Introduction by John Baden, Chairman, FREE

There are many dimensions along which Americans view their politics and society.  Here is one with which I resonate.  It is by Mary Roloff, one of the colleagues I most respect in some 50 years of university, foundation, and think-tank work.   

In this FREE Insight Mary writes of her family farm and the culture in which it is embedded.   "My grandfather ... carried a gun to protect himself from those that would do him harm, take what didn’t belong to them, hurt his family, or to kill animals for food or for self-defense.... That isn’t the reason most of these people don’t steal though. The reason is because they have a God who has taught them to love their neighbor, and they do."  

My rural culture was much the same, although in the Midwest, not Montana, and German not Irish.  I wonder, can those from an urban culture understand her perspective?  A few whom I've met qualify.  

Question: How do members of a political regime bent on controlling their subjects respond to such citizens as Mary, her father, and grandfather?  The smart ones do with caution.  When officials run governments as engines of plunder, ever more coercion necessarily follows.  

Collecting and dispersing wealth, allocating favors, and constraining opportunities imply the abuse of citizens.   And those who so abuse disparage the culture Mary describes.  She writes: "Why then, Mr. President, do you speak of the hard working rural Americans as being the ignorant, hate-filled, corrupt segment of our population?"  

It is not just rural Christians who find Mary's perspective attractive.  (See jpfo.org.)  I increasingly discover urban, urbane, sophisticated, accomplished, and successful individuals who find Montana's islands of culture attractive. Many want to move here.  Some do.  Mary's photo and essay helps us understand why.

My Guns & My God, by Mary Roloff

My Guns & My God pic.jpg

If you were to visit me at my Dad’s home, a place we call “the farm”, this is the sight that would greet you when you opened the front door. The farm is in central Montana, and it was originally homesteaded by my Grandpa Martin in 1908. We love this place we call home, and we love our guns and our God.

Like many rural Americans, I was shocked by President Obama’s bigoted and discriminatory statement that he made in April of 2008 about rural folks in America, “… And it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.” I have pondered this rude statement made by this extremely naïve President for several years now, and as I brushed my teeth one night while walking to lock the front door, I turned to see this sight.

I decided to take this picture and try to dispel the myth that “rural Americans” are ignorant, superstitious, violent bigots. Quite to the contrary, Mr. President, my grandfather came to this great country as an Irish immigrant – legally. He worked hard and didn’t ask for or accept handouts or loans. He bought land, machinery, lumber, etc. as he could pay for it, not before. He went to church every Sunday and thanked God for the gifts God had provided and humbly asked for guidance to live a good life. He always helped his neighbor. Everyone loved Martin.

My grandfather taught these ideals to my father, now 90, who passed them onto his 7 children. My grandfather had an 8^thgrade education. He was uneducated but not stupid. He worked for and received an engineering degree by mail and was exceptionally talented. He was not a bigot. He hired and befriended a Native American man (we called them Indians back then) who worked with my grandfather on the farm for many years. You see, my grandfather wasn’t swayed by the color of a man’s skin, only by whether he was responsible, hard working and kind. Grandfather learned this from his God.

My grandfather didn’t carry a gun to feel important or to strike fear into others. He carried a gun to protect himself from those that would do him harm, take what didn’t belong to them, hurt his family, or to kill animals for food or for self-defense.  He would be appalled at the gun violence in Chicago, Detroit, Sandy Hook, and countless other cities. You see, that isn’t the proper use of a gun. Why then, Mr. President, do you speak of the hard working rural Americans as being the ignorant, hate-filled, corrupt segment of our population? I think you are confused.

Grandfather built the farmhouse in 1913 and updated it in the 30’s. For being 100 years old, it is in remarkable condition. As you might suspect, it does need some modifications - a shower would be nice. It does take more time to take a bath, but it does make one slow down and rest for a bit - so, perhaps not all bad. When I was growing up, we really didn’t lock the doors. No one thought of stealing from a neighbor. Things are pretty much the same today in this small farming community of 350 people. And you can bet, every house has at least one gun. That isn’t the reason most of these people don’t steal though. The reason is because they have a God who has taught them to love their neighbor, and they do.

Neither my mother or father graduated from college, but thanks to my grandfather who gave each of us 7 grandkids a bond when we were born, we each had that opportunity, and five of us got degrees! Some even went on to obtain master’s and beyond. My parents weren’t ignorant, they raised us the same as they had been brought up – work like everything depends on you and pray like everything depends on God.  And, get educated! Oh, and did I mention that my family consists of all colors now, black, white and red? After all, we are Irish, we love everyone, and if you mess with one of us, you get all of us.

Thanks Grandpa! I will continue to pass on what has been passed down to me from my parents and my children will carry forth these ideals and maybe, one day, we will see the real change our country needs, from within. I have been all over this great country and my blessings are many. You may not see a rack of guns when you walk into my house, but you will see many displays of my God. And you can bet, I have my guns where I can get to them, and I know how to use them, and so do all my kids.

God Save America!