Posted by
LadyLiberty on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 11:30:34 PM
Episode 45: Forward, the American Way
(Bearings: Starboard, American Dream. Then Land.)
Captain Torch Talker: Now listen. (Hear me now, and see me later.) From my torch to your couch, perhaps, but bear with me on this--one of you is off course on the right ship. The other is in a different ship altogether.
Maverick Politician: Sir. I have followed you with all my heart and mind--and yes, there's plenty more where that came from--but I believe I have stayed true.
Captain Torch Talker: I'm giving you bearings, helmsman. Bearings are relative. You were true to the position you were in. None truer. You have not been in that position for 40 years. Out of the jungle, sailor. Time to come home.
Change Politician: Yo...wassup...no that's...uh...Ok, I'm...I'm...
Captain Torch Talker: No, you're not. And this is not about you, so breathe a sigh of relief for the first time in your life. This is about others. You're not in high school anymore, Holden. Isn't that your name?
Change Politican: No, yo. I never said that.
Captain Torch Talker: How about Pride?
Change Politican: No. Sir. That's not it either. Aren't you supposed to know these things... can't I count on you at least?
Captain Torch Talker: Look. I'm not your college buddy at the toke fest. But I am a real Father you can count on. So sit down. Both of you.
Maverick and Change: Yes, sir.
Captain Torch Talker: You! "O". Great marketing technique. A little girliefied. But anyway, the ship doesn't need to be rebuilt, get it? ProgressiveUS and all that cute stuff.
Know how I know? I built it. See that chord? Better start looking a little deeper, cuz it's there. And I'm pulling you back, Mr. Sophisticate, Mr. One World, home. Homey. If you can handle the ride.
You wanna cruise with the Starship Enterprise, then get your bearings, the full horizon, the big picture.
The big U...for unum. Not an island. Not Africa. Not the UN. Not the Middle East. Not the EU...no offense, love the French. But rather sea to shining sea...the Spirit within. The Liberty. Merci beaucoup. That was true friendship...been repaying 'em all these years for that.
Time and a place, youngster. The seachange was 1776. Let's see how you hold that line. Steady on.
Now you, Maverick, knew all that already, maybe because you had to defend it, first hand.
Maverick: Yes, sir, I hope I did my duty.
Captain Torch Talker: Did. So why are you drifting into his boat, especially since he's just been ordered out of it?
Maverick: I didn't look at it that way, sir. I thought we were all in this boat together.
Captain Torch Talker: See that chord?
Maverick: I can make it out, sir. Barely.
Captain Torch Talker: That's wisdom. The inner eye. But hindsight isn't gonna help you this year. And appeasing projection will be your worst enemy.
Now where's the harbor?
Maverick: Starboard sir. And seventy-five miles past that rig.
Captain Torch Talker: Well, you don't have my energy so you're at sea, after 40 years of being in the jungle. But you're late with the energy, and you're leeward. Right now the French know better than you where liberty is.
Yet at the same time you have been here, and you have done this. Not the anointing of the oil, part, but the righteous suffering to find your way part.
The young and their change, like the poor, will always be with us. But you know better than to change what's right.
First the principle. Then change. In accord.
Now read this. Both of you. And this.
Here's a hint about judging so ye shall be judged well: national security, like everything human, begins at home.
And this country--the land, sea and air surrounding her--that I built from the fire of a great idea, begins with liberty for all--all, that is, who honor that idea, the Declaration of that Independence for ALL, manifested in blood, sweat, tears, and citizenship. That's the ship I'm talking about. Not a ship of insufferable fools. Gladly.
With all your promises--all your giving and getting--have you lost the understanding of your Declaration? And your Constitution? You know, the free speech part that the Nanny impersonators and some campaign muzzlers are trying to steal away. Or the little bit about choice of religion...what me worry, ACLU? I'm everywhere!
And hey, how 'bout that Constitutional sovereignty. The borders of my mind. To keep all that's right, right here? Just to mention a few derelictions of duty, if not outright mutiny.
Now I admire your confidence. Both of you. Match it with the right ideas that don't need changing. Your constant fussbudget micromanaging. It's you who need changing. And your lost children.
Let's see if you're up to the standards built into this great country. That's what true leadership--my ship--requires.