Freedom-Fighters Forum

By William J. Dell
Amore Dei, Familiae, Patriae ducit !

During the American Revolution there were approximately three million citizens in the thirteen colonies. Of these about one million were Americans seeking independence, about one million were Tories loyal to the Crown, and the remaining one million were “fence-sitters” waiting to see which way to jump or they just did not care about Liberty and Freedom one way or the other.

I am grateful to our Founding Fathers and their American compatriots who labored and fought so diligently to win our independence and secure our unalienable rights from our Creator to Life, Liberty, and Property. I am grateful to the American patriots who fought to preserve the Union while we were in the crucible of Civil War. I am also grateful for all Americans who have striven throughout our history to “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.” Those who maintained a deep and abiding faith in our Constitutional Republic, our founding documents and the desire that their posterity would have a better America than they had received from their forefathers. For a greater truth has never been spoken than this, “To maintain the American way of life and pass it intact to succeeding generations is the responsibility of every true American.”

Why is it that our Founding Fathers and their compatriots were so fearlessly and determinedly American and We the People of today are not? There must be some cause, some good reason, why the Founding Fathers and their compatriots were so eager for Liberty then, and now We the People are eager for the servitude of the Welfare Socialist State?

Why are there so many divided Americans in our nation today? Why have they forgotten the essence of the expression on the Great Seal of the United States – E pluribus unum [Out of many, one]? What has happened to the once “great melting pot” that forged a great nation out of self-reliance, self-determination and the universal opportunity to try, to strive, to succeed or to fail? Why has America become the “great sectional plate” divided by class and ethnicity? Could it be that Americans have forgotten what it means to be an American? (more…)

By William J. Dell
Amore Dei, Familiae, Patriae ducit !

I pledge allegiance to the Flag
of the United States of America
and to the Republic for which it stands,
one nation under God, indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.

Our Pledge of Allegiance was written by Francis Bellamy in 1892 in preparation for the 400^th anniversary of Columbus discovering America. Initially, two sets of words were not included in the Pledge. The words “of America” were added on Flag Day in 1924 and the words “under God” were added thirty years later on Flag Day in 1954.

As I write this article, I am returned to the days of my youth and elementary school. There each and every morning, we would stand by our desks with our hands over our hearts as our teacher led us in the Pledge, a practice that continues to this day. It was however disheartening to learn that in our High Schools today, unlike my High School days, the Pledge seems to only be required once a week.

The decade of the fifty’s seems to have much more love of country than there is in today’s America. The crowds that attend patriotic celebrations are very much diminished from the crowds of my youth when it seemed as if the whole community turned out to celebrate Freedom, Liberty and our America.

It was reported on the news today that at least in one city, Eugene, Oregon, the reciting of the Pledge is said to be divisive. (more…)

By Jennifer Oliver

“Hey, Jennifer!” someone hissed. “Get up!”

Looking up from my doll, I saw that the other kids on the playground had dropped what they were doing and froze. Quickly, I rose to full height, clapped my right hand over my heart, and froze like the others, straining to hear the high-pitched trumpet signal the end of the day. Somewhere on our base the United States flag was being lowered, folded with solemn precision, then carried away in a clipped march.

When the last note trailed off, I tried rubbing the goose bumps off my forearms. What little I could hear of the melancholy horn had an effect on me.

Such was a small part of the life of an army [navy] [military] brat.

At Saturday matinees, I savored the luxury of a candy bar and soda while waiting for the curtains to swish open. As soon as the screen was revealed, all of us army brats rustled to our feet, palms flat against hearts, and in respectful silence watched a series of patriotic scenes flash across the screen, time to the rhythm of our national anthem. The last scene of our nation’s rippling in slow motion burned in my mind as the anthem closed with a rousing flourish.

When I was sixteen, I sat in an off-base public movie theater for the first time. (more…)

By William J. Dell
Amore Dei, Familiae, Patriae ducit !

Throughout history there have been, from time to time, a series of laws known as sumptuary laws. These laws were enacted usually by nations with a dominant religious group to identify minority religious groups. These laws generally required, or compelled, the wearing of badges, hats, bells, belts, etc. as a means of identification on the outer garments of those in the minority. Sumptuary laws were intended to shame the wearer and were often associated with antisemitism.

The yellow badge, a Star of David with Jude emblazoned upon it, was revived by the German Nazis during Hitler’s reign of terror and effort at world domination to identify the Jews. From the invasion of Poland in September 1939 through the domination of Bohemia and Moravia in September 1941, different methods of identification were in use but after September 1941, the yellow badge became universal throughout the Third Reich for all Jews over the age of six.

There is a popular legend that states that king Christian X of Denmark when faced with Danish Jews being ordered to wear the yellow badge that he appeared wearing the badge himself on his morning ride. In the book titled Queen in Denmark the Danish Queen Margarete II says about the legend: “It is a beautiful and symbolic story, but it is not true. The myth about the King wearing the star of David I can imagine that this could have originated from a typical remark by a Copenhagen errand boy on his bicycle: ‘If they try to enforce the yellow star here, the King will be the first to wear it!’ To me, the truth is an even greater honor for our country than the myth.”

During the past two years, the Obama administration has, through very public acts, alienated our only true ally in the middle east, Israel. Just this past week our President once again kicked Israel (more…)

We all have enjoyed the redneck jokes for years. It’s time to take a reflective look at the core beliefs of a culture that values God – Family – Country. If I had to stand before a dozen terrorists who threaten my life, I’d choose a half dozen or so red necks to back me up. Tire irons, squirrel guns and grit — that’s what red necks are made of. I hope I am always one of those.

You might be a redneck if:

It never occurred to you to be offended by the phrase, ‘One nation, under God.’

You’ve never protested (more…)

If every school principal gave this speech at the beginning of the school year, America would be a better place.

To the students and faculty of our high school:

I am your new principal, and honored to be so. There is no greater calling than to teach young people.

I would like to apprise you of some important changes coming to our school. I am making these changes because I am convinced that most of the ideas that have dominated public education in America have worked against you, against you, your teachers and against our country. (more…)

If you cross the North Korean border illegally you get 12 years hard labor.

If you cross the Iranian border illegally you are (more…)

By William J. Dell, USN (Retired)

In 1979, my daughter, Kirsten, came home from school and reported the disrespect her schoolmates were displaying during the Pledge of Allegiance. I was greatly disturbed and wrote the following letter.

To Mrs. HANNIBAL’S Home Room Class:

Hey there — YOU — young man, young woman, do you really understand what I am? You know I have lived a good long time, and over the years I have seen many young men and young women like you. I have always been proud of the youth of America — my America. From my vantage point, I have observed your struggle to learn. I have seen your mistakes and failures, but more than this I have seen you press on and to succeed.

You, youth of America, are my greatest hope. It is true that I have a great heritage, but you must never forget that your parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents gave you and me that heritage by their constant vigilance. What are you doing with it? Millions of people, all around the world, would like to have what they gave to you, and if you ever lose your FREEDOM, you, will know why.

FREEDOM and LIBERTY are so very precious that many have died that you might enjoy them. I remember well the first ones – for I was there – over two hundred years ago. Then in the darkest days of my past, when father fought against son and brother against brother, I felt that I might be torn apart, but I came out of that time stronger and better. Then in two great wars, as I looked on, many of your grandfathers gave their all, their very lives, that you might have these precious gifts. Recently, I have seen some of your own fathers fight for this FREEDOM and LIBERTY and some of them even gave their lives. In many places around the world, they sleep and to you they have passed the standard of FREEDOM and LIBERTY. To you, youth of America, they have entrusted my care.

Will you reverence and respect me as they did? Or does it no longer matter? Be ever mindful that I will be the first to know for I will observe your actions from my vantage point – and I will know because I am – your flag – the symbol of “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

I implore you, youth of America, to never forget what I am — a symbol of FREEDOM and LIBERTY. Use me as a constant reminder that FREEDOM and LIBERTY are very fragile and may be lost without constant vigilance. Then grant me the reverence and respect that your ancestors gave to me and let your hearts also swell with pride whenever you see me. If you do this, I promise I will continue to wave “o’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave,” and I will remember that I am -

                                           your FLAG