Faith, Freedom, & Frankly, What's With the Tartan?

A Week of Remembrance, Tradition, and… Tartan?

Folks, it’s hard to believe another week has flown by. Seems like just yesterday we were all bracing for those March winds! But here we are, into April, and a whole heap of observances are upon us. Now, some of these are the good, solid, traditional kind, the sort that build character and remind us of what really matters. Others… well, let’s just say they leave a fella scratching his head.

We kicked things off yesterday with Easter Monday, a Christian observance – good, solid faith, that’s what built this country. And right alongside that, we had the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. Now, I’m all for a healthy competition, keeps the boys sharp, but “development and peace?” Sounds a bit…soft, if you ask me. Still, can't argue with encouraging folks to get off the couch. And then there’s National Tartan Day. Tartan Day? Honestly. A celebration of Scottish patterns? Seems a little…frivolous, doesn’t it? Don’t get me wrong, Scotland has its place, but we’ve got real American heritage to be proud of.

Today, April 7th, the United Nations is observing World Health Day, and also remembering the tragic victims of the Rwanda Genocide. That’s a stark reminder, folks, that even amidst our blessings here, we have to remember the suffering in the world. It’s important to acknowledge these dark chapters, but also to be grateful for the freedoms and security we enjoy – freedoms we have to defend, mind you.

As the week rolls on, we’ll see the end of Passover on the 9th – another time-honored religious tradition. Then, on the 9th as well, we take a moment to remember our brave men and women who were Prisoners of War. Those are the folks we should be celebrating. Real Americans who sacrificed everything.

For our Orthodox Christian neighbors, Good Friday is the 10th, followed by Holy Saturday on the 11th, culminating in Orthodox Easter on the 12th. A time for faith and family, a fine thing indeed.

And finally, on the 12th, we have the International Day of Human Space Flight. Space! Now that’s something to get excited about. Exploring the cosmos, pushing the boundaries of human achievement. That’s the kind of ambition this nation needs.

So there you have it – a week of remembrance, tradition, and a little bit of everything in between. Let’s remember what’s important, folks, and be thankful for the blessings we have.