Posted on 07/01/2012 3:48:13 PM PDT by carlo3b
Thankfully I was born an American. Born in the greatest nation in the history of the world. But I became an American, slowly and decisively over my entire life, and these were but a few of my moments of decision;
When my 92 year old great Grandfather, an immigrant for the bowels of depravity in Italy stood in a crowded church basement and took the pledge of allegiance to his beloved country to finally become a citizen, after struggling to overcome illiteracy and poverty, and raise a fine and honorable family. He had to study and take the test to prove he knew enough about this country and it's founding and history and government to qualify to contribute to it's greatness. At the conclusion of the ceremony, he broke down and cried for the first and only time I ever remember in his distinguished life. At that moment I remember thinking it must be special to be an American.
When my 4th grade teacher, the first and only black person, man or woman at that time, with courage enough to enter the forbidden bigotry of my Little Italy neighborhood, called me into the hallway to tell me that I must hurry home because my beloved grandfather had just been rushed to the hospital. My eyes must have shown my utter horror of that moment. She grabbed me and held me tightly to her breast for what was the single most important thing I needed in the whole world. I remember thinking I loved this brave woman, that found her way into my life in this great land. I remember being thankful I was in America.
I remember when General Mac Arthur, passed my gathered family, standing and waving our Flags, we had waited for hours to get a glimpse of our heroes', in a ticker tape spectacular parade honoring the ending of World War II, and he turned and looked at ME, and smiled. I was breathless, and oh so proud to be an American.
I remember another parade, where leaders of the procession, were the last remaining soldiers, surviving the civil war. These 10 or so old men and 1 woman, in their faded uniforms, from both sides of the conflict, walked slowly past a wildly cheering crowd, I broke away from my aunt and uncle (he a vet from WWI) and handing my small flag to one of those patriots. When I returned to the sideline I was kissed by a total stranger. You can bet I was so very proud to be an American.
I remember being chosen to recite the Preamble to our Constitution at the school assembly celebrating Memorial Day. We had spent the entire year learning the history of this glorious land in our 5th grade class. All the bravery and struggling it took to scratch this wonderful country into existence. I messed up at one point during my oration, and the principle leaned over and whispered the forgotten word, and winked at me and smiled. I finished to an applause, and bowed and looked at our flag and gave thanks the ordeal was over and that I was proud to be a good American boy.
There was a not so proud moment when this county's greatness came into my focus. I had broken a window playing stick ball in the middle of the street, and ran like the dickens to hide before we were caught. I hugh Irish Chicago Police officer came to our door during dinner that night, he asked if I would step out side. My mom told me to hurry and followed me to the stoop where a few of my friend were already in what looked like custody. We were asked if we had done the deed, I looked at my mom in shame, then at my friends who were looking at their shoes, and answered yes. He took us to the police station, and made us listen to a lecture about the poor old folks that had to scrap their nickels and dimes to repair our damage, and asked if we were willing to work off the damage, instead of the electric chair, which we were sure was the other option. We were made scrub the headstones and statues of fallen patriots at our Memorial cemetery, and that the local Vets would replace the window in repayment. We did it happily and proudly, only my folks and the parents of the others made us do it every year from that point until we graduated from high school. I read those names every year, and seeing the new ones that were being added during the Korean conflict, some of which were the family members of own friends. I remember crying silently at the loss, and yes dear God I was proud to be an American.
On my 18th birthday, I stood tall at the induction center and while reciting my oath, and allegiance to my country, I remembered all those things. I left home for the last time, I was finally a real man, and given the opportunity to say to my country Thanks from my grandpa, my family, my neighborhood, and all of those that had given all of this to us. I was proud to serve my country, and to this day I thank GOD I have a country like America to give what I could, including my life if necessary. Yes, I am an American.
There are so many more things that have happened in my and our lives to fortify my belief in this great nation...
Let me add a little historical perspective. One neat advantage to being chronically challenged and maintaining a vivid recollection, is no one can rewrite my memory..
I remember the 50’s and the Korean War, a war no one wanted, or backed. We thought we would never win, because we hadn't even recovered from WWII, and the new body counts were staggering. All was lost when we capitulated and settled for an draw..
Then came the 60’s, with assassinations, lawlessness, civil rights marches and riots, and filthy hippies, and LBJ.., oh, and Viet Nam! I was convinced we were finished..
Remember the 70’s?? Anti-war riots, drugs, Nixon, Watergate, the Viet Nam War, the media bitching at Nixon, 24/7..Jimmy Carter for heaven sakes, gas lines, 20% interest rates, double digit inflation.. Who thought we would survive those years???
Obama, Reid, Pelosi, Holder, will all be in the rearview mirror in no time, and we will be enjoying a recovery from this mistake like all of the others in due time.. You can tell your grandkids like I do about the old shit they won't listen to now about my yesteryear.. HA!
So good to see you my FRiend, Happy 4th to you and yours.. :)
Bring out the Grand ole Flag my dear FRiend, as I will, and wave it high.. Show the neighbors that FREEDOM RINGS! VOTE!
This is a bad dream that our country will recover from, and make something good happen from this chicken shi#.. Trust me this is just a blip in a long line of blips.. GO BLESS AMERICA.. VOTE
This is a bad dream that our country will recover from, and make something good happen from this chicken shi#.. Trust me this is just a blip in a long line of blips.. GOD BLESS AMERICA.. VOTE
Another GREAT contribution, carlo! Have always enjoyed your messages from the heart.
Jack my man, totally understandable, and I am tempted to do the same.. However, I choose to focus my disappointment on the socialist in our White House, and the people that don't care enough to stay educated on the factors that brought about this economic disaster..
Everyone has to pitch in to get back to a prosperous nation, and the least we need to do is VOTE, get our families out to VOTE, and encourage our friends to get to the poles and VOTE!
Au Contraire my dear FRiend.. Our Progressive/Democrat, politicians have been moving our culture and economics to the European socialist model for decades. That needs to be reversed NOW, and we need to start with this election by dismantling this albatross brick by brick until it's gone. Not an easy task, but a start by rooting out this weed one by one..
The country you love, we love, I love, doesnt exist anymore....
I believe that negativity is the wind that fuels the ‘Rats’ devious plan.
So go shove all that cr@p out with the garbage and FIGHT BACK against the B@$tards!! Pray on your knees; in your car while driving; in the grocery line & when you water your lawn. If you are a true patriot...someone who believes that the Founders’ vision and the Constitution were the right course and THE way for our blessed land of opportunity and freedom, then you are up at the crack of dawn sticking American flags in the soil at the corner of every driveway.
Your fate has EVERYTHING to do with how YOU are going to react to it. You can get angry, you can cry, you can complain — but make those short-lived by using them as fuel to get your @$$ in gear to FIGHT! Go out and find 5 DUmmies and convert them! Wear political shirts with conservative messages and be a moving billboard to educate the unenlightened.
I’m sorry if you don’t understand what I’m saying and for my jagged tone, but you’d better get on board now, otherwise you’ll be shuffling along in line all too soon.
Thank you so much for that beautiful essay!
A belated AMEN!!!!!!
Possibly valid in past tense. Use in present tense exhibits pathological denial about (worsening) current state of affairs.
God Bless America!
Not sure He bothered to do that even once after January 22, 1973. I think the "Damn" side of the equation is heavily tipping the scale by now.
Is that an invitation to defeatism? Well, I sure do appreciate it, but I'm afraid I'm gonna have to decline ;-)
Friend, the country we love is still here. We've simply got a pestilence inside our gates that must be exterminated, to restore our nation to its former luster and glory.
You up for that?
Love your idealism.
Personally, I’m old and bent and cynical, but there’s no need to pay any attention to me; it’s a world for the youngsters now.
Whoa! Not even close. We have taken another hit, no doubt, and this one is a doosie, but we are soooo much bigger than this tinhorn dictator!
SNOWjob, halfWHITE, and his Cloven Dwarfs, can continue to LIE, CHEAT, STEAL, and HIDE, but it's too late..
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