It was noticed as the shooters signed in for the Appleseeds yesterday, but they weren't glued to their televisions watching old footage and memories, they were going out to learn how to shoot better. Now I was at a little old Appleseed, 37 preregistered, 33 showing up to do their best. In Illinois, land of Lincoln and Mayor (soon to retire) Daley at some place named Waterman, there was a monster Appleseed, called the Appleseed 300. The Appleseed 300, looks like one larger than life fun time had by all. The famous "Fred" was there, lots of Revolutionary War Veterans Association Red Hats (instructors) and Orange Hats (instructors in training), many of them fine folks and families that I have met while I have been wandering on the Appleseed trail, most of which can shoot better than I. They are going into day two this morning, because of the time zone difference they will be getting their first rounds off about the time I find breakfast.
The flame fanning media dwelt upon the potential danger of book burning in Florida, missed us all together. The commander in Afghanistan worried about reaction to our media and the safety of our troops -- or so the media reported. I think the General knows that the troops were in danger when they got in uniform, ask those dying at Fort Hood is you don't believe me. He probably wanted to say that the fools back home might be more of a problem than the enemy in front, behind and all around us here, Afghanistan is hostile territory. American military is not a permanent answer to their or our problems, nope.
I don't have an answer to how we keep the world from hating our image, our SuperPower pretensions, our exploitation of their riches and just plain arrogance -- we could tell them to get over it. Or put a Maple Lead flag on our backpacks and pretend we are the well mannered nicer Canadians from Norte America. I do know that we have to find a real core belief to wrap our lives around, we have to study it, build on it and improve it and our lives. I also know that it isn't found in a pill, the nightly news, or any of the talking heads on the HDTV, most of our literature is weak, our art corrupt and our strength imaginary... but I shouldn't give up, I do know several great Americans - living, working, worshipping and in charge of their piece of peace on Earth, actually more than I want to count, just none of them are on our cultural radar... good for them.
Go out and do some good old Liberty loving stuff today: worship, love, shoot, ride your motorcycle and lean into it and roll on that throttle.
6 comments:
Whenever I read what you write I want to go out and be better and do better and think better, which is a good thing I believe.
Question: Why is that instructor holding a ruler across the barrel of that rifle?
Good post Earl, and yes we need to enjoy our liberties!
Hmm, ruler across the barrel of a rifle, well just a guess that it was used to 'card the sights', so the shooter will learn to fine NPOA and trust it. I wasn't sure which picture you were looking at, did you catch the title of the picture?
Title? I didn't see one.
I really need to get to an Appleseed one of these days....
Sorry, I posted in too many places then looked at the picture with this post. That is a coach and shooter drill for the carding the sights.
Appleseed is worth the time if you like to shoot rifles and want to learn a little more. Free for women, twenty and under, active military (to include the National Guard and Reserve), Law Enforcement Officers.
Even if you aren't into rifles, you meet good people and hear some History. Hope you can make it to an Appleseed in beautiful weather and have a wonderful time. We do have them in some of the worst conditions.
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