Quoting President Ronald Reagan:
“[The Democratic Party leadership] tell us they have done the most that humanly could be done. They say that the United States has had its day in the sun; that our nation has passed its zenith. They expect you to tell your children that the American people no longer have the will to cope with their problems; that the future will be one of sacrifice and few opportunities. My fellow citizens, I utterly reject that view. The American people, the most generous on earth, who created the highest standard of living, are not going to accept the notion that we can only make a better world for others by moving backwards ourselves…. [T]he American people deserve better from those to whom they entrust our nation’s highest offices, and we stand united in our resolve to do something about it.”
To my mind, this song captures the “fighting spirit” of the American people. It stirs the images of Old Glory flying over the bloodied battlefields of the Civil War and echoes the emboldened cries of the abolitionists and the newly freed slaves. If we close our eyes and listen, we can see the troops flooding onto the shores of Normandy. There is, however, also contained within these lyrics, a virtuous spirit, and righteous indignation aimed at the evils of slavery. Slavery continues today, but with a different face on either end. The Master is not big business, but the Government itself! And the slaves? Any of us who are dependent on the good graces, the finances of Uncle Sam.
So once again, we must rise as ABOLITIONISTS against the oppressive government. We must throw off the shackles and FREE OURSELVES …
BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:
He is trampling out the vintage
where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning
of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.
(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
I have seen Him in the watch-fires
of a hundred circling camps,
They have builded Him an altar
in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence
by the dim and flaring lamps:
His day is marching on.
(Chorus)
I have read a fiery gospel writ
in burnished rows of steel:
“As ye deal with my contemners,
so with you my grace shall deal;
Let the Hero, born of woman,
crush the serpent with his heel,
Since God is marching on.”
(Chorus)
He has sounded forth the trumpet
that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men
before His judgment-seat:
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him!
be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.
(Chorus)
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.
(Chorus)
He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is Wisdom to the mighty, He is Succour to the brave,
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of Time His slave,
Our God is marching on.
(Chorus)
Pretty “heavy” lyrics … Can you honestly sing along?
“What Makes an American”
(March 1939 – Atlantic Monthly) “To become an American is a process which resembles a conversion. It is not so much a new country that one adopts as a new creed. And in all Americans can be discerned some of the traits of those who have, at one time or another, abandoned an ancient faith for a new one.” By Raoul de Roussy de Sales
At the conclusion of Friday’s [18 Sep, 2001] service of prayer and remembrance at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., the congregation (which included President George W. Bush and former Presidents Clinton, Carter, and Ford) joined voices to sing Julia Ward Howe’s defiant anthem, “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” For many, the singing of this hymn, which enjoins the American “hero” to “crush the serpent with his heel,” and to “die to make men free” signaled America’s willingness to retaliate against the recent terrorist assault.
“The Battle Hymn of the Republic” has buoyed Americans in conflict since it first appeared in The Atlantic Monthly in February, 1862, during the Civil War. Julia Ward Howe, the wife of a prominent Boston abolitionist, had visited a Union Army camp in Virginia where she heard soldiers singing a tribute to the abolitionist John Brown (who had been hanged in 1859 for leading an attempted slave insurrection at Harper’s Ferry). A clergyman at the camp, aware that Howe occasionally wrote poetry, suggested that she craft new verses more appropriate to the Civil War effort, to be set to the same rousing tune.
As Howe later explained it, the verses came to her in a single night:
I went to bed and slept as usual, but awoke the next morning in the gray of the early dawn, and to my astonishment found that the wished-for lines were arranging themselves in my brain. I lay quite still until the last verse had completed itself in my thoughts, then hastily arose, saying to myself, I shall lose this if I don’t write it down immediately. I searched for an old sheet of paper and an old stub of a pen which I had had the night before, and began to scrawl the lines almost without looking, as I learned to do by often scratching down verses in the darkened room when my little children were sleeping. Having completed this, I lay down again and fell asleep, but not before feeling that something of importance had happened to me.
Soon afterwards, she submitted the poem to The Atlantic Monthly, which accepted it and paid her a fee of four dollars. After the verses appeared on the first page of the February, 1862, issue, they quickly caught on as the rallying anthem of the Union troops, and were sung frequently throughout the rest of the Civil War. Howe’s words later inspired American soldiers during World War II, and civil-rights activists during the sixties. Now it seems, as the United States girds itself for what President Bush has referred to as “the first war of the twenty-first century,” Americans are once again drawing encouragement from Howe’s resolute words. —Sage Stossel
We’ve heard the multitude of lies from this administration.
We’ve seen the division created and magnified by this administration.
We’ve witnessed the bold rebellion against the written US CONSTITUTION.
We’ve reached our breaking point, and understand what we each must do! We must take responsibility for allowing our NON-Representative REPRESENTATIVES to continue NOT to represent us. BIG CHANGE is coming to Washington DC …
WE-the-PEOPLE are awake now!
We are making ourselves ready. Preparing as best we can. We are armed with TRUTH and our CONSTITUTION … and training ourselves in our personal freedoms as outlined therein. We are joining together, rallying our cause … the cause of FREEDOM, to which our GOD is not impartial.
A sad little girl sat pondering her life, though only 12 years old was she. She pouted and stormed around her house. She was never seen to smile.
She cried and cried alone was she, for no one could stand her mourning. She paced back and forth, tears streaking her face, and wondered why no one embraced her.
She grew and grew and little by little, she started to see outside. She saw other kids laugh, and she saw others kids play, still no one approached her at all.
This puzzled this dear one, and caused her to think, think hard about what others knew. They knew how to laugh, and they knew how to play, but they didn’t know how to break through.
This sad little girl, became a melancholy young lady, and still her depression grew. Alone in the dark, she pondered her fate, and waited for her knight in white armor.
Alas, sighed she, wherever can he be, this courageous, magnificent Savior … When lo and behold, as she called out his name, He claimed her and set her aflame.
Nay, not just an ordinary candlelight flame, but a richer, much brighter zeal. She turned her eyes outward and opened them wide, and soon purposeful joy overwhelmed her.
“When you look away from the weight you bear,” she said as she turned again and looked outward, “Then suddenly all that appears unfair, seems only a trap to impair.”
This week’s Inspiration Monday entry. Prompt used: When you look away You’re wonderful, BEKINDREWRITE
“[D]emocracy will soon degenerate into an anarchy, such an anarchy that every man will do what is right in his own eyes and no man’s life or property or reputation or liberty will be secure, and every one of these will soon mould itself into a system of subordination of all the moral virtues and intellectual abilities, all the powers of wealth, beauty, wit and science, to the wanton pleasures, the capricious will, and the execrable cruelty of one or a very few.” –John Adams, An Essay on Man’s Lust for Power, 1763
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6
“Our peculiar security is in the possession
of a written Constitution.
Let us not make it a blank paper by construction.”
Thomas Jefferson, letter to Wilson Nicholas, 1803
The Preamble to the US Constitution:
WHO? – We the People of the United States,
in Order to form a more perfect Union, (establish a uniquely American culture, made up of a shared heritage and vision)
establish Justice,(legal system)
insure domestic Tranquility (peace within our borders),
provide for the common defence(provide an adequate military force to defend our borders against ALL enemies, both foreign and domestic,)
promote the general Welfare (enable commerce, build infrastructure – roads and bridges, provide general rules of safety, not give 50+% of the population Welfare!),
and secure the Blessings of Liberty (What are these “Blessings of Liberty?”) to ourselves and our Posterity,
(This list defines the proposed function of our Federal Government as our Founding Fathers saw it!)
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Learn it!
Understand it!
Apprehend it!
Memorize it!
And share it with your children,
your parents, your siblings,
your neighbors until once again,
every American
has at least some idea
of what America is!
On this lovely, windy autumn day, some friends and I drove up towards the mountains of Pennsylvania to enjoy “Ligonier Days“ at Ft Ligonier, PA. I knew we would not be able to stay long since my friends are Seniors, but we wanted to go. We arrived just in time for the re-enactment of the battle that took place at Ft. Ligonier, a turning point in the French & Indian War.
Ft Ligonier Museum
Today at the Fort Ligonier Museum visitors can see the latest exhibition about the most significant and decisive conflict of the 18th century, which Winston Churchill called the first world war. This long-term installation, The World Ablaze: An Introduction to the Seven Years’ War, represents a significant addition to the permanent collections of Fort Ligonier, especially in British, French and Native American items. READ MORE
The history of Fort Ligonier began in September 1758 and was concluded in March 1766, embracing the period of the French and Indian War and Pontiac’s War. Today, the story of this time period is told through the remarkable Fort Ligonier museum exhibits and a fully reconstructed and restored fortification. MORE HERE
By 1758, General John Forbes was assigned the daunting task of seizing Fort Duquesne, the French citadel at the forks. He ordered construction of a new road across Pennsylvania, guarded by a chain of fortifications, the final link being the “Post at Loyalhanna”, fifty miles from his objective, to serve as a supply depot and staging area for a British-American army of 5000 troops. The fort was constructed in September 1758. By late October, Washington had arrived at Loyalhanna, but not before the defeat of a British force at Fort Duquesne on September 14, and the successful defense of Loyalhanna from a French attack on October 12. Heavily outnumbered, the French abandoned Fort Duquesne, which Forbes occupied on November 25. He designated the site “Pittsburgh” in honor of Secretary of State William Pitt. Forbes also named Loyalhanna “Fort Ligonier” after his superior, Sir John Ligonier, commander in chief in Great Britain.
Brigadier General John Forbes gave his name to a challenging military campaign and to a remarkable road. Follow the Forbes Trail through Pennsylvania’s history.
"British soldiers manning the Fort!"
On the grounds of the Fort you will find a living history encampment showing frontier life, military tactics, drills, cannon firing, ceremonies, Highlanders, redcoats, French troops, frontier men and women, Indians and music from 1758. (Ft Ligonier website)
The fourth and final French and Indian War, fought between Britain and France over control of North America, that eventually became part of the Seven Years War. The French had colonies in Canada and Lousiana, and were attempting to link them by taking control of the Ohio Valley. This would have encircled the British colonies on the coast, and stopped any expansion on their part. The war begin with conflict between the French in the Ohio Valley and the Virginians, led by George Washington, who was forced to withdraw by the French. The war started well for the French. A British campaign in 1755 led by General Braddock met with disaster, and saw the death of Braddock, while 1756 saw the French led by General de Montcalm captured Fort Oswego and Fort George and 1757 saw the fall of Fort William Henry. The war turned in 1758, first with the capture of Louisburg and then Fort Ticonderoga, followed on 13 September 1759 by the Battle of the Plains of Abraham (Canada), in which General de Montcalm was killed and by the fall of Quebec on 18 September. Finally the French lost Montreal (8 September 1760), ending their interest in Canada, and removing the French threat to the American colonies. The British occupation of Canada was confirmed by the Treaty of Paris (1763).
French & Indians VS British
After General John Forbes arrived at the Post at Loyalhanna, later known as Fort Ligonier, in early November 1758, he decided to spend the winter here. Intelligence gathered on the day of a friendly fire incident, however, prompted him to change this strategy.
George Washington in 1772
At dusk on November 12, Colonel George Washington, then 26 years of age, led on foot a detachment of 500 Virginia soldiers from Fort Ligonier. Shortly afterward, Lieutenant Colonel George Mercer led an additional 500 men by a different route. The two leaders planned to surround a force of 140 French and Native American warriors which, they believed, was trying to steal the British army’s cattle and horses. Three prisoners were captured; the rest withdrew to Fort Duquesne, 50 miles to the west.
Soon, the two Virginia units encountered each other in the darkness, and, mistaking each other for the enemy, engaged in friendly fire that killed or left missing 38 soldiers and two officers. Intelligence gathered from the prisoners indicated that Fort Duquesne was weak. Forbes accordingly countermanded his orders and led 2,500 troops, including Washington, to the forks of the Ohio River. Fort Duquesne, blown up and abandoned by the French, was captured on November 25, 1758 and renamed Pittsburgh by Forbes. He also renamed the Post at Loyalhanna, Fort Ligonier.
The Seven Years War was the first global conflict. It had two main fronts. The first, in Europe, was the hostility between Prussia and Austria, still simmering after the War of the Austrian Succession , which expanded through alliances to include all of Europe. The second was the colonial rivalries between Britain, France and Spain, known in America as the French and Indian War, which begin in 1754 with conflict over control of the Ohio valley. The Seven Years War started in a flurry of diplomatic activity which resulted in a diplomatic revolution and the reversal of the alliances of the War of the Austrian Succession. First Britain and Prussia formed an alliance (January 1756), followed by France and Austria, who had been traditional enemies. The fighting started with Frederick II of Prussia‘s invasion and defeat of Saxony (August-October 1756), although the main conflict did not start until the following year.MORE HISTORY HERE
View of the Fort from the town of Ligonier
Our overcast, blustery morning, broke into beautiful, sunny day, just as the battle got underway. We had a lovely time learning more about our local history. The Pittsburgh area boasts many local historical sites, Ft Ligonier is just one!
Today in America, about 75% of adults identify themselves as Christian. In comparison, the next largest religions in America are Islam and Judaism. Combined they represent only about one to two percent of the United States population. ReligiousTolerance.org
That says that nearly 225,000,000 Americans believe they are Believers in the One True God. And, after all, virtue does not require belief in God (or does it?) Still, immorality floods our streets, our homes, our schools, and our churches, cathedrals and synagogues. That is a problem! From suicide to abortion, from euthanasia to childhood abuse, what happened to all the “good” neighbors? How can we expect our children to learn virtue, if we, as adults, are not moral (including humility!)?
This graph was posted originally March 9, 2004 HERE. I’m sure the results would be even more exaggerated now. All one need do is watch 5 minutes of local news or pick up the front page of any newspaper to see that self-control is out the window, and self-indulgence is the rage! (pun intended!) Immorality is easy! Virtue is work!
Think about it! They go together like bees and honey! How can one exist without the other? It can’t! Freedom requires that each individual “respect” the rights of his neighbor. Virtue thrives amid personal freedom where it can be freely expressed. Without one or the other, they BOTH wane. This is the fundamental reason America is where she is today! We live under “relative” or “situational” ethics/morals/virtue! We look at how our neighbors live and use that as a reference point. Or we use our boss, or some political or entertainment or athletic figure as a sort of guideline.
Morality … Virtue cannot be relative (or situaltional.) It cannot depend on each situation. Murder is either right or wrong. Drug dependence is either right or wrong. Rape is either right or wrong. Gossip is … yea, that is harder. Or is it? Anger … Right of wrong? Beating up another person … right or wrong? Even if they cut you off in traffic?Drinking and driving … right or wrong? Lying … ooooh another hard one. Is lying right or wrong?
You see … We KNOW what is right and what is wrong. It’s almost instinctive. That is not to say we don’t ever tell lies or allow others to make us angry, but we know it is not right … it is not a good thing! We know it is not virtuous to engage in over-indulgence of any kind. What do we do about it? Do we push it aside and say (like we did when we were 10) “Everyone else is doing it!” or “Johney’s mom let’s him do it!” Yea, I know!
So the next time someone cuts in front of you in traffic, smile and say, “Thanks! I needed that reminder! I’m not perfect either!”
The grace we show will come back to us when we need it most!
“Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.”Benjamin Franklin
“When public virtue is gone, when the national spirit is fled […] the republic is lost in essence, though it may still exist in form.” John Adams
“Without Freedom of Thought, there can be no such Thing as Wisdom; and no such Thing as publick Liberty, without Freedom of Speech.”Benjamin Franklin
“Dependence begets subservience and venality, suffocates the germ of virtue, and prepares fit tools for the designs of ambition.”Thomas Jefferson
“The truth is, all might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they ought.”Samuel Adams
“Political freedom includes in it every other blessing. All the pleasures of riches, science, virtue, and even religion itself derive their value from liberty alone. No wonder therefore wise and prudent legislators have in all ages been held in such great veneration; and no wonder too those illustrious souls who have employed their pens and sacrificed their lives in defense of liberty have met with such universal applause. Their reputations, like some majestic river which enlarges and widens as it approaches its parent ocean, shall become greater and greater through every age and outlive the ruins of the world itself.”Benjamin Rush
Good God! ALL SERVICE MEMBERS & VETS – Check this out! I have to say … this is without a doubt, a radical, new low for our sitting President! I am OUTRAGED!!!! Are YOU???
More proof he is an Ass Hole
PLEASE EVERYONE, READ THIS and then broadcast it to all your friends and relatives. This is a letter that my good friend’s husband wrote today after his uncle’s funeral yesterday.
If Obama does not want his name associated with our military, too bad he wanted his name associated with “The President of the United States.” Read more…
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