[BenLurkin]

Hugh is a good guy and I have a lot of respect for him and his views, but he is a PollyAnna about many things.
Unfortunately modern Americans are NOT all descended from those who crossed the plains, mountains, and deserts to build this country. Many people here today have no more heritage than that of common laborers accepted into our culture to meet the physical needs of the nation's agriculture and industry. Therein lies the distinction between the descendants of colonists and pioneers and the descendants those who were not.

We sincerely hope that Mr. Hewitt is correct and that America WILL rise to the challenge of self defense in the 21st Century. There may be just enough of us who care to carry the load of the indolent, self-indulgent and left leaning "Blue State" masses.

Can we? If you need grounds to doubt then just consider: who voted for Bill CLinton to get elected and re-elected and why is he still regarded as a leader today? Are those "Americans" equally resolved to love, serve and defend our nation and our free way of life?

Please pray for our nation and its current leaders.

[Myrnick]

Many people here today have no more heritage than that of common laborers accepted into our culture to meet the physical needs of the nation's agriculture and industry.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by this statement. Are the people who have come here to build a better life for themselves post-revolution and/or post-opening of the west somehow less American?

I for one know who I am and where I live and why America is the world's best hope. I am descended not only from individuals who came from Europe pre-revolution, but also Irish who fled the famine, one or two strains of American Indian, and Germans who arrived in the second decade of the 20th century. The basis for my understanding of American greatness, I believe, stems directly from what has been passed down through the generations from those individuals who left what they knew to venture into the unknown to make a better life for themselves and ultimately for me.

If I have misunderstood you I sincerely apologize. But for you to imply that just because someone came here to find a job (oh horror, here come the capitalists), they have less heritage that someone who can claim membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution, gives me pause to wonder if you truly understand this country yourself.

[Pelham]

but he is a PollyAnna about many things

That's not surprising when you were stumping for President Lamar Alexander, as Hugh was.

[truth_seeker]

Unfortunately modern Americans are NOT all descended from those who crossed the plains, mountains, and deserts to build this country. Many people here today have no more heritage than that of common laborers accepted into our culture to meet the physical needs of the nation's agriculture and industry. Therein lies the distinction between the descendants of colonists and pioneers and the descendants those who were not.

My father was descended from colonists, and earned a purple heart in WWII.

My father-in-law was NOT descended from colonists, but also earned a purple heart in WWII.

Two more proud American vets could not be found. FYI Americans of Mexican ancestry have served and sacrificed in wars, in greater proportion than their share of the population. I expect they saw it as a way to fully "earn" their places in American society.

Today's volunteer military ranks are made up by minorities in greater proportion than their share of the population. They are pretty good at what they do, and I suspect many of them would find your characterization of their abilities to be way off base.