What is there to be proud of?

I have traveled all around the country in a good part of the rest of the world. Frankly, I have been absolutely blessed to see some of the most beautiful and historical sites across the globe. From historic capitals in Europe, Asia and Australia, those blessings have accumulated to the point where I am humbled for having had the opportunities so many others have not. When I do return to the place where I grew up, I am reminded that some people never had the desire or opportunity to travel that much. Their lives are complete and they lack for nothing. But they only say images in movies, television and the internet that some of us were fortunate enough to have actually experienced.

I have also visited all fifty states and will complete a more comprehensive visit to Maine this summer. We are going to take a cruise that will allow us to take a closer look at the beauty of the national park that sits on the coast of Maine. Along with the other national parks we have visited, this one promises to give us a close-up view of the handiwork of God with forests and waters that still remain free from the hands of developers. For the most part anyway.

I will forever be grateful to Teddy Roosevelt and those leaders that came behind him that had the vision to preserve those lands from all who would have diminished them. We as a nation should be forever reminded of their value.

Lately though, there are a lot of people coming forward with a new vision for America. To be fair, it’s not really new. Ever few decades a movement called socialism manages to creep its way back into the public square. Frankly, socialism is nothing more than a veiled form of communism and the ideology is nothing more than some people being angry that they did not have the ability or good fortune to be wealthy. Their circumstances prevented them from moving forward on the economic scale and they are inherently resentful of those who did. Often times, it’s the lack of spark for making the required sacrifices to elevate themselves that held them back. While health issues are certainly responsible for some people’s limitations, it’s interesting to me that there are numerous examples of people with even the harshest conditions that overcame being overcome and still rose up.

The modern socialists however have many new tools and many modern conveniences that help propel their cause. The internet is the great equalizer when it comes to messaging. Group think has reached a whole new level of absurdity as millions of people can be reached in a moment. Cancel culture is real and invisible gangs can tear apart anyone’s world in hours if not days. Truth is subjective and with the rush to embrace AI, truth will forever be cast in doubt. That alone will destroy the fabric of any society. It’s nearly impossible to unplug these days with many people getting their basic news and needs supplied online. Even medicine is managed more and more with the computers we depend on. Telehealth and all of the elements of health care are becoming inextricably linked to the on lone environment.

The education system is also one of the great destroyers of the republic.

Long ago, when teachers unions became unstoppable, the messaging to our children became hostage to their wills. Today, the children that once were taught reading and writing and rithmetic are now groomed to accept what would have once been unthinkable. Flags keep disappearing from classrooms or at worst are replaced with the symbols of the gay life. Children who resist are punished (either directly or through social pressure) and the ideology of socialism is no longer rejected. Immigration is carefully couched in protected language that never seems to reach towards assimilation. I am quite sure Teddy Roosevelt would be on a train tour around the nation to chastise the many proponents of this new speak.

Despite all of this, I am still proud of my country. I am absolutely certain that cooler heads will ultimately prevail. In the nineteen twenties, many people in the country were being serenaded by the growth of communism in far flung places around the world. Ultimately, they would be unsuccessful and America continued to grow. But there is real danger this time. Those of us who spent a good portion of their lives in uniform and out fighting communism are still around. We still have voices. We still have some fight left in us.

We as a country need to come together and fight back this insidious enemy. If we do not, this 250-year Celebration may be our last. The lure of free stuff and taking from the rich may have looked good in the days of Robin Hood, but trying to liberate the wealthy of their money will only result in them going offshore. Who will pay for the free stuff if the largest group of taxpayers finally have enough and protect what they have earned? Who will rush to the aid of our own country or countries around the world in crisis if the United States becomes a shell of its former self?

When I would return from overseas, I would come through the customs gates to show my passport. Above that gate, the largest American flag ever was proudly displayed. Even with the memories of the sights, sounds and experience of the places I just traveled from, the sight of that flag made my eyes well up in tears. I was home once more in the land of the free and the brave. I am still willing to fight for that in my advanced years. Are you?