The last few years have been difficult ones in the US, and things are pretty worrisome. In a fallen world, the future is always uncertain.

Reflecting the growing political strife, when the President and the Congress disagreed earlier this year, rather than cut funds from programs of waste, the President's people made the conscious decision to cause as much disruption to the general population's enjoyment as possible; a reprehensible and cynical decision.

The World War II Memorial, on the National Mall was closed, despite its presence in the open. Photographers were precluded from stopping on a public highway to shoot the Mount Rushmore Monument. Things your juvenile sibling would do because he was being mean became the rule.

At Shiloh, I have never seen the majority of the hallowed battlefields in such disrepair.No mowing, fields overgrown and disrespected. The programs to refresh and respect the monuments, well, as you can see, it is not just the grass in disrepair.At least the lack of attention makes for interest visually...for a while.

A symbol for the unfortunate patina which is developing here. Praying for statesmen, leaders, moral examples, and mentors. Fervently. Often.