GuestOpinion by Don Bendell

One GoodTurning Point Deserves Another

            One of the many motion pictures I enjoy watching is Mel Gibson’sThe Patriot. The film released by Columbia Pictures in 2000 describes itselfwith one line: ” Peaceful farmer Benjamin Martin is driven to lead the ColonialMilitia during the American Revolution when a sadistic British officer murdershis son ” The movie however is much more than that. Loosely based on real lifePatriot Francis Marion, “The Swamp Fox,”  it is more about the conventional versus the unconventional,the British versus the Colonials, neighbors and family members versus their ownneighbors and family members, and the hatred bred by misunderstanding andpassionate belief in truths and incorrect assumptions. In one poignant scene, outstandingactor Adam Baldwin portraying a Captain Wilkins, a local colonial-turned-British-sympathizerin the British Army. Demanding to show his loyalty to the Crown, his ruthlesscommander orders Wilkins to torch a church filled with all his imprisoned neighborslocked up inside. With Captain Wilkins, first fighting his conscience, hecrosses the moral line and  the church  is set ablaze with him tossing the first torchagainst the padlocked “House of God,” burning all within.

            With a core group zealously following him and believing ferventlyin his mission and core ideals, Charlie Kirk, another hero I admired who alwaysthought and acted “outside the box,” Kirk not only had enemies but absolutehaters. One to the point of shooting and killing him at long range with a powerfulMauser 30.06.

            With a smile on his face and in his heart, Charlieentered the Lion’s Den on a daily basis, speaking to young people mainly. Hespread the message of Christ and openly debated detractors and the uninformedalike with truth bombs, not bullets, without judgement or condescension, aboutsuch topics as abortion versus life-giving, transgenderism, men competing inwomen’s sports, and most importantly getting back to being families again. Hespoke hard truths, but always with love and conviction and facts. He was simplyfollowing Christ’s example of real manhood.

He staunchly supportedPresident Donald J, Trump in the 2024 election and helped him win, especiallythe youth vote. Charlie simply wanted to get our nation back to “One nation, underGod, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” He wanted us to stopfighting, name-calling, and turning on each other and stop being brain-washed bythe internet, legacy media, and self-serving-politicians. He wanted us toquietly, not only talk with each other, but listen as well. Charlie wanted usto get back to family, to each other, and to God.

ABOUT THE WRITER

Listed as one of the mostfamous cowboys of all time, Don Bendell is a best-selling author whose stylehas been likened to Louis L’Amour, Zane Grey, and Robin Moore, a 100% disabledGreen Beret officer and Vietnam veteran, and a 1995 inductee into theInternational Karate and Kickboxing Hall of Fame. Don owns the StrongheartRanch in southern Colorado, with his social psychologist and fellow author,wife, Dr. Janet Bendell also a former Army captain. Don is the author of 32books, mainly westerns and military thrillers, with over 3,000,000 copies inprint worldwide, a Pulitzer Prize nomination in 2011, and a successful motionpicture. He has 6 grown children and 12 living grand-children, and 2great-grandchildren. Don has a Masters degree in Leadership from Grand CanyonUniversity. Two of his sons are also decorated 100% disabled Green Beret combatveterans.