Hi Gang:
This evening I decided to write a brief commentary. This one will be unusual- not only because of its brevity but because I am not basing it on yet another story about how our politicians are failing to represent the average American. Lord knows there are enough of those stories to be found on a daily basis!
Today, this Memorial Day Weekend, I am writing about the sacrifices that have been made, since the founding of this great nation, by our men and women in the military. I want all of us to remember that Memorial Day weekend is about much more than barbecues and department store sales. Memorial Day is more than the Indy 500 and airs shows (although I expect to join so many others to watch the Blue Angels perform at Jones Beach this weekend).
Memorial Day is the day that is set aside to honor those brave men and women who paid the “ultimate price” defending our nation, our freedoms and our way of life as Americans!
There is a wonderful website I urge you to visit. It is a tribute to our veterans and even if you have heard the wonderful music and seen the slide show that accompanies it- I think all Americans and all people around the world who owe their survival and their freedom to America’s valiant soldiers in all of the branches of our armed services should take a moment and give thanks to these heroes!
Here is the link to the Website that now also contains an additional recording to honor those who fought in the Viet Nam War (Please turn up the volume and check out both links):
I also urge you to understand that when we, as citizens of this nation fail to live up to our responsibilities to make our voices heard by those who are elected to represent us, we are betraying those who laid down their lives for our country. We should endeavor, this Memorial Day Weekend to be worthy of the sacrifices of our nation’s military and other fellow Americans who, as a matter of routine, go in harm’s way in defense of our nation and our freedoms that all too often, we tend to take for granted
Later this year, each and every member of the House of Representatives is up for reelection. Later this year more than one third of the members of the United States Senate will have to face their constituents. They need to be reminded that they work for us, We the People!
However, the practice of good citizenship does not end in the voting booth, it only begins there.
The large scale apathy demonstrated by citizens of this nation has emboldened elected representatives to all but ignore the needs of the average American citizen in a quest for massive campaign funds and the promises of votes to be ostensibly delivered by special interest groups. There is much that we cannot do but there is one thing that We the People absolutely must do- we must stop sitting on the sidelines!
The collective failure of We the People to get involved in make our concerns known to our politicians have nearly made the concerns of the great majority of the citizens of this nation all but irrelevant to the politicians.I implore you to get involved!
If this situation concerns you or especially if it angers you, I ask you to call your Senators and Congressional “Representative. This is not only your right- it is your obligation!
All I ask is that you make it clear to our politicians that we are not as dumb as they hope we are!
We live in a perilous world and in a perilous era. The survival of our nation and the lives of our citizens hang in the balance.
This is neither a Conservative issue, nor is it a Liberal issue- simply stated, this is most certainly an AMERICAN issue!
You are either part of the solution or you are a part of the problem!
Democracy is not a spectator sport!
Lead, follow or get out of the way!
-michael cutler-