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I wasn’t there on that July day in 1776 when those brave Patriots signed the Declaration of Independence, thereby creating the United States of America. So why do I fly the flag on July 4^th every year?

I wasn’t there on Iwo Jima when those battered and brave Americans raised the American Flag over that beaten and battered island. Why do I fly the flag for them?

I wasn’t in New York on September 11, 2001 when those terrorists flew hijacked jets into our World Trade Center towers and killed 2700 innocent Americans, tourists and foreign visitors from over 90 countries. Why do I fly the flag for the victims?

I wasn’t at the Pentagon when another plane flew into that symbol of America and killed 184 innocent Americans. Why do I fly the flag for those victims?

I wasn’t in that field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania when the heroes of United 93 re-took control of that jetliner and sacrificed their own lives to save the Capitol building. Why do I fly the flag and say “Let’s roll”?

Why do I stand at the ballgame with my hand over my heart when the Stars and Stripes is proudly displayed for the National Anthem?

As millions of others who grew up in the late 60s and early 70s, I was raised with a flag in every classroom and the Pledge of Allegiance recited before school commenced. There was no controversy about the phrase “Under God”. We learned about American History with dates and events. Is that why I fly the flag today?

I watched as Vietnam protestors burned flags and dragged them along the ground and urinated on them. I saw the desecration of our National Symbol. Could that be the reason I fly the flag today?

We have a Presidential candidate who spent time recently defining Patriotism. Can Patriotism be the reason I fly the flag?

The answer is no and yes.

Patriotism cannot be measured or defined by anyone because it means something different to everyone. Patriotism comes not from the head, but from the heart. Patriotism is what drives people to serve in the Armed Forces, especially after the 9/11 attacks. It created a firestorm of new enlistees heading for foreign lands with revenge and justice in tow. Patriotism is what causes people to stand when the flag is near.

Is Patriotism tied to the flag? To me, there is Patriotism in the flag. Do I fly the flag because of Patriotism? No. My Patriotism is expressed by my rooting for our American athletes at the Olympics. I fly the flag because my country is near and dear to my heart. In that place reserved for my beloved wife and my wonderful children. And my country.

I fly the flag because it is an important symbol of who we are as Americans. I fly the flag because of the millions who have died defending the flag. And the millions who hate the symbol of America enough to attack us on our own soil. Whether it was Imperial Japan, Nazi Germany or radical Islam, America’s enemies have been tenacious and persistent. But, the common thread there was that in every case, the American flag stood as the focal point of their hatred. How could it not be the symbol that we stand behind, stand beside and stand for?

When I see an American burning a flag, I am repulsed. And when I hear a politician defend burning the American flag, I take action and call or email them to protest that act.

The flag is much more than a symbol of America. It far exceeds the fabric that constructs it. It is the standard for Americans, beloved by the children of America and hated by her enemies. It is the focus of American wannabes from foreign places because they know under the protection of the flag lays freedom and opportunity, life and liberty. The likes of which are unavailable anywhere else in the world.

I fly the flag because I am an unashamed American citizen, born here and I will stay here, gladly by choice. So, why do I fly the flag? Because I can.

-American citizen

On September 11, 2008, we mark the 7th anniversary of one of the darkest days in American history. There will be pomp and ceremony marking the occasion. Reading of the names of the victims, bells tolling, tears and remembrances. President Bush, for the last time as President will, no doubt, give a speech and point out the positives that came out of that tragic and horrifying day. We have, certainly, done serious damage to Al Qaeda. We have taken down two totalitarian regimes in the Taliban and Saddam Hussein’s dictatorial Iraq. We have headed off attacks in allied countries and minimized other attacks by due diligence and the cooperation of various intelligence agencies. There have been mistakes. But how could we ever have been convinced of victory in a Global War on Terror while Saddam Hussein was still in power, supporting and financing terrorist groups like Hamas?  

Back then, Congress joined hands and sang God Bless America two days after and we all said, in a collective voice, that we will never forget. Have we forgotten?  

We all rallied around the phrase Let’s Roll back then as it was the last thing uttered by one of the Flight 93 heroes. Have we forgotten the depths of the sacrifice that these people made? 

We are in an election year and one of the Presidential candidates uses the battle against terrorism as a political game or slogan, voted against the Iraqi operation and promises to end the war within 16 months. Has he forgotten what happened after we cut and ran from Vietnam in 1974? The historic bloodbath that ensued and the millions of deaths on our hands? Is he willing to accept the consequences of a cut and run strategy from Iraq? 

For the last six years (they gave a one year grace period), pacifist, anti-security factions of our society, including some in our own Government have come up with some of the most fallacious conspiracy theories about our own Government’s “plots” to bring down the World Trade Center Towers by explosives for obviously nefarious reasons. Some of the Hollywood loonies, like Rosie O’Donnell and Charlie Sheen have taken part in furthering these theories. Of course, they bring no evidence to back up their claims. Have they forgotten? Senator Obama made a speech defining Patriotism. Who is he trying to sell this bill of goods to? We the People? Or himself? To me, the definition of Patriotism is as simple as giving your country the benefit of the doubt before anyone else. Assume your country to be innocent until proven guilty. Why is it easier for some in this country to conclude that our own Government would explode office buildings, then a fanatical terrorist group, whose beef with the US goes back several decades? Why do some believe that Saddam Hussein did not sponsor and provide aid and comfort to terrorists, to which we have proof, but are easily willing to convict the President of the United States of some shadowy charges that, I might add, have no substantiation? I guess it soothes their consciences to always blame America first. It’s easy to believe, for some, that the big dog in the fight is always wrong and the US is the big dog. It leads to the falsehood that if we just talked directly to Ahmadinijad that Iran would stop hating us. That if we made a deal with him, he would stop his desire for nuclear weapons to shoot at Israel or whoever. Why is it always America’s fault? How about we blame the real devil in this deal? The terrorists!  How about we practice real and unadulterated Patriotism and believe in our country first? If you feel it in your heart, you do not have to define Patriotism. It comes easy. And I, for one, have not forgotten…

The television talking suits having been gnashing their gums and losing lunches over the fact that their Olympic coverage is being heartily reviewed and censored by the Chinese government. China is a Communist country, you know. We all knew this years ago when the 2008 Summer Games were given to China to promote whatever good would be granted by that action.Well, that was 2001. Now, 7 years later, the Chi-coms have polished Beijing, put up walls so the western media cannot see the abject poverty behind those walls. They have jailed the dissidents. They have put out edicts refusing street traffic to the populace in an attempt to try and mitigate the noxious pollution prevalent in Beijing all year round. The fact that the government has to put out an edict and has that power to refuse the citizenry from traveling by car in the streets of the city should be enough to really search our souls to try and discover what was in the heads of the International Olympic Committee, who gave the games to China in the first place.Additionally, their record of human rights, shall we say, leaves some to be desired. It has been alleged, just this week, that they did not like the original young child who was picked to sing their National Anthem because she had buck teeth. But they liked her voice. So they picked a cherubic child and had her lip sync the anthem. They also are accused of digitally enhancing their fireworks display so it looked better. Who are the Chinese trying to fool? The West or their own people? The opening ceremonies, while very impressive, appeared over-rehearsed and I could imagine the ones who did not perform perfectly ending up in a Chinese Gulag.Has anyone noticed that the venues are comparatively empty, considering China has over a billion people? And the USA athletes have more fans than the Chinese athletes.Maybe I am mistaken, but isn’t the purpose of the Olympics to promote fair and level athletic competition between nations? Sorry, but how does the Chinese gymnast have the ability to lift his own body weight without momentum? Without “help”?China has attempted to manipulate the perception of the world away from the reality: Communism is a failure. It destroys people, it promotes nothing but acquiescence. It frowns on productivity, initiative and creativity.The fact that anyone is surprised that internet access is limited and access to anything other than what the government wants to promote is forbidden, is foolish. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has rewarded China for human rights and environmental violations. Maybe next time, we should allow the games to be in Tehran. Go USA! 

Seemingly, a main issue in this election cycle is going to be gas and oil prices. This is an issue that should have been dealt with many decades ago, but was not. The last measure attempted was back in the 90’s when the Republican controlled Congress put up a bill that would allow drilling for oil in ANWR (Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge). Then-President Clinton vetoed the bill. Now, there’s a shocker! The Democrats are historically against any kind of domestic oil drilling.

 Over the last few weeks, a new mantra has emerged from the Dems: “You can’t drill your way out of this problem”. You practically cannot turn on any of the media outlets without hearing at least one liberal mouthpiece utter those 9 little words. In my view, yes you can.

It’s a fact that it will take years to finally get oil from wells started today. Which is why it should have been done 10-12 years ago. The problem would have been fixed. So, how can drilling today fix the problem?? I’m glad you asked. The Arabs have no fear for lost revenue because their competitions (Mexico, Venezuela, et al) are all complicit. It’s all one big cartel. As long as the Arabs feel we are just blowing smoke about drilling for our own oil, they will continue to hold us hostage. And the rest of the cartel will gladly follow suit.

 We all saw earlier this week that the Arabs promised to increase production to try and bring down prices. That, my friends, is a smokescreen. A massage to try and get past the current crisis. Its happened many times before with the Arabs.

If we were serious about drilling, I believe the prices for oil will take a nosedive because it will make the Arabs very nervous that we are creating real and potentially damaging competition for them. Competition creates lower prices and better service.

Many liberals are also calling for the development of alternative and renewable sources of energy. That’s great! Let’s get that going right now! And say, for instance, that we discover the magic bullet. A non-polluting, car running, home firing solution that is easy, cheap and head and shoulders above oil and gas. How long do you think it would take to become mainstream? Probably 12-20 years.

The solution is multi-faceted. We must develop renewable sources of energy, but we must develop our own oil supply in the meantime. We must start the drilling immediately in ANWR, in the Gulf of Mexico, (China is drilling dangerously close to our waters for oil that should belong to us!) and other places like the Rocky Mountains. We also must build 3 or 4 refineries. It is of utmost priority to begin the recovery right now. The delay has already been disastrous.

Problems: McCain doesn’t believe in drilling in ANWR. Obama doesn’t believe in drilling at all. As the poet said, therein lies the rub. This isn’t about oil independence and it isn’t about the saber toothed moth or whatever species would be effected if we drilled in ANWR. It is about the soccer mom who has to pay $100 to fill up the mini van. It’s about the trickle down effect of transportation costs effecting the price of food, clothing, essentials. Just about everything is effected by the costs of oil and gasoline. It’s about the businesses that we depend on, like airlines and trucking companies who, coincidentally, depend on fuel,  are on the verge of going under. It’s about the skyrocketing costs to the consumer and the damage that’s been done to our economy.

In my estimation, it is no longer about policy or dogma, but survival. We can, indeed, drill our way out of this. But we must start right now.