THE SLEEPING TIGER…THE SILENT MAJORITY
By
The Savvy Old Lady (c)
Joan Giorgianni

Two centuries ago Paul Revere rode through the countryside warning the Americans the British were coming.  Armed and ready, these brave patriots took their stance and defended what was rightfully theirs.  Today, more than two centuries later, Paul’s ride would have been criticized as being “politically incorrect”.  The Animal Rights Leagues would have condemned poor Paul for racing through the villages without adequate rest stops and proper feedings for poor ole Dobbin.  The ACLU would have had a field day defending the British and their right to occupy and visit any land they wanted.   The Non-Profiling advocates would be jumping up and down screaming that Paul was unfairly targeting the entire British population.  The Cindy Sheehans, Michael Moores, and the Hollywood political pundits of our day would be sitting on a fence debating the correctness of an armed conflict.   Luckily for us, our forefathers, set their priorities straight and envisioned not only the needs of “The Few” but the welfare and well being of all for every generation to come.  Immigrants from all over the world waited in endless lines to pass through the hallowed halls on Ellis Island. 

 Sadly, today there are those in our great country who live by the mantra of being “Politically Correct” above all else.  I don’t know about you but to me the “Politically Correct” folks are “The Few” but since the squeaky wheel always get oiled and the loudest mouth is always heard, the media seems to concentrate only on “The Few”.   The Silent Majority has become, preoccupied, complacent and although quietly grumbling has refused to speak out and be heard.  What will it take to stir the “Sleeping Tiger”? 
Well for this Savvy Old Lady, raised in the Pepsi Generation, the startling revelation came in the form of a fictitious Fourth of July Pepsi can!  A few days ago I discovered an internet story that has been circulating around the blogosphere that Pepsi Co. planned to have the Pledge of Allegiance, excluding the phrase“…under God…” printed on a new patriotic can.  This story was a hoax, a so-called urban legend.  I got taken in by the hype and wrote a rather scathing commentary about this and Pepsi Co in a now de-posted blog on www.thesavvyoldlady.com.  My heartfelt apologies go out to Pepsi Co. for my mistake.  But still this fictitious story made my little gray cells start to work a bit.

I realized that every single day there is some new real story on the news that either condemns or denounces the principles that the Silent Majority in America hold so dear. Oh, yes I will admit to being part of the Silent Majority for a long, long time and just like many others who haven’t the time or inclination to pursue half of the nonsense that is spouted by the media I too have sat back just shaking my head and remained silent.  The issues have varied from changing the wording of our Pledge of Allegiance, secularizing religious holidays to being patriotic only when it’s “politically correct”.   When is the Silent Majority going to reach their boiling point and no longer remain silent and sit back and listen to all the squeaky wheels getting oiled?  It seems as if each election year (now campaigning seems to start a few months earlier every election cycle) campaigns are run without morals or ethics.  Is this really what we want to leave as a legacy to all of our children and grandchildren?  Wake up America!  This country was not founded on principles and beliefs for Liberals or Conservatives or Democrats or Republicans only…it was founded for WE THE PEOPLE. 

Yoo-hoo, WE THE PEOPLE, are not just the intelligentsia or Ivy League graduates or residents of so-called urban-cultural hubs but also the average Jane or Joe who gets up every morning, gets the kids off to school, and then proceeds to go out and earn a living.  WE THE PEOPLE are bus drivers, farmers, clerks, retirees, students, professionals and all the other wonderful people in this great land who make up the giant melting pot of freedom.  Unfortunately, WE THE PEOPLE have been getting a raw deal over the last decade.  Our ethics, morals, freedoms, and religious beliefs have been questioned and hammered by “The Few” who are now dictating to the Silent Majority.

The daily travesties of justice may seem inconsequential to some, however, this little Pepsi story although a hoax should be a wake-up call for all of us regarding all the stories that are reported each day that are not hoaxes.  For example: just the mere thought of having a South American dictator condemn our President while “The Few” not only support this dictator but actually consider him a paragon of virtue for “donating” oil to the poor in America makes me thoroughly ill.  Doesn’t that sound wonderfully patriotic for an American... embracing a foreign dictator looking to undermine us and opposing The President of the United States of America?  But “The Few” got away with it and the Silent Majority stayed, well, silent.

As the proud mother of a Marine, who swore an oath to protect and defend his country I find myself totally disgusted with “The Few” who have the privilege to share time and holidays in a safe environment with their sons and daughters while military families sit at home and pray for the safety of their children.   Has “The Few” forgotten the millions of American men and women who have died, been maimed or injured preserving our right to loudly voice our opinions and be heard?  Sadly, I think this just might be the case. 

Well folks I don’t know about you but I have now decided that the little ole adage “The pen is mightier than the sword” is quite true.  I now plan to use my first amendment right of “freedom of speech” and get out of my chair and start raising my voice and my pen as our forefathers intended.  Come on folks, let’s be the squeaky wheel for a change and show “The Few” just how powerful the silent majority can be. 

Let the TIGER roar!

Hugs,
The Savvy Old Lady