Laverne

I was born just days before the infamous Bay of Pigs Invasion by CIA trained Cuban Exiles which was aborted in an embarrassing Welcome to Foriegn Policy Whipping for the Nations youngest ever President, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. In June of 1961 Soviet Premier Khrushchev signed a Peace Treaty with the East Germans'. The US increased Military Presence while the Berlin Wall was Constructed! In the fall of 1962 Soviet Missile Bases were uncovered in Cuba, just 90 miles off Florida's South East Coast. JFK ordered a Blockade of further Deliveries which brought the World to the brink of Nuclear War. After much tense Posturing the Soviets finally complied with Kennedy's Demand for removal of the installations.

Meanwhile, the Communist threat from North Vietnam grew against the South, as did the number of US Military advisors dispached to assist South Vietnam against the threat. On November 1, 1963 Premier Ngo Dinh Diem was Assassinated in a Coup. President Kennedy was Assassinated just weeks later on November 22, 1963. This further destabilized the World Stage, and in August of 1964 US Destroyers were attacked in the Gulf of Tonkin by the North Korean Navy. Five days later, August 7, 1964 Congress authorized President Johnson to take "all necessary measures" to WIN in Vietnam! By 1968 the US had more than 500,000 troops in Vietnam. The last of these men would not be coming home until the Spring of 1973, thus ending Americas' longest War.

At home John Kennedy had challenged the country to Land a Man on the Moon within ten years in response to the successful launch of the Russian Satellite Sputnik in 1957. There was a Premium put on Math and the Sciences in Americas' School Houses. A Growing National Pride was bubbling under the surface. Watergate and Corruption threatened this American Unification, but Nixon Stepped Down in Shame and Disgrace. Vice President Gerald Ford whom was not even elected to office, but rather appointed to replace Spiro Agnew upon his resignation, was suddenly thrust into the Presidency of the United States in a time of tumult and upheaval. He was undeniably the perfect man for the job. Ford went about the business of the Presidency as he had every other task throughout his life, unassumingly and with all Due Dilegence. He became the Great Uniter.

I did not know all of this Historic detail of course, as I was a Toddler during much of this time. I was aware as I grew up of the tension in the World and of the threat of Nuclear Disaster. Communism became the common enemy of Our divided Country. The Space Race also had a very uniting effect on Americans.

In 1976 Americans from All Walks of Life united to bring about a Great Patriotic Display for our Nations 200th Birthday. I was a strapping fifteen year old youngster working towards becoming a man. The excitement and Patriotism that Americans displayed remain to this day one of the defining moments of my life. Then President Ford, gave a Great speech in January of 1976, which contains the following quote: " I am proud of America, I am proud to be an American. Life will be a little better here for my children than for me. I believe this not because I am told to believe it, but because life has been better for me than it was for my father and my mother. I know it will be better for my children because my hands, my brains, my voice, and my vote can help make it happen." Our Bicentennial Celebration would deliver a Stark reminder to an unstable World of American Pride, Unity, and Determination!

This level of Patriotism, attitude of selflessness for a greater cause, and ability to Unite Peoples from all walks of life behind a common cause are uniquely American, and sorely missing in much of todays Political Debate. Have We become a Nation of ME, as apposed to a Nation of WE THE PEOPLE?

Mike Oler is the author of this article. Born in a small midwestern town in 1961, I entered this world the first born of my young parents. My midwestern values, my life experiences, and my tight circle of personal associates have helped to shape my opinions about much of life. I am blessed to have this forum to express them in. Please visit my site at http://www.moassociates.info for more about the human condition.