Guest Soapbox: Respect for country means respect for government

Spring is upon us once again (although I wonder after the snow of a few days ago). Here is a chance for “renewing” and being thankful for the many blessings that we have in this great country. Granted, there are problems and difficulties that confront many Americans each day, but we are much better off then the great majority in this world.

One of our blessings is the freedom that we can express in our daily lives. These blessing and freedoms should not be taken for granted. It is through the dedication and sacrifice of many Americans that we continue to be free, especially those that serve us in the military.

Our military personnel are the backbone in preserving the ideals that formed this country. My son recently returned safely from a year’s deployment in Iraq. Many sons, daughters, husbands and wives did not return safely. Many gave the ultimate sacrifice and many will be maimed for life. This sacrifice affects not only the individual, but also the spouses, children, parents and friends of each of them.

Being raised in a military family, with a father who served in the Army Air Corps in World War II, and in my service in the Vietnam War, I am especially proud of what our military does for each one of us.

But we as the general public need to not only wholeheartedly support our troops, but also do what we can to support our governmental officials.

Granted, sometimes our government may not do what we feel is the right thing or we may blame them for circumstances that we may not understand, but they deserve our support and respect just the same.


We can do our part by voting responsibly, obeying our laws that are enacted for our safety and protection, being considerate of our neighbors and communities and helping those who may be unable to help themselves.

We are one big community and need to support each other in our daily struggles and adversities and share in the joys and abundance of our lives.

We all need to give that extra amount of concern and love that is so dearly needed by each one of us. God bless America and the world.