Kimberly Fletcher
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Why We Need Statesmen, Not Politicians

2/7/2017

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“I don’t get involved in politics.”

I hear that a lot from women around the country, especially women of faith. And what mother would want to engage in politics? We spend our whole day teaching our children not to do all the things politics promotes—arguing, name calling, back-biting, lying and so on.

Words have meaning and for a lot of women in America, politics has become a repugnant word that denotes unacceptable behavior. But we are confusing our civic responsibility with politics and they are not the same thing.



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efending liberty and virtue, respecting and honoring the Constitution—these things are not politics. They are our civic duty. Politics is simply a word people hide behind when they don’t have any principles or lack the courage to stand up for what’s right. We can’t talk about life because “it is political.” We can’t talk about God because “it is political.” We can’t talk about right and wrong and the 10 Commandments because, you guessed it, “it’s political.”

Just look at all the things that have been politicized today--life, religion, babies, healthcare, income, work,freedom—even America itself has become a political issue. It’s absurd.

We need to rise above the scum line of politics and realize being proud to be an American and willing to defend freedom is not political—it is our civic duty.

So how do we know the difference? The many years I spent dealing with politics and politicians led me to create some definitions to help us differentiate between the two.
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Politics, as we see it today, is a product of pride, worldliness, and a lust for power. That is why so many of us cringe when we hear the word “politician” and look down our noses on the profession as beneath us.
Civic responsibility, on the other hand, is that duty which every American has as a citizen of this country, to respect the law, preserve the U.S. Constitution, be involved in our communities, safeguard the Republic, watch over our government, and seek out and elect good leaders to represent us.
Politics is the result of what happens when not enough of us fulfill that duty.
That leads me to the perpetrators of politics—the politicians!

A Politician is a person who lusts for power, is obsessed with self-importance, and motivated by greed. Politicians have been groomed in politics. They learn the artful craftiness of deceit; the clever tactics of scheming to get gain and win votes and the cunning methods of distraction, distortion, denial and blame shifting. Politicians will say and do whatever it takes to keep and add to their power. They are motivated by self-preservation and personal gain, and put their own interests above the people they serve.

Politicians will vote for anything they feel benefits them regardless of how their constituents feel or whether or not it is in the best interest of the country. Politicians are self-serving individuals who hold little regard for God or country and feel no loyalty or affection for the people they serve.

A Statesman, however, is a person of integrity and high moral character, who possesses a strong desire to serve others, recognizes his/her imperfections and strives to overcome them to be the best person he/she can be. Statesmen have been trained in humanity. They learn the moral code of right and wrong, the positive attributes of honesty, humility, patriotism, accepting responsibility, and the selfless standards of love thy neighbor, the golden rule, and country before self.

Statesmen are people of faith who believe in a supreme being and a future state of rewards and punishments. They research issues carefully and do their best to vote in the best interest of the Republic and the people they represent--even if it means losing votes. Statesmen cherish freedom and liberty, have a deep affection and concern for those they serve and feel a profound sense of duty and loyalty to their country. They live their faith, reverence God, and respect the faith of others. In short, they had good mamas!

Perhaps you feel I am oversimplifying in my definitions. Maybe you think I’m too harsh on politicians. That’s possible.

I am sure there are politicians who possess some of the characteristics of a statesman and I know there are statesmen who fall prey to politics but we must ask ourselves, are we willing to settle with mediocre? Is 80 percent statesman good enough? How would you feel about your husband or wife being 80 percent faithful? It is extremely unlikely we will ever get a 100 percent statesman because none of us are perfect but lowering our standard isn’t the answer. We need to set the bar high because one thing is for sure, we will never rise above the bar we set.

If we don’t separate civic duty from politics and politicians from statesmen our vision becomes blurry and we allow things like killing babies and gay marriage to turn into “freedom of choice” and “equality.” We allow politicians to seize power they haven’t been given and write laws they have no authority to pass.

A statesman thinks he belongs to the State, but a politician thinks the State belongs to him.

Do we want politicians serving in Congress? What about city councils and school boards, the media, or the teachers who teach our children? And most of all, what do we want to be ourselves?

Corruption doesn’t begin in Washington and it doesn’t end there either. We need statesmen in our schools teaching our children, in the media presenting the news and in elected offices serving the people. We need to be statesmen ourselves and it is imperative we teach our children how to be statesmen.

“The difference between a politician and statesman, said James Freeman Clarke, “is that a politician thinks about the next election while the statesman thinks about the next generation.”
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As election season nears we have the opportunity to decide the kind of leaders we will have. We might get lucky and find a statesman on the ballot but the most powerful influence we have will be found in the kind of leaders we raise in our own home and the kind of person we determine to be ourselves.
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I AM A HOMEMAKER!

2/7/2017

5 Comments

 
 I am a mom of 8 , homeschooler, military wife, and proud American homemaker!  My husband and I were married in 2005, our first child arrived 9 months and two weeks later and it has been a wild ride ever since.   We have had a fantastic journey full of surprises, joys, trials, heartaches and miracles.  I wouldn't trade any of it and I'm excited for what the future has yet in store us.

My life has taken many interesting turns but the event that had the most profound impact on me was September 11, 2001.  My husband was stationed at the Pentagon and by a series of miracles came home safe that day.  That was the day I truly realized what freedom meant and the cost of preserving it.  As I sat on the couch surrounded by my family that night, I 
determined that I would do everything in my power to ensure that my children remain free.  This determination led me to an intense study of American history and the principles of liberty and virtue our nation was founded on; which brewed a deep sense of patriotism in my heart and a desire to become actively involved in my community and nation. 

In 2004 I founded a national organization to share and promote what I learned with the women of America.  I had no idea how to run or even start a national organization but the impression that I needed to do so kept weighing on my heart until I realized it was from the Lord and I knew I must answer the call for "such a time as this."  
As I pondered what I needed to do to start an organization I knew I needed a name but I had no idea what to call it.  I knew it needed to be something about mothers and freedom but no name I came up with seemed right.  In the middle of struggling with the name my mom came to visit and I shared my thoughts with her.  

"Why don't you call it what you know?" she said.

​"What do I know?" I responded,  "I'm just a mom and a homemaker."


"Then why don't you call it Homemakers for America?"

I about fell off my chair laughing.  "I can't call it that. No one will take me seriously."

"Maybe," my mom said, "that is the problem."
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I considered heavily what she said but still continued to come up with every name I could think of.  No matter how many names I came up with "HomeMakers for America" kept coming to the forefront.  For weeks I fought against the name until one day I realized who I was fighting against.  The Lord was calling me to form this organization so shouldn't should be called the name He wanted? It was clear that HomeMakers for America was the name He wanted and so, HomeMakers for America it became. 

Since then, I have come to realize the wisdom of God's choice.  He knew the power of the name even if I didn't because He knows the powerful influence of His daughters. He knows how much He needs them to preserve this last bastion of hope for the world.  Women are the center of the home and home is the center of society.  Nations have risen and fallen at the hands of women.  What better name is there to speak to the hearts of Americans than that which represents those who who are molding the future.

I have seen this name garner respect in senate halls.  I have seen it command attention in committee hearings and legislative offices.  Over the last decade I have witnessed over and over the powerful influence of homemaker.  I have come to realize the majesty of the name, the influence it holds and the divine nature it represents.  And now I can say that I truly understand just how important women are in the preservation of liberty, virtue and all we hold dear--not just in our nation--but in the world.

After founding HomeMakers for America, I began speaking at various events, writing articles and doing media interviews to share what I'd learned. I've met the most amazing people along the way.  In 2011, at the urging of many friends and "fans" I published my first book WOMEN: America's Last Best Hope.  I am a contributing writer with  The Blaze.  My articles have also been published on  as Townhall.com, American Thinker and Worldnetdaily.  ​
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I have been labeled by the media as “an unabashed America-loving homemaker,” and I'm proud of the title!  I had no idea where this journey would take me when I began it, but I am honored to be able to be the "cheerleader for women"  humbled by all the stories of the amazing women I meet and grateful to have been pulled out of my comfort zone so I could meet them.   It is your inspiring stories and gracious emails that keep me going.  I have made it my personal mission to encourage the women, mothers, and homemakers of America to realize your immeasurable worth and powerful influence on societies and nations simply by being who you are.

This blog is a place where I can share what I've learned as a mother, a homeschooler, military wife, a woman of faith and a VERY proud American HomeMaker! So come on in and stay awhile.  All that you hear and see, well, its all just me! ​
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    I'm a military wife, mom of 8 and an unabashed proud American loving Homemaker!

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