Courage and Resolve

These two closely related words, Courage and Resolve, came up over the weekend and then again this afternoon. I’ll work backwards, something I used to do when working traffic, backing up with the flow of traffic as large trucks hid smaller vehicles from view in the middle of rush hour traffic, cars which might jut out to get from behind a large truck and run me over while directing traffic if I didn’t pay attention.

This afternoon I checked in on Angel’s blog where she’d posted about Israel’s tennis victory over in Sweden. The real story had nothing to do with tennis; but with the courage to attend where so much resentment had been thrown their way, not only from the Muslims who stood outside where the tennis match was being held; but as shown through the cowardice of the host city and the way things were handled. Go read the article and see for yourself.

Continuing to move backwards, paying attention to details along the way, was something I heard in a talk given at church on Sunday by a friend of mine. The talk was centered around prayer; but, I heard one sentence and that made all the difference, that which struck a nerve. He used the word “resolution” and then tossed in, “Many of you will make a resolution today, some of you might even keep that resolution as far away as tomorrow”, close enough since I’m not a stenographer.

I heard the hint of frustration; his words trailed off as they escaped his mouth, his knowledge that a good portion of those hearing his words would not act upon them, and even if they did, their actions would only be a token acceptance rather than become long term habits. Resolve is more than a word in our vocabulary; it should be part of our character. I knew right away what he was referring to was applicable to other aspects of life here in America, important character traits which at one time were prevalent and for one reason or another seemed less important.

Lots of folks make New Year’s Resolutions, pie in the sky promises to themselves which last all of a week or a month; “I’m going to keep a journal”, “I’m going to eat a proper diet”, “I’m going to read the scriptures daily” and the list goes on for as many improvements as can be implemented. The trouble with “resolutions”, at least for most people would be the lack of understanding; they have no resolve, no discipline or integrity of character and so what they really meant to say, instead of having a New Year’s Resolution was they had a Wish, a kin to winning the lottery and about the same odds.

If you go back and study our founding documents, the words resolve and courage are woven directly into the fabric of our nation. With resolve our nation was formed and with great courage to back up that resolve was our independence obtained and kept. For those not paying attention we fought for independence twice; the first time we won and Cornwallis surrendered and then again in the War of 1812 we proved we could keep them at bay.

You should know by now that the battle for freedom and liberty is a never ending process, one which must be taken seriously for there are many who would deny us the temporary victories of the past at a moments notice. I wasn’t around on December 7th, 1941 to hear President Roosevelt’s declaration; but it’s available through the miracle of the internet if you wanted to both hear and read it.

“No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.”

President Roosevelt could have just as easily said, “This day we resolve…” instead of, “No matter how long it may take us…”, a statement of our determination as a country of like minded individuals with a righteous cause, that of liberty and freedom from fear, freedom from cowardly attacks on our soil. Years after the speech was given, even now, these words of common indignation toward our enemy are thought of in high regard, as they should be.

I did listen with a somber spirit on September 20, 2001 when President Bush spoke to the nation and the rest of the world in response to an attack on our soil by terrorists, those who have declared without reservation their desire to destroy our nation and way of life.

“Our grief has turned to anger and anger to resolution. Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done.”

{…}

“But our resolve must not pass. Each of us will remember what happened that day and to whom it happened. We will remember the moment the news came, where we were and what we were doing.”

Go back and read the whole of it, “{…}” hardly does it justice. Try to remember how your head nodded affirmatively as we silently agreed to the resolve mentioned, to hold on to the required resolve until justice had been taken to our enemies. I find it interesting, if not beyond the pale, for the traitors living among us and enjoying our freedoms to speak carelessly and with insulting derision toward former President Bush and the resolutions which should remain a common goal, that of bringing the terrorists to justice.

Isn’t it sad how many of us have lost that resolve in a relatively short period of time; not because there wasn’t sufficient reason, simply because so many lack the necessary character to qualify as Americans due to a lack of courage and self discipline. I keep a reminder of the 911 attack on the sidebar of my blog; it wasn’t a bad dream and waking up each day doesn’t make it go away, the image doesn’t fade, nor should it ever. Those who would destroy America through terrorist acts are still out there and what are we doing to bring them to justice?

“Wouldn’t it be nice if…, fill in the blank”; that’s not resolve, that’s wishing. The terrorists we wanted to bring to justice eight years ago are laughing at us today and will one day shake us to our very foundations if we don’t show some backbone, some courage and resolve to do that which we know should be done.

Being politically correct, not making the rest of the world angry for standing up for what is right will not stop our enemies from advancing against us. Those who cave into bullies invite continued bullying; only from then on not only is there a taste of blood in your mouth but the taste of cowardice to wash it down.

We now have a president who has decided to close Gitmo, turned a blind eye to justice and let one of the terrorists responsible for blowing up the USS Cole go, wants to hold serious peace talks with agents of the terrorist nations harboring the very people who have vowed to annihilate us and to top that off has invited the dregs of Gaza to have a safe haven here in America.

We resolve this day not to resolve anything any more, and we will stand by this resolution!