"It has been tattered, torn, spit on and even burned. Yet this grand old flag still attracts freedom loving people like bees to honey..."
This morning on the news we learned more about why the threat level is so high in the country right now. It is high because ISIL has been flooding the social media chat sites with terror orders to all who want to follow their cause. The FBI is worried primarily about a chemical attack. So much so, they have dozens of makeshift command center set up all over the country. I am hoping against hope this entire thing is just so much about nothing. If it is not "nothing", today could be another game changer in our history.
It is hard for me to think anyone trying to harm our country. Like many of you, I love this country. I love our flag. My wife asked me very politely not to be too political on this 4th of July, on the annual celebration of our Independence Day. Therefore today will be a reflection on what this day means to me, both present and in the past.
Like many, I look at Independence Day as being the midpoint of the summer. Some pessimists believe after today, summer is almost over. Days will get shorter, "dog days" are right around the corner, and back to school ads start to appear. Some even think about last winter and start planning for the next deep freeze. Yuck!
I however, shun thoughts of Old Man Winter on this most glorious day of summer. Not only is it a day to be with family and/or friends to celebrate summer, it is a day to remember how this exceptional country got started in the first place. As we know, our national spirit was born out of an intolerance for tyranny. It was our thirst for freedom, for independence.
How deep was that feeling? The men who signed our Declaration of Independence knew what the cost would be. Should they fail, should our fledgling country fail, the document they signed most likely would been their death warrant. Even though we succeeded in gaining our independence, some of the signers did not live to see it. They truly did pledge "their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to each other."
But we did not fail. We went on in slightly over two centuries to become the shining light on the hill. The light for all people who yearn for freedom, to look for and to follow. Spending our precious national treasure and blood, we saved the world from tyranny more than once. We feed large parts of the world, we help poor countries with basic necessities, and yes, we still welcome legal immigrants. As beat up and tattered as our flag has been, it still attracts freedom loving people like bees to honey.
As much pride as I feel in this country, in our flag, I get blue when I see the direction we are headed in. What I see at times is not the America I know and love. Our world continues to be an ever dangerous place. As a said at the beginning, our terror war continues. Russia and China are on the prowl. Even though some in Washington would like us to believe otherwise, the facts are very simple. When America is strong and engaged, tyrants and terrorists do not stand a chance. When America is weak and isolated, bad things happen quickly. Just as nature abhors a vacuum, so do the villains in the world.
I have said often times before: All people are born free - someone just has to take that freedom away from them. I love our freedom in this country. I wish that all countries in the world had the same.
Like many, I look at Independence Day as being the midpoint of the summer. Some pessimists believe after today, summer is almost over. Days will get shorter, "dog days" are right around the corner, and back to school ads start to appear. Some even think about last winter and start planning for the next deep freeze. Yuck!
I however, shun thoughts of Old Man Winter on this most glorious day of summer. Not only is it a day to be with family and/or friends to celebrate summer, it is a day to remember how this exceptional country got started in the first place. As we know, our national spirit was born out of an intolerance for tyranny. It was our thirst for freedom, for independence.
How deep was that feeling? The men who signed our Declaration of Independence knew what the cost would be. Should they fail, should our fledgling country fail, the document they signed most likely would been their death warrant. Even though we succeeded in gaining our independence, some of the signers did not live to see it. They truly did pledge "their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to each other."
But we did not fail. We went on in slightly over two centuries to become the shining light on the hill. The light for all people who yearn for freedom, to look for and to follow. Spending our precious national treasure and blood, we saved the world from tyranny more than once. We feed large parts of the world, we help poor countries with basic necessities, and yes, we still welcome legal immigrants. As beat up and tattered as our flag has been, it still attracts freedom loving people like bees to honey.
As much pride as I feel in this country, in our flag, I get blue when I see the direction we are headed in. What I see at times is not the America I know and love. Our world continues to be an ever dangerous place. As a said at the beginning, our terror war continues. Russia and China are on the prowl. Even though some in Washington would like us to believe otherwise, the facts are very simple. When America is strong and engaged, tyrants and terrorists do not stand a chance. When America is weak and isolated, bad things happen quickly. Just as nature abhors a vacuum, so do the villains in the world.
I have said often times before: All people are born free - someone just has to take that freedom away from them. I love our freedom in this country. I wish that all countries in the world had the same.
On this Independence Day, that will be my continued hope and prayer. For America to once again be the country, the beacon of hope, the demonstration of liberty, the world so desperately wants and needs. Yes, may God continue to bless this great nation!
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