Brenda Skidmore's Health Tips

As our country is approaching another Independence Day holiday I would like to ask you, "what does being patriotic mean to you?"

Sometimes, if you truly love this country, I think being a patriot means admitting your SHAME. What do I mean by that statement?

Obviously, "patriotism" is a word (or state of mind) that means something different to each individual but, the word is often thrown around, casually, without regard to its true meaning.

Some ascribe their patriotism to some rather small, trivial acts, while others doubt their patriotism baselessly. Putting a "Support Our Troops" magnet on your automobile or flying an American flag in your yard does not make you a patriot. Expressing your misguided beliefs in the telling of your hatred for other countries and their cultures, presumably to boast of America's superiority, is not being patriotic. Or, blindly upholding and following your elected government officials bad decisions does not make you a patriot either.

For those who may misunderstand me, I want to clarify I love America! I was born and raised here by two loving parents and extended, immediate, family members, who were hard working Kansas wheat and beef cattle farmers. I am proud to be living on this large continent's very beautiful, and widely diverse, landscape that allows the people of this great country to grow vast amounts, and many different varieties, of healthy foods to nourish its people. Plentiful, also, is America's abundant stores of natural resources (although fresh, clean water reserves are in serious jeopardy world wide). America has many knowledgeable, honest, strong and courageous people, who work tirelessly for the good of others.

There really is NO shortage of freedom, knowledge, or the materialistic goods we need to live a richer life in the United States, or the world at large for that matter. But, I am asking questions and doubting our style of government. Does this make me unpatriotic? Generally, I thought being a patriot meant standing up for the love and support of your country and its people, positively, but that does not mean you MUST love and support your government. After all, is this not the same reason our founding fathers left England, because of the suppressive style of government the King of England had imposed on the common countryman?

The people of America, or any other country, are separate entities from the body of men and women who govern them. I do not believe my patriotism should be questioned for feeling ashamed and embarrassed by the atrocities that many of our governing officials have, willfully, engaged in. The promotion of inhumane acts against mankind and the manipulation of our founding fathers core ideals of equality, justice, freedom, and self expression for all by certain groups of wealthy government officials, whose self-serving acts of exploiting America's natural resources for a select few's short-term financial advancement and satisfaction will have serious, long-term consequences for all future human survival. Including their own!

It is this superior, corporate style government attitude that I am against. Laws governing you and I that affect our health, happiness, and financial stability have been created and molded to, financially, advance those in government and corporations. Some how, though, it has all been spun and twisted to make these laws look as if they are all in the best interests of the American people. But, please observe closely, who is coming out on top of the pile and who is getting squashed on the bottom of the pile.

I am criticizing America's foreign policy, in the way my hard earned income tax dollars are being squandered and are, largely, unaccounted for. America has one of the most expensive health care systems in the world, and supposedly superior. How often have you ever wondered, if the American health care system is, really, so superior, why have diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, and all types of mental disorders are actually rising instead of declining? Who is fooling us, here? What would be the ideal motive in NOT having found a cure for these devastating health conditions by now?

What role does corporate attitudes, and government manipulation, play, in the feeding of our media outlets that have you believing these untruths, or lies? What information is being covered up and suppressed? Before you convince yourself that these high-priced technological drugs (band aides) , cut, and burn surgeries are the end-all, be-all solutions to radiant health call up your patriotic spirit.

Ask yourself one important question. Are the American people's health problems any better, now, than they were a hundred years ago? Answer this honestly. Do you feel in control of your physical and emotional health, or helpless? What about the health of your children, or any one else that you love a lot?

I believe this is, one of many areas, where capitalism has failed the majority of great people in this country, and I am criticizing it. I also criticize the courage and strength of many an American's patriotism, when I feel it is instead stubborn cowardice by pointing a blame finger on someone, or something, else instead of themselves. At the same time, I applaud the patriotism of American's who are strong and courageous enough to "think outside the box" for themselves. They are the few that show the rest what true patriotism is all about, by giving themselves a good scare, in finding out what facts may actually be truth, and which ones are not.

Do my critical doubts or questions mean that I don't love America? Absolutely not! It is the mistakes, poor choices, and self-serving attitudes driven by corporate power and financial greed made by our governing body of, just, ordinary people that make me angry. I believe our countryman's, and women's, patriotism is being severely tested. When things are going this badly, your love of this country is going to be tested. It is about becoming a unified force in standing up and making those actors and actresses in government, who made promises to the American people, honor their words of hope and encouragement.

If you are not ashamed, of at least one aspect, in the way our political leaders have mis-handled themselves while governing our affairs, then you have not been paying attention, and you are not a patriot.

Thomas Jefferson, one of our nation's founding fathers said, "what country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?"

Patriotism is, sometimes, in seeing the need to NOT go along with the 'status quo', but the opposite. Before things can change for the better we, as a common entity separate from our government, must all unite together in a patriotic spirit of health, happiness, and prosperity for all.