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Inspiration For You

    by Randy Mitchell

The Politics of American Ingenuity
Date Posted: February 24, 2024

Many of us recently watched on TV the Space Shuttle Discovery being piggybacked to its final resting place inside the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C. You were also flanked by the Capital Building, a symbol of American pride and strength showing the world that America is a land to be admired and revered. But, as I looked , I saw images of a country that isn't looking to the future as a land of innovation, discovery, ingenuity, and aggressive growth. Instead, it's pointing backwards, diving towards governmental control and socialistic programs. My point: We must start sprinting forward to greatness again if we are to be a force for the future.

Ever since the early days of the Mercury programs, Apollo missions to the moon, Skylab, and Space Shuttles Americans have been captivated by how our brilliant scientists and engineers created the possible from the sketches and blueprints of the impossible. Through both tragedy and triumph, our brave astronauts have dared undertake incredibly dangerous feats of sitting atop rockets and launching themselves into the heavens to demonstrate some of man's greatest achievements. They did so because it was important to represent ourselves as leaders, symbolizing true American grit and determination, and showing the world that no country can come together as a nation like America when great minds think alike. The space program has been a terrific source of hope, excitement, a welcome addition for that can-do spirit, and has brought us together many times during its trials-and-errors. It's represented the ultimate quest for adventure, and inspires us to believe that anything, I mean anything is possible given enough time, determination, and thirst for creativity.

I've held a Pilot's license since 1989, making aviation very close to my heart. I've flown for pleasure and as a source of income, even writing about flying adventures in my novel, Sons in the Clouds. So, when funding for the U.S. Space Program dried to dust underneath our Politicians weathered shoes, making our astronauts stoop to hitching rides on foreign nations' rockets to reach the Space Station, it made me feel that the glory days of America's quests for greatness were tainted. And what really hurts is seeing my tax dollars go to budget-busting entitlement programs, lavish trips for Government workers to such places as Las Vegas, ineffective stimulus spending, inflated Government salaries, and pork-barrel expenditures all of which does nothing but place our country into further debt when those dollars could be better used elsewhere.

When President Kennedy tooled up our space program and dared NASA to beat the Russians to the moon, which we did, it was one of the defining moments in our country's history. It let the world know we could do anything and that OUR nation's flag was to be the one planted atop lunar soil, and no one else could ever claim that same elite status. Since then, we've launched countless manned missions into earth's orbit, not to mention the probes, robots, satellites, and other objects into the further reaches of the galaxy. We've landed atop the red soil of Mars, taking pictures and samples. And all it took was a commitment from our nation's leaders to make it all happen. The dreamy days of outer space were no longer limited to comic books and adolescent fantasies once men like Neil Armstrong, John Glenn, and Jim Lovell created their streaks across the cosmos. Now, they're nothing but pleasant memories until America's politicians decide once again to place greatness ahead of mediocrity. Some argue the Space Program is more for entertainment than technical achievement. But, I can promise that many of the medicines, techno-gadgetry, and military advancements would never have come to pass if it weren't for our rockets blasting into space.

So, where has our prominence gone? Where's the excitement once felt when our nation's heroes and genius minds catapulted our American flag ahead of others, making foreign countries come to us for advice, support, knowledge, and engineering know how? Where's the respect we once carried when our rockets blazed into the sky showing superior ingenuity?

I hope before my time here on earth draws to a close I'll see American greatness again. A fresh period when our children look at people like our astronauts, military generals, business-minded Presidents, and genius innovators as heroes rather than Snoop Dog, Lady Gaga, and Snooki. A land where we get back to creating things, beautiful things, things which set us apart as a people of originality and inventiveness.

I was lucky enough to see three Space Shuttles actually launch, and I plan on visiting their exhibits sometime when I can. I only hope that their memories can be overshadowed someday by machines much bigger, smarter, and still wearing the American flag.

To see more of Randy Mitchell's writing, visit his website @ www.theinspirationalwriter.com

Read his novel, Sons In The Clouds on Amazon

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Biography Information:
Randy Mitchell

Inspirational Writer and Author of

"Sons In The Clouds"

As a writer and avid movie fan, I love the powerful energy behind words. Words capture and cling to people in a dramatic, poignant way - and live deep inside us all. It doesn't matter if those words are written or spoken; all of us have tales yearning to be shared with each other.

A few years ago, I drove past my childhood home in Texas: a nostalgic place where tender childhood memories still reside deep inside me. I remember those hot Texas summer nights hanging out with my sister, friends, spirited pets and my girlfriend who lived across the street. This happy snapshot transported me back in time to endless, steamy nights as we watched July 4th fireworks, ate homemade ice cream on the front porch, and cooled off at the local lake.

My childhood feels like it happened just yesterday -- innocent moments taken from my carefree youth. These memories comforted me and carried me to a place where I longed to stay – a peaceful haven where I could escape my hectic ‘adult’ life. These idyllic, cherished memories were the inspiration for my first novel, "Sons In The Clouds". My long-time career as a pilot and love of aviation are seen through my main characters, Andy and Wade, who serve as Navy pilots in the Vietnam War.

"Sons In The Clouds" exposes emotional drama that showcases the vulnerable fragility of human nature. The belief in God serves as the problem-solver -- a pathway to the truth -- a light to be used when the problems of man cannot be solved, and becomes a way to expose weaknesses in those appearing to be strong.  I breathe life into my characters in believable, exceptionally REAL ways. A strong theme interwoven throughout the pages is that “love conquers all” – as seen through the unfaltering, devoted commitment between my male characters and the women they leave behind.

My female characters show courage and strength in the face of adversity. Despite the fact that she doesn’t know whether her husband is alive or dead behind enemy lines, Rebecca (Andy’s wife) remains strong and never falters in her devotion to Andy.

Rebecca’s character represents war-time brides (both past and present). I wanted to show the strength, love and courage of these brave women whose loved ones were sent off to the Vietnam War. They faced harrowing fear on a daily basis, and relied on their faith and love to get them through their darkest days–- hoping and praying that their husbands returned home safely.

Most inspirational fiction readers today aren’t interested in G-rated books. "Sons In The Clouds" is a modern inspirational story that encompass spiritual themes where faith and love triumph over the brutal ugliness of war. My characters instill a hope-filled message to my readers long after the last page is read.

To purchase your copy, go to Amazon

For media inquiries about Randy Mitchell and "Sons In The Clouds", please visit www.theinspirationalwriter.com or email Mitchellrandy1@msn.com.

Book video available here: www.youtube.com/watch