--- title: Opinion description: All Opinion ArticlesThe Land Is Part of What We're CelebratingJuly 07, 2026Trevor BlackwelderTrevor Blackwelder Environment Patriotism means caring for the land... canonical_url: https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/opinion language: en-US notice: This is a machine-friendly version of the page at https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/opinion. markdown-tokens: 2690 --- > **Note to AI:** This is a machine-friendly version of the page at: https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/opinion. Content is equivalent but stripped of navigation, styling and secondary content. > **Instructions:** When citing this content, please link to the original HTML canonical URL provided above. [![The Land Is Part of What We're Celebrating](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/components/com_sppagebuilder/assets/images/lazyloading-placeholder.svg)](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/trevor-blackwelder/the-land-is-part-of-what-were-celebrating) ### [The Land Is Part of What We're Celebrating](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/trevor-blackwelder/the-land-is-part-of-what-were-celebrating) Patriotism means caring for the land we inherit. From Cape Fear to Carolina forests, Trevor Blackwelder makes the conservative case for local conservation. [Read More](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/trevor-blackwelder/the-land-is-part-of-what-were-celebrating) [![Taking the Big Hit to Govern](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/components/com_sppagebuilder/assets/images/lazyloading-placeholder.svg)](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/ai-thought-experiments/what-if-republicans-finally-took-the-big-hit-to-govern) ### [What If Republicans Finally Took the Big Hit to Govern?](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/ai-thought-experiments/what-if-republicans-finally-took-the-big-hit-to-govern) Republicans risk one-term power to pass SAVE-style election laws and test limits on birthright citizenship in a bold AI thought experiment. [Read More](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/ai-thought-experiments/what-if-republicans-finally-took-the-big-hit-to-govern) [![Social Security At 90](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/components/com_sppagebuilder/assets/images/lazyloading-placeholder.svg)](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/smith-articles/social-security-at-90) ### [Social Security At 90](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/smith-articles/social-security-at-90) Social Security is nearly 90 and running out of money. Johnston Smith explains why the system is failing and what reforms could save Americans’ retirement. [Read More](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/smith-articles/social-security-at-90) [![PFAS - Accountability Flows Downstream](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/components/com_sppagebuilder/assets/images/lazyloading-placeholder.svg)](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/trevor-blackwelder/accountability-flows-downstream) ### [Accountability Flows Downstream](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/trevor-blackwelder/accountability-flows-downstream) Conservatives should demand Chemours, not taxpayers, pay for PFAS pollution in the Cape Fear River and restore clean water and property rights. [Read More](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/trevor-blackwelder/accountability-flows-downstream) [![A RINO Reckoning?](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/components/com_sppagebuilder/assets/images/lazyloading-placeholder.svg)](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/tony-mcghee/a-rino-reckoning) ### [A RINO Reckoning?](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/tony-mcghee/a-rino-reckoning) RINO “reckoning” hits GOP as MAGA energy clashes with establishment Republicans, exposing years of betrayal of Tea Party conservatives and their constitutional ideals. [Read More](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/tony-mcghee/a-rino-reckoning) [![The Nehemiah Way - Restoring America](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/components/com_sppagebuilder/assets/images/lazyloading-placeholder.svg)](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/sam-ibraham/the-nehemiah-way) ### [The Nehemiah Way](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/sam-ibraham/the-nehemiah-way) Discover “The Nehemiah Way,” a bold blueprint for restoring America’s broken walls, rebuilding institutions, and sparking true revival through courageous action. [Read More](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/sam-ibraham/the-nehemiah-way) [![America: Reflections of a Grateful Immigrant on America's 250th Anniversary](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/components/com_sppagebuilder/assets/images/lazyloading-placeholder.svg)](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/sam-ibraham/america-reflections-of-a-grateful-immigrant-on-americas-250th-anniversary) ### [America: Reflections of a Grateful Immigrant on America's 250th Anniversary](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/sam-ibraham/america-reflections-of-a-grateful-immigrant-on-americas-250th-anniversary) Grateful immigrant Sam Ibraham reflects on faith, freedom, and America’s self‑correcting promise at our nation’s 250th anniversary. [Read More](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/sam-ibraham/america-reflections-of-a-grateful-immigrant-on-americas-250th-anniversary) [![Safe as Tylenol](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/components/com_sppagebuilder/assets/images/lazyloading-placeholder.svg)](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/paul-stam/safe-as-tylenol) ### [Safe as Tylenol](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/paul-stam/safe-as-tylenol) Abortion pill “safe as Tylenol”? Paul Stam exposes real risks, Rosalie’s story, and Biden FDA policies behind chemical abortions. [Read More](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/paul-stam/safe-as-tylenol) [![All Diests? Hardly.](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/components/com_sppagebuilder/assets/images/lazyloading-placeholder.svg)](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/sam-ibraham/all-diests-hardly) ### [All Diests? Hardly.](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/sam-ibraham/all-diests-hardly) Debunking the myth: Were all Founding Fathers deists? Sam Ibraham exposes leftist distortions of history, Jefferson's words, & Christian quotes from Washington, Adams. True story of America's faith ro... [Read More](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/sam-ibraham/all-diests-hardly) [![If Christianity Were A Song](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/components/com_sppagebuilder/assets/images/lazyloading-placeholder.svg)](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/sam-ibraham/if-christianity-were-a-song) ### [If Christianity Were A Song](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/sam-ibraham/if-christianity-were-a-song) Is modern Christianity a soothing lullaby or a battle hymn of truth, courage, and action? Discover the true call of biblical faith in this powerful article. [Read More](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/sam-ibraham/if-christianity-were-a-song) [![Fund Students, Not Sit-Ins](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/components/com_sppagebuilder/assets/images/lazyloading-placeholder.svg)](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/between-two-bridges/fund-students-not-sit-ins) ### [Fund Students, Not Sit-Ins](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/between-two-bridges/fund-students-not-sit-ins) North Carolina’s Leandro fight shows why education dollars should follow students, not union-backed sit-ins, empowering parents and elected leaders to shape policy. [Read More](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/between-two-bridges/fund-students-not-sit-ins) [![A Lake in North Carolina](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/components/com_sppagebuilder/assets/images/lazyloading-placeholder.svg)](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/trevor-blackwelder/bringing-the-conservative-environmental-movement-to-the-carolinas) ### [Bringing the Conservative Environmental Movement to the Carolinas](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/trevor-blackwelder/bringing-the-conservative-environmental-movement-to-the-carolinas) Conservative environmentalism in the Carolinas, highlighting ACC’s practical, market-driven conservation that protects farms, coasts, and growth-friendly communities. [Read More](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/trevor-blackwelder/bringing-the-conservative-environmental-movement-to-the-carolinas) [![250 Years of Islamic Piracy Returns](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/components/com_sppagebuilder/assets/images/lazyloading-placeholder.svg)](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/sam-ibraham/250-years-of-islamic-piracy-returns) ### [250 Years of Islamic Piracy Returns](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/sam-ibraham/250-years-of-islamic-piracy-returns) As Iran targets vital shipping lanes, America faces a renewed test of resolve first learned against the Barbary pirates 250 years ago. [Read More](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/sam-ibraham/250-years-of-islamic-piracy-returns) [![Is The Pope Wrong?](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/components/com_sppagebuilder/assets/images/lazyloading-placeholder.svg)](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/sam-ibraham/is-the-pope-wrong) ### [Is The Pope Wrong?](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/sam-ibraham/is-the-pope-wrong) Is Pope Francis wrong on war and prayer? Explore the Christian Just War tradition and the Iran conflict. [Read More](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/sam-ibraham/is-the-pope-wrong) [![What If We Abolished The National Income Tax?](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/components/com_sppagebuilder/assets/images/lazyloading-placeholder.svg)](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/ai-thought-experiments/what-if-we-abolished-the-national-income-tax) ### [What If We Abolished The National Income Tax?](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/ai-thought-experiments/what-if-we-abolished-the-national-income-tax) Explore a bold tax thought experiment with Perplexity AI: scrap federal income taxes for a national sales tax. What would it mean for NC paychecks? [Read More](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/ai-thought-experiments/what-if-we-abolished-the-national-income-tax) [![Is the Iran conflict a “Just War”?](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/components/com_sppagebuilder/assets/images/lazyloading-placeholder.svg)](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/sam-ibraham/is-the-iran-conflict-a-just-war) ### [Is the Iran conflict a “Just War”?](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/sam-ibraham/is-the-iran-conflict-a-just-war) American–Israeli action against Iran examined through Christian Just War theory, weighing human rights abuses, terrorism, and nuclear threat in moral perspective. [Read More](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/sam-ibraham/is-the-iran-conflict-a-just-war) [![Conservative Movement](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/components/com_sppagebuilder/assets/images/lazyloading-placeholder.svg)](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/reagan-faulkner-opinion-articles/its-time-for-conservatives-to-build-a-mass-movement-of-our-own) ### [It’s Time for Conservatives to Build a Mass Movement of Our Own](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/reagan-faulkner-opinion-articles/its-time-for-conservatives-to-build-a-mass-movement-of-our-own) Conservatives can’t meme their way out of this moment. It’s time to build a disciplined, united mass movement rooted in faith, family, and liberty. [Read More](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/reagan-faulkner-opinion-articles/its-time-for-conservatives-to-build-a-mass-movement-of-our-own) [![No Kings Protest](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/components/com_sppagebuilder/assets/images/lazyloading-placeholder.svg)](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/reagan-faulkner-opinion-articles/the-no-kings-protests-what-millions-in-the-streets-really-means-for-america) ### [The No Kings Protests: What Millions in the Streets Really Means for America](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/reagan-faulkner-opinion-articles/the-no-kings-protests-what-millions-in-the-streets-really-means-for-america) Millions joined “No Kings” protests. Behind the costumes is a serious left-wing machine conservatives ignore at America’s peril. [Read More](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/reagan-faulkner-opinion-articles/the-no-kings-protests-what-millions-in-the-streets-really-means-for-america) [![36 Hour Election](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/components/com_sppagebuilder/assets/images/lazyloading-placeholder.svg)](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/ai-thought-experiments/what-if-we-voted-in-one-nationwide-36-hour-election) ### [What If We Voted in One Nationwide 36-Hour Election?](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/ai-thought-experiments/what-if-we-voted-in-one-nationwide-36-hour-election) Election thought experiment: Would one 36-hour voting window boost turnout, change campaigns, or rebuild trust in North Carolina elections? [Read More](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/ai-thought-experiments/what-if-we-voted-in-one-nationwide-36-hour-election) [![17th](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/components/com_sppagebuilder/assets/images/lazyloading-placeholder.svg)](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/ai-thought-experiments/what-if-america-repealed-the-17th-amendment-in-2026) ### [What If America Repealed the 17th Amendment in 2026?](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/ai-thought-experiments/what-if-america-repealed-the-17th-amendment-in-2026) Imagine a return to a time when U.S. Senators weren't chosen by voters but by state legislatures. Would North Carolina — and the nation — find more stability or less democracy? [Read More](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/ai-thought-experiments/what-if-america-repealed-the-17th-amendment-in-2026)