America's a losing time piece
literally and figuratively
I’ve heard it said: Time heals all wounds. Sadly, I don’t believe there is any truth to the phrase, but time can lessen the severity of pain. Time also allows a perspective of change, the heart to alter its course, or the forgetting of events. So, in that vein, there was a time when I believed the draft dodger was anti-American: a national blight, while those who went to Vietnam, I placed on a pedestal (still do). And those who ran to Canada … well, let’s just say no kind words could be spoken. But time! Now, there is a Bible verse: There is no remembrance of men of old, and those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow (Ecclesiastes 1:11). And this morning marks four days plus eighty years since D-Day.
Now, on that specific day, four thousand plus men surrendered their lives for a cause. But one should really ask: Whose cause? Because when one enlists in the military, they swear an oath to protect and defend the Constitution, not the political whims of a party. So, I ask: For what did they die? And as I look about the country today: What was the point of their sacrifice? Or is the Bible verse completely apropos. Because IF one can, set aside their party bullshit of Democrat/Republican and the fallacy of nation and ask: Were their lives worth the cost? Four thousand plus! Then ask: How many of those who died that specific day were twenty years old or younger?
Then consider: WWII ended in 1945 and by 1965, France had kicked America out, even after America rebuilt the country, begging: Should America have been there in the first place? Should the country still be in Europe? But again, look at our government today and ask: Were any of the lives worth the cost? Or those from any conflict our government has injected the nation’s youth into to die for another’s profit. Pile on Vietnam, WWI, Spanish American War, Korea, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Then consider the following: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one Nation under God, indivisible …
There are moments in history when one should put aside their political compass, look around, and take in the climate facing the nation. The verse: If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand (Matthew 3:24), being America today. So much, our nation truly stands at a critical juncture, its future. The country, intentionally divided through politics, both parties politically motivated to remake or construct a new order, the anthesis of design. Truth discarded by those who had no part in its building but prevaricated the purpose to tear the system apart. A sad testament to the nation. A multi-faceted problem, worsened by those who’ve sworn to uphold and protect while they denigrate and destroy.
So, as I look around and someone asks if America is great, but has no idea of the past, both good and bad, or a comedian denigrates the greatness of America, and his audience gives him a standing ovation, I’m perplexed. Why would any citizen of any nation not believe their country is great? Their leadership might be questionable, even morally bankrupt: But their country? Think about those who died defending what they believed – for others to dismiss, or laugh at?
Say their country is the longest running uninterrupted constitutional government in the history of the world. Wouldn’t that point alone make their country great? Being American, I would think so. But, if I wavered, I’d want to ask anyone involved in British America becoming the United States of America. Those who fought and gave us - their posterity - their lives. They stood against countrymen unwilling to stand against an oppressive king, those too cowardly, and fought. Think of Nathan Hale: I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country. He was twenty-one when he supposedly spoke those immortal words on 22 September 1776 before hanging, sacrificing his life for our yet to be formed country. His freedom dream!
Then during the Civil War, when the country tried to tear itself apart, I’d ask those who sacrificed their lives trying to hold the nation together how they felt. My thoughts would be if the nation wasn’t great, why not just split the country up? The same thought when the Articles of Confederation failed; break the country into smaller confederacies. Then, two factions argued: Federalist/Anti-Federalist. Think about which side believed more in those who’d already paid the asking price. During the Civil War, Lincoln, amongst others, felt differently. He, along with hundreds of thousands paid with their lives to keep the nation whole.
Moving further into the future, I’d like to visit Winston Churchill. He pushed FDR to involve the nation in WWII because he believed the Allies could not win unless the greatness of America partook. In that vein, I’d like to ask any liberated country, or the survivors of the German concentration camps, liberated by American servicemen, if they thought America was great. Except, I’d also ask every participant then to look forward at our country today and if possible, include those who perished on D-Day or any other day the battles were fought: Is America still great? Was sacrificial life worth the cost? But ask yourself: If they could see today what we’ve done or allowed to be done in those eighty years, would they still feel the same?
If possible, I’d ask Grissom, Chaffee, and White if America is great. The three Apollo astronauts who burned alive from inside their lungs out while sitting inside a capsule, unable to get out. They sacrificed life hoping to do what no other country has done – put a man on the moon. In haste, the government sacrificed them for speed over safety: expendables. Three men, forgotten by a country desirous to change itself into a design it was never meant to be.
I’d ask every Vietnam vet who returned to shouts of baby killer, murderer, and being spit on, or shown the bird by fellow citizens if they feel their country is great. Most being drafted, the average age of those killed-in-action: twenty-two. In all, fifty-six thousand plus paid with their lives. Although, those who survived suffered the indignities of hate their government provoked. Worse, the foreign government who believed America had their back suffered the humiliation of our government’s abandonment. Vietnam today being communist, legislators’ wealth having been more important than integrity. But our government is not the Constitution, the foundation thereof of what should be the impediment to the government.
Then I’d ask every Vietnam draft dodger who was given a free pass and returned home to hugs and kisses, while their brothers in arms went to a war their President forced, yet didn’t return, or came home in a box, their view. Although today, of those who did draft dodge, I wonder … do they now vote for the party that put the nation into a conflict it wasn’t willing to win, and they ran from. Their desire to run then, possibly imposing a death sentence on youth today by a desire to believe the fallacy of party.
As well, I’d like to ask any immigrant who is vying to get into the country, legally, or illegally, if they think America is great. If not, why come? Or those already here, or who’ve snuck in, looking for handouts. Is it just for the money? Because those paying taxes must dig even deeper, sacrificing even more because of our fellow citizens who just don’t give a tinker’s damn about country. But I wouldn’t stop there?
I’d study the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights to understand America’s greatness and where problems emanate. Then, if things were still obfuscated, I’d read the Federalist papers, and the constitutional debates, while studying history. I’d want to know what else made America great, including who is at fault for her mistakes. Afterwards, if the answers were not blatantly obvious, I’d look inside my heart, knowing after every avenue travelled, citizens make the nation great. Those who give instead of take, see a problem and make the change, see a need and provide solutions, produce instead of looking for government to provide.
Although, one question poses: Is America perfect? No! And not because of the Constitution, the foundation, or its history, but man himself. His pride, his moral compass – too much thereof, or the complete lacking thereof. While the Framer’s devised the greatest government ever, not putting heads and hearts together in action created the disconnects the nation faces today.
To close, I was raised believing America is great, a bastion of freedom. The flag the symbol of that freedom. Except, the flag has become a symbol of oppression. My brain, unable to put the pieces together. So, with national turmoil erupting, and the drumbeat today of democracy being threatened, and the majority blinded by party politics, one question begs: Can I be a Nathan Hale? Because before long, the nation will be full circle back to its beginning, especially if political intent outweighs constitutional design. I do wonder though, why have those in power forgotten; with liberty and justice for all. Now, I used to hold the draft dodgers in contempt. But perspectives change, while time doesn’t, nor does it heal all wounds.