I have been sitting at my computer studying for an upcoming insurance exam and have been watching the news on a cable news channel. What has really stirred me is this latest controversy on the Pledge of Allegiance. How often we take our precious God founded nation for granted.
I watched a news clip where a congressman made a joke when the speaker asked the people in attendance of a meeting to say the Pledge of Allegiance. I sadly watched as others in the room grumbled and only half heartedly complied. I also swelled with pride when I think of several biker organizations I belong to starting their meetings with the pledge. CMA first says the Pledge of Allegiance to our nations colors and then to the Christian flag and then a prayer is given, Patriot Guard Riders starts their gatherings with the Pledge of Allegiance to our nation then a prayer over the days activities, ABATE of Florida local chapter starts their meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance and then a silent prayer and moment of silence for fallen soldiers and fellow bikers.
How awesome it would be if not only the Christian communities, but the secular communities as well could learn from many of our biker brothers and sisters. Many of our Parents and our children gave their lives to protect our nation. Who could have ever guess in the 1960’s and 70’s that there would ever be a possibility the Pledge of Allegiance would be considered offensive to AMERICANS and that something as simple cherished by our founders as a prayer would be as offensive as pornography in our schools.
Listen well to the few surviving members of our GREATEST GENERATION. They will tell you stories that have long been deleted from our children’s history books. Stories of faith and patriotism, of morality and decency and dependence on one another. We are slowly moving toward a time when there will be no one to lay down their lives for their nations, a time when your neighbor would be considered a revival instead of a neighbor. Webster’s dictionary says a person who shows kindliness or helpfulness toward his or her fellow humans: to be a neighbor to someone in distress.
That no longer describes the majority of neighbors next door to our homes does it?
The late great comedic American once said this about our flag and country. "Boys and girls, I have been listening to you recite the Pledge of Allegiance all semester and it appears that it has become monotonous to you or could it be you do not know the meaning of those words. If I may, I would like to recite the Pledge and give to you a definition of the words.
I----meaning me, an individual, a committee of one.
Pledge----dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self pity.
Allegiance----my love and my devotion.
To the Flag----our standard, Old Glory, a symbol of freedom. Wherever she waves, there is respect because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts freedom is everybody's job.
Of the United----that means that we have all come together.
States----individual communities that have united into 48 great states. 48 individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose, all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common cause, and that's love of country.
Of America.
And to the Republic----a republic, a state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.
For which it stands!
One nation----meaning, so blessed by God.
Indivisible----incapable of being divided.
With Liberty----which is freedom and the right of power to live one's life without threats or fear or any sort of retaliation.
And justice----The principle and quality of dealing fairly with others.
For all.----which means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine."
Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our nation, and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance "under God." Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said, "That's a prayer" and that would be eliminated from schools, too? ~ Red Skelton
What is it going to take to get us back to that level of patriotism and Christianity? Do you remember those brief few days after 9/11 when we became one nation under God. When NO one threatened to sue you for invoking God’s protection and blessings? Surely the ACLU offices must have been closed. Do you remember how our only concern was for our fellow Americans in that rubble? The nations attorneys must have been on vacation. Do you remember everyone wanted to go to New York and Washington DC to help? The UAW must have gone on extended lunch. What is it going to take to make this nation whole again? It doesn’t have to start with a disaster; it can start with just a simple gesture of human kindness to a neighbor or even a complete stranger. One NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE with LIBERTY and JUSTICE for ALL. We have the power and God given authority. Will me use it or will we be used. We have the choice. God bless America.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
TREASURES FROM THE PAST..I THINK
My dear friend River Jordan managed to break a cob web away from my rusted old mind. She talked about lost things on her radio show up in Nashville. The older I get the more things I seem to lose. Sometimes I lose them for a few minutes and sometimes I lose them for a few years. Don’t you love finding things you lost for years? It’s like discovering a time capsule. They are often just the way you left them. Ok, if it was a live animal you might want to let that sleeping dog lie… so to speak.
A few weeks ago I found a cash box I had forgotten about 10 yrs ago in a storage box. It was quite heavy and when I lifted it, I felt like I had discovered Davy Jones locker. I carefully placed it on a table and slowly unlocked and opened the box. My mind was racing, could I have left it full of silver dollars, maybe bags of mercury dimes or perhaps even a stack or two of twenty dollar bills? As I opened the lid, the mystery was quickly over, it was full of pennies. Yeah great… I was cheap back then too… go figure.
Probably one of my greatest finds was an attaché case of Boy Scout memorabilia. What a rush, there were patrol record books of friends long forgotten (although many are now on Face book). Merit badges, and an old black and white photograph or two, several neckerchief’s, order of the arrow book and several merit badges I earned over 40 ago, yes I said 40 yrs ago.
Ok here is the weird part; I also found a 1972 GIRL SCOUT calendar. Must have been from one of those Girl Scout camp raids at Camp Blue Springs in the sand hills of Bay County. That box had a little bit of everything in it. I even found some 45 yr old Valentines from classmates like Jenny Everitt and Julie Coleman. The good news is I get to relive those memories all over again as I went through that brief case.
Now that we have covered the good, let’s take a look at the bad. I found a lotto ticket where I won $50 back in 1994. That hurt, I won’t look at old lotto tickets anymore, I’m afraid what the next one will I also found my set of keys to my old red Yamaha Venture that I lost when I moved to this home two years ago. I had to load up my Venture on a trailer and haul it to a locksmith where I paid him $75 to re-key all my locks. I took my bike back home and when I got up the next morning to ride, I stepped on… you guessed it… my old set of keys. I’m pretty sure a gopher picked them up and was messing with me that morning by throwing them down where I would surely find them.
Ok we finally get to the worst scenario of this article. Surely you will remember doing this. You are looking through your closet or shop when it suddenly occurs to you, you haven’t seen some object in a long time and have no idea what happened to it. I had that happened to me when somehow I lost a 38 caliber revolver a few years ago. I looked everywhere and the only thing I could think of was that I hid it somewhere at my old house in Callaway and didn’t get to go get it before I moved out. Bummer, it was my first hand gun purchased on my 21st birthday. For some of you gun control freaks out there it’s not such a great loss but for a born and bread southern boy, it’s like losing a member of the family. I guess my musing is over for today I just hope I remember to push send when I submit this article. Have a great week.
A few weeks ago I found a cash box I had forgotten about 10 yrs ago in a storage box. It was quite heavy and when I lifted it, I felt like I had discovered Davy Jones locker. I carefully placed it on a table and slowly unlocked and opened the box. My mind was racing, could I have left it full of silver dollars, maybe bags of mercury dimes or perhaps even a stack or two of twenty dollar bills? As I opened the lid, the mystery was quickly over, it was full of pennies. Yeah great… I was cheap back then too… go figure.
Probably one of my greatest finds was an attaché case of Boy Scout memorabilia. What a rush, there were patrol record books of friends long forgotten (although many are now on Face book). Merit badges, and an old black and white photograph or two, several neckerchief’s, order of the arrow book and several merit badges I earned over 40 ago, yes I said 40 yrs ago.
Ok here is the weird part; I also found a 1972 GIRL SCOUT calendar. Must have been from one of those Girl Scout camp raids at Camp Blue Springs in the sand hills of Bay County. That box had a little bit of everything in it. I even found some 45 yr old Valentines from classmates like Jenny Everitt and Julie Coleman. The good news is I get to relive those memories all over again as I went through that brief case.
Now that we have covered the good, let’s take a look at the bad. I found a lotto ticket where I won $50 back in 1994. That hurt, I won’t look at old lotto tickets anymore, I’m afraid what the next one will I also found my set of keys to my old red Yamaha Venture that I lost when I moved to this home two years ago. I had to load up my Venture on a trailer and haul it to a locksmith where I paid him $75 to re-key all my locks. I took my bike back home and when I got up the next morning to ride, I stepped on… you guessed it… my old set of keys. I’m pretty sure a gopher picked them up and was messing with me that morning by throwing them down where I would surely find them.
Ok we finally get to the worst scenario of this article. Surely you will remember doing this. You are looking through your closet or shop when it suddenly occurs to you, you haven’t seen some object in a long time and have no idea what happened to it. I had that happened to me when somehow I lost a 38 caliber revolver a few years ago. I looked everywhere and the only thing I could think of was that I hid it somewhere at my old house in Callaway and didn’t get to go get it before I moved out. Bummer, it was my first hand gun purchased on my 21st birthday. For some of you gun control freaks out there it’s not such a great loss but for a born and bread southern boy, it’s like losing a member of the family. I guess my musing is over for today I just hope I remember to push send when I submit this article. Have a great week.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Another Hero Lost to Time
Yesterday I rode once again with the Patriot Guard of Northwest Florida to honor another national hero. This gentleman was perhaps not known anyone reading this blog but he was as important a citizen as George Patton. His name was Arthur Leonard Williams. Arthur was a well loved man among his friends, church and family. He passed away after 91 years of life. He was an American of African heritage and a patriot thru and thru. Arthur was one of approximately 30 surviving Tuskegee Airman. He flew his P-51 Mustang during World War II protecting our heavy bombers and if not for he and his gallant squadron many people would not be here today to enjoy this land of the free and home of the brave. In 2002 Arthur was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian honor, for his service with the Tuskegee Airmen.
I watched from my position of flag bearer as many elderly men and women filled the little church in Pensacola. Some were barely able to climb the steps of the 130 year old church building but with an apparent determination to make every step to the top. We assisted many and many more thanked us but preferred to make the climb themselves. I am sure that is the same determination that lived in the heart of Arthur.
I listened as friend after friend stepped to the small podium and shared a memory of a friend that will be most sorely missed. The great majority of attendees were senior citizens not too far behind Arthur. I felt sadness that there were not a lot younger people in the congregation. Perhaps it’s because Arthurs sacrifice was so long ago they had not heard. That same sadness came over me again thinking that all the treasures locked up in Arthurs mind are now gone from our nation’s archives. Many questions never asked that could no doubt have filled many history books.
It makes me wonder, had the local schools known about this extra ordinary citizen, would they have attended this funeral? Had they known Arthur was one of the greatest generation whom came between them and a life dictatorship, would they have come? Where were the news crews, the news paper men and the reporters? Was it not at least as good a story as a politician caught with his hands in the cookie jar?
We are losing these members of the greatest generation at a number of more than 1000 per day. If you find one of these national treasures (and by find I mean seek them out) be sure and sit down with them and spend some time listening to their stories. Write it down or tape it with a tape recorder but remember when the Patriot Guard Riders are standing a flag line for these gems, there will be no more time for stories or questions. Remember the words well of George Santayana: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
I watched from my position of flag bearer as many elderly men and women filled the little church in Pensacola. Some were barely able to climb the steps of the 130 year old church building but with an apparent determination to make every step to the top. We assisted many and many more thanked us but preferred to make the climb themselves. I am sure that is the same determination that lived in the heart of Arthur.
I listened as friend after friend stepped to the small podium and shared a memory of a friend that will be most sorely missed. The great majority of attendees were senior citizens not too far behind Arthur. I felt sadness that there were not a lot younger people in the congregation. Perhaps it’s because Arthurs sacrifice was so long ago they had not heard. That same sadness came over me again thinking that all the treasures locked up in Arthurs mind are now gone from our nation’s archives. Many questions never asked that could no doubt have filled many history books.
It makes me wonder, had the local schools known about this extra ordinary citizen, would they have attended this funeral? Had they known Arthur was one of the greatest generation whom came between them and a life dictatorship, would they have come? Where were the news crews, the news paper men and the reporters? Was it not at least as good a story as a politician caught with his hands in the cookie jar?
We are losing these members of the greatest generation at a number of more than 1000 per day. If you find one of these national treasures (and by find I mean seek them out) be sure and sit down with them and spend some time listening to their stories. Write it down or tape it with a tape recorder but remember when the Patriot Guard Riders are standing a flag line for these gems, there will be no more time for stories or questions. Remember the words well of George Santayana: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)