The Country That Gives and Keeps On Giving

kept for 40 years, one earned and I paid for;
good for one, "right to speak and be heard,"
it assures my unassailable American rights.

What gives me any such right to be heard?
How did I get such a,'good for one,' chip?
after a year almost having my ass shot off,
in the Viet-Nam war, I figure I have it coming.

Cannot think of a better place or reason
to cash in my chip than here for America.
You'd be hard pressed finding many soldiers
serving America today who don't love America.

I think it is fair to say, Viet-Nam
provided more reason than any other war
for it's veterans to be disgruntled
having fought in a war without cause.

There is nothing pretty about war
the price for terror on a world level?
Our allies in world war II lost 70,000,000 lives
to war, ethnic cleansing, genocide and murder.

America since WWII has lost 1,400,000 lives
in the same struggle for freedom as our allies.
I grew up with some, others my dad did
He was with some that died and so was I.

For all we hold sacred don't forsake them.
Don't let the men who fought and died
serving this country ever be forgotten,
their souls are the heart of America.

This country is more than any one war,
more than any era of time or problem.
It is bigger than any president
any administration, mistake or corruption.

America's arms do not embrace one religion,
surround any one ethnic group over another.
It is founded on liberty and justice for all,
of the people, for the people and by the people.

We are not perfect, but we persevere
we believe in right over wrong, good over evil
human rights, education, we are humanitarians
help in crisis world wide, America has compassion.

I believe in values this country was founded.
When we loose pride and forget the price paid
choose to stand in controversy rather than conviction
when we let ridicule replace gratitude
we have sadly lost sight of reason.

America deserves more respect
I would pose a challenge to those who complain
stand behind our country with all your heart,

not what is in politics or policy

but in  what America stands for and is founded on

then lets see if it doesn't get better.

I don't know about you,
but I Love the red, white and blue.