A friend showed me this picture, and it got me thinking.. what today is patriotism? Has it just degraded to a bit of flag-waving, maybe hanging out a flag on the 4th of July, perhaps buying a memorial poppy from the VFW on Memorial Day? Or is it doing what you can for your country, like joining the military - not for 'what it can do for you' as is advertised nowadays, "build a college account".. but to actually prepare to fight for the honor and safety of your country. I've started reading the Federalist Papers, quite interesting reading. Hard to get back into deep reading, after a hiatus of thoughtful reading, and only reading fluff for a while.
When I joined the military, I took this oath:
I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.
But I'm starting to think about this congress, and senators. What if they are doing what is not for the best of the country? I'm not talking armed revolution, I'm talking its time for the good men and women of this country to stand up, to NOT sit around on their rear ends, and just shake their heads, thinking nothing can be done. Look at the tea parties that happened April 15th. CNN, MSNBC, covered them as "people outraged with the democrats". That isn't correct. It was people outraged with Republicans and Democrats, and the hard swing to the left that both parties have taken. Neither party is center. Democrats may say "right wing extremists" in derision, however, they are to the left of center, as are the Republicans, who are only a little to the right of Dems. McCain was only a little bit LESS Obamaish than Obama himself.
I believe the founding fathers are spinning in their graves at the state of the country today, and the state of the inactivity of the people as far as politics go. Most are more interested in their television and American Idol than they are on what's going on in their government.
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Too true. In fact, in many places, the people there won't even discuss politics, or history. In those places, one feels as if they were in a mental vacuum. Its very sad.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that as a youth, politics were best left to those older and WISER than myself, but then something called VIETNAM came along, and opened a lot of eyes.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I was FOR the war, but only in a manner in which we would WIN.
Much of the same politics that hampered Korea again brought Vietnam to a virtual standstill...and that after OUR military forces had decisely WON every single engagement we found ourselves in.
Now who makes ALL the touchdowns and STILL "loses the game", anyway?
I also took that same oath (when sworn into the U.S. Treasury department), and after leaving the post, I was never really UN-sworn, so what I took a pledge to, way back then, STILL applies to me.
It still carries WEIGHT, and MEANS something to me.
I'm not an economist, or a politician or a sociologist, but, like many of you, I pay attention and keep my eyes and ears open.
Sure, our individial voices might be barely heard, but when we decide to come together with a common cause on a blog or at a rally, those elected HAVE to hear us.
ANd if they choose not to act upon the wishes of those who voted them in...we can vote them OUT just as easily.
It's still OUR nation....
B.G.