DESTINATION GOD

This is my wife's most favorite time of the year. She loves Christmas. Everything about Christmas. She loves putting up the tree. She loves decorating. She loves sending her Christmas cards. In fact, her cards went out the day before Thanksgiving so they would get delivered the day after.

And she loves getting cards. Now, to keep this in perspective, she likes getting mail anytime. She knows to the minute when the regular postman is due at our house. I think she chose this house when we moved to the area instead of another one because when we looked at the other one late in the afternoon, the mailman was just delivering the route. Way too late for Karen's liking.

So yesterday she goes out to the box to find 6, count'em 6, Christmas cards. Yea!!!!! But today I get an email that there were 0, yes zero, cards. Boo!!!!

Now I have always indentified personally with Charlie Brown. And you can tell from our cartoon image that I am even more like him now than ever. But it is on days like this, when the mailman obviously skipped our home, that Karen feels a little like ole Chuck too.

So, Merry Christmas Karen "Brown".

I am an American. I embrace our heritage. I honor our past. I am optimistic of our future. I respect the United States Constitution as the only and supreme law of our land. I am an American.

I am an American. Regardless of my cultural ancestry, I am not hyphenated. Regardless of the failings of our forefathers, I am not guilty. Regardless of the success of my peers, I am not envious. I am an American.

I am an American. I am free to offer my opinion. I am free to protect myself and my family. I am free to practice my religion. I am free to associate with whomever I choose. I take responsibility for those freedoms and associations. I am an American.

I am an American. I choose those who represent me to government. I am not beholden to those representatives. They are beholden to me. I expect those representatives to govern America as our Founders designed, not necessarily as I (or they) desire. I am an American.

I am an American. I work hard. I live by a budget. I want my government to do so also. My income is my income. Take from me when I spend, not when I earn. Do not give me anything. I will earn what I have. My happiness is my responsibility. I am an American.

I am an American. I wish to elect only those who will contract with me their intentions for our country before the election. I do not wish to elect those who will contract with me only after the votes are cast. Do not tell me how bad the other person is; tell me how good your proposals are. I am an American.

I am an American. And I vote. I will expect those who desire my vote to earn my vote. You earn my vote not by paying me off with the tax money of others, but by your self-less actions in service to our country.