An Introduction to Change
by Colonel Bob Pappas, USMC, Retired
During a deployment to Taiwan I found a plaque inscribed with a creed that aptly described what it meant to be an American during the last century. It was written by Dean Alfange a New York politico. He was of Greek origin, legally immigrated with his parents as a small child, fought in WWI and died at age 91. It is notable that he was regarded as a liberal during his era, certainly a far cry from today’s crop by the same brand.
The following is what Alfange wrote:
“I Do Not Choose to Be a Common Man,
It is my right to be uncommon—if I can. I seek opportunity—not security.
I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me.
I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed.
I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia.
I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat.
It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act for myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say, ‘This I have done.’”
That creed was the essence of what most felt about America from the turn of 20th Century until after WWII. But with the passage of time it gradually changed and culminated in the signing away of fundamental freedom on March 23rd, 2010. Some applaud that for reasons explained in the last essay; others find it highly offensive, invasive and overreaching. It is the antithesis of “seeking opportunity—not security;” it is the implementation of being a “kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state” look after one; it is a step in the direction of a Soviet style future for our children and grandchildren; unless!
Today too many Americans look to government because they have been brought up as kept citizens and prefer the “stale calm of utopia” rather than to take the “calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed.” They have traded their birthright for a bowl of porridge and within a decade will reap what they have sown; less freedom; unless! Those who came from slavery have now willfully, fully embraced political plantation slavery.
Obama promised to spread the wealth around, and between the so called, “stimulus” and the new health care law, he may garner votes, but only from those who choose to remain in virtual slavery to the government. Maybe someday they will wake up to what he has done, but self-deception is freedom’s most potent opponent and in this instance mindless lemmings have deluded themselves into believing that despite the clear record to the contrary, government is their only hope.
With any luck, their trickery, underhanded dealings and unscrupulous conduct Democrats in Congress will have indelibly marked themselves as worthy candidates for the dung-heap of history. At the moment they revel in being the force that is bringing America to her knees as they snuff out hope and the only beacon in the world’s darkness. But patriotic Americans will remember and introduce them to Washington in the rear view mirror. Never forget!
Semper Fidelis
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Wild Thing’s comment……..
Thank you Col. Pappas!!!!!! That is so true too! I love how he phrases things and hits the nail on the head.
….Thank you Mark for sending this to me.
Mark
3rd Mar.Div. 1st Battalion 9th Marine Regiment
1/9 Marines aka The Walking Dead
VN 66-67
“I won’t have to worry about putting gas in my car, I won’t have to worry about paying my mortgage, you know, if I help him, he’s gonna help me.” –Peggy Joseph (maybe she can get a new care or washing machine for her freedom)
Right now we are the ones in the rearview mirror. If obama and the Democrats ca push through an amnesty bill, we will remain in that rearview mirror.
Look at it this way if you will and draw your own conclusions. Just look at the continent of Africa. No pun intended, but it is a virtual black hole offering nothing to earth except filth, death and AIDS. The so called leaders of our country have their roots in that continent. What does that say about the nubian messiah and his movement?
Now they are trying to blame the ‘Tea partys’ for the threats to the donk congressmen. There has been a complete reversal of roles here. In the 60’s we were the Man. Now they are in charge and we are now the radicals.
they were on the wrong side then they are on the wrong side now. But the more Americans that wake up the better it is for our side. We just got to keep shaking them. This is not going to be an easy fight, but with determination and persistance we will get out contry back.
I don’t know if they got enough time to get that amnesty bill through before the next election but they are running scared and know we are pissed. So it may be awhile before they try another bill like this…or maybe not but the more they try to shove down our throats the worse it will be for them.
Thomas Sowell had a line went “If you have always believed that everyone should play by the same rules and be judged by the same standards, that would have gotten you labeled a radical 50 years ago, a liberal 25 years ago and a racist today.”
I bet you if you showed Alfange’s words to any liberal today, the response would be “RAAAAACIST!”