Category Archives: Patriotism
$1,000,000,000.00 patriotic park with 1/3 mile+ (1776′ tall) flagpole. “Hirelings and slaves”?
This will, of course, be a primary target for terrorist destruction. I’m hoping that those capable will protect this site so that it doesn’t become the next September 11. It is a kind of bait attracting terrorists. But that can be an advantage in neutralizing terrorists. The effect I’m looking for would be something like this:
As we anticipate another Pelosian Summer of Love, I think it’s imperative to know something about the protection of the flag. Remember this account of the battle of 1812 and the flag? This video should be played on loop in the planned museums of this flag park:
Let’s hear our National Anthem, yes, again!
- “But the words are racist! The words are racist! The words are about hirelings and slaves!”
No. They’re not.
Let’s do some analysis. Firstly, here are the worlds:
O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
‘Tis the star-spangled banner, O long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion,
A home and a country, should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation.
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heav’n 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!
Now, the analysis:
The lyrics were written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key about the Battle of Baltimore fought against the Brits’ Royal Navy in 1812. The Brits just wouldn’t let it go, and had to engage again, and so lost again, almost thirty years after the end of the Revolutionary War. The Royal Navy would enlist mercenaries, the “hirelings” mentioned in the third verse, and enslave Prisoners of War to fight for them as well, the “slaves” mentioned in the third verse.
Why do I insist on this having nothing whatsoever even remotely to do with black African slaves when Key himself was a slave owner who lived long before the American Civil War? Because of the purpose of the song and what it is describing, that is, a particular night of battle in the harbor of Baltimore against the Royal Navy in which hirelings and slaves were employed in the battle by the Royal Navy, surely other Brits or POW American military.
Even if a tiny percentage of these hirelings and slaves happened to be black Africans, possibly most recently from the United States, the mentions of those hirelings and slaves wouldn’t refer to any previous status of slavery, but only to the slavery imposed by the Royal Navy on any POWs. To win this battle in Baltimore, there would be no interest in going to, say, Mississippi, and killing hirelings and slaves. To hold that to be the meaning of the words is simply ridiculous.
///////// BTW: When I first put up these last three paragraphs in a post some years ago, when this blog wasn’t shadow-banned, when this blog didn’t have posts and graphics removed by third parties of some kind, the analysis on the words of the Star Bangled Banner was visited by basically every State and County government, every school district, every community college, every especially ivy league university, every intel agency, military or otherwise federal. Finally, the narrative changed from the ‘racism’ to mere belligerence in favor of sort of ‘change.’ Well, I’ll tell you what won’t change, the graves of those who gave their lives for the freedom we enjoy today (at least for the next while).
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Filed under Patriotism, Racism
“America Strong” Communion Call
This is as far back in the back ridges of moonshine Cherokee County as you can possibly get. The old guy who lives here makes his way out on Sundays to serve the Traditional Latin Mass, and then afterward, I go on Communion calls, which includes his wife.
He greets me at the door packing heat, I think a .38 Special. Meanwhile, the son, who’s probably as old as I am (which is old), will usually be coming up from downstairs to see what trouble is brewing up top. The son can mag-dump into the same bullet hole a good distance out with – not a revolver, as that would be too easy – but with a grindy-trigger pistol. Hat’s off to him. Then he’ll disappear again. Meanwhile, the old guy’s elderly wife, well, let’s just say that this reminds of her skills and wisdom:
We have a chat, making sure we’re all good to go with food supplies and candles for prayer and such. Then the prayer gets serious with the Holy Communion part of the Communion call. Then we chat a bit more about schedules of doctors and such for the week. We might also talk about guns, because, well, I’m always carrying as well. If I’m not, I get severely reprimanded with lectures about the fallen state of the world and how I have to be at the ready in any situation. If I’m just coming from the Rehab/Nursing Home I might say that it’s still in the car. More reprimands come my way for being so forgetful, with no discipline. I love it. They’re such a day brightener for me.
[I admit it. I put up this post just to annoy the infamous commenter troll guy who wants me out of the priesthood. Just a little humor to lighten things up. But some people just like to be angry. Anyway, I’m in a really good mood today, and so very happy to be a priest.]
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Filed under Eucharist, Guns, Humor, Patriotism
Make sure to visit a cemetery today to remember those who gave all
The dates say it all. The land of the free because of the brave. This boy was just 16 years old.
Reagan said it best, this time on Veterans Day, Armistice Day, about the boys who, in death, handed this country on to us, who live (around 3’15” for just a minute) but the whole speech is a gem:
Patriotism is a virtue of the natural law and is blessed by God.
Dad was a veteran. He died many decades ago. I’m sure you knew a veteran sometime in your life. Perhaps you have a favorite memory.
My favorite memory of dad was back in 1962, when I was just 2 1/2 years old. I’d walk up in the Communion line next to him with the rest of the family behind us. This was at the great Saint Mary’s Cathedral with its gorgeous altar rail with the linens flipped over the top. I was always impressed by the linens getting flipped over the top, just as I was with kneeling there beside my dad, reaching up as high as I could to put my hands under the linens like he was doing. I was pretty small. I was filled with such wonder and awe and reverence as the priest and altar boy with paten would make it over to us. They would start on the Epistle side. We were always on the Gospel side. Everything worked together to instill reverence.
It was good be on my knees with dad before the Lord Jesus. Very good. Here we have a warrior on his knees, in reverence, before The Warrior, Jesus, in the epic battle of good over evil, God over Satan. And dad is with Jesus. I love that.
Memorare: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
I was able to offer Holy Mass today for my dad, George Byers Jr. USMC
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Filed under Military, Patriotism
Eagle sighting, every day, but called “The Last”
Not my picture. I couldn’t get a picture of the one I saw, as I was driving at the time and he had been right over the top of the car. Massive white head, gargantuan wingspan, white tail. Yep.
The Bald Eagle, symbol of strength in freedom with God-given rights in the rule of law enshrined in the Constitution is refreshing to see amidst all the betrayal of these USA and of our military. There are so many, so high up, who are treasonous, who are intent on destroying this country, and for what? A couple of bucks from big money with which they can eat ice cream cones and drink from sippy cups while proving senility and dementia as marxist college kids do up subversion for him?
That’s a perpetual rant going on in my heart. But that betrayal of the “powers that be”, that violence against everyone from conception to death, dragging the world into persecution of the Church, fades into insignificance compared to the scandal and destruction of eternal souls by the pastors of the Church.
But that apostle and evangelist who has an eagle as a symbol always has encouragement for us daily at what is called the Last Gospel, exactly parallel with the Proto-Evangelium, the First Gospel of Genesis 3:15 and exactly parallel with the the Apocalypse, and is the Prologue of his Gospel:
- In principio erat Verbum et Verbum erat apud Deum et Deus erat Verbum. Hoc erat in principio apud Deum. Omnia per Ipsum facta sunt, et sine Ipso factum est nihil quod factum est. In Ipso vita erat, et vita erat Lux hominum. Et Lux in tenebris lucet et tenebrae eam non comprehenderunt. Fuit homo missus a Deo cui nomen erat Iohannes. Hic venit in testimonium ut testimonium perhiberet de lumine ut omnes crederent per Illum. Non erat ille lux, sed ut testimonium perhiberet de lumine. Erat lux vera quae illuminat omnem hominem venientem in mundum. In mundo erat, et mundus per ipsum factus est, et mundus eum non cognovit. In propria venit et sui eum non receperunt. Quotquot autem receperunt eum dedit eis potestatem filios Dei, fieri his qui credunt in nomine Eius. Qui non ex sanguinibus, neque ex voluntate carnis, neque ex voluntate viri, sed ex Deo nati sunt. ET VERBUM CARO FACTUM EST, ET HABITABIT IN NOBIS et vidimus gloriam eius, gloriam quasi unigeniti a Patre, plenum gratiae et veritatis.
- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him: and without him was made nothing that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to give testimony of the light, that all men might believe through him. He was not the light, but was to give testimony of the light. That was the true light, which enlighteneth every man that cometh into this world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, he gave them power to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in his name. Who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as it were of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
When I see a Bald Eagle, that’s what flashes through heart and soul and mind.
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Filed under Liturgy, Nature, Patriotism, Politics
Working against treason is not treason
And I bet you our Justice Department will find a way to put these guys in prison for making Joe Biden look bad. Maybe the DOJ will take these great Americans, the rescuers and the rescued, and put them on a plane and send them back to be tortured to death in Afghanistan. That’s how bad it is.
And yet, this is how good it is, these guys, knowing the adversity of Joe Biden and his cronies, do what is right and good anyway, rescuing those purposely left behind. Going against treason is not treason, but the greatness of the virtue of Patriotism.
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Filed under Military, Patriotism
That about sums it up: contrast and compare
Language in that last one. This was number one on the charts for while. Know your culture.
Comments in the counting room after Mass yesterday included high praise for the reporter in the last video, brilliantly getting the interview on-air by supplying the words “Let’s go Brandon” even while… you know…
Sorry, but I have to laugh. And now, on account of that laughter, I’ll probably have a warrant put out on me by the Biden Admin with puppets at the DOJ as FBI as CJIS in Bridgeport WV. ;-) … … … bwahahahahahahahaha! Oops!
Oh. I should comment on the intro of Johnny Cash to Ragged ol’ Flag lest I be red-flagged. He speaks of shooting anyone who would burn his flag. What he’s talking about, truth be told, is what is narrated in about the Star Spangled Banner in that other video above. That’s about defense of self and others from unjust and already being delivered deadly aggression. It’s sad that an explanation has to be given in our tender snowflake days. Anyway… Let’s go Brandon!
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Filed under Free exercise of religion, Military, Patriotism, Politics
Van Thomas Barfoot (RIP)
From a forwarded email:
Remember the Guy who wouldn’t take the flag pole down on his Virginia property awhile back? You might remember the news story several months ago about a crotchety old man in Virginia who defied his local Homeowners ASSociation, and refused to take down the flag pole on His property along with the large American flag He flew on it.
Now we learn Who that old man was. On June 15, 1919, Van T. Barfoot was born in Edinburg, Texas. That probably didn’t make News back Then. But Twenty-five years later, on May 23, 1944, Near Carano, Italy, that same Van T. Barfoot, who had in 1940 enlisted in the U.S. Army, set out alone to Flank German machine gun positions from which gunfire was raining down on his fellow soldiers. His advance took him through a minefield but having done so, he proceeded to single-handedly take out three enemy machine gun positions, returning with 17 prisoners of war. And if that weren’t enough for a day’s work, he later took on and destroyed three German tanks sent to retake the machine gun positions.
That probably Didn’t make much news either, given the scope of the war, but it did earn Van T. Barfoot (who retired as a Colonel after also serving In Korea and Vietnam – a well deserved Congressional Medal of Honor.
What did make news was his Neighborhood Association’s quibble with how the 90-year-old veteran chose to fly the American flag outside his suburban Virginia home. Seems the HOA rules said it was OK to fly a flag on a house-mounted bracket, but, for decorum, items such as Van T. Barfoot’s 21-foot flagpole were “unsuitable”.
Van T. Barfoot Had been denied a permit for the pole, but erected it anyway and was facing court action unless he agreed to take it down. Then the HOA story made national TV, and the Neighborhood Association rethought its position and agreed to indulge this aging hero who dwelt among them.
“In the Time I have left”, he said to the Associated Press, “I plan to continue to fly the American flag without interference.” As Well he should. And if any of his neighbors had taken a notion to contest him further, they might have done well to read his Medal of Honor citation first. Seems it indicates Mr. Van T. Barfoot wasn’t particularly good at backing down.
==============
My comment: I bet the ASSociation knew well about his Medal of Honor. Before anyone attacks any Medal of Honor recipient, they should go get a Medal of Honor themselves. Pfft. But ten thousand who are set on dishonoring the most honorable fade into insignificance before such greatness as we have with one Van T. Barfoot. And we have many such great Americans with us today. They are many.
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Filed under Military, Patriotism
Lyrics analysis: Mr Red White and Blue – Coffey Anderson
Still having pneumonia, and therefore too tired, this time you’ll have to do the work of the lyrics analysis: watching the video while it’s playing, but with keeping this hint in mind about what you’re hearing with the lyrics:
- Listen for the words “in line” and look at the images flashing on your screen. There are a couple of occasions, toward the beginning and toward the end. watch for the lines in the cemetery, on the flag, with the marching… Then put those scenes together, knowing that the last scene with those words are entirely wrought with prompt eagerness concerning the first scenes when those words occur, enthusiasm with trepidation, sure, but the greatest love ever, the willingness to, yes, lay down one’s life for one’s friends, one’s fellow Americans. Yep.
- Having gotten that far, listen for the words about the age one is when one is born, perhaps when one lays down one’s life and when one is born into the next life. It reminds me of President Reagan’s comment on the youngsters buried in Arlington National Cemetery (November 11, 1985):
- “It is, in a way, an odd thing to honor those who died in defense of our country, in defense of us, in wars far away. The imagination plays a trick. We see these soldiers in our mind as old and wise. We see them as something like the Founding Fathers, grave and gray haired. But most of them were boys when they died, and they gave up two lives — the one they were living and the one they would have lived. When they died, they gave up their chance to be husbands and fathers and grandfathers. They gave up their chance to be revered old men. They gave up everything for our country, for us.”
I watched a video with Coffey explaining how the words came to him, all at once. Respect for that. That bespeaks solidarity though he’s not a veteran. As expected, he partners with https://militarywarriors.org/
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Filed under Military, Patriotism, Song analysis
God bless America: Kate Smith’s 1943 prayer for these USA
Andrews NC is just a tiny mountain village, but we always have the most outrageously wonderful and patriotic celebration of being extracted from that U.K. tyranny that would strip unalienable rights endowed not by any changeable government but by our Creator.
The show is just over the way but effectively right over the rectory. Although I still have the remains of viral pneumonia, I did do the blessing, and afterwards went back to bed. The doctor said I should do some small things, but then go back to bed. Doing small things, he said, will actually help the recovery.
Seeing every single day multiple instances of political hatred of America both near and far, this celebration wrought by good friends in the fire department was an encouragement, healing. There are really a lot of really good people in these USA. Remember, patriotism is a virtue. Saint Thomas Aquinas speaks about it at length as part of the virtue of piety.
It was a terrible fight this year to keep this tradition going, but we have the right guys to force it through. ;-)
That’s not true in all cities:
As a kid my dad and mom would bring me to MLB games, the Minnesota Twins in the World Series with the Baltimore Orioles, you know, Harmen Killebrew, Tony Oliva, Rod Carew… We did up the iconic tailgating, which at the time referred not to road rage but to partying down in the parking lots of such events with the back of the station wagon opened up!
As a family, we would also sit high up on the steep banks of the Mississippi in Minnesota to watch the 4th of July fireworks.
Had those fireworks been combined for a night game some 65 miles away, with me as a patriotic 5 year old eagerly waiting for the fireworks, only to have some elitist Democrat cancel the fireworks because of a noise curfew, well, I think I would have made some noise, and I would have made a lifelong commitment never to vote for any anti-God, anti-American Democrat, not ever, not even once. Never. I mean, they encourage the noise of screams of bloody murder, rape, arson, assault that we’ve all witnessed these past Summers.
The Democrats are not about politics. They wouldn’t lower themselves to that. Instead, they are all about subversive terrorism to rid these USA of the Constitution and the Constitutional amendments. They want to change USA to DSA, the Divided States of America.
Meanwhile, much stronger than any disgust about Dems and Deep State idiocy of our agencies and bureaus and departments, much stronger than any of that is an unfailing patriotism.
- Our fireworks were an occasion to have a deep sense of family with these USA.
- Our fireworks were an occasion to have a deep sense of gratitude for presently enjoying in some measure the unalienable rights endowed by our Creator. I was letting Hail Marys fly to heaven. It’s a good and holy thing to pray for one’s country. If they are things to fix, well, let’s have some prompt eagerness to fix them, you know, like ensuring a proper vote. Let’s begin with a prayer to God for America, you know, a prayer with Kate Smith:
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Filed under Patriotism, Politics
ARISE! LET US BE GOING! 