2000 Soap Box Archives

America Then And Now

As I write this piece it is a beautiful Fourth of July in the Chicago area where we are doing a concert at the Great Lakes Navel Base this evening, which seems to be an appropriate place to have a Fourth of July celebration since our military had so much to do with the existence of this holiday. My mind wonders back to 1776 and a ragtag army of farmers, blacksmiths and shopkeepers with no military experience, probably terrified at the thought of having to kill another human being and overwhelmed by the superior forces of the better equipped British army. Yes, it was a daunting task which faced the little continental army in those dark days of the revolutionary war. Even the men who signed the Declaration of Independence faced hanging at the hands of King George’s minions should they be captured. But this was no ordinary band of men who hid in the trees and picked off the red coats from hedgerows and stone fences. These were men who were motivated by the desire to be free. They had had enough tyranny, taxation without representation, British overlords and English law. This was not a war being fought on some foreign battle field, it was waged in their own back yards, across the farmlands and villages of America. There could be no turning back ,no compromise.”Give me liberty or give me death”, shouted Patrick Henry. ”I regret that I have only one life to give for my country”, proclaimed Nathan Hale as they put the hangman’s noose around his neck. George Washington didn’t hesitate to ask almighty God for guidance and help. We were a God fearing people at that time, unshackled by the atheistic crusades of the A.C.L.U. and a supreme court who try to take divine decisions into their own human hands, causing America generations of sorrow. In these days of unprincipled leadership, a gutless congress a judiciary run amuck and a self serving media I can’t help but wonder what happened to that great American spirit. An America which beat the odds so many times, who prevailed against the British and ridded the world of that monster Adolph Hitler. Well take heart America. All is not lost. The strength of America is right where it has always been, in her people. And nothing proves it more than the Fourth of July. When the crippled old veterans of World War II proudly hobble down the street wearing their American legion caps, when children stand on the sidewalks and wave little American flags, when military bands blast the patriotic marches and America honors old glory. There’s still an American dream. It is just hidden by the smoke and mirrors of an agenda driven media who are more concerned with ratings than truth there’s still an American way of life although it is constantly being interfered with by lilly livered politicians who had rather drag this country down than risk being politically incorrect. Americas strength is in the hearts of her people. You can see it in the crowd at the football game who stand with their hands over their hearts during the playing of the National Anthem. You can feel it in the rumble of the early morning rush hour traffic as Americans go to work. You can hear it in the peal of small town Sunday morning church bells calling a free people to come and worship in any way they see fit. Yes there’s still an America out there. It’s our America and it’s worth fighting for whether it be the enemy without or the enemy within.

Pray for our troops.

What do you think?

God Bless America

Charlie Daniels

 

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