At the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin was asked, "What have you wrought?" He answered,"…a Republic, if you can keep it." And today, after 220 years and many wars and crises, we seem to be losing it.
Over five decades ago I swore to defend our Constitution as I accepted a commission to be a lieutenant in the Air Force. From 1951 to 1981 I was a proud member of the United States military. I was proud to defend the principles of freedom and liberty upon which our Country was founded. I am still proud of America and continue to pledge my allegiance to the flag and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, with liberty and justice for all.
I believe in the dignity of man and that no one should cow tow to anyone. Yet, I see our elected President bowing to Saudi King Abdullah. I thought we resolved that issue by our Declaration in 1776. I swear we did. Did we not?
I believe we are losing our sovereignty by agreeing to accept dictates from the United Nations.."a world body" which we house, feed, and finance even when it votes and stands against us. And now there is a debate in Washington on should our economy become subservient to global restrictions and limitations. At the G-20 meeting in London there was an agreement on a "global economic union with uniform regulations and bylaws for all nations including the the United States of America". Can you imagine, America, by far the strongest economy in the world, being subservient to the whims and dictates of a group of failing economies?
I believe we are the most generous, most humanitarian, nation that ever existed. We give food and aid to other countries even when people in our country are in need. We defend the freedom of people in other countries even as we shed our blood in doing so. In return, we only ask for some land to bury our dead and to help keep the spark of freedom lit. We are not an arrogant nation or an arrogant people, never have been, never will be.
I believe we have lost sight of the meaning of the 10th Amendment by letting our federal government take over the many powers which belong to the people by using the subterfuge of saying…"it is for your own good." We have let our government in Washington grow beyond what is called for in our Constitution and, in so doing, have invited greed and power to beckon those who represent us in Congress. We are on the verge of nationalizing the American auto companies and have the audacity to fire executives who run businesses.
I believe we have forgotten all the real aspects and meanings of the 1st Amendment. We have taken God out of our homes, out of our schools and out of our way of life. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has a report titled "Rightwing Extremism" claiming you are a terrorist threat if you oppose abortion, own a gun, or are a returning war veteran. That report is labeled "Do Not Release to the Media". What happened to the "right to assemble and to petition the government"?
I believe we have lost our way economically. We have left our children, our grandchildren and their children with a huge debt and no way to pay it back. We are falling into the same pitfall as the Roman Empire did back in 400 A.D. when it taxed the middle class out of existence and withdrew its legions from around the world. In ten years our children will have a ten trillion dollar deficit to contend with thanks to this generation.
I believe we are deluding ourselves in not facing up to the fact that we are at war. We are fighting terrorism on a global front. This not a "contingency operation". We must remember that islamic terrorists have vowed "to kill" us and we must stay on the offensive. We have the very best military in the world composed of men and women who are willing to sacrifice everything to protect America and our way of life. We will soon release more captured terrorists in the name of humanity only to have them face us once more on the field of battle. Let's be ready!
I believe we are becoming a socialist country following the pattern of once great European countries. We are losing the individualism, the creativity, the zest for greatness, that made our country what it is today. We now punish success and reward failure. I see that in business, in government, and even in athletics where all members of the losing team receive trophies for losing the game or the series.
I believe we have ignored and been complacent when addressing public education. As a nation we have fallen behind other nations in all disciplines. We are 22nd in mathematics; 16th in reading; and 17th in science when compared to the top 40 industrialized nations in the world. We have shunned the concept of school choice where parents are involved, where competition exists, and where the money follows the child instead of in the budgets of governmental agencies.
More importantly, I believe that in spite of these trends, the strength of "we the people" will prevail and will take America back. I firmly believe that and hope you do too. Thomas Jefferson said, "Honor, Justice, and Humanity forbid us to tamely surrender that freedom which we received from our gallant ancestors, and which our innocent posterity have a right to receive from us." God Bless America!
Ed Rumsey
Col, USAF (Ret) 864-888-3700 www.conservativestakingamericaback.com