We are so used to being bashed, and called some pretty rude things because we are still proud of our ancestors and what they tried so very hard to do. They felt the 'strong' central government was not looking out for their best interest. They felt the strong 'central' government was infringing on personal rights. Had that not been a very real situation in their eyes, we'd not be here on this board. Once the fighting stopped, it was still a long time before most trusted the strong (and by then strongarmed) government. The right to "Free Speech" was removed for quite some time after the CW, at least in the South. The one very real thing that was brought to light to begin, due to or an after thought is that the government may not be what it was designed to be. It may well be against what the original Founders intended.
If we learned nothing else from our Ancestors who spent time in the Army or Navy of the Confederate States we understand it is imperative that 'we the people' must be on constant watch. What is happening in todays DC Circus is not at all what many of us believe to be in the best interest of the country. If we don't watch out we will become what we dread. A dead nation.
It is difficult for some to accept the blase attitude of our leaders on what we were taught was common courtesy. I don't think 3 years ago any of us would have said "For the first time I am proud of my country". At this point, things may well have changed in others minds. I say the Pledge of Allegiance daily at school. I say it at other times too. I have pledged my allegiance to a nation for what it is supposed to be, not what it has become. I will use the one weapon I have to get it back on track, my vote, but one isn't enough.
The Supreme Court is being infested with lifetime appointees who have been shown to be less interested in the point of law and more interested in changing the law.
We have 'leaders' who do not connect with the 'Small People". They have good speech writers but don't even read legislation before they vote on it.
We have leaders who do not have a clue what the 'Border' situation is really like and could care less. Just let em in and sign em up to vote.
We have leaders who would rather take the time for an environmental study on the effects of something that is a natural substance rather than step aside so it may be used to protect a state from one of the ugliest disasters in our history. We are living with the DC bunch. We see them on a regular basis here. We hear the words but we also know, they are not telling the truth. They are clueless.
So I ask you, where did our Nation go? The one we all grew up promising to love and honor? It seems to be MIA. Can you understand the sadness in having to admit we have allowed a precious gift to go astray?
Pam