There are two movies that are my favorites and they both have the common denominator of courage and sacrifice: Saving Private Ryan and Cinderella Man. On the surface, you may wonder what they have to do with writing a blog, but in my mind’s eye, they have plenty to do with it. But first I’ll explain what led me to believe that now’s the time for a blog in the first place.
By now, most everyone knows that events worldwide have accelerated at tremendous speed. It wasn’t so long ago that our attention was focused on bailouts, failed institutions and the rapid rate of foreclosures. Those events, and the ensuing pain of unemployment, homelessness and overall malaise in the economy, could be explained after plenty of deliberation and research, without fear of it becoming out of date. The platform of a “seminar” was ideal, as supporting documents could be shown to back up the news. Now however, the world has accelerated at such a pace that recent events, from the Egyptian unrest, to violence in Libya and Bahrain and now the Japanese catastrophe, demand immediate attention on a more timely basis. All of these events, with their untold misery, have an impact on the US. There is no better way to comment on it all than on a realtime blog, a commentary that can be given as events unfold.
There’s another reason though, as to why I feel a blog has to be done now. For the past couple of months I’ve felt a stirring within me that this summer would be the beginning of challenges. In late June, the Fed ends its QE2 program (or Quantitative Easing 2). This is the second wind of the Fed’s attempt to stimulate the economy by keeping interest rates low by buying up to $600 billion of additional debt. Although by outward appearances, this program may have not had the “bite” of TARP, it does contribute to keeping fixed income prices higher than what would normally be expected without it, thereby keeping interest rates lower than market forces may otherwise allow. Now add in the events of the Middle East unrest and the Japanese catastrophe and I have to wonder if a double whammy of potential oil disruption and Japanese rebuilding will slow our economy by ever increasing oil prices, as well as keeping the yen in Japan instead of buying our debt. On top of that, we get a considerable amount of electronics/semiconductors/microchips from Japan; if they’re not able to keep up the same production levels, US businesses, from automakers to other durable goods producers, will be forced to curtail production. This is another way inflation gets started, as too many US consumers chase too few goods. All at a time when our economy is attempting to recover.
There are so many variables into the mix right now, and more seem to be added daily. There are times when it seems like the light at the end of the tunnel is getting farther away and the tunnel itself just keeps getting longer. It’s at times like these that I remember that God is in control and that words like “courage” and “sacrifice” mean just as much today as during our country’s darkest days of WWII. Which leads me back full circle to the beginning of this article.
A couple of weeks ago I watched “Private Ryan” for what must have been the umpteenth time. It’s one of those movies that I can’t watch enough. Every time I watch it, I’m amazed at what an entire generation sacrificed so that their loved ones could continue to live in freedom. Freedom from oppression; freedom from genocide; freedom from fascism. The lives that were lost; the destruction on a global basis; all of it so overwhelming compared to what we face today. Yet they perservered.
At the end of the movie, a young Matt Damon leans down as his dying C/O (Tom Hanks) whispers in his ear “earn this”. Every time I see that shot, I wonder what a dying generation thinks about our folly into choices that almost brought about another depression. My fear is that they might think we don’t deserve the sacrifices they gave so that all of us can live a life of comparative prosperity, built upon their sweat in a postwar world.
Freedom is a word that affords us the opportunity to make the right choices for the honor of God and the good of our country. It also gives us the opportunity make the wrong choices for which we have to pay dearly as a nation. In my view, we made a lot of wrong choices from 2002 to the end of 2006. We had plenty of time to correct them, but when all feels right, what’s the rush? Well, the rush is now and unfortunately, there are no easy choices at this point. Only difficult ones that will be felt for many years to come. One thing is certain: we owe it to those men and women who came before us who paid for those freedoms with their blood and lives, which we so cavalierly took for granted . They deserve no less. By turning to God first, making the hard choices and having courage, we will get through these difficult times, and prosper. It’s our turn to “earn this”, not only for ourselves, but for future generations.
I hope you’ll journey with me on this blog, as I attempt to tie together the events that unfold globally with their effects on our economy. There are times I’ll be factual, times when I’m opinionated and times when I’m emotional. But I’ll always do my best to honor God with what I’m writing and I’ll do my best to convey that we are “family” and family always sticks together. God Bless.
becki is an Investment Advisor Representative with Longboat Key Financial and Insurance Group. Between The Lines is not an offering for any investment. It represents only the thoughts and opinions of David Babecki and may not represent the views of Longboat Key Financial and Insurance Group or Word of Christ International Church. Any views expressed are provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed in any way as an offer, an endorsement or inducement to invest. 
