There is so much disturbing news coming from the Middle East. You can choose to believe what is the root cause, but you cannot help but place some responsibility on our failed foreign policy and leadership.
Turning our backs
The choices our administration has made will have long term repercussions and take years to remedy if we can at all. In the mean time we are left vulnerable to aggressive shows of force by our “not allies” and in some cases an embolden enemy. As I continue to sit back and look at the big picture there are so many warning signs of hard choices to come that I hope each and every one of you takes the time to think about how they will affect you and your family.
Modern day crusades
There is a war going on right now, it has been going on for centuries and not much has changed. Well, some things have changed. We, and I mean Western Civilizations, have been so busy with our own interests that we have either forgotten or more likely choose to ignore. The war has much to do with world dominance and while it is considered to be generated and perpetuated by a minority it appears the majority are irrelevant. The majority sat back as Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, or Communist Russia committed atrocities.
The wildcard
We talk about one of our greatest births rights the right to bear arms, enumerated by our constitution and protected by our laws. Usually I will discourage someone who might seem to be “afraid” or “intimidated” about firearms. I have felt that mentally they were not ready to address the serious responsibility of owning, carrying and using a firearm. As I look back at that thought I realize that probably wasn’t the best way to approach it, instead we as a community need to reach out to those who may be on the fence, who may even have a negative view of firearms. We need to provide a credible source of education, in an effort to dispel the myths perpetuated by the media and hollywood. Take the time to have an intelligent and respectful conversation with someone who you know to be opposed to firearms with the intention of providing them with another perspective, so they can hopefully make a more informed decision.
There is no “I” in team
My theory on this is pretty simple, as we continue to see our country limp along we as the responsible citizenry will bear the burden of protecting that which matters most. It is up to us. Now, with all that being said, I will say this, it is a team effort. We will need to rely on one another for all sorts of things. From educations, to equipment to support after a critical incident. It is a good old “hearts & minds” campaign at a more grassroots level. We need to do what we as a culture have done best and that work towards a common goal.
My hope is we never see invaders in our own country, but with the thousands of illegal immigrants crossing our borders I don’t know anymore. The barbarian invaders that go house to house may no longer be in the form of people, but tax burdens to deal with their care. Abraham Lincoln said it best;
"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."