First of all, I'm a believer in Jesus Christ; he is my personal Savior. Still, I don't like being labled. Christian--now that's politically incorrect for sure. I have a personal relationship with God/Christ, but I don't practice religion. Don't go to Church and don't follow any particular man-made faith. (BTW, I'm an ex-Catholic). I'll listen to anyone's philosophy. Some of my best friends are New Agers, Bhuddists, Jews, Catholics, atheists, gays, minorities, etc. To each his/her own religion/philosphy, but be ready for any consequences if you happen to believe the "wrong" way. What I want for folks to practice is personal responsibility and don't preachy-teachy me. And I won't do that with you.
As you go through this e-zine you might come to the conclusion that I am one of "those anti-government, right-wing, fundmentalist Christian, pro-militia, gun-nuts".
Anti-government? Hardly. Someone has to make the rules. But, quite frankly--and this feeling goes way back to when I protested the Vietnam War in the late 60's--I am tired of government bureaucrats/high mucky-mucks telling me and everyone else what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. I have always been politically incorrect! Now it's the liberal/socialists running this country that I oppose. Not because I hate liberals--I used to be one. It's because the folks in power now, who just happen to be liberals, are trying mightily to regulate our lives to a T. You know, Big Brother (or in Hillary's case, Big Sister). This country was founded on personal liberty with responsibility. I, for one, don't think that just because this happens to be the end of the twentieth century is a reason to abolish gun ownership/private property rights/wise use/freedom of religion.
Right wing? So what? I used to be left wing. Very left wing! I am, in fact, no-wing. I am conservative when it comes to certain moral issues. On the other hand, I am radical when it comes to one's right to speak freely. I may not agree with what you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it. Does that phrase sound familiar?
Fundamentalist Christian? I think I answered that.
Pro-militia? Get a life!
Gun-nut? I do not like guns and really would rather not be around one. But, as with freedom of speech, I'll defend to the death your right to own a gun, as long as you handle it responsibly.
On the other hand, like some in the so-called "constitutionalist" movement I do have a clue. Out here in West Texas, a little over a year ago, we had a little standoff. Nothing Ruby Ridge-ish or Waco-ish. No moms getting shot, no CS gas being hurled on children. But it made the news for about a week because this guy I knew, Rick McLaren, tried to set up a re-born Republic of Texas, which he claimed had never been abrogated legally; that is, Texas was never legally admitted into the Union. I even edited some of his paperwork. (Not that I understood it very well.) But paperwork turned to action, and action soon turned to scams (phony money) and then violence. By then I had nothing to do with the guy. It was then, however, that I came to understand the so-called "patriot movement." Mostly, it's "patriots" for profit. Their "common law" stuff sounds great on paper and might be great if it could work. But the fact is, all you get when you follow their "common law" or "right to travel" (without a driver's license, for instance) is jail. Now, what's the clue? The clue is, if people don't start standing up for rights such as freedom of speech, religion, assembly, the press (or media), the right to responsibly own a gun, the right not to have to incriminate oneself--which we will lose if we get national ID cards--the right to privacy, we will lose all our rights.
Another thing about me is that I love hearing about a good conspiracy. Not a conspiracy goes by that doesn't have some truth to it. As such, I believe we are being set up by the folks who really run things to accept and even desire to lose these rights we still have, under the guise of "safety", "security", "the war on drugs", "stopping illegal immigration" and other pretexts. We are to be good little drones, quiet subjects of those who would be King. Not because the "patriots for profit" say this. Because I can see this with my own eyes. I've seen the black helicopters. I've seen the sign on our national parks that say these parks are now part of some U.N. "biosphere". I've seen also, by the way, the UN-sponsored "Biodiversity Treaty". These "biospheres" are products of this treaty, and the move to drive God out of all public and private life is also a product of this treaty, which plans to have us all worshipping nature. Hug a tree for me, eh?
And I've seen, during that standoff I spoke of earlier, that all the rest of us folks out here where it happened lived under Martial Law. Folks who needed medical attention, including an infant, either couldn't get help or if they did get outside help, couldn't get back home. Animals and livestock went unfed, garderns and plants went unwatered because most residents of this mountain community were persuaded to leave and couldn't return until law enforcement said they could.
So don't call me "paranoid". I go by what I see, not by what I read in any press, hear on any radio or TV station, or come across on the internet.
That's why I won't conform to any thing. And neither will my omegaserv.com web site. And neither will OmegaZine.
Deborah Lagarde, Editor
OmegaZine.
In my other lives I've been: a groupie for several Long Island garage/bar bands, an art student, a nurse's aide, an EKG technician, a packer, a college tutor, a college newspaper production manager, a T-shirt airbrusher, an assistant beekeeper, a teaching paraprofessional, a high school math teacher, an editor/proofreader/typist, and now, a web designer and e-zine/novel publisher/editor. I've always been a writer.
Anyway, I've been a writer since about age 10. Used to write short stories about the imaginary characters I made up. This was good preparation for writing my first three novels, collectively called the "Prodigal Band Trilogy". They are about a rock super band that goes on a "mission from God." Now that's a bit far out, eh? But, because rock musicians are spokespersons/idols for today's young people, it is my hope that this trilogy will inspire a few rock musicians to take on the cause of spreading The Word. Many young people don't listen to preachers; perhaps, they'll listen to their rocker heroes. Read more about this at God Loves Rock.