Watch Fox News for the untold stories — and keep the lanterns of patriotism burning bright

Now is the time of the summer solstice, the longest day of the year.

The six months that have elapsed since the shortest day of the year have flown by, full of turmoil and uncertainty for too many people in too many places — in general.

For each of us there have been some personal havens of quiet and comfort, and maybe even of hope. These are the times that keep us going, like lanterns on a stormy night. We need to seek or create these places and share them with others whose lanterns may have gone out.

Some of us have been lighting communal bonfires here and there on certain remarkable days, like April 15 (tax day) and June 14 (Flag Day), in hopes that more people will take heed and prepare their own lanterns against stormier days to come. We have called these particular bonfires TEA (Taxed Enough Already) parties, but they have dealt with far more issues than that one. What has been disappointing is that more Lodians have not shown up for these events at the Veterans Plaza, and those who have shown up have been mostly those 55 and older.

We need the younger people to get involved. They are the ones who will inherit the problems being developed today by people who declare, "We (or I) won," and turn what should be a stand for responsibility into that old playground chant: "We (I) won, and you didn't! Nyanh, nyanh, nyanh!" and then play a power game that pays no attention to the Constitutional rules under which this country was established.

There are a lot of very good minds in this country who are deeply concerned and who are speaking out. We need to pay attention and learn what's going on. Unfortunately, most media outlets are biased — and silent. If you really want to know what's going on, watch Fox News. Neil Cavuto at 1 p.m. our time, Glenn Beck at 2, and the "Special Report" at 3 are the best. (For most people, they will have to be taped for watching at more convenient times.) Various programs at 4, 5, 6 and 7 p.m. will also tell you what's what. Also useful is Fox News at 3 p.m. Sundays.

This country was begun by some brave, independent and far-seeing individuals who left family members, comfortable homes, friends and livelihoods for a totally unknown land and hardships. They held their ground and set up a new country with a new kind of government that has come down these 200 years or more. Word has it that when Benjamin Franklin emerged from the hot, muggy room where the Constitution was being hammered out, he was asked, "Well, what kind of a government did you give us?" He answered, "We have given you a Republic — if you can keep it." Right now, we are in danger of losing it, and partly because people say we are a democracy. We're not; we are a REPUBLIC, where the minority can have some input as well as the majority.

It was some more brave, independent and far-seeing individuals who left all their established communities and ways of life and took off for the western reaches of this country, facing unknown hardships. Well, they stuck it out, and here we are living in one of a lot of new states. These states fit right in, because the Constitution had already provided them with their own rights that the federal government can't infringe on, something that needs paying attention to.

We can't control all that's coming down the pike, but we can act like our courageous forebears and do what we can as individuals to make a difference for the better. We can do our best to keep our own finances in order. We can help those who are worse off. We can see to it that our children do their best in school, and help them study at home. We can bring up our children to become respectful, responsible people who learn about their country's history, geography and government. We can honor our flag. We can keep copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution around for ready reference — and the Ten Commandments, too.

We can treat other people with courtesy, kindness and compassion. We can keep our homes and yards neat, and take care of the sidewalks and streets in our areas. We can stop littering, vandalizing, stealing, driving drunk and shooting each other. We can patronize our local businesses and restaurants. We can join local clubs and organizations to see that they can continue their good work. We can take care of the earth and all the wonderful trees, plants and flowers it grows, both in our own yards and in public places. We can volunteer to keep up a park or a public area, or grow vegetables and fruits in vacant lots. We can keep vacant homes in our neighborhoods from being eyesores or fire hazards. We can be honest, honorable and dependable, and keep our lanterns lighted.

Gwin Mitchell Paden has been a Sentinel columnist since 1999 after being busy in a lot of community groups and moving through an n umber of careers, most of which involved writing or teaching. She has been in Lodi for 52 years and counting.

Reader Feedback

stantaves wrote on Jun 30, 2009 10:56 AM:

" "Cap'n'Trade", It might as well be called "Crap'n'Wade" -- the bureaucrats "crap" and the rest of us "wade". "

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