The Minuteman Almanac Chapters
- Introduction
When our country was in a state of crisis at the time it severed relations with King George of England, there were those who stepped forward to defend their homeland. One group was comprised of ordinary citizens with special training who during the calamities of the time decided it was in their best interests to take up arms and defend the homeland. They were called Minutemen. As the story goes, they were called this because they needed to be ready upon a minutes notice to step out of their secure homestead and face the unknown. They did this in order to make a new future for themselves and future generations they would engender.
Today, Americans have a hard time understanding what would capture one's heart and mind with enough desire to place oneself in harm’s way for the concept of liberty or perhaps an aggravation with the problems of their time. These are the type people today would listen to talk radio and call in frequently to voice their opinions. They also include those who have volunteered in the armed services and have gone into battle for this country in every conflict for over 200 years. Undoubtedly, Americans needs these defenders of liberty to keep stepping forward.
There are enemies from without and there are enemies from within. Sometimes we have a hard time in the world of international diplomacy to figure out who is on our side and who is against us. Countries sometimes say one thing openly but then take actions which are not what we would expect from those who say they are our allies. There are those in these perilous times who are openly out to harm America but they don't stand up and fight like enemies of old. We have a difficult time finding the enemy and securing the battlefield.
We can be confronted by enemies from within that some people recognize as enemies yet others hail them as heroes. It may not be easy to comprehend what is good for the whole of America. We do not know in the long haul what is needed or what is good for the shorthaul and when we need to worry about either. Americans participate in a republican form of government. We elect people at the local, state and federal level to make decisions for the public good. These elected people can serve part-time depending on the post they serve in. They could serve full-time for several years and then after public service return to the proverbial farm and continue their private lives. They can be lifelong politicians who make their sole livelihood by hauling public-policy. Each one tries to do the best they can. Every once in a while some are found to be crooked and look out for themselves more than the public good. Eventually, they get so brash as to get caught and then the scandal breaks. But by and large Americans elect good people to public office.
