I have been accused of being overly nostalgic and living in the past as I express my concerns about the state of my nation.  I was recently told that I needed to come into the 21^st Century and realize that things are not the same, they have evolved and I’m behind the times.  I have been chided by the Left and even some on the conservative side of the equation that my views of Strict Construction and Originalism in interpreting the Constitution are outdated and I should adopt the view of a changing world and thereby the need for a “Living Constitution” that evolves with the mood of society.  I reject that and resist it for I believe that is one of the problems in our Republic today.  Couple that with the creation of a ‘Safe Zone Society’, the ‘Entitlement Mentality’ and the ‘Self-Centeredness’ of much of our society has brought us to this place.  I dare not fail to mention the move of the Progressive, Liberal Left that embraces much of the Atheistic mentality and seeks to build a Wall between Religion or God and Government.  We are a million miles from where the Framers and our Founding Fathers sought to bring us and from that Republic they established and embraced.  The very Republic and Constitution that has keep us “The Land of the Free” and “The Home of the Brave” for 240 years is under direct assault today, and that would produce incurable melancholy were it not for my faith in God and my belief in the American people.

It is quite possible that the ‘ME’ MENTALITY and ENTITLEMENT PHILOSOPHY has existed in a greater measure than I recall.  It is quite possible that the Large Cities never knew that which I grew up enjoying in rural East Texas where neighbors not only knew each other but helped each other.  Maybe, there have always been sectors of our nation in which people embraced isolationism and were so ‘ME’-CENTERED they not only did not know but did not trust their neighbors and fellow man to the point they were cold and indifferent.  Maybe, I am being nostalgic and living in the 20^th Century, longing for a return to a society where we were willing to offer a helping hand to those in need and did not expect the government to be our provider in all things.  I long for a return to a time when it was not taboo to say “God Bless You, Merry Christmas, or a myriad of other banned phrases.”  I long for a return to a time when we valued the sanctity of life and adoption was a much more acceptable idea than abortion.  I long for a return to a time when God was not banished from the classroom or the courtroom and the pulpit was not silent regarding sin, even the sin of the government.  I long for a return to a time when it was not only acceptable to say, “In God We Trust” but when we did.  I long for a time when the spirit of enterprise and ingenuity that has enabled many people to dig their way out of poverty into prosperity and that enabled America to rise to being one of if not the greatest nation on earth.  I long for a return to a time when we could “disagree” without feeling the need to annihilate those on the other side of the argument.  Yes, we had the riots and protests of the 60’s and I viewed them negatively then as I do the present ones today.  We cannot build a bridge with a sword.

It matters not to me whether you are a Donald Trump fan or not, he is the President of the United States of America.  His election was no more skewed than any other election including the two of Barack Obama and maybe less skewed and tainted with voter fraud and interference.  Our system of government and the manner of electing our presidents has been a wonderful means of guaranteeing that the Entire Nation would have a voice in the outcome, not pockets of liberalism or conservatism, but each State would have valued input and directly impact the outcome.  That is a system that we should applaud not seek to destroy.  I’ve said repeatedly, we are not a Majority Rule Democracy we are a Constitutional Republic with Representative Government and that has been one of the major reasons for our preservation and longevity, albeit it brief, in comparison to some of the European systems.

Our Constitution guarantees “Freedom of Speech” and if speech is not free for everyone it is not free for anyone.  Peaceable Assembly is provided for in our Founding Document and must be guarded but there is not provision for riotous activities, the destruction of property, the endangerment of lives and the threat of bodily harm for the targets of those protests.  You cannot stand in a crowded theater and yell FIRE when there is no fire without penalty and you are not legally allowed to do what the rioters are doing today.  You cannot call for the assignation of the president with impunity, although this is being allowed and even applauded by those on the Left.  You are not allowed to incite riots and engage in sedition that seeks the overthrow of the government.  We have Laws and if we selectively enforce those laws based on what we would prefer to happen rather than seeking justice we do damage to the Republic and render the Laws meaningless and toothless rather than a deterrent.

Our America is in trouble and I weep for my nation.  I am angry at those who are seeking to drive wedges between groups fanning the flames of HATE that can only end in disaster.  I detest the incessant rhetoric that is without basis and established on speculation and preference rather than reality.  When Hillary Clinton, in the 3^rd Presidential Debate castigated Donald Trump for not openly saying he would immediately accept the outcome of the election she was touted as a modern-day heroine and defender of America and Integrity.  Then, when she LOST it seems that her diatribe was just that, meaningless drivel as she and her forces went to work to challenge, question, diminish, delegitimize, and possibly overturn the outcome she was not chastened, castigated or vilified as was Donald Trump for his response.  HYPOCRISY is not a sufficient explanation but the Left has demonstrated a willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve their end and legality, morality, and constitutionality seem to have no bearing.

America, we are divided and if we remain so we will experience another Civil War and that would likely end the Republic.  There is a Hope and it is a most powerful one, God!  The Bible gives us a prescription for remedying our ills as a nation in 2 Chronicles 7:14.  If God’s people will come to Him in repentance and humility and genuinely seek His face (will and way) He promises to FORGIVE us both individually and as a nation and HEAL our land.  We desperately need HEALING.  The Preamble of our American Constitution offers hope, “We the people of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the United States of America.”  Our Declaration of Independence recognized God and the unalienable rights He has given and our Pledge to the Flag recognizes God and that America UNDER HIM is One Nation, unified and indivisible seeking Liberty, and Justice for all.

Is America worth fighting for, praying for, working for and worth the incredibly arduous task of finding common ground and bridging the chasm that now separates us?  This is not a one-way street and cannot be a unilateral effort but it will require ALL AMERICANS or a SUFFICIENT NUMBER of Americans to commit to the Republic.  America, Land that I Love is worth fighting for to me as a Christian, an American, a Patriot, and a Veteran.

God, bless you and God bless America is my desire and prayer!