The IAP Conference and Destiny

The IAP Conference and Destiny

by Bruce Bangerter (Utah)

Closing remarks given during Freedom Forum of the IAP National Conference, July 14, 2001, Salt Lake City, Utah. Bruce Bangerter is National Chairman of the Independent American Party.

Thank you Frank and Joel [prior speakers] for the wonderful remarks and words of vigilance and patriotism. Thank you Richard for your beautiful music which set the tone for this Conference. And thanks all those who have participated also; Ed, who on the spot, recorded our speeches so that we can get them transcribed and onto our web site within a couple of weeks -- so you can review them.

Speaking about our web site, we now have over 200 Viewpoint articles on it -- anything from things that have been talked about today -- from abortion to gun rights, homosexuality, Constitution, freedom, liberty -- just about anything that we have deep concerns on. The web site is -- for those of you who have access to the web -- is www.usiap.org. I invite you to look at it. Its updated every week, and includes any announcements such as this conference we have had this weekend.

I would like to read our Mission statement that has been in force a couple of years now. "The IAP National Mission is to promote respect for life, liberty and property; strong traditional families; patriotism; and individual, state and national sovereignty -- with a strong reliance on the Declaration of Independence and allegiance to the Constitution for the United States of America -- by petition to God, and by political and educational means." That pretty much sums up who we are and where we plan to go.

Just a brief recap on our Conference to this point: We had a wonderful Social last night at Belgian Waffle and Omelet Inn. We learned a lot about Joel and Frank [our featured Conference speakers] -- just about their backgrounds and their past, and also about all those who attended our Social. We got to meet them and learn about them also.

This morning we had quite a spirited business meeting for the National Committee. One thing, we had state reports from other states who were not attending here, but we learned about what was going on in those states. And then we had a spirited debate on whether to ally with the Independent National Committee, which Frank incidentally represents.

What we did, we agreed to have an association with this organization, which is an umbrella organization for like-minded third parties or political entities -- such as the Constitution Party, Prohibition Party, the Buchanan side of the Reform Party -- and try to build our strength. Let me just read the resolution that we did pass after we voted that we would associate. And this is an alliance, not an affiliation such as a father-son. We are equal partners in trying to work in a coalition effort for freedom.

"Resolved: That the national Independent American Party ("IAP") shall enter into an association with the Independent National Committee ("INC"), an umbrella entity seeking to gather like-minded political entities together for the purpose of increasing their visibility on the national scene; and that this resolution is adopted with the understanding that such association shall not impair the autonomy and independence of the IAP in the formulation of its positions on local, state and national issues and that such association may at any time be terminated by majority vote of the National Committee of the IAP."

It is an alliance which we hope will stay intact. We have allied before with other parties. Last year we allied with the Constitution Party and the Prohibition Party and got their presidential -- nominees from both parties -- to participate in the Utah presidential primary for the IAP. Consequently, Howard Phillips won -- the Constitution Party nominee, and he was our banner bearer. Now we are doing a similar alliance working with the INC. And hopefully, they will bring in the Constitution Party, Prohibition Party, and other like-minded entities into this organization that we will all work together with.

Just briefly about our growth. Sixth months ago, our last previous Conference, we had one state party -- the Utah IAP. We now have eleven organizations in eleven states at one level of organization or another. Some are just barely starting out. Two of them are going for ballot access. We are steadily growing. We are having a spurt. And I think its going to keep on going.

You know, we have heard some concerns about where America is going. I recall, there is a scripture that says: "If my people which are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (II Chronicles 7:14)

Other scriptures say: "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (2 Corinthians 3:17); "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." (Psalms 33:12); and "Righteousness exalteth a nation." (Proverbs 14:34). God is on our side if we do our part to be on his side.

You know, someone said, "To be born free is a privilege. To die free is an awesome responsibility." And that's in our lap.

Someone else said, "The greatest glory of a freeborn people is to transmit that freedom to their children" -- or grandchildren.

The true patriot is one who loves God, loves his family, and loves his country; loves freedom; and loves the Constitution, the flag, and all that is good in America -- and one who is willing to fight for all that.

We are in great battle between good and evil. And if we are going to be valiant, we need to be on the front lines of that battle. There are many fronts in the battle. On the political front, Alan DeToqueville said, "There are many men of principle in both parties in America. But there is no party of principle."

Today we have a party of principle -- the Independent American Party. And I urge each of you to get involved in the party and help make it a viable, principled party. For we not only want to affect legislation, we want to elect good, moral men and women to office who will be righteous role models for America. And we want to be ready and worthy as instruments in the Lord's hands when he's ready for us.

I envision that the day will come, not too far off, and with our involvement with the INC and other third parties of like-minded thinking -- I envision that the day will come when we will be the dominant party -- and we will be making headway in America -- and these other parties, the INC, Frank, and Constitution [Party], Prohibition [Party] -- they will all merge into and be all part of the Independent American Party. Then we will fulfill our mission!

And if we seek God -- with God's help, we will! And, God be with you.