Exclusive Interview: "American Heritage Party's" Dan Eby Discusses The Need For Explicitly Christian Party

[David M Zuniga]

Jonathan,

I'm ambivalent on the subject of what laws are best to curb illegal immigration.

We vacation quite a bit in Mexico (we're a family of SCUBA divers and the Mexican Costa Maya is a beautiful, reasonably-priced place to go for that). Not only did part of my family derive from Mexico, but we've just come to love the indigenous Mexican people.

There are "two flavors" of Mexicans. You can see the stratification of the two classes very clearly throughout Mexico.

The more indigenous, humbler ones (descended from cannibalistic animists, in fact) are quiet, meek-spirited, very diligent, and when they become Christians they're among the finest people on earth. In Mexican culture, when you are a guest, you're always an honored guest. They make you feel like family immediately, and share everything they have, readily. This describes the majority (maybe 80%) of Mexicans -- dispossessed folks who have been the slaves and workers of Spaniard conquistadores, since time out of mind.

The other flavor of Mexican is the Spaniard (from which, unfortunately, I am descended on my paternal side) who conquered that land; who own all the major industries and run them in the most corrupt possible way. They also own the godless, banal national media. These are the 20%, the ones who own Mexico and who "employ" its indigenous people.

The story of how Roman Catholicism eviscerates and enslaves a nation, is beyond the scope of this thread. Suffice to say that as long as the Vatican owns Mexican hearts, Christ and liberty never will. As long as he "goes to confession" and lets the priest run his neighborhood, the Roman Catholic man can live like the devil, and he does. You see this gelded-gigolo character in every country where the Vatican shapes the ethics of families by gelding the man of the house so that he has no leadership role, ever. The parish priest is the "padre", and calls the shots; the man of the house is no man, ever. So he goes out and seeks respect wherever he can find it: in the bottle, the rifle, the cocaine hit, the prostitute's lying lips.

In no countries on earth is this gelded-male ethic of Roman Catholicsim seen more clearly than in the Latinate cultures: Italian, Spanish, and French. It's the same in Mexico, ever since it was conquered by Catholic conquistadores. The liberals love to call the bloody conquest of the Americas a "Christian" conquest. Baloney: it was Roman Catholic, not Christian. And nowhere is the gulf of distinction more clearly shown between true Christianity and that impostor (Roman Catholicism) than in what has happened to men, and thus to families, cultures, and industry -- in every land where the Vatican rules!

But for all of that, Rome can't make a man into something he is not. A man in Mexico is just like a man in Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Bulgaria, Germany, Ireland, or Iran: he loves his wife and kids, and needs to work so they can eat, and so they can possibly even get ahead someday. He needs to work, because God ordained this for a man, all his days. Either a man works for a living, or he rots from the inside, and has no peace with himself. You see this in the hollow stare of the Iraqi father, as you do in the forlorn look of the Mexican father.

From the time he is very young, the Mexican man has heard that the United States is a place of great opportunity, great cities, and great wealth. When he is old enough -- because he will never compete against the Spaniard rapists that run his country, and never have a decent chance at achieving a decent life there -- he walks north. For days and weeks. Sometimes for months.

The same is true for mothers; they do the same, and their lives are as hard as any human story on this earth. We have met, and clothed, and fed, and employed many of these people in transit. We have come to admire them and to feel deep compassion for them. From some of them, we hear stories years later; in fact, we once went to dinner at the home (outside Chicago) of a friend who used to be a maid in our home for awhile. They now had a nice brick home with manicured yard, two kids in college, etc -- just outside Chicago. He has a bricklaying company and she is an office worker. They are fulfilled beyond anything they could have ever imagined before, and they are fiercely loyal to the concept of America, of liberty, and of the ability for each to attain the American dream, not by some handout mentality but by everyone in the family working as hard as the day is long.

But I said that I'm ambivalent, and I am. I think there is a limit to everything, and immigration laws DO serve a purpose. I think the only realistic way to make the Mexican government and people respect our laws is to use the old adage, "good fences make good neighbors". I will always try to show help and compassion to those who are traveling to a better life, but I do truly wish there were not so many. I wish that we'd have had the political spine to have erected a robust wall (not a wimpy fence) on the entire Mexico border, decades ago. But we didn't; now we probably have 25 million pseudo-Americans who are, I feel, among our most humble, productive citizens.

I think we should erect that fence or wall as soon as possible. Perhaps this would put more pressure on the people of Mexico to begin living up to the "new" Constitution they adopted 150 years ago. One can always pray for Christian reformation and revival in Mexico, but at least they need a Hugo Chavez-type fellow to rouse their love of liberty. The Mexican people need some hope against the predations of the corrupt men in power over all the government and industry.

Which is of course exactly what America needs, eh?

[David M Zuniga]

Jonathan,

When you meet a foreigner who is working in Michigan, treat him as you would want to be treated if you had to go to another country to find work. Realise what his life is probably like, and how little dignity, privacy, and hope he has.

All men need dignity, and we need hope. Christ brought this to mankind, but most Americans do not show it to the foreign worker. They do not show the love of Jesus Christ at all, and may God have mercy on Americans for that.

As for us Texans, we treat our southern neighbors a whole lot more like friends and neighbors because we understand that Texas was once a part of their country, just as it is now a part of your country (or so the politicians claim).

One day, perhaps Texas will be able to stand on our own again, before our King Jesus Christ, and before the world. God grant that day! But if He doesn't see fit to do that, I can sure wait for the time when we all reach our REAL country, the one we'll abide in together forever. All this stuff will seem so absurd then.

[angelawittman]

Dear Mr. Zuniga,

Your message posted here on immigration is very balanced, truthful and tempered with the love that only one who is a mature follower of Jesus Christ can know and then show to others. Thank you so very much. You have given us all much to think about.

[jbrett14]

Originally Posted by David M Zuniga

Jonathan,

When you meet a foreigner who is working in Michigan, treat him as you would want to be treated if you had to go to another country to find work. Realise what his life is probably like, and how little dignity, privacy, and hope he has.

Indeed I do, brother. I have always treated foreigners NO different than my own friends, regardless where they are from.

Here in Michigan, we have a very diverse population with residents from ALL over the world. I have had many customers from places like Egypt, India, Iran, England, Germany, Argentina, etc.. I find it a joy to talk to these folks.

Recently I had an interesting discussion with a customer from Germany, and she was surprised how open-minded I was with her. Of course I was simply treating her as I would want to be treated. She stated that most Americans she meets are very prideful and talk as though she is less significant. How sad.

I had an older lady from India treat me like her own son. She would hug me when I arrived at her house, and always wanted to make me tea. Still have no idea what was in that tea, but I never tasted anything like it. She may have told me, but I could only understand half of the words she spoke. I just smiled, nodded, and sipped.

Another recent customer I had, was a man from Iran. He ended up being one of our best customers ever, in terms of appreciation, thankfulness, and prompt payment. He was even VERY open-minded to listen to me talk about Christ.

These are interactions I have regularly with foreigners, and they are always among our most pleasant and most intelligent customers, and are FAR less prideful than the typical American. They also tend to have a MUCH greater family unit than the average American's, including Christians.

Sadly, Americans in general treat foreigners like they are dumb or less significant than an "American".

Jonathan Brett

[David M Zuniga]

Mrs Wittman,

Then I take it that you aren't mad at me anymore for being "pessimistic" as you recently accused me of being!?

I did not mean to besmirch the AHP; I was merely voicing a fact that everyone knows: these small marginal parties can't do much to change this republic. That must happen in the hearts of individual MEN. As I always say, we must see Christian men begin to act like Christians, and like men.

No political party can do that (even a BIG one), and no denomination can do it, either. Those institutions are becoming increasingly anachronistic in our technology-mediated world where things move instantly across, over, and around legacy institutions.

This empowerment of the individual without the mediating (adulterating, coercive) institutions, is what Davidson and Rees-Mogg call "The Sovereign Individual" (in their book of that name). I recommend the book highly.

I've not begun to think about what this means for political parties, but I'm sure the changes ahead will be deep and wide. I think the most effective political parties will now be the ones that most branzenly play for all the marbles.

Which is what you folks are doing. Bully for you.

[angelawittman]

I did not mean to besmirch the AHP; I was merely voicing a fact that everyone knows: these small marginal parties can't do much to change this republic. That must happen in the hearts of individual MEN. As I always say, we must see Christian men begin to act like Christians, and like men.

Praise the LORD AHP is Christ centered which sets it apart from "small marginal parties." Our dependence is upon Him to change the hearts of both men and women.

[angelawittman]

Dear Friends,

I just received an email from a Christian gentleman who wants to know the difference between AHP and CP, so I thought I would share the same info with all of you at TAV:

1. HOW DOES THE AHP DIFFER FROM THE CONSTITUTION PARTY?

While the American Heritage Party and the CP generally hold similar platform positions, the two parties differ significantly in many areas including party vision, founding principles, strategy, membership, leadership qualifications, party government and uniformity.

The vision of the AHP is uniquely Christian in both in its goals and methods. This distinguishes it not only from the CP, but also from all other political parties. The AHP holds that the Bible should provide the divine blueprint for all of life, including politics. It should define not only the goals of Christian political activity, but also the methods and strategies, right down to party government. AHP Vision calls for the abandonment of relativistic and unbiblical concepts and strategies such as conservative-, traditional- or family-values based platforms, the forging of secular political coalitions as the basis for obtaining influence, as well as the "we the people" principle of popular sovereignty.

The AHP is in agreement with the CP's stated goal of restoring government to its Biblical presuppositions and its constitutional boundaries. However, whereas the CP employs traditional methods, the vision of the AHP centers on providing American Christians with a new vision for reforming their nation through Christ. This means rebuilding a comprehensive Biblical worldview among Christians, providing for the effective representation of that worldview in political affairs, articulating the principles and merits of Christian civilization, and transforming politics as usual into a contest of basic principles. It means pulling down the strongholds of humanism and abandonment theology that have all but neutralized the influence of the Church in politics and culture.

In addition to fundamental differences in party vision, the AHP and CP differ significantly in the following areas:

A. Party Founding Principles

As an explicitly Christian Party, the AHP has laid its foundation in a statement of fundamental theological principles that provide a solid foundation for maintaining unity and orthodoxy in party direction, leadership, platform and membership. The AHP honors Christ unapologetically in all of its party documents as the head of all authority both in Heaven and on Earth, as well as the only hope of men and nations.

The CP lacks an explicitly Christian foundation. Although many CP members are Christians, constitutionalism provides the common foundation of party unity and the focus of party activism. Whereas the CP is primarily constitution-centered, the AHP strives to be Christ-centered.

B. Party Strategy

The CP emphasizes national reform by capturing public office (especially the presidency) and restoring constitutional government through the use of legislation, the executive veto and the impeachment power. The AHP generally supports the legitimacy of these methods, but considers them inadequate and unsustainable without the reestablishment of the Christian-Biblical worldview that formed the basis of American self-and civil-government. No man can secure liberty or restore the Constitution through political means while neglecting its foundations in Christ. Where men refuse to acknowledge the universal Lordship of Christ, and ignore Him as the cornerstone of duly constituted civil government, they condemn themselves to eat the fruits of unbelieving political systems.

Since the hope of nations lies in Christian reformation, and since the Body of Christ is God's chosen vehicle to disciple the nations for Christ, the AHP message and strategy focuses on educating and mobilizing the Body of Christ and on representing Christians and the Christian faith in the political dialog.

Some basic tenets of political strategy unique to the AHP include:

Raising-up new generations of Christian statesmen through discipleship, training and education;
Mobilizing a league of Christian families at the local level as the foundation for national reform;
Redefining the political debate from a secular "liberal vs. conservative" framework to the Christian Biblical perspective of "faith vs. unbelief";
The formation of local Christian voter clubs as centers of local party activism:
C. Membership

Membership of the CP is composed of Christians, constitutionalists and conservatives united primarily by their reverence for the Constitution and their desire to restore limited constitutional government and fiscal responsibility. Theological perspectives vary considerably and there is significant disagreement over the proper place of Christianity in the party vision and leadership.

The AHP is a party for Bible-believing Christians and voting membership is open only to confessing, Bible-believing Christians. AHP leaders and activists are united around a comprehensive Christian vision for reforming the nation for Christ. Unity in vision and purpose (in Christ) provides the Biblical basis for an effective organization.

D. Qualifications

Unlike all other political parties, the AHP requires its leaders and candidates to meet Biblically-based leadership and character qualifications in addition to scholastic qualifications in government, history, apologetics, etc. The tremendous pressures and public scrutiny endured by public figures means that only individuals of the highest caliber and qualifications should be qualified to represent our cause. The AHP holds its candidates accountable to these standards. The CP does not have well-defined standards for its candidates and party leaders.

E. Party Government

The CP party structure, like other parties, is convention based. The party's platform and direction are determined through democratic consensus among delegates. As a convention based party, the CP is vulnerable to the same political pressures, compromise and drift that have driven the decline of other parties.

The AHP believes that an effective, unified and Biblically based party must be governed differently than secular, consensus based parties. The party does not remake itself in convention each election cycle. The convention (consensus) basis for the party government and platform has been replaced with a more deliberate approach to development of the party's vision, principles, platform as well as the election of party leaders and nomination of candidates. The AHP has instituted, in its governing documents, a series of checks and balances as constitutional safeguards to ensure fidelity to Biblical principles and party founding vision.

F. Uniformity of Party

The CP was formed as a coalition of diverse state affiliates with strong emphasis on state party autonomy ("states rights"). This has led to disparity in party name, vision and platform. These disparities lead to conflict and instability within the party as well as confusion in the electorate. The concept of states rights (federalism) is misapplied here, for while it is an important safeguard to liberty in a civil union, it is a natural deterrent to unity and effectiveness in a voluntary organization.

The AHP formed in June 2000 as a national party with the requirement that each constituent state party share the same name, vision and purpose. The concept of "state's rights" does not allow a member state party to deviate from fundamental party principles since such deviation would be self-defeating. AHP strategy favors the gradual building of a unified organization rather than the merging of diverse preexisting groups for short-term gain.

http://www.americanheritageparty.org/faq.htm#B1