This Land Is Your Land…

This land is your land, this land is my land, from California to the New York Islands, from the Red Wood Forest, to the Gulf Stream Waters…this land was made for you and me.

How many of you remember singing that song in school?  And did you sing it just to join in with your classmates, or did you/have you, EVER really paid attention to those words???  The “land” referred to in the song is the United States of America…and if you are a U.S. citizen, those words mean that it is YOUR land, YOUR home.  Here’s another one for you:

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…

Can someone please tell me what happened?  When, and why, did our country, our home, become so divided?  Look, I understand why people want to come here.  It’s the land of freedom and opportunities.  But there are also things that I DON’T and probably never WILL understand.  I agree with allowing others to come here, as long as it’s done legally, but I DON’T agree with allowing them to come here and request that we conform to their cultures, their ways of life, their religions.  The way I feel is this….if you want to live in the United States as an American citizen, then you should conform to OUR ways of life, NOT the other way around.

That doesn’t mean that I think they should be a Christian, or a Baptist, or a Methodist, or change what they believe in.  I also don’t feel that they should give up their customs, cultures or ways of living.  I’m just saying that we, as American citizens, should not be subjected to the constant and unending “I’m offended,” rhetoric!  So what?  I’m offended that you’re offended.

So you don’t believe in God?  That’s fine, but it doesn’t change the fact that this country was founded on Christian beliefs and God-fearing men and women.  Don’t believe me?  Look at your currency.  Recite the Pledge of Allegiance.  Not convinced?  Then I invite you to read the Declaration of Independence, or the U.S. Constitution, or the Bill of Rights.  I can remember as a kid in elementary school, our day started with the morning announcements, prayer, and a song.  That got booted out the door years ago, probably because someone was offended.  Bibles are no longer allowed in schools, prayers are not allowed at sporting events or graduation exercises, the National Day of Prayer has been protested, as well as many, many other Christian-related events, Merry Christmas is now Happy Holidays (not for me, it’s still Merry Christmas!!)  It has been suggested that In God We Trust be removed from all American currency; it has been requested that “one nation under God,” be revised to “one nation” on our Pledge.  We have either been forced to, or gone along with, allowing God to be removed from everything that America stands for, then have the audacity to ask “what is happening to our country?”

When did our nation become such a nation of wimps and noodle-backs?  When did we quit standing up for what’s right?  Why do we care if we offend someone by our way of life?  Fear of repercussions?  Lawsuits?  Making someone boo-hoo?

To prove my point, let me invite you to a challenge.  Pick a country.  Any country.  Now, imagine that you’re going to relocate to that country.  Do you think that particular country is going to tell it’s citizens, “Joe Blow moved here, we must mind our manners and watch what we say so that we do not offend him.”  Or do you think they’re going to say, “Hey, YOU moved HERE!  If you want to live here, then you will follow the way we do things!  If you don’t like it, pack your bags and go back to where you came from!”

I love this country.  I love people and learning about different cultures and ways of life.  What I do NOT like is being told what I can say, do and think in my own native land.  I will not intentionally hurt anyone’s feelings or say anything hateful to them, but I will say what I feel and if that’s offensive, I’m sorry but, oh well.  I love and respect every single man and woman who has served this country, some of them giving the ultimate sacrifice, to ensure that we have the freedom it takes to say what’s on our minds without being censored.

I live in America.  I am an American.  If you come to America and do not want to live like an American, then can you please tell me why you came here in the first place?  That is something that I truly do not understand.

If anyone can explain any of this to me, I’d love to hear your take on it.

Until next time…..

Take care and God Bless!!!