At least for today, let us lay aside our differences and become as one. One human to another, one global citizen to the other, one God-breathed soul to the next, one American all.
Category: Patriotism
On this 226th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution of the United States of America, I grieve for our country–our exceptional country, the finest country any man has ever known. The unraveling of reason, the attacks on our principles, the unspooling of our society all congeal into a dark and foreboding shadow that as a weighty cloak hovers above our land. The frenetic press against morality, the challenge against Christianity, the unveiling of godlessness and its presentation as an angel of modern thought, and of correctness and of the preferred are a throw to my very breath.
Yet, there remain we–many of us–who hold to the principles of the Constitution set by our fathers, and with unflagging persistence and with determined grit we hold to the assumption of the greatest experiment of all time. We plan to prevail.
Dear Governor Romney:
I am 74 years old and have never before written to a government official. I am 74 years old and have never before written anything that resembles a fan letter. Today, though, with a grieving heart, I do both.
On Tuesday evening, Jerry and I sat in our living room to follow the election results. As the wretched end of the election became clear, a heavy cloud of depression enveloped our living room, an emotion that neither of us are prone to incur. It was as though the air had been sucked from around us.
My husband is a retired Pentecostal preacher, and as such, our religious beliefs differ strikingly from yours as a Mormon. From the beginning of the campaign, though, we understood that we would vote for you–not as a pastor or any other religious leader–but as the president of the United States. As we learned more of you and your family through the debates, your speeches, interviews, videos and various articles, we came to highly respect you, your ethics, your dream for America, and your history. Would that America were filled with such caring, giving, and classy families as yours. In all sincerity, do I say this.
For the most part now, your faces are gone from the news sources. Disappeared. And I wonder about you . . . and yours. How sad are you? Do you weep? Are you desolate? As leaden as is my heart–I, just an ordinary voter–I suspect your pain–you, the candidate for the presidency–to be dire. So, I come today to remind you that at least half of America wanted you for our president. At least half of us are hard-working, upstanding Americans. We take care of each other. We don’t abort our babies, nor do we marry people of the same sex. We don’t want the government to take care of us, we don’t want Obamacare, we don’t want higher taxes and more regulations, nor do we want the president that some misguided people elected into that office. But we have him, and we will respect the office, and we will work for the advancement of the United States of America.
I wish you well, as do millions more. We will not forget your graciousness. We will not forget the pieces of your life that you left scattered in the field. Our dreams will not die, and although our great country seems to have lost her way, and we stagger now in a dark place, our hope is not gone. We look to God and to the innate goodness of America. And still, let us hope that someday we can regain our place as the last great hope of the earth.
Thank you for what you gave.
Shirley Buxton
________________________
If you read this and have such thoughts about Mitt Romney, it would be great if you would leave a comment here.
In our home, we are seldom–if ever–depressed, yet as Jerry and I sat in our living room last night and followed the election returns by radio and by the internet, depression filled our hearts. Had we a gauge to measure the air, I suspect our atmosphere 
would have thundered with depression. I stayed up to listen to Governor Romney’s gracious concession speech. I could not bear to hear President Obama’s acceptance speech.
Last night I wrote a paragraph on my facebook account in which I stated my deep concerns about the health of America, at which time I suggested the election outcome was not a fluke, but rather was a revelation of the heart of our country. I am convinced this is so. I grieve.
The problem goes deeper than the discussion of job creation, the size of the military, black vote, women vote, youth vote, red states, blue states, Hispanic vote, automobile bail-outs, Bain Capital, outsourcing, China, Iran . . .far deeper than all that. The problem is with our hearts. The America I have known all my life is gone. I no longer recognize my country, my dear country. We have lost our way.
Just this week PETA asked the city of Irvine, CA. to erect a memorial to 1600 fish who died because of a traffic accident. Yet today–today–American mamas took themselves to clinics or to bedrooms and more than three thousand of 
them killed their babies. They aborted them. Fifty million every year. It’s ghastly.
Yesterday, into the U S senate Tammy Baldwin was elected. She is openly gay.
In September, I sat in my living room and on my computer heard the delegates at the DNC shout no when they were asked to include references to God and to say that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel in their platform. I was sickened.
In 2006, in a short blog post I raised the question as to whether or not God sets up our leaders. I had forgotten about the piece, but it has come to my attention that it recent hours it has received hundreds of hits. I plan to study the issue more. How can it be that God would set up an evil person? Does He? Are we being punished because we have turned from God?
Our hope lies in Jesus Christ the righteous. There is no other way.
“If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” II Chronicles 7:14
I’m very interested in your thoughts. Please leave a comment.
Categories
Eat Mor Chikin
In Phoenix, a few months ago, I saw a billboard like this one and I roared with laughter. It probably is my favorite billboard of all time. Jerry was driving and didn’t see it, so I tried to describe it to him. Since then, I’ve learned from the internet that there is a whole series of Chick-Fil-A cow ads. They strike me as very funny, especially this one. Check it out–a team effort–one cow perched on another to get out the crucial message. Don’t eat us–eat those chickens. Love it!
Chick-Fil-A is a southern entity and are not widely available here in California where I live. In April of 2012, their 49th California store was opened on Harbor Blvd. in Costa Mesa, and they are planning more openings.
Today, as most of the country knows, I’m sure, has been designed a day to show appreciation for “president Dan Cathy (who) told the Baptist Press last month that the Atlanta-based company was “guilty as charged” for backing “the biblical definition of a family.” That unleashed a torrent of criticism from gay rights groups and others, who have called for boycotts and efforts to block the chain from opening new stores.”
If you have the chance, today, get out and “eat mor chikin.” We must fight to protect our First Amendment rights!
Categories
A Hero: Cody Alecia, the Flagboy
Most of you have no doubt heard of Cody Alecia, the youngster who a few days ago was told to remove the American flag from his bicycle when he rode onto school property. Cody, a patriotic youngster, attends the Denair Middle School in Denair, Ca, and it was the Superintendent of that school district, Edward Parraz, who stated the reason for Cody being told to remove the flag is because “flying the American flag might cause racial tensions.
I was incensed when I read of this, as were multitudes more. Such actions are ridiculous and sadly indicative of the sordid plight of our country. So many people protested, and so much pressure was brought on the school that it has now reversed itself.
Today, Cody was honored when hundreds of American Legion Riders and fellow patriots escorted Cody Alicea to Denair Middle School this morning. They all had American Flags on their bikes.
A veteran brings Cody to tears when he gives him his Purple Heart hat during a rally outside Cody’s school.
Source: KCRA
Take a look at this video. I promise it will bring you to tears. A hero. Cody is my hero.
Categories
My Tribute to our Servicemen
- I stop this morning to add my word of thanks to each serviceman who has served our country since its amazing inception. Some have died in my defense. Some of you will carry painful wounds to your grave. Some are tormented by ghastly vision of war. All these that my loved ones and I may live in freedom and peace. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, I sincerely speak these words.
- Mary McHugh mourns her slain fiance Sgt. James Regan at the Arlington National Cemetery May 27, 2007, Memorial Day weekend. Regan, a U.S. Army Ranger from Long Island, was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq in February, and this was the first time McHugh had visited the grave since the funeral. When he died, Regan was on his fourth combat deployment – twice in Afghanistan and twice in Iraq.
Source: Getty Images John Moore https://writenow.wordpress.com/2009/05/25/memorial-day-tribute/
Narrated by John Wayne is this moving account of the origin of that famous sound: TAPS
Edit: 8:35 Thursday
Please also read this story of a veteran, Todd Niceley, who is now in Walter Reed Hospital, having lost both arms and both legs. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/10/AR2010111008002.html
Categories
VOTE!
PLEASE VOTE!
It is our privilege to go to the polls today in this very important election. Please vote! If by chance you’re lacking in passion or patriotism or love for our spectacular country, take a look at this video–my favorite rendition of America the Beautiful. God shed Your grace and mercy on us today.
Have you voted? Are you planning to? Why? Why not?
Categories
Star Spangled Banner Stanzas
Since my previous post where the Star Spangled 
Banner was sung in such a magnificent, unusual way, there have been requests to see all the verses of this, our National Anthem.
From Wikipedia:
Lyrics
O! say can you see by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O! say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
‘Tis the star-spangled banner, O! long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave![12]Additional Civil War period lyrics
In indignation over the start of the Civil War, Oliver Wendell Holmes[13] added a fifth stanza to the song in 1861 which appeared in songbooks of the era.[14]
When our land is illumined with liberty’s smile,
If a foe from within strikes a blow at her glory,
Down, down with the traitor that tries to defile
The flag of the stars, and the page of her story!
By the millions unchained,
Who their birthright have gained
We will keep her bright blazon forever unstained;
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave,
While the land of the free is the home of the brave.
Cover of sheet music for “The Star-Spangled Banner,” transcribed for piano by Ch. Voss, Philadelphia: G. Andre & Co., 1862
Categories
A Tribute to My Land
Thanks to Dean Godair, who on Facebook, made me aware of this stunning presentation. More than one million people have seen this video. Watch carefully. As patriotic Americans began to understand what was happening, from around every direction in the group, they came to their feet, placed their hands over their hearts and stood in rapt attention.
This makes me proud. Proud to be an American. Proud to salute those of integrity, of principle, of honor, of flag-waving loyalists.
Shirley Buxton 