This is my first blog…take two…

An idea has been bouncing around in my head for several weeks now and just by consequence it has come up in everyday life twice in the last week. I was talking with some friends over coffee at IHOP late one Saturday night and the topic of the responsibility of the President of the United States to call upon its citizens came up. There are current issues confronting the United States that can be considered at the least very important, and at the most critically urgent. Some that come to mind include the situation of petroleum-based fuel oil in this country and around the world, global warming and the environment, the state of affairs overseas, and employment and wages. 

Although I was not alive to have witnessed first hand, I have taken a high school history class here and there and I do recall Presidents calling upon the nation in times of great stress and anguish. These “calls to arms” asked the nation to put its best foot forward to help out any way they could. There were times in our history of America where it were necessary to help out and do everything necessary to better the situation at hand. The effort Americans put forward during the depression and World War II to not only ensure victory but also ensure the betterment of Americans all over the country once we secured victory in Europe and elsewhere.

My friends and I spoke of how in times like these there has been an incredible outreach from Americans to help in any way they knew how and how willing they were to do so when the President humbled himself to ask it of them. President John Kennedy once advised the nation to “ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” And “ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.” This statement is even more applicable today. 

I watched Real Time with Bill Maher the other night with special guests Ben Affleck, Senator Joe Biden, Bill Sammon and a few others I can’t remember. Senator Biden remarked:

"I'll tell you what I remember about 9/11. I remember the people the age of those people out there lined up, single-file, block after block after block after block after block, waiting to give blood. And after they were told none was needed. It was a silent scream: 'Let me help.' What the hell has anybody asked anybody in this country to do, in terms of building this country? What would have happened if the president had gone and said, right after 9/11, 'I have an energy policy. It's going to be painful. This is what it's going to take, and I expect you to do it.' They would have all responded."

In times of great need in this country there have been everyday citizens just waiting to give a helping hand. What we need in America now more than ever are leaders of the people. We need strong men and women who are ready to lead the willing citizens to the betterment of this country and the world at large to step up, and we need those who already exist in positions of leadership to do all that is possible to fulfill the duties of their office or position. I honestly believe that the American people are capable of responding to these issues and would listen to sensible discussion. Now is the time to address these issues such as oil, the environment and the state of the nation and the citizens of the United States are waiting to help.