Tag Archives: democracy

This Is My Declaration of Independence

Posted on July 2, 2026 by mitchteemley

See video below It’s My Country’s 250th Anniversary… …and this is my declaration of independence. These days, the very meaning of the term “patriotism” is being fiercely contested, both here and in other countries throughout the world. What better time … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, For Pastors and Teachers, Movies, Music and Videos, Quips and Quotes, Religion and Faith | Tagged , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Not Until We Are All Free

Posted on June 19, 2026 by mitchteemley

Martin Luther King Jr. The Reason We Celebrate Juneteenth “No one is free until we are all free.” Those words are illustrated every year on June 19th. Why? Because it doesn’t memorialize the official 1865 proclamation that all American slaves … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 29 Comments

What’s Wrong with Our World?

Posted on May 11, 2026 by mitchteemley

Thought for the Week “It will never be known what acts of cowardice have been motivated by the fear of not looking sufficiently progressive.” ~Charles Péguy What’s wrong with our world? I don’t know of any nation or society that’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Quips and Quotes, Religion and Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 52 Comments

Democracy: It’s the Opposite of Efficiency

Posted on November 7, 2025 by mitchteemley

Efficiency (noun) – Operating quickly and effectively in an organized way. Synonyms: Competence, expertise. Antonym: Democracy. In the midst of a record-length government shutdown, my country held elections this week. None of us really knew what we were doing. But the … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 27 Comments

A Powerful 4th of July Message

Posted on June 25, 2025 by mitchteemley

Independence Day is Coming! Teacher, pastors, and drama groups: This Independence Day presentation of mine (in both monologue and ensemble versions) has been read and performed by churches and other organizations throughout the United States. Both versions are now available from … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Music and Videos, Quips and Quotes, Religion and Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Surreal Politics

Posted on July 22, 2024 by mitchteemley

Thought for the Week “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.” ~Groucho Marx “The devotees of the party in power are smug and arrogant. The devotees of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

My Declaration of Independence

Posted on July 4, 2023 by mitchteemley

My Real Memoir (See below for video) I loved fireworks as a kid. Loved watching things burn (no, I wasn’t a pyromaniac, just a boy–as if there was a difference). I loved dousing my old model planes in lighter fluid … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 39 Comments

What’s Wrong with Our World?

Posted on May 17, 2021 by mitchteemley

Thought for the Week “It will never be known what acts of cowardice have been motivated by the fear of not looking sufficiently progressive.” ~Charles Péguy I don’t know of any nation or society that’s ever been universally improved by … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , | 50 Comments

Meet Me In the Middle?

Posted on December 7, 2020 by mitchteemley

Thought for the Week During the contentious–and by some, still contended–national election my country just came through, I was repeatedly prodded to “take a stand!” i.e. to swing either far to the left far to the right. But I did … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , | 43 Comments

The Cost of Freedom in 2020

Posted on November 5, 2020 by mitchteemley

I wrote the words below after the 2016 U.S. elections. This year, the issues seem completely different. But are they? True, we’ve had four years of bluster from a man who believes not so much in conservative values as in … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 35 Comments