It’s been 70 years since some 22,000 Polish prisoners were gruesomely executed in the Katyn Forest Massacre in Russia. Among those killed were doctors and lawyers, journalists and generals, lawyers and businessmen – men of distinction – reservists. It was an annihilation that was arguably part of Stalin’s plan to cripple Poland and render them powerless where independence was concerned.
To say that this bloodbath strained relations between the Soviets (now Russia) and Poland would be an understatement at best, making the events of April 10, 2010, all the more incomprehensible, when a plane carrying 96 of the most powerful people in the Republic of Poland, including Polish President Lech Kaczynski, crashed six miles from the site of the 1940 massacre. History had repeated itself.
I learned of the crash shortly after awakening on that Saturday morning, and immediately thought of my good friend Harvey Kushner, a widely-known and respected authority on terrorism. We’d spoken several times on the importance of Polish-American relations and shared a couple of related stories from time to time. In fact, Harvey had announced earlier that week that two of his closest friends from Poland would be among those making the trip to Katyn, where they would attend the memorial service to commemorate those horrid events. Continue reading HR 1489 – Time for answers regarding the Polish plane crash
At the close of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, Benjamin Franklin said that the work of our founding fathers had given us a Republic… “if [we] could keep it.”
More than 200 years after those words were spoken, one could view his words as prophetic at the least. As well, they must come as a wake-up, lest we lose the Republic.
We aren’t here today because of luck. We are here because for more than 200 years, men and women have been willing to fight to ensure that our unalienable rights endowed by our creator would be secure – among them life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
We are here because the American soldier carries the flag in his heart – a heart inspired by something bigger than financial gains or personal agendas. The soldier carries the flag of freedom – willing to pay any price necessary – in order to ensure that flag doesn’t falter.
The soldier carries the flag in the physical fight when necessary as a part of the best trained and most technologically advanced military in the world. He carries it when he treats the wounded civilians of a tyrannical society. He carries it as he buries fallen comrades.
The soldier carries the quest for freedom – and no price is too dear to pay to achieve that mission.
The flag bearers of the Revolutionary War knew this position as well. Unarmed and on the front line, they had but one call – to carry the flag. That was their weapon.
Such is our case today as American citizens. As citizens of the greatest country on the face of the earth, we aren’t in need of guns or IEDs, cannons or RPGs. We are in need of the flag – not just because of its physical form – but because of what it stands for.
Today, we are called to be flag bearers. Called to remember the Republic that our founders were willing to give their very lives for – a Republic where life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were non-negotiable.
We’re called on to remember the heart of the soldier – to reinforce through our actions everything each of them stands to fight for and defend on our behalf.
I believe we find ourselves in this moment in time not by happenstance, but by Providence. It is you and I who will determine the answer to Benjamin Franklin’s question. It is ours to decide whether we are worthy of the sacrifices made by our founders and those who have followed.
It is our mission – today and every day that follows.
Note: I ran this column last year, and believe it is worthy – and appropriate – on this Flag Day, as well. May we fly Old Glory high and proud!
In the winter of 1969, the sentimental comic Red Skelton treated his television audience to a story from his childhood.
He spoke of the significance of the Flag of the United States of America, and the Pledge of Allegiance, reminding them that our Pledge is not a tedious recitation of empty words, but a clear and resounding testament of who we are as Americans. Mr. Skelton’s analysis is as timely today as it was 40 years ago. Enjoy!
I met Tim and Marsha Hunt several years ago. We had gathered in Lebanon, TN for bridge dedications honoring the fallen soldiers from Tennessee’s 278th Army National Guard. Among the fallen was their son, Sgt. Joey Hunt.
In the years that have followed, the Hunts have become very dear friends – more like family, really. While I never got to meet Joey, I feel as if he’s my brother. Because of his parents’ love, dedication and strength, Joey’s memory is alive and well.
Please remember all those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice this Memorial Day and every day. Love you, Joey…
By now, we’re all well-aware of the fact that from the inception of the Tea Party movement, the entire leftist administration and drive-by media immediately jumped to the conclusion that Tea Partiers (so they had a cruder term) were anti-government right-wing fringe.
For more than a year, they’ve insisted that we are the threat to America. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Too bad they choose to ignore the fact that Tea Partiers and other like-minded conservatives are anything but violent – that we’re proud freedom-loving Americans who believe in the principles on which this Republic was founded.
Isn’t it interesting that they have such a difficult time calling out radical Islamists?
In years prior, I believed Islamic terrorism would be the biggest threat America faced. I stand corrected.
There was no doubt that Pelosi and her henchmen had no plans to let the American public in on the details of the health care reconciliation bill prior to passing it. Remember her words?
As we know, that’s exactly how things played out – behind closed doors – with all the details of what is now law of the land slowly seeping out after the fact. The CLASS Act, inked in two days prior to the March 21 vote, is just another shining example of the snake oil forced upon Americans.
In case the CLASS (Community Living Assistance Services and Support) Act is news to you, it wasn’t included when the Senate passed their bill on Christmas Eve for reasons of fiscal irresponsibility and the like, with Kent Conrad, chair of the Senate Budget Committee going so far as to call it a “ponzi scheme.”
I say when you consider all the government is currently doing (or attempting to do – think health care, cap and tax your ass off, financial reform, etc.) Bernie Madoff is gonna come out looking like a guppy swimming in the ocean. Here’s why:
Beginnning in 2011, Americans who choose the entitlement program will begin paying $150-$250 per month (by the way, that’s per working person, not family). For the first five years, Americans will simply be paying into the system. Only after that time will Americans be eligible to qualify – and they must also be old enough to warrant home health care. Isn’t this special?
If you’re worried about having to get your checkbook out, don’t. It’ll automatically come out of your paycheck.
Add this to a mandate to purchase coverage, the very real possibility of a VAT tax and cap and tax, rising gas and food prices, and the middle class will have no choice but to break under the weight of such legislation.
The picture comes into clearer view each day. The destruction of the middle class is part of the plan – part of the fundamental transformation of America.
If anyone had said a few years ago that people from every walk of life and every corner of the country were sitting around watching C-Span on a Sunday night, I’d have laughed out loud.
I wasn’t laughing last night.
It was quite a scenario to behold, as I conversed with fellow patriots via Facebook and emails. One of my friends temporarily changed over to “The Simpsons”, figuring it would provide more sanity than the halls of Congress were offering.
Just so we’re clear, I’m all for reforming the health insurance system through employing tort reform, opening state borders so the individual can comparison shop and allowing for Health Savings Accounts.
This has nothing to do with health care. It has everything to do with usurping the will of the American people on a Sunday night, in the midst of tens of thousands who’d dropped everything at the last minute in one last effort to get to Washington, DC to say loud and clear, “Kill the Bill.”
But 219 members of the House weren’t listening. Again. They continued to twist arms and cut shady deals, lie to America, lie to themselves in order to push their socialist agenda on an unwilling Republic.
In doing so, they’ve not only awakened the sleeping giant, they’ve annoyed and angered and empowered the giant. My advice would be that you enjoy summer in DC this year. Because in November, you’re going home.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that the government is using a cool $300 million to market the 2010 Census. It’s easy to be frivolous with other people’s money. As in our money. As in taxpayer money.
It was one thing to receive notice that I’ll be getting the census form next week. What a waste of postage that one was – and I don’t even want to know the price tag for fear of getting sick.
Then I discover a fortune cookie company is getting in on the action as well. That’s right. The government is invading fortune cookies with such jaw-dropping statements as “Put down your chopsticks and get involved in Census 2010.”
If that doesn’t spur you on to action, nothing will, huh?
All I can say is you may want to open your next fortune cookie with caution. Because if the government starts predicting our futures, we’re sunk.
Note: This article originally appeared in the Feb. 10, 2010 edition of Family Security Matters.
The last time Tim and Marsha Hunt made the trip to Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center was the fall of 2004, when their son, Sgt. Joseph “Joey” Hunt, was preparing to deploy with Tennessee’s 278th Regimental Combat Team.
The Hunts made the trip again this past weekend, to see off the more than 3,000 National Guardsmen who are returning to Iraq with what is now known as the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment.
“Every time you watch soldiers leave or come home, it’s one of the hardest things we do,” Mr. Hunt said.
They know firsthand that for the 8,000-plus family members and friends in attendance, it was a day of conflicting emotions of pride and apprehension as they watched the Formation and Pass in Review of their soldiers before saying their goodbyes. Continue reading Coming full circle
Earlier this week, Obama once again targeted Las Vegas – this time during a town hall meeting in Nashau, NH:
“When times are tough, you tighten your belts,” the President said. “You don’t go buying a boat when you can barely pay your mortgage. You don’t blow a bunch of cash on Vegas when you’re trying to save for college.”
Although that’s pretty good advice, Mr. President, you and Congress apparently don’t see fit to following those words of frugality, insisting the government must spend its way out of the recession.
Looks like Nevada businessmen saw through the rhetoric, as well, and they didn’t take the jab at Vegas lying down.
According to Las Vegas Now, Rossi Ralenkotter, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority President and CEO, had this to say:
“While we appreciate Las Vegas is top of mind for the President, we would ask that he offer words of encouragement instead of criticism.”
Sen. Reid was more than a little miffed at Obama’s remarks, too. So much so that later that day, Reid received a letter of apology – assuming one could call it that.
At the close of the letter, Obama mentions his hopes that people visit Vegas in record numbers. One has to wonder if the President meant record highs or record lows.
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