“The land of the free, and the home of the brave.” Those words were written 193 years ago by Francis Scott Key. Those words are in our national anthem, meaning to describe the whole of our country. But those words were written in a time much different than now. Those words were written in a time when Americans were Americans. When we were united as one.

Our country was founded when people got tired of being pushed around, when we were tired of being rolled over and overtaxed. Tired of not having representation and tired of being controlled by a corrupt government. We united for a change, we united to be free, we united to be America.

And it is true that things were good. After the revolution we had a clean palate. A clean piece of parchment. And our honorable founding fathers grabbed the quill and went to work to form a new government. And they did a damn good job.

Most everything was great, we had little taxation, separation of powers, and an organized small government that did things with the people in mind, It’s too bad we can’t go back to those days.

Lately it seems that the corrupt government that we so desired to rid ourselves of has come back, be it in a much different form, but all the same it’s there - and it’s in control. The Democrats in congress are not looking out for the people. They are looking out for themselves, and they are looking out for their pockets.

E are a country at war and yet, instead of keeping our brave men and women safe, the Dems decided to rename post offices while they decided weather or not to give our troops body armor and ammo. People died so they could make political points.

At least we have our military to say we are still (sort of) the home of the brave, because those men and women are the bravest I know. And I wish they represented the cumulative attitude in America. Too bad they don’t because although you may argue that we are still the land of the free, that’s hard for me to see.

Yes we may be “free” as it’s called, but are we really? Is it freedom when the lawmakers try to shove an unwanted immigration bill down our thoughts? Is it freedom when we can’t put a Christmas decoration outside of our city offices? Is it freedom when we have Senators saying that we need to limit Conservative talk radio because it’s becoming too dominant? Absolutely not.

But of course it’s not all about being free, is it? Isn’t it also about us, as a country, standing together as one, political opinions aside, and saying “we are America”? Isn’t it also about respecting your neighbors and your nation? It seems like the great respect for even a symbol such as our flag is all but gone in America.

Just yesterday a business owner in Reno flew the Mexican flag above the American flag. Not only is that deeply disrespectful to the country which has given him everything, but it’s also against the law. See, back then when those laws were written people were patriotic. Almost everyone was those days.

But now we have kids walking out of class because they think the words “in God we trust” from the Pledge of Allegiance are “religious oppression”. Come on! It is despicable that we have so-called Americans who don’t care about their country. It is terrible that they take for granted everything they get as an American citizen.

So, I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States of America. And to the Republic, for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible. With liberty and justice for all.