What does it mean to be American?

Recently I heard a comment by Dennis Prager stating that the greatest threat facing America is that the Baby Boomer generation and its posterity haven't been taught what it means to be American. SO, what does it mean to be American?

To be American means to believe in the individual. It means to believe that all men are created equal and as such are endowed with certain unaniable rights. That a democratic republic government is an institution ordained by God, created by the people, for the people as a means of providing the necessary rule of law so that individual rights can be secured thus allowing all individuals the freedom to achieve their greatest potential. They also understand that this freedom however does not guarantee equality or the same results for each person.

To be American means to understand that with self government comes the necessity to govern ones self. That for an individual to take full advantages of the freedoms granted him/her there must be adherence to a moral code which would include responsibility, accountability (to themselves, others, and God), morality and charity. An American understands that as a "nation under God" without a national morality eventually the moral fiber of the country and the ability of self govern would erode and eventually cease to exist.

An American understand that no member of society is entitled to more than the individual freedoms necessary for them or anyone else to reach their full potential through the utilization of their God given talents and abilities.

An American understands that equality can be and often is the antithesis of liberty. And that the purpose of government is to guarantee and guard liberty and not ensure equality.

The Founding Fathers and the colonists who supported them were rugged individualists who challenged the greatest military power at the time not so they could have taxation WITH representation (and be equal to other British subjects) but so they and their posterity could enjoy the freedom of creating their own destiny according to their abilities, talents and desires.

In short an American believes in the exceptionalism and uniqueness of the American experiment in every aspect. From its humble birth to its influence as a world power, to be American means to recognises that at no other time in the history of man has there existed the level of freedom and potential for human progress and development as there does with the United States of America.

Isn't it great to be American?

Marine Funeral Honours

This past Sunday, after getting home from church, I was talking to the Mrs. about how we should kill some time before going to a neighborhood BBQ. She mentioned that we had received a "Netflix recommend" DVD called Taking Chance. I assumed it was some sort of BBC period piece that my wife and I (yeah, yeah, I know, I know) are partial to. It didn't take long to figure out it wasn't some period piece but a military movie. My interest was peaked.



As it turns out, Taking Chance is an HBO film that documents the events surrounding the transportation of the final remains of PFC Chance Phelps from Iraq to his final resting place in Du Bois, Wyoming. The film had a profound effect on me. Told from the view point of the Marine escort (Kevin Bacon) that accompanied the body, the film depicts the process and protocols followed by the Marine Corp when a Marine is killed in action.



It is a movie that every American should see. Apolitical, it doesn't push a political agenda. It simply honours those Americans how gave the last full measure of devotion and the men and women who see to it they get the honor an individual who gave their life for their country and countrymen deserves.



What had the biggest effect on me was the presentation of the flag to the next of kin. It is military tradition to give the flag that had been draped over the casket to the parents (family) of the deceased with the following statement: "On behalf of the President of the United States, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and a grateful nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one's service to Country and Corps."

It infuriated me to no end to here the words "On behalf of the President of the United States". It disgusted to me think that this president or anyone in his administration would have anything to do with honouring these men and women. Our nation's servicemen and women have more dignity, honor, courage, discipline and respect than this commander in chief and members of his administration could every have. An individual(s) who is actively working to undermine the safety and security of our nation and the freedoms and principles that these people fight and die for should have nothing to do with leading or honouring them. The current president of the US compared to the individuals he has the privilege to lead is an oxymoron. In my opinion the wording should be changed to say; "On behalf of the Office of the President of the ...", that way when you have an incompetent, inept, self centered, narcissistic, Marxist in the White House it is not him or her who is bestowing the gratitude or appreciation but the most powerful office in the world.

Yeah, that might seem a little picky, but after knowing the sacrifices that people make serving in our armed forces they should not be afforded the least amount of disrespect.