Posted on 04/19/2005 3:28:30 PM PDT by writer33
What is a soldier? A soldier, as defined by Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, is a person engaged in military service. Soldiers, sailors, airmen, or marines are more than this. They are the best of America, the very essence of America, bred of conservative values. They are the mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of America, the very heartbeat of a thriving nation. They provide us with the greatest gift of all, freedom. They allow capitalism to grow in a comparably young nation. Yet, it is not enough for the judiciary in the United States.
Conservatives believe Abraham Lincoln best stated it in the Gettysburg Address, saying, “But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract.” In that day in time, when America struggled against itself, President Lincoln addressed the mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, and sons and daughters of America. His vision, not the judiciary, was of a United States of America.
Lincoln’s great concept, through that terrible war, united a youthful country with the use of military force. The tragedy of Gettysburg saddened a divided nation, but united a country after four years of war. The noble sacrifices of soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines have brought us to that vision so long ago. It has united us into one America, the greatest nation of all.
The men and women of the U.S. Military provide freedom, allowing the youngest country in the world to become a superpower. Duty, honor, and country are part of the daily sacrifices those serving in the U.S. Military brandish. They aren’t just words but a way of life for men and women in the Armed Forces of the United States of America. It is duty, honor and country that make the U.S. Military the greatest military in the world, not the judiciary.
“Only aim to do your duty, and mankind will give you credit where you fail,” Thomas Jefferson stated. A soldier simply doing their duty will not fail. And it is the duty of every man and woman in the military to provide Americans with freedom. That duty has carried us for over 200 years, allowing individual Americans the chance at life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, the intentions of the U.S. Constitution. The Founding Fathers purpose was met with duty to their country, forming the United States of America. Their single purpose of freedom led to the creation of the greatest country in the world. Yet, it was not enough for the judiciary of this Republic.
Conservatives believe this nation should lead the world stage in the 21st century—such is one lesson handed down from their forefathers, dating from the Revolutionary War, and leading its way in the War on Terror. They do not believe America should reshape the world, just propagate liberty. They believe, in the words of Thomas Paine, “The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.” For American conservatives, a society free from tyranny is a healthy society. It is conservatism that will defend the country, protect its citizens and secure a healthy, free economy for their posterity. Yet, it is not enough for the judiciary of this country.
That duty is carried by the sons, daughter, mothers and fathers of Americans, believing that patriotism isn’t just a word but a feeling. They believe it is the flag flying in the breeze, the smell of freshly cut grass, the seventh inning stretch or the feel of a baby in their arms. They believe that patriotism involves loving America and all that she represents—decency, honesty and integrity. Because of these men and women, we remain the sole superpower in the world. They believe America is worth driving, worth protecting and worth all they can give. They believe the United States is worth saving from terrorism, liberalism, despotism and judicial activism.
Those indelible qualities have been incorporated into America’s soul from our Founding Fathers. They sought a Republic as moral, as just and divine as any in the world. They sought an America full of hope and inspiration for all of mankind. And they founded a country bathed in God’s wisdom, dedicated to liberty and based on representative government, setting a shining example for those that choose to follow.
Now, we find the Republic embroiled in a great judicial war—a war that pits the will of the few against the will of the many, including the soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and coastguardsmen. We have become a superpower through the use of our U.S. Armed Forces, as each entity of those forces-Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard-provide us with ample protection against enemies, foreign and domestic. Their blood has allowed for the pursuit of excellence in business, of all its citizens and around the world. And suddenly, they find themselves subverted by the pounding of the gavel, maliciously under minded by black robes with a socialist agenda. From abortion to Terri Schiavo, the will of the Republic, and those that protect her, have been contravened, as if to slap duty and patriotism in their face.
Conservatives and the defenders of America believe as Thomas Paine believed: “It has been thought a considerable advance towards establishing the principles of freedom, to say, that government is a compact between those who govern and those that are governed: but this cannot be true, because it is putting the effect before the cause; for as man must have existed before governments existed, there necessarily was a time when governments did not exist, and consequently there could originally exist no governors to form such a compact with. The fact therefore must be that the individuals themselves, each in his own personal and sovereign right, entered into a compact with each other to produce a government: and this is the only mode in which governments have a right to arise, and the only principle on which they have a right to exist.” And yet, it still is not enough for the judiciary of this country.
American conservatives and the U.S. Military are the very spirit of the greatest country in the world. They are the engine in the American machine, the machine that produced a superpower and helps spread liberty to all men and women. It is their indefatigable nature that provided for a safer Republic. They are staunch defenders of the U.S. Constitution. They remind all that power should be kept under local control, and that privatizing is an inexorably good quality for the country. They breed a proper system of checks and balances for government, the market and private citizens. That legacy is executed and has been executed for 229 years.
From Thomas Paine to Abraham Lincoln to President George W. Bush, men and women in the military perform their duty, keeping America safe from harm. Those servicemen and women have done their duty, all that we ask of them. They have performed and exceeded expectations through their individual sacrifices to this country.
Those sacrifices allow them to live in honor. They serve and have served the people of the United States of America. The honor of each soldier, sailor, airman, and marine will allow each individual, past and present, to execute their duties faithfully to their country. For those that have gone before and for those yet to come, conservatives give their undying gratitude and appreciation for performing an honorable duty to the United States of America—even if it’s not enough for the judiciary.
Ping!
Ping!
Ping!
Congressman Billybob
Latest column, "A Triple Black Dog Double Dare to Infinity."
Glad you enjoyed it. Now who's Tom Paine? :)
Best not to ping them twice, ping them twice!
Sorry, sorry. It's the Mac. It's the Mac.
:)
From my profile:
It is the soldier, not the reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier,
Who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
--Admiral Jeremiah Denton
That's good stuff, JA. But I thought your profile said, greedy conservative woman that sold out here sisters. :)
That's the profile of my evil twin. ;-D
Just starting my evening freep -- thanks for the ping, Chris. A very nice tribute. All this, and a mention of new-mown grass too. Something for everyone in this column!!
So does that mean you're a moderate Republican like McCain? :) Hehehe
It happens to be Patriots Day and I thought it appropriate. However, the Pope is stealing my thunder. :)
I'm glad YOU enjoyed it though. At least I can stop sucking my thumb now. :)
Glad you enjoyed it!
Gee Chris, you are so charming, and fascinating...How DO you come up with all your brilliant ideas? ;-D
*kissy-kissy*
:) Funny lady. You're a funny one. Hehe!
This quote should be emblazoned on the cover of every American History/Civics textbook in this country.
It is appalling how few people understand that the founding documents delineate the limitations of the government over the people, not the other way around.
Yeah, those Popes -- such show-offs!!
AMEN!
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