American Spirit

By Founders Girl
Cross Posted at American Woman

That smell of lit fireworks. Freshly cut grass tickling bare feet. Twirling around with sparklers that leave blazes of lights in your eyes long after they burn out. Nestled into a blanket gasping ooh & aah with every display. The BOOMs that shake your inner being and leave you wanting another and another. The finale that you never want to end but can't believe actually lasts so long. The celebration of a nation that stands for freedom and independence. This just might be my favorite holiday.

I don't remember anyone opposing such a patriotic celebration when I was a kid. I thought everyone loved America. Just as she is. Twitter has brought my attention to a number of Debbie downers.

Brit's apparently think our Yank displays of patriotism are odd and over the top. Maybe they just don't know what it's like to have the spirit of an inspirational founding ingrained into your way of life.

@danmsnyder @RedScareBot @FoundersGirl plus I like annoying yanks up youre too patriotic it's weird

— ben (@NUGLIFE_ben) July 3, 2015

Google is just being a plain old contrary party pooper. With it's painfully blatant aversion of the mighty red white and blue in it's 4th of July display. It's not just anyone's birthday guys. It's AMERICA's.

Salon.com figures this is the perfect time to wage an all-out war against American exceptionalism. Anti-patriotic bastards. 

This 4th of July, it's time to recognize that the age of American exceptionalism is long over http://t.co/KtYsMKmA7H

— Salon.com (@Salon) July 3, 2015

Slate took an inappropriately timed stab at the beloved Star-Spangled Banner. Not quite as offensive as Roseanne's efforts... but still. 

The Star-Spangled Banner is a lousy piece of songwriting: http://t.co/stMmItaoDo #FourthofJuly pic.twitter.com/1Zgl1Opl4L

— Slate (@Slate) July 4, 2015

Of course, there are articles like this one attempt to demoralize and down play the very core of our nation's founding. What and ever.

Screw The 4th Of July

I know there's more, I'm sure there's worse, but I've got celebrating to do. Continue exercising your freedom of speech, naysayers. You can't dampen this American spirit. 

God bless America! 

Manufactured Racial Divide

By Founders Girl

Every time an incident purported to be the example of systemic racism in America hits the headlines, we are somehow forced to take a side. Why is not enough to have compassion and empathy for victims and their families. Why is it not enough to hate the actions of those who inflict violence and death?

As soon as the color of the victims and the color of the suspect make the headlines, those pushing the narrative of perpetual victim-hood rush to their keyboards to identify markers of racism. In the case of the recent Charleston Shooting, it developed that the shooter is a disturbed individual who actually does hold racist views. But it is not enough to denounce his actions and demand justice. Those pushing the narrative sought to use the tragedy as an example of rampant racism in our nation.  Former Obama Admin. official Brandon Friedman raced to tie Gov. Nikki Haley & the confederate flag to the story. The flying of the confederate flag circled social media as a symbol of accepted racism in the South, all of my favorite race baiters passed it around. The question 'Where can we be safe?' came from several who really don't view the shooting as the crazed actions of a lone shooter.

Somehow, I am responsible for both my ancestors, who may or may not have ever owned slaves, and the actions of some racist lunatic in Charleston. I can't say anything about waiting for evidence or not jumping to conclusions that will not irk the people who believe that our world is filled with racial injustice. I can not help but feel that I am being judged on the basis of my skin color. Where are these people, of my color, who think that the actions of the shooter in Charleston were justified or acceptable?

The narrative that our nation is somehow polarized over whether racism is acceptable or not is false. The overwhelming consensus is that the shooter acted unacceptably, horridly, and should be brought to justice. Why can't we agree to let the extremists be the outliers and unite in our disdain for their actions? Are we expected to identify with the shooter based only on the color of our skin? Can we only grieve for the victims and their families if we are of the same race? 

It is time to recognize that our nation is no longer a nation that quietly accepts racism. I believe that my generation commonly recognizes the atrocities of race-based mistreatment in our history. Yet, activists consistently divide us by the lives and actions of our ancestors. We are the generation of Americans with the opportunity to put it behind us. Not to forgive or forget but to progress to a new state of existence, where the color of your skin has no bearing on the content of your character or aptitude for success. Let us unite against those who seek to keep us divided.

Let's Do This!

By Founders Girl
Cross Posted at American Woman

Flashback: 2014 Election. Joy & elation. Can you hear us now? We are the conservative majority of a nation that is fed up with leftist agenda. I'm ready to tackle 2016 & I think we have a great selection of viable candidates. So when, exactly do we get to commit to a front-runner?

Are we waiting for the clearly ideal candidate to emerge? Bad news friends, it isn't going to happen like that. Remember in 2012 when the man of the hour would rise to the top and then get shredded and dismissed? All the while the kool-aid sippers watched with glee as conservatives imploded from the inside out. Democrats (living or otherwise) ran out and voted for their savior while some of us held our noses just to vote against Obama & others stayed home and pouted. Welcome to another 4 years of fundamental change.

Being the party of individualism makes it rough to come to a solid consensus, but can not wait around for the process of elimination to make the choice clear! If we are not united in enthusiasm for a specific conservative candidate we will find ourselves united on disgust when the GOP hands Jeb the nomination.

The sooner we have a candidate to get behind the better! While poking fun at Hillary's cankles, endless pantsuits, & scandalous behavior is fun, it is NOT going to convince a single Democrat not to vote for her. Honestly, defending an unworthy, pitiful candidate appeals to their appetite for social justice. If there is anything at all we could learn from the left, it's a little loyalty. I'm not saying we should accept any politician without holding them accountable, but it's time to look at the big picture and acknowledge that just about any conservative would be better than Hillary!!

Is it wrong to be filled with anticipation over the chance to get this great nation back on track ASAP?!? I'm hearing the most support for Cruz & Walker in my little Twittersphere. Who's it gonna be? Let's commit already! I have my political pom-poms* out & I am ready to rally the masses - lets do this!! 

* F-no, I have never been a cheerleader. Far too snarkastic for that. ;P