This coming Wednesday will likely pass as most others do, amid the turbulent issues of the current era, with little recollection of former days of real American greatness. And that is extremely sad. Fifty-three years ago, as the world was in the throes of the Vietnam War, and an attempted global domination by the Soviet Union, accompanied by moral collapse and the rise of the leftist counterculture in America, the upheaval took a pause.
Everyone within hearing distance of any news outlet collectively held their breath in a brief but excruciating period of silence that had followed a laconic exchange of technical data, relaying positions, speeds, and the operating condition of equipment that was highly advanced for its time. And then, at 4:53 pm Eastern, a message resounded across the globe “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed!” And life on this planet would never be the same.
For the first time in history, human beings had landed a spacecraft on another world. Within hours, human footprints would be present on the surface of the Moon, as Apollo 11 Commander Neil Armstrong stepped down the ladder of the Lunar Module and walked on a truly unearthly landscape. The event was the culmination of a National effort spanning the decade of the 1960s, beginning in May of ’61 when President John F. Kennedy challenged the Nation to reach the Moon “before this decade is out.”
Through the turmoil of the era, and despite a major setback in January of 1967 when three Apollo astronauts died in the launchpad fire of Apollo 1, Americans rallied and persevered, which in former days had been their way.
Apollo 11 achieved President Kennedy’s milestone with barely four months to spare. Yet during that remaining four months of the decade, another Apollo mission again succeeded in landing on the Moon and returning safely to Earth. With the December 1972 voyage of Apollo 17, the last Moon mission, a total of twelve Americans had actually visited the lunar surface, six of whom rode in vehicles designed for traversing Earth’s planetary neighbor. In typical American fashion of the day, Kennedy’s goal had not merely been met, it was vastly exceeded.
Of course the same forces were at work to undermine that great effort which are now wreaking havoc on our Nation. Thankfully, until recent times, the inherent decency and moral certitude of Americans had not been sufficiently eroded to allow such a malignancy to prevail. Still, the era was not without its disinformation and controversy.
Coffee the Christian way: Promised Grounds
The single biggest instigator of discord over America’s Moon program was the Soviet Union. Having launched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, into orbit in October of 1957, and having put a human being into orbit nearly a year before America was able to do so, the Soviets and their media propagandists (many of whom were already infiltrating American “news” organizations) gleefully trumpeted the “superiority” of collectivism for ostensibly advancing the human condition through technology. Yet Kennedy’s challenge, and America’s response to it, proved that a free society could indeed advance further and faster, when given the incentive to do so.
Not willing to simply accept defeat, the Soviets initiated a two pronged strategy, in hopes of demoralizing the Americans. First, upon realizing that their own efforts to beat us to the Moon were doomed, they attempted several unmanned missions by which they had hoped to land there and return a tiny sample of Moon rock back to Earth ahead of Apollo. At that point they would have claimed victory, with their dutiful minions happily echoing.
Here again, their technology was simply not up to the task. So as those hopes faded, they unleashed their backup plan. Sadly, they had much greater success with this one, since it didn’t involve technology, but instead relied on their ability to spread propaganda among a sometimes gullible, sometimes willingly complicit leftist American press.
Suddenly, in the final months before the triumphal mission of Apollo 11, disparaging claims began to be leveled by Americans who not coincidentally happened to be Soviet sympathizers, to the effect that the money allocated to the Space Race was being misused. The narrative was that it could do “more good” if it was passed out in welfare and other social programs here on Earth.
And not surprisingly, the “usual suspects” were happy to grandstand on that basis, ultimately carrying the water for the Soviets and other anti-Americans everywhere. By the time of Armstrong and Aldrin’s walk, the leftists had made enough noise to be able to claim the mission, a triumph of American engineering and American resolve, as “controversial.”
Since then, the overwhelming media silence on the event as a victorious milestone in the annals of our Nation has caused many to virtually forget all about it, while sadly allowing others of appallingly deficient scientific background to make absurd claims that it never happened. Like the Nazi Holocaust, those who actually beheld the Moon Program as it transpired are fewer in number with the passage of years. Eventually, not enough people will remain to bear personal witness to it, and if the powers that be want it to be forgotten or swallowed up in conspiracy theories, that will be its fate.
But American Patriots need not allow such a scenario to befall us just yet. Enough remember the struggle, the achievements, the failures, and ultimately the successes to celebrate that great moment for humanity, and for our Nation. On the front leg of that first lunar lander was a plaque which read “HERE MEN FROM THE PLANET EARTH FIRST SET FOOT UPON THE MOON, JULY, 1969 A.D. WE CAME IN PEACE FOR ALL MANKIND.” Americans should shun the critics and the skeptics, and once again fly our flags in commemoration and celebration, this July 20.
Bio
Christopher G. Adamo is a lifelong conservative from the American Heartland. He has been involved in grassroots and state-level politics for many years, seeking to restore and uphold the Judeo-Christian principles on which our Nation was founded. His book, “Rules for Defeating Radicals,” is the “Go To” guide for effectively confronting and overcoming the dirty tricks of the political left. It is available at Amazon.
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Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
