America Lives

Presidents Day 2024

AMERICA LIVES

Remember the last time you were present at a baby’s birth? I was there at the birth of our triplet granddaughters, during the waiting hours and anxious minutes before the babies were born. Wow, what anticipation, what excitement, what an inspiring event! You and I today are observing another birth that can be similarly exciting and inspiring. For each of us today can participate in the rejuvenation, the rebirth of America.

This is no time or place for the weak among us. Many years ago, patriot Thomas Paine said, “These are times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will not be long among us.” These words spoken just after our War of Revolution are yet so apropos today.

Despite our deep involvement in two World Wars which lasted essentially from 1914 to 1945; despite a depression which reduced the entire nation to poverty; despite the current national embarrassment of a President and administration, and despite the recent barbaric acts of terrorists, America lives and is strong and vibrant today as the most powerful, productive nation on earth. Adversity here elicits talents, which in other circumstances would lay dormant.

And yet we stand today, still bombarded by doomsday opinions concerning social, environmental, economic, and terrorist crises confronting our country. I don’t know what’s worse, the wino’s in this country or the whiners. Some say “Crime, drugs, terrorism in our communities will destroy us.” Others say, “Not enough jobs. People can’t feed their families.”

Throw all the doomsday opinions out for we are in America. We won’t hibernate through the dead winter of problems. Who do we want to trade places with? Consider that a newspaper carrier in Fort Worth earns more money than over 50 percent of the world’s workers. Consider that our closest national neighbor, Mexico, registers unemployment today at 40%. Who do you want to trade places with?

Each of us needs to ask, “If everybody in America was doing what I’m doing now in my business and family life, would America be stronger or weaker?” So much does depend on each of us to give America our very best if we are to bask in the summer of our freedoms. (‘It all depends on your story.’)

So much does depend on each of us. We can strangle our American freedoms by failing to teach our children high moral and ethical standards and values, by failing to practice common courtesies to each other, and by wasting time through lack of good personal time organization. We pull together in adversity, why not do the same in freedom? We can help freedom soar like an eagle by being thankful to God for our freedoms, by being appreciative of the little things others do that we take for granted, and by improving and being more innovative in our work. We can make a difference. We must resolve to make a difference.

Yes, America lives, memorialized by Winston Churchill as “the last, best hope of man.” America shall so live as long as we take to heart the meaning of a seldom heard verse of our National Anthem. As I close, please stand as I relate to you the fourth verse of our National Anthem.

Blest with victory and peace may the heaven rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a Nation!
Then conquer we must when our cause, it is just; and this be our motto:
In God is our trust.
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave,
O’er the land of the free and the home of the Brave.

My challenge and your challenge is to think like an AmeriCAN, not like an AmeriCAN’T. I salute you for your dedication to this challenge because America Lives……America Lives……………AMERICA LIVES!!

Ed Kasper, Founding Partner