I don’t remember celebrating June 6 growing up. I remember people talking about D-Day, and reminiscing about the allied invasion of western Europe on that date in 1944, but celebrating is not quite the right word for June 6 in history.
One of my Russian friends loved to tell me about Russian military’s prowess fighting the Germans. I’ve visited Russia ten times, and from the first visit the strongest impression I received was of Russian battles, wars, and victories. As we discussed America’s alliance with Russia to fight the Germans, I pointed out the big turning point of June 6 and the invasion of western Europe. My friend dismissed D-Day as nothing comparable with Russia’s conquests over Germany on the eastern front.
My father was a Naval Aviator fighting the Japanese in the Pacific. I was much more familiar with those battles than the fighting in Europe. The Big War, i.e. WWII, always superseded other wars or “conflicts” in conversations when I was growing up. It seemed like someone was always fighting someone else somewhere in the world. Wars and rumors of wars will continue to the end.
I remember people being divided over the Vietnam conflict as it was called, though I really didn’t know enough about it to know who we were fighting or why. Ignorance truly is bliss. As an adult with two sons, I have paid a lot more attention to wars and politics in my later years.
History teaches us that man is predisposed to fight, if not those outside our borders, then those within. Why? Power. I vividly remember the Civil Rights battles of the 1960s. The problem with battles and wars is that one side has to win. All the other sides have to lose at least by degrees. That’s Marxism in a nutshell. Enemies of America, both foreign and domestic are dividing us to conquer us.
On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress recognized the Stars and Stripes as the national flag of the United States of America. How could anyone refuse to celebrate our national flag? And yet, some among us not only refuse to celebrate, but choose to fight! Why? June 14 is President Trump’s birthday. June 14 is also my sister’s birthday and my cousin’s birthday. A lot of people have birthdays every day! Let’s not begrudge how people choose to celebrate their birthdays.
We have become a nation that loves to fight “them.” We have become the Hatfields and the McCoys! Stop it! June 14 is the date the Continental Congress established the Continental Army in 1775. For what it’s worth, in 1964, Congress recognized a product legally defined as a “distinctive product of the United States.” Yes, National Bourbon Day celebrates American whiskey produced by a mash of at least 51 percent corn, aged in new charred oak containers, and distilled primarily in Kentucky. There are at least 13 other national holidays celebrated on June 14.
Thousands of American men and women of all races have died protecting our nation and the flag. It’s not about bitter old fools fighting. It’s about recognizing all of us as one nation under God. Let’s act that way for the good and the future of our nation. What’s wrong with being patriotic particularly in the 250thyear of our birth.
Daniel L. Gardner is a columnist who lives in Starkville, MS. You may contact him at PJandMe2@gmail.com.
15 comments:
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Poor old Daniel. Thick as a brick. There is nothing wrong and everything right about patriotism. It's just that tens of millions of us patriots don't think that holding a human brain-bashing caged contest in front of the Lincoln Memorial is an appropriate way to celebrate our nation's 250th birthday or that it is "patriotic", and we sure as heck do not want to pay for it.
Is this some promo for a June 14 national holiday? It's not necessary. Mr. Trump will ultimately propose it and his toadies can support it when he does. Rambling recollections like this have no real purpose. Move on.
“ I vividly remember the Civil Rights battles of the 1960s …. That’s Marxism in a nutshell.”
D.L. Gardner
Someone should also remind this clown that America’s 250th birthday isn’t in June, but is on July 4. Someone seems to be conflating America’s birthday with that of his cult leader.
This guy confesses to traveling to Russia ten times?
Patriotism is hard to get a handle on when one’s nation, that is to say, one’s people, are being invaded and diluted. There is no nation in the US. Instead, it’s a mishmash of constantly competitive communities bickering over grants and funding. You want to be American too? Well, just find a way to slip under the fence and a woman to breed and, bam, you’re in the club.
American patriotism isn’t love of one’s nation, not anymore. American patriotism now is love of the American government and its (self-alleged) military prowess.
Well said.
So how long does it take a " party propagandist" to stop taking up for their party's President to notice all the lies he told them. Most Republicans wanted a better economy and no foreign wars.
Now I guess the GOP will pretend we didn't waste military equipment and worse get our military killed and wounded just to get the exact same treaty with Iran that had been in existence for decades.
Either our President was ignorant and rash or started a war he couldn't finish. It's not like he " liberated" either Venezuela or Iran. It's not like we all would applaud if Mexico or Canada decided we were a threat.
Seems to me that "regime" change is up to the citizens who lived under the control of the regime. I'm happy to send them weapons as we did with Land/Lease and help with rebuilding . As horrible as Hitler was, we waited until a Nazi ally attacked US.
And, frankly, the divisive politics both parties ferment is self-destructive and just exactly what our enemies want...us at war with ourselves. And, some of us don't like that a native Afrikaner (they are GERMAN and DUTCH descendants) is trying to influence our politics and essentially "buy" us and maybe the whole damn world if he ends up with all the monopoly money!
To be patriotic , D.L. and all Americans damn well need to know more about our first Revolution and WHY they were fighting.
We seem to teach about battles and why Bostonians got mad, but that has zero to do with the motivations of those who EARNED the right to be called " patriots"! Try reading Patrick Henry, D.L. Try reading about the how our Declaration and Constitution was written and what those words intended to convey. They did not want an official or government approved religion as they had seen religions enrich themselves and become as powerful and violent as monarchs and start wars at the expense of the citizens.
No, but D-Day is in June, June, 6th to be exact. That's what the article is about. What happened to reading comprehension?
Most Republicans wanted Biden out of office and not Harris as president. Once Trump is out of office you will see the swamp go back to business usual. We are so use to wasteful spending that we all get pissed when they find fraud and try to stop it. Iran cannot have nukes, anyone who is concerto cares about the rest of the world understands this. Democrats are willing to arm them and flush them with cash to help, Obama proved this. There is more going on in the world, behind the scenes, that you are aware of. Do you actually think that ANY president would blindly drive America in the ground because he didn’t think or was aware of all the angles? We are only aware of the things we know, none of us are at the security briefings or military planning meetings. We really are blind in all that. But, you have CNN, so there’s that.
You have no idea what the new agreement is, you haven't seen it.
12:07 You are right, we are all blind but we do get to choose who will screw us. We can be screwed by the freaky progressives or Mr. Trump and his billionaire monarchy. Depending on who is doing the screwing, some of us even enjoy it.
Well, well, well. Looks like Irans is getting everything they want and the American taxpayer loses. Meanwhile, Trump is tap dancing like Bibi’s waffle monkey while he tries to sabotage the entire negotiation.
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