A Veteran’s Thoughts
By Ski Ingram
December 2023
Throughout America children are doing their best to be good boys and girls in order to get what they will be asking Santa for this Christmas. When I was a child, my parents would continually remind me throughout the month of December to be a good boy as Santa may be watching. I would try very hard to be good because I didn’t want a lump of coal in my Christmas stocking. It worked; I was a very good boy in the month of December.
I am grateful to have grown up in the 1950’s and early 1960’s when everyone understood the difference between right and wrong, what was good and what was bad. Today the lines between good and bad are being blurred if not erased completely. I read an article by Jonah Goldburg recently ridiculing Donald Trump and his “make America great again” slogan saying America was never great. I disagree with him. America has had its good times and bad times, but I believe there are more good times than bad. We must always remember that America is a work in progress and has been doing its best to improve for more than 247 years.
What has made America great? One thing is our Constitution which states that our rights come from God and not from man. It is also the reason we are free to worship whom and where we please without government interference. We also enjoy freedom of speech. The government does not have the power to punish anyone for what they say as long as it does not harm others. I feel the most important right we have in this country is the right to bear arms, owning a gun, which ensures that a rogue government will never be able to take away our Constitutional rights.
I love Christmas. It is a wonderful time of year when people from all over the world take time to honor the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone not only believed in the Savior but worked hard to obey his commandments and follow his teachings? When I was a child, I tried very hard to be good the closer it got to Christmas. Today I am doing my best to follow the teachings of my Savior all year long. I am grateful for these beliefs which give so much meaning and guidance to my life.
Children all over America write letters to Santa to let him know what they want for Christmas. They honestly believe that Santa receives those letters and if they are a good boy or girl, they will receive all they ask for. Like the children, there are a few things I would like for Christmas.
The first thing I want for Christmas is for all Americans to understand and appreciate the freedoms we enjoy. The second thing is a program or programs that will lower Inflation and keep it in check. This progressive government must stop spending money we do not have in order to buy the votes the Left feel they need to stay in power. People are losing jobs and their homes because of the high inflation we are all suffering from. I would like the Democrats to do what is right for the people of this country instead of continually thinking only of themselves. I’ve said this many times “they don’t care about you.”
The next thing I’d wish for is to lower the crime rate. Those who worked to defund the police and imposed bail reform are the same people who want to fundamentally change America. They are just now beginning to realize the harm they have done to the country. Crime in most liberal cities is out of control. We are no longer safe on our streets, in our homes, and our places of business.
The last thing I’d ask for is a secured border, where illegals will be stopped from entering this country until they can be vetted to ensure they are not criminals or terrorists. I want the smuggling of drugs and people to stop. I want all who come here to do so, not for what they get from the government, but because they are truly looking for a better life with the desire to obey our laws and our constitution.
My wish this Christmas is for every citizen of this country, whether you were born here or immigrated to remember and live by John F. Kennedy’s words when he said, “It’s not what your country can do for you, it’s what you can do for your country.” I’d also like people to remember Dr. Martin Luther King’s words, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” We need a nation of citizens with strong moral character that will do good for all.
I don’t think this is too much to ask. I’m sure that many of you want this same thing for Christmas. The truth is this Christmas wish is possible. Be citizens of good character and virtue. Pay attention and vote for the candidates who will work for these same things. So, this Christmas, have faith and pay attention to those running for office. If we all do this, our Christmas wishes will come true.
