Paineful Truth

Merry Christmas! Here at Paineful Truth, we are taking the holiday off, however we did not want to leave you hanging without a post this week! Please enjoy these borrowed articles and video that take a look back at how Christmas was celebrated by our past presidents. We have an unbelievably rich history and heritage in our country, much of which is slowly getting lost and forgotten. As has been wisely said, those who do not know where they came from do not know where they are or where they are going. Let us protect America from this fate. Let us know and learn from our history. We are so grateful for your support of Paineful Truth in our inaugural year. Looking greatly forward to what is to come! Merry Christmas, everyone! Christmas With the Presidents "Presidential Christmas Cards" President Harry Truman’s Christmas Address Jonathan Paine @painefultruth76 painefultruth1776@gmail.com

Alright, maybe not three easy steps. But I want to prove to you that it can be simple. Maybe not easy, but definitely simple. How do you win an election? In a perfect world, you would have to convince, through honesty and sincerity, a majority of the people voting to support your ideas, policies and beliefs. In case you hadn’t noticed, we do not live in a perfect world. And in this imperfect world we see elections won through false promises, charisma, charm and sadly, at times, outright lies. After the fifth and final GOP debate of 2015, one thing is clear - the majority of the Republican primary field understand the threats that are facing America. The solutions are proffered by the candidates are varied. However, I believe that several understand what good foreign policy is . But back to the original question. Those who don’t have an understanding of good foreign policy or the threats facing America appear to be oblivious to the pulse of America. Those who ignore what American...

Once again this week, the spotlight has been on Trump , what Trump has said, and what others are saying about what Trump said. The topic has also once again turned to immigration after the troubling events in San Bernardino . The cause for the attention on Trump is mainly his comments regarding the banning of Muslims from entering the country. But right now, I want to take the spotlight off of Trump and ask a question that seems to often get lost in the melee - “What should we actually do?” In our divided political system, we often lose track of this basic question. Instead we look at this person’s idea, and then on to this other person’s idea, and back and forth it goes until we are forced to take a side and stick with it. It’s just easier sometimes to make a choice of “which side you’ll support”, rather than critically thinking through the issues, taking them apart and coming to your own conclusion. It is something I have mentioned before, we cannot allow ourselves to be box...

Truth from Tragedy San Bernardino. Add it to a growing list of horrific tragedies that continue to rock our nation and cause us to ask hard questions, not only about the situations but about ourselves. Let’s start with what we know. First, in case you hadn’t noticed, we have a biased media . Gun control was on the lips of nearly every news-person as soon as the story began to break. Everyone jumped on Google maps to see where the nearest Planned Parenthood was to the shooting. Workplace violence was the general consensus at the beginning. I understand wanting to have all the facts before reporting things, however, in general, the media’s coverage was shameful. Second, out of all fifty states, California has the strictest gun laws as rated by the Brady Campaign. That is fact . “California also has no provision in its state constitution that explicitly guarantees an individual the right to keep and bear arms.” It is not an exaggeration to say that California is not a gun f...

Dear Readers,      As we celebrate this holiday, it would do us well to remember the 'why'. Why do we celebrate? As with most things in history, time causes much to pass away. So let's look back for a moment and focus on the reason we give thanks. ~JP Thanksgiving Proclamation Issued by President George Washington, at the request of Congress, on October 3, 1789 By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation. Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of g...

Dear Mr. President: I write this today with a heavy heart. A feeling, I’m sad to say, that many of my fellow Americans share. A dark cloud is descending and darkening the future for ourselves and our children. We hope and pray for a leader that will stand strong. A leader that will fight to protect that future from the impending darkness. In our White House, there is no such leader to be found. Our nation is at a tipping point. On one side is prosperity, on the other is a steep, treacherous slope to destruction. There are many issues that could tip this balance one way or the other, depending on how they are handled. For example, our nation’s $18 trillion debt, First Amendment freedom of speech, basic civil liberties, and yes, the current immigration crisis in which we find ourselves. Mr. President, you and others of your persuasion, speak of “compassion”. You have stated that we cannot close our hearts to these victims, because “that’s not who we ...

Paris, France, the ‘city of light’, has gone dark. An unspeakable tragedy has occurred that has rocked the world. As details continue to emerge and give us a clearer picture of what happened, there are several things that we already know for sure: The threat of radical Islamic terrorism is real An armed citizenry is vital Strong borders are essential A country’s job is to protect its citizens It is the responsibility of the citizens themselves to personally help the world as a whole Radical Muslims are the enemy that this world faces today. There is no tolerance or acceptance in their way of doing things. Convert or die are the only choices, if any choice is given at all. In Paris, no choice was given. The number one, God-given right that every human being possesses (recognized or not) is the right to life. Attached to that right is the right to defend one’s life from threats. Here in America, we enjoy the benefits of the Second Amendment that guarante...

When do you feel safe?  For most, it is when they are home, surrounded by people they love and familiar things. Especially this time of year, a warm fire and friendly conversation around good food is the picture of security and peace. Now, imagine purposefully leaving that feeling of safety and security. Imagine knowing that you may never feel that way again or return to that place of happiness. Imagine giving it all up and putting yourself in harm’s way, knowing that death is a plausible option. This is the definition of a soldier. A patriot. A hero. A veteran. My grandfather served as a pilot in the US Navy during World War II. I never knew him, but my parents and grandmother kept his memory alive with stories of his bravery and sacrifice. He was one of hundreds of thousands who answered the call, selfless men and women who fought, bled and died so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today. I found it very fitting that the latest GOP debate occurred the day before...