Lost somewhere in J. D. Vance's remarks at the Republican National Convention were some of the most important words uttered in this campaign so far.
Do you remember what J. D. said?
He talked about the home and the town he lived in growing up, the neighbors he knew, the people he came to count as family and the values they taught him. And he reminded us that these things are precious -- so precious that people are willing to fight for them and even willing to give up everything, if need be, to preserve them.
In essence, Vance was talking about our homeland and about nationhood. He explained it this way:
America is not just an idea. It is a group of people with a shared history and a common future. It is, in short, a nation. Now, it is part of that tradition, of course, that we welcome newcomers, but when we allow newcomers into our American family, we allow them on our terms. That’s the way we preserve the continuity of this project from 250 years past to hopefully 250 years in the future. . . .Even though the ideas and the principles are great, that is a homeland. That is our homeland. People will not fight for abstractions, but they will fight for their home.
The power of home and homeland cannot be underestimated. And it brings to mind the words of a beautiful song called The House I Live In made famous by Frank Sinatra:
What is America to me?A name, a map, a flag I see . . .
The house I live inA plot of earth, a streetThe grocer and the butcherAnd the people that I meet . . .
A place I work inA worker by my sideA little town or cityWhere my people lived and died . . .
The church, the school, the clubhouseThe millions lights I seeBut especially the peopleThat's America to me.
Note that the song mentions "a name, a map" and consider the importance of that because without a name that identifies boundaries and borders, there is no nation -- the whole notion of home, country and nationhood does not exist without clear, enforceable borders just as you have no home and no parcel of land without defined demarcation lines. Kamala Harris and Joe Biden and the Democrats are intent on erasing the whole notion of borders and they are actively pursuing that goal.
National boundaries are crucial to America for several compelling reasons that extend beyond mere lines on a map. These boundaries define the extent of sovereignty and jurisdiction that the United States exercises over its territory, which is fundamental to the functioning of the nation as a whole. Borders are critical to our governance, our defense, our international relations, the protection of our environment, our legal framework and, most importantly, our own cultural and social identity.
So what's at stake in this election is nothing less than that which we cherish most -- our homes, our neighborhoods, our beloved homeland itself. The very existence of our country as a sovereign, free and independent nation is on the line.
Remember this and vote like your home, your sanctuary and all that it represents hang in the balance. Because it does!
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