x-sender: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com x-receiver: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com Received: from mail pickup service by IQ12 with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Fri, 10 Jul 2015 04:15:31 -0400 thread-index: AdC66JZpmezDKXGVRCG6dX4hYQmduw== Thread-Topic: Individual Liberty From: To: Subject: Individual Liberty Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2015 04:15:31 -0400 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Microsoft CDO for Windows 2000 Content-Class: urn:content-classes:message Importance: normal Priority: normal X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.1.7601.17609 X-OriginalArrivalTime: 10 Jul 2015 08:15:31.0257 (UTC) FILETIME=[966BCA90:01D0BAE8] CUSTOM Mr Brian T Burke unemployed military veteran 7503 Teague Rd Columbia SC 29209 btburke88@gmail.com 3028032264 GOVE Individual Liberty June 9th 2015 02:13 AM To: Governor Nikki Haley and the members of the South Carolina State Legislature. South Carolina's heart was broken in wake of the events that took place in the AME Church in Charleston. This tragedy left us all, liberal and conservative; Democrat and Republican, black, white, Asian, Latino, Native American, blue, purple, green or orange appalled and disgusted at the carnage. Yet there was this need to place the blame on something. Instead of taking the difficult route, of addressing the issue of violence, murder and insanity, you chose to blame an inanimate object, the battle banner of the Confederate States of America. In doing this you chose to ignore, the reasons behind the underlying issues in America of hatred, violence, and division. You have showcased your inability to effectively govern by ignoring the rights of those who wished to see the flag represent the heritage of the men and women who scarified their lives for what they thought was right, which you need a reminder is the founding principle of this country. The individual is superior to the masses, the foundation of a republic again which you have all forgotten is the type of government of the United States and South Carolina individually. The proper course of action is to address the issues which divide us, and cause contentions and disconnects within our communities and our state. There is a trend developing in America and South Carolina that the smallest group of a minority are influencing policy by forcing hands of legislators trying to accommodate special interest groups, instead of upholding the oaths of office. President Ronald Regan expressed his concern for actions such as this in 1964 when he said "admittedly, there's a risk in any course we follow other than this, but every lesson of history tells us that the greater risk lies in appeasement, and this is the specter our well-meaning liberal friends refuse to face that their policy of accommodation is appeasement". This is the course you as legislators have embarked upon for the state of South Carolina. You have chosen to appease, instead of govern. Your action to remove the battle banner of the Confederate States of America from a confederate monument has done nothing but increase anger, and division among the citizens of the State. However your concern were not founded in dealing with the true causes of problems instead were more concerned about the appeasement of a small group of individuals. The proper course of action when there is a question relating to the state is to let the people decided the correct action. In a Republican form of government which is what South Carolina holds, the power is beholden to the people, and it is from the people to the government not from the government to the people, the latter is what you have done. I write to remind you that your obligation is to govern in accordance with the law, and the law is superior to the government. The law limits and instructs the government on its power. You have violated the founding principle of a republican form of government by not allowing the people to choose the fate of a state monument. I vehemently pray that in upcoming legislative actions all of you will chose what is right in accordance with the Constitution of the State of South Carolina and the United States of America. I like a majority of this state, am ardently displeased with how you have let hatred and fear make a decision regarding an inanimate object. I hope in the future you will and have realized the errors of your ways and will consider further amendments or bills that will restore honor to the Confederate Soldiers Monument at the State House Grounds. Respectfully, Brian Burke 7503 Teague Rd Columbia SC 29209 302-803-2264 Btburke88@gmail.com