My Oath, My Words, And Poem
As a child I was fortunate enough to be raised during an era when being proud of America’s greatness was as natural as breathing. It was a time when the schools still provided a deep insight into the founding principles of America’s governance and an understanding of how those principles both defined America and set her apart from other nations.
As a young man, during a time of social and political upheaval precipitated in part by a government mistakenly believing that it was its right to rule rather than its duty to serve, I enlisted and fulfilled my duty to serve (USAF ‘69-’73). I proudly swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of these United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. That; with an inherent understanding of the importance of including the concept of defending that Constitution against ‘domestic’ enemies.
By early 2006, frustrated by my inability to effectively fulfill that oath and watching, powerlessly, as America’s government, at all levels, continued their assault upon the Constitution and the Bill of Rights I penned the following:
*****
I cried tonight, helpless, as I watched America upon her death bed.
I railed against the politicians who ignored the symptoms of the cancerous corruption that ate at her while greedily imagining what else they could do to acquire a share of her inheritance.
I screamed silently at the citizens, so busy struggling beneath the burden of government, that they had no time to spare for visiting the old lady and considering all that made her great.
I read the charts, so visible, and struggled to sense the truth of her condition in the hurried scribbling of the press.
Her blood was corrupted by the lack of truth flowing from her heart in Washington and was eating inexorably at the citizenry that was her flesh.
Her muscles, weakened by politicians who failed in their duty to remain steadfast to her constitution, could not withstand the assault of a President blatantly twisting them.
Her bones and tendons cracked and tore as business leaders, anxious to fill their pockets, stretched them beyond endurance to encompass a world that was not hers.
Her mind, assailed by so much wrong and so much pain, could no longer distinguish reality from fantasy, truth from falsehood, right from wrong, and was ceasing to even try.
Her prognosis wasn’t good but I thought, and I hoped, that someone might, yet, come to her aid and end her inexorable fall.
As is the way of things; powers greater than I will decide her fate. I can only pray, and beg, those powers to do what is right while, in my heart, knowing that they are no longer listening.
I cried tonight, helpless, as I watched America upon her death bed and wept more for all of the generations to come who would not have a chance to truly know her.
AMERICA! She was a GREAT lady!
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September 30th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
You can rest assured that if you become familiar with what Oathkeepers is about, you can do more to help this country than you’ve ever thought possible. Thank you for your service!!
October 1st, 2009 at 9:15 am
Great Testimonial! Welcome aboard! If you don’t have a title for your poem, may I suggest “Where is America’s Health Care?” Publish it and spread it on the web.
October 1st, 2009 at 9:52 am
Excellent testimony. Welcome to Oath Keepers!
October 1st, 2009 at 6:55 pm
From many, one. Welcome, your service IS needed again, help spread the word! Great poem.
October 1st, 2009 at 9:57 pm
Good work, that! Welcome to Oath keepers! I am a Vietnam Vet (1966) and have written quite a lot based on that experience.
I like your death scene but I still believe it don’t have to be that way!
(Surrender, Hell! We just got here!)
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:16 am
Man, every time I read one of these testimonials I become more convinced that we are accomplish this task! Great testimony and welcome to our fold!
Not on our Watch!
October 4th, 2009 at 7:18 am
There was a final paragraph expressing my gratitude to my fellow Oathkeepers and my renewed hope, and belief, that, together, we can save our Country. I also ’signed’ my name. It likely got truncated due to overall post size so I decided to add my own comment to keep the record straight.
Thanks everyone for the positive comments.
As for the poem; I believe, sadly, that it is as, or more, relevant today than it was when written. If anyone wishes to ’spread it’ to further awaken our fellow citizens please feel free to do so under ANY title IF you agree to list ‘anonymous’, ‘U.S. Citizen’, or the like as the author. I neither seek nor desire any attribution as it’s author. Thank you.
October 5th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Welcome, John. You have a talent. You might want to seek out your local TEA Party crew and get a spot at the next event. Spread the Oath Keepers message to the crowds that are hungry for a message of how they can help. Swear them in and set them on the path to educate themselves and others.