My America
I’ve been wanting to say this for a while now. But I’ve kept it to myself, because I truly believe that people would prefer for singers and entertainers to entertain rather than try to sway public opinion about politics or political issues, although I’ve yet to see a political issue that at it’s root wasn’t a people issue.
I’ve finally made up my mind to just say it anyway. I’m not trying to sway your opinion or attack your beliefs. this is simply how feel about my memories and observations.
I miss my country. The country I grew up in. My America.
My America believed in a freedom that was fought for and hard won by early colonists who didn’t want to be taxed by a monarchy with no representation. All the revisionist history writers do not change that truth.
In My America we stood up on Monday morning in school and pledged allegiance to our flag and our nation, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, with LIBERTY and JUSTICE for ALL. AND WE BELIEVED IT!
My America was proud of it’s second amendment right to bear arms for protection against that ever happening again to us as a country. Along with that right came the ability to protect our homes and family from bad people with evil intent of either taking what we worked for away from us or, even worse, causing us or our family physical harm. I stand by that amendment for these reasons:
A gun is a tool.
It does not kill unless someone uses it to kill.
PEOPLE kill.
PEOPLE have been killing with whatever they could get their hands on since Cain clubbed Abel with a rock. God didn’t ban Rocks. He banned Cain!
While I’m on the subject let me say that MY America believed in God. My America respected God and his commandments and believed that the Holy Bible was God’s word. End of story. And My America had a government that was created on the principles of of God, and the rights that we the people were given by our creator God. My America had prayer in school. If it offended you or you didn’t believe in God then out of respect for PEOPLE you simply stood silently while they prayed.
My America believed in protecting children of all ages, including UNBORN children.
MY America would never make a political statement about disarming law abiding citizens to protect our children while condoning the slaughter of millions of unborn babies and partially BORN babies by abortion funded by taxpayer dollars. My America would have fought to protect those babies with their last dollar, their last bullet, and their last prayer.
In MY America, Daddy and Mama, and Father and Mother was the most important job in the world. People PARENTED. They Raised they’re children, fed them, clothed them, sent them to school, took them to church, taught them right from wrong, and didn’t let them run the streets unsupervised like a pack of wild animals, or leave them for someone else to watch or raise while Mom and Dad “did their thing”.
In MY America, people took responsibility for the lives they had brought into the world, even if MISTAKENLY brought into this world, because that was the right thing to do.
My America took pride in itself as a nation and as a people. It even took pride in being the place where people from all over the world could come to live the “dream’.
And Yes, MY America HAD a dream! And that dream did NOT involve The Federal Government feeding, clothing, and taking care of us until we died! My America’s dream was one of Working and building and Creating opportunity for self and family in order to have a prosperous life. Government was FOR the People and BY the people, NOT for the ELITE and BY the Elite.
In My America we pulled together, and helped our brothers and sisters and our neighbors.
In short, My America was blessed, and prospered, NOT because WE were great, but because we believed GOD was great, and we acted accordingly.
Did we have a bloody civil war over slavery? Yes! And out of the ashes of that war we became even more stronger and even more blessed as we accepted responsibility for our wrongs against other races, and recreated OUR America, over Years, to finally become all inclusive of all races. The people who perpetrated those heinous acts against other races, against the African Americans, against The Native Americans, against the Chinese Americans and others have LONG BEEN DEAD and are everything but forgotten.
AND the peoples of other races who were treated this way have LONG been dead and all but forgotten as well. My America does not owe a legitimate apology to anyone of any color for what our ancestors did 100-150 years ago. In MY America All races, all colors are FREE with the same opportunity as every other American.
TODAY, sadly, MY America is no longer recognizable!
Today America is Elitist,and Selfish and Self Centered with all eyes on the dollar rather than on God.
Today America believes that killing babies is OK, that killing murderers is NOT OK, that Parenting is someone ELSE’s responsibility, that Government is ABOVE the people, not FOR the people, that God is OFFENSIVE, because if there IS a God then we can’t do what WE WANT TO DO and act the way WE WANT TO ACT.
SO America would rather God just be left out of EVERYTHING.
Today America doesn’t believe nor want to hear the TRUTH, because the TRUTH would REALLY hurt and be offensive to a lot of people.
So Today America is politically correct, offending no one, while completely offending God.
History HAS and DOES repeat itself.
Today America is ignoring those lessons learned by our forefathers and their forefathers before them.
Today America completely ignores common sense and spiritual sense in favor of selfishness and irresponsibility.
There WILL be HELL to pay for that.
Chele
Well said my friend, well said.
Kevin
Thank you ,,,Very well said !!!
Sarah Read
I too sadly miss My America and continue to pray that we as a Nation will turn back to the Nation that was built on Putting God First In Our Lives ‘ Instead of leaving God out of everything, we need to put Him back at the center of all we do. As christains we need to stand up for our faith and not be silent because someone thinks it is NOT Politically Correct,. Thank you for speaking the truth .
Laurie
Jeff, May I have your permission to repost your comment on my facebook page?
BTW – I love your music and especially the song/video to “One Second Chance” it reminds me of my late son and the struggles he had to deal with and it opened my eyes to see how hard he really had it and not just being lazy. Thank you!!!
vickie mcnabb
Jeff I totally agree with you. America isnt the way it was when we grew up and now our kids are gonna suffer if it doesn’t change. God comes first in life and when you out God first things will change. And I am proud to say that Mississippi is the first state to out prayer back in school and I pray that the other states will follow. And when God is brought back unto our schools the bullying and school shooting will stop. My nephew is fighting for our country and our freedom, and someone is trying to take that away. I pray that America outs God back in everything.
Rainey
Very well said….
Deborah Howard
Thank GOD! Yes GOD!!! Finally someone who is not afraid to speak the truth. I too, miss my country. I remember growing up in a small town, where my grandparents worked very hard to provide and make a good life for my mom and her brothers and sisters. They were the ultimate role models for me and I miss them terribly every day. I miss that generation. They brought up their children in the church and taught them to be responsible, respectable, hard working individuals that didn’t depend on the government for a handout. It seems everyone wants a free ride, they just don’t see that the more they take, the more control the government has control over them. That’s not what this country was built on at all. It’s very sad. My mother and I have followed you for years now. We have attended concerts, bought all your CD’s, stayed to meet with you after your shows and take pictures. We always knew what a great man you were, especially knowing the demons you have overcome, with the help of GOD, and the best part was you weren’t afraid to say it. Now I am so proud of you for what you wrote above. it only confirms what a good person you are……….and a great American! That’s why your fans love you so much. Not many people speak the truth these days, thank you for saying it like it is!!! Can’t wait to see you in concert, we miss you! Keep the faith! You and your precious family are in our prayers always! Take Care!
Mike
Awesome Post Jeff!!!!
Love it!
glo
Amen, The sad part is their is to many other faiths that our government doesn’t want to offend so they want Christians to forget their faith and keep their mouths shut when it comes to God.
I believe in saying God bless you, Merry Christmas, God Bless the USA, In God we Trust, and Prayers in schools. I took my third child out of public school and I home school him now because I’m so sick of every time their is a function at school there is a child or two who doesn’t believe in the celebration and you have to somehow include them into the celebration without offending their religion. I’ve spend many of hours looking for something for the child and spending a lot on money for one or two items when I can buy 20 of the same things for less. To top it off the school only has a moment of silent instead of saying a prayer. I stood in line without saying a word and waited for the teacher to pick a child to say the prayer everyday before went to the lunch room. Today the teachers yell over all the talking to tell the children to be silent or we will not go to lunch.
Jennifer
Well said Jeff and so very true, Our world is coming down hard and there is alot of us that still believe in GOD, but are afraid to speak up to our nation. I am a firm believer of GOD and Our Nation needs to Bring him back in Our schools. Before taking the Pledge of Allegience out of our schools we did not have to worry about bad people coming in and hurting our children or even into our homes and hurting our families and now thats what we worry about every day. I was touched by your words and you are my inspiration.
Carolyn
I wish more people had the guts to say what you just did. Things would be alot different! But anymore, nobody just flat cares. Everybody is too busy doing their ‘own thing’ to really care what goes on around them. And when something doesn’t agree with that, they just find an excuse to blame someone else.
I wish my gr-kids were able to do some of the same kid-like things that we all done as kids. But their parents won’t let them be kids – grow up and act your age.. that’s what they are trying to do but the adults won’t let them.
andrea
Amen, my friend!
Kris
For those of us that feel and believe as you do, we are in deep deep trouble. I also miss MY America, and it breaks my heart that my grandchildren, and future great grandchildren may never know what this beautiful country was supposed to be about. I tried to instill in my children the same values, and feel like they are doing a very good good job with theirs, but it is an uphill battle for sure. Thanks Jeff, you inspire me to be a better person, by your music and you ministry
Sherri
I am so glad to hear you stand up for our America! More americans need to stand up. And those who don’t like America,–need to leave
Colleen
Thank You!
Mike Wilson
Well said Jeff America needs to turn back to God we need him in our schools in our government the first president prayed before every congress section we need that back we don’t need one that is phony we need to Start back teaching our kids about god in our homes an school to because the only way we can stop this trouble america is headed to
Darlene
I sent your message to a couple of my guy friends to read. Do you know what I put at the top. I said,
“I love Jeff Bates as a singer and as a person…He Rocks!” Thank you Jeff for taking the time to so eloquently express what we have all been thinking and saying, but not many people have the guts to just tell it like it is and spell it out and put it out there for people to see. America is in trouble, and the only way that God is going to bless us again is for us to turn back to Him, and quit worrying about offending this person or that person if they raise a stink about our prayer in school, and all the values that America was founded on to start with. Doesn’t anyone wonder why all of these catastrophies are happening. God hasn’t turned His back on us. We have walked away from Him.
Vanessa
I feel exactly the same way about today’s problems. I, too grew up in the age of moral values that are lost today along with the notion that big government was a thing to avoid. I came home from school knowing that my mother would be there and dad was protecting all of us. We obeyed what we were told or we got a spanking, not abuse, but we also knew what was expected of us. God has be dismissed in our country today. I pray for the future of my granddaughter and wish she could knew the world I grew up in. We still teach her manners and respect and to love God for his blessing. I cry for some many lost children that don’t have someone to guide them. And they will not take my guns!!!
Jennifer
Jeff- Very Well Said…….I wish there were more people wiling to speak their minds. I wish Our Politicians would Speak and Believe That the only Answer to Our Problems is GOD!! We all need to fall on our knees and ask God for forgiveness. Because your right There is going to be HELL to pay!!
terry
you told me once after one of your fantastic concerts “God Bless You” and I would like to return the blessing…I am grateful you sought the Lord, and even more grateful that he welcomed you into his fold. Please continue to use your gift to spread his loving words, thoughts, and life guidelines.
Vivian
Jeff you are so right our Government has taken God out of every thing.
That should be the first thing an always be the first thing that is FIRST AND ALWAYS. The only thing all of them are thinking is their wants an leaving the people out. That is why the country is the way it is now, wanting to take the citizens guns. It is the ones that is not the law abiding people it is the ones that do not care about any one. I have love you Jeff since the first time hearing your voice. As I have always told you I feel like you are one of my own. Keep spreading the good word and keep singing Conway’ and your songs. God Bless You. Vivian
Shelly
I miss her also.
Peggy
Well said Jeff. We need to get back to our roots. And that even means our government. We need to stand up to our leaders and let them know that we have had enough. They are taking our rights away while they get rich off us. They keep getting pay raising for doing nothing. They have yet to pass a budget and lower our deficit. We need to put the pledge back into our schools. The children now a days can not say the pledge. They don’t even know the meaning behind the words.
Steve H
Sad but true Jeff,I wish there was a way to get back to my America.
Keep the songs and the post coming,you have helped change my life forever.
Your freind in Conn.
Steve H.
Robin
Well said, my friend, VERY well said….
Renee
Jeff,
There are many of us that feel every bit of the way you feel and I for one try to speak up about it every chance I get. I just want to scream from all corners of the earth and especially in My America-WAKE UP people of all race, color, and creed. There is only one God our Soverign Creator and because people are turning away from him and serving other gods, idols and such he is tiring quickly and his patience and mercy is coming to an end soon. Fear not those of you that believe in the one true God, Jesus and the HOLY GHOST. All others please I beg you to stop what you are doing now and tell your God you are a sinner and believe in him and his son’s work on the cross before you miss your chance to live in paradise for eternity. Rapture is imminient, and if you think there is chaos now you haven’t seen anything yet. The bible says every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! I weep for the lost daily and pray for them without ceasing. Want you make him your GOD today? Thank you Jeff and Thank you God for convicting Jeff’s heart to say this out loud with courage and correctness. AMEN!
Renee
Jeff thank you for speaking God’s truth out loud and Thank you God for convicting Jeff’s heart to do so! Our America is being taken down internally by our atheist and greedy leaders at the White House and across the US. The Bible is quickly being fulfilled and rapture is imminient! THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD OUR SOVERIGN CREATOR. He loves each and everyone person on earth no matter race, color, or creed but he will not continue with his mercy and being ignored like he is nothing and no one of significance. He is our beginning and our end. The battle has already been won, just read revelation in God’s word the Bible. I weep daily for the unsaved and pray for them without ceasing. Because if people think things are bad or choatic now you haven’t seen anything near what is going to happen after the rapture of the church. I beg and plead with all people to come God thru Jesus and admit you are a sinner and that you belief in Jesus’ work at the cross, and the Holy Ghost before it is too late. He says to seek him while you can still find him. We are headed toward a dictatorship. If you belong to our One God then you have nothing to fear during these days of seeing our America disappear, but those of you that continue to ignore him and treat him like he is nothing he still loves you but will not know you when he comes for his people. The biggest weapon that we can own today is God and prayer and his merciful grace! Please join us today in seeking him out, receive his gift of salvation and spread his word! Again, thank you Jeff (brother in Christ) for being bold and couragous for our God and our America!
rose&troy
Jeff, We are very proud of you an the work that you are doing.. Everything that you said
in My America, is so true & so very scary. Not so much for us as we have lived a good long life, but for our children , Grands & Great grands. What will they have to endure? Renee is right, the rapture has to be near, and i believe that God is surely crying when He looks and sees what is going on now. We need to keep praying for the United States of America and that our leaders will open their eyes before it is to late. We love you & yours. The Cooleys
Jewell
Ok did you play at the North 40 club in Russellville Ar in the 1991/ 1994 let me know please
Angela
Very well said. I think you are a wonderful person and an awesome songwriter. Your music has touched me deeper than any other. Hope to see you in Memphis sometime real soon:)) keep up the awesome songwriting and God bless:)
sharon newsome
Breath takenly said it was wow!!!!
Teresa in Brewton
Jeff,
I would be your campaign manager right NOW!!!! Incredibly well stated. It’s sad that this country has become so “politically correct” that it’s totally incorrect!
This post should be sent straight to OBAMA & EVERYONE in Congress. Might actually get some of them to thinking.
Some of your statements sure could be set to music……you & KB ought to get together…..hint…hint…..:)
Sheila Godfrey
I agree with EVERYTHING you wrote. Very well said!