It’s time to put AMERICA First
Are you a Republican? Are you a Democrat? Here’s one better. Are you an American? Why ask these questions? Because it is time for all of us to remember that, first and foremost, we are Americans.
Last Tuesday I watched portions of the Republican National Convention. There were times I turned the channel since the theme for some of the speakers was identical to that of the person that had just stumped for the Romney/Ryan ticket. But I wanted to hear what Ann Romney had to say and especially wanted to hear the ever-charismatic New Jersey Governor Chris Christie speak. Mrs. Romney’s speech about her husband was very moving and brought insight into the couple’s marriage. But Christie’s speech was shocking to me.
It’s not often that you hear truth come from a politician’s mouth these days. But I firmly believe that Christie gave a truthful speech that every American voter should grab hold to and run with. In my opinion his simple message was not just to Republicans, but to all Americans. What struck me most about his speech is his belief that politicians must stop pandering to the public for votes and simply tell the truth no matter how difficult and earn back the respect of citizens. That is what I believe people are begging for during this election.
In case you missed it, below is a portion of Christie’s speech:
“Now she (Christie’s mother) said to always pick being respected (over being loved). She told me that love without respect was always fleeting, but that respect could grow into real and lasting love. Now, of course, she was talking about women.
(LAUGHTER)
But I have learned over time that it applies just as much to leadership. In fact, I think that advice applies to America more than ever today.
(APPLAUSE)
You see I believe we have become paralyzed, paralyzed by our desire to be loved. Now our founding fathers had the wisdom to know that social acceptance and popularity were fleeting, and that this country’s principles needed to be rooted in strengths greater than the passions and the emotions of the times. But our leaders of today have decided it’s more important to be popular, to say and do what’s easy, and say “yes” rather than to say “no”, when “no” is what is required.
(APPLAUSE)
In recent years -- in recent years we as a country have too often chosen the same path. It’s easy for our leaders to say, “Not us, not now”, in taking on the really tough issues, and unfortunately we have stood silently by and let them get away with it. But tonight, I say enough.
(APPLAUSE)
Tonight, I say together, let’s make a much different choice. Tonight, we are speaking up for ourselves and stepping up. Tonight, we’re beginning to do what is right and necessary to make America great again.
(APPLAUSE)
We are demanding that our leaders stop tearing each other down and work together to take action on the big things facing America. Tonight, we will do what my mother taught me. Tonight, we are going to choose respect over love.
(APPLAUSE)
See, we are not afraid. We are taking our country back because we are the great-grandchildren of the men and women who broke their backs in the name of American ingenuity, the grandchildren of the greatest generation, the sons and daughters of immigrants, the brothers and sisters of everyday heroes, the neighbors of entrepreneurs and firefighters, teachers and farmers, veterans and factory workers and everyone in between who shows up, not just on the big days, or the good days, but on the bad days, and the hard days. Each and every day. All 365 of them.
You see, we are the United States of America.
(APPLAUSE)
Now - now - now it is up to us. We must lead the way our citizens live, to lead as my mother insisted I live, not by avoiding truths, especially the hard ones, but by facing up to them and being better for it.
We can’t afford to do anything less.”
The people of the United States are searching for true leadership in this hour of vast uncertainty about our country’s future. However, politicians should be aware that the American people are smart. I believe that most Americans can decipher whether a politician is telling the truth or not; if they can’t then they are naïve and gullible. Personally I don’t want a sugar-coated version of our problems in America and I am certainly tired, as are most Americans, of the constant “blame game” between Republicans and Democrats. Each party uses this pathetic tactic to distract from the real issues our country is facing. There is enough blame to go around here people. It’s time to tell the truth.
Let’s put aside the differences and remember that we are Americans first and work together to bring about a brighter future for the generations to come. This is the time and this is our generation’s test as other generations have been tested in the past. For the sake of our children and grandchildren, we must not fail.
-Jamie Gardner
It’s not often that you hear truth come from a politician’s mouth these days. But I firmly believe that Christie gave a truthful speech that every American voter should grab hold to and run with. In my opinion his simple message was not just to Republicans, but to all Americans. What struck me most about his speech is his belief that politicians must stop pandering to the public for votes and simply tell the truth no matter how difficult and earn back the respect of citizens. That is what I believe people are begging for during this election.
In case you missed it, below is a portion of Christie’s speech:
“Now she (Christie’s mother) said to always pick being respected (over being loved). She told me that love without respect was always fleeting, but that respect could grow into real and lasting love. Now, of course, she was talking about women.
(LAUGHTER)
But I have learned over time that it applies just as much to leadership. In fact, I think that advice applies to America more than ever today.
(APPLAUSE)
You see I believe we have become paralyzed, paralyzed by our desire to be loved. Now our founding fathers had the wisdom to know that social acceptance and popularity were fleeting, and that this country’s principles needed to be rooted in strengths greater than the passions and the emotions of the times. But our leaders of today have decided it’s more important to be popular, to say and do what’s easy, and say “yes” rather than to say “no”, when “no” is what is required.
(APPLAUSE)
In recent years -- in recent years we as a country have too often chosen the same path. It’s easy for our leaders to say, “Not us, not now”, in taking on the really tough issues, and unfortunately we have stood silently by and let them get away with it. But tonight, I say enough.
(APPLAUSE)
Tonight, I say together, let’s make a much different choice. Tonight, we are speaking up for ourselves and stepping up. Tonight, we’re beginning to do what is right and necessary to make America great again.
(APPLAUSE)
We are demanding that our leaders stop tearing each other down and work together to take action on the big things facing America. Tonight, we will do what my mother taught me. Tonight, we are going to choose respect over love.
(APPLAUSE)
See, we are not afraid. We are taking our country back because we are the great-grandchildren of the men and women who broke their backs in the name of American ingenuity, the grandchildren of the greatest generation, the sons and daughters of immigrants, the brothers and sisters of everyday heroes, the neighbors of entrepreneurs and firefighters, teachers and farmers, veterans and factory workers and everyone in between who shows up, not just on the big days, or the good days, but on the bad days, and the hard days. Each and every day. All 365 of them.
You see, we are the United States of America.
(APPLAUSE)
Now - now - now it is up to us. We must lead the way our citizens live, to lead as my mother insisted I live, not by avoiding truths, especially the hard ones, but by facing up to them and being better for it.
We can’t afford to do anything less.”
The people of the United States are searching for true leadership in this hour of vast uncertainty about our country’s future. However, politicians should be aware that the American people are smart. I believe that most Americans can decipher whether a politician is telling the truth or not; if they can’t then they are naïve and gullible. Personally I don’t want a sugar-coated version of our problems in America and I am certainly tired, as are most Americans, of the constant “blame game” between Republicans and Democrats. Each party uses this pathetic tactic to distract from the real issues our country is facing. There is enough blame to go around here people. It’s time to tell the truth.
Let’s put aside the differences and remember that we are Americans first and work together to bring about a brighter future for the generations to come. This is the time and this is our generation’s test as other generations have been tested in the past. For the sake of our children and grandchildren, we must not fail.
-Jamie Gardner
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