EFF, DAVID BOZE, GLENN BECK AND FREEDOM

On Saturday, Glenn Beck “took the field,” Safeco Field in Seattle. This show was presented by the conservative think tank, The Evergreen Freedom Foundation (“EFF”), based in Olympia, Washington. Both Glenn and EFF blend conservative and Libertarian values on a Christian foundation. Neither are political but both analyze, research and discuss the issues of the day from a reasoned and historical perspective. Evergreen Freedom Foundation is one of the finer groups researching, analyzing and presenting positions in the country, solicited for testimony and information by government operations at all levels nationwide. That this organization would bring Glenn to the Northwest is not be a surprise.

Lynn Harsh, the CEO of EFF and an exceptional scholar and lecturer, held the podium for much of the lead-in to David and Glenn. Lynn is as passionate as her program successors though more subdued in her presentation. Bob Williams, Founder and President of EFF, spoke less, deferring to Lynn to keep to the program.

The lead-in to Glenn was a bit long. Lynn and Bob spoke articulately and well, but a bit long for my concentration span and I lost interest at times. Before David Boze, a Seattle area conservative talk show host introduced Glenn, James McEachin, an actor and decorated veteran and a black man, delivered a chilling and rousing praise of our country and the men and women who serve. His delivery was gospel-preacher; he was animated, passionate and music probably would have had us all swaying to his heart-felt delivery. Rarely have I been so moved to stand and applaud.

David Boze, who formerly worked for EFF and now has a talk show in the Seattle area, delivered an energetic discussion of free enterprise and personal freedom and responsibility and the dangers of government confiscation of the private sector fruits.

Glenn Beck was the center of the show. I listen to him regularly on radio. I choose to live without cable TV so do not usually see his TV show but on the rare occasion I have, I believe his TV performance is not up to his radio performance so I was not sure what I would expect on stage. What a pleasant surprise!

Glenn does not stand still. He crosses the stage delivering his message with his powerful voice and vigorous body language. Glenn is more likely to yell than most other hosts; he cries; his emotions are on his sleeve and it is all sincere. He is an entertainer and he confesses that he likes money but if his hands were tied by the thought police, he would leave the business. He is a man on a mission of as he calls it, “entertainment and enlightenment." He has incredible energy and finding a man whose beliefs are stronger than Glenn’s cannot be easy. Glenn spoke on capitalism, our military non-committal to the middle East. On his loud demand that we either commit to win the war in Afghanistan or bring the troops home, the audience of 7,000 stood faster than crowds do for a Ken Griffey home run. He spoke of free speech and beseeched the audience to NOT be silenced.

I do not adopt idols quickly. Frankly, and this is not a joke, my last idol was Spiro Agnew, Vice President to Richard Nixon. He was a great reactionary and one of the few voices critical of rioting university students. Later he was convicted and imprisoned for tax fraud and since then I have been careful to pick idols. Glenn comes close. I do not share all of his beliefs but only the loathers of freedom, democracy, personal responsibility and achievement can doubt this man’s sincerity.

Gloria, a friend of mine who attended the presentation with me, recalling his past and his determination to overcome a tragic young adulthood, says this about Glenn: “I admire and love his humility, new vision and burning desire, that was born (of) his fall to rock bottom in 1996. How can a person know humility and have a gracious, open heart unless they've been to Hell and back. Coming back is a bigger trial... and he succeeded, by the grace of God.”

From a gent who rarely attends such functions, this was very well worth the money and time, uncommonly moving experience.

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