. I don't see any secession movement going anywhere though except for maybe out West in about a generation.
You're missing the Point, the Repubs in Congress and the Bush Administration would simply ignore this type of South Carolina rebellion of the Supreme Socialist Lawyers in Black robes out of political expedience. Not necessarily out of any loyalty.
It will take more than that. According to the Census, the state has the population of 1,048,319.
In 1861 James Pettigru described South Carolina as being too small to be a country, too large to be an insane asylum. That's still true.
Some things can't be fixed. America is not a car with a busted fuel pump, it is a nation that has become corrupted. If you try to "fix" America, there are about a hundred million or so people with a vested interest who will oppose you with every fiber of their being.
"Picking up you marbles and leaving" is a viable option. Almost all of the original settlers were fundamentalist Christians came here because they knew that it was either that or lose their freedom and their way of life.
For now, America is still better than most countries. I don't think anyone will be running off to Canada (maybe libs) or Mexico to find freedom. I do think that good people can still make a difference and there are still many good people left in our country.
Yes, yes, yes. I would love that.
I have read of both islamic and scientology plans to do just this in various parts of the country.
One of the hallmarks of Christianity is that it has always been persecuted. And it is under massive attack by the democrat party in the US as we speak.
No. But they are going to New Hampshire and to South Carolina.
But that's how the world has changed in the last few hundred years. There aren't that many places left to run to. We do have fifty states here. And I wager that there are a lot of people who, even if they aren't inclined to pick up and run, would like to maintain a place where they could run to just in case.
There aren't that many places left to run to. We do have fifty states here. And I wager that there are a lot of people who, even if they aren't inclined to pick up and run, would like to maintain a place where they could run to just in case.
Yes, and eventually that will be the case. I just don't think the time is just yet.
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