THE IDENTITY CRISIS

Over this last weekend while away in Muskegon, Michigan I either lost my wallet or it was stolen. Either way the effect is the same, a loss of identity. This however provided an otherwise missed learning opportunity. One that has proven extremely insightful as to why America is in such dire straights.
Now one of the places I had possibly lost my identity was at the Great Lakes Naval and Memorial Museum (http://www.glnmm.org/). This is home to the USS Silversides, a WWll Era Submarine that is berthed in the river channel as a monument to America’s capacity to rise to the challenge during some of the darkest days of civilization. She was able to rise to that challenge emotionally because of the shared belief that America still stood for those same freedoms that the U.S. Constitution and Bill of rights guaranteed. More importantly, as is evidenced by this magnificent vessel, America had the Spiritual, Intellectual and Physical manufacturing capacity to build the machinery needed to defeat the foes of Freedom.
It is generally agreed upon by all informed individuals that are still with us from that era that we no longer appear to have either the national will or capacity to resurrect such a monumental effort if the challenge arose. And it really has! We have either misplaced or have been robbed of our identity as the leader of the free world where anything is possible. Nowhere on that vessel will you find a part stamped “made in China” or Malaysia or anyplace else for that matter other than our America.
We need for our veterans to stand up and recount to our children how this was possible to achieve success against such overwhelming odds. This is not just for history lessons sake, for America is once again at the crossroads of Infamy. There is an all out war bearing down on America and all of Humanity from many fronts. This war as is all wars is based on a disproportional amount of ignorance running amok. The only way that we are to survive is to realize the resources we still have around us as individuals and collectively as a nation and as free peoples all over this planet. The greatest resource is one’s realization of their identity and resolve to understand how to develop ones own ability to build good things and relationships in this world. To promote this freedom in America once again in concrete achievements and to then export this true American Identity “Personal Freedom with Honor” to every corner of the globe. This journey of self discovery is extremely personal just as it was for the GI who fought from the foxholes on some foreign shore. It is both scary and magnificent at the same time. It is however a journey we must take and quickly if the Empire is to survive.
I salute the Navy and all Veterans who have put such an effort into helping to educate the uninformed as to the sacrifices made so that we could remain a Free Nation under God. Please continue to live well and prosper among us so that America can find her lost identity. Let us know how that we may also serve with you at the Silversides to continue this legacy. Please , help America and her people once again find our lost and in some cases never realized true identity. For the honor to serve with you in this mission I once again dedicate my Life!
Most Sincerely,
James W. Bates
Former USNR