A Veteran’s Thoughts
By Ski Ingram
April 2026
If you read my newsletter, you understand that I love America and our Constitution. I know that most of you also love America. I also know that some in this country do not love America, which I find very upsetting.
In October 2020 I published an article entitled “American Exceptionalism.” (www.skiingram.com/2020/10). I wrote about the framers of our Constitution being inspired by God when America was conceived. I wrote about America being built on the lofty principle that all men are created equal and they have certain rights given to them by God. Because these rights are God-given, they cannot be taken away by man or our government.
Today I worry that too few people understand this principle or do not believe it in today’s liberal environment and 24-hour news cycle. There are thousands of people who do not like this country and wish to destroy it. Through social media, the liberal news, “woke” Universities and left leaning politicians, our rights are being eroded every day. We have reached a point where people do not trust the government, our leaders, our universities, and each other. It’s possible that this is what the Left wants, to destroy America so that they can “fundamentally” change it in any way they choose.
The Left will misrepresent what is going on in the country especially if they are condemning President Trump. TDS is real and cannot be denied. Those on the Left are quick to point out America’s faults while at the same time ignoring this country’s successes. I’ve said it many times, America is a work in progress. We have not been perfect, but many of our problems have been corrected over the past 250 years. I agree with President Donald Trump and his America First agenda. Let other nations be first in their own countries.
Patrick Henry stated many years ago, “the liberties of a people never were, nor never will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them.” Thomas Sowell has said, “What is scary about our time is how easy it is to get Americans to give up our most precious rights if you just use some pretty words. You can violate the equal protection of our laws provided by the 14th Amendment if you use the word ‘diversity’ and you can violate the free speech protections of the First Amendment if you can call it ‘campaign finance reform.”
Benjamin Franklin famously stated in 1755: “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety”. With so much misinformation in the news, late-night talk shows, and the things being taught in our liberal universities, it’s no wonder that people do not understand the greatness of America. They certainly don’t understand the freedoms we enjoy.
The Declaration of Independence tells us where our rights come from. At the beginning of the second paragraph it states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” It does not guarantee any certain outcome, especially to someone who is unwilling to work for what they want. However, for those who are willing to work, struggle and risk failure, they are empowered to succeed in anything they wish.
“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed it ourselves.” Abraham Lincoln.
President Trump told us what needs to be done in Butler, Pennsylvania after surviving an assassin’s bullet, “FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT.” I am a 76-year-old combat veteran, and I am prepared and ready to fight for our freedoms no matter how hard or long it takes. Will you?
Ski Ingram is a combat veteran and a patriot who can be reached at: Ski@Skiingram.com Or www.Skiingram.com
