Congratulations to President-Elect Barack Obama

Congratulations to President-Elect Barack Obama on your election earlier this month.

May the Lord watch over you and your family, and guide you in all your decisions.

Alexandra R. Lajoux

PS (written after Gitmo and Mexico City decisions) Mr. President, you are soft on terrorists and tough on babies. I pray you will have a change of heart and see that it's the innocent unborn, not arrested criminals, who most deserve tender consideration.

Viva McCain!

Dear Friends:

This is not a blog...just a very personal note about my voting plans!

I am so very pleased that John McCain has secured the nomination to represent the Republican Party in the November 2008 elections.

John McCain, a war hero and a fighter for what is right, wants to build the military, protect the unborn, and welcome hardworking and honest immigrants who wish to become citizens of this great country. Those three great causes alone should inspire us to rally behind him.

So that is why I say,
Viva McCain!

Alexandra Lajoux
Fairfax VA

PS: Potential Republican candidates for VP include almost any of his running mates (except the one who is a libertarian, not a Republican...you know who I mean). Other excellent possibilities include Hon. J. C. Watts, General Colin Powell, Dr. Condeleezza Rice, and any Virginia Republican including Hon. Tom Davis - Sic Semper Tyrannis! I know many listed here have declined this honor in the past but we must remain hopeful!

"We Shall Not Weaken or Tire"

There are blogs and blogs. One of the best of the best is the Patriot Post by Mark Alexander http://patriotpost.us/. Sometimes it's too detailed for my tastes, but reading its commentary on the war against terrorism always adds fuel to the fire of my support for our troops.

A recent posting compared America's current cause to our efforts to stop evil in its tracks back in World War II.

"As for Operation Iraqi Freedom, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld noted in congressional testimony this week, 'The enemy has called Iraq the central front in the war on terrorism.'
Rumsfeld continued: 'If we left Iraq prematurely—as the terrorists demand—the enemy would tell us to leave Afghanistan and then withdraw from the Middle East. And if we left the Middle East, they'd order us—and all those who don't share their militant ideology—to leave what they call occupied Muslim lands, from Spain to the Philippines, and then we would face not only the evil ideology of these violent extremists, but an enemy that will have grown accustomed to succeeding in telling free people everywhere what to do. We can persevere in Iraq or we can withdraw prematurely, until they force us to make a stand nearer home. But make no mistake: They are not going to give up, whether we acquiesce in their immediate demands or not.'
In 1940, British PM Neville Chamberlain attempted to opt out of WWII by ignoring the Third Reich. The day after Germany invaded the France, Belgium and the Netherlands, Chamberlain resigned and was replaced by Winston Churchill, who confronted Hitler head on, and preserved Great Britain's charter." (Patriot Post, August 2006)

You hit the mark on that one!

No, we cannot give up the fight against terrorism. Too much is at stake. Our troops need our support.

Sir Winston Churchill, speaking in a radio broadcast February 9, 1941, said "We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire...Give us the tools and we will finish the job."

To our beloved U.S. and Allied troops: You are doing your utmost to root out terrorists and protect emerging democratic governments. You can and will finish the job if we help you, support you, and as always, thank you.

A Sensible Message from a Fellow Patriot

Our Commander in Chief is wise to seek a ceasefire in the Middle East. But if terrorist groups don't respect it, we and our allies, including Israel, must stay the course of defense against terrorism.

No one explains why better than David Bancroft, a patriot in Texas who has devoted an entire website to his love of country--usa-patriotism.com.

In a recent commentary called "Responding Similarly with Resolve," Mr. Bancroft notes: "While the loss of innocent life during any conflict is very sad, it usually is by accident and in reaction to aggression occurring from the area that unfortunately includes non-combatants. And when it occurs due to the enemy using civilians as cover . . . the blame must first go to those who used these innocents knowing full well what might happen. Moreover, there are terrorists groups who purposely attack civilians regardless of age without remorse. (Remember September 11, 2001 and since then... bombings in Madrid, India, and London.) These morally corrupt groups have even proudly taken credit for these atrocities including broadcasting the gory events over the internet and many times with the assistance of a friendly nation's media, which is then reported by US and other countries. Why does the global media have a tendency to forget this fact when reporting something like the tragic deaths of civilians in Qana, Lebanon?"

Wise words indeed.

So let us all pray that the ceasefire prevails. And let us also pray for the safe return of our troops. But let us also speak out to correct the error of those who would equate the U.S. or its allies with terrorists. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Flanders Field Poem by McCrae - Relevant Today

John McCrae, 1872-1918, wrote a poem called "In Flanders Fields." American composer Charles Ives set it to music in 1919. By 2009, I hope to record a symphonic choral version of this beautiful tribute to soldiers who risk their lives for our freedom.

Friends, please read this poem by John McRae and let your soul shiver to think of the noble sacrifice of those who render military service to defend and protect ideals of liberty and freedom for all.

"In Flanders fields the poppies blow, between the crosses, row on row -- that mark our place; and in the sky the larks still bravely singing fly, scarce heard amidst the guns below. We are the dead. Short days ago we lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, loved and were loved, and now we lie in Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe! To you from falling hands we throw, we throw the torch. Be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die we shall not sleep though poppies grow in Flanders fields."

Let us all in our own ways take up the torch of liberty and honor those who have fallen for us. We will never forget you!

Alexandra Lajoux

Recent Postings on a Patriotic Website

Visitors to USA-Patriotism.com will read the following recent exchange....


It really seems there is a break down in patriotism today. It really saddens me how no one wants to contribute to the whole of the country but look out for their own selfish interests.

David, 36
New Jersey

I agree, friend. Patriotism is declining while selfishness is growing. As individuals, we must do what we can to prevent this from happening in our own souls. For what is the human journey but a journey toward larger spheres of love and commitment? Newborns care only about themselves. This is natural. But at the other end of life on earth, let's all hope we will have travelled a journey in which we learn to love not only ourselves, but also other people, our community, our state, our nation, our world, and finally our Creator. And of all these loves, for Americans, the love of one's own nation may be the most deeply felt, because America embodies all these loves. As an American, I love:

myself (America protects life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness)
my fellow citizen [and new immigrants] (In America we respect these rights for all)
my community ("my home town")
my nation (land of the free and home of the brave)
my world (as we advance the cause of human dignity and freedom)
my God (in God we trust)

To be a patriot in America is to live fully.
Alexandra Lajoux
Arlington, Virginia

Immigrants Can Be Our Greatest Patriots

The people who risk death by drowning or suffocation to get here truly exemplify the words of Emma Lazarus, who wrote, if memory serves "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free...I lift my lamp beside the Golden Door." That poem is inscribed at the base of the Statue of Liberty for a reason. We all need to do more to enable such brave, freedom-loving dedicated people to live and work among us. People like me, whose ancestors came here long ago, can become complacent. (I trace my earliest heritage to the Mayflower, and, through my stepfather, to another early ship--the one that brought slaves to Virginia; one of my stepfather's ancestors worked in bondage, then freedom, at Mount Vernon, and knew the great George Washington.)

This is not to say that every person who crosses our borders is immediately entitled to full social benefits. No. There must be some evidence that the new arrival is willing to work hard and to learn our language and history--to become a future patriot. Such a person is "true immigrant," to use the term of Rabbi Lapin of Toward Tradition - not just a foreigner seeking a free ride in life.

Now let's look at our own patriotism. Can those of us who have lived here for centuries honestly say that we have this trait? Many immigrants do! Let's all do what we can to make hard-working, motivated immigrants feel welcome and learn our rich history. Let's also have compassion and generosity for the states where immigration is heaviest, such as California.

Note: Again, I am not talking about government entitlements. There are some things the government can do without cost. For example, the U.S. Dept. of Immigration could endorse a policy of courtesy toward applicants for citizenship. When helping an immigrant who had lived here legally for many years, I noticed that the immigration clerks tended to be haughty and rude to people applying for U.S. citizenship--even when those applicants have years of legal residency and had just waited in line for hours.

How can we encourage patriotism? I've seen groups give out copies of the U.S. Bill of Rights and Constitution to those applying for citizenship. Now that's a great idea. I'll try to find the link.

Stay tuned for more on what we can do as citizens to help our future Patriots - new, true immigrants.
For those of a compassionate heart, see also: http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/printer/printer_learn_about_justice.html