REMEMBER THE ALAMO!
repost from 2010
As a youngster I had several heroes. One of my favorites was Daniel Boone, who was an American frontiersman portrayed on a TV show by Fess Parker.
I even had the coonskin cap to emulate my hero. The hat was designed for warmth. It used a raccoon hide to wrap over and around your head. The coolest part of that hat was the fluffy raccoon tail that hung down the back.
In the opening credits of the show, Daniel Boone would throw his hatchet at a tree and split it in half. WOOOOW! He was cool!
Davy Crockett was another one of our heroes. I’m not sure who said it, but in honor of him, when we were playing Cowboys and Indians or Army, we’d scream with 5 year old honor, “REMEMBER THE ALAMO”! Running full speed into a make-believe battle, pretending to be ready to risk our lives for a just cause.
Societies heroes in those days were people who lived principled lives. Those people who risked their real life for friends, family and country. The sports celebrities were admired and appreciated for their talents, but were still regarded as entertainment.
It wasn’t long ago when a handshake meant something, a persons word was their bond. Now? A signature promising to keep our word doesn’t really mean we’ll keep our word. It just means we’ll keep our word as long as it’s good and painless for us. This isn’t new to our society, it’s just more prevalent and accepted today than it was in the past.
Television in earlier years reflected a society and its values at the time. Many of the sitcoms still had at their core a lesson about principles. What are the values of our society today?
Sometimes I feel like Daniel Boone and want to throw a hatchet right into the middle of my TV! I bet the real Daniel Boone would do it!
Consider a real bonafide hero in Pat Tillman. The man who walked away from an NFL contract at the height of his career. His sole motivation was to serve his country. I’m not sure why that hasn’t been made into a movie. The only movie made about Tillman was the controversy after his life was over. It seems Hollywood avoids principled lives like they do morality.
It’s been a long time since this country saw the likes of Pat Tillman. He was a throw back. It looks to me like we need some more throw backs, or what the old fashioned preachers might call a revival. We need to revive our consciousness from a stupor of liberal media that celebrates immorality.
We need to revive the spirit of God in this country. Is it still possible for us to do the right thing instead of the easiest thing?
The lives lived by honorable people with a simple perspective was brought about by what they believed and how they thought. The principles that guide a great nation are the same principles that guide great people.
Jesus Christ said, “Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (partial) Putting others before ourselves is the example of the one we are named for, Christ himself.
The young ones in a society learn to cherish what the elders cherish. By our actions, what are we showing the young ones in our lives that they will learn to cherish?
While I liked the coonskin cap, that wasn’t why I admired the character of Daniel Boone. He wasn’t for sale, he stood for morality and backed it up physically if he had to.
That’s how I want to be remembered as well…
tcavey
Wednesday, July 18, 2012 @ 5:22 am
Seems to me that many of our heroes today are here working behind the scenes, not getting the recognition they deserve.
Our men an women who serve our country.
The ones who volunteer at homeless shelters.
The brave people who speak out about the evil all around.
I pray our youth will see these noble people as good role models and not the junk on TV.
Wouldn’t it be great if those “old” TV shows came back? If kids today had great people to look up to instead of the reality TV stars getting drunk, having sex and looking like morons!
Floyd
Wednesday, July 18, 2012 @ 7:29 am
I couldn’t agree more TC. The role models society sells are the ones with the least of all the desired characteristics. Our youth think that money is all they need to have a good life… which alone will bring the most miserable of existences…
Dan Black
Wednesday, July 18, 2012 @ 8:57 am
Great post and reminder. I’ll have to study more about Pat Tillman, it sounds like he was a true leader.
This is a great and true statement, “The young ones in a society learn to cherish what the elders cherish.” If you want to see a bad example of this check out 1 Kings 12: 6-11 (NIV)Here is a link to the passage, http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%2012:%206-11&version=NIV
Floyd
Wednesday, July 18, 2012 @ 7:14 pm
Thanks Dan. I read that, I’d say the king got some bad advice!
Jay Cookingham
Wednesday, July 18, 2012 @ 9:41 am
Amen bro’! If I may add…we fathers should be “heroes” first and foremost to our kids. I know that’s what I strive to be!
Floyd
Wednesday, July 18, 2012 @ 7:15 pm
Good point Jay! I too strive to be my kids heroes.
Joanne Norton
Wednesday, July 18, 2012 @ 9:52 am
Sometimes I think you and I have a lot in common in this way, too. IF it hadn’t been for the TV shows way back then, in the ’50s and early ’60s, I probably wouldn’t have had a clear understanding of what was right and wrong. [School helped in those days, too, of course.] I DID respect Daniel and Davey. I DID see how parents could/should treat their kids. [I knew mine didn’t fit into the normal life AT ALL, and was frustrated and angry, but I also knew there could be hope in the future.]
TODAY? I rarely watch TV shows. [Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune, Antiques Roadshow… that’s it almost always.] The commercials drive me nuts, too. So focused on the wrong side of life.
The sadness? Knowing my kids and g-kids have been sucked into this garbage, either on TV or on line.
Thanks for your insight and sharing. It was very good and very accurate and filled with truth.
Floyd
Wednesday, July 18, 2012 @ 7:17 pm
Thanks Joanne, we do have much in common, which is a pretty good deal for me! I always appreciate your kind and encouraging words…
Betty Draper
Wednesday, July 18, 2012 @ 10:22 am
Great challenge my brother for all of us. It seems to be a dying art the role of living for others. After working with many who give up everything to get the gospel to those tucked away in remote places we find it hard to be surface people. Christ was never surface, H went to the deep issue of the heart for out them we show what lies deep in us. I am like you Floyd, I want to be remembered well too. Good post. Blessings
Floyd
Wednesday, July 18, 2012 @ 7:19 pm
Thanks Betty. I can safely say that you my friend will be remembered well…
Jason Stasyszen
Wednesday, July 18, 2012 @ 10:53 am
We definitely have our work cut out for us as parents. It’s harder to get them to understand what a principled life looks like in a world where everyone seems to want their 15 minutes of fame and the “easy life” that accompanies it. We have to show them something real and there is nothing more real than experiencing God and His presence and life in the here and now. I believe we’re going to turn the tide and watch our kids further it–not based on what I see with my eyes (which is temporary) but based on what I see in His heart, that which is eternal. Thanks Floyd.
Floyd
Wednesday, July 18, 2012 @ 7:20 pm
Those are powerful words and a wonderful vision. I too share that vision, this nation will have revival… Thanks for the inspiring truth!
Voni
Wednesday, July 18, 2012 @ 5:37 pm
I always wanted to be hadworking, independent, duty-bound and “strong as a little French pony” like Laura Ingalls Wilder. And a writer.
I love the example of Pat Tillman, too.
Blessings,
Voni
Floyd
Wednesday, July 18, 2012 @ 7:23 pm
I’d say you’ve done well Voni and probably stronger than the French pony… at least in heart… Thanks for sharing those personal facts, they’re always the most enjoyable.
Chuck Allen
Wednesday, July 18, 2012 @ 9:11 pm
“The young ones in a society learn to cherish what the elders cherish.”
That is so true and hits me hard as a dad. Knowing my kids will value what they see me valuing is a big responsibility. Thanks for the reminder and encouragement to be a good example.
Floyd
Wednesday, July 18, 2012 @ 9:33 pm
We all need reminders Chuck, me as much as any. It is one of the biggest responsibilities I believe. Thanks.
Hazel Moon
Wednesday, July 18, 2012 @ 10:18 pm
Our son at age 6 wanted to be Davey Crocket – pretty close match! In those days the TV shows were good for kids. Several were educational and taught manners and good behavior. The only program I would not allow was the three stooges because they were real and their violence taught my children to hit each other – so off limits.
Floyd
Thursday, July 19, 2012 @ 7:43 am
The problem I think now, at least in part, is that the advertisers know that if they work on the kids, the kids will work on the weaker parents so they get behind the programs that empower kids who don’t have the wisdom to do the right thing. It’s like sending our kids into a dangerous situation unprepared… and it’s in our own homes…. Scary stuff.
Effie-Alean Gross
Thursday, July 19, 2012 @ 8:58 am
Floyd,
This post is outstanding! My heart is so in tune with what you wrote. Thank you so much. I pray that America will return to old-fashioned values. Meanwhile, don’t keep any hatchets within reach. All the best,
~~Effie-Alean Gross
http://www.kilroywashereusa.wordpress.com
http://www.EffieGross.com
Floyd
Thursday, July 19, 2012 @ 11:58 am
Effie, I found your first comment, it just showed up in my spam queue. I had to post it, the line about the hatchets was just too funny to keep to myself!
Effie-Alean Gross
Thursday, July 19, 2012 @ 9:00 am
Floyd,
I sent you a reply, but I don’t see that it posted. Anyway, outstanding post! I agree in every way. Great thoughts and pure heart.
~~Effie
Floyd
Thursday, July 19, 2012 @ 10:02 am
I’m not sure what happened to the first one? Sometimes they get lost in outer space? I always appreciate your kind words and encouraging heart Effie, thank you.
Ngina Otiende
Thursday, July 19, 2012 @ 9:43 am
Wow, how the world has changed! All the more reason to stay watchful and radically different.
Floyd
Thursday, July 19, 2012 @ 10:03 am
Well said Ngina, we do need to be radically different, like Christ himself. Good call.