COSA – Reclaiming Liberty Summit – A Family Reunion
By Jim MacDonald
A family reunion brings relatives together—many who may never have met. It may reunite communication between family members. It will also provide educational opportunities for various generations to learn and share historical information about the family.
While marriage or bloodline is what brings most families together, on October 6, 2022, the COSA family gathered together for three inspiring days of greeting, learning, laughing, crying, eating, and bonding. There is an energy released in the atmosphere when Godly people come together with love, unity, and passion in their hearts to save our nation.
I recently read an article, printed in July 2015, called: Eight reasons why family reunions are the best.[i] Using her eight reasons and adding one more to make it nine, I’ll describe this Reclaiming Liberty Summit in a unique way.
1. The Laugh
Laughter is a funny thing. It comes from a joyful excitement of pleasurable affairs with your company. When like-minded people gather, especially for a common cause, it fosters a sense of joy and comfort. Genuine laughter comes from deep in the lungs. Contrast that with a nervous or evil laugh. Angry and unhappy people rarely experience this kind of joyful laughter.
This gathering of America-loving COSA Patriots brought joy and laughter to the meetings and conversations between sessions. No matter where you were from the beginning of the event to the end, there was a peaceful presence that nurtured plenty of laughter.
2. The Stories
Hearing the stories at a family reunion can invoke countless good and bad emotions. Nonetheless, they are essential to the survival and unity of a family. And a family member could not fully comprehend the American story without a strong understanding of the Christian story.
At the core of the American story is self-governance. Unfortunately, the D.C. elites don’t believe the average American can govern themselves and are obsessed with removing our ability to do so. As a result, they spread false narratives, such as the 1619 Project, instead of telling the true story of the 1620 narrative.
So, imagine a country whose government is fiscally responsible, never oversteps its authority, elects virtuous and religious people to serve for a season, then returns to their businesses and families. This is the mission of our COSA family.
3. The Food
WOW! I cannot say enough about the food. We were all well-fed, from the dinner and ice cream social on Thursday night to the banquet on Saturday night. A continental breakfast each morning with a large bagged lunch in the afternoon was provided for all. A dinner with the passed state’s portion of the family was a delightful treat on Friday evening.
4. The Lessons
We can look back at our family history and find over 120 battles during the Revolutionary War. Most of these battles were fought locally as opposed to George Washington fighting them nationally. Some of these battles included: Lexington & Concord, the Road to Boston, and Bunker Hill. These national battles were won because of the victories in our local battles.
We will win the national battle for freedom against the tyranny of our federal government if we win the local battles in our states.
5. The Weirdos
Most large families will have those family members that may represent differently. I wouldn’t say the following members are weirdos but from different times. We were blessed with the presents of two great Americans: James Madison and George Mason. Many of our family members had an opportunity to speak and take pictures with these fine gentlemen.
6. The Similarities
As a COSA family, being around like-minded people is a joy. People who are on the same mission as big as restoring our republic. But, when we leave the reunion and return to the battlefield, we must look for similarities in our detractors. These include: Who decides; giving the states more power; term limits; knowing that the federal government controls 60% of the state’s budget.
It’s an incredible feeling knowing that ‘our family is on the same page, but our mission is to grow the family.
7. The Presents
COSA received a significant present. Michael Ferris has returned to the leadership of our family. One of the original founders of COSA, Michael, left to pursue and accomplish goals with Alliance Defending Freedom. Mike has achieved many goals that were considered impossible in his lifetime.
Mike shared that upon calling a convention of states, if we just returned the general welfare clause and the commerce clause to their original meaning and then stopped the administrative state, we would solve most of America’s problems.
8. The Bonding
The Bible says a chord of three strands is not quickly broken. The same can be said about the bonding of family and friends. Something happens when people break bread together and enjoy each other’s company. A bonding occurs that’s not quickly broken.
Pulling people from across the nation to a family reunion, as we had in Orlando, united a team like few other events or Zoom calls could do. Meeting people of similar minds, sharing lessons and stories while eating food, and laughing together is a present of its own and creates a solid bond. And yes, sometimes it can be a little weird.
9. The Holy Spirit
Now, speaking of a chord of three strands, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit can’t be left out of a robust and unified family reunion. Whether you’re a Christian or not, the Holy Spirit’s presence can’t be missed. The sense of peace and joy coming from the speakers and the audience was overwhelmingly present. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom!
One speaker said that the six hundred people here are all that’s standing between America and a civil war. I say God, plus the six hundred people are a majority. Our job as a united family is to continue to grow our grassroots army into the most powerful, educated, loving organization ever assembled. With God’s blessings, this will happen, and America will be free again.
[i] Eight Reasons Why Family Reunions Are The Best (theodysseyonline.com)
Click here for additional pictures
Convention of States Action Teams Up with Matt Walsh
By Jim MacDonald
On a beautiful October 21st, Friday evening, Convention of States Action (COSA) participated in a ‘Rally to End Child Mutilation’ at the War Memorial in Nashville, TN. Unlike most other rallies that COSA has partaken in, this rally, sponsored by Matt Walsh, aligned more with the COSA’s spirit of self-governance.
Universities, medical professionals, pharmaceutical companies, teachers' unions, and our government are colluding in what is currently legal child mutilating—a pure case of the evil crony capitalism produces.
Matt Walsh exposed the esteemed Vanderbilt University for participating in and promoting child mutilating (gender-reaffirming assignment, as they’ve called it) for “huge profits” to the school.
So, how does this work?
Your adolescent child goes to school, and rather than thinking or believing they are Superman, an astronaut, or a princess, they show signs of femininity if a boy or masculinity if a girl. The teacher and/or social worker at the school encourage the behavior and begins to persuade the child that they may be a boy in a girl’s body or a girl in a boy’s body.
Note: In our society, we do not allow a child to drive till they are at least 16, vote or smoke cigarettes, get tattoos till 18, and drink till they are 21.
However, once a child affirms their mistaken identity, the “professionals” spring into action. They will convince the parent(s) that they must allow these medical specialists to perform gender-affirming reassignment procedures on their child, or they will likely commit suicide. And in some cases, they will start performing gender-changing procedures behind the parent’s backs.
Back to the Rally
Nearly three thousand people showed up to listen to an all-star panel of speakers, including Matt Walsh, Mark Meckler, Marsha Blackburn, several state representatives, and others. In addition to COSA showing their support in great numbers from several states were Alliance Defending Freedom, the Proud Boys, and of course, the local communities.
The presenters were brief, and the entire speaker portion of the rally lasted only an hour and fifteen minutes. Although volunteers from COSA began showing up with flags, banners, and rally shirts about three hours early, more than several hundred people were already there, including the supporters of child mutilations.
Some notable comments from the speakers are as follows:
Matt Walsh: “There is in this state and all across the country a conspiracy to target and indoctrinate our children into the cult of gender ideology…a cult that convinces them that gender doesn’t exist.”
“As Tennesseans, do we believe in castrating our children…do we believe in drugging and mutilating kids…are we going to allow this in our state…are we going to sit back in silence and allow our kids to be victimized?”
“They’re affirming confusing. They’re affirming despair.”
“This is a battle of good vs. evil.”
Landon Starbuck: “They (this evil movement) want to take the children away from their parents who refuse gender-affirming care; who refuse cutting off the healthy breasts of their children.”
“They are here to sexualize our children.”
Mark Meckler: “The time for talk is over. This is the time for action.”
Tulsi Gabbard: “Those in power are denying the existence of women. They are seeking to erase us as an entire category of people…they are denying the existence of objective truth.”
“We have people undermining the parents. Using the threat of the rule of law to take away their rights and responsibility to raise our kids. Forcing compliance and trying to silence those of us here to speak up and fight for our kids.”
Rep William Lamberth, Tennessee Majority Leader: “We need to make surgical mutilation illegal…make it illegal once and for all.”
“An entire woke industry has emerged advocating to allow children to define their own disorder and prescribe the remedy.”
State Senator Jack Johnson, Majority Leader. “In Tennessee, your children will never be forced to get the COVID shot. We’re going to ban permanent life-altering medical procedures. We will get it done; you have our word!”
Senator Marsha Blackburn: “We will take this (movement) to every state in the nation.”
You can watch the entire rally at:
Self-Governance
One of the greatest strengths that made America great was her ability to self-govern. Noting that humans are seriously flawed, self-governance isn’t possible without a full reliance on God. Unfortunately, too many Americans have rejected God’s authority and can’t govern themselves. This is why a tyrannical government has been welcomed in our nation today. An ungodly oppressive government will naturally bring corruption, immorality, and the acceptance of anyone’s beliefs. This will bring chaos, requiring the corrupt authorities to swoop in with the sword to corral the people.
Volunteers for Convention of States Action are working hard to call a convention to propose amendments to put the tyrannical federal government back in the box where our Founders’ put them. This is important work; however, equally important is changing the hearts and minds of “We the People.”
This is why COSA has partnered with Patriot Academy to teach Americans how to be self-governed citizens. So we can empty the swamp and elect honorable men and women to serve in Washington, D.C., but as Ben Franklin said: “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.”
In an interview with Levi Preston, one of the last remaining soldiers in the Revolutionary War was asked why he fought a war against the greatest military ever assembled. His answer was:
“Young man, what we meant in going for those Redcoats was this: we always had been free, and we meant to be free always. They didn’t mean we should.”
Matt Walsh Rally to end Gender Mutilations. Observations from a supporter…
By Thomas Riordan
Attending the Rally was, to me, a duty. As District Captain, I have a responsibility to honor the requests of COS leadership if I am able. But it goes deeper than that. These kids are being manipulated by people with no real concern for their welfare. They selfishly use these kids to make more money, gain political power or justify their perverted lifestyles. The kids are vulnerable. It is a well-known medical fact that children cannot make rational decisions and need the guidance of their parents. The adults guiding them have no business to so. They will not even live with the repercussions of the influence they are peddling. But the Parents will! And yet, in many cases, the parents are kept in the dark about the treatments and so-called counseling given to the children. I felt I needed to be there.
Before the speeches, I talked to several of the young women and men who were there. I think several would Identify as the opposite gender. They accused me of being fascist and hateful. I told them we were here because we loved them and wanted what was best in their lives. But the decision to do life-altering and irreversible gender-changing treatments should be left to a later age when one has a more developed mental and emotional maturity. There are many who regret the treatments. The kids I talked to did not respond and walked away.
When the event started, those of us with COS shirts were asked to come to the front row. We had to go thru the protesters. I found it odd that the kids let us right through. They did not try to block us at all. But then, when the speeches started, they started screaming. I had to cover my ears.
I was unprepared for the loud nonsensical obscenities that were yelled and amplified with bull horns. A young man seemed to have targeted me to stand behind me and be loud and obnoxious. I spoke to him several times when he accused me of being a fascist. Telling him, I defended this country against fascists gave him another path to insult me. There was no reasoning with him. I had a sign that said, “do no harm,” and gave it to him. He threw it on the ground, which I tried to pick up. Behind him, another young man stepped on it, tearing it. I then pushed him off, not hard but firmly, and brought the torn sign to the front barriers to get away from the two young men. When I returned, I was shadowed by a masked man with a radio who kept pushing into me. Soon after, the Proud Boys and State Police came to make themselves a barrier between the protesters and us.
Other than the young man that threw my sign to the ground, none of the kids would look me in the eye. I did not see a passion or real conviction except for the young man who insulted me. He was hateful.
I have three adult children who are well-adjusted and productive. Two are in their 3rd year of college and have been on the dean’s list every semester. One is a Marine. All were homeschooled except for high school. We wanted them to have that experience.
I told my college kids what happened. They said the kids were probably there to get a good grade or were paid. I said are you kidding. No, they said, some of the professors recruit the kids for protests.
In all, it was a successful event. The message was delivered. No one was hurt, and no property was destroyed.
A Thanksgiving Message
By Jim MacDonald
We are entering the season of joy and gratefulness reserved for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. On Thanksgivings Day, we are thankful for what God has done for us and our great country, America, and on Christmas, we celebrate the gift of eternal life through Jesus.
Giving thanks always for all things to God—Ephesians 1:5:20
I wish and pray that we can all honestly say that we are grateful every day of the year, but life has a way of interrupting our good intentions. We know God should always be at the forefront of everything we do.
Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father—Colossians 3:17
What are some of the reasons you forget to be thankful? Here are a few I’ve used:
- I just had too much on my plate
- I took credit for the accomplishment instead of realizing it was all God’s intervention
- I’ll be thankful later; I procrastinate
- It wasn’t a big deal; it was just a little thing
We are bound to give thanks to God always—2 Thessalonians 2:13
What can we do in the upcoming year to consistently remind us to put God first?
In 1620 when the pilgrims came to America, they had a very rough couple of months on the Mayflower. But, before they stepped their first foot on land, they thanked God and dedicated the new land to the Lord in the Mayflower Compact.
The next several months in the new land weren’t much easier. They struggled through a very harsh New England winter weather. Half the people who began the trip had died before the winter was over. Yet, these pilgrims didn’t lose their faith in the Lord—and they were thankful!
Our nation is struggling to redefine itself without the God who controls all things. You may interject: well, I’m not trying to redefine our country! But, unfortunately, we all did because we “had too much on our plate,” “didn’t think it was a big deal,” or we “procrastinated.”
Essentially, we’ve kicked God off the stage, believing we got it from here.
All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.—Thomas Jefferson
This holiday season, make a compact with God that you will put Him first and above all things. Then pray every morning that God will remind you of your compact with Him throughout the day.
Remember, God doesn’t share the stage with anyone for any reason. So put Him on the stage of your life, and you remain the stagehand. And be grateful!
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Patriot Pin Recognition
Regional Meet and Greets were held on Friday night of the Summit. Several members of our COS Tennessee team received the Patriot Pin Award. Pictured above with Passed States Regional Directors Jonathan Viaud and Brenda Karlin are recipients Debbie MacDonald (RC 4/DC HD 40), Walter Bowen (DC HD 9), Sandy Reno (SVCD), and Carl Kingdon (RC 6/DC HD 75). Missing from the photo is Eileen Mason (DC HD 30)
Congratulations to All!
Tennessee on the Move...
Patriots from Clarksville, Tn
Patriots from Fentress, TN
Patriots from Powell, TN
Patriots from the Pumpkin Festival in Allardt, TN
Patriots from Sevierville, TN
Patriots from Soddy-Daisy, TN
Patriots from Winchester, TN
Upcoming Meetings and Events
Chattanooga, TN. Nov 18, 2022, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm, Patriot Potluck at Apison Baptist Church 11127 Old E. Brainerd Rd, Apison, Dean McGhan
Jamestown, TN. Nov 12, 2022, from 9:30 to 11:00 at Fentress County Courthouse, 101 N. Main St., Jamestown, TN 38556 Larry Wilke
Loudon, TN. 1st Wednesday of every month at the Tellico Village Rec Center, Room D at 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at 145 Awohili Dr. - Call Terri Hult for more information: 865-304-6997
Powell, TN. Nov 12, 2022, from 12:00 till 1:00 p.m. at Shoney’s on Emory Road, Powell, or the second Saturday of each month, Ann and Doug
Soddy-Daisy, TN. Nov 25, 2022 from 5:30 till 7:00 p.m. at Rechoboth Baptist Church, 12622 Dayton Pike, 4th Friday of each month, Jay Walling
BattleCry
Join Mark Meckler for the BattleCry every Sunday night at 8:00 p.m. EST on Facebook and Rumble.
