The Battle We Fight: Battling Potomac Fever To Recapture Our Homes and Communities [Hardcover]

John Longenecker Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 18, 2004

Is there a connection between violent crime, official deafness and indolence, and an overall loathing of our country? Is there a chance that interested constituents - parents, newlyweds, émigrés, and other hopefuls - can actually recapture their homes and communities? Observer John Longenecker identifies an unsettling similarity between the loudest and rudest voices in office, the most disparate double standards and coercive forces, and he proposes a gutsy solution.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 264 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse (October 18, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1418494372
• ISBN-13: 978-1418494377
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,858,453 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you care about America, read this book!, February 17, 2005

By 

Bettie Corbin Tucker (PA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Battle We Fight: Battling Potomac Fever To Recapture Our Homes and Communities (Paperback)

In reading The Battle We Fight: Battling Potomac Fever to Recapture Our Homes and Communities, I found the book to be thought-provoking as well as truth-seeking. Although the author states that this book is written to reach the undecided voters such as newlyweds, new parents, and the newly registered, it is my opinion that every American citizen, whether liberal or conservative, should read this book with an open mind since it is about America's past, present and future. But, of course, this is simply wishful thinking since the anger instilled so deeply in certain individuals usually closes the door to the mind, making it seemingly unchangeable. But, the author rightfully says some do conquer such anger.

Who are the angry and why are they angry? The thesis of this book, as presented by the author, is that unhappy children of three generations of broken homes don't grow up to become good leaders; however, they make good followers. He refers to the findings of Dr. Sigmund Freud and his psychoanalyst daughter, Anna Freud, in giving credence to this thesis. Mr. Longenecker believes that individuals who do not overcome personal anger that is rooted in childhood adversities remain angry and that most of them become liberals-often life-long liberals. As adults, he believes that these individuals are drawn toward the political party that promises to give them the most power and influence so they can act on their anger-misdirected, destructive anger. Although other books and articles have been published by professionals in regard to what the Leftists are thinking, the philosophy that Mr. Longenecker introduces goes far beyond what these professionals have written. He dares to speak his mind, based upon research and analysis. Although he says that tens of millions of people notice that liberals are more unruly, more willing to break the rules for the occasions, more cruel, more vicious, more aggressive, etc., than conservatives, he also admits that some in the conservative camps have these same attributes. The author emphasizes that it is not a matter of party but, instead, one of world view and degree.

Mr. Longenecker states that America will always be under attack, not because it is a place, but because it represents an idea. He discusses liberty and states that he is a "liberty enthusiast," grateful for his own wonderful life and wanting it for all people. Knowing that liberty is possible only because of the unselfishness of our ancestors, he expresses great concern over the fact that attempts are being made to erase our history by the ungrateful. He rightfully believes that gratitude is the glue that preserves history so that it can be handed down to others. The author says that the United States is unique because it is a Judeo-Christian society with a history of values-a distinction that is necessary to understand in order to complement other historical facts.

On pages three and four, Mr. Longenecker writes, "Inherent in the gratitude that belongs in this country is a respect and adherence to the Constitution of the United States. You can't adhere to it without an understanding respect for it, and thus, the affront is on to divide it." He discusses at great length the first two amendments . . . the freedom of speech and the right to bear arms, emphasizing that we citizens must work to protect our liberties. The author insists that liberty enthusiasts do not disapprove of the government but rather of the misconduct of some individual officials. I find it unlikely that any open-minded individuals could disagree with him that liberty is about proper governance-genuine public service versus over-reach.

All too often, according to Mr. Longenecker, as well as countless other individuals, the media omits or lies in its coverage, failing in being a watchdog of government. This affects justice and governance. Don't we, who turn to the media for information, expect and deserve the truth?

The author speaks of compassion as well as misplaced compassion, citing the Boy Scouts of America as an example of the latter. This organization has explained its position and should have the right to have its own rules but there are the angry people who find it necessary to demonstrate what they believe is social justice in action-misdirected compassion. Further insight into the anger behind this is given on page 34 in which Mr. Longenecker says that, "Many defense mechanisms are at work at any time in any individual, irrespective of their political affiliation, but it's especially true in Leftists and followers who feel angry for unresolved so-called crimes against them . . ." It is his belief that people who see social injustice everywhere are anxiety-avoidance driven while most conservatives have introspection, the self-examination of feelings, thoughts, and motives. One simple question put forth by the author is especially intriguing. He inquires as to why the Left chooses to name their grievance as social injustice and why they describe a great deal of policy as healing. He also reminds us, once again, that liberalism is expressing a feeling of being emotionally wounded . . . wounds that occurred a long time before the spotted injustices. According to him, these people are what Anna Freud described as the injustice collectors.

Mr. Longenecker mentions Potomac Fever many times throughout the book and makes it clear that he doesn't consider it a laughing matter although some official insiders and commentators would disagree with him. He calls it a condition that affects many newcomers to public office who are so impressed with their new power that they forget to listen to the people as they attempt to make life better for Americans.

In giving advice to citizens who want to participate in the battle we fight, John Longenecker says they need to monitor officials, determining if they have done what they promised to do-what needs to be done. Once they have assessed their professional performance, vote them in or out. He stresses how important it is to be informed, understand the issues, and truly realize what is at stake.

Readers are asked to consider the fact that this is not really a battle between liberals and conservatives, suggesting, instead, that we fight attackers in a worldwide movement who may possibly be hiding within the Democrat party. Don't dismiss this idea until you have read everything the author has to say on this matter. His thoughts on violence and resistance are also discerning-if one believes in the preservation of individual sovereignty during times of aggression. When it comes to his thinking in regard to most movie stars and limousine liberals, I believe free-thinking citizens will agree with him. How can celebrities, who are usually isolated from the realities of life, influence the choices of ordinary citizens regarding liberty and adversity?

Toward the end of the book, the author devotes significant coverage to the subject of violent crime and the right to bear arms. On page 162 he speaks of the Beast, saying, "The Beast is the union of violent crime, minions of the impartial and loathing in American, and Potomac Fever that nurses it." Mr. Longenecker makes a four point forecast in regard to personal protection, responding to officials and their objections to the same. His remarks regarding the protection of the public versus the individual, and subsequent illustration to further explain what he means, are brilliantly presented.

Taking on the Beast is emphasized as being critical in order for citizens to retake their homes and communities, as well as to restore civility and honor. Keeping promises and going by rules of fair play should not be too much to expect-since, as the author says, we had it once. It is his opinion that some officials lack backbone when it comes to dealing with anti-leftist actions while healthier officials can be recognized by how quickly they respond to the needs of the political majority which is not the Left or extreme Left. In regard to educators, parents, and students; he has interesting viewpoints on students responding to one-sided aggression, teachers as overseers, and the violation of parental values.

In the last section of this book, readers are told about course correction and reversal by going back to basics. On page 186, John Longenecker says, "Decriminalize moral resistance to violent crime and stop second guessing and punishing the law-abiding, and see what happens. It's time to stimulate not only the thinking of the would-be criminal, but also his supporters, the politicians, the academics, the reporters and those who drink the Jim Jones' "Kool-aid." He goes into great detail with an intriguing and lengthy comparison between Citizen CPR and the right to bear arms, saying that citizens trained in CPR save lives as do armed citizens. In offering a challenge to readers who are interested in changing America into the nation that it was and could be again, the author suggests eight different ways to become involved. This is insightful information which readers should evaluate carefully.

In order to distinguish older liberalism from that of today, John Longenecker explains that what was once a system based on values and morality has now become one of anger. He believes that when anger seized the Democrat Party, liberalism was hijacked.

In going back to the preface of this book, the author states that much changed in a single night following the 2004 election but that the battle has only begun. He writes of irrational doctrines, unconstitutional laws and rulings hostile to the home-many of which are still in place today. Mr. Longenecker also reminds readers of the activist judges who remain on the bench, despite their records of detrimental performance.

This book is well-written and,... Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed by Richard W. Stevens, Author of Dial 911 and Die, February 25, 2005

By 

JL - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Battle We Fight: Battling Potomac Fever To Recapture Our Homes and Communities (Hardcover)

"Second Amendment enthusiasts aren't wild about guns, we're wild about Liberty."

Thus begins Section II of John Longenecker's first book, The Battle We Fight. Straight talk is Longenecker's style throughout the book, and it succeeds well to convey his message of liberty, common sense, and the vital importance of the right to keep and bear arms.

Gun ownership, and the right to carry firearms, are not about hobby shooting or exuding macho prowess. Longenecker explains that firearms ownership and carrying have to do with the private right and duty to protect yourself and your family - and - the right and duty to protect the community by deterring and stopping violent crime.

A most creative argument appears in the extended section in the book that explains how the right to keep and bear arms is similar to "Citizen CPR," i.e., cardio-pulmonary resuscitation as performed by laymen (instead of emergency medical technicians like Longenecker himself). In this section the book develops the concept of Citizen CPR as it was initially begun and then refined with experience.

Longenecker reminds readers that the idea of laymen administering CPR was initially viewed as foolhardy and dangerous. How could the public become sufficiently trained? Laymen will do more harm than good, leave it to the professionals! We don't want unlicensed, untrained people practicing medicine! What mechanisms would exist to keep a layman trained well enough to be helpful in a rare emergency?

These are exactly the same sorts of objections that we face when we propose that private citizens could and should be trained to provide personal and community defense using firearms: how can they be trained, leave it to the professional police, citizens don't understand the criminal laws, and citizens can't stay skillful enough with guns to be safe and effective as defenders. As one of the early professional emergency medical technicians (EMTs), Longenecker addresses these issues and turns them around to validate the concept of private armed defense. For this powerful argument alone, The Battle We Fight is very much worth reading.

As a society we have come to accept and applaud private citizens' administering CPR to people who need it. Longenecker urges society to likewise accept and applaud private citizens' providing personal and community defense.

Much of the book examines the reasons why the American Left operates the way that it does, and how the Leftist mindset infects government policies. If you consider yourself on the Right, then you may appreciate Longenecker's thoughts, arguments, examples, and references. If you consider yourself a "liberal" or on the Left, then you really should read this book to better understand your fellow American. You might find that Americans have more in common, as viewed through Longenecker's lens, than the political labels might otherwise suggest.

John Longenecker has achieved what many people only wished they could do: he has written a book that expresses an analysis of the problems, a vision of the moral guidance and the practical realities, and some clearly-written and thoughtful solutions. The Battle We Fight in that way represents a triumph of the rights to freedom of speech and press (as guaranteed by the First Amendment).

I am personally gratified that Longenecker was able to employ some of the information from my book, Dial 911 and Die, to bolster his argument for private defense. The Battle We Fight takes some of that information and adds some other insights and observations to build some new ideas - and that helps the overall movement toward reclaiming liberty in America.

Longenecker is a regular guy, a family man, who invested the time and effort to collect data and thoughts and present his views in a way that anyone can understand. To get these special insights from an author who speaks for many decent, patriotic Americans, read The Battle We Fight.

Reviewed by Richard Stevens, Editor, The Bill of Rights Sentinel

(Available at www.jpfo.org)