Texas Insider

10:28 am CST - March 22, 2010

An Education for Freedom

By Brian Russell, SBOE District 10 Candidate

Where are we as a nation? (Are you ready for a little “tough love”?) We have a Congress that thinks its OK to trample our Constitution underfoot and “deem” a bill passed rather than voting on it because they are ashamed to have a roll call vote that puts their name on the bill.

We have an imperial President that thinks its OK for him to dictate to you what healthcare you are able receive.

We have a Supreme Court on which sit at least four justices can’t seem to read the text of the 2nd Amendment and figure out that WE THE PEOPLE have an individual right to keep and bear arms.

That’s bad news. But its not the worst news.

The worst news is that this is not an aberration, its a reflection. It’s a reflection of the American people, a majority of which voted into the Office of President of the United States of America an open socialist and fellow traveler with Communists and racists.

A man whose foreign policy experience prior to election consisted of traveling to European capitals that we freed with our blood and treasure to apologize for the United States. A man who passionately spoke on the floor of the Illinois Senate AGAINST a bill that would protect babies born alive from being killed by their doctors.

And this leads us to question: why?

How could that happen here? How did we get into this mess, and how do we get out?

There are many answers to these questions if we are honest. Certainly, we have to acknowledge a spiritual decline in our nation, or as Solzhenitsyn put it, “We have forgotten God.”

We must also look at the breakdown of the family unit and the consequent dependence on government as provider rather than family or church.

But we must not forget our neglect as a nation of education. Education begets knowledge, knowledge is power, and power diffused among the American citizenry is FREEDOM.

However, WE THE PEOPLE are losing our power to the encroachment of government.

Reagan rightly observed, “As government expands, liberty contracts.” In part, this is because liberty loving patriots have abandoned education to the left-leaning Edutocracy.

Consequently, students have been taught that we live in a Democracy (which the Founding Fathers feared) rather than in a Constitutional Republic.

Students have been taught that life arose on earth as a purposeless accident and is moving to a meaningless conclusion.

They have been taught that a grasp of math and science and basic literacy is beyond their reach and unnecessary in the confines of the future job into which their dreams are being fitted.

In short, our educational system has laid all the groundwork necessary for the current state of affairs to come to pass. But it need not be so.

Now is the time, and today is the hour, in which we are making our voices heard that WE THE PEOPLE will move in a different direction.

Here in Texas, we have the “Magnificent Seven.” Seven conservative members of our elected State Board of Education (SBOE), who care nothing for the sniveling criticism of the Austin-American Statesman and the New York Times, and who are willing, on our behalf and on behalf of the children of Texas, to endure the slings and arrows of the outraged Left as these seven stand for educational excellence.

In my race, I ask you to consider which candidate is equipped by strength of conviction and by battle-tested experience to take his place on the State Board of Education among their number.

By God’s grace, I believe I am that man.

Now is the time; today is the hour. I respectfully ask for your vote … for the future of our state … for the future of our nation … for the future of our children. May God bless you all.

Brian Russell is a Republican candidate for State Board of Education, District 10, which includes all of Austin, Bastrop, Burleson, Colorado, DeWitt, Fayette, Gonzales, Lavaca, Lee, Milam, Waller, Washington & Williamson counties, as well as portions of Brazoria, Fort Bend & Travis counties. The primary runoff election for SBOE District 10 takes place on April 13th. (Early voting takes place April 5th – 9th).

11 Comments

Christian Archer
1:51 pm CST
March 22, 2010

Mr. Brian Russell, I voted for you in the Republican primary and you have my vote again. I did my research and your credentials are more pleasing to me than you run-off opponent. I commit to bringing as many votes for you in Ft. Bend County as I can. I like all that you stand for.

Keep fighting the “good fight of faith.” May the Lord’s hand be upon you!

SmartTexan
8:34 pm CST
March 22, 2010

What a great patriot you are, Mr. Russell!

I so wish I were in your district…I would DEFINITELY vote for you!

But I do have an ace up my sleeve….my very conservative and politically active son who attends UT in Austin is registered down there.

I will INSIST that he vote for you in April! And you can rest assured that he will! Along with as many of his fraternity brothers as he can drag along!

God Bless from Tyler!

Sam
10:28 am CST
March 22, 2010

Join Brian Russell, candidate for the State Board of Education, and hear how you can help win the April 13th Republican Primary Runoff. Please call Julia Russell at 512-371-7856 if you have any questions. He will also be in Fort Bend tonight so please come meet and hear more of what Brian has to say.
Teresa Raia’s home
1 Turnabout Ct
Sugar Land, TX 77478
Get directions to here

Eric
11:35 am CST
March 22, 2010

If I wanted to hear Brian Russell’s views on God, I’d go talk to him in church, privately. As he’s running for an office where he would purportedly make decisions on behalf of all Texans, I’d ask him instead for a little humility. I wouldn’t want to live in Iran. I don’t want him to turn Texas into its christian equivalent. Render unto Caesar and all that. Maybe Brian should spend some time thinking about Matthew ch. 6.

Evelyn
12:44 pm CST
March 22, 2010

I love what you had to say, Mr. Russell. I’m going to share it on my FB page.

Rick Habecker
3:40 pm CST
March 22, 2010

Brian, citizens like Eric apparently will just never get it. I doubt he has the decency to at least appreciate the Christian influence felt by him and his fellow citizens every day. For instance in this country we don’t sever people’s hands if they were caught stealing. We don’t deny our women the right to vote, to enter into contracts, or even leave the home. So many other examples I could give. Because they were Christians nation the Founders understood the sin nature of men and women and they devised a republican form of government with checks and balances intended to make it move slowly so the citizens will not become enslaved to the spontaneous emotions and whims of a dictator as in so many other, non-christian based nations. Brian Russell understands these things indicating he is an educated and moral person fit for making decisions that will affect the lives of the children of Texas mothers and fathers.

JED
3:41 pm CST
March 22, 2010

Thank God for people like Mr. Russell that stand out and up for his religious beliefs. We are a Republic Nation built on morals from our Heavenly Father. Our forefathers spoke of God in nearly every piece of address to the nation! If you want to keep your beliefs in the closet ,fine…but Mr. Russell is putting his best foot forward letting people know where he stands, and the scripture below defines some of it!

Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Christian Archer
3:45 pm CST
March 22, 2010

I don’t think Brian is like the Pharisees in Matt. 6. They wanted to be seen on the street corners and receive the praise of men for their lofty long prayers and for their giving of alms.

Eric, do you have problems with a person living out their Christianity in public service? I was told once, when I first entered the work force after college, that I had to put my Christianity on the shelf and NOT bring it to work. The older gentleman telling me this was trying to intimidate me into submission to his spirituality or lack thereof. I wanted the job but took a risk and said, “Mr. B. I can’t shelve my relationship with Jesus Christ. He goes with me everywhere I go.” I still got the job but also got a label. I don’t want Brian Russell to shelve his Christianity when he takes a government job. Our government needs Christian principles applied more than ever.

Brian, live out your Christianity openly and publicly with a spirit of humility and not like the Pharisees. Reading about you convinces me that you already conduct yourself as Jesus’ humble servant. Detractors will always have negative things to say about you. Fear not, press on!

Brian
9:10 pm CST
March 22, 2010

Thank you Mr. Russell for your willingness to take a stand for the children of Texas in a fallen world. May the armor of God protect you as you seek to serve Him and the children of Texas. We need more accountability. We need to raise the bar and quit making excuses. We need to love and encourage our kids while providing guidance, direction and discipline. We need Mr. Russell who is willing to serve and not be served.

Marvin Cobb
12:00 pm CST
March 22, 2010

Wow, what a breathe of fresh air on the heels of the healthcare news. We are in desperate times and they call for desperate measures. I have never been an advocate of pulling the lever for one party, but after the latest debacle in Washington, I’d even vote for Gov. Perry who I have been vehemently opposed to until now. After what Obama, Pelozi, Boxer and others have forced down our throats, I’ll vote anyone but a Democrat!

Shelly
4:32 pm CST
March 22, 2010

Mr. Russell,

You have my vote! I especially appreciate what you wrote about the root of our nation’s current situation – the education of our people. “Ideas have consequences.” The ideas we teach our children will reap a harvest. What kind of seeds are we planting? Thank you for standing up and acting on behalf of our state. “If not you, who?” Thank you and God bless!