Sometimes the knights in shining armor appear as crews’ wearing jeans, overalls and steel toed boots.
It doesn’t take an emergency beacon to activate them, just a need… and they come. Purposefully, without condition, ready to move, activate and respond. They throw the gear bags, kiss the ladies & babies, and head out. The rest is figured out upon arrival.
Superior Construction, came from Jacksonville, Ajax Paving from Fort Myers, Honc from the Cape and trucks with subs from just about everywhere. There’s both a unity and similarity that flows when callouses are clasped and the melding of purpose comes together. Few words are needed, because it’s a task centered outlook, let’s git r’ done – no quit.
I asked Richard to put this together. {Direct Ruble Link} The drone video is from FAI photography. The song is by Lucy Thomas. The message, well, given all of the critics who say America’s best days are behind, perhaps they need to pause a little bit and remind themselves what we are capable of. Enjoy:
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What has been accomplished in two weeks of 24/7 reconstruction is nothing short of remarkable. Then again, this is the Christian America we know well. The truckers, pullers, spreaders, drivers, welders, machinists, heavy equipment operators, tugboat operators, barge haulers, diggers, pumpers, tradesmen, all of them, just people.
Damn good people at that.
People who represent what makes our nation unique. The invisible, salty, mostly scruffy and beautifully comfortable about it, yet critical network of blue-collar crews that keeps it all operating. God, how I cherish them so.
At the core of our American purpose is a decency and unity. Critics don’t like to talk about it, but American workers are fundamentally good. When something seems impossible, for blue-collar Americans ‘impossible‘ is just another starting point, if you get out of the way. Don’t lose sight of that.
No other nation on earth was ever conceived on the principle of allowing people to manifest their own destiny, while keeping government out of their lives. The vision, the premise and the purpose, was to allow you the freedom to determine your place in life; and even, at any time, change that determination and strike off in an entirely new direction.
Our labor and aspirations would not be pre-determined by caste, tier, creed or social status; but rather by our personal vision for our own future. The right of self-determination.
This election is a time to reflect on the value of work; the great personal benefit of endeavors achieved; the pride in accomplishment -regardless of scale- amid this thing we call life; and all of these considerations have absolutely nothing, not-one-thing, to do with the money we assemble in the process.
What is the current value of a former seed that became a tree nurtured toward its continued maturity over decades? What was that seed worth at the time it was planted? We can only see the value in hindsight many years later. What value lay in the blood at Fort McHenry?
The job, per se’, was simple. Hold the flagpole in place. Keep that representative flag held high, no matter the cost. And yet, that cost, my God THAT COST, could it ever be quantified appropriately? A simple yet consequential task that expressed the fullest measure of devotion to the underlying premise, freedom.
America!
Several years ago, Florida Power and Light won the prestigious international Edward Demming Award for excellence in multi-platform engineering, efficiency, superiority and total quality in the process of energy management.
However, the scruffy rednecks did not blow every PhD intellectual out of the water with slide rules, CAD programs, articulated and quantified quality improvement processes and engineering acumen. They did it with hard hats and dirty fingernails.
Because they lost the award, the jaw-agape Japanese spent 6 months visiting and reviewing FPL and later published a 1,000-page study essentially saying FPL “wasn’t really good, they were just lucky.”
You see, the reviewers couldn’t actually quantify the reason why the Florida-based energy company was so successful. In response the FPL field leadership laughed, took out magic markers and wrote on the back of their hard hats: “WE’RE NOT GOOD, WE’RE RUCKY.”
A few years later, every single Kuwaiti oil field was blown up by Saddam Hussein. Global analysts and think-tanks proclaimed it would take 5 years to cap them all off and restart the Kuwait oil pumping industry. Well, the Kuwaiti’s and Saudi’s called Texans, who had them all capped and back in working order in 6 months.
We are a nation that knows how to get shit done.
A few more years pass, and the Northern Chile mine workers were trapped two miles underground. The eyes of the world began to tear as the word spread. Most began to whisper no one could save them. Who did they call for help? A bunch of hick miners from USA coal country who went down there, worked on the fly, engineered the rescue equipment on site, and saved every one of them.
Yup, that’s our America. Ingenuity born from freedom.
Across the pond a half-breed Islamic whack job, armed with an AK-47 and a goal to meet his virgins, began opening fire on a train in France. The scruffneck Americans on board didn’t run to the nearest safe room and hide themselves amid baguettes and brie. They said, “let’s go”, and beat the stuffing out of that little nut with a death wish.
Legion d’Honneur or not, that’s us. That’s just how we roll.
Lady Liberty can stroll along the Champs-Elysées with a swagger befitting Mae West because without her arrival, they’d be speaking German in the Louvre.
Yet, for the better part of the past decade, a group of intellectual leftists have been teaching our children that it’s better to be sitting around a campfire eating sustainable algae cakes and picking parasites off each other; because ‘save the planet’, or something similarly minded. It would appear, they hate the outcomes and inequities from freedom.
So, we get to today, and right now those who wish to “fundamentally change” our nation are waging a full-frontal assault against our constitutional republic. The bombardment seems overwhelming.
Leftist city and state leaders have abandoned rule of law in favor of supporting a mob effort to destroy our sense of national unity. Political activists, left-wing ideologues under the guise of democrats, and a host of media allies are conducting information warfare on behalf of their objective. Big tech social media companies are attempting to remove the voices of those who are fighting back.
There is a great deal of purposefully driven anxiety and fear amid our nation as this multi-faceted internal war takes place. However, there is a primary element to this effort that each person can shield themselves from, and act to counter. We are, yet again, in Fort McHenry.
Do not let your sense of self succumb to this assault. Do not let them win the battle for your peace of mind.
It might, heck, -check that- it does seem overwhelming at times. But that is the nature of this collectivist strategy. That is the purpose of this bombardment. We must hold strong and push back against their lies and manipulations. If you look closely at their attack, it is weak and much of it is psychological bait. Do not fall into the trap of despair.
When we share the message, “live your best life”, it is not without purpose.
Every moment that we allow the onslaught to deter us from living our dreams, is a moment those who oppose our nation view as us taking a knee. Do not allow this effort to succeed.
You might ask yourself how I can, one person, a flea looking into a furnace, retain an optimistic disposition while all around me seems chaotic and mad.
That’s the point; it ‘seems’ chaotic and mad because it has been created to appear that way. There are more of us than them; they just control the systems that allow us to connect, share messages and recognize the scale of our assembly. We cannot comply our way out of tyranny.
Every second that you live your life with thankfulness for the abundance within it; every moment that we CHOOSE to engage with fellowship; every day that we accept guidance from God – however you define him to be; and every moment we cherish this time to be a beacon of optimism; is a moment that we withstand that barrage and hold the flag in place. It is a genuinely patriotic position not to succumb to the attack.
If you allow yourself to be drawn into crisis and despair, you allow them to win. If your center of normal is based around this overwhelming onslaught, you will eventually concede liberty in favor of peace. Once we stop living in liberty, we no longer have peace.
It is time to hold that flagpole again. To remember the reason the seed was planted. To cherish the tree of liberty.
We must withstand this onslaught, any onslaught, and rally to the origin of our true national spirit. We must rally to a standard of Americanism and accept this is not that. In essence, we must individually take a stand. Purposefully, deliberately and with forethought, we must engage those around us to get rid of this sense of foreboding.
This approach is how we win the larger battle. Again, it seems simple, but keeping that flag standing tall requires the heart of a lion and dirty fingernails.
All around us, in every tribe and region, there are people who need you to show them the strength that you have. Strength of spirit. Strength of fellowship that you will not relent from expressing. Lead your children, your children’s children, and the children of community with an unwavering and steadfast example.
No matter what noise is shouting from the loudspeakers we must withstand it; you must withstand it. We must make eye contact and remain joyful.
We cannot allow despair to be the status quo; and we cannot allow a generation to experience a world without joy.
Our nation needs more people like you, right now. Don’t wait… engage life. Resolve to get optimistic however you need to do it. Then let that part of you shine right now. This is how we fight.
Hold up that flag; give the starter smile. Rally to the standard you create and spread fellowship again. God knows we need it.
When I hear President Donald Trump say, “Let’s Make America Great Again”, I also hear the familiar echo “cowboy up” people.
Git ‘r done.
It’s high time we stop being embarrassed about our exceptional American nature, and start being proud of it again.
Because when it matters most, when it really counts, when it’s really needed, there’s a whole bunch of people all around this world of ours that are mighty happy when swagger walks in to solve their problems.
Yeah, let us recommit to “Make America unapologetically Great Again”.
Swagger on, MAGA. NO QUIT!
Simply amazing! Congratulations to all who have worked on this project. Well done.
buy em all beer at the Mucky Duck when things are back to some form of normal
Somehow, President Trump needs to see this. It is beautifully written and much needed.
Thank you for reminding us all. God bless us every one🙏🏻🇺🇸
O my Sundance my eyes seem to be tearing after watching that awesome video of the Sanibel road repairs. (Especially with one of my fave songs- Hallelujah). Governor DeSantis did get ‘er done. God bless him and all the great workers on that project.
Can you imagine if the “US Government “ was on this road repair or any of the other road/ bridge/ infrastructure repairs DeSantis has accomplished? US Gov would still be making sure there be “DEI” workers & doing “environmental “ studies.
Thank-you and God Bless.
Song written by Leonard Cohen – a Master like President Trump
Hallujah by Pentatonix-
Get the Kleenex. You don’t just hear the Song….you actually feel it!
A capella. The group does have a beat boxer.
It’s on YouTube and Rumble.
Their version of Amazing Grace is the same.
Many Kleenex needed for that one too!
ACapella. No instruments.. just beat boxer.
A masterpiece, for sure.
I also enjoy their version of ” The Sound of Silence”
Absolutely beautifully made!
Great writing Sundance!
Now if a democrat gov had done this accomplishment, which is not even possible in their dreams, it would’ve been all over the news….
Not his one though. Just like all President Trump’s accomplishments were hardly known during his 4 years.
Good for the people of Florida and the entire nation! It can be done with good will and no bs.
Two comments –
Don’t forget the civil engineers who designed the fix.
With God all things are possible.
I’ll betcha the civil engineers who designed the “bridge” using intermediate sand bars work for the State and blew wads of millions to come up with a design that could be wiped out by a big storm… because building an end to end elevated concrete bridge would have cost too much.
I’ll also betcha the civil engineers who are patching it right now didn’t deal with paperwork from the County, State, Feds, FDA, IRS, DOJ and didn’t have to do environmental studies for the DOE and Indian Affairs and Gay Bathroom Directorate.
Life is good when the paper pushers and blood suckers get the hell out of the way, huh?
A mentor once told me,”Civil engineering is the study of dirt, water, and money”
He explained it further and sated my curiosity about his statement.
In any project, safety is paramount during the project’s life, but budgets are important too.
With enough funds and resources, I suppose we could build a bridge to Europe.
That’s well said. Thank you. Very uplifting statements. Can do mind set.
Well said sir.
“I’d rather be governed by the first 100 names in the Boston phone book than the faculty of Harvard University” W.F. Buckley
Bill did take a huge shot at Harvard being he was an Eli. 😀
Wonderful reminder of who we Americans started out being! In his speeches, President Trump always acknowledges those who tamed the wilderness and built the railroads……and other things I can’t remember. The kind of men our country needs to lend their strength to build and produce and repair. To recognize what needs to be done and then do it. Thank you for that beautifully written, optimistic tribute.
I will add a second tribute because strong men get so much done, but there are also strong and hard-working women with that get it done attitude. Wives and single women who till the garden, pick the food, can and freeze. Who take a second job, mow lawns, repair the washing machine, use a saw and hammer, split wood, make the children’s clothes, balance the checkbook, paint the house, clean the gutters, rake the leaves, go to all the PTA meetings, read over homework papers and report cards, staff the church food pantry, bake cookies and cook the meals, and always, every night, read a Bible story and say prayers with the children.
That is why families are so important. Intact families are the example, the firm foundation of order and success for the future.
Sundance,
Thank you so very much! Your words are inspiring. Those people are doing great work in Florida. God bless each and every one of them.
MAGA in action! This is why we will win…………they are amazing! Kudos to all the guys and gals out there making a difference!
LOVE YOU, AMERICANS!
And I promise you some liberal out there is thinking/saying that is money that could have gone to a sex change for a little tranny infant that wants to be a girl that looks like a boy that only dates boys that date girls who date boys that date chickens. And that bridge just goes to support rich white males that don’t need bridges and everything they touch they don’t deserve even if they are poor and black because they are white and rich even when poor and black. You know, just cause and like whatevs because I be a white liberal male and don’t do as I do do as I say and like cause white males are bad but Im good because like yea be Attica or stuff and something. And my mommy and daddy told me I’m great and that’s true cause I am because I identify as black but I’m white but that’s black in my mind cause yea and cool and stuff.
What I just wrote above is what we are dealing with right now. A rubix cube of insanity. Anyone figure out how to make it work right?
I am sitting here with tears in my eyes. Sundance, you and all your people down there are amazing.
This country is blessed to have such extraordinary human beings who perform miracles every day.
Thanks as always for your generosity and for sharing this magnificent story with us. As Traveler said, we need this today. With all the horror that is going on, it is imperative that we never forget the good works that are taking place as well.
If God is with us, who can stand against us?
I have nothing to add to your words. They, like our beloved Sundance’s are perfect. And, like Traveler said, sorely needed right now.
To the Git R Done crowd: Hip hip, hooray (and as our forefathers might have said) huzzah for a job well done!
The hard working, believing, strong Americans who try hard to do the right thing, and do not stop trying…and love and appreciate this great country. We CAN keep going even when the going is tough, even when the path is rough, and the night seems darkest and hope seems hard to find.
Beautiful video and a great post. ❤️ I needed this inspiration so much. Thank you!!
Swagger on!
This is the best post I have ever read or watched on this thing we call the Internet! I think God every night and ask to save and keep our country healthy and safe. I will do so again tonight and the next night and so on because of the fortitude that I have received from Sundance at the conservative treehouse. God bless our country and thank you Sundance.
Sundance, you forgot one thing. 99% of the people who did that are MEN! Say it loud and say it proud. MEN built the modern world. And men sustain it. Period.
As Camila Paglia said, “ if women were in charge we would all still be living in mud huts”. And she’s a Leftist, lesbian, feminist. Can’t get a more honest answer than that.
I love reading the work of Camilla Paglia. I would love to hear more from her. Like Christopher Hitchens, she is committed to the truth. I love reading or listening to people with whom I disagree when they are principled debaters.
Interestingly, after WWII, Mr. Demming (an expert on QUALITY), was named, by the Emperor of Japan, “A Living National Treasure” – OF JAPAN!
Very well written! Thank you for reminding us what is really important!
Biden went to thePA bridge collapse today. It collapsed in January. They said it will be done by December. PA don’t vote for ANOTHER Democrat governor! I’m sure he is there to steal Florida’s thunder for what a wonderful job they have done in 3 weeks.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/president-biden-touts-symbol-of-rebuilding-at-pittsburgh-bridge-that-collapsed/ar-AA13bXY3
Our small coastal town on the South Coast of British Columbia was hit by a major storm several years back.
Our pier was demolished.
A crew from the U.S.A. was contracted to do the work.
Their efforts were tremendous and the work completed way ahead of anticipated.
It really is too bad that D.C. is rotten, as the U.S.A. is one inspirational nation minus that cesspool.
Let’s all pray for a MAGA win in a few weeks, and a President Trump announcement that he will run in 2024.
Cheers !
From you’r lips to Gods ears thanks Dekester be well stay strong don’t give up R.D.
It’d be nice if we could take Sacramentograd, Hollywoodski, San Franciskovich, Portlandia, Olympianova and Seatllevich, bundle them and ship them to Washington DC.
Then we ship it to the Ukraine they so love.
Don’t forget Tacomavich
How could I forget that place?
I spent four years under the Tacoma Aroma! 😉
politicians start out by their nature as self-serving….it is just too bad that are consumed by it soon after arriving in DC
God bless America
Well said Sundance!
I’m placing this piece in a category with Gordon Sinclair’s The Americans broadcast. https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/gordonsinclairtheamericans.htm
Just as Mr. Sinclair’s broadcast was timely and inspirational so too does your piece hit the spot.
Head up. Shoulders back. Carry on.
“.., mostly scruffy and beautifully comfortable about it,..” What an awesome line. This hits the nail squarely on the head and drives it home. I may have to steal, with contribution of course.
We are the people who scare the crap out of the DimocRATS.
Joyful, grateful, hopeful and peaceful.
Perfect.
I have sent this to so many blue collar workers and others. Your words are just beautiful Sundance—a real masterpiece and just what i needed! Thank you so very much!
We cannot comply our way out of tyranny! No. We cannot.
That was fantastic! Don’t let the b*st*rds get you down”
Beautiful tribute, Sundance. Thank you.
We live in a truly remarkable country. Let’s keep working to remind our young ones that no matter what they say, the American Spirit is like no other on God’s great planet.
wow.. ..powerful.. that’s how it’s done..
with heart.. and soul.. and song..
..and an excavator..
..and giving Praise all along the way..
well done..
The US is not defined by the people with law, economics and political “science” degrees.. it is defined by its scientists, engineers, plumbers, carpenters, septic tap cleaners, welders, electricians, cooks, real estate developers, etc… Defined by the “can do” people not the “can’t do” snowflakes.
Remember Mike Rowe’s Dirty Jobs TV show? That was truly an awesome show… real people doing real jobs. My hat really went off for the folks shoveling chicken shit. They have my respect, trust me.
So, I figured here, the Army should have shown up the day after and started to build pontoon bridges, but FJB, the Asshole, wouldn’t do it. So, normal people decided to do it… and your Governor helped out. Awesome.
Now long term, thinking as an engineer…. it seems like the bridges stood the storm but those little islands got washed out… duh! Really, like, who the hell designed this? Long term, build those things as an elevated concrete bridge from end to end, not relying on intermediate sand bars subject to the tides and currents and winds.
Oh, I noticed the toll plaza survived, huh? That figures!
Giddy Up!
I have no idea if they even exist anymore, but watching the video made me think of and remember all the little boys growing up loving their Tonka Trucks, Dump Trucks, Bulldozers, and the sound effects they would make as they played.
Anyhoo, Congrats and Gratitude for all the hard work and effort to put lives back together again.
Permanently Bookmarked!! Not just to share but for when I need kick in the rear. Admission: I think about Vera EVERYday.
I am in the engineering business, and design, manage and oversee construction of roads and more as part of my profession. I am absolutely impressed and bursting with pride for our American Git R Done determination and ingenuity! Bravo to all the professionals who made this amazing recovery work happen using good old American hands on technology and know how!
God bless them all, and you, Sundance, for your beautiful words and strength of spirit that you pass along to all of us every single day! The Git ‘r done attitude is the greatest gift.
Now that is American exceptionalism! Ain’t nothing in the world like it. Hats off to all those boots and thinkers and doers! Now stamp that bridge….made in America by Americans…. with a big old American flag flying high off the bridge!
Thank You Sundance
Ever since your first post Living Each Day I have made that my Mission
Parents both served in WWII and raised to Love God Country and Family
It is time to bring this Country back to its Roots
Tea
“At the core of our American purpose is decency and unity”. You would like to think that, wouldn’t you? I think those days are long gone.
You can’t keep a good America down.
Sundance, I don’t know how you do it but once again you have brought me to tears with pride. You are so special.
Terrific! God Bless America. Get out and vote!
AMEN!
Imagine if we stopped all truck deliveries to Blue Cities for 1 week! They woud recognize quickly who really moves America!
Some of us live in the belly of a blue beast, causing indigeston every chance we get. Republican Bailey is now in a dead heat with Democrat Pritzker for governor of Illinois. And even Oregon (?!?!) may flip red. We are everywhere. Watching. Waiting. Fed up. Do not write any place off.
We cleared the forests, plowed the fields, drilled the oil wells, paved the roads, built the buildings, worked the assembly lines, and breathed the heady air of freedom. America is ours. And we are taking it back.
And Zeldin will beat Hochul in NYS. Then we will see what our options are.
Right there with you trapper. Passing around the little booklet about Gov. Pritzker I received in the mail to coworkers. It has been eye opening for some who don’t follow politics.