Having been to fourteen other countries in Europe, Asia and Central America, I have the right to say that not only am I glad to be an American - PROUD TO BE AMERICAN - but I have the perspective to say that we are lucky to be Americans! Unless you are an immigrant - you are an American because you were born here and THANK GOD for that blessing! There truly is no better place on earth and may I say I am sick and tired of people, especially politicians and news reporters who talk like WE are the scourge of the earth and deserve every bad thing that happens to us. If we are hated, it is because we are better, and we ought to be proud of what makes us better, not make excuses for those who seek to destroy us. I'm not saying we are perfect, but we are not only #1 in the world in freedom and opportunity, we are #2 and #3 and #4 as well. Their is hardly a runner up in what America offers its people. It is no mystery why we have enemies - but it is because we are good, but because we have done anything to deserve the hatred of those who seek to end our way of life.
But before I get ranting any more on that, (!), I wanted to post some pictures from a trip our family took to Springfield, IL in the fall of 2006. Because there are some very important similarities between our current President and the beloved Abraham Lincoln.
Baby Luke hanging with the First Family
Me, discussing the current war with some civil war commanders.
Baby Luke playing outside Lincoln's childhood home.
Baby Luke trying to sneak up on and stop Booth!
Nice that the pubic restrooms at the museum were authentic!Did you know that President Abraham Lincoln was a Christian? Do you know who lead him to Christ? Here is a photo that tells the story:
Sara's Dad, a relative of Lincoln (seriously),
sharing the Peace Track with a young Lincoln.
Baby Luke marked with the Official Presidential Seal!
Baby Luke at Lincoln's Tomb
That's grandma, grandpa and mommy in the background in front of the Tomb.If you have never been to Springfield and to the new Lincoln Museum, it is well worth the trip. And DON'T MISS the Ghost of the Civil War show. It is amazing, and leaves you stunned and amazed at some special effects that are truly hard to figure out "how did they
do that?" It's better than any show I've seen at a Disney park. Simply incredible.
Back to the Rant...There is something amazing about visiting the tomb of Lincoln. It brings this amazing historical figure into reality - he really lived, and the events you've read and heard about really happened. And the thing that I admire the most about Abraham Lincoln is that he did what was right - what was best for American - despite whether it was popular or not. We have the America we have today because this man cared more about his country than he did for himself or his future. The fact that he is so universally loved today often blurs how incredibly HATED he was by so many who blamed him personally for the many deaths and broken families caused by the Civil War that he started. He was vastly unpopular and it was only after his death that many came to understand just how critical his role had been to very preservation of our United States of America.
(click for a larger image)Now there is a national monument in Washington D.C., museums, and an memorial tomb and countless other tributes to this man that he never saw, and most likely, never expected or would have sought. (
Unlike a more recent President who pathetically talks about his "legacy" - if you have to talk about it, you don't have one!)
When Ronald Reagan died n 2004 and I listened to the speeches given at his national funeral, it was like living Lincoln all over again. (not that I lived then!) Reagan was also a man ridiculed and severely hated during his presidency. While being mocked and belittled, he also put our great nation above his own reputation or career and nearly
single handedly brought down the Soviet Empire and ended the Cold War and brought peace to many other nations while preserving our own. (Doubt many kids are taught this in school!)
(click for a larger image)The freedom we enjoy every day, even the freedom to mock and belittle and ridicule our President is a costly freedom. It cost blood. Blood of fathers and brothers and sons, and even mothers and sisters and daughters. The cost is still high and precious. And when Americans forget why we are at war and what our enemy's goal is and fail to support our troops - they are insulting the men and woman who are in harms way TODAY that we might live free.
(click for a larger image)Our current President sees the future with a clarity that few Presidents have in recent years. He understands not only the cost of war, but the cost of not agressively defending freedom; a cost that is much higher. He understands that we must be on the offense, not merely on the defense, and that only by taking the battle to the enemy and fighting our their soil will ours remain safe. Safe even for the critics and the ignorant to whine and complain and wring their hands attributing the painful costs of freedom to our leader instead of to the enemy who takes the lives we mourn and miss.
Is our President perfect? No. Do I agree with everything he says or does? No. Do his idiosyncrasies humor me and his mannerisms sometimes make me smile or even cringe? Yes, but his integrity and courage and steadfastness in the face of a real national threat from outside and power hungry critics on the inside make me proud to be an American and proud to have voted for him and to call myself a Republican.
When I visited Washington, D.C. last year and
went around with a George Bush mask on taking pictures of our Capital, it was fascinating to experience people treating me, when the mask was on, with the same attitude and words as they would if they met our President. I had people asking to shake my hand and pose for pictures. I had people literally walk up and thank me and give me short speeches of gratitude, what they'd like to say to our President, were he walking the streets of the city. But, to my sadness and surprise, I also had people hurl insults, make obscene gestures and one man even threatened me suggesting wearing the mask could endanger my life! Most surprising was how many young people hated their president. One group that I got to talk to after they insulted our President, I asked what they were doing and they answered they were touring all the memories. I asked them when they visit to actually take the time to read the memories and to keep in mind that each of the men who now have memorials were not popular in their day but they did what would save our nation over what would save their popularity, and now thousands of people visit annually to see their monuments and memorials, to read their words, and in some cases to stand near where the body of the man was laid to rest. I tried to help them see what what is right is not always popular, and what is popular is not always right. (Something my political science teacher in high school taught me) Indeed, freedom is not popular, at least not what it takes to
be free!
A boy asked me, "What? Do you George Bush will have a memorial someday?" My answer was that I don't know, and that's not the point. The point is that if he does, it will be because he doesn't care whether he gets monument or not - he will do what is best for our nation either way. That is the only way to get a monument - to do what is right in the face of severe opposition. There are no monuments to popular men. Only to brave men who boldly do what is right no matter what the masses around them say.
Monuments are only built for unpopular men who do what is right.As the presidential election season gets into motion -
please, I beg you - as one who enjoys freedom and has seen much of the rest of the world - don't be fooled by empty promises and words that tickle the ears. Listen for the ones who love our country. Get behind the ones who see hope, and a better tomorrow, but those who are willing to be unpopular to do what is right and what is needed. I know it's tricky to win a popular election without seeking popularity, but it has happened many times in history, and can happen again. Americans need to stay the course we are currently on - improve, adjust, adapt, learn, yes - but stay the course of fighting the war on terror and preserving our great nation for the next generation.
I'm a dad now - I will vote first and foremost for the president who will protect us. Social issues are not as important - without freedom - there will be no social issues. National security is the #1 issue in our country and world and please don't hand it over to anyone who thinks we should cut and run or surrender when the reality is we are winning and advancing freedom in the part of the world that needs it most and keeping our homeland safe.
Freedom of the press is wonderful, but I wish the press was for freedom. Americans, don't be fooled by the agenda's of much of today's media - many past generations have stepped up to save our way of life, and it's our turn now.
