A Group on MySpace that I started on November 28th of this year, this site is dedicated to me expressing my opinion and then letting people openly disagree and voice that opinion. I feel this is the very fabric of discussion this country is based on. You have a view voice it. Apathy is the only crime we see.
Well, it didn't take long this time did it? I get in my car this morning to drive to work and of course I am listening to AM 750 WSB for traffic and the morning news. One of the first stories I hear is of the changing winds of the campaign trail. I had to make sure that I heard correctly so I stayed in my car once I arrived at work to make sure that I had heard the story correctly. Are you ready, because this one is altogether not that shocking. It seems once again as the political winds change (Gen. Petraeus's approval rating being high, and the fact that there was an upturn in war numbers) that Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama have decided that "committing to an actual hard date of 2013 would be irresponsible because they don't know what they are getting into."
Excuse me!!! For over two years all we have heard is things like:
Pull Them Out Now!!, Bring Home the Troops!!
Now Pres. Bush starts giving numbers and the Democratic candidates start stating things like they aren't sure what they have gotten into. And that promising a date 4 years out might be irresponsible. Ladies and Gentlemen that came from the mouth of Hillary Clinton. Excuse me Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. I have said from the beginning running this country on the backs of popular opinion polls is irresponsible and a violation of what the Constitution defines the Executive branch as well as the Legislative branch to be, and now we see a real example of this.
For the last couple of blogs I have been posting a video, and then commenting on the video or I guess you could call it waxing philosophically on the video posted. I have addressed innocence and hypocrisy in the last two, and then today something happened.
I was working today. I carry a large title that mainly means that there are constantly fires that have to be put out. I was talking with a kid who is attending one of our fine state universities and he was talking to me about how he doesn't care about politics and faith. That he feels that those things have lost their importance and really that should be left up to the people that are "hired" to do that job.
This blew my mind, and I proceeded to have a long conversation with him about why apathy is not only a sign of ignorance, but also a sign of weakness. My arguments were not logically formed and the conversation turned into a debate until my state educated debater made a dramatic mistake in his argument. He stated that apathy was truly the basis for the freedoms that we have. That freedom of speech, reliion and press are best utilized when people are willing to be led and not make noise as an individual.
At that point I found myself doing something that I do not do on a regular basis; I quoted the book of Revelations 3:16. This is where Jesus states "So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth." This I find is one of the few times that the Bible does not mince words, nor do they try to hide the message.
We are called to have feeling, passion, love and desire. We are called to care, so much that it hurts, not just about the big things like family and friends, although they are the top priorities, but also the small things; the kid who fell, the leader who refuses to lead, the actor that compromises integrity for a part, nature, and more. I was once asked by a family member, "how is it you care about everything?" At the time I was unsure how to answer but now I am not.
I care about everything because that is the only way it feels right. That is the only way that I feel that I have truly done my part. So now I challenge all of you. The next time you feel that you can't give anymore, remember that we are proud of what we do, and proud of where we came from, and stand up and be counted. Carry that passion with you in whatever you do and get rid of the apathetic attitudes.
Very rarely do I ever directly point a finger at a person, but I found this video posted, and then I went and researched the page myself and here is what I have found. His site is sick, and his point that he is trying to make is about pay scale but his argument is bring pointed at the wrong place. Yet I wonder sometimes how a person could feel he could get long running support from a view like this. How could someone feel that any American would possibly side with him in anyway? Then I did a little looking around and found the following
Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama opposed the war-funding bill... Washington Post "The Troop Funding Trap" June 2, 2007 pg. 13
Democratic presidential hopeful and former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina harshly criticized the legislation. "Washington failed America today when Congress surrendered to the president's demand for another blank check that prolongs the war in Iraq," Edwards said in a statement.
Democratic Rep. David Obey, the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, joined Pelosi in voting against the bill. (both above from CNN.com "House, Senate pass war funding bill" May 25, 2007)
On top of that we have the situation from the University of Colorado when former professor Ward Churchill wrote and later stated:
The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were a response to a long history of U.S. abuses. Churchill said those killed in the World Trade Center collapse were "a technocratic corps at the very heart of America's global financial empire" and called them "little Eichmanns." msnbc.msn.com "Professor fired after 9/11-Nazi comparison" Updated: 8:24 p.m. ET July 24, 2007
From the above examples we have, people with terminal degrees, and nationally known politicians going around playing with the funds for the troops. And thankfully none of this irresponsible chatter has actually changed the policy.
A more important point and the one that I started out to make is this. When we have simple, immature and allegedly money hungry individuals like Mr. Crook, who do not take the time to at least attempt (I don't have a book with me on how to cite, and while I did learn this in college, I found that I have not maintained it due up to now not truly having a reason to use it) to cite sources where the quotes come from. We in this country have to remember that the brave men and women in the armed forces, who fight these battles for our freedoms, also expect us to act responsibly with the freedoms. That is a point I think we too readily forget.
One of the responsibilities of having free speech is to know you must truly explain yourself clearly, and if you are in a position of influence that responsibility is even higher. If you are talking to the general public, you must remember that while most people have average intelligence or above and can follow logical thought, there are the Michael Crooks out there that will take any window of opportunity to use to reach their own ends. With no thought to others feelings.
Lets remember this moron the next time we start openly blasting the war, or the funding, and when we do debate it openly let us do so with the same factual rules we would want followed if we were on trial. Using cited sources and factual evidence, keeping the attacks on the right people and not just throwing our witless comments out there.
Now some people will read this and say I am witless, but I will stand by two things, one the cites are there, and there is enough to at least find the articles I was reading, and two I want to state without a shadow of a doubt that the troops that are all over the world are the true defenders of virtue and freedom and I will support them with my heart, my faith, my words, my arguments and my money where I can. I believe that my freedom was bought and paid for by those that have come before me and defended freedom and those that are doing so now are the continuation of that Greatest Generation.
Six years and 8 days ago 3000+ people begin a trek to work that culminated at two of the tallest buildings in the world at the time. Finished in 1977, the World Trade Center Towers (named in the hope that one day "the world would trade peacefully there") were once again living up to that name. A diverse group of individuals from multiple countries and backgrounds had gathered to enrich, enlighten and continue their constant drive towards the American dream. They were innocent, and completely unaware of the horror that was to become just a short time later. They bought breakfast, and sat at their desks; they checked emails and some were probably singing along with a radio, talking on the phone to a loved one or just finding a way to wake up with their morning coffee.
These 3000+ people though in reality were on the front line. They were in the sights of a group of individuals who for some reason decided that these innocent mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters no longer deserved to live. These innocent people were in the sights of people claiming to be "men of virtue" and "men of faith". But in fact the hijackers of those planes were neither men of virtue nor men of faith they were cowardly human beings who decided that ending their own pathetic lives was not enough; they had to take out as many innocent people as possible. We watched on TV as these monsters drove American planes into the heart of the biggest American city and into the tallest buildings in that city forever changing the skyline, the attitudes and the feelings of the people in this country. We stood united, realizing that innocents, people belonging to our families had been in those buildings and we remembered our strength and resolve. We once again stood the proud American citizens and stopped burning our flags and started waving them.
Now six years and 8 days later, that resolve is broken in half of our country. People are scared and starting to feel as though we might be wrong in our course and resolve. We sit and debate within our own family of citizenry the value of those same 3000+ innocent people that died that day. We now say, well they were worth this, but not worth that. We have mothers fighting against the same freedoms their sons gave their lives for. We have political leaders hiding behind political fences and throwing stones at each other in a metaphorical way and fighting a battle of words to define why their point of view is more right.
I know that I am one person, and I know that my timing isn't perfect like some people. See there are some where the inspirations to write like this hits on anniversaries or those special occasions. For me however it seems like it is easier on the special occasion day to say "we must remember". It is harder to continue to remember. It is harder to continue the course once the initial pain is gone. So today I write this, because in the wake of a student being tazered on a college campus while a former Presidential candidate (John Kerry) stands and watches, when a 4 star General of the US Armed Forces is called a traitor in the wake of political arguments for simply reporting as he was ordered to do, and candidates squabble over microscopically insignificant ideas. I keep thinking back to those 3000+ innocent people and then I remember two words and all the strength that I need comes flowing back into my veins. My heart beats a little faster, and I remember once again that this is the greatest country in the world, that our freedoms are worth fighting for, that the men and women overseas are the true heroes and the two words mean as much today as they did when they were spoken on that plane 6 years and 8 days ago.
So for our freedoms, the ones we have and the ones we want back; for the members of our families that are overseas and have a mission to accomplish; for the 3000+ innocent people that died 9/11/01 and for all of us who want to remember and be uplifted I share those two words with you once again to close. Simply put... "Let's Roll!!".
When I was in college, I had a very idealistic thought process. I talked tough and walked with my shoulders held back in a way as to say that I “knew it all”. Now I realize that I did not know everything, and I need to press forward every day to learn something new.
