Wednesday, November 5, 2008

My Fellow Americans

The election is over, and we now have a new President-elect.

I'm pretty sure you already know that. However, I want you to think about something that is even more important that you might not have considered. We are Americans; citizens of the UNITED States of America. It breaks my heart to see just how divided we are right now.

Most candidates will say that they won't run a "dirty" campaign, that they won't air negative ads. But they do. They ALL do!!! We've all had to see it, hear it and read about it. Democrat vs. Republican, North vs. South, East Coast vs. West Coast, blue states vs. red states, black vs. white, male vs. female.....and on it goes. United? NO!!!!

Don't think for one moment that our enemies don't sit back and revel in our division!!!!! The tragedies of September 11, 2001 didn't just "happen". They were plotted and schemed and executed by people who hated our country. They weren't targeting Democrats or Republicans. They didn't care what race the victims were. Or their gender, or religion, or their age. Nope - any ole American would do, and the more the better. People who hated us because we were Americans!! The things that make our country so great - our freedoms, our rights, our way of life - are threatened daily by hostile forces. And we as a country sit back and spend millions and millions of dollars, and the past year fighting amongst ourselves?? Does this not sound crazy to anyone else???

I proudly served in the U.S. Air Force. I raised my right hand and took a solemn oath to protect our country, with my life if necessary. I promise you this, there was no way this service left me unchanged, unmoved, by that oath, our flag, and our national anthem. I was willing to fight, and die, to protect my country. Now I'm an Army wife and I have had to see my husband, my beloved, serve in war and be sent to Iraq on three separate tours. It's one thing to volunteer for yourself; it's much harder to stand back and see someone you love at risk. But we do it because we love our country and the risk is worth it. It's worth EVERYTHING and ANYTHING to keep this country strong and safe.

Now that is not to say that if you haven't served or have someone you love who has served, that you don't love your country too. My point is we know how it feels, that burden, that sacrifice, of putting yourself or your loved ones in harm's way to protect our country. It changes you. It makes you aware of what is at stake in a very real, very unique way.

We simply cannot afford to be divided now. Whether "your guy" won or the "other guy", it's now immaterial. We MUST stand behind our government and fix the serious problems and issues we as a country now face. It's not enough to just vote once every four years and hope it will all turn out ok. If you want change then you need to be involved!! Voting is just one step of the process. Be informed, do your research, find out who is voting contrary to your wishes and be heard!! It's not just a priviledge, it's your responsibility. Don't be a part of the problem, be a part of the solution!!

Today is a new day. It's a new chance to get back to the values, morals and principles our great country was founded upon!!! WE MUST WORK TOGETHER!!! Because folks, if we don't......divided we shall surely fall.

16 comments:

Kristina P. said...

Excellent post. I couldn't agree more!

Aubrey said...

What a great post. Well said!

The Wife O Riley said...

Very Well said!

merc3069 said...

Amen!

MommaSuds said...

Jeannie that is one of the best and most honest posts I have read today. Thank you so much for posting this today. We will fall divided that is true. I hope we can all come together and change the things that need changed.

Denise @ Sunflowers, Chocolate and Little Boys said...

I agree....that was very well said. thank you!

FROGGITY! said...

Totally agree! :)

Also, this post is a big Amen to what you just said: http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/2008/11/united-house.html

Intense Guy said...

Excellent post and Amen!

Ginny said...

Great post, very inspiring. This is something we can agree on :)

Sandy said...

I'm with ya! Great post!

Heather M. said...

That is a wonderful post!! Well said and thanks to you and your husband for your sacrifices :-)

Shan G said...

AMEN, sister!

ChicagoLady said...

I just found your blog via IntenseGuy's, and agree with everything you've said here.

Thank you to your husband for serving this great nation. Thank you, for serving this great nation.

My niece is a Major in the AF, my brother was in the AF, my father was in the Army Air Corps (predecessor to the AF), my grandfather joined the regular Army at 16 to fight in WWI, became the youngest master sergent in history (at that time, don't know if it's still true), and my grandmother was a nurse during the flu epidemic during WWI, where she nursed my grandfather back to health.

I've been very fortunate that no one in my family has died in war, but as a family with a long military history, I understand the sacrifices our men and women in uniform make when they fight for us.

We definitely need to be united behind our president, whether he be Republican or Democrat. Unfortunately, our wonderful members of Congress, that just love to drive partisan wedges into everything, probably won't ever get this message.

Blicky Kitty said...

I loved your post and thank you so much for your service!

I couldn't agree with you more. I have family members who are complete opposites politically but we all still find a way to care about each other and laugh at ourselves. Why can't we do that in our country? Everyone just wants what's best for the US anyway. It always makes me wonder who stands to gain in this country from partisan bickering, the media?

Amarie said...

That was SO well-said. You are absolutely right, we are the UNITED States of America. And no, the terrorists didn't care about the color or creed of the people they killed. I lost a dear classmate on 9/11, and I watched those buildings collapse from my office right across the water. But fortunately, I haven't experienced any division or negativity with the election, although I know it's out there. I think 9/11 has bonded us, especially New Yorkers, together forever. It's time to forget the division and get behind our president. I am thrilled and blessed to be experiencing nothing but LOVE, and I hope that we can all just unite and move forward. :-).

jubilee said...

Oh so true.

Thank you for your service and for your husband's service to our country.