It should also be a tradition for Americans to establish resolutions for the improvement of our nation. In fact, there is much we could do in this regard.

     First of all, this being an election year, we should undertake to elect men and women of character to represent us at every level – municipal, county, state, and federal. Further, we should endeavor to remove from office those elected officials who, rather than fighting for our best interests, instead line their pockets and feather their nests at taxpayer expense.

     Secondly, we should demand that our elected officials remain accountable for the votes they cast. The math is simple: politicians are elected to represent our values and interests and when they do not do so, they should be replaced with those who will.

      Further, as a predominantly Christian nation, America’s Christians should seek to defend our faith from those who seek to diminish or undermine it. Our Founding Fathers considered religious freedom so vital to the survival of our nation that they enshrined the concept in the Constitution under the Bill of Rights. Regrettably, there are many in this country and abroad who are intolerant of our religious views and who attempt to trivialize and marginalize Christians and Christianity.

     Examples of such acts are commonplace – efforts to remove “God” from the Pledge of Allegiance; efforts to remove Christian symbols such as the Ten Commandments from public buildings; etc. I recently wrote about the substitution of Christ with an X in Christmas. Though it is true the “X” is a Greek reference to Christ and having, therefore, some historical significance, Americans, by and large, do not speak Greek. Rather, the use of “Xmas” in America came into vogue during the late 60s counter-culture revolution in which traditional American institutions such as the military and religion (particularly Christianity) were marginalized.

     Substituting the X for Christ in Christmas was merely one small part of this marginalization process. Conveniently, those who promoted the Xmas symbol had simply to mention the Greek reference to deflect criticism. The 60s counter-culture movement also spawned the “Peace Sign” purported by many to be the Crucifix turned upside down with arms bent downward (upward if turned right-side up). Whether this is, in fact, the case or not (several other purported origins of the “Peace Sign” exit) is irrelevant in consideration of the fact that, for many people, perception is reality and the perception among many is that these two symbols, in particular, are anti-Christian.

     Americans should also resolve to continue to support our troops serving overseas and here at home. Regardless of one’s personal views on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the War on Terror in general, we should all remember that America’s soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines serve in harm’s way in order that all Americans remain free. Our troops didn’t start the wars nor do they call for continuation of these wars. Their service is born of patriotism and, therefore, is above politics.

     So this New Year, in addition to working hard to achieve your individual resolutions, don’t forget to contribute in your own unique way to America’s New Year’s resolutions.