The entire family (a rarity) went to see the movie American Sniper last night. Initially I was hesitant to go because I knew Chris Kyle’s fate. Then I kept hearing the rave reviews and buzz about how confounded Hollywood was because of its success. My kids’ eagerness to see it and my wanting “show Hollywood” by voting with my feet was enough to get me to go. And I’m so glad that I did. I thought Kyle’s story was well told and media interviews with his wife corroborate its accuracy. It provided a firsthand, behind the scenes look at the the lives of the American military, particularly special forces, and their families. I am humbled and grateful for their service, dedication to duty, and devotion to our country. It also inspired me to rededicate myself to my work: The Liberty Brand. If they can confront the tremendous challenges of their work then the least I can do is attempt to tackle my own challenges – real or imagined. I promise The American Sniper that from this moment on I will personally thank any veteran I encounter for their service to our citizens and country. Thank you Chris Kyle for giving the “last full measure of devotion”. #RIPAmerican Sniper – you earned it!
Author: The Liberty Brand
#SimplyPut
I just heard this and had to share: “The Truth is Timeless.” Amen.
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#FastFame via the “Branded Vine” (with a little help from American capitalism)
I caught a segment on the CBS Morning News that fascinated me. A young French immigrant – Jerome Jarre – arrived in New York City just over a year ago with a mere $400 in his pocket. In a quintessential American Dream story, Jerome has achieved literal overnight success with his 6 second viral videos on Vine. His knack for capturing the notoriously short attention span of millennials – apparently the “holy grail” in the advertising world – has raised the eyebrows of corporate executives from Sony and General Electric, to name a few. He even reportedly refused a million dollar deal to create a “Vine-branded” video for a food manufacturer because he thought their product was unhealthy! Wow, it DOES exist – a capitalist (albeit reluctant and French, to boot) with a conscience!! By the way, a Vine-branded video is 4 times more successful than your standard, run-of-the-meal video. The metric was not divulged in the news segment as it was likely deemed too much detail for the viewers.
There is only one thing that stuck in my craw about the story. In closing, the anchors (King and Rose) attributed Jerome’s success to his good looks, French accent, and the randomness of the videos – the fact that they could happen to anyone. A teachable moment squandered. No mention was made of the fact that Jerome left socialist-leaning France for America, where capitalism is still alive – albeit on life support – to pursue his dream. In fact, it is the free market – where the consumer drives demand – that in turn drives demand for his particular skill/talent/service, allowing Jerome to not only command a premium price for his labor but to reap its fruit (or at least half of it, after taxes). But I guess that, too, was deemed too much detail for the viewers or at least does not fit the liberal media’s narrative. The devil IS in details, right Ms. King?!
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I beg to differ . . . with the Pope?
I’m not believing what I just heard on the radio as I pulled in my driveway after driving carpool this morning. According to the report, while aboard his private plane on an Asian tour the Pope was interviewed about the recent Islamic terrorist attack on the French newspaper “Charlie” (can’t remember the second name and don’t want to spend the time to look up). He said something to the effect of criticism of faith being “off limits”. Further, that although freedom of expression – of which speech is one – is a fundamental human right, one could expect a reaction if you “go there” (my words, not his). Really?
What about encouraging love of virtue and hatred of vice? Furthermore, the classic definition of a virtuous person is reason over passion and as human beings and rational creatures – possessing the divine gift of reason – we should not react to our immediate impulses? Being God’s earthly spokesperson shouldn’t the Pope use the occasion to remind His flock (the human race) that we are to “walk in His ways” and that this is done when we choose restraint over reaction? Maybe I, too, am just reacting to some comments taken out of context for a catchy media soundbite? But I find it disheartening that at times such as these – when the flock is in desperate need of shepherding – that the Pope would choose political correctness over right reason.
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Reflections on All Saints Day
Feeling overly emotional today . . . on this November 1st. Perhaps because it’s All Saints Day. Or maybe because neither Roger nor I remembered he was on-call today (third weekend in a row – for the bonus round!) until well after last night’s football game. Imagine how HE felt at learning around midnight that he’d have to work today, starting at 6 a.m.! We’d planned a family work day at home today, beginning with outside winterizing like trimming trees and weeding flower beds, in preparation of “pansy/viola-planting” (my favorite flower b/c they are “happy”). Surely, it can’t be because the most important part of that darn announcement got edited out or that I couldn’t find the timely words (before the mid-term election) yet again for another article about the sad state of affairs in our country!
This is our second year to host the Williams family Thanksgiving gathering and a fair amount of preparation is required (I can’t even think about the inside of the house, yikes!). I agree with Southern Living magazine that Fall IS the South’s best season – I offer today in central Texas as evidence. It’s clear and the air is crisp, ripe with the sights and sounds of autumn. We awoke to temps in the 40s with the high expected near 70 degrees. I’ve always felt more “connected” to the world around me this time of year – likely why I chose to get married in October and honeymoon on the East Coast when fall foliage is in all its glory. My how twenty years flies!
Roger recently texted me this picture of a poster he spotted at work. It’s a quote from Mother Teresa, probably the most-noted of the modern day saints. I love what is says – words to live by – a sort of “how-to” for sainthood or “right-living”; the standard of right being the natural standard or what the Founding Fathers termed “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God” in the Declaration of Independence. I love what the poster says but I love it more that Roger saw it, knew it would move me, and took the time to forward it.
It also reminds me of something I recently read in my favorite Lincoln book (so far). Lincoln was a “Clay man” – an admirer and follower of Henry Clay, author of the Missouri Comprise, which had as its purpose to phase out slavery by restricting its expansion into the new territories. Clay had known the Founding Fathers personally and he seemed to Lincoln the natural guardian of their great traditions. What Lincoln said of Clay applied also to himself: “He loved his country warmly, because it was his home; but he loved it even more because it was a free country.” Similar sentiments were echoed when Benjamin Franklin said: “Where liberty dwells, there is my country.” These early statesmen and model patriots sacrificed and served America because of the higher ideal she embodied and hopefully still does.
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