Live Fire with Chuck Holton

If you look around these days, there are all kinds of signs that our culture is becoming more insular and home based.  Look at these “precursors” that will play a part in what American culture looks like fifty years from now.

-Schools closing due to flu outbreak fears.

-More schools being targeted by crazed gunmen.

-The internet becomes high-def.

-Energy prices reach record levels

-Almost anything is “deliverable” – order online and get it at home.

-The rise in Online social networking. 

How do you think these developments will affect American culture in the future?  I see all schooling done from home (not home-schooling, per se, but public school done remotely) More telecommuting, and rising fears of person-to-person contact.

“I want to serve this country because this country returned to me my life, If I had stayed in Iraq, I’d be dead now.”

That’s how Safaa Wadi explained his decision to join the U.S. military and become an American citizen.  He emigrated to Maine from Iraq, where he had worked as a civilian interpreter.  But the culture and job market in the U.S. proved difficult, and so Wadi decided to go home, though this time as an American soldier.  I imagine the pay and benefits would be pretty good compared to the Iraqi army.

The AP article makes it sound like Wadi came to America looking for the American dream, but essentially failed because he’s not independently wealthy now and driving a Maserati or something.

But that’s a gross misinterpretation of just what the American Dream is all about.  It’s never meant guaranteed wealth.  Rather, the American Dream is better described in a book I own called “Army Life,” which was printed by the war department in 1944 and given to soldiers headed overseas.   It says:

America…isn’t heaven on earth.  The streets weren’t paved with gold, and some of our people were in the gutter.  But the road ran straighter thyan any other that mankind ever built, and a man got as far along it as his work and brains would take him.  Some of us spun along in jalopies–but if we didn’t injure our fellow citizens or block the traffic, there was no one to tell us we had to stop.

Compare that to the Iraq we invaded in 2003.  Compare it to what the cowards who belong to Al Qaeda are doing there now.  Safaa Wadi may have found the job market difficult in Lewiston, Maine.  But he was free to pursue any job he wanted and nobody was blowing up ambulances in his neighborhood.

All one has to do is spend a little time in any other country to gain a real appreciation for America and her heritage.  What worries me is that too many people have come to believe that the “American Dream” no longer has to do with life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness...but now is synonymous with comfort, security and 900 channels of direct TV.

Chuck Holton is a direct “hit”. As the father of a Ranger, Bulletproof and A More Elite Soldier are accurate and to the point. As a Christian warrior, the content is colorful, challenging and convicting. These two books are “must reads” for everyone who dons the uniform of our U.S. military or of Christendom.   David Vet, Westlake, Ohio

Hey, here’s a great deal!

There’s a great big book sale going on over at Christian Book Distributors…and if you hurry, you can get copies of my book, Bulletproof, the Making of the Invincible Mind for only ONE DOLLAR. If you’re looking for a book to study with your men’s group, this is a great choice. Of course, you can always get signed copies here, but not at that price!

If you’re coming here from Homesteading Today, don’t fret – the best website for small farmers will be back up shortly.  We’re just performing an upgrade that will improve the site experience.

Now that you’re here, though, feel free to poke around. 

macho de monte

Originally uploaded by ChuckHolton

My great friend Graham Davis was here last week with his wonderful wife, Nicole. We had a great visit, and I waited to embark on this particular adventure until they got here. Why? Because adventures are always better when shared.

This photo came from a little-known waterfall and slot canyon in the mountainous region of Panama near Volcan. It’s called the Chorro de Macho de Monte. Graham and Nicole and I took Mason and Nathan and explored the length of it – sometimes wading, sometimes swimming, and sometimes scaling the sheer sides of the 100-foot-deep canyon. It was spectacular, and I daresay the most beautiful place I’ve seen in ten months of exploring this country.

I found myself wanting to just sit and drink in the incredible scenery. The water was cold and clear enough to bottle, the air was crisp and warm, the hues of the rock blended perfectly with the greens above and translucent stream below. It was magical.

When I left the canyon, I had a fleeting thought that I might never get to see that place again. Even worse was the thought that someday I won’t be physically able to explore things like this. It would have been depressing, but for my faith that there will be even more beautiful places to explore in heaven, and greater adventures to be had.

If your treasure is on earth, every day you age is one step away from them. But if you store your goodies in heaven…every day is a step closer. You’ll never be past your peak. Think about that.

I’m very happy to announce my new blog outlet – cbnnews.com. They’ve given me a little real estate on their site to share the good news that is coming out of the Global War on Terror. And though the drive-by media might beg to differ, there’s lots of good news to tell. For me, the most difficult thing I’ve found in starting the Boots On the Ground Blog is choosing which good news to report.

Don’t worry, I’ll still be blogging here, too.  But most of the war-related stuff will go over there.

If you use an RSS reader app like Google Reader, be sure to add the RSS feed from the BOG blog to it.

Also, you can add the blog to your technorati favorites here.

When I was a kid, the television show Get Smart featured a spy with a phone in his shoe. Well today, military amputees are using something similar to be able to walk again…bluetooth technology. It’s being used in a new generation of prosthetics that allow the legs to communicate with one another, with amazing results. No word on whether or not they come with voicemail, however.

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