Caprock Patriot February 2019 Edition

FEBRUARY 2019 VOLUME 1 | EDITION 2

GRAB A GEAR AND THANK A FARMER

»A GOLD STAR MOM’S STORY… SEE PAGE 13

CAPROCK CONSERVATIVE

PAGE 4

ARE DEMOCRATS POINTING AT CONSERVATIVES AS THEY HELP RUSSIA?

PATR IOT CHRISTIAN

COMMENTARY

FREE

For the People By the People

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! Psalms 133:1

A Battle for Survival: Pro-Life & Moral Values

TRUMP: ONE WOMAN’S PERSPECTIVE

BY LAWRENCE D’SOUZA

PAGE 5

BEING A P.I.G. IS HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH

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INDEX Commentary 1

“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all (human beings) are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are (the right to) life…” – The Declaration of Independence ritten in the Eighteenth Century, our nation’s Declaration of Independence expresses the ideals on which the United States was founded. It explicitly states that there are “self-evident” truths. They don’t need to be explained.

They are obvious. It also says that these rights are “unalienable.” They can neither be taken away from nor given away by anybody.

They are sacrosanct.

As interpreted in the Twenty-first Century, however, these ideals are scorned

BY ALLISON P

O

W

and repudiated. Our post-modern culture has callously turned a blind eye to what is otherwise self-evident. The right to life. Our renegade government has brazenly invented a way to take away that which cannot be alienated. The right to life.

SEE A BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL | PAGE 7

kay people… let’s talk about Trump. I know what you’re thinking, “Good Lord, woman, that’s all we hear about these days!”.

I know, I know. But let’s get real for a minute. All we hear about this poor guy are the negatives. Which are mostly untrue! I want to take a moment to talk about the positives and bring some honesty to the “untruths.”

First, I need to tell you a little about myself so you can understand where I’m coming from. I am a 36-year young female, not quite young enough to be considered a millennial (thank God) but old enough to remember not having the SEE TRUMP: ONE WOMAN’S PERSPECTIVE | PAGE 6

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3

Explaining the Threat of the Global Islamic Movement

BY JOHN GUANDOLO

I

t is apparent through polling data, social media traffic, and a variety of reporting that tens of millions of Americans understand there is something fundamentally wrong with Islam. However, some people who do have some understanding of the threat do not do a good job explaining why this matters to average Americans and why they should care.

Today, it is hard to find one elected official at the national level who speaks clear truth about the Islamic threat. To do so is to be defamed and publicly condemned.

Unfortunately, there is a growing cry among GOP leaders at the state and federal level to defend muslims who are supposedly being “singled out unfairly” simply because “of their religion.”

Yet, these same GOP leaders are Published by Rockin’ M Media, LLC, dba Caprock Patriot, Lubbock, TX 806-831-7366 • info@caprockpatriot.com www.CaprockPatriot.com Paul McArthur • President & Publisher

The Caprock Patriot publishes once monthly and is available to pick up for free at select stores across Lubbock. Mailed subscriptions are available at www.CaprockPatriot. com for the price of $40 annually within Lubbock County and $60 annually outside of Lubbock County.

Legal Stuff: Rockin’ M Media, LLC does not guarantee and is not liable for: the absolute correctness of information presented within the printed pages or website of the Caprock Patriot, unintentional errors, omissions or inclusions. The opinions expressed in user-submitted commentary, articles, cartoons, etc, may or OR may not reflect the opinions of the publisher, staff or advertisers of Caprock Patriot. Based on our editorial guidelines, Rockin’ M Media, LLC reserves the right to edit and/or refuse content submissions. Articles are intended for informational purposes. All opinions expressed by authors and quoted sources are their own. Advertisers have no advance knowledge of editorial content, except as is publicly available through published editorial calendars and promotions. Advertisers cannot influence editorial content or advertising policies. Reproduction and/or use of any photograph or written material without written permission is prohibited. Copywrite 2019 with all rights reserved.

unaware of the massive jihadi threat present and growing inside the United States right now.

These leaders should keep in mind prominent and popular muslim leaders like Abdurahman Alamoudi and Anwar

al Awlaki were befriended and defended by a number of politicians, yet turned out to be Al Qaeda operatives. One is now in prison, and the other was killed by a U.S. drone strike in 2011.

A professional analysis of any threat

begins with who an enemy says they are and why they say they are fighting. “Terrorists” killed or captured in the United States state they do what they do because it is a command from Allah (Islam’s god) to wage war against non-muslims until the entire world is under sharia (Islamic Law).

The same doctrine these “terrorists” espouse is the exact same doctrine Al Qaeda and the Islamic State teach, and also happens to be the same doctrine taught to muslim children in Islamic schools all over the world, as well as by the most prominent schools of Islamic jurisprudence.

That makes sharia the enemy threat doctrine.

Sharia is the doctrine all jihadis follow, and sharia is what jihadis seek to impose on everyone on earth.

SEE GLOBAL ISLAMIC MOVEMENT | PAGE 4

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FEBRUARY 2019

Grab a Gear and Thank a Farmer

BY LAURA MAEKER

I

was watching my dad clean up his farming equipment the other day.

He’s a cotton farmer; a hard-working, good man, who relies on his experience, his father’s experience, and more than anything, the absolute faith in God that he will make a crop. This year was rough.

I helped him during harvest season, and his dryland crop looked a lot like my bank account the day before payday – bare. I saw my father’s mood go through many stages, but more than anything, he was determined. Like most farmers, he carries this determination through every chapter of the farming season.

While watching him clean his equipment, I thought of how we face the same challenges, joys, and heartaches throughout the seasons of our lives.

Planting starts off the farming season.

The farm loan process, purchasing seed, and making decisions. I relate this season to beginning a new chapter of life, whether it’s a new job, a move, or the loss of someone special. Like the farmer, we use our wisdom and experience to begin this new chapter. We remember how we survived before. We hopefully learned from our mistakes. We may even

GLOBAL ISLAMIC MOVEMENT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

However, there are people who self-identify as “muslim” who do not want to live under sharia nor impose it on others. While these may be genuinely decent people, the way they live – outside of sharia adherence -does not constitute another “version” of Islam. They are simply living outside of the requirements of sharia/Islam.

When we as Americans discuss this issue with others who have no knowledge of Islam and sharia, it is important to remember two key points: First… This message is best shared between people who have an existing relationship, because it must be shared

be brave enough to try something new in this chapter. All of this is molding us to be better versions of ourselves, and teaching those who are watching us.

The Growth Season comes next. The crop begins to bloom, water wells begin to pump, and the farmer weeds and cultivates the land to produce a fruitful crop.

In this season, we may have found motivation in our new chapter. We reach a point of “hey, this isn’t so bad, I can do this...”, and here come the obstacles.

It’s almost as if obstacles are the box of donuts in the break room at work when you’re trying so hard to eat healthier. Our responsibility is to persevere through these obstacles. Does the farmer stop taking care of his crop because of a cloudy day? Let’s hope when the sunshine returns, because it will, he continues. He pulls the weeds stealing the growth of his crop, similar to removing toxic relationships or behaviors. The wilt from the storms are renewed by sunshine, similar to our healing through Christ.

Then Harvest Season. The hard work and care put in to the crop is harvested, my father’s favorite time. We reap the benefit of our growth. Similar to college graduation, or losing that last 10 pounds, or maybe it’s simply surviving.

We did it, we survived, we grew, and we learned. Like the farmer, maybe we had “hail storms” or “bad days”, which set us back. Maybe we found ourselves in a tight financial situation, because our “equipment” or “car” needed to be repaired.

But, we persevered, and we discovered things about ourselves we didn’t know.

If you breeze through every season in life, learn the first time from mistakes, and are able to reach a fruitful harvest season – consider yourself blessed. A lot of people, including myself, have to re-read that chapter many times before it makes sense. Some seasons are out of our control, and some we continuously throw ourselves in to. Whenever I’m upset or going through the same chapter or season for the fifth or sixth time, I’ve shared my feelings with my dad.

His response is always simple, “Grab a gear, babe.” Grab that gear, take it out of neutral, and no matter the speed – just move forward. Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional. Throughout your season, you’ll face obstacles. You will question yourself, and those around you.

You may find yourself wondering how you’ll make that mortgage payment – grab a gear. You may wonder if you will ever get that promotion – grab a gear.

You will continuously be let down by people – grab a gear. You will have horrible days, and guess what? – grab a gear.

Grab that gear, move forward, and reap your harvest. When you are in the thick of your chapter and not sure if you can continue, remember my dad, and every other farmer’s determination every crop season. They don’t know what’s ahead, but they’ve read the same chapter many times, and every year they grab that gear and humbly reap their harvest.

Thank a farmer and grab a gear.

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truthfully and in a manner the recipient of the message can receive it. The majority of people in America do not understand the threat and, worse yet, have been polluted with a counter-factual narrative that Islam is a “peaceful religion.” Therefore, when you speak about Islam you are not only battling a lack of knowledge, you are battling the false narrative they have accepted and operated under since 9/11.

Second… The line of demarcation is sharia. Those who adhere to sharia and seek to impose it on others constitute a threat to liberty, American communities, and the Republic because they seek to overthrow the Constitutional Republic in favor of an Islamic Caliphate

(think Ottoman Empire). While this is true, it is often difficult to discern the loyalty of individual muslims who may not adhere to sharia, despite the fact it is a capital crime in Islam for a muslim not to obey sharia.

The foundation of Western civilization has for centuries been “Love thy neighbor.”

If we care about our neighbor’s well-being, we as citizens cannot support leaders who continue to publicly make false comments and create domestic and foreign policies based on the lie that Islam is not a barbaric ideology that enslaves people.

We must speak truth about the totalitarian ideology that is Islam, yet be

discerning about individual muslims who may or may not adhere to it.

As patriotic Americans contemplate the road forward for our nation, UTT encourages all of you to consider our operating guideline: Speak truth boldly in love.

Submitted by John Guandolo, Dallas, TX. John is a US Naval Academy graduate, served as an Infantry/Reconnaissance officer in the United States Marines and is a combat veteran, served as a Special Agent in the FBI from 19962008, and was recruited out of the FBI by the Department of Defense to conduct strategic analysis of the Islamic threat. He is the President and Founder of Understanding the Threat (UTT).

FEBRUARY 2019

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COMMENTARY

5

Are Democrats Pointing at Conservatives as They Help Russia?

BY CHARLES JOHNS

A

nyone old enough to remember the Cold-War should remember, they said they would bury capitalism. The communist system is basically a socialist one that eliminates religion. For years I have said, my old democrat party has gone over to the darkside, embracing socialism. Yes, I once voted liberal democrat, but then I grew up into an adult.

To quote Winston Churchill, “If you are not a liberal at twenty, you do not have a heart.

If you are not conservative by forty, you do not have a brain.”

Fortu nately, I sw itched to conservativism in my thirties, and began voting republican. I understood then democrats were actually socialists,

Snowflake Alert

I play a tough guy in the movies. But, in real life, I’m a whining liberal cry baby!

Submitted by Josh B, Lubbock, TX

though they constantly denied it. This last election democrats had a socialist openly running for office in Bernie Sanders, and don’t forget Ocasio-Cortez is also socialist…and she won! For those who attended school in the past 40 years and told socialism is best, no system has done more to advance the poor in any society than capitalism. It has lifted more people out of poverty and into the middle-class, helped more under-privileged get an education, given more to charity and taken in more foreigners than any system in history.

That is a fact!

“Projection psychology” is defined as, “projecting to others, that which you are doing.” Remember, it was Hillary who aided Russia while Secretary of State, as Obama removed obstacles that held Russia at bay. Think missiles in Poland and the Czech-Republic protecting them from a Russian invasion. Putin has been trying to bring back the old USSR ever since he took control, and he is an old KGB officer.

Do you remember Hillary and her cheesy K-Mart red “Reset-Button” with Russia?

She was going to make all things nice with Russia, while Bill collected half a million dollars for one speech. And don’t forget president Obama telling Putin’s puppet Medvedev, he would have more flexibility

after the 2012 elections. Obama also gave our enemy Iran, 1.5 billion dollars in cash!

Yes, that happened as he said it was their money. Truth is, it was money Iran had in US banks we confiscated, after Iran held Americans hostage for over 400 days. I wonder how much havoc that money produced with Muslim radicals killing in the name of Allah? Ronald Reagan thought of it as a FINE for illegally holding Americans hostage. Remember Farrakhan, the Nation of Islam leader? Apparently, Obama and Farrakhan are buds! The unbiased media kept this picture hidden from public view while Obama ran for his second term.

Did you ever notice Obama and democrats always take the side of Muslims and Black’s, even before hearing the facts? Remember, Obama spent his formative years in Muslim countries, and he bowed to Muslim leaders. It is one thing to talk civil with one’s enemies, but to bow to them shows disrespect to America. That did happen, when Obama went on what has been called his “Apology tour.” No doubt America has not always been the good-guy, but wanting it or not, as the only Super-Power, we have become the world’s police force. Notice France, Germany, Spain and other semi-socialist countries are now rioting over the price

of everyday things like gasoline. Their citizens have become use to free education, medical care and month-long vacations, paid by government. Trump is bringing that to an end, and they are starting to feel the pain.

France and Germany seem to always bring up how America is a War Based economy, but when Trump talks about pulling our troops out of Europe, they panic.

Free education, vacations and medical care are going the way of free stuff everywhere, down the drain! Just look at Venezuela and Russia. Please understand, for 70 years we have subsidized European nations defense, which allowed them to spend their defense money on those freebies.

Now they will have to defend themselves and Trump is saying, “WWII was over 70 years ago, defend yourself!”

And don’t forget China in this economic mess. While democrats and Mueller “Hunt for Red Obstruction” liberals are helping dictators all over the globe.

Hillary erases 30,000 e-mails and Lois Lerner targets conservatives. China has stolen our hard-researched tech-info and boosted their economy at our expense, and they didn’t pay us a penny! Our products go to China and Europe, but we must pay a high duty-fee (tax) just to sell there.

While theirs come here duty-free. Now, thanks to Trump, no more one-sided deals. Again, Trump telling the world, “It is time to be fair to both sides! ”Submitted by Charles Johns, Abilene, TX. Charles is a Navy Veteran that served on 3 carriers, spent 20 years as a TV tech, 50 years building cars, and 10+ years as a shop superintendent and Police Department armorer. He graduated from Elkins Institute in Dallas, (the same school Rush Limbaugh attended). He holds a Federal Firearms License as a gunsmith, with his own 100 yard gun-range for 21 years.

Charles can be reached at chasj43@gmail. com or 325-704-4872.

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COMMENTARY

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FEBRUARY 2019

Socialism’s Historical Agenda Exposed

BY MIKEL WARD

L

ately, we are being bombarded from the left with appealing “new” sounding socialist ideas.

Actually, these are the very old components of the scam of collectivism disguised as compassion. The mostly younger people that are attracted to the idea of “free” everything have no idea of the ultimately disastrous results unless someone teaches them about free market capitalism and accurate American and world history.

TRUMP: ONE WOMAN’S PERSPECTIVE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

internet or a smartphone at my beck and call. I run a crop insurance business and my husband owns a small water well drilling business. Besides our work, we are diligently trying to raise four children to live and thrive in this craziness that has become our country. We want them to live out Christian values, we want them to be kind, compassionate people, and yes, we want them to be patriotic. No small feat when they are bombarded with negativity and hate at every corner. They ask questions, even the youngest of our brood at a tender five years old. “Mom, why do people talk bad about the President?” He’s FIVE years old people. The best answer I have for him is this: “Baby, there are a lot of people who just don’t understand him. They don’t understand that he is truly trying to help us.”

So, in the spirit of Caprock PATRIOTISM, we have to tell the truth and help people understand President Trump.

As a woman, the media tells me that I should hate Trump. According to the media: Trump wants to take away my right to choose whether or not I want to keep a pregnancy; he treats women as sexual objects, and; he rips crying children from the arms of their mothers trying to enter our country to give their children a better life. And let’s please not forget about his blessed Twitter.

my mother’s reaction to her father deserting her and her mother about 1915 to travel all over the country with Socialist Party leader Eugene V. Debs who was a radical labor union organizer who ran for President five times. In about 1940, my grandfather told my mother that President Franklin Roosevelt had put irreversible policies in place that would tremendously further their socialist dream permanently.

As a child, I was captivated while reading articles that he had written to blast

Feel lucky if you understand and believe in traditional principles that are under constant assault. I hope and pray that you will commit to share these with others in a caring, non-judgmental way. Hopefully, my following recollections help lay bare the timeless fallacy of socialism.

I have no doubt that my lifelong conservative activism is a result of my unique family background. My parents were in the first few families in Lubbock that would admit to being Republicans in the early 1940s. This was very likely due to

SEE SOCIALISM’S HISTORICAL AGENDA | PAGE 10

As a college educated woman (that I paid for myself with student loans and without the help of rich parents or the federal government) let me explain my perspective on these issues.

1. If you want to parade around with a ‘pink vagina hat’ on your head screaming “pro-choice!” Then you MA’AM have no clue what it means to be a woman!

Women who sit in abortion clinics aren’t in there spouting about their right to choose. Most are there because they feel like they have no other options. That isn’t the government’s job! It is our job, as Christian people, to give options.

2. If a man treats you like a sexual object, most of the time, it’s your fault! YOU have given him permission to do so, either by your actions, or your way too revealing outfit. If you didn’t give him permission to treat you that way, and you don’t stop it, your daddy failed at teaching you how to genuinely hurt a man or throw a good right hook. I know I’m going to take some hate for that one, but please understand I am not talking about rape. I am talking about locker room talk or a man getting handsy. And, here is another point on the subject that will probably rub some people the wrong way. I don’t care if Trump talked like a high school boy bragging about his conquests. I don’t care. At all. I don’t know many red-blooded men (good ones too!) that haven’t partaken in such talk. Unprofessional? Yes. Ungentlemanly? Yes. The poor man wasn’t

even in office when that happened! The man has lowered my tax rates and helped our small business significantly! “We the People” hired this man to do a job. He’s doing that job. If the president made unwanted advances to me, I would decline, because that’s the kind of woman I AM. If he persisted, then he would see all of my unholy wrath, because my daddy DID teach me a good right hook. Put your #MeToo movement away and teach your own daughters the same. Please.

3. The women at the border are using their poor children as pawns to enter into my county ILLEGALLY. As a woman, and a mother, what kind of person would put their child in that kind of position? Getting a visa isn’t that hard. I have to get one when I travel outside this great country AND I am expected to follow the rules of the country I visit. That is all we are asking of them. We have no problem with immigrants, my great grandparents were the same. We are not racists. We don’t care what your skin color or previous nationality is as long as you go through the proper channels, get your citizenship, and pay taxes… like the rest of us. In addition to coming in legally…a great way to enter our country is to NOT use your children as pawns to get into my country, DON’T use my hardearned tax dollars to take advantage of our welfare system, and DO learn my language. And for those of you who

don’t know, Trump was merely enforcing a law that was signed into law by Hillary’s beloved, Bill Clinton.

4. Twitter. Sigh. Okay Mr. President, I have to admit that you and your tweets are giving me a bit of a headache. I understand why you do it. The media doesn’t tell us what we need to know. But for the love of all that is holy, use spell check, be professional and tell us the truth in a way that shows dignity to your office.

That being said, President Donald Trump is a human, just like the rest of us. His job is probably the hardest I can think of. I hope and pray that we can show some grace and support to the highest office in the land. He has passed laws that will be very beneficial to the country (if the Dems can hold onto their panties for just a bit and let his plans unfold). The market assistance program for our country’s farmers was a true Godsend. My business thrives on the success of our producers. The farm bill cut tons of waste from the welfare program. We have new jobs from companies coming back home. Our taxes are fairer to the small business owners struggling to live the American Dream. Other countries aren’t walking all over us. And, our enemies are taking us seriously.

We hired the man to do a job. Let the man do his job.

Submitted by Allison P, a Lubbock Mom, business woman and Patriot!

MAGA

FEBRUARY 2019

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COMMENTARY

7

Pratt on Texas: Legislative Priorities Summarized

BY ROBERT PRATT

A

mong the thousands of bills that will be filed and the hundreds that will be seriously debated, in the 86th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature, are bills which relate in some way to the following subject areas that Texans should join me in telling legislators are our highest priorities.

In order of importance, aside from a responsible budget, the first item for legislators is to ensure they take no action which diminishes individual liberties and property rights and that local governments in Texas are straightjacketed in their authority to impinge upon such also.

Next is meaningful local property tax A BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL: PRO-LIFE & MORAL VALUES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

It is an incontrovertible scientific medical fact that all human life begins at the moment of conception. Modern ultrasound technology categorically proves this fact -- no “ifs, ands, or buts” about it.

Nevertheless, each day, Planned Parenthood and other abortionists kill some 2,500 unborn babies in the USA. Since the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, more than 60 million babies have been aborted in these United States.

Our justice system does not convict an accused suspect if there is any reason to doubt that person’s guilt. But this decision says, “It is not necessary for (the Supreme Court) to determine when human life begins,” clearly indicating – and ignoring -- the fact that there was at least a shadow of a doubt in the minds of the seven justices who voted to legalize abortion-on-demand.

Let’s examine some scenarios in which we might try to justify abortions because of extreme circumstances. Imagine you are a counselor at a pregnancy resource center and these clients seek your guidance:

reform in which local taxing authorities are significantly limited in how much they can annually raise taxes without approval, by ballot, of those being taxed.

Property appraisal reform is important as well but second to the tax raising issue.

Third is public school finance reform with a focus on simplification of formulas and leveling of per-student state expenditures in order to comply with past court rulings. Additional funding is secondary to finance system reform.

Fourth is significant funding of the election fraud unit in the Office of Attorney General.

Priority five is ending state programs such as CPRIT, the cancer research money grant board, which is little more than a government pass-through

program which abuses its existence by using grant money control to force other institutions to adopt social policies its leaders favor.

Sixth priority is to continue funding for enhanced police presence related to the border, drug and human smuggling, and the crime associated with such while also pushing DPS to end its relaxation of training and officer standards experienced during its massive hiring spree of the past few years. We are best served by “peace officers” acting with traditional DPS courtesy and professionalism and marked by good field judgment as opposed to “law enforcement” officers who focus on government shows of authority

1) A preacher and his wife live in abject poverty. They have 14 children and she is pregnant with number 15. Considering the quality of life for both the parents and the unborn child, would you direct that she abort this child? If you advised an abortion in this case, you would have aborted Ludwig van Beethoven before he took his first breath, let alone wrote his first note.

2) It’s the year 1955, a lady is pregnant with a baby out of wedlock. Her family would disown her and so will her community. Should she consider an abortion? If you recommended that she abort this child, you would have killed Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, Inc. -- and we would not have our iMacs or iPhones today.

3) Already a mother of four, a woman became pregnant in the Philippines while she and her husband are there as missionaries. She suffered a life-threatening infection and her doctor expected a still birth. He told her that the fetus was actually a tumor. Would you recommend an abortion? If you did you would have killed Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow.

4) A pregnant teenage girl comes to you.

She is engaged to be married, but her fiancé is not the father of her baby. She

has told her fiancé and he is very upset.

Would you recommend an abortion? If you did you would have killed Jesus of Nazareth.

Data published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that each day 8,000 teens contact a new sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the USA Let’s do the math: this is more than 2.9 million STD infections annually.

Planned Parenthood is dedicated to getting kindergarten through twelfth grade sex education classes mandated in every school district in the nation. The program promotes the so-called “safe sex” ideology. This is false and dangerous teaching because it renders a false sense of security to the teens.

The failure rates of contraceptives devices reported by the CDC is 17-20 per cent. One in six of these failures will result in a pregnancy and/or an STD infection.

Imagine you had a plane ticket to fly to Dallas and you found out that one in six flights would not make it there. Would you take the flight? Would anyone?

Twenty years ago, we had only three strands of STDs. They were bacterial infections. They could be treated with

SEE PRATT ON TEXAS | PAGE 11

antibiotics. Today there are more than 25 strands of viral infections -- including the deadly AIDS virus which remains with the individuals for life. They are impervious to antibiotics.

Similarly, we do not prevent lung cancer by advocating use of “safe” cigarettes.

Also, we do not stop drug addiction by distributing “safe” narcotics.

Without a doubt, the safest and most effective way to eliminate unwed teen pregnancies as well as new STD infections is to promote a pure and chaste life style.

A 20-year study on brain development

by Dr. Aaron White of Duke University Medical Center revealed that pro-life and moral values must be established during the teen years. These worldviews are actually “hard-wired” into the brain and, therefore, carried on to adulthood, giving the subjects a good chance of enjoying a good life.

It is critical that we educate our youth on this very important issue.

Submitted by Lawrence D’Souza who is the Founder & Executive Director of Nurturing Center in Lubbock, TX. Nurturing Center is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization dedicated to providing compassionate assistance to Moms in crisis pregnancies. www.nurturinglife.org, Lawrence@nurturinglife.org

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FEBRUARY 2019

Why I Honor the American Flag

BY KINLEY JEFFERS, A 6TH GRADER AT LAURA BUSH MIDDLE SCHOOL

E

very flag stands for something, but for Americans, the flag symbolizes more than just the country. The American Flag has changed a lot in 241 years. Currently, it has 50 stars, one for each state, and 13 stripes which represent the original 13 colonies. Those colonies declared independence from Great Britain on July 4th, 1776, giving us reason to show honor to this piece of fabric. I honor the American Flag because of freedom, respect and unity.

Freedom is something that many take for granted. Many wars have been fought under the flag by Americans who have risked their lives for me. This is close to my heart because I have friends and family that currently serve, or are veterans. Freedom to me is the ability to act, speak and think as you believe. This allows me to worship God and help shape the future of the next generation by voting and freely sharing my opinions.

Something as valuable as the American Flag needs to be respected. I respect and honor the flag through proper handling, presentation and care. When handled

The IRS returned my 2019 tax return after I apparently answered one of the questions incorrectly.

In response to the question, “Do you have anyone dependent on you?”, I wrote, “10 million illegal immigrants, 2.2 million criminals in jail, 20 million people that can work but won’t because the government essentially pays them to not work, and 650 elected idiots in Washington.” The IRS stated that the answer I gave them was unacceptable! I wrote back, “Who did I leave out?”

Submitted by Bunny L, Slaton, TX

correctly, it should not be allowed to touch the ground. Proper presentation means that it is not flown at night without a light, and it is not flown damaged.

Caring for the flag includes folding it correctly in a triangle shape when it’s not being used and proper retirement. When damaged and no longer fit to be flown, it is to be folded and then placed in a fire in a retirement ceremony properly respecting this priceless symbol.

Unity to me means that under the flag, all people are created equal. This means that we are all the same, and it doesn’t matter where you are from, what church you attend, how much money you have, or the color of your skin. In America, we share the same opportunities, and we all have the same rights. Through good times and bad, the flag still flies to remind us to stick together.

I honor the American Flag because of what it stands for to me, which is freedom, respect and unity. I am proud that I have grown up in America and have been given the right to go to school and learn about the great history of this country.

For this reason, I have and always will pledge my allegiance to one nation under God. Submitted by Kinley Jeffers, Lubbock, TX. Kenly is Ancile “AL” White VFW Post 2466 Patriot’s Pen first place winner and scored as the top essay out of 195 essays.

She is a 6th grader at Laura Bush Middle School in Lubbock, TX.

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“It’s a Gem”: The article by “Old Salt”, Douglas McArthur, entitled “The old Navy, Iron Men, Wooden Ships and Thoughts of Integrity”, is a gem. His connecting the practical –a ship’s watertight integrity– with the principle of personal integrity is right on. A ship without watertight integrity sinks. A life without personal integrity sinks also. Such a basic, fundamental lesson seems lost on too much of our society, and appears not to be taught in our schools, or our homes. Political correctness denies the essentiality of personal integrity abroad in our society in order for our society to not sink. The sinking of the American Idea, that Liberty is a good idea, and that government ought to preserve the Liberty of all our citizens, including promoting free markets, protecting private property ownership, and preserving the Rule of Law under our Constitution, is the goal of Leftists who see their power to direct the lives of the rest of us as worthy, rather than the tyranny it actually is. Thank you for Caprock Patriot and the reminder that those who decline to preserve Liberty will lose it for all. Mallory Miller, Lubbock, Texas “This is Garbage”: What a bunch of garbage. You seriously think Planned Parenthood is “evil”? You’re the one that is evil!!! You’re an insane Trump lover. I seriously hope this pathetic paper fails. No name, Lubbock, TX NOTE From the Caprock Patriot: this is my favorite submission. We must be doing something right!! #MAGA :) “Connect!”: A good place to connect with local Christian conservatives with similar values. Calvin R, Lubbock, TX “Highly Recommend”: A conservative voice in a world that seems to have lost their collective mind. We are not alone, many people think and act the way we do but our thoughts are not reflected on most radio stations, newspapers, and television. I highly recommend Caprock Patriot. William J, Lubbock, TX “Informative”: Very informative conservative commentary. I highly recommend their Facebook page as well as their publication. The paper is also very informative and very well written. Robert W, Levelland, TX

FEBRUARY 2019

www.CaprockPatriot.com

Being a P.I.G. is Hazardous to Your Health

BY DR. JIM SULLIMAN

“except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. From that tree you shall not eat...” hese words are extremely significant because they can be seen in actuality as the very “first commandment.” Just as a parent tells their child, “If you don’t remember anything else I say, DO NOT TALK TO STRANGERS!” or similar admonitions regarding sex, drugs, alcohol, and dishonesty, among others, God is emphatic about what we must not forget!

Unfortunately, our original parents had a very short memory and the rest...is, truly, history...a history which continues to repeat itself.

God does not ask for much...only that we listen to Him for He alone knows the ecstatic union for which we were created.

But after Lucifer initiated the mantra of “self-service,” Adam and Eve believed that lie, and the irresistible temptation that immediate gratification presents.

When faced with the consequences of their “insubordination,” Adam shirks responsibly for his decision and blames Eve, a quick learner, who immediately passes that blame on to the serpent. For each, however, there is a “grave” consequence.

It is, of course, no different for us as we more and more put self-interests ahead of everything else and rush headlong toward anything that can expedite “the pursuit of happiness” that our constitution guarantees. “Happiness”, however, is no longer interpreted as “fulfillment,” “contentment,” or the “satisfaction” that comes from serving God and others but rather what fulfills our own sensual needs as soon as possible. We can see it everywhere.

Technology has provided unimaginable benefits for us and will continue to help us in countless beneficial ways. iPhones have been declared the “way of the future” for many medical needs.

But it also is a willing participant in the desire for immediacy. We push a button

T

on a computer and are presented with everything ever written about a subject in a few “nanoseconds” and grow frustrated when our computers are “slow” and take a couple of seconds to accomplish that same extraordinary feat. We sit with a device in our hand, point it and go through hundreds of viewing or listening options on our televisions... hundreds of thousands more are available with apps. Is it surprising that more kids are shooting others as an extension of “remote control”?

The bonding that came with family dinners has been replaced by an “every man for himself” attack on the world of “fast” and unhealthy foods. The National Institute of Health reports (2013-14 data) that 70.2% Americans were overweight and most (37.7) were obese! The number of health issues and deaths which are related to dietary choices are astronomical...and growing. And it is not just questionable food that we ingest but the drugs and alcohol that we invite into our systems to help us “cope,” “relax,” “chill,” “take away stress,” or the pain of broken relationships. A couple of glasses of Jack Daniels or a little fentanyl have begun many pursuits of happiness that led to hell.

Parenthetically, the fault is not in the stars but in ourselves. We have become a nation of Persons of Immediate Gratification (P.I.G.) and the consequences of our choices are killing individuals and families both literally and figuratively as we expect our needs to be fulfilled by others, organizations, or the government and, to be fulfilled “NOW.” We follow in the steps of our predecessors by refusing to be subordinate to God and insisting that “OUR will be done!” Is it any wonder why a nation that has many of its people touting the “wisdom” of becoming “self-constructive” is now seeing the logical extension of self-destruction... “when you eat from it you shall die.”

(Gn 2:17) Submitted by James R. Sulliman, Ph.D. Individual, marriage, and family therapist in Abilene, TX. “Live life courageously”

COMMENTARY

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COMMENTARY

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FEBRUARY 2019

Patriotism Now: True American Patriotism

BY DON BEBEE

W

orldview: The Border Wall, To Build or Not to Build.

That is the Question.

As of this writing, today Sunday, January 13, 2019, our US government is in partial shutdown. The Democrat Party through its leaders absolutely refuse to negotiate with President Trump and the Republican Party leadership to fund the money to build the Wall on our Southern Border with Mexico.

We see the effect, but what is the cause of this defiant standoff? Answer.

Worldview.

For the brevity of this article let us define worldview in a few words.

Worldview is what we believe, put our faith in as being true of anything. All worldviews are based on faith. Our worldview determines our perception of reality. If what we are believing to be true is true, then our perception of reality is true, is accurate. If what we are believing to be true is not true, then our perception of reality is not true, is not accurate. Worldview determines

SOCIALISM’S HISTORICAL AGENDA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

“evil capitalism” and other materials that he had sent to my mother. One of the most interesting was a thick book

why we do what we do the way we do it.

Either way, our worldview forms our thoughts, convictions, opinions, attitudes and actions. Our worldview determines how we relate to one another, how we interact, react, respond with others. Relating to one another either reasonably, functionally and resourcefully identifying the true real problem and solving it. Or relating to one another irrationally, dysfunctional and non-resourcefully in agreeing up the true problem and therefore coming up with no solution.

From their worldview, the Democrat Party is referring to the Wall as being immoral, and therefore unpatriotic and unnecessary to protect the National security of We the People, Americans, our national Sovereign.

From their worldview, the Republican Party says the Wall is a moral, patriotic and a legal necessity being in the best interest of the national security of We the People, Americans, our National Sovereignty.

What does this tell us about the worldview of the Democrat Party?

In their own words, listen to the

entitled “Woman Under Socialism” that had been translated from German into English in 1850. Except for the dusty old cover, it could have been written by modern leftists demanding legalized abortion and other detrimental policies

worldview of these Democrats.

Newly elected Democrat representative Ocasio-Cortez recently made this statement: “If people want to really blow up one figure here or one word there, I would argue that they’re missing the forest for the trees,” she said. “I think that there’s a lot of people more concerned about being precisely, factually, and semantically correct than about being morally right.”

Ocasio-Cortez said being “morally right” is more important than being “factually right” and that whenever she makes “a mistake” it is not the same thing as President Trump “lying about immigrants.” http://bit.ly/ CortezMorallyRight And newly elected muslim Democrat Tlaib made a statement after she was caught on video making a vulgar remark about President Trump; Tlaib also said that she made her vulgar comment “unapologetically” and cited a common phrase used by progressives to defend her statement. “ I w i l l a l w a y s s p e a k t r ut h to p ower. # u n a p olo ge t i c a l lyM e,”

SEE PATRIOTISM NOW | PAGE 18

to undermine traditional values.

The early socialists were eager to expose their methods to achieve their goal to demolish our capitalist system to ashes by destroying faith and families by any means possible to make people dependent on government. They didn’t have a concrete plan to follow after the demise of our country, just that they were the only ones smart enough to decide how much money each person could keep.

I share this bit of my personal history to explain why I am so passionate about defending freedom from government overreach at all levels. Therefore, I am against federal, state or local officials taxing and overspending on impractical expensive pet projects or crony corporate welfare, usually without voter

approval. The best economic development is leaving the maximum amount of money possible in taxpayers’ pockets.

This article lacks space to cite examples of the absolute failure of often well-meaning attempts to build a utopian model where wealth is forcefully taken from hard working citizens to be redistributed “equally” to others.

These attempts always result in less prosperity, more poverty and eventual enslavement. In the very beginning of the United States, the Pilgrims who tried sharing everything produced soon faced starvation. If you agree that no society has ever taxed itself into prosperity, share proof you observe with your family and friends.

Submitted by Mikel Ward, Lubbock, TX. Local tax watch dog and advocate!

FEBRUARY 2019

www.CaprockPatriot.com

COMMENTARY

545 People are Responsible for the Mess, But They Unite in a Common Con

BY CHARLIE REESE

P

oliticians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.

Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, we have deficits?

Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don’t propose a federal budget. The president does. You and I don’t have the constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does. You and I don’t write the tax code. The Congress does. You and I don’t set fiscal policy. the Congress does. You and I don’t control monetary policy. The Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices - 545 human beings out of 238 million- are directly, legally, morally and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Bank because that problem was PRATT ON TEXAS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

over the non-criminal element.

Seventh is a collection of regional and special interest areas of import from things such as hurricane damaged infrastructure repair; storm flood engineering, and; windstorm insurance solvency to a second state veterinary medical school; large new transportation projects, and; road, bridge, and other infrastructure rehabilitation needed due to heavy use by industry especially in the oil and gas field regions and our sea ports.

created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered but private central bank.

I exclude all of the special interest and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don’t care if they offer a politician $1 million in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it.

No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator’s responsibility to determine how he votes.

Don’t you see now the con game that is played on the people by the politicians? Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault.

They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.

What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall.

The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept. it. The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating appropriations and taxes. The House, not the

You can read more detail on each of these points at ww.PrattonTexas.com.

And, those of you who agree with my priorities and points need to ensure your state representatives and senators are aware of such by sharing the points with them as well as with their staff members.

You can find their contact information at: https://capitol.texas.gov Submitted by Robert Pratt who is the host of Pratt on Texas which can be heard in the Lubbock-area weekdays 5 to 7pm on KFYO 790AM or 95.1FM. www.PrattonTexas.com.

president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto.

Just 545 Americans have fouled up this great nation.

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 235 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted - by present facts - of incompetence and irresponsibility.

I can’t think of a single domestic problem, from an unfair tax code to defense overruns, that is not traceable directly to those people.

When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise complete power over the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it’s because they want it unfair. If the budget is in the red, it’s because they want it in the red.

If we are at war, it’s because they want us at war.

There are no insoluble government problems. Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take it.

11

Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exist disembodied mystical force like “the economy,” “inflation” or “politics” that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545 people and they alone are responsible. They and they alone have the power. They and they alone should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses - provided they have the gumption to manage their own employees.

Submitted by Everett L, Levelland, TX. The original article (though edited slightly) was written by Charlie Reese who is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.

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MILITARY SALUTE

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Sergeant Steve Morin Jr., Brownfield, TX

Service Dates: September 1989 – September 2005 Branch: US Navy and Texas Army National Guard H ig he st R a n k Ach ieve d: S t a f f Sergeant Navy Awards and Decorations: Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal, Naval Reserve Meritorious Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.

Army Awards and Decorations: Combat Action Badge, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Mobilization Medal with M device, and the Texas Federal Service Medal Bio: Staff Sergeant Steve Morin Jr. was born on August 12th, 1971 in Brownfield, Texas. He enlisted into the Active Navy in September of 1989,

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serving in several Navy assignments including the Naval Academy before joining the Texas Army National Guard as a member of Bravo Company 2-112 AR where he served as 2nd Squad Leader.

Steve mobilized and deployed for duty with Bravo Company, 111th Engineer Battalion in support of Operation Iraq Freedom III. He mobilized in August 2004 and reported to the mobilization station, Ft. Hood, Texas on August 18th, 2004. He deployed to Kuwait in early January 2005 and arrived in Camp Bucca, Iraq with his platoon later that month. As a member of the Bravo Company Platoon attached to 2-142 Infantry, he participated in numerous convoy escort missions and security missions in the Camp Bucca Area of Operations.

Steve was killed in action by an Improvised Explosive Device on September 28th, 2005 while on a convoy mission with his platoon.

Saluted by Benny Guerrero, Commander, VFW Post 2466, Lubbock, TX

Have a Veteran or Active Duty service member you’d like to honor? Call the Caprock Patriot at 806-831-7366 or email us at info@caprockpatriot.com

Save the Date!

2/13/19 3:00pm-10:00pm Texas Roadhouse (4810 S Loop 289) will be hosting a fundraiser for Texas South Plains Honor Flight, 2/13/19, from 3:00pm to 10:00pm. Please attend and support this event to help send local Veterans to Washington this October. Just mention “Honor Flight” to your server and a portion of your meal will be donated to Texas South Plains Honor Flight.

www.SouthPlainsHonorFlight.org

FEBRUARY 2019

MILITARY SALUTE

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13

Staff Sergeant Steve Morin: A Gold Star Mom’s Story

BY AUDREY MORIN

I

have my son’s story memorized in my heart and mind. This is the first time that I have put it to paper. I wanted to give your readers some idea of what my son was like instead of just facts and figures; because my son deserves it. It is very hard to describe a person. I could tell you what a wonderful son he was.

A loving father and husband or that he was fun and a hard worker, but the most important thing about him was that he loved our country and put his life on the line for it willingly.

My son, Staff Sgt. Steve Morin Jr, was 34 when he was killed in Iraq. He was like all the other fallen soldiers and like all the Veterans. They are very humble men. They don’t consider themselves as heroes. In fact, my son thought of himself as just a regular guy.

He came from a small town, went to all the schools in Brownfield. He played little league, Babe Ruth, and played football for the Brownfield Cubs. He was a little Cub Scout and a Boy Scout. Steve served as an altar server at our church.

When he graduated, he went straight into the Navy. After a few years, he was offered a position at the Naval Academy. He thought I would be disappointed in him because he didn’t think he was smart enough to make it.

But my son never disappointed me.

While he was at the Academy, he had occasions to socialize with some very important men, such as senators, generals, lawyers, and doctors. These men all influenced his life. But someone would always ask him, “What do your parents do for a living?”. He said, “I will never be embarrassed of you guys, but sometimes I just don’t know what to say”. That’s because I am a retired librarian. But in those days, I was a substitute teacher and my husband, well he’s a truck driver. So, I told him.” Well Just tell them that your mother is in education and your dad is

in transportation. He said, “Oh good, now that sounds important”.

After he got married, he left the regular Navy but stayed in the Naval Reserves. He just wanted to be close to his family, especially his baby boy.

He wanted to be there for him as he grew up. He would sit him on his lap and read to him from the Wall Street Journal. Most parents like to read “If you give a mouse a cookie” or “Is your mama a Llama”, but he would be reading the Wall Street Journal. Of course, Esteban didn’t understand what he was reading to him but, he would sit there quietly and listen to his Daddy read. I think he just liked the sound of his Daddy’s voice.

My son always wanted the very best for his family. He believed that the secret to success is education. He thought you could never get enough education, so he decided to go to Texas Tech. He got two degrees there and even got an award in the field of economics. He was so proud of it, it’s still hanging on my wall.

During Desert Storm, he volunteered several times to go but the Navy kept

telling him, they didn’t need his expertise yet and that he would just have to wait. However, after 9-11 and 14-years in the Navy, he decided to leave the Navy and joined the Army National Guard.

He was told that because he switched branches that he would have to take a lower rank. He didn’t like it, but he said ok. He was scheduled to go to Officer Candidate School when his men got orders to deploy to Iraq. He could have pushed it to stay behind and go to school to further his career but decided to go with his men instead. While

in Iraq, the most important thing to him was the safety of his men. I got a lot of nice notes from young men who said he had taken them under his wing and helped them adjust to military life because they were rather young. Some were a little nervous, they were barely in their 20’s. My son was in his 30’s.

A man once asked me if my son did anything heroic. That really hurt my feelings because my son died in the service of his country. He put his life on the line for us as all the soldiers do.

SEE A GOLD STAR MOM’S STORY | PAGE 19

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14

MILITARY SALUTE

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FEBRUARY 2019

Old Salt: Whoa Sailor! Navy and Military Humor

BY DOUG MCARTHUR

I

don’t wish to minimize the danger and seriousness of military life.

However, in any disciplined organization, men, and I hope women, deal with pressure with a bit of humor.

I hope the age of political correctness has not destroyed the American sense of humor. In my years on the USS Forrestal, USS Saratoga, plus 3 years in the US Army Reserves humor, I now see, helped us deal with stress, drudgery, danger, and just being away from home. Have we lost this wonderful

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characteristic of American life? You be the judge!

This reminiscence of Navy humor came to me on a recent Caribbean cruise on the wonderful Oceania cruise ship Riviera. I kept running into this fellow passenger with the pictured t-shirt declaring “I Only Look Illegal”.

His quote intrigued me.

My fellow traveler agreed to the photo after explaining as a retired Marine he relocated to Arizona. With the flood of illegals in Arizona he grew tired of the funny looks from fellow Americans as well as the kinship ascribed to him by illegals. To counter this he used humor. He said he had several t-shirts printed to set the matter straight and since fellow Americans enjoyed the humor decided to wear them on the Oceania cruise. He got a lot of attention and I enjoyed it very much.

What does this have to do with military humor? Seeing this guy reminded me of a Navy Chief Petty Office (CPO) on the USS Forrestal. He was a great CPO we all respected. He happened to be one of those individuals with buggy eyes and a goofy look. The Chief revealed how, in his early career, he had often been wrongly stopped by Navy Shore Patrol for appearing drunk. This CPO never had more than a beer or two and was a highly decorated career sailor. To correct the matter the Navy finally printed the following on his Navy ID; “This Man Looks Drunk When Sober”. That happy sailor took delight in showing his funny ID to me and others who loved to hear his old salt stories. The Chief was truly of the “Iron Men and Wooden Ships” genus. Incidentally World War Two aircraft carriers did have wooden flight decks. Though chief’s story is humorous it’s not the made-up humor I am referring too.

For example, when our Carrier was at anchor and we were to get underway the command would be announced “Weigh the anchor” – raise the anchor to you landlubbers. The usual

refrain heard throughout the ship was, “they still don’t know how much that @@%# anchor weighs?”. One joke pulled on unseasoned sailors new onboard ship was sending a the sailor to the Chain Locker to fetch ‘100 feet of shoreline’. Another favorite was to send a hapless sailor to the Gunnery Department for the ‘daily canon report’. You can imagine the “BOOMBOOM” delivered to the neophyte as everyone else, but him, was in on the joke.

You may think these little funny acts are cruel. In this snow flake era I suspect many would call this bullying.

Not at all! Call it a right of passage and part of life’s lesson. We all endured a bit of humor at our own expense but learned from the experience. In every case, I recall sailors persevered, played along, and quickly became great shipmates. It’s natural team building.

Military humor is not limited to the Navy. My friend Al, a retired Air Force Chief Master Sargent, tells the following funny antic. Al was, like me, in aviation electronics. In those days, OLD SALT | PAGE 19

FEBRUARY 2019

www.CaprockPatriot.com

SECOND AMENDMENT

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LTC: Steps to Get a Texas License to Carry

BY SHARP SHOOTERS GUN & SAFE

A

fter nearly three decades and a multitude of amendments to the License to Carry (LTC), the rights for qualified citizens to protect themselves in the public arena, remains intact. With the ever-increasing crime rate (including car-jackings, burglaries, breaking and entering) and the increase in home invasions, this right to protection is even more important today. Qualified citizens are afforded this right and should take full advantage of it.

Individuals age twenty-one and over (age eighteen, for active duty military) must meet certain criteria to obtain, as well as maintain, a license to carry a handgun in Texas. There are four classifications which will keep any individual from qualifying for a

Texas License to Carry a handgun.

The individual: (1) Cannot be a felon (2) Cannot be a member of a known street gang (3) Must have physical control of his/ her body (4) Must have mental control of his/ her body First and foremost, the individual must be in good standing as far as a criminal record is concerned. The individual cannot have a felony record of any kind. Felons who get their convictions pardoned or expunged by the governor of Texas are eligible to apply.

Individuals who have either a Class A or Class B misdemeanor must wait five (5) years from the day the judge signed the conviction papers to apply. With respect to DWI’s or DUI’s, this five (5) year waiting period is also applied

on the first offense only. For a second DWI or DUI conviction, the waiting period is extended to a ten (10) year waiting period.

Membership in any known street gangs will prevent any individual from obtaining a Texas LTC. State

law enforcement agencies maintain a current list of these individuals An individual must be able to maintain control of his/her firearm. For example, a person who is confined to a wheelchair but has physical control SEE STEPS TO GET A TEXAS LICENSE TO CARRY | PAGE 20

BUY, S T R A D E E L L, TRUCK S!

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SECOND AMENDMENT

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FEBRUARY 2019

The Old School Patriot: The Left’s Strategy to Disarm America

BY LTC ALLEN WEST

I

f you cherish you r i nd iv idua l freedom and liberty, please read this entire missive, and share its warning.

Without a doubt, an armed individual is a citizen, an unarmed individual is a subject -- and history has proven so. As a matter of fact, it was those few brave men who stood before the greatest military power in the world on April 19, 1775, at Lexington Green knowing they British were marching towards Concord Massachusetts to destroy an armaments factory . . . to disarm the American patriots whom they deemed rebels.

With this new progressive socialist House of Representatives majority, the future of individual freedom and liberty is under assault in America.

As reported by Politico:

“House Democrats will introduce their proposal to require universal backgrounds checks for gun sales on Tuesday, the eighth anniversary of former Rep. Gabby Gifford’s shooting, the bill will be dubbed “H.R. 8” in honor of the Arizona Democratic lawmaker.

The Democratic proposal would require federal background checks on all gun sales, including private transactions.

There will be some small exemptions to those checks, such as transfers between family members, or temporary use of a gun for hunting.

Gun-control groups estimate that roughly one-fifth or more of gun sales don’t include background checks.”

Let’s have an honest discussion, something the left does not want: Jared Loughner was the person who shot Rep. Giffords, he passed a background check. The problem was that Loughner’s

mental condition was never reported, and therefore not available in the system so that when he applied on BATF Form 4473 he would have been denied.

Adam Lanza was the shooter in Sandy Hook. His mother was a legal, law-abiding gun owner who had passed background

checks. He son was mentally ill and was able to kill her, gain access to her firearms, and proceeded to enact his evil and kill little children. In each of these cases, and many others, the issue is not background checks, it is mental illness.

However, do not let facts get in the way of what the left really wants, to disarm the American people.

Those who sell illegal firearms are not going to follow any law passed by these delusional socialists whose aim is to render law-abiding Americans defenseless.

There are some 100 million law-abiding and legal gun owners in America, a little over 5M are NRA members. C’mon, y’all!

My point is that we do not have an epidemic of gun violence… we have an issue with those suffering from mental illness having access to firearms.

What the progressive socialists want SEE THE OLD SCHOOL PATRIOT | PAGE 17

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FEBRUARY 2019

Why Carry a Gun?

SECOND AMENDMENT

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M

•I don’t carry a gun because I hate the government; I carry a gun because I understand the limitations of government.

•I d o n’t c a r r y a g u n b e c a u s e I’m angry; I carry a gun so that I don’t have to spend the rest of my life hating myself for failing to be prepared.

•I don’t carry a gun because I want to shoot someone; I carry a gun because

I want to die at a ripe old age in my bed and not on a sidewalk somewhere tomorrow afternoon.

•I don’t carry a gun to make me feel like a man; I carry a gun because men know how to take care of themselves and the ones they love.

•I don’t carry a gun because I feel inadequate; I carry a gun because unarmed and facing three armed thugs, I am inadequate.

•I don’t carry a gun because I love it; I carry a gun because I love life and the people who make it meaningful to me.

Police protection is an oxymoron: Free citizens must protect themselves because police do not protect you from crime; they just investigate the crime after it happens and then call someone in to clean up the mess.

Personally, I carry a gun because I’m too young to die and too old to take a whoopin’!

Submitted by Tom B, Amarillo, TX

THE OLD SCHOOL PATRIOT

a fully automatic mode or any weapon classified as a sniper rifle.”

The measure would also delete the existing language of Section 8(a) of Article I of the Florida Constitution, which provides people with the constitutional right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves.”

Think about this: any weapon that can have more than seven rounds will be considered a “military-style firearm.” But that is not just the end of it, these leftists are seeking to rewrite the Florida constitution.

“This Amendment recognizes the Florida National Guard and other organized police forces as the well-regulated militia of the State and authorizes them to keep and use military-style weapons.

Possession of military-style weapons is prohibited except for the militia. Other persons convicted of various types of crimes or investigated for abuses are also prohibited from possessing guns or firearms.”

Ladies and gents, this is no longer about gun control, it is about disarmament.

When a progressive socialist group (Stop the Killing Committee) is redefining the meaning of a well-regulated militia to only be law enforcement and State National Guard, well, don’t think that Florida will be the only place where ballot initiatives such as this will pop up. If such an initiative were to pass, then it establishes a legal precedent for other states to follow. And we all thought that the Heller and McDonald court decisions were clear?

Now you see why the left went apoplectic about Justice Brett Kavanaugh?

My right inner forearm has a simple tattoo with the words “Molon Labe.” My message to the progressive socialist left, “Come, Take,” because I will not surrender to you. I will not succumb to your weaponizing government to achieve the disarmament of We the People. If it is a fight you seek, well, it is a fight you will get. Please, do not mistake us for those

weak, feckless Republicans on Capitol Hill. The blood flowing through our veins is that of the men of Lexington. We are American citizens and will never be your subjects.

I, Lieutenant Colonel Allen B. West, am the NRA, and I am Freedom’s Safest Place!

Reprinted with permission of Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Allen B. West, Dallas, TX. LTC West is a Christian constitutional conservative, combat veteran, and former member of the US Congress. His life has been defined as one of service, sacrifice, and commitment to this Republic, the United States of America. He believes it will be conservative, free market policies — not politics — that secures a sound economic future for Americans – with growth, opportunity and returning the promise of the American dream for this generation and those to come.

Learn more at https://theoldschoolpatriot. com – edited for length and emphasis provided by Caprock Patriot.

y old Grandpa said to me, “Son, there comes a time in every man’s life when he stops bustin’ knuckles and starts bustin’ caps and usually it’s when he becomes too old to take a whoopin’.”

•I don’t carry a gun to kill people; I carry a gun to keep from being killed.

•I don’t carry a gun because I’m evil; I carry a gun because I have lived long enough to see the evil in the world.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

is universal gun registration, they want to know who has what. That has always been a precursor to tyranny.

If you still do not believe there is a wholehearted effort to disarm legal, law-abiding American gun owners, here is proof. As reported by Ballotpedia: “The Florida Ban on Military-Style Firearms and Disqualifications for Firearm Possession Initiative (Initiative #18-03) may appear on the ballot in Florida as an initiated constitutional amendment on November 3, 2020.

The measure would ban persons residing or entering the state from possessing military-style firearms. The measure would define military-style firearms as “any gun with a magazine capacity of more than seven rounds of ammunition or any weapon capable of firing in fully automatic mode, any weapon capable of being modified in any manner to fire in

18

COMMENTARY CONTINUED

www.CaprockPatriot.com

U.S. National Security

BY SELDON GRAHAM

U

.S. National Security is the most important issue in America. No issue is more important. Without U.S. National Security, there could be no more America.

Hating President Trump is not more important than U.S. National Security.

Having no Wall is not more important than U.S. National Security. Immigration is not more important than U.S. National Security. U.S. National Security is vital to every American regardless

at the time of the October 1973 Arab Oil Embargo which brought transportation to a standstill.

We gave foreigners $141 Billion for their foreign oil in 2017. When the data is in to the U.S. Energy Information Administration in March 2019, we will have given foreigners much more for their foreign oil in 2018. This immense wealth should be going to tax-paying Americans rather than to foreigners. The Democrats’ “Reduce Oil” platform is preventing this fortune from going to American workers.

The solution is so simple. Democrats

should change their political platform to “Increase Oil.” There is no downside to such change. The truth is that gasoline emits less carbon dioxide than low energy ethanol.

If Democrats changed their platform, that would truly be a win-win solution, both patriotic and helping U.S. National Security. U.S. National Security needs U.S. Oil. Submitted by Sel Graham, Austin, TX. Sel is a World War II Veteran (Lieutenant, 20th Infantry Regiment). He can be reached at SelGraham51@gmail.com

Age, the Korean War, The Cold War, the Jet Age and the Moon Landing. They remember the 50 plus Peacekeeping Missions from 1945 to 2005, not to mention Vietnam.

If you bump into an Old People on the sidewalk he will apologize. If you pass

an Old People on the street, he will nod or tip his cap to a lady. Old People trust strangers and are courtly to women and treat them with great respect.

Old People hold the door for the next person and always, when walking, make certain the lady is on the inside

for protection.

Old People get emba r ra ssed i f someone curses in front of women and children and they don’t like any filth or dirty language on TV or in movies.

Old People have moral courage and personal integrity. They seldom brag unless it’s about their children, grandchildren or their animals.

It’s the Old People who know our great country is protected, not by politicians, but by the young men and women in the military serving their country.

This country needs Old People with their work ethic, sense of responsibility, pride in their country, and decent values.

We need them now more than ever.

Thank God for Old People.... I was taught to respect my elders. It’s just getting harder to find them.

Submitted by Barbara M, Dallas, TX

America’s ability to lead the world depends not just on the example of our power, but on the power of our example. “ (http://bit.ly/Biden-Worldview) And then this from the Democrat Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi: ” …most of us, speaking for myself, consider the wall immoral, ineffective and expensive. And the president said he promised it. He also promised Mexico would pay for it. So even if they did, it’s immoral still, and then they’re

not going to pay for it.” Nancy Pelosi (http://bit.ly/PelosiWallImmoral) The Democrats… Out of many, we are one. One what? The worldview of the Democrat Party has led them to believe in their own moral perfectionism; that they alone possess moral superiority, the truth and are the ones who should be unquestioned in the exercise of their power. In their Democrat worldview they are accountable therefore to no one other than themselves. They are the rule of law

unto themselves. Their rule of law? The ends justify the means, by any means.

And this, my fellow Americans is what the tyranny of lawlessness looks like.

Our Founding Fathers, true American Patriots, put it this way in The Declaration of Independence: “A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act that may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler over a free people.”

Submitted by Dr. Don Bebee, Lubbock, TX, donbebee.com, In God We Trust

of which political party the individual chooses.

The truth is that the Democratic platform is to “Reduce Oil.” That reduces U.S. Oil but increases foreign oil imports in order for oil to meet total oil demand.

Increasing foreign oil imports is a clear and present danger to U.S. National Security.

The United States has not been independent of foreign oil since World War II. We are currently dependent upon foreign oil imports for 46% of our oil supply. That is 159% of the foreign oil

Old People

W

hen I read this, I was reminded of how great most of us “old” people really are.

We still care about one another and like the world in which we grew up.

I never really liked the terminology “Old People”. Actually, it’s not a bad thing to be called, as you will see. But this makes me feel better about it.

And if you ain’t one, I bet ya know one!

Old People are easy to spot at sporting events; during the playing of the National Anthem. Old People remove their caps, cover their hearts, stand at attention and sing without embarrassment. They know the words and believe in them.

Old People remember World War II, Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, Normandy, and Hitler. They remember the Atomic PATRIOTISM NOW CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

Tlaib tweeted Friday (http://bit.ly/ Tlaib-ConstitutionalCrisis).

And listen to these words of Democrat Joe Biden from the opening lines of an article in September of 2017 in the New York Times, Opinion, World Review titled: Joe Biden: Reclaiming America’s Values “In over 45 years of working in global affairs, I’ve observed a simple truth:

FEBRUARY 2019

FEBRUARY 2019

www.CaprockPatriot.com

The Barber and the Politician

O

ne day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, “I cannot accept money from you, I’m doing community service this week.” The florist was pleased and left the shop. When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a ‘thank you’ card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door. Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replied, “I cannot accept money from you, I’m doing community service this week.” The cop was happy and left the shop. The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a ‘thank you’ card

A GOLD STAR MOM’S STORY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

What could be more heroic than that?

But I told him no. No, my son didn’t fall on top of a grenade or anything like that, which is very heroic indeed. But my son did other things. He helped his men to stay as safe as possible in that hostile environment. He Listened to their problems and helped them when he could.

He developed friendships and earned their trust and respect. He was a very serious dedicated military man but also

and a dozen doughnuts waiting for him at his door. Then a Member of Congress came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill, the barber again replied, “I cannot accept money from you. I’m doing community service this week.” The Member of Congress was very happy and left the shop. The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen members of Congress lined up waiting for a free haircut. And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the politicians who run it.

Submitted by Tim P, Protection, KS. Not in Lubbock but a follower of the Caprock Patriot on Facebook @CaprockPatriot like to joke around. His men liked him and valued his advice. He loved to go fishing and camping, loved our Red Raiders, our Cowboys, our Spurs and of course the Navy football team. He was very protective and loyal. He would drive all the way from Arlington to attend a Tech Football game. We would sit at the very top, but he didn’t care, he would be yelling his head off for his team.

For about three years after he died, I didn’t like to go or do anything that was considered ‘fun’ because I would feel guilty. Why should I be enjoying myself

COMMENTARY CONTINUED

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OLD SALT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

electronics meant vacuum tubes such as diodes, triodes, pentodes tubes, and so on. At the Air Force Electronics Tech School in Mississippi instructors delighted in sending unsuspecting students to ask a Supply Sargent if he had a ‘Fallopian Tube’. I am sure the Supply Sargent had a lot of fun with the hapless airman.

A young acquaintance who is now serving in the U.S.Air Force as an enlisted crew member on a very active C-130 related the following funny prank pulled by pilots on non-crew Junior Officers who get a C-130 ride. Just like in your automobile these big aircraft have a silver window sun reflecting shield, like you buy from AutoZone, to keep from overheating the cockpit when setting idol. The prank is asking the Junior Officer to assist in ‘calibrating the GPS system’. The victim is directed to stand on the tarmac with the GPS ‘reflector tool’ which is of course the silver heat reflector. The pilot and co-pilot have the unsuspecting officer move around aiming the ‘reflector tool’ for a lock in on the GPS satellite. Imagine the belly laughs from all involved on the ground and in the aircraft. Thank God there is still some humor out there.

My son, who served as a navy parachute rigger petty officer, tells of his baptism under humor while in training. Early in his training he was sent to retrieve a gallon of ‘prop wash’. That’s not in a bottle! It’s the current of air created by a aircraft propeller. At another time while with a squadron on a shore base he was sent to the retrieve a badly needed part. He was to asked for one T-R-E-E. (pronounced “T-R-Double-E). He was happily informed all those were just outside of the hanger and in fact could be found on the landscape outside and all around the base.

Come on now! You know things like this help us become less naïve and adapt to quicker thinking. Just like hard work, humor will not kill you.

There are scores of these joyous pranks I was privileged to participate in or be the victim of. Some were incredibly elaborate. My bet is you have experienced similar humor in the military, business, or other settings. I hope you, like me, can play those movies over in the theatre of the mind. Some of the characters in my mental movies went on to fantastic achievements and in some cases immortality.

What about you? Send me your funny story and I will share it in the future.

Just send it to the Old Salt at this paper.

Submitted by Old Salt, Douglas McArthur, Arlington, TX, USS Forrestal Ship’s Company, USS Saratoga VA-34 Blue Blaster Squadron with my son not here? But I finally realized that my son served his country so we could all be safe and live our lives to the fullest. So, we went back to the games.

We would sit three rows from the field and I’d yell for his team. I would often think that he would have loved this.

My son had a lot of different jobs in his lifetime. He worked in the fields like most of us and even worked in the watermelon harvest. He was an Aviation Technician in the navy and a DJ. He worked in the VA office in Lubbock because he cared about our Veterans. He worked in a liquor store

and was even a Santa Clause at the mall.

But the most important job for him was being a military man.

I want to thank your readers for reading my son’s story. Since they didn’t know him, I wanted them to get to know the fine young man we laid to rest in 2005.

Because my son was not just a regular guy, he was very special to me and my family.

He was my firstborn and I love him dearly.

He will always be my hero.

Submitted by Audrey Morin, proud Mother of Staff Sergeant Steven Morin and Gold Star Mom

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COMMENTARY CONTINUED

www.CaprockPatriot.com

FEBRUARY 2019

Gillette “Man Shames” Their Customers

BY BEN GARRISON

G

lobal companies want to influence the behavior of their customers. Gillette came out with a commercial hectoring men for being too aggressive.

We need to tone down our toxic masculinity, we’re told. NIKE hired Colin Kaepernick and subjected potential customers to lectures on race, political correctness, and virtue signaling. PayPal kicked off people who didn’t align well to their own political correctness.

Patreon.com did the same thing.

It’s all theater. Adult workers for the most part do not need to be drilled in common courtesy and how to treat others. It comes from within and pressuring people to learn stuff they’ve known since their school days seems silly.

This is not a good trend. We aren’t their employees— we’re customers and we have a choice.

We need to stop patronizing companies who patronize and scold us with their unctuous, politically correct advertising.

Submitted by Ben Garrison. Ben is an independent political cartoonist based in Northwest Montana. Ben began drawing cartoons in 2009 to protest the central banker bailout, bloated government and the slide toward tyranny.

Ben’s cartoons have been seen by millions of people around the world. Ben is not part of the mainstream media and editors do not tell him what he can and cannot draw.

STEPS TO GET A TEXAS LICENSE TO CARRY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

of his/her upper extremities will have met these criteria but any person who lacks the physical ability to control his/her upper extremities would not meet this part of the required criteria.

An individual who lacks the mental capacity to safely control a firearm will not qualify for the Texas LTC. Individuals who have a recorded mental history, have resided in a mental institution, or have a record/history of PTSD may not qualify for a Texas LTC. This ruling is subject to the determination of the Texas DPS Handgun Licensing committee. A person who has a history of alcohol

or substance abuse will fall into this category (DWI or DUI).

Again, for those individuals who seek to obta i n a Tex a s LTC, we strongly urge them to make this endeavor a priority.

There are three basic requirements to successfully obtain the Texas LTC: (1) Take the required License to Carry class (2) Make application to the Texas DPS (3) Have your fingerprints submitted by the state contracted provider All person seeking the Texas LTC must complete the required classroom instruction by a qualified instructor or by completing the on-line course.

The classroom phase consists of a four (4) to six (6) hours of classroom

training and successfully passing a 25 question (true/false or multiple choice test) and a qualifying shoot.

Individuals must be proficient with their handgun (e.g.: know how the gun works, be able to operate the gun safely as well as mechanically) and be able to score a minimum of 175 points out of a possible 250 points on a B-27 target (required by law).

Persons new to the field of handgun shooting would be wise to successfully complete a basic handgun course. Requirements for a handgun state that it must be a revolver or semi-automatic. However, there is no set requirement for a specific caliber. Students must provide their own handgun (bought, borrowed, or rented). Upon successful completion

of the classroom phase, each student will be awarded an LTC-100 (LTC-101 for the on-line course), which will be forwarded to the state as part of the required documentation.

LTC applicants will apply via the Texas Department of Public Safety website (Google “Texas LTC application”. During the online application process, personal information will be gathered by the state so that a thorough background check can be made. This will include a complete set of fingerprints.

If you have questions about applying for a Texas LTC, please feel free to call the expert team at Sharp Shooters Gun & Safe.

Submitted by Sharp Shooters Safe & Gun, Lubbock, TX • www.ssguns.com

FEBRUARY 2019

www.CaprockPatriot.com

COMMENTARY CONTINUED

“Shutdown” Necessary for National Security HAROLD PEASE, PH. D

T

he federal government desperately needs to diet. Much of our spending is constitutionally dubious and it is immoral to pass our national debt, now exceeding $21 trillion, to our yet unborn children. We need to return to constitutional limits to govern the distribution of our taxes.

The one exception to the diet argument is national security. Without a physical barrier that works we cannot remain a country. History has demonstrated our southern border to be too porous and that only a physical barrier will work. “Kicking the can down the road” on border national security, as both major political parties have done for decades, only exacerbates the problem. Our national security now demands a wall.

We’ve had 20 government “shutdowns” since 1977, according to the Congressional Research Service. Most Americans never knew when we were in one. In fact, “shutdowns” may be a good thing if they reduce the national debt, make expenditures more constitutionally based, or strengthen national security.

Democratic opposition to a southern border wall (they advocate for open borders) has been the principle reason for the last two “shutdowns.” Open borders are the “real” reason for their opposition, but they know this will not sell with most Americans. The other two reasons are that a wall won’t work, and it costs too much.

But walls do work. Look at any penitentiary. Many of those pushing the ineffective argument, hypocritically, live in gated communities. If walls (gates) did not work, they would not live there. China’s Great Wall successfully kept “barbarians” out for centuries, and they built it with human labor—no earthmoving equipment—and over impossible terrain.

Today’s 143 mile steel border fence in southern Israel has stemmed the flow of illegal immigration by 99%, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

(The Jerusalem Report, Herb Keinon, January 2, 2013). It “stopped the flood of African migrants into the country,” ending “Sinai terror.” At one time 2,300 people crossed each month but after the fence it dropped to 18, a 99% cut. Israel will be building other walls. The wall began in November 2010 finishing December 2012, changed everything.

Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted, “President Trump is right. I built a wall along Israel’s southern border. It stopped all illegal immigration. Great success. Great idea.”

Democrats argue that the wall costs too much but in the requested 2018 budget of $4.094 trillion, certainly five billion is but a drop in the bucket. Spending beyond our means has never been a deterrent for Democrats. In the 10-year Farm Bill of 2014, they gave $3.3 billion alone for a cotton income protection plan.

Other gift giving in that nearly trillion dollar bill, considered pork by critics, included: “$2 million for sheep production and marketing, $10 million for Christmas tree promotion, $170 for catfish oversight, $119 million for peanut crop insurance, $100 million for organic food research,

$150 million to promote farmers markets, $12 million for a ‘wool research and promotion’ program, and $100 million to promote the maple syrup industry.”

Ironically the 949-page bill spends about $1 billion dollars per page ($956 Billion Farm Bill Loaded with Pork, Your World Cavuto).

We could easily fund the wall by ending the funding (ice cream cones) we presently give to the illegals after they illegally cross our borders, but the Democrats would never agree to this because they are presently purchasing future party affiliates. The non-partisan Center for Immigration Studies recently found that “63% of non-citizen households access welfare programs compared to 35% of native households,” costing taxpayers an average of $73,000 per immigrant over his lifetime. In addition, they found, “compared to native households, non-citizen households have much higher use of food programs (45 percent vs.

21 percent for natives) and Medicaid (50 percent vs. 23 percent for natives).” Plus, illegals get cash. “Including the EITC, 31 percent of non-citizen-headed households receive cash welfare, compared to

21

19 percent of native household.” If these funds were instead used to finance a wall, such would be easily funded.

As far as the cost of the wall is concerned, a study released in September 2017 by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) revealed that, “At the federal, state, and local levels, taxpayers shell out approximately $134.9 billion to cover the costs incurred by the presence of more than 12.5 million illegal aliens, and about 4.2 million citizen children of illegal aliens.” This, the report says, is a nearly $3 billion increase in the cost since 2013.

It is also rather more than the single payment of $25 billion that it will cost to build a wall—five and a half times more, and every year.” Consequently, “each illegal alien cost nearly $70,000 during their lifetime.

Both studies show that funds presently given those who cross our border illegally could easily pay the $25 billion total cost of building the wall or five billion per year for five years for the same. This without raising a single penny from any new tax monies from our citizens.

Looks like we need the wall for both national and domestic security. Apparently, to get this, we have to have the Democratically imposed partial government shutdown. Let us keep the partial shutdown in place until we get a commitment from both parties for the whole $25 billion needed; or legislation to redirect the funding of illegals to the wall.

Submitted by Dr. Harold Pease who is a syndicated columnist and an expert on the United States Constitution. He has dedicated his career to studying the writings of the Founding Fathers and applying that knowledge to current events. He taught history and political science from this perspective for over 30 years at Taft College. Newspapers have permission to publish this column. To read more of his weekly articles, please visit www.LibertyUnderFire.org.

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THE WORD

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FEBRUARY 2019

The Power of an Obedient “One”

BY PASTOR SKI

Y

ou are reading this essay because of the obedience of Paul McArthur (the Caprock Patriot). As “one” in marriage, his wife, Andrea, also deserves credit for the reality of this “platform”, the Caprock Patriot. As we stand in the shadow of February (a nod of recognition to all groundhogs), we will be remembering God-fearing presidents and one courageous Christian named Valentine. We thank God for raising up courageous leaders in every age and circumstance of human history. We are all players on the stage of time.

Whether we wear the label of Gen-xer, Millennial, or Boomer, God desires to write His story through the obedience of people, one life at a time. Political, economic, emotional, and spiritual freedom must be won and protected by each generation. We are blessed to be citizens of this grand human experiment called America. While visiting Washington D.C. recently, I was reminded of the sacrifices paid by patriots to fight a revolution against a government “taxing” without representation. They wisely founded a Republic using “freedom” documents called the Bible, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution. The Bible Museum reminds all who visit that God loves to see all His children truly free in all aspects of their lives. The Bible guided the

founding Fathers as they wrote the other “freedom” documents mentioned above.

In a New Testament book of the Bible called the Book of Acts, chapter two, verse seventeen, God says that “In the last days (after the death and resurrection of Jesus), your young will see visions and your old dream dreams.” As one reads the second edition of the Caprock Patriot, you will find submissions from the young and the old. The dreams and visions of these people encourage others to actively

defend the freedoms that government bureaucrats, politicians, and unelected judges are taking away from the citizens they are sworn to serve. “We the people” must stand up one by one to defend our homes and our God-given rights. To be silent or not vote is like serving in an army without firing one’s weapon!

The Bible reminds us of the consequences of choosing leaders or appointing judges that mock or ignore God’s laws.

The Messianic Jewish author Jonathan

Who Do You Want People to Assume You are?

A

man was being tailgated by a stressed out woman on a busy boulevard.

Suddenly, the light turned yellow, just in front of him. He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection.

The tailgating woman was furious and honked her horn, screaming in frustration as she missed her chance to get

through the intersection. While at the same time, dropping her cell phone and makeup on the floor of the car.

As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up. He took her to the police station where she was searched, finger printed, photographed, and placed in a holding

cell. After a couple of long hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects.

He said, “I’m very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him. I noticed the

Cahn helps readers understand how events like the 9/11 attack in New York city and our recent elections may be God’s merciful acts of judgment in response to our collective spiritual disobedience.

The title of his books are The Harbinger and The Paradigm. Historically, individuals, in obedience to God’s leading, have been used by God to protect and preserve the freedom of individuals or nations.

American Presidents like Washington, Lincoln, and Truman made monumental decisions that impacted the direction of history. Religious individuals like Martin Luther King, Billy and Franklin Graham, and A.W. Tozer move us to say “yes” to God’s call to send me.

There was written a Christian song called “Here I am, Lord” about thirty years ago. The lyrics are powerful. “I will go Lord, if you lead me” is one of the refrains. As America moves through time, history will record if Christians will stand up obediently to God’s call to be impactful citizens of this world and God’s kingdom as well. Amazing is the power unleashed by the obedience of “One”.

And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God… Deuteronomy 28:2.

Submitted Courageously by Pastor Ski, Re-fired Pastor (will never retire from serving the Lord), U.S. Marine - Semper Fi, Greensboro, NC (previous Pastor and friend of the Caprock Patriot Publisher)

‘What Would Jesus Do’ bumper sticker, the ‘Choose Life’ license plate holder, the ‘Follow Me to Sunday-School’ bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk. Naturally... I assumed you had stolen the car.”

God is always watching… and you can bet someone on earth is too!

Submitted by Nancy A, Lubbock, TX. Author unknown

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FEBRUARY 2019

THE WORD

23

Love is Our Highest Aim

BY ANN BIRDSONG

O

ur lives are assessed by how much or how little we love. According to research, the value of life and even the number of our days are affected by love. In fact, it is only to the length that we love well and deeply that we are truly alive. I am sure all of you can recall a time that you experienced genuine love? I bet you have at least one experience of love trapped deeply into your memory.

We clearly and vividly remember these people and events forever. There are many things that give importance and meaning to our lives, such as activities, work and passions. And all of these are significant. But without love motivating, driving, guiding them, they are shallow. 1st Corinthians 13:1 “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.”

How does this relate to you today?

Loving people will not only be instrumental to others, but your life will also change for the better. Others are helped when you love. It gives them support and encouragement. Transformation can be seen in the lives of others in whom you have invested love. What a timely message! More than ever, we need to love our neighbors like Jesus did. In Bob Goff’s latest book: Everybody, Always, he

says “Simply put, we can stop waiting for a plan and just go love everybody”. He adds, “There’s no school to learn how to love your neighbor, just the house next door. No one expects us to love them flawlessly, but we can love them fearlessly, furiously, and unreasonably. We’re not supposed to love only our neighbors, but Jesus thought we should start with them”.

Who are your neighbors? This is the perfect month to reach out and let them know you love them!

“Love one another.” What is simple, often isn’t easy; what is easy, often doesn’t last.

Submitted by Ann Birdsong, Evangelism and Engagement Director, Munholland United Methodist Church, Metairie, LA; sister-in-law of the Caprock Patriot

A little girl wanted to know what the United States looked like. Her Dad took a map of the USA from a magazine and cut it into small pieces. He told her to go to her room and see if she could put it together. After some minutes, she returned and handed the correctly fitted and taped map to her Dad. The Dad very was surprised and asked how she had finished so quickly. The wise little girl said, “On the other side was a picture of Jesus.

When I put Jesus back, or country just came together.”

Submitted by Amanda M, Lubbock, TX

The Insurance Called Grace

T

oday I was walking in the supermarket and suddenly I heard a noise of things breaking. I walked down the aisles and saw that some people were murmuring. When I walked down their aisle, I saw a group of people staring at them. An older lady had hit the shelf with plates and glasses with the shopping cart and many of the plates and glasses had fallen. Kneeling on the floor embarrassed, she was picking up the shattered pieces frantically, while

her husband peeled off the bar code from each broken dish saying: “See? Now we will have to pay for all this.”

What a sad scene. Someone has a mishap, and all eyes were on her. When I knelt beside her to explain to her not to worry, a young man came and knelt beside us and said, “Leave it, we will pick this up. Let’s get your information, so you can go to the hospital and have that wound in your hand looked at.” She looked at him, embarrassed and said,

“No. But I have to pay for all this.” The young man said. “No mam, we have insurance for that kind of loss, and you do not have to pay anything.” When the young man got up, I could see that he had the information for the supermarket manager. And sent the customer to get checked out.

For you who have read this so far, I would like you to give me a minute.

Wherever you are, close your eyes, and imagine God doing the same for you!

Collect the pieces of your heart for all the blows that life has thrown at you.

God will heal all your wounds and I assure you that your sins and mistakes will be forgiven. There is an ‘insurance’ in your life called grace. When you recognize that you were wrong and you accept God as your only savior, the manager of the existence of the universe (GOD) will tell you, “Everything is already paid for “... go on, go!

Submitted by Calvin R, Lubbock, TX

List of President Donald J Trump’s Accomplishments...

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Almost 4 million jobs created since election.

Record unemployment Created more than 400,000 manufacturing jobs since election.

Manufacturing jobs growing fastest rate in THREE DECADES. Economic growth last quarter hit 4.2 percent.

New unemployment claims recently hit a 49-year low.

Median household income has hit highest level ever recorded.

Lowest African-American unemployment ever recorded.

Lowest Hispanic-American unemployment ever recorded.

Lowest Asian-American unemployment ever recorded.

Loest Women’s unemployment in 65 years.

Lowest Youth unemployment in nearly half a century.

Lowest unemployment rate ever for non high school grads.

Lowest Veteran’s unemployment in nearly 20 years.

Almost 3.9 million Americans have been lifted off food stamps..

The Pledge to America’s Workers has resulted in employers committing to train more than 4 million Americans.

95% of U.S. manufacturers are optimistic about the future—the highest ever.

Retail sales last month, up another 6 percent over last year.

Signed the biggest package of tax cuts and reforms in history.

After tax cuts, over $300 billion poured back in to the U.S. in the first quarter alone.

As a result of tax bill, small businesses will have the lowest top marginal tax rate in more than 80 years.

Helped win U.S. bid for 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Helped win bid for U.S.-Mexico-Canada’s 2026 World Cup. Signed Right-To-Try legislation.

Enacted regulatory relief for community banks and credit unions.

Providing more affordable healthcare options for Americans through association health plans and short-term duration plans.

Last month, the FDA approved more affordable generic drugs than ever before in history; many drug companies are freezing or reversing planned price increas Reformed the Medicare program to stop hospitals from overcharging low-income seniors on their drugs—saving seniors hundreds of millions of dollars this year alone.

• • • •

From Whitehouse.gov. Submitted by Andrea Loalbo, Lubbock, TX

•

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Opened ANWR and approved Keystone XL / Dakota Pipelines.

Secured $6 billion NEW funding to fight the opioid epidemic.

Reduced high-dose opioid prescriptions by 16 percent.

Signed VA Choice Act and VA Accountability Act, expanded VA telehealth services, walk-in-clinics, and same-day urgent primary and mental health care.

Increased coal exports by 60 percent U.S. oil production recently reached all-time high.

United States is net natural gas exporter; first time since 1957.

Withdrew the United States from the job-killing Paris Climate Accord.

Cancelled the illegal, anti-coal, so-called Clean Power Plan.

Secured record $700 billion in military funding; $716 billion next year.

NATO allies spending $69 billion more on defense since 2016.

Process underway for Space Force; 6th branch Armed Forces.

Confirmed more circuit court judges in history.

Confirmed Justice Gorsuch and Judge Kavanaugh.

Withdrew from the horrible, one-sided Iran Deal.

Moved U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.

Terrorist protection with the Travel Ban, upheld by Supreme Court.

Obamacare individual mandate penalty GONE. Issued Executive Order to keep open Guantanamo Bay. Concluded a historic U.S.-Mexico Trade Deal to replace NAFTA Record number of regulations eliminated.

Reached agreement with the E.U. to increase U.S. exports.

Tariffs on foreign steel/aluminum to protect national security.

Imposed tariffs on China in response to China’s forced technology transfer, intellectual property theft, and their chronically abusive trade practices.

Net exports are on track to increase by $59 billion this year.

Improved vetting and screening for refugees, and switched focus to overseas resettlement.

Started BUILDING THE WALL. Republicans want STRONG BORDERS and NO CRIME. Democrats want OPEN BORDERS which equals MASSIVE CRIME. Passed histroic criminal justice reform legislation.

WORD

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FEBRUARY 2019

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I get to keep learning. Most volunteer activities have many people participating, which mean I can be around others who know more than I do, so I get to learn new tips and tricks. Teaching something is also a great way to learn, since you really have to understand something to teach it well.

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Submitted by Barb J, Post, TX

Submitted by Barb J, Post, TX

It can be fun! I volunteer for things I like to do, not things I have to do. Time goes much faster when I am having fun, and it does not really seem like work. I get to play my bass guitar in front of an enthusiastic crowd, help kids learn how to shoot guns, and talk to new people, which keeps me feeling young.

I often get ‘paid’ in something other than money. While I don’t put money in the bank, I can often eat free meals, get T shirts, etc., as part of the activities, or get access to people that the public normally does not get to meet. With the cost of meals now, trading 90 minutes of time for a free meal is not that bad of an exchange.

Volunteer activities are good family events. The vast majority of volunteer

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jobs are something you would want to bring your family to do also. I get to be with other good, conservative people at church, the local VFW, or Boy Scouts.

Volunteering can lead to other opportunities. I found out about my last two jobs from people I was volunteering with.

Volunteering shows people that you have a good work ethic, and willing to go the extra mile to get things done. They already know you are reliable when you show up to your volunteer gigs on time, and do your job well. It also looks great on a resume to be able to show that you are involved in the community.

I get to do a wide variety of things. My job is very repetitive, but my volunteer activities are not. I usually have about 5 or 6 different volunteer things going on at

any given time, so I get to mix things up, sometimes doing 3 or 4 different things in one week. If you are like me and get bored easily, this is great.

Most importantly, I get to help people, which is gratifying. At the end of the day, if you only do things for yourself, you will not be satisfied with your life. I won’t lie, sometimes volunteering can get to be overwhelming. It involves a lot of time, energy, and patience. But about the time I hit a low point and wonder what I am doing, I get a big smile or hug from a kid, a thank you card from someone at church, or get to watch someone succeed at something they did not think they could do.

Submitted by Bradley Baker, Lubbock, TX. Proud Veteran and former Police officer at Lubbock Christian University

We the People Liberty Celebration: a twelve part educational series The Declaration of Independence: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...

Celebrating the Rights of Liberty: February Edition

Each one of us are endowed (at conception, born with) certain unalienable (incapable of being sold or transferred) rights. These rights are not handed down from any government authority, but from our Creator. They are individual inherent rights in us as human beings by our Creator’s plan and design. Authority is delegated by God down to We the People, who then delegate limited authority down to the government. Government at any level (city, county, state, nation(s)) that seeks to limit or deny the unalienable rights of We the People is one which has stepped outside the chain of command; it is being insubordinate to the order and structure of true authority. Think about it this way. If a sailor has individual liberty (the right) to leave the ship, but is not given (by his commanding officer) the freedom (independence) to leave the ship, how then is he supposed to exercise his right of liberty?

Among the natural rights of the Colonists are these: First, a right to life; Secondly, to liberty; Thirdly, to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can. These are evident branches of, rather than deductions from, the duty of self-preservation, commonly called the first law of nature. ~ Samuel Adams ~ For more information visit www.donbebee.com/calendar or email don@donbebee.net • Copyright Liberty Enterprises, LLC

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Father, we ask that you fill us with your Spirit of love and unity among believers all across this nation. We ask that you help us to set aside our differences and look to the greater cause, the cause of Christ. We ask that you help us to truly live a life of love.

We know that this is only possible through the power of your Spirit, so we ask that you move across our land in fresh ways. Turning your people back to you. We thank you that you are always with us, and give us great purpose and hope. Amen.