JesseSteele.com

Fake ‘I Love You’s’

Apr 152014

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When the disgruntled public gathers to express their disapproval of their government, politicians hide in velvet offices while the protesters face off with the police who could often care less about the issues. The textbook passive-aggressive response is for the cowering politicians to pretend that the public objects to the police instead of the policy makers by saying, “We love the police. Why don’t you?”

While ancient spin tactics undermine the intent of the public, thus breeding conflict, nothing is more insulting to the police than fake “I love you’s” from politicians who roused public dissent in the first place. [Full post / Comment...]

Why We Need Patriots

Apr 082014

Why We Need Patriots (mp3)

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There is always a small number of people who try to seize government’s power, secretly and behind closed doors. They don’t care about the public, only their own quest for power. This is why all police in America legally swear to obey a Constitution above any “fuhrer”, supervisor, lieutenant, general, or president.

Having seen this great need first hand, George Washington said, “A free people ought not only be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government.”

[Full post / Comment...]

Vengeance: The Elephant in America’s Living Room

Apr 072014

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I’m not rehashing the entire Trayvon Martin case. But there are common lessons throughout his story that America shares as a whole, in the home, in foreign policy, and in political Churchianity.

Trayvon and George made very similar mistakes. The difference was that George had a .45 and was eleven years wiser. At any point, George Zimmerman or Trayvon Martin could have acted in self-preservation—early on, rather than waiting until the last possible second. The prosecution made the same mistake: seeking a “murder” verdict, only allowing the more feasible charge of “manslaughter”, again, at the last possible second before the jury deliberated.

If you see a suspicious person, for Heaven and Earth’s sake, don’t go near him!!

George could have stayed in his SUV. He could have chosen not to walk into someone else’s gated community. He could have chosen to run away when he saw Trayvon. [Full post / Comment...]

Sunflower Movement: A Day on the Ground (photos)

Apr 062014

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View Jesse’s full photo set at flickr.com

The sun sets on several thousand gathered in Taipei. Police stand guard with riot shields and batons blocking roads and entrances. Streets overflow with students—some standing, most sitting on cardboard, Mylar heat blankets, or interlocking foam pads. Tents and booths line walkways. Traditional Taiwanese food vendors sit at the outskirts. Projection screens and stages can be found at the corner of every block, each with a different guest speaker. Sweepers patrol, armed with brooms and dustpans. The scene is clean. No one litters. Everyone is a volunteer but the police. Sunflowers and yellow banners are everywhere.

This is a movement unlike anything I’ve seen. Anyone who has personally encountered a head of Sate understands the term “electricity”. If you’re standing outside the White House, for instance, not even paying attention, you may suddenly feel an enormous “jolt” of emotional energy, even with no noise or activity. [Full post / Comment...]

Pentagon Pentecostal vs Beijing Baptist

Apr 022014

Pentagon Pentecostal vs Beijing Baptist (mp3)

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Is unity too much to ask for? President Ma of Taiwan may think so. And I’m starting to agree with him. It’s not that I’m on the same page with Ma’s political policy. But when competing businesses hear their leaders talk about “unity”, certain terms start floating around—conflict of interest, rebellion, disloyalty, treason, heresy… just to name a few.

I grew up believing what I heard on Sunday morning: Love all people. We are united in Christ. Church is not the building, it’s the people inside. Don’t gossip, talk to people directly before talking about them with others. Don’t let money corrupt God’s good work…

But, when I talked to those “other” Christians across the street, well… The math didn’t add up anymore.

Why am I “rebellious” for rubbing shoulders with Christians who meet under different roofs? Why is it so important where I give my tithes and weekly donations if “money” isn’t as important as “God’s work”? [Full post / Comment...]

The Price of Mastery

Mar 312014

The Price of Mastery (mp3)

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Everyone can’t be an astronaut or MBA player, but without practice no one would know how to get to Carnegie Hall. Professional parents often give foot-on-the-ground advice: Pay the bills first, then pursue your dreams.

Writing books, composing songs, designing winner websites, and decorating canvases require a recipe of time and inspiration. Working 9-5 steals time. Hardship is the seed of inspiration, which daily exhaustion kills. And having the bills paid isn’t “hardship”. If owning a yacht is your goal, consider medical school. But if you want to be a master, paying the bills might eat all your main ingredients. [Full post / Comment...]

Debunking Myths: Was CIA involved with Taiwan’s demonstrations?

Mar 262014

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While I’m sure some of our friends at CIA would be insulted if I said that they weren’t involved in everything that happens in the world, I suspect that Intelligence participation in the Taipei protests are minimal at most. This comes from a basic understanding of exactly how much Ma, Taiwan’s President, has isolated himself and exactly how much support the island has for the student demonstrators.

30,000 people have camped out in Taiwan’s capital square and their friends of friends encompass nearly everyone on the island. The movement is indisputably student-led. Massive support for the students is beyond manipulation.

One bureaucrat at the Executive Yuan complained that occupying students ate his sunflower and pineapple cakes—which really are delicious. In a nose-thumbing response, several bakeries swarmed his home with cases upon cases of sunflower and pineapple cakes. It is doubtful that CIA had to do much convincing in order for Asians to seize the opportunity to insult a government official by “feeding their enemies”. [Full post / Comment...]

Taiwan: A New Meaning of “Student Government”

Mar 252014

Taiwan: A New Meaning of “Student Government” (mp3)

Follow @JesselSteeleThe “sunflower” student movement recently “retook” Taiwan’s Legislative chamber, and briefly the Executive Yuan. China’s Communist Party never defeated the Nationalists. But, Taiwan’s own students interrupted KMT-Nationalist (国民黨) control for the first time in history.

More truth has been spoken from the student-controlled Taiwan Legislature‘s floor in the last 200 hours than in Taiwan’s 70-year history and, arguably, in the 235+ years of US Congress. Unlike the “occupy” movement in America, Taiwanese are clean, they don’t loot or leave graffiti, and they talk about liberty and democracy like an American Tea Party.

Taiwanese students raised the bar of freedom for everyone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ity9xj0Sfjc

[Full post / Comment...]

What, specifically, was Snowden’s crime?

Mar 182014

“I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.”

—Ronald Reagan

While I will neither support nor condemn Snowden, the people need the US government to handle problems much more effectively.

According to the US Constitution, Article III, Section 3…

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.

“Only”…

Snowden has been branded as a “traitor” by Secretaries, Generals, and Legislators in the US government—which means that, in their opinion, Snowden helped a US “enemy”. But that creates a problem—Snowden told the public. Is the “public” now the enemy of a democratic/republic State?

Snowden didn’t tell secrets to the Chinese or Russians or North Koreans in secret. That would/could have been “treason”. And, most importantly, none of his accusers give him any credit or appreciation for his conscientious, though youthful, dedication to “consent of the governed” and “government of, by, and for the people”. [Full post / Comment...]

Health Care Damned America

Mar 172014

Health Care Damned America (mp3)

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Whether Obamacare or Hillarycare, nationalizing health insurance—rather than removing frivolous lawsuits that made health care unaffordable—could only bankrupt both families and governments.

Builders won the war, then barked at their kids without instructing them. Boomers barked at their parents and taught their own children to rebel. The “Obamers” generation mainly entered politics because Obama ran, often voting against Obama—but they shot from the hip, without first understanding unintended consequences.

Under-budget, spread too thin—America will inevitably be invaded. The question is: Will we surrender to God first or China-Russia later? [Full post / Comment...]

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