Where is the America that I knew?

Born in the small town of LaFollette, TN, 55 years ago, I remember growing up in a community where we all knew each other – a community where everyone worked, except the truly disabled, and where the more education or training you acquired and the harder you worked, the more you prospered.

I was raised in a community and country that adhered to the Judeo-Christian values of our founders.

Today, I feel like I live in a foreign country – one that no longer looks to its founding documents that so clearly laid out our intentions and goals while putting our trust in God.

Now, many want to take God out of our government, our schools and our daily lives – how long will it be before they want to take Him out of our churches?

I now live in a country where most of the people hate our president even though he has protected us from harm since 9-11 and is killing our enemies who have vowed to kill us.

I now live in a country that allows abortion and calls it “choice,” yet charges accused murderers with double homicide if they kill a pregnant woman.

I now live in a country that spends more money than it takes in and is facing a depression, but pledges to spend more and go further in debt to countries that hate us.

I now live in a country where politicians talk about investments in our future, but actually mean doling out our tax dollars to special interests to garner votes for the next election.

I now live in a country where people who live below sea level and are warned of a hurricane and devastation will not leave the area and then they loot stores and homes and shoot at their rescuers.

I now live in a country that allows homosexual marriage in some states and will not pass a constitutional amendment declaring marriage to be between a man and a woman as it has been from the beginning of recorded history.

I now live in a country that is about to legalize 12 million illegal aliens, give them drivers’ licenses and pay for their Social Security and healthcare coverage with my tax dollars.

I now live in a country where the federal government oversteps its bounds by starting government sponsored enterprises and then bails them out when they make detrimental business decisions.

I now live in a country where the government thinks it can do a better job of spending the money I earn than I can and then rewards people for not working.

I now live in a country that may elect a president who believes in the redistribution of wealth from those who have earned it, to those who have done nothing to deserve it.

I now live in a country where foot-washing basins are installed in school bathrooms for Muslims so they can practice their religion, but Christians are not allowed to pray at a football game.

This year, I see people voting based on a slogan or celebrity status – not on character, integrity and issues.  I see people voting their pocketbook, even if it means the eradication of their individual rights and freedoms.

As a country, we are at a crossroads.  Where is the America that I knew – the one that looked like Mayberry?   The one where we honored our men and women in military?  The one where you could leave your doors unlocked at night and a handshake was better than a contract?

Yes, I live in America.  I don’t like America – I love it.  But, I can’t describe the feeling that I have had in my gut these past two months.  I feel as if our country is slipping away if we don’t take action as soon as possible.

As Pastor Martin Niemoller said about the inactivity of German intellectuals before World War II, “In Germany, they came first for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist; and then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist; and then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew; and then . . . they came for me . . . and by that time there was no one left to speak up.”  Who will speak up for us?

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