America the Beautiful

It has been 239 years in the making - the greatest, most powerful and generous nation the world has ever seen - America. It's citizens have fought and died, first for their own freedom - and since then, for the freedom of others.

This wonderful country has proven that its economic system (free market capitalism) has been the engine that drives the entire world. The freedom it provides allows every citizen to pursue his own dream. Everyone can be whoever and whatever they want to become. And if a person were to become very wealthy through his own efforts, he would be respected for his success.

Successful people are the fuel that allows America to keep growing stronger. They are able to create jobs for others, and they produce goods that are envied by other nations. It is freedom that makes it possible for them to bring creative ideas to market - more than any other country.

Now, after all of these years of unequaled economic success, that incredible economic system is under attack. There are those whose desire for power is so great, they would destroy that system - the very basis for America's success and uniqueness.

In this coming election, it appears that in one voting cycle, we could lose America's entire successful record. We could go from free market capitalism to the proven failure called socialism.

The founding fathers will see their beautiful America lose its most valuable asset. Those men willingly risked their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to establish this most beneficent of nations. So many of those who followed have given their lives in the many efforts to keep our nation free and prosperous. They were also fighting to keep this nation free of foreign ideologies like fascism and socialism.

It seems that many people don't see the threat to our economic system. I've heard recent graduates saying that socialism is a better idea. They don't realize that it is the antithesis of a free economy and society. I don't know if this represents a majority opinion or where this nation's voters are centered, but I'm sure of what I think. After 239 successful and unsurpassed years, I can't stand by and watch our country turned into just another European-style socialist nation. 

The oath I once took is still in play - to defend and protect this nation, its flag and its Constitution from all enemies, foreign or domestic.

I've watched as the very foundation of this nation has been removed stone by stone. Despite our guaranteed rights, the very mention of God in our schools and our daily lives has been lost; Our flag is not enjoying its well-earned respect and is no longer considered the sacred symbol of America; Our brave military is scorned and accused; and most threatening of all, the Constitution itself is in the process of being disregarded and discarded.

All of this has been happening at the same time that our country is being threatened by enemies who seek our destruction. With "useful idiots" around the world to help them, a weakened America will be an easy conquest for those enemies. And yet, there are those who won't acknowledge this threat. Blinded by apathy, they don't read, they don't hear and they choose not to recall that we have been attacked and that thousands of innocent Americans were murdered by these fanatics. 

Voting has always been a private matter and the opportunity to pick the leaders who will lead us. However, this time, voting will determine a much more important outcome. Will we preserve the country we have always been, the nation we love, or will we watch it torn further away from it's proud history? 

It's not only about which party, or which candidate this time - it's about protecting our nation's original values and saving America the beautiful. Dear God, before they vote, please help the American people to see and understand what is really at stake in that voting booth.

                             God bless America

Looking Back

                                              

“In fourteen hundred and ninety two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” That’s the way we school kids would sing and welcome Columbus Day. It always reminds me of a joyful childhood and a proud and happy America. The classroom was a place where it was OK to mention God and where character was built. It is so much fun to look back.

Each morning we would greet our principal and our teacher, as we sang together, “How do you do, Mr. Warshaw, how are you today, we will learn all our lessons, we will show you the way.” We would then recite the Pledge of Allegiance and the 23^rd Psalm. 

What pleasant memories - we were such a wonderful country - we had good teachers, parents who loved us and so many adults to look up to. The policeman on the beat would look out for us just as our parents did. They were our heroes. They portrayed for us, a society that was gentle and law-abiding - a society that we were glad to be a part of.

These past several weeks have shaken me and the comfort I’ve felt in recalling those childhood memories. The American President has announced to the world that America is no more exceptional than any other country and that we are not a Christian nation. The Pledge of Allegiance is now considered propaganda and the reading of the Psalms or praising the Lord in school are now illegal. That’s a lot for us to have lost. In my opinion, it has made our society coarser and less patriotic. And now we are being accused of being a racist nation.

Since the 60’s, this country has spent trillions of dollars and passed a massive number of social programs as recompense to the black community. Programs that include Affirmative Action were actually designed to advance opportunities for a black person in a white society.

So, what has happened in the black community to reverse all of the progress that has been made? Looking back, once again to my childhood, the change has been astonishing. Whites and blacks were kids together in South Philadelphia. We were all in the same classroom where we prayed, pledged and praised the same heroic teachers. We enjoyed the same entertainment and music. Going to Harlem to see the famous musicians was so much fun. It was a time long before “race riots”, “diversity” and “bussing”. The memories of my black playmates are most likely the same as mine - happy ones.

The word “racist” had not yet been used as an epithet. You can bet that there were many other names that us kids called each other, but we didn’t mind. In most areas, where there were many nationalities and races living together, we used many “pet names” and labels to define or demean each other.  It was not a problem and we never fought over it. We were all living the same life experience. Whether you were Polish, African, Irish, Italian or German, the dads all worked to support their families.

When I look back at the photos taken on the streets of Harlem in the 30’s and 40’s, I see well-dressed  classy people. I believe that they were the ones who learned the true lesson of the “American Dream”. We were taught about that dream in school - the dream that anyone can succeed in America if they stayed in school, and became law-abiding and productive citizens.

It took many loyal and brave pioneers to produce that American dream. Over the years there have been many who loved this country enough to defend that dream for all of us. It appears that it is no longer considered a dream in the black community. What is it then, that changed the black community and made them feel that they are being oppressed by “racists”? What is the cause of the illegitimacy rate of 72 percent, a high school dropout rate of over 50 percent, a massive murder rate and ever climbing numbers of blacks being incarcerated? 

Looking back at the troubles that began in the 60’s, I see clear evidence of what has happened. That is when a new variety of  black leader arose. These prominent people began teaching that black people were being held down by white people. They demanded that schools teach “Black Studies” and that they should not be like “whitey”. They proposed “Black Power”. Several very militant groups evolved that are still active to this day. Those leaders were responsible for opening old wounds that had taken years to heal. In so doing, they positioned themselves against the American dream and every other patriotic principle. These leaders continue to escape any scrutiny. A close look would reveal the harm and the many negative contributions they have made to this lingering social problem.

It is my hope that all black individuals who have benefited greatly in this free country will begin to speak out against these charges of racism. This is an historical time in America where a black man has been elected to the presidency. At this point in our history, any charges of racism are simply not plausible. It is a tired, burned out relic of the 60’s. I won’t acknowledge it; I won’t internalize it; I won’t look back.

God bless America

Peace and Pistachio Nuts

Before the Iranian revolution in the 1970's, one of my most enjoyable treats was eating Iranian pistachio nuts. They are the best in the world. Well, it looked like it was going to be a long time before I got to taste them again. 

The current confrontation with Iran will not be easy but it gives me hope that there is a chance to have both peace and pistachios again.

The ordinary people of Iran, like all humans, will always prefer to live a peaceful existence. These people must lead the way to save themselves from an inevitable war and the destruction of their country. By allowing this to happen, the Iranian people will have only themselves to blame.

People who live in nations that have bad leaders are always helpless in times of war. If their country's regime is hell-bent on the destruction of another nation, it creates the need for intervention by those nations that feel threatened. Strong and peaceful nations like Israel and the USA will, once again, have to consider doing the work of freeing a country's ordinary people from tyrants and bullies.

The Iranian people are some of the world's best educated, hard-working, and peaceful people. If they don't free themselves from their radical political and religious leaders, they will be the ones who will suffer. Just as in previous wars, it will be the ordinary citizens who are killed, not their leaders. In the horrible devastation of the Atom bomb in Japan, it was the families who lost their lives. In Europe, the Germans who loved their country had to watch their families and cities being destroyed while their radical leaders hid away. Protected in their safe havens, they just went on enjoying life while their citizens died.

                       

By tolerating radical leaders the people place themselves in danger. Obsessed despots and religious zealots always want to fight wars to destroy those who believe differently. 

I am hopeful that the Iranian people will think and act appropriately in these difficult days ahead. I pray that they will choose a more peaceful and sensible ideology and direction. If they choose to keep the religious extremists in power, their future will hold much suffering. Soon, the free nations of the world, who are 
threatened by the Iranian leaders, must do what all frightened people end up doing. They will have to strike out, and it is the people of that fine country who will see the fires, the blood, and the destruction.

The choice for the Iranian people seems very clear. Change to a peaceful regime or face the destruction that is surely heading your way. If that happens, it's goodbye to both peace and the pistachio nuts!