America: love her or hate her, she gave you that right, so thank her.

***NOTE: I had written this on Memorial Day weekend 2020 and I thought I had published it but apparently I did not. I am still publishing this now, after the fact but ironically many things have happened since I wrote this and now to which people may misconstrue my intent, my feelings or anything else. Now as always, anything published, whether a tweet or a Facebook comment or an actual book is open to interpretation and scrutiny. However, should one want to understand something that could be interpreted in more than one way, the only true way to get resolve is by confronting that person and having a discussion. Anyone who chooses to attack, slander or otherwise hate on me without approaching me for discussion will get no satisfaction from me, as I will ignore you. This is a simple concept and one I firmly believe in. If you don't like something I've said, typed, written, posted etc, ask me about me it. Perhaps I can shed some more light on it, explain my point of view, maybe I was blind to a point of view and that is what offended you, and you may help me in seeing a different perspective. But we'll never get there without that discussion. I encourage everyone to ask questions about everything and truly be open minded. It doesn't mean you'll be changed in your view or even like the answers you'll hear. But being opened minded is far more difficult than people want to admit. But I think is one of the attributes needed to more forward as a society. There is far too many closed minds on all sides of every topic to have us advance in any meaningful way; which actually ties back in to my original post below about how complicated our freedoms really are but why they're necessary.

and now, my original post from 5/24/20.

I love America.

I love America for all of its freedoms and rights that it allows its citizens. Some people like to point out what they feel are flaws with America, but usually what they actually mean are flaws with certain laws or policy, whether that is local, state or federal governments. Those laws or policies that those people may not agree with, they can change them through the democracy that is America!

That really is what makes America great. The right to disagree and have different views on things. We would never want total conformity or for everyone to all be the same. The fact that we can have and hold different points of view, or practice different religions etc is your right as an American.

This Memorial Day weekend, all Americans should take a moment to thank the men and women who have served this great nation to protect those freedoms.

Now, just by encouraging that, some of you may quip that you are against a certain war or even all wars. Again, ironically you only have that right because of the freedoms that America affords you and we only have those rights because we have fought for them throughout the history of our nation. So although you have the right to be against war in principal, and that is a valid notion. Please don't undermine the fact and truth that war is one of many things that has shaped and helped get America to where we are today.

Having said that, this is not a rant about those who oppose war, no, it is trying to make the point that we should all be grateful for living in the United States of America. And it is okay to disagree with American policy and its government officials but not just for the sake of disagreeing, but to take action. Go and vote and make a difference. That is your right as an American citizen and I encourage everyone to go and exercise their right. Vote however you feel is appropriate but just make sure that is actually what you believe and not just what is popular. I feel that you need to educate yourself in who or what you're voting for, otherwise you are just being someone's pawn.

You may resent that statement, especially today when we've politicized every aspect of our lives. But I challenge you to really think about that and decide for yourself if voting merely based on a political party or a political candidate makes you a pawn of a system or perhaps makes you a part of "group think", which is when a collective of individuals are all together, and despite their intelligence or factual evidence, that group will conform and agree to go with a solution or answer that is not correct; but instead is what they think people want to hear or what they think should happen despite what the evidence shows. Be the individual that you want to be, never what someone else wants you to be; and that is what being an American is all about.

Love it, or leave it, but don't stay and bitch and complain. That is weak, not becoming of your intelligence, and does not serve anyone; especially yourself. I believe most people have self respect and I would hope they conduct their lives with the same respect.

I don't intend for this to be "preachy", but with all of the political rhetoric these days, I think it is important for all of us to remember that we are our own person and we live in the greatest nation on the planet, and arguably the greatest nation that has ever existed in human history; based on the rights and freedoms American citizens have, the fact that people have access to clean water and food and lodging. Yes they do, even though many are choosing homelessness, but that is another topic. America is great. Let's keep it that way. I'm not a religious person but I will end this with what I still feel is applicable and appropriate and also to make my point again, we don't have to agree or even partake sometimes to benefit from something.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!