I am a Desert Storm and War on Terror combat veteran who served over twenty years on active duty as an Infantry non-commissioned officer in the Army. I grew up in a country that I knew to be a beacon of hope and sanctuary for freedom loving people everywhere...a country that in my lifetime vanquished the cold grip of communism and the cold war. I am proud of my country and feel honored to have defended her through some difficult times.
Today I fear that my children and future generations of Americans may never know the sheer joy and exhilaration of waking up each day as a youngster in the country I once knew. I can still feel the warm glow of Saturday mornings waking up and watching cartoons on the television as my mom made pancakes, sausage and eggs. I would then go out to play in our neighborhood with the other boys and girls….usually cowboys and Indians or cops and robbers with our toy guns. In the summer, we would pitch plastic tents in the back yard or make forts out of old wood crates and cardboard boxes, and watch the stars at night. Our parents were not too concerned about our safety…in those days, grown-ups were very protective of children and were quick to correct them or take them by the ear and return them to their parents if they acted up or were disrespectful to others. I always felt safe around adults, particularly teachers and clergy. I had plenty of heroes to look up to…Audie Murphy, John Wayne, Tex Ritter, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers to name a few. These were adults who took on the bad guys and defended women, children and the sick & poor against all kinds of evil.
Politics were for grown-ups, but I remember watching the national political conventions on television as delegates proudly cast their ballots for presidential candidates amid much fanfare and state flag waving…without so much as a mention of their sexual orientation, racial background, or feelings about healthcare or global warming. The concern of these adults and most Americans was fighting the threat of communism, tyranny, and poverty while preserving the family and our free and open market system.
Consider the above in light of what we face in our “free” society today: the food police tell us we can’t eat eggs and sausage (unless synthetic, fat-free/cholesterol free). Showing American Indians on television is insensitive and defamatory. Cowboys are out since they remind us of George Bush and come from Texas or Arizona. Playing cops and robbers is too violent for children and promotes gun violence. Playing with homemade toys or structures not approved by the government is dangerous so wood crate forts are definitely out (along with the cardboard since it must be recycled). Children are no longer to be corrected by just any adult…they now have “rights” and can say or do most anything to anyone because of the threat of lawsuits. School officials and teachers hide behind the mythical shield of "separation of church and state" and fear of legal reprisals if they should discipline students or restrict their behavior in any way. Parents often compound the problem of the schools by shirking their responsibility to raise their children and set good examples through their own behavior….hey, it’s the anything-goes, do-your-own-thing, love-the-one-you’re-with society, right?
And who are the heroes and icons our children get to choose from today? Maybe you would pick people like Barak Hussein Obama, Johnny Depp, Lindsey Lohan, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Ronald Regan, or Rush Limbaugh; you’d be wrong. Time magazine picked these names as the most beloved Heroes & Icons in 2010:
Heroes & Icons
1. Michelle Obama
2. Chesley B. Sullenberger
3. Richard Phillips
4. Seth Berkley
5. Michael Eavis
6. Leonard Abess
7. Hadizatou Mani
8. Rick Warren
9. Van Jones
10. Somaly Mam
With the notable exception of Captain Sully Sullemberger, maybe the choices by Time Magazine really do reflect what the American People are looking for today in their culture…celebrities, victims, revolutionaries, cultural warriors, artists and community organizers who can change the world. After all, with Hollywood producers and directors who can rewrite the history of Pearl Harbor, WWII, JFK, Richard Nixon, Vietnam, the Cold War and our founding fathers, is it so terrible that our President thinks that there are 57 states and bows to foreign heads of state? It is actually not all the fault of Hollywood and the media that bad films are made and make money…they also make some remarkably good movies that just don’t get the headlines and “push” from the media. Take for example the HBO movie “Taking Chance” that follows the path of a fallen soldier killed in combat in Iraq as his remains are returned home. It is a moving story of personal courage shared by those whose lives are touched by this fallen warrior. It serves as an old fashioned reminder of how precious life truly is and how extraordinary are the men and women who love their country enough to risk their tomorrows for our today. We need more inspirational films like this one to fill in the gaps left by our failed educational system that rewards bureaucracy and stymies the factual teaching of American history and principles. And when it comes to making “creative” films, how about leaving the gore of Alien, Halloween “thrillers” and all the sordid themes of victimization, rape, murder, incest, mutilation and CSI remains examination out of films…it does nothing to advance society or enrich our childrens’ lives.
And while I’m at it, how about a change in our attitude towards politics? Politics should be about defining the mood and needs of the people who consent to be governed. It is not about those who govern, nor is it about the arrogance of power…it is about the responsibility to reflect the will of the people in the conduct of governance. It is time to return the American spirit to the ballot box and demonstrate once again that government in America is of, by and for the people…period. It is not a lifelong sanctuary for the ambitious, the arrogant or the greedy among us but rather the opportunity for a select few to serve one’s fellow citizens who have likewise pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to preserve the nation. Government must be trimmed to perform the essential functions intended by our founding fathers as outlined in the Constitution and only those other tasks specifically granted by the people from time to time.
I can only hope that my children and future grandchildren can help reverse the spiral of our country into the socialist abyss. If we and they cannot, then the last great hope for the world may truly be lost in a generation. Now is the time for all good men and women to stand together for America's future and move forward as a united Patriotic Tide.
"Ghost"
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