True American Pride - Real Things to Celebrate About This Nation (#3)

 Here are the next entries in this series...proud of all of them. 

#4:  JUNE 4: OUR AMERICAN OLYMPIANS

"At the Olympics, you're there to do a job. I feel you should take it seriously. You should be respectful. You are putting on the red-white-and-blue and going out there to perform for your country. "(Shannon Miller US gymnast)

Day 4 of celebrating what makes me proud of in America. Today I remember all of the American athletes who have represented this country so proudly and successfully in the Olympic Games. Over the years, I've watched countless inspiring performances - the best and most heart-warming have often been by athletes that are rarely recognized. These individuals are usually the ones most proud of their opportunity, and most grateful for this country and all it has given them. May we all remember the same. Do you have an Olympic athlete or memory like these? Can you name any of these heroes?

Rulon Gardner, Greco-Roman wrestling Gold, Sydney 2000

Jesse Diggins, X-Country skiing, Team Sprint Gold, Pyeongchang 2018

The Dream Team, Basketball Gold, Barcelona 1992

Allyson Felix, 4x400 relay Gold, Tokyo 2020

Kerry Strug, Team gymnastics Gold, Atlanta 1996

#5: JUNE 5: GOOD OLD AMERICAN BARBECUE!

“Barbecue may not be the road to world peace, but it's a start.” (Anthony Bourdain)

Been a busy day, but still have time for Day 5 of celebrating things about America that make me proud.

I just love BBQ! Whether it's Texas, Carolina, Kansas City, Memphis, or just good old Grants Pass style...BBQ is about as All-American as you can get. My family loved it so much that we used to even have an annual BBQ contest among the menfolk. (Called it BAM! - after Emeril Lagasse, our muse. I won it 3 times!).

Cheers to all and bring on the grill and the meat! #america #americanpride #bbq

The BAM! BBQ Crew 2001

The BAM! BBQ Crew 2004

The Judges doing their Thing - BAM! 2004

My 1st BAM! Win - 1999

The King of BBQ - Dad - Finally Wins 2004

Brother Steve and our Muse Emeril - 2001

True American Pride - Real Things to Celebrate About This Nation (#2)

 

Here's the 2nd entry with the Real American Pride posts I've been making this month.

#2:  JUNE 2ND:  THE BILL OF RIGHTS

"Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories." ~ Thomas Jefferson

Day 2 of celebrating true American Pride. I can think of no single thing that Americans have contributed to the world that deserves celebration...than the concept of fundamental "inalienable" human rights, as expressed in our Bill of Rights. Truly a revolutionary concept: one to both be proud of, and to be willing to defend fiercely. May we never take them for granted.

• First Amendment: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly
• Second Amendment: the right of the people to keep and bear arms
• Third Amendment: restricts housing soldiers in private homes
• Fourth Amendment: protects against unreasonable search and seizure
• Fifth Amendment: protects against self-testimony, being tried twice for the same crime, and the seizure of property under eminent domain
• Sixth Amendment: the rights to a speedy trial, trial by jury, and to the services of a lawyer
• Seventh Amendment: guarantees trial by jury in cases involving a certain dollar amount
• Eighth Amendment: prohibits excessive bail or fines and cruel and unusual punishment for crimes
• Ninth Amendment: listing of rights (in the Bill of Rights) does not mean that other rights are not in effect
• Tenth Amendment: power not granted to the Federal Government is reserved for states or individual people

“The Bill of Rights is the United States. The United States is the Bill of Rights. Compromise the Bill of Rights and you dissolve the very foundation upon which the Union stands.” ~ A.E. Samaan

#3: JUNE 3RD: THE MEN & WOMEN OF OUR ARMED FORCES

"Duty, honor, country. Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be."(Gen. Douglas MacArthur)

Day 3 of my personal celebration of pride in America. Today I am proud of every person who has served in this country's military. My father and brother both served with distinction in the US Air Force. My sister Mary served in the U.S. Army. Every single person that I have ever met who was in the military have been inspiring examples of all that is best of the American character: honest, brave, willing to give themselves for something other than themselves, responsible.

My dad (kneeling front row left) and Swamp One crew (1962?)

My brother Dave, 20 year veteran USAF

I'll never forget a moment I had on one of my trips to Ireland. Was waiting for dinner in a restaurant in Galway. Across from me a group of young men were passionately debating the strengths of the U.S. Constitution. Thinking it was an odd conversational topic, this old Social Studies teacher had to listen in. I learned the group of men were U.S. Army helicopter pilots gathered for an early morning mission over Ireland. Amazing individuals.

I remember how proud I was then of our American military. And I still am today. Salute to all who are serving and have served. You're the ones that deserve a month of commemoration.

Me visiting my brother at his last post Whiteman AFB MO, 2009

True American Pride - Real Things to Celebrate About This Nation (#1)

 

The real democratic American idea is, not that every man shall be on a level with every other man, but that every man shall have liberty to be what God made him, without hindrance. (Henry Ward Beecher)

In 1999, then U.S. President Bill Clinton designated June as "Gay and Lesbian Pride Month". Twelve years later, another Democratic President Barack Obama expanded that designation for June to become "Pride Month" to celebrate and honor all sexual identities.

I did not - and do not now - agree with these enforced "celebrations". Without spending much time and space here, I'll simply say I find there to be nothing "American" or "Unifying" in celebrating anyone based solely on their skin color, ethnicity, or presumed "identity", sexual or otherwise. Doing so is artificial, self-centered, and divisive. Amen.

So this year in response to the increased attention forced on Americans about "Pride Month", I began my own personal celebration of GENUINE things about America to be PROUD OF. These can be historical events, figures, national values, cultural icons, etc. It's been fun each day to think of something new to honor that is much more meaningful. And it's been fun sharing these things on my Facebook and Instagram pages.

I wish I'd thought earlier to preserve them here in my blog. I'll begin doing so now. Here are the 1st couple of "True American Pride" posts. Enjoy.

#1: JUNE 1ST: THE BEAUTY OF THIS LAND

"May the sun in his course visit no land more free, more happy, more lovely than this our own country!" (Daniel Webster​)

Starting my own "Pride" month today. Celebrating America: it's history, culture, beauty, the ideals it was founded on, the true values that the majority of its people embrace and work to express. All of this is worth recognizing and honoring. Anything else is purely self-centered and false. So each day this month I will share one thing that I'm proud of as a citizen and student of this great nation. I'd invite you to do the same. Time for real Americans to speak up.

Today I'm proud of the natural beauty of this country. If you have seen even a small part of it, such as that in our National Parks, you know in your heart we are truly blessed. Several years ago Deborah and I got to visit several parks in the Southwest. Will never forget walking in the Narrows at Zion National Park.

The grandeur of the Grand Canyon in Arizona

Breathtaking. And we're equally lucky to be able to enjoy the gorgeous Oregon coast and its wonders too.

God bless America!

I'll catch up with the other entries in the future!