L Milton Hankins Poet Rhyme

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

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Gershon Wolf October 20, 2021 at 5:55 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 L Milton Hankins October 20, 2021 at 6:12 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 October 18, 2021 at 4:15 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. L Milton Hankins October 18, 2021 at 5:39 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 October 18, 2021 at 3:02 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 David Kavanagh October 18, 2021 at 7:47 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 October 18, 2021 at 5:40 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 October 18, 2021 at 2:34 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 L Milton Hankins October 18, 2021 at 5:41 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 October 18, 2021 at 2:22 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 L Milton Hankins October 18, 2021 at 5:42 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 October 18, 2021 at 2:08 PM That banner of liberty flys the Stars and Stripes of our nation… not the name of an individual. Well Expressed L Milton Hankins October 18, 2021 at 2:18 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.