Tomorrow, the United States celebrates two-hundred and fifty years since the Colonists declared their independence from King George and the British Empire. The Colonists were the underdogs; understaffed, undersupplied and many at the time would have said, “outmatched.” In fact, they didn’t even have 100% support with 15-20% not in support of independence from The Crown. Nonetheless, they won the war and sent the most powerful regiment in the world back to the motherland and that’s how it all started. You could say that’s where American Maverick,Trailblazers (or Badass)behavior and attitude started. Our band of young men, hungry for freedom with their own version of ‘freestyle warfare’, compared to the formal linear European formations , “ready, aim, fire.” The early Americans rewrote the rules of how it’s done, designing a Constitution that would give American’s citizens rights never seen before.. Two-hundred and fifty years later, we are still Mavericks and Trailblazers doing it our own way, rewriting the rules and setting the standard. Oh, and speaking of Constitution, ours gave the American citizens freedoms that were directly from our Creator, the freedom of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” This was unique to America. No where else in history had such a document, given the common man so much freedom. Our Founding Fathers didn’t half do it, there was no half effort in the creation of that document. They labored over it and it’s language looking at every angle and view of each article, dissecting every possible interpretation. No, they sure didn’t “half-ass” it. They did it right and it has stood the test of time for two-hundred and fifty years…
Every year on my birthday or at the beginning of a New Year in January, I talk a little unofficial inventory of ‘how I’m doing.’. Everything from my faith, relationships, health/fitness and all other areas of my life. Since I’m an American and we are having a (big) Birthday, it seems fitting to take a little inventory. Here’s what I came up with.
HERE”S WHERE WE ARE WINNING:
-America is still the best place to live a free life. There are other beautiful and good places to live, but there is no where else one can live with freedom AND opportunity to pursue happiness. No matter where you are born or what the circumstance of your birth you are afforded the same opportunities of everyone else in the land of the free and the braze. If you need help or assistance, even to the detriment of the American tax payers, you have the opportunity for assistance. We have the greatest safety net in the world. Unfortunately, that’s why so many around the world wanted to sneak in while Joe Biden was still in office. Freedom of religion allows those in our land to worship how they wish and citizens are free to live their life how they wish and love who they wish. Follow our laws and anyone can live the life one wishes. Freedom is NOT FREE though. Men and women have risked and lost their lives defending that freedom for our citizens. There is a price to pay…
-Yes there is and we have the Military to do it and they are second to none. The recent excursion to the Middle East to take on Iran is proof of that (just finish the job, please). From the missions, the blockade of the Straits the rescue of downed pilots, the men and women of our Armed Forces came through. As a country we honor those who serve and to date, Military enlistments are up over 100% from previous years…
-We’re Mavericks and Trailblazer as mentioned above! (Feel free to substitute the work “BadAss” if you prefer). Here are some examples of that. We didn’t invent soccer, we’re more of a Super Bowl kind of country, but look, we host the FIFA World Cup and we make it the talk of the world complete with the Scots sailing into Boston Harbor, taking over Miami Beach and the Norway team rowing in Time Square (like a bunch of Vikings) and then look at that American team having success and praying following their games. Hockey, Men/Women, we can win that Olympic Gold Medal and show the world how it’s done. A flyover, Texas BBQ. As Bono said, America isn’t just a place, it’s an idea.” He was right and we are back! Whether it’s creating technology, sports, the American Dream, American ingenuity, music, entertainment or having fun, America knows how to do it…
-The economy is coming back, gas prices are heading back downward and the unemployment rate is dropping…
-The Border is closed, deportations of illegal migrants is underway. What may have seemed like a far fetched accusation by Donald Trump back when he ran for his first term, ended up being a pretty accurate assessment of a plan to flood the country with voters loyal to the Democratic Party. Although the Supreme Court ruled in favor of birth right citizenship, most likely Todd Blanche, Stephen Miller and others in the Trump Administration are “On It” so that skirting the system or pregnancy/maternity tourism permitting women to give birth, allowing their baby to gain citizenship and in turn the parents are given citizenship to care for them making parents, siblings and baby to be eligible for all of the benefits/welfare of full fledged citizens all on the backs of American taxpayers. The Trump Administration is full aware that not managing this will take America down the road of Europe and how they have neglected to put their own citizens first…
-Fraud is being exposed and those up to no good are starting to experience consequences. The faucet is being turned off to wasteful spending of tax payers hard earned dollars…
-Finally, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 (really there were 3!!!?) yesterday that states can rule against transgender males playing in women’s sports…
-Prescription drug prices are coming down, there is more transparency in food labeling and it’s a good thing that the government is not paying for junk food. More information on nutrition and a reorganization of the food pyramid is a good thing. Raising the bar on health and fitness means healthier citizens who are more likely to live longer lies…
HERE”S WHERE I BELIEVE THERE IS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT:
-The public schools can do better. When we see high school graduates with limited skills, little knowledge of our country’s history and many with a poor work ethic it seems as if both schools and parents can do a better job preparing kids for adulting. We can see the result of schools neglecting to teach patriotism and pride for our country. Indoctrination by academics to teach kids to hate their country has produced an increased younger population interested in socialism and communism. These kids have not been taught that hard work, determination, saving money and common sense will result in living the American Dream. Kids should be taught that they are the result of their choices. Forgoing the daily Starbucks, living within one’s means and paying your dues is part of life. Many parents and public schools have failed in teaching respect for authority. When kids experience consequences for poor behavior they can learn valuable lessons. A society suffers when these very basic lessons are not taught in the home and then in turn, the schools are left to deal with this issue since the parents who neglected to teach these lessons, kick the can down the road. NOT GOOD, there is much room for improvement on in this area…
-Speaking of education, it seems as if as a country we could do a better job of teaching adulting, giving kids the skills they need to succeed as grown ups. For a high school graduate to leave high school with skills to succeed, the knowledge of how they will support themself and what their strengths are. If a young person has a gift for working with children maybe a plan to go on to college to study education is a good idea. For kids to have an understanding that a four year college isn’t necessarily the ticket to success. A trade school or preparation for career and a means to support themself should be the goal along with a strong education in personal finances. How to manage their income, do online banking, save for a rainy day, a house and retirement. This should be basic for every graduate. We can do better here. Give the kids financial knowledge, skills to support themselves, teach them to have a good work ethic and the sky is the limit. This gives kids the confidence that their destiny is in THEIR control. This gives young people something to work for and work towards. If they have skills and a means to support themselves, they have choices in life and they can move into adulthood with confidence. If they find the right person, they can get married and plan a future…
-We have many freedoms here in the United States and our men and women of our Military have fought and some died to protect these freedoms. PERIOD. This is what our country was founded on and what will sustain us. Here’s where we could improve. As a population, I don’t think enough Americans appreciate this very special and unique quality we have if there are citizens willing to elect a socialist or communist as a primary candidate or a potential individual who could hold an office. WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?!?!?!? Why aren’t these individual who are running as a socialist or communist laughed out of town?!?!?!?!?! Back to the above point, are voters unaware of what socialism or communism are? Have they not read history or have they not heard the warnings from people who leave these socialist or communist countries? Just look at those visitors here for the World Cup Soccer games. They see what we have here and appreciate it. A talking point to bring to the forefront in campaigning against these individuals as socialist or communists would be, “NOTHING IS FREE” and “if these people running on these platforms that are no where near the ideals of how America was established or what we represent, “they should go live in the countries where socialism or communism are the modus operandi. Capitalism has made this country the envy of the world.” The Henry Ford, Andrew Carnage, John D. Rockefeller, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Thomas Edison and numerous others created technology, products, business and ideas that changed all of our lives for the better. Are they wealthy?! You bet! For some, very ignorant, that’s all they see. We didn’t see their failures the falls the disasters, the times spent, the effort/work or the risks that it took to get that success. In America, if you are willing to put the work in, take the risk, experience the failures and disappointment and achieve success, it’s not a bad thing. These successful individuals employee workers who support their families, they (& their employees) pay taxes and many are very generous and give back. Just look at what the Dell family gave to help support the new government program for newborn savings accounts. Every one of us in America has the same opportunities that these successful entrepreneurs had. Why penalize people for success? Again, if you have a problem with success, go to a country that spotlights socialism and communism. Leave the rest of us alone we like it here and we don’t want it to change. If you want to come here and contribute to the greatness of this country and live the American Dream, you are welcome here and we wish you well, otherwise, go elsewhere. Please…
-“Together we stand, divided we fall.” This very famous saying and philosophy goes back to the Bible (Matthew 12:25)
“Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by
civil war is doomed. A town or a family splinted by feuding will fall apart.”
There are other passages in the Bible that demonstrate this point as well. Through out history we see this lesson from Aesop’s Fable, “Bundle of Sticks,” we saw it in the Colonists during the Revolutionary War, in fact, this may have been one of the phrases that inspired early Americans to ‘keep morale in keeping the going.” America on it’s two-hundred and fiftieth birthday could learn from this lesson. We have so much to be proud of and to be grateful for, don’t let the differences divide and conquer us. Because that’s all it takes to take down a nation or people. DIVIDE THEM. We are better together than apart. The love of country and one another is more important than love of power. Unfortunately, those who fall for the lies and succumb to following those trying to tear this country apart are like sheep who are easy led astray. Whoever it is who wants to divide us, they know what they are doing.
Love one another, living by the Golden Rule,
Matthew 7:12 ”Therefore, whatever you want other to do unto you, do also to them, for this is the law and the prophets.”
We do so much so well here! We are Mavericks and Trailblazers and we don’t do half effort here. We do freedom better than anyone else, in fact, we invented it! Actually, no we didn’t, that’s a right from God our Creator, we’re just here to help fulfill it, along with liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Wake up to those Americans who don’t realize this and those who don’t realize how hard it would be to get it back if we loose it. DO NOT TAKE WHAT WE HAVE HERE FOR GRANTED!
Happy Birthday America! We have so much to celebrate as we look back to assess how we’re dong. Wishing you many more Great Days!
(and I even gave you some ideas as to how to get there)
