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Civil Disobedience Starts as Citizens Storm ‘Barrycades’
Townhall.com ^ | October 7, 2013 | John Ransom

Posted on 10/07/2013 3:47:01 AM PDT by Kaslin

The Greatest Generation came through again.

Faced with a weak, childish and irresponsible tyranny, with some of them in wheelchairs, the old soldiers went over Obama’s Barrycades with the easy nonchalance of people who have been there before.

It was a group of Mississippi gulf-coast World War II veterans, outraged by administration contempt on closing the World War II monument, who were flown up via the Honor Flight Network, a private organization that they say was “created solely to honor America's veterans for all their sacrifices. We transport our heroes to Washington, D.C. to visit and reflect at their memorials.”

Their memorials, we should always emphasize.

It's something politicians in D.C. forgot too long ago, with the possible exception of Barack Obama, who never knew it to begin with.

Obama’s idea of sacrifice is sitting down with other duly-elected officials and hammering out a budget that works for everyone.

Or perhaps his idea of sacrifice is giving a speech about the shutdown without a teleprompter.

It certainly is a sacrifice for the rest of us, with or without a teleprompter.

Obama Against Strikes

“They fought a war and flew in at dawn from Mississippi,” writes the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, “so a few barricades provoked little more than shrugs from the 91 World War II veterans who crossed political lines Tuesday to walk and wheel around their memorial on the historic National Mall.”

The Republican National Committee offered to pay expenses to “keep the monument open.”

That offer was promptly rejected by the president.

If you’ve never been there, you might not know that the World War II Memorial stands on the National Mall, midway between the Lincoln Memorial and Congress. It was built primarily with private donations.

Not since president Herbert Hoover expelled the Bonus Marchers from government land in July of 1932 on his way to being defeated by Franklin Roosevelt has a government looked so ungrateful to veterans.

There is no gate to go through, no way to “close” it, except by erecting barricades. Like all the monuments on the mall, it was designed to encourage people to wonder through it without hindrance, kind of in line with that crazy American idea called “freedom.”

But that didn’t stop the administration from trying to strengthen the defenses.

Because the next brilliant chess move for Obama administration was to kick about 60 families out of the Lake Mead National Recreation area who have homes there. These families made the terrible mistake of leasing land from the government.

When you and I lease land, we have to stick to the lease. When the government does it, apparently they can kick you out when they want.

“I wouldn’t call it a government shutdown,” Bob Hitchcock, 71, a homeowner who leases land from the government told the Las Vegas Review-Tribune. “I’d call it a government meltdown. If my kids ever acted like these politicians are acting — it’s probably not politically correct to say this anymore — but I’d beat the crap out of them, then send them to their rooms.”

Hancock points out that during the last government shutdown, in 1995 under Clinton, leaseholders weren’t asked to leave federal land.

Boaters, families and others from the community plan on protesting the move with a boat parade down the Las Vegas Strip.

“Lake Mead is closed during the shutdown,” reports local KTNV TV, “and boaters are preparing for a different type of protest. Dozens of people will be towing their boats down the Las Vegas Strip on Sunday night to stage a protest against Lake Mead being closed. They said there is no reason for the government to close the lake since tax dollars, park permits and registration fees have already paid to keep the place open.”

But that didn't stop Obama from trying to close the ocean too.

As our own Michael Schaus wrote on Sunday:

Over 1,100 square miles of ocean has been declared off limits to the public in the Florida Bay. Apparently, unknown to most Americans, allowing boats to meander into open water is a cost that has proven to be unsustainable in the event of a government shutdown. Well. . . At least that’s according to the National Park Service.

Earlier this week, Jon Stewart, the sometimes comedian and full time flack for the progressives called the government shutdown a “catastrophe%$.”

And it has been for Obama so far.

“It’s a cheap way to deal with the situation,” an angry Park Service ranger in Washington told the Washington Times of the administration harassment. “We’ve been told to make life as difficult for people as we can. It’s disgusting.”

Obama’s has forgotten what no president ought to forget: The chief executive is the most recognized figure in any political crisis. He’s expected to lead, not pout. In any battle with Congress that has a negative impact on citizens, the president who does not lead risks looking childish.

American‘s are reacting as adults are supposed to react to a child's temper tantrum.

We’re ignoring it.

And here’s a rule no patriot ought not forget: When the chief executive tries to enforce rules no one will follow, and everyone protests, he looks not just weak, but wrong as well.

Take courage from our soldiers, storm the barrycades, return to your homes, and sail on the ocean.

The government's overreaction is the very thing that will save our country.

There is only one answer to this weak, childish tyranny: Disobedience.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; US: District of Columbia
KEYWORDS: barrycades; governmentshutdown; govtshutdown; lakemead; nationalparkservice; worldwarllmemorial; wwiimemorial
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To: markomalley

Obama is trying to turn the city into the equivalent of the Ming Dynasty’s Forbidden City. First cancelling white house tours for commoners, and now closing memorials. It is a wonder that he didn’t try this stunt with sequestration.


41 posted on 10/07/2013 5:24:50 AM PDT by FreeAtlanta (Liberty or Big Government - you can't have both.)
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To: Aevery_Freeman

OMG....”I was only following orders”!!! The families will NOT starve...land they won’t be kicked out of their houses unless they live on GOVT. Property!!


42 posted on 10/07/2013 5:35:20 AM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion......the Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: Aevery_Freeman

No sympathy from me. I will not be shamed!

I have made many difficult choices in life that impacted my security and my families financial stability. Why, because it was the right thing to do and the Lord always provided even when I doubted.

Sometimes you must do the right thing...no matter what the consequences...it is called Faith...


43 posted on 10/07/2013 5:38:18 AM PDT by seeker41 (take your country back by whatever means necessary)
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To: Kaslin

44 posted on 10/07/2013 5:38:41 AM PDT by Hotlanta Mike ("Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish - too much handling will spoil it." Lao Tzu)
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To: Ann Archy

“BINGO!! The Park Rangers have been THUGS.”

Comrade Stalin would be proud, very proud indeed!
(And he would probably smile that sly smile of his.)

IMHO


45 posted on 10/07/2013 5:39:55 AM PDT by ripley
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To: Aevery_Freeman
please have some compassion for the poor slobs caught in the middle

How about some "compassion" for those who are being victimized by the park service? How far doe you compassion for government employees "just following orders" go? If they're carrying out the will of the petulant narcissist in the white house they're part of the problem.

46 posted on 10/07/2013 5:53:27 AM PDT by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy)
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To: Salamander

Thanks for the cool picture. Is that available to blow-up for a poster?


47 posted on 10/07/2013 5:56:26 AM PDT by WorkingClassFilth (You hear it here first.)
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To: Kaslin
Faced with a weak, childish and irresponsible tyranny, with some of them in wheelchairs, the old soldiers went over Obama’s Barrycades with the easy nonchalance of people who have been there before.

Truly a symbolic moment as these soldiers retake the high ground from a petty leftist President.

48 posted on 10/07/2013 6:00:18 AM PDT by alrea
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To: from occupied ga

What was your latest act of defiance?


49 posted on 10/07/2013 6:02:39 AM PDT by Aevery_Freeman (Tried to tell 'em Affirmative Action was a bad idea...Now look what happened!)
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To: M Kehoe

“... they (i.e. military, LEOs, etc.), will shoot...”

LEO’s, I agree...Not so much the rank and file military....


50 posted on 10/07/2013 6:04:23 AM PDT by Boonie
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To: seeker41
How bout sister;^)

Oh!

Sorry!

Please forgive my faux pas!

51 posted on 10/07/2013 6:04:43 AM PDT by BwanaNdege ("Life is short. It's even shorter if you suggest going out for pizza on your anniversary" Peter Egan)
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To: Biggirl; Salamander

52 posted on 10/07/2013 6:05:11 AM PDT by Daffynition (*In memory of FReeper Blackie. God rest his *Hooligan* soul.*)
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To: Aevery_Freeman
What was your latest act of defiance?

I got fired for telling a used car buyer the dealership was required by law to provide a valid, passing Vehicle Emission test result form (VIR). I stood my ground. I got fired.

I won in the end. They hired me back within the hour.

53 posted on 10/07/2013 6:14:50 AM PDT by SpeakerToAnimals (I hope to earn a name in battle)
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To: Aevery_Freeman

NYFB


54 posted on 10/07/2013 6:19:28 AM PDT by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy)
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To: Aevery_Freeman
On reflection, your question is irrelevant because I don't work for the government, nor have I ever unless you count an all expense paid vacation to southeast Asia in '69 and '70
55 posted on 10/07/2013 6:22:39 AM PDT by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy)
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To: Kaslin

Many people like big government when it gives them “free stuff”, but a larger number of people hate big government when it tells them what to do and where they can go and what they must buy. I am hoping more Americans wake up and see Obamacare is about liberty.


56 posted on 10/07/2013 6:23:23 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Let's make Mark Levin's The Liberty Amendments a reality!)
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To: TalBlack
We've been told, advised and cautioned .. and may have used the words ourselves ... we WILL have a hard time when __________ (fill in the blank .. it's been going on for 3 or 4 years)

So now SOMEone is in a forced position to re-arrange their life and or thinking ... and though they agreed in principle before, now it's ... different ?

I'm relatively comfortable in retirement ... don't need much, thus the little I have is perfect ... so I guess I can be accused of "that's easy for YOU to say", but there's a whole BUNCH'a us out here that railed for a decade and more and worked and campaigned and cried and screamed and .... we're tired.

57 posted on 10/07/2013 6:23:58 AM PDT by knarf (I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but they're true)
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To: seeker41

Amen, brother.


58 posted on 10/07/2013 6:24:01 AM PDT by Vermont Lt ( 1-800-318-2596, Mr President.)
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To: MomwithHope
Many people like big government when it gives them “free stuff”, but a larger number of people hate big government when it tells them what to do and where they can go and what they must buy.

People need to wake up and realize that you don't get one without the other...."If you take the King's Coin, you do the King's Bidding."

59 posted on 10/07/2013 6:24:40 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: seeker41

Sorry, ......sister!


60 posted on 10/07/2013 6:26:35 AM PDT by Vermont Lt ( 1-800-318-2596, Mr President.)
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