From the Chairman’s Corner . . .

Heros

NBC has been plugging the coming edition of its series, Heroes. While I’ve never bothered to watch it, I’m told the premise has to do with people discovering they have some superpower and how wrestling with that discovery impacts their lives. It is ironic that we live in a culture that wants to deny the miraculous works of God and at the same time readily embraces the idea that people might be endowed with superhuman qualities; however, we’ll save that observation for another day.

“Hero” is a word that gets thrown around a lot these days. It used to be reserved to describe those who went above and beyond the call of duty to accomplish something at great personal risk or actual sacrifice. Today, a hero can be just about anyone who does anything that seems out of the ordinary. A person who dials 911 to help a stranger is now a hero. A dog that starts barking in a house that is burning and wakes the family is a hero. There’s no need to go on; chances are you could list other similar examples of how the media has weakened this word that was once reserved for truly heroic actions.

Who are your heroes? Don’t stop with naming biblical characters. Who are the people living today whose example of selfless action above and beyond the call of duty inspires you to sacrifice yourself for the benefit of others or a higher purpose? If you can’t think of any, its time to start paying attention!

I first learned about the Constitution Party in 1996 when it was call the U. S. Taxpayers Party. Howard Phillips, the presidential candidate that year, was not a name I’d ever heard and, like many, I had my doubts about this new exercise in citizenship. However, I was encouraged to hear a friend who was running for state representative tell me, “Man, he’s one of my heroes!”

Having now worked in this effort for 12 years, I am personally aware of the sacrifices Howard (and many others) continue to make to keep hope alive for those of us who are slow to pay attention. Indeed, Howard is just a man subject to the frailties of our common nature, but his example inspiring. Though he’s not nearly so much in the spotlight these days, he continues to be a tremendous resource for this effort. I hope each of you get the opportunity to meet him and thank him personally for his vision and sacrifice. He has become one of my heroes.

Space prohibits telling the stories of my other heroes, but they tend to share common attributes, not the least of which is their being driven by principle and a sense of purpose that will not be denied, regardless of the challenges they encounter. They labor on when others throw up their hands in despair. They suffer personal criticism and rejection simply for attempting to do what is right.

Earlier this year, I read a book which expressed heroism in terms our culture will have a difficult time understanding. In 20 Letters To A Friend, Svetlana Alliyueva (Stalin’s daughter) makes several noteworthy observations: two or three are real jewels. I’ll write of the others later, but share an appropriate one here.

Svetlana’s mother had a child by a previous marriage when she married Stalin. Unlike fathers who show great care for such children, the infamous tyrant had little regard for Svetlana’s half-brother, Yakov. Nevertheless, she describes Yakov in the most laudable terms. When the war came, he joined the military out of a sense of duty even though he was hardly in agreement with much of what was being done. He expected, asked for, and received no special privilege because of the relationship with his step-father. Consequently, he served some of the most difficult duty one could serve in the Russian army. I’ll leave it to you to read the details for yourself but, in closing, let me share Svetlana’s appreciation for Yakov’s life of unassuming, selfless service:

“No one deserves to be remembered with greater gratitude than Yakov. What greater heroism than to be an honest and upright man in our day?”

I hope that analysis grips your conscience as it did mine. We live in a time when integrity in the political arena is a joke and the stand-ups for the major parties make a mockery of those important attributes with seeming impunity. They have no intention of serving beyond their greed for personal power and wealth. Yes, there are a few exceptions, very few; and they should be held up as examples of proper public service.

The integrity of Chuck Baldwin stands in stark contrast to cartoon character candidates of the major parties, and people of integrity will demonstrate their fidelity to integrity by standing with him to raise a standard of truth and righteousness.

We need real heroes. America needs multiplied thousands of real heroes in the political arena. That is where the battle for the soul of this country is being fought; to avoid it is a dereliction of duty for anyone professing to be a patriotic American. If you have the integrity, we invite you to stand where it matters “in our day”.

Until next time . . .

Jim Wade

Honor Before Victory!