‘‘Twas the Night Before Christmas!

Yesterday I was out doing some last minute shopping. I try and support local businesses, small family run shops and stores. The first stop was full, people everywhere in this small store. Awesome people and customers everyone seemed happy. My final stops were to a local chain stores. While the times are difficult for everyone, I witnessed people struggling to get the necessities of life. Not a person but people. In this country, all the talk and rhetoric about the non citizen, and the needs of the immigrants, I witnessed hard working Americans struggling to buy food and a small gift for a loved one. These are farmers, construction workers, young and old, struggling to do what I take for granted. I know some of these people, I had no idea that they where struggling. We as a Nation of Free People must stand and restore the ability of these people to survive. We must end all foreign aid, all illegal immigration and start caring about our own people. These are the backbone of the American economy. The workers who provide food and services. The small farmer living on family ground trying to earn a living. Why must we allow others who contribute nothing to prosper, while our own citizens suffer. As we gather tonight and tomorrow with friends and families, remember that outside your door, strangers are celebrating with nothing. Reflect on your abundance, or sustenance, and fight for what is left of our Republic. Share what you can but stand and fight for our neighbors as they struggle with the inflation and overwhelming cost of daily living. ‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house we look at our gifts, not our neighbors without!

Wind in the Trees

Winter has arrived in the South. A large storm is approaching, cold temps, wind and maybe some snow. As sip my coffee overlooking the woods, bare and exposed in its winter dress, the wind rips through the naked limbs. The sound of wind through the trees, the breathe of a cold winters day is a sound of relaxation. A cold wind rejuvenating the land in preparation for hard cold night. I have always enjoyed the outdoors and all of its extremes, cold,snow, hurricane. The wind however is an experience of tranquility, stress and fear blown away by the sound of the rustling wood. The sounds of man driven away by a strong wind, filling the woods with the moans and creeks of twisting trees. Nature has a way of cleansing both itself and your soul. Enjoy the wind, listen for the sounds, find peace in the tumultuous sound of the woods.

Sacrifice

This time of night on July 3, 1776 the founders of this country were preparing to sign away their fortune, property, and possibly their lives. What thoughts must of entered into their minds. Long suffering under an oppressive and overreaching ruler, out of touch with the people he subjugated. Knowing that at that time the common man would bear the full weight of their decision. How much doubt crossed their minds? If this happened today, and we were to rely on the learned men to stand and produce a document that would spark a revolution, what would we get? Nothing, we would get nothing. It is one thing to say but another to do. While rhetoric can enflame a crowd to a fevered pitch, creating and signing a Declaration of that rhetoric today would be to much truth for the modern man to bear. These men of learning, virtue and philosophy. The men of business, banking and trade. All made a decision to produce a Declaration that would ensure the Freedom of every American. These men stood firm on their principles and will of the people they represented. They understood the sacrifice that all would bear; especially them as the writers and signatories of such a treasonous document if this endeavor failed. Yet on July 4, 1776 these men willingly signed away their interest and fortunes to establish this great beacon of freedom and hope. Knowing the sacrifices of these men and all who fought to establish this Nation, how do we sleep at night knowing that all of these trials and tribulations were for naught? We should all demonstrate the resolve and fearlessness of our founders. Instead we hide in the shadows and cower in fear of a Government that no longer is ruled by us. We each should learn of the fates of these men and show through diligent civics that we are a free and independent nation of free and independent citizens! God Bless America!