August 5, 2015

American Glory Days

By Tammy Derouin

On a recent shopping trip, I stopped at Hobby Lobby.  They have many items which make me feel like I’m walking through a museum.  It’s a nostalgic experience to stroll up and down the aisles.  There are many images of American heritage and pop culture. 

The American spirit, as well as American ingenuity, is on full display as you walk through the store.  It ranges from the simplicity of the Mason jar to the many items representing American fortitude, which made our country so great.  Strength, hard work and determination resulted in many American success stories.  Iconic symbols and logos are timeless and have become part of the American landscape. They serve as proof that individuals built this country, not the government. 

Many are able recall those American glory days.  We remember what it was like to be a can-do nation, prior to the transformation.   A feeling of pride turned to sadness as I wondered if we would be able to remain free.  Would such iconic symbols of capitalism and the free-market place someday land in a museum?  Would such symbols need to be housed in an underground museum?  The new reality is that the government built everything.  Will evidence to the contrary need to be destroyed?  

One of the many iconic items I saw on display was The Super Friends.  I remember watching them every Saturday morning as a child.  Once upon a time they defended truth, justice and the American way. Far too many of our elected officials vilify truth, mock justice and are destroying the American way of life.

Later that very evening, a rather surreal moment took place.  I caught an episode of The Big Bang Theory.  The group, dressed as Super Heroes, witnessed criminals breaking into a car.  All individuals combined wouldn’t have been able to physically stop the crooks. I’m not suggesting they should have, but not one of them pulled out their phone to call for help.  A character asked if they should do something.  The Flash stated, “We are the Justice League of America, there’s only one thing we can do, turn around and slowly walk away.”

If that line doesn’t sum up what we’ve allowed to happen, I don’t know what does.  America was once strong, a force to be reckoned with, if crossed.  We defended the weak, the defenseless and we destroyed the bullies of the world and those who sought world domination. Now we are weak and defenseless.  We put an individual, along with a very progressive, anti-American party, into office. 

Our Executive, who also bares the title Commander In Chief, has done everything in his power to weaken our defenses.  We have an open border.  Our enemies are welcomed as our border patrol becomes the target, not only by the enemy, but by the government.  Our military is weak and our military personnel have become open targets right here, on American soil. 

We accept that we have enemies.  Our military knows they are targets, they accept that when they signed up.  I’m guessing just knowing that America is in someone’s crosshairs is enough for many to sign on the dotted line.  But what was completely unexpected is how our government has aided and quite frankly, supported our enemies.  Our government has turned its back on the American people and undermines our military, the ones who defend our homeland.  

If we have any hope of taking back our home, our land of the free, we must have leadership that will stand up and tell it like it is.  We need individuals who aren’t going to dance around the issues or watch what they say due to the sensibilities of our enemies, foreign and domestic.  Our enemies and our current administration seem to push a political correctness agenda.  Until we insist that this ends, we are doomed.

A wolf is a wolf and our enemy is our enemy.  Until we have leadership that is willing to state that radical Islam, ISIS, Hamas, the Taliban or any other Islamic sect which seeks to destroy us, is our enemy, and that they need to be irradiated from our shores, we are doomed.   

As long as we have an individual or a party in our highest offices willing to disarm law abiding citizens, while arming our enemies, we are doomed.  As long as we have individuals in power who are capable of convincing the American people that fictional issues are real but giving American money to Iran and giving them the green light to go nuclear isn’t harmful, which you’re fooling yourself if you don’t think they will use our money and our stupidity against us, we are doomed.  They will work to destroy Israel and the U.S.; transformation complete.

“America will never be destroyed from the outside.  If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”

Abraham Lincoln