public:cb_mirror:volunteer_voice_55th_edition_txt_blogposts_28086
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Volunteer Voice 55th Edition
| The Cost of Safety – Trading Freedom for Comfort By Jim MacDonald Growing up in the seventies, the neighborhood sidewalks transformed into  runways, and kids became daredevils in their own right. A simple plank on a cinder block became a launchpad for dreams of glory. We raced our bikes down the sidewalk, the air buzzing with cheers from our friends, as we hit the makeshift ramp and soared into the air.More often than not, the jumps were successful, emboldening us to raise the ramp even higher. In our minds, Evel Knievel had nothing on us. Helmets, knee pads, or elbow pads? Those were foreign concepts. Instead, we clipped playing cards to our bike spokes with clothespins, the sound adding a dramatic flair as we landed, slammed on the brakes, and basked in the applause. Then, without hesitation, we’d attempt the stunt again. Summers were for airborne feats, while winters brought pick-up tackle football games in the snow—no pads, no protection, just the thrill of the game. Looking back, you might wonder what kind of parents would allow such risks. The truth is, they didn’t always know. The rules were simple: you stayed outside until you were done for the day, and you came home when the streetlights turned on. **{{https://content.conventionofstates.com/cosaction-prod/public/content/images/94046/94046_original.jpg?200x56}}** Senator Frank Church - American Patriot By Brian Harris I am currently in the process of reading James Risen’s biography of Frank  Church titled, The Last Honest Man. Church is most famously known for chairing The Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities in 1975. This body became known as the Church Committee, and it unearthed and exposed a wide range of intelligence community abuses.Up to that time, agencies like the CIA, NSA, and FBI had largely conducted their cloak-and-dagger activities free of congressional or public scrutiny. Among the crimes exposed by the Church Committee were CIA assassination programs, domestic spying (Operation Chaos), and mind control experiments (MKUltra). Today, we know of those atrocities thanks to Senator Frank Church. A common link across these deadly deeds is Dr. (Evil) Sidney Gottlieb. He is the man the agency turned to for developing the tools to kill foreign leaders. He is the man the agency turned to to develop methods for mind control, which dosed subjects with LSD and other drugs without their permission.  The Role of Disruptor in Preserving Liberty By Jim MacDonald Imagine living in a world where everything seems set in stone. The  powerful rule without challenge, the people resign themselves to the way things have always been, and the idea of actual change feels like a distant dream. Then, one day, a disrupter emerges—someone who refuses to accept the status quo and dares to shake the foundations of society.Donald Trump is one such disrupter. Love him or hate him, there can be no doubt that he was elected to shake up Washington. But should we be surprised? History is full of disruptors—people called to rise against corruption, tyranny, and complacency. Picture yourself in ancient Egypt around 1445 BC. You live in a land of towering pyramids and great wealth but also one of injustice. The Jewish people toil under oppression, their cries for freedom seemingly unheard. Then, out of nowhere, an 80-year-old man named Moses returns from exile. He was once a prince of Egypt, but now he comes as a messenger of God, demanding the release of his people. Imagine the shock, the defiance, the upheaval. And yet, against all odds, Moses succeeds, disrupting the greatest empire of his time. But his mission didn’t end there. Moses would go on to receive the Ten Commandments from God, delivering to the world a moral and legal foundation that would shape civilizations for millennia.  Organization is Power By Joseph Sheeley We’ve all had this experience: We really don’t like any of the candidates on  the ballot, but it is a choice between one that will quickly destroy the country and one that will do it more slowly. So, we pick the one who will do it more slowly as the “lesser of two evils.” We don’t actually get to pick a candidate that we feel will do the things we want to get done. We’re left choosing the one who won’t do as much damage.The incumbents have learned to use this as a way to stay in office even though they really don’t do any of the things that they promise. They know that if they can just get past the primaries because they are in a state that always votes Democrat or Republican, they can stay in office. They can then just go on the talk shows, jump in front of the news cameras, and criticize those from the “other side of the aisle” to stay in the public eye while not doing anything they promised. At times they can even support bills that go against the principles they promised to promote (particularly if it puts money in their pockets). They know that when the primary season comes around, they probably won’t have any substantial challengers. (They have all of the party machine behind them, plus hours of time on TV and radio, so any challenger has an insurmountable uphill battle.) If they can just get to the general election, they’ll win easily.  Tennessee Volunteers Lead the Way in Civic Engagement on Surge Day By Jim MacDonald On a brisk, frosty morning—January 15, 2025—a sense of purpose  warmed the hearts of over 30 dedicated patriots as they converged from every corner of Tennessee. Their destination? The Cordell Hull Building, home of the Tennessee State Legislature, where the stage was set for one of the most significant days on their calendar: Surge Day.This annual gathering is more than just an event; it’s a celebration of civic engagement and teamwork. The volunteers assembled carefully prepared packets, representing a heartfelt connection between constituents and their lawmakers. Inside these packets were newsletters highlighting the Convention of States Action (COSA) team’s accomplishments over the past year and their ambitious plans for the future. Personalized thank-you cards expressed gratitude to the legislators for their service, accompanied by a list of constituents who had signed the COS petition in their districts. And, in a small but thoughtful touch, a couple of pieces of candy were tucked in—a sweet gesture aimed at building goodwill, especially with the hardworking assistants who help make legislative offices run smoothly.   Tennessee Passes the COS in 2016 https://youtu.be/3ff-qZus0CQ  Did You Know… The Tennessee flag was designed by Captain LeRoy Reeves from Johnson City, TN. He was a lawyer and wrote the legislative bill, and the Tennessee General Assembly adopted the flag as the official Tennessee flag on April 17, 1905. Captain Reeves designed a flag having a blue disc bearing three white stars, centered on a field of crimson. He explained the design as follows: The three stars are of pure white, representing the three grand divisions of the state. They are bound together by the endless circle of the blue field, the symbol being three bound together in one—an indissoluble trinity. The large field is crimson. The final blue bar relieves the sameness of the crimson field and prevents the flag from showing too much crimson when hanging limp. The white edgings contrast more strongly the other colors. Please note that Reeves was not a legislator, and he wrote the bill with the flag design. That sounds like the grassroots activism we support! You can find this story and more in your Tennessee Blue Book, which you can get for free by asking your state representative for a copy.   Your Call to Action… Let’s rally the American spirit! Our nation stands at a pivotal moment, echoing the values our Founders held dear. It’s time for every Patriot to make their voice heard. The Convention of States is a beacon of hope, a platform granted by those visionaries who built this great nation. It’s a chance for every American-loving Patriot to step up and shape the future, safeguarding the liberties we cherish. We are the guardians of freedom, entrusted with the duty to ensure that our nation remains a bastion of liberty, opportunity, and justice. Click the link below, join the movement, and be part of a historic effort to preserve, protect, and defend the very essence of what makes America exceptional. Click: Join our Movement. We’ve got a country to save!  Tennessee on the Move… Patriots at ALMW event.  Patriots from Ashland City, TN.    Patriots from Dayton, TN.   Patriots from Sevierville, TN.   Surge Day, the Cordell Hull building in Nashville, TN, where we met with the legislators.        Upcoming Meetings and Events Ashland City, TN. Tuesday, February 11th, 2025, 7:00 p.m. at the Bethlehem Community Center,1506 SR-12 N. Ashland City, 37015, Contact: Debbie MacDonald at [email protected] Dayton, TN. Sunday, February 9th, 2025, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. at the American Legion Post #100, 1459 Railroad Ave., Dayton, TN. 37322 Contact Bob Patterson, RSVP (423) 779-2332 Gallatin, TN. Saturday, February 15th, 2025, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the Gallatin Public Library, 123 E. Main St, Gallatin, TN. Contact: Debbie MacDonald at [email protected] Hixson, TN. Thursday, February 27, 2025, from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. at The Clear Creek Church of Christ, 5612 Hixson Pk, Hixson, TN. 37343 - Meet and Greet - Contract Jay Walling 423-605-6705 Jamestown, TN. Saturday, February 8th, 2025, from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. at Fentress County Courthouse, 101 N. Main St, Jamestown, TN. Larry Wilke Loudon, TN. Tuesday, February 11th, 2025, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Dinner at Little Italy Restaurant 316 Lakeside Plaza, Loudon, TN. 37774. See Teri Hult Powell, TN. Saturday, February 8th, 2025, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. at Shoney’s on Emory Rd. Powell, or the second Saturday of each month, Anne Martin and Dan Mobley Sevierville, TN. Saturday, February 15th, 2025, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. King Family Library 408 High St. Sevierville, call Christine Solomon at 832-868-3674 for more information. Sevierville, TN. Saturday, March 1st, 2025, from 10:30 to 2:30 p.m. Patriot Pot Luck at King Family Library 408 High St. Sevierville, TN. Guest speakers are Jim & Debbie MacDonald, and John & Abigail Adams will read some of their personal letters to each other. Call Christine Solomon at 832-868-3674 for more information. Shelbyville, TN. Saturday, February 15th, 2025, 10:00 to 12:00 a.m. at Shelbyville-Bedford County Library, 220 South Jefferson St., Shelbyville, TN 37160 Claire Root and Joyce Reed Springfield, TN. Monday, February 24th, 2025, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Location to follow…contact: Nancy Parkinson at 815-988-7209 Springville, TN. Saturday, February 1st, 2025, 10:00-11:00 a.m. at American Legion Post 89, 4326 E. Antioch Rd, Springville, TN. 28256 Bob Kutsy BattleCry, Join Mark Meckler for the BattleCry every Sunday night at 8:00 p.m. EST on Facebook and Rumble. COS at Home Join Jonathan Viaud on February 5th, 2025, at 7:00 pm CST. He will be interviewing Steve Deace with the Steve Deace Show. Follow us on the following social media sites: Facebook: https:%%//%%www.facebook.com/COSProjectTN Truth Social: https:%%//%%truthsocial.com/@Convention_of_States_Tennessee Instagram: https:%%//%%instagram.com/conventionofstatestn  |
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| Created: | 2025-02-01 01:47 GMT |
| Updated: | 2025-02-05 01:22 GMT |
| Published: | 2025-02-04 06:00 GMT |
| Converted: | 2025-11-11 12:05 GMT |
| Change Author: | Jim MacDonald |
| Credit Author: | |
public/cb_mirror/volunteer_voice_55th_edition_txt_blogposts_28086.txt · Last modified: 2025/11/11 12:05 by 127.0.0.1