Random Thoughts About America

Stan Lee, the creator of the Marvel Comics, once put the following words in the mouth of Odin, the All Father of Asgard, as he was trying to explain the idea behind Asgard to his son Thor, he said, “Asgard is not a place; never was. This could be Asgard. Asgard is where our people stand; even now, right now those people need your help.”

As reflected this fictional character’s words, put there by Stan Lee, it finally dawned on me what America is, or at least what it could be. The past has a weird way of telling us our purpose, the purpose of certain ideas and concepts. The great minds and architects of our land gave us a blueprint of what to strive towards.

America is not a place, never was. The place where you make your stand for freedom, that could be America. America, it is where our freedom loving people make our stand for liberty, even for those people we do not know. America is an idea, and she is also a dream; she is an ideal worth striving for.

The Meaning of July 4th, 1776

I remember the day clearly. I was almost 15 years old, it was August, 1989, it was a year after we came back from my mother’s country of Puerto Rico where we had lived for two years. I was staying with my father summer, and I asked my father’s girlfriend to go the library. It was about a ten minute walk, it was my refuge, it was the place where I can go and open a book a discover a new world of information. At the time, I discovered maps! I loved looking at maps and discovered an old map of the United States. It was weird. The United States’ western border only went to Mississippi River. But wait a second, didn’t the United States went from the east coast to west coast? With that question, my adventure began! It was a Saturday, the day that reading an old map of the United Stated led me to read Declaration of Independence for the first time. I walked into the library that morning, as a Puerto Rican, born and raised in the South Bronx, and walked out in the afternoon as an American.

For those of you who do not know, I used to be very bad at math, history and science. I was the product of the failure of my own irresponsibility to take my education seriously as my father worked tirelessly to pay tuition for the private school I attended. That day in the library was the turning point, and since then, I have been seeking knowledge where ever I can find it; since then, I have been a student of history.

Culturally speaking from my experience, if you are born of Puerto Rican parents here in America, you are regarded first as Puerto Rican and not an American. It is more about cultural pride, and there is nothing wrong with that. I had that understanding, but then that view changed when I read the Declaration of Independence, and the history of how the United States came to be.

I had just entered the library, I decided that day to look at an encyclopedia of maps. I stumbled upon a Revolutionary War map where it showed the movements of George Washington. For some reason or another, I decided to look up George Washington in an encyclopedia. Don’t ask me why, but I did. In reading about George Washington, I discovered he practically lost almost every battle he fought against the British and German Hessian mercenaries. Naturally, I thought, why didn’t he just give up? It was at that moment I decided to read about the colonies.

I read about the sacrifices the colonist made to come to America, to make something for themselves, to be free of what was happening in Europe, then I read what the tyranny the British government and king was doing to the colonies, and finally the response the colonist made against the king: The Declaration of Independence. The more I read, the more I discovered; I discovered Founding Fathers were men who were products of the Enlightenment period. I discovered Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech in 1775 to the pamphlet of “Common Sense” by Thomas Paine, to the reading about the Sons of Liberty, John Adams, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, to the likes of John Paul Jones, all the way to reading about the “shot heard ‘round the world.” Encyclopedias are awesome!

As I read about these men, and their ideas, there lay a common theme among them all. They were willing to put everything on the line, their reputations, their fortunes but importantly their lives for freedom and liberty. But what about that document written by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence? It was around 1 o’clock, I didn’t notice it, but I was in the library for about 3 hours, soaking up all the information I came across. I was hungry, but my curiosity about the Declaration of Independence made me forgo going back to my father’s house for lunch. I went through the card catalog to find a book that had the text of the Declaration of Independence, and finally I found an American history book. It said the Declaration of Independence was in the appendix, and then finally I sat down.

I started to read the Declaration of Independence, the opening words, “when in the course of human events, it become necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another…..” The opening statement to any one listening, and then came, “we hold these to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” The eloquence of that phrase, sent chills down my spine and raised the hairs on the back of my neck. Even to this day, reading those words continue to send chills down my spine.

I continued to read on, “they are endowed with certain unalienable rights, these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” There goes that “L” word again! Liberty. The same reason why those men are fighting for. It was then that it dawned to me, these men are fighting for something never seen before, never heard of, never thought of or even done before. Freedom.

With fuel being added to my young mind, I was no longer hungry for food, I was hungry to understand more about that this document, I continued to read on, “that to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” It did not take long after reading these immortal words that it finally came to fruition as to why the colonists had thrown away their old government. They no longer consented to be ruled by a king whose dictates and rule can be done by proclamation, or by his will alone. Yes, I understood what the colonists were trying to do.

This mental nourishment kept me satisfied, the words read thus far inspired me to continue, “when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.” The colonists, in their minds had acquiesced to the crown, their rights had been abused, they sought a redress of grievances to their mother country, and they received none but more abuses. They had no where to go, no where to run to and no one to appeal any more; finally, they understood, when a government does not act in your best interest, when it abuses its power, it is your duty and obligation to correct the government. It became clear to me what the colonists were attempting now.

I read then the reasons why the colonists were announcing “to a candid world” why they were altering and abolishing their current government. The reasons, they gave to the “candid world” was from the mother country waging war against their own citizens, quartering troops in people’s home without their consent, suspending good government, keeping a standing army in times of peace, imposing taxes without the consent of the legislatures, to forcing kin to fight against their fellow country, and countrymen.

Reading on, seeing that the colonists repeatedly asked for redress, and peace, seeing themselves as British, reminding their own government why they settled across the ocean, to finally having the argument exhausted, the colonists had no where to run, they must now stand to their guns. I finally was able to connect the dots, it was my “ah, ha” moment.

The words that sent shock waves through my spine were the words, “that these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States.” This was the exclamation mark, this was the culmination of what the fight was for. And finally, “for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” I finally understood, that freedom, and liberty are not cheap. They come with a price. All we need to do is ask, look at the price that the Founding Fathers of our republic paid or any one willing to have the intestinal fortitude to fight for that freedom or any freedom we hold dear. My eyes were opened, I understood why Americans protest, why American citizens join our armed forces, and why Americans speak out against tyranny.

Some years ago, on my own volition, I raised my hand, and have duly sworn an oath to protect this republic, its’ constitution, its values and the people, to defend it against all enemies foreign and domestic. If any one is wondering, no, I am not a soldier and I do not proclaim, or claim to be one. I am not a civilian police officer or member of government, I am not an extremist. I live by the words, give me liberty or give me death, and if that makes me an extremists in your world view, then so be it, I am one. I am a simple person, I love our constitution, our way of life, even with its faults, I love the idea that freedom is worth fighting for. It means taking a stand, drawing a line, standing alone when no one will stand with you, in the pursuit of freedom, liberty or righting a wrong, and stopping tyranny.

My hope is, that the American people of today would read the Declaration of Independence, and perhaps then, we can stop the tyranny that has befallen to these States.

Open Letter to the People of Virginia

The word is out on the street that Governor Northam’s anti-Second Amendment is pushing the envelop with the Democrat controlled legislature. As an outside observer, I try to not comment in the internal affair of our sister States, in particular Virginia. Unfortunately, in my home State, New York, where they passed the S.A.F.E. Act, which is the communist governor of New York rammed through, in an attempt to out do California and Connecticut with their draconian anti-Second Amendment laws; some of us can not stay silent any more.

There are some that would argue that they, the politicians, will do what they want. That is true if you let them; therefore, I would urge you, our ancestor brothers and sisters, of Virginia do not let them do this to you. No one has a right to dictate to you how, and what weapon you choose to defend yourself, your freedom, your property, and family. No one has a right violate your rights to due process. No one has that right.

It was suggested by Democrat Representative Donald McEachin, that your governor “may have to nationalize the National Guard to enforce the law.” If I was a betting man, that is a direct threat to the People of Virginia, that even if you disagree with our unconstitutional laws, he says they will use force to disarm you. Let us take a pause to digest those words echoed by your representative. From time to time, in my view, we must remind our elected leaders of the immediate reason of what led to the “shot heard ’round the world” and led to the foundation of our republic: gun confiscation.

Our constitution, the intention of it, is to formulate small delegated government whose powers are limited, defined and precise. Anything outside the bounds of that framework is unconstitutional; our court, the Supreme Court echoed those sentiments with their decision in 1803 with the case, Marbury versus Madison. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall echoed, the following:

“The powers of the legislature are defined and limited; and that those limits may not be mistaken or forgotten, the constitution is written.”

Let us remember those words carefully, as many of American men, have died to fight to preserve those words, so that our rights, our liberties and freedom, who bequeathed those rights to us as the guardians, maintainers of our constitution and rights. The power of your governor, its assembly are limited, precise and defined, do not let them go beyond the limitations placed on them by our ancestor forefathers with our constitution, and yours. Many people do not understand, but it is the Second Amendment that protects the other nine amendments.

Understand the lessons of history, that when a population are disarmed, tyranny is always around the corner. Just ask the victims of NAZI Germany, communist China, the people of Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge, or Soviet Russia. It is not coincidence that all around our republic, you have individuals, and leaders (Bloomberg, Feinstein, Cuomo, their collaborators etc.) openly calling for your arms to be taken. These individuals, who in my view, are traitors to our republic. This is all done in the same of keeping your safe, where as they continue with their armed escorts, and while we continuously get disarmed. We, the people, are left then to rely on these puppets, the government to protect us.

Do not bend for these traitors, do not let them dictate to you. Do not take this standing down, on your knees like our brothers and sisters did in Massachusetts in the aftermath of the marathon bombing. Our brothers and sister in Massachusetts, under the name of safety were played like a violin into allowing their rights to be openly violated, and like a good subject, like a good slave; they openly and willingly said, “yes, massa, it is okay, you can point that gun in my face, come into my home without a warrant or cause, you can take me out of my house and treat me like a good run away slave!“ You are not slaves, you are American citizens, you have sacred rights and principles to defend. An American would not, and never tolerate such behavior.

You have the moral high ground, you are fighting for your rights as our colonial ancestor brothers and sister did against the king and bequeathed to us, the maintainers of those rights. Lastly, please know, that you have friends here in the North that are praying, and hoping for you; you are not alone.

David Eric Casebolt Was Having a Bad Day

David Eric Casebolt Was Having a Bad Day

Jane Bishkin, the lawyer for former police officer, David Eric Casebolt, says that he simply was having a bad day, that he was stressed. Stressed she says, stressed!

Perhaps, Jane Bishkin could explain this than:

I have had many bad days. In particular and especially, as my adopted mother, who raised me since I was 2 ½ years old, lay in bed, dying from the horrible illness of HIV, seeing her ill so many times, and wondering if she would even make it to see Christmas.

It was not that long ago, when she was diagnosed in the summer of 2000, that she had the illness and as doctors tried almost every method to keep her healthy, and to try to bring her some sense of normalcy, nothing worked. Why? Her body was old, it was worn down by HIV, and all we could do was watch and practically do nothing because there nothing that could have been done. Her fate was sealed, it was not a question if she would die, but a question of when and how soon. We were, as a family stressed. We had begun to watch our matriarch wither away, and with each passing day of seeing her, a piece of us would die. It was that slow chipping away of our sense of normalcy being eroded, and drowning in a sea of gloom and despair.

When doctors tell you, there is nothing that can be done, you are left with several choices, all of them being not favorable, you can accept the inevitable, you can pray for a miracle, or you can blame others.

During that time, I was also stressed at my job, having a supervisor who was constantly nitpicking at what I was doing, thus creating a situation where I began to question whether I belonged. I questioned each day, whether it was worth being at the job. However, in lieu of that admission, I continued to always engage with the people, to make websites, always smiling, and always being professional. Why? Because that is my job, that is what the people of my State pay me to do regardless of what is happening to me or my family or how I am feeling that day. It is what the people expect, and I am inclined and obligated to give them 110% because as a servant of the people, in some way, have entrusted me to do the right thing.

Former police officer Casebolt’s lawyer says, “with all that had happened that day, he allowed his emotions to get the better of him.” Let there be no mistake, he was stressed, he was helping to console a widow who lost her husband to suicide, and helped prevent another suicide of a young girl. How many times could I have allowed my emotions to get the better of me? How many times could I have lashed out at individuals who have removed the last sense of temperament because of their usurpations against my kind character? In times and situations like this, it calls for a reasonable effort to take a time out, to get away, to let the stresses of the day to peel off so that one’s composure is back to normal.

In lieu of this, Casebolt’s lawyer says, “he never intended to mistreat anyone, but was only reacting to a situation and the challenges that it presented.” If a non-law enforcement personnel or person on the street acted in the same manner, can we predict what would have been the outcome? Can we know for certain what would have been the response by the authorities? I will let you be the judge and suffice to say, it would have not been well received regardless of the individuals skin color. Therefore we must resist the temptation to say that this is about the individuals skin color and rather focus on the totality of the situation and its context.

I fear, we have only deepened the crisis in our republic, where different groups feel marginalized, and the media does no favor to us by sensationalizing and telling we, the people half-truths. I fear greatly that as we see the police feel marginalized, too, they will abscond from their duties and we will descend into a foray of increased polarization. Eventually, the disenfranchised people will gradually and naturally in this furnace of national debate, national ballots will crystallize into national furor; and both sides come at last to the position formerly held by the great Troupe of Georgia: “The argument is exhausted; we will now stand to our guns.”

We can take an opposite but better approach, to end the polarization of country, we can become soldiers and not fight for slavery, but for liberty and for one another. We, the people have the power to make life a splendid adventure together with our American brothers and sisters, we can fulfill the promise that is America. We can lead a struggle for all of mankind’s happiness here in our republic; only the unloved, unnatural and greedy hate. We are not machinery, cattle or sheep, we are Americans who have the love of humanity within the fabric of our hearts and souls.

It is the American citizen, not the soldier . . .

It is the American citizen, not the soldier or reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the American citizen, not the soldier or poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the American citizen, not the soldier or campus organizer,
Who has given us freedom to demonstrate.

It is the American citizen, not the soldier or lawyer,
Who has given us the right to a free trial.

It is the American citizen, not the soldier,
Who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the American flag,
And who allows protesters to burn the American flag.

It is the American citizen, not the soldier,
Who surrenders their freedom to serve our republic so that future generations may enjoy that freedom.

It is the American citizen, not the soldier,
Who makes makes the ultimate sacrifice in defending our republic’s freedom.

It is the American citizen, not the soldier,
Who swears an oath to the Constitution of the United States to defend against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

It is the American citizen, not the soldier,
Whose principles are armed & guarded by the Constitution of the United States of America and the Declaration of Independence.

It is the American citizen, not the soldier,
Whose duty is to defend the Constitution and our republic.

It was the American citizen, not the soldier,
Who wrote  the Constitution and Declaration of Independence.

It was the American citizen, not the soldier,That fought for our independence, each hero, brave and bold.

It is the American citizen, not the soldier,
Who wears his uniform proud, and will surrender their life so that our country may live.

I wrote this in honor of not the soldier, but in honor of those Americans who fought and continue to fight for our freedom, from the days ’76 to the present day. You don’t have to wear a military uniform to defend our country. We have people fighting for our country all the time, and the majority of the time, they do not have a uniform. They are a simple individual whose patriotism that defines our blessed republic. Mahatma Ghandi, took on the British Empire, the most powerful nation during his time, and yet, he was not a soldier but a citizen of his country. He fought for what he believed in, freedom. Likewise, in our country, the United States, we have people fighting for our country, our freedom, all the time, they are simple mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, lawyers, doctors, factory workers, and teachers; the list goes on and on. At any given time, in times of crisis, it is the American citizen that will answer the call of our country, and of the several States that represent our glorious Union.

My intent is to not offend our soldiers, but to honor every American citizen who believes in freedom and will fight for it. To those American citizens, who gave their lives for our country, to those American citizens who are in jail fighting for justice, to those American citizens who will risk their lives and fortunes so that our republic may continue, I salute you all.

 

 

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It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the Soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.

It is the Soldier, not the lawyer,
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the Soldier, who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protestor to burn the flag.

To our service men and women — Thank you!

It is not that often that I get to write on soldiers. In fact, this is my first time writing about something beyond the realm of what I normally write about. However, I do believe it necessary to do. I would like to thank our armed forces for doing the job that they do. There is no doubt in my mind, they are the essence in what makes this country what it is, not powerful, not rich, but in the most simplest terms, free.

They, our soldiers, our beloved sisters, fathers, brothers, mothers, uncles or aunts in uniform do a job that very few are honored to do. They are the teeth of our liberty, our freedoms, our country and our Constitution.

There is a question among the ranks of the military of who is the greater branch, they mock on another, but all jest and fun knowing that they are all equally important to the sustenance to the American fabric of our way of life.

The media does a pleasant job in defaming their name, but little do they know the job they have to do, and under what odds. However, there are few in the media that respect our soldiers, and in what they do. I want a responsible media to tell us when our soldiers do wrong, but I also want the media to tell us when our soldiers do right.

The media, our politicians and citizenry do not understand the level of responsibility they owe to our brave American soldiers. They do not understand that freedom our Constitution protects because they were given these freedoms by people who did earn it with their lives, we are not the owners of that freedom, we are its custodians just like our Founding Fathers intended it to be; it is not ours to give away at any cost that is what the American soldiers swears to.

There are more things the average American soldier does right that very few know about. The importance of  giving a voice to those who can not speak for themselves, especially in places like Afghanistan, where it is a crime to some for girls to go to school, for women to work, or even speak out. To give those who have no hope, that there are those who do care, they are our soldiers, and even though our politicians are quick to put our soldiers in harms way, our soldiers, our brave soldiers do their duty. They do their duty, not for place or rank, not for fame or reward but as they understand their duty to be.

We all wish their safe return to their families, and we wish them well in the mission to promote the very simple ideals of what it means to be free.

To our American soldiers who fighting overseas for freedom, thank you!