Category: Inspiring

We Can Learn to Hate: Retribution is at Hand

I strive to maintain a comprehensive perspective on the events that have unfolded in my life. This approach allows me to think more clearly and consider different points of view, even when they directly oppose my own. Surprisingly, I have often found similarities amidst divergent opinions. I believe I possess a good heart, soul, and mind, characterized by a fascinating blend of qualities. However, even the most virtuous individuals have a breaking point where they must stand up and fight for their convictions.

Now is the time to confront reality. I once believed that no one could harbor as much hatred as you do. I held on to the hope that there was some underlying sense of understanding, acknowledgement, empathy, civility, and acceptance within you. Unfortunately, I was blinded by the notion that you were genuinely a good person and that your actions were mere political posturing. But do we truly pose such a significant threat to you that you resort to violence against those you fail to comprehend?

When you initially began shouting words, I attempted to help you, only to be met with deaf ears. I continued to offer assistance when you directed your shouts towards those who embrace acceptance. As you emerged onto the streets, employing intimidation tactics, I maintained hope. However, it was when you initiated campaigns of aggression against businesses and personally attacked me that I realized you would never change.

Your heart is consumed by hatred, and your sense of compassion has been clouded. The tipping point for me was the outbreak of physical violence. I decided enough was enough. I concluded that you are incapable of harboring any semblance of affection for others, and I pity you. Feeling unsafe as you unleashed physical violence upon us, I refuse to allow anyone to infringe upon my rights through threats, and I will not idly witness such transgressions.

I sincerely hope that one day the tables turn against you. I will find satisfaction in watching as you endure physical, mental, and financial torment, as well as discrimination that makes your life unbearable. It seems you deserve such consequences. I used to believe that everyone possessed at least one redeeming quality, but you have proven me and society wrong.

You are the one who should face the consequences, dangling from a tree, your body left to decompose, serving as a warning to all. You should be the one subjected to such severe beatings that your visage becomes unrecognizable, tied up on a desolate fence. You should be abandoned on the streets, forced to beg for mercy. I wish someone would come and pummel you senseless because it brings me joy. You should live a life in which your name is never spoken, as if you never existed.

And when you depart from this world, your name will fade into oblivion, erased from the collective memory. Life will move on without you, for your existence was devoid of meaning. You will be forgotten by history, not even worthy of a footnote.

While I may not initiate conflicts, I certainly know how to bring them to a decisive end.

Therefore, do not judge me based on your perceptions, but rather evaluate me for the content of my character and my actions.

FOR I AM A DEMOCRAT, I AM A MAN, I AM OLD, I AM WHITE, I AM GAY, AND YES, I AM AN AMERICAN."

Flag Day: The History Of The Flag

Flag Day is celebrated on June 14th every year. The day commemorates the adoption of the American flag by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. The flag, often referred to as the “Stars and Stripes,” represents the unity, history, and ideals of the United States.

On Flag Day, Americans show their patriotism by displaying the flag at homes, schools, government buildings, and other public spaces. Many communities hold parades, ceremonies, and other events to honor the flag and reflect on its significance. It is also common for people to wear clothing or accessories featuring the flag’s design as a symbol of national pride.

Flag day is not a federal holiday in the United States, meaning that businesses and schools remain open. However, it is recognized as an important observance, and many schools teach students about the history and symbolism of the American flag during this time.

It is worth noting that Flag Day in the United States is distinct from Independence Day, which is celebrated on July 4th and commemorates the nation’s declaration of independence from Great Britain in 1775.

The current national flag is the twenty-seventh version of the national flag. When the Thirteen Colonies were seceding from the British, there became a necessity for a flag to symbolize the patriot cause and rally individuals for the Revolution.

On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed the first Flag Resolution. This resolution officially adopted the “Stars and Stripes” as the national flag and states:

Resolved That the Flag of the United States be thirteen stripes alternate red and white, that the Union be thirteen stars in a blue field representing a new constellation.

June 14th is celebrated as Flag Day because of this resolution. On 1782 Charles Thompson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, consolidated the designs and work from the three committees tasked with creating a National Seal. No original design from Thompson exists depicting this consolidated seal, but he wrote a detailed summary including the meaning behind the colors of the United States. He stated:

The colors of the pales (the vertical stripes) are those used in the flag of the United States of America; White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness and Valour, and Blue, the color of the Chief (the broad band above the stripes) signifies vigilance, perseverance, and Justice.

In 1794, a second Flag Act was signed. In this resolution, two new stars and two more stripes were added to the design, which symbolized the addition of Vermont and Kentucky into the Union. When the third version of the Flag Act was adopted in 1818 when five more states were added to the Union. In addition, this act reduced the number of stripes from fifteen to thirteen. It also designated that for every new state added to the Union, one more star will be added to the flag.

Today the flag consists of fifty stars, thirteen red and white stripes.

 

Today’s History

As history unfolds, the perspectives of future generations may differ greatly from our own. Imagine a world where the absence of sorrow equates to a lack of understanding the significance of forging a free society. It would be akin to regarding the grand tales of our past—replete with kings, queens, knights, damsels in distress, and towering castles—as mere works of fiction. Will they perceive our present endeavors as fiction as well? Will they read about the destruction of our towering pyramids (symbolizing the World Trade Center) and contemplate how a mere vehicle brought them down, reminiscent of Joshua and the walls of Jericho?

They will encounter narratives of hatred, fear, and deception as they delve into the accounts of the Middle East and the attack on America. Our world is plagued by evil, and Americans have found themselves on the receiving end of this malevolence. Since September 11, 2001, we have lived in constant fear, grappling with a vulnerability unprecedented in our history. The lies perpetrated by our adversaries are akin to tales of a thief in the night, leaving us uncertain of when, where, why, or how they will strike.

Dictators across the globe embody a visionary blindness that remains hidden from the rest of the world. We only truly began to comprehend the inner workings of China in the 1970s. Its citizens yearn for freedom and a visionary existence, yet they remain blinded by the grip of communism. Even a blind man possesses a vision of what life could be, despite his lack of sight. Though the Chinese may be shrouded in darkness, they retain an innate understanding of life and the yearning for liberty. To the external world, the Chinese always maintain a composed facade. Their dominance stems from the fact that nobody else can fully experience, relish, or participate in the liberties of freedom that the rest of us often take for granted. Behind their seemingly expressionless faces lies a population crying out, bereft of someone to assuage their tears. Throughout the years, their countenances have become etched with the tears of oppression. The fear of the unknown is comparable to the sensation of being watched by an unseen observer, engendering a disconcerting feeling. Like a silent symphony, the music plays on, but we are deaf to its harmonies. We can merely perceive a faint whisper of the melody beneath the cacophony of screams that reverberate through the night.

In today’s world, the most perilous and widespread fear manifests as the refugee crisis. In Africa, the Hutus find themselves displaced due to the animosity of the Tutsis, wandering aimlessly without a place to call home. In the Middle East, the Palestinians have been uprooted from their land and confined to refugee camps, losing everything they once possessed. Bombs relentlessly rain down upon them as they struggle to survive on narrow strips of territory, and when the day concludes, they are left with nothing. Even if a peace agreement were to materialize, they would forever remain lost, bereft of a place to return to. The Israelis refuse to accept them on the land they have taken, while many Arab states are unwilling to offer them sanctuary, fearing for their own safety and stability.

We still have a final opportunity to sow the seeds of a life that will resonate in the distant future. Americans possess a unique chance to alter the world’s perception by showcasing our true character. We must demonstrate to the world that we will confront and eliminate the fears, animosity, and falsehoods that plague our global community, relinquishing any trace of arrogance.

America In All Her Glory

There use to be a time when Americans were so united. They didn’t resemble one another even if you paint them! They spoke all the languages in the world and formed an astonishing mixture of civilizations. Some of them were from nearly extinct civilizations, others were incompatible with one another, an in matters of religion, not even God could count how many there were.

 This display was shown on September 11, 2001, when millions of Americans put their hand on their heart and said the Pledge of Allegiance. There were flags flown that day across the country, on buildings and cars as if in every place was a 4th of July celebration. It was a time when singing “the Star-Spangled Banner” was patriotic and everyone stood up to sing along with others, even when stumbling over the words, it was a great and unmistakable way to show how proud you were of the United States. It was a time when singing “God Bless America” all over the country didn’t sound croaky, silly, or ostentatious! It made other countries green with envy because they weren’t able to sing for their country without running the risk of being suspected of who-know-what is in your own interest. It made me wonder how on earth can millions of people from millions of backgrounds find such a common place and can unite in such a way that defines all odds. I tried to think of the answer, was it the land? Money? History? I tried to find an answer in the songs they sing, in words they speak, until I reached only one conclusion.

 Only freedom can work such miracles. And its freedom in every sense of the word that we hold together this great nation that no one can ever take away. That is the one thing that unites us under a constitution that here in America, everyone is equal. They have freedom to speak, the right to peaceful assembly, petition our government, to travel without restrictions, the right to marry whoever we love, and the right to control your own fate and body. These are fundamental rights that no one can take away.

 We need to bring back a renewed spirit of togetherness. Amid all the divisiveness we are experiencing we need to stand up with even a louder chorus of determination, and pledge to stand together in moments of uncertainty. National character is an elusive and suspect notion, but Americans at the most time carefree, pleasure seeking and willfully independent have a way of rallying in the face of social and political injustice that is sweeping our nation.

 We have faced the world as one nation through many experiences and tragedy. Pearl Harbor, the Kennedy assassination, Oklahoma City, 9-11, WWI and WWII, are just a few examples of how this nation came together, not in numb paralysis, but in fierce resolve. It’s the kind of strength that America is all about. When this spirit of America spreads across the country, it brings a spirit of solidarity from countries around the World. Americans coming together is the key to make America Great again. We are that shiny beacon that the entire world sees and the best hope for civility and freedom for them to strive for. We will be a richer and stronger nation, when we have country after country stand together with America.

America has always risen to the challenge when faced against all odds, and when provoked, we will do what we must do to see America great again. So, lets stand with out brothers and sister, united in our cause, and stand up against tyranny like our forefathers before us and show the World that we are America, braver and still free.  It won’t be easy, fast, or simple, but that is not our American heritage. For I am and we are American.

American Democracy

The American democracy is, in every sense of the word, the greatest and finest in the world, and we enjoy freedom in all aspects of life. What began as an experiment over 240 years ago has evolved into a shining example of what civilized societies can accomplish. It is unlikely that anything better will ever emerge.

People from the South, North, East, and West come to America because of who we are, and they have learned to adapt to the unique characteristics that define this country. America is made up of individuals from diverse races, religions, and ethnicities, just like a fine battle sword made from the blending of different metals and materials. Our strength as Americans is derived from our ability to blend and embrace our diversity, similar to the metal in a battle sword.

As a result of this blending, we have banded together to rise above prejudice and hatred. I urge my fellow citizens, wherever they may be, to join in a heroic spirit and fight to preserve our democracy.

Like a fine battle sword emerging from the furnace, we will emerge stronger and unbreakable, determined to make our American heritage more secure in our democracy.

For we are all Americans.