{"id":14163,"date":"2024-07-26T07:00:58","date_gmt":"2024-07-26T11:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?p=14163"},"modified":"2024-07-25T12:50:50","modified_gmt":"2024-07-25T16:50:50","slug":"14163-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?p=14163","title":{"rendered":"Lady Liberty is Crying!"},"content":{"rendered":"<div dir=\"auto\">\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"14164\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?attachment_id=14164\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/WeepingSOL.jpeg?fit=200%2C200&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"200,200\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"WeepingSOL\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/WeepingSOL.jpeg?fit=200%2C200&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14164 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/WeepingSOL.jpeg?resize=200%2C200&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/WeepingSOL.jpeg?w=200&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/WeepingSOL.jpeg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>As I sit here pondering the current state of our nation, it saddens me to say that I have never seen it in such a dire state. As someone who loves and is a patriot of this country, it is becoming increasingly difficult to declare that I am proud to be an American. Instead, I often feel ashamed to identify as one. \u00a0 Lady Liberty is weeping for many reasons.<\/p>\n<p>The division in our country is palpable, and it is growing deeper every day. We are divided along various lines, such as political beliefs, race, gender, and more. This division is troubling, and some people have even expressed concerns that it could lead to a civil war. While the idea of Texas seceding from the union and becoming a sovereign state may be far-fetched, it is alarming that it has even been proposed. There is fear that states with differing political ideologies may soon be pitted against each other, which would be a disastrous outcome.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>One of the biggest problems in our country is that we often vote for all the wrong reasons. People may vote for Vice President Harris solely based on her background or gender rather than her qualifications to lead the country. Voting on such superficial factors should not be the norm. The issue of abortion is also frequently used as a metric to determine how people might vote, which is problematic. Regardless of one&#8217;s stance on abortion, it should never be a political issue. Matters of women&#8217;s reproductive rights should only be decided by the individuals involved and their medical professionals.<\/p>\n<p>What is most distressing is that the people seem to have been removed from the equation. When did it become okay to weaponize the judicial system to influence the decisions of the other two branches? When did it become acceptable for directors of law enforcement agencies to base their decisions on politics rather than the law? The fact that such discussions are being had is deeply concerning.<\/p>\n<div dir=\"auto\">The recent spate of flag burning, and destruction of public monuments and property is truly appalling. While it is a testament to the freedoms that we enjoy in the United States that such actions are allowed, I cannot help but feel disheartened by the disrespect shown towards our shared history and heritage. While some may argue that these actions are a legitimate form of protest, I believe that the destruction of public property or symbols should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law in order to maintain social order and respect for our democracy. It is important to remember that our nation&#8217;s past is complex and multifaceted, and that the symbols and monuments that represent it are part of an ongoing dialogue about our shared values and identity. As responsible citizens, we must respect these symbols and engage in constructive dialogue about their meaning and significance, rather than resorting to acts of destruction and violence.<\/div>\n<p>As we come to the end of this article, it is important for us to acknowledge the sorrow of Lady Liberty. She is saddened by the state of affairs in this nation that was once a beacon of hope and prosperity to the world. We must not overlook how our political climate has emboldened deranged individuals to perpetrate violence against those in power. It is alarming that we focus more on the type of weapon used rather than the root of the problem, which is the accessibility of firearms in our society. If we fail to address these issues, our nation will continue to spiral into decline.<\/p>\n<p>It is disheartening to see the decay around us as America struggles to regain its former glory. However, we cannot allow despair to consume us. Instead, we must come together as a nation, unified in our efforts to put the pieces back together. By recognizing and addressing the underlying issues, we can once again become a nation that creates opportunities for all, regardless of race, religion, or economic background. We owe it to ourselves and to future generations to uphold our values and restore the greatness of this nation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">Of course, these are all my opinions, and they may not necessarily align with yours. I would love to hear your thoughts, as long as they are conveyed in a civil and respectful manner. After all, the art of civil discourse seems to have been lost in recent times, which gives Lady Liberty yet another reason to weep.<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As I sit here pondering the current state of our nation, it saddens me to say that I have never seen it in such a dire state. As someone who loves and is a patriot [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14164,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_daextrevo_audio_file_creation_date":"","_daextrevo_text_to_speech":"","_daextrevo_document_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14163","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/WeepingSOL.jpeg?fit=200%2C200&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":144,"url":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?p=144","url_meta":{"origin":14163,"position":0},"title":"All Men Are NOT Created Equal!","author":"Tom Lind","date":"June 26, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"All men are not created equal, and neither are women. You only need to spend the day at the beach to verify that fact. Our forefathers used the expression \"All men are created equal\". This was an unfortunate choice of words because there are those in our society who take\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Rants&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Rants","link":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"not-equal1","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/not-equal1-150x150.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12203,"url":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?p=12203","url_meta":{"origin":14163,"position":1},"title":"Inauguration Day &#8211; 2017","author":"Tom Lind","date":"January 20, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Today Mr. Donald Trump transits from being President Elect to President. \u00a0Inauguration Day is always a historical event in this country, and today is no different. \u00a0Unfortunately there are too many people who are simply sore losers. \u00a0There are too many people who are incapable of putting partisanship aside and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Opinion&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?cat=21"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/washington1.jpg?fit=500%2C332&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":246,"url":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?p=246","url_meta":{"origin":14163,"position":2},"title":"Politically Speaking!","author":"Tom Lind","date":"November 3, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"We The People? I, for the most part, am not a political animal. I believe in personal freedom, states rights, and small government. I realize that my political views will not change the hearts and minds of those with opposing points of view. But there are certain basic concepts that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Political&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Political","link":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"Screwed","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Screwed-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":14109,"url":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?p=14109","url_meta":{"origin":14163,"position":3},"title":"Reflection on Patriotism and July 4th","author":"Tom Lind","date":"July 4, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Patriotism is a powerful force that has been at the heart of America since its inception, pulsing through the veins of this great nation with unrelenting strength. Every year on the 4th of July, Americans come together to celebrate the courage, vision, and determination that led to the founding of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Commentary&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?cat=13"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IdolizedPositiveKangaroo-size_restricted.gif?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":252,"url":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?p=252","url_meta":{"origin":14163,"position":4},"title":"On Responsible Voting","author":"Tom Lind","date":"November 10, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"The election is over. the polls have closed, speeches have been made and concessions granted. No more political ads, no more political signs. It is finally all over. Some folks are happy, some are not. We no longer have to listen to a barrage of political ads, political news, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Commentary&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?cat=13"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/decision-making-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":14244,"url":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?p=14244","url_meta":{"origin":14163,"position":5},"title":"I Pledge Allegiance!","author":"Tom Lind","date":"September 20, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"As we approach the day that follows today\u2014commonly known as Friday\u2014I find myself in contemplation about what topics I might explore in this week's writing that would captivate your attention and keep you fully engaged and on the edge of your seat ,(though, let\u2019s be honest, being on the edge\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Commentary&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?cat=13"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/TH092024.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p38YRh-3Gr","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14163","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14163"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14163\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14170,"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14163\/revisions\/14170"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14164"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14163"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14163"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14163"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}