The American Flag, America, Freedoms And The Fourth Of July 2020

    Why do I fly the American flag?  And what does it mean to me on this Fourth of July of 2020?

Well, it means a lot to me.  First of all, I am an American Patriot and my late father, Army Major and Bronze Star Medalist Brooks Smith of Memphis, Tennessee, was a World War II, Korean War and 27 year veteran of the Memphis National Guard.  I flag the American flag in front yard of my home and backyard to honor him and all other military war veterans who served fought and died for America.  I honor and respect them.  I also honor and respect all military personnel, police offers and all emergency service personnel such as firemen and EMS in our towns and cities across America.

     America is the greatest country in the world thanks to these people and its hardworking, productive, taxpaying citizens.  It's these people who make it possible to do what we do in America.  We are able to go to work and come home and have peace and freedom in our homes without the fear of someone attacking us or trying to take what we have.  So I highly suggest this coming November election, I certainly hope that you will re-elect President Trump in order to continue to protect these freedoms thanks to all of military veterans who have worked and fought in order to protect our freedoms in America and continue to do so on a daily basis.  And also, I thank America's forefathers for what they did in creating this country along with our Constitution which also protects these freedoms that we have today.  So on this Fourth of July of 2020, please thank about all the freedoms you have as American citizen while you grill your hamburgers, BBQ ribs, hot dogs, shooting fireworks with friends and family while drinking your ice cold beer.  And mainly, fly your American flag and thank a veteran, a police officer, a fireman or a EMS worker when you get a chance.  Thank you and God Bless America! And Happy Fourth of July!

Republicans Across America Celebrate As President Trump Runs A Victory Lap Regarding His Impeachment Trial Acquittal

I think we can all attest that being observers and participates in modern day American politics brings out the best and worst of most people on social media. I admire those who remain silent. However, a lot of us observers of politics are not able to or choose not to do so. I suppose I am one of those who post what’s on my mind

especially when the battles get heated up in Washington  like they did earlier in the week. I would dare say that most of us  Republicans were apparently really happy enjoying our day basking in the sun on social media while President Trump ran a victory lap regarding his impeachment trial acquittal before the media at the National Prayer Breakfast. With President Trump’s State of the Union Address, Nancy Pelosi being a sore loser by tearing up President Trump’s speech up on national television and of course, President's Trump’s ultimate “not guilty” on both impeachment charges, most of us Republicans used social media as a megaphone to tell the world how we felt about it. I was called “100% mean spirited” by one person and a “a pathetic human” by another person on Facebook. So I blocked them. I don’t argue with those who take politics personally and start the name calling.  Nonetheless, it was an incredible day for all of us Republicans across America!

President Trump At His Best During One Of The Worst Days In America After Vegas Mass Shooting

     

I think most of us in America as well as those around the world were probably shocked when saw the news yesterday morning when we woke up that over 50 people were slaughtered by a lone gunman shooting out of a Las Vegas hotel room with rapid fire at a Jason Aldean's outdoor country music concert on Sunday night.

    We were dumbfounded and thinking, "What the hell is going on?"  We were all searching for a meaning that such a horrible and senseless act of evil could take place in a place like "Vegas" where everybody is suppose to have fun and a good time.  The shooter, Stephen Paddock, 64, ended up killing 59 people and wounded over 500 more at the country music festival near the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino where the shooter had a room and where he was shooting from.  Police stormed his 32nd floor hotel room and found that he had killed himself after committing the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

 

 However, a lot of us found comfort in President Trump's speech about the tragedy during his speech at the White House yesterday whether you watched it on television or on the internet. I watched President Trump's speech yesterday evening on Youtube (see video posted below).  In spite of President Trump's flaws and character defects, he is a man of conviction, passion and a believer and not afraid to use the words, "God, love, prayer, care" in his sentences. This is the kind of leader we need during times like these. He gives us hope for America and a feeling of security regardless of what's going on in the world.  After President Trump visit to hurricane devastated Puerto Rico today and he will fly to Las Vegas to visit with the victims and family members of the mass shooting on Wednesday.  We pray for all the innocent concert goers who lost their lives on Sunday night and for those who were injured.  We also pray for the victim's family members.  God Bless President Trump and America.

President Trump's First Week In Office Is A Major Success!

 

I'd say for the average, conservative hardworking man and woman in America who voted for President Trump and who is a taxpaying citizen, we view his first week in office as a major success.

At breakneck speed, President Trump signed several executive orders that will help restore law and order in our country and help protect our national security making good on some of his campaign promises already. On one of them, we are feelings the effects of it already here in Bowling Green, Ky. There was a front page story published this past Friday in our local newspaper, the Bowling Green Daily News, written by reporter Wes Swietek stating the fate of 40 Syrian refugees which were due to arrive in our city this year is now in limbo because our president signed an executive order restricting refugee arrivals, and of one our local officials said he doubted that the Syrian refugees would make it here.
Personally, I am all about our city, state and country helping people from war torn counties with our taxpayer dollars if necessary. I know in years past in Bowling Green that we have taken in Vietnamese, Cambodians, Bosnians and Burmese from war torn countries. They have assimilated here well and they are working, holding down jobs, buying and owning homes and businesses and raising their families in our city. And a lot of them have even become American citizens.


 However, if it's the new arrivals intention to sneak around like rats and chop our heads off or blow us up because of their anti-American and anti-Christian religious beliefs, then I have no use for them and I do not want them here either. Mainly, I probably think like a lot of other millions of other conservative, hardworking, taxpaying American citizens, we need to have an extreme vetting process especially for refugees coming from the Middle Eastern countries where ISIS and Muslim radical terrorist are known to live and originate. We cannot afford to have anymore slaughters and bloodsheds such as Boston, Orlando, Texas, Tennessee or Texas. We need to continue protect our American way of life and values, our states, cities, homes, jobs and mainly our families.



Official: Syrian refugees now unlikely to ever arrive in Bowling Green
WES SWIETEK wswietek@bgdailynews.com
Jan 27, 2017

The fate of 40 Syrian refugees slated to arrive in Bowling Green this year is in limbo as President Donald Trump is reportedly set to sign an executive order restricting refugee arrivals, and one local official said he doubts the Syrians will ever make it here.

In the coming days, Trump is expected to indefinitely bar refugees fleeing war-torn Syria from entering the U.S. The order is also expected to suspend issuing visas for people from several predominantly Muslim countries – Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen – for at least 30 days, according to a draft of the order obtained by The Associated Press and other news outlets.

The 40 Syrians were tentatively slated to come to Bowling Green this year through the International Center of Kentucky's Bowling Green office.

That office's executive director, Albert Mbanfu, said he doesn't think the Syrians will make it here at all "until (Trump) changes his mind" – a prospect he isn't counting on.

"I just pray they don't get killed by ISIS," Mbanfu said of the 40 Syrians, who are in refugee camps in the Middle East.

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., supports Trump's executive order.

"I think there are two reasons why we ought to put a hold on it. One, we need to make sure that the people coming to our country are coming with good intentions," said Paul, a Bowling Green resident.

"The other thing is we have a lot of poor people already in Kentucky," Paul added, saying he thinks government should focus on taking care of the needs of those who are already here.

Mbanfu said concerns that refugees are not thoroughly vetted are based on a misconception.

"My guess is he does not have an understanding of the process," Mbanfu said of Trump.

"Tell me one thing that's not being done," he said, noting that the vetting process for refugees takes several years and the 40 Syrians who were slated to arrive here have been going through the vetting process for more than a year.

The Washington Post first reported on the proposed order. The order states as the reasoning behind it that “hundreds of foreign-born individuals have been convicted or implicated in terrorism-related crimes since September 11, 2001,” The Post reported.

The newpaper noted that most terrorist or suspected terrorist attacks since 9/11 "have been carried out by U.S. citizens. The 9/11 hijackers hailed primarily from Saudi Arabia, as well as the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Lebanon – all U.S. allies, and none of which would be affected by the immediate ban."

In an interview with ABC News on Wednesday, Trump said of the refugee ban and his plan to build a border wall with Mexico: “It’s going to be very hard to come in,” to the U.S. “Right now, it’s very easy to come in.”

Public meetings about the proposed resettlement of Syrians here last year drew mixed opinions, but after the meetings and discussions with local school districts, the Barren River District Health Department and other community organizations, The International Center decided in April to resettle 40 Syrians here.

"It's so, so depressing," Mbanfu said of Trump's stance.

"It totally goes against what this country is all about," he said, adding that the first refugees to come to the U.S. were those aboard the Mayflower.

— Follow city government reporter Wes Swietek on Twitter at twitter.com/BGDNgovtbeat or visit bgdailynews.com.