IS THERE ANY HOPE FOR AMERICA?

As Excerpted From

None Dare Call It Treason:

...25 Years Later

Chaptre 26

Pages 570 - 575

John A. Stormer

Copyright 1990, 1992

Published By

Liberty Bell Press

IS THERE ANY HOPE for America? Can the Communist/Humanist/Hedonist forces be thwarted? Can their ability to influence and manipulate America's churches, schools, press, labour unions, business organisations, Congress, and the bureaucracy be countered? Are there any real prospects for preserving freedom and liberty in America--and extending it world-wide?

America's hope, humanly speaking, rests in a body of concerned, informed Americans developing and implementing the 'cadre concept.' This is the Communists' greatest fear.

* * * * *

The term cadre... is a military one. The cadre concept is the key to Communist efforts and successes. It is also the means through which a relative handful of dedicated Americans can reverse the Red tide--and provide leadership to other Americans, the vast majority of whom are still right-thinking although uninformed and unorganised. They are, in the words of the title of a bestseller of 25 years ago, A Nation of Sheep. Sheep wait to be led. Some 'cadre' will provide the leadership--for good or evil--into safety or danger.

A dictionary definition of cadre is 'a framework--particularly the key group of military officers and enlisted men necessary to establish and train a new military unit.'

* * * * *

If concerned Americans have any hope of turning back the revolution the Communists are working to bring to America, they must get a vision for the 'cadre concept.' To become an effective cadre ... individuals must:

(1) Become informed personally then work to stay informed.

(2) Develope (a) long-range goals for stopping Communist advances and extend freedom around the world and (b) have a short-range agenda for moving toward the long-range goals.

(3) Develope circles of influence in neighborhoods, churches, schools, business organisations, labour unions, political organisations, etc., through which they can exert leverage and multiply their outreach and effectiveness.

(4) Work continually to improve personal leadership and communications skills, and...

(5) Specialise and become expert in some area of the battle while standing ready to assist others who are concentrating on other aspects of the overall struggle.

(6) Develope and maintain contacts and communication with other concerned citizens with a goal of building a network of informed people which reaches into every type of community organisation and avenue of influence.

(7) Recognise that the battle will be a life-long one from which 'there is no discharge.'

* * * * *

The first goals of those who start forming the cadre must be...

...to understand, expose, and oppose the programmes and philosophies which aid communism's advance in the United States and around the world.

All forms of economic, diplomatic, military, and psychological aid to communism must be opposed and stopped.

Communist/Humanist/Hedonist influences and philosophy in America's basic institutions must be recognised and opposed and those who promote them must be rooted out of their positions of influence.

America's internal security system must be rebuilt. Congressional committees with responsibility for investigating Communist influence and activity in America must be re-established. The FBI must be again authorised to maintain surveillance on the Communist Party and its front organisations.

Work to recruit, train, and elect knowledgeable, dedicated pro-God, pro-American, pro-free enterprise candidates to school boards, city councils, state legislatures, and the U.S. Congress.

Assist ant encourage those who are elected in implementing sound, pro-freedom, anti-Communist legislation--and make them accountable and answerable for their actions and their votes.

Pray for those in authority (and their families) that they will seek and have God's wisdom and protection and have the strength to do right even when it may not be popular at the moment, (See I Timothy 2:1-5)

THE IMPORTANCE OF ETHNIC IDENTITY

As Excerpted From

Pandora's Box Reopened:

Ethnic Conflict in Europe and Its Implications

Pages 3 - 6

William T. Johnsen

23 December 1994

Published By

Strategic Studies Institute

U.S. Army War College

American political leaders and their advisors may not fully appreciate the importance of ethnic or national identity to many Europeans, particularly how this concept shapes national or ethnic group policies. Indeed, American policymakers may find ethnicity and ethnic identity alien concepts, outside their cultural context, that may hide or at least obscure, causes and potential solutions to ethnic conflict.9 But, understanding the concept of ethnic identity is the keystone to comprehending the complexities of an ethnic conflict that might involve the United States.10 Defining ethnic identity in practical terms is no easy task, however, James G. Kellas, long-time observer of nationalism and ethnic groups, defines ethnicity as "the state of being ethnic, or belonging to an ethnic group."11 On the other hand, experts on ethnicity George De Vos and Anthony D. Smith define ethnic identity more in terms of establishing and reinforcing the differences between the groups.12

These apparently divergent criteria establish two important points for understanding ethnic identity. First, a critical element of defining ethnic identity is determining who cannot belong to the group. Membership is posed in stark alternatives, with no room for compromise. Either you are like me or you are not like me. Second, ethnic identity usually is framed in a "zero sum game" context, where ethnic groups view a gain by another group as their loss. Compromise, therefore, is not viewed as a natural part of a political, economic, or cultural process, but as a sign of weakness. When carried to extremes, this argument can lead an ethnic group to perceive its very existence threatened over even the most minute issue.

As indicated in Figure 1, the primary ties that determine an individual's ethnic affiliation begin with kin relationships. The basic building block is the family which combines with other families to form a clan.13 The tribe, ". . . the largest social group defined primarily in terms of kinship, . . . is normally an aggregate of clans,"14 follows next in the ethnic hierarchy. While kin relationships form the core of ethnic identity, observers must consider additional attributes that contribute to

ELEMENTS OF ETHNIC IDENTITY

Core = Ethnic Identification

Kinship (Family, Clan, Tribe)

Race

Language

Collective Name

Territory

History

Culture

Religion

Outer Ring = Potential Sources of Integration and Assimilation or Division

Civic Culture

Social Intervention

Common Identity

Legitimate Authority

Political Integration

Politics

Figure 1. (approximation)

an ethnic identity. The difficulty lies in determining which traits do or do not apply to an ethnic group and why, as well as the complex interactions between attributes. Complicating this process is a lack of consensus on specific attributes, a range of potential traits, or the minimum number required to constitute ethnic identity. A given ethnic group, for example, might display only a few traits, but still have a well-established identity. Alternatively, another group might display many characteristics, but not possess a cohesive identity. Attributes that help define one ethnic group might not apply in another case, even though the groups appear remarkably similar.15 Conversely, two ethnic groups could share a wide number of attributes, but still view themselves as distinct, perhaps competing, ethnic identities.16

Race illustrates this challenge.17 On the one hand, race forms the sine qua non of German ethnic identity.18 On the other hand, while Croats, Muslims, and Serbs within the erstwhile Yugoslavia derive from common racial origins, each group uses differences in language (even though considered petty by outsiders), religion (Roman Catholic, Muslim, and Serbian Orthodox), and culture (Central European, Ottoman, and Byzantine) to constitute a distinct ethnic identity.19

Equally important for analysts to grasp is that, while an ethnic identity may coalesce around a collection of attributes, ethnics also use these traits to separate themselves from other groups. In this manner, attributes found in the center and outer rings of Figure 1 may have dual, but contradictory, influences. Two (or more) ethnic groups, for example, may identify with a particular territory. Rather than serving as a unifying trait, ethnic groups may compete for territorial control as they try to bring all their members within the borders of a single "nation-state."20 At the same time, they may also exclude nonmembers from that same territory; setting the stage for "ethnic cleansing."21 Thus, the very traits that form the basis for an ethnic identity can be used to fracture a society along ethnic lines as the various ethnic subgroups use these characteristics to integrate themselves at the expense of others.

As the preceding discussion indicates, analysts face considerable challenges in coming to grips with the complexities of ethnic identity. In assessing ethnic identity and its influence, analysts must keep several key points in mind:

* Ethnic identity is important to Europeans, so important that many people are willing to kill or die to protect it.

* While it is possible to generalize about the attributes that make up an ethnic group, the circumstances contributing to the establishment of ethnic identity make each one unique.

* To identify and asses the attributes that make up an ethnic identity require that analysts possess manifold talents and expertise; i.e., they must understand the general aspects of ethnicity and ethnic identity, as well as have a detailed knowledge of specific issues within regions or countries.

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