| God Bless America and Merry Christmas | |||||||
| by BUDDY AMATO | |||||||
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The holiday season is a great time to put things back into perspective. As a father and a husband, it is a time when I appreciate my wonderful family and everything that means so much to me. hhere are people who may want to talk about things that have gone wrong over the last year, we look to New Year's just a few days away. But, I think that's the wrong thing to do, and I'll tell you why.Rignt now in countries around the world, our men women in uniform would give anything to know that they would wake up back home again. They are there this holiday season fighting wars on behalf of us right here. They are making sure that our Christmas will be as peaceful as it can be. And I thank them and their families for the bravery that they are showing in defending our country. Whether it is Afghanistan or Iraq, or any number of places that are supporting the war effort, our men and women in uniform are doing an invaluable job that needs doing. The man and women of our armed forces need our support and our prayers in performing their mission. So, whenever I hear someone talking about how much they do not have this Christmas, I feel like reminding them about how much they do have. We who are here in the United States do not have to worry about being likely targets of terrorist gunfire and acts. Our Government and our armed forces are doing everything they can to keep the threat of violence and terror away from us, containing that threat in far off shores. there are so many young people who have died for this cause. While there are people who may disagree with the strategy or course of the wars recently, even the great bravery and dedication of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines. Memory is something that can be short. In fact, it is not all that long ago that you could have looked out over the Raritan or Sandy Hook bay and seen the World Trade Cernter burning, on fire across the water. I remember that sight vividly. For days and weeks after the attack, Americans especially in Northern Monmouth County, may have been wondering when and where the next attack would be. As it turned out, the next attack would be against the terrorists. This war on terrorism is not the first time that Americans have had to stand up for the freedom of their country, and even though we may each hope it is the last there is something within us that tells us that it will not be. But, what is clear is that the armed forces have truly come through with a very special Christmas present...as peaceful a world as we can expect with a band of thugs and murderers running around trying to prove something by killing innocent people. I salute the men and women of the armed forces, myself and my family include them in our prayers, and I continue to thing of them and thank them for the outstanding work they are all doing----at home and overseas. God bless America and Merry Christmas. Grandmaster Buddy Amato operates Amato's Karate and Weapons Academy, 589 Palmer Avenue, West Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom. For more information, call (732) 671-9555.
Copyright Buddy Amato Amato's Goju-ryu Karate, Nunchaku, Bo-staff, Aikido, Sword, Kendo, Sais, Kick-boxing, Tai-Chi and more 589 Palmer Ave, Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom, NJ 07734 (732) 671-9555 |
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