"You are walking on the fighting side of me"

"I hear people talkin' bad about the way we have to live here in this country...when they're runnin' down my country, man, they're walkin' on the fightin' side of me," - Merle Haggard.

I have had enough and you should have as well. I am sick (and tired obviously) of seeing people run our country down. I am sick (and again tired) of seeing people trying to burn our country down through protest and most of all, I am sick of people thinking that we should apologize for being American. Haggard had it right, "If you don't love it, leave it". That includes all those childish, ignorant, privileged sweetheart Marxist faculty members that I had to endure in graduate school and all those talking head idiots of mainstream television!

America is a glorious miracle in the history of mankind. We are not perfect because we are comprised of humans, but we nonetheless are a glorious miracle. So listen up!

America is an idea, a set of principles - the dream held by all slaves, oppressed, poor, abused and vagabonds of the entire world, for all time.

America's future is full of endless possibilities. America is not a loser - she is a winner. Our future is full of hope, success, happiness, achievement and the potential to be a great blessing to the entire world around us.

We truly can accomplish anything that we set your mind to, as long as we are willing to work hard enough and long enough for it and not give up. Nothing is impossible for America!

Why? Because God made us for a purpose and no one else can do America like we can. Likewise, we cannot be a good Europe or even a good Canada, so we must stop trying. God looked out and saw the need for America. He then brought it into existence and equipped us to be that which the world needs. And trust me, He liked what He made. We are not supposed to be like others, we are supposed to add to the world by showing the world the greatness that is within us. We can accomplish what no one else can, because of what we are, what we believe and what we have been through. Also, because of our giftings, talents and blessings.

In our hands alone, are the potential for good or bad. It is all entirely up to us. So, we must not allow ourselves to get stuck in the mistakes of the past. We simply must learn from them, dust ourselves off and become better day-by-day until eventually - we emerge as a true wonder.

Despite how truly special we are, we must never forget that we are not alone in this world. We need others and others need us. So we must get along, be nice, help others and stay humble. If we do, then God will once again lift us up.

Not only has God protected us, but He has also provided for us bountifully. It is He that gives the ability to acquire wealth. It is His promise to bless those that love Him and keep His commandments. He even gives a special blessing to all that bless Israel and prays for the peace of Jerusalem. So we must not forget them.

We are NOT what our enemies try to label us as. We are only limited by what we believe limits us. When others label us, they are trying to limit us and hold us back...either that or they have no vision of who we are. Either way, we must resist it. We must continually remind ourselves of the greatness within us.

We must never forget the poor and weak, for it is only by His grace that we are not. And in those times when we think we are, we must consider those that are more so. Therefore we must always be generous. We will always reap what we sow, so we must sow generously of the good things and refuse to plant evil seeds.

We are to be an example to the world by exemplifying those characteristics and ideals that are good and right. Might does not make right, right makes right. Therefore, around the globe, we need to follow the golden rule. Not the one where he with all the gold makes the rules. That is really a lie. The golden rule is to treat others as we would have them to treat us.

Our word must always be good, standing on the side of truth and right and freedom and never lie to the world.

Now I understand how the world works and I know that there will be times that we are so focused on trying to "win" or trying to keep ourselves safe or even trying to get rich, that we become tunnel-visioned and are tempted to take shortcuts. But we must NEVER, even for a moment, lose our national soul trying to achieve those goals. It is only in those tough times that our real character can shine and our example is seen. It is by our example that others catch the vision of what freedom and liberty can bring them.

I believe in America. I am proud of America. She has been a blessing to the world and will continue to be because she is still made of wonderful stuff. You should believe it too!

thenry@blythevillecourier.com