A humorious post for a change.


World's Worst Debate Arguments;

For those who haven't seen Lincoln, I will not reveal some of the amusing arguments some of the congressmen make. It is a great movie though and you should see it! The photo is of Thaddeus Stevens R-PA (Tommy Lee Jones) in his very nicely decorated congressional office. Not telling you anything about the scene between him and Rep. Fernando Wood (D-NY) but I threw that out there to pipe y'alls curiosity.



1) If you are loosing a debate, do not call the other side; "illogical"....  clearly, that itself is a illogical argument.

2) "You are stupid!" maybe your opponent is, chances are he is not. It is merely a different way of viewing the world then you have. "Stupid" is best for preschoolers on the playground; "Johnny is stupid! he stole my ice cream!"  Not for respectable debaters.


3) "Are you evil?"--- that line was borrowed from the historical fiction movie "North and South" Kristie Alley in the role of Virgillia Hazard asks Orry Main (played by Patrick Swayze) if he is "evil" because he is from the South. Orry was immediately turned off to Virgillia's arguments, even though she was right saying "slavery is wrong", the rest of her arguments--- personal attacks really did her cause more harm then good.

4) "you are the personification of all that is evil and wrong in the world" ^^^ See above. Also, it sounds more like a troll argument.

5) "John Adams is a bold, blind, crippled, toothless man who wants to start a war with France!"- from an actual campaign ad, I hope I do not have to say why this is a poor argument.







6) "Extreme"--- even if you think your opponent's stance is "extreme", do not say so. Who defines "extreme" anyway?   Also, what is to stop me from calling yours "extreme"?

7) Fanaticism or even appearing fanatic does harm to your cause.

8) "you are letting your religion interfere"--- everybody's religion or philosophy of life is bound to interfere with their political views.  Nobody can help it, since the philosophy that governs your life will govern all you believe.

9) Lies.  Never ever do them in a debate. Ever. 

10) If you must insult somebody, do it with flowery language =P not juvenile language such as; "stupid" or evil" and NEVER swear, EVER. But in all seriousness, try to avoid insults.

11) BONUS!  Do not pull a Preston Brooks

Revival

Many people these days are praying for revival, which is amazing. But remember--- we are the next step :) Revival starts with us, spreads to our neighbors and friends.  Are we truly reflecting Christ? are we being caring to others and considerate? are we reaching out to help others?

I know this sounds cliche, but it true;
Revival starts with individuals. In an individuals heart. Reach out to others! :)

Thanksgiving

So many things to be thankful, I will not bore y'all with long eloquent and awesome sounding descriptions, but I offer a small list;

God, America, my family, my friends, Generation Joshua, food, shelter, a low crime area, books!!!!, history, my historical heroes, politics, Jim DeMint, music, my 1830s cape, clothing, the most amazing friends any girl can have, my brain, my hair, my eyes, health (I have only gotten two colds in my life), laughter, good times, my redecorated room, hope, faith, these United States are a Republic, states rights, tea, sweet tea, peanut butter M&Ms, ice cream, I can just have the list go on!

Generation Joshua taught me to dream.

For a long time, I have been a member of Generation Joshua. This organization changed my life and is a major part of who i'am as a person.

They had this camp "IGovern" where we'd act out the parts of senators and congressmen, and we'd act in a scenario. I went to IGovern in 2010 for the first time. Before I arrived I looked up everything I could about the part I was to portray.  I was a senator, and unanimously elected Senate Minority Leader.  The scenario was: Turkey and Russia were at war, and somehow we got pulled into it. Basically IGovern 2010 was a repeat of the War of 1812! We had our War Hawks, who caused an entire senate committee to get thrown out of the library by chanting; "ANNEX CANADA!!!", we had our peacedoves, and I--- Senate Minority Leader Hausheer, tried to find common ground. We got pretty divided, until worship. Jenaye White, the Gold Party's Vice President started playing "From the Inside Out" on the piano, the whole room sung and to this day, my eyes fill with tears thinking of that moment. Everybody; Gold and Blue Parties, Conservative and Libertarian, War Hawk or Peacedove--- we were all ONE body in Christ. I found where I belonged, my whole life I was searching for a group of people who would accept me and share my love of politics--- I found it. Generation Joshua kids (most of them ;)) never judged me, my GenJ friends appreciated and respected me, they always looked out for me. I cannot speak for all Generation Joshua kids, since it is a large group not every kid is amazing. The kids I was friends with however, were AMAZING. You know who you are, if you are reading this--- you are my friend and I love you.

My life goal was confirmed at IGovern East 2010. I was pondering for a couple years, the thought of running for public office. IGovern East made me find my calling. God wants me to serve in public office, the legislative branch. Not to be an average politician, but to be a stateswoman. To make a difference in the world. I cannot bear the thought of living without making a huge impact in the world around me, history and in my country.  I want not just to be another person aimlessly roaming the earth, I want a purpose. I want to inspire generations of Americans after me. To be a beacon of honesty and truth, to take a stand for my values of freedom but do so with all reason and tact.


I attended a "Student Action Team" in Annapolis, Maryland and campaigned for now Congressman Andy Harris.


IGovern 2011 had an exciting scenario. I returned as a senator, but in the scenario we were on the brink of a civil war. I ran for vice president for the Gold Party, as a VP candidate I felt I learned hands-on about the campaign process, I always knew about it--- but living it out was a different matter. I met my hero, the real life Senator Jim DeMint. DeMint inspired me to do something very brave. The last day of the scenario, I held the senate floor. I spoke for states rights and nullification, since I felt if I turned against these issues I would feel uneasy to betray my principals just to win the Vice Presidency.  We hammered out a compromise, and avoided Civil War at the end of that week.


I went that year down to Virginia to help elect Suzanne Volpe.


IGovern 2012 was the last IGovern I ever did as a student. Technically, since I was 18 I was too old. However, Will Estrada allowed me to seek a third term in the senate. IGovern 2012 was my least favorite year because it was my last.  Some kids played diplomats from foreign countries, I was still a senator though (from South Carolina.)   Many of the kids were younger then me, but I tried to gain influence in the senate. In the senate, I spoke about each bill, formed coalitions, and told senators how to vote. Seniority is very important in the real life senate ;)    I learned how to compromise, and when to compromise.  Although, there is a time for standing on principle. I supported the right of states to ignore unconstitutional federal laws, and I wrote a bill on it. By the time this bill came before the senate floor I was alone in doing a loud and resounding; "YEA!" everybody else voted "Nay." I would do it again though.



I went to a Student Action Team in Loudoun County, Virginia and was assistant leader on the Bravo Team.



Never before had I met a group of such determined kids then I had at Generation Joshua. Most of these kids are full of a fervor and passion, that I love. Most of them are intellectual and smart and not afraid to show it.

Generation Joshua Adults and Kids have inspired me, I want to give Generation Joshua back what they gave me all these years. Hopefully, when the time comes I can join the Leadership Corps.  I was inspired by the lessons, even though I knew most of them, GenJ installed in me a deeper love and yearning. I also loved debating and discoursing with others. GenJ taught me; that it is alright to be different, I have the most amazing friends ever, politics is amazingly fun, stand for your principles--- even if you are standing alone, it is alright to compromise just be sure it is the right time and place, with God anything is possible.


This is a challenging task to summarize on one mere blog post how much Generation Joshua has met to me. I love it so dearly, I love everybody who made my experience as awesome as it is. I'm so thankful God put you in my life.  Without you, i'd be so lonely, the only person on earth interested in politics. You have opened my eyes to my; dreams, ambitions and friendship. I will cherish the lessons of Generation Joshua forever. Those who disagreed with me politically to, I'm thankful for you :)
For those of you new to GenJ, I hope you have as much fun as I did!

Thank you Generation Joshua! I hope to pass my torch someday when it is time so others may benefit from what you have taught me. I will continue the dreams y'all have installed deep within my heart, and never lose them. I will keep my morals and my beliefs like y'all taught me to. I hope many of us do go on to serve in public office, Lord-willing. 


May God bless you,

Emily R. Hausheer


Just curious :) Please leave a comment <3

An Election Day Carol

(A parody on Charles Dicken's "Christmas Carol")

It was November, Ebenezer NoVolte grumbled. Election season... campaign signs everywhere, pesty phone calls and the worse part was---KIDS! Kids coming to his door to campaign. If Ebenezer saw anymore pesty kids he would scream. Knock, knock, knock. Ebenezer screamed as he opened the door and found Generation Joshua kids handing him a paper "May you please vote for my candidate?" "Never!" shouted Ebenezer. After all, God will take care of everything--- he did not need to vote. What does one vote matter?


Ebenezer turned out the lights and went to sleep...
Clunk was heard at the door. Ebenezer was deep within a dream, he opened his eyes to find Paul Lazifere, his old friend who past away a few years ago.  This was clearly a dream.  Paul had voting ballots wrapped around his body, and told Ebenezer his punishment for not voting in the elections where he knew the candidate's stances, but did not vote because even though he knew who was right--- he didn't think the right guy could win. Because of this-- he was forced to wonder the world and warn others to vote in elections where they know the candidates.

"Not voting because there is no information on the candidates is fine, but if you know and look online and find information about the candidates, and choose not to vote because you think other's will you are mistaken. You will have three more dreams tonight, about the ghosts of elections past, present and future." Paul explained.

After Paul was gone, Ebenezer saw somebody at his door. It was Henry Clay, a famous statesman from the 1800s with light blond hair and bright blue eyes.  "I'am representing elections past." Clay explained. "John Quincy Adams' election was so close, it was thrown into the House." If it wasn't for a few votes, JQA could have lost.  Technically, John Quincy already lost, but those few votes kept him on long enough that the whole race was thrown into the House.


The next dream came with a present politician--- Jim DeMint. Jim DeMint had a long dark blue cape, and a charming southern drawl. DeMint showed Ebenezer around Washington, and introduced him to the men who would not be there if it was not for a few votes. Men who were polling at 5%, and won the election because people took their chances and voted for them. DeMint then departed from the happy scene of smiling senators and the White House with all it's grander and showed a different side of America.  They were in Michigan. Houses sat abandoned, DeMint lifted and window and stepped inside--- children's toys were scattered across the floor, a letter lay unopened on the table--- foreclosed. DeMint then brought Ebenezer to New Jersey, into an abandoned hospital. Many were roaming the streets, because the economy in New Jersey was so poor, even hospitals have shut down.  An old factory was outside, abandoned because the taxes were too high.  DeMint uttered a famous quote he gave before; "If you don't vote, the problems in debt are not only your problems, you are the problem if you sit and refuse to do anything about them except complain. "  With this warning DeMint disappeared, and the Election Future dream was coming.

A dark, shadowy figure of a former president appeared--- Andrew Jackson. Jackson explained to Ebenezer about the corrupt dealings and elite politicians who rule Washington if the people do not have a vote.

Jackson left, and Ebenezer awoke. Only a dream! He opened his window and shouted to a Generation Joshua campaigner on the street; "what day is it?"
Hesitant the campaigner shouted; "It's election day sir!"
Ebenezer trotted outside and screamed; "I don't care if you are conservative, liberal or moderate. This day is yours-- go vote!!!"

Biblical Metaphors in "North and South"?

I was enjoying the old Patrick Swayze movie "North and South" on my ride back home from Virginia.

Cuddled in the back seat with the DVD player, call me an intense thinker but... I found a few alligories that could be used other ways.


These may or may not have been the intentions of the film makers, but nonetheless they make great illustrations for me to come up with some sort of good-feeling post.


1)
The love story between Orry and Madeline.

Orry loved Madeline at first sight. Madeline was forced into a marriage with an abusive man. Orry saves her life, after being beaten himself and the bad guy dies.

Orry then is called to fight in battle, leaving Madeline on the plantation.  Orry has two sisters- a good one, and a bad one.  The bad sister finds Madeline at night and lies to her about how Orry does not truly love her because of sins her parents have done, also he is off in battle.  Madeline believes these lies and runs away. When the war is over Orry returns and finds her in the slums of Charleston, he looks into her eyes and tells her he will always love her. No matter what.



2)

James Huntoon was a (fictional) secessionist politician. He was influential and well-known in the Confederacy. Although his views were controversial, he had a kind heart always ready to forgive. He marries Ashton (Orry's bad sister) in hopes he can turn her good. Orry warns him about Ashton, but Huntoon pushes through anyway. Time and time again Huntoon reaches out and offers her a pardon for her wrongs and sins. Ashton pretty much does them anyway, laughing at Huntoon pretty much.

Then in the words of Ashton "Judgement Day" came. Huntoon and Orry found Ashton with Bent (another villain) in an abandoned farmhouse storing illegal guns, after a lantern fell the farmhouse goes up in flames. Orry grabs Huntoon and Ashton and they duck behind a log-- Bent goes in and dies in the flames.   Ashton then is in shock announcing it was "like Judgement Day", Orry banishes her from his sight. She then begs James Huntoon for forgiveness, Huntoon rejects it and says; "It is too late Ashton... too late."

Huntoon's voice is full of pain, he did what he had to though.

We can't just live our lives ignoring Christ's forgiveness, then on judgement say ask for it. It really will be too late. A sobering thought.....

States Rights

To clearify my views.
  The states formed the federal government through the constitution. The constitution only gives the powers specifically stated in the constitution to the federal government.  Anything not specifically stated through an amendment is reserved to the states or the people.

The federal government sadly can not stop a state from doing a wrong..... it has no power to.


States can ignore federal rulings through nullification. This power is hinted at in the 10th amendment.

Overall I seem to have John C. Calhoun's states rights views, making me not a Hamiltonian but not a Madisonian.