Lone Protester- Patriotism

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October 29, 2007 10:06 PM

Member Since:
July 31, 2007

I have always been a fan of military history. I have books about warfare from the Greeks to Iraq and Afghanistan. I grew up reading the stories of people like Julius Caesar, Leonidas and the Spartans, Xenophon, Genghis Kahn and many others. My favorites, though, are the Americans, ones like George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Robert E. Lee, Blackjack Pershing, and George Patton. The list is endless. And fascinating. There are so many stirring stories of American patriots, from the beginning to present day. To read some of those stories, you wonder how could they have achieved what they did under such impossible conditions. I finally figured that out, it is because of their love for their comrades and their country. And if is because of men like these that America is what it is today.

Merriam-Webster defines patriotism as love for or devotion to your country. And there are many different types. Let us just say that it is someone who loves their country and is willing to do anything to make it better. The US military defines it in it's own way, the Soldiers Creed says-- I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces which guards my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense. That is patriotism. The willingness to lay your life on the line for your country.

For those of you who do not know, US Navy SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy was awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously, by the President on 22 October 2007 for his actions in Afghanistan. The citation reads, “In his final act of bravery he continued to engage the enemy until he was mortally wounded, gallantly gave his life for his country and for the cause of freedom”. That is the ultimate sacrifice; Lt. Murphy is a true American hero in the best traditions of this great country and we should honor him for it. In our present day wars we have many heroes, and this country is the better because of it.

In World War I, US Marines were headed to the front, suddenly, French soldiers started retreating through their lines. A French officer stopped by Capt. Lloyd Williams of the Fifth Marine Regiment, ordering him to fall back. He repled, " Retreat Hell, We just got here". This is what I am trying to explain, namely, the American military idea of patriotism and heroes. And there have been many of them. In many wars.

I have been to the island of Corregidor in the Philippines twice. It sits in the mouth of Manila Bay and once guarded the city from the Japanese threat in the South China Sea. It is a small island, one kilometer wide by four kilometers long and shaped like a tadpole. When the war started it was called Fortress Corregidor or just simply the Rock. It is a fascinating place to visit because everything is just like it was the day the war ended. The guns are silent now but they are still there. Huge, 51 ton monsters taken from old battleships and mounted on cradles. They were called disappearing guns because they would drop back down after each firing. The Japanese guns could never find them because of that. One huge gun was blown from its mount, 600 meters through the air and killed over 50 American soldiers standing outside Malinta tunnel. That gun barrel still lies where it landed. There were huge mortars that lobbed shells onto the Japanese on Bataan and when you walk up to them today you see shrapnel gouges all over. Those guns still sit on that island, as a monument to the American soldiers that served there.

On Fortress Corregidor every American soldier, sailor and marine laid their lives on the line for America. There are plaques everywhere attesting to the bravery of those Americans that served there. And many of them paid with their lives. The ones that survived spent the rest of the war in POW camps. In the American Embassy in Manila is a picture of a monument of the names of every soldier that gave their lives in the battle for the Philippines. There are thousands of names on it. Standing in front of it is a Master Sergeant, crying his eyes out for his comrades whose names are on that wall. That area has a lot of history and I encourage everyone who goes to that part of the world to visit these places because they will touch something deep inside of you.

And Guadacanal in the Solomon Islands, there are a lot of books written about that island. I think one of the better ones is “No Bended Knee”, the Battle for Guadacanal, by USMC Gen. Merrill B. Twining. Even today, 1st Marine Division soldiers wear a patch that reads “Guadacanal” on their shoulders because of the awesome sacrifices their former comrades made on that island. In a captured diary that belonged to the Japanese commander was the following quote, "What is Guadacanal? I will tell you, Guadacanal is the graveyard of the Japanese army". That is a striking, and it says everything anyone could ever ask about the bravery of the American fighting man. And the sacrifices they are willing to make because of their love for their country and comrades.

I have briefly, tried to give you a glimpse of my idea of patriotism, but like I said in the beginning, patriotism comes in many forms and not only the military kind. There are literally millions of Americans today in every part of this country that are standing up and letting their leaders know that we are sick and tired of how our country is being run into the ground. Americans everywhere, are totally frustrated with our elected leaders who do not listen to what we tell them. 85% of Americans wants one thing and Congress elects to do another. Americans everywhere, want our laws enforced, but our leaders elect to disregard what they say, and instead to pursue narrow minded political goals that will enhance the power of their parties. And it is the American people that must pay the price.

Just think about all the heroes that gave their lives for Americans to be free, from George Washington to Lt. Michael Murphy. Think about the sacrifices they made to make this country great. Are you going to let a bunch of worthless, useless politicians, that are more worried about getting re-elected, than they are in America, to determine the future path of this country? Are you going to let go down the drain, what millions of patriots gave their lives for? This is my country and your country and it is time for every American to stand up and be counted. Before it is too late.

October 29, 2007 10:43 PM

macmaulding

Member Since:
March 2, 2007

Thank you so much for that article. I am 79 and I remember America when she was great. When our generation passes, there will be none left to tell the world how it once was. What with history being rewritten to be politically correct. No one will know.

The world needs to be reminded that is was the U.S citizens with their tax money, that was responsible for the rebuilding of Germany and Japan. That our Military has been prepared to this day to defend them against aggressors, so that they might feel free. The working populace of this Country has sacrificed over and over to aid the people of other Nations. I wonder if they will help us, if and when we need them. Will they remember that people do not make wars - governments do.

We the people, have allowed this government to take away our Liberty and Freedom. We may have slept too long.

"Thank you" is not enough to express my feelings for you and all the service men that have contributed to defense of our Country, but unfortunately I don't have any other words - so THANK YOU.

carolyn

Lone Protester- Patriotism

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