Where is my America?

Growing up in this country my parents and teachers instilled a set of beliefs in me that today seems as a story from the past. A lore if you will. Every Monday morning over the public announcing system at my school the music would start and we would stand to sing the words to our National anthem. After wards we would recite the words to the pledge of allegiance. This is no longer practiced in many school systems throughout the country as special interest groups continually tear at the very fabric of our nations heritage. In high school American history was a requirement not an elective course. We studied the Constitution and the first ten amendments known as the bill of rights.

I was disheartened to learn from my own seventeen year old son that he had no concept as to what the first amendment was about, nor the second and so on. He stated that he did not have to take that course. I stood there with mouth agape not knowing what to say. It appears the only way a large number of our youth will ever learn about their rights and freedoms will be from their parents, provided that the parents are willing to teach. My parents and teachers chose to do so. The teachers of that day did so with text book and historical fact. My Father had his own way I suppose.

I recall one particular day when my father purchased a new Ford country squire station wagon and I asked why a Ford and not a Chevrolet? His answer at first puzzled me when he said “because its my right to choose, that is the beauty of this country.” He also told me that here in America we have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, the right to assemble in the public square for the purpose of free speech, the right to keep and bear arms to defend our country, state, property and ourselves from tyrants and others who would do us harm.

He cautioned me to not be ignorant of the law and learn its use and meaning to protect my rights. All the while quoting Thomas Jefferson. I have followed my fathers advice and I am passing it along to my children as it seems they will be the ones who will need it most. Our current Congress and President seem to be under the belief that this country can no longer function without direct oversight and regulation of our lives, money, health care, and education. President Obama’s Inaugural speech left me with a chill running up and down my spine instead of goose bumps. His statement of “Only government can provide” causes me to worry.

I was taught that Government had a limited roll in our private lives. The past twenty years or so I have witnessed a gradual shift from “limited roll” to a Government seeking total control. The same thing happened to me while serving in the U.S. Navy. After sixteen years of honorable service suddenly the powers that be within the Navy department as well as the other branches of the nations military were rapidly changing. Policies that were the core of belief’s and standards I was taught to abide by were now being replaced by “Don’t ask, don’t tell” and “sensitivity training” classes were the new norm. We had a President who protested against our country while attending collage in another country during the Vietnam war, he is what they call a conscientious objector. Conduct that was considered intolerable by naval regulation suddenly was being accepted in the New Navy.

I was being very verbal one day about the new changes and how I believed that it was the wrong direction to go in. I was reprimanded by the duty officer for my comment and was told “that while you defend a democracy you work for a dictatorship, accept the changes and keep quiet. I was told that people who think like I do were dinosaurs and would not last much longer anyway” I did not re-enlist at the end of my obligated service tour. I “Quietly” took my Honorable discharge certificate and went home. I felt I could no longer serve in good conscience under these conditions.

Well I no longer work for a dictatorship and I am very fearful of the new changes or proposals for “change” that are before our congress, I feel this is the wrong direction for America. The president is ignoring one very large fact, the people elected him to (1) lead this country, not (2) rule it. The constitution spells out these duties quite clearly. It is still the voice of the people, however no one, not the Congress nor the President seem to be listening.

Here is what I’m hearing from my fellow citizens. They are afraid of what Government is doing. They do not want national health care, they want affordable health care. They do not want deficits so large that the nation will never be able to repay them. They do not want Congress telling them what kind of car to drive or who they have to purchase it from. They do not want new or increased taxes because of some program or programs (based on un-proven science, i.e. global warming) that the Congress and/or President has mandated. They do not want their children and grandchildren to be burdened with a mountain of our generations debt.

A people should never fear its elected Government, those elected to Government should be mindful and tentative to the voice of its people. Members of Congress take heed, we the people are watching.

Where is my America? I believe its still here, We the people need to exercise our right to vote and put into office those who are willing to go back to basics and follow an old, tried and tested path to freedom and prosperity.

The Constitution of the United States of America..

LEAD>
1.) guide somebody: to show the way to others, usually by going ahead of them. Ex: He led us down the mountain.

RULE>
2.) governing power: a governing or reigning power under Communist rule.

I will no longer be quiet. I am a tax paying citizen, veteran and patriot to this country. I’ll keep my Money, Guns, Liberty, Freedom and exercise my right to vote. I will abide by the ten orders we will not obey. I will remain steadfast to my oath.