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A Sacraficial Pledge!
We’re a nation at war! Whether or not we believe in it is irrelevant. American and allied soldiers are fighting and dying as they are commanded to. They are fighting against people who are extremists. Ironically, they are also fighting for a people who are “extremists”. Americans particularly, by and large, live a very excessive lifestyle, with no sacrifice or compromise.
During World War II the American people were called upon to make sacrifices. Today, no one is calling for sacrifice, and to the American public, it’s business as usual. Little or no thought is given to the soldiers who are constantly in harm’s way. And does anyone remember the victims of 911? As one soldier so aptly put it, “we went to war, and America went to the mall!”
That said, I would like to suggest these five simple pledges for sacrifices we can all live with:
At least one day a week I will…
1) …not drive my vehicle unnecessarily. I will plan my shopping lists so that I may cut down on trips to the market or to the mall. I will walk or ride a bicycle if possible.
2) …pack a lunch or choose another healthy alternative to going to a fast-food restaurant (I have the willpower).
3) …bypass a gas station if I have enough fuel to get me safely to and from my destination, and avoid “capping off”. I will drive within the speed limit.
4) …refrain from or at least cut back on the purchase and consumption of alcoholic beverages and tobacco (I have the willpower). If you don’t smoke or drink sacrifice something else like television or the computer.
5) …pray to God that our soldiers be protected and delivered from harm’s way; and that they may have inward peace, comfort, and courage during their tour of duty.
You may ask: what good would this do? First of all God honors sacrifice with prayer, and if we’re really sincere about concern for our troops, it’s the least we can do; whether it be the complete list, or just one or two items on the list. It will also teach our children something about patriotism. Second, if we did it enmasse, exponentially it would get the attention of big business – especially the oil companies – and remind them of moral duty. And third, it would send a clear message to our government that the American people aside from the polls, can still collectively, and effectively be decisive about things that matter; and that we are tired of bureaucrats convening excessively on frivolous matters. Where’s the outcry for the care of the returning wounded soldiers whose lives have been changed forever?
This is a call to action in honor of our fallen soldiers, and to encourage those still risking their lives daily on the frontline.
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