250 years
A land of Freedom & Plenty
From an 84-year-old that travel to many places and Countries, and has never wanted to stay long in any of them. If you're young and have been in the school system, it seems that you have not been taught about the greatness of our nation, just where we have fallen short.
The American Revolution (1775–1783) secured the United States' freedom from Great Britain. The conflict officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783, which granted the 13 colonies full independence. This is what I learned. In school, the people of this new country were subject to the rule of England, and they were taxed at a very high rate with no voice or vote. They were subjects of the king, and whatever he desired, his soldiers enforced. The men who signed the Declaration of Independence paid a high price.
The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence paid a devastating personal and financial price for treason against the British Crown. Many were wealthy and educated, yet they pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor—and the consequences were severe.
The ultimate cost paid by the group included the following staggering losses:
- Imprisonment and Torture: Five signers were captured by the British and tortured as traitors before they died.
- Property Destruction: Twelve had their homes and properties looted or destroyed by enemy forces.
- Financial Ruin: Five lost their entire fortunes funding the Continental Army, while others, like Carter Braxton and Thomas Nelson Jr., died in poverty and bankruptcy.
- Family Tragic Tolls: Nine died directly from wounds or hardships during the Revolutionary War. Others had their wives imprisoned, and several lost their sons in battle.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” In no way does it give one a guarantee of Happiness, just the ability to pursuit it.
Questions that need explaining: How did slavery come to this new land? By people of there on Country rounding them up and selling them to what became known as slave ships to not only the thirteen colonies but also to many other nations, such as Britain and other places. Most were viewed as property. But the Black people were not the only ones that were treated as sub-human, so were the Irish, and many of them sold themselves as indentured servant. Women were not given the right to vote on June 4, 1919, and most did not get to till the 19th Amendment was approved by 36 states on August 18, 1920. And women of color were not allowed to vote for many years. Evil men, who were mostly Democrats in the South, came up with ways like the poll tax to keep them from voting. Note: A young nation made many mistakes,.
I was raised in Corpus Christi, Texas. We did not know how poor we were, that is, until about the seventh grade, and you were the only one in school who had patches on your blue jeans. Today, having a hole in them is cool, but in the early 50th it meant one thing: you were poor. I have been blessed by God with the ability to work, and my dad was big on doing a job right the first time. I worked for HEB Grocers as a sack boy at the age of 12, and I made 60 cents an hour. I got two years of college by working nights at a place called Corn Products. I worked from 11 p.m. to seven a.m., and my first class was at 8:30 a.m. I regret that I saw little need for school, and I would encourage all to study and learn, as it will be of great value later in life.
In 1942, I was born on Planet Earth, and it was a time of war. I’ve read that we fought Germany to save Europe, and it was the War to End All Wars. But not many years later, both Japan and Germany were trying to control the world by killing, and once more we fought a war to give freedom to Europe, and many others. You may have thought that Hitler was just killing the Jewish people, but you would be so wrong. Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime systematically murdered an estimated 17 million people in total. This includes 6 million Jews during the Holocaust, alongside an additional 11 million non-Jewish victims through targeted mass killings, slave labor, and deliberate starvation. History of both Marxism and Communism show them to be very evil forms of Governing.
And today, some of you think that Marxism & Communism would be a good form of government. I wish you could spend time in Russia or China, or try Cuba, that freedom, you enjoy in the USA will not be found there. In both business and pleasure, I’ve been able to visit many countries, and I have yet to find one that gives me the freedoms and rights of our great Country.
Now as a Gentile, and a follower of Christ, let me share a truth that many college student or ignorant of: Genesis 12: 3, God make this promise to Abram, before God change is name to Abraham “I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Since 1948, Israel has heavily blessed the world through groundbreaking contributions to global healthcare, water conservation, agriculture, and technology. Despite its small size and arid climate, it has become a global hub for life-saving innovations and humanitarian relief, fundamentally improving daily life and survival for billions worldwide.
Born out of a desperate need to survive in a mostly arid region, Israel's AgTech sector has revolutionized global farming and water management.
- Modern Drip Irrigation: Invented in Israel, this technology delivers water and nutrients directly to plant roots, vastly increasing crop yields while saving billions of gallons of water globally.
- Desalination and Recycling: Israel recycles roughly 90% of its wastewater—more than any other country—and leads the world in turning seawater into fresh, drinkable water.
Medical and Biotech Breakthroughs
Israel’s biomedical sector has introduced world-changing treatments and diagnostic tools.
- PillCam: The first swallowable, pill-sized camera that allows doctors to visualize the human gastrointestinal tract without invasive surgery.
- Multiple Sclerosis Treatment: The blockbuster drug Copaxone was developed in Israel, transforming the lives of countless MS patients worldwide.
- Exoskeleton Technology: The ReWalk robotic exoskeleton system enables individuals with spinal cord injuries and paraplegia to stand upright, walk, and climb stairs.
Computing and Consumer Technology
Israel’s "Start-Up Nation" culture has been a major driver of modern tech infrastructure and software.
- Waze: The widely used, crowdsourced GPS and navigation app that helps millions of commuters avoid traffic and hazards globally daily.
- USB Flash Drives: Pioneered in Israel, this technology replaced floppy disks and changed how the world stores and transfers portable data.
Global Humanitarian Relief
When natural disasters or crises strike globally, Israel’s emergency response teams are frequently among the first on the scene. The IsraAID NGO provides emergency relief, clean water, and psychological support in dozens of countries following earthquakes, hurricanes, and conflicts. Additionally, the nation's medical centers regularly treat patients from all over the globe, including those from neighboring conflict regions.
- Israel at 75: A Nation Blessing the Whole World - ICEJ
May 14, 2023 — As Israel marks 75 years since its modern rebirth in 1948, the whole world should be joining the celebrations. For centuries, the ...
International Christian Embassy Jerusalem
- The top 12 most amazing Israeli medical advances - Unpacked
Dec 16, 2024 — Israeli ingenuity stands behind some of the world's most amazing medical advances of the past few decades. By Abigail Klein Leichm...
- Israel: #12 in the 2024 World Index of Healthcare Innovation
Dec 21, 2024 — In the 2024 World Index of Healthcare Innovation, Israel ranks 12th and leads Asia with an overall score of 50.62.
The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity
- Healing the World: Israel’s Groundbreaking Medical Innovations - Hope for Israel
Apr 3, 2025 — Israel's commitment to medical advancements is driven by a deep-seated belief in the sanctity of life. Some of their other medical...
Hope for Israel
- Israeli Inventions That Changed the World - Cutting Edge - Haaretz.com
Apr 13, 2021 — Israel has made many inventions that have impacted humanity. Here are some of them: Military self-defense systems ...
The bottom line is God is a Promise Keeper, and He loves you to much to allow you to chase after the Wind.
From our Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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