Luke's Thoughts

I Stand With Jessica

Jessica Doty-Whitaker is the woman you see in the picture above, with her fiance and little boy. Perhaps you’ve heard of her. But my guess is you haven’t. Hers is not a name that big media would plaster all over their news cycles. She doesn’t fit the narrative. But she’s dead. Gone. She leaves behind a three year-old son and fiance. A little boy will never know his mother, and a man who by all accounts loved her dearly, will never get to see her or hold her. Never again. Why? Because she said all lives matter, and some scumbag with a gun thought pulling the trigger on her was the right thing to do.

I’ve been thinking about what to say since last night. Last night my blood was boiling, I was white hot angry, and unable to think straight. My temper went from sunny day to Atomic Armageddon in a matter of seconds, but I have cooled enough to think clearly. I have a temper. A rather nasty one too in certain situations. I am a fiery, passionate man. But usually I am so numb to all the stories of deaths reported in the media, big and small, that I usually I don’t find myself getting this angry.

And it’s not that I don’t care. Believe me, I care. One life lost to senseless violence, be they straight, gay, black, white, brown, yellow, red, and everything in between, is one life too many. I just normally get so exhausted with the saturation pushed of depressing and political garbage that I become desensitized to everything.

But when I read about what happened to Jessica Doty-Whitaker last week, something snapped inside me. I initially became white hot angry because the circumstances of her death were incredibly heartbreaking. Some woman voiced her opinion, and was shot to death. Her fiance held her lifeless body in his arms. And he now has to tell her little boy that his mother went to Heaven.

Let me make one thing perfectly clear: Yes, it was wrong that one of her friends supposedly uttered a racial slur at one of the Black Lives Matter supporters. But where is murdering someone the appropriate response? That’s where I was angry for a second reason: Black Lives Matter aims to fight against injustice. But what about when one of their members, or several of them, commit injustices, evils, and flat out heinous crimes like these? They’re silent on the matter!

Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi are the three women who founded Black Lives Matter. And they have no clue how much good it would do them, and their organization, if they spoke out against, and distanced themselves from BLM members like the one who killed Jessica Doty-Whitaker. All lives won’t matter until Black Lives Matter? Does whatever that looks like, include a young mother as collateral? Is she a necessary loss or casualty on the road to justice and equality? Is she a means to an end? If you are a decent human being who values human life, irrespective of color or station, you know the answer to these questions.

The third reason I became incredibly angry over the death of Jessica Doty-Whitaker, was that outside of a small media bubble (and this article), seemingly no one is crying out for justice over her death. The massive media machine, with its ever-churning agenda, apparently didn’t see her as good enough to use as fuel. It didn’t see her as a useful vehicle for furthering the division and hatred in this country. And it certainly did not see her as a human being. She’s merely another statistic.

But I write these words to take a stand for Jessica Doty-Whitaker and her family. I take a stand against big media. And I call out the leaders of Black Lives Matter: She mattered. Did I know her personally? No. If I had, I’d want to hunt down the criminal responsible for her death myself. But she mattered to her parents, fiance, and little boy she leaves behind.

I know they won’t read this and I am perfectly okay with that. But I call on the leaders of Black Lives Matter to expand their scope and reach. Police brutality is indeed an issue in this country, and I believe officers should be held accountable. But I call on Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi, to have the tough conversation about fixing Black culture. A conversation where nuclear families are championed, where thuggish behavior is shamed and condemned, and where the deaths of Jessica Doty-Whitaker and other innocent people are mourned just as much as the deaths of George Floyd, Breona Taylor and others. They owe Jessica and her family that much.

I stand with Jessica Doty-Whitaker, and I stand against Black Lives Matter. An organization that preaches social justice, yet refuses to practice it all across the board for all people, irrespective of color, gets no respect or support from me. She mattered, as does every human life. That’s how we’re seen in the ideal America we should be striving to create. All should have the inalienable rights of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. And every life matters to God. He doesn’t seem to see the color of our skin. So why should we?

Empire: Total War

I think I often struggle with strategies and puzzles. I have trouble seeing “one step ahead.” I don’t know why that is. Perhaps I’m just not wired that way. Who knows? Point is, I usually suck at it. But one of my favorite games that I’ve been playing recently is exactly that. Empire: Total War is a 2009 PC game that’s a turn-based, strategical war game based on 18th century diplomacy and military tactics. When I first was able to download it off Steam last summer, I couldn’t wait to get into it! It’s so interesting!

It’s a fun mix of so many things! Military/battle tactics, diplomacy and trade, civilization management, and accurate weapons and soldier units for that time period. It’s like an in-depth game of Risk meets Civilization with great graphics! My favorite game mode on Empire, is the Road to Independence mode. In it, you are placed in the role of an American General, and tasked with leading the Thirteen Colonies to Independence and victory over the British Empire.

But you are given very little to start with. Just a ragtag group of Minutemen, and a base of operations in Boston, your only territory, and your capital. After that, it is up to you to learn the tactics of the game by mostly trial and error. Aside from a Bunker Hill tutorial showing how basic controls work, how you achieve victory is completely up to you. Some prefer trade and diplomacy while avoiding battle unless absolutely necessary. Others prefer to go headlong into battle and throw caution to the wind. But the goal remains the same regardless: Capture and hold 15 territories by the year 1825.

It’s daunting, and there’s a LOT to manage, but a lot of it seems to be common sense. Crawl before you walk, and walk before you run. How I achieve victory in the game is a ground-up approach. Before I even consider making serious attacks on British-held territories with my men, or before I execute any grand battle strategy, I try to boost my economy with trade, fair taxes, and upgrading farms, towns, schools, and any other kind of infrastructure. This boosts wealth, makes the citizens happy (and willing to fight), and helps grow your army and military technology. But at the heart of it all is a stable economy. A war costs a LOT of money, and before I fight it, I have to make sure I have a steady supply of money rolling in!

After that, I make sure my capital, Boston, is protected and fortified, as is every city I free from British rule. If you don’t have your cities protected with forts and walls, the British will engage you in battle, easily overpower you if you leave your cities exposed, and move in. And we can’t have the Union Jack flying in America, can we? 😉

The most fun part of the game comes from battle though. There is nothing like the realism of hearing cannons go off, seeing HUGE companies of men marching or running behind their generals, and seeing clouds of smoke and hearing musket fire! The tactics, and strengths and weaknesses of each soldier class are realistic for the time too!

I am still fairly basic at battles, but I’ve found strategies that work, and help me consistently win. And it comes from thinking like a General. Sure, charging in with bayonets fixed and skewering the enemy is cool. But in order to be successful, one needs to know which tactic to use, and which situation to use it in.

Before I even engage an enemy, I make sure I have even or greater numbers. I selectively pick my battles. But once I engage the enemy and march my troops to that location, I use flanking and pincer maneuvers a lot. Plus I use my cavalry to intimidate smaller groups of enemy troops, or I chase enemy troops down with cavalry once enemy lines break, and they retreat. This is where another extremely realistic part of the game comes into play: Soldier morale and war psychology.

This adds another neat layer to the game experience! If you know the basics of 18th century warfare and history, you’ll know how to play the game from this angle. The units and soldier classes behave like real men in certain battle situations! Some of the realistic things I found:

Artillery is strong against mostly any other type of soldier class. For obvious reasons. Cannons are absolutely devastating when used correctly. But if you time things right, and charge them with cavalry or bayonets in between when they fire rounds, they’re extremely likely to turn and run! Imagine yourself being a soldier that helps load and fire cannons…and then you see hundreds of men charging at you, screaming with bayonets fixed, running at full speed. Or you see a lightning fast cavalry or Dragoon unit with their swords drawn, heading right for you on horseback. In a situation like that, I could see why many men would crap their pants, drop their muskets and run like hell!
Flanking is a classic tactic, but it’s really useful! I usually use this method after I’ve already broken through enemy lines with several rounds of musket fire. But if flanking (going by the enemy on either side of their line) is used successfully, you’ll be able to easily engage an already shell shocked enemy in hand to hand combat. Or you’ll surround them on all sides, break their spirits, and either force them to retreat, or get wiped out!
Cavalry units are extremely fast, and can cover more ground than the average company of infantry soldiers or Minutemen since they’re on horseback. But they’re not without their weaknesses. Cavalry may be good for cutting down retreating enemy soldiers, or for use as a psychological intimidation tactic. But when they’re fired on enough by artillery or musket fire, they’ll retreat.
Once a company of troops has their spirit broken, and morale crushed, they retreat from the field. And after they’ve decided to retreat, there is absolutely NO commanding them to return to the battlefield. None. They’re not concerned with winning the battle for you anymore. They’re concerned about getting out alive in one piece!
It’s rarely a good thing if you’re forced to fight your battles with armed, everyday citizens. If you don’t have a territory or region defended with professional soldiers (infantry, cavalry, etc.), and the enemy invades that territory, you’re left with “Firelock armed citizenry.” They’re ordinary people who haven’t been trained like other soldier classes. They’ll hold out for as long as they can. But their breaking point is far lower than the average trained soldier. Usually a cavalry charge, or bayonet charge will send them running for the hills. Sometimes even the threat of a charge or being fired upon, is enough to make them break ranks and run as well.
The death of a general in battle, either yours or the enemy’s, has the potential to break an army’s spirits. Generals are usually on horseback, surrounded by bodyguards. The General’s Bodyguard unit acts like a cavalry. Although I only have them charge or fight once the battle is well in hand, or to finish off fleeing enemy troops. No use in putting them in danger. On the other side of things, if I see the battle is at a potential tipping point, I send cavalry units after the opposing General to kill him. Without leaders, armies crumble and chaos ensues.
Sieges are effective at bringing down enemy numbers, and tipping the scales of a possible battle in your favor before you even take the field! During a siege on the map, your army basically surrounds the enemy territory for a number of turns (usually 3). The enemy then has two choices: Either surrender at the end of the three turns, or come out and attempt to fight you off. But the longer an army is under siege, their numbers drop. This seems realistic, as sieges were used in real-life warfare in the 18th century, and usually cities under siege were forced to surrender. They were “starved out.” Citizens usually couldn’t get food or water into or out of the city once an enemy army was surrounding it.

Okay, so you now know tactics on how to command an army and win battles. But winning the war against the English is a bit of a different beast. And just like in real history, you will need help from foreign nations to topple the Redcoats. This is where working for an advantageous diplomatic position, haggling, and occasionally kissing up to France, Spain and others will pay off in the long run.

**Fleur de Lis flag of France (top), and Spanish Flag** **(bottom)**

At the start of the war, you’re already trading with France and Spain, and they’re friendly with you. As you grow in wealth, prestige, and rack up consistent victories against the Redcoats, France and Spain will be much more likely to join in the war if you ask them. Once you approach them, and if they agree to join you, your finances and soldier training/quality will take a BIG boost! From there, the Patriot war machine fires on all cylinders! All that’s left after that, and gaining control of all 13 colonies, is to decide whether to attack and capture the British territories in Canada, or attack and capture the Native American regions in the Ohio and Michigan Territories. Although it is much tougher to defeat the Native Americans than the British. The various tribes are often at war with one another, but they’re already unfriendly or flat out hostile to you…and if you attack one of them, you’ll find yourself getting attacked by ALL of them. Choose wisely!

If you do indeed win the war, a very neat victory video will play at the end. It always makes me smile, and feel patriotic!

Empire: Total War is an extremely unique, fun game. Although for those of you who play it or who might be interested in it, my only knock on it? It’s ADDICTING! Especially if you’re consistently winning, and conquering territories, no matter which nation you’re playing as. Moving troops, planning attacks, and winning battles is definitely time consuming, and requires patience. Plus you’ll often find yourself start playing, and two hours goes by like THAT. It’s a game you can become easily engrossed in and wrapped up in. But I would highly recommend it to anyone who is competitive, loves strategy, history, and government/civics. Definitely worth buying on Steam. Check it out here!

Now if you’ll excuse me… I’ve gotta go raise an army of Patriots, train them up, and take the fight to the Redcoats! MOVE ‘EM OUT!!!

Watching my first Formula One Grand Prix

I finally got a chance to watch my first live Formula 1 race yesterday! The 2020 Austrian Grand Prix was definitely something new to me as a sports fan. Growing up as a fan of NASCAR, a uniquely American sport, F1 just had a different feel to it. But it was a good kind of different. I’ve studied the basics of how the sport works, and wrote a previous blog post about it, which you can look at here, if you want.

But after chomping at the bit for the last two months to watch my first race, I finally got the chance at just after 9 AM yesterday morning. I now see the global appeal of Formula One much more clearly. I understand why many people get so excited about it! I view the sport as like 1990’s NASCAR, but with a global reach. I’d call it “The Racing Olympics.” Superstar drivers from several different countries compete to be crowned the best in the world, driving cars powered by HUGE global manufacturers like Ferrari, Mercedes, Renault and Aston Martin. The only thing keeping me from becoming an F1 superfan is the fact that there are currently no American drivers. But it was still a ton of fun to watch!

The 2020 Austrian Grand Prix was a WILD race! Out of the 20 drivers who initially started the race, seven weren’t able to finish because of various issues. Everything from power failure, to a couple wrecks, to someone losing a tire. Almost half the grid failing to finish a race is uncommon. Of the past F1 races I’ve watched on YouTube, usually there are 3-4 drivers who don’t finish. Perhaps everyone’s trying to knock the rust off as the season gets underway. Who knows? Here are the highlights from the race.

From the get go, I was mesmerized by everything with the race: The beautiful location in the Austrian countryside, brilliant driving by young drivers Charles Leclerc for Ferrari and Lando Norris for McLaren, and the excitement with which commentators David Croft and Martin Brundle called every lap. Plus the finish was exciting as well! Lewis Hamilton, one of the greatest drivers in F1 history, was bumped out of third place, and off the podium as he was given a time penalty for causing a wreck. This allowed Lando Norris, a very young 20 year-old driver for McLaren, to snag the first podium finish of his career by a mere tenth of a second after race officials calculated everything. Happy for him!

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari’s young hotshot finished second, and had an absolutely amazing bit of driving to get himself into podium position late in the race! It still boggles my mind how these guys can drive these cars with such precision. They can go from 200+ miles per hour on a straightaway with the throttle wide open, to 50-60 miles an hour in a tight corner without missing a beat or wrecking the car. That’s absolutely INSANE to me!

But Leclerc braked as late as he possibly could heading into a very tight corner, and managed to sneak by Sergio Perez for third place at the time. I’m still a new F1 fan, but I am quickly becoming a fan of Charles Leclerc. The 22 year-old driver from Monaco is aggressive, kind of a rebel against the rules, and he’s nice to fans and media from all I’ve read and seen. Plus he’s overcome some very tough personal tragedies in his life recently. A year or two ago, he lost both his father and best friend within days of each other. And yet he still managed to race a few days later. Not only that, he fought all the way from the back of the pack to win his first career race that weekend in honor of them! That kind of mental toughness and heart is the mark of a future World Champion. I can’t help but like him and root for him!

Valtteri Bottas, a Finnish driver for Mercedes, won the Austrian Grand Prix, with a solid race. Congratulations to him. But I would be lying through my teeth if I said I wasn’t more excited by the prospect of seeing what all the younger drivers can do this year. There’s a whole bunch of them: Charles Leclerc (22 years old), Lando Norris (20 years old), George Russell (22 years old), Carlos Sainz (25 years old), and Lance Stroll (21 years old). There’s definitely a youth movement going through F1. It seems like an absolutely perfect time for me to be a new fan of the sport. As I continue to grow as a fan, I’ll see these young guys grow as drivers. I see at least a couple future World Champions in that group!

But for now, race #1 of the 2020 Formula One World Championship is in the books! Next up? A little bit of Deja Vu, as the teams will meet in Austria again on July 12th for the Styrian Grand Prix at the exact same track. But I’m just as excited for this upcoming race as I was for my first one!

2020 Formula One World Drivers Championship Top 10

Valtteri Bottas (25 Points)
Charles Leclerc (18 Points)
Lando Norris (16 Points)
Lewis Hamilton (12 Points)
Carlos Sainz (10 Points)
Sergio Perez (8 Points)
Pierre Gasly (6 Points)
Esteban Ocon (4 Points)
Antonio Giovinazzi (2 Points)
Sebastian Vettel (1 Point)

2020 World Constructors Championship Standings

Mercedes (37 Points)
McLaren (26 Points)
Ferrari (19 Points)
Racing Point (8 Points)
AlphaTauri (6 Points)
Renault (4 Points)
Alfa Romeo Racing (2 Points)
Williams (0)
Red Bull Racing (0)
Haas (0)

Honoring America on Her Birthday

For the last few years, I have prayed for my country on her birthday. I have prayed for unity among all her people, for goodness to enter the hearts of our leaders, and for wisdom and understanding to bring us all together. At least for one day. And I am doing that again today. July 4th, 2020.

But I am also honoring her. By remembering just exactly how monumental July 4th, 1776 is in the pages of history. On that day, a nation of farmers, sailors, merchants, pirates, and smugglers, all rose up as one in opposition to the British Crown. The 55 men who signed the Declaration of Independence knew they were no longer representing their home colonies. They were no longer from Delaware, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

They were from a new nation. One that rose above the status quo of monarchy. One that shattered the chains of a tyrannical government. This new nation was one where the people could choose their own system of government without a king keeping them under his thumb. This new nation was the grand experiment of its time! John Adams, played by Paul Giamatti, explains this far more clearly than I ever could. He gives one of the most moving, emotional, and patriotic speeches I have ever seen. I would be lying if I said it didn’t cause a lump in my throat, or tears to form in the corners of my eyes!

“While I live, let me have a country! A FREE country!”

John Adams explains just how revolutionary America was at the moment of her birth. Nowhere in recorded history up to that point, had the people of any nation been as free to govern themselves, as our forefathers were. Our nation was born unique. An anomaly. A nation of the people, born in an era of kings. Monarchs were everywhere. But this was the first time a set of colonies under a king or queen anywhere in the world, won their right to independence!

In light of recent events, I have come to view America differently, though I still love her just the same. I am still a proud Patriot, and always will be. But I now view the “ideal America” as unattainable. A standard which we cannot reach, but one that we should try our absolute best to get to. When they defeated the British in the war for our Independence, our Founding Fathers earned the right to set their own standard, which they outlined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. And they challenge us to meet that standard. The ghosts of George Washington, John Adams, Ben Franklin, Sam Adams and others challenge us all. Each and every day.

I love this nation with every fiber of my being. In spite of all her imperfections, and stumbles throughout history, I love America with all my heart. At her absolute best, she is a nation governed by the ideals of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness for ALL people. Regardless of their station in life, skin color, sexual orientation, or anything else. America is also a nation in which government should play a minimal role. It should only be there to preserve law and order, make sure our elected officials are serving us, and to protect our fundamental rights. Are these things currently happening? No. Most certainly not.

Our government is corrupted and has been for decades. It has overstepped its bounds in ways too numerous to count. Our elected officials care more about their next election campaign than they do about the people in their care who suffer, and who need their help. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are being taken away from our fellow Americans by cops who are poorly trained, or by people who have no business being cops at all. And there is a mob within this country seeking to tear America apart from the inside by destroying some of the very things that make us great: Our national symbols, our history, and our freedom of speech. We certainly are not living up to the ideals that our Founding Fathers have set for us. We are not living up to the ideals which so many have fought, bled and died for.

But in the midst of all this darkness. I still have hope. Hope that the battle for the soul of this nation, will be won decisively by Patriots who understand what George Washington, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Sam Adams, and others set out to do on this day 244 years ago. Those men set out to earn full freedom for themselves and all their countrymen. Forgive the use of another video, but this seems to explain things really well. And Ben Barnes gives me chills as Sam Adams!

Sons of Liberty Speech

Yes, I understand that not all people were freed with our ancestors’ victory over the British. Slavery existed until 1865, almost a century afterward. And in addition to that, there were many bumps in the road that needed to be overcome with the Civil Rights movement. Some of those obstacles still haunt our society today.

And yet, for as much as we struggle and fail, I still have hope that we will one day be closer to the dream of the “idealized America” that was given to us on this day in 1776. But it’s up to us, the people, to realize what that dream is. More people should familiarize themselves with, and read the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. And they should familiarize themselves with who the Founding Fathers were as men. Like I see George Washington as an extremely intelligent, humble, very strong leader. I see Benjamin Franklin as an intelligent, funny, quirky, man who helped convince France to join us in our war for Independence. I see Sam Adams and Thomas Paine as masters of propaganda. They got the people worked up enough to act. Both of them fueled the fires of Independence. Not to mention Sam Adams’ underground group, the Sons of Liberty, rallied the people against the Crown. And his cousin, John Adams is probably my favorite Founding Father, for his ability to be both intensely passionate about Independence but still believe in justice for ALL people he came across. Even those he strongly disagreed with. John Adams believed in equality for all, and the rule of law and justice, rather than anarchy and mob rule. I admire John Adams greatly.

So how do we get closer to the ideal America? We move closer to the ideal America for all by recognizing that yes, she is imperfect. Yes, she has had some ugly moments in her history and made plenty of mistakes. But we also realize it is still possible for us to obtain Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness for all. We just have to fight for it. Our Founding Fathers had their war. A war to make America independent. Now we have our war to fight, even though it isn’t a physical one: A war to make her a country all true Americans can be proud of!

I end this post with one of my favorite patriotic songs. Spoken by the Man in Black himself, Johnny Cash. Let the words reach you in whatever way they do. I know I’m always choked up or crying by the end of it. God bless you all. God bless our Founding Fathers. And God Bless the United States of America! Happy Fourth of July everybody!

Ragged Old Flag

Will Justice Be Served?

Well I didn’t expect THAT to happen as soon as it did. But it’s happening: Ghislaine Maxwell, right hand woman, and former girlfriend of billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein was arrested this morning in New Hampshire. She is alleged to have targeted many young girls for Epstein to groom and abuse as far back as 1994.

I’d argue she’s just as much of a monster as Epstein was. If not more so. Yes, Epstein abused the girls in many horrible ways, but Ghislaine knew what he would do to those girls, and STILL found ways to lead them to him. She even participated in some of the abuse herself! The whole thing sickens me and makes me sad. Perhaps I feel this way more than normal, because I recently watched a Netflix series on the case called Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich. Here’s the trailer:

Filthy Rich Netflix Trailer

The series shocked me in many ways. Not only with the descriptions of the abuse which Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell inflicted upon the victims (I won’t get into that here, out of respect for the victims), but also with the way Maxwell and Epstein went about finding these victims, and faking interest in them as people.

Let the coldness of their process sink in for a minute. Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein targeted young, impressionable, innocent girls. They made these girls think they cared about them as people. They preyed on their trusting instincts. They preyed on their innocence. They preyed on the fact that all of these young girls had big dreams. So of course, when these girls saw that such high-profile people were taking a seemingly genuine interest in them and their lives, they opened up. And then Maxwell and Epstein proceeded to rip their innocence away from them. They probably also shattered the trust these girls had in humanity. They smashed it to smithereens. And it will probably take the victims a lifetime to get that trust back, if they ever do.

I myself have never experienced being a sexual assault victim firsthand. Thankfully. So I cannot know what the victims went through from that perspective. But I DO know people close to my heart who I love very much, who have been sexually assaulted. And some of the stuff that I heard from them turned my stomach, pissed me off, and made me hug them tight and hold them close while they cried. Or I was close by and trying to comfort them and listen to them while they had panic attacks. So I get especially angry when I hear cases like what is going on with Ghislaine Maxwell.

I hope the judge and jury bring the hammer down on her, and put her away for a VERY long time. But I also hope investigators can somehow get her to talk. I am not normally a big believer in conspiracy theories. I pride myself on usually being a rational, critical thinker. But I do not, for one second, believe that Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide in his jail cell. The man had connections to Prince Andrew, Donald Trump, and Bill Clinton. At the very least. He had some very powerful friends in high places. Not to mention they all allegedly flew with Epstein to Little Saint James on his private jet, nicknamed The Lolita Express. So nobody can tell me that Epstein and Maxwell are the only ones who hurt these girls. My gut is SCREAMING pedophile web!

This whole situation reminds me of a story involving one of my favorite comic characters. Even though I try to be a good man who believes in doing the right thing and treating others well, I am a HUGE fan of a comic book character known as The Punisher, a dark, nasty vigilante from Marvel Comics. He’s a former Marine named Frank Castle who lost his wife and children in a gang shootout. And he makes it his life’s work to track down and kill the worst criminals who escape the justice system. The Epstein case kind of reminds me of what happened in one of my favorite Punisher arcs.

**Punisher MAX: The Slavers comic cover**

Punisher MAX, an adult comic, ran one of my favorite stories with The Slavers. Long story short, Frank rescues a woman and her baby from Eastern European gangsters, gets to know the woman and her story, and eventually figures out that she escaped from a worldwide prostitution and sex trafficking ring. After saving the woman and her baby, Frank discovers just how many people are involved in the sex trafficking ring, takes out one of its regional leaders, and threatens the remaining criminals. He lets them know that justice is coming for them. And that no one will escape or survive as long as he is hunting them.

One of the characters in that story reminds me of Ghislaine Maxwell. The character named Viorica was the right hand lady to the leader of this prostitution ring. She procured and groomed young girls and women for Eastern European gangsters/soldiers. She didn’t care at all about her victims or any babies they had. All of the women were scarred by how they were treated by Viorica. Frank eventually kills Viorica and her boss, before calling the police, and directing them to where all the women are before he disappears into the night. An otherwise dark and grim story ends on a brighter note, with a picture panel showing what happened to the rescued women and their babies. Some women were working full time jobs and providing for their children, others were recovering in therapy, and others were recovering at safe houses with their babies. Frank got a measure of justice for the women.

While the Punisher is a fictional character, and all of his stories are obviously fiction, I hope there’s justice in the real world as well. I hope the authorities eventually find out just how deep the rabbit hole goes with Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein, and their “friends.” They all deserve to face justice. All of the victims deserve closure too. And I hope nobody rests until everything is brought to light!

Why I love to study History and Politics

I was never strong with math in school, and I always struggled with more advanced science. But when it came to studying history and anything to do with our civic, governmental processes, I excelled. And not only did I excel at it, I had fun and enjoyed it!

I don’t know where exactly this came from, as I have always loved studying history and government. But if I had to guess, I’m going to say it stemmed from being raised from a very young age to respect and love the flag. From when I was a very little boy of probably 3-4 years old, I always loved how Old Glory looked. I loved the American flag, and stars (as in the shape). I just had a fascination with these things as a very little kid. I credit Mom and Pop for raising me to have a strong sense of patriotism and respect for our history and national symbols.

Fast forward to when I was about 11, and I’m sitting in Mrs. Kisabeth’s 5th grade Social Studies class. The two things I remember from that class: She was a strict disciplinarian and made sure we knew our facts and dates for testing. And, we always used to watch a cartoon called Liberty’s Kids. It was like clockwork. Every Thursday or Friday after lunch. I remember it being later in the day. So of course I was excited! What kid wouldn’t be? I got to watch a cartoon about my favorite school subject, I didn’t have to take a test or do homework for that period, AND I get to leave school soon after to enjoy the weekend?! Sign me up!

Liberty’s Kids intro

But I also enjoyed the show for its educational value. History was no longer some old, outdated story about a bunch of dead people kept in a dusty book. Liberty’s Kids brought history to life for me! I enjoyed following the action, learning important dates, and cool facts about life during the Revolutionary War period. The Revolutionary War remains my favorite period of history to study, in part because of this show.

Jump ahead a couple more years, and there I am sitting in Mr. Mulholland’s 7th grade Social Studies class, or Mr. Webb’s 8th grade Social Studies class as a junior high student in 2004 or 2005. It was here where I learned how civic processes worked. I learned the three branches of government (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial),and their powers in deeper detail. I learned how many total members of Congress there are (535. 435 Representatives based on state population, and 100 Senators. Two from each State). We read through the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and learned how Amendments are added or repealed too. While having a healthy dose of fun and humor every class period. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Although I can also completely understand why history was probably very dry to many of my classmates. I feel that people either have the knack for certain subjects or they don’t. Many of my classmates were great at math and science. While I was great at history and reading/English. I had the polar opposite skill set they did.

Next, I’m a 16 year old Sophomore in Mr. Asher’s Human Conflict and War class in 2007. I will always feel that this was such a wasted opportunity on Mr. Asher’s part as a teacher. If you could call him that. The man just handed us packets on various wars throughout history, from the Ancient Greeks to World War II, popped in the corresponding videotape for us to watch, and then he took a nap. Sometimes he snored in class. I didn’t think much of it then. A high school kid didn’t think much as soon as they saw the teacher roll out that big TV. All my fellow 90’s babies out there know what I’m talking about. We’d mentally check out as soon as the TV was rolled to the center of the classroom.

But knowing what I know now, part of me wishes time machines were already invented and common. Because I’d hop in, shut the door, type in 2007, and go back and teach that Human Conflict and War class myself! Yes, war is a sad thing that humanity feels it has to wage far too often. But the material in that Human Conflict and War class was so interesting to me, because I could actually see so many things: The advancement of technology, the rise and fall of civilizations, and the political context of whatever time period we were studying.

Time Traveler Luke would’ve been like: “Sit down, Mr. Asher. I’ve got this. I’ll take it from here. You’re not teaching anyone anything. These kids need to know why this is important, and why they should be passionate about learning it. Give them a reason to relate to the material or get excited about learning it, and they will! Trust me!” And I would’ve gotten everybody’s attention so they were locked in and excited. Mr. Asher wasn’t cut out to be a teacher. There should be people who are genuinely passionate about the subject they teach, and they should focus on helping students learn it in whatever way fits that particular student or group of students. Otherwise what’s the point?

After high school, I think my love for studying history kind of faded. Perhaps leaving home for Kent State, meeting new buddies, living by myself with no roommates, and chasing cute college girls had something to do with that? I was definitely preoccupied with other things 😉

But then I got to do something for the first time in my life: Vote in a Presidential Election! At 21 years old, I finally had a say in who our leader would be, and could not wait to make my voice heard! I was still young and idealistic. Not older, wiser and cynical about politics like I am now. I also was unaware of how truly important it was to vote one’s conscience, or to vote for a candidate who most closely matched my values and worldviews. I didn’t do the research and then make a decision. I merely voted Republican because that’s what my parents had done. After I voted, I went down to the Rathskeller, the basement of the KSU Student Center, ordered a cold Guinness, and watched these results come in.

2012 Election Results

I voted. But looking back now, I was uneducated, like many young college students seem to be these days. They haven’t truly learned to think for themselves yet. They are merely parroting what their parents or other authority figures have told them. But it’s not their fault. It takes a light bulb moment or life smacking you in the face before you realize how important history and politics are. And it is incredibly important to develop your OWN informed opinions beyond that of your parents or professors.

My light bulb moment, and the resurgence of my love for, and interest in, history and politics probably occurred sometime around 2015, when now-President Donald Trump rode down the escalator at Trump Tower in NYC as he announced his candidacy. I am not a Trump fan. I think the man is unfit for office, as is his 2020 competitor, Joe Biden. But I digress. My light bulb moment came when I realized Donald Trump was serious about running for President. And not because I saw him as a sort of savior for America. No. My eyes were opened when he was running for President, because I saw him as a symptom of something bad. Desperation on the part of the American people, perhaps? But the main question going through my mind at the time is one that I still ask myself to this day: “Have things gotten so bad that THIS is who we’re forced to pick from? Yikes!”

From then on, I have followed politics like a hawk. I’ve kept up on all the important things coming up for the current election cycle. Why? I believe voting, thinking for yourself, and knowing how we’ve arrived here in history can help us to be good stewards of that history, and good citizens. If we remain ignorant of history, our election processes, and the candidates who are running for office, we risk putting the wrong people in some VERY high places.

History, no matter if it is good, bad or ugly, is meant to be learned from and preserved. Not ignored or whitewashed to avoid offending somebody. History is meant to be used as a roadmap to guide our society out of the pitfalls of dark times into ages of prosperity And history is also meant to serve as a warning to future generations. If history is ignored or scoffed at, the worst parts of it will one day be repeated in the future. Guaranteed.

At its absolute best, politics is guided by history as well. If the guiding hand of history is present in the core of our political processes, our leaders will better know how to lead our nation forward into a brighter future. If they know and study history, they will know what works and what doesn’t. If history is ignored for the sake of power, as is happening right now, we risk facing some very dark times in the near future. Even darker times than we’re currently in.

If I had to personify history, I view it like a lovable, wise grandparent who has a memory as sharp as a steel trap. And they love telling stories to entertain us or help us grow in wisdom and understanding. If we are wise, we’ll listen to them, learn, and grow to love them and all that they teach us. However, if we are foolish (like it seems we’re being now as a country), we laugh at them thinking we know better. We disrespect them, thinking they are irrelevant and not worthy of our love and respect. We ignore them as they fade away and die. Only for them to haunt us in our nightmares later!

It is our choice whether or not we want to pay attention to history. As for me, I choose to love being a student of history. I choose to stay informed and awake. And I choose to be passionate about it! Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go brush up on my knowledge of the Legislative Branch. Later, everybody! 🙂

Free Speech Still Exists

I know it doesn’t seem like it in today’s America. But freedom of speech still exists. You can say what you believe. In an era of cancel culture, and people often shouting down things they don’t like, free speech still exists. Contrary to what the “mob” believes, the right to speak one’s mind will always exist. For as long as America stands. One just has to have the courage to speak or act, and know their rights as an American. Freedom of speech is just one of the many rights our ancestors won from the British Crown during the Revolutionary War.

Some of the most controversial things in society today, like burning the American flag, kneeling during the Star Spangled Banner, speaking against the Black Lives Matter movement, and flying the Confederate Flag, are all protected by the First Amendment as freedom of speech. No matter how much I may disagree with, and absolutely HATE seeing someone burn Old Glory in protest, or hear them say nasty things about America, people are allowed to do so within their legal rights. Same with those who don’t support the Black Lives Matter movement for logical reasons.

I think most people forget that nowadays. People are allowed to have polar opposite opinions to yours. They’re allowed to like and support things that you don’t, no matter how much it angers you. If more people realized that, and truly respected that fact, we could begin to respect each other, appreciate our differences, find common ground, and heal our nation. Being proud of our national symbols and traditions is patriotic. As is speaking out against real injustices that plague our country. Both are patriotic. I am reminded from a quote, and I feel it sums up my attitude toward free speech: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

-Evelyn Beatrice Hall

Being legally able to burn the American flag as a form of protest is a relatively recent development in our country’s history, having only been around since 1989. Here’s an article that explains Texas v. Johnson, the case in question in greater detail. The decision to allow flag burning as a form of free speech was a hotly contested one in the United States Supreme Court, passing with a 5-4 vote. Justice Antonin Scalia was the deciding vote in the case. His reasoning behind it is summed up in a powerful quote:

“If it were up to me, I would put in jail every sandal-wearing, scruffy-bearded weirdo who burns the American flag. But I am not king.”

That quote by Antonin Scalia should serve as a reminder (and warning) to every American, that no one has the right to infringe on someone else’s freedom of speech to express a dissenting opinion. Cancel culture, media pressure, sanitizing history, and shouting down opposing opinions are all direct attacks on that unique, and most American right. When we allow someone or something to determine what can or cannot be said or expressed, we set a DANGEROUS precedent. We allow that person or entity more power and influence than they are due. The curbing of free speech becomes the start of tyranny. The very thing our Founding Fathers warned us about, and what they urged us to fight against. It’s where we currently are at in our country’s history. It ain’t pretty.

To exercise my right in free speech, I am going to say two things some may find controversial or offensive and explain my reasoning behind them: It is okay to not support Black Lives Matter, and it is okay (and legal) to fly the Confederate flag as long as it isn’t used to spread hate speech.

From my personal perspective, it seems as though society is attempting to force people to support Black Lives Matter, or else be branded as a racist, uncle Tom, or not “woke” enough. That is enough to make the rebellious side or Patriot in me be like, “Hell no. You are NOT going to tell me who I should support. I’ll decide that for myself, thank you very much. That is my right as an American!”

I would venture to say that most decent human beings already know black lives matter. The problem for me, is that there are enough, shall we say, less than decent people pushing the movement. And these kinds of people are not at all for justice and equality. They are for silencing opinions and worldviews they do not agree with. They are Anti-American anarchists. A vocal minority shoving their ideology down the throats of a silent majority who has yet to push back. Lord help BLM’s leaders if people eventually DO grow brave enough to push back against them!

I am all for learning new perspectives, supporting the black community, and listening to them in their fear, tough moments and sadness. But I am not for sacrificing my right to free speech as an American, just so some can hear what they want to hear: Their opinion coming out of MY mouth. My ancestors, and the original Patriots shed too much blood to allow me to sacrifice my free speech to appease people. Plus I am stubborn as a person. I will never be told what to think or believe. At the end of the day, that’s MY call and nobody else’s.

And I am also not for sacrificing someone’s ability to protest or express themselves in ways that society might find shocking or offensive. Including flying the Confederate flag. Do I support what the Confederacy stood for? Absolutely not. The South fought to preserve slavery by permanently splitting this nation in two.

But I also understand one thing: I am not a Southerner, and have not lived in that area of the United States for any length of time. I’m a Buckeye, born and raised. An Ohio boy. So my view of the Confederate flag might be different compared to how someone from, South Carolina, Georgia, or Florida views it. But their view of it is just as valid as mine is. Here is an interesting perspective on the Confederate flag from Ben Jones, who famously played Cooter the mechanic, on Dukes of Hazzard.

Even though I will likely always see the Confederate flag as a negative symbol, since I am from Ohio, I am open-minded enough to listen to Ben Jones’ take on it. And he makes a lot of sense to me. He flies that flag to express his pride in being from the Southern United States. It’s a cultural/family thing for him. He’s proud of being a Southerner while still being a proud American Patriot who hates racism as much as the next decent human being. Seems simple enough to me to understand.

Symbols such as that flag, mean different things to different people. And again, no group of people has the right to tell other groups how to perceive symbols. That goes against freedom of speech. I would argue telling people how to perceive things is even more sinister than violating the First Amendment. This seems like thought policing. Seems awfully close to how things are in the book 1984. I hope a society like that never becomes a reality. And if it does? I hope I’m dead and long gone by then.

But while I am still alive and breathing, I will always stand for freedom of speech. Even if I don’t agree with how some people exercise that right. For if we can’t have freedom of speech, it won’t be long before we’re in chains once our other freedoms are taken away. If the First Amendment ever goes, it will be the first domino to fall on the way to a totalitarian society. A frightening prospect. Stay awake, alert and vigilant, my fellow Patriots!

The Return of Baseball…and sanity!

It’s back! America’s Pastime is set to return on either July 23rd or 24th. Thank God for baseball! Forgive me for sounding overly dramatic, folks. But this feels like the first point of light at the end of the COVID-riot-murder hornet-shit show tunnel. We’re not out of the woods by a long shot. But baseball is going to be such a welcome relief from all that has been going on in society. Some normalcy and sanity will finally return!

Major League Baseball decided yesterday to move ahead with a shortened 60-game season, in spite of the agreement being voted down by the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), the work union that ensures fairness from the League on behalf of the players.

Several things are going to be different this time around, compared to what one would usually expect from a run of the mill 162-game season. Particularly with the schedule, Designated Hitter (DH) role, and extra innings. This article from CBS Sports explains everything in detail.

I find it interesting that all teams will play 40 of their games against divisional opponents, and the remaining 20 against the corresponding league’s opponents from the matching division. As far as I know, there unfortunately won’t be any fans allowed as of yet. But this just seems like a unique, cool, and practical way to approach things. Teams that are geographically close will play each other the most, so as to limit travel, and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

My favorite team, the Cleveland Indians, will play 40 games (10 each) against American League Central opponents (White Sox, Twins, Tigers, Royals), and 20 games (four each) against the National League Central (Reds, Pirates, Cubs, Cardinals, Brewers). I’m excited the most about all the rivalries this new schedule will maintain or create for 2020! Classic divisional match-ups like Indians/Tigers and Indians/White Sox, as well as the “Battle of Ohio” between the Indians and the Reds. Heck, perhaps there will be an eventual rivalry between Cleveland and Pittsburgh, since the Tribe and Pirates are slated to go at it four times in 2020.

The DH rule for both the American League and National League (the league that traditionally lets pitchers bat), is interesting too. For the first time in history, both leagues will have a Designated Hitter. That is, an extra hitter who bats in place of the pitcher. I know that probably makes some baseball purists roll their eyes. But I see the thinking behind it, and can agree with it.

Things are already in a precarious, uncertain position with teams trying to protect their players from the spread of COVID-19. They also want to limit the possibility of over-extending and injuring their starting pitchers as much as they can. On a normal, good start for a pitcher, he might go for anywhere from 6-7 innings, and throw close to 100 pitches a game. That’s a decent amount of wear and tear on the body and arm. The last thing teams from the National League would need is a freak accident, like a pitcher taking a fastball to the forearm by accident when they’re batting. Baseball, even at 60 games, is a LONG season. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, and MLB is aiming to keep their players as healthy as possible.

Extra inning games will be interesting too, as each team will start their half of the inning with a runner in scoring position (on second base). This new rule aims to limit the possibility of games taking a LONG time to finish. With the new rule, teams could theoretically win with a single hit that scores the runner from second base. This makes sense to me. In long extra inning games, managers sometimes go through their entire bullpen (relief pitchers), and have nobody fresh or rested up to pitch the next day. So some guys are forced to pitch multiple days in a row, which wears them out. Infielders and outfielders also become fatigued and tired if a game goes deep into extra innings. This is a smart move by Major League Baseball.

As far as I know, there hasn’t been a plan set in stone for the Playoffs, which are slated to get underway in the beginning of October. But my guess is MLB is going to cross that bridge when they get there. Commissioner Rob Manfred is will probably just let this abbreviated regular season play out, and then go from there.

I’m just happy. Happy to have something positive to look forward to, get excited about, and enjoy. I can practically hear the crack of the bat as Carlos Santana belts one outta here. I can hear Indians announcer Tom Hamilton with his classic home run call: “SWUNG ON AND BELTED! AWAAAAAY BACK AND GONE!” I can smell the popcorn, and taste the brown, salty goodness that is Stadium Mustard on a ballpark hot dog. Even though fans aren’t allowed back at Progressive Field yet, I can’t help but smile knowing baseball is on its way. Christmas in late July!

I hope baseball brings our country some peace and happiness in the midst of everything going on. Diehard baseball fans and casual fans alike will have their beloved game back. Hopefully it will help heal the national divide a little bit, too. At least for a moment in time, politics, race, and other things won’t matter when people watch their favorite team with their friends. I know several friends who I don’t agree with politically. And they don’t agree with me. But the commonality many of us share? Our love of the Cleveland Indians and the game of baseball! For this day at least, God decided to give our nation a small break with the return of a game so many of us love.

I end this post with two of the most famous words in sports: PLAY BALL!

This Day in History: The Battle of Bunker Hill

I’ve been on a patriotic kick the last few days. I don’t know how I realized it, but I thought that it was really neat that today, June 17th, is the anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill, an early engagement in the Revolutionary War. This battle was also the first significant statement made by the Continental Army to the British. Bunker Hill has always inspired me, because it was the first time our men stood up to the British and gave back as good as they got. They held their own.

If Lexington and Concord was like the bully pushing someone aside or stiff arming somebody, Bunker Hill was like the good guy winding up, punching the bully in the face, and giving him a black eye or broken nose. This was the first time where the Continental Army fought as if to say: We’re here to stay. We’re not going away. One of us is going to go. And if we go, we’re taking a bunch of you down with us!

Two months before, in the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19th, 1775, the war for our Independence began. A ragtag group of farmers, merchants and sailors took on the most powerful army in the world. To most, it probably seemed like a suicide mission.

So you can imagine the shock from the American public, and from the British themselves, when just two months later on June 17th, 1775, Patriots inflicted absolutely NASTY casualties in attempting to hold Bunker Hill/Breed’s Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts!

**Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill, just outside of Boston and Boston Harbor**

During the first battles of the war in Lexington and Concord, the British lost a total of 300 troops, while we lost 93. Bunker Hill’s losses made that look tame. It was a bloodbath at Bunker Hill. In all, the British lost over 1,000 troops in the battle, compared to 450 casualties on the American side.

The Patriots did indeed lose this battle, as they eventually ran out of ammunition and were forced to retreat from their fortified positions on Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill after beating back the British advance three times. But not before making the Redcoats pay DEARLY.

While the British did eventually capture the Charlestown Peninsula, which Bunker Hill was on, the commander of the British forces that day, General William Howe, knew the Redcoats couldn’t consistently take that many casualties and expect to win the war. He knew that this was no longer a small insurrection or localized rebellion. The British Empire now had a full-fledged war to fight. In the aftermath of the carnage, he was reported to have said, “A few more such victories would have shortly put an end to British dominion in America.”

Bunker Hill is not only known in American history for the extraordinary courage shown by the Patriots in their first time going toe to toe in an even battle with the Redcoats, it is also known for the death of Dr. Joseph Warren, an American General, and a martyr in our war for Independence.

**Dr. Joseph Warren, Patriot Politician and General**

Until his death, Warren had served as the president of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress. He was also a member of the Sons of Liberty with John Hancock, Sam Adams and others. He was the one who ordered Paul Revere’s famous “Midnight Ride” to warn the citizens of Lexington and Concord that the Redcoats were coming.

While I am grateful for Dr. Warren’s contributions to the eventual birth of our nation, I am perhaps most impressed and inspired by his decision to fight alongside his men at the Battle of Bunker Hill, rather than from the rear. Warren was promoted to General shortly before the battle, but instead offered to serve as a Volunteer Private under General Israel Putnam instead, which Putnam accepted. Not many generals fought alongside their men in 18th century warfare. Most commanded the strategy of the battle from the rear on their horse.

**Joseph Warren, right, offering to serve under General Putnam, left**

While I cannot find anything on this, my guess as to why Warren offered to fight alongside his men, was so he could inspire them and rally them to keep going if need be. He was definitely an enthusiastic warrior for the Patriot cause, saying just before the battle, “These fellows say we won’t fight! By Heaven, I hope I shall die up to my knees in British blood!” Unfortunately, Warren got his wish, being killed just after the British broke through, and stormed the American defenses at Breed’s Hill. He was only 34 years old, leaving behind four young children and a fiancee.

You would think that losing 450 men, and one of the most prominent leaders would break the back and the spirit of the Patriot cause. But all the Battle of Bunker Hill did was serve to inspire the Continental Army, and the Thirteen Colonies as a whole, to continue the war for Independence, which they eventually won in October of 1781 at Yorktown, Virginia. Thanks in part to Dr. Joseph Warren and the other Patriots who fought courageously, and died at Bunker Hill, we have the freedoms that we enjoy today. God bless them all, and God Bless The United States of America!

What makes an American?

What makes an American? This question was sparked by conversations with my father, one of the wisest men, and fiercest American Patriots that I know. Can we all answer the question of what it means to be an American with any sort of conviction, especially in today’s uncertain and scary times? If we could, we wouldn’t be where we currently are as a nation.

There are no uniquely American principles being respected. Nothing is sacred right now. Up is down. Black is white. Good is evil and evil is good. By some, rioting is seen as a legitimate form of protest. Peaceful protest is deemed unpatriotic and ridiculed by others. Police are hated. There is no respect by our elected political officials for the offices which they currently hold. They are only there to gain power and keep it as long as they can. Old Glory is burned and desecrated, and other symbols of our history, both good and bad, are being removed because they offend people in some way. People who should see each other as fellow Americans are at each other’s throats, ready to tear each other apart. Where are our unifying principles of what it means to be an American in the midst of all this chaos? I cannot see them.

As simple-minded as this view may sound, I think we start becoming Americans by learning to respect each others’ beliefs and opinions. If that happened, we would be well on our way to becoming a peaceful country, and ascending back to our rightful place in the world. In an ideal America, people could agree to disagree, talk out their differences respectfully, and our politicians would respect their offices and their colleagues on opposite sides of the aisle.

We would also be the country that serves as the standard for every other. As the beacon of hope, justice and freedom to the rest of the world. As the nation that leads our allies in the fight for good, and strikes the fear of God into the hearts of all the evil people who would harm those who love peace and justice.

This next characteristic that I believe makes us American, gets swallowed up in the relentless media cycle: Peoples’ ability to think critically WITHOUT being spoon fed all the bullshit spewed by the big media networks. Back in the early days, when our country was a young nation, we didn’t have people in very high places lobbying for airtime on Fox or CNN. Politics wasn’t flooded with dirty money. We weren’t fed stereotypical Democrat or Republican talking points on an hourly basis. We weren’t indoctrinated so we’d pick one side and demonize the other. There were only local newspapers that reported the goings on in different cities. People saw the truth (or as close as they could get to it), and acted accordingly. They thought for themselves.

Personal responsibility also seems to have been forgotten. People seem to want to blame anyone but themselves for failure. Republicans blame Democrats and vice versa. Politicians in Washington blame each other for the sad state this country is in…without doing a damn thing to work together and fix it! On a personal level, people blame a broken system for their state in life. Blacks blame white people and vice versa. Nobody seems to want to sit down, look at themselves and say, “You know what? I cannot control everything, but maybe my misfortune, or lack of understanding of others’ situation isn’t all on other people. Maybe I play a part in the predicament. How can I better myself to get out of it, and help others out of it?”

There’s a reason people call achieving success in this country “The American Dream.” Anyone can achieve success on their own merit and work ethic if they work hard enough, and make the right choices. I firmly believe that. America is also one of the only countries in the world where we are encouraged to think big, and choose our desired path in life. No one else chooses our path in life but us. People seem to also forget the simple phrase “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” Interpret this how you will. But how I see it is, in America, you are able to live the life you want, with all the freedoms and security that this country provides, and can make it big if you put the work in.

In the cases where a truly unjust system DOES hold people back from living the lives that they want, either from racism or other discrimination, guess what? The First Amendment is in place to help citizens change the system. The First Amendment guarantees four fundamentally American rights: the right to freedom of speech, the right to freedom of the press, the right to petition one’s government for grievances, and the right to assembly (i.e. peaceful protest). I remember something that happened about a decade ago when I was out to eat with my parents and sister at Los Arcos, our favorite Mexican restaurant in Upper Sandusky, Ohio (it’s worth a try if you’re ever in the area. The people are really friendly, the service is top notch, and the food and margaritas are absolutely fantastic!).

As we were eating our meal, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a lone protester walking along down the middle of the road. He was carrying a sign that said, “We live in a fascist country. Prove me wrong.” Now, I do not know what that man was protesting or picketing about, but I had to chuckle to myself. The fact that he was able to carry a sign like that in public that was critical of our country is protected by his First Amendment rights. If the United States of America truly WAS a fascist country, he would be reported, arrested, or in the worst case scenario, shot and killed for his beliefs. But because America is built the way she is thanks to our Founding Fathers, he has the freedom to air his grievances without fear of repercussion or bodily harm as long as he’s within the law.

I think we’re all incredibly spoiled here in the States. We don’t realize how much we can do or say, and not have to worry about our own safety. Two authoritarian governments that don’t allow their citizens to speak out come to my mind: China and North Korea. I know if I were North Korean instead of American, there’s a pretty good chance I would either be dead, or rotting away in some dark jail cell, as I have been very critical of the US Government and leadership for many years. But because of my rights as an American, I can say pretty much anything I want as long as I am within the law, and not willfully inciting panic. America affords me that.

In certain, extreme cases where the government becomes tyrannical, and strips away our rights as American citizens, we are also afforded the right, and even encouraged to overthrow our government by force, and install a new system of government that works better for the good of all people. I remember hearing this line from the Declaration of Independence years ago in the movie National Treasure, but it still always gives me chills:

“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new guards for their future security.”

Thankfully, this right has only been used twice: By the Patriots during the American Revolution, and by the South during the Civil War. In both of those cases, a sizable number of people thought the current government in power was overstepping their bounds, and they rose up in armed opposition. How many other countries allow for something like that to happen? Not many. Most countries wouldn’t allow, or openly encourage armed conflict to set the government straight if it gets to the point where it becomes truly evil and tyrannical.

Lastly, I believe we are truly Americans when we honor the good history of those who have built this nation regardless of what we think of them. I also believe we are truly Americans when we are students of history, and recognize mistakes, learn from them, and do our absolute best to not repeat those mistakes. This is where I have a problem with people removing things like Confederate flags and statues. Do I support what the Confederacy stood for? Absolutely not. I had ancestors who actively fought against the South during the Civil War. My great-great-great Grandfather Jacob “Burr” Wickiser was a soldier in the 45th Ohio Infantry, and I am grateful for his service and for him. But I believe we need to leave Confederate statues and flags alone to actively remind us of what not to do. Or we risk making the same mistake twice.

Let me explain my reasoning with another personal anecdote: When I was probably 11 or 12 years old, I had a Red Ryder BB Gun. It was loaded, but not cocked or ready to fire. So I played with it in the house without pulling the trigger, acting like I was shooting bad guys. Eventually, I sat down on my bed and was examining the gun’s stock for nicks or rough spots. I wasn’t thinking, and pulled the lever that cocks the gun to check underneath the stock, unknowingly cocking the gun. As I sat back against the wall, my finger got a little too close to the trigger and BANG! A small, silver BB was lodged in the ceiling! Boy, my old man chewed me a new ass that day! And anytime I asked him to take that BB down, he was like, “Nope. We’re gonna leave it up there forever. So you remember what kind of stupid decision you made, and never do it again.”

I view leaving Confederate statues and flags alone the same way. The Confederacy, and all that came with it, was a shameful mistake in our history. And if our country ever gets to such a point like it was back in 1861, hopefully the statues and flags serve as a warning to avoid another civil war by not making stupid mistakes, by resolving our differences, and learning to treat each other with respect. If we whitewash bad history to avoid offending people, we risk forgetting what got us to that point in the first place.

Hopefully this article has shed some light on what it means to truly be an American. I know it’s not easy to find commonalities that bring us all together in divided times like these, but I believe they are still there. I believe these commonalities always have been there. They’re just harder to see. I hope one day, more people recognize that there are more things that bring us together than divide us. America is sick right now. Lady Liberty has been hurting for years. She’s suffering greatly, and at a tipping point. But if we recognize and hold our commonalities as sacred, America will eventually get up off her knees. She’ll be bolstered by us, her people, and she’ll lead the world into a bright future. I can only hope I live to see that day! God bless you all, and God bless America! 🙂