Smoke on the Water

For Love of Country, '05

(this post carried forward unchanged from last year)

For Love of Country

And of our fellow man.

In the face of this electoral season's acrimony, it behooves us all as Americans to every now and then declare a truce, step back from the brink and to take stock of this awesome Nation of ours.

Of all of ours.

Be you Raving Liberal or Vast Right-Wing Conspirator, this time is not about you. Or about me.

It is about Them.

It is for The Fallen.

Each year the soldiers of the Third United States Infantry Regiment ("The Old Guard") take part in the ceremony called "Flags In." Just before Memorial Day, each grave in Arlington National Cemetery is decorated with a small American flag.

The flags remain in place until the conclusion of the Memorial Day Weekend when they are all removed. It is the only time during the year when American flags are permitted at all gravesites in the Cemetery. The "Flags In" detail took place this year on Thursday, 27 May 2004.

Personally, I believe deeply that we lose something vital to our survival as a Nation when we forget the blood of patriots.

Words, symbols, heated rhetoric and clever argument all pale when measured against the brilliance of the white of marble, the emerald carpet of living grass borne over they who rest beneath, forevermore.

And the fields and fields of flags upon each, bearing quiet witness to the precious, eternal value of that sacrafice.

Dignity, honor, respect and a day of rememberence is all that they ask now of us.

Especially, rememberence.

So, this weekend, set aside if only for a day, thoughts of (D) or (R). Rail not against your fellow American, nor wish harm to him, his party or his creed.

Not on this day.

The men and women in those graves are no longer Democrats or Republicans. They are still and eternally though Americans, and are forevermore worthy of this day given but to them.

Honor the Day. Honor Them.

From their dark and silent graves, they give more honor to our Nation than any one politican, party or officeholder dares ever imagine.

Dignified beyond words, with nobility above the highest offices of government, these silent warriors speak loudly of what it is to be American.

They did not die for the Republicans. Nor for the Democrats, Greens or Libertarians.

Whether in combat, or fifty years later surrounded by only the memories of comrades long since passed, the men and women resting forever under those flags once marched proudly under that banner. They have earned nothing less than the unqualified respect of a grateful Nation, and her grateful people.

The last full measure of devotion is an awesome, terrible thing. Yet, magnificent; and it is upon the altar of their sacrafice that we enjoy the freedom of the greatest Nation in the history of the world.

Stand and salute, and remember them.

For our own sakes, and especially for theirs.

REMEMBER THEM!

Nothing Left, but Tears

The sentiments described in this San Francisco Chrionicle article aren't new to many, for many (formerly) on the radical left will surely see themselves therin, and also might see the the ghostly images of many of the fellow-travelers they've left behind.

No, they didn't forsake their former comrades, nor have they betrayed them.  Rather, they've renewed fealty with their country's founding principles.  Principles which rightly followed would nearly recivilize the present rift 'tween right and left, red and blue and even to a degree, democrat and republican.

For it is the burning, eternal nature of man to seek freedom....  our God given nature and Constitutionally recognized right to enjoy  Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

This past January, my liberalism was in full throttle when I bid the cultural left goodbye to escape a new version of that oppressiveness. I departed with new clarity about the brilliance of liberal democracy and the value system it entails; the quest for freedom as an intrinsically human affair; and the dangers of demands for conformity and adherence to any point of view through silence, fear, or coercion.

Contrast the above with the present-day Left's obsession with pessimism, petulance and the pursuit of misery.

I need not "rest my case", as it were.  Mr. Keith Thompson has done so quite elequoently.

Now then, what the hell are (the very few of you who remain) doing here?  Go now, and read that article....and take heart.

(heard it on Rush)

In Full Bloom BOOM!

For all of you Patriotic Moms out there, here's a couple of our finest, celebrating the day.

In fine, fine style!

The MOAB;  ( Massive Ordnance Air Burst ) munition, otherwise known as the Mother Of All Bombs.

Wish they'd drop that on some mothers mullahs over there in the ol' sandbox.

Happy Mother's Day!