I believe in Brazil's future because I believe in America's as well (English Version)
I am inspired by the courage of millions of Brazilians who have bravely stood up to Lula, Mareos and dictatorship. I bring hope from America. We will bring back liberty and justice!
Why in the world did you send out a post in Portuguese, Jim?
On Saturday, I sent out a post in Portuguese. My friend
encouraged me to send a personal message to the hundreds of his followers who have begun to subscribe to my Substack here. I was glad to do so because these people are experiencing tragedy in their country since Lula was elected in a questionable election there. These are wonderful people who are passionate about liberty. And I want to encourage them. Below is the original English version of that post.Will ‘Inalienable rights’ die in apathy?
These are perilous times we live in. When I consider closely what’s happening all around the world, it seems like the “unalienable rights” Thomas Jefferson spoke of in the Declaration of Independence which have inspired nearly three centuries of Western governance and culture are at grave risk of fading away from the body politic. Jefferson was not exaggerating when he said these rights were endowed to us by our Creator. God’s design and order for the universe govern its physical nature. His moral law govern man. And governments are subject to that law as well. Good government abides by Natural Law. And bad governments deny it and promote injustice.
What Jefferson didn’t reveal in that timeless statement on human freedom is what would happen when a government is effecting the destruction of its citizen’s rights while at the same time the people themselves through apathy or neglect permit it. This is something unheard of in the West. And I cannot think of a relevant example in human history.
Is this where we have come to, this apathy? Has that sort of indifference truly set in? We are about to find out because the experiment is upon us.
Countries seem to be falling to totalitarian ideals
It is distressing to consider the gathering threats to freedom we are witnessing over the last few years:
Ireland: The Irish Parliament (the Dáil Éireann) passed a “hate speech” law in December which gives the government authority to monitor and seize all communications private and public by its citizens. Politicians can now decide what is illegal political speech as their parliamentary system has no separation of powers. They are by this means, in effect, assuring their reelection and authoritarian control over the public discourse.
Pro-Palestine protests: After the horrific attacks upon Israel on October 7, 2023, massive protests in support of the terrorist group Hamas have taken place all over the West and in parts of Asia as well. Many of the protesters are blocking major thoroughfares and intimidating Jews everywhere including on college campuses.
Immigration nightmare: European Union countries are allowing mass Muslim migration which is causing major unrest. Violent crime including rape is increasing. In the United States, an estimated 11 million people have crossed its border illegally. We have always welcomed immigrants seeking a better life here in the United States who pledged themselves to uphold our Constitution and our ideals. Those who have come here illegally are not doing that, and it is putting major stress upon our institutions.
United States: Here in the the US, we have seen nearly eight years of our federal government attempting to take down Donald Trump. The government has also been working with social media companies and internet platforms to shut down free speech as we learned from the Twitter Files released by Elon Musk.
Brazil: Your home country has a corrupt Judge who successfully took down President Jair Bolsanero through illegal acts. Chief Justice Moraes allowed Lula on the ballot when he didn’t qualify. And he doubled down throwing innocent people into jail for merely protesting an election they saw as problematic. We all suspect there was a serious and likely successful effort to steal last year’s election. Moraes has not sought justice in that regard. He may have been behind the problem. And now Bolsanero must remain in exile to escape the consequences of injustice.
I recount these facts with you to remind ourselves the threats to freedom are real, and we have a very difficult fight ahead to restore liberty.
There are reasons to be encouraged
We also have great hope as well. Look at what just happened in Argentina. Javier Milei won the Presidency there on a promise to make severe cuts to government power. And he is beginning to deliver. Nayib Bukele in El Salvador is greatly reducing crime and has restored economic freedom to Salvadorans. And there are many more stories like this to tell. There is hope for the future. And you in Brazil and I here in the United States can do our part to make it happen for us as well.
I am passionate about reaffirming liberty in my country, the United States. Because we have remained for the last 247 years the most free and strongest economy and country in the world, we have been a beacon of hope for so many. I have been working through our political system for the last 30 years to secure and expand that freedom.
Over the last two years, I have had the pleasure of becoming friends with someone from Brazil who has been in the same battles in the media to support liberty there, Allan dos Santos. Allan encouraged me to share my insights on these issues with you. He urged me to let you know how much my heart is with you. I pray for you regularly. And I am dedicated to providing as much help as I can to give you insights and encouragement in you in your struggle.
Wherever we go together from here, I want you to know my heart and desire is for your freedom as well as mine. Let us take a journey together and find a way back to free government now and in the future. The 18th Century Irish statesman John Philpot Curran put it best,
“The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance; which condition if he break, servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his guilt.”
I hope you will interact with me here. Ask questions. Share stories. And share these posts in Portuguese with your friends and ask them to join us in this great task to renew and restore the rights given to us by our Creator. It is our task. It is our duty.
With great love for my beloved United States and also with great respect and love for the wonderful people of Brazil, I wish you great success. And I pray to our God in Heaven we may have success and as we work to restore freedom for all.