I heard pieces of a conversation last Sunday among members of a group after their bible study. They were in a public place, enjoying a meal and time together. Those who did most of the talking are conservative, Christian, republican and over the age of fifty.
The first part of the conversation I heard involved an evangelical preacher who had come from Cuba, Senator Ted Cruz's father. The person echoed Pastor Cruz's words about all the evangelicals who did not vote. Another person replied, "Well you get what you vote for." I knew the person was referring to President Obama. As I walked away, I really wanted to turn around and say, "You are absolutely right! That is why we have so many members of the Tea Party in office and the government is in such disarray because that's who people voted for!"
The other part of the conversation I overheard had to with the level of intelligence of United States citizens. One of the men said, in a rather superior tone, something about people having the mentality of a fifteen year old which created a problem when trying to deal with them. Once again, I really wanted to say "You are correct, sir! That is a problem because so many of the people you are talking about are in the Republican Party. They get their facts and history lessons from Fox News and members of the Republican Party, particularly those who identify themselves with the Tea Party. Unfortunately, Fox News is only interested is saying/reporting whatever will advance right wing conservative interests. The elected officials, sadly, either never paid attention to, have conveniently forgotten or simply to choose to make up history as it suits them!"
But I never said a word. I just walked away because that was not the time, place or people with whom to share my opinions.
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Sunday, June 15, 2014
We have not forgotten what you said, President Lincoln...
On November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln spoke at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He said, "[T]he world will little note nor long remember what we say here". That, of course, is not true, the world still remembers what Abraham Lincoln said, most notably "that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth." Perhaps we have forgotten why he spoke those words and why his words still speak to us today.
President Lincoln spoke at the dedication of the cemetery in Gettysburg. The country was in the midst of a long and bloody war between the northern and southern States that began thirty-nine days after President Lincoln's inauguration. At Gettysburg, the President called on the citizens of the United States to rededicate themselves to ensuring that the government created by the Constitution would continue and the United States would remain undivided.
Today, although we are not engaged in a bloody war, we are very much a country divided. Some want us to return to a time when women had few rights. Others want us to return to the days of the "wild west" when people walked around with holstered guns and/or carrying rifles. There are also those who believe only white Christians should be allowed to vote and run the government on the local, state and federal levels.
These groups all claim to be following in the footsteps of the Revolutionaries and Founders. They are all wrong. Those who fought the War for Independence did not do so to create a government of the few, by the few and for the few. President Lincoln did not accept war and Union soldiers did not give their lives to preserve a government of the few, by the few and for the few.
Now we must answer President Lincoln's call with our voices and our votes. We must stand together, united in our belief and determined to protect and pass on to future generations a government that is truly of, by and for all people.
President Lincoln spoke at the dedication of the cemetery in Gettysburg. The country was in the midst of a long and bloody war between the northern and southern States that began thirty-nine days after President Lincoln's inauguration. At Gettysburg, the President called on the citizens of the United States to rededicate themselves to ensuring that the government created by the Constitution would continue and the United States would remain undivided.
Today, although we are not engaged in a bloody war, we are very much a country divided. Some want us to return to a time when women had few rights. Others want us to return to the days of the "wild west" when people walked around with holstered guns and/or carrying rifles. There are also those who believe only white Christians should be allowed to vote and run the government on the local, state and federal levels.
These groups all claim to be following in the footsteps of the Revolutionaries and Founders. They are all wrong. Those who fought the War for Independence did not do so to create a government of the few, by the few and for the few. President Lincoln did not accept war and Union soldiers did not give their lives to preserve a government of the few, by the few and for the few.
Now we must answer President Lincoln's call with our voices and our votes. We must stand together, united in our belief and determined to protect and pass on to future generations a government that is truly of, by and for all people.
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Flag Day June 14, 2014
In a column published July 6, 1970 and then included in her book, I Lost Everything in the Post-Natal Depression, Erma Bombeck wrote about the American Flag. She wrote because of something she had seen on television. A group students and New York construction workers had an altercation and part of it involved the American flag. The students referred to the American flag as the construction workers flag and symbol. What struck Erma Bombeck most was the students did not think of the flag as their flag or symbol.
As a parent, I guess I always thought respect for the flag was congenital. Is it possible I was so busy teaching the basics, I never took the time to teach “flag.”
She included in her column a few well known quotes along with her own words about what she was saying to her children instead of teaching "flag".
She then ended with these words:
I remember standing up in school, putting my hand over my heart and saying the Pledge of Allegiance while looking at the flag. I remember watching a "floating flag" moving across the arena at a Florida Panthers hockey game. I am always filled with pride and respect at the sight of the American flag. Pride because it symbolizes the best we can be, even when we forget. Respect for all who fought in wars to gain our freedom, preserve our Union and protect our freedom.
As a parent, I guess I always thought respect for the flag was congenital. Is it possible I was so busy teaching the basics, I never took the time to teach “flag.”
She included in her column a few well known quotes along with her own words about what she was saying to her children instead of teaching "flag".
“Oh say can you see by the dawn’s early light.…”
(Don’t slouch. Pick up your feet. Don’t talk with food in your mouth. Stop squinting. Turn that radio down. Get off the phone. Tie that shoestring before you trip on it.”)
Did I forget to tell them it was their flag they hoisted over Mount Suribachi? Their flag that flies over champions at the Olympics? Their flag that draped the coffin of John F. Kennedy? Their flag that was planted in the windless atmosphere of the moon? It’s pride. It’s love. It’s goose bumps. It’s tears. It’s determination. It’s a torch that is passed from one generation to another.
I defy you to look at it and tell me you feel nothing.
What does the American Flag mean to you?
(The link is to the online text of Erma Bombeck's book. Scroll down toward the end to read Flag)
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