By Nancy Thorner -
Lt. Colonel Allen West keynoted Illinois Family Institute's annual fundraiser in late October. The West, who is now featured often on Fox News and other media outlets, served in the United States Army from 1982 to 2004 and participated in the Persian Gulf War and Iraq War. Among awards he won was a Bronze Star. A member of the Republican Party, West represented Florida's 22nd congressional district in the House from 2011 to 2013. He is also a proud Tea Party member.
It would have been natural for West to speak about his military service, but instead he spoke on the issues of "faith, conservative values, and freedom." After reminding guests that Illinois was the home of this nation's first Republican president, Abraham Lincoln, in a party established in 1854, West's initial remarks focused on dressing up for Halloween and how costumes are now judged as to their political correctness. West then suggested, "Why not dress up as Martin Luther as this historical figure is important for sharing at home, church, and in our communities?"
West bemoaned the fact that children are not being taught the date of the Protestant Reformation, but we are instead allowing other people to indoctrinate our children. West explained that it was 500 years ago on October 31, 1517 (Halloween), that Martin Luther defiantly nailed a copy of his 95 Theses, a list of questions and propositions for debate, to the door of the Wittenberg Castle church. In the aftermath, people were now able to worship God as they believed and no longer needed to rely on the Catholic Church for guidance for religious matters. As such, man now had the right to have a relationship with their Creator.
John Locke and the American Constitution
West then went on to explain how John Locke, a 17th century Englishman, was the single most important influence in the founding of this nation. Locke, at the time, expressed the radical view that the duty of government is morally obliged to serve people, namely by protecting their natural rights of Life, Liberty, and Property. He believed that all our spiritual rights come from our creator. Locke, in his writing, also explained the principle of checks and balances to limit government power. He favored representative government and a rule of law. He likewise denounced tyranny and insisted that when government violates individual rights, people may legitimately rebel.
Our Founding Fathers, specifically Thomas Jefferson, was tasked with writing a similar document. Jefferson drew heavily upon John Locke in establishing America's First Principles, most notably, the recognition of unalienable rights as those of Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness, and that these rights come from our Creator. One of Locke's ideas that greatly influenced Jefferson as he drafted the Declaration of Independencewas that if government should fail to protect these right, its citizens would have the right to overthrow that government. Unknown to many is that Property Rights, one of Locke's three unalienable rights, was not included in our Constitution. Property rights was replaced by the Pursuit of Happiness, as slaves were considered property at the time.
West next focused his comments on our first inalienable right, that of life as coming from our Creator.
Do Black Lives Matter in Chicago?
West questioned why Black lives didn't matter to Obama when he was president, given the multiples shooting deaths that are taking place almost daily. West then added that since Roe vs. Wade 13 million black babies have been aborted, which really means they have been murdered. As to why there are so many "murdered babies" among black women, West offered this reason. "They haven't been informed about Margaret Sangerwho founded Planned Parenthood." Sanger was a leading advocate of the eugenics movement, specifically of negative eugenics, which promoted the reduction of sexual reproduction and sterilization of people with undesired traits or economic conditions. She also thought that the white race was superior. West suggested that Sanger's face be plastered on billboards to be viewed by the public, such as when he drove from O'Hare to Hoffman Estates to speak. West chastised those on the Right for fearing to get out on the battlefield for this issue and others to fight against the suicidal ideas of the progressive Left.
According to West, the Left has no need to honor God as the Creator, for it is the Left who will decide and deliver what they think you should or should not have or know. This is the path our country is now on. The Left is not about allowing people to have individual liberty, which is the first right in our Bill of Rights.
Left’s Erosion of Freedom of Religion
West went on to question whether we still have freedom of religion at a time when the Left is attempting to remove what Martin Luther accomplished 500 years ago. According to West, it is important that the threat from the Left be understood. West related a story of Benjamin Franklin's encounter with a woman on the day the U.S. Constitution was adopted, September 17, 1787. As the deliberations of the Constitutional Convention were held in strict secrecy, anxious citizens gathered outside Independence Hall to learn what had been produced behind closed doors. A Mrs. Powel of Philadelphia asked Benjamin Franklin, "Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?" With no hesitation whatsoever, Franklin responded, "A republic, if you can keep it."
West cautioned guests not to be afraid of being called names for speaking out about issues based on their own moral and religious principles, for as the adage goes: "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but names will never hurt me." West related how he has often been called an Oreo and other derogatory names, but how could names hurt him when he has been in the thick of combat?
This Bible verse was quoted by West as appropriate when facing challenges (Romans Chapter 8):
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”
Lastly, West questioned what legacy each of us would leave at our final resting place. Will it be that we stood for the principles and laws of our nation? As West reminded those gathered, “It doesn't take 30,000 or 3,000 to help change the direction of this nation, but only people like you who are here tonight.” West then intoned: "My God bless the people here tonight and Illinois."
Questions asked of Lt. Colonel Alan West
About Rules of Engagement: The three soldiers now sitting in the U.S. Penitentiary at Leavenworth should be offered pardons. Under the Trump administration decision-making has been speeded up to allow the military to move more quickly on raids, airstrikes, bombing missions and arming allies in Iraq. Soldiers are now sitting in prison because they acted without permission to take action in what they perceived as a matter of self-defense.
About obtaining justice in the selling 20% of this nation's uranium to the Russians:People are rising up and beginning to understanding there is a different system of justice for us and for those who consider themselves above us on the other side of the aisle. We must defend what is justice and demand those involved are lined up in orange jumpsuits.
About the Muslim Brotherhood: Founded in 2004, it's the granddaddy of Islam Jihadism. The Muslim Brotherhood is a terrorist organization. President Trump should issue an executive order to declare it a terrorist organization. On May 7, 2017, the Clarion Project detailed what the Muslim Brotherhood believes in – namely the establishment of an Islamic caliphate as a system of government and the implementation of sharia as state law. The Muslim Brotherhood strategy is patient. It should also not be considered as a single cohesive organization, but rather as a toxic supremacist political ideology which can manifest in many different groups.
IFI celebrates 25 years
Prior to West's speech, Illinois Family Institute's Executive Director David E. Smith heralded the organization's 25th Anniversary.
Serving as Masters of Ceremonies was Julie Roys, host of Up For Debate, a national talk show on the Moody Radio Network, carried on 145 stations nationwide. She's also the author of Redeeming the Feminine Soul: God's Surprising Vision for Womanhood, in which Roys describes her journey from feeling like a misfit to discovering the value of the feminine in the eyes of God. A free book was handed out to each banquet guest at the event’s conclusion.
In addressing the estimated 500 attendees, Smith urged guests not to yet pack the moving van to move out of Illinois. Smith believes Illinois can be turned around by bringing a Biblical prospective to public policy. Smith then went on to explain the consequences of HB40 being signed into law. It may result in up to 55,000 abortions a year and cost the state upwards to $60 million. Governor Rauner signed this radical bill after promising not to sign it. Three more pro-life Republican votes would have stopped HB40 from becoming law.
Smith noted other bills denoting wickedness that have been passed in Springfield, expressly HB1785. In August of this year, Illinois Gov. Rauner signed HB1785 that modernized Illinois law to now allow transgender and intersex individuals to change the gender marker on their birth certificate without undergoing gender reassignment surgery.
IFI awards conservative leadership
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of awards. This year there was a new award, The Titanium Backbone Award, presented to Illinois Rep. Jeanne Ives. State Rep. Jeanne Ives is currently circulating petitions to run in the GOP primary against Gov. Bruce Rauner. She believes Republicans need a choice because Rauner has failed the integrity test.
Two freedom awards were presented. The recipients were Rev. Wes Modder and Joseph M. Scheidler. Rev. Wes Modder, pastor of Stone Church, Orland Park, IL, is a retired Marine and Christian former military chaplain in the United States Navy. He appeared in national headlines after the US Navy denied him religious accommodation to preach according to his denomination's doctrine on marriage and sexuality.
90-year old Joseph M. Scheidler is National Director of the Pro-Life Action League, a national pro-life educational and activist organization headquartered in Chicago. Joe left a career in public relations to become a full-time pro-life activist shortly after the U.S Supreme Court issued its Roe v. Wade opinion in 1973. Mr. Scheidler is also an author. His book Racketeer for Life: Fighting the Culture of Death from the Sidewalk to the Supreme Court came out in hardcover on November 30,
