The real America

On this Sunday afternoon, an Honor Flight returned to San Diego.  World War II and Korean veterans, including a Woman Marine and former POW, had been to our nation's capital, where they were recognized for their service to our nation.

On this Sunday afternoon, hundreds of real Americans turned out to welcome them.  American flags were enthusiastically and unashamedly waved.  Patriotic music was played.  Red, white, and blue were the dominant colors.

Looking around, what were not seen were football players (or any other professional athletes), elected officials, leftist media, political commentators, leftist pundits, television actors, movie stars, university professors, socialist democrats, social justice warriors, or any of the others working to destroy our nation.  Present were real Americans, proudly packing in to welcome these heroes home.

It is all too tempting to bemoan the state of the country.  And make no mistake, we have some serious problems.  But the real America represented at the San Diego airport today is large in number and strong of conviction.

The real America will stop those who seek to destroy our nation. 

Enough already

A young Marine, 21 years old, is currently being escorted to his home in New York.  His coffin was just hoisted by six volunteers Patriot Guard Riders into and out of the hearse that transported him to the San Diego airport for his final flight.

In view of the anguish of his wife and family, all of the hubbub created by the mainstream media and erstwhile elected "officials" and aspirants pales to insignificance.

Enough already.

I am sick and tired of the posturing, preening, prevaricating, misrepresenting, outright lying, and self-aggrandizing. 

Enough already.

A volunteer member of our military has died and idiots dominate the news.  A young man died and outlandish claims and counterclaims permeate the news.  A young (to me at least) Staff Sergeant is going to try to provide solace to the family of her Marine, and truth and honor are abandoned.

Enough already.

Pettiness, hyperbole, falsehoods, and political aspirations rise to the top.

Enough already.

Please, Lord, let honor, integrity, and humanity return as measures our society.  Please let activism, social justice, and perverted politics end.

Our nation deserves so much more.

The family of this young Marine deserves so much more.   

Not a routine Sunday

It was not a routine Sunday evening for the dozen or so  citizens who gathered at the funeral home.

While others were watching football, these patriots came together -- voluntarily -- to escort a fallen Marine to the San Diego Airport for his final airplane ride home to New York.  Shaking hands with the Staff Sergeant serving as Marine Corps Casualty Assistance Calls Officer (CACO), these patriots expressed their condolences at the death of her Marine.

For members of the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR), giving of their time, no matter when, no matter the day, is not at all uncommon.

As volunteers all, they proudly answer the call when missions are announced.  Most are veterans.  Most are bikers.  But not all.  But what each and every man and woman shares are patriotism, unbridled pride of country, and an abiding sense of duty.  Duty to the fallen, whether it is a soldier, sailor, airman, or Marine who died on active duty or a deceased veteran who has honorably served our country.

This evening, six proudly volunteered to serve as pall bearers at the small funeral home in a quiet area of a small town adjacent to San Diego, while the others raised American flags and saluted.  Once they loaded the hearse, they formed up, with many motorcycles flying large American flags.  At the signal, they began their procession down the streets and onto the freeways for the relatively short ride to the airport, where they once again formed up and presented honors as the casket was removed from the hearse.  The pall bearers executed a slow salute, touched the casket, then placed their hands over their hearts in a final gesture of respect.

Even after the air cargo personnel had moved the casket into the warehouse, preparatory to loading it on the aircraft, it seemed the PGR were reluctant to leave their brother-in-arms.  They stood, many still holding their flags, in silent tribute.  Eventually they walked to their motorcycles and departed, one by one.

Not a routine Sunday by any means.  

Truth evaporates from politics and governance

Politicians and electeds alike avoid the truth in astounding ways.

A wannabe socialist easily wins a Democrat primary in New York, in spite of her wildly inflated (if not outrageously false) biography.

POTUS denied nearly 3,000 people died in hurricane ravaged Puerto Rico, even though one news report includes figures ranging from 64 to 4,600 (the exact number is still being disputed).

And this blog could go on and on, citing example after glaring example of candidates and electeds stating one falsehood after another.  Whether on the campaign trail, in day-to-day governance, or during Congressional hearings, the truth has evaporated.

And the electorate does not seem to care, because many of these purveyors of inflation and falsehoods are elected, then re-elected.  Astounding.

Can American citizens really be so dense?  Do not veracity, integrity, and ethics matter any longer?

This phenomenon is not limited to one political party, nor one locality, nor one gender, nor any other identifiable group.  It permeates and infects our entire political system.

As truth evaporates, the risk to our republic grows. 

Sorry Nike

One of the great aspects of our free market system is that businesses are free to express themselves in their advertising campaigns.  Some of the greatest ads still resonate with those of us old enough to remember.  Do you recall "Where's the beef?"  More contemporaneously, some Budweiser commercials in past Super Bowls were pretty good as well.  The key point is that the businesses are free from government control in their advertising, per the First Amendment.  Consumer reaction, however, is something else altogether.

Sure, Nike is free to put out a new advertising campaign and say damn near anything.  But consumers are equally free to react to their campaign.  

Sorry Nike, you are not even close with Kaepernick and, "Believe in something.  Even if it means sacrificing everything."

Going without exorbitant pay and notoriety may meet the definition of "sacrificing everything" for some, but it falls sort in my view.  Losing a Marine's life in combat, an attempted rescue of a drowning stranger, a fireman's life rushing into a burning building to save children, or a police officer standing up to an armed robber is a better definition of "sacrificing everything."

Sure, Kaepernick is not legally prohibited from taking a knee during the playing of the National Anthem, an expression of free speech the government can not prohibit.  But he so at his own risk for other negative consequences.  No business MUST hire a specific individual, for example.

Standing (pardon the pun) for one's beliefs is crucially important in our nation, even when doing so brings criticism, private and public.  For that, Kaepernick deserves credit.  But such credit is now severely cheapened by what is surely a very large paycheck from Nike.  Seems like a man's principle can be bought.

I disagree with Kaepernick's actions, though supporting his freedom to do so.  And actions have consequences, as he is learning.  Some of those actions involve some businesses deciding they do not want to hire Mr. Kaepernick, which is their decision to make.  I also support Nike's action in creating an advertising campaign of their choosing.  And this action has consequences as well.

Listen to and watch consumers react.