It was November 22, 1969....and our bus had just pulled up to the headquarters company in Fort Devens, Massachusetts. We had just completed basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey. After dumping my gear we went to the second floor day room to wait to be told where our barracks would be. On the television was a middleweight championship fight where Italian boxer Nino Benvenuti retained his middleweight title in a win over Luis Rodriguez.
Benvenuti was a classic European stand-up boxer who had great success primarily by scoring points in the ring. I don't remember what year it was that I first witnessed this cage fighting that they have today. I do remember that I could not watch it too long because I thought that it was sickening....and I still do. I was listening to Mark Levin one evening when he went on and on about how he loved this new type of fighting. It took me by surprise but looking back on it....this was the arena that we in conservative politics were heading. We were to become known as kickers and stompers and stranglers and elbowers....anything to win. One side of the culture was becoming effeminate....and the other side macho men....but women were in there stomping with the best of them.
I'm sure you read in the news that the....'Right'....as it is known....is coming back strong in Europe. This isn't Nigel Farage stuff folks....even though he is again in the mix....this has serious negative potential of strongarm tactics turning into outright totalitarianism and demagoguery. Here in America....our women are in your face....and our college age youth are being deceived and commandeered by organizations such as Turning Point USA. Anyone not totally taken in by Donald Trump knows that he is a man who loves revenge....but more than that he has to have it....it has always been a driving force in his empty life.
There is a scene from the film Gods And Generals....it takes place at the flagpole at the Virginia Military Institute. Everyone was waiting to see if Virginia would secede. The Virginia Order of Secession came down....and the cadets....(in the film)....where deliriously happy and celebrating.....honor and glory and all that stuff would follow. And it did....along with death and destruction on both sides. Surely....those students were not happy nor smiling as the reality of war dragged on....those who were still alive....and just as surely we with our joyous rallies....calling for war on the other side....will see that things were not as simple as they appeared...and that pestilence and famine and death are part of war.
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.....Therefore take up the whole armor of God...."
Ephesians 6:12 ESV
Note: Folks....we are at war already. Thomas Jackson got his nickname Stonewall....at the first battle of Bull Run. He had his men stand and wait for the right moment. Others charged forward in haste and were driven back....only to have their officer in an attempt to stop the retreat point to Jackson....standing like a stone wall. Jesus said...."From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force." (Matthew 11:12) That is us folks...we are to take heaven by storm. We do that through ferocious prayer and steadfast faith and bold witnessing....but we also are at times to stand....in defense of the gospel of Jesus Christ....like a stone wall!
