True American Pride - Real Things to Celebrate About This Nation: Some Final Thoughts

 As my month of celebrating things that I truly treasure and value about this great nation of ours - and the people who are its citizens - these final thoughts seemed worth sharing...

# 30: JUNE 30: SOME FINAL THOUGHTS

"God bless America, land that I love

Stand beside her and guide her

Through the night with the light from above

From the mountains to the prairies

To the oceans white with foam

God bless America, my home sweet home." (Irving Berlin)

Our front porch - July 4 2023

My final entry for this month of Genuine American Pride. It has been a quiet joy for each of the last 30 days to see how I could remember, celebrate, and honor what is unique, right, and honorable about this great country of ours and the people who respect it and are grateful.for it.

Yours truly

My beautiful fellow patriot and wife

I've appreciated the chance to share this, even if only a handful ever saw it. America: as a country, a unified culture, as an idea and as an inspiration...is worth celebrating, defending, and being grateful for.

May those of us who have been blessed to enjoy all that's good about this country be brave enough, and wise enough, to make sure our children and grandchildren know and enjoy the same. (That's our granddaughter Addy celebrating Memorial Day last year) Indeed, as Mr. Berlin wrote, "God bless America". Amen.

True American Pride - Real Things to Celebrate About This Nation (#15)

 

#28: AMERICANA: ICE CREAM CONES

"When I was a kid, I used to think, 'Man, if I could ever afford all the ice cream I want to eat, that's as rich as I ever want to be.'" (Jimmy Dean)

Nearing the end of my month of celebrating things American to be proud of. Some have been serious, some not as much. Hope you've enjoyed them. I've had fun seeing what popped up in my head. Like this one...

Today for Entry #28 I celebrate the American invention of the ice cream cone. How could there be a real summer without a few of these enjoyed?? When I was a kid (and still today), there was no better treat than an ice cream cone!!

It's commonly believed that they were invented at the St. Louis World Fair on July 23 1904 by a resourceful ice cream vendor, Charles E. Menche, who when he ran out of bowls to serve his customers, talked a nearby waffle vendor into making some rolled up versions of his pastry to serve ice cream in. Other bits of fun trivia:

Thomas Jefferson was the 1st president to serve ice cream in the White House.

The most popular flavors are still vanilla and chocolate. 55% of Americans choose one or the other as their top. Any guesses at #3? (I'll provide the answer later today )

The world's largest ice cream cone was created on May 18 2023 in Englewood CO by Matthew Beem. It stood 11 feet high and consisted of 100 pounds of waffle, 300 pounds of chocolate and over 1,000 pounds of vanilla ice cream. Wowza. Americans always do things BIGLY!

"Lieutenant Dan. I got you some ice cream. Lieutenant Dan. Ice Cream!" (Forrest Gump)

Cheers to America and this summer treat!

#29: JUNE 29: AMERICANA - FAMOUS FOLK HEROES

"Be always sure you are right - then go ahead." (Davy Crockett)

"He helped us, and we don't even know his name. Who was that masked man?" "Don't you know? He's the Lone Ranger!"

Entry #29 of my True Things American to Be Proud Of (I wonder how many different ways I've titled this over the month!). For my next to last entry, I again called on memories from my youth. Today I celebrate the legendary heroes of American folklore. My goodness! I remember being enthralled as a young boy reading their stories in books from the library, and watching their exploits in the afternoons on our black and white TVs. Though most of them were ficitional, they were all real to this young lad...

Through them I learned values of good vs. evil, honesty, doing the right thing, helping those in distress, and so much more. And I grew to appreciate the American literary genre of the "tall tale". Born of the frontier, it's probably where I gained my "skill" of telling a few of them of my own at times.

So to Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, Johnny Appleseed, Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox, The Lone Ranger, John Henry, Pecos Bill, Sam Patch, and so many more...I say "Thank you!" for all you taught a young boy and how you entertained him. It's a shame that today's youth probably have no idea of who these figures were. Somebody should teach them. God Bless America.

"I have never been lost, but I will admit to being confused for several weeks." (Daniel Boone)

(Now my wife will now why I'm like this!)

True American Pride - Real Things to Celebrate About This Nation (#14)

 Coming down the home stretch...here you go...

#26: JUNE 26: AMERICANA: GOOD ALL BLUE JEANS

"Jeans represent democracy in fashion." (Giorgio Armani)

So true. As my month of celebrating True American Things to be Proud of starts to come to its end, I couldn't help but include an entry on this classic piece of American fashion and culture. For Entry #26, I celebrate blue jeans. If there's one single piece of clothing that it's safe to say ALL Americans, no matter what race, gender, religion, economic class, or even age, have worn at one time in their life, it is these sturdy trousers.

The design that is the forefather of all of today's current versions of "blue jeans" was patented by Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis in 1873. Originally intended to be the "working man's" pants, worn by factory workers, miners, farmers, cowboys, etc. (which by the way is why my father NEVER let me wear jeans to class when I was in high school!), Strauss and Davis' creation morphed into a much broader fashion and cultural statement in the 1950's and then again in the 1980's, and is still growing strong today. They became to be seen, as Armani said above, as a statement of "democracy" and "equality".

So whether you prefer Levis, Wranglers, Lee, Calvin Kleins, Diesel, True Religion, Pepe, Nudie, or Guess jeans...cheers to the jeans and to this classic piece of Americana

"The whole world loves American movies, blue jeans, jazz and rock and roll. It is probably a better way to get to know our country than by what politicians or airline commercials represent." (Billy Joel)

#27: JUNE 27: A GREAT PATRIOT - THOMAS PAINE

"THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated." (Thomas Paine, "The Crisis", December 23 1776)

Entry #27 of True American Pride Month. Another classic, soul-stirring set of words that inspire me every time I read them. Thomas Paine wrote them at the lowest, darkest moments of the American Revolution when all seemed lost for the colonists. Earlier in 1776, Paine had written an even more stirring pamphlet, "Common Sense" which laid out an eloquent argument that Americans had a unique opportunity to change the course of history by creating a new sort of government in which people were free and had the power to rule themselves. "Common Sense" was the first truly "viral" publication in our American history.

And so I remember Paine's words, especially during these current trying times. Sometimes the trials are national and large in scale; sometimes they are small and daily. But no matter the "crisis", it is a true American virtue worth remembering and practicing: do not shrink from the "trouble" or "suffering". True Americans...true individuals...stand tall...and remember the gifts they have been given. God Bless America.

True American Pride - Real Things to Celebrate About This Nation (#13)

 #24: JUNE 24: AMERICAN MUSIC

“Musicians want to be the loud voice for so many quiet hearts.” — Billy Joel

"The King" - Elvis Presley

Here's my 24th entry for True American Pride month. It's amazing how there are so many major genres of music that people listen today that have sprung out of the American culture - and so many of these genres intertwine and influence each other over the years in beautiful and unpredictable ways. Jazz, the blues, country, rock and roll, swing...and on and on.

B.B. King and his guitar "Lucille"

Country Royalty - Dolly Parton & Willie Nelson

These classic American genres still draw listeners today. And those listeners are not all just "boomers"! The melodies, lyrics, messages, and creativity are timeless for many.

"The King of Pop" - Michael Jackson

"Old Blue Eyes" - Frank Sinatra

So here's to celebrating these great American artists! (I know. One them here isn't American. But this old soul loves the music and genre he is so talented in!)

The Canadian Crooner - Michael Buble'

"The High Priest of Bebop" - Thelonius Monk

#25: JUNE 25: AMERICA'S GREATEST PRESIDENT - ABRAHAM LINCOLN

"We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature." (Abraham Lincoln, 1st Inaugural Address, March 1861)

My 25th "True American Pride" post honors arguably America's greatest President, Abraham Lincoln. It is difficult in a short post to clearly state the importance of Lincoln to this country's history, its survival as a republic, and his impact still today on our values and culture. Though he was initially elected by a minority of the popular vote in 1860 (but just enough electoral votes), he managed to lead this country through a civil war; he preserved the union and led with a blend of courage, humility, decisiveness, and forward-looking wisdom that is missing in our current leaders.

The words he spoke at various times during his presidency are eloquent and timeless (such as the above passage which is a favorite of mine). He also was a man equally filled with more pithy wisdom as well...such as...

“Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.”

“Whatever you are, be a good one.”

“Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?”

I have never had the opportunity to visit the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. I hope I'll have that chance some day. It is, I'm sure, a sacred place. A place where one can stop and reflect...and remember what is right, true, and good about this country. And silently rededicate oneself to upholding and practicing that. God Bless America.

True American Pride - Real Things to Celebrate About This Nation (#12)

 9 more entries to go...it was fun to see what kept coming to mind. #23 was real fun!

#22:  JUNE 22:  THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government..." (Declaration of Independence, July 4 1776).

For Entry #22 of my personal celebration of True Things in America to be Proud of, I can't help but turn to a more serious note. Our Declaration of Independence - written and signed by thoughtful, courageous, and principled men - is a document that changed the world. And its inspiring message still reverberates today. Each time I read the above words, something in me is stirred with the timeless truths they state. And I'm deeply grateful for the opportunities and the life I live as a result of this revolutionary statement made 247 years ago.

I pray Americans will never take for granted the freedoms that were won from the courage and sacrifices of others who came before us. A closing thought from a favorite patriot of mine:

"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it." (Thomas Paine)

"Declaration of Independence", by John Trumbull 1818

God bless America. I'll work to remember that as I enjoy my next burger.

#23: JUNE 23: AUTOMOBILES AND AMERICANS

“Everything in life is somewhere else, and you get there in a car.” – E.B. White

1964 Ford Mustang

Day 23 of True American Pride month for me. I could not end this series without honoring this true piece of Americana: the automobile. Americans may not have actually invented the gasoline-powered car (Karl Benz, a German, is commonly credited with doing so in 1886), but it is the United States that made cars the central part of our economy, society, and culture for the last century or so. Americans build more cars, drive more cars, drive further in cars, depend on cars, and worship cars more than any other culture in the world.

1908 Ford Model T

1941 Willy's Jeep

The following excerpt succinctly describes the significance of the car in U.S. culture: "The car is so much more than a machine that moves people from point A to point B. It is a symbol of freedom, an emblem of America’s pioneering spirit, a status symbol, a rite of passage, a mark of one’s wealth, and sometimes, a sad substitute for a home or a temporary place to lay one’s head."

So true. So here for your enjoyment are pictures of some of the classic automobiles from American history into today. (PS: Small tidbit. The 1st car my wife Deborah ever owned was WAY COOLER than the 1st car I owned....which is true in so many other ways in our life too. She's way cooler!). Cheers to the next road trip and hitting the open road!

1953 Cadillac Eldorado

2023 Dodge Ram Bighorn pickup

1966 Chevy Camaro

1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

True American Pride - Real Things to Celebrate About This Nation (#11)

 A little history...and a little more Americana...

#20: JUNE 20:  AMERICANS NEVER QUIT

“Americans Never Quit. We never surrender. We never hide from history. We Make History." ~ John McCain

The Battle at the Alamo - March 1836

Day 20 of True American Pride month for me. Today I remember and honor a quality that can be seen time and again throughout the history of this country; displayed in both heroic and small ways. Perserverance. As the late Senator McCain said above (and was an epitome of himself during his time as a Vietnam War POW), Americans never quit. No matter the odds, no matter how great the challenge or how long it takes, Americans have worked to perservere. The very founding of this country 247 years ago - 13 individual colonies daring to fight for independence against the greatest power in the world at the time - established this precedent and principle in our national ethos.

Elizabeth Eckford - 1st Day of School Little Rock AR Sept 1957

Below are just a few of the historical examples that are some of my favorites. The 189 Texans at the Alamo in 1836; Jackie Robinson during the 1947 major league baseball season; Elizabeth Eckford (one of the "Little Rock Nine") all alone on that September morning in 1957; and Todd Beamer leading the charge on Flight 91 on 9/11.

Jackie Robinson - April 1947

Americans...especially every day citizens...are the true leaders of this country...because they will never quit on this country. Or what's true. God Bless America and those who never quit on her.

Todd Beamer's last words - September 11 2001

#21: JUNE 21: AMERICANA - THE HAMBURGER

"I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today" (J. Wellington Wimpy, "Popeye the Sailor Man")

Catching up on my celebration of True American Pride after missing yesterday. Here's entry #21: The All-American Hamburger. The quintessential American easy to eat (depending on how high you pile it!) meal. The staple of American summer cuisine and cookouts for over a century. Big, meaty, extravagant at times - perfect fit for the American ethos. And as far as I'm concerned - in the travels I've made abroad - no other country does burgers (or sandwiches for that matter) as well as is done in the USofA.

The names we give American burgers are also a hoot. Consider this random sampling: Big Mac, Whopper, The Jucy Lucy, In-N-Out Animal Style, Doo-Whop, Heat Wave, Caddy Melt (last 3 from a local drive-in in GP, "Jimmy's Drive-In"). And of course...The Quadruple ByPass Burger (sold at The Heart Attack Grill in Las Vegas NV): 9,982 calories of tasty goodness consisting of four half-pound beef patties, twenty strips of bacon, eight slices of American cheese, a whole tomato and half an onion served in a bun coated with lard.

Getting full just writing that! But cheers to the American burger.

True American Pride - Real Things to Celebrate About This Nation (#10)

 Next volume of these entries. Wrote the 1st one on Fathers' Day. Good memories. 

#18: JUNE 18: AMERICANS AND THEIR LAWNS.

"I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars." (Walt Whitman)

Today is Day 18 of my True American Pride month. It's also Father's Day. For some reason, when I think of "America" and "Fathers" today, my mind goes to the All-American practice of mowing the lawn. Historians say you can trace the American obsession with planting and tending to large tracts of green grass in front of their home to the post WW-II years. Home ownership soared and a well-maintained: watered, mowed (in perfect lines), trimmed, and fertilized lawn was the true sign that one "had made it"

Me and my Dad - circa 1962

Our childhood home (The Ranch) had its own vast grassy lawns. And I think all of the kids learned the duties of mowing it. As you can see, it was a "special skill" that my father passed on to me.

Mowing at the Ranch - circa 1968

Graduating to the tractor - circa 1973

So cheers to our lawns! And cheers to the Dads that taught us many right and true lessons. Good American dads are indeed the foundation of this country. God bless them all.

Dad, "The Tractor Man" with Jeff B.

#19: JUNE 19: AMERICANA: THE CLASSIC MARTINI

"Martinis are the only American invention as perfect as a sonnet.”

(H. L. Mencken

“A man must defend his home, his wife, his children, and his martini.” (Jackie Gleason)

”I had never tasted anything so cool and clean.” “They made me feel civilized.” (Ernest Hemingway)

Day 19 of True American Pride month. Saw that today is "National Martini Day" so I'll go with that.

This classic cocktail is an American invention (Bravo!). Mixologists say it was 1st created in California during the mid 19th century Gold Rush by a clever bartender. Whether it was Julio Richielieu at a saloon in Martinez CA, or Jerry Thomas at the Occidental Hotel in San Francisco, makes no difference to me. Shaken, stirred, "dirty", with olives or a twist, Americans (like Don Draper and Roger Sterling of "Mad Men") have been enjoying the crisp, clean taste of this drink for over 150 years now.

The martini is also called America's most political drink and is the only "proper" drink one orders at any of the snootiest haunts in Washington D.C. It was Franklin D. Roosevelt's favorite drink and he hosted a daily "Martini Hour" every day.

So cheers to the martini! And one final quote:

"I never go jogging, it makes me spill my martini." (George Burns)