Name That Tune…

“It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

 

In honor of my 16th email (holy crap, 4 months?!?!), I figured I would take a bite out of history and quote a passage from our 16th president, Calvin Coolidge.  (Kidding!)  For those of you who don’t know, I was a history major in college, though by no stretch of the imagination am I an “historian.” (why is it “an” and not “a’?)

 

But I do have some people who I admire and find fascinating.  The Roosevelts, the Kennedys, and the rail-splitter himself, Abe.  Ok, raise your hand if you read the quote above and knew what it was from.  If you are still not sure, it was said seven score and six years ago.  Yes, on November 19, 2009, the Gettysburg Address turned 149 years old.  As we all remember, the speech was given at the Gettysburg battlefield during the Civil War; but doesn’t the message still resonate today?  Don’t we still have unfinished work?

 

Again, I am not going to talk about politics or religion or race and the purpose of this email is certainly not to espouse any political agenda about the current conflict/war/campaign/struggle.  But what I do want to say is this:  Thanksgiving is now only a few days away.  I have a lot to be thankful for: my family, my health, my faith, all of my loyal readers, and my freedom.  That freedom came from someplace.  For right or wrong, whether you support it or not, our military is out there right now fighting for us.

 

Look again at the Gettysburg Address.  Sure, it addresses themes associated with that conflict, the preservation of the union.  But the overarching theme is the gratitude for those fallen in defense of our country, in defense of our safety, and in defense of our freedom.  It is a speech that could have been given in 1919, in 1945, in 1969, and even today.  This country has known war (there can only be on Switzerland, I guess).  But it is the sacrifices made by its leaders and by its military that has allowed it to sustain itself and survive.

 

I have talked a lot in the past about heroes.  Right now, I have 500,000 of them and they are all out there (for right or wrong) to protect us.

 

This Thanksgiving, I am raising a toast to my heroes.

 

Have a safe, joyful, and reflective Turkey Day.  I have a lot to be thankful for.

 

Rob

It was the best of times…

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.”  — Charles Dickens (A Tale of Two Cities; 1859)

 

My Thoughts:  Sounds a lot like the present despite being written 150 years ago.  With matters being what they are, and all of us facing challenges on a daily basis due to the economy, international strife, and maybe even problems on the home front.  It certainly is considered by some to be the worst of times.  But it can also be the best of times.  Some of life’s most amazing comebacks, successes, and accomplishments are generated by man’s struggle with life’s challenges.  What better time to refocus energy on what is positive, such as life, health, family, and friends?  It also allows a terrific opportunity to reflect on what things in life have been positive over time and what have not and perhaps begin to make changes that will prepare you for when things turn around again, as they inevitably will.