This Country.....MY Country

Patriotism: devoted love, vigorous support, and passionate defense of one's country; national loyalty……“Devoted”, “Vigorous”, “Passionate”.  Based on that definition, where do you fall in the spectrum of patriotism?  John F. Kennedy once said, “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”  Are you willing to live that statement?  Can you look in the mirror and see a reflection of what this country stands for?  The principles upon which it was founded? 

There are several things in this life that I am overwhelmingly passionate about.  This list includes, but is not limited to my family, the Green Bay Packers, and MY country.  Yes, mine….the one I am willing to die for, because I believe in her greatness above all others.  I believe in her traditions.  I believe in her foundation.  I believe in the vision of, and the inspiration given to, our founding fathers.

240 years ago, the Colonies' Second Continental Congress, represented by Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman and Robert R. Livingston, authored the document that forged the basis for our celebrations this day.  On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the official and final version of the Declaration of Independence.  I’d love to think that on the back of that document is the picture of a massively majestic bald eagle, in all his glory, giving King George III, Great Britain, and their parliament the big middle finger.

Four days after the document was officially signed, its first public reading took place at Independence Square in Philadelphia.  The subsequent year was the first celebration of Independence Day, and was accompanied with ringing bells, bonfires, and fireworks.  And thus the tradition of fireworks on the 4^th of July was born.

The United States Constitution was adopted and signed on 17 September, 1787 and its ratification certified on 13 September, 1788.  The Preamble of this document explains the purpose for which it was written: "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Going through high school and college, I remember studying 28 principles of liberty that were used to build our constitution and subsequent Bill of Rights.  As I stand back and look at the political agendas being pushed, and the direction my country seems to be heading, my heart hurts to see so much deviation from these guiding principles.  Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher summed it up well.  Here are 2 of their respective quotes.  WC said, “Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.”  MT said, “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples' money.”  I don’t believe it could have been stated any more clearly.  I believe every one of them to be true, but allow me to share several of these 28 that stand out most to me:

1.       A free people cannot survive under a republican constitution unless they remain virtuous and morally strong.

2.      The most promising method of securing a virtuous people is to elect virtuous leaders.

3.      Without religion the government of a free people cannot be maintained

4.      The proper role of government is to protect equal rights, not provide equal things.

5.      The highest level of prosperity occurs when there is a free-market economy and a minimum of government regulations

I’m a traditionalist.  I believe greatly in the principles the founding fathers espoused.  Re-read those 5 principles, then step back and look at what is happening around you.  Has there ever been greater prophetic verbiage?  Each and every one of those has been compromised.  The results are obvious.  Let us take a second to define the term principle; a fundamental truth that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning.  I believe the most important word in that definition is “truth”.  Further, I believe that truth to be unchanging.  While reading about the history of this nation, it is overwhelmingly apparent that one of the biggest concerns written in to our founding documents was the degradation of people’s beliefs and values.  Those fears and concerns litter our lives every day.  We are constantly being deluged with immorality, attempting to redirect our vector as a nation; to pull us away from the moral principles upon which we were built.  The more this country strays from God and continues to eliminate the need to teach all new generations about the basic foundation of this country, the precepts behind the Revolutionary War, and the vision of our founding fathers, the more vulnerable we become.  Oh, you don’t believe in God?  That’s fine, and it’s certainly your prerogative.  That doesn’t mean he doesn’t exist or didn’t have influence upon our founding fathers.  It simply means you don’t believe it.  You can believe 2 + 2 = 5 if you want…similarly, you would still be wrong.  Regardless of what you believe, there is a basic fundamental truth behind the principles of our nation’s doctrine.  And frankly, if you don’t like that, or don’t want to support that, I would invite you to leave.  There are plenty of countries out there that would welcome your progressive ignorance.

In summation: 

- I believe in the country our founding fathers envisioned 240 years ago.   
- I believe in the constitution as it was written, and for the reasons it was written.    
- I believe with all fervency, the principles upon which this nation was founded.  
- I believe the American Dream exists.  
- I believe in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.   
- I believe happiness is earned through its pursuit, and is not a handout.
- I believe you can achieve anything you want in this life if you are willing to actively pursue it.  
- I believe we are all equal at the starting line, and whether we are all equal at the finish line is a matter of effort and decisions made.  It is NOT the government's responsibility to equalize....it is YOURS.  If you don't like where you are in life, then do something about it.

- I believe the push toward socialism is creating a lazy, idolatrous people that are beginning to ruin our country as they stand with hands out, expecting to be taken care of. 
- I believe there is a socialistic country waiting with open arms, willing to accept those unwilling to live by the fundamental basics of our constitution. 
-I believe I have a right to protect myself and my family by any and all means possible.

- I believe in helping those unable to help themselves. 
- I believe people who stomp on the American flag should be shot. 
- I believe that continuing to force God out of this nation will cause irreparable damage. 

  - I believe it imperative to instill in our children a love of country, a solid understanding of our heritage, and a firm foundation upon which to build their patriotism and vector their moral compass.   
- I believe that if you choose to immigrate to this country you should be required to know, understand, and live The Pledge of Allegiance.  I believe it should be recited every single day in every publicly funded school across the nation.

- I believe we should welcome with open arms those that are willing to come to the US, hold fast to our principles and heritage, and pursue a better life.  This is America.  If you want to be here, embrace it.  If you are unwilling to do that, go elsewhere.   
-I believe no greater service can be performed than that which is dedicated to the benefit of others.  Regardless of your beliefs, I have made the decision that I am willing to die for the country that allows you to have them.  I do so whether I agree with your beliefs or not.  Other than my children, nothing in this world makes me as proud as wearing this uniform every day, and fighting for what I believe in.  I have sworn under oath to support and defend the Constitution at limitless cost.
- I believe if war came to this country and you are unwilling to take up arms and defend it with your life, you should live in a country not worth dying for.

If you are offended, it's likely because you believe in things other than what our founding fathers believed in.  I am not sorry.  I do not apologize for the offense you have taken.  I do not apologize for standing on firm foundations and defending what I know to be true.  Muhammad Ali said it best, "I know where I'm going and I know the truth, and I don't have to be what you want me to be."

know where I'm going and I know the truth, and I don't have to be what you want me to be. I'm free to be what I want.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/muhammad_ali.htm

I know where I'm going and I know the truth, and I don't have to be what you want me to be. I'm free to be what I want. Muhammad Ali
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/muhammad_ali.html

- I believe in this country, MY country.