Thursday, November 17, 2011

Thankful for America

Something to be Thankful For

We woke up this morning in a country that enjoys rare blessings and protections.

Think of how improbable it is that a few colonies could stand up to the most formidable navy in the world during the Revolutionary War and survive. We really should have lost, even with France’s help. It looked like we would never stay united following the War Between the States and the explosive issues of slavery and states’ rights that drive that tragic conflict. When Japan had the drop on us at Pearl Harbor, and virtually destroyed the Pacific Fleet, we could have easily folded. When Nazi Germany’s superior war machine rolled roughshod across Europe, it was more likely we’d never stop them. On D-Day, our gliders and airdrops were mostly miles off course, many of our troops were scattered across the countryside of France. U.S. defeat was in sight. The U.S. invasion of Normandy beach was a killing field for our troops. The bad weather conspired to drown many heavily loaded men before they ever even faced the German pills boxes laying down incessant machine gun fire. The Germans had the high ground. And, they were ahead of the U.S. in both jet engine technology and the atomic bomb. Using only what we can see, America should never have survived.

But we did.

And we thrived.

The United States is the world’s remaining Superpower. We are sailing eleven (11) Aircraft carriers through the world’s troubled waters, while no other country has more than two. Although North America has only 6% of the world adult population, it accounts for 34% of household wealth.

All this success causes some interesting points. We call the Super Bowl winners the “World” Champions even though the football series is only played by American teams. In fact, the rest of the world thinks “football” is what we call “soccer.” Similarly, the “World Series” in baseball is limited to North American teams.

We tend to think America is somehow superior to other nations. I am one of the those, too.

But I think that we can trace our blessings back to the beginning. This Thanksgiving, read some true Mayflower history to your family. Here is the modern version of the text of the Mayflower Compact, signed as they ventured upon the “new world” in 1620:

“In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, defender of the Faith, etc.

Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancements of the Christian faith and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic; for our better ordering, and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.

In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, 1620.”

I believe it is that same God, Who has blessed us with the bravery of our Veterans, the sharpness of our intellects, the wealth of our resources and the protection of His Mighty Hand.

Happy Thanksgiving from my family, and from the Staff of Peel Law Firm.

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See more of Mr. Peel’s articles on DavidBPeel.blogspot.com. Mr. Peel may be available to speak to your church or club. Contact PeelLawFirm.com.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Veterans tribute

Tribute to Veterans

I have felt blessed to live in the United States all my life. Part of what makes our country great is the ample freedom we enjoy.

But, as the saying goes, freedom is not free.

The security, power and military superiority of the United States was earned by the blood, sweat, tears and backs of our veterans.

This blanket of security is indeed, stitched with bloody gauze of our servicemen and women. While I have enjoyed its protection, I have never contributed a square of cloth to it.

I am convicted by the courage of the veterans who charged the beaches of Normandy in World War II. This greatest generation quite literally saved the world from the Nazis plan to take over the world.

I admire the men who faced the Battle of Inchon in the Korean Conflict. I am confronted by the bravery of the men who faced the incessant attacks of the Vietcong. In both these conflicts, our servicemen who received tragically little support from back home.

More recently, our service personnel freed tiny Kuwait from attacks by Saddam Hussein of Iraq during Desert Storm; only to return later and liberate Iraq and Afghanistan from Islamic extremists. Make no mistake: the U.S. won both those wars handily!Defeating insurgencies is quite another matter, and is a police matter that we are asking our troops to do.

I am glad to see how much more support our returning troops now receive. At the college football games I attend, some of the loudest cheers are often for a service man or woman being reunited with his or her family.

We can all simply acknowledge the contribution they have made, and continue to make, to do their duty on our behalf.

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See more of Mr. Peels articles onDavidBPeel.blogspot.com. Mr. Peel may be available to speak to your church or club. Contact PeelLawFirm.com.