DEFEAT FASCISM: READ REBUKE RESIST

 The point of America’s greatness is a personal one. Some moments that stand out to me may not stir the emotions of others. For example:

I think America was headed toward greatness when the troops of Generals George Meade and Ulysses S. Grant’s army had fought their way through The Wilderness, having suffered great losses, learned, that instead of retreating back to Washington as lesser leaders would have commended, Grant ordered them to head toward the insurrectionist army to restore our Union and end slavery.

I think America was on the verge of greatness when Lincoln delivered his second inaugural address.

I think America saw greatness during the first 100 days of the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration.

I think America was great the day that, after allied troops that had landed in Normandy during the year before, America’s 79^th Infantry Division troops, my future father-in-law among them, crossed the Rhine River and became among the first Allied troops to enter Nazi Germany.

I think America was great the day that Joseph Welch initiated the end of the hateful and destructive career of Senator Joseph R. McCarthy with the words, “You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency?”

I think America turned toward greatness the day that nine of the bravest young Americans who ever blessed this country entered Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, my home state.

And I think America became great the day that Barack Obama took the oath of office as her president.

Sadly, the people who rule my America today would have me arrested and punished for expressing these thoughts. Feel free to share your own.