The Gettysburg Address, 2013 Version

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.  

(These are the words delivered by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 at the Gettysburg Battle Ground paying tribute to those who had died there. Lincoln was referring to our founding fathers who founded this nation in 1776 (Four score 7 years before 1863). It has now been eleven score one decade and seven years that this great land became a nation.)

The direction this nation has been moving the last few decades makes me wonder if we are about to become engaged in a great civil war, testing whether this nation, so conceived and dedicated, can long endure. We could very well meet on a great battle-field to determine if we are able to keep our freedoms that were so bravely fought for in 1776. 

A Nation dedicated to the peace of the world fought in many more wars. The war of 1812 (which few if any remember), the civil war in 1861, the battle of San Juan Hill in 1891, World War I in which started in 1914 and ended in 1918, World War II from 1938 until 1945. Since then we have fought in Korea, Vietnam, Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Up until the end of World War II we fought not only for our freedom but for the freedom of others. In World War II we defended the Netherlands, Belgium, England, France, Algiers, and the desert of North Africa from German invasion for their natural resources. We also defended hundreds Pacific islands including Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii and far too many to name in this short writing from Japanese aggression.

The freedom of the world has long been placed in the hands of the United States of America and in the past our citizens have fought bravely for God, country and freedom. But we have now reached a point of selfishness and greed that seems to have quieted our desire for the liberty of others.

As other nations lose their God given freedom and liberty, so will we. Eventually we will find ourselves wanting to regain what we have selfishly given away because of our lack of interest in our Constitution and what our country was founded for. We have taken for granted that things will only get better while we do nothing to insure it. All we have to do is vote for politicians who promise to do their best to keep our Nation strong. It is obvious to anyone who is paying attention to the economy, the uncontrolled growth of the government and the social programs which are rampant that this once great nation is in dire distress.

There are many of us who feel that way who are now being called radicals and terrorists. We have reached the point where there are people desirous of removing God from the Pledge of Allegiance are the radicals and terrorists.

Yes, there are terrorists in the United States and you can readily identify them. They are wanting to change our laws to coincide with their radical laws which, in our minds, we find abhorrent. But it is not politically correct to call them by their name nor mention their political affiliation. Let's just call them progressives.

In my humble opinion there will come a day when we will have to dedicate a portion of some great battlefield, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that this nation might be saved from the progressive ruination. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. Let me now finish with the last paragraph of the Gettysburg Address which I think is totally fitting.

“But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground or any other ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will long remember what we say here, but it will never forget what they do here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Freedom Isn't Free...You Have To Work At It

As I observe the events occurring in our nation and around the world, I cannot help but to worry that something is very much amiss. I’ve lived long enough to have seen times when doors were seldom locked, church bells rang on Sunday morning, people watched out for each other’s children, children were taught to respect their elders, teachers read scripture and had morning prayer in classrooms, and the pledge of allegiance was recited by students with hand over heart, including the words Under God. I was witness to a nation, whose citizens sacrificed their time, money, sons and daughters to a world war on foreign soil for the freedom that united we stand, stands for. Again I saw men and women go, not to war but a “police action”, to save the small country of South Korea from the threat of communist North Korea. Thousands gave the last full measure of their life to this cause. President Kennedy gave us reason to be proud when he faced down Castro and Kruschev during the Cuban missile crisis. 

Then came, possibly our histories most unpopular conflict, Vietnam. France had already been there and was soundly defeated, so the USA decided to take up the task. At first, we were only going in as advisors to the South Vietnam military. Nevertheless, things kept escalating. For some unknown reason, our political leaders were afraid to win this “conflict” because it might offend our other enemies, namely the USSR. If memory serves me correctly, they were afraid that it might escalate into a nuclear conflict. Our returning soldiers, who had endured the “don’t fire unless fired upon” rule and clawed their way through mud and jungle and survived, were jeered and spat upon as they disembarked their ships. They were exhausted and demoralized from having lost, and yet they were treated like the “bad guy” when they finally made it safely back to the land of the free and the home of the brave. It was a sad thing to see.

The Jane Fonda type “peaceniks” bravely mistreated our returning soldiers with impunity. Only in America could they have gotten away with such atrocious behavior, protected by the same men who were offering their lives for freedom around the world. Only in America are people free to be obnoxious and belligerent as they please.There have been terrorists, both foreign and domestic all the while thinking a bomb placed here or there every now and then to kill a few innocents would make all the difference in the world. What kind of difference do they really want? America is the one nation where every citizen has the freedom to speak his peace, practice his religion, make his life pretty much of what he wants it to be without any interference from anyone. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is guaranteed in the Constitution.

America’s war against terrorism is far from over and yet our citizens tire of it. It is beginning to look like another Vietnam. No real ambition to be winners again. Pogo author, Walt Kelly said it best in 1970 when he wrote: “I have seen the enemy and he is us.” We have no leadership in Washington; congress, the senate, the president, all seem to have their heads in the sand thinking things will eventually get better. Of course, it is not really too bad for them; they all have a job with a good salary and benefits. From the top looking down, it does’t look too bad. While I am not at the bottom, I can see it from where I sit and it looks really bad down there. Moreover, from my point of view looking up, it is beginning to look really bad up there; no one up there seems to be paying attention. Yet it is really the fault of the citizens, us, we the people. We are too busy to pay attention and vote as though our very freedom and liberty depend on it. Yet it really does. Freedom loving Americans should start paying attention to the matters at hand. I hope it is not too late, some people think it is. As one who believes in the Judeo-Christian principles the founding fathers built this nation on, I say that if we citizens cannot rescue America from its perceived destiny, then look to the last verse in the Bible, Revelation 22:20 -- He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.