When reading the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, one gets a strong sense the framers and writers were very conservative. Conservatism endeavors to protect and defend individual rights, personal freedom, wealth and property, the lives of the unborn, religious freedom and all that is deemed sacred. Conservative ideals seek to prosecute illegal activity, protect victims' rights and create small government. Conservatism has opened the door to the creation of one of the greatest countries the world has ever known.

On the other hand, radical liberalism seeks to dismantle all of these principles claiming to do so, "for the good of the people." One of its mantras is creating a legal environment to kill unborn children while protecting a woman's right to choose. Here is a novel thought, "choose not to get pregnant." This is the 21st century, we have ways of stopping it before it happens.

Liberalism seeks to protect the rights of criminals, over look the crime while pointing its finger at the victim. It endeavors to remove individual self created wealth and give it to others who refuse to pursue it on their own. Liberals are always generous with someone else's money, can we say "Obama" as a shining example?

Liberal principles have removed a vast majority of fathers from families by replacing them with a welfare state. Liberalism seeks to devour the minds of our children in the public school systems, and colleges by teaching false principles at the same time twisting the truth of human history to match their agenda. Take a second look at Native American history for example.

A majority of people in this country by their very nature are conservative, some just don't know it yet. I am convinced by the 2010 elections we will see just how much we are. I am very proud of my state of Virginia for its recent vote for governor and the installation of more conservative offices. I hope in future elections I can say the same thing about my home state of Ohio.

If you haven't already, I highly recommend a walk through Mound Cemetery reading the tombstones (on Fifth Street I think). Marietta has had some extraordinary people live and die on her soil. Take the steps up to the top of the Indian burial mound and look to the west across town. Imagine the land when there were no settlers and remember you are standing on sacred ground. This battle for freedom is being fought once again.

When in the trenches, I will take a gun toting conservative by my side and leave the gun hating liberal back home hiding under the bed.

L.C. Sargent

Hampton, Va.