Recruiting Patriots

democracyI had this great intention of posting about patriotism today. And after writing for way too long, it’s just not coming together. I am frustrated with the politics of this country and there is no politically correct way to say that. There are many things about this country that I treasure, but it has its share of problems too.

In regards to Presidents Day, I have the utmost respect for the office of the President. It is no easy job, that’s for sure. If you compare before and after presidency pictures, you certainly never see any of them look younger afterwards. Nevertheless, these men (and maybe someday women) take on this role for the people of this country. Regardless of political affiliation, I’ve got to believe they think that they are acting in the people’s best interest with the decisions they make. When I think of the history behind how this country was founded, it is exhilarating to imagine the Framers coming together to really map out what would make the United States of America a strong, prosperous, remarkable country to live in. Their wisdom has successfully lead us through the centuries.

But the present condition of our government concerns me. There is no doubt that this country is not as strong and great as our forefathers envisioned. As hard as our brave military works to protect us, I think our leaders have gotten soft. I think they have forgotten the “little people” they work for because of the lobbyists they’ve let govern their votes. We have dozens of “great-in-theory” programs in place with no money to pay for them. Our politicians have admitted (among other things) to passing bills they haven’t read. We have a president threatening to work without Congress, to do as he pleases. I realize there are two sides to each story, however none of this can be sustained and still keep a rock solid America alive.

These problems aren’t about who supports (or opposes) gun control, marijuana legalization, or gay marriage. It’s about the foundation of our country, our freedom, being at risk and I feel like we all are just watching it happen.

To be perfectly honest, I used to be much better at keeping up on my government’s daily happenings. But lately, I have consciously chosen not to. I could blame it on being busy, but frankly I have my head in the sand because if I think about the state of our country for too long, it gives me a stomachache.

I think the people’s lack of awareness and/or complacency about politics is at the root of the problem. Folks pick up the clips heard on the news, regardless if they are left or right leaning, and then run with them; without anymore support to back them up. We can’t watch an hour of Bill O’Reilly or Bill Maher and consider ourselves informed. Nor can we continue to vote for someone because of the “D” or “R” beside their name- we need to know more about what they are really going to do if we give them the privilege of serving us, the citizens of the United States. I think we have forgotten that we have a voice.

At the end of the day, there is nowhere I would rather call home. But beyond the issues, the left and the right (or somewhere in between), we need to take pride in being Americans first. We have an amazing story of hard workers, loyal patriots, and the capability to be the best. I just pray we can find a way to draw on the ambition of our founders, rise up against the corruptions, and keep our story one we remain proud of.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.balancingthebusy.com/recruitingpatriots/

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.