Independence Day

“The day will be most memorable in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival…It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade…bonfires and illuminations (fireworks) from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore.” ~John Adams, July 3, 1776

The words of one of our founding fathers to this great nation. And future President of the United States of America.

Everyone across the United States will have their entire weekend filled with fun activities. Many of them will include fireworks. Many of us will go watch a local display of fireworks. And others will relax in the summer heat while enjoying the company of family, relatives, and friends.

So why do we have fireworks and why do we use them? Well for one, that is how our founding fathers celebrated. Fireworks were brought over to this country from Europe and they were used mainly to celebrate as well as intimidate the native Indians who were there at the time. A show of force, if you will.

Fireworks dazzle all of us. Every woman, child, and man. The young and the old. It does not matter who you are, as soon as you hear that first great big BOOM!! of the evening, your heart nearly skips a beat and you’re filled with wonder and gaze into the night sky beyond the stars to see what amazing colors will fill the air for that one glorious moment.

But I think that a few of us tend to forget that fireworks also are a representation of the Revoluntary War. The bombs and canons going off as we struggled to become a free country and gain our independence. We should not take our freedoms for granted. It came with a price. And even on that first Fourth of July, our nation’s future was unknown. We did not know if we would end up winning the battle. But it was something in which we believed in, and so we stood up and fought for it. That was our price.

And our men and women in the military service still fight for those same freedoms that we have today over two centuries later. They fight because we wish to preserve those freedoms for everyone, and we will never allow anyone to take them away from us.

As we celebrate the 235th birthday of our country, remember those who have fought and died for our country. Remember those who still fight.

Relax and enjoy our freedoms to be able to gather with loved ones and celebrate. Try to thank those people whom you know have served in our nation’s military. Everybody stay safe and have fun.

Happy Independence Day!!!!

Venimus, Vidimus, Vicimus

No matter how long it takes, we will find you!

The military of the United States of America has done their job.

 

Now that we’ve been hearing that Bin Laden is dead, Americans have been more or less celebrating.

 

Many are rejoicing. A lot of them, so overwhelmed with excitement that they are unable to restrain themselves from their inner jubilation.

 

And yet, not even a full twelve hours after President Obama spoke to the nation, and to the world and confirmed the news, I have heard some people talking about how we shouldn’t “glorify death”.

 

Umm… what?!?

 

People- Americans are NOT glorifying the death of Bin Laden. But rather we are rejoicing in the comforting notion and thought that he is no longer able to cause bloodshed and destruction. He can no longer destroy what freedoms and peace we have in this nation. This is by far, is not a glorification of death!!

 

Bin Laden was an enemy of the nation. He was an enemy to the world. Including those whom he wished to have died because of his radical thoughts of interrupting peace.

 

The United States military did what they had to do: Their job. And that means to defend and protect our country. Even if it means war.

 

The United States of America now has their justice for the horrible attacks that took place on 9/11 because of Bin Laden. Those whom we loved and lost, the innocence gone. We did not attack him. He attacked US! Why? Because he threw a temper tantrum because the leaders of Saudi Arabia chose to allow the United States to help with the liberation of Kuwait. Bin Laden wanted his group of people to get rid of Hussein’s troops out of Kuwait. But he did not get what he wanted. So he decided that he would attack the United States of America.

 

And now look at him today. He started a fight, and he lost. Paying the ultimate price for it.

 

It definitely isn’t over, now that he is dead. I really don’t believe that it is. For sure there will be some group of people who will want their retaliation. And they will try! But our military is strong. We have held our resolve and position since this started and we have not backed down.

 

“Frothtonomy” has it right today. In his blog entry, he mentioned that the United States of America didn’t ask for this. The same as we did not ask the Japanese to attack Pearl Harbor which led us into World War II.

 

http://millsap.wordpress.com/2011/05/02/ding-dong-the-bitch-is-dead/

 

If history teaches us anything, its that if you mess with us… you’re gonna get it!! We are going to MESS YOU UP when we get to you!!!

 

No matter how long it takes we will find you. And we will have our justice. Freedom isn’t free. But we as a nation, will do whatever it takes to make sure that we have our freedom.

 

With the fact of people so excited and happy about the news about the death of Bin Laden, there’s been a lot of them who just haven’t had a lot of self control. But you know what? That’s just how emotion works. I may not agree with what they have to say, you may not agree either. But to actually tell them that they are wrong or ask them, “How could you?” isn’t the right response just because you disagree.

 

After a while, the over the top reactions will cease. But the opinion of the country and of the world will remain the same. We rejoice that this evil man can no longer hurt anyone.

 

So allow people their emotions. Allow people there opinions. If you are someone who disagrees, fine then. Just because a few MILLION people are excited that we as a nation finally got what we have been wanting for almost ten years, doesn’t make us bad people. And it should not annoy you as much as it does.

 

 

 

 

 

The Constitutional Right to be A Prick

I enjoyed myself last night with family at a local AHL hockey game between the home team, Texas Stars against the Abbotsford Heat. (My apologies for those who read my Facebook profile as I had mistaken the team to be from “Abbotsville.”)

I did not realize that the visiting team was from Canada, until it was time for the singing of the National Anthem. First was the Canadian anthem. I had never been to a sporting event before where it had been sung. It was a nice experience. I felt that the choral group performing did a nice job.

Then came Star-Spangled Banner. It started wonderfully. Until they had reached the phrase, “Whose broad stripes and bright stars“. The crowd over 5,000 people literally shouted the word “STARS!!!” when it came up.

What in the world? What were these people thinking? Aren’t you standing up with your attention towards the flag, as you should have learned it in school?

Because the word “stars” appears twice in the verse that is commonly sung, the crowd shouted it twice as well. As I was standing there repulsed, I did hear giggling after the first shouting of the word.

This bothered me. So I went searching to see if there was any specific rules or terms of etiquette with regards to observing the National Anthem. Most of what I had found was placing your hand over your heart. You also observe by taking off your hat and stand at attention and facing the flag. You don’t talk on your cell phone, you don’t chew gum, and you don’t move from where you are standing.

But what about shouting out during the performance of the National Anthem?

Seems as if this battle is not a new one. During the performance of the National Anthem before a game of the Dallas Stars of the NHL, it happens there as well. Screaming at the top of their lungs “STARS!” whenever it is sung.

Also, during the performance of the National Anthem at the games of the Baltimore Orioles, they shout out the word “O!”… as in “O say can you see“, and what not. Mainly these incidents have utter disrespect for the nation has been going on for years, so this is not the first time anyone has complained about it. Francis Scott Key must be vomitting his own bone dust in his grave each time this occurs.

I have read both sides of this. Those who are disturbed and appalled by it, and those who have no personal problems with it. They say that its only a way to keep the crowd’s enthusiasm for their team.

This particular post has to deal with the opinion that this kind of behavior from people is terrible and it shouldn’t be allowed to be happening anywhere in this country at any time because it is truly an outrage. This country is too valuable for its citizens to be taken advantage of in the name of disrespect towards those whose hearts are on fire with pride, love, and patriotism.

Honestly though, “disgusting” is not a strong enough word to describe this behavior. This country was in fact, made for you and me. But it was not made for it to be trampled on by its own citizens. I personally believe that if they would have done something similar during the Canadian National Anthem, people would have become unglued and there would have been chaos to the extent that it would have been all over the Internet. But why do this to your own country?

This was my fourth Texas Stars hockey game that I have attended. The first game that I went to, this did not happen. From that point on, things changed and the crowd was shouting.

What really is disheartening to me is that each time I have attended, the game announcer has always brought the crowd’s attention to the presence of the military being present at the games. Whether currently serving or retired. And then this happens.

And another point to bring is that I do not think that the crowd is taking into consideration the person or persons who are performing. What about their feelings as they are doing their best to proudly present themselves and their country during a performance piece which has been deemed the most difficult song to sing? For myself, I performed it three times when I was in high school. I did it by myself and I performed it A Capella. Had this happened to me while I was performing, it would’ve ended right at the time the people would’ve shouted. Mainly for the reasons that I was nervous enough to perform, and the sudden eruption of shouting voices would’ve distracted me and caused me to perform with errors. Which in turn would have caused a lot of embarrassment for me and I would have been unable to finish.

Instead, it seems as if the people of this country is just going to do whatever it wants to do, and then hide behind the First Amendment for their actions. But I am not going to get into a debate over Constitutional Law.

Members of my own family have fought and served in this nation’s military. After the National Anthems were finished, I looked at members of my family who were sitting next to me, and their shocked faces said it all. I spoke to a man who had served in the U.S. Army this afternoon. He was an officer in the military and he has attended previous Texas Stars hockey games with me in the past, so he has witnessed this horrible incident before. He said, “Many others have bled and died for this country, to provide these people the privilege to be doing shit that is totally disrespectful.”