At a moment when our liberties are being taken away, our money is squandered, and the people that we selected to represent us in Congress and Senate are representing everything but the American constituents, and on a day nationally hated since it represents the taking of our hard earned money by individuals that forget who their real bosses are, hundreds of thousands of American gathered all across the Nation as a majority that is tired of being taken for granted, that is tired of just mind our own business, and that is sick of being put down by our President and politicians.

We have been called arrogant, ignorant, uneducated, and smelly by those that we have voted into office. I know; most of us did not vote for Murtha, Reed, Pelosi, Obama, Frank, and the rest of the political elite that stomps and trample the American Constitution. We have been talked down, and when a humble individual extracts a confession from Barack Obama, that humble individual is investigated, his privacy is invaded in violation of the Constitution “…The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated…” 4^th Amendment.

When a politician dares to speak against her own Party and against corruption, she is held to public scrutiny and harassment, her children are brought into the fray, and reputation is dragged through the mud.

When grass roots movements sprout all over the United States, we have freedom of assembly, don’t we? “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” 1^st Amendment. Homeland Security under Janet Napolitano issues a warning to law enforcement to watch out for reactionary citizens that might be waving the yellow flag “Don’t tread on me.” And those who advocate the right of an unborn child to exist. Or the right of the individual to bear arms as guaranteed by the 2^nd Amendment of the Constitution.

Here in Colorado Springs, hundreds of patriots gathered in Acacia Park to voice our opinions and send a message to Washington. Yes, as clearly expressed by Douglas Bruce, we are not going to change Washington by just assembling once in a park with colorful signs. But there is strength in numbers. We are not naïve enough to belief that the arrogant leaders of the Senate and Congress and the equally arrogant President will listen to our complaints and change their attitudes or modus operandi, but we want to tell our non representing representatives that we are tired, angry, frustrated, and looking forward to the next elections.

Tomorrow, I fly back to Iraq, but today, I joined my voice to a grass roots movement across the Nation.

Listen up, and listen carefully Washington:

1. We do not appreciate politicians that do not listen to their constituency.

2. Raising our taxes makes no sense. Yes, I know, you all promised not to raise money to those making under $250k. Guess what? You just raised taxes on tobacco products, which means, that the vast majority of smokers (they make under $250k) just saw their taxes going up.

3. I do not need the President to apologize for me. I was born in Puerto Rico, I served 22 years in the Army, I help liberate Kuwait, I supported our Army during the cold war (I was stationed in Europe and did my share of guarding the Fulda Gap), and my uncle died in Belgium in 1944 fighting the Nazis. My other uncle also fought in World War II. I do not need to apologize for the world for risking my life to protect peace.

4. We do not appreciate Murtha condemning our Marines denying them the right of being innocent until proven guilty.

5. We have no use for a Commander in Chief that accuses our military of “Air raiding villages and killing civilians…”

6. We are a Christian Nation, get over it. “In God We trust.” “…One Nation, under God…”

7. We have no use for senators, congress people, and a president (I know, I am using lower case) that, swearing to defend that Constitution, conspire to violate it. Maybe they should read the 14^th Amendment: “3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.”

“No one shows greater love than when he lays down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 (ISV)

It is the end of the holiest of the weeks for the Judeo and Christian faith. Decades ago in Puerto Rico, we paid a lot more attention to Good Friday, than we did to Easter. I haven’t been on the Island for Holy Week, since I live in the States, namely for 22 years, but I still remember our old traditions. Do not eat meat during the week, especially on Friday. Do not work on Friday, specially, do not use a hammer. All week, we use to have Christian themed movies on TV. For the most part, our old generation was proud of our Christian heritage, and we preceded every statement of intent with the phrase: “Si Dios quiere…” or… “God willing…” I remember having a hard time in Army Basic Training, since my Drill Sergeants wanted me to emphatically state what I was going to do, and did not really understand when I said that I would do it, but only if God wills it.

But, I digress… I started this article with one of my favorite verses in the Bible, because it emphasizes the true meaning of love, of bravery, of selflessness; and how, by giving His life, Jesus secured eternal life for us, God’s creations, that have strayed so far and for so long from His will and our intended destiny.

The historical occurrences of this week, reminded me again of Jesus sacrifice.

When the darkness in man’s hearts show the ugliest of humanity and a rag tag of wanna be pirates, criminals, or terrorists (pick your term) wanted to make money on the misery of others, a brave man following his conscience or maybe the example of He who gave his live for us, offered to trade himself, so his men would be spared.

Captain Richard Phillips was rescued from his captors today, Easter Sunday. It was probably the best Easter gift that his family could have received.

Many will hail the heroic rescue by our Military, and that is fine; my brothers and sisters in arms do great work and they do deserve the respect of a grateful Nation.

But, Captain Phillips truly exemplifies the understanding of the responsibilities of command. When you are in charge, the welfare of your troops comes before yours, every time. And I can tell you, since I have spent over 22 years in the military, that many forget this basic fact. His men were the first ones to break the story of how he, willingly, traded his freedom and possibly his life for that of his men.

Jesus traded His freedom and his life for us, not so much to make us happy, or religious, or whatever the world wants to believe, but so we could have a second chance. So we could, if we so desire, really understand the meaning of love, of self sacrifice, and so we would have a shining example of what we could become, if only we put aside our wants, and pride, our fears, and refuse to be ashamed of being called Christians.

The President said that we are not a Christian Nation. That is his opinion, and many of us really believe that… well, let’s just say that our opinion of him as a human being has been diminishing as the days go by…

I see in my life, how at times the weakness of the flesh brings me down, and how fears and weakness remind me how human I really am. But it is these days of remembrance, Good Friday, Easter, Christmas that help me stop, and look up. Look up, not to the stars, or the planes in the sky, but farther, farther to a time and a place long gone, to the week where Jesus rode the little donkey to enter the city of Jerusalem. The week when a weak but proud Peter denied that he even knew Jesus. The week in which Jesus, having an alternative, yes, He could have said that He was not going to go through with his destiny; elected of His own Free Will to give His life for us.

It is these Christians celebrations that remind me of the great Sacrifice of our Lord. And is those scarce examples of human bravery that show us that we can aspire to follow Jesus example, that we can put our lives in His hands, and become an instrument of His love.

While the secular world celebrate a day of colored eggs, and bunnies in weird costumes, let us remember that our Lord traded His life for ours, and defeated death, so we could understand that by following Him, our hopeless life suddenly