On May 12th, 2015 I was invited to speak alongside Governor Rick Perry at a Lincoln Dinner organized by Okaloosa Republican Executive Committee in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. I was supposed to warm up the crowd for the Honorable Rick Perry, but the order of appearances was switched at the last moment; Perry gave his keynote speech first, and then I stepped in, thanking the Governor for warming up the crowd for me.
I titled my speech What surprised me in America: an immigrant’s account of the good, the bad, and the ugly. There was no way I could cover this topic in 20 minutes, so I’m expecting more invitations from groups who will be willing to give me twice as much time or more.
Fort Walton Beach is right next to Destin, home of the largest U.S. Air Force base, which explains why the district is largely Republican. It is a beautiful place to visit, with warm and wonderful people, and I had a great time.
Talking with Rick Perry in the lobby.
The event was organized by Laurie Bartlett, a radio talk show host who had interviewed me several times for her program (we made friends during my 2011 book tour in Austin, TX). Special thanks to Bettina Viviano for her great introduction (she admits she reads the People’s Cube every day). And, of course, to Mrs. Red Square who drove our Red Cube vehicle all the way to Okaloosa while I kept adding final touches to my speech in the passenger seat.
Below is a page from the brochure for the event.
For a larger view click on the image.
EDITORS NOTE: This column originally appeared on The Peoples Cube.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/oleg-lincoln-day-dinner-speech.jpg349600The Peoples Cubehttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngThe Peoples Cube2015-06-01 15:46:592015-06-12 08:42:27What Surprised Me in America: An Immigrant’s Account of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Baltimore is awesome! Watch the Orioles! Watch the Ravens! Take a boat tour in the harbor and then dine in one of the fabulous restaurants with a view. Visit the aquarium! You will love Baltimore!
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/baltimore-riots-2.jpg370640Dr. Rich Swierhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngDr. Rich Swier2015-05-30 12:47:252015-06-12 08:44:26Welcome to the City of Baltimore Video: Home of the Orioles, Ravens and Riots
No more aid to nations that hate us and citizens that despise their citizenship.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/stop-hate-e1432978973896.png354640Bill Finlayhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngBill Finlay2015-05-30 05:43:412015-06-12 08:45:03‘Hate Us For Free’: Cut off aid to all those who hate America
Note the unanimous opposition to the freedom of speech and support for criminalizing criticism of Islam — and even for murdering those who insult Muhammad. All freely and openly expressed on a sunny day in Minneapolis.
Get ready for a very full Jump’in Jumm’ah Freaky Friday that takes us from Boston, to Israel to Orlando as we look at the insanity of Islamic jihad and the need to counter it with basic Judeo-Christian principles.
Our live guests include, Rabbi Jon Hausman, Jerusalem Jane and Alan Kornman.
Really, how stupid do you have to be to fire missiles from the Gaza strip into southern Israel? Well, stupid enough to be HAMAS and that’s exactly what they did the other day. So what did Israel do, oh, simply flatten a significant number of “terror” centers, thus smashing the HAMAS once again.
To fully understand this insanity we have Arie Egozie in Israel explaining the whys and who’s behind these deadly missiles. In part two Tom explains why members of Islam, Muslims, are NOT allowed to think critically about their beliefs and must just accept them, or else!
Don’t miss this interesting insight into the Islamic mind.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/hamas-missiles-e1432893835592.jpg359640Defend The Borderhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngDefend The Border2015-05-29 06:04:042015-06-12 08:46:47HAMAS Missiles, Israel and the Islamic Mind
Last week we featured author Don Brown and his new investigative expose’ on the shoot down of (call sign) Extortion 17, a Chinook helicopter carrying members of the elite SEAL Team Six into battle in Afghanistan on August 6, 2011. Also on that aircraft was Patrick Hamburger, Army National Guard crew chief and an unidentified group of seven Afghan soldiers.
Who is Patrick Hamburger and why were these Afghan soldiers on this helicopter full of top-tier special operators? Tune in as we feature two special guests, Doug Hamburger, father of Patrick and Billy Vaughn, father of SEAL Aaron Vaughn.
Together we dig deeply into this U.S. cover-up to find out what really happened on August 6, 2011.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/extortion-17-revised.jpg320640Defend The Borderhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngDefend The Border2015-05-28 06:11:142015-05-28 06:11:14Extortion 17 Cover-up: Who were the Afghans?
We had a Prayer March For Persecuted Christians and Jews in Orlando, FL on May 16. Close to 300 people of all faiths and political affiliations attended.
Please watch the Video and I’m sure you will find it newsworthy and inspirational at the same time. Share this with your Pastors, Priests, Rabbis, Shaman’s, and Atheist friends – we are all in the same boat.
Go to our Facebook Page and friend us. We have speakers at the ready to talk at schools, Churches, Synagogues, political clubs, and home groups of any size. https://www.facebook.com/events/351504328371891/
Today we have the noble declaration of human rights enshrined in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
“Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”
Despite Article 18, there are severe human rights violations in many countries, especially in the so-called 10-40 window. Christians and Jews are persecuted across Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, most of Asia (including China) and now Europe (via the European Union). Iran is one of the world’s most repressive states, and those who offend Sharia law may be publicly flogged or even executed by hanging in the streets.
In 2008 over 200 million Christians around the world were in danger of being tortured, persecuted, or killed for their faith.
North Korea and China see Christianity as a threat to their respective political systems. As closed societies North Korea and China are able to keep news of the politically motivated persecution of the Christians from reaching the outside world.
The persecution of the Christians, Jews, Yazidis, Hindu, Buddhist, Atheists, Pagans, and the many others who do not follow the Islamic doctrine, theology, and politics also face persecution.
As Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolf wisely stated, “The purpose of this March is to force awareness of this persecution into the public consciousness.”
Now you have been informed and all people of conscience have a duty to act. All the leadership of Churches and Synagogues at the local level must become the voice for their persecuted voiceless. Prayer is good but your voices must shout out from every pulpit and bema – when my people bleed we all bleed.
Each act of persecution anywhere in the world should be taken personally by everyone who is currently safe in the cocoon of western religious plurality and has the freedom to exercise your spirituality without fear.
The issue of persecuted Christians and Jews crosses all party lines and denominations. Those individuals who believe in no faith at all are also targets of persecution – we are all in the same boat.
Each one of us has free will. How you use that free will defines who you are as a person. Be a part of the solution.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/persecution-of-christians.jpg311492Alan Kornmanhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngAlan Kornman2015-05-27 05:52:352015-06-12 08:51:22Florida: Prayer March For Persecuted Christians and Jews 2015
Do not miss the only eyewitness account of the Garland Texas jihad attack that was launched on May 3, 2015. “Martin,” the driver of the car that was immediately behind the Muslim shooter’s car, is our special guest. Listen to “Martin” detail his minute-by-minute heart-stopping experience and you will get a sense of the danger he went through on that frightening day.
In addition to “Martin” we have Dom the Conservative back with us to reflect upon the Garland attack and share some thoughts about Memorial Day.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/Garland2-e1430867621839.jpg398640Defend The Borderhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngDefend The Border2015-05-27 05:45:022015-06-12 08:51:32EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Eyewitness to Garland, Texas Islamic State Shooting
The rioters of Ferguson were paid to destroy that city! The Ferguson rioters were apparently paid by Democrats, are tax dollars now funding terrorism?
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/ferguson-obama-intifada.jpg406650Bill Finlayhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngBill Finlay2015-05-27 05:20:102015-06-12 08:51:50The U.S. Dept of Rioting
The Establishment is always telling us that there are good, moderate Muslims and extremist, jihadist Muslims and that the two different kinds have nothing in common with each other.
Wrong. What all Muslims have in common is the same Koran, the same prayers, the same Sunna of Mohammed and being a member of one umma (Islamic community).
Indeed, the Koran tells us that the jihadist is a better Muslim than the moderate Muslim. The phrase, Allahu akbar, is not only used a war cry, but every Muslim uses it in his daily prayers.
We are told that all Muslims want prosperity and democracy, but all Muslims do not want a democracy, because a democracy means that a Kafir is equal to a believer.
All of the Muslims share the Sunna of assassination. So instead saying they do not want violence of Garland, TX, they need to say that they reject the evil of the assassination Sunna of Mohammed. That would have real meaning.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/muslim-women-in-burkas-e1432670868233.jpg421640Bill Warnerhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngBill Warner2015-05-26 16:08:062015-06-12 08:52:20All Muslims share the same Islam
WOW, do we have a full plate of very good stuff for you on this Jumm’ah day!
First up is Nicholas Papanicolaou, the Head of the Knights Hospitallers of the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta, The Ecumenical Order. Tune into find out what that long title is all about.
With Nick, we have a powerful report from Michael Ganoe in Israel and then we introduce you to an amazing young man, Joseph Offutt, who independently decided to take his flag off his wall and take it to the Culwell Convention Center and stand there as a symbol of American Patriotism showing the world that we should never be fearful of Muslim terrorists!
Joseph’s brave act resulted in international press coverage, which really surprised him and now, more and more people join him, at the place of the Islamic State jihad attack, to stand strong with the American flag!! This is a very inspirational show.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/Joseph-Offutt.jpg359571Defend The Borderhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngDefend The Border2015-05-23 07:40:302015-05-23 07:42:35Joseph Offutt: American Patriot in Garland, Texas
On May 19, 2015, Col. Richard Kemp CBE gave a speech at the Begin Sadat Center of Bar-Ilan University in Tel Aviv. The prior day he was awarded an honorary degree by Bar Ilan. Col. Kemp was the former Commander of British Forces in Afghanistan who subsequently worked with the UK Joint Intelligence Committee and later the British Cabinet national crisis group on counter terrorism. He has testified as an expert witness defending Israel before the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict and the UN Human Rights Council on the controversial Goldstone Report. Col. Kemp has been a much sought after speaker on Israel and the IDF roles in the three Gaza wars with Hamas, the most recent being Operation Defensive Edge in 2014. Those talks have addressed IDF purity of arms military doctrine, false accusations of excessive civilian collateral casualties and Hamas’ use of human shields. He has frequently appeared as an expert military analyst on media in the U.S. and UK regarding Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq. However, with the exception of FoxNews, he has not been invited to discuss the case for Israel’s operations against terror proxies, most especially Hamas in Gaza.
To fight for Israel on the international stage is also to fight for the values of democracy, freedom of speech and expression, and civilized social values everywhere. Unfortunately, the morality and values of the West have been transformed and undermined over the past thirty years almost beyond recognition. Judeo-Christian principles of honesty, honor, loyalty, family values, patriotism, religious faith and respect for the state have all been eroded; whereas negative values, such as the acceptance of betrayal, duplicity and deceit, have flourished. The Western media is chiefly culpable in advancing this deleterious values transformation. And this transformation is the basis for the growth of anti-Jewish and anti-Zionist perspectives, and anti-Israel narratives.
Col. Kemp started by drawing attention to his days as an student cadet at Sandhurst , the UK equivalent of West Point . They studied the Israeli victories in several wars, notably the June 1967 Six Days of Wars and the Yom Kippur War of 1973. He also drew attention to his youth when the common perceptions in Britain were that the Israelis were David fighting the Arabs, depicted as Goliath. These were traditional set piece battles and wars, albeit with unconventional, yet successful strategies by the IDF. Hence, the compelling reason why during his Sandhurst years, study of Israeli military campaigns was part of the mandatory curricula. As he noted in his speech that seemed like ages ago. Unfortunately that paradigm has flipped. Currently, the media has reversed that stance and consider the IDF the new Goliath ‘occupying’ disputed territories fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah, Hamas and Salafist terrorist groups falsely depicted as the new David. He chastises the media for creating this amoral inversion of roles compounded by deceit and deception. Fighting this antagonistic view of Israel perpetuated by victimhood portrayals of Islamist terrorists in the Western media is the crux of the political warfare. Kemp believes Israel must defeat this in the court of world opinion to regain its previously well regarded moral position.
Note these excerpts from Kemp’s address.
Why the perceptions of Israel versus Arab/Islamist enemies have reversed:
All that has changed about this has been that Israel has made repeated costly concessions, including giving up land, for peace. Concessions which have not been reciprocated by the Palestinians, but instead exploited at the grave expense of Israel. Concessions which have not been acknowledged or remembered by the international community, who, like the Palestinians, simply and uncompromisingly demand more and more and more and more.
Nor have the Arabs fundamentally changed. We have of course peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan. And the growing threats from Iran and from expanding Sunni jihadism may be leading to some temporary and below the radar mutual cooperation from parts of the Arab world.
But the underlying perspective and agenda, especially among the Palestinians, is the same as it was in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. Rejection of Jewish communities in the land of Israel. The destruction of the Jewish State.
In my view if such events as the Gaza conflict last summer were played out in the 1960s and 70s, the support for Israel in the West would have been greater than it was even then. The savage and murderous actions of the Palestinians are far more shocking today.
So I again ask the question, what has changed? And the answer is: The morality and values of the West. They have been transformed almost beyond recognition.
The underpinnings of the reversal are erosion of values:
The 80s ushered in the insidious campaign of political correctness and moral relativity that has over the last 30 years gripped and taken over so much of our society.
Balanced, level-headed, impartial reporting in our media has been replaced by sensationalism as the purpose of mass media has swung from informing, educating and edifying to making money – and only too often to making the news rather than just reporting it. These negative and destructive values are being promoted constantly in the media.
Why the media has painted Israel as the proxy for the U.S.:
Israel has increasingly become a proxy for the United States, for three reasons.
Firstly, the US President and the US Government is at present left wing and liberal and thus harder for left-wing liberals to attack. Second, Israel is smaller and more easily bullied and impacted by corrosive media sniping than is a superpower. Third, Israel can be portrayed as a Western colonial outpost in a rightfully Arab world.
These three things are underpinned by a pervasive and increasing anti-Semitism which intensifies the obsession with Israel and its portrayal as a true evil to be attacked at every possible opportunity.
This contrasts with the post-Colonial guilt …. combined also with a frequent desire to appease violent Islam and promote its cause and values as being superior to our own and certainly to Israel’s.
Any anti-Islam comment or perspective cannot be tolerated, while anti-Jewish, anti-Zionist and anti-Israel perspectives are all acceptable and encouraged.
How Hamas and the PA manipulate conflicts for maximum media impact:
Hamas and the other Palestinian terror groups don’t use human shields in the hope that Israel will refrain from attacking their rocket launchers, weapons dumps, command centers, terrorist bases or tunnel entrances. They use human shields in the hope that Israel will attack and kill their people
They do this for one purpose: to gain the global condemnation of the State of Israel.
Their particular target is the media, which they know will magnify and intensify their message to the world and force national governments, the UN, human rights groups and other international organizations to bring down unbearable pressure onto Israel.
[…]
Fatah and the Palestinian Authority have a similar strategy. Their violence is of a different nature. Incentivizing terror by paying terrorists and the families of terrorists killed or imprisoned for attacking Israelis. By inciting anti-Israel hatred through speeches, newspapers, broadcast media, school textbooks and school teachers.
[…]
The next stage for the Palestinian leadership of course is to exploit anti-Israel pressure through the United Nations, the International Criminal Court, the European Union, the universities, businesses, trade organizations and now even FIFA.
[…]
It is the media, the agents of moral relativism, the tools of the Palestinian leadership that are Israel’s enemies in this conflict today. They can win over not just Western leaders but the public who are imbued with the new morality.
What Kemp thinks should be the offense in the media political war:
The offense in this form of political warfare is in exposing the bias, distortions, and untruth of the media. This is much more difficult but it is vital. As in all forms of war, the best form of defense is attack. Without effective offensive action our defensive work will succeed much less and can never produce decisive results.
Some good and vital work is already being done by a range of groups. But their effects remain limited. This campaign has had much tactical success and needs to continue and if possible to intensify. But so far there has been no real strategic impact. Nothing that has forced major media networks to fundamentally re-think their anti-Israel agenda.
Of course strategic effect requires strategic assets. And by strategic assets I mean the combination of significant funds, concerted and sustained will and large-scale, thoroughly planned and carefully-focused effort. The challenge is of course immense, and as with any battle, there is no guarantee of success.
As for myself I have gone through the transmutation from Infantry officer to fighter in this new form of political warfare.
EDITORS NOTE: This column originally appeared in the New English Review.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/amoral.jpg360640Jerry Gordonhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngJerry Gordon2015-05-23 06:10:142015-05-23 06:10:14The International Media’s Amoral Campaign against Israel