“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the blood stream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”
-Ronald Reagan
Dear Chase, Trey, and Nick,
The three of you have proven to be the proudest achievement in my life. You have given your Mom and me some of the best laughs, proudest moments, and most entertaining moments that we could have ever imagined. I know that at times I am tough, but I try to always be fair. Hopefully, when you are grown and you read this you will agree. I have raised you to prepare you for the world and to be good people and good Americans. As a parent and a person I know that I can only provide you the lessons, but you will ultimately make the choices that govern your future. The world that you will enter as adults will be one that caters to the weak and fears those who are strong. You are all young now, but you all show that you are destined to be strong, courageous, and compassionate.
You will inherit a country that does not place the same value on certain qualities that has been seen in previous generations. Qualities like work ethic, accountability, freedom, and patriotism that have been the foundation on what has made this country strong. You will inherit a country that is full of people that would wait to be given to rather than to go out and get. You will also inherit a country with endless possibilities. Many of the people that profess to hate our country will be the very ones that depend on it.
Many of the people that you will meet as adults will not care what happens to them. These people are sheep. These are the individuals that do not participate in the right to vote, remain intentionally ignorant about what goes on around them, and allow others to make the decisions and do the thinking for them. I have often been accused of being too passionate about “politics.” This could not be further from the truth. I am passionate about those things that I believe to be important in maintaining the country that was the vision of the founding fathers. I am passionate about maintaining those rights and freedoms that are inalienable and guaranteed by our creator.
A country is its’ government and our government is its’ people. Because we are a democracy, we have the responsibility to be involved and informed. I am not passionate about politics; I am passionate about the way we live, which is governed by politics. This is the difference.
I decided to write this book, not only to turn the light on for those living in darkness, but also for you. I truly believe in this country and the possibilities it offers, but none of these are guaranteed. This potential is something that must always be fought for and the easiest solution is not always the best. I hope this will give you insight into the person I am and the country that you will receive. I hope it helps you to think, contemplate, and to understand those things that threaten the democratic way of life.
I will work each day of my life to be a better man than I was the day before, to be the father you deserve, and to be the husband your Mom deserves. I have made many mistakes and will make many more in this life. I will constantly evolve and change in my ways of thinking, but one thing that will never change is my love for this country and for standing up for what I know is right. I am not an activist but I will speak up and defend those things that I know to be true. I do not look for fights but I will not turn one down. This is what I hope I have given you.
My dream is that we'll all grow old together and that your kids and grandkids will have the opportunity to experience this country the way that it was meant to be. One thing I’ve learned is that life promises us nothing, but our country does. You deserve a country where “God” is still in the pledge of allegiance - a country where you can take your kids hunting or target shooting – a country where you are rewarded for hard work and hard work is rewarded. I pray that as adults you will inherit a country where Americans begin to start listening to the words of President Kennedy who said, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”
I can promise you nothing other than the fact that I will do everything in my power to insure that you inherit the country that you have been promised. As long as I have air in my lungs and thoughts in my head I will shout to those who refuse to hear. I love you boys very much and I am proud to be an American, proud to be a fighter, and proud to be the father of 3 of the finest young men I've ever known.
Love,
Dad