America First

A person doesn’t have to look very far nowadays to see turmoil in almost every corner of our country. Whether it’s the environment, social issues, or foreign policy, we are a nation rife with difficulties. But why? It is true that there have always been issues but it seems they are only magnified and exaggerated in this instant media world that we live in.

From where I’m looking it is because we have forgotten one fundamental cornerstone of life in this great country. America should, it must come first. We are losing our direction in the name of political correctness. The pilgrims were certainly not being very politically correct when they left England for a better life here. The founding fathers were not being very correct when many of them literally lost everything to sign the Constitution. Lincoln was not siding on a very popular front when he signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Whatever happened to the unvarnished truth? It is being sacrificed at the altar of placation.

We are at war. Say what you will about the rights and wrongs of the decision to be there, but we are there. Is this anytime to be wrangling for political position and undercutting our troops? Perhaps it is because Memorial Day is upon us. I served in Saudi Arabia in 1990. We landed less than two weeks after Hussein crossed into Kuwait. I know first hand how appreciative the Saudis were that we were there. Perhaps it was looking out across acres of white crosses and Stars of David at a cemetery in Belgium for countless soldiers who paid the ultimate price at the Battle of the Bulge never to return to the soil of this great country.

Thomas Jefferson said "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

It is that blood that allows many in this country to spit on the flag and denounce us for all to hear all across the world. Am I the only one that finds that ironic?

This country was founded by, and made great by immigrants. In the 19^th and 20^th centuries we saw unprecedented advancement and growth into a world power because of immigrants. They came to this country and they assimilated and worked hard to cultivate the dream that they envisioned. They didn’t ask for those that were here (and had already adapted to a new way of life) to rewrite everything they knew so we could be like some place else. Why does illegal immigrant have to be a four letter word? If you want the prosperity of America then come legally and become an American.

I wish as a nation we could actually pause and reflect on what exactly that means and how blessed and fortunate we are. Otherwise we are doomed to follow in the footsteps of many other great nations before us down a path that dilutes and destroys our very being.