But John Wayne has several other paeans to the simple greatness that is America:
Ah, we miss you, Duke!
--- I posted this three years ago, and it was well received. And so I post it again in hope that it lifts up someone's spirit and reminds them of the foundation of this great country on its birthday. Here is the wonderful mix that Alton made for me. He'd asked me to record this post, and then he added music. Listen or read - but enjoy either way! .---
Two hundred thirty three years ago, a group of men - men of influence, wisdom, and courage - gathered together to sign a Document and birth a Nation:
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
And so began the war for our Independence, a war where we threw off the stifling apron-strings of our Mother, Britain, and began our journey of discovery. The War was long, and fraught with set-backs, disasters, tremendous hardship, and discouragement. But through it all, one man held true to the ideal and fought with dogged determination to keep his army and his new country from giving in.
General George Washington. He was not necessarily a brilliant man, but he was honorable and resolute. He had been given the duty of defeating the British and winning the War, and he pursued his orders with unflinching persistence.
And in October of 1781, the British General, Cornwallis, surrendered at Yorktown, VA.
The United States of America was free.
But freedom doesn't come easily. The States had adopted the Articles of Confederation in early 1781. The Articles gave the States many sovereign powers, and any changes to the Articles had to be approved by nine of the thirteen States. Federal power was practically non-existent: it couldn't raise taxes, it couldn't regulate trade, it couldn't stop States from printing their own money.
With authority to act scattered throughout the States, and an anemic central government, America threatened to dissolve into a group of bickering little provinces. The States had their own armies, their own international ambassadors, they argued over interstate trade, the justice system left quite a bit to be desired. In other words, it was a bit of a mess!
In 1786, after much unrest and disputes among the States, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton petitioned that the Constitutional Convention convene to write a new Constitution which would strengthen and unify our young Nation. The man the Convention elected to preside over this process was none other than George Washington, the man all Americans look on as our First Father. General Washington was reluctant - he had recently lost his brother, and he preferred to remain at Mount Vernon, managing his lands. Finally, however, he accepted the duty, and made his way to Pennsylvania.
Under his calm influence, eventually each of the States made compromises and came to agreements, negotiated the power of the Federal Government and State Governments, outlined the authorities of the branches of the Federal Government, and placed the ultimate power of Government firmly in the hands of the People. The first draft was accepted in August of 1787 after months of wrangling and debating. Five weeks later, on September 17th, the convention dismissed, and the Constitution went to the States for ratification. It wasn't until July of 1788 that the Convention received word that the ninth State, South Carolina had ratified the Constitution.
Finally, enough States had accepted the Constitution to begin to implement its laws. Of course, there was further debate about the Bill of Rights, which were passed by a total of three quarters of the States by late 1791, but now America had her "supreme Law of the Land," which began:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure 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.
Thus we began to work out this fine balance between the Power and Authority of the People, and that of the Government. Men and women have stepped up to serve our country in war and in peace throughout our 230-year history. Elected officials, military, police, firemen, medical personnel, charity organizations, human rights groups, and so many more have furthered the cause of Freedom and Liberty in our country.
But for me, no group deserves our honor and our respect more than the men and women who serve her in our Armed Forces. Each man and woman who enters the military takes this oath:
...I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same...
Our men and women do not swear to a particular leader. They are not members of a cult of personality. They swear to uphold the Law, and the Supreme Law of the United States of America is the Constitution.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what the Fourth of July means to me. "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness," "We the People," and "I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same."
Happy 233rd birthday, America! I love you dearly, and pray that God will continue to bless and guide you. I pray that you will always be that "shining city on the hill," a light and example to the rest of the world of Freedom and Liberty.
Happy birthday!
hen
in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to
dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and
to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station
to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent
respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare
the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton
Massachusetts:
John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery
Connecticut:
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott
New York:
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris
New Jersey:
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark
Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross
Delaware:
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean
Maryland:
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia:
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton
North Carolina:
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn
South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton
Georgia:
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton
Oh, President Reagan, how I miss men of your strength and character! How I miss statesmen with clear moral vision and spines of steel!
It has been too long since giants walked the earth, and we are all diminished by it.
See, this is how true conservatives act. They don't need an entourage, they don't need to parade themselves, and they are not so puffed up with themselves that they walk around with a "Do you know who I am?" attitude.
From FoxNation, an article at NBC Washington:
High school seniors Terrence Stephens and Jason Ankrah, star football players at Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg, Md., were sitting on a plane returning from a recruitment session at the University of Nebraska when they struck up a conversation with the man sitting next to them.
Their seat-mate just happened to be a major Cornhuskers fan.
When they started chatting, Stephens and Ankrah didn't have a clue they were holding court with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
"I was amazed this guy knew so much about us as football players and as people," said Stephens. "That was shocking. I felt honored to be known by someone of his caliber. He was just a regular old guy, sitting in coach, which really shocked me."
And they were so impressed by Justice Thomas that they asked him to be the keynote speaker at their graduation - and he accepted.
"Just a regular old guy, sitting in coach."
Compare that to the whiny drama of Pelosi. Or the arrogant narcissism of President Obama.
A man of great power and influence chatting amiably with two unknown young men. A man of immense intellect and wide experience in humble conversation, focusing on others rather than himself.
Clarence Thomas. A man of dignity, grace, and character. A man!
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
-- Kipling, "If"
We are, of course, going to be having a family gathering tomorrow at CatHouse Central to enjoy friends and family and the long weekend.
But this weekend is in memory and celebration of the men and women in our armed forces who gave the last, full measure of devotion to this country, so it's appropriate to remember and honor them.
Back in February, HBO aired an incredible movie - "Taking Chance." I was upset that I couldn't watch it, but heard so many enthusiastic endorsements of it - including from my Beloved Husband, who saw it while traveling - that I had to order it. I recieved notice near the beginning of May that it had shipped, but was down in Orlando helping my Mom when it arrived.
Today, while cleaning out the cooler in preparation for this weekend's festivities, lo and behold, there was the package from Amazon...
So now I have the perfect movie to remember and honor our citizan soldiers who have laid down their lives so that this country remains free.
The money quote:
“I am excited to continue my duty as Miss California, USA. All I want to be able to do is to tell my story, which no one can take away from me. Not everyone may like me or agree with me…but I hope at the end of the day, everyone can respect my rights, as I respect theirs; and together we can bring back civility in our social and cultural discussions. I am convinced, now more than ever, of the importance for standing up for your beliefs and convictions. For everyone out there listening - do not be silenced. Take this story of mine and apply it to your own life. I hope I’ve inspired others to maintain compassion, civility, respect, and tolerance - while staying true to your convictions…and to never, ever, compromise your beliefs in the pursuit [of your] goals, regardless of the consequences. [emph. mine]
Trace Adkins and the West Point Glee Club: "The Last Shot Fired"
It shall come to pass in the latter days
that the mountain of the house of the LORD
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be lifted up above the hills;
and all the nations shall flow to it,
and many peoples shall come, and say:
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths."
For out of Zion shall go the law,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and shall decide disputes for many peoples;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore.
(Isaiah 2:2-4, ESV)
Amen. Even so, Lord Jesus - come!
(h/t to Kender for the video)
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I'm going to get it, though, if it ever comes out on DVD...
Actually, I have two - my husband and my Father.
But for today's Veterans' Day, I would like to honor my Father in particular. Daddy turned 90 last May, and I was just down visiting with them at the end of October. In May, Daddy was getting a little confused, and he couldn't remember a few people, but otherwise was doing pretty well. When I saw him last month, he was far more frail, and still more fragile mentally.
I honestly don't know whether this will be his last Veterans' Day and Thanksgiving with us... And although I'm 45, I'm finding out that, "once a Daddy's girl, always a Daddy's girl." I am going to miss him so very much when God calls him Home!
So, in honor of his service in World War II, I want to wish Daddy a Happy Veterans' Day.
I want to say thank you to all the men and women who have stepped up through the years to serve our country, and sometimes give that last, full measure of devotion. Thank you for protecting us. Thank you for defending freedom. Thank you for standing guard in peace and in war. Thank you for your honor, courage and commitment to your god, your family, and your country.
Thank you, Daddy, for standing The Watch.
For many years this man stood the Watch....
While some of us lay about our bunks at night this Sailor stood the Watch.
While others of us were attending schools, this Sailor stood the Watch.
And yes, even before many of us were born, this Sailor stood the Watch.
As our families watched the storm clouds of war, brewing on the horizons of history, He stood the Watch.
This Sailor looked ashore and saw his family often needing his guidance but he knew he must stay because he had the Watch.
For many years he has stood the watch so that we and our fellow countrymen could sleep soundly in safety knowing that a Sailor would stand the Watch.
Today we are here to say the Watch stands relieved. Relieved by those you led, guided and trained.
You stand relieved, we have the Watch.
Boatswain stand by to pipe to the side, shipmate going ashore.
"Fair Winds and Following Seas"
God bless, Daddy. Thank you.
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Really, I do. We don't agree on everything, but the love and regard we have for our nation and for conservative/libertarian ideals is spot on:
It has been a source of delight for me these past few days to see nothing but evidence of this, all across our defeated lines. Nowhere have I heard a shred of defeatism or despair. On the contrary. In point of fact, the magnanimity and graciousness I have seen in defeat in so many places on the right tells me that this is a eager and seasoned army, one able to look defeat in the face and own up to the errors in tactics and strategy that got us there. And nowhere do I see a call to abandon our core principles and sue for terms, but rather that our loss was caused precisely by our abandonment of the issues we which hold dear and which have served us so well on battlefields past.
So consider this, my fellows in arms:
On Tuesday, the Left – armed with the most attractive, eloquent, young, hip and charismatic candidate I have seen with my adult eyes, a candidate shielded by a media so overtly that it can never be such a shield again, who appeared after eight years of a historically unpopular President, in the midst of two undefended wars and at the time of the worst financial crisis since the Depression and whose praises were sung by every movie, television and musical icon without pause or challenge for 20 months… who ran against the oldest nominee in the country’s history, against a campaign rent with internal disarray and determined not to attack in the one area where attack could have succeeded and who was out-spent no less than seven-to-one in a cycle where not a single debate question was unfavorable to his opponent – that historic victory, that perfect storm of opportunity…
Yielded a result of 53%
Folks, we are going to lick these people out of their boots.
Go read his whole post; it's short (particularly for him; he writes WONDERFUL essays!), and very much worth your time.
*sigh* Yup. Just ADORE the man...! And, he's just earned the right to have the label "Hero" applied to him in my categories - this has previously been reserved for our wonderful, brave military, and a few other folks who have also displayed courageous patriotism. Welcome to their ranks, Bill - you've earned it!
(POST WILL BE UPDATED ALL DAY WITH NEW LINKS)
PRIDE OF PLACE ADDITION: To celebrate Bill Whittle's return (God willing) to regular writing, I quote from his essay in National Review Online:
And, finally . . . what of John McCain? I’ve read many comments about his speech being a disappointment. I don’t know how it looked or played from the floor. But I know how it played from my Los Angeles living room. I believe — and we’ll know soon enough if I’m right — that John McCain did something Thursday night more powerful and astonishing than Sarah Palin did the previous evening. Sarah stole Obama’s glamour. McCain stole his message. (Granted, that may not be a lot, apart from the glamour, but it was all Obama had left.) {emph. mine - Kat}
(We now return you to the original post)
A couple of confessions, first - as I was a little worried about how Gov. Palin would do on Wednesday night, I was also worried about how McCain would do last night. Saracuda did so well, and was received so enthusiastically that, combined with her pitbull determination and her novelty, I wondered how Sen. McCain would match her.
Well, Maverick did just fine - just fine, indeed!
Which leads to my second confession: I only watched the speech this morning on CSPAN's YouTube channel. Although I wasn't sorry to miss what I hear were some real yawner speeches last night, I did want to watch McCain - but, as they say, the spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak: I was asleep by about 9:45. Ah, well...
But I watched the speech this morning, and I was very optimistic because of what my blog-brother, Mike, has passed along in the e-mail list (gotta check the e-mail first thing in the morning, LOL) and then posted on his blog:
We’d heard the story over and over this week. How he was shot down. How he was tortured. How he never fully healed. So I didn’t expect to hear it again from him.
By the time he’d finished his story, I was nearly in tears. And I understood. I understood the Maverick. I understood his value system. I understood his love for America.
By the end, I was ready to scream along with the crowd.
I may have been slow in coming around.
But tonight, I love John McCain.
When I watched the video, I, too, understood. And I can now say, proudly and certainly that
JOHN MCCAIN IS THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR AMERICA!!
Watch his speech:
I've been an imperfect servant of my country for many years. But I have been her servant first, last and always. And I've never lived a day, in good times or bad, that I didn't thank God for the privilege. [...]
I was in solitary confinement when my captors offered to release me. I knew why. If I went home, they would use it as propaganda to demoralize my fellow prisoners. Our Code said we could only go home in the order of our capture, and there were men who had been shot down before me. I thought about it, though. I wasn't in great shape, and I missed everything about America. But I turned it down.
A lot of prisoners had it worse than I did. I'd been mistreated before, but not as badly as others. I always liked to strut a little after I'd been roughed up to show the other guys I was tough enough to take it. But after I turned down their offer, they worked me over harder than they ever had before. For a long time. And they broke me.
When they brought me back to my cell, I was hurt and ashamed, and I didn't know how I could face my fellow prisoners. The good man in the cell next door, my friend, Bob Craner, saved me. Through taps on a wall he told me I had fought as hard as I could. No man can always stand alone. And then he told me to get back up and fight again for our country and for the men I had the honor to serve with. Because every day they fought for me.
I fell in love with my country when I was a prisoner in someone else's. I loved it not just for the many comforts of life here. I loved it for its decency; for its faith in the wisdom, justice and goodness of its people. I loved it because it was not just a place, but an idea, a cause worth fighting for. I was never the same again. I wasn't my own man anymore. I was my country's.
I'm not running for president because I think I'm blessed with such personal greatness that history has anointed me to save our country in its hour of need. My country saved me. My country saved me, and I cannot forget it. And I will fight for her for as long as I draw breath, so help me God.
And that, my friends, draws the stark contrast between the newest American Idol, Barack Obama, and a true American Hero, John McCain.
I am sure that Obama is intelligent, and attractive, and charismatic; his accomplishment in rising to where he is is a testament to the American ideal that a citizen of this great country can do anything, if he or she puts their mind to it.
But Sen. Obama simply does not have the history of sacrifice, of dedication, of endurance and of honor that are the distinctive marks of John McCain's life.
Sen. Obama is too untried, he is too unscarred, he is too unknown. I cannot risk entrusting the safety, prosperity and freedom of this country to him. John McCain, for all the differences I may have with him (*cough* McCain-Feingold *cough* Amnesty for Illegal Aliens *cough*), is a man who has PROVEN with blood, sweat and tears, that he is worthy to lead this great country and to protect and serve the Constitution to the best of his considerable ability.
John McCain has the determined steadfastness, courage, and character required of a President of the United States.
Here are more links to read:
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(UPDATE: Ooops - fixed the wee typo in the title)
LOVE this guy! Love him, love him! He's conservative, he's Republican, he's awesome!
(WARNING: the language is not always safe for work... So if Mom and her friends stop by and then click through to his videos - YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!)
Here's a sample:
Virginia Beach has lost one of their honored sons.
May God comfort his family and friends, and may He continue to bless and guide the men and women who stand against evil.
God bless you and keep you. May He honor your service and guard your family.
I'm sure that when Tony Snow passed into eternity, he was greeted with those words from his Savior.
I am thankful that I went over to the Corner today and linked out to Kathryn Jean Lopez's article about Tony's funeral yesterday. She quoted from President Bush's eulogy which ended with this paragraph:
And so today we send this man of faith and character and joy on his final journey. Tony Snow has left the City of Washington for the City of God. May he find eternal rest in the arms of his Savior. And may the Author of all creation watch over his family and all those who loved him, admired him, and will always cherish his memory.
Kathryn comments:
In an environment where man and manhood are often subject to derision, it’s important to celebrate good men who aren’t afraid to recognize there’s a power greater than their own. It’s important to celebrate good men who know the right order of things. It’s important to celebrate good men who have some clue as to what to do with a charge like King David’s; they know that ultimately it’s the charge of another King, who promises more than any presidential candidate — even Barack Obama! — can. And their examples are living moral compasses in a confusing world.
And Snow, like Bush, wasn’t holier than thou about it. They’re but men — that’s the point — and they’re men who love life, love love, love fun. They’re men not threatened by tears, especially if the topic is family, but with no interest in being feminized. Tony’s brother Jim said of their childhood, Tony was evidence that “you can get into a little trouble and still turn out okay.” What a relief to boys the world over. When the time came to put away childish things, we all saw Tony Snow as a protector (in a national sense, even) and provider (why he left the White House, to make sure he could give his family everything he could before he had to go obediently serve Him who promises “better…bigger” for eternity).
The president said: “Tony Snow has left the City of Washington for the City of God.” As he made his way elsewhere, he left behind an inspiring example of commitment to the eternal. May we all keep our hearts open enough so that light from the City of God can shine in, even on the chaos of life on the Potomac.
Indeed.
--- I posted this last year from the year before, and it was well received. And so I post it again in hope that it lifts up someone's spirit and reminds them of the foundation of this great country on its birthday. Here is the wonderful mix that Alton, made for me two years ago. He'd asked me to record this post, and then he added music. Listen or read - but enjoy either way!
04 July, 2008 - I've made some minor edits, so the audio version won't match exactly with this written version. Have a blessed and safe celebration of our Independence!
Two hundred thirty two years ago, a group of men - men of influence, wisdom, and courage - gathered together to sign a Document and birth a Nation:
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
And
so began the war for our Independence, a war where we threw off the
stifling apron-strings of our Mother, Britain, and began our journey of
discovery. The War was long, and fraught with set-backs, disasters,
tremendous hardship, and discouragement. But through it all, one man
held true to the ideal and fought with dogged determination to keep his
army and his new country from giving in.
General George Washington. He was not necessarily a brilliant man, but he was honorable and resolute. He had been given the duty of defeating the British and winning the War, and he pursued his orders with unflinching persistence.
And in October of 1781, the British General, Cornwallis, surrendered at Yorktown, VA.
The United States of America was free.
But freedom doesn't come easily. The States had adopted the Articles of Confederation in early 1781. The Articles gave the States many sovereign powers, and any changes to the Articles had to be approved by nine of the thirteen States. Federal power was practically non-existent: it couldn't raise taxes, it couldn't regulate trade, it couldn't stop States from printing their own money.
With authority to act scattered throughout the States, and an anemic central government, America threatened to dissolve into a group of bickering little provinces. The States had their own armies, their own international ambassadors, they argued over interstate trade, the justice system left quite a bit to be desired. In other words, it was a bit of a mess!
In 1786, after much unrest and disputes among the States, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton petitioned that the Constitutional Convention convene to write a new Constitution which would strengthen and unify our young Nation. The man the Convention elected to preside over this process was none other than George Washington, the man all Americans look on as our First Father. General Washington was reluctant - he had recently lost his brother, and he preferred to remain at Mount Vernon, managing his lands. Finally, however, he accepted the duty, and made his way to Pennsylvania.
Under
his calm influence, eventually each of the States made compromises and
came to agreements, negotiated the power of the Federal Government and
State Governments, outlined the authorities of the branches of the
Federal Government, and placed the ultimate power of Government firmly
in the hands of the People. The first draft was accepted in August of
1787 after months of wrangling and debating. Five weeks later, on
September 17th, the convention dismissed, and the Constitution went to
the States for ratification. It wasn't until July of 1788 that the
Convention received word that the ninth State, South Carolina had
ratified the Constitution.
Finally, enough States had accepted the Constitution to begin to implement its laws. Of course, there was further debate about the Bill of Rights, which were passed by a total of three quarters of the States by late 1791, but now America had her "supreme Law of the Land," which began:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, 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.
Thus we began to work out this fine balance between the Power and Authority of the People, and that of the Government. Men and women have stepped up to serve our country in war and in peace throughout our 230-year history. Elected officials, military, police, firemen, medical personnel, charity organizations, human rights groups, and so many more have furthered the cause of Freedom and Liberty in our country.
But for me, no group deserves our honor and our respect more than the men and women who serve her in our Armed Forces. Each man and woman who enters the military takes this oath:
...I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same...
Our men and women do not swear to a particular leader. They are not members of a cult of personality. They swear to uphold the Law, and the Supreme Law of the United States of America is the Constitution. At this time, they are engaged in combat against an enemy that hates everything America stands for, and unfortunately, some of those enemies are here at home. As civilian citizens, we owe it to them to honor their service and to protect the freedom, independence and dedication to duty which our Founders bequeathed to us.
Freedom isn't free, and the Tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what the Fourth of July means to me. "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness," "We the People," and "I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same." I would hope that each citizen of this beloved country would rededicate themselves to the principles of our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution and work together to keep America strong and just.
Happy 232nd birthday, America! I love you dearly, and pray that God will continue to bless and guide you. I pray that you will always be that "shining city on the hill," a light and example to the rest of the world of Freedom and Liberty.
Happy birthday!
UPDATE: Here are some other extremely worthy posts to read -
I remember and honor the Fallen, for they gave their life's blood to protect and preserve our freedom.
I remember and honor the Families, who have raised up the men and women who have served their country.
I remember and honor the Veterans, for they stand as Ebenezers and remind us of the vast debt we owe to our men and women in uniform.
I remember and honor those currently Serving, for they are our strength and shield, our best and bravest.
The stern and solemn lyrics from little-known stanzas of two of America's favorite hymns come to mind. First, from "America, the Beautiful"
O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!
"Till selfish gain no longer stain/The banner of the free!"
America, much though I love her, has the terrible fault of selfishness running like a canyon through our national character. Thank God for the men and women who have refused to succumb to it and instead have stepped forward with resolve in their heats and said, "Behold, here am I. Send me."
I pray that God's grace will turn our hearts away from our selfishness so that we may be worthy of the sacrifice our military makes.
The second hymn is the "Battle Hymn of the Republic," our national hymn:
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free;
[originally …let us die to make men free]
While God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! While God is marching on.
Godly freedom. Freedom to choose, freedom to act, freedom to speak, freedom to worship, freedom to work, freedom to own property.
It used to be that the freedom we had, we exercised in self-restraint, self-control, and self-discipline - now I wonder if those qualities exist outside the military. We have become a lazy, selfish, conceited culture, a gathering of jaded dilettantes and spectators at the Coliseum games.Yet we still manage to produce men and women of character and integrity who step forward to defend and protect us and who are willing to offer their lives in service to their country and its citizens.
So, for this Memorial Day, I ask you to join with me and take a sober look at yourself. We must see what our mirrors truly reflect and meditate on whether we do merit the willing service of the men and women of our armed forces.
I don't think I do.
But, I think I'm going to try from now on.
Thank you, veterans. Thank you, active duty service personnel!
And thank you to the families of those who have laid down their lives for the cause of freedom. I will not forget, and I will train up my child to honor and respect those who are America's heroes.
On Saturday, 24 May, 2008, my most darling Daddy reaches a significant milestone: he turns 90 years old! Yep, that's right, Daddy's reached the big nine-oh - and it's been ninety years packed full of all sorts of joy, kindness, laughter, pain, smiles, and gracious character.
Daddy was born in Seattle, WA, in 1918. He had two older sisters (who are already in Heaven), and an older brother, who died before Daddy was born. Unfortunately, this wasn't the only sad thing in his young life; his father died when Dad was only 2, so he never really knew him. His Mom and sisters, however, raised him to be a true gentleman whose word was his bond, and who had a kind word for everyone.
Daddy served as a supply officer in World War II, including a tour on Midway - during the time of the Japanese attack. Daddy doesn't talk much about the war - mainly about the good times he had on Oahu when on leave - but he does recall that he stood at the bedside of Ensign Gay when the Ensign gave his report to Daddy's senior officer. That's all he's ever said about it, but his voice was choked with emotion.
Eventually, Daddy got his pilot's license (his eyesight wasn't good enough for the Navy to train him), and went to work for American Airlines. He eventually advanced to the position of pilot, and flew the Boeing 707 during his last years of employment - he loved that plane! I remember that he took me with him to Salt Lake City one time. We had dinner in a Japanese restaurant where we took our shoes off, donned paper slippers, and sat in cushions at a low table. It was my first taste of Japanese food, and I've loved it ever since. On the way back, one of the flight attendants taught me how to use chopsticks, although she had a hard time, since I'm left-handed ;-) Daddy also took me with him to Aruba for his very last flight; I remember I got to sit in the cockpit when the official pilot allowed Daddy to fly the take off (Daddy was supposed to dead head back).
Daddy and I have always been able to talk together. Mom has often said that he and I think very much alike (which I would dispute; I think I'm much more like Mom!). But, I've always been able to go to him with my problems, ask him to explain something, talk theology, or just sit and enjoy each other's presence. Once when I was a young teen, one of the men who had been hired to paint the inside of our house left me a note, inviting me to run away with him. Back in the day, I had no idea of older men (he must have been about 30 -ooooo) being attracted to young teens (I think I was about 15), and I was very upset and frightened. What did I do? I ran to my Daddy, right away... And that man was gone!
All my friends who have met Daddy have remarked at how sweet he is. One friend even wished he was her father - but then, her dad was a pretty awful guy. When I graduated from Greenwich Academy in 1982, my 41 classmates voted me "Daddy's Girl," a title I rejoice in to this day.
Daddy's not perfect, of course; there have been times when he's disappointed me, and I know I've returned the favor more than once. But I have never doubted his love for me, my brother, and my little sister. He pretty much idolizes my Mom! Daddy has treated all of us with a tender and loving generosity which is the ideal for all true dads. As a matter of fact, I'm also a fine example of the premise that women marry men who are very much like their fathers; the Beloved Husband has a similar personality, he's also a wonderfully loving husband and father, and he has the same easy-going and kind manner as Daddy.
So, my beloved father, I wish you a happy 90th birthday, and I pray that God will grant you many more years with us.
I love you, Daddy. You're the best Daddy in the world for me, and I thank God every day for the gift He gave me in you!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
UPDATE: I had sent an announcement to my lists and several other folks about Daddy's birthday. One of those people was Chris Muir of Day By Day, a man I greatly admire for his talent, his humor, and his kindness and graciousness. I hoped he might find just a quick minute to stop by and type a simple "Happy Birthday" .... But he did so much more:
Chris, this is... I am... speechless. Dumbfounded. That is Daddy to a "T"!!! Thank you so much, from the very bottom of my heart! Truly, you are a gentleman of the first rank, and I am honored by your gift!
I posted this video of Evan Sayet speaking at the Heritage Foundation last March, because I thought it was so insightful and true - and now one of my dear friends of the blogosphere, my beloved blog-brother, Kender, has set up a phone call for me this evening with this witty and astute man.
I am greatly honored, and the K-man also tells me that he's arranged for Mr. Sayet to autograph a copy of his book for me when it comes out. Hopefully, I'll be able to chat intelligently, and then gracefully allow Mr. Sayet to get back to his busy schedule ;-)
Here's what a REAL American - who has served honorably - feels about the war on Terror.
Now look, folks, I think that it's right that America ought to be reluctant to get into a war. We ought to be very hesitant to put our best, brightest and bravest in harm's way in another country! They are our treasure, our future, and we ought not to squander them.
But, once we're in a war, we ought to prosecute that war with the full might and fury this country is capable of. We ought to come down on our enemies like the wrath of God Himself, no holds barred, and get the job done. We ought to finish the job, and then bring our men and women in uniform home in victory, to receive the thanks of a grateful nation, and to give them their due honor.
Mr. Bellavia, who is speaking here, says one thing about which I have a caveat: "America has never lost a war." I agree with that in substance, because out troops have always been able to to the job, and do it well - *IF* the politicians and the American public allow them to do so. Viet Nam was a defeat for our troops - but NOT because of the VC. Our troops were defeated by the men and women, the elected officials and citizens of this country, who would not permit them to do their job.
That is our shame, not theirs. Let's not do that to them again!
(Kittipurrs to Jerry Fuhrman, one of my Virginia blog-brothers. If you don't have From On High bookmarked or on your RSS feeds, you should!)
Got this via the Instapundit... PLEASE watch!
America... Buy your flag BACK from the pawnshop! The 4,000 men and women who have given their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan deserve all the support, love, and thanks we can give. Don't let them die for nothing.
Buy back that flag.
HE IS RISEN INDEED!
Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”
So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.
And as they went to tell His disciples,behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.” (Matthew 28:1-10, NKJV)
"Arise, My Love"
“ O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?” (1 Cor. 15:55)
The grave cannot and could not hold the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords - the Creator and Source of all life!
After all, "You Can't Keep a THE Good Man Down!"
(Thank you, Newsong, for these wonderful songs!)
The power of God works its way through our lives, visibly and invisibly, no matter what we believe. God can work - He DOES work! - even in the lives of atheists and agnostics to accomplish His purposes.
He can even use a little old lady who is strong in faith to further His Kingdom, and to save a soul...
I would ask my readers to pray for this man that Mrs. Jacoby met. Pray that God's Word reached down into his soul and brought forth new life. Pray that God would work His will in this man so that he becomes a strong witness to the glorious, transforming power of the God Who Saves.
And then turn right around and praise God for a little old lady who stood firm in her faith, and wielded the Sword of the Spirit like a true warrior!
(Kittipurrs to the Evangelical Outpost - and if you're NOT reading his weekly "33 Things," you're missing out!)
Kittipurrs to my blog brother, Jerry...
Oh, I love these types of commercials! The Army has some good ones out, too - but I haven't seen anything for the Navy (*gasp!* Hey, and Navy wife, here!) or the Air Force like this. But, then, I just bust out with pride for ALL the courageous and honorable men and women who volunteer to serve and defend this country. America really doesn't know how richly we have been blessed!
Link: 'Mean mom' sells son's car after misdeed - Yahoo! News.
Jane Hambleton has dubbed herself the "meanest mom on the planet." After finding alcohol in her son's car, she decided to sell the car and share her 19-year-old's misdeed with everyone — by placing an ad in the local newspaper.
The ad reads: "OLDS 1999 Intrigue. Totally uncool parents who obviously don't love teenage son, selling his car. Only driven for three weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/offer. Call meanest mom on the planet.
Good for her! I pride myself on being a kind of nazi-mom: I do not accept poor behavior from the Darling Munchkin *OR* her friends. I'm happy to be playful and tease and laugh with them, but all of them know that there is a line they must not cross in my household.
Disrespect, irresponsibility, whining, malingering, lying... None of these are tolerated at home in the CatHouse - and it's wonderful to see that there are other parents out there who are willing to hold the line and follow through with real consequences.
"You can choose your actions, but you cannot choose the consequences."
So. Choose your actions wisely.
Hooray for Jane Hambleton; America needs more parents like her!
My blog-brother Jim Bowden linked this video of Dr. Ergun Caner, who is the Dean at Liberty Baptist University and a former muslim. It's going to take you about thirty minutes to watch, but it is FANTASTIC!
After I'd seen that video, I poked around a little more and discovered that Dr. Caner has a brother who has also converted to Christianity. They appear together in this video:
What courage and conviction - and what grace! As "apostates," they are marked for death, yet they stand up and proclaim the truth of the Fatherhood and love of God, and the glory of Christ their Savior...
Thanks, Jim... Wonderful and encouraging finds!
As Jay over at Stop the ACLU says,
He completely keeps overt politics out of it, and doesn't even appear in it! Very classy, and doesn't even plug his website. The subject matter is right on. This gave me chills. He could have went the overtly political route like Huckabee and Hillary, but he didn't. I think that speaks volumes.
Classy. Very, very classy!
I'm on board!
Our brave and wonderful troops deserve every bit of thanks we can give them. So don't hesitate - just say "Thanks."
No politics, no sermonizing, no debating.
Just a simple
"THANK YOU!"
(Purrs to the always awesome Blackfive)
I read about this the other day, and am ashamed to admit that I let it slip off my radar screen. Fortunately, my dear friend, Raven, reminded me this morning, so I can offer prayers on behalf of this hero in need:
Luis Sinco, a staff reporter for the LA Times, took this picture back in November, 2004, when the Marines entered Fallujah. The "Marlboro Marine" became an icon of the dogged determination of our brave men and women to win against the terrorists in Iraq.
But now, the "Marlboro Marine, " Blake Miller, needs our prayers:
The next day, I found Miller in a back bedroom at his uncle's house. He told me that he had come close to committing suicide the night before. He had thought about driving his motorcycle off the edge of a mountain road.
He showed me the morning newspaper. His divorce was the lead story.
I felt torn. I didn't want to get involved. I desperately wanted to close the book on Iraq. But if I hadn't taken Miller's picture, this very personal drama wouldn't be front-page news. I felt responsible.
Sometimes, when things get hard to witness, I use my camera as a shield. It creates a space for me to work -- and distance to keep my eyes open and my feelings in check. But Miller had no use for a photojournalist. He needed a helping hand.
I flashed back to the chaos of combat in Fallouja. In the rattle and thunder, brick walls separated me from the world coming to an end. In the tight spaces, we were scared mindless. Everybody dragged deeply on cigarettes.
Above the din, I heard what everybody was thinking: This is the end.
I've never felt so completely alone.
I snapped back to the present, and before I knew it, the words spilled out.
"I have to ask you something, Blake," I said. "If I'd gone down in Fallouja, would you have carried me out?"
"Damn straight," he said, without hesitation.
"OK then," I said. "I think you're wounded pretty badly. I want to help you."
He looked at me for a moment. "All right," he said.
Part two of Mr. Sinco's story is here:
Miller now sees Jessica a couple of times a month. They have not completed their divorce but remain separated.
"I see him on his good days," Jessica said, "and everything is wonderful. We actually have conversations." But then weeks pass without sight of him.
"He has to get stable," she said. "If he was better, we'd be together all the time."
Miller lives in a refurbished trailer behind his father's house. Two televisions provide constant background chatter. The refrigerator is bare. A hound named Mudbone spends most days tied in the yard.Miller is estranged from his mother. He talks with his father, Jimmy Miller, 43, about everything except Iraq.
...
It took a while to get to know Miller. But I've come to appreciate his intelligence, generosity and dignity. He is a talented musician and skilled mechanic. I try to relate to him as a brother, even though I'm older than his father.
He has helped me sort through the craziness of Fallouja. I can't stop the war, but Miller has given me a chance to make a difference -- by helping him. And maybe myself.
Often, I wonder if I've done enough. Can I let go now? Can I ever let go?
The experts tell me I may be in it for the long haul.
Armstrong says Miller is "playing out his symptoms on cue."
"He's just keeping his head above water," he said. "He can't afford any downtime because it allows him to think."
Harkness holds out hope that Miller will eventually seek intensive therapy of the kind she offered.
"He won't come in for help because a part of him is very macho," she said. "He really comes across as the Marlboro Man. My fear is that at some point, it's all going to come crashing down."
The horrors of war always affect our military to a greater or lesser degree. Some handle it "better" than others, and some break under the load. Grim, over at Blackfive, wrote an incredibly moving and insightful post the other week which may give civilians an insight as to what can go on inside our veterans; I highly recommend reading it.
I, however, have no experience in combat and no direct military training, so I cannot offer this sort of practical empathy. And so, I will do what all of us can, and turn to the God who loves us, who loves Blake Miller, and ask Him to come down and lay His healing hands on this young man, this hero, who is going through so much pain:
Dear Father in Heaven, You are truly glorious and awesome in Your power and grace. There is none like You in all the universe, and nothing can prevent You from doing all Your good will. Lord, You are our Provider and our Healer, our Savior and our Friend. You are the Mighty Warrior, the Lord of Hosts, stronger than all our tiny might, and willing to offer Your power to save us and transform us.
Father - O, Father! - one of our heroes is in pain, and in danger of falling into the inescapable mire of despair and torment. The sights he has seen, the things he has had to do on behalf of freedom, have wounded his spirit and closed his eyes to the joy and healing available to him. Father, we ask You to send Your Spirit upon Blake Miller, to heal him and to convince him of Your love and care for him. We ask that You send men and women to surround Blake with tangible evidence of Your love: hands to help, arms to hold, ears to listen, mouths to encourage, feet to serve, shoulders to support, hearts to love, and spirits to pray.
This man is my brother in You, Lord, and my brother is in pain. I know he knows Your Word, and I know that Your Word will never be ineffective. On behalf of my brother, I lay claim to Your promises:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
Father, You have promised comfort. In his afflictions, I pray that You draw Blake closer to You. I pray that he learns how faithful and loving You are to Your children. I pray that he receives strength from You, that he rests in You and renews his spirit. Father, You have promised that his suffering is not in vain: You have a plan and a purpose in it. Please help him hold Your hand as he walks this rocky trail. Give him an assurance of the light at the end of the tunnel and a confidence that
... all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
Father, you have promised that all things will work together for good for Your children. We know that not all things are good, but we know that You can give us beauty for ashes, and that You can turn mourning into joy. We know that You love us and are the Giver of all good things, that You want us to have abundant life so that we may be imitators and disciples of Your Son.
I pray that You will give Blake Your strength to lift up his eyes and place them on You, for You are our help and our shield, our Rock and Fortress who protects us in the storm. I pray that Blake puts his trust and confidence in You to bring him through this Valley of the Shadow of Death, knowing that You are carrying him in Your loving hands. Help him, I pray, to remember that You have begun Your work in him, and that You will bring it to completion. There is no one and nothing that can wrest Blake from You, Father, and You rejoice over him with singing, because he is Yours.
Father, protect and uphold Blake's family. I ask that You bring about reconciliation where needed, that You use this pain to draw them together and knit them into a close and loving relationship. I pray that You protect Jessica, that You encourage her to have faith in You and to pray for and love her husband. I pray that You turn Blake's heart towards her, that they be reunited as husband and wife and grow stronger together. I pray that they may become true lovers and helpmeets, partners who love and trust and support each other throughout their lives.
Father, I can only end with what many consider the "Warriors' Psalm," Psalm 91, asking that You be Blake's Deliverer, his Refuge and Dwelling Place. Rise up, O Lord, and show Yourself in Your power and glory and love for my brother, Blake:
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.
Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”
Lord God Almighty, Provider, Protector, our Banner and our Shield, I ask these things in Your power and love and in the Name that is above every name, Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.
Michael Yon tells the story as only he can, using simple, clear words and eloquent pictures.
Some excerpts:
It was the local Muslims, according to LTC Michael, who first came to him for help to protect the Christians in his area. That’s right. LTC Michael told me more than once that the Muslims reached out to him to protect the Christians from al Qaeda. Real Muslims here are quick to say that al Qaeda members are not true Muslims. [...]
The Muslims in this neighborhood worry that other people will take the homes of their Christian neighbors, and that the Christians will never come back. And so they came to St John’s today in force, and they showed their faces, and they said, “Come back to Iraq. Come home.” [...]
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen any fighting. I can’t remember my last shootout: it’s been months. The nightmare is ending. Al Qaeda is being crushed. The Sunni tribes are awakening all across Iraq and foreswearing violence for negotiation. Many of the Shia are ready to stop the fighting that undermines their ability to forge and manage a new government. This is a complex and still delicate denouement, and the war may not be over yet. But the Muslims are saying it’s time to come home. And the Christians are saying it’s time to come home.
Well, sort of... The Marines are coming into town for "Realistic Urban Training," where they will conduct an exercise:
U.S. Marines will conduct reconnaissance and surveillance, then raid a mock terrorist cell during a special training exercise in Chatham Nov. 1-3.
The "Realistic Urban Training," or RUT, exercise is designed to duplicate the kind of situations Marines often encounter in the field, said Capt. Kelly Fushour, public affairs officer for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
"Any time we can do training off base, it's a good thing," she said." It's training we can't replicate on base."
According to Frushour, about 100 Marines will take part in the three-day Chatham exercise, which is being conducted with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
"Role players" posing as Al Queda terrorists are scheduled to arrive Thursday, Nov. 1, and will be "inserted" in a house in town. [link]
Works for me! Any support and assistance our citizens can give to the training of our armed forces should be offered unstintingly - and maybe we'll have some part in hunting those murderous barbarians down and sending them on to the "72 Virginians" who are waiting for them!
It's obscene, disgusting, sick - and inexcusable: Liberty County Veteran's Grave Vandalized :
Lance Cpl. Jeremy Burris, 22, of Liberty, died in Iraq and was buried at Cook Memorial Cemetery earlier this week.
The cemetery has a locked gate at the front and a fence around the perimeter, but vandals managed to get in sometime between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, less than two days after the Liberty marine was buried, officials said.
Bill Offutt, a Vietnam veteran, was one of the people who helped clean up the mess before anyone could see it.
"It was trashed," said Offutt, "The wreaths that had been around the grave -- they ripped them apart and stuff was strewn everywhere."
Burris was laid to rest on Tuesday. Huge crowds lined the streets to bid him a final farewell. The community is now in shock. [video at link as well]
How could someone be so far removed from any of the nobler sensibilities? Well, I admit the Westboro Baptist Church shows this sort of low behavior, but I don't believe they've ever gone so far as to desecrate a grave...
I hope they catch the vermin who did this, and I hope he, she or it is publicly horsewhipped!
(Unsheathed claws in partnership with Wolf at Blackfive on this issue)
Thanks to Kim Priestap over at Wizbang for linking to this article over at Threats Watch. Steve Schippert outlines the depth of character and integrity which permeate General Pace's life and contrasts them with the craven lust for power and popularity which epitomizes Congress:
Yet a majority in Congress telegraphed their intent to oppose [Gen. Pace's] renomination as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and create a national spectacle for the self-serving political purposes of staging public opposition to the President of the United States. And as displayed by many in that elected body, leadership by example is a sword that cuts both ways. The Congressional ‘Peter’ Principle was on clear display.
And with that came the end of the exemplary service of a good man and outstanding Marine. He now must - and will - find another avenue to serve and honor those fallen Marines whom he led.
Yet there is nary a Congressional leader who does not famously proclaim “I support the troops.” But the often hollow nature of these words has the effect of reducing such phases to little more than bumper sticker slogans. For they are immediately trumpeted following a sitting Senator who compares those in the United States Military as running abusive and torturous “gulags” and their actions no different from the genocidal “Pol Pot.”
“I support the troops” immediately trailed a Congressman’s hasty and false accusations of Marines as murderers based on the unscrupulous and uncorroborated accounts of those who supported the enemy on the battlefield. “Supporting the troops” remains the official position of a sitting Senator who falsely testified before the Congress he now serves within that his fellow servicemen in Vietnam had “cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan.”
Our Congress, Republicans and DemoRATS alike, could use new direction, and I believe that they should be guided by General Pace's moral compass:
Chaminade students also noted that the general learned a life-changing lesson from Farinaro’s death in July of 1968 when a sniper’s bullet struck him down. Pace learned about the importance of maintaining a “moral compass,” several students noted, especially when making decisions at emotional moments.
“You could lose yourself in the heat of a situation,” the general explained, said Dennis Grabowski. The senior is a parishioner of St. Patrick’s, Glen Cove, and Tarmac co-editorial editor. Pace explained that his initial response to Farinaro’s death was to order an air strike on the village where the sniper was shooting from, but a look on his sergeant’s face gave him pause. Instead, Pace ordered a ground sweep of the village and “found it full of women and children.”
“The general said that had he ordered the air strike, he would have felt guilty the rest of his life,” Finn noted.
“You are going to come up on situations in life that are going to test you, he told us,” said Craig Hauser, a senior from St. Aidan’s Church, Williston Park. “In those situations, he told us, you go with your moral compass,” weighing the effects on everyone involved.
“He also said in making a decision to ask God for the wisdom to do the right thing and the strength to do it,” said Sal Garofalo, a senior, Tarmac co-editor in chief, and a parishioner of St. Aidan’s Church, Williston Park. “And after you make the decision, thank God for the help.”
General Pace's moral compass has proven itself to be honorable and true, and Virginia's populace as a whole ought to be pleading with this man to shoulder another duty for his country and run for Senator!
General Peter Pace:
A Marine. A man. A leader!
No TV circus, no huge press conference, no fanfare of trumpets accompanied a visit to the Viet Nam War Memorial earlier this month. There was just a man, erect of bearing and solemn of face, who knelt to place three simple index cards against the Wall.
Each card had the four stars of a Marine Corps General attached and said,
"These are yours - not mine!
With love and respect,
Your platoon leader,
Pete Pace"
I suspect that a head bowed in prayer for a while, and that before he left, General Pace came to full attention and offered a grave salute. And then he turned and strode away, quietly and without seeking notice or adulation.
I hope and pray that a man of such sterling character, who continually exhibits honor, humility, and servant-leadership at every turn, will indeed accept One Last Mission. Virginia is at a crossroads, and we need wise leadership from a man of integrity.
We need to Draft General Pace!
As I said before:
Please, General Pace. We need men of your proven character and wisdom to guide this country. It will be a tremendous sacrifice for you and your family... But you have proven yourself a servant-leader, and I beg you to shoulder yet another heavy duty and help lead America.
Sir, I do not pretend to know your political preferences, or all of your opinions on the issues of the day.
However, you have proved yourself to be an honorable man, dedicated to following and defending what you understand to be right. You have lived your love of country, and your determination to serve America in good times and in bad.
Sir, your example of integrity and honor lead me to ask you to please... PLEASE!... serve your country still more by accepting the burden of running for the Senate. They may have forced you to retire from the military, but I pray that you will continue to serve this country you love so much by running for John Warner's (RINO, VA) seat in the United States Senate.
Please, General Pace. We need men of your proven character and wisdom to guide this country. It will be a tremendous sacrifice for you and your family... But you have proven yourself a servant-leader, and I beg you to shoulder yet another heavy duty and help lead America.
And God bless him for it! Chris, over at the Mason Conservative, posts this video, which I must share with you:
Humility, grace, honor, dignity, and a dedication to do what is right... Dear Lord in heaven above, we need more men of this quality!
Alton alerted me to this video featured over on Breitbart.tv -
Make sure you go on over and digg it - and read those comments! My favorite is by stealthboy:
What's it going to take to get Americans angry enough to realize we are being invaded? I'm sick of seeing Spanish in all the stores I go to now. I'm sick of all the liberals playing the race card whenever anyone tries to discuss illegal immigration (Note: Illegal, not legal). This crap has to stop, and I'm glad this guy took a stand. He's a true hero in my book.
No joke! We are being invaded, and our government - at the local, state, AND federal levels - has betrayed the trust we placed in it to KEEP OUR BORDERS SECURE.
I have nothing against people who want to come to this country - I welcome them! - but if they refuse to do it legally, then *I* don't want them here. We have enough trouble with crime among our proper citizens - I don't want proven lawbreakers here, too.
When AMERICA commemorates heroes who have sacrificed themselves to serve their countrymen, who have shown extraordinary courage, who have dedicated themselves to liberty, or who have shown incredible courage in the face of adversity, THESE are the memorials we build to honor them:
Just as a small sampling...
America builds triumphant MONOLITHS! We build soaring statues, we erect meaningful and wrenching reminders of the blood, sacrifice, and INTEGRITY of our heroes.
We don't construct namby-pamby, enemy-appeasing "Bowl of Embrace" drivel!
The concept of the "Bowl of Embrace" is just too disgusting, cowardly, and appeasing for me to outline, so I will direct you to Cao, GMan, and Justin, who offer far better descriptions and denunciations.
But never forget that when proper Americans fashion and forge a memorial to courage, honor, and bravery, we produce something that says
IN YOUR DAMN FACE!!!!
to our enemies!
This "Bowl of Embrace" is an abomination, and ought to be replaced (as should the Twin Towers) with something that BEGS the Islamofascist terrorist murderers to try and destroy them. We need to raise up memorials which scream
The CatHouse bows in prayer and thanksgiving for a fallen hero, and the honorable example he lived.
But even thousands of miles away, in Ramadi, Iraq, the cries and screams and complaints of the ungrateful reach me. In a year, I will be thrust back into society from a life and mentality that doesn't fit your average man. And then, I will be alone. And then, I will walk down the streets of America, and see the yellow ribbon stickers on the cars of the same people who compare our President to Hitler.
I will watch the television and watch the Cindy Sheehans, and the Al Frankens, and the rest of the ignorant sheep of America spout off their mouths about a subject they know nothing about. It is their right, however, and it is a right that is defended by hundreds of thousands of boys and girls scattered across the world, far from home. I use the word boys and girls, because that's what they are. In the Army, the average age of the infantryman is nineteen years old. The average rank of soldiers killed in action is Private First Class.
People like Cindy Sheehan are ignorant. Not just to this war, but to the results of their idiotic ramblings, or at least I hope they are. They don't realize its effects on this war. In this war, there are no Geneva Conventions, no cease fires. Medics and Chaplains are not spared from the enemy's brutality because it's against the rules. I can only imagine the horrors a military Chaplain would experience at the hands of the enemy. The enemy slinks in the shadows and fights a coward's war against us. It is effective though, as many men and women have died since the start of this war. And the memory of their service to America is tainted by the inconsiderate remarks on our nation's news outlets. And every day, the enemy changes...only now, the enemy is becoming something new. The enemy is transitioning from the Muslim extremists to Americans. The enemy is becoming the very people whom we defend with our lives. And they do not realize it. But in denouncing our actions, denouncing our leaders, denouncing the war we live and fight, they are isolating the military from society...and they are becoming our enemy.
Democrats and peace activists like to toss the word "quagmire" around and compare this war to Vietnam. In a way they are right, this war is becoming like Vietnam. Not the actual war, but in the isolation of country and military. America is not a nation at war; they are a nation with its military at war. Like it or not, we are here, some of us for our second, or third times; some even for their fourth and so on. Americans are so concerned now with politics, that it is interfering with our war.
Terrorists cut the heads off of American citizens on the internet...and there is no outrage, but an American soldier kills an Iraqi in the midst of battle, and there are investigations, and sometimes soldiers are even jailed...for doing their job. [all emphasis mine]
This is an excerpt from an essay written on February 1st of this year by SGT Eddie Jeffers, and I would urge you to read it, as well as two others, "Freedom Feels Good," and "Real Deal in Ramadi."
On Thursday, September 20, 2007, SGT Jeffers laid down his life for the ideals and convictions he cherished. Thank God for his Christian convictions: because of them, SGT Jeffers was ushered into the presence of his Lord and Savior by a host of angels. And I know that as he knelt at the foot of the Throne, he was blessed when God his Savior reached down, lifted him up and said,
"Well done, thou good and faithful servant! You have been faithful in a few things, and I will give you charge over many. Enter into the joy of your Lord!"
SGT Jeffers' father wrote,
It is with great personal sadness but joy in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that I announce the death of my son Eddie Jeffers. Eddie was killed around 7 am Iraqi time from an accidental vehicle roll-over. Although our personal loss is traumatic, we know he is in a better place. All of you have been so wonderful to my son and my family and he was so blessed and humbled by your love for him. He told me this past summer after the wonderful gift you gave his wife and him that he didn't understand why people were so generous and kind to him. You see to Eddie, he was just doing his job and what he believed was his life mission from God.
I've said this often; Eddie was my hero. My dear brother in Christ Rod Martin told me that Eddie died a hero for not just the soldier he was but the person. Eddie, through his writing, touched so many people's lives, yours and you so lovingly touched ours back.
We thank you in advance for your condolences and prayers. Please pray especially for Eddie's wife Stephanie; as you can imagine she is devastated. Our prayer is that Eddie's death will exalt Christ as did his life.In lieu of any flowers we are asking all donations be given to the Fisher House in memory of Eddie; he loved that charity.
Will you join me in honoring an American hero, who followed his Savior in laying down his life for his friends? Please donate as much as you can to Fisher House, which "...donates 'comfort homes,' built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful times - during the hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease, or injury."
And will you also read his essays, and commit to cherishing and nurturing this great country that he loved so much?
Let's honor him - and his fallen brethren - by bringing our troops home... VICTORIOUSLY!
(Crossposted to the Wide Awakes and the Cotillion)
What a great guy... He spoke from the heart, with passion and love for our country and our men and women in uniform. He was also the only presidential candidate to show up for this important gathering!
Congressman Hunter graciously stopped for a couple of words with me, and a polite bystander took this photo:
CatHouse Chat pauses to bow in prayer, honoring our sacred dead and asking for safety and God's blessing on our living heroes who are standing the Watch.
UPDATE: Video added -
Visitors to the Tomb of the Unknowns are very quiet, very respectful, which is entirely appropriate for such a sacred place. The guards take 21 paces in each direction, then they pause for 21 seconds with each change of direction. This represents one of the highest honors offered to our military service members: the Twenty One Gun Salute. I need to research this tradition to find out the significance of the number "21."
I have an hypothesis, though - twenty-one is three times seven (d'uh!). Both "three" and "seven" are considered to be important and perfect numbers in the Judeo-Christian tradition. "Three" is representative of the Trinity, for instance, and "seven" could refer to the seven days of Creation. I dunno, it's just a wild-eyed guess on my part, and I'm probably totally wrong...
I was unable to get the video of the Changing of the Guard this time because the battery of my video camera was used up COMPLETELY for yesterday's rally (I'll convert and post it all, I promise!), and my little purse camera couldn't have held it all (not to mention that I'd only get *one* level of zoom once I started recording).
I'm thinking of coming up for Spring Break, and bringing the Munchkin - in which case, I will certainly get a record of the ceremony, which is conducted every half hour when the Memorial is open.
Thank God for the Gold Star families who were here. They were welcomed warmly - applause and cheers and "thank you!"s resounded - and gave the love back freely. They spoke about how proud they were of their sons, and how much those heroes would have appreciated Gathering of Eagles.
Tears ran down my face as they gave their testimonies and testified to their sons' bravery.
America is blessed beyond measure to have men and women of such courage and character who stand between us and harm, and freely give their lives to guard our freedom.
When I saw the MoveOn, Code Pink, and Answer traitors spitting on these men and women by their actions, I had to wonder...
Does America deserve all the heroes who have died for her?
I don't think we are worthy of them.
Loved this sign - it looked very similar to the moonbats' posters, so you had to look again.
Just in case you can't read this, it says:
Thank God for Petraeus, because the Democrats betray us!"
