What the Fourth and America mean to me.

My first touch of what one would call "patriotism" came from my father. I think every one that sees America for what it is well, that is where we get the idea. My dad was a Sgt Major in the U.S. Army so for what its worth I got a very healthy dose of patriotism. He served in the Berlin Airlift, Korean War and two tours of the Nam. So it was that era that I grew up in. The 60's, 70's were the time that I lived at home. His view of America was far from the world view that we see these days. I can remember a sticker on his car that said "America Love it or Leave it".
When I was that rebellious youth of yore, I thought I knew it all, boy was I wrong.
He had it set up that I could get into either the Air Force Academy or West Point and I think that it truly broke his heart when I turned them down. Looking back what right did I have to pass up not only the benefits but the learning that would have freely been given to me. Boy was I a dumbass.
Well what has passed is passed. This isn't about me its about our country. America never was a Utopia. Never was meant to be. But the one thing we are or could be proud of is our strengths. When the proverbial offal hits the air oscillation device we stand up to the challenge and persevere. That we are not perfect is one of our greatest strengths. Some say we are a socialist state and well maybe that is the case since WWII but I thank God every day that I wake up in a country that has so many opportunities available if only one gets up and meets the day with the strength that our fore bearers had. One of the things that I miss from my youth? Hanging out on a summer evening with the neighbors. Do you know who lives next door? When I lived in NYC we knew everyone on our floor. Maybe not personally, but when something needed to be done or someone needed something one of us was there to lend a hand. Can you say that about your neighbor. Thats one of the things I miss about the 'past'; are we a neighborhood? Do you care about your neighbors. Everyone is yammering about change well hell yeah things change. My gut for one, its not the same size as it was back in the 80's and 90's but thats my job to change it. Change is normal. Change is uhm unchangeable? Yet the more things change [cliche alert] the more they stay the same.
When we as a community come together as one, we are unstoppable. (just ask the terrorists domestic and foreign) I look at our country with love. I have never been a world traveler so maybe my view is narrow, but this land brought me up and showed that as long as I was responsible for myself and took the hard knocks that life offered me then I would excel. I learned from my dad that a man stands on his word, work and honor. That God and country were nearly one and the same. You cared for both. I heard something from Jeff Foxworthy once that really struck home. "If we would only think of ourselves as number 3 more often this country would be different" . God Family and self in that order. I makes sense to me. Jeff some would tell you thats an over simplification, that no one would think that way since its not the "easy way and its always someone else's fault that I couldn't rise to meet the challenge". Excuse me but when some one drives down the entitlement road I just want to swerve into the oncoming traffic and derail them.
Some say that the government is here to help me. What, help me spend more money? Crap I can do that myself thank you very much. The government by the people and for the people shall not waver. We Americans are the government. It is a codicil in the Constitution that when the government is not doing its job it is our mandate to change it. So when its time to vote will I? Yep for none of the above. It is our job as Americans to pick our leaders wisely and with out a popularity for the moment feel. Who we vote in this November will affect our youth. If your a youth question authority. Thats what we do we're Americans. Are we proud of our country? Damn skippy. Are we perfect oh hell no. But we never claimed to be. So this weekend as it comes to an end and we go back to the grist mill on Monday think about what America and the Fourth of July means to you. Be proud of where you come from. Take time to smile at someone you don't know. Say hello to your friends, and family. Our freedom to be Americans shall never be taken unless we allow it. Take a moment and pray for our soldiers and sailors and airmen and Marines and Coasties at the tip of the spear. For they are making the sacrifice that is required to keep us AMERICAN'S. God speed you on your journeys this next week and I will get back to you when I can.