.png)
United We Stand
In conjunction with the launch of my new book From Fear to Fulfillment I am returning to the blogosphere. My new blog will address a wide range of topics from leadership, living a full life, celebrating our great country, current events, and a host of other important topics.
Today is Veteran’s Day; the day we reflect upon all the brave men and women who have served in the defense of our great land. Freedom is one of the greatest blessings that can be bestowed upon one, but it is not free. If history teaches us anything, it vividly reminds us that every great power of the past has fallen into decline. We see it throughout history; the Roman Empire is one such example.
There are plenty of examples of decline of nation states and even superpowers in my lifetime - The Soviet Union would be an example of one such decline. In 1958, the year of my birth, they were the preeminent threat on the world stage and Americans were gripped with their aggression. Children were taught to hide under desks in school in the event of an attack - a drill called “duck-and-cover” which was practiced regularly. It was not uncommon for individuals to have bunkers and bomb shelters in their backyards.
While Russia remains a great threat, they are but a shell of the once formative force for evil they were at their peak. This does not mean that they are not a vital threat, they are and (I’m sure) will continue to be.
We think of many empires, dynasties, and other powerful nations that were all brought down by outside forces, but there are also great powers that were infiltrated and brought down from within.
Today, we are enduring two extraordinarily divisive practices in our country. These scourges threaten our very existence. The first is the rewriting of history. Through this duplicitous action, children and adults alike are brainwashed to believe the traditional history of our great land is untrue. These spin doctors concoct divisive theorems that justify their disgust for our great land while vilifying the heroic men and women should have played such vital roles in her success.
The second big lie is that of identity politics. This practice pits neighbor against neighbor, family member against family member, and countrymen against countrymen. It’s dishonestly paints a narrative that preys on our most vulnerable minds.
A poll last summer found that 68% of adults were proud to be American. Stunningly, only 36% of our youth held the same view. This translates into almost two thirds of our next group of parents believing that the United States is deeply flawed. It appears that those who wish to harm this country have effectively injected their poison with great success.
As we celebrate Veterans Day this year, I cannot help but have a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach that our country is in deep decline. With two thirds of our youth not being proud to be American and half of our citizens being duped into believing the other half is their enemy, we must ask ourselves a couple vital questions.
1) Who will find the resolve to step up and defend our nation from the true enemies led by despots from faraway places?
2) Who will carry the torch of freedom moving forward?
My friends, this Veteran’s Day should be a time for careful reflection. Thank a vet, reflect upon those who have served our country. Teach your children about our history and why the United States of America is the singular beacon for good throughout the world. The true existential threat to the future of our country is the rewriting of history and identity politics. Don’t let them divide us from within. America has been and will always be worth fighting for. We must rise up and make our voices heard.
- Elliott