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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>From:</span></b><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'> nfbfl-faith@groups.io <nfbfl-faith@groups.io> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Bill Outman via groups.io<br><b>Sent:</b> Saturday, December 7, 2024 2:46 PM<br><b>To:</b> nfbfl-faith@groups.io<br><b>Subject:</b> [nfbfl-faith] Eternal vigilance<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Eternal Vigilance <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>On this Pearl Harbor Day I was reminded of the quote that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance. On that day in 1941, it was the second Sunday of Advent. The nation was insular, complacent, and in some quarters willing to countenance undemocratic tendencies. That was until the nation was snapped to attention. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Today we need to continue to be vigilant, not only about threats from without, but also forces within that threaten things we take for granted in similar fashion. Consider first the Pledge of Allegiance, where we say what the flag stands for, under God if we so believe. If we are not careful, it may still exist, but not stand for liberty and justice for all, or for a democratic republic. The structural forms might be there, but it might deny the substance thereof. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Or consider the Star-Spangled Banner, written first as a poem during the famous battle in Baltimore when there was legitimate risk it might be replaced by the British standard. The familiar first verse ends in a question about whether that banner would still wave over the land of the free and the home of the brave. We always have in mind the first possibility that was real at the time of the War of 1812, but have we ever thought about the other possibility in that question. The flag might still wave, but as we mused earlier, it might stand for something else than what we had in mind in the pledge. Through erosion internally, the nation might not be free, and many might be profiles in cowardice rather than courage for either having allowed this to happen or actively having caused it. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Perhaps we sing God Bless the U. S. A., but freedom can be given away, even inadvertently, as much as it might be taken away. Or perhaps we like to sing God Bless America, and yes, God wants to bless America and we want God’s blessing for the land. Those blessings are not, nor should they be, for America alone. Canadians ask in their anthem for God to keep their land glorious and free, and the British in theirs for God to save the king or queen. We know that melody better as My Country ‘Tis Of Thee. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It is more, though, than merely preserving the freedom we have, but also extending it fully to those who have not historically or do not currently fully experience it. That’s what forming a more perfect union is about. We the people are supposed to be the deep state. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>That is one side of the coin, though. We must also be vigilant about our private dealings as well, treating others with equity as we would like to be treated as well. Not doing so sometimes gets reflected in the erosion of our public institutions. It is not the case that someone either becomes a genius or dunce by going from the private to the public sector, or vice versa, as we have the same nature in either place. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Bill Outman <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:white;mso-ligatures:none'>_._,_._,_<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><hr size=2 width="100%" align=center></span></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Groups.io Links:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>You receive all messages sent to this group. <o:p></o:p></p><p><a href="https://groups.io/g/nfbfl-faith/message/4883" target="_blank">View/Reply Online (#4883)</a> | <a href="mailto:nfbfl-faith@groups.io?subject=Re:%20%5Bnfbfl-faith%5D%20Eternal%20vigilance" target="_blank">Reply to Group</a> | <a href="mailto:BillOutmanNFB@gmail.com?subject=Private:%20Re:%20%5Bnfbfl-faith%5D%20Eternal%20vigilance" target="_blank">Reply to Sender</a> | <a href="https://groups.io/mt/109980126/4294891" target="_blank">Mute This Topic</a> | <a href="https://groups.io/g/nfbfl-faith/post">New Topic</a> <br><a href="https://groups.io/g/nfbfl-faith/editsub/4294891">Your Subscription</a> | <a href="mailto:nfbfl-faith+owner@groups.io">Contact Group Owner</a> | <a href="https://groups.io/g/nfbfl-faith/leave/7751363/4294891/2016414434/xyzzy">Unsubscribe</a> [drjoycetaylor56@gmail.com]<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:white;mso-ligatures:none'>_._,_._,_<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></body></html>