“The greatest good we can do our country is to heal its party divisions and make them one people” – Thomas Jefferson (1801)

“The greatest good we can do our country is to heal its party divisions and make them one people” – Thomas Jefferson (1801)

“The mystical bond of brotherhood makes all men brothers.” – Thomas Carlyle


The War On Free Speech
by Michael Doyle
There is one lesson of liberty, we must always teach.
This is about the importance of maintaining free speech.
Free thought and freedom of expression are the one liberty
Above all else, that is what is needed to keep a nation free.
We must always have the right to speak without fear
Those things that maybe some will not want to hear.
It's a salient point that hopefully none are missing,
Censored speech harms those speaking and those who listen.
In England, people are currently imprisoned and serving time
For simply speaking their minds as if that is some sort of crime.
European and world leaders need to listen to the voices
Of their people and allow free thought in making choices.
Thoughtcrime is something straight out of Orwell's Animal Farm,
And as such it should raise the very loudest of alarms.
Censorship is an alien work of ruling through disinformation
And daring to call the truth out as if it were misinformation.
This happening across the world before our eyes.
We must believe in free speech even for those we despise.
We must fight for the right of all to speak and to think
If we are to keep civilization from slipping over the brink.
The public square is the marketplace of ideas to openly contest
And through rigorous debate, we as a society decide what is best.
Alternative viewpoints should be welcomed for all to speak,
And where necessary be shouted from the mountain peaks.
There cannot be any real degree of security without free voices
To discuss all the myriad of necessary choices.
Silencing dissent is the path that removes our freedom
And kills off the all-powerful right of free expression.
Some argue that dissent is among the highest forms of patriotism.
To a large degree, I agree and say so with full optimism.
To dissent freely is to express faith in our nation's system,
Knowing that if wrong, our ideas are free to be reset again.
(c) June 16, 2025 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved

“The measure of the wealth of a nation is indicated by the measure of its protection of its industry; the measure of the poverty of a nation is marked by the degree in which it neglects and abandons the care of its own industry, leaving it exposed to the action of foreign powers.” – Henry Clay

“Doing nothing for others is the undoing of one’s self. We must be purposely kind and generous, or we miss the best part of existence. The heart that goes out of itself, gets large and full of joy. This is the great secret of the inner life. We do ourselves the most good doing something for others.” – Horace Mann


The Roll of Fathers
by Michael Doyle
Like a law of nature, it's a natural fact
That the roll of all fathers has its impact.
In response and call, ever since the fall,
Fundamentally, God is the father of us all.
Since the Fall, imperfection has been all around,
And no perfect relationship has been found.
It is in how we learn to carry grace
That the best relationships can lovingly embrace.
Father's Day is the day that a lot of take annually
To stop and think about what it is to be in God's family.
Even the Fatherless can take comfort in His loving correction
And work out how to move their lives in the right direction.
The empty road pushes on, forever, seeming to endlessly go on.
We do our best, taking our best aim until all of life is gone.
But if we take some moments to listen to that prayed-to voice,
We can hear its rebuke just enough to make the better choice.
So it is with our earthly Father if we take a moment to lean
In to hear the best advice he has based on what he has seen.
As a sacred child, we have every blessing and every opportunity
To enjoy the love given by him for the sake of your security.
Father above, and Father on earth, each chooses to be present
And given their all to the children, as if an endless present.
A good father's discipline allows his children to make mistakes
And own these mistakes while helping them through the heartaches.
A good father has an open mind and a heart for appreciation.
To his children, he gives his sincerest dedication.
He leads through example and gives time considered quality.
This is the loyalty given in an earthly and godly family.
In challenges lived through, there are lessons taught to learn.
Each of these helps a child grow stronger and teaches to discern.
Love is given unconditionally and with a father's protection.
Each correction given is simply to point out the right direction.
Life isn't perfect and parenting often has its skill issues.
It seems there are times of guilt and many tissues.
We're not alone in this as the Bible is filled with mistakes
And God knows and knows of all of humanity's many heartbreaks.
Life is filled with happenstance that never seems to get a chance
As it fills itself with mundane details and forgets about romance.
Each day gives us fathers another try to listen and maybe learn
About those things left for us to discern.
We need to let our children know they are loved just as they are
To hope for their dreams and be allowed to go far.
But the best that we can do is do our level best
And accept that we have when we are laid to rest.
It's easier to become a father than to ever be one.
I take my best example from our Father and His Son,
And I hope against hope that when my time is done,
Maybe my daughters will find I imperfectly was one.
(c) June 15, 2025 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.’ – Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)

“To a father growing old nothing is dearer than a daughter”. – Euripides
(I am truly blessed, as I have two daughters – each of them, in their own individual ways, is a completely wonderful person to know. I could not ask for more.)


As Invincible As the Stars
by Michael Doyle
Another Father's Day approaches soon.
I think on this under the shining moon.
I love talking to each of my daughters,
And I realized I'm blessed to be their father.
I think on the long drives and all the love
As I look out the window toward the stars above.
We have worn out more than a few cars
As I watched them grow up to be as invincible as the stars.
It's a private joy to watch youth catch fire.
Watching their eyes fill with their desire.
These girls of mine have grown into young ladies.
They are no longer willing to be coddled like babies.
There's a wildness in their blood that runs true.
I tell my ex-wife, "(Th)ey remind me of me and you"
Back in our younger days before life had its ways.
It brings me joy, but also her worry about how nothing stays.
Indiana has its spots of wildness in its smooth cultivation.
The girls and I walked these lands in our fascination.
We have wandered its fields and woods to hear birds sing.
We have stayed up until midnight to find the morning brings
Another day to drive a little further and explore more.
We kept it in mind that our tomorrows would have more in store.
Waking up early and finding our feet meeting the floors
Of ancient hotels with beautiful hardwood floors.
As they sleep in their room just across on this quiet night,
I daydream a little about the things I managed to get right.
And as I have happily watched watched them grow into women,
I hate - a little - that they'll never be little again.
Admittedly, I will miss the memories of back then...
And I would love to be able to live those days again.
Don't get me wrong, I look forward to their future.
But they've been a blast as I have fathered and nurtured.
(c) June 14, 2025 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved

“To survive in peace and harmony, united and strong, we must have one people, one nation, one flag.” – Pauline Hanson
Happy Flag Day!

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