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American Dunkirk

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Harvey, the Cajun Navy, Monster Trucks, Texas Grit and the American Way

Eventually, the flood of toxic identity politics and snowflake sensibilities gets washed away by the real thing – like Hurricane Harvey and the biblical-scale flooding that devastated Houston and large portions of the Texas coast. Forty died (sadly, more will be found), more than 100,000 homes were severely damaged or destroyed, half-a-million cars were lost, and the preliminary damage estimates exceed $125 billion (worse than Katrina and Sandy combined). Coming on the heels of the deeply divisive debate over offending statuary and violent clashes between Klansmen, Nazis and Antifa Anarchists, Harvey reminded us all of what is important – and of how profoundly good America’s people and its free enterprise system are. All levels of government and our military performed admirably. And in true American fashion, ordinary citizens also reported for duty to do the extraordinary. The “Cajun Navy” and the “Monster Truck” brigade – thousands of ordinary American citizens rode to the rescue of fellow Americans trapped by life-threatening

Coming on the heels of the deeply divisive debate over offending statuary and violent clashes between Klansmen, Nazis and Antifa Anarchists, Harvey reminded us all of what is important – and of how profoundly good America’s people and its free enterprise system are. All levels of government and our military performed admirably. And in true American fashion, ordinary citizens also reported for duty to do the extraordinary. The “Cajun Navy” and the “Monster Truck” brigade – thousands of ordinary American citizens rode to the rescue of fellow Americans trapped by life-threatening

The “Cajun Navy” and the “Monster Truck” brigade – thousands of ordinary American citizens rode to the rescue of fellow Americans trapped by life-threatening flood waters with every type of boat and large vehicle. Every hero came with his own boat or truck, entirely assuming the risk and cost of helping fellow countrymen in need. No room for identity politics here; no one asked about race, color or creed in giving or receiving assistance.

Just like Dunkirk, where the British people rose to duty in their own vessels – of all sizes and types – to save their trapped troops and thus prevent the loss of their nation, so too the “Cajun Navy,” the “Monster Truck” brigade, and every American who rushed to the aid of their fellow countrymen, have shown us what is important in life and what is best about America.

All of us at SoldierStrong salute the fight and determination of Texas and the America spirit. To Harvey and all of our adversaries: “E Pluribus Unum” – we are “One” – and now and ever, AmericaStrong!

Our security depends on our brave troops who run into the fight…

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Our security depends on our brave troops who run into the fight…

There’s a bit of battle-tested wisdom we need to keep in mind when asking what needs to be done about threats to our nation’s security like the one coming from North Korea. Whatever mix of diplomacy, sanctions or military posturing is used, ultimately our security depends on this simple fact:

“We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.”

Students of the Second World War will recognize the quote as coming from either George Orwell or Winston Churchill. More important than who said it first is the context in which it was said. As Hitler built his military and signaled his ill intent, Europe slept and America chose to stay away from the fight. Appeasement and abdication of responsibility led to war then, and they have not worked today. In fact, they have never worked. Every time we look away from the danger in the hopes that someone else will do the heavy lifting, we only increase the cost and pain of what is sure to come. Whenever we act, this simple but profound truth holds: our security ultimately depends on brave troops who run into the fight while the rest of us sleep safely in our beds far from it.

SoldierStrong is dedicated to supporting those brave men and women who ran into the fight and now need help to stand on their own two feet again. They did their part; now we must do ours.

“We Mutually Pledge To Each Other Our Lives, Our Fortunes, And Our Sacred Honor…”

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“We Mutually Pledge To Each Other Our Lives, Our Fortunes, And Our Sacred Honor…”

With this last sentence of our Declaration of Independence, the fifty-six signers of that document not only committed themselves to uncompromising, complete devotion to the American Republic, but they also charted a path for all patriots to come. When the signers of the Declaration committed themselves to this pledge, they also signed the warrants for their own doom at the hands of the greatest military force the world had known to that point. It’s not that they did not know whether Washington and the Continental Army would be successful. Quite to the contrary; there was little reason to believe they would. This is what makes their commitment so very courageous.

No living American knows this feeling because our material capacity and warfighting capability exceed that of any adversary who has fought us or would consider doing so. The only question to answer today is whether we have the will to defeat our adversaries. Too many of the elected officials who commit our armed forces to the defense of our nation and our principles speak of every goal with the exception of the one that counts most: complete victory over our adversaries. But those who have taken the pledge of our founders when they accepted the solemn responsibility to defend our Republic are the most clear-eyed and committed to the ultimate goal: victory.

Reagan was once asked about his goal in the Cold War. His answer: “we win, they lose.” Well said, Mr. President. Let’s stand with the soldiers who win for us.

SoldierStrong stands with our heroes! Join us in supporting our military veterans by donating today.

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A Republic…if you can keep it….

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“A Republic…if you can keep it….”

That’s how Benjamin Franklin responded to a question asking what kind of government the Constitutional Convention of 1787 created. The ancient Greeks and Romans tried something similar and it ended in dictatorship and collapse, as increased prosperity dulled the lessons of the past and the virtues that built prosperity. Entitlement, grievance, factionalism, debt, and disunity killed those attempts at empowerment of the people. But Franklin and his fellow Founders thought America could be different (the motto of the great seal of the fledgling United States: “Novus Ordo Seclorum” – “A New Order of the Ages”). Their constitution, the first written one in history, limited government and made clear that the people were the source of its power. For this experiment in popular sovereignty to succeed, however, the people would need to be virtuous in word and deed. Honesty, thrift, devotion to hard work, service for the common good, love of country, and a solemn respect for and gratitude to the Almighty for liberty’s blessings had to be taught and reinforced. Over 230 years, this approach has yielded spectacular successes. No nation in history has been as prosperous at home or liberated as many abroad. But our contemporary challenges are mounting and our sense of virtuous purpose is in question. Rather than debate the symptoms of our national malady, our preference is to focus on the cure.

We are SoldierStrong, a not-for-profit created to purchase and put in-place the most technologically sophisticated and effective rehabilitative mechanisms to help those heroes who have sustained catastrophic spinal chord injuries while defending our nation. Though our first priority is to raise funds to purchase exoskeletal rehab suits for use by injured vets, we’ll be writing in this space to raise important lessons from our national past to keep strong our shared virtues and the patriotism necessary to win the future. Thanks for reading, please let us know your thoughts, and we hope you stay with us as our mission for our veterans and our nation continues.

Our next essay will consider “Our Lives, Our Fortunes, and Our Sacred Honor” – The Founders on Character and Virtue and what it should mean to us today. See you then!

JORDAN ROBINSON

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Syracuse University, Newhouse School of Public Communications and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

Robinson served in the Marine Corps from 2008­‐2014 where she was a Marine Security Guard Staff Sergeant (E6) at American embassies in Mozambique, Austria, and Cuba. Her primary work involved the protection of classified material vital to national security. Prior to that Robinson was a satellite communications technician, responsible for the repair and maintenance of equipment in direct support of OEF and OIF. During her service, Robinson received numerous accolades to include Non‐Commissioned Officer of the Quarter for Communications Squadron 38 as well as promoted to Assistant Detachment Commander of the Marines in Vienna, Austria.

Robinson most recently served as the Student Veterans Organization President and was responsible for the progress and oversight of the organization through initiatives designed to inform, inspire, and integrate both veterans and military dependents. During her tenure as president, some of her accomplishments include organizing the Student Veterans Ball as well as serving as emcee in the Veterans Day ceremony at Hendricks Chapel.

Robinson is currently a student at Syracuse University pursing her graduate degree in Public Diplomacy: a dual masters program in both international relations and public relations through the Newhouse School of Public Communications and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Her dream is to become a Foreign Service Officer in the Department of State serving at embassies across the globe.