Wednesday, August 03, 2016

THIS IS THE STRAW!!

When I was young, admittedly my temper could get the best of me.  It was on a ‘hair-pin’ trigger, did much damage to my Christian witness,  and it caused me much grief.  Thankfully, through the years, the Lord has moderated that emotion a great deal (no, I have not arrived but am just still growing and on the journey).   Candidly, after a  I am probably still a bit steamed.  This posting began on Memorial Day.  Knowing much of what I felt needed to be said, I had to walk away from this subject to gain some civility in these words.

On May 27, 2016, our sitting President spoke in Japan at Hiroshima.  His words, like so many other of HIS WORDS, are an offense to any American, young or old, who values this nation, this way of life, and the cost of the freedom we enjoy.  I cannot imagine the pain which these words caused families who lost family & friend  at Omaha, the Battle of Berlin, the Battle of the Bulge, or at Pearl Harbor.

In a day when so many are pointing fingers and using words like tolerance and insensitivity, I must say, the apologizing for America over the last 8 years has now reached its zenith.  I’m sure you heard these words, but let me put President O’bama’s words  in print as a reminder:

“Seventy one years ago on a bright and cloudless morning death fell from the sky and the world was changed.  A flash of light and a wall of fire destroyed a city and demonstrated that mankind possessed the means to destroy itself. Why do we come to this place, to Hiroshima?  We come to ponder the terrible force unleashed in the not so distant past.

While nothing in these opening words would I disagree with, I am stunned that there was little recognition of why the ‘flash of light’ and ‘wall of fire’ was necessary.  When I hear him speak about our matters of war, I get the distinct impression that he believes all that America has ever done is ‘mess up.’ 

To bring reality to the words of the POTUS, let’s attempt a different setting with a slightly different emphasis.  While we should never be ‘happy’ or ‘empowered’ by the remembrance of war and should always be sympathetic toward those who experience loss as a result of war, let us NEVER FORGET, that the USA has never been the aggressor.  We respond (at least we have in the past).  Our brave men and women risk life and limb to protect the freedom, liberties, and rights of this nation.  Without these heroes, we would not have a president to apologize for winning the war. 

Imagine with me that the day is December 7, 2016.  The location is Pearl Harbor.  The speaker is ‘a’ POTUS who speaks THESE WORDS:

“Seventy-six years ago on a beautiful Sunday morning, death fell from the sky and the world was forever changed.  A host of Japanese bombers, torpedo bombers and midget submarines used bombs and bullets to create a wall of fire and a flash of light which destroyed an United States Military installation, equipment, with over 1100 deaths, and over 2500 casualties. Why do we come to this place, to Pearl Harbor?  We come to ponder and to remember.  We ponder what makes a regime commit such an unprovoked attack on a country on the other side of the world and an unsuspecting people who did not consider themselves at war.  We remember these gallant men and women who gave their lives in the defense of  freedom and of this nation, along with their families .  America IS the land of the free, but she will remain the land of the free only as long as she is the home of the brave.  Today, we honor those who have fallen in service, those who have given their lives for this nation, and those who are  left behind.  Thank you for your sacrifice and service.”

For me, I pray daily that our next Commander in Chief values our service men and women, honors our veterans, and commits himself to the security of this nation.  This would be an outstanding change.  For me, January 20, 2017, cannot come soon enough.  “May his days be short and may another take his place.”

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