I typically do not write or post on subjects that are not about food, fitness, or fun! BUT….I am so irritated by the aftermath of the recent election results.

The comments and back and forth on social media has been craziness! People are talking ugly and are out-and-about acting like lunatics. I understand that the LBGT community, minorities, and immigrants are concerned about their lives and futures – however violence and looting is NOT going to improve the situation at all, most likely will make it worse. By the way, we are all concerned about our lives and futures; I wish people realized that we are actually in the same boat together. People’s true colors come out in times of adversity.

I was very opposed to Obama taking office both times. I was not and am not a fan of his. I was in fear for my and our country’s future during his time in office. At no time, NOT ONE TIME, did I talk ugly to Obama supporters. NOT ONE TIME did I stage protests, riot, loot, or create ciaos because I was unhappy with the U.S. nation’s presidential choice.

What is done is done. The current election is done. It is our duty as citizens of the republic of the United States of America (one nation under God and indivisible) to peruse happiness, to celebrate and live out our freedoms, and to be the change we want to see “peaceably”. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “believed that nonviolent protests is the most effective weapon against a racist and unjust society”.

It couldn’t have been said any better than in the movie The American President – “America isn’t easy. America is advanced citizenship. You’ve gotta want it bad, ’cause it’s gonna put up a fight. It’s gonna say, “You want free speech? Let’s see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who’s standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then you can stand up and sing about the land of the free.” This is how mature adults conduct themselves.

From the very inception of our federal government there were a few men that had concerns about giving more power to the federal government, “fearing it would endanger the rights of states and individuals” (http://www.history.com/topics/constitution). Which it has! At the onset of our federal government, it was the job of Congress to “govern foreign affairs, conduct war, and regulate currency”, that is it! We find ourselves in the place we are now within our country because the federal government has too much power over the states and citizens.

“The Bill of Rights guarantees individuals certain basic protections as citizens, including freedom of speech, religion and the press; the right to bear and keep arms; the right to peaceably assemble; protection from unreasonable search and seizure; and the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury.” This part of our constitution is what all U.S. citizens and hopeful to-be citizens hold so close, stand on, and fight for. A lot of these freedoms most people do not have the privilege of on our planet. The funny part to me is that many of these basic freedoms are the exact topics that politicians and citizens are fighting over – religion, speech, and right to bear and keep arms. As far as I’m concerned there is nothing to fight over, it is set – it is in the Constitution already – be happy and thankful we have them.

The Preamble of the Constitution is inspiring to me and is something that very few people take the time to meditate on. It is powerful, it is what we, as citizens, should all be spending our time trying to achieve, instead of promoting discord. “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common Defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” (http://constitutionus.com/) I hope and pray that these words will set your perspective as to what this nation is really about.

Let me tell you what this nation is not about….it is not about someone owing you anything, it is not about the minority ruling the majority, it is not about the right or freedom to harm the other citizens or their possessions around you, it is not about bullying and forcing your opinions on others, it is not about infringing on the God-given and Bill of Rights’ given freedoms of others, and it is not about your agenda.

The government and people of this country have lost their way, away from the principals of what this country was founded on. Greed and power have overcome. Everyone wants our rights and freedoms, but few people want to do the work it takes to keep and maintain them.

We still live in the best country on this planet. This song epitomizes how I feel about people abusing our country.

“The Fightin’ Side Of Me“

I hear people talkin’ bad,
About the way we have to live here in this country,
Harpin’ on the wars we fight,
An’ gripin’ ’bout the way things oughta be.

An’ I don’t mind ’em switchin’ sides,
An’ standin’ up for things they believe in.
When they’re runnin’ down my country, man,
They’re walkin’ on the fightin’ side of me.

Yeah, walkin’ on the fightin’ side of me.
Runnin’ down the way of life,
Our fightin’ men have fought and died to keep.
If you don’t love it, leave it:
Let this song I’m singin’ be a warnin’.
If you’re runnin’ down my country, man,
You’re walkin’ on the fightin’ side of me.

I read about some squirrely guy,
Who claims, he just don’t believe in fightin’.
An’ I wonder just how long,
The rest of us can count on bein’ free.

They love our milk an’ honey,
But they preach about some other way of livin’.
When they’re runnin’ down my country, hoss,
They’re walkin’ on the fightin’ side of me.

Yeah, walkin’ on the fightin’ side of me.
Runnin’ down the way of life,
Our fightin’ men have fought and died to keep.
If you don’t love it, leave it:
Let this song I’m singin’ be a warnin’.
If you’re runnin’ down my country, man,
You’re walkin’ on the fightin’ side of me.

God Bless America