Page 128 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2020- Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

One Veteran's View:

A Modicum of Optimism by Major General (Retired)
Bob Dempsey(Amarillo)

" hese are the times that the demise of a hapless fishing estimates. Our national
try men’s souls.” So boat caught in the resulting debt and deficit figures are
Tsaid Thomas Paine, an super storm. The first storm increasing by trillions at a time
American Revolutionary, battering America is the when our economy is going
on 23 December 1776, in the Coronavirus pandemic, the the opposite direction because
first of 13 essays entitled The elusive parameters of which of the pandemic.
American Crisis. The articles are still not totally known
were intended to inspire and which, combined with A related topic that is
citizens to join the effort to high numbers of cases and disturbing is the increasing
break from England and deaths, creates an emotion- advocacy by some in
become an independent, charged national attitude, leadership positions of
self-governing nation. Given making all judgment calls socialism as a preferred form
the fledgling nation’s lack of controversial. Compounding of government. The veterans
nearly everything necessary the pandemic problem is the I know are familiar with
to confront Great Britain, the very unfortunate fact that socialism and are acutely
task was indeed a daunting it is an election year. In my aware that socialism, in its
one. Nevertheless, most opinion, far too many things various forms, is considered
Inspiration
Americans did join the cause, are being said and done for responsible for over 100
and the result was the first of political reasons rather than million lives lost during the
many American successes, health reasons. The lack of 20th century. Most all agree
leading to worldwide clear understanding of many with Winston Churchill’s
consensual recognition as of the virus issues, on the part eloquent description:
the most successful and of the public and even health
influential nation on earth. authorities at times, allows “The inherent vice of
One obvious, indisputable individuals to act without capitalism is the unequal
fact regarding those who incontrovertible accountability. sharing of blessings; The
are considered our founding inherent virtue of socialism is
fathers is the pervasive Still another tragic event the equal sharing of miseries.”
evidence of their reliance on occurred when police acted Freedoms enjoyed by
their Judeo-Christian faith in brutally, resulting in the death democratically governed
all endeavors. The words we of an African-American man nations demand self-
see on our money today – “In and – in the highly-stressed, discipline and willingness
God We Trust” – say it all and national human climate to compromise to achieve
have been on currency and described above – caused an a successful, functioning
coin since 1956 when President explosion of racially charged society – the greater common
Eisenhower signed the law protests, which became good. These attributes are
into effect. The national motto destructive riots in many cases. required of individuals
until that time had been E and, to the same degree, of
Pluribus Unum (“From many Still another factor in the government institutions. I
one”). One might observe that current situation is the personally think that much of
we are not following either detrimental impact the the cause of America’s current
motto very well today. pandemic-driven reduction
in activities has had on struggles lies in the millions
America, at present, is in our national economy and, of immigrants, particularly
the throes of what I have consequently, on individuals. illegal immigrants, who have
chosen to call “the perfect The federal government come into our country, not
storm,” alluding to the movie reaction has been to issue to be true American citizens,
recounting the horrific weather large stimulus payments, but to be whatever they were
event that resulted from the which come at a time when wherever they were, yet free to
unlikely confluence of three government spending is live in America with American
strong weather systems and already too high by many benefits. No one taught them
American culture, so it is not

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