Freedom...

My kind of loyalty was loyalty to one's country, not to its institutions or its office-holders. ~Mark Twain
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Today is the Fourth of July and as I sought out the reasons we celebrate the day, I found a lot of bitterness and angst.

We are supposed to be celebrating our freedom, with these words ringing in our ears: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights”. 
Is this true? Do we treat all men, or women for that matter, equal? Does our nation even believe in a Creator? Do we still have freedoms?
 

I’m not a political person, never was and never will be. I’m not anti-American either but I don’t place my hand on my heart and pledge allegiance to a flag, where the words go on to say, “One nation under God...” I put both hands together and prayer to that God, and that people will wake up from their years of sleep and honor and respect the ONE creator. A flag did not give us ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’, the last time I checked.
 

A nation is a society united by a delusion about its ancestry and by common hatred of its neighbours. ~William R. Inge

“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”. What?  Does that mean the government rules the nation and leaves us in the unemployment lines, seeking welfare, raising taxes and dragging our feet and hearts and souls to get out of the abyss we have climbed into?
 

My country is in shambles, we have senators upon senators running the show, many who bare their body parts and seek out prostitutes on a regular basis and think that either they are all powerful and can get away with it, or that they don’t give a crap about the institute of marriage that they signed up for, ‘until death do us part’. It was part the Earth gentlemen not your legs!

These men were voted into office, by like minded people. People have all just thrown  morality out the door. You see, people vote them into office because they look good, sound good and make false promises. They know this and vote them in over and over again, only to spew hate and have a tabloid frenzied party when they don’t do what ‘the people’ wanted.

And we’re proud of this?

When I googled ‘Why we celebrate the Fourth of July’, what came up was parades and firework events, neighborhood block parties and whatnot. What? No talk on American Revolution? No reason why we should honor and respect this ‘freedom’?

The flag to me is to honor and respect the men and women who fight on a daily basis for our country. The very country who, when tight on funds, wants to hold back money from the soldiers, because they are expendable?

My final thoughts on the matter? God...Bless America.

He loves his country best who strives to make it best. ~Robert G. Ingersoll

 

To him in whom love dwells, the whole world is but one family. ~Buddha

God Bless America

Annapolis Maryland Statehouse

where our founding fathers worked

Memorial Day - May 31, 2010

When I was a kid, I always thought that Memorial Day was where you woofed down hamburgers and hot dogs, spent the day at a family cookout and enjoyed a three-day weekend.

As I grew, I realized it was a day to remember those who fought in wars, like a memorial for those who loved our country enough to die for it, or at least serve and struggle with the aftermaths of being here surviving and moving on in this society.

I have family that served. One uncle served in Vietnam and had a bad experience; wound up killing himself about thirteen years ago, and the other who is an uncle by fiance relations, he is a protector of animals, working diligently at an Animal Sanctuary. My dad was a Marine, and my brother was in the Air Force. I’m sure if I dug into it further, I’d find uncles and grandparents that all thought that this country was worth serving.

War causes grief on many levels. Families have to let their loved ones go over seas to fight for this country, mothers have to lay their children to rest; wives have to bury their husbands, and then there is this day, a Memorial Day.

When you pass by graveyards, a glance will show that the American flag is waving over the sites of many veterans who have lived, served and died. It is a breathtaking to see all those flags flapping in the wind, a heartbreaking sight to visually put a number on the hundreds of thousands who have literally, died for this country.

Last week, as I threw myself a pity party, I was God-slapped once again into a rude awakening. I was reminded of all that I have as an American citizen. I am free, where some countries are at war, in despair, in dire straits and as I sip my coffee thinking of all I have this day, like a wonderful fiancé, an awesome son, a nifty step-daughter, surrounded by a GREAT All American family, I am thankful that God loves me enough to take me by the shoulders, shake me a bit and then turn me around to look at all that I DO have to be grateful and thankful for.

Today I realize that this is a wonderful country. A country that gives every single human being an opportunity to become an American citizen; every American citizen a chance to be a part of a great nation. Every man and woman an opportunity to serve this country. Sure we have our messes to figure out but each and every one of us need to realize, that our God is a glorious God and this is our life. Love it, embrace it!

On this day... I arise to the beauty surrounding me in the lush fields of the central part of America, Nebraska. This is home, this is my life, this is a wonderful country. I thank all the men and women who see to it that my country is a safe place to live. I pray for all the men and women who have died defending what is now mine. I treasure the opportunity to raise my son in a land where he is free; free to live, express, pray and serve.

May we all have a God-slapped moment and realize just what we have, wherever we are.

God Bless........