Letting it Go

Surrender really isn't in my DNA. My grandparents survived the Depression. My great-great grandparents settled the west, braving Indian attacks and disease. My male ancestors have served in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the War of Northern Aggression, both World Wars, and Vietnam. I served proudly as a Marine during Desert Storm. I beat the odds and made it into medical school. It wasn't easy for me, but I did it. Typically, I am able to see difficulty as a challenge to be confronted. But this time has been different.

I recently read the entire speech by Patrick Henry which ends with his famous words, "Give me Liberty, or give me death". I noticed something. A major theme of his speech was an admonition to beware of public apathy.

I haven't traditionally thought of Revolutionary-War-era Americans as apathetic. Apparently they were. So much so that it threatened the success of the effort to obtain Liberty. Not very much has changed. Just today I read that ABC Nightly News will be airing from the White House, before presenting a one-sided view of the socialist health care plan against which I've been fighting for over a year on this blog. No dissent will be allowed during this broadcast.

I'm not really surprised at ABC's actions in this matter. I am horrified and saddened that no public uproar has occurred. No pretense of objectivity or neutrality remains, and yet the public remains silent. So eroded is our expectation that we hardly notice this troubling development.

The frustration, fear, and rage that has been building over the past several years finally broke through this week. It was cathartic, but also frightening. Nobody got hurt. Nobody but me.

Medicine will be socialized in this country. It may not happen this year or the next, but it is coming. I remain convinced that this will be disastrous. Nevertheless, despite my best efforts, it will happen. People want it. They want it because they've been told that they should want it. People will get it. I used to think that they'd regret having it, but now I'm not so sure. The same apathy that has allowed the destruction of our Liberty will likely continue in the form of further apathy. This is a shame.

Regardless, I know now that I can't stop it. I wish I had the powers of a Payne or an Adams. Maybe I lack something. Or maybe I am merely an anachronism. I hope and pray that I will find a place in the brave new world that's coming. All I can do is be all I can for my family, and maintain my sanity. There was a time when I'd have sacrificed "my life, my fortune, and my sacred honor" for the cause of Liberty in this country. Now I see that this would likely be pointless.

I thank those of you who have honored me by reading these thoughts. I pray that sanity will return to this great land, but for now, I am retiring from the field of battle. I will continue to fight. I will fight by doing all in my power to raise a virtuous, respectful, and Liberty-loving son.

May God richly bless you. May He hear our earnest and fervent prayers to heal our land. May He help me to have the wisdom to know His will for my life, and the strength and faith to do my duty to Him. I thank you and wish you all well until I feel I can write again.