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WILL YOU WEAR BLUE???
Don't forget those who sacrificed so We The People may have Free Speech.
It occurred to me while reading and listening to all the debate this fall about the healthcare bill that We the People would not have the right to free speech had it not been for our founding fathers writing the constitution and the First Amendment. We must also not forget the sacrifices that American soldiers have given since than in the name of freedom as well.
The first Amendment reads as follows.
Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Notes for this amendment:
Proposed 9/25/1789
Ratified 12/15/1791
Let's fast forward 218 years. We the people are peaceably assembling and using our first Amendment rights to free speech in town hall meetings throughout the country to show our displeasure with our elected represenatives over the healthcare bill, and other grievances.
On Tuesday, August 04, 2009 at 6:55 A.M., America changed forever.
For it was at that time a post was added to the White House Blog which asks Americans to return to the days of McCarthyism.
However; staying true to his campaign slogan to bring “Change to America”, President Obama is asking you to snitch on your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and complete strangers – not for being “Red”, but for being Blue – as in a true-blue American exercising your right to free speech and dissent.
In case you haven’t seen it, here’s an excerpt of the White House blog post…
Opponents of health insurance reform may find the truth a little inconvenient, but as our second president famously said, “facts are stubborn things.”
Scary chain emails and videos are starting to percolate on the internet, breathlessly claiming, for example, to “uncover” the truth about the President’s health insurance reform positions…
…There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.
I would like to remind our president that our founding fathers and later generations have fought and sacrificied lives so that you Mr. President and We the People of America may have the right to free speech.
I find it repulsive and repugnant that you would disgrace America's fallen hero's.
Let your voice be heard
In the mail today I received a questionnaire from the Republican party asking me where I stand on Obama's policies. At the end of the questionnaire they asked me for a contribution. Instead of providing a contribution I wrote a letter to Michael Steele and the Republican party.
I'll summarize the letter. I told the Republican party and Michael Steele that no political parties will get a dime from me until they start working and putting the needs of the country first and putting the party 2nd. Until we as Americans stand up to the 2 parties in politics our country we be worse off.
I encourage you all to write a quick letter, or email your local political party or elected politicians and tell them to get there act together for the sake of our country. Until we start tellling our politicians how we feel about their greed and corruptness we will be taken advantage of.
Stand up, and let your voice be heard. I felt so much better after writing even a quick 5 minute note.
It's about We the People America.
After watching some TV tonight and after scrolling through and reading feedback on Friendfeed. It's truly amazing how you can start to get a pulse and begin to understand the feelings about how the country is feeling in these difficult days.
I am struck by one theme / tone that is resident throughout all the conversations on TV and online. We are a nation that is DEEPLY DIVIDED. I find it amazing that in this day and age with all we have to deal with, we are so polarized on what direction and what needs to be done for the good of the country.
We are one nation. We are Americans. We come from all walks of life. We come from countries all around the globe. (Some illegally another subject for another day). It is WE THE PEOPLE that make up this great land we call America.
On this tax day, I am reminded by the protests and the coverage that it is about WE THE PEOPLE. It's not about whether we are Republicans, Democrats or Libertarians, or liberal or conservative, it is about being Americans!
WE THE PEOPLE need to come together and reset Washington D.C. It is time that if the politicians won't listen to us that we elect those that will listen to us and stop listening to the lobbyists. If WE THE PEOPLE need to create a third political party to start correcting things than that's what we should do.
We as Americans need to start doing what is right for AMERICA and not what is right for ourselves. There is a reason we won World War II, we had grandparents and parents who were willing to make sacrifices for future generations of AMERICANS. If WE THE PEOPLE don't start listening to one another and begin making the difficult decisions as our forefathers past have done for us we will not leave a better America for our children and their children. I for one want to leave a better America for all our children and for generations to come. Don't you America?
I am struck by one theme / tone that is resident throughout all the conversations on TV and online. We are a nation that is DEEPLY DIVIDED. I find it amazing that in this day and age with all we have to deal with, we are so polarized on what direction and what needs to be done for the good of the country.
We are one nation. We are Americans. We come from all walks of life. We come from countries all around the globe. (Some illegally another subject for another day). It is WE THE PEOPLE that make up this great land we call America.
On this tax day, I am reminded by the protests and the coverage that it is about WE THE PEOPLE. It's not about whether we are Republicans, Democrats or Libertarians, or liberal or conservative, it is about being Americans!
WE THE PEOPLE need to come together and reset Washington D.C. It is time that if the politicians won't listen to us that we elect those that will listen to us and stop listening to the lobbyists. If WE THE PEOPLE need to create a third political party to start correcting things than that's what we should do.
We as Americans need to start doing what is right for AMERICA and not what is right for ourselves. There is a reason we won World War II, we had grandparents and parents who were willing to make sacrifices for future generations of AMERICANS. If WE THE PEOPLE don't start listening to one another and begin making the difficult decisions as our forefathers past have done for us we will not leave a better America for our children and their children. I for one want to leave a better America for all our children and for generations to come. Don't you America?
Our Military
If you read this, you WILL forward it on. You just won't be able to stop yourself.
The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's, but he has never collected unemployment either.
He's a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student, pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away. He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and a 155mm howitzer.
He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk. He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark. He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must.
He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional.
He can march until he is told to stop, or stop until he is told to march.
He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient.
He has two sets of fatigues: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry.
He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts.
If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low.
He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands.
He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job.
He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay, and still find ironic humor in it all.
He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in his short lifetime.
He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed.
He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away ' those around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking.
In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful.
Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great- grandfather, he is paying the price for our freedom. Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He is the American Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years.
He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding.
Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood.
And now we even have women over there in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so.
As you go to bed tonight, remember this shot. . .
A short lull, a little shade and a picture of loved ones in their helmets.
Prayer wheel for our military... please don't break it Please send this on after a short prayer.
He's a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student, pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away. He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and a 155mm howitzer.
He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk. He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark. He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must.
He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional.
He can march until he is told to stop, or stop until he is told to march.
He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient.
He has two sets of fatigues: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry.
He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts.
If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low.
He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands.
He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job.
He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay, and still find ironic humor in it all.
He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in his short lifetime.
He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed.
He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away ' those around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking.
In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful.
Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great- grandfather, he is paying the price for our freedom. Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He is the American Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years.
He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding.
Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood.
And now we even have women over there in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so.
As you go to bed tonight, remember this shot. . .
A short lull, a little shade and a picture of loved ones in their helmets.
Prayer wheel for our military... please don't break it Please send this on after a short prayer.
Prayer Wheel
'Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands.
Protect them as they protect us.
Bless them and their families for the selfless acts
they perform for us in our time of need. Amen.'
When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our ground troops in Afghanistan, sailors on ships, and airmen in the air, and for those in Iraq .
There is nothing attached... This can be very powerful...
Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Coastguardsman, Marine, or Airman, prayer is the very best one.
'Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands.
Protect them as they protect us.
Bless them and their families for the selfless acts
they perform for us in our time of need. Amen.'
When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our ground troops in Afghanistan, sailors on ships, and airmen in the air, and for those in Iraq .
There is nothing attached... This can be very powerful...
Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Coastguardsman, Marine, or Airman, prayer is the very best one.
American Marines
As I came out of the supermarket that sunny day, pushing my
cart of groceries towards my car, I saw an old man with the
hood of his car up and a lady sitting inside the car, with the
door open. The old man was looking at the engine. I put my
groceries away in my car and continued to watch the old
gentleman from about twenty-five feet away. I saw a young man
in his early twenties with a grocery bag in his arm, walking
towards the old man. The old gentleman saw him coming too and
took a few steps towards him. I saw the old gentleman point to
his open hood and say something. The young man put his grocery
bag into what looked like a brand new Cadillac Escalade and
then turn back to the old man and I heard him yell at the old
gentleman saying, "You shouldn't even be allowed to drive a
car at your age." And then with a wave of his hand, he got in
his car and peeled rubber out of the parking lot.
I saw the old gentleman pull out his handkerchief and mop
his brow as he went back to his car and again looked at the
engine. He then went to his wife and spoke with her and
appeared to tell her it would be okay. I had seen enough and I
approached the old man. He saw me coming and stood straight
and as I got near him I said, "Looks like you're having a
problem." He smiled sheepishly and quietly nodded his head. I
looked under the hood myself and knew that whatever the
problem was, it was beyond me. Looking around I saw a gas
station up the road and told the old gentleman that I would be right
back. I drove to the station and went inside and saw
three attendants working on cars. I approached one of them and
related the problem the old man had with his car and offered
to pay them if they could follow me back down and help him.
The old man had pushed the heavy car under the shade of a tree
and appeared to be comforting his wife. When he saw us he
straightened up and thanked me for my help. As the mechanics
diagnosed the problem (overheated engine) I spoke with the old
gentleman. When I shook hands with him earlier he had noticed
my Marine Corps ring and had commented about it, telling me
that he had been a Marine too. I nodded and asked the usual
question, "What outfit did you serve with?" He had mentioned
that he served with the first Marine Division at Tarawa ,
Saipan, Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal . He had hit all the big ones
and retired from the Corps after the war was over.
As we talked we heard the car engine come on and saw the
mechanics lower the hood. They came over to us as the old man
reached for his wallet, but was stopped by me and I told him I
would just put the bill on my AAA card. He still reached for
the wallet and handed me a card that I assumed had his name
and address on it and I stuck it in my pocket. We all shook
hands all around again and I said my goodbye's to his wife. I
then told the two mechanics that I would follow them back up
to the station. Once at the station I told them that they had
interrupted their own jobs to come along with me and help the
old man. I said I wanted to pay for the help, but they refused
to charge me. One of them pulled out a card from his pocket
looking exactly like the card the old man had given to me.
Both of the men told me then, t! hat they were Marine Corps
Reserves. Once again we shook hands all around and as I was
leaving, one of them told me I should look at the card the old
man had given to me and I said I would and drove off. For some
reason I had gone about two blocks when I pulled over and took
the card out of my pocket and looked at it for a long, long,
time. The name of the old gentleman was on the card in golden
leaf and under his name......... "Congressional Medal of Honor
Society."
I sat there motionless looking at the card and reading it
over and over. I looked up from the card and smiled to no one but
myself and marveled that on this day, four Marines had all
come together, because one of us needed help. He was an old
man all right, but it felt good to have stood next to
greatness and courage and an honor to have been in his
presence.
America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war. America
is at the Mall.
cart of groceries towards my car, I saw an old man with the
hood of his car up and a lady sitting inside the car, with the
door open. The old man was looking at the engine. I put my
groceries away in my car and continued to watch the old
gentleman from about twenty-five feet away. I saw a young man
in his early twenties with a grocery bag in his arm, walking
towards the old man. The old gentleman saw him coming too and
took a few steps towards him. I saw the old gentleman point to
his open hood and say something. The young man put his grocery
bag into what looked like a brand new Cadillac Escalade and
then turn back to the old man and I heard him yell at the old
gentleman saying, "You shouldn't even be allowed to drive a
car at your age." And then with a wave of his hand, he got in
his car and peeled rubber out of the parking lot.
I saw the old gentleman pull out his handkerchief and mop
his brow as he went back to his car and again looked at the
engine. He then went to his wife and spoke with her and
appeared to tell her it would be okay. I had seen enough and I
approached the old man. He saw me coming and stood straight
and as I got near him I said, "Looks like you're having a
problem." He smiled sheepishly and quietly nodded his head. I
looked under the hood myself and knew that whatever the
problem was, it was beyond me. Looking around I saw a gas
station up the road and told the old gentleman that I would be right
back. I drove to the station and went inside and saw
three attendants working on cars. I approached one of them and
related the problem the old man had with his car and offered
to pay them if they could follow me back down and help him.
The old man had pushed the heavy car under the shade of a tree
and appeared to be comforting his wife. When he saw us he
straightened up and thanked me for my help. As the mechanics
diagnosed the problem (overheated engine) I spoke with the old
gentleman. When I shook hands with him earlier he had noticed
my Marine Corps ring and had commented about it, telling me
that he had been a Marine too. I nodded and asked the usual
question, "What outfit did you serve with?" He had mentioned
that he served with the first Marine Division at Tarawa ,
Saipan, Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal . He had hit all the big ones
and retired from the Corps after the war was over.
As we talked we heard the car engine come on and saw the
mechanics lower the hood. They came over to us as the old man
reached for his wallet, but was stopped by me and I told him I
would just put the bill on my AAA card. He still reached for
the wallet and handed me a card that I assumed had his name
and address on it and I stuck it in my pocket. We all shook
hands all around again and I said my goodbye's to his wife. I
then told the two mechanics that I would follow them back up
to the station. Once at the station I told them that they had
interrupted their own jobs to come along with me and help the
old man. I said I wanted to pay for the help, but they refused
to charge me. One of them pulled out a card from his pocket
looking exactly like the card the old man had given to me.
Both of the men told me then, t! hat they were Marine Corps
Reserves. Once again we shook hands all around and as I was
leaving, one of them told me I should look at the card the old
man had given to me and I said I would and drove off. For some
reason I had gone about two blocks when I pulled over and took
the card out of my pocket and looked at it for a long, long,
time. The name of the old gentleman was on the card in golden
leaf and under his name......... "Congressional Medal of Honor
Society."
I sat there motionless looking at the card and reading it
over and over. I looked up from the card and smiled to no one but
myself and marveled that on this day, four Marines had all
come together, because one of us needed help. He was an old
man all right, but it felt good to have stood next to
greatness and courage and an honor to have been in his
presence.
America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war. America
is at the Mall.
Before you Go
http://www.managedmusic.com
THIS SONG IS BEAUTIFUL AND WELL DESERVED!
For Veterans
Please read to the end and then click on the website -- this is fabulous!
The elderly parking lot attendant wasn't in a good mood!
Neither was Sam Bierstock. It was around 1 a.m., and Bierstock, a Delray Beach , Fla. , eye doctor, business consultant, corporate speaker and musician, was bone tired after appearing at an event.
He pulled up in his car, and the parking attendant began to speak. "I took two bullets for this country and look what I'm doing," he said bitterly.
At first, Bierstock didn't know what to say to the World War II veteran. But he rolled down his window and told the man, "Really, from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you."
Then the old soldier began to cry.
"That really got to me," Bierstock says.
Cut to today.
Bierstock, 58, and John Melnick, 54, of Pompano Beach - a member of Bierstock's band, Dr. Sam and the Managed Care Band - have written a song inspired by that old soldier in the airport parking lot. The mournful "Before You Go" does more than salute those who fought in WWII. It encourages people to go out of their way to thank the aging warriors before they die.
"If we had lost that particular war, our whole way of life would have been shot," says Bierstock, who plays harmonica. "The WW II soldiers are now dying at the rate of about 2,000 every day. I thought we needed to thank them."
The song is striking a chord. Within four days of Bierstock placing it on the Web, the song and accompanying photo essay have bounced around nine countries, producing tears and heartfelt thanks from veterans, their sons and daughters and grandchildren.
"It made me cry," wrote one veteran's son. Another sent an e-mail saying that only after his father consumed several glasses of wine would he discuss " the unspeakable horrors" he and other soldiers had witnessed in places such as Anzio , Iwo Jima, Bataan and Omaha Beach . "I can never thank them enough," the son wrote. "Thank you for thinking about them."
Bierstock and Melnick thought about shipping it off to a professional singer, maybe a Lee Greenwood type, but because time was running out for so many veterans, they decided it was best to release it quickly, for free, on the Web. They've sent the song to Sen. John McCain and others in Washington . Already they have been invited to perform it in Houston for a Veterans Day tribute - this after just a few days on the Web. They hope
every veteran in America gets a chance to hear it.
GOD BLESS every EVERY veteran...
and THANK you to those of you veterans who may receive this!
CLICK THE LINKS BELOW OR ABOVE TO HEAR THE SONG AND SEE THE PICTURES:
http://www.managedmusic.com
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