Celebrate American Freedom!

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"life lessons", 4th of July Celebration, American, American history, Celebrate America, Committment, Independence Day, July 4th, Know America's History, patriotism, Patriots Unite

The Star-Spangled Banner

“In 1807, Britain introduced a series of trade restrictions to impede on-going American trade with France, with which Britain was at war. The U.S. contested these restrictions as illegal under international law. The British did not wish to allow the Americans to trade with France, regardless of their theoretical right as neutrals to do so.”(Wikipedia) The tensions increased and the wealthy politicians in Britain exercised their influence and put pressure on the America to bow to their wishes. An unstated but powerful motivation for the Americans was the desire to uphold their newly won national honor in the face of what they considered to be British tests and insults.

It is this war “whereby the fledging, in-fighting, unprepared baby United States cemented its status as an independent nation by defeating the most powerful military power in the western world. The final battle waged in Baltimore, Maryland, was the one celebrated in Francis Scott Key’s famous poem, which was made into our national anthem: “Star Spangled Banner”. READ MORE

The Battle for Ft McHenry

The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire, including those of present-day Canada.[nb 2] The Americans declared war in 1812 for a number of reasons, including a desire for expansion into the Northwest Territory, trade restrictions because of Britain’s ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant sailors into the Royal Navy, British support of American Indian tribes against American expansion, and the humiliation of American honour. Until 1814, the British Empire adopted a defensive strategy, repelling multiple American invasions of the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada. However, the Americans gained control over Lake Erie in 1813, seized parts of western Ontario, and destroyed Tecumseh’s dream of an Indian confederacy. In the Southwest General Andrew Jackson humbled the Creek nation at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend but with the defeat of Napoleon in 1814, the British adopted a more aggressive strategy, sending in three large armies along with more patrols. British victory at the Battle of Bladensburg in August 1814 allowed the British to capture and burn Washington, D.C. American victories in September 1814 and January 1815 repulsed British invasions of New York, Baltimore and New Orleans.” CONTINUE READING

Scribbled lyrics by the inspired F.S.Key

“During the rainy night, Key had witnessed the bombardment and observed that the fort’s smaller “storm flag” continued to fly, but once the shell and Congreve rocket barrage had stopped, he would not know how the battle had turned out until dawn. By then, the storm flag had been lowered and the larger flag had been raised.

During the bombardment, HMS Erebus provided the “rockets red glare”. HMS Meteor provided at least some of the “bombs bursting in air”.

Key was inspired by the American victory and the sight of the large American flag flying triumphantly above the fort. This flag, with fifteen stars and fifteen stripes, came to be known as the Star Spangled Banner Flag and is today on display in the National Museum of American History, a treasure of the Smithsonian Institution. It was restored in 1914 by Amelia Fowler, and again in 1998 as part of an ongoing conservation program.
Aboard the ship the next day, Key wrote a poem on the back of a letter he had kept in his pocket. At twilight on September 16, he and Skinner were released in Baltimore. He completed the poem at the Indian Queen Hotel, where he was staying, and entitled it “Defence of Fort McHenry.” (Wikipedia)

“The Star-Spangled Banner” was written in a time of great national crisis. The Capital of the United States had fallen to the enemy. Its most important Federal buildings were charred ruins in the wake of the British occupation. There seemed to be nothing separating Britain’s vaunted military power from complete victory, except the small bodies of scattered and disorganized militia. American morale was at a low ebb. It required a bold man at that time to prophesy the spiritual rebirth of the American Nation as Francis Scott Key did in “The Star-Spangled Banner.” CONTINUE READING

The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics

By Francis Scott Key 1814

Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
‘Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

We still enjoy more liberty than any other nation, but that arguably has begun to change. The Stars and Stripes still wave over this land, but are Americans still “the brave?” Do we have the courage to maintain our liberty?

This week, we have witnessed Egyptian people rising to the occasion and overthrowing the undesirable government we President Obama helped to install. They are fighting for their FREEDOM! Their courage is evident. Regardless how it turns out, I am impressed with their resolve. They want FREEDOM! Do we even realize our freedoms are being slid under the proverbial rug to disappear in time?

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A Different Tack – Learning Virtue from Wise Tales

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"life lessons"

Tacking into the wind

Several years ago, I taught American and British literature to typical high school students who typically cared little for the subject. A few cared about the necessary “good grade” needed to get into the college or University of their choice, but mostly, it was ho-hum … until one day I brought in a few “morality tales” – otherwise known as fables, parables, or allegories! We read a few in class, talked about them and their meanings, then I assigned them to write one for the next day. It proved a very enlightening exercise.

I’m not writing any original stories here, just posting a few for ages gone by.

Androcles

A slave named Androcles once escaped from his master and fled to the forest. As he was wandering about there he came upon a Lion lying down moaning and groaning. At first he turned to flee, but finding that the Lion did not pursue him, he turned back and went up to him. As he came near, the Lion put out his paw, which was all swollen and bleeding, and Androcles found that a huge thorn had got into it, and was causing all the pain. He pulled out the thorn and bound up the paw of the Lion, who was soon able to rise and lick the hand of Androcles like a dog. Then the Lion took Androcles to his cave, and every day used to bring him meat from which to live. But shortly afterwards both Androcles and the Lion were captured, and the slave was sentenced to be thrown to the Lion, after the latter had been kept without food for several days. The Emperor and all his Court came to see the spectacle, and Androcles was led out into the middle of the arena. Soon the Lion was let loose from his den, and rushed bounding and roaring towards his victim. But as soon as he came near to Androcles he recognized his friend, and fawned upon him, and licked his hands like a friendly dog. The Emperor, surprised at this, summoned Androcles to him, who told him the whole story. Whereupon the slave was pardoned and freed, and the Lion let loose to his native forest.

And the moral is: Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

The Ass and the Lapdog

A MAN had an Ass, and a Maltese Lapdog, a very great beauty. The Ass was left in a stable and had plenty of oats and hay to eat, just as any other Ass would. The Lapdog knew many tricks and was a great favorite with his master, who often fondled him and seldom went out to dine without bringing him home some tidbit to eat. The Ass, on the contrary, had much work to do in grinding the corn-mill and in carrying wood from the forest or burdens from the farm. He often lamented his own hard fate and contrasted it with the luxury and idleness of the Lapdog, till at last one day he broke his cords and halter, and galloped into his master’s house, kicking up his heels without measure, and frisking and fawning as well as he could. He next tried to jump about his master as he had seen the Lapdog do, but he broke the table and smashed all the dishes upon it to atoms. He then attempted to lick his master, and jumped upon his back. The servants, hearing the strange hubbub and perceiving the danger of their master, quickly relieved him, and drove out the Ass to his stable with kicks and clubs and cuffs. The Ass, as he returned to his stall beaten nearly to death, thus lamented: “I have brought it all on myself! Why could I not have been contented to labor with my companions, and not wish to be idle all the day like that useless little Lapdog!”

And the moral is: To be satisfied with one’s lot is better than to desire something which one is not fitted to receive.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

The Crab and the Fox

A CRAB, forsaking the seashore, chose a neighboring green meadow as its feeding ground. A Fox came across him, and being very hungry ate him up. Just as he was on the point of being eaten, the Crab said, “I well deserve my fate, for what business had I on the land, when by my nature and habits I am only adapted for the sea?’

And the moral is: Contentment with our lot is an element of happiness.

Finding Maturity

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"life lessons", American Interests, American Moral Character, American Morality, Building Character, Conservative opinion, Human nature, spiritual, Women's Issues

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

Gratitude or Resentment – Your Call!

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"life lessons", American

Of plymouth plantation - William Bradford et al thanking God for a safe passage and asking God's blessing upon this new land.

Above, is a portrait of the few who survived the crossing to land near Plymouth, MA. If you take the time to read their journals (Of Plymouth Plantation, written by William Bradford,) there is a fundamental truth that is obvious. These people possessed a profound ‘attitude of gratitude’ toward the Almighty God who guided them to the new land. The entire culture was built upon this foundation. These would be the leaders of the Plymouth Colony.

GRATITUDE!
vs
RESENTMENT

The current democratic leadership has chosen a vile and base pathway as their desired course along which to lead WE-THE-PEOPLE. They desire us to believe the contemptible language and images they create is the norm. They hurl this vulgar language at the right, the TEA Party, the conservatives, and blame them/us for the stalemate in Congress. I contend, this pseudo political elite itself is deluded.

So I ask you, mt friends, which do you choose:

Gratitude or Resentment
Your Call

We can be thankful for what we have, because even the poorest among us is significantly better off than the richest in many, many other nations … OR We can be resentful that there are some who have more than we have.

Seems like a pretty easy choice to me. I am grateful for ALL the blessing God has shared with me and mine. How about you?

Morality ~ Rules of the Strong Heart

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"life lessons", American, American Conservative, American history, American Interests, Building Character, Committment, Human nature, The BEST of America

Have you ever noticed that lighting one match in a dark room is all one needs to chase the darkness away? One small flame and darkness is gone. It doesn’t require a spotlight or a bonfire, just one small match.

I am convinced that the ills of our nation run much deeper than our political ties. We have abandoned our faith. We have allowed IDOLS to be erected around our nation, and whether it’s celebrities, athletes, or even knowledge, they cannot replace faith. We have allowed our common ground of morality to be widdled away, sliver by sliver until there seems to be no common ground left (or right.)

I do not buy the fabrication of life as portrayed by the Left, because I believe the American people remain a people of faith. You see, it really is not about WHAT faith, because most major faiths have moral principles that are shared in common with others, with the exception of Islam. But that is no reason why Jews, Catholics, Protestants, Mormons, 7th Day Adventists … etc can’t come together on the common ground of the 10 Commandments or even the “Greatest Commandment.”

At age 16, George Washington began to accumulate and memorize what has become known as “George Washington’s Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation.” In reality, George Washington did not compose these rules. “They are based on a set of rules composed by French Jesuits in 1595. Presumably they were copied out as part of an exercise in penmanship assigned by young Washington’s schoolmaster. The first English translation of the French rules appeared in 1640, and are ascribed to Francis Hawkins the twelve-year-old son of a doctor.”

The folks in biblical times wanted a summary of the commandments, kind of like us, they sought a shortcut. This is that discussion!

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied:

“‘Love the Lord your God
with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it:
‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets
hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:36-40

If each Americanreconnected with their faith, and those who chose to live between faiths found a common moral ground or with simple rules of Civility… the evils we see encroaching into our lives and our culture would lose their power over us. If we, as neighbors, reached out to our neighbors, got to know them, and maybe even became friends, we might begin to regain trust and fear would diminish. When the light shines, the darkness fades!

Morality (or civility) is not just a bunch of rules and regulations. It is a compass by which we chose to live. It is a system by which we can intelligently guide our life and steer our heart. Traditionally, our Judeo-Christian morality was the glue that held Americans together in spite of our profound differences. People from all over the world were able to come together on this foundation and build a new, improved life as Americans. It was the unnamed presumption of our Founding Fathers. This morality is not gone, it has merely been hidden beneath the weight of everyday life and the lies of Progressivism.

It is for such a time as this that we need our morality, our faith, our foundation and our common ground. We must find a way to come together in spite of our differences! When the gales of daily hardship blow against us, it is our morals, our faith, our basic kindness that will serve as the light that will see us through the storm. Without it, we are lost to the storm.

Shock Value – John Adams on Man’s Lust for Power, 1763

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"life lessons", American, American Conservative, American history, American Interests, American Morality, Conservative opinion, Democrat, Hope * Change, Human nature, Military appreciation, outrage, spiritual, US Military Veterans

“[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

You mean like this???

Class always shows…… An Old Story

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"life lessons", American Conservative, American history, American Interests, Building Character

Class always shows……

A doctor had his TV on in his office when the news of the military base shootings at Ft. Hood , TX came on. The husband of one of his employees was stationed there.

He called her into his office and as he told her what had happened, she got a text message from her husband saying, “I am okay.” Her cell phone rang right after she read the message. It was an ER nurse,” I’m the one who just sent you a text, not your husband. I thought it would be comforting but I was mistaken in doing so. I am sorry to tell you this, but your husband has been shot 4 times and he is in surgery.”

The soldier’s wife left Southern Clinic in Dothan , AL and drove all night to Fort Hood. When she arrived, she found out her husband was out of surgery and would be OK.
She rushed to his room and found that he already had two visitors there to comfort him.

He was just waking up and found his wife and the visitors by his side. The nurse took this picture:

Election Humor!

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"life lessons", Conservative opinion

Spelling lesson

The last four letters in the word American are “I can”.

The last four letters in the word Republican are “I can”.

The last four letters in the word Democrats are “rats”.

End of lesson.

Test to follow in November, 2012.

On an unrelated, November is rodent extermination month. I wonder if that includes the slick & slimy Rhinos?

The Sterilization of the American Culture – Removing all Trace of Individuality

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"life lessons", different, diversity, equal, equal value, equal-rights, equality, fallacy, personal individuality, uniquely gifted

Diversity involves much more than skin color!

A friend left the following statement as a reply to one of my recent posts. I think it’s worth further discussion. Please add your thoughts!!!

“I think the system is failing when you have someone living in a mansion who works a few hours a day and spend the rest on a golf course when 5 miles away there is a guy working 80 hours a week and he can barely feed his kids.”

So what’s the solution? Is it fair for one man to work hard, build a business, make it successful and then have to pay to support those who choose not to work at all? Is it fair for one well educated Caucasian woman to be passed over while a less educated woman of color is hired?

The fallacy seems to me to be a misunderstanding of the concept of EQUALITY. While we are all “endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable (equal) rights, we are not all created equal! We are not all Mozart, or Bach, or DiVinci, or Cezanne, or Dali … We are not all Groban or Pavarotti, or Caruso, or Shakespeare, or Yeats, or Poe … We are, in fact, all created UNIQUELY … differently, with some things in common, yes, but we each have different ambitions, passions, motivations, and abilities! That’s is the problem! Give two guys a hammer and a pile of wood, I’d bet any money they design two different structures/creations. AND Most likely one will be better than the other.

We are each uniquely gifted!

Diversity, which we sing about in all walks of life these days, must include much more than the superficial skin color, but rather ALL that makes each of us UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS. Diversity includes our personalities, our spirituality, our gifts and abilities, our various ethnic cultures, our attitudes, and our experience. All of these things weave together to create … me! You! “Sam I am!”

But it’s not all sweetness and light. Not every human is born with the ABILITIES to create personal wealth. However, that person may be endowed with an unnatural artistic gift or an astounding way of making others smile. Are these abilities any less valuable to a society? a family? a nation? However, should a convenience store clerk receive compensation equal to an educator or a physician? Should an excellent (based on survival rates), experienced surgeon be compensated equally with those right out of school? Should all plumbers be compensated equally, or should their success, dependability, punctuality, and quality of work be taken into consideration?

Socialism, at its root, attaches a fixed price to services and products without regard to variables. In other words, Socialism does not observe individualism or diversity. Capitalism rewards quality, availability, and many other determinants by adjusting compensation accordingly. Diversity and individuality are often (not always) rewarded, not always financially!

There is more to life than money. There is more to SUCCESS than the accumulation of things. Finding one’s “Bliss” doesn’t not guarantee a financial windfall! The US Constitution only provides each of us the right to pursue our happiness, but isn’t that still better than denying personal individuality?

The Sterilization of the American Culture - removing all trace of individuality

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Social distrust breeds a Nanny State

Our Supreme Court and Political Correctness Agenda have made us all Slaves to Socialism

Learn it! Understand it! Apprehend it! Memorize it! – The REAL Preamble!

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"life lessons", American Conservative, American Heroes, American history, American Interests, American Moral Character, American Morality, Conservative opinion, Military appreciation, spiritual, US Military Veterans

“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!