The Rider on the Dark Horse

I have heard many people, who care deeply about this country, wonder when the next Gen George Washington will appear to lead the country back to her former glory, when people were free of tyranny and oppression. They are looking for that gallant young general on his trusty white steed to lead the charge to clean up Washington and retstore Honor. I`m remindered of the fact that it took another horseman on a dirty brown horse to make his famous ride before that General appeared. That horseman was Paul Revere. He rode many miles to warn the sleeping villagers that the British were coming. A little known fact was that many were sent out to spread the alarm, to warn those still sleeping that their very liberties were at stake. Paul Revere was only made famous because of the poem written is his name.

America are we waiting for the general on the white horse or are you going to be the rider on the dark horse?
I`m remindered of a picture I once saw of a flag draped coffin, the remains of a young Marine been carried to his final resting place. The caption above the photo read "What did you do for your country today?"

Two Ships That Sailed an Ocean

The Mayflower left Plymouth, England on September 6, 1620. Her Captain, Christopher Jones and a ships crew, with 102 passengers sailed for the new world. The first half of the voyage was fairly uneventful, with fair winds and calm seas, she was able to make good time, then the weather turned bad, the seas picked up and the winds howled through the ships rigging. During one such violent storm a main keel beam cracked, making the passengers wonder if the ship was strong enough for such violent seas. Capt Jones assured his passengers she was and the beam was fixed with a large screw and the leaking planking kaulked. Through much prayer and supplication these humble God fearing men continued to seek the favor of God. Under these trying circumstances they drafted the Mayflower Compact in the name of God. In this Compact they made their motive for sailing to the new world clear, "......for the Glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith......" . Two months later on November 11, the Mayflower anchored off Cape Cod and after landing, these humble men knelt on the beach and gave thanks to Almighty God.

Many years later another ship would sail these stormed tossed waters, on April 10, 1912 the HMS Titanic set sail for America. The largest passenger ship ever built, with double hull platting she was called the unsinkable, so safe she was, they claimed, that only 20 lifeboats were put on as an after thought. The 1st class passengers of the Titanic read like the whose who of the worlds elitist, like J Bruce Ismay, the president of the White Star Lines, James Morgan, the son of banker J P Morgan, the richest man in the world at the time and owner of the Titanic, Thomas Andrews MD of the company that built her and other industrial millionaires and bankers.
Despite many warnings of iceberg sightings Capt Smith under the instruction of J Bruce Ismay continued to plough full speed ahead to break the record for the fastest crossing. Four days into her voyage on April 14, 1912 at just past midnight she struck an iceberg. The seas were calm, flat as a lake we are told by those that survived, in fact the Titanic never saw one storm during her short trip, it was arrogance that sunk the Titanic.
After the fatal blow, the ships crew calmed everbody down, telling them to go back to their cabins and sleep everything was Okay. The band struck up and continued playing. Everything is Okay the Captain told passengers knowing full well that many would die that night in ignorant bliss. Hours later before the first light of dawn broke the eastern sky, the band finally stopped playing and all those that were not in one of the 20 liferaft died.

America I submit to you that from humble beginings we have become the arrogant Titanic - to big to fail. The politicians tell us everything is Okay, go back to sleep but our gut tells us something is wrong. I submit to you futher that not only are we the Titanic but, morally, spirtually and economically we have already struck the iceberg - the band just has`nt stopped playing yet.