On Veterans Day

Thank you
I don’t want to be political.
Or trite.
Here’s what I want to say:

Thank you.
To every vet.
To every reserve.
To every serviceman and servicewoman on duty.
To their families.
I can’t thank you enough.

Today was Monday.

Millions of us Americans woke up this morning to yet another day.
We yawned, we drank our coffees, we groaned about yet another week of work or school.

Thank you for your incredible sacrifices so that we could work and learn freely.

So that we could go about our mundane lives and enjoy the Veterans Day sales or the federal holiday.

Thank you.

If I am lucky enough to ever have children, one of the things that I want to pass on is this gratitude.
For the vets who have protected us from some of the greatest dangers and evils history has ever known.
For those on active duty, whether stationed at home or abroad, who continue to keep us safe.
For the reserves, those who are willing to serve at a moments notice.
For the families who have let these men and women do their jobs.

I am grateful. And I want both my generation and the next to feel the same.

Happy Veterans Day.

"the future of freedom"

Part of the earlier rant deals with the sense of dissatisfaction with the current political environment which I believe is shared by many across the country. Not in an irresponsible, anarchical way, but from the fact that “the American people” are tired of the games, of the status quo, of a government (especially legislature and executive) that has continued to disappoint and underachieve.

Fareed Zakaria has a great little book titled “The Future of Freedom.” In it, he asks some very pointed questions, and in the tradition of Tocqueville, takes an open and honest look at some very “American” ideals that we take for granted w/o a second thought – democracy and liberty.

Here’s the leading question he poses, and I believe he gets close to what we are currently struggling with – both here at home, and across the globe:

“But what if liberty comes not from chaos but from some measure of order as well – not from unfettered, direct democracy but from regulated, representative democracy? What if, as in much of life, we need guides and constraints? And what if liberty is truly secure only when these guardrails are strong?”

And later he continues by qualifying – “To undertake a restoration is not to seek the return of an old order. We like the democratic changes that we have lived through and cherish their achievements. The goal is liberal democracy not as it was practiced in the nineteenth century but as it should be practiced in the twenty-first century. Democratic societies need new buffers and guides, designed for modern problems and times.”

The essential philosophical question that is both implied here and is more explicitly stated elsewhere in this book is this – can there be such a thing as “too much democracy”? I’m going to cheat and give you Zakaria’s answer – Yes.

Zakaria is NOT advocating for the end of democracy. And neither am I for that matter. But I earnestly believe in this concept of needing a restoration of balance in our political system. We need a press that is not only critical – but is discerning and responsible. We need religious organizations and groups that are actively engaged in society. We need a revitalization of both civic pride and activism – extending above and beyond corporate lobbying and wealthy neighborhoods fighting to create their own cities and counties.

These are the “buffers and guides,” in my opinion, that Zakaria is advocating for.

I’ll return to this later…

so...whatever happened to compassionate conservatism?

P.S. Props to a friend of mine for helping me think "out loud" :)

Why is helping the poor a mantra not used more by conservatives and the “religious right”?

Obama has tried to push for a more “crossover” audience – the religious… arguing that the Republicans shouldn’t have the monopoly on this particular “idea” or movement… While I could debate or discuss this point…It made me think of a related issue – why is it that “liberals”/Democrats seem to have the market on the idea of helping the poor and the disadvantaged?

For too long I think candidates have hid behind mantras like “Reaganomics” and “free market principles” and the ever popular claims of “socialist welfare” and not provided answers to the critical problems that millions of Americans face every day. Michael Moore is an idiot, and a farce, but you don’t need an overhyped “documentary” like “Sicko” to realize that all is not well in our country.

Nearly 8 years ago, George W. Bush ran a campaign with the seemingly oxymoronic slogan of “Compassionate Conservatism.”

Someone needs to bring that crap back.

Ok that sounds ridiculous.

I know.

No I have not lost my mind. And no you won’t be seeing any W Stickers on my car.

But really….think about this. There are roles society should play in helping those who need it. The key word in that phrase is of course “society” – which I purposely used rather than “government.” I’ll get back to that.

For the religious conservatives, for the evangelical Christians… If we neglect the fatherless, the widows, the destitute… we are in essence neglecting Christ himself. Don’t take my word for it – take His ( references). Our priorities are so mixed up. We spend so much energy bashing the “popular culture” and and fighting the Hillary Clintons and Michael Moores of the world. We’ve got advocacy groups and legal teams that fight the good fight on capitol hill.

Where are we on fighting the good fight for the welfare moms? For the fatherless children on the streets? For those who are struggling with alcoholism and drug addictions? For the teen parents? For the families who can’t afford even basic health care?

Our job is not to make excuses – nor is it to judge the circumstances and situations of others. It is not to set up yet another empty program – or give another empty speech.

We are called to serve.

So don’t sell me another political ad, nor do I want another Christian “leaders” anti-liberal rant on the radio or television…. Here is a radical idea want to hear from a candidate: How are you planning to truly effect change for those that need it most? How are you going to rally communities and individuals to rise up and make a difference?