Unfurl Old Glory - America Is Coming Back!!

I have faith in us – the American people. We have grit, determination, heart and BALLS. We have come through times that have tested our souls – and we WILL come through these times. We always do. It’s who we are and it’s what we do… down to our souls.

We were built by a revolution, we were baptized by fire through many wars, we were tested as a country in our own Civil War, we have suffered recessions and depressions, we have felt the sting of humiliation of scandals and we had our leaders who were great disappointments. Every time we felt the sting of adversity we did a gut check, hoisted our flag, stiffened our backs and found in us the belief in what we know is RIGHT about our country. We did what Americans have always done – we set our eyes on the horizon and marched on.

When I think about what we’re going through right now I see the Americans I know… the ones coming out of the dust of the fallen World Trade Centers looking like walking ghosts. They were the huddled masses trying to find their way home. Scared, uncertain, unaware of what they were standing in the middle of, not knowing what happened to them, looking for help from anyone who could get them out of there.

Then there were those running INTO the dust. Those running to try to save those they could, trying to make a difference, trying to bring out the wounded and get to those who were trapped. They were running into the dust knowing one of the buildings had already collapsed, heading into a danger most others would run away from, a special breed that IS the American Hero. And that HERO is in most of us. It’s there when we call on it – when we need it.

We are seeing the American Hero start to emerge again as the grass roots of our nation starts to rear its head and take on the government in Washington. These are Historic times that will be written about and studied by scholars as yet unborn in the generations to come. Most of us do not take the time to weigh our position and see that we are facing another of those ‘times that tests men’s souls,’ but this is every bit of that. We have a new challenge that is bringing out the American Heroes all across the country and we are standing up together en mass to protest the loss of our strength and the mortgaging of our future. Even in the face of being attacked by our own press and the sitting administration, Americans are standing up and fighting back. Almost 200,000 people took to the streets on April 15, 2009. On September 12th ten times that many showed up in Washington to send the message to the government that they are on notice. Become responsible or become history.

Americans are starting to look at their government in a new way. We see it as an investment rather than as a bottomless money pit. We expect those we elect to take care of our money as much as we would expect a company to protect our investment. It’s OUR money, not the government’s and we expect prudent fiscal responsibility and not vote buying to keep OUR representatives in office. They need to do good things OTHER THAN SPEND OUR MONEY UNWISELY to get our votes. The United States government is not a charity nor is it a candy store. We expect our money to be handled responsibly. Many in Washington are going to find out the hard way we are NOT happy with what they’re doing.

There is an understanding that runs through all of us who are getting involved that we are facing a new kind of challenge – one that is coming from inside the country and it is every bit as dangerous to our way of life as the attack that brought down the World Trade Centers. “Feel Good Politics” no longer are winning debates any more than shouting us down or calling us names. Logic, fiscal responsibility and holding government accountable are taking over.

So, once again, it is time to unfurl the Old Glory and march out to defeat the new challenge – as we have always done and always will do.