So Proud to Be an American

Celebrating the Independence of America couldn't be any better than doing it with your church family on a picnic. That's exactly what we did on Friday night the 3rd of July. Our church has a picnic every year and opens it up to the public. Over a thousand people show up. We ended the celebration with a spectacular fireworks display. There is just something about fireworks. I always get such a feeling of awe, excitement, deep down pride, love for my country, nostalgia, memories of childhood, and I could go on. So many thoughts go through my head. The amazing colors and explosions of sound sparkle. The vibrating thunder that rocks your feet and brings you back to the days of Civil War. Days of men fighting for freedom, for the very freedom we have today that we seem to take for granted. Before the fireworks began last night the Star Spangled Banner played. I stood with my right hand over my heart. I teach my kids to do the same. I noticed though, there were few who were doing the same. Most were at least facing the flag. But few had their heart covered. Hardly anyone was singing. Then, before the anthem ended the fireworks began. Nearly everyone turned around and faced the fireworks. Which, is understandable. There were few of us who remained facing the flag, covering our hearts, and singing the anthem. It saddened me to see that so many people just seemed to not care or have respect for the honoring of our traditions as a free nation. How many of us know the pledge of allegiance to the flag, the national anthem, what about any portion of the declaration of Independence, or the Constitution? When I was younger this would not have been the case. When, I as was younger, during the days of Ronald Reagan, everyone, old and young alike, would have been at attention honoring that flag. Not for one second would they have flinched at the fireworks. They would have finished out the national anthem first. Every child knew the pledge. Why? Because it was taught, it was practiced, it was learned. It was said proudly everyday in every school, in every church, in every court house and at every meeting. One of the reasons I enjoyed living on the military base was it seemed that there was still a sense of patriotism. When that five o'clock cannon shot off and Revele played, you could witness soldiers in uniform or not, stop their car and get out, face the flag, whether they could see it or not, and salute it for the duration of the song. That is patriotism. That is taught, learned and practiced. I guess when you no longer have to fight for something it is no longer as valued. All I know is when I was a little girl it sure seemed that America was a lot more proud and now we seem to have politicians who are putting America down and apologizing for America over and over. America is the greatest nation in the world. We didn't get this way because we were meager and weak. We didn't get this way from being a nation who had no pride. We didn't get this way from being a nation who didn't know how to fight not only for ourselves, but for others who could defend themselves. We have a reason to be proud. We shouldn't be ashamed of who we are. We shouldn't apologize for who we are or for what we have done. What we should be doing is restoring America's freedoms the way they were intended to be when originally founded by our forefathers. This can easily be understood by reading the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. I was proud to be an American as a little girl. I am more proud to be an American today. But, I am also enraged at the turns we are taking and mistakes we are making. We are losing our civil liberties and losing what America is all about. Stay informed friends. Vote in every election you can vote in, but don't just stop there, stay informed about what is going on in congress. What are they voting on? What bills are they trying to pass? Don't just trust them to do the job right. You still have a say and an influence. You can still participate. Be informed. Don't allow someone else to make decisions for you. I love America and everything it stands for. I hope America will always be what I've known it to be. That can only happen if other people who feel the same way stand up and fight for America. May God bless you and may God bless America!