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Our Strength

Our strength is in our morals and ethics
Not in weapons, battleships, or planes
Belief in the freedoms innate in every man
Our faith in what's right and good sustains.
The bulwark of our international respect
Democracy depends on a bold endeavor
To stand for justice in a troubled world
Where the flag waves for every brother
And sister, free to be all they can be
While holding high the banner of liberty.

written October 18, 2021

Copyright © L Milton Hankins | Year Posted 2021

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Gershon Wolf Date: 10/20/2021 5:55:00 PM Well, you certainly are an idealist, my friend... I don't know if you have time to watch the very first debate between JFK and Nixon -- it's on You Tube -- but I think you'll see that even JFK knew that democracy is only as strong as our economy and our military. ~ Moving forward with vigor! Smiles, Gershon Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 10/20/2021 6:12:00 PM I hear you, my friend, but I'll stay with morals and ethics. Thanks for your thoughtful, considerate response to my poem. I'd really hate to think that all we have to hold off our enemies is a military and an economy because the economy we've pretty much handed over to China, and they don't seem to fear our military, so.....smiles!

Shirley Hawkins Date: 10/18/2021 4:15:00 PM I agree that our strength lies in our morals and ethics unfortunately there will always be people that do not share this idealist view. Sadly we do not live in an ideal world. Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 10/18/2021 5:39:00 PM So true, Shirley. And, we must learn to temper our idealism so that it is functional in the world we live in.

David Kavanagh Date: 10/18/2021 3:02:00 PM Heya Milton whilst your poem is indeed aspirational as a human quality, but to the enemies of the US, the powerful military is indeed your immediate strength and deterrent, democracy on a existential level would be dead without it, cheers David Login to Reply David Kavanagh Date: 10/18/2021 7:47:00 PM The China question is indeed a dangerous one, but they know who there biggest customers are, and will not upset the applecart too much, so long as you stay militarily strong, but must be watched very carefully, cheers David L Milton Hankins Date: 10/18/2021 5:40:00 PM Perhaps. I realize this side of the equation. Looks like China is doing it to us economically without a shot fired, eh? Just sayin'.

Tom Cunningham Date: 10/18/2021 2:34:00 PM Words of wisdom Milton, I was raised to know right from wrong and to show respect to others. Its the responsibility of parents to teach that to their children.. Tom Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 10/18/2021 5:41:00 PM So true, Tom, but so many parents today aren't really teaching their children as our parents did. Sad. Thanks for your insightful comment.

Maurice Rigoler Date: 10/18/2021 2:22:00 PM A little too cloying for me, Milton. The original democracy the Founding Fathers envisioned has grown too big for its baby britches. If the Founding Fathers were alive today they'd have, I feel certain, many misgivings. / Maurice Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 10/18/2021 5:42:00 PM Oh, I think you are correct in this, Maurice. We have strayed a long way from what the Founding Fathers envisioned; and, on the other hand, we have skewed a considerable amount of the Founding Fathers had in mind when they wrote our founding documents.

Jenna Logan Date: 10/18/2021 2:08:00 PM That banner of liberty flys the Stars and Stripes of our nation… not the name of an individual. Well Expressed Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 10/18/2021 2:18:00 PM Absolutely, Jenna, and the emphasis in my poem is morals and ethics! Until we get back to what is right, good, and fair, we cannot hope to see our nation whole again.