July 4, 2019

Most years I take a break from Vietnam memorials on special holidays and try to speak to other things. This year, on Independence Day, here is what's on my mind.

Today is the day we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence and our break away from England to become a new Nation.

This is completely wrong as any Historian will tell you.

The Declaration was signed in Philadelphia on July 2nd but the printer did not get around to printing it until the 4th, so...

No matter, I guess, except as a caution to be careful as to what you may believe or think you know.

Here's another. We believe we are the free-est of peoples, but according to the most recent American Legion magazine article by Alan W. Dowd, this is just not so.

According to the Human Freedom Index which factors in rule of law, freedom of movement, freedom of religion and a number of other "freedoms" the U. S. ranks number 17!

On the International Property Rights Index, we rank at number 14.

The Heritage Foundation's Index of Economic Freedom: 12th.

On the Freedom House survey of political freedom we get a lower score than Canada, Costa Rica, Slovakia, Slovenia, France, and Finland.

The rest of Mr. Dowd's article is mostly a screed against government and you might agree or disagree, but my point is, not whether he is right or wrong, but, once again, be careful of what you think you know.

Some might argue that if you are not white and rich at the moment you are not doing as well as what we think our country promises us. Again a point argument will not decide if recent history is any indication.

So, I ask only that you do your homework, find out about what is happening in our country and the world. Research the various candidates and make a decision about for whom to vote.

Then Vote.

Too many of us say the parties are all the same and that it doesn't matter. But, it does and here is why. You may not think your vote matters and I know it is VERY easy to fall into this trap, but you know what?

Your boss is voting.

Your landlord is voting

Your banking officials are voting.

Your health care providers are voting.

The Insurance industry is voting.

The powerful interest groups are rallying their forces to vote.

The "military industrial complex" is voting.

Big oil is voting.

And, we out number them all, but only if we all educate ourselves and then, vote.

One final thing. No candidate is perfect, or embodies every single value or virtue we might want them to, or makes every decision just the way we might want them to, so you must find the person who most represents you, allow for their differences, and/or faults, and support them anyway.

Our way of life, our Democracy, our country, depends on it.

Next time, on the 9th, we will return to Virginia, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

To see Vietnam memorials, from any state, please click on the state name on the left side of this page.