A Blessing of Our Appalachian Heritage
[Editor’s Note- Ashley Stinnett will be signing copies of his book on Saturday, August 21, from 1-3pm at Border’s Books at Northlake Mall in Charlotte. His columns will soon be available on PunditHouse.]
I can’t think of a more appropriate venue to read and comprehend a writing about Appalachia than while overlooking the rolling mountains near Summersville, West Virginia, with cool breezes blowing down the valley, with neighbors dropping off bags of freshly picked garden vegetables, and with cattle grazing along the mountain ridge. Such was my luck recently to have a copy of Ashley Stinnett’s new book “Grasping Appalachian Conservatism: How Not To Be Mistaken For A Latte’ Liberal” and a good rocking chair for a day’s insightful political education and entertainment.
I first met Ashley Stinnett in May, 2009 at the Defend America Rally in Washington, D.C., an event I organized to help raise the awareness of citizens that our nation was sliding rapidly toward socialism. A proud West Virginian, he helped me publicize the event by recommending to talk show host Tom Roten that I appear as a guest on his Huntington, WV, area radio show. He spoke at the rally, from the heart and very eloquently, and Ashley and I immediately struck a kinship as brothers in the fight for freedom in America. What I was unaware of at the time was that he was my much younger and wiser brother…a man of only 29 years in age, but with knowledge and experience far beyond his years.
In his new work, Ashley first helps us “grasp” what the Appalachian heritage truly means…it’s kind of a love of God, love of family, love of the earth, and love of your neighbors through thick and thin kind of a thing that make up an Appalachian’s DNA. And a strong work ethic is a given. While I didn’t know what to call “ it” prior to reading Ashley’s book, I now know I experience this Appalachian thing every time I visit the region.
“Grasping Appalachian Conservatism” is Ashley’s compilation of his writings on just about every critical issue of local, regional, and national politics in the years just prior to and in those following the election of President Barack Obama. And as you can guess, it is from his perspective as a conservative. The reader gleans that Ashley gained his strong conservative values from his parents with their strong work ethic and love for the outdoors and a love of hunting. In a region where most citizens register in a party “because their family’s always been one,” this young man knew early on that it was our founding father’s zest for freedom that should drive our political affiliations.
This author, actor, educator, and conservative commentator takes us through a degree’s worth of course work of political knowledge on issues like getting elected in Appalachia…Huntington, West Virginia crime… “king” coal…labor unions…and the environment. Chapters are devoted to educational policy, economics in West Virginia, bias in the mainstream media, and of course to President Obama and his disastrous economic policies.
As a strong defender of the second amendment, Ashley devotes perhaps the most time discussing the second amendment and our right to bear arms. George Mason’s famous quote, “To disarm the people…that was the most effectual way to enslave them,” begins a discussion of the key court cases that could be said to frame the gun rights debate…Miller vs. United States(1939) and Heller vs. Washington, D.C.(2008). We learn about the effect gun bans have on crime and about the effect that the election of Barack Obama has had on gun sales.
While the book discusses most of the pertinent political issues in debate today, and that alone is worth the purchase price, to me what is even more wonderful to behold is that “Grasping Appalachian Conservatism…” is a story of the rebirth of America in the heart and soul of a young West Virginian who is answering the call to defend our great nation. Just as Thomas Paine’s work centuries ago inspired and convinced many to choose freedom over occupation, so to perhaps, Ashley Stinnett’s work will inspire more of us to become involved in the defense of liberty in America.
During the Revolutionary War, the British decided on their famous “southern strategy” hoping to conquer territory and build the ranks of those loyal to the crown by landing troops at Charleston and then moving north conquering cities along the way. The call went out to muster all available patriot militia including the “over mountain” men who were the earliest Appalachian settlers…tough, rugged, and very good with a musket. This group helped to carry the day at the battles of Cowpens and Kings Mountain and to secure victory and independence for our new nation based on freedom. In many ways, Ashley Stinnett is one of today’s “over mountain” men as you will see in his work “Grasping Appalachian Conservatism: How Not To Be Mistaken For A Latte’ Liberal.”
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