"A land we must not forget."


This evening, since I called in to work and was not needed, I happened upon a show on PBS about the attractions and beauty of the Black Hills out in the Northern West of America. .... You know, Mount Rushmore, the ever-evolving Crazy Horse monument, the Badlands, bison herds, Wind Cave, seas of green praire, fossilized remains of a world past,... and so on....

It made me think, man, I really do live in a great part of the world... a great country, and a great geological blessing called the United States of America. Politics aside (for which I honestly care very little to tell the truth), this really is a beautiful country, and one with such a rich and muti-faceted history.... especially considering the fact that this country itself is only some 227 years old! Stunning State Parks, wide open praires, once near-extinct animal species now roaming the wildlands, unexplainable natural wonders, and an evidence of a history of human pioneers scattered all across it.... What a blessing it is to be an American! And the thing is, I'm only talking about the natural aspect of being an American. I haven't even touched on the massive cities with unique identities, the man-made monolithic monuments such as those that exist in our country's capitol or in New York's harbor, and those that give an added flavor for a country whose 227 year history rivels that of any of the more ancient countries.

In today's world I find it sad that politics mean more to most people than the simple beauty of a landscape few care to even take time to investigate. All the talk is of war this, negotiations that.... Oh, to be one of those pioneers embarking upon this land whose beauty we fail to see most of the time today. Untamed (by explorers that is) wonders that only God could engineer. Those were the days when minds fell upon simpler matters.... Those were the days when the landscape mattered more than countries arguing over nuclear weapons, or taking drastic measures to combat a war against terrorists. Those were the days when the true heros were made.... Let's not forget those heroes. Let's not forget the land they knew, or the history they forged, because, afterall, we're the fruits of THEIR labors, and certainly not our OWN political whittling.

Think about that the next time your driving through the country and listening to the local news. Try turning off the media hype, and turn on the awe of what you see around you. Be inspired. Be dumfounded. Be thankful.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 1:51 AM  I   I  0 comments