A Christmas Gift From Janet

I post for your consideration a message I received today. Merry Christmas.

To the Board and Members of Patriots’ Border Alliance, to Minutemen everywhere, to brother and sister Patriots serving our cause:

The second cup of coffee has brought me around to a state of consciousness. The quiet of the Christmas Eve morning leads me to a reflective mood of peace, contentment, and purpose. The rising sun has just begun to illuminate the walls of my home, giving it the warm glow of security that man has treasured through out the eons. My grandchildren’s exclamations of joy, exuberance and fellowship still ring in my memory from last night’s gathering. These remembered expressions create a melody in my ears that sing my mind into a state of fulfillment only a grandfather can know. The yuletide feast is ready. The gifts for the grandkids lie in wait to excite, thrill, and with any luck, convey to those children the love I have for them. I am confident that I have in very earthly ways done my part to set the stage for my progeny to enjoy those small Christmas miracles my tired and cynical brain still hoard as life treasures bequeathed to me by parents and family.

Most of us probably experience similar wishes and hopes this time of year. Each of us works for these same things in different ways. Truly this season promotes a deep reflection in all of us. May we treasure this time with our families and our thoughts. May we strive to hold the love and hope inherent in this season throughout our year, and indeed throughout our lives.

I also recognize that in addition to those who carry my genes – those who will carry into the future my characteristics, loves and passion – I belong to another family. A family not anchored in blood or genetic ties. I belong to a family whose love, loyalty and dedication to one another is based upon the love of ideals. These are the ideals that have provided the entire of mankind its greatest hope for earthly redemption. These are the ideals that tell mankind that justice and freedom can be a natural part of the human experience. These are ties that are strong.

I have, to the best of my ability, provided thoughtful gifts to my progeny. I hope they reflect careful thought designed to recognize the individual traits and passions of the recipient. What gifts may I give my other family – my family of idealists, patriots, and Minutemen? I cannot provide to each a physical gift, thoughtfully chosen. But I hope each and every one of you will accept these gifts of the “heart” I electronically send to you this blessed Christmas Eve.

The first of these offerings is my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you. My gratitude that you exist in this time and in this place of history. I am thankful that you are the selfless, dedicated Patriots that you are. I am inspired by your willingness to sacrifice so much to preserve that which we hold so dear. I am humbled that you allow me to be part of this family, to walk among you as an equal, to be counted as your brethren.

I would like to offer to you my pledge to always stand with you and our cause, keeping pure the goals and methods of our efforts. This pledge contains a commitment to honor your sacrifices and your efforts, never forgetting the familial ties that bind us together in this great quest.If you look closer under our imaginary Minuteman tree you will find, wrapped in thoughtful dedication, my acknowledgement of my accountability to you, my Minuteman family. With this acknowledgement comes my assurance that every word I write or speak, every action I take, every course I suggest will be designed to insure the integrity of our cause and our organization. You will also find my prayer that the day never comes when you find yourselves trying to explain an ill-conceived statement or reckless course of action initiated by myself.

The final offering from my Christmas sack is the awareness of the great gift we have been given. Whole generations have lamented that they lived in times of boredom. Bereft of great challenges they mourned the opportunity to show their greatness, their courage, and their nobility. We are blessed that we are living in a time of great challenge – in a time which heroes can live. We live in a time where nobility can be exercised by those who have the capacity. How fortunate that the creator gave us an era in which the best of our instincts and spirits are given a dramatic stage upon which to play out the courage and nobility that lives in each of you. God be praised that no one will say that this “family” lived lives of quiet desperation. I hope each will embrace this gift and be thankful that we were given the opportunity to live a life of dedication to something larger than ourselves.

Bob Wright