With the passing of the recent holiday, Memorial Day, we are reminded that we really do have a lot to be thankful for. Memorial Day is a chance to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice of their lives by defending our freedom from tyranny.
Sometimes, then, it is hard to believe just how upside down our lives have become.
Just since coming to Magee in 1992 we have experienced 9-11, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, as well as a host of natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina. I lost a family member in that one. Now we are experiencing a global pandemic--never saw that one coming.
Our system is out of whack along with a lot of our basic beliefs. Who would have ever thought that worshiping God would be considered offensive and that one of our basic rights, freedom of religion, would be called into question? But prayer has been halted in sponsored outings like high school athletics, and if what you are saying is offensive to anyone else you must cease. Some even want other languages to be equal to English in importance in this country, but we believe that English should be the primary language in the United States.
Some other changes are necessary to restore basic American freedoms and our unique way of life.
We believe that if you are receiving government assistance, you should be subject to drug testing before you receive benefits.
Why should we not identify ourselves before we can vote? We have to do that to perform many other transactions. This is not an effort to disenfranchise anyone, it is to forestall the corruption that will result from an unidentified electorate.
Now our nation is hostage to looters because of the recent unfortunate death of George Floyd. I may be mis-informed, but I think the family is calling for a stop to the violence, which does nothing to “honor” their lost loved one.
A news report on Tuesday said that the so-called anti-fascist group Antifa got involved with the rioting over Floyd’s death. They come in, stir up the crowds to violence, then pack up and leave on their merry way.
Destroyed communities are left with no infrastructure. So while trying to come back from the pandemic these communities have to fight off looters and put out fires. Makes no sense.
I believe in peaceful demonstration. If what we know is the truth of the situation, the police officers involved in Floyd’s death need to be charged, but not at the demand of vigilante crowds. That is not justice. We need to do the right thing for the right reason for everyone.
If we do not get out of this racial path we are heading down, even we in this usually quiet state will be faced with a much more serious situation of Mississippi Burning.
