My Flag

By Ray Rogers

This is my flag, I mean that in the sense that not only is this my flag it is the flag of the greatest country that ever was or ever will be and I'm proud to call it my flag.

Everyone should memorize the preamble to the Constitution.

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

It has been the greatest experiment of all time: a nation where the people govern themselves. Not only was it a success we became the richest nation on the planet with the most powerful military in the world. Where people would come from all over the world to achieve for themselves the American dream. Some countries loved us, others feared and hated us. We were a proud people, we were free.

For years I can remember saying the pledge of allegiance to this flag, not knowing the full extent of why. As I grew older and became more educated I understood more of why I was pledging allegiance to our flag.

This flag represents strength, honor, courage, purity, innocence, perseverance, vigilance, and justice.

To me it's a symbol of freedom and sacrifice. The sacrifice that our forefathers (patriots) made for us.

A patriot is a person who has committed their self to realizing a vision for their country, no mater what it cost them. They would give everything they had for freedom and liberty.

Great patriots like Patrick Henry who said at the end of a very powerful speech "give me liberty or give me death."

Throughout the history of our country there were times when father, son, and brothers fought together side by side for the same cause (freedom). Sometimes seeing one another fall and would still counted all as righteous.

If it weren't for our patriots fighting for freedom around the world tyrants would be able to take a foothold and take over the weapons and forces of our allies and use them against us. This is why we have troops stationed at strategic locations around the globe.

So next time someone refers to our military as war mongers think about the price that was paid by these brave men and women that made it possible for them to have the freedom to speak their mind.

Our flag has changed 26 times throughout our history. Starting out with 13 white 5 pointed stars in a circle on a blue background, with 13 stripes, 7 red and 6 white. Also known as the Betsy Ross flag. Still having the original stripes we now have 50 five pointed stars to represent our 50 states.

These flags have flown over the battlefields of our victories and our defeats. They have flown proudly over our schools, court houses, capitols, fire departments, police departments, and other public buildings. They have draped over the coffins of our fallen soldiers, our presidents, and other of our public servants. For some reason even though I was only 3 years old I can still remember seeing pictures on TV of our flag covering the coffin of President John F Kennedy.

Our flag has been stomped on, spit on, and burned by people who hate us and hold our nation in contempt, all the while being adored by other people because this flag gives them hope.

Here lately I've seen people change our flag to their own version to suit themselves. As for me, I'll stick with a winner. 'Old Glory'. The flag that my great grand father, grand father, and father served in the military under.

I don't understand how anyone that was born in this country could hate it. Do you really believe that you would be better off in another country? We have such a great history. I'm proud of our history, our heritage, and our flag. God bless America once again.

Hate Crime

By Ray Rogers

I’ve heard the term hate crime for years even as far back as the 1990’s. First of all I’m a middle aged white male. I hold all life to be precious regardless of the color of someone’s skin or their sexual preference. I don’t agree with everything that other people say or do, but I believe that we will all stand in judgment for ourselves alone. No one else’s behavior or action is going to give anyone an excuse for what we do in our own lives.

I noticed that when George Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon Martin certain people in the main stream of the media immediately started calling it a “hate crime.” Now I’m not going to get involved in the whole debate whether or not it was self-defense or murder. I just want to talk about the term “hate Crime.” It is my understanding that the hate crime bill was introduced to protect certain ethnic groups.

What I’m wondering is how calling something a “hate crime” is helping anyone. I thought that all innocent people are supposed to be protected by the law no matter what color, religion, or sexual preference they may happen to be. Doesn’t the statue of lady justice have a blindfold on? Why are we trivializing one crime and holding other crimes to be more serious because some form of racism is involved.

How many people were severely beaten, stabbed, or shot, or dragged to death by someone who loved and cared for them? It would seem to me that all crimes of this nature are “hate crimes.” What difference does it make to the victim or the victim’s family if the crime was motivated by this type of hate or the other? Would you refer to the attack on the twin towers a hate crime or a war crime? I’m almost certain that people of the protected classes were in this building.

I think that when we are allowing some crimes to be labeled with the term “hate crime” which is usually done when the news media decides that a particular crime was motivated by racism I think the only thing that is being accomplished is stirring up more hate.

Don’t get me wrong. I know that racism is alive and well, but remember racism comes from all directions. It’s not just white people who can be a racist. I refuse to associate with people who are racist. I learned from that bible that all of men are created in God’s image. So according to God’s word if we choose to hate someone we are the same as a murderer. 

God’s first commandment is for us to love him with all of our heart mind and strength and our neighbor as our selves. Jesus went a little further by saying love one another as I have loved you. Now think about that for a few minutes. He died for us and called us his friends.

WARNING: Don't Tell Your Doctor Anything He Doesn't Need To Know

I had a doctors appointment today, I will not say what doctor and what his specialty was because you can’t have any secrets anymore under this administration. I was somewhat taken aback when the nurse came in with her computer and discussed with me why I was there and what procedure they wanted me to undergo. I don’t know what possessed her to tell me what I had told a different doctor a couple of weeks before when I had a routine checkup and blood and lab work done as a part of my normal semi-annual health care program. But to my dismay, she read things to me that I had told one of my other doctors. 

I could not believe these things were now in my personal medical records for anyone in the medical field and probably DOJ, IRS or NSA to read. Dumb me, thought any discussions with my medical doctor were confidential, not to be released without my permission to anyone. I was informed by the nurse that was no longer the case. The way things were set up now all doctors computers were interfaced with a main-frame system so that each doctor could call up your name, age and SSN and read what you had talked with any other doctor about.

Apparently, under the Obama administration and the possibility of Obama Care becoming factual you really didn't have any secrets from one doctor to another. So from now own I will not talk to any of my medical practitioners about anything except what they are doing to me for whatever ailment I went to them for.

 At my age if have had the same doctors for many years and we often exchange jokes and talk about things that I sometimes I might consider are not necessarily a part of my medical problem. I have one doctor who likes to tell jokes while he is examining me and we often exchange the most recent funny stories we have heard. Quite often we might even discuss personal things around my life style. I thought patient confidentiality was a sacred trust. 

From now on, I plan on not going to a doctor unless it is a dire necessity. I absolutely do not like any kind of public knowledge of what I say to my doctor in passing being recorded on his damn computer, which is main-framed into the rest of the medical network, for the rest of the medical world and others to see at their will. This country is going to hell in a hand basket with this administration’s spying on everyone and I guess, since I’m 76 years old and on Medicare, they would like very much to euthanize me to keep me from going to the doctor and costing them money. My personal doctors require me to visit them every six months and the one I went to today I am supposed to see him once a year. I would like to never go to him again, nor the one before him that put that personal information in his computer. But it is there now and there is no way to get it removed.

We The People

George Washington's Inaugural Address

George Washington's inaugural address in 1784

At his first inauguration, George Washington took the oath of office for the presidency on April 30, 1789. He was standing on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City with his hand on an open Bible.

"Such being the impressions under which I have, in obedience to the public summons, repaired to the present station, it would be peculiarly improper to omit, in this first official act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe, who presides in the councils of nations and whose providential aide can supply every human defect, that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States a Government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes; and may enable every instrument employed in its administration to execute with success, the functions allotted to his charge.

In tendering this homage to the Great Author of every public and private good, I assure myself that it expresses your sentiments not less than my own; nor those of my fellow-citizens at large, less than either. No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States.

Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency; and in the important revolution just accomplished in the system of their United government, the tranquil deliberations and voluntary consent of so many distinct communities, from which the event has resulted can not be compared with the means by which most governments have been established, without some return of pious gratitude, along with an humble anticipation of the future blessings which them past seem to presage.

These reflections, arising out of the present crisis, have forced themselves too strongly on my mind to be suppressed. You will join with me I trust in thinking, that there are none under the influence of which the proceedings of a new and free Government can more auspiciously commence.

We ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained; and since the preservation of sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are justly considered as deeply, perhaps finally, staked of the experiment...

I shall take my present leave; but not without resorting once more to the Benign Parent of the Human Race, in humble supplication that, since He has been pleased to favor the American people with opportunities for deliberating in perfect tranquility, and dispositions for deciding with unparalleled unanimity on a form of government for the security of their union and the advancement of their happiness, so His divine blessings may be equally conspicuous in the enlarged views, the temperate consultations and the wise measures on which the success of this Government must depend."

Freedom Isn't Free, It's a gift from God

When you know the truth, the truth will make you free — John 8:32

Truth is the one thing that is hard to discover and a lot of people are just not interested. If we are the least bit interested in the truth, we listen to news broadcasters each evening or morning. The word of that is that if you are a channel flipper like me you hear different tales about the same news on different news organizations. They just can't seem to come to some agreement as to what the truth is. The maddest I believe I have ever been is when I learned that our politicians do not have to tell the TRUTH while campaigning. Why do we bother listening to campaign speeches or advertisements during elections because they are all LIES designed by people in advertising to make their man look good. I know, I spent 20 years in advertising.

The Mayflower Compact was a document establishing a Christian colony at Plymouth Rock, Va. in 1620:

"In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereigne Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britaine, France and Ireland king, defender of the faith, etc. having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honour of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northerne parts of Virginia, doe by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civill body politick, for our better ordering and preservation, and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enacte, constitute, and frame such just and equall laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meete and convenient for the generall good of the Colonie unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape-Codd the 11. of November, in the year of the raigne of our sovereigne lord, King James, of England, France and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fiftie-fourth Anno Dom. 1620."

And the document is followed by forty one signatures.

Following are some quotes that should be taught to every man, woman and child of the United States of America because we are FREE and FREEDOM comes from God and so does the UNITED STATES.

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As we celebrate the birth of our nation it’s important to know the truth that set our freedom free. This nation was founded not by religionists but by Christian faith. 

— the Mayflower Compact of 1620.

This nation was founded not by religionists but by Christians; not religion, but by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

— Patrick Henry

We recognize no sovereign but God and no king but Jesus Christ — John Hancock

[The Constitution] A system, which without the finger of God could not have been suggested. 

— Alexander Hamilton

The Lord is our judge [Judicial]; The Lord is our lawgiver [Legislative]; The Lord is our King [Executive]. 

— James Madison inspired by Isaiah 33:22

"God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever. Commerce between master and slave is despotism. Nothing is more certainly written in the book of fate than these people are to be free. Establish the law for educating the common people. This it is the business of the state to effect and on a general plan." 

— Thomas Jefferson 

"To the distinguished character of patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian." 

— George Washington

Inscribed on the Liberty Bell: 

"Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the Land unto all the inhabitants thereof" 

— Leviticus 25:10

I now make it my earnest prayer that God would have you, and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection; that he would incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow-citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for brethren who have served in the field; and finally that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind, which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy nation. 

— George Washington

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.”