Should America Be Feared?

Yes! But let me explain where I'm coming from.

From my early childhood days, I feared many people and things. I feared my parents. I feared my school principals. I feared the police. I feared some bullies. I feared what Cuba might do. I feared the moonless night on a Kentucky farm. I feared those things (and more) for different reasons.

As for my parents, school principals, and police officers - I feared them IF I did wrong. I feared the wrath that would come, if I did wrong. I didn't fear living with them, or going to school, or seeing the police drive down the street. But I respected them, for who they were and what they each stood for.

Bullies were another matter. I feared getting beat up, for NO reason. I feared crossing their paths, because I knew they needed no reason for coming after me. But I had NO respect for them.

I feared the moonless night on my great uncle's Kentucky farm, because I didn't know what might be "out there" in the dark. Respect played no part of it, I was just scared of the unknown.

Cuba, as well as Russia, were a threat to our nation, and I feared destruction from their missiles. Our nations were at odds, and I had no control over what might happen, but knew that Dayton, my home town, was a target. And I had no respect for those countries.

It seems to me, that America is no longer feared, and barely respected. We used to be both. And I see it this way. One can be both feared, and respected. And I think America should be both.

We should be feared. Feared that if another country, or even any group of people, would try to do us harm, a world of hurt would come down upon them. Come down hard, fast, and survivability in extreme doubt. With that, we should use all degrees of force needed, plus one, to defeat those who would attack us.

As for respect? Respect, in that for all others in the world, we can be counted on for aid of all kinds, in times of natural calamities, and hostile threats. If you are not our enemy, then expect our friendship. In turn, we should respect the sovereignty and laws of other nations, and expect our laws to be respected when others visit us.

America leads the world in aid. Our military is almost always first on the scene for some nation in times of natural disaster. American taxpayers have provided untold billions in relief and support. Too much in some cases, as we've given money to countries who only betray us later, or betray their own people.

To the countries around the world, I would say this - If you need and want our help and friendship, we're here for you. But if you mean us harm, militarily or otherwise, then don't hold your hand out for anything other than a slap-down. If our aid, comes with conditions you don't like, then simply don't ask or take our help. There are other countries out there who might help, so talk to them. But the days of holding a hand out for help with one hand, while holding a gun to do us harm in the other, should be forever laid to rest. Pick one, but not both!

Our Pledge of Allegiance

The Pledge of Allegiance and the Flag, and what it means to me -

What do those things mean to you? What do they mean to those who come here, legally or not? I don't know those answers, but I can tell you what they mean to me.

Our Pledge of Allegiance is an interesting oath -

“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

I see this oath, not one to take precedence over God, or a pledge to obey any "god", but as an oath to keep an allegiance to America over all other nations. "America" and the "Flag" represents ALL citizens of this great nation. It was never meant to me to be loyal to any one political party, President, or other entity. America - What a wonderful and beautiful word - is a word that, to me, stands for freedom. As too does the "Flag of The United State of America". And our Pledge of Allegiance is TO America.
As for the "under God" part... I've never felt that meant I must believe in "God", or that I must be a Christian follower, but is a simple acknowledgment that America was founded on the Christian beliefs of conduct toward our fellow man. There are many, many quotes from texts and letters of our Founding Fathers that prove this out. It is a FACT that one of the guiding forces behind their drive toward a new nation of freedom, was their Christian beliefs. And, at no time in modern history, has any man, woman, or child, been denied justice and/or freedom, because he or she wasn't a Christian or didn't believe in God, or was a follower of any other religion.
I pass my thoughts on - and forgive me for being so bold to do so and think you might value them - so that anyone, citizen, or wannabe citizen, might consider them. IF you choose to live here (excluding legal visitors), if you want to live here as a free citizen of The United States of America, as an American, then I suggest that you take an allegiance to America above ALL other countries. Otherwise, what ever country anyone wishes to hold some allegiance to, go there and live.

This IS America. The citizens of The United States of America have historically invited people from all over the world to come here and share in our freedoms and opportunities. But hear this, IF anyone's true allegiance is to ANY other country, don't come here, and if you are here already, don't stay. Forget politics. Forget foreign policy when it comes to my point here. Make those changes from within, as active and participating citizens. But to hold ANY allegiance to any other country, is UN-American, and such a person doesn't belong here.

As for flying the Flag - Untold hundreds of thousands of men and women fought, and died, for this country and the flag they fought under. Please, what ever your protest, don't burn our Flag or fly her upside down. Those who served before, those serving now, and those who will serve tomorrow, deserve to have the Flag of their country treated in a respectful way. Burn all the likenesses of elephants and donkeys you want, but not our Flag. Yes, a citizen would be free to do so. But having a "right" to do it, doesn't make it "right" thing to do. It isn't.

This is America, the United States of America. While I won't say, "Like it or leave it", I will say, "Pledge allegiance to the United States of America above all other nations, or leave it." There are things that may need changing. There may be things you don't agree with or don't like. I'm fine with that, so long as you get involved to help make it better. But if anyone holds ANY allegiance to another country over America, LEAVE NOW. If you want to be a free American citizen, then come on in and help us be better, and take the Pledge of Allegiance to The United States of America.
America. I hate the politics, but I love my country. Land of the free. Home of the brave.

Immigration - One man's view

Jobs, the economy, and immigration. With some debate, I expect those are a few the top US issues of the day. But it seems that "immigration" may bring more heated debate than most the others. I know I have strong opinions on the subject, and some of those may surprise a few folks.

I'll say right here and now - I DO NOT blame those illegals who come to make for a better life for their families. If I were in their shoes, I'd do what ever I could to get my family away from any bad situation, be it in Mexico, Columbia, Iraq, China, or where ever I was. You wouldn't?

But, I would expect several things to apply to my situation, and this is where I feel we need to focus.

1.  I would expect to find and use the legal avenues available to get into the country I chose to enter. I can't help my family if I'm dodging the authorities, or in jail.
2.  I would want to assimilate into my new country, as soon as I could. That means learning the language and laws.
3.  If my "homeland" was so bad that I had to leave, then I would also expect to re-align my allegiance to my new country. ("I pledge allegiance to the flag .....")
4.  I would do all I could to pay my own way, and not be a new burden to my new country.

There is another element to the illegals that need addressed. And that is those who only wish to come in for seasonal work. I expect them to "use the door" too. That is, use the Ports Of Entry, provide identification, and be subjected to a criminal background check.

But for any of that to happen, legally, we DO need practical immigration change. We do NOT need an open border, or amnesty. Here is what I would propose -

A.  Close the borders...TIGHT. (Bring some of military home from other world settings, to man the border.)
B.  Streamline our alien entry to permit anyone to enter, with a temporary, and easily renewable, visa. Visas,
while easily renewable, can only be renewed after the foreign national returns to their own country for at
least 30 days. A criminal background checks would be done.
C.  For seasonal workers, a worker visa would be issued with a shorter visa time period, and then, only with a sponsor employer, who also had to get a permit to employ such workers. (No permit? HEAVY fines!)
D.  For those wishing to become US citizens, they must attend classes to help them assimilate into the
country, and MUST swear an allegiance to their new country.
E.  Lastly, the issue of anchor babies,  i.e. those born in the US when the parents are foreign nationals. I suggest a change in the law that would change this situation, and any baby being born in the US, who's parents are NOT US citizens, would NOT gain US citizenship.
Weather it's Ellis Island, or Douglass, Arizona, I expect those wishing to become American citizens to use the door. Not sneak in through the back door or window, like a thief in the night.

To those who would call those of us against ILLEGAL immigration "racists". Kiss my butt. Get it through your very thick head, that isn't about LEGAL immigration. It's all about ILLEGAL immigration. And it's time to FIX the problem.