WARM SPRINGS, GA., March 2023 — More than 400,000 Americans died during World War II while helping beat back a worldwide attack against democracy by brutal dictators. Some 2,500 servicemen and women made the ultimate sacrifice for our country — and democracy around the world — on D-Day, June 6, 1944.
Why are these historical facts important today? And why dateline this report Warm Springs, Georgia?
Today, the American republic — defended by hundreds of thousands of servicemen and women who gave their lives for our country on battlefields for more than two centuries — is under attack by many members of the Republican Party who support former President Donald J. Trump.
Trump is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice and the district attorney of Fulton County, Georgia, for his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, and his role in the January 6, 2021 domestic terrorist attack on the U.S. Capitol. He is also the subject of a DOJ probe into his apparent mishandling of highly classified government documents.
A number of Republicans apparently want to ignore what America has stood for since its founding in 1776. They seem intent on promoting the activity of a twice impeached president who continues to ask his political supporters to fund his attack against democracy and to take action against anyone who attempts to hold him legally accountable for his deconstruction of our country.
These lemmings are choosing Trump over America. They are choosing to back a want-to-be dictator — think Hitler or Mussolini during World War II — over a republic governed by the people and for the people. They are apparently willing to accept authoritarian rule by a megalomaniac over a free and open society headed by a leader chosen by a majority of the voting public.
These Republicans in name only — Trumplicans — are either ignoring or lack knowledge of the sacrifices made by past generations of Americans, such as those men and women who died during World War II.
As then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt told the American people on that fateful day in June 1944 — in a presidential prayer broadcast across the country as Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy:
“Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.
“Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.”
This prayer is on display at The Little White House, Roosevelt’s retreat in southwest Georgia — Warm Springs, to be exact — where he spent time soaking in the area’s waters in an effort to ease the pain of an illness that left him paralyzed from the waist down.
Trumplicans don’t need to travel to Warm Springs, although a trip there would provide even more perspective on what it means to be an American, to support a country not a self-absorbed individual who cares only about himself.
The prayer is available online.
For those who choose to ignore the full text of the prayer, here are a few more excerpts:
“For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.
“Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.”
The prayer closes with these heartfelt words:
“And, O Lord, give us Faith. Give us Faith in Thee; Faith in our sons; Faith in each other; Faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.
“With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogancies. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister Nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.”
Words from a great American leader who cared for his country and the people he served.
Amen, and amen.
THE SHINBONE STAR 
Republicans just want to be entertained. Trump wishes to be a beloved dictator like Kim Jung Un. These dictators have always had a way of entertaining and riling up the base. Hitler, Mussolini, Mao even Idi Amin Da Da. Spreading outright lies and propaganda and repeating it over and over sticks. They claim Trump did great things for them. Just what exactly? He made them feel good about themselves, even if they have little to feel good about themselves. He fleeced them at every turn and handed over big tax breaks for his hedge fund manager, real estate tycoons like himself, and of course his billionaire buddies and donors. Yet he managed to give me a big tax increase as we lost our SALT deductions. If he gets into office again we are finished.
LikeLike