Be Reminded

I heard Hillary speak on T.V. this morning and I heard Barack Obama on T.V. this morning and I heard John Edwards on T.V. this morning...these three have me rubbed very wrong this morning. And if it were only these three, maybe that's ok. But Media giants who are actually foreigners to the concept of journalism, and who actually purport fairness in their strategy, have me also rubbed real raw this morning because they lie. Call me a hypocrite. I am. My words sometimes don't match my actions. I will heartily respond that my hypocrisies prove my need for God. In fact, I have taken His name in vain, because, although I do not use God's name in a swear word, I have done what is contrary to His will, thereby taking His name and making it vain. Therefore, although I accuse these people of lying, hypocrisy and deception, I do not stand on a pedestal. However, imperfection should not discourage us or I from caring, from being right, from defending ours and my very identify...fingerprints.

I've quoted Samuel Adams below. He wasn't a perfect man and never purported to be. But, Adams was instrumental in garnering the support of the colonies for rebellion against Great Britain, eventually resulting in the American Revolutionary War. Adams called for the colonists to defend their rights and liberties. Adams played a prominent role during protests in the events of the Boston Tea Party in 1773. He participated in the Continental Congress. He also advocated the adoption of the Declaration of Independence at the Second Continental Congress. He wasn't perfect, but I fear we've forgotten what a Patriot looks like.

I'm going to bend your ear, but I won't tear it off, I promise. I hope my steam doesn't scald but inspires and cleanses us from the cold of indifference. I intend ferocity but bear no malicious intent.

When I was wrong as a boy my Dad and Mom spared no effort in dealing with my insolence. From them I had to learn how to think, how to listen, how to pay attention, how to live with ambition, how to use my talents, how to behave, about truth, how to talk and how to act. I learned how to disciple and discipline and I learned how to stand my ground. They taught me about Patriotism and they taught me about God and salvation. My wife has to reinforce those things in me sometimes now, but I have most definitely put many childish ways behind me, so that I might not disparage my father's good name.

As I watched these people on television today, I reinforced the idea that there are many who have not put their childish ways behind them...especially in light of cognitive, intelligent thinking, and in light of American Patriotism. This isn't to say I hate them. Nor do I want to cause dissent. I want to garner unity and thought and identity and sometimes that means busting someone's chops.

Therefore:

For those who prefer to be socialized over independence; To those who would wish we were like everyone else, to those who would denounce their own citizen authority; To those who would risk the very citizen oriented benevolent, independent, Democratic and Capitalistic identity that Americans depend on and fight for and to those who would trade the benevolent nature of citizenry by giving full responsibility of it to the government, disavowing your responsibility to the poor, hurting and disadvantaged to it; To those who want our Government to provide all manner of benefit despite its cost; to those who would rather not be under God but under man (or woman); to those who would rather one branch of Government hold sway over all the others despite what is by the people, of the people and for the people; to those who would rather not defend threats before they ever reach our land; to those who don't notice that millions upon millions are benefiting from insurance and are healthy and well because they had access to it; to those who don't notice that their are millions of the millions who are not insured that don't want to be, millions whom can afford it but don't, and still more who simply aren't educated enough to access insurance and still wouldn't be if healthcare were socialized; To those who wish to make it very difficult for those who wish to immigrate legally and give simple amnesty to those who don't; To those who would prefer the ruling of the World Court over our own and to those who would prefer the treaties and constitutions of the U.N. over and above the United States of America; To those who pledged to defend all enemies both foreign and domestic and to those who pledged to, at all costs, defend the Constitution of the United States, but whom instead wish to vilify and belittle it; To those who disparage your leaders without next encouraging them; to those who see the worst in the U.S. without the presence of mind to revel in the best of it; To those who can't see that our men and women in the Armed Forces have historically and currently mightily, fervently and valiantly upheld both theirs and our honor by doing their work well and by succeeding despite those who can't or refuse to see it; To those who need to give Freedom and the United States a better effort and to those who need a gutsier outlook on life...to those who are these things...read Mr. Samuel Adams

"If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen."

~Samuel Adams

He's not only talking about war but about our vote, about our action over inaction of a land that is of the people, by the people and for the people. Mr. Adams was talking about our sense of who we are as Americans...and about the responsibility laid upon the shoulders of those who would purport to be or who would wish to be our leaders...lest we forget...be reminded.