My oasis

Apparently, when one reaches a certain age, one loses the luxury of "sleeping in."  My body has reached that age, apparently, and insistently awakens me every morning at 6:00.  Oh, the joy. Not.

However, early weekend mornings in my back yard are very restful and relaxing.  Few people in my neighborhood are awake before 9:00, and those who are show consideration by not firing up their power tools until at least 9:30.  Hence, aside from the occasional semi tractor-trailer that I can hear from the highway a mile away, my back yard resembles a quiet country estate.

The crickets are chirping - and this year there are so many crickets! - and even Nemo, our cat, seems reluctant to disturb the quiet.  I can choose to sit outside at our picnic table in the cool grass and enjoy my coffee.  This morning I am not, because it is raining gently, but the windows on the back of the house have been thrown wide open and it's just me, my coffee and my oatmeal with cranberries and brown sugar.

Thank you, Lord, for this quiet oasis in a suburban beehive that seems to be constantly buzzing with activity most of the time.  The quietness will soon be interrupted by birds, cars, and trucks as the world begins a new day going about its business.  But for a few sweet moments, it's just me, my breakfast, my yard, and my God, enjoying each others' company.

Remembering is a Moral Imperative

It's been a really busy year for me - obviously, given that I haven't written since January - full of school, college preparation, graduation, swimming, working, traveling, and just plain living this typical suburbanite life that we love so much.

A few days ago, after exhausting myself by first ripping up an old ruined floor and then starting to lay down porcelain tile in our kitchen, I sat down with my tablet and began looking for something interesting to watch that wouldn't require much concentration or energy.  I landed on the Smithsonian Channel app, and chose "9/11: Day That Changed the World".  It described the events of the day in the words of the participants themselves.

I think my husband has decided I like depressing myself.  He walked in the room as I was watching the program and gave me a puzzled expression. I'm sure I had a pained look on my face, and tears welled up in my eyes on more than one occasion.  It's the kind of thing you don't want to see, but need to see.  I place documentaries on the September 11 attacks in the same category as Schindler's List and The Passion of the Christ.  They're painful to watch, difficult to see, yet important to remember.

My children are too young to really remember 9/11.  My older daughter, now a freshman in college, has vague memories of what we did that day.  She was 7 years old, in second grade.  I chose to pick her up from school early, as did so many parents that day.  We got in the car and she asked me why all the adults were so sad.  I told her what had happened in simple terms, and she asked, "Why would anyone want to do that?"  Why indeed, sweetie.

We picked up my younger daughter, who was a couple weeks shy of her third birthday, and we went home.  The neighborhood we lived in was a tight-knit community of friends, and we all gathered out in the street to talk as we trickled home.  I had left the television on to ABC and at one point Peter Jennings announced to those of us in the Indianapolis area that we would soon be hearing fighter jets from Grissom Air Base that were being sent to accompany Air Force One back to Washington.  My older daughter heard it and thought it meant a jet was headed to downtown Indianapolis, and her daddy worked downtown!  The panic she felt made me realize that while the youngest of children were largely unaware of what was going on, they weren't completely isolated from it.

Today my girls have little to no recollection of that day.  An entire generation of young people, now emerging into adulthood, does not have the first-hand experience of shock, horror, pain, agony, and anger we experienced.  When I went home to Michigan for a visit with my family shortly after 9/11, I chatted about it with my grandmother.  We compared this attack to the Pearl Harbor attack, and she very wisely pointed out that the big difference was in 1941 we knew whom to blame, and against whom to defend ourselves.  With 9/11, we just didn't know.  There wasn't a single country to point to.  There wasn't an evil, seeking-to-rule-the-world dictator wanting to spread his brand of oppression across the land.  The participants were nameless, faceless, unknown, and for all practical intents and purposes, homeless.  We couldn't point to one single country and say "They are to blame!"  It was several countries, some of whom knowingly and willingly harbored these animals, and even trained them.

We stand at the brink of another war, with the Iraq and Afghanistan wars winding down.  Do we want to get involved in Syria?  Is it our responsibility? Do we have the moral imperative to intervene?  These are questions to be answered by people smarter than me.

What we must do, what we absolutely cannot fail to do, is remember.  Remember how we felt that day.  Remember our resolve.  Remember how unified behind a common purpose we became.  We are AMERICANS.  We FIGHT to defend ourselves and our ideals.  We are like an overly indulged family of Waltons on this Walton Mountain we call the United States.  We bicker amongst ourselves, and do things to each other we shouldn't.  But like a family, in times of crisis we pull together, unify, and strengthen our resolve to continue our way of life and the deeply rooted conviction that all men are created equal, and are endowed by their Creator certain inalienable rights.

We cannot fail to remember.  We do ourselves and those innocent victims a great disservice if we do.  Remembering is a Moral Imperative.

Recipe for a True American

Many of you know that I've been researching my family tree with earnest over the last couple of years.  That project has been temporarily been put on hold until I can get more information, but I have learned a lot.  I discovered the identity of my great-great-grandfather's father, and his service to our country in the Civil War.  I learned that many of my mom's great- and great-great-grand parents immigrated to the United States through Canada in the late 1860s, and her great-grandfather as recently as the end of the 19th century.  I don't have any evidence of this, but I don't think any of my family members are Native American or African American.

That means, without exception, my family is entirely descended from
IMMIGRANTS!!
*dun dun DDUUUUNNNNNN!!!!*

Holy crap on a cracker, Batman!  Everyone knows that true Americans are opposed to immigration!  Why, allowing an immigrant into the country is putting our livelihood in danger!

Actually, that is exactly what "true Americans" said about my own ancestors in the 1800s.  In fact, take a look at this cartoon:  http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/anti-immigration-cartoon-granger.jpg  I don't know if any of you caught it, but many of my German immigrant ancestors came to Michigan through Canada.  Why would they do this, you might wonder?  Well, the hysteria that was spreading across the U.S. in the 19th century had caused Congress to put limits on the number of people from each country that were allowed into the U.S. each year.  Thus, my family members, seeking a better life, crossed into the country in Michigan, where records weren't kept until 1894.  Yes, you read that right, my family consists largely of farmers who were likely undereducated, poor, and entered the country illegally.

Guess me and my family should pack up and leave, eh?  Did you know, my 3x great-grandfather fought in the NY 54th, and didn't have American Citizenship?  Should I still leave?

Let's set that aside for a minute.  The title of this blog, is, after all, "Recipe for a True American," and the origins of one's family are just part of the formula.

Many people say this country is a Christian country.  I'm a Christian.  So are most of my friends and family members.  So were most of the Founding Fathers; at least in name, they were.  You see, in Colonial America and at the time of the Revolution, to not attend church was socially unacceptable.  Benjamin Franklin attended services regularly early in his adult life, but given his point-of-view on many things, I seriously doubt he was a true Christian.  I could be wrong, and I won't know for certain until I get to Heaven, but I feel confident in saying this.

The reality is that this country is not a Christian country.  Christians were just the first people who got here.  And when they got here, Christians were a minority.  Native Americans' religious persuasions are decidedly not Christian.  They're not immoral, just not Christian.  This country is, after all, a place where one can practice his or her faith, or not, without fear of persecution by the government.  There are quite a few countries that allow that now, but in the 16th century that wasn't the case.

Before my friends and family members start jumping down my throat, I want you all to know, I am entirely in favor of living my faith among those around me, in hopes that they, too, will want to know Jesus.  But it is not the job of me or anyone else to make sure certain religious principles are adhered to by the government.  Actually, it is our responsibility to make sure that does not happen.  All of the rights we hold most dear exist because we are guaranteed the government won't impose someone else's faith on us.

Our government does not exist to legislate morality.  Whose morality should be legislated?  There are some brothers and sisters in Christ who believe that women should not work out of the home, should not wear pants, and should not wear makeup or jewelry.  I don't agree with them, and that's my right to do so. There are some people of faith who believe it's ok to have multiple wives.  I don't agree with that either.  I don't need to continue this.  You get my point.

Our government exists to ensure the safety and well-being of the people whom it serves.  How that should be accomplished is fodder for many political debates.  Whether it should be done is not.  So the recipe for a real American does not include any faith at all.  It's a non-factor.

I'm only 45 years old (hah, only...) but I don't remember people ever being so sharply divided.  My good friend, who is a history teacher, tells me that political conflict has existed pretty much since our country began.  But I don't remember so many people being so, well, unAmerican in their comments about our leaders.

I have news for you:  No President is ever going to please you 100% of the time.  The President is human.  The President has his own ideas about how things should be done.  The President might even change his mind from time-to-time.  I would rather have a leader who is open to being wrong than one who narrow-mindedly refuses to admit when he is.

We need to realize something as a nation, liberal, conservative, and moderate alike:  Our country kicks ass.  It's the best one there is!  I like other countries, too.  Canada is awesome.  Most of Europe is beautiful, and they know how to take care of their citizens really well.  China has put a high priority on economic development.  (Ok I don't really LIKE China, but I like that they've started to allow their people more latitude in what they do.)  But our country is the BEST.  If I didn't think so, I would leave.

I don't know how I feel about the ownership of firearms.  I don't want to limit the rights of law-abiding citizens but I do think this gun ownership thing has gotten a little out of hand.  The right to bear arms is something that is so ingrained it's a part of our national DNA, but a mutation now and then has proven to be beneficial.

National health care isn't a bad idea for those who are working but unable to get insurance for whatever reason.  We provide health care for those who are not working, why on earth should we not provide it for those who are working?  Seriously, folks, where is the logic?  I don't want the government telling me that I must purchase something I don't want to purchase.  But I should also be prepared for the consequences and have to pay for everything myself, without benefit of bankruptcy, if I willingly do not have health insurance.  There are some serious gaps in the way our "sick care" system works (we don't really have health care.  Most plans only kick in when you're sick.).  That needs to be fixed.  But please, don't presume to tell me you know better than I what I need.  Lay out a policy, tell people what will happen if they don't adhere, and let it go.

I don't know how I feel about gay marriage, either.  Logically, there shouldn't be any reason for the government to not allow it.  Ours is not a Christian government, and therefore should not be telling anyone who they can and cannot marry.  On the other hand, I firmly believe God instituted marriage between a man and a woman to be a symbol of how the relationship between Christ and his people is supposed to be.  With clearly defined roles for the husband and wife (and no, barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen is NOT in the Bible) it's pretty hard for me to think God had loose definitions of "husband" and "wife."  But my friends who choose to be gay should not be denied the same rights as me and my heterosexual friends to commit to one person for life.  Perhaps a good compromise is to allow for "civil unions" that gives gay couples the same legal rights in decisions about medical care and inheritance.  Just as people who are of a different race or religion than me should not be denied rights, neither should people of a different sexual persuasion be denied those same rights.  God loves everyone.  He doesn't pick and choose the way we sucky humans do.

I could go on and on about all these modern social issues.  Military spending. Space exploration.  International intervention.  Renewable energy.  Use of public lands.  The point is that we all have varying differences of opinion, but as Americans we should all agree to disagree.

So what makes an American, American?  She probably is descended from immigrants.  She values individual freedoms.  She is fiercely independent and believes in the ability and right of an individual to accomplish whatever she can with hard work.  She believes in caring for the elderly, sick, and disadvantaged.  She values education for all.

If this sounds like you, congratulations, you're a true American.  If you're opposed to immigration, refuse to grant equal rights to people different from you, have nothing but vicious words for our President, want to impose your faith on the rest of society, and don't have any interest in providing for those who are unable to provide for themselves, you don't sound very American to me.  You sound like, well, an Iranian.  Or a Syrian.  Or any other country that has declared its hatred for our President and persecutes people of different faith, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.  And you sure as Hell aren't Christian.

Christians are called to love each other unconditionally, demonstrate Christ in all they do, and pray for and support their leaders.  The Apostle Paul told Timothy, "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.  This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (I Timothy 2:1-4)  He also wrote to the Romans, "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.  Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.  For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.  Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority?  Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good."  (Romans 13:1-4a)  By no means are we to obey a government that compels us to violate God's laws.  A good example of this is Daniel, who adhered to what he knew to be right in violation of the king.  Also, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship a graven image, and were willing to go to the fiery furnace, and face death, because of it.  That is not what is referenced in Timothy and Romans.

We live in a country that has blessed us with rights.  We tend to take those rights for granted, and lose our way.  We decide that it's ok to portray our President as evil, threatening, tyrannical, unAmerican, and otherwise a bad dude.  I don't believe he is.  I don't particularly like all he's doing as President, but give me a break.  He's got his priorities straight, in that he makes sure to spend time with his wife and kids, even if he leaves work unfinished for the night.  He loves his country and wants to do what he thinks is best, even if it's not what I personally think is best.

This is a great place to live.  It's the BEST place to live.  No one, and by that I mean NO ONE, should be surprised that so many will risk so much to be here.  My family wanted a better life here, and now I get to raise my kids in a society where they can truly do whatever they want.  It's a blessed, precious, enviable privilege to be an American.  All blessings come from God.  Every. Single. One.

We don't have to like everything that goes on around us all the time; we are responsible to lawfully do what we can to fix it.  I don't think that includes the vitriolic comments made by otherwise great Christian people. It just doesn't reflect well on Whom we represent.